The lyrics and song that follow are both from the freshly pressed (and stuffed) Why I Sing the Blues — an anthology, in the popular book format, of Canadian poets' blues lyrics; and a CD, in the popular compact disc format, using some of those poets' lyrics for blues songs. Got that?

The book is published by our comrades at Smoking Lung Press; edited by Jan Zwicky and Brad Cran, and cheap as dirt at $19.95 for both. Buy - Ed.

Tobacco Belt
by Rick Maddocks

Daddy wore his tobacco belt
Strapped to his waist like a beaver pelt or something
He said son don't set your expectations high
And you won't get disappointed
And I had nothing to say
And he don't know how I felt
He don't know how I felt
Strapped in, buckled down in this tobacco belt

Broken bottles down in the ditch
Tore this tobacco belt stitch by stitch
Smoke so thick that I could barely breathe
Lord knows I did my best to up and leave
I had nothing to do
And nothing to — you said it not to me
But it's easy hating everyone
When you know that you're the stranger
New folks round here either got death up their sleeves
Or basements full of danger
And they don't know how I felt
Strapped in buckled down, booted around
Shot down, pissed on in this tobacco belt

He ain't gonna punch another hole in his tobacco belt
Cos when the truth hits it wells up like a welt
I guess I knew that the die was cracked
The first time daddy's belt split my back
Now he's got nothing to do
And he's got nothing to say
But now he knows I felt
Now he knows how i felt
Strapped in, buckled down, booted around town
Laughed at, shot down, pissed on
Get out while I'm still young from this tobacco belt

 

* * * * *

* * * * *

For your downloading pleasure:

Artist: Rick Maddocks
Province: British Columbia
Song: Tobacco Belt
Album: Why I Sing the Blues
MP3 File: +++

Rick Maddocks listens closely to upper management.