Janis Ian

You’ve got me on a string
I don’t mean a thing to you
I’m holding on to no one
I’m a long time lover
And my long time love is gone

If my man beats me, robs me blind
Long as he don’t leave me, I don’t mind
I would beg and I would crawl
Though it does no good at all
My man’s been gone so long
And I keep holding on

And if he needed me, I’d be there
No matter how he mistreated me
I don’t care
I would get down on my knees
Though it does no good to please
My man’s been gone for so long
And I keep holding on

Broken windows, boarded doorways
Choose your prison
When I’m with him
I’m a fool for loving you
And well I know
How the head says ? no
And the heart says
Go down on your knees, woman
And keep on holding on

I miss you, jealous lover
Won’t you come on over
To my side of town
I need you
Like the city needs the sound of human voices
I want you
Like the winter wants the springtime

Lover, without you
The world stands alone
Without you
The past lingers on
Tomorrow becoming today
Without you, it’s all the same
Without you

Outside my window
Gentle lover
The birds are singing songs of love
I need you
They are calling for the sound of laughing children
I want you
They are singing for your pleasure

Lover, without you
The world stands alone
Without you
The past lingers on
Tomorrow becoming today
Without you, it’s all the same

I see you
A world without end
Then I need you
All over again
Without you the sun doesn’t shine
Tomorrow is blind
Without you

Someone is waiting
over by the window
just beyond the stairwell
someone's crying
Drowning in the words
of the prophets
that are written
for the dead and the dying
someone's lying
No one's buying

Someone is dying
Panic in the streets
can't get no release
someone escaping
waiting on a line
for the holy revolution
parading illusion
someone's using
Most amusing

Will you dance?
will you dance?
smell of caviar and roses
Teach your children all the poses
How familliar are we all...
will you dance?
will you dance?
light fantastic in the morning
How romantic to be whoring
boring though it may be
who'll survive
if you and I should fall?

someone is bleeding
crimson in the night
strangers, in the light
a sudden meeting
Greeting one by one
every life rund flashing
before those dashing eyes
Will you dance?
will you dance?
take a chance on romance
and a big surprise?

Someone is waiting
over by the window
just beyond the stairwell
someone's crying
Drowning in the words
of the prophets
that are written
for the dead and the dying
someone's lying
No one's buying

Someone is dying
Panic in the streets
can't get no release
someone escaping
waiting on a line
for the holy revolution
parading illusion
someone's using
Most amusing

Will you dance?
will you dance?
smell of caviar and roses
Teach your children all the poses
How familliar are we all...
will you dance?
will you dance?
light fantastic in the morning
How romantic to be whoring
boring though it may be
who'll survive
if you and I should fall?

someone is bleeding
crimson in the night
strangers, in the light
a sudden meeting
Greeting one by one
every life rund flashing
before those dashing eyes
Will you dance?
will you dance?
take a chance on romance
and a big surprise?

Someone is waiting
over by the window
just beyond the stairwell
someone's crying
Drowning in the words
of the prophets
that are written
for the dead and the dying
someone's lying
No one's buying

Someone is dying
Panic in the streets
can't get no release
someone escaping
waiting on a line
for the holy revolution
parading illusion
someone's using
Most amusing

Will you dance?
will you dance?
smell of caviar and roses
Teach your children all the poses
How familliar are we all...
will you dance?
will you dance?
light fantastic in the morning
How romantic to be whoring
boring though it may be
who'll survive
if you and I should fall?

someone is bleeding
crimson in the night
strangers, in the light
a sudden meeting
Greeting one by one
every life rund flashing
before those dashing eyes
Will you dance?
will you dance?
take a chance on romance
and a big surprise?

Hope dies, withered on the vine,
Old before its time. Water into brine.
And dreams die, waiting to be fed,
Long before they’re wed to life.
So here we are, two ships without a sail,
No rudder for the gale winds or the tailspins.

I miss you even when you’re near
You’re leaving, pouring out like tears.
If dreams die before we give them life
Why should love survive?

Hope tries. First you’re holding hands
Then dreams become demands
And passion turns to plans
And love tries, blinded by its youth,
To turn its anger into truth.
So here we are, two ships upon the land,
No anchor for the sand dunes when the earth moves.

I miss you even when you’re near
You’re leaving, pouring out like tears.
If hope tries to fight the test of time
Why can't you and I?

Feed me. Pluck me from the vine
Stop the hands of time
Turn water into wine
And see me. Treasure every seed
Pleasure in the need -- be mine.

Here you are, my comet in the sky,
Afraid to spin too high, and burning as you fly.

I miss you even when you’re near
You’re leaving, pouring out like tears.
If dreams die, then why should you and I?
We were born to fly.

Would you like to learn to sing
Would you like to sing my song
Would you like to learn to love me best of all
Anyone can learn the words and the melody's so plain
This is my song to bring you back again
I will teach you how to sing and dance
with a song and dance routine
and when the party's over you can fall in love with me
Would you like to learn to tango
Do you dance the light fandango
I will teach you how
before we're dong
any one can make it two
any two can turn to one
and the melody's lost before the song's begun
We sonnd so good together
and so poorly sung alone
your harmony's an open breeze
into my sheltered home


I will teach you how to sing and dance
with a song and dance routine
and when the party's over you can fall in love with me

They said lay down in the water
Even though you don't believe
All your sins will be forgiven
And your soul will be redeemed
So I walked into the water
And I fell down to my knees
And I took out some insurance
And I bought a little peace

But when I lay down, I lied
When I lay down, I lied

He said - darling do you love me
I and I said - sure I do
And I led him to believe me
As I proved that it was true
Well I let my body love him
God knows I really tried
And the comfort of it touched him
And his heart was satisfied

But when I lay down, I lied
When I lay down, I lied

…to make them happy
And I lied so they would care
I lied 'cause I was lonely
And I lied 'cause I was scared
I lied so some would leave me
And I lied so some would stay
I lied until I lied my life away

I dreamed my life was over
And they laid me in my grave
I was frightened of forever
And the price I'd have to pay
And I thought that god would hate me
'cause I'd lived my life in sin
But (I felt the truth embrace me) (he knelt down to embrace me)
(As heaven let me in) (And together, we walked in)

And when I lay down
I lay down and cried

I remember photographs
Watercolors of the past
He turned and said
"You ask much of me"
Then when we made our peace
We lay between the sheets
He turned and said
"I set you free"
Go on, be a hero
Be a photograph
Make your own myths
Christ, I hope they last
Longer than mine
Wider than the sky
We measure time by
Go on, be a hero
I set you free
Your stagehand lovers
Have conquered me
They'll send yu carnations
While smiling faces look on and applaud
Go on, go on, go away from me
I said, "Do you wish me dead?"
Lip service to books you've read
Articles on how to bed a bird in flight
You called it love
I called it greed
You say, "You take what you want"
I said, "You get what you need"
Go on, be a hero, be a man
Make your own destiny if you can
Go find a fence
Locate a shell
And hide yourself, go on, go to hell
Go away from me
I need no charity
He said, Come unto me
I am beauty I am the light
Come unto me
Hold the darkness and stay the night
I am wonder I am the heart's delight
Tomorrow we'll fight
Come on, come on
Come on, come near to me
Come be my fantasy
We'll talk it over again some time
I'll send some flowers to change my mind
But for tonight, turn out the light
Hold me, come on, come on
And set me free
Lend me your charity

I gave a party
I said you could come
You showed up at your door
With all your leathers on
I said This must be wrong
It can't be right
How can you make love to me
Dressed up for a fight?
Pick me up off the floor
No more
'Cause you surely can't be mine

Religion came
almost overnight
You were the high priest
I was the sacrifice
I said this must be wrong
This can't be right
Take off your stupid robe
And put down your knife
These ropes are getting tight
All right
You surely can't be mine

I come home half dead
Late on a Saturday night
You stand on the bed and you
tell me you're learning to fly
I said Take off your boots
Take off your cape
Throw away your long johns
I ain't no Lois Lane
Before I get my kryptonite
All right
'Cause you surely can't be mine

I was ready for love
Big brass bed and all
I was ready for love
You said Let's talk about the war
I said What war?
What war?
Take off your clothes
And don't you worry me no more
I ain't no fly by night
All right
You surely can't be mine

