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The Flood

by Bill Cantrell

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1.
The Flood 03:05
THE FLOOD – It was raining again this early spring morn’. It’s the time of the year we start to plant corn. But the fields were awash with water and mud. And we waited inside for the coming flood. Fillin’ more sandbags was all we could do. Build the wall higher was all that we knew. Build the wall higher, up to the sky. The sandbags was givin’ us more time to buy. The river has crested with inches to spare. The water receded and answered our prayer. It’s time to rebuild and plant a new crop, and hope that we’ve seen the last raindrop.
2.
ANOTHER DEAD END – Let me tell you about one of my friends. He’s always drivin’ down another dead end. He sees himself as the wandering sort, always docking in another port. He’s always lookin’ to make a fast buck, but he’s always running empty on luck. I try to help him ‘cause he’s one of my friends. He’s always drivin’ down another dead end. He wants to make it but he drives too fast. He can’t sit back and make the journey last. There he goes down that road again. He’s always drivin’ down another dead end. So I tell this story again and again ‘bout him drivin’ down another dead end. He’s movin’ too fast for his kids and his wife. He can’t afford to balance his life. He calls his failures his greatest strength. He brags about them to the greatest length. I try to help him ‘cause he’s one of my friends. He’s always drivin’ down another dead end.
3.
EYES IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD – So you just won the lottery for the fourth time in a row. Some incredible luck as most agree. You think you’re the only one who knows. You think your talent, it goes unseen. You feel you journey has just begun. But you’re a prized weapon for The Machine, and now they’ve got you on the run. You got eyes in the back of your head to read the lines in between. You got them eyes in the back of your head. You can glimpse what we can’t see. You built some distance. You made some space, but they caught you at border. And now you’re back, you’re back at their place. They said your papers weren’t in order. You were back at their base. You had lost the chase, and you were easy to erase. You got away and now you’re free. You don’t worry ‘bout makin’ money. Living in the shadows among the trees, you only emerge to win the lottery.
4.
Garbageville 04:14
GARBAGEVILLE – It was all a big mistake, but there was too much here at stake. And so the damage has been done, and now the rehab has been begun. But it isn’t quite the same now you’ve set this town aflame. You’ve left too many scars, and your logic is bizarre. You’re just in it for the thrill. You don’t care who you kill. You keep on drivin’ over the next hill to arrive in Garbageville. You won’t be here tomorrow, but that won’t change our sorrow. We all can’t change the past, and our memories will last.
5.
PAYCHECK AWAY – I saw him passin’ by my place. A smile was passin’ on his face. He looked up and said it’s time for me to retire. A bundle of wealth I did acquire. So it’s with joy I do say. He’s just a paycheck away from a brand new day. She passed me by in a minute or so. She couldn’t stop to talk, she had somewhere to go. I found out later she was headin’ for the bank. She lost her job and her savings was in the tank. So it’s with a sigh I do say. She was a paycheck away from her savings decay. I saw them pass as they headed for soup. Their clothes were ragged and their heads were all drooped. They lost everything in the last latest crash. Now they’ve settled into the rich man’s trash. So it’s with sorrow I do say. They were just a paycheck away from this dismal display.
6.
WHEELS STOPPED TURNING – They said it would go on forever, too much momentum and speed. I think they were just being clever, or devious to hide their own greed. So the wheels stopped turning on the grand machine. But it kept us returning to the same old scene. It took awhile to start it back up if that’s what you want to believe. They said they had to prime the pump, but they are known to deceive. So the wheels stopped turning on the grand machine. And it started our yearning for a better routine. So we’re sitting here in silence. We’re waiting to get moving. ‘Cause you know we’re prone to violence. That’s our only solution. So the wheels stopped turning on the grand machine. And it stole all our earnings. Then we started to scream. So the wheels stopped turning on the grand machine. And it’s brakes started burning and the smell was obscene.
7.
QUESTIONS REMAIN – Where do we go from here? Taking the path that’s clear. Things are not as they appear. Where do we go from here? How do we get to the other side? When can we go for a ride? Who do we ask to decide? How do we get to the other side? Where will we stop to rest? Seems like we’re only the guests getting tired of our latest conquests. Where will we stop to rest? When do we come on back home? From the path we started to roam. All of the treasures that we’ve been shown. When do we come on back home?
8.
BLOOD IN THE OCEAN – It was getting’ real quiet out here, a little too quiet to be good. Couldn’t see much ‘cept the waves and the glare. We were fools on this ship of wood. And there was blood in the ocean as we captured our fortune. It was time to take action. Still no words were spoken. An explosion rang out of the calm and it shattered our paralyzed minds. It led to the ensuing maelstrom. Our instinct took over in kind. And there was blood in the ocean as we fired our cannons. We knew we were the chosen as we followed our captain. Soon the barrage finally ended. The fire and smoke left us blind. The dead and wounded were attended. Scars on our ship still remind. And there was blood in the ocean and the ship’s deck was crimson. Our faces turned ashen as we sailed off in our coffin.
9.
GOIN’ OFF THE GRID – They say you couldn’t pay your bills. Now you’re headin’ for the hills. You must hone your survival skills. You’re off the grid so prepare to kill. You converted all your assets to cash. You turned it into a mighty fine stash. You threw most of it into the trash and the rest you burned into ash. You didn’t do what they say you did but you’re still going off of the grid. You told them it was none of their biz. Now’s the time to go off of the grid. I think you might now agree that the grid life is just a disease. And now it’s time to drop off the keys. You’re off the radar of the deputies.
10.
Not Yet 03:25
NOT YET – End of the world has been put on hold and it’s time to take off your blindfold. The predictions you made did not unfold. Those myths and lies that you controlled. The end of the world has been deferred. It’s not the way that you preferred. All our experts have concurred. No more enemies to conquer. So stop getting so far into debt. The choices you made and always regret. You see every incident as a new threat. The world is ending? Not quite yet. The end of the world has been delayed. Big Bro’s not coming to take you away. Your delirious rants have become quite cliché and I know it’s much to your dismay.
11.
DRAWING A BLANK – Here I sit with my pen in hand. I’m staring at a blank page. Things have not gone according to plan. I’m trapped in my own cage. I’m not gonna write a song today. I don’t have enough time. I’m not gonna write a song today. There’s too few words left to rhyme. I can’t string any chords together. The melody stays in my head. Feel the frustration and the anger. I’m the stone that’s been bled. The light’s a flashin’ but I can’t see. I’m sittin with guitar in chair. I hit stop and I stare at the machine and today I don’t care.

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released January 14, 2012

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Bill Cantrell San Antonio, Texas

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