David Harley Words & Music

Copyright David Harley 1971

A very young song with an obvious blues influence, though not a conventional blues structure. For some reason it came back to my head recently and refuses to dislodge, so there should be a more confident version here eventually, though I suspect I’ll tweak the lyric.

Backup:

Alternative version from video – audio was better than the video!

Backup:

Heard some lonesome whistle blow
How long Lord?
I guess it must be time to go
How long?
When you get those hard luck blues
All you need is walking shoes
How long Lord?
Now how long?

Empty pockets, empty bed
How long Lord?
Empty dreams in an empty head
How long?
When you get those walking blues
Radio just plays bad news
How long Lord?
Now how long?

Standing by the railroad track
How long Lord?
Heading out with no way back
How long?
Waiting in the pouring rain
Must have missed that Gospel Train
How long Lord?
Now how long?

[Optional verse 3]

When you hear those cold winds blow
How long Lord?
You know the way you have to go
How long?
Thought I heard the DJ say
Got no reason left to stay
How long Lord?
Now how long?

However, this is rather more country than country blues.

Old-ish country-ish version:

Backup:

More recent version:

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Video:

Video capture:

Backup:

A trace of your scent still lingers on my pillow
And raises echoes in my memory
And I believe you’re missing me almost as much as I miss you
But I wish to God that you were here with me

The sun will surely rise on another soft blue morning
And lying in your arms is where I’ll be
With sweet dreams still in my eyes, I’ll wake and kiss your hair
But it’s a long cold night while you’re not here with me

This guitar once played for keeps, but since you changed my life
This guitar just plays for you, if that’s OK?
This guitar rang bells for losers, but there’ll be no more songs of losing
Though this guitar just plays the blues while you’re away

There’s a less country-ish version here, recorded more recently.

Words and Music by David Harley, copyright 1976