LITTLE HERCULES

So you cannot lift a spirit that has turned to lead
Or shine a light in shadow when the batteries are dead
Or fly like a bird over all the works of man
Or always think of the perfect words
But you do the best you can

Nothing seems as easy as it did when you were young
Myths may be invincible, but we are only strong
Strong like a memory, strong like a willow in the wind
Strong as you'll ever be, you will always need to bend

And if you feel the weight of the world
Put your mind at ease
Little Hercules

There are times when being a grown-up gets to be too much
And your sense of humor seems to vanish in the crush
Of the daily 9-9 that keeps your family alive
You're just putting in your time
Does anyone really go home at 5?

You've made a life where no one ever tells you what to do
Now the only tyrant that you're working for is you
It's never easy to keep all the promises you make
But no one's gonna get you fired
If you'd just give yourself a break

And if you feel the weight of the world
Put your mind at ease
Little Hercules
'Cause there's so much on your shoulders
But you know it's a breeze
Little Hercules

© 1989 Craig Carothers / Irving Music BMI / Two Bagger Music BMI

SO HELP ME

You never came and told me
'Bout any of the white lies
You never came and told me
'Bout any of the dark side
You're tryin' to keep a secret
And you're never gonna come clean?
Tryin' to keep a secret
Are you ever gonna tell me?

Nothing but the truth
Nothing but the truth
So help me
So help me

You're telling' me what's easy
That's all you ever say
You're telling' me what's easy
But I'm finding out the hard way

You're tryin' to keep a secret
And you're never gonna come clean?
Tryin' to keep a secret
Are you ever gonna tell me?

Nothing but the truth
Nothing but the truth
So help me
So help me

© 1987 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

NO MAN’S LAND

She couldn't take it in the working man‘s world
She couldn't make it in society, baby
She didn't wanna be a stay at home girl
She didn't wanna be, wanna be the perfect lady

She keeps a wall around her
To keep her memories at bay
She says...

This is no man‘s land
Where no mans hand can ever change her plans,
No man

Back in the city
All those voices in the walls
She tried to block ’em out
But they'd come back when she'd go under

Her secret number taking every call
There was no corner of her mind
Where they couldn't find her

She keeps a wall around her
To keep her memories at bay
People come to see her
But she just sends them away
She says:

This is no man‘s land...

© 1992 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW

Nothing can save me now
Now that I'm so far gone
Not since you came around
After my own heart

I swear I never saw it coming
You never hear the one that gets you
Even as fast as I was running
After my own heart

Straight and narrow
Landing on the mark
Straight as an arrow
After my own heart

I've known some awful men
I used to be like them
But I'm more like you now
After my own heart

Straight and narrow
Landing on the mark
Straight as an arrow
After my own heart

© 1992 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI 

RED BERET

Baby wears a red beret
She's my guardian angel
I wound never find my way
Without my guardian angel

And she sees me home
Nearly every night
And if I'm alone I know I'm alright
With my guiding light
From my Guardian Angel

She's got me flyin' right
Since I've come to know her
Even in the darkest night
She is watching over
And she takes my hand
And I'm not afraid
I don't understand
How it got this way, but I can't complain
'bout my Guardian Angel

She wears a red beret
She's my Guardian Angel
She wears a red beret
Guardian Angel
Baby wears a red beret
She's my Guardian Angel

© 1984 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

PLASTIC ROSE

I'm down here every night
All the bartenders know my name
It's all I've got left but that's all right
'Cause everything comes and goes
Except for my plastic rose

Mine is not a happy story
But I don't wanna bore you with details
It started with a Dear John candy-gram
That's just the way it goes
She sent it with a plastic rose

Plastic rose, plastic rose
Don't let me forget my plastic rose

You never have to water a plastic rose
Keep it in the box take it out for show
Never dies, never grows
Plastic American Beauty rose

Baby ran away with a sugar daddy
Now they're livin' in a ranch style mobile home
In Vista Del Rey but it's not that bad
It ended on a happy note
Candy kisses and a plastic rose

Plastic rose...

I'm down here every night
All the bartenders know my name
It's all I've got left but that's all right
I can hardly walk I'm glad I drove
Don't let me forget my plastic rose...

Plastic rose, plastic rose
I won't let you forget this plastic rose

© 1984 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

HIDE IT FROM YOU

It's always been easy to lie to myself
Keeping my secrets and tell no one else
And who was I hurting if no one would know?
Who was I hurting?
Who was I hurting?

Some of the hardest words to say
Well they won't tumble out and save the day

But I‘ll tell you the truth
There‘s a light on my every move
And I feel naked and new
I can't hide it from you
I can't hide it from you

A double life living inside of my head
One plan of action, another unsaid
And always so clever and never got caught
Always so clever
All too clever

Even the hardest words to say
Well they won't tumble out and save the day

But I‘ll tell you the truth
There's a light on my every move
And I feel naked and new
I can't hide it from you
Hide it From you

© 1992 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

STICKS AND STONES

Are you alright, am I all wrong?
How do you remember our time?
As a battle of will, or a contest of skill?
What is it that sticks in your mind?

I couldn't make you talk to me it cut me to the quick
I couldn't make you talk to me & I tried every trick
So when you wouldn't talk to me I tried to let It pass
If you're not gonna talk to me then I'm not gonna ask

What have I done now? What have I said
To make you act like you want me dead
No words or violence to break my bones
Only your silence like Sticks and Stones

Anyone's strong If nothing goes wrong
And there is no cloud in the sky
But when the goin' gets rough that's the true test of love
And we did not score so high

Too much resistance now the damage has been done
Can we go the distance till we're standing in the sun
If you could promise that you'd try to make amends
Then I wouldn't have to ask again & again

What have I done now? What have I said
To make you act like you want me dead
No words or violence to break my bones
Only your silence like Sticks and Stones

© 1992 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

NO GIRL OF MINE

She's not a slave to the nine to five day
She's not a working girl
She's not afraid of what her friends might say
She lives in a different world

She's got her own life
Got her own mind
She's nobody's good wife
Not a concubine

No girl of mine
She's her own girl
No girl of mine

Doesn't believe in the ways of old
Today's a better day
Doesn’t believe in the classical roles
She doesn't wanna play that way

She's got her own life
She's got her own mind
She's nobody's good wife
Not a concubine

No girl of mine
She's her own girl
No girl of mine

And if you wanna keep her down
To keep her you better let her go
If you wanna keep her down
To keep her you better let her go

She'll be as free
As she thinks she needs to be
She's no girl of mine
No girl of mine

She's got her own life
Got her own mind
She's nobody's good, good wife
Not a concubine

No girl of mine
She's her own girl
No girl of mine

© 1983 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

S.O’L.

She came into my life just like the flu
I could not fight
Just when you think you've gotten so immune
You're up all night

I still have these dreams about you
And I know there's nothing I can do
To make you be near me
Susan O'Leary

I have not counted all 300 days
She has been gone
But still I am aware that in her place
Nothing has grown

Still I toss and I turn
And there's a fever that burns
I think you can hear me
Susan O'Leary
Susan O'Leary

And like a junkie waiting for the fix
I shake and sweat
Recovery for me is not so quick
I can't forget

Now like some migratory fish you swim
To warmer seas
But if you ever come upstream again
Please think of me

I still have these dreams about you
And I know there's nothing I can do
To make you be near me
Susan O'Leary
Susan O'Leary

© 1989 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

HAVE ANOTHER DRINK

Have another drink
Have another drink
Don't you worry 'bout it, baby
What the other people think

Have another drink
Have another drink
Though you're on the floor
You could use some more
Have another drink

Bathtub gin or bourbon
Bottled beer or Grand Marnier
Might be scotch and soda
Might be Tanqueray
If Cuervo don't te-quil-ya
Move on back to rum
Have the bartender pour you
Some flaming 151

Have another drink
Have another drink
Don't you worry 'bout it, baby
What the other people think

Have another drink
Have another drink
Though you're on the floor
You could use some more
Have another drink

Now you're gettin' sloppy
You're barfin' on your friends
That ain't gonna stop you
You don't know how to say when
Pour another tall one
Gag that baby down
We'll wake you in the morning
With the early morning rounds

Have another drink
Have another drink
Don't you worry 'bout it, baby
What the other people think

Have another drink
Have another drink
Though you're on the floor
You could use some more
Have another drink

I said, drink, drink drink
Have another drink
Have another drink, drink, drink
Have another drink (how dry I am)
Have another drink, drink, drink
Have another drink

© 1981 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

DAYS ARE NUMBERED

You don't want to hear it from me
Or for that matter, from anyone
But time is racing by so quickly
Turn around, it will be gone

Anyone who has a dream
Will hold it to his breast
But it's how you live from day to day
That puts it to the test

I only want to say I love you
And you're always on my mind
I hope you know there is no other

But oh my darlin'
Days are numbered
See how fast they run
Days are numbered
And vanishing one by one

I know you've come a long long way
And I guess you've heard it all before
And anything that I might say
Could touch upon what still is sore

Any woman, any man
Who's standing on their own
Yeah, anyone who has a plan
Can see it carved in stone

I only want to say I need you
And you're always on my mind
And in love's light I always see you

But oh my darlin'
Days are numbered
See how fast they run
Days are numbered
And vanishing one by one

Time is short and life is sweet
I know I want you here with me
Anytime that you're away
It's just another wasted day
And they're vanishing one by one

© 1990 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI

TELL ME I’M WRONG

You don't wanna go slow
Don't wanna go, don't go
You don't wanna stay here
Don't wanna stay, don't stay

If anyone gets too near you're gonna run
If anything gets too dear you're gonna run

Tell me that I'm wrong, I wanna be wrong
Tell me that I'm wrong and it's alright
Tell me that I'm wrong, I don't wanna be right
Tell Me I'm Wrong

You don't wanna call in
Don't wanna call, don't call
You don't wanna fall in
Don't wanna fall, don't fall

If anyone gets too near you're gonna run
If anything gets too dear you're gonna run

Tell me that I'm wrong, I wanna be wrong
Tell me that I'm wrong and it's alright
Tell me that I'm wrong, I don't wanna be right
Tell Me I'm Wrong

© 1992 Craig Carothers / Bonny Black Music BMI