1. |
I'm Doin' Fine
00:47
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I'm doin' fine
I'm doin' fine
I've got a lot of things on my mind
But I'm doin' fine
Everything's good
Everything's good
Not everything turns out like it should
But everything's good
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2. |
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Twenty years old
Out on my own
Tears on my cheeks
Spark in my eyes
Got my own place
Right downtown
Gonna bring lots of girls around
Give me a few years
I got a plan
Gonna make something happen then
Wait’ll I get my hands on you
Wait’ll I get my hands on you
Then I’ll know what to do
There’s a light out the window
And it’s bright, babe it’s bright
Got some money in my pocket
I’m alright
But then I wake up one morning
Clouds spitting rain
Last night is pounding
Deep in my brain
Sit up in bed and I get confused
Get the I didn’t know any better blues
I didn’t know any better blues
Thirty years old
Scraping along
Can’t say I made it yet
But I’m trying
Wait’ll I quit my job, oh man
Gonna make something happen then
Yeah you know I’ll have time then
Take a look out the window
And there’s not much to like
Got some money in the bank though
Guess I’m fine
But man I thought we were winning
Forces for good
Slow march to justice
Doing what we could
Now every time when I turn on the news
Get the I didn’t know any better blues
I didn’t know any better blues
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3. |
Oh, Mama
02:33
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Ain’t got a big dick
Can’t afford a big car
Or a big house
Like some big movie star
Ain’t got much money
Or much class
When I got a little time
Goes by so fast
Oh, mama
Could never choose my women
And I don’t like men
But I got a rifle
And she’s faithful
And I got a job
And a place to sleep
Chili on the stove
No meat
Oh, mama
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4. |
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Well he’s trying, in his way,
To convince you of his interest
But you figure that he’s still gonna stray
Yeah he takes you out to dinner
But he’s flirtin’ with the waitress
And you’re trying to act impressed
When he doesn’t let you pay
So the next day on the phone
Yeah you’re talking to your mother
And she says you don’t sound bothered or upset
True you don’t feel devastated
Just feel kinda disregarded
And it hurts and you don’t like it
That’s as far as you can get
Wednesday morning and you’re sick
Had a late night, had a good time
Or at least not such a bad time, no you had fun
Yeah these nights start like they oughta
But they don’t end like they used to
Just a memory that you cling to
And the clear sense that it’s done
So now you’re talking to your boss
And he asks you how you’re feeling
And he’s smiling while he’s asking, like he knows
You don’t mind so much the question
You just mind the lack of caring
And that shit grin that he’s wearing
Like you’re buddies, like you’re pals
Feel like something’s going wrong and
You’re more complicit than you know
Most of the time you feel like you’re set apart
But you’re not though
Not even close
Fit the key into the lock
Hey you got home a bit early
Smoke a rollie by the window, ash on your clothes
It’s a quiet night in summer
You can hear the neighbors laughing
On the street somebody’s honking
You turn on the radio
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5. |
Dumber by the Day
03:57
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Well I’m getting even dumber by the day
Chasing after things I threw away
I thought I wouldn’t need ‘em
What can I say
Man I’m getting even dumber by the day
Yeah I’m getting even dumber by the day
Missing all my friends who moved away
But I’m not going nowhere
No I’m gonna stay
Yeah I’m getting even dumber by the day
Dumber by the day
Weaker than the beers I put away
Hanging on tight
Slipping away
And I’m getting even dumber by the day
Can I tell you that you’re always on my mind?
Living in the days when you were mine
But you kept going forward
I stayed behind
Just remember that you’re always on my mind
Dumber by the day
Weaker than the beers I put away
Hanging on tight
Slipping away
And I’m getting even dumber by the day
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6. |
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My buddy hooked me up with a job
Told me twenty-five bucks an hour
Start you right away paying cash under the table
I showed up on my first day
Just a couple minutes late
Nobody around didn’t seem quite on the level
But then along come an older man
Sized me up and shook my hand
He said you’re just what I need, boy—young, willing, and able
He told me go on home and wait for a call
And don’t you worry ‘bout a thing at all
Now I’m the number one employee but I can’t get scheduled
So me and the boss had a little spat
I said some things that I don’t regret
I never claimed to be a diplomat—well, they’re well shut of me
Still I’m finding plenty of things to do
Sitting in on a gig or two
And playing Fat Daddy’s Barbecue every second Sunday
But still I’m having trouble sleeping nights
I know this can’t be all there is to life
I wanna see my name in big bright lights before I hit thirty
I had a can-do attitude
And a case of Miller Lite
And I drove straight on through the night up to New York City
Yeah ‘cause I got big dreams
And a big mouth
I got tight jeans
And a blow out
Don’t want a paycheck
I want a payout
I got big dreams
And a big mouth
So now I’m strolling down the avenue
Stepping light to a twelve-bar blues
I got a black pair of discount boots, I paid $11.50
Found a job as a caterer
Slinging white wine and cheese hors d’oeuvres
And making eyes at the dowagers sipping vinho verde
I found a room on the internet
Kind of a semi-permanent sublet
I guessed the rent they said double that and I just said ok
But when I’m sitting up at two a.m.
The window’s up the breeze is blowing in
I’m breathing out I’m breathing in and I know I’m ok
Yeah ‘cause I got big dreams
And a big mouth
I got tight jeans
And a blow out
Don’t want a paycheck
I want a payout
I got big dreams
And a big mouth
You know it’s hard living like I do
Eating light and drinking for two
Seeking after beauty and truth—no you just can’t fake it
People tell me it’s naïve
Say I’m the only one who still believes
I tell ‘em they’re the ones are gonna grieve when I finally make it
If there’s a kind of man who gets things done
A man who knows how the race is run
A man who knows how to hold his tongue well you know I ain’t it
And yeah there’s times when the money’s tight
And when I don’t know where I’ll sleep the night
But I just picture my name in lights and I can almost taste it
Yeah ‘cause I got big dreams
And a big mouth
I have sweet dreams
On the pull-out
I went up north
But I’m from down south
I got big dreams
And a big mouth
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7. |
Pretty in Pain Relief
04:47
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Some folks they like to drink vodka straight
Some prefer vermouth on ice
Some like to smoke on a spliff or two
Some’ll tell you that ain’t right
You go to a shrink you get a valium pill
Get you feeling less uptight
My advice: you take whatever you can take
To get you through the night
Get you through the night
Feel a little less aggrieved
You find a new aesthetic
Anesthetic
You’re pretty in pain relief
Once upon a time I was a strong young buck
Never even had a cold
I used to run around, I used to cut it up
I was brash, boys, I was bold
But the years they come along, the tears they come along
I got heartsick, and I got old
Doctor helped me see how I could help myself
To take back a little control
Take back a little control
Find some new autonomy
I got a new aesthetic
Anesthetic
I’m pretty in pain relief
Ever come a time when you get overwhelmed
Just check your local pharmacy
Bengay and Gold Bond and Icy Hot
“Natural Herbal Remedy”
But don’t forget the basics: your little white pill
NSAID
Remember when you’re down you’re just a dose away
From pretty in pain relief
Pretty in pain relief
Got your new autonomy
You’ve found a new aesthetic
Anesthetic
You’re pretty in pain relief
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8. |
This Dog's Been Dead
04:20
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This dog’s been dead
This dog’s been dead
The grass is brown
Where she lay her head
And now she’s buried in the side yard
This dog’s been dead
This dog’s been dead
She came to me
In 2003
She on three legs
I was thirteen
She of sound mind, but infirm body
This dog’s been dead
This dog’s been dead
Let her go
Let her go
Her ghost gave up
And quit the show
Settle down and make your bed
This dog’s been dead
This dog’s been dead
We sat in the park
And on the porch
I played guitar
You groomed your coat
All these moments left untranslated
This dog’s been dead
This dog’s been dead
Let her go
Let her go
Her ghost gave up
And quit the show
Settle down and make your bed
This dog’s been dead
This dog’s been dead
When we wake up
It’s gonna hurt
The morning air
Like a hair shirt
Nothing to take but unprescribed meds
This dog’s been dead
This dog’s been dead
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9. |
Picture of Wealth
03:29
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Sitting at the bar after my friends left
Sitting at the bar I got no money left
There’s a couple in the corner doing awful stuff
And my face in the mirror
With a bottle for an eye
I take a last sip, then I slip out
On the sly, on the sly
Prospects are dimming, dark clouds moving in
Landlord’s stopping by he raised the rent again
I got rocks in my socks I got spit in my gin
And the larder’s looking empty
And my pockets are getting light
But I’m drinking red wine on a Tuesday
I’m alright, I’m alright
Venue under a warehouse where the J train rolls
Singer up on the stage he grabs the microphone
He cries one two three four
And the band kicks into gear
And the kids all lose their minds
I’m in the way back and my feet hurt
It’s getting late, it’s getting to be time
Temperature’s rising the storm’s coming soon
Chatter on the news says it’s coming for you
Well I know it looks bad but there’s plenty you can do
You can hope, you can pray
You can despair, you can cry
You can face facts: you can’t help it
But you can try, you can try
Once loved a woman as sweet as can be
Once loved a woman no one cooler than she
Yeah I loved her so much she was part of me
But I wasn’t part of her
And it hurts, but it’s fine
You can be smart, you can be in love
But never both at the same time
Hey man how you been?
Oh, I’m ok, friend
I been up I been down now I’m up again
You can see me on the TV
I’m the picture of wealth
Wearing pinstripes, double-breasted
Yeah I did it all by myself
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10. |
My Friend Lacey
09:39
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My friend Lacey told this story to me late one afternoon
We were sitting at the bar sipping on rye
Lacey stood to get another round
She smiled at me as she sat down
Said, Daniel, I’ve been having a rough time
Well my job keeps getting worse, and I’m worse at it
Haven’t cleaned my place in weeks or maybe months
Try to read but I can’t concentrate
I eat the same thing every day
I drink—well, like I always drank, don’t ask
I get up most mornings well before the sun does
I don’t know, seems I just can’t keep my eyes closed
I just toss and turn, tangle my sheets up
I sweat and curse and get fed up
Till finally I roll out, put on my clothes
About two blocks from my apartment
There’s a park—we went there once
I’ve started walking there some mornings
‘Round the time the sun comes up
I think mean thoughts about the joggers
People out walking their dogs
See the dawn light getting stronger
See the streetlights clicking off
There’s a fog that settles down upon the park just before dawn
And it lingers in the branches of the trees
That’s the cruel thing about beauty:
That it hits you when you’re cold to it
At least that’s how it always works with me
Anyway, the day this happened I was up at five o’clock
I was dressed and out the door before I knew it
It was cold and I’d forgot my coat
I felt a fool, I felt fed up
But I muttered to myself, Kid, just get through it
Saw a man slumped on a park bench
Don’t know why I stopped but I did
Put my hand upon his shoulder
Is something wrong sir? I asked him
And he said, Thank you dear for stopping
Not too many would these days
And if you want to know what ails me
Sit right down, I’ll tell you plain:
Well I’ve got aches and I’ve got pains
I’ve got bills I cannot pay
I’ve been fired so much it feels like work to me
And I no longer feel at home in New York City
But I figure I got no place else to be
Lacey settled up our tab, said, Dan, I got it
We got up, put on our coats, walked out the door
I’d not realized just how late it was
I hadn’t realized just how drunk I was
I never wanna go, always want more
I walked Lacey to her train, the night was empty
Just a couple stumblin’ bros and me and her
Lacey looked up at the windows
All lit up and casting shadows on the street
Different people, different worlds
And at the F stop Lacey turned to me
Smiled that half-smile like she does
Like she’d just remembered something
But couldn’t tell you what it was
We just stood there saying nothing
Then Lacey turned and walked away
I watched her down into the tunnel
And as she went I heard her say:
Well I’ve got aches and I’ve got pains
I’ve got bills I cannot pay
I’ve been fired so much it feels like work to me
And I no longer feel at home in New York City
But I figure I got no place else to be
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11. |
I'm Doin' Fine (Reprise)
02:58
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I’m doin’ fine
I’m doin’ fine
I’ve got a lot of things on my mind
But I’m doin’ fine
Everything’s good
Everything’s good
Not everything turns out like it should
But everything’s good
And if something looks bad
That just means it hasn’t finished up yet
If something feels bad
That just means you haven’t had enough yet
I’m doin’ fine
I’m doin’ fine
I’ve got a lot of things on my mind
But I’m doin’ fine
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Rube New York, New York
Rube was formed in New York in 2016. We recorded our first album in Georgia in 2018. Now we live in New York, Georgia, and Los Angeles. We play poppy country rock music; it's as dumb as it sounds but it's pretty smart sometimes.
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