Sweet Nothings (2011, Lonesome Day Records)
All songs written by Ward Hayden.
- Baby’s Got A Dream
- Sweet Nothings
- Nightime
- Last Night I Dreamed
- Mary Anne
- Root Cellar
- 1000 Times
- This Old House
- Snake Skin Belt
- Not A Girl In The World
- The Universe Began
Baby’s Got a Dream
The window is open, your hand is out
Searching for something, you want it now
There’s only so much to go around
And while I’m treading water, the ship is going down
She loves me not, pick the petals and watch them drop
‘Til the last one remains
Pick them back up, needle and thread and all stitched up
Play the game again
Don’t worry now, things will never be the same
You’d better be ready, you get what you put in
I ain’t soft in the middle now, I’m mean and thin
From all this worry and all that doubt
You think you’ve got it so bad, oh you wear me down
She loves me not, pick the petals and watch them drop
‘Til the last one remains
Pick them back up, needle and thread and all stitched up
Play the game again
Don’t worry now, things will never be the same
Baby’s got a dream, baby’s got her dream
How her happiness seems to make me miserable
Have to let her go, have to tell her so
What she’s doing is just bringing me down…to my knees
Sweet Nothings
Sweet nothings, Oh I got ‘em
Give ‘em to you, but you don’t want ‘em
Oh I got the money, I got the love
Nothing means nothing when push comes to shove
You’re only interested in dragging me around
Spending money; I got plenty
With you on my arm I’m peeling off twenties
Oh, you got the looks, you got the class
You’re one in a million, I’m coins to your cash
You’re only interested in dragging me around
Told my momma that I was in love
Listen up and be careful my son
Don’t count your chickens ‘til they hatch
Don’t put all you eggs inside of one basket
This girl is interested in dragging you around
Sweet nothings, I don’t want ‘em
Give ‘em to me and soon I forgot ‘em
Oh, I’m the bank, you’re a loan
You don’t repay your debts, foreclosed on your home
I’m sick and tired of you dragging me around
Nighttime
Nighttime is a hard place to be
That’s where the demons come find me
They know my name and I’ll gladly take the blame
Nighttime is a hard place to be
Happened once or twice, didn’t go very nice
Someone had to get right up and run
Who it was, Lord I could not see
Everybody there thought it might’ve been me
Nighttime is a hard place to be
That’s where the demons come find me
They know my name and I’ll gladly take the blame
Nighttime is a hard place to be
Chickens come to roost, you finally see the truth
That the daytime doesn’t have the nighttime’s shine
In the daytime hides, in the nighttime comes alive
By morning it all feels just like a dream
Nighttime is a hard place to be
In the daytime hides, in the nighttime comes alive
By morning it all feels just like a dream
Who it was, Lord I could not see
Everybody there thought it might’ve been me
Nighttime is a hard place to be
That’s where the demons come find me
They know my name and I’ll gladly wear the blame
Nighttime is a hard place to be
Nighttime is a hard place to be
Nighttime is a hard place to be
Maryanne
I don’t know why I called you, baby
A lack of judgement in my brain
As if you’re the only girl without a heart
Who could leave me in such a way
Guess I got lonely when my phone stopped ringing
My words carried away
All of my self-respect, honey
Is on a message in refrain
Maryanne, in this nobody wins
Maryanne, I ain’t goin’ through that again
Maryanne, come home
Took a long look in the mirror, honey
I changed my hair, put on new clothes
There ain’t nothing I can do to change your mind
I guess that’s just the way this goes
From the speakers to my ears, honey
A voice a thousand miles away
Every word captured our better times so clear
Like I’d lived out every phrase
Maryanne, in this nobody wins
Maryanne, I ain’t goin’ through that again
Maryanne, I don’t want to be alone
Maryanne, come home
Snake Skin Belt
Sweet as the morning, tell me true
Are you looking at me the same way I am looking at you?
Or do you see through me?
My darling, I must confess, I’m born to lose
I’ve been going wild, like the river runs
I’m afraid that this rambling has only just begun
And a trail of destruction is always sure to follow
That’s the way this river runs
Some men want diamonds, some men want gold
Numbers on a page; a wealth that they’ll never hold
Bills they’ll never fold
Simple wants and simple thoughts are more my speed
And a belt that sports a serpent’s pelt is truly all I need
All I wanted is a genuine snake skin leather belt
That’s true to life, with a rodeo buckle
With a horseshoe and a bronco that’s so old it’s lost its shine
I don’t want no satin robes or fancy clothes
With a snake skin belt and boots to match I’m as happy as you’ll ever find me
Not a Girl Left in the World
Not a girl left in the world
I could beat my brains out
Trying to forget about you
Pounding on my chest
‘Til my heart learns to forget
To forget and be at rest
The invisible hands of fate
Are squeezing every drop out of what’s left
Not a girl left in the world
I could beat my brains out
To forget about you
Never give all your heart
I ain’t out of the woods yet
But knowing that I will be
You’d better bet
And you won’t haunt me anymore
You won’t haunt me anymore
You won’t haunt me anymore
You won’t haunt me
You won’t haunt me anymore
You won’t haunt me anymore
You won’t haunt me anymore
You won’t haunt me anymore
Last night I dreamed
Last night I dreamed
You walked down the aisle
Your smile was as wide as a mile
You looked lovely as ever, any time I’ve recalled
Your eyes couldn’t even look at mine
I reached for your hand
Trying to grasp some understanding
Only to awaken to find I’m not mistaken
You were someone else’s bride
Last night I dreamed
You walked down the aisle
Your smile was as wide as a mile
With a ring on your hand
Your arm: another man
Things didn’t go like we’d planned
Only to awaken to find I’m not mistaken
You were someone else’s bride
You see I’ve long held the fear of living out an old country song
Called “Throwing Rice at the Woman I Love”
You see dreams do come true,
But not all dreams are for you
And I can practically feel you slipping away
Last night I dreamed
You walked down the aisle
Your smile was as wide as a mile
You looked lovely as ever, any time I’ve recalled
Your eyes couldn’t even look at mine
Only to awaken to find I’m not mistaken
You were someone else’s bride
1,000 Times
Honey, take me dancing like we’ve done 1,000 times
Let me buy you something to drink
‘Cause honey, I’ll feel better when you’re out of that sweater
And my mind’s a million miles away
You’ve got your little habits and they’re oh so hard to break
You like to get out on the town
That’s the way it’ll always stay, I don’t expect that to change
Whether you know your life’s planned out
When the night gets gone and we must get home
As circumstance demands
Close my eyes real slow, as I let you go
Can’t watch you slip out of my grasp
Honey, let me hold you like I’ve done 1,000 times
What I’m thinking I won’t say
I won’t scream and shout, won’t let these feelings out
Like you they’re safely locked away
A lot of girls think they’re wild, baby
And tell you lies ‘til you believe
I won’t make or break those promises baby
They ain’t crazier than me
Lord, I know if dreams were booze
How sick I’d be
I close my eyes, I still see you
There’s nothing I can do that could ever bring you back to me
When the night gets gone and we must get home
As circumstance demands
Close my eyes real slow as I let you go
Can’t watch you slip out of my grasp
Root Cellar
If I saved all my tears in jars
I’d have a root cellar filled up with human rain
Although nothing can grow in the garden that I planted
I’ve hoed them rows and sowed them seeds of pain
I ain’t got nothing, but a pain in my stomach
A mouth that just chews up the words
I wish it was you that was holding on to
The spoiled stock that’s locked inside my brain
I hear your voice as I come on down the stairs
Clear your throat and hang the phone up as soon as I appear
The quiver in your voice lets me know you’re scared
And anxious as hell to get the hell out of here
If I saved all my tears in jars
I’d have a root cellar filled up with human rain
Although nothing can grow in the garden that I planted
I hoed them rows and sowed them seeds of pain
Years ago we were lovers, years ago we were cool
All the years have done is make me your fool
On the floor in tatters is a valentine for you
It don’t make sense to read it, the words have become untrue
The Universe Began
The Universe began and someday it’s gonna end
I’ll love you ‘til my heart gives out
You keep on telling me we’d be better off as friends
I’ll love you ‘til my heart gives out
I’ll love you
The river runs to the ocean, pain grows like a weed
I ain’t got much else in common with the river
Like the weed, I’ll never leave
Thought I might not always show it and keep it bottled up inside
If it don’t hurt, it ain’t love
Don’t you know it gets confused by foolish pride
The Universe began and someday it’s gonna end
I’ll love you ‘til my heart gives out
You keep on telling me we’d be better off as friends
I’ll love you ‘til my heart gives out
I’ll love you
Simple words and little poems
I write down to remind me of things that meant something at sometime,
But escape a worried mind
As I lie here in my bedroom, staring out at the night
I hear your voice coming down the walkway
When I look, no one’s in sight
The Universe began and someday it’s gonna end
I’ll love you ‘til my heart gives out
You keep on telling me we’d be better off as friends
I’ll love you ‘til my heart give out
I’ll love you
This Old House
If this old house could stand for one more year…
The foundation’s caving in, the screens have all blown off
This old house could be a testament to love and memories
Could hold a young man’s dreams
This old house is just a shrine to all the things I left behind
Teenage love, where now the house just creaks
My key won’t fit the door if I try to come here anymore
One last look as I head on down the street
This old house, from my mind, can never leave
If this old house could stand for one more year…
Paint and patience wearing thin, too many things should be replaced
If the flood waters should rise, this old house, it cannot hide
From the waves’ relentless pounding chase
This old house is just a shrine, I can live with that just fine
Life moves on when it’s passed its peak
The floor boards still stand, laid with my father’s hands
Scuffed and worn by a thousand people’s feet
This old house, from my mind, can never leave
As a boy I used to stand out in the backyard
Catching minnows in a bottle on a string
They’d call me in for dinner and with a bucket in my hand
I’d come running to count the fish in my bucket
And now those minnows, have turned to paper, that needs initials, that need reshaping
‘Cause pretty fingers need pretty diamond rings
This old house, from my mind
Oh, this old house, from my mind
Oh, this old house, from my mind, can never leave
Inverted Valentine
- 667
- Only One Thing
- Inverted Valentine
- Ramblin Ole’ Daddy
- Temptation
- Keep On Calling
- Suzie
- Baby, You’re a Dog
- Keep Your Distance
- Working All the Time
- Unrequited Love
Pretty Little Wrecking Ball
“667″
Written by Ward Hayden
You don’t need to go to prison, to rot inside this world
Don’t need no ones opinion, I know you’re a pretty girl
So, go get my pistol, gonna try and shoot the moon
With a couple songs on heartache and one called “Soft Raccoon”
I forgot to say “I love you”
I forgot to call
Forgot to say when I got back home
When I went out I had a ball
And I forgot that I was sorry, for all the things I’d done
Forgot not to do ‘em again, I’ve got to have my fun
Oh, you don’t need to tell me, what I’m doing’s wrong
Be careful what you say to me, I’ll put it in a song
Don’t go tellin’ stories to all your little friends
I’ll bait that hook, you little fish
I know you’ll bite again!
Hell hounds and worry, are catching up to you fast
Hell hath no fury, like a woman who’s love you can’t give back
Whoo, Six-Sixty-Six, I’m at Six-Six-Seven
Right next door to hell is a long way from heaven
She pulled me close, kissed me hard
I know right then that’s the devil, my god
Oh, baby….nothing, but love for you
And you don’t need to go to prison, to rot inside this world
Don’t need no ones opinion, I know you’re a pretty girl
So, go get my pistol, gonna try to shoot the moon
With a couple songs on heartache and one called “Soft Raccoon”
I forgot to say “I love you”
I forgot to call
Forgot to say when I got back home
When I went out I had a ball!
“Only One Thing”
Written by Ward Hayden
There’s only one thing, I want more
Then to take you out in my big white Ford
We’ll go for a drive and get outta this town
Just you and me and the radio
Hold you close when the night gets cold
And darkness comes to hide the world that lies off this road
Pick you up and you’re dressed so fine
Pour you a glass of that Boone’s Farm wine
Take you dancin’ at every bar in and outta this town
Spend my money like I’m ready to die
Lights can go out in the the blink of an eye
Whatever you’re having, baby let’s get one more round!
