- Products
- >
- Walk on Solid Ground
Walk on Solid Ground
In their second duo record, Walk on Solid Ground, Gene and Gayla Mills once again appeal to the head and heart with original songs exploring the breadth and nuance of life. In Gene’s story songs, some characters overcome weakness, loss, or a broken heart, while others embrace the beauty and brevity of experience. Some songs continue the folk tradition of protesting threats from moneyed interests. Others poke fun at the opposite sex, embrace flirtation, or express the intensity of love. The duo’s eclectic mix of traditional folk, bluegrass, country, and Americana centers on the sounds of Gene’s acoustic guitar, Gayla’s upright bass, and their supple harmony singing, enhanced by guest musicians Barry Lawson (mandolin), Ivan Rosenberg (dobro), and Cody Martin (drums).
“A deceptively gentle album where the duo carries the weight with some coloration here and there, this is a classic example of real music for real music fans who find themselves still playing this years from now. Hot stuff.”
Chris Spector, Midwest Record
- Daytime Stars watch video
2004 is a year I remember
2005 is one I don’t
I don’t think the year was rotten
I don’t think I’ve forgotten
I think I just wasn’t taking note
How many times have I drunk a cup of coffee
And failed to even taste it going down
How often has the thrush been singing
Far away, a church bell ringing
I never listened to the sound
Chorus
Now I want to see stars in a daytime sky
I want to see crows in the darkest night
I want to feel each moment as the years slip by
I want to see stars in a daytime sky (2x)
The taste of morning coffee, so bitter and so sweet
I notice that the oak out back has grown
I feel your hand upon my arm
So familiar and so warm
A warmth that goes right through me to the bone
Chorus 2x
2. Drowning
Written by Pat Donahue
© 2005 (Bluesky Records)
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals; Barry Lawson, mandolin
I stepped out my door to clear out my mind,
I walked to the shore and the waters looked kind
I slipped off my clothes, waded into the blue
And the next thing I know, I’m drowning
Chorus
I’m drowning in you, and there’s no one around
I’m over my head and I’m going down
In an ocean so deep, what am I gonna do
Such a beautiful sleep, I’m drowning in you
Rock me beneath, under your waves
I can’t get free, I don’t wanna be saved
Swallow my soul, but whatever you do
Don’t let me go, ‘cause I’m drowning
Chorus
I made up my mind, this could not be
I look in your eyes and I realize I’m lost at sea
Chorus
3.Another Day
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals; Ivan Rosenberg, dobro
Chorus:
Here’s another day
The end of another night
The first act of another play
First round of another fight
If only yesterday
Had been what this day might
But here’s another day
Another chance to get it right
I wake up strong, I wake up sober
I wake up eager to start my life over
All through the morning I act the man I aim to be
But the past, it pulls me like the moon pulls the tide
And an hour I’m not proud of pretty soon slips by
Come the evening, once again, it’s only me
Chorus
Here’s another night
The end of another day
Another losing fight
Though a few rounds went my way
Sleep will strengthen me
Once again I’ll wake
Once again I’ll stand up
Once again I’ll say…
Chorus
4. Butcher Boy watch video
Arrangement © 2015 Gene and Gayla Mills
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals
She went upstairs and made her bed
And not a word to her mother said
Her mother she went upstairs too
Saying “Oh, my daughter, what’s troubling you”
“Oh, mother dear, I cannot tell
That butcher boy I love so well
He’s courted me my life away
And now at home he will not stay
There is a place in London Town
That butcher boy goes and sits down
He takes a strange girl on his knee
And he tells to her what he won’t tell me”
Her father he came home from work
Saying “Where’s my daughter? She seems so hurt”
He went upstairs to give her hope
And he found her hanging by a rope
He took his knife and he cut her down
And on her bosom this note he found
“Go dig my grave, both wide and deep
Put a marble slab at my head and feet
And at my breast put a snow white dove
To tell the world that I died for love”
5. It’s a Miracle
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals; Ivan Rosenberg, dobro, Cody Martin, drums
Standing in the checkout line,
I see a 2-inch high headline:
"Jesus' face appears on door
of farmer's shack in Ecuador"
People come from miles around
to stand on that holy ground
and feel that warm, wood-grained stare
and leave their votive candles there
Chorus
They say it's a miracle, it's a miracle,
it's a miracle, and it cannot be explained.
I should give that rag a call,
because the morning shadows fall
on my table where they trace
a perfect image of your face
When the sun has climbed some more,
the image falls down on the floor,
then it fades and then it's gone,
but it returns with every dawn
Chorus
I know it’s a miracle, it's a miracle,
it's a miracle, and it cannot be explained.
I know there are skeptics who
claim not to see what's clear and true.
They say that what you seek you find,
but who's to say they're not blind?
Like those pilgrims far away,
I light a candle and I pray,
and ask to be released from pain
and hope it isn't all in vain.
Chorus
6. New Used Heart
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals; Cody Martin, drums
Chorus:
I'll be your new used heart
If you'll be mine too
Both of us already know every shade of blue
I'm all done with endings
Let's make one last start
Darlin’, let me be your last new used heart
This used heart is not for sale
It's free for the stealing
Could it be that stealing's on your mind?
It may be out of style and
The paint may be peeling
But it's the truest one you'll ever find
Chorus
I've had a glimpse of your used heart
And I've seen how it's made
I like the look of everything I see
If you might be willing
We might arrange a trade
I'll take yours and darlin' you take me
Chorus
7. Taking Charge watch video
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals; Ivan Rosenberg, dobro;
Barry Lawson, mandolin
My brother Ronnie and his friend Dale
Built them a fort up in a tree. I said
“You need a few more nails there”
They couldn’t hear a girl like me
That fort came down, those boys came with it
But they were game to try again
I said, “Boys, if you don’t want to die
You’ll build according to my plan.”
Chorus
Boys, I’m taking charge here
You had your chance, but now it’s gone
You might think this is a man’s job,
but I’m here to show you how it’s done
Now I’m at work, I’m in a meeting
These guys go on and on and on
They all want to be the big man
But I just want to get things done
I hold my tongue while theirs keep wagging
Till I’ve finally had enough
And I say “Boys, I’m gonna tell you what we’ll do,
I’m gonna talk, you listen up.”
Chorus
You can call me any name you choose
I don’t care what you might say
Kick and moan until your face turns blue
Just as long as you obey
Chorus
8. More of You
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals; Barry Lawson, mandolin
Mouthwash and manners, hope for a spark
A first date ain’t nothing but a shot in the dark
We haven’t seen much of each other so far
But I like what I’ve seen of you
Would you like a cocktail, a beer, or some wine?
Tell me your stories and I’ll tell you mine
Pull back the curtain an inch at a time
I’d like to see more of you
Chorus
I like the way you make up your mind
Your sense of humor, your sense of style
I like the way you can let silence ride
I’d like to see more of you
I’d like to know if my favorite tunes
And movies and books are the ones that you’d choose
Do you like the mountains or sand in your shoes?
I’d like to see more of you
I won’t deny it, I’ve stolen a glance
At the curve of your neck and the fit of your pants
Now if this is rude, pardon me in advance
But I’d like to see more of you
Chorus
I wonder if you’d like to do this again
Or do you want to tell me, let’s just be friends
I’m hoping that’s not the message you send
Cause I’d like to see more of youI’d like to see more of you (2x)
9. No Dominion Over Me watch video
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals; Barry Lawson, mandolin
This land, it holds my grandparents’ bones
Trees planted by their hands
And the house they built from timber and stones
They cleared from that rich bottom land
I swallowed hard when they widened the road
Took half an acre of mine
But the road is something we all own and use
Not some company’s bottom line
Chorus:
Hey Dominion, you don’t have dominion over me
You don’t have the right to take my land
Against your lawyers, your lackeys, your money and your lies
My neighbors and I will make a stand
You might win, but we’ll fight to save our land
Christmas Eve, a letter in the mail
told me I was being sued
They say I have to let those surveyors in
They’re trying to push that pipeline through
Teresa Jones, who carries the mail
told me I was not alone
Scores of families got letters just like mine
And spent Christmas fearing for their homes
Chorus
You got money, you got power
You think you’ll ram that pipeline through
But all your might doesn’t make you right
And we’ll fight, we’ll fight to stop you
Chorus
We won’t quit, we’ll fight to save our land
10. Give Me a Boat Watch video
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals; Barry Lawson, mandolin
Fish, they like structure, places to hide
Shipwrecks and oil rigs and reefs
I know ‘em all in this part of the Gulf
I know the shallows and deeps
I used to fish by that Deepwater rig
I knew all the roughnecks by name
The day it went down, I cast my net
And tried to pull them from the flames
Chorus:
Give me a boat, I’ll make her dance,
Dance like a bird on the breeze
Put me ashore and I won’t have a chance
All that I know is the sea
Someday the catches will be what they were
There’ll be good money to make
But payments are due come the first of each month
And someday’s just too long to wait
I know these waters and the bottom below
Like I know the back of my hand
But I know there’s nothing I know how to do
To get a good job on dry land.
Chorus
Deepwater Horizon
Look what you’ve done to the sea
The fish are still dying, the oil is still rising
Look what you’ve done to me
Chorus
11. Holes
Gene Mills, guitar and vocals; Gayla Mills, bass and vocals; Barry Lawson, mandolin
There’s a hole on the landing that no one else can see
where a big old yellow dog used to sprawl out fast asleep
I used to step across her when I came down the stairs
Now every time I step right in the hole where she’s not there
There’s a silence in my living room that no one else can hear
where a fiddle and a friend of mine would sing so sweet and clear
But her singing days were ended by a car that went too fast
Her life was just half lived but there was so much to her past
Chorus:
I used to have a solid house, walk on solid ground
The sky was full of light, and the air was full of sound
Now the walls are full of termites and the yard is full of moles
Everywhere I look the world is filling up with holes
I can hear the phone not ringing, see that mail not come
hear that babe not crying and feel what should be numb
hear that bass not thumping, see that smile not flash
smell the fire burning, turning forest into ash
Chorus
I know that all around me are holes I can’t see
where someone’s friend or brother or sweetheart used to be
and the babies keep on coming but just can’t take their place
The fabric of the world is slowly turning into lace
Chorus
12. Around the Lake (instrumental)
Gene Mills, guitar; Gayla Mills, bass