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Living In A Song

by Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Pressed on 140 gram metallic gold vinyl. Packaged in a single sleeve jacket with printed inner sleeve including lyrics.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Living In A Song via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $26.98 USD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Packaged in a 4-panel wallet with booklet including lyrics.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Living In A Song via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $16.98 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

1.
Well, I’ve been on this highway for about eight hours now If I’m gonna make Ohio, better lay the hammer down Tonight I’m in Toledo, tomorrow Baltimore Well, all I thought I ever wanted I’m still looking for Another sip of bourbon, another shot of reality Every single mile I travel seems to take a year from me Well, I look in the mirror, I don’t know who is standing there All these lines on my face, and all the gray that’s in my hair Sometimes the pain pours like rain out of these six strings Leaning on the low notes when I’m too high to sing Running hard with a soul that’s scarred Wondering what went wrong Chasin’ down my only dream living in a song Hangin’ onto secrets every new day brings Well, I wonder if my mama cries when she thinks of me Livin’ from a suitcase and sleepin’ in the car And scratchin’ out a living in another run down bar Sometimes the pain pours like rain out of these six strings Leaning on the low notes when I’m too high to sing Running hard with a soul that’s scarred Wondering what went wrong Chasin’ down my only dream living in a song Well, I’ve been on this highway for about eight hours now If I’m gonna make Ohio, better lay the hammer down
2.
You can put those skyscrapers up in the air Build those highways from here to there You may dam up the streams just as much as you like But nothing, I mean nothing, goes deeper than a dirt road Papaw he taught me how to drive We’d head on down Route 35 On that old John Deere with the pedal to the floor ‘Cause nothing, I mean nothing, goes deeper than a dirt road The best part of my memories are dust clouds in the wind And those summer days I threw away Wish I could go back again I know it like an old friend, no matter where I go Well, nothing, I mean nothing, goes deeper than a dirt road She broke my heart, really got me down When she moved away to that other town But I’ll stay right here as long as I’m alive ‘Cause nothing, I mean nothing, goes deeper than a dirt road Not a day goes by that I don’t try To go down to the river and look up at the sky It’s where I’m from and it’s where I’ll die ‘Cause nothing, I mean nothing, goes deeper than a dirt road The best part of my memories are dust clouds in the wind And those summer days I threw away Wish I could go back again I know it like an old friend, no matter where I go Well, nothing, I mean nothing, goes deeper than a dirt road Well, nothing, I mean nothing, goes deeper than a dirt road
3.
He thumbed his way to Nashville back in ‘88 With a dream and a guitar to his name He could sing like Elvis, well he could hardly wait He could almost taste the fortune and fame Music City is a town that can knock you down And leave you in total despair It can tear you apart and rip out your heart And turn your dreams into nightmares Now his home is on the backstreets off Broadway Living out his dreams on nickels and dimes When the Row told him no, he had nowhere to go But the backstreets off Broadway and out of his mind Well he tried and he tried in the years they went by ’Til he landed between 2nd and 3rd He’s still there today making his way And singing for all that he’s worth Now his home is on the backstreets off Broadway Living out his dreams on nickels and dimes When the Row told him no, he had nowhere to go But the backstreets off Broadway and out of his mind When Music Row told him no, he had nowhere to go But the backstreets off Broadway and out of his mind He’s on the back streets off Broadway and out of his mind
4.
Way Downtown 03:13
Way downtown foolin’ around Took me to the jail Oh me and it’s oh my No one to go my bail Well, late last night when Willie came home I heard him a-rapping at the door He was slipping and a-sliding with his new shoes on Papa said, “Willie, don’t you rap no more” Way downtown foolin’ around Took me to the jail Oh me and it’s oh my No one to go my bail Well, I wish I was over at my sweet Sally’s house Sittin’ in her big armed chair With one arm around my old guitar The other one around my dear Way downtown foolin’ around Took me to the jail Oh me and it’s oh my No one to go my bail Well, it’s one old shirt is about all I’ve got A dollar is all that I crave I didn’t take nothin’ with me into this world Gonna take nothin’ to my grave Way downtown foolin’ around Took me to the jail Oh me and it’s oh my No one to go my bail Way downtown foolin’ around Took me to the jail Oh me and it’s oh my No one to go my bail Oh me and it’s oh my No one to go my bail
5.
I’ve loved you half my life And I know I’ll keep on loving you But I’d give anything to make it through But I’ve given all that I can take Well, I knew this day would come And I tried hard to hide my doubt I’d give anything to work it out But I’ve given all that I can take At least I’ll have your memory That’s the only thing you’ve given me This ain’t the way that love’s supposed to be With teardrops and heartaches You’ve turn cold, and I don’t understand This ain’t the happy life that we had planned I’d give it all if I was still your man But I’ve given all that I can take At least I’ll have your memory That’s the only thing you’ve given me This ain’t the way that love’s supposed to be With teardrops and heartaches You’ve turn cold, and I don’t understand This ain’t the happy life that we had planned I’d give it all if I was still your man But I’ve given all that I can take I’d give it all if I was still your man But I’ve given all that I can take
6.
About a half a mile down that river road Just across the bridge where the preacher don’t go There’s a field of corn standing six feet tall Put it in a jar before the first snow falls That river bridge cuts the town in two Between the common day sinners and the chosen few When the moonlight’s pale on the first cold night I make my way over to the other side Don’t let ‘em catch you haulin’ shine if you know what’s best Or Sunday morning find you in jail with your name on a prayer request Keep your foot hard on the pedal and your hand close to the gun Hear me roarin’ down the valley on a moonshine run Well, the Lord knows all, even what you hide But the devil’s going to give you one hell of a ride The Methodist wave makes the Baptist shiver But you’re gonna see ‘em both down at the river Don’t let ‘em catch you buyin’ shine if you know what’s best Or Sunday morning find you in jail with your name on a prayer request Keep your foot hard on the pedal and your hand close to the gun Hear me roarin’ down the valley on a moonshine run Well, that ole river rolls muddy and deep And the law won’t find what all it keeps Shotguns, bodies, rusty Chevrolets They’re all at the bottom and there they’ll stay Don’t let ‘em catch you haulin’ shine if you know what’s best Or Sunday morning find you in jail with your name on a prayer request Keep your foot hard on the pedal and your hand close to the gun Hear me roarin’ down the valley on a moonshine run Hear me roaring down the valley on a moonshine run
7.
Just Because 03:22
Just because it don’t come easy Just because love can be hard Long as we lean on each other And keep reaching for the stars Life can try to wear our hearts down But here we belong Holding onto each other Waiting for the dawn Just because tears may fall We’re stronger just because This house was built on faith and built on love And we’ll always love each other just because Just because we’ve had some hard times Just because of those ups and downs Never meant that we’d stopped trying To find some higher ground This world is full of heartaches We’ve had a few We faced them all together And made it through Just because tears may fall We’re stronger just because This house was built on faith and built on love And we’ll always love each other just because Just because tears may fall We’re stronger just because This house was built on faith and built on love And we’ll always love each other just because We’ll always love each other just because
8.
Well, if I was a gambler Well, I tell you what I’d do Well, I’d quit my gambling and I’d work on a building, too I’m a working on a building I’m a working on a building I’m a working on a building For my Lord, for my Lord It’s a holy ghost building It’s a holy ghost building It’s a holy ghost building For my Lord, for my Lord Well, if I was a drunkard Well, I tell you what I’d do Well, I’d quit my drinking and I’d work on a building, too I’m a working on a building I’m a working on a building I’m a working on a building For my Lord, for my Lord It’s a holy ghost building It’s a holy ghost building It’s a holy ghost building For my Lord, for my Lord Well, if I was a preacher Well, I tell you what I’d do Well, I’d keep on preaching and I’d work on a building, too I’m a working on a building I’m a working on a building I’m a working on a building For my Lord, for my Lord It’s a holy ghost building It’s a holy ghost building It’s a holy ghost building For my Lord, for my Lord I’m a working on a building I’m a working on a building I’m a working on a building For my Lord, for my Lord It’s a holy ghost building It’s a holy ghost building It’s a holy ghost building For my Lord, for my Lord
9.
Hey mister, can you tell me is the world still turning? Has the moon disappeared? Is the sun still burning? Since my baby’s gone, my heart won’t stop hurtin’ Hey mister, can you tell me is the world still turning? Hey mister, can you tell me is this all a nightmare? If I wake up will she still be there? I’ll buy the next round if you’re going nowhere Hey mister, can you tell me is this all a nightmare? Well, I’ve cried more tears than I thought I could cry They flow like the river that never runs dry If she’s gone forever and this is the end How do I start over? How do I begin? Hey mister, can you tell me is this purgatory? The end of a chapter or the end of the story Well, I’m closer to hell than living in glory Hey mister, can you tell me is this purgatory? I’ve cried more tears than I thought I could cry They flow like the river that never runs dry If she’s gone forever and this is the end How do I start over? How do I begin? Hey mister, can you tell me is the world still turning? Has the moon disappeared? Is the sun still burning?
10.
My Louisiana woman sets the night on fire Takes me halfway to heaven while the flame burns higher I’d fight a gator, swim the Pontchartrain For my Louisiana woman to take my name My Louisiana woman My Louisiana woman Well I’d fight a gator, swim the Pontchartrain For my Louisiana woman to take my name My Louisiana woman got a wiggle when she walks You know where she’s from when you hear her talk I’d turn a canebrake rattler into gumbo stew For my Louisiana woman to say I do My Louisiana woman My Louisiana woman I’d turn a canebrake rattler into gumbo stew For my Louisiana woman to say I do My Louisiana woman got a sparkle in her eye She’s a hurricane a’ brewin’ in a clear blue sky I’d fight a big black bear with a Bowie knife For my Louisiana woman to be my wife My Louisiana woman My Louisiana woman I’d fight a big black bear with a Bowie knife For my Louisiana woman to be my wife My Louisiana woman My Louisiana woman Well, I’d fight a gator, swim the Pontchartrain For my Louisiana woman to take my name Well, I’d turn a canebrake rattler into gumbo stew For my Louisiana woman to say I do
11.
I thought I saw a carpenter coming down the road He didn’t have a hammer, but he had a heavy load He reached his nail-scarred hands and I caught a glimpse of home When I saw the carpenter coming down the road I thought I saw a carpenter dressed in only white We had never met before, but I’ve known him my whole life In his eyes I saw forgiveness like the stories I’d been told When I saw the carpenter coming down the road He said “I’m glad to see you, son, but now is not your time You’ve got more roads to travel before you put your hand in mine” He said, “No matter what’s ahead, you’ll never walk alone I’ll always be beside you ‘til it’s time to come back home” He said “I’m glad to see you, son, but now is not your time You’ve got more roads to travel before you put your hand in mine” He said, “No matter what’s ahead, you’ll never walk alone I’ll always be beside you ‘til it’s time to come back home” I thought I saw a carpenter coming down the road He didn’t have a hammer, but he had a heavy load
12.
Thanks 03:10
Thanks for the good times Thanks for the smiles Thanks for the laughter May it last a long, long while Thanks for the sunshine, you keep my whole sky blue Thank you for your love, dear, and thanks for being you Well, thanks for being honest When it’s hard to hear Thanks for the butterflies Every time you’re near Thanks for forgiveness, yeah, thanks for being true Thanks for sticking with me and thanks for being you You’re the reason — you’re what I’m fighting for I’m believing we’ll be together forevermore Thanks for forever You brighten every day Thank you for never Going a separate way Thanks for putting heart and soul in everything you do Thank you for your love, dear, and thanks for being you Yeah, I thank you for your love, dear, and thanks for being you

about

American roots music has seen its fair share of beloved duos over the years—from The Monroe Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs to modern-day pairs like Milk Carton Kids and The War and Treaty—but few leave audiences as amazed as Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley. Built on the interplay of Ickes’s Dobro and Hensley’s six-string guitar, the only thing outshining the virtuosity of this group’s instrumental performances is their singing and songwriting prowess. On LIVING IN A SONG, Ickes and Hensley showcase their songwriting chops in a set of 12 songs, 5 of which they co-wrote with GRAMMY award-winning producer Brent Maher (The Judds, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson). In classic Nashville fashion, the threesome hashed out some 30 songs before picking the dozen that would make up LIVING IN A SONG. Paying homage to the troubadours that shaped the Nashville sound, the duo made the conscious decision to lean the music in a classic country direction stylistically, with elements of Americana and bluegrass thrown in for good measure.

credits

released February 10, 2023

PRODUCED BY BRENT MAHER
Executive Producers: Jason Henke & Bob Burwell
Engineered by Charles Yingling
Recorded at The Blueroom Studios - Nashville, Tennessee
Mixed by Brent Maher and Charles Yingling at The Blueroom Studios -
Nashville, Tennessee
Mastered by Randy LeRoy at Tonal Park - Tacoma Park, Maryland
Photography: Jeff Fasano | jefffasano.com
Package Design: Robert Hakalski | vmdigital.com
Project Management: Whitney Beard, Compass Records

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Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley Nashville, Tennessee

There are many famous duos in the history of American roots music. In the case of Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, they cement themselves as legends amongst a long list of iconic duos with their instrumental firepower and virtuosity. Ickes is a 15-time IBMA Dobro Player of the Year and Hensley is a Tennessee-born guitar prodigy. Together they shatter all expectations for their respective instruments. ... more

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