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Mark's Yard

by Secret Emchy Society

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1.
Bears 04:16
Bears In a bar in Talkeetna, Alaska, I was having a Wild Turkey night For my baby sent me to Alaska Just to prove her geography right. As I sat there a-sippin' my bourbon, A feller burst into the bar, And he said, "Y'all better keep drinkin' Cause you cannot get back to your car." (CHORUS) There were bears, (BEARS) bears in the lot Bears in the lot and tears in my heart There were bears (BEARS) bears in the lot, Bears in the parking lot. Now I always been frightened of Nature, Not to mention an ole grizzly bear, But tonight if he started to eat me, I wasn't real sure I would care For my baby sent me to Alaska, Though I thought what we had was real nice, Cause she wanted to prove that Texas was bigger And Alaska was all made of ice. (CHORUS) Well, all eyes were on me when I slid off my barstool And went walking out of the place. Didn't matter to me if that bear ate my spleen Or tore off my poor crying face. I said, "Mr. Bear, I'm a loser In love and geography too, And now I'm a crapulous boozer, Might not even be good food for you." (CHORUS) Mr. Bear said, "Doc, It about stops my clock Realizin' how sim'lar we are, Cause you know Mrs. Bear Kicked me out of our lair Why you think I done come to this bar?" So we set to drinkin', And by the next mornin', Wasn't no one could tell us apart! CHORUS
2.
Whiskey Bent 02:51
Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound original by Hank Williams Jr. I've got a good woman at home who thinks I do no wrong But sometimes lord she just ain't always around And you know that's when I fall I can't help myself at all And I get whiskey bent and hell bound Play me some songs about a rambling man put a cold one in my hand Cause you know I love to hear those guitar sounds Don't you play I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Cause I'll get all balled up inside And I'll get whiskey bent and hell bound Sure enough about closing time I'm stoned out of my mind And I end up with some honky tonk special I found Just as sure as the morning sun come thinking of my sweet girl at home And I need to get whiskey bent and hell bound Play me some songs about a rambling man put old Bulleit in my hand Cause you know I still love to get drunk and hear country sounds But don't you play Your Cheating Heart cause that'll tear me all apart I'll get whiskey bent and hell bound Yeah old Hank's songs always make me feel low down
3.
Monkeys in the Zoo By Dave Lang When I don’t have nothing to say I think of my sister she’s 8 And she’s all i need to be shocking When I don’t have nothing to do I think about calling you Because anything’s better than nothing CHORUS But I’m not drunk I’m just stupid Won’t you tell me that you’re stupid too We can go be boring together And eat our own shit just like monkeys in the zoo When i don’t feel like getting up I just push you out of bed And pretend that i’m still sleeping When i don’t feel like talking on the street i just look the other way And pretend i didn’t see you CHORUS bridge I eat the same food everyday I wear the same clothes everyday I read the same books everyday And all my songs have e minor bridges When i’m with people smarter than me i say things that are confusing and act like they should understand When i’ve been sittin round playing some of my dumb songs And i’ve been going on for way too long I usually go on for a couple more hours CHORUS When I don’t have nothing to say I think of my sister she’s 8 And she’s all i need to be shocking
4.
Go Get Lost 04:21
Go Get Lost by Carolyn Mark Get on that plane girl see where it takes you Nothing as scary as leaving the same for something new Pull up the stakes girl as you take off Go make some mistakes girl go get lost Say bye bye to the old familiar You know those old clothes haven’t fit you for a while You’re sky high in the wild blue yonder Wearing a bursting with a secret kind of smile Your real friends won’t be mad at you They know it’s what you had to do Keep them with you everywhere you go A man is just a man I guess and girl you deserve nothing less I hope your heart is strong enough to know Get on that plane girl see where it takes you Nothing as scary as leaving the same for something new Pull up the stakes girl as you take off Go make some mistakes girl go get lost Say bye bye to the old familiar I heard somebody say change aint looking to make friends Why why is every time so similar When something is beginning something ends Your real friends won’t be mad at you They know it’s what you had to do Keep them with you everywhere you go A man is just a man I guess and girl you deserve nothing less I hope your heart is strong enough to know Get on that plane girl see where it takes you Nothing as scary as leaving the same for something new Pull up the stakes girl as you take off Go make some mistakes girl go get lost Go make some mistakes girl go get lost
5.
I’m Not Drunk I’m Just Drinking original by Mack Allen Smith I'm not drunk (I’m not drunk) I'm just drinking I'm not stoned, I'm just thinking Thinking about what you're telling me Thinking about how it used to be I'm not drunk (I’m not drunk) I'm just drinking I'm not drunk (I’m not drunk) I'm just drinking I'm not stoned, I'm just thinking Thinking about your big blue eyes Thinking about your little white lies I'm not drunk (I’m not drunk) I'm just drinking You know I'm drinking every time that you see me but that don't mean that I have to, you see it's just something to do I'm not drunk (I’m not drunk) I'm just drinking I'm not stoned, I'm just thinking Thinking about what's right and wrong Thinking about how you done me wrong I'm not drunk (I’m not drunk) I'm just drinking You know I'm drinking every time that you see me but that don't mean that I have to, you see it's just something to do I'm not drunk (I’m not drunk) I'm just drinking I'm not stoned, I'm just thinking Thinking about what's right and wrong Thinking about how you done me wrong I'm not drunk (I’m not drunk) I'm just drinking I'm not drunk, I'm just drinking I'm not drunk, I'm just drinking
6.
The Faith 04:04
