Dressed Like A Clown

I spent too much time hiding from this fear
trying to fake contentment underneath a cracked veneer
Putting on a face to hide the lies I aimed to sell
spinning in the dark aboard a one-horse carousel

Inside a rusty cage all tangled up in doubt
Plotting my escape from all the blame I disavowed
As the devil on my shoulder told me what I didn't need
I let the angel on the other side pack her things and leave

Chorus
But Baby that was then, baby this is now
And I'm not gonna rest until I prove it to you somehow
That man is but a ghost, someone I used to be
The one I sent away when you rescued  me

Bridge
I know I gave you every reason
to question everything I say
But should forgiveness ever come back into season
I hope you'll let it blow my way

Chorus
'Cause Baby that was then, baby this is now
And I'm not gonna rest until I prove it to you somehow
That man is but a ghost, someone I used to be
The one I sent away, when you rescued me
The one I sent away, when you rescued me

When You Rescued Me - Demo

The one time I saw her was on a hot august night
It was right after a gig at The Flaming Mug
I was out front smoking a cigarette
Had on that "holy" Steve Earle T-shirt from the Jerusalem tour
I coulda swore she was checking me out.
She said, "a man that'll wear a shirt like that must be some kinda Badass."
I said. "well I don't know about the bad part."
She just smiled and cut me with her eyes.

Her chestnut hair fell on the shoulders of a 5' 2" frame
She was wearing one of those thin linen dresses
all the girls were wearing that summer.
It was white with a flower print, like wildflowers
there was a gold cross around her neck
Some drunk kid walking by said, "you look hot tonight."
She said, "well, yeah it's like a hundred degrees."
"and funny too."
but damn, those brown eyes.

I stood there for an awkward minute that felt more like an eternity
she looked down at her phone
I fumbled for another cigarette
As the lightning bugs danced around the vapor light casting silhouettes on the parking lot
she broke the silence again
"You know, I caught your set tonight. I like that Outlaw folk thing you're going for."
I said, Yeah, all of the cool images were taken.
She just rolled her big brown eyes

She told me her name was Anna, short for Annabelle
I guess you already know mine
she pointed up at the marque.
As if she sensed the question coming, she said, "I'm just waiting for my ride,
I guess he had to work late again."
"Boyfriend?", I asked. "It's complicated", she replied.
I said, "Complicated can be dangerous"
That's when I saw something change in those eyes

Was it regret or was it sadness, that was the question
It was probably none of my business
But it still nagged at my conscience
When I finally found the guts to ask, I heard the sound of a ticking car engine
the headlights blinded me to the face behind the wheel
As she opened the passenger door, I said, "take care, you hear?'
When she turned around, I found the answer I'd been looking for
When I saw the fear in her eyes

I still have that gig, I play it every Friday
Every Friday I scan the crowd
Looking for a face
that missing person flyer I found tacked up at the corner
Is taped in the lid of my guitar case
I put it there for a girl named Anna
so every time I look inside
I see those brown eyes

copyright 2020, Joe Middleton (Mr Saturday Music, BMI)

Anna (Brown Eyes) Demo

If lonely had a face, I’d be the spittin image
if broken was a man everyone would know my name
if I could win the race on empty, I’d be standing at the finish 
With your number pinned across my chest, and not a thing to kill the pain

So why did you go and start a fire, if you couldn’t stand the heat
left me standing on the wire with me no path of retreat
You broke down my defenses just to pull back on the reins
Is this just a game you’re playing or just your fear of sharing  the chains

If your memory was a dream, I would close my eyes forever 
and paint a pretty picture in my head then I would hang it on the wall
but I don’t sleep too much these days and the color’s started fading 
so why am I still hanging around here waiting for your call

So why did you go and start a fire, if you couldn’t stand the heat
left me standing on the wire with me no path of retreat
You broke down my defenses just to pull back on the reins
Is this just a game you’re playing or just your fear of sharing  the chains

copyright 2021 Joe Middleton (Mr Saturday Music, BMI)

The Chains - Demo

Live from South Siders Pub
Waxhaw, NC
Feb 9, 2014

Ian Feathers
Jordan Middleton
Aaron Thorne
Tommy Hill
Hal Q
Josh Burch

D Day

Pedro's

Song written for our buddy Dennis Hardison by Donnie Rivers. Dennis has now joined the band in heaven.

DRJ Projects 2010

Dennis's Song

Doug Thompson set the tone (and topic) last night when he opened up the #OSN with his song (Inspired by Megan Flechaus), 20 Minutes In.  Tune in to Recorded Live In the Carolinas Monday night at 9pm and see what happened afterwards....I can tell you that hilarity and massive talent ensued.

1.   "20 Minutes In" by Doug Thompson

Bad Chapter (Eileen)

"Music has no enemies." -- Hard Working Americans


I Don't Have A Gun/Work For Peace (The Military And The Monetary)

Singer-songwriter Joe Middleton released his first CD, Highway Tremolo, on November 3, 2019 to a packed house at The Evening Muse in Charlotte. Its nine songs were recorded and produced by Eric Lovell at Charlotte’s Blu Bubble Studio. 

 Although rock music was his mainstay for years, he has always identified as a folk singer—a teller of tales through song. Whether you call his music Americana, folk-rock, alt-country, or something else, for Middleton, these are stories that need to be told.

 Middleton continues to hone his ability to tell a better story through words and music. He draws from influences ranging from Bruce Springsteen to Steve Earle to create what he considers to be short-form musical plays. His songs are heavily inspired by the current social climate and a need to remember the bad as well as the good.

When You Rescued Me - Demo

Joe Middleton Music