Lyrics from Lightning Stills - ‘Sings His Songs” EP
My Baby Was Drunk
Lyrics by Craig Fort
Gettin’ off work from a long day. Trying to raise a family on little pay. Thinking ’bout lovin’ my girl when I get home. My uptight boss was on my ass. Gotta get back so I can relax. Make a nice meal and let my worries fade.
But as I walked in through the door, I caught a whiff of something I’d smelled before. My baby was drunk when I got home. Lazy-eyed and stoned to the bone. She just gets so lonely when I’m gone. She was bored, so she got plowed. I gotta sober her up somehow. My baby was drunk when I got home today.
I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. Sat her down and asked her why she couldn’t wait ’til I got home to start. She denied a single nip. Stormed right off and then she tripped. Comin’ home to this is not what I had in mind.
My baby was drunk when I got home. Cross-eyed and stoned to the bone. Seems like it happens almost every day. I wasn’t here to give her coddle, so she ran right to the bottle. My baby was drunk when I got home today.
With her it’s all or none, and there is no one and done. My baby was drunk when I got home. Lazy-eyed and stoned to the bone. She just gets so lonely when I’m gone. She was bored, so she got plowed. I gotta sober her up somehow. My baby was drunk when I got home today.
Song Story
Life doesn’t always go as planned.
Nose Booze Blues
Lyrics by Craig Fort
It’s comin’ on two and the bar’s gonna close. Time to go home and powder my nose. I slip him a bill, and away I go. I’m walking out the door with my precious cargo.
Livin’ this life is makin’ me poor. Going in circles like a boat with one oar. Maybe someday I’ll make it to shore, but tonight this boy is doing some more.
Oh, but that’s how it goes. Another night here counting these rows. A head full of demons that I can’t let go. I’m shoving all my money right up my nose.
My hands are shaking and the bag takes a spill. Slidin’ the card and rollin’ the bill. Clearin’ my plate and getting my fill, and tonight the snow is giving me chills.
And now I’m looking for more. I’m peekin’ in the windows and I’m knockin’ on doors. I’m makin’ phone calls just trying to score, because tonight this boy is losing the war.
Song Story
This was my nightly routine. What starts out as a good time can easily turn into losing control of yourself, letting the addiction take over, and dealing with all the struggles that come with it.
Bars and Cop Cars
Lyrics by Craig Fort
Well, I’m the type of guy that gets around. Tippin’ my tend and knockin’ ’em down. Comin’ around here, they all know my name. I wish with the cops it wasn’t the same. ’Cause when I get drunk, I’m made of stone, and you can’t tell me not to drive home.
I go from bars to cop cars. The fuzz is always after me. I go from bars to cop cars, driving when I can’t even see. I’ve got some pizza in the fridge and some beer on ice. Lord, let me make it home tonight.
I go from bars to cop cars. Comin’ in, I said, “Let’s make this quick.” I got here at noon, but now it’s six. Swappin’ war stories and tradin’ smoke. Gimme one more before I’ve gotta go. That was so good, let’s do it again. Why don’t ya belly up, stranger? Now you’re my friend.
Well, someone should’ve took my keys from me. ’Cause now I’m down, cuffed here on my knees. I went from bars to cop cars. What keeps me coming around? I’m sittin’ in bars and cops. I can’t stop puttin’ ’em down.
One foot out the door and the other in the can. Keepin’ this up will make me a dead man. I go from bars to cop cars.
I stumbled out the door and dropped my keys. My favorite bartender started beggin’ me, “Please, let’s get you in a cab, and we’ll pay the toll.” “Don’t worry ’bout me, man. I’m good to go.” After a few blocks, I began to reel. Then the man caught me snoozin’ behind the wheel.
I went from bars to cop cars. What the hell is wrong with me? Sitting in bars to cop cars. I can’t keep from breakin’ free. One of these days, I hope I’ll see — livin’ this life’s no good for me. I went from bars to cop cars.
Song Story
Going to the bar for “a quick one” always turned into “one after another.” It’s easy to convince yourself to stay, even though you may have had other plans. I did plenty of driving when I wasn’t supposed to, and the last verse tells the story of my last DUI. It wasn’t enough to get me to stop drinking, though. I just didn’t go to the bar so I didn’t have to drive.
Shot of Brown
Lyrics by Craig Fort
I took one after another, ’cause brown was my favorite color. I shot it till my face turned pale. That’s what started this colorful tale. I took the bottle and I tossed it back. Suddenly everything went black. My mouth was drooling and my head fell down. That shot of brown had took me down.
Her blue eyes were seeing red. If she hadn’t found me, I’d surely be dead. Whether it was God or just dumb luck, they got me in that big white truck. Strapped to a gurney with orange IVs. Not too many as lucky as me. I woke up in a loose blue gown. That shot of brown had took me down.
I got up and I tried to run. The white coats said, “Now hold on, son.” You gotta do what we tell you to or the boys in blue will come for you. It’s time for you to walk the line, ’cause you’ve always been color blind. Now, if you don’t go and settle down, that next shot of brown will take you down.
Song Story
This was the first Lightning Stills song I wrote. I had checked myself into inpatient rehab. I couldn’t sleep on one of the nights after detox. I had decided I wanted to start a country project, and these lyrics came pouring out while lying restless around midnight. I got up and wrote them down and was able to fall asleep. It is an accurate play-by-play of the night I woke up in a hospital bed with .40% BAC. I was confused and tried to leave. That’s when I realized it was time for a complete change.
It’s All a Warsh
Lyrics by Craig Fort
We split up in early spring, when I found out that you had a fling. All the boys lined up for you, layin' down their old moves. Plenty of time to think of what went wrong and write my sad cowboy songs. It’s time to close up shop, it’s all a warsh. It’s all a warsh, when I try to make things right. It’s all a warsh, in my head each night. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I’ll find someone new. ‘Cause now our spark is gone, it’s all a warsh. I found a working girl today, and she told me I’d have to pay for the things I asked to do to help me get over you. Now my coin is all gone, and that lady moved along…and I’m still in my head. It’s all a warsh. My arms are here again, but you’ve got other men. I’m tellin' ya friend, it’s all a warsh.
Song Story
As I was writing the first EP, I felt like a classic country album needed a breakup song. It’s a lighthearted take on how devastatingly crippling and never-ending a loss can be. It’s also about realizing who your real friends are, and who the wolves are that have been waiting in the shadows.