Acoustic Americana/Roots/Country Blues
PAUL EVANS is a singer/songwriter who lives in southern NJ. He makes jewelry (Pine Barrens Diamonds) and writes books and screenplays when he's not writing songs.
Story behind the song
A miserable gig on a miserable night.
Lyrics
The Screamin' Hollar Inn
C. Paul Evans Pedersen, Jr./Mount Misery Music, BMI
V1
The rains fallin' down like there ain't ever gonna be a tomorrow, tonight.
And this joint is as empty as my drinks been,
Hope Missy barkeep comes to make it right.
And as I sing my heart out to her as she fills my glass,
I see the reg'lars file in, right on que, at a quarter past,
And predictably start their thousand-mile starin',
Through old memories for as long as they last...
CHORUS
As they're sittin' on their barstools,
Here at the Screamin' Hollar Inn,
Where the shoot pool, as they curse they "might-have-beens",
Here at the Screamin'...The Screamin' Hollar Inn.
The Screamin' Hollar Inn.
V2
There ain't no denyin' you've reached the end of the line when they call you a reg'lar here.
And it's said that there's lots of fallen stars landed,
But exactly who ain't exactly clear.
They all drift in with the same look in their eyes,
Unsure if it's the world or themselves that they dispise.
And they go about pourin' their bad luck out,
On top of whiskey, with just a little ice...
CHORUS
Sittin' on their barstools,
Here at the Screamin' Hollar Inn,
Where the shoot pool, as they curse they "might-have-beens",
Here at the Screamin'...The Screamin' Hollar Inn.
BRIDGE
And the fist holes in the wall cry "What if!", and "What for!",
Almost as loud as the broken mirror pieces on the floor.
Ain't no way back, and there ain't no way ahead,
For the names scratched in the walls of the "shouldda beens", and "couldda saids".
V3
When you end up a-wanderin' 'round aimlessly unsure of what the hell it is life has in store for you,
You might try the Screamin' Hollar Inn's blamelessly condescending point of view.
They'll hang your picture, oh, so proudly, on the wall,
Under the caption that reads, "The Victims Of The Fall".
And I'll thank you for leavin' me somethin',
So I can buy me another drink or two....
CHORUS
As I'm sittin' on my barstool,
Here at the Screamin' Hollar Inn,
Where we shoot pool, as we curse the "might-have-beens",
Here at the Screamin'...The Screamin' Hollar Inn.
The Screamin' Hollar Inn.
The Screamin' Hollar Inn..........
