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.

THE DEVILS RIVER

by Shawn Nelson

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

1.
THE DEVIL'S RIVER Rollin’ through Junction just tryin’ to function Lookin’ for somethin’ to hold him down Daddies tell your daughters if they ain’t they oughter Steer clear when he rolls through town ‘Cause that Devil's River runs through the back door of Sonora But he don’t come around here anymore There’s chile verde tacos and drunken desperados Too stoned to find their way home Out west of Bandera he’s had his share of Rodeos out to ole Rocksprings But losin’ ain’t winnin’ in the high canyon livin’ Gonna see what tomorrow brings ‘Cause that Devil's River runs through the back door of Sonora But he don’t come around here anymore There’s chile verde tacos and drunken desperados Too stoned to find their way home Del Rio Texas is far west as you’ll ever see him go ‘Cause Gary Rivers Country Ain’t in it for the money Or the gold down in ole Mexico ‘Cause that Devil's River runs through the back door of Sonora But he don’t come around here anymore There’s chile verde tacos and drunken desperados Too stoned to find their way home
2.
Tighten Up 03:01
TIGHTEN UP Tighten Up, Tighten Up Pour a little whiskey in my coffee cup Tighten Up, Tighten Up Pour a little whiskey in my coffee cup Jack of Diamonds, King of Clubs Settin’ traps in the name of love Queen of Hearts, Ace of Spades Better to die than to fade away There’s a keg in the closet but I don’t care Bourbon is better on that I swear Blood sweat and whiskey on my guitar strings Makes me wanna holler in harmony Lazy Susan, Jack and Jim Old man Weller taught me how to swim On the ole Knob Creek, I hear the Rebel Yell Coming out the bottom of Jacob’s Well
3.
Medina 03:02
MEDINA I went down to Pasadena to work the rigs for Texaco It’s a long way from Medina and the life I used to know But them big city lights shine like dollar signs in the sky And you should’ve seen Gilley’s on a Saturday Night I’ll get back to you Medina One day for sure I know When that gold is all but gone Out the Gulf of Mexico And all them pretty city ladies not a one can keep my heart ‘Cause all they want is money and a fancy foreign car But I still drive my Chevy up and down Spencer Highway And try to save my money, it’s getting’ harder every day And I’ll get back to you Medina One day for sure I know When that gold is all but gone Out the Gulf of Mexico
4.
DIAMONDS DON’T SHINE IN THE DARK When I first met you we had a hell of a time Out honky-tonkin’ damn near every night But I was the fool who fell in love with you And thought that a diamond ring could make a lady of you Diamonds don’t shine in the dark I thought they could capture your heart And lure you out of the bar But diamonds don’t shine in the dark I should’ve known that you would never change And be by my side through good times, sorrow and pain Hopeless and broken, I went out lookin’ for you And found you down at the bar in the arms of your next fool Diamonds don’t shine in the dark I thought they could capture your heart And lure you out of the bar But diamonds don’t shine in the dark
5.
P & L’s MIDWAY I come from Houston way down south Raised in a honky-tonk with a po-boy in my mouth Momma and Daddy let us boys run free Them quarters for the jukebox made a junkie out of me It was “Stars on The Water” and “On The Road Again” And dancing with your Momma to “Hello Darlin’” Grandma Loretta drove a gold Pontiac Her friend had a coon dick tucked in his cowboy hat There were prison guards and convicts, my brother and me They gave away bunnies on Easter Sunday It was “Stars on The Water” and “On The Road Again” And dancing with your Momma to “Hello Darlin’” Grandma Loretta lives up in Heaven now Probably drinkin’ beer and dancin’ to them honky-tonk sounds Shufflin’ through the saw-dust just like we used to do Down at P&L’s Midway back in 1982 It was “Stars on The Water” and “On The Road Again” And dancing with your Momma to “Hello Darlin’”
6.
Deliver Me 03:21
DELIVER ME When they lay me down to rest Oh Deliver Me 'Cause I can’t seem to help myself Oh Deliver Me Oh Lord deliver me Oh Lord deliver me 'Cause I can’t seem to help myself Oh Deliver Me When I reach the other side Oh Deliver Me 'Cause I can’t seem to get it right Oh Deliver Me Oh Lord deliver me Oh Lord deliver me 'Cause I can’t seem to help myself Oh Deliver Me When I take my last long breath Oh Deliver Me 'Cause I can’t live in fear of death Oh Deliver Me Oh Lord deliver me Oh Lord deliver me 'Cause I can’t seem to help myself Oh Deliver Me
7.
MY OLD TIME GAL You’re still my baby, you’re still my bride Be here forever by your side I’m never leavin’ you babe In your bosom is where I’ll stay There’s lots of pretty girls that like to look and stare I know you act like you don’t care But I’m here to tell ya that I love ya babe I’m here to tell ya that I’m gonna stay With you my old time gal You’re still my lady, I’m still your man Walkin’ forever hand in hand I know I’m crazy and so are you We belong together me and you There’s lots of pretty girls that like to look and stare I know you act like you don’t care But I’m here to tell ya that I love ya babe I’m here to tell ya that I’m gonna stay With you my old time gal When our days here are done I’ll meet ya baby up above And if you want to we can be Oh together in eternity There’s lots of pretty girls that like to look and stare I know you act like you don’t care But I’m here to tell ya that I love ya babe I’m here to tell ya that I’m gonna stay With you my old time gal
8.
THE HONKY-TONK LIFE Coffee’s strong and hot There’s lots of pot Hippie speed-ballin’ again Last night we had one hell of a show You know the party don’t end on the road Baby don’t leave me I’m lonely Don’t leave me alone in the night ‘Cause I’m getting older The nights they are colder Out livin’ the honky-tonk life I try to be the man I should be But some nights I end up on the floor What the hell would they mean yea the songs I sing If I never been knocked down before Baby don’t leave me I’m lonely Don’t leave me alone in the night ‘Cause I’m getting older The nights they are colder Out livin’ the honky-tonk life No tears do I cry through these blood-shot eyes Just trying to make it through the night But the company I keep and the people we meet Got us out here walkin’ the line Baby don’t leave me I’m lonely Don’t leave me alone in the night ‘Cause I’m getting older The nights they are colder Out livin’ the honky-tonk life
9.
ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE There’s a big blue sky In the heavens above I looked death right in the eye And killed it with love I don’t wanna go crazy Just tryin’ to survive I got one foot in the grave babe Ah the hell with time You’re my mornin’ sunshine And my evenin’ glow I thank God that you’re mine I couldn’t make it alone I don’t wanna go crazy Just tryin’ to survive I got one foot in the grave babe Ah the hell with time When I get up to heaven Gonna see my soul Yea and all is forgiven In love and rock n roll I don’t wanna go crazy Just tryin’ to survive I got one foot in the grave babe Ah the hell with time
10.
Your Man 03:33
YOUR MAN I learned to love the mornin’ light Watchin’ it shine off you babe And I know that I can be a ball of fire Spinnin’ in circles of rage You give me strength when I’m weak with regret And down on myself again You are the one got you on my side And with me until the end So love me And lie next to me And I will always be Your man When the darkness come round blindin’ me so You show me the light I can’t see You pick me up when I can’t find my way And lead me home to harmony So love me And lie next to me And I will always be Your man
11.
AT BARTON SPRINGS I poured me a glass of bourbon In a wine glass with ice Hopin' I could find the words to write you tonight It’s been a rough and rocky travelin' A little hard on us But we are built on love and trust When it comes to you and me There ain't nothin' I would change I loved you from the moment That we met at Barton Springs Forgiveness is the key Be it big or small We have it in our hearts to forgive all It’ll stop the wheel Of misfortune and sin But you gotta live it, you gotta put your work in When it comes to you and me There ain't nothin' I would change I loved you from the moment That we met at Barton Springs We have come a long way Down a lonesome road Where expression battles expectations But the chances we take Is the life we make So c'mon baby let's celebrate When it comes to you and me There ain't nothin' I would change I loved you from the moment That we met at Barton Springs

about

After the release of five independent albums with various band mates - two under Shawn Nelson, one with Shawn Nelson & The Good Buds and two with Shawn Nelson & The Ramblers, Shawn marks his 6th release with THE DEVILS RIVER - a throw-back country album dipped in some americana sauce.

All of the songs are written by Shawn, except for “Diamonds Don’t Shine In The Dark” and the title track, “The Devils River”. “Diamonds” was written with Shawn’s long time mandolin player and Good Bud, Fletcher Murchinson. “The Devils River” was written with Will Dupuy (South Austin Jug Band) on the way back to Austin from Bandera, Fletcher was asleep in the back seat of the van. Will recorded and released “The Devils River” on his band latest release, La Tampiquena, which was Shawn’s first cut.

Some of the finest musicians in Austin helped Shawn breathe life into these songs. Fellow Good Bud drummer and producer, Patrick Herzfeld, engineered and mixed the record at his new studio outside of Austin, Signal Hill, and also played drums and piano on the record. Long-time Austin guitar hero, Wayne Sutton of Sister 7 added his licks and riffs and Will Dupuy of The South Austin Jug Band popped in to add vocal harmonies and upright bass on a few numbers. The bluesy-two-stepper “Tighten Up” and the bluegrass fueled “My Old Time Gal” features fiddler Noah Jeffries of Milkdrive.

credits

released February 24, 2015

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Produced by Patrick Herzfeld & Shawn Nelson
Recorded at Signal Hill Studios in Austin, Texas
Mixed by Patrick Herzfeld | Mastered by Ben Blank
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wayne Sutton - Electric Guitar (Sister 7, Patrice Pike, Brian Keane)
Noah Jeffries - Fiddle (Milkdrive, Jason Boland)
Will Dupuy - Vocals (South Austin Jug Band, La Tampiquena)
Morgan Thompson - Bass (John Evans, Emily Bell, Deadman)
Matt Lara - Accordion (La Tampiquena)
Fletcher Murchison - Acoustic Mandolin (La Tampiquena)
Patrick Herzfeld - Drums (Graham Wilkinson, John Evans, Emily Bell)
Shawn Nelson - Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Bill Terry - Steel Guitar
-------------------------------------------------------------------
All Songs Written By Shawn Nelson
Track 1 by Shawn Nelson & Will Dupuy
Track 4 Shawn Nelson & Fletcher Murchsion
© 2015 Fonky Tonk Music (BMI) All Rights Reserved
-------------------------------------------------------------------

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Shawn Nelson Austin

Shawn Nelson is a songwriter, musician and singer based in Austin who has been performing and making records for over a decade. The Austin Chronicle named his 2011's San Juan Street "one of the best country albums of the year."
Shawn and the group of string band pickers have recorded a live studio album slated to be released in the Fall of 2016 marking Shawn's 9th independent release.
... more

contact / help

Contact Shawn Nelson

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Shawn Nelson, you may also like: