Lyrics
Float Downstream 2010
I Love My Honey
Romeo
Float Downstream
How Did You Know
Dance Me
Maybe An Angel
Mistread Mama/Yew Piney Mountain
One of These Days
Precious Days
Going Across the Sea
Home From Airy
Mardi Gras
Stairwell Sisters - Get Off Your Money 2008
Cinderella
Stairwell Sisters - Feet All Over the Floor 2005
The Longest Night of the Year
Jump Back
Stairwell Sisters 2003
Down To The Door
I Love My Honey
from Santford Kelly, arr. Evie Ladin
I love my honey, Lord knows I do
Love my honey I do
I love my honey, Lord knows I do
Gonna love him till the sea runs dry
Love him till the sea runs dry
Look up look down, this lonesome road
Hang your head and cry
True lovers will part
Why not you and I
Why not you and I
I love my honey, Lord knows I do
Love my honey I do
I love my honey, Lord knows I do
Gonna love him till the sea runs dry
Love him till the sea runs dry
Evie Ladin banjo, vocals
Dina Maccabee harmony vocals
Keith Terry cajòn
top
Romeo
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
In the early evening when the sun goes down
I come looking for you but you're not around
Not around
You're not around, ain't coming round
In the middle of the night when the moon comes up
I come looking for you to fill my cup
Fill my cup
Fill my cup, can't give it up
Well you told me that you wanted us to make a life
You wanted me to be your wife
Be your wife – I said I might
So we built our house and we built it for three
You even asked my family
To marry me
Marry me, make a family
And oh those nights down in Mexico
Love, lovin' so slow
It rolled
It was all I need to know
Well you told me that you wanted us to make a life
You wanted me to be your wife
Be your wife – every night
Now where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, I don't know
Romeo
Romeo, where did you go?
You were here and gone like a lightning strike
Tore up my heart and vanished in the night
The night
I miss those nights
Well you told me that you wanted us to make a life
You wanted me to be your wife
Be your wife – what changed your mind
And what was it that made you change your mind?
The way I turn my head or the imperfect way I smile?
The way I smile
I used to smile
In the early morning when the sky grows light
Don't come back saying baby it's alright
Evie Ladin vocals
Chris Webster harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar, mandolin
John R. Burr organ
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums, percussion
top
Float Downstream
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Floating in the sunlight
Close my eyes and smile
Water be my lover
Hold me for a while
Float downstream
My baby left me
Woke up in the morning
See you're not around
Your shape is on the mattress
I feel like I could drown
The thunderstorm came last night
Lightning rent the sky
And the rain came falling
Falling from my eyes
Float downstream
My baby left me
The coal fire in my heart love
Burns without a sound
But in the cool cascade of water
I can hear it beating loud
Floating in the sunlight
Close my eyes and smile
Water be my lover
Hold me for a while
Float downstream
My baby left me
Float to the sea
Till you're gone from me
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Amber Hines harmony vocals
Mark Summer cello
Keith Terry percussion
top
How Did You Know
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Didn't I always know that, you would never let me go
No matter how I tried, you kept pulling me back
Inside our love - mmm
I knew it would never last, didn't want it to get nasty
When I tried to leave you, you took my hand
To lead me back home - mmm
chorus
Now after all these years
I can tell you I'm still here
How did you know back then
I'd be saying "You knew me when."
I'd be telling you how I love you
That I couldn't get enough of you
I have always known you
How did you know
Didn't you always say so, I would never get up the get-go
Pack up my things and leave you, that I'd end up quietly pleading
"Hold me. Never let me go."
chorus
Evie Ladin vocals
Chris Webster harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar, mandolin
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums
top
Dance Me
@copy; Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Turn out the light, it's too late to fight
The kids are all sleeping, let's call it a night
Honey, stay, don't go away
I know there are more words still left to say
But no matter how hard, no matter how rough
Money gets tight, times will be tough
Baby look in my eyes and remember your wife
The one that you danced down the aisle
I waited my lifetime for just such a man
Who can dance me the way that my baby can.
There's years now between us, more still to come
I know it ain't easy, it's not always fun
But if you just hold on tight, we can make it alright
Someday look back and remember
Though it was long ago I meant what I said
When I told you forever, until I was dead
Baby look in my eyes and remember your wife
The one that you danced down the aisle
I've waited my lifetime for just such a man
Who can dance me the way that my baby can.
Now the song's ended, and another begins
Step out on the dance floor, give me a spin
Hold me and rock me and turn me around
Let's dance while we've still got the time
I've waited my lifetime for just such a man
Who can dance me the way that my baby can.
I've waited my lifetime for just such a man
Who can dance me the way that my baby can.
Evie Ladin vocals
Caleb Klauder harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar, mandolin
Lloyd Maines dobro
Todd Phillips bass
top
Maybe An Angel
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Where have you gone, my blue eyed lover
Where have you been, my dear old friend?
I'm calling you way up in heaven
Can it be, I never see you again?
And so maybe you were an angel
Maybe your feet they never really touched the ground
And yet you wrapped me up so sweetly
With your wings, tell me where you flying now?
I stand right here at the edge of the ocean
I'm standing here at the edge of the ground
As I look out on the horizon
I see you sailing through the clouds
And so maybe you were an angel
Maybe your feet they never really touched the ground
And yet you wrapped me up so sweetly
With your wings, tell me where you flying now?
Where have you gone, my blue eyed lover
Where have you been, my dear old friend?
I'm calling you way up in heaven
Can it be, I never see you again?
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Amber Hines harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar
John R. Burr organ
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums, percussion
top
Mistreated Mama/Yew Piney Mountain
Dock Boggs (arr. Evie Ladin) / Lester McCumbers
Standing cold and lonely only love my daddy night and day
First comes sadness, then comes gladness
He done me wrong but gone away
I'm a mistreated mama, got me down in sin
Over mean, trifling daddy, daddy blame it all on him
First he took the peaches from off my tree
Now he's gone and handed back the seeds to me
I'm a mistreated mama with the mistreated blues
Once he said my kisses was all so good
Now he's gone to sneakin round my neighborhood
I'm a mistreated mama with the mistreated blues
Standing cold and lonely only love my daddy night and day
First come sadness, then comes gladness
He done me wrong but gone away
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Amber Hines harmony vocals
Karen Heil fiddle
Matt Knoth guitar
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry cajòn, percussion
top
One of These Days
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
One of these days it won't be long
You'll look for me and I'll be gone
Hey hey drink a little whiskey
You know you're gonna miss me
I don't know but I've been told
Them streets of Vegas are lined with gold
Hey hey drink a little wine
I know you'll be alright
But you know it ain't alright
To drink away your every night hey hey
One of these days a long time ago
We were kids and life was so slow
Hey hey pop another beer
We gotta get out of here
So we packed it up and took it on the road
Out to the desert where the neon glows
Hey hey them free cocktails
Coins rain down like hail
Win or lose you have another round
Win or lose we all fall down, hey hey
Late one night out on a bender
You bet it all you lost your head, said
"hey honey would you pour me one"
I am gone
I loved you dear I loved you long
I'll love you to the end of this song
I don't want another round
I'm getting out of town
Win or lose you have another round
Win or lose we all fall down
And you know it ain't alright
To drink away our every night hey hey
One of these days it won't be long
You'll look for me and I'll be gone
Hey hey drink a little whiskey
You know you're gonna miss me
Evie Ladin vocals
Dina Maccabee harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums
top
Precious Days
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Well I am not home, but I shall not wander
I'll wait to see what my time on Earth will bring
I was sent to roam, and I will not squander
These precious days God's given me.
chorus
I'm gonna dig deep in the dirt of the valley
Climb up high on the mountainside
I'll open my eyes and look about me
Row across the oceantide
Come all you women, men and children
Listen to what mother says
She has been scarred, bruised and beaten
But she has got the will to live
All that she, wants is for her babies
To have a better life at hand
Yet they partake of her riches
And forsake her in the end
chorus
When all my years have gone before me
And my race is almost run
I will look up to the stars in Heaven
I know my journey's just begun
chorus
Evie Ladin vocals, nylon banjo
Amber Hines harmony vocals
Dina Maccabee harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums
top
Going Across The Sea
traditional, arr. Evie Ladin
chorus
Going across the sea
Going across the sea
Fare-thee-well my true love
I'm going across the sea
Wish I had a nickel
Wish I had a dime
Wish I had a pretty little girl
To love me all the time
chorus
Wish I had a needle
Fine as I could sew
I'd sew that girl to my coattails
And down the road I'd go
Won't you come and go
Come and go with me
Fare-thee-well my true love
I'm going across the sea
Say can you change a nickel
Can you change a dime
Can you move to Tennessee
Change your name to mine
chorus
chorus
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Abby Ladin harmony vocals
Karen Heil fiddle
Matt Knoth guitar
top
Home from Airy
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
The road is small and foggy when I'm back in town
There are places where the moon shines bright with no clouds
A little town in a depression, though we all feel well
I myself am almost home, and I'm glad as hell.
I been driving all night, still flying from an old-time southern jam
Moon in apogee is pulling me West, to my own land
The town is low but the moon is high and she's lowering her half-eye to me
It's four o'clock in the morning when I pull into the driveway
Before I hit the door I'm smelling that honeysuckle vine
This old house is all run down, but it's mine
I been driving all night, still flying from an old-time southern jam
Moon in apogee is pulling me West, to my own land
Doors and windows open wide, like cracking a sardine can
Drop it all in my easy chair, remember where I am
The time was a good one, the dust was high, now I'm clean and clear
Bills can wait, they're a little late, ringing's still leaving my ears
I been driving all night, still flying from an all-night southern jam
Moon in apogee she's pulling me West till my feet on my land.
Home and I know where I stand
I'm West till I make a new plan.
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Chris Webster harmony vocals
Suzy Thompson fiddle
Mike Marshall guitar
Todd Phillips bass
top
Mardi Gras
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
My baby left me for the Mardi Gras
He always said he want to party hard
He said I live in the wrong direction
He said it won't change his affection
He even asked me did I want to go
But there's some things a man must do alone
Well I want for him to visit me
But Mardi Gras is a grand party.
So now I'm sitting here I can't go on
I want to hear the accordion
Feel the washboard up and down my spine
Two stepping and enjoy the ride
Now why on earth did I say no?
There is no other place I would rather go
Well I want for him to visit me
But Mardi Gras is a grand party
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Chris Webster harmony vocals
Suzy Thompson fiddles, accordion
Mike Marshall guitar
Mike Rinta tuba
Keith Terry drums
top
Cinderella
© 2008, Evie Ladin, Stairwell Sisters Music
Inspired by Gregory Maguire's retelling of the old tale in "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister"
My mother married a rich man
My father had money to spare
Bells on my bicycle, dresses so fanciful
And a bow for my hair
Now I sing of misfortune
What has become, woe is me
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me
This woman has her own daughters
Precious gems to her be
They wear the finery, used to be mine and their
Ashes blacken my feet
Now I sing of misfortune
No home, no family
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me
There once was a man of intention
Wanted me for a wife
But he had no property or chance at prosperity
And I didn't want that kind of life.
Fortune once'd been my shadow
But her best laid plans overheard
One night in goose down, the next on the cold ground
Light as a hummingbird
Now I sing of misfortune
No husband, no charity
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me.
Now sir could you spare me a nickel
I've got to find something to eat
I'll share my plate when we reach Heaven's gate
And my Savior will set me free.
Now I sing of misfortune
What has become woe is me
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me.
Evie Ladin banjo, vocal
Stephanie Prausnitz fiddle, vocal
Sue Sandlin guitar, vocal
Lisa Berman Dobro
Martha Hawthonre bass
top
The Longest Night of the Year
© 2005, Evie Ladin, Stairwell Sisters Music
The first time I saw him, darkness had fell
Hazel eyes, deep as a well
Long as a lifetime, and big as the sea.
They were looking at me.
That was you dear
On the longest night of the year.
All through the springtime, the lovin' bloomed
Everything funny, all of it new
Everything glittered, shining like gold
Was a sight to behold
That was you dear
On the longest night of the year.
Chorus
On that longest night, the sun hardly shines
You wake in the dark and the moon's in the pines
But I still remember, and I can still hear
Your voice in my ear
On the longest night of the year.
On a warm summer night, in a park across town
You made me your bride, in my grandmother's gown
You promised me everything I ever could need
Guaranteed.
That was you dear
On the longest night of the year
Chorus
That winter my lover lay in our bed
Damp raven hair curled round his head.
From peaceful slumber, he never awoke
The last words he spoke:
"I love you dear."
On the longest night of the year.
I wake in the morning, chase the clouds from my head
I turn to the child who is sharing our bed.
He looks up at me when he crawls round the floor
His eyes are yours.
There's a part of you here
It's the longest night of the year.
Chorus
It's the longest night of the year
Evie Ladin banjo, vocal
Stephanie Prausnitz fiddle
Sue Sandlin guitar
Lisa Berman Dobro, vocal
Martha Hawthonre bass
top
Jump Back
© 2005, Evie Ladin, Stairwell Sisters Music
This hambone shout brings in all the elements of a good square dance - the constant swirling motion, the lyrical tunes, the rowdy good time...one of the places I'm most at home.
Jump back get back spend yourself a dollar
Daddy's got a square dance down in the holler
With his fingers on the fiddle and rosin on the bow
Round your partner with a do-si-do
mmm - dance all night give a pretty girl a swing
mmm - pick her up and set her in the middle of the ring
mmm - dance all night with a bottle in your hand
mmm - dance all night give the fiddler a dram
Pick up your partner and circle to the right
Circle to the right, gonna dance all night
Back again with a grin and circle to the left
Circle to the left with the one you love best
mmm - june apple's just a hanging on a tree
mmm - next pretty girl's gonna dance with me
mmm - charlie he's a nice young man, so dapper
mmm - gonna pick me a good n' ripe june apple
Jump back paddywhack, give a dog a bone
My old man come a rolling home
Home is where he hangs his hat
Mad like a hatter, but madder than that
mmm - Say I don't drink and I don't smoke
mmm - Shacking up now with a greasy coat
mmm - Greasy coat's gonna take me in
mmm - Don't look now, but you can't fool him
top
Down to the Door
© 2003, Evie Ladin, Stairwell Sisters Music
Evie sent an invitation to a boy that never did make it down from the mountains to her old home in the Indiana hills.
Chorus:
Come down from the mountains to the rolling hills
Where the mist lies deep in the valley
And corn grows tall on cold limestone
Come down to the door of my home
Head north over the Smokies up the blue highway to me
Tobacco barns and bluegrass rolls on up 273
Come up now and come alone
Come down to the door of my home
Chorus
Well the wind is warm and so am I awaiting for you dear
In the tall dark pines you'd be all mine if only you'd come here
Come up now and come alone
Come down to the door of my home
Chorus
Evie Ladin banjo, vocal
Stephanie Prausnitz fiddle
Sue Sandlin guitar, vocal
Lisa Berman Dobro
Martha Hawthonre bass, vocal
top
Listen/Buy
Listen/Buy
Listen/Buy
Listen/BuyI Love My Honey
Romeo
Float Downstream
How Did You Know
Dance Me
Maybe An Angel
Mistread Mama/Yew Piney Mountain
One of These Days
Precious Days
Going Across the Sea
Home From Airy
Mardi Gras
Stairwell Sisters - Get Off Your Money 2008
Cinderella
Stairwell Sisters - Feet All Over the Floor 2005
The Longest Night of the Year
Jump Back
Stairwell Sisters 2003
Down To The Door
I Love My Honey
from Santford Kelly, arr. Evie Ladin
I love my honey, Lord knows I do
Love my honey I do
I love my honey, Lord knows I do
Gonna love him till the sea runs dry
Love him till the sea runs dry
Look up look down, this lonesome road
Hang your head and cry
True lovers will part
Why not you and I
Why not you and I
I love my honey, Lord knows I do
Love my honey I do
I love my honey, Lord knows I do
Gonna love him till the sea runs dry
Love him till the sea runs dry
Evie Ladin banjo, vocals
Dina Maccabee harmony vocals
Keith Terry cajòn
top
Romeo
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
In the early evening when the sun goes down
I come looking for you but you're not around
Not around
You're not around, ain't coming round
In the middle of the night when the moon comes up
I come looking for you to fill my cup
Fill my cup
Fill my cup, can't give it up
Well you told me that you wanted us to make a life
You wanted me to be your wife
Be your wife – I said I might
So we built our house and we built it for three
You even asked my family
To marry me
Marry me, make a family
And oh those nights down in Mexico
Love, lovin' so slow
It rolled
It was all I need to know
Well you told me that you wanted us to make a life
You wanted me to be your wife
Be your wife – every night
Now where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, I don't know
Romeo
Romeo, where did you go?
You were here and gone like a lightning strike
Tore up my heart and vanished in the night
The night
I miss those nights
Well you told me that you wanted us to make a life
You wanted me to be your wife
Be your wife – what changed your mind
And what was it that made you change your mind?
The way I turn my head or the imperfect way I smile?
