Geraldine – Paw Paw
All songs by John Bolten and Geraldine
© ℗ 2023 John Bolten (BMI)
www.geraldineband.com

 

Paw Paw

I’m going out to Paw Paw
I’m going out to Paw Paw
I’m going out to Paw Paw
I’m going out to Paw Paw

I want to be with the Paw Paw trees
Picking up them Paw Paws
Picking up them Paw Paws
I want to go where the Paw Paws grow
Picking up them Paw Paws
Picking up them Paw Paws

Cause I know the seeds have been planted
They have been planted for me
Cause I know the seeds have been planted
They have been planted for me

I’m going to feed my heart
I’m going to feed my heart
I’m going to feed my heart
I’m going to feed my heart

I want to be with the Paw Paw trees
Picking up them Paw Paws
Picking up them Paw Paws
I want to go where the Paw Paws grow
Picking up them Paw Paws
Picking up them Paw Paws

Cause I know the seeds have been planted
They have been planted for me
Cause I know the seeds have been planted
They have been planted for me

 

Life By The Reins

I’m taking life by the reins
I’m gonna hold on tight
It’s gonna be a bumpy ride
Life’s gonna kick right out of the pen
And knock me down in the dirt
But I’m gonna get back up again
I’m taking life by the reins

I ain’t been lucky at nothing
Except finding lowdown, rotten luck
But I keep on trying and I keep on riding
And dig my heels in when she bucks

My piggy bank ate all my pennies
My cash cow dried up and died
Nothing comes easy like LMNOPeasy
I’m gonna jump on and fly

I’ve made a roadmap for the weary
I’ve left no wrong turn unturned
I’m gonna head down the road,
on this bucking bronco
With this one thing I’ve learned

 

 

 

 

 

Would If I Could

I’m wanted in the east, I’m wanted in the west
But not for my good looks or my charm
The north and the south had enough of my big mouth
My rowdiness rubbed them people wrong
I tried the straight and narrow, I went down like an arrow
Shot from a devilish bow
I am what I am, I try to be a better man
I would if I could I can’t so I won’t

Where did it begin, I was just the age of ten
My daddy through me out the door
I was on a sinful path I was not looking back
He said son, look what your heading for
Cause believe you me, I’ve seen all I can see
And son it’s a slippery slope
One of these days maybe you’ll change your ways
I said, I would if I could I can’t so I won’t

Soon I lost religion, cause whiskey and the women
Had me feeling good and fancy free
I grew up fast and lean, I was a whiskey drinking machine
Whoa they got the best of me
See, when I get to drinking, then I get to thinking
about all the heartaches I have known
You love them and you leave them,
You kiss them then you grieve them
I would if I could I can’t so I won’t

I tried to settle down on the outskirts of town
I got me a wife, dog, and truck
One brings me gladness, one brings me sadness
One brings me to the bar and back
Whoa just maybe this is life in the gravy
It’s as good as it gets don’t you know
I should stop my rambling, my cheating, and my gambling
I would if I could I can’t so I won’t

 

Big Skies

she sees big skies
with curtains closed
the wind begins to blow
it’s quiet on the prairies
it’s quiet on the plains

she’ll head west again
in her dreams
where life ain’t what it seems
it’s quiet on the prairie
it’s quiet on the plains

She’s dreaming of her home on the range
where the buffalo roam
and the antelope play

she holds her breath
as clouds roll in
over the glass mountains
it’s quiet on the prairie
it’s quiet on the plains

She’s dreaming of her home on the range
where the buffalo roam
and the antelope play

she makes tepees
to shelter us
from the wind and dust
it’s quiet on the prairie
it’s quiet on the plains

She’s dreaming of her home on the range
where the buffalo roam
and the antelope play

she dreams of me
in desert prose
wherever the gales may go
when it’s quiet on the prairie
when it’s quiet on the plains
when it’s quiet on the prairie
when it’s quiet on the plains

 

