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)
Callin' Baton Rouge
The Night Will Only Know
The Cowboy Song
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
(chorus)
Standing 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
*chorus*
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
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
(chorus)
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
*chorus*
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
*chorus*
Just like my own dear brothers
I crawled back in the house
The night I called the old man out
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, bare 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
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
(chorus)
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
*chorus*
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
*chorus*
I stay up with the late, late show
Just another way I know
To get through one night a day
To get through one night a day
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
*repeat*
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
(chorus)
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
*chorus*
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
*chorus*
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
(Chorus)
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
*chorus*
Oh, the blues will be blue and the jealousies green
But when love picks its shade it demands to be seen
*chorus*
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
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
(chorus)
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
*chorus*
Callin' Baton Rouge
Sweet Baton Rouge, my Baton Rouge
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 deceiving
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
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 been born a hundred years ago
Still singin' "Strawberry Roan" and "Little Joe"
