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Blues Is In The Water

by Manitoba Hal

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1.
Alligator 03:21
Alligator © Hal Brolund (SOCAN) Twelve miles from Clarksdale Mississippi the pavement turns to dust on the edge of the old blues highway the tin roofs have turned to rust Mississippi down on the bayou it's a hard place to understand I get the chills when I think about it the blues rules this land. I was told the devil lived here down by that gallows tree get yourself down to the crossroads the devil will be waiting on me in the night you can hear the sound heart and the soul of a man I get the chills when I think about it the blues rules this land (chorus) This is the land of plantation cotton the devil wore out your shoes this is where it all came together Robert Johnson sang the blues in Alligator Mississippi You find yourself in Alligator Mississippi the birthplace of the blues at Maryann's you can get your tobacco your souvenirs and the news but stay away from the gallows tree the river on the edge of town you're twelve miles from Clarksdale Mississippi and the blues will run you down (chorus)
2.
My Dyin' Day 03:12
My Dyin' Day © Hal Brolund/Joanne Stacey (SOCAN) Take me to the water, lead me to a boat I'll throw myself out on the waves and resign myself to float every sin that I've committed will be washed away and I'll let that water carry me until my dyin' day Baptized by the water, father son and holy ghost I'm gonna wash my soul clean on that sunshine coast I met Jesus in a juke joint and he taught me how to play I'll let that water carry me until my dyin' day (chorus) Blues is in the water an endless flowing stream I am just the vessel and it cleanses me Come that ruination when the holy wind blows down picking on my guitar that's where I'll be found It ain't the Devil's music, it's just how I pray and I'll let that water carry me until my dyin' day (chorus)
3.
Papa Gâteau (Made Of Money) © Hal Brolund (SOCAN) I'm Papa Gâteau made of money the women gather round and call me honey I got a fancy home, big flash car I drink my liquor from an old fruit jar (chorus) I'm made of money (made of money) I'm made of money (made of money) I'm made of money (made of money) I'm made of money (made of money) I'm Papa Gâteau, I'm made of money I've got fancy clothes and leather shoes you can tell right off I've paid my dues I get my hair cut in the finest salons I don't eat chocolate, I eat bon bons (chorus) I might run for president you never know all it takes is money to run this show I've got stacks of cash as you can see I'm Papa Gâteau, que est ce je t'ais dit? (chorus) Made of money (que est ce je t'ais dit) Made of money (que est ce je t'ais dit) Made of money (que est ce je t'ais dit) Made of money (que est ce je t'ais dit) I'm Papa Gâteau, I'm made of money
4.
Peel Myself Away © Hal Brolund 2016 (SOCAN) When I was small I thought I could fly Peel myself away [I'd climb way up and spread my arms Peel myself away It didn't matter that I had no wings Peel myself away Dreams take flight when you trust your heart Peel myself away (chorus) I could do anything if I just believe I could climb any mountain I could swim any stream Is it fear or doubt that gets in my way? I would do it all If I peel myself away (4x) I always get in my own way Peel myself away my inner critic has bills to pay Peel myself away I try to find a song I can sing Peel myself away there's always a reason I can't do anything Peel myself away (chorus) I'll take some time to set my spirit free Peel myself away Stop these doubts from stopping me Peel myself away Take the time to climb up high Peel myself away Spread my arms because I can fly Peel myself away (chorus)
5.
Paul Walked On © Pat Melanson 2017 Back in old Jerusalem, after Jesus was gone People had lost direction until Paul walked on Paul walked on Paul was born in Tarsus, that boy knew his way around His folks said "boy better hit that road!" and Paul walked on Paul walked on Paul was one of the Pharisees, tried to put the Christians down Helped to take old Stephen's life, that bad old Paul walked on that bad old Paul walked on On the road to Damascus Paul was a walkin' to town Then came a vision of Jesus Christ and Paul stopped walkin' round Paul stopped walkin' round Saul, oh Saul why do you hate the lord cried Said "I'll make you blinded now" and Paul fell down and cried Paul fell down and cried Three days and nights in darkness, led to Damascus by hand The Ananias said "Paul open your eyes, walk to the promised land! walk to the promised land!" Paul cried "Lord forgive me! My wicked ways are gone! Baptize me now I'm a Christian man" and Paul walked on Paul walked on He walked up to Ephesis, he taught them about the Son In Rome they took away his life but Paul walked on Paul walked on Paul walked on Paul walked on Paul walked on
6.
Plenty of Fish © Hal Brolund (SOCAN) 2017 Loaded up my tackle box and I grabbed my line and pole set my course on down the road to my favourite fishing hole I bait the hook, I set the line, I casted all damn day I got nothin' to show for it but that one that got away (chorus) There's plenty of Fish (plenty of fish) There's plenty of fish (plenty of fish) There's plenty of fish (plenty of fish) in that deep blue sea There's plenty of fish (plenty of fish) There's plenty of fish (plenty of fish) Everybody's catchin' but me You've heard it said give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day teach that same man to fish and he'll sit a boat all day My grand dad taught me how to fish, said here's what you gotta know You chase her till she catches you and that is all she wrote (chorus) So I wandered down to the SeaDog to ask for some advice Wanda's always got a word but it ain't always nice Wanda told me Hal you gotta double check your bait Make sure your rod is working, and don't get started too damn late (chorus)
7.
Saint Peter 03:03
Saint Peter © Hal Brolund (SOCAN) Saint Peter don't forget to call my name I'll come running like a cattle train with a full head of steam and a market load I'll cross the dark waters and the dirty road Saint Peter don't forget to call my name I won't think twice about your Pearly Gates When Heaven calls I won't be late When that roll is called on Judgement day I won't let any doubt stand in my way Don't think twice about the Pearly Gates I'm running up to Heaven shouting Jesus name Cryin' Saint Peter I am saved You can tell that Devil I'm Heaven bound He won't catch me with his old hell hound I'm running up to Heaven shouting Jesus Saint Peter don't forget to call my name I'll come running like a cattle train with a full head of steam and a market load I'll cross the dark waters and the dirty road Saint Peter don't forget to call my name Don't forget me now Don't forget me now I'm a close personal friend of Jesus
8.
The Hope Of A Brighter Day © Hal Brolund (SOCAN) 2015 You can be born with money, you can be born with a place to live You can start out in the streets, you can start with nothing to give Whether your feet are cold or you've got good shoes You got a song in your heart or you got the blues We all start out with the hope of a brighter day (chorus) We start out perfect that's what they say And we'll all go to heaven one fine day We'll end up wrapped in the arms of the ones we love I hope you're happy, I hope you're strong I pray that no ever treats you wrong I hope you learn to see with the love that's in your heart You could be born black, or born white, born in the day or the middle of the night You could be born here or to a family far away No matter your colour, no matter your name There are some things that are always the same We all start out with the hope of a brighter day (chorus) (bridge) In your heart, in your heart In your heart, in your heart Now you treat each other with the respect we all deserve Remember that we all are family on this great earth (yes we are) We might be right, we might be wrong We might not even sing the same song But we all start out with the hope of a brighter day (chorus) (bridge) In your heart, in your heart In your heart, in your heart In your heart, in your heart In your heart, in your heart
9.
10.
Blessed By Love © Hal Brolund (SOCAN) 2016 If I was a river, I would flow free I could slip past any boulder that was trying to stop me Yes if I was water, I could flow like that You couldn't stop me no 'cause I'm a natural fact If I was a bird, I would fly free I'd not be held by a cage You couldn't catch me Yes if I had wings, I would take to the sky I'd not be held by the ground 'cause that's no way to fly (chorus) I'm not a river on my way to the sea I'm not a bird in the sky, I cannot fly free I'm just a man blessed by love I'm blessed by love, I am blessed by love If I was soil I'd be fresh and clean I could grow lots of food More than you'd ever need Yes if I was dirt, I'd be a home for the trees I'd be a bed for the river I'd be the ground for your feet (chorus) I'm not a river on my way to the sea I'm not a bird in the sky, I cannot fly free I'm just a man blessed by love I'm blessed by love, I am blessed by love I'm not a river on my way to the sea I'm not a bird in the sky, I cannot fly free I'm just a man blessed by love I'm blessed by love, I am blessed by love I'm blessed by love, I am blessed by love I'm blessed by love, I am blessed by love

