huggingartists/joni-mitchell
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They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin hot spot
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop
Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop)
They took all the trees, put em in a tree museum
And they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see em
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop
Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop)
Hey farmer, farmer, put away the DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees, please
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop
Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop)
Late last night, I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi took away my old man
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
I said, dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot |
Just before our love got lost you said
I am as constant as a northern star
And I said, Constantly in the darkness
Wheres that at?
If you want me Ill be in the bar
On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh, Canada
With your face sketched on it twice
Oh, you are in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
And I would still be on my feet
Oh, I would still be on my feet
Oh, I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
Im frightened by the devil
And Im drawn to those ones that aint afraid
I remember that time you told me, you said
Love is touching souls
Surely you touched mine
Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh, you are in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
Still Id be on my feet
I would still be on my feet
I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said
Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed
Oh, but you are in my blood, you are my holy wine
Youre so bitter, bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
Still Id be on my feet
I would still be on my feet |
Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Ive looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
Ive looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
Its cloud illusions I recall
I really dont know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
Ive looked at love that way
But now its just another show
You leave em laughing when you go
And if you care, dont let them know
Dont give yourself away
Ive looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
Its loves illusions I recall
I really dont know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say I love you right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
Ive looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say Ive changed
Well somethings lost, but somethings gained
In living every day
Ive looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
Its lifes illusions I recall
I really dont know life
At all
Ive looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
Its lifes illusions I recall
I really dont know life
At all |
Its coming on Christmas
Theyre cutting down trees
Theyre putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it dont snow here
It stays pretty green
Im gonna make a lot of money
Then Im gonna quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Im so hard to handle
Im selfish and Im sad
Now Ive gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
Its coming on Christmas
Theyre cutting down trees
Theyre putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river I could skate away on |
I slept last night in a good hotel
I went shoppin today for jewels
The wind rushed around in the dirty town
And the children let out from their school
I was standin on a noisy corner
Waitin for the walkin green
Across the street, he stood
And he played real good
On his clarinet for free
Now me, I play for fortunes
And those velvet curtain calls
Ive got a black Limousine and two gentlemen
Who escort me through these halls
And Ill play if youve got the money
Or if youre a friend to me
But the one-man band by thе quick lunch stand
Hes been playin real good for free
Nobody stopped to hеar him
Though he played so sweet and high
They knew he had never been on the TV
So they passed his music by
I meant to go over and ask for a song
Maybe put on a harmony
I heard his refrain as the signal changed
He was playin real good for free |
What’s, what’s the next song?
The one about me
Oh, yeah, I like this one… uh, uh, like Joni says
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Have a feeling, now believing that you
Were the one I was meant to be with
Oh how I’m wishing, thinking, dreaming
Bout you, and the love
How’d I ever let you get away
Don’t it always seem
Don’t it always seem
Don’t it always seem
Don’t it always seem
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Joni Mitchell never lies
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
If I could turn back the hands of time
Make you, fall in love, in love with me again
So would you give me another chance to love
To love you, love you the right way, no games
Got til its gone
Got til its gone
Joni Mitchell never lies
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til...
One two, one two, yo
Let me just fuck with it for a minute, what
Now you realizing when them nights go long, right
Campaign for me to stay when you know that I’m gone, right
You act all wild, when I tell you to settle
I was working round the clock, but your girls want to meddle
Talk about I heard he swims with this chick on the beach
That was out with the tide but my love you impeach
Now you looking at the walls, head in hands, cold jonezin
Ringing my house, hanging up and imposing
And why you wanna go and do that love, huh
Now why you wanna go and do that and do that huh
And why you wanna go and do that love, huh
Now why you wanna go and do that and do that huh
And why you wanna go and do that love, huh
Now why you wanna go and do that and do that huh
And why you wanna go and do that love, huh
Now why you wanna go and do that
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Joni Mitchell never lies
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Yo, do you feel that?
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Dust |
Blue
Songs are like tattoos
You know Ive been to sea before
Crown and anchor me
Or let me sail away
Hey, blue
There is a song for you
Ink on a pin
Underneath the skin
An empty space to fill in
Well, theres so many sinking now
You gotta keep thinking
You can make it through these waves
Acid, booze, and ass
Needles, guns, and grass
Lots of laughs
Lots of laughs
Everybodys saying that
Hells the hippest way to go
Well, I dont think so
But Im gonna take a look around it, though
Blue, I love you
Blue, there is a shell for you
Inside youll hear a sigh
A foggy lullaby
There is your song from me |
Sitting in a park in Paris, France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They wont give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had
Still a lot of lands to see
But I wouldnt wanna stay here
Its too old and cold and settled in its ways here
Oh, but California
California, Im coming home
Im going to see the folks I dig
Ill even kiss a Sunset pig
California, Im coming home
I met a redneck on a Grecian isle
Who did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile
But he kept my camera to sell
Oh, the rogue, the red red rogue
He cooked good omelets and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there
But my heart cried out for you, California
Oh, California, Im coming home
Oh, make me feel good rock n roll band
Im your biggest fan
California, Im coming home
Oh, it gets so lonely
When youre walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
Just gives you the blues
Just gives you the blues
So I bought me a ticket
I got on a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
Reading Rolling Stone, reading Vogue
They said, How long can you hang around?
I said a week, maybe two
Just until my skin turns brown
Then Im going home to California
California, Im coming home
Oh, will you take me as I am
Strung out on another man
California, Im coming home
Oh, it gets so lonely
When youre walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
More about the war
And the bloody changes
Oh, will you take me as I am?
Will you take me as I am?
Will you?
Will you take me as I am?
Hmmm mmmmm
Take me as I am |
I am on a lonely road and I am traveling
Traveling, traveling, traveling
Looking for something, what can it be?
Oh, I hate you some, I hate you some, I love you some
Oh, I love you when I forget about me
I want to be strong, I want to laugh along
I want to belong to the living
Alive, alive, I want to get up and jive
I want to wreck my stockings in some jukebox dive
Do you want, do you want, do you want to dance with me, baby?
Do you want to take a chance
On maybe finding some sweet romance with me, baby?
Well, come on
All I really, really want our love to do
Is to bring out the best in me and in you too
All I really, really want our love to do
Is to bring out the best in me and in you
I want to talk to you, I want to shampoo you
I want to renew you again and again
Applause, applause, life is our cause
When I think of your kisses, my mind see-saws
Do you see, do you see, do you see how you hurt me, baby?
So I hurt you too
Then we both get so blue
I am on a lonely road and I am traveling
Looking for the key to set me free
Oh, the jealousy, the greed is the unraveling
Its the unraveling
And it undoes all the joy that could be
I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
Want to be the one that you want to see
I want to knit you a sweater
Want to write you a love letter
I want to make you feel better
I want to make you feel free
Want to make you feel free
I want to make you feel free |
Its coming on Christmas
Theyre cutting down trees
Theyre putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it dont snow here
It stays pretty green
Im gonna make a lot of money
Then Im gonna quit this crazy scene
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Oh, I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Im so hard to handle
Im selfish and Im sad
Now Ive gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Oh, I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
Its coming on Christmas
Theyre cutting down trees
Theyre putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on |
Born with the moon in Cancer
Choose her a name she will answer to
Call her green and the winters cannot fade her
Call her green for the children whove made her
Little green, be a gypsy dancer
He went to California
Hearing that everythings warmer there
So you write him a letter and say Her eyes are blue
He sends you a poem and shes lost to you
Little green, hes a non-conformer
Just a little green
Like the color when the spring is born
Therell be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the nights when the Northern lights perform
Therell be icicles and birthday clothes
And sometimes therell be sorrow
Child with a child pretending
Weary of lies you are sending home
So you sign all the papers in the family name
Youre sad and youre sorry but youre not ashamed
Little green, have a happy ending
Just a little green
Like the color when the spring is born
Therell be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the nights when the Northern lights perform
Therell be icicles and birthday clothes
And sometimes therell be sorrow |
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin hot spot
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what you got til its gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
Ooooh, bop bop bop
Ooooh, bop bop bop
They took all the trees, and put them in a tree museum
And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them
No, no, no
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what you got till its gone
They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot
Ooooh, bop bop bop
Ooooh, bop bop bop
Hey farmer, farmer, put away your DDT
I dont care about spots on my apples
Leave me the birds and the bees
Please
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what you got till its gone
They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot
Hey now!
They paved paradise, to put up a parking lot
Ooooh, bop bop bop
Ooooh, bop bop bop
Listen, late last night, I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi took my girl away
Now, dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what you got til its gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
Hey na na, dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what you got til its gone
They paved paradise to put up a parking lot
Why not?
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
Hey, hey, hey
Paved paradise and put up a parking lot
Ooooh, bop bop bop
Ooooh, bop bop bop
I dont wanna give it
Why you wanna give it
Why you wanna giving it all away
Hey, hey, hey
Now you wanna give it
I should wanna give it
Now you wanna giving it all away
I dont wanna give it
Why you wanna give it
Why you wanna give it all away
Hey, hey, hey
Now you wanna give it
I should wanna give it
Now you wanna giving it all away
Why do you want me?
Why do you want to?
Cos youre givin it all away
Hey, paved paradise to put up a parking lot |
Well, I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
And I asked him, tell me, where are you going?
This he told me
Said, Im going down to Yasgurs Farm
Gonna join in a rock and roll band
Got to get back to the land
And set my soul free
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion-year-old carbon
And weve got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
Well, then can I walk beside you?
I have come to lose the smog
And I feel myself a cog
In somethin turning
And maybe its the time of year
Yes, and maybe its the time of man
And I dont know who I am
But life is for learning
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion-year-old carbon
And we got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion-year-old carbon
And we got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere was a song
And a celebration
And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes
Riding shotgun in the sky
Turning into butterflies
Above our nation
We are stardust, we are golden
We are caught in the devils bargain
And we got to get ourselves
Back to the garden |
My old man
Hes a singer in the park
Hes a walker in the rain
Hes a dancer in the dark
We dont need no piece of paper
From the city hall
Keeping us tied and true
My old man
Keeping away my blues
Hes my sunshine in the morning
Hes my fireworks at the end of the day
Hes the warmest chord I ever heard
Play that warm chord, play and stay, baby
We dont need no piece of paper
From the city hall
Keeping us tied and true
My old man
Keeping away my blues
But when hes gone
Me and them lonesome blues collide
The beds too big
The frying pans too wide
Then he comes home
And he takes me in his loving arms
And he tells me all his troubles
And he tells me all my charms
We dont need no piece of paper
From the city hall
Keeping us tied and true, no
My old man
Keeping away my blues
But when hes gone
Me and them lonesome blues collide
The beds too big
The frying pans too wide
My old man
Hes a singer in the park
Hes a walker in the rain
Hes a dancer in the dark
We dont need no piece of paper
From the city hall
Keeping us tied and true, no
My old man
Keeping away my lonesome blues |
The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldnt sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, Carey
But its really not my home
My fingernails are filthy
I got beach tar on my feet
And I miss my clean white linen
And my fancy French cologne
Oh, Carey, get out your cane
And Ill put on some silver
Oh, youre a mean old Daddy
But I like you fine
Come on down to the Mermaid Café and I will
Buy you a bottle of wine
And well laugh and toast to nothing
And smash our empty glasses down
Lets have a round for these freaks and these soldiers
A round for these friends of mine
Lets have another round for the bright red devil
Who keeps me in this tourist town
Come on, Carey, get out your cane
Ill put on some silver
Oh, youre a mean old Daddy
But I like you
I like you, I like you, I like you
Maybe Ill go to Amsterdam
Or maybe Ill go to Rome
And rent me a grand piano
And put some flowers round my room
But lets not talk about fare-thee-wells now
The night is a starry dome
And theyre playin that scratchy rock and roll
Beneath the Matala Moon
Come on, Carey, get out your cane
And Ill put on some silver
Youre a mean old Daddy
But I like you
The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldnt sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here
But its really not my home
Maybe its been too long a time
Since I was scramblin down in the street
Now they got me used to that clean white linen
And that fancy French cologne
Oh, Carey, get out your cane
Ill put on my finest silver
Well go to the Mermaid Café
Have fun tonight
I said, oh, youre a mean old Daddy
But youre out of sight |
Its coming on Christmas
Theyre cutting down trees
Theyre putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it dont snow here, it stays pretty green
Im going to make a lot of money
Then Im going to quit this crazy scene
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Im so hard to handle
Im selfish and Im sad
Now Ive gone and lost the best baby that I ever had
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
Its coming on Christmas
Theyre cutting down trees
Theyre putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on |
I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
And I asked him, Where are you going?
And this he told me
Im going on down to Yasgurs Farm
Im gonna join in a rock and roll band
Im gonna camp out on the land
Im gonna try and get my soul free
We are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves back to the garden
Then can I walk beside you?
I have come here to lose the smog
And I feel to be a cog in something turning
Well maybe it is just the time of year
Or maybe its the time of man
I dont know who I am
But you know life is for learning
We are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves back to the garden
By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere there was song and celebration
And I dreamed I saw the bombers
Riding shotgun in the sky
And they were turning into butterflies
Above our nation
We are stardust
Billion year old carbon
We are golden
Caught in the devils bargain
And weve got to get ourselves back to the garden |
Just before our love got lost, you said
I am as constant as a northern star
And I said, Constantly in the darkness
Wheres that at?
If you want me Ill be in the bar
On the back of a carton coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh, Canada
With your face sketched on it twice
Oh, youre in my blood, youre my holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
And I would still be on my feet
Oh, I would still be on my feet
Oh, I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
Im frightened by the Devil
And Im drawn to those ones that aint afraid
I remember that time that you told me
You said, Love is touching souls
Surely you touched mine
Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh, youre in my blood, youre my holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
Still Id be on my feet
I would still be on my feet
I met a woman, she had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your Devils and your deeds
And she said, Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed
Oh, but you are in my blood, youre my holy wine
Youre so bitter, bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you darling
Still Id be on my feet
I would still be on my feet |
Hey love, thought that I’d just share my day
It felt a little bit crazy, baby
I cleaned the closet so I’m out of your way
Guess you can have your space
Well, I thought that I should write a letter
Then I thought this would be better, don’t yell
There’s a million ways that I could tell you
But I think I’d rather show you it’s over
And I won’t be back no more
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Gave you my heart, it slipped through your fingers
Now youre the one to blame
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Oh love, your dinner’s waiting down the street
And you can have it your way
So love, the mess you made is yours to clean
So don’t be looking at me
See, I don’t mean to disrespect you
But I think you could’ve done me better, don’t you?
You fool
There’s a million ways that I could tell you
But I think I’d rather show you it’s over
And I won’t be back no more
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Gave you my heart, it slipped through your fingers
Now youre the one to blame
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Where you going? What you doing?
Oh, you must be at the point
Where you cant take this no more
So you grabbing your stuff, walking out the door
Moving so fast, forgot what we was even arguing for
Man, I know you like the back of my hand
You like to break up then make up
Roll me up a joint soon as I wake up
When I put it down, mess up your makeup
Everything provided when you rolling with a rider
You been in Hollywood so long
Your ass starting to act Hollywood
Talking bout you go leave, probably should
I aint trippin, just a bunch of extra shit
I aint missing, my sister tried to tell me bout you
I aint listen, now we going down this road
Hit the smoke, said bro, Ive been here before
And you know Kelly never lied
So you can get your stuff and get to going
Ill get back to getting high
There’s a million ways that I could tell you
But I think I’d rather show you it’s over
And I won’t be back no more
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Gave you my heart, it slipped through your fingers
Now youre the one to blame
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Sing
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve...
One more time
That you dont know what youve got til its gone
Good try
Slip through your fingers now youre the one done changed...
Oh, my, shut the fuck up |
The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in 68
And he told me, All romantics meet the same fate someday
Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark café
You laugh, he said, you think youre immune
Go look at your eyes, theyre full of moon
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
When you gonna realize theyre only pretty lies?
Only pretty lies, just pretty lies
He put a quarter in the Wurlitzer
And he pushed three buttons and the thing began to whirr
And a bar maid came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie
And she said Drink up now, its gettin on time to close.
Richard, you havent really changed, I said, its just that
Now youre romanticizing some pain thats in your head
You got tombs in your eyes, but the songs you punched are dreamy
Listen, they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
Oh and love can be so sweet, love so sweet
Richard got married to a figure skater
And he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator
And he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on
And all the house lights left up bright
Im gonna blow this damn candle out
I dont want nobody comin over to my table
I got nothing to talk to anybody about
All good dreamers pass this way someday
Hidin behind bottles in dark cafés
Dark cafés, only a dark cocoon
Before I get my gorgeous wings and fly away
Only a phase, these dark café days |
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
Were captive on the carousel of time
We cant return, we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like when youre older must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
Were captive on the carousel of time
We cant return, we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
And they tell him, Take your time, it wont be long now
Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
Were captive on the carousel of time
We cant return, we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
So, the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
Therell be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
Were captive on the carousel of time
We cant return, we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
And go round and round and round
In the circle game |
Tonight youre mine completely
You give your love so sweetly
Tonight the light of love is in your eyes
But will you love me tomorrow?
Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moments pleasure?
Can I believe the magic in your sighs?
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Tonight with words unspoken
You said that Im the only one
But will my heart be broken
When the night
Meets the morning sun?
Id like to know that your love
Is love I can be sure of
So tell me now and I wont ask again
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Will you still love me tomorrow? |
Bows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feathered canyons everywhere
Ive looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and they snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
Ive looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
Its clouds illusions I recall
I really dont know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
When every fairy tale comes real
Ive looked at love that way
But now its just another show
You leave em laughin when you go
And if you care dont let them know
Dont give yourself away
Ive looked at love from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
Its loves illusions I recall
I really dont know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say, I love you right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
Ive looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say Ive changed
Well somethings lost but somethings gained
In living every day
Ive looked at life from both sides now
From Win and Lose and still somehow
Its lifes illusions I recall
I really dont know life at all |
Its coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
Theyre putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it dont snow here
It stays pretty green
I’m gonna make a lot of money
Then Im going to quit this crazy scene
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me so weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Im so hard to handle
Im selfish and Im sad
Now Ive gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Oh, I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
Its coming on Christmas
Theyre cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on |
No regrets Coyote
We just come from such different sets of circumstance
Im up all night in the studios
And youre up early on your ranch
Youll be brushing out a broodmares tail
While the sun is ascending
And Ill just be getting home with my reel-to-reel
Theres no comprehending
Just how close to the bone and the skin and the eyes
And the lips you can get
And still feel so alone
And still feel related
Like stations in some relay
Youre not a hit and run driver no no
Racing away
You just picked up a hitcher
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway
We saw a farmhouse burning down
In the middle of nowhere
In the middle of the night
And we rolled right past that tragedy
Till we turned into some road house lights
Where a local band was playing
Locals were up kicking and shaking on the floor
And the next thing I know
That coyotes at my door
He pins me in a corner and he wont take no
He drags me out on the dance floor
And were dancing close and slow
Now hes got a woman at home
Hes got another woman down the hall
He seems to want me anyway
Whyd you have to get so drunk
And lead me on that way
You just picked up a hitcher
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway
I looked a coyote right in the face
On the road to Baljennie near my old home town
He went running thru the whisker wheat
Chasing some prize down
And a hawk was playing with him
Coyote was jumping straight up and making passes
He had those same eyes just like yours
Under your dark glasses
Privately probing the public rooms
And peeking thru keyholes in numbered doors
Where the players lick their wounds
And take their temporary lovers
And their pills and powders to get them thru this passion play
No regrets Coyote
I just get off up aways
You just picked up a hitcher
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway
Coyotes in the coffee shop
Hes staring a hole in his scrambled eggs
He picks up my scent on his fingers
While hes watching the waitresses legs
Hes too far from the Bay of Fundy
From appaloosas and eagles and tides
And the air conditioned cubicles
And the carbon ribbon rides
Are spelling it out so clear
Either hes going to have to stand and fight
Or take off out of here
I tried to run away myself
To run away and wrestle with my ego
And with this flame
You put here in this Eskimo
In this hitcher
In this prisoner
Of the fine white lines
Of the white lines on the free free way |
Look out the left, the captain said
The lights down there, thats where well land
I saw a falling star burn up
Above the Las Vegas sands
It wasnt the one that you gave to me
That night down south between the trailers
Not the early one
That you can wish upon
Not the northern one
That guides in the sailors
Oh, starbright, starbright
Youve got the lovin that I like all right
Turn this crazy bird around
I shouldnt have got on this flight tonight
You got the touch so gentle and sweet
But youve got that look so critical
Now I cant talk to you, baby, I get so weak
Sometimes I think love is just mythical
Up theres the heavens
Down theres a town
Blackness everywhere and little lights shine
Oh, blackness, blackness dragging me down
Come on, light the candle in this poor heart of mine
Oh, starbright, starbright
Youve got the lovin that I like all right
Turn this crazy bird around
I shouldnt have got on this flight tonight
Im drinking sweet champagne
Got the headphones up high
Cant numb you out
Cant drum you out of my mind
Theyre playing Goodbye, baby
Baby, goodbye
Ooh ooh, love is blind
Up go the flaps, down go the wheels
I hope you got your heat turned on, baby
I hope they finally fixed your automobile
I hope its better when we meet again, baby
Starbright, starbright
Youve got the lovin that I like all right
Turn this crazy bird around
Shouldnt have got on this flight tonight |
Look out the left, the captain said
The lights down there, thats where well land
Saw a falling star burning
High above the Las Vegas sand
It wasnt the one that you gave to me
That night down south between the trailers
Not the early one that you wish upon
Not the northern one that guides in the sailors
Youve got that touch so gentle and sweet
But youve got that look so cryptical
Cant talk to you babe, you know I get so weak
Sometimes I think that love is just mythical
Up theres a heaven, down theres a town
Blackness everywhere any little lights shine
Blackness, blackness draggin me down
Come on light a candle in this heart of mine
Starbright, starbright, youve got the lovin that I like
Turn this crazy bird around
Should not have got on this flight tonight
Im drinkin sweet champagne, got the headphones up high
Cant numb you, cant drum you out of my mind
Theyre singin, Goodbye baby
Baby bye-bye
Ooh! Love is blind
Up go the flaps, down go the wheels
Hope you got your heat turned on, baby
Hope theyve finally fixed your automobile
Hope its better when we meet again, babe
Starbright, starbright, youve got the lovin that I like
Turn this crazy bird around
Should not have got on this flight tonight
Should not have got on this flight tonight |
Comin on Christmas
Theyre cuttin down trees
Theyre puttin up reindeer
And singin songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it dont snow here
It stays pretty green
Im gonna make a lotta money
Then Im gonna quit this crazy scene
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
Im so hard to handle
Im selfish and Im sad
And now Ive gone and lost the best baby that I ever had
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
Its comin on Christmas
Theyre cuttin down trees
Theyre puttin up reindeer
And singin songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on |
I was driving across the burning desert
When I spotted six jet planes
Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain
It was the hexagram of the heavens
It was the strings of my guitar
Amelia it was just a false alarm
The drone of flying engines
Is a song so wild and blue
It scrambles time and seasons if it gets thru to you
Then your life becomes a travelogue
Of picture post card charms
Amelia it was just a false alarm
People will tell you where theyve gone
Theyll tell you where to go
But till you get there yourself you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Others just come to harm
Oh, Amelia it was just a false alarm
I wish that he was here tonight
Its so hard to obey
His sad request of me to kindly stay away
So this is how I hide the hurt
As the road leads cursed and charmed
I tell Amelia it was just a false alarm
A ghost of aviation
She was swallowed by the sky
Or by the sea like me she had a dream to fly
Like Icarus ascending
On beautiful foolish arms
Amelia it was just a false alarm
Maybe Ive never really loved
I guess that is the truth
Ive spent my whole life in clouds at icy altitude
And looking down on everything
I crashed into his arms
Amelia it was just a false alarm
I pulled into the Cactus Tree Motel
To shower off the dust
And I slept on the strange pillows of my wanderlust
I dreamed of 747s
Over geometric farms
Dreams Amelia - dreams and false alarms |
Im traveling in some vehicle
Im sitting in some cafe
A defector from the petty wars
That shell shock love away
Theres comfort in melancholy
When theres no need to explain
Its just as natural as the weather
In this moody sky today
In our possessive coupling
So much could not be expressed
So now Im returning to myself
These things that you and I suppressed
I see something of myself in everyone
Just at this moment of the world
As snow gathers like bolts of lace
Waltzing on a ballroom girl
You know it never has been easy
Whether you do or you do not resign
Whether you travel the breadth of extremities
Or stick to some straighter line
Now heres a man and a woman sitting on a rock
Theyre either going to thaw out or freeze
Listen
Strains of Benny Goodman
Coming through the snow and the pinewood trees
Im porous with travel fever
But you know Im so glad to be on my own
Still somehow the slightest touch of a stranger
Can set up trembling in my bones
I know no ones going to show me everything
We all come and go unknown
Each so deep and superficial
Between the forceps and the stone
Well I looked at the granite markers
Those tribute to finality to eternity
And then I looked at myself here
Chicken scratching for my immortality
In the church they light the candles
And the wax rolls down like tears
Theres the hope and the hopelessness
Ive witnessed thirty years
Were only particles of change I know I know
Orbiting around the sun
But how can I have that point of view
When Im always bound and tied to someone
White flags of winter chimneys
Waving truce against the moon
In the mirrors of a modern bank
From the window of a hotel room
Im traveling in some vehicle
Im sitting in some cafe
A defector from the petty wars
Until love sucks me back that way |
Help me, I think Im falling in love again
When I get that crazy feeling, I know Im in trouble again
Im in trouble cause youre a rambler and a gambler
And a sweet taIking ladies man and you love your lovin
But not like you love your freedom
Help me, I think Im falling in love too fast
Its got me hoping for the future and worrying about the past
Cause Ive seen some hot hot blazes
Come down to smoke and ash
We love our lovin but not like we love our freedom
Didnt it feel good, we were sitting there talking
Or lying there not talking, didnt it feel good
You dance with the lady with the hole in her stocking
Didnt it feel good
Didnt it feel good
Help me, I think Im falling in love with you
Are you going to let me go there by myself
Thats such a lonely thing to do
Both of us flirting around flirting and flirting, hurting too
We love our lovin but not like we love our freedom |
Theres a man whos been out sailing
In a decade full of dreams
And he takes her to a schooner
And he treats her like a queen
Bearing beads from California
With their amber stones and green
He has called her from the harbor
He has kissed her with his freedom
He has heard her off to starboard
In the breaking and the breathing
Of the water weeds
While she was busy being free
Theres a man whos climbed a mountain
And hes calling out her name
And he hopes her heart can hear three thousand miles
He calls again
He can think her there beside him
He can miss her just the same
He has missed her in the forest
While he showed her all the flowers
And the branches sang the chorus
As he climbed the scaly towers
Of a forest tree
While she was somewhere being free
Theres a man whos sent a letter
And hes waiting for reply
He has asked her of her travels
Since the day they said goodbye
He writes Wish you were beside me
We can make it if we try
He has seen her at the office
With her name on all his papers
Through the sharing of the profits
He will find it hard to shake her
From his memory
And shes so busy being free
Theres a lady in the city
And she thinks she loves them all
Theres the one whos thinking of her
Theres the one who sometimes calls
Theres the one who writes her letters
With his facts and figures scrawl
She has brought them to her senses
They have laughed inside her laughter
Now she rallies her defenses
For she fears that one will ask her
For eternity
And shes so busy being free
Theres a man who sends her medals
He is bleeding from the war
Theres a jouster and a jester and a man who owns a store
Theres a drummer and a dreamer
And you know there may be more
She will love them when she sees them
They will lose her if they follow
And she only means to please them
And her heart is full and hollow
Like a cactus tree
While shes so busy being free
Like a cactus tree
Being free |
I slept last night in a good hotel
I went shopping today for jewels
The wind rushed around in the dirty town
And the children let out from the schools
I was standing on a noisy corner
Waiting for the walking green
Across the street he stood
And he played real good
On his clarinet for free
Now me I play for fortunes
And those velvet curtain calls
I got a black limousine and two gentlemen
Escorting me to the halls
And Ill play if you have the money
Or if youre a friend to me
But the one man band
By the quick lunch stand
He was playing real good for free
Nobody stopped to hear him
Though he played so sweet and high
They knew he had never been on their TV
So they passed his music by
I meant to go over and ask for a song
Maybe put on a harmony
I heard his refrain
As the signal changed
He was playing real good for free |
The way I see it he said
You just cant win it
Everybodys in it for their own gain
You cant please em all
Theres always somebody calling you down
I do my best and I do good business
Theres a lot of people asking for my time
Theyre trying to get ahead
Theyre trying to be a good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
There was nobody calling me up for favours
And no ones future to decide
You know Id go back there tomorrow
But for the work Ive taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song
I deal in dreamers
And telephone screamers
Lately I wonder what I do it for
If l had my way
Id just walk through those doors
And wander down the Champs-Élysées
Going café to cabaret
Thinking how Ill feel when I find
That very good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
Nobody was calling me up for favours
No ones future to decide
You know Id go back there tomorrow
But for the work Ive taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song |
Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Ive looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
Ive looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
Its cloud illusions I recall
I really dont know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
Ive looked at love that way
But now its just another show
You leave em laughing when you go
And if you care, dont let them know
Dont give yourself away
Ive looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
Its loves illusions I recall
I really dont know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say I love you right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
Ive looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say Ive changed
Well somethings lost, but somethings gained
In living every day
Ive looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
Its lifes illusions I recall
I really dont know life at all
Ive looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
Its lifes illusions I recall
I really dont know life at all |
Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning
And the first thing that I heard
Was a song outside my window
And the traffic wrote the words
It came ringing up like Christmas bells
And rapping up like pipes and drums
Oh, wont you stay
Well put on the day
And well wear it till the night comes
Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning
And the first thing that I saw
Was the sun through yellow curtains
And a rainbow on the wall
Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you
Crimson crystal beads to beckon
Oh, wont you stay
Well put on the day
Theres a sun show every second
Now the curtain opens
On a portait of today
And the streets are paved with passersby
And pigeons fly
And papers lie
Waiting to blow away
Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning
And the first thing that I knew
There was milk and toast and honey
And a bowl of oranges, too
And the sun poured in like butterscotch
And stuck to all my senses
Oh, wont you stay
Well put on the day
And well talk in present tenses
When the curtain closes
And the rainbow runs away
I will bring you incense owls by night
By candlelight
By jewel-light
If only you will stay
Pretty baby, wont you
Wake up, its a Chelsea morning |
Trina wears her wampum beads
She fills her drawing book with lines
Sewing lace on widows weeds
And filigree on leaf and vine
Vine and leave are filigree
And her coats a second hand one
Trimmed with antique luxury
She is a lady of the canyon
Annie sits you down to eat
She always makes you welcome in
Cats and babies round her feet
And all are fat and none are thin
None are thin and all are fat
She may bake some brownies today
Saying you are welcome back
She is another canyon lady
Estrella, circus girl
Comes wrapped in songs and gypsy shawls
Songs like tiny hammers hurled
At bevelled mirrors in empty halls
Empty halls and bevelled mirrors
Sailing seas and climbing banyans
Come out for a visit here
To be a lady of the canyon
Trina takes her pins and her threads
And she weaves a pattern all her own
Annie bakes her cakes and her breads
And she gathers flowers for her home
For her home she gathers flowers
And Estrella, dear companion
Colors up the sunshine hours
Pouring music down the canyon
Coloring the sunshine hours
They are the ladies of the canyon |
Mustve drank a lot of pain
Judging by the way it aches
I mustve sold a lot of secrets
Everyone a heavy weight
Of all the fears that I face
Youre the first one I defeated
Everything I know
And everything I dont
You took em all and shook em to the floor
Now Ive laid the ghost
Of what I hate the most
You blew them all away and closed the door
And Im healed when you love me like
You love me like that
Yeah Im healed when you love me like
You love me like that
Love has such a bitter taste
When youre lying in its wake
At least I know Ive got a reason
Now Im all that can relate
In a better place
When I know Ive broken even
Everything I know
And everything I dont
You took em all and shook em to the floor
Now Ive laid the ghost
Of what I hate the most
You blew them all away and closed the door
And Im healed when you love me like
You love me like that
Yeah Im healed when you love me like
You love me like that
Nobody knows like my baby knows
Nobody goes like my baby goes
Nobody knows like my baby knows
Nobody, nobody
And Im healed when you love me like
You love me like that
Yeah Im healed when you love me like
You love me like that
And Im healed when you love me like
You love me like that
Yeah Im healed when you love me like
You love me like that |
All the people at this party
Theyve got a lot of style
Theyve got stamps of many countries
Theyve got passport smiles
Some are friendly, some are cutting
Some are watching it from the wings
Some are standing in the centre
Giving to get something
Photo beauty gets attention
Then her eye paints running down
Shes got a rose in her teeth
And a lampshade crown
One minute shes so happy
Then shes crying on someones knee
Saying laughing and crying
You know its the same release
I told you when I met you I was crazy
Cry for us all beauty
Cry for Eddie in the corner
Thinking hes nobody
And Jack behind his joker
And stone-cold Grace behind her fan
And me in my frightened silence
Thinking I dont understand
I feel like Im sleeping
Can you wake me
You seem to have a broader sensibility
Im just living on nerves and feelings
With a weak and a lazy mind
And coming to peoples parties
Fumbling deaf dumb and blind
I wish I had more sense of humor
Keeping the sadness at bay
Throwing the lightness on these things
Laughing it all away
Laughing it all away
Laughing it all away |
Love came to my door
With a sleeping roll
And a madmans soul
He thought for sure Id seen him
Dancing up a river in the dark
Looking for a woman
To court and spark
He was playing on the sidewalk
For passing change
When something strange happened
Glory train passed through him
So he buried the coins he made
In Peoples Park
And went looking for a woman
To court and spark
It seemed like he read my mind
He saw me mistrusting him and still acting kind
He saw how I worried, sometimes
I worry sometimes
All the guilty people, he said
Theyve all seen the stain
On their daily bread
On their Christian names
I cleared myself, I sacrificed my blues
And you could complete me
Id complete you.
His eyes were the color of the sand
And the sea
And the more he talked to me, you know
The more he reached me
But I couldnt let go of L.A
City of the fallen angels |
Jag steg och föll med skjutna vingar
Genom glass-slott i aprilskyar
Och fjädergrottor överallt
Har sett de bästa moln
Men nu skymmer de solen
De regnar och snöar på varenda en
Och allt jag borde ha gjort men
Moln kom ivägen
Jag har sett på moln från båda sidor nu
Från in och ut, och ändå ser jag nu bara molnillusioner
Och nu minns jag
Har aldrig förstått mig på moln
Inte det minsta
Kom sommarnätter under stjärnor, kom
Med ensamhet dör dagen och
Om du behöver den finns aldrig gryningen
Har sett hur kärlek vunnit
Försvunnit och förlorat
Och du lämnar nån skrattande när du gått
Och om du brydde dig, säg inte till nån
Ge inte bort dig själv
Jag har sett kärlek från båda sidor nu
Från att ge och ta, och ändå ser jag bara kärleksillusioner
Men nu minns jag
Jag förstår inte kärlek
Inte det minsta
Och jag skulle ha ringt dig ikväll
Men handen fastnade framför mig
Och jag skulle sagt Jag älskar dig
Men stolthet kom i vägen
Du eller jag, vem är konstigast?
Är det bara jag som förändrats?
Ja, nåt är borta, men nåt hittas
Varje dag
Jag har sett livet från båda sidor nu
Från upp och ner, och ändå ser jag bara livsillusioner
Och nu minns jag
Jag förstår inte livet
Inte det minsta
Har sett allt från båda sidor nu
Från in och ut, och ändå ser jag nu bara illusioner |
I went to Staten Island, Sharon
To buy myself a mandolin
And I saw the long white dress of love
On a storefront mannequin
Big boat chuggin back with a belly full of cars
All for something lacy
Some girls going to see that dress
And crave that day like crazy
Little Indian kids on a bridge up in Canada
They can balance and they can climb
Like their fathers before them
Theyll walk the girders of the Manhattan skyline
Shine your light on me Miss Liberty
Because as soon as this ferry boat docks
Im headed to the church
To play Bingo
Fleece me with the gamblers flocks
I can keep my cool at poker
But Im a fool when loves at stake
Because I cant conceal emotion
What Im feelings always written on my face
Theres a gypsy down on Bleecker Street
I went in to see her as a kind of joke
And she lit a candle for my love luck
And eighteen bucks went up in smoke
Sharon, I left my man
At a North Dakota junction
And I came out to the Big Apple here
To face the dreams malfunction
Loves a repetitious danger
Youd think Id be accustomed to
Well I do accept the changes
At least better than I used to do
A woman I knew just drowned herself
The well was deep and muddy
She was just shaking off futility
Or punishing somebody
My friends were calling up all day yesterday
All emotions and abstractions
It seems we all live so close to that line
And so far from satisfaction
Dora says Have children
Mama and Betsy say Find yourself a charity
Help the needy and the crippled or put some time into Ecology
Well theres a wide wide world of noble causes
And lovely landscapes to discover
But all I really want to do right now
Is find another lover
When we were kids in Maidstone, Sharon
I went to every wedding in that little town
To see the tears and the kisses
And the pretty lady in the white lace wedding gown
And walking home on the railroad tracks
Or swinging on the playground swing
Love stimulated my illusions
More than anything
And when I went skating after Golden Reggie
You know it was white lace I was chasing
Chasing dreams
Mamas nylons underneath my cowgirl jeans
He showed me first you get the kisses
And then you get the tears
But the ceremony of the bells and lace
Still veils this reckless fool here
Now there are twenty-nine skaters on Wollman Rink
Circling in singles and in pairs
In this vigorous anonymity
A blank face at the window stares and
Stares and stares and stares and stares
And the power of reason
And the flowers of deep feeling
Seem to serve me
Only to deceive me
Sharon youve got a husband
And a family and a farm
Ive got the apple of temptation
And a diamond snake around my arm
But you still have your music
And Ive still got my eyes on the land and the sky
You sing for your friends and your family
Ill walk green pastures by and by |
I’m a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I used to be frightened by the devil
And drawn to those ones that werent afraid
Remember you told me
Love was touching souls?
Surely you touched mine
Part of you pours out of me from time to time in these lines
You’re in my blood like holy wine
You’re so bitter and so sweet, oh
I could drink a case of you, oh darling
And still be on my feet
Still be on my feet
You’re in my blood like holy wine
So bitter, so bitter, so, so sweet, oh
I could drink a case of you darling, oh yeah yeah
And I’d still be on my feet
And I’d still be on my
Still be on my feet
I’d still |
Paved paradise and put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin hot spot
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
Paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Ooo-bop-bop-bop
Ooo-bop-bop-bop)
Took all the trees, put em in a tree museum
And they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see them
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Ooo-bop-bop-bop
Ooo-bop-bop-bop
Ooo-bop-bop-bop
Ooo-bop-bop-bop)
Hey farmer, farmer, put away the DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees, please
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
Paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Late last night, I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi took away my old man
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
Paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
2-3-4
Paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Paved paradise, put up a parking lot ah-ah |
He bought her a diamond for her throat
He put her in a ranch house on a hill
She could see the valley barbecues
From her window sill
See the blue pools in the squinting sun
Hear the hissing of summer lawns
He put up a barbed wire fence
To keep out the unknown
And on every metal thorn
Just a little blood of his own
She patrols that fence of his
To a latin drum
And the hissing of summer lawns
Darkness
Wonder makes it easy
Darkness
With a joyful mask
Darkness
Tubes gone, darkness, darkness, darkness
No color no contrast
A diamond dog
Carrying a cup and a cane
Looking through a double glass
Looking at too much pride and too much shame
Theres a black fly buzzing
Theres a heat wave burning in her masters voice
Hissing summer lawns
He gave her his darkness to regret
And good reason to quit him
He gave her a roomful of Chippendale
That nobody sits in
Still she stays with a love of some kind
Its the ladys choice
The hissing of summer lawns |
I met you on a midway at a fair last year
And you stood out like a ruby in a black mans ear
You were playin on the horses; you were playin on the guitar strings;
You were playin like a devil wearin wings
Wearin wings, you looked so grand wearin wings
Do you tape them to your shoulders just to sing?
Can you fly? I heard you can, can you fly?
Like an eagle doin your huntin from the sky
I followed with the sideshows to another town
And I found you in a trailer on the camping grounds
You were betting on some lover; you were shaking up the dice;
And I thought I saw you cheatin once or twice
Once or twice, I heard your bid once or twice
Were you wondrin was the gamble worth the price?
Pack it in, I heard you did, pack it in
Was it hard to fold a hand you knew could win?
So lately youve been hidin, it was somewhere in the news;
And Im still at these races with my ticket stubs and my blues;
And a voice calls out the numbers and it sometimes mentions mine;
And I feel like Ive been workin overtime
Over time, Ive lost my fire, over time
Always playin one more hand for one more dime
Slowin down, Im gettin tired, slowin down;
And I envy you the valley that youve found
Cause Im midway down the midway
Slowin down
Down, down, down |
If youre driving into town
With a dark cloud above you
Dial in the number
Whos bound to love you
Oh honey, you turn me on
Im a radio
Im a country station
Im a little bit corny
Im a wildwood flower
Waving for you
Im a broadcasting tower
Waving for you
And Im sending you out
This signal here
I hope you can pick it up
Loud and clear
I know you dont like weak women
You get bored so quick
And you dont like strong women
Cause theyre hip to your tricks
Its been dirty for dirty
Down the line
But you know I come when you whistle
When youre loving and kind
But if youve got too many doubts
If theres no good reception for me
Then tune me out, cause honey
Who needs the static
It hurts the head
And you wind up cracking
And the day goes dismal
From Breakfast Barney
To the sign-off prayer
What a sorry face you get to wear
Im going to tell you again now
If youre still listening there
If youre driving into town
With a dark cloud above you
Dial in the number
Whos bound to love you
If youre lying on the beach
With the transistor going
Kick off the sandflies, honey
The loves still flowing
If your head says forget it
But your hearts still smoking
Call me at the station
The lines are open |
Everything comes and goes
Marked by lovers and styles of clothes
Things that you held high
And told yourself were true
Lost or changing as the days come down to you
Down to you
Constant stranger
Youre a kind person
Youre a cold person too
Its down to you
It all comes down to you
You go down to the pick up station
Craving warmth and beauty
You settle for less than fascination
A few drinks later youre not so choosy
When the closing lights strip off the shadows
On this strange new flesh youve found
Clutching the night to you like a fig leaf
You hurry
To the blackness
And the blankets
To lay down an impression
And your loneliness
In the morning there are lovers in the street
They look so high
You brush against a stranger
And you both apologize
Old friends seem indifferent
You must have brought that on
Old bonds have broken down
Love is gone
Oooh love is gone
Written on your spirit this sad song
Love is gone
Everything comes and goes
Pleasure moves on too early
And trouble leaves too slow
Just when youre thinking
Youve finally got it made
Bad news comes knocking
At your garden gate
Knocking for you
Constant stranger
Youre a brute youre an angel
You can crawl you can fly too
Its down to you
It all comes down to you |
I thought I met a man
Who said he knew a man
Who knew what was going on
I was mistaken
Only another stranger
That I knew
And I thought that Id found a light
To guide me through
My night and all this darkness
I was mistaken
Only reflections of a shadow
That I saw
And I thought Ive seen someone
Who seemed at last
To know the truth
I was mistaken
Only a child laughing
In the sun |
As every day goes by
How can we close our eyes
Until we open up our hearts
We can learn to share
And show how much we care
Right from the moment that we start
Seems like overnight
We see the world in a different light
Somehow our innocence is lost
How can we look away
Cause every single day
Weve got to help at any cost
We can bridge the distance
Only we can make the difference
Dont ya know that tears are not enough
If we can pull together
We could change the world forever
Heaven knows that tears are not enough
Its up to me and you
To make the dream come true
Its time to take our message everywhere
Cest lamour qui nous rassemble
Dici ?lautre bout du monde
Lets show them Canada still cares
You know that well be there
If we should try together you and I
Maybe we could understand the reasons why
If we take a stand every woman, child and man
We can make it work for Gods sake lend a hand |
I had a king in a tenement castle
Lately hes taken to painting the pastel walls brown
Hes taken the curtains down
Hes swept with the broom of contempt
And the rooms have an empty ring
Hes cleaned with the tears
Of an actor who fears for the laughters sting-
I cant go back there anymore
You know my keys wont fit the door
You know my thoughts dont fit the man
They never can, they never can
I had a king dressed in drip-dry and paisley
Lately hes taken to saying Im crazy and blind
He lives in another time
Ladies in gingham still blush
While he sings them of wars and wine
But I in my leather and lace
I can never become that kind
I cant go back there anymore
You know my keys wont fit the door
You know my thoughts dont fit the man
They never can, they never can
I had a king in a salt-rusted carriage
Who carried me off to his country for marriage too soon
Beware of the power of moons
Theres no one to blame
No theres no one to name as a traitor here
The kings on the road
And the queens in the grove till the end of the year
I cant go back there anymore
You know my keys wont fit the door
You know my thoughts dont fit the man
They never can, they never can |
He comes for conversation
I comfort him sometimes
Comfort and consultation
He knows thats what hell find
I bring him apples and cheeses
He brings me songs to play
He sees me when he pleases
I see him in cafes
And I only say, Hello
And turn away before his lady knows
How much I want to see him
She removes him, like a ring
To wash her hands
She only brings him out to show her friends
I want to free him
Secrets and sharing soda
Thats how our time began
Love is a story told to a friend
Its second hand
But Ill listen to his questions
Ill give my answers when theyre found
He says she keeps him guessing
But I know she keeps him down
She speaks in sorry sentences
Miraculous repentances
I dont believe her
Tomorrow he will come to me
And hell speak his sorrows endlessly and hell ask me why
Why cant I leave her?
He comes for conversation
I comfort him sometimes
Comfort and consultation
He knows thats what hell find
He knows thats what hell find |
Again and again the same situation
For so many years
Tethered to a ringing telephone
In a room full of mirrors
A pretty girl in your bathroom
Checking out her sex appeal
I asked myself when you said you loved me
Do you think this can be real?
Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and clamour to be found
Caught in their struggle for higher positions
And their search for love that sticks around
Youve had lots of lovely women
Now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
To see if Im worthy
Like the church, like a cop, like a mother
You want me to be truthful
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
And I need your approval
Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering who was there to hear
I said, Send me somebody
Whos strong and somewhat sincere
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
I called out to be released
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
And my search for love
That dont seem to cease |
Old Beale Street is coming down
Sweeties Snack Bar boarded up now
And Egles the Tailor and the Shine Boys gone
Faded out with ragtime blues
Handys cast in bronze
And hes standing in a little park
With a trumpet in his hand
Like hes listening back to the good old bands
And the click of high heeled shoes
Old Furry sings the blues
Propped up in his bed
With his dentures and his leg removed
And Ginnys there
For her kindness and Furrys beer
Shes the old mans angel overseer
Pawn shops glitter like gold tooth caps
In the grey decay
They chew the last few dollars off
Old Beale Streets carcass
Carrion and mercy
Blue and silver sparkling drums
Cheap guitars eye shades and guns
Aimed at the hot blood of being no one
Down and out in Memphis Tennessee
Old Furry sings the blues
You bring him smoke and drink and hell play for you
Its mostly muttering now and sideshow spiel
But there was one song he played
I could really feel
Theres a double bill murder at the New Daisy
The old girls silent across the street
Shes silent waiting for the wreckers beat
Silent staring at her stolen name
Diamond boys and satin dolls
Bourbon laughter ghosts history falls
To parking lots and shopping malls
As they tear down old Beale Street
Old Furry sings the blues
He points a bony finger at you and says
I dont like you
Everybody laughs as if its the old mans standard joke
But its true
Were only welcome for our drink and smoke
W. C. Handy Im rich and Im fey
And Im not familiar with what you played
But I get such strong impressions of your hey day
Looking up and down old Beale Street
Ghosts of the darktown society
Come right out of the bricks at me
Like its a Saturday night
Theyre in their finery
Dancing it up and making deals
Furry sings the blues
Why should I expect that old guy to give it to me true
Fallen to hard luck
And time and other thieves
While our limo is shining on his shanty street
Old Furry sings the blues |
Ive got a blue motel room
With a blue bedspread
Ive got the blues inside and outside my head
Will you still love me
When I call you up when Im down
Here in Savannah its pouring rain
Palm trees in the porch light like slick black cellophane
Will you still love me
When I call you up when I get back to town
I know that youve got all those pretty girls coming on
Hanging on your boom-boom-pachyderm
Will you tell those girls that youve got German Measles
Honey, tell them youve got germs
I hope youll be thinking of me
Because Ill be thinking of you
While Im traveling home alone
Tell those girls that youve got Joni
Shes coming back home
Ive got road maps
From two dozen states
Ive got coast to coast just to contemplate
Will you still love me
When I get back to town
Its funny how these old feelings hang around
You think theyre gone
No, no
They just go underground
Will you still love me
When I get back to L.A. town
You and me, were like America and Russia
Were always keeping score
Were always balancing the power
And that can get to be a cold cold war
Were going to have to hold ourselves a peace talk
In some neutral café
You lay down your sneaking round the town honey
And Ill lay down the highway
Ive got a blue motel room
With a blue bedspread
Ive got the blues inside and outside my head
Will you still love me
When I get back to town |
When I first saw your gallery
I liked the ones of ladies
Then you began to hang up me
You studied to portray me
In ice and greens
And old blue jeans
And naked in the roses
Then you got into funny scenes
That all your work discloses
Lady, dont love me now I am dead
I am a saint, turn down your bed
I have no heart, thats what you said
You said, I can be cruel
But let me be gentle with you
Somewhere in a magazine
I found a page about you
I see that now its Josephine
Who cannot be without you
I keep your house in fit repair
I dust the portraits daily
Your mail comes here from everywhere
The writing looks like ladies
Lady, please love me now, I am dead
I am a saint, turn down your bed
I have no heart, thats what you said
You said, I can be cruel
But let me be gentle with you
I gave you all my pretty years
Then we began to weather
And I was left to winter here
While you went west for pleasure
And now youre flying back this way
Like some lost homing pigeon
Theyve monitored your brain, you say
And changed you with religion
Lady, please love me now I was dead
I am no saint, turn down your bed
Lady, have you no heart, thats what you said
Well, I can be cruel
But let me be gentle with you
When I first saw your gallery
I liked the ones of ladies
But now their faces follow me
And all their eyes look shady |
My analyst told me
That I was right out of my head
The way he described it
He said Id be better dead than live
I didnt listen to his jive
I knew all along
That he was all wrong
And I knew that he thought
I was crazy but Im not
Oh no
My analyst told me
That I was right out of my head
He said I need treatment
But Im not that easily led
He said I was the type
That was most inclined
When out of his sight
To be out of my mind
And he thought I was nuts
No more ifs or ands or buts
They say as a child
I appeared a little bit wild
With all my crazy ideas
But I knew what was happening
I knew I was a genius
Whats so strange when you know
That youre a wizard at three
I knew that this was meant to be
Now I heard little children
Were supposed to sleep tight
Thats why I got into the vodka one night
My parents got frantic
Didnt know what to do
But I saw some crazy scenes
Before I came to
Now do you think I was crazy
I may have been only three
But I was swinging
They all laugh at angry young men
They all laughed at Edison and also at Einstein
So why should I feel sorry
If they just couldnt understand
The idiomatic logic
That went on in my head
I had a brain, it was insane
Oh, they used to laugh at me
When I refused to ride
On those double decker buses
All because there was no driver on the top
My analyst told me
That I was right out of my head
But I said, Dear doctor
I think that its you instead
Because I, I got a thing
Thats unique and new
To prove it Ill have
The last laugh on you
Cause instead of one head
I got two
And you know two heads are better than one |
Rows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Ive looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and they snow on everyone
So many things I would have done but clouds got in my way
But Ive looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
Its cloud illusions I recall
I really dont know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real;
Ive looked at love that way
But now its just another show
You leave em laughing when you go
And if you care, dont let them know
Dont give yourself away
Ive looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
Its loves illusions that I recall
I really dont know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say I love you right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
Ive looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, tell me that Ive changed
Somethings lost but somethings gained in living every day
Ive looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose, and still somehow
Its lifes illusions I recall
I really dont know life at all
Ive looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
Its lifes illusions I recall
I really dont know life
I really dont know life
I really dont know life at all |
I heard it in the wind last night
It sounded like applause
Did you get a round resounding for you
Way up here
It seems like many dim years ago
Since I heard that face to face
Or seen you face to face
Though tonight I can feel you here
I get these notes
On butterflies and lilac sprays
From girls who just have to tell me
They saw you somewhere
In some office sits a poet
And he trembles as he sings
And he asks some guy
To circulate his soul around
On your mark red ribbon runner
The caressing rev of motors
Finely tuned like fancy women
In thirties evening gowns
Up the charts
Off to the airport
Your names in the news
Everythings first class
The lights go down
And its just you up there
Getting them to feel like that
Remember the days when you used to sit
And make up your tunes for love
And pour your simple sorrow
To the soundhole and your knee
And now youre seen
On giant screens
And at parties for the press
And for people who have slices of you
From the company
They toss around your latest golden egg
Speculation well whos to know
If the next one in the nest
Will glitter for them so
I guess I seem ungrateful
With my teeth sunk in the hand
That brings me things
I really cant give up just yet
Now I sit up here the critic
And they introduce some band
But they seem so much confetti
Looking at them on my TV set
Oh the power and the glory
Just when youre getting a taste for worship
They start bringing out the hammers
And the boards
And the nails
I heard it in the wind last night
It sounded like applause
Chilly now
End of summer
No more shiny hot nights
It was just the arbutus rustling
And the bumping of the logs
And the moon swept down black water
Like an empty spotlight |
Funny day, looking for laughter and finding it there
Sunny day, braiding wild flowers and leaves in my hair
Picked up a pencil and wrote I love you in my finest hand
Wanted to send it, but I dont know where I stand
Telephone, even the sound of your voice is still new
All alone in California and talking to you
And feeling too foolish and strange to say the words that I had planned
I guess its too early, cause I dont know where I stand
Crickets call, courting their ladies in star-dappled green
Thickets tall, until the morning comes up like a dream
All muted and misty, so drowsy now Ill take what sleep I can
I know that I miss you, but I dont know where I stand
I know that I miss you, but I dont know where I stand |
Downtown
My darling dime store thief
In the War of Independence
Rock n roll rang sweet as victory
Under neon signs
A girl was in bloom
And a woman was fading
In a suburban room
I said take me to the dance
Do you want to dance?
I love to dance
And I told him
They dont take chances
They seem so removed from romance
Theyve been broken in churches & schools
And molded to middle class circumstance
And we were rollin
Rollin
Rock n rollin
Downtown
The dance halls and cafes
Feel so wild you could break somebodys heart
Just doing the latest dance craze
Gail and Louise
In those push up brassieres
Tight dresses and rhinestone rings
Drinking up the bands beers
Young love was kissing under bridges
Kissing in cars
Kissing in cafes
And we were walking down Main Street
Kisses like bright flags hung on holidays
In France they kiss on Main Street
Amour, mama, not cheap display
And we were rollin
Rollin
Rock n rollin
Downtown
In the pinball arcade
With his head full of pool hall pitches
And songs from the hit parade
Hed be singing Bye, Bye, Love
While hes racking up his free play
Let those rock n roll choir boys
Come and carry us away
Sometimes Chickie had the car
Or Ron had the car
Or Lead Foot Melvin with his hotwire head
Wed all go looking for a party
Looking to raise Jesus up from the dead
And Id be kissing in the back seat
Thrilling to the Brando-like things that he said
And wed be rollin
Rollin
Rock n rolling
Rollin
Rollin
Rock n rollin
Rollin
Rollin
Rock n rollin |
When morning comes to Morgantown
The merchants roll their awnings down
The milk trucks make their morning rounds
In morning Morgantown
Well rise up early, with the sun
To ride the bus while everyone is yawning
And the day is young
In morning Morgantown
Morning Morgantown
Buy your dreams, a dollar down
Morning any town you name
Mornings just the same
Well find a table in the shade
And sip our tea and lemonade
And watch the morning on parade
In morning Morgantown
Ladies in their rainbow fashions
Colored stop and go lights flashing
Well wink at total strangers passing
In morning Morgantown
Morning Morgantown
Buy your dreams, a dollar down
Morning in any town you name
Mornings just the same
Id like to buy you everything
A wooden bird with painted wings
A window full of colored rings
In morning Morgantown
But the only thing I have to give
To make you smile, to win you with
Are all the mornings still to live
In morning Morgantown
Morning Morgantown
Buy your dreams, a dollar down
Morning any town you name
Mornings just the same
Mornings just the same |
Down in the cellar in the Boho Zone
I went looking for some sweet inspiration, oh well
Just another hard-time band
With Negro affectations
I was a hopeful in rooms like this
When I was working cheap
Its an old romance, the Boho dance
It hasnt gone to sleep
But even on the scuffle
The cleaners press was in my jeans
And any eye for detail
Caught a little lace along the seams
And you were in the parking lot
Subterranean by your own design
The virtue of your style inscribed
On your contempt for mine
Jesus was a beggar, he was rich in grace
And Solomon kept his head in all his glory
Its just that some steps outside the Boho dance
Have a fascination for me
A camera pans the cocktail hour
Behind a blind of potted palms
And finds a lady in a Paris dress
With runs in her nylons
You read those books where luxury
Comes as a guest to take a slave
Books where artists in noble poverty
Go like virgins to the grave
Dont you get sensitive on me
Cause I know youre just too proud
You couldnt step outside the Boho dance now
Even if good fortune allowed
Like a priest with a pornographic watch
Looking and longing on the sly
Sure its stricken from your uniform
But you cant get it out of your eyes
Nothing is capsulized in me
On either side of town
The streets were never really mine
Not mine these glamour gowns |
Verse
And I awoke today and found the frost perched on the town
It hovered in a frozen sky and gobbled summer down
When the sun turns traitor cold
And shivering trees are standing in a naked row
Chorus
I get the urge for going but I never seem to go
And I get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down winters closing in
Verse
I had a girl in summertime with summer colored skin
And not another man in town my darlings heart could win
But when the leaves fell trembling down
And bully winds did rub their face down in the snow
Chorus
She got the urge for going I had to let her go
She got the urge for going when the meadow grass was turning brown
And summertime was falling down and winters closing in
Verse
Now the warriors of winter they give a cold triumphant shout
All that stays is dying all that lives is getting out
See the geese in chevron flight
Flapping and a-racin on before the snow
Chorus
Got the urge for going theyve got the wings to go
And they get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winters closing in
Verse
Ill ply the fire with kindling, Ill pull the blankets to my chin
Ill lock the vagrant winter out Ill bolt my wandering in
Id like to call back summertime
And have her stay for just another month or so
Chourus
But shes got the urge for going I guess shell have to go
And shes gets the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning
Brown
All her empires are falling down winters closing in
And I get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
And summertime is falling down |
I pulled up behind a Cadillac
We were waiting for the light
I took a look at his license plate
It said Just Ice
Is justice just ice?
Governed by greed and lust
Just the strong doing what they can
And the weak suffering what they must
Oh, and the gas leaks
And the oil spills
And sex sells everything
Sex kills
Oh, sex kills
Doctors pills give you brand new ills
And the bills bury you like an avalanche
And lawyers havent been this popular
Since Robespierre slaughtered half of France
And Indian chiefs with their old beliefs
Know the balance is undone, crazy ions
You can feel it out in traffic
Everyone hates everyone
And the gas leaks
And the oil spills
And sex sells everything
Sex kills
Oh, sex kills
All these jack-offs at the office
The rapist in the pool
Oh, and the tragedies in the nurseries
Little kids packing guns to school
The ulcerated ozone
These tumors of the skin
This hostile sun beating down
On the massive mess were in
And the gas leaks
And the oil spills
And sex sells everything
Sex kills
Sex kills
Sex kills
Oh, sex kills
Sex kills |
Varnished weeds in window jars
Tarnished beads on tapestries
Kept in satin boxes are
Reflections of loves memories
Letters from across the seas
Roses dipped in sealing wax
Valentines and maple leaves
Tucked into a paperback
Guess Ill throw them all away
I found someone to love today
Dark with darker moods is he
Not a golden Prince whos come
Through columbines and wizardry
To talk of castles in the sun
Still Ill take a chance and see
I found someone to love today
Theres a sorrow in his eyes
Like the angel made of tin
What will happen if I try
To place another heart in him
In a Bleecker Street cafe
I found someone to love today
I found someone to love today |
He was sitting in the lounge of the Empire Hotel
He was drinking for diversion
He was thinking for himself
A little money riding on the Maple Leafs
Along comes a lady in lacy sleeves
She says: Let me sit down
You know, drinkin alones a shame
Look at those jokers
Glued to that damn hockey game
Hey honey, youve got lots of cash
Bring us round a bottle
And well have some laughs
Gins what Im drinking
I was raised on robbery
Im a pretty good cook
Im sitting on my groceries
Come up to my kitchen
Ill show you my best recipe
I try and I try but I cant save a cent
Im up after midnight cooking
Trying to make my rent
Im rough but Im pleasin
I was raised on robbery
We had a little money once
They were pushing through a four lane highway
Government gave us three thousand dollars
You should have seen it fly away
First he bought a 57 Biscayne
He put it in a ditch
He drunk up all the rest
That son of a bitch
His bloods bad whiskey
I was raised on robbery
You know you aint bad looking
I like the way you hold your drinks
Come home with me honey
I aint asking for no full length mink
Hey, where you going? Dont go yet
Your glass aint empty and we just met
Youre mean when youre loaded
I was raised on robbery |
And so, once again
My dear Johnny, my dear friend
And so, once again, you are fighting us all
And when I ask you why
You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall
Oh, my friend, how did you come
To trade the fiddle for the drum?
You say I have turned
Like the enemies youve earned
But I can remember
All the good things you are
And so, I ask you, please
Can I help you find the peace and the star?
Oh, my friend, what time is this
To trade the handshake for the fist?
And so, once again
Oh, America, my friend
And so, once again
You are fighting us all
And when we ask you why
You raise your sticks and cry, and we fall
Oh, my friend, how did you come
To trade the fiddle for the drum?
You say we have turned
Like the enemies youve earned
But we can remember
All the good things you are
And so, we ask you, please
Can we help you find the peace and the star?
Oh, my friend, we have all come
To fear the beating of your drum |
Willy is my child, he is my father
I would be his lady all my life
He says hed love to live with me
But for an ancient injury
That has not healed
He said I feel once again
Like I gave my heart too soon
He stood looking through the lace
At the face on the conquered moon
And counting all the cars up the hill
And the stars on my window sill
There are still more reasons why
I love him
Willy is my joy, he is my sorrow
Now he wants to run away and hide
He says our love cannot be real
He cannot hear the chapels pealing silver bells
But you know its hard to tell
When youre in the spell if its wrong or if its real
But youre bound to lose
If you let the blues get you scared to feel
And I feel like Im just being born
Like a shiny light breaking in a storm
There are so many reasons why I love him
Willy is my child, he is my father |
It was a rainy night
We took a taxi to your mothers home
She went to Florida and left you
With you fathers gun, alone
Upon her small white bed
I fell into a dream
You sat up all the night and watched me
To see, who in the world I might be
I am from the Sunday school
I sing soprano in the upstairs choir
You are a holy man
On the FM radio
I sat up all the night and watched thee
To see, who in the world you might be
You called me beautiful
You called your mother - she was very tanned
So you packed your tent and went
To live out in the Arizona sand
You are a refugee
From a wealthy family
You gave up all the golden factories
To see, who in the world you might be |
Bad boy
Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Ive looked at clouds that way
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
When every fairy tale comes real
Ive looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So, so many things I couldve done
But clouds got in my
Angel dust gets in your eyes, your hair
On acid stars youre getting there
My bodys assembled into a gift to you
When you die, Ive looked at life that way
But now its just another show
You leave em laughing when you go
So dont let them inside, dont let them know
Dont give yourself ohh away
But now my friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, man, they say Ive changed, well
Well, somethings lost and rearranged
From living every, every
Ive looked at life from both sides now
From , and still somehow
Its, its just illusions, I recall
I, I really dont know, I really dont know
I really dont know, I really dont know
I really dont, I really dont clouds at all
Why are we here, terrified, terrified
Wow! |
The big man arrives
Disco dancers greet him
Plainclothes cops greet him
Small town, big man, fresh lipstick glistening
Sophomore jive
From victims of typewriters
The band sounds like typewriters
The big man hes not listening
His eyes hold Edith
His left hand holds his right
What does that hand desire
That he grips it so tight
Edith in the ring
The passed-over girls are conferring
The man with the diamond ring is purring
All claws for now withdrawn
One by one they bring
His renegade stories to her
His crimes and his glories to her
In challenge they look on
Women he has taken grow old too soon
He tilts their tired faces
Gently to the spoon
Edith in his bed
A plane in the rain is humming
The wires in the walls are humming
Some song - some mysterious song
Bars in her head
Beating frantic and snowblind
Romantic and snowblind
She says - his crime belongs
Edith and the Kingpin
Each with charm to sway
Are staring eye to eye
They dare not look away
You know they dare not look away |
Dont interrupt the sorrow
Darn right
In flames our prophet witches
Be polite
A room full of glasses
He says, Your notches, liberation doll
And he chains me with that serpent
To that Ethiopian wall
Anima rising
Queen of Queens
Wash my guilt of Eden
Wash and balance me
Anima rising
Uprising in me tonight
Shes a vengeful little goddess
With an ancient crown to fight
Truth goes up in vapors
The steeples lean
Winds of change patriarchs
Snug in your bible belt dreams
God goes up the chimney
Like childhood Santa Claus
The good slaves love the good book
A rebel loves a cause
Im leaving on the 1:15
Youre darn right
Since I was seventeen
Ive had no one over me
He says Anima rising-
So what-
Petrified wood process
Tall timber down to rock!
Dont interrupt the sorrow
Darn right
He says, We walked on the moon
You be polite
Dont let up the sorrow
Death and birth and death and birth and death and birth
He says, Bring that bottle kindly
And Ill pad your purse-
Ive got a head full of quandary
And a mighty, mighty, mighty thirst
Seventeen glasses
Rhine wine
Milk of the Madonna
Clandestine
He dont let up the sorrow
He lies and he cheats
It takes a heart like Marys these days
When your man gets weak |
Cold Blue Steel out of money
One eye for the beat police
Sweet Fire calling
You cant deny me
Now you know what you need
Underneath the jungle gym
Hollow-grey-fire-escape-thief
Looking for Sweet Fire
Shadow of Lady Release
Come with me
I know the way she says
Its down, down, down the dark ladder
Do you want to contact somebody first?
Leave someone a letter?
You can come now
Or you can come later
A wristwatch, a ring, a downstairs screamer
Edgy - black cracks of the sky
Pin-cushion-prick-
Fix this poor bad dreamer!
Money cold shadows reply
Pawnshops crisscrossed and padlocked
Corridors spit on prayers and pleas
Sparks fly up from Sweet Fire
Black soot of Lady Release
Come with me
I know the way she says
Its down, down, down the dark ladder
Do you want to contact somebody first?
Does it really matter
You can come now
Or you can come later?
Red water in the bathroom sink
Fever and the scum brown bowl
Blue Steel still begging
But its indistinct
Someones HI-Fi drumming Jelly Roll
Concrete concentration camp
Bashing in veins for peace
Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire
Fall into Lady Release
Come with me
I know the way she says
Its down, down, down the dark ladder
Do you want to contact somebody first?
I mean what does it really matter?
Youre going to come now
Or youre going to come later |
Rousseau walks on trumpet paths
Safaris to the heart of all that jazz
Through I bars and girders-through wires and pipes
The mathematic circuits of the modern nights
Through huts, through Harlem, through jails and gospel pews
Through the class on Park and the trash on Vine
Through Europe and the deep deep heart of Dixie blue
Through savage progress cuts the jungle line
In a low-cut blouse she brings the beer
Rousseau paints a jungle flower behind her ear
Those cannibals-of shuck and jive
Theyll eat a working girl like her alive
With his hard-edged eye and his steady hand
He paints the cellar full of ferns and orchid vines
And he hangs a moon above a five-piece band
He hangs it up above the jungle line
The jungle line, the jungle line
Screaming in a ritual of sound and time
Floating, drifting on the air-conditioned wind
And drooling for a taste of something smuggled in
Pretty women funneled through valves and smoke
Coy and bitchy, wild and fine
And charging elephants and chanting slaving boats
Charging, chanting down the jungle line
Theres a poppy wreath on a soldiers tomb
Theres a poppy snake in a dressing room
Poppy poison-poppy tourniquet
It slithers away on brass like mouthpiece spit
And metal skin and ivory birds
Go steaming up to Rousseaus vines
They go steaming up to Brooklyn Bridge
Steaming, steaming, steaming up the jungle line |
I met a friend of spirit
He drank and womanized
And I sat before his sanity
I was holding back from crying
He saw my complications
And he mirrored me back simplified
And we laughed how our perfection
Would always be denied
Heart and humor and humility
He said Will lighten up your heavy load
I left him for the refuge of the roads
I fell in with some drifters
Cast upon a beachtown
Winn Dixie cold cuts and highway hand me downs
And I wound up fixing dinner
For them and Boston Jim
I well up with affection
Thinking back down the roads to then
The nets were overflowing
In the Gulf of Mexico
They were overflowing in the refuge of the roads
There was spring along the ditches
There were good times in the cities
Oh radiant happiness
It was all so light and easy
Till I started analyzing
And I brought on my old ways
A thunderhead of judgment was
Gathering in my gaze
And it made most people nervous
They just didnt want to know
What I was seeing in the refuge of the roads
I pulled off into a forest
Crickets clicking in the ferns
Like a wheel of fortune
I heard my fate turn turn turn
And I went running down a white sand road
I was running like a white-assed deer
Running to lose the blues
To the innocence in here
These are the clouds of Michelangelo
Muscular with gods and sungold
Shine on your witness in the refuge of the roads
In a highway service station
Over the month of June
Was a photograph of the earth
Taken coming back from the moon
And you couldnt see a city
On that marbled bowling ball
Or a forest or a highway
Or me here least of all
You couldnt see these cold water restrooms
Or this baggage overload
Westbound and rolling taking refuge in the roads |
I am a woman of heart and mind
With time on her hands
No child to raise
You come to me like a little boy
And I give you my scorn and my praise
You think Im like your mother
Or another lover or your sister
Or the queen of your dreams
Or just another silly girl
When love makes a fool of me
After the rush when you come back down
Youre always disappointed
Nothing seems to keep you high
Drive your bargains
Push your papers
Win your medals
Fuck your strangers
Dont it leave you on the empty side
Im looking for affection and respect
A little passion
And you want stimulation-nothing more
Thats what I think
But you know Ill try to be there for you
When your spirits start to sink
All this talk about holiness now
It must be the start of the latest style
Is it all books and words
Or do you really feel it?
Do you really laugh?
Do you really care?
Do you really smile
When you smile?
You criticize and you flatter
You imitate the best
And the rest you memorize
You know the times you impress me most
Are the times when you dont try
When you dont even try |
Ive been sitting up waiting for my sugar to show
Ive been listening to the sirens and the radio
He said hed be over three hours ago
Ive been waiting for his car on the hill
He makes friends easy
Hes not like me
I watch for judgement anxiously
Now where in the city can that boy be
Waiting for a car
Climbing
Climbing
Climbing the hill
Hes a real good talker, I think hes a friend
Fast tires come screaming around the bend
But theres still no buzzer, they roll on
And Im waiting for his car on the hill
It always seems so righteous at the start
When theres so much laughter
When theres so much spark
When theres so much sweetness in the dark
Waiting for a car
Climbing
Climbing
Climbing the hill |
I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
And I asked him where are you going
And this he told me
Im going on down to Yasgurs farm
Im going to join in a rock n roll band
Im going to camp out on the land
Im going to try an get my soul free
We are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
Then can I walk beside you
I have come here to lose the smog
And I feel to be a cog in something turning
Well maybe it is just the time of year
Or maybe its the time of man
I dont know who I am
But you know life is for learning
Oh, we are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere there was song and celebration
And I dreamed I saw the bombers
Riding shotgun in the sky
And they were turning into butterflies
Above our nation
We are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
Ooh, ooh, ooh...
Hmm... |
The story hit the news
From coast to coast
They said you beat the girl
You loved the most
Your charitable acts
Seemed out of place
With the beauty
With your fist marks on her face
Your buddies all stood by
They bet their fortunes
And their fame
That she was out of line
And you were not to blame
Six hundred thousand doctors
Are putting on rubber gloves
And theyre poking
At the miseries made of love
They say theyre learning
How to spot
The battered wives
Among all the women
They see bleeding through their lives
I bleed
For your perversity
These red words that make a stain
On your white-washed claim that
She was out of line
And you were not to blame
I heard your baby say
When he was only three
Daddy, lets get some girls
One for you and one for me.
His mother had the frailty
You despise
And the looks
You love to drive to suicide
Not one wet eye around
Her lonely little grave
Said: He was out of line, girl
You were not to blame. |
A strange boy is weaving
A course of grace and havoc
On a yellow skateboard
Thru midday sidewalk traffic
Just when I think hes foolish and childish
And I want him to be manly
I catch my fool and my child
Needing love and understanding
What a strange strange boy
He still lives with his family
Even the war and the navy
Couldnt bring him to maturity
He keeps referring back to school days
And clinging to his child
Fidgeting and bullied
His crazy wisdom holding onto something wild
He asked me to be patient
Well I failed
Grow up! I cried
And as the smoke was clearing he said
Give me one good reason why
What a strange strange boy
He sees the cars as sets of waves
Sequences of mass and space
He sees the damage in my face
We got high on travel
And we got drunk on alcohol
And on love the strongest poison and medicine of all
See how that feeling comes and goes
Like the pull of moon on tides
Now I am surf rising
Now parched ribs of sand at his side
What a strange strange boy
I gave him clothes and jewelry
I gave him my warm body
I gave him power over me
A thousand glass eyes were staring
In a cellar full of antique dolls
I found an old piano
And sweet chords rose up in waxed New England halls
While the boarders were snoring
Under crisp white sheets of curfew
We were newly lovers then
We were fire in the stiff blue-haired house rules |
Heatwaves on the runway
As the wheels set down
He takes his baggage off the carousel
He takes a taxi into town
Yellow schools of taxi fishes
Jonah in a ticking whale
Caught up at the light in the fishnet windows
Of Bloomingdales
Watching those high fashion girls
Skinny black models with Raven curls
Beauty parlor blonds with credit card eyes
Looking for the chic and the fancy
To buy
He opens up his suitcase
In the continental suite
And people thirty stories down
Look like colored currents in the street
A helicopter lands on the Pan Am roof
Like a dragonfly on a tomb
And business men in button downs
Press into conference rooms
Battalions of paper-minded males
Talking commodities and sales
While at home their paper wives
And paper kids
Paper the walls to keep their gut reactions hid
Yellow checkers for the kitchen
Climbing ivy for the bath
She is lost in House and Gardens
Hes caught up in Chief of Staff
He drifts off into the memory
Of the way she looked in school
With her body oiled and shining
At the public swimming pool
The more Im with you, pretty baby
The more I feel my love increase
Im building all my dreams around you
Our happiness will never cease
Cause nothings any good without you
Baby youre my centerpiece
Well find a house and garden somewhere
Along a country road a piece
A little cottage on the outskirts
Where we can really find release
Cause nothings any good without you
Baby youre my centerpiece
Shining hair and shining skin
Shining as she reeled him in
To tell him like she did today
Just what he could do with Harrys House
And Harrys take home pay |
Up in a sterilized room
Where they let you be lazy
Knowing your attitudes all wrong
And you got to change
And thats not easy
Dragon shining with all values known
Dazzling you, keeping you from your own
Where is the lion in you
To defy him when youre this weak
And this spacey
So what are you going to do about it
You cant live life and you cant leave it
Advice and religion, you cant take it
You cant seem to believe it
The peacock is afraid to parade
Youre under the thumb of the maid
You really cant give love in this condition
Still you know how you need it
They open and close you
Then they talk like they know you
They dont know you
Theyre friends and theyre foes too
Trouble child
Breaking like the waves at Malibu
So why does it come as such a shock
To know you really have no one
Only a river of changing faces
Looking for an ocean
They trickle through your leaky plans
Another dream over the dam
And youre lying in some room
Feeling like your right to be human
Is going over too
Well, some are gonna knock you
And somell try and clock you
You know its really hard to talk sense to you
Trouble child
Breaking like the waves at Malibu |
Michael wakes you up with sweets
He takes you up streets and the rain comes down
Sidewalk markets locked up tight
And umbrellas bright on a grey background
Theres oil on the puddles in taffeta patterns
That run down the drain
In colored arrangements
That Michael will change with a stick that he found
Michael from mountains
Go where you will go to
Know that I will know you
Someday I may know you very well
Michael brings you to a park
He sings and its dark when the clouds come by
Yellow slickers up on swings
Like puppets on strings hanging in the sky
Theyll splash home to suppers in wallpapered kitchens
Their mothers will scold
But Michael will hold you
To keep away cold till the sidewalks are dry-
Michael from mountains
Go where you will go to
Know that I will know you
Someday I may know you very well
Michael leads you up the stairs
He needs you to care and you know you do
Cats come crying to the key
And dry you will be in a towel or two
Theres rain in the window
Theres sun in the painting that smiles on the wall
You want to know all
But his mountains have called so you never do-
Michael from mountains
Go where you will go to
Know that I will know you
Someday I may know you very well
Someday I will know you very well |
Daylight falls upon the path, the forest falls behind
Today I am not prey to dark uncertainty
The shadow trembles in its wrath, Ive robbed its blackness blind
And tasted sunlight as my fear came clear to me
I think I understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones or sinking sand
Now the way leads to the hills, above the steeples chime
Below me sleepy rooftops round the harbor
Its there Ill take my thirsty fill of friendship over wine
Forgetting fear but never disregarding her
Oh, I think I understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones and sinking sand
Sometime voices in the night will call me back again
Back along the pathway of a troubled mind
When forests rise to block the light that keeps a traveler sane
Ill challenge them with flashes from a brighter time
Oh, I think I understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones or sinking sand |
Im always running behind the time
Just like this train
Shaking into town
With the brakes complaining
I used to count lovers like railroad cars
I counted them on my side
Lately I dont count on nothing
I just let things slide
The station masters shuffling cards
Boxcars are banging in the yards
Jealous lovinll make you crazy
If you cant find your goodness
Cause you lost your heart
I went looking for a cause
Or a strong cat without claws
Or any reason to resume
And I found this empty seat
In this crowded waiting room
Everybody waiting
Old man sleeping on his bags
Women with that teased up kind of hair
Kids with the jitters in their legs
And those wide, wide open stares
And the kids got Cokes and chocolate bars
Theres a thin man smoking a fat cigar
Jealous lovinll make you crazy
If you cant find your goodness
Cause youve lost your heart
What are you going to do now
Youve got no one
To give your love to
Well Ive got this berth and this pull down blind
Ive got this fold up sink
And these rocks and these cactuses going by
And a bottle of German wine to drink
Settle down into the clickety clack
With the clouds and the stars to read
Dreaming of the pleasure Im going to have
Watching your hairline recede, my vain darling
Watching your hair and clouds and stars
Im rocking away in a sleeping car
This jealous lovins bound to make me crazy
I cant find my goodness
I lost my heart
Oh, sour grapes because I lost my heart |
I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
When I asked him, where are you going?
This, he told me:
Im going down to Yasgurs farm
Think Ill join a rock and roll band
Ill camp out on the land
Ill try and set my soul free
We are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves back to the garden
Then, can I walk beside you?
I have come here to lose the smog
And I feel just like a cog
In something turning
Well, maybe its the time of year
Or maybe its the time of man
And I dont know who I am
But lifes for learning
We are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves back to the garden
By the time I got to Woodstock
They were half a million strong
Everywhere there were songs and celebration
And I dreamed I saw the bombers
Riding shotgun in the sky
Turning into butterflies
Above our nation
We are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves back to the garden
We are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves back to the garden
We are stardust
We are golden
And weve got to get ourselves back to the garden |
Lady called the blue boy, love
She took him home
Made himself an idol, yes
So he turned to stone
Like a pilgrim she travelled
To place her flowers
Before his granite grace
And she prayed aloud for love
To waken in his face
In his face, oh
Sometimes in the evening
He would read to her
Roll her in his arms
And give his seed to her
She would wake in the morning
Without him
And go to the window
And look out through the pane
But the statue in her garden
He always looked the same
He looked the same, ah
Bring her boots of leather
And she will dance for him
Shyly from a feather fan
Shell glance for him
Here he comes after midnight
To find her again
He will come few times more
Till he finds a lady statue
Standing in a door
In her door |
Theres a crow flying
Black and ragged
Tree to tree
Hes black as the highway thats leading me
Now hes diving down
To pick up on something shiny
I feel like that black crow
Flying
In a blue sky
I took a ferry to the highway
Then I drove to a pontoon plane
I took a plane to a taxi
And a taxi to a train
Ive been traveling so long
Howm I ever going to know my home
When I see it again
Im like a black crow flying
In a blue blue sky
In search of love and music
My whole life has been
Illumination
Corruption
And diving diving diving diving
Diving down to pick up on every shiny thing
Just like that black crow flying
In a blue sky
I looked at the morning
After being up all night
I looked at my haggard face in the bathroom light
I looked out the window
And I saw that ragged soul take flight
I saw a back crow flying
In a blue sky
Oh Im like a black crow flying
In a blue sky |
Fly silly seabird
No dreams can possess you
No voices can blame you
For sun on your wings
My gentle relations
Have names they must call me
For loving the freedom
Of all flying things
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach out of cry
I came to the city
And lived like old Crusoe
On an island of noise
In a cobblestone sea
And the beaches were concrete
And the stars paid a light bill
And the blossoms hung false
On their store window trees
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach out of cry
Out of the city
And down to the seaside
To sun on my shoulders
And wind in my hair
But sandcastles crumble
And hunger is human
And humans are hungry
For worlds they cant share
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach
Out of cry
I call to a seagull
Who dives to the waters
And catches his silver-fine
Dinner alone
Crying where are the footprints
That danced on these beaches
And the hands that cast wishes
That sunk like a stone
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach
Out of cry |
I think of tears, I think of rain on shingles
I think of rain, I think of roses blue
I think of Rose, my heart begins to tremble
To see the place shes lately gotten to
Gotten to, gotten to
Shes gotten to mysterious devotions
Shes gotten to the zodiac and Zen
Shes gotten into tarot cards and potions
Shes laying her religion on her friends
On her friends, on her friends
Friends who come to ask her for their future
Friends who come to find they cant be friends
Because of signs and seasons that dont suit her
Shell prophesy your death, she wont say when
Wont say when, wont say when
When all the black cards come you cannot barter
No, when all your stars are stacked you cannot win
Shell shake her head and treat you like a martyr
It is her blackest spell she puts you in
Puts you in, puts you in
In sorrow she can lure you where she wants you
Inside your own self-pity there you swim
In sinking down to drown her voice still haunts you
And only with your laughter can you win
Can you win, can you win
You win the lasting laurels with your laughter
It reaches like an arm before you sink
To win the solitary truth youre after
You dare not ask the priestess how to think
How to think, how to think
I think of tears, I think of rain on shingles
I think of rain, I think of roses blue
I think of Rose, my heart begins to tremble
To see the place shes lately gotten to
Gotten to, gotten to |
Marcie in a coat of flowers
Steps inside a candy store
Reds are sweet and greens are sour
Still no letter at her door
So shell wash her flower curtains
Hang them in the wind to dry
Dust her tables with his shirt and
Wave another day goodbye
Marcies faucet needs a plumber
Marcies sorrow needs a man
Red is autumn green is summer
Greens are turning and the sand
All along the ocean beaches
Stares up empty at the sky
Marcie buys a bag of peaches
Stops a postman passing by
And summer goes
Falls to the sidewalk like string and brown paper
Winter blows
Up from the river theres no one to take her
To the sea
Marcie dresses warm its snowing
Takes a yellow cab uptown
Red is stop and greens for going
Sees a show and rides back down
Down along the Hudson River
Past the shipyards in the cold
Still no letters been delivered
Still the winter days unfold
Like magazines
Fading in dusty grey attics and cellars
Make a dream
Dream back to summer and hear how
He tells her
Wait for me
Marcie leaves and doesnt tell us
Where or why she moved away
Red is angry green is jealous
That was all she had to say
Someone thought they saw her Sunday
Window shopping in the rain
Someone heard she bought a one-way ticket
And went west again |
You could have been more than a name on the door
On the thirty-third floor in the air
More than a credit card
Swimming pool in the backyard
While you still have the time you could get away and find
A better life, you know the grind
Is so ungrateful
Racing cars, whisky bars
No one cares who you really are
Youre the keeper of the cards
Yes I know it gets hard
Keeping the wheels turning
And the wife she keeps the keys
She is so pleased to be
A part of the arrangement
You could have been more than a name on the door
On the thirty-third floor in the air
More than a consumer
Lying in some room trying to die
More than a credit card
Swimming pool in the backyard
You could have been more than a name on the door
You could have been more than a name on the door
You could have been more
You could have been more
You could have been more |
No tongue in the bell
And the fishwives yell
But they might as well be mute
So you get to keep the pictures
That dont seem like much
Cold white keys under your fingers
Now youre thinking
Thats no substitute
It just dont do it
Like the song of a warm warm body
Loving your touch
In the court they carve your legend
With an apple in its jaw
And the women that you wanted
They get their laughs
Long silk stockings
On the bedposts of refinement
Youre too raw
They think youre too raw
Its the judgement of the moon and stars
Your solitary path
Draw yourself a bath
Think what youd like to have
For supper
Or take a walk
A park
A bridge
A tree
A river
Revoked but not yet cancelled
The gift goes on
In silence
In a bell jar
Still a song
Youve got to shake your fists at lightning now
Youve got to roar like forest fire
Youve got to spread your light like blazes
All across the sky
Theyre going to aim the hoses on you
Show em you wont expire
Not till you burn up every passion
Not even when you die
Come on now
Youve got to try
If youre feeling contempt
Well then you tell it
If youre tired of the silent night
Jesus well then you yell it
Condemned to wires and hammers
Strike every chord that you feel
That broken trees
And elephant ivories conceal |
I used to think the world was flat
Rarely threw my hat into the crowd
I felt I had used up my quota of yearning
Used to look in on the children at night
In the glow of their Donald Duck light
And frighten myself with the thought of my little ones burning
But, oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning
Satellite buzzing through the endless night
Exclusive to moonshots and world title fights
Jesus Christ imagine what it must be earning
Who is the strongest
Who is the best
Who holds the aces
The East
Or the West
This is the crap our children are learning
But oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning
Oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
Now the satellites confused
Cause on Saturday night
The airwaves were full of compassion and light
And his silicon heart warmed
To the sight of a billion candles burning
Oo, oo, oo, the tide is turning
Oo, oo, oo, the tide is turning
The tide is turning Billy
Im not saying that the battle is won
But on Saturday night all those kids in the sun
Wrested technologys sword from the hand of the war lords
Oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning Sylvester
The tide is turning
Thats it!
Now the past is over but you are not alone
Together well fight Sylvester Stallone
We will not be dragged down in his South China Sea
Of macho bullshit and mediocrity |
Out of the fire like Catholic saints
Comes Scarlett and her deep complaint
Mimicking tenderness she sees
In sentimental movies
A celluloid rider comes to town
Cinematic lovers sway
Plantations and sweeping ballroom gowns
Take her breath away
Out in the wind in crinolines
Chasing the ghosts of Gable and Flynn
Through stand-in boys and extra players
Magnolias hopeful in her auburn hair
She comes from a school of southern charm
She likes to have things her way
Any man in the world holding out his arm
Would soon be made to pay
Friends have told her not so proud
Neighbors trying to sleep and yelling not so loud
Lovers in anger block of ice
Harder and harder just to be nice
Given in the night to dark dreams
From the dark things she feels
She covers her eyes in the x-rated scenes
Running from the reels
Beauty and madness to be praised
cause it is not easy to be brave
To walk around in so much need
To carry the weight of all that greed
Dressed in stolen clothes she stands
Cast iron and frail
With her impossibly gentle hands
And her blood-red fingernails
Out of the fire and still smoldering
She says a woman must have everything
Shades of scarlett conquering
She says a woman must have everything |
Peridots and periwinkle blue medallions
Gilded galleons spilled across the ocean floor
Treasure somewhere in the sea and he will find where
Never mind their questions theres no answer for
The roll of the harbour wake
The songs that the rigging makes
The taste of the spray he takes
And he learns to give
He aches and he learns to live
He stakes all his silver
On a promise to be free
Mermaids live in colonies
All his seadreams come to me
City satins left at home I will not need them
I believe him when he tells of loving me
Something truthful in the sea your lies will find you
Leave behind your streets he said and come to me
Come down from the neon nights
Come down from the tourist sights
Run down till the rain delights you
You do not hide
Sunlight will renew your pride
Skin white by skin golden
Like a promise to be free
Dolphins playing in the sea
All his seadreams come to me
Seabird I have seen you fly above the pilings
I am smiling at your circles in the air
I will come and sit by you while he lies sleeping
Fold your fleet wings I have brought some dreams to share
A dream that you love someone
A dream that the wars are done
A dream that you tell no one but the grey sea
Theyll say that youre crazy
And a dream of a baby
Like a promise to be free
Children laughing out to sea
All his seadreams come to me
All his seadreams come to me |
And so once again
My dear Johnny my dear friend
And so once again you are fightin us all
And when I ask you why
You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall
Oh, my friend
How did you come
To trade the fiddle for the drum
You say I have turned
Like the enemies youve earned
But I can remember
All the good things you are
And so I ask you please
Can I help you find the peace and the star
Oh, my friend
What time is this
To trade the handshake for the fist
And so once again
Oh, America my friend
And so once again
You are fighting us all
And when we ask you why
You raise your sticks and cry and we fall
Oh, my friend
How did you come
To trade the fiddle for the drum
You say we have turned
Like the enemies youve earned
But we can remember
All the good things you are
And so we ask you please
Can we help you find the peace and the star
Oh my friend
We have all come
To fear the beating of your drum |
Come to the dinner gong
The table is laden high
Fat bellies and hungry little ones
Tuck your napkins in
And take your share
Some get the gravy
And some get the gristle
Some get the marrow bone
And some get nothing
Though theres plenty to spare
I took my share down by the sea
Paper plates and Javex bottles on the tide
Seagulls come down
And they squawk at me
Down where the water-skiers glide
Some turn to Jesus
And some turn to heroin
Some turn to rambling round
Looking for a clean sky
And a drinking stream
Some watch the paint peel off
Some watch their kids grow up
Some watch their stocks and bonds
Waiting for that big deal
American Dream
I took my dream down by the sea
Yankee yachts and lobster pots and sunshine
And logs and sails
And Shell Oil pails
Dogs and tugs and summertime
Back in the banquet line
Angry young people crying
Who let the greedy in
And who left the needy out
Who made this salty soup
Tell him were very hungry now
For a sweeter fare
In the cookie I read
Some get the gravy
And some get the gristle
Some get the marrow bone
And some get nothing
Though theres plenty to spare |
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin hot spot
Don’t it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got ’til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
They took all the trees, put em in a tree museum
And they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see em
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til it’s gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Hey farmer, farmer, put away the DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees, please
Don’t it always seem to go
That you dont know what you’ve got til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Oh-la-la-la
Oh-la-la-la
Late last night, I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi took away my old man
Dont it always seem to go
That you don’t know what youve got til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot, yeah
Oh-la-la-la
Oh-la-la-la
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got til its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Oh-la-la-la
Oh-la-la-la
Oh, They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Oh-la-la-la
Oh-la-la-la
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
I didnt wanna end |
The Lyrics dataset parsed from Genius. This dataset is designed to generate lyrics with HuggingArtists. Model is available here.
en
How to load this dataset directly with the datasets library:
from datasets import load_dataset
dataset = load_dataset("huggingartists/joni-mitchell")
An example of 'train' looks as follows.
This example was too long and was cropped:
{
"text": "Look, I was gonna go easy on you\nNot to hurt your feelings\nBut I'm only going to get this one chance\nSomething's wrong, I can feel it..."
}
The data fields are the same among all splits.
text
: a string
feature.train | validation | test |
---|---|---|
559 | - | - |
'Train' can be easily divided into 'train' & 'validation' & 'test' with few lines of code:
from datasets import load_dataset, Dataset, DatasetDict
import numpy as np
datasets = load_dataset("huggingartists/joni-mitchell")
train_percentage = 0.9
validation_percentage = 0.07
test_percentage = 0.03
train, validation, test = np.split(datasets['train']['text'], [int(len(datasets['train']['text'])*train_percentage), int(len(datasets['train']['text'])*(train_percentage + validation_percentage))])
datasets = DatasetDict(
{
'train': Dataset.from_dict({'text': list(train)}),
'validation': Dataset.from_dict({'text': list(validation)}),
'test': Dataset.from_dict({'text': list(test)})
}
)
@InProceedings{huggingartists,
author={Aleksey Korshuk}
year=2021
}
Built by Aleksey Korshuk
For more details, visit the project repository.