Get all 91 Bill Mallonee releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Comes To Life (New single released March 14th, 2024), NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, & WEST, ABOVE, BELOW & WITHIN (single from Orphan Songs), HERE IT OPENS WITH A PRAYER, BUT IT CLOSES WITH A SONG (2022), A CLAMORING OF GHOSTS (2021), THE LOT OF EVERYMAN (a free download today), STUNNED (an anniversary song), "LEAD ON, KINDLY LIGHT" & "THIS WORLD & ONE MORE" (2020), ORPHAN SONGS (2018), and 83 more.
Excludes supporter-only releases.
1. |
ADAGIO
04:49
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ADAGIO words & music: bill mallonee
it all showed up fractured
it all showed up broke
it was never a story
more like an unfinished note
and the sighs? they were deafening
more than pictures could show
adagio
all the laughter of childhood
fell through the iron bars of the years
and the bright path of youth
grew dim & unclear
on a trail marked with sorrows
to a place nobody knows
adagio
CHORUS:
i have dug through my heart
like a plot full of weeds
something strangled by thorns
something crushing the seed
and the rose? it lies fallen
in the ice & the snow
Adaigo
me? i took to the highways
could be i went for the view
all the cities were crumbling
and my choices were few
was i looking for someone?
was it you? I don't know...
Adagio
CHORUS:
i have dug through my heart
like a plot full of weeds
something strangled by thorns
something crushing the seed
and the rose? it lies fallen
in the ice & the snow
Adagio
i have reached out my hand
i have prayed every prayer
i have reached out my hand
to grasp the thin air
it was never a story
more like an unfinished note
Adagio....
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2. |
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RAILROAD MAN words/music: bill mallonee
Two things that I know about
two things you can’t dismiss
it all comes with a price tag
& it all comes with a risk
oh, to be a railroad man
oh, to ride that long dark train
from the bay of san francisco
down to sunny new orleans
my eyes? they’ll be set like steel
fixed upon the rails
I will shovel in that coal
and my muscles? they will swell
and I will have seen more things
than any man can boast
all the stories of old railroad men
and their lonely ghosts
I will get myself a table
when I pull into town
I will drink my whisky quietly
with no one else around
I’ll tip my cap to the ladies
I might even steal a kiss
I will crawl back to my sleeping berth
and vanish in the mists
bridge
one day maybe they’ll write a song about me
that every child will sing
and I may be a poor boy, now
but one day, I’ll be a king
Now, the wind will be my brother
and the rain will cleanse my skin
the night will be my sister
and the sun will be my friend
oh, to be a railroad man
oh, to ride that long dark train
from the bay of san francisco
down to sunny new orleans
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3. |
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SEND A PIECE OF YOUR HEART UP AHEAD
words/music: bill mallonee
throw your last few belongings in backseat of a car
Hitching that wagon to a different star
nothing much left...in this old town
stay in one place too long...and the roots get bound
this is were I walked out....upon the stage
this is where I started, putting pen to the page
some things last...& some things break
I’ll leave a part of me here...just for old times sake
chorus:
who knows what’s next?
What chapter? And what verse?
It could have been better...
yeah, it could have been worse
I gave you my best
but that’s over & dead
I’ll send a piece of my heart....up ahead
I can’t say it ain’t sad...I can’t say it’s all ok
life has these lessons...and you just learn ‘em anyway
and Love...well, there's your gift and it’s all you’ll ever need
you learn to give back...what you’ve freely received
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4. |
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THE VERY LAST TO KNOW words/music: bill mallonee
There’s a place out here
where the sky gets clear
and tired. world. holds it’s breath
the light finds a curve
undisturbed
and that whisper...it's either God or death
chorus:
the sky she bids.........you a farewell kiss
and leaves you as lonely as a ghost
whatever is heard can never make out the words
and I’m always...the very last to know.
there’s a place within
scratch beneath your skin
always waiting for you to arrive
can try making your peace
it’s not the least bit interested
never looks you...in the eye
need a strong movement
of your spirit
a grace to shake us to the core
cause we got the faith
in power, lies & hate
all over history’s...cutting room floor
I must confess...I ain’t holding my breath
and that whisper...it’s either God or death
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5. |
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LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN IN YOUR HEART words/music: Bill Mallonee
hardly anywhere to run
and nowhere to hide
when the floodgates of life
open wide
but there is a place...where the waters part
with a little bit of Heaven in yer heart
there's no mountain you can climb
no cavern that's sound
when the sorrows and griefs
ride into town
maybe every dark ending is another bright start
with a little bit of heaven in yer heart
(bridge)
you can die 1000 times
this side of the line
figuring the false from the true
now, i don't need much
and i will lay down my crutch
but baby, i do need you
now the furies? They will visit
and Grief? well, she'll knock
at that tumble-down house
that you bought
just show 'em the door....
give 'em what for
with that lil' bit of Heaven in your heart
he is sad Romeo
he wants you to know
that you stole his love
from the start
it's you he's coming to claim
with a case of champagne
and little bit of Heaven in His heart
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6. |
HIGHWAY MAN'S SONG
06:25
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HIGHWAY MAN'S SONG
(HOW THINGS TURNED OUT THIS WAY)
words/music:bill mallonee
i remember there were stars in the sky
looking down on where we lay
i remember i was always wonderin'
how things turned out this way.
