TIGHT ROPE
Leon Russell
I'm up on the tightrope , one sides hate and one is hope
It's a circus game with you and me.
I'm up on the tightwire , linked by life and the funeral pyre
But the tophat on my head is all you see.
And the wire seems to be the only place for me
A comedy of errors and I'm falling
Like a rubber neck giraffe, you look into my past
Well, baby you're just to blind to see.
I'm up in the spotlight, oh does it feel right
The altitude seems to really get to me.
I'm up on the tightwire linked by life and the funeral pyre
Putting on a show for you to see.
Chorus:
Rolling in my sweet babies arms
Rolling in my sweet babies arms
I?m gonna lay around the shack
?till the mail train comes back
And Roll in my sweet babies arms
My mama was a beauty operator
Helped me to sing this song
Daddy owns interest in an old cotton gin
Just watching that old money roll in
Chorus
I ain?t gonna work on no rail road
I ain?t gonna work down on the farm
I?m gonna lay around the shack
?till the mail train comes back
And Roll in my sweet babies arms
Chorus
Now where were you last Saturday night
While I was down there lying in jail
You were walking the street with another man
And wouldn?t even try and go my bail
Chorus
Janie was my first love
we shared the pains of school
she offered me a balance for awhile
and she gave me innocents
I seemed like less a fool
she always had a line to make me smile
but we seperated early
not an easy thing too do
sometime seem tomorrow'd never come
but we couldn't keep together
for all the times we tried
we had a sad reunion tonight
Oh how we laughed together
trapped in the grapes of wrath together
yes and we loved each other
Me and Baby Jane
but now she's gone forever
Lord help me stay together
see her vacant eyes and a needle in a vain
Oh baby, baby, Baby Jane
I see the purple mountains
I'm lost and inbetween
a place that I know well and in a bad dream
Others stand beside me too late to try and find
exscuses in the face of being blind
but now she is awaiting for the feeling of the cold
to free her from the nightmare of old
she was a part of me silently alone
and too far down to draw the line
Oh how we laughed together
trapped in the grapes of wrath together
yes and we loved each other
Me and Baby Jane
but now she's gone forever
Lord help me stay together
I see her in the sky and early morning rain
Oh baby, baby, Baby Jane
Woman of the country now I found you
Longing in your soft and fertile delta
And I whisper sighs to satisfy your longing
For the warm and tender shelter of my body
Cos you're mine delta lady
Yeah you're mine, be all mine
Delta lady
Please don't ask how many times I found you
Standing wet and naked in the garden
And I think of days
And the different ways I held you
I held you closely to me, yes our heart was beating
Cos you're mine delta lady
Yeah you're mine, be all mine
Delta lady
Oh when I'm home again in england
And I'm thinking of you
Beause, I love you, yes I do
There are concrete mountains in the city
And pretty city women live inside them
And yet it seems the city scene is lacking
I'm so glad you're waiting for me in the country
For you're mine delta lady
Darlin' you're mine, be all mine
Delta lady
Gonna walk, gonna talk
Gonna scream and shout
Gonna tell all the world
What I'm thinkin' about
I've been so many places
In my life and time
I've sung a lot of songs
I've made some bad rhyme
I've acted out my love in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we're alone now and
I'm singing this song for you
I know your image of me
Is what I hope to be
I've treated you unkindly
But darlin' can't you see
There's no one more important to me
Darlin' can't you please see through me
Cause we're alone now and
I'm singing this song for you
[Chorus]
You taught me precious secrets
Of the truth with holding nothing
You came out in front and I was hiding
But now I'm so much better
And if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody
Cause my love is in there hiding
[Verse 3]
I love you in a place
Where there's no space or time
I love you for in my life
You are a friend of mine
And when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone and
I was singing this song for you
[Repeat chorus and verse 3]
We were alone and
In the sky Lord, in the sky
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
In a better home a-waiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky
Well, I was standing by my window
On a cold and rainy day
When I saw that hearse come rolling
To carry my mama away
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There’s a better home a-waiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky
I will follow close behind her
On my head, oh, don't be slow
For this lady that you're holding
Oh, I hate to see her go
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There’s a better home a-waiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky, oh
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There’s a better home a-waiting
I've been living a new way
Of life that I love so
But I can see the clouds are gathering
And the storm will wreck our home
For last night he held you tightly
