There's only so many times you can eat that
rubber food
'Till You're gonna say, Well, I'm eating it.
I guess it must be good
There's only so many times you can sit
and watch tv-
Stay detached and think it's stupid
and that you're somehow free
America will eat you
America will eat you up.
There's only so many times you can be
treated like dirt at the airport or the bank
'Til you're gonna say, Yeah, you're right
I'm a bum I'm a dog I'm a roach
Thank you Thank you Thanks
Only so many times you can see some slick
jerk rave about God
'Til you're gonna give it up and go to sleep
and slip into a pod-
We're tempting little morsels on the
corporation's fork
If we show up with the right bits and bytes,
they'll fatten us like pork
And America will stretch her maw and show
us her white teeth
It's only when it's much too late we see
the cancer underneath
Everything has a number
We all must drink our cup
All I ask is to know when my number's up
Looking at these corpses talk
and laugh it up on tv
All I want is to never have to ask,
I want my country back
And a good dream to stand up for.
Got my hand over my heart,
But I don't feel at home here anymore
Big, big flag above the big, big mall,
And the shake rattle and roll to the core.
Things sprawl after they fall,
And I don't feel at home here anymore
Homeland of Sojourner Truth
And Chief Joseph before,
Many quiet words of wisdom drowned out by TV
And I don't feel at home here anymore.
Blind engineer, war train on the track,
Many many a heart is sore.
We want our country back;
We want to feel at home here once more.
I don't want your millions, Mister,
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to live, Mister,
Give me back my job again.
Now, I don't want your Rolls-Royce, Mister,
I don't want your pleasure yacht.
All I want's just food for my babies,
Give to me my old job back.
We worked to build this country, Mister,
While you enjoyed a life of ease.
You've stolen all that we built, Mister,
Now our children starve and freeze.
So, I don't want your millions, Mister,
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to live, Mister,
Give me back my job again.
Think me dumb if you wish, Mister,
Call me green, or blue, or red.
This one thing I sure know, Mister,
My hungry babies must be fed.
Take the two old parties, Mister,
No difference in them I can see.
But with a Farmer-Labor Party
We could set the people free.
So, I don't want your millions, Mister,
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to live, Mister,
I saw a man, he's a well-dressed man
He had a tan from the Yucatan
He had a car, he looked like a star
I said, Hey, don't I know who you are
But when he glanced into my eyes
I saw yes I saw was such a big surprise
He was afraid that he's just a bum
Someday when all his stuff is gone and he's left
without a dime
Time ain't money when all ya got is time
And you can see him standin on the corner with a nine-
day beard and bright red eyes
I know a guy, he's a pal of mine
I say, hey. He say, I'm doin fine
I'm movin up the ladder, rung rung rung
I'm gonna get my million while I am still young
But at night when he's had a few
His eyes say different than his tongue
They say I'm afraid that I'm just a bum
Someday when all my stuff is gone and I'm left without
a dime
Time ain't money when all ya got is time
And I can see me standin on the corner with my nine-day
beard and my bright red eyes
Goin hey, hey hey hey hey, come on and listen to my
story, hey, hey hey hey hey, ah hey
Some people live to work, work to live
Any little tremble and the earth might give
Ya can't hide it in a Volvo or a London Fog
Can't hide it in a mansion with an imported dog
No matter how we plan and rehearse, we're at pink
slip's mercy in a paper universe
And we're afraid that we're just a bum
Someday when all our stuff is gone and we're left
without a dime
Time ain't money when all ya got is time
And we can see us standin on the corner with our nine-
day beards and our bright red eyes
Goin, hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey, come on and listen to my story man
hey, hey hey hey hey, ah hey
The man of sorrow's acquainted with grief
Stands in line waiting for relief
He will tell ya it wasn't always this way
One bad little thing happened one bad little day
Heartbreak has bad teeth and a sour smell and lives
when he can in a cheap hotel
And he's afraid that he's just a bum
Someday when all his stuff is gone and he's left
without a dime
Time ain't money when all ya got is time
And you can see him standin on the corner with a nine-
day beard and bright red eyes
Goin, hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey, come on and listen to my story man
What's that? What's that? What's that in the closet?
It's green, it's huge and it's scary
Oh no!
It's a monster!
What's that? What's that? What's that in the basement?
It's brown, it has fangs and it's hairy.
Oh no!
It's a giant!
What's that? What's that? What's that in the guitar?
It's small, it stinks and it's ugly.
Oh no!
It's a musical monster.
Be careful-watch out.
Be careful-watch out.
Monsters and giants are hiding all about!
What's that? What's that? What's that in your shoe?
It's white, it's sharp and it's gross.
Oh no!
Honey, I did all I can do,
Can't get along with you.
I gonna take you back to Mama pay a day, pay a day.
I'm gonna take you back to Mama, pay a day.
Well that rabbit ran in the log-
I ain't got no rabbit dog,
Hate to see that rabbit get away, get away.
Hate to see that rabbit get away.
Well now just about a week ago,
hit hard times you know-
I'm gonna take care of my children,
If I can, if I can, if I can.
I'm gonna take care of my children.
Honey, I did all I can do,
And I can't get along with you.
Take you back to Mama,
Pay a day.
I'm gonna take you back to Mama,
Sadness come to my house
With a stinking bouquet,
Smiled with her thin gray lips
And said, "Honey, I'm home to stay."
[Chorus:]
And I said,
"Go away and leave me alone.
Go away and leave me."
She handed me rotgut whiskey
And a lit cigarette,
Danced all around my room and said,
"Are we having fun yet?"
[Chorus]
She took off her party dress
And her tear stained brassiere,
Came so close I could smell her
And said "Kiss me here and here."
[Chorus]
She lay down on my bed
And open her thin legs,
Raised up her arms and said,
"Honey, I ain't too proud to beg."
[Chorus]
She said, "Don't you remember
What you did to that one, to the other one, too?
Well, I've just come to do exactly
The very same thing to you."
[Chorus]
I said, "I'm gonna get out my shotgun.
I'm gonna get out my Bowie knife -
And if you don't clear on outta here,
I'll kill you within an inch of your life."
[Chorus]
She said, "Honey, I've come to love you.
I'm gonna hook you 'til you burn -
And then I'll go and you will never know
Just when I may return."
[Chorus]
I will go out in the mountains,
Way out in the desert somewhere,
Where the sun shines down on rocks and bushes
And there ain't no Sadness there.
How are things going in the small dark movie of your
life
Late at night you call your girlfriend in the morning
you call your wife
In the morning you go for coffee leave town by the
underpass
Leave whatever happened last night cigarette in a
champagne glass
The road used to go someplace you never been before
Now it's just a race track and the only prize is more
The only off-ramp is up ahead and just where ain't too
clear
And change is a semi with smoking wheels filling the
rear view mirror
You could really use a rain coat and a pair of cool
shoes
You could really use some idea of what you're gonna do
But the road keeps coming at you and you find no place
to rest
And in these small dark movies no-one knows what's best
So how are things going in the small dark movie of your
life
Late at night you call your girlfriend in the morning
you call your wife
In the morning you go for coffee leave town by the
underpass
Leave whatever happened last night cigarette in the
champagne glass
How are things going
How are things going
When I was a bachelor, I liv'd all alone
I worked at the weaver's trade
And the only, only thing that I did that was wrong
Was to woo a fair young maid.
I wooed her in the wintertime
Part of the summer, too
And the only, only thing that I did that was wrong
Was to keep her from the foggy, foggy dew.
One night she knelt close by my side
When I was fast asleep.
She threw her arms around my neck
And she began to weep.
She wept, she cried, she tore her hair
Ah, me! What could I do?
So all night long I held her in my arms
Just to keep her from the foggy foggy dew.
Again I am a bachelor, I live with my son
We work at the weaver's trade.
And every sing time I look into his eyes
He reminds me of that fair young maid.
He reminds me of the wintertime
Part of the summer, too,
And the many, many times that I held her in my arms
Dear mother, dear mother, the Church is cold;
But the Alehouse is healthy, and pleasant, and warm.
Besides, I can tell where I am used well;
Such usage in heaven will never do well.
But, if at the Church they would give us some ale,
And a pleasant fire our souls to regale,
We'd sing and we'd pray all the livelong day,
Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray.
Then the Parson might preach, and drink, and sing,
And we'd be as happy as birds in the spring;
And modest Dame Lurch, who is always at church,
Would not have bandy children, nor fasting, nor birch.
And God, like a father, rejoicing to see
His children as pleasant and happy as He,
Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the barrel,
If you ever leave, and I imagine you will,
It'll just be me and the whippoorwill -
Just we two, and the evening star,
If you pack your suitcase and go get in your car
And drive down the road
In the mud or the dust, over to the river,
KC or bust. If you ever go, I'll be here still,
Getting annoyed at the whippoorwill.
Getting annoyed, unable to sleep, the dust too dusty,
Or the mud too deep. I'll follow your dust,
Or I'll follow your tracks over to the hard road,
And I'll bring you back.
If you won't come back, I'll stay on your trail,
Up through heaven, or down through hell.
I'll miss this old place, I'll miss these old hills.
But I sure won't miss that whippoorwill.
You are dearer to me than the birds or the stars,
Sweeter to me than the hills and the flowers.
Long as I have you I can take anything.
I used to go out quite a lot,
Chase to chase and shot to shot.
I'm all done with that somehow,
And it's your town now.
These days the mighty eagle sings,
Of money and material things,
And the almighty Dow,
And it's your town now,
Your town now,
It's-
From the mountains to the plains
All the towns are wrapped in chains,
And the little that the law allows,
And it's your town now,
It's your town now,
It's-
Where are the young bands gonna play?
Where're the old beatniks gonna stay,
And not before some corporation bow?
And it's your town now,
It's your town now,
It's-
So be careful everyone,
Cops can get careless with their guns.
And then they slip off somehow,
And it's your town now,
It's your town now,
It's-
You young ones it's up to you
To fight the fight and I hope you do,
Oh I see in your eyes that you know how
And it's your town now
Your town now.
Don't let 'em take the whole damn deal,
Don't give up on what you really feel.
Ah, the small and local must survive somehow,
If it's gonna be your town now.
Is it gonna be your town now?
Is it gonna be your town now?
I'm a young robin way up hig,
Too old for the nest, too young to die,
Watching the jays and the grackles sail by,
Calling me bad names.
I know I could fly if I wanted to,
I know I could fly if I wanted to,
I know I could fly if I wanted to,
I don't want to , right now.
One of my brothers tried too fast
And his first flight was his last-
I saw him flopping around in the grass
And that fat cat saw him too.
Dad sit singing at the top of the tree.
Mom floats by and says to me
Take your time, just wait 'til you're ready
Just watch me for awhile.
Oh, I know you could fly if you wanted to,
I know you could fly if you wanted to,
I know you could fly if you wanted to,
Do you want to, right now?
I'll just ease out where the tree meets the sky,
And wait for a good breeze blowing by
And spread my wings and close my eyes-
Here goes nothing.
