The Underkill

Why are you watching me crawl from here?
Up from the bottom I’ve engineered my patience and some mild relations

Seems I’ve forgotten the friends I made
Over and over they left in decay I hope I don’t need me in the afterlife

But, who really wants to know what’s true way down deep below?
‘Cause the view from the bottom isn’t nice

Praise God is what some of these bad dogs say
Too late for someone like me to learn to pray
I’m God’s favorite anyway

Fate’s at the door to smile and greet ya
There ain’t nobody else out there dying to meet you this time around
Yeah, you burned them all down and…

Who really wants to know what’s true way down deep below?
‘Cause the view from the bottom isn’t nice

So I step back another decade or two
Blind myself under the sun of a much more vacant view
There the laughter will ensue

And the chinks in the armor will call in the fight
Jesus, Mary and Joseph will testify to the reign of this kingdom unbecoming

And who really wants to know what’s true way down deep below?
‘Cause the view from the bottom isn’t nice

Yeah, who really wants to know what’s true way down deep below?
‘Cause the view from the bottom isn’t nice

Who really wants to know what’s true way down deep below?
I am telling you that this view from the bottom isn’t nice

Taste used to taste sweeter to me
I used to choke and cough on eleven different flavors at once

Now I come to the family hat in hand
Without a single lazy duck in a row
Can’t say that I wasn’t warned about a cousin I used to know

She was born just a year before on a cross no one should have to bear
The best of the bullets never leave the chamber but there’s nothing to kill out there

I get the feeling there’s always going to be trouble in the way
You should only mention when it’s gone
And you’ll be alone when it makes itself known no matter what they say
Cause there’s always trouble in the way

Well, preach. And you can preach it to me loud as you want
I got a head full of melancholic voices pay no attention to those

But I break this to you gently with a face of Rushmore stone
It’s only as hard as you make it and that emptiness will never be gone

Hey now, no I’m not trying to make it sound like all the potential’s gone
But on the way to those magic moments you got to breathe easy knowing that it’s coming

There’s always going to be trouble in the way
You should only mention when it’s gone
You’re going to be alone when it makes itself known no matter what they say
Cause there’s always trouble in the way

Not home, can’t pick up the phone today, to take too much trouble in the way
Too many cons and no pros say there’s too much trouble in the way
You want a minute? Don’t ask for me… No time. No there’s too much trouble in the way
Pity that I’m running
Hidin’ here from nothin’
But I see some trouble in the way

I’ve been a regular down at the Grotto drinking until the break of dawn
Now I need more time to pull myself up and make it through another day
There is always going to be trouble in the way and you should only mention when it’s gone
You’re going to be alone when it makes itself known no matter what they say
Cause there’s always trouble in the way
Yeah trouble in the way
Trouble in the way
Yeah always trouble in the way
Yeah always trouble in the way

Healing bones from the Bolsa free wind
I’ve got the routine shakes
Accelerator won’t remind me
to let up on my own brakes
I swore I saw my predeceded making tracks for home
Godspeed young soul be brave all hope is gone
And you can buy me this one

Why give in to reason when there’s nothing but the end in sight?
Say no more pick up the pace on letting it all go, oh oh oh
No spite, no confrontation
No more fool me, no more fool you
No more fight, no one’s right
Hold tight

There was a time I felt like
there was no one else that could do what you do
But then I reached out for your face
and there was no one in that space
I thought you were standing there

We made a living out of living without anecdotes or guns
So I’m never gonna let no pragmatism bring me down

Why give in to reason when there’s nothing but the end in sight?
Say no more pick up the pace on letting it all go, oh oh oh
No spite, no confrontation
No more fool me, no more fool you
No more fight, no one’s right

Well, don’t fight me now
Got another one coming if you just hold tight now

Why give in to reason when there’s nothing but the end in sight?
Say no more pick up the pace on letting it all go, oh oh oh
No spite, no confrontation
No more fool me, no more fool you
No more fight, no one’s right
Hold tight
Hold, hold tight

Don’t give into reason hold tight
Hold tight
Hold tight
Don’t give in the reason hold tight
Hold tight
Hold tight
Don’t give into reason hold tight

Hold tight
Hold tight now
Hold tight
Don’t give in to reason hold tight
Hold tight now, hold tight now, hold tight
Don’t give in the reason hold tight
Hold tight

