Get all 89 Bill Mallonee releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, & WEST, ABOVE, BELOW & WITHIN (free single from Orphan Songs 2018), Here It Opens With A Prayer, But It Closes With A Song, A CLAMORING OF GHOSTS (2021), STUNNED (an anniversary song), "Lead On, Kindly Light" & "This World & One More" 2020, ORPHAN SONGS (2018), NEED TO BLEED (expanded version) Bill Mallonee & Vigilantes of Love, FOREST FULL OF WOLVES (2018), and 81 more.
Excludes supporter-only releases.
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DOVER BEACH (Out In The Cold) words/music; by Bill Mallonee
published by "Once More, This Time With Feeling" Music BMI 2014
If there ever was a smile that stopped me in my tracks
one that filled up the ocean of everything i lacked
and brought the stars a little closer so there was no turning back
out in the cold
every conviction that i lived by, every truth that i was taught
every sermon that i heard; well, it was all for naught
i was always pretty bad at carryin' my cross
out in the cold
And our tears? they speak a language uniquely their own
and every laugh? It holds the promise past the grave there's something more
be it laying upon Jesus' breast, or terrible swift swords
out in the cold
No, i am not a scoffer withholding his thanks
my purse? It may be empty, but my heart overflowed it's banks
heard a different melody swelling from ragged angelic ranks
out in the cold
Was that your voice cascading through all that is unseen?
I sorted through the implications, till i don't know what it means
Caught between a heart that's all at once both holy & obscene
out in the cold
From the doors that never opened by prayer or skeleton key
aren't our feet are only searching for a home we've never seen?
I have glimpsed it once or twice ah, but it coulda been a dream
out in the cold
To have travel for these many years knocked on many doors
i got tired of tryin' to bend an ear; i got tired of keepin' score
sometimes a son of heaven; but a son of hell even more
out in the cold
I can show you where my heart was broken there on Dover Beach
Truth receded like a wave, too farther out of reach
Love may bring the tide back in; hard to live, easy to preach
out in the cold.
If there ever was a smile that stopped me in my tracks
one that filled up the ocean of everything i lacked
and brought the stars so close i touched them;
honey, i'll never forget that...
out in the cold
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2. |
THOSE LOCUST YEARS
03:56
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2. THOSE LOCUST YEARS words/music: bill mallonee
Well, the locust years
they're making the rounds
And the locust years
arecoming to your town
they don't ask an invite
they just roll on it
locust years
living under your skin
locust years
always nipping at your heels
locust years
they don't care what they steals
like weeds taking root
like darkness settlin' in
locust years
living under your skin
well, there's no one to shoot
and what good would it do?
when there's no one to blame
...and nothing left to lose?
locust years
there's no words on his tongue
he grins as he passes
from his horse made of bones
like a bird of prey
picking you clean
locust years
living under your skin
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3. |
OLD BEAT UP FORD
05:08
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OLD BEAT UP FORD
words/music: bill mallonee
Sunlight sifted through the shadows
It seemed brighter way back then
And I walked the world in wonder
all dressed up in my new skin
If that world was going somewhere
Well, that's just something I ignored
And it all flooded through the windshield
of an old beat up Ford
It was pistols under waist coasts
It was daggers gone unseen
An ace of diamonds up the sleeve, kid
That all led me to believe
All that binds us to this hard world
Is but a single golden cord
And it flooded through the windshield
of an old beat up Ford
There was that moment when our paths cross
We all need a place that's warm
You're seeking such illumination
like a beacon in the storm
And if that world was going somewhere
Well, there are just somethings you ignored
and it all flooded through the windshield
of an old beat up Ford
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4. |
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4. GOT SOME EXPLAINING TO DO (gotta give the devil his due)
words & music: bill mallonee
time for closing the wounds up
time for opening hearts
time to hitching our wagon
to the nearest star
the whole nation is weeping
how much longer can it last?
goodwill & trust are thing
of the past
CHORUS:
no matter what the disguise is
well, ya' gotta give the devil his due
but whoever he is
has got some explain' to do
people wanna control you
and it's fear that they employ
as soon as you pledge allegiance
they're out to steal your joy
now, i don't buy the right records
but i know just what i like
and if you're high & lonesome
i know what'll get you through the night
maybe it's the new corporate terror
seducing the government
maybe it's the war machine
maybe the 1%
time for banishing darkness
time to do what's right
time for loving the planet
time for stepping into the light
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5. |
DEW DROP INN
04:57
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DEW-DROP-INN (i love you just because)
words/music: bill mallonee
well, the rain retreats
across mean city streets
of this old mid-west town
(store-front) glass & red brick
non-descript
with a few old ghosts
roamin' round
at the dew drop inn
every one's yer friend
and everybody's got a story unsung
sam's tending bar
brother, he' seen it all
seen the good die young
CHORUS:
well, the road winds hard & the road winds cruel
and hearts being what they are
Let's just say "It'll be 'OK' "
and "i love you," just because x2
Spring of Hope
summer of Love
It ain't never without a Fall
some dreams get born
most get beaten' out
some folks forget how to dream at all
well, the clouds disperse
none for the worst (anyway)
it's mostly just half-rainbows when it clears
stories got told
drinks were poured
and for a moment? It was Heaven here
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BLAME IT ON THE DESERT (WHISPERIN')
words/music: bill mallonee
I've tried to remember
exactly when we first met
maybe somewhere inside a Tweed's honey tones
and a Duo-Jet
felt like Lewis & Clark
with new lands to survey
felt like that first drink of whiskey
have i known you all my days?
CHORUS:
what the mystic knows
what the Good Book does proclaim
you only ever own
what you give away
blame it on the spirit
blame it on the wine, but then again
blame it on the desert.......whisperin'
this road, she always beckoned you
through the feedback & the drone
and she promised thick & thin
just don't mistake her for your home
the mantra of the asphalt
roadside diner Communion table
take only what ya' need
leave what you are able
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7. |
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IN THE NEW DARK AGE (the only lamp burning bright is you)
words/music: bill mallonee
All the dominoes fell
we went under a spell
and all hell. broke. loose.
Everything you held dear
when the dust finally cleared
it was just as you feared
Chorus:
In the new dark age
Nobody puts up a fight
In the new dark age
You'll see no flares in the night
The only lamp burning bright...is you
All the mask came off
All disguises were dropped
The game was declared over
Love was escorted out
There was hardly a shout
I'll take the crimson & clover
We're all mystics & freaks
With the spirit beneath
Deeper than any ocean
Let the string section "riff"
Seal it up with a kiss
Honey, we are all golden
In the new dark age
no one trusts anyone
In the new dark age
they forget to have fun
The only light from the sun...is you
In the new dark age
nobody puts up a fight
In the new dark age
you'll see no flares in the night
The only lamp burning bright...is you
The only lamp burning bright...is you
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8. HALL OF MIRRORS & ROOM FULL OF WOES
words/music: bill mallonee
Hall of mirrors. Room full of woes
does it get any clearer as you go?
the cards you play & the ones you n'er shown
Hall of mirrors. Room full of woes
death is a boxer stalking the ring
grabs all the prize money and few other things
with a one-two punch, that's stealing the show
hall of mirrors...room full of woe
now, death's a prize-fighter & thorough as hell
go up against him? you'll never lived to tell
always a decision you already know
Hall of mirrors. Room full of woes
you try to bring forth fruits from this inhospitable ground
toil has a face but it makes no sound
scratchin' the surface with pick-axe & hoe
Hall of mirrors. Room full of woes
now, they say what's asleep won't stay in the ground
and what is lost is nothing compared to what gets found
I'm betting the farm, babe, on that smile you bestow
Hall of mirrors. Room full of woes...
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9. |
NOW YOU KNOW
06:00
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NOW YOU KNOW words/music: bill mallonee
Well, the first thing that you'll notice
is the sadness of this place
deserts speak in whispers
but she rarely shows her face
they say that you get use to it
ah, but I've not found that to be the case
now you know...now you know...now you know
It was somewhere deep in Texas
amidst a cold December
there were no stars of Bethlehem
at least none that i remember
faith was flying at half-mast
and so me? I cut the cord
now you know...now you know...now you know
I dunno why the black hills
always spoke to me
some folks, they need the mountain tops
some folks need the sea
no matter where I sing these songs
the devil's always at my sleeve
now you know...now you know...now you know
Caesar sat upon a steed
and waited till the dawn
without a word the die is cast
across a Rubicon
history's muddy, bloody boots
are ever marching on
now you know...now you know...now you know
I can feel it all disintegrate
like paper in the flame
now you know...now you know...now you know
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10. |
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TAP YOUR HEART ON THE SHOULDER (& SEE IF SHE'S STILL AWAKE) words/music: bill mallonee
if i ever make it outta Dalhart
to a place where i can stand tall
a horse would do just nicely
but if have to...i'm gonna crawl
ain't nothing left in Oklahoma
on your right or left hand
we just took God's good, green earth
and turned it...into sand
CHORUS:
Only so many days. Only so many nights
Only so many smiles you can fake
hey, reach over & tap your heart on the shoulder
...and see if she's still awake
dunno how this all got started
dunno how it'll all survive
they brought in girls; they brought in whiskey
'cause they knew it'd be a long ride
whatever you feel nipping at your heels
whatever is tugging at your sleeve
it may take some digging but you gotta find you
some reason to believe
if i ever make it outta Dalhart
to a place where i can stand tall
a horse would do just nicely
but if have to...i'm gonna crawl
from A few songs from WINNOWING. Full Album drops 9/1/14,
Bill Mallonee & The Darkling Planes
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11. |
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COMES TUMBLING DOWN words & music: Bill Mallonee
how it all fell out
how it played for keeps
revisionist history
well, it never weeps
crumbles to dust
and it falls to the ground
all that you built x3
comes tumbling down
now, nothing last forever
so the saying went
baby, let's provide them
with some new evidence
when the jury decides
and the verdict's pronounced
all that you built x3
comes tumbling down
"honey, we're all resplendent."
said some folk-singer that i knew
use to hang on his words
maybe, i still do
i wonder how he's doing
but he's nowhere to be found
all that you built x3
comes tumbling down
(repeat)
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12. |
DOVER BEACH (DEMO~mix 3)
05:13
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13. |
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BLAME IT ON THE DESERT (WHISPERIN')
I've tried to remember
exactly when we first met
maybe somewhere inside a Tweed's honey tones
and a Duo-Jet
felt like Lewis & Clark
with new lands to survey
felt like that first drink of whiskey
have i known you all my days?
CHORUS:
what the mystic knows
what the Good Book does proclaim
you only ever own
what you give away
blame it on the spirit
blame it on the wine, but then again
blame it on the desert.......whisperin'
this road, she always beckoned you
through the feedback & the drone
and she promised thick & thin
just don't mistake her for your home
losing is your closet friend
but, that's all part of the deal
some days you're spinning like a red-tail hawk
or a wagon wheel
the mantra of the asphalt
roadside diner Communion table
take only what ya' need
leave what you are able
(alt verese not used)
Time is gonna change you
and Grace is all you got
to make you like an angel
the part of you that you forgot
Don't give up on Love
try to learn her ways
but don't fall in love with money
there'll be nothing left to save
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14. |
NOW YOU KNOW (Demo)
05:14
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15. |
DOVER BEACH (DEMO mix 4)
05:08
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DOVER BEACH (Out In The Cold)
words/music: bill mallonee
If there ever was a smile that stopped me in my tracks
one that filled up the ocean of everything I lacked
and brought the stars a little closer so there was no turning back
out in the cold
Every conviction that I lived by, every truth that I was taught
Every sermon that i heard; well, it was all for naught
I was always pretty bad at carryin' my cross
out in the cold
And our tears? they speak a language uniquely their own
And every laugh? It holds a promise that past the grave there's something more
Be it laying upon Jesus' breast, or terrible swift swords
out in the cold
No, I am not a scoffer withholding his thanks
My purse? It is empty, but my heart overflows it's banks
I heard a different melody swelling from ragged angelic ranks
out in the cold
Was that your voice cascading through all that is unseen?
I sorted through the implications, still I don't know what it means
Caught between a heart that is at once both holy & obscene
out in the cold
From the doors that never opened by prayer or skeleton key
Aren't our feet always searching for a home we've never seen?
I have glimpsed it once or twice ah, but it might have been a dream
out in the cold
To have traveled for these many years & knocked on all these doors
I got tired of tryin' to bend an ear; I got tired of keepin' score
Sometimes a son of heaven, a son of hell even more
out in the cold
I can show you where my heart was broke there on Dover Beach
Truth receding like a wave, too farther out of reach
Love may bring the tide back in; hard to live, easy to preach
out in the cold.
If there ever was a smile that stopped me in my tracks
one that filled up the ocean of everything I lacked
and brought the stars so close i touched them;
honey, I'll never forget that...
out in the cold
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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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An outstanding remaster. The extras are great. I hope this is the start of his whole discography being remastered with extras.
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supported by 40 fans who also own “Winnowing (2014/Digital)”
Fantastic album/CD with great instrumentation and vocals. Also an inspiration listening to the lyrics. Excellent recording quality as well. I give this my 5 Coconuts!
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Dig (2015 Remaster)
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This is a formative album for me that has aged so well. I had no idea at the time how well crafted the album was and am so thankful for this remaster and chance to add it to my physical collection.
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Soulful guitar interplay form the heart of this lovely Americana collaboration from Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
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I was captivated by the richness of Muriah's voice and her soulful lyrics. Looking forward to the whole album.
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