‘Cause there’s only one thing for me in this world
Met a million girls and talked ‘em in circles
And god only knows what I’d do to get you outta them clothes…
“Inverted Valentine”
Written by Ward Hayden
It’s a wonder that I find myself in bed without a pen
If these words don’t written, I know I’ll forget
Keep tryin’ to tell myself I can bring you back with words
If these words don’t get written, these words don’t get heard
It’s so hard to concentrate when you’re tits are in my face
Focus my attention, I’m all over the place
See the world is busy, as cars go passing by
Everyone, but me has something to occupy their time and…
Oh, my little Inverted Valentine
Oh, my little Inverted Valentine
All these thoughts are fleeting, disappearing in my brain
I wish they’d come back, I could put them on a page
And hold onto the words, like little captive birds
If I could just contain them, in a caged and captive world
Like a sleeping giant, American heartache
Love affairs and jealousy, American heartbreak
Pull up the covers, turn the radio on
But listening to sad songs won’t, bring my baby home
Oh, my little Inverted Valentine
Oh, my little Inverted Valentine
Casual violence, you won’t hear me complain
Sit around and wait for my heart to start beating again
Oh, my little Inverted Valentine
Oh, my little Inverted Valentine
“Ramblin’ Ole Daddy”
Written by Ward Hayden
Ramblin’ Ole Daddy
He comes and he goes,
In and out like the tide of the river
Ramblin’ Ole Daddy ain’t comin’ back home
Mama, she shakes and she shivers
If Mama could hold on for a couple more years,
Maybe she’ll marry another,
But she’s collecting debt like cheap souveniers
Can’t hide from debts you can’t cover
And oh, no, where do I go?
I ain’t got no one to turn to
Oh, no, like and ember of hope
Love and money both get burned through
I knew this was coming when I heard them fight
Mama knew that Daddy was cheatin’
But she stuck around, I think out of spite
And made sure it was Daddy who’s leavin’
‘Cause there’ll always be women and always be drinks
And one roll of the dice is still gamblin’
No matter how hard you hold him or try to play nice
You can’t stop the rambler from ramblin’
Bridge:
I know what love is…
I know pain…
I guess this is where love is…today
Ramblin’ ole Daddy has got a new life
And the boss at his job lets him sleep in
I hope I can visit at least once or twice
He says he’ll see me on weekends
For ramblin’ ole Daddy has got a new wife
Who keeps saying “Como se dice?”
When they come to visit they don’t stay the night
It just breaks Mama to pieces
And oh, no, where do I go?
I ain’t got no one to turn to
And oh, no, like an ember of hope
Love and money both get burned through
“Temptation”
Written by Ward Hayden
Temptation won’t stay gone…
Temptation won’t stay gone…
Keeps creeping up on me, I know I’m not that strong…
Temptation won’t stay gone…for long…
Refrain:
Temptation….
The nighttime is so empty
And you find yourself alone
You’re running out the backdoor of your best friends woman’s home
It’s like I’ve got more troubles than there’s bubbles in champagne
Temptation’s seeds were planted
They’re rooted in my brain
I’d better thing this over and not act upon my will
Check back in the morning and the thoughts will be there still
There’s always repercussions for the bad things you do,
But when temptation offers it is so hard to refuse
Refrain:
Temptation….
“Keep on Calling”
Written by Ward Hayden
Keep on calling my phone tonight, call all night if you like
If the whole world knew what you’d done to me
They’d know that this call was impolite
I know what your parents think about me
I know they don’t want me hanging ’round
Your daddy told me if he sees me with his daughter
He’s gonna fetch his gun and cut me down
Don’t want to hear you say you’re sorry
Or talk about times we had
Two-timin’ woman, my memories can prove it
Baby, you’re bad
Keep on calling my phone tonight, call all night if you like
If the whole world knew what you’d done to me
They’d know that this call was impolite
And you told me, baby, you loved me
Swore to me you’d always stay true
I saw you out with another man
And I learned there’s more than one way to get screwed
Don’t want to hear you say you’re sorry
Or talk about times we had
Two-timin’ woman, my memories can prove it
Oh Baby, you’re bad
Keep on calling my phone tonight, call all night if you like
If the whole world know what you’d done to me
They’d know that this call was impolite
They’d know this call, they’d know this call, they’d know that this call was impolite
They’d know this call, they’d know this call, they’d know that this call was impolite
“Suzie”
Written by Ward Hayden
Oh, I know you’ve already got a man
He don’t care much for me
I know he saw me giving you the eye
He don’t like what he sees
But, Suzie my baby, Suzie my gal
My thoughts won’t leave you alone
I know you’re gonna leave with him
I wish I was taking you home
I saw you together outside of a bar
You were laughing and holding him tight
Oh, I know you’ve already got a man
