Bend Down The Branches
The sky’s as deep as it can be Bend down the branches Close your eyes and you will see Bend down the branches You’re like a willow Once you were gold We’re made for bending Even beauty gets old Climb the stairs they’re not so steep Bend down the branches Close your eyes and go to sleep Bend down the branches
You Can Never Hold Back Spring
You can never hold back spring You can be sure that I will never Stop believing The blushing rose will climb Spring ahead or fall behind Winter dreams the same dream Every time You can never hold back spring Even though you’ve lost your way The world keeps dreaming of spring So close your eyes Open you heart To one who’s dreaming of you You can never hold back spring Baby Remember everything that spring Can bring You can never hold back spring
Long Way Home
Well I stumbled in the darkness I’m lost and alone Though I said I’d go before us And show the way back home There a light up ahead I can’t hold onto her arm Forgive me pretty baby but I always take the long way home Money’s just something you throw Off the back of a train Got a head full of lightning A hat full of rain And I know that I said I’d never do it again And I love you pretty baby but I always take the long way home I put food on the table And roof overhead But I’d trade it all tomorrow For the highway instead Watch your back if I should tell you Love’s the only thing I’ve ever known One thing for sure pretty baby I always take the long way home You know I love you baby More than the whole wide world You are my woman I know you are my pearl Let’s go out past the party lights Where we can finally be alone Come with me and we can take the long way home Come with me, together we can take the long way home Come with me, together we can take the long way home
Widow’s Grove
I met you in the saddle, rode you in the dust Held your hand to the heavens, pulled your heart to the earth There was something that blinded me more than the mist And the breath of the cottonwood buds lighter yet And you rode the maypole of dance hall legs And galloped to another’s embrace And I bit the flowers from your wrist corsage And you waltzed too slowly, too slowly you waltzed With that girl from Widow’s Grove Oh, I’d follow you to the river, that washes out to the sea Through the wind, through the rain of a cold dark night That’s where I’ll be Near the breath of a swallow, petals dropped as you fell And you grabbed then shyly held me, against the stone cold well In your hand was a glass, you held the ice against the night And it dripped and it sparkled and I laughed a wish Before it all slipped down the dark tunneled well I heard it melt quietly and I looked at you Bent to the earth with just one pleading wish Your skirts brushed to the furious pounding Oh, I’d follow you to the river, that washes out to the sea Through the wind, through the rain of a cold dark night That’s where I’ll be I hid in the elm and raised the bough, that hung even with your neck And I chased you and drowned you, there deep in the well And when your mouth was full and wet, I swallowed all your reckless fate And with your last breath, you moaned too drunk to wake Oh, I’d follow you to the river, that washes out to the sea Through the wind, through the rain of a cold dark night That’s where I’ll be Through the wind, through the rain of a cold dark night That’s where I’ll be
Little Drop Of Poison
I like my town with a little drop of poison Nobody knows they’re lining up to go insane I’m all alone, I smoke my friends down to the filter But I feel much cleaner after it rains She left in the fall, that’s her picture on the wall She always had that little drop of poison She left in the fall, that’s her picture on the wall She always had that little drop of poison Did the devil make the world while God was sleeping Someone said you’ll never get a wish from a bone Another wrong goodbye and a hundred sailors That deep blue sky is my home She left in the fall, that’s her picture on the wall She always had that little drop of poison She left in the fall, that’s her picture on the wall She always had that little drop of poison A rat always knows when he’s in with weasels Here you lose a little every day I remember when a million was a million They all have ways to make you pay They all have ways to make you pay
Shiny Things
The things a crow puts in his nest They are always things he finds that shine best Somehow they’ll find a shiny dime, a silver twine From a Valentine The crows all bring them shiny things Leave me alone you big ol' Moon The light you cast is just a liar You’re like the crows, 'cos if it glows You’re dressed to go, you guessed I know You’ll always cling to shiny things We’ll, I’m not dancing here tonight But things are bound to turn around Though the only I want that shines is to be king Here in your eyes To be your only shiny thing
The World Keeps Turning
On our anniversary There’ll be someone else where you used to be The world don’t care and yet it clings to me And the moon is gold and silvery Who knows where the sidewalk ends Well, the road will turn and the road will bend They always say he marks the sparrow’s fall How can anyone believe it all? Well, the band has stopped playing but we keep dancing The world keeps turning, the world keeps turning On his hand he wore the ring of another And the world keeps turning, the world keeps turning We broke the bank and we tore up the place And we disappeared oh without a trace Now the sun it falls into the sea And around the only one for me I was so green and the dress you wore was yellow And the world keeps turning, the world keeps turning The sun is down and the moon is in the meadow And the world keeps turning, the world keeps turning Put a hat on your head Will you paint the whole damned town red with me? Well, the band has stopped playing but we keep dancing The world keeps turning, the world keeps turning On his hand he wore the ring of another The world keeps turning, the world keeps turning The world keeps turning, the world keeps turning The world keeps turning, the world keeps turning
Tell It To Me
They say you’re seeing someone, you’re wearing his ring They say you laughed when you heard my name They say he takes you dancing, he holds you so near They say he’ll buy you anything Tell me am I foolish, I don’t believe these stories And I’ll be coming home soon Louise, Louise, if it’s true Tell it to me I know, you will not see me, but I know you have a daughter And I hear she has my eyes They say she calls him "father", and he’s proud of her And even believes all of your lies But for all your faithless beauty, I’d give all my tomorrows And if you’re still thinking of me Louise, Louise, if it’s true Tell it to me Oh Louise, Louise, if it’s true Tell it to me Oh Louise, Louise, if it’s true Tell it to me
Never Let Go
Well, ring the bell backwards and bury the axe Fall down on your knees in the dirt I’m tied to the mast between water and wind Believe me, you’ll never get hurt Our ring’s in the pawnshop, the rain’s in the hole Down at the Five Points(1) I stand I’ll lose everything But I won’t let go of your hand Well, Peter denied and Judas betrayed I’ll bail with the roll of the drum And the wind will tell the turn from the wheel And the watchman is making his rounds Well, you’ll leave me hanging by the skin of my teeth I’ve only got one leg to stand You can send me to hell But I’ll never let go of your hand Swing from a rope on a cross-legged dream(?) Signed with One Eyed Jack’s blood From Temple to Union, to LA and Grand Walking back home in the mud(2) Now I must make my best of the only way home Molly deals only in stone I’m lost on the midway, I’m reckless in your eyes Just give me a couple more throws I’ll dare you to dine with the cross-legged knight Dare me to jump and I will I’ll fall from your grace But I’ll never let go of your hand I’ll never let go of your hand
Fannin Street
There’s a crooked street in Houston town, It’s a well born path I’ve traveled down Now there’s ruin in my name, I wish I never got off the train, I wished I’d listened to the words you said. Don’t go down to Fannin Street Don’t go down to Fannin Street Don’t go down to Fannin Street You’ll be lost and never found You can never turn around Don’t go down to Fannin Street Once I held you in my arms, I was sure But I took that silent stare through the guilded door The desire to have much more, all the glitter and the roar, I know this is where the sidewalk ends. Don’t go down to Fannin Street Don’t go down to Fannin Street Don’t go down to Fannin Street You’ll be lost and never found You can never turn around Don’t go down to Fannin Street When I was young I thought only of getting out I said goodbye to my street, goodbye to my house Give a man gin, give a man cards, give an inch he takes a yard, And I rue the day that I stepped off this train. Don’t go down to Fannin Street Don’t go down to Fannin Street Don’t go down to Fannin Street You’ll be lost and never found You can never turn around Don’t go down to Fannin Street.
Little Man
Sure as fire will burn There’s one thing you will learn Those things you have cherished Are things that you have earned Luck is when opportunity Meets with preparation And the same is true for every generation Little man As you climb upon my knee The whole future lies in thee Little man Little man Never hurry, take it slow Things worth while need time to grow Little man Don’t look back There are things that might distract Move ahead towards your goal And the answers will unfold Little man Love is always in the air It is there for those who care Little man Don’t look back There are things that might distract Move ahead towards your goal And the answers will unfold Little man Love is always in the air It is there for those who care Little man Little man Little man Little man
It’s Over
You must have brought the bad weather with you The sky’s the colour of lead All you’ve left me is a feather On an unmade bed It’s always me whenever there’s trouble The world does nothing but turn And the ring it fell off my finger I guess I’ll never learn But it’s over, it’s over, it’s over I’m getting dressed in the dark Our story ends before it begins I always confess to everyone’s sins The nail gets hammered down And it’s over, let it go So don’t go and make a big deal out of nothing Well it’s just a storm on a dime And I’ve always found there’s nothing That money can’t buy I’ve already gone to the place I’m going There’s no place left to fall And there’s something to be said For saying nothing at all And it’s over, it’s over, it’s over It’s done forgotten and through No one cares what it’s all for You’ll be buried in the clothes That you’ve never wore So keep your suitcase by the door It’s over, let it go No one cares what it’s all for You’ll be buried in the clothes That you never wore So keep your suitcase by the door It’s over, let it go You gotta let it go Let it go, let it go
If I Have To Go
And if I have to go, will you remember me? Will you find someone else, while I’m away? There’s nothing for me, in this world full of strangers It’s all someone else’s idea I don’t belong here, and you can’t go with me You’ll only slow me down Until I send for you, don’t wear your hair that way If you cannot be true, I’ll understand Tell all the others, you’ll hold in your arms That I said I’d come back for you I’ll leave my jacket to keep you warm That’s all that I can do And if I have to go, will you remember me? Will you find someone else, while I’m away?
Goodnight Irene
[Chorus:] Irene, goodnight. Irene, goodnight Goodnight, Irene. Goodnight, Irene. I’ll see you in my dreams. Last Saturday night I got married. Me and my wife settled down. Now, me and my wife are parted. Gonna take a little stroll downtown. [Chorus] Yeah, sometimes I live in the country And sometimes I live in town. Yeah, and sometimes I take a great notion I’m gonna jump in the river and drown. [Chorus] Stop ramblin'. Stop that gamblin'. Stop staying out late at night. Go home to your wife and family. Stay there by the fireside, bright. [Chorus] Goodnight, Irene. Goodnight, Irene. I’ll see you in my dreams.
The Fall Of Troy
It’s the same with men as with horses and dogs Nothing wants to die Evelyn James they killed in a game With guns too big for their hands Just off St. Charles in No-Mans Land And you’ll have to find your own way home, boys You’ll have to find your own way home The oldest was Troy, an eighteen year-old boy Shot dead in March with a robbery His brother started out to hell and to ruin Troy’s killer was never caught they say Young nick he just went bad that day Now he’ll have to find his own way home, boys He’ll have to find his own way home Why cook dinner? Why make my bed? Why come home at all? Out the door and through the woods There is a world where nothing grows It’s hard to say grace and to sit in the place Of someone missing at the table Mom’s hair sprayed tight And her face in her hands Watching TV for answers to me After all she’s only human And she’s trying to find her own way home, boys She’s trying to find her own way home My legs ache My heart is sore The well is full of pennies
Take Care Of All My Children
Oh, take care of all of my children Don’t let 'em wander and roam Oh, take care of all of my children For I don’t know when I’m comin' back home You can put all of my possessions here in Jesus' name Nail a sign on the door Bright and early Sunday morning with my walking cane I’m going up to see my Lord Oh, keep them together at the sundown Safe from the Devil’s hand You gotta make them a pillow on the hard ground I’ll be goin' up to Beulah land You can put all of my possessions here in Jesus' name And nail a sign on the door Bright and early Sunday morning with my walking cane I’m going up to see my Lord Oh remember you never trust the Devil Stay clear of Lucifer’s hand Oh and don’t let 'em wander in the meadow Or you’ll wind up in the fryin' pan You can put all of my possessions here in Jesus' name And nail a sign on the door Bright and early Sunday morning with my walking cane I’m going up to see my Lord Put all of my possessions here in Jesus' name And nail a sign on the door Bright and early Sunday morning with my walking cane I’m going up to see my Lord
Down There By The Train
There’s a place I know where the train goes slow Where the sinner can be washed in the blood of the lamb There’s a river by the trestle down by sinner’s grove Down where the willow and the dogwood grow You can hear the whistle, you can hear the bell From the halls of heaven to the gates of hell And there’s room for the forsaken if you’re there on time You’ll be washed of all your sins and all of your crimes If you’re down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train Down there where the train goes slow There’s a golden moon that shines up through the mist And I know that your name can be on that list There’s no eye for an eye, there’s no tooth for a tooth I saw Judas Iscariot carrying John Wilkes Booth He was down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train He was down there where the train goes slow If you’ve lost all your hope, if you’ve lost all your faith I know you can be cared for and I know you can be safe And all the shamefuls and all of the whores And even the soldier who pierced the side of the Lord Is down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train Down there where the train goes slow Well, I’ve never asked forgiveness and I’ve never said a prayer Never given of myself, never truly cared I’ve left the ones who loved me and I’m still raising Cain I’ve taken the low road and if you’ve done the same Meet me down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train Down there where the train goes slow Meet me down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train Down there by the train Down there where the train goes slow
Danny Says
(originally by The Ramones)
Danny says we gotta go Gotta go to Idaho But we can’t go surfin' 'Cause it’s 20 below Sound check’s at 5:02 Record stores and interviews Oh, but I can’t wait To be with you tomorrow Baby Oho-ho-ho, we got nowhere to go And it may sound funny, but it’s true Hangin' out in 100 B Watching Get Smart on TV Thinkin' about You and me and you and me Hangin' out in L.A. And there’s nowhere to go It ain’t Christmas if there ain’t no snow Listening to Sheena on the radio Oh-ho oh-ho
Jayne’s Blue Wish
The sky holds all our wishes The dish ran away with the spoon Chimney smoke ties the roofs to the sky There’s a hole overhead It’s only the moon Will there ever be a tree Grown from the seeds I’ve sown Life is a path lit only by the light of those I’ve loved By the light of those I love Life’s a path lit only by the light of those I’ve loved By the light of those I love
Young At Heart
Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you If you’re young at heart For it’s hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind If you’re young at heart You can go to extremes with impossible schemes You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams And life gets more exciting with each passing day And love is either in your heart or on its way Don’t you know that it’s worth every treasure on earth To be young at heart And as rich as you are it’s much better by far To be young at heart And if you should survive to 105 Think of all you’ve derived out of being alive Then this is the best part You have a head start If you are among the very young at heart Don’t you know that it’s worth every treasure on earth To be young at heart Or as rich as you are it’s much better by far To be young at heart And if you should survive to 105 Think of all you’ve derived out of being alive Then this is the best part You have a head start If you are among the very young at heart If you are among the very young at heart