Writings, Essays, Lyrics, Musings, Commentary . . .
Article #40: Lyrics to Original Songs on "Gaye Without Shame"
October, 2008 - by Gaye Adegbalola
I have never printed lyrics for any CD that I've recorded. I've always felt that my enunciation should be clear enough that the listener can understand them. I've always felt that the space on the insert booklet could be put to better use than by printing lyrics. While the insert for "Gaye Without Shame" has eight panels, I opted
for pictures and thank you's, for my mission and song meanings/origins. However, with this CD, I've had quite a few requests for lyrics. I am, in turn, honored that people want the exact words.
Here they are, the lyrics to Gaye Adegbalola originals in order of appearance on the "Gaye Without Shame" CD. Feel free to print them out and sing along!
May we all find peace through music,
Gaye
Track #1: Queer Blues
Track #3: Hungry Woman's Blues - Part II
Track #6: Boy in the Boat
Track #7: Bareback Rider
Track #8: Hold My Hand, Baby
Track #10: Lying Preacher Blues
Track #11: Twisted Mind Blues
Track #12: Tippin' On the Down Low
Track #13: Hetero Twinges
Track #14: Step Parent Blues
Track #16: Déjà Vu Blues
Track #18: I Ain't Ashamed
Track #1: Queer Blues
Adegbalola Rev 03/07
Chorus:
Oh yes I'm here nowEvery since the day I was born
And I'm queer now
Get over it
I'm here now
And I'm queer now
You better get over it
I knew I was not the same
As the other little girls in my neighborhood
Who laughed and called me names
I didn't like dolls
I didn't like dresses
My shame turned in to fear
But times have changed
And I love being queer
Chorus
When I was a teen I dated boy after boy
To prove I was okay
I'd let ‘em go to second base
Never all the way
I didn't like their kisses
I didn't like their touch
My lies turned in to fear
But times have changed
And I love being queer
Chorus
I got married, I had a child
I did the housewife thing
I'd wash and iron
Cook and clean
Served him like a king
But then I had headaches
Night after night
Couldn't perform, I fear
Now times have changed
And I love being queer
Chorus
Now I'm old, with a family
Now I'm out in the open
No hide and go seek, no shame, no lies
No more life unspoken
I want your acceptance
Just as I am
There's really nothing to fear
Times have changed
And I love being queer
Chorus
Track #3: Hungry Woman's Blues - Part II
Adegbalola Rev 11/95
Chorus:
I'm a hungry womanI'm hungry like a dog
Feed me like I want to be fed -- 2x
You can feed my body
But you really got to feed my head
And like a New York city rat
A school of piranas
Or a venus fly trap
Takes a lot to satisfy me
I'll eat your whole menu
But don't you dare forget
You gotta feed my head too
Chorus
Feed me chocolate buns
Feed me goose pate
Feed me nuts and honey
And your seafood buffet
Feed me fresh ambrosia
With a whipped cream spread
Make me smack my lips
But don't forget my head
Chorus
Not just flavor in my food
I want some flavor in my life
Your tears for my garlic
Your sugar for my spice
Simmer, bake and boil it
Feed me for my health
Don't want a fast food cook
I need a gourmet chef
Chorus
Outro: (some lines from part below)
You gotta feed me right
I got a healthy appetite
I need a spoonful, a loving spoonful
Ain't no spoonful of sugar
Ain't no spoonful of tea
More like a spoonful of honey
Dripping all over me
Need to catch, catch, catch that spoonful
Men lie/people die/women cry about that spoonful
Better look out for that spoonful
No, I want a cupful, I want a pound baby
I want it all baby, gon eat you up baby
Cuz I'm starvin baby
Oh it's finger-licking good
Bet I can't eat just one. . . oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah. . . fade
Track #6: Boy in the Boat
Adegbalola Rev 02/07You have the cutest little boy
Standing in his little boat
You have the cutest little boy
Is he old enough to vote?
