Photos from recording with J.D. Crowe

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Label: Rounder Records 

Release Date: October 2010

ALL ORIGINAL SONGS BY DONNA HUGHES except for “Mid-Life Crisis” (Written by Donna Hughes and Kessy Timmer)

Musicians: Barry Bales, Scott Vestal, Adam Steffey, Rob Ickes, Aubrey Haynie, Bryan Sutton, Jenee Fleenor, Joel Keys, Maggie Stephens, Brian Stephens, Randy Kohrs. Harmony by Carl Jackson, Claire Lynch, Cia Cherryholmes, Sonya Isaacs, Ben Isaacs, Buddy Cannon, Melonie Cannon.

Recorded at Hilltop Studios, Nashville, TN

Engineered by Steve Chandler

Track Listing
01 Cut Your Losses  3:26
02 Nothing Easy  2:50
03 Saying Hello  3:28
04 Dr. Jekyl, Mr. Hyde  2:50
05 Butterfly  4:46
06 Jesse  3:08
07 Last Thing I Need  4:22  
08 Losing You  4:08
09 God Don’t Make Mistakes  3:58
10 Mid-life Crisis  3:52
11 Autumn Leaves  2:59
12 If I Had You  3:40
13 Blackbeard  3:18
14 Longing For You  2:43 
 15 Better Apart  3:01

LYRICS

1  Cut Your Losses
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Lead Guitar: Brian Stephens
Guitar: Joel Keys
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Jenee’ Fleenor
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Carl Jackson, Sonya Isaacs

Verse 1:
When will you ever learn
Play with fire you get burned
You thought you stole my heart
You told me lies right from the start

Verse 2:
On the day I said goodbye
I guess I caught you by surprise
Guess I won your little game
Turned the tables you got played

Chorus:
Now you can’t accept it, I don’t want you anymore
You’ve never been standing, on this side of the door
You need to cut your losses & move on down the line
It’s my turn to walk away and it’s your turn to cry

Verse 3:
You always love & leave
Until you met the likes of me
You’ll never be the same
I guess I put you in your place

Chorus:
Now you can’t accept it, I don’t want you anymore
You’ve never been standing, on this side of the door
You need to cut your losses & move on down the line
It’s my turn to walk away and it’s your turn to cry

Chorus:
Now you can’t accept it, I don’t want you anymore
You’ve never been standing, on this side of the door
You need to cut your losses & move on down the line
It’s my turn to walk away and it’s your turn to cry

2  Nothing Easy
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Aubrey Haynie
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Cia Cherryholmes

Verse 1:
I cannot touch the sky
And I cannot stop the wind from blowing
I cannot read your mind
And I don’t know how to stop you from going

Chorus 1:
I wish I knew which way to go
What to say
or what to do enough
I wanna get inside your heart
I wish I knew, how not to let it go
There’s nothing easy about love

Verse 2:
You’re so easy to love
It’s hard to walk away from that smile
There’s something that I need
And I thought that I could find it in your eyes

Chorus 2:
But I don’t know where to go
What to say
or what to do enough
I wanna get inside your heart
I don’t know, how not to let it go
There’s nothing easy about love

Chorus 3:
Somebody tell me where to go
What to say to you
and what to do enough
How’d you get inside my heart
I wanna know, how not to let it go
There’s nothing easy about love
Some day I’ll know, how not to let it go
There’s nothing easy 

3  Saying Hello
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Aubrey Haynie
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Buddy Cannon & Melonie Cannon

Verse 1:
The misty fog stretched across the highway
The gentle breeze circling the leaves
That pretty cloud, shaped just like a heart
That’s Daddy saying hello to me

Verse 2:
That time I saw, a bright shooting star
The colored butterflies that glide along the road
A nickel on the ground, made the year
I left for college
Reminding me he’s waiting for me to come home

Chorus:
He’s all around me now
He’s up there smiling down
He isn’t hurting now
I’m gonna make him proud
Four leaf clover in the spring
Red bird on a snowy tree
In my heart I do believe
It’s really Daddy…… saying hello to me

Verse 3:

The silver rain that danced across my windshield
The crazy bird laughing loudly in the tree
His favorite song playing on the radio
Could that be Daddy saying hello to me

Bridge 1:
The wind is moving my porch swing today
He must be looking at the tears on my face
His favorite team is playing baseball on TV
I miss my Daddy Saying hello to me

Bridge 2:
The leaves are dancing on the sidewalk today
He must be telling me it’s gonna be ok
I saw a little boy with blue eyes smiling
Just like Daddy…………….
How I miss my Daddy………………..
Saying Hello to me

