Townes Van Zandt Album

Your eyes seek conclusion in all this confusion of mine
Though you and I both know it's only the warm glow of wine
That's got you to feeling this way, but I don't care,
I want you to stay and hold me
And tell me you'll be here to love me today

Children are dancin', the gamblers are chancin' their all
The window's accusing the door of abusing the wall
But who cares what the night watchmen say
The stage has been set for the play
Hold me and tell me you'll be here to love me today

The moon's come and gone but a few stars hang on on to the sky
The wind's runnin' free but it ain't up to me ask why
The poets are demanding their pay
They've left me with nothin' to say
'cept hold me and tell me you'll be here to love me today
Just hold me and tell me that you'll be here to love me today

It's plain to see, the sun won't shine today
But I ain't in the mood for sunshine anyway
Maybe I'll go insane
I got to stop the pain
Or maybe I'll go down to see Kathleen.

A swallow comes and tells me of her dreams
She says she'd like to know just what they mean
I feel like I could die
As I watch her flying by
Ride the north wind down to see Kathleen.

Stars hang high above, the oceans roar
The moon is come to lead me to her door
There's crystal across the sand
And the waves, they take my hand.
Soon I'm gonna see my sweet Kathleen.

Soon I'm gonna see my sweet Kathleen

My lover comes to me with a rose on her bosom
The moon's dancin' purple
All through her black hair
And a ladies-in-waiting she stands 'neath my window
And the sun will rise soon on the false and the fair

She tells me she comes from my mother the mountain
Her skin fits her tightly
And her lips do not lie
She silently slips from her throat a medallion
Slowly she twirls it in front of my eyes

I watch her, I love her, I long for to touch her
The satin she's wearin'
Is shimmering blue
Outside my window her ladies are sleeping
My dogs have gone hunting
The howling is through

So I reach for her hand and her eyes turns to poison
And her hair turns to splinters,
And her flesh turns to brine
She leaps cross the room, she stands in the window
And screams that my first-born
Will surely be blind

She throws herself out to the black of the nightfall
She's parted her lips
But she makes not a sound
I fly down the stairway, and I run to the garden
No trace of my true love
Is there to be found

So walk these hills lightly, and watch who you're lovin'
By mother the mountain
I swear that it's true
Love not a woman with hair black as midnight
And her dress made of satin
All shimmering blue

When she had twenty years she turned to her mother
Saying Mother, I know that you'll grieve
But I've given my soul to St John the gambler
Tomorrow comes time leave
For the hills cannot hold back my sorrow forever
And dead men lay deep 'round the door
The only salvation thats mine for the asking
So mother, think on me no more

Winter held high round the mountains breast
And the cold of a thousand snows
Lay heaped upon the forests leaf
But she dressed in calico
For a gambler likes his women fancy
Fancy she would be
And the fire of her longing would keep way the cold
And her dress was a sight to see

But the road was long beneath the feet
She followed her frozen breath
In search of a certain St John the gambler
Stumbling to her death
She heard his laughter right down from the mountains
And danced with her mothers tears
To a funeral drawn a calico
'neath the cross of twenty years

To a funeral drawn a calico
'neath the cross of twenty years

Mr. Ten Dollar man
Let me tell where you're bound
Drink your green liqour, Lord
You'll roll to the ground
But you come around here
With your money in your hand
Taste of my woman
You die where you stand

Snake Mountain blues
They got me down low
I could die in the morning
But noone would know
My woman come 'round
My body she'd find
Go down to Dundee
Have her a time

Snake Mountain's
Gonna crumble Lord
And fall from the sky
Before that woman of mine
Stops tellin' her lies
If I'd die Lord she'd weep
She'd weep and she'd mourn
Soon as I's buried
Forget I'd been born

Love of black-skinned woman
She won't do you no wrong
Slow to start moanin'
She don't moan for long
A yellow-headed woman
Brings you nothin' but pain
Take all you give her
She leaves only shame

My Daddy, Lord he rides
On a long holy train
First winds of winter
I'll see him again
It's farewell to this yellow
Headed misery I've known
Snake Mountain's callin'
Callin' me home

