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Carnival Lights

by Jay Howlett

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1.
Red Western Flyer 03:25
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Red Western Flyer It wasn't a Schwinn ike it might have been Had I'd saved for another month or two. It had big balloon tires, my Red Western Flyer I bought for myself brand new And I'd peddle all day, to the top of the grade And drink Nehi 'till I'd had my fill Then I'd let it fly and my world rushed bye Soaring down Pennymix Hill I'd peddle around that old small downtown It looked worn but it was clean If you blinked you might miss the one traffic light Right on Route 13 And I'd peddle all day to the top of the grade Eat candy 'till I'd had my fill Then I'd let it fly and my world rushed bye Soaring down Pennymix Hill INSTRUMENTAL BREAK Some things you always remember And some things you'd love to forget But for a kid in a small town a Red Western Flyer Is simply as good as it gets And I'd peddle all day to the top of the grade And I'd Drink Nehi 'till I'd had my fill Then I'd let it fly and my world rushed bye Soaring down Pennymix Hill I was soaring down Pennymix Hill soaring down Pennymix Hill Jay Howlett, 211 Modoc Place, Pacifica, CA jay(@)blahblahwoofwoof.com ©2006 Blah Blah Woof Woof Music and Media All rights reserved.
2.
Legend of the Parking Lot 03:02
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Legend of the Parking Lot There's a traffic jam on Lincoln Street Everybody's out in the summer Heat Pearl paint reflects all the streetlights It's the way it ought to be on a Friday night. There's one space open 'cause they held his spot Waiting on the legend of the parking lot. He's not a kid now at forty-five But you can't tell by the car he drives He seems to old for that old Chevel His wife wants it gone, but he'll never sell He'll pop the hook and show you what he's got He's a legend in the parking lot Chorus: No he never gave up on those fast cars And he still lays rubber on the boulevard You've seen his pictures in the magazines Car & Driver and Street Machines The kids all know him and they call him Pops He's a legend in the parking lot. His first wife left him twenty years ago She was a swimsuit model at the Auto Show But he never grew up and she got fat And he never told her he loved her like that But in the summer when those nights get hot He's still a legend in the parking lot. Repeat Chorus: Into break and Bridge He' spends all his free time with his cars alone He's got scars on his knuckles that reach the bone He smells like wax, but he shines like chrome… Repeat Chorus © 2007 Jay Howlett P.O Box 1093 Pacifica, CA 94044 All Rights Reserved, jay@blahblahwoofwoof.com
3.
Cornbread and Black-eyed Peas 03:52
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Cornbread and Black-Eyed Peas I don’t know how it all got started; some said it brought us good luck. It seemed to work for a couple of years; we just sort of kept it up. Grandma would gather the peas from the garden that she had out back. Aunt Sis would grab a ham hock and for hours on the stove they sat. And it’s cornbread and black-eyed peas; we had every New Years Eve, Pass the butter and molasses please, for this cornbread and black-eyed peas. The cornbread looked like little ears of corn, I was amazed as a child. I wondered how anyone could make such a thing, my ‘magination ran wild. Around the kitchen table we’d gather and grandpa would offer up a Prayer. To thank God for the blessings that found us and ask God to bless everybody there. And it’s cornbread and black-eyed peas; we had every New Years Eve, Pass the butter and molasses please, for this cornbread and black-eyed peas. Break Things have changed since that time and Birdseye now provides the peas. And the family is spread across the country and it’s not the same on New Years Eve. I don’t make cornbread the same way; I don’t say grace as often as I should And I don’t feel as lucky, but if I revive tradition maybe I would. And it’ll be cornbread and black-eyed peas; we have every New Years Eve, Pass the butter and molasses please, for this cornbread and black-eyed Cornbread and black-eyed Cornbread and black-eyed peas. Jay Howlett, 211 Modoc Place, Pacifica, CA jay(@)blahblahwoofwoof.com ©2006 Blah Woof Woof Music and Media All rights reserved
4.
Carnival Lights 05:59
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Carnival Lights It was traveling, through the county, it stopped in all the little towns They’d set up anywhere they could find some open ground I was attracted by the smell of corn dogs and waffle cones And judging from the crowd, it wasn't me alone It's amazing how we're blinded, by the carnival lights. Those spinning flashing colors against the dark of night Did you ever take a chance and try to win a prize Throw a ball into a basket and hope it stays inside You don't see a lot of people, clutching their Kewpie Doll What looks easy, is much more difficult, some how It's amazing how we're blinded by the carnival lights Those spinning flashing colors against the dark of night Did you ever wonder about the people who travel with these shows? Like the Bearded lady or the Human Buffalo You never see them out at Denny's, with their husbands or their wives I guess that's just the way it is with the carnival life It's amazing how we're blinded by the carnival lights Those spinning flashing colors against the dark of night Those spinning flashing colors against the dark of night Jay Howlett, P.O. Box 1093, Pacifica, CA 94044 jay(@)blahblahwoofwoof.com ©2009 Blah Blah Woof Woof Music and Media All rights reserved
