When Tim Barry sat down to create his latest album, Clear Blocks Ahead, the veteran singer-songwriter saw two potential paths: he could create something stripped to the bone, just vocals and acoustic guitar. Or he could go bigger, and build the record around a full band.
Sifting through nearly 40 songs, some of them dating back to the 1990s, Barry chose Door 2.
He partnered with the Spacebomb House Band, a tight unit of studio players based in his home town of Richmond, Virginia, and set to recording 13 tracks. The end product is a departure from his last record, 2022’s Spring Hill — and the rest of his two-decade career. Most of the Americana trappings are gone. In their place are ringing electric guitars and big rock n roll hooks. We’re not talking Marshall stacks cranked to 11, but Clear Blocks Ahead marks a major change of the sonic palette.
Even the quieter tunes, like Iron City (Breakdown) (a deliciously bitter anti-ballad) and W.W. Pool (a chronicle of hard living), bristle with fresh musical ideas and an enhanced sense of collaboration. One new co-conspirator is Barry’s daughter, Lela Jane Barry, who lends her voice to four tracks.
Lyrically, the Clear Blocks Ahead is pure Barry. The songs feature lots of pathos-laden figures, the kinds of margin-dwelling characters who could star in a Sam Shepard play or a Denis Johnson novel. But he also brings a distinct sense of hope to the record, a useful feeling in the year 2026. Steady Locomotion is a gorgeous ode to simply surviving in a harsh world. And on the anthemic Still Lit, he sings: “Get up and out the door/Run like you never run before.”
Indeed.
GOT A FEELING I SHOULD LEAVE THIS TOWN GET IT WHILE THE GETTIN'S GOOD CRACKED A SMILE SAYIN' STAY AWHILE NAME THE FATHER SON AND HOLY GHOST HIGHBALL OUTTA MONTREAL INTO HANDCUFFS VIA RPD TERRY VERSES OHIO CIRCA 1968
NO WAY I'LL EVER LEAVE IF WE END UP DRINKING WILL YOU FIGHT ME FOR THE KEYS HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRE KISSES ON THE CHEEK YOU HAVE ALWAYS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME
ARE YOU BETTER, THE SAME, OR WORSE? THEY ALWAYS PICKING UP THE PACE WHAT IS THIS THING FEEDING ME? I NEVER ASKED TO LIVE THIS WAY SCRATCH OFF BLOWING IN THE WIND IT'S A WASTE BUT WHAT IF ITS A WIN BUY SOME SHOES AND SOME TALL BOY MICS WALK AROUND AND DRINK
NO WAY I'LL EVER LEAVE IF WE END UP DRINKING WILL YOU FIGHT ME FOR THE KEYS HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRE KISSES ON THE CHEEK YOU HAVE ALWAYS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME
A HARD DOG TO KEEP ON THE PORCH NEVER REALLY NEEDED MUCH JUST A CORNER IN A LITTLE HOUSE FILLED TO THE CEILING WITH LOVE SWIPE IN, SWIPE OUT THE RIVER'S GONNA FLOW EITHER WAY I NEVER CARE 'BOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK I FIGHT DIRTY FOR MY FAMILY
NO WAY I'LL EVER LEAVE IF WE END UP DRINKING WILL YOU FIGHT ME FOR THE KEYS HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRE KISSES ON THE CHEEK YOU HAVE ALWAYS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME
BEEN GETTING UP AND OUT THE DOOR BEEN RUNNING LIKE I NEVER RUN BEFORE AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT WHO KNOWS WHO FEELING GOOD, HOW ABOUT YOU?
I'M BURNING OUT BUT I AM STILL LIT DON'T GIVE UP, KEEP JUMPING IN DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY YOU BE YOU AND I'LL BE ME
I KNOW A PLACE FOR WHEN YOU GO LOW SUMMER NIGHTS WHERE THE WIND BLOWS GET YOU HIGHER THAN YOU EVER BEEN BEFORE GET HIGHER THAN YOU EVER BEEN BEFORE
I'M BURNING OUT BUT I AM STILL LIT DON'T GIVE UP, KEEP JUMPING IN DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY YOU BE YOU AND I'LL BE ME
GET UP AND OUT THE DOOR RUN LIKE YOU NEVER RUN BEFORE DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHO KNOWS WHO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOU
I'M BURNING OUT BUT I AM STILL LIT DON'T GIVE UP, KEEP JUMPING IN DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY YOU BE YOU AND I'LL BE ME
YOU SAID "READ MY LIPS" I SAID "I ONLY SPEAK IN ENGLISH" BABY'S IN THE CRIB, YOU AIN'T SLEPT IN DAYS TAKES ONE GOOD GLASS OF WINE TO GET YOUR MOTOR MOVING I DON'T DO TOO MUCH DRINKING ANYMORE THESE DAYS
WILL YOU WRAP A BLANKET 'ROUND MY SHOULDERS WHEN I'M COLD? WILL YOU HOLD MY HAND IN THE GROCERY STORE? WILL YOU STAND BESIDE ME WHEN I'M FEELING AWFUL RECKLESS? WILL YOU LET ME DRIVE AND NOT TELL ME TO SLOW IT DOWN?
CAN YOU TURN ON THE LIGHT, I'M SITTING HERE IN DARKNESS? I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS WANNA GRAB BEER? MAYBE CATCH A MOVIE? YOUR LOOKING KINDA ANGRY ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO?
WILL YOU WRAP A BLANKET 'ROUND MY SHOULDERS WHEN I'M COLD? WILL YOU HOLD MY HAND IN THE GROCERY STORE? WILL YOU STAND BESIDE ME WHEN I'M FEELING AWFUL RECKLESS? WILL YOU LET ME DRIVE AND NOT TELL ME TO SLOW IT DOWN?
YOU SAID "READ MY LIPS" I SAID "I ONLY SPEAK IN ENGLISH" YOU SAID "HOW HIGHS THE RENT? HAVE YOU MADE ANY FRIENDS?" THEY PAINTED PICTURES ON THE WALLS THEN WENT AND RAISED THE TAXES SAY, "HAVE YOU HAD ANY MORE OF YOUR RUN INS WITH THE LAW?"
WILL YOU WRAP A BLANKET 'ROUND MY SHOULDERS WHEN I'M COLD? WILL YOU HOLD MY HAND IN THE GROCERY STORE? WILL YOU STAND BESIDE ME WHEN I'M FEELING AWFUL RECKLESS? WILL YOU LET ME DRIVE AND NOT TELL ME TO SLOW IT DOWN?
BEEN DRIVING FOR DAYS STEERING WHEELS MAKE GOOD COMPANY SHE ASKED ME TO DANCE I SAID "I NEVER HAVE BUT I'LL GIVE IT A CHANCE" I'LL PROBABLY END UP IN JAIL TWO LEFT FEET WALTZING THE CELL GOT STORIES YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE BUT DON'T TAKE ME TO WHERE I SHOULDN'T BE I COME BACK HOME NOW AND THEN I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT WHEN WE WERE JUST FRIENDS AIN'T NO TALK ABOUT SETTLING DOWN NO FEET TO THE FIRE, NO HANDS TO THE CLOUDS YOU CAN'T EVEN LOOK UP AT ME AND I SEARCH THE THE GROUND TO SEE WHAT YOU SEE YOU CAN'T EVEN LOOK UP AT ME AND I SEARCH THE GROUND TO SEE WHAT YOU SEE
I'M LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME WHERE I WON'T WAKE UP FEELING LIKE SHIT AND I DON'T FEEL SO ALONE
BEEN DRY NOW THREE DAYS PUT IT IN GEAR AND JUST DROVE AWAY LORD, I DRINK LIKE A WOLF EATS LIKE MY FATHER AND HIS BEFORE ME I CAN'T KEEP RUNNING UP THIS HILL BUT I CAN GET SOBER AND I WILL QUIT THESE PILLS AND I CAN LOOK YOU IN THE FACE I WILL FIX THIS SHIT, YEAH I WILL WIN THIS RACE
AND I'M LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME WHERE I DON'T WALK THE LINE AND I DON'T FEEL THE PULL I'M LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME WHERE I WON'T WAKE UP FEELING LIKE SHIT AND I DON'T FEEL SO ALONE
BEEN DRIVING FOR DAYS STEERING WHEELS MAKE GOOD COMPANY
WHAT IF I SAY THAT I DON'T WANT YOU BACK, THAT MY ONE TRUE LOVE IS A RAILROAD TRACK? A DOG IN THE YARD, A HOLE IN THE FENCE, AND A LITTLE FUCKING GARDEN GROWING EVERYTHING I CAN'T HANG ON FOR ANOTHER DAY
HELLO FROM ROANOKE FRESH OFF A 48' SITTING IN THE GREYHOUND STATION HOGGING ALL THE HEAT IT'S BEEN COLD FOR QUITE SOME TIME DAMN I MISS YOUR SMILE TONIGHT YOU WENT OUT DANCING AND I'M RELIVING EVERY MILE
SO I DIDN'T CALL YOU BACK GOD DAMN PHONES GIVE ME PANIC ATTACKS STAYED IN MY LANE DESPITE ALL THE LIES ALWAYS THOUGHT WE WERE RIDE OR DIES I CAN'T HANG ON FOR ANOTHER DAY
BY SUNDAY MORNING YOU'LL BE DANCING AND I'LL BE SEARCHING FOR SOME SHADE 20 MILES FROM DANVILLE NO MONEY IN THE BANK DON'T KNOW WHY I'M ALWAYS HIDING THERE AIN'T NOBODY ELSE AROUND BUT I'M SITTING AND THINKING ABOUT YOU AND HOW WE GOT TO HERE RIGHT NOW
SO GLAD YOU CAME BUT YOU CAN'T STAY WHY'D YOU COME HERE ANYWAY?
GALLON JUG AND A 30 PACK MY ONE TRUE LOVE IS A RAILROAD TRACK A DOG IN THE YARD, A HOLE IN THE FENCE AND A LITTLE FUCKING GARDEN GROWING EVERYTHING I CAN'T HANG ON FOR ANOTHER DAY
SO GLAD YOU CAME BUT YOU CAN'T STAY WHY'D YOU COME HERE ANYWAY?
RICHMOND GOT THAT TRAIN ON THE TRACK MOVES FORWARD AND MOVES BACK RICHMOND GOT THAT PIE IN THE SKY SO HIGH
BUT IS IT BEAUTIFUL THERE LIKE THEY SAY? YEAH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY BUT IS IT BEAUTIFUL, LORD, LIKE THEY SAY? YEAH, BUT RICHMOND AND NO RVA
RICHMOND GOT THAT DEVELOPMENT
BUT IS IT BEAUTIFUL THERE LIKE THEY SAY? YEAH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY BUT IS IT BEAUTIFUL, LORD, LIKE THEY SAY? YEAH, BUT RICHMOND AND NO RVA
RICHMOND GOT THAT QUALITY OF LIFE GUN SHOTS DAY AND NIGHT GUN SHOTS DAY AND NIGHT RICHMOND GOT THAT QUALITY OF LIFE
BUT IS IT BEAUTIFUL THERE LIKE THEY SAY? YEAH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY BUT IS IT BEAUTIFUL, LORD, LIKE THEY SAY? YEAH, BUT RICHMOND AND NO RVA
WENT ON A WALK TODAY TO A PLACE CALLED FAR AWAY FROM BACK IN THE DAY, HAD A REAL NICE TIME SMELLED LIKE ITALY, LOOKED LIKE TENNESSEE PLEASE DON'T FOLLOW ME I'M A LOST HOUND DOG EVEN WHEN I'M HERE, I'M OVER THERE CRACKLING IN THE WOOD IN THE FIRE PIT THERE'S A GREAT BIG WORLD OUTSIDE OF YESTERDAY GOOD PLACE TO STAY, IT'S WERE I LAY MY HEAD
GOING DOWNTOWN TO SEE THE WINDOWS MILLER & RHOADS, CHRISTMAS TIME THINK I'LL GET ME A DRINK FIRST, MAKE IT A NIGHT
WENT ON A WALK TODAY TO A LAND CALLED NOBODY THERE WON'T NO ONE THERE TO IGNORE ME I WORE HI VIS, SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT LIKE A BALLERINA FLOATING IN THE WINGS AIN'T NO ONE TALK ON THE PHONE NO MORE I STILL MAKE MY ROUNDS "HI, IT'S ME" THERE'S A GREAT BIG WORLD CALLED HERE TODAY I THINK I'LL STAY AND CLEAR MY HEAD
GOING DOWNTOWN TO SEE THE WINDOWS MILLER & RHOADS, CHRISTMAS TIME THINK I'LL GET ME A DRINK FIRST, MAKE IT A NIGHT
STEADY LOCOMOTION GOT ME STANDING BESIDE THE OCEAN SQUINTING INTO THE SUN, THINKING WHAT HAVE I DONE? DAYS THEY GO BY NO MATTER HOW I TRY WORDS DON'T COME OUT RIGHT WORDS DON'T COME OUT RIGHT
BUT I CAN FLY GO WHERE EVER I WANT I CAN FLY SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE NO ONE REALLY CARES BUT I CAN FLY, I CAN GO ANYWHERE
AIN'T NOTHING GOT A HOLD ON ME GAVE AWAY ALL I DON'T NEED ADRIFT IN THE SUN DON'T CARE WHAT I'VE DONE YEARS WILL GO BY NO MATTER HOW I TRY I'M OUT OF MY MIND I'M OUT OF MY MIND
BUT I CAN FLY GO WHERE EVER I WANT I CAN FLY SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE NO ONE REALLY CARES BUT I CAN FLY, I CAN GO ANYWHERE
STEADY LOCOMOTION GOT ME STANDING BESIDE THE OCEAN SQUINTING INTO THE SUN, DON'T CARE WHAT I DONE DAYS THEY GO BY NO MATTER HOW I TRY WORDS DON'T COME OUT RIGHT WORDS DON'T COME OUT RIGHT
BUT I CAN FLY
I'M NOT SURE HOW I GOT INTO THIS MESS I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TO DO IT'S RAINING IN PITTSBURGH AND I'M MISSING YOU I'D RATHER BE OUT RIDING HORSES THEN A HOME-GUARD LAYING THE YARD I KEEP RE-READING THE PROPHET BUT THE WORDS MAKE NO SENSE AT ALL
AND I'M NOT COMING BACK TO PITTSBURGH HAPPY NEW YEAR I'M NOT COMING BACK TO PITTSBURGH THE HELL AM I DOING HERE?
CAN YOU JUST FOR A MINUTE STOP BLOWING UP MY PHONE? CAN YOU JUST FOR A MINUTE LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE? 'CAUSE I AIN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO NOTHING BUT CARRY YOU 'ROUND I AIN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO NOTHING OTHER THAN CARRY YOU AROUND
AND I'M NOT COMING BACK TO PITTSBURGH HAPPY BIRTHDAY I'M NOT COMING BACK TO PITTSBURGH HOW OLD ARE YOU ANYWAY?
YOU'RE A BUCKSHOT, I'M A BACK FIRE I'M THE MESS THAT YOU MADE WAILING AND PRAYING TO GET THROUGH THE DAY
AND I'M NOT COMING BACK TO PITTSBURGH HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY I'M NOT COMING BACK TO PITTSBURGH WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE?
IF I MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO IDAHO I'M NOT SURE THAT I'LL GET BACK TO HOME IN VIRGINIA WHERE I BELONG BUT I CAN SEE THE SUNSET AND THAT YOU AIN'T GIVEN UP YET THE ROAD IS ROUGH AS IT IS LONG GOES ON AND ON
NAIL GETS HAMMERED DOWN AT ONCE FIX GETS SOLD BY THE OUNCE I AIN'T ONE FOR PARTING SEAS ALONE BUT I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU ANYWAY AND ALCOHOL AND FREE COCAINE THOSE DAYS LOOK JUST LIKE TV SCREENS A DIRTY COUCH AND BROKEN DREAMS
IT AIN'T EASY TO GO IT ALONE
THIS TOWN AIN'T RIGHT YOU KNOW YOU PACKED UP AND HIT THE ROAD BEFORE YOUR FEET EVEN HIT THE GROUND WE WATCHED THE SUNSET AND HELD HANDS 'TIL YOU LEFT THE ROAD IS ROUGH AND MAKES NOT SOUND WHEN AIN'T NO ONE ELSE AROUND
DRY SHOT IS FIVE TO ONE THE HELL IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE? I JUST LIKE TRAVELING ALONE BUT I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU ANYWAY AND ALCOHOL AND PCP THOSE DAYS LOOK JUST LIKE TV SCREENS A DIRTY COUCH AND BROKEN DREAMS
IT AIN'T EASY TO GO IT ALONE
BUT I CAN SEE THE SUNSET AND THAT YOU AIN'T GIVEN UP YET THE ROAD IS ROUGH AS IT IS LONG AND IT GOES ON AND ON
BY: JIM WARD
MAN I FUCKING MISS YOU WISH YOU WERE HERE RIGHT NOW BOTTLE AND A PISTOL BY YOUR SIDE NO NEED FOR DIRECTION, LORD, YOU KNOW JUST WHERE TO GO WE'D DREAM A LOT ON LONG NIGHTS BY THE RIVERSIDE
CAME IN ON A COAL TRAIN THEY'RE SOFTER THAN THE GROUND NOTHING LIKE THE WIND AND THE WHINE SORRY ABOUT THE BAD NEWS THERE'LL BE CLEAR BLOCKS AHEAD I PRAY FOR YOU EVERY TIME A TRAIN PASSES BY
MAN I FUCKING MISS YOU WISH YOU WERE HERE RIGHT NOW LISTENING TO YOUR STORIES ALL NIGHT NO NEED FOR FORGIVENESS I KNOW YOU HAD TO GO WE'D DREAM A LOT ON LONG NIGHTS BY THE RIVERSIDE
I'M NOT SURE YOU SAW IT WHEN THE SKY FILLED WITH COMETS AND LIT YOU UP THE OTHER NIGHT YOU GONE UP TO PORTLAND (MAINE) I WAS HOME SMILING AT THE CHILDREN TUCKING 'EM IN FOR A LONG RIDE MOM'S AT THE BAR, DAD'S OUT AT THE BAR AND THEY SITTING IN DIFFERENT BOOTHS I'D LEAVE IF I COULD BUT A HORSE NEEDS A HOOVE MAN, I NEED ROOM TO BREATHE
WE BEEN DRIVING ALL AROUND SINCE YOU LEFT TOWN WITH NO SEAT BELTS ON THE BENCH WE GO HILL HOPPING BACK ROADS DRINK AT THE FISHING HOLE AND LEAVE NO EVIDENCE BACK HOME WE PICKIN' MARTINS SINGING WITH STURGILL AND DANCING UNTIL THE SUN GOES DOWN WE TRY AND SLEEP OUT IN THE TRUCK BED LORD, BUT WE LAUGHING TILL WE CRYING BELOW THE SAME STARS AS YOU IN THE SKY
YEAH, THE GARDEN'S COMING ALONG AND WE BEEN WORKING ON SOME SONGS AND FEELING EASY AND FREE A FEW CHORDS AND THE TRUTH LIKE BALLS THROUGH HOOPS DO YOU EVER WRITE ABOUT ME? THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SONGS ALONG THE WAY
