This song uses a capo on the 3rd fret and all the chords are listed as
the 3rd fret being open.

The evening sun was sinkin’ down, a chill north wind a-blows

The new-plowed ground was coolin’ fast, the river rolls and flows

Beneath the two-lane concrete river bridge between my place and town

On that hot-bed Farm to Market road they call 1291

I’m sayin’ son you’ll see me searchin’; sizzlin' down that broad hiway

Dollar signs in both my eyes, I’m seekin' out my prey. I’m prayin’

“Jesus, will you send me just another three or four?”

They pay two-fifty down in Halletsville, 3 dollars, maybe more.

And more than likely they’ll be out tonight a-wanderin’ from the farms;

Waddlin’ down 1291 to keep their bodies warm.

I’m talking walkin’ belts and neckties, and boots for rodeo;

They don’t run too fast, don’t waste much gas. I’m makin' lots o’dough.

The armadillo….o….o…o The armadillo….o….o…o The armadillo

(after this use the same chord progression as the first verse)

Never sees me when I hit him with my brights. His life don’t flash
Before his eyes, he’s blinded by my lights and so I hit him with my
Bumper doin’ sixty, sixty-five; they take ‘em frozen down in Halletsville
They don’t take ‘em alive. The jackal cri….i….i…ied
The jackal cri….i….i…ied The jackal cried, “Look there’s two of
Them a-walkin’ down the line. I can’t believe my luck tonight this here
Makes twenty-nine!” And so he rolled the first one runnin’. The second
Was too fast. His breaks and laughter squealin’ as he stomped down on the
Gas. Good-God, his car was sideways flyin’, when the bridge wall met his
Door. The impact shook the river bed his foot went through the floor
Forevermore….or….or…ore Forevermore….or….or….ore
Forevermore was his last moment from the bridge wall to the stream; from
The speckled blood around his smile a-spewin’ gasoline. And then he
Screamed his raspy epitaph, before he turned to flame: “They pay two-fifty
down in Halletsville…. I ain’t the one to blame…..”
Ain’t it a sha….a….a…ame The jackal cri….i….i…ied
The armadillo….o….o…o The armadillo….o….o…o
(repeat until fade)

I woke up in another strange place
By a forty-acre parking lot with every kind of sign.
I was talking to another strange face who was
Telling me he didn’t have the time.

– All I want is behind that mountain,
All I need is the other way,
All I am is a lost soul searching,
All I have is today. -

I was walkin’ through the sands of silver
To the saphire canyon on the river of jade.
I was followin’ a gold sun settin’ when
Suddenly the light began to fade.

– All I want is behind that mountain,
All I need is the other way,
All I am is a lost soul searching,
All I have is today. -

I was ridin’ in a black tornado
With the top pulled down and the lights on dim.
I heard angels singin’ in the darkness,
Singin’ come southern gospel hymn.

– All I want is behind that mountain,
All I need is the other way,
All I am is a lost soul searching,
All I have is today. -

I was thinkin’ ‘bout a man and woman
Who were tryin’ to make a livin’ out of shiney wood and steel.
I should tell ya, if I haven’t told ya,
This is exactly how I feel.

– All I want is behind that mountain,
All I need is the other way,
All I am is a lost soul searching,
All I have is today, all I have is today –

Repeat Intro 2x

CHORUS:

What am I gonna do about this
It ain’t no metamorphosis
It’s a cold and bitter broken end of love

Discontent where loves afraid
Is something that I can’t explain
I see now I should have seen it comin
It’s hits just like a hurricane
And then it turns to fire and rain
I kept doin it all in vain for nothing

Chorus

I wonder if you felt this way
From that first kiss to our last date
I was but a fool a-trustin pleasure
I’ll keep your love where love won’t die
So said the spider to the fly
Dead love is the only love you treasure

Chorus & Solo

I’m lucky just to be alive
It serves me right that I survived
To live to tell the lesson that you taught me
Just so you know for what it’s worth
There ain’t enough of love on earth
To take away all the shame you brought me

Chorus x 2

from Robert Earl Keen’s album No Kinda Dancer

>From Trey Graves ( trey@terminator.tamu.edu )

This old porch is just a big ol’ red and white Hereford bull
Standin’ under a mesquite tree in Agua Dulce Texas
He just keeps on playing hide and seek with that hot August sun
He’s sweatin’ and a pantin’ cause his work is never done
Oh no
He’s got them cows and that red top cane

This old porch is just a steaming greasy plate of enchiladas
With lots of cheese and onions and a’ guacomole salad
You can get at the La Salle Hotel in old downtown
With ice tea and a waitress who will smile everytime
Yea she will
I left a quarter tip on my ten dollar bill