4  Dr. Jekyl, Mr. Hyde
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Maggie Stephens
Fiddle: Jenee’ Fleenor
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Sonya Isaacs, Ben Isaacs

Verse 1:
Misery and pain were all I stood to gain
From loving someone crazy like you
There were days when it was fine
and I was glad that you were mine
Disappointment and confusion took the place of loving you

Chorus:
There were two of you
One was good, and one was bad
One I wish I could forget,
and one I wish that I still had
Too bad I couldn’t have one without the other
Dr Jekyl …………..Mr. Hyde
Tell em both I said goodbye

Verse 2:
One of you was mean, he was rotten to the core
The other brought me roses to the door
One of you was handsome, and I still miss him so
The other could have been on Jerry Springer’s show

Chorus 2:
There were two of you
One was good, and one was bad
One I hope I can forget,
and one I wish that I still had
Too bad I couldn’t find one without the other
Dr Jekyl …………..Mr. Hyde
Tell em both I said goodbye

Chorus 3:
There were two of you
One was good, and one was bad
One I wish I could forget,
and one I wish that I still had
Too bad I couldn’t find one without the other
Dr Jekyl …………..Mr. Hyde
Tell em both I said goodbye
Too bad I couldn’t find one without the other

5  Butterfly
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Aubrey Haynie
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Claire Lynch

Verse 1:
Butterfly……….Butterfly
All your colors
Against the sky
Butterfly………. Please tell me why
My heart is breaking
On this summer day
You’re so lucky
You can fly away

Verse 2:
Butterfly……….butterfly
You’re so graceful
Dancing on the wind
Butterfly………as you float away
Like a sweet goodbye………
Never to come again
You’re so lucky
You don’t need a friend

Chorus:
I wonder where your soft wings have been
I love to see your colors on the wind
If only I could join you in the air
I’d drift high above, those who could hurt me

Chorus:
I’d love to see the places that you’ve been
I wonder if you’ll ever come again
If only I could join you in the air
I’d drift high above, those who could hurt me

Verse 3:
Butterfly……….Butterfly
All your colors………Against the sky
You’re so lucky
You can fly (6 minor)
You’re so lucky………. You can fly away

6  Jesse
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Bryan Sutton
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Jenee’ Fleenor
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Buddy Cannon & Melonie Cannon

Verse 1 (A):
Jesse came to town with big dreams and a plan
Chasing neon rainbows in hopes of finding fans
All he ever wanted was for them to know his name
He set out to make the headlines, no matter what it takes

Verse 1 (B):
His dad gave him a gun and some cash to get him rolling
His Mama cried and hugged him as she sent him on his way
At the time he didn’t know, it was the last time he would see them
Promised he’d be back – take care of them someday

Chorus 1:
When his records turned to platinum, his name went up in lights
His shows were selling out, and he stayed gone every night
He could never get enough of the money or the fame
As the years rolled by, he lost more than he gained

Verse 2 (A):
He lost a girl named Hannah, the beauty of his hometown
He lost his dad to cancer, and his mom to alcohol
Friends all settled down, and started happy families
Jesse lived the fast lane, until the fast lane, came to a crawl

Verse 2 (B):
Pretty soon he gave it up, and came to settle down
Reduced to simple work at a bar outside of town
Barely showing up, and later every day
One day he didn’t show at all, people went about their way

Chorus 2:
Jesse came to town with big dreams and a plan
The highway & the stage took everything he had
He faced the road ahead, with all he left behind
With a loaded 44 in his hand, Jessie cried

Chorus 3:
As the winding road got longer, Jesse lost his way
He gave up everything so folks would know his name
One rainy summer night, after all those years trying
With a loaded 44 to his head,—- With a loaded 44 to his head—-…Jesse fired
He finally made the headlines, one last time

7  The Last Thing I Need
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Jenee’ Fleenor
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals:Carl Jackson & Sonya Isaacs

Verse 1
Your hands felt good on my shoulders
Your hands felt good on my face
Your car looked good in my driveway
There was nothing like your warm embrace

Verse 2
The times that we had together
Were so happy until you changed
I was falling for you, until I realized
You bring me sorrow, heartache and pain

Chorus
I need air to breathe, I need water
And I need a good long night’s sleep
I need love, & I tried to love you
You gave me heartache
You’re the last thing I need

Verse 3
I was thinking we had a future
My heart was wanting a home
I was ready to give you forever
But it was ruined, and now you are gone

Verse 4
I was thinking I needed pleasure
I thought I needed the warmth of your touch
I was longing for you every second
And I could never have you enough

Chorus
I need air to breathe, I need water
And I need a good long night’s sleep
I need love, & I tried to love you
You gave me heartache

You’re the last thing I need

You gave me heartache, you’re the last thing I need

8  Losing You
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Maggie Stephens
Fiddle: Jenee’ Fleenor
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Carl Jackson & Sonya Isaacs

Verse 1:
People losing jobs
People losing pay
Golfers losing golf balls & players losing games
People on a ferris wheel sometimes lose a shoe
Somehow I get the feeling here, I am losing you

Chorus 1:
You’re not the same You’re always late
You’re starting fights You’re acting strange
Somehow I knew When I said I do
It would not be very long And I’d be losing you

Verse 2:
People losing change at the drive through lanes
People losing baggage when they’re stepping off the planes
Dogs are losing collars, builders losing screws
Gamblers lose their money & I’ll be losing you

Chorus 2:
You’re not the same You’re always late
You’re starting fights You’re acting strange
Somehow I knew When I said I do
It would not be long And I’d be losing you

Verse 3:
The inmates at the prison just can’t wait to lose those chains
I lost my umbrella, and I’m standing in the rain
I’ve wasted too much time here, and now I’ve lost my youth
I just can’t believe it baby, I am losing you

Bridge:
I think you’ve lost your marbles, I think you’ve lost your mind
The grass is never greener on the other side
Sometimes you don’t know what you lost until it’s gone
I don’t think you’ll miss me until you’re all alone

Chorus 3:
You’re not the same You’re always late
You’re starting fights You’re acting strange
Somehow I knew When I said I do
It would not be long And I’d be losing you
Somehow I get the feeling here that I am losing you

9  God Don’t Make Mistakes
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Maggie Stephens
Fiddle: Jenee’ Fleenor
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Carl Jackson & Sonya Isaacs

Verse 1
When your heart is heavy, and all you feel is pain
Sometimes you need the sun & all you get is rain
It’s easy to forget, those who prayed for the rain
Sometimes we forget, that God don’t make mistakes

Chorus
God don’t make mistakes…..He’s up there watching
Every heartbeat…Every breath……Every tear that’s falling……Every heart that breaks There’s a reason, we don’t know it……….God don’t make mistakes

Verse 2
When you get weary, when it’s time to say goodbye
You know God is waiting, to take the tears from our eyes
While we’re on this journey, we touch hearts along the way
We touch some without knowing, and God don’t make mistakes

Chorus
God don’t make mistakes……He’s up there waiting
Every ray of sunshine…every drop of rain…every storm that’s raging…Every cloud that breaks
There’s a reason, we don’t know it
God don’t make mistakes

Bridge
What we all need
Is just to believe
That His footsteps will carry me

Chorus
God don’t make mistakes…..He’s up there watching
Every heartbeat…Every breath……..Every tear that’s falling……..Every heart that breaks There’s a reason, we don’t know it……….God don’t make mistakes

10  Mid-Life Crisis
Written by Donna Hughes & Keesy Timmer
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Bryan Sutton
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Jenee’ Fleenor
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Buddy Cannon & Melonie Cannon

Verse 1
He bought you diamonds, he brought you a rose
I was the woman who picked up his clothes
While you were riding in our brand new car
I was at home mowing our little yard

Verse 2
You’ve never seen him in all his true colors
Without Just For Men, his hair’s really gray
He’s old enough to be your Daddy
My loves forever, you’re just a phase

Chorus:
Someday you’ll find out that his love aint priceless
I was his true love, you were his mid-life crisis
I was his true love, you were his mid-life crisis

Verse 3
He’ll love you 4 ever, until you get wrinkles
It’s fun to love him, until he starts telling lies
Make sure you lose the weight from those babies
Or he will stop looking, into your eyes

Chorus:
You think he’s perfect and he walks on water
Til someday he runs off, with your best friends daughter
Someday you’ll find out that his love aint priceless
I was his true love, you were his mid-life crisis
I was his true love, you were his mid-life crisis

11  Autumn Leaves
Words & Music by Donna Hughes

Dobro: Rob Ickes
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Aubrey Haynie
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes

Verse 1
On a hillside…. back in the woods
Far away from town
There’s an old abandoned graveyard
Lost & forgotten all about
The world has changed and no one knows
The ones laid there to rest beneath the pines
Their names have faded on the forest floor
On the stones that are all they left behind

Chorus:
The world is turning….. the sun will shine
Without you and me
One day we’ll leave it all behind
Underneath the autumn leaves

Verse 2:
If they were ever in a hurry
It didn’t do them any good
Rich or poor they’re all the same now
Resting in these old forgotten woods
I still wonder where they came from
And if they felt the same as you and me
I wonder who will stand above me
When I come to rest beneath the autumn leaves

Chorus:
The world is turning….. the sun will shine
Without you and me
One day we’ll leave it all behind
Underneath the autumn leaves

12  If I had You
Words & Music by Donna Hughes

Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Jenee’ Fleenor
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Claire Lynch

If I were blind and lost my way
If I were dying here today
I know that I could make it through
If I had you

If I had nothing in this world
If sickness came and there was no cure
I wouldn’t have a thing to lose
If I had you

The things of the world will pass away
Love comes and goes like the rain
But you are more than just another love
When we are old and gray
Fading & withering away
I would love you more every day

If I had you If there were no streets or roads
If I never found my way back home
I’m never lost, and never blue

If I have you

If I were stranded on the sea
Storms were raging & tossing me
I’d have something to hold onto
If I had you

The things of the earth will pass away
Love comes and goes like the rain
But you are more than just another love
When we are old and gray
Fading & withering away
I would love you more every day
If I had you

13  Blackbeard
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Aubrey Haynie
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes

Verse 1
On the crystal coast, of the Atlantic
Blackbeard’s ghost is all around
9 vessels sailing quietly attack
often sank his own ships to keep them off his track

They knew him well
in all the taverns
he was a ladies man and flashed his stolen gold
a charming smile, a candle burning
they drank heavy spirits, and the ruthless lies were told

Chorus:
Queen Anne’s Revenge
ruled the high & mighty seas
taking royal ships and captains
to avenge the queen

Verse 2:
He slept with one eye open
a weapon in his hand
buried stolen treasures
all along the golden sand
a map and shiny compass
he waited for the wind
approaching as a friendly ship then waited for his friends

he raised a friendly flag
terror in disguise
if they tried to get away
they would surely die
a shiny silver sword
covered with rare gemstones
taken from a Spanish captain
while he lay asleep

Chorus:
Queen Anne’s Revenge
ruled the high & mighty seas
forcing passengers to
part with golden rings

Verse 3:
They took what they wanted
Threw the rest away
left poor souls who wouldn’t go
to drown and float away
instruments and medicines
anything of worth
took them as their own
but the angry tides would turn

she ran aground in winter
the fearless tried to flee
he did not surrender
as his crew fell in the sea
a royal navy captain
let him come aboard
surprise attack began
& Blackbeard died………… from a sword

Chorus: Queen Anne’s Revenge ruled the high & mighty seas they took his head and held it high for all to see... they hung his head from the bow for all to see

14  Longing For You
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Aubrey Haynie
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background vocals: Cia Cherryholmes & Ben Isaacs

Verse 1:
I’m longing for you
Like a flower wants the rain
I’m longing for you
Like a poor man needs his pay
Late at night
Somewhere beneath the moon
Wherever you are, I am longing for you

Verse 2:
I’m longing for you
From a sailboat on the sea
I’m longing for you
From a crowded city street
Late at night, All the towns I’m passin through
I try to forget That I am longing for you

Chorus:
As I sail across the ocean, margaritas in my hand
My happiness lasted, long as footprints in the sand
I was hoping that the mountains, held the magic they once knew
But without you they were lonesome, making me blue

Verse 3:
I’m longing for you
As the morning colors fill the sky
I’m longing for you
As I watch the days go by
Late at night, as the boats come off the sea
And the lights are going down
Are you longing for me?

Chorus:
As I sail across the ocean, margaritas in my hand
My happiness lasted, long as footprints in the sand
I was hoping that the mountains, held the magic they once had
But without you they were lonesome, making me sad
From the salt beneath the ocean, to the highest mountain I ever knew
You’ll find me out there somewhere, longing for you

15  Better Apart
Words & Music by Donna Hughes
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Guitar: Joel Keys
Lead guitar: Brian Stephens
Bass: Barry Bales
Fiddle: Jenee’ Fleenor
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Mandolin: Adam Steffey
Vocals: Donna Hughes
Background Vocals: Cia Cherryholmes & Ben Isaacs

Verse 1:
It’s hard to say goodbye to love
I hate saying goodbye to you
I’m doing us both a favor by leaving
Your heart would never be true

Verse 2:
I wish I could give you, just one more chance
I’ve given you too many now
I wish I could fix it, and learn how to take it
But you will just hurt me somehow

Chorus:
I wish you well
All the good times will stay in my heart
Please don’t forget me

We are just better apart

Verse 3:
I can’t live without you, but I just can’t stay
We’re already living a lie
If I leave tomorrow, I’ll have 10 more heartaches
And I can’t take one more tonight

Verse 4:
I hope you find what you’re looking for
Not easy to leave this behind
I know I’m doing the right thing by leaving
Maybe you’ll miss me tonight

Chorus:
I wish you well
All the good times will stay in my heart
Please don’t forget me
We are just better apart
We’re just better
We are better off
We’re just better apart