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In Pieces

Standing Outside The Fire

The Night I Called The Old Man Out

American Honkey-Tonk Bar Association

One Night A Day

Kickin' And Screamin'

Ain't Going Down (Til The Sun Comes Up)

The Red Strokes

Callin' Baton Rouge

The Night Will Only Know

The Cowboy Song

Standing Outside The Fire

We call them cool

Those hearts that have no scars to show

The ones that never do let go

And risk the tables being turned

We call them fools

Who have to dance within the flame

Who chance the sorrow and the shame

That always comes with getting burned

But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire

'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire

We call them strong

Those who can face this world alone

Who seem to get by on their own

Those who will never take the fall

We call them weak

Who are unable to resist

The slightest chance love might exist

And for that forsake it all

They're so hell-bent on giving ,walking a wire

Convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire

Standing outside the fire

Life is not tried, it is merely survived

If you're standing outside the fire

There's this love that is burning

Deep in my soul

Constantly yearning to get out of control

Wanting to fly higher and higher

I can't abide

Standing outside the fire

Life is not tried, it is merely survived

If you're standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire

Life is not tried, it is merely survived

If you're standing outside the fire

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The Night I Called The Old Man Out

The dining room fell silent

I can't believe what I just said

I just told my dad he's full of it

And I watched his face turn red

And I should've said, "I'm sorry"

But I matched him shout for shout

I can still hear that screen door slammin'

The night I called him out

He said, "Son it's gonna hurt me more than it hurts you"

But somehow I couldn't help but have my doubts

'Cause I'd seen my own dear brothers crawl back in the house

Each time they called the old man out

Fist to fist and eye to eye

Standin' toe to toe

He would've let me walk away

But I just would not let it go

Years of my frustration

Had let me to this night

Now he'll pay for all the times that he's been right

He said, "Son it's gonna hurt me more than it hurts you"

But somehow I couldn't help but have my doubts

'Cause I'd seen my own dear brothers crawl back in the house

Each time they called the old man out

It was over in a minute

That's when I realized

The blood came from my mouth and nose

But the tears came from his eyes

And in memory of that fateful night

I know the greatest pain was his

And I just pray some day I'm half the man he is

He said, "Son it's gonna hurt me more than it hurts you"

But somehow I couldn't help but have my doubts

'Cause I'd seen my own dear brothers crawl back in the house

Each time they called the old man out

Just like my own dear brothers

I crawled back in the house

The night I called the old man out

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American Honky-Tonk Bar Association

If your paycheck depends on

The weather and the clock

If your conversation calls for

A little more than a coffee pot

If you need to pour your heart out

And try to rectify some situation

That you're facing

Contact your American Honky-Tonk Bar Association

When Uncle Sam dips in your pocket

For most things you don't mind

But when your dollar goes to all of those

Standing in a welfare line

Well rejoice you have a voice

If you're concerned about the destination

Of this great nation

It's called the American Honky-Tonk Bar Association

It represents the hardhat

Gunrack, achin'-back

Over taxed, flag-wavin', fun-lovin' crowd

They're heart is in the music

And they love to play it loud

There's no forms or applications

There's no red tape administrations

It's the American Honky-Tonk Bar Association

We're all one big family

Throughout the cities and the towns

We don't reach for handouts

we reach for those who are down

And every local chapter has a seven day a week

Available consultation

For your frustration

It's called the American Honky-Tonk Bar Association

It represents the mud flaps

Six pack, beer crack

Over-taxed, flag-wavin', fun-lovin' crowd

They're heart is in the music

And they love to play it loud

There's no forms or applications

There's no red tape administrations

It's the American Honky-Tonk Bar Association

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One Night A Day

There's not a lot of things to do

I wouldn't rather do with you

Guess I'm funny that way

Lately I just sit and stare

I talk to people who aren't there

To get through one night a day

One night a day

One step away

From leavin' you behind

I sit up with the radio

Sing along with the ones I know

To get through one night a day

One night a day

One step away

From leavin' you behind

I'm callin' every friend I've had

Wake 'em up, and make 'em mad

Let 'em know that I'm OK

I used to sit and talk to you

They're all just a substitute

To get through one night a day

One night a day

One step away

From leavin' you behind

I stay up with the late, late show

Just another way I know

To get through one night a day

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Kickin' And Screamin'

Well, I don't know what my uncle did

But he must have done it right

They sure strung him up one Saturday night

He had spent his whole life fussin'

Would have spent his last breath cussin'

'Til he realized the deal was really done

He started screamin' "hallelujah"

Tryin' to make his peace with everyone

Yeah, he was kickin' and screamin'

Just like he came in

He was kickin' and screamin', darlin'

Right to the bitter end

Ain't it funny how we come in kickin' giddyup

And go out hollerin' whoa

Lord, we never want to be here

Sure don't ever want to go

Well, I could hear those church bells ringin'

To my best friend I was clingin'

Screamin' "If you love me brother don't let me go"

Well then the whole scene was repeated

Two years later I begged and pleaded

Screamin' "If you love me, honey,

Now you know you wouldn't want to let me go"

No, I didn't want to do it

But I sure don't want to see it come undone

Yeah, I was kickin' and screamin'

Just like I came in

I was kickin' and screamin', darlin'

Right to the bitter end

Ain't it funny how we come in kickin' giddyup

And go out hollerin' whoa

Lord, we never want to be here

Sure don't ever want to go

Yeah, I was kickin' and screamin'

Just like I came in

I was kickin' and screamin', darlin'

Right to the bitter end

Ain't it funny how we come in kickin' giddyup

And go out hollerin' whoa

Seems, we never want to be here

Sure don't ever want to go

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Ain't Going Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)