I saw him standing there so tall
In his bright red overcoat
Just the cutest little boy
I'm gonna help him row his boat
Bridge:Yes, he rowed out to seaI watched him dive, I watched him fish
Just as proud as he could be
I took him by the hand
Found the promised land
Set each other free
Ride the waves, go high and low
The tide went out, he fell asleep
Dreams traced in vivid after glow
Track #7: Bareback Rider
Adegbalola 11/01Hey there young lady
I wanna give you some advice
Take your time & think it through
More than once or twice
When a fellow walks up to you
And you check his size
Make sure he's tall enough
To ride your ride
Chorus:But he can't ride bareback (no he can't ride bareback)Don't want no pony
He can't ride bareback (no he can't ride bareback)
He can't ride bareback, don't you dare
If he wants to ride bareback
He'll need to find another mare
Too slow round the track
Don't want no ass (donkey)
Always holding back
Don't want no mule
Kicking in your stall
Lord you need a stallion
Come every time you call
Chorus
BridgeYou are in control1st verse
Keep pulling on the reins
You are in control
Got to use your brains
Hold that riding crop
Take it to the top
Like at the Magic Kingdom
Don't get off until you stop
Track #8: Hold My Hand, Baby
Adegbalola 10/2004(open G)
Hold my hand, baby
I can't make it by myself 2x
Hold my hand, baby
I can't walk it by myself
Hold my hand, baby
I can't do it all alone 2x
Hold my hand, baby
I believe I'm going home
Cuz nobody
Nobody want to die alone 2x
Don't know what's coming
Scared to be alone
Stop Time:Did I live wrong? Or did I live right? Help me to make it To see Paradise2nd verse
Stop Time:What you gonna do When death come in the room? Hold my hand, honey I want to be ready when he come3rd verse
1st verse
Track #10: Lying Preacher Blues
Adegbalola 2/2005Revised 5/2005
Any preacher with more than two suits is living a lie
Any preacher with more than two suits is living a lie
I don't stand in judgment
But when you talk about an eye for an eye
Any preacher with more than two suits is living a lie
Any preacher supporting a war. . .
Bridge:
Jesus, Jesus, JesusFirst verse. . . two suits
What would Jesus do?
What would Jesus wear?
Who would Jesus shoot?
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Now I call on you
I heard that Jesus
Loves me too
Any preacher who's driving a Jaguar/Hummer. . .
Any preacherπ/priest molesting a child. . .
Bridge:
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
What would Jesus do?
What would Jesus drive?
Who would Jesus screw?
I say Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Now I call on you
I heard that Jesus love me too
Tag with amen ending: I heard that Jesus love me too
Track #11: Twisted Mind Blues
Adegbalola 5/91It hurt to lose your love
But it hurt so much more to lose my pride
Yes it hurt to lose your love
Hurt so much more to lose my pride
Bad enough you broke my heart
But why'd you go and twist my mind?
I thought it, I knew it, I felt it
I saw it in your eyes
You were loving our best friend
But you denied it and replied
That I was crazy
That paranoia filled my eyes
It's bad enough you were unfaithful
But why'd you go and twist my mind?
I 'cused you over and over
I cried out again and again
You said you'd beat some sense in me
Then you kept loving our best friend
You said I was crazy
And I believed you at the time
It's bad enough you were unfaithful
But why'd you so and twist my mind?
But our friend couldn't stand to see me
Beaten blue and black
She said you pretended I was paranoid
Just to throw me off your track
I was not crazy
You two were lovers all the time
You blamed me for our problems
(You) double crossed me with my own mind
Yes, it hurt to lose your love
But it hurt so much more to lose my pride
Hurt to lose your love
Hurt so much more to lose my pride
Bad enough you broke my heart
But why'd you go and twist my mind?
Tag:Bad enough you were unfaithful
But why'd you go and twist my mind?
Track #12: Tippin' On the Down Low
Adegbalola Rev #2 10/2007You been tippin' on the down low
Thinking that we don't know
You been tippin' on the down low
You're a sneaky so and so
1. You're a mega church preacherYou been tippin' on the down low
And we heard your plea
You said "Satan, get thee behind me."
And your cover is about to blow2. You're a corporate man
With a family, close knit
You said that you got sucked into it3. You play pro footballInstrumental or kazoo or scatting break
With a ferocious attack
You said you just want to sack the quarterback4. You're a hip hop man
A bully thug with a frown
You said that you won't take anything lying down5. You're an old politicianLast time verse changes:
In a desperate stage
You said you tried hard to turn over a new page
You been tippin' on the down low
And guess what?? we all know
You been tippin' on the down low
My friend, it's time for you to grow
Better come clean
You're a hypocrite
Lies never win, you're full of (sh)it
You been tippin' on the down low
And your cover is about to blow (for sho')
Cover is about to blow (you need a rainbow)
Your cover
Is a-bout
To blow
Track #13: Hetero Twinges
Adegbalola 10/06Look out (look out)
But it only happens once in a while (2x)
When I saw that man
I broke out in the biggest smile
Lord, he was sexy
Built up from the ground (2x)
I couldn't help it
My heart just started to pound
Good God a-mighty
He's so doggone fine (2x)
Hetero twinges
Messin' with my mind
Chorus:I had hetero twinges (hetero twinges)Bridge:
I had hetero twinges (hetero twinges)
I had hetero twinges (hetero twinges)
I had hetero twinges (hetero twinges)
I had hetero twinges
Messin' with my mindI knew it wasn't realRepeat verse 3
I knew I didn't care
But my eyes popped out
In the biggest stare
Don't want that man
I just appreciate
His fine attributes
But I'm not seeing straight
Chorus
Track #14: Step Parent Blues -- lyrics by Suzanne Moe, my partner
Moe & Adegbalola 12/07 Rev #6I been steppin. . . yeah
I been steppin. . .
I been steppin to the side
And steppin to the back
Steppin on eggshells
And taking too much flack
The law won't recognize me
And you pay me no respect
I know you want me to step away
And step back
What am I supposed to do?
I got those step parent blues
We both love your mother
Oh please don't make her choose
I'm at the crossroads
No one needs to lose
Your Mom is scared you'll leave her
She can't step to my defense
It's up to me and you, kid
Things have gotten tense
What am I supposed to do?
I got those step parent blues
Bridge:There's no loving herSo let me step forward
Without loving you
That's just the way it is
It's true
We can work it out
You know I've paid my dues
But I need your help
To end my step parent blues
I'll take the chance to say
Your Mom will always put you first
And for me, that is okay
I'll take you to the doctor's
Even join the PTA
I'll love you as my own
Don't make me step away
What am I supposed to do?
I got those step parent blues
Repeat Bridge
Last verse + tag 3x
Track #16: Déjà Vu Blues
Adegbalola Rev 10/07I was called sambo, I was called niggerTag:
Often called out of my name
Now I'm called an abomination
Feels quite the same
It was justified by the Bible
Legalized by the law
Nowadays preachers and politicians
Still have the darkest hearts
I was a victim of Jim Crow
And a victim of hate crimes
Nothing has changed
There's still no peace in my lifetime
Chorus:Déjà Vu blues, déjà Vu bluesI was drinking at the fountain
When will I ever win? (2x)
Half a century from Jim Crow
I'm hated all over again
At the fountain of life
I could drink from the black one
Couldn't get near the white
I'm still drinking at the fountain
At the fountain of life
I can drink from the straight one
But I can't take a wife
You know I never been to jail
And paid all my taxes too
But these days some felons
Have more civil rights than I do
Chorus:Déjà Vu blues, déjà Vu bluesWell the churches used to help me
When will I be treated fair (2x)
Hatred in the water
Hatred still hanging in the air
And my Momma she understood too
But in this day and age
Who's gonna help Gaye to make it on through?
Chorus: Déjà Vu blues, déjà Vu blues
My blues keep coming back (2x)
But the biggest difference is. . .
Back then I didn't have to tell. . .
Back then I didn't have to tell. . .
My Momma that I was black
Track #18: I Ain't Ashamed
Adegbalola 12/2005I ain't ashamed
No, no, no I ain't ashamed
I ain't ashamed
No, no, no I ain't ashamed
Well it's dark in the closet
Now I'm out in the light
Proud of who I am
And my light is shining bright
Yea, yea, yea, yeah
I ain't ashamed
I ain't afraid
No, no, no I ain't afraid
I ain't afraid
No, no, no I ain't afraid
I'm out in the open
I no longer live in fear
I can look you in the eye
And smile from ear to ear (or As a strong, proud queer)
Yea, yea, yea, yeah
I ain't afraid
I ain't alone
No, no, no I ain't alone
I ain't alone
No, no, no I ain't alone
Got my brothers and my sisters
Standing by my side
Fighting for our freedom
We will not be denied
Yea, yea, yea, yeah
I ain't alone
Repeat 1st verse