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.

Only Just a Man

by JT Moring with Ramona Ault

/

  • 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.
Roxy (instrumental) 00:34
info
buy track
2.
Run Baby Run 02:17
lyrics
buy track
I left home at seventeen my head up in the stars with 15 dollars and this old guitar I lived on a mountain I lived by the sea I wandered through the wilderness trying to be free You can Run Baby Run hide baby hide it don’t matter where you go if you enjoy the ride We are only strangers in this uncertain land All a man can ever do is do the best he can We survived the plague we survived the flood I think we done pretty good if you don’t mind some blood Run Baby Run hide baby hide it don’t matter where you go if you enjoy the ride So it’s ashes unto ashes it’s sand unto sand All a man will ever be is only just a man So we’ll Run Baby Run hide baby hide it don’t matter where we go if we enjoy the ride Run Baby Run hide baby hide we don’t know where we going so let’s enjoy this ride
3.
Low Tide 02:57
lyrics
buy track
Do you ever get the feeling your world is on a slant You try and stand on your two own feet and realize you can’t I woke up on my little boat expecting it to be afloat And found it was sitting sideways in the sand Oh no the tide is low Stuck in the mud the boat won’t go Give me three feet of water and one good shove And I’ll be gone like castaway love I sailed up this creek mouth yesterday about half past one My woman had just cut me loose left me all undone Ran into my friends and before too long we were drinking and singing songs But today I’m singing a different tune Singing, Oh no the tide is low Stuck in the mud the boat won’t go Give me three feet of water and one good shove And I’ll be gone like castaway love We name our boats for women you know the reason why Some days they leave you laughing some days they make you cry You can paint and polish and scrape and scrub but still you’ve got a leaky tub she’ll let you down as surely as the tide Singing, Oh no the tide is low Stuck in the mud the boat won’t go Give me three feet of water and one good shove And I’ll be gone like castaway love Me oh me oh my, Up the creek high and dry
4.
Guerrero Negro 03:31
lyrics
buy track
It’s pouring down buckets in Guerrero Negro Nobody’s taking the boats out today The water is knee-high outside the hotel And I’m sick as a dog anyway I wanted to see the whales from a panga It’s the end of the season I heard Shari say With sickness and storm it’s not likely to happen But mañana’s always another day It’s pouring in Baja Sur Streaming out of the sky Nothing is going according to plan And I feel like I’m gonna die The house on the corner is taking on water Despite all the sandbags they’ve piled round the porch Someone called in the city pump wagon The harder they pump, the harder it pours It’s pouring in Baja Sur Streaming out of the sky Nothing is going according to plan And I feel like I’m gonna die Shari is working the phone in her office Whale bones and photos fill up the shelves She takes no shit from American tourists A business in Baja won’t itself It’s pouring in Baja Sur Streaming out of the sky Nothing is going according to plan And I feel like I want to die The maid comes around with some sort of potion I take it, why not, can’t feel any worse What do they do if you die down in Mexico? Drive your dead gringo ass home in a hearse It’s pouring in Baja Sur Streaming out of the sky Nothing is going according to plan And I feel like I’m gonna die
5.
Kerfuffle Shuffle (instrumental) 00:40
info
buy track
6.
Down on the Farm 03:14
lyrics
buy track
I was on a hunting trip in Tennessee in the woods, doing good happy and carefree but things went sideways back at the old homestead my wife called on the mobile phone and this is what she said Stop what you’re doing, get your ass moving, this ain’t no false alarm there’s all kind of trouble brewing down on the farm The dog got bit by a rattlesnake, the cat has got the heaves cows got out of the pasture they’re eating loco weed Skunk crawled underneath the porch, and stunk the place to hell the youngest child is missing he may be down the well Stop what you’re doing, get your ass moving, this ain’t no false alarm there’s all kind of trouble brewing down on the farm Storm blew in the day you left, the crick washed out the bridge it’s a hundred year flood, a yard full of mud and gators in the ditch Some men from the government been tramping through the hills They never found the cash crop but they’re busting up the still Stop what you’re doing, get your ass moving, this ain’t no false alarm there’s all kind of trouble brewing down on the farm When that phone started ringing on that ridge in Tennessee I could have ignored it very easily I could have claimed no coverage or a worn out battery… But I didn’t … I packed up the gun I left on the run I got back home by night” I worked through the darkness to try to set things right I found the kid, I fixed the fence, and I chased away those men I shot a hole in my mobile phone so I never have to hear this again… Stop what you’re doing, get your ass moving, this ain’t no false alarm there’s all kind of trouble brewing all kind of trouble brewing all kind of trouble brewing down on the farm
7.
Harvest Time in Humboldt 04:57
lyrics
buy track
I rolled into Arcata in my trusty van I had no particular place to be, I had time on my hands I met this guy named Tie Dye Mike who had a farm up in the hills Mike told me I could camp for free and maybe earn some bills We’re talking cannabis country There was eight foot kush hanging up to dry from the rafters in the barn With security lights and padlocks to keep it from coming to harm Each of those plants was covered in buds; each bud was covered in tar Mike put me on the trimming crew and I was a star They called me Captain Snips Cut and dried, bound and tied If they said it’s easy that’s a lie Work all day – party all night It’s harvest time in Humboldt There were burners and stoners and Joe from Idaho; that man loved his guns Paul from San Diego was always up for some fun Fern and Billy were old school hippies lived in a redwood tree All in all we were one big happy pot farming family A little dysfunctional like any good family Cut and dried, bound and tied If they said it’s easy that’s a lie Work all day – party all night It’s harvest time in Humboldt Tie Dye Mike was a capitalist, just as tight as he could be In the mornings we took cold showers, at night we ate cold beans And that was alright till we found out Mike was keeping half our pay You know me, I’m a mellow guy, but that was not OK Do you think that’s OK? Cut and dried, bound and tied If they said it’s easy that’s a lie Work all day – party all night It’s harvest time in Humboldt Some folks claim it was Bigfoot, some blame it on the cops One morning the weed was gone despite of all those locks So I said goodbye to all my friends with lots of hugs and tears And we each left with a 50 pound stash to last us through the year It’s going to be a good year, I can feel it! Cut and dried, bound and tied If they say it’s easy that’s a lie Work all day – party all night harvest time in Humboldt Work all day – party all night harvest time in Humboldt
8.
Welcome to the Neighborhood 03:52
lyrics
buy track
Years ago when the kids were young We decided that we needed a suburban home We found a fixer upper on a cul de sac The paint was peeling the windows were cracked But the neighborhood had real good schools A playground and a swimming pool We signed the deed and the deal went down All the neighbors came around, saying: Welcome to the neighborhood The grass is green and life is good Paradise on a dead end street Raise those kids up right Mark next door had a garden back Grow lights strung to a wooden shack He used to bring us brownies with a bandage on his head He set himself on fire smoking in bed And on the other side was a lawn care freak Mowing his grass twice every week Then the lady with the bunny moved in then She was making dirty movies with all her beefy friends Welcome to the neighborhood The grass is green and life is good Paradise on a dead end street Raise those kids up right The boys across the street were on their own Since their mom found a girlfriend and ran away from home The HOA used to give them holy hell I guess they didn’t trim their bushes very well My man Juan lived down on the end He was a real hard worker and a real good friend But his heart gave out when he lost his home His no good son took out a no good loan Welcome to the neighborhood The grass is green and life is good Paradise on a dead end street Raise those kids up right Now the years rolled by and my kids moved on All those old neighbors are dead or gone Now it’s young professionals and there’s no doubt I am the guy THEY talk about I’m gluing solar panels to my beat up van I’ve got a tree house and a bluegrass band I smoke my pipe out on my front porch stoop Wondering where can I put a beehive and a chicken coop Welcome to the neighborhood Life is sweet and the grass is good Paradise on a dead end street Raise those kids up right Raise those kids up right Raise those kids up right
9.
Better Off Dead (instrumental) 00:54
info
buy track
10.
Eyes Wide Open 03:04
lyrics
buy track
He walked into the snowy town eyes wide open wondering if he’d walk back out he was only hoping he’d come to find a certain man He was working on a plan to get his hands on that bastard’s money Keep your eyes wide open and your feet upon the ground Keep your eyes wide open there’s danger all around The townsfolk watched him carefully as he stepped into the bar They knew they’d seen that face before they recognized the scar he had a little time to think as the barman poured his drink he thought maybe this time he’d gone too far Keep your eyes wide open and your feet upon the ground Keep your eyes wide open there’s danger all around keep a bullet in the chamber don’t trust anyone at all Keep your eyes wide open and your back against the wall It happened in a heartbeat caught the tavern unprepared bullets and broken glass filled the smoky air Our man was halfway down the road a wad of bills inside his coat and a body bleeding on the barroom floor Keep your eyes wide open and your feet upon the ground Keep your eyes wide open there’s danger all around keep a bullet in the chamber don’t trust anyone at all Keep your eyes wide open and your back against the wall Keep your eyes wide open (eyes wide open) x3 Keep your eyes wide open and your back against the wall
11.
Forty Acres and a Mule 04:05
lyrics
buy track
His ancestors were warriors some were kings and queens James ended up across the world where life was hard and mean General Sherman came marching setting all the people free James got up and marched with him all the way to the sea When the war was over he had no place to go He had a wife and children but no place to call home They made a promise one thing they would do They were gonna try to make things right with Forty Acres and a Mule So he walked all the way down to Charleston his friends called him a fool But he got a little bit of bottomland and a worn out army mule They made a promise one thing they would do They were gonna try to make things right with Forty Acres and a Mule That old mule died in a couple of weeks the farmland was too wet James started digging drainage hoping for the best But the white folks wanted that land real bad and they did not want to pay the governor signed some papers and took James’ land away They made a promise one thing they would do They were gonna try to make things right with Forty Acres and a Mule They said he could work on the railroad but that never came to be or join the army but that wasn’t right for a man with a family So it was back to the old plantation sharing his life away but James believed deep inside it had to get better some day They made a promise one thing they would do They were gonna try to make things right with Forty Acres and a Mule His ancestors were warriors some were kings and queens
12.
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 04:17
lyrics
buy track
We set sail from Norfolk on the morning tide bound to make our fortune upon the ocean wide We got three dozen cannons and twice that many men We’ll fill our hold with Spanish gold ‘fore we make port again Pull, pull, pull you devils, pull you devils pull It’s wind and wave and sharpened steel It’s booty and blood for me I got no faith in God or Man Just the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea We had a mate named Billy good man with sword or gun Wasn’t so good with his liquor and one morning woke up hung I had another messmate his name was Pegleg Jim Was in the shark filled waters that he first learned how to swim Pull, pull, pull you devils, pull you devils pull It’s wind and wave and sharpened steel It’s booty and blood for me I got no faith in God or Man Just the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea We’ve got 40 casks of water and 40 more of rum We’ve got enough black powder to blow us all to kingdom come So hoist the sails and man the rails and pull the anchor free And raise the jolly skull and bones for all the world to see Pull, pull, pull you devils, pull you devils pull It’s wind and wave and sharpened steel It’s booty and blood for me I got no faith in God or Man Just the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
13.
Prelude to a Storm (instrumental) 01:38
info
buy track
14.
Six Feet High and Rising 03:10
lyrics
buy track
Fetch the fiddle and photographs Put them over here on the homemade raft grab the dogs grab some food go get your gramma down off the roof It’s been raining for a week Six Feet High and Rising river’s in our street Six Feet High and Rising water’s at the window it’s time to find higher ground I never seen a flood like this before gramma said they had one in ‘64 lost some chickens lost some goats the barn floated off like it thought it was a boat It’s been raining for a week Six Feet High and Rising river’s in our street Six Feet High and Rising water’s at the window it’s time to find higher ground rain falling harder and harder stirring up muddy water rain falling harder and harder stirring up muddy water It’s been raining for a week Six Feet High and Rising Oh lord we’ve lost so much but I think we got the important stuff Gramma said it’ll be OK … she never did like that carpet anyway It’s been raining for a week Six Feet High and Rising river’s in our street Six Feet High and Rising water’s at the window it’s time to find higher ground
15.
Business as Usual 03:48
lyrics
buy track
It’s a little bit late for talking about that levee The time for that was months and months ago Mama’s gone down to check in at the mission I just hope she comes back with a boat They say there’s no relief on the horizon There’s mudslides up and down the ridge Three feet of water in the streets of Springfield Six feet and rising at the trestle bridge The river is rising The rain’s still coming down Just Business as Usual In this little town There’s an angel sitting on my shoulder There’s a devil just pulling on my leg There’s a whole lot of trouble if we try and leave here It’s another sort of trouble altogether if we stay The river is rising The rain’s still coming down Just Business as Usual In this little town The strong ones shall protect the weak ones the weak ones just do the best they can I’ve been doing everything in my power So help me I’m only just a man The river is rising The rain’s still coming down Just Business as Usual In this little town The rain’s still coming down In this little town
16.
Higher Ground (instrumental) 01:05
info
buy track
17.
Good Old Boy 02:50
lyrics
buy track
Look at that man whose skin don’t fit You tell him your name he’ll soon forget he don’t get around so well his old hip has been giving him hell That old man was a child once too he played ball just like you do got a little scared on the first day of school that good old boy was a lot like you He talks about people you don’t know and things that happened long ago He ran cattle sold Bibles door to door he got shot at in the war That old man was a child once too he played in the park and swam in the pool he watched scary movies and he went to the zoo that good old boy was a lot like you Listen to him laughing loud and long He loves a good story and loves a good song Loves to give the children a hug and a kiss But he scared the baby out of her wits But that old man was a child once too he played ball just like you do got a little scared on the first day of school that good old boy was a lot like you Look at that man Look at that man Look at the man whose skin don’t fit he’s a good old boy so don’t forget That old man was a child once too he played in the park and swam in the pool he watched scary movies and went to the zoo that good old boy was a lot like you
18.
Hole in the Sky / Reprise 03:33
lyrics
buy track
It’s a little bit late for talking about that levee The time for that was months and months ago Mama’s gone down to check in at the mission I just hope she comes back with a boat They say there’s no relief on the horizon There’s mudslides up and down the ridge Three feet of water in the streets of Springfield Six feet and rising at the trestle bridge The river is rising The rain’s still coming down Just Business as Usual In this little town There’s an angel sitting on my shoulder There’s a devil just pulling on my leg There’s a whole lot of trouble if we try and leave here It’s another sort of trouble altogether if we stay The river is rising The rain’s still coming down Just Business as Usual In this little town The strong ones shall protect the weak ones the weak ones just do the best they can I’ve been doing everything in my power So help me I’m only just a man The river is rising The rain’s still coming down Just Business as Usual In this little town The rain’s still coming down In this little town
19.
Over and Out (instrumental) 01:09
info
buy track

about

Full album, 13 songs, 6 instrumentals, available for free download.

credits

released November 1, 2021

All songs written, performed & recorded by JT Moring
Female vocals arranged and performed by Ramona Ault
Mastered by Ronan Chris Murphy at Veneto West

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

JT Moring image

JT Moring Encinitas, California

JT Moring is a dynamic entertainer known for incisive songs/stories and audience engagement. He performs solo on guitar or banjo, and in collaboration with a collection of San Diego County's top musicians.

November 1, 2021, JT's first solo album, Only Just a Man, appears in all the places you'd expect. ... more

contact / help

Contact JT Moring

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Only Just a Man, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now