Song Description

Story-song based on a true story of a cop in normally peaceful town having to shoot down a criminal in a crowded restaurant. Perspective of cop, criminal and piano player throughout the song. Fantastic transitions smoothly incorporating different musical styles and tempos.

Lyrics

ON THE BEAT 25 YEARS
WALKIN’ THE BEACH, NOTHIN’ TO FEAR
IT’S QUIET HERE
JUST A PEACE AND A CALM
AND THE PALMS AND THE BREEZE

JUST A COP WALKIN’ AT NIGHT
NO NEED FOR THE GUN, THAT HANGS AT HIS SIDE
IT’S QUIET HERE
HE GOT A WIFE AND A KID
AND A COP’S LIFE

BUT THINGS CAN CHANGE AND IN
THE MATTER OF A MOMENT
AND THINGS GET STRANGE WHEN ALL THE
WHEELS GO ROUND AND ROUND
AND SO THE STORY GOES
WHEN A YELLOW BELLIED RED-NECK
CAME TO TOWN

I’M A BAD MOTHER (Watch It!)
FROM THE PROMISED LAND
I CAME TO TOWN WITH A GUN IN MY HAND
I GOT NOTHIN’ TO LOSE I GOT NO PIECE OF PIE
SO I’M GETTING ME SOME
FOR THE WELL RUNS DRY

I’M GETTING ME SOME BOOTY
I’M GETTING ME SOME LOOT
I’M GETTING ME A BOW TIE
AND SOME ALLIGATOR BOOTS

I AIN’T NEVER HAD NOTHIN’
I AIN’T NEVER HAD NO FUN
I AIN’T NEVER HAD A MOMMA
BUT I SURELY GOT A GUN

I WAS PLAYIN’ PIANO, SATIN DOLL TO BE EXACT
WHEN HE CAME AROUND THE BEND
AND CAUGHT THE CORNER OF MY EYE
I WAS KICKIN ON THE IVORY
ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK
I WAS MORE THAN PRETTY SURE THAT
SOMEONE HERE WAS GONNA DIE

THERE’D BEEN A ROBBERY DOWN AT PATTY’S
TWO DOORS DOWN
NOBODY KNEW WHAT CRAZY SHIT WAS COMIN’ DOWN
THEN HE SLIPPED INTO MCCABE’S
AND THE HEAT WAS ON IN A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE

HE HOLLERED ONCE - THE STRANGER TURNED AROUND
HE HOLLERED TWICE - AND THIS TIME TWICE AS LOUD
THE MADMAN PULLED A GUN
THE ROOM WENT STILL
AND THE COP HAD TO SHOOT TO KILL

WHA’CHA GONNA DO? WHA’CHA GONNA SAY
WHEN THE WALLS COME TUMBLIN’ DOWN
HOW YOU GONNA FEEL WHEN IT ALL STARTS
SLIPPIN’ AWAY, YEAH BABY
HOW YOU GONNA COPE WITH THE HEAVY LOAD WHEN YOU HEARD THE HEADLINES READ TODAY

THERE’S BEEN A MURDER AT McCABE’S
THERE’S BEEN A MURDER AT McCABE’S
THERE’S BEEN A MURDER AT McCABE’S

HE HIT HIM ONCE, HE HIT HIM TWICE
I’LL NEVER FORGET THE SOUND
WHEN A BULLET RIPS
THROUGH FLESH AND BONE
YOU NEVER FORGET THE SOUND

WHA’CHA GONNA DO? WHA’CHA GONNA SAY
WHEN THE WALLS COME TUMBLIN’ DOWN
HOW YOU GONNA FEEL WHEN IT ALL STARTS
SLIPPIN’ AWAY, YEAH BABY
HOW YOU GONNA COPE WITH A HEAVY LOAD
WHEN YOU HEARD THE HEADLINES READ TODAY

THERE’S BEENA MURDER AT McCABE’S
THERE’S BEENA MURDER AT McCABE’S
THERE’S BEEN A MURDER AT McCABE’S

ON THE BEAT 25 YEARS / WAHT’CHA GONNA DO?
NOTHIN’ TO LOSE, NOTHIN’ TO FEAR / WHAT’CHA GONNA SAY?
IT’S QUIET HERE
JUST A PEACE AND A CALM / WHEN THE WALLS COME TUMBLIN’ DOWN
AND THE PALM AND THE BREEZE