And you didn't even show
This is true for I've been watching
From the window up above
You must have thought that I was sleeping
And I wish that I had been
But I guess it's best to know you
And the way your heart can sin
I thought we belonged together
And our hearts fit like a glove
I was wrong for I've been watching
From the window up above
From my eyes the teardrops started
As I listened on and on
I heard you whisper to him softly
That our marriage was all wrong
But I hope he makes you happy
And you will never lose his love
I was wrong, I was watching
From the window up above
How I wish I could be dreaming
And wake up to an honest love
I was wrong for I was watching
Oh, the people would come from miles away
They'd dance all night till the break of day
When the caller hollered, "Do-se-do"
They knew it was time for Uncle Pen to go
Late in the evening about sundown
High on the hills and above the town
Uncle Pen played the fiddle, lord, he had it ring
You could hear it talk, you could hear it sing
He played an old piece he called "Soldier's Joy"
And the one called "The Boston Boy"
But the greatest of all was "Jenny Lynn"
To me that is where the fiddle begins
Late in the evening about sundown
High on the hills and above the town
Uncle Pen played the fiddle, lord, he had it ring
You could hear it talk, you could hear it sing
I'll never forget that mournful day
When Uncle Pen was called away
He hung up his fiddle, he hung up his bow
He knew it was time for him to go
Late in the evening about sundown
High on the hills and above the town
Uncle Pen played the fiddle, lord, he had it ring
You could hear it talk, you could hear it sing
Late in the evening about sundown
High on the hills and above the town
Uncle Pen played the fiddle, lord, he had it ring
From the Album "Carney" (1972)
Are we really happy with this lonely game we play
Looking for words to say
Searching but not finding understanding anyway
We're lost in this masquerade.
Both afraid to say we're just too far away
From being close together from the start
We try to talk it over, but the words got in the way
We're lost inside this lonely game we play
Thoughts of leaving disappear each time I see your eyes,
And no matter how hard I try
To understand the reason why we carry on this way
We're lost in this masquerade.
We could just start over but it's oh so hard to do
We try to talk it over, but the words got in the way
We're lost inside this lonely game we play.
We're lost in a masquerade.
Just because I ask a friend about her
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I rang her number by mistake today
She thinks I still care
Just because I haunt the same old places
Where the memories of her linger everywhere
Just because I'm not the happy guy I used to be
She thinks I still care
But if she's happy thinkin' I still need her
Well let that silly notion bring her cheer
But how could she ever be so foolish
Ah, where would she get such an idea
Just because I ask a friend about her
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I saw her then went all to pieces
She's got everything she needs
She's an artist she don't look back
She's got everything she needs
She's an artist she don't look back
She can take the dark out of the nighttime
Paint the daytime black
You may start out standing
Probably steal her anything she sees
You can start out standing
Probably steal her anything she sees
But you'll wind up peaking through a keyhole
On your knees
She never stumbles
Got no place to fall
She never stumbles
Got no place to fall
She's nobody's child
The law can't touch her at all
Bow down to her on Sunday
Salute her when her birthday comes
Bow down to her on Sunday
Salute her when her birthday comes
For Halloween, buy her a trumpet
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
I'll lay around this shack
'Til the mail train comes back
An' I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms
I ain't gonna work on the railroad
(You ain't gonna work at all if you can help it)
So, I ain't gonna work on the farm
I'll lay around this shack
'Til the mail train comes back
An' I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
I'll lay around this shack
'Til the mail train comes back
An' I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms
My mama was a beauty operator
Sister could sew and could mend
My daddy owned an interest in that old sorghum mill
Just-a watchin' all that money roll in
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
I'll lay around this shack
'Til the mail train comes back
An' I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
I'll lay around this shack
'Til the mail train comes back
An' I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms
I'll lay around this shack
'Til the mail train comes back
An' I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms
I've been so many places
In my life and time
I've sung a lot of songs
I've made some bad rhymes
I've acted out my life in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we're alone now
An' I'm singing this song to you
An' I know your image of me
Is what I hope to be
I treated you unkindly
But darlin', can't you see?
