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Across the Street

from 3 Solid Blows to the Head by Adam Stemple

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about

Steve and my homage to traditional folk where each verse is joined to the other by the last line repetition instead of subject or story. I find that even so, songs like these end up telling an emotional story if not a literal one.

Rare acoustic solo for this time in my career, but one I still like for its bluegrassy goodness.

lyrics

An old tom rooster by the road
with no friend but a lonely toad
who thinks he's going to be an athlete
the toad waves, heads out, waves again
the rooster cannot leave his friend
who's just performed a herculean feat
So he gingerly starts across the street

A drunken gambler sits and dreams
of riverboats and New Orleans
not thinking of how badly he was beat
tomorrow he'll forget today
wake up believing he can play
his way right up into the penthouse suite
His stake is waiting just across the street.

Well, there's one sinner dressed in rags
with Muscatel in a paper bag
he takes a drink and tries to be discreet
It looks like rain and cold tonight
but he thinks he will be all right
with shelter and a little bread and meat
It looks warmer just across the street.

Your family tree's an old buckeye
with all your children born to die
but you still watch out for who they meet
plant a vision, plant a seed
take a step and then proceed
as long as you have breath and two good feet
You try to help them as they cross the street.

Last year's lover on the phone
she's unhappy, she's alone
her voice reminds you why it was so sweet
Well, you might try another tack
but she will never take you back
though she might join you for a bite to eat
At a little place just across the street.

credits

from 3 Solid Blows to the Head, released May 18, 2021
Music and Lyrics by Adam Stemple and Steven Brust

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all rights reserved

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Adam Stemple Minneapolis, Minnesota

Adam has played so much guitar it'd make your ass hurt. Road dog for 20 years, in town Irish bars for another 20. Played everything from metal to folk to ethno-gothic-sludge-jazz. Winner of two Minnesota Music Awards.

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