Higher Than Hope
Chapter 13
Later on that night, the group were at a country bar/restaurant called Roly Poly near the hotel. It appeared like a smaller version of the famous Grizzly Rose club north of the city, a main room with a stage and a screen and karaoke machine set up and a dining room flanked by a bar on one end and a jukebox in the corner.
"Since we have to get up early, we can't go to the Grizzly Rose. I think the only place better would be Billy Bob's or Gilly's in Dallas", said Ryan as they found an empty booth.
"Nail, you living with Ryan, you are going to be a huge country fan soon", teased Jordan as the waitress handed them their menus.
"Hah, we don't have country music in Russia. Maybe I can use this to torture my sister", he laughed.
"Da, and we torture guys with Russian techno", joked Semyon as the others looked horrified.
"No way, dude", said Ryan with a shudder. He got up from the table and walked over to the jukebox, flipping through the selections and choosing Red Dirt Road by Brooks and Dunn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjrZxIAFPRE
I was raised off Rural Route Three,
Out past where the black top ends.
We'd walk to Church on Sunday mornings,
Race barefoot back to Johnson's fence.
That's where I first saw Mary,
On that roadside pickin' blackberries.
That summer I turned a corner in my soul,
Down that red dirt road.
It's where I drank my first beer.
It's where I found Jesus.
Where I wrecked my first car:
I tore it all to pieces.
I learned the path to Heaven,
Is full of sinners an' believers.
Learned that happiness on earth,
Ain't just for high achievers.
I've learned; I come to know,
There's life at both ends,
Of that red dirt road.
Her Daddy didn't like me much,
In my shackled up GTO.
Oh, I'd sneak out in the middle of the night,
Throw rocks at her bedroom window.
We'd turn out the headlights,
Drive by the moonlight.
Talk about what the future might hold,
Down that red dirt road.
It's where I drank my first beer.
It's where I found Jesus.
Where I wrecked my first car:
I tore it all to pieces.
I learned the path to Heaven,
Is full of sinners an' believers.
Learned that happiness on earth,
Ain't just for high achievers.
I've learned; I come to know,
There's life at both ends,
Of that red dirt road.
I went out into the world,
An' I came back in.
I lost Mary:
Oh, I got her back again.
An' drivin' home tonight,
Feels like I've found a long-lost friend.
It's where I drank my first beer.
It's where I found Jesus.
Where I wrecked my first car:
I tore it all to pieces.
I learned the path to Heaven,
Is full of sinners an' believers.
Learned that happiness on earth,
Ain't just for high achievers.
I've learned; I come to know,
There's life at both ends,
Of that red dirt road.
"Dude, you know that's as old as you", teased Jordan.
Ryan just laughed as he sat back down. "I grew up hearing this stuff, my folks took me to see them in Vancouver when I was a kid. They got great songs and my grandparents' place was just like that", he said.
Nail nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. He had a bit of trouble at first understanding the duo's Southern accents, but he came to appreciate the lyrics about being from the country and young love. "This is nice, I like it. Except I did not grow up in such a country place", he chuckled.
"My grandparents grew up in such a place, I am going to buy a farm and live out int he sticks when I retire", said Ryan as the waitress came over with their drinks.
Matt glanced around and took out a flask of bourbon and added to their Cokes. "It's no fun to do karaoke sober", he chuckled.
"You guys do that, I'm not going to make a jackass out of myself", said Paul, giving everyone a look.
"Dude, I swear you have a stick up your ass", teased Matt, clapping his friend on the back.
After dinner, the bar began to fill up with patrons as the staff got the karaoke machine set up. "Paul, just go and get loose. I want you to go up there and do the craziest song, you really need to act loose", said Matt.
"And what if I don't?", he retorted.
"We'll teel the coach and you're going to have to skate suicides", said Matt with a grin.
Everyone laughed at the horrified look on Paul's face. "Then what should I sing then?", he asked.
Ryan had a sly look on his face, his lips turned up in a grin. "I want you and Matt to do a duet", he said.
"What sort of duet?", he asked warily, not trusting the look on the younger man's face.
"I want you to do this song my mom likes, You're The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly", he replied, grinning widely at the horrified look on Paul's face.
"No way, absolutely not. That's a real song?", he asked incredulously.
"Yeah", responded Ryan, finding the song on Youtube via his Iphone and showing it to them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFq6eZBS1iM
"Wow, that song seriously sucks ass", exclaimed Taylor.
