Andy Budd

22

LIFE IS JUST DESTINY AND FATE - BETTER TO LIVE ONE DAY LIKE A LION THAN A THOUSAND DAYS LIKE A SHEEP

STORY BEHIND THE SONG: - I was like most young boys, My mom used to say, "he's only got two speeds, full speed ahead or sound asleep" My dad was a US Marine, a real disciplined and controlled kind of guy, which is not to say that he wasnt creative too ,

When I was five-years-old, I had a green pedal car, I'd race it down the hall. / My Daddy'd say "Son, woncha please slow it down, before you kill us all" / My momma'd say "He's just his Daddy's boy, two speeds are all that he knows, / Full Speed Ahead or Sound Asleep that's how my story goes.

When I turned nine I got a brand new bike and man, she was really neat / Bright cherry-red with a chrome sissy bar and a big long banana seat / I pedal real hard, get up to full speed and throw her into a turn / Slam on the brakes, leave a big skid mark, man, smell that rubber burn.

'CAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE WHO KNOWS THAT LIFE'S JUST DESTINY AND FATE / SO, I STEP ON THE GAS AND GIVE IT ALL I'VE GOT, I'M NOT ONE TO HESITATE / AND MY DADDY USED TO SAY TO ME "SON, LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP" / BUT, I'D RATHER LIVE ONE DAY LIKE A LION, THAN A THOUSAND DAYS LIKE A SHEEP

Now, I'm all grown up, I've got hot rod Chevy, racin' down the inter-state / My girl says "baby, please slow down, let's not test your fate" / And I say darlin' it'll be alright, we're gonna be just fine. / Full speed ahead is how I live my life, I sure hope you don't mind.

Now when I get older, and I'm not sure I will, but if I do, I'll be driving fast / 'Cause, life's too short for the slow lane baby, I'm steppin' on the gas / Full speed ahead, is all I know and there's things I don't wanna miss / So, here we go baby, hang on tight, Hold my beer and watch this!

'CAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE WHO KNOWS THAT LIFE'S JUST DESTINY AND FATE / SO, I STEP ON THE GAS AND GIVE IT ALL I'VE GOT, I'M NOT ONE TO HESITATE / AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY, LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP" / BUT, I'D RATHER LIVE ONE DAY LIKE A LION, THAN A THOUSAND DAYS LIKE A SHEEP

YEAH, I'D RATHER LIVE ONE DAY LIKE A LION, THAN A THOUSAND DAYS LIKE A SHEEP

39

Advice my momma gave me on the day I left home

Advice my momma gave me on the day I left home

The Day I said Goodbye (Cast Thy Bread Upon The Waters)
Words and Music By Andy Budd

Just eighteen and ready, to set out on my own
I packed up my old Chevy truck with everything I owned
Told my mom - I was leavin'....... never to return
She said, before you go son, let me share some things I've learned

She said, to whom much is given, much shall be asked
With the gifts that good lord has given you, boy, you've got a mighty task
The whole wide world awaits you, I hope you?ve got the nerve
And , good or bad, eventually, we all get what we deserve, She Said..

Chorus:
Reach for the stars in all you do and you?ll succeed
There?s those who have and those who don?t, it?s not too hard to see
There?s givers and there?s takers son, which one will you beeeeee
Cast thy bread upon the waters, and it shall come back to thee

She said, you'll have to make deposits before you can withdraw
From the bank of human kind-ness, that?s a?. universal law
What goes around comes around?. that?s a, ? fundamental truth
Just take a look around you son if you need more proof

Stop and smell the roses, every now and then
Try to lead a life of service..........to your fellow man
Share your gifts from God with those you meet along your way
It can't come back to you............. if you won't give it away

Chorus / Instrumental / Chorus

Finish:
So, go on now, get outta here, get on with your new life
Remember what your momma taught you and you'll turn out all right.
Carry these lessons in your heart until the day you die
And that?s what my momma taught me on the day.. I said goodbye

37

Redneck Strikes It Rich buys a little house on a 3/4 acre lot and has his girlfriend renovate it to the point of the ridiculous.

True Story

Redneck Heaven By Andy Budd - Copyright 2006 ? All Rights Reserved

My friend Steve just retired, he was a plumber by trade
Sold his business for boat load of money, and now he's got it made
He bought a simple little house on a 3/4 acre lot
He calls it Redneck Heaven, the little house that really rocks

He had his girlfriend renovate it , but, she got a little carried away
Four hundred thousand later, It's a place He likes to say?
Is the only half-a-million dollar one bedroom cabin in the USA
A nine-hundred square feet of redneck heaven, worth every penny paid.

Chorus:
Pink Flamingos in the front yard, a velvet Elvis on the wall
A KEG-A-RATOR in the livin? room, a lava lamp in the hall
The sign above the door says "Come on in - get ready to rock"
A little slice of Redneck Heaven on a 3/4 acre lot

He's got a big ol? Wal-Mart pool with a swim up bar and a tiki torch
An six by six hot tub, outside the bedroom on the porch
TV dinners in the freezer, the bar is stocked with booze & beer
A big screen in every room, it?s the perfect party atmosphere

He calls the only bedroom his little passion pit
Mirrors on the ceiling, Lord, he thinks he's all of it
Watching TV naked from a Lazy-Boy by the pool
He don't care what the neighbors think, he thinks it's pretty cool

Chorus: (Repeat from above)

He lays out in that Lazy-Boy wearin? nothin? but Ray-Ban?s
Sippin? ice cold Budweiser workin? on his tan and
Everything is going just according to the master plan
When the boys come over to party they yell ?Steve! You are the Man!?

Chorus & repeat last line of chorus and finish

14

The people you meet in life and the difference they make in your life

The story is in the lyrics

Saints and Scoundrels By Andy Budd - Copyright 2006 ? All Rights Reserved

I was sitting out on the porch reflecting on my younger days
Countin' my blessin's - to this day I'm still amazed.
At all the debts I owe, to those I know I can't repay
All those saints and scoundrels that helped me find my way.

My Dad shipped out to Vietnam, when I was only eight
My best friend's daddy, Glenn, was there to take the Major's place
He was there to help my mom with me and keep a young boy straight
Taught me how to use a pocket knife, and ?play second base

Chorus1
Some were saints and some were scoundrels, taught me virtue & vice
Some gave opportunity, some just gave advice
The how to's and what-not-to's, lessons learned along the way
From all those saints & scoundrels , these are debts to be repaid

When I was just sixteen my dad shipped overseas
The scoundrel livin' across the street, shared his expertise
I learned how to fix a car and ?.use pro-fan-it-y
How to talk to girls & buy beer and booze without a fake ID

There's been a lot of men with different histories
Who shared their life's experience and never charged a fee
Shared the wisdom of their years so un-selfish-ly
Some saints and a few scoundrels who gave their time to me

Bridge :
This song would last a lifetime, if I gave every man his due
So, If you know me fairly well, I wrote this song for you. And when
the good lord lays me down I'd like the stone to say..
"Here's lies a man who made a difference, and all his debts are paid."

Chorus2:
Some were saints and some were scoundrels, Most were ordinary men
Who one time or another were there to take me in
The how to's and what-not-to's, lessons learned along the way
From all those saints & scoundrels , these are debts to be repaid

Tag:
And when they put me in the ground, I hope that they will say
"He was a man who made a difference and all his debts are paid."

38

Mourning the loss of a friend who died of an overdose

Mourning the loss of a friend who died of an overdose

Farewell To A Friend
by Andy Budd ? Copyright 2006 ? All Rights Reserved


Your tortured soul went home today
You tried for years but were always saved
By the intervention of well-meaning friends
Who couldn't understand your need for it to end
Didn't understand the aching in your heart,
or all those damn addictions that tore your world apart

I heard it was an over-dose ?
but I know it was the path you chose
You hated this world and livin' it,
too much pain you couldn't take another minute
The pain you caused the one's you loved
too much push, too much shove
Just couldn't take another minute of the pain,

Didn?t you know that suicide is selfish
and oh??so??...... unkind,
to those who mourn and knew you ...
To those you loved and left behind,
You chose to move on to another life
But I wish ??someone could've changed your mind

In my heart I know that you didn?t quit,
That you are just starting over
I hope you met Jesus when you knocked on heavens door
I hope you find the happiness you?ve been searching for,
I? ll say Farewell for now, but this is not the end
I?ll see you in the next life ????????????
My friend??.

35

HArd work, poverty and sacrifice are just the dues you pay in life. To have a life worth living there will be dues to pay

Starting out my adult life at the bottom of the ladder and working my way up - I survived the hard times and made it

The Dues I Paid By Andy Budd - Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved

My first car was 'an ol' Rambler....,just a fifty-dollar sled
My first house was a trailer, just a kitchen, bath & bed
When I couldn't pay the rent they put me on the street
What good is a place to stay if ya can't afford to eat

I had no place to go so I just lived in that old car
Sometimes you gotta suck it up, that's just the way things are

Chorus:
You don't know where I come from but back in the olden days
Back when Christ was still a corporal. Let me tell ya the dues I paid
Now, You don't know where I come from, but back in my younger days
Back when muscle cars had muscle. Let me tell ya the dues I paid

My first job I was overworked and severely underpaid...
A hundred bucks a week, working six twelve hour days
It was the hardest job I ever had. Now, that's the gospel truth
If I complained the boss 'd say, "suck it up and pay your dues."

Life gives back what you put in, My grandpa used to say
To have a life worth livin', son, there will be dues to pay

Chorus:

Bridge:
A hard days work, won't kill ya, you'll pass out before you die
Tough times don't last, Tough peo-ple do, someday you'll realize
What don't kill ya makes ya stronger, I'm here to testify

Today, I'm under-worked ...and some say, over paid
Some folks say I've been lucky, but I earned every dime I've made.
Today, I've got the top down, cruisin' the boulevard
Ain't it funny, how lucky a man can get when he's been working hard

And now, you know where I come from. I survived those early days
Got a couple of scars to prove it, but all my dues are paid

Repeat last two lines and fade out

16

MY FIRST TRIP TO NASHVILLE AS A SONGWRITER

NASHVILLE SHUT-DOWN, BUSTED EGO BLUES BY ANDY BUDD

Took my songs to Nashville, played 'em for a man on music row, / I had my brand new Gibson, limited edition, put on my dog and pony show / Said - I'm a new songwriter, a / Nashville outsider, it's a new line of work , ya know / But my songs are different, gonna be number one's, give me a contract, I'm ready to go.

He said "Son I like your attitude, but all the songs are way too long, / The structures a joke, your lyrics are weak, & the melody's just all wrong / Your voice is more like a bullfrog croak, and your pitch is a little flat / My advice .....Don't quit your day job son, You ain't all that."

I GOT 'DEM NASHVILLE SHUT-DOWN, BUSTED EGO BLUES / HE SAID YOU AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO SWIM IN THIS TALENT POOL / THIS IS NASHVILLE SON, WE GOT NO ROOM FOR NO MIDDLE-AGED FOOL / I'VE GOT DEM NASHVILLE SHUT-DOWN, BUSTED EGO BLUES

He said my songs were not too bad, but they would only appeal to me / Well I guess I should a seen it coming, How could I be so naïve / So, I hired a producer, some studio musicians and created my own CD / And I sell 'em at the Wednesday night open mike for nine bucks a piece.

He made me feel like a mule at the rodeo, Like a junkyard mutt at the Big Dog show / Like poor white trash on millionaire's row, there ain't nothing left of my ego / He said I looked like a Hank Jr wannabe, I look silly in a Cowboy Hat / I got a Nashville lesson in humility, he said, "boy.... you ain't all that"

I GOT 'DEM NASHVILLE SHUT-DOWN, BUSTED EGO BLUES / HE SAID YOU AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO SWIM IN THIS TALENT POOL / THIS IS NASHVILLE SON, WE GOT NO ROOM FOR NO MIDDLE-AGED FOOL / I'VE GOT DEM NASHVILLE SHUT-DOWN, BUSTED EGO BLUES

I GOT 'DEM NASHVILLE SHUT-DOWN, BUSTED EGO BLUES / HE SAID YOU AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO SWIM IN THIS TALENT POOL / THIS IS NASHVILLE SON, WE GOT NO ROOM FOR NO MIDDLE-AGED FOOL / I'VE GOT DEM NASHVILLE SHUT-DOWN, BUSTED EGO BLUES

19

WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT THE MUSIC BY ANDY BUDD

What would I do without the music / when I'm feeling stressed or overworked / When the daily grind starts to wear me down / the joy of life gets overlooked / I go down to my little studio, / pull a guitar off the wall / I play a little Alan Jackson / Todd Snider or Tim McGraw

WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT THE MUSIC / I DON'T KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY, IT'S A LEGAL ADDICTION THAT IMPROVES MY ATTITUDE / GIVE ME A FIX EVERYDAY

I wrote a few songs about grow-ing up / the lyrics came so easily" / But tryin' to make the music sound like my own / is harder than I thought that it would be / All alone in the stu-di-o / Wailing away on my guitar / Strictly a three chord master / But ...in my mind, baby, I'm a superstar

WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT THE MUSIC / I DON'T KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY, IT'S A LEGAL ADDICTION THAT IMPROVES MY ATTITUDE / GIVE ME A FIX EVERYDAY

Stress and worry become strangers / I regain my sanity / It's better than prozac or alcohol / The music is my therapy

WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT THE MUSIC / I DON'T KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY, IT'S A LEGAL ADDICTION THAT IMPROVES MY ATTITUDE / GIVE ME A FIX EVERYDAY

22

Legal Lunacy by Andy Budd

O.J. Simpson took a knife, slashed Nicole and took her life / and got away with murder when the justice system failed / Martha Stewart sold some stock, made a bunch of money with the tip she got / Then lied to the Fed's & only got 5 months in jail / Justice may be blind, but the rest of us can see / You can get away with murder if you can pay the attorney's fee

IT'S THE LAWYERS AND THE JUDGES AND THE ACLU / INVOLVED IN THIS TIGHT-KNIT CONSPIRACY / FILE A SUIT, FILE A CLAIM, PRETEND THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE TO BLAME / I'M TELLIN' YA BOYS IT'S LEGAL LUNACY

Bill O'Reilly reported today that some High.School team wanted to pray / At the start of every one of their football games / Well, The ACLU had a fit, They filed a motion and filed a writ, / For some atheist loser looking for 15 minutes of fame / Oh no.....you can't pray, the court will see we get our way / ya gotta sep-ar-ate the church and state

IT'S THE LAWYERS AND THE JUDGES AND THE ACLU / IT'S AN ANTI-GOD CON-SPIR-ACY / FILE A SUIT, FILE A CLAIM, THE MAJORITY HAS NO RIGHTS THESE DAYS / I'M TELLIN' YA BOYS IT'S LEGAL LUNACY

Now somethin' in the world's not right when the lawyers plot and scheme and fight / To keep killers and criminals out there on the street / Or sue some innocent company for their client's own stupidity / It's plain ol'greed and legal lunacy / It's a classic case of the old Catch 22 / You're damned if you don't & you're damned ya if you do

IT'S THE LAWYERS AND THE JUDGES AND THE ACLU / INVOLVED IN THIS TIGHT-KNIT CONSPIRACY / FILE A SUIT, FILE A CLAIM, THE ONE WITH THE MONEY IS THE ONE TO BLAME / I'M TELLIN' YA BOYS IT'S LEGAL LUNACY

21

EVERYTHING I REALLY NEED (I ALREADY HAVE) WORDS AND MUSIC BY ANDY BUDD PERFORMED BY PAULA WHILHITE

I used to have an office job, but gave it up years ago / They said I had a future, But I said "no, I don't think so" / We don't need the extra money, We just live a simple life. / I'm just a simple country girl , who loves being a mom and wife

ALL I NEED IS MY MAN TO HOLD ME TIGHT / MY KIDS TO HUG ME AND TELL ME THEY LOVE ME AND SAY THEIR PRAYERS AT NIGHT / JOY AND LOVE AND LAUGHTER AN OCCASIONAL BUBBLE BATH / EVERYTHING I REALLY NEED I ALREADY HAVE

The alarm goes off at 5 am, We tumble out of bed / he showers 'n' shaves, I wake the kids, another day ahead / Breakfast to get 'em goin', packin' lunches while they eat / A hug and a kiss before they go, makes my day complete

ALL I NEED IS MY MAN TO HOLD ME TIGHT / MY KIDS TO HUG ME AND TELL ME THEY LOVE ME AND SAY THEIR PRAYERS AT NIGHT / JOY AND LOVE AND LAUGHTER AN OCCASIONAL BUBBLE BATH / EVERYTHING I REALLY NEED I ALREADY HAVE

Our cars are ten years old, but they're still running great / Sometimes I wish my wardrobe, weren't so out of date / We don't eat steak & lobster, but there's always enough to eat / We put a little bit in savings, from his paycheck every week,

ALL I NEED IS MY MAN TO HOLD ME TIGHT / MY KIDS TO HUG ME AND TELL ME THEY LOVE ME AND SAY THEIR PRAYERS AT NIGHT / JOY AND LOVE AND LAUGHTER AN OCCASIONAL BUBBLE BATH / EVERYTHING I REALLY NEED I ALREADY HAVE

(Instrumental)

ALL I NEED IS MY MAN TO HOLD ME TIGHT / MY KIDS TO HUG ME AND TELL ME THEY LOVE ME AND SAY THEIR PRAYERS AT NIGHT / JOY AND LOVE AND LAUGHTER AN OCCASIONAL BUBBLE BATH / EVERYTHING I REALLY NEED I ALREADY HAVE

18

LEAVIN' LAS VEGAS BLUES BY ANDY BUDD

Well....I went to Vegas looking for the big jackpot / I figured all they could take from me is all I got / This time I gotta new strategy, this time I'm gonna win / It didn't take too long I was down at the ATM