The Faith by Tolan McNeil In this bar there’s an angel The aging rocker sits alone and keeps the faith Like a ghost he’s no stranger to blurry stares of disbelief like he’s from outer space And if you talk he’ll tell stories you’re a Johnny come lately and this whole town is lame His ride was triumph and on his forearm He’s got a home job tattoo of a goddess Old what’s her name What happened to those righteous days Clapton Hendrix Jimmie Page No goddamn internet we used the phone my denim ain’t no longer blue He gets this way when he’s had a few Til someone comes along To take the angel home He’s a spirit with a day job his boss complains about the hair but he keeps it anyways His play was Gibson but the bands all gone But he can rock and roll through this fantasy Back to his party days What happened to those righteous days Clapton Hendrix Jimmie Page No goddamn internet we used the phone My denim ain’t no longer blue He gets this way when he’s had a few Til someone comes along To take the angel home And if you listen he’ll go on and on About rap and rave and not new wave And how disco’s all the same His old lady She’s a ball and chain She’s strong by god She’ll hang on while the angel guards the flame Her angel - keeper of the faith Guards the lonesome flame
7.
Santa Cruz 02:46
Santa Cruz Just played a show in Santa Cruz and you know you should call me cuz it’s finally raining and the night it’s all empty I know we drank a lot and there’s no more wine I know we sang those songs and I’m feelin fine I’m totally fine It’s at night in Santa Cruz and you know you should call me cuz you’ve moved out there to where no one can ever find you they can’t find you Your punk rock friends say Emch “hey how’s he doing” Your punk rock friends you know once they were mine too they were mine too (bridge) They call me up to ask me how you are all I can tell em is you got a kid and you run a bar I’m in the rain in Santa Cruz and you know you should call me cuz this was the tour we always dreamed we’d be doing… so why aren’t you doing it? I’ll take some pictures and I’ll send em on my phone in such a crowd I never felt more alone Just played a show in Santa Cruz Drank all the wine in Santa Cruz I’m in the rain in Santa Cruz and you know you should call me
8.
Grayson 02:46
Grayson By Tolan McNeil I’ve got a friend named Grayson Can’t keep his hands off the knobs Walks around all day I’ve got a friend named Grayson He’ll argue (well actually) All day long, no matter what you say I’ve got a friend named Grayson He’s got a nice coat (it’s a sweater) Sometimes comes to town I’ve got a friend named Grayson Comes to my house Smokes all my dope can’t move in now But I get pissed off when he fucks with my guitar Can’t keep his hands free Why do i get so pissed when Grayson fucks with my guitar All i gotta do is walk away Sometimes I’ think Grayson is a genius (I think he might be too) Other times I think he’s a fucking dork He’s got a nice choice of colors, lives in a little house aint got no yard (well actually there is one but…) But Grayson never uses his yard He refuses to free his mind Lets just pack a couple of lunches and leave the guitar problem behind I’ve got a friend named Grayson Can’t keep his hands off the knobs Walks around all day
9.
Poncho's Lament by Tom Waits Well the stairs sound so lonely without you And I ain't made my bed in a week Coffee stains on the paper I'm writing And I'm too choked up inside to speak And Yes, I know our differences pulled us apart Never spoke a word heart to heart And I'm glad that you're gone But I wish to the lord that you'd come home I'm so glad that you're gone Got the feeling so strong And I'm glad that you're gone But I wish to the lord that you'd come home Well my guitar still plays your favorite song though the strings have been outta tune for some time Every time I strum a cord, I pray out to the lord That you'll quit your honkey-tonkin' sing my song Chorus So I'll throw another log onto the fire And I'll admit I'm a lousy liar As the coals die down and flicker I hear that guitar picker Play the song we used to sing so long ago Chorus x2 And I'm glad that you're gone But I wish to the lord that you'd come home
10.
Delia 02:28
Delia Delia, oh, Delia Delia all my life If I hadn't have shot poor Delia I'd have had her for my wife Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone I went up to Memphis And I met Delia there Found her in her parlor And I tied to her chair Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone She was low down and trifling And she was cold and mean Kind of evil make me want to Grab my submachine Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone First time I shot her I shot her in the side Hard to watch her suffer But with the second shot she died Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone But jailer, oh, jailer Jailer, I can't sleep 'Cause all around my bedside I hear the patter of Delia's feet Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone So if you woman's devilish You can let her run Or you can bring her down and do her Like Delia got done Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone
11.
Rye Whiskey 03:58
Jack O'Diamonds aka Rye Whiskey Jack O' Diamonds Jack O' Diamonds and I know you of old You've robbed my poor pockets of silver and gold It's a whiskey you villain you've been my downfall You've kicked me you've cuffed me but I loves you for all It's a whiskey rye whiskey rye whiskey I cry If I don't get rye whiskey well I surely will die Beefsteak when I'm hungry corn whiskey when I'm dry Greenbacks when I'm hard up and heaven when I die I’ll a go to yonder holler and I’ll build me a still I’ll give you a gallon for a five dollar bill Rye whiskey rye whiskey rye whiskey I cry If a tree don't fall on me I'll live till I die If the ocean was whiskey and I was a duck I'd dive to the bottom and never come up But the ocean ain't whiskey and I ain't a no duck I’ll play Jack O’ Diamonds and trust to my luck Rye whiskey rye whiskey rye whiskey I cry If the whiskey don't kill me I'll live till I die Well i make my own whiskey and I make my own wine 10,000 bottles i’ve killed in my time Got no wife to quarrel no babies to bawl Best way of living is no wife at all Rye whiskey rye whiskey rye whiskey I cry If the whiskey don't kill me I'll live till I die It's a whiskey rye whiskey rye whiskey I cry If I don't get rye whiskey well I surely will die