Six o'clock on Friday evening

Momma doesn' t know she's leaving

'Til she hears the screen door slamming

Rubber squealin', gears a-jamming

Local country station just a blaring on the radio

Pick him up at seven and they're headin' to the rodeo

Momma's on the front porch screamin' out her warning

Girl you better get your red head

Back in bed before the morning

Nine o'clock the show is ending

But the fun is just beginning

She knows he's anticipating

But she's gonna keep him waiting

Grab a bite to eat

And then they're heading to the honkey tonk

But loud crowds and line dancing

Just ain't what they really want

Drive out to the boondocks and park down by the creek

And where it's George Strait 'til real late

And dancing cheek to cheek

Ain't going down 'til the sun comes up

Ain't givin' in 'til they get enough

Going 'round the world in a pickup truck

Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up

Ten 'til twelve is wine and dancing

Midnight starts the hard romancing

One o'clock that truck is rocking

Two is coming, still no stopping

Break to check the clock at three

They're right on where they want to be

Four o'clock get up and going

Five o'clock that rooster's crowing

Ain't going down 'til the sun comes up

Ain't givin' in 'til they get enough

Going 'round the world in a pickup truck

Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up

Six o'clock on Saturday

Her folks don't know he's on his way

The stalls are clean, the horses fed

They say she's grounded 'til she's dead

Well here he comes around the bend

Slowing down, she's jumping in

Hey mom, you're daughter's gone

And there they go again

Ain't going down 'til the sun comes up

Ain't givin' in 'til they get enough

Going 'round the world in a pickup truck

Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up

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The Red Strokes

Moonlight on canvas, midnight and wine

Two shadows starting to softly combine
The picture they're painting
Is one of the heart
And to those who have seen it
It's a true work of art
.
Oh, the red strokes
Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn)
Burning the night like the dawn
.
Steam on the window, salt in a kiss
Two hearts have never pounded like this
Inspired by a vision
That they can't command
Erasing the borders
With each brush of a hand
.

Oh, the red strokes

Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn)
Burning the night like the dawn

Oh, the blues will be blue and the jealousies green
But when love picks its shade it demands to be seen
.

Oh, the red strokes

Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn)
Burning the night like the dawn

Oh, the red strokes

Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn)
Burning the night like the dawn

Steam on the window, salt in a kiss

Two hearts have never pounded like this

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Callin' Baton Rouge

I spent last night in the arms

Of a girl in Louisiana

And though I'm out on the highway

My thoughts are still with her

Such a strange combination of a woman and a child

Such a strange situation stoppin' every hundred miles

Callin' Baton Rouge

A replay of last night's events

Roll through my mind

Except a scene or two

Erased by sweet red wine

And I see a truck stop sign ahead

So I change lanes

I need a cup of coffee

And a couple dollars change

Callin' Baton Rouge

Operator won't you put me on through

I gotta' send my love down to Baton Rouge

Hurry up won't you put her on the line

I gotta' talk to the girl just one more time

Hello Samantha dear, I hope you're feelin' fine

And it won't be long until I'm with you all the time

But until then I'll spend my money up right down to my last dime

Callin' Baton Rouge

Operator won't you put me on through

I gotta' send my love down to Baton Rouge

Hurry up won't you put her on the line

I gotta' talk to the girl just one more time

Callin' Baton Rouge

Sweet Baton Rouge, my Baton Rouge

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The Night Will Only Know

That night will live forever

Their first time to lie together

They were finally where desire dared them to go

Both belonging to another

But longing to be lovers

Promising each other that the night will only know

Parked on some old backstreet

They laid down in the backseat

And fell into the fire down below

But they would pay for their deceving

For a deadly web was weaving

Why they picked that spot that evening

Lord, the night will only know

Well within the innuendos

Just outside the steamy windows

The night was shattered by a woman's scream

Motionless and frightened

The grip of fate had tightened

And with trembling hands they wiped away the steam

They saw a woman pleading

Stumbling, begging, and retreating

'Til she became the victim of a foe

And they watched her fall in silence

To save their own alliance

But the reason for the violence

Just the night will only know

And every paper ran the story

She was stripped of all her glory

And they told exactly how the woman died

Abandoned and forsaken

Too many pills were taken

And they ruled the woman's death a suicide

Bound by their behavior

They could have been her savior

Now guilt becomes an endless debt they owe

But another crime was committed

And it's never been admitted

Have the guilty been acquitted

Lord, the night will only know

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The Cowboy Song

Pushin horns weren't easy like the movie said it was

And I don't recall no dance hall girls

Or hotel rooms with rugs

You worked hot and tired and nasty

Rode your pony's head too low

There were all the nights you couldn't sleep

'Cause it was too damn cold

And you'd sing "Strawberry Roan" and "Little Joe"

Like the time we hit the river

And the rains began to fall

And the water was risin' so damn fast

We thought it'd drown us all

We lost a lot of steers that day

And four to five good mounts

But when all the boys rode into camp

We knew that's what counts

And we sang, yippie ti yi yay and "Amazing Grace"

Or the night they broke behind us

And then took us by surprise

I whistled out to Bonner, I seen the terror in his eyes

And he rode for all his horse would ride

And I know he done his best

But he crossed over Jordan ridin' Dunny to his death

And we sang "Bringing in the Sheaves" and "The Rugged Cross"

So when you see the cowboy, he's not ragged by his choice

He never meant to bow them legs

Or put that gravel in his voice

He's just chasin' what he really loves

And what's burnin' in his soul

Wishin' to God that he'd benn born a hundred years ago

Still singin' "Strawberry Roan" and "Little Joe"

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