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Every time I go to Alberta to visit my folks, I end up writing a bunch of Americana... Canadiana?? Albertacana???

lyrics

One Pump Town © Sean McGaughey Aug 31, 2019 Ver 3 (Blended)

V1
Am E7
They talk about the glory days, but glory for whom?
E7 Am
When this town had 4 hotels, a sawmill and saloon
Am E7
There’s been a century of bust but there was never any boom
E7
Now the buildings look too tired to fall down
E7 Am
Folks sleepwalk through a one pump town

V2
Am E7
The sign above the station is faded but it lights
E7 Am
Offering Food and Fuel on the darkest prairie nights
Am E7
Old Jack sleeps on a cot out back, he’s open till 9
E7 Am
If you ring the bell, he’ll give you hell, but he’ll serve you anytime.
Am E7
Cause no station’s open for fifty miles frozen ground
E7 Am
That’s how it’s done in a one pump town.

Chorus 1
F Am
And the ghosts in the streets are all still breathin
G Am
They haunt the Legion complaining, never leavin’
F Am
The kids drift away as soon as they are grown
G Am
Can’t make a living, just survive-- in a one pump town





Verse 3 (Dark)
Am E7
They found old Jack in a Cadillac, on the hoist in the shop
E7 Am
Smoke pouring out the windows. Someone called the cops.
Am E7
For some folks it ain’t sink or swim, it’s hang or drown
E7 Am
No one gets out alive in this one pump town.
Chorus 2
F Am
And the ghosts in the streets are all still breathin
G Am
They haunt the Legion complaining never leavin’
F Am
The kids drift away as soon as they are grown
G Am
There’s no hope to be found in this one pump town

Bridge
C G
Once in a Blue moon, a young couple comes back around
F C G
Spruces up an old place and proceeds to settle down
F C
Once absent, children’s laughter fills the playground
G C Am
Dreams still come to a one pump town,

Chorus 3
F Am
And the ghosts in the streets are all still breathin
G Am
They haunt the Legion complaining, never leavin’
F Am
The kids drift away as soon as they are grown
G Am
Dreams still come to a one pump town,
G Am
There’s still room for hope in a one pump town.

credits

from Treehouse (2019 Yearbook), released December 29, 2019
Music and Lyrics © Sean McGaughey
All instruments and programming: Sean McGaughey

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Sean McGaughey Ontario

I am a folk singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and children's entertainer in Simcoe County Ontario. By day, I am a mild-mannered Elementary School teacher-librarian.

Since 2013, I have been participating the the February Album Writing Month Challenge at fawm.org to write 14 songs in February.

This year I challenged myself to up my musicianship and production values. This is the result. ... more

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