Fifty Cents for a Ladybug (Extended 1)

Verse 1

Cupped in my palms she crawls

Seven spots and a trembling wing

I sent the note at dawn

Nobody answered anything

I asked for fifty cents

A bag of chips a single dime

The mailbox stayed shut tight

I am running out of time

Pre-Chorus

Somebody call me back

Somebody name a price

Anybody want her back

Chorus

I got a ladybug

And nobody wants her

I got a ladybug

And nobody cares

I got a ladybug

And nobody wants her

Her little feet are cold

Verse 2

I tried the neighbors first

They shut the blinds and locked the door

I tried the corner store

The clerk just shook his head once more

I tried the whole damn street

I tried the church I tried the school

Every single soul refused

Now I feel like such a fool

Pre-Chorus

Somebody call me back

Somebody name a price

Anybody want her back

Chorus

I got a ladybug

And nobody wants her

I got a ladybug

And nobody cares

I got a ladybug

And nobody wants her

Her little feet are cold

Bridge

Negotiate

Negotiate

I will take a nickel

I will take a leaf

I will take a single apology

Breakdown

Pay me

Pay me

Pay me nothing then

Watch her fly away

Chorus

I got a ladybug

And nobody wants her

I got a ladybug

And nobody cares

I got a ladybug

And nobody wants her

Watch her fly away

Verse 3

She is gone and I am broke

Standing in an empty yard

I should have taken what they gave

I should have never played it hard

I chased her down the fence line

Begging her to come back home

She landed on a maple leaf

And left me standing here alone

Pre-Chorus

Nobody ever called

Nobody named a price

Nobody wanted her back

Chorus

I had a ladybug

And nobody wanted her

I had a ladybug

And nobody cared

I had a ladybug

And nobody wanted her

Now the jar is bare

Guitar Solo

Verse 4

Six months later I am fine

I got a job I got a dog

Then a letter hit my door

From a lawyer and a frog

Said the ladybug retained

Counsel for emotional strain

Said I held her against her will

Said I caused her wings a chill

Pre-Chorus

Somebody call me back

Somebody name a price

Now somebody wants her back

Chorus

I had a ladybug

And somebody wants her

I had a ladybug

And now I gotta pay

I had a ladybug

And somebody wants her

And the bill is in my name

Breakdown

Pay up

Pay up

Pay up everything

Pay up

Pay up

Pay up everything

Every dime

Every leaf

Every single apology

Verse 5

So I sold my truck

And I sold my drums

And I sold the jar

That she crawled from

Now I sit on an empty porch

With a summons and a pen

And I think about that bug

And I would do it all again

Pre-Chorus

Somebody call me back

Somebody name a price

I will pay it all this time

Final Chorus

I had a ladybug

And I would hold her still

I had a ladybug

And I would pay the bill

I had a ladybug

And I would hold her tight

I had a ladybug

Every single night

Outro

Every single night

Every single

Spoken

Court is now in session

The honorable frog presiding

Verse 6

They marched me down the aisle

Of a courtroom made of mud

A jury full of beetles

And a judge who smelled like blood

The ladybug sat pretty

On a witness stand of stone

She pointed one small leg at me

And chilled me to the bone

Pre-Chorus

Somebody take the stand

Somebody swear it in

Somebody tell the truth

Chorus

I held a ladybug

And the law came knocking

I held a ladybug

And the gavel fell

I held a ladybug

And the law came knocking

Seven years in a cell

Post-Chorus

Guilty guilty guilty

Guilty guilty guilty

Verse 7

Her lawyer was a hornet

With a briefcase full of sting

He read my every message

Every terrible little thing

He played the tape of dawn

Where I asked for fifty cents

The courtroom gasped in horror

At my lack of common sense

Pre-Chorus

Somebody call the press

Somebody name a crime

Everybody wants her now

Chorus

I held a ladybug

And the law came knocking

I held a ladybug

And the gavel fell

I held a ladybug

And the law came knocking

Seven years in a cell

Breakdown

Lock him up

Lock him up

Throw the book

Throw the book

Lock him up

Lock him up

Throw the book at him

Guitar Solo

Verse 8

The cell is cold and damp

And my cellmate is a slug

He asks me every morning

Why I ever touched that bug

I tell him I was lonely

I tell him I was broke

I tell him that I loved her

And he tells me that's a joke

Pre-Chorus

Nobody comes to visit

Nobody pays the bail

Nobody writes a letter

Chorus

I held a ladybug

And I am doing time

I held a ladybug

And the bell won't chime

I held a ladybug

And I am doing time

For a nickel and a dime

Verse 9

Then one day the warden came

With a paper and a grin

Said the ladybug has vanished

And they cannot find her kin

Said the charges have been dropped

Said I am free to go

I walked out through the gate

And I did not even know

Pre-Chorus

Somebody set me free

Somebody lost the bug

Somebody does not care

Chorus

I held a ladybug

And now I walk the street

I held a ladybug

And now my hands are clean

I held a ladybug

And now I walk the street

But I still feel incomplete

Bridge

Find her

Find her

Find her

Find her

Verse 10

So I search beneath the porch

And I search beneath the logs

I ask every passing beetle

I interrogate the frogs

I will hold her one more time

I will cup her in my hands

I will ask for fifty cents

And I will finally understand

Pre-Chorus

Somebody name a price

Somebody call me back

I will wait right here forever

Final Chorus

I want a ladybug

And I do not care who pays

I want a ladybug

For the rest of all my days

I want a ladybug

And I do not care who pays

I just want her back

Post-Chorus

Come back come back come back

Come back come back come back

Oh oh oh

Outro

Little bug

Little bug

Where did you go

Where did you go

Come back home

Come

Verse 11

I built a little trap

Out of twigs and peanut shells

I sat in the weeds for days

Listening for tiny bells

I bought a jar of honey

I bought a net of gauze

I checked it every hour

And I never found a cause

Pre-Chorus

Come on out

Come on out

I know you hear me calling

Chorus

I am hunting for a ladybug

In every field and lot

I am hunting for a ladybug

And I will not be stopped

I am hunting for a ladybug

Through the rain and through the frost

Seven spots and I am lost

Verse 12

I quit the job I bragged about

I gave the dog away

I sold the porch the pen the porch

I had no debt to pay

I asked a bee for counsel

I asked a moth for news

They buzzed and fluttered off

And left me with the blues

Pre-Chorus

Nobody knows a thing

Nobody has a clue

Somebody tell me something

Chorus

I am hunting for a ladybug

In every field and lot

I am hunting for a ladybug

And I will not be stopped

I am hunting for a ladybug

Through the rain and through the frost

Seven spots and I am lost

Breakdown

Tell me tell me tell me

Where she went

Tell me tell me tell me

Where she went

Tell me tell me tell me

Where she went

Where she went

Guitar Solo

Verse 13

I found a farmer's field

Where the clover grew up tall

I laid down in the green

And I waited for the fall

And there she was at dusk

Crawling on a blade of grass

I did not grab I did not shout

I just watched her pass

Pre-Chorus

I will not touch a wing

I will not shut a lid

I will just sit here with her

Chorus

I found my little ladybug

And I let her be

I found my little ladybug

And she looked at me

I found my little ladybug

And I finally see

She was never mine to keep

Verse 14

So I built her a small garden

By the fence beside the road

I bring her leaves and water

And I never ask for gold

The beetles come and visit

The frogs come and confess

And every single evening

I just sit and watch her rest

Pre-Chorus

Nobody has to pay

Nobody has to call

I just want to see her crawling

Final Chorus

I love a little ladybug

And I do not want a thing

I love a little ladybug

And I will not clip a wing

I love a little ladybug

And I do not want a thing

I just want to watch her live

Post-Chorus

Crawl crawl crawl

Crawl crawl crawl

Oh oh oh

Outro

Little bug

Little bug

Stay right there

Stay right there

I will leave the gate open

I will leave the gate open

Forever

Forever

Spoken

Court is now adjourned

The honorable frog

Verse 15

I gave her a whole garden

And she still crawled away

I gave her every clover leaf

And she had nothing to say

So I built a little courthouse

Out of bottle caps and string

I put myself on trial this time

For giving everything

Pre-Chorus

Somebody lock me up

Somebody take the key

Somebody save me from me

Chorus

I gave away a ladybug

And she did not look back

I gave away a ladybug

And I lost the only track

I gave away a ladybug

And the gate was always wide

And she crawled off with my pride

Verse 16

The beetles held a meeting

In the hollow of a tree

They voted on my sentence

And they all agreed on me

The hornet wrote a motion

The slug seconded the call

The frog came out of hiding

And he testified to all

Pre-Chorus

Read the verdict slow

Read the verdict loud

Read it to the crowd

Chorus

I gave away a ladybug

And she did not look back

I gave away a ladybug

And I lost the only track

I gave away a ladybug

And the gate was always wide

And she crawled off with my pride

Breakdown

Take it back

Take it back

Take it all back

Take it back

Take it back

Take it all back

Take the garden

Take the fence

Take the leaves

Take the fence

Guitar Solo

Verse 17

I tore the garden down at dawn

I pulled the clover up by root

I burned the jar the net the twine

