Released 11/2000

Written In Rope CD Cover

"Written In Rope" was recorded at OBT studios the Summer and Fall of 1999 and finished Spring of 2000. "Song of Summer" was shelved and "Written In Rope" was recorded as a 3-piece after Rufus, Kevin and Matt left the band to move to different states: Iowa, Hawaii and Illinois respectively. The album was released in late November after being pushed back because of the deaths of Matt's, Rufus's and Jeff's fathers. The album features a stripped-down country & western sound that was refined from playing out and touring heavily as a 3-piece. The album was recorded and co-produced by Jeff's brother Jon Tranberry.

Guests include longtime AC collaborator Matt Marohl on pedal steel, child prodigy Danny Hochalter on fiddle, vocal appearances by Becky Schlegel, Erik Douglas Tasa and Chris Larsen & Doug Trail Johnson of The House Of Mercy Band.

An interesting side-bar is that Danny Hochalter now plays in "Lonestar," a slickly produced Nashville band that gets lots of radio play.

The album cover was done by Mike, touched up by Friberg Design, and the band photos were taken by our friend Derek Till.

The album is dedicated to the memory of our fathers.

The One That Got Away Lookin’ for romancin’ / when I saw you dancin’ / like a vision you were standing there / with your western shirt tied off at the waist / and a little dark flip at the end of your hair / Your hips they were wigglin’ / the rest of you was jigglin’ / but only in the very best way / Well, I know it’s not polite to stare / but I could not look away / When I finally worked up the nerve / to come and say, "Hi," / you were standing with some jerk / who looked to me like he’s 14 feet high / But that didn’t stop me / although he might drop me / I knew I had to take a chance / I’d just bide my time and have a drink / and wait for that moment / to ask you to dance / When 3 hours go by / I’m feeling mighty high / my head is all afloat in beer / I looked around; your man was gone / I thought that I was in the clear / Your eyes said, "Hello..." / your whole body was talkin’ / I thought I was so cool / if only I had seen / your boyfriend come walkin’ / Well, I called you, "Baby," / and you looked like maybe / to you that might be pleasin’ / but then my head went, "Pop!" / and I was dropped / by that ton of bricks that fell on my chin / When I finally came to-- / my face all black and blue-- / they said, "Her man has took her away" / Well, I shook my head and I said, / "Aw, shucks!" for the one that got away / Yeah, I spit out my teeth and I said, / "Aw, shucks!" for the one that got away Q: vocals, acoustic guitar M: electric guitar, vocals J: big bass RMM: pedal steel Danny Hochalter: fiddle

She'll Take Your Name She heard everything / you had to say to her / now it looks as though / she's made up her mind / but I can't tell you anything / ‘Cause I read somewhere / in a magazine / that a girl needs room to breathe / and that’s true for her, but she / she's a breeze / but I can't tell you anything / ‘Cause she'll take you up / she'll take your name / Oh, she's the one you've waited for / your whole life / now, don't let her go / No; give her just a little time to think / But you're the one she's thinkin' of / when she is thinkin' about love / and she's ready for that / everlastin' link / I bet it was fate that you two met / and, although I met her first / and proposals were rehearsed / it'll just have to be fine / that she ain't mine / but I can't tell you anything / ‘Cause she'll take you up / she'll take your name M: vocals, electric guitar Q: acoustic guitar, vocals J: upright bass

Love Me While The Lovin' Is Good Come on, gal, and love me / while the lovin’ is good / Put your arms around me / like I wish you would / Time will pass, that’s understood / Love me while the lovin’ is good / Come on, gal, and hug me / while the huggin’ is great / Put your arms around me / don’t you hesitate / Let’s hug all night ‘til it’s too late / Hug me while the huggin’ is great / Time will pass and we will / be young no more / Will you still love me when I’m 34? / I ain’t growin’ younger, baby / hey, I’m growin’ old / so, come on, gal, and love me / while the lovin’ is gold / Come on, gal, and kiss me / while the kissin’ is right / Put your lips on my lips and / hold them tight / Let’s kiss and kiss / the whole long night / Kiss me while the kissin’ is right Q: vocals, acoustic guitar J: stand-up bass M: electric guitar RMM: pedal steel

I've Been There Too If you ever have to weep and cry, / moan and sigh because / she’s leavin’ you / well, brother, I’ve been there, too / If you ever have to moan and sigh / and holler, "Why is she gone?" / through and through / well, brother, I’ve been there, too / And now you spend all your time / just a’weepin’ because she’s gone / and left you feelin’ blue / You stumble ‘round through the days / like, "This ain’t happenin’- / Maybe I’m dreamin’ / and this ain’t true" / And now you / spend all your time just a’waitin / Wait for the ring / of that cursed telephone / You feel like, "If she really cared / she’d call me and tell me, ‘Baby’ / I’m coming home" / And now you / spend all your time just a’cryin’ / You want to talk / but there’s no one to turn to / She was your very best friend / but now she’s leavin’ / Leavin’ you grievin’ and feelin’ blue Q: vocals, acoustic guitar M: electric guitar, vocals J: doghouse bass RMM: pedal steel

A Long Way From Lovin' You're a long way from lovin' me tonight / Tender lips can't be kissed / if the feelin' just ain't right / I have ruined the mood until tomorrow / Now, you're a long way from lovin' me tonight / You're a long way from lovin' me tonight / I can tell by the hell / that you're putting me through / I have done some foolish things / that I'm not proud of / Now, you're a long way from lovin' me tonight / Chances are you'll come around / and make my Ma and Papa proud / by takin' on the family name with me / But tonight I'll be the company / of a bottle of ol' Tanqueray / ‘Cause you're a long way from lovin' me tonight / You're a long way from lovin' me tonight / Wish I knew what to do to make it alright / Have I made you forget how much that I care? / ‘Cause you're a long way from lovin' me tonight / Chances are you'll come around / and make my Ma and Papa proud / by takin' on the family name with me / But tonight I’ll have the lonely blues / can’t walk that far in these old shoes / ‘Cause you're a long way from lovin' me tonight / You're a long, long way / from lovin' me tonight M: vocals, electric guitar Q: acoustic guitar, vocals J: treehouse RMM: pedal steel DH: bow draggin’

Rails Of Love Clickety-clackin’ down those / Rails of Love / Tell that engineer, / "Hey, boy, go ring your bell" / while our hearts are pitty-pattin’ / you can bet there’ll be romancin’ / as we clickety-clack on down / these rails of Love / I’ve rode the rails a long time, dear / searchin’ for just the right girl / when the conductor punched your ticket / you set my brain in a whirl / Oh, life ain’t easy as a rail man / A broken heart in every town / From coast to coast, / oh, how I’ve suffered / but no more now you’re found / 8 wheels drive my heart / 1000 tons of rolling steel / and my heart beats like distant thunder / You stoke the coals that I might feel Q: vocals, acoustic guitar M: electric guitar, vocals J: the steam engine DH: fiddle

I Just Need Some Love Well, I s'pose I outta get a job someday / ‘cause I ain't eaten / and I got no place to stay / but every time you hold me tight / I could go another night without a bite / I just need some love / Well, beggars can't be choosers / yeah, I know that's true / but if I had a choice, / you know I'd go with you / ‘cause I'm poor and dirty and lazy, too / so, my Love, I beg of you: / don't treat me bad / I just need some love / I need a true friend / to get me through these times / ‘cause there's just one end to my story / and it ain't a happy one / I just need some love / Well, you'd be surprised / what a little love could do / to a man like me / and to a woman like you / we'd go from bad to better fast / and, even if it doesn't last, / we took a chance / I just need some love M: vocals, electric guitar Q: acoustic guitar, vocals J: cardboard box RMM: pedal steel DH: fiddle

Starlight Ranch I want a rocket ship to take me / deep in to the night / so I can be a lonesome cowboy / amongst the stars so bright / And Midnight will greet me / wherever I roam / Starlight Ranch is now my home / Since a boy I ain’t decided / between ranch-hand / and astroman / and ever since the 2 collided / it seemed like the brightest plan / Oh, the beauty will be stellar / --too much for just one man-- / so won’t you hop on board / a rocket / and meet me in starlight-land Q: vocals, acoustic guitar M: electric guitar, vocals J: bass fiddle RMM: pedal steel Chris Larson: vocals Doug Trail-Johnson: vocals

You Made A Boy Out Of A Man Give yourself a hand / you've done it again / You made a boy out of a man / you took a giant / and shrunk him down / You made a boy out of a man / The kind of love you gave to me / was motherly at first / but it turned out to be the kind / to smother me and worse / You coddled me, did everything / I didn't have to move / then one day you went away / leavin' me without a clue / Give yourself a hand / you've done it again / You made a boy out of a man / you turned a lion into a kitten / You made a boy out of a man / Well, you have dated all my friends / I guess I should have known / because the shape / you left them in / was like they'd never grown / I watched a poor old friend of mine / regress before my eyes / once he was a baker / now he sticks his thumb in pies / Give yourself a hand / you've done it again / You made a boy out of a man / Congratulations! You've got a son / You made a boy out of a man M: vocals, electric guitar Q: acoustic guitar, vocals J: woodpile RMM: pedal steel

Joe Rae "Won’t you get in the car?" / said Joe Rae at 34 / to Susan who claimed she topped 23 / But Susan was in fact just 16 / --not looking back-- / and Joe Rae’s car seemed / her chariot of dreams / If any one had said to sweet Susan / "Girl, you’ll soon be dead," / she don’t give a damn / Get on your knees and pray / beg forgiveness, Joe Rae / Joe Rae you are on the road to Hell / Well, she stuck out her thumb at 6:21 / when the sun had just begun to shine / She would run away from home / tattooed skull and cross-bones / on her breast where the flesh / was smooth and fine / Death wish in her heart / Sweet Susan / with Youth’s careless art / she don’t give a damn / Get on your knees and pray / beg forgiveness, Joe Rae / Joe Rae you are on the road to Hell / For His first plan had said / "Slit her throat, leave her dead..." / not aware he’d fall in love with that sweet maid / Well, he loved that girl so / take her anywhere she’d go / not aware she was headin’ for the grave / Sensed his slipping threat / Sweet / and she took that man to bed / she don’t give a damn / Get on your knees and pray / beg forgiveness, Joe Rae / Joe Rae you are on the road to Hell / Now he’s crying tears / Sweet Susan / Locked up all his years / she don’t give a damn / Get on your knees and pray / beg forgiveness, Joe Rae / Joe Rae you are on the road to Hell Q: vocals, acoustic guitar J: bass M: electric guitar RMM: pedal steel DH: strings Becky Schlegel: Sweet Susan Erik Douglas Tasa: Joe Rae

Gotta Move On Well, if I had me some shoes / some shoes that would walk around / you know I’d put them on / and walk all over town / But them shoes I own / them shoes is all broke down / so I’m just stuck here waitin’ / and waitin’ don’t feel right / I got to move on, Daddy / cuz the time is right / Well, if I had me some wheels / some wheels that would really roll / you know I’d hop in that car / and then I’d hit the road / But I ain’t got no gas / so got no place to go / so I’m just stuck here waitin’ / and waitin’ don’t feel right / I got to move on, Daddy / cuz the time is right / Well, you ask me what I’m doing / I don’t rightly know / I’m getting antsy and I just got to go / I’m feelin’ sweaty / and my clothes are too tight / I got to go right now because / the time is right / Well, if I had me some money / I’d buy me a ticket on a train / and if that train don’t work / I’d buy me one for a plane / But I ain’t got no money / so, "Goodbye, open range" / so I’m just stuck here waitin’ / and waitin’ don’t feel right / I got to move on, Daddy / cuz the time is right / When I finally make it / I’m hittin’ the road / I don’t care where, I just got to go / There’s just one thing / that’s holding me back: / There just ain’t no way so / I am stuck here, Jack / Well, if I had me a rocket / I’d fly off to the moon / I’d push on through them stars / and come back no time soon / But my rocket is busted / so I just guess I’m screwed / So I’m just stuck here waitin’ / and waitin’ don’t feel right / I got to move on, Daddy / cuz the time is right Q: vocals, acoustic guitar J: slap bass M: banjo RMM: pedal steel DH: fiddle