With a keen eye of observation and a wise man’s knowledge, Ray Wylie Hubbard composes and performs a dozen songs that couldn’t spring from anywhere else but out of his fertile rock and roll bluesy poet-in-the-blistering-heat southern noggin. ”I like to look at both enlightenment and endarkenment,” he declares. “I feel comfortable observing each.”
His 2010 album "A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment" demonstrates the kind of talent that every great songwriter yearns for. Throughout the album, his focus remains on the song-constructing and performing stories set to music that resonate in a way that is completely his own. Hubbard recruits an ensemble of accomplished musicians to make the album’s larger than life outlaw tunes echo from track to track. Among the musicians featured on the album are Kevin Russell (The Gourds), Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen), Bukka Allen (Ian Moore, Jack Ingram), Billy Cassis (Bob Schneider,Double Trouble, Soulhat), Ray Bonneville (B.B. King, JJ Cale, Muddy Waters), Seth James (Percy Sledge, Delbert McClinton), David Abeyta (Reckless Kelly) and The Trishas as well as his own son, Lucas Hubbard.
The writing and recording of A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment came on the heels of Hubbard’s first screenplay endeavor, which was funded and filmed with a cast of icons including Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam and Lizzy Caplan. A weekly radio show, constant touring, and producing kept him busy, but didn’t manage to steal the Texan singer-songwriters focus. The outcome of the album is a juxtaposition of songs like “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” a fundamental gospel piece, and “Drunken Poet’s Dream,” cowritten with Hayes Carll.
Dust Of The Chase
Ray Wylie Hubbard Lyrics
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A pair of dice, a deck of cards, a Bible in my suit
I come her as the 'cause of tears, I'm just a crying shame
Seven stud or eternal blood, I'm lookin' for a game
I double crossed the State of Texas and they give me a little time
I taught myself to double cut the cards and hold scriptures in my mind
I learned to love the tumblin' dice and to believe the word
Patience is a virtue that I don't possess
And I can't deny that Heaven lies beneath a cotton dress
How small a part of time we share 'till we hear the sound of wings
I'm lost in the dust of the chase that my life brings
I have walked through God's green pastures beneath these rich blue skies
I have seen the fall of man and the kingdom hidden from their eyes
I have heard the roar of thunder and I've felt the lightening bolt
And when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take along Samuel Colt
Every night I kiss the cards and I hold them to my breast
And when I see the King of Hearts I know that I am blessed
And though my eyes are blind sometimes, I know there's something there
So when the times at hand and I kill a man, I, I say a little prayer
So I come down from Oklahoma with a pistol in my boot
A pair of dice, a deck of cards, a Bible in my suit
How small a part of time we share till we hear the sound of wings
I'm lost in the dust of the chase that my life brings
How small a part of time we share till we hear the sound of wings
I'm lost in the dust of the chase that my life brings
The lyrics of "Dust Of The Chase" by Ray Wylie Hubbard depict the life of a wanderer, a drifter with a gun and a deck of cards. The singer makes his way from Oklahoma with a pistol in his boot and a Bible in his suit. He admits that he is the cause of tears, and his only solace is gambling. He's looking for a game of Seven Stud, and he doesn't mind playing for eternal blood. He's candid about his crimes and not shying away from them. He has learned the art of double-cut the cards, read the scriptures, and believes in them fervently. He loves rolling bones and tombstones, and in his eyes, nothing beats them.
Though he knows that patience is a virtue that he lacks, and he can't deny the allure of a cotton dress. In his wanderings, he has seen the fall of man and heard the roar of thunder, and walked through the valley of the shadow of death. He carries a Samuel Colt revolver with him every time he does so. He loves the cards and holds them close to his heart. When he sees the King of Hearts, he believes that he is blessed. However, he also has a realization that he is lost in the dust of the chase that his life brings.
Line by Line Meaning
So, I come down from Oklahoma with a pistol in my boot
I arrived from Oklahoma with a gun in my boot, ready for whatever may come.
A pair of dice, a deck of cards, a Bible in my suit
I carry with me everything I need for the life I lead - possessions for gambling and faith for comfort.
I come here as the 'cause of tears, I'm just a crying shame
I am often the reason for sadness and disappointment in the lives of those around me.
Seven stud or eternal blood, I'm lookin' for a game
Whether it's gambling or violence, I am always searching for a way to fulfill my desires.
I double crossed the State of Texas and they give me a little time
I betrayed the trust of the state of Texas and was punished with a short prison sentence.
I taught myself to double cut the cards and hold scriptures in my mind
While incarcerated, I taught myself the skill of cheating at cards and held onto my faith for strength.
I learned to love the tumblin' dice and to believe the word
I found joy in gambling and remained steadfast in my faith while in prison.
Tombstones or rolling bones, beats anything I ever heard
Whether it's gambling or death, there is no feeling that compares to the thrill of both.
Patience is a virtue that I don't possess
I lack the ability to be patient in life, causing issues for myself and those around me.
And I can't deny that Heaven lies beneath a cotton dress
I find pleasure in the physical aspects of life, sometimes prioritizing it above my spiritual beliefs.
How small a part of time we share 'till we hear the sound of wings
Life is short and fleeting until we reach the end and meet our maker.
I'm lost in the dust of the chase that my life brings
I am constantly chasing after something, running blindly through the dust of life.
I have walked through God's green pastures beneath these rich blue skies
I have experienced moments of peace and tranquility in the world that God has created.
I have seen the fall of man and the kingdom hidden from their eyes
I have witnessed the fall of humanity and the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven that remain hidden to us.
I have heard the roar of thunder and I've felt the lightening bolt
I have experienced the power of nature and the dangers it can bring.
And when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take along Samuel Colt
When I am faced with the possibility of death, I bring a weapon to protect myself.
Every night I kiss the cards and I hold them to my breast
I have a deep affection for gambling and the thrill it brings.
And when I see the King of Hearts I know that I am blessed
I find luck and a sense of being blessed when I see the King of Hearts in a game.
And though my eyes are blind sometimes, I know there's something there
At times I may not see the bigger picture, but I believe that there is something greater guiding me.
So when the time's at hand and I kill a man, I, I say a little prayer
If I must take the life of another, I offer a prayer for their soul and my own.
How small a part of time we share till we hear the sound of wings
Life is fleeting, passing by in the blink of an eye until we face our ultimate end.
I'm lost in the dust of the chase that my life brings
I am constantly chasing after something, often leaving me lost and confused.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RAY WYLIE HUBBARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind