Chuck Ragan

Oh California, if there's one thing I like to see, It's miles of asphalt boiling under the sun. I'm rolling up my sleeves and I'll wait For the moon rise for any phase it's in. Pray I see no black dogs running And ride all night till the early morning. Steer w...

Never underestimate the glory and the grace in the way you move Moving through me, so enthusing I've never seen the likes of you in any other year I ever knew Searching through me, just to find you And all I could ask for is a thousand moments And all I...

Did you ever wander far from home? Far from what is safe and comfortable? Trading all your demons for the moon And sleeping till the sun makes it all true. I don't know how long I've been gone And I can't say when I'll get home. I'll keep my engine clea...

I see the fire through the trees Hear the hollers through the breeze Drowning out the season like there’s none Hold the blue steel in my hands Moving my feet over land While I’m thanking God I’ve got a gun Nothing like a war at hand To turn a boy into a man Le...

They took him in arrest with a shot through his chest And many more followed through The men folk shook their heads and said we did what we had to do While the women folk buried their heads in their hands and covered the children’s eyes Before that mob tu...

How cold can a heart become Before it crumbles Or decides to stay numb I know what it's like to feel cold I don't wanna die alone 'cause I can't stand feeling nothing I can't stand feeling old I cant stand standing for nothing When standing up is all I know...

Took a gander at the stars above me, closed my eyes and took a breath for free. Never understood the nature of madness, the tragedy of the common so they say. Are we not the ones that manifest our destiny? Are we not the ones to spill blood in the streets? Ar...

Pack up the truck and that old road Headin' straight up 395 There ain’t nothing much like freedom and wind To make a tired man feel quite alive Oh and heaven’s having your girl by your side Oh and heaven’s as close as taking a ride Well Bishop has pass...

Come on brother take a ride with me Something’s gotta give between us ya see Either way we’ll speak or fight it on out Yeah ‘cause this old blood Runs far from thin Thicker than the water we’re drowning in There’s room for two here to swing Or bury old...

woke up one day and made his way down to the water front as he did all the days in his 44 years as longs as the ships made it in stands for a cause stands for a union for another day is gone a dying breed of workers who lived to carry on who died f...

One simple word an you cut ´em down. Severing life line with shame, speak to the masses and make ´em smile. Donning a halo you´ve made, but the wind won´t carry you far this time. The truth is you´ve lost your own wings. Traded them in for mere shiny things, w...

Come dance with me or I’ll explode The reckless side is now shining through you So shake your hair and do what you do And I’ll break my legs to keep up with you Cause I don’t like being alone Unless I feel alone Dancing with you is everything I know that it c...

Do you pray? Do you fall On your knees when everything goes wrong? Go back to the word In the good book you heard That will save you a place somewhere. Do you sing From your soul When you feel that calm before the storm? Bleed out your throat Or sound just li...

Don't cry if you've never seen the rain A thousand ways we come undone, we're never quite the same When the air we breathe is golden brown I don't seemly understand We have built a common masquerade Don't cry if you've never seen the rain Go back to where you...

Wake to sound again, still tinnitus reigns. Waiting for the call, and the time to state it all. Don't say a word. Just lay like a stone and gather what it's worth. I long to see her eyes, shining like a light. That's taken hold my soul, and everything I know....

And we only want to love Why do we never know Questions come and answers go Somewhere else besides our head Wear the stripes until we're dead Spending time here and above Hopelessly devoted the flesh and blood until we're done and done Done and done Wake up...

A miner was leaving her home for work when she heard a little child scream She went to the side of the little girl's bed "Oh momma, I've had such a dream. Oh momma don't go to the mines today For dreams have so often come true Oh momma, dear momma, pleas...

Feeling funny in my mind, Lord, I believe I'm fixing to die, fixing to die Feeling funny in my mind, Lord I believe I'm fixing to die Well, I don't mind dying But I hate to leave my children crying Well, I look over yonder to that burying ground Look over yond...

Takes us in before your troubles bury you deep and leave you plain For the wind won’t ask for nothing now but may take what was built to stay For all we’ve got is moments of grace we savor more than not And all we care is to drown out the sanctified stench...

Where are the ones who carry their guns To the far away lands with the blackened suns From the smoke and narrow minds The half-truth trails and holy lies Of an empty heart and overflowing mouth A plastic smile and a coward’s frown Repercussions come around Whe...

Simple backbeats seem to soothe me. If i could hold them i would let's say, Take some rest as if not wicked. And walk around enjoying silence. A world away, elders gather. Speak their tongue and hardly falter. With words of bound, joy and grievance, Simple son...

All aboard the river A way for rain and soul* Unsure of destinations We'll absorb oh every Wind and current In a bosom of a worthy expedition Whether we are weak and weary Whether we walk tall and brave I'll be there for you, you'll be there for me...

Tried it my way to get it right Always got cut down to size I never thought enough about it Was quick to quit and quick to shout about it I cut my feet while I cut my teeth Breaking out rather breathlessly Independent but sadly faulty Dedicated but a bi...

Hold tight, Geraldine, I need to say what I mean. Time's gone by for so long and I've seen all the wrongs that I've done. Since we have yelled and stomped our feet after you took me in your arms. Cut from you, near death you drew the breath that made me one....

Put me on a ship, put me on a plain 'Cause lord, I'm on my way to the land of the lost and insane Well I don't know my way, but I will know my cause All I can do is pray that the world will see what this war cost I'm on my way Feet don't fail me now 'Cause my...

Let Water Wash Away, the shore of bleeding pain. And erode to start anew, on foundations once consumed. Glory [x4] Pay homage with that pain. And relish all the same. In fire of warm array, in arms, voice and days of Glory [x4] Our days are numbered surely...

Transgressions are made while cowards convey with a demon's ear, fixed and set to slay. While the statue awaits to be whittled away with a mock of a slogan hiding filth with fear. Never to learn, only to burn...and be burned. Branded straight through...

Heading east on 20, out of downtown Birmingham. Clocking 57 days on the road. The rig is still rolling. on to south Carolina, Me and the boys got one more show to go. And we keep on rolling smooth, like the old Cahaba river do. Passing time with sleep and alco...

How do you get right with one eye closed so tight Slipping backwards, falling prey to plastic eyes? So hard to walk straight For the style has made you sway And every cavalry on every strip that bears your name. Open your eyes, you are standing empty and cold....

Well the rich are getting mighty And the poor folks stay the same As the middle class just seems to fade away And on every death bed, no matter what the case I can’t help to wonder what they’d say “I could’ve been a better man. I could’ve been a saint....

We are the common not filth and disgrace You would know better if you saw it that way Lock your scapegoats and shut out the lights Lock up your secrets and give your skeletons the keys We will never be what you want the world to be You’ll never have a glimpse...

I found myself on mountains, over blue seas Above chaotic drillings, in the clouds to freeze All I want, is the cure this landsick messing me All I need, is moving water to set me free I found myself in hurry, dead to the bone Saturated and worried,...

Another full moon sky, through the trees and filtered light. And the silence oh my dear, is the storm drawing near. Let it rain. I don't mind. I'll keep you warm, high and dry. Light your fire and hold you right. And sing your song one more time. Howl at the...

There ain’t no wasted time covering our own ground. Sooner or later on, we’re all surprised by nights that we lay awake with the world just a caving in. Truth can be deafening and lies can become. Seems like if I had wasted time I would’ve knelt to the gallow...

Scan for lights on the brand new banks Muddy cars and kitchen sinks I need you like I need my health In this world and out of my self I keep walking to see the next mile Keep on praying for a strangers smile A hand to hold and a path well lit A door to...

Well I found myself on a lonesome highway. So I cut my teeth rebelling my way. I told myself I would not fail, I would not fall and I would prevail But it just takes one hit to put you in your place. Well tell me what you want, I'm all ears. I'll give you all...

I came home late tonight I may have been stuck in my thoughts Or just in the snow Buried deep under the white Digging like an animal Far from civilized If I could feel my feet I'm sure that they would probably hurt But they're still a part of me Tired...

We come and go to let it bleed. Burning midnight oil and candles at both ends to see. All I've known is nothing's free and nothing's easy when you're sowing busted hearts on sleeves. Oh I gave my hands to take you home but I had no home to give you. I can't...

Unequivocal, my heart just nearly stopped My mind was blown when my whole world fell apart I was powerless to simply coalesce What befell, I said all that came to pass [Refren:] Well I, I need you Like I need all my blood and my breath Swallow the sent...

I could walk for miles looking for those eyes to see the light I need. Before the darkness comes sealing up my fate. Yea and listen close for the ringing tone and true to it I'll be and take the road that was cut for you and me. I couldn't wait for the call e...

The tired winds blow And the restless go home And the haggard lies down to sleep Where the hours go slow And the beauty we know is the love That is the key Lay awake and breath while the fire overtakes me Down the lonesome road. Ole diesel, please take me hom...

Downright hopelessness When the wrath of consequence comes knocking on that old front door And we count the ways, the seconds have fallen into place with the emptiness Don't hold the phone I know some are counting on God above or methadone To kill way a...

fare thee well old friends fare thee well we go burning up fuel and road oh but bet your stars one day we’ll return for revival, sin and soul well the color of road is as black as the coal the oldtimers burnt into ash and the lines laid in gold lea...

