Get all 16 R.O. Shapiro releases available on Bandcamp and save 10%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of King Electric Sessions, Super Bowl Sunday (EP), Kindly, Can I Come Over?, Hickory Wind (Cover), Take Me Down, Younger Then, Running Around, and 8 more.
1. |
Tired Man
04:07
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I am a tired man
I am expired, man
I am a tired man, more tired than you know
I'd like to come and see you, but I'm moving far too slow, oh far too slow
I am a fathered man
I can't be bothered, man
I am a fathered man, my father's only son
He said you'll get your paycheck when the working day is done
Ah but we ain't making money, no we're having too much fun, oh too much fun
And I said no man
Don't get my hopes up yet
I'm just as late as all the nights I'd just as soon forget
I am exquisite man
I'm last year's visit, man
I am exquisite like a coin that's just been tost
But tell me how much is it man I'd like to know the cost
'cause I'm stuck here in this blizzard and I'm feeling rather lost, oh mighty lost
And I said no man
Don't leave me in this snow
I'm just as bad as all the friends I'd just as well not know
I am a rendered man
I am bewildered, I am bewildered man
I am a red dirt man, my body made of clay
Your fingers helped to shape me, now it seems I'm here to stay
But I fear that if I linger, soon I'll have to go away
Ah let's think on that tomorrow, it's not a worry for today, no not today
'cause I'll say no man
Don't make me quit this place
I'm just as late as all the days I'd just as soon erase
Yeah I'm just as late as all the days I'd just as soon erase
And I said no man
And I said no man
And I said no man
And I said no man
And I said no man, don't get my hopes up yet
I am a tired man
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2. |
Monster
05:22
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Here I am again,
naked in the pale moonlight
whiskey makes my teeth grow sharp
careful I might bite
Hair's getting in my eyes
can't see the forest for the trees
weight of your world is on my shoulders now, darling
it's making me shaky at the knees
And the devil's here now
he's in my bones
so don't you worry 'bout me
no, I'm never all alone
and I'm howling out your name
but it's time that you've been shown
That I'm a Monster
I got no right
to call you up this late at night
I'm a monster
and that's a fact
so if I run, don't chase me back
Here we go again
faster than a westbound train
grass is getting caught between my claws now, darling
cold blood is pumping through my veins
And the devil's fine now
he's by my side
don't you worry 'bout me
this ain't the first time that I cried
and I'm howling out your name
but I think you'd better hide
Cause I'm a Monster
I got no right
to call you up, this late at night
I'm a monster
and that's a fact
so if I run, don't chase me back
The mob is gaining ground
might as well tie me to my stake
my evil eyes are closing now, darling
but this beastly heart of mine won't break
And the devil's wise now
he says beware
but don't you worry 'bout me
no, I know what's fair is fair
and I'm howling out your name
but you know you should be scared
Cause I'm a Monster
I got no right
to call you up, this late at night
I'm a monster
and that's a fact
so if I run, don't chase me back
No don't chase me back
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3. |
Pinewood
04:57
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Well you know when I'm dying
leave room for my tombstone
in a cold country graveyard where the sun never shines
'cause I hope where I'm lying
is terrible lonesome
I've never known some place i can call mine
and it's about time
I know you're sick of my crying
so I'll leave with no warning
and I'll drive until morning til I'm free of the crowds
I'll watch the pigeons go flying
at the sight of my headlights
I'll go riding through dead nights with the radio loud
at a speed not allowed
When I'm alone, all alone in Manhattan
not a taxi will take me, I'm caught in the rain
going home, no matter what happens
there's a pinewood box calling my name
This ain't a city of prophets
it's just a place of forgetting
all the bad news you're getting's been lost on the wire
I ain't afraid of no coffin
it's just a room with no windows
and I'll go where the wind blows til my license expires
then I'll climb even higher
but my mind is in gridlock
with no way of escaping
cause the sky that I'm scraping's been covered in clouds
and I'll keep talkin that big talk
but I won't lie when I'm done in
cause that river keeps runnin' me back to the crowds
got no time to be proud
when you're alone, all alone in Manhattan
not a taxi will take you, you're caught in the rain
goin home, no matter what happens
there's a pinewood box calling your name
I'll climb my way out of this hole
that I dug for myself
I got dirt on my hands
I've got a dangerous soul
and I'm going to hell
yeah I know where I stand
Fate ain't to blame for my crimes,
it's not the cards I was dealt
yeah I'll shoulder my load
and if you're a good friend of mine
then just drink to my health
before I hit the road
cause I'm alone, all alone in Manhattan
not a taxi will take me, I'm caught in the rain
going home, no matter what happens
there's a pinewood box calling my name
Oh it's calling my name, my name
that pinewood box is calling
my name
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4. |
John Brown's Beach
03:57
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Big John Brown was buried by the beach
his bones were washed by the waves
and each night a breeze comes a-whistlin' through the trees
and shakes them shells on his grave
Big John Brown had silver in his teeth
but he came up north for the gold
he'd dig and search, but he always went to church
knew that money couldn't save his soul
On John Brown's Beach you gotta practice what you preach
before you swim you better pray
'cause it's the secret we keep, the dead don't stay asleep
oh your maker's gonna come someday
John Brown's dog was foaming at the mouth
had a belly full of clay
he heard a whistling sound come from deep underground
he knew his master had gone astray
John Brown's wife was dreaming of the south
every morning she would cry
she had mountains to climb, but she hadn't the time
to hang her laundry to dry
On John Brown's Beach you gotta practice what you preach
before you swim you better pray
'cause it's the secret we keep, the dead don't stay asleep
oh your maker's gonna come someday, day, day
your maker's gonna come someday
John Brown's son was headed to the war
learned to fire, but not to burn
he wasn't driven by hate, he just didn't wanna wait
for his daddy to return
If John Brown was standing on the shore
would your hair stand right on end
would you sound the alarm before coming to harm
or would you greet the ghost as a friend?
