Catch the Squirrel
Rusty Hearse (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
My hearse is gettin’ rusty…
I need a few bucks
My hearse is gettin’ rusty…
I’m runnin’ out of luck
Expensive tolls in Jersey, no end in sight. My hearse is gettin’ rusty…
Looks like I’m running into nothin’ but red lights
My hearse is gettin’ rusty, some say it’s a sign
I gotta do some busking, but the trains not on time
My tank is on empty, no pumps in sight
The sirens are calling, keep me company at night… keep me company at night.
Got my suit in a pawn shop, had to hock my guitar
My hearse is gettin’ rusty… My daisies are wilting in broken jars
Down the bowlin’ alley, tied to the pins
Blindman’s at the ball, knock me down with my sins
Not a preacher or a wise man, could ever save me now
No ‘bituary, this king has no crown… this king has no crown
My hearse is gettin’ rusty, I need a few bucks
My hearse is gettin’ rusty, I’m runnin’ out of luck
Expensive tolls in Jersey, no end in sight
The sirens are calling, keep me company at night
Looks like I’m running into nothin’ but red lights (rpt)
Lyrics, Music & Arrangement By:
© 2004 Jeremy J. dePrisco
On the Edge (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
Where the ground shakes, smoke rising up to meet you
Vampire stakes, on your grill they eat you
Clock tower clicking, church bells ringing
Heaven can wait, but hell wants to sing
Stretch yourself thin, step right up
What do you win, what’s in your cup?
On the edge of greatness being much but becoming more
Sails are tight and the wind is right, we’re ready to leave for the shore
Where the sun shines, mist rising up from the sea
Jellyfish sting, horseshoe crabs clamoring
Tide pools tickling, every wave is licking
Limbo can wait – purgatory wants to sing
Stretch yourself loose, take off your shoes
What do you see, what are the clues?
On the edge of the boardwalk, more in touch than I was before
Stars at night and the wind is right
Now I’ve got sand in my shorts
On the edge of greatness being much but becoming more
Sails are tight and the wind is right, we’re ready to leave for the shore
Lyrics, Music & Arrangement By:
© 2004 Jeremy J. dePrisco ASCAP
Once in a While (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
The rain it falls, the river floods
Wearin’ hand-me-downs, on the ground
Now I’m stuck in the mud
Old Jack Brown, came to town
Old Jack Brown, made a sound
Now there’s no one around
Once in a while, gotta let your guard down
Once in a while, gotta let your guard down
Got a one-eyed dog, he’s my friend
Sittin’ on a log, out in the fog, waitin’ for the end
Judgement day, on it’s way
Wasn’t yesterday or today
When, the preacher didn’t say
Gotta let your guard down, once in a while
Gotta let your guard down, once in a while
Farmer Jim, lookin’ real slim
Crops didn’t grow, look at the shape he’s in
Plowin’ Joe, lookin’ for a hoe
December’s gonna go, for sure he knows
Got some seeds to sow
Lyrics, Music & Arrangement By:
© 2004 Jeremy J. dePrisco
Going Down to Smyrna (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
I’m living with a sucker, living with a snitch
A bunch of bootlickers, and a son of a bitch
47 years old, and 3 squares day
20 years in, and a few on the way
Got in a fight, punched the other guy, cuffed me and stuffed me, cause he died
Gotta cowboy up, gotta be brave
My woman’s at my side, good thing Jesus saves
Goin’ gown to Smyrna (RPT)
Every week that passes is another week behind
All the bad drags, and the good flies by
They’ll throw you in the mhu, throw you in the shu
The guards don’t give a shit if you come back black and blue
On the outside the landscape may change
On the inside, everything remains the same
Write me a postcard… send me some pictures so I can see
What I am missing… Goin’ down to Smyrna
It might be hard to believe;
They were cheering when the towers fell
Don’t believe in no Shawshank Redemption
All these boys are goin’ to Hell.
In the chow hall they were skimpy with my plate.
But I controlled my anger and my hate
Maybe if I’m lucky, they’ll give me some “good time”
A case of state paper for me to write
On the outside the landscape may change
On the inside, everything remains the same
Write me a postcard… send me some pictures so I can see
What I am missing… CHORUS
Lyrics, Music & Arrangement By:
© 2004 Jeremy J. dePrisco
Album: Catch the Squirrel
Satyananda (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
There’s a Fakir in the street, doing lots of tricks
He’ll tell you your fortune for rupees sixty-six
There’s a Fakir in the market, speaking to the gods
He’ll heal you of your ailments using chants and a nod
Satyananda… Satyananda
There’s a Fakir in the street, bootlegging our emotions
He’ll claim you’ve got to come to him for all his fancy potions
There’s a Fakir in the market, selling us moon shine
He’ll cripple you with superstition, and leave you all the time
Satyananda… Satyananda
These fakirs in the streets, capture all the attention
These whores in the streets, foster all the transgression
Keep your money in your pocket, keep the shadows on the wall
Keep your eyes wide open, no ascension without a fall
Satyananda… Satyananda
There’s a Fakir in our midst, he looks like one of us
He’s disguised like a man of god,
There’s a Fakir in our living room, giving his address
He’s laughing to the bank while you’re still depressed
Satyananda… Satyananda
Lyrics, Music & Arrangement By:
© 2006 Jeremy J. dePrisco ASCAP
A Fairytale (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
The butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker,
said the Devil dinned my wife.
And the Three Bears gave me Goldilocks stares,
as I walked her home tonight.
And it seems like I’m living in a fairytale.
It seems like I’m living in a dream.
I’ve seen Mother Goose take a sip of moo-juice,
while Jack Rabbit held her tight.
And I’ve been told that I’m losing my hold,
and ya know, I think they’re right!
Chorus Cause it seems like I’m living in a fairytale,
It seems like I’m living in a dream.
It seems like I’m living in a fairytale.
My life is not what it seems. (Ride E)
I’ve got strange thoughts going through my mind,
Oh, no… I couldn’t think that.
I’ll just sit here and twiddle my thumbs,
like the canary who ate the cat.
Chorus
Lyrics, Music & Arrangement By:
© 1993 Jeremy J. dePrisco
Cold Cold Night (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
I can’t sleep tonight, in my bed
Your voice like heroin rings in my head
I walk the floorboards and count my steps
And call your name under my breath
Cold… Cold Cold Night
I don’t own this skin, I just rest within
Earth don’t give nothing it don’t steal or give
Rob you of everything and steal your life
Why can’t it steal the sorrow from this night?
You quiet the ghosts, inside my head
Make me remember and then make me forget
It’s time, it’s time that does us wrong
But time is too long now that you’re gone.
Cold… Cold Cold Night
“Cold Cold Night” written by Dan Cantrell, Bellowhead Records (ASCAP) © 2002 Dan Cantrell
Arranged by Jeremy dePrisco for Catch the Squirrel.
Used by permission.
Something in This House (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
There’s something in this house
Something I can’t find
There’s something in this house, it’s taken from me…
All of the time
There’s something in this room, something in the air
There’s something in this room, I can’t touch it but I…
Know it’s there
See them in the doorway, apparitions stare
See them in the hallway hanging in midair
There’s something in your heart, something silent that screams
There’s something in your heart, it keeps pumping and it…
Disturbs your dreams
Something in your mind, a torrent creating the waves
Something in your mind, you’ll forget about it one of these days
Chorus
Something in this house (all of the time)
Something I can’t find (I know it’s there)
Something in this house (disturbs your dreams)
It’s taken from me all of the time (one of these days) (Ride D, End on Em)
Lyrics, Music & Arrangement By:
© 2006 Jeremy J. dePrisco ASCAP
Jockey Full Of Bourbon (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
Edna Million in a drop dead suit, Dutch Pink on a downtown train
Two dollar pistol but the gun won’t shoot, I’m in the corner on the pouring rain
Sixteen men on a dead man’s chest And I’ve been drinking from a broken cup
Two pairs of pants and a mohair vest, I’m full of bourbon, I can’t stand up
CHORUS
Hey little bird, fly away home
Your house is on fire, children are alone
Hey little bird, fly away home
Your house is on fire, your children are alone
Schiffer broke a bottle on Morgan’s head
And I’m stepping on the devil’s tail
Across the stripes of a full moon’s head
And through the bars of a Cuban jail
Bloody fingers on a purple knife
Flamingo drinking from a cocktail glass
I’m on the lawn with someone else’s wife
Admire the view from up on top of the mast
Hey little bird, fly away home
House is on fire, children are alone
Hey little bird, fly away home
House is on fire, your children are alone, hey
I said, hey little bird, fly away home
Your house is on fire, your children are alone
Hey little bird, fly away home
House is on fire, your children are alone
Yellow sheets on a Hong Kong bed
Stazybo horn and a Slingerland ride
“To the carnival” is what she said
A hundred dollars makes it dark inside
Edna Million in a drop dead suit
Dutch Pink on a downtown train
Two dollar pistol but the gun won’t shoot
I’m in the corner on the pouring rain
Hey little bird, fly away home
Your house is on fire, your children are alone
Hey little bird, fly away home
Your house is on fire, your children are alone
Written by: Tom Waits
Published by: Jalma Music (ASCAP), © 1985-1998
Official release:”Rain Dogs”, Island Records Inc., 1985 &
“Beautiful Maladies”, Island Records Inc., 1998
Arranged by Jeremy dePrisco for the CD Catch the Squirrel
Ox Drivin’ Blues (Whoa Back Buck) (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
Tom done buck and Bill won’t pull,
Papa gonna cut him another little bull.
