Thunder On The Mountain
Thunder on the mountain, and there’s fires on the moon A ruckus in the alley and the sun will be here soon Today’s the day, where I’m gonna grab my trombone and blow Well, there’s hot stuff here and it’s everywhere I go I was thinking about Alicia Keys, couldn’t keep from crying When she was born in Hell’s Kitchen, I was living down the line I’m wondering where in the world Alicia Keys could be I been looking for her even clear through Tennessee Feel like my soul is beginning to expand Look into my heart and you will sort of understand You brought me here, now you’re trying to turn me away The writing on the wall, come read it, come see what it does say Thunder on the mountain, rolling like a drum Going to sleep over there, that’s where the music is coming from I don’t need any guide, I already know the way Remember this, I’m your servant both night and day The pistols are popping and the power is down I’d like to try something but I’m so far from town The sun keeps shining and the North Wind keeps picking up speed Gonna forget about myself for a while, gonna go out and see what others need I’ve been sitting down studying the art of love I think it will fit me like a glove I want some real good woman to do just what I say Everybody got to wonder what’s the matter with this cruel world today Thunder on the mountain rolling to the ground Gonna get up in the morning walk the hard road down Some sweet day I’ll stand beside my King I wouldn’t betray your love or any other thing Gonna raise me an army, some tough sons of bitches I’ll recruit my army from the orphanages I been to St. Herman’s church, said my religious vows As I’ve sucked the milk out of a thousand cows I’ve got the pork chops, she’s got the pie She ain’t no angel and neither am I Shame on your greed, shame on your wicked schemes I’ll say this, I don’t give a damn about your dreams Thunder on the mountain heavy as can be Mean old twister bearing down on me All the ladies in Washington scrambling to get out of town Looks like something bad is going to happen, better roll your airplane down Everybody going and I want to go too Don’t wanna take a chance with somebody new I did all I could, I did it right there and then I’ve already confessed, no need to confess again Gonna make a lot of money, gonna go up North I’ll plant and I’ll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer’s on the table, the pitchfork’s on the shelf For the love of God, you ought to take pity on yourself.
Spirit On The Water
Spirit on the water Darkness on the face of the deep I keep thinking about you baby I can hardly sleep I’m traveling by land Traveling through the dawn of day You’re always on my mind I can’t stay away I had forgotten about you Then you turned up again I always knew We were meant to be more than friends When you’re near It’s just as plain as it can be I’m wild about you, girl You ought to be a fool about me Can’t explain The sources of this hidden pain You burned your way into my heart You got the key to my brain I’ve been trampling through mud Praying to the powers above I’m sweating blood You got a face that begs for love Life without you Doesn’t mean a thing to me If I can’t have you I’ll throw my love into the deep blue sea Sometimes I wonder Why you can’t treat me right You do good all day And then you do wrong all night When you’re with me I’m a thousand times happier than I could ever say What does it matter What price I pay? They brag about your sugar Brag about it all over town Put some sugar in my bowl I feel like laying down I’m as pale as a ghost Holding a blossom on a stem You ever seen a ghost? No, but you have heard of them I see you there I’m blinded by the colors I see I’ll take good care Of what belongs to me I hear your name Ringing up and down the line I’m saying it plain These ties are strong enough to bind Now your sweet voice Calls out from some old familiar shrine I’ve got no choice Can’t believe these things would ever fade from your mind I could live forever With you perfectly You don’t ever Have to make a fuss over me >From East to West Ever since the world began I only mean it for the best I want to be with you in any way that I can I’ve been in a brawl Now I’m feeling the wall I’m going away baby I won’t be back until fall High on the hill You can carry all my thoughts with you You’ve numbed my will This love could tear me in two I want be with you in paradise And it seems so unfair I can’t go to paradise no more I killed a man back there You think I’m over the hill You think I’m past my prime Let me see what you got We can have a whopping good time
Rollin' And Tumblin'
I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long Woke up this morning, I must have bet my money wrong I got troubles so hard, I can’t stand the strain I got troubles so hard, I can’t stand the strain Some young lazy slut has charmed away my brains The landscape is glowing, gleaming in the golden light of day The landscape is glowing, gleaming in the golden light of day I ain’t holding nothing back now, I ain’t standing in any body’s way Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind Well, I paid and I paid and my suffering heart is always on the line Well, I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade I ain’t no body’s house boy, I ain’t no body’s well trained maid I’m flat out spent, this woman been driving me to tears I’m flat out spent, this woman she been driving me to tears This woman so crazy, I swear I ain’t going to touch another one for years Well, the warm weather’s coming and the buds are on the vine The warm weather’s coming, the buds are on the vine Ain’t nothing so depressing as trying to satisfy this woman of mine I got up this morning, saw the rising sun return Well, I got up this morning, see the rising sun return Sooner or later, you too shall burn The night’s filled with shadows The years are filled with early doom The night is filled with shadows The years are filled with early doom I’ve been conjuring up all these long dead souls from their crumbling tombs Let’s forgive each other darling, Let’s go down to the greenwood glen Let’s forgive each other darling Let’s go down to the greenwood glen Let’s put our heads together now Let’s put all old matters to an end Well, I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long Aah, I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long I woke up this morning and I think I must be traveling wrong
When The Deal Goes Down
In the still of the night, in the world’s ancient light Where wisdom grows up in strife My bewildering brain, toils in vain Through the darkness on the pathways of life Each invisible prayer is like a cloud in the air Tomorrow keeps turning around We live and we die, we know not why But I’ll be with you when the deal goes down We eat and we drink, we feel and we think Far down the street we stray I laugh and I cry and I’m haunted by Things I never meant nor wished to say The midnight rain follows the train We all wear the same thorny crown Soul to soul, our shadows roll And I’ll be with you when the deal goes down Well, the moon gives light and it shines by night When I scarcely feel the glow We learn to live and then we forgive Over the road we’re bound to go More frailer than the flowers, these precious hours That keep us so tightly bound You come to my eyes like a vision from the skies And I’ll be with you when the deal goes down Well, I picked up a rose and it poked through my clothes I followed the winding stream I heard the deafening noise, I felt transient joys I know they’re not what they seem In this earthly domain, full of disappointment and pain You’ll never see me frown I owe my heart to you, and that’s saying it’s true And I’ll be with you when the deal goes down
Someday Baby
I don’t care what you do, I don’t care what you say I don’t care where you go or how long you stay Someday baby, you ain’t gonna worry about me any more Well you take my money and you turn it out You fill me up with nothing but self doubt Someday baby, you ain’t gonna worry about me any more When I was young, driving was my crave You drive me so hard, almost to the grave Someday baby, you ain’t gonna worry about me any more I’m so hard pressed, my mind tied up in knots I keep recycling the same old thoughts Someday baby, you ain’t gonna worry about me me any more So many good things in life that I’ve overlooked I don’t know what to do now, you got me hooked Someday baby, you ain’t gonna worry about me me any more Well, I don’t want to brag, but I’m gonna wring your neck When all else fails I’ll make it a matter of self respect Someday baby, you ain’t gonna worry about me any more You can take your clothes put them em in a sack You’re going down the road, baby and you can’t come back Someday baby, you ain’t gonna worry about me any more I tried to be friendly, I tried to be kind I’m gonna drive you from your home, just like I was driven from mine Someday baby, you ain’t gonna worry about me any more Living this way ain’t a natural thing to do Why was I born to love you? Someday baby, you ain’t gonna worry about me any more
Workingman’s Blues #2
There’s an evening haze settling over town Starlight by the edge of the creek The buying power of the proletariat’s gone down Money’s getting shallow and weak Well, the place I love best is a sweet memory It’s a new path that we trod They say low wages are a reality If we want to compete abroad My cruel weapons have been put on the shelf Come sit down on my knee You are dearer to me than myself As you yourself can see While I’m listening to the steel rails hum Got both eyes tight shut Just sitting here trying to keep the hunger from Creeping it’s way into my gut Meet me at the bottom, don’t lag behind Bring me my boots and shoes You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline Sing a little bit of these workingman’s blues Well, I’m sailing on back, ready for the long haul Tossed by the winds and the seas I’ll drag them all down to hell and I’ll stand them at the wall I’ll sell them to their enemies I’m trying to feed my soul with thought Going to sleep off the rest of the day Sometimes no one wants what we got Sometimes you can’t give it away Now the place is ringed with countless foes Some of them may be deaf and dumb No man, no woman knows The hour that sorrow will come In the dark I hear the night birds call I can feel a lover’s breath I sleep in the kitchen with my feet in the hall Sleep is like a temporary death Well, they burned my barn, and they stole my horse I can’t save a dime I got to be careful, I don’t want to be forced Into a life of continual crime I can see for myself that the sun is sinking How I wish you were here to see Tell me now, am I wrong in thinking That you have forgotten me? Now they worry and they hurry and they fuss and they fret They waste your nights and days Them I will forget But you I’ll remember always Old memories of you to me have clung You’ve wounded me with your words Gonna have to straighten out your tongue It’s all true, everything you’ve heard In you, my friend, I find no blame Wanna look in my eyes, please do No one can ever claim That I took up arms against you All across the peaceful sacred fields They will lay you low They’ll break your horns and slash you with steel I say it so it must be so Now I’m down on my luck and I’m black and blue Gonna give you another chance I’m all alone and I’m expecting you To lead me off in a cheerful dance I got a brand new suit and a brand new wife I can live on rice and beans Some people never worked a day in their life Don’t know what work even means.
Beyond The Horizon
Beyond the horizon, behind the sun At the end of the rainbow life has only begun In the long hours of twilight underneath the stardust above Beyond the horizon it is easy to love I’m touched with desire What I do Through flame and through fire I’ll build my world around you Beyond the horizon, in the Springtime or fall Love waits forever, for one and for all Beyond the horizon, across the divide Around about midnight, we’ll be on the same side Down in the valley the water runs cold Beyond the horizon someone prayed for your soul My wretched heart is pounding I felt an angel’s kiss My memories are drowning In mortal bliss Beyond the horizon, at the end of the game Every step that you take, I’m walking the same Beyond the horizon, the night winds blow The theme of a melody from many moons ago The bells of St. Mary, how sweetly they chime Beyond the horizon I found you just in time It’s dark and it’s dreary I’ve been pleading in vain I’m wounded, I’m weary My repentance is plain Beyond the horizon over the treacherous sea I still can’t believe that you have set aside your love for me Beyond the horizon, underneath crimson skies In the soft light of morning I’ll follow you with my eyes Through countries and kingdoms and temples of stone Beyond the horizon right down to the bone It’s the right time of the season Somebody there always cared There’s always a reason Why some one’s life has been spared Beyond the horizon, the sky is so blue I’ve got more than a lifetime to live loving you
Nettie Moore
Lost John’s sitting on a railroad track Some thing’s out of whack Blues this morning falling down like hail Gonna leave a greasy trail Gonna travel the world is what I’m gonna do Then come back and see you. All I ever do is struggle and strive. If I don’t do anybody any harm, I might make it back home alive. I’m the oldest son of a crazy man, I’m in a cowboy band Got a pile of sins to pay for and I ain’t got time to hide I’d walk through a blazing fire, baby, if I knew you was on the other side Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore And my happiness is over Winter’s gone, the river’s on the rise I loved you then, and ever shall But there’s no one left here to tell The world has gone black before my eyes Well, the world of research has gone berserk Too much paperwork Albert’s in the graveyard, Frankie’s raising hell I’m beginning to believe what the scriptures tell I’ve gone where the Southern crosses The Yellow Dog Get away from all these demagogues And these bad luck women stick like glue It’s either one or the other or neither of the two She says, "Look out, Daddy, don’t want you to tear your pants. You could get wrecked in this dance." They say whisky will kill you, but I don’t think it will I’m riding with you to the top of the hill Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore And my happiness is over Winter’s gone, the river’s on the rise I loved you then, and ever shall But there’s no one left here to tell The world has gone black before my eyes Don’t know why my baby never looked so good before Don’t have to wonder no more She’s been cooking all day, it going to take me all night I can’t eat all that stuff in a single bite The judge’s coming in, everybody rise Lift up your eyes You can do what you please, you don’t need my advice Before you call me any dirty names, you better think twice Getting light outside, the temperature dropped I think the rain has stopped I’m going make you come to grips with fate When I’m through with you, you’ll learn to keep your business straight Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore And my happiness is over Winter’s gone, the river’s on the rise I loved you then, and ever shall But there’s no one left here to tell The world has gone black before my eyes The bright spark of the steady lights Has dimmed my sights When you’re around me all my grief gives away A life time with you is like some heavenly day Everything I’ve ever known to be right has been proven wrong I’ll be drifting along The woman I’m loving she rules my heart No knife could ever cut our love apart. Today I’ll stand in faith and raise The voice of praise The sun is strong, I’m standing in the light I wish to God that it were night The world has gone black before my eyes.
The Levee’s Gonna Break
If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break Everybody saying this is a day only the Lord could make Well, I worked on the levee, mama, both night and day I worked on the levee, mama, both night and day I got to the river and I threw my clothes away I paid my time and now I’m good as new, I paid my time and now I’m as good as new. They can’t take me back unless I want them to If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break Some of these people gonna strip you of all they can take I can’t stop here I ain’t ready to unload I can’t stop here I ain’t ready to unload Riches and salvation can be waiting behind the next bend in the road I picked you up from the gutter and this is the thanks I get I picked you up from the gutter and this is the thanks I get You say you want me to quit you, I told you, 'No, not just yet.' Well, I look in your eyes, I see nobody other than me I look in your eyes, I see nobody other than me I see all that I am and all I hope to be If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break Some of these people don’t know which road to take When I’m with you, I forget I was ever blue When I’m with you, I forget I was ever blue Without you there’s no meaning in anything I do Some people on the road carrying everything that they own Some people on the road carrying everything they own Some people got barely enough skin to cover their bones Put on your cat clothes, mama, put on your evening dress Put on your cat clothes, mama, put on your evening dress Few more years of hard work, then there’ll be a 1,000 years of happiness If it keep on raining, the levee gonna break If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break I tried to get you to love me, but I won’t repeat that mistake If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break Plenty of cheap stuff out there and still around that you take I woke up this morning, butter and eggs in my bed I woke up this morning, butter and eggs in my bed I ain’t got enough room to even raise my head. Come back, baby, say we never more will part Come back, baby, say we never more will part Don’t be a stranger with no brain or heart If it keep on raining, the levee’s gonna break.
Ain’t Talkin'
As I walked out tonight in the mystic garden The wounded flowers were dangling from the vine I was passing by yon cool crystal fountain Someone hit me from behind Ain’t talking, just walking Through this weary world of woe Heart burning, still yearning No one on earth would ever know They say prayer has the power to heal So pray for me, mother In the human heart an evil spirit can dwell I am trying to love my neighbor and do good unto others But oh, mother, things ain’t going well Ain’t talking, just walking I’ll burn that bridge before you can cross Heart burning, still yearning There’ll be no mercy for you once you’ve lost Now I’m all worn down by weeping My eyes are filled with tears, my lips are dry If I catch my opponents ever sleeping I’ll just slaughter them where they lie Ain’t talking, just walking Through the world mysterious and vague Heart burning, still yearning Walking through the cities of the plague. Well, the whole world is filled with speculation The whole wide world which people say is round They will tear your mind away from contemplation They will jump on your misfortune when you’re down Ain’t talking, just walking Eating hog eyed grease in a hog eyed town. Heart burning, still yearning Some day you’ll be glad to have me around. They will crush you with wealth and power Every waking moment you could crack I’ll make the most of one last extra hour I’ll revenge my father’s death then I’ll step back Ain’t talking, just walking Hand me down my walking cane. Heart burning, still yearning Got to get you out of my miserable brain. All my loyal and my much-loved companions They approve of me and share my code I practice a faith that’s been long abandoned Ain’t no altars on this long and lonesome road Ain’t talking, just walking My mule is sick, my horse is blind. Heart burning, still yearning Thinking about that girl I left behind. Well, it’s bright in the heavens and the wheels are flying Fame and honor never seem to fade The fire gone out but the light is never dying Who says I can’t get heavenly aid? Ain’t talking, just walking Carrying a dead man’s shield Heart burning, still yearning Walking with an ache in my heel The suffering is unending Every nook and cranny has its tears I’m not playing, I’m not pretending I’m not nursing any superfluous fears Ain’t talking, just walking Walking ever since the other night. Heart burning, still yearning Walking until I’m clean out of sight. As I walked out in the mystic garden On a hot summer day, a hot summer lawn Excuse me, ma’am, I beg your pardon There’s no one here, the gardener is gone Ain’t talking, just walking Up the road, around the bend. Heart burning, still yearning In the last outback at the world’s end.