That don’t mean that it’s right
I know my friends are gonna say I’m wrong
And think that I’m outta line
But, Suzie my baby, Suzie my gal
It’s not for your love they pine
If I see you tonight I’ll just pass on by
I won’t even turn my head
If our eyes should meet I won’t say a word
Some things are better left unsaid
I saw you together, outside of a bar
You were laughing and holding him tight
Oh, I know you’ve already got a man
That’s don’t mean that it’s right, that don’t mean that it’s right
Oh, I know you’ve already got a man
He don’t care much for me
I know he saw me giving you the eye
He don’t like what he sees
But, Suzie my baby, Suzie my gal
My thoughts won’t leave you alone
I know that you’re gonna leave with him
I wish I was taking you home
I saw you together, outside of a bar
You were laughing and holding him tight
Oh, I know you’ve already got a man
That’s don’t mean that it’s right, that don’t mean that it’s right…
“Baby, You’re a Dog”
Written by Ward Hayden
Baby, you’re a dog
I knew it all along
I let you out, you run off
Baby, you’re a dog
Baby, you’re a dog at heart
You ran around before we broke apart
Though you were clever, you were never smart
Baby, you’re a dog at heart
Man, I should’ve known, better than to leave you all alone
And I know you’ve been to town, gotta put that bad bitch down
Baby, you’re a dog it’s in your eyes
They’re big and brown and baby, they’re never dry
And howlin’ at the moon ain’t no way to get by
You’re a dog it’s in your eyes
For you I’d walk a million miles
I’d buy you things, I’d dress you up in style
You showed your teeth, but that was no smile
For you I’d walk another million miles
Goodbye, that’s all she knows
Now you’re gone and heart is broke
Goodbye, that’s all she wrote
Now you’re gone, my heart is broken
For you I’d walk a million miles
I’d buy you things, I’d dress you up in style
You showed your teeth, but that was no smile
For you I’d walk another million miles
Man, I should’ve known, better than to leave you all alone
And I know you’ve been to town, gotta put that bad bitch down
I hurts me so bad, memories could drive a sane man mad
I think about it now and then, I’d take back, but you’d do it again…
“Keep Your Distance”
Written by Ward Hayden
They say I was born with my hands around my neck
They told me not to worry, I’m still a wreck
They begged me not go, but how was I to stay
What do they know anyway?
They say I’ve been fighting with my hands behind my back
I never came out swinging, walked right into the trap
And the questions I asked, I never heard back a word
They found the questions too absurd
Honey, if you ever had a doubt
If I would fuck you over
Honey, if you ever see me out,
Keep your distance
They say I’ve been living with my hands over my eyes
It’s hard to reach the stars when you can’t even see the sky
And the times that I tried I never got too far than this
Then had to stop to take a piss
They say I’ve been running in a race not being timed
It pays me by the hour and it’s got no finish line
And all the other runners have been training all their lives
It’s hard to get out from behind
Honey, if you ever had a doubt
If I would fuck you over
Honey, if you ever see me out,
Keep your distance
“Working All the Time”
Written by Ward Hayden
Tell me honey, do I ever cross your mind
Tell me baby, is it even worth your time
Don’t you worry, I’ll still think of you just fine
Tell me honey, does all this seem alright
Working all the time
Working all the time
Stars like nails, pin the black against the sky
In the state that I’m in, oblivion seems nice
Hide the heavens; temtation, words and wine
Hold me baby, wrapped inside your pretty thighs
Working all the time
Working all the time
Working all the time
Working all the time
Always unhappy, unless drunk or in your arms
Strong will or muscle couldn’t keep me out of harms way
And if I loved you, would you still leave me?
‘Cause in the graveyard you’re kept constant company!
Working all the time
I’m working all the time
Working all the time
Working all the time
“Unrequited Love”
Written by Ward Hayden
I wish I could hold onto you
Like the words of this song,
Maybe that’s the difference between
The realm which I’m living and that which I dream
This ain’t the movies and you’re not for me…
Oh, oh, unrequited love
Oh, oh, unrequited love
If Cupid’s arrow stays true
Your unrequited heart, will his arrow pass through
For love and lust, I must entrust they are fleeting
And love like this can only go bad
When I held you close, I felt what you’re needing,
But for my love to not be returned is all I ask…
Big Man
Written by Ward Hayden
Over comes the Big Man
Big Man gonna try
Over comes the big man
Everybody step aside
Move it on over
Oh, let the Big Man by….
Over comes the Big Man
Full of height and Might
Overcome the Big Man
Boy do Big Fish Fry
Question Big Man
You know Big Man don’t reply
Rockabye, Say Goodnight
Close your eyes
Dream of little white lies
Justify all that occupies your precious time
Tongue-tied lullabye
Rest your tired pride