We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

We Can Be Horses

by Ryan Necci and the Buffalo Gospel

/
1.
I can’t tell where one year ends And the next year begins But I know it’s a thin line Between heaven and here And I wash in the river And this year will be my year I know that the sun will shine And then comes the wintertime But I do prefer sunshine Just to be perfectly clear And I wash in the river And this year will be my year I sing me the song of the ox Right over that long pine box That they left in the field By the hole full of ghosts By the busted old post That are shaped like a cross And they make me feel Like a dirty old sinner And the line gets thinner I am an ox and I eat the grass If the preacher don’t like it He can kiss my ass Let me tell a secret, friends About where you go when it all ends Well I know it is a thin line Between heaven and here We can wash in the river And this year will be our year I sing me the song of the ox Right over that long pine box That they left in the field By the hole full of ghosts By the busted old post That are shaped like a cross And they make me feel Like a dirty old sinner And the line gets thinner I am an ox and I eat the grass If the preacher don’t like it He can kiss my ass If the preacher don’t like it He can kiss my ass If the preacher don’t like it He can kiss my ass
2.
Mule 04:25
I ain’t said nothing worth saying In over a year And I’m double bred for a death By fire and fear Blue-collar bastard I am With the blood on my hands Sometimes I’m lonesome Sometimes I’m grand But the things that I seen are tearing me apart This town’s a lesson in lonesome Lonesome and love And I’ve had one hell of a life But I’ve had enough Mine is a history of blues Worn out and used Well I’m damned if I don’t And I’m damned if I do And the heaviest thing that I carry is my heart And you never know that a little love is all you need Till a little love is all you got And you never know that a little love is all you need Till a little love is all you got And you never know that a little love is all you need Till a little love is all you got I ain’t said nothing worth saying In over a year And I’m double bred for a death By fire and fear Blue-collar bastard I am With the blood on my hands Sometimes I’m lonesome Sometimes I’m grand And the heaviest thing that I carry is my heart And the heaviest thing that I carry is my heart And the heaviest thing that I carry is my heart
3.
Had another dream about the day I die Fifty-dollar suit looking Sunday fine You were sittin’ pretty and I wish I’d known We were in the city and you were stoned Told me you were tired and you couldn’t see And the bottom of the bottle looked a lot like me Widdlin’ and a wearin’ and I wore you down Honey, you could be a profit in your own hometown You are the only home You are the only home I know You are the only home I am horse as a crow Well I would be liar if I didn’t say If this is where I meet you, it’s where I’ll stay Find a little lovin’ in the middle west Find a little wreckage and a missile test Built on wishes and drunk on wine Short a little money and long on time Take you to a city that’s beautiful Maybe down to Memphis or Istanbul You are the only home You are the only home I know You are the only home I am horse as a crow We can get around ‘till we’re good and old I’d sill call like a little crow Take you to a city in our Sunday best Find a little lovin’ in the middle west You are the only home You are the only home I know You are the only home I am horse as a crow
4.
Dime store trash And paperbacks Cheap red wine In paper bags I’ve got all that I could need Walking home In the rain Marquee says There’s a picture playin’ Called She’ll Make a Man Outa Me I’d run myself ragged I’d ring the quitting bell I’d cut my kin from every one Of the stories that I tell If I thought it would make a difference He’d be an easy sell But when God’s away on business Your tears go straight to hell The rats have come to drank the wine Puts a hitch in Suppertime What’s a lonely man to do They dance along The wooden floor Where you and I Had danced before Back when I had everything to lose I’d run myself ragged I’d ring the quitting bell I’d cut my kin from every one Of the stories that I tell If I thought it would make a difference He’d be an easy sell But when God’s away on business Your tears go straight to hell Morning time Is here again I have to ask What kind of friend Would take everything that gives me thrills Nighttime comes To say hello And make sure I ain’t running low On wishes, memories, and pills I’d run myself ragged I’d ring the quitting bell I’d cut my kin from every one Of the stories that I tell If I thought it would make a difference He’d be an easy sell But when God’s away on business Your tears go straight to hell
5.
The Northern 04:27
I read your letter It read like another nail Heard you been tying Knots in the devil’s tail Well you’re drenched to the bone Lie in your park bench hotel Won’t you pick up the phone Let me come live in your hell And your smoke turns to black Covered by city lights I heard you sing your goodbyes To the city nights Bottles of blues and broken down stars Go on dancing The Northern will come And it’s never one for romance We can be horses We never have to come back Wrapped in our voices Wrapped in our downtown rags Just like a pair Of worn out whiskey doves Sweet sons of bitches and Old sweet sons of love Bottles of blues and broken down stars Go on dancing The Northern will come And it’s never one for romance I read you letter It read like another nail Heard you been tying Knots in the devil’s tail
6.
A higher warning On the morning Of new years day And I am moving west This is my darkest holler This is my beck and caller This is what I must do to rest Well I know that I can swing A mighty might chain Right here in the garden of a lion But I know that I will say Goodbye, goodbye someday To the Devil and his weary mind It took a while to catch my breath It took a while to catch my breath It took a while for me to see That the devil, well the devil is me I could stay here All the day dear But I must go now ‘Cause I was headed west I’ve heard that times are hard I’ve seen the windows barred In the valley of the shadow of death Pockets sewn with line Up against the tide With glory drums and pistols firing Hammer set and light I will sleep the night Upon your grave if you will sleep on mine It took a while to catch my breath It took a while to catch my breath It took a while for me to see That the devil, well the devil is me A higher warning On the morning Of new years day And I am moving west
7.
The Eastern 03:29
I can’t tell you where my heart lies But there’s a ghost in the valley and he’s just my size You gonna love me You gonna love me when I’m gone Well I done my best to drink myself blind I would have stood beside you like a piece of iron You gonna love me You gonna love me when I’m gone You gonna love me when I’m all in roses You gonna love me when I’m gone There’s a busted fence that’s fallin’ down But it’s the only thing that’ll hold me now You gonna love me You gonna love me when I’m gone There’s a row of oaks and a row of graves Like a row of free and row of slaves You gonna love me You gonna love me when I’m gone You gonna love me when I’m all in roses You gonna love me when I’m gone I’m’a catch a train Put a bullet in your brain Right below that line of oaks Put you in the ground Never make a sound Ride that pony east I know You gonna love me when I’m all in roses You gonna love me when I’m gone You can say your prayers and you can dress in white But what’you tell yourself when you’re alone at night? You gonna love me You gonna love me when I’m gone I can’t tell you where my heart lies But I’m’a love to be there oh to watch you die You gonna love me You gonna love me when I’m gone You gonna love me when I’m all in roses You gonna love me when I’m gone
8.
For richer or for poorer For meager or for grand A belly full of fire A bible busted land Hand on the girl that brung me She came from way back east She done it like a master I done it like a beast Hey Rose, double on the wall First to fire is the first to fall My blood dries black and it dries fast Hey Rose, saddle and the sin Angel that you are and the devil that I been If I was the last man Could I be your man at last? I’m just a lonesome loser Dust up and torn to shreds I’d cut them down for miles Just to get you in my bed St. Peter would see me coming Wearing a bastard grin He’d ask me why I’m smiling I’d tell him where I been Hey Rose, double on the wall First to fire is the first to fall My blood dries black and it dries fast Hey Rose, saddle and the sin Angel that you are and the devil that I been If I was the last man Could I be your man at last? My soul don’t need no saving This creek runs deep and strong I wake up every morning And hum a gospel song My clothes could use a washing My boots could use a shine But if you’ll be my woman I suppose I’ll be just fine Hey Rose, double on the wall First to fire is the first to fall My blood dries black and it dries fast Hey Rose, saddle and the sin Angel that you are and the devil that I been If I was the last man Could I be your man at last?
9.
Third of December, my world in a trunk I joined with an army of sailors and skunks I was just seventeen, fragile and green But I knew that that ocean would spit me out mean Belly of fire with hair on my chest With limited options and this was my best Bartender, bartender I best double down That devil will know that I’m leaving this town I’ve still got to find me a sweet little girl Heals up to Jesus, my face in her curls That’s just what a God-fearing sailor would do Now pour me that drink and pour one for you Glory by land Glory by sea Diddle-ey Diddle-ey Don’t you cry for me Now give me a reason And I’ll take the long way home Bartender, bartender that whiskey was warm Maybe I had better wait out this storm It’s not like that ship is the last one to leave I heard that it’s rough living out on the sea No women and wishes and warm feather beds Just working and fishes and sailors instead Glory by land Glory by sea Diddle-ey Diddle-ey Don’t you cry for me Now give me a reason And I’ll take the long way home Bartender, bartender oh what have I done I’ve signed up to die out at sea with a gun I’d rather grow old and fat on a farm With a sweet little curly haired girl on my arm I’m just seventeen, fragile and green Ain’t no way that ocean has mercy on me Glory by land Glory by sea Diddle-ey Diddle-ey Don’t you cry for me Now give me a reason And I’ll take the long way home I’ll hide with the butcher I’ll hide with the hounds I’ll stay on this stool till that ship leaves this town I’ll hide in the bottle all drunken and warm Up on that shelf and away from that storm Dreaming bout growing up fat on that farm With a sweet little curly haired girl on my arm Glory by land Glory by sea Diddle-ey Diddle-ey Don’t you cry for me Now give me a reason And I’ll take the long way home Give me a reason And I’ll take the long way home Give me a reason And I’ll take the long way home
10.
I woke to the sound of a military band Five old dirt coats full of brass buttons Tell the horse to swing down low On the hill outside my home God give but he pretty damn good at the take Took my ma and my pa and got his hand on my neck Three boys buried way down low In that hill outside my home Broke down at the bottom of a big old hill I’m a fool with a broken heart Time’s heavy for a man with plenty to kill And I don’t know where to start And I got no time for hope I’m old and growing older And this town, it is a joke It’s cold and growing colder Like my brothers in the hill outside my home Whole world stained black from a coal mine Ain’t got coal boots because I sold mine Don’t need them where I’m going Heart flush and aces showing I swept the leaves from in front of the door No use cause I ain’t coming back anymore Old mister rooster crowing Heart flush and aces showing Broke down at the bottom of a big old hill I’m a fool with a broken heart Time’s heavy for a man with plenty to kill And I don’t know where to start And I got no time for hope I’m old and growing older And this town, it is a joke It’s cold and growing colder Like my brothers in the hill outside my home They were men who were known for a song and a dance You could tell how it goes from the mud in their hands When they up on the hill and crawling And the kingdom’s tears are falling I will go late at night by the light of the moon Sweet breeze on the hill sing a military tune I can hear my momma bawling As the kingdom’s tears were falling Broke down at the bottom of a big old hill I’m a fool with a broken heart Time’s heavy for a man with plenty to kill And I don’t know where to start And I got no time for hope I’m old and growing older And this town, it is a joke It’s cold and growing colder Like my brothers in the hill outside my home
11.
This trouble I found And this empty house Ain’t the kind of life We sang about But it feels just a little bit like all that I’ve got left This heart full of blues Moves blood full of booze Either way I’m down Either way I lose But it feels just a little bit like all that I’ve got left People say we’re the lucky ones Never answer anyone Rambling wild and free And they say let me tell you son Let’em go and if they come back it’s meant to be I’ve loved and I have left them And I’m left here with this lesson This lonesome night feels a little bit like All that I’ve got left I lie here awake And I can’t shake The picture of that southbound train And it feels just a little bit like all that I’ve got left That whistle it blows And it’s you I know With miles behind A southbound ghost And it feels just a little bit like all that I’ve got left People say we’re the lucky ones Never answer anyone Rambling wild and free And they say let me tell you son Let’em go and if they come back it’s meant to be I’ve loved and I have left them And I’m left here with this lesson This lonesome night feels a little bit like All that I’ve got left I know my friend That this ain’t the end We’re gonna raise hell in heaven again And it feels just a little bit like all that I’ve got left All that I am A shell of a man Ain’t half as strong As this steel in my hand And it feels just a little bit like all that I’ve got left People say we’re the lucky ones Never answer anyone Rambling wild and free And they say let me tell you son Let’em go and if they come back it’s meant to be I’ve loved and I have left them And I’m left here with this lesson This lonesome night feels a little bit like All that I’ve got left
12.
Dear Georgia, my Georgia The girl I call home The years I was drunk Were the good ones I’m told And out in the distance The 4am bells My old trusty horse Are these old rusty rails My shoes are worn thin My money ain’t good I ain’t got nothing A Georgia man should ‘Cept I been busted And broken on down By the sweet Georgia girls In my sweet Georgia town I’m a dog in the dirt You’re the salt of the Earth We’re hounds in the whispering light I’m a book full of words You’re the lesson I learned Sincerely, I love you, goodbye I never been no place Passed the state line Never had stones To say my goodbyes So hold this old note That I wrote to your breast And let the sweet Whiskey I drank to the rest I’m a dog in the dirt You’re the salt of the Earth We’re hounds in the whispering light I’m a book full of words You’re the lesson I learned Sincerely, I love you, goodbye Shaken awake And I’ve been deceived The wind’s got no warm And the trees got no leaves But it don’t make no difference If the sun doesn’t show These tracks run one way And that way ain’t home I’m a dog in the dirt You’re the salt of the Earth We’re hounds in the whispering light I’m a book full of words You’re the lesson I learned Sincerely, I love you, goodbye

credits

released July 27, 2013

Ryan Necci - Vocals / Guitar
Heidi Spencer - Vocals
Allen Coté - Guitar / Lap Steel Guitar
Brian Wells - Bass
Ryan Ogburn - Mandolin
Kyle Keegan - Percussion

Massive 'Thank You' to
Ben Lester - Pedal Steel Guitar
John Patek - Violin

Words by Ryan Necci
Music by Buffalo Gospel

www.BuffaloGospel.com

Recorded by Tony Scholl - Tone of Arc
Mixed by Ryan Elliott - 77eleven Productions
Mastered by Justin Perkins - Mystery Room Mastering and Recording Company

Design by Dave Burkle
Photography by Heidi Spencer

© 2013 Buffalo Gospel. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Ryan Necci and the Buffalo Gospel Nashville, Tennessee

Ryan Necci and the Buffalo Gospel delivers through a virtual “who’s-who” of crack Midwest musicians who have assembled around Necci’s heartfelt and heartbreaking songs. Their wildcat live performances take listeners to a dusty, forlorn, but strangely familiar place that simply gets sweeter with time. ... more

contact / help

Contact Ryan Necci and the Buffalo Gospel

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Ryan Necci and the Buffalo Gospel recommends:

If you like Ryan Necci and the Buffalo Gospel, you may also like: