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 Wisdom of John Wayne

from Life, Death, Damnation, Peace by MDH

/

  • 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

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

What can John Wayne tell us about being a man?

lyrics

There we were in four corners, my eyes in shadow under my hat, the four of us had never been closer than that
We felt like wild coyotes, we could have just burst with howls and yelps, yet we were struck dumb and beyond help
The heavy iron needle, listing east and north and west, ducking it, chins pinned to our chests
Soon we were on the ceiling, electric anger hanging us high, you gripped me hard enough not to need to say goodbye

And John Wayne said: “Only the man who commands can be blamed, it lands on me: Mission Failed”
But what I think he meant was: “Taking top billing is a big load to bear, I draw the heat so all of you don’t have to care
You just gotta get on with your lives, take your pay cheque back to your wives”
But seein’ as you’re leanin’, let me filter its meaning:
A man will try to carry two loads on his own but he will always spill his cargo all over the road

Holding engaged conversation and fistfuls of beer, still alert, a bullet in the barrel if the flag is unfurled
Bitter red ruination would billow out steady from a razor shave, smooth as the leather that sharpened the blade
There would be no use in explaining, the bullet crack let to the dropping of jaws, the gun went off in the heat of the draw
He couldn’t speak without shaking, ’til no more use in finding words, he wouldn’t utter the tale and risk losing his nerve

And John Wayne said: “No need to make more of it, it just happened to be me; I guess I’m feeling my liquor that was quite a speech”
But what I think he meant was: “On this particular matter I’ve a lot to say, and I don’t expect the ordinary man to wanna stay
It takes a long time for me to get it coherent, there’ll be no judgement if you won’t wait to hear it”
Relinked of all its kinks, the curve of that proverb I think is:
Yes there’s no room for acting in a genre flick, but we ain’t no B-movie so take your time and be cosily epic

He finally said “that woman is poison”, his teeth on show ready to bite, curled lips, scorpion’s tale pinned for the fight
Whispering “that woman is poison”, with all the years cancelled out, he’d added up and knew just what he was talking about

And John Wayne said: “You have two ways of leavin’: immediately or dead; put an amen to it, no more time for praying”
Amen

credits

from Life, Death, Damnation, Peace, released April 4, 2019
Michael Humphrey, Jennifer Henderson (Violin)

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

MDH image

MDH Bath, UK

MDHmusic.com is the home of recording artist MDH (Michael Humphrey) and the hub for a range of musical endeavours offered by MDH that you may be interested in. MDH writes, arranges, directs, produces, composes and performs – check out mdhmusic.com for more info. ... more

contact / help

Contact MDH

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like MDH, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

listen now