Snake Mountain blues
They got me down low
I could die in the mornin'
No one would know
My woman come around
My body she'd find
Go down to Dundee
Have her a time

Why does she sing her sad songs for me, I'm not the one
To tenderly bring her soft sympathy, I've just begun
To see my way clear and it's plain if I stop I will fall
I can lay down a tear for her pain, just a tear and that's all
What does she want me to do
She says that she knows that moments are rare
I suppose that it's true
Then on she goes to say I don't care and she knows that I do
Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song
Who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

She'd like to think that I'm cruel but she knows that's a lie for I would be
No more than a tool if I allowed her to cry all over me
My sorrow is real even though I can't change my plans
If she could see how I feel then I know that she'd understand
Does she actually think I'm to blame
Does she really believe that some word of mine
Could relieve all her pain
Can't she see that she grieves just because she's been blindly deceived
By her shame
Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song
Who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

Nothin's what it seems, maybe she'll start someday to realize
If she abandons her dreams then all the words she can say are only lies
When will she see that to gain is only to lose
All that she offers me are her chains, I got to refuse
It's only to herself that she's lied
She likes to pretend there's something that she should defend with her pride
I don't intend to stand her and be the friend from whom she must hide
Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song
Who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

Sometimes I don't know where this dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
I guess I keep on gamblin', lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

One-time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once cause she cried
She told him to take care of me, she headed down to Tennessee
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

I came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

A friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me, drug me back to Muskogee
It's two long years, just a-waitin' 'round to die

Now I'm out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don't steal or cheat or drink or lie
His name's codeine, he's the nicest thing I've seen
Together we're gonna wait around and die

By townes van zandt

Don't you take it too bad
If you're feelin' unlovin'
If you're feelin unfeelin'
If you're feelin' alone
Don't take it too bad

'cause it ain't you to blame, babe
Lord, it's just some kind of game made
Out of all of this living
That we got left to do

And if you go searchin'


For rhyme or for reason
Then you won't have the time
That it take just for talkin'
About the places you've been, babe
About the places you've seen, babe
And how soft the time flies
Past your window at night

And we just can't have that, girl
'cause it's a sad, lonesome, cold world
And a man need a woman just to stand by his side
And whisper sweet words in his ears about daydreams
And roses and playthings
And the sweetness of springtime
And the sound of the rain

I'm goin' out to Denver
See if I can't find
I'm goin' out to Denver
See if I can't find
That lovin' Colorado girl of mine

The promise in her smile
Shames the mountains tall
The promise in her smile
Shames the mountains tall
She bring the sun to shining
Tell the rain to fall

It's been a long time, mama,
Since I heard you call my name
Ah, been a long time
Since I heard you call my name
I got to see my Colorado girl again

Be there tomorrow
Mama, don't you cry
Be there tomorrow
Now, mama, don't you cry
I got to kiss these lonesome
Texas blues good-bye

I'm goin' out to to Denver
See if I can't find
I'm goin' out to to Denver
See if I can't find
That lovin' Colorado girl of mine
That lovin' Colorado girl of mine

There's no stronger wind than the one that blows
Bown a lonesome railroad line
No prettier sight than looking back
On a town you left behind
There is nothin' that's as real
As a love that's in my mind

Close your eyes
I'll be here in the morning
Close your eyes
I'll be here for a while

There's lots of things along the road
I'd surely like to see
I'd like to lean into the wind
And tell myself I'm free
But your softest whisper's louder
Than the highways call to me

All the mountains and the rivers
And the valleys can't compare
To your blue lit dancin' eyes
And yellow shining hair
I could never hit the open road
And leave you layin' there

Lay your head back easy, love,
Close your cryin' eyes
I'll be layin' here beside you
When the sun comes on the rise
I'll stay as long as the cuckoo wails
And the lonesome bluejay cries

We had our day but now it's over
We had our song but now it's sung
We had our stroll through summers clover
But summer's gone now, our walkin's done

So tell me gently who be your lover
Who be your lover after I'm gone
Will it be the moon that hears your sighin'
Will it be the willow that hears your lonesome song

Will it be the rain that clings to your bosom
Will it be the sunshine that dries your golden hair
Will it be the wind that warns of my returning
Will a rose be in your arms when I find you waitin' there

None but the rain should cling to my bosom
None but the moon should hear my lonesome sigh
None but the wind should warn of your returning
Fare thee well, my love, good-bye

By townes van zandt
Come away with me,My little delta boyI wanna be your delta mama for awhileAnd if you stay you'll seeThat I bring you lots of joyI turn those little teardrops to a smile
Well, if you're blue don't cryJust wander right downtownYou can find your delta mama waitin' thereWell, I thought you knew that iWould never let you downI can ease your mind and take away your cares
Come away with me,My little delta boyI wanna be your delta mama for awhileAnd if you stay you'll seeThat I bring you lots of joyI turn those little teardrops to a smile

Well, if the grass goes brownDon't you hang your head too lowWell, there ain't no need for you to sit and pineIf you'll just ask aroundI'm sure someone will knowJust exactly what it takes to get you back to feelin fine
Well, if you don't know by nowWhat I've been tryin' so hard to sayWell my delta boy I'm afraid you're up to tightBut you take it slow and somehowYou come meandering out my wayAnd I'll take you in my arms and make it right
Ah, come away with me,My little delta boyI wanna be your delta mama for awhileAnd if you stay you'll seeThat I bring you lots of joyI turn those little teardrops to a smile

Well, I've been turnstyled,
Junkpiled
And railroaded too
I've been laid low
But don't you know
I'm still in love with you
I've been took down many a road
If anybody says I ain't day lie
But ain't got no plans
Except to be your man
And love you till I die

Well you got me under your spell
Won't you tell
Me all 'bout your wonderful charms
I got time to burn
And a lot to learn
Mama, take me in your lovin' arms
Well, I know that probably
You feel quite oddly
'bout you hear say
But if you hold me tight
It's gonna be all right
Mama, chase my blues away

So close and yet so far away
And all the things I'd hoped to say
Will have to go unsaid today
Perhaps until tomorrow
Your fears have built a wall between
Our lives and all what loving means
Will have to go unfelt it seems
And that leaves only sorrow
You built your tower strong and tall
Can't you see, it's got to fall someday

You close your eyes and speak to me
Of faith and love and destiny
As distant as eternity
From truth and understanding
The wind blows cold outside your door
It whispers words I've tried before
But you don't hear me anymore
Your pride's just too demanding
You built your tower strong and tall
Can't you see, it's got to fall someday

The end is coming soon it's plain
A warm bed just ain't worth the pain
And I will go and you'll remain
With the bitterness we've tasted
A mother's breast, a newborn child
A poet's tear and drunken smile
I can't help feelin' all the while
Their meaning won't be wasted
You built your tower strong and tall
Can't you see, it's got to fall someday

Could it be the season's changin'
The winds of winter rearranging
All the leaves like fallin' queens of sorrow
Could be the freezing rain a-fallin'
Could be sad September callin'
Or maybe its knowin' she'll be gone
Come tomorrow

Well, it's strange how many tortured mornings
Fell upon us with no warning
Lookin' for a smile to beg and borrow
It's over now, there is no returning
A thousand bridges sadly burning
And light the way I have to walk alone
Come tomorrow

I guess that no amount of lying
To myself will stop the crying
I guess I have to take things like they are
The facts are plain to see, it's only
That I ain't used to being lonely
Like I'm gonna be without you
Come tomorrow

Come tomorrow

I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
You know she cools me with her breathin'
Chases away those howlin' bottles of wine

She fits just like my guitar
Man, she's near as tall as me
She fits just like my guitar
She's near as tall as me
She lives way out the d train
But she's texas as can be

She got a home-spun disposition
Man, she's just as gentle as you please
She got a home-spun disposition
Man, she's just as gentle as you please
She got arms just like two rattle snakes
Legs just like a billow in the breeze

I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
I want to trace her with my body
I want to track her with my mind

By townes van zandt

Where I lead me I will travel
Where I need me I will call me
I'm no fool, I'll be ready
God knows I will be
And in the meantime make a little money
And buy a little mercy

Met this morning, now he loves me
Say's he loves me
It must be easy, look around you
All around you
But you see the motion, you're not movin'
You don't know how to hold on
Just keep it loose
Don't get excited, it'll pass before long

Now one is goin' one is stayin'
One is silent one is saying'
Here's your coat, take care of yourself


Sorry you're leavin'
A little sad you're all I had
Will you be returnin'

The boys upstairs are gettin' hungry
You can shout in the wind about how it will be
Or you can clench your fist, shake your head
And head to the country
I got no doubt about it my friend
That's where they'll find me
That's where they're gonna find me

Ask the boys down in the gutter
Now they won't lie cause you don't matter
The street's just fine if you're good and blind
But it ain't where you belong
Roll down your sleeves, pick up your money
And carry yourself home
Roll down your sleeves, pick up your money
And carry yourself home

By townes van zandt

I got two hands
I wanna clap my hands together
I got two legs
I wanna dance to heavens door
I got one heart
I gonna fill it up with up jesus
And I ain't gonna think about trouble anymore

Well now, this old world sometimes it does get lonesome
And it's many a grown man has hung his head and cried
Down in your soul there's one that won't desert you
Ain't it fine to have the saviour by your side

Now the lord resides inside a house of golden
And faith is the door and love is the key
And warm is the light pouring from his mighty windows
And that light, my friend, it shines on you and me

When the wind blows on that faithful morning
And I close my eyes, lord, and fly my body home
I don't want my friends to cry no tears about me
I'll be bathing in the glory of the throne

I got two hands
I wanna clap my hands together
I got two legs
I wanna dance to heavens door
I got one heart
I gonna fill it up with up Jesus
And I ain't gonna think about trouble anymore

Won't say I love you, babe
Won't say I need you, babe
But I'm gonna' get you, babe
And I will not do you wrong
Living's mostly wasting time
And I waste my share of mine
But it never feels too good
So let's don't take too long
Well, you're soft as glass and I'm a gentle man
We got the sky to talk about
And the world to lie upon

Days up and down they come
Like rain on a conga drum
Forget most, remember some
Oh, but don't turn none away
Everything is not enough
Nothing is too much to bear
Where you've been is good and gone
All you keep is the getting there
Well, to live's to fly, all low and high
So shake the dust off of your wings
And the sleep out of your eyes

It's goodbye to all my friends
It's time to leave again
Here's to all the poetry
And the picking' down the line
I'll miss the system here
The bottom's low and the treble�s clear
But it don't pay to think too much
On things you leave behind
Well, I may be gone, but it won't be long
I'll be bringing back the melody
And the rhythm that I find

We all got holes to fill
Them holes are all that's real
Some fall on you like a storm
Sometimes you dig your own
The choice is yours to make
Time is yours to take
Some dive into the sea
Some toil upon the stone
Well, to live's to fly awe low and high
So shake the dust off of your wings
And the sleep out of your eye
Oh, shake the dust off of your wings
And the tears out of your eye

The wicked king of clubs awoke
It was to his queen turned
His lips were laughing as they spoke
His eyes like bullets burned
The sun's upon a gambling day
His queen smiled low and blissfully
Let's make some wretched fool to play
Plain it was she did agree

He send his deuce down into diamond
His four to hart, and his trey to spade
Three kings with their legions come
Preparations soon where made
They voted club the days commander
Gave him an army face and number
All but the outlaw jack of diamonds
And the aces in the sky

He give his sevens first instructions
Spirit me a game of stud
Stakes unscarred by limitation
'tween a man named gold and man named mud
Club filled gold with greedy vapors
'til his long, green eyes did glow
Mud was left with the sighs and trembles
Watching his hard earned money go

Flushes fell on gold like water
Tens they paired and paired again
But the aces only flew through heaven
And the diamond jack called no man friend
The diamond queen saw muds ordeal
Began to think of her long lost son
Fell to her knees with a mother's mercy
Prayed to the angels every one

The diamond queen, she prayed and prayed
And the diamond angel filled muds hole
The wicked king of clubs himself
Fell in face down in front of gold
Now three kings come to clubs command
But the angels from the sky did ride
Three kings up on the streets of gold
Three fireballs on the muddy side

The club queen heard her husband's call
But lord that queen of diamond's joy
When the outlaw in the heavenly hall
Turned out to be a wandering boy
Now mud he checked and gold bet all
And mud he raised and gold did call
And the smile just melted off his face
When mud turned over that diamond ace

Now here's what this story's told
If you feel like mud you'll end up gold
If you feel like lost, you'll end up found
So amigo, lay them raises down

I come from a long line
High and low and in between
Same as you
Hills of golden
Hails of poison
Time's thrown me through
And I believe I've come to learn
That turnin' round
Is to become confusion
And the gold's no good for spending
And the poison's hungry waiting

What can you leave behind
When you're flyin' lightning fast
And all alone?
Only a trace, my friend,
Spirit of motion born
And direction grown.
A trace that will not fade
In frozen skies
Your journey will be
And if her shadow doesn't seem much company
Who said it would be?

There is the highway
And the homemade lovin' kind
The highway's mine
And us ramblers are getting the travelling down
You fathers build with stones
That stand and shine
Heaven's where you find it
And you can't
Take too much with you
But daddy, don't you listen
It's just this highway talkin'

All things at our life
Are brothers in the soil
And in the sky
And I believe it
With my blood
If not my eyes
I don't know why we can't
Be brothers here
I know we should be
Answers don't seem easy
And I'm wonderin'
If they could be

I ain't gonna sing no lonesome tune
Ah, babe, I'm a-commin' soon
I cannot believe i stayed so long away
But a man must look around
And you're the sweetest thing I've found
Your lost high roller's rollin' home today

My daddy said to me
"Son, it's hard as you will see
To find someone upon whom to rely"
In the kitchen mama sneezed
And he grinned big as you please
Said "bless you" and a tear come to his eye

I did decide that very day
That I would like to live that way
And now I know I just been wastin' time
It's eith you that I should be
If you feel the same 'bout me
I'm headed home along the straightest line

Me & this friend Streetlife Brown
We got a bottle of red and walked downtown
One hand on the jug and one on time
He said I bet you a dollar against this next line

Don't let the sunshine fool ya
Don't let the bluebirds tool ya
Don't let the women do ya
Put your hand in mine

Advice is fine if you've got a mind
To listen to the end that's got the time
But the muse'll get ya if you don't watch out
He's equipped to know what it's all about

Don't let the sunshine fool ya
Don't let the bluebirds tool ya
Don't let the women do ya
Put your hand in mine

Fannin street in the afternoon
An easy way to get out of tune
But the hard soap salesman said no dice
When I asked politely for a better price

Don't let the sunshine fool ya
Don't let the bluebirds tool ya
Don't let the women do ya
Put your hand in mine

Here's a song for you child of mine
I hope you make it through this time
Get yourself a piece of that rainbow pie
No reason in the world you can't get by

Don't let the sunshine fool ya
Don't let the bluebirds tool ya
Don't let the women do ya
Put your hand in mine

Don't let the sunshine fool ya
Don't let the bluebirds tool ya
Don't let the women do ya
Put your hand in mine

When you are sad and lonely and have no place to go
Call me up, sweet baby, and bring along some dough
And well go honky tonkin, honky tonkin
Honky tonkin, honey baby
Well go honky tonkin round this town.

When you and your baby have a fallin out
Just call me up sweet mama and well go steppin out
And well go honky tonkin, honky tonkin
Honky tonkin, honey baby
Well go honky tonkin round this town.

Were goin to the city - to the city fair
If you go to the city then you will find me there
And well go honky tonkin, honky tonkin
Honky tonkin, honey baby
Well go honky tonkin round this town.

Repeat first verse

Far across the blue water lives an old German's daughter
By the banks of the old river Rhine
Where I loved her and left her but I can't forget her
I miss my pretty fraulein

Fraulein, fraulein, look up toward the heavens
Each night when the starts start to shine
By the same stars above you, I swear that I love you
You are my pretty fraulein



When my memories wander a-way over yonder
To the sweetheart that I left behind
In a moment of glory a face comes before me
The face of my pretty fraulein

Fraulein, fraulein, walk down by the river
Pretend that your hand's holdin' mine
By the same stars above you I swear that I love you
You are my pretty fraulein

Living on the road my friend,
Is gonna keep you free and clean.
Now you wear your skin like iron,
And your breath as hard as kerosene.
You weren't your mama's only boy,
But her favorite one it seems.
She began to cry when you said goodbye,
And sank into your dreams.

Pancho was a bandit boys,
His horse was fast as polished steel,
He wore his gun outside his pants,
For all the honest world to feel.
Pancho met his match you know
On the deserts down in Mexico,
And nobody heard his dying words.
Ah, but that's the way it goes.

And all the Federales say,
They could have had him any day.
They only let him hang around,
Out of kindness, I suppose.

Lefty, he can't sing the blues
All night long like he used to.
The dust that Pancho bit down south
Ended up in Lefty's mouth.
The day they laid poor Pancho low,
Lefty split for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go,
There ain't nobody knows.

And all the Federales say,
They could have had him any day.
They only let him slip away,
Out of kindness, I suppose.

Well the poets tell how Pancho fell,
And Lefty's living in a cheap hotel.
The desert's quiet and Cleveland's cold,
And so the story ends we're told.
Pancho needs your prayers it's true,
But save a few for Lefty too.
He just did what he had to do,
And now he's growing old.

And a few grey Federales say
They could have had him any day.
They only let go so wrong,
Out of kindness, I suppose.

A few gray Federales say
They could have had him any day.
They only let him so wrong,
Out of kindness, I suppose.

If I needed you would you come to me,
Would you come to me, and ease my pain?
If you needed me
I would come to you
I'd swim the seas for to ease your pain

In the night forlorn the morning's born
And the morning shines with the lights of love
You will miss sunrise if you close your eyes
That would break my heart in two

The lady's with me now since I showed her how
To lay her lily hand in mine
Loop and Lil agree she's a sight to see
And a treasure for the poor to find

I'm building a houseboat in heaven
To sail those deep and holy seas
I'm building a houseboat in heaven
And it's welcome aboard you sweet peace

The bow she is made of solid silver
And the hall she is made of solid gold
She ain't much long the line's a-floating
But she's yours, babe, to have and to hold

I rode my old guitar to heaven
But heaven didn't feel too much like home
So I'm headed out on to them lonesome oceans
In my rubystudded houseboat to roam

I decided to improve my social station
I joined a fraternity organisation
Tucked in my shirt
Signed on the line
Right away they said about to improve my mind
The car I drove
The books I read
The food I ate
The booze I drank
The girls I took out
My breath

Said "kid, we don't much like the way you walk
And you gonna have to change the way you talk"
They said "your dress is kind of sludge
And your attitude is mighty grudge"
Said "you got to learn to bubble"
"you got to bubble with enthusiasm" I started bubble
"most important thing you can't forget
Is learning the entire greek alphabet"
I never did really understand
That that's gonna make me anymore a man
But I learned it
I can whip through that son-of-a-beta backwards in five seconds
Then they hit me with some pretty bad news
Concerning the payment of monthly dues

I never did know where that money went
I never was sure it was well spent
But I paid it
I'm no troublecauser and besides I figured that's life
If you want good friends it gonna cost you

Well, finally got to be party time
I got a great big old jug of wine
I went back to the house in about an hour
[when the boy's were] drinking whiskey sours
Brandy alexanders
Frozen [daquires]
Reciting the greek alphabet to one another

I could see I was gonna have to do my very best
To get myself out of that fraternity mess
I stood right there outside the door
And I chugged that wine like never before
Walked inside and bubbled
All over a couple of their dates

So now everything's back to normal again
But there is still lots of room for improvement my friend
'cause that fraternity stuff is too much for me
Next time I'm gonna join a sorority
Really get me something to bubble about

The name she gave was caroline
Daughter of a miner
Her ways were free
It seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her

She came from spencer
Across the hill
She said her pa had sent her
'cause the coal was low
And soon the snow
Would turn the skies to winter

She said she'd come
To look for work
She was not seeking favors
And for a dime a day
And a place to stay
She'd turn those hands to labor

But the times were hard, lord,
The jobs were few
All through tecumseh valley
But she asked around
And a job she found
Tending bar at gypsy sally's

She saved enough to get back home
When spring replaced the winter
But her dreams were denied
Her pa had died
The word come down from spencer

So she turned to whorin' out on the streets
With all the lust inside her
And it was many a man
Returned again
To lay himself beside her

They found her down beneath the stairs
That led to gypsy sally's
In her hand when she died
Was a note that cried
Fare thee well... tecumseh valley

The name she gave was caroline
Daughter of a miner
Her ways were free
It seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her

Well, won't you lend your lungs to me?
Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe
Up the time that's passing.
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
Pray the day ain't poison
Stand among the ones that live
In lonely indecision.

Fingers walk the darkness down
Mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you've found
You fool, it's only moonlight.
If you try to take it home
Your hands will turn to butter
You better leave this dream alone
Try to find another.

Salvation sat and crossed herself
Called the devil partner
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Who'll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at its mouth
Take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Bathe in fiery answers

Jesus was an only son
And love his only concept
Strangers cry in foreign tongues
And dirty up the doorstep
And I for one, and you for two
Ai'nt got the time for outside
Just keep your injured looks to you
We'll tell the world we tried

Don't go saying I'm leaving you
Thinking I never got close enough to stay
Time runs in, and then runs out
Starts again and it's always been that way
You're gonna drown tomorrow
If you cry to many tears for yesterday
Tomorrow's half of all you've got
So treat him good, 'cause when I'm gone, he'll stay

I won't be forgetting you
You won't be forgetting me, I know
If memory comes a summer cloud
Rains her sweetness down to me below
I see you like you look right now
Maybe wonder why I had to go
But heaven is the way she is
Rain falls and rivers flow

So here's to feelin' good
Here's to feelin' bad
Here's to bein' thankful
Sorry for the pleasures that we had
And autumn days and window panes
God, forgive us if you feel decieved
The clock don't know you like I do
And it's only him or me you got to believe

Loretta she's my barroom girl
Wheres them seven's on her sleeve
Dances like a diamond shines,
Tells me lies I love to believe
Her age is always twenty two
Her laughing eyes a hazel hue
Spends my money like a water falls
Loves me like I want her too.

Loretta won't you say to me
Darlin' put your guitar on
Have a little shot of booze
Play a blue and wailin' song
My guitar rings a melody
My guitar sings Loretta fine
Long and lazy wild and free
And I can have her any time

Sweetest at the break of day
Prettiest in the setting sun
She don't cry when I can't stay
Atleast not 'till she's all alone
Loretta I won't be gone long
Keep your dancing slippers on
Keep me on your mind a while
I'm comin' home, I'm comin' home

If I had no place to fall
And I needed to
Could I count on you
To lay me down?

I'd never tell you no lies
I don't believe it's wise
You got pretty eyes
Won't you spin me 'round

I ain't much of a lover it's true
I'm here then I'm gone
And I'm forever blue
But I'm sure wanting you

Skies full of silver and gold
Try to hide the sun
But it can't be done
Least not for long

And if we help each other grow
While the light of day
Smiles down our way
Then we can't go wrong

Time, she's a fast old train
She's here then she's gone
And she won't come again
Won't you take my hand

If I had no place to fall
And I needed to
Could I count on you
To lay me down?

Days full of rain
Skys comin' down again
I get so tired
Of these same old blues
Same old song
Baby, it won't be long
'fore I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes
Flyin' shoes
Till I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes

Spring only sighed
Summer had to be satisfied
Fall is a feelin' that I just can't lose.
I'd like to stay
Maybe watch a winter day
Turn the green water
To white and blue
Flyin' shoes
Flyin' shoes
Till I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes

The mountain moon
Forever sets too soon
Bein' alone is all the hills can do
Alone and then
Her silver sails again
And they will follow
In their flyin' shoes
Flyin' shoes
They will follow in their
Flyin' shoes

Days full of rain
Skys comin' down again
I get so tired
Of the same old blues
Same old song
Baby, it won't be long
Till I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes
Flyin' shoes
Till I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes

[No lyrics]