I knew I could fly if I wanted to,
I knew I could fly if I wanted to,
I knew I could fly if I wanted to ,
And I want to, I want to, I want to,
You don't really get me baby
An' it makes me lonely
I don't really get you baby
There's a lot of things I don't see
You don't really know
You don't really know what I'm after
Many times when you turn to tears
I turn to laughter.
You don't really get me baby
But I hope you can see
You don't really get me baby
But you really get to me.
You don't really get me baby
So I go lookin'
I'm a-dreamin' of a new situation
Somethin' really cookin'
I don't really know
I don't really know where you go
When we get on easy
But findin' you again
That's the only thing that could please me.
You don't really get me baby
An' it makes us lonely
You don't really get me baby
But you really get to me.
You don't really get me baby
Can you hear me callin'?
Trying to get in touch with you
Across the wire without fallin'.
Loneliness and frustration
Have left us cryin'
But for some sweet unknown reason
We both keep tryin'.
I don't really get it baby
And it makes me lonely
You don't really get me baby
But you really get to me.
You don't really get me baby
You've done about all one kid can do in one day
So you might as well go to sleep,
You might as well go to sleep.
I've said about all one dad can say
So you might as well, might as well go to sleep.
Well I know you hate to go to bed
And to get up is such a trial
But you might as well go to sleep.
You might as well go to sleep.
Oh, I know you are wild
You are my child
But you might as well, might as well go to sleep.
There's nothing on TV, the VCR's busted,
And all your little friends are zonked out.
It's just me and you
And I'm sleepy too
Let's find out what our dreams
Are going to be about.
You've done about all one kid can do in one day
So you might as well go to sleep
Might as well go to sleep
I've said about all one dad can say
So you might as well, might as well
Go to sleep
You might as well, might as well
Go to sleep.
Might as well, might as well,
Might as well, might as well,
Go to sleep.
Close that other eye now.
You might as well, might as well go to sleep.
You already had a drink of water.
Might as well, might as well,
Go to sleep.
Might as well, might as well,
Go to sleep.
I don't know what would happen if you rode your bicycle off the roof of the
Garage
And hit a board that was across a barrel and flew away up and hit the moon
And the moon flew into pieces and you were still on your bike riding on a
Piece of the moon
Back down towards the ocean and the tide was rising. There'd be a lot of
Ramifications to the whole situation, but I think maybe we should work on it
Tomorrow.
It's going to be big day. You might as well, might as well
Hello darlin'.
I been gone for awhile.
Come on in and see me,
I ain't wearin' nothin' but a smile.
Just when we should be kissin',
Seems like we fuss and fight.
You say you don't know why,
And I say I don't know why.
[Chorus:]
You drive me crazy,
With all the things you do and do not do.
Umm, I love you so much,
I'm gonna drive you crazy too.
Well like that mythological goon,
Pushing the stone up the hill,
If we don't get over pretty soon,
I don't think we ever will.
[Chorus]
Is it the way you look right past me,
With your hands upon your hips?
Is it the little twinkle in your eye,
Or the snear upon your lips?
[Chorus]
You shoulda married someone,
A whole lot more like you-
Drink coffee in the little cafes,
And you could go out shopping too.
I shoulda married someone,
Who likes to camp and fish,
And make love for two days straight,
And you say, "don't you wish".
[Chorus]
I love to sit beside you,
When the storm is past,
And we don't know what happened
But there's sweet peace at last.
We'll be alright for awhile,
And someday we'll be free,
And even if we both still look puzzled
Let your face be the last one I see.
You can watch me-
You can watch me in my bed.
You can watch me-
You can watch me my bed.
Ah, but you will never know,
What goes around in my head.
You can watch me-
You can watch me in my sleep.
You can watch me-
You can watch me in my sleep.
Ah, but you will never know,
What I have got down deep.
You can watch me,
When I'm naked as a jay.
You can watch me,
When I'm naked as a jay.
Ah, but you will never know,
What I will never say.
You can watch me,
When I'm laid out cold and dead.
You can watch me,
When I'm laid out cold and dead.
You say, "I wonder,
Someday maybe, baby, you might be feelin' low and down
Hold up your hands, count to three
I will meet you, I will meet you downtown
You can always, you can always come to me
I won't be busy, but even if I am,
I'll kiss your tears away, like you have done for me
I'll try to help you, try to help you out of any jam
You can always, you can always come to me
We'll take a little walk, somewhere by the trees and
water
And have a talk about how good things can be
Even if you're far away, honey just close your eyes
You can always, you can always come to me
I'll be with you walking through an ancient land
Even when it's hard, we're exactly where we're supposed
to be
I want you, I want you to understand
You can always, you can always come to me
Your smile makes me smile
I can always see your face
You help me make it through every day
You're with me every place
You left so much here with us
Your love is all around
Your children's children wil smile that same smile
And say "oh look what I have found"
You are a flower
Shining for a while
You are a flower
What a life, what a woman, what a smile
And I will laugh and I will sing
And I will go on through
To let this love just come on out
That's what I learned from you
Your heart went out to everything
A field of stones, a field of flowers
And when we form that magic ring
We feel your hand in ours
You are a flower
Shining for a while
You are a flower
And the worrisome years-over the hill
I thoght it's supposed to get easier to pay your bills
I got nothing to show but a worrisome heart
Can ya please tell me-when does the good part start?
I done like they told me, I done like I should
Ever since I started, I's trying to make good
Trying to make a good life for my family
But I can't buy any stuff the kids want from TV
I think about leaving-but where would I go?
How would I get there? I don't know
I took my stand here-I don't want to roam
This old town ain't much but it's all I know of home
I look at Cheryl-she looks at me
We don't talk no more about our dreams
We don't have no fun the way we used to do
Don't be disappointed in me baby
I ain't disappointed in you
And the worrisome years-over the hill
I thoght it's supposed to get easier to pay your bills
I got nothing to show but a worrisome heart
If I saw you out in the crowd again,
Would you pick me out, would you be my friend,
Would you smile now like you smiled then,
If I saw you out in the crowd?
If I saw you out in the street today,
Would you look at me or would you look away,
Would you go for coffee, would you come to stay,
If I saw you out in the street?
I've got a restless heart and restless feet,
I'm December cold and July heat,
I ain't someone I would want to meet,
So I just keep on movin'.
If you saw me here in the window frame,
Would you stop and wave, would you call my name,
If you walk on by it's me to blame,
Me and the winter rain.
He's wild like a Sonny Boy, That one eye looks at you
He wild like a Sonny Boy, Other's on Voodoo
He's wild like a bad dog, Gotta howl once more
He'll dog it all night, and then scratch scratch at your
door
He blows in when he wants something, Then he's gone
without a trace
You get some Jim Beam in him, watch out, he'll hit you in
the face
Rigor mortis, Pandemonium, it depends upon the night
'cause he's wild like a Sonny Boy, hmmm yeah well not
quite
I heard he holed up somewhere, then I seen him downtown
I'm usually glad to see him, if I see him around,
There's a whipporwill in the rolling hills,
It'll drive you crazy, give you the chills.
There's a barn that got smaller, and the blowed out cars,
Beans climb up to the falling stars.
Why don't you just go home,
Why don't you just go home.
You've had enough wine and it's lamplighting time,
Why don't you just go home.
It's always too hot except when it's too cold,
The dogs is all rascals and the chickens are old.
God hung the moon way too low in the sky,
You're always laughing except when you cry.
Company for supper when the day is through,
People talk funny, just like you.
New vines from the old dirt, now ain't that sweet,
New songs from the old tunes to tap our feet.
Why don't you just go home,
Why don't you just go home.
The trip has been fine, now it's lamplighting time,
Why do you even say that, say we'll meet somewhere?
You hardly ever show up, you don't really care.
So why do you even say that, say you got time for me?
You talk but you don't walk, busy as a bee.
I don't think you're all that happy, honey baby, with
your thing,
But I ain't some fish you caught, can't keep me on a
string.
You say you really love me, then you're gone in seconds
flat,
Say you really want me, why do you even say that?
Why do you even say that?
We used to say I could walk all night, and we could and
we did
Down that gravel road, to that tiny town, and the door
always opened
Now we say I could walk all night. It's not true
We can't walk all night, no, because we don't want to
We want a bed and a blanket, some light breakfast,
sometime tomorrow
We want a bed and a blanket, some light breakfast,
sometime tomorrow
And I sing it now, hey hey, hey hey, who woulda thunk
Hey hey, hey hey, who woulda thunk it
We used to say I could eat a horse, and we could and we
In fast food joints in the middle of someplace on the
way to someplace else
Now we say I could eat a horse. It's not true
We can't eat a horse, no, because we don't want to
We want somethin from the cookbook, that new one with
the great graphics
Somethin from the cookbook, that new one with the great
graphics
Oh and I sing it now, hey hey, hey hey, who woulda
thunk it
Hey hey, hey hey, who woulda thunk it
We used to say I don't care if I never have any money
As long as I have my sweet honey and a shack in the
woodland
Now we say I don't care if I don't have money, but it's
not true
We can't live without money, no, because we don't want
We want one of those and two of those, and oh that one
looks neat, wrap it up
Put it on my MasterCard. Put it on my Visa
And I sing it now, hey hey, hey hey, who woulda thunk
Hey hey, hey hey, who woulda thunk it
Hey hey, hey hey
Hey hey, hey hey now, who woulda thunk it
We used to say I don't care if I never grow old
I'm gonna flame, gonna burn, take one quick turn and be
gone like James Dean
Now we don't say that. It's too late to die young
So we sit at the table long after supper and a good
wine
Here's what we sing, we go, hey hey, hey hey, who
woulda thunk it
"Who killed Cock Robin?" "I," said the Sparrow,
"With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin."
"Who saw him die?" "I," said the Fly,
"With my little eye, I saw him die."
"Who caught his blood?" "I," said the Fish,
"With my little dish, I caught his blood."
"Who'll make the shroud?" "I," said the Beetle,
"With my thread and needle, I'll make the shroud."
"Who'll dig his grave?" "I," said the Owl,
"With my pick and shovel, I'll dig his grave."
"Who'll be the parson?" "I," said the Rook,
"With my little book, I'll be the parson."
"Who'll be the clerk?" "I," said the Lark,
"If it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk."
"Who'll carry the link?" "I," said the Linnet,
"I'll fetch it in a minute, I'll carry the link."
"Who'll be chief mourner?" "I," said the Dove,
"I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner."
"Who'll carry the coffin?" "I," said the Kite,
"If it's not through the night, I'll carry the coffin."
"Who'll bear the pall? "We," said the Wren,
"Both the cock and the hen, we'll bear the pall."
"Who'll sing a psalm?" "I," said the Thrush,
"As she sat on a bush, I'll sing a psalm."
"Who'll toll the bell?" "I," said the bull,
"Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell."
All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
Ah who do ya, who do ya, who do ya think you're foolin
Who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do ya
Who do ya think you're foolin
Ah who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do
Who do ya think you're foolin
I wouldn't miss her at all if she ran away
With some other fella had a real good time, never wrote
or called
I wouldn't miss her at all, I'd be doin fine
I'd get myself a great big bottle of wine, have a party
I wouldn't miss her at all, I'd be doin fine
If she ran away from me
I wouldn't miss her at all, no I wouldn't, never would
A little voice in my head said who do ya, ah who do ya,
who do ya think you're foolin
Ah who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do
Who do ya think you're foolin
Sunflower over by the garden wall
You're gonna bloom through the spring and the summer
and the fall
Ain't no jaybird gonna fly down, pick the seeds out of
your face
Leave you a sad brown skeleton when the fall rains come
down
No you're gonna shine, ah you're gonna shine, you're
gonna shine sunflower, shine all the time, shine
A little voice in its head said who do ya, ah who do
ya, who do ya think you're foolin
Ah who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do
Who do ya think you're foolin
Ain't gonna blow it up, ain't gonna mess it up
There ain't no little babies gonna be born have a real
hard time for the color of their skin
Where they were born, why they were born
Ain't gonna blow it up, ain't gonna mess it up
People want to love one another, be kind to one
another, dance with one another
Don't ya know that the people want to love one another,
don't want to hate one another
People want to love one another, be kind to one another
People want to love one another, don't wanna hate one
another
Ain't gonna blow it up, ain't gonna mess it up no
A little voice in everybody's head said who do ya, ah
who do ya, who do ya think you're foolin
Ah who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do
Who do ya think you're foolin
Ah now who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who do ya, who
do ya
There's a sweated-through shirt thrown over a chair
An old photo of Anna Magnani in her underwear
There's an old dog barking at a brand new moon
And a sign in every window sayin' "Be Back Soon"
But where is maria?
There's a young fellow rockin' in a thump thump car
And he's smug as a commentator on NPR
And our foolish government tries to save face
While the whole world struggles to become one bland
place
But where is maria?
There's a millionaire singing about nothing at all
But he looks pretty good and he's knocking 'em dead
down at the mall
There's a woman weary of the look in men's eyes
When they don't look she just turns away and sighs
But where is maria?
There's a dirty rain falling like the tears of shame
She's the only one I know who'd dance with me in such a
rain
There's a guru snoozin' in a limousine
And a whole industry pumping blood into recycled scenes
There'll be one corporation selling one little box
It'll do what you want and tell you what you want and
cost whatever you got
But where is maria?
There's a pile of letters from lovers friends
If your dream came true would you still want it then
A series of images on an empty screen
No conclusions just a kiss from Mr. In-Between
But where is maria?
There's a wheel of symbols and a wheel of spokes
Let's face it, friends, these are station wagons and
we're our folks
The cafe's open the hotel's shut down
But lord these bad habits sure do stick around
But where is maria?
Behind the camera I saw her smile
I'd like to go back to that room and stay there for a
while
There's a stranger's body with an old friend's face
There's a wild parade and a slow fade and a touch of
grace
Can I visit your house? can I sleep in your bed?
Ah maria, if I rub your back will you rub my head?
Where do the wild geese go when they go away
Where do the wild geese go
Are all their babies up there in that V on holiday
How do they know the way
How do they know the way
How do they know the way
How do they know the way
Where do the dark clouds go when they go away
Where do the dark clouds go
Where does the night go at the break of day
How can ya love me so well
How can ya love me so well
How can ya love me so well
How can ya love me so well
Where does your wild heart go when it goes away
Where does your wild heart go
Does it travel all night with the wild geese
That why it beatin so
That why it beatin so
That why it beatin so
That why it beatin so
Where do the wild geese go when they go away
Do they travel all night
Do they travel all night
Do they travel all night
Do they travel all night
Where do the wild geese go when they go away
Where do the wild geese go
Are all their babies up there in that V
How do they know the way
How do they know the way
How do they know the way
How do they know the way
Where do the wild geese go
Where do the wild geese go
Where do the wild geese go when they go away
Where do the wild geese go
Where do the wild geese go when they go away
Where do the wild geese go
Where do the wild geese go when they go away
She's got a slant 6 mind and a supercharged heart,
The little princess is singing about her parts,
She says, "Come hither", but when I get hither she is
yon.
I was looking for what I loved. Whatever it was, it's
gone.
TV spreads and tension mounts,
Like a guy in a bra it's the idea that counts,
It's a picture of a picture of a whore holding a
picture of a john.
I was looking for what I loved...
In the chemical fields by ammonia light,
I would offer my prayer to the Corn Goddess tonight,
But they chopped off her head and stuck her body out on
the lawn.
I was looking for what I loved...
My generation takes what it can get,
Are you surprised that the kids are all upset?
They're looking at Nothing and Nothing turns away and
yawns.
I was looking for what I loved...
Can't go to the country - the country isn't there,
It got chopped up and mortgaged and vanished in thin
air,
It's a paint-by-number and it costs a million bucks
down at the pawn.
I was looking for what I loved...
An electronic head and feet of clay,
Gonna be a lotta roadkill on the Information Highway,
Someone stole the video of the everfresh and lovely
dawn.
I was looking for what I loved...
You might be streetwise. You might be real bad,
I guess you forgot that you also are a dad,
Your kids won't forget it when they're trying to find
someone to lean on
I was looking for what I loved...
The little towns are lying on their faces,
All that's left are fading parking spaces,
It's been quite a week, there was a drive-by shooting
in Lake Wobegon.
I was looking for what I loved...
A Native American told me this whole deal's a mistake,
And this implosion is just icing on the cake,
If the Great Spirit is gambling, I'd say the con is a
bigger con.
Wash my eyes that I may see
Yellow return to the willow tree
Open my ears that I may hear
The river running swift and clear
And please
Wash my eyes
And please
Open my ears
Wash this world that is one place
And wears a mad and fearful face
Let the cruel raging cease
Let these children sleep in peace
And please
Wash this world
And please
Let these children
Last fall it was dry, oh my, oh my,
You could ask the smartweed; maybe the smartweed knows
why.
And then Mr. Corn Borer, he brought his whole family,
And they laid the corn low when it got windy.
Well now there's corn in the bean fields, persnickety
once it clings,
I got these blisters on my fingers; I got these
cockleburs in my dreams.
I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans.
I been bendin' low, no, no,
I been rippin' my jeans.
Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun,
And it looks like I ain't ever ever gonna get done.
Well, it's a mile-long row; that's a lotta room to
grow,
For the nightshade and the thistles and that miserable
so and so.
Two miles around; more like 10, I think,
You know I would just put all four up, but I gotta have
a drink.
'Cause
I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans.
I been bendin' low, no, no,
I been splittin' my seams
Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun,
And it looks like I ain't ever ever gonna get done.
Bandana on my head, I got a long-handled hoe in my
hand,
You know people are afraid of hell and now I
understand.
'Cause I can picture some devil from that land below,
And he's a-pushin' pigweed up from under every row I
just hoed.
I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans.
I been bendin' low, no, no,
I been rippin' my jeans.
Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun,
And it looks like I ain't ever ever gonna get done.
Let's walk now.
Pretty little girl in not too much just about two rows
over,
When it's hotter than fire, I guess you don't need much
cover.
Sure I would like to get closer, but ain't it just my
luck,
You know I got such a crick in my back, I can't even
stand up.
'Cause
I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans.
I been bendin' low, no, no,
I been rippin' my jeans.
Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun,
And it looks like I ain't ever ever gonna get done.
I'll never get done; I know I'll never get done; I'll
never get done, never
Gonna get done....I'll always be out here; I'm always
gonna be walkin' the
Beans; I might live to be 85 - I'll still be out here,
I'm walkin' daddy in the steps that you put down
I'm walkin' daddy & i know not where I'm bound
I'm walkin' daddy this road is dark & long
I'm walkin' daddy & your blood is in me strong
I'm walkin' daddy where the jack's fork river bends
Down in missouri where the jack's fork river bends
With you & ma & my sister & with all my dear friends
You're walkin' daddy off through the woods you old
hillbilly
You said "this is my son in whom I am well pleased"
Ain't no road a good road until it's free to everyone
We're walkin' daddy father holy ghost & son
Ain't no sorrow can dim the love comes shining through
I'm walkin' daddy I know what I am here to do
To be of use try to help the deal along
Waiting on you waiting on you
Is about all i do
Another night another day
I'm waiting on you
& i don't know why i
Keep waiting on you
Make up your mind make up your mind
Why don't you
It'd be kind it'd be kinder
You know it's true
& i don't know why i
Keep waiting on you
Yes or no yes or no
What's it gonna be
I can't live on dreams & maybe
& i don't know why i
Keep waiting on you
One of these days i'm gonna go away from this
Without a why without a cry without a kiss
Then you'll know what it is with this deal
Then you'll feel what it is that i feel
& even if you don't
At least i won't
[Chorus:]
Everybody just a-waitin' an' a-waitin'
Everybody just a-waitin' an' a-waitin'
Everybody just a-waitin' an' a waitin' and a-waitin'
Everybody just waitin' their time away
Some are waitin' for the county fair
Some are waitin' for a guy name Joe comin' in
Joe's comin' in from the coast
You know, haven't seen ol' Joe for a real long time.
I hope that Joe's got news that things been goin'
better out there
Than they have been 'roun' here,
Everythin's been a little slow in the middle.
Everybody, I mean everybody, I mean everybody, I mean
Everybody been a-waitin' [Chorus]
Some are waitin' for their sandwich
Some are waitin' on tables
An' then the tables
Ah the tables they get real inspired an' they get up
an' they start
Dancin' that boogaloo with the chairs
Salt an' pepper shaker keepin' time
Window shade rollin' up, rollin' down
Seems like some of those tables and chairs got a lot
more spunk than the
People sittin' in 'em, at 'em, all arou' 'em
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
I mean...
[Chorus]
Waitin' for a bran' new day.
Some are waitin' for a truck to come
Some are waitin' for a bus to stop, take 'em out to San
Francisco
Jus' about twelve years ago
So they can walk into little paperback store
Look at a big glossy oversize paperback book
All about the Wheel of Time an' mantras
An' Baba Ram Dass, Baba Ram Dass, Baba Ram....
Gonna tell ya' what it's all about.
Maybe some a' you read about it in a magazine
Maybe some of you were there making the scene
We didn' know, we didn' know
I swear,
We didn' know that we was jus' waiting for now.
Yeah, but, everybody been a-waitin' an' a-waitin
Everybody been a-waitin' an' a-waitin'
An' a-waitin' an' a-waitin' an' a-waitin, heavy waitin'
Waitin' in the water, jus' like John
Everybody been waitin' their time away.
Some are waitin' for a new kind of lover
Some are waitin' to move it on over to a new kind-a
job,
You know, even ol' Tom Waits is
You know, you know even ol', you know (sinks into Tom
Waits voice)
You know even ol', you know even,
You know even ol' Tom Waits, uh......
You know even ol' Tom Waits has been.........
You know even ol' Tom Waits has been waitin'
He been waitin' down by the docks,
Diners, uh......
Gotta copy of the poems of Jacques Prevert or
sumthin.....
Back pocket, he's waitin' down......
Lookin' for a blond to come in with big tits an' bad
teeth.....
Uh, ah waitin' aroun'........
Bee bop diddily uh kee bop
......................
He's waitin' for his voice to clear up!
