Bonus track from the Together Through the Dark sessions.
lyrics
Mister Morgan by Slaid Cleaves
As I sat upon my porch one day a truck came up my road
Unsettling the quiet of my Hill Country abode
The man said, It's your lucky day, there's money to be made
The wells out west are flowing and there's pipeline to be laid
He said a Mister Morgan made this offer genuine
And promised untold riches if I signed here on the line
Well, breaking up my land doesn't sit so well with me
I don't want a man from Houston to control my destiny
My father bought this land, and I've roamed it all my life
It's here I'll spend my golden years with grandkids and wife
So please tell Mister Morgan I'll be passing on his deal
I'm not interested in promises, I'll stick with something real
His face turned dark and angry and he quit his jolly tone
Said, Buddy, I would hate to see you lose your pretty home
He said, You best be careful, you don't know what's in store
Home and family matter still, but Mister Morgan matters more
He said, Think it over mister, I'll give you 30 days
We'll sue for a hundred thousand if you don't do as I say
I looked across the rolling oaks and asked how could this be?
That a man can pay some lawyers to take this land from me
So I looked up my rep and said, I checked a box for you
I'm a voter in this district, must be something you can do
Mister Morgan wants to tear into my fathers legacy
Sometimes I get the feeling no one's looking out for me
Morgan doesn't live here and he can not vote for you
I suppose he lines your pockets, though, 'cause that's what rich men do
The politician smiled and said, There's things I can't ignore
I appreciate your vote, sir, but Mister Morgan matters more
Now there's birdsong in the breeze, a distant neighbor mows a lawn
Bluebonnets in the meadow that soon will all be gone
I've seen the surveyors, and tomorrow come the trucks
And the backhoes and the graders, kicking up their dust
Like a death in our own family, that's just how it feels
A slow and painful ending to what we thought was real
To all of you shareholders, I hope you know the cost
I hope you know your dividend was paid by someone's loss
And when you count your money, sir, I hope you know the price:
A scar upon my land, my little bit of paradise
I won't forget the words spoken by the old screen door
Home and family matter still, but Mister Morgan matters more
credits
from Together Through the Dark,
track released August 1, 2023
performed by Slaid Cleaves and Scrappy Jud Newcomb
produced by Scrappy Jud Newcomb
recorded by Pat Manske at The Zone, Dripping Springs, Texas
mixed by Chaos Theory with Slaid Cleaves
mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering, Nashville, Tennessee
1st time i heard DeathWish, i turned it off.
felt rushed, not the Isbell i've come to admire. really grab'd me when i took time to listen on the 2nd try. the writing on these songs stopped me in my tracks more than once. raw talent with just enough polish in the delivery.
thankyou Jason + 400 for another keeper swirlingmadness
The best I've heard from Steve Earle in a while. The songs have a subtler, earthier tone, tastefully rendered in authentic sounding country/blues/bluegrass stylings. 'J.T' reminds of earlier records like 'Feel Alright' or 'Train a Comin'.
Deep grief, love and compassion is felt on the final track, the only composition from Steve, seemingly written for his son. The rest, composed by JT, do confirm what a great songwriter he really was. tideracer
Collaborating remotely with 12 songwriters from all over the world, Kim Edgar emerged with a work of striking art pop. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 11, 2023
This collection of '90s work from folkie Patrick Regan and friends will appeal to fans of Fairport Convention and Pentangle. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 17, 2023