Get all 14 Shandy Lawson releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Pancho & Lefty, Crown Street Kings, Hellbound '21, Solid State, I'm Still Here, Shandy Lawson, Light Me Up, Our Sunny Days, and 6 more.
1. |
Space-Age Guillotine
02:54
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When I walk from this place
There’ll be sunlight on my face
I’ll go in style, truth and grace
When I walk from this place
When I’m led down the hall
Won’t be no fear at all
They’re lighting candles outside the wall
When I’m led down the hall
Oh when I feel that little sting
From that space-age guillotine
I ain’t scared of anything
When I feel that little sting
When I fly through the clouds
Gonna let my sin rain down
There won’t be no guards around
When I fly through the clouds
When I walk from this place
There’ll be sunlight on my face
I’ll go in style, truth and grace
When I walk from this place
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2. |
Come On, Katy
02:23
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Come on, Katy
Let’s lose this freezing wind
Like we did in November
Like I know we’ll do again
Come on, let’s lose this freezing wind
Come on, Katy
Keep up, don’t fall behind
There’s a place around the corner—
They’ll let us sit inside
Katy keep up, don’t fall behind
And all I know is someday we will fly away
On this bitter wind
Katy, we’ll be flying home again
Come on, Katy
We’re too broke for this town
They’re closing down the shelter
They don’t want us around
Too many rich folks in this town
Hey there, Katy
With the emeralds in your eyes
When I hit the big time
I’ll buy you sunny skies
I’ll buy you bright, sunny skies
And all I know is someday we will fly away
On this bitter wind
Katy, we’ll be flying home again
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3. |
The Invasion of Chelsea
05:24
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“It was our darkest hour,”
Is what everyone said
The day the town of Chelsea
Got turned on its head
When the whole world gazed
Bewitched an amazed
At the miracle that laid at their feet
Widow Johnson’s Chevy—
One wheel in the grave
Took to losing oil
At a most alarming rate
And it left a stain
A mark on the terrain
That forever changed little Chelsea
Upon returning home one day
Widow Johnson saw the stain
In a most familiar shape—
The face of the Virgin Mary
She called out to her neighbors
And they called out to theirs
And before you could say a Hail Mary
The whole town was there
And it filled the street
The sound of shuffling feet
They all came out to see her blessed driveway
The pretty girl from the evening news
And the kid from the Chelsea Press
Took turns asking questions
About which driveway was blessed
And it made front page
It was all the rage
Folks of every age came to Chelsea
By noon the hotels all were booked
Widow Johnson’s whole house shook
They were on the roof to get a look
At the face of the Virgin Mary
And maps to the scene were sold on every corner
You can take the walking tour for twenty bucks
Replicas for sale are all hand-painted
And guaranteed to bring you divine luck
“Binoculars for rent, only five dollars—
And guaranteed to provide immaculate perception.”
The excitement reached a fever pitch
Until someone in the crowd
Said “The stain looks less like Mary,
And more like Charlie Brown.”
And they all went quiet
Someone said, “You’re right.”
And they receded into the night
Until the street was empty
The sun came up on Chelsea
Widow Johnson surveyed the scene
That oil stain on the driveway
Would take all day to clean
And she swept the street
Cleaned up the debris
It was back to the old routine in Chelsea
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4. |
Love, Money & Revenge
02:50
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I’m tired but I’m not sleeping
Wheels turning in my head
On the sidewalk and I’m bleeding
In the morning I’ll be dead
Love, money and revenge
Will drive a man right over the edge
Love, money and revenge
Straightenoutstraightenoutstraightenout
I’m a sinner but I’m not wicked
Got an eye for the finer things
Easier to take it than make it
You see what taking it brings
Love, money and revenge
Will drive a man right over the edge
Love, money and revenge
Straightenoutstraightenoutstraightenout
A sharp mind turns away from temptation
A blind eye don’t turn at all
An empty heart tries to fill up on fortune
A deaf ear don’t hear the call
Love, money and revenge
Will drive a man right over the edge
Love, money and revenge
Straightenoutstraightenoutstraightenout
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5. |
If I had a Nickel
02:05
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If I had a nickel for each day that I’d do over
If I had a dime for every time I dropped the ball
I’d just be a few bucks richer and another year older
So what the hell, it’s just as well that I have no change at all
If I had a quarter for each day that I grew older
I could have a pretty penny at the end of my days
But I suppose by then it won’t be worth half of nothing
So I’ll take my quarters and I’ll spend them along the way
Brother, there’s nothing wrong with me
A little sunlight wouldn’t fix
I’m wide open as a breezy summer day
If I had a dollar for each time I wished I had one
I would buy us a jumbo jet and we could fly away
Over the clouds and up around where the rain can’t reach us
One of these days…one of these days
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6. |
The Beat
02:20
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In my shoes there’s pins and needles
I have walked this beat so long
Some days I’m the devil
Other days I can do no wrong
And I’m looking for release in a drink after hours
But there’s nothing in this glass
But the reflection of my eye
As I’m walking through the valley
In the shadow of days gone by
I’m looking for a memory
Of where I was when I lost my drive
And I’m thinking really hard about going out of business
Cashing in my pension
For a little peace of mind
Now I’m thinking, thinking clearly
About all of the ways to fall
Am I waiting? Am I Ready?
For a chance to lose it all
But I never lost my nerve when it came down to my conscience
Never lost my head when
It was time to shine
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7. |
With You
03:37
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When the wheels of heaven spin off their tracks
When the sky is no longer blue
When the sun goes down and can’t find its way back
I’ll still belong with you
Every daydream starts with your face
Every memory too
Here in your arms I know I’m home
Here I belong with you
When the lights go down and my heart is still
And I lose sight of all that I knew
I won’t forget my place in this world
Here I belong with you
Every daydream starts with your face
Every memory too
Here in your arms I know I’m home
Here I belong with you
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8. |
What I Did
02:26
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Everyone will know about what I did
What I did will be the talk of the town
I’ll go down in history
When they write my history down
Everyone will know about what I did
The media will cover it from every side
Maybe I’ll star in the movie
Lights, camera, action—I’m gonna shine
And be a big shot hotspot at the parties
Champagne, airplanes and limousines
Mmm but then again—
The world may not be ready for what I did
And come to think of it, I’m often misunderstood
I could be criticized and ostracized, branded obscene
Blackballed and deported
Or stoned on the green
Or put up on the biggest cross that God’s ever seen
Everyone will hate me for what I did
What I did will get the evil eye
I’ll go down in history
A disappointing devil such as I
Lord have mercy on a disappointing devil such as I
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9. |
The Ninth Cup
06:34
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Audrey was unfaithful
Time and time again
And when she came in late
Her husband knew just where she’d been
So he asked around until he found
A friend of a friend of a friend
And they discussed a toxic dust—
She’d never cheat again
There were eight teacups in the house
For Audrey’s morning tea
She had a cup with breakfast
Seven days a week
He picked up one of Audrey’s cups
Grinning at himself
Then sprinkled the poison in the bottom
And placed it on the shelf
The sun came up on a brand new day
And Audrey drank her tea
Before she’s done he left for work
And rolled back in at three
But she was fine when he got inside
Rosy, right as rain
Seven teacups, seven days
Seven chances remained
Each day followed same as the first
Day after day for a week
She’d get up and pour a cup
He’s watching as she drinks
But he knew before he opened the door
When he got home that day
That she’d be laying dead in there
From teacup number eight
There was no surprise when he saw her eyes
Had lost their spark of life
He sat down on the sofa
Next to his late wife
And that was when he saw a pen
And a letter in her hand
Just a paragraph or two
And it began:
“Dear Johnny, I’m so sorry
I couldn’t bring myself to tell you to your face
Lately I have been so lonely
When you’re at work it gets so empty in this place
So I have spent some time
Looking for the love we lost
With another man in town
“Oh I hope you’re not so angry
That you can’t see your way to forgive me my crimes
I’m not asking for a pardon—
Just a chance for us to take a little time
To catch our breath.
“I’m not feeling well, Johnny
I’ll just close my eyes until you get home…”
Eight short years come and gone
With Audrey laid to rest
He still works the same old job
And sleeps at the same address
And he gets up and drinks a cup
Of coffee every day
Until one morning, he calls in sick
He feels a little strange
He looks across the kitchen table
Audrey’s sitting there,
A smirk upon her face
“Oh, Johnny—I’m so sorry!
You didn’t think I’d really let you get away?”
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10. |
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Been to the bottom but I come back again
Wish I had a dime for all the bottoms I been
Can’t get out of trouble, but I sure get in
Oh, lord—I’m slick as sin
- Written by SL
Mama tried the bible and the rolling pin
Daddy swung the leather and it stung my skin
They tried to send a message but I didn’t flinch
They said I’d learn my lesson but I never did
- Written by Chris Bousquet
Two steps up, but they knock you right back
I try to make up for all the skills that I lack
First I try, then I fail, and then I try again
Even the devil can’t stop me, I’m slick as sin
- Written by Frank Critelli
I was just fourteen when I left the nest
I took a railroad job, and headed west
When my father finally caught me I was grown a man
He grabbed me by the neck and cussed Goddamn
- Written by Calvin DeCutlass
I’ve been known to talk about where I’ve been
I’m like a travel agent in a singer’s skin
And if the journey ends before I’ve arrived
At least I’ll have some peace knowing that I tried
- Written by Mike Lasala
Wish that I could stay a longer while
We’re putting it together here old-school style
Clowns on the radio, pissing on fires
But the tent’s coming down and the wind’s getting higher
- Written by Patsy O’Brien
Another year over, another record to do
And if it takes us nowhere, at least I’ll be there with you
Ask me if I want to and I’m gonna say yes
Even if our only fame is in the Bristol Press
- Written by Peter & Julie Riccio
I spied a little honey out in the front row
She was digging my groove, she said, “Go Velvet, Go!”
I gave her a wink and I started to vamp
Got tangled up in my cord and tripped over my amp
- Written by James Velvet
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Shandy Lawson New Haven, Connecticut
Formerly of Los Angeles, Tampa, and NYC, Shandy is a New Haven, CT-based performing songwriter. But really, he'll play pretty much anywhere.
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