Janis Ian

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
TREAT HER RIGHT
BE POLITE
MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
GIVE THE SINGER A BREAK
HOW MUCH CAN YOU GIVE
HOW MUCH CAN YOU TAKE


GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
WANNA GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
ANYTHING TO BUY YOUR SOUL
AND MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE


APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
SHE'LL STAND UPON HER HEAD
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
SHE'LL TAKE YOU TO HER BED
AND SHARE WITH YOU THE MEMORIES
OF DREAMS SHE CAN'T FORGET
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
LET'S GIVE THE PRIZE
TO THE LITTLE LADY
WITH THE STARS IN HER EYES


I'LL SELL MY SOUL FOR A SONG
PAY THE PRICE AND CARRY ON
AND SHARE WITH YOU THE MEMORIES
OF DREAMS I CAN'T FORGET
OF LOVERS I HAVE MET
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
LET'S GIVE THE PRIZE
TO THE LITTLE LADY
WITH THE STARS IN HER EYES


APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
TREAT HER RIGHT
BE POLITE
MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
GIVE THE SINGER A BREAK
HOW MUCH CAN YOU GIVE
HOW MUCH CAN YOU TAKE


GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
WANNA GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
ANYTHING TO BUY YOUR SOUL
AND MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE
MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE
MAYBE SHE WILL?

And when the war was over
I went dancing in the streets
with the corpse of my dead brother
to the sacrificial beat

the Boy Scouts and the Legionnaires
come home from overseas
singing Glory Hallelujah!
to the swank Gestapo beat

Hallelujah
I've never been
In the whole of my life
an intelligent sacrifice
Hallelujah
Give me a reason
to go on believing
and I'm ready
to pay the price

I heard of a plan
in the president's mansion
(high up in the sky)
It called for a sacrifice
and my brother paid the price

Sent him home in a bag,
Tha American flag
was draped around the box
The coffin lid was locked
The note said Thanks a lot

Some and dance with me
I'm home from overseas
I'm a corpse up to my knees
Celebrate the victory

Do you want to dance
and hold me tight?
I'm feeling most diseased
but I'm easier to please
Come and dance

JESSE COME HOME
THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BED
WHERE WE SLEPT
NOW IT'S GROWING COLD
HEY JESSE, YOUR FACE
IN THE PLACE WHERE WE LAY
BY THE HEARTH, ALL APART
IT HANGS ON MY HEART
AND I'M LEAVING THE LIGHT ON THE STAIRS
NO I'M NOT SCARED - I WAIT FOR YOU
HEY JESSE, I'M LONELY, COME HOME

JESSE, THE FLOORS AND THE BOARDS
RECALLING YOUR STEP
AND I REMEMBER, TOO
ALL THE PICTURES ARE FADING
AND SHADED IN GREY
BUT I STILL SET A PLACE
ON THE TABLE AT NOON

AND I'M LEAVING A LIGHT ON THE STAIRS
NO I'M NOT SCARED - I WAIT FOR YOU
HEY JESSE, I'M LONELY, COME HOME

JESSE, THE SPREAD ON THE BED
IS LIKE WHEN YOU LEFT
I'VE KEPT IT ALL FOR YOU
AND ALL THE BLUES AND THE GREENS
HAVE BEEN RECENTLY CLEANED
AND THEY'RE SEEMINGLY NEW
HEY JES, ME AND YOU

WE'LL SWALLOW THE LIGHT ON THE STAIRS
WE'LL DO UP MY HAIR
WE'LL SLEEP UNAWARE
HEY JESSE, I'M LONELY, COME HOME

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

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

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

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 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 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

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

Sometimes it’s all too much to say aloud
The sound’s a shroud
The meanings crowd
Sometimes the words are painful to the ear
They disappear and nothing’s clear

‘Til all that’s left to me are aftertones
I take them home
We live alone
But I remember chains of melody
It pleases me - this song’s for free

Within the memories of our life gone by
Afraid to die, we learn to lie
And measure out the time in coffee spoons
In fading suns and dying moons

‘Til all that’s left to see are aftertones
And no one knows
Where meaning goes
But i remember chains of melody
It pleases me - this song’s for free

And ooh, I like the sound
Of harmony from time to time
I really do believe
In some kind of tomorrow
When it speaks to me

I’m the belle of the blues, and it’s easy to see
If I win or I lose, it’s all one to me
I was born on a shelf in the rare books library
I reside by myself with my books and my T.V.

I’m an old age pension for the fossilized routine
Anybody for nostalgia, put a record on and see
Here’s a memory of olden days
And a heartbreak grown cold
All that glitters isn’t gold
You get no love for free

You live and you die
And I’ll probably throw it away
But in the end it’s mine
And nobody has a right to say
“Go down lightly - go down silently”
I’ll go down screaming
“Give it back - it belongs to me”

I’m the belle of the blues - I’m used to mingling
With the creme de la creme of higher society
I promise them roses, and an eight-by-ten of me
But when the party’s over
They’re all too glad to leave

Their children sing of sorrow
It’s the same old routine
They’ve begged and they’ve borrowed
Someone else’s misery

It’s an easy act to follow
At least, an easy one for me
Give me my tomorrows
You can have my memories

Souvenirs from an old-fashioned school
Plays coquette on the pillow
Like an old-fashioned fool
Go down lightly
Go down silently
You go down lonely
You go down like me

Boy I really tied one on
Spent the night away from home
I know you're not to blame
if I can't recall your name
and I'm sorry if it causes you pain

Boy I really lost my head
I woke up in a double bed
Allow me the pleasure
of taking your measure
though I'm sure you ain't
nobody's treasure
And I know it isn't ladylike
to do what I've done tonight

(chorus)
Wake up I've got news for you
Nobody's knocking at your door
Nobody's gonna pull you through
Nobody needs you anymore, yeah yeah
Nobody's knocking at your door

Boy I went around the bend
Thought I'd made a lifelong friend
Imagine my surprise
when I looked into your eyes
and saw the kind of friends
you meant
I think I'm gonna take the cure
I'm going on the wagon for sure
I may feel a fool
for a Sunday or two
but it's better than a Sunday with you
And I know it isn't ladylike
to do what I've done tonight

(chorus)

Don't sing me love songs
You know they make me cry
Don't bring me any promises
You've none I want to buy
Don't send me any letters
You know I never learned to read
Leave them on the doorstep
Sit back and watch me bleed

Bleeding for the sailors
Who never caught the tide
And the wind goes on forever
Tomorrow never dies
And I wave goodbye to morning
And stake my life on land

I was sitting on the doorstop
Watching Satan have his day
It was half past morning
'Fore I tore myself away
I've never looked beyond the mirrors
Of our used-to-be
The gilded edges shadow sketches
In the light of memory

And I found the paint by number
With your name across the top
And the room began to dance
To the spinning of the clock
And I waved goodbye to morning
But I left the door unlocked

Well, the tears flow like wine
And the salt makes you blind
So you beg a little time
'Cause you're choking on the vine
But the words begin to pour
And it feels just like war
And your face is on the floor
And you cannot find the door

And I think I found the answer
Where you left it on the shelf
But it's too late to wonder
If I left it there myself
And the room begins to rock
And the walls begin to steam
And the clock won't stop
And I'm living in between
And I wave goodbye to morning
And stake my life on dreams

When we grow old
And love grows cold
And time runs down
Like a river
That calls us home

The eyes grow dim
The light grown thin
And time will
End here forever
Long time gone

Then time and the river
Must stop in their tracks
Or roll on forever
There’s no turning back
I’ve waiting too long
To be left here like this
Long time gone

Then weep no more
The heart is pure
These hands are sure
Like a river
That clings to shore

The love we learn
The love we burn
A love that burns
In the darkness
Will weep no more
Dreams die young

Look at me I would like to dance
But I haven't the clothes for romance
So I'll stay with the boys in the band
I would like to be cool
Like the ladies who drool as they advance
But I can't get my feet
To go where I lead with my toes

At the debutante's ball everybody does all they can do to enhance
Every corset in town in a gown made specially in France
And the men here can tell at a glance
I would like to maintain
but it sure seems a shame to sit on my hands
And I only got into the swim
by the seat of my pants

Not another woman in the world
Who could make a living
Pitching the light fandango
dancing on the streets of the city
Look at me, playing freelance at the ball
Catch my entrance to the hall
Far from the gilded lily

Look at me would you like to dance
I've a book illustrating the stance
And I can't get my head
To go where I lead
With my toes
I feel solo

Love is blind
love is on_ly sor_row

love is no to_mor_row
since you went a_way

Love is blind
how well I re_mem_ber

in the heat of sum_mer
pleas_ure win_ter fades


How long will it

take be_fore
I can't re_mem_ber

mem_o_ries
I should for_get

I've been burn_ing
since the day we met

Love is blind
love is with_out a mer_cy

love is now you hurt me
now you've gone a_way

Love is blind
love is no ho_ri_zon

and I'm slow_ly dy_ing
here in yes_ter_day


In the morn_ing

wak_en to the sound
of weep_ing

some_one else
should weep for me

now it's o_ver
lov_er let me be

Love is blind
love is your ca_ress

love is tend_er_ness
and mo_men_ta_ry pain

Love is blind
How well I re_mem_ber

in the heat of sum_mer
pleas_ure win_ter fades@

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

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 learned the truth
at seventeen
That love was ment
for beauty queens
And high school
girls
With clear skinned
smiles
Who married young
and then retired
The valentines
I never knew
The friday night
charades of youth
Were spent on
one more beautiful
At seventeen
I learned the truth
And those of us
with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social
graces desperately
Remained at home
inventing lovers
On the phone
who called to say
Come dance with me
and murmured
Vague obscenities
it isn't all it seems
At seventeen
a brown eyed girl
In hand me downs
whose name
I never could
pronounce
Said pity
please the ones
Who serve
they only get
What they deserve
and the rich
Relationed hometown
queen
Marries into
what she needs
With a guarantee
of company
And haven
for the elderly
Remember those
who win the game
Lose the love
they sought to gain
In debentures
of quality
And dubious
integrity
Their small town eyes
will gape at you
In dull surprise
when payment due
Exceeds accounts
received at seventeen~

To those of us
who knew the pain
Of valentines
that never came
And those whose names
were never called
When choosing side
for basketball
It was long ago
and far away
The world was younger
than today
When dreams were
all they gave for free
To ugly duckling
girls like me
We all play the game
and when we dare
We cheat ourselves
at solitaire
Inventing lovers
on the phone
Repenting other
lives unknown
That call and say
come dance with me
And murmur vague
obscenities
At ugly girls like me
at seventeen~

There's never much to say between
the moments of our games and repartee
There's never much to read between
the lines of what we need
and what we'll take
There's never much to talk about
or say aloud, but say it anyway
Of holidays, and yesterdays,
and broken dreams that somehow slipped away
In books and magazines of how to be
and what to see while you are being
Before and after photographs teach
how to pass from reaching to believing
We live beyond our means
on other people's dreams
and that's succeeding
Between the lines of photographs
I've seen the past - it isn't pleasing
So strike another match
We'll have another cup of wine
and dance until the evening's dead
of too much song and time
There's never much to talk about
or read between the lines of what we
dream about when we're apart
and no one's looking on to say
"You're mine"
It was a good year then
It was a good year then - we all remember
the time you threw the looking glass
and seemed a fool - or very clever
Don't spoil it all; I can't recall
a time when you were struck
without an answer
We'll live a quiet, peaceful time
between the lines, and go together
I'm striking up the band
to play our last hurrah
We'll dance until we've
killed another evening off
Don't think of anyone but me
I'll have no lovers on the side
Tonight is all we've ever dreamed about
for once let's get it right
I'll go down flying in the end
Throw another bottle in between the lines
I'll go down like a ship of state
so let's be gracious now
between the lines

Bright Lights And Promises
A pocket full of dreams
That's what they pay me to be
Gold lame' and diamonds
I'm a hometown queen
Honey, would you sing it just for me?
When I was good then I was bad
I never thought I'd end up this way
With no dreams to hide me
Bright lights to guide me
How long does it take to make the grade?
Ev'rywhere I hear a ringing in my ears
Drummer, let the music play
Small-town blues
Make it loud, make it do
Listen to the music sway


Bar rails and cocktails
"Have you got a light?"
That's all it pays to keep in sight
Overused and much abused
Promises of delight
Honey, would you care to spend the night?
Take a little time
Some memories and wine
Loosen up the sucker by the bar
And if he wants to hold you
If he wants to know you
Honey,That's what you're here for
Until all I see
Is them reaching out for me
Drummer, play that old time melody


Bright lights and promises
That's all it's for
Leave and enterby the service door
Now I'm gold lame' and diamonds
Even if the gold is worn
Honey, can you show me more?

I'm leaving by night
I'm leaving alone
Leaving it lie
When you waken I'll be gone
I would not beg for me
As I would not beg for you
Though I'd like to be
The one to see you through
Every step you have taken
Disappears with the tide
You're torn up and shaken
With changing your mind
You haven't got the grace
To say you'll finally decide
And you haven't got
The strength to stay to fight
Those people who surround you
Only want to see you weak enough to crawl
They'll lie for you, decide for you
And buy up all your rights & all wrongs
And they'll try to stop your singing
In the middle of your song
For they do not want you free
And they will not make you strong
But only drag you down
In the hole they're coming from
They say you are foolish
In wanting the sun
Say you are selfish
In learning to run
Tell you that the darkness
Is a blessing in disguise
For you never have to notice
If you're sighted or you're blind
And they'll do their best
To keep you from the light


You're more than beginning
You're learning to fly
You feel like you're falling
But it passes in time
I hate to see a friend go down
In flames without a song
So I'm waiting by the doorway
But I will not linger long
I'm leaving by night
I'm leaving alone
I'm leaving it lie
When you waken I'll be gone
I would not beg for me
As I could not beg for you
But I'd like to be
The one to see you through

The days are okay
I watch the TV in the afternoon
If I get lonely
The sound of other voices
Other rooms are near to me
I'm not afraid
The operator
She tells the time
It's good for a laugh
There's always radio
And for a dime I can
Talk to God, dial a prayer
Are you there
Do you care
Are you there?
And in the winter
Extra blankets for the cold
Fix the heater, getting old
I am wiser now, you know
And still as big a fool
Concerning you
I met your friend
She's very nice, what can I say?
It was an accident
I never dreamed we'd meet again
This way - you're looking well
I'm not afraid
You have a lovely home
Just like a picture
No, I live alone
I found it easier
You must remember how
I never liked the party life
Up all night, lovely wife
You have a lovely wife
And in the winter
Extra blankets for the cold
Fix the heater, getting old
You are with her now, I know
I'll live alone forever
Not together now

I hear your voice in every corridor
See your face in every picture frame
I feel your eyes in every starry sky
Lover, am I coming home again
Now am I humble, who once was proud
Now am I silent, who once was loud
Now am I waiting for the sound of your saying
Lover, am I coming home again
When you're gone, the sun don't shine
Light a light, light a light for me
Bring me back home again
And how we loved, 'til the years were days
How we laughed all our tears away
And now the time begins to fade
Lover, am I coming home again
There's wisdom in the teachings
of the old familiar songs
and a sorrow in repeating
all the old familiar wrongs
and a lesson to be learned,
though I've known all along
Lover, am I coming home again
Light a light, light a light for me
Light a light, light a light for me
Light a light, light a light for me
Bring me back home again
Bring me back home again

Lay down and slumber
Mama's boy is torn asunder
All the fields have gone grey
All the leaves are gone brown
Let me tell you a story
Lay down, I know you're weary
While the star's in the sky
While the moon's on the rise
Lay down and don't you wake till morning
Close your eyes and helpless through the night
Lay down and dream of love and glory
This is a lover's lullabye


Once was a magician
Fair he was, and handsome
And he brought to the table
All the fool's gold and wine
And he promised us three favors
Said he was a saviour
But we drank all his glory
And we borrowed all his time
Lay down, and don't you wake till morning
Close your eyes and helpless through the night
Lay down and dream of love and glory
This is a lover's lullabye
My love, sleep tight my love
And softly fade away
The moon was made of old green cheese
To keep the night away
Softly now, close your eyes
Lightly will you fade
The moon was made for wakeful boys
To keep the night away
Lay down, and don't wake till morning
Close your eyes all through the night
Lay down in all your glory
This is a lullabye
Lay down, and don't wake till morning
Close your eyes all through the night
Lay down in all your glory
This is a lullabye
This is a lullabye

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

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?

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

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

Borrowed pens on dotted lines
Sign the past away.
This is yours and that is mine,
So the papers say.

How can you move so quickly?
How can you heal so fast?
And what will I do with my mornings?
And what will I do with my nights?

Tell me what you see in her that used to be in me,
Why is it the simple truths are hardest to believe?
How can I start all over?
Knowing we'll just be friends.
And what will i do with my mornings?
And what will i do with my nights?

You want answers that I can't give,
You want words I don't know.
Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Mmmmm oooh

After this day is over,
How will my dreams go on?
And what will I do with my mornings?
Tell me what will I do with my nights?

You want answers that I can't give,
You want words I don't know.
Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Borrowed pens on dotted lines
Sign the past away.
This is yours and that is mine,
So the papers say.

How can you move so quickly?
How can you heal so fast?
And what will I do with my mornings?
And what will I do with my nights?

Tell me what you see in her that used to be in me,
Why is it the simple truths are hardest to believe?
How can I start all over?
Knowing we'll just be friends.
And what will i do with my mornings?
And what will i do with my nights?

You want answers that I can't give,
You want words I don't know.
Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Mmmmm oooh

After this day is over,
How will my dreams go on?
And what will I do with my mornings?
Tell me what will I do with my nights?

You want answers that I can't give,
You want words I don't know.
Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

EVENING STAR
All our good times have been had
and there’s nothing more to be said
I don’t like being trite, but I love you
I love you
When my evening star comes around again
You won’t find me sitting where I was when you first came
When my evening star tells me it’s time for a change
The words may change. The song may change
but love will be the same
I grow tired burning
tomorrow’s fires in
yesterday’s flame
Good times Bad times
Think of all our good times
measured with the bad times
When my evening star comes around to say
Once upon you had someone
Gone now
The light goes out
and the stage is set
Stand by me anyway
I need a lover who
won’t want to bother with
yesterday’s flame
Good times Bad times
Think of all our good times
measured with the bad times
All our good times have been had
and there’s nothin’ more to be said
I don’t like being trite, but I loved you
And I love you
Yes I do
I loved you, and I love you

When I was just the age of five
My world had just come live
Wonderous things to see and be done
All that I could think of was fun

With hair of spun gold
Lips of ruby red
And eyes as deep as the deepest sea

When I was just the age of ten
My life had been changed again
I threw away all my childish toys
And worked on getting noticed by boys

And when I was just thirteen years of age
Going steady was all the rage
My mother picked out the cutest boy
My little leather-jacketed toy

And hair of spun gold
Turned to black as night
And the ruby red lips
Turned to pale pink

When I was fifteen years of age
He had my hand in marriage
And when fifteen years of age
In my arms I held my babe

And now I'm twenty-one
And I feel my life's over and done
And I'm looking down on my little child
Wondering, wondering if she'll be so wild

She's got hair of spun gold
Lips of ruby red
And eyes as deep as the deepest sea

When I'm looking down on my little child
I swear she'll have the time
There'll be time to love
There'll be time to learn
But childish memories she won't burn
We'll find time to laugh
We'll find time to play
She won't have to throw her toys away
I swear to you we'll wait for time
To take its time

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