This old porch is a palace walk-in on the main stream Texas
It ain’t ever seen or heard the day of G & R and X’s
With the ’62 poster that’s almost faded down
And a screen with out a picture since Giant came to town
Oh no,
I love them junior mints and them red hots, too
Yes I do, oh yea, and old movie pictures

This old porch is just a weathered gray hair seventy years of Texas
He’s doing all he can not to give in to the city
And he always takes the rent late so long as I run his cattle
He picks me up at dinner time I listen to him rattle
He says the Brazos still runs muddy like she’s run all along
There ain’t ever been no cane to grind the cotton’s all but gone
And you know this Chevrolet pickup she was something back in ’60
Now there ain’t nobody listen to him cause they all think he’s crazy
This old porch is just a long time waitin’ and forgetin’
And remembering the coming back not crying ‘bout the leavin’
And rememberin’ and the falling down and the laughter
and the curse of luck from all of those son’s of bitches
Who said we’d never get back up

This old porch is just a big ol’ red and white Hereford bull
Standin’ under a mesquite tree out in Agua Dulce
He just keeps on playing hide and seek with that hot August sun
He’s sweatin’ and a pantin’ cause his work is never done
Oh no
I’ve known a whole lot of old bulls in my life and there work is
never done

First solo, adapted for guitar (mandolin on the album)
begins at ” and old movie pictures”

There’s another solo I will tab if anybody’s interested.

s:slide

-------------- ------------------------- -------------15-17-15-20-17-15-
-------------- -------------------12-15- 13-----15-17-------------------
--16-14-12-15- 14-12---------12-14------ -------------------------------
-------------- ------14----14----------- -------------------------------
-------------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
-------------- ------------------------- -------------------------------

little puase, come in on down beat

17-15- --17-15-----------------------------------------
------- 17------17-15---14------------------------------
------- --------------16---16-14----------------14-16---
------- -------------------------16----14-16-17---------
------- ----------------------------17------------------
------- ------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------- ----------------
-15---15-------15---------------------------- ----------------
----16---16-14---16-14---16-14-------12---12- ----------------
-----------------------17------17-14----12--- 16-14-12---14---
--------------------------------------------- ---------14-----
--------------------------------------------- ----------------

----------------------------- ----------------15-17-15-(17)s20--
----------------------------- 13---13---15s17-------------------
-----------------12---12--12- ----------------------------------
-12--12-14-12-14---14---14--- ----------------------------------
---14------------------------ ----------------------------------
----------------------------- ----------------------------------

-17- 20---------------------------------------------- -----------
---- ---17-18s19-17-15------------------------------- -----------
---- -------------------16-14---16-14---------------- -----------
---- -------------------------16------16-14-16-14-16- 17---------
---- ------------------------------------------------ -----------
---- ------------------------------------------------ -----------

From: tbacus@onramp.net

The Front Porch Song
by Robert Earl Keen Jr. and Lyle Lovett

E ------3---3---3 ------0---0---0 ------0---0---0 ------2---2---2---3
B ------3---3---3 ------0---0---0 ------1---1---1 ------3---3---3---3
G ------0---0---0 ------0---0---0 ------0---0---0 ------2---2---2---0
D ------0---0---0 ------2---2---2 ------2---2---2 2-1-0-----0---0---0
A ------2---2---2 --------2-----2 0-2-3-----3-3-- --------3---2---0--
E 0-2-3---3---3-- 3-2-0-------0-- --------3------ ------------------- 

This old porch is a big ol’ red and white Herford bull
Standin’ under a mesquite tree in Agua Dulce, Texas
He keeps on playin’ hide and seek with that hot august sun
Sweatin’ and a pantin’ cause his work is never done
Oh no, With those cows and a red top cane

This old porch is a steamin’ greasy plate of enchiladas
With lots of cheese and onions ans a guacamole salad
You can get them at the LaSalle Hotel in old downtown
With ice tea and a waitress who will smile every time
Oh yeah, I left a quarter tip on my ten dollar bill

This old porch is a palace walk in on a main street in Texas
It ain’t never seen or heard the days of G’s and R’s and X’s
and that ’62 poster that’s almost faded down
and a screen without a picture since Giant came to town
Oh no, I like those junior mints and the red hots too, yes I do

BREAK

This old porch is like a weathered grey haired seventy years of Texas
who’s doin’ all he can not to give in to the city
and he always takes my rent late so long as I run his cattle
he pickes me up at dinner time and I listen to him rattle

he says the Brazos still runs muddy like she’s run all along
there’s never been no cane to grind and the cotton’s all but gone
you know this Chevrolet pickup truck, hell she was somethin’ back in ’60
but now there won’t nobody listen to him ‘cause they all think he’s crazy

