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American Beauty shows the GD playing, singing and songwriting skills in full stride. We had the confidence of a successful record (Workingman's Dead) behind, plus a shared sense of direction that was in tune with the times. The Band, The Byrds, Poco, CSNY & Dylan were all exploring traditional music augmented by the power of rock & roll. Psychedelia had had its moment (marking the GD forever in the public perception) and we were continuing to evolve what we believed to be the logical next step in American music, hence the title. .
There is an underlying tone of sadness to American Beauty (Phil's father had just passed away, Jerry's mother was dying in the hospital as the result of an auto accident) reflected in the colors of such tunes as Box of Rain, Brokedown Palace Attics of My Life and Ripple.
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On the up side, Sugar Magnolia/Sunshine Daydream re-affirmed the important business of just getting stupid and being in love, while Truckin' announced, as early as 1970, what a long, strange trip it already seemed to have been. This didn't refer only to the GD, but to the ten years of bluegrass, old timey & jug band configurations leading up to the rock & roll departure. Grateful Dead Live ('71) Europe '72 & the Garcia solo release (also 72) staked out the GD's musical territory in a definitive way.
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It wouldn't be until 1975 and Blues for Allah that we would break with that feeling and extend the territory into less definable musical spaces, neither psychedelic nor traditional based. This amorphous state of transition lasted until 1985 when In the Dark once again found us in command of our direction in a way comprehensible to the public.
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American Beauty remains the favorite studio record of many fans and members of the band, mustering, as it does, all the resources at our command in a futile but game response to the rising tide of commercially safe music which had already begun a counter-mission to recover its monopoly of the American airwaves and record racks in the '70's.
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[TOC #2 F to P]
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To access TOC #3 (R to end) scroll to end of file.
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ALABAMA GETAWAY
ALLIGATOR
ALTHEA
ATTICS OF MY LIFE
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
BERTHA
BIRD SONG
BLACK MUDDY RIVER
BLACK PETER
BLUES FOR ALLAH
BOX OF RAIN
BROKEDOWN PALACE
BROWN EYED WOMEN
BUILT TO LAST
CANDYMAN
CASEY JONES
CATS UNDER THE STARS
CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER
CHINA DOLL
COMES A TIME
CORRINA
COSMIC CHARLEY
CRAZY FINGERS
CUMBERLAND BLUES
DARK STAR
DAYS BETWEEN
DEAL
DELIA DeLYON AND STAGGERLEE
DIRE WOLF
DOIN' THAT RAG
DUPREE'S DIAMOND BLUES
EASY ANSWERS
EASY WIND
THE ELEVEN
EYES OF THE WORLD
.

go to TOC # 2
.
ALABAMA GETAWAY

Thirty two teeth in a jawbone
Alabama cryin for none
Before I have to hit him
I hope he's got the sense to run

Reason those poor girls love him
Promise them anything
Reason they believe him
He wears a big diamond ring

Alabama getaway
Alabama getaway
Only way to please me
Turn around and leave
and walk away

Majordomo Billy Bojangles
Sit down and have a drink with me
What's this about Alabame
Keeps comin back to me?

Heard your plea in the courthouse
Jurybox began to rock and rise
Forty-nine sister states all had
Alabama in their eyes

Alabama getaway
Alabama getaway
Only way to please me
Turn around and leave
and walk away

Why don't we just give Alabama
rope enough to hang himself?
Ain't no call to worry the jury
His kind takes care of itself

Twenty-third Psalm Majordomo
reserve 0me a table for three
in the Valley of the Shadow
just you, Alabama and me

Alabama getaway
Alabama getaway
Only way to please me
turn around and leave
and walk away
.
ALLIGATOR

Sleepy alligator in the noonday sun
Sleepin by the river just like he usually done
Call for his whisky
He can call for his tea
Call all he wanta but he
can't call me

Oh no
I been there before
and I'm not comin back around
there no more

Creepy alligator comin all around the bend
Talkin bout the times when we was mutual friends
I check my mem'ry
I check it quick yes I will
I check it runnin
some old kind of trick

Oh no well I
been there before
and I ain't a comin back around
there no more
no I'm no

Hung up waitin for a windy day
Hung up waitin for a windy day
Tear down the Fillmore
Gas the Avalon

Ridin down the river in an old canoe
a bunch of bugs and an old tennis shoe
out of the river all ugly and green
the biggest old alligator that I've ever seen
teeth big and pointed and his eyes were buggin out
contact the union, put the beggars to route
screamin and yellin and lickin his chops
he never runs he just stumbles and hops
just out of prison on six dollars bail
mumblin at bitches and waggin his tail

Alligator runnin round my door (4x)

Alligator creepin round the corner of my cabin door
He's comin round to bother me some more
.
ALTHEA

I told Althea I was feeling lost
Lacking in some direction
Althea told me upon scrutiny
my back might need protection

I told Althea that treachery
was tearin me limb from limb
Althea told me: now cool down boy -
settle back easy Jim

You may be Saturday's child all grown
moving with a pinch of grace
You may be a clown in the burying ground
or just another pretty face
You may be the fate of Ophelia
sleeping and perchance to dream -
honest to the point of recklessness
self centered to the extreme

Ain't nobody messin with you but you
your friends are getting most concerned -
loose with the truth
maybe it's your fire
but baby...don't get burned
When the smoke has cleared, she said,
that's what she said to me:
You're gonna want a bed to lay your head
and a little sympathy

There are things you can replace
and others you cannot
The time has come to weigh those things
this space is getting hot -
you know this space is getting hot

I told Althea
I'm a roving sign -
that I was born to be a bachelor -
Althea told me: Ok that's fine -
So now I'm out trying to catch her

Can't talk to me without talking to you
We're guilty of the same old thing
Talking a lot about less and less
And forgetting the love we bring
.
ATTICS OF MY LIFE

In the attics of my life
Full of cloudy dreams unreal
Full of tastes no tongue can know
And lights no eye can see
When there was no ear to hear
You sang to me

I have spent my life
Seeking all that's still unsung
Bent my ear to hear the tune
And closed my eyes to see
When there were no strings to play
You played to me

In the book of love's own dream
Where all the print is blood
Where all the pages are my days
And all my lights grow old
When I had no wings to fly
You flew to me

You
flew
to me

In the secret space of dreams
Where I dreaming lay amazed
When the secrets all are told
And the petals all unfold
When there was no dream of mine
You dreamed of me
.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT

One or two moments
a piece of your time
is all I am asking
and I'll give you mine
One or two moments
out of all you have got
to show how I love you
believe it or not

Remember the day
I rolled into town
with my heart in my shoes,
my head hanging down?
Now my only trouble
the rest I forgot
is to show how I love you
believe it or not

Done time in the lockup
Done time in the street
Done time on the upswing
and time in defeat
I know what I'm asking
and I know it's a lot
when I say that I love you
believe it or not

I know I'm no angel
my prospects are high
as the floodline in summer
when the river's gone dry
but I'll roll up my shirtsleeves
and make my best shot
to show how I love you
believe it or not

Right now while the sun shines
on the crest of the hill
with a breeze in the pines
and a grey whipoorwill
making music together
that guitars never caught
let me show how I love you
believe it or not
.
BERTHA

I had a hard run
Running from your window
I was all night running, running, running
I wonder if you care?
I had a run-in
Run around and run down
Run around a corner
Run smack into a tree

I had to move
Really had to move
That's why if you please
I am on my bended knees
Bertha don't you come around here anymore

Dressed myself in green
I went down to the sea
Try to see what's going down
Maybe read between the lines
Had a feeling I was falling, falling, falling

Turned around to see
Heard a voice calling, calling, calling
You was comin after me
Back to me

I had to move
Really had to move
That's why if you please
I am on my bended knees
Bertha don't you come around here anymore

Ran into a rainstorm
Ducked into a bar door
It was all night pouring, pouring rain
But not a drop on me

Test me, test me
Why don't you arrest me?
Throw me in the jail house
Until the sun goes down
Till it go down

I had to move
Really had to move
That's why if you please
I am on my bended knees
Bertha don't you come around here anymore
.
BIRD SONG

All I know is something like a bird
within her sang
All I know she sang a little while
and then flew on

Tell me all that you know
I'll show you
Snow and rain

If you hear that same sweet song again
will you know why?
Anyone who sings a tune so sweet
is passing by

Laugh in the sunshine
sing
cry in the dark
fly
through the night

Don't cry now
Don't you cry
Don't you cry
anymore
lalalada
Sleep
in the stars
don't you cry
dry your eyes
on the wind
lalalala
la........
.
BLACK MUDDY RIVER

When the last rose of summer pricks my finger
And the hot sun chills me to the bone
When I can't hear the song for the singer
And I can't tell my pillow from a stone

I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And sing me a song of my own
I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And sing me a song of my own

When the last bolt of sunshine hits the mountain
And the stars start to splatter in the sky
When the moon splits the southwest horizon
With the scream of an eagle on the fly

I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And listen to the ripples as they moan
I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And sing me a song of my own

Black muddy river
Roll on forever
I don't care how deep or wide
If you got another side
Roll muddy river
Roll muddy river
Black muddy river roll

When it seems like the night will last forever
And there's nothing left to do but count the years
When the strings of my heart start to sever
And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears

I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And dream me a dream of my own
I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And sing me a song of my own
And sing me a song of my own
.

BLACK PETER

All of my friends come to see me last night
I was laying in my bed and dying
Annie Beauneu from Saint Angel
say "the weather down here so fine"

Just then the wind
came squalling through the door
but who can
the weather command?
Just want to have
a little peace to die
and a friend or two
I love at hand

Fever roll up to a hundred and five
Roll on up
gonna roll back down
One more day
I find myself alive
tomorrow
maybe go
beneath the ground

See here how everything
lead up to this day
and it's just like
any other day
that's ever been
Sun goin up
and then the
sun it goin down
Shine through my window and
my friends they come around
come around
come around

People may know but
the people don't care
that a man could be
as poor as me...
"Take a look at poor Peter
he's lyin in pain
now let's go run
and see"

Run and see
hey, hey,
run and see
.
BLUES FOR ALLAH

Arabian wind
The Needle's Eye is thin
The Ships of State sail on mirage
but drown in sand
in No-Man's Land
where ALLAH does command

What good is spilling
blood? It will not
grow a thing

"TASTE ETERNITY"
the sword sings Blues for ALLAH
In'sh'ALLAH

They lie where they fall
There's nothing more to say
The desert stars are bright tonight,
let's meet as friends
The flower of Islam
The fruit of Abraham

The thousand stories have
come round to one again
Arabian Night
our gods pursue their fight
What fatal flowers of
darkness spring from
seeds of light

Bird of Paradise - Fly
In white sky
Blues for ALLAH
In'sh'ALLAH

Let's see with our heart
these things our eyes have seen
and know the truth will still lie
somewhere in between

Under eternity
Under eternity
Under eternity
Blue
Bird of Paradise
Fly
In white sky
Under eternity
Blues
for ALLAH
In'sh'ALLAH
.
BOX OF RAIN

Look out of any window
any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky -
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
This is all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago

Walk out of any doorway
feel your way, feel your way
like the day before
Maybe you'll find direction
around some corner
where it's been waiting to meet you -
What do you want me to do,
to watch for you while you're sleeping?
Well please don't be surprised
when you find me dreaming too

Look into any eyes
you find by you, you can see
clear through to another day
I know it's been seen before
through other eyes on other days
while going home -
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago

Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams
to another land
Maybe you're tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted
with words half spoken
and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do
to do for you to see you through
A box of rain will ease the pain
and love will see you through

Just a box of rain -
wind and water -
Believe it if you need it,
if you don't just pass it on
Sun and shower -
Wind and rain -
in and out the window
like a moth before a flame

It's just a box of rain
I don't know who put it there
Believe it if you need it
or leave it if you dare
But it's just a box of rain
or a ribbon for your hair
Such a long long time to be gone
and a short time to be there
.
BROKEDOWN PALACE

Fare you well my honey
Fare you well my only true one
All the birds that were singing
Have flown except you alone

Goin to leave this brokedown palace
On my hands and my knees I will roll roll roll
Make myself a bed by the waterside
In my time - in my time - I will roll roll roll

In a bed, in a bed
by the waterside I will lay my head
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

River gonna take me
Sing me sweet and sleepy
Sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back back home
It's a far gone lullaby
sung many years ago
Mama, Mama, many worlds I've come
since I first left home

Goin home, goin home
by the waterside I will rest my bones
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

Goin to plant a weeping willow
On the banks green edge it will grow grow grow
Sing a lullaby beside the water
Lovers come and go - the river roll roll roll

Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul
.
BROWN EYED WOMEN

Gone are the days when the ox fall down
he'd take up the yoke and plow the fields around
Gone are the days when the ladies said "please,
gently Jack Jones won't you come to me?"

