Blues Traveler

Once upon a midnight dearie
I woke with something in my head
I couldnt escape the memory
Of a phone call and of what you said
Like a game show contestandt with a parting gift
I could not believe my eyes
When I saw through the voice of a trusted friend
Who needs to humor me and tell me lies
And Ill lie too and say I dont mind
And as we seek so shall we find
And when youre feeling open Ill still be here
But not without a certain degree of fear
Of what will be with you and me
I still can see things hopefully

CHORUS:
But you
Why you wanna give me a run-around
Is it a sure-fire way to speed things up
When all it does is slow me down

And shake me and my confidence
About a great many things
But Ive been there I can see it cower
Like a nervous magician waiting in the wings
Of a bad play where the heroes are right
And nobody thinks or expects too much
And Hollywoods calling for the movie rights
Singing hey baby lets keep in touch
But I want more than a touch I want you to reach me
And show me all the things no one else can see
So what you feel becomes mine as well
And soon if were lucky wed be unable to tell
Whats yours and mine the fishings fine
And it doesnt have to rhyme so dont you fee me a line

CHORUS

Tra la la la la bomba dear this is the pilot speaking
And Ive got some news for you
It seems my ship still stands no matter what you drop
And there aint a whole lot that you can do
Oh sure the banner may be torn and the winds gotten colder
Perhaps Ive grown a little cynical
But I know no matter what the waitress brings
I shall drink it and be full
My cup shall always be full

Oh I like coffee
And I like tea
Id like to be able to enter a final plea
I still got this dream that you just cant shake
I love you to the point you can no longer take
Well all right okay
So be that way
I hope and pray
That theres something to say

CHORUS(2x)

Imagine there's no heaven - it's easy if you try
No hell below us, above us, only sky
Imagine all the people, living for today

Imagine there's no country - I wonder if you do?
Nothing to kill or die for; no religion, too
Imagine all the people, living life in peace, you-hoo

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope that you will join us
And the world would live as one

Imagine no possessions - I wonder if you can?
Nothing to keep only from greed or hunger - a brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people, sharing all the world, you-hoo

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope that you will join us
And the world would live as one

Lies, well they're okay
More elaborate every day
Truth, well it's here too
What can you make it do for you?
Greed, it's just a drive
Do what you can to stay alive
Peace, it's just a dream
So rock and roll and kick and scream

Now won't you tell me if you like what you've just heard?
And if you think the point I'm driving at absurd
Well there's no need to tell me how or tell me why
But I need to know the reason not to try
Cause if you look around you might just feel like me
And you might notice no one was ever really free
And maybe, just maybe for now that's how it's supposed to be
Could be so far we've only earned the right to barely see

The poison has infected you
Have no fear I'm infected too
War, they come and go
No telling where the wind will blow
Pain was always there
Sad reminder that you care
Hate, the price you pay
For thinking you got the only way

Now won't you tell me if you like what you've just heard?
And if you think the point I'm driving at absurd
Well there's no need to tell me how or tell me why
But I need to know the reason not to try
Cause if you look around you might just feel like me
And you might notice no one was ever really free
And maybe, just maybe for now that's how it's supposed to be
Could be so far we've only earned the right to barely see
Barely see, barely see, barely see, barely see, let's see...

For your parents Ellis Island
What had they gone through?
And if you descend from the Mayflower
Well they were running too
They were running from England
Who was warring with France
Who would conquer Spain
Given half of a chance
But it was the Muslims
Who had gotten there first
When there wasn't the bloodshed
Then there was the thirst
And a hate for the Christians
The infiltrators of Rome
You know that once mighty empire
Who made Africa home
The poor, noble Egyptians
Oh, the hardships they braved
Remembering the good times
With Judea enslaved
And the Israelite nation
The very children of God
Killing Palestine's children
And I'm finding it odd

The Earth, a piece of fruit
Don't blame the maggots when they loot
Life, just a game we play
Try to live just one more day
Space, our final hope
Throw the drowning man a rope
The choice is for us to say
Completely change or fade away