Come on back to the shooting range with your long-range missiles and your fatal face
I got a present for you, won’t wrap it up

Hey, chew that fat of your own mistake
I will no longer be there to take the blame
Only did it for so long to protect my name

There was a time when there was only two of us in the trenches
Waiting for somebody to put their pistol down
And take on the real enemy

Hey, take good aim, fingers still
Think it over and pray for the underkill
Leave it all to divine intervention the one who remains alive

Pick it up, take your time
I’ll be gunnin’ for you on the other side
Just pull the trigger and pray for the underkill

So many wonder what happened here
There’s a short change feeling in the atmosphere
Somebody pulled the rug out from underneath that dream

Well, we know history been known to repeat itself
So it made sure you found me
Chased by the others and shot by a mother to be

And though we’re running low on ammo and defenses
There ain’t no calvary to come and keep us down
So go on and fire it up

Hey, take good aim, fingers still
Think it over and pray for the underkill
Leave it all to divine intervention the one who remains alive

Pick it up, take your time
I’ll be gunning for you on the other side
Yeah, just pull the trigger and pray for the underkill

Come on, take good aim, fingers still
Think it over and pray for the underkill
Leave it all to divine intervention the one who remains alive

Pick it up, take your time
I’ll be gunning for you on the other side
Yeah, just pull the trigger pray for the underkill

Take good aim, fingers still
Think it over and pray for the underkill
Leave it all to divine intervention the one who remains alive

Pick it up, take your time
I will be gunning for you on the other side
Yeah, just pull the trigger and pray for the underkill

Austin is pretty at night
Not so much by day
They tell me it’s better than Galveston anyway

I got lost in the heat wave
Found in the dark
Made my way home stumblin’ through Zilker Park
I was in Austin alone
I was in Austin alone
I was in Austin alone

And I spent all the money they asked me to spend
Bent all the rules they don’t want me to bend
And I’m in Austin alone

Down by the lake they call Lady Bird I lost my shoes
They told me the water would baptize me in Texas blues
I was washed in the blood and then dragged to the shore
Revived by the songs of Bob Schneider and more
I was in Austin alone
I was in Austin alone
I was in Austin alone

And I drank all the money they asked me to drink
Broke all the rules that I asked them to rethink
I’m in Austin alone

There was a girl down in SoCo
Looked at me twice
I bought her two whiskeys when one didn’t seem to suffice
And we drank to the band who was dyin’ on stage
She didn’t mind I was two times her age
We were in Austin alone
Now we’re in Austin alone
Yeah we’re in Austin alone

And we drank all our money and fucked all the rules
No one would blame us for acting like fools when we’re in Austin alone

We’re all in Austin alone
Yeah we’re alone

A jackknife stabbed me on the corner today
A comedy pressed in Braille
straight into my dirty heart

It’s going to take no time to chastise my dead shame
Might even stash my blame back inside a moonshine jar

And I’d like to chase another sunset down a dirty road
Only got to set those feet on down and lighten up my heavy load
Walk another half a mile in someone else’s shoes
There is grace in never having to choose
My heaven shines down from a sunset on a dirty road

I got freedom within and freedom without
Though that dimebag culture makes you wither and doubt

Don’t like to chase that ball and chain show
Cause it makes a petty fool of me
Got no love left for these four walls
I got everything in front of me

I’d like to chase another sunset down a dirty road
Only got to put those feet on down and lighten up my heavy load
Walk another half a mile in someone else’s shoes
There is grace in never having to choose
My heaven shines down from a sunset on a dirty road

This time my calling cannot be wasted
I’d rather you don’t taste it
Not before the light is gone

There’s got to be some more rocks out there somewhere rollin’
Some other suckers in search of me
If I don’t get found you can shoot me down with halos on my feet

And I’d like to chase another sunset down a dirty road
Only got to put those feet on down and lighten up my heavy load
Walk another half a mile in someone else’s shoes
So much grace if you don’t choose
My heaven shines down from a sunset on a dirty road
My heaven shines down from a sunset on a dirty road

I’m picking up pace
I’m late for the war
Can’t stop me from bustin’ down Panoply’s door

I’m crowded in space
Too much for the norm
Just get out my way now
Come weather the storm

I’m going to keep on movin’ faster even after you’re long gone
There may not be no refuge once they feast their eyes upon this disappearing, ever fearing soul
The best I’d ever do is lose control
I can reimagine nothing
I’m not built for greater things
But I’ve got possibilities

Same factory fake recalled from the store
This one’s got imperfections
They just can’t sell no more

So just go easy on the brakes
No one will ever know the difference
Be selfishly selfless
Make sure you don’t listen

They’ll be some things I just won’t ask you bout some things you’ll want to share
‘Cause that soft spot in the middle is in need of some repair
For this criticizing, minimizing soul
The most I’ll ever be is less than whole

I can look inside but be advised
I’ve never seen a thing
But for possibilities

Those who don’t crow loud enough to scrape the ceiling
Wind up in pine overcoats

Quiet. Quiet. Why not just try it?
Ain’t those words already wrote?

And I’m gaining ground on being found alone
With this guitar in my hands to calm the storm

And those ring stains on the table spelling out my eulogy
He had possibilities
Still got possibilities

You’re the lucky one, so I’ve been told
As free as the wind blowin’ down the road
Loved by many and hated by none
I’d say you were lucky ’cause I know what you’ve done
Not a care in the world, a worry in sight
Everything’s gonna be alright ’cause you’re the lucky one

You’re the lucky one always having fun
A jack of all trades, a master of none
You look at the world through your smiling eye and laugh at the devil as his train rolls by
Give you a song and a one-night stand and you’ll be looking at a happy man ’cause you’re the lucky one

Well, you’re blessed I guess by never knowing which road you’re choosing
To you the next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing

You’re the lucky one, I know that now
Don’t ask you why, when, where or how
No matter where you’re at, that’s where you’ll be
You can bet your luck ain’t going to follow me
Just give you a song and a one-night stand and you’ll be looking at a happy man ’cause you’re the lucky one

Well, you’re blessed I guess by never knowing which road you’re choosing
To you the next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing

You’re the lucky one, so I’ve been told
As free as the wind blowin’ down the road
Loved by many and hated by none
I’d say you were lucky ’cause I know what you’ve done
Give you a song and a one-night stand you’ll be looking at a happy man ’cause you’re the lucky one

Yeah the lucky one. God damn you. You’re the lucky one. Oh the lucky one
The lucky one

Just give you a song and a one night stand and you’ll be a happy man ’cause you’re the lucky one
The lucky one

(written by Robert Lee Castleman)

He drives down a black road with a one-eyed truck load
He says nothing holds like heavy pain
Takes something yellow
Moonshine in one swallow
Leaves all that pain out in the driveway

Then he locks himself in chambers
Full of rags and rusty bones
Nobody hears him when he’s tearing out his saturated soul

Sing it out loud
Holy mother where are you now?
I can’t stay here forever
I’ve tasted heaven and I’ve been through hell
I’m down to nothing, holy mother where the hell are you now?

So he waits in the shadows staring up at the rope swing hole
Knowing he can’t climb that tree today
Sunshine and cold wind fashions a halo around him
And in the amber glow I could have sworn I saw the holy mother’s face

Many miles we walk in faith of nothing more than shameless hope
Sweet Mary won’t you come and save this saturated soul?
‘Cause I’m down to nothin’ here, don’t you know?

Holy mother where are you now?
I can’t stay here forever
I’ve tasted heaven and I’ve been through hell
I’m down to nothin’, holy mother where the hell are you now?

Oh. Holy mother where are you now?
I can’t stay here forever you know
I had a little taste of heaven and I’ve been through hell
I’m down to nothin’, holy mother where the hell are you now?

Holy mother where are you now?
I can’t stay here forever
I’ve tasted heaven and I’ve been through hell you know
I’m down to nothin’ holy mother

I’m selling off these paints and perfumes
I’ve seen the way on
All these razor thin faces I’ve put on, so damn long

Take my words and all my attire
Send them out on the last evening wire
Don’t worry about me tonight

Ask my friends if they still remember
Where the fighter lays down
He’s still draining blood on the canvas
In brilliantine colors they still haven’t found

And change pays for itself
Someday I’ll recognize my own wealth
Don’t worry about me tonight

Oh yes, I still have a conscience that haunts me
A vision that wants me to stay
But this feast that I follow, so hard to swallow alone everyday

Why can’t I take some time off and start again?

Turn down the noise in the background
Can’t hear my own woe
If the music still don’t fit the movie the tears won’t flow

And this sad song that I play
Will be scoring the last of my days
So don’t worry about me tonight
Oh, don’t worry about me tonight