This old porch is just a long time of waiting and forgetting
remembering the coming back and not crying about the leaving
and remembering the falling down and the laughter of the curse of luck
from all those son’s of bitches who said we’d never get back up

This old porch is a big old red and white Herford bull
standing under a mesquite tree out in Agua Dulce
he keep’s on playing hide and seek with that hot August sun
he’s sweating and a panting ‘cause his work is never done

I’ve know a whole lot of bulls in my time, and there work is never done.

rmofle at satx.rr.com
4/28/2005

Capo 2

Im long past hungry
I need a bed
I got some real wild things
Runnin through my head
Oh Rosie, dont forget me now
Ive been to Tulsa
And New Mexico
Still got Tucson and
Colorado left to go
Oh Rosie dont forget me now

Chorus:
Do you remember
Our lucky star
We gave all our wishes to
Now Im in Denver
In this old bar
Tryin to do anything to hang on to you

And not be blue

Its all-night TV
With nothin on
I should be goin but Im
Too far gone
Oh Rosie, dont forget me now
Theres rotten singers
Lousy art
Western swingers
And my old broken heart
Oh Rosie, dont forget me now

Chorus

Solo

Change key to D

Its a hard old highway
A long slow burn
I think about ya Rosie
At every little turn
So dont you worry
Please dont cry
When were together
That old time will fly on by
Oh Rosie, dont forget me now
Chorus
Its a hard old highway
A long slow burn
I think about ya Rosie
At every little turn
Oh Rosie, dont forget me now

Intro: (Just a rough interpretation. You should be able to fake your way through)

e————-0–3——-0———–00——0~—-
b-3br~—3p1–1–3—–3—3———11——0~—-
g——————–2——-2——-00——1~—-
d——————————0—2——-0——-
a——————————–3——-2———
E——————2——————————-

Spent seven long days and seven hard nights
In a [Dsus2/F#]sixty-two Chevy, the broke tail lights
An east bound man in a west bound lane
A d[Dsus2/F#]ish-water blond about sixteen
Was standin’ on the shoulder with a ribbon in her hair
Her [Dsus2/F#]hand on her hip and her thumb in the air
I pulled off the road as she grabbed for the door
I kn[Dsus2/F#]ew the wind was cold ‘cause I’d seen it all before

And I was scared

Things ain’t never [Dsus2/F#]what they seem
When you found you livin’ in your own dream.

The moonlight peeped in behind the clouds
Now and again on this godless child
The radio was scrambled, cracklin’ in the air
The ribbon she wore looked old in her hair
I saw the moonlight sliver dead on her face
I knew it was true she was in the wrong place
In the wrong time, in the wrong tale
I knew when I’d ask her she’d hiss Christabel

Things ain’t never what they seem
When you found you livin’ in your own dream.

She was after the man who left her alone
No father beside her, her love long time gone
And a snake deep inside her a hiss in her head
The rest that had been her was dying or dead
She’d a taste for young women with pearly white skin
she spat on the floor when she spoke of the man
who made her like this who had written her tale
this medieval maid they called Christabel

Things ain’t never what they seem
When you found you livin’ in your own dream.

Then she breathed out the story of her lover to be
A knights shiny armor on a silvery steed
Who longed to be worthy so sought the crusade
While she waited breath bated in linen brocade
But a pair of black eyes wove round her a spell
The snake they called Lydia seduced Christabel
She cuddled her tender and poisoned her soul
She stole her young body and made it her own.

Things ain’t never what they seem
When you found you livin’ in your own dream.

Now the knight would love Lydia in Christabel’s arms
And Lydia would have him should they ever return
But Lydia was left with the story undone
No silvery steed, no castle, no throne
Half woman, half serpent, entwined in a spell
A bard’s blackened fancy this medieval tale
And she faded at dawning to burden the beast
Deep in the dream of those bound for the east
Like me

We were drinkin’ a lot
We were thinkin’ of tyin’ the know
Or maybe throw in the towel
Make up, have a kid
Break up and we did
But only just for awhile

Chorus 1:
Then came lo mein and going insane
At the Chinese cafe way downtown
I was steamed, I was fried but you stood by my side
When I had my nervous breakdown

There were noodles galore
All over the floor
And hot mustard sauce everywhere
But I held your hand
Til you calmed down again
And picked out the rice in your hair

After that we agreed
When in fact what we need
Is to pack up and take the first plane
Take a bus, take a bike
Take care, take a hike
Take out but leave the lo mein