about

Since I started playing music in bands my favorite part of the night has always been the post-show music jam. When the wine or bourbon comes out and people just start sharing the songs that mean the most to them at that moment. Or maybe the songs they wrote that they know their pals want to hear. The best part is just all of these musicians, chosen family, coming together and rowdy joyful singing together. It’s our church. It’s our sacred time. When we’re the most real, the most raw, and the most authentically ourselves. I wanted to capture that for the Mark’s Yard album. Bring the listener into that rare and magical time. Encourage them to sing-along. To enjoy. To cut loose. To just have a little bit of fun.

credits

released November 14, 2018

Guitar / Vocals - Cindy Emch
Upright Bass / Harmonica - Hans Winold
Percussion - Michele Kappel
Lap Steel / Mandolin - Mya Byrne
Backing lead guitar - Nick Foley
Backing electric bass - Deleina Mae
Backing Vocals - Carolyn Mark, Terri Upton, J McLaughlin, Dave Lang, Grayson Walker, Michele Kappel, Mya Byrne, Deleina Mae, Nick Foley, Kathryn Popham, and Eddi Wilson

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Secret Emchy Society Oakland, California

"One could describe Emch as if Nick Cave had grown up in Bakersfield with a dynamic swagger that could part the Red Sea." - NoDepression

The Secret Emchy Society plays foot stompin' heart breakin' California country tunes for gay cowboys, queer witches, and all kinds of cowfolks.
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