BLADENSBURG WAY

Got sixteen bales ‘til my day is done, 
Lifting this tobacco in the autumn sun
Lord Baltimore sure got his way,
Got us down here in Prince George’s Clay

Hey Mister Inspector what have you got to say?
I’m just a workin’ man, Bladensburg Way

This river town might be the death of me, 
So they’ll steal a man from across the sea. 
Take away his rights, make him work for free,
It’s just a hogshead full of misery

Hey Mister Inspector what have you got to say?
I’m just a workin’ man, Bladensburg Way

This job just ain’t what it used to be
The fields all torn up, they chopped down the trees
And the river that once ran 40 deep
It’s all filled up, there’s nothing left to see

Hey Mister Inspector what have you got to say?
I’m just a workin’ man, Bladensburg Way

DUELING CREEK


***This song is meant to be a duel between Gen. Armistead T. Mason & Col. John. M. McClarty, per the narrative told in the article “Bladensburg Dueling Grounds” in Harpers Magazine (1858).***

MASON:
It’s a matter of opinion, you don’t have the shout
Your insult to honor brought this whole thing about
Meet me at the city line and amends we will seek
I demand satisfaction down at Dueling Creek

McCLARTY
I thought this I told you, I guess I’ll have to repeat
Can you even remember why we’re at Dueling Creek?
Mason, you’re my cousin! Is blood thicker than pride?
Put down your musket before we both do die.

MASON:
You labeled me a coward, my name covered in mud. 
Here’s something for your presses: after me comes the flood!
I’ll take my ten paces, I trust you’ll do the same. 
Time counted by seconds, honor restored to name. 

McCLARTY
This here controversy that we sought to adjust
Was it really worth it, look what’s happened to us. 
I will always be haunted by what came to be
I will never come back here, down the Dueling Creek


FLOAT AWAY


Moving on now, down the river, 200 years come and gone.
We’re coming ‘round the corner to our Chinese garden,
Hickey Hill looming above. 

I want to run through the gardens of your capitol. 
Rest with you beneath a dogwood tree
I’ll name for you an azalea, so colorful & sweet.
Darling, won’t you float away with me?

Under highway breathing, we’re graffiti reading,
Arboretum here we come. 
Let’s tie up there and we’ll watch our step, 
How quickly two become one.

I want to run through the gardens of your capitol. 
Rest with you beneath a dogwood tree
I’ll name for you an azalea, so colorful & sweet.
Darling, won’t you float away with me?

 

CIRCLE 8’s


Imagine me in my high-top skates,
Low down we’re rockin’ baby, spinnin’ circle 8’s
With you disco grooves, and my attitude
Can’t help but wonder baby, what are we gonna do?

With your disco moves, your sweet perfume
It puts me in the mood. 

As the night heats up, the sun sinks low
The waters on fire baby, where you wanna go?
Won’t you walk with me, by the river side?
I’m still spinnin’ baby on this lovely night

With your disco moves, your sweet perfume
It puts me in the mood. 

CLEAN RIVERS


How do you draw the line, between you and I,
And all that’s broken on the riverside?
Is it a natural state, how it’s supposed to be?
I think there’s something that we just don’t see. 

Clean rivers, it’s no dream
Clean rivers, come eventually.

It’s not a new thing, it’s been centuries. 
Old habits die hard, I think we’d all agree
It’s now or never, you know it’s not too late. 
Change starts with us, and it starts today. 

Clean rivers, it’s no dream
Clean rivers, come eventually.

A river for us, by us, hope springs eternally. 
We’re all connected, from the shore to the sea.

I can’t wait for the future that will be,
We’ll be swimming and splashing, what a sight to see!

Clean rivers, it’s no dream
Clean rivers, come eventually.
Clean rivers, it’s no dream
Clean rivers, start with you and me.