Zach Bryan Album Lyrics by Zach Bryan

---

Fear & Fridays (Poem)

Plucked strings on porches
A poor boy's choir
My blood's at a boil
There ain't no fire
I just love the way the light beams in
But I got bad news, I'm fearing Friday again

Choking on some bourbon when you roll up
Said, "Boy, you got a face it, you's ain't that tough"
There's a house hoppin' on the edge of town
I'm revved up, thirsty, and ready to drown

I got a fear, dear, that it's gonna end
Won't you get angry at me?
Say you love me again
I got a fear, dear, that it's a Friday spark
You only love me like you mean it
When it's after dark

We can hide out tonight, out
Where the trees get clear
Those please you eyes
Are a man's worst fear
There's a namesake on your heart's gravestone
Saturday's coming, I fear I'm waking alone

I got a fear, dear, that it's gonna end
Won't you get angry at me?
Say you love me again
I got a fear, dear, that it's a Friday spark
You only love me like you mean it
When it's after dark

I got a fear, dear, that it's gonna end
Won't you get angry at me?
Say you love me again
I got a fear, dear, that it's a Friday spark
You only love me like you mean it
When it's after dark

---

Overtime

Hey there, darling, won't you love me down?
I'm fifty-one miles out in interstate town
I just decided I ain't keeping quiet, and I'm free

I lost my family to a bad disease
I got a mean, mean gene in my family tree
That grows in grandfather, and his daughters, and me, ya see

And I wanna stay humble, I wanna stay hungry
I wanna hear my father say that he loves me
I never gave a shit about being arrogant anyway

So hold on tight
'Cause I'll be working overtime
They told me that I couldn't, and I shouldn't even try
Ever since I was child, been working for a while, overtime

They said I's a wanna be cowboy from a cut throat town
With tattooed skin and nobody around
Your songs sound the same, you'll never make a name for yourself

But I been scraping by my whole damn life
And granddaddy worked a double 'til the day he died
Said, "Never let this worlds earthly pride get you down"

No matter who you know, no matter what you do
I'll become what I deserve when it's all through
And you'll be there asking yourself why

So hold on tight
'Cause I'll be working overtime
They told me that I couldn't, and I shouldn't even try
Ever since I was child, been working for a while, overtime

---

Summertime's Close

Well, I've had cold and humid mornings on city streets and back porches
But I ain't never breathed a breath as fresh as you
And I've seen children playin' on the coastlines
Under the white lines, atop the blue tides
But I ain't ever been baptized in water as cool as you

And the law don't ever come back here and I
Reckon they don't try
I just put some beer on ice
Let's just dance for a moment or two

'Cause you're the fire of Carolina and Oklahoma too
The stars in St. Louis ain't burnin' bright as you
You're the waves crashin' down on the Eastern Coast
When the day's coolin' off and the summertime's closed
I lost faith in the world a long time ago

We'd always ride those back roads back when
You got sick
Roll the windows down
Just for the hell of it
You always acted baptized
Every time we hit the coast
Bandana tan line on your forehead
So the tourists didn't know

You're the fire of Carolina and Oklahoma too
And the stars in St. Louis ain't burnin' bright as you
You're the waves crashin' down on the Eastern Coast
When the day's coolin' off and the summertime's closed
I lost faith in the world a long time ago
My blood rush to the heart, you were my last hope

And the law don't ever come back here and I
Reckon they don't try
I just put some beer on ice
And tonight I'm dancin' for two

---

East Side of Sorrow

Eighteen years old, full of hate
They ship me off in a motorcade
They said, "Boy, you're gonna fight a war"
You don't ever know what you're fighting for
I lost friends in the August heat
At night it was God I'd always meet
I said, "Lord, won't you bring me home
I got woman in the west I wanna hold"

And I lost you in a waiting room
After sleeping there for a week or two
Doctor said he did all he could
You were the last thing I had that was good
So I walked miles on the Tulsa streets
Lights started beaming in from the east
6 AM and f*cked up again
Asking God, where the hell He'd been

He said the sun's gonna rise tomorrow
Somewhere on the east side of the sorrow
You better pack your bags west
Stick out your chest
And then hit the road

The sun's gonna rise tomorrow
Somewhere on the inside of sorrow
Don't give it a reason to follow
Let it be, then let it go
Let it be, then let it go

Heard your brother lost his mind in the city last fall
Was it his blood, or his conscious, or the alcohol
Did the navy do him well or did he wind up sick
Like every other brave boy from these run down sticks?
Do you ever get tired of singing songs
Like all your pain is just another f*cking sing along?
If you ever get the time come on home
I heard Turnpikes back together and they're writing songs

He said the sun's gonna rise tomorrow
Somewhere on the east side of sorrow
You better pack your bags west
Stick out your chest
And then hit the road

The sun's gonna rise tomorrow
Somewhere on the east side of sorrow
Don't give it a reason to follow
Let it be, then let it go
Let it be, then let it go

---

Hey Driver

(Alright, man, I'm ready when y'all are)
(This is your song, Mike, let's do it)
(Alright, here we go, one, two, three and)

So take me down the road that's a little bit windy
To a place they still put sugar in their iced tea
Where the women are fine and the love is fair
Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere

Hey, driver, pull on over I'm in a fight with God
This Carolina shoulder seems the place I'm getting off
Daddy always told me, never make a home on the road
While your lady's sneaking out and the kids are growing old

Hey, driver, I've been riding this lonely way too long
All the love I have worth giving is all spent on my songs
Hey, driver, the boys are gambling with more than just their cards
With their bottles, and their drugs, and their bibles, and their hearts (oh)

So take me down the road that's a little bit windy
To a place they still put sugar in their iced tea
Where the women are fine and the love is fair
Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere
Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere

Hey, driver, I've been feeling like there's no point at all
The Klonopin ain't kicked in, and I missed my sister's call
Hey, driver, I'm so tired of the ways of this old world
Just drive until the tires melt, we'll come back when it's healed (oh)

So take me down the road that's a little bit windy
To a place they still put sugar in their iced tea
Where the women are fine and the love is fair
Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere

Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere (Michael Trotter, Jr.)
Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere

So take me down a road that's a little bit windy
To a place they still put sugar in their iced tea
Where the women are fine and the love is fair
Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere

Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere
Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere
Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere

---

Fear and Fridays

Plucked strings on porches
A poor boy's choir
My blood's at a boil
There ain't no fire
I just love the way the light beams in
But I got bad news, I'm fearing Friday again

Choking on some bourbon when you roll up
Said, "Boy, you got a face it, you's ain't that tough"
There's a house hoppin' on the edge of town
I'm revved up, thirsty, and ready to drown

I got a fear, dear, that it's gonna end
Won't you get angry at me?
Say you love me again
I got a fear, dear, that it's a Friday spark
You only love me like you mean it
When it's after dark

We can hide out tonight, out
Where the trees get clear
Those please you eyes
Are a man's worst fear
There's a namesake on your heart's gravestone
Saturday's coming, I fear I'm waking alone

I got a fear, dear, that it's gonna end
Won't you get angry at me?
Say you love me again
I got a fear, dear, that it's a Friday spark
You only love me like you mean it
When it's after dark

I got a fear, dear, that it's gonna end
Won't you get angry at me?
Say you love me again
I got a fear, dear, that it's a Friday spark
You only love me like you mean it
When it's after dark

---

Ticking

I'm cutting ties with things that bind my heart to this world
I love you and I'm willing but I cannot keep you, girl
Philly by the morning and Ohio by the night
The thing about a long rope is you can't hold on too tight

Wooden floors and coffee cups
Stepped on and all used up
But I reckon that's what morning are for
And everyone thinks they know me now
In these close minded leave-me towns
But I'm too young to even know myself

There's wheels running down the interstate
Lord, I'll wait another day, 'cause I ain't close to you
There's time ticking on the interstate
And Lord, I hate that I ain't close to you

And all my friends have moved away
Some got jobs and some got saved
They talk to me like I am still that kid
The fighting, fiendin' Okie son
The restless, reckless, hopeful one
Who once was proud of everything he did

Do you remember twenty-five
Long legs and loving time?
Seems like ten lifetimes ago
I'm cutting ties with things that bind my heart to this world
I love you and I'm willing, but I really have to go

There's wheels running down the interstate
But, Lord, I'll wait another day, 'cause I ain't close to you
There's time ticking on the interstate
I'm fighting fate
And, Lord, I hate that I ain't close to you

I'm cutting ties with things that bind my heart to this world
I love you and I'm willing, but I cannot keep you, girl
Philly by the morning and Ohio by the night
The thing about high hopes is you can't hold on too tight

---

Holy Roller

I ain't never been a holy roller
But I found God in your eyes

The greens and browns remind me
Of a mountainside
All the days that are to come
And all the bad things that I've done

I ain't never been a holy roller
But I found God in your eyes

We can stop for gas on our last trip out of town
All these songs about nothing
And straight face bluffing's got me down
'Cause old dogs bark way too loud
And talk shit on the weekend crowd

I ain't never been a holy roller
But I found God in your eyes

Coming down and coming up
There's a place for good love on the river's edge, darling
I know home's not far from here
From sundown to sun up
There's a place for good rest in the warm months, honey
I found God in your eyes, dear

You're grinning like a vandal
After swiggin' on a handle of Tito's
Lord, I didn't plan this
I'm just going as far as the wind blows
Coastlines to the flatlands
Get your rich hands out of our plans

I ain't never been a holy roller
But I found God in your eyes

Coming down and coming up
There's a place for good love on the river's edge, darling
I know home's not far from here
From sundown to sun up
There's a place for good love in the warm months, honey
And I found God in your eyes, dear

I ain't never been a holy roller
But I found God in your eyes

The greens and browns remind me
Of a mountainside
All the days that are to come
And all the bad shit that I've done

I ain't never been a holy roller
But I found God in your eyes

---

Jake's Piano / Long Island

I finally quit smoking cigarettes
And I don't go downtown drinking 'til it's dawn
The best parts of you are here, but you're still gone
And, Lord, I've been trying to smile like you told me
Laugh like the old me, it comes out all wrong
The best parts of you are here, but you're still gone

And I still tie that double knot
The one you taught, that gets caught on the banks
The best parts of you are here, but you still ain't

I finally quit smoking cigarettes
And I don't go downtown drinking 'til it's dawn
The best parts of you are here but you're still gone

I heard your father got sick of Long Island
I've been trying like hell to call
My mind ain't well and I just can't tell you why
I heard they shut down the old bar we'd go to when we needed rest
We'd always stay out too late Tuesday nights
You said I was the perfect gentleman
You used to hold me by my gentle hands
These ain't the hopeful hands you held before
And I've been drinking so much lately, it seems a damn double blade
'Cause when I'm drunk I dream you're dancing down the shore

I heard your father got sick on Long Island
I've been trying like hell to call
My mind ain't well and I just can't tell you why
I heard they shut the old bar we'd go to, when we needed rest
We'd always stay out too late Tuesday nights

I heard your father got sick on Long Island
I've been trying like hell to call
My mind ain't well and I just can't tell you why
I heard they shut down the old bar we'd go to, when we needed rest
We'd always stay out too late Tuesday nights

---

El Dorado

Did you ever make it back to El Dorado?
I'd call and ask, but hell if I know
If I still got your number or if you care
You moved away when you was younger
Was it escape, or was it hunger?
Kansas ain't no place to be a man
You used to say you'd settle down
With that kind girl from school in town
She was gone before you got back home

El Dorado, hell if I know
If you're still alive
There's a note in the glovebox in your drive
El Dorado. Hell if they know
The difference in a hero
And a man I wish was still by my side

Seventeen years old, how our grins look scary brave
My mama always said we look so handsome when we shaved
You used to say if not you then who
And you'd go a thousand times or two
Now your name's up on a sign in El Dorado driving through

In El Dorado, hell if I know
If you're still alive
There's a note in the glovebox in your drive
El Dorado, hell if they know
The difference in a hero
And a man I wish was still by my side
You're in every last memory alive

And I called last week to talk
To my favorite old devil dog
They told me he had finally headed home

---

I Remember Everything

Rotgut whiskey's gonna ease my mind
Beach towel rests on the dryin' line
Do I remind you of your daddy in his '88 Ford?
Labrador hangin' out the passenger door
The sand from your hair is blowin' in my eyes
Blame it on the beach, grown men don't cry
Do you remember that beat down basement couch?
I'd sing you my love songs and you'd tell me about
How your mama ran off and pawned her ring
I remember, I remember everything

A cold shoulder at closing time
You were begging me to stay 'til the sun rose
Strange words come on out
Of a grown man's mouth when his mind's broke
Pictures and passin' time
You only smile like that when you're drinking
I wish I didn't, but I do
Remember every moment on the nights with you

You're drinkin' everything to ease your mind
But when the hell are you gonna ease mine?
You're like concrete feet in the summer heat
That burns like hell when two souls meet
No, you'll never be the man that you always swore
But I'll remember you singin' in that '88 Ford

A cold shoulder at closing time
You were begging me to stay 'til the sun rose
Strange words come on out
Of a grown man's mouth when his mind's broke
Pictures and passin' time
You only smile like that when you're drinking
I wish I didn't, but I do
Remember every moment on the nights with you

Cold shoulder at closing time
You were begging me to stay 'til the sun rose
Strange words come on out
Of a grown man's mouth when his mind's broke
Pictures and passin' time
You only smile like that when you're drinking
I wish I didn't, but I do
Remember every moment on the nights with you

Rotgut whiskey's gonna ease my mind
Beach towel rests on the dryin' line
Do I remind you of your daddy in my '88 Ford?
Labrador hangin' out the passenger door

---

Tourniquet

There's delays on the planes out of Eastern Montana
Where you told me you were leaving from
You've been stabbed in the back and the rest of your body
Won't you tell me where you're bleeding from

If you need a tourniquet or if you want to turn and quit
Know that I'll be by your side
You bled your whole soul into things you can't control
In a world you'll never satisfy

I bandage up your body and your bones and your bad days too
Take care of the blood that your love runs through
I know all the damage that some days in this dark world does
You were laughing last evening at something I dreamed of

When you finally feel the blood you spill into everybody else
I'll tourniquet your toes to the ground
Pull you in and hold you tight, love you through the heart of night
Spring your kind ass into town
You've been playing your guitar from arenas to the bars
Since you were old enough to rhyme a word
But your face is getting thinner
And you're praying for the winter
And I heard you f*cked it up with her

I bandage up your body and your bones and your bad days too
Take care of the blood that your love runs through
I know all the damage that some days in this dark world does
You were laughing last evening at something I dreamed of

I bandage up your body and your bones and your bad days too
Take care of the blood that your love runs through
I know all the damage that some days in this dark world does
She were laughing last evening at something I dreamed of

There's delays on the planes out of Eastern Montana
Where you told me you were leaving from
You've been stabbed in th back and the rest of your body
Won't you tell me where you're bleeding from

---

Spotless

Turn on the TV, act like you don't see me
Tell me everything is okay
My mother is a saint and told me if I wait
Everything meant to be will stay
Well, I ain't a believer in people pleasing neither
F*cking telephones have ruined this place
Met a man in New York City, told me humans ain't as pretty
As a perfect day we'll chase for all the days

I ain't spotless, neither is you
For once in my life, I'm gonna see it through
If you want spotless, I'll always lose
I don't want love, lover, I want the truth

People die a thousand times to get to who they are
You were praying to the heavens on a late train car
Your heart knows deeper seasons than my eyes ever will
I'm a self-destructive landslide if you wanna be the hill

I ain't spotless, neither is you
For once in my life, I'm gonna see it through
If you wanna leave this, that's okay
Everything meant to be is bound to stay

