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Louisiana Stories, Vol. 2

by Highway 80 Stories

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1.
Levi Motts Is My Name 03:59
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Levi Motts is my name Come from Northwest Louisiana I joined up with Colonel Gray He said be ready to march today Don’t know when I’ll be back again If this war will ever end Ruby Robison is my gal Keeps a room down in the bottoms We talked of gettin’ out of there Make a new life anywhere Don’t know when I’ll be back again If this war will ever end Ruby wrote me a letter We were waitin’ outside Mansfield Wrote there’s a baby on the way We fought the Yankees April Eighth Don’t know when I’ll be back again If this war will ever end Levi Motts is my name Come from Northwest Louisiana Lead ball went through my neck That afternoon I bled to death Don’t know when I’ll be back again If this war will ever end © 2017 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
2.
Fannin Street 03:43
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On Fannin Street, Fannin Street There’s a room upstairs for the men she meets She’s not theirs and never was, Just what she does On Fannin Street There was one boy, fine and sweet Not like the rest of Fannin Street The only one she ever loved In the room above Fannin Street On Fannin Street, Fannin Street … The boy he said he’d take her away From the life she led one day He left for Mansfield to the restless beat Of Marching feet In columns of grey On Fannin Street, Fannin Street … In her room alone Ruby Robison Heard that the Rebels had won She went to Mansfield but there she cried For the baby inside And the boy who was gone On Fannin Street, Fannin Street … © 2017 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
3.
Levi, Ruby and Cole 02:51
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Cole was strong and steady Straight as a rail Levi was born ready Always raisin’ hell Ruby loved Levi all the way But Cole was who she chose Levi might grow up some day But, who knows Ruby knew Cole loved her But Levi charmed her heart Cole was down to earth Levi sparkled like a star The War broke this trio up Only one came back home Ruby had two loves Levi and Cole Cole knew he and Ruby Would never have The kind of magic love She and Levi had Just taking care of her For Cole, it was enough He ain’ the apple of her youth But theirs was also love Ruby knew Cole loved her … © 2018 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
4.
My Pocketknife 03:06
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Charlie and his father crawl up the embankment Hidden by the bend they crouch and wait The train’ll have to slow down maybe just enough With any luck they’ll grab that freight Charlie and his father left Oil City at dawn Somethin’ called The Depression had arrived Work was for the takin’ out in California Pickin’ cotton under sunny skies Long as I have my pocketknife I’ll be alright, be alright I can make it through the coldest night Long as I have my pocketknife Charlie and his father join a migrant army Ride the rails with tramps an’ hoboes Tent camps were jungles, danger everywhere Do your best to hang on to your coat Charlie and his father dodge a railroad bull Hidin’ in the tender ’til he’s gone A man was crumpled in the corner, frozen overnight It’s a damp and cold L.A. dawn Long as I have my pocketknife … © 2018 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
5.
Oil City 03:15
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Oil City is my home Ain’ pretty but I belong Grey and gritty, right or wrong Oil City is my home Aught-five oil came from the ground Oil City was a wildcat town Wooden sidewalks and hitching posts Boom towns ain’ got no ghosts Aught-six grandpa McLemore Had a little money but wanted more Oil City was where grandpa came Gamblin’ on the big oil game Oil City is my home … Few years pass and the fever died Were other towns, other strikes 1917 it almost burned down The whores all left town Dad went to work at J.M Guffey We stayed in Oil City Grandpa went broke in the Depression Kept chasin’ oil, died in Odessa Oil City is my home … © 2018 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
6.
1951 03:44
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My name is Luther McLemore 1951 is the year I was born It made me who I am I was taught to say, “no, sir” and “yes, ma’am” Was eleven in ’63 Saw my mother cryin’ at the TV Mama said someone shot the president I didn’t know then what it meant Was in high school in ’68 The streets were filled with so much hate They killed Martin Luther King Then Bobby Kennedy, and a dream Graduated in ’69 A man from the army tried to get me to sign I was lucky and got in a university Plenty of others weren’t lucky like me ’76 I took the civil service exam A post office in Bossier hired me as a mailman Loved one woman, we had a couple of kids But by ’88, we’d hit the skids I’m retired now, back in Shreveport Sipping a beer, sitting on my porch Last forty years seem like a blur Mostly I think about how things were Last forty years seem like a blur Mostly I think about how things were © 2020 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
7.
McLemore's 03:18
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Walked in there first time in aught-four Took a stool by the pinball machine Come to know the owner Jake McLemore Dropping by each day became routine He looked to be about my dad’s age If my dad ain’t died in ninety-three Jake was always adopting strays Like a three-legged dog and me Time seemed to pass a little slower Behind soft country music and bumper pool The world looked a whole lot better From where I sat on that bar stool Pickled eggs and pigs feet in a jar Antique cash register, black dial phone Scratches ‘n’ nicks in a hickory bar Left by those who are never really gone He pointed to a snapshot of some soldiers Leaning on a tank in Iraq “They call my son a hero,” Jake told me “Would’ve preferred if he’d just made it back” Time seemed to pass a little slower … Jake sold out last year with a big payday Bought 26 acres outside Shreveport I don’t drink much anymore and anyway Can’t find a bar like McLemore’s No, there ain’t no place like McLemore’s © 2017 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
