Songs from Lincoln Durham's
Exodus of the Deemed Unrighteous

All songs written by Lincoln Durham / Published by Rayburn Publishing, SESAC

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1. BALLAD OF A PRODIGAL SON 2:15

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal, Vintage Samsonite Suitcase, Guitar • Rick Richards: Drums

Alissa Durham: Backup Vocal • Andrew Hernandez: Backup Vocal

Father don't you recognize your own kin?

It's been a lifetime, or maybe two

My hair is longer, and my face drawn thin

From years of searchin' for the truth

 

Whoa-oa-oa-a-oa-oa-oa

In the valley of the bones

Whoa-oa-oa-a-oa-oa-oa

They're gonna rise up and head on home

 

We all wander through this shattered old world

Gettin' more glass in our feet

Leavin' bloody tracks everywhere we turn

Like a morbid hide-and-go-seek

 

Whoa-oa-oa-a-oa-oa-oa

In the valley of the bones

Whoa-oa-oa-a-oa-oa-oa

They're gonna rise up and head on home

​

Two plus two ain't always four

And sometimes black ends up white

There's a million shades of gray in between

When you manage to shed a little light

 

Whoa-oa-oa-a-oa-oa-oa

In the valley of the bones

Whoa-oa-oa-a-oa-oa-oa

They're gonna rise up and head on home

​

I've been in every patchwork revival tent from here to yon

So brothers don't you recognize your own kin?

I have returned like a prodigal son

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2. RISE IN THE RIVER 2:50

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal, Guitar, Lap Steel • Rick Richards: Drums, Claps • Alissa Durham: Claps • George Reiff: Claps

There's a rise in the river

There's a whisper on the wave

Sins in the water that cannot be repaid

There's hope in the valley where the children they sing

Dark clouds are rollin' while they shake their tambourines

 

When there's a rise in the river

When there's a rise in the river

When there's a rise in the river

You got to get up to higher ground

 

Moon testifying that the blood that stains these shores

Will be cleaned by a flood and swept away by the mornin'

A pale horseman warnin' of impending doom

Befalling every man, woman, child and child in the womb

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When there's a rise in the river

When there's a rise in the river

When there's a rise in the river

You got to get up to higher ground

 

Brothers and sisters

Ladies and gentlemen

Let me beseech,

Nay, implore you to heed my words today

You better head for the hills

Abandon those cheap thrills

Pour out all your corn liquors and Nyquils

'Cause you got to stay awake • If not for yourself, then for your little family's sake

Lest you make a grave mistake

And find yourself death deep in water

​

When there's a rise in the river

When there's a rise in the river

When there's a rise in the river

You got to get up to higher ground

 

3. ANNIE DEPARTEE 4:09

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal, Cigar Box Guitar (a broomstick stuck in a cigar box with a G string on it. Yeah, a G string) • Rick Richards: Drums, Claps • Alissa Durham: Claps • George Reiff: Claps

This here's a little story about a girl who can't seem to quit killing men

Annie lay your six-guns down

Lest you find you're six foot under ground

Put on your rouge

Powder your nose

Hide your bow-legs under knee-high hoes

You done shot a man, girl

 

One...two...three, put him out of misery

Four...five...six, just to please them wicked kicks

You been burnin' powder

You better burn the breeze

Forever legend as Annie Departee

 

Annie lay your six-guns down

You've been spreadin' lead all over town

Better take your black hat and paint it white

'Fore a buscadero puts you in his sights

You done shot a man, now

​

One...two...three, put him out of misery

Four...five...six, just to please them wicked kicks

You been burnin' powder

You better burn the breeze

Forever legend as Annie Departee

 

Let me tell you a little story about Annie now

You see, Annie was known for her nasty reputation

Born with a short fuse already lit, and suffered from a chronic frustration

Most men would cower underneath the persecution of her pistol point

But every now and then, there'd be one seeking fame and find her at a local jip-joint

Somehow Annie always knew, and her eyes'd turn red

And all of a sudden there'd be a bullet in the belly of Fred, or Steve, or George, or Rick

It don't matter

Oh Annie, you done done it again, girl

You better change your evil ways

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Annie lay your six-guns down

Lest you find you're six foot under ground

Put on your rouge

Powder your nose

Hide your bow-legs under knee-high hoes

You done shot a man, girl

 

One...two...three, put him out of misery

Four...five...six, just to please them wicked kicks

You been burnin' powder

You better burn the breeze

Forever legend as Annie Departee

 

4. BEAUTIFULLY SEWN, VIOLENTLY TORN 3:03

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal, Guitar, Wind Chimes • Rick Richards: Drums

Screen door blowin' in the wind that's dryin' up the blood on the ol' wood floor

Dead-man's shadow's still dancin' from a 40-watt bulb swingin' back and forth

Record is skippin' in the middle of Son House singin' 'bout an old death-letter

Little Ellie Mae's still cryin' in the corner, sayin' "daddy should've known much better"

​

Ol' dirty washtub

Won't getcha' clean enough

Sinnin' from the day you're born

Beautifully sewn, violently torn

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Ellie Mae's life is like an ol' carney ride gone wild and shakin' off the tracks

Mama's in the kitchen ain't hearin' what she heard, and takin' comfort from a bottle in a sack

What she can't figure is if you're still sinnin', how can you ever call yourself saved?