Whoa buck, back, gee, by Lamb!
Who made the back-bend? Whoa, goddamn!
Whoa buck, back, gee, by Lamb!
Who made the back-bend? Whoa, goddamn!
Eighteen, nineteen, twenty years ago,
I taken Sal to the party-o,
I taken Sal to the party-o,
Wouldn’t let her dance but a set or so.
Me and my gal come a-walkin’ down the road,
Wind from her feet knockin’ Sugar In The Gourd,
Sugar in the gourd and the gourd on the ground,
Wanna get the sugar, gotta roll the gourd around.
Chicken in the bread-tray, mighty good stuff,
Mama cook a chicken an’ she never get enough,
Jawbone eatin’ and jawbone talk,
Jawbone eatin’ with a knife and a fork
Eighteen, nineteen, twenty years ago,
I taken Sal to the party-o,
Sugar in the gourd and the gourd on the ground,
Want to get the sugar gotta roll the gourd around.
“Ox Drivin’ Blues” (aka “Whoa Back Buck”) H. Ledbetter, J.A. Lomax, A. Lomax; Cromwell Music Inc. Obo Folkways Music Publishers, Inc. (ASCAP) Used by permission.
Arranged by Jeremy dePrisco for Catch the Squirrel.
Shotgun Shack (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
This room is my shotgun shack, wall paper peeling back, lighting fades to black
Heat is running low, vodka sipping slow, sheltered from the snow
There’s wax in the rug, the spider kills the bugs with the web they sew
My little shadow box, no one ever knocks, time to check the locks
The undertaker stares across Whitman Avenue
Business has been good, there’s nothin’ you can do
Stained glass stares through stormy night
Jesus has been good, is he up tonight?
Whisky bitter sweet and the cold winds blow
I’ll just prop up my feet and watch the sky snow
Children of the moon playing on the roof, bodies sinking low
Ceiling has some cracks, from all their jumping jacks, and their sticks and stones
Candles melting gold, stories never told, the room is getting cold
Tried to take a knap, until I heard the snap of the ice flows
Through the wind and rain, the children end their game, but the dog barks.
I’m the only one who knows why the moon glows, cause I’m the spark
Chorus
This room is my shotgun shack,
wall paper peeling back, lighting fades to black (Em)
Lyrics, Music & Arrangement by:
© 2003 Jeremy J. dePrisco ASCAP
Black & White (from the album Catch the Squirrel)
He looks up to the sky
Then he looks into her eyes
Will she put up a fight?
Is it ever wrong to wish for what’s right?
She looks out to the West
So much doubt on her chest
When will she ever rest?
Is it ever wrong to wish for what’s best?
Not as simple as black and white
A second chance for second sight
Writing a song and a play
Never to be sung or acted anyway
They wake up to a brighter day
Filled with more than shades of gray
They skip town to take their last chance
When the chemistry’s right, love makes demands
When the chemistry’s right, love makes demands
Writing a song and a play
Never to be sung or acted anyway
Lyrics, Music & Arrangement By:
© 2006 Jeremy J. dePrisco ASCAP