William Elliott Whitmore

1. Mutiny

Song Lyrics

Well, its a god damn shame what's going down.
How we got to this, I do not know.
There's a sick sick wind thats blowing round.
And the captains got to go.

About you or me, he does not give a damn.
What a low down dirty snake.
With his mind on his money and his money on his mind.
Well something's got to break.

Like when the hounds start howling.
Or when there's fiends about.
I will stand up and shout.
I declare mutiny on this ship.

Well, the captain's been drinking below the deck.
And this vessel's headed way off course.
I want to wrap my hands around his crooked neck.
And throw him overboard.

Send him to his lord.
Send him to his lord.

Well, I don't want to be saved.
I just want to be free.
And take back what these old devils have taken from me.

No, I don't want to be saved.
I just want to be free.
And take back what these old devils have taken from me.

Like when the hounds start howling.
Or when there's fiends about.
I will stand up and shout.
I declare mutiny on this ship.
I said, I declare mutiny on this ship.

Well, the captain's been drinking below the deck.
And this vessel's headed way off course.
I want to wrap my hands around his crooked neck.
And throw him overboard.

Send him to his lord.
Send him to his lord.

I want to send him back to where he came.
Not to mercy, no, but to burn in flame.

I said, he don't need no water.
We'll let the motherfucker burn.
I said, he don't need no water.
We'll let the motherfucker burn.

Well, burn motherfucker burn.
Well, burn motherfucker burn.

2. Who Stole the Soul

Song Lyrics

Who stole the soul.
And who stole the heart.
And who took the spark from inside of me.

Why can't I breathe.
And I'm afraid they won't stop.
Till all the poets have failed.
Till all the good men are jailed for nothing at all.
Let them take the fall.

And they'll bring devastation.
And call it diplomacy.
But an occupation won't bring a nation peace.

And I'm so ashamed.
And these things beyond value.
That we cherish so dear.
I won't let them go.
No, I won't let them go.

And who stole the soul.
And who stole the heart.
And I got back the spark from inside of me.
And I can finally breathe.
Hear the shuffle of my dancing feet.

3. Johnny Law

Song Lyrics

Well I was driving down the road just a minding my own.
When Johnny Law pulled up from behind.
He walked up to my window and said, roll it down.
And let me see what I can find.
I said, no way, what's mine is mine.
And I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me be.
He said, I'll leave you be alright, in a cell all night.
I'll lock you up and throw away the key.

He slapped them cuffs on my wrist.
And my hands clenched into fists.
And I wished I could have punched him in the jaw.
And knock out old Johnny Law.

Old Johnny Law.
Johnny Law.
He's the littlest man I ever saw.
With his badge and his gun.
He'll just hassle everyone.
He'll get you on the run.
Johnny Law.

He took me down to the state house.
And he hurled that book at me.
And being in a cell is like being in hell
For a man who longs to be free.

I sat there and I wondered,
Just what gave this man the right.
To leave me to rot.
Here on this rickety cot.
Just a staring at the celling all night.

And I couldn't help but think
Of the words of my dear departed pa.
He said, do the best you can.
Be a good man.
But don't you never trust Johnny Law.

Old Johnny Law.
Johnny Law.
He's the littlest man I ever saw.
With his badge and his gun.
He'll just hassle everyone.
He'll get you on the run.
Johnny Law.

Without any proof they couldn't keep me there.
So they let me out in the morning.
And that cop said, son, I don't know what you done.
But just consider this a little warning.
I said, it must take a lot of nerve to protect and to serve.
But I wonder what it would be like.
If you didn't have that badge or that gun or that uniform.
To hide behind.

And although I feel,
That this whole deal, I got, was pretty damn wrong.
My conscience is clean.
Cause I'm a human being.
And you're just Johnny Law.

Old Johnny Law.
Johnny Law.
Well, you're the littlest man I ever saw.
With your badge and your gun.
You just hassle everyone.
You'll get ya on the run Johnny Law.

With his badge and his gun.
He'll just hassle everyone.
You'll never get me on the run.
Johnny Law.

4. Old Devils

Song Lyrics

The old devils are at it again.
Who knows what they'll do.

And its true right now like it was back then.
The old devils are at it again.

From behind these bars the view don't change.
Desperation, death and despair.

From what little I hear of the outside world.
Well its not to different out there.

And they tell me there's a war without no end.
The old devils are at it again.

They died by the millions, children, women and men.
The old devils are at it again.

When I say devils, you know who I mean.
These animals in the dark.

Malicious politicians with nefarious schemes.
Charlatans and crooked cops.

Moonshine still gets you five to ten.
The old devils are at it again.

Stripes on your back and a ball and chain.
The old devils are at it again.

Two men stare out of prison bars.
Wondering what got um here.

One saw mud but the other saw stars.
Praying that the end is near.

The billboard outside says confess your sins.
The old devils are at it again.

I guess I will confess that I've been suffering.
The old devils are at it again.

I said the old devils are at it again.
Who knows what they'll do.

And its true right now like it was back then.
The old devils are at it again.

I said the old devils are at it again.

5. Hell or High Water

Song Lyrics

Smoke um if you got um.
Drink your glasses to the bottom.
And toast me on another year.
Another year of hope.
Another year of holding on.
For you drinkers by day who are bastards by dawn.

And I hope I will see you soon.
And I'll be home come hell or high water.
And I know I will see you soon.

Gather around friends and neighbors.
Who make your living by labor.
And share with me this little time.
This little time that we have left.
To have a drink and catch our breath.
Well it might just be what saves our lives.

And I hope I will see you soon.
And I'll be home come hell or high water.
And I know I will see you soon.

Smoke um if you got um.
Drink your glasses to the bottom.
And listen to the holling dogs.
And oh how it pleases me.
To be in such company.
And I'm so glad our paths have crossed.

And I hope I will see you soon.
And I'll be home come hell or high water.
And I know I will see you soon.
And I'll be home come hell or high water.
And I know I will see you soon.

6. There's Hope for You

Song Lyrics

My little sparrow there is hope for you.
Your life has just begun.
And I could not do what I wanted to.
And I fear my time is almost done.

But through your actions truth will carry on.
Go forth with joy in your heart.
And even though I will be gone.
You've got to play your part.

Listen to me now.
You will overcome I promise you.
And be whatever it is that you want to be.
There is hope for you oh there's hope for you.
But its much to late for me.

The wayward weeping voices that you will hear.
Each with their own story to tell.
And you have the choice to bend your ear.
And treat your fellow humans well.

So goodbye my little sparrow.
Its time that I must go.
To keep on the straight and narrow.
Well there's something you must know.

Listen to me now.
You will overcome I promise you.
And be whatever it is that you want to be.
There is hope for you, oh there's hope for you.
But its much to late for me.

You will overcome I promise you.
And be whatever it is that you want to be.
There is hope for you, oh there's hope for you.
But its much to late for me.

7. Hard Times

Song Lyrics

My Grandma's Grandpa.
Came over across the sea.
In the boiler room of a steam ship.
On his way from Germany.

He was running from the Kaiser.
Who was putting the hammer down.
And the cries of the dying men.
Were such an awful sound.
They were such an awful sound.

Hard times.
Hard times.
Hard times made us.

And my father was a railroad man.
A mechanic, and son of the soil.
His back was busted.
And his hands were cut and sore.
His hands were cut and sore.

But he swore that hard times.
Hard times.
Hard times made us.

You know that hard times.
Hard times.
Hard times made us.

And I would not trade them all for anything.
Uncle Sam.
Well he aint no kin to me.
And what we have.
Is a crisis of authority.
Its a crisis of authority.

Hard times.
Hard times.
Hard times made us.

You know that hard times.
Hard times.
Hard times made us.

And I would not trade them all for anything.

8. Lifetime Underground

Song Lyrics

I've played in bars and nursing homes.
And train station's out west.
Carnivals and backyard fires.
And everywhere else in between.

Bless the ones who help the cause.
And damn those hearts of stone.
Couches, floors, and fold out beds.
Just thankful for a place to lay my head.

I miss my farm and family.
The hills and the woods.
I got a girl back there who's good to me.
And I'd be there right now if I could.

I spent a lifetime underground.
And I don't want no grave.
Just throw my ashes in the field.
And hope there's some soil left to save.

I just hope there's some soil left to save.

9. Let the Rain Come In

Song Lyrics

Open up the door.
And let the sound come in.
I can hear the owls.
And the dogs again.
And they sing.
And they shout.
When the moon is out.

Open up a window.
And let the storm come in.
I need to feel the water.
On my skin.
And the crops need help.
To grow.
And this rain's gonna make it so.

I can see the setting sun.
And I know my days are done.
But let it be said.
That I got no regrets.
And I made good on what I owe.
And let it be known.
That this places was not my home.
That this place was not my home.

10. A Good Day to Die

Song Lyrics

It was a beautiful day.
And the sun was shining high.
Not a cloud up above.
It was a good day to die.

And I got my chores done.
I got the horses fed.
I took a swim in the pond.
Just to clear out my head.

It was good day to die.
It was good day to die.
And lord knows I gave it my hardest try.
But its a good day to die.

It was a beautiful day.
And now the mood is shining bright.
And I got my boots on.
Its a good day to day.

It was a good day to die.
It was a good day to die.
And it will all be good by and by.
Its a good day to die.

It was a good day to die.
Its a good day to die.
And it will all be good by and by.
Its a good day to die.