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Dashboard Elvis

by Dead Beat Daddios

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1.
Belly Tanker Blues (by J Carden) A belly tank from a fighter plane A steering wheel from an old Fairlane Gear box and motor from a Toyota sedan Then he became The Bellytanker Man Wiping tears of speed from his tight white knuckles Dashboard Elvis and a Repco buckle Strapping in his demons in his fire suit And Dunlop Volley shoes Right then he got them Belly Tanker Blues When you're out on the salt And there's no-one else to blame the wheel begins to shudder Twin pipes begin to flame Balls to the wall, crusty glasses too Twin pipes popping, aint no stopping Belly Tanker Blues When you're out on the salt And there's no-one else to blame the wheel begins to shudder Twin pipes begin to flame Balls to the wall, crusty glasses too Twin pipes popping, aint no stopping Belly Tanker Blues Wiping tears of speed from his tight white knuckles Dashboard Elvis and a Repco buckle Strapping in his demons in his fire suit And Dunlop Volley shoes Right then he got them Belly Tanker Blues Right then he got them Belly Tanker Blues Balls to the wall Belly Tanker Blues
2.
It Had to be Done (by Paul Cumming) Here's a letter I meant to send to you But it won't say anything you want it to Just more of what I said before Must I count the words out one by one I've never been good at ending things, but it had to be done I don't love you, I never said I did But you chose to ignore something I never hid You thought that loving me twice as much would make it all right Be enough love for everyone I've never been good at ending things, but it had to be done I still want you, as a friend But I was too much of a coward to tell you then I should have had my say before you went away I hope this hasn't ruined your whole day Well it ruined that day and each subsequent week And when I see you now I still can't speak, but Thanks for that letter, such a thoughtful one I tried to make sense of it but I made none Was it something you wish you'd never begun? Are you happier now you've had your fun? I've never been good at ending things I've never been good at ending things I've never been good at ending things But it had to be done
3.
I Just Can't Get Angry With You (by Paul Cumming) You sit there before me you lines already rehearsed This could be the last time you leave me, it's not the first Say what you might, and even if it's all true I'm not going to fight, just can't get angry with you I'm a fool to myself really believing that I Could reach the standards you set so impossibly high I'm not a saint, that was the best I could do If that's your complaint, I just can't get angry with you Maybe I, might just try Hurling some juicy abuse as you say goodbye And justify, the reasons why You want me to crawl to a corner, curl up and die So get really mad, the best form of defence is attack That would just hurt me, not make me not want you back You can't make me hate you, if that's what you're trying to do It's really too late, I just can't get angry with you Now I find out you're leaving little old me far behind To visit new countries with that new man on your mind You need a crutch, we know it's nothing new But I love you so much, just can't get angry with you
4.
House For Sale (by H Martin) House for sale, I'm moving on I couldn't tell you what went wrong But this house is for sale it won't be for sale long The gutters leak and the back door creaks The porch is leaning into next week This could be the bargain you were waiting for It was once the sweetest of all homes With a big old garden where the kids would roam But now they're gone and it's only a house for sale chorus What good is sitting still while all around is falling I wish I'd known while there was time to heed the warning Instrumental House for sale it's going cheap Just put your money down and it's yours to keep House for sale, it's going going gone chorus repeat v
5.
Incoming Call (by Paul Cumming / Vivienne Gay) I'm on the line now you're engaged For hours now I've cried and raged The phone's clenched feebly in my hand I'm calling you to make a stand We played a game somebody won And thought it was a lot of fun We played a game somebody lost And I'm calling you to count the cost chorus I am the voice that you fear You can't call me while I'm still here And if you don't want me at all (then tell me) Cause you can't cut puff an incoming call This other man you're trying to dial Will be waiting quite a while Try to call him constantly First you'll have to talk to me You don't leave me any choice Pick up the phone you'll hear my voice I'm not going to disconnect chorus I've pulled the phone into my bed And while I'm dreaming you can dread And while I'm sleeping you can sweat On how to finish this duet You and I have got to speak I don't care if it takes a week For you to get the guts to tell me Come to you or go to hell
