Charley Crockett: Live from the Ryman

(audience cheering and clapping) ("Cowboy Candy" by Charley Crockett) (audience cheering) (audience cheering) You saw my photograph as you was walkin' in An invitation to the world I'm living in I've got my clean shirts starched up all brand-new I'm 'bout to Dosey doe because my bills are due Cowboy candy Cowboy candy (Charley vocalizing) So it's cowboy candy when I get up If they call my name I hope I have enough It's all to Make my suffering just a disappear That's why you'll see me smiling from ear to ear Cowboy candy Cowboy candy (Charley vocalizing) I'm a long way from the promised land Believe I once knew grace until she slipped my hand So don't slow down boys on account of me I'm just another cowboy on a candy spree Cowboy candy Cowboy candy (Charley vocalizing) (audience cheering and clapping) CHARLEY: Good evening, Nashville Tennessee.

I'm Charley Crockett.

Thank you so much for having me out tonight.

(audience cheering and clapping) It was the time of the cottonwood trees The time of the cottonwood trees I met her at the Pale Horse Saloon Yes I did, yes I did Her pretty hair was brown her eyes were too Yes they were, yes they were It was the time of the cottonwood trees I don't know if it was all a dream She drove a blue pickup truck Boy she loved it though it really wasn't much Kinda like the way she loved me In the time of the cottonwood trees The time of the cottonwood trees She followed me up the Rio Grande Yes she did, yes she did She said she liked the way I crossed the land That's a fact, that's a fact It was the time of the cottonwood trees You could smell that sage on the breeze I drove her blue pickup truck Boy she loved it though it really wasn't much Kinda like the way she loved me In the time of the cottonwood trees The time of the cottonwood trees It was the time of the cottonwood trees It's hard to figure what life really means I could still see that blue pickup truck Boy she loved it though it really wasn't much Kinda like the way she loved me In the time of the cottonwood trees The time of the cottonwood trees The time of the cottonwood trees (audience cheering and clapping) ("Just Like Honey" by Charley Crockett) It was just like honey Drippin' down from your eyes It was just like honey The way you told me those sweet lies From the very time I saw you I couldn't get you off of my hands I tried to wash you off in the river Now I'm just drowning on dry land It was just like honey Drippin' down from your eyes It was just like honey The way you told me those sweet lies Now crying ain't no good to no one And I can see you lying through your tears Everybody knows honey tastes good But that ain't gonna get you through the years It was just like honey Drippin' down from your eyes It was just like honey The way you told me those sweet lies It was just like honey Drippin' down from your eyes It was just like honey The way you told me those sweet lies (audience cheering and clapping) ("The Man From Waco" by Charley Crockett) The mirage of Del Rio It was burning in his eyes And sleep had escaped him Too consumed by his pride Like the lonesome and high country He was lost in a haze And the thoughts of what he'd do If he unloaded all his rage The man from Waco The city was almost silent As he passed the humming signs On the corner he heard laughter Made him afraid of what he'd find He pushed through the door Hypnotized by a sound Just then tears overcame him And his heart began to drown The man from Waco It was there that he shot her While the lovers were embraced With the bullet He intended for the man who took his place He cried through the night As he made his escape But the rain that was fallin' Could not wash away his shame The man from Waco On the banks of the Brazos Where the desert willow grows The clear shallow water Just won't say all it knows A moment of burning anger Can curse the living Through the days You can let that river take you But you will never get away The man from Waco (audience cheering and clapping) ("Odessa" by Charley Crockett) I've got Odessa on my mind I stay worried all the time Wish I didn't hurt so much But I don't have that kind of luck It's a low down dirty shame I can't even hear her name So I'm selling off my pride With Odessa on my mind I've got Odessa in my head I think I like to wake up dead Then I finally take my rest And get this weight up off my chest Yes I know I'm talking bad But I've done lost the best I had Now ain't no way to walk no line With Odessa on my mind I've got Odessa on my mind I think I rather would be blind Than to see her walk away How much pain can one fool take See them lights out in the field A testament to things men yield But I ain't got nothing but time And Odessa on my mind I've got Odessa in my head I think I like to wake up dead Then I finally take my rest And get this weight up off of my chest Yes I know I'm talking bad But I've done lost the best I had Now ain't no way to walk no line With Odessa on my mind (audience cheering) (audience cheering and clapping) Thank you.

(laughs) Well, the alley is just outside.

But it's a long way from right here.

I could tell you that right now.

(audience cheering and clapping) I was born way down in the Rio Grande Valley of Deep South Texas.

Same town as Freddy Fender.

I'm proud of that each and every day I walk God's green Earth.

But sometimes in this life, if you wanna make something out of yourself, you gotta wander a long way from home.

("The Valley" by Charley Crockett) I'm from San Benito Texas Down a dirty dusty road There was sugarcane and cotton How I used to watch it grow Then we moved up to Dallas I remember I was young I learned about the dollar Looked down the barrel of a gun If you ask me where I'm going I can't tell ya 'cause I don't know But in my mind I see the valley You should see the way it glows My daddy didn't know me My brother rolled the dice My mama kept on working And my sister paid a price Darkness did surround me Trouble everywhere I turned Until one day I started walking Everything I've got I earned If you ask me where I'm going I can't tell ya 'cause I don't know But in my mind I see the valley You should see the way it glows And now you know my story I bet you got one like it too May your curse become a blessing There ain't nothing else to do (audience cheering and clapping) ("Music City, USA" by Charley Crockett) I think you think that I got lucky I see it written on your face You say you'd like to fill my shoes How easily you take my place But if you'd spare me just a moment Before you go to pick and choose I think I'll ask you just one question How would you like to pay my dues I shouldn't have come here in the first place 'Cause folks in here don't like my kind I hear they've got a lot of reasons And I can see them on their signs They've got a lot to say In Music City, USA Keep on talking (audience cheering) I could draw a line from Texas To any place that's on a map I might be in California Or down to Georgia, be right back Up and down the Mississippi Tennessee River past the Shoals There underneath the lights of Broadway I'm in the alley with the ghosts I shouldn't have come here in the first place 'Cause folks in here don't like my kind I bet they've got a lot of reasons 'Cause I can see them on their signs They've got a lot to say In Music City, USA In Music City, USA (audience applauding and cheering) CHARLEY: Thank you, all right.

(laughs) (audience applauding and cheering) (audience applauding and cheering) Thank you.

(audience applauding and cheering) I'd like to do some James Hand songs for you real quick.

He's the reason I'm here, and he was born just a couple exits down the highway from Willie Nelson, we called him the "Real Deal."

He went up to the house a couple years back, but when I was coming off the street, he really showed me the way and made me proud to call myself country music.

And, well, if you don't know who James Hand is, you fixing to, and I'll tell you something, he used to always say to me, he'd say, "Charley Crockett, "anybody can pray for rain, you best get busy digging a well, boy."

("Midnight Run" by James Hand) What makes a man think that he Can forget about what used to be Be happy with the way life is Not think about what once was his Whiskey drunk and under the gun I'm taking me a midnight run I'm taking me a midnight run I'm making another one A thousand miles or more I'll drive To where I lived when I thought I was alive They'll never know I was ever around Just my shadow on the ground I turn east to face the Sun After making me a midnight run ("Lesson in Depression" by James Hand) Thanks for dropping by, but you don't need to see What I do when I get sick and tired of me Come in for a while since you're already here But don't expect a smile And look out for all the tears You 'bout to get yourself a lesson in depression From the king of this profession If you choose to stay I could help you lose your way There isn't any question I appreciate you coming out here To see a broken man haunted by his fears But you better close your eyes If you don't want to know What I do to me when I lose control You 'bout to get yourself a lesson in depression From the king of this profession If you choose to stay I could help you lose your way There isn't any question A lesson in depression A lesson in depression A lesson in depression A lesson in depression (audience applauding and cheering) ("Welcome to Hard Times" by Charley Crockett) Life's a casino I'm telling you And everybody's playing Boys and girls, women, children, me, and you The dice are loaded And everything's fixed Even a hobo would tell you this Welcome to hard times And feeling low Do you like sinning, no Well, you will before you go We've got lots of gambling Oh, and we're telling lies You're certainly welcome to hard times Take a look in my eyes And tell me what you see Besides the bright, blinking lights Stretched out in front of me I wonder if you'll notice Would you even care If I told you my life just isn't fair Welcome to hard times And feeling low Do you like sinning, no Well, you will before you go We've got lots of gambling Oh, and we're telling lies You're certainly welcome to hard times Yes Hope you're feeling welcome (laughs) (audience cheering) To hard times (audience applauding and cheering) ("Name on a Billboard" by Charley Crockett) I'm going to LA, gonna take a ride Ain't got much to lose, not even my pride Think I'll buy some things I can't afford, hey, look My name's on a billboard Hello, son We're sure glad that you're here Come on in, things are not as they appear Sit right down while we show you how it's done We're gonna make you number one I'm going to LA, gonna take a ride Ain't got much to lose, not even my pride Think I'll buy some things I can't afford, hey, look My name's on a billboard Hey, look, my name's up in lights Somehow, I still don't feel right I'm always trying to even up the score Hey, look, my name's on a billboard Thank you, sir I'd like to thank you very much Wish I could stay Stay around for your free lunch I got to go, and I hope you understand That I'm not that kind of man I'm going to LA, gonna take a ride Ain't got much to lose, not even my pride Think I'll buy some things I can't afford, hey, look My name's on a billboard Hey, look, my name's up in lights Somehow, I still don't feel right I'm always trying to even up the score Hey, look, my name's on a billboard I'm going to LA, gonna take a ride Ain't got much to lose, not even my pride Think I'll buy some things I can't afford, hey, look My name's on a billboard (audience applauding and cheering) ("Jamestown Ferry" by Charley Crockett) She just caught the Jamestown Ferry It's not a hot day January Like she said it'd be If she ever left me A case of gone was all she carried As she got on the Jamestown Ferry And she said that gone was all she'd ever be I didn't think that she'd leave me After saying how much she need me But the fact still remains I'm sitting here all alone Missing the loving of my baby Lord, it's about to drive me crazy She was the sweetest piece of heaven I've ever known She just a-caught the Jamestown Ferry It's not a hot day January Like she said it'd be If she ever left me A case of gone was all she carried As she got on the Jamestown Ferry And she said that gone was all she'd ever be As I walk through that valley Of honky-tonks and bars I remember how she'd hold me And comfort me with talk She didn't cuss with every breath She had a soothing southern drawl Made me feel like a man through it all Oh, boy, she just a-caught The Jamestown Ferry It's not a hot day January Like she said it'd be If she ever left me (audience applauding and cheering) ("Travelin' Blues" by Charley Crockett) Come on, now.

I've been traveling, baby I ain't got no place to go I've been traveling, mama I ain't got no place to go I've been everywhere, darling But I don't want to go no more, yeah I left home when I was a kid Everything I did was wrong And I left home when I was a kid Everything I did was wrong Now I'd like settle down, darling But I ain't got no happy home Yes, I keep going Woo!

Yeah!

Woo!

Come on now.

Yeah!

Yeah!

Come on now.

Woo!

Come on now.

(indistinct) Yeah!

Come on, daddy!

I've been traveling, baby I got no place to stay I just keep traveling, mama I ain't got no place to stay And I've got traveling on my mind Guess I'll be on my way So sorry, so sorry But now I got to go So sorry, so sorry, sweetheart But now I've got to go By this time tomorrow, baby I'll be a long way down the road (audience applauding) All right.

(audience applauding and cheering) (audience cheering) ("'Round This World" by Charley Crockett) I'm going 'round this world I'm going 'round it pretty girl I'm a-leaving and I can't say When I'll be back around this way This way-ay- ay-ay-ay-ay-ay When I'll be back around this way This way-ay-ay And it's awful hard to say When I'll be back around this way I'm going across this land I'll be that banjo picking man It's been a long, long, long, long time That I've had you on my mind On my mind That I had you on my mind On my mind That true love's hard to find Well I done had you on my mind I've been running Through the field They say I lied and cheat and steal They got me down here In a valley low 'Cause it's the only one I know That I know And it's the only one I know That I know It's a long and lonesome road But it's the only one I know (audience cheering) ("Trinity River" by Charley Crockett) (audience cheering) Trinity River such a dirty little river But that don't bother me This dirty little river sure to get me clean Trinity River and it flow because I cry Sure to keep me honest With everybody telling lies Damp scent of evening hung everywhere Gamblers turn their cards Drinking on their whiskey hard The damp scent of evening flows all through my head I had the sweetest dream I was floating in the river dead Trinity River such a dirty little river But that don't bother me Dirty little river sure to get me clean Trinity River Yes it flow because I cry Sure to keep you honest Even though you tell us lies In this river city Nothing ever lasts Beside the lonesome blues Steady staring back at you In this river city Of one thing you can be sure Whatever you got to give Believe me you gonna give some more Trinity River such a dirty little river But that don't bother me Dirty little river sure to wash me clean And Trinity River yes it flow because I cry Sure to keep me honest And everybody telling lies Trinity River muddy water rising up Trinity River could never drown me fast enough Trinity River yes it flow because I cry Sure to keep me honest With everybody telling lies (audience cheering) ("I'm Just A Clown" by Charley Crockett) The circus is coming through And everybody knows That when you purchase a ticket You expect to get a show Take a look at me I'm just a clown And on my face I wear a frown I've paid the cost to hang around So take a look at me I'm just a clown The joker stands in the middle And turns a trick for you Because sometimes you know it's better To be thought of as a fool Take a look at me I'm just a clown And on my face I wear a frown I've paid the cost to hang around So take a look at me I'm just a clown I'm just a clown that's what they say I guess my clothes give me away All of my friends have disappeared You know it makes me wonder If I was ever here Take a look at me I'm just a clown And on my face I wear a frown I've paid the cost to hang around So take a look at me I'm just a clown I'm just a clown take a look at me And I'm so lonesome I could charge a fee I guess my clothes give me away I'm just a clown that's what they say I'm just a clown Ooh ooh ooh Ooh ooh ooh ooh (audience cheering and applauding) CHARLEY: I never thought I'd play on this stage.

