Under the Boughs
High hangs the fruit ready for harvest
Bent is the bough rising from the tree
High flies the bird that carries a promise
Bent is the branch she carries o’er the sea
Over the waves, over the ocean
Over the river that waters the plains
Writ in the road, a promise, a blessing
A name I was given, a name I became
I’m a long, long way from my home
I’m a long, long way from my home
A mother I lost, a mother to many
A mother I left, buried in the clay
A sister I found, a sister in plenty
A sister of mercy, beckons me to stay
I’m a long, long way from my home
I’m a long, long way from my home
Under the boughs, a harvest of laughter
Strike up a song with the hand and the drum
Long is the road that leads to new beginnings
Long is the road that brings a new song
I’m a long, long way from my home
I’m a long, long way from my home
Written by Matthew Charles Rolland
© 2014 Mattie Groves Music/BMI
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Wild Bill Jones
As I went out for to take a little walk
I came upon that Wild Bill Jones
He was walking, he was talking
By my true lover’s side
And I bid him leave her alone
He said his age was 21
And just too old to be controlled
I grabbed my revolver
From my side
And I destroyed that poor boy’s soul
He reeled and he staggered and he fell to the ground
Then he gave one dying moan
He wrapped his arms
’Round my little girl’s neck
Crying, “Honey, won’t you take me home?”
So put them handcuffs on me boys
And lead me to that freight car gate
I have no friends
Or relations there
No one for to go my bail
Pass around that long-neck bottle
And we’ll all go on a spree
For today was the last
Of that Wild Bill Jones
And tomorrow will be the last of me
They sent me to prison for twenty long years
This old boy longs to be free
For Wild Bill Jones
And that bottle o’ gin
Have been the ruin of me
Traditional (public domain)
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Live Performance Video
A Dream in the Night
Painted ladies linger long
As quietly they play
Mmmmm
Crimson petals softly falling down,
Silent as the grave, and still they stay
’Til the dawning of the day
When the moon has had his way
I have labored for the darkness,
Painted pictures of the night
Mmmmmm
See the shadows on my face
Against a pallet of the purest white
And a ribbon made to shine
To light the darkness of my eyes
On Fourth Avenue there’s fire in the sky
And the dancers fill the night
On a wheel spinning round and around
In a dream for which to die
Mmmmm
The golden pendulum of autumn
Singing softly of the end
Mmmmmmm
The ivory face above the mirror
And two lovers who pretend
To love again,
But the southern bird ascends
And burns a candle in the wind
On the corner there’s a band that is playing
And the people march along
As the trumpet plays a final refrain
As the dancers fill the dawn
And the dream it lingers on
Written by Rebekah Sandoval Rolland
© 2014 De Folk Publishing/BMI
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Spin a Golden Thread
Spin, spin, a golden thread
A thread to bind my heart
Spin your thread with smiles and laughs
Of moments filled with glee
Spin, spin, a golden thread
A thread to bind my heart
Spin your thread with stolen looks
When your eyes lock with me
Spin, spin, a golden thread
A thread to bind my heart
Spin your thread with sighs and whispers
Resting in my arms
Spin, spin, a golden thread
A thread to bind my heart
Spin your thread with tears and sobs
Together we will share
Spin, spin, a golden thread
A thread to bind my heart
Spin your thread of love such that
Forever we may be
Spin, spin, a golden thread
A thread to bind my heart
Written by Jesse Allen
© 2013 Bitters McAllen Music/ASCAP
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Official Music Video
Crankie Artwork Video
Heavy the Sorrow
Sorry her lot who loves too well,
Heavy the heart that hopes but vainly
Sad are the sighs that own the spell
Uttered by eyes that speak too plainly;
Heavy the sorrow that bows the head
When Love is alive and Hope is dead!
Sad is the hour when sets the Sun—
Dark is the night to Earth’s poor daughters
When to the ark the wearied one
Flies from the empty waste of waters!
Heavy the sorrow that bows the head
When Love is alive and Hope is dead!
Music by: Rebekah Sandoval Rolland
Lyrics by: W.S. Gilbert
© 2014 De Folk Publishing/BMI
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Sunday For Larks
Written by Matthew Charles Rolland
© 2014 Mattie Groves Music/BMI
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Live Performance Video
Oh, Momma (Won’t You Tell Me What to Do?)
What do you do when you love an older man?
Do you give it all you’ve got when he tries to take your hand?
Do you hold on to him close, or try to let him go?
Oh, oh
Momma, won’t you tell me what to do?
When you think of him at night, is it right to want him near?
Wishing for his touch or his whisper in your ear—
When, for every night you’ve wanted he’s had a hundred more?
Oh, oh
Momma, won’t you tell me what to do?
And Momma, how did you know that it was right with Daddy?
Did you ever doubt he’d be the only one to make you happy?
What did you in to make you finally say ‘yes’?
What made you want to wear that not-so-more white dress?
When you can’t help the thought, and he’s always on your mind,
Does it mean that you’re in love, and you’re bound to walk that line?
Or can you learn to love another, forget the way you felt before?
Oh, oh
Momma, won’t you tell me what to do?
And Momma, how did you know that it was right with Daddy?
Did you ever doubt he’d be the only one to make you happy?
What did you in to make you finally say ‘yes’?
What made you want to wear that not-so-more white dress?
Though all the dreams you have for life he‘s lived them all before,
Still you wish he’d say that he‘d start with you once more—
That it doesn’t matter what has passed, just all that is in store,
Oh, oh
Momma, won’t you tell me what to do?
And Momma, how did you know that it was right with Daddy?
Did you ever doubt he’d be the only one to make you happy?
What did you in to make you finally say ‘yes’?
What made you want to wear that not-so-more white dress?
And Momma, how did you know that it was right with Daddy?
Did you ever doubt he’d be the only one to make you happy?
What did you in to make you finally say ‘yes’?
What made you want to wear that not-so-more white dress?
Written by Grace Rolland
© 2013 Rising Sun Daughter/ASCAP
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Locket
When she goes walking through our town,
Every head spins right around
She’s got long black hair,
Baby blue eyes,
Chirps like a bird with the sweetest smile
Got a locket in her pocket with her lover’s picture inside
She said, “Boys meet me at the edge of town.
I’ve broken hearts of suitors, but now I’ll settle down.
I’ve got a picture of the one I choose, and I’ll
Make the reveal this day when the sun is nearing noon.”
She’s got long black hair,
Baby blue eyes,
Chirps like a bird with the sweetest smile
Got a locket in her pocket with her lover’s picture inside.
Well, they followed her the crowd of longing eyes
“Her dowry is the largest in the county, could be mine!”
Reached the meadow as the sun was high above
And held their breath as she removed her gloves
She said, “Now boys, my dowry’s all but gone,
Squandered by my family before my time was come.”
Their jaws hung low as they scattered ’round
Only one left was young Thomas Brown!
And he’s waiting to see who the lover is pictured inside.
He stepped forward and made his appeal
“I’ve loved you since the day we met, and now I’ll love you still.”
She opened the golden locket slowly,
And Tommy’s face was staring all aglow.
They’ve got an acre of land, a little White House,
Not much money, but a beautiful life.
Music & Lyrics by: Jennifer Sandoval
© 2014 Superlative Creations Publishing/ASCAP
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The Lord Taketh Away
I pleaded and I cried, but she’d made up her mind
You get awful worn down when every dream you’ve had has died
She left on a train in the morning
It was the coldest of all days
Oh, the Lord taketh away, taketh away
The house was in a slumber, the moon was flying high
You held her even after, you cried all through the night
We laid her by the oak tree
We sang to God and we prayed
Winter is no friend of mine—she’s cold and mean as they come
Stops in every now and then, leaves you feeling numb
She took that piece of land from us
She took off faster than she came
The kids were young and we were tired, but we loved God and we prayed
Good weather came with spring, you’d lie awake and you’d sing to me
There was shouting on the hills of Georgia,
There was thanking God and giving praise
But the Lord taketh away, taketh away
Oooooo
There was shouting on the hills of Georgia
There was thanking God and giving praise
Music & Lyrics by: Rebekah Sandoval Rolland
© 2014 De Folk Publishing/BMI
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Something to Someone
“What am I?” said the sparrow to the creek as he crossed.
“You’re a voice in the high bough, You’re a song for the lost.”
“What am I?” Said the creek now to the rocks down below.
“You’re a force wind a blowing your own way to go.”
“Who am I?” Asked the traveler to the yon mountain peaks
They said, “You’re the refuge that somebody seeks.”
He replied, “You’re mistaken. I’m nothing to no one.”
“Well then, you’re not looking around you enough.”
And the ocean asks, “Who am I?” To the ship.
“You’re the strong roots upholding; you keep me adrift.”
Sink the doubt out of your heart
Cast your net wide of love
Sink the doubt out of your heart
Cast your net wide of love
Sink the doubt out of your heart
Cast your net wide of love
Music & Lyrics by: Jennifer Sandoval
© 2014 Superlative Creations Publishing/ASCAP
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Live Performance Video
Far From My Home / Lion and the Fawn
I went searching far from my home
Searching for a love that I could call my own
Through the valleys I did roam
But no love I found for to call my own
I went searching far from my home
Searching for a love that I could call my own
’Cross the ocean I did roam
But no love I found for to call my own
I went searching far from my home
For a castle made of marble and of gold
O’er the hillsides I did roam
But no love I found for to call my own
I went searching far from my home
For a chariot to take me to the sun
O’er the mountains I did fly
But that golden sun had faded from the sky
I returned back to my home
For to put to rest my heavy heart and bones
There I found a love to call my own
Never more this wide, wide world to roam
Music & Lyrics by: Rebekah Sandoval Rolland
© 2014 De Folk Publishing/BMI
Administered by Modern Works Publishing/“A” Side Music LLC
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Live Performance "Tiny Desk" Video