Under the Mountain

Up in the morning put on my boots 


Coffee grinds and a side of blues


I kiss my wife and my baby too I’m off to the mines

Cause I do what my daddy did


And he did what his daddy did

And he did what his daddy did In the hard times

So I’m going under the mountain
Lower me down, lower me down
I got a big old hole to dig 
I’ll be back, I don’t know when
It’s going to be a long, long, time
Before I see the sunshine again

I’m all heart and a bag of bones
Chipping rocks and digging stones
I take my rest when I get home and lay by the fire

Cause me and this mountain don’t disagree
I’ll take from her and she’ll take from me
nothing in this life is free except your heart’s desire

So kiss me well and hold the door
You can’t buy time from the company store
There ain’t nothing anymore that I can bid adieu

I’ll dig through these mountain seams
For my dusty, dog eared, attic dreams
Pull them out with machines and bring them back to you

 

 

Chicken TV

Rooster crows at 5, 7, and 9
alarm clock in his throat, it’s right on time
He’s running through the yard like he’s got somewhere to be
Don’t mind me I’m just watching Chicken TV

well it’s bock, bock, bock, bock cock a doodle doo
well it’s bock, bock, bock, bock cock a doodle doo

The hens are in the hen house talking shop
Digging up the dirt on the whole darn flock
Have you heard about the new bird and the size of his beak?
Don’t mind me I’m just watching Chicken TV

There they go, momma hen and rooster Red
Sneaking through the yard, back behind the shed
Now here comes Henrietta, and now there’s three!?
Don’t mind me, I’m just watching Chicken TV

 

 

 

 

Embers

I saw your name on my cellphone
Tiny pixels saying, “I’m alone”  
It felt like you were just skipping stones 
In an electric lake of time 

I’m sorry darlin’ there ain’t no use
last time we tried all hell break loose 
This loneliness is bound to bruise
but I ain’t coming back this time

Cause that ain’t the way that love goes
Steaming up all the windows
Then going wherever the wind blows 
When your heart grows tired

That ain’t the way that love works
Trying to stoke the embers
Whenever your heart remembers
That it’s lost its fire

If I could plug your ears and bite my tongue
for every worthless word we flung 
you’d be deaf and I’d be dumb
and we’d probably get along just fine

Cause I ain’t right, and you ain’t wrong
but we tugged this tug of war along
Tugged and tugged for so long
That we both crossed the line

It’s bound to happen every time
two hearts break and one is mine
But I can’t commit to the crime
your love is on the lam

Now your bouncing I’m sorrys off the cellphone towers
Cute emoji’s and digital flowers
Your losing me, I’m losing power
And frankly I don’t give a damn

 

In The Water

We’re just floating by
On a river of days of lows and highs
We’re just drops of rain
Falling together down the darkened drain

We’re in the water
There must be something in the water
We’re in the water
There must be something in the water

Because we are the blood
Sweat dripped on the dirt makes the mud
And flows down to the sea
Through the soil, sand, roots, and trees

The blinking harbor lights
Shine like beacons through the lonely nights
They shine on you and me
Everyone and every living thing

Chesapeake, Patuxent, and the Youghiogheny
They flow from you and me

 

 

 

Grand Old Time

Running and a skipping, strumming and a picking,
Go on and get your bow
Everyone is here, don’t forget the beer,
the guitar and the banjo

Listen to the old timer, fiddlin at five and dimer
Making that fiddle talk
Granny will your dog bite, Paddy on the Turnpike
Watch him play the Ookpick waltz

This is our time, our time, our grand old time
This is our time, our time, our grand old time

Square your sets, everyone circle left
Bow to your corner and go home
Promenade, that birdie in the cage
Chase the rabbit down it’s hole

Roll away half sashay
Then we’re gonna weave that ring
Take my hand, right left grand
Now there’s nothing left to do but swing

This is our time, our time, our grand old time
This is our time, our time, our grand old time

Shuffle and slip, doing the backstep
Cornmeal on the hard wood floor
zig and zag, roll and drag
Dance till your feet get sore

We played the whole dang day away
Boys them buzzards are flying
Lets toss the tune around the room
Till someone yells one more time