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Mother Tongue

by Mackenzie Roark

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srliebl
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srliebl Love the voice and lyrics really move story along (Lover at the door,...)
johnnyctattoo
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johnnyctattoo i don't really like country but i love this album. Mackenzie is a great musician/singer and i hope to be that good one day. Favorite track: Rosalee.
krotix
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krotix Enjoy true form Country/American and this is as pure as some parts of Virginia where the trees , mountains and valleys still look ageless. This and many other artists and bands represent what this genre should be. Favorite track: Johnny Panic.
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1.
Rosalee 03:42
She’s on the back porch smokin’ She’s slightly cracked, almost broken She’s been a thinking and a hopin’ That her man might come along Her hair’s all blonde and knotted Her heart’s been poked and prodded This house is dead and rotted But she knows it wont be long (Til he says) Rosalee, wont you come with me? You can make the richest man bend on a beggar's knee I’ll pick you up babe, and I’ll lay you down I wont let you drown My Rosalee Now she’s walking down the freeway Always happens in the month of May Another year has gone and nothin’s changed But the cracks spread on her skin She says, “I’m goin’ down to find my mother Let her know I been thinkin’ of her And maybe she’ll help me to discover Why it is I’m shatterin’” (And she’ll say) Rosalee, wont you stay with me? You can make the richest man bend on a beggar’s knee I’ll pick you up babe, and I’ll lay you down I wont let you drown My Rosalee Mother at the door, she says, “Whatcha doin’ here for?” I don't know you anymore. Go on home.” Lover at the door, he says, “I don't want you anymore When I left you, I was sure you’da known.” She’s on the back porch drinkin’ Just to keep herself from thinkin’ Bout the cracks that got her sinkin’ And the spaces that remain “And I guess I don't need no one To appreciate the things I’ve done I’ve got me this loaded gun And this bottle to call my name” (And they’ll say) Rosalee, won't you swallow me? You can make the richest man bend on a beggar’s knee Pick me up babe, and I’ll lay you down I wont let you drown My Rosalee
2.
Oh, Mama 03:53
Mama’s barefoot in the kitchen Swayin’ to the radio My brother left to join the army last year And daddy’s still out on the road Me, I’m working down at Roscoe’s Tendin’ bar most every night The work aint hard, but it’s takin’ all my time I’m runnin’ out of songs to write Wait and see I’ll shake this dirty town right off of me Oh, Mama Did you ever pray for rain? Oh, Mama I dont wanna miss another train Cause if I stay another day here I will know my Mama’s pain Gonna make it big in Nashville Playin’ dirty country songs But first I gotta save enough and sober up It’s just takin me so long The Spanish moss is looking tired Hanging low from ancient trees And me I’m driving down these same old country roads Got the baby on my knee Oh Mama Did you ever pray for rain? Oh Mama Didn't wanna miss another train After spending all my days here I will know my Mama’s pain
3.
They made their home in the old town cat house Just down the road from where it all began Now they’re takin’ her to church every Sunday Raisin’ her righteous and doin’ the best they can Lady Evelyn rules with the power Fist of iron, cross of gold Wynona Taylor just sits at her mercy Try’na keep her baby girl away from the devil’s hold And this old house Will always smell like sinnin’ ‘Cause even when it’s over The heartache’s just beginnin’ How bitter the end When you’re looking for your long lost men You can usually find ‘em In the faces of lonely women The years have gone like a burned-out pipe dream That little girl ahas grown up proud But when the boys start hollerin’ at her All the house’s heartaches reach up and pull her down And she’s callin’ to the ghost of her father Prayin' pretty please, set me free Cause if I stay here one minute longer I wont even hesitate to pull that old gun on me And this old house Will always smell like sinnin’ ‘Cause even when it’s over The heartache’s just beginnin’ How bitter the end When you’re looking for your long lost men You can usually find ‘em In the faces of lonely women
4.
Johnny Panic 04:26
Johnny Panic was a fine old friend of mine We go way back, back to the beginning of time He went with me most everywhere, and honestly I didn’t care What Johnny Panic did or didn’t do So he sat and watched me stumbling along as I grew Years went by and Johnny told me one day “I’m here for good, so don’t even try to get away” He dug his claws deep in my side, I tried to run, I couldn’t hide ‘Cause good ole Johnny Panic knew me well So I let him change the shape of my face and in exchange he gave me hell Johnny Panic, you straight-shooting son of a gun I thought you were a better man, I thought you were an innocent one Johnny Panic, oh Johnny Johnny, why? I thought you taught me how to live, when really you just left me here to die Every time I walked away, I always ended up back in his bed He held me tight and put the lies of love and luxury into my head ‘Till I was just a bag of flesh, a pile of bones, a sorry wretch Livin’ in ole Johnny Panic’s world Lord, won’t you have some mercy on this girl? So I’m goin’ home, I’m shakin’ his shadow from my skin I don’t know just what I’m gonna do if he shows his face again I miss his warmth and company, this freedom is so bittersweet I guess it was the time to make a change But Johnny Panic always stays the same
5.

about

Mother Tongue, coming November 15th

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released November 17, 2016

Produced by Mark Bryan

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Mackenzie Roark Richmond, Virginia

There are shades of blue that don’t wash away and those hues are perfectly captured in the songs of Richmond, Virginia’s own Mackenzie Roark. Her songs lull heartache and spin together intricate webs of meditative storytelling. With her sound firmly planted in the distant past of country and folk music, Mackenzie Roark brings those antiqued tones to new life through her music. ... more

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