Standing Outside The Fire 

We call them cool 
Those hearts that have no scars to show 
The ones that never do let go 
And risk the tables being turned. 

We call them fools 
Who have to dance within the flame 
Who chance the sorrow and the shame 
That always comes with getting burned. 
But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire 
'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire. 

We call them strong 
Those who can face this world alone 
Who seem to get by on their own 
Those who will never take the fall. 
We call them weak 
Who are unable to resist 
The slightest chance love might exist 
And for that forsake it all. 
They're so hell-bent on giving, walking a wire 
Convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire. 

(chorus) 
Standing outside the fire 
Standing outside the fire 
Life is not tried, it is merely survived 
If you're standing outside the fire. 
There's this love that is burning 
Deep in my soul 
Constantly yearning to get out of control 
Wanting to fly higher and higher 
I can't abide 
Standing outside the fire. 

*chorus* 

Standing outside the fire 
Standing outside the fire 
Life is not tried, it is merely survived 
If you're standing outside the fire. 
  

The Night I Called The Old Man Out 

The dining room fell silent 
I can't believe what I just said 
I just told my dad he's full of it 
And I watched his face turn red 
And I should've said, "I'm sorry" 
But I matched him shout for shout 
I can still hear that screen door slammin' 
The night I called him out. 

(chorus) 
He said, "Son it's gonna hurt me more than it hurts you" 
But somehow I couldn't help but have my doubts 
'Cause I'd seen my own dear brothers crawl back in the house 
Each time they called the old man out. 
Fist to fist and eye to eye 
Standin' toe to toe 
He would've let me walk away 
But I just would not let it go 
Years of my frustration 
Had let me to this night 
Now he'll pay for all the times that he's been right. 

*chorus* 

It was over in a minute 
That's when I realized 
The blood came from my mouth and nose 
But the tears came from his eyes 
And in memory of that fateful night 
I know the greatest pain was his 
And I just pray some day I'm half the man he is. 

*chorus* 

Just like my own dear brothers 
I crawled back in the house 
The night I called the old man out 
  

American Honky-Tonk Bar Association 

If your paycheck depends on The weather and the clock 
If your conversation calls for 
A little more than a coffee pot 
If you need to pour your heart out 
And try to rectify some situation 
That you're facing 
Contact your American Honky-Tonk Bar Association. 

When Uncle Sam dips in your pocket 
For most things you don't mind 
But when your dollar goes to all of those 
Standing in a welfare line 
Well rejoice you have a voice 
If you're concerned about the destination 
Of this great nation 
It's called the American Honky-Tonk Bar Association. It represents the hardhat 
Gunrack, achin'-back 
Over taxed, flag-wavin', fun-lovin' crowd 
They're heart is in the music 
And they love to play it loud 
There's no forms or applications 
There's no red tape administrations 
It's the American Honky-Tonk Bar Association. 

We're all one big family 
Throughout the cities and the towns 
We don't reach for handouts 
we reach for those who are down 
And every local chapter has a seven day a week 
Available consultation 
For your frustration 
It's called the American Honky-Tonk Bar Association. 

It represents the mud flaps 
Six pack, bare crack 
Over-taxed, flag-wavin', fun-lovin' crowd 
They're heart is in the music 
And they love to play it loud 
There's no forms or applications 
There's no red tape administrations 
It's the American Honky-Tonk Bar Association. 
  

One Night A Day 

There's not a lot of things to do 
I wouldn't rather do with you 
Guess I'm funny that way 

Lately I just sit and stare 
I talk to people who aren't there 
To get through one night a day. 
  

(chorus) 
One night a day 
One step away 
From leavin' you behind 
I sit up with the radio 
Sing along with the ones I know 
To get through one night a day. 

*chorus* 

I'm callin' every friend I've had 
Wake 'em up, and make 'em mad 
Let 'em know that I'm OK . 

I used to sit and talk to you 
They're all just a substitute 
To get through one night a day. 

*chorus* 

I stay up with the late, late show 
Just another way I know 
To get through one night a day 
To get through one night a day. 
  

Kickin' And Screamin' 

Well, I don't know what my uncle did 
But he must have done it right 
They sure strung him up one Saturday night 
He had spent his whole life fussin' 
Would have spent his last breath cussin' 
'Til he realized the deal was really done 
He started screamin' "Hallelujah!" 
Tryin' to make his peace with everyone 

Yeah, he was kickin' and screamin' 
Just like he came in 
He was kickin' and screamin', darlin' 
Right to the bitter end 
Ain't it funny how we come in kickin' giddyup 
And go out hollerin' whoa 
Lord, we never want to be here 
Sure don't ever want to go. 

Well, I could hear those church bells ringin' 
To my best friend I was clingin' 
Screamin' "If you love me brother don't let me go" 
Well then the whole scene was repeated 
Two years later I begged and pleaded 
Screamin' "If you love me, honey, 
Now you know you wouldn't want to let me go" 
No, I didn't want to do it 
But I sure don't want to see it come undone. 

Yeah, I was kickin' and screamin' 
Just like I came in 
I was kickin' and screamin', darlin' 
Right to the bitter end 
Ain't it funny how we come in kickin' giddyup 
And go out hollerin' whoa 
Lord, we never want to be here 
Sure don't ever want to go. 
  

*repeat* 
  

Ain't Going Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up) 

Six o'clock on Friday evening 
Momma doesn' t know she's leaving 
'Til she hears the screen door slamming 
Rubber squealin', gears a-jamming 
Local country station just a blaring on the radio 
Pick him up at seven and they're headin' to the rodeo 
Momma's on the front porch screamin' out her warning 
"Girl you better get your red head 
Back in bed before the morning." 

Nine o'clock the show is ending 
But the fun is just beginning 
She knows he's anticipating 
But she's gonna keep him waiting 
Grab a bite to eat 
And then they're heading to the honkey tonk 
But loud crowds and line dancing 
Just ain't what they really want 
Drive out to the boondocks and park down by the creek 
And where it's George Strait 'til real late 
And dancing cheek to cheek. 

(chorus) 
Ain't going down 'til the sun comes up 
Ain't givin' in 'til they get enough 
Going 'round the world in a pickup truck 
Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up 

Ten 'til twelve is wine and dancing 
Midnight starts the hard romancing 
One o'clock that truck is rocking 
Two is coming, still no stopping 
Break to check the clock at three 
They're right on where they want to be 
Four o'clock get up and going 
Five o'clock that rooster's crowing 

*chorus* 

Six o'clock on Saturday 
Her folks don't know he's on his way 
The stalls are clean, the horses fed 
They say she's grounded 'til she's dead 
Well here he comes around the bend 
Slowing down, she's jumping in 
Hey mom, you're daughter's gone 
And there they go again 

*chorus* 
  

The Red Strokes 

Moonlight on canvas, midnight and wine 
Two shadows starting to softly combine 
The picture they're painting 
Is one of the heart 
And to those who have seen it 
It's a true work of art. 

(Chorus) 
Oh, the red strokes 
Passions uncaged 
Thundering moments of tenderness rage 
Oh, the red strokes 
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn) 
Burning the night like the dawn 

Steam on the window, salt in a kiss 
Two hearts have never pounded like this 
Inspired by a vision 
That they can't command 
Erasing the borders 
With each brush of a hand 

*chorus* 

Oh, the blues will be blue and the jealousies green 
But when love picks its shade it demands to be seen 

*chorus* 

Oh, the red strokes 
Passions uncaged 
Thundering moments of tenderness rage 
Oh, the red strokes 
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn) 
Burning the night like the dawn. 

Steam on the window, salt in a kiss 
Two hearts have never pounded like this. 
  

Callin' Baton Rouge 

I spent last night in the arms 
Of a girl in Louisiana 
And though I'm out on the highway 
My thoughts are still with her 
Such a strange combination of a woman and a child 
Such a strange situation stoppin' every hundred miles 
Callin' Baton Rouge 

A replay of last night's events 
Roll through my mind 
Except a scene or two 
Erased by sweet red wine 
And I see a truck stop sign ahead 
So I change lanes 
I need a cup of coffee 
And a couple dollars change 
Callin' Baton Rouge 

(chorus) 
Operator won't you put me on through 
I gotta' send my love down to Baton Rouge 
Hurry up won't you put her on the line 
I gotta' talk to the girl just one more time. 

Hello Samantha dear, I hope you're feelin' fine 
And it won't be long until I'm with you all the time 
But until then I'll spend my money up right down to my last dime 
Callin' Baton Rouge. 

*chorus* 

Callin' Baton Rouge 
Sweet Baton Rouge, my Baton Rouge 
  

The Night Will Only Know 

That night will live forever 
Their first time to lie together 
They were finally where desire dared them to go 
Both belonging to another 
But longing to be lovers 
Promising each other that the night will only know. 

Parked on some old backstreet 
They laid down in the backseat 
And fell into the fire down below 
But they would pay for their deceving 
For a deadly web was weaving 
Why they picked that spot that evening 
Lord, the night will only know. 

Well within the innuendos 
Just outside the steamy windows 
The night was shattered by a woman's scream 
Motionless and frightened 
The grip of fate had tightened 
And with trembling hands they wiped away the steam. 

They saw a woman pleading 
Stumbling, begging, and retreating 
'Til she became the victim of a foe 
And they watched her fall in silence 
To save their own alliance 
But the reason for the violence 
Just the night will only know 

And every paper ran the story 
She was stripped of all her glory 
And they told exactly how the woman died 
Abandoned and forsaken 
Too many pills were taken 
And they ruled the woman's death a suicide. 

Bound by their behavior 
They could have been her savior 
Now guilt becomes an endless debt they owe 
But another crime was committed 
And it's never been admitted 
Have the guilty been acquitted 
Lord, the night will only know. 
  

The Cowboy Song 

Pushin horns weren't easy like the movie said it was 
And I don't recall no dance hall girls 
Or hotel rooms with rugs 
You worked hot and tired and nasty 
Rode your pony's head too low 
There were all the nights you couldn't sleep 
'Cause it was too damn cold 
And you'd sing "Strawberry Roan" and "Little Joe" 

Like the time we hit the river 
And the rains began to fall 
And the water was risin' so damn fast 
We thought it'd drown us all 
We lost a lot of steers that day 
And four to five good mounts 
But when all the boys rode into camp 
We knew that's what counts 
And we sang, yippie ti yi yay and "Amazing Grace". 

Or the night they broke behind us 
And then took us by surprise 
I whistled out to Bonner, I seen the terror in his eyes 
And he rode for all his horse would ride 
And I know he done his best 
But he crossed over Jordan ridin' Dunny to his death 
And we sang "Bringing in the Sheaves" and "The Rugged Cross" 
So when you see the cowboy, he's not ragged by his choice 
He never meant to bow them legs 
Or put that gravel in his voice 
He's just chasin' what he really loves 
And what's burnin' in his soul 
Wishin' to God that he'd benn born a hundred years ago 
Still singin' "Strawberry Roan" and "Little Joe" 

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