B i o g r a p h y (by Official press)
The Fiery Furnaces are brother and sister Eleanor and Matt Friedberger (both on vocals and guitar, Matt on synth and organ). From late 2005, Matt and Eleanor are joined live by Jason Loewenstein (ex-Sebadoh) on bass and Bob D'Amico on drums. The two replaced drummer Andy Knowles and bass and synth player Toshi Yano who had been touring with the Furnaces since 2004. Siblings Eleanor and Matt were born and raised in Oak Park, IL, but relocated to New York to form the Fiery Furnaces. As children, the two weren't particularly close, a dynamic that shaped their shaky relationship over the future years. Before forming the Fiery Furnaces, Eleanor earned a University of Texas B.A and worked as a telemarketer for the Texas Republican Party. She followed this by travelling all over Europe where she spent a year in London before going to France, Italy and Greece with her Mom. Matt, on the other hand, went to Germany at 17, and managed to learn not a word of German or even have a good time – paradoxically longing for what he set out to run from in the first place. After dropping out from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he moved back with his mother at 26. After college and separate trips abroad Matt and Eleanor returned to their home in Oak Park and began working on music together. They mixed simple, poppy melodies with a dizzying array of wordplay, sounds, and influences, including the Who, Captain Beefheart, Os Mutantes; dashes of folk, blues, and garage rock; and Eleanor's adventures in Europe. In 2000, they both moved to Brooklyn, took day jobs, and began playing as the Fiery Furnaces late in the year. The Furnaces played their initial gigs at a small club called Enid's in NYC in November 2000 and branched out from there, going through several lineups of supporting musicians ranging from three-piece to five-piece as they played gigs with the French Kicks, Sleater-Kinney, and Spoon. A series of early appearances throughout NYC resulted in them being discovered by British underground label Rough Trade, which they signed up with in 2002 on the basis of their demo. By the time they signed to Rough Trade, their debut, Gallowsbird's Bark was completed and the Fiery Furnaces were already at work on the follow-up. Released in the fall of 2003, Gallowsbird's Bark garnered critical praise for its clever wordplay and original songwriting. A show at the Astoria in London on August 14, 2003 supporting Sleater-Kinney is considered to be the band's first proper concert afetr being signed with Rough Trade. The band gained more momentum the following year, when praise for the debut album dovetailed with the release of the group's even more diverse and challenging sophomore album, Blueberry Boat, that summer. The Fiery Furnaces spent much of 2004 touring with Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Franz Ferdinand, and the Shins, but already had plans for their third and fourth albums, including an album of duets with their grandmother and a set of beatnik-inspired songs. Early in 2005, the group released the simply-titled EP, a mini-album gathering most of their B-sides along with a few new songs. The "grandmother" album, titled Rehearsing My Choir and recorded with their 80-year old grandmother Olga Sarantos, was released in late 2005 and was met with mixed reviews - some called it a marvellous concept gem, others simply dubbed it a "senseless mess". April 2006 saw the release of the Fiery Furnaces' fourth studio album proper, a collection of "love songs to dance to" according to Matt, titled Bitter Tea, which Matt described as "sissy psychedelic satanism". The album was supposed to be released at the same time as Rehearsing My Choir, however, financial issues prevented Rough Trade, the band's label, from doing so. The label's US parent, Sanctuary, was forced to licence the US release of Bitter Tea to Fat Possum.
South is Only a Home I'm Gonna Run Leaky Tunnel Up in the North Inca Rag/Name Game Asthma Attack Don't Dance Her Down Crystal Clear Two Fat Feet Bow Wow Gale Blow Worry Worry Bright Blue Tie Tropical Iceland Rub Alcohol Blues We Got Back the Plague
Quay Cur Straight Street Blueberry Boat Chris Michaels Paw Paw Tree I Lost My Dog Mason City Inspector Blancheflower Spaniolated 1917 Bird Brain Catamaran Man Wolf notes
Single Again Here Comes The Summer Evergreen Sing For Me Tropical Iceland Duffer St. George Smelling Cigarettes Cousin Chris Sweet Spots Sullivan's Social Slub
The Garfield El The Wayward Granddaughter Candymakers Knife in My Handbag We Wrote Letters Everyday 4823 22nd St Guns Under the Counter Seven Silver Curses Though Let's Be Fair Slavin' Away Rehearsing My Choir Does It Remind You of When
In My Little Thatched Hut I'm in No Mood Black-hearted Boy Bitter Tea Teach Me Sweetheart Waiting to Know You The Vietnamese Telephone Ministry Oh Sweet Woods Borneo Police Sweater Blood Vow Nevers Benton Harbor Blues Whistle Rhapsody Nevers (Reprise) Benton Harbor Blues (Reprise)
I'm Going Away Drive To Dallas The End Is Near Charmaine Champagne Cut The Cake Even In The Rain Staring At The Steeple Ray Bouvier Keep Me In The Dark Lost At Sea Cups & Punches Take Me Round Again
Down At The So And So On Somewhere I'm Leaving Norwegian Wood One more time Winter
Gallowsbird's Bark
South Is Only a Home Can I feel useless and low? Could I hide a chain of gold from your eyes? Sandy thinks he knows the trade All the games and the plays And the ways I make Do you believe in the first way to lend a hand? It's a second chance you never planned Just a close encounter that comes to mind A rummage sale you barely find And it's sold You better believe it's freezing cold When it's sold You better believe it's freezing cold Oh Whitehall Whitehall women rejoice Tell us we're the ones with the most And hear the sounds of our voices We've been waiting for our host Brixton bunnies come in We can see the state you're in Nothing like a smiling face Oh what a waste you've been Clapham clown stop your frowning Let it go you're not alone The river may keep you drowning But south is only a home South is only a home
I'm Gonna Run I slit my wrist with my swing line Copied myself five hundred times I pierced my ears with a three-hole punch Ate twelve dozen doughnuts for lunch So next week I'm a walk Next week I'm a walk And the week after that I'm gonna run I swam in an Olympic-sized pool Had a picnic with a ventriloquist Saw my brother coming up the hill He wrapped a beach towel 'round my wrist So next week I'm a walk Next week I'm a walk And the week after that I'm gonna run I dumped Surel for an older man Now I'm doing it for Dante Gimme some of that nasty water I'll take it one sip at a time So next week I'm a walk Next week I'm a walk And the week after that I'm gonna run So next week I'ma walk Next week I'ma walk And the week after that I'm gonna run On one of those things It's something like a treadmill I think So next week I'm a walk Next week I'm a walk And the week after that I'm gonna run
Leaky Tunnel
I pulled my kerchief out of my pocket Wiped my nose and said hello I bought a tambourine at the millennium dome It jangled two thousand times in a row I caught a cold when I was way down south Standing out in the heat Now my eyes are all itchy And I can't tell which way to walk down the street I'm stumbling through the crosswalk And I'm humming in the din And when I get to the other side I'm gonna jangle my tambourine again I fished my microphone out of Regent's Canal Heading from Little Venice to Greenwich Dirty boy said let's make in love in the water I said, No thanks, pal. Went on dictating in my mic I got no time for a dip cause I'm heading for my ship I'm going down to the tunnel Down to the leaky leaky tunnel
Up in the North Wearing my scarf and my hat And I squint and I sniff as I went around Walked up the road through the woods By the pines, by the lake as I heard the sound Maria Anna Gamisou Daughter of a dire in Oulu Sang me a song or two And I wrote them down Up in the north, in the cold In the ice, in the snow She would cry and cry There she would moan She would whine And the tears would pour down And she would never Angela Exema Milou Servant girl in Turku And I wrote them down Down in the south, in the heat In the sweat, in the rain She would cry and cry There she would moan, she would whine And the tears would pour down And she would never Melissa Jarmon Dupres-oo! Sitting on a bench in Anjou Sang me a song or two And I wrote them down Elias Doxia Didou Son of a bitch back in Turku Sang me a song or two And I wrote them down