And I buried every shoot

I told the beetles I was done

I told the moths to spread the word

I told the whole damn meadow

I am no longer a bird

Pre-Chorus

Nobody call me back

Nobody name a price

Nobody wants her now

Chorus

I am done with ladybugs

And I am done with jail

I am done with ladybugs

And I am done with bail

I am done with ladybugs

And I am done with time

Seven spots and I am fine

Verse 18

But at night I hear a flutter

At the window by my bed

And I tell myself it is nothing

Just a moth inside my head

But I get up every morning

And I check the grass outside

For a little seven-spotted

Thing I never should have tried

Pre-Chorus

Just one more look

Just one more day

Just one more anyway

Chorus

I am done with ladybugs

And I am done with jail

I am done with ladybugs

And I am done with bail

I am done with ladybugs

And I am done with time

Seven spots and I am fine

Post-Chorus

Fine fine fine

Fine fine fine

Fine

Verse 19

Then a beetle knocked my door

With a letter in his jaw

Said the ladybug has written

Said she wants to drop the law

She said she never hated me

She said she just wanted free

She said the garden was a cage

And the fence was built for me

Pre-Chorus

Somebody read it slow

Somebody read it twice

Somebody tell me twice

Chorus

I heard from a ladybug

And she forgave it all

I heard from a ladybug

And I began to fall

I heard from a ladybug

And she said she understood

That I never meant the cage

I just thought it was good

Bridge

Let her go

Let her go

Let her go

Let her go

Verse 20

So I wrote her back a letter

With a pencil and a tear

Said I am sorry for the jar

Said I am sorry for the fear

Said the gate is always open

Said the clover is all yours

Said I will not ask for payment

Said I will not lock the doors

Pre-Chorus

Send it with the wind

Send it with the bees

Send it where she please

Chorus

I wrote to a ladybug

And I signed it with my name

I wrote to a ladybug

And I asked for no claim

I wrote to a ladybug

And I sent it with a leaf

And I finally found relief

Breakdown

No more

No more

No more ransom

No more

No more

No more ransom

Set her free

Set her free

Set her free forever

Guitar Solo

Verse 21

Years went by and I grew old

And the meadow grew with me

And I never caught a ladybug

But I saw them constantly

And one evening on the porch

With my hands all scarred and worn

Verse 22

She landed on my arm

And I did not move a muscle

Her wings were slow and warm

And I did not make a hustle

She walked across my skin

Like she owned the whole damn place

And I let her settle in

With a smile on my face

Pre-Chorus

Somebody hold me still

Somebody keep me calm

Somebody watch me not grab

Chorus

I let a ladybug land

And I did not close my hand

I let a ladybug land

And I did not make a plan

I let a ladybug land

And I did not make a plan

She just stayed

Verse 23

She stayed for half an hour

Then she lifted off and flew

And I sat there in the quiet

Like a man who finally knew

That the holding was the sickness

And the waiting was the cure

And the ransom was a fever

That I never could endure

Pre-Chorus

Nobody owes me nothing

Nobody owes me a dime

Nobody owes me a thing

Chorus

I let a ladybug land

And I did not close my hand

I let a ladybug land

And I did not make a plan

I let a ladybug land

And I did not make a plan

She just stayed

Breakdown

Let her

Let her

Let her come and go

Let her

Let her

Let her come and go

Come and go

Come and go

Come and go

Guitar Solo

Verse 24

I dug the garden up again

But this time not for her

I planted rows of marigold

And let the beetles stir

The frogs came out at evening

And they sat along the fence

And nobody said a word about

The years of my offense

Pre-Chorus

The case is closed

The case is closed

The case is finally closed

Chorus

I buried every ransom note

And every jar and lid

I buried every ransom note

And every thing I did

I buried every ransom note

And every thing I did

And I walked

Verse 25

Now the meadow does not owe me

And the clover does not care

And the little seven-spotted

Things are everywhere

I do not count the spots no more

I do not chase the wings

I just sit out on the porch

And let the evening sing

Pre-Chorus

Somebody pass the time

Somebody watch the sky

Somebody let it be

Final Chorus

I loved a little ladybug

And I let her fly away

I loved a little ladybug

And I did not make her stay

I loved a little ladybug

And I did not make her stay

And I am free

Post-Chorus

Free free free

Free free free

Oh oh oh

Outro

Little bug

Little bug

Thank you for the visit

Thank you for the visit

Crawl on

Crawl on

Wherever you want

Wherever you want

Spoken

Case dismissed

Instrumental Outro