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The Things That Count

by Markus Rill

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1.
Straighter Road (words & music Markus Rill) I made a wreck of my dream it took me a while to find out what was left of me I made a mess of the truth it took me a while to figure out what was left for me do Now I’m following a straighter road I’m learning what I should have known no more excuses made and no more lies will be told there’s just one way for me to go I’ll be following a straighter road, straighter road I’ve had enough of the dark had enough of doing damage to my soul and tearing up my heart a brand new chapter begins and I gotta find a balance in the grand new scheme of things Now I’m traveling on a straighter road learning what I should have known no more excuses made and no more lies will be told till the blacktop turns to gold I’ll be following a straighter road, straighter road And I can’t go back and right my every wrong they still lie heavy on my soul I’ve been weighed down by my conscience for too long I gotta get back on my feet and roll along on a straighter road Now I’m following a straighter road learning what I should have known no more excuses made and no more white lies will be told there’s just one way for me to go I’ll be following a straighter road, straighter road
2.
Unlike You 02:53
Unlike You (words & music Markus Rill) Steel strings on a neck of wood they’re ‘bout all that I can trust this guitar always sings the truth it’s good and fair and just unlike you Now the blues they are the darndest thing they ain’t doing what they should they don’t get me satisfied and I don’t think they ever could Unlike you The blue sky and the highway, they’ve never let me down They’ve never broken this heart of mine in pieces on the ground They’ve been true - unlike you There was a time when I had faith in you now that time is gone Why the hell did you do what I never would do and why am I still hangin’ on Unlike you The blue sky and the highway, they’ve never let me down They’ve never broken this heart of mine in pieces on the ground They’ve been true - unlike you There are things you can’t explain UFOs and love and the smell of rain This must be one of these things And I hang on to the notion That truth and beauty, they are one If that’s so then the very truest thing I ever laid my eyes upon Must be you The blue sky and the highway, they’ve never done me wrong But they’ve never kissed and held me and loved me all night long Through and through - unlike you The whole night through, unlike you So please be true
3.
What Might've Been (words & music by Markus Rill) The days are long since I gave up smokin’ The nights are long since I quit drinkin’ too But I won’t cry and I can keep from chokin’ up I just can’t keep from thinkin’ about you You won’t call today and you won’t write tomorrow It’s not like I wait I will hear from you at some point in time, girl, I know But it will be too late to change the shape we’re in And find out what might’ve been Shooting stars and prayers and late night wishes They rarely work like they’re supposed to do But I don’t mind, I just go about my business Trying to keep from thinkin’ about you You won’t call today and you won’t swing by tomorrow It’s not like I count the days I’ll run into you somewhere down the line, girl, I know And it will be too late to change the shape we’re in And find out what might’ve been What might’ve been could’ve been grand I could’ve been your man, I could’ve held your hand What might’ve been, it could’ve been a disaster I could’ve let you down, you just let me down faster The days are long since I gave up smokin’ The nights are long since I quit drinkin’ too But I won’t cry and I can keep from chokin’ up And soon I’ll keep from thinkin’ about you Soon I’ll keep from thinkin’ about what might’ve been
4.
Scene Of The Crime (words & music Markus Rill) They found the body by the railroad tracks It was Carlos Escondido That was twenty years ago on April 25 I’d never been seen on the scene of the crime I got away clean Back then I was young and I loved that girl so wild Her name was Carmen Sanchez She took off with Carlos and I hated the guts of that guy But I’d never been seen on the scene of the crime I got away clean It’s been twenty years since then Still lies heavy on my mind Conscience is a funny thing Draggin’ me back to the scene of the crime I return tonight Carlos Escondido, he peddled weed and pills And I know Carmen’s mind was weak So I reckon he deserved just what he got that night Twenty years ago on April 25 But I still see his ghost sometimes It’s only psychological Only in my mind But I’m only human after all I return tonight to the scene of the crime Return tonight Tonight Camen Sanchez is sleeping soundly in my bed Carlos is six feet underground Me I’m out riding through the night You might find me on the scene of the crime Ha, to think I’d get away clean It’s only psychological Only in my mind But I’m only human after all I return tonight to the scene of the crime I return tonight, scene of the crime
5.
Sarah Stein 06:56