Inca Rag/Name Game In the cracker barrel dumpster I found a bag Red white striped I opened it--gag Mummy day pizarro dressed in a Inca rag Call on in to work quick Tell 'em that I'm seasick Uncle Ricky's schooner's docked Pompano Beach Weigh anchor and me and him each Need some extra sunblock, do it for 'em he can't reach San Juan by next Sunday Mummy mummy mummy Walking through the market, stop buy some rum and coke Plantains please, my mummy man spoke But you have to pay 'cause you know dude I'm broke Sitting outside the sunset, are we in Cadiz yet Over to Majorca for few audience fit Juan Carlos, his throne he go sit Throw the mummy in the dungeon bottomless pit Appealing in the Hague say Mummy mummy mummy I was listening to a classic VH when I pulled an H. Singh Drank myself into a stupor, ears started to ring And I'll go finally Al's and type my brain away With Pebbles and Ives we'll meet Madonna, Ladonna, Shadonna And my brother with the very best name of all And we'll go to finally Al's and type our brains away Let's play bacci and horseshoes and croquet But no, not cricket, 'cause I can't say their names And I'll go to finally Al's and type my brains away Penguin, Moe, Sal, Chris Penguin, Moe, Sal, Chris
Asthma Attack I would I had a asthma attack If I seen the shark bite back I would I had a asthma attack If I seen the shark bite back Yeah it's paradise island I know Yeah yeah yeah I been there before Once, twice, three times maybe Once with my moms and twice with my baby I shook my silver bracelet at a thousand sharks They like the shimmer-glimmer but said No never, no never swim in the dark Once twice, three times maybe Once with my moms and twice with my baby I would I had a asthma attack If I seen the shark bite back I would I had a asthma attack If I seen the shark bite back Yeah yeah it's just a figure of speech A python ate my babe when he hit the beach Once twice, three times maybe Once with my moms and twice with my baby I shook my silver bracelet at a thousand sharks They like the shimmer-glimmer but said No never, no never swim in the dark Once twice, three times maybe Once with my moms and twice with my baby
Don't Dance Her Down Don't dance her down boys Don't dance her down Don't dance her down boys Her man's in town I played cards in England I threw dice in Spain I'm going back to England To play cards again Don't dance her down boys Don't dance her down Don't dance her down boys Her man's in town My mom told me A long time ago To quit all my rowdy ways And drink no more Don't dance her down boys Don't dance her down Don't dance her down boys Her man's in town
Crystal Clear At Four o'Clock Just after work I got my check I held my breath The phone wrings tell them I ain't never here The over under Made a blunder I gave my cell phone To my cousin He plays the threats I get to his friends at school I board the dog At Uncle Nicky's I put my hood up I have to run out You welched the bet I'm soaking wet too close to an OTB I took a train Got off at Trenton Bought a ticket A bus to Vinton Won't stop sweating till I get to Davenport On the bridge On the bus Bye bye Moline Look at the water Filthy dirty cloudy muddy messy mucky crystal clear I got my palm read For seven fifty She looked me over I bought crystal Filthy dirty cloudy muddy messy mucky crystal clear Filthy dirty cloudy muddy messy mucky crystal clear
Two Fat Feet Slip me out of my northern noose My easter egg My western wheel And a snouthern snake I've got a busted breast and a jiggly thigh A rumpled roast and a raggedy eye A floppy neck and two fat feet Sneaky cheeks chewin' greasy gums You got a wing in your snaggle tooth And you can't knock it back with no eighty proof You got a wing in your snaggle tooth And you can't knock it back with no eighty proof You got a wing in your snaggle tooth And you can't knock it back with no eighty proof Oh you got a wing in your snaggle tooth And you can't knock it back with no eighty proof
Bow Wow Down in the dumps Me and the seagulls we were looking for lumps They all get scared when off of one of the bumps: jumps I have to clutch I have to tell him his commands all in Dutch He likes his treat but he don't like to touch much I forget to fix his card Down on Richmond Boulevard Running through the yard keenly High on the hills They laid the sod thought they were full of the fills Now when we're searching I swear all of the kills stills Wrinkling his brow He takes a sniff and drags me over there now He looks all worried then he tells me a bow wow I forget to fix his card Down on Richmond Boulevard Running through the yard keenly Shade by the sheds I drink a coke he digs a hole and he heads Back where they came, where the trucks leave their treads, speds Over the sift He goes all round it past the end of his shift I make him leave he lets me know he feels miffed: stiffed I forget to fix my card Down on Richmond Boulevard Stumbling through the yard sleepy
Gale Blow Gale, gale blow Gale, gale blow Oh my umbrella Can't, can't take it you know Been caught in a hail storm A blizzard tornado's nose Oh but nothing, no nothing Can beat this gale blow Worry Worry Never let one man worry your little mind Don't you never let one man worry your little mind He'll keep you troubled troubled worried yeah Worried all the time He'll keep you troubled worried yeah Worried all the time Don't you wish your little boy was cute like mine Well don't you wish your little boy was cute like mine He's a married man but he comes to see me sometime He's a married married man but he comes to see me sometime Never let one man worry your little mind Don't you never let one man worry your little mind He'll keep you troubled troubled worried yeah Worried all the time He'll keep you troubled worried yeah Worried all the time Don't you wish your little boy was cute like mine But don't you wish your little boy was cute like mine He's a married man but he comes to see me sometime He's a married married man but he comes to see me sometime Never let one man worry your little mind Don't you never let one man worry your little mind He'll keep you troubled troubled worried yeah Worried all the time He'll keep you troubled worried yeah Worried all the time Don't you wish your little boy was cute like mine Now don't you wish your little boy was cute like mine He's a married man but he comes to see me sometime He's a married married man but he comes to see me sometime
Bright Blue Tie On my first day in town we saw the king He was dressed in a suit with a bright blue tie And it matched his eyes And when ours met I sighed Took a boat or a ferry to an island There were gardens and trees and balloons in the sky And we knew it was right It wasn't only the light Rode our bikes up and down the streets so wide Don't lock 'em up no they'll be just fine And I said Oh my, my I can't believe it! I cried This must be paradise But it's not, no, no, no, no But it's sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, oh Sweden Had a breakfast of cheese, yogurt too All this fat but you're so skinny to boot I said it's in my genes Yeah we're so skinny we're mean Took the train everyday from your suburb yeah right Only ten minutes and we're south centre tonight And we don't have to pay We sneak in free everyday Schnapps on the house at the bars you like Your friends stand in line and practise English all night And I like them, they're nice All so blonde and precise This must be paradise Oh it's not, no, no, no, no But it's sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, oh Sweden
Tropical Ice-Land Goat's head in the deli case Oh sweet angel-angel-bearded face Papier maché parade on at night That's what you do with no sunlight In the tropical tropical Tropical ice-land Tropical tropical Tropical Ice Ice Bleak church on a cold tundra Mountain-glacier-glacier-glacier-stream Black stone beach and a black death bottle Is all me and my baby'll need In the tropical tropical Tropical ice-land Tropical tropical Tropical Ice Ice Take intermission at the movies Freeze outside for one quick smoke Take a klondike bar from the pop machine Hey it's ice cream, no not coke In the tropical tropical Tropical ice-land Tropical tropical Tropical Ice Ice Let's meet in Kristiana next summer Let's get out before we melt away I've seen enough stray ponies and puffins To get me through till the end of May In the tropical tropical Tropical ice-land Tropical tropical Tropical Ice Ice Rub-Alcohol Blues Troubles up and down the road And trials all the way around Never knew what trouble was Till my honey threw me down With nothing but old ragged clothes My heartstrings broken to shreds Blues creeping over my body Queer notions flying in my head The easiest thing I ever done Was loving and drinking wine The hardest thing I ever done Was paying off a judge's fine No I've never worked for pleasure Peace on earth I cannot find The only thing I surely own Is a worried and troubled mind If men and wine don't kill me There's one more plan to find Oh soak up all the old rub alcohol Ease all trouble off my mind Oh ease all trouble off my mind My mind, my mind
We Got Back The Plague That easy going man of blood Mucking about in the McLennan County mud If you're hoping he won't, well course then he must Driving his truck through the McLennan County dust I read in my book on Sunday afternoon So it's easy to think the end's coming soon But though sometimes the signs from heaven are vague Early November we got back the plague While beautiful Laura's sweeping the porch He's teleconferencing up his operation torch And I don't care if he bombs Babylon to hell Except for he's building Babylon here as well I read in my book on Sunday afternoon So it's easy to think the end's coming soon But though sometimes the signs from heaven are vague Early November we got back the plague Waking up in Cedar Rapids looking for allies Praising his leaches and looking for likewise Down in St. Charles local talent he hawks Smirking and sowing the wind as he talks I read in my book on Sunday afternoon So it's easy to think the end's coming soon But though sometimes the signs from heaven are vague Early November we got back the plague In Northern Virginia on their excursions L.U.V. in with all their diversions Horns for hounds & spurs for horses Release the committed Seventy-Two hour task forces I read in my book on Sunday afternoon So it's easy to think the end's coming soon But though sometimes the signs from heaven are vague Early November we got back the plague Bentonville and Dalas with gasoline douse Then back to Crawford going over to the firehouse Behind the curtains not turning much of a trick Sicking ourselves to make ourselves sick I read in my book on Sunday afternoon So it's easy to think the end's coming soon But though sometimes the signs from heaven are vague Early November we got back the plague That easy going man of blood Mucking out in the McLelland County mud If you're hoping he won't well course then he must Digging us down under the McLellan County dust Blueberry Boat Quay Cur I had a locket A little silver charm Given to me so to keep me out of harm Canvasing the quay side trying to earn my keep A killick tore it off my neck and threw it in the deep And now I'll never, never, never feel like I am safe again And now I'll never, never, never feel like I am safe again And now I'll never, never, never feel like I am safe again Up to the quarantine, late night aboard Try to raise our fees but we get what they afford Busy work below deck according to form Waiting for the clear to leave but then comes up a storm We hid beneath the barrels of blubber hoping that the rain had passed But when the wind kept up the rats cut down the rigging off the mast And then the rust chewed through the anchor chain and out to sea we're cast The clouds dried and cracked It was calm and in fact The ship had been towed By sea Dyaks towed So we're sold Kolaba And sent, I let out a sob A cry oh no it's disaster T-Ranter Bay Madagascar. Great gulps of Greek fire get us in Sling sticks at the stockade Fort Dauphin A guardsman gave a griffin said grease my duke Down by the chimney and out through the fluke A looby, a lordant, a lagerhead, lozel A lungio lathback made me a proposal Straight sail, top mast, astrolabe prospected Down in his dry dock erected infected Mocked up with silk strings and taffeta tricked With nails out of driftwood already iron sicked Now spy out the glass at whatever missteps me Aand the press gang warrant's signed Sir Edward Pepsi Course it wasn't long till I caught the croup Dawding on the drizzy deck of my majesty's sloop If only the helmsman would turn from his whip staff With my azimuth compass I'd go by the hectograph Up to the whaling fleet in Gilbert sound Then back in the hull when we come around With one hundred seals and two polar bears Nearly in the harbor without any cares But then A looby, a lordant, a lagerhead, lozel A lungio lathback made me a proposal Straight sail, top mast, astrolabe prospected Down in his dry dock erected infected Mocked up with silk strings and taffeta tricked With nails out of driftwood already iron sicked Now spy out the glass at whatever missteps me And the press gang warrant's signed Sir Edward Pepsi
And now we live by muskles, water weeds with small relief in store And all the sick men in the Galean were then put upon the shore And on the twenty second we didn't see our general any more. Down came our trestle-trees, no pitch tar or nails Fore shrouds break no rope we trust Only shift of sails Drink my Rosa Solis, struck suddenly ahull Yield ourselves we spoomed, my sinews stiff My eyes were dull
And as we pass the equinoctial only five of us could stand And while the capsten without sheets or tacks by all of us was manned And on the eleventh day of June ran in at Barehaven to land
And now I'll never, never, never feel like I am safe again And now I'll never, never, never feel like I am safe again And now I'll never, never, never feel like I am safe again
Straight Street Tea time at Damascus computer cafe, I'm looking busy and staring off the other way Leverkusen, Juventus; Leeds vs. Valencia I'm over-hearing all their nonsense in extensia They're talking too tough for me to inspect So I have a smell who seems the best to connect I pick my clique and set to go to work But the only thing they care about is to whom to play the Turk So I walked up the length Of the street they call Straight Cursing myself 'Cause I got there too late I traded an expired credit card for two cupfulls of water They had a dirty beany baby so for good luck I bought her I rented a Hyundai with two flats and no windshield No speedometer and a handbrake that squealed When the sun came up I couldn't put down the visor So I put on my hat and a question to my local advisor Whose trucks are those that parked up by the town But he only would mumble with his eyes pointed down So I walked up the length Of the street they call Straight Cursing myself 'Cause I got there too late My boss the head of sales for Western Asia Said you'll get fired if your opposite from Nokia plays ya If he beats you for the battle of hearts and minds Tells 'em we use pig by-products in our designs So when I saw my rival's smile didn't get diminished No one had to tell me I knew that we were Finnished You boys from Ericsson better get in the back seat 'Cause your phones are getting stoned over on that straight street So I walked up the length Of the street they call Straight Cursing myself 'Cause I got there too late So I went to Georgia looking at spas and convents Tried to make myself the broker for selling off the contents. At the big change clinic my friends said don't be a cynic You should work in Baku this is watcha gotta do. Call a contact in Texas talk to 'em in their Lexus On their hands-free device and don't be too nice. But in my teleconference with Houston They told me I wasn't any use to 'em. So I walked up the length Of the street they call Straight Cursing myself 'Cause I got there too late Tea time at Damascus computer cafe I'm looking busy and staring off the other way Arsenal, Inter; Madrid vs. Valencia I'm over-hearing all their nonsense in extensia They're talking too tough for me to inspect So I have a smell who seems the best to connect I pick my clique and set to go to work But the only thing they care about is to whom to play the Turk So I walked up the length Of the street they call Straight Cursing myself 'Cause I got there too late
Blueberry Boat
Pontoon put-put with the tape on ten Dixie cup pink wine in the Labor Day sunshine I'm sliding the sunfish up through the wakes Coming up too quick, making mistakes Quiet climb the chrome ladder in the front While they're all yawning, under the awning Astro turf green hot to the touch Sneak open the cooler, they've got too much Past Taipei, through the Taiwan straits We sailed on in, me and my mates It was my first time running my own ship But my buddies didn't care they didn't give me no lip So many times we've been side by side But I never carried a load with so much pride You see I'm from Grand Rapids and up my way We grow the best blueberries in the U.S. of A. And when we pull into old H.K. The little markets'll have something special next day At dawn I had a scotch and made them switch off the porn 'Cause there's nothing that's dirty about the ocean in the morn The radar said nothing and nothing crossed my mind When they came starboard side up from behind Down below deck sip the south island sec Think when last put in port, I was sorting the sort And then a girl caught my eye, as she was waving goodbye Tell me my dear, I said warm and sincere, who do you know on the ship And then she curled up her lip I don't know no one there yet, but just wait, see what you get Pop the top and drink your drop we'll never go home Curse and cry and why oh why we'll never go home We'll never go home The radar said nothing and nothing crossed my mind When they came starboard side up from behind I never saw them coming even though it was light They beat two of my men simply out of spite And then they came back to the helm, kicked me over and said Do what we say or we'll kill you and your men I looked back at those pirates with their beady little eyes I gathered my courage and I could see their surprise When I said, Go ahead you could cut my throat But you ain't never getting the cargo of my blueberry boat It's sad and it's cold at the bottom of the sea But at least I got my blueberries with me
Chris Michaels
Later at lunch with the taco lettuce crunch crunch She sets herself apart the bunch How bad does she seem She makes me wanna scream On the phone with the West Glen Ellen rest home Talking up a tattle tome How bad does she seem She makes me wanna scream My mom is gonna babysit tonight Did you hear Melinda got into a fight You whore you bitch, she said, well then it serves her right Talking all mad you know she really isn't being sad Her baby daddy's name is Tad How bad does she seem She makes me wanna scream Well yesterday you know she didn't none of that to say She queen-bee turned and walked away How bad does she seem She makes me wanna scream Then boyfriend calls her up on the other line She tells him sweetie sweetie sweetie mine but he spaces out and thinks to himself all the time My baby's got a stick stuck out her beak My baby takes a drink out of the leak My baby's got a blue-green sweater And a nest down by the creek Plume bloom bloom blaby bloom Cheep cheep beep bee-bee beep Where did you for lunchtime go Did Kevin and Jenny show Do you wanna go out tonight No Plume bloom bloom blaby bloom Cheep cheep beep bee-bee beep Remember that girl down the end She was my friend But just now she's angry came up And said You're so so stup' It's all disrup' You're blah blah, this this ,that so now sh'up You messed it up. Remember that girlfriend of Al's Well we were pals Today she was angry came up And said You're so so stup' It's all disrup' You're blah blah this this that so now sh'up You messed me up Then Tony of the Franklin Park hockey club Went to Gunzo's and bought a goalie glove. Jessica was ‘posed to meet him back on Mannheim Kitchen back door by all the grease and grime Was a little bird at my window Said that he's been messing round He's working up the courage so to leave you He's getting ready to say he doesn't love you Well Tony took it all in stride Said don't be silly but wondered who had spied Jessica was driving down Wolf Road Roll up the windows, baby, talk in code I'm the little bird at your back door Said your true love's let you down I'm the little bird through your chimney Said he's been running round He's working up the courage so to leave you He's getting ready to say he don't love you Then she bumped into purses stole a credit card Writing Chris Michaels, no