1. |
Omie Wise
03:47
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He promised to meet her at Adams's spring;
He promised her marriage and many fine things.
Still nothing he gave, but yet flattered the case.
He says, "We'll be married and have no disgrace,
Come get up behind me, we'll go up to town.
And there we'll be married, in union be bound."
she got up behind him, and straightway did go
To the bank of Deep River where the water did flow;
He says, "Now Naomi I'll tell you my mind,
I intend here to drown you and leave you behind."
"O pity your infant and spare me my life;
Let me go rejected and be not your wife;"
"No pity, no pity," this monster did cry;
In Deep river's bottom your body shall lie."
The wretch then did choke her, as we understand,
And threw her in the river below the milldam;
Omie was missing they all did well know,
And hunting for her to the river did go;
And there found her floating on the water so deep,
Which caused all the people to sigh and to weep.
The neighbors were sent for to see the great sight,
While she lay floating all that long night;
So early next morning the inquest was held;
The jury correctly the murder did tell.
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2. |
The Promised Land
02:44
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I asked you for whiskey
you gave me soap
I asked you for roses
you gave me a rope
I called you my lover
you called me a man
just can't see how this
is the promised land
so I went out hiking
to the highest peak
hoped that it could
bring me relief
but as I looked out
I could barely stand
just can't see how this
is the promised land
saw empty buildings
folks half-froze in the streets
dumpsters full of food
kids with nothing to eat
mountains of pills
that'd cost your hand
just can't see how this
is the promised land
I need to lay down
I need to sleep
all that I'm seeing
drowns me with grief
I just can't figure
I can't understand
just can't see how this
is the promised land
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3. |
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Everybody listen up, I'll sing you a song
about a real hero more people need to know
but by the end one thing will be for certain
you'll all know the name of Frances Perkins
she was Secretary of Labor for FDR
she oversaw the new deal, organized during the war
she helped forge unions and the laws to make'em strong
thank you Frances Perkins for all the things you've done
when Roosevelt first asked about her policies
she said I'll fight for a minimun wage and social security
I'll help the unemployed and implement fair labor standards
Perkins was no doubt, a good friend to labor
and so she got the children out of factories and mines
she made sure the unemployed could afford to survive
a 40 hour work week, the social security system
even though folks cried "this is socialism"
and for 12 years she served, though she fought her whole life
from her birth in 1880 until the end in '65
we never will forget the way you eased the peoples' plight
Thank you Frances Perkins, we will carry on your fight
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4. |
The Phantom of the Wood
02:51
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in a sullen springtime pasture, some cattle sought to graze
but there a lifeless body threw their patterns out of phase
the owner of the farmstead plead he was not to blame
to bolster his account he offered up a whispered name
the phantom of the wood
the phantom of the wood
the constable grew cross as he heard this silly claim
only superstitious fools are the sorts to fear a name
and as he grabbed his whip with which the farmer for to knout
a tapping on his shoulder caused the man to turn about
you who do not fear the things you cannot understand
I stand before you now neither specter nor a man
I bring with me hellfire the likes of which none can contend
for those who seek to judge me for the lives I deign to end
my story long predates you, and will long surpass yours too
the forest bends to my will like dead leaves under shoe
I am the primrose chorus summer's scream does not beget
and to you I lay my claim so that others won't forget
and so the spirit left and took the constable along
and none dared to allege that what the spirit did was wrong
for who among the righteous think the truth need not be learned
those who mangle justice, it will give them what they've earned
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5. |
Belia
02:16
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Belia liked to start fires
liked to watch old buildings burn
had a deep set belief
that everyone gets what they earn
she climbed to the belltower's top
and breathed in the sparkling new dawn
the cinders that caught in the breeze
like fireflies sparked and were gone
Belia she carried a flag
though it wasn't sewn from a cloth
and it didn't have an emblems
the message alone was enough
see Belia, she believed
that everyone could have enough
and it was the fault of so few
that so many have it so rough
and so her fires they'll burn
even when Belia is gone
and I, for one, believe
that her battle is already won
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6. |
Lord Lovel
04:30
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Lord Lovel he stood at his own castle gate,
A combing his milk-white steed,
When up came Lady Nancy Belle
To wish her lover good speed, good speed.
To wish her lover good speed.
"Where are you going, Lord Lovel?" she said,
"Where are you going?" said she.
"I'm going, my love," Lord Lovel replied.
"my fortune for to seek, to seek"
my fortune for to seek
Lord Lovel was gone just a year and a day,
his fortune still for to heed
When a dreadful feeling pierced his heart,
Lady Nancy he must go see, go see,
Lady Nancy he must go see.
He mounted upon his milk-white steed,
And rode to far London town.
And there he heard St. Patrick's bells,
And the people mourning all around, around,
And the people mourning all around.
"O who hath died?" Lord Lovel said,
"O who hath died?" said he.
"A fair young maid," a woman replied,
"And they call her Lady Nancy, Nancy,
And they call her Lady Nancy."
He ordered her grave to be opened wide,
Her shroud to be folded down,
And there he kissed her pale clay cheeks
while his teardrops marked the cold ground, cold ground
while his teardrops marked the cold ground
Lady Nancy she died on Good Friday,
Lord Lovel he died on the morrow;
Lady Nancy she died for pure true love,
Lord Lovel he died for sorrow.
Lord Lovel he died for sorrow
Lord Lovel was buried in the lower chancel,
Lady Nancy in the high'r.
From one sprang out a gallant red rose,
From the other came green briar, briar
from the other came green briar
And there they grew and turn'd and twined,
Till they gain'd the chancel top,
And where they met at the top of church
they tied in a true lover's knot, knot, knot
they tied in a true lover's knot.
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7. |
Crossroads of Galahad
03:37
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I saw clouds
roll around the sun
coulda been a hundred
coulda been just one
heard the thunder
saw drops of acid rain
can't let them in
don't let them in again
but I knew
knew it couldn't be stopped
I am strong
but I'm just not strong enough
I can take
take any kind of pain you give
I just want to
really just want to live
I saw him
riding on the darkest mount
finger pointed
daring me to make it count
so I took
the very best shot I had
fatal struck
at the crossroads of Gallahad
but I knew
he survived the fearful blow
I am strong
but he's stronger I know
I can take
take any pain from you
but if I'm dyin'
you'll be dyin' too
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8. |
River in the Pines
02:49
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Sweet Mary was a maiden
When the birds began to sing.
She was fairer than the blooming rose
So early in the spring.
Her thoughts were clear and happy
And the morning fair and fine,
For her lover was a village boy
From the river in the pines.
Now Charlie, he departed
from sweet Mary in the spring
When the trees were budding early
And the birds began to sing.
But come first freeze of autumn
When the fruit has turned to wine,
I'll return to you, my darling
From the river in the pines.
yet it was that next morning
In Wisconsin's dreary clime
When he rode the wild rapids
For that last and fatal time.
They found his body lying
neath the jagged river crest
and when Mary saw him broken
her heart stopped in her chest
Now every raft of lumber
That comes down the river's flow,
There's a lonely grave that's visited
by the drivers as they tow
They plant wild flowers upon it
In the morning fair and fine.
'Tis the grave of two young lovers
From the river in the pines
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9. |
Frankie and Albert
02:42
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Frankie loved Albert
everybody knows
she gave the tailor a hundred dollars
to make her man a suit of clothes
he was her man, but he done her wrong
Frankie was a good woman
everybody know
every time she gave Albert money
he'd spend it on those parlour house whores
he was her man, but he done her wrong
Frankie went to the barroom
and drank a glass of gin
she asked the old bartender
if her cheatin man'd been in
he was her man, and he was doing her wrong
say, "Frankie, I'll tell no story
I will tell to you no lie
I saw that Albert an hour ago
with a girl called Alice fry
he is your man, and he's doing you wrong
Frankie went down to the saloon
She didn't go to be gone long
She peeked through keyhole in the door,
spied her man in Alice's arms
He's my man, and you's doin' me wrong
Frankie called Albert
She shot him three or four times
Says, "Stand back, I'm smokin' my gun,
let me see is Albert dyin'
He's my man, and he did me wrong"
Frankie and the judge
they alked out side by side
The judge says, "Frankie,
you're gonna be justified
Killin' a man, and he did you wrong"
Frankie was a good girl,
everybody know
She paid one hundred dollars
for Albert's suit of clothes
He's her man, but he did her wrong
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10. |
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There was a knight from London town
Sir William was his name
He sailed across the raging sea
For Isabel he came
come give to me your father's gold
and your mother's fee
and two of the best horses from
your father's thirty-three
she mounted on a milk-white steed
and he a dappled grey
they rode till they had found the sea
three hours before the day
"Alight, alight, dear Isabel",
"Alight, alight," said he,
For six young maids I've drowned before
the seventh you shall be"
"Now take off your silken dress,
and hand it here to me,
for it's much too fine a gown you wear
to let it rot at sea"
"I will take off my silken dress,
but you must turn to face the trees,
for a man so false and cruel and you
shall not cast eyes on me"
So the knight he turned himself around
and faced a willow tree
when she caught him round his middle so small
and pushed him in the sea
at times he rose, at times he sank
but when he rose said he,
"Give to me your hand, my dear
and my loving bride you'll be"
"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man
you lie there instead of me,
for you may have drowned six other maids,
but the seventh has drowned thee"
And away she rode on her milk-white steed
and lead the dappled grey
and with father's gold and mother's fee,
she went to make her way
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11. |
Moonshiner
02:42
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I've been a moonshiner for seventeen long years
I spent all of my money on whiskey and beers
I'll go to some hollow and set up my still
I'll make you a gallon for a two dollar bill
I'll go to some bar room and drink with my friends
no women to follow to see what I spends
god bless those pretty women, I wish they were mine
their breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine
I'll eat when I'm hungry and drink when I'm dry
if moonshine don't kill me, I'll live till I die
god bless those moonshiners, I wish they were mine
Their breath smells as sweet as that good old moonshine
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12. |
Esprit de L'argent
02:20
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I'll build a big ship called esprit de l'argent
and nobody else but me could get on
I'll sail over oceans and mountains and towns
and as I do it I'll flatten them down
and when I get tired of sailing alone
I'll take all my money and build a big home
and that big home will have a big gate
to keep out the people and things that I hate
and oh it's a beautiful story
that I tell to myself
look at me in all my glory
and it's hard to believe I did it without any help
and I'll have a family, have me a son
I'll teach him to sail on esprit de l'argent
I'll tell him he's special, tell him it's fate
tell him it's nature that made him so great
and my son well he'll carry on
the legacy of esprit de l'argent
for the burden is his and he'll bare it alone
for heavy is the ass that sits on the throne
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13. |
The Two Sisters
04:49
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There was an old woman lived on the sea shore
bow and balance to me
there was an old woman lived on the sea shore
her number of daughters was one, two, three, four
and I'll be true to my love if my love will be true to me
There was a young man who came courting them
The oldest one got struck on him
He gave the youngest a beaver hat
The older one got mad at that.
O sister, O sister let's walk the seashore
and watch the ships as they sail oer
While these two sisters were walking the shore
the oldest pushed the youngest oer
O sister, O sister please lend me your hand
and you will have Willie and all of his land
I never, I never will lend you a hand
but I will have Will and all of his land
Sometime she sank and sometime she swam
until she came to the old mill dam
The miller got his fishing net
and fished the maiden out with it
O miller, O miller here's five gold rings
to push the maiden in again
The miller received those five gold rings
and pushed the maiden in again
the sister was hung on the gallows high
and the miller burned at the stake nearby
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14. |
The Wife of Usher's Well
03:00
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There lived a wife at Usher's Well,
And a wealthy wife was she;
She had three stout and stalwart sons,
And she sent them over the sea.
They had not been a week from her,
three days by the dawn
When word had come to their mother dear
That her three sons were gone
"I wish the wind may never cease,
Nor flashes in the flood,
Till my sons come home to me,
In earthly flesh and blood."
It came about the Martinmass,
When nights are long and dark,
those three sons came home,
And their hats were made of bark
"Blow up the fire my maidens dear,
from the vault bring us wine;
For at my house, we feast this night,
for the three, sweet sons of mine."
And she had made, a bed for them
She made it large and wide,
And with a cloak on her about,
She slept at their bed-side.
The rooster had, not crowed but once,
the sky it was still dark and gray
When the youngest to the eldest said,
Tis time we must away.
"Fare ye well, my mother dear!
Farewell to sun and green green vine
And fare ye well, you bonny maids
That bring us warmth and wine"
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15. |
He Was a Friend of Mine
03:49
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He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Never had no money
Pay for his fines
He was friend a friend of mine
He died on the road
He died on the road
Never had no money
Pay for his board
He was a friend of mine
He never done no wrong
He never done no wrong
He was just a poor boy
A long way from home
He was a friend of mine
I stole away and cried
I stole away and cried
Never had no money
I can't be satisfied
He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Every time I hear about him now
I just can't keep from crying
He was a friend of mine
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16. |
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Columbus was a sailor
in the 15th century
he sailed under the spanish crown
but was born in Italy
he went in search of Asia
and he found it, so he claimed
but the whole true awful story
is one of blood and shame
when his ships first settled
he strode upon the land
the natives went to meet him
with hopeful, outstretched hands
and to his mind a thought came
"these natives are too at ease
with my men and my rifles
I will rule them as I please"
and so he ruled over them cruelly
demanding riches from the tribes
and those who failed to pay him
were dismembered and left to die
and those who resisted him
he fed them to his dogs
his men would rape and murder
dash babies skulls on rocks
for fun, with those they captured
they'd try to cleave them in two
even the priests who traveled with him
condemned him as a monster too
and so these tribes of millions
before Columbus arrived
dwindled down to hundreds
in less than five years time
and so in 1500
as he governed and sold slaves
his men shackled and deposed him
and was taken back to Spain
and there he was imprisoned
for tyranny and genocide
and though the king later released him
he shortly after died
Columbus was a sailor
in the 15th century
he murdered millions of natives
that's his legacy
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Austin Moffa Fairfax, Virginia
Austin Moffa is a musician based out of Fairfax, VA. He has previously released 10 industrial/ambient albums under the pseudonym "ROZKOL". Moffa was born and grew up in a small Pennsylvanian town along the Allegheny Mountain Range.
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