There's no one more important to me
Darlin', can't you please see through me?
'Cause we're alone now
An' I'm singing this song to you
You taught me precious secrets
Of the truth withholding nothing
You came out in front
An' I was hiding
But now I'm so much better
An' if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody
'Cause my love in there hiding
I'll love you in a place
Where there's no space and time
I'll love you for my life
You are a friend of mine
An' when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone
An' I was singing this song to you
But I'll love you in a place
Where there's no space and time
I'll love you for my life
You are a friend of mine
An' when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone
An' I was singing this song for you
We were alone
An' I was singing this song for you
We were alone
An' I was singing that song
Well, I'm goin' down, goin down a hard road
Just don't know, don't know where I've been
But I think I've been a-walkin', I'm a-walkin' 'round in circles
Can't even find a friend
Woah, my love, my love, she is not waiting
Think I might've been gone, I've been gone too long
Look at the people, people make me crazy
I can hardly sing my song
Hustlers stand around me, I'm lost and all alone
Can't tell the bad from the good
I'm out in the wood then I'm lost in the wood
Big city gamblers, gamblers take my money
Yes, it gets to be useless, yes, it's useless to me
And I think I'm lost, when I'm lost inside this jungle
Can't see the forest for the trees
Well, pretty little woman come and get me
Try me, try me one more time
Yes and your sweet, your sweet understanding
Can't fix this broken heart of mine, yeah
The vultures fly around me, come and take me home
Can't tell the bad from the good
I'm out in the woods, then I'm lost in the woods
Hung up in a Pennsylvania mining town
Got down to Boston in time for tea
Don't know exactly just what's going down
Better hang around until I see.
She uses beauty like a knife
She cuts me even more, she changes
Right before my eyes into something ugly and sore.
Beauty like a knife
She cuts me even more, she changes
Right before my eyes into something strange and more.
Don't bomb the inn, I'm on a holiday
But Oklahoma's just a jet away
And the blood is on the books in Ohio
From the Album "Will O' the Wisp" (1975)
What can I say to this child of my own
When he looks up to me for the answer
He's got trust in his eyes and such innocent ways
What are the words I can say
Can I tell him of my life
And can it be used for his own life's goal - an example
To follow and finally remember some day
What are the words I can say
I could say I was once wondering just like you
And I understand the thing you're feeling
But gray hair and lines on my face just might say
The old man is always acting that way
And now I think of my daddy, he bought these kind of shoes
And after all this time I think I know him
I'd like to say I love him but the time has passed away
What are the words I can say
From the Album "Carney" (1972)
I was just thinking about you today
And the evening we slept in the mountains
But I cannot get through to you, find words to say to you
Darling you're so far away.
Oh no I’m not crying these ain't tears in my eyes
I'm so happy I'm dying with laughter
If you'd only come over, I’m sure that you’d see,
We're not lonesome, my cricket and me.
Your picture reminds me I wanted to be free
I hurt you I drove you away
If you'd just come back over I’m sure that you’d see
Frome the Album "Carney" (1972)
Standing by the highway
Suitcase by my side
There's no place I want to go
I just thought I'd catch a ride
Many people look my way
And many pass me by
In moments of reflection
I wonder why
To the thieves I'm a bandit
The mothers think I'm a son
To the preachers I'm a sinner
Lord I'm not the only one
To the sad ones I'm unhappy
To the losers I'm a fool
To the students I'm a teacher
With the teachers I'm in school
To the hobos I'm imprisoned
By everything I own
To the soldier I'm just someone else
Who's dying to go home
The General sees a number
A politician's tool
To my friends I'm just an equal
In this world pool
Magic mirror won't you tell me please
Do I find myself in anyone I see
Magic mirror if we only could
Try to see ourselves as others really would
To policemen I'm suspicious
It's in the way I look
I'm just another character
To feed and brand and book
To the censor I'm pornography
With no redeeming grace
To the hooker I'm a customer
Without a face
And the sellers think I'm merchandise
They'll have me for a song
The left ones think I'm right
The right ones think I'm wrong
And many people look my way
And many pass me by
And in my quiet reflection I wonder why
Magic mirror won't you tell me please
Do I see myself in anyone I meet
Magic mirror if we only could
I'm a rolling stone, I'm all alone and lost
For a life of sin, I have paid the cost
Oh, when I pass, all the people say
"There goes another boy walkin' down the lost highway"
Just a deck of cards and a jug of wine
And a woman's lies makes a life like mine
Oh, the day we met, Lord I went astray
I got me rollin' down that ol' lost highway
I was just a lad, nearly twenty-two
Neither good or bad, just a kid like you
Now I'm lost, too late to pray
Lord, I've paid the cost on the lost highway
Hey boys, don't start, let's keep it ramblin' 'round
On this road of sin, you're sorrow bound
Take my advice or you'll curse the day
You started rollin' down that ol' lost highway
From the Album "Will O' the Wisp" (1975)
We got a little hideaway that we go to
When we're alone together
A little place where we can go
And get to know each other
A place to see the sun
When the day is done
Hold on to that feeling
We've been missing
Oh we got a little hideaway
A place we go on special days
Try to get to know each other
A place to see the sun
Far away from everyone
Hold on the that feeling
Can you feel it
Can you feel it
Ooh ooh ooh aah
Well we got a hidaway
A place we go on special days
Try to get to know each other
Hideaway
Far away from everyone
Well, I ride on a mail train, babe, can't buy a thrill
I've been up all night, leanin' on a window sill
Well, if I don't make it to the top of the hill
If I don't make it, you know my baby will
And them wintertime is coming
The windows are filled with frost
I went to tell everybody
But I could not get across
Well, I wanna be your lover, baby
I don't wanna be your boss
Don't say I never warned you
When your train gets lost
Don't say I never warned you
When your train gets lost
Hey, I wanna be your lover, baby
I don't wanna be your boss
Don't say I never warned you
Now the day is gone and I sit alone and think of you, girl
What can I do without you in my life?
I guess that our guessing game just had to end that way
The hardest one to lose of all the games we played
But the time is past for living in a dream world
Lying to myself can't make that scene
Of wondering if you love me or just making a fool of me
Well I hope you understand I just had to go back to the island
Chorus:
And watch the sun go down (sit and watch the sun go down)
Hear the sea roll in (listen to the sea roll in)
But I'll be thinking of you (yes, and I'll be thinking of you)
And how it might have been (thinking how it might have been)
Hear the night birds cry (listen to the night birds cry)
Watch the sunset die (sit and watch the sunset die)
Well I hope you understand I just had to go back to the island
Well all the fun has died, It's raining in my heart
I know down in my soul I'm really gonna miss you
But it had to end this way with all the games we played
Well I hope you understand I just had to go back to the island
Repeat Chorus
They say you've found somebody new
But that won't stop my loving you
I just can't let you walk away
Forget the love I had for you
Guess I could find somebody new
But I don't want no one but you
How can you leave without regret?
Am I that easy to forget?
Before you leave, be sure you find
You want his love much more than mine
'Cause I'll just say we've never met
If I'm that easy to forget
They say you've found somebody new
But that won't stop my loving you
How can you leave without regret?
Am I that easy to forget?
Guess I could find somebody new
But I don't want no one but you
How can you leave without regret?
From the Album "Carney" (1972)
Can you get us in free,
My girlfriend and me,
We like the songs, but we hate to pay.
Can I have your guitar,
Can I ride on your car,
Can you give me a role to play
Can I have an autograph
Can I sit in your lap
Are you really into witchcraft like they say
Can I follow you home
Can I use your telephone
Can we crash here for just a few day
We're from Rolling Stone so it's okay.
Oh, What was your name
You're someone I've seen.
Has anyone said that you look like James Dean
Can I sit in your lap,
Can I give you the clap
Can we rap but don't have much to say
Can I have your guitar,
Can I ride on your car
Can you give me a role to play
Can I follow you home,
Can I use your telephone
Can we crash here for just a few days
We're from Rolling Stone so it's okay - Ah ha!
Can you do a benefit
Have you got any shit
Have you made your peace with Jesus yet today
Would you like to be a monk
C'mon lets go get drunk.
Do you think Paul McCartney is okay
Can we crash here for just a few days
Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I'm so lonesome I could cry
I've never seen the night so long
When time just goes crawling by
The moon just went, oh, behind the cloud
To hide its face and cry
Well, the silence of a falling star
Lights up the purple sky
As I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry
Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I'm so lonesome I could cry
I've never seen the night so long
When time just goes crawling by
The moon just went, oh, behind the cloud
To hide its face and cry
Well, the silence of a falling star
Lights up the purple sky
As I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry
We've been sweethearts for so long
But now you say, we're through
The love we shared is now a memory
I have built a ship of dreams
And planned them all for you
But now I guess what is to be, will be
I'll sail my ship alone
With all the dreams I own
Drifting out across the ocean blue
Yes, I'll sail my ship alone
Though all the sails you've torn
And when it starts to sinkin', I'll blame you
Now, I gave a message to the wind
To take back home to you
Hoping you would hear my SOS
I thought that you would come back home
My darlin', if you knew
How much my achin' heart was in distress
Well, I'll sail my ship alone
With all the dreams I own
Drifting out across the ocean blue
Yes, I'll sail my ship alone
Though all the sails you've torn
Now lay me down on market street
I'm lookin' for some spare change
A coast guard ship has been lookin' for me
I might have to change the name
Here comes Uncle Sam again
With the same old bag of beans
Local chief's on the radio
He's got some hungry mouths to feed
Goin back to Alcatraz
Standing down on the highway
Of hundred and one ways to go
Solitary is so confinin'
To the legend of Geronimo
I know how to bring the rain
I used to dance for ABC
All the braves down on death row
Are pretending to be free
Back home in Alcatraz
In the land of the great white father
My American blood runs cold
From my home in Oklahoma
To the Everglades, I go
It's just the wings on the silver cars
And I'm allowed to [Incomprehensible] field
Not the life for a nineteen seventy
Indian boy to do
I'm goin' back to Alcatraz
Lay me on the market street
I'm lookin' for some spare change
And the coast guard ship's been lookin' for me
And I might have to change the name
Here comes Uncle Sam again
With the same old bag of beans
Local chief's on the radio
He's got some hungry mouths to feed
Hey, Mister Bartender
Please don't be so slow
I got time for one more round
And a six pack to go
Tomorrow mornin's Sunday
I'm gonna be feelin' low
So please, please, bartender
I wanna six pack to go
I've been drinkin' all day long
Takin' in the town
I've done spent my whole paycheck
Justa honky tonkin' 'round
I don't have enough to pay my rent
I ain't gonna worry though
I've got time for one more round
And a six pack to go
Hey, Mister Bartender
Please don't be so slow
I got time for one more round
And a six pack to go
Tomorrow mornin's Sunday
I'm gonna be feelin' low
So please, please, bartender
I wanna six pack to go
I've been drinkin' all day long
Takin' in the town
I've done spent my whole paycheck
Justa honky tonkin' 'round
Well, I don't have enough to pay my rent
I ain't gonna worry though
I've got time for one more round
And a six pack to go
Tell me, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled up on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I've crawled over six crooked highways
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, well it's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Tell me, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
What did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a black branch drippin', with blood all around it
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, oh yeah
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Tell me what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
What did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard a one hundred drummers hands were a-blazin'
Ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'
I heard a one person starve, I heard many people laughin'
I heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
And It's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, oh hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Well, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
What'll you do now, my darling young one?
Well, I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
But I know my song well and I sure won't forget it
'Cause it's a hard, and it's a hard, well it's a hard, oh yeah
I'm up on the tightwire
one side's ice and one is fire
its a circus game with you and me
I'm up on the tightrope
one side's hate and one is hope
but the tophat on my head is all you see
And the wire seems to be
the only place for me
a comedy of errors
and I'm falling
**Chorus**
Like a rubber-neck giraffe
you look into my past
well maybe you're just to blind to - see
I'm up in the spotlight
ohh does it feel right
ohh the altitude
seems to get to me
I'm up on the tightwire
flanked by life and the funeral pyre
putting on a show
for you to see
**Chorus**
Like a rubber-neck giraffe
you look into my past
well maybe you're just too blind to - see
I'm up in the spotlight
ohh does it feel right
ohh the altitude
really gets to get to me
I'm up on the tightwire
flanked by life and the funeral pyre
Well I could have been sick
I could have died
I could have given up
And not tried
To make it to tomorrow
Like a broken hearted lover
But there was a brand new start
And suddenly I was taken
New and Far away places
And the music I was shaken
It was a whole new race
When I woke on that first day
There was nothing I could say
I was in the hands of angels
Johnny and the governor
Came and brought me to my senses
They make me feel just like a king
Made me lose all my bad defenses
And they knew all the places
I needed to go
All of the poeple
I needed to know
They knew who I needed
And who needed me
And who would come help me
And who would just let me be
I was in the hands of angels
Until this very day
Inside the hands of angels
What more can I say
When you're in the hands of angels
Life is oh so seet
And you feel the love
Down deep inside
Even out there on the street
There's a lady I know, and I'm lucky to say,
She's a woman in every way.
Cuz she weeps just like a willow
When the hate is cloudin' up my day
When she touches my eyes,
She takes my heart in her hand
If you knew that child you'd plainly see
When she laughs I realize
I'm in love with my sweet Emily
Chorus:
Well she knows how too boogie
Like a honky tonk queen
But she tells me what is jive and what is real
She's a dancin' delight and she makes me feel good
If I need forgiven lord I know she would
There's just one in this world and
It's a natural fact
She can put me right back
On the right track
She keeps me company ya know I'm talkin'
About my sweet Emily
Bridge:
I can't give a reason for the way that I feel
But love can always tell you where your heart is
There's no way to explain
With the whole world in change
But I know that girl will always remain the same
What more can I say, no words can describe
This feelin' that I have inside
But if you look in my eyes
You'll know I love my
Sweet Emily
But if you look in my eyes
You'll know I love my
I'm up in Oakland on a Saturday night
Lord, I said I just didn't feel right
Goodnight, ladies all around
But the right one hadn't found me such a bad night
I didn't feel right
Then a friend came over 'fore it got too late
Asked me if I'd like you as a double date
My stars above, I fell in love
With the queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
Yeah, the queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
Now Queenie's a lady, she's quite a child
Oh, she'll make you feel fine
Remember the time when a trucker from Dallas
Was callous to Queenie with his rude side
Now he can't deny, that he gotten much more, than balled before
Queenie's right across, running to the floor
Now he knows better than to mate
With the queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
The queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
Oh, as fast as a bullet, she can jam all night
Makes a full grown wonder bull die with fright
When we get home, alone in love
She murmurs like a sweet moaning dove, ooh
Oh, such a lady, she's quite a child
She'll make me feel good in this heart of mine
She's my love, she's a lady
She's the queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
Ah, the queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
I'm talkin' 'bout the queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
Yeah, she's the queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
Oh, queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
She's the queen of the roller derby
(Queen of the roller derby)
Try and judge me only by my time and changes
And not mistaken words, for I say many
Listen only to my song and watch my eyes
There's not much time to spill, there's hardly any
Well, look at all the children living in the streets
And they're looking, not afraid to touch each other
They're not afraid to be themselves or someone else
[Incomprehensible]
Never treat a brother like a passing stranger
Honey, won't you always try to keep the love light burning
Sing a song of love and open up your heart
For you might be the prince of peace returning
Yeah, you might be the prince of peace returning
Oh, the love the blind and wounded as that you would yourself
And the businessmen in cells collecting pennies
Judge their wealth by coins that they give away
And not the ones that they keep for themselves for spending
Oh, never be impatient with the ones who love you
It might be yourself that you're burning
Sing a song of love and open up your heart
For you might be the prince of peace returning
Never treat a brother like a passing stranger
Honey, won't you always try to keep the love light burning
Sing a song of love and open up your heart
For you might be the prince of peace returning
For you might be the prince of peace returning
Oh, if I pay me, if I pay you
If I pray to your Jesus then you gonna tell us what you're about to do?
What if I pay me and I might pay you
Who's got the money? Who's got the money?
My love, she speaks like silence
Without ideal or violence
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
Yet she's true like ice and fire
And the people carry roses
Make promises by the hour
My love, she laughs just like the flower
That valentine can't buy her
In the dime store and bus station
People talk of all kind of situation
Read books, repeat quotation
Draw conclusions on the wall
And some speak of future
My love, she always speaks softly
She knows there's no success like failure
And failure's no success at all
Alright
Yeah, the cloak and the dagger dangle
And madams light the candle
In ceremonies of the horsemen
Even the pawn must hold a grudge
The statue made of match stick
They crumble into one another
My love winks, she does not bother
She knows too much to argue or to judge
She's my love, she speaks like silence
With no ideal or violence
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
Yet she's true like ice, like fire
And the people carry roses
And make promises by the hour
My love, she laughs just like the flower
Chorus: When we're feeling down and low
When our favorite word is "no"
Cause it points the way to go
Let's be bad
Who knows what will come tomorrow
Labor loose to sauce and sorrow
Here's some sugar you can borrow
Let's be bad
Don't wanna be boring
Our twenties are roaring
Let's manage the floor ring
Yeah drummer man
Do what you can
To wag the hoo will hit the fan
If you need some more enticing
Here's the girl with twice the spicing
We're the cake but she's the icing
Let's be bad
Let's be bad
Marilyn: If you say something is taboo
Well that's the thing I wanna do
Do it till we're black and blue
Let's be bad
Guns and gangsters suit me fine
Al Capone is a buddy of mine
He's my big shot valentine
Let's be bad
His spirits are saggin'
His feet are a draggin'
Fall off of that wagon
The piano hums to the bass and drums
And I'll be dancing when Hoover comes
Don't care if you've tied the knot
Most folks want what they ain't got
Melt the ice, some like it hot
Let's be bad
Here's my whistle make it wetter
Let me wear that scarlet letter
When I'm bad I'm even better
Let's be bad
Say bye bye propriety
No polite society
Give me notoriety
Let's be bad
Bring on the vices
Don't care what the price is
I'll add the right spices
When the stand up bass
Slaps you in the face
Well it ain't my husband I'll embrace
I can't see the use in waiting
Your lips are intoxicating
Do my hips need some translating
Let's be bad
If I drown in baths of gin
Notify my next of kin
They might grieve or might jump in
Let's be bad
Who wants plays and O'Neill dramas
Gershwin is the cat's pajamas
I'm the queen of the red hot mamas
Let's be bad
Each crook and G Man
Is poppin He-man
Just stick with me man
If he tried to juke
With my red hot yuke
And just like Judas once said to Luke
Here's the key for my ignition
Hit the gas to my transmission
When you hear the things i'm wishing
You won't offer opposition
Let's prohibit prohibition
Let's be bad
Well, you're showing me different sign,
Even after the flame is dyin',
You'll get used to me baby,
You just wait and see oh lady,
Cause I've been in love before,
And I love you a whole lot more.
If you want it to be real good to ya,
When I'm layin' here making love to ya,
Listen real close to me lady,
I want to get it straight right now baby,
Cause I'm lovin' more and more and more
Lady Blue.
Sand baby, blue lady sing me your love song,
I just want you to know, that I'm lovin' you
More and more and more.
So if you want it to be real good to ya,
When I'm layin' here makin' love to ya,
A listen real close to me baby,
You just wait and see lady,
I've got a lotta love to give ya,
I've got a whole life to spend if you'll
Just let me sing a sweet love song
Lady Blue, oh sing a love song
I had a friend named Camble, eat, cheat and steal and gamble
And I guess he tried most ever' thing low down
He was out tomcattin' one night when he started a great big fight
Then a big policeman came and snapped him down
He's in the jailhouse now, he's in the jailhouse now
I told him once or twice to quit drinking gin and shootin' dice
He's in the jailhouse now
A-yodeleyie, yodeleyie, oh-ohoohdeleyie
A-yodeleyie, odiyodeleyie, e-iyodeleyie
Old Bill broke out one day, I guess he thought he'd get away
But at the railroad station they took him by the arm
The chief said, "I've come for you", and Bil said, "Now this won't do
Because Bill Camble never was my name"
He's in the jailhouse now, he's in the jailhouse now
Oh yes, he broke out and all over town the fool walked about
He's in the jailhouse now
Then I met Bill's old gal Sadie and she said
"Have you seen my baby?"
And I told her he was down town in the can
Litlle Sadie she started fussin'
She went down to the jailhouse a-cussin'
She says, "I come down here to get my man"
She's in the jailhouse now, she's in the jailhouse now
So you can understand why little old Sadie got throwed in the can
She's in the jailhouse now
I went out last Tuesday, met a sweet little gal named Suzie
I'd say she was the sweetest thing around
She started to callin' me honey and we began to spent my money
Then we got drunk and thought we owned the town
We're in the jailhouse now, we're in the jailhouse now
Next day we wanted to go but that old jailer he said, "No"
We're in the jailhouse now
A-yodeleyie, yodeleyie, oh-ohohohdeleyie
[CHORUS]
If I was a carpenter
And you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
[VERSE 1]
If a tinker was my trade
Would you tinker with me?
Would you keep the vows we made
Followin' behind me?
And if I was Jesus
And I built some crosses
Could you see the future?
Could stand the losses
Of lovin' a carpenter
And being a lady
And takin' a chance on me
Just to be my baby?
Save my love through loneliness
Save my love through sorrow, yes
I'll give you my onliness
If you just give me tomorrow
If I was a rock star
Would you be my groupie?
Would you make sweet love to me?
Come to California?
Well, I might go crazy
I have to warn ya
Well, I get so mean sometimes
When the spirit's on me
That I think I'm Jesus
Out buildin' crosses
Could ya see the future?
Could ya stand the losses?
Of lovin' a carpenter
And being a lady
And takin' a chance on me
Just to be my baby?
Save my love through loneliness
Save my love through sorrow, yeah
I'll give you my onliness
If you'd only give me tomorrow
[BRIDGE]
[Repeat CHORUS]
[Repeat VERSE 1]
And if I was Jesus
And I built some crosses
Could you see the future?
Could stand the losses
Of lovin' a carpenter
And being a lady?
Would ya take a chance on me?
Would ya be my baby?
Come take a chance on me
Won't you come away with me
Come take a chance on me
Won't you be my baby?
Won't ya take a chance on me?
Won't ya be my baby?
Won't ya take a chance on me?
Won't ya be my... ohh, be my... ohhh
... Be my... ohhh...
![Leon Russell-Carney [Full Album] 1972](http://web.archive.org./web/20130609045420im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/h9od58P1uXs/default.jpg "1972.")
