Ken Lehnig

51

A bad murderous man named Redbone is on the run and the Sheriff is using a blood hound named Redbone to chase him down. The man is caught and justice is done.

When I was a boy we would hunt with bloodhounds. I was watching Brother Where art thou? the scene of the hounds inspired me. I liked the word play of having both the protagonist and the villain having the same name. The poem came first The music came from the chant quality of the lyrics.

Red bone ken Lehnig ©1990 Desert Windsong Publishing

My Red Bone riding on the warm wind
Red Bone howling at the moon beams
Red Bone sniffin' out the bad man
Sam Red Bone hanging from an old oak tree

A nightmare came out the darkness
The willows weeping cause the witness
That deed surely evil with the madness
Leave behind a life full of sadness

My Red Bone running on the warm night
Red Bone howling in the moonlight
My Red Bone nosing out that bad man
Sam Red Bone hanging from an old oak tree

The story hidden in the blood stains
Lost dreams they never gonna gain again
Sam Red Bone climbed on a freight train
The track laid for a man gone insane

But my Red Bone is one with the warm wind
Red Bone howling up at the moon beams
Red Bone done chased down that bad man
Sam Red Bone got his neck stretched yeah
in an old oak tree

Justice here done in the darkness
Sam judged swinging from a oak tree
No more bad deeds in the midnight

Red Bone We chased him down in the midnight
Red Bone We chased him down and made it all right
(Repeat out)

78

This is about a relationship that went very wrong.

Eleanor has been a compelling name to me. Seems like a woman with that name may have trouble associated with it. I may be absolutely wrong but the song came from that. What was really great was having a horn section in the band for a straight blues peace.

Eleanor Ken Lehnig©1990

Eleanor you took me down that sad road
Eleanor you took me down that long sad road
You used it all up and the rest you sold

You took all my money and sold my self esteem
You took all my money and sold my self esteem
You took my reason for living and killed off all of my dreams

I knew you were troubled women
I should have listened to my friends
Before I got weak and fell into your bed
Eleanor I should not have listened to a word you said
Lying comes easy with the twisted noise in your head

Eleanor you up and flew away
Found another fool and flew away
You spent it all and left me hear to pay

Desert Wind Song Publishing

13

A man finding out his girl is going to leave him.

A man finding out his girl is going to leave him.

BREAK IT TO ME GENTLY

BREAK IT TO ME GENTLY- WHEN YOU GIVE THAT BAD NEWS
SOME FRIENDS TOLD ME YOU ARE COMING OVER TO TELL ME
I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING GOOD, THOUGHT YOU WERE HAPPY WITH ME
NOW YOU'RE COMING OVER TO SET ME FREE
*WASN'T LOOKING FOR A FREE RIDE- WASN'T TRYING TO FOOL YOU
THOUGHT WE HAD SOMETHING GOING, WHAT DO I SAY-WHAT DO I DO?
I'M FEELING A BIT AFRAID, REALLY DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU
FRIENDS SAY I'M A LUCKY MAN. THEY DON'T KNOW I ACTED LIKE A FOOL
MY STOMACH DON'T FEEL GOOD. I GOT TEARS IN MY BLUE EYES
WHO THE HELL DO I TURN TO, TO HELP ME?
*WASN'T LOOKING FOR A FREE RIDE. WASN'T TRYING TO FOOL YOU.
THAT WE HAD SOMETHING GOING, WHAT DO I SAY- WHAT DO I DO?
*WHEN YOU OPEN THAT DOOR I'M GOING TO SAY I LOVE YOU.
NOT GOING TO LET YOU SET ME FREE
I NEVER TOLD YOU, ALL THE TIMES I HELD YOU.
NOW YOU'RE COMING OVER. PLEASE DON'T SET ME FREE
*WASN'T LOOKING FOR A FREE RIDE WASN'T TRYING TO FOOL YOU
THOUGHT WE HAD SOMETHING GOING. WHAT DO I SAY - WHAT DO I DO?
WASN'T LOOKING FOR A FREE RIDE. WASN'T TRYING TO FOOL YOU.
NOW YOU'RE COMING OVER- PLEASE DON'T SET ME FREE.

13

Getting through times of trial

Four Directions

I don't know what you're going through
You say it's a complexity
But I'm not ready baby for the grieving
For the reality of you not being here from me

Branches scratching on a window pane
In the darkness I don't want to be
I guess sorts it all out baby
I'll just have to wait and see


Four directions that the wind can take
Hair blowing standing at the crossroads
Flip a coin for the road to take
On a prayer for heaven's sake
Four directions where a mind can flee
Strange when you say your soul ain't free
If that's you, then its better baby
Than staying here with me

I got a letter showed a kind of heart
Telling me I still mattered
When it's quiet raining, baby think of me
When our love wasn't quite so tattered

I'll write a sad song on a cloudy day
About trials and tears and truer hearts
Wondering at all the years marched by
But our times baby, was the better parts

(chorus)

(Bridge)
So darling remember me -like the sunlight bright shining
When the cloud's horizon- bursting with a silver lining
We may meet down the road
Baby baby only heavens knows- only heaven knows

20

Story of a highway man and his downfall.