Brown eyed women and red grenadine
the bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean
Sound of the thunder with the rain pouring down
and it looks like the old man's getting on

In 1920 when he stepped to the bar
he drank to the dregs of the whiskey jar
In 1930 when the Wall caved in
he paid his way selling red eye gin

Brown eyed women and red grenadine
the bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean
Sound of the thunder with the rain pouring down
and it looks like the old man's getting on

Delilah Jones was the mother of twins
two times over and the rest was sins
Raised eight boys, only I turned bad
Didn't get the lickings that the other ones had

Brown eyed women and red grenadine
the bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean
Sound of the thunder with the rain pouring down
and it looks like the old man's getting on

Tumble down shack in Bigfoot County
Snowed so hard that the roof caved in
Delilah Jones went to meet her God
and the old man never was the same again

Brown eyed women and red grenadine
the bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean
Sound of the thunder with the rain pouring down
and it looks like the old man's getting on

Daddy made whiskey and he made it well
Cost two dollars and it burned like hell
I cut hick'ry to fire the still
Drink down a bottle and you're ready to kill

Brown eyed women and red grenadine
the bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean
Sound of the thunder with the rain pouring down
and it looks like the old man's getting on


BUILT TO LAST

There are times that you can beckon
There are times when you must call
You can shake a ton of reckoning
But you can't shake it all
There are times when I can help you out
And times that you must fall
There are times when you must live in doubt
And I can't help at all

Three blue stars / Rise on the hill
Say no more, now / Just be still
All these trials / Soon be past
Look for something / Built to last

Wind held by the collar
Got a cloud held by the breeze
You can walk on coals of fire
But sometimes you must freeze
There are times when you offend me
And I do the same to you
If we can't or won't forget it,
then I guess we could be through

One blue star / Sets on the hill
Call it back / You never will
One more star / Sinks in the past
Show me something / Built to last.

Built to last till time itself
Falls tumbling from the wall
Built to last till sunshine fails
And darkness moves on all
Built to last while years roll past
Like cloudscapes in the sky
Show me something built to last
Or something built to try

There are times when you get hit upon
Try hard but you cannot give
Other times you'd gladly part
With what you need to live
Don't waste the breath to save your face
When you have done your best
And even more is asked of you
Let fate decide the rest.

All the stars / Are gone but one
Morning breaks / Here comes the sun
Cross the sky now / Sinking fast
Show me something / Built to last


CANDYMAN

Come all you pretty women
with your hair hanging down
Open up your windows 'cause
the Candyman's in town
Come on boys and gamble
Roll those laughing bones
Seven come eleven boys
I'll take your money home

Look out
Look out
The Candyman
Here he come
and he's gone again
Pretty lady ain't
got no friend
till the Candyman
come round again

I come in from Memphis
where I learned to talk the jive
When I get back to Memphis
be one less man alive
Good Mornin Mr. Benson
I see you're doin well
If I had me a shotgun
I'd blow you straight to Hell

Look out
Look out
The Candyman
Here he come
and he's gone again
Pretty lady ain't
got no friend
till the Candyman
come round again

Come on boys and wager
if you have got the mind
If you got a dollar boys
lay it on the line
Hand me my old guitar
Pass the whiskey round
Want you to tell everybody you meet
the Candyman's in town

Look out
Look out
The Candyman
Here he come
and he's gone again
Pretty lady ain't
got no friend
till the Candyman
come round again


CASEY JONES

This old engine
makes it on time
Leaves Central Station
at a quarter to nine
Hits River Junction
at seventeen to
at a quarter to ten
you know it's trav'lin again

Drivin' that train
High on Cocaine
Casey Jones you better
watch your speed
Trouble ahead
Trouble behind
and you know that notion
just crossed my mind

Trouble ahead
The Lady in Red
Take my advice
you be better off dead
Switchman sleepin
Train hundred and two
is on the wrong track and
headed for you

Drivin' that train
High on Cocaine
Casey Jones you better
watch your speed
Trouble ahead
Trouble behind
and you know that notion
just crossed my mind

Trouble with you is
The trouble with me
Got two good eyes
but we still don't see
Come round the bend
You know it's the end
The fireman screams and
The engine just gleams

Drivin' that train
High on Cocaine
Casey Jones you better
watch your speed
Trouble ahead
Trouble behind
and you know that notion
just crossed my mind


CATS UNDER THE STARS

Cats on the blacktop
Birdy in the treetop
Someone plays guitar that
sounds like clavinette
I ain't ready yet
to go to bed
Think I'll take a walk
downtown instead

Cats on the bandstand
Give 'em each a big hand
Anyone who sweats that hard
must be all-right
No one wants a fight
No black eye
Just another cat beneath
the stars tonight

Cats in the limelight
Feels like it's all-right
Everybody wants something
they may not get
I ain't ready yet
It ain't complete
That's why I'm heading down
to Alley Cat Street

A satin blouse unbuttoning
Time's a stripper
Doing it just for you

Knock in the brass tacks
Cover up your tracks, Jack
You ain't nowhere till
you can pay your own way back
What else do you lack
to make it right
but cats down under
the stars tonight?


CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER

Look for awhile at the China Cat Sunflower
proudwalking jingle in the midnight sun
Copperdome Bodhi drip a silver kimono
like a crazyquilt stargown
through a dream night wind

Krazy Kat peeking through a lace bandana
like a one eyed Cheshire
like a diamond eye Jack
A leaf of all colors plays
a golden string fiddle
to a double-e waterfall over my back

Comic book colors on a violin river
crying Leonardo words
from out a silk trombone
I rang a silent bell
beneath a shower of pearls
in the eagle wing palace
of the Queen Chinee


CHINA DOLL

A pistol shot at 5 o'clock
The bells of heaven ring
"Tell me what you done it for"
"No I won't tell you a thing

"Yesterday I begged you
before I hit the ground -
all I leave behind me
is only what I found

"If you can abide it
let the hurdy gurdy play -
Stranger ones have come by here
before they flew away

"I will not condemn you
nor yet would I deny"
"I would ask the same of you
but failing will not die

"Take up your china doll
it's only fractured -
and just a little nervous
from the fall"


COMES A TIME


Comes a time
when the blind man
takes your hand
says: don't you see?
got to make it somehow
on the dreams you still believe
Don't give it up
you've got an empty cup
only love can fill
only love can fill

Been walking all morning
Went walking all night
I can't see much difference
between the dark and the light
And I feel the wind
And I taste the rain
Never in my mind
to cause so much pain

Comes a time
when the blind man
takes your hand
says: don't you see?
got to make it somehow
on the dreams you still believe
Don't give it up
you've got an empty cup
only love can fill
only love can fill

From day to day
just letting it ride
you get so far away
from how it feels inside
You can't let go
cause you're afraid to fall
till the day may come
when you can't feel at all

Comes a time
when the blind man
takes your hand
says: don't you see?
got to make it somehow
on the things you still believe
Don't give it up
you've got an empty cup
only love can fill
only love can fill


CORRINA

Corrina .............Wake it up baby
Corrina ............. Shake it on down
Corrina .............Corrina .............

Hog of a Sunday
Dog of a Monday
Get it back some day
What'd I say?
Movin' in closer
Cut from a long shot
Fade on a down beat
Ready or not Corrina ............. (as above)

Cruise thru a stop sign
Loggin' up short time
Bird on a phone line
Soakin' up sun
Salt on the crowtail
What can I do?
I'm down by law
But true to you Corrina .............

If, what, where and when
Told at the proper time
Big black wings beat at the wind
But they don't hardly climb
There's a silver ocean
Silver clouds and silver sea
A bird on the horizon
Silver wingin back to me Corrina .............

Wake it up baby
Shake it down easy
Bring it back someday
What'd I say?
Movin' in closer
Cut from a long shot
Fade on a down beat
Ready or not Corrina .............

Corrina / wake it up baby
Corrina / Shake it down easy
Corrina / Shake it on up now
Corrina / Shake it back down Corrina .............

If, who, how and why
don't mean that much to be
long as it don't hurt too much
believe we'll let it be
Outside major darkness
where the circle is complete
there is no fear that lovers born
will ever fail to meet

Corrina .............Wake it up baby
Corrina ............. Shake it on down
Corrina .............Corrina .............

addendum: ways in which it might be shaken
Corrina / wake it up baby
Corrina / Shake it down easy
Corrina / Shake it on up now
Corrina / Shake it back down

Corrina / Makin' me crazy
Corrina / C'mon baby
Corrina / Shake it all day
Corrina / Tell me what'd I say

Corrina / Shake it up closer
Corrina / Shake it away
Corrina / Shake it in the shadow
Corrina / Shake it in the shade

Corrina / Shake it on the shakedown
Corrina / Shake it uptown
Corrina / Shake it in the short haul
Corrina / Shake it around

Corrina / Shake it at the window
Corrina / Shake it at the door
Corrina / Shake it on the stairwell
Corrina / Shake it on the floor

Corrina / Shake it in the mornin'
Corrina / Shake it in the dawn
Corrina / Shake it all night babe
Corrina / Shake it on down


COSMIC CHARLEY

Cosmic Charley how do you do?
Truckin' in style along the avenue
Dumdeedumdee doodley doo
Go on home, your mama's calling you

Calico Kahlia come tell me the news
Calamity's waiting for a way to get to her
Rosy red and electric blue
I bought you a paddle for your paper canoe

Say you'll come back when you can
Whenever your airplane happens to land
Maybe I'll be back here too
It all depends on what's with you

Hung up waitin for a windy day
Kite on ice since the first of February
Mama Bee saying that the wind might blow
But standin here I say I just don't know

New ones comin as the old ones go
Everything's movin here but much too slowly
Little bit quicker and we might have time
to say 'how do you do?" before we're left behind

Calliope wail like a seaside zoo
The very last lately inquired about you
It's really very one or two
The first you wanted, the last I knew

I just wonder if you shouldn't feel
less concern about the deep unreal
The very first word is : How do you do?
The last: go home, your mama's callin you

Go on home
Your mama's calling you
Calling you.....


CRAZY FINGERS

Your rain falls like crazy fingers
Peals of fragile thunder keeping time

Recall the days that still are to come
Some sing blue

Hang your heart on laughing willow
Stray down to the water
Deep Sea of Love

Beneath the sweet calm face of the sea
Swift undertow

Life may be sweeter for this, I don't know
See how it feels in the end
May Lady Lullaby sing plainly for you
Soft, strong, sweet and true

Cloud hands reaching from a rainbow
Tapping at the window touch your hair

So swift and bright
Strange figures of light
Float in air

Who can stop what must arrive now?
Something new is waiting to be born

Dark as the night
You're still by my side
Shining side

Gone are the days we stopped to decide
Where we should go
We just ride

Gone are the broken eyes we saw through in dreams
Gone - both dream and lie

Life may be sweeter for this I don't know
Feels like it might be alright
While Lady Lullaby sings plainly for you
Love still rings true

Midnight on a carousel ride
Reaching for the gold ring down inside

Never could reach
It just slips away but I try


CUMBERLAND BLUES

I can't stay much longer, Melinda
The sun is getting high
I can't help you with your troubles
If you won't help with mine

I gotta get down
I gotta get down
Got to get down to the mine

You keep me up just one more night
I can't sleep here no more
Little Ben clock says quarter to eight
You kept me up till four

I gotta get down
I gotta get down
Or I can't work there no more

Lotta poor man make a five dollar bill
Keep him happy all the time
Some other fellow making nothing at all
And you can hear him cryin...

"Can I go buddy
Can I go down
Take your shift at the mine?"

Got to get down to the Cumberland Mine
That's where I mainly spend my time
Make good money/five dollars a day
Made any more I might move away -

Lotta poor man got the Cumberland Blues
He can't win for losin
Lotta poor man got to walk the line
Just to pay his union dues

I don't know now
I just don't know
If I'm goin back again
I don't know now
I just don't know
If I'm goin back again


DARK STAR

Dark star crashes
pouring its light
into ashes

Reason tatters
the forces tear loose
from the axis

Searchlight casting
for faults in the
clouds of delusion

Shall we go,
you and I
While we can?
Through
the transitive nightfall
of diamonds

Mirror shatters
in formless reflections
of matter

Glass hand dissolving
to ice petal flowers
revolving

Lady in velvet
recedes
in the nights of goodbye

Shall we go,
you and I
While we can?
Through
the transitive nightfall
of diamonds

spinning a set the stars through which the tattered tales of axis roll about the waxen wind of never set to motion in the unbecoming round about the reason hardly matters nor the wise through which the stars were set in spin


DAYS BETWEEN

There were days
and there were days
and there were days between
Summer flies and August dies
the world grows dark and mean
Comes the shimmer of the moon
on black infested trees
the singing man is at his song
the holy on their knees
the reckless are out wrecking
the timid plead their pleas
No one knows much more of this
than anyone can see anyone can see

There were days
and there were days
and there were days besides
when phantom ships with phantom sails
set to sea on phantom tides
Comes the lightning of the sun
on bright unfocused eyes
the blue of yet another day
a springtime wet with sighs
a hopeful candle lingers
in the land of lullabies
where headless horsemen vanish
with wild and lonely cries lonely cries

There were days
and there were days
and there were days I know
when all we ever wanted
was to learn and love and grow
Once we grew into our shoes
we told them where to go
walked halfway around the world
on promise of the glow
stood upon a mountain top
walked barefoot in the snow
gave the best we had to give
how much we'll never know we'll never know

There were days
and there were days
and there were days between
polished like a golden bowl
the finest ever seen
Hearts of Summer held in trust
still tender, young and green
left on shelves collecting dust
not knowing what they mean
valentines of flesh and blood
as soft as velveteen
hoping love would not forsake
the days that lie between lie between


DEAL

Since it cost a lot to win
and even more to lose
You and me bound to spend some time
wondring what to choose

Goes to show you don't ever know
Watch each card you play
and play it slow
Wait until your deal come round
Don't you let that deal go down

I been gambling here abouts
for ten good solid years
If I told you all that went down
it would burn off both your ears

It goes to show you don't ever know
Watch each card you play
and play it slow
Wait until your deal come round
Don't you let that deal go down

Since you poured the wine for me
and tightend up my shoes
I hate to leave you sittin there
composin lonesome blues

It goes to show you don't ever know
Watch each card you play
and play it slow
Wait until your deal come round
Don't you let that deal go down
Don't you let that deal go down, no
Don't you let your deal go down



DELIA DeLYON AND STAGGERLEE

1940 Xmas evening with a full moon over town
Staggerlee met Billy DeLyon
and he blew that poor boy down
Do you know what he shot him for?
What do you make of that?
'Cause Billy DeLyon threw lucky dice,
won Staggelee's Stetson hat

Baio, Baio, tell me how can this be?
You arrest the girls for turning tricks
but you're scared of Staggerlee
Staggerlee is a madman and he shot my Billy dead
Baio you go get him or give the job to me

Delia DeLyon, dear sweet Delia-D
How the hell can I arrest him when he's twice as big as me?
Don't ask me to go downtown - I wouldn't come back alive
Not only is that mother big but he packs a .45

Baio Delia said just give me a gun
He shot my Billy dead now I'm gonna see him hung
She waded to DeLyon's Club through Billy DeLyon's blood
Stepped up to Staggerlee at the bar
Said Buy me a gin fizz, love

As Staggerlee lit a cigarette she shot him in the balls
Blew the smoke off her revolver, had him dragged to city hall
Baio, Baio, see you hang him high
He shot my Billy dead and now he's got to die

Delia went a walking down on Singapore Street
A three-piece band on the corner played Nearer My God to Thee
but Delia whistled a different tune...what tune could it be?

The song that woman sung was Look out Staggerlee
The song that Delia sung was Look out Staggerlee
The song that woman sung was Look out Staggerlee
The song that Delia sung was Look out Staggerlee



DIRE WOLF

In the timbers of Fennario
the wolves are running round
The winter was so hard and cold
froze ten feet neath the ground

Don't murder me
I beg of you don't murder me
Please
don't murder me

I sat down to my supper
T'was a bottle of red whiskey
I said my prayers and went to bed
That's the last they saw of me

Don't murder me
I beg of you don't murder me
Please
don't murder me

When I awoke, the Dire Wolf
Six hundred pounds of sin
Was grinnin at my window
All I said was "come on in"

Don't murder me
I beg of you don't murder me
Please
don't murder me

The wolf came in, I got my cards
We sat down for a game
I cut my deck to the Queen of Spades
but the cards were all the same

Don't murder me
I beg of you don't murder me
Please
don't murder me

In the backwash of Fennario
The black and bloody mire
The Dire Wolf collects his due
while the boys sing round the fire

Don't murder me
I beg of you don't murder me
Please
don't murder me



DOIN' THAT RAG

Sitting in Mangrove Valley chasing lightbeams
Everything wanders from baby to Z
Baby, baby, pretty, young on Tuesday
Old like a rum drinking demon at tea*

Baby, baby, tell me what's the matter
Why, why tell me, what's your why now?
Tell me why will you never come home?
Tell me what's your reason if you got a good one

Everywhere I go
The people all know
Everyone's doin' that rag

Take my line go fishing for a Tuesday
Maybe take my supper, eat it down by the sea
Gave my baby twenty, forty good reasons
Couldn't find any better ones in the morning at three

Rain gonna come but the rain gonna go, you know
Stepping off sharply from the rank and file
Awful cold and dark like a dungeon
Maybe get a little bit darker 'fore the day

Hipsters, tripsters,
real cool chicks, sir,
everyone's doin' that rag

You needn't gild the lily, offer jewels to the sunset
No one is watching or standing in your shoes
Wash your lonely feet in the river in the morning
Everything promised is delivered to you

Don't neglect to pick up what your share is
All the winter birds are winging home now
Hey Love, go and look around you
Nothing out there you haven't seen before now

But you can wade in the water
and never get wet
if you keep on doin' that rag

One eyed jacks and the deuces are wild
The aces are crawling up and down your sleeve
Come back here, Baby Louise,
and tell me the name
of the game that you play

Is is all fall down?
Is it all go under?
Is it all fall down, down, down
Is it all go under?

Everywhere I go
the people all know
everybody's doin' that rag



DUPREE'S DIAMOND BLUES

When I was just a little young boy,
Papa said "Son, you'll never get far,
I'll tell you the reason if you want to know,
'cause child of mine, there isn't really very far to go"

Well baby, baby wants a gold diamond ring
Wants it more than most any old thing
Well when I get those jelly roll blues
Why I'd go and get anything in this world for you.

Down to the jewelry store packing a gun,
says "Wrap it up. I think I'll take this one"
"A thousand dollars please," the jewelry man said
Dupree he said, "I'll pay this one off to you in lead"

Well you know son you just can't figure,
first thing you know you're gonna pull that trigger
and it's no wonder your reason goes bad -
jelly roll will drive you stone mad

Judge said "Son, this gonna cost you some time"
Dupree said "Judge, you know that crossed my mind"
Judge said "Fact it's gonna cost you your life"
Dupree said "Judge, you know that seems to me to be about right"

Well baby, baby's gonna lose her sweet man
Dupree come out with a losing hand
Baby's gonna weep it up for awhile
then go on out and find another sweet man's
gonna treat her with style

Judge said "Son, I know your baby well
but that's a secret I can't never tell"
Dupree said "Judge, well it's well understood,
and you got to admit that that sweet, sweet jelly's so good"

Well you know son you just can't figure,
first thing you know you're gonna pull that trigger
and it's no wonder your reason goes bad,
jelly roll will drive you stone mad

Same old story and I know it's been told,
some like jelly jelly - some like gold
Many a man's done a terrible thing
just to get baby that shiny diamond ring.



EASY ANSWERS
(note: lyric not up to date. This is about
where I left it when I handed it over.)

Visions of tomorrow
all modeled on today
More we try to prophesy
The more we go astray
Ain't no easy answers
Forget your crystal ball
Yesterday got blown away
for writing on the wall

Easy answers / I don't want to know
Ain't no easy answers / Take it nice and slow
Easy answers / I don't care to hear
Ain't no easy answers / It's gettin very clear
Ain't no easy answers / Heard it from the crow
I don't want to know / I don't want to know
Don't want no / quick reply / that's half a lie

Shut your eyes and listen to
the colors in your mind?
Except for private vision
you might as well be blind
Coast across the ruin with
the mudflaps of your soul
slapping to the rhythm till
it sounds like rock and roll

Easy answers / I don't want to know . . .

Love's an easy word to say,
rolls right off the tongue,
crops up like a foot of clay
in every song that's sung,
never mind the give and take,
heartache and the strife,
the sacrifices people make
to share this thing called life

Easy answers / I don't want to know . . .

Talk of the economy,
the interest on the loan,
how the rock can roll downhill
while moss grows on the stone
Where I stand it seems to me
the substance of the drift
is how to shake the pockets off
another working stiff

Easy answers / I don't want to know . . .

Promises made in the dark
dissolve in light of day
Only thing that's known for sure:
someone got to pay
Cough it up or choke it down,
a crap shoot either way
Ain't no easy answers
That's all I've got to say



EASY WIND

I been ballin' a shiny black steel jack-hammer
Been chippin' up rocks for the great highway
Live five years if I take my time
Ballin' that jack and a drinkin' my wine.

I been chippin' them rocks from dawn till doom
While my rider hide my bottle in the other room
Doctor say I better stop ballin' that jack
If I live five years gonna bust my back, yes I will

Easy wind cross the bayou today
There's a whole lotta women, mama,
Out in red on the streets today.
And the river keep a talkin'
But you never hear a word it say

Gotta find a woman be good to me
Won't hide my liquor try to serve me tea
'Cause I'm a stone jack baller and my heart is true
And I'll give everything that I got to you, yes I will

Easy wind blowing cross the bayou today
There's a whole lotta women, mama,
Out in red on the streets today
And the river keep a talkin'
But you never hear a word it say


THE ELEVEN

No more time to tell how
This is the season of what
Now is the time of returning
With thought jewels polished and gleaming

Now is the time past believing
The child has relinquished the reign
Now is the test of the boomerang
Tossed in the night of redeeming

Eight sided whispering hallelujah hatrack
Seven faced marble eye transitory dream doll
Six proud walkers on jinglebell rainbow
Five men writing in fingers of gold


EYES OF THE WORLD

Right outside this lazy summer home
you don't have time to call your soul a critic, no
Right outside the lazy gate of winter's summer home
wondering where the nut-thatch winters
Wings a mile long just carried the bird away

Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts of its own
Wake now, discover that you
are the song that the morning brings
but the heart has its seasons
its evenings and songs of its own

There comes a redeemer
and he slowly too fades away
There follows a wagon behind him
that's loaded with clay
and the seeds that were silent
all burst into bloom and decay
The night comes so quiet
and it's close on the heels of the day

Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts of its own
Wake now, discover that you
are the song that the morning brings
but the heart has its seasons
its evenings and songs of its own

Sometimes we live no
particular way but our own
Sometimes we visit your country
and live in your home
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own

Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts of its own
Wake now, discover that you
are the song that the morning brings
but the heart has its seasons
its evenings and songs of its own

[Archive] [majorlinks]

TOC # 2

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
FOOLISH HEART
FRANCE
FRANKLIN'S TOWER
FRIEND OF THE DEVIL
GOMORRAH
GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
HELP ON THE WAY
HERE COMES SUNSHINE
HE'S GONE
HIGH TIME
IF I HAD THE WORLD TO GIVE
IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE ROSE
JACK STRAW
KEEP YOUR DAY JOB

LAZY RIVER ROAD
LEAVE THE LITTLE GIRL ALONE

LET ME SING YOUR BLUES AWAY
LIBERTY
LONG WAY TO GO HOME
LOOSE LUCY
LOSER
LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON
MASON'S CHILDREN

MIDNIGHT TOWN
MIDNIGHT GETAWAY
MIGHT AS WELL
MISSION IN THE RAIN
MISSISSIPPI HALF-STEP UPTOWN TOODLELOO
MISTER CHARLIE
MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON
NEW SPEEDWAY BOOGIE
PALM SUNDAY
PLAYING IN THE BAND

[return to 1st Table of Contents (Alabama Getaway - Eyes of the World]



FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Long distance runner what you standing there for?
Get up, get off, get out of the door
You're playing cold music on the bar room floor,
drowned in your laughter and dead to the core
There's a dragon with matches loose on the town
Take a whole pale of water just to cool him down

Fire - Fire on the mountain
Fire - Fire on the mountain

Almost aflame still you don't feel the heat
Takes all you got just to stay on the beat
You say it's a living, we all gotta eat
but you're here alone there's no one to compete
If mercy's in business I wish it for you
More than just ashes when your dreams come true

Fire - Fire on the mountain
Fire - Fire on the mountain

Babys in scarlet, her shackles in grey
If loves to love she's got it salted away
Out of the rat trap and under the wire
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
Put it down heavy, strip it down lean
Got to lay it down dirty and play it back clean

Fire - Fire on the mountain
Fire - Fire on the mountain

Fireman, fireman, call off your dog
this isn't a blaze, it's just a hog in the log
Cut up in sections, squirming alive
lost to the world on that fifty cent jive
There's a fire on the mountain, running around
what doesn't go up can never come down

Fire - Fire on the mountain
Fire - Fire on the mountain

Long distance runner what you holdin out for?
Caught in slow motion in your dash to the door
The flame from your stage has now spread to the floor
You gave all you got, why you wanta give more?
The more that you give, why, the more it will take
to the thin line beyond which you really cannot fake

There's a fire
Fire on the mountain



FOOLISH HEART

Carve your name
Carve your name in ice and wind
Search for where
Search for where the rivers end
Or where the rivers start
Do everything that's in you
That you feel to be your part
But never give your love, my friend,
Unto a foolish heart

Leap from ledges
Leap from ledges high and wild
Learn to speak
Speak with wisdom like a child
Directly from the heart
Crown yourself the king of clowns
Or stand way back apart
But never give your love, my friend
Unto a foolish heart

Shun a friend
Shun a brother and a friend
Never look
Never look around the bend
Or check a weatherchart
Sign the Mona Lisa
With a spraycan, call it art
But never give your love, my friend
Unto a foolish heart

A foolish heart will call on you
To toss your dreams away
Then turn around and blame you
For the way you went astray
A foolish heart will cost you sleep
And often make you curse
A selfish heart is trouble
But a foolish heart is worse

Bite the hand
Bite the hand that bakes your bread
Dare to leap
Where the angels fear to tread
Till you are torn apart
Stoke the fires of paradise
With coals from Hell to start
But never give your love, my friend
Unto a foolish heart

Unto a foolish heart....



