Rap, or, if you prefer, hip-hop, is a low form of art. It’s sort of the bastard offspring of music and poetry, manifesting as a kind of chanting. The expression “rap is crap” sums it up nicely.
But about 10 years ago, a Brooklyn music producer named Oscar Owens, aka Rench, found a way, more or less, to rescue rap from itself. He blended it with bluegrass, creating a new genre that, God help me, I find acceptable as music.
Rench formed the band Gangstagrass, a mixed bag of musicians that delivered the theme song of the popular TV series “Justified.” That tune, “Long Hard Times to Come,” was a collaboration between Gangstagrass and the rapper T.O.N.E-z.
Gangstagrass band members today are (left to right below) Dan Whitener (vocals/banjo), Dolio the Sleuth (vocals), Rench (vocals/guitar), R-Son The Voice of Reason (vocals), and Brian Farrow (vocals/fiddle).
Long Hard Times to Come
By Gangstagrass (Featuring T.O.N.E-z), 2010
Written by Rench and T.O.N.E-z
On this lonely road,
Tryin’ to make it home.
Doin’ it by my lonesome.
Pissed off, who wants some.
I’m fightin’ for my soul.
God get at you, boy.
You try to Bogart, fall back,
I go hard.
On this lonely road,
Tryin’ to make it home.
Doin’ it by my lonesome.
Pissed off, who wants some.
I see them long hard times to come.
My life is ill, son.
Prepared to kill, son.
A paradox of pain, baby.
It’s real, son.
Lonely traveler.
Ain’t tryin’ to battle ya.
But if you’re feelin’ tough, dog,
I welcome all challengers.
Ain’t got no family.
You see, there’s one of me.
Might lose your pulse
Standing two feet in front of me.
I’m pissed at the world,
But I ain’t lookin’ for trouble.
I might crack a grin.
I ain’t looking ‘to hug you.
Think about it:
Nobody wants to die.
There’s rules to this game, son.
I’m justified.
I’m ready to go, partner.
Hey, I’m on the run.
The devil’s huggin’ on my boots.
That’s why I own a gun.
This journey’s too long.
I’m lookin’ for some answers.
So much time stressin’,
I forget the questions.
I fear no man.
You don’t want no problems, B.
Eyes in the back of my head.
You better not follow me.
On this lonely road,
Tryin’ to make it home.
Doin’ it by my lonesome.
Pissed off, who wants some.
I’m fightin’ for my soul.
God get at you, boy.
You try to Bogart, fall back,
I go hard.
On this lonely road,
Tryin’ to make it home.
Doin’ it by my lonesome.
Pissed off, who wants some.
I see them long hard times to come.
You probably think I’m crazy,
Or got some loose screws.
But that’s alright, though.
I’m-a do me, you do you.
So how you judgin’ me?
I’m just tryin’ to survive.
And if the time comes,
I ain’t tryin’ to die.
I’m just tryin’ to fly
And get a little love.
Find me a dime piece
And get a little hug.
Hook the car up,
Hit the bar up,
Clean the scars up,
Hey, yo, the star’s up.
Hey, this is the life of an outlaw.
We ain’t promised tomorrow.
I’m livin’ now, dog.
I’m walkin’ through life,
But yo, my feet hurt.
All my blessings are fed.
Man, I’ll rest when I’m dead.
Look through my eyes
And see the real world.
Take a walk with me.
Have a talk with me.
Where we end up,
God only knows.
Strap your boots on tight,
You might be alright.
On this lonely road,
Tryin’ to make it home.
Doin’ it by my lonesome.
Pissed off, who wants some.
I’m fightin’ for my soul.
God get at you, boy.
You try to Bogart, fall back,
I go hard.
On this lonely road,
Tryin’ to make it home.
Doin’ it by my lonesome.
Pissed off, who wants some.
I see them long hard times to come.
On this lonely road,
Tryin’ to make it home.
Doin’ it by my lonesome.
Pissed off, who wants some.
I’m fightin’ for my soul.
God get at you, boy.
You try to Bogart, fall back,
I go hard.
On this lonely road,
Tryin’ to make it home.
Doin’ it by my lonesome.
Pissed off, who wants some.
I see them long hard times to come.
https://rockysmith.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/long-hard-times-to-come.mp3
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