Get all 74 Stephen Simmons releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Little Bird Singing, Live at Byron's in Pomeroy, Iowa, The One You're Leaving Behind, SMOKE & MIRRORS, Honey From A Spoon, Blackberry Winter & Heartache Stew, Us, Family Album, and 66 more.
Excludes subscriber-only releases.
1. |
The Blame's On U.S.
03:24
|
|||
|
THE BLAME’S ON U.S.
A couple years ago some crazy people knocked our buildings down
A lot of people died and ever since then we’ve been on the prowl
Been on the prowl for vengeance, on the prowl to try to feel secure
But we couldn’t find that Boogeyman and we’re still chasing our cure
Chorus:
So you tell me what’s going on
With the State of our Union, with the state of our home
Somebody tell the President his fifteen minutes are up
God didn’t put you there the blame’s on U.S.
Turn on the TV talking heads with terror alerts on the bottom of the screen
They’re showing people blowing people up no wonder why I can’t get no sleep
It’s no wonder why were all so doped up these days
And those of us who aren’t hope this is the end so they can escape
Chorus
Last night in my dreams I wept as a captive in a strange land
By the rivers of Babylon where my Lord’s song there was demanded
Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth they little ones heads
Against the stones, against thy will, against thy own Lord’s breath
Chorus
|
||||
2. |
Bloody Mess
04:21
|
|||
|
BLOODY MESS
A man in a bar says, “I don’t know, it’s a crazy, mixed up war
At first I thought that we were right, but now I’m not so sure”
His buddy turns and he says “Yeah there’s too many kids been killed
But I’m still afraid to speak out at work and call it what it is”
Chorus:
It’s a bloody mess
We’ve got ourselves into
Can’t get no rest
These days when you watch the news
And all I can do
Is pray for the day when common sense will rule
You turn on the news and you see what’s going on
Political scandals and celebrity news run all day long
Five more Marines died today in bloody ole Baghdad
Countless Sunnis and Shias died too, but who can keep track of all that
Chorus
I don’t care who you voted for, I don’t care where you live
And if I seem to offend you sir, I hope that you’ll forgive
But if a Democrat had launched this war every Republican would call “Bullshit”
So why can’t you and me my friend, just call it what it is
Chorus
And we all guess
That it’s up to someone new
To get us OUT
You can’t rely on a chickenhawk, neocon, lowly squire
To get yourself out of a bloody quagmire
|
||||
3. |
Charlie's Foxhole
02:44
|
|||
|
CHARLIE’S FOXHOLE
Well you get down and you get down real low
The sky lights up you hear them bombs explode
You smell the fear in the air and you’re scared for your soul
Way down here in Charlie’s ole foxhole
There ain’t no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole
There ain’t no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole
You get down and you get tight with the Lord above don’t you know
Yeah there ain’t no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole
Well there’s bullets flying and a picture of your girl
There’s bullets flying and a picture of your girl
When you’re down here the only two things that matter in this world
Are the bullets flying and a picture of your girl
There’s a Sergeant shouting as the firefight erupts
There’s a Sergeant shouting as the firefight erupts
There’s a President sleeping in a feather bed with his toes all curled up
And a Sergeant shouting as the firefight erupts
Well you get down and you get down real low
The sky lights up you hear them bombs explode
You smell the fear in your air and you’re scared for your soul
Way down here in Charlie’s ole foxhole
Hail to the Chief!
|
||||
4. |
Arbusto Blues
02:59
|
|||
|
ARBUSTO BLUES
I started my company
With Daddy’s old money
Looking for Texas tea and black gold
But just like a death wish
In my broken Spanish
I went and named her my beloved Arbusto
Daddy gave me the keys
To the Presidency
Scalia beamed as Reinquist took my oath
But there was a tragedy
And suddenly I was king
So I launched “Operation Arbusto”
Chorus:
Now I got them ole
Dirty Stinking ole
Arbusto Blues
Now I got them ole
Terrible ole
Arbusto Blues
Now I’ll cut your taxes
If you’re in the right bracket
And if you’re big business my doors never closed
Hope one day that history
Will be kind to my Presidency
Hope they don’t label me Arbusto
Chorus
|
||||
5. |
||||
|
OPEN LETTER TO THE TROOPS
Now this is an open letter to the troops
And a new year’s resolution
Lately more and more of us
Have become less and less scared
To speak out about this war
And what’s going on over there
Now this ain’t no protest song
Hell, it’s a song of thanks
To every man and woman in the military
Of every rank
A lot of us thought this war was wrong from the start
We told our friends but we didn’t exactly take it to the streets
The corporate media drowned us out all anyways
Just between you and me
Some people say that we should all just shut up
And sing “Hail To The Chief”
No matter what kinda fool
That the things he does makes him seem to be
But I’m tired of watching this crap play out
Like some kinda Shakespearean tragedy
And some President
Who just seems worried about his own legacy
None of us over here have even been asked to sacrifice
With the exception of your families
We’re not even asked to conserve
Hell, we got tax breaks and they called it ‘relief’
Anyways I guess all I’m trying to say
Is ‘thanks a lot’
Cause everybody over here appreciates what you do
Whether you hear about it or not
And nothing that anybody’s ever said
Has ever been directed at any of you
No matter how many of our words
Have been twisted around by Fox News
I want to say ‘thank you’ for your sacrifice
And your courage in such a dark hour
And I pray all of us over here have the balls to watch your backs
While you’re over there watching ours
So I guess all I want to leave you with
Is a little prayer that you come back home safe
And a little prayer that more of us grow a set over here
And learn to speak up and be as brave
No, this ain’t no protest song
This is just a song of thanks
|
||||
Stephen Simmons Nashville, Tennessee
Stephen Simmons was raised in the small town of Woodbury, Tennessee. As a songwriter and Ten years as a Road Dog, Stephen’s vision has grown to entail more than just reflections of rural America. Stephen’s records (which were compared to everyone from Johnny Cash to Ryan Adams) combine virtuosic songcraft and musicianship with unparalleled artistic honesty. ... more
Stephen Simmons recommends:
My friend/collaborator/touring partner Dave Coleman's fine new roots rock album.
go to album
My friend (and bandmate) Molly Jewell's great new ep.
go to album
Up the Partition/Elephant Song
by Ole Mossy Face
My favorite Nashville Band: We also jam together when we get the notion.
go to albumIf you like Stephen Simmons, you may also like:
The latest album by Phill Reynolds, a project of Italian singer Silva Martino Cantele, takes listeners on an Americana-fueled musical ride.
go to album
Guardians Of Our Time
by Edd Donovan and The Wandering Moles
Edd Donovan's day job as a social worker brings a sense of empathy to his elegantly constructed political folk music.
go to album
THAT PASSED
by Patrick Regan Band
This collection of '90s work from folkie Patrick Regan and friends will appeal to fans of Fairport Convention and Pentangle.
go to album