So he can say "good mornin'" to some real, original,
authentic wino-type guy,
Ya' know a lotta people might look like a wino these
days
But you gotta check 'em out,
gotta get a wino card.
Say "good mornin' " to 'em an' then that wino
guy.....he's.......
He looks at Tom an' then he says.....
I ain't gonna say what he says........
But....
Tom, he writes it down in a little book,
Writes it all down in a little book,
Doin' awright, doin' awright, doin'-an-a-doin'-an-a-
doin' awright
Jus' waitin' his time away.
Some are waitin' for the new Galileo
Some are waitin' for the new Picasso
Some are waitin' for the new Mr. Freud
He was 'sposed to be here about an hour ago.
I was hopin' he could clear up for us jus' what's so
funny about this
Garbage disposal we got here's
We know it means more than just a garbage disposal,
it's a....
It's a symbol, it could be a metaphor,
Might be a simile,
We gotta wait 'til Sigmund gets here.....
[Chorus]
Some are waitin' for the green
Some are waitin' for the blue
Some are waitin' for the green, some are waitin' for
the blue........
You been waitin' for me, I been waitin' for you.
But then now you know
You gave me flowers, all wet with dew,
You gave me flowers, I'd like to give you something too.
Vivid flowers, raggedy yellow red and blue,
Smell of rain and summer. Vivid, just like you.
You gave me music with the bouquet from your hand,
You gave me a living song, something I could understand.
Let's go walking when the party is through,
Two little feet to get me 'cross the mountain
Two little feet to carry me away into the woods
Two little feet, big mountain, and a
Cloud comin' down cloud comin' down cloud comin' down
I hear the voice of the ancient ones
Chanting magic words from a different time
Well there is no time there is only this rain
There is no time, that's why I missed my plane
John Muir walked away into the mountains
In his old overcoat a crust of bread in his pocket
We have no knowledge and so we have stuff and
Stuff with no knowledge is never enough to get you
there
It just won't get you there
A culture exploded into knickknacks and memories
Eagle and Bear trinkets I don't think it's good
Old man what am I trying to say it's a
It's a messed up world but I love it anyway
Two little feet to get me 'cross the city
My little hand to knock upon your door
My little thing for your little thing
And a big love to lift us up once more to the mountain
Lift us up
Tumble us like scree let us holler out our freedom like
Like a wolf across a valley like a kid lost in a game
No time no name gonna miss that plane again
And I'm gonna stay here with you baby and kiss you to a
good dream
I'm goin' kiss you
Kiss you like you like it
I got two little feet to get me across the mountain
Two little feet to carry me away into the woods
Two little feet big mountain and a
Two little boys, two little toys
Each was a wooden horse.
Gaily they played, each summer's day
Soldier boys, of course.
One little chap, he had a mishap
And he broke off his horse's head,
Wept for his toy, then cried with joy
When his young comrade said:
"Do you think, Jack, I'd leave you crying
When there's room on my horse for two?
Climb up, Jack, we'll soon be flying.
He can go just as fast with two.
When we grow,we'll both be soldiers
And our horses won't be toys,
And it may be, Jack, that we'll remember
When we were two little boys."
The years quickly passed,
The war came at last'
And bravely the boys marched away.
Cannon roared loud, midst the mad crowd
Wounded and dying Jack lay.
When out rings a cry and a horse dashes by
Out of the ranks of the blue.
Dashes away to where Jack lay
And a voice rang strong and true.
"Do you think Jack, I'd could leave you dying
When there's room on my horse for two?
Climb up Jack, we'll soon be flying
He can go just as fast with two.
Do you Jack, I'm all a tremble?
Perhaps it's the battles noise-
Or maybe,Jack, that I remember
Put old winter in the closet; he wears too many clothes,
Take down the snow fence; put up the cows.
Sweet spring I smell her, the musk of her thighs,
With her feet in the muck, and her hair in the skies.
I was thinkin' about my hundred old lovers,
How we'd weave the cloth of our sleep, how we'd kick off
the covers.
But where you've all gone to I'll never know,
And maybe there were only 50 or so.
May you find great apartments with very low rent,
May you always have a friend when your money is spent.
May your parents live long; may your debts all be paid,
May your clothes fit you right; may you all be well laid.
May you all get great jobs; may you travel in France,
May your cars always start; may you have hot romances.
May your children be sturdy; may you swim in the sea,
May you smile a little if you think of me.
I'm so happy; spring's come back again,
I am so horny; I would love to see you all again.
But where you've all gone to I'll never know,
One of these nights, I wouldn't be surprised
If even the old moon had to close her pretty eye -
We got so evil, I feel troubled tonight.
This old world brought us all here,
So why can't we treat each other right.
I was watching the TV in a motel and I had to turn away.
Somebody killed a bunch of children, said it was about
their godly way.
My friend had a dream, it about made me cry.
He said he saw two stone Buddhas rising where those
towers had filled the sky.
Peace on earth, when will it ever be in sight?
This old world is everybody's beautiful home
So why can't we treat each other right.
If everyone is praying to whatever gods there may be,
I'd say we all better pray to each other for forgiveness
before we lose our sanity.
When I woke up last night, I was still here,
Your lipstick on my knees and on the mirror,
It said, in red, toodle-doo,
Now I'm this blue.
Well, there's a dog out by the lamp post, cold but free,
Just enjoyin' doin' what you did to me,
Screwdriver does it to the screw,
Now I'm this blue (this blue, how blue, so blue).
I was sad before I met you, baby, so what the hey,
Every little ride through Joyville must end some day,
I got off, you did too,
Now I'm this blue.
Ah, honey, you can keep what's in my pockets, but send
back my pants,
Send my little heart back if you get a chance,
It don't mean a thing to you,
And I'm this blue.
It don't mean a thing to you,
And I'm this blue.
Gonna turn off the radio, control nothing remotely
Ain't gonna rent me no video, disconnect the telephone
I gotta be all alone, and just think about you
I can smell your warm neck, I can hear your low laugh
I see the way you come to me, feel the muscle in your
strong back
I get the good blues when I think about you
I'm a-working on a' up-link, I'm sending out a signal
Hope you can pick it up on your sweet receiver
Hope you can feel me too when I think about you
And I'm gonna think a long time
Gonna think a long time
And I'm gonna think a long time
Think a long time
When I build my little cabin with a sky window above
the bed
So I can sleep with Orion in the middle of the winter
Maybe you will visit me, we can cook a slow soup
Gonna ease down easy deeper in the dream I'm dreamin'
It's like your arms are around me, like sinking in a
hot bath
Even when I'm sleeping, I'm gonna think about you
Gonna turn off the radio, control nothing remotely
Ain't gonna rent me no video, disconnect the telephone
The traveler meets many people
And they are kind to him
For they know he will soon be gone
Unlike family and friends
Things go on We do too
One day it's me Next day it's you
One song leads to another
One kiss leads to more kisses
One angry word leads to World War III
Can you tell me why this is?
Everything we know is leaving
Like a train or a plane or a bus
The old old people are dying
The way they get themselves up
The way they wash and spray
Put on the right kind of clothes
And go and do another day
The way they sell sell sell
The way they buy buy buy
The way they go pell mell
The way they die die die
The way they change their life
The way they change their hair
The way they watch tv
Like it was really there
The way they jam it up
The way they jam it in
The way they ham it up
The way they play to win
It will all fall down
On a regular day
It will all dry up
My love and I we're always talkin'
Even though she reads my mind
When you ain't too busy lookin'
It's just amazing what you'll find
The sock that was lost forever
The story in the flame
I love love in the mornin'
And I love the way my baby calls my name.
Well, the moon can't make it up tonight
And it's tangled in some brush
Sometimes love gets heavy
Sometimes it's just a crush
A little sunshine in the mornin'
And an evening all full of rain
Oh and I love a good firm pillow
And I love the way my baby calls my name.
I got a squirrel talkin' dirty
In my walnut tree
A crow stole my number
And he won't give it back to me
Trees are wavin' crazy
Naked and unashamed
Oh I love the smell of coffee
And I love the way my baby calls my name.
I might dream of the Kenai River
Might dream of Portugal
Might dream you're doin' what you're doin' honey
Or I might not dream at all
I might wake up in the morning
Throw another greenback in the game
And I love a good firm pillow
I love the way my baby calls my name.
She said I know you love me baby
You don't have to give me proof
You don't have to climb way up there honey
And try to fly off the roof
I know you love me honey
I can tell it by these rings
She said you don't have to get up there on the roof
baby
To try to flap your wings.
Oh, I love her when she's happy
I love her when she's sad
I love her when she's way too good
And when she's so darn bad
When she tells me not to look at her like that
And then smiles I 'bout go insane
And I love the way she does it
I love the way my baby calls my name.
Oh, I love the way she does it
I love the way my baby calls my name.
And I love love in the mornin'
I love the way my baby calls my name.
I love the smell of coffee
And I love the way my baby calls my name.
Yes, I love the way she does it
Come along, my dear, the time is growin' near,
We'll have to walk down where the field is overgrown.
Consumption has claimed his life and we dare not miss the
sight,
Of the train carrying Jimmie Rodgers home.
Well, we had some hard times these last few years,
Lost the farm, almost lost our spirits, too.
Yeah, but it's the strangest thing; when we heard that
man sing,
Oh, we knew somehow we'd make it through.
I can hear that whistle blow; that old train is rollin'
slow,
Sounds like it's cryin' for the singin' brakeman, too.
Back to the sunny south he'll go, and he'll never roam no
more,
Here's the train, oh hold me close, oh sweetheart do.
Come here my little fella and let me hold you up.
I want you to remember this day when you're grown.
How your mama and your dad were so proud and so sad,
Watchin' the train carrying Jimmie Rodgers home.
There goes the train carrying Jimmie Rodgers home. Oh-de-
Down by the river junior year
Walking with my girl,
And we came upon a place
There in the tall grass where a couple
Had been making love
And left the mark of their embrace.
I said to her, "Looks like they had some fun."
She said to me, "Let's do the same."
And still I taste her kisses
And her freckles in the sun
When I play the poet game.
A young man down in hill country
In the year of '22
Went to see his future bride.
She lived in a rough old shack
That poverty blew through.
She invited him inside.
She'd been cooking, ashamed and feeling sad,
She could only offer him bread and her name -
Grandpa said that it was the best gift
A fella ever had
And he taught me the poet game.
I had a friend who drank too much
And played too much guitar -
And we sure got along.
Reel-to-reels rolled across
The country near and far
With letters poems and songs..
But these days he don't talk to me
And he won't tell me why.
I miss him every time i say his name.
I don't know what he's doing
Or why our friendship died
While we played the poet game.
The fall rain was pounding down
On an old New Hampshire mill
And the river wild and high.
I was talking to her while leaves blew down
Like a sudden chill -
There was wildness in her eyes.
We made love like we'd been waiting
All of our lives for this -
Strangers know no shame -
But she had to leave at dawn
And with a sticky farewell kiss
Left me to play the poet game.
I watched my country turn into
A coast-to-coast strip mall
And I cried out in a song:
If we could do all that in thirty years,
Then please tell me you all -
Why does good change take so long?
Why does the color of your skin
Or who you choose to love
Still lead to such anger and pain?
And why do I think it's any help
For me to still dream of
Playing the poet game?
Sirens wail above the fields -
Another soul gone down -
Another Sun about to rise.
I've lost track of my mistakes,
Like birds they fly around
And darken half of my skies.
To all of those I've hurt -
I pray you'll forgive me.
I to you will freely do the same.
So many things I didn't see,
With my eyes turned inside,
Playing the poet game.
I walk out at night to take a leak
Underneath the stars -
Oh yeah that's the life for me.
There's Orion and the Pleiades
And I guess that must be Mars -
All as clear as we long to be.
I've sung what I was given -
Some was bad and some was good.
I never did know from where it came
And if I had it all to do again
I am not sure I would
The moon is nearly full
These old hills are full of light
The woman I love don't want me
And people I just can't feel right
I got a lot of friends
And they are so kind to me
But they're just kind to a shadow
Of the man I used to be
She loves somebody else
That story's older than the moon
I wrote my one little chapter
I hope to close the book real soon
Morning has to come
And the black sky turn to blue
She told me that she loved me
While she let another man come to her
The moon is nearly full
I only want to hold her tight
Until they put me under the ground
Yesterday I was a boy running through the woods
My dog was my buddy, the wind was green and yellow
My dad called me to gather cedar branches
And soon we were sitting around the fire telling stories
We only have one life but we remember others
As we go from seed to seed, from glimmer to ashes
Our hands are very small, our eyes are very big
As we sit around the fire telling stories
You were standing in the church, then you moved my way
I never saw anything so beautiful or so ordinary
Seemed like we'd met before in a dream as real as stone
We were sitting around the fire telling stories
Everyone is scared, everyone's alone
Unless hand reach for hand when the trouble comes
All around the world when the dark night falls
We should be sitting around the fire telling stories
Love moves like the wind, all we see is change
I tried so hard to hate you but I love you just the same
When you gonna visit? When we gonna be
Sitting around the fire telling stories?
Yesterday I was a boy tearing through the woods
Oh my dog was my buddy, and the wind was green and yellow
My dad called to me to gather cedar branches
The room was dark and short of breath
And smelled like some poor junkie's death
All had been dreamed All had been tried
The monkey's long arms opened wide
And now at last we all get to make love to the monkey
A glow beneath A bang above
A whimper at the end of love
No one has slept and sweetly dreamed
Not since the monkey bucked and screamed
The monkey's breath is sweet and strong
The monkey's tongue is wet and long
He neither speaks nor understands
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed,
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb, I'll tell thee.
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild;
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Home in the midst of the corn,
The middle of the U.S.A.
Here's where I was born,
And here's where I'm goin' to stay.
[Chorus:]
Iowa, Iowa,
Winter, spring, summer and fall.
Come and see, come dance with me,
To the beautiful Iowa Waltz.
We take care of our own, take care of our young,
Make hay while the sun shines.
Growing our crops, singing our songs,
And planting until harvest time.
I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I never had seen;
A Chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.
And the gates of this Chapel were shut,
And 'Thou shalt not' writ over the door;
So I turned to the Garden of Love
That so many sweet flowers bore.
And I saw it was filled with graves,
And tombstones where flowers should be;
And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,
When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry 'Weep! weep! weep! weep!'
So your chimneys I sweep, and in soot I sleep.
There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head,
That curled like a lamb's back, was shaved; so I said,
'Hush, Tom! never mind it, for, when your head's bare,
You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair.'
And so he was quiet, and that very night,
As Tom was a-sleeping, he had such a sight! --
That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned, and Jack,
Were all of them locked up in coffins of black.
And by came an angel, who had a bright key,
And he opened the coffins, and set them all free;
Then down a green plain, leaping, laughing, they run
And wash in a river, and shine in the sun.
Then naked and white, all their bags left behind,
They rise upon clouds, and sport in the wind:
And the angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy,
He'd have God for his father, and never want joy.
And so Tom awoke, and we rose in the dark,
And got with our bags and our brushes to work.
Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy and warm:
I dreamt a dream! What can it mean?
And that I was a maiden Queen
Guarded by an Angel mild:
Witless woe was ne'er beguiled!
And I wept both night and day,
And he wiped my tears away;
And I wept both day and night,
And hid from him my heart's delight.
So he took his wings, and fled;
Then the morn blushed rosy red.
I dried my tears, and armed my fears
With ten thousand shields and spears.
Soon my Angel came again;
I was armed, he came in vain;
For the time of youth was fled,
Tell me no more snow will fall
Tell me all about the warm sunlight
Tell me you'll hear me when I call
Tell me it's gonna be alright
Tell me you'll walk by the sea
On a warm summer's night
Tell me you still love me
Tell me it's gonna be alright
Tell me I'll taste your skin
Tell me the world won't end
Tell me we'll walk in the light
Tell me it's gonna be alright
Weary of looking around
I find myself looking down
In this world so wild
Say this deal's about over, and I guess that's true,
Town used to have twelve stores, now we got two.
Big boys movin' in, small farmers movin' on.
The way may be goin', but the life ain't gone.
On a summer evenin' when the corn's head-high,
And there's more lightnin' bugs than stars in the sky.
Ah, you get the feelin' things may be alright,
On a summer evenin' before the dark of night.
Walked down by the river where my good fields are,
It's a dusty old road, but there ain't many cars.
Think about my wife, my daughter and my son,
If the good Lord's still lookin', the Lord's will be
done.
But on a summer evenin' when the corn's head-high,
And there's more lightnin' bugs than stars in the sky.
Ah, you get the feelin' things may be alright,
On a summer evenin' before the dark of night.
Mmm, on a summer evenin' when the corn's head-high,
And there's more lightnin' bugs than stars in the sky.
Ah you get the feelin' things may be alright,
On a summer evenin' before the dark of night.
One cool remove-put me, put me
One cool remove-put me there
And forever let me stay
One cool remove away
One cool remove-from the things that hurt me
One cool remove-from the sea and the city
I see it all as a passion play
One cool remove away
One cool remove from the white sun
Rising like a cloud upon the land
One cool remove from the red moon
Falling like a hand
One cool remove-like a Buddhist bleating
One cool remove-since all is fleeting
I never come nor go nor stay
She wants your passion, your caress
She wants your hands on her and a soulful kiss
But she's lookin' for more than just that, son
Gotta be somethin' under all the good times and fun
Oh steady love, steady love
When the chips are down
The kind she can be sure of
Oh steady love
She might like flowers, might like a poem
Might like it better if you were home
And cooked with her and did a little dance
Where the kitchen is happy, love has a chance
Oh steady love, steady love
When the chips are down
The kind she can be sure of
Oh steady love
She's seen the cool boys hangin' around
With their sad dark eyes they never settle down
They might've written books or made CDs for the shelves
But they mostly just think about themselves
She wants steady love, steady love
When the chips are down
The kind she can be sure of
Oh steady love
When the kids are cryin' and the bills are due
And you wonder what you have gotten into
And you think the whole deal is not to be
Give her steady love, you'll find out how hot a woman
can be
Steady love, steady love
When the chips are down
The kind she can be sure of
Oh steady love
I've heard men say, "Well look at that
She's such a babe, he's kinda dull, a little fat"
He must know something about kind and fair
When she needs somebody, the man is there
He gives her steady love, steady love
When the chips are down
The kind she can be sure of
Oh steady love
Mmmm, steady love
When the chips are down
The kind she can be sure of
Oh steady love
I lived awhile without you,
Darn near half my life.
I no longer see our unborn children,
Born to you my unwed wife.
But yesterday I had a vision,
Beneath the tree where we once talked,
Of an old couple burning
Their love letters so their children
Won't be shocked.
[Chorus:]
Love calls like the wild birds-
It's another day.
A Spring wind blew my list of
Things to do...away.
My friends are gettin older,
So I guess I must be too.
Without their loving kindness,
I don't know what I'd do.
Oh the wine bottle's half empty-
The money's all spent.
And we're a cross between our parents
And hippies in a tent.
[Chorus]
In a mucked up lovely river,
I cast my little fly.
I look at that river and smell it
And it makes me wanna cry.
Oh to clean our dirty planet,
Now there's a noble wish,
And I'm puttin my shoulder to the wheel
'cause I wanna catch some fish.
[Chorus]
Children go to sleep now-
You know it's gettin' late.
I know you don't like to miss nothin'
And school ain't that great.
Oh, I'll dance with you when you're happy,
And hold you when you're sad,
And hope you know how glad I am,
Just to be you're Dad.
[Chorus]
Darlin' it's been a hard go
But I think we'll be okay.
I know I say that all the time
Like everything else I say.
Oh, I've been gone so often,
But every time I miss you,
And I don't really know nothin',
Except I like to kiss you.
It's a nice little town
It's a clean little town
It's a nice little, clean little, happy little,
friendly little
- town for miles around
But you're speedin'
Speedin'
Pull it over
Roll down the window
And lay your money down
We got a new swimmin' pool
We got a new town hall
A new old folks home and a bowlin alley
You didn't see none a that at all
You're speedin'
Speedin'
Pull it over
Roll down the window
And lay your money down
I know it's 3o'clock in the morn
I know that you been drivin' through
Corn, corn, corn
Your eyes are red and you look unhappy
Here is my advice
Check into a motel
Folks here are real nice
(instrumental break)
Your left tail light's out
I'm gonna let that pass
I see your license expired yesterday
And I believe you're nearly out of gas
And you're speedin'
Speedin'
Pull it over
Roll down the window
And lay your money down
Just lay it down
Cash
It's the town -
We live here
A wild high cry flew up out of our brother
He was moaning and shaking, shining like the sun
He fell down like a dead man, Some people helped him up
He was all right, He was just speaking in tongues
When someone was sick we gathered all around them
And lay our hands upon them, all of us, old and young
We prayed that God Almighty would heal them
Our prayer was in English, but we was all just speaking
in tongues
When I really feel my way back to that church and them
people
The little hairs stand up all over me
And I hope that this nation like that congregation
Will give it up and pray for our soul, which is in misery
And that one day we may lay our hands on one another
And seek the healing for ourselves, this earth and our
young
And sing that old song of many colors, many rhythms
Someday when we're both alone we'll get together
Someday when we're both alone
We'll find out if our dreams are all that they seem
Find out if our place is a home
A long long time I been, ah, lookin' at you
Long time you been lookin' at me
Most times it's just, "hey, how ya doin'?"
Sometimes I get so weak in my knees
Someday when we're both alone ...
Rain don't always fall when we want it
You know the sun don't always shine
I ain't sure what I read in your eyes
When they look so deep into mine
Someday might of come, someday might of gone
Someday may never be the one
I wonder if you wonder as the years go along
I said I wonder
I am a good brother, and I have a solid heart,
I wonder if I'll ever get to see my sisters,
I hear the whispers of angels,
I want my family together again,
Oh, I am a good brother, and I have a solid heart.
I pretend to be a tiger, who is cunning and smart,
I touch sorrow and grief, and make happiness where I
walk,
I feel grief about my family.
I worry about my brother and my mother.
Oh, I am a good brother, and I have a solid heart.
I understand that life hurts many,
I say and know that I love my family,
I dream about my family being together,
I try to help my family,
I hope my brother and sisters still love me,
Oh, I am a good brother, and I have a solid heart.
Oh, I am a good brother, and I have a solid heart.
I'm gonna tie a string to the door
I just can't take it no more.
Gonna get out my pliers,
That's the truth,
And I'll say "So long, you old tooth!"
So long- goodbye-and I'll get a dollar bye and bye.
I'm gonna bite an apple in two-
I just don't know what to do-
Gonna get out my dynamite,
And that's the truth-
And I'll say "So long, you old tooth!"
So long- goodbye-
Why is it so hard?
Why is it so hard?
Why is it so hard?
Why is it so hard,
To love, love,
Really love somebody,
Love somebody?
You can talk about it.
You can talk about it.
Sit up all night,
And talk about it.
Yeah but it's so hard,
It's so hard, to love somebody,
Love somebody.
And it's so easy,
It's so easy,
It's just so easy,
To do the goat dance.
Yeah, but it's so hard,
It's so hard, to love somebody,
Really love somebody.
Papa rock the baby.
Mama rock the baby.
Hold the little baby,
Make him happy little baby.
Maybe then it won't be so hard,
To love somebody,
Love somebody.
Oh it's so hard.
Why it is so hard?
Why is it so hard,
To love, really love,
Really love somebody,
Love somebody. Ummm.
It's so hard. Hard.
Why is it so hard?
Why is it so hard?
Bouffant hairdo, ne'er-do-well
Warm the car up, perfume smell
Work is there when love is gone
Smell of coffee, crack of dawn
Pheasant clucking, ice cold dew
Backseat shotgun, frosty slough
Chevy coughing, let's move on
Smell of coffee, crack of dawn
Hey there, Benny, is this your home?
Railroad cinders, styrofoam
Train a-comin', where's Lost John?
Smell of coffee, crack of dawn
Blue blue window, factory
Big bad boss man can't find me
Boxes piled up, paycheck gone
Smell of coffee, crack of dawn
Woman works and man does too
Yellow paper, same old news
Forty years to cross the lawn
People want that slow food
Two minutes and they grouch
But give me ham baked all day long
And help me to the couch
Help me to the sofa
Put the quiet music on
I will lie and think about that ham
Long after it is gone.
I want some slo-o-o-o-ow food.
I don't want no food with cute names
No neon on a sign
A man can't live on advertising slogans
And conceptual design
Let somebody else go surf and turf
Someone else go carry out
Me, I want my food to know itself
Before it knows my mouth.
I want some slo-o-o-o-ow food
With all the love cooked in.
Why don't we start it in the mornin'
Leave us plenty of time for lovin'
Weekend homemade hot fresh bread
Make the whole house smell like an oven
And let it all just simmer
Cook in the good juices and the greases
Then we'll sit down at the table, baby
And slowly tear it into pieces.
I want some slo-o-o-o-ow food
What's the big rush?..../Don't want no hard-hearted
Hardee's, no
Muck-muck-muck-muck-donald's....I want a chef, not a
clown, to make my
Food.../it can even be tofu with the right kinda
sauce..../blahblahblah-
I want some slo-o-o-o-ow food
The whole kit and kaboodle is in this fire
I know where to go
It ain't here
Little captains and coo coos
From here to Timbucktu are
Countin' their dough in a mirror
[Chorus:]
Rooty toot toot for the mo-ooon
It's the biggest star I've ever seen
It's a burrel of wisdom
Slice of green cheese
And it's burnin' just like kerosene
Burnin' just like kerosene
You're gonna hop in your old Ford
And strap on your new sword
Wait for the good Lord to return
If you got - your honey
Life can be pretty funny
If you've got money
You've got money to burn
[Chorus]
So God bless motorcycles
And all the other trifles
Ah you know you can't memorize Zen
Hang your hat on your nose
Do not hide in your clothes
Kiss somebody
Begin to begin
[Chorus]
It's another happy April
To every happy fool.
And you move through my dreams
Like a trout moves through a pool.
Sure I will do anything,
But I blush at the reverie.
Sleeper come and go with me.
And she always was a painter
And she left me her suitcase,
And I still remember
The soft lines of her drunken face,
As she stood there in my doorway,
Like a cat up in a tree.
Sleeper come and go with me.
A small farm in Wisconsin
For a driftless man,
Supper on the table,
And a lover's tender hands,
Though she leaves my salt and woodsmoke,
For a job in the city.
Sleeper come and go with me.
I will take you with my children,
Through the clover, to the creek,
When Orion's gone a hunting
Through the fields our wishes seek,
Where we all can love each other
Like sugar in our tea.
Sleeper come and go with me.
Well the last wild fling is over
And a cold wind brings the dawn,
To rows of parking meters
And the shadow of a blond,
Who is standing by the wild rye
In a pointless dream.
Sleeper come and go with me.
My skinny days, my heavy nights -
A blue blue room, up three flights -
She waves and turns from the window to her boy.
The band is through, the wedding gown
Is one more flag that's coming down.
The sun is rising like a bomb over Illinois.
My heavy nights, my skinny days -
The way she tends her secret place
While uncles gather in the parlor thick with smoke.
Cousin Lou is in the hay -
They say she knows how to play
The game of love, and her guitar with two strings
broke.
Out on the beach beneath a towel
They fall asleep until the howl
Of wind and wave wake them up and they catch the last
commuter train.
Her skinny days and her family
Have stripped her down for all to see
But her big mouth could drink them all like summer
drinks the rain.
She put her ring in her underwear drawer
While the world tumbled from war to war.
There was a box full of gifts to be returned.
She grew her garden, mostly wild,
And walked for miles and raised her child.
She kept her cool, but after midnight she burned.
I told the tale. I walked the line
In Michigan, into the pines.
I made a camp, I built a fire, I loved myself.
And skinny days have gained some weight
And wasting time keeps me up late.
They groan as she passes, their time's gone by,
They wasted their lives in anger and sighs.
They groan as she passes, and make a few cracks,
Once it is gone, it don't come back.
They groan as she passes, she don't even see them,
Their sons are not here, but someday they will be them.
And groan as she passes, and whisper "Oh, fuck,"
My best years are gone, and I'm shit out of luck.
Mariyln Monroe was so tired,
She was so tired, she was so tired
City girl lost in a field of rye
And see what she has done
Now she's out on a boat on the ocean
Turning around and around
Sail for a dress and her hand on her breast
Out on the rolling sea
Out on the rolling sea
John Wayne was so sick
He was so thick, he was up a crick
Cowboy lost in a long steel hall
And see what he has done
Now he's out on a boat on the ocean
Turning around and around
Lashed to the mast and free at last
Out on the rolling sea
Out on the rolling sea
Elvis Presley was so fat
They gave him all that, just to stand pat
Jaguar lost in a living room
And you see what he has done
Now he's out on a boat on the ocean
Turning around and around
The dolphins gather to hear him moan
Out on the rolling sea
Out on the rolling sea
And will you rock the boat, Mr. Presley?
Will you let us see it, Miss Monroe?
Will you save us, Mr. John Wayne, sir?
We come so far to go back alone
We come so far
All the long ships are sailing away
With one little candle to light the way
'til they come to a place where the sun goes down
And they all start turning around
And they all start turning around
The lights on
In the middle of the night
There's a sick little child around
Momma said to Poppa "Don't you worry, I think her
fever's coming down."
[Chorus:]
Oh yes and I know, it's just a cold or it's just the
But I say a little prayer,I say a little prayer for you
I say a little prayer, I say a little prayer for you
Let her get better, let her get better soon please.
Put Aretha Franklin on
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, turn it up
In the middle of the night
Cause that'll do as much good
As any medicine
To make her feel alright
[Chorus]
Momma been a walkin with ya
Poppa been a walkin with ya
Walkin up and down the hallway
Look out the window
See the city lights shining
When you're sick you look so tiny
I'm gonna put you in my pocket
Go down to where it's warmer
I'm gonna throw you in the ocean
And you will turn into a dolphin
And when you get all better
You will swim back to me
[Chorus]
Let her get better
Let her sister get better too
Let em get better so I can get better too.
I say a little prayer. I say a little prayer.
I have a little song and it won't take long
And I'll sing it right once or twice-
Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is in the pawn.
Everything I got.
Pawned my chair and I pawned my bed,
And ain't got no place to lay my head.
Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is in the pawn
Everything I got.
Grow my tobacco and I spit my juice-
Well I would raise cain, but it ain't a bit of use
Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is in the pawn.
Everything I got.
Pawned my tobacco and I pawned my pipe,
Pawned everything that was in my sight.
Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is in the pawn.
Everything I got.
I'm going sailing in a wooden shoe
Looking foir a star I could tell my troubles to
Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is in the pawn.
Everything I got.
First star to the right and it's straight on 'til morn,
I never saw such such night since I was born.
Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is in the pawn.
Everything I got.
Have a little secret; I ain't going to tell,
I'm going to heaven in a brown pea shell.
Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is in the pawn.
Everything I got.
Pawned my horse and I pawned my plow.
Pawned everything, even pawned my old milk cow.
Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is in the pawn.
Everything I got.
Have a little secret and I ain't going to teel,
I'm going to heaven and I'm not going to ....
Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is in the pawn.
Everything I got.
Haver a little song and it won't take long
You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
I have to go, I have to go
Your hair was long when we first met
Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
He ate a slice of wonder bread
And went right back to bed
And history books forgot about us
And the Bible didn't mention us
The Bible didn't mention us
Not even once
You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the stars came falling on our heads
But there just told light, there just told light
Your hair was long when we first met
Samson came to my bed
Told me that my hair was red
He told me I was beautiful
And came into my bed
Oh, I cut his hair myself one night
A pair of dull scissors and the yellow light
And he told me that I'd done alright
And kissed me till the morning light, the morning light
And he kissed me till the morning light
Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
Ate a slice of wonderbread
And went right back to bed
Oh, we couldn't bring the columns down
Yeah, we couldn't destroy a single one
And history books forgot about us
And the Bible didn't mention us
Not even once
You are my sweetest downfall
SAILING DOWN MY GOLDEN RIVER;
SUN AND WATER ALL MY OWN
YET I WAS NEVER ALONE;
SUN AND WATER, OLD LIFE GIVERS,
I’LL HAVE THEM WHER’ER I ROAM
AND I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME
SUNLIGHT GLANCING ON THE WATER
LIFE AND DEATH ARE ALL MY OWN
AND I WAS NEVER SLONE
LIFE TO RAISE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS
GOLDEN SPARKLES IN THE FOAM
AND I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME
SAILING DOWN THIS WINDING HIGHWAY
TRAVELERS FROM HEAR AND FAR
YET I WAS NEVER ALONE
EXPLORING ALL THE LITTLE BY-WAYS
SIGHTING ALL THE DISTANT STARS
That river will take you to Keokuk just as well
As it'll take you past Eldon straight down to hell.
Them boys'd been drinkin', two was real fat
They went out at midnight, goin' after cat.
Two could swim sort of, two not at all,
They was all plastered, havin' a ball.
Well they left from the east side down a' carbide shack,
They just went fishin' and never come back.
We seen that johnboat next day in a snag,
Called up the men, went out to drag.
Found 'em next sundown, Lord, how they stank,
We lay them poor boys up on the river bank.
Now they was just drunk boys, they didn't know what they
did,
One of 'em was married, three of 'em had kids.
That old river will take you, most of us swore
We don't know when we came; you know it's been so long,
Everything is the same; so let's do one more song.
Ring around the moon; long, long time 'til day,
Play me one more tune; please don't go away.
You be the mandolin; I'll be the steel guitar,
You dance out and in; I'll cry up so far.
Long, long time 'til day,
Play me one more tune; please don't go away.
Everybody's been alone, been to the parade,
Tryin' to find the bones of this masquerade.
And there's a ring around the moon; long, long time 'til
day,
Play me one more tune; please don't go away.
Love she always passes lightly and away,
Like a lioness gets restless when she comes to stay.
And there's a ring around the moon; long, long time 'til
day,
Play me one more tune; please don't go away.
Pickin' on the strings, tapping of your feet,
Well, these are age-old things, but who can say how
sweet.
When there's a ring around the moon; long, long time 'til
day,
Coldest night of the winter working up my farewell
In the middle of everything under no particular spell
I am dreaming of the mountains where the children learn
the stars
Clouds roll in from nebraska dark chords on a big
guitar
My restlessness is long gone i would stand here like an
old jack pine
But I'm looking for rexroth's daughter the friend of a
friend of mine
I can't believe your hands and mouth did all that to me
Are so daily naked for all the world to see
That thunderstorm in michigan i never will forget
We shook right with the thunder & with the pounding
rain got wet
Where did you turn when you turned from me with your
arms across your chest
I am looking for rexroth's daughter i saw her in the
great northwest
Would she have said it was the wrong time if I had
found her then
I don't want too much a field across the road and a few
good friends
She used to come & see me but she was always there &
gone
Even the very longest love does not last too long
She'd stand there in my doorway smoothing out her dress
& say "this life is a thump-ripe melon-so sweet and
such a mess"
I wanted to get to know you but you said you were shy
I would have followed you anywhere but hello rolled
into goodbye
I just stood there watching as you walked along the
fence
Beware of them that look at you as an experience
You're back out on the highway with your poems of city
heat
& I'm looking for rexroth's daughter here on my own
side street
The murderer who lived next door seemed like such a
normal guy-
If you try to follow what they shove at us you run out
of tears to cry
I heard a man speak quietly i listened for a while
He spoke from his heart to my woe & then he bowed &
smiled
What is real but compassion as we move from birth to
death
I am looking for rexroth's daughter & I'm running out
of breath
Spring will come back i know it will & it will do its
best
So useful so endangered like a lion or a breast
I think about my children when i look at any child's
face
& pray that we will find a way to get with all this
amazing grace
It's so cold out there tonight so stormy i can hardly
& i'm looking for rexroth's daughter & i guess i always
I can't say don't go but i can't say go
I can't say stay we both know
We both know you're going & we both know why
But i can't say don't go i can't say goodbye
I can't say hold me i wish i could
I'm feeling so cold & you're looking so good
But it aint to be you got a good man
Ok god we're gonna follow your plan
I can't say come to me but i can't say leave
One thing i can say i can say believe
Believe i'll love you until the end
Long as i'm living you got a real good friend
I can't say i'm happy but i aint too blue
I know i'm lucky to have a friend like you
We'll share some laughter on that you can depend
Outside money burnt my hometown
Like a moth in a flame
All you got to do is travel around
And you'll see that everywhere it's the same
One big town
We're living in one big town
One big town
We're dying in one big town
World around
We hear the same song, see the same show
Under the shadow of the end-
Fear for our children wherever they may go
As we watch the red, red blood flow again
And it growns unknown like a cancer
All across the fruited plain
Spin the wheel for an answer
(Traditional)
[Chorus:]
Railroad Bill, Railroad Bill,
He never worked and he never will
I'm gonna ride old Railroad Bill.
Railroad Bill he was a mighty mean man
He shot the midnight lantern out t he brakeman's hand
I'm going to ride old Railroad Bill.
Railroad Bill took my wife,
Said if I didn't like it, he would take my life,
I'm going to ride old Railroad Bill.
Going up on a mountain, going out west,
Thirty-eight special sticking out of my vest,
I'm going to ride old Railroad Bill.
Buy me a pistol just as long as my arm,
Kill everybody ever done me harm,
I'm going to ride old Railroad Bill.
I've got a thirty-eight special on a forty-five frame,
How in the world can I miss him when I got dead aim,
I'm going to ride old Railroad Bill.
Buy me a pistol just as long as my arm,
Kill everybody ever done me harm,
I'm going to ride old Railroad Bill.
Honey, honey, think I'm a fool,
Think I would quit you while the weather is cool,
All the leaves are turning
& the fields are clear
There's a fire burning
I wish you were here
Pretty one more time
Pretty one more time
Before we're down the line
Pretty one more time
& the light is raining
From a midwest sky
I'm all through explaining
Goodbye to goodbye
It's getting dark so early
I walked all afternoon
All i see so clearly
Will be gone so soon
& a dim light beckons
From a roadside bar
I'll stop in i reckon
I have already come this far
Find a place by the window
I've been here before
Babe don't be a no-show
Come on through that door
I'll write you a letter
I know you feel the fall
Things may not get better
Catfish ain't bitin', water ain't flowin',
River's so low you can walk clean across.
I'm all through travelin', home's where your hat is,
I ain't got no hat, and I ain't got no boss.
Pound it on down, pound it on down,
Pound it on down, deep in the ground.
I loved some women more than I should have,
I loved some others less than was right.
Some loved me madly, and some done me badly,
I'm drinkin' one drink for each one tonight.
Pound it on down, pound it on down,
Pound it on down, deep in the ground.
I got an old boat sets low in the water,
I built it myself out of riverbank junk.
When I am gone, throw my old bones in,
Cut the rope, kick the boat, buddy, I'm sunk.
Pound it on down, pound it on down,
Pound it on down, deep in the ground.
Pound it on down, pound it on down,
I'm a poor backslider in the pit of sin
I try to crawl out. I slip back in
Come Savior save me-get ahold of my hand
Please don't let me slide back in the dark again
Well the preacher told me hope was never gone
I combed my hair with water and put my white shirt on
One Sunday morning I put the family in the car
Dropped them down at church and went on down to the bar
Audrey left me and she tooks my kids
I miss them children-I'm sorry for what I did
When I get drinking I lose control
When you lose your family it's like you lost your soul
Now the mill is failing, I'm on shifting sand
I sit in my trailer and I wring my hands
No children's voice, no woman's touch
Just a whiskey bottle, some shotgun shells and such
Should not have let that woman get me so annoyed
Should not of hit my girl; should not of struck my boy
Should not of took off running like a turkey through
the corn
Should not of bought this gun; should not of ever been
born
The preacher told me Jesus laid down his life for my
Well I'd lay mine down too if I could do it like him
Three days in the grave-that sounds good to me
I just have some problems with eternity
I'm a poor backslider in the pit of sin
I try to crawl out. I slip back in
Come Savior save me-get ahold of my hand
People with the bad luck lookin at the people with the
good luck and goin, ooooh
If ya got the good luck it's hard to figure out
What the one with the bad luck is carryin on about
What would just enough of the good luck and money or
the lack of it do
Make a young man of 40 an old man of 22
People with the bad luck lookin at the people with the
good luck and they're goin, ooooh
Maybe someone you thought was very kind and true
Turned around and did somethin just plain mean to you
And it might make you cry, and it might make you real
And it might get you to thinkin about the kind of luck
that you both had
People with the bad luck lookin at the people with the
good luck and they're goin, ooooh
Don't we all want to laugh a little, don't we all want
to cry
Don't we all want to live a little before it's time to
If ya got the good luck it sure might seem that way
But if you got the bad luck you just cannot make it
through the day
People with the bad luck lookin at the people with the
good luck and goin, ooooh
Once I had me a good friend, he was funny and full of
cheer
But his luck was always so bad and he's no longer here
Sometimes in this world I'm wonderin that we ain't
grateful for every breath
Sometimes in this world I'm wonderin that we don't all
just drink ourselves to death
People with the bad luck lookin at the people with the
good luck and they're goin, ooooh
Yeah the people with the bad luck lookin at the people
I went out last night to a cabaret,
I got home this mornin' at the break of day.
[Chorus:]
People hide their love, People hide their love,
People hide their love, People hide their love.
Knockin' on my door; I know there's nobody home,
But I go on in; talk to the telephone.
[Chorus]
In the dimlit crowd, in a creaking bone,
In the laugh too loud, in the midnight groan.
[Chorus]
I went out last night to a little cabaret,
Out in the country, gravel road a-ramble all around.
Out in the country, gravel road a-ramble all around.
And the dust blow up 'til the cool rain tumble down.
I'm a redwing blackbird sit singin' on the fence.
I'm a redwing blackbird sing sittin' on the fence.
Say it's OK all day, but nobody seems convinced.
I'm a little old pasture creek; they got no name for
I'm a little pasture creek, got no name for me.
When I grow up, I'm gonna be the Mississippi.
I'm a farmer's long shiny car runnin' out of gas.
I'm a farmer's long shiny car runnin' out of gas.
And the bikes and the tracks and the mopeds whizzin'
past.
I'm a chick-chickie-chicken peckin' in the corn.
I'm a chickie-chickie-chicken peckin' in the corn.
My mama says I was round when I was born.
(But I don't believe that.)
I'm a little old raccoon; I got candles in my eyes.
I'm a little raccoon, I got candles in my eyes.
Stay away from the road or else I might draw flies.
(Just lyin' there.)
Out in the country, gravel road a-ramble all around.
Out in the country, gravel road a-ramble all around.
And the farm get bigger and the old home place fall
down.
I'm a grain elevator white as a china dish.
I'm a grain elevator white as a china dish.
Tall as a satellite, fat as an old catfish.
I'm a July cornfield far as you can see.
I'm a July cornfield far as you can see.
And if you real careful, you can walk on top of me.
(Ah, you got to believe though. Now first you get your
one foot up there,
And then you gotta get your other foot up there. Easy
now...oops, you
Didn't believe.)
I'm a cool farm pond on a day about a hundred and ten.
I'm a cool farm pond on a day about a hundred and ten.
I'm cool, I'm round, I'm ready, so come on in.
I'm a river valley; I used to be a mountain top.
I'm a river valley, I used to be a mountain top.
Once you go down, brother, it's hard to stop.
Out in the country, gravel road a-ramble all around.
Out in the country, gravel road a-ramble all around.
And the dust blow up 'til the cool rain tumble down.
Cool rain tumblin', cool rain tumblin', cool rain
tumblin'....
Now the railroad came generations ago
And the town grew up as the crops did grow
The crops grew well and the town did too
They say it's dyin now and there ain't a thing we can
I don't have to read the news
Or hear it on the radio
I see it in the faces of everyone I know
The cost goes up
What we made comes down
What's gonna happen to our little town
The summer is full of thunder
The kids run and play
Momma got a new wrinkle
Poppa ain't got much to say
Rust grows along the railroad track
The young folks leave
They don't come back
And I don't have to read the news
Or hear it on the radio
I see it in the faces of everyone I know
The boards go up
The signs come down
What's gonna happen to our little town
Tom lost his farm
And we lost Tom
He left in the night
I don't know where he's gone
What he'd lost
He just couldn't face
What we're losin' can't be replaced
I don't have to read the news
Or hear it on the radio
I see it in the faces of everyone I know
The reason we're here
Is the farms around
So what's gonna happen to our little town
We've seen hard times
Many times before
Maybe this whole thing is just one more
It never was perfect
Maybe no one's to blame
To see it die like this
It's a god damned shame
And I don't have to read the news
Or hear it on the radio
I see it in the faces of everyone I know
The sun comes up
The sun goes down
[Chorus:]
One wrong turn is all it takes
And there ain't many signs -
You only get a few breaks.
Some get more. Some get less.
One wrong turn leads to the next.
The days go slow and the years go fast.
The future you look for is soon the past.
You seldom end up where you thought you would.
One wrong turn can change it all for good.
[Chorus]
Love ain't a hug. Love ain't a kiss.
Love is every day doing this, that, this.
We put in our time and we put in our heart.
One wrong turn can tear it all apart.
[Chorus]
Where's that little house with the porch light on
In a stand of cedar and the highway gone -
Good smells of cooking and the garden loam -
I'd have thought by now I'd have found my home.
The children are crying
The dead leaves are flying
The rain and the world news
Fall in the abyss
Nothin' we can do
`bout nothin'. Please will you,
Give me one more goodnight kiss
The new phone sounds like a turkey
Says hurry hurry hurry hurry
I'm gonna unplug that sucker
There's nothin' I'd hate to miss
Except for your weary face
Your half dreaming embrace
And one more goodnight kiss
The scariest thing I see
Is the death of Halloween
No treats for the children
Just all these grown up tricks
Well let's dress them up dandy
They can come to our door for candy
And one more goodnight kiss
Maybe it will rain all night
Maybe it will snow
Maybe we will dream it's alright
Maybe when we wake up
Maybe we could take up
Where we left off tonight
The big picture's insane
The whole country's on cocaine
And the idiots still ask
Why it's come to this
As they lean on their missiles
And polish their pistols
Aah give me one more goodnight kiss.
On records the sound just fades away
The players they grow smaller and smaller
They return to their homes in the wires
With one last riff and one last holler.
And did you ever make it in tha big city, pal?
Or did you crash down in some rainy alleyway?
I saw six angels wrapping you up in newspaper
Ah, but that might have been a dream.
I used to lie awake when I was five years old,
By the Motorola radio
I was tryin' so hard not to go to sleep
So I'd know where those little people go.
And on records the sound jus' fades away
The players they grow smaller and smaller and smaller
The return to their homes in the wires and the wax and
the cassettes and
The chips
With one last little riff and one last little holler
Sayin' somethin like:
Baby I want you, baby I need you, baby I love you, oh
baby I do
Baby I want you, baby I need you, baby I love ya, oh
baby I do
And their little outfits get smaller and smaller,
An' their little guitars get tiny, tiny, tiny
And their little waa-waa pedals get down 'bout the size
of a match head
An' fade away.
An' even their little semi-trucks, well they get tiny,
tiny
An' their lttle tour buses get smaller..........
Fade away.
They all gotta go back to LA.
They got a big important business meeting tomorrow
morning
In a 25 storey building but it's tiny, tiny, tiny
Gotta go back to LA.
I hear them singin' it as they cross the Rockies
Baby I want you, Baby I love ya', Baby I need you, Baby
I do.
Can I see another's woe,
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief,
And not seek for kind relief?
Can I see a falling tear,
And not feel my sorrow's share?
Can a father see his child
Weep, nor be with sorrow filled?
Can a mother sit and hear
An infant groan, an infant fear?
No, no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!
And can He who smiles on all
Hear the wren with sorrows small,
Hear the small bird's grief and care,
Hear the woes that infants bear -
And not sit beside the nest,
Pouring pity in their breast,
And not sit the cradle near,
Weeping tear on infant's tear?
And not sit both night and day,
Wiping all our tears away?
O no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!
He doth give His joy to all:
He becomes an infant small,
He becomes a man of woe,
He doth feel the sorrow too.
Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,
And thy Maker is not by:
Think not thou canst weep a tear,
And thy Maker is not near.
O He gives to us His joy,
That our grief He may destroy:
Till our grief is fled and gone
He doth sit by us and moan.
Can I see another's woe,
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief,
And not seek for kind relief?
Can I see a falling tear,
And not feel my sorrow's share?
Can a father see his child
Weep, nor be with sorrow filled?
Can a mother sit and hear
An infant groan, an infant fear?
No, no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!
And can He who smiles on all
Hear the wren with sorrows small,
Hear the small bird's grief and care,
Hear the woes that infants bear -
And not sit beside the nest,
Pouring pity in their breast,
And not sit the cradle near,
Weeping tear on infant's tear?
And not sit both night and day,
Wiping all our tears away?
O no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!
He doth give His joy to all:
He becomes an infant small,
He becomes a man of woe,
He doth feel the sorrow too.
Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,
And thy Maker is not by:
Think not thou canst weep a tear,
And thy Maker is not near.
O He gives to us His joy,
That our grief He may destroy:
Till our grief is fled and gone
I'm not high, not too lowly
I try to fly but I beat my wings too slowly
I just got back from a foreign land
Sit in my kitchen beat pots and pans
Only you can fill my hands the right way
I'm not high
I'm not high, not too lowly
I try to get by on wine and poetry
Music from the good places
Go light and don't leave a trace it's
On to the next place so quickly
Goodbye
I'm not high, but I will be
If you stop by, ah, you kill me
A two-day hug, a three-day kiss
A loving stretch of common bliss I
Did not know it could be like this
But I do now
I'm not high, no no no I'm not
I'm not high, not too lowly
The days go by just like they know me
They know just how to get my goat
They kiss me hard and then grab me by the throat
Then they sail away in a little boat, westerly
On top of Old Smokey,
All covered with snow,
I lost my true lover,
For courting too slow.
For courting's a pleasure,
But parting is grief,
And a false-hearted lover,
Is worse than a thief.
A thief will just rob you,
And take what you have,
But a false-hearted lover,
Will lead you to your grave.
The grave will decay you,
And turn you to dust,
Not one boy in a hundred
A poor girl can trust.
They'll hug you and kiss you,
And tell you more lies,
Than crossties on a railroad,
Or stars in the sky.
So come ye young maidens,
And listen to me,
Never place your affection
In a green willow tree.
For the leaves they will wither,
The roots they will die,
And you'll be forsaken,
With your measured abandon and your farmer's walk
With your "let's go" smile and your bawdy talk
With your mother's burden and your father's stare
With your pretty dresses and your ragged underwear
Oh you
With your heart-shaped rocks and your rocky heart
With your worn-out shoes and your eagerness to start
With your sudden lust on an old dirt path
With your candle-lit prayers and your lonely bath
Oh you
Now you stand at the station and you look at the sky
And the train rolled in and it went on by
You had packed up your suitcase, you had saved up the
fare
And you don't know why, but you're still standing there
With your pledge of allegiance and your ringless hand
With your young woman's terror and your old woman's
plan
With your sister's questions and your brother's tears
With your empty womb and the forsaken years
Oh you
With your barroom poems and your Sinatra songs
With your twenty notebooks each five pages long
With your secret hideout made of leaves and mud
With your pocket knife and your roaring blood
Oh you
Well, your children look at you and wonder
'Bout this woman made up of lightning bugs and thunder
And they take in what you can't help but show
With your name that is half yes, half no
With your jealous eye and your wish to do right
With your hungry arms and your sleepless nights
With your joy in the circle and your stories to tell
You walk around jangling the keys to your cell
Oh you
Now it looks like rain and it's all gone gray
And in a while there'll be another sunlit day
And you won't remember the half open door
Or the train that won't even stop there any more
Words like notes,
Are strokes along the thigh-
A long slow seduction,
On an Autumn night-
When Autumn, was still Autumn.
Wait a minute now,
Everybody just hold it.
Let's think about this.
Whoa, whoa now.
Ain't there no place away?
And I tryed to hide-
Live there like I used to.
But the sadness sent me,
Letters every day,
Sayin' there's-
There's no place away.
Tell me where the hope lies,
To bear the world,
To bear the destruction,
In which we all participate.
Tell me where the hope lies,
To bear the world,
To bear the destruction,
In which we all participate.
Oh I wanna hear-
Words like notes,
Are strokes along the thigh-
A long slow seduction,
On an Autumn night-
When Autumn, was still Autumn.
Pour me out some hot tea,
And build up the fire.
We'll sit here and listen,
To the ancient choir,
Singin', singin', singin', singin', hallelujah.
The sun descending in the West,
The evening star does shine;
The birds are silent in their nest,
And I must seek for mine.
The moon, like a flower
In heaven's high bower,
With silent delight,
Sits and smiles on the night.
Farewell, green fields and happy groves,
Where flocks have took delight,
Where lambs have nibbled, silent moves
The feet of angels bright;
Unseen, they pour blessing,
And joy without ceasing,
On each bud and blossom,
And each sleeping bosom.
They look in every thoughtless nest
Where birds are covered warm;
They visit caves of every beast,
To keep them all from harm:
If they see any weeping
That should have been sleeping,
They pour sleep on their head,
And sit down by their bed.
When wolves and tigers howl for prey,
They pitying stand and weep;
Seeking to drive their thirst away,
And keep them from the sheep.
But, if they rush dreadful,
The angels, most heedful,
Receive each mild spirit,
New worlds to inherit.
And there the lion's ruddy eyes
Shall flow with tears of gold:
And pitying the tender cries,
And walking round the fold:
Saying: 'Wrath by His meekness,
And, by His health, sickness,
Is driven away
From our immortal day.
'And now beside thee, bleating lamb,
I can lie down and sleep,
Or think on Him who bore thy name,
Graze after thee, and weep.
For, washed in life's river,
My bright mane for ever
Shall shine like the gold,
I'm sorry I hit you. I'm sorry I wrecked your car
I'm sorry I met you that night at the Why Not Bar
But now I've got you and you've got me for life
I will hand you this bottle honey, if you'll set down
that knife
I'll never leave you. I'll never go away
And even if I do-I reckon I won't stay
No, I'll never leave you. I'll never set you free
And even if I do-you better come back to me
I've had lots of women-some even fatter than you
But not a one of them could do all the things that you do
I want to marry you. I want to see you in that gown
I want to carry you to a room and take it all the way
down
I'll buy you a trailer from my uncle-any color you choose
Double-wide, furnished-one that's never been used
A little place in the country-just a ways out of town
And when I get home to you I don't want nobody around
I'll never leave you. I'll never go away
And even if I do-I reckon I won't stay
No, I'll never leave you. I'll never set you free
