All lyrics from the Album
"When The Drummer Counts to Four"

Lyrics written by Matt Whipkey.
© 2004
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LOADED DICE
When the drummer counts to four, I'll be walking out that door.
I just can't take no more, it feels like I have been here before.
We're just lonely soldiers in this war.
When the darkness arrives, I'll be doing all right.
Baby I'm a winner tonight, somewhere beneath this city's lights.
We're all rolling loaded dice.
And I wish you well, there are some things we just can't tell.
I'm riding this rainbow strait to hell, another county road motel.
Throwing pennies in your wishing well.

SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR EVENING
I don't want to be the soundtrack to your evening, I don't want to be your falling star,
I just want to say that you seem worth saving from these dirty main street bars.
I can take you real far.
Hey there little darling in the dark sunglasses, standing in the corner in your leather pants,
You are watching all the boys raise up their glasses waiting for your chance to dance,
You wanted one more chance to dance, to take a stab at romance.
It don’t matter what they’re thinking no one here is watching us, in between the day and darkness is every time I lost. It don’t matter what they’re thinking, that is just the way it was. Because everybody falls to pieces, no one here is afraid to look.

CINDERELLA
Baby, I’ve been falling right down to your knees.
I can’t quit calling though I know that you won’t be answering.
Cinderella, don’t just stand there waiting for midnight to knock you down.
I’ve read the papers there’s still no answers.
Looks like you’ve lost your evening gown.
You’re walking down the street trying to be seen.
I like what you do when you do it to me.
I’ve been here once before and I’m crawling out the door, no more.

HURRICANE GIRL
Somewhere past the city, lies a county line. In the darkness darling, I’m taking my time.
The days are growing shorter, with a little loss of light. My candle’s burning faster,
There’s fire in my eyes. Where are you tonight?
Hurricane girl, it’s a lonely world.
Hurricane girl, I’m outside the lines.
Accidents will happen, this ship is gonna roll. You better get out, baby, before it takes its toll. And you will be left stranded on some foreign shore, searching for a savior to settle up the score.
I’m knocking at your door.
Hurricane girl, it’s a lonely world.
Hurricane girl, don’t cry.
The storm’s about to die and my eyes are getting dry.

ROBBERS AND COPS
You might call me crazy, after all it’s only been a week.
Now that is no way to treat a lady, I should have offered you a drink.
So that’s how it stops, like robbers and cops, the needle drops and my time is up.
Everyone run and hide.
You might need another, after all who likes to be alone?
If I could spare a dollar, I would buy your broken soul.
So that’s how it stops like robbers and cops, the sun goes down and the sun comes up,
Everyone stay inside.
So give me a window, give me a gun, give me a doctor, a prescription.
Because these tired arms aint that strong, we’ll let the whole wide world know that I was wrong,
I just want to be your boyfriend tonight.
The second verse escaped me, just like you always did.
You kept it in your closet, so well hid.
And all your AM stations across the nation, you can tell my pa that I am on vacation,
I won’t be coming back tonight.
Now you’re running with the devil, he was always at your side,
He locked you away and pinned you down, way past midnight.
So that’s how it stops like robbers and cops, the sun comes down and the sun comes up,
Everyone stay inside.

ELIZABETH GOODNIGHT
Elizabeth goodnight, I will see you tomorrow,
The light from your eyes we will let the sun borrow,
To melt all the snow from the mountainside.
Elizabeth goodnight, Elizabeth goodbye.
Elizabeth goodnight, I am leaving in the morning,
In six more hours, darling I am counting,
Now I can’t say how, or when, or why.
Elizabeth goodnight, Elizabeth goodbye.
Please tell my son that his father was a good man,
But there is only so much you can do with two hands,
Times are getting tough and the money’s too tight
Elizabeth goodbye, Elizabeth goodnight.
I don’t know what you are asking for as honey, I’m heading towards the door.
I just can’t make it anymore.
Down at the church the priests they are praying,
Everyday they just keep waiting,
I hung my head at that old crucifix
Elizabeth I’m tired, there is something that I missed.
Now a president’s son stands at the pulpit,
Gives out the orders to nail all the coffins,
He sends them back home for 21 guns.
Elizabeth tonight, I’m making my run.
Somewhere south of town I lost my compass,
I went to the edge and discovered the darkness,
Washed my hands out ‘neath Abram’s bridge.
Elizabeth forget, Elizabeth forgive.
Tell me, sir, who I am looking for.
Because Elizabeth don’t live here anymore.
She don’t live here anymore.