FRANCE

Way down in the south of France
All the ladies love to dance
Kick their heels up in the air
Snap their fingers for romance
While the gentlemen compare
Blonde or black or auburn hair
Check the motion and the style
Ah, you know they take their while

To make the motion more complete
Just to make it more a treat
Love will show us where to go
Come on down and see the show
When the rhythm's really right
You can burn it down tonight
When the singing's really fine
Sweet as Spanish sherry wine

When the club can't contain the beat
It just rolls out in the street
Spills on down the avenue
Bringing dancers to their feet
When it's good as it can be
It gets better, wait and see
These folks don't never sleep
Till they're passed out in the street

Way down in the south of France
All the ladies love to dance
Clap their hands and walk on air
Yeah, the feeling's really there
Won't you take a little taste
Raise it to your charming face?
When the rhythm's really right
You can burn it down tonight

When the singing's really fine
Sweet as Spanish sherry wine
Go on take a chance
The ladies do love to dance



FRANKLIN'S TOWER

In another time's forgotten space
your eyes looked through your mother's face
Wildflower seed on the sand and stone
may the four winds blow you safely home

Roll away... the dew
Roll away... the dew
Roll away... the dew
Roll away... the dew

You ask me where the four winds dwell
In Franklin's tower there hangs a bell
It can ring, turn night to day
Ring like fire when you lose your way

Roll away... the dew . . .

God help the child who rings that bell
It may have one good ring left, you can't tell
One watch by night, one watch by day
If you get confused just listen to the music play

Roll away... the dew . . .

Some come to laugh their past away
Some come to make it just one more day
Whichever way your pleasure tends
if you plant ice, you're gonna harvest wind

Roll away... the dew . . .

In Franklin's Tower the four winds sleep
Like four lean hounds the lighthouse keep
Wildflower seed in the sand and wind
May the four winds blow you home again

Roll away... the dew
Roll away... the dew
Roll away... the dew
Roll away... the dew
You better roll away the dew



FRIEND OF THE DEVIL

I lit out from Reno
I was trailed by twenty hounds
Didn't get to sleep that night
Till the morning came around

I set out running but I take my time
A friend of the Devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
I might get some sleep tonight

I ran into the Devil, babe
He loaned me twenty bills
I spent that night in Utah
In a cave up in the hills

I set out running but I take my time
A friend of the Devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
I might get some sleep tonight

I ran down to the levee
But the Devil caught me there
He took my twenty dollar bill
And he vanished in the air

I set out running but I take my time
A friend of the Devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
I might get some sleep tonight

Got two reasons why I cry
away each lonely night
First one's named sweet Anne Marie
and she's my heart's delight
Second one is prison, baby
the sheriff's on my trail
If he catches up with me
I'll spend my life in jail

Got a wife in Chino, babe
And one in Cherokee
First one says she's got my child
But it don't look like me

I set out running but I take my time
A friend of the Devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
I might get some sleep tonight


GOMORRAH

Just a song of Gomorrah
I wonder what they did there?
Must of been a bad thing
to get shot down for

I wonder how they blew it up
or if they tore it down
Get out, get out, Mr. Lot
and don't you look around

Who gave you your orders?
Someone from the sky
I heard a voice inside my head
in the desert wind so dry

I heard a voice telling me to flee
The very same voice I always believe
Said: a lot of trouble coming
but it don't have to come to you
I'm sparing you so you can tell
the rest what you been through

But don't you turn around, no
Don't look after you
It's not your business how it's done
You're lucky to get through

You're a good upstanding man
A credit to the flock
But if you don't face straight ahead
You could not take the shock

Blew the city off the map
Left nothing there but fire
The wife of Lot got turned to salt
because she looked behind her

Because she looked behind
Because she looked behind...



GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD


Moses came riding up on a quasar
His spurs were a-jingling, the door was ajar
His buckle was silver, his manner was bold
I asked him to come on in out of the cold
His brain was boiling, his reason was spent
He said if nothing was borrowed then nothing was lent
I asked him for mercy, he gave me a gun
Said Now n'again these things just got to be done

Abraham and Isaac
sitting on a fence
You'd get right to work
if you had any sense
Y'know the one thing we need
is a left-hand monkey wrench

Gideon come in with his eyes on the floor
Says:Y'ain't got a hinge, you can't close the door
Moses stood up a full six foot ten
Says:You can't close the door when the wall's caved in
I asked him for water, he poured me some wine
We finished the bottle then broke into mine
You get what you come for, you're ready to go
It's one in ten thousand just come for the show

Abraham and Isaac
Digging on a well
Mama come quick
with the water witch spell
Cool clear water
where you can't never tell


HELP ON THE WAY

Paradise waits
on the crest of a wave
her angels in flame
She has no pain
Like a child, she is pure
She is not to blame

Poised for flight
Wings spread bright
Spring from night
into sun
Don't stop to run
She can fly like a lie
She cannot be outdone

Tell me the cost
I can pay
Let me go
Tell me love is not lost
Sell everything
Without love, day to day,
insanity is king

I will pay
day by day
anyway
Lock, bolt and key
Crippled but free
I was blind
all the time
I was learning to see

Help on the way
I know only this
I've got you today
Don't fly away
'cause I love what I love
and I want it that way

I will stay
one more day
Like I say
Honey, it's you
Without love in the dream
It will never come true



HERE COMES SUNSHINE

Wake of the flood
laughing water
'49
Get out the pans
don't just stand there dreaming
get out the way

Here comes sunshine
...here comes sunshine!

Line up a long shot
Maybe try it two times
Maybe more
Good to know
you got shoes to wear
when you find the floor
Why hold out for more?

Here comes sunshine
...here comes sunshine!


Asking you nice now
keep the mother rolling
one more time
Been down before
but you just don't have to
go no more

Here comes sunshine
...here comes sunshine!



HE'S GONE

Rat in a drain ditch
Caught on a limb
You know better but
I know him
Like I told you
What I said
Steal your face
right off you head

Now he's gone
Lord he's gone
Like a steam locomotive
rolling down the track
He's gone
He's gone
and nothing's gonna bring him back
He's gone

Nine mile skid
on a ten mile ride
Hot as a pistol
but cool inside
Cat on a tin roof
Dogs in a pile
Nothing left to do but
smile, smile, smile

Now he's gone
Lord he's gone
Like a steam locomotive
rolling down the track
He's gone
He's gone
and nothing's gonna bring him back
He's gone

Going where the wind don't blow so strange
Maybe on some high cold mountain range
Lost one round but the price wasn't anything
Knife in a back and more of the same
Same old rat in a drain ditch
Out on a limb
You know better but I know him

Now he's gone
Lord he's gone
Like a steam locomotive
rolling down the track
He's gone
He's gone
and nothin's gonna bring him back
He's gone....



HIGH TIME

You told me goodbye
How was I to know?
You didn't mean goodbye
You meant please
don't let me go
I was having a high time
living the good life
Well I know

The wheels are muddy
Got a ton of Hay
Now listen here baby
'cause I mean what I say
I'm having a hard time
living the good life
Well I know

I was losing time
I had nothing to do
No one to fight
I came to you
Wheels broke down
The leader won't draw
The line is busted
the last one I saw

Tomorrow come trouble
Tomorrow come pain
Now don't think too hard, baby
'cause you know what I'm saying
I could show you a high time
living the good life
Don't be that way

Nothing's for certain
It could always go wrong
Come in when it's raining
Go on out when it's gone
We could have us a high time
living the good life
Well I know



IF I HAD THE WORLD TO GIVE

If I had the world to give
I'd give it to you - long as you live
Would you let it fall
or hold it all in your arms?

If I had a song to sing
I'd sing it to you - as long as you live
Lullabye - or maybe a plain serenade
wouldn't you laugh, dance, and cry
or be afraid at the trade you made?

I may not have the world to give to you
but maybe I have a tune or two
Only if you let me be your world
could I ever give this world to you,
could I ever give this world to you

But I will give what love I have to give
I will give what love I have to give
I will give what love I have to give
long as I live

If I had a star to give
I'd give it to you - long as you live
Would you have the time
to watch it shine - watch it shine
or ask for the moon and heaven too?
I'd give it to you.

Maybe I've got no star to spare
or anything fine or even rare
Only if you let me be your world
would I ever give this world to you
could I ever give this world to you



IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE ROSES

Annie layed her head down in the roses
She had ribbons, ribbons, ribbons
in her long brown hair
I don't know, it must have been the roses
All I know is I could not leave her there

I don't know, it must have been the roses
The roses or the ribbons in her long brown hair
I don't know maybe it was the roses
All I know was I could not leave her there

Ten years the waves rolled the
ships home from the sea
Thinking well how it may blow
in all good company
if I tell another what
your own lips told to me
may I lay neath the roses
and my eyes no longer see

I don't know, it must have been the roses
The roses or the ribbons in her long brown hair
I don't know maybe it was the roses
All I know was I could not leave her theree

One pane of glass in the window
No one is complaining though,
come in and shut the door
Faded is the crimson from the
ribbons that she wore
and it's strange how no one
comes round anymore

I don't know, it must have been the roses
The roses or the ribbons in her long brown hair
I don't know maybe it was the roses
All I know was I could not leave her there

Annie layed her head down in the roses
She had ribbons, ribbons, ribbons
in her long brown hair
I don't know, it must have been the roses
All I know was I could not leave her there

I don't know, it must have been the roses
The roses or the ribbons in her long brown hair
I don't know maybe it was the roses
All I know was I could not leave her there



JACK STRAW

We can share the women
We can share the wine
We can share what we got of yours
'Cause we done shared all of mine

Keep a rolling
Just a mile to go
Keep on rolling, my old buddy
You're moving much too slow

I just jumped the watchman
Right outside the fence
Took his ring, four bucks in change
Now ain't that heaven sent?

Hurts my ears to listen, Shannon
Burns my eyes to see
Cut down a man in cold blood, Shannon
Might as well be me

We used to play for silver
Now we play for life
One's for sport and one's for blood
At the point of a knife
Now the die is shaken
Now the die must fall
There ain't a winner in this game
Who don't go home with all
Not with all...

Leaving Texas
Fourth day of July
Sun so hot, clouds so low
The eagles filled the sky

Catch the Detroit Lightning
Out of Santa Fe
Great Northern out of Cheyenne
From sea to shining sea

Gotta get to Tulsa
First train we can ride
Got to settle one old score
And one small point of pride...

Ain't no place a man can hide, Shannon
Keep him from the sun
Ain't no bed will give us rest, man,
You keep us on the run

Jack Straw from Wichita
Cut his buddy down
Dug for him a shallow grave
And layed his body down

Half a mile from Tucson
By the morning light
One man gone and another to go
My old buddy you're moving much too slow

We can share the women
we can share the wine...



KEEP YOUR DAY JOB

Maybe you collect or maybe you pay
Still got to work that eight hour day
Whether you like that job or not
Gotta do your work while you're
lining up your long shot
Which is so say
hey-ey

Keep your day job
Don't give it away
Keep your day job
Whatever they say

Ring that bell for whatever it's worth
When Monday comes don't forget about work
By now you know that face on your dollar
got a thumb to its nose and a
hand on your collar
Which is to say
hey-ey

Keep your day job
Don't give it away
Keep your day job
Whatever they say

Punch that time card
Check that clock
When Monday comes
You gotta run, run, run
Not walk

Keep your day job
Don't give it away
Keep your day job
Whatever they say

Steady boy study that eight day hour
but don't under rate that pay check power
If you ask me, which I know you don't,
I'd tell you to do what I know you won't
Which is to say
hey-ey

Keep your day job
Don't give it away
Keep your day job
Whatever they say
Keep your day job
Until your night job pays


LAZY RIVER ROAD

Way down upon Sycamore Slough
a white man sings the blues
selling roses of paper maché
with flecks of starlight dew
I swiped a bunch and threw it your way
where hazy moonlight glowed
Way down
down along
Lazy River Road

Way down upon Shadowfall Ward
End of the avenue
Run, hide, seek in your own backyard
Mama's backyard won't do
All night long I sang Love's Sweet Song
down where the water flowed
Way down
down along
Lazy River Road

Moonlight wails as hound dogs bay
but never quite catch the tune
Stars fall down in buckets like rain
till there ain't no standin' room
Bright blue boxcars train by train
clatter while dreams unfold
Way down
down along
Lazy River Road

Way down upon Seminole Square
belly of the river tide
call for me and I will be there
for the price of the taxi ride
Night time double-clutches into today
like a truck downshifting its load
Way down
down along
Lazy River Road

Thread the needle
right through the eye
The thread that runs so true
All the others I let pass by
I only wanted you
Never cared for careless love
but how your bright eyes glowed
Way down
down along
Lazy River Road




LEAVE THE LITTLE GIRL ALONE

She's wicked but she knows what she likes
She's wicked but she knows what she likes
Don't you under rate her
Shes a navigator
She's wicked but she's such a delight

She lives in a world of her own
She lives in a world of her own
All the people there
know enough not to stare
They love her or they leave her alone

Leave the little girl alone
Won't you leave that poor girl alone?
To each and every one his own
I say leave that girl alone

She's twisted but she's got what it takes
She's twisted but she's got what it takes
She's got what it takes
to make her own mistakes
She's twisted but she's got what it takes

Leave the little girl alone
Won't you leave that poor girl alone?
To each and every one his own
I say leave that girl alone

Leave the little girl alone
Leave that little girl alone
She's keeping it tight
Gonna make out all right
Leave that little girl alone

She's vicious but she knows when to stop
She's vicious but she knows when to stop
She's makin out fine
Knows where to toe the line
She's vicious but she knows when to stop

Leave the little girl alone
Won't you leave that poor girl alone?
To each and every one his own
I say leave that girl alone



LET ME SING YOUR BLUES AWAY

Hop in the hack
Turn on the key
Pop in the clutch
Let the wheels roll free

Not a cloud in the sky
Such a sunny day
Push in the button
Let the top ten play

C'mon honey let me sing em away
C'mon honey let me sing em away
C'mon honey let me sing your blues away

Give me a little of that old time love
I ain't never had near enough

Walk that walk
with style and grace
This ain't no knock down
drag out race

It don't matter much
Pick any gear
Grind you a pound and
drop the rear
Baby, baby what can I say?
I'm here to drive your blues away

Sent a letter to a man I know
Said one for the money and two for the show
Waited all summer for his reply
Three to get ready and four to fly

Only two things in the world I love
That's rock and roll and my turtledove

When I was a younger man
I needed good luck
I'm a little bit older know
and I know my stuff

C'mon honey let me sing em away
C'mon honey let me sing em away
C'mon honey let me
sing your blues away


LIBERTY

Saw a bird with a tear in his eye`
Walking to New Orleans my oh my
Hey now Bird, wouldn't you rather die?
Than walk this world when you're born to fly?

