BROWN SUGAR BISCUITS
There I Go Again
morning mrs. brown long before the sun
all her children lying ever sleeping still
there I go again
kneeling in the square skidmore fountain's cold
washing out his mr. nameless change of clothes
there I go again
when I think about the blood beneath my skin
when I throw away this righteous coat so thin
maybe then I'll understand
maybe then...
there I go again
driving down the vine
hey johnny, with your friends
a rolling stop and fingers flipping passing cars
there I go again
and you can tell me
"hey this is all a big mistake"
and you can tell me,
"oh well it's just the risk you take..."
for every woman, every man and holy child
I say, I say,
there I go again
when I remember the way and where I 'been
when I forget all my shame and so called sin
maybe then I'll understand
maybe then...
there I go again
there I go again
Mary Walks Around
mary had a baby once, she lost that boy to heaven
pulled him 'way from Mary's breast
she never was the same
momma used to tell me, she'd say,
"mary was a good girl,
the lord, he works in funny ways
and mary's not to blame..."
maybe she's crazy, but I can't sleep at night
oh mary, mary walks around
mary at the grocery store says,
"I don't want yer' quarter, man
carry your potatoes for a dollar, to the car
take me to your bank machine
I need a room, the street's so mean..."
she's looking, just like you and me
for any lucky star
maybe she's crazy, but I can't sleep at night
oh mary, mary walks around
it happens to the best of you, when everything starts spinnin'
that's when I will miss the most, the things I used to know
papa, sugar, jesus, nixon
I wonder, what do I believe in?
no one here to tell me, and I don't know where to go
maybe she's crazy, but I can't sleep at night, oh mary
I must admit I used to get a bit scared
now I only wonder what it is that mary wants, what she's left to hide
sittin' at a stoplight, mary's pining from the corner
another hard luck story, sister mary wants a ride
maybe she's crazy, but I can't sleep at night
oh mary... maybe she's crazy...
oh mary... mary walks around...
Vanport City
it was only an hour before the water came
rushing down victory, broadacre, through...
they were just down for dinner
when evelyn mercer came runnin' 'round yellin' the dike was in two
everyone ran, so they say
the sidewalks were full that memorial day
when columbia over her banks, went out on the town
race was no mater to her
"white's only" and "negro" all in a blur
as she muddied belief and she tore
from the very foundation
well the trains came from georgia, when war time production
advertised ship building all for good pay
and they landed in vanport to housing and churches
three schools and work just a few miles away
but everyone ran, so they say
the sidewalks were full that memorial day
when columbia over her banks, went out on the town
drunken and out of control
she pushed over buildings or swallowed them whole
'til her belly was full and she made her way on to the ocean
well the first morning paper read: "thousands of people left homeless
and wondering where to begin"
from the neighboring cities'
kind hearted pople had plenty to share
for the right color skin
who will you know, baby where will you run?
who will you know? baby, where will you run?...
Brown Sugar Biscuits
sun come up, out of bed
turn me 'round, what you said
hurry up now, make me late
oven's on, I can't wait
baby is cookin' up brown sugar biscuts, all right
listen up, sounds too good
maybe I, ah yes I would
promises, you can't keep
better not, you're in too deep
baby is cookin' up brown sugar biscuts, all right
man, even a good day got room to get better
she offer you sweet things
you sure enough let her...
remember what, your brother said
pay no mind, you don' get fed
love her up now, treat her right
lucky thang, peaches tonight
baby is cookin' up brown sugar biscuts
you might pick up some overtime?
I wouldn't risk it
Ccuse baby is cookin' up brown sugar biscuts tonight!
Labor Day
labor day, oh labor day
good man works hard for an honest pay
my hands are tired, my hair is grey
I wanna die on labor day
labor day, oh labor day
you know the sun came up
I was on my way
my cigarette, my chevorlet
I wanna die on labor day
a block o' wood, a blade o' steel
flesh and bone, a family meal
you don't know, baby know what I feel
I got a dream, tryin' to make it real
labor day, oh labor day
you know I payed the man, I put some coins away
I'm waitin' on the band to play
I wanna die on labor day
I've got my pride, my family
the wife and boys, good lord watchin' over me
I've got a photograph, shows how young I used to be
can't stand to see it now
september come and set me free
labor day, oh labor day
maybe I worked so hard I forgot to say
I love you all in my own way
I wanna die on labor day...
Big Hard Sun
when I walk beside her I am a better man
when I look to leave her I always stagger back again
once I built an ivory tower so I could worship from above
when I climbed down to be set free she took me in again
there's a big a big hard sun
beatin' all the people in a big hard world
when she comes to greet me she is mercy at my feet
when I stay to pillage her she just throws it back at me
once I dug an early grave to find myself a better land
she just smiled and laughed at me and took her blues back again
when I go to cross that river she is comfort by my side
when I try to understand she just opens up her hand
once I stood to lose her when I saw what I had done
burned down and threw away the hours of her garden and her sun
so I tried to warn her and turned to see her weep
forty days man forty nights and it's still comin' down on me
when I walk beside her I am a better man
when I look to leave her I always stagger back again...