I love the light, I love the changing season
I love without much thought to reason
I'd give it all if I could make you see
I love the man that you were meant to be
I love the man you are in me

I love the man who waits beside you
I love the man who hides behind you
I love the shadow though it disappears
I love the afterglow, reflected through the tears
I love the shadows in my tears

I love the dreams you can't remember
Lost in the early waking hours
I love the season of forever

I'll live without the light of laughter
I'll live without an everafter
I'd give it all, if I could make you see
I need the man that you were meant to be
I love the man you are in me

I haven't been loved by a man in quite a while
You know it ain't easy making me smile
Friends have their lovers, men on a string
There must be something terribly wrong with me
Sometimes I feel like I haven't learned anything
How do you do would you like to be friends?
No, I just want a bed for the night
Someone to tell me they care
You can fake it, that's all right
In the morning I won't be here
It's a sacrificial alter
And I'm laying down my head
And I'm telling you up front
I haven't much to give
Is that how it's done?
Or shall I sing and dance?
Give me a chance
How do you do, do you want to be friends?
Yes, that might be very nice
Maybe we'll fall in love
Ev'ry body has its price
Mine is yours for free
If you'll be in love with me
I haven't been loved by a man in quite a while
You know it ain't easy making me smile
All my friends have their lovers
They've got men on a string
There must be something terribly wrong with me
How do you do, would you like to be friends?

Mom and I had our ups and downs, mostly during my
adolescence and her first years as a divorced woman. There
were months we didn't speak, years we didn't communicate.
Later I realized she'd done the best she could, and began to
understand what a hard road she'd chosen, living single as a
middle-aged woman in the '60's. I grew not just to respect
but to admire her. I finished this song while I was living
in her apartment, shamefacedly taking grocery money from her
because I was hoping to write my next album and get a
recording deal. I walked into her bedroom while she was
standing on the bed hanging a picture, said "Mom, I wrote a
new song", and began singing it. She stood facing the wall
until I'd finished, then turned to me with tears rolling
down her face. It was the first time I realized how much a
song could heal; we began to be close, close friends after
that.

Thankyous

Papa gave me music. Mama gave me soul.
Brother gave me reaching out to hold.
Teacher gave me license
Learning set me free
Schooling gave me nothing ?music showed me how to be
Papa gave me want-to-be
Brother gave me empathy
Mama gave me women,
but that isn't all I need
I have lived in houses.
I have lived in homes.
Eaten off of tables made of wood or stone
Through the trials and tribulations
I've never known
how to say I love you
and let my feelings show
So thank you for the music
Thank you for the song
Bless you for the freedom
in knowing right from wrong
Thank you for the laughter
the heartaches and the tears
It's a blessing to grow
It's a goodness to be here
You give me want-to-be
You give me sympathy
You give me woman
Thank you for loving me
and letting it show
It's a pleasure to be here
so bless us, every one

I don't want to ride
the milktrain anymore
I'll go to bed at nine
and waken with the dawn
And lunch at half past noon
dinner prompt at five
The comfort of a few old friends
long past their prime
Pass the tea and sympathy
for the good old days long gone
We'll drink a toast to those
who most believe in what they've won
It's a long, long time 'til morning
plays wasted on the dawn
I'll not write another line
for my true love is gone
When the guests have done
I'll tidy up the rooms
I'll turn the covers down
and gazing at the moon
I'll pray to go quite mad
and live in long ago
When you and I were one
So very long ago
Pass the tea and sympathy
for the good old days long gone
Let's drink a toast to those
who most believe in what they've won
It's a long, long time 'til morning
plays wasted on the dawn
I'll not write another line
for my true love is gone


When I have no dreams
to give you anymore
I'll light a blazing fire
and wait within the door
and throw my life away
I wonder why? they all will say
And now I lay me down to sleep
forever and a day
Pass the tea and sympathy
for the good old days are dead
Let's drink a toast to those
who best survive the life they've led
It's a long, long time 'til morning
so build the fires high
And now I lay me down to sleep
forever by your side

Blue sky morning, red sky night
Sailor take warning
when the eagle takes flight
If I had wings I would delight
and fly away
Black cloud riding
on the cotton fields back home
Every man's an island
in the desert of his soul
take to the sky
- there's nowhere else to go -
and fly away

I can rememer all the days of my life
cold, dark september
when the eagle took flight
I had to stay,
I had to stay
I cried a river to the empty sky
someone deliver me by and by
I'll fly away, Il'll fly away

It don't take nothing to be lonely
It comes too easy to be holy
It does nothing for the soul
but tear holes in tomorrow
Somebody somebody said I don't want
to be nobody saidI don't want to see
nobody said I don't want to need nobody said nothing at all
Sitting and waiting for the axe to fall

Sun come raining, lighten up the day
I ain't complaining
I got nothing to say
I'll fly away, I'll fly away
If I had the courage to be flying blind
I'd fly too high to buy my way home

somebody wants somebody
to be lonely and nobody
settling only for love-
how much time can you borrow?
Making it easy to lie
Faking it on the sly
Shaking and stammering
taking it up to the sky
Hammering nails in tomorrow

Sun come raining lighten up the sky
I ain't complaining
I get no reply
I'll fly away, I'll fly away
When I get the courage to be flying blind
I'll fly to high to buy my way home

Blue sky morning, red sky night
Sailor take warning
when the eagle takes flight
If I had wings I would delight
and fly away
Black cloud riding
on the cotton fields back home
Every man's an island
in the desert of his soul
take to the sky
- there's nowhere else to go -
and fly away

I can rememer all the days of my life
cold, dark september
when the eagle took flight
I had to stay,
I had to stay
I cried a river to the empty sky
someone deliver me by and by
I'll fly away, Il'll fly away

It don't take nothing to be lonely
It comes too easy to be holy
It does nothing for the soul
but tear holes in tomorrow
Somebody somebody said I don't want
to be nobody saidI don't want to see
nobody said I don't want to need nobody said nothing at all
Sitting and waiting for the axe to fall

Sun come raining, lighten up the day
I ain't complaining
I got nothing to say
I'll fly away, I'll fly away
If I had the courage to be flying blind
I'd fly too high to buy my way home

somebody wants somebody
to be lonely and nobody
settling only for love-
how much time can you borrow?
Making it easy to lie
Faking it on the sly
Shaking and stammering
taking it up to the sky
Hammering nails in tomorrow

Sun come raining lighten up the sky
I ain't complaining
I get no reply
I'll fly away, I'll fly away
When I get the courage to be flying blind
I'll fly to high to buy my way home

I want to lie by your side
and watch the tide run over
Lay your head upon my shoulder
I want to lie by the bed
and send my head out reeling
Honey, lay this feeling down
I'm ready to ride

*Sweet sympathy, won't you
pity me tonight?
Yes I got to hurry
to the surry
get the saddle on tight
Honey won't you let me?
Honey just allow me
Honey, won't you pleasure me right?
Sweet sympathy, won't you
carry me tonight?

I want to lay myself down
and take a sweet, soft shelter
Still my waters here forever
I want to lay my body down
I want to lay my body down
Honey, lay me lightly down
I'm ready to ride

Can we get together
Can we get together
Can we get together right now?
Well, you give me the music
and you know how to use it
Drive me out of my shoes

I got the blues tonight
I've got sweet titillation
Honey, won't you pleasure me right?
Sweet sympathy won't you
carry me tonight?

*Repeat

She is too old to care
Why not just leave her there?
We'll se her once a week
If we have the time, we'll speak
This is the sunset of your life

The old ones like to claw and clutch
Be careful not to offer much
They understand the fist and crutch
Their skin like leather to the touch
This is the sunset of your life

The empty mile
the frozen face
the drooling child
humiliates

If I were you
I think I'd die
here in the sunset of my life

The long and lonely night
has just begun
This withered witch cannot be you

There will be no sun

She is too old to care
Why not just leave her there?
We'll se her once a week
If we have the time, we'll speak
This is the sunset of your life

The old ones like to claw and clutch
Be careful not to offer much
They understand the fist and crutch
Their skin like leather to the touch
This is the sunset of your life