there was only so much to go around
that's why people oughta share
now, i got nothing 'ainst the rich man
except when he acts like he don't care
my father leased bit of earth
just to feed his family
he spent almost every hour working
and the rest on his knees
years of toil yielded nothing
whatever we had, for it you had to claw
when we couldn't make the rent
banker came and took it all
broken plows and broken fences
lying in the blowing wind
anger festering beneath a scorching sun
broken women, broken men
i dunno why i went to robbing
clearing out the rich man's vault
i gave it all to the poor man
just a way of ante-ing
some people spoke with flags and banners
some people spoke with a brass band
me? i spoke it with a shotgun
in a language anyone could understand
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7. |
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WHOLE NEW WORLD OPENING UP
music/lyrics: bill mallonee
i'd gone out....for a short drive
into the arms of a day so new
at the intersection where hearts collide
i ran into you
i don't remember if the light had changed
or who had the right of way
it all happened in a flash
on that diamond of a day
I ran into my dreams
as they were boarding up shop
ran into to a whole new world...
opening up...
somethings are meant to happen
at least that's what's assumed
you can take great comfort
in somebody watching o'er you
now, what happened when our eyes met
is as good as anybody's guess
something in my mind said "no,"
something in my heart said "yes"
I ran into a drink
the kind you can't hold in a cup
ran into a whole new world
opening up
(bridge)
yes, there were some bruises
yes, some things were broke
yes, there were some tickets written
and yes, some words got spoke
now, the world is a cruel highway
but i'm luckier than most
out there on that highway
you'll meet many a ghost
now, there are roads you gotta travel
but some good wheels'll get you through
i went out for a short drive
and i ran into you
ran into my dreams
as they were closing up shop
i ran into to a whole new world...
opening up...
ran into your grace
i can never get enough
ran into a whole new world
opening up
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8. |
LOVINGLY
04:52
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LOOK DOWN ON ME LOVINGLY words & music: bill mallonee
sketchin' your fate in copperplate
some of those strokes were pretty bold
chiseling your own story in stone
faith is a hammer breaking the mold
look up to the sky
arms open wide and please
look down on me
lovingly
i was never too good coming out of the gate
the kind of dark horse you shouldn't waste your money on
never tight on the curves
wanderin' lost & starry-eyes on the straight-aways
what with all that beauty...to keep track of
hours on end till your skin wears thin
dirty green rooms & graffiti takes a toll on your health
you archive the years through bourbon & beer
for some verses just to sing to yourself
TV preachers and a motel crash grace is a full tank of gas
you chase the things just outta reach and always a bit too far
the songs still come on this guitar I strum
but, mostly it's just me singin' to the stars
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9. |
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THROUGH THE GLASS DARKLY words & music: bill mallonee
I THINK WE’VE GOT TIME FOR JUST ONE MORE
BEFORE THE BARTENDER COUNTS HIS TRAY
THERE’S A MILLION REASONS TO WALK OUT THAT DOOR
AND ONLY ONE TO STAY
CHORUS:
THROUGH THE GLASS DARKLY
I’M JUST HOPING TO MAKE IT TO
A PLACE WHERE WE’RE ALL MADE NEW
WHEN IT’S ALL OVER & THROUGH
DOES IT LISTEN WHEN YOU CALL IN THE NIGHT?
DOES IT HOLD YOU IN YOUR DREAMS?
IS IT SOMETHING LIKE AN ANCHOR IN THE STORM
WHEN THE WORLD TURNS CRUEL & MEAN?
ONE MORE ROUND FOR THE ROUND OF CONFUSION
S’ALL WAYS DOGGING YOUR STEPS
ONE LOUD HOSANNA & A VICTORY CRY
SHOUTED WHILE YOU WEPT
Alt lines of 2nd verse.
I SAW YOU SITTIN' OUT THERE ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY
WITH A HEART FULL OF SHATTERED DREAMS
MAYBE EVEY SUNSET IS JUST A SMEARED PERIOD
WHEN THE WORLD TURNS CRUEL & MEAN
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10. |
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ADAIGO words & music: bill mallonee
it all showed up fractured
it all showed up broke
it was never a story
more like an unfinished note
and the sighs? they were deafening
more than pictures could show
adagio
all the laughter of childhood
fell through the iron bars of the years
and the bright path of youth
grew dim & unclear
on a trail marked with sorrows
to a place nobody knows
adagio
CHORUS:
i have dug through my heart
like a plot full of weeds
something strangled by thorns
something crushing the seed
and the rose? it lies fallen
in the ice & the snow
Adaigo
me? i took to the highways
could be i went for the view
all the cities were crumbling
and my choices were few
was i looking for someone?
was it you? I don't know...
Adagio
CHORUS:
i have dug through my heart
like a plot full of weeds
something strangled by thorns
something crushing the seed
and the rose? it lies fallen
in the ice & the snow
Adaigo
i have reached out my hand
i have prayed every prayer
i have reached out my hand
to grasp the thin air
it was never a story
more like an unfinished note
Adagio....
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Bill Mallonee
Bill Mallonee is an Americana artist w/ 80 plus albums over a 30 year career. Voted by Paste Music Magazine #65 in their
"Top 100 Living Songwriters" poll. He was the
founding member of Vigilantes of Love. He has worked with Mark Heard, Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris, & Peter Buck from REM.
His most recent work, "Lead On, Kindly Light" is a 23song double Cd released Feb 2020.
... more
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