If I was the sun, I'd look for shade
If I was a bed, I would stay unmade
If I was a river I'd run uphill
If you call me you know I will
If you call me you know I will

Ooo Freedom - Ooo Liberty
O. . .Leave me alone
to find my own way home
to find my own way home

Say what I mean and I don't give a damn
I do believe and I am who I am
Hey now Mama come and take my hand
Whole lotta shakin' all over this land

If I was an eagle I'd dress like a duck
Crawl like a lizard and honk like a truck
If I get a notion I'll climb this tree
or chop it down and you can't stop me
Chop it down and you can't stop me

Ooo Freedom - Ooo Liberty
O. . .Leave me alone
to find my own way home
to find my own way home

Went to the well but the water was dry
Dipped my bucket in the clear blue sky
Looked in the bottom and what did I see?
The whole damned world looking back at me

If I was a bottle I'd spill for love
Sake of mercy I would kill for love
If I was a liar I'd lie for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love

Ooo Freedom - Ooo Liberty
O. . .Leave me alone
to find my own way home
to find my own way home
I'm gonna find my own way home
I want to find my own way home




LONG WAY TO GO HOME

Who­p;­p; do you think you are?
What do you do
when you lay it on down?
Walkin' round in circles
Your nose to the ground
Got to straighten out
before you're homeward bound

You say you've seen it all
You don't care to see no more
But you don't get up & go
'til they throw you out the door

It's a long, long, long, long way to go home
It's a long, long, long, long way to go home
Any which way you are tempted to roam
it's a long, long, long, long way - to go home

Who­p;­p;'s it you remind me of?
What do you do
when you do your own time?
Did you run away
from the scene of your crime?
I feel as though I know you­p;­p;
Could you could spare me a dime?

It's a lot less than prison
but it's more than a jail
I'd tell you all about it
But that's another tale

It's a long, long, long, long way to go home . . .

You say you've seen it all
You don't care to see no more
of the hungry, the hopeless
the crippled & the poor
You say you've seen enough
to last you all your days but
like the moon in high heaven
you're just goin' through a phase

It's a long, long, long, long way to go home . . .

Who­p;­p; do you want to be?
What do you need
to set your body free?
I don't mean to pry,
this ain't the third degree
but looking at you baby
you remind myself of me

if there's anyway to tell you­p;­p;
Any way to persuade­p;­p;
I'd really love to spare you
the mistakes I've made

It's a long, long, long, long way to go home
It's a long, long, long, long way to go home
Any which way you are tempted to roam
it's a long, long, long, long way - to go home




LOOSE LUCY

Loose lucy is my delight
She comes running and we ball all night
Round and round and round and round
Don't take much to get me on the ground

She's my yo-yo, I'm her string
Listen to the birds on the hotwire sing

Singing yeah yeah yeah yeah
Singing Thank you
for a real good time

I got jumped coming home last night
Shadow in the alley turned out all my lights
Round and round and round and round
Don't take much to lay me on the ground

Loose Lucy - was she sore!
Says I know you don't want my love no more

Singing yeah yeah yeah yeah
Singing Thank you
for a real good time

Be-bop baby how can this be?
I know you been out a cheating on me
Round and round and round and round
Don't take much to get the word around

Cross my heart and I hope to die
I was just hanging out with the other guys

Singing yeah yeah yeah yeah
Singing Thank you
for a real good time

Went back home with two black eyes
But you know I'll love her till the day I day
Round and round and round and round
Don't take much to get the word around

I like your smile but I ain't your type
Don't shake the tree when the fruit ain't ripe
Singing yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Singing
Thank You
For a real good time



LOSER

If I had a gun for every ace I've drawn
I could arm a town the size of Abilene
Don't you push me baby cause I'm moaning low
You know I'm only in it for the gold

All that I am asking for is ten gold dollars
I could pay you back with one good hand
You can look around about the wide world over
You'll never find another honest man

Last fair deal in the country, sweet Suzy
Last fair deal in the town
Put your gold money where your love is, baby
Before you let my deal go down

Don't you push me baby
because I'm moaning low
I know a little something
you won't ever know
Don't you touch hard liquor just
a cup of cold coffee
Gonna get up
in the morning and go

Everybody's bragging and drinking that wine
I can tell the Queen of Diamonds by the way she shine
Come to Daddy on an inside straight
I got no chance of losing this time
No, I got no chance of losing this time



LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON

Love - Love in the afternoon
Outside the window
an organ grinder's tune

Rhythm, wine
A touch of Jamaica
Twilight time with a Kingston lady
All the time in the world
for me and that girl

Sweet - She sang sweetly
Come back soon
Come back for more of that love
in the afternoon

Breezes blow by me
in the afternoon
She sings sweetly
an organ grinder's tune

Finally recovered from last years round
of bye bye baby blues
All I crave today
Some love in the afternoon

Love - Love in the afternoon
It's easy as she goes
like an organ grinder's tune

Gone with the moon
any old trouble
can't leave too soon
Trouble's no part of what I want
especially in the afternoon
Singing
Sleeping till two
Waking to make more
love in the afternoon



MASON'S CHILDREN

Mason died on Monday
We bricked him in the wall
All his children grew and grew
They never grew so tall before
They may never grow so tall again

We dug him up on Tuesday
He'd hardly aged a day
Taught us all we ever knew
We never knew so much before
We may never know so much again

Mason was a mighty man
A mighty man was he
All he said: when I'm dead and gone
don't you weep for me

The wall collapsed on Wednesday
We chalked it up to fate
All his children ran and hid
We never hid so well before
Swore we'd never show our face again

Thursday came and Friday
with fires tall and bright
Mason's children cooked the stew
and cleaned up when the feast was through
Swore we'd never had such times before

Take me to the Reaper Man
to pay back what was loaned
If he's in some other land
write it off as stoned

Mason was a mighty man
A mighty man was he
All he said: when I'm dead and gone
don't you weep for me



MIDNIGHT TOWN

I guess you think
I'd never want to harm you
You better beware
That dream you dream
In time it could demand
the very ground on which I stand

Maybe you think
that I am just a stranger
or maybe recall
I knew your name
You wrote it on the wall
in letters black and tall

Way down
Way down
in Midnight Town

When midnight dawns
upon each painted martyr in the circus
maybe you'll recall
we met before
So please don't you accuse me
of dealing with you loosely

Way down
Way down
in Midnight Town



MIDNIGHT GETAWAY

I heard you round about midnight
slipping out of the bed
You thought that I was fast asleep

Heard your slippers in the midnight hallway
and I heard you rustling around
trying not to make a sound

Heard the tap of your high heels
and the click of the lock on the door
Baby, I hope you know what you're doing

Heard you walking down the stairs
and I counted them one by one
One for each year that flew by

Heard you stop and turn back once
Then I thought I heard you sigh
Or maybe it was the breeze

Heard the jingle of your keys
Then you stumbled and cursed the cat
that was sleeping on the stairs under the stars

Heard you open the car door softly
You must have been there half an hour
turning it over round in your head

Were you sat there waiting
for me to come down and call your name?
I wonder, were you waiting for me?

Waiting for me...
Waiting for me...
Waiting for me?

Then I heard the motor turn over
and I heard you driving away
way before the break of day

Heard your engine for a long, long time
cause the night was so cold and quiet
as you made your getaway in the night



MIGHT AS WELL

Great North Special, were you on board?
You can't find a ride like that no more
Night the chariot swung down low
Ninety nine children had a chance to go

One long party from front to end
Tune to the whistle going round the bend
No big hurry, what do you say?
Might as well travel the elegant way

Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well

Ragtime solid for twenty five miles
then slip over to the Cajun style
Bar car loaded with rhythm and blues
Rock and roll wailing in the old caboose

Long train running from coast to coast
bringing long the party where they need it the most
Whup on the boxcar, beat on the bell
Nothing else shaking so you might just as well

Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well

Never had such a good time
in my life before
I'd like to have it one time more
One good ride from start to end
I'd like to take that ride again
Again

Run out of track and I caught the plane
Back in the county with the blues again
Great North Special been on my mind
Might like to ride it just one more time

Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well



MISSION IN THE RAIN

I turn and walk away
then I come round again
It looks as though tomorrow
I'll do very much the same

I must turn down your offer
but I'd like to ask a break
You know I'm ready to give everything
for anything I take

Someone called my name
You know, I turned around to see
It was midnight in the Mission
and the bells were not for me

Come again
Walking along in the Mission in the rain
Come again
Walking along in the Mission in the rain

Ten years ago I walked this street
my dreams were ridin tall
Tonight I would be thankful
Lord, for any dream at all

Some folks would be happy
just to have one dream come true
but everything you gather
is just more that you can lose

Come again
Walking along in the Mission in the rain
Come again
Walking along in the Mission in the rain

All the things I planned to do
I only did half way
Tomorrow will be Sunday
born of rainy Saturday

There's some satisfaction
in the San Francisco rain
No matter what comes down
the Mission always looks the same

Come again
Walking along in the Mission in the rain
Come again
Walking along in the Mission in the rain


MISSISSIPPI HALF-STEP UPTOWN TOODLELOO

On the day that I was born
Daddy sat down and cried
I had the mark just as plain as day
which could not be denied
They say that Cain caught Abel
rolling loaded dice,
ace of spades behind his ear
and him not thinking twice

Half-step
Mississippi Uptown Toodleloo
Hello baby, I'm gone, goodbye
Half a cup of rock and rye
Farewell to you old southern sky
I'm on my way - on my way

If all you got to live for
is what you left behind
get yourself a powder charge
and seal that silver mine
I lost my boots in transit babe
A pile of smoking leather
Nailed a retread to my feet
and prayed for better weather

Half-step
Mississippi Uptown Toodleloo
Hello baby, I'm gone, goodbye
Half a cup of rock and rye
Farewell to you old southern sky
I'm on my way - on my way

They say that when your ship comes in
the first man takes the sails
The second takes the afterdeck
The third the planks and rails
What's the point to callin shots?
This cue ain't straight in line
Cueball's made of styrofoam
and no one's got the time

Half-step
Mississippi Uptown Toodleloo
Hello baby, I'm gone, goodbye
Half a cup of rock and rye
Farewell to you old southern sky
I'm on my way - on my way

Across the Rio Grand-eo
Across the lazy river
Across the Rio Grand-eo
Across the lazy river



MISTER CHARLIE

I take a little powder
I take a little salt
I put it in my shotgun
and I go walking out

Chuba-chuba
Wooley-booley
Looking high
Looking low
Gonna scare you up and shoot you
Cause Mr. Charlie told me so

I won't take you life
Won't even take a limb
Just unload my shotgun
and take a little skin

Chuba-chuba
Wooley-booley
Looking high
Looking low
Gonna scare you up and shoot you
Cause Mr. Charlie told me so

Well you take a silver dollar
Take a silver dime
Mix em both together
in some alligator wine

I can hear the drums
Voo-doo all night long
Mr. Charlie tellin me
I can't do nothin wrong

Chuba-chuba
Wooley-booley
Looking high
Looking low
Gonna scare you up and shoot you
Cause Mr. Charlie told me so

Now Mr. Charlie told me
Thought you'd like to know
Give you a little warning
before I let you go

Chuba-chuba
Wooley-booley
Lookin high
Lookin low
Gonna scare you up and shoot you
Cause Mr. Charlie told me so



MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON

Cold Mountain water
the jade merchant's daughter
Mountains of the Moon, Electra
Bow and bend to me
Hi Ho the Carrion Crow
Folderolderiddle
Hi Ho the Carrion Crow
Bow and bend to me

Hey Tom Banjo
Hey a laurel
More than laurel
You may sow
More than laurel
You may sow

Hey the laurel
Hey the city
In the rain
Hey, hey,
Hey the white wheat
Waving in the wind

20 degrees of solitude
20 degrees in all
All the dancing kings & wives
assembled in the hall
Lost is a long & lonely time
Fairy Sibil flying
All along the all along
the Mountains of the Moon

Here is feast of solitude
A fiddler grim and tall
Plays to dancing kings and wives
Assembled in the hall
Of lost, long, lonely times
Fairy Sibil flying
All along the all along
the Mountains of the Moon

Hey Tom Banjo
It's time to matter
The Earth will see you
on through this time
The Earth will see you on
through this time

Down by the water
The Marsh King's Daughter
Did you know?
Clothed in tatters
Always will be
Tom, where did you go?