To the wind she stood as her hair blew back Testing the waters on a one way track Through the dusk of a High Sierra Storybook from an East Bay cradle, not to mention cool Oh, I didn't see you as a thief Oh, but you stole my heart anyway And brought me s...

Oh I must say, my hearts on fire since I've been away, since I last saw your face. Oh Come what may, it'll all get right and lonely old nights will be a thing in the past. All I wish is you to sleep as sound as your eyes and as sweet. I wish you to know I be...

Took a walk in Rotterdam, thinking about her train. All along the banls of memory, holding tide away. And on the end of every corner i could almost hear her sound. Time went by in ecstasy, walking next to walls. And the color of the water, was the rails that s...

It seems we're okay Through we are medicate To come down from the pain if it's save We all wait for rain when the dustbowl of shame Feels our lungs with regret that we've saved It seems we're okay growing old from a miles of Broken hearted and love songs in s...

1, 2, 3, 4! She said, "Lay down, we only have 'til midnight To leave this town and wander far from home But I don't know when again I'll have you So rest your soul, and lighten your load" [Refren:] We can do some damage, 'fore the hour's handed To us...

What do you want to do tomorrow Is it what you find yourself doing today If it's not you better move Before you find yourself being schooled Wondering how the hell did I waste my life away What do you want to do tomorrow Is it what you find yourself doi...

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How would we have known we would wash away? As two solemn searching souls, together to the sea Amongst the creatures underneath the deepening Holding to the flame burning you and me We sacrifice the talk and praise the eyes in all wonder and amazement And not...

Some days we're ripped and torn away From the shore and tossed to a watery grave Set adrift in the depths of the drink in the hands of the gods we curse We call for help when no one's around Shot down fleeting thoughts never make a sound Set adrift in th...

In the backwaters beyond fables and years Is freedom in moving on There's a silence that may be heard loud and clear In the simple, wild, and natural cadence Keep my eyes opened Keep my ears sharpened There's nothing to fear But fear itself in Oh desp...

Cut the line I’ve heard the rest You’ll never get me answering To the cold hand of the dying man Bred to take and to rape what the leavers left Oh come on. Show a little mercy to dying suns Oh come on Show a little mercy to humble ones Some will go as the ti...

Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You'll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savin' Then you better start swimmin' Or you'll sink like a stone For the times the...

Looked into the sky, walked another mile. Watching snowfall take its time to the ground, To bury this town. Yeah, one step at a time walking on the line. Laid in the dirt of the pigs, The saints and the clowns know 'em all too well. Yeah, we already made our...

In 1649 To St. George’s Hill, A ragged band they called the Diggers Came to show the people’s will They defied the landlords They defied the laws They were the dispossessed reclaiming what was theirs We come in peace they said To dig and sow We come...

I smell the bullshit like trenchfoot on your breath You're the disease they call 'we're sick to death A personal friend of Mr. Sydney James you say Oh no not now please go away And we all lived to start a war and I don't understand anymore And we've a...

I'm a vagabond just wandering along an obscure stretch of the drag I don't sleep much at all but don't get me wrong I brought it on myself with this flag that I'm waving high, trying to keep boots dry for the high ground to lay my head and for a moment I...

She is not the type that would talk the talk despite Over how and where she walks When apparent duty calls I am overly enthralled and delivered from the dark Of a reckoning awakening And every move she makes with the cadence that she wakes Takes my soul up to...

I came here to wake with you at dawn With no understanding of any wrong To lay with you for endless nights Trade the wreckage for the likes of a hazel eyed, strong willed brown haired girl So hold tight to break free You've got all of me if you want it...

Old man are you tired Will I one day fill those boots Walk the world over In search of righteous truth Old man are you gone Down to the proving ground Sir your time is served Now let me make my rounds For my cause I’m a walking down for my judgemen...

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We have a whole world of hate at the end of our hands And not enough love to go around All the images are burning on our walls And the cities are burning all around us all Oh I can't wait for salvation And means to escape unknown Or deliverance from dam...

6000 miles from Gainesville to Cali. Open road with a rocking my soul. I'm here to get it, I won't quit it till I'm rolling up to my door. Got some good times, 10 cylinders that fire and a woman at the end of the road, chasing down a dream, running hard and c...

2400 miles away Oh under some old towne Micanopy stars While in the city of angels one angel lays I'm dreaming of my lover counting sheep and scars Oh it ain't like we're living as lackadaisical Kings It ain't like we're all that alone in a world not fit...

Well I shake when I walk I spit when I’m down I beat my head against the wall Like the fool that I am Catch one drop of a tear In the palm of my hand Pour the rest out in front To the ground I couldn’t stand On and on I declare On and on I debate you...