"Shake the Hand of the Devil"

Shake the Hand of the Devil

(Robert Johnson's Blues)

Verse:
He was barely seventeen 
when his wife, Virginia, died.
He set out on a dirt road
and hoped to hitch a ride.
 A Guitar strapped across his back
that he could hardly play,
he'd have lived and died a farmhand, 
'stead, he chose to run away.

Verse:
Mississippi Delta heat,
it ain't easy to cut through.
He walked and watched the sun 
fall slowly out of view.
He stepped up to a crossroads,
 took his guitar in hands,
 his clumsy fingers, picked a song 
that echoed 'cross the land.


Chorus:
Robert Johnson saw the Devil coming
through the foggy night.
It was half past twelve ,the Devil said,
"I’ll help you see the light.
I'll make you an offer 
 you can't refuse,
but you'll shake the hand of the Devil
if you want to play the blues."

Verse:
"What's your wish?" the Devil asked 
with a gap-toothed, rotten grin.
Robert passed him the guitar
and felt the sting of sin.
The Devil laughed and tuned the strings
as the young man watched in fear.
He took back his guitar,
he was a bluesman without peer.


Repeat Chorus

Bridge:
As Robert shook the Devil's hand, 
he feared he'd crossed a line.
"The Blues are yours,"  the Devil sneered,
"but your soul is mine."

Repeat Chorus


Lyrics by Jason Spraggins
Music by Matt Glickstein

"A Hundred Miles from Boulder"

"A Hundred Miles from Boulder "

Short Chorus:

He's a hundred miles from Boulder,

He's given up his chains.

Yesterday's being washed away

by the Colorado rain.

Verse 1:

When he left his home in Georgia,

he'd done all that he could do.

He would never be the man

to fill his father's shoes.

So at twenty-five, he's left it all behind.

Somewhere deep inside,

there is a man he has to find.

Chorus:

He's a hundred miles from Boulder,

He's given up his chains.

Yesterday's being washed away

by the Colorado rain.

He breathes the cool, clean western air,

feels the wind blow through his hair.

He's a hundred miles from Boulder,

but his heart's already there.

Verse 2:

He has always longed for freedom-

He has always wanted more.

He's been tied to the ground

but has wings that need to soar.

So at three A.M., he's driving through the night

He will learn to live,

climb a mountain, and take flight.

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:

The life he lives tomorrow

will be his- and his alone.

With this change, he just might free

the sword lodged in the stone.

Repeat Short Chorus

Lyrics by Jason Spraggins- 6/28/11
Music by Matt Glickstein

The Jazzman's Lullaby

This is a lyric that I originally wrote in perfect meter.  However, as the music was being composed, I had to make some changes that disrupted the original meter.  This is the altered version that was set to music...

.

"The Jazzman's Lullaby"

His cigarette is burning,

and his glass has just been filled.

He looks down from the stage 

into a storm that must be stilled.

Though tired and drunk on whiskey,

he breathes a smokey sigh,

picks up his guitar,

and starts playing the jazzman's lullaby.

(short instrumental break)

He strums the chords of longing

and sings words of despair.

The melody's so peaceful;
it's calming the air.

Look into his drunken eyes;

his spell can't be denied.

Every soul is enchanted 

by the jazzman's lullaby

(short instrumental break)

The night is growing older,

and his song's near its end.

He has captured their minds;

their hearts are his to mend.

He knows the drink will kill him;

he's not afraid to die.

He takes a sip and starts again

into his jazzman's lullaby

(Instrumental break)


Lyrics by Jason Spraggins
Music by Matt Glickstein

"Ghosts"

Ghosts

Verse:

The shadows hang on empty walls
throughout this quiet place.

There's nothing here but loneliness
to fill the hallowed space.

Still carelessly the seconds pass
and steal time from my heart,

And though I'm master of this house,
I cannot play the part.

Chorus:

The ghosts of all our memories
 are living with me still.
This house I once called home
 now holds a pain I cannot kill.

I'm haunted by the life we shared,
but I'm a willing host.

I've given up on might- have- beens
 but can't give up these ghosts. 

Verse:

I'm left alone- a servant to
the past you left behind.

I search through thoughts and longings
for my missing peace of mind.

And though I may forgive the way
you left without a trace,

The broken mirrors of my mind
will still reflect your face.

(Repeat Chorus)

Verse:

The cold wind's blowing through the cracks
 appearing in the walls.

It's getting late and time won't wait;
too soon, this house will fall.

I've built a prison of regret
and things that cannot be.

I must let go of you
 if I'm to set these spirits free.

(Repeat Chorus)

I've given up on might-have-beens,
but I can't give up...
No I can't give up...
These ghosts.

Lyrics by Jason Spraggins

June 21, 2011
Music by Matt Glickstein

"Don't" (new vocal demo)