Jim Vitale

Songs from the album Love And Fate

“You Can’t Let Me Down”

I was low already
and alone
I was feeling all rolled up
and a little stoned
you wanna break my heart, my dear 
but at least this time you were sincere

oh, you can’t let me down
no you can’t let me down
no you can’t let me down
I’m already here

I was lowdown 
steady as she goes 
lean and mean
and in between
right down to the bone 
you wanna break me down to tears
and every time I see you disappear

you felt the need to pretend
and yet I always had to defend 
you couldn’t let me down no more
I’m feeling fragile
so frayed and torn 

I was low key
anyone would know
I was feeling all done up
and nowhere to go 
you wanna break so free and clear 
and every time I see you reappear

Words and music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024 
26F Music Publishing, Inc. 

“America’s Road”

Elvis was a Cadillac all shiny and chrome
like lightning down the middle of America’s road
I never met a man who wasn’t bought and sold
rollin’ like a stone down America’s road

there’s a late-night radio afterglow
spoken in a poem by a radio ghost
I never had a feeling so all alone
rollin’ like a stone down America’s road

you listen to the echoes of the bones and sing along
now every mile you roll along that dream is so
long gone

all the badges on your coat so bright and bold
given for your sins so long ago
if you get yourself the gold they’re gonna keep your soul
rollin’ like a stone down America’s road

Words & Music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024
26F Music Publishing, Inc.

“Day Maker”

well, honey do
honey don’t
you never said if you will or you won’t give me love
come on and set me free
yeah yeah

be my little day maker
my soul shaker
you got me down on my knees
be my little day maker
my soul shaker
you got the love that I need

well, I got the jones
so let me know
like Muddy Waters when he hollers a note 
give me love
come on and set me free
yeah yeah

you got a straight line
main line right to my heart
don’t want no second-hand song and dance
I want to feel the spark

well, don’t be cruel
I thought you knew
I’m doing everything to give you a clue to give me love
come on and set me free
yeah yeah

Words & Music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024
26F Music Publishing, Inc.

“You Just Say So”

I’m taking down your halo
your'e taking down my walls
you just say so
and they fall

I’m thinking all we say goes
you're thinking love is all
you just say so
and we fall

all you gotta do is say so
and we drift away
all you gotta do is say sol
I can't hardly wait
you just say so

I’m thinking that you may know
you think i'm so enthralled
you just say so
and i'll crawl

I wouldn't think to say no
you shouldn't think at all
you just say so
and we fall

love is new and it’s up to you
I want to hear you say love is new 
and all you’ve got to do to make me want to stay
you just say so

Words & Music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024
26F Music Publishing, Inc.

“Avalanche Annie”

this here’s a story wrapped up in a song
‘bout a mining hill family and how things they went wrong
when a train ambled its way through the heart of the town
oh, the kids they all loved it
but the smokestack turned their lungs brown

daddy is gone and mamma’s alone
as she washes kids’ feet in the sink to the bone
but to no avail ‘cause there’s lead in the H2O
now someone somewhere had told her so
she didn’t hear ‘cause the whistle had blowed

Avalanche Annie she’s in a pinch
and she really could use that industrial winch 
to get her kids out of the hole in the ground
you know she could 
but the smokestack turned their lungs brown

the illusion was grand
and their bed it was made
and everyone forgot what the mayor had said
he said, “You know you people are really the fortunate ones
now I’ll be on my way 
I’ve got my plans for your daughters and your sons”

their tale could get worse
but it took too long 
for me to coerce another verse to this song
from out of my head
and you know that’s where they are, too
now next time that train comes round
you might not get on so very soon

Words & Music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024
26F Music Publishing, Inc.

“Love and Fate”

oh, the sidewalk goes all calico
in the new rain two hearts come to know
two together feeling all at once
two together feeling like you’re really one

oh, you know it’s the rain
yeah yeah yeah
oh, you know it’s the rain
oh, you know it’s the rain
falling like love and fate

on the sidewalk love has come again
neither knows on what it might depend
two together feeling so in love
two together feeling like you’re really one

oh, you know it’s the rain
yeah yeah yeah
oh, you know it’s the rain
oh, you know it’s the rain
falling like love and fate
love and fate

her smile said more 
than she’d ever know how to say
in a moment you can feel the change 
it’s sudden as the rain

oh, you know it’s the rain
yeah yeah yeah
oh, you know it’s the rain
oh, you know it’s the rain
falling like love and fate
love and fate
love and fate
love and fate

Words & Music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024
26F Music Publishing, Inc.

“Coyote Joe”

that full moon makes me a fool and a liar
in the night we feel the pull of desire
all your noise in the nighttime gets me higher
a serenade by a coyote choir

sing a song we know Coyote Joe 
sing a song we know Coyote Joe

a pack of magic tricksters now conspires
a-singing songs from two worlds so inspired
we embrace with the nighttime growing brighter
Coyote Joe he laughs to bring us fire

oh, my love
oh, my love how you really love me so 
oh, my love
oh, my love don’t you ever let me go
oh, my love 
Oh, my love listen to Coyote Joe
oh, my love how I feel you sway
now you feel my heart unchained

and so it goes when two souls walk that wire
in the night between our hearts’ desire
we embrace with the nighttime growing brighter
Coyote Joe he laughs to bring us fire

Words & Music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024
26F Music Publishing, Inc.

“Don’t Think At All”

the needle goes down as the sun comes up
I’m riding on fumes in this old pickup truck
been paying my dues by the mile
my mind is gone but it left a smile
it only means something if you don’t think at all

my lazy day lady she can do no wrong
every time she saves me when I get real gone
she got it all
heart and soul
she tried to tell me once but I don’t know
it only means something if you don’t think at all 

I’m flattened like a penny to the rail
the train goes on and on
it never fails
then morning exhales and bright eyes shine
blue, wide open brand-new skies
it only means something if you don’t think at all

well you can take my word
cash it in for gold
I’ll always shoot it straight
or so I’ve been told
you can take it all the way down to the wire
take the the word of this honest liar
it only means something if you don’t think at all
oh, it only means something if you don’t think at all

Words & Music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024
26F Music Publishing, Inc.

I Got Your Love In A Song

burn for me in black and white
burn for me in blues
burn for me now with your light
burn the way you do
sing for me every note just right
you sing a song so true
sing with me now, one more time
before you leave too soon
I want you to know
I don’t want you to ever go

I got your love in a song tonight
the kind that shines on to remind
every night my heart rewinds to you
back to you

shine for me now from afar
shine on through and through
shine for me my shooting star
shine the way you do
echoes ring into the night
echoes ring and chime
echoes of your melody
they echo every time
I want you to know
I don’t want you to ever go

all the love you gave
when we sang the night away
echoes all become someone I can touch
I got so much of your love

Words & Music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024
26F Music Publishing, Inc.

“Whisperin’ Freight Train Blues”

listen to the freight train whisper
in the distance alone tonight
listen to the freight train whisper
callin’ out its lonely ride
my train of thought it has left the station
derailed itself on down the line
won’t you listen to the freight train whisper
in the distance alone tonight

without you baby
I don’t feel right
I’m left all high and lonesome tonight

listen to the freight train whisper
rollin’ down all the miles tonight
listen to the freight train whisper
trying to get on down the line
my train of thought
it has left the station
gone ramblin’ in anticipation
won’t you listen to the freight train whisper
in the distance alone tonight

listen to the freight train whisper
even though it’s nowhere in sight
listen to the freight train whisper
callin’ out while you’re dreaming tonight
my train of thought
it has left the station
this one-track mind it got no hesitation
won’t you listen to the freight train whisper
in the distance alone tonight

Words and Music by James D. Vitale (BMI) © 2024
26F Music Publishing, Inc.