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Living on the road my friend,
Is gonna keep you free and clean Now you wear your skin like iron, Your breath as hard as kerosene. You weren't your mama's only boy, But her favorite one it seems She began to cry when you said goodbye, And sank into your dreams. Pancho was a bandit boy, His horse was fast as polished steel He wore his gun outside his pants For all the honest world to feel. Pancho met his match you know On the deserts down in Mexico Nobody heard his dying words, Ah but that's the way it goes. All the Federales say They could have had him any day They only let him slip away Out of kindness, I suppose. Lefty, he can't sing the blues All night long like he used to. The dust that Pancho bit down south Ended up in Lefty's mouth The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio Where he got the bread to go, There ain't nobody knows The poets tell how Pancho fell, And Lefty's living in cheap hotels The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold, And so the story ends we're told Pancho needs your prayers it's true, But save a few for Lefty too He only did what he had to do, And now he's growing old |
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by Townes Van Zandt
Don't you take it too bad if you're feelin' unlovin' if you're feelin unfeelin' if you're feelin' alone Don't take it too bad 'Cause it ain't you to blame, babe Lord, it's just some kind of game made out of all of this living that we got left to do And if you go searchin' for rhyme or for reason then you won't have the time that it take just for talkin' about the places you've been, babe about the places you've seen, babe and how soft the time flies past your window at night And we just can't have that, girl 'cause it's a sad, lonesome, cold world and a man need a woman just to stand by his side and whisper sweet words in his ears about daydreams and roses and playthings and the sweetness of springtime and the sound of the rain |
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by Townes Van Zandt
Well, the clouds didn't look like cotton they didn't even look like clouds I was underneath the weather my friends looked a crowd The swimmin' hole was full of rum I tried to find out why All I learned was this my friend you got to swim before you fly I got two girls one's in heaven and one's below Oh, one I love with all my heart and one I do not know. Two lonesome dudes on an ugly horse Passed by not long ago They asked me where the action was I said I did not know As they disappeared into the brush I heard the driver say He's a little slow between the ears He's always been that way. Jolly Jane just lays around and listens with her mouth she's had about a dozen husbands but the last one pulled out Now, who's gonna bring her dinner through the weary years ahead all she'll get from me is sympathy got no time to see she's fed. It's cold down on the bayou they say it's in your mind but the moccasins are treadin' ice and leavin strange designs Cajuns say the last time that this happend they weren't here All Beaumont's full of penguins and I'm a-playin' it by ear. |
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by Townes Van Zandt
I decided to improve my social station I joined a fraternity organisation tucked in my shirt signed on the line right away they said about to improve my mind the car I drove the books I read the food I ate the booze I drank the girls I took out my breath Said "Kid, we don't much like the way you walk and you gonna have to change the way you talk" They said "your dress is kind of sludge and your attitude is mighty grudge" Said "you got to learn to bubble" "You got to bubble with enthusiasm" I started bubble "Most important thing you can't forget is learning the entire Greek alphabet" I never did really understand that that's gonna make me anymore a man but I learned it I can whip through that Son-of-a-beta backwards in five seconds Then they hit me with some pretty bad news concerning the payment of monthly dues I never did know where that money went I never was sure it was well spent but I paid it I'm no troublecauser and besides I figured that's life if you want good friends it gonna cost you Well, finally got to be party time I got a great big old jug of wine I went back to the house in about an hour [when the boy's were] drinking whiskey sours Brandy Alexanders frozen [daquires] reciting the Greek alphabet to one another I could see I was gonna have to do my very best to get myself out of that fraternity mess I stood right there outside the door and I chugged that wine like never before walked inside and bubbled all over a couple of their dates So now everything's back to normal again but there is still lots of room for improvement my friend 'cause that fraternity stuff is too much for me next time I'm gonna join a sorority really get me something to bubble about |
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If I needed you
Would you come to me, Would you come to me, And ease my pain? If you needed me I would come to you I'd swim the seas For to ease your pain In the night forlorn The morning's born And the morning shines With the lights of love You will miss sunrise If you close your eyes That would break My heart in two The lady's with me now Since I showed her how To lay her lily Hand in mine Loop and Lil agree She's a sight to see And a treasure for The poor to find If I needed you Would you come to me, Would you come to me, And ease my pain? If you needed me I would come to you I'd swim the seas For to ease your pain |
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I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time I got a brand new companion Man, I'm gonna do my best this time You know she cools me with her breathin' Chases away those howlin' bottles of wine She fits just like my guitar Man, she's near as tall as me She fits just like my guitar She's near as tall as me She lives way out the D train But she's Texas as can be She got a home-spun disposition Man, she's just as gentle as you please She got a home-spun disposition Man, she's just as gentle as you please She got arms just like two rattle snakes Legs just like a billow in the breeze I got a brand new companion Man, I'm gonna do my best this time I got a brand new companion Man, I'm gonna do my best this time I want to trace her with my body I want to track her with my mind |
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by Townes Van Zandt
I'm goin out on the highway listen to them big trucks whine I'm goin out on the highway listen to them big trucks whine White freight liner won't you steal away my mind Ah, New Mexico ain't bad, Lord and the people there they treat you kind and the people there they treat you kind Well, it's bad news from Houston half my friends are dying Well, it's bad news from Houston half my friends are dying Ah, Lord, I'm gonna ramble till I get back to where I came Ah, Lord, I'm gonna ramble till I get back to where I came I'm goin out on the highway listen to them big trucks whine I'm goin out on the highway listen to them big trucks whine |
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by Townes Van Zandt
She came and she touched me with hands made of heaven reflections sent spinnin' through a face laced in mist Now I stand where she left me buried deep 'neath her shadow and the mirror plead sadly does it all come to this and I wonder: Will she call my name? The wind careens madly through wide windows paneless fragrancies mingle in a room full of shade The peons pick partners and waltz cross the ceilings but the violins whisper that I've been betrayed tryin not to look ashamed The drunkards drink deeply from cups full of nothingness ghost lovers laugh at the games that they play the moments do somersaults into eternity cling to their coattails and beg them to stay saying I got nothing to hide Illusions projected on walls made of Tiffany mad men you adds to a sad satin song A harlequin mandolins harmonize helplessly hoping that endlessly won't last for long Praying that their God ain't dying Then I turn and I see her in a dress made of moonlight teardrops like diamonds run slow down her face her arms surround me like chains made of velvet and the demons fall faithfully into their place and the rivers run with jewels Now the morning lies open the night went quite quickly memory harmlessly fractures and fades All the poets do push-ups on carpets of rubber foam loudly they laugh at some joke that's been made and the wise men speak like fools |
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By townes van zandt
Among the strangest things I ever heard Was when a friend of mine said "man, let's get some thunderbird" I said "what's that? " he just started to grin Slobbered on his shirt, his eyes got dim He said "you got fifty-nine cents? " I said "yeah, I got a dollar, but don't be a smart-aleck I ain't gonna spend it on no indian relic" And he said "thunderbird's not an old indian trinket, It's a wine, man, you take it home and drink it." I said "it sure don't sound like wine to me" And he said he'd bet me the change from my dollar We hustled on down to the nearest u-tate-um The guy wanted my id, I whipped her out and showed him He got a green bottle from the freezing vault My friend started doing backward somersaults Through the cottage cheese Took it back to his house, started drinkin' Pretty soon I set in to thinkin' "man, this thunderbird tastes yummy, yummy, yummy And I know it's doing good things to my tummy, tum..., t..." It's so you reason when your on that crap Got a few more bottles, chugged them down I pulled myself up off the ground Decided I go see my dearest sweet wife Who met me at the door with a carving knife Said "get them damn grape peel from between your teeth." I could see we're gonna have a little misunderstanding I said "dear, I better get in touch with you later" She said "forget it, man, you're never touchin' me again!" Now I've seen the light and heard the word And I'm staying away from that ol' dirty thunderbird A message come from heaven radiant, and fine, All I drink now is communion wine Six days a week |
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Ride the blue wind high and free
She'll lead you down through misery Leave you low, come time to go Alone and low as low can be If I had a nickel I'd find a game If I won a dollar I'd make it rain If it rained an ocean I'd drink it dry And lay me down dissatisfied Legs to walk and thoughts to fly Eyes to laugh and lips to cry A restless tongue to classify All born to grow and grown to die So tell my baby I said so long Tell my mother I did no wrong Tell my brother to watch his own And tell my friends to mourn me none I'm chained upon the face of time Feelin' full of foolish rhyme There ain't no dark till something shines I'm bound to leave this dark behind Ride the blue wind high and free She'll lead you down through misery Leave you low, come time to go Alone and low as low can be |
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This nine pound hammer, it's a little too heavy
For my size, honey, for my size I'm goin on the mountain, gonna see my baby But I ain't comin' back, no, I ain't comin' back Chorus Roll on buddy, don't you roll too slow How can I roll, when the wheels won't go Roll on buddy, pull a load of coal How can I pull , when the wheels won't roll Well, it's a long way to harlan, it's a long way to hazard Just to get a little brew, just to get a little brew Well, when I'm long gone you can make my tombstone Outta number nine coal, outta number nine coal (chorus) (inst. break) (chorus) |
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| Disc 2 | ||||||
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Why does she sing
Her sad songs for me, I'm not the one To tenderly bring Her soft sympathy I've just begun To see my way clear And it's plain, If I stop I will fall I can lay down a tear For her pain, Just a tear and that's all. What does she want me to do? She says that she knows That moments are rare I suppose that it's true Then on she goes To say I don't care, And she knows That I do Maybe she just has to sing, for the sake of the song And who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong. She'd like to think that I'm cruel, But she knows that's a lie For I would be No more than a tool If I allowed her to cry All over me. Oh my sorrow is real Even though I can't change my plan If she could see how I feel Then I know That she'd understand Oh does she actually think I'm to blame? Does she really believe That some word of mine Can relieve All her pain? Can't she see that she grieves Just because she's been blindly deceived By her shame? Nothin's what it seems, Maybe she'll start someday To realize If she abandons her dreams, Then all the words she can say Are only lies When will she see That to gain Is only to lose? All that she offers me Are her chains, I got to refuse Oh but it's only to herself that she's lied She likes to pretend It's something that she must defend, With her pride And I don't intend To stand her and be the friend From whom she must hide |
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If I had no place to fall
And I needed to Could I count on you To lay me down? I'd never tell you no lies I don't believe it's wise You got pretty eyes Won't you spin me 'round I ain't much of a lover it's true I'm here then I'm gone And I'm forever blue But I'm sure wanting you Skies full of silver and gold Try to hide the sun But it can't be done Least not for long And if we help each other grow While the light of day Smiles down our way Then we can't go wrong Time, she's a fast old train She's here then she's gone And she won't come again Won't you take my hand If I had no place to fall And I needed to Could I count on you To lay me down? |
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Oh Loretta she's a barroom girl
Wears them sevens on her sleeve Dances like a diamond shines Tell me lies I love to believe Her age is always 22 Her laughing eyes a hazel hue Spends my money like water falls Loves me like I want her to Oh, Loretta, won't you say to me Darling, put your guitar on Have a little shot of booze Play a blue a and wailing song My guitar rings a melody My guitar sings, Loretta's fine Long and lazy, blonde and free And I can have her any time Sweetest at the break of day Prettiest in the setting sun She don't cry when I can't stay 'Least not 'til she's all alone Loretta, I won't be gone long Keep your dancing slippers on Keep me on your mind a while I'll be back, babe, to make you smile |
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by Townes Van Zandt
It's plain to see, the sun won't shine today but I ain't in the mood for sunshine anyway maybe I'll go insane I got to stop the pain Or maybe I'll go down to see Kathleen. A swallow comes and tells me of her dreams She says she'd like to know just what they mean I feel like I could die as I watch her flying by ride the north wind down to see Kathleen. Stars hang high above, the oceans roar the moon is come to lead me to her door There's crystal across the sand and the waves, they take my hand. Soon I'm gonna see my sweet Kathleen. Soon I'm gonna see my sweet Kathleen. |
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Cocaine, cocaine,
'Round my heart and runnin' 'round my brain, Cocaine, aw, you ol' cocaine. I woke up this mornin', Lord, I had a hunger pain. And all I want for breakfast is my good cocaine, Cocaine, aw you ol' cocaine. Jump out of bed, Mama, run downtown; Take along the money and look all around. Find the man, the man that sells cocaine. Come here, Mama, come here quick; That ol' coke's got me and I'm feelin' sick. Cocaine, aw you ol' cocaine. Get out of here, Mama, I thought you understood; You got no connections then you're no damn good. Cocaine. Well, coke's for horses, Lord, it ain't for men. They say it kills you, but they don't say when. c'mon, Mama, let's rent us a boat. We'll sail down that Gibraltar moat; Shed a tear every time we pass Tangiers. Cocaine, cocaine, 'Round my heart and runnin' 'round my brain, Cocaine, aw, you ol' cocaine. |
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So close and yet so far away
And all the things I'd hoped to say Will have to go unsaid today Perhaps until tomorrow Your fear has built a wall between Our lives and all what lovin' means Will have to go unfelt it seems And that leaves only sorrow You built your tower strong and tall Can't you see it's got to fall some day You close your eyes and speak to me Of faith and love and destiny As distant as eternity, Truth and understanding The wind blows cold outside your door It whispers words I've tried before But you don't hear me anymore Your pride's just too demanding The end is coming soon, it's plain A warm bed just ain't worth the pain And I will go and you'll remain With the bitterness we tasted A mother's breast, a newborn child A poet's tear, and drunken smile Can't help thinkin' all the while Their meaning won't be wasted |
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The name she gave was Caroline
Daughter of a miner Her ways were free It seemed to me That sunshine walked beside her She came from Spencer Across the hill She said her pa had sent her 'cause the coal was low And soon the snow Would turn the skies to winter She said she'd come To look for work She was not seeking favors And for a dime a day And a place to stay She'd turn those hands to labor But the times were hard, Lord, The jobs were few All through Tecumseh valley But she asked around And a job she found Tending bar at Gypsy Sally's She saved enough to get back home When spring replaced the winter But her dreams were denied Her pa had died The word come down from Spencer So she turned to whorin' out on the streets With all the lust inside her And it was many a man Returned again To lay himself beside her They found her down beneath the stairs That led to Gypsy Sally's In her hand when she died Was a note that cried Fare thee well Tecumseh valley The name she gave was Caroline Daughter of a miner Her ways were free It seemed to me That sunshine walked beside her |
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by Townes Van Zandt
Well, won't you lend your lungs to me? Mine are collapsing Plant my feet and bitterly breathe up the time that's passing. Breath I'll take and breath I'll give pray the day ain't poison stand among the ones that live in lonely indecision. Fingers walk the darkness down mind is on the midnight gather up the gold you've found you fool, it's only moonlight. If you try to take it home your hands will turn to butter You better leave this dream alone try to find another. Salvation sat and crossed herself called the devil partner wisdom burned upon a shelf who'll kill the raging cancer Seal the river at its mouth take the water prisoner fill the sky with screams and cries bathe in fiery answers Jesus was an only son and love his only concept strangers cry in foreign tongues and dirty up the doorstep and I for one, and you for two ai'nt got the time for outside just keep your injured looks to you we'll tell the world we tried |
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