Sunday, November 12, 2023

Three Bucks on Pump 10…

 So, thanks to my friend Mark Stone for inspiring this idea - which started with his observation at a Quick Trip that sounded to me like a country song.


Three bucks on pump 10 and a pack of Marlboros


It’s been a hard minute, been a rough go

Can’t ask for no help now from nobody I know

My wife left the house, took all I had

And I’m headed to work with what’s left of my pride

Hoping just to make it, just to survive


Since she left me running on empty - literally moving on fumes, can’t catch a break and still need a light.  Maybe some smokes can set something right. 

So gimme three bucks on pump 10 and a pack of Marlboros, tonight


I can’t afford whiskey 

don’t got money for beer

But nicotine will have to get by 

until i get miles from here,

gotta make headway 

before I drown in these tears

It don’t feel like much, but it’ll have to do 

Just need a bit, one thing at a time


She left me running on empty, literally moving on fumes, I can’t catch a break and still need a light.  Maybe some smokes can set something right. 

So gimme three bucks on pump 10 and a pack of Marlboros, tonight


Friend - I don’t know if you’ve been in a spot

Where what you got is all you got

But there’s a God that knows your name

If your running on empty 

man, he knows your pain

He won’t leave you empty, 

even when your road gets bumpy

He’ll keep you in the palm of his hand


So for now,

I know what I’ve got ain’t enough to last 

I’m just praying it’ll get me past 

The rough spot I’ve found here tonight

So give me three bucks on pump ten

And a pack a Marlboros, 

And buddy, can you spare a light?


Friday, November 10, 2023

Bad logic

Bad logic


I walked what I thought was the road to success

Followed the American dream 

down the path it leads

I did what I thought I was supposed to

And it didn’t work out


So what do I do now

So what do I do now


I’ve tried to laugh in the face of danger

I thought I could ride on the crest of the waves

Yet I’ve still run into my share of trouble 

And when I’ve looked in the midst of the storm

I’ve seen my own face


So what do I do now 

So what do I do now


There’s times I thought my plan was flawless

And I thought nothing could go wrong

I leaned so far into my own understanding

That it took the stillness of surrender

To hear God’s voice ring out 


So what do I do now

What do I do now


when I really walk with Jesus

When I really see his face 

I’m captured by his goodness

Captured by his grace 

And it’s then in the mending 

that answers are really found


So what do I do now

What do I do now

Creative Differences

 Creative differences


Me and this guitar can’t get along

As we sit here together

Trying to write this song

The ideas up in this head

Can’t make their way down to these frets

My guitar and me, we just can’t get along 


Most of the time I’d say we’re in synch

I grab some chords and this guitar just sings

But perhaps tonight the song is just too heavy

And neither of us can carry

A tune, a tune, a tune


Oh I know the notes are in here

And I know this thing can sing

But tonight every word comes hard 

and somehow every line sounds wrong 

maybe it’s the words and tune

But tonight we can’t agree


Me and this guitar can’t get along

Usually we’re good friends 

But tonight it’s just gone wrong

It started with that last tune

And ended with this song

This guitar and me, we just can’t get along