Oh would you greet the ghost as a friend
Well Big John Brown was buried by the beach
his bones were washed by the waves
and each night a breeze comes a-whistlin' through the trees
and shakes them shells on his grave, grave, grave
Shakes them shells on his grave
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5. |
Carry Me Over
03:30
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Carry me over
don't let me down
Carry me over
I don't wanna touch the ground
Bonnie said to Clyde, boy I love you but you better run
they got our pictures in the paper and our story's already been spun
but Clyde just sighed, and then replied
girl you're gonna spoil the fun
and the pen might beat the sword, but Bonnie babe I've got a gun
He said
Carry me over
just shut up and drive
Carry me over
I just wanna stay alive
Bobby said to Joanie, why you lyin' wide awake at night?
I got a lullaby to sing you, but the words ain't comin out right
but Joan just moaned, and then intoned
I'd rather pick a tune than a fight
I'm wearing boots of spanish leather, and the boots are feelin' awful tight
She said
Carry me over
just lay me down
Carry me over
I don't wanna hear a sound
Jackie said to Johnny, are you sorry that we went to war?
I've seen the soldiers on the TV, and I wondered what we're doin' this for.
but John just yawned, and then went on,
girl you know we've been here before
and the people think it's waving, but our flag is draggin' on the floor
and now nation knows I'm lying, so I'm crawlin', Jackie, out the door
He said
Cover me over
bury me deep
Cover me over
I just wanna get some sleep
Carry me over
don't shoot me down
Carry me over
I don't wanna hit the ground
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6. |
Diamonds, Pt. 1
04:06
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I walked through a river of diamonds
I could see the sand below
Walkin' through that river of diamonds
Wasn't sure just where id go
And it swept me up
And it knocked me down
And it chewed me up
And it spit me out
Here lies a man with his head in the sand
Here lies a man with his head in the sand
I crawled into a cave of misfortune
Couple dollars in my hand
Crawlin' in to that cave of misfortune
Money makes it hard to stand
And the cave was dark
So I took my cash
And I lit a spark
Turned it all to ash
Here lies a man with his head in the sand
Here lies a man with his head in the sand
It's a time that's meant for sorrow
It's a time for myself
I know this time tomorrow
I'll be far 'way somewhere else
There's a song I need to borrow
Yeah, I'll keep it on my shelf
There's not a lot that I know
But I know this is what I want to sing
I flew past a mountain of troubles
I could see snow on its peak
Flyin' past that mountain of troubles
I could feel my wings, my wings, my wings were weak
And the wind was strong
So I lost my way
Now the journeys long
I got no place to stay
Here lies a man with his head in the sand
Here lies a man with his head in the sand
Here lies a man with his head in the sand
I've never had much luck before
When j see an open door, I lace up my boots and I run
Now I'm sailing towards a distant shore, just tryin to even up the score
Dig up my roots and I'm done
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7. |
Diamonds, Pt. 2
01:37
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It's a time that's meant for sorrow
It's a time for myself
I know this time tomorrow
I'll be far 'way somewhere else
There's a song I need to borrow
Yeah, I'll keep it on my shelf
There's not a lot that I know
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R.O. Shapiro Los Altos, California
He's a native son of Long Island; a lifelong performer with Shakespeare in his past and Americana music in his present; a resident of Austin, TX; a Soul singer and a Song Writer; a slow writer and a dog owner; a defensive driver, a highway regular, a ghost; a low-mood monster and a mediocre meditator; a food nut; a DylanPrineWelchBrowneYoungAdams wannabe, soon-to-be. Wait and see. ... more
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