Lyrics
Silver Stream
by Rita Hosking
Old logger and a trapper, faded blue shirt
Silver trailer, porch on one side
Just a pinch of tobacco keeps him alert
Watching his life go passing by
“Lord, do me one more deed,” oh, he cried
Then the fire came and lifted his home up to the sky
And in the treetops it exploded, a fiery scene
And all that’s left is a silver stream.
No family to speak of, chainsaw smell
Boots laced tight, all the stories they told
He’d fight and drink to keep up, he gave’em hell
He was a hard man with a heart of gold
Chorus x2
In Northern Idaho
by Rita Hosking
A fool’s life is heaven
And a fool’s life is hard
In the Idaho mountains,
Fools ain’t too far
We fell for the creekbeds
We fell for the trees
When it came to finding work here
We fell on our knees
Now my family came here a long time ago
If you just arrived, you should pack your bags and go!
‘Cause in the mills or the mines, you’ll spend all your time
In Northern Idaho
Been times I’ve wandered
Been time times I’ve tried
But the city life can’t suit me
Sweet talking lies
I yearn for the wild lands
Open spaces I roam
You can try to drive the curves
But this mountain’s my home
Go back to Twin Falls, Boise, Butte and Gennesee
Go back to your towns, leave more room for me!
Well you can play your cards, but Lord, ain’t it hard?
In Northern Idaho
So you’re lookin for a new start
And you’re thinkin Idaho,
Fool, turn yourself around now
Find someplace else to go
Go’on back to Twin Falls, Boise, Butte and Gennesee
Go back to your towns, leave more room for me!
You know they’ll work you like sin, but it’ll still pull you in
In Northern Idaho
Yeah they’ll work you like sin, but it’ll still pull you in
In Northern Idaho
Operator’s Got a Call
by Rita Hosking and Sean Feder
Operator’s got a call on the line for you
Says he’s been waiting kinda long for the call to come through
You think quick now, shed the night, light a lamp on, hold the phone
Daughter’s in bed, sleeping tight, and the boys are all grown
Though the mountain’s bitter cold, and the owl flaps and hoots
This could be your pot of gold, or a nightmare coming true
Operator’s got a call on the line for you
Says he’s been waiting kinda long for the call to come through
I Want You
by Rita Hosking
Midnight, I lie awake, the curtains open wide,
Cool air, sheets back, the stars are shining bright.
I’m lying here a waiting, waiting for my time,
Wishing for your warm touch, but I can only feel your eyes.
I want you baby, I want you.
I want you darlin, I want you.
Before you went I always knew what I should do,
Now I find I’m drifting between the corners of this room.
You left me here in the summer, with the flowers in their bloom,
I think I’ll pick you a bouquet, I’ll get it to you soon.
I want you baby, I want you.
I want you darlin, I want you.
Cool Black Water
by Rita Hosking
Cough and wheeze, a miner steps through his front door, and he says to his wife, honey I can’t work no more.
It’s been thirty-odd years I’ve slaved underground. I’m spent on the struggle, my time is comin round. My time is comin round.
I did my best, to love and care for you. Don’t call on the doctor, ain’t nothin that he can do.
This here’s our place, the only one we’ve known, I’ll die here at home love, if you’ll leave me alone, oh, please, leave me alone.
It’s too late for me now, though the cool black water’s runnin down
I spent my life workin someone else’s claims. My soul’s in my own hands, I’m gonna go my own way, oh, I’m gonna go my own way.
I’ll see my old friends, no, I got no fear. We’ll all be together, our voices, loud and clear.
And you’ll stay on and do the best you can, I know you love this mountain, like a woman loves her man, oh, like a woman loves her man.
Chorus
He left with the pistol. She waited for the sound.
Taking You In
by Rita Hosking
Like leaves of autumn all aglow
Like a fire’s embers burning low
Like a patch of glories on their morning parade
Like a child beaming over a drawing she made
Like a flock of geese flying on by
I’m taking you in before you pass me by.
Like Friday’s paycheck, crisp and uncashed
Like a hunted buck on his mercy dash
Like rich galena shining in the light
I’m taking you in before you pass me by.
Warm September, cool November
Like a flood of memories run through my head
Like a fading loved one on her death-bed
Like a shooting star in the cool night sky
I’m taking you in before you pass me by.
I’m taking you in before you pass me by.
Warm September, cool November
Jumped the Gun
By Rita Hosking
My life’s a series of unfinished love affairs
Times that it’s worked out have been far apart and rare
Is there a man out there who can change my foolish ways?
Or am I cursed to follow this pattern the rest of my days?
I say
“Hallelujah, I’ve found the best in town! Reverend, he’s the one”
Then I find I’ve changed my mind… oh Lord, I’ve jumped the gun.
I’ve never been patient in the world of romance
I’ve tried to hide my honest feelings but I can’t
I’ve got the cravings of a gentle turtle dove
Yet I clear a wide path of destruction wherever I love
Chorus x2
Cole Younger Killed My Brother
by Rita Hosking
Oh, he’s a bad man, who’s a bad man, oh now, who’s got eyes in the back of his head, leaves a poor boy face down in the dirt, dead? Dead.
Oh, build the fence high, ‘bout yea high, oh now, can’t get the damn devil off of my mind, gonna get somthin done when I get me some time.
Pack a mule and make my quarter, smell the whiskey and I come the corner,
Hey boy, who you lookin for ? Cole Younger. He killed my brother.
Oh, she’s a cryin, Mama’s cryin, oh now, friends standin round just waiting for rain, they’re gonna turn their heads, they’re gonna hear this poor boy sing.
Oh, it’s a fine gun, a mighty fine gun, oh now, kerosene and cold corn’ll keen my brain, he can run he can hide but he won’t fool a soul again.
Chorus
Oh, he’s a bad man, who’s a bad man, oh now, who’s got eyes in the back of his head, leaves a poor boy face down in the dirt, dead? Dead.