Well, I maxed out my VISA and I maxed out my Mastercard / Sat down at the blackjack table and I started betting hard / You know, the less you bet the more you lose when you win / I lost ten in a row, .I thought man....here we go again

I'VE GOT THEM LEAVING LAS VEGAS EMPTY-POCKETS BLUES / I LOST ALL MY MONEY I GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE / 'CEPT THIS FISTFULL OF UNPAID MARKERS, AND A REAL BAD ATTITUDE / I'VE GOT THEM LEAVING LAS VEGAS EMPTY-POCKETS BLUES

I told that pit boss, your dealer's been treatin' me bad / I said "this ain't funny, He's takin' my money & I'm getting mad" / I need a new dealer , new cards , new table and a brand new rack / I got a bad attitude and I want my money back

I was down to my last few hundred, so I headed for the roulette wheel / You know I could win back just as fast as I lost it so, it weren't no big deal / A little break from the / Blackjack table, oughta turn my luck around / Well, that didn't work and now I'm broke and Northern Virginia bound.

I'VE GOT THEM LEAVING LAS VEGAS EMPTY-POCKETS BLUES / I LOST ALL MY MONEY I GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE / 'CEPT THIS FISTFULL OF UNPAID MARKERS, AND A REAL BAD ATTITUDE / I'VE GOT THEM LEAVING LAS VEGAS EMPTY-POCKETS BLUES

(Instrumental)

I'VE GOT THEM LEAVING LAS VEGAS EMPTY-POCKETS BLUES / I LOST ALL MY MONEY I GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE / 'CEPT THIS FISTFULL OF UNPAID MARKERS, AND A REAL BAD ATTITUDE / I'VE GOT THEM LEAVING LAS VEGAS EMPTY-POCKETS BLUES

20

The day of my father's funeral on a cold november morning. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetary. He was buried in his "Full Dress Blues and Spit-shined shoes" with a "Rainbow of ribbons cascading down his chest"

My Father died on Nov. 10, 1995 - Nov 10th is a very special day for US Marines - it is the official Marine Corps Birthday (10 Nov 1775). This song is my song of mourning for my father. We had a rather tumultuous relationship. I worked my butt off to prov

25

ANYTOWN USA BY ANDY BUDD

Wendy's, Outback & Applebees, IHOP, Dominos & KFC / Bur-ger King and Mic--key D's, Long John Silvers & Family Tree / Some are so blind they just can't see, but it looks like suburban sprawl to me / The Fashion Bug and Borders Books. All you've gotta do is take a look / Drive down any tho-rough-fare. Any town, anywhere / The homes and stores all look the .same. We're livin in' Anytown U.S.A.

THIS LITTLE TOWN'S NOT OURS ANYMORE / IT BELONGS TO ALL THE BIG CHAIN STORES / THE CHARACTER & BEAUTY IS ALL BUT GONE / HOW DID IT GO SO WRONG? / WE BOW OUR HEADS AT NIGHT TO PRAY / DON'T LET IT BE ANYTOWN, USA

Verizon, Sprint and Nextel Phones. More people, more schools & more big homes / Tractor Supply and Auto Zone, add some political overtone / And You'll feel like you're livin' in the Twilight Zone. This sprawl and all can't be condoned / A de-vel-op-er's free-for all, McMansions and suburban sprawl / Arrington's Farm is brand new a mall. / Every chain store has heard the call / Twenty new permits ..issued today / Right here in Anytown USA

THIS LITTLE TOWN'S NOT OURS ANYMORE / IT BELONGS TO ALL THE BIG CHAIN STORES / THE CHARACTER & BEAUTY IS ALL BUT GONE / HOW DID IT GO SO WRONG? / WE BOW OUR HEADS AT NIGHT TO PRAY / DON'T LET IT BE ANYTOWN, USA

Wal-Mart, Pet Smart & C.V.S., Stay at the Holiday Inn Express / Sears Essentials & Borders Books, Blockbuster Video & Athletes Foot / You don't need a P.H.D. Just look around and you will see / Fairfax or Los Angelese, / It all looks the same to me / Every town has them all. / Same chain stores and outlet malls / Raise your voice and have your say / Don't let it be Anytown U.S.A.

THIS LITTLE TOWN'S NOT OURS ANYMORE / IT BELONGS TO ALL THE BIG CHAIN STORES / THE CHARACTER & BEAUTY IS ALL BUT GONE / HOW DID IT GO SO WRONG? / WE BOW OUR HEADS AT NIGHT TO PRAY / DON'T LET IT BE ANYTOWN, USA

Raise your voice and have your say. Don't let it be Anytown, USA