Get all 92 Bill Mallonee releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of WELCOME TO STRUGGLEVILLE (Remaster by Pete Lyman) 2024, Comes To Life (New single & free download), 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), and 84 more.
Excludes supporter-only releases.
1. |
TALK AROUND
02:56
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Yeah, you old soul...I didn’t know you were back in town
Oh, God, it’s been years since I saw you around
and of course we’ll just
talk around, talk around
where it hurts the most
yeah, we’ll just talk around, talk around
leave that for the ghosts
And all of that blood, that you spilled
on the pages of your songs and life...
Wasn’t that just...a writer’s...
some kind of writer’s device?
and of course we’ll just
talk around, talk around
where it hurts the most
yeah, we’ll just talk around, talk around
leave that for the ghosts
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2. |
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I’ve decided that pride...is always at your sleeve
I’ve decided the heart craves...mostly what it doesn’t need
You know what I mean?
what if I’m losing you but coming clean?
honey I’m so afraid
there may never be another , no never be another like you
honey I’m so afraid
there may never be another , no never be another like you
I’ve decided we’re all scared...just like a kid who lost
and most of what we call the truth...it’s all just plain false honey I’m so afraid
there may never be another , no never be another like you
honey I’m so afraid
there may never be another , no never be another like you
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3. |
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I hear they call it walking wounded
oh, if words did just what they should
nomenclature is a treasure that gets looted
baby, ain’t we all just damaged goods?
With souls as big as western sky
like a field that is straining but lying fallow
all the fruit’s dead before it arrives
growing up into your own shadow
If I could just hear you whisper my name
disturb the universe’s dead air
whispered like you really mean it
before I vanish in thin air
Awaiting something like catharsis
you’ve already failed the whole damn thing
here’s your ghost and there’s your pauper each...exchanging wedding rings
Conjure up the memory of some laughter
seems like it all once came down for free
where’d the hour glass finally run out?
the one that lies beneath your feet?
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4. |
BRAND NEW SKIN
03:59
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Mother, I remember you all ringed with roses and laurel thanks for teaching me those words, but I couldn’t save you from your sorrow
oh, please close your eyes...and wait to begin
you’ll wake up...in your brand new skin
Show me out some different way...to slide through that tomorrow
if it vanishes like haze...your old life it’s just borrowed
oh, to close your eyes...and wait to begin you’ll wake up...in your brand new skin
now whatever falls away
and whatever is dross
whatever fills the grave
...and whatever gets lost
If I hold it all up to the light and it’s all wrecked and scarred
All that chrome and touch-up paint? Well, it won’t take you far
oh, please close your eyes...and wait to begin
you’ll wake up...in your brand new skin
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5. |
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how you gonna make it to the door?
how you gonna pay up on...more than you bargained for?
How you gonna live down your past?
how you gonna define your current ragged ass?
yeah, this is gonna be one of those “baby-hold-on-tight-songs”
This is gonna be one of those “baby-please-all-night-long-songs”
chorus:
What do you see...when you look in the mirror?
God, you gotta make this a little clearer
Did you know ‘bout the ruin; ‘fore the fall
On the other side...
On the other side
On the other side
of the wrecking ball?
I’m sorry for the hurt...I’m sorry for the shame
I’m sorry for the frame...you had to rearrange
all bought and sold...yeah, the glitter and gold bought and sold
yeah, this is gonna be one of those “baby-hold-on-tight-songs”
This is gonna be one of those “baby-please-all-night-long-songs”
chorus:
what do you see when you look in the mirror?
God, you gotta make this a little clearer
did you know ‘bout the ruin; ‘fore it started to fall
On the other side...
On the other side
on the other side
of the wrecking ball?
self-loathing...well, she’s a wicked mistress, son;
spilling all the details through a bull-horn
mercy, won’t you kiss a simple fool
And I’ll buy you another round...and your new record, too yeah
(Repeat chorus)
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6. |
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(HOW MUCH LONGER) WILL YOU HANG AROUND? by Bill Mallonee
outside a motel room dawn assembling
throwing our gear in a cold van
boredom of the days and the toll of empty rooms and stages
how much first aid will this take bartender
paths are winding backwards and the clocks are running down
how much longer will you hang around
was it all some cruel joke the punch line slow unfolding
led here in wrong direction by putting your best foot forward
lead you to this place a little numb from it all
the pieces fall and fill up this hole in the wall
a box of your regrets wristwatch and other personal effects
photographs and notebooks with filled up pages
two kids and a few friends long roads with many a dead end
sweep it up and offer what's left to God
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7. |
CRAP P.A.
05:02
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SHIT P.A. music/lyrics: bill mallonee
brought it forth in the road noise drone
wrote it down on dog-eared, yellowed pages
girded up guitars for an audience of One
and bled it through a shit PA
sobered by the sound of 1K spikes
nurtured on 2nd hand inhalation
spoils of war...measured out in ounces at night
no medals given for surviving degradations
CHORUS:
Once you ran...now ya’ stumble
lookin’ for eternal light...at the end of the tunnel
And I swear...if I make it outta here
God, there’s no cover...it’s just one foot in front of the other
and I swear...I won’t ask why
if I make it out...out of here...alive...
living by sharpened wits and razor-edge fear
counterfeit thanks; the doorman hands to you the smaller part
too big a lump to swallow...the killing of the years
yielding nothing but these weeds inside your heart
too many: “well, kid it didn’t work outs”
too many benefits of the doubt
too many phone calls never returned
too many bridges you were forced to burn
rent’s always cheap on hell’s half acre
all the residents wave and say: “we’ll see ya’ later!”
Ya’ sally forth to greet whatever’s left of the day
and bleed it through a shit P.A.
and bleed it through a shit P.A.
and bleed it through a shit P.A.
Mallonee: 12 string acoustic guitar, vocal
Rose: vocals
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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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