Rainbow Girls

Vanessa May: Maybe some will think we’re cursed. Maybe some would think we’re lucky to be from California. We’re from a part of California that is, I swear, forever plagued by wildfires. And now we have that whole atmospheric river thing going on. It’s wild out there, you guys. [chuckles]

Vanessa May: But I wonder whether or not we can call natural disasters “natural” anymore. They all seem much more ominous. More people die, they come more often. In this song, this next one, it’s just a prayer, basically, that we can get our #### together. LOL. [laughs]

[“Santa Anna” by Rainbow Girls]

[gentle acoustic guitar music]

Cigarette delinquent

Gets high on a brittle night

####ty beer in the backseat

Of a rolling dumpster fire

I’m on my knees in the front seat

The doors are locked up tight

So I pray to Santa Anna

To bless me up just right

Ooh, ooh, ooh

Ooh, ooh, ooh

Is it natural?

Ooh ooh

Is it natural?

Ooh ooh

Is it natural?

Ooh ooh

To find yourself with no direction home

Ooh ooh

Ooh, ooh, ooh

No amount of braking

Can slow the crash of time

So I pray to Santa Anna

To hold me while I die

Is it natural?

Ooh ooh

Is it natural?

Ooh ooh

Is it natural?

Ooh ooh

To find yourself with no direction home

Erin Chapin: That’s Vanessa May, everybody. [audience applauding]

[“Used It All Up” by Rainbow Girls]

[gentle guitar music]

I’ve been taking it, but

It don’t hit like it used to

I’ve been hitting it, but

It don’t stick like it used to

Maybe I lost it

Maybe I tossed it

Maybe it just faded to dust

Maybe, darling, I just

Used it all up

[guitar solo]

[gentle guitar music]

[audience applauding]

Maybe I lost it

Maybe I tossed it

Maybe it just faded to dust

Maybe, darling, I just used it all up

Maybe, darling, I just used it all up

[audience applauding]

Vanessa May: That’s Erin Chapin on the slide guitar, everybody.

Caitlin Gowdey: I wrote this song on the day John Prine died. That’s how I felt. [chuckles] So this is my John Prine homage. It’s called “How to Deal.”

[“How to Deal” by Rainbow Girls]

[gentle guitar music]

I been thinking lately I’m getting worse

At talking to people, it’s a curse

That I put on myself, I guess

It’s a kind of spell

But it means I’m a witch

And I’ll be seeing you in hell [all laughing]

Sorry, God! [laughs]

There’s a kid I know that I’ve never met

He’s learning drums on the internet

And he beats himself up if he messes up the song

But you’ll never play great

If you never play it wrong [snapping]

I can’t tell you how to do it

I am barely gettin’ through it

And there’s a man I know whose biggest dream

Was to meet John Prine, who he’s never seen

But now he’ll never get the chance, I guess

Our heroes die

But we can still find happiness

Sometimes things just won’t go by

They get stuck in your mind like a battle cry

And I’m still figuring out just how to deal

But life goes on

No matter how you feel

I can’t tell you how to do it

I am barely gettin’ through it

I don’t know if I’m okay

I ask that question every day

[audience applauding]

[“Unwavering” by Rainbow Girls]

[gentle electric guitar music]

I made my bed, now it’s time to say good night

But he called me

I made my bed, now it’s time to say goodbye

But he called me

Baby

I sowed my seeds

Now I’m reaping the grief, but I’m lonely

As your garden grows, I pretend not to notice my faith

Receding back, back

Back

I guess that’s that

[steady alternative rock music]

You don’t need it, woman

You don’t need it, man

You don’t need it, woman

Oh, you don’t need it, man

And you said

“Eventually love ruins everything”

I just wish

My attitude was unwavering

Wavering

I’m wavering

I’m wavering

I’m wavering

Made my bed, now it’s time to say good night

But he called me

I made my bed, now it’s time to say goodbye

But he called me

Baby

[audience applauding and cheering]

Caitlin Gowdey: This song’s called “American Dream,” a.k.a. be nice even when you’re not rich. [all laughing]

Erin Chapin: Especially if you’re rich.

Caitlin Gowdey: One, two, three, four.

My dream’s to someday own some land

[gentle guitar music]

My dream’s to someday own some land

But how I’ll get the money isn’t fully yet quite planned

My dream’s to someday own some land

And on that land, I’ll build my home

Yeah, on that land, I’ll build my home

I’ll fill it up with kids so I will never die alone

Yeah, on that land, I’ll build my home

Ooh, ooh, hoo

Ooh, ooh, hoo

Ooh, ooh, hoo

Ooh, ooh, hoo

And then I’ll have my family band

Yeah, then I’ll have my family band

I’ll make ’em play the tunes

That they don’t really understand

Yeah, then I’ll have my family band

Ahh, ah ah, oh

Ahh, ah ah, ohh

Ahh, ah ah, ohh

Ahh, ah ah, ahh ahh, ohh

Ooh, ooh, hoo

Ooh, ooh, hoo

Ooh, ooh, hoo

Ooh, ooh, hoo

[gentle alternative folk music]

[audience member whistles]

Vanessa May: That’s Caitlin Gowdey on the guitar, everybody. [audience applauding and cheering]

It’s nice to have a plan for growing old

Unfathomable luxury, a plan for growing old

It hits you all at once, then you wish that you’d been told

But circumstances change, then you’re kicked out in the cold

But everyone’s worth something

And it’s not their weight in gold

Everyone’s worth something and it’s not their weight in gold

Ahh, ah, ahh

Ahh, ah, ahh

Ahh, ah, ahh

Ahh, ah, ahh

Ahh, ah, ahh

Ahh, ah, ahh

[audience applauding and cheering]

Caitlin Gowdey: Thanks, y’all.

Erin Chapin: How many of y’all came to the show last night?

Caitlin Gowdey: Yeah!

Erin Chapin: Oh, yeah! [audience applauding and cheering] We’re repeating one thing, is that okay? One repeat?

Vanessa May: Just one.

Erin Chapin: Okay, this is our brand-new song.

[“You Must Not Feel the Way I Do” by Rainbow Girls]

Caitlin Gowdey: Yeah.

[groovy alternative folk music]

You say we’re friends

Didn’t mean to hurt me, but you did

You said we’re getting to where we’re going

But here I am

You forced my hand and yet again

You’ve gone and left me lonely in the end

You must not feel the way I do

I can’t stop thinking about you

Seems what you told me isn’t true, ooh

You must not feel the way I do

Don’t call me a dreamer

When it’s you I’m dreaming of

Now I’m binge-watching TV

So I don’t think of my feelings

This final exam I couldn’t pass

You forced my hand, but the game was rigged

You must not feel the way I do

I can’t stop thinking about you

Seems what you told me isn’t true, ooh

You must not feel the way I do

You must not feel the way I do

I can’t stop thinking about you

Seems what you told me isn’t true, ooh

You must not feel the way I do

[audience applauding and cheering]

Whoo!

Vanessa May: Thanks, y’all.