The way I smile
I used to smile
In the early morning when the sky grows light
Don't come back saying baby it's alright
Evie Ladin vocals
Chris Webster harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar, mandolin
John R. Burr organ
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums, percussion
top
Float Downstream
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Floating in the sunlight
Close my eyes and smile
Water be my lover
Hold me for a while
Float downstream
My baby left me
Woke up in the morning
See you're not around
Your shape is on the mattress
I feel like I could drown
The thunderstorm came last night
Lightning rent the sky
And the rain came falling
Falling from my eyes
Float downstream
My baby left me
The coal fire in my heart love
Burns without a sound
But in the cool cascade of water
I can hear it beating loud
Floating in the sunlight
Close my eyes and smile
Water be my lover
Hold me for a while
Float downstream
My baby left me
Float to the sea
Till you're gone from me
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Amber Hines harmony vocals
Mark Summer cello
Keith Terry percussion
top
How Did You Know
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Didn't I always know that, you would never let me go
No matter how I tried, you kept pulling me back
Inside our love - mmm
I knew it would never last, didn't want it to get nasty
When I tried to leave you, you took my hand
To lead me back home - mmm
chorus
Now after all these years
I can tell you I'm still here
How did you know back then
I'd be saying "You knew me when."
I'd be telling you how I love you
That I couldn't get enough of you
I have always known you
How did you know
Didn't you always say so, I would never get up the get-go
Pack up my things and leave you, that I'd end up quietly pleading
"Hold me. Never let me go."
chorus
Evie Ladin vocals
Chris Webster harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar, mandolin
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums
top
Dance Me
@copy; Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Turn out the light, it's too late to fight
The kids are all sleeping, let's call it a night
Honey, stay, don't go away
I know there are more words still left to say
But no matter how hard, no matter how rough
Money gets tight, times will be tough
Baby look in my eyes and remember your wife
The one that you danced down the aisle
I waited my lifetime for just such a man
Who can dance me the way that my baby can.
There's years now between us, more still to come
I know it ain't easy, it's not always fun
But if you just hold on tight, we can make it alright
Someday look back and remember
Though it was long ago I meant what I said
When I told you forever, until I was dead
Baby look in my eyes and remember your wife
The one that you danced down the aisle
I've waited my lifetime for just such a man
Who can dance me the way that my baby can.
Now the song's ended, and another begins
Step out on the dance floor, give me a spin
Hold me and rock me and turn me around
Let's dance while we've still got the time
I've waited my lifetime for just such a man
Who can dance me the way that my baby can.
I've waited my lifetime for just such a man
Who can dance me the way that my baby can.
Evie Ladin vocals
Caleb Klauder harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar, mandolin
Lloyd Maines dobro
Todd Phillips bass
top
Maybe An Angel
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Where have you gone, my blue eyed lover
Where have you been, my dear old friend?
I'm calling you way up in heaven
Can it be, I never see you again?
And so maybe you were an angel
Maybe your feet they never really touched the ground
And yet you wrapped me up so sweetly
With your wings, tell me where you flying now?
I stand right here at the edge of the ocean
I'm standing here at the edge of the ground
As I look out on the horizon
I see you sailing through the clouds
And so maybe you were an angel
Maybe your feet they never really touched the ground
And yet you wrapped me up so sweetly
With your wings, tell me where you flying now?
Where have you gone, my blue eyed lover
Where have you been, my dear old friend?
I'm calling you way up in heaven
Can it be, I never see you again?
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Amber Hines harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar
John R. Burr organ
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums, percussion
top
Mistreated Mama/Yew Piney Mountain
Dock Boggs (arr. Evie Ladin) / Lester McCumbers
Standing cold and lonely only love my daddy night and day
First comes sadness, then comes gladness
He done me wrong but gone away
I'm a mistreated mama, got me down in sin
Over mean, trifling daddy, daddy blame it all on him
First he took the peaches from off my tree
Now he's gone and handed back the seeds to me
I'm a mistreated mama with the mistreated blues
Once he said my kisses was all so good
Now he's gone to sneakin round my neighborhood
I'm a mistreated mama with the mistreated blues
Standing cold and lonely only love my daddy night and day
First come sadness, then comes gladness
He done me wrong but gone away
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Amber Hines harmony vocals
Karen Heil fiddle
Matt Knoth guitar
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry cajòn, percussion
top
One of These Days
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
One of these days it won't be long
You'll look for me and I'll be gone
Hey hey drink a little whiskey
You know you're gonna miss me
I don't know but I've been told
Them streets of Vegas are lined with gold
Hey hey drink a little wine
I know you'll be alright
But you know it ain't alright
To drink away your every night hey hey
One of these days a long time ago
We were kids and life was so slow
Hey hey pop another beer
We gotta get out of here
So we packed it up and took it on the road
Out to the desert where the neon glows
Hey hey them free cocktails
Coins rain down like hail
Win or lose you have another round
Win or lose we all fall down, hey hey
Late one night out on a bender
You bet it all you lost your head, said
"hey honey would you pour me one"
I am gone
I loved you dear I loved you long
I'll love you to the end of this song
I don't want another round
I'm getting out of town
Win or lose you have another round
Win or lose we all fall down
And you know it ain't alright
To drink away our every night hey hey
One of these days it won't be long
You'll look for me and I'll be gone
Hey hey drink a little whiskey
You know you're gonna miss me
Evie Ladin vocals
Dina Maccabee harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums
top
Precious Days
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
Well I am not home, but I shall not wander
I'll wait to see what my time on Earth will bring
I was sent to roam, and I will not squander
These precious days God's given me.