Now won't you tell me if you like what you've just heard?
And if you think the point I'm driving at absurd
Well there's no need to tell me how or tell me why
But I need to know the reason not to try
Cause if you look around you might just feel like me
And you might notice no one was ever really free
And maybe, just maybe for now that's how it's supposed to be
Could be so far we've only earned the right to barely see

I really couldn't say for sure
Like everyone else I know
I'm just looking for the cure

Ivory Tusk, smash into thine own
To show thee fit to continue
I weep for them and I weep for me
We rally to charge to die
And laugh when it's through

Well rise and walk now you're a man
Don't try to play catch me if you can
Just do as you're told son you must abide
Have you gone crazy it never was a free ride
Just take yo medicine and help it go down
Do as you're told boy no need to frown
You know it happened to me and your granddad too
Not a goddamn any one can do

Well sir I don't know but I hear them say
If there's no free ride then ride away
And it could be me, and it could be strange
But keep hearing voices singing "comes a change"

Blood drop spill unto the parched earth
And nourish that which is hungry
Feast well avenging madness
Then call your buzzards down to clean the carcass

Well your life's not yours it's everyone's
So do the right thing and go for your guns
It's how the world was saved and how the west was won
So here he comes now you gotta stand or run
Just level your iron boy and sight him in
You ain't out to die boy
You're out to win
You know you hate him, you must know he hates you
Not a goddamn anyone can do

Well if my life is everyone's well good that's fine
But you've yet to prove that that makes his life mine
And it could be me and I could be strange
But I keep hearing voices singing "comes a change"

Like rain and thunder washing everything away
That's what I hear them say
You might just prefer to pray
It's the same thing anyway

Ivory Tusk, smash into thine own
To show thee fit to continue
I weep for them and I weep for me
We rally to charge to die
And laugh when it's through

Well sir I don't know but I hear them say
If there is no free ride then ride away
And it could be me, and it could be strange
But keep hearing voices singing "comes a change"

Like rain and thunder washing everything away
That's what I hear them say
You might just prefer to pray
Like rain and thunder washing everything away
That's what I hear them say
You might just prefer to pray

Well here I am
In a roadside stew
You're checking to see if I'm alright
I'm looking up at you
Well I'm okay
I've been here before
You know I have an ass to land on
And that's what it's for

I'm gonna dust me off
Get on my feet
Get myself together
Get me good to eat
Well what a night
I don't remember much
Not to worry my friend
I'm better off as such

Well what a day and what's for breakfast?
Have to see what comes along
What a day and what's for breakfast?
Nothing ventured, nothing wrong
Nothing wrong

Well what a day and what's for breakfast?
Have to see what comes along
What a day and what's for breakfast?
Nothing ventured, nothing wrong
Nothing wrong

Picture a spinning toy laden with adventure
Coupled with the things I've told
And a dream can be as one
I have my moments now and again
I said, I have my moments now and again

Started in a dream
Wound him up on a baseball team
Took it on the road
A B-17 with a hefty load
Full of cargo and of spice
Yeah, a pirate ship who craves advice
From the likes of Peter Pan
You know, I hear he's wanted by the law again

Picture a spinning toy laden with adventure
Coupled with the things I've told
And a dream can be as one
I have my moments now and again
I said, I have my moments now and again

Now the tiger's got his eye
What shall we do? Oh me, oh my
Better hide your daughters
Yeah, we're in shark infested waters
But the children can't be harmed
Yeah, they are on to you and heavily armed
With a leaf and a kazoo
How can they be of use to you?

Take me, take me for a ride
On the biggest, largest vehicle you can ever
Possibly imagine
Get the keys, let's go
Drive

Gonna ride off in the sunrise
Gotta win a Nobel Prize
Gee, I wonder what we'll say
Do our homework on the way
Gonna meet the King of France
Tell him, “Je n'ai pas de pantelons”
Give his cigar a light
Then slip away unnoticed into the night

Picture a spinning toy laden with adventure
Coupled with the things I've told
And a dream can be as one
And I have my moments now and again
I said, I have my moments now and again
I said, I have my moments now and again

When she wakes it seems so shady
She remembers she's a lady
Ah, but could it be that maybe
She was having lots of fun?
She sees she's wearing leather
In her navel there's a feather
She just has to crack a smile
And close her eyes, her prayer begun

She said “Life I embrace you
I shall honour and disgrace you
Please forgive if I replace you
You see I'm going through some pain
But now I see clearly
And the dawn is coming nearly
And though I'm human and it's early
I swear I'll never forget again”

An explorer, he went wandering
To satisfy his pondering
Basically meandering
Unsure of what he'd find
Braving any danger
But to his family he's a stranger
And from time to time he turns around
And this runs through his mind

He said “Life I embrace you
I shall honor and disgrace you
Please forgive if I replace you
You see I'm going through some pain
But now I see clearly
And the dawn is coming nearly
And though I'm human and it's early
I swear I'll never forget again”

There's a multitude of story
Some is clean and some is gory
But there is no need to worry
If you're sold or if you're bought
We're just spinning on some granite
That we like to call a planet
And if you need to contemplate
Well here's an optimistic thought

Life I embrace you
I shall honor and disgrace you
Please forgive if I replace you
You see I'm going through some pain
But now I see clearly
And the dawn is coming nearly
And though I'm human and it's early
I swear I'll never forget again

Oh, life I embrace you
I shall honor and disgrace you
Please forgive if I replace you
You see I'm going through some pain
But now I see clearly
And the dawn is coming nearly
And though I'm human and it's early
I swear I'll never forget again

Well, what do you know? Here we are again
It’s been a long time I can't remember when
Well, I wrote another one and I guess who it's for
Don't mind if I 'm embarrassed, I can't take it anymore
You know I travel the world but I don't go no place
And I got you to blame and the smile on your face
You know I look in your eyes, I see a part of me there
So excuse my directness, but I just don't care

What I think I'm talking about is a last ditch chance
Don't care about the likelihood or circumstance
It seems I am still here and I am waiting for you
And I've no reason, no time and an excellent view
Of your eyes in my head and it's killing me
But the possibilities are thrilling me
So I guess I'll sit right here with nothing better to do
And to top it all off you know the best part is...

I'm gonna let you on in on a big surprise
My heart is where the eagle flies
Yeah, I'm the master of my destiny
That's why I need you right here with me
You see, I've come to learn that without you around
I might as well be standing on the ground
And with you with me and with me with you
There's not a goddamn thing that we could not do

I'm not talking about us never being alone
I'm just suggesting we make the world our home
You've got to fly free and so do I
And this way we'd never need to say good-bye
But instead things like "see you soon"
And "explore and play"
And "the one you love is not far away"
"But safe in your heart to see you through"
And to top it all off, you know, the best part is that I

I'm gonna take you, take you by the hand
You know even General Custer had to make a stand
I'll drop in from the skies or I'll move in slow
But there's so damn much that I want you to know
So take a look around, you tell me what do you see?
Then take those eyes and take a look at me
You know you see things that others don't
So if you think I'll go away, I won't

You see my engine's blown and it is time to punt
And there's an element of danger pulling off this stunt
But the survey says that I don't seem to mind
And you're the adventure that I'm trying to find
There's a whole lot of things that other people have said
But I don't care if I'm correct or if it's all in my head
So damn the torpedoes and cock a doodle-doo
And to top it all of you know the best part is
That I love you

I'm singing I love you
Please, I'm down on my knees
In the north and the south and the east and the west
Make it the very, very, very best, best part, best part

If Cyrano de Bergerac
Fell prey to the blades of fifty men
With a heart and a sword he'd drive them back
Perchance to see Roxanne's eyes light up the sky again
And when beauty kind and full of grace
Again denied the beast her hand
The beast he turned and hid his face
And tried with all his might and magic to understand

