Temporary Relief
Words & Music by: Neil Carswell

It's a long way to temporary relief,
so they tell me and it ain't cheap.
I spend most my nights a traveling,
trying to find some place to get some sleep.

Well I got into a little mischief
but I soon cried out to God.
Met an old man in Miami,
he said “boy your life's worth more
than slopping hogs.”

Left my twenties last October
behind the bars of a Burke County jail.
Too drunk to write my name,
too high to get somebody to go my bail.

And it's a long way to temporary relief,
let me tell you and it ain't cheap.
I spend most my nights a traveling,
trying to find some place to get some sleep.

And some say life it's all about money,
a crystal ball, some milk and honey.
And some people put their faith
in a simple twist of fate,
holding out for some fable
that ain't able to ever come true
for me and you baby.

I had a waitress down at Denny’s,
she had a problem with a tight rope, uh huh.
She held me up for six months empty,
tied me down and got me strung out on dope.

And it's a long way to temporary relief,
let me tell you and it ain't cheap.
I spend most my nights a traveling,
trying to find some place to get some sleep.
And it's a long way!

I met a black woman
down in the dark mouth of Mississippi,
she could tell the future from reading my palm.
She had a room full of black magic,
Tarot cards and voodoo dolls
and chicken claws.
She said a many a so-called Christian boy
underneath ain't nothing more
than raving dogs. Oh, raving dogs!

And it's a long way to temporary relief,
let me tell you and it ain't cheap,
no, it ain't cheap!
and it's a long way to temporary relief,
let me tell you and it ain't cheap,
it ain't cheap, no, it ain't cheap!
it ain't cheap,
sure ain't cheap.


Song written at my cabin in North Carolina a few years back. I wrote the whole tune one night at the kitchen table in a induced state of mind. Just a story of travels and life where you've been and where to go. Looking back, what a mess everything was and still is in a way, at least today.

Basic Tracks Cutting Session: Long View Farms, Studio "B" Brookfield MA
Chief Eng: Phil Green
Assistant Engineer: Mike Lapierre
Overdub Session: Quad Studio "B" Nashville, TN
Chief Eng: Phil Green
Assistant Engineer: Kyle Wilson & Earl Drake
Overdub Lead Vocal: Dream Catcher Studio, Ashland City, TN
Chief Engineer: Chris Anderson
Mixed at : The Rec Room, Nashville, TN by Ben Fowler
Mastered by: Richard Dodd, Nashville, TN

Lead Voc: Neil Carswell
Drums: Mike Leveque
Bass: Judd Fuller
Acoustic, Electric, Rhythm and Lead Guitars & Tambourine: Stu Kimball
Steel Guitar: Russ Paul
Piano, B3 Organ & Wurlitzer: Johnny Neel
Background Vocals: Chris Anderson, Kim Keys, Perry Colman & Kim Parent