Artist: JEFF BLACK
Album: Anthology
Release Date: March 20 2025
Label: Lotos Nile Music

Produced By Jeff Black
Mastered By Josh Sebek
Josh Sebek Mastering Nashville

Photograph by Michael Wilson
Layout and design by Torne White and Jeff Black

All songs written by Jeff Black
Except "Lemonade" written by Jeff Black
Emerson Black and Zuzu Black
© Lotos Nile Music BMI

MUSICIANS
Jeff Black Vocals Guitar,
Piano, Harmonica, Banjo
Sam Bush Mandolin
Jerry Douglas Resonator Guitar
David Jacques Bass
Will Kimbrough Guitar
Jody Nardone Piano, Organ
Dave Roe Bass
Kenny Vaughn Guitar
Craig Wright Drums
Kenny Wright Drums

ENGINEERS
Jeff Black
Paul Mahern
Gary Paczosa
Billy Sherrill
Dave Sinko
Rob Stokes

MASTERING
Eric Conn
Jim Demain
Josh Sebek
Joe Palmaccio

Jeff Black tours
with the generous help of
LaBella Strings,Access Bags and Cases,
Paige Capos,Epiphone Masterbilt,
Franzke String Instruments
and Calton Cases

For Emerson and Zuzu

Jeff Black | Anthology

Lotos Nile




- author

 

Ravanna

I was born down by the Missouri River
where the copperheads and the catfish play
just up the hill there out in Jackson county
they brought me home in a Chevrolet

I always wanted to be just like my daddy
he wrapped me up there in the travelers joy
I spend a great deal of my life out on the highway
and there’s several devils there that I must employ

I'm a long way from Ravanna
where as a child I used to roam
along the line there where the wild blackberry grow
I’m not sad to think about it
those old memories just make me strong
and they shine a mighty light wherever I go

My mama raised me on
a switch and some cornbread
a kiss on my face
when I lay down to dream
she taught me how to hear the world
while it's turning
it’s been too long since
I heard her sing

Lord knows I try to keep my spirits
in the velvet but it’s tough
I will take what I inherit friend and
that should be enough
that should be enough

now I don’t believe that I was born a sinner
but I’ve been working hard
to catch up there just the same
Lord lord lord good god almighty I am only human
isn’t that a burden and ain’t that a shame

Plow Through The Mystic 2011
Recorded at The Red Barn/Arcana
Nashville, TN

 

You Belong To Me

Forever's calling
The secret's safe with me now
Lying on our backs it feels
Like we could slip right through the sky
And waltz round the old dance hall
Where the questions fall so far away
In our twist of fate I never wonder why

Think about our place in the competition
Did we really have that far to fall

Sweet reminders of our
times above the wishing well
When the penny fell
and we turned around to find
Sweet afterglow
of our times below a shooting star
No matter where you are
You belong to me

Looks like diamonds on black velvet now
Now you come to me in every little turn I take
I remember well the pirouette
And I cannot forget you let me kiss you then
that's when I first believed

Think about our place in the competition
Does it really matter now at all

Sweet reminders of
our times above the wishing well
When the penny fell
and we turned around to find
Sweet afterglow of
our times below a shooting star
No matter where you are
You belong to me
Sweet reminders of our times above
The water line
Now you're mine and
Forever's calling

Honey And Salt 2003
Recorded at Nightingale Studios
and Omni Studios
Nashville, TN

 

To Be With You

I may be borderline
but all joy is mine
anytime I choose
the last couple of years though
I’ve had my share of tears
and found a lot to lose
but the blues can’t last
too long time moves too fast
and leaves the past behind.
here in my reverie
sweet memories
of what I’ll find

down in my easy chair
I’ve got you there
to pilot me straight through
to show me what it means
through these crazy dreams
to be with you

take a look in here
I have no fear
I’m flying high above
these gridlock street s
where the horizon meets
this timeless love
that I’ve forever known
but only as of late I‘ve sown
I guess what they say is true
we all have a destiny
and the one for me is
to be with you

when the moon is down
and the sky is low
when a little earthquake
shakes a domino