STATE OF THE UNION
The boulevard is empty tonight, illuminated by the boys’ headlights.
They pointed east for a quicker release from these desperate measures that we have come to believe.
So tell me, mom, what we found in a song? All those aimless evenings with the radio on.
State of the union, darling, has left me lonesome again.
State of the union: call it confusion. Whatever it takes to win.
The avenues are quiet tonight, there are no cars passing,
There’s no nursery rhymes from mother’s tongue to her child’s bed, rock-a-bye-baby was all that she said.
Daddy is working his minimum wage, but he’s not complaining, you have to get paid.
State of the union, Katie: it’s on the television.
State of the union, if you are feeling confusion, we’ll give it an acronym.
Down at the college the kids are learning of current affairs daily by the dozens.
They know the names and they know all of the dates.
I’m going to pick you up at seven so baby don’t be late.
We are going to paint this town in red, white, and blue. The way we always did back in high school.
State of the union, sister. Place your bets my friends.
State of the union, daughters of the revolution,
Here we go again, here we go again.

DIVIDE AND MULTIPLY
You left on a train, right into the rain, crying, “Don’t look back ,” as you turned to me.
It was either March or May, I really can’t say because I’ve had a slip of memory.
Now I see all your friends out on the weekends, so silent as they stare.
Well it has been too long dear and you are no longer here, I can quit pretending to care.
Maybe you just are another shooting star,
From somewhere so far, I cannot see.
The words out on the town that you’ve been running around, I hope that you made it to his house.
As you walked down the hall you could hear him call, another button right down your blouse.
1-2-3-4 and there’s no more chords, I could dare to even try.
You were the only true one and now that we are done I just divide then multiply.
Drive off in your car, to your neighborhood bar, they know who you are so have a seat.

END OF SHOW
Did you hear the rock and roll guitar solo?
When the boys were heroes, in these wall without windows.
Tell me, were you ready for the guitar solo?
Mister, have you seen my baby?
Yeah, my bright-eyed baby, you know she was my lady.
Tell me, mister, have you seen my baby?
Did you hear that the drummer was leaving?
I guess he’s got his reasons: a wife and two children.
Tell me, did you hear that the drummer was leaving?
I just don’t know, I just don’t know, we are taking it slow now baby girl.
It’s the end of the show and they had so much soul, it was rock and roll,
It was rock and roll.
Now it just gets harder every single day. Aint that just the way?
You pay we play.
It’s getting harder everyday.
Those Christmas lights are shining bright, looks like it’s going to be a happy night,
One without any fights.
Those Christmas lights are shining.
I just don’t know, I just don’t know, we are taking it slow now baby girl.
It’s the end of the show and they had so much soul, it was rock and roll,
It was rock and roll.

HORSES
Now I know, there’s a new boy in your bed,
All those horses in your head, didn’t matter in the end.
Honey I can pretend.
I let you down, like the burden I am,
You did your best to stand and your independence came at my expense.
It’s funny how, it’s such a riot,
To think that we would last, I’ll be that boy from the past,
Who could play the guitar, all those chords
Now I know, that the boy in your bed, is probably more well-read,
Perhaps a doctor of law, so put his face on your wall.
I stand alone, a million miles to the west, I failed to pass to your test.
I’m just another reject, well what did you expect.
It’s funny how, it’s such a riot.
To think that we would last, I’ll be that boy from the past:
Who could play the guitar, all those chords.
Now I know, there’s a new boy in your bed.
All those horses in your head.

ON MY MIND AGAIN
It’s raining in Wyoming and she is crying in Cheyenne, there are broken hearts bleeding across this dry land.
Mister, you can send my darling my regards and regrets and on this tired old soul, place your bets.
Because the odds are in your favor and they are at least ten to one, it’s either heaven or hell and sadly the latter has won.
So take my last few dollars and be on your way, if you ever run across her, be sure to say:
Baby, don’t be sad. You were all I ever had.
Men make mistakes and girls’ hearts break,
But you learn to love again.
Now the night came in crawling from the busted screen door, it was searching for lovers across the floorboards.
I will tell you love don’t live here, no not anymore.
It left late last summer for the border.
I am not sure if I got there, I am still up in the air,
There has been many mile markers, too many to care.
A sign at the exit says you better stop for rest,
But Mister, it’s in my sleep when I remember her best.
So Baby, I can’t stay, my heart has gone astray.
Tomorrow came and it is still the same,
You’re on my mind again, on my mind again.

JACKSON
Sister, have you seen her? Standing over there.
She’s waiting on the darkness to take her so far from here.
Mother, I can’t remember if I ever was alone.
I finally found the answer in a woman so far from my home
Maybe, she’ll make it to the morning. Standing with the rising sun.
Maybe, she’ll make it back to Jackson, Mississippi.
I’m already half way there.
Maybe, I’ll make it to the station. Standing with a suitcase in my hand.
Maybe, I’ll make it at least to Oklahoma.
I don’t want to be scared.
Father, forgive me for all of my sins.
For you, this is my very last confession.
I tried so hard to be honest but I lied a million times or more.
Soon, you know, that I will be leaving.
I’m already out the door.