Sarah Stein (words & music Markus Rill) Sarah Stein she was a young girl in Vienna dreaming of stages and dancing in the street The neighbor boy he liked to watch her and she liked it when he came to see He had a fire in his eyes, she always wondered where that fire would lead But this was Europe in the 30ies and so one day Sarah’s family had to leave She made it all across the ocean and she grew up in some far-off distant land Just like that boy back in Vienna, people liked to see her dance So she danced from coast to coast became famous then she became a wife But that boy back with the fire in his eyes still crossed her mind from time to time She’s oddly out of place and strangely out of time A Vienna ballerina on the Dakota County line She can’t shake the memory of the life she left behind A Vienna ballerina by the name of Sarah Stein She taught children how to stand on tiptoes and how to twirl around And her husband was a good man till he passed away without a sound Still she figures she found better luck than she could’ve ever hoped to find now she’s living in a rest home with her memories on the Dakota County line She’s oddly out of place and strangely out of time A Vienna ballerina on the Dakota County line She can’t shake the memory of the life she left behind A Vienna ballerina by the name of Sarah Stein When the grandkids come to visit she likes to tell them ‘bout life in the old world They bring their history books and they’re full of pictures of back when she was a girl She sees a young man in there, he’s got a fire in his eyes, the sign of a skull on his uniform of black This was Europe in the 40ies and she knows now she ain’t ever going back Cause now she’s in another place and it’s a different time An old ballerina on the Dakota County line Still dancing in her memory, still dancing in her mind That old ballerina by the name of Sarah Stein
6.
Gotta Keep My Hands Off (words & music by Markus Rill) There’s temptation waving at me with a temporary fix I know it’s not the kind I want but it’s a good sight better’n this All this thinkin’, all this feelin’, and all of this regret So I made me up a song to sing lest I forget I gotta keep my hands off of my drug, keep them off of my drug Gotta keep my hands off of my drug, it’ll only mess me up It’ll screw me up, it’ll spin and turn my poor head around I gotta keep my hands off of my drug, it’ll only bring me down Once I gave my heart away but, Lord, she let me go I did things I never should’ve done and I know I should’ve known But tonight I miss her so bad, yeah, and I miss the things I done I don’t know how to make it better but I know it gets worse if I go wrong I gotta keep my hands off of my drug, gotta keep them off of my drug Gotta keep my hands off of my drug, it’ll only mess me up It’ll screw me up, it’ll spin and turn my poor head around I gotta keep my hands off of my drug, it’ll only bring me down And I know that I could find someone to hold me tight tonight That would not take away the pain All I want is just to see the love in a pair of pale blue eyes I might never see those eyes again I gotta keep my hands off of my drug, keep them off of my drug Gotta keep my hands off of my drug, it’ll only mess me up It’ll screw me up, it’ll spin and turn my head and heart around I gotta keep my hands off of my drug, it’ll only bring me down I gotta keep my hands off of my drug, it’ll only bring me down
7.
On The Sly 04:07
On The Sly (words & musicMarkus Rill) She turns her collar up against the wind pulls her Packers cap down low Cathy won't tell her next of kin she don't want anyone to know where she goes and why she’s gotta take care of a little something on the sly She’ll be off to college in a year she'd rather leave today don’t need nothing to tie her down here she'll dump that ol' boyfriend anyway she’ll never tell and he’ll never get wise to what it is she’s doing on the sly She's passing women with little girls and boys they're all leading different lives Cathy's made her choice and she knows if this'll ever make her cry she’ll have to do her crying on the sly, on the sly She wonders if she's being selfish She thinks she’s bein’ considerate she might wind up being fortyish and full of regret sobbing through long and lonely nights over doing what she's about to do on the sly She's passing women with little girls and boys They’re all leading different lives Cathy’s made her choice and she knows that if this'll ever make her cry she’ll have to do her crying on the sly Who’s to say what’s right or wrong Who’s to say what’s wrong and right She's passing women with little girls and boys They’re all leading different lives she feels she's got no choice and she knows that if this'll ever make her cry she’ll have to do her crying on the sly, on the sly She turns her collar up against the wind
8.
Faith Is Hard (words & music by Markus Rill) She’s hoping this one can be trusted So she allows her deams to fly She’s seen her bubble getting busted But this one’s not that kind of guy Her uncle used to tell her it was alright “Just don’t tell anyone” he would sneak into her room at night have his way and have his fun Faith is hard to come by In a world that’s full of lies It doesn’t matter just how hard you strive and try The world will leave you cryin’ Faith is hard to come by At age 19, she gave her wedding vow And her heart was filled with joy The boy got drunk, lost his temper every then and now She lost her unborn baby boy Trust is hard to come by In a world that’s full of lies It doesn’t matter just how hard you strive and try The world will leave you cryin’ Faith is hard to come by Now she’s thinking this one, he might go behind her back So behind his back she’s snooping around She don’t like to have to cover up her tracks She don’t like what she’s found Faith is hard to come by In a world full of pain and lies It doesn’t matter just how hard you strive and try The world will leave you cryin’ Faith is hard to come by Love is hard to find Faith is hard to come by
9.
The Things That Count (words & music Markus Rill) When the sun comes up I know it’s gonna go back down again ‘n I know the name of every picker ever played in Elvis Presley’s band And I know my favorite color is the blues I know a lotta things but I don’t know a lotta things That are of a lotta use Late at night when the lights are out I ask myself What do I know about Love and God and why we’re here and where we’re from And where it is we’re bound I ask myself what do I know about the things that count? I still wrestle with my demons but I no longer let ‘em win I just tuck my shirt in and serve my nine to five again And I know I got no reason to complain I got some good folks in my corner And a good mind to keep out of the rain Late at night when the lights are out I ask myself What do I know about Love and God and why we’re here and where we’re from And where it is we’re bound I ask myself what do I know about the things that count? I don’t know where this life will lead me I guess I’ll see when I will see I don’t know what this life has taught me Ah, but it’s done taught me humility Late at night when the lights are out I ask myself What do I know about Love and God and why we’re here and where we’re from And where it is we’re bound I ask myself what do I know about the things that count?
10.
Dimestore Paperback Memory (words & music by Markus Rill) Girl, don’t you worry I won’t bother you no more I won’t call on the phone, trying to catch you alone Or mill around your back door It’s been a year And it’s been a good year Though not quite every bit just as good, I admit, As when I called you dear You told me to move on, whatever that’s supposed to mean I’m just trying to be strong and forget and I think I’ll succeed Cause I barely remember how your hand on my chest used to feel You’re just a distant fading dimestore paperback memory And I’ve given up hope I no longer believe In your love and laughter and forever after I stopped dreaming that dream Don’t life move in curious ways? I don’t know where this will lead But I know what I see and I know what is real and you’re not here with me You told me to move on, whatever that’s supposed to mean I’m just trying to be strong and forget and I think I’ll succeed Cause I barely remember how your lips on mine used to feel You’re just a distant fading dimestore paperback memory You told me to move on, whatever the hell now that’s supposed to mean I’m just trying to be strong and forget and I think I’ll succeed Cause I barely remember how makin’ love to you used to feel You’re just a distant fading dimestore paperback memory Girl, don’t you worry I won’t bother you no more
11.
I'll Wait For You (words & music by Markus Rill & Andi Obieglo) If the wind came by and asked me “what are you wishing for?” I don’t know I’d know the answer anymore All I know for sure is both you and I are hurt again And I don’t see how we could make it work ever again Some never forgive Some never forget But I’ll wait for you for the longest time Leaves me no choice, this heart of mine I hope someday soon I can stop this crying But it feels I’ll be waiting for you the longest time The longest time Now if the stars looked down upon us what would they see in me A true soul who don’t give up on love or a fool to blind to see All I know for sure is you still sneak into my dreams And I wish I had a clue just what those dreams might mean Some never forget Some never forgive But I’ll wait for you for the longest time Leaves me no choice, this heart of mine I hope someday soon I can stop this crying But it feels I’ll be waiting for you the longest time And I can’t change it No matter how I try I’ll wait for you for the longest time Leaves me no choice, this heart of mine I hope someday soon I can stop this crying But it feels I’ll be waiting for you the longest time I’ll wait for you
12.
Just Like It Never Did Exist (words & music by Markus Rill) So I welcome the pain I had a hunch she’d come around today She won’t leave me alone And time moves at a pace that’s all its own Sometimes I find clarity Mingling with joy and other rarities But when I look into my memory It seems you are all there is to see But I’ll learn to accept, girl, that it’s ended I’ll learn to say “it’s for the best” I’ll go on with my life after love’s ended Just like it never did exist You never said goodbye to me Sometimes that thought still brings me to my knees And in the distance between you and me You could fit the whole Atlantic sea But I’ll learn to accept, girl, that it’s ended I’ll learn to say “it’s for the best” I’ll go on with my life after love’s ended Just like it never did exist You did what you had to do Me, I’ll go and find my groove But it’s a shame, girl, that it ended Ah, but it’s for the best A damn shame it ever ended Just like it never did exist

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released January 1, 2008

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Markus Rill München, Germany

»Songs that are beautifully shimmering with ambiguity - brilliant lyrics« - Rolling Stone"

"Rill shows great depth as a songwriter, bandleader and producer" - No Depression/USA

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