John Penny

He was early disappointing but a hero in his mind
Traveled in dark places staying with the thieving kind
Wild storms bloke the sun deadly shadows across the moon
Holds up the well of heal then sleeps off the drink till noon
Highwaymen are lonely and most are surely doomed
John Penny John Penny riding like a shadow across the moon
It was all sadly wrought the gentry two were badly met
They held to their purses too hard- John Penny's guns did the rest
A grim bell resonate sound -John Penny for the gibbet soon
Gold and copper counts while John Penny a hider in a dreary room
Highwaymen are lonely and most are surely doomed
John Penny John Penny riding like a shadow across the moon
A crossed mate played the Judas- gave up his hide and seek
John Penny slipped the noose and preyed further on the weak
Like a rider on the wind with hellhounds on his heels
Fiercely snapping crying vengeance no judge to make a deal
Highwaymen are lonely and most are surely doomed
John Penny John Penny riding like a shadow across the moon
He succumbed in a night dark canyon- the law dogs took his wretched life
They put coppers on his eyes- let blood and earth mix proper and rife
John Penny John Penny did ride like a shadow mean and cruel
His soul repented and weary- hell's strain sings to his heedless rue
Highwaymen are lonely and most are surely doomed
John Penny John Penny riding like a shadow across the moon
Highwaymen are lonely and most are surely doomed
John Penny John Penny a wailing ghost shadow across the moon

35

It ain't the blues I sing!

17

Feeling alienated in the modern world

I'M AN ALIEN

I'M HEADING OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE MY LIFES UNDER SIEGE
NOTHING I DO SEEMS TO WORK, HAS IT GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH ME
I DON'T REST EASY, WORRY FILLS MY MIND
IN A WORLD FULL OF STRANGERS, LOOKING FOR MY OWN KIND

I'M AN ALIEN, I'M AN ALIEN. I'M AN ALIEN LOOKING FOR MY OWN KIND
LOOKING FOR A FRIENDLY WORLD TO FIND

COLORS DON'T LOOK THE SAME SOMEONE CHANGED MY STREET
THE AIR DON'T TASTE THE SAME, I CAN'T TALK TO ANYONE I MEET
WHEN DID I FALL IN THIS RABBIT HOLE? WHEN DID IT ALL FALL APART?
IT GOT ALL TURNED AROUND, WHEN DOES THE REAL SHOW START?

THERE ARE CLOWNS IN THE DOORWAY- BUT THE CIRCUS AIN'T IN TOWN
I'M LOOKING FOR THE TRAPEZE- TO SWING MY WAY OUT AND DOWN

LOOKING SEVERELY DAMAGED IS NO REAL WAY TO BE
CAN'T BE WITH YOU'RE THINKING, AND YOU CAN'T TRUST WHAT YOU SEE
LIVING IN AN UPSIDE DOWN WORLD WITH A DISTORTED REALITY
HOW DO I KNOW WHO I AM- WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHO TO BE

I'M AN ALIEN, I'M AN ALIEN. I'M AN ALIEN LOOKING FOR MY OWN KIND
LOOKING FOR A FRIENDLY WORLD TO FIND

THERE ARE CLOWNS IN THE DOORWAY- BUT THE CIRCUS AIN'T IN TOWN
I'M LOOKING FOR THE TRAPEZE- TO SWING MY WAY OUT AND DOWN

6

Southern raiders just after the civil war.

15

Getting through each day.

RAIN ALL NIGHT Ken Lehnig©2003

THERE IS A SHADOW LAY ACROSS ME
HOLDING ME, CHAINING ME DOWN
CAN'T STAND TO SEE ME FREE
THERE'S A SADNESS IN THE MEAN SONG
IT DOESN''T KNOW HOW LONG
IT SCOLDS ME AND HOLDS ME
I BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW TO FIGHT
BEEN THINKING IT DON'T SEEM RIGHT
TRIED TO SHED SOME LIGHT
TRIED TO FIND ME- A ROAD THAT'S RIGHT
[I THINK ITS GOING TO RAIN ALL NIGHT]
THERE'S A DANGER IN THE LIGHTENING
THERE'S A WORRY IN THE THUNDER
BUT I STILL SING
TRY TO FOIL AND FIND ME
WIND KEEPS THE CANDLE FROM BEING LIT
LIKE DREAMS I CAN'T HOLD IT
WHEN YOU'RE LIVING IN A SAD SONG
AND YOU KNOW ITS ALL WRONG
YOU CAN'T BE STRONG
THE SUN WON'T FIND ME
ONLY TROUBLES BLIND ME
I HOPE FOR THE DAWN
MAYBE IN THE DAYS FULL LIGHT
THE DARK WON'T SEEM SO LONG
TURN AROUND IT JUST MIGHT
MAYBE THE STORM WON'T- WIND DOWN THAT HOPEFUL ROAD
IN TIME I COULD BELIEVE -IT WILL TURN OUT RIGHT
TRIED TO FIND ME- A ROAD THAT'S RIGHT
[I THINK ITS GOING TO RAIN ALL NIGHT

15

Disgusted with the way the world is.

SIMPLE SONGS

I walked to the mirror and wondered at the single reflection
Or the space of a heartbeat or the road lost in any direction
Is there meaning in the worry- are holding life's benediction?
Or a ceremony lost without true faith or conviction
I'm lost in a world wrought with nightmare dreams
Ethical giants falling for the silliest schemes
For all I know this really is as it seems
I just can't see what it means
Few choices are made in the unnatural selection
While holding ourselves blameless for life' s moral infections
Bouncing blindly only seeking temporary affections
Seeking truth but relishing the complex deceptions
You're alone and you think your singing all done
You've nothing to atone - whatever is done, is done
Caught in the whimsy of life's ole fickle fate
Communicate with your simple songs
I walked to the mirror and wondered at the single reflection
Or the space of a heartbeat or the road lost in any direction
Is there meaning in the worry- are holding life's benediction?
Or a ceremony lost without true faith or conviction

9

Sadness of war

UNDERHILL Ken Lehnig© 2002

I LOVE YOUR GREENING HILLS THERE
MIST CARESSING YOUR WILD WAYS
YOUR HAIR FLOWS LIKE THE GIFT OF SPRING
WINDING DOWN MELANCHOLY DAYS
WE'RE BESET WITH DIRE OPINIONS
TOPPED WILD OLD RUST AND RAGE
WE'VE FORGOTTEN THE REASONS FOR PLEASURE
AS HISTORY TURNS ANOTHER PAGE
YOU DIED DOWN BY THE RIVER
YOU FOUGHT THERE CHILLED TO THE BONE
I'M AFRAID YOU'LL NOT FIND ME THERE
CARRYING THE LIGHT BACK HOME
LADIES YOU WERE A GIVING SORT AND YOUR MEN ARE SINGULAR TRUE
WHEN THE SINS OF REVENGE SETS IN, NOW WE JUSTIFY ALL THAT WE DO
WE PUT UP ALL OUR CHILDREN, WE LAMENT IN OUR GRAND HALLS
WE FORFEIT ALL THE GIFTS OF LIVING, UNDER HILL WE GRIEVE FOR IT ALL
IN OUR GRIEF WE BECOME MUCH SMALLER IN TIME WE'LL ALL DISAPPEAR
GONE FROM THE LIVING LIGHT OF DAY OUR LIVES FORGOTTEN BUT STILL HELD DEAR
WE DIED DOWN BY THE RIVER
WE FOUGHT THERE CHILLED TO THE BONE
I'M AFRAID YOU'LL NOT FIND ME THERE
CARRYING THE LIGHT BACK HOME
PUT OUT THEN A GOBLET BEFORE YOU GO TO BED
WE GIVE BLESSING TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE
GOLD FOR A CRUST OF KIND BREAD
WE DIED DOWN BY THE RIVER
WE FOUGHT THERE CHILLED TO THE BONE
I'M AFRAID YOU'LL NOT FIND ME THERE
CARRYING THE LIGHT BACK HOME

13

This is about a relationship that went very wrong.

Eleanor has been a compelling name to me. Seems like a woman with that name may have trouble associated with it. I may be absolutely wrong but the song came from that. What was really great was having a horn section in the band for a straight blues piece.

Eleanor Ken Lehnig©1990

Eleanor you took me down that sad road
Eleanor you took me down that long sad road
You used it all up and the rest you sold

You took all my money and sold my self esteem
You took all my money and sold my self esteem
You took my reason for living and killed off all of my dreams

I knew you were troubled women
I should have listened to my friends
Before I got weak and fell into your bed
Eleanor I should not have listened to a word you said
Lying comes easy with the twisted noise in your head

Eleanor you up and flew away
Found another fool and flew away
You spent it all and left me here to pay

©1990 Desert Wind Song Publishing

15

A bad murderous man named Redbone is on the run and the Sheriff is using a blood hound named Redbone to chase him down. The man is caught and justice is done

When I was a boy we would hunt with bloodhounds. I was watching Brother Where art thou? The scene of the hounds inspired me. I liked the word play of having both the protagonist and the villain having the same name. The poem came first the music came from the field call quality of the lyrics.

Red Bone ken Lehnig ©1990 Desert Windsong Publishing

My Red Bone riding on the warm wind
Red Bone howling at the moon beams
Red Bone sniffin' out the bad man
Sam Red Bone hanging from an old oak tree

A nightmare came out the darkness
The willows weeping cause the witness
That deed surely evil with the madness
Leave behind a life full of sadness

My Red Bone running on the warm night
Red Bone howling in the moonlight
My Red Bone nosing out that bad man
Sam Red Bone hanging from an old oak tree

The story hidden in the blood stains
Lost dreams they never gonna gain again
Sam Red Bone climbed on a freight train
The track laid for a man gone insane

But my Red Bone is one with the warm wind
Red Bone howling up at the moon beams
Red Bone done chased down that bad man
Sam Red Bone got his neck stretched yeah
in an old oak tree

Justice here done in the darkness
Sam judged swinging from a oak tree
No more bad deeds in the midnight

Red Bone We chased him down in the midnight
Red Bone We chased him down and made it all right
(Repeat out)