... MORE LYRICS FROM THIS CD SOON ...
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CRAZY WORLD OUTSIDE
Down By The Water
the holy stars that shine above this world
may never take her to the water
her heart has failed her for the fear
somewhere I know a long time ago
she lost it like you
she's looking for it here...
I go down by the water and wait for the river to greet me
down by the water I wait for the river to greet me
sitting on a wall above the rio
waiting for a messenger with wings
I cut the line, I sing my prayer
and listen for the lesson, but the angel only grins when...
I go down by the water and wait for the river to greet me
down by the water I wait for the river to greet me
tell them your atrocities, tell them your desires
sabotage is a beautiful thing when you drown the liar
fools rush in and offer free advice
a poet's only likely to portend
a single rose is every rose but not a flower
she is something like a book half opened by the wind and...
I go down by the water and wait for the river to greet me
down by the water I wait for the river to greet me
the bridge you cross on sunday is a vacant lot on monday
the heart is hard to follow when it goes
a futile yearning, it's a long lane' has no turning
the woman always wonders, she wonders when she knows that...
I go down by the water and wait for the river to greet me
down by the water I wait for the river to greet me
the holy stars that shine above this world
may never take you to the water
your heart may never fail you for the fear...
... MORE LYRICS FROM THIS CD SOON ...
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HOUSE LIKE A TRAIN
On The Wire
got a phone call from a friend of mine
and she said,
"haven't seen your face, haven't heard your voice
in such a long time . . .
you picked up fast and you moved so far,
but that's all right 'cause I know how you are . . ."
I'm in a sad place now, I don't know if you'll understand
bone cold outside and sparrows on the wire
you never leave your home when you leave your heart behind
I don't know why, I don't know why
I wanna tell you truly
but you won't believe me, no
I never meant to do you wrong
never do you wrong
paper dolls are pretty, but you know they're so naive
they won't stand alone
stand alone
I would wait for the days and the nights to pass
sitting at my window till the moon came by
cold shadows crawl across the wooden floor
and so do I, so do I
House Like A Train
this house is like a train
several cars and two on crew
heading north and leaking water
always someone passing through
trouble coming in one door
and caution going out another
there's a woman bathed in blue
a golden child without her mother
this heart is beating
this house is like a train
this house is like a train
we learn to love the shake and shudder
rolling by the matron moon
the laughing dogs and small town clutter
pennies that I left along the rail
are only good luck charms
help me find my way back home
now take me to my baby's arms
this heart is beating
This house is like a train
tell me, where will we go
I don't know . . .
I say, where will we go
I don't know . . .
this house is like a train
but I don't mind the mystery
an open ear, a word of faith
the venture rushes back to me
this heart is beating
this house is like a train
Crazy Man
yes I know you well
sometimes better than I wanted to
always hiding in your rented room
don't get the paper or the phone
children's voices from the street below
the pigeons thunder past your shades
you've seen a hundred fine parades
but never had one of your own
she said
everything behind you follows everywhere you go
you can't help but take it with you
now I wonder if you know that you're a crazy man
I gotta love a crazy man
an old blue jacked and your baggy pants
you hang the laundry on your bones
you've got a pocket full of stones
to help you justify the pain
up the ladder to the roof again
with more to think of than the fall
you take the tattered parasol
and pay no attention to the rain
there is a ledge that has been waiting
since the mason pulled his hand away
a razor blade got tossed today
but you don't really care
you're just a crazy man
I gotta love a crazy man
Salmo you're a crazy man
I gotta love a crazy man
Leave A Light On Marion
all the kids on sunday and the neighbors
they say mister brown
we barely got to know you
but we carry round your name
never called you papa
though you know you always were
leave a light on marion
cowboys on your bad side
but i know how much you loved your spurs
you let me ride beside you
through the heart of every season
always had your donkeys
and that lonesome rodeo
leave a light on marion
so afraid to get so close to you
but you know I always wanted to
I know better know what you went through
leave a light on marion
bad news and the banker
left your buddy leeland broken down
but it was never like you not to share your humble treasure
he was not the only one to sign an I owe you
leave a light on marion
all the kids on sunday and the neighbors
they say mister brown
I guess there was a time there
when I might have called you willie
never called you papa
though you know you always were
leave a light on marion
leave a light on marion
Propaganda Talisman
first thing in the morning
I get up, i read your paper
I see the black and white
I read between the lines
isn't it enough that we are climbing up this ladder
Now you paint them all like church boys
and you dress them to the nines
loyalties and passive service
to the few in power
there is no rule here, save the rule about the whip
you've got a beat reporter dancing on the lawn
don't wanna bite the hand that feeds yo
better save your fellowship
keep me down, yeah you just try it
keep me down, yeah you just try it now
keep me down, yeah you just try it
the propped-up man will tell us
propaganda talisman
"conspiracy and rhetoric" from any opposition
you're ready waiting with a fitting epigram
ambitions that are not my own
are knocking at my door again
my pen is poised, today I'm gonna tell you who I am
isn't it enough that we are climbing up this ladder
don't look down, don't look down
keep your head up, keep your head up
don't look down . . .