B-Sides And Confessions Vol. I 2003
Recorded at Omni Studios
Nashville, TN

 

Higher Ground

There’s a star shining over Jordan
Looks like we’re going to fall to fortune
In ribbons rings and bows
Riding on a light so clean and fine
It’s going to change some things around here I know
Ever since last October
I been thinking the whole thing over
And I’m feeling fairly sure
That we’ve got someone on the inside now babe
I think they’re going to show us how they
Transcend all that’s pure

Oh look here what we found
Higher ground

Full moon and the rivers flowing
Pretty soon the roosters crowing
Better open up the door
Catch me in a dream I don’t care
I want to hold the world to my share
And ask for a little more
I believe we can see forever
And all we leave behind together
May be washed away with time
I really want it to mean, to matter
Silver gold wood and leather
And heaven on my mind

Oh look here what we found
Oh look here what we found
Higher ground

B-Sides And Confessions Vol. I 2003
Recorded at Westwood Studios
Nashville, TN

 

All Days Shine

Down in the corner
Of a sleepless night
I was looking for a pen
I came across
This photograph
I was wondering
Where we'd been
I know it's all about
The here and now
So I got lost in you

All days shine
Underneath the rust
Over the fall of time
All days shine

There's just too many
Bills to pay
So many debts unknown
We received
The invitation late
So we decided to dream on
I've been in this
Room before
Waiting for
The sound

Tin Lily 2005
Recorded at House Of David,
Moondog Studios and Sound Emporium
Nashville, TN

 

Never Did Say Goodbye

You came in and out of my life
Like lightning in a storm
And by the time the thunder rolled in
I reached for you and you were gone
I guess I barely got to know you
Guess I hardly know myself
I still have some things here for you
That I cant give to no one else

Never did say goodbye
I never did tell you
How you changed my life
About the time you came along
We got caught out in a storm
And I got lost without your light
Now every time they call for rain
I reach out to touch the sky
Maybe I’ll see you again
Maybe that’s the reason why
I never said goodbye

I get so tired of pretending
That you never flew away
Seems like I’m always defending myself
And how I think of you this way

If I can see you in my mirror
Then maybe you can see me too
On a sunny day I’m feeling better
On a cloudy day I look for you

Mining For Gold 2008
Recorded at Alvie’s Parlor
Nashville, TN

 

Waiting

Well I don’t suppose that any of my raving ever did any good
And I’m learning now a quiet answer turns the wrath away
like you said it would
And finally I’m out of the red and into the blue
Waiting here until they clear the road ahead
So I can move on through

Across the delta plains it was freezing rain
East and west all four lanes were down
So I got out and walked a little while
Up between the cars about a quarter mile
And took a look around
There were families and refugees wondering too
Waiting here until they clear the road ahead
So I can move on through

Day fell to night until the world renown
Thousand thoughts came tumbling down again
How it seems to be now it's all a blur
What we know and who we were back then
We were vagabonds and all those gypsy songs we knew
Waiting here until they clear the road ahead
So I can move on through

Plow Through The Mystic 2011
Recorded at The Red Barn/Arcana Studios Nashville, TN

 

Immigrant Song

When I first started falling
Through the hole in the sky
Man I was traveling like I’d never known
And it didn’t really hit me until I hit the ground
That I was a long long way from home
Then I was awakened by a tender kiss
A healing hand and a place to start
And all I kept thinking
Was how am I going to get out of this
Without breaking somebody’s heart
And the world keep turning around

Well I got pretty good at walking upright
Learning to talk and going to school
I worked real hard for very little money
I worked even harder at breaking the rules
I saw some things that I shouldn’t have seen
So hell I went back to see them again
I laughed until I cried
I cried because I missed you
And I felt nearly human now and then
And the world keep turning around

A lot of people talking
About the end of this earth
Because some old indian chiseled a stone
Have no fear children she'll be here
A long long time after we're gone
See I spent a lifetime searching the skies
To see if I could spot some sign from home
And one of these days when my work is done
I’ll head on back there where I come from
And the world keep turning around
And the world keep turning around
Around and around and around
Yes she does