She's singin' "knick-knack, paddy-whack, a broken glass of cognac, I bet he can't hurt me from the grave"

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Ol' dirty washtub

Won't getcha' clean enough

Sinnin' from the day you're born

Beautifully sewn, violently torn

 

Big bad wolf in pretty sheep's skin showed his teeth when he took to the drink

Little bitty girl is capable of terrible things when she's pushed to the brink

Some folks are just victims of the times, and some from their own wicked ways

But now the law is at the front door

Ellie's out the back door

Mama hangs her head in shame

 

Ol' dirty washtub

Won't getcha' clean enough

Sinnin' from the day you're born

Beautifully sewn, violently torn

 

Hush, Ellie Mae

You're safe and sound

Daddy won't be showin' his face around

He's gone to join ol' death for tea

He gonna tell him about the little girl who grew big teeth

 

5. STUPID MAN 2:56

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal, Guitar • Rick Richards: Drums

Stupid man with your pockets jingling

Lips bright red, stained with wine

Will you shake your change to buy your soul?

Reduce yourself to nickels and dimes

​

Pray to be raised from the grave so cold

But you'll be a might heavy with all that gold

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Silly girl with your face painted

You bat your eyes and flash your pearls

But your naked skin won't save your hide

From a fate that is both mine and yours

 

Pray to be raised from the grave so cold

But you'll be a might heavy with all that gold

 

Little child with your baby curls

Never had your chance to choose

But your innocence it don't mean a thing

You done lost the life you never had the chance to lose

​

6. STRIKE US DOWN 1:52

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal (through a Vox Amplifier), Harmonica • Rick Richards: Drums, Oil Pan • George Reiff: Backup Vocal

Preacher man turns himself another page

He ain't teachin' what it say, but it gets him paid

Mama's gonna raise a little baby up right

She gently puts it in the dumpster in the middle of the night

 

Lord strike us down

So we may see

That all mankind can bleed

 

Mr. Jones he's making his briefcase bigger

You better keep up 'cause his wallet's thicker

Ninety pounds, but she gets a little bit thinner

And Mrs. Barbie Doll gets some more plastic in her

 

Lord strike us down

So we may see

That all mankind can bleed

 

Green-eyed creature with a face of gold

Is always one step ahead, or so we're told

Nightmares and dreams mixed in the mud

It doesn't matter which is which when it's in your blood

 

Lord strike us down

So we may see

That all mankind can bleed

 

7. KEEP ON ALLIE 3:56

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal, Guitar, Piano • Rick Richards: Percussion (patting his leg)

Standing at the corner of Mary and 1st

Wind dancing through her cotton dress

She gonna make through her life come better or worse

All the time wearing her Sunday best

Keep on

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"Ruby Tuesday" on the radio

You'll always hear her sing harmony

She keeps the demons at bay with a shot of Old Crow

Too proud to concede, too ashamed to pray

Keep on

 

Keep on, Allie

Allie, keep on

Keep on, Allie

Allie, keep on

 

Fresh ink in her skin says remember this truth:

"The deepest old wounds make the prettiest scars"

She says tears are wasted on the ignorance of youth

She gonna bottle her's up in a little glass jar

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A believer in mercy where mercy is due

And a certain kind of beauty in every sin

The chip on her shoulder ain't from me it ain't from you

It's to remind her where she going and how far she been

Keep on

 

Keep on, Allie

Allie, keep on

Keep on, Allie

Allie, keep on

​

8. SINNER 4:15

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal, Guitar • Rick Richards: Drums

My youngest daughter, I have regrets

To say I have none, well that'd be another one yet

Would be another one yet

Don't let your faith in life, for too long reside

In the hands of the Devil, for him to twist and pry

For him to twist and pry

 

I am a sinner

For tomorrow I die

I am a dead man

This is a dead-man's rhyme

 

I swear to the Lord, through the kindness of His son

I ain't done not even half, of what they all say that I done

What they say I done

 

I am a sinner

For tomorrow I die

I am a dead man

This is a dead-man's rhyme

 

So I'll shine my soul, and I'll wash away all my sins

'Cause if they're gonna take me out

They're gonna have to take me with a grin

 

I am a sinner

For tomorrow I die

I am a dead man

This is a dead-man's rhyme

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9. EXODUS WALTZ 2:37

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal, Fiddle, Banjo • Rick Richards: Drums

You ain't seen my soul for nigh upon ages

But you say I stink from the things that I've done

They cling to me with their wretched little fingers

As fresh as the holy you put on

 

I was born to the hand that raised me unrighteous

Or so you all preached upon high

I had some love left for the taking

You'd have seen if not for the rafter in your eye

 

Whoa is me

Whoa is me

I sway to the "Exodus Waltz"

 

So I'll flee to the cold dark corners of this world

And I'll flaunt my scars and lost blood

And I'll pray for thee and those of like kind

"Judge not, lest ye own self be judged"

"Judge not, lest ye own self be judged"

 

Whoa is me

Whoa is me

I sway to the "Exodus Waltz"

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1...2...3

1...2...3

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10. MAMA 3:25

Written by Lincoln Durham
Lincoln: Vocal, Piano (strings plucked from inside piano), Guitar • George Reiff: Kalimba • Rick Richards: Drums

Mama lay me down

Gently rock away the tears

Mama lay me down

I still need you after all these years

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Mama whisper to me

Tell me to pick myself off the floor

Mama whisper to me

I haven't the fight to fight anymore

 

Mama raise my head

Help me fight against the pain

Mama raise my head

Help me remember who I am again

 

Mama wish me sweet dreams

To put these nightmares to bed

Mama wish me sweet dreams

And a new path for my feet to tread

 

Mama lay me down

Gently rock away the tears

Mama lay me down

I still need you after all these years

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© 2013 Droog Records / Rayburn Publishing, P.O. Box 41962, Austin, Texas 78704. All Rights Reserved. FBI Anti-Piracy Warning: Unauthorized copying is punishable under federal law. 00EOTDU-13