1. |
West Ashley Blues
03:16
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I donāt drink clear water, I donāt drink high dollar wine
I donāt drink clear water, I donāt drink high dollar wine
All that Iām drinking is that Ashley River brine
I donāt live in the rich quarter, donāt live in the poor quarter too
I donāt live in the rich quarter, donāt live in the poor quarter too
I donāt live in no quarter, got no home to go home to
Make me a pallet baby, make it right on your floor
Make me a pallet baby, make it right on your floor
Iāve been so lonesome since she walked right out my door
That low down baby, sheās a low down gal all right
That low down baby, sheās a low down gal all right
That low down baby, no she aināt no gal of mine
I aināt good looking and my teeth donāt shine like pearls
I aināt good looking and my teeth donāt shine like pearls
Itās a good thing good looks donāt take you through this world
Iād rather drink muddy water, and sleep in a hollow tree
Iād rather drink muddy water, and sleep in a hollow tree
Than to hear a good girl say she donāt love me
(Than to hear a good girl say she donāt love me)
Ā© Ernest Thompson 2022
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2. |
Desiree
02:29
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Desiree, You will be the death of me
Canāt you see, canāt you see?
That I love you so
Whyād you have to go and be so beautiful?
In your place I have a bottle
And my friends just for the while
You may think that I mean trouble
But I promise you Iām not that bad
Just think about the times weāll have
Desiree, Please donāt take the smallest part
Of my heart, and give it
Back in a damaged state
You might as well go āhead and take all of me
Letās climb the tallest tower
And survey our kingdom
Forget about the past
We wonāt come down
Just think about the life weāve found
Desiree, I can see youāre feeling blue
Donāt you know, donāt you know?
That I am too
Itās all for the love of you
Maybe some day this feeling will be through
Until that fateful day
Iāll wait and bide my time
Read my books and bite my nails
But itās all a lie
Your face is written on every line
Ā© Ernest Thompson 2022
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3. |
Lady Katherine
02:24
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Lady Katherine told me
A lady always knows
When to leave a room
And then she left the room
She told me many other things
That I find quite wise
So I try them on
Just for size
Context clues wonāt help you lose those blues
Context clues wonāt help you lose those blues
I need instruction, I need you
Lady Katherine lives her life
Above the bustling crowds
She doesnāt care for the folks
Who talk much too loud
That ladyās always dressed just like
She knows where she is
Thatās more, oh, thatās more
Than some of us can say
Context clues wonāt help you lose those blues
Context clues wonāt help me lose those blues
I need instruction, I need you
Lady Katherine with eyes of blue
Lady Katherine with eyes so blue
Ā© Ernest Thompson 2022
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4. |
The Words I Heard
02:41
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I havenāt thought this hard in a long time
You make me think Iām just another step in your garden
And as you walk to water the flowers
I lie here dreaming of what couldāve been
The nights they donāt get shorter
With the changing of the tides
If you love it leave it
And just enjoy the ride
Youāve written a novel or two in this bar-room
With the words youāve graced upon my ears and heart
But as I reach to cradle your hand dear
I feel the pen go limp down by your side
Your bookās already published
It sits on a great manās shelf
Now I know the words I heard
Were meant for someone else
(But as I reach to cradle your hand dear
I feel the pen go limp down by your side
Your bookās already published
It sits on a great manās shelf
Now I know the words I heard
Were meant for someone else)
Ā© Ernest Thompson 2022
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5. |
Foothills
03:36
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I love it when Iām driving through
The old Foothills alone
Stumbling toward my childhood North Carolina home
The sunlight in the trees
Puts a smell into the breeze
The characters from my memory come alive
Even though Iām by myself
I donāt need nobody else
When Iām driving through the old foothills alone
Started out to ramble, Lord, at the age of 23
Started losing touch, slowly by degree
Age of 24 I had troubles by the score
Didnāt know who I was hanginā round
When it all came crumbling loose
Lord I ran back to my roots
And I learned to love those hills that I call home
I love it when Iām driving through
The old Foothills alone
Stumbling toward my childhood North Carolina home
The sunlight in the trees
Puts a smell into the breeze
The characters from my memory come alive
Even though Iām by myself
I donāt need nobody else
When Iām driving through the old foothills alone
Age of 28 I went further down the map
Landed down in Charleston, that is where Iām at
Love the sea and gentle breeze
They whisper to my soul
But theyāll never make me feel at home
Only when Iām driving north up Highway 95
That is when my memory comes alive
I love it when Iām driving through
The old Foothills alone
Stumbling toward my childhood North Carolina home
The sunlight in the trees
Puts a smell into the breeze
The characters from my memory come alive
Even though Iām by myself
I donāt need nobody else
When Iām driving through the old foothills alone
Ā© Ernest Thompson 2022
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6. |
I'll Fly Away (Tomorrow)
01:53
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My tank is stuck on empty
And my friends have all moved on
I havenāt slept a wink at night
Since the day that I left home
I donāt know where Iām headed
I aināt sure where Iām bound
But I guess that Iāll keep movinā
āTill they lay me in the ground
Iāll fly away in the morning
But right now, Iām working on a job
Teach me how to live
I donāt have a damn to give
My scars and sins, yes they are here to stay
Once I had a fortune all locked up in a trunk
I lost it all aā ramblinā the night you left my arms
I donāt know where Iām headed
But I wonāt be stickinā round
Peace of mind is hard to find
In any one horse town
Iāll fly away in the morning
But right now, Iām working on a job
Teach me how to live
I donāt have a damn to give
My scars and sins yes they are here to stay
Ā© Ernest Thompson 2022
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7. |
Phaedrus
02:45
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Thereās a whole lot of something, left unsaid
The sky opened up and rained on my head
Now, when the wind blows, I donāt feel a thing
Sometimes feeling nothing beats feeling the sting
(of the weight of the world)
The hills in Montana bring comfort it seems
The ocean out west can fill up your dreams
But donāt you go looking for magic thatās found
In the eyes of a child whoās running around (so careless and free)
You wonāt find what youāre looking for
Itās an illusion donāt walk out that door
Everyone in my life is staring at screens
Iām ripping out pages from old magazines
Thereās a figure that haunts me when I fall asleep
At least when I wake up, I land on my feet
(And I welcome the day coming in)
Maybe youāll find what youāre looking for
I donāt ever want to tell you what to do
But take it from me, someone whoās seen,
Thereās a reason that weāre fast asleep when we dream
Take it from me, someone who's seen
Thereās a reason that weāre fast asleep when we dream
Ā© Ernest Thompson 2022
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8. |
Leaving
03:22
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Girl I donāt know why you weigh heavy on my mind
Asleep with the night, howlinā winds and changing skies
I lie awake here in the early autumn chill
A restless bag of bones I aināt no good at standing still
I donāt know if I believe itās a sin to say goodbye
What good are these restless thoughts of mine?
Iād like to know, what good is it all?
More places to fly means more places to fall
This old life it donāt throw roses at my feet
Runninā short on sleep and I got promises to keep
If I could have just one more day with you here by my side
I could make believe that Iām alright
Girl I donāt know why you weigh heavy on my mind
Asleep with the night, howlinā winds and changing skies
I lie awake here in the early autumn chill
A restless bag of bones I aināt no good at standing still
I donāt know if I believe itās a sin to say goodbye
What good are these restless thoughts of mine?
Ā© Ernest Thompson 2022
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9. |
Bonus Track: Palmolive
03:08
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I canāt live outside of the lines
I canāt slow down time
The waves they crest, and they fall
I hope to come up swimming after all
(is said and done)
Tractors pull, engines roar
These arms were built to hold you near
At times when you start to question why
..Why youāre here at all
I guess itās just another night alone
Summer crickets droning on and on
Baby, you were the first thing in this life
That made me feel like I would be alright
If I only loved you
Like I know a good man should
Iād never leave you standing on your own
Thereās a spot on the floor in my house
I never took the time to figure out
How to get it, sparkling clean
āCause I know you wonāt be here to see it with me...
ā¦(but thatās ok)
Now I donāt take holidays
I read my books so solitary
Try to avoid idolatry and sin
Iāll tell you of the things I find
(In this quiet life of mine)
Iāll put them in the words to a song I write
And with that song Iāll fly back to you every night
But when gods and mortals fly too close to the sun
They burn their wings and then they canāt fly on
The best that they can do
Is hope to land
In a spot where they canāt hurt anyone
(Yeah) The best that I can do
Is hope to land
In a spot where I canāt hurt anyone
Ā© Ernest Thompson 2022
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Ernest Thompson Charleston, South Carolina
Ernest Thompson is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His music draws influences from folk, blues, indie rock, country and beyond. Influences include: Wilco, Gram Parsons, Muddy Waters, Elliott Smith, The Avett Brothers, Rolling Stones, George Jones, Ed Sheeran and Belle & Sebastian. ... more
Ernest Thompson recommends:
Can You Feel It?
by Jessica Lea Mayfield
very unique, spacy, Americana-tinged songwriting
go to album
Where She Will Go
by Austin Stambaugh
indie-country based out of Nashville, TN, USA!
go to album
snake rattle and roll
by RATTLESNAKE MILK
alt-country, interesting!
go to albumIf you like Ernest Thompson, you may also like:
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Dark Wheels Turn Above Our Heads
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