Waiting For the Big One | lyrics and credits

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1. Life I've Led

As I watched the stars tonight
My vision black and white
I was thinking 'bout the days gone by
Don't want to sound too sentimental
With words all ornamental
All my life I've tried to simplify
I know I'm on extended time
And these years have been sublime
Mostly wouldn't change a thing
Got some life in me yet
Might even get out of debt
If there's a party tell me what I should bring

Well mighty dang soon
Under the next full moon
Gonna count my blessings
While I play this tune
Time to give it all back
Hope it doesn't go to my head
While I'm above the dirt
Make sure no one gets hurt
I won't worry or fret
On that you can bet
Time to sing my hallelujahs
And be thankful for the life that I've led

Now I'm 65
Damn I'm still alive
I can't believe I've lasted all of these years
The stories I could tell
Would crack the Liberty Bell
Just hope I haven't left a trail of tears
We all could write a book
Just got to think of a hook
Could be our American Dream
But in the morning when I wake up
Have my coffee and an eggcup
I'll get back to my habitual scheme

Gary Mackender: Lead Vocals, Drums, Accordion, Organ
Karl Hoffmann: Bass, Electric Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Billy Yates: Electric Guitar
Katherine Byrnes: Harmony Vocals

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2. Brenda's Got A Tongue Ring

Brenda went to the U left her kittens behind
Bought all the right books to refine her mind
Her main infatuation was to forge her own style
To be a bit mournful and to lose the smile
Then to add to the charm chose to pierce her face
With a ring on her tongue in just the right place

Brenda's got a tongue ring
Brenda's got a tongue ring
Says it doesn't sting
And it's really her thing
Brenda's got a tongue ring

Well, Brenda's now an Instagram star
With her face pierced up she's a hit at the bar
The likes are piling up on her facial book
The individual piercing was all that it took
It didn't enter her mind when she enrolled in her classes
She'd be a sensation for the unwashed masses

Brenda's got a tongue ring
Brenda's got a tongue ring
Says it doesn't sting
And it's really her thing
Brenda's got a tongue ring

Gary Mackender: Lead and Harmony Vocals, Drums, Accordion, Organ
Karl Hoffmann: Bass
Billy Yates: Electric Guitars
Kelley J Hunt: Harmony Vocals

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3. Waiting For the Big One

I thought I'd like it fine here at the Salton Sea
Got this house for fifteen thousand, came with a tree
Bombay Beach was supposed to be heaven sent
But now I think the underworld was what they meant
Salt water lake right in my backyard
Eating up the paint this ain't no Christmas Card
My art installation's not going as planned
Yesterday most of it sunk in the sand

Guess I'm waiting for the big one
Waiting for the big one
I'm waiting for the big one

The artists and the hipsters with their plywood floors
Building houses using recycled windows and doors
This apocalyptic town might have some life in it yet
Toxic dust might be a bit of a threat
The Bombay Beach Drive-In is not what it seems
Nothing really is in this town of lost dreams
Got nothing but time plopped here at the bar
Might be time to light up my last cigar

I'm waiting for the big one
Waiting for the big one
I'm waiting for the big one

The San Andreas Fault is right under my home
My house might as well be made of styrofoam
Good thing I sold most of my worldly effects
Give me a call and pay your last respects

Guess I'm waiting for the big one
Waiting for the big one
Waiting for the big one
Waiting for the big one
Guess I'm waiting for the big one
Waiting for the big one
Waiting for the big one

Gary Mackender: Lead Vocals, Drums, Accordion, Organ, Piano
Karl Hoffmann: Bass
Connor Gallaher: Pedal Steel
Kelley J Hunt & Kelly E Hunt: Harmony Vocals

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4. That Border Town

We've got our Chevy Corvair
The wind blowing through our hair
We were flyin' high down the 1-19
Sailed past the border patrol
Might be out of control
Could be the pills if you know what I mean
Glanced in the rearview mirror
The road it looked pretty clear
No flashing lights were coming up on me
Just passed Tumacacori
Just might make have to wait and see
I know we're going to make it to
That Border Town

The plans were somewhat carelessly made
Made no difference as we weren't afraid
We all knew that it was time to make a run
The money it was all spent
Six months behind on our rent
Time to drive south to the land of the sun
Jade and Gwen sitting in the back seat
Shimmy shaking to an R&B beat
Just a few kilometers before we get to the line
Hope to head down to old La Paz
If we don't break any laws
I know we're going to make it to
That Border Town

Gary Mackender: Lead Vocals, Drums, Accordion
Karl Hoffmann: Bass, Organ
Connor Gallaher: Mandolin, Electric Guitar
Kelly E Hunt: Harmony Vocals

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5. Sanctuary

Gary Mackender: Drums, Accordions
Karl Hoffmann: Bass, Midi Strings
Billy Yates: Acoustic Guitar
Connor Gallaher: Pedal Steel

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6. Red-Haired Mary

A red-haired girl of just eighteen
A simpleton at best
Pinched loaves and wallets on the streets
Goods piled up in her nest
Gave no thought to the marks she worked
Nor the fencing of the loot
Barely spoke a single word
Most folks thought her mute

She was red-haired Mary
But not of Irish lore
This lass was London born and bred
She'd give you the what-for
Give you the what-for

She hired on as servant
To a lady fair of wealth
Had hopes of secret plunder but
Possessed none of the stealth
Late at night the Bobbies came
And roused her from her bed
Next day a thickset rope had found
The furtive girl dead
From the thievish life she led

She was red-haired Mary
But not of Irish lore
This lass was London born and bred
She'd give you the what-for
Give you the what-for

Gary Mackender: Lead and Harmony Vocals, Drums, Accordion
Karl Hoffmann: Bass
Connor Gallaher: Flatpick Acoustic Guitar, Lap Steel
Catherine Zavala, limell’ lawson, Connie Colbert: Background Pub Vocals

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7. Daddy Was A Drifter

Whatever happened to the prayers
My mama said at night
Did they rise up to the sky
Ever see the light
All her life she talked to God
Until the day she died
And triggered memories of my youth
When every night she cried

Daddy was a drifter
Ruin was his middle name
Mama always said she was going to hell
Daddy was to blame

Daddy slept out on the couch
After Jesus moved on in
Ma said there's only room for one
As daddy lived in sin
I was five years old when he moved out
If memory serves me well
Last I heard he was serving time
In a lonely dim-lit cell

Daddy was a drifter
Ruin was his middle name
Mama always said she was going to hell
Daddy was to blame

Gary Mackender: Lead Vocals, Drums, Accordion, Piano
Karl Hoffmann: Bass
Connor Gallaher: Pedal Steel
Greg Mackender: Vibraphone
Cristina Williams: Harmony Vocals

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8. The Flying Saucer Song

Bo works in a clothing store
Ever waiting for something to happen
He'd lost most his hair showed little fanfare
But his spirits haven't seemed to dampen
He spends his free time staring up at the sky
As he knows they'll surely come back
The poking and the prodding and the missing ten days
The occasional panic attack

Flying saucers, come from a far-away star
Flying saucers, shaped like a Cuban cigar
Flying saucers, no one knows who they are
Flying saucers

Bo swears it's true it could happen to you
Snatch you up when you least expect it
The next thing you know you're floating to the sky
Then you'll know the true meaning of dissected
Hoffa's body has never been found
Did DB Cooper ever hit the ground
Amelia had her plane see what good that did
Did a dingo really eat the young Chamberlain kid
Flying saucers

So Bo keeps his watch for all of mankind
With the hope of being next in line
'Cause nothing ever happens in the clothing store
Those aliens are genuine

Flying saucers, come from a far-away star
Flying saucers, shaped like a Cuban cigar
Flying saucers, no one knows who they are
Flying saucers

Gary Mackender: Lead and Harmony Vocals, Drums, Accordion, Piano
Karl Hoffmann: Bass, Harmony Vocals, Various Noises
Connor Gallaher: Pedal Steel, Mellotron, Sitar
Kelley J Hunt: Harmony Vocals

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9. The Roustabout

Gary Mackender: Drums, Percussion, Accordion, Toy Piano, Accorgan
Karl Hoffmann: Bass, Guitars

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10. Let's Just Dance

Pontius Pilate had regrets
Luciano placed his bets
Nero had his mother killed
Pol Pot's fortune unfulfilled
Vlad impaled a thousand folks
Hitler's ovens were no hoax
Jefferson had all those slaves
All are buried in their graves

Let's dance
Let's just dance
Jump out of your chair
Let down your hair
Get on your feet
To that crazy beat
Take a chance
Let's just dance

Mister Booth shot Lincoln dead
Sirhan popped Bob in the head
Richard Reed loved his white hood
Saddam Hussein misunderstood
Hoover wore his panty hose
Mao Zedong to power rose
All those folks were history's fools
They all broke key civil rules
Now's the time to change things up
Just don't drink from power's cup

Let's dance
Let's just dance
Jump out of your chair
Let down your hair
Get on your feet
To that crazy beat
Take a chance
Let's just dance

Gary Mackender: Lead and Harmony Vocals, Drums, Organ, Piano
Karl Hoffmann: Bass, Harmony Vocals, Various Noises
Connor Gallaher: Electric Guitars
Cristina Williams: Harmony Vocals

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11. The Ghosts of Vaqueros

Mesteñeros were breaking the mustangs
Along the Rio Grande bed
At night they sang corridos
Doves flying overhead
Some laid low in el campo santo
Others roamed the open grange
The ghosts of vaqueros drifting
All across the borderline range

They spent the night in Boquillas del Carmen
A band of ferals shifting in their pen
There was a buyer in Nuevo Leon
Weren't sure if they could trust those men
Saddled up and ready by first light
The tender was pre-arranged
The ghosts of vaqueros drifting
All across the borderline range

They were found just outside of Saltillo
All were tossed into a pauper's grave
No familia to wish them a farewell
Not a sign they might've stood brave
But at night the locals can hear them
Driving horses that made up their trade
The ghosts of vaqueros drifting
All across the borderline range
The ghosts of vaqueros drifting
All across the borderline range

Gary Mackender: Lead and Harmony Vocals, Drums, Accordion
Karl Hoffmann: Bass, Baritone Guitar
Billy Yates: Acoustic Guitar

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12. Corona Fried

Gary Mackender: Drums, Accordion
Karl Hoffmann: Bass, Baritone Guitar
Greg Mackender: Vibraphone

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All songs ©2020 Gary Mackender ASCAP

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