False Echoes (Havana 1921)

The skies over Cuba turned pink with the light

And the waterfront ritual began to ignite

All the ships in the harbor were warmed by the sun

25th of November, 1921

On the old Chickamauga, the signal jacks flew

And the message they spelled out caused a great ballyhoo

Every ship in Havana then hoisted away

All the pennants were a-flyin' on my dad's first birthday

Enduring echoes call out from his past

Time ain't for savin', no, time's not for that

Chasing false echoes like a lost legionnaire

He waltzes on memories while he fades like a flare

Now his storybook childhood was not make-believe

On the decks of a tall ship, he was taught to achieve

Witnessed storms and starvation, natural wonders and force

Oh, the life of a sailor steers a wanderin' course

Enduring echoes call out from his past

Time ain't for savin', no, time's not for that

Chasing false echoes like a lost legionnaire

He waltzes on memories while he fades like a flare

Well, now life throws us curveballs we never can reach

He gave up the ocean, but he lived by the beach

Where he raised up his family, taught us all to survive

Then the wind went away in 1995

Now the old Chickamauga has slipped by the waves

She lies on the bottom of old Mobile Bay

Where the ghosts of his father and his brother are near

They protect him and tell him there's nothin' to fear

'Cause it's family tradition we take to the sea

And it's a time in the future for Cameron and me

Enduring echoes call out from his past

Time ain't for saving, no, time's not for that

Chasing false echoes like a lost legionnaire

He waltzes on memories while he fades like a flare

The skies over Cuba were warmed by the sun

25th of November 1921

Ramos, where is the hidden track?

It's supposed to be in here somewhere

It's - CD it must be with my keys

Did I leave it in the car? Leave it in the plane?

Where - where is it?

Where is it?

Steven's gonna kill me, I can't find it!

Goddamn is the track here?

Where is it?

No, it's not in there

Where is this hidden track?

Wait, down in this box there is somewhere

There it is

I could be a rambler from the Seven Dials

I don't pay taxes, 'cause I, I never file

I don't do business that don't make me smile

I love my aeroplane, 'cause she's got style

I'm a treetop flyer

Treetop flyer

I'll fly any cargo that you can pay to run

The bush league pilots, they just can't get the job done

You've got to fly down the canyon, don't never see the sun

There's no such thing as an easy run

I'm a treetop flyer

Treetop flyer

I fly low, I'm in high demand

Go 14 feet over the Rio Grande

I blow the mesquite right up off the sand

I'm seldom seen, 'specially when I land

I'm a treetop flyer

Born survivor

Now people been askin' me, "Where'd you learn to fly that way?"

Was over in Vietnam, chasin' the NVA

The government taught me and they taught me right

Stay down below the tree line and you'll be alright

I'm a treetop flyer

Born survivor

So I'm comin' home, I'm runnin' low and fast

Promised my woman this is gonna be my last

I get the ship down, I tie her fast

And then some old boy wakes up, and he says, "Hey, son, wanna make some fast cash? "

I'm a treetop flyer

Oh-oh

Well, there's things I am and there's things I am not

Yes, I'm a smuggler and I, I could get shot

I ain't gonna die, I ain't going to get caught

You see I'm a flying fool, and this aeroplane is hot

I'm a treetop flyer

Born survivor

Workin' alone