We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Near the Middle of Nowhere

by Jake Gray

supported by
/
  • Streaming + Download

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

      $7 USD  or more

     

1.
A E Jump off the tractor and I head to town, A D Its Friday night and time to party down A E My best gal said she’s waitin’ on me, and she’s F#5 Bm D A And she spoke of a surprise that I can’t wait see A Let’s dance now, let’s dance now C’mon get on your feet Head to the bar and I grab a cold one And take a bath in that neon light, then we Take a turn on that old country dance floor It’s just what we do here on a Friday night Let’s dance now, let’s dance now C’mon get on your feet Chorus F#5 Bm E A All week long I’ve waiting for this F#5 Bm E A Smell of your perfume, the taste of your kiss F#5 Bm E A Come out with us it’ll be alright F#5 Bm E A It’s just what we do here on a Friday night After the turn well it’s time for a rest I’ll take a Two Hearted Ale because you know they’re the best Then I remember something ‘bout a surprise Better find my best gal before she tells me goodbye Let’s dance now, let’s dance now C’mon get on your feet My best gal well she catches my eye Takes my hand and leads me into the night Far away from those, prying eyes It’s just what we do here on a Friday night Let’s dance now, let’s dance now C’mon get on your feet Bridge Bm It’s Friday night and we need to E A blow off some steam Bm That’s what we call it when we’re E A in the back seat Bm Some folks don’t like it when we E A carry on this way Bm D E A What do we say? Let’s dance now… Chorus x 2 Outro It’s what we do here on a Friday night, what we do here on a Friday night Let’s dance now, let’s dance now…
2.
| G C/G G C/G | G It was a straight up whatever A sonofabitch D I heard some unbidden cursing come up off my lips Am sometimes in life things don’t go your way C It was one of those times D that make you wanna say… Chorus G C/G G Life sucks and then you die Am C And sometimes there ain’t no reason why G C/G G Life sucks and then you die Am C You dust yourself off and ya keep on tryin’ G C/G G When life sucks, and then you die | G C/G G C/G | Well we all know just how your Day is spent Its either bitching ‘bout your job Or your government you oughta be looking on The brighter side And keep in mind just what you can’t deny… Chorus Life sucks and then you die And sometimes there ain’t no reason why Life sucks and then you die You dust yourself off and ya keep on tryin’ When Life sucks, and then you die Bridge D Why can’t we ever catch a break? C Just how much more can one life take? D But don’t be thinking that I am pissed C D The chorus says that I’m optimist Chorus Sometimes you know When life ain’t a ball I’ll go and grab a little alcohol In one more minute I’ll be feeling fine And you can sing with me one more time Chorus x2 | G C/G G C/G | Outro Life sucks and then you die x3
3.
G We didn’t live in the middle of nowhere C But we could see it from our backyard D Didn’t think too much ‘bout how we got on C D At the time it didn’t seem too hard G But now and then I’m reminded C About the things that we’ve been through D That life is gone and now I’m carrying on C G And I make no apologies or excuse Chorus Em D We were squeezing chickens for breakfast C D Burning water for lunch Em D Baling hay in the summer C D Six and six was the clock we’d punch Em D Our vacation was the local pond C D And maybe it don’t seem fair C But that was life and we survived D G We were livin’ near the middle... of nowhere <Break> Verse If you ever wondered where the gravel ends, I can tell you what you’ll find there Mostly a whole lot of nothin’ And we had more than our share And now and then I find my way back But don’t think that I have the blues That life is gone and now I’m carrying on And I make no apologies or excuse Bridge Am It’s just that now and then I’m reminded C G When my memories’ winding Am Now and then I’m reminded… D7 G the miles that I’ve put on these shoes Musical Interlude Chorus Outro C D We were livin’ near the middle Em G Livin’ near the middle C D We were livin’ near the middle... of nowhere C D We were livin’ near the middle Em G Livin’ near the middle C D We were livin’ near the middle... of nowhere
4.
Verse C♯m Old man Johnson had a farm Abm up there on Hangman’s Hill. F♯m Folks don’t know what happened back then C♯m And probably never will I just know I saw a light On the porch last Halloween My brain said I should drive on by But I my heart just had to see The pale moonlight was casting shadows As I walked upon the steps My heart was pounding in my chest And my head filled with regrets I turned the knob and stepped inside and could not have foreseen What I saw is forever etched As I looked upon that scene Chorus A Don’t you go to Hangman’s Hill B7 Especially on Halloween A You might not ever be seen again C♯m And we’ll only hear your scream But that Autumn night I had to go Something called to me Something got up in my blood It was the call of family (now I’m with my family) (last time only) Verse Old man Johnson was standing there Or he wasn’t, it wasn’t clear I could see right through him And he could sense my fear His voice was raspy as he spoke But for ghost it seemed sincere “I always knew one day you’d come I’ve been waitin’ here every year” Bridge F♯m It was like looking in the mirror A As he reached his arms for me E And I felt the cold touch of his hand C#m And I never could break free Chorus x2 Outro C#m Abm F♯m Ooo… Oo-Oo… Oo-Oo…. O…Ooooo… x4
5.
D C G I just want to fly, on the wind D C G High above the clouds once again Am C You know I’m always searching deep inside G For some thing that I don’t know Am I’ll find it in the mountains and C when they call my name D I must go, I must go... Chorus C D Some would say you’re crazy boy Em G With some cracks that are starting to show C D Mountains are where I must abide Em G Can you see what you’ve never have known C D If you want some peace inside Bm G There’s some things that you must forego C D G So when the mountains call my name, I must go | D C G | I need to step on the mountain top once again Listen only to my heart and the wind When you walk above the trees you can take a deep look inside your soul I’m back here once again because when they call my name I must go...I must go.... Chorus Musical interlude Outro | D C G | I must go, I must go.... They call my name well they call my name once again They call my name well they call my name once again They call my name well they call my name once again
6.
Well she… G might be going fishing, just to try her luck C She might head up to the mountains But she ain’t gettin’ stuck D Twinkle in her eye When she climbs up in her truck C When she takes the top off G well she’s only havin’ fun You know she’s up to no good when you see that grin C But when Jamie takes her top off everybody wins! D Oh my goodness lands sakes alive C G Jamie’s got out her 4WD Chorus D C When Jamie takes the top off D C When Jamie takes the top off D Bm When Jamie take the top off… C G Of her truck Jamie gets the girls out, just to let them fly Waving in the breeze as she goes rollin’ by Folks don’t understand, why she’s so quirky But when Jamie takes her top off she’s looking mighty perky When Jamie takes her top off got nothing to do with luck When Jamie takes her top off She ain’t getting stuck Big fat tires, rollin’ down the road When Jamie takes her top off everybody knows Chorus Bridge A Now she’s long, long gone C Long, long gone Bm G She’s going out for the day A She’s long, long gone C Long, long gone Bm G She took her truck out to play Chorus
7.
Bm D A good daughter holds her mother’s hand Bm D Raised her sisters, when her mother can’t Bm E A good daughter, time to say goodbye G A Bm We understand if you wanna cry A stolen childhood, life in disarray Out of order and someone had to pay A good daughter, stayed by mother’s side We understand if you wanna cry Chorus F#m A Lookin’ back on life, there’s not much to say F#m E Did what you did to make your own way F#m A The scars have healed and now come what may F#m D Look ahead and know it’s gonna be OK (It’s gonna be OK) A good daughter sees a better way Her own daughter will never have to pay A good daughter, sees the other side We understand if you wanna cry Bridge E G Look at those eyes, little daughters eyes A She’s got her momma’s eyes Chorus F#m A Lookin’ back on life, there’s not much to say F#m E Did what you did to make your own way F#m A The scars have healed and now come what may F#m D Look ahead and know it’s gonna be OK (It’s gonna be OK) Outro Bm D It’s gonna be ok x4 It’s gonna be ok (whispered)
8.
Intro B7 – A – E (hammer G) x2 Verse C#m F#m Working night and day, just to pay my bills C#m E7 Turning off my heat, giving me the chills C#m F#m I don’t care so much, ‘bout what other people think A B7 E When I can’t even afford to buy a drink Chorus B7 Didn’t care about money A Didn’t care about money E ‘Til I didn’t have none B7 Didn’t care about money A Didn’t care about money E ‘Til I didn’t have none Verse C#m F#m Work my fingers down, ‘til they start to bleed C#m E7 Tearing out my heart, all behind the scenes C#m F#m Putting in my time, so I can succeed A B7 E We all know money don’t grow on trees Chorus Bridge A Where’d my money go B7 Got nothing left to show C#m F#m A My money’s all gone away… Outro B7 Didn’t care about money A Didn’t care about money E ‘Til I didn’t have it B7 Didn’t care about money A Didn’t care about money E I didn’t care…
9.
| G#m/D# F#m/C# E | G#m/D# F#m/C# E When I was seventeen I thought I had the world E Right by its ass G#m/D# F#m/C# Too damn smart for my own good, I had all the answers E But not much class C#m A Then there came a time when the world saw fit F#5 C#5 To knock me down C#m I always thought that you’d be there A B5 And then I saw, you weren’t around G#m/D# F#m/C# And you were not looking G#m/D# F#m/C# You were not looking G#m/D# F#m/C# E You weren’t looking back | G#m/D# F#m/C# E | G#m/D# F#m/C# E Then I turned another page and I grew up E Tried to make a plan G#m/D# F#m/C# Funny how things all work out and others don’t E It’s all in God’s hands C#m A But now and then I think about that time F#5 C#5 When you let me down C#m I always thought that you’d be there A B5 And then I saw, you weren’t around G#m/D# F#m/C# And you were not looking G#m/D# F#m/C# You were not looking G#m/D# F#m/C# E You weren’t looking back | G#m/D# F#m/C# E | x2 C#m A But now and then I think about that time F#5 C#5 When you let me down C#m I always thought that you’d be there A B5 And then I saw, you weren’t around G#m/D# F#m/C# And you were not looking G#m/D# F#m/C# You were not looking G#m/D# F#m/C# E You weren’t looking back | G#m/D# F#m/C# E | I grew up but you moved and you weren’t, weren’t looking back The world keeps spinning round and round but you weren’t, you weren’t looking back I grew up but you moved and you weren’t, weren’t looking back The world keeps spinning round and round…
10.
Bm A Well I want to be stuck, Bm A Well I want to be stuck, D Inside with you B7 A They all say we gotta stay inside B7 A Keep our social distance and we gotta hide B7 A But there’s one thing that I know that’s still true G A I want to be stuck, D Inside with you B7 A Corona virus gonna give you the blues B7 A They say its much, much worse than your average flu B7 A But you’re so hot, I don’t want to seem too eager G A I’d love you even with D A high fever D7 G Don’t you go, out to the store A D You won’t find no toilet paper there no more D7 G Stay inside, close to me A Let’s snuggle up and find something to watch Bm A D On T V | D G A Bm A D D | Bm A Well I want to be stuck, Bm A Well I want to be stuck, D Inside with you B7 A The neighbors all try to wave us away B7 A Well the whole damn world’s in disarray B7 A But you’re so hot, I just have to ask G A What have you got D behind that mask? D7 G Don’t you go, out to the store A D You won’t find no toilet paper there no more D7 G Stay inside, close to me A Let’s snuggle up and find something to watch Bm A D On T V | D G A Bm A D D | Bm A Well I want to be stuck, Bm A Well I want to be stuck, D Inside with you

credits

released October 11, 2020

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jake Gray Knoxville, Tennessee

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist.

Telling stories via song. I use a variety of styles influenced by some of the great musical storytellers.

There is another "Jerry Gray" that apparently has had some success with big band music. I am not him so... My family calls me Jake. Now you can too.
... more

contact / help

Contact Jake Gray

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Jake Gray, you may also like: