*Brave/Free Booklet Design
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Produced by Slaid Cleaves Executive Producer: Greg Nettles Recorded and mixed by Eric Blakely at Folk Reels, Austin, Texas, spring 1993 Digital Mastering by Russ Smith Cover portrait by Curtis Harvey Cover collage photo by Bryan Peterson Windshield photo by Slaid Cleaves Heartfelt thanks go out to Greg Nettles, Eric Blakely, Russ Smith, The Moxies, the guest musicians, and Karen Paradis, all of whom were instrumental in the successful completion of this project. Special thanks also go out to Craig and Jenny Cleaves, Kiran Dix, Eric & Liam at Kinko’s, and Barbara Roseman for their continuing support and friendship. 2001 reissue credits Unreleased demos recorded by Slaid Cleaves for the Mastered by Gurf Morlix Design by Bryan Peterson, Peterson & Co., petersonandco.com Production coordinator: Karen Cleaves B rave and free slaid cleaves THE BALLAD OF NICK AND BETTY RAMBLERS Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) CAREFUL Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) Well my friend Nick pulled out of town II waswas twentytwenty yearsyears oldold BROTHER’S KEEPER Headed out to start a new life Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) We met on the road Well my heart’s been broken so many times On the front seat beside a pile of laundry We were looking for a place all our own II didn’tdidn’t thinkthink I’dI’d everever lovelove againagain ANOTHER MAN’S WEALTH Frankie and Johnny were brothers Sat his sweetheart darling wife Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) Didn’t know what we’d find Sharing chores on their daddy’s farm DANGER Then I met a little girl who made me feel Well they loaded that Dodge with pots and pans Didn’t care at the time Side by side mending fences and pitching hay Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) Like I was born to win SOMETHING TO LOSE And clothes just like the pioneers Sam Nolan’s a rancher in Llano Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) We were two souls searching for home Sometimes you’d catch em’ fighting II saidsaid let’slet’s taketake itit slowslow andand easyeasy Then they waved goodbye, said, Where he succeeds or he fails on his own THE DAD SONG Heaven’s no fun Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) Just a wrestling behind the barn But she’s working her way into my life Eddie lived a life of crime “It’s a good day to die Dependent on only the sun and the rain DESERT DREAMS We rambled around Without a little bit of hell But a brother’s quarrel seldom last IfIf I’mI’m notnot careful,careful, I’mI’m gonnagonna endend upup withwith aa wifewife Nobody knew really why We’re gonna chase our hopes and To pay his monthly mortgage loan II don’tdon’t knowknow whywhy II likelike toto playplay guitarguitar Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) Through cities and towns We were built for struggle Til the end of the day Could it be that his father was never around leaveleave behindbehind ourour fears”fears” Nolan watches his hungry cattle Driving round the country from bar to bar Searching for a place in the sun And we were built pretty well She does all the grocery shopping Come with me darling, hold my hand Or that his mother didn’t really try Sometimes he curses the hand he’s been dealt I’mI’m justjust livingliving thethe dreamdream thatthat I’veI’ve alwaysalways hadhad We lived life by the mile Now the old man retired at sixty When life gets too easy But she’s always got my car The year was ’91 and times were tough And we’ll ride through this used up Nobody ever seemed But he never once thinks of giving up II guessguess II must’vemust’ve gotgot itit fromfrom mymy daddad She said with a smile Said, “Frankie it’s all up to you” FOR THE BRAVE We all need a little danger She made me re-arrange my living room The recession was going strong forsakenforsaken landland Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) To get out of this neighborhood To go to work for another man’s wealth You see my daddy bought a Gibson, YIPPIE-I-O Ain’t no trouble we can’t outrun Johnny took it easy, Frank was up at first Now things have gone way too far Nick said to Betty if things get worse We’ll find a place for us, and we make our stand Why do folks like a carnival ride, could it be Bud Eddie was tough and soon found out II waswas oneone yearyear oldold Slaid Cleaves, Magic Rat Music (BMI) lightlight ofof dayday You got off to a pretty good start II feelfeel likelike I’mI’m loosingloosing mymy freedomfreedom II don’tdon’t knowknow ifif wewe cancan holdhold onon Now there will always be nights and days InIn thisthis desertdesert ofof brokenbroken dreamsdreams We ran and we ran They don’t have enough danger in their lives That crime pays pretty good I’dI’d listenlisten toto thethe songssongs andand thethe storiesstories hehe toldtold He said, “Johnny I ain’t your keeper You were on your way She’s working her way in my life And on the first day of Fall Betty got her notice And we’ll always have free men and slaves InIn thethe hillhill countrycountry ofof TexasTexas All though this great land Things are easy today II pickedpicked upup thatthat guitarguitar whenwhen II waswas justjust aa ladlad There’s plenty of work you can do” With big plans and an open heart IfIf I’mI’m notnot carefulcareful I’mI’m gonnagonna endend upup withwith aa wifewife ItIt startedstarted outout nickelnickel andand dimedime And Nick said, “It’s said and done ’Cause’Cause somesome willwill workwork hardhard forfor themselvesthemselves II satsat strummingstrumming mymy guitarguitar There’s a bad moon rising through the We’d work awhile just to run some more Why does a drunk buy a bottle of booze II guessguess II must’vemust’ve gotgot itit fromfrom mymy daddad Johnny didn’t budge, and that’s when I Working hard every day B & E and a car radio We’re gonna go, before it snows And others will be content InIn thethe landland ofof thethe armadilloarmadillo andand thethe deerdeer crack in our door But time has a way When he knows there’s nothing to win My buddies said, “Be careful heard Frankie say But the storms came one by one Pretty soon Eddie was dealing We’re gonna leave this tired old town cause To work for another man’s wealth InIn thethe springspring ofof ’57’57 hehe turnedturned 1818 As the twilight turned to darkness There’s blood on the streets, there’s Of making people say And so much to loose You can see it in her eyes Big plans come a crashing down That’s where the money is you know we’re still young” Playing Elvis, Hank, Buddy and Gene There I saw a shimmering star firefire inin thethe storestore It’sIt’s timetime toto startstart swimmingswimming forfor thethe shoreshore Love and hate have their own season He likes the hard way IfIf youyou thinkthink you’reyou’re aa freefree manman forfor longlong II drivedrive thisthis 2020 yearyear oldold carcar You started loosing faith Well they called him into court one day II foundfound hishis oldold recordsrecords inin thethe atticattic oneone dayday And the crickets and the wind Cause the American dream won’t Remember Cain slew Able for a reason You’re in for a big surprise” Let the clutch out baby No insurance, so benefit plans So we settled down InIn everyoneeveryone aroundaround ’Cause’Cause heaven’sheaven’s nono funfun And the judge said “All right now Ed, My daddy was a rocker in the USA Was all that I could hear come true anymore IfIf II cancan lovelove youyou likelike aa brother,brother, Yeah, she knows what she wants Let those tires spin Always one step ahead of disaster InIn aa smallsmall factoryfactory towntown Without a little bit of hell What’s it gonna take to get you We’ve lost this land to the schemers II cancan hatehate youyou tootoo So you hide your broken heart with a smile There’s not doubt about it Baby I’m tired of losing But my time is my own and no other man’s Yippie-I-O II tooktook aa jobjob atat aa furniturefurniture millmill We were built for struggle outta my sight?” Well I grabbed that guitar, and I left I’mI’m aa passionatepassionate man,man, nono tellingtelling whatwhat I’llI’ll dodo Pretending that there’s nothing wrong She’s working her way into my life This time we’re gonna win And this is the life that I’ve chosen I’mI’m goinggoing wherewhere thethe whisperingwhispering windswinds blowblow This world isn’t ours baby, you know it well But it’s hard these days And we were built pretty well And this is what Eddie said home one day Watch out brother, got my eye on you Brother won’t you trust me for a little while IfIf I’mI’m notnot carefulcareful I’mI’m gonnagonna endend upup withwith aa wifewife We’re gonna follow that sun on down As long as I’ve still got my health Yippie-I-O We’re left with nothing but a story to tell My work it hardly pays When life gets too easy Daddy never seemed to play it Listen to my song Give me something to lose Gonna find ourselves a boom town I’dI’d ratherrather sleepsleep onon thethe streetstreet This land is the best friend I know And a freedom, pure, I swear I’ll never sell And I soon felt the long winter’s chill Now there’s something between We all need a little danger She’s painted her name on my mailbox anymore anyway There will be better days Give me something to live for Gonna leave this town behind and start again Eat my dinner from a dumpster So let’s sing now with all our might twotwo brothersbrothers Put her pictures up on my wall Said, “Take it son, I can tell that Where the pines whisper a tale Now Karina she’s selling For the brave, there will be better days Adam and Eve lived in Paradise After sixteen years of time in hell Than to work for another man’s wealth Something more than a couple of years The trap is sprung and I know it