Mountains of the Moon, Electra
Mountains of the Moon
All along the
All along the
Mountains of the Moon

Hi Ho the Carrion Crow
Folderolderiddle
Hi Ho the Carrion Crow
Bow and bend to me
Bend to me

(note: the lyric in italics is a re-write of the preceeding
lyric which was dashed off in the studio under pressure
& which I never thought did proper service to the song.
Jerry approved of the change & I put in on the teleprompter
hoping he'd sing it one day, but the band never got around
to playing it again.)


NEW SPEEDWAY BOOGIE

Please don't dominate the rap Jack
if you got nothing new to say
If you please don't back up the track
This train got to run today

Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
Heard some say better run away
Others say you better stand still

Now I don't know but I been told
it's hard to run with the weight of gold
Other hand I heard it said
it's just as hard with the weight of lead

Who can deny? Who can deny?
it's not just a change in style
One step done and another begun
in I wonder how many miles?

Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
Things went down we don't understand
but I think in time we will

Now I don't know but I been told
in the heat of the sun a man died of cold
Do we keep on coming or stand and wait
with the sun so dark and the hour so late?

You can't overlook the lack Jack
of any other highway to ride
It's got no signs or dividing lines
and very few rules to guide

Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
I saw things getting out of hand
I guess they always will

I don't know but I been told
if the horse don't pull you got to carry the load
I don't know whose back's that strong
Maybe find out before too long

One way or another
One way or another
One way or another
this darkness got to give
One way or another
One way or another
One way or another
this darkness got to give


PALM SUNDAY

The river so white
The mountain so red
and with the sunshine
over my head
The honky tonks are
all closed and hushed
It must be
Palm Sunday
again

The sky is so green
Clouds of canary
Blood moon rise like
a fat ripe cherry
Sunset quiet as
a benediction
One true love,
the rest is fiction

If I stay longer
trouble will find me
An epitaph and a
sheet to wind me
A passable day
for the least of men
it must be
Palm Sunday
again



PLAYING IN THE BAND

Some folks trust to reason
Others trust to might
I don't trust to nothing
But I know it come out right

Say it once again now
Oh I hope you understand
When it's done and over
Lord, a man is just a man

Playing
Playing in the band
Daybreak
Daybreak on the land

Some folks look for answers
Others look for fights
Some folks up in treetops
Just look to see the sights

I can tell your future
Look what's in your hand
But I can't stop for nothing
I'm just playing in the band

Playing
Playing in the band
Daybreak
Daybreak on the land

Standing on a tower
World at my command
You just keep a turning
While I'm playing in the band

If a man among you
Got no sin upon his hand
Let him cast a stone at me
For playing in the band

Playing
Playing in the band
Daybreak
Daybreak on the land
Playing
Playing in the band
Daybreak
Daybreak on the land



RAMBLE ON ROSE

Just like Jack the Ripper
Just like Mojo Hand
Just like Billy Sunday
In a shot gun ragtime band
Just like New York City
Just like Jericho
Pace the halls and climb the walls
Get out when they blow

Did you say your name was
Ramblin Rose?
Ramble on baby
Settle down easy
Ramble on Rose

Just like Jack and Jill
Momma told the sailor
One heat up and one cool down
Leave nothing for the tailor
Just like Jack and Jill
My Poppa told the jailer
One go up and one come down
Do yourself a favor

Did you say your name was
Ramblin Rose?
Ramble on baby
Settle down easy
Ramble on Rose

I'm gonna sing you a hundred verses in ragtime
I know this song it ain't never gonna end
I'm gonna march you up and down the local county line
Take you to the leader of the band

Just like Crazy Otto
Just like Wolfman Jack
Sitting plush with a royal flush
Aces back to back
Just like Mary Shelley
Just like Frankenstein
Clank your chains and count your change
Try to walk the line
Did you say your name was
Ramblin Rose?
Ramble on baby
Settle down easy
Ramble on Rose

Good bye Momma and Poppa
Good bye Jack and Jill
The grass ain't greener, the wind ain't sweeter
either side of the hill

Did you say your name was
Ramblin Rose?
Ramble on baby
Settle down easy
Ramble on Rose



REUBEN AND CERISE

Cérise was brushing her long hair gently down
It was the afternoon of carnival
as she brushes it gently down

Reuben was strumming the painted mandolin
It was inlaid with a pretty face in jade
Played the Carnival Parade

Cérise was dressing as Pirouette in white
when a fatal vision gripped her tight
Cérise beware tonight

Reuben, Reuben tell me truly true
I feel afraid and I don't know why I do
Is there another girl for you?

If you could see in my heart
you would know it's true
there is none Cérise except for you
except for you
I swear to it on my very soul
If I lie may I fall down cold

When Reuben played the painted mandolin
the breeze would stop to listen in
before going its way again

Masquerade began when nightfall finally woke
Like waves against the bandstand dancers broke
to the painted mandolin

Looking out on the crowd, who is standing there?
Sweet Ruby Claire at Reuben stared
At Reuben stared
She was dressed as Pirouette in red
and her hair hung gently down

The crowd pressed round
Ruby stood as though alone
Reuben's song took on a different tone
and he played it just for her

The song he played was the Carnival Parade
Each note cut a thread of Cérise's fate
It cut through like a blade

Reuben was playing the painted mandolin
When Ruby froze and turned to stone
for the strings played all alone

The voice of Cérise from the face of the mandolin
singing: Reuben, Reuben tell me true
for I have no one but you
If you could see in my heart
you would know it's true
There is none Cérise, except for you -except for you

I swear to it on my very soul
If I lie, may I fall down cold * * *

The truth of love
an unsung song must tell
The course of love must follow blind
without a look behind
Rubin walked through the streets
of New Orleans 'till dawn,
Cherise so lightly in his arms
and her hair hung gently down

these additional verses connect at the asterisks(***)
and replace the original ending verse

***
Ahoy old Ferryman
Riverboat of Charron ride
Though alive, take Reuben to the other side
For his sweet Cérise has died

It's a long lonely walk from Hell
to the burying ground
Cérise may return
but don't you look around
for your glance would cut her down

The truth of love an unsung song must tell
The course of love must follow blind
but Reuben looked behind

Reuben walked the streets of New Orleans till dawn
with the ghost of Cérise in his empty arms
and her hair hung gently down



RHAPSODY IN RED

I love to hear that Rhapsody in Red
It just knocks me right out of my head
Lifts me up here
just floatin around
Sends me way up
and it don't let me down

I love to hear that Rhapsody in Red
on my feet or layed back in my bed
Takes me way back
where I don't mind
Takes me way back
in my time
my time

Sail away on that Rhapsody in Red
Don't care where those
other rainbows led
With all those Northern lights
just blowing away
got no thought to relate
in the same old way
anyway

Love to feel it flood down to my soul
Loving feel just like in days of old
I sing blues
Where has it led?
Gimme some more
Rhapsody in Red
In Red



RIPPLE

If my words did glow
with the gold of sunshine
and my tunes were played
on the harp unstrung
would you hear my voice
come through the music
would you hold it near
as it were your own?

It's a hand me down
The thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better
left unsung
I don't know
Don't really care
Let there be songs
to fill the air

Ripple in still water
when there is no pebble tossed
nor wind to blow

Reach out your hand
if your cup be empty
If your cup is full
may it be again
Let it be known
there is a fountain
that was not made
by the hands of men

And there's a road
no simple highway
between the dawn
and the dark of night
If you go
no one may follow
That path is for
your steps alone

Ripple in still water
when there is no pebble tossed
nor wind to blow

You who choose
to lead must follow
but if you fall
you fall all alone
If you should stand
who's to guide you?
If I knew the way
I would take you home



ROSEMARY

Boots were of leather
A breath of cologne
Her mirror was a window
She sat quite alone

All around her
the garden grew
scarlett and purple
and crimson and blue

She came and she went
and at last went away
The garden was sealed
when the flowers decayed

On the wall of the garden
a legend did say:
No one may come here
since no one may stay




ROW JIMMY

Julie catch a rabbit by his hair
Come back step, like to walk on air
Get back home where you belong
and don't you run off no more

Don't hang your head let the two-time roll
Grass shack nailed to a pine wood floor
Ask the time? Baby I don't know
Come back later, we'll let it show

And I say row, Jimmy, row
Gonna get there?
I don't know
Seems a common way to go
Get down, row, row, row
row, row

Here's my half a dollar if you dare
double twist when you hit the air
Look at Julie down below
the levee doin the do-pas-o

And I say row, Jimmy, row
Gonna get there?
I don't know
Seems a common way to go
Get down, row, row, row
row, row

Broken heart don't feel so bad
Ain't got half a what you thought you had
Rock your baby to and fro
Not too fast and not too slow

And I say row, Jimmy, row
Gonna get there?
I don't know
Seems a common way to go
Get down, row, row, row
row, row

That's the way it's been in town
ever since they tore the juke box down
Two-bit piece don't buy no more
not so much as it done before

And I say row, Jimmy, row
Gonna get there?
I don't know
Seems a common way to go
Get down, row, row, row
row, row



RUN FOR THE ROSES

Reach for the sun
Catch hold of the moon
They're both too heavy
but what can you do?
Reach for the stars
Smack into the sky
You don't want to live
but you're chicken to die
- chicken to die -

Run, run
Run for the roses
Sooner it opens
the quicker it closes
Man, oh Man
Oh friend of mine
All good things in all good time
All good things in all good time

Reach for the rose
Get caught on the briar
You're warming to love
Next thing there's a fire
The trouble with love
is its other face
You just want the cup
you don't want the race
No, you don't want the race...

Run, run
Run for the roses
Sooner it opens
the quicker it closes
Man, oh Man
Oh friend of mine
All good things in all good time
All good things in all good time

Run for the money
Caught short on the rent
Big Ideas but
the money's all spent
If you got the do re
I got the mi
And I got a notion
we're all at sea
Yeah, we're all at sea

Run, run
Run for the roses
Sooner it opens
the quicker it closes
Man, oh Man
Oh friend of mine
All good things in all good time
All good things in all good time



SAINT STEPHEN

Saint Stephen with a rose
In and out of the garden he goes
Country garland in the wind and the rain
Wherever he goes the people all complain

Stephen prosper in his time
Well he may and he may decline
Did it matter? Does it now?
Stephen would answer if he only knew how

Wishing well with a golden bell
Bucket hanging clear to Hell
Hell halfway 'twixt now and then
Stephen fill it up and lower down
and lower down again

Ladyfinger dipped in moonlight
Writing "what for?" across the morning sky
Sunlight splatters dawn with answers
Darkness shrugs and bids the day goodbye

Speeding arrow, sharp and narrow
What a lot of fleeting matters you have spurned
Several seasons with their treasons
Wrap the babe in scarlet covers, call it your own

Did he doubt or did he try?
Answers aplenty in the bye and bye
Talk about your plenty, talk about your ills
One man gathers what another man spills

Saint Stephen will remain
All he's lost he shall regain
Seashore washed in the suds and the foam
Been here so long he's got to calling it home

Fortune come a crawling, Calliope woman
Spinning that curious sense of your own
Can you answer? Yes I can
But what would be the answer to the answer man?

High green chilly winds and windy vines in loops around the twisted shafts of lavender, they're crawling to the sun

Underfoot the ground is patched with climbing arms of ivy wrapped around the manzanita, stark and shiny in the breeze

Wonder who will water all the children of the garden when they sigh about the barren lack of rain and droop so hungry 'neath the sky?

William Tell has stretched his bow till it won't stretch no furthermore and/or it may require a change that hasn't come before.



