Transcription
Songs of Bill MorrisseyThe Complete Songbook“And there ain’t much to ice fishingTill you miss a day or moreAnd the hole you cut freezes overand it’s like you have never been there before”***"I don't know what happened or what I did wrongBut you know me I'll get it into a song”
Table of ContentsForeword by David HannersA poem by Greg BrownSongs by alphabetical orderSongs by album1. Bill Morrissey (1984)2. North (1986)3. Standing Eight (1989)4. Bill Morrissey (re-recording for CD of original album, 1991)5. Inside (1992)6. Friend Of Mine (with Greg Brown) (1993)7. Night Train (1993)8. You'll Never Get To Heaven (1996)9. Songs Of Mississippi John Hurt (1999)10. Something I Saw Or Thought I Saw (2001)11. Bill Morrissey: The Essential Collectionwith complete liner notes (2004)12. Come Running (2007)13. Bonus tracksAll songs by Bill Morrissey, except otherwise notedPublished by Dry Fly Music/BMI, administered by Bug MusicLyrics printed with permissionCompiled by Hervé Oudet, February 14, 2013“It was a miracle to my young eyes on St. Valentine's Day”Thanks to Ellen Karas, Annie Provenzano, Peter Keane, Diane Juster, Ron Mura,David Evpak, Connie Fredericks & Herb Van Dam, Knut Andre & Jan Kristoffer Daleand Ramcey Rodriguez, and all the good folks on the Birches listSpecial thanks to Greg Brown and David HannersHervé’s very special thanks go to Bill’s mother, Mrs. Marion Morrissey,and his brother, Thomas l-Morrissey1
Foreword by David HannersBack to topThese are Bill Morrissey’s songs, but he gave them to us. When you read them allin one volume, you can’t help but feel the weight of quality. We all had our reasons forliking Bill’s music, but the thing that got our attention and kept it was the fact he was adamn good storyteller.We hang on to these stories because they are our own. Bill wrote and sang abouteveryday people mired in the good and the bad and the mundane, the small heroics andsmall failures of everyday life. His characters reflect our own strengths andshortcomings, and that is why Bill's writing speaks to us and why we always wantedmore.It is great to see these songs compiled in one place. Bill’s songs are important,and we can read them and be reminded, page after page, just what Bill's music means tous — and, we hope, what it will mean to new generations of fans. His songs are aboutlife, so they should live on.David Hanners, a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, was born and raised in Casey, Ill., andnow lives in St. Paul, Minn.www.davidhanners.comParis, April 2005 Annie Provenzano2
A poem by Greg BrownBack to topBillPain down in him rang like a church bell,sang like a little river, flowing on & on,rolled like a loop in a well cast flyline.All still here but Bill is gone.Sang like barbwire hit with a walking stick,sang like midnight talking to the dawn,sang like an old man though he never was one.All still here but Bill is gone.Wrote songs like the dirt & granite he came from,songs like mill town boards, rough sawn,songs built to last through years of hard weather.In them he lives, & will never be gone.--------------Greg BrownIowa City, 02/08/2013Walden Festival in Concord, MA, 1991 Diane Juster3
Songs by alphabetical orderBack to album 36.37.38.39.40.41.42.23rd StreetA Problem With LogicAin't Life A Brook (Ferron)Amnesia (Bill Morrissey & Nick Klaus)As Long As The SunAshes, Grain And SandAvalon Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)Baby, Please Don't Go (Trad.)BarstowBeulah Land (Mississippi John Hurt)Big Leg Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)Big Leg IdaBirchesBlues In The MorningBoston EyesBroken Waltz TimeBuddy Bolden's BluesBy The Grave Of BaudelaireCanal StreetCar And DriverCasey, IllinoisChameleon BluesClosed-Down MillCoffee Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)Cold, Cold NightDangerous WayDarlin' LisaDeath LetterDifferent CurrencyDuncan And Brady (Trad.)Ellen's TuneEverybody Warned MeFiftyFirst Shot Missed Him (Mississippi John Hurt)Fishing A Stream I Once Fished As A KidFishing With Bill (Greg Brown)Fix Your Hair The Way You Used ToFunky Butt (Mississippi John Hurt)Gambler's BluesGirls Of Santa FeGood Morning, Miss Carrie (Mississippi John Hurt)Grizzly 6151127254
6.77.78.79.80.81.82.83.84.85.86.87.Handsome MollyHang Me, Oh Hang Me (trad.)Harry's Last CallHe Drinks AloneHe Was A Friend Of Mine (trad.)He's Not From Kansas CityHey, Honey, Right Away (Mississippi John Hurt)Hills Of TuscanyHolden's BluesHot Times In The Old Town (Mississippi John Hurt)I Ain't WalkingI Was A FoolIce FishingIf You Don't Want Me (Mississippi John Hurt)I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (H. Williams & F. Rose)I'm Satisfied (Mississippi John Hurt)InsideIt's Dangerous Out ThereJoe Turner Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)John HaberJohnny's TuneJudgment DayJust Before We Lost The WarJust TodayLast Day Of The Last FurloughLetter From HeavenLittle Bit Of WhiskeyLittle Red Rooster (Willie Dixon)Live Free Or Die (Bill Morrissey & Trigger Cook)Long GoneLouis Collins (Mississippi John Hurt)Love ArrivesLove Song/New York, 1982Man From Out Of TownMarigold Hall (Bill Morrissey & Cormac McCarthy)Married For MoneyMarried Man (Bill Morrissey & Cormac McCarthy)Memphis, Tennessee (Chuck Berry)MobileMonday Morning Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)Morrissey Falls In Love At First SightMotels And PlanesMoving DayMy Baby And MeMy Old 0126184713421365
8.129.130.131.132.New Walking BluesNight ShiftNight TrainNorthOff-WhiteOil MoneyPanthervilleParty At The U.N.Pay Day (Mississippi John Hurt)PicnicRite Of SpringRobert JohnsonRosieRun You Through The MillSandyShake That Thing (Mississippi John Hurt)She Moved Through The FairShe's That Kind Of MysteryShe's Your Baby NowSister JoSmall Town On The RiverSnow Outside The MillSo Many ThingsSt. Valentine's DaySummer NightSummer Wages (Ian Tyson)Summer's Jumped All Over MeTexas BluesThe Driver's SongThe Packard CompanyThe Road (Danny O'Keefe)The Trailer ParkThese Cold FingersThirty YearsTime To Go HomeTom Dula (Frank Profitt)Traveling By CabTurn And SpinUp On The C.P. LineVictory At SeaWaiting For The RainWalk Down These StreetsWhen Summer's EndedWill You Be My Rose?Winter 7981011411066
133.134.135.Winter SongYou Can't Always Get What You Want (Jagger & Richards)You'll Never Get To Heaven13377102With Peter Keane (left) and Greg Brown7
Songs by albumBack to album listBill Morrissey1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.BarstowSmall Town On The RiverDarlin' LisaOil MoneyMorrissey Falls In Love At First SightTexas BluesMy Baby And MeThe Packard CompanyA Problem With LogicRun You Through The MillGrizzly BearRosie141516171819212223242526 Ren Norton13. Live Free Or Die (Bill Morrissey & Trigger Cook)14. Little Bit Of Whiskey15. Amnesia (Bill Morrissey & Nick Klaus)2728298
North1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.PanthervilleIt's Dangerous Out ThereNight ShiftMarried Man (Bill Morrissey & Cormac McCarthy)Ice FishingMy Old TownNorthShe Moved Through The FairHe Drinks AloneSnow Outside The MillFishing A Stream I Once Fished As A Kid3132333435363738394041Standing Eight1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.Handsome MollyLove Song/New York, 1982Party At The U.N.Last Day Of The Last FurloughMotels And PlanesUp On The C.P. LineSummer NightShe's That Kind Of MysteryGirls Of Santa FeThe Driver's SongCar And DriverJohn HaberShe's Your Baby NowThese Cold .6.7.8.9.10.11.12.InsideEverybody Warned MeOff-WhiteGambler's BluesLong GoneMan From Out Of TownRite Of SpringRobert JohnsonHang Me, Oh Hang Me (trad.)Chameleon BluesSister JoCasey, Illinois5859606162636465666768699
Friend Of MineDue to copyright issues, , some lyrics could not be reprinted1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.Ain't Life A Brook (Ferron)Little Red Rooster (Willie Dixon)He Was A Friend Of Mine (trad.)Memphis, Tennessee (Chuck Berry)The Road (Danny O'Keefe)You Can't Always Get What You Want (Jagger / Richards)Duncan And BradyTom Dula (Frank Profitt)Summer Wages (Ian Tyson)I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (H. Williams & F. Rose)Fishing With Bill (Greg Brown)Baby, Please Don't Go717374757677787980818284Night Train1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.Night TrainSandyBirchesCold, Cold NightLetter From HeavenEllen's TuneSo Many ThingsLove ArrivesBlues In The MorningBroken Waltz TimeWalk Down These StreetsTime to Go Home868788919293949596979899You'll Never Get To Heaven1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.When Summer's EndedYou'll Never Get to HeavenMarried For MoneyAs Long As The SunAshes, Grain And SandWinter LaundryWaiting For The RainDifferent CurrencyHills Of TuscanyClosed-Down MillTurn And SpinBig Leg Ida10110210310410510610710810911011111210
Songs Of Mississippi John HurtDue to copyright issues, lyrics could not be reprinted1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.If You Don't Want MeAvalon BluesShake That ThingLouis CollinsFirst Shot Missed HimBig Leg BluesHey, Honey, Right AwayJoe Turner BluesI'm SatisfiedBeulah LandFunky ButtCoffee BluesMonday Morning BluesGood Morning, Miss CarrieHot Times In The Old omething I Saw Or Thought I Saw1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.23rd StreetHarry's Last CallJust Before We Lost The WarWinter SongMoving DayBuddy Bolden's BluesSt. Valentine's DayTraveling By CabFix Your Hair The Way You Used ToJudgment DayMobileWill You Be My Rose?130131132133134135136137138139140141Bill Morrissey: The Essential Collection1.2.3.Liner NotesFiftyJust TodayBoston Eyes14314614714811