And once upon a time
You know, I used to wonder why
You know, no one should need to cry
In pain of a heart forbade to fly
But you learn to say goodbye
As you whisper beneath a sigh

Sweet pain
Can't you plainly see?
Sweet pain
You know it matters to me
Sweet pain
Won't you make me feel at home?
Sweet pain
Don't you dare leave me alone

Sometimes a life that seems hard to take
Is soothed for a while by an old friend
Leaving a bad need in its wake
Sad how some friendships never ever seem to end
Never end
Well all of my heroes up and died
Songs and a dream are left for me
What did them in? Not suicide
Just a lengthy friendship and a dream of how it could be
And isn't it a crime?

Was it more than they could bear?
You know they did not even care
At all and they might have something there
But I'm here and I don't see where
All I hear is their silent prayer

Sweet pain
Is it so terribly wrong?
Sweet pain
To want to come along
Sweet pain
Won't you make me smile?
Sweet pain
If only for a while

Can you feel what I can feel?
So we can establish that the pain is real
Don't be afraid and I'll do the same for you
And we'll just hang on and we'll make it, make it through
There's got to be a reason it works out this way
And there's something deep inside me
That makes me have to play
For you
For you

In no position to give advice
My heart, it spoke and I wrote it down
And you know every wisdom has its price
My head up in the stars
And my feet planted firmly on the ground
When will I embrace this life I see?
I've been wondering for so long
Thinking back the truth may be
I've been unaware but I've been living it all along

And it didn't cost a dime
And it did not come for free
It just would not let me be
But it never conquered me
Just a doorway and a key
And I think that we both agree

Sweet pain
Is sometimes what you need
Sweet pain
It allows the blood to bleed
Sweet pain
From the moment of your birth
Sweet pain
You know it keeps you here on Earth

Sometimes when you worry
The tendency to hurry
Can make your vision blurry
And blind you
You might shake and you might stammer
Or dance like MC Hammer
But could that pomp and glamour
Remind you
Of who you are and where you're going
And whose mind that you're blowing
And if your car needs towing
Don't move
Then calmly call the AAA you've got nothing to prove
As in all things, it's all in the groove

All in the groove
All in the groove
All in the groove
All in the groove

Well, if it's your destiny don't fight it
War between the states, unite it
It might be difficult but might it
Be worthwhile?
I ain't no Solomon from Babel
Abut my cards are on the table
And I swear that if I'm able
I'll run that mile
So if I'm rambling ignore me
If on the money then adore me
You know the pearls are cast before me
Oh, what to do?
Wish I could put it in a picture and hang it in the Louvre
But like I said before it's all in the groove

All in the groove
All in the groove
All in the groove
All in the groove
For instance

The jam it swings and sways
As the groove funkily plays
And they say crime never pays
But this ain't no crime
It's just a life blood flowing water
That any son or daughter
Would send away for order
A celebration of time
So jam on, jam out, jam it in
Till it feels like it's a sin
And that's only when you begin
To improve
Don't mind if it's the rhythm, that's just only when you've
Got to let it all be all in the groove

All in the groove
All in the groove
All in the groove
All in the groove
All in the groove
All in the groove

Support your local emperor
Pay him tribute every time
Let it be known he holds your fate
From his fingertips shall flow the wine
Tell him when he speaks the air is sweet
Wherever he walks, rosebeds be laid
So that he may always feel secure
In the vast empire that he's made

But could you tell me what he's ever done for you?
I'm not the one that needed an army
I'm not the one that needed respect
I'm not the one that hopes they'll remember
I'm not the one they'll likely forget
It seems one's going to walk
Where he's willing to walk
And with the ears of a bat
And the eyes of a hawk
You can see in the end
It's just a little bit of talk
But a rodent's always looking
For some cat he can stalk
To meow for him, to meow for him

Remember once when you were young
It really was not all that long ago
You reached out your hand and it was met
If you let your heart will tell you so
So bow your head, don't meet his eyes
When royalty speaks you then reply
Someday he may find his throne is cold
Someday he may chance to wonder why