8.
Pearl and Jake 03:57
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Snowed all day in Macon when Pearl left for the last time Al’bam, Mizsippy, Luziana; Georgia felt far enough behind Creosote, cottonseed, Shree’port – hit her like a cinder block Lights of an all-nite diner; Pearl coasted to a stop Jake behind the counter, white apron little paper hat Slid some coffee before her, quiet as an alley cat Pearl pulled a pint from somewhere, tipped it over her cup Jake lit a cigarette; the sun came up Lovin’ her is what he meant to do Even if it broke his heart in two He played life like a game of horseshoes Ah, but, lovin’ her was what he meant to do Jake bought this diner after selling McLemore’s Pearl was stranded in Macon managing a dollar store They met on Jewella Avenue both lookin’ for a new start Jake gave her some food and his hidden heart Lovin’ her is what he meant to do Even if it broke his heart in two He played life like a game of horseshoes Ah, but, lovin’ her was what he meant to do Jake didn’t want to come home stinkin’ of cigarettes, beer and perfume Five years passed by as he walked from room to empty room Pearl was runnin’ away that first day he met her She’d been leavin’ ever since, Jake finally found a way to let her © 2018 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
9.
Hit the Road 02:46
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Last five years been a good run She hates to see it end like this She can tell it’s coming undone Can’t say just why that is It’s the longest she’s stayed in one place This leaving feeling is one she knows She don’t want to see the hurt on his face Best thing for her to do is just go Gonna hit the road It’s what she knows When her back’s against the wall she goes Gonna pack it in Once again When that old feeling grows It’s time to hit the road Got a sister in Fort Worth Been years since she’d seen her mama and them ‘Bout three hours from Shreveport She sure hates to run from him Gonna hit the road … © 2019 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
10.
The River and Jake 03:15
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Long as I can remember When Jake was sad he would go On down to The River With some bait and a pole It’s the place he wants to be When he needs to be alone Jake’s gone down to The River Every day since Pearl’s been gone You can ask him where they’re biting Or what he used for bait Just don’t ask him anything about her That’s between The River and Jake Soon his mind will grow empty With each cast he’ll forget All the worries he brought with him They’ll all fade with the sunset You can ask him where they’re biting … © 2019 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
11.
Terrell 03:45
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All Pearl knew, she was heading to Texas When she packed up and left Shreveport She didn’t know then she was pregnant When she landed on her sister’s porch Six months later, Myrna asked if she’d thought about How she planned on raising this baby alone Her brother-in-law said it was time for her to move out Pearl needed a place of her own Terrell, Texas Where Pearl calls home Terrell, Texas Where Pearl lives alone Year later, Pearl was working at the Donut Hole Which made her think of Jake Sadie Jo’s his, he deserves to know Not telling him was a mistake That weekend Pearl prayed for the courage And help to find the right words to say Knowing Jake, he might speak of marriage And Pearl just might say okay Terrell, Texas … © 2019 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
12.
The Red River Flows 03:10
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I’m out on the porch It’s about ten to four The Red River flows It just goes and goes Dickel is what I sip A Lucky is on my lip The Red River flows It just goes rolling on There was a woman, but she left Wasn’t the worst, wasn’t the best No note, no goodbye But I don’t even wonder why The rain softly falls A morning dove softly calls The Red River flows It just goes and goes Yesterday I heard from Pearl Told me about our little girl Her name is Sadie Jo The Red River flows and flows Her name is Sadie Jo That Red River goes rolling on © 2019 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
13.
The Laughing Man at the Door 03:43
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In Monroe, Louisiana, standing at a window A four year old sees his father drive away Cowboy hat on his head, six gun on his hip Jamie waves goodbye until his next birthday Say goodbye to a man you hardly know As his car disappears down the road Say goodbye, watch him go On a gray December day in Monroe His daddy plays guitar in a traveling country band And don’ live there with them no more Jamie has a sister, eighteen months old Who don’t remember the laughing man at the door Say goodbye to a man you hardly know … When Jamie turned twelve his dad gave him a guitar Showed him where to put his fingers for his first chord His dad died in ’93, when Jamie was nineteen And who played better than the laughing man at the door Say goodbye to a man you hardly know … © 2018 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

about

In the songs and stories on Louisiana Stories, Vol. 2, we meet Mike Broussard and D.W. Washington. There's songs about growing up in the '50s and '60s, songs about losing loved ones and starting over, as well as a song about Bonnie and Clyde, who ended their crime career just off of Highway 80.

© 2020 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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released December 3, 2020

Guitar, vocal: David Leone

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Highway 80 Stories Whitleyville, Tennessee

Frank David Leone was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and has lived in the South his entire life with the exception of eight years in NYC.  Leone has also lived and worked at music in Dallas and Nashville.  He currently resides in rural Tennessee with his wife and three cats.
His songs have been recorded by Lee Ann Womack, Chris Knight, Rebecca Lynn Howard, and Joy Lynn White, among others. ... more

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