about

Nominated for Blues Album of the Year - Music Nova Scotia 2019

This collection of songs was going to be called 'Every Sin That I've Committed'. Sin was not the legacy that we wanted for this album. WATER is in just about every one of these songs. Water takes the role of cleansing, of baptism, of home, of escape and freedom. It is location, redemption, obstacle and hope. This album is defined by water and water is the unifying element in this collection of songs. Blues IS in the water.

credits

released March 1, 2018

All songs by Hal Brolund except;
My Dyin Day by Hal Brolund and Joanne Stacey
Paul Walked On by Pat Melanson

Manitoba Hal:
Ukulele, Resonator Guitar, Cigar Box Guitar

Tim Williams:
Octave Mandolin, Mandolin, 12 String Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar, Weisenborn guitar, Backup Vocals

Kevin Belzner: Drums

Kit Johnson: Upright Bass

Shaye Zadravec and Syndey Zadravec: Backup Vocals

Produced by Tim Williams

Engineered by Steve Gerard at Bette Jane Studio Calgary, Alberta

Mastered by Dave Horrocks at Infinite Wave Mastering, Calgary, Alberta

Photography by Lisa Buchanan
Graphic design by Hal Brolund

Management: Nicole Colbeck, Little Acorn Music Management
www.littleacornmusicmanagement.com

Bookings: manitobahal@gmail.com

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Manitoba Hal Shelburne, Nova Scotia

Canadian blues artist Manitoba Hal is a ukulele master and singer-songwriter. He is known for his expressive voice and mastery of his instrument; his trusty baritone ukulele; His original songs have become modern classics and his take on standards and popular blues songs of the past have brought him to festival stages worldwide. ... more

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