Come Running1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.I Ain't WalkingThirty YearsDangerous WayHolden's BluesHe's Not From Kansas CitySummer's Jumped All Over MeBy The Grave Of BaudelaireCanal StreetI Was A FoolDeath LetterVictory At SeaNew Walking BluesJohnny's 2.3.4.5.6.7.Little Bit Of WhiskeyLive Free Or Die (Bill Morrissey & Trigger Cook)Amnesia (Bill Morrissey & Nick Klaus)Marigold Hall (Bill Morrissey & Cormac McCarthy)PicnicThe Trailer ParkPay Day (Mississippi John Hurt)28272816616716816912
BILL MORRISSEY (1984)Re-recording for CD of original album, 2/27/1991Back to album list Ren Norton1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.BarstowSmall Town On The RiverDarlin' LisaOil MoneyMorrissey Falls In Love At First SightTexas BluesMy Baby And MeThe Packard CompanyA Problem With LogicRun You Through The MillGrizzly BearRosieExtra songs, recorded on 2/27/9113. Little Bit Of Whiskey14. Live Free Or Die (Bill Morrissey & Trigger Cook)15. Amnesia (Bill Morrissey & Nick Klaus)13
1. Barstow(Back to album tracklist — Back to album list)Here comes Parks and he's found another bottleHe tips it up like a trumpet, he takes a drink and passes it onAnd every man around the fire takes a chorus on the bottleIt ain't much, it ain't good but it'll get us through till dawnDon't the freight yard sound like a drunk in a metal shopI can't believe it gets this cold in BarstowAnd I can't believe I pissed my twenties awayIf you take me back this timeBaby, I promise you. I'll stayParks takes another drink and starts to sing off keyThere's not a man around the fire big enough to shut him upAnd in the cold morn he's singing, "Hey Okie, tell ArkieTexas found a job in Californ"And everybody around the fire cracks upAnd then Parks hands me the bottle He says, "I'm gone to TucsonHole up all winter at the Sally if I canI don't mind the prayin' and I don't mind sayin'I can listen forever to that Sally brass ban"And then Parks starts laughing hard but he doesn't make a soundHe grabs the bottle back and kills the last of the wineIn the fire glow I can see his eyes and they shine like brake lightsAnd I am just glad that I cannot see mine14
2. Small Town On The River(Back to album tracklist — Back to album list)They used to come to town from the naval baseLooking for a stiff drink and a pretty faceHang around the whorehouses all night longSome were drifters and some were bumsSome just waited for the war to comeOut behind the factory with a bottle and a factory girlIn that small town on the riverJust a small town on the riverThat December war broke outMany a woman lost her manSome wrote from overseas, some didn’tAnd their women didn’t understandAnd the whores left for the harbor townsWhere the business was still goodAnd the factory girls put in double shiftsWorked as much as they couldWell, some came men came home acesAnd some were carried homeAll of them were heroesNo man was left aloneSome took jobs, some went to schoolSome found they’d fathered kidsWell, most men tried but could not forgetAnd some wound up on the skidsForty years later the town remains the sameOne mill burnt down, another one was builtThe paychecks now come from a different nameAnd at the Eagles and the Legion HallNo-one seems to ageWith the same jokes told and the TV onThe paper open to the sports pageAnd I was talking to the bartender last night at the PACA navy man from World War TwoSharp dresser, though he didn’t have to beAnd over a double bourbonHe said ‘”I’ll tell you man to manThe town died forty years ago, sonGet out while you canIt’s that small town on the riverNothing but a small town on the river15
3. Darlin’ Lisa(Back to album tracklist — Back to album list)Well I’ve got a house way up NorthI’ve got yards and fencesI’ve got a wife who singsLike thirteen drunken Joseph SpencesOh, my little darli
Chameleon Blues 67 11. Sister Jo 68 12. Casey, Illinois 69 . 10 Friend Of Mine Due to copyright issues, , some lyrics could not be reprinted 1. Ain't Life A Brook (Ferron) 71 2. Little Red Rooster (Willie Dixon) 73 3. He Was A Friend Of Mine (trad.) 74 4. Memphis, Tennessee (Chuck Berry) 75 5. The Road (Danny O'Keefe) 76 6. You Can't Always Get What You Want (Jagger / Richards) 77 7. Duncan .