6.
If That's What It Takes (by P Cumming) I had just got back to town I was quietly poking my nose around When I saw you beating up my old pal And I said to myself "That's a hell of a girl" Our friend introduced us, we had a little beer Then he drove home while he could still steer And you gave me the chill, gave me the frost Gave me a look that said, "Boy get lost" Then about four hours later While I was casually drowning in gin I looked down to see you had your hand on my knee And you were dribbling down your chin chorus If that's what it takes to want me Fill yourself up to the brink 'Cause if you've got to be drunk to love me Don't stop to think Go right ahead and drink The next time we met was at a BBQ We were standing round talking to that fella we knew When something I said must have been misread 'Cause you looked at me like I was something dead I wandered off wondering "How could you forget?" I didn't realize you hadn't drink enough yet I didn't know you didn't mean to be rude The simple fact was you weren't sufficiently stewed But when I found you face down in a rosebush You sat up and gave me a wink Then with a swig of champagne we were on again And I knew I had found the link So now if you ignore me I know what I have to do Make sure you get drunk before me And the rest will happen on cue So if I want to find you I don't have to look far Just about two feet from the nearest bar With a song on your lips and your favorite drop And a gleam in your eye that says you're not going to stop We could leap into an airplane, jump into a cab Or walk down to the local and run up a tab Or go to your house my ultimate goal 'Cause the frigidaire is rigid there with alcohol And by the light of that silvery Simpson You'll vaguely try to think of my name
7.
Map 58 03:44
Map 58 Blues (by J Carden) A bayside glitter strip Homeless backpacker hip But it’s where I met my mate Down on Map 58 She said baby you gotta keep in mind You can wander but you gonna find You can never replicate Life on Map 58 They say you never find your love on the north side of town You will soon will soon discover Your lifetime lover is found On the northside of …. Townhouse overlooking the bay This time I think I’m gonna stay Right here with my baby Got the Map 58 Blues Drove an EJ down from the tropical north Workin tables through a dancing course A tiny flat with a mate Above the streets of Map 58 She met a boy from out in the ‘burbs Ears ringing with her sister’s words Don’t ya ever go and date Outside Map 58 He said baby what’s the worry You always in a hurry to get back She said yeah I want be your wife But I miss my little life down there on Fitzroy… Street life can’t compare Takin in the ozone air Gotta make a date back to Map 58 Got nothing left to lose Got the Map 58 Blues The only life to choose The Map 58 Blues
8.
Flatline 03:44
Flatline (by J Carden) Not Feeling Happy, not Feeling Sad Not Feeling Good, not Feeling Bad If it gets too hard to deal with feelin's n shit Just Flatline, baby, you'll get over it Beautiful wife got a beautiful boy I saw him comin and I yawned with joy You find your karma in the blood n the screams Flatline it, you know what I mean Not Feeling Happy, not Feeling Sad not Feeling Good, not Feeling Bad Too much hassle with emotional stuff Just Flatline, baby, when enough is enough Now I'm a grandad, kids on my lap Try to keep it cool and stay real flat Don't get too low, don't get too high I'm a flatline daddy, that's how I get by
9.
Swamp Chicken Boogie (by J Carden/ T Palmer) Moonlight down at the dock Hight time for shooting croc Load up the tinnie Got the Bundy Rum Scope out her mum's favourite gun My crackshot woman's got a 303 And a swamp Chicken Boogie killer recipe Swamp Chicken Boogie In the pan Swamp Chicken Boogie Bush chili jam Swamp Chicken Boogie Cajun Style Swamp Chicken Boogie Outback Wild Death roll daddy deep in the mud Only comes out for a bucket of blood He aint no skinny little lizard from the River Nile He's a 6 foot salt water crocodile Drag him back to the fishing camp You'd better watch out for that ranger, man Chorus Eyes reflecting in the light Unsuspecting in the sight My baby stands up on her country thighs And plugs that lizard right between the eyes
10.
Common Ground (by Paul Cumming) Well I once knew a girl and I loved her too But she went to the country to find something to do She went to the country to have herself a look around And it’s so sad the way our lives unwound She won’t leave the country, and I can’t leave the town But somewhere we’re going to find some common ground She was so sophisticated a real hip chick But now she walks like a horse, she’s a real hick She used to do it at the disco now the square dance is where she gets down And I’m thinking while I’m drinking so my sorrows get drowned Why can’t I quit the city, why won’t she come to town? Somewhere, we’re going to find some common ground BRIDGE – I’ve been alone so long I’ve cried and I’ve cried I’ve got a phone bill with noughts falling off the side I call her and say come to me, so we can be near But she says if you want to see me you’d better come here I still love her, maybe she loves me Oh where is that promised land where we can live happily? She won’t come to the city so I’d best be country bound But then one day her wagon wheel might roll around To bring a little country into the town Somewhere, we’re going to find that common ground
11.
Lost 02:55
Lost (by J Carden) I was lost Said she was going home I was blown away Left me on my own I just could not see She was gonna take my home Well she told me that she loved me Promised me the world Then she stopped doing things That a man expects from a girl I just could not see She was gonna take my world I was lost Sleeping all day long Staying up all night Confusing right and wrong I learnt to play the blues And I wrote down this song I was lost But then along came you You picked me right up, baby When I was black and blue And now the hurt it feels good You got me singing the blues No longer lost I got a woman of my own She knows just when to come And when to leave me alone And when I need good loving All I gotta do is phone
12.
He's Got a Way With Women (by P Cumming) I still call him a friend I guess I know I should hate him but I just like him less I used to love him I must confess But then I used to love her more He’s got a smile, style, the need to possess And a sulk if he somehow fails to impress And he plays at love like he plays at chess Making moves and taking score And he loves to cause a stir And he had to pick on her And he’s got a way with women They get along just fine He’s got a way with women And he got away with mine She and me lived together in a two roomed flat And he used to drop by for an innocent chat He was funnier than me and I loved him for that I was naïve like I was born yesterday And he’d sit next to her, where I usually sat He’s such a natural diplomat That I couldn’t see what he was working at As he slowly nibbled away And as her Disney eyes grew wide I couldn’t see what he couldn’t hide That he’s got a way with women A way I can’t define But he’s got a way with women And he got away with mine And then one night when I fell through the door I found she didn’t live with me any more And he’s got a way with women That sends a shiver down my spine He’s got a way with women And he got away with mine In her letter she said, “It’s for the best” And when I asked him, he confessed That what he wanted now was a new conquest And that I still might have a chance with her yet And I want to talk to her, but every time I try I just get an overwhelming urge to cry She can’t look at me or tell me why So love gets replaced by regret And I thought about respect and I thought about trust I thought about affection and I thought about lust And I eventually thought that I eventually must just Move away and forget Why didn’t I realise He was performing a technical exercise And that he didn’t really want his prize ‘Cause he only wants what he can’t get But he can’t take all the blame It takes two to play that game And he’s got away with women As I ignored every sign He got away with women And he got away with mine But your friend is still someone at the end of the day Who knows all bout you but likes you anyway So good luck and goodbye is all I should say It’s time I moved away and forgot But he’ll be leaving her in the Spring ‘Cause Summer’s round the corner and it’s the usual thing With all the temptations that Summer can bring He’ll be out of the door like a shot ‘Cause he’s got a way with women With delights they can’t decline He’s got a way with women And he got away with mine He’s got a way with women With charms he can’t confine He’s got a way with women And he got away with mine

about

Released January, 2011.

Hugh Martin - vocals, guitars, organ
Jim Carden, vocals, drums, percussion
Mal McBeath - bass, vocals

credits

released January 1, 2011

All songs recorded and produced by the Dead Beat Daddios at
Fig Tree studio and Pie Street studio, Brisbane.

Mixed and mastered by Malcolm McBeath at Pie Street studio.

Artwork design and layout by Hugh Martin.

Words and music J Carden (1, 7, 8, 11), P Cumming (2, 3, 6, 10, 12), H Martin (4), P Cumming / V Gay (5), J Carden / T Palmer (9).

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Dead Beat Daddios Melbourne, Australia

Story songs about love, landscapes, misfits and mistakes, set to tuneful alt-country grooves.

"Great music in the country and kinda-country genres isn’t just for those of us here in the southern states. There are tunes brewing in Brisbane, as the Dead Beat Daddios prove."
Sunburnt Country Music on Dashboard Elvis
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