The Easy Kind (2024) Movie Script
1
She's a socialite,
a decent housewife,
and she makes a mean lasagne
So when the mechanic said,
now Little Lady don't you panic,
but this one,
it's gonna cost you
She said, I know
I don't need my engine rebuilt
Just check the oil
and change that bill
Hey, honey, I know
you thought
you saw me comin'
Well, sometimes it takes balls
to be a woman
Sometimes it takes balls
to be a woman
I'm standing up to this test
While wearing a party dress
And sometimes looks
they can be deceiving
When you're
quietly overachieving
Oh, sometimes it takes
balls to be a woman
Thank you!
When I moved to Nashville,
I got a big time record deal.
Because at that time,
if you were like in your mid 20s
and under 130 pounds,
you could get a record deal
no matter what.
And so I did, but I was
writing all these songs
and they're like, well, that's
cute, but that's not really
like the vision that
we have for you.
So it took me years
to mine my way, out
of those contracts,
and I finally did.
And in 2007, I put out
an album called Balls.
And this got me in a lot of
trouble with country radio,
which is not hard at all to do.
It was hot,
100 in the shade
when Mary got a note from
this guy named Gabe
She don't remember getting
pregnant but she did
And by all accounts,
she churned out one heck
of a kid
Sarah bought the brownies
Shawna bought Ros
They almost booked a beach
trip, but they didn't have a way
They baked
biscuits at daylight
for whoever might stop by,
but they didn't
get a lot of callers
at the corner of Do or Die
So she cut off all her hair
She thought she
might could get there
if they would just mistake
her for a man
It looked kind of mod
It probably
wouldn't please God,
but she had to have
some kind of plan
It turns out there are no fish
at the end of a lightning rod
The worst thing
you can grow up to be
is the son of God
And I'm not sure there's
anything anybody can do
People will kill ya even when
there's nothing wrong with you
So come gather
round me friends,
all my contemporary peers
and I tell you all
the story of Mary,
the submissing years
Let's go.
We will.
We will entertain the people on
whatever we have
on us.
We had some good parties
out here this year.
Do we have the keys?
I do.
Let's listen to my
dope beats playlist,
get our Opry game on.
Shit.
This is my favorite song.
All my life, I
want money and power
Respect my mind or die
from lead shower
- Don't you
look nice! - Hi!
Thank you! I have another
show at nine,
I have to go.
Is my run-through at 6:30?
Yes.
So much shit.
I can always borrow one.
Sometimes it
takes balls to be,
big, big, big balls to be,
Oh sometimes it takes balls
to be a woman
Beautiful! Yeah.
Do you want us to do
the hmm mmm
and all that stuff?
Y'all's choice yeah.
You get to use your.
Well, I'll
see you out there.
You better sing that song.
Did you hear? FAN: Yes.
I can't believe this.
Pete Fisher said no in 2008
and I'm getting away
with this tonight.
- I remember that.
- Do you remember?
The song! EC: You do?
Yes I do.
Well, it's
happening tonight.
She's going
to sing Balls'song.
I've got a song called
It Takes Balls to Be a Woman
that they wouldn't
let me do because it
has the word balls in it.
So, um... but tonight they're
gonna let me sing it, so.
I love it.
She likes it so that's
all that matters
Good to see y'all. FAN: You too.
She's graced the
Opry stage
more than 100 times.
400 times.
400 times.
And she is wonderful.
Please do it for
'em, sweetheart.
You've been making your
brags around town
that you've been loving my man
Well the man I love,
when he picks up trash
he puts it in a garbage can
Thank you for
that dress, Cybelle,
it made me feel like
a million bucks.
It was just
like last minute.
Well, yeah.
And I'm sorry I wasn't more
firm on my performance of
Fist City but um
it just wasn't
WADE: I don't know,
you're the only
one that noticed.
And I know everybody says that-.
If you're playing the
guitar one fret with the capo
one fret off,
you notice.
With the amp right behind,
it was super distracting
especially on a song that
you don't really know.
Yeah.
It would have been
different if, it's like,
Oh, I do this all the
time, I can block it,
but it was all so foreign and.
You were on
top of it though.
Fiddle was loud and my
the only thing in my monitor
was just an occasional mmrr
ah, what's happening?
What is happening?
This is hard.
I'm not in control
of my environment.
It was great.
It could have been better.
You know what was so great
about newspapers?
You could just hide
behind it and cover
your whole face
with it in public.
And nobody thinks
anything about that.
So I'm trying something
a little different here.
I've always got this
microphone in my hand anyway,
so I'm going to use it to
get down some of my ideas
might not be for
anything but me.
I'm overdue to get a record out,
so that means I
need to write like
20 songs to have 10 or 11
that are good enough
to make the album.
I like this game, let's
keep going
Oh, it is dusty.
It's dusty, it's going
to be cold and windy.
- Thank you
sir. - Yeah, I'll
there ya go.
How much longer
ya'll on the road?
Just two more shows.
We're just doing a
short little runs.
Kicking my ass.
Can't get no groove.
Can't get no groove out here,
can't get angry at home.
Cause it's like go
and stop and go and stop.
Yup.
Over and over. WADE: That's us.
Woo.
One, two, three, check.
One, two, check.
She gonna dry out
this time if it kills her.
She wants the whole
family in the loop.
It's always just
a little unnerving
wearing white.
Oh.
Hey, you.
Slept all day, woke
up in the evening
To see if the believers were
still believing
Good morning,
beautiful humans.
How's your hangover today?
On a scale of one
to, I don't know, 20,
I'm about an 8 1/2
but that's all right.
Not too bad, considering.
I just got home from tour.
Thank you, everybody that
came out to show.
Appreciate y'all, man. It's
good to be home though,
And thanks everybody
out there today,
back out there
pulling the wheel.
So y'all holler at me,
'cause I ain't got no kids, I
ain't got no boyfriend.
I got plenty of time,
and as far as I know, I'm
just sitting here in a room
talking in a
microphone to myself.
And we're gonna get
down on some jams.
She needed somebody
I think we should
focus on diversifying.
What if we were to
expand, say into podcasting?
Podcasting?
I mean.
I just don't I how is that
different than the radio?
It's me talking.
Well, it's more of you talking,
but in long form,
all you the whole time,
for your fans, broaden
your influence.
I mean, well, I could
pitch a show easily.
It would be amazing.
I know you can pitch a show.
Hey y'all, hey.
Hi, hey.
We started without you.
Well, you know
I don't really drink anymore,
but I'm going to start back
up again when I'm 60.
Yeah, stay high on
life until then, huh?
Ricky, if only
it were that easy. And cheap.
Oh. Excuse me. I
need to take this.
Why don't you sit here?
Fine,
how's my girl?
She's all right.
Did we interrupt a
career conversation?
Please interrupt all my
career conversations.
What else is going on?
Man.
I don't know. Lately, I feel
like I keep getting knocked
down,
I pick myself back up,
I get knocked down again,
I pick myself back up.
You know that is just a bunch
of noise happening in a
little corner of the universe
right?
But I know it can seem more
overwhelming than that.
I don't know, I just feel like
the craziness of my life
sometimes, like the last 24
months and all the years leading
up to it.
The highs are super high,
but the lows are so low.
I just don't know if I can keep
keep doing it year after year.
And then like if I do, then
that's the battle that'll kill
me.
It'll kill you slowly
or you can write songs about it.
While it kills you more slowly
because you're busy
writing songs about dying,
and you don't notice the
dying part so much.
I mean, don't you think
it like, really though,
it shaves years off our lives?
Writing the song, recording it,
performing it night after night,
living through it again
and again that way?
I don't know.
I mean, we can't know what
this all means, right?
But your music,
it has a ripple effect
that will go on long
after you're gone.
You know that, right?
I think I'm going to be super
rich when I'm dead.
That's when the checks are
going to start rolling in.
You gotta sing like you
don't need the money.
That's right,
I mean look at me. I feel great.
You sound great.
One of the things I love about
country music is the
way it tells stories.
So I was born down in Florida
to my mother,
who was a hillbilly singer
from Charleston, West Virginia.
And when my daddy got out of
jail for running moonshine,
with the Mafia,
he moved in next door to her.
They soon ended up
in a band together.
Of course, romance followed.
They had me.
I was their 11th child
altogether, and I think that
they forgot that I
was there a lot, and,
just kind of took me along
with them wherever they went.
And, they would play these
two bars with their band
and they'd take me with them.
So I saw many things
from a young age.
And, they terrorized
those honky Tonks.
Stanley By God Terry knew
exactly how it felt
to play a George Jones song
in a white leather belt
And matching shoes,
polyester blues
At the pine...
My parents really wanted me
to be a country star.
Bloody buckets of
ol broads and men
They thought I should
absolutely be a country star.
Who had been clean-shaven
when they started at ten?
When Stanley got goin'
with Mama by his side
And daddy on bass
singin' Charlie Pride
Kaw-lija, Folsom
I had the record deals,
I was in those boardrooms,
so I had that attention,
I had that opportunity,
to put me out there in the world
as the next big thing.
I watched it all as a baby
from a black bar stool
And country music
and hillbilly pain
Make stories that'll hurt ya,
and hold ya like a chain
and hold ya like a chain
Thank you,
thank you.
Hi, honey. Hey!
Smells good in here already.
What you got going on?
I'm making pot of beans.
They'll be ready
here before too long.
You want some chardonnay?
It's a bit early
in the day for me.
I'm not the best day drinker.
That's because you
refuse to practice.
Oh, is that what it is?
Are you judging me right now?
Honey, don't be like that.
I'm just worried
about you is all.
That little trip to
St. Croix last month
wasn't the greatest idea, maybe.
I'm doing fine. Ricky's calling
me with a million things,
the radio show's going strong,
I'm writing the album.
Well, how's it
coming? It's coming.
You know I'm
only asking this because it's
just you now.
I need to make sure you're
thinking about your financial
situation.
I can't believe that we're still
talking about my divorce from,
like, 8,000 years ago.
I'm only saying this because
there's only one income now
yours.
There was only one income
before, which was also mine.
And the only job he ever had,
he got for me.
And it's Ricky.
Hey, Ricky,
Diane's here. I'm gonna put you
on speaker.
Hey, Ricky.
You got some work for my girl.
Because radio show
alone isn't enough.
Well, I'm working on some
things.
Right now I'm calling because
the Opry wants you to
fill in tomorrow night.
Again? I just did it.
They had a cancellation.
Tomorrow night is Charlie's
50th birthday party.
What time is the segment?
YOU'RE ON AT 7:10 p.m.
Bryce could drive and get you
back and forth across town.
Honey, I think you
should take the work.
- You look great.
- Hey.
Hey. How y'all doing?
- Good, how are you?
- Good, good.
I love your jacket.
Thank you.
You're also very sparkly
this evening, I see.
Of course.
How do you feel?
Are you nervous?
Oh, yeah.
All the nerves for sure.
You know, not a
stressful crowd at all.
But it'll be good.
Perfect.
It's amazing to see how much
fans like to see pictures
from before I even go on stage.
Like, I haven't even
done anything yet.
It's cool.
- Social media.
- Hey.
Hey, you still driving?
I'm in a very chatty
green room preparing for battle.
Okay cool, I'm close.
I'll text you when I get there.
I'll be here, applying the war
paint.
Okay.
Go, go, go.
All right, blot!
Hey, I just wanted to tell you
that I love your music
and I saw you and your band
at the Basement East last year.
It was epic
and people are still
talking about it.
So.
People like to talk, don't they?
But that's really nice to hear.
Yeah, and you look
great, by the way.
You don't need me or anybody
else doing your makeup.
I've been doing my own makeup
since I was a Florida stage kid.
It gives me something to do
with my pre-show jitters
and probably some control issues
mixed up in there as well.
Thank you!
Great, thanks so much.
My life a stolen picture,
like some movie on a TV
I'm a fifty gallon drum
of ass whooping fiction!
I'm a monster truck
attraction, a roadside religion!
My life's a
schizophrenic version
of a psychedelic vision,
Hey-hey!
Hey! ALLISON: Hey!
I haven't seen you
since Leo died.
I know I was on the
road, I just got back.
I haven't dealt
with it at all, yet.
And this Heaven and Hell theme
is weirding me out a bit.
It's Charlie's night,
so we're going with it.
We'll convene on Leo soon
though. Are you coming to
Kathy's?
Yes, for sure.
Okay.
Charlie, buddy, man,
I'm so happy to
be here with you.
Happy birthday.
Yeah.
Thank you.
We've been through
so much together.
You've had so many highs,
so many lows.
Mostly your blood pressure's
high and your balls hang low.
Well, we have, we have
something special for you.
We do?
Someone who loves you dearly
who has something
really particular
planned for you. So...
Charlie, you've been my friend
and my mentor for over a decade
now.
You're genuinely the most
entertaining motherfucker I
know.
It's not easy to come up with
something to give someone like
you.
Well before you go off
to meet your maker,
which is any day
now that you're 50,
I wanted to have
someone entertain
you for a change.
I know this guy,
he's all wrong for me
He wears shirts that are
tripppin' on LSD
Hey.
Angel Demon
need help deciding?
Oh no, no thank you.
I'm Reed, I'm a big fan.
Ah, thanks. It's so
nice to meet you.
To be doing shots!
I can't do shots tonight.
Whoa!
Hey! Why? Did you party too much
on that island trip of yours?
No! I have a press
thing in the morning.
I can't walk in there looking
like a marshmallow.
I refuse to
accept that excuse.
Someone please come and
help this girl have a good time.
EC, this was your idea,
you're not just
gonna sit on the sidelines.
After Saturday
matinee roller derby
We went parking
and things got blurry
I thought man I
can't get much hotter
And then I caught a
whiff of pina colada
Well hey, you.
How you feeling? I'm good.
Yeah. This ain't nothing.
No need from alarm.
What ain't nothing?
Feeling a little alarmed
Diane. RICKY: Ah, yeah.
Hey, stay off
social media today, sweetheart.
They made one of those meme
things from the party last night
and you're not-
Yeah, you don't really need to.
Well, I should see it.
Well. It's it's
going to blow over.
Listen, the woman
of country crew wake up early
and I got a call, and they want
you to sit out the press event.
Good lord.
I know. You're too good
for these people anyway.
Well, I don't think
they think that.
Well, you are.
You're the quintessential
woman of country.
I mean you've been to the
Opry more than 400 times
and born in a honky tonk.
What could be more woman
of country than that?
I wasn't even a little drunk.
I was playing along
for my friend's party.
Just keep a low profile for a
couple of days.
You need to be focusing
on writing your record,
and now you have the space to
focus on it.
So stupid.
Hashtag old lady hustle.
Who wants a granny sandwich?
What does that even mean?
I mean, I don't think
I look that old.
Clearly a publicity stunt.
How desperate is she?
She's too old to be
partying like that.
You have got to be kidding me.
Damn it!
God!
The truth is,
I feel bankrupt on every level.
I'm broke, but I need
to make another record,
I need to stay home and write
songs for that record.
I got an old house
that needs everything,
and I don't know
how it's all going to happen.
Sometimes
I feel like I'm in two places
at the same time.
There's what's happening here
today in real life, and then
there's
what's happening in my head
and in my heart
on the songwriting plane.
What about the first time
you performed music in
front of a person?
Well, I was four, you know, I
was herded there like cattle
by these people
that feed me and keep me alive.
So I just did what they said.
Yeah.
You know, I don't really feel
completely that I was complicit
in it.
Hi there.
Hello.
What part of Florida
are you from?
I'm from Wildwood Florida.
Wildwood is that...
And a pot of potato soup
She's gonna dry out
this time if it kills her
She wants the whole
family in the loop
She can outsmart death like a
In my early days of writing
songs in Nashville down on Music
Row,
I got paid to come to
an office every day
where I would go
into a little room
where they would say, this
artist is cutting, this kind of
song.
And then it was our job
to write that kind of song.
My heroin addict sister
I don't get inspired in that
environment, typically,
but I was, you know,
I was a young woman,
I was a good girl, and I was.
My daddy always taught me,
you get paid to do a job,
you do that job.
I didn't get the deal.
And I was told I
didn't get the deal
because when I left,
it was too much about
everything I would not do.
It's like the devil's DNA.
It takes her somewhere she's
just gotta go
Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen and judges.
I'm proud to be here tonight
and I don't think if
it was for these two people
I would not be here tonight.
And here they are my
father and mother.
After an
introduction like that, I can
hardly wait to hear
what I'm gonna do myself.
We got married in a fever
Hotter than a pepper sprout
We've been talkin'
'bout Jackson
Ever since the fire went out
Yes, we're goin' to Jackson
And that's a fact
Yes, we've gone to Jackson
Ain't coming back
She's my heroin-addict sister
And I hate to see her go
And I hate to
see her holdin' on
at the end of
the same ole rope
At the end of
the same ole rope
Always at the end of her rope
Half-hanged Mary
don't mind the weather,
birds of a feather gonna burn
together
Half-hanged Mary don't,
Half-hanged Mary
don't mind the weather,
than bir
than birds of a feather gonna
burn together
OK, take it.
Take it a shake it.
Whoa!
Oh, God. Whoa.
Meg! I was just thinking
about your crazy ass.
I've been so homesick
lately. How's things?
Oh, I'm grooving.
Spec seasons coming up
so I'm getting ready
to do some fishing.
How you been? I've
been all right.
This ah.
Just some stupid stuff going on.
I'm on some kind of social
house arrest or something,
that's super dumb.
And I had a friend die
while I was on the road.
It's one of my music crew,
he just,
he was a good dude but you know
it's a tough life we lead,
and he just,
- he couldn't make it.
- I'm so sorry.
Well, maybe, a trip home
will do you good?
I know it would.
I'm gonna look for a window.
When I see one,
I'll holler at you.
What else is going on?
That's a no.
That's a no, no, no.
I heard tales you
got a brand new boy
Say you've done well.
He's a real McCoy
He's a hoot and cute to boot,
they all agree
But he might be all that,
but honey, he ain't me
I bet that guy
got a line or two
He cares, he swears
he's there for you
I will, tell them
I'll be right out.
Thank you, thank you.
You made it.
I did!
I'm so sweaty.
I don't care.
Did you see it?
I did. I saw all your encores.
Was I good?
Yes. How good was I?
So good.
Oh, my God,
isn't this just the
best part of my day?
Hey!
Hey!
What?
Hi there,
everything okay?
Sorry, I had my headphones
on. I couldn't hear you.
Oh, that's all right.
I just it's pretty hot.
I thought you might
want something to drink.
Oh, thank you, I would.
Yeah! Yeah.
I appreciate you keeping my
little valley from getting too
wild.
Oh. You're welcome.
It's nice when
it's a little wild.
Well, that doesn't
seem to be a problem,
so good.
Say, are you, a Johnny Cash fan?
Oh, well
why yes, I am.
How'd you ever guess that?
I was just listening to Live
at Folsom Prison
and you've got that shirt on.
Well, I'm going to take a wild
guess that you are a musician.
You will be right,
I am a musician.
That's usually the
case around here.
Well, thank you very
much for the tea.
You're welcome. Let me
know if you need anything.
My door...
All manner of men...
All manner of men coming
at my door
Since there wasn't
ain't around...
If you had a place here
you wouldn't have to
go back to Nashville so much.
You could just stay
right here in LA.
Don't you think I should let the
ink dry on my divorce papers
before I make any major moves
like that, though?
I could get you your own place.
You don't have to
be at my place.
It sounds a little like
being a kept woman.
A what?
I just like when
you're around me, baby.
That make me a bad guy?
This new record, it's
going to be something special.
Oh. RICKY: No doubt
in my mind about that.
Well, she's never boring.
That's for sure.
She's brilliant, ah.
You're gonna see for yourself
with these new songs.
All right, thank you.
Liam!
Hey EC. My man!
Yeah. You're a
sight for sore eyes.
Oh, yeah? I don't
know about that.
This is obviously,
smaller than her regular band.
I mean, obviously, but you're
going to get an idea of her
live, and, you know, it's
different than the demo.
Good. Good. Let's do this.
All right, I'll count it off,
be like super pro.
Two, three four
Half Hanged Mary
don't mind the weather
Birds of a feather
gonna burn together
You can cut her
loose, but that's okay
She coming down anyway
Not a witch before
but sure one now,
her tongue'll look ya in
the eye and lie ya out a vow
Ain't worried about fate,
ain't worried about sin
Can't make her
afraid of dyin' again
Blow, Blow
Ladies who lunch
stood around watchin'
Counted on her
to cover their debauchin'
Tying her dress
with a tattered sash
Now her necklace
is a ropey rash
Had to put her down with them
wicked rabies
fore she made more
black cat babies
Can't serve antiquated charms,
please your countrymen
with them marked up arms
When you're spookin' the cow,
spillin' the hay,
boilin' bedsores
and forgettin' to pray
Blow, Blow
Well, thank you
for playing that for me.
That was real interesting.
What's it called again?
It's called Half Hanged Mary.
It's based on this poem
by Margaret Atwood.
It's a true story about
this woman back in Boston.
She got tried for being a witch,
which she wasn't, really.
But her town still
thought she was.
So they hung her, and then they,
they went to cut her down and
and it didn't kill her.
And she just stood
up and walked off.
And then they where
really scared of her
and, um, but she was
all brain damaged
so she was like eating dirt
and drooling on herself,
and it was um,
it was awkward for everyone.
Yeah. It's a metaphor.
Well,
I got a run to an appointment
on the west side.
Thank y'all.
I appreciate
hearing what you got going on.
Hey!
What did you think?
You want it straight?
Yes, of course, always.
Too much of a wild card for us.
Wouldn't know how to get
that on the radio.
Witch trials?
Yeah, but, but have you
seen, her fans are loyal.
I mean thousands of them
screaming for her at the Opry
all the time.
Yeah, yeah I know, but that
doesn't necessarily translate to
this.
Liam, you're missing out.
We miss out all the time Ricky.
You just have to hit the jackpot
now and again.
I got a new hat.
That dude's a lost cause, man.
Can you play that thing
without looking at the keys the
whole time?
Without looking at
them the whole time, yeah.
Can you look up.
- From time to time.
- From time to time.
From time to time yeah.
When you're sitting there
and just singing to the
microphone
doing this and
looking at the keys,
and that ain't gonna
go over good at all.
Millions stars outside
and that big old
moon is shining bright
So there was like
this two year period
where every three months
there was a major tragedy.
Mom died,
dad died,
brother died,
brother-in-law died,
mother-in-law died,
father-in-law died,
farm burned down.
So I didn't get a record
made during that time.
I just,
I hope that,
I hope that I'm getting better
at it with age, you know,
and that
and that somehow,
I survive all the
not only the curve balls
that life throws you,
but that this business can
throw you in to not be, like,
such a jaded and miserable,
grumpy person that don't have
any friends left
by the end of it.
Oh, alcohol and pills.
Alcohol and pills.
Sometimes alcohol and pills
get a hold of you
and won't let go.
And some folks don't know
how to cope with that.
And especially in
in musician world.
And, I just lost a friend.
There's a lot of support
in the musician community.
There's a lot of places to
get help and and things to do
to try and move on past that
demon that gets a hold of you,
you know, but...
Some people just can't.
Some people just can't.
Look at that,
look at that, perfection.
It's like play-dough for
grown-ups.
Here we go.
Oooo lala.
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
I don't know how I feel about
the hygiene of hanging our pasta
on a lady's underwear rack.
Ok, Josh, we'll hang the
pasta on something of yours.
Both of my arms?
A table, a chair
Oh god.
Hey everybody!
Oh, let's
see what this is.
Oh, my God, that's beautiful.
Thank you. Well,
I thought for Leo,
good friends of Leo, an
Italian cheesecake is in order.
Aw.
So do you make one of
those for every one of your
friends
that kills himself or?
Ok what is
wrong with you?
I'm sorry.
Leo would've laughed at that.
What is wrong with you?
Hey hey hey hey.
Hey.
Every day is a struggle.
Not all of us get to grow old.
I'm one of the lucky ones.
And I just hope that all of you
here live to be a million years
old
just like me.
Looking good girl.
To Leo.
To Leo.
And here's to all of
you for staying alive.
I know it can be
hard, but keep it up.
I've got something
I want to read.
This is for Leo,
too, so listen up.
This is
a letter from Vincent van Gogh,
the painter,
to his brother Theo,
about a painting
that he's just finished of a
peasant, a farmer in clogs, and
he says,
Really,
it's a pity that there aren't
more paintings of clogs
in Paris.
What a mistake
that Parisians haven't acquired
sufficient taste for rough
things.
What I learned in
Paris is fading,
and I'm returning to my ideas
that came to me in the country
before I knew the
Impressionists, and I wouldn't
be very surprised
if the Impressionists were soon
to find fault with my way of
doing things.
I feel like I'm missing.
Um, do you get how it's
connecting to Leo?
- No. I'm serious.
- He says he won't get it,
but he paints it because
it's his nature.
That does sound
a little bit like Leo.
Vincent had a brother who loved
him, believed in him.
He provided a lifeline
to Vincent because he,
he listened to his
brother, to what he had to say.
The good
and the bad, the
ups and the downs.
He was present.
I mean, I feel like we were
brothers like that to Leo,
weren't we?
Yeah.
I think we were.
I hope we were.
It doesn't mean you
can save someone.
It's hard when
you're on tour
and somebody dies, and
a friend dies, and,
and it seems like it
just keeps happening.
And I don't know
if I can take another one.
And my tour manager sent
sent breakfast to my hotel room
And it was so
so sweet.
And I was so grateful
to get it because they knew
before I did.
They knew what I was going
to wake up to.
Ain't commin' back
Well, go on down to Jackson
Go ahead and wreck your health
Go play your hand you
big-talkin' man, make a big fool
of yourself
Yeah, go on to Jackson
Go comb your hair
We're gonna snowball, Jackson
Oh yeah.
See if I care
You know, we had the run up on
Johnny Cash right up there
in Nashville not long ago.
I said, Johnny,
what in the world inspired you
to do The Rings of Fire?
He said, man, the Ring of Fire
wasn't intended to be.
He said, I got my.
BenGay mixed up
with my Formula H.
Oh, burn, burn, burn
the ring of fire,
the ring of fire
This is a song that
I wrote for my daddy.
He was like 48 when I was born,
so we both kind of always knew
that he would pass away
when I was relatively younger,
and he always tried really hard
to prepare me for that.
And, so I wrote this song,
called Daddy, I Got Love For
You.
Sittin' up in bed
with stage 4 cancer
A chew of tobacco
and all the answers
He said, girl if you
don't learn to breathe
You ain't ever gonna
make it as far as me
Daddy I try to do like
ya tell me, I hold my own,
I love the lonely
I feed the fire,
fuel the flame,
I live to play another day
I know,
ain't no way to go
I know,
ain't no way to go
I got love for you.
I got love for you
I got love for you.
Don't you want my love
Everybody's got shit to give
Everybody's got pain to live
This ain't all about feelin'
And you got time that
ain't worth killin'
Ooh
Ooh
Hey! Excuse me.
Hi!
Sorry, I was.
I was just driving
past your place,
well I had the tools
in the back of my truck
so I thought to
myself, maybe I could,
take a stab at
fixing that chair.
Oh, that was my daddy's chair.
He spent a lot of
time in that chair.
It's pretty wrecked,
I don't think it can be
brought back to life.
I'm not so sure about that.
I just, I can't bring
myself to get rid of it.
You know, it's baked in the
Florida sun and rocked through a
million hurricanes,
and it defies the
laws of nature.
It's got some sort of swamp
by force on it.
Yeah, I believe it.
I'm from Florida.
No shit. Which part?
I'm from Wildwood.
Oh, yeah. I know Wildwood.
Hog County, huh?
Yeah. I'm from
down in the Glades.
People up here, they don't
know the real Florida.
They think it's all beaches,
palm trees, golf courses.
Yeah.
They don't like to think about
alligators and rattlesnakes.
No they don't, but when
they do think about gators,
they ain't got a clue
how delicious they are.
Truth. God, I miss it.
I got to get back down there.
Yeah I get back every chance I
get.
I just miss my family.
After our farm burned,
most not people left,
but there's still a few
stragglers and hell, I'll go
just to be there,
you know.
Hmm. Yeah.
Well, hey, don't
worry about the chair,
but if you've got a minute,
I have an issue going on.
Yeah sure.
I'd love for you to take a look
if you have time.
Okay. I've got
this light fixture.
Okay sure. I just,
it wouldn't stop flickering
so I just yanked it down
because that's my solution.
Ummm, it was like
a goddamn disco.
I thought I was going to have a
seizure, so I just, I just, I
just.
Shouldn't be a problem.
I got this thing.
Oh. Thank you.
One sec.
What's happening?
Oh. You know, that
eco make-up brand, Lovetree?
They're being iffy about
the endorsement deal.
Lovetree?
I'm wearing all their makeup.
What exactly did they say?
Like you're too like
sexually promiscuous?
They get that from one photo?
They think that they're just
reacting to the reaction.
Hold on a sec.
Do you think I could
take that chair home?
Work on it from there?
I mean, it's a project for sure,
but I think it's doable.
You want to take it?
All manner of men
coming at my door
Since the one that was up
ain't around anymore
Got one he lay naked,
sang Zeppelin to me
Drives a matte black
You got to have people who will
try anything to help move your
career along.
If you're lucky, you got them.
People that won't
take no for an answer.
People that'll get you to fly
all the way to New York
for something
you're out there chasing down.
Look in the mirror...
These days
are one long night
And I hear my mother
calling out my name
I've listened to you.
I don't know if, five or
six months on, on the radio.
And I've taken quite a liking
to your, I guess, personality.
You do a great job on the radio,
but that's not really your first
pursuit in show business, is it?
Well, I'm a singer
first. And a songwriter.
As a little kid.
That's what I did. Yeah.
And what was your family like?
Oh, they're a bunch
of hillbillies.
No, no, I mean they're
beautiful people.
Where are you from?
I'm from Florida.
I grew up in Florida,
but my mother was a
Yay!
My mother was a hillbilly singer
from Charleston, West Virginia.
Right.
And when daddy got out of
jail for running moonshine,
he moved in next door to her.
Wow. So one day,
his woman left him.
Aha.
And she felt so sorry for him.
She made him a big pot of beans
and took him beans.
Yeah. Beautiful.
Thank you. David Letterman.
For my writing, my podcast
Well thank you for
inviting me.
That I'm trying to do.
But, would, you and I have
talked about this before,
and I've never asked you
anything but superficial
inquiries.
Oh, great here we go.
You,
at the hands of somebody.
I don't know who,
they wanted you to be
a different kind of act.
And that kind of act
typically does very well on
country music
stations, and beyond.
And now is that an accurate
assessment of what they wanted
from you.
Yeah.
I mean they have research and
studies and you know rooms
with big conference tables that
a ton of people sit around and
they,
they try to predict
what their market wants.
And they are also funded by
advertising around that music.
Was it a mutual realization
that this wasn't
fitting you and
the record label.
Um no. I went to them
and asked to be released
from my contract.
How'd that go?
Did that kill you a little bit?
Did it hurt you in Nashville?
Were people saying,
oh, she's difficult?
We don't want any part of her?
Or was it just an isolated event
that nobody gets hurt by?
No. I think I was completely,
dismissed as difficult.
Just didn't didn't jive with
what they were laser focused on.
And I was not going to fit into
I was not going to be a
widget to go down,
go down their factory line.
But, man, I just so I started
working, you know, odd jobs.
And I mean- When you say
odd jobs, out of music?
Mmhmm. Like what?
I waited tables.
I was really bad at
that. But I think that.
I used that moment
and I didn't mean to, to write,
you know, Balls To Be a Woman.
And that was, couldn't have been
and I knew that would be
really even more
repulsive to them.
It's freeing in a way.
It's also scary as hell.
Some mud covered dogs
guarding shotgun shacks
A red door on a green Cadillac
Goin' down to the well
To us, to New York City?
Mmm. I'm excited about this.
I can tell.
Janis!
Wasn't this bar
two blocks south?
I could have sworn
it was on a different corner?
Um no.
I'm going to have to take
this up with the management
because something is wrong
with this location.
It's incredibly good to see you.
How are you?
Oh terrible and
in love with life.
You know, same as usual.
Hi.
Hi-JANICE: You must be EC,
I am Janice.
Pleasure to meet you.
I don't know about that, but
kind of you to be optimistic, I
like optimists.
I've wanted you to
meet EC for a while,
as you know.
And, we were in town to
record with David Letterman
and thought this was
the perfect time.
Letterman?
I thought he was dead.
No, he's not even that old,
he just looks old because he's
kind of like that white beard.
Honey you know it's very hard
to pull off the white hair.
Everybody looks like they're one
foot in the grave except women.
Women look gorgeous
with a full head of white hair.
You know, like Barbara Bush.
Gorgeous.
But a man always looks like he's
about to croak with the white
hair.
So.
I don't know what kind of B.S.
this one's been
telling you about me.
But there's certain things
that we have to get clear.
I am not a magician.
That can just get you a gold
record out of nowhere, okay?
I mean, as a matter of fact,
a lot of people go
broke because of me.
I myself am chronically broke.
However, every now and then.
I can take an artist
like you and match you up with,
you know, an industry
executive or a producer
and make a hit.
I don't know how I
do it, so don't ask.
But all the good things you've
heard about how brilliant I am
those are all true.
I try to be humble, but I've
been in this business way too
long.
So, have you listened to
any of the files I sent you?
- Of course I have.
- Get an idea of like what.
I got it right here.
I wanted you to, like,
get a sense of.
What EC was going for.
Yeah. Mmhm.
Janice I
sent them digitally.
I know you did, Ricky.
Janice, they can't
be in your bag.
I know I have my interns
transfer the digital files
because I fucking hate them to a
cassette.
And I listen on my Walkman.
That's awesome.
Well, let me tell you something.
The Walkman is the
best way to hear
how things sound
when they're in bad conditions.
That's how most people
listen to stuff.
No, what I'm looking
for is my notes.
Okay. Oh, here we go.
Okay, okay. EC.
What is your favorite place
in the entire world?
I mean, if I could just beam you
someplace, where would it be?
Oh, God um.
Close your eyes.
Now you are not in this bar.
Where are you?
The Satilla River.
Never heard of it.
Where is that?
It's way down south.
It's like on the
Georgia/Florida state line.
It's magical. There's
no place like it.
Really? Fast moving river?
No slow, extremely slow.
Okay, give me a minute.
Ahh.
Okay.
That's what I got for you.
Thank you.
- What is that?
- It's a phone number.
This is my niece's cousin,
got the gift.
This producer is
going to get you.
You're going to
change people's lives.
So thanks
for the drink.
Let me know how it goes.
I'll send you a bill.
Tell Letterman he owes me money.
What the fuck just happened?
You'll thank me later.
I don't think it's a
talent game anymore.
I think it's a
perseverance game.
I think it's whether or not
you can be strong enough
to just survive and keep going.
No matter what.
What the hell?
How did you do that?
Well, I reckon you're
safe to sit in now.
I got something
else for you, too.
It's just a little
song I'm working on.
It's nothing finished
or anything like that,
but I'm thinking
about calling it.
'Bad on Paper.'
What is that referring to?
Is that about me? No, no,
it's not about you.
Not exactly.
Okay this is stupid.
Give it. I wanna see it.
All right, all right. Sheesh.
We both come from
hard-luck places
Houses built on sinking sand
Stranger to love's
sweeter graces
That's all I got so far.
But I guess I need a line
that rhymes with sand.
Yeah.
I really want to write this song
with you for real.
Well, why don't we start with me
making you something to eat.
Let me see this. Okay.
It's a good start.
You know how it could go?
Tell me.
Well, I'll be damned.
Tye?
Hey. I've
been calling you.
Where you been, man?
How are you doing, Liam?
I've been on the
road, you know that.
Hey you know EC, don't you?
Hey, EC. EC: Liam.
Yeah. EC: Yeah.
Look,
can we get together sometime?
Call Michael.
Michael will get me alright,
we'll get together.
All right. Thank you brother.
All right, sure.
Let's see if you look any
different, now that you're a
single lady.
I think you're well aware
I've been a single lady
for several years now.
I look
the same, don't I?
Just older.
Oh, hell, I don't know.
Let me get a look at you.
Older.
So I feel like the universe
is trying to tell me something.
But I don't take
well to being told what to do,
not even by the universe.
So what would you
do if you ran into an ex-lover?
You ain't seen in a hot minute?
And you knew it wasn't a
good idea back in the day.
But now he's there
and he's kind of looking at you,
and you're kind of looking at
him, and it kinda feels like
I don't know, maybe
should we do this? I don't know,
should I do that?
I might not stay,
but at least I
would have been around
Cause there's something
about what
happens when we talk
Something about what happens
when we talk
I got to take this.
Ok.
I know. Well, if they're
gonna keep moving it then I'm...
Okay. Yeah, I will.
All right, I got to go.
All right.
Cologne campaign
they keep switching
up the dates on me.
A cologne campaign?
Yes.
Are you.
Are you leaning against
a barn with, like,
a piece of straw in your mouth,
looking all bronzed
and weathered?
Yeah.
Are you wearing denim?
Tell me you're in denim.
There could be denim involved.
Hell, I'll wear
anything they ask me to,
as much money as they're paying.
Seriously, it's stupid.
It's like enough
to buy an island.
Well, you can't buy an island
because how will you get all
your trucks and motorcycles to
the island?
You can't do long distance
with motorcycles.
They won't understand.
They're just so sensitive right?
They are.
That's why I have my boats.
Oh, yeah.
I just.
I like talking with you Shug.
That part hasn't even
changed a little bit.
Fuck.
One sec, I'm sorry.
I've got to respond to Diane.
Bad news?
Actually, my roof is leaking,
and I thought it was a minor
thing.
And apparently that's
a major thing so.
That's the problem
with those old houses.
Always something going wrong.
Yeah, just a sec.
You know you wouldn't have to
deal with these things if you
just stayed with me in L.A.
I mean, we don't even
get rain out there.
I like rain, just
not my kitchen.
Still.
You can't be serious.
Why can't I? I'm serious. I am.
Don't get all freaked
out on nothin'.
I just think.
We've had a lot of fun.
Shug.
There's still a lot to be had.
Fuck. Hold on.
Yeah.
You do realize
this is a temporary
solution, right?
I mean, I don't think that'll
work for a little while.
I'm not going to say it.
You can say it.
If you would just call the
Lovetree people,
make nice and explain yourself.
I think it would go
a long way.
Like now.
Hey, Randy, it's EC,
how ya doing, man?
I just wanted to call you guys
and tell you,
like, how pumped I am
about that new foundation.
Whoo, yes, it is, it
is good stuff, man.
And I'm just so proud to be
associated with the brand, and
really just wanted to say how
sorry I am about that
unfortunate photo,
that is in no way
reflective of my real lifestyle.
And it won't happen again.
Yeah, I know, I
know, yeah, it was.
Yeah.
Well,
I just wanted to give you a call
and try and set you guys at
ease,
and thank you so much.
And oh man, yeah,
that moisturizer, too,
has got me good and dewy.
Yes.
How do you do,
come on in old friend
you are welcome any time
Sit right down and
we'll have talkin'
and then you can tell me
what's on your mind
That's it? TYE: Yep.
Then in the evenin'
about sundown,
up on the hill
and above the town
Hear him talk
and you can hear him sing
It is tequila time.
An old retired couple,
and he just does
whatever he wants.
Now it's not gonna be,
like it was supposed to be
It's been a
a long time thinking of us,
not thinking of me
Baby but so are you
This whole mess
ain't all on me,
darlin' it takes two...
How are you?
Hey you, how you doing?
I've been doing damage control.
I had to make up
with the makeup people.
What's that mean?
Well, basically, I had to call
them and beg for their
forgiveness.
They were displeased about the
photo of me from your party.
Forgiveness for what?
You didn't do anything.
Well, I know that
and you know that.
And everybody that was
there knows that.
But you know how
the internet is,
it has has its way of
telling its own little story.
Listen to me.
You do not have
to stoop like that
kiss those people's asses.
Hell, no.
You should just live your life
and not care about any of that.
You care far too much
about that kind of stuff anyway,
what the like mainstream
country people think,
and the corporate types think.
They're never gonna be
comfortable with who you are.
I'm not kissing their ass,
I just trying to stop the deal
from falling apart,
keep a little money rolling in.
Well, you can't control the
world you know.
You have to find peace and
purpose in being completely
yourself.
That's what artists do.
I'm not trying
to control the world.
Not all of us
can be free-rolling hippy dudes
with a cult of young,
disenfranchised males
following us around
like we're Jesus.
Okay, what does that mean?
Some of us, especially
those of us with tits,
quite literally get punished
when we don't play by certain
rules.
You got to give me a break, man.
I have to hustle and pay my
bills when and how I can.
You got to stick your neck out
and be brave.
Otherwise you're just going to
be another one of those broads
playing by their rules.
Those broads?
You know,
one time Bob Dylan said
he didn't really
like girl singers
because they're always whoring
themselves out on stage.
- Bob Dylan really
say that? - He sure did.
I feel really nervous
and uncomfortable
to talk shit about Bob Dylan.
EC.
Man, if I just make
music, write honestly,
live my life out in
the open like you do,
my retirement home's gonna
be under a bridge.
Nobody in this business knows
what to do with me,
and I can't help it if the
music industry has no balls
and is so weak
and greedy and run
by lizard brained men that the
only thing they can think of to
do
is chase down a quick buck
instead of putting out
meaningful music
for their own fucking people.
I can't help them.
How long are you going to
blame bad men
or the music industry
for your problems,
huh?
Do you really think
there was ever a time
where the music
business was fair?
I have to buy a
new roof, Charlie.
I have literal water
coming into my house.
Let the rain fall in your house
and you'll write the
album of your life.
If Charlie lets the
rain fall in his house.
He's a deeply arty,
eccentric, un-materialistic man.
But if my roof caves
in, I'm just a sad, crazy lady.
And for the record,
the proverbial rain
has fallen in my house
for about five years now
and I am brave.
So goddamn brave every day.
And it is exhausting,
and it is risky,
and I got nothing left.
My sister's obsessed
with butterflies,
she's got angel eyes,
she is still a child
If you're lucky to flourish.
Having some level of fame,
being a hot topic around town.
She go lightly
Knowing people are
just watching you,
wondering if you're
going to make it or not,
being ridiculed,
feeling embarrassed,
feeling shame.
She go lightly,
without a prayer
And to still get
up and do it again
and to write that next song
that comes to you.
I won't stand before a
fast-moving train,
before I let your shame
I need to mean it.
I need it to mean
something to me.
She go lightly
without a prayer,
without a prayer,
without a prayer,
without a prayer
My sister's obsessed
with butterflies,
she's got angel
eyes, she is still...
Hey!
Hey!
What's going on?
Not much.
About to drive down to Florida,
pulling my brother's
boat back home.
Not been very inspired
to catch any fish up here,
so it's just sitting
around catching rain.
I hear that.
You feel like
taking a road trip?
Like now? Yeah now.
Like.
I mean
I'm just going there and back.
Maybe we'll write a
song or something.
I sure could stand to get out
of here about now.
Especially heading
that direction.
Is that a yes?
Meg!
Well it only
took a hundred calls.
I had to clear it
with my probation officer, so.
This is my friend,
I guess, Clay.
He was kind enough
to drive me south, so.
Hi there, nice to meet you.
Well hi there, Clay.
Nice to meet you.
You look like a
probation officer.
Why, thanks.
Does that thing float?
Sure does, like a six-pack.
Oh, I just happen
to have a six pack.
I bet you do.
You want to get it wet?
Don't look at me, I got time.
That sucks about your roof.
That ain't cheap.
Yeah.
Oh, guess who
I ran into at the wine shop?
I can never begin to guess.
Tye.
What did he say?
He offered to take
me for a drive.
It was lovely
and relaxing.
All right, she's ready.
What about you?
Let's do it.
All right. I don't need that.
Okay.
Who do you think I am anyway?
Well if I could I would
stay drunk all the time
Then again I'd never
never get to know
the sober heart of mine.
Seems like your life is
pretty complicated.
Well, I damn sure don't
mean for it to be.
I didn't realize simply wanting
to live life on my own terms
meant I would be challenged
from every freaking angle.
You know, baby,
I'm not here to challenge you.
It's not my job.
And I,
I understand why you left that
deadbeat husband.
He's a loser.
I told you that, though.
I told, I'm not saying I told
you so, but I did, I did.
I told you so.
But I don't understand why
you didn't follow Tye to L.A.
and I don't understand
why you don't follow him now.
I mean,
baby girl, that would
solve all your problems.
It would solve money problems.
Well,
that's a big problem.
And it solves the
being alone problem,
and you'd still be
in the music world.
I don't see why
being alone is such a problem.
And my music world would
be his music world.
I'd be his woman in his world.
Well, okay.
Yeah, but that man, he drives
around in a convoy of busses,
that's a
pretty good world.
And I'm not saying
that, you know,
you're tricked-out van
and your hard-won career
aren't awesome.
We're so proud of you.
I don't understand why you can't
be yourself and still be with
him.
When we were together before,
it was clear how it would be.
He's the sun and I'm
just in his orbit.
He'd show off my cute little
career and his cool taste in
arty women,
but I couldn't a whole lot with
my band in a studio
and make records
or run off on tour.
It would be a much
more traditional role,
with traditional expectations,
you know what I mean.
I'm just not that woman.
I don't want you to
make any sacrifices
that you don't want
to make, darling.
I want the whole world for you.
But you know where I come from,
which also happens to be
where you come from,
putting the roof over your
head comes first
and men on their good side, men
on their bad side come second.
It's like women have been doing
it for thousands of years, you
know?
It's like a social construct.
I know, I can't get over my
audacity of wanting security
and freedom at the same time.
Well, I love your audacity.
I just, you know,
maybe it's time you
know, take that exit,
easy street.
God, I love this river.
Well, you are the queen of it.
Hey there. Clay.
Yup, I'm still here.
You know this lovely lady here?
Hmm.
She was Miss Satilla 1991.
Really?
Why are you bringing
up old shit?
Oh, I'm not that surprised.
You know, my mama was
Miss Speckled Perch
back in her day. Oh,
so we're probably related.
Oh, God, I hope not.
That can be a little
problematic down the road.
Hello.
Hello?
Hi. Hey, I'm Ricky.
Yeah, Billy Castaway.
Nice to meet you. Pleasure.
Hey, I'm EC. It's nice
to finally meet you.
I heard a lot about you
from Janice, your cousin.
Oh, God. Janice. Yeah.
Well, it's a pleasure
to finally meet you.
Just for the record, I'm
a fan of your radio show,
your music,
especially your writing.
This new stuff is not
like my old stuff.
I can't seem to write the same
kind of song twice.
Okay.
It's not that rock,
it's not country.
Well, I'm agnostic
when it comes to genre.
Oh, God. Me too.
High five. Who cares?
Ah the labels.
Yeah, yeah, well,
labels like labels,
but let's hear it.
I must look ready to
make bad decisions
I must look wonderful tonight
You rolled up on
me with tunnel vision
But baby don't
turn on the light
Oooh
I should've stayed home
and watched television
I should've tried not to drink
I should've kept your
key out of my ignition
And not care
what nobody thinks
Oooh
It was rainin'
on the court steps,
I had a feeling
I was slipping away
Can't remember
last time I slept,
but believe me
It won't be today,
there's no way...
It stopped there.
There's a couple more verses.
These new songs
are running a little long.
No, you're telling a story.
Sometimes it takes a minute.
That's got vibes, man. I dig it.
I think I found
someone, not like that.
I think I found someone
that, that gets it
maybe, that gets it.
This woman, Billy. She might be
some kind of wizard or
something.
She's older, and she
just got that wisdom.
She sent me the way of a
producer that I think is
powerful.
I, I need a partner in that.
And I feel like I
might have found one.
Well, we'll see, it
might be, it might be cool,
it might be squirrely.
And it might be,
where it's just drums, you know
like during those holes like
where it would just be vocals.
Feeling that.
Yeah?
It ain't perfect, but
it's rock and roll.
Fix it, Diddy.
I think it's great. All right.
I think it's cool.
I don't I like them when the
doubles are loose, you know?
Just makes it fun to listen to.
Okay.
Thick Georgia
woman, her body knows
Basket of peaches
under her clothes
Very cool. One last thing.
Take that last note and
down real quick so
it goes right into.
I'm just wanting to hear a train
wreck of the to go
like that, like one
end to the other.
That's cool.
I love it myself.
See what kind of
vibe we're getting.
Stay on your
side of the street
Worry bout the ground
under your own feet
Might find yourself
danglin' by a ladder
Makin' you nervous,
what's the matter?
Better watch
out, better lay low
Half Hanged Mary
gettin' ready to blow
Welcome to my world
Won't you come on in?
Miracles, I guess
I used to care
about being a star.
And then I stopped
caring about being a star.
And when I stopped
caring about that,
I thought, well, what exactly is
it that I'm trying to do here?
What are we trying to do
as artists and songwriters?
Welcome to my world
Sometimes the hardest part
is just hanging in there.
Well, Ricky pulled
another one out of her hat.
Next thing I know, I'm
packing for a tour in Europe.
Thick Georgia woman,
her body knows
Basket of peaches
under her clothes
She's gonna lock the door,
take off her bra
Call up her sister in Arkansas
Pour her rights in jar of wine
Talk about class in decline
In her chest is
a treasure trove
Rich as the
groceries on the stove
A world of hurt in disguise,
happy as hell otherwise
Thick Georgia woman
They were trying to tell
me earlier
how you say thank you in Danish.
Dutch. Dutch!
I know where I am.
I know exactly where I am.
As anybody does, you go
through a lot in life,
and I'm going to do a few
new songs for y'all tonight,
because I figure y'all are cool
and won't tell nobody.
I heard Lucinda Williams say,
when a reporter asked her once,
like,
now that you're happy
and more balanced in your life,
aren't you worried that you
won't have anything to write
about?
And she's like, oh
no, I have a lifetime
of trauma to write about.
This will never end,
there's plenty.
So I sort of feel that way too.
So I wrote this song
in sort of a simple song,
but it's just something I wanted
to say. And it's called The Easy
Kind.
Well, I swear I'm trying
to rehabilitate
I've sat and told strangers
what I contemplate
I open the drawers,
thrown out the razors
I've walked straight through
the emotional craters
I listed goodbyes,
I talked till I cried
At times nobody was on my side
I made big plans
And I changed my mind
There's all kinds of women
I'm not the easy kind,
the easy kind
Getting my music
out into the world
on whatever level I can,
in the purest form I can,
is all I care about now.
And is it an
exercise in futility?
An exercise in fate?
Sometimes I don't know.
I just know it's my nature,
it's honest, and
the story is mine.
I listed goodbyes,
I talked till I cried
At times nobody
When I was younger,
I thought the deal was just to
put on a pretty outfit and
perform.
But for me that felt so empty.
It felt so vain.
Old southern girls
got nothin' to lose,
I got nothing to lose
It's taken a few trips
around the sun to gather
this kaleidoscope
of emotions and experiences
and it keeps on spinning.
I talked till I cried
At times,
nobody was on my side
Like a never-ending riddle,
and there's no answer.
And I changed my mind
There's all kinds of women
I'm not the easy kind
The easy kind
But that's why there's a song.
Half Hanged Mary don't mind
the weather. Birds of a feather
gonna burn together
You can come loose,
but that's okay
She coming down anyway
Not a witch before
but sure one now
Her tongue'll look ya in
the eye and lie ya out a vow
Ain't worried about fate,
ain't worried about sin
Can't make her
afraid of dyin' again
Blow, Blow
Ladies who lunch
stood around watchin'
Counted on her to cover
their debauchin'
Tying her dress
with a tattered sash
Now her necklace
is a ropey rash
Had to put her down
with them wicked rabies
Fore she made more
black cat babies
Can't serve antiquated charms
Please your countrymen
with them marked up arms
When you're spookin' the cow,
spillin' the hay
Boilin' bedsores
and forgettin' to pray
Blow, Blow
Who gets to say
how you make magic?
How the hell they know
that heaven ain't tragic?
Rife with those
who are deceased
There lies your wives
and your daddy increase
Take the pain
and lay on penance
With a navel gazing
run-on sentence
Invisible things
they want you to see
Are the ones that
paint them righteously
Make 'em holier than water,
holier than rain
Tell ya what is
and what ain't insane
Blow, Blow
Think through the trigger
'fore you pull it
No such thing
as a silver bullet
When you're dealing with
the devil and Pentacostin'
Believe they let
her off in Boston
Better watch
out, better lay low
Half Hanged Mary
gettin' ready to blow
Stay on your
side of the street
Worry 'bout the ground
under your own feet
Might find yourself
danglin' by a ladder
Makin' you nervous,
what's the matter?
Better watch
out, better lay low
Half Hanged Mary
gettin' ready to blow
She's a socialite,
a decent housewife,
and she makes a mean lasagne
So when the mechanic said,
now Little Lady don't you panic,
but this one,
it's gonna cost you
She said, I know
I don't need my engine rebuilt
Just check the oil
and change that bill
Hey, honey, I know
you thought
you saw me comin'
Well, sometimes it takes balls
to be a woman
Sometimes it takes balls
to be a woman
I'm standing up to this test
While wearing a party dress
And sometimes looks
they can be deceiving
When you're
quietly overachieving
Oh, sometimes it takes
balls to be a woman
Thank you!
When I moved to Nashville,
I got a big time record deal.
Because at that time,
if you were like in your mid 20s
and under 130 pounds,
you could get a record deal
no matter what.
And so I did, but I was
writing all these songs
and they're like, well, that's
cute, but that's not really
like the vision that
we have for you.
So it took me years
to mine my way, out
of those contracts,
and I finally did.
And in 2007, I put out
an album called Balls.
And this got me in a lot of
trouble with country radio,
which is not hard at all to do.
It was hot,
100 in the shade
when Mary got a note from
this guy named Gabe
She don't remember getting
pregnant but she did
And by all accounts,
she churned out one heck
of a kid
Sarah bought the brownies
Shawna bought Ros
They almost booked a beach
trip, but they didn't have a way
They baked
biscuits at daylight
for whoever might stop by,
but they didn't
get a lot of callers
at the corner of Do or Die
So she cut off all her hair
She thought she
might could get there
if they would just mistake
her for a man
It looked kind of mod
It probably
wouldn't please God,
but she had to have
some kind of plan
It turns out there are no fish
at the end of a lightning rod
The worst thing
you can grow up to be
is the son of God
And I'm not sure there's
anything anybody can do
People will kill ya even when
there's nothing wrong with you
So come gather
round me friends,
all my contemporary peers
and I tell you all
the story of Mary,
the submissing years
Let's go.
We will.
We will entertain the people on
whatever we have
on us.
We had some good parties
out here this year.
Do we have the keys?
I do.
Let's listen to my
dope beats playlist,
get our Opry game on.
Shit.
This is my favorite song.
All my life, I
want money and power
Respect my mind or die
from lead shower
- Don't you
look nice! - Hi!
Thank you! I have another
show at nine,
I have to go.
Is my run-through at 6:30?
Yes.
So much shit.
I can always borrow one.
Sometimes it
takes balls to be,
big, big, big balls to be,
Oh sometimes it takes balls
to be a woman
Beautiful! Yeah.
Do you want us to do
the hmm mmm
and all that stuff?
Y'all's choice yeah.
You get to use your.
Well, I'll
see you out there.
You better sing that song.
Did you hear? FAN: Yes.
I can't believe this.
Pete Fisher said no in 2008
and I'm getting away
with this tonight.
- I remember that.
- Do you remember?
The song! EC: You do?
Yes I do.
Well, it's
happening tonight.
She's going
to sing Balls'song.
I've got a song called
It Takes Balls to Be a Woman
that they wouldn't
let me do because it
has the word balls in it.
So, um... but tonight they're
gonna let me sing it, so.
I love it.
She likes it so that's
all that matters
Good to see y'all. FAN: You too.
She's graced the
Opry stage
more than 100 times.
400 times.
400 times.
And she is wonderful.
Please do it for
'em, sweetheart.
You've been making your
brags around town
that you've been loving my man
Well the man I love,
when he picks up trash
he puts it in a garbage can
Thank you for
that dress, Cybelle,
it made me feel like
a million bucks.
It was just
like last minute.
Well, yeah.
And I'm sorry I wasn't more
firm on my performance of
Fist City but um
it just wasn't
WADE: I don't know,
you're the only
one that noticed.
And I know everybody says that-.
If you're playing the
guitar one fret with the capo
one fret off,
you notice.
With the amp right behind,
it was super distracting
especially on a song that
you don't really know.
Yeah.
It would have been
different if, it's like,
Oh, I do this all the
time, I can block it,
but it was all so foreign and.
You were on
top of it though.
Fiddle was loud and my
the only thing in my monitor
was just an occasional mmrr
ah, what's happening?
What is happening?
This is hard.
I'm not in control
of my environment.
It was great.
It could have been better.
You know what was so great
about newspapers?
You could just hide
behind it and cover
your whole face
with it in public.
And nobody thinks
anything about that.
So I'm trying something
a little different here.
I've always got this
microphone in my hand anyway,
so I'm going to use it to
get down some of my ideas
might not be for
anything but me.
I'm overdue to get a record out,
so that means I
need to write like
20 songs to have 10 or 11
that are good enough
to make the album.
I like this game, let's
keep going
Oh, it is dusty.
It's dusty, it's going
to be cold and windy.
- Thank you
sir. - Yeah, I'll
there ya go.
How much longer
ya'll on the road?
Just two more shows.
We're just doing a
short little runs.
Kicking my ass.
Can't get no groove.
Can't get no groove out here,
can't get angry at home.
Cause it's like go
and stop and go and stop.
Yup.
Over and over. WADE: That's us.
Woo.
One, two, three, check.
One, two, check.
She gonna dry out
this time if it kills her.
She wants the whole
family in the loop.
It's always just
a little unnerving
wearing white.
Oh.
Hey, you.
Slept all day, woke
up in the evening
To see if the believers were
still believing
Good morning,
beautiful humans.
How's your hangover today?
On a scale of one
to, I don't know, 20,
I'm about an 8 1/2
but that's all right.
Not too bad, considering.
I just got home from tour.
Thank you, everybody that
came out to show.
Appreciate y'all, man. It's
good to be home though,
And thanks everybody
out there today,
back out there
pulling the wheel.
So y'all holler at me,
'cause I ain't got no kids, I
ain't got no boyfriend.
I got plenty of time,
and as far as I know, I'm
just sitting here in a room
talking in a
microphone to myself.
And we're gonna get
down on some jams.
She needed somebody
I think we should
focus on diversifying.
What if we were to
expand, say into podcasting?
Podcasting?
I mean.
I just don't I how is that
different than the radio?
It's me talking.
Well, it's more of you talking,
but in long form,
all you the whole time,
for your fans, broaden
your influence.
I mean, well, I could
pitch a show easily.
It would be amazing.
I know you can pitch a show.
Hey y'all, hey.
Hi, hey.
We started without you.
Well, you know
I don't really drink anymore,
but I'm going to start back
up again when I'm 60.
Yeah, stay high on
life until then, huh?
Ricky, if only
it were that easy. And cheap.
Oh. Excuse me. I
need to take this.
Why don't you sit here?
Fine,
how's my girl?
She's all right.
Did we interrupt a
career conversation?
Please interrupt all my
career conversations.
What else is going on?
Man.
I don't know. Lately, I feel
like I keep getting knocked
down,
I pick myself back up,
I get knocked down again,
I pick myself back up.
You know that is just a bunch
of noise happening in a
little corner of the universe
right?
But I know it can seem more
overwhelming than that.
I don't know, I just feel like
the craziness of my life
sometimes, like the last 24
months and all the years leading
up to it.
The highs are super high,
but the lows are so low.
I just don't know if I can keep
keep doing it year after year.
And then like if I do, then
that's the battle that'll kill
me.
It'll kill you slowly
or you can write songs about it.
While it kills you more slowly
because you're busy
writing songs about dying,
and you don't notice the
dying part so much.
I mean, don't you think
it like, really though,
it shaves years off our lives?
Writing the song, recording it,
performing it night after night,
living through it again
and again that way?
I don't know.
I mean, we can't know what
this all means, right?
But your music,
it has a ripple effect
that will go on long
after you're gone.
You know that, right?
I think I'm going to be super
rich when I'm dead.
That's when the checks are
going to start rolling in.
You gotta sing like you
don't need the money.
That's right,
I mean look at me. I feel great.
You sound great.
One of the things I love about
country music is the
way it tells stories.
So I was born down in Florida
to my mother,
who was a hillbilly singer
from Charleston, West Virginia.
And when my daddy got out of
jail for running moonshine,
with the Mafia,
he moved in next door to her.
They soon ended up
in a band together.
Of course, romance followed.
They had me.
I was their 11th child
altogether, and I think that
they forgot that I
was there a lot, and,
just kind of took me along
with them wherever they went.
And, they would play these
two bars with their band
and they'd take me with them.
So I saw many things
from a young age.
And, they terrorized
those honky Tonks.
Stanley By God Terry knew
exactly how it felt
to play a George Jones song
in a white leather belt
And matching shoes,
polyester blues
At the pine...
My parents really wanted me
to be a country star.
Bloody buckets of
ol broads and men
They thought I should
absolutely be a country star.
Who had been clean-shaven
when they started at ten?
When Stanley got goin'
with Mama by his side
And daddy on bass
singin' Charlie Pride
Kaw-lija, Folsom
I had the record deals,
I was in those boardrooms,
so I had that attention,
I had that opportunity,
to put me out there in the world
as the next big thing.
I watched it all as a baby
from a black bar stool
And country music
and hillbilly pain
Make stories that'll hurt ya,
and hold ya like a chain
and hold ya like a chain
Thank you,
thank you.
Hi, honey. Hey!
Smells good in here already.
What you got going on?
I'm making pot of beans.
They'll be ready
here before too long.
You want some chardonnay?
It's a bit early
in the day for me.
I'm not the best day drinker.
That's because you
refuse to practice.
Oh, is that what it is?
Are you judging me right now?
Honey, don't be like that.
I'm just worried
about you is all.
That little trip to
St. Croix last month
wasn't the greatest idea, maybe.
I'm doing fine. Ricky's calling
me with a million things,
the radio show's going strong,
I'm writing the album.
Well, how's it
coming? It's coming.
You know I'm
only asking this because it's
just you now.
I need to make sure you're
thinking about your financial
situation.
I can't believe that we're still
talking about my divorce from,
like, 8,000 years ago.
I'm only saying this because
there's only one income now
yours.
There was only one income
before, which was also mine.
And the only job he ever had,
he got for me.
And it's Ricky.
Hey, Ricky,
Diane's here. I'm gonna put you
on speaker.
Hey, Ricky.
You got some work for my girl.
Because radio show
alone isn't enough.
Well, I'm working on some
things.
Right now I'm calling because
the Opry wants you to
fill in tomorrow night.
Again? I just did it.
They had a cancellation.
Tomorrow night is Charlie's
50th birthday party.
What time is the segment?
YOU'RE ON AT 7:10 p.m.
Bryce could drive and get you
back and forth across town.
Honey, I think you
should take the work.
- You look great.
- Hey.
Hey. How y'all doing?
- Good, how are you?
- Good, good.
I love your jacket.
Thank you.
You're also very sparkly
this evening, I see.
Of course.
How do you feel?
Are you nervous?
Oh, yeah.
All the nerves for sure.
You know, not a
stressful crowd at all.
But it'll be good.
Perfect.
It's amazing to see how much
fans like to see pictures
from before I even go on stage.
Like, I haven't even
done anything yet.
It's cool.
- Social media.
- Hey.
Hey, you still driving?
I'm in a very chatty
green room preparing for battle.
Okay cool, I'm close.
I'll text you when I get there.
I'll be here, applying the war
paint.
Okay.
Go, go, go.
All right, blot!
Hey, I just wanted to tell you
that I love your music
and I saw you and your band
at the Basement East last year.
It was epic
and people are still
talking about it.
So.
People like to talk, don't they?
But that's really nice to hear.
Yeah, and you look
great, by the way.
You don't need me or anybody
else doing your makeup.
I've been doing my own makeup
since I was a Florida stage kid.
It gives me something to do
with my pre-show jitters
and probably some control issues
mixed up in there as well.
Thank you!
Great, thanks so much.
My life a stolen picture,
like some movie on a TV
I'm a fifty gallon drum
of ass whooping fiction!
I'm a monster truck
attraction, a roadside religion!
My life's a
schizophrenic version
of a psychedelic vision,
Hey-hey!
Hey! ALLISON: Hey!
I haven't seen you
since Leo died.
I know I was on the
road, I just got back.
I haven't dealt
with it at all, yet.
And this Heaven and Hell theme
is weirding me out a bit.
It's Charlie's night,
so we're going with it.
We'll convene on Leo soon
though. Are you coming to
Kathy's?
Yes, for sure.
Okay.
Charlie, buddy, man,
I'm so happy to
be here with you.
Happy birthday.
Yeah.
Thank you.
We've been through
so much together.
You've had so many highs,
so many lows.
Mostly your blood pressure's
high and your balls hang low.
Well, we have, we have
something special for you.
We do?
Someone who loves you dearly
who has something
really particular
planned for you. So...
Charlie, you've been my friend
and my mentor for over a decade
now.
You're genuinely the most
entertaining motherfucker I
know.
It's not easy to come up with
something to give someone like
you.
Well before you go off
to meet your maker,
which is any day
now that you're 50,
I wanted to have
someone entertain
you for a change.
I know this guy,
he's all wrong for me
He wears shirts that are
tripppin' on LSD
Hey.
Angel Demon
need help deciding?
Oh no, no thank you.
I'm Reed, I'm a big fan.
Ah, thanks. It's so
nice to meet you.
To be doing shots!
I can't do shots tonight.
Whoa!
Hey! Why? Did you party too much
on that island trip of yours?
No! I have a press
thing in the morning.
I can't walk in there looking
like a marshmallow.
I refuse to
accept that excuse.
Someone please come and
help this girl have a good time.
EC, this was your idea,
you're not just
gonna sit on the sidelines.
After Saturday
matinee roller derby
We went parking
and things got blurry
I thought man I
can't get much hotter
And then I caught a
whiff of pina colada
Well hey, you.
How you feeling? I'm good.
Yeah. This ain't nothing.
No need from alarm.
What ain't nothing?
Feeling a little alarmed
Diane. RICKY: Ah, yeah.
Hey, stay off
social media today, sweetheart.
They made one of those meme
things from the party last night
and you're not-
Yeah, you don't really need to.
Well, I should see it.
Well. It's it's
going to blow over.
Listen, the woman
of country crew wake up early
and I got a call, and they want
you to sit out the press event.
Good lord.
I know. You're too good
for these people anyway.
Well, I don't think
they think that.
Well, you are.
You're the quintessential
woman of country.
I mean you've been to the
Opry more than 400 times
and born in a honky tonk.
What could be more woman
of country than that?
I wasn't even a little drunk.
I was playing along
for my friend's party.
Just keep a low profile for a
couple of days.
You need to be focusing
on writing your record,
and now you have the space to
focus on it.
So stupid.
Hashtag old lady hustle.
Who wants a granny sandwich?
What does that even mean?
I mean, I don't think
I look that old.
Clearly a publicity stunt.
How desperate is she?
She's too old to be
partying like that.
You have got to be kidding me.
Damn it!
God!
The truth is,
I feel bankrupt on every level.
I'm broke, but I need
to make another record,
I need to stay home and write
songs for that record.
I got an old house
that needs everything,
and I don't know
how it's all going to happen.
Sometimes
I feel like I'm in two places
at the same time.
There's what's happening here
today in real life, and then
there's
what's happening in my head
and in my heart
on the songwriting plane.
What about the first time
you performed music in
front of a person?
Well, I was four, you know, I
was herded there like cattle
by these people
that feed me and keep me alive.
So I just did what they said.
Yeah.
You know, I don't really feel
completely that I was complicit
in it.
Hi there.
Hello.
What part of Florida
are you from?
I'm from Wildwood Florida.
Wildwood is that...
And a pot of potato soup
She's gonna dry out
this time if it kills her
She wants the whole
family in the loop
She can outsmart death like a
In my early days of writing
songs in Nashville down on Music
Row,
I got paid to come to
an office every day
where I would go
into a little room
where they would say, this
artist is cutting, this kind of
song.
And then it was our job
to write that kind of song.
My heroin addict sister
I don't get inspired in that
environment, typically,
but I was, you know,
I was a young woman,
I was a good girl, and I was.
My daddy always taught me,
you get paid to do a job,
you do that job.
I didn't get the deal.
And I was told I
didn't get the deal
because when I left,
it was too much about
everything I would not do.
It's like the devil's DNA.
It takes her somewhere she's
just gotta go
Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen and judges.
I'm proud to be here tonight
and I don't think if
it was for these two people
I would not be here tonight.
And here they are my
father and mother.
After an
introduction like that, I can
hardly wait to hear
what I'm gonna do myself.
We got married in a fever
Hotter than a pepper sprout
We've been talkin'
'bout Jackson
Ever since the fire went out
Yes, we're goin' to Jackson
And that's a fact
Yes, we've gone to Jackson
Ain't coming back
She's my heroin-addict sister
And I hate to see her go
And I hate to
see her holdin' on
at the end of
the same ole rope
At the end of
the same ole rope
Always at the end of her rope
Half-hanged Mary
don't mind the weather,
birds of a feather gonna burn
together
Half-hanged Mary don't,
Half-hanged Mary
don't mind the weather,
than bir
than birds of a feather gonna
burn together
OK, take it.
Take it a shake it.
Whoa!
Oh, God. Whoa.
Meg! I was just thinking
about your crazy ass.
I've been so homesick
lately. How's things?
Oh, I'm grooving.
Spec seasons coming up
so I'm getting ready
to do some fishing.
How you been? I've
been all right.
This ah.
Just some stupid stuff going on.
I'm on some kind of social
house arrest or something,
that's super dumb.
And I had a friend die
while I was on the road.
It's one of my music crew,
he just,
he was a good dude but you know
it's a tough life we lead,
and he just,
- he couldn't make it.
- I'm so sorry.
Well, maybe, a trip home
will do you good?
I know it would.
I'm gonna look for a window.
When I see one,
I'll holler at you.
What else is going on?
That's a no.
That's a no, no, no.
I heard tales you
got a brand new boy
Say you've done well.
He's a real McCoy
He's a hoot and cute to boot,
they all agree
But he might be all that,
but honey, he ain't me
I bet that guy
got a line or two
He cares, he swears
he's there for you
I will, tell them
I'll be right out.
Thank you, thank you.
You made it.
I did!
I'm so sweaty.
I don't care.
Did you see it?
I did. I saw all your encores.
Was I good?
Yes. How good was I?
So good.
Oh, my God,
isn't this just the
best part of my day?
Hey!
Hey!
What?
Hi there,
everything okay?
Sorry, I had my headphones
on. I couldn't hear you.
Oh, that's all right.
I just it's pretty hot.
I thought you might
want something to drink.
Oh, thank you, I would.
Yeah! Yeah.
I appreciate you keeping my
little valley from getting too
wild.
Oh. You're welcome.
It's nice when
it's a little wild.
Well, that doesn't
seem to be a problem,
so good.
Say, are you, a Johnny Cash fan?
Oh, well
why yes, I am.
How'd you ever guess that?
I was just listening to Live
at Folsom Prison
and you've got that shirt on.
Well, I'm going to take a wild
guess that you are a musician.
You will be right,
I am a musician.
That's usually the
case around here.
Well, thank you very
much for the tea.
You're welcome. Let me
know if you need anything.
My door...
All manner of men...
All manner of men coming
at my door
Since there wasn't
ain't around...
If you had a place here
you wouldn't have to
go back to Nashville so much.
You could just stay
right here in LA.
Don't you think I should let the
ink dry on my divorce papers
before I make any major moves
like that, though?
I could get you your own place.
You don't have to
be at my place.
It sounds a little like
being a kept woman.
A what?
I just like when
you're around me, baby.
That make me a bad guy?
This new record, it's
going to be something special.
Oh. RICKY: No doubt
in my mind about that.
Well, she's never boring.
That's for sure.
She's brilliant, ah.
You're gonna see for yourself
with these new songs.
All right, thank you.
Liam!
Hey EC. My man!
Yeah. You're a
sight for sore eyes.
Oh, yeah? I don't
know about that.
This is obviously,
smaller than her regular band.
I mean, obviously, but you're
going to get an idea of her
live, and, you know, it's
different than the demo.
Good. Good. Let's do this.
All right, I'll count it off,
be like super pro.
Two, three four
Half Hanged Mary
don't mind the weather
Birds of a feather
gonna burn together
You can cut her
loose, but that's okay
She coming down anyway
Not a witch before
but sure one now,
her tongue'll look ya in
the eye and lie ya out a vow
Ain't worried about fate,
ain't worried about sin
Can't make her
afraid of dyin' again
Blow, Blow
Ladies who lunch
stood around watchin'
Counted on her
to cover their debauchin'
Tying her dress
with a tattered sash
Now her necklace
is a ropey rash
Had to put her down with them
wicked rabies
fore she made more
black cat babies
Can't serve antiquated charms,
please your countrymen
with them marked up arms
When you're spookin' the cow,
spillin' the hay,
boilin' bedsores
and forgettin' to pray
Blow, Blow
Well, thank you
for playing that for me.
That was real interesting.
What's it called again?
It's called Half Hanged Mary.
It's based on this poem
by Margaret Atwood.
It's a true story about
this woman back in Boston.
She got tried for being a witch,
which she wasn't, really.
But her town still
thought she was.
So they hung her, and then they,
they went to cut her down and
and it didn't kill her.
And she just stood
up and walked off.
And then they where
really scared of her
and, um, but she was
all brain damaged
so she was like eating dirt
and drooling on herself,
and it was um,
it was awkward for everyone.
Yeah. It's a metaphor.
Well,
I got a run to an appointment
on the west side.
Thank y'all.
I appreciate
hearing what you got going on.
Hey!
What did you think?
You want it straight?
Yes, of course, always.
Too much of a wild card for us.
Wouldn't know how to get
that on the radio.
Witch trials?
Yeah, but, but have you
seen, her fans are loyal.
I mean thousands of them
screaming for her at the Opry
all the time.
Yeah, yeah I know, but that
doesn't necessarily translate to
this.
Liam, you're missing out.
We miss out all the time Ricky.
You just have to hit the jackpot
now and again.
I got a new hat.
That dude's a lost cause, man.
Can you play that thing
without looking at the keys the
whole time?
Without looking at
them the whole time, yeah.
Can you look up.
- From time to time.
- From time to time.
From time to time yeah.
When you're sitting there
and just singing to the
microphone
doing this and
looking at the keys,
and that ain't gonna
go over good at all.
Millions stars outside
and that big old
moon is shining bright
So there was like
this two year period
where every three months
there was a major tragedy.
Mom died,
dad died,
brother died,
brother-in-law died,
mother-in-law died,
father-in-law died,
farm burned down.
So I didn't get a record
made during that time.
I just,
I hope that,
I hope that I'm getting better
at it with age, you know,
and that
and that somehow,
I survive all the
not only the curve balls
that life throws you,
but that this business can
throw you in to not be, like,
such a jaded and miserable,
grumpy person that don't have
any friends left
by the end of it.
Oh, alcohol and pills.
Alcohol and pills.
Sometimes alcohol and pills
get a hold of you
and won't let go.
And some folks don't know
how to cope with that.
And especially in
in musician world.
And, I just lost a friend.
There's a lot of support
in the musician community.
There's a lot of places to
get help and and things to do
to try and move on past that
demon that gets a hold of you,
you know, but...
Some people just can't.
Some people just can't.
Look at that,
look at that, perfection.
It's like play-dough for
grown-ups.
Here we go.
Oooo lala.
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
I don't know how I feel about
the hygiene of hanging our pasta
on a lady's underwear rack.
Ok, Josh, we'll hang the
pasta on something of yours.
Both of my arms?
A table, a chair
Oh god.
Hey everybody!
Oh, let's
see what this is.
Oh, my God, that's beautiful.
Thank you. Well,
I thought for Leo,
good friends of Leo, an
Italian cheesecake is in order.
Aw.
So do you make one of
those for every one of your
friends
that kills himself or?
Ok what is
wrong with you?
I'm sorry.
Leo would've laughed at that.
What is wrong with you?
Hey hey hey hey.
Hey.
Every day is a struggle.
Not all of us get to grow old.
I'm one of the lucky ones.
And I just hope that all of you
here live to be a million years
old
just like me.
Looking good girl.
To Leo.
To Leo.
And here's to all of
you for staying alive.
I know it can be
hard, but keep it up.
I've got something
I want to read.
This is for Leo,
too, so listen up.
This is
a letter from Vincent van Gogh,
the painter,
to his brother Theo,
about a painting
that he's just finished of a
peasant, a farmer in clogs, and
he says,
Really,
it's a pity that there aren't
more paintings of clogs
in Paris.
What a mistake
that Parisians haven't acquired
sufficient taste for rough
things.
What I learned in
Paris is fading,
and I'm returning to my ideas
that came to me in the country
before I knew the
Impressionists, and I wouldn't
be very surprised
if the Impressionists were soon
to find fault with my way of
doing things.
I feel like I'm missing.
Um, do you get how it's
connecting to Leo?
- No. I'm serious.
- He says he won't get it,
but he paints it because
it's his nature.
That does sound
a little bit like Leo.
Vincent had a brother who loved
him, believed in him.
He provided a lifeline
to Vincent because he,
he listened to his
brother, to what he had to say.
The good
and the bad, the
ups and the downs.
He was present.
I mean, I feel like we were
brothers like that to Leo,
weren't we?
Yeah.
I think we were.
I hope we were.
It doesn't mean you
can save someone.
It's hard when
you're on tour
and somebody dies, and
a friend dies, and,
and it seems like it
just keeps happening.
And I don't know
if I can take another one.
And my tour manager sent
sent breakfast to my hotel room
And it was so
so sweet.
And I was so grateful
to get it because they knew
before I did.
They knew what I was going
to wake up to.
Ain't commin' back
Well, go on down to Jackson
Go ahead and wreck your health
Go play your hand you
big-talkin' man, make a big fool
of yourself
Yeah, go on to Jackson
Go comb your hair
We're gonna snowball, Jackson
Oh yeah.
See if I care
You know, we had the run up on
Johnny Cash right up there
in Nashville not long ago.
I said, Johnny,
what in the world inspired you
to do The Rings of Fire?
He said, man, the Ring of Fire
wasn't intended to be.
He said, I got my.
BenGay mixed up
with my Formula H.
Oh, burn, burn, burn
the ring of fire,
the ring of fire
This is a song that
I wrote for my daddy.
He was like 48 when I was born,
so we both kind of always knew
that he would pass away
when I was relatively younger,
and he always tried really hard
to prepare me for that.
And, so I wrote this song,
called Daddy, I Got Love For
You.
