Workingman’s Guma
Release Date: October 20, 2023
Workingman’s Guma Lyrics:
I was alone one day and I had the place to myself
When upon my eye, by chance’s tide, I beheld a lettered veil
In some strange hand though at first glance it looked just like mine
It was in gold leaf and a master’s weave; I had never seen anything so fine
And it stretched from line to line
When the light had dimmed I could see the hem, and it looked just like skin
And it seemed to me it could only be a living thing, yes indeed
And in all fairness I became embarrassed and hid my face
But the veil remained — only rearranged — and the words were lost, a precious cost
And it blew my mind to know
That I had missed the boat
Well you’ve got no choice for this world’s invoice but to pay your dues
If in some small moment a lettered veil should appear to you — see it through
If you get the chance to take a glance, would you write it down?
Put it in my song or address it wrong and send it on
All songs written by T.J. Masters
Published by Guma University Publishing (BMI)
Copyright 2023 Guma
When the morning comes
All I can think is what have I done to deserve you?
True, try though I do
I bend in the way of goodness for goodness’s sake
What a relief just to see you smiling
In the afternoon
I’ll write a tune and try to explain how I love you
Still, try though I will
My mind is a garden and none of the seeds are sown
What do you think when you see me smiling?
Asking each other “what?” all the time
What a relief after just a while
Tending my reply
When the words arrive
Sundown in between time of eating and time of cleaning up
Darkness fits like a shoe
Well, it’s supposed to
All songs written by T.J. Masters
Published by Guma University Publishing (BMI)
Copyright 2023 Guma
Jesus Christ
I almost was T-boned by a trailer full of tires
It’s another day driving the highways of Texas
Big truck or sedan, you can take it on the road out here in Texas
Outlaw or law abider, temporary plate provider
Nothing could stop nobody from driving
Credit goes wherever it is due
And you go wherever you want to
On any other day driving the highways
Riding the byways of Texas
Don’t worry if you blow it, if it’s got wheels you can tow it here in Texas
Driving drunk or designated, no ID, un-registrated
They can’t catch ‘em all and they won’t catch you, darling
Treat every yellow light like it’s a question
And the speed limit as merely a suggestion
And you’ll spend another day driving the highways
Riding the byways
Beating the back roads of Texas
Naturally, out of four lanes you’d suddenly change three
Texting with your sister you had almost missed her exit
Now if you don’t cause an accident I will
But put between a brick wall and the wheel
I’ll smoke your ass with gasoline and steel
To spend another day driving the highways
Riding the byways
Beating the back roads
Dodging the tolls of Texas
Hiding in a canteen somewhere just outside of Abilene am I
Three killed in the crash, almost out of cash and three drinks in
If the waitress looks at me again I’ll die, darling
I’ll treat every flashing light like it’s a question
And the speed limit as merely a suggestion
And I’ll spend another day driving the highways
Riding the byways
Beating the back roads
Dodging the tolls
Avoiding the highway patrol
All songs written by T.J. Masters
Published by Guma University Publishing (BMI)
Copyright 2023 Guma
Possession in itself a crime leaves the confident confined
Better to know than to not; better too ripe than to rot
But for me I think the opposite agrees
I was once beholden to a different point of view
And I did what I did; and I’ve hid what I could
But you know, some things you don’t outgrow
Possession ’til the bridge is burned; as if we could return
Land, sea, and sky — Europe in July
Is it so bad to speak about things that we’ve had?
I was once remanded by a different sense of time
But now I am free just to be
And you know, I think I’ll never stop
All songs written by T.J. Masters
Published by Guma University Publishing (BMI)
Copyright 2023 Guma
Poor Wanda the hen
Not the first in line but far from the end
Doesn’t stand out as much as she blends in
Wanda the hen
She’s got filtered water and organic feed
The basic level on the Hierarchy of Needs
Now we’ll see if she’ll borrow and beg
Or lay us an egg
But who took the wire and stuck it to the wall?
And who put Wanda in the middle of it all?
That’s the part that gets stuck in her craw, is:
What does it all mean for poor Wanda?
Winter Arthur is a kinder version of himself
And I think it suits him well
There’s no explanation as to why — when the temperature is high —
He just gets meaner
Who could ever be like that?
Out with reason, only reacts
It’s no wonder I keep feeding that cat
Arthur speaks to me
Wanda and Arthur
Two sides of a coin
One seeks to buy, one to purloin
Arthur and Wanda
Neither knows shame
Pity the players, don’t hate the game
In 2020 Wanda stood up for herself
Gained a couple pounds and made the rounds in ten seconds flat
First out the door in the morning, yes she is
Later that year, Arthur kept us from tears
He knows habits have a way of weeding in
First at my feet in the morning
All songs written by T.J. Masters
Published by Guma University Publishing (BMI)
Copyright 2023 Guma
What is the inchworm’s game?
I swear I saw the same one
Hanging from the same spot
Just the other day outside
Waiting for it knows why — some other game to try
Even the air has changed
Sure that there’s a name for when
Everything is new again
Bigger than it’s ever been
Different each time it comes — under the same old sun
My favorite time of year
I don’t even mind letting you know
I’ve started saving dates
As if it takes much will
Harder still is waiting for the day to come
I miss you all so much
Take pictures and be in touch
I am the same old son
I don’t even mind (most of the time)
Different each time it comes
Given in kind
Most of the time I have figured out how it works — pretty circular
Things that happen tend to reoccur
And the world turns
All songs written by T.J. Masters
Published by Guma University Publishing (BMI)
Copyright 2023 Guma
Some thirteen got up, crack of dawn
No choice in the matter, not that it matters
Riding the thread of a vision
By the end of the day, twelve would remain
No choice in the matter — doesn’t that sound dire?
Find her in the dusty twilight covered in ants
The body remains; something has changed
The absolute meaning relative to the being
After the threat of revision
A kettle of birds all got the word
You can hear them beating, “come to the feeding”
Left her in a thousand pieces under the moon
All songs written by T.J. Masters
Published by Guma University Publishing (BMI)
Copyright 2023 Guma
There’s 50 miles to New Orleans
50 miles to town
If you ain’t home, you don’t pick up the phone
I’m gonna turn this rig around
I got a place to be, and more than one place to go
You better believe I got a woman in every town I know
There’s 50 miles to Houston
That’s 50 miles from here
When I get in, no matter where I’ve been
I’m gonna wind up full of beer
I’ve been on Highway 10 from the day that I was born
I’ve been from Jacksonville all the way to California
I’ve seen the Mississippi Delta shining like an oil pan in June
But I’ll blow out 18 wheels before I ever spend the night in Baton Rouge
Just keep on driving right on through
I’ve been on Highway 10 from the day that I was born
Living on that long white line from Jacksonville to California
There’s 50 miles to El Paso
And just a couple more to your bed
When I get in, if there’s another man
He’s gonna wind up full of lead
Well it’s too late now to head on back to San Antone
You better believe, woman, I ain’t going to Mexico
There’s 50 miles to Phoenix
And I’m starting to feel the heat
When I get there, I’m gonna cut my hair
And get me something to eat
If I make it through the desert, I’ve got a little spot in Venice Beach
But if I hear the sirens, I’ll just turn around and head back east
I’ve been on Highway 10 — that’s the story of my life
That long white line is just a noose I haven’t tied
And I’m gonna ride it ’til I die
’Til the day I die
All songs written by T.J. Masters
Published by Guma University Publishing (BMI)
Copyright 2023 Guma
Workingman’s Guma Credits:
Produced by: T.J. Masters
Engineered by: Gary Calhoun James
Mixed by: T.J. Masters & Gary Calhoun James
Mastered by: JJ Golden
James Gwyn – drumset
Dees Stribling – drums
Gary Calhoun James – electric and upright bass
Bob Hoffnar – pedal steel guitar
Sweet Gary Newcomb – pedal steel guitar
T.J. Masters – acoustic guitar, banjo, vocals
Sam P. Rives – acoustic piano
Jay Stiles – Wurlitzer electric piano
With:
Cat Clemons III – electric guitar on “Highway 10 Blues”
Selena Rosanbalm – vocals on “The Lettered Veil,” “Highway 10 Blues”
Etan Sekons – dobro on “The Lettered Veil,” “Poor Wanda”
And:
Antonio Cevallos – violin
Geoff Manyin – cello
Zach Matteson – violin
Karl Mitze – viola
Strings on “Driving the Highways of Texas” arranged by Bob Hoffnar
Strings on “My Favorite Year of Time” arranged by Sam P. Rives
Design and layout by: Robert Carroll
Cover photography by: Bridgette Miller
All songs written by: T.J. Masters
Published by: Guma University Publishing (BMI)
Copyright 2023 Guma