chorus
I'm gonna dig deep in the dirt of the valley
Climb up high on the mountainside
I'll open my eyes and look about me
Row across the oceantide
Come all you women, men and children
Listen to what mother says
She has been scarred, bruised and beaten
But she has got the will to live
All that she, wants is for her babies
To have a better life at hand
Yet they partake of her riches
And forsake her in the end
chorus
When all my years have gone before me
And my race is almost run
I will look up to the stars in Heaven
I know my journey's just begun
chorus
Evie Ladin vocals, nylon banjo
Amber Hines harmony vocals
Dina Maccabee harmony vocals
Mike Marshall guitar
Todd Phillips bass
Keith Terry drums
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Going Across The Sea
traditional, arr. Evie Ladin
chorus
Going across the sea
Going across the sea
Fare-thee-well my true love
I'm going across the sea
Wish I had a nickel
Wish I had a dime
Wish I had a pretty little girl
To love me all the time
chorus
Wish I had a needle
Fine as I could sew
I'd sew that girl to my coattails
And down the road I'd go
Won't you come and go
Come and go with me
Fare-thee-well my true love
I'm going across the sea
Say can you change a nickel
Can you change a dime
Can you move to Tennessee
Change your name to mine
chorus
chorus
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Abby Ladin harmony vocals
Karen Heil fiddle
Matt Knoth guitar
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Home from Airy
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
The road is small and foggy when I'm back in town
There are places where the moon shines bright with no clouds
A little town in a depression, though we all feel well
I myself am almost home, and I'm glad as hell.
I been driving all night, still flying from an old-time southern jam
Moon in apogee is pulling me West, to my own land
The town is low but the moon is high and she's lowering her half-eye to me
It's four o'clock in the morning when I pull into the driveway
Before I hit the door I'm smelling that honeysuckle vine
This old house is all run down, but it's mine
I been driving all night, still flying from an old-time southern jam
Moon in apogee is pulling me West, to my own land
Doors and windows open wide, like cracking a sardine can
Drop it all in my easy chair, remember where I am
The time was a good one, the dust was high, now I'm clean and clear
Bills can wait, they're a little late, ringing's still leaving my ears
I been driving all night, still flying from an all-night southern jam
Moon in apogee she's pulling me West till my feet on my land.
Home and I know where I stand
I'm West till I make a new plan.
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Chris Webster harmony vocals
Suzy Thompson fiddle
Mike Marshall guitar
Todd Phillips bass
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Mardi Gras
© Evie Ladin, Evil Diane Music, BMI
My baby left me for the Mardi Gras
He always said he want to party hard
He said I live in the wrong direction
He said it won't change his affection
He even asked me did I want to go
But there's some things a man must do alone
Well I want for him to visit me
But Mardi Gras is a grand party.
So now I'm sitting here I can't go on
I want to hear the accordion
Feel the washboard up and down my spine
Two stepping and enjoy the ride
Now why on earth did I say no?
There is no other place I would rather go
Well I want for him to visit me
But Mardi Gras is a grand party
Evie Ladin vocals, banjo
Chris Webster harmony vocals
Suzy Thompson fiddles, accordion
Mike Marshall guitar
Mike Rinta tuba
Keith Terry drums
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Cinderella
© 2008, Evie Ladin, Stairwell Sisters Music
Inspired by Gregory Maguire's retelling of the old tale in "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister"
My mother married a rich man
My father had money to spare
Bells on my bicycle, dresses so fanciful
And a bow for my hair
Now I sing of misfortune
What has become, woe is me
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me
This woman has her own daughters
Precious gems to her be
They wear the finery, used to be mine and their
Ashes blacken my feet
Now I sing of misfortune
No home, no family
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me
There once was a man of intention
Wanted me for a wife
But he had no property or chance at prosperity
And I didn't want that kind of life.
Fortune once'd been my shadow
But her best laid plans overheard
One night in goose down, the next on the cold ground
Light as a hummingbird
Now I sing of misfortune
No husband, no charity
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me.
Now sir could you spare me a nickel
I've got to find something to eat
I'll share my plate when we reach Heaven's gate
And my Savior will set me free.
Now I sing of misfortune
What has become woe is me
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me.
Evie Ladin banjo, vocal
Stephanie Prausnitz fiddle, vocal
Sue Sandlin guitar, vocal
Lisa Berman Dobro
Martha Hawthonre bass
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The Longest Night of the Year
© 2005, Evie Ladin, Stairwell Sisters Music
The first time I saw him, darkness had fell
Hazel eyes, deep as a well
Long as a lifetime, and big as the sea.
They were looking at me.
That was you dear
On the longest night of the year.
All through the springtime, the lovin' bloomed
Everything funny, all of it new
Everything glittered, shining like gold
Was a sight to behold
That was you dear
On the longest night of the year.
Chorus
On that longest night, the sun hardly shines
You wake in the dark and the moon's in the pines
But I still remember, and I can still hear
Your voice in my ear
On the longest night of the year.
On a warm summer night, in a park across town
You made me your bride, in my grandmother's gown
You promised me everything I ever could need
Guaranteed.
That was you dear
On the longest night of the year
Chorus
That winter my lover lay in our bed
Damp raven hair curled round his head.
From peaceful slumber, he never awoke
The last words he spoke:
"I love you dear."
On the longest night of the year.
I wake in the morning, chase the clouds from my head
I turn to the child who is sharing our bed.
He looks up at me when he crawls round the floor
His eyes are yours.
There's a part of you here
It's the longest night of the year.
Chorus
It's the longest night of the year
Evie Ladin banjo, vocal
Stephanie Prausnitz fiddle
Sue Sandlin guitar
Lisa Berman Dobro, vocal
Martha Hawthonre bass
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Jump Back
© 2005, Evie Ladin, Stairwell Sisters Music
This hambone shout brings in all the elements of a good square dance - the constant swirling motion, the lyrical tunes, the rowdy good time...one of the places I'm most at home.
Jump back get back spend yourself a dollar
Daddy's got a square dance down in the holler
With his fingers on the fiddle and rosin on the bow
Round your partner with a do-si-do
mmm - dance all night give a pretty girl a swing
mmm - pick her up and set her in the middle of the ring
mmm - dance all night with a bottle in your hand
mmm - dance all night give the fiddler a dram
Pick up your partner and circle to the right
Circle to the right, gonna dance all night
Back again with a grin and circle to the left
Circle to the left with the one you love best
mmm - june apple's just a hanging on a tree
mmm - next pretty girl's gonna dance with me
mmm - charlie he's a nice young man, so dapper
mmm - gonna pick me a good n' ripe june apple
Jump back paddywhack, give a dog a bone
My old man come a rolling home
Home is where he hangs his hat
Mad like a hatter, but madder than that
mmm - Say I don't drink and I don't smoke
mmm - Shacking up now with a greasy coat
mmm - Greasy coat's gonna take me in
mmm - Don't look now, but you can't fool him
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Down to the Door
© 2003, Evie Ladin, Stairwell Sisters Music
Evie sent an invitation to a boy that never did make it down from the mountains to her old home in the Indiana hills.
Chorus:
Come down from the mountains to the rolling hills
Where the mist lies deep in the valley
And corn grows tall on cold limestone
Come down to the door of my home
Head north over the Smokies up the blue highway to me
Tobacco barns and bluegrass rolls on up 273
Come up now and come alone
Come down to the door of my home
Chorus
Well the wind is warm and so am I awaiting for you dear
In the tall dark pines you'd be all mine if only you'd come here
Come up now and come alone
Come down to the door of my home
Chorus
Evie Ladin banjo, vocal
Stephanie Prausnitz fiddle
Sue Sandlin guitar, vocal
Lisa Berman Dobro
Martha Hawthonre bass, vocal
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