Lyrics

TALES OF LOVE AND LIFE BEGIN
AT THE PLACE THEY CALL THE WELCOME INN
A BAR WE COULD JUST SIT OR SCREAM AND SHOUT
THE FRIENDLY VIBE AND THE FLOWING DRINK
BUT STORIES GAVE US PAUSE TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT LOVE AND LIFE WAS ALL ABOUT

FOLKS ALL AGES WALKS OF LIFE
TOAST VICTORIES
AND DROWN THEIR STRIFE
SETTLED ON STOOLS LIKE THRONES IN CASTLES HIGH
THE WIND OUTSIDE IS BLOWING COLD
BUT THE WARMTH INSIDE AND STORIES TOLD
THERE’LL BE NO BRAGGIN’ HERE IN OLD FORT BRAGG TONIGHT

FIRST MANNY FROM THE AZORES
A FISHERMAN WITH TALES
OF EPIC CATCHES FROM THE OCEANS FLOORS
CHASED BY GIANT WAVES TO SHORE
THEY DWARFED HIS TALLEST SAILS
TO SAFE HARBORS
BUT HE LONGED FOR DISTANT SHORES

NOW HE ANCHORS HIS COMMUNITY
HE'S THE ONE WHO CALLS ON FAMILIES
FOR THE LOVE LOST
FROM GUNS AND DRUGS GALORE

CHANTRELLE SHAYLEEN WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR
WITH MUSHROOMS GATHERED FROM THE FLOOR
BENEATH THE GIANT REDWOODS BY THE SEA
HER FORAGED FUNGI GIFTS HELP FEED
SOME PLEASURES FOR THOSE IN NEED
OF HEALING OR FOR SIMPLY FEELING GOOD

AND AS HER CANCER RAVAGES
A HOMELESS PERSON SCAVENGES
AND HER VOICE AND WORDS ARE COMFORTING INDEED

THEN HENRY STUMBLES THROUGH THE DOOR
AND SPILLS HIS GRIEF RIGHT ON THE FLOOR
WITH THE ASHES OF HIS MOM WHO DIED LAST WEEK
A MOTHER'S LOVE LOST TRAGICALLY
OFF A CLIFF IN MOUNTAINS NEAR THE SEA
MOTHER’S LOVE AND WONDERS WE ALL SEEK

FIND BEAUTY IN THIS TRAGEDY
AND HOPE THAT ALL HIS MEMORIES
ARE STRONGER THAN THE WORDS WE COULD NOT SPEAK

FOLKS ALL AGES WALKS OF LIFE
TOAST VICTORIES
AND DROWN THEIR STRIFE
SETTLED ON STOOLS LIKE THRONES IN CASTLES HIGH
WINDS OUTSIDE ARE BLOWING COLD
BUT THE WARMTH INSIDE AND THE STORIES TOLD
THERE’LL BE NO BRAGGIN HERE IN OLD FORT BRAGG TONIGHT

IN A FEW SHORT HOURS AT THE WELCOME INN
WE LEFT THE GAME AND OUR BRAGGIN SINS
FOR STORIES SO MUCH DEEPER THAN THE SEAS
OF HEALING, WEALTH, AND TRAGEDIES
OF BATTLES WON AND LOST LIKE THESE
NUMBING PAIN AND SILENCING THE DIN

LEFT ON THE BAR, BLOWN OUT TO SEA
THOSE BURDENS AND FRAGILITIES
WERE A LIGHTER WHEN WE BOTH CAME IN

NO BRAGGIN IN FORT BRAGG TONIGHT
THESE FEERLESS FOLKS ARE HERE TO FIGHT
FOR LOVE THEY LOST BUT THEYRE STILL STANDING TALL
THE GAMES WE CAME TO WATCH “WHO CARES”
ARE TRIVIAL TO WHAT COMPARES
TO STORIES AT THE WELCOME INN RECALLED...
NO BRAGGING HERE IN OLD FORT BRAGG AT ALL
NO BRAGGIN HERE IN OLD FORT BRAGG AT ALL