We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Elizabethtown

from Tips & Compliments by Matt Harlan

/

lyrics

I got a bad phone call from Elizabethtown.
Said my brother, he’s back in jail.
& the kids are staying with the grandfolks now,
Cause there ain’t noone ‘round here, family or not
Even thinking about going his bail.
He’s been living down the wrong road now.
Is what some people they’re saying.
Going on a couple of years.
But I was there when he nearly blew that boy away.
& I ain’t ever thought once in all my life
I’d ever see so many tears.

I said, “Justin, please you break my heart.
You’ve got a soul of gold, but you ain’t that smart
On the streets – & boy you’re needing to be.
If you wanna keep tumbling around,
Keep your own two feet from flying off the ground,
Wanna keep acting like you’re some damn Indiana kingpin…
Just shadow boxing on the corner where you planted your seeds
Waiting for the snow to fall & cover your dreams, alright.”

I don’t think too much about Elizabethtown
But there’s some memories that I can’t shake.
It’s like slideshows taped up behind my eyes –
I’ve got one for every time I tried to get away
One for every time that I stayed.
It’ll take you fifteen hours to get from there to here
It takes me nine every time I leave.
I ain’t ever been one for the long goodbyes.
I ain’t ever had the stomach for the same old scene
Never had the patience to pray.

I said, “Justin, please you break my heart.
You’ve got a soul of gold, but you ain’t that smart
On the streets – & boy you’re needing to be.
If you wanna keep tumbling around,
Keep your own two feet from flying off the ground,
Wanna keep acting like you’re some damn Indiana kingpin…
Just shadow boxing on the corner where you planted your seeds
Waiting for the wind to blow & scatter your dreams, alright.”

I got a bad phone call from Elizabethtown
Said my brother, he’s out on bail.
& the kids are still staying at the grandfolks house
Cause there ain’t noone ‘round here, family or not
Even picking up on one of his trails.
He’s been living down the long road now
Is what some people they’re saying
Heading down to the pier.
Then his body washed up just the other day.
& I ain’t ever thought once in all my life
I’d ever see so many tears.

I said, “Justin, please you break my heart.
You’ve got a soul of gold, but you ain’t that smart
On the streets – & boy you’re needing to be.
If you wanna keep tumbling around,
Keep your own two feet from flying off the ground,
Wanna keep acting like you’re some damn Indiana kingpin…
Just shadow boxing on the corner where you planted your seeds
Waiting for the snow to fall & bury your dreams –
Just standing on the corner where you planed your seeds
Waiting for wind to blow & shatter your dreams, alright.”

credits

from Tips & Compliments, released October 19, 2009

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Matt Harlan Houston, Texas

Matt Harlan is a troubadour of the first degree, bringing songs of bus-stops, coffee-shops and lives overlooked to stages across his home-state of Texas, the USA and Europe. His expressive vocals recall Chris Smither and Chris Knight, shading his poignant songs with soaring heart and aching grit. ... more

shows

contact / help

Contact Matt Harlan

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Matt Harlan, you may also like: