♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheering and applause ] Wow!

[ Laughs ] [ Cheering and applause continue ] Aww!

So nice!

Thank you!

Thank you so much!

Thank you!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Baby, I took that little blue dress ♪ ♪ You bought me last summer down in sunny Key West ♪ ♪ Threw it in a bucket full of bubbles ♪ ♪ And used it as a rag to wash my car ♪ ♪ Took your guitar and I gave it away ♪ ♪ To the kid next door who was learning to play ♪ ♪ Then you waltz in here ♪ ♪ With the crazy idea ♪ ♪ That all you gotta do is knock on my door ♪ ♪ And I'll be as blind as I was before ♪ ♪ Oh, you can't make me shiver like you did back then ♪ ♪ Back when you had me wrapped around your finger ♪ ♪ You can't make me stumble with the same old lines ♪ ♪ This time I know the heartache and the danger ♪ ♪ No matter what you do ♪ ♪ I won't fall and you can't make me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Take your finger off the bell and take one step back ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're not welcome on my welcome mat ♪ ♪ You and I know it wasn't very long ago ♪ ♪ I would have let you step inside ♪ ♪ Now, don't act wounded ♪ ♪ You know what you did ♪ ♪ You want one more shot at this heart of mine ♪ ♪ I don't know why you want to waste your time ♪ ♪ Oh, you can't make me shiver like you did back then ♪ ♪ Back when you had me wrapped around your finger ♪ ♪ You can't make me stumble with the same old lines ♪ ♪ This time I know the heartache and the danger ♪ ♪ No matter what you do ♪ ♪ I won't fall and you can't make me ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ You can't make me shiver like you did back then ♪ ♪ Back when you had me wrapped around your finger ♪ ♪ You can't make me stumble with the same old lines ♪ ♪ This time I know the heartache and the danger ♪ ♪ No matter what you do ♪ ♪ I won't fall and you can't make me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You can't make me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You can't make me ♪ [ Cheering and applause ] Thank you so much!

Thank you so much.

You're so kind.

This is fun -- season two is even more fun than season one.

Oh, my gosh!

Well, welcome to "Songwriters Under the Covers" with me, Victoria Shaw.

I will be your personal trainer tonight.

And I have such amazing guests with me, you have no idea.

I'm going to tell you a little bit about this woman to my right who was nice enough to pick along on a song that she'd only heard during sound check.

But that's how this song work-- this show works.

So professionally, she has had songs recorded by people like Blake Shelton, Pam Tillis, Tim McGraw.

I mean, she's an amazing songwriter.

She is also a very sought after musician and background vocalist.

She's toured with Faith Hill, Reba, Garth Brooks.

Personally, she is one of my dearest, dearest friends.

We came up in the ranks together.

We actually were roommates for a few years and we used to work so hard and dream so big about being number one songwriters.

And now she's on my TV show about number one songwriters.

Miss Jess Leary!

[ Cheering and applause ] Thank you.

So great to be here.

Thank you.

Thanks, Vic.

So nice to have you here.

Two things come to mind when I think about my friend Roger Cook.

He's a badass and he's lovely.

Or maybe he's a lovely bad ass.

I'm not sure if you can call somebody that, but this man has written some of the most iconic songs that you've ever heard.

And if I rattled off all these songs, we would be here for a very long time.

And besides, I like the -- [ Gasps ] effect when he starts to sing one of his hits.

But he has had such a diverse career.

And this would be a small snippet of people who have recorded his songs -- George Strait, Andy Williams, Bette Midler, Billy Davis, uh, I know -- Don Williams.

It just goes on and on and on.

He is amazing.

And you don't get to stay a hit number one songwriter in the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, the new millennium, unless you are amazing.

So please welcome my friend, Mr. Roger Cook.

[ Cheering and applause ] I worked so hard on that intro!

You did good!

Thank you, I tried.

Just a word of caution for any budding songwriters out there.

Never wash a guitar.

[ Laughter ] [ Strums ] I can't believe it, but it's 40 years ago when Don Williams took this song to number one, and Don's up in Heaven now, so thank you, Don.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't believe in superstars ♪ ♪ Organic food and foreign cars ♪ ♪ I don't believe the price of gold ♪ ♪ The certainty of growing old ♪ ♪ If right is right and left is wrong ♪ ♪ North and South can't get along ♪ ♪ That east is east, west is west ♪ ♪ And being first is always best ♪ ♪ But I believe in love ♪ ♪ I believe in babies ♪ ♪ I believe in mom and dad ♪ ♪ And I believe in you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't believe that Heaven waits ♪ ♪ For only those who congregate ♪ ♪ I like to think of God as love ♪ ♪ He's down below and he's up above ♪ ♪ He's watching people everywhere ♪ ♪ He knows who does and doesn't care ♪ ♪ And I'm an ordinary man ♪ ♪ And sometimes I don't give a damn ♪ ♪ But I believe in love ♪ ♪ I believe in angels ♪ ♪ I believe in miracles ♪ ♪ And I believe in you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I know with almost certainty ♪ ♪ What's going on with you and me ♪ ♪ Is a good thing ♪ ♪ It's true ♪ ♪ I believe in you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't believe virginity ♪ ♪ Is as common as it used to be ♪ ♪ In working days and sleeping nights ♪ ♪ That black is black and white is white ♪ ♪ That Superman and Robin Hood ♪ ♪ Are still alive in Hollywood ♪ ♪ That gasoline's in short supply ♪ ♪ The rising costs of getting high ♪ Don wouldn't have sung that.

He's sang, "The rising costs of getting by."

But he's not here tonight to scold me.

♪ But I believe in love ♪ ♪ I believe in children ♪ ♪ I believe in old folks ♪ ♪ And I believe in you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I believe in love ♪ ♪ I believe in babies ♪ ♪ I believe in mom and dad ♪ ♪ And I believe in y'all ♪ ♪♪ Roger Cook.

Thank you.

[ Cheering and applause ] What an iconic song.

I had the -- I was telling Roger backstage that I had the privilege of touring with Don through the UK and Ireland for quite a few dates.

And every day, every night I'd go out and sit by the sound guy and just watch him sing that.

It's just -- it's amazing.

Just beautiful.

Thank you.

But he wouldn't sing that one line, huh?

Wouldn't do it?

See?

You're a badass.

Okay, Jess -- Jess Leary.

Jess and I used to live together, tell them what we used to do.

Oh, which thing?

Every morning what was our -- So we were freezing in this little house we lived in -- little saltbox house, two bedroom, one bathroom, and we would pay each other off to stand in front of the one wall heater that was in the living room next -- "My turn, your turn."

Next to the broken window pane that we put cardboard over.

So she'd be like, "Time's up, get out of the way."

I'm like, "Wait, wait, two more minutes!"

Anyway, we had a lot of great, great times in our little blue house in East Nashville.

And anyway, congrats, Vic, I'm so happy to be here on your beginning of your second season.

Wow!

Right?

So cool!

[ Cheering and applause ] Well, so I'm going to do a song that I wrote with my friend in Nashville.

His name is Craig Wiseman, and we were -- [ Applause ] Yeah, sure!

And we were both feeling a little homesick, and we came up with this song, and when we wrote it, it was recorded by Tim McGraw and -- Yeah, and he made it a number one song.

And the song has been on the radio now for a little over 21 years.

So my -- my family lovingly has retitled it, "Cha-ching!"

[ Laughter ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Six lanes and tail light ♪ ♪ Red ants marching into the night ♪ ♪ And disappear to the left and right again ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Another supper from a sack ♪ ♪ A 99-cent heart attack ♪ ♪ I got a pounding head and aching back ♪ ♪ And the camel's buried in a big straw stack ♪ ♪ But I'm going to live where the green grass grows ♪ ♪ Watch my corn pop up in rows ♪ ♪ Every night be tucked in close to you ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Raise our kids where the good Lord's blessed ♪ ♪ Point our rockin' chairs towards the west ♪ ♪ Plant our dreams where the peaceful river flows ♪ ♪ Where the green grass grows ♪ ♪ Oh-oh ♪ ♪ Mmm ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I'm from a map dot ♪ ♪ A stop sign on the blacktop ♪ ♪ I caught the first bus I could hop ♪ ♪ From there ♪ ♪ But all this glitter is getting dark ♪ ♪ There's concrete growing in the city park ♪ ♪ I don't know who my neighbors are ♪ ♪ There's bars on the corners and bars on my heart ♪ ♪ But I'm going to live where the green grass grows ♪ ♪ Watch my corn pop up in rows ♪ ♪ Every night be tucked in close to you ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Raise our kids where the good Lord's blessed ♪ ♪ Point our rockin' chairs towards the west ♪ ♪ And plant our dreams where the peaceful river flows ♪ ♪ Where the green grass grows ♪ ♪ Oh-oh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, well, I'm going to live ♪ ♪ Where the green grass grows ♪ ♪ Watch my corn pop up in rows ♪ ♪ Every night be tucked in close to you ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Raise our kids where the good Lord's blessed ♪ ♪ Point our rockin' chairs towards the west ♪ ♪ And plant our dreams where the peaceful river flows ♪ ♪ Oh, where the green grass grows ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh ♪ Tonight, it's somewhere around New York City.

♪♪ [ Cheering and applause ] Whoo, Jess Leary!

[ Cheering and applause ] I actually was talking about the one little thing we used to do almost every day when, you know, I'd be in the kitchen or something first and she'd come in to the kitchen and she'd go, what would you say?

Oh, I'd say, "Do I look short in this?"

And I'd say, you are short.

And she'd go, right.

And then she'd walk back into her room.

We did that every morning.

But she doesn't know I'm really 5'7".

And she's just actually like nine feet tall.

All right, we're going to do things a little differently.

I'm going to actually move it back to you -- it's your turn.

Oh!

I have things planned.

So we're going to let you take a turn.

Well, in 1971, I got together with a friend of mine.

We decided we were going to write a song for the very first time.

And we got together and we stared each other for about an hour.

He said, are you hungry?

I said, yeah.

So we went down to the local Italian restaurant, had a very liquid lunch.

[ Laughter ] There was a lot of fun.

Then we went back to my -- my writing room.

We sat down and thumped this song out on the piano.

And at the end of -- when we finished the song, my friend said, "Hey," he said, "I'd like to cut that with the band.

Is that okay?"

And I said, well, yeah!

He was the lead singer of a big band at the time.

I said, go for it, buddy.

And three weeks later, he came back and he played me the record.

And I thought, "That just might do something."

And this is the song, and it kind of sounds different on the ukulele than a rock band, okay, as it would.

♪♪ ♪ Saturday night, I was downtown ♪ ♪ Working for the FBI ♪ ♪ Sitting in the nest of bad men ♪ ♪ Whiskey bottle pilin' high ♪ ♪ Well, a bootlegging boozer on the west side ♪ ♪ Full of people doing wrong ♪ ♪ Just about to call up the D.A.

man ♪ ♪ I heard somebody singing a song ♪ ♪ A pair of forty fives made me open my eyes ♪ ♪ And my temperature started to rise ♪ ♪ She was a long, cool woman in a black dress ♪ ♪ 5'9", beautiful, tall ♪ ♪ Just one look, I was a bad mess ♪ ♪ That long cool woman had it all ♪ You're getting to hear the words for the first time, right?

[ Laughter ] ♪ I saw her heading up to the table ♪ ♪ Just a tall walking big black cat ♪ ♪ Charlie said to me, I hope you're able, boy ♪ ♪ I'm telling you she knows where it's at ♪ ♪ Well, then suddenly we heard the sirens ♪ ♪ Everybody started to run ♪ ♪ Jumping over walls and tables ♪ ♪ I heard somebody shooting a gun ♪ ♪ Well, the D.A.

was pumping my left hand ♪ ♪ She was holding onto my right ♪ ♪ I told her, don't get scared ♪ ♪ You're gonna be spared ♪ ♪ I have gotta be forgiven if I wanna spend my living ♪ ♪ With a long, cool woman in a black dress ♪ ♪ 5'9", beautiful, tall ♪ ♪ Just one look, I was a bad mess ♪ ♪ That long, cool woman had it all ♪ ♪ Had it all ♪ ♪ Hoo-hoo ♪ ♪ Had it all ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheering and applause ] Thank you.

[ Cheering and applause ] I told you you were going to go -- [ Gasps ] Oh, my God -- and I never understood the words to that song, that is the first -- I still don't understand the song, but I love the words -- no, it was great.

That is just so iconic.

You hear that constantly, even now on the radio.

Thank you.

Oh, my gosh.

That's incredible.

You know, I just finished reading Elton John's autobiography and he gives a shout out to you and he talks about that you were a big help to him in the early days.

And then you were telling me that he used to play guitar -- play piano for you on the road?

Yeah, yeah, he did.

He came out with me -- No, he came out a long time ago, but I mean.

Oh, you meant on the road, sorry.

He didn't follow all my advice.

But it was very cool.

I'm reading this book and it's like, oh, that's my friend.

Very cool.

He knows him, he's cool.

All right, Jess.

And by the way -- Yeah, look, look.

Speaking of long, tall woman, she's so cute!

Okay, wait, I don't wear heels.

Thank you for that.

All right.

Long, tall, blue plaid woman.

All I know is I'm getting a ukulele.

Totally.

Me too.

Me too.

One other story about Jess -- I don't know what they'll keep in on the show, but we used to also -- I read somewhere that you don't -- you know, you can't be bitter and you can't be jealous of other people getting success.

And at times we'd hear about some of our colleagues or our friends, all of a sudden they got a publishing deal or they got a record deal.

And, you know, we hadn't gotten it yet.

But I told her that I read this thing about you can't bring the bad karma into your house, you can't bring bad vibes, you have to wish everybody really good things.

So when we'd hear that -- I'd walk in, maybe someday, and I'd say, "Oh, did you hear that," you know, "John Smith got a record deal?"

And she would say.

Good for -- good for them.

Good for them.

That was our thing.

That's so good.

I'm so happy for them.

So pleased for them.

And then we'd walk away.

But it worked, you know, we didn't bring the -- and we both eventually got successful, but that's what you gotta do -- "Good for them."

That's really great.

So happy.

But I digress.

I'm going to do a song I wrote with the fabulous Janis Ian.

[ Cheering and applause ] Yeah!

She was -- oh, my gosh, my guitar hero.

Growing up, I had her records and I used to listen to all those cool things she was doing.

And we ended up being, you know, friends in Nashville and writing songs together.

And this is one of my favorite tunes that we -- we've written together.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I felt a rumble in my heart ♪ ♪ Over the mountains ♪ ♪ As the engine ate the spark ♪ ♪ Spitting out the miles ♪ ♪ Times when I tried to jump the track ♪ ♪ Weight of the world upon my back ♪ ♪ Still, after all is said and done ♪ ♪ This train still runs ♪ ♪ It doesn't matter where it's been ♪ ♪ This train still runs ♪ ♪ Though the baggage weighs a ton ♪ ♪ We carry on ♪ ♪ No one is forever young ♪ ♪ And I'm not done ♪ ♪ This train still runs ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I had a friend I left behind ♪ ♪ Back at the station ♪ ♪ We used to burn the power lines ♪ ♪ Racin' with the wind ♪ ♪ But time has the manners of a thief ♪ ♪ Young love turns bittersweet ♪ ♪ Still, we keep the lantern on ♪ ♪ 'Cause this train still runs ♪ ♪ Doesn't matter where it's gone ♪ ♪ This train still runs ♪ ♪ Though the baggage weighs a ton ♪ ♪ We carry on ♪ ♪ Nothing is forever young ♪ ♪ And I'm not done ♪ ♪ This train still runs ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheering and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I got a ticket in my pocket and I'm ready to ride ♪ ♪ I got a motor rolling over to an easy glide ♪ ♪ I'm going to travel on the gravel to the other side ♪ ♪ Sure as a baby loves the teat ♪ ♪ Sure as a high heel on concrete ♪ ♪ Sure as the songs I've left unsung ♪ ♪ This train still runs ♪ ♪ Doesn't matter where it's gone ♪ ♪ This train still runs ♪ ♪ And we will carry on ♪ ♪ No one is forever young ♪ ♪ And I'm not done ♪ ♪ This train still runs ♪ ♪ Oh, this train still runs ♪ ♪ This train still runs ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheering and applause ] Lord!

[ Cheering and applause ] Thanks, Vic.

Well, if you're just going to show off... Leave us all in the dust here.

Try that on the ukulele.

That was amazing.

So amazing that I'm actually going to give you a rest while I bring up my next guest.

Oh, good, thank you.

So you can, like, put your fingers in some ice.

That was amazing.

Thank you very much.

We're going to have Jess go off for a second, so say "bye Jess."

[ Laughs ] [ Applause ] She's amazing.

She's amazing.

Whoo-hoo!

Whew!

So, on season one, I always had a special guest pop up in the middle of the show and play another hit song, but now it's season two, and I was thinking it might be fun, because you have these iconic songwriters, but it might be fun to also see some new emerging talent, kind of the extremes, and people I had a chance to work with and really believe in.

This next artist is a young man that I started working with about a year and a half ago.

And how I met him was the non-typical way, honestly, because a friend of mine called and said, "My son goes to college with this other guy and we think he's really talented.

Would you talk to him?"

And I get calls like that or e-mails like that every single day from friends.

And I always meet with them and it's always not the one.

But I met this young man and I was like, holy cow, he's really talented.

And he moved to Nashville right after graduating UNC.

And we've been working together for about a year and a half.

And I'd like you to meet a wonderful songwriter, musician, singer and a lovely, lovely person, Mr. Cooper Alan.

-Hey!

[ Cheering and applause ] What's up, New York City?

We're on TV, this is pretty cool, guys.

So Victoria, thank you so much for having me.

It's such an honor, such a blessing.

You know, since I met Victoria and just getting mentored by her and learned so much from her, my life has really, really changed in a lot of incredible ways.

So, I'm so thankful -- and I'm wearing makeup for the first time tonight, so...

Pretty wild, the things you do.

TV, TV.

But as a songwriter, and these guys can kind of attest to it, a lot of what we do is try to put a unique twist on things you encounter in your everyday life and stuff you hear all the time.

So for me, for this song, I can't really turn on the TV without hearing climate change this, climate change that.

And one day my writer's brain just kind of wanted to take it in a different direction.

So I brought it in the room with Victoria and Seth Mosley, our third writer, and we just kind of took a chance on it.

It was a crazy idea, but I'm so glad we took a chance on it because it's turned into a pretty special song for me, put it out as my first single last year.

And we've had a lot of Spotify success with it.

Yes, already at a million -- a million streams on Spotify, so we're very excited, yes.

It's pretty crazy!

For a first single, yeah.

♪ Used to be burning up in this house ♪ ♪ Up in this house, up in this house ♪ ♪ Used to be burning up this house ♪ ♪ I've heard the ice is melting ♪ ♪ In the North Pole ♪ ♪ I've heard the water's rising in the south ♪ ♪ There's an endless debate ♪ ♪ Whether it's true or fake ♪ ♪ In some bar somewhere right now ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I don't have to be a scientist ♪ ♪ To know that it does exist ♪ ♪ 'Cause it does, and it sucks ♪ ♪ And it's us ♪ ♪ Used to be burning up in this house ♪ ♪ Used to be a fire but look at us now ♪ ♪ We were hot, now it's cold ♪ ♪ We used to fog up the windows ♪ ♪ Sittin' here watching the temperature drop ♪ ♪ I'd do anything to make it stop ♪ ♪ Well, it's strange, can't explain ♪ ♪ This climate change, climate change ♪ ♪ Yeah!

Used to be burning up in this house ♪ ♪ Up in this house, up in this house ♪ ♪ Used to be burning up in this house ♪ ♪ There's been a lot more storms than ever ♪ ♪ There's been a lot more rain and wind ♪ ♪ You can feel it here ♪ ♪ In the atmosphere ♪ ♪ My blood in my veins ♪ ♪ And under my skin ♪ ♪ Used to be burning up in this house ♪ ♪ Used to be a fire, but look at us now ♪ ♪ We were hot, now it's cold ♪ ♪ Girl, we used to fog up the windows ♪ ♪ Sittin' here watching the temperature drop ♪ ♪ I'd do anything to make it stop ♪ ♪ Well, it's strange, can't explain ♪ ♪ This climate change, climate change ♪ ♪ Well, I don't have to be a scientist ♪ ♪ To know that climate change exists ♪ ♪ 'Cause it does, and it sucks ♪ ♪ And it's us ♪ ♪ Used to be burning up in this house ♪ ♪ Used to be a fire, but look at us now ♪ ♪ We were hot, now it's cold ♪ ♪ Girl, we used to fog up the windows ♪ ♪ Sittin' here watching the temperature drop ♪ ♪ I'd do anything to make it stop ♪ ♪ Well, it's strange, can't explain ♪ ♪ This climate change, climate change ♪ ♪ Used to be burning up in this house ♪ ♪ Up in this house, up in this house ♪ ♪ Used to be burning up in this house ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheering and applause ] Thank you guys!

Cooper Alan.

Victoria Shaw!

[ Cheering and applause ] Well, stay up here, I asked him to stay up here because it's my turn to take my song, but I thought since you're here, we'll do a song that we wrote together and we wrote it for Cooper's project.

It's not a song I typically would sing, but it's really fun.

It's actually his next single.

And I just thought it would be a hoot, as we say down South -- Oh, it's a hoot?

...to do it with you because I'll never have this opportunity again.

I know it's going to be an interesting experience.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

So this idea of the song came because you know how you get these online catalogs, they just come constantly on your e-mail?

And this catalog, whatever the subject matter was, basically, I think it was for some kind of refrigerator, 'cause they said, "Don't have your beer warm, nobody likes it warm."

And I had this really strange idea for a song about warm beer.

So that's what we wrote.

It's a crowd participation song.

so we need some help.

All you got to do is when I say, "Can I get it an Amen," you say -- Audience: Amen.

Can I get it an Amen?

Amen!

Oh yeah, say it like you mean it!

A song about the things in the world that everybody hates.

What do you hate, Cooper?

I hate the Duke Blue Devils more than anything in the world.

Oh, wow!

Go, 'Heels!

You're a bitter man.

♪♪ ♪ Well, I turn on the TV every night ♪ ♪ Seems the right hates the left ♪ ♪ And the left can stand the right ♪ ♪ Maybe it's the TV station ♪ ♪ The old folks blame it all on my generation ♪ ♪ Well me, I'd rather focus on the positive ♪ ♪ What we got in common is ♪ ♪ Everybody hates warm beer ♪ ♪ Cold beans ♪ ♪ Long lights, skeeter bites ♪ ♪ Short-changing vending machines ♪ ♪ Well, can I get an Amen?

♪ -♪ Amen!

♪ ♪ Hallelujah, brother, say it again ♪ ♪ How 'bout we quit hatin' on each other ♪ ♪ Drop the gloves and agree with one another ♪ ♪ Right here ♪ ♪ And everybody hates warm beer ♪ Sounds like we're in church out there, y'all sound good!

♪♪ ♪ Now, I don't mean to be pontificatin' ♪ ♪ It's a tough situation ♪ ♪ But the point I'm makin' ♪ ♪ In the words of the great Miss Britney Spears ♪ ♪ It's getting toxic here ♪ ♪ We got to stop it here ♪ ♪ Let's redirect our energies ♪ ♪ Find the common enemy, seems to me ♪ ♪ Everybody hates warm beer ♪ ♪ Cold beans ♪ ♪ Line lights, skeeter bites ♪ ♪ Short-changing vending machines ♪ ♪ Now, can I get an Amen?

♪ ♪ Amen!

♪ ♪ Hallelujah, brother, say it again ♪ ♪ How 'bout we quit hatin' on each other ♪ ♪ Drop the gloves and agree with one another ♪ ♪ Right here ♪ ♪ And everybody hates warm beer ♪ ♪ There's no your side or mine ♪ ♪ It crosses all party lines ♪ ♪ There's no need for debate ♪ ♪ 'Cause everybody hates ♪ ♪ Warm beer and cold beans ♪ ♪ Long lights, skeeter bites ♪ ♪ Short-changing vending machines ♪ ♪ Now, can I get an Amen?

♪ ♪ Amen!

♪ ♪ Hallelujah, brother, say it again ♪ ♪ Warm beer, short sheets ♪ ♪ Long lines, potholes in the middle of the street ♪ ♪ Yeah, one more Amen!

♪ ♪ Amen!

♪ ♪ Hallelujah, brother, say it again ♪ ♪ How 'bout we quit hatin' on each other ♪ ♪ Drop the gloves and agree with one another ♪ ♪ Right here ♪ ♪ Everybody hates warm beer ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Everybody hates warm beer ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I hold these truths to be self-evident ♪ ♪ If I were president ♪ I ban warm beer.

Ain't nobody likes that, Amen!

Nobody.

Audience: ♪Amen!

♪♪ Thank you guys -- Victoria Shaw, ladies and gentlemen!

Cooper Alan!

Cooper Alan!

[ Cheering and applause ] Thank you.

[ Flourish ] Ain't nobody likes warm beer except for -- anybody from the UK?

You've been here too long to like warm beer.

Cool beer -- we like cool beer in England.

It was pretty warm when I was there.

They all said I had to go to Australian bars to get the cold beer.

That's right.

This house, the Iridium here, has never heard a song like that being played here.

Okay?

And probably never will again.

But we got Britney Spears in a country song, so come on.

And we got the reference to "Toxic," did everybody get that?

Okay, I thought that was pretty funny.

It amused me.

Come on back, Jess!

Come back, come back.

Come back, Jess, come back!

I'm back!

Come back to us!

Thank you.

All right, all right.

Thank you for letting Cooper use your mic -- he had to make it a little higher for his usage.

Nine feet tall.

All right, it is your last song.

I can't believe how fast this hour goes.

Isn't that crazy?

You're looking at me?

I'm looking at you, kid.

Oh, okay.

And I have to tell you, how much do we -- how much do we love him, okay?

[ Cheering and applause ] And can I -- can I tell them that you have a birthday coming up?

Is that all right?

Yeah... No, it's fantastic!

This incredible rock God writer is about to turn 80.

[ Cheering and applause ] That's something to celebrate and be really, really proud of.

Quality drugs.

[ Laughter ] I don't know if they're going to let us say that on TV, but I sure hope so.

Okay.

All right, Roger, this is your last song, and I actually requested this because he has too many hits that, I mean, it's just so many hits to play that I asked if he could play a few altogether.

Yeah, I had my first big hit was in 1965, and your first big hit changes your life because you go out and you buy a car and a house.

Maybe a second wife -- no, that didn't work that time.

But anyway, this first song was 1965.

I was 24 and it was climbing the charts.

And this is a medley of a few songs that I wrote around then that crossed over to the United States.

And if you remember any of these songs, you're bloody old like me.

Anyway, there might be a couple of you remember them.

♪ I see that worried look upon your face ♪ ♪ Doo-doo-doo-doo ♪ ♪ You got your troubles, I've got my mine ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She's found somebody else ♪ ♪ To take your place ♪ ♪ Doo-doo-doo-doo ♪ ♪ You got your troubles ♪ ♪ I've got my mine ♪ ♪ I, too, have lost my love today ♪ ♪ All of my dreams ♪ ♪ Have flown away ♪ ♪ Now, just like you, I sit and I wonder why ♪ ♪ Doo-doo-doo-doo ♪ ♪ You got your troubles, I've got mine ♪ ♪ Oh, my baby love's love ♪ ♪ My baby love's lovin' ♪ ♪ She's got what it takes and she knows how to use it ♪ ♪ My baby love's love ♪ ♪ My baby love's lovin' ♪ ♪ She's got what it takes, she knows how to use it ♪ ♪ I was lonely once in this great big world ♪ ♪ Just a nowhere man without a girl ♪ ♪ Till that lucky day she came my way ♪ ♪ She smiled at me as if to say ♪ ♪ Your baby love's love ♪ ♪ Your baby love's lovin' ♪ ♪ She's got what it takes for me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Here comes that rainy day feeling again ♪ ♪ And soon my tears will be falling like rain ♪ ♪ It always used to be a Monday ♪ ♪ Leftover memories of Sundays ♪ ♪ Always spent with you ♪ ♪ Before the clouds appeared ♪ ♪ And took away my sunshine ♪ ♪ Here comes the rainy day feeling again ♪ ♪ And I've been dreaming of you, baby, in vain ♪ ♪ Your face is always on my mind, girl ♪ ♪ I'm hoping soon you're going to find, girl ♪ ♪ Your way back to me ♪ ♪ And if you say you'll stay ♪ ♪ The rainy days will go away ♪ ♪ And I would like to buy the world a home ♪ ♪ And furnish it with love ♪ ♪ Grow apple trees and honeybees ♪ ♪ And snow white turtledoves ♪ ♪ I'd like to see the world for once ♪ ♪ All standing hand in hand ♪ ♪ And hear them echo through the hills ♪ ♪ For peace throughout the land ♪ ♪ I'd like to teach the world to sing ♪ ♪ In perfect harmony ♪ ♪ I like to hold it in my arms ♪ ♪ And keep it company ♪ ♪ It's the real thing ♪ ♪ Coke is in the back of your mind ♪ ♪ Coca-Cola, watcha hopin' to find ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, it's the real thing ♪ Now, when I moved to Nashville, there's a church called the Lawrence Chapel in Brentwood.

And a girl who used to go there said to me, "We sing your melody, we sing that song, but with different words."

I said, "What are the words?"

She went like -- ♪ Amazing grace, how sweet the sound ♪ ♪ To save the wretch like me ♪ ♪ Once I was lost, but now I'm found ♪ ♪ Was blind but now I see ♪ ♪ He's the real thing ♪ ♪ In the back of your mind ♪ ♪ What you're hoping to find ♪ ♪ Is the real thing ♪ ♪ And that's all you need to hear from me ♪ [ Cheering and applause ] The incomparable Roger Cook.

Oh, my gosh.

[ Cheering and applause ] And good night!

Oh, that's amazing.

He could have kept going.

I've never heard you do that church story.

That's wild.

Oh, yeah.

That's hilarious.

Did you know Pebble Daniel?

Yes.

It was Pebble that tod me they sang that in church.

Oh, my gosh.

That's -- You know what?

It worked.

It worked.

But God owes you royalties.

Now, if I can just get the royalties.

Right.

Wow, that's amazing.

I'm so 00 I'm so blown away by my guests.

I had such a good time.

Have you had fun?

[ Cheering and applause ] I don't usually do this, but I'm going to ask you something, 'cause that was, you know, I asked you to do like a mash up.

So I'm going to throw an extra song to you because you have -- you wrote one of my favorite George Strait songs.

And would you play that?

Sure will.

Okay, can we sing a little harmony if we think about jumping in?

Be funny if he went, "No."

[ Laughter ] So I wrote this song in 1985 with my buddy John Prine and we thought we had a good song, we demo'd it, and he put it on his current album.

And then we waited 15 years for somebody to cut it.

But it was worth the wait because George Strait cut it and took it to number one for a few weeks.

Anything George cut went to number one for a few weeks.

I had the pleasure of recently playing this song while I was in Washington pleading our case to congresspeople and senators saying what a hard time it is for songwriters to earn money anymore.

Anyway, while I was there, I had the wonderful pleasure of playing this personally for the president United Dairy Farmers Association, and he really liked it.

[ Laughter ] Thank you, George, for this.

♪ I don't want to be the one to hesitate ♪ ♪ Be too shy, wait too late ♪ ♪ I don't care what they say other lovers do ♪ ♪ I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ I've got a feeling that you got a heart like mine ♪ ♪ So let it show, let it shine ♪ ♪ If we get a chance to make one heart of two ♪ ♪ I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ I want to dance with you ♪ ♪ Twirl you all around the floor ♪ ♪ That's what they invented dancing for ♪ ♪ I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ I want to dance with you ♪ ♪ Hold you in my arms once more ♪ ♪ That's what they invented dancing for ♪ ♪ I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ I caught you looking at me when I looked at you ♪ ♪ Yes, I did ♪ ♪ You know, that's true ♪ ♪ You won't be embarrassed by the things I do ♪ ♪ 'Cause I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ Oh, the boys are playing softly ♪ ♪ And the girls are, too ♪ ♪ So am I, and so are you ♪ ♪ If this were the movie, we'd be right on cue ♪ ♪ I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ I want to dance with you ♪ ♪ Twirl you all around the floor ♪ ♪ That's what they invented dancing for ♪ ♪ I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ I want to dance with you ♪ ♪ Hold you in my arms once more ♪ ♪ That's what they invented dancing for ♪ ♪ I just wanted to dance with you ♪ And then on the demo, I whistled.

So did George -- he whistled, too.

Only my dentist just gave me some new partials, my bloody whistle's gone.

And I don't know if it's ever coming back.

♪ I want to dance with you ♪ ♪ Twirl you all around the floor ♪ ♪ That's what they invented dancing for ♪ ♪ I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ Whoo-hoo, I wanna dance with you ♪ ♪ Hold you in my arms once more ♪ ♪ That's what they invented dancing for ♪ ♪ I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ I just wanna dance with you ♪ ♪ I just want to dance with you ♪ ♪ Cha-cha-cha-cha ♪ [ Cheering and applause ] Thank you.

I love that song so much, and I love John Prine, what a cool thing to have written with him and 15 years later, you get the cut.

Yeah.

Sometimes songs just take that long to find its rightful owner.

The true owner.

Their true owners.

"Wind Beneath My Wings" was recorded nine times before Bette Midler got it.

So you don't -- never know the journey of a song.

Very cool.

I'm going to let you Jess take us home and tell the story behind the song, and take it away.

All right.

Thanks, Vic.

So this song was written with a wonderful country singer named Pam Tillis.

Yes.

And she had just been out to L.A. and she saw these gals with tattoos and they said "Mi vida loca," and she said, "Jess, I want to write a song called 'Mi Vida Loca."

And I -- and I thought, oh, darn, I wanted to write a hit.

And it was a huge smash.

She made it a huge number one record.

And she sang so beautifully on that.

And she also performed it, I think, on the show, too.

Yes, she did on the season one.

But now we get a different version with the other writer, which is always interesting.

So yes.

And I believe she cut this song a few times, too, before it actually got the cut.

So, yeah, sometimes it takes a few times, but it's a great record, and I'm so happy to have this song as one that I love to play too.

You want to sing it with me?

Do you know it?

Doesn't matter, even better!

♪ If you're coming with me you need nerves of steel ♪ ♪ 'Cause I take corners on two wheels ♪ ♪ It's a never-ending circus ride ♪ ♪ And the faint of heart need not apply ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Mi vida loca over and over ♪ ♪ Destiny turns on a dime ♪ ♪ I go where the wind blows ♪ ♪ You can't tame a wild rose ♪ ♪ Welcome to my crazy life ♪ ♪ Whoo-hoo!

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Sweetheart before this night is through ♪ ♪ I could fall in love with you ♪ ♪ Come dancing on the edge with me ♪ ♪ Let my passion set you free ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Mi vida loca over and over ♪ ♪ Destiny turns on a dime ♪ ♪ I go where the wind blows ♪ ♪ You can't tame a wild rose ♪ ♪ Welcome to my crazy life ♪ ♪ Whoo-hoo!

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Here in the firelight I see your new tattoo ♪ ♪ Mi vida loco, so you're crazy too ♪ ♪ Mi vida loca over and over ♪ ♪ Destiny turns on a dime ♪ ♪ I go where the wind blows ♪ ♪ You can't tame a wild rose ♪ ♪ Welcome to my crazy life ♪ ♪ Oh, we'll go where the wind blows ♪ ♪ And I'll be your wild rose ♪ ♪ Welcome to my crazy life ♪ Uh-huh!

♪♪ Jess Leary!

Roger Cook!

Cooper Alan!

I'm Victoria Shaw.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

It's been a blast Cook: ♪ And furnish it with love ♪ ♪ Grow apple trees and honeybees ♪ ♪ And snow white turtledoves ♪ ♪ I'd like to see the world for once ♪ ♪ All standing hand in hand ♪ ♪ And hear them echo through the hills ♪ ♪ For peace throughout the land ♪ ♪ I'd like to teach the world to sing ♪ ♪ In perfect harmony ♪ ♪ I like to hold it in my arms ♪ ♪ And keep it company ♪ ♪ It's the real thing ♪ ♪ Coke is in the back of your mind ♪ ♪ Coca-Cola, watcha hopin' to find ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, it's the real thing ♪ [ Cheering and applause ]