First things first:

Artwork by Matthew Cornell completely and brazenly stolen with blatant disregard for everything in life.

www.gallerycero.com/art/midnight-at-the-cabin-by-matthew-cornell

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Alright, now that that's out in the open, moving on.
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"Smell Of Gasoline" (#585, 220816)

She didn't leave no foot prints
No finger prints either
There was nothing out of place
And nobody said they'd seen her

She didn't break the window
Or bust the deadbolt in
There's no way I can prove it
But I know where she's been

My neighbors think I'm crazy
Full of paranoia
But there's some kinds of danger
That don't respond to lawyers

What gave away her visit
Entry and exit clean
She left no sights or sounds
Just the smell of gasoline

Week 33 - Smell Of Gasoline (220816)

"Two Chord Song" (#630, 221106)

Are there any true two chord songs
Someone said Get Back but I think they're wrong
You know there's that riff right there in the chorus
I do believe that counts as the third chord

Someone else told me Jane Says qualifies
And I will admit I want to empathize
With just caveat they do only play A and G
But it's really in the key of D

Blurred Lines just has two according to the internet
And we all know the internet's about as smart as it gets
Except he stole somebody else's bass line
Legal trouble boom disqualified

Is this the world's first two chord song? Not even close
Not even the first two chord song I've wrote
However this song does have only two chords
And that's because my friend that all I could afford

Week 45 - Two Chord Song (221106)

"Somewhere In Idaho" (#631, 221114)

They both did everything that they could
Rings vows and a honeymoon out in Hollywood
He made that girl the center of his very world
But just cause you can it don't mean you should

Life isn't easy and love isn't blind
And sometimes the lost are the first ones to find
There are some hearts that were made for falling apart
Sometimes to love means to leave it behind

But somewhere in Idaho he clocks into work
He don't never say it but it always hurts
Twelve hours a day just so he can pay
For two kids from a lifetime ago
That don't even know
His heart made of gold
Is somewhere in Idaho

(Verse #2 omitted so the listener has a chance
To place themselves gently into the story
Without any details from other people's lives
Distracting them from what's real and true)

Week 46 - Somewhere In Idaho (221114)

"Right Again" (#632, 221123)

 * Thanks to Texas Dave for this steel string sound * 

When everybody knows your name
That's a blessing and a curse
Love is such fickle game
And we both had our share of hurt

We were so hot it went to hell
And when you left my heart was broke
It may seem I'm doin' swell
But there's some things you ought to know

If you figured I was livin' large
Sleepin' late to party hard all night
Well you'd be right

If you thought I's probly doin' shots
Wearin' out my blue suede dancin' shoes
Yep that's right too

If you guessed I won the lottery
And all this cash is goin' to my head
Well you've me pegged

If you see right through my lies
And realize that I'm broke down without a friend
Right again

I wonder if you feel a thing
When you see me passin' through
There's some places I can't go
Unless I want to think of you

Course I miss the time we shared
A part of me still wants you back
But just in case you really care
No speculatin' here's the facts

Week 47 - Right Again (221123)

"Who Moved My Cheese" (#634, 221128)

Well I'm just a mouse in a world of men
And someone's moved my cheese again
I should run away but I think instead
Gonna' chase him down and kill him dead

I'm lookin' for the man who moved my cheese
Right straight out from under me
Just one thing on earth I need
To find the man who moved my cheese

Well I'm just a mouse in a world of men
Gonna' stretch my claws then count to ten
Somewhere out there a man shall pay
Because he moved my cheese today

I'm lookin' for the man who moved my cheese
Right straight out from under me
Just one thing on earth I need
To find the man who moved my cheese

How dare they steal my dairy stuff
'Bout to prove to you this mouse is tough

Week 48 - Who Moved My Cheese (221128)

"As Good As It's Gonna' Get" (#633, 221203)

 * Written with, and performed by, Dave Matzner * 

There's a voice inside my head
Let me tell you what it said
You're gonna' worry all day long
That you're doin' it all wrong

The voice says I look bad
I'm short fat and oh so sad
I told the voice inside my head
It's as good as it's gonna 'get

So if you hear this voice
Know that you have a choice
'Cause when the sun has set
It's as good as it's gonna' get

You know it's kinda' funny
How we always chase the money
Wish we could laugh away the debt
But it's as good as it's gonna' get

When you're strivin' to be the boss
Just know what that will cost
Maybe ditch the private jet
'Cause it's as good as it's gonna' get

Week 49 - As Good As It's Gonna' Get (221203)

"Closer Than I’ll Ever Be Again" (#635, 221208)

 * co-written with George Murtie * 

Sometimes we were lovers
The nights would never end
Other times we wondered
Where the magic went
So close to going under
Closer than I’ll ever be again

Thought I must be dreamin'
And I wondered what it meant
I woke up south of Eden
Lost without a friend
Between true love and freedom
Closer than I’ll ever be again

If you'll hold me tight
And turn out all the lights
Then maybe we could just pretend

We didn't fall apart
God bless our broken hearts
Hallelujah and amen

You're the best there's ever been
Closer than I’ll ever be again

Drew you in a picture
In yellows blues and reds
Prayed you'll reconsider
Or that I could just forget
Gentle as a whisper
Closer than I’ll ever be again

Week 50 - Closer Than I’ll Ever Be Again (221208)

"O Little Town In Tennessee" (#636, 221216)

Oh little town in Tennessee, how much has rent increased
Above thy little GNP inflation ain't so sweet

Yet to thy streets and suburbs, the writers still do flock
With hopes and fears and cans of beer to sing their country rock

Hank III was born of Junior, Bocephus some might say
And Willie Waylon Johnny we name check to this day

But what about Rob Stanley or young John Allingham
Well praises sing at Water Spring, 'cause we still give a damn

Oh little town in Tennessee, how much has rent increased
Above thy little GNP inflation ain't so sweet

Yet to thy streets and suburbs, the writers still do flock
With hopes and fears and cans of beer to sing their country rock

Week 51a - O Little Town In Tennessee (221216)

"It Came Upon WSM" (#638, 221216)

It came upon WSM
That glorious song of old
From one weird dude with long white hair
Named David Allan Coe

C7 on earth and G and F
Just simple cowboy chords
Steve Goodman helped or so Dave says
And we trust his word of course

It Came Upon WSM
Another classic play
It's Silver Wings by Merle himself
From way way back in day

And yae the heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary gulch
Chock full of songs by Gen-Z dudes
That make me lose my lunch

Week 51b - It Came Upon WSM (221216)

"Broke Christmas" (#637, 221216)

I'm dreaming of a broke Christmas
Just like the ones I've always known
Where the songs I'm pitching
Get zero listens
'Cause I've been banned from Music Row

I said, I'm dreaming of a broke Christmas
With every collect call I dial
May your songs be better than mine
And read that contract in between the lines

I said, I'm dreaming of a broke Christmas
Just like so many gone before
Where the A&R guys
Told A&R lies
So we the writers all stayed poor

I'm dreaming of a broke Christmas
With every strange Springwater show
May I avoid bro country radio
And may all my Christmas' be broke

Week 51c - Broke Christmas (221216)

Coeur d'Alene (#639, 221226)

Workin’ overtime for minimum wage
Long nights, even longer days
Kinda’ lost so it’s kinda’ strange
It felt so right in Coeur d'Alene

Morning sun streaming through your hair
Feeling lucky to be layin’ there
Pockets empty except for a prayer
Two steps into a thousand yard stare

I’ve been searching high and low
For what I still don’t know
Never mind how much I’ve changed
Or how good things are today
It’s still not Coeur d'Alene

Light a candle burn one down
Take a hit, hit the ground 
All the ways I've never found
To fill a hole the size of that town

Week 52 - Coeur D’Alene (221226)

Nashville songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Godin Guitars Official Artist and Founder of www.songaweek.org.

His catalog of 500+ titles includes collaborations with hit writers Mark Narmore, Elliott Park, Steve Dean, and Pete & Pat Luboff, among others internationally from England to Australia.

Redding's music has landed cuts by numerous recording artists including Dan Whitehouse, Emma Gale, and David Easterling.

James Tristan Redding

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