Happy First Bloggiversary!

Exactly one year ago, in my first blog post ever I reviewed Bill Mallonee's show at Scottie McBean's in Worthington (Columbus), Ohio.

Here are the lyrics to the 6/8 mandolin-and-pedal steel country swing ballad "Sick Of It All," one of his songs off the 1997 re-release of the Vigilantes' most famous album, 1993's Killing Floor (which, I'm happy to see, is now out of print and worth $18):

Guess I should get up and cut the grass
Autumn is upon us, summer breathin her last
Prices goin higher and factories shuttin down
My kids are gettin hungry and friends are leavin town

Yes I'm a regular in the tavern in my neighborhood
Lately goin down there more than I should
Dan Rather used to tell me what was meant by it all
Now I just nurse a buzz and I stare at the wall

And I know I've cleaned my guns a lot this fall
But you know how it is when you get so
Sick of it all

Insurance ran out and we're not covered
My savings and loan she just went under
Lord I know I'm a sinner and I know I'm a fool
But how could an honest man pay up on these dues

Gonna make for us a little place in the sun
Now I'm making little ones out of the big ones
History teacher told me once what I should hope in
Now it's this lock stock and barrel and the promises broken

I guess I should get up and go get the mail
Long since overdue bills creditors screaming for theirs
Sure takes a toll on a love carved in stone
I'm wondering how she'd do living alone

I know I've cleaned my guns a lot this fall
You know how it is when you're so
Sick of it all