Tom Ciurczak

Guys Like Me 

Guys like me are hard to find
Won’t be hanging around this dirty little town forever.
Guys like me are hard to find.
But we can find you baby any time. 

I was sitting at the bus stop
Watching all the rust stop
As another greyhound got away.
She was sipping on a soda pop
Wearing a low-cut halter top
Carrying a suitcase that says “Jesus saves.’
I knew we'd both be stuck there a while
So, I gave her my best gold tooth smile.
As I made my way across the room
It sounded like a sonic boom.
She said buddy just get out of my face. 

Baby don’t write me off like that so fast
I got a love that was made to last.
Baby don’t write me off like that this time
Cause guys like me are hard to find.

So, I decided to take a Sunday ride
Feeling great to be alive
and I watched her from the back of the bus.
She was reading a trashy paperback
Seemed unaware of my surprise attack
As I made my way down the isle of love.
Well I sat myself down next to her
Put my hand on her knee and whispered in her ear.
She turned around and I hit the ground,
I wonder what kind of woman I found
It’s not turning out to be a good year. 

Now I’m not one to give up
On a girl with a mild hang up
So, I followed her when she left the bus.
I new she really wanted me
But girls like her ain’t so easy
So, I had to look inconspicuous.
I was behind her at the bank.
When she said hit the floor my heart just sank.
But as you point that gun right at my nose
My love for you just grows and grows
I think its time to talk real, talk real, talk real. 

Guys like me are hard to find
We won’t be hanging round this dirty little town forever
Guys like me are hard to find
But we can find you baby any time 

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright 2020
 

Mine Torne Road  

Sitting here on Dickey’s front porch  
waiting for the last stragglers to come down from Hell Hole's obstacle course.  
The man from Bear Mountain Bridge called and said "hold them"  
"The deal will take a little more time."  
Kerri don't run, Kerri don't hide.  
Take it real slow, let them inside.  
You were the one that set the trip wire  
and lead them down that winding path.  
Down to Mine Torne Road.  

Be careful where you’re going to now.  
Don’t turn around and look back, just let it go.  
Anyway, anyhow it will all be over soon. 
Just do your part, remember “lock and load”  
and I'll meet you out tonight
down on Mine Torne Road. 

 Let's take it from the top  
You'll be the only one inside.  
When they make the drop it's time to  
quietly slip back outside.  
I know where to go,
been down that road before  
and it won't be so easy to follow us
down Mine Torne Road  

Crash brought two briefcases for the package exchange.  
And Cowboy calmed his nerves at the Fireside's Firing Range.  
And I just tossed a beer waiting for the light to change.  
Seems the double-cross is set as we all had arranged.  
Kerri don't run, Kerri don't hide.  
Take it real slow, let them inside.  
Say now you were the one who set the trip wire and lead them down that winding path.  
Down to Mine Torne Road  

Be careful where you’re going to now.  
Don't turn around and look back, just let it go.  
Anyway, anyhow it will all be over soon.  
Just do your part, remember  “lock and load.”   
And I'll meet you out tonight
down on Mine Torn Road  

Sometimes the best of plans can go astray.  
I remember those gunshots
 just like it was yesterday.  
I was on the path when Dickey’s burst into flames. 
Crash and Cowboy disappeared,
and I never saw the frame. 

It's been 20 long years and I never went back  
But I keep reliving that night in constant sweaty flashbacks.  
Now I'm down in New York City living on the other side of the tracks  
where I've blended into the scene.  
But I swear I saw you just the other day  
Getting out of a taxi somewhere by JFK.  
So, I followed you home through the smoke and crowded subway  
To find if I just buried a dream.  
Kerri don't run, Kerri don't hide  
Take it real slow, let me inside  
You were the one, you were the one, you were the one  
You were the one  
Down at Mine Torne Road.  

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright 2020

 

Down And Out In LA 

I'm standing here thinking by the side of the road 
times change fast, your life can implode. 
My world fell apart once we were through 
now I'm holding a sign saying' "I'll work for food." 
I want to be down in T.J. dancing with the senoritas 
Where life just goes reel slow and I can try to forget, but I can't. 
We let something come between us.  
You ran out on me 
it's just a matter of trust. 

Say you love me, but you don’t. 
Say you will, but you know you won’t. 
I remember when love was in your eyes 
And I thought twin heartbeats never lied.  
Was it real, or just pretend? 
Did you plan this bitter end? 
How could you do it, throw it all away 
Was it so easy just like two kids at play? 
You stole my heart and it stung 
Like a Memory

Cars pass by and I get that empty stare 
but I bless them all and say the Lord ’s Prayer. 
Nighttime comes and I change my plans 
I search your trash for aluminum cans. 
I want to be down in T.J. dancing with the senoritas 
Where life just goes reel slow and I can try to forget, but I can't. 
We let something come between us  
You ran out on me 
It's just a matter of trust 

And every night when I sleep in the “Mission" 
I still see your eyes 
looking through the way they use too. 
I need to show you, I can make it, 
I am still alive. 
I'm alive.  

Every city there’s others like me. 
It always seems like we've hit rock bottom. 
But we all use to be like you are 
we lost our lives and we've fallen too far. 
You can find us on freeway off ramps 
holding up signs saying "will work for food." 
You can find us on any street corner
hustling spare change 
with holes in our shoes. 

All this time alone again  
With no shelter overhead. 
And I remember the good times 
Before I was left for dead. 
And the dreams of a better tomorrow fade, 
fade with the days gone by. 
As I count up all my nickels 
And I dine on cold French fries.
And I'm searching for a reason 
Why I am still alive. 

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright  2020

 

 

 Winter Highland Falls  

This town died so long ago. 
No one noticed because it died so slow. 
Board it up, burn it down 
The good jobs have moved over seas. 
Grab all the things you need Wendy and run away with me.  

All right 
Wendy take me by the hand. 
Head out in the night 
Find your Neverland. 
Hold tight 
Wendy never let me go. 
It’s a rollercoaster ride 
down the back roads 
to the lost world of “Rock and Roll”.  

This town never saw it coming. 
This town is full of ghosts. 
No time left the clock is ticking. 
Its time to hit the road. 
Board it up, burn it down. 
All the good jobs moved over seas. 
Grab all the things you need Wendy and run away with me.  

This town is like so many others. 
Grew old and lost the race. 
This town became so boring. 
We got to get out of this place. 
Board it up, burn it down. 
The good jobs moved over seas. 
Grab all the things you need Wendy and run away with me.  

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright 2020

 

Roll The Dice 

Can’t handle not knowing where we stand 
at the end of the road without a plan. 
Always knew we’d wind up in this spot 
with our future all tied up in knots. 
It’s a tough situation 
not knowing what to do. 
But I know we can work it out 
‘cause we ain’t got much to lose. 

Come on baby roll the dice. 
Close your eyes and don’t think twice. 
It ain’t hard to make this bet. 
‘cause I don’t think we’re done quite yet. 
Come on honey take a hit. 
It’s too soon to fold and quit. 
Who knows you may flip an ace. 
Win it all, disappear without a trace. 
Not ready to, 
give up quite yet. 
Just trying to find a way 
to keep us together. 

I don’t know how this all plays out 
but you can’t bluff and beat the house.  
Or run away to find romance 
‘cause life is still a game of chance. 
It’s a tough situation 
not knowing what to do. 
But I know we can work it out 
‘cause we ain’t got much to lose. 

Double down 
Deal the cards 
It’s time to go for broke 
I’m all in 
To win it all 
There’s no way we’ll ever bust and break apart ‘cause I know what your heart will say. 
There’s no way we’ll bust and break apart ‘cause I still have one card left to play.    
And its gonna be our lucky day. 

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright  2020

 

Strung Out  

I feel so strung-out with the early morning blues.
I just can’t get up and face the day. 
I feel so strung-out and I don’t know what to do. 
Can’t imagine living this life   
Strung-out without you. 

I feel so burned out and I can’t get my mind off you. 
My brains so messed up that I can’t think straight.
I feel so burned out and I don’t know what to do. 
I can’t imagine living this life   
Burned out without you.

And those cravings won’t go away 
I want you more and more every day. 
I feel like I’m just barely holding on 
I feel so strung-out since you have gone away. 

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright 2020

 

Sunny Came Back 

Thought I forgot about you long ago
and that was ok, until you turned up
in the bar I go last evening. 
So, I looked around for the back door out 
in case I needed to run. 
Didn’t think I’d see you around here anymore.

Seems so long ago 
that I met you at the lost and found. 
Never thought you’d burn it all down on me. 
And all those days gone by 
right now, it doesn’t seem so very long ago. 
Since you opened up your heart and set me free. 

And you came straight toward me with that look on your face that I remember so well. 
I knew right then all hell was about to break loose. 
So, I looked around for a quick escape 
but the door was locked. 
Same old shit, seems I always lose.  

I know there must be something wrong with me. 
I was just your monkey on a chain. 
Girls that play with matches are probably insane. 
I tried I tried, I tried but you keep coming back. 

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright 2020
 

Top of the World  

Stop, look around, never thought, but it happened once before. 
Eyes open wide still I walked quiet blindly through your door. 
Breaking down the barriers that it took so long to build. 
Made me wake up all at once and shout.  

Look at me Ma I’m on top of the world. 
I’m in love with a gorgeous girl. 
Look at me now I’m on top of the world. 
I’m in love with a beautiful girl. 

Mind spinning ‘round, wondering why I get so damn confused. 
Hearts beating faster, butterflies, just want to know the truth. 
You pulled me out of the darkness, and you took me by the hand 
Made me wake up all at once and shout 

Look at me Ma I’m on top of the world 
I’m in love with a gorgeous girl 
Look at me now I’m on top of the world 
I’m in love with a beautiful girl 

Now I’m wondering what to do. 
How to escape this life and save me and you. 
Love enters with a shout but leaves in a soft whisper. 
Don’t know if I can say goodbye. 

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright 2020

Last Gunfighter  

Thought you had me surrounded down in Mexico.   
'Cause I left four men dead out in the streets of El Paso I’ve taken some time off to head south of the Rio Grande.  
‘Cause sheriff and his posse want to see me shot or hanged .

Never going to get me  
With that team of losers after me  
Don’t care how many  
‘Cause when the smoke clears you can drag them from the street   

I want to tell you a story.   
Bet you never heard bout those men that I shot before I got here  
Well I ain’t bragging,   
It’s just a matter of fact you’ll be dead by the count of five  
‘cause there’s no faster gun alive   

Learned my skills from robbing banks and trains .
Started riding shotgun for Frank and Jessie James.
The best train robbery is when rich folk all go broke.
And we leave each town in a cloud of fresh gun smoke.

 Never going to catch me  
With your team of losers after me.  
Don’t care how many  
‘Cause when the smoke clears you can drag them from the street .  

I want to tell you a story.   
Bet you never heard bout those men that I shot before I got here  
Well I ain’t bragging,   
It’s just a matter of fact you’ll be dead by the count of five  
‘cause there’s no faster gun alive  

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright 2020

 

Do You Know My Name 

Desert sky is turning black 
just like that big old lump of coal in my chest. 
I fear a tornado’s gathering strength 
God’s giving me one more test.
Its forty days since I gave it up 
And left to chase the wind. 
But all hells about to erupt 
and pull me back again. 

Do you know my name? 
Do you even know my name? 
Well I don’t want to be your hero no more. 
Every time I try to quit, it always winds up like before. 
So pass me the hooch it’s now or never.

Black Rain is been building up 
and I can’t quench my thirst.
I feel my eyes about to pop 
and my brains about to burst. 
But I ain’t going to "crash and burn" 
and I don’t give a damn.
Someone else can take my turn 
‘cause this ain’t the holy land.

Do you know my name? 
Do you even know my name? 
Well I don’t want to be your hero no more 
Every time I try to quit, it always winds up like before. 

So pass me the hooch it’s now or never. 
Take me down from this cross.   
Here I come again to save the day. 
But no matter how hard I try,  
can’t save the both us. 

I’m the anti-hero 
Living in the twilight zone.
And I’m the all-time loser                 
That’s why I drink alone.                            
I’m going to the desert 
where it feels like I’m living in Hell. 
Cause I’m not the perfect hero 
everyone thinks they know so well. 

Let me out of this "Dark Cell"
and point me towards the nearest bar. 
If you need me to fight some "Demons from Hell" 
You’ll need to refill that empty tip jar. 
The monkey was on my back 
Long before we met. 
So I’ll sing you a song for the courage 
And then the Devil can pay my debt. 

Written by Tom Ciurczak Copyright 2020

 

Faces In The Crowd 

I look for faces in the crowd. 
I realize it’s been a long time  
that I’ve been away from here 
and all the faces aren’t as clear. 
And all those nickel dime affairs 
while I was stuck in solitaire 
you thought you’d find your millionaire 
you thought I wouldn’t even care. 
But it was all so long ago 
And now I’m back out on parole 
I bet it comes as some surprise 
I never could forget those lies. 
They were the ones that I believed 
those poison darts aimed to deceive. 
It all exploded way too loud 
now I search for faces in the crowd. 

We all grow old. 
We all do hard time 
Never thought I'd pass this way again
If I get a chance to do it over 
would anything have changed? 
I guess the answers still blowing in the wind. 
But all those days gone by 
you were always in a hurry. 
All those days you had a secret plan. 
All those days gone by 
You were always in a hurry. 
Always chasing after another man. 

 I know you’re at the same old bars 
‘cause all you veterans have war scars. 
Still trying to hook up with Mr. Right 
even for just one lonely night. 
And all the chasing the winner’s purse 
seems to have come along with a curse 
it snuck up on you day by day 
the lines on your face give it away. 
So should stay or should I bother 
I’ve only got a couple of dollars 
It’s enough to get in trouble again 
The "Whiskey Man” is still my friend. 
But in the end you were never here 
just a fading memory from cheap liquor and beer. 
I just wanted some kind of final reprieve 
one more lie I could believe.

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright 2020
 

Ishmael  

Call me Ishmael   
I got a story to tell.  
I’m the lone survivor    
Of the Jimenez Cartel.   
I was captured up the Yucatan   
Drugged and stuffed in a big old mason jar.   
Taken to some Narco Ranch   
where their leader thought he was Pablo Escobar.   

Jesus is watching   
Jesus is near   
In the heart of the Jungle   
I stand tall with no fear.   

There were so many cages   
I don’t know where to start.   
I couldn’t tell if they were smugglers or cannibals   
They were using every part.   
At night they’d sit around a camp fire    
Act like nothing was wrong.   
Passing the tequila   
And they’d all sing Mariachi songs.   

Jesus is watching   
Jesus is near   
In the heart of the Jungle   
I stand tall with no fear.   

She creeps through the high grass, see’s everything.   
Waiting for the right time when it’s her turn.

Then it all exploded like a cheap "Meth Lab" 
and I escaped to the highest branch.   
 It looked like the last days with Ahab on the Pequod.  
From up above the carnage and mayhem tore through the Narco ranch   
Everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off. 

We all need someone we can count on.   
We all need someone we can count on.   

I didn’t see anything left alive.   
After that there’s not much more for me to tell.   
The last thing I heard before I flew away   
Is that Pablo said he’d chase that cat to the gates of hell.   

Jesus is watching   
Jesus is near   
In the heart of the Jungle   
I stand tall with no fear.   

Written by Tom Ciurczak, Copyright 2020