1. |
Sweet Sunny South
02:52
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Take me back to the place where I first saw the light,
To my sweet, sunny South take me home,
Where the wild birds sing me to sleep every night,
Why was I tempted to roam?
Take me back to the place where the magnolias grow,
To my place in the evergreen shade,
Where flowers on the river’s green margins do grow,
And share their sweet scent with the glade.
Oh, the path to our cabin they say has grown green,
And the rocks are quite mossy around,
And I know that the faces and forms that I love,
Lie still ‘neath the cold, frosty ground.
Take me back to the place where I first saw the light,
To my sweet, sunny South take me home,
Where the wild birds sing me to sleep every night,
Why was I tempted to roam?
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2. |
Much Better Now
02:27
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Much Better Now
(John Lilly)
Last time I seen you I was falling apart;
I was coming unglued, I was taking it hard.
I was gathering pieces of my broken heart,
But I’m much better now.
CHORUS
I’m much better now, I’ve been making big plans;
I’ve been going to town, I’ve been learning to dance.
I’ve been picking ‘em up, I’ve been putting ‘em down,
Yes, I’m much better now.
Last time I seen you my eyes were all red;
I was drunk and disorderly, sore and upset.
I couldn’t forgive and I wouldn’t forget,
But I’m much better now
Last time I seen you I was crying out loud;
I was failing and flailing and fixing to drown.
I was headed for Hell, I was half the way down,
But I’m much better now.
©2013 by Beverly Lane Publishing (BMI)
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3. |
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You Can’t Handle the Truth
(Georgia Lilly)
Each night I get home another minute after ten,
You tell me that you’re worried and you wonder where I’ve been –
But you can’t handle the truth.
Each night I walk for miles wondering if we’re through,
Then I stop and I tell myself I’m still in love with you –
‘Cause I can’t handle the truth.
BRIDGE
Have we gotten old, has our love gone cold,
Too cold to bear?
Have we lost the route, has the fire gone out,
Are we pretending we still care?
Each morning we wake up another minute before dawn,
Thinking about that fire and wondering where it’s gone –
‘Cause we can’t handle the truth.
‘Cause we can’t handle the truth.
No, we can’t handle the truth.
©2019 by Beverly Lane Publishing (BMI)
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4. |
Crosstie
02:29
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Crosstie
(John Lilly)
CHORUS
You be the crosstie, I’ll be the rail;
You be the hammer, I’ll be the nail;
If we get together there’s no way that we can fail;
You be the crosstie, I’ll be the rail.
Look at all the work that lies before me,
I wonder how I’ll ever get it done.
But I know I can if you will lend a helping hand;
Two is so much more than one.
You can help me harvest all my peaches,
I can help you pick all of your beans.
When it’s suppertime you can have whatever’s mine
And share what you got with me.
We can put our differences behind us,
Step by step and mile after mile.
We’ll accomplish more than we ever did before
And start and end each day with a smile.
©2019 by Beverly Lane Publishing (BMI)
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5. |
Blue Boy
03:54
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Blue Boy
(John Lilly)
Blue Boy, tell me what’s bothering you, boy.
Don’t look so sad, those dreams that you had
Soon they may be coming true, boy.
So smile for me, Blue Boy.
Don’t let teardrops blind you,
Put those blues behind you.
Blue Boy, tell me what’s bothering you, boy.
Don’t look so sad, those dreams that you had
Soon they may be coming true, boy.
So smile for me, Blue Boy.
Blue skies will be up above you,
When you let me love you.
Blue Boy, hearts can be broken in two, boy.
But they can mend, so if you’ll try again
There’s nothing that you can’t do boy.
So smile for me, Blue Boy.
Come on and smile, Blue Boy.
Smile, Blue Boy
©2004 by Beverly Lane Publishing (BMI)
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6. |
Hold On, Molly
02:42
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Hold On, Molly
(John Lilly)
CHORUS
Hold on, Molly, I’m coming.
Hold on, Molly, I’ll be there tonight.
A warm breeze is blowing, and the sun’s sinking low,
So Molly hold on tight.
Our years here together were heaven on earth.
We worked and prayed side by side;
Your banjo ringing, your voice like a bell,
Your green eyes sparkling bright.
You took your baptizing in the Ohio River,
While a passing steamboat whistle blew.
No house of gold or tramp on the street
Was ever a stranger to you.
When you went on before me I tried to carry on,
Like you asked me to do.
Now my eyes are heavy, and I’m drifting off to sleep,
And our years of waiting are through.
I’m traveling that highway home,
I’m traveling that highway home.
A warm breeze is blowing, and the sun’s sinking low,
So Molly, hold on tight –
Dear Molly, hold on tight.
©2002 by Beverly Lane Publishing (BMI)
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7. |
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Spirit (Bend Close to Me)
(John Lilly and Ralph Blizard)
Lord, let Your spirit bend close to me,
Let me feel heaven’s cool breath on me.
Radiant beauty encompass me,
And faithful forever I’ll be.
CHORUS
Spirit (bend close to me), Spirit (bend close to me),
Take me and make me whole.
Spirit (bend close to me), Spirit,
Bless my eternal soul.
Lord, let the light of Your saints shine down,
Illuminating the world around.
Although my body to earth is bound,
A twinkle of heaven I’ll see.
Lord, let Your angels in whisper speak,
Touching with their wings upon my cheek,
Leading and guiding me as I seek
The pathway that You made for me.
©2000 by Beverly Lane Publishing (BMI)
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8. |
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In the Hills of Tennessee
(Sam M. Lewis and Ira Schuster)
You were right, I was wrong;
Guess you knew it all along,
Sycamore tree, sycamore tree.
Tell my friends around the shack
That my heart is drifting back.
Sycamore tree – tell ‘em for me.
‘Cause I know I’m gonna find my Paradise Lost
In the hills of Tennessee.
I know I’m gonna find my seventh heaven –
It’s just a cabin, my seventh heaven!
There’s a little angel waiting down there
With a little prayer for me.
And the sun shines bright in my lonely heart tonight,
And I know I’m gonna find my Paradise Lost
In the hills of Tennessee.
©1932 by Southern Music Publishing Company, Inc.
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9. |
Peg and Awl
04:13
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Peg and Awl
(Public Domain)
In 1801, peg and awl (2x)
In 1801 pegging shoes is all I done;
Gonna lay me down my awl, my peg and awl.
In 1802, peg and awl (2x)
In 1802 pegging shoes is all I’d do;
Gonna lay me down my awl, my peg and awl.
In 1803, peg and awl (2x)
In 1803 pegging shoes is all I’d see;
Gonna lay me down my awl, my peg and awl.
They invented a new machine, peg and awl (2x)
They invented a new machine, I peg one shoe, it pegs 15;
Gonna lay me down my awl, my peg and awl.
In 1804, peg and awl (2x)
In 1804 pegging shoes I’ll do no more;
Gonna lay me down my awl, my peg and awl.
Hand me down my peg and awl.
(Public Domain)
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10. |
Lovin' on the Levee
03:39
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Lovin’ On the Levee
(John Lilly)
Down on the swamp called Atchafalaya,
Where they eat gumbo and jambalaya,
I know a spot where you and I can go
Lovin’ on the levee tonight.
CHORUS
We’ll be lovin’ on the levee,
Lovin’ on the levee,
We’ll be lovin’ on the levee.
Just we two and the old bayou;
We’ll be lovin’ on the levee tonight.
We’ll see them fish jumping in the water.
Gonna hear them bullfrogs when they holler.
Gonna bring that ring that I bought you;
We’ll be loving on the levee tonight.
BRIDGE
If our dreams are true and strong,
We might stay out all night long.
When the moon and the stars they start to fading,
With a ring on your hand there’ll be no more waiting.
We’ll make big plans for our wedding day;
We’ll be lovin’ on the levee tonight.
©2016 by Beverly Lane Publishing (BMI)
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Just Us Lillys Elkins, West Virginia
Just Us Lillys are John, Mason, and Georgia Lilly, a family trio who share a powerful love of three-part vocals, lonesome melodies, and intriguing original songs. Strongly rooted in the mountains of West Virginia, they meld their unique individual styles into an eclectic and imaginative group sound. ... more
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