"Ja, that is horrible. But it is either that or skate suicides", said Magnus pragmatically.
"All right, I'll sing it. But I'm not doing the girl's part", said Paul.
When the karaoke started, Ryan was the first one up he walked up to the little stage and told the attendant his selection, When You're Hot, You're Hot by Jerry Reed coming from the speakers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBeBQJHhIj4
Well me and Homer Jones and Big John Talley
Had a big crap game goin' back in the alley
And I kept rollin' them sevens, winnin' all them pots
My luck was so good I could do no wrong
I jest kept on rollin' and controllin' them bones
And finally they jest threw up their hands and said
"When you hot, you hot"
I said "Yeah?"
When you're hot, you're hot
And when you're not, you're not
Put all the money in and let's roll 'em again
When you're hot, you're hot
(La la la la la la la) (La la la la la)
(La la la la la la la, when you're hot, you're hot)
Well, now every time I rolled them dice I'd win
And I was just gettin' ready to roll 'em again
When I heard somethin' behind me
I turned around and there was a big old cop
He said "Hello, boys" and then he gave us a grin 'n' said
"Look like I'm gonna hafta haul you all in
And keep all that money for evidence"
I said, "Well, son when you hot, you hot"
He said "Yeah"
When you're hot, you're hot
And when you're not, you're not
You can 'splain it all down at City Hall
I say, yeah, when you're hot, you're hot
You're hot
(La la la la la la la) (La la la la la)
(La la la la la la la, when you're hot, you're hot)
Well, when he took us inta court I couldn't believe my eyes
The judge was a fishin' buddy that I recognized
I said "Hey, judge, old buddy, old pal"
"I'll pay ya that hundred I owe ya if you'll get me outta this spot"
So he gave my friends a little fine to pay
He turned around and grinned at me and said
"Ninety days, Jerry, when you hot, you hot"
'N' I said "Thanks a lot"
When you're hot, you're hot
And when you're not, you're not
He let my friends go free and throwed the book at me
He said "Well, when you're hot, you're hot"
I said, "Well I'll tell ya one thing judge, old buddy, old pal
If you wasn't wearin' that black robe I'd take out in back of this courthouse
And I'd try a little bit of your honor on
You understand that, you hillbilly?
Who gonna collect my welfare?"
(When you're hot, you're hot)
"Pay for my Cadillac?
Whadda you mean 'contempt of court'?"
(When you're hot, you're hot)
"Judge"
Everyone had a good laugh as Ryan portrayed the dumb good ol' boy protagonist trying to talk his way out of prison, the cheerful 70's country song putting everyone in a good mood.
After a few more customers went to sing, it was Paul and Matt's turn. "Break a leg, you two", said Taylor slyly, Matt pouring each them a shot of bourbon and then slamming it down. The audience cheered when they recognized the two Avalanche players, laughing good-naturedly as the classic Conway Twitty/Loretta Lynn duet came over the speakers. Paul did the male part and Matt did the female part in a falsetto, Paul red-faced with embarrassment and Matt having a laugh:
You're the reason I'm ridin' 'round on recapped tyres
An' you're the reason I'm hangin' our clothes outside on walls
An' you're the reason our kids are ugly, little darling
Ah, but looks ain't everything
And money ain't everything
But, I love you just the same
You're the reason I changed to beer from soda pop
An' you're the reason I never get to go to the beauty shop
You're the reason our kids are ugly, little darling
Oh, but looks ain't everything
And money ain't everything
But, I love you just the same
I guess that we won't ever have, everything we need
'Cause when we get ahead, it's got another mouth to feed
And that's the reason my good looks and my figure's gone
And that's the reason I ain't got no hair to comb
An' you're the reason our kids are ugly, little darling
Ah but looks ain't everything
And money ain't everything
But, I love you just the same
Conway, why in the devil don't you gon'
And shave an' put on a clean pair of pants?
Loretta, look at yourself
I wish you'd take them curlers out of your hair
An' go put on a little bit of make up
An' get out of the housecoat before supper
Ha well let me tell you somethin', Conway
Considerin' everything I went through today
I look like a movie star
Yeah, Ruth Cassidy
Thank you
Besides that
All of our kids took after your part of our family anyway
Oh they did, huh? What about the one's that's bald?
Well, I guess you might say they took after me
Paul practically ran back to the table with his cheeks still red, Matt clapping him on the back and pouring him another bourbon. "Dude, as long as this doesn't end up on Youtube, we're fine", he laughed.
"I hope Dad never sees this", he muttered.
"Dude, you're dad probably did stupid shit too", said Matt.
"Since we have to get up early, we can't go to the Grizzly Rose. I think the only place better would be Billy Bob's or Gilly's in Dallas", said Ryan as they found an empty booth.
"Nail, you living with Ryan, you are going to be a huge country fan soon", teased Jordan as the waitress handed them their menus.
"Hah, we don't have country music in Russia. Maybe I can use this to torture my sister", he laughed.
"Da, and we torture guys with Russian techno", joked Semyon as the others looked horrified.
"No way, dude", said Ryan with a shudder. He got up from the table and walked over to the jukebox, flipping through the selections and choosing Red Dirt Road by Brooks and Dunn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjrZxIAFPRE
I was raised off Rural Route Three,
Out past where the black top ends.
We'd walk to Church on Sunday mornings,
Race barefoot back to Johnson's fence.
That's where I first saw Mary,
On that roadside pickin' blackberries.
That summer I turned a corner in my soul,
Down that red dirt road.
It's where I drank my first beer.
It's where I found Jesus.
Where I wrecked my first car:
I tore it all to pieces.
I learned the path to Heaven,
Is full of sinners an' believers.
Learned that happiness on earth,
Ain't just for high achievers.
I've learned; I come to know,
There's life at both ends,
Of that red dirt road.
Her Daddy didn't like me much,
In my shackled up GTO.
Oh, I'd sneak out in the middle of the night,
Throw rocks at her bedroom window.
We'd turn out the headlights,
Drive by the moonlight.
Talk about what the future might hold,
Down that red dirt road.
It's where I drank my first beer.
It's where I found Jesus.
Where I wrecked my first car:
I tore it all to pieces.
I learned the path to Heaven,
Is full of sinners an' believers.
Learned that happiness on earth,
Ain't just for high achievers.
I've learned; I come to know,
There's life at both ends,
Of that red dirt road.
I went out into the world,
An' I came back in.
I lost Mary:
Oh, I got her back again.
An' drivin' home tonight,
Feels like I've found a long-lost friend.
It's where I drank my first beer.
It's where I found Jesus.
Where I wrecked my first car:
I tore it all to pieces.
I learned the path to Heaven,
Is full of sinners an' believers.
Learned that happiness on earth,
Ain't just for high achievers.
I've learned; I come to know,
There's life at both ends,
Of that red dirt road.
"Dude, you know that's as old as you", teased Jordan.
Ryan just laughed as he sat back down. "I grew up hearing this stuff, my folks took me to see them in Vancouver when I was a kid. They got great songs and my grandparents' place was just like that", he said.
Nail nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. He had a bit of trouble at first understanding the duo's Southern accents, but he came to appreciate the lyrics about being from the country and young love. "This is nice, I like it. Except I did not grow up in such a country place", he chuckled.
"My grandparents grew up in such a place, I am going to buy a farm and live out int he sticks when I retire", said Ryan as the waitress came over with their drinks.
Matt glanced around and took out a flask of bourbon and added to their Cokes. "It's no fun to do karaoke sober", he chuckled.
"You guys do that, I'm not going to make a jackass out of myself", said Paul, giving everyone a look.
"Dude, I swear you have a stick up your ass", teased Matt, clapping his friend on the back.
After dinner, the bar began to fill up with patrons as the staff got the karaoke machine set up. "Paul, just go and get loose. I want you to go up there and do the craziest song, you really need to act loose", said Matt.
"And what if I don't?", he retorted.
"We'll teel the coach and you're going to have to skate suicides", said Matt with a grin.
Everyone laughed at the horrified look on Paul's face. "Then what should I sing then?", he asked.
Ryan had a sly look on his face, his lips turned up in a grin. "I want you and Matt to do a duet", he said.
"What sort of duet?", he asked warily, not trusting the look on the younger man's face.
"I want you to do this song my mom likes, You're The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly", he replied, grinning widely at the horrified look on Paul's face.
"No way, absolutely not. That's a real song?", he asked incredulously.
"Yeah", responded Ryan, finding the song on Youtube via his Iphone and showing it to them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFq6eZBS1iM
"Wow, that song seriously sucks ass", exclaimed Taylor.
"Ja, that is horrible. But it is either that or skate suicides", said Magnus pragmatically.
"All right, I'll sing it. But I'm not doing the girl's part", said Paul.
When the karaoke started, Ryan was the first one up he walked up to the little stage and told the attendant his selection, When You're Hot, You're Hot by Jerry Reed coming from the speakers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBeBQJHhIj4
Well me and Homer Jones and Big John Talley
Had a big crap game goin' back in the alley
And I kept rollin' them sevens, winnin' all them pots
My luck was so good I could do no wrong
I jest kept on rollin' and controllin' them bones
And finally they jest threw up their hands and said
"When you hot, you hot"
I said "Yeah?"
When you're hot, you're hot
And when you're not, you're not
Put all the money in and let's roll 'em again
When you're hot, you're hot
(La la la la la la la) (La la la la la)
(La la la la la la la, when you're hot, you're hot)
Well, now every time I rolled them dice I'd win
And I was just gettin' ready to roll 'em again
When I heard somethin' behind me
I turned around and there was a big old cop
He said "Hello, boys" and then he gave us a grin 'n' said
"Look like I'm gonna hafta haul you all in
And keep all that money for evidence"
I said, "Well, son when you hot, you hot"
He said "Yeah"
When you're hot, you're hot
And when you're not, you're not
You can 'splain it all down at City Hall
I say, yeah, when you're hot, you're hot
You're hot
(La la la la la la la) (La la la la la)
(La la la la la la la, when you're hot, you're hot)
Well, when he took us inta court I couldn't believe my eyes
The judge was a fishin' buddy that I recognized
I said "Hey, judge, old buddy, old pal"
"I'll pay ya that hundred I owe ya if you'll get me outta this spot"
So he gave my friends a little fine to pay
He turned around and grinned at me and said
"Ninety days, Jerry, when you hot, you hot"
'N' I said "Thanks a lot"
When you're hot, you're hot
And when you're not, you're not
He let my friends go free and throwed the book at me
He said "Well, when you're hot, you're hot"
I said, "Well I'll tell ya one thing judge, old buddy, old pal
If you wasn't wearin' that black robe I'd take out in back of this courthouse
And I'd try a little bit of your honor on
You understand that, you hillbilly?
Who gonna collect my welfare?"
(When you're hot, you're hot)
"Pay for my Cadillac?
Whadda you mean 'contempt of court'?"
(When you're hot, you're hot)
"Judge"
Everyone had a good laugh as Ryan portrayed the dumb good ol' boy protagonist trying to talk his way out of prison, the cheerful 70's country song putting everyone in a good mood.
After a few more customers went to sing, it was Paul and Matt's turn. "Break a leg, you two", said Taylor slyly, Matt pouring each them a shot of bourbon and then slamming it down. The audience cheered when they recognized the two Avalanche players, laughing good-naturedly as the classic Conway Twitty/Loretta Lynn duet came over the speakers. Paul did the male part and Matt did the female part in a falsetto, Paul red-faced with embarrassment and Matt having a laugh:
You're the reason I'm ridin' 'round on recapped tyres
An' you're the reason I'm hangin' our clothes outside on walls
An' you're the reason our kids are ugly, little darling
Ah, but looks ain't everything
And money ain't everything
But, I love you just the same
You're the reason I changed to beer from soda pop
An' you're the reason I never get to go to the beauty shop
You're the reason our kids are ugly, little darling
Oh, but looks ain't everything
And money ain't everything
But, I love you just the same
I guess that we won't ever have, everything we need
'Cause when we get ahead, it's got another mouth to feed
And that's the reason my good looks and my figure's gone
And that's the reason I ain't got no hair to comb
An' you're the reason our kids are ugly, little darling
Ah but looks ain't everything
And money ain't everything
But, I love you just the same
Conway, why in the devil don't you gon'
And shave an' put on a clean pair of pants?
Loretta, look at yourself
I wish you'd take them curlers out of your hair
An' go put on a little bit of make up
An' get out of the housecoat before supper
Ha well let me tell you somethin', Conway
Considerin' everything I went through today
I look like a movie star
Yeah, Ruth Cassidy
Thank you
Besides that
All of our kids took after your part of our family anyway
Oh they did, huh? What about the one's that's bald?
Well, I guess you might say they took after me
Paul practically ran back to the table with his cheeks still red, Matt clapping him on the back and pouring him another bourbon. "Dude, as long as this doesn't end up on Youtube, we're fine", he laughed.
"I hope Dad never sees this", he muttered.
"Dude, you're dad probably did stupid shit too", said Matt.