Feb 2022 americana
john brings this scoundrel who will teke but never give to vivid life as he brushes off a woman who is perhaps even more evil than himself.
John
Hard not to do get something decent out of such a fine lyric sang off the page( except a couple of long lines I had to race through} glad Bill liked this version)
I COULD NEVER LOVE YOU
Verse 1
you can leave a bag of money on my doorstep
or plant black roses in the dirt
sew up the bullet holes in my jacket
and wash out all the blood stains from my shirt
Chorus
but i could never love you
i dont even like you
get as far away from me as you can
find another load that you can carry
give somebody else your helping hand
Verse 2
you bring me pizza while i work the overnight shift
and bourbon while i mop the morning floors
you fill my gas tank to the top with unleaded
and pick the flies from the spider webs on my screen door
Chorus
but i could never love you
i dont even like you
get as far away from me as you can
find another load that you can carry
give somebody else your helping hand
Bridge
you tell me you are honest
you tell me you are fair
but i'd rather scale the walls of death
than run my fingers through your venomous hair
Verse 3
still you can slip a pistol deep into my jacket
and perjure yourself in court if i am caught
but i will never turn my eyes in your direction
or water the flowers that you brought
Chorus
because i could never love you
i dont even like you
get as far away from me as you can
find another load that you can carry
give somebody else your helping hand
credits
from Song-A-Day, released July 3, 2019
music and performance john nicholson
lyrics bill white
@pipewrench67 Mar 2022
The texture of the voice and the presentation of the lyrics come off very genuine. Salty and forlorn, as the story unfolds, there is some justification for the attitude, although probably not the best character or judge of character to begin with,
#tit4tat3
@bethdesombre Mar 2022
The portrait the first stanza paints makes me want to keep going, even despite (because of?) the chorus framing -- of not loving/liking "you." I'm intrigued by the relationship here (which the song doesn't really resolve) -- the verses get at different levels of things the "you" is willing to do for the narrator, but we never quite get at why there's such animosity . . . #tit4tat
@radiobenedetto Mar 2022
I really like the lilting jangle of the guitar arpeggios. The chord progression really flows beautifully to tell the story and the toms add to that feeling of propelling the story forward. And what a story! You're delivery captures the pain it deserves. Great collab! #tit4tat
@dreamscuba Mar 2022
I love the lyrics on this song...I think I know this person...goos song. #tit4tat
@cleanshoes Feb 2022
Excellent performance here, John. You truly bring the character to life. The music has an easygoing feel that contrasts with the growling vocals perfectly. Bill, these lyrics are so vivid. I especially love that second verse, with its line about picking flies from spider webs on the screen door! What a pair.
@nahlej381 Feb 2022
Knew this would be awesome! And it didn’t disappoint love the vocal take and the huge reverb. Very well written lyrics from the master. Dope collab all!
#tit4tat
@writeandwrong Feb 2022
The title instantly hauled me in. The lyric tells a relatable, visual story with great flow. The vocals are appropriate for the lyric, weathered and ready to just be done with the person forever in a 'Get the hell outta here, leave me be' approach. Superb performance. A++ collaboration! #tit4tat1
@kenficara Feb 2022
Everyone is saying “Tom Waits vocal” (for good reason, and a good compliment) but I also hear Dylan in the subtlety of the phrasing (the tag for instance). Lyrics are remarkable, especially the third verse and the start of the chorus.
@edwardsmusic Feb 2022
There is a nice contrast between the gravelly Tom Waits-esque vocal and the bright country backing track. Nice collab. Great storytelling in the lyrics.
@karlsburg25 Feb 2022
oooo i love the growl in this . and those lyrics are so wondefuly descriptive . This is the sort of performance i'd really love to see live. and i adore the gentle flowing acoustic instrumentation going on here. Well done guys
@moonraccoon Feb 2022
John, you've got a great growl going on here.
"still you can slip a pistol deep into my jacket
and perjure yourself in court if i am caught
but i will never turn my eyes in your direction
or water the flowers that you brought"
Such great imagery. Yep, when love isn't possible, it REALLY isn't possible.
@deena Feb 2022
Wow...these are amazing lyrics. So vivid and tangible. It's a perplexing story and makes you think! Brought to life with great character by the music and that voice!
@johnstaples Feb 2022
Such a vivid not-love song! Bill's lyrics are so detailed in their "I don't love you" dialogue! I just loved all the different ways in which the sentiments are expressed! And John's music is the perfect match to these lyrics! Cool Americana groove and just the right amount of gravel in the vocals! Nicely done gentlemen!
@donna Feb 2022
LOL This is wonderful. Excellent lyric, so rich in imagery and details. These bridge lines had me laughing out loud:
but i'd rather scale the walls of death
than run my fingers through your venomous hair
Cool music and performance as well. The vocals suit well. Excellent collaboration, you two. (-:
@timfatchen Feb 2022
Surely this should be the ideal marriage! Perhaps it is...seriously vicious lyric and setting/presentation. Applause!
@kayepeanyc Feb 2022
It's the little things that make a match made in Hell. Great lyrics, wonderful scruffy delivery.
@rayboneor Feb 2022
That's pretty damned funny, at least to me. That litany of all the things you could do is pretty great, very imaginative. I love the gritty old-time sound you've conjured, John. This was a delight top to bottm
@crisp1 Feb 2022
Well, first off, I love the melody you came up with -- easy to like. John, your vocals are pretty darn demonic here -- they make it fun. Because Bill's lyrics are fun and really well done and you found the right tone for them. Smile-inducing collab all around.
@berni1954 Feb 2022
Brilliant mirror universe take on the classic "Reasons Why I love You" type song so beloved of many songwriters working in the "Americana" genre.
@ferry0123 Feb 2022
Vocal delivery is spot on as for the 'get-away-from-me-,-you' lyrics. The additional 'I don't even like you' is quite the snarl. This an enjoyable coming together of lyrics and music.
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
This is so quirky and wonderful from the cheeky lyrics and the crazy catchy chorus and those gravely vocals. Awesome collaboration!
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
Not sure where the 2019 came from @jerrypettit I did it yesterday.
@klaus Feb 2022
He won't even water the flowers she brought. That's one cruel dude, Bill. Folky music and gruff vocals fit the lyrics to a tee. Good collaboration.
@vaughan Feb 2022
Vocal reminds of "Eve Of Destruction" Barry McGuire. Nice write and demo!!
@colgoo Feb 2022
That gravelly vocal really helps with the story telling. Nice collaboration!
@jerrypettit Feb 2022
A 2019 song--I must have missed it first time around. Great job, you guys! Bill is definitely churning out great lyrics regularly this season (as does John), and it's nice to see you doing a collaboration!
Wonderful!
@owl Feb 2022
Great lyrics, especially those striking images in the first verse… planting black roses, bullet holes… the chorus hook is also really memorable. The musical setting for the lyrics works great too, didn’t hear those rushed lines at all? I like the melody and rhythmic flow. It sort of reminds me of Townes Van Zandt.
@davidtaro Feb 2022
It’s a double shot of Nicholson for me this morning! It’s woken me up a treat! Bill sketches out a really odious character with delicious details like the black roses and the spider webs, and then John brings him to life with an incredible performance (most notably in the ‘vvvenomous hair’). Chorus is also an earworm. Great collab!