B-Sides And Confessions Vol. II 2003
Recorded at The Red Barn/Arcana Studios Nashville, TN

 

Remain

Hey I know a boy
Who was born to this world
With a wondering eye and dreaming
A very old soul from way back before
Jesus and the turning of the wheel

I can't believe December’s gone
Hey mama look how much he’s grown
The night becomes the day
Snow turns into rain
Winter turns to spring
So we must all
Remain

There is a road into town
Of dust and dirt brown
That I travel in my dreamtime
To a house full of people
That I know or so it seems
And these are memories that I cannot explain
The boy’s been blessed with his mother's eyes
Now I'm convinced that nothing dies

B-Sides And Confessions Vol. II 2003
Recorded at The Red Barn/Arcana Studios Nashville, TN

 

Lemonade

Sitting in the mouth of a crocodile
A crocodile a crocodile
Sitting in the mouth of a crocodile
With a glass of lemonade

Fishing for shrimp in a hurricane
A hurricane a hurricane
Fishing for shrimp in a hurricane
With a glass of lemonade

Sweet and sour sugar bliss
Tastes just like pure happiness
Pucker up for the perfect kiss
Do you like lemonade

Elephant stepping on my little toe
On my pinky toe yes me thinky so
Elephant standing on my little toe
Let's make some lemonade

Lemon and water and the sugar’s fine
The sugar’s fine the sugar’s fine
Lemon and water and the sugar's fine
Lets make some lemonade

Folklore 2014
Recorded at Arcana Studios
Nashville, TN

 

Needed The Rain

Rained a little
Then it rained a little more
Then a big ol’ thunderstorm
Come a knocking at my door
Before I got my boots on man
She’d done passed through town
Really left me reeling
And some old trees laying down
Got me wondering where that
Blue sky was hiding

The fields were taking on
Her latest refrain
Dogs were barking down there
At the end of their chain
There’s a new moon rising
But he’s pretty hard to see
A little change in the atmosphere
Put the change on me
Got me wondering about
This big rock shaking
What with all of these
New thoughts I’m thinking

Worry never served me well
Like staying in a cheap hotel
You’re stuck there in that little place
And there just ain’t no space
To change your mind
No space to change your mind

Pulled out my harpoon
I signed for the bill
Left my troubles laying down
There on the windowsill
Old black crow flying
Hey you’re a friend of mine
Meet me at the rising
And the red sky line
Way on out there where
That big sun is breaking
What with all of these
New thoughts I’m thinking

Worry never served me well
Like staying in a cheap hotel
And though my boat was sinking
All I know is that we needed the rain

A Walk In The Sun 2020
Recorded at The Mudroom and
The Squirrels Nest
Nashville, TN

 

The Best I Can Do

We need a river
We need a meadow
We need wildflowers now
Lightning bugs and little whispers
And a clear way out of this crowd
I’ve got a feeling I could lean on you

Can’t hold the television
Newspapers or religion
Or rumors on the radio
With much regard for any
True information lately
Or inspiration for my soul
I’ve got a feeling now though
I’m getting through

Remember the reasons
And us laughing out loud
I believe there’s more out there than
What we’re finding now

I’ve been searching
I’ve been longing for that one quiet day
When the sun fell softly upon our bodies
And we weren’t trying to fly away

I won’t try explaining the changes you own
And you don’t know what I’m going through
But for changing my life
I’m thanking you now
That’s the best I can do
The best I can do

A Walk In The Sun 2020
Recorded at The Mudroom and
The Squirrels Nest
Nashville, TN

 

Grandad's Dream

Sleepytown 2007
Recorded at The Red Barn/Arcana Studios Nashville, TN

 

All songs written by Jeff Black
Except "Lemonade" written by Jeff Black
Emerson Black and Zuzu Black
© Lotos Nile Music BMI

Ghosts In The Graveyard
© Warner/Tamerlane Music BMI