Get all 8 Hitman Blues Band releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Hey, Can You Guys Play..., Not My Circus, Not My Monkey, Live At Stony Brook University, Pale Rider, Blues Enough, The World Moves On, Angel In The Shadows, and Blooztown.
1. |
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I met this lady with a winning smile
We had some drinks and then we talked awhile
She leaned in close and whispered in my ear
“I hope my boyfriend doesn’t show up here”
She said her ex had kind of lost his mind
On top of that, he was the jealous kind
Special forces, till they kicked him out”
Then she looked around to see if he’s about
She said “be ready, things might get funky”
I said,
“Whoa, not my circus, not my monkeys”
Monkey see, monkey do
Monkey see, but I’m not you
I got a burger from the all-night stand
This guy walks over with an open hand
He says “hey buddy, can you spare some change?
I haven’t eaten and I’m feeling strange”
I said “pick something” but he shook his head
“if you don’t mind, I’d rather have the bread” Um hm,
“if you could spare just a little more
I’ll take you someplace where we both could score”
Now, I’m no angel, but I ain’t no junkie,
I said,
“Not my circus, not my monkeys”
Monkey see, monkey do
Monkey see, but I’m not you
I like to think that I’m a caring man
And we’re all part of a bigger plan
But sometimes when it’s said and done
You got to grab your things and run
The general contractor had a worried frown
He said that ceiling’s got to come on down
But all his crew had a day of rest
And he was trying just to do his best
He pointed up, pointed way up high
Where even pigeons were afraid to fly
Asked me to climb up there and risk my skin
I said “Buddy, I’m just here to plug stuff in
I’d like to help you, but I ain’t that spunky
Not my circus, not my monkey”
©2020 Russell Alexander, Paul Gilmore / All Rights Reserved
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2. |
Buy That Man A Drink
02:40
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There’s a guy who’s yelling and acting wild
Looking for trouble and getting riled
One more drink, hit the spot
He’ll lose what little brain he’s got
I’m gonna buy that man a drink
I’m gonna buy that man a drink
I got money out
To buy that man a drink
Rude to the ladies and the men
Barkeep tells me he’s the boss’s friend
His brain’s so damaged from wine and gin,
One more drink gonna do him in
I’m gonna buy that man a drink
I’m gonna buy that man a drink
I got money out
To buy that man a drink
Everybody’s got a point of view
Being drunk doesn’t make it true
Call his friends at 3 am
To say he loves them, again and again
Fancy clothes expensive shoes
Screams while I’m trying to sing the blues
One more drink, scotch or rye
Kiss his last brain cell goodbye
I’m gonna buy that man a drink
I’m gonna buy that man a drink
I got money out
To buy that man a drink
©2020 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved
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3. |
Nobody's Fault But Mine
04:48
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Nobody’s fault but mine
Nobody’s fault but mine
Now if I should die and my soul gets lost,
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
My mama taught me how to pray
My mama taught me how to pray
Now if I don’t pray and my soul gets lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
My daddy taught me how to think
My daddy taught me how to think
Now if I don’t think and my mind gets lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
My brother taught me to be good
My brother taught me to be good
Now if I choose bad and my life is lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
I should drink water and not wine
I should drink water and not wine
Now if I drink wine and my love gets lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
Nobody’s fault but mine
Nobody’s fault but mine
Now if I should die and my soul gets lost,
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
© 2020 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved
Based on the traditional performed by Blind Willie Johnson
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4. |
John The Revelator
05:34
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Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
John was writing, Buddha came by
Seven suns gonna fill the sky
Every creature will have to die
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
Brahma laughed and shook his head
Many cycles until I’m dead
Keep in mind the things I said
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
Odin said the worlds are nine
Ragnorok will come in time
Death will rise and I’ll face mine
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
Mahdi came to take a look
Said “you’ve written quite a book”
When I appear you’re off the hook”
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Who’s that writing? John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
Who's that? Who's that?
John the Revelator
Who's that? Who's that?
John the Revelator
Who's that? Who's that?
John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
© 2020 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved
Based on the traditional performed by Blind Willie Johnson
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5. |
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And this was home
The place where I became
What I am today
The place you couldn’t stay
And this was home
They say you can’t go back
The colors run to black
And now I know
There’s no place like home
Not in this world
Not anymore
There’s no place like home
No bridge left to burn
No return
Now you’re gone
There’s no place like home
And this was home
The harsh doorway light
The uncertain nights
With no dawn in sight
And this was home
I hear your refrain
The echoes remain
But now I know
There’s no place like home
Not in this world
Not anymore
There’s no place like home
No bridge left to burn
No return
Now you’re gone
There’s no place like home
There is a hope within
That we may meet again
But who can say if that will be?
There’s no place like home
Not in this world
Not anymore
There’s no place like home
No bridge left to burn
No return
Now you’re gone
There’s no place like home
© 2020 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved
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6. |
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Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam
Admit that the waters around you have grown
Accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone
If time to you is worth saving
You better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone
The times, they are a-changin'
Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide, the chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon, for the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who that it's namin'
For the loser now will be later to win
The times, they are a-changin'
Congressmen, senators, please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
There's a fire outside and it's ragin'
Will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls
The times, they are a-changin'
Come mothers and fathers throughout the land
And don't criticize what you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly aging
Please get out of the new one if you won't lend your hand
The times, they are a-changin'
© 1963 Robert Dylan / All Rights Reserved
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7. |
You Can't Say No
05:02
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Whoa, oh,oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh,oh, oh, oh
You can’t fight it,
You can’t fight it
When life comes calling
You can’t say no
You can’t stop it
You can’t stop it
When life takes over
You can’t say no
You can’t say no
You can’t dodge it
You can’t dodge it
When fate comes calling
You can’t say no
You can’t lose it
You can’t lose it
Fate will find you
You can’t say no
You can’t say no
You find out
As you go
You’ll get through
But you can’t say no
Whoa, oh,oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh,oh, oh, oh
You can’t stall it
You can’t stall it
When time comes calling
You can’t say no
You can’t slow it
You can’t slow it
When time comes calling
You can’t say no
You can’t say no
You find out
As you go
You’ll get through
But you can’t say no
When the blues comes calling
When the blues comes calling
When the blues comes calling
Well, you know
Too well, you know
Yes, you know
© 2020 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved
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8. |
Walk With You
02:34
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You are a beauty
An innovator
You might have heard I’m
An operator
A whiskey hero
A hot mess
Well I don’t drink anymore
But I don’t drink any less
Just one thing I wish that you and I could do
Here’s my hand I want to take a walk with you
Down on the Main Street
Or by the lakeside
Out by the ball field
And watch the home pride
It doesn’t matter
If we’re together
Talking ‘bout life
Or talking ‘bout the weather
That’s the thing I wish that you and I could do
Here’s my hand I want to take a walk with you
People don’t change
But they can change their minds
Leave old habits and sins behind
I’ve been low
But never down
The thought of you brings me around
I’m not implying
I’ll make advances
I’m only trying
I’ll take my chances
Let’s cut the cards
And spin the wheel
Walk down the lane
I can tell you how I feel
That’s the thing I wish that you and I could do
Here’s my hand I want to take a walk with you
© 2020 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved
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9. |
You Don't Understand
04:07
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You
You don’t
You don’t know, what you do to me
Chained to the blues
Till I met you
Drowning on dry land
It’s a cold and angry world
When no-one understands
I’m just a low born
Love torn
Struck by a hole in my heart
I’ve been put down
Pushed ‘round
You keep me from tearing apart
You don’t understand
Me
You don’t know, what you do to me
When you smile
My legs go weak
And all my anger fades
But when we fight
My heart might break
If my love should be betrayed
I’m just a low born
Love torn
Struck by a hole in my heart
I’ve been put down
Pushed ‘round
You keep me from tearing apart
You don’t understand
Me
You don’t know, what you do to me
©2020 Russell Alexander/All Rights Reserved
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10. |
Everybody But Me
05:43
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I see it in their faces
The smiles when they come in
They don't have to tell me
I know where they've been
It's not a secret
In fact it's plain to see
I can't find the reason
Everybody's getting some but me
The old man on the corner
The young man in the rain
The bagboy at the grocers’
Who does nothing but complain
They've all been seeing action
I'm lonely as can be
What is their strange attraction
Everybody's getting some but me
Spring is full of love I hear
But it's a mystery
Wrapped in chains and leather
Does she wait somewhere for me?
The girls I know all tell me
I'm really quite a guy
And if they weren't married
They might give me a try
I’m feeling so abandoned
It's almost by decree
My hand is no companion
Everybody's getting some but me
Everybody's getting some but me
©1998 Russell Alexander/All Rights Reserved
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11. |
Go Down Fighting
03:49
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Too old
Too late
Missed my chance
Out of date
Must be foolish
Or naïve
Past my prime
Better leave
I hear them say that I can’t win
But if this is the end
I’ll go down fighting
I’ll keep swinging
In the silence
I’ll be singing
I go down fighting
Success
Passed me by
Not cause I
Didn’t try
Slowing down
Feeling pain
Can’t go through it
All again
But every time I want to quit
I say if this is it
I’ll go down fighting
I’ll keep swinging
In the silence
I’ll be singing
I go down fighting
Knock me down a thousand times
I’ll give it one more try
I’ll go down fighting
Out of touch
Out of time
Say I’m out
Of my mind
I’ve been hurt
Been misled
Still the dreams
In my head
Every time I get denied
Shout my battle cry
I’ll go down fighting
No quiet exit from the scene
I’ll stand my ground and scream
I’ll go down fighting
I’ll keep swinging
In the silence
I’ll be singing
I go down fighting
©2020 Russell Alexander/All Rights Reserved
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Hitman Blues Band New York, New York
He has New York City in his veins, blues in his heart, & the music of many worlds in his gifted hands. The man in the shades, top hat and sharp suit on stage with that tight band is playing real blues right, informed by 50 years of mastery while imitating no one. The Hitman Blues Band, with Russell “Hitman” Alexander in the lead, plays the blues you’ve been looking for all your life ... more
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