Good music by some obscure bands (with lyrics)

First up is a song from Memphis,Tennessee's Oblivians.

Bad Man
(Recorded mid 1990s)

Time was in a vacuum when I wanted to be free, yea yea.
But now my adolescence has all but left me
I couldn’t stay another day. It would be wrong
And you would just grow tired of me and leave before too long. I say no. I must go.
I’m not the one you want, though I know you think so. I’m a bad man.I’m a bad man. I’m a bad man.
But I’m too good for you, my Suzie true. Alright. Time was an obsession, and that is just for me.
You can tell by the sound of my shoes, baby I am gonna leave
Even if you plead to me, and say you were so true. It's too late for long goodbyes. Oh, we are through.
I say no, I must go I’m not the one you want, though you think so I’m a bad man I’m a bad man I’m a bad man
But I’m too good for you, my Suzie true.



British band The Flaming Stars
Burnt-Out Wreck of a Man
A ballad for a bank robber (recorded early 1990s)

You could see him through the window of the all-night cafe just across the street
Lighting up another from the first before it burned his hand
Hardly touched a thing on the plate. Didnt care how long he might have to wait.
Down looking for a burnt out wreck of a man.
Yesterday's paper staring up from the gutter, all wet with rain. A spokesman from the bank saying "Help us if you can."
And there's a pair of tired eyes on the face of someone just my size.

Says they're all out looking for a burnt out wreck of a man.

But he's not around.
Some people say he's already left town.

And now they're here to check the tickets as the train leaves another station far behind.
She helps him with his brand new coat and says "Things went according to plan."
Clean shoes, new suit, and a suitcase full of cash, he says to her five seconds before the fatal crash:
"Without you I'm a burnt out wreck of a man."

And all they found later was a burnt out wreck of a man.




American roots musician Spencer Bohren.
Ghost Train (song first recorded in the 1980s)


There's a ghost train, rollin' down the track.
Once you get on that train, you won't be comin' back.

It's the last train everybody rides. Take you to the other side.
In the midnight, hear the whistle whine. Through the dark night, see the headlight shine.
Say your goodbyes for the last time. Ride the ghost train to the end of the line.

The conductor...he wears a long black cloak. It's a one-way fare, and it's all abroad.
You get yout ticket on the day you're born. On the last day, you ride it all alone.

In the midnight, hear the whistle whine. Through the dark night, see the headlight shine.
Say your goodbyes for the last time. Ride the ghost train to the end of the line.





Los Angeles band The Gun Club
Pastoral Hide & Seek (recorded early 1980s)


Johnny, come and get me. I'm in a bar again
Johnny, come and get me. I'm a thousand miles away from home again
All my friends are soldiers, and they're getting drunk.
So Johnny come and get me. I think my luck has sunk.

You must be playin' some hide and seek. Well, don't seek me
You must have understood my favorite dream. Well, don't get me

Johnny come and get me. I'm in a fight again.
Oh Johnny come and get me. I missed the plane again
Couldn't find you in Hong Kong. You just missed me in Quezon City, yea.
Oh, Johnny come and get me. I'm in trouble everywhere
You must be playin' some hide and seek. So don't seek me
You must have understood my wanderer's dream. So don't get me.
And the blues are a shower of rain. Understand that change.
Oh, you must be playin' some hide and seek. Well, don't seek me
You must have understood my favorite dreams. Well, don't get me, ever again.