Remember jumping in the pool when we was fully clothed in August
We were soaking, choking, smoking in my old shitty apartment
Then they cut off all the lights 'cause the bills were never paid
We were stealing all the power from the neighbors on vacation

I ain't spotless, neither is you
For once in my life, I'm gonna see it through
If you want spotless, I'll always lose
You gave me your love, lover, you gave me the truth

I was alone
You were bettin' on a loser, you were calling my bluff
Holding one another, is it never enough?
You were right there with me

I can't stop this, neither can you
For once in my life, I'm down to see it through
If you want spotless, I'll always lose
You gave me your love, lover, you gave me the truth

---

Tradesman

No one on this side of town
Knows a good place for a boy to drown
They look at me so strange when I talk
I wish I was a tradesman
Learnin' from some beat down old layman
On some hillside they ain't named yet
Sleepin' next to mountain fire smoke

And everyone lately's scarin' me
It's all backdoor deals and therapy
The only callous I've grown is in my mind
I wish I was a tradesman
Playin' with some tuned up tired string band
Somewhere out by the badlands
Way past closin' time

So if you wanna trade, I'd say its a hard earned mile
Wanna sweat like hell, throw a hammer down
And know that the old feelin' of a five o'clock smile
You know I didn't take no easy way out

There's somethin' more that I need
Than accolades and sympathy
Fatiguin' in the summer heat
While they smoke big cigars
So give me somethin' I can't fake
That rich boys can't manipulate
Somethin' real that they can't take
'Cause, Lord, I'm not your star

If you wanna trade, I'd say its a hard earned mile
Wanna sweat like hell, throw a hammer down
And know that the old feelin' of a five o'clock smile
You know I didn't take no easy way out

Everyone lately's scarin' me
It's all backdoor deals and therapy
The only callous that I've grown is in my mind

---

Smaller Acts

She's got a need to leave you wantin' more
She loves hard love and metaphors
Leave you shoes off at the door
'Cause dinner's waitin' on ya
Grand things don't impress her much
She's keen to smaller acts
She likes honey in her coffee
And boys that use their backs

Friday afternoon at the mercury lounge
She loves a prince song and a live sound
Never needs much and sure knows how to dance
All the money in the world couldn't make her smile
She prefers things that are worth while
Like small towns that old style and smaller acts

There ain't no love a man can find
You'd feel her in a room if you was blind
There ain't a grand thing a man can to do
She'll only love you for you

She's satisfied in the scorching summer
Like the trees and stars she's laying under
They're fine being right where they are
Give her a buzz and a beat down boy
She hates bullshit and loves the noise
Of a coastal town the early parts of fall

There ain't no love a boy can find
You'll feel her in a room if you was blind
There ain't a thing a man can do
She'll only love you for you

There ain't no love a man can find
You'll feel her in a room if you was blind
There ain't a thing a man can do
She'll only love you for you

---

Oklahoman Son

When I get back to Oklahoma
I'll be a little better off than I am right now
And you talk so strong but you can't stand straight
How'd you fall for a man I've grown to hate
And I can drive you by where I learned to curse
He's got his creased dress whites in an all black hearse
Why's the green more green in the east of Eden
Swing on by 'cause I know you ain't eaten
Did the city beat your ass like the trash you are
There's still smoke smell in your old fast car
You can't hide where you're from
With nightcrawler blood on your casting thumb
You can fight and fiend and sell your guns
But you'll always be the Oklahoman son
You'll always be the Oklahoman son

When I get back to Oklahoma
I'll be a little better off than I am right now
I can't buy her a house like I swore I would
When I was naiive and eager child
And money can't buy no friend of mine
And money can't buy me back no time
You can't hide where you're from
With nightcrawler blood on your casting phone
You can fight and fiend and sell your guns
But you'll always be the Oklahoman Son
You'll always be the Oklahoman son

You can't hide where you're from
With nightcrawler blood on your casting phone
You can fight and fiend and sell your guns
But you'll always be the Oklahoman Son
You'll always be the Oklahoman Son