1. |
Alligator
03:21
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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)
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2. |
My Dyin' Day
03:12
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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)
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3. |
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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
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4. |
Peel Myself Away
03:13
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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)
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5. |
Paul Walked On
02:42
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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
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6. |
Plenty Of Fish
02:47
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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)
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7. |
Saint Peter
03:03
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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
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8. |
Hope Of A Brighter Day
03:29
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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
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9. |
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10. |
Blessed By Love
03:37
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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
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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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