Back Door Open

Tracks

1. 1. Forty-Eight Hours in a Brand New TownI sold the truck, kept the radio, and bought a bus ticket east. Forty-eight hours later I was a different man, or at least a different haircut.heartland rock, fresh-start song4:33
2. 2. Play It Once More for the BartenderThe mop bucket rolling in is the sound of last call everywhere. I asked the bartender for one more tune and he gave me two.bar-room ballad, slow rock4:42
3. 3. He Never Said He Was ProudHe never said it, not once, and I've spent half my life listening for it. I wrote the song so I'd stop waiting.father song, slow rock3:35
4. 4. The Fiddler Outside the Greyhound StationAn old man with a fiddle by the Greyhound door plays for the ones with nowhere left to be. I dropped a twenty in the case and wrote a verse.street-corner ballad, americana rock4:30
5. 5. The Teacher Who Left the Back Door OpenI was a boy with a chip on my shoulder skipping out the side gate, and one teacher never locked it. I owe that woman a lot of verses.tribute ballad, heartland rock3:48
6. 6. Heads or Tails at the CrossroadsTwo roads at a dusty crossing and a coin that wouldn't land. I won't tell you which way I went.roots rock, crossroads song4:10
7. 7. Say Yes Slow, Say Yes SoftTruck stop diner at three a.m. and a question that deserves a slow answer. It's the romantic one on the record.romantic rock, diner ballad4:23
8. 8. The Photograph Stayed in the GloveboxSame glovebox, same photograph, a different year. I couldn't stop writing about it, so I gave it its own song.rock ballad, keepsake song5:18
9. 9. Teacher's Chair at the Last Parent NightBack of the gym at the last parents' night, folding chairs and cafeteria light. I wrote it for a teacher who retired the week I finished it.school-days ballad, warm rock4:35
10. 10. Don't Tell Me to Slow DownThe doctor says take it easy, my wife says the same with a smile, and I'm still going. That chorus is the one the crowd shouts back.heartland rock, singalong anthem3:16
11. 11. Her Apron Still Hangs on the NailThe house is sold, the boxes are packed, and her apron still hangs on the nail. I left that detail exactly as it was.melancholy rock, family ballad4:36