I always wanted to but I didn't believe that it was possible.

(audience cheering and applauding) And it's all because of you.

I just want you to know that I couldn't do it without you buying tickets and I understand that.

And, you know, I do love Tennessee, but I wish them Blue Drifters would play my favorite song for me right now.

Come on boys, show 'em what I'm talking about.

("Goin' Back To Texas" by Charley Crockett) Well tell me mama what's going on Woo!

Got to tell me baby what's going on I'm going back to Texas, Texas is my home Woo!

I'd stay 'round here But I believe it's much too rough Well I'd stay 'round here But I believe it's much too rough I'm going back to Texas I believe I've had enough Yeah.

I know she don't want me At least not like she's saying I know you she don't love me At least not like she says I'm going back to Texas I'm already on my way Bye!

(audience cheering) What I don't wanna do You better run and get you three What I don't wanna do You better run and get you three And then I'll spare you the penitentiary Ain't that how they do it If you see me running Something going on bad If you see me running Something going on bad Yeah!

I'm running back to Texas Talking about the time I had I got to go sir (audience cheering) Well tell me mama what's a matter now Got to tell me baby what's the matter now I'ma going back to Texas I don't need you anyhow Thank you Nashville, Tennessee, Ryman Auditorium.

I'm Charley Crockett.

It's been a pleasure of my life to serve you.

Goodnight.

(audience applauding and cheering) (audience cheering and clapping) (audience applauding and cheering) ("Tecumseh Valley" by Charley Crockett) The name she gave was Caroline The daughter of a miner Her ways were free and it seemed to me That sunshine walked beside her She said she'd come to look for work She was not seeking favors For a dime a day and a place to stay She'd turn them hands to labor But the times was hard Lord The jobs were few All through Tecumseh Valley But she looked around and a job she found Tending bar for Gypsy Sally She saved enough to get back home When spring replaced the winter But her dreams were denied her pa had died The word come down from Spencer She turned to walking down the road From all the hate inside her And it was many a man returned again To walk that road beside her They found her down beneath the stairs That led to Gypsy Sally's In her hand when she died was a note that cried Fare-thee-well Tecumseh Valley (audience applauding and cheering) ("Paint it Blue" by Charley Crockett) They say there's a price on my head And that I'm better off dead But that sheriff better keep this in mind I'll sure be hard to find I give up so much of me I should probably be charging a fee You say that you don't like me and I'm wrong But I bet you're gonna love the way I'm gone Blue I ain't too concerned with my name Because I know it won't be on my grave But I ain't gonna hang my head down and cry 'Cause I know where I'm going when I die Yes I do The bright lights shining in this city Remind me of the time when she was with me It's the same old feeling, nothing new So I'm fixing to paint it blue Blue I might be down in Texas after awhile Or down in Nashville in style (audience cheering) But I'll tell you what I'm really about to do I'm fixing to paint it blue Yes I'm fixing to paint it blue I am a-fixing to paint it blue You know I'm fixing to paint it blue Lord I'm fixing to paint it blue CHARLEY: Thank you, Ryman Auditorium.

I'm Charley Crockett That's Charley with an EY, like Charley Pride.

Crockett with two T's, just like Davy.

Good night y'all.

And best of luck to you.