“God’s Bar” By Bloodkin
From The Box Set "One Long Hustle", Disc 5: "Chase Park Sessions"
(Also Appears On The Album "Black Market Tango")
*Recorded In One Take
Verse 1
We Don’t Get Much Business Here From Strangers
The Old Woman Said From Behind The Counter
And Took The Money From Lancaster And Studied His Green Eyes
His Grey Hair, His Lips All Cracked And Swollen
Thirty Dollars Gas Even, The Woman Said
And Jabbed The Cash Into The Register
Thank You, Sir, You Stayin’ In Town Long?
No, Not No Longer Than Necessary
I’m Just Passing Through
She Stuck Her Hand Down In Her Apron
Well, She Said, I Guess You’re Looking For Work
I Can Tell You’re A Hard Worker, Son, Just By Seein’ You
No, Ma’am; In Fact, I’m Downright Shiftless
He Smiled At Her Now For The First Time
Ma’am, Would You Know Of A Place Where I Could Get A Drink Around Here?
Yes, Sir, Right South Of Town Keep On This Main Road Through
Turn Right On Comet Run, And The Bar’ll Run Right Into You
Chorus
It’s Almost Closing Time
You Don’t Have To Go Home
But You Can’t Stay Here
Verse 2
After Twenty Minutes He Began To Think She’d Steered Him Wrong
The Sun Was Sinking Behind The Weird Hills Due West
Long Swampy Shadows Stretched Through The Windows
Of His Pontiac He Glanced Down At His Watch, But It Had Stopped
Ahead In The Distance A Small Figure Appeared
A Disconnected Body Floating Between The Road And The Ditch
He Slowed His Car And Pulled Right Up Alongside
Howdy, He Said, “You Know Where There’s A Bar Around Here?”
A Small Smiling Face Peered Back In The Window
A Young Blonde Boy Twelve Years At The Most
He Wore A Spotless White Suit Jacket, A Filthy Black T-Shirt Underneath
A Chip Of Diamond Glemaed From His Front Tooth
After A Few Seconds The Boy Winked And Said “You Missed It.”
A Few Miles Back On Your Left As You Go
You’ll See A Big White Barn That’s Where You Turn, You Can’t Miss It
Thanks Lancaster Said, By The Way Do You Need A Ride
Chorus
It’s Almost Closing Time
You Don’t Have To Go Home
But You Can’t Stay Here
Verse 3
The Boy Dissolved Into Cackling Laughter
No Go To Hell Mister By The Way Yourself Let Me Show You Something
He Pulled A Gleaming Gold Watch From His Suit Pocket
Suspended From A Long Thin Strip Of Leather
He Held It Up High Pinching The Strap Between His Thumb And Forefinger
And Let The Watch Swing Back And Forth In Long Slow Arcs
Sminning Randomly At The End Of Its Tether
Flashing Occasional Shards Of The Rising Moon That Reflected While
The Boy Said “I Just Stopped Time And Restarted It.
Someday You’ll Know I Told The Truth, But Right Now I’ll Be On My Way
He Lurched Into The Headlight Beams Ahead
As He Passed He Whomed The Hood Good With His Palm
And Lancaster Turned Around On The Red Clay Road
We Don’t Get Much Business Here From Strangers
The Woman Said From Behind The Bar As He Sat Down
Somehow He Knew In The Room Out Back Was A Baby’s Skeleton
He Knew He’d Have A Snapped Off Rib In His Pocket When He Left Town
Chorus
It’s Almost Closing Time
You Don’t Have To Go Home
But You Can’t Stay Here
verse 2-1
Two Years Later Lancaster Was Rollin’ Through Montgomery
Couldn't Find A Black Place To Eat
So He Made A Picnic Took It Down By The River
Ran Into Some Baptists Washing Each Others’ Feet
Chorus 2
In The River
In Montgomery
On A Sunday
Verse 2-2
That Afternoon It Started To Rain
Whole Congregation Took Off Their Clothes
They Were Singin In Tongues And Taking Up Serpents
Lord They Drunk On What God Only Knows
Chorus 2
In The River
In Montgomery
On A Sunday
Verse 2-3
There Was One Blonde-Headed Girl She Didn't Strip Or Hold Serpents
She Just Kept Singing And Started To Cry
She Was The Cutest Thing Lancaster Ever Seen
On A Sunday, She Made Him Glad To Be Alive
For The First Time
Chorus 2
In The River
In Montgomery
On A Sunday
So The Very Next Sunday They Got Themselves Married
He Gave Her A Rib She Gave Him A Grandfather Clock
It Keeps Good Time And Every Sunday At Midnight
They Sneak Off Swimmin Naked Even God Don’t Watch
Chorus 2
In The River
In Montgomery
On A Sunday
Chorus 2
In The River
In Montgomery
On A Sunday