If I Had Your Money
if I had your money
I'd buy myself a pair of brand new blue jeans
if I had your money
I'd cut my hair and keep my face real clean
if I had your money
you'd see me walkin' down some different streets
if I had your money
I would be livin' in an uptown suite
if I had your money
I think I'd buy myself a sports sedan
if I had your money
I'd kick my feet up on a new divan
if I had your money
I'd find some beauty who knows how to love
if I had your money
I'd get me everything I'm dreamin' of
you see I'm tired
I'm tired of living here the way I do
somebody says to me
best things in life are free
but that ain't true
monday through friday to collect my pay
i waste my livin' on your workin' day
things wouldn't be this way
if i had your money
if I had your money
I'd put a line out for a friend or two
if I had your money
I'd know your nightclubs and your who is who
if I had your money
I would be privy to the latest trends
if I had your money
I'd watch my holdings and my dividends
you see I'm tired
I'm tired of living here the way I am
you try to make it on your spiritual salvation
yeah, well that's a shame
I'd buy myself a new self-esteem
I'd play this part out on a different scene
things wouldn't be this way
if I had your money
Windsor, Colorado
well there's a train crossin' 58
and she is holding up a ford
sugar beet and flats bound for great western
another heavy frost last night
it's time for turning corn
the cattle and the geese are coming home
sitting on a stool at nancy's counter
a cigarette and coffee for the boys
the cover-alls are faded and the wives are all at home
now there's work to do
and dreams to leave behind
windsor, colorado never claimed me
but people there were mostly always kind
they never took away what I could rightly call my own
and now there's nothing left but change
and I don't mind
well there's an old bright yellow antique store
and I have never been inside before
but I can see it clearly from the falcon
other kids are off in school
but I wait here while dad plays pool
and later he'll forget or tell a lie
sitting on a stool at nancy's counter
a coffee and a long john for the boy
its funny sometimes how things go
you give it twenty years or so
and there's work to do
and dreams to leave behind
Don't Be True
climbing on the chicken house
boy-king of the world
big bad dog can't bother me
the flag shirt is unfurled
bright and limey 'bove my head
just shaking in the sun
a shame to be undone
don't be true
don't be true to me
don't be true to me now
riding on a whirly rig
we thunder through the field
missouri line in sixty-nine
my wander lust revealed
I never thought I'd see the day
so furrowed in your brow
you wouldn't catch me now
don't be true
don't be true to me
don't be true to me now
I'm so tired
I think a chain around my neck
would still be easier
so much pain I can't resist
all the time I have
to sit around and think about the criminal
it's your presence that I missed
stepping on a shaky perch
the safety net is gone
right foot to the power line
my will is coming on
conditions change and thanks to me
the boyhood heroes fall
it makes no sense at all . . .
Richard
I can't remember when it was
I can't remember when it was
I never made it round to see him when I was home in may
he was living at a roadside trailer park just north of town
or staying at the lake
I can't remember when it was, the last time I saw richard
richard wore the pale white shirt of delusion
on his shoulders still
and a countenance of independence shining on the face
of one man's will
I don't know if he was hiding out or playing hard to get
but he never had an alibi, just maybe one regret
I can't remember when it was, the last time I saw richard
now the sun is on my back and I am rowing on the water
the antelope are running with their backs against the sun
and richard stands below them on the banks across the water
tell me how can I forget you for the sky in wellington
I can't remember when it was, the last time I saw richard
I will fly across the tracks tonight and hope to miss that train
fill my twenty pages, slay the dragon in your name
I will always love the landscape that will never be the same
but I can't remember when it was, the last time I saw richard
well I never said goodbye to you
the last time that I wandered through
I can't remember when it was, the last time I saw richard
Waiting
when will it come, when will I go
when will I see my time, when will I know
will I be out of breath, will I be out of mind
will I be resolute, will I be unresigned
waiting is the worst thing
will I be still, will I be moving
will I be always at their mercies disapproving
will I be just another on my way to answer
when I'm beaten down
waiting is the worst thing
the more you leave it now
the less you learn
look into your heart
to see what makes you burn
you could make a difference here
but waiting is the worst thing
you wait for dinner
you wait for sleep you wait for waking
and your precious soul to keep
you could make a difference here
but waiting is the worst thing
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