THE STAIRWELL SISTERS

Lyrics to the Stairwell Sisters original songs -

from The Stairwell Sisters (2003)
Down to the Door - Evie Ladin

from Feet All Over The Floor (2005)
Could It Be Him - Martha Hawthorne
Jump Back - Evie Ladin
Red Gal - Lisa Berman
Stranger Stop & Cast An Eye - Lisa Berman
The Longest Night - Evie Ladin
Wish I Was - Sue Sandlin

from Get Off Your Money (2008)
Black Eyes - Lisa Berman
Cinderella - Evie Ladin
David & Goliath - Sue Sandlin
Fitch Mountain Waltz - Martha Hawthorne
Selina - Stephanie Prausnitz
Shuffle & Shine - Sue Sandlin
Sleep When You're Dead - Martha Mawthonre
Who's to Blame - Martha Hawthorne

. . . . . . . . . . .

Down to the Door
© Evie Ladin, 2003
Evie sent an invitation to a boy that never did make it down from the mountains to her old home in the Indiana hills.

Chorus:
Come down from the mountains to the rolling hills
Where the mist lies deep in the valley
And corn grows tall on cold limestone
Come down to the door of my home

Head north over the Smokies up the blue highway to me
Tobacco barns and bluegrass rolls on up 273
Come up now and come alone
Come down to the door of my home

Chorus

Well the wind is warm and so am I awaiting for you dear
In the tall dark pines you'd be all mine if only you'd come here
Come up now and come alone
Come down to the door of my home

Chorus

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Could it be Him
© Martha Hawthorne, 2005
This song is about Martha's friend Ana who lived through the war in Nicaragua, only to watch her son go off to the war in Iraq. She helped write the Spanish lyrics: I came up North from Nicaragua but will never forget the sorrows of my country. I'm here now but my son has gone. To those who sent him I ask, "Did your sons go? Tell me why."

Rise on up, before the light, can't be late, gotta run
Call me Ana, that's my name, mother of a son

He's over there, I'm right here, think of him each day
Another one shot, another one down,
Could it be him today?

My son's at war, I'm at work, All you hear's a sigh
Do what I'm told most all the time, Seen too much to cry

He's over there, I'm right here, think of him each day
Another one shot, another one down,
Why'd he go away?

Now they take girls there too, daughters die like sons
I just want to bring them home, give them books, not guns

He's over there, I'm right here, think of him each day
Another one shot, another one down,
Could it be him today?

De Nicaragua vengo yo, al Norte yo llegué
Las lágrimas de mi país, nunca olvidaré

Está alla, y yo acá, mi hijo ya se fue
A vos que manda, pregunto yo
Tu hijo tambien fue?

Está alla, y yo acá, mi hijo ya se fue
A los que mandan digo yo,
Explíquenme porque

I just want to bring them home

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Jump Back
© Evie Ladin, 2005
This hambone shout brings in all the elements of a good square dance - the constant swirling motion, the lyrical tunes, the rowdy good time...one of the places we're most at home.

Jump back get back spend yourself a dollar
Daddy's got a square dance down in the holler
With his fingers on the fiddle and rosin on the bow
Round your partner with a do-si-do

mmm - dance all night give a pretty girl a swing
mmm - pick her up and set her in the middle of the ring
mmm - dance all night with a bottle in your hand
mmm - dance all night give the fiddler a dram

Pick up your partner and circle to the right
Circle to the right, gonna dance all night
Back again with a grin and circle to the left
Circle to the left with the one you love best

mmm - june apple's just a hanging on a tree
mmm - next pretty girl's gonna dance with me
mmm - charlie he's a nice young man, so dapper
mmm - gonna pick me a good n' ripe june apple

Jump back paddywhack, give a dog a bone
My old man come a rolling home
Home is where he hangs his hat
Mad like a hatter, but madder than that

mmm - Say I don't drink and I don't smoke
mmm - Shacking up now with a greasy coat
mmm - Greasy coat's gonna take me in
mmm - Don't look now, but you can't fool him

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Red Gal
© Lisa Berman (2005)
Lisa woke up with this melody in her head one morning, and whipped together some old themes for lyrics.

If I had 2 nickels, and if I had a dime
If I had a dollar, Lord, I'd lay it on the line

Going down to the station, get a little glass of wine
and when I get back home to bed, I'll dream of cherry pie

Drink a round with me love, before you go to jail
and when I get that dollar, Lord, you know I'll go your bail

Look way over yonder, what do you think I see
I see a hundred mocking birds, a laughing back at me

Go and ask the preacher, if your hand be mine
we'll live out in the country, boy, and hang the laundry line

Head up to the mountains, find a cool cool breeze
lay out a sheet of cotton so fine, right there among the trees

Liza she's an angel, like to call her mine
with lips the color of rubies red, Oh Lord, she's so fine

Walkin' down the street, dressed so fine
see that gal, gonna make her mine, Uh huh huh, oh red gal.....red gal

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Stranger Stop & Cast An Eye
© Lisa Berman, 2005
Lisa wrote the melody to these lines from various old grave epitaphs. Lisa and Sue started out singing in a stairwell and always wanted to record one with that deep, resonant sound...

Stranger stop and cast an eye,
as you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you will be,
prepare for death and follow me,
prepare for death and follow me.

Life is a blessing, can't be sold
the ransom is too high,
Justice will ne'er be bribed with gold
that man may never die.
You see the foolish and the wise,
the timorous and the brave
quit their possessions, close their eyes,
and hasten to the grave

Stop here my friend, and cast an eye
Consider well that you must die.
Wisely conduct that so you may,
triumph in heaven at the last day,
triumph in heaven at the last day.

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The Longest Night of the Year
© Evie Ladin, 2005
Evie didn't mean to write such a sad song, but this love story gone awry just poured out on its own.

The first time I saw him, darkness had fell
Hazel eyes, deep as a well
Long as a lifetime, and big as the sea.
They were looking at me.
That was you dear
On the longest night of the year.

All through the springtime, the lovin' bloomed
Everything funny, all of it new
Everything glittered, shining like gold
Was a sight to behold
That was you dear
On the longest night of the year.

Chorus
On that longest night, the sun hardly shines
You wake in the dark and the moon's in the pines
But I still remember, and I can still hear
Your voice in my ear
On the longest night of the year.

On a warm summer night, in a park across town
You made me your bride, in my grandmother's gown
You promised me everything I ever could need
Guaranteed.
That was you dear
On the longest night of the year

Chorus

That winter my lover lay in our bed
Damp raven hair curled round his head.
From peaceful slumber, he never awoke
The last words he spoke:
“I love you dear.”
On the longest night of the year.

I wake in the morning, chase the clouds from my head
I turn to the child who is sharing our bed.
He looks up at me when he crawls round the floor
His eyes are yours.
There's a part of you here
It's the longest night of the year.

Chorus

It's the longest night of the year

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Wish I Was
© Sue Sandlin, 2005
For all the city gals that love country music.

Wish I was a country girl
With big blue eyes and long yellow curls
But my hair is black and my eyes are brown
I'm the kind of girl that hangs around
I'm the kind of girl that hangs around

If I'd been raised a preacher's girl
You might be the only one in this world
Who'd wrapped your arms around my waist
Kissed my lips and touched my face
Kissed my ruby lips and touched my face

I'm not old, but I'm not young
My face shows all that my life has brung
Some days hard, some days kind
A hopeful heart and a worried mind
A hopeful heart and a worried mind

I don't fuss and I don't fight
But I can fill your long, lonesome night
So hang your hat up on my door
You won't be a stranger anymore
You won't be a stranger anymore

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Black Eyes
© Lisa Berman, 2008
A song about a rascal.
(Lisa borrowed the last two lines she once saw written in a song, but can't remember which song...anyone know?)

Spin me round, round and round, ain't goin' nowhere
You say that you love me, you tell me true
But your black eyes…
Black eyes…. Oh, they look me through

You sneak around, keep me down, believing that your lies run true,
Oh, those black eyes, there's no telling what they'll do
Black eyes….. Oh, I'm telling you
Black eyes…. Let's say we're through

There was an old man, toothless grin, years of whiskey and sin,
Years of wonder, stories did tell…oh fare thee well
Black eyes…
Black eyes…. Oh, near hell did dwell

Was an old man, near hell did dwell
if he ain't dead yet, he's living there still.

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Cinderella
© Evie Ladin, 2008
Inspired by Gregory Maguire's retelling of the old tale in "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister."

My mother married a rich man
My father had money to spare
Bells on my bicycle, dresses so fanciful
And a bow for my hair

Now I sing of misfortune
What has become, woe is me
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me

This woman has her own daughters
Precious gems to her be
They wear the finery, used to be mine and their
Ashes blacken my feet

Now I sing of misfortune
No home, no family
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me

There once was a man of intention
Wanted me for a wife
But he had no property or chance at prosperity
And I didn't want that kind of life.

Fortune once'd been my shadow
But her best laid plans overheard
One night in goose down, the next on the cold ground
Light as a hummingbird

Now I sing of misfortune
No husband, no charity
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me.

Now sir could you spare me a nickel
I've got to find something to eat
I'll share my plate when we reach Heaven's gate
And my Savior will set me free.

Now I sing of misfortune
What has become woe is me
My mother died, and my father's new wife
Has no use for me.

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David and Goliath
© Sue Sandlin, 2008
The quintessential underdog story reminds us that bullies can be beaten. For Sue's comrades.

Oh aren't you scared, boy
Oh aren't you scared, boy
Oh aren't you scared, boy
He'll lay you in your grave

No I ain't scared, man
No I ain't scared, man
No I ain't scared, man
I'm righteous and I'm brave

We have only stones, boy
We have only stones, boy
We have only stones, boy
Our enemies have steel

Let 'em tell their lies, man
They can shut their eyes, man
But when my rocket flys, man
They'll know that I'm for real

They do just what they please, boy
Want us on our knees, boy
Took up all our trees
They've surrounded us with walls

But we are in the right, man
The battle starts tonight, man
And I will stand & fight
Till the mighty giant falls

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Fitch Mountain Waltz
© Martha Hawthorne, 2008
Written in memory of Martha's brother and inspired by a hike up Fitch Mountain in Northern California, when dozens of swallowtail butterflies flew by.

Comin' home to you, on the wing, two by two
Flyin' high, in the sky
Swallowtails will soar and return once more
In springtime to our Fitch Mountain home

Comin' home…………………………my home
On the wind fly to my sweet mountain home
To you…………………………… my home
Peaceful as heaven, my beautiful home
Comin' home…………………………..to you
Brother so dear, I miss you so
My home…….Fitch Mountain home
Peaceful heaven, my Fitch Mountain home

Oh swallowtail, where do you sail
Flyin'high, in the sky
Have you seen him there, my brother so fair
Does he dwell in that great home on high?

I have been to the east, I've been to the west
Flyin' high, in the sky
In the sun rivers flow and flowers grow
There's only this heaven I know

Chorus

The grass how it grows, so green down below
Flyin' high, in the sky,
Swallowtails come home once more
To remember all those gone before

The clouds in the sky, they pass on by
Like blues and troubles will do
If you go far and wide come back by my side
Come back to our Fitch Mountain home.

Chorus

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Selina
© Stephanie Prausnitz, 2008
Claudi Bieda of Babati, Tanzania wrote and taught Stephanie this song, who interpreted the Swahili words. (His two-stringed gourd fiddle, a zeze, was tuned in AD.)

Selina acha uongo, Selina acha uongo, kumdanganya mama yako--------

Selina stop telling your lies, tell you mama too many lies
Selina stop telling your lies, tell you papa too many lies
Every day you say that it's true, really going down to your school
Hey baby don't go to school, you will only go where you please

Selina your baby is due, papa nobody knows who
If you play your way with the world, world it will play you away-------

Selina you sleeping last night, on a mattress crawling with lice
Selina where will you lay down, on a mattress low on the ground
People see that you're sleeping low, people warn that's no way to go
Selina you get up with fleas, you will only go where you please

Ukicheza na dunia, dunia itacheza nawe
Ukicheza na dunia, dunia itacheza nawe -------------

If you play your way with the world, world it will play you away
If you play your way with the world, world it will play you away-------

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Shuffle & Shine
© Sue Sandlin, 2008
A tune about the trials of working life. Inspired by the day laborers in Sue's neighborhood, and dedicated to everyone who didn't go to work on 5/1/06. Sí se puede!

Fifteen years of shuffle and shine
Can't be proud on company time
But "yes, sir. no, sir" isn't any use
When they lock that gate and they cut us all loose

Hey there, captain, give me a sign
Sure could use a spot on your line
One more shift and a little more pay
It ain't much but its more than I'm pullin' today

Bridge
Landlord's back at my front door
Give the same excuse that I used before
With a mean street breathing down my neck
What I wouldn't do for a steady paycheck

I'll take that job that you never would do
Still you act like I owe something to you
I bite my tongue, keep my eyes to the ground
And I dream of the day that we bring you all down

Bridge

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Sleep When You're Dead
© Martha Hawthorne, 2008
Here's to playing music all night long even though you know you're going to pay for it in the morning.

Come on Sally, say goodbye
Whatcha gonna do when the baby cries?
Just one more, we got time
Sleep when yer dead, I don't mind

Chorus:
Fiddle and bow 'til the break of dawn
Rooster's crowin' and the night is gone
Here's an apple now take a bite
Sleep when yer dead, stay all night

Dig for the oyster, dive for the pearl
Swim up the river, be my girl
Fish jumpin', whales in the sea
Crawdad runnin' away from me

Every night when the sun goes down
Pass that long neck bottle around
See the stars shine bright like gold
Wish you were here to hold

Leather britches, mustard greens
Have a bowl of beans
Cherries for my darlin' sweet
Don't go, it's time to eat.

Call me honey babe 'til the mornin' light
Don't go home, stay all night
Just one more, we got time
Sleep when yer dead, I don't mind

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Who's to Blame
© Martha Hawthorne, 2008
We do what we can to survive in a system that puts profit before people.

Bound for nowhere, yes I am
Who's to blame
Got no money in my tin can
Ride that train

Tell me, tell me
Pretty Ida Mae
Tell me, tell me
Who's to blame

Who's to blame when I fall down
Who's to blame
Off the wagon, get back on
Ride that train

Train won't stop when it gets cold
Who's to blame
Leave ya there to weep and moan
Ride that train

Tell me, tell me…

Tried to do the best I could
Who's to blame
Never paid me what they should
Ride that train

To my name ain't got a dime
Who's to blame
Hire me, fire me, steal me blind
Ride that train

Tell me, tell me…

Pockets full, feel so fine
Who's to blame
Lose it on a jug a wine
Ride that train

The rich get richer, we stay poor
Who's to blame
Send my babies off to war
Ride that train

Tell me, tell me…

To the grave we all will go
Who's to blame
The dollar cannot save your soul
Ride that train

Left my boots at your front door
Who's to blame
Bare feet on my Ida's floor
Ride that train

Tell me, tell me
Pretty Ida Mae
Tell me, tell me
Who's to
Tell me, tell me
Pretty Ida Mae
Tell me, tell me
Who's to blame

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