SAMBA IN THE RAIN

Ten and ten is thirty
if you tell me it is so
Let's get down and dirty, baby
Let's get sweet and low

Any way you call the shot
That's how it's gonna be
You can serve it cold or hot
It's all okay by me

Tie me with a ribbon bow
Wrap me in cellophane
Send me out to steal the show
or Samba in the rain

Samba in the rain oh baby
Samba in the rain
Let's get down and dirty
Don't bother to explain
Don't care if they call a cop
and say we are insane
we'll keep goin' till we drop
Samba in the rain

How many hours in a day
They tell me twenty four
There could be a couple less
I know there ain't no more

We can do the dirty bop
The Darktown Strutter's Ball
Just as long as we don't stop
We'll dance right up the wall

We can do the bump and grind
The Apaché in Spain
We can do the never mind
or Samba in the rain

Samba in the rain oh baby
Samba in the rain
Let's get down and dirty
Don't bother to explain
Don't care if they call a cop
and say we are insane
we'll keep goin' till we drop
Samba in the rain



SCARLET BEGONIAS

As I was walking round Grosvenor Square
not a chill to the winter
but a nip to the air
from the other direction
she was calling my eye
Could be an illusion
but I might as well try
Might as well try

She had rings on her fingers and
bells on her shoes
I knew without asking she was
into the blues
Scarlet begonias
tucked into her curls
I knew right away
she was not like other girls
...other girls

In the thick of the evening
when the dealing got rough
she was too pat to open and
too cool to bluff
As I picked up my matches and
was closing the door
I had one of those flashes:
I'd been there before -
been there before

I ain't often right
but I've never been wrong
It seldom turns out the way
it does in the song
Once in awhile
you get shown the light
in the strangest of places
if you look at it right

Well there ain't nothing wrong
with the way she moves
Scarlet begonias or a
touch of the blues
And there's nothing wrong with
the love that's in her eye
I had to learn the hard way
to let her pass by -
let her pass by

The wind in the willows played tea for two
The sky was yellow and the sun was blue
Strangers stopped strangers
just to shake their hand
Everybody playing
in the Heart of Gold Band
Heart of Gold Band



SHAKEDOWN STREET

You tell me this town ain't got no heart
(Well, well, well - you can never tell)
The sunny side of the street is dark
(Well, well, well/ You can never tell)
Maybe that's 'cause it's midnight
and the dark of the moon besides, or
maybe the dark is in your eyes (3x)
You know you got such dark eyes

Nothin shakin on Shakedown street
used to be the heart of town
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart
You just gotta poke around

You say you've seen this town clear through
(Well, well, well - you can never tell)
Nothin here that could interest you
(Well, well, well - you can never tell)
It's not because you missed out
on the thing we had to start
Maybe you had to much to fast (3x)
and just overplayed your part

Nothin shakin on Shakedown street
used to be the heart of town
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart
You just gotta poke around

Since I'm, passing your way today
(Well, well, well/ You can never tell)
I just stopped in cause I want to say
(Well, well, well/ You can never tell)
I recall your darkeness
when it crackled like a thundercloud
don't tell me this town ain't got no heart (3x)
when I can hear it beat out loud

Nothin shakin on Shakedown street
used to be the heart of town
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart
You just gotta poke around



SHIP OF FOOLS

Went to see the captain
strangest I could find
Layed my proposition down
Layed it on the line;
I won't slave for beggar's pay
likewise gold and jewels
but I would slave to learn the way
to sink your ship of fools

Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me

It was later than I thought
when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools

Saw your first ship sink and drown
from rocking of the boat
and all that could not sink or swim
was just left there to float
I won't leave you drifting down
but woah it makes me wild
with thirty years upon my head
to have you call me child

Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me

It was later than I thought
when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools

The bottles stand as empty
as they were filled before
Time there was and plenty
but from that cup no more
Though I could not caution all
I yet may warn a few:
Don't lend your hand to raise no flag
atop no ship of fools

Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me

It was later than I thought
when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools
No I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools



SO MANY ROADS

Thought I heard a blackbird singin'
up on Bluebird Hill
Call me a whinin' boy if you will
Born where the sun don't shine
and I don't deny my name
Got no place to go, ain't that a shame?

Thought I heard that KC whistle
moanin' sweet & low
Thought I heard that KC when she blow
Down where the sun don't shine
Underneath the Kokomo
Whinin' boy­p;­p;got no place else to go

So many roads I tell you
So many roads I know
So many roads­p;­p;
so many roads­p;­p;
Mountain high, river wide
So many roads to ride
So many roads
So many roads

Thought I heard a jug band playin'
"If you don't ­p;­p; who else will?"
from over on the far side of the hill
All I know the sun don't shine,
the rain refuse to fall
and you don't seem to hear me when I call

Wind inside & the wind outside
Tangled in the window blind
Tell me why you treat me so unkind
Down where the sun don't shine
Lonely and I call your name
No place left to go, ain't that a shame?

So many roads I tell you
New York to San Francisco
All I want is one
to take me home
From the high road to the low
So many roads I know
So many roads - So many roads

From the land of the midnight sun
where ice blue roses grow
'long those roads of gold and silver snow
Howlin' wide or moanin low
So many roads I know
So many roads to ease my soul



STANDING ON THE MOON

Standing on the moon
I got no cobweb on my shoe
Standing on the moon
I'm feeling so alone and blue
I see the Gulf of Mexico
As tiny as a tear
The coast of California
Must be somewhere over here - over here

Standing on the moon
I see the battle rage below
Standing on the moon
I see the soldiers come and go
There's a metal flag beside me
Someone planted long ago
Old Glory standing stiffly
Crimson, white and indigo - indigo

I see all of Southeast Asia
I can see El Salvador
I hear the cries of children
And the other songs of war
It's like a mighty melody
That rings down from the sky
Standing here upon the moon
I watch it all roll by - all roll by

Standing on the moon
With nothing else to do
A lovely view of heaven
But I'd rather be with you

Standing on the moon
I see a shadow on the sun
Standing on the moon
The stars go fading one by one
I hear a cry of victory
And another of defeat
A scrap of age old lullaby
Down some forgotten street

Standing on the moon
Where talk is cheap and vision true
Standing on the moon
But I would rather be with you
Somewhere in San Francisco
On a back porch in July
Just looking up to heaven
At this crescent in the sky

Standing on the moon
With nothing left to do
A lovely view of heaven
But I'd rather be with you - be with you



STELLA BLUE

All the years combine
they melt into a dream
A broken angel sings
from a guitar
In the end there's just a song
comes crying like the wind
through all the broken dreams
and vanished years

Stella Blue

When all the cards are down
there's nothing left to see
There's just the pavement left
and broken dreams
In the end there's still that song
comes crying like the wind
down every lonely street
that's ever been

Stella Blue

I've stayed in every blue light cheap hotel
Can't win for trying
Dust off those rusty strings just
one more time
Gonna make em shine

It all rolls into one
and nothing comes for free
There's nothing you can hold
for very long
And when you hear that song
come crying like the wind
it seems like all this life
was just a dream
Stella Blue



SUGAREE

When they come to take you down
When they bring that wagon round
When they come to call on you
and drag your poor body down

Just one thing I ask of you
Just one thing for me
Please forget you knew my name
My darlin Sugaree

Shake it, shake it Sugaree
Just don't tell them that you know me

You thought you was the cool fool
Never could do no wrong
Had everything sewed up tight
How come you lay awake all night long?

Just one thing I ask of you
Just one thing for me
Please forget you knew my name
My darlin Sugaree

Shake it, shake it Sugaree
Just don't tell them that you know me

You know in spite of all you gained
you still have to stand out in the pouring rain
One last voice is calling you
and I guess it's time you go

Just one thing I ask of you
Just one thing for me
Please forget you knew my name
My darlin Sugaree

Shake it, shake it Sugaree
Just don't tell them that you know me

Shake it up now, Sugaree
I'll meet you at the Jubilee
If that Jubilee don't come
Maybe I'll meet you on the run

One thing I ask of you
Just one thing for me
Please forget you knew my name
my darling Sugaree

Shake it, shake it Sugaree
but don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it Sugaree
Just don't tell 'em that you know me



SUGAR MAGNOLIA/SUNSHINE DAYDREAM

Sugar Magnolia blossom's blooming
Head's all empty and I don't care
Saw my baby down by the river
Knew she'd have to come up soon for air

Sweet blossom come on under the willow
We can have high times if you'll abide
We can discover the wonders of nature
Rolling in the rushes down by the riverside

She's got everything delightful
She's got everything I need
Takes the wheel when I'm seeing double
Pays my ticket when I speed

She come skimming through rays of violet
She can wade in a drop of dew
She don't come and I don't follow
Waits backstage while I sing to you

She can dance a cajun rhythm
Jump like a Willys in four wheel drive
She's a summer love in the spring, fall and winter
She can make happy any man alive

Sugar magnolia
Ringin' that blue bell
Caught up in sunlight
Come on out singing
I'll walk you in the sunshine
Come on honey, come along with me

She's got everything delightful
She's got everything I need
A breeze in the pines in the summer night moonlight
Crazy in the sunlight yes indeed

Sometimes when the cuckoo's crying
When the moon is halfway down
Sometimes when the night is dying
I take me out and I wander round
I wander round

Sunshine daydream
Walk you the tall trees
Going where the wind goes
Blooming like a red rose
Breathing more freely
Light out singing
I'll walk you in the morning sunshine
Sunshine daydream
Walk you in the sunshine




TENNESSEE JED

Cold iron shackles and a ball and chain
Listen to the whistle of the evening train
You know you bound to wind up dead
if you don't head back to Tennessee, Jed

Rich man step on my poor head
When you get up you better butter my bread
Well you know it's like I said
You better head back to Tennessee, Jed

Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee

Drink all day and rock all night
Law come to get you if you don't walk right
Got a letter this morning and all it read:
You better head back to Tennessee, Jed

I dropped four flights and cracked my spine
Honey come quick with the iodine
Catch a few winks down under the bed
Then head back to Tennessee, Jed

Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee

I ran into Charley Phogg
He blacked my eye and he kicked my dog
My dog he turned to me and he said
Let's head back to Tennessee, Jed

I woke up a feeling mean
Went down to play the slot machine
The wheels turned round and the letters read
Better head back to Tennessee, Jed

Tennessee, Tennessee
Ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee


TERRAPIN STATION

LADY WITH A FAN

Let my inspiration flow
in token lines suggesting rhythm
that will not forsake me
till my tale is told and done

While the firelights aglow
strange shadows in the flames will grow
till things we've never seen
will seem familiar

Shadows of a sailor forming
winds both foul and fair all swarm
down in Carlisle he loved a lady
many years ago

While the storyteller speaks
a door within the fire creaks
suddenly flies open
and a girl is standing there

Eyes alight with glowing hair
all that fancy paints as fair
she takes her fan and throws it
in the lion's den

"Which of you to gain me, tell
will risk uncertain pains of Hell?
I will not forgive you
if you will not take the chance"

The sailor gave at least a try
the soldier being much too wise
strategy was his strength
and not disaster

The sailor coming out again
the lady fairly lept at him
that's how it stands today
you decide if he was wise

The storyteller makes no choice
soon you will not hear his voice
his job is to shed light
and not to master

Since the end is never told
we pay the teller off in gold
in hopes he will come back
but he cannot be bought or sold

Inspiration move me brightly
light the song with sense and color,
hold away despair
More than this I will not ask
faced with mysteries dark and vast
statements just seem vain at last
some rise, some fall, some climb
to get to Terrapin

Counting stars by candlelight
all are dim but one is bright:
the spiral light of Venus
rising first and shining best,
From the northwest corner
of a brand new crescent moon
crickets and cicadas sing
a rare and different tune

Terrapin Station
in the shadow of the moon
Terrapin Station
and I know we'll be there soon

Terapin - I can't figure out
Terripin - if it's an end or the beginning
Terrapin - but the train's got its brakes on
and the whistle is screaming: TERRAPIN

AT A SIDING

While you were gone
these spaces filled with darkness
The obvious was hidden
With nothing to believe in
the compass always points to Terrapin

The sullen wings of fortune beat like rain
You're back in Terrapin for good or ill again
For good or ill again



THEY LOVE EACH OTHER

Merry run around
sailing up and down
just looking for a shove
in some direction -
got it from the top
it's nothing you can stop
lord you know they
made a fine connection
They love each other
Lord you can see it's true

He could pass his time
round some other line
but you know he
chose this place beside her
Don't get in the way
there's nothing you can say,
nothing that you need
to add or do
They love each other
Lord you can see it's true

It's nothing they explain
It's like a diesel train -
you better not be there
when it rolls over
Though you make a noise
they just can't hear your voice,
they're on a dizzy ride
and you're cold sober
They love each other
Lord you can see it's true

Heard your news report
Y'know you're falling short
Pretty soon won't trust you
for the weather
When their ship comes in
you won't know where it's been
Got to try to see
a little farther
They love each other
Lord you can see that it's true



TILL THE MORNING COMES

Till the morning comes
It'll do you fine
Till the morning comes
like a highway sign
Showing you the way
leaving no doubt
of the way on in
or the way back out

tell you what I'll do
I'll watch out for you
You're my woman now
Make yourself easy

Till we all fall down
It'll do you fine
Don't think about
what you left behind -
the way you came
or the way you go
Let your tracks be lost
in the dark and snow

Tell you what I'll do
I'll watch out for you
You're my woman now
Make yourself easy

When the shadows grow
it'll do you fine
When the cold winds blow
it'll ease your mind
The shape it takes
could be yours to choose -
what you may win
what you may lose

Tell you what I'll do
I'll watch out for you
You're my woman now
Make yourself easy
Make yourself easy
Make yourself easy

You're my woman now, make yourself easy
You're my woman now, make yourself easy
You're my woman now, make yourself easy
You're my woman now, make yourself easy



TO LAY ME DOWN

To lay me down
once more
To lay me down
with my head
in sparkling clover
Let the world go by
all lost in dreaming
To lay me down
one last time
To lay me down

To be with you
once more
To be with you
with our bodies
close together
Let the world go by
like clouds a-streaming
To lay me down
one last time
To lay me down

To lay me down
To lay me down
To lay me down
One last time
To lay me down

To lie with you
once more
to lie with you
with our dreams
entwined together
To lie beside you
my love still sleeping
to tell sweet lies
one last time
and say goodnight

to lay me down,
to lay me down
to lay me down
one last time
to lay me down
to lay me down
one last time
to lay me down



A TOUCH OF GREY

Must be getting early
Clocks are running late
Paint by number morning sky
Looks so phony

Dawn is breaking everywhere
Light a candle, curse the glare
Draw the curtains
I don't care 'cause
It's all right

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive

I see you've got your list out
Say your piece and get out
Yes I get the gist of it
but it's all right

Sorry that you feel that way
The only thing there is to say
Every silver lining's got a
Touch of Grey

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive

It's a lesson to me
The Ables and the Bakers and the C's
The ABC's we all must face
And try to keep a little grace

It's a lesson to me
The deltas and the east and the freeze
The ABC's we all think of
Try to give a little love.

I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
but it's all right.

Cows giving kerosene
Kid can't read at seventeen
The words he knows are all obscene
but it's all right

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive

The shoe is on the hand it fits
There's really nothing much to it
Whistle through your teeth and spit
causeit's all right.

Oh well a Touch Of Grey
Kind of suits you anyway.
That was all I had to say
It's all right.

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive
We will get by / We will get by
We will get by / We will survive



TRUCKIN

Truckin - got my chips cashed in
Keep Truckin - like the doodah man
Together - more or less in line
Just keep Truckin on

Arrows of neon and flashing marquees out on Main Street
Chicago, New York, Detroit it's all on the same street
Your typical city involved in a typical daydream
Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings

Dallas - got a soft machine
Houston - too close to New Orleans
New York - got the ways and means
but just won't let you be

Most of the cats you meet on the street speak of True Love
Most of the time they're sittin and cryin at home
One of these days they know they gotta get goin
out of the door and down to the street all alone

Truckin - like the doodah man
once told me you got to play your hand
sometime - the cards ain't worth a dime
if you don't lay em down

Sometimes the light's all shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long strange trip it's been

What in the world ever became of sweet Jane?
She lost her sparkle, you know she isn't the same
Living on reds, vitamin C and cocaine
all a friend can say is "ain't it a shame"

Truckin - up to Buffalo
Been thinkin - you got to mellow slow
Takes time - you pick a place to go
and just keep Truckin on

Sitting and staring out of a hotel window
Got a tip they're gonna kick the door in again
I'd like to get some sleep before I travel
but if you got a warrant I guess you're gonna come in

Busted - down on Bourbon Street
Set up - like a bowling pin
Knocked down - it gets to wearing thin
They just won't let you be

You're sick of hanging around and you'd like to travel
Tired of travel, you want to settle down
I guess they can't revoke your soul for trying
Get out of the door - light out and look all around

Sometimes the light's all shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
what a long strange trip it's been

Truckin - I'm goin home
Whoa-oh baby, back where I belong
Back home - sit down and patch my bones
and get back Truckin on



UNCLE JOHN'S BAND

Well, the first days are the hardest days,
don't you worry anymore
When life looks like Easy Street
there is danger at your door
Think this through with me
Let me know your mind
Wo-oah, what I want to know
is are you kind?

It's a Buck Dancer's Choice, my friend,
better take my advice
You know all the rules by now
and the fire from the ice
Will you come with me?
Won't you come with me?
Wo-oah, what I want to know,
will you come with me?

Goddamn, well I declare
Have you seen the like?
Their walls are built of cannonballs,
their motto is Don't Tread on Me
Come hear Uncle John's Band
by the riverside
Got some things to talk about
here beside the rising tide

It's the same story the crow told me
It's the only one he know -
like the morning sun you come
and like the wind you go
Ain't no time to hate,
barely time to wait
Wo-oah, what I want to know,
where does the time go?

I live in a silver mine
and I call it Beggar's Tomb
I got me a violin
and I beg you call the tune
Anybody's choice
I can hear your voice
Wo-oah what I want to know,
how does the song go?

Come hear Uncle John's Band
by the riverside
Come with me or go alone
He's come to take his children home
Come hear Uncle John's Band
playing to the tide
Come on along or go alone
he's come to take his children home



U.S. BLUES

Red and white/blue suede shoes
I'm Uncle Sam/how do you do?
Gimme five/I'm still alive
Ain't no luck/I learned to duck

Check my pulse/it don't change
Stay seventy two/come shine or rain
Wave the flag/pop the bag
Rock the boat/skin the goat

Wave that flag
Wave it wide and high
Summertime
Done come and gone
My oh my

I'm Uncle Sam/that's who I am
Been hidin' out/in a rock and roll band
Shake the hand/that shook the hand
Of P.T. Barnum/and Charlie Chan

Shine your shoes/light your fuse
Can you use/them ol' U.S. Blues?
I'll drink your health/share your wealth
Run your life/steal your wife

Wave that flag
Wave it wide and high
Summertime done
Come and gone
My oh my

Back to back/chicken shack
Son of a gun/better change your act
We're all confused/what's to lose?
You can call this song/the United States Blues

Wave that flag
Wave it wide and high
Summertime done come and gone
My oh My
Summertime done come and gone
My oh My




VALERIE

Hey Valerie, baby what's the matter with you?
I did all of the things that you wanted me to
I went downtown with my pocketknife
Cut your other man but I spared his life
Valerie won't you be good to me?

Valerie, baby what's the matter with you?
Come on, come on baby and tell me true
Hey now baby, what did I do?
I shot my dog cause he growled at you
Valerie won't you be good to me?

Valerie, what's the matter with me?
I never, never done you no wrong
I sing the blues nearly all night long
Valerie what's the matter with me?
You know I'd do anything you say
I can't understand why you tell me
"Please go away"

I ain't afraid of the cold, cruel world outside
No Chicken Little runnin from a fallin sky
The only thing troubles me is you
If you leave me, what can I do?
Valerie, won't you be true to me?

You got me down on the knees of my shakin feet
Can't play the blues, 'cause of you I drop the beat
Valerie what's your complaint?
I try to be everything I ain't
Valerie, won't you be good to me?
Valerie, won't you be good to me?



WAVE TO THE WIND

Gonna wave to the people
looking on from the side of
the road as I'm rolling on by
Wave goodby to the trouble
that's always on my mind
Gonna jumpstart my life
or go down trying
Gonna wave to the mem'ries
I carry in my heart and the
new ones I'll find along my way;
to the new millenium
reeling 'round the bend like
a dove or a dark-wing bird of prey

Gonna wave, gonna wave
Gonna wave to the wind
Gonna wave my way
right on through the wind
Gonna wave, gonna wave
Gonna wave to the wind
Gonna wave my way to the
edge of the world and jump in

Gonna snap like a banner
sailing sheets to the breeze over
oceans of sky to the moon
I could hold out forever
keeping it together
or wish upon a star and call the tune
Lift my voice like the young man
broken in the war who
cries out to know the reason why
Gonna rise up and reel out
the love song in my soul to the
high wide and handsome morning sky

Gonna wave, gonna wave
Gonna wave to the wind
Gonna wave my way
homeward through the wind
Gonna wave, gonna wave
Gonna wave while the wind
plays the stars, the sky, the
moon and the night like a hymn

Gonna ride with the thunder
let the sky crack asunder
as lightning cries out of the rain
Gonna wade across rivers
gathered in the streams from the
mountains that rise above the plain
Wave away my confusion
that drives this delusion
so long I forgot that I could fly
Soar aloft like a songbird
dancing in the wind,
singing long, singing loud, singing high

Gonna speak to the breeze,
add my voice to the wind,
singing: say, can you see
by dawn's early light streaming in?



WEST L.A. FADEAWAY

Looking for a chateau
Twenty-one rooms but one will do
Looking for a chateau
Twenty-one rooms but one will do
I don't want to buy it
I just want to rent it for an hour or two

I met an old mistake
Walking down the street today
I met an old mistake
Walking down the street today
I didn't want to be mean about it
But I didn't have one good word to say

West L.A. fadeaway
West L.A. fadeaway
Little red light on the highway
Big green light on the speedway, hey hey hey

I had a steady job
Hauling items for the mob
I had a steady job
Hauling items for the mob
Y'know the pay was pathetic
It's a shame those boys couldn't be more copacetic

I meet a West L.A. girl
Already know what I need to know
I meet a West L.A. girl
I already know what I need to know
Name, address and phone number
Lord and just how far to go

West L .A. Fadeaway
West L. A. Fadeaway
Little red light on the highway
Big green light on the speedway, hey hey hey

Here's what Ginger says
She walks right, she ain't nobody's fool
Here's what Ginger says
She always tries to play by the golden rule
She says if you treat other people alright
Other folks probably treat you right too

Looking for a chateau
Twenty-one rooms but one will do
Looking for a chateau
Twenty-one rooms but one will do
I don't want to rent it
I just want to use it for a minute or two

West L. A. Fadeaway
West L. A. Fadeaway
Little red light on the highway
Big green light on the speedway, hey hey hey


WHARF RAT

Wharf rat down
way down
down by the docks of the city,
Blind and dirty
asked me for a dime -
dime for a cup a coffee
I got no Dime but
I got time to hear his story:

My name is August West
and I love my Pearly Baker best
more than my wine
...more than my wine
more than my maker
though he's no friend of mine

Everyone said
I'd come to no good
I knew I would
Pearly believed them

Half of my life
I spent doing time for
some other fucker's crime
Other half found me stumbling around
drunk on burgundy wine

But I'll get back
on my feet someday
the good Lord willing
if he says I may
'cause I know the life I'm
living's no good
I'll get a new start
and live the life I should

I'll get up and fly away
I'll get up and
fly away...
...fly away

Pearly's been true
true to me, true to my dying day
he said
I said to him:
I'm sure she's been
I said to him:
I'm sure she's been true to you

I got up and wandered
Wandered downtown
nowhere to go
just to hang around
I got a girl
named Bonny Lee
I hope that girl's been true to me
I know she's been
I'm sure she's been
true to me


WHAT'S BECOME OF THE BABY?

Waves of violet go crashing and laughing
Rainbow winged singing birds fly round the sun
Sunbells rain down in a liquid profusion
Mermaids on porpoises draw up the dawn

What's become of the baby
This cold December morning?

Songbirds
frozen in their flight
drifting to the earth
remnants of forgotten dreaming
Calling...
answer comes there none
Go to sleep you child
Dream of never ending always

Panes of crystal
Eyes sparkle like waterfalls
lighting the polished ice caverns of Khan
But where in the looking glass fields of illusion
wandered the child who was perfect as dawn?

What's become of the Baby
this cold December morning?

Racing
rhythms of the sun
all the world revolves
captured in the eye of Odin
Allah
Pray where are you now?
All Mohammed's men
blinded by the sparkling water

Sheherazade gathering stories to tell
from primal gold fantasy petals that fall
But where is the child
who played with the sun chimes
and chased the cloud sheep
to the regions of rhyme?

Stranded
cries the south wind
Lost in the regions of lead
Shackled by chains of illusion
Delusions of living and dead



THE WHEEL

The wheel is turning
and you can't slow down
You can't let go
and you can't hold on
You can't go back
and you can't stand still
If the thunder don't get you
then the lightning will

Won't you try just a little bit harder?
Couldn't you try just a little bit more?
Won't you try just a little bit harder?
Couldn't you try just a little bit more?

Round round robin run around
Gott get back where you belong
Little bit harder, just a little bit more
Little bit farther than you than you've gone before

The wheel is turning
and you can't slow down
You can't let go
and you can't hold on
You can't go back
and you can't stand still
If the thunder don't get you
then the lightning will

Small wheel turn by the fire and rod
Big wheel turn by the grace of God
Everytime that wheel turn round
bound to cover just a little more ground

The wheel is turning
and you can't slow down
You can't let go
and you can't hold on
You can't go back
and you can't stand still
If the thunder don't get you
then the lightning will

Won't you try just a little bit harder
Couldn't you try just a little bit more?
Won't you try just a little bit harder?
Couldn't you try just a little bit more?





WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

Shaking in the forest, what have you to fear?
Here there may be tigers to punch you in the ear
Blades of stainless steel, bats carved out of brick,
Knock you down and beat you up and give your ass a kick
When Push Comes To Shove, you're afraid of love

Shaking in the desert, wherefore do you cry?
Here there may be rattlesnakes to punch you in the eye
Shotguns full of silver, bullets made of glass,
String barbed wire at your feet and do not let you pass
When Push Comes To Shove, you're afraid of love

When Push Comes To Shove
When Push Comes To Shove
You're afraid of love
When Push Comes To Shove

Shaking in the bedroom, covers on your head
Cringing like a baby at the hand beneath the bed
Phantom in the closet, scratching at the door
The latest mystery killer that you saw on channel four
When Push Comes To Shove, you're afraid of love

Shaking in the garden, the fear within you grows
Here there may be roses to punch you in the nose
Twist their arms around you, slap you till you cry,
Wrap you in their sweet perfume and love you till you die
When Push Comes To Shove, you're afraid of love

When Push Comes To Shove
When Push Comes To Shove
You're afraid of love
When Push Comes To Shove




TOC #3

RAMBLE ON ROSE
REUBEN AND CERISE
RHAPSODY IN RED
RIPPLE
ROSEMARY
ROW JIMMY

RUN FOR THE ROSES
SAINT STEPHEN
SAMBA IN THE RAIN
SCARLET BEGONIAS
SHAKEDOWN STREET
SHIP OF FOOLS
SO MANY ROADS
STANDING ON THE MOON
STELLA BLUE
SUGAREE
SUGAR MAGNOLIA/SUNSHINE DAYDREAM
TENNESSEE JED
TERRAPIN STATION

THEY LOVE EACH OTHER
TILL THE MORNING COMES
TO LAY ME DOWN
A TOUCH OF GREY
TRUCKIN
UNCLE JOHN'S BAND
U.S. BLUES
VALERIE
WAVE TO THE WIND
WEST L.A. FADEAWAY

WHARF RAT
WHAT'S BECOME OF THE BABY?
THE WHEEL

WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

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