Shine On, Johnnie

This is a song about Johnny Shines, a bluesman who traveled with the legendary Robert Johnson at times. Robert would go to some town with Johnny, stay and play a few gigs and then leave and go somewhere else without saying anything. Johnny would eventually catch up with Robert somewhere else. Then, Robert would leave again without saying anything. It reminds me of a man who does that to his wife or girlfriend, although sometimes he leaves in an emotional sense instead of a physical sense; he’s there but he’s not there, if you know what I mean. This song kind of melds the Robert Johnson/Johnny Shines relationship as well as the other type.

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

That man’s going to leave you in New Jersey or New York

But shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

That man’s going to leave you in Memphis or Arkansas

That man’s got to ramble. Lord, he’s got to be alone

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

That man, you know he come and go as he please

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

I know that man, he bring you to your knees

He keeps his running shoes with him when he sleeps.

But shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

But shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

That man took the last nickel from your nation sack

But shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

He swore one day that he would put it back

Even though he wants to, you know that man just can’t

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

That man, you know he’s as good as they say

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

But that man says he sold his soul along the way

Only the good Lord knows it on Judgment Day

So shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

Old Honeyboy tell you that your man is dead and gone

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

A jealous husband, that man he did some wrong

Don’t believe him till you see that cemetery stone

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on, Johnnie. Shine on

The Average Song

Average Song, The

 

Sometimes I turn to the left

Sometimes to the right

Sometimes it’s bottled up

And other times I fight

 

Sometimes I wanna be in love

Sometimes I lose that thought

Sometimes I run wild

And other times I get caught

 

The law of averages says I’m average

So I guess that’s what I must be

An average Joe like me

 

Sometimes I’m a bad boy

And sometimes I’m so good

Sometimes we get along

Much much more than we should

 

Sometimes I’m silly too much

Sometimes proper as all

Sometimes I get run over

And other times I stand tall

 

The law of averages says I’m average

So I guess that’s what I must be

An average Joe like me

 

Sometimes I drive my car

Sometimes I just walk

Sometimes I get me moving

But mostly it’s just talk

 

One foot in the fire and one in a bucket of ice

On the average, I feel nice.

Oh so nice.

 

Baby…

The law of averages says I’m average

So I guess that’s what I must be

An average Joe like me (x2)

 

Paul J. Hoffman

1-22-1987

Everything is Changin’ (Where Do I Fit In?)

I wrote this when a friend of mine was in the midst of giving up the rock n’ roll lifestyle that we’d sort of been living (me only on the nights I went to see his band)  I didn’t have any idea what this meant for me.

 

Everything is Changin’ (Where Do I Fit In?)

 

The woman I loved, well she don’t love me no more (x2)

Everything is changin’, where do I fit in?

Bottom of the bottle, it don’t comfort me no more (x2)

Everything is changin’, where do I fit in?

The postman don’t bring me letters, he brings me bills instead (x2)

Everything is changin’, where do I fit in?

 

Used to go down to the roadhouse, friend-boys three and me (x2)

Everything is changin’, where do I fit in?

Mama’s little babies, well they aren’t babies no more (x2)

Everything is changin’, where do I fit in?

Pleasures of the flesh, they don’t completely satisfy me (x2)

Everything is changin’, where do I fit in?

 

I’m puzzled by this puzzle, puzzled by this puzzle I’m in

The pieces they move about, they seem to shout

“We can’t fit you in!”

And when they finally stop, leave me a spot

Seems I’m the one who’s changin’

 

If it weren’t for your fire, I’d be 40 below

So, I don’t never mind where I’m going to go

There’s just one thing that I need to know

You are never changin’, with you I’ll always fit in

I said you are never changin’, with you I’ll always fit in

And if you are the way, c’mon and let me in

Lord I ask you please, can’t you fit me in?

By Paul Hoffman

9/11/2004