Chorus 2:
I remember it now when we order kung pao
And bow our heads to say grace
The day we left town and that nervous breakdown
At the all-you-can-eat Chinese place

At the Chinese cafe way downtown

---------------------------------

#
#Dreadful Selfish Crime
#
#by Robert Earl Keen
#
#

-------------------

#| capo on 1st fret |
#

-------------------

#
#>From Trey Graves ( trey@silly.tamu.edu )
#
Seems like yesterday I was here
Dreamin’ my life away and drinkin' beer
Staying up till dawn strummin’ on guitars
Sleepin’ all day long just like the big rock stars
Barely livin’ on money from tip jars
I had a little place just up the block
Had me a French girlfriend I loved the way she talked
We spent our afternoons watchin’ the TV
Findin’ things to do that we could do for free
When we split up she said you don’t do enough for me
Chorus:
I am guilty of a dreadful selfish crime
I had robbed myself of all my precious time
Had my first gig here in the neighborhood
We had a little band I thought was good
Hocked my old shotgun bought a used P.A.
We got a quart of rum drank it all that day
When the big gig come we were just to drunk to play
Chorus
Chorus
Sometimes I can’t believe those days are gone
Most of my friends back then have moved along
One’s in Hollywood one’s a millionaire
Some are gone for good some still livin’ here
Me I’m just the same lost in a crowd
Lookin’ for the rain in a thunder cloud
I have moved around but it don’t matter though
One thing I have found there are just two ways to go
It all comes down to livin’ fast or dyin’ slow
Chorus
Chorus
Seems like yesterday, just like yesterday

Scarecrow and a yellow moon
and a roadhouse on the edge of town.
Hear that midnight rooster crow
well I’ll have one more before I go
but Honey, don’t turn out the light
‘cause I think I’m in the mood for love tonight

The night is cool beneath the stars
ridin’ home in John’s old car
got my head out in the wind
here I am drunked up again
but Honey, don’t turn out the light
‘cause I think I’m in the mood for love tonight

Me and John in a pickup truck
bottle of gin and a paper cup
Runnin’ wild and livin’ hard
I passed out in our front yard
but Honey, don’t turn out the light
‘cause I think I’m in the mood for love tonight

Instrumental

The moon is high, the sun is down
Honey came out in her night gown
On the porch at a quarter to three
talkin’ to the deputy sherrif and me
but Honey, don’t turn out the light
‘cause I think I’m in the mood for love tonight

I said Honey, don’t turn out the light
‘cause I think i’m in the mood for love tonight
I said Honey, don’t turn out the light
‘cause I think i’m in the mood for love tonight

This song has a really great instrumental intro:

E ——2———3—3 –2———0—0 –2——-3—3 –2———0—0-
B ——3———0—0 –3———2—2 –3——-0—0 –3———2—2-
G –0-2—2^4^2-0—–0 –2———0—0 2—2—0—–0 –2———0—0-
D 4—————–0– 4—4-2-0-2—–2 ——4—–0– 4—4^5^4-2—–2-
A ——————— ————–0– ————— ————–0—
E ——————— —————– ————— ——————

E ——3—————2—2—2—2 ——0——-3—2—2—2—2
B ——3—————3—3—3—3 ——2——-0—3—3—3—3
G ——0—————2—2—2—2 ——0——-0—2—2—2—2
D –0-0—0-2-0-4^2^0-0—–0-0—–0 –2-2—–0-0—0——-0——
A 2———————–0——-0– 0——————-0——-0–
E ———————————– ——–3———————-

By Robert Earl Keen

D/C# – X4X232
D/B – X2X232
D/A – X00232
G/F# – 2X0003

[D/C#] [D/B] [D/A]

I gave [D/C#]up the [D/B]fast lan[D/A]e for a blacktop [G/F#]county road
Just burned out all that talk about the mother lode
I traded [D/C#]for a [D/B]songbird[D/A] and a bigger [G/F#]piece of sky
When I miss the good old days, I cant imagine why

Chorus:
Still I get restless and drive into town
I cruise once down Main Street and turn back around
Its crazy but God knows I dont act my age
Like an old desperado who paints the town beige

[D/C#] [D/B] [D/A]
Down along the river and past the swimming hole
You can find your peace of mind with just a fishin pole
And you can walk the river for miles and miles on end
And never stop believin in that dream around the bend

Chorus

Deep down in the winter time slows to a crawl
Theres really nothin much to do until the first spring thaw
Its then I get to thinkin I must have gone insane
Old memories roll through my mind like a long slow railroad train