5.
Six Years 03:31
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Six Years I got this farm when my daddy died He couldn't make ends meet as hard as he tried the bank say's we got six years to turn it around When I left for college I was still a kid I swore I wouldn't come back you know, but I did Now I live 20 miles out of town I've got 6 years, 6 years, 6 years to turn it around. 6 years, 6 years, 6 years and the farm is gone The first couple years the rains wouldn't come, corn dry and burnt by the hot summer sun. next year I we're gonna need get a loan That next year all it did was rain couldn't get in the fields to plant any grain next year we'll have a second mortgage on the home 6 years, 6 years, 6 years to turn it around. 6 years, 6 years, 6 years and the farm is gone The year that followed the crop price fell we didn't have a choice we still had to sell Next year we're prayin' for better year. The crop came in but the crop was small If it was bigger year we could have paid down it all Looks like the farm's gonna disappear. It was a family farm since the great dust bowl and I swear to God I'd sell my sole for 6 years, 6 years more 6 years, 6 years, 6 years to turn it around. 6 years, 6 years, 6 years and the farm is gone Jay Howlett, P.O. Box 1093, Pacifica, CA jay(@)blahblahwoofwoof.com ©2007 Blah Blah Woof Woof Music and Media All rights reserved.
6.
Somewhere Like That 03:44
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Somewhere Like That I'm tired of the cars, I'm tired of the traffic I'm tired of the noise and I'm tired of the racket I'm tired of the sounds that this city makes. I'm tired of the malls I'm tired of the mobs I'm tired of the struggle and I'm tired of my job and just about had everything I can take. I want to live in a town where the waitress calls you honey where they care more 'bout where you go to church than how you make your money. I want to live in a town where the flag flies free Maybe raise up a family Somewhere like that is where I want to be. I'm ready for a change, I'm ready for a move I'm ready to leave I got nothing left to prove I'm ready to get so far away from here I'm ready to split with no reason doubt it. I'm ready to quit only talkin' about it I'm ready to pack up and just disappear I want to live in a town where the waitress calls you honey where they care more 'bout where you go to church than how you make your money. I want to live in a town where the flag flies free Maybe raise up a family Somewhere like that is where I want to be. Leave behind the interstate for the back roads Those two lane highways where nobody ever goes Lose the city skyline for an open sky back to a plain cup of coffee and warm piece of apple pie I want to live in a town where the waitress calls you honey where they care more 'bout where you go to church than how you make your money. I want to live in a town where the flag flies free Maybe raise up a family Somewhere like that is where I want to be. Jay Howlett, P.O. Box 1093, Pacifica, CA jay(@)blahblahwoofwoof.com ©2007 Blah Blah Woof Woof Music and Media All rights reserved.
7.
Calistoga Tractor Parade 03:02
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Calistoga Tracker Parade It was in early December, I clearly remember they were closing the main street down. People lined up on both sides, two maybe three wide the came from miles around. I've been in Cleveland and Dublin, Tucson and Saigon but in all of the towns that I've played, is there another event, that they 'outta prevent than the Calistoga Tracker Parade San Francisco has gay pride parades, New York Thanksgivings day both of them fine parades it's true. and although parades with tractors, have there detractors we should give Calistoga it's due. I've been in Cleveland and Dublin, Tucson and Saigon but in all of the towns that I've played, is there another event, that they 'outta prevent than the Calistoga Tracker Parade There were big ones and small ones, short ones and tall ones tracker both old and new. Trackers by Ford only banks could afford there was even a Harvester too! Now I've seen Santa, in Seattle and Atlanta but in Calistoga he's weird. It's a sight you should dread, Santa on his sled pulled by a dozen John Deere. I've been in Cleveland and Dublin, Tucson and Saigon but in all of the towns that I've stayed, is there another event, that they 'outta prevent than the Calistoga Tracker Parade Jay Howlett, P.O. Box 1093, Pacifica, CA jay@blahblahwoofwoof.com ©2006 Blah Blah Woof Woof Music and Media All rights reserved
8.
Your Clown 03:34
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Your Clown I don't wear baggy pants and my shoes ain't oversized Don't have a big red nose there's no colors 'round my eyes You know I went back and checked my resume and nowhere on it did I ever say... That I gonna to be your clown That Igonna to be your clown that I gonna to be a clown today... Now, Uyire the Dancing Bear, you know he's got nothing on me He spends his nights in a cage and he'll never be free I went down to the bar where the clowns hang out and I left drunk and without any doubts That I'm gonna be your clown That I'm gonna be your clown That I'm gonna be your clown today Instrumental Break I'd rather spin on a wheel with knives being thrown or spend the rest of my nights in a Fun House alone I'm not gonna be your clown I'm not gonna be your clown I'm not gonna be your clown today... I'm not gonna be your clown I'm not gonna be your clown I'm not gonna be your clown today... Jay Howlett, P.O. Box 1093, Pacifica, CA jay@blahblahwoofwoof.com ©2007 Blah Blah Woof Woof Music and Media; All rights reserved
9.
Long Black Dress 03:01
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Long Black Dress While the sun's goin' down and the moon's comin' up I'm heading for the downtown dance. Maybe just to have me a love affair or that cliche rhyme romance. She was standing in the corner of the Odd Fellows Hall Wearing that long back dress. Surrounded by all of her girlfriends but she was looking the best. I've been all around the country and half way round this world and there's nothing better than a long black dress wrapped around a small town girl. Now some might prefer the city girl along with her bad attitude a Gucci purse worth one month's rent and a pair of matching shoes But you can have that girl all to yourself along with her high maintenance just give me that in the Odd Fellows Hall, Wearin' that long black dress I've been all around the country and half way round this world and there's nothing better than a long black dress wrapped around a small town girl. I walked on over to ask the question but never got the chance. She grabbed me by the arm and said "Yes I'd like to Dance." Well I rocked in her arms and I swung her around I watched that black dress fly and we danced until the moon went down and the sun was back in the sky She said "I've been all around this country and half way round this world and there's nothing better than a small town boy wrapped around a small town girl." I've been all around the country and half way round this world and there's nothing better than a long black dress wrapped around a small town girl. Jay Howlett, P.O. Box 1093, Pacifica, CA jay@blahblahwoofwoof.com ©2006 Blah Blah Woof Woof Music and Media All rights reserved.
10.
The Guardsman's Letter 05:25
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A Guardsmen's Letter It's deadly, dark and it's silent tonight, the perimeter is locked up and tight. We'll hydrate and smoke, watch our backs and we'll joke and wait until morning light. But it's been quiet since late afternoon, we'll count our blessings if we make it through, and I'm writing this letter to you, that I'm safe and I'm doing all right. The Green Zone looks quiet on the nightly news with shops in the open air. Merchants gather with tables and tents, you can buy most anything there. But you must be careful of crowds in the streets, or in any building where people will meet or maybe that car, underneath the front seat its hard case of buyer beware. Instrumental Break You know I never thought I'd be a soldier or that you'd be a soldier's wife. I signed on with the Guard to get us through school so we'd have a better life. One weekend a month, two weeks is the summer seemed like a small price to pay. But sitting under a blood red crescent moon I wouldn't make that decision today. Instrumental Break And tell the baby I love her, I hold you both in my dreams and while I'm away we'll both hope and pray that this isn't as bad as if seems. And here is a poem that I wrote last night, of the fears of a soldier at war. Because we question every thing that we do and then we question it more... "When the soldier returns will you still love him if he's broken or damaged or lost a limb. Will you call him the hero that he has been or will his memory pass like an ill wind" Oh and tell the baby I love her, I hold you both in my dreams, and while I'm away we'll both hope and pray that this isn't as bad as if seems and while I'm away we'll both hope and pray that this isn't as bad as if seems Jay Howlett, P.O. Box 1093, Pacifica, CA jay@blahblahwoofwoof.com ©2008 Blah Blah Woof Woof Music and Media All rights reserved.

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released September 10, 2014

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Jay Howlett San Francisco, California

Jay Howlett is a genuine storyteller with classic tales in song of American life at its best. Small town celebrations, traditions, sorrows and sheer frivolity all find their way into Howlett’s lens. Lawrence Ferlinghetti calls Jay “a fine songwriter and a true insurgent artist.” Jay writes for film, fans, friends and fun in maintaining his modest career in the arts. He say’s it’s a “lucky life”. ... more

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