music video:
youtu.be/NBJ_uQgUsxs
THE BALLAD OF HAL
Bret Hart
from 'Some Songs Will Fight You' 2023
.....
at the age of 2 little Hal O'Hairt learned his first lesson 'bout Being Scared
poison in a glass that looked like water
lots of folks drink things they shouldn't oughta
Hal lived thru that 'cause the doctors had a stomach pump
family moved around a lot, but not one place was a dump
oh, a little sister came, then Hal caught double pneumonia
for weeks all he smelled was hospital ammonia
well, 8 different schools gonna teach you how to fight
but 3-to-1 odds, that ain't never right
when Hal was 12, three glue-sniffin' punks jumped Hal's little ass
beat him pretty badly, 'til he got a handful of broken glass
well, "girls like the bad boys", some folks say
and our movies and folktales they sing the same way
now, I ain't gonna brag about the things Hal's seen
but he went to a homecoming ball with the Homecoming Queen
Hal gave Uncle Sam 8 years and they sent him overseas
got a whole bunch'a ribbons, but never caught that disease
he married a girl and gave her 8 years, too
but he didn't find the right girl 'til that mess was through
now, Hal won't tell if he's past 60
prob'ly say something weird like "I outlived Bill Bixby"
he shaves when he wants to
and he don't mind your scorn
he'll tell you, "I been chased by the Devil since the day I was born".
at the age of 2 little Hal O'Hairt learned his first lesson 'bout Being Scared
...
players:
bhh: voice and guitars
bill smith: drums and percussion
mike watt: bass