Lyrics by David Murray

“Railroad Charlie”


Railroad Charlie stepped through the doors
But the Lame Horse Saloon wouldn’t serve no more
Charlie was trouble from morning to night
Trailhands just itchin,’ itchin’ to fight
Now Railroad Charlie slithered up to the bar
Slapped down a hundred, lit up a cigar
“Gimme a whiskey!” he hollered at the man
Man said “You ain’t welcome here in Spokane”

Chorus:
When you think you’re the toughest in the room
Consider your odds and don’t ever assume
You got what it takes to weather the storm
When the gang before you is twenty strong

Now, Railroad Charlie stood six feet tall
Motorcycle jacket, sideburns, and all
Looked just like Elvis’ or at least his twin
Soakin’ wet, weighed a hundred and ten
These here cowboys, just off the trail
Don’t take to strangers, frail and pale
Strongly suggested Charlie hit the road
“Git outta Lame Horse!” somebody crowed

[Repeat Chorus]

Now Charlie weren’t a man to spook ‘n run
So, he pulled his Smith & Wesson gun
That’s when all hell broke lose
And the cowboys fancied themselves a noose
Now Charlie knew he was outnumbered
He yelled from the rafters, he roared, and he thundered
“I’ll see y’all rot in hell, I’ll do my drinkin’ at the Farewell”

Outro:
Well, the cowboys, they all jereed and cheered
As Railroad Charlie disappeared

[Repeat Chorus]



Note: I try not to assign a genre, it strangles the composer’s creativity.
Copyright © 2024 David M. Murray. All rights reserved. Contact: dmurray19@comcast.net 508.336.5594 #528 22324

I Wish You Well
Genres: Country, Indie, Folk, Blues, Singer-Songwriter

I Wish You Well

Everybody’s carrying a heavy load
Some get heavier, some get old
We drag some right, into our grave
Some resolve, someone forgave
When that load gets too much
Feel that hand, that special touch
And when we’re lost in the details
That’s when friendship always prevails

Chorus;
I wish you well
That’s my wish for you
I wish you well
In everything you do
May good fortune favor you
I wish you well, my friend
That’s my wish for you
(That’s my wish for you)

We’re all carrying a heavy load
Some take the high road, some get snowed
All different than the day before
Some seek peace and some seek war
But when that darkness sets in so tight
It obliterates all common sense in sight
And you don’t know which way to turn
There’s always someone, someone concerned

[Repeat Chorus]

Outro:
Rainbows aren’t just for elves
We can all use some luck ourselves
May your sweet dreams always come true
I wish you well in all you do
I wish you well in all you do
I wish you well


Note: I try not to assign a genre, it strangles the composer’s creativity.
Copyright © 2024 David M. Murray. All rights reserved. Contact: dmurray19@comcast.net 508.336.5594 #531 3524

“When Angels Sleep”


At the end of everyday
When the angels go to sleep
It’s then that you come to me
When I am fast asleep
And I hold you, oh so gently
In my arms and kiss your cheek
I tell you all about my day
Sometimes I start to weep

I try my best to hide my tears
And wipe them from my eyes
This should be our happy time
At least until the sunrise
It’s then that the sadness falls
Like a wet blanket over us
Parting is such sweet sorrow
So I remain focused on the dusk

When the angels go to sleep again
And you come to me once more
Your smile melts my heart away
And I love you even more

Someday soon the angels will sing
“I heard there was a secret chord”
And I knew when I heard it
It was my final reward
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
We both thank you so, dear Lord

Together for all eternity
Hallelujah, Hallelujah


Note: I try not to assign a genre, it strangles the composer’s creativity.
Copyright © 2024 David M. Murray. All rights reserved. Contact: dmurray19@comcast.net 508.336.5594 #543 32224

“Snapping of the Twigs”


Something’s moving deep inside
I don’t know what it is
I look all around at me
I hear the snapping of the twigs
Maybe there’s someone coming
I don’t really know
But I see the writing on the wall
From a long, long time ago

Chorus:
Staring into the clouds above
Swiftly whisking by
I hear the snapping of the twigs
I wonder if it’s hello or goodbye

I’m too lazy to be crazy
All my dreams begin with daffodils
Don’t drink no more alcohol
Nor even take a sleeping pill
So what is it that’s moving
Way down deep inside
Causing me the jitters
And feeling like I died

[Repeat Chorus]

I think my heart just skipped a beat
There it goes again
I hear the snapping of the twigs
And messages from within
Got to read the writing
Way high up on the wall
Written with a red crayon
The words are really small

[Repeat Chorus]

Bridge:
But that message is now clear to me
In the sunlight from above
Keep your heart open
And always, always welcome love

[Repeat Chorus]


Note: I try not to assign a genre, it strangles the composer’s creativity.
Copyright © 2024 David M. Murray. All rights reserved. Contact: dmurray19@comcast.net 508.336.5594 #554 4824

“Ghost Train”


Ghost train barrelin’ on down the line
Black as night, roaring through the pines
Halloween night each and every year
At eleven forty-five, number nine appears
No lights to be seen, no hand on the throttle
But laughter is heard and the breaking of bottles
And the smoke blots out the moon in the sky
No stars each year and no one asks why

Chorus:
Ghost train, ghost train why all the secrets
What is it you’re hiding down deep inside
Why do you sit in silent darkness
Please take me ghost train for a ride

And she rattles the rails and the old box cars
Sparks fly from the wheels and the old steel cogs
And then like a flash she slams on her brakes
And the sparks catch fire to the shrubs in her wake
Now there she sits with a full head of steam
Like she’s thinking about something or locked in a dream
And she sits there every single time
Huffin’ and puffin,’ that ole number nine

[Repeat Chorus]

And when the big hand sweeps round to the top
The chuggin’ begins, and the hammer it drops
And like a rattler wakin’ up from his winter sleep
The ghost train moves forward, creep by creep
Now the towns folk all know what that train, it did
But the bodies are gone and the graves are all hid
And so it goes on with ne’re a word
The ghost train, number nine will never be heard

[Repeat Chorus]

Outro:
Ghost train take me for a ride
Ghost train, ghost train take me for a ride
Ghost train, please take me for a ride



Note: I try not to assign a genre, it strangles the composer’s creativity.
Copyright © 2022 David M. Murray. All rights reserved. Contact: dmurray19@comcast.net 508.336.5594 #646 103122

“Fourth and Vine”


I thought I saw you standing
On the corner of Fourth and Vine
Lost your job at the opera house
Dancing in the line
Coat draped over your shoulders
Long face right to the floor
I wanted to reach out to you
But you threw me out the door

Chorus:
If only things were different now
And we hadn’t blown apart
Sad to think I’m still alive
Since the day you broke my heart
On the corner, on the corner
The corner of Fourth and Vine

I heard Pike’s Opera House
Burnt clear down to the ground
And you don’t have a place to stay
With none of your friends around
So I wanted to reach out to you
I could feel the pain on your face
A paper bag under your arm
Looking like an old suitcase

Bridge:
A tear ran down my face
I was frozen in my tracks
Seeing you on the corner like that
Without the guts to act

[Repeat Chorus]



Note: I try not to assign a genre, it strangles the composer’s creativity.
Copyright © 2021 David M. Murray. All rights reserved. Contact: dmurray19@comcast.net 508.336.5594 #758 5621