The empty mile
the frozen face
the drooling child
humiliates

If I were you
I think I'd die
here in the sunset of my life

The long and lonely night
has just begun
This withered witch cannot be you

There will be no sun

It is the winter time of year
A time for all my troubled thought dreams to come clear
And all the seasons I held dear
Seem to have gone and left me 'lone with winter only here

Lonely, forever dreaming
My life is teeming with yearning, I'd like to be learning
And it's summer out on the streets
Sunflakes fall, snowrays call
Hey Mama, It's me saying "awww"
A policeman walks a most solitary beat

I feel at odds with the summer time
Ice is in my heart and winter's in my mind
I watch the snow upon my blinds
As people walk in shorts and sandals everywhere outside

Lonely, forever hiding
Caught in the icy hide of winter, outside it's warm and sunlight glimmers
And it's summer out on the streets
Sunflakes fall, the snowrays call
Hey Mama, It's me saying "awww"
A policeman walks a most solitary beat

Oh when days are marked by winter's time
Spring and summer counts come racing to my mind
Within my heart the seasons never coincide
At times I hate and curse the world for making winter mine.

Lonely, forever dreaming
My life is teeming with yearning, I'd like to be learning
And it's summer out on the streets
Sunflakes fall, the snowrays call
Hey Mama, It's me saying "awww"
A policeman walks a most solitary beat

I was never one for singing
what I really feel
Except tonight, I'm bringing
everything I know that's real

Stars, they come and go
They come fast or slow
They go like the last light
of the sun, all in a blaze
and all you see is glory
But it gets lonely there
when there's no one here to share
We can shake it away
if you'll hear a story

People lust for fame
Like athletes in a game
we break our collarbones
and come up swinging
Some of us are downed
Some of us are crowned
and some are lost
and never found
But most have seen it all
They live their lives in
sad cafes and music halls
They always have a story

Some make it when they're young
before the world has
done its dirty job
and later on, someone will say
"You've had your day
You must make way"
But they'll never know the pain
of living with a name you never owned
or the many years forgetting
what you know too well

The ones who gave the crown
have been let down
You try to make amends
without defending

Perhaps pretending
you never saw the eyes
of grown men of twenty five
that followed as you walked
and asked for autographs
or kissed you on the cheek
and you never could believe
they really loved you

Some make it when they're old
(Perhaps they have a soul
they're not afraid to bare
Or perhaps there's nothing there)

Some women have a body
men will want to see,
so they put it on display
Some people play a fine guitar
I could listen to them
play all day
Some ladies really
move across a stage
and gee, they sure can dance
I guess I could learn how
if I have it half a chance

but I always feel so funny
when my body tries to soar
and I seem to always worry
about missing the next chord

I guess there isn't anything
to put up on display
except the tunes
and whatever else I say
Anyway, that isn't really
what I meant to say
I meant to tell a story
I live from day to day

Stars, they come and go
They come fast or slow
They go like the last light
of the sun, all in a blaze
and all you see is glory
But those who've seen it all
they live their lives
in sad cafes and music halls
we always have a story

So if you don't lose patience
with my fumbling around,
I'll come up singing for you
even when I'm down

Faithful is a lie
Freedom's just a game
somebody tacked onto
your ball and chain
Love is a drug
You've been canonized
Want to be a high priestess?
then you got to sacrifice
Somebody wants you
to put out your eyes
and drag you lower
on the ladder than he is
Reel you in slowly
kingfish on a line
Some people get a kick
out of making you suffer
You try the patience of the gods
in the heat of a moment's pleasure
and your sad retreat
Mistake the moment for the song
The actor for the role
The neon light for day
Somebody wants you
to clip your wings
Take shelter in the dark
and the savage heat
Mocks you with the burning sky
and drops you in the ring
Somebody gets a kick
out of seeing you suffer
He can't take pleasure
He feeds on pain
He ain't no gambler
He just likes to play the game
It's a measure of a man
It's a candle in the rain
to treasure the link
and not the chain

Faithful is a lie
Freedom's just a game
somebody tacked onto
your ball and chain
Love is a drug
You've been canonized
Want to be a high priestess?
then you got to sacrifice
Somebody wants you
to put out your eyes
and drag you lower
on the ladder than he is
Reel you in slowly
kingfish on a line
Some people get a kick
out of making you suffer
You try the patience of the gods
in the heat of a moment's pleasure
and your sad retreat
Mistake the moment for the song
The actor for the role
The neon light for day
Somebody wants you
to clip your wings
Take shelter in the dark
and the savage heat
Mocks you with the burning sky
and drops you in the ring
Somebody gets a kick
out of seeing you suffer
He can't take pleasure
He feeds on pain
He ain't no gambler
He just likes to play the game
It's a measure of a man
It's a candle in the rain
to treasure the link
and not the chain

Slow dance
romance
put your arm around me
you make me feel so old
Take me to the drive-in movie
wont't you move me now
before I get too cold
Popcorn serenader
won't you take her down easy
you make her feel like gold
Midnight crusader
when you take her easily
make her feel like gold

Boom town
hoe down
run across the track
don't look back
just lay low
Party pants running
romance interference
got to make appearance
sooner or later I'm told
Slow dance promenader
want to make her feel easy
make her feel like gold
midnight crusader
when you take it easy
make it feel like gold

What a line
was a long time
wasn't moonshine, wasn't
wiskey, wasn't even
party glow
got no looks
wasn't half-hooked
must've been some kind of book
they took that
showed 'em where to go
midnight persuader
got to break this town down slow
moonlight serenader
when you make it easy
make it feel like gold

Slow dance
romance
put your arm around me
you make me feel so old
Take me to the drive-in movie
wont't you move me now
before I get too cold
Popcorn serenader
won't you take her down easy
you make her feel like gold
Midnight crusader
when you take her easily
make her feel like gold

Boom town
hoe down
run across the track
don't look back
just lay low
Party pants running
romance interference
got to make appearance
sooner or later I'm told
Slow dance promenader
want to make her feel easy
make her feel like gold
midnight crusader
when you take it easy
make it feel like gold

What a line
was a long time
wasn't moonshine, wasn't
wiskey, wasn't even
party glow
got no looks
wasn't half-hooked
must've been some kind of book
they took that
showed 'em where to go
midnight persuader
got to break this town down slow
moonlight serenader
when you make it easy
make it feel like gold

I'm still in love
though I don't care
to let you know
there's something there
it doesn't show
but when you're near
silly habits mean a lot
I've been alone now
for quite some time, it's true
but every night when I come home
I'm coming home to you
I listen for your footsteps
Sometimes I even knock
Silly habits mean a lot
I've been parading
and I've led a lot astray
Why bother waiting?
when you can have it all today
You may remember
I like my coffee hot
Silly habits mean a lot
So you go your way
and I'll go mine
Maybe someday
our paths will re-entwine
I used to say "I love you"
but one day I forgot
Silly habits mean a lot

I'm still in love
though I don't care
to let you know
there's something there
it doesn't show
but when you're near
silly habits mean a lot
I've been alone now
for quite some time, it's true
but every night when I come home
I'm coming home to you
I listen for your footsteps
Sometimes I even knock
Silly habits mean a lot
I've been parading
and I've led a lot astray
Why bother waiting?
when you can have it all today
You may remember
I like my coffee hot
Silly habits mean a lot
So you go your way
and I'll go mine
Maybe someday
our paths will re-entwine
I used to say "I love you"
but one day I forgot
Silly habits mean a lot

I'm still in love
though I don't care
to let you know
there's something there
it doesn't show
but when you're near
silly habits mean a lot
I've been alone now
for quite some time, it's true
but every night when I come home
I'm coming home to you
I listen for your footsteps
Sometimes I even knock
Silly habits mean a lot
I've been parading
and I've led a lot astray
Why bother waiting?
when you can have it all today
You may remember
I like my coffee hot
Silly habits mean a lot
So you go your way
and I'll go mine
Maybe someday
our paths will re-entwine
I used to say "I love you"
but one day I forgot
Silly habits mean a lot

The seagulls of summer have flown
The sailors have wintered their boats
Come sit by the fire
And tell me your secrets
Love isn't kept easily

The windows are shuttered and closed
Blankets to keep out the cold
But you are still restless
Your heart is enchanted
Drifting away from me

And is she beautiful
She must be pretty or worse
To ride the high seas
She must be beautiful
White linen sails
That have captured your vagrant breeze
Singing her siren song
Luring you far from the harbor
And into the gales
She must be beautiful
So beautiful
To have stolen the wind from my sails

Casting your dreams out to sea
Will you remember me
As years go by
Slipped with the tide
It was I who set you free

And is she beautiful
She must be pretty or worse
To ride the high seas
She must be beautiful
White linen sails
That have captured your vagrant breeze
Singing her siren song
Luring you far from the harbor
And into the gales
She must be beautiful
So beautiful
To have stolen the wind from my sails
So beautiful
To have stolen the wind from my sails

In the heart of the city
Is the beat of a soul?
And it stares out the window
As the cars come and go
And it hungers for heroes
And it dreams of open skies
And there's no expectation
That the sun will rise

You better save somebody
Save somebody
Before the moment slips away
You better save somebody
Who'll be lonely?
When you walk away

There's a crack in the heavens
And a tear in the sky
It cuts through the shadows
Living in her eyes
And the gates of the city
Are closed until dawn
When the ghosts of midnight
Have come and gone
And the hearts of the weary carry on

You better save somebody
Save somebody
Before the moment slips away
You better save somebody
Who'll be lonely?
When you walk away

And I'm thinking of your silence
How the memory lingers on
And I wonder do you miss me
Now that I am gone
Now that I am gone
You better save somebody
Save somebody
Before the moment slips away

You better save somebody
Who'll be lonely?
When you walk away

She never had too much of money
Friendly strangers were all she knew
Nobody ever came to call but you
I would not say she isn't happy
Though the eyes of a fool will make her blue
Nobody's ever seen the tears it's true
I guess nobody wanted to

We'll have a celebration
Ice cream and candy cakes
She's very young to go so far away
And then there'll be the papers
In black and white to say we're through
Nobody every loved me quite like you
I guess nobody wanted to

And there'll be roses
In the springtime still I guess there will
I wish her roses and song
And she'll be older
As years go by, and how they fly
Will she be lonely without me along?

She doesn't make friends easily
She's only known a few
The incidental stranger passing through
On Sundays and holidays
I'll take her far away
We never tried to save the love we knew
I guess nobody wanted to

hide me in your hollows
taste the salt that clings to me
shipwrecked in your shadows
sanctify the sea
hide me in the wisdom of your thighs
ride me like a wave

chart my secret places
navigate my shores
map the oceans traces
lick them from my pores
drown me in delusion and desire

ride me like a wave
cover me in spray
promise you will stay

I remember mornings waking by your side
your scent on the pillow, fever in your eyes
cast upon the waters, shipless I surrender
lead me to your harbour
cover me in splendor
drown me in delusion and desire
ride me like a wave
(cover me in spray)

other seas will call you...
farther shores will shine
tempt you with their treasures
bordering to mine
still the safest harbor will be mine
ride me like a wave
ride me like a wave

Party lights
is there anybody here tonight?
Doesn't anybody have a light?

Party lights
Champagne and caviar
cocaine and Shalimar
Don't push too far
your party lights

People tell me that
I'm fading fast
but I can't last
the whole night through
Everybody now
it's closing time
I can't find my way to you

don't lose your head
Remember all those things
your mama said
but every vampire here appears well-fed
You look half-dead
They like you, kid

Party games
somebody pinned a needle in me
and I went insane
Walking on the edge of the line
in the driving rain
I felt no pain
It's a hell of a game

People tell me
there's an end to this
but one last kiss
turns into two
Everybody can't leave now
i don't know how
to make it through

Heady wine
moving too slow for me
can't keep time
watching the silent movie
for a sign
in my prime
heady wine
You move too slow
I'm drowning- don't let go
I'm drowning- can't say no
keep it low
hell of a show

People tell me that
I'm fading fast
but I can't last
the whole night trough
Everybody now
it's closing time
I can't find
my way to you

Party lights
is there anybody here tonight?
Doesn't anybody have a light?

Party lights
Champagne and caviar
cocaine and Shalimar
Don't push too far
your party lights

People tell me that
I'm fading fast
but I can't last
the whole night through
Everybody now
it's closing time
I can't find my way to you

don't lose your head
Remember all those things
your mama said
but every vampire here appears well-fed
You look half-dead
They like you, kid

Party games
somebody pinned a needle in me
and I went insane
Walking on the edge of the line
in the driving rain
I felt no pain
It's a hell of a game

People tell me
there's an end to this
but one last kiss
turns into two
Everybody can't leave now
i don't know how
to make it through

Heady wine
moving too slow for me
can't keep time
watching the silent movie
for a sign
in my prime
heady wine
You move too slow
I'm drowning- don't let go
I'm drowning- can't say no
keep it low
hell of a show

People tell me that
I'm fading fast
but I can't last
the whole night trough
Everybody now
it's closing time
I can't find
my way to you

Every time I see you, I see Paris in your eyes
A hint of the forbidden, Brigitte Bardot style
Every time I dream of you, I dream that distant land
Where I once held tomorrow in my hand

First time I saw Paris in your eyes
You told me how you loved me
Under blue Picasso skies
We spoke of Michelangelo
And we solved each others' lives
The first time I saw Paris in your eyes

Every time I touched you,
I could taste a breath of spring
April in Paris is every lover's dream
Every time I'd call your name,
It would sound so much in tune
Just like Notre dame cathedral at high noon

First time I saw Paris in your eyes
You told me how you loved me
Under blue Picasso skies
We spoke of Michelangelo
And we solved each others' lives
The first time I saw Paris in your eyes

Now every time I see you April showers seem to start
And they rain on every hope I have
'Til they hurricane my heart
And every time I dream of you
I dream of what we had
And wonder how could something so good go so bad

The last time I saw Paris in your eyes
You told me you were leaving
Under blue Picasso skies
We spoke of Michelangelo
And believed each others' lies
The last time I saw Paris in your eyes
The last time I saw Paris in your eyes

Would you really come and live with me
We can watch TV when the nights are cold
And it’s hard to sleep
When I’m hungry, when I’m old
When I’m angry, when I’m cold
Honey, I don’t know

Would you really come and take my cares away
Set me down in an easy chair and stay a while
Child, that’s a righteous thing you do
To make somebody just this happy
Like you done me to

I can see the years go down
You and me, we’ll paint the town
Lord, if my mama and my papa could see me now

I'm great at building castles in the air
And living there for days - you’d be amazed
I live in dreams and when I can
I go to sleep and there I am and there you are

When I’m hungry for the taste
Of loving you and your embrace
It’s hard to wait
‘Cause I’ve been waiting here so long a time
But if you say it’s right, honey, I don’t mind

We got all the years ahead
Time for everything we said
Lord, if my mama and my papa could see me now

I'd be happy living in a shack
With all the plumbing in the back
But you might not, you know
So maybe we better have a home

I’d be glad on a farm with a million dogs
Or a cave with bats
But you wouldn’t like that
Maybe we gotta have a home

Will you really come and live with me
I'd be so proud
In loving you, I’m loving me
I make it funny and I make you laugh
‘Cause it makes it easy getting past
All the being scared

I can see the years go down
You and me, we’ll paint the town
Lord if my mama and my papa could see me now
Oh lord, if my mama and my papa could see me now

When all my dreams have been shattered
And the fabric of life comes undone
When it seems like nothing matters
And all of my good times are gone
There's a place that I've kept sheltered
From the sight of my sorrow and shame
Though it's years since I beheld her
She still calls my name

I'll go home, I'll go home
Where the wild shadows roam
And the dawn over mountaintops spills
Where the deer pause in flight
On the edge of the night
I'll go home to my Tennessee hills
I'll go home to my Tennessee hills

When all my vows have been broken
And my wild heart can't be tamed
When I've loved and lost once too often
And failure is my middle name
There's a place that holds forgiveness
And the promise of peace in despair
When I'm down to my last witness
I'll be going there

I'll go home, I'll go home
Where the wild shadows roam
And the dawn over mountaintops spills
Where the deer pause in flight
On the edge of the night
I'll go home to my Tennessee hills
I'll go home to my Tennessee hills