Sittin' up in bed
with stage 4 cancer
A chew of tobacco
and all the answers
He said, girl if you
don't learn to breathe
You ain't ever gonna
make it as far as me
Daddy I try to do like
ya tell me, I hold my own,
I love the lonely
I feed the fire,
fuel the flame,
I live to play another day
I know,
ain't no way to go
I know,
ain't no way to go
I got love for you.
I got love for you
I got love for you.
Don't you want my love
Everybody's got shit to give
Everybody's got pain to live
This ain't all about feelin'
And you got time that
ain't worth killin'
Ooh
Ooh
Hey! Excuse me.
Hi!
Sorry, I was.
I was just driving
past your place,
well I had the tools
in the back of my truck
so I thought to
myself, maybe I could,
take a stab at
fixing that chair.
Oh, that was my daddy's chair.
He spent a lot of
time in that chair.
It's pretty wrecked,
I don't think it can be
brought back to life.
I'm not so sure about that.
I just, I can't bring
myself to get rid of it.
You know, it's baked in the
Florida sun and rocked through a
million hurricanes,
and it defies the
laws of nature.
It's got some sort of swamp
by force on it.
Yeah, I believe it.
I'm from Florida.
No shit. Which part?
I'm from Wildwood.
Oh, yeah. I know Wildwood.
Hog County, huh?
Yeah. I'm from
down in the Glades.
People up here, they don't
know the real Florida.
They think it's all beaches,
palm trees, golf courses.
Yeah.
They don't like to think about
alligators and rattlesnakes.
No they don't, but when
they do think about gators,
they ain't got a clue
how delicious they are.
Truth. God, I miss it.
I got to get back down there.
Yeah I get back every chance I
get.
I just miss my family.
After our farm burned,
most not people left,
but there's still a few
stragglers and hell, I'll go
just to be there,
you know.
Hmm. Yeah.
Well, hey, don't
worry about the chair,
but if you've got a minute,
I have an issue going on.
Yeah sure.
I'd love for you to take a look
if you have time.
Okay. I've got
this light fixture.
Okay sure. I just,
it wouldn't stop flickering
so I just yanked it down
because that's my solution.
Ummm, it was like
a goddamn disco.
I thought I was going to have a
seizure, so I just, I just, I
just.
Shouldn't be a problem.
I got this thing.
Oh. Thank you.
One sec.
What's happening?
Oh. You know, that
eco make-up brand, Lovetree?
They're being iffy about
the endorsement deal.
Lovetree?
I'm wearing all their makeup.
What exactly did they say?
Like you're too like
sexually promiscuous?
They get that from one photo?
They think that they're just
reacting to the reaction.
Hold on a sec.
Do you think I could
take that chair home?
Work on it from there?
I mean, it's a project for sure,
but I think it's doable.
You want to take it?
All manner of men
coming at my door
Since the one that was up
ain't around anymore
Got one he lay naked,
sang Zeppelin to me
Drives a matte black
You got to have people who will
try anything to help move your
career along.
If you're lucky, you got them.
People that won't
take no for an answer.
People that'll get you to fly
all the way to New York
for something
you're out there chasing down.
Look in the mirror...
These days
are one long night
And I hear my mother
calling out my name
I've listened to you.
I don't know if, five or
six months on, on the radio.
And I've taken quite a liking
to your, I guess, personality.
You do a great job on the radio,
but that's not really your first
pursuit in show business, is it?
Well, I'm a singer
first. And a songwriter.
As a little kid.
That's what I did. Yeah.
And what was your family like?
Oh, they're a bunch
of hillbillies.
No, no, I mean they're
beautiful people.
Where are you from?
I'm from Florida.
I grew up in Florida,
but my mother was a
Yay!
My mother was a hillbilly singer
from Charleston, West Virginia.
Right.
And when daddy got out of
jail for running moonshine,
he moved in next door to her.
Wow. So one day,
his woman left him.
Aha.
And she felt so sorry for him.
She made him a big pot of beans
and took him beans.
Yeah. Beautiful.
Thank you. David Letterman.
For my writing, my podcast
Well thank you for
inviting me.
That I'm trying to do.
But, would, you and I have
talked about this before,
and I've never asked you
anything but superficial
inquiries.
Oh, great here we go.
You,
at the hands of somebody.
I don't know who,
they wanted you to be
a different kind of act.
And that kind of act
typically does very well on
country music
stations, and beyond.
And now is that an accurate
assessment of what they wanted
from you.
Yeah.
I mean they have research and
studies and you know rooms
with big conference tables that
a ton of people sit around and
they,
they try to predict
what their market wants.
And they are also funded by
advertising around that music.
Was it a mutual realization
that this wasn't
fitting you and
the record label.
Um no. I went to them
and asked to be released
from my contract.
How'd that go?
Did that kill you a little bit?
Did it hurt you in Nashville?
Were people saying,
oh, she's difficult?
We don't want any part of her?
Or was it just an isolated event
that nobody gets hurt by?
No. I think I was completely,
dismissed as difficult.
Just didn't didn't jive with
what they were laser focused on.
And I was not going to fit into
I was not going to be a
widget to go down,
go down their factory line.
But, man, I just so I started
working, you know, odd jobs.
And I mean- When you say
odd jobs, out of music?
Mmhmm. Like what?
I waited tables.
I was really bad at
that. But I think that.
I used that moment
and I didn't mean to, to write,
you know, Balls To Be a Woman.
And that was, couldn't have been
and I knew that would be
really even more
repulsive to them.
It's freeing in a way.
It's also scary as hell.
Some mud covered dogs
guarding shotgun shacks
A red door on a green Cadillac
Goin' down to the well
To us, to New York City?
Mmm. I'm excited about this.
I can tell.
Janis!
Wasn't this bar
two blocks south?
I could have sworn
it was on a different corner?
Um no.
I'm going to have to take
this up with the management
because something is wrong
with this location.
It's incredibly good to see you.
How are you?
Oh terrible and
in love with life.
You know, same as usual.
Hi.
Hi-JANICE: You must be EC,
I am Janice.
Pleasure to meet you.
I don't know about that, but
kind of you to be optimistic, I
like optimists.
I've wanted you to
meet EC for a while,
as you know.
And, we were in town to
record with David Letterman
and thought this was
the perfect time.
Letterman?
I thought he was dead.
No, he's not even that old,
he just looks old because he's
kind of like that white beard.
Honey you know it's very hard
to pull off the white hair.
Everybody looks like they're one
foot in the grave except women.
Women look gorgeous
with a full head of white hair.
You know, like Barbara Bush.
Gorgeous.
But a man always looks like he's
about to croak with the white
hair.
So.
I don't know what kind of B.S.
this one's been
telling you about me.
But there's certain things
that we have to get clear.
I am not a magician.
That can just get you a gold
record out of nowhere, okay?
I mean, as a matter of fact,
a lot of people go
broke because of me.
I myself am chronically broke.
However, every now and then.
I can take an artist
like you and match you up with,
you know, an industry
executive or a producer
and make a hit.
I don't know how I
do it, so don't ask.
But all the good things you've
heard about how brilliant I am
those are all true.
I try to be humble, but I've
been in this business way too
long.
So, have you listened to
any of the files I sent you?
- Of course I have.
- Get an idea of like what.
I got it right here.
I wanted you to, like,
get a sense of.
What EC was going for.
Yeah. Mmhm.
Janice I
sent them digitally.
I know you did, Ricky.
Janice, they can't
be in your bag.
I know I have my interns
transfer the digital files
because I fucking hate them to a
cassette.
And I listen on my Walkman.
That's awesome.
Well, let me tell you something.
The Walkman is the
best way to hear
how things sound
when they're in bad conditions.
That's how most people
listen to stuff.
No, what I'm looking
for is my notes.
Okay. Oh, here we go.
Okay, okay. EC.
What is your favorite place
in the entire world?
I mean, if I could just beam you
someplace, where would it be?
Oh, God um.
Close your eyes.
Now you are not in this bar.
Where are you?
The Satilla River.
Never heard of it.
Where is that?
It's way down south.
It's like on the
Georgia/Florida state line.
It's magical. There's
no place like it.
Really? Fast moving river?
No slow, extremely slow.
Okay, give me a minute.
Ahh.
Okay.
That's what I got for you.
Thank you.
- What is that?
- It's a phone number.
This is my niece's cousin,
got the gift.
This producer is
going to get you.
You're going to
change people's lives.
So thanks
for the drink.
Let me know how it goes.
I'll send you a bill.
Tell Letterman he owes me money.
What the fuck just happened?
You'll thank me later.
I don't think it's a
talent game anymore.
I think it's a
perseverance game.
I think it's whether or not
you can be strong enough
to just survive and keep going.
No matter what.
What the hell?
How did you do that?
Well, I reckon you're
safe to sit in now.
I got something
else for you, too.
It's just a little
song I'm working on.
It's nothing finished
or anything like that,
but I'm thinking
about calling it.
'Bad on Paper.'
What is that referring to?
Is that about me? No, no,
it's not about you.
Not exactly.
Okay this is stupid.
Give it. I wanna see it.
All right, all right. Sheesh.
We both come from
hard-luck places
Houses built on sinking sand
Stranger to love's
sweeter graces
That's all I got so far.
But I guess I need a line
that rhymes with sand.
Yeah.
I really want to write this song
with you for real.
Well, why don't we start with me
making you something to eat.
Let me see this. Okay.
It's a good start.
You know how it could go?
Tell me.
Well, I'll be damned.
Tye?
Hey. I've
been calling you.
Where you been, man?
How are you doing, Liam?
I've been on the
road, you know that.
Hey you know EC, don't you?
Hey, EC. EC: Liam.
Yeah. EC: Yeah.
Look,
can we get together sometime?
Call Michael.
Michael will get me alright,
we'll get together.
All right. Thank you brother.
All right, sure.
Let's see if you look any
different, now that you're a
single lady.
I think you're well aware
I've been a single lady
for several years now.
I look
the same, don't I?
Just older.
Oh, hell, I don't know.
Let me get a look at you.
Older.
So I feel like the universe
is trying to tell me something.
But I don't take
well to being told what to do,
not even by the universe.
So what would you
do if you ran into an ex-lover?
You ain't seen in a hot minute?
And you knew it wasn't a
good idea back in the day.
But now he's there
and he's kind of looking at you,
and you're kind of looking at
him, and it kinda feels like
I don't know, maybe
should we do this? I don't know,
should I do that?
I might not stay,
but at least I
would have been around
Cause there's something
about what
happens when we talk
Something about what happens
when we talk
I got to take this.
Ok.
I know. Well, if they're
gonna keep moving it then I'm...
Okay. Yeah, I will.
All right, I got to go.
All right.
Cologne campaign
they keep switching
up the dates on me.
A cologne campaign?
Yes.
Are you.
Are you leaning against
a barn with, like,
a piece of straw in your mouth,
looking all bronzed
and weathered?
Yeah.
Are you wearing denim?
Tell me you're in denim.
There could be denim involved.
Hell, I'll wear
anything they ask me to,
as much money as they're paying.
Seriously, it's stupid.
It's like enough
to buy an island.
Well, you can't buy an island
because how will you get all
your trucks and motorcycles to
the island?
You can't do long distance
with motorcycles.
They won't understand.
They're just so sensitive right?
They are.
That's why I have my boats.
Oh, yeah.
I just.
I like talking with you Shug.
That part hasn't even
changed a little bit.
Fuck.
One sec, I'm sorry.
I've got to respond to Diane.
Bad news?
Actually, my roof is leaking,
and I thought it was a minor
thing.
And apparently that's
a major thing so.
That's the problem
with those old houses.
Always something going wrong.
Yeah, just a sec.
You know you wouldn't have to
deal with these things if you
just stayed with me in L.A.
I mean, we don't even
get rain out there.
I like rain, just
not my kitchen.
Still.
You can't be serious.
Why can't I? I'm serious. I am.
Don't get all freaked
out on nothin'.
I just think.
We've had a lot of fun.
Shug.
There's still a lot to be had.
Fuck. Hold on.
Yeah.
You do realize
this is a temporary
solution, right?
I mean, I don't think that'll
work for a little while.
I'm not going to say it.
You can say it.
If you would just call the
Lovetree people,
make nice and explain yourself.
I think it would go
a long way.
Like now.
Hey, Randy, it's EC,
how ya doing, man?
I just wanted to call you guys
and tell you,
like, how pumped I am
about that new foundation.
Whoo, yes, it is, it
is good stuff, man.
And I'm just so proud to be
associated with the brand, and
really just wanted to say how
sorry I am about that
unfortunate photo,
that is in no way
reflective of my real lifestyle.
And it won't happen again.
Yeah, I know, I
know, yeah, it was.
Yeah.
Well,
I just wanted to give you a call
and try and set you guys at
ease,
and thank you so much.
And oh man, yeah,
that moisturizer, too,
has got me good and dewy.
Yes.
How do you do,
come on in old friend
you are welcome any time
Sit right down and
we'll have talkin'
and then you can tell me
what's on your mind
That's it? TYE: Yep.
Then in the evenin'
about sundown,
up on the hill
and above the town
Hear him talk
and you can hear him sing
It is tequila time.
An old retired couple,
and he just does
whatever he wants.
Now it's not gonna be,
like it was supposed to be
It's been a
a long time thinking of us,
not thinking of me
Baby but so are you
This whole mess
ain't all on me,
darlin' it takes two...
How are you?
Hey you, how you doing?
I've been doing damage control.
I had to make up
with the makeup people.
What's that mean?
Well, basically, I had to call
them and beg for their
forgiveness.
They were displeased about the
photo of me from your party.
Forgiveness for what?
You didn't do anything.
Well, I know that
and you know that.
And everybody that was
there knows that.
But you know how
the internet is,
it has has its way of
telling its own little story.
Listen to me.
You do not have
to stoop like that
kiss those people's asses.
Hell, no.
You should just live your life
and not care about any of that.
You care far too much
about that kind of stuff anyway,
what the like mainstream
country people think,
and the corporate types think.
They're never gonna be
comfortable with who you are.
I'm not kissing their ass,
I just trying to stop the deal
from falling apart,
keep a little money rolling in.
Well, you can't control the
world you know.
You have to find peace and
purpose in being completely
yourself.
That's what artists do.
I'm not trying
to control the world.
Not all of us
can be free-rolling hippy dudes
with a cult of young,
disenfranchised males
following us around
like we're Jesus.
Okay, what does that mean?
Some of us, especially
those of us with tits,
quite literally get punished
when we don't play by certain
rules.
You got to give me a break, man.
I have to hustle and pay my
bills when and how I can.
You got to stick your neck out
and be brave.
Otherwise you're just going to
be another one of those broads
playing by their rules.
Those broads?
You know,
one time Bob Dylan said
he didn't really
like girl singers
because they're always whoring
themselves out on stage.
- Bob Dylan really
say that? - He sure did.
I feel really nervous
and uncomfortable
to talk shit about Bob Dylan.
EC.
Man, if I just make
music, write honestly,
live my life out in
the open like you do,
my retirement home's gonna
be under a bridge.
Nobody in this business knows
what to do with me,
and I can't help it if the
music industry has no balls
and is so weak
and greedy and run
by lizard brained men that the
only thing they can think of to
do
is chase down a quick buck
instead of putting out
meaningful music
for their own fucking people.
I can't help them.
How long are you going to
blame bad men
or the music industry
for your problems,
huh?
Do you really think
there was ever a time
where the music
business was fair?
I have to buy a
new roof, Charlie.
I have literal water
coming into my house.
Let the rain fall in your house
and you'll write the
album of your life.
If Charlie lets the
rain fall in his house.
He's a deeply arty,
eccentric, un-materialistic man.
But if my roof caves
in, I'm just a sad, crazy lady.
And for the record,
the proverbial rain
has fallen in my house
for about five years now
and I am brave.
So goddamn brave every day.
And it is exhausting,
and it is risky,
and I got nothing left.
My sister's obsessed
with butterflies,
she's got angel eyes,
she is still a child
If you're lucky to flourish.
Having some level of fame,
being a hot topic around town.
She go lightly
Knowing people are
just watching you,
wondering if you're
going to make it or not,
being ridiculed,
feeling embarrassed,
feeling shame.
She go lightly,
without a prayer
And to still get
up and do it again
and to write that next song
that comes to you.
I won't stand before a
fast-moving train,
before I let your shame
I need to mean it.
I need it to mean
something to me.
She go lightly
without a prayer,
without a prayer,
without a prayer,
without a prayer
My sister's obsessed
with butterflies,
she's got angel
eyes, she is still...
Hey!
Hey!
What's going on?
Not much.
About to drive down to Florida,
pulling my brother's
boat back home.
Not been very inspired
to catch any fish up here,
so it's just sitting
around catching rain.
I hear that.
You feel like
taking a road trip?
Like now? Yeah now.
Like.
I mean
I'm just going there and back.
Maybe we'll write a
song or something.
I sure could stand to get out
of here about now.
Especially heading
that direction.
Is that a yes?
Meg!
Well it only
took a hundred calls.
I had to clear it
with my probation officer, so.
This is my friend,
I guess, Clay.
He was kind enough
to drive me south, so.
Hi there, nice to meet you.
Well hi there, Clay.
Nice to meet you.
You look like a
probation officer.
Why, thanks.
Does that thing float?
Sure does, like a six-pack.
Oh, I just happen
to have a six pack.
I bet you do.
You want to get it wet?
Don't look at me, I got time.
That sucks about your roof.
That ain't cheap.
Yeah.
Oh, guess who
I ran into at the wine shop?
I can never begin to guess.
Tye.
What did he say?
He offered to take
me for a drive.
It was lovely
and relaxing.
All right, she's ready.
What about you?
Let's do it.
All right. I don't need that.
Okay.
Who do you think I am anyway?
Well if I could I would
stay drunk all the time
Then again I'd never
never get to know
the sober heart of mine.
Seems like your life is
pretty complicated.
Well, I damn sure don't
mean for it to be.
I didn't realize simply wanting
to live life on my own terms
meant I would be challenged
from every freaking angle.
You know, baby,
I'm not here to challenge you.
It's not my job.
And I,
I understand why you left that
deadbeat husband.
He's a loser.
I told you that, though.
I told, I'm not saying I told
you so, but I did, I did.
I told you so.
But I don't understand why
you didn't follow Tye to L.A.
and I don't understand
why you don't follow him now.
I mean,
baby girl, that would
solve all your problems.
It would solve money problems.
Well,
that's a big problem.
And it solves the
being alone problem,
and you'd still be
in the music world.
I don't see why
being alone is such a problem.
And my music world would
be his music world.
I'd be his woman in his world.
Well, okay.
Yeah, but that man, he drives
around in a convoy of busses,
that's a
pretty good world.
And I'm not saying
that, you know,
you're tricked-out van
and your hard-won career
aren't awesome.
We're so proud of you.
I don't understand why you can't
be yourself and still be with
him.
When we were together before,
it was clear how it would be.
He's the sun and I'm
just in his orbit.
He'd show off my cute little
career and his cool taste in
arty women,
but I couldn't a whole lot with
my band in a studio
and make records
or run off on tour.
It would be a much
more traditional role,
with traditional expectations,
you know what I mean.
I'm just not that woman.
I don't want you to
make any sacrifices
that you don't want
to make, darling.
I want the whole world for you.
But you know where I come from,
which also happens to be
where you come from,
putting the roof over your
head comes first
and men on their good side, men
on their bad side come second.
It's like women have been doing
it for thousands of years, you
know?
It's like a social construct.
I know, I can't get over my
audacity of wanting security
and freedom at the same time.
Well, I love your audacity.
I just, you know,
maybe it's time you
know, take that exit,
easy street.
God, I love this river.
Well, you are the queen of it.
Hey there. Clay.
Yup, I'm still here.
You know this lovely lady here?
Hmm.
She was Miss Satilla 1991.
Really?
Why are you bringing
up old shit?
Oh, I'm not that surprised.
You know, my mama was
Miss Speckled Perch
back in her day. Oh,
so we're probably related.
Oh, God, I hope not.
That can be a little
problematic down the road.
Hello.
Hello?
Hi. Hey, I'm Ricky.
Yeah, Billy Castaway.
Nice to meet you. Pleasure.
Hey, I'm EC. It's nice
to finally meet you.
I heard a lot about you
from Janice, your cousin.
Oh, God. Janice. Yeah.
Well, it's a pleasure
to finally meet you.
Just for the record, I'm
a fan of your radio show,
your music,
especially your writing.
This new stuff is not
like my old stuff.
I can't seem to write the same
kind of song twice.
Okay.
It's not that rock,
it's not country.
Well, I'm agnostic
when it comes to genre.
Oh, God. Me too.
High five. Who cares?
Ah the labels.
Yeah, yeah, well,
labels like labels,
but let's hear it.
I must look ready to
make bad decisions
I must look wonderful tonight
You rolled up on
me with tunnel vision
But baby don't
turn on the light
Oooh
I should've stayed home
and watched television
I should've tried not to drink
I should've kept your
key out of my ignition
And not care
what nobody thinks
Oooh
It was rainin'
on the court steps,
I had a feeling
I was slipping away
Can't remember
last time I slept,
but believe me
It won't be today,
there's no way...
It stopped there.
There's a couple more verses.
These new songs
are running a little long.
No, you're telling a story.
Sometimes it takes a minute.
That's got vibes, man. I dig it.
I think I found
someone, not like that.
I think I found someone
that, that gets it
maybe, that gets it.
This woman, Billy. She might be
some kind of wizard or
something.
She's older, and she
just got that wisdom.
She sent me the way of a
producer that I think is
powerful.
I, I need a partner in that.
And I feel like I
might have found one.
Well, we'll see, it
might be, it might be cool,
it might be squirrely.
And it might be,
where it's just drums, you know
like during those holes like
where it would just be vocals.
Feeling that.
Yeah?
It ain't perfect, but
it's rock and roll.
Fix it, Diddy.
I think it's great. All right.
I think it's cool.
I don't I like them when the
doubles are loose, you know?
Just makes it fun to listen to.
Okay.
Thick Georgia
woman, her body knows
Basket of peaches
under her clothes
Very cool. One last thing.
Take that last note and
down real quick so
it goes right into.
I'm just wanting to hear a train
wreck of the to go
like that, like one
end to the other.
That's cool.
I love it myself.
See what kind of
vibe we're getting.
Stay on your
side of the street
Worry bout the ground
under your own feet
Might find yourself
danglin' by a ladder
Makin' you nervous,
what's the matter?
Better watch
out, better lay low
Half Hanged Mary
gettin' ready to blow
Welcome to my world
Won't you come on in?
Miracles, I guess
I used to care
about being a star.
And then I stopped
caring about being a star.
And when I stopped
caring about that,
I thought, well, what exactly is
it that I'm trying to do here?
What are we trying to do
as artists and songwriters?
Welcome to my world
Sometimes the hardest part
is just hanging in there.
Well, Ricky pulled
another one out of her hat.
Next thing I know, I'm
packing for a tour in Europe.
Thick Georgia woman,
her body knows
Basket of peaches
under her clothes
She's gonna lock the door,
take off her bra
Call up her sister in Arkansas
Pour her rights in jar of wine
Talk about class in decline
In her chest is
a treasure trove
Rich as the
groceries on the stove
A world of hurt in disguise,
happy as hell otherwise
Thick Georgia woman
They were trying to tell
me earlier
how you say thank you in Danish.
Dutch. Dutch!
I know where I am.
I know exactly where I am.
As anybody does, you go
through a lot in life,
and I'm going to do a few
new songs for y'all tonight,
because I figure y'all are cool
and won't tell nobody.
I heard Lucinda Williams say,
when a reporter asked her once,
like,
now that you're happy
and more balanced in your life,
aren't you worried that you
won't have anything to write
about?
And she's like, oh
no, I have a lifetime
of trauma to write about.
This will never end,
there's plenty.
So I sort of feel that way too.
So I wrote this song
in sort of a simple song,
but it's just something I wanted
to say. And it's called The Easy
Kind.
Well, I swear I'm trying
to rehabilitate
I've sat and told strangers
what I contemplate
I open the drawers,
thrown out the razors
I've walked straight through
the emotional craters
I listed goodbyes,
I talked till I cried
At times nobody was on my side
I made big plans
And I changed my mind
There's all kinds of women
I'm not the easy kind,
the easy kind
Getting my music
out into the world
on whatever level I can,
in the purest form I can,
is all I care about now.
And is it an
exercise in futility?
An exercise in fate?
Sometimes I don't know.
I just know it's my nature,
it's honest, and
the story is mine.
I listed goodbyes,
I talked till I cried
At times nobody
When I was younger,
I thought the deal was just to
put on a pretty outfit and
perform.
But for me that felt so empty.
It felt so vain.
Old southern girls
got nothin' to lose,
I got nothing to lose
It's taken a few trips
around the sun to gather
this kaleidoscope
of emotions and experiences
and it keeps on spinning.
I talked till I cried
At times,
nobody was on my side
Like a never-ending riddle,
and there's no answer.
And I changed my mind
There's all kinds of women
I'm not the easy kind
The easy kind
But that's why there's a song.
Half Hanged Mary don't mind
the weather. Birds of a feather
gonna burn together
You can come loose,
but that's okay
She coming down anyway
Not a witch before
but sure one now
Her tongue'll look ya in
the eye and lie ya out a vow
Ain't worried about fate,
ain't worried about sin
Can't make her
afraid of dyin' again
Blow, Blow
Ladies who lunch
stood around watchin'
Counted on her to cover
their debauchin'
Tying her dress
with a tattered sash
Now her necklace
is a ropey rash
Had to put her down
with them wicked rabies
Fore she made more
black cat babies
Can't serve antiquated charms
Please your countrymen
with them marked up arms
When you're spookin' the cow,
spillin' the hay
Boilin' bedsores
and forgettin' to pray
Blow, Blow
Who gets to say
how you make magic?
How the hell they know
that heaven ain't tragic?
Rife with those
who are deceased
There lies your wives
and your daddy increase
Take the pain
and lay on penance
With a navel gazing
run-on sentence
Invisible things
they want you to see
Are the ones that
paint them righteously
Make 'em holier than water,
holier than rain
Tell ya what is
and what ain't insane
Blow, Blow
Think through the trigger
'fore you pull it
No such thing
as a silver bullet
When you're dealing with
the devil and Pentacostin'
Believe they let
her off in Boston
Better watch
out, better lay low
Half Hanged Mary
gettin' ready to blow
Stay on your
side of the street
Worry 'bout the ground
under your own feet
Might find yourself
danglin' by a ladder
Makin' you nervous,
what's the matter?
Better watch
out, better lay low
Half Hanged Mary
gettin' ready to blow