We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Dark Horse Days

by Donal Hinely

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Dark Horse Days via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $12 USD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 8 Donal Hinely releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Diary of a Snowflake, You Call Yourself a Christian, Couldn't Breathe, Dark Horse Days, The Famous Rocket Cage, Blue State Boy, Giants, and We Built a Fire. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $33.60 USD or more (20% OFF)

     

1.
Sucking on a Marlboro Red, blowing out blue smoke Some distant memory flashing in his eyes A host of bad decisions have brought him to this point It didn't help to have a screw loose in his mind Hollow cheeks are sunken in where his teeth should be And a storm is raging on his wrinkled brow He's hungry for an audience to his one man show But nobody's listening to him now Laughter from the new cafes where tenements once stood Chatter fills the busy colannade No one pays you any mind when you're damaged goods a broken thing that's better thrown away Fighting was the only thing he ever learned in school His Momma bleached the blood out of his clothes Later on the Navy spit him out onto dry land For reasons that he'd rather not disclose Laughter from the new cafes where tenements once stood Chatter fills the busy colonnade No one pays you any mind when you're damaged goods a broken thing that's better thrown away Taking to the highway and jumping empty freights He built his castle in the restless breeze But something cracked inside him like drywall in a quake And the walls started crumbling by degrees Laughter from the new cafes where tenements once stood Chatter fills the busy colonnade No one pays you any mind when you're damaged goods a broken thing that's better thrown away A broken thing that's better thrown away
2.
Barn Wood 02:57
I’ve got these nail holes in my soul Dark and empty, black as coal If you could only see the good I clean up like old barn wood I clean up like old barn wood Narrow valleys line my face Deep and weathered by passing days If you love me like you should I clean up like old barn wood I clean up like old barn wood A little muscle, a little grit A little polish, a little spit And you can fashion something new Take these rough edges, make them smooth You're the only one that could I clean up like old barn wood I clean up like old barn wood I clean up like old barn wood I clean up like old barn wood
3.
From the Day 03:07
I'm a believer of lies I close my eyes Don't care what lies behind the curtain The truth never gets told It's just bought and sold The one thing I know, I know for certain From the day I saw you From the day I saw you I knew, I knew From the day I saw you From the day I saw you I knew, I knew There's no shadow of doubt No low hanging cloud threatening to drown my obsession For me, it's all very clear I die when you're near It's time that you hear my confession From the day I saw you From the day I saw you I knew, I knew From the day I saw you From the day I saw you I knew, I knew
4.
If 03:15
If I'm not the one Why don't you come right out and say it If I'm not the one Why are you standing at my door If I'm not the one why do you never have to fake it If I'm not the one Tell me you don't love me anymore you've been lonely for so long you know its true you've been waiting for a man like me And if I'm not the one I can't imagine who would be you've been lonely for so long you know its true you've been waiting for a man like me If I'm not the one who'll turn your teardrops into laughter If I'm not the one Who's gonna love you like I do If I'm not the one I don't know what it is you're after If I'm not the one If I'm not the one for you If I'm not the one for you If I'm not the one for you
5.
When I Burn 02:57
There's a place I like to go Far away from all this snow You can find me headed south When I burn your memory down Gonna find a brand new love Guaranteed to spark it up I'll forget you there's no doubt When I burn your memory down When I burn, your memory down When I burn your memory down When I burn your memory down When I burn your memory down Take your lies and all your games Watch em all go down in flames Til the embers flicker out When I burn your memory down It's a lovely way to fall Leaving nothing to recall I'll get over you somehow When I burn your memory down When I burn, your memory down When I burn your memory down When I burn your memory down When I burn your memory down When your mind drifts in the past you can drown or light a match ashes ashes on the ground when i burn your memory down When I burn, your memory down When I burn your memory down When I burn your memory down When I burn your memory down
6.
I once knew a man who shouldered all my cares He held me by my hand And took me everywhere The windows to the soul they stay open wide when the world is letting go and there's nothing left inside And now he calls to me To help him find the way He begs my heart to see this debt i must repay The windows to the soul they stay open wide when the world is letting go and there's nothing left inside I once knew a man so singular and true I held him by his hand And did what i had to do And did what I had to do
7.
Hey Sunshine 02:53
I woke up late today The world was cold and gray She'd slipped out with the morning And threw the blue skies in a sack And though it makes me cry To know I've lost her light So quickly without warning I still believe she's coming back Where did she go, why did she leave me here this way? Staring out the window at the rain Hey Hey Sunshine let me see you come around Let the sun shine on Hey hey Sunshine pick me up when you're in town Let the sun shine on Inside these walls I find No space to ease my mind I'm putting on my raincoat I'll leave the key out on the stair And I'll search through this town Each street that I walk down Hoping as the day goes When I return home she'll be there Sometimes I wish that I had never seen her face Call me a fool out in the rain Hey Hey Sunshine let me see you come around Let the sun shine on Hey hey Sunshine pick me up when you're in town Let the sun shine on
8.
Tell Her 02:37
Wait, Love should never wait What if you're too late And wake up all alone? She, she could change her mind So tell her all the time Let her know there'll never be another Tell her that you love her Life has a funny way Of screwing up your day Sometimes it's never ending She, she turns it all around She never lets you down So let her know no one is above her Tell her that you love her Don't let this chance go by She'll spread her wings and fly away No time to hold your breath When you've got something left to say So tell her that you love her Tell her that you love her Life has a funny way Of screwing up your day Sometimes it's never ending She could have a change of heart So tell her from the start Let her know no one is above her Tell her that you love her There'll never be another Tell her that you love her
9.
You got me thinking that I'm crazy You got me wondering what I'll do You got me dreaming of you all night long 'cause I got a feeling for you You got me checkin' in the mirror You got me shining up my shoes You got me hoping that you'll fall for me 'cause I got a feeling for you I got a feeling for you It's the genuine thing This feeling for you Is all I think about right now You got me singing in the sunshine You got me howling at the moon You got me telling' every one I know, yeah I got a feeling for you I got a feeling for you It's the genuine thing This feeling for you Is all I think about right now
10.
It's been raining for so long can't remember what the sun feels like it's so cold this time of year no one in their right mind would go out Icy fingers at my throat slipping' through the buttons on my coat When did Old Man Winter steal my bones? When did Old Man Winter steal my bones? As a young boy by the window I prayed for the snow to fall Stayed up late by the radio hoping that school was closed Now when the world wakes up in white I pull the covers up real tight When did Old Man Winter steal my bones? When did Old Man Winter steal my bones? When did a change in the weather lose the charm and the wonder? When did my carefree heart turn to stone I just woke up here one day, when did I lose my way When did Old Man Winter steal my bones Now when that mercury starts to fall I stay in bed and dread it all When did Old Man Winter steal my bones? These knees were good for runnin', now they just tell me when a storm is coming When did Old Man Winter steal my bones When did Old Man Winter steal my bones
11.
Dislocated 03:15
Ain't it a shame got nothing to hang my hat on familiar faces long gone from a world I used to know Ain't it a drag just can't keep the facts straight And no one's listening anyway I wish I could go home Dislocated Dislocated aren't we? Dislocated aren't we all? Ain't that the way Each and every day goes There's a stranger in my clothes And I don't like his friends Ain't that the truth Got nothing to lose but my soul Fall in line and watch it go A blowin' in the wind Dislocated Dislocated aren't we? Dislocated aren't we all? Aren't we all, Aren't we all Dislocated Dislocated aren't we? Dislocated aren't we all?
12.
If I could sing a song for you I'd sing about the land Of old cowboys and depot men and nights on the Rio Grande I like to think the words would bring a twinkle to your eye And leave you restin' easy with this prairie lullaby If I could sing a song for you I'd sing about the road Of hard times and good women and lightenin' up your load I like to think tequila's what you're drinking when you're dry as I drink to you compadre with this prairie lullaby If I could send a letter to you telling you all you meant I'd spend the whole day writing and just get one percent If I could tell a tale to you I'd set it in the west And fill it full of all your friends and things that you love best I like to think you'd lose yourself in good memories gone by Free in quiet reverie with this prairie lullaby Free in quiet reverie with this prairie lullaby
13.
Ain't Nobody 04:08
Ain't nobody gonna bring me down Taking my worries to the lost and found, tonight I got a little money I wanna throw around Ain't nobody gonna bring me down So long sorrow, time I set you free Hello heartache, make a fool of me, tonight I wanna hear some music in a major key So long sorrow, time I set you free Fixing my troubles with a wrecking ball Set 'em up mister, gonna watch them fall, tonight Cause I've been running since I learned to crawl Fixing my troubles with a wrecking ball Ready for the party I wanna see my friends Good Time Charlie is finally on the mend, tonight Please don't tell me how the story ends Ready for the party, I wanna see my friends Ain't nobody gonna bring me down

about

With echoes of Nick Lowe, Steve Earle, and Robyn Hitchcock, DARK HORSE DAYS was recorded at Inglehood Studios in East Nashville. Produced by Cowboy Keith Thompson, the Scuffletown/ATOM collaboration features 13 new songs and draws on a wide range of influences, infusing literate, compelling, and melodically satisfying songs with elements of folk, roots, country, and pop. Emerging from a period of personal grief and uncertainty in which Hinely lost both parents to illness, the album is more a reflection of triumph and redemption than defeat or resignation. In the hands of a stellar band of studio veterans featuring Joe McMahan (k.d. lang), James “Haggs” Haggerty (Josh Rouse), Micah Hulscher (Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris) and Martin Lynds (Chuck Mead), Hinely’s meditations on modern life, love, loss, and alienation are transformed into 3 minute celebrations of the human spirit.


UPON REFLECTION:

In the past 3 1/2 years, I said goodbye to both of my parents. The biggest fans I will ever have, their love and support was unconditional and their influence on my life immeasurable. My father loved the horse races and had an affinity for the long shot. I too am drawn to the idea that despite a stacked deck and long odds, life occasionally affords an unexpected outcome. There is something deeply satisfying when conventional wisdom takes a slap in the face. Maybe Tom Petty said it best: Even the losers get lucky sometimes.
These songs are my little underdogs. They're scruffy and rough around the edges. I never gave them much of a chance, yet here they are, defiant in the face of personal chaos and uncertainty. I'm glad they broke through. I'm proud of them. I hope you like them, too.

--Donal Hinely, 11/04/15

credits

released February 16, 2016

Donal Hinely--acoustic guitar, vocals
Joe McMahan--electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin
James "Hags" Haggerty--acoustic and upright bass, backing vocals
Martin Lynds--drums and percussion, backing vocals
Micah Hulscher--keyboards, accordion
David Henry--cello and violin
Mavis Turner--trumpet
Drea Rhenee Merritt--backing vocals
Alexis Saski--backing vocals
Laura Mayo--backing vocals
Cowboy Keith Thompson--backing vocals

Produced and recorded by Cowboy Keith Thompson at inglehood Studios, East Nashville.
Mixed by Cowboy Keith Thompson except "From the Day" and "When I Burn", mixed by Chad Brown.
Mastered by Alex McCollough at Yes Master.
Photography by Jared Manzo
Design by Electric Avenue Nashville
Cover Photo by John Lok/The Seattle Times

All songs by Donal Hinely, Scuffletown Music (ASCAP)

Thanks to all who played a part in this production: Scott Kinnison at ATOM Records, Joe McMahan, James "Hags" Haggerty, Martin Lynds, Micah Hulscher, David Henry, Mavis Turner, Drea Rhenee Merritt, Alexis Saski, Laura Mayo, Chad Brown, Alex McCollough, Curt Perkins, and Jared Manzo.

A very special thanks to Cowboy Keith Thompson at inglehood Records. I am forever grateful for your talent, integrity, and generosity. Thanks for taking care of these songs like they were your own.

A toast to you, Valeri Alexander. I'm a better person for having known you. I hope you can hear these songs where you are.

Finally, a humble thanks to every soul who ever put a tip in my jar, bought a CD, or just listened to a song. There are too many to thank here. Just know that your patronage not only buoys the spirit but it keeps this ship afloat.

For Reginald and Beverley Hinely.


SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION:

"vivid storytelling lyrics peppered with pieces of reality that make each song memorable"
--Paste Magazine


"just brilliant...has the rare ability to completely engross the listener and transport him or her to another place and time."
--Dave Higgs, host of NPR's Bluegrass Breakdown


"An exquisite storyteller...picture perfect roots rock."
--Pop Matters Magazine


"Hinely has a keen sense of humor and a good sense of melody, crafting songs that touch unexpected human depths”

--Joe Sixpack’s Guide to Country Music


"A great folk/Americana album...'Shock and Awe' is the best political song I've heard all year."
--Greg Grant, Online Folk Festival


"much better than anything to come from mainstream Nashville since the Garth Brooks, anti-Hank crowd took over"
--Indie Music


"a fine eye for the truths of the ordinary and the shadowy sides of life"
--Roots66 Magazine


"Cut from the same cloth as great songwriters such as Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, and Robert Earl Keen, he might just be the next big thing."
--Cincinnati Enquirer


"a terrific, rootsy slab of Americana"
--Santa Monica Mirror


"a genuine master"
--Dagger Magazine


"sharply written Americana"
--Choice Cuts



"a gifted singer/songwriter"
--Twang-Tone Magazine


"one of the premier Americana artists today"
--Planet Country


"what really impresses is Hinely's songwriting which is technically very proficient with elegant lyrics fitting into well-constructed musical frameworks."
--Country Music People


"reminiscent of the irony of Loudon Wainwright III"
--Lone Star Time


"I was completely blown away by this record."
--Catherine Tully, Indie-Music


"A voice bristling with personality reminiscent of the best Texas singers and even Van Morrison...a new classic"
--Carlo Lancini, Roots Highway


"Somebody was thinking outside of the box during this recording session!"
--Stephen Hug, Americana Roots


"Compelling and poignant...a brilliant winner of a recording."
--Chris Darling, "Us Folk"/WMPG-FM



"To call him literate would be an understatement... Hinely's writing ability earns him a place alongside other Texas luminaries such as Earle, Van Zandt and Keen."
--Don Grant, Freight Train Boogie


"A song like "Giants" is one many of us will be humming to ourselves as we speak up, speak out and march towards voting booths in 2006 and 2008 to turn America around."
--Tony Peyser, BuzzFlash


"One of the best albums I've heard this year...I can't recommend it highly enough to lovers of pure, organic music"
--Peter Ashton, Playing Out Loud, UK


"This Texas songwriter isn't afraid to use a guitar to get his message across... quality song craft."
--Paste Magazine


“A lyrical wordsmith who makes every song a memorable quote”
--Real Sound


“Few artists could cover such a broad range so well... placing Hinely in a group as talented as Steve Earle, John Prine or Hinely's musical hero Nick Lowe”
--Amazon


“versatile and talented...one of the most interesting songwriters on the Americana scene”
--Folk World Magazine

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Donal Hinely Nashville, Tennessee

In 1994, Hinely left his hometown of Denton, TX and moved to Nashville. A prolific writer and recording artist, he has 17 albums to his credit including the folk chart topping Giants (2005). Hinely also entertains thousands of people each year at festivals and street fairs playing his glass harmonica. He learned to play the instrument from his late brother Terry, a self-taught master of the art. ... more

contact / help

Contact Donal Hinely

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Donal Hinely, you may also like: