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about

On a quick trip through Nashville, our buddy Dave Coleman invited us to his basement studio to record this oddity.

Written partially in a smoke-filled car parked in a driveway on an East Nashville street on a banjulele, this crazy circus of a song started when The Rough & Tumble started... dating. There were a lot of questions with not very many answers. Which is when The R&T love to chuck it all to the wind and write a let's-run-away-where-everyone-knows-our-name sorta song.

Its release comes on the eve of The R&T heading back into the studio to find their next official recording adventure. Because, after all, The People Need a Show.

lyrics

You stepped right up and bought tent
With the Tattooed Lady and a Man Who Can Pay His Rent
On time-- most of the time, anyhow.

Pack up our dog, they'll never know--
Like the Chow for the lion in that story you told.
We'll never fool the kids, but we can fool the ones we love.

And if I'm a poor man's fire breather,
And you're a rich man's lion tamer,
Then, baby, let's give the people a show!

Write to your Ma, give her my best,
Tell her the Tattooed Lady has taken your heart for her chest--
You won't be coming home lonely, anymore.

I'll leave my ex-mess ten towns far--
Ch-ch-ch-check for the tickets on this runaway car,
And then I'll acrobat into your arms and we can have a loving start again.

And if I'm a World Class Tight Rope Walker,
And you're a Top Sales Ticket Talker,
Then, baby, let's give the people a show!

And if I'm a World Class Tight Rope Walker,
And you're a Top Sales Ticket Talker,
And I'm a Poor Man's Fire Breather,
And you're a Rich Man's Lion Tamer,
And I'm for you,
And you're for me,
Then, baby, let's give the people a show!

credits

from Odds and Ends For the End of the World, track released February 25, 2019
Mallory Graham: banjulele, vocals, mouth trumpet, whistle, accordion, slide whistle, vibraslap.

Scott Tyler: resonator guitar, vocals, big circus drum, cymbal, suitcase, mailbox, slapsticks, buzzing fly kazoo.

Dave Coleman (engineer/producer): organ, ratchet, triangle.

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about

The Rough & Tumble Haverhill, New Hampshire

The Rough & Tumble are a dumpster-folk/thriftstore Americana band consisting of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler. Only This Far, their latest full length record is out May 12, 2023. "The bottom line is these are just quality songs, well written, well played, well sung and arranged, and a pleasure from start to end."- AmericanaUK ... more

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