But could you tell me what he's ever done for you?
I'm not the one that needed an army
I'm not the one that needed respect
I'm not the one that hopes they'll remember
I'm not the one they'll likely forget
It seems one's going to walk
Where he's willing to walk
And with the ears of a bat
And the eyes of a hawk
You can see that in the end
It's just a little bit of talk
But a rodent's always looking
For some cat he can stalk
To meow for him, to meow for him

Support your local emperor
Pay him tribute every time
Let it be known he holds your fate
From his fingertips shall flow the wine
Tell him when he speaks the air is sweet
Wherever he walks rosebeds be laid
Someday he may find his throne is cold
In the vast empire that he's made
That he's made

Bagheera walked into the bar and poured himself a drink
His fur was stained with the blood of monkeys and he needed time to think
The man at the bar said, "What are you doing here?"
Bagheera let go a low soft purr that kept the man from coming near
He said "I'm Bagheera, the mighty panther and the jungle is my home
I'm free, free in all I see and that makes me free to roam
Sometimes to feel the music of the jungle, it can cause you pain"
And the man heard Bagheera as the entire jungle joined in the big black cat's refrain

One dark night the man cub came to the big black cat afraid
The boy was sure that he was dying due to the endless stream of water that his eyes made
Yeah, the cat knew why when the boy said, "I don't want to die" for these are the ways of men
The boy cried, "Teacher, teacher I don't, understand this ache within me"
The great cat sighed and then softly he began
He said, "Indeed thou art a man's child now and the world is yours to give and take
The time has come now for your awareness to change forever, there's a choice you must make
You may remain here in the jungle and hunt with the free people
Or, if you feel the man's God calling you, return to your kind in the village and worship at his steeple
The only thing you must do is what you feel in your heart is true
I will hunt now and leave you on your own to decide what to do"
The mighty panther went on his hunt
The secret Lord of the jungle beneath the night sky
And some say if you could have seen him then you would have noticed a single tear fall from his majestic eye

Met my woman on a mountain side
Looking to get warm, needed a place to hide
She took me in as that day grew long
Lay by the fire our love, love grew so strong

I had left the city for its dirt and grime
The factory wails to make mountain time
I found love, I let it slip away
Now I'm alone, here I'm gonna stay
Gonna stay
Gonna stay
Yeah, I’m gonna stay

I keep on looking till this very day
For my baby, my baby, who's gone away
And I'll search this land, search this land till my dying day
For the sweet loving woman, make a mountain, make a mountain cry, cry
Make a mountain cry
Mountain cry
Mountain cry
Mountain cry
Mountain cry
Mountain cry
Mountain
Make a mountain cry

I wanna show you that anything is possible
Said I wanna show you that your wildest dreams can come true
And I swear someday I'm gonna figure out how to do just that
But until then I guess tryin is all I can do

Maybe I'm wrong thinkin you want somethin better
Maybe I'm wrong thinkin you got no problem makin it through the night
Maybe I'm wrong about every little thing I'm talkin about
Maybe I'm wrong but just maybe maybe I'm right

No its none of my business but I think I can make you happy
But it really doesnt matter if its me or someone else
All that i know is that i think you're kinda special
And one way or another gonna see that i can treat you well

Maybe i'm wrong thinking you want something better
Maybe i'm wrong thinking you got no problem making it through the night
Maybe i'm wrong about every little thing i'm talking about
Maybe i'm wrong, but just maybe, maybe i'm right

You seem to think that lady luck just doesn't like you
Well, i've been trying to believe that the lady just ain't that dumb
Oh, just give her time to get here
And i'm sure that when she gets here
She'll be really glad to be here when she comes.

Maybe i'm wrong thinking you want something better
Maybe i'm wrong thinking you got no problem making it through the night
Maybe i'm wrong about every little thing i'm talking about
Maybe i'm wrong, but just maybe, maybe i'm right

Maybe i'm wrong thinking you want something better
Maybe i'm wrong thinking you got no problem making it through the night
Maybe i'm wrong about every little thing i'm talking about
Maybe i'm wrong, but just maybe, maybe i'm right

I lied and told her I loved her,
She didn't care, but anyway
I told her we'd still be friends,
And she didn't care, but anyway
I tried last week for to call her,
She wasn't home, but anyway
I think I'll spend my life alone,
I really don't care right now, but anyway

It's a state of affairs and a state of emotions
The kind of thing that you must understand
I tell you one thing; you tell me another
We walk away, maybe then shake hands

I'm quitting cigarette smoking
It's bad for me, but anyway
I don't think the TV was joking
When it told me this, but anyway
The newsman said not to sit on strange toilet seats
It's my life he's trying to save, but anyway
I found out that I've got eye cancer
Too many television waves, but anyway

It's a state of affairs and a state of emotions
The kind of thing that you must understand
I tell you one thing; you tell me another
We walk away, maybe then shake hands

Some day an answer will find us
Quite a long shot, but anyway
I think the past, the past is behind us
Be real confusing if not, but anyway
I put all my hope in tomorrow
It's gonna be great, I can tell but anyway
I see a new, a new day a dawning
I like to sleep late, oh well, but anyway

It's a state of affairs and a state of emotions
The kind of thing that you must understand
I tell you one thing; you tell me another
We walk away, maybe then shake hands

Gina, Gina
Don't you cry
Gina, Gina
Wonder why, I said wonder why

Gina, Gina
Dance all night
Gina, Gina
Feel all right

Gina, Gina
Can't you see
Gina, Gina
You're just free, I said you're just free

Well once upon a time
A long time ago
There was a rock'n'roll queen
We came to know
She kept on dancing
She'd dance till dawn
She'd dance till the people and the liquor were gone
She kept on dancing as the crowd grew large
When it came to grooving, you know, she was in charge
She still finds ways today to groove somehow
In fact she could be listening to this music right now

Gina, Gina
Don't you cry
Gina, Gina
Wonder why, I said wonder why

I'm mulling it over
Thoughts at a grasp
You know I'm taking it in now
So much, so fast
I'm riding a feeling
Into deeper seas
I can't seem to fret now
It don't bother me

'Cause I'm mulling it over, yeah
Said I'm mulling it over
I said I'm mulling it over
I said I'm mulling it over

Oh, mulling it over...
I said I'm mulling it mulling it
Mulling it mulling it
Mulling it over mulling it over

Twinkle twinkle little star
Wish I could afford a guitar
Sing a song of sixpence, pocketful of rye
Wish it was more than crumbs I could buy

Meet forever after
Don't he dress real well
You know he's clutching his chest now
Or couldn't you tell
Desperate to score now
No matter how hard he tries
You know he's strung out on future
See it in his eyes

And I'm mulling it over
Said I'm mulling it over
I said I'm mulling it over
I said I'm mulling it over and over and over and over and over, yeah

The sun is warm as the day is long
I just got the feeling I can do no wrong
I've got a long way to walk
Can't afford my next meal
I tell a few lies but my hunger is real

And it won't mean a thing in a hundred years
No, it won't mean a thing in a hundred years

Mademoiselle tell me do you play
Well, if she shakes her head, well then that's okay
I watch her walk away in haste
There's just no accounting for some people's taste

And it won't mean a thing in a hundred years
No, it won't mean a thing in a hundred years

Big angry man in the doorway there
Just keep on walking like I don't care
Why you giving such and evil eye
Could it be you were ignored by every passerby

And it won't mean a thing in a hundred years
No, it won't mean a thing in a hundred years

Play in the park for tobacco and food
Then I excuse myself but they think I'm rude
Tourist don't want me to end his show
But this colorful attraction got places to go

And it won't mean a thing in a hundred years
No, it won't mean a thing in a hundred years

Sit at the pier watch the sun go down
Another lost little boy in a big old town
I want to laugh I want to cry
But no matter how hard I try

It won't mean a thing in a hundred years
No, it won't mean a thing in a hundred years (2x)