If The Kansas River Can    Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) 

Lonesome's laid a hold on me, that just won't see 

It's dragging me down to keep me standin' here 

But I won't let these tears I've cried go to waste until I've tried 

To get on down the river far from here 

Ch.  

If the Kansas river can, so can I 

If I let the blues rain on me I know I'll surely die 

I'll jump my banks and drown these blues 

I'll flood 'til I can't think of you 

Any chance to kiss these plains goodbye 

If the Kansas river can, so can I 

Well I'm headed to Missouri, and away from misery 

Water's flowing freely to the sea 

Arkansas, Mississippi and then to Louisianne 

Every mile I float is a mile between you and me 

 

 

Hate's Decree    Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) 

Why do we do the things we do?  

We push on those who need help too  

Only to gain an upper strand  

On the rope we’ll hang by our own hand  

 Ch. 

'Cause we love to hate and hate to love  

Afraid to find we’re not enough  

You never know to what degree  

That man will follow hate's decree  

This world we’re in is not enough  

And it never will be without love  

'Cause evil hides in things of worth  

But cries your friend with convincing mirth  

If only we could find the way  

To pass the pain of yesterday  

And forgive ourselves for giving in  

To every little whim of sin  

Bridge  

So listen now to Christ’s commands  

He’ll lead you to the promised land  

Accept you’re not enough and then  

Above the fate of man transcend  

 

 

Mississippi Steamboat Blues    Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) and Dan Eubanks (Sons of the Middle Class ASCAP) 

This river’s got a hold on me, that just won’t let me be  

Since I was a knee high lad along the ole Mississippi  

I’d watch the paddles roll their loads on down, as I was standing there alone  

Just little feller, not a cent to my name, wishing I could come along  

Ch.  

If river boats were a nickel to ride, I’d shout what a deal what a deal  

As I ran down the river bank side, wishing I could get my fill  

They say good things come to those who wait, but Lordy my soul’s been bore  

Taken down the river on the Natchez eight, while I’m on the Mississippi shore  

Oh the Mississippi steamboat blues  

Finally things was a goin' right, I had a little cash to spend  

When a Queen of the Delta was'a swingin’ bank side, as she puffed around the bend  

She flashed them eyes, her smile was rye, my heart was giving in  

She docked up beside me and then she denied me, when I was'a broke again  

There just so much that a man can stand, and buddy I’ll tell ya true  

Women or boats‘ll wreck a man, and send you drowning down a fool  

Rides ain’t cheap and the boat can’t wait, so listen to my song  

I’d still trade my pride for a ticket to ride, if I could only come along 

 

 

Wrong Done Right    Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) 

My legs are unsteady from the bar across town 

But it makes things alright when I'm feeling lowdown  

'Cause a sober found memory I just can bear  

When the way that you're gone now it seems so unfair  

Ch. 

When a cold glass is the only thing that you can hold dear  

And the burn of the whiskey is all you can feel  

The barstool is the only one lifting you up  

When cry and say uncle but love don't let up  

The pain of her memory speaks softly all night  

You can do no more wrong when you've done wrong so right  

As I lay in our bed I still feel you there  

It seems there's just so much the drink can impair  

And the weight of love lost is more than lust gained  

With the scales so one sided, I know who’s to blame  

So listen her friends and do the right thing  

'Cause nothing but pain and hell is to gain  

When you’ve scorned her heart and her wrath you’ve incurred  

Your soul finds no rest and you’re branded a curr 

 

 

Breaking In Lonesome    Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) 

I’m breaking in lonesome, I’m leaving you today  

Don’t even try and stop me, I ain’t a living this a way  

You drive at night into the town, you’d rather have the bars than me  

I’m breaking in lonesome, or else it’s shame on me  

Ch  

I’m Breaking in lonesome gotta move and ramble round   

Maybe take the long road to know where I am bound  

Your heart has got me down, it’s wore out and gone astray  

I’d rather be lonesome, and try to find a love that stays 

I’ll surely go on living I know there’s one for me  

Someone who knows the pain I’ve felt and gives their love for free  

I know she’s out there waitin’, and hopin' just for me  

It leaves me wondering why, I ever courted misery 

 

 

The Wedding Couple    Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) 

 I see you’re happy, you’re in love  

Your smile’s a gift from God above  

The kind of love that you’ve been dreaming of... since our wedding day  

Ignore these eyes they’re happy for you  

Someday I hope I’ll get there too  

But today the stars aligned for you... on your wedding day  

Ch  

Tears are words the heart can’t express                            

A heart wrenched in anguish says more than the rest  

If it spoke when the pain was made  

It might have been love would have stayed  

Hurt turns to anger, and anger to grief  

Pining for love that’s left one bereaved  

A lone dove in a crowd on display... on your wedding day  

I see a face in the crowd With soft gentle lines  

And he wipes away tears, 'cause Love’s left him behind  

I vow that I’ll not be unkind... on my wedding day  

Ch  

‘Cause those Tears are the words the heart can’t express                            

your heart wrenched in anguish says more than the rest  

If it, talks to you now though the pain’s been made  

Love might remain 

 

 

Never Is A Long Time   Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) 

 Forever is eternal, It’s consistent evermore  

A never-ending tally for time, who keeps the score  

Never is an absolute failing at the start  

And though I tried dear for a time, I failed to win you heart  

CH.  

Never live, never gain, never gonna change your name  

Now I know you never loved me, never gonna be the same  

Unrequited love was never worse, till it was mine  

Never will our fates align, never is a long time  

Seldom does it come to me, this thing called happiness  

Knowing that I could have held your touching sweet caress  

But favor of a hollow love won’t fill an empty heart  

Never knows the company of blatant disregard 

 

 

Honeybabe    Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) 

My honey is a baker she makes cookies, cakes and pies  

She’s the peach I’m crazy for, the apple of my eye  

Her biscuits are to die for, no one out-measures her  

She’s got a way to warm my heart and set my soul a stir  

Ch.  

My recipe’s not whole and I can’t rise with sweet delight  

My batter’s bitter without her, It’s easy to see why  

She’s got it really going on, that girl can really bake  

She’s my sugar, honey babe no other takes the cake  

I love the chance to spoil her till we run outta dough  

One of a kind you know she breaks the cookie cutter mold  

She’s Icing and enticing on the cake of this man’s dream  

She makes the sweetest, cutest things this man has ever seen  

I have my cake and eat it too with her now by my side  

We’ve got a couple cutie pies they have their mother’s eyes  

She rolls me out with rolling pin I’m dough in the baker’s hands  

Yes my Royal icing queen makes me a better man 

 

 

Matthew and Mark's Wisdom    Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) 

 I have struggled with the Devil and found him to be me  

Not just some shadowed fellow that I can’t even see  

I’ve found him in the darkest room of my human heart  

And found his hold so deep in me, I can’t tell us apart  

Ch. 

If you believe in God it’s easy to mistake  

Don’t think you're the precious lamb and be the lying snake  

The Pharisees forgot their love and kept a judging heart  

We are the only ones who keep the Lord and us apart  

Thinking me a righteous man it came to my surprise  

But knew at once for certain by the look within my eyes  

The mirror shown the thing I knew but not what I should do  

And I was running out of time and the Devil knew 

God is Love there in the Word, He sent his only son  

He paid for me the debt I owed and battle for me won  

I had to know this in my heart and open it to him  

Love thy neighbor as thyself to show your love for him 

 

 

How Long    Aaron Bibelhauser (Aaron Bibelhauser BMI), Milan Miller (Songs From The Stilhouse SESAC) and Thomm Jutz (Thomm Songs admin by Bluewater Music SESAC) 

Ch. 

How long will you be waiting 

For me to try and make things right 

How Long will you be waiting 

Another day, another night 

  

Passing signs out on the highway 

Running from the words I said 

Hoping you would be there wishing 

That I would turn around instead 

  

How many times will it take for me to learn 

All the bridges that I cross don't have to burn 

  

Letting go of old excuses 

As the miles go rolling bye 

I see the scars I feel the bruises 

one more time, I wonder why 

  

I've missed so many things along the way 

Holding on to dreams of yesterday 

 

 

Faith In Man    Music and Lyrics by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing BMI) 

I remember when, this world it first began  

We laid upon these shores the covenant of the lord, He brought to this wilderness  

Just a humble fisherman, called to follow then,  

I cast my nets aside, and tried to match his stride, to his new Jerusalem  

Ch.  

Can’t move mountains with faith in man alone  

Can’t keep going your own way  

Can’t ignore what the Lord has done for you  

With your hearts open you’ll hear him softly say, I am the truth and the way  

I tread the water to him, then lost faith and fell in  

An aimless ship at sea, till he laid his hands on me, upon this rock I build my church           

Bridge.  

But I denied him there, in his trial square  

he died upon that tree, Unworthy of his love for me, but then he rose and set me free  

So spread the gospel news, words of faith have been renewed  

Jesus rose today, travel now don’t delay, to gather in those precious lambs