@crisp1 does it again with a lyric that has all the angles on pathos and humor covered. His lyrics are always just so fertile that songs just blossom from them. This one seemed particularly human or something and I couldn't help making at least a half-assed try at doing it as bluegrass.
Doug: This song involved more collaboration than most, because @Jeff9 really pushed me to come up with better lyrics than I originally sent him. This led to some changes in the verses and a whole new bridge -- all of which resulted in a better song. Love his vocals and the bluegrass music. Thanks, Jeff!
They call me cranky
And the nurse would spank me
If there weren’t some rule against it
I make a fuss
And I cuss too much
Ain’t gonna try ‘n’ defend it
All the folks who visit
Ask me, “What is it?”
When they see my surly frown
But I don’t owe ’em
So I just show ’em
The back of my hospital gown
(C)
I ain’t askin’ for wishes and prayers
For God’s sake, nobody cry
If you come, don’t come with flowers
Just come and say goodbye
I’m not a heathen
’Cause I believe in
Tiny tidbits of religion
But it’s absurd:
People preach the Word
Then behave like it’s pure fiction
Won’t miss the phonies
Whose testimony
Leads the innocent ones to suffer
Those who rant
But simply can’t
Find a way to love one another
(C)
I ain’t askin’ for wishes and prayers
For God’s sake, nobody cry
If you come, don’t come with flowers
Just come to say goodbye
(B)
I know I’m a curmudgeon
I’ve hurt folks, but also been kind
So, if God and the Devil
Are on the level
When I go, I oughtta split my time
(C)
I ain’t askin’ for wishes and prayers
For God’s sake, nobody cry
If you come, don’t come with flowers
Just come and say goodbye
@nancycunning Mar 2022
Now this one feels like another Billy Joe Shaver song covered by George Jones or maybe Alan Jackson gone wild.
@quadrivium Mar 2022
I really enjoyed listening to this! A wonderful synthesis of lyrics and music. Well done!
@edward9thstreet Feb 2022
HaHa, love this ! What a lyric, I can so relate, and the music, melody, and vocal just a seemed perfect fit. So good.....and I don"t always like bluegrass, lol. Killer collab!
@james10 Feb 2022
I typed in Jeff to acknowledge his contribution at the beginning of 3rd sentence...but it didn't show
@james10 Feb 2022
I was smiling and laughing through this one
I especially loved the wording Doug put in the lyrics, especially the parts from showing hospital gowns to two faced religion to sharing time in eternity
You did a good job of picking the Blue Grass melody and instruments...you really have a talent for fitting words into the music for good prosody
@mikeb Feb 2022
I was singing some harmonies along with this one!
Great lyrics by Doug and interpretation by Jeff. Love the mandolin-picking lead!
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022
Fabulous, fabulous lyrics! And Jeff's bluegrass treatment suits them well. What a great instrumental break, too. The Chorus is terrific. Five stars.
@ayehahmur Feb 2022
What a wonderful song. That line about "the back of my hospital gown" so cleverly pivots the opening of the song and reveals what it's really about. And it works so well in the bluegrass style. Love your vocal, and the little running banjo? mandolin? uke? line is perfection.
Awesome work.
@prsongsmith Feb 2022
So well done. That chorus is so well done -- and the Bridge does what a bridge does: takes it to the next level: "If God and the Devil/Are on the level/When I go, I oughta split my time" is absolutely first-class; that line alone could support a whole song. The arrangement and performances are outstanding, too -- for a second I thought you'd roped in Sturgill Simpson to sing it! ;-) Well done all around!
@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022
That was a nice country touch with that track, sounds great and the lyric is really fun. Great country vocal on this, feels very authentic...the hospital gown part is funny....Great collaboration!