it wasn't hard Number five terminal with a yogurt cup Reading a young miss as she slurps it up Nasty message when he don't pick up Layover Aden watch the local news 99 and humid, oh the Red Sea blues Landing at Delhi take a third class train Umbrella vendor in the autumn rain Then the cops come by and ask your name With his chillum and chillum-chee The cazee sentences me So now go where you're supposed to be And give up your Devi Desi I's paraded on through the choke When my leg irons broke And my bicycle wheel spoke The Bombay army's no joke On the top of an Aracan Dam Started our picnic then Bam My Devi ‘n me had to scram Quick down to Madras a'lamb Thought as a tindal that I could blend As I got to pretend From laziness, the gang defend pick up your pick axe and rend Fasten your seatbelt and take hold of my arm That's what she said before setting off my alarm Baby gotta go baby gotta go I know She's gonna go I know She's gonna go Down in Columbo girl whatever you want But the surf and cobras, tigers all taunt Baby gotta go baby gotta go I know She's gonna go I know She's gonna go
Paw Paw Tree At last when the choice was neither/nor Bottom of the bay we're set ashore Went into town beg what we lack Two hundred stripes on horseback Wearing my yellow coat Rope tied around my throat Great green wax candle unlit Silence! And then the sentence spit I'm sitting up in my paw paw tree Wait they make mango mush out of me Pick axe I can't stay Silver mines all day Cut down the weedwood And think that I just could I'm sitting up in my paw paw tree Wait they make mango mush out of me Tied down with brown twine Up past the tree line Up by I hope where The King of Spain don't care I'm sitting up in my paw paw tree Wait they make mango mush out of me
My Dog Was Lost But Now He's Found
I kicked my dog I was mean to him before I guess that's why he walked out my door I really wish I could see him some more I looked under the mats and I asked all the cats I went to the vet have you heard anything yet My dog was lost but now he's found My dog was lost but now he's found I went to the bar and they said not so far I went to the gym have you taken a walk with him My dog was lost but now he's found My dog was lost but now he's found I went to the run but they were having too much fun I put up a flyer and gossiped the town cryer My dog was lost but now he's found My dog was lost but now he's found I stood on the corner and called up the coroner I emailed the station and told ‘em my location My dog was lost but now he's found My dog was lost but now he's found I went to the DQ cause I thought I might see you I went to the Super K have you seen any recent stray My dog was lost but now he's found My dog was lost but now he's found I went down to the market where tied up you used to bark at Went where you got adopted felt so bad I nearly dropped dead My dog was lost but now he's found My dog was lost but now he's found I put a mortgage on my lease and went to the police I bribed my way on the system cause I really, really missed him My dog was lost but now he's found My dog was lost but now he's found I finally went to ground gave some pence to the pound I finally went to ground gave some pence to the pound My dog was lost but now he's found My dog was lost but now he's found I went to the church that Wednesday night The guest preacher said I bark but I don't bite I saw my dog, but he'd seen the light My dog was lost but now he's found
Mason City Came a card marked Mason City From my forwarder Shut the door, don't let my dad see Read aloud, Dear sir Understanding you account an upright gentlemen Aetna Life agreed and lent By the way, my fee is two point six percent Write again the Riceville widow S-A-S-E I would guess they'll be turned out though I'll still make my plea If the Dunlay heirs cannot be seen to care Then the Banker's Trust will surely think it fair To not give extensions, as they musn't dare Write Des Moines on several matters And I near anoint Ladle thick the pleasant flatters And then comes the point Mr. Nelson wouldn't like to hear it said As he's too proud, so I do it in his stead He shall need an extension, so it read Take the Oregon Short Line to Salt Lake Take the Pere Marquette, take the Michigan Central To West Madison for Christ's sake Forgemen, Molders, Blacksmiths, Boilermakers None on the make Up for shade on Crumb Hill Get something to make my hands still But now, wait How are you my nabs Little tender footed crabs Meet my knuckle duster You geeched that gazoon's gow Tried to break into the bow Go wipe your nose I'm just hanging out with some noler knockums Just passing time waiting till my stack comes Prussian who got jackered My snapper till your knockered Get on the snam The chivman wants your chip Better dummy up then go dip You're out of turn I learned that the lowest form of life is the buffer nabber Even worse than the dicer stabber
Chief Inspector Blancheflower
I wanted to be a typewriter mender when I grew up But things didn't work out so, sleep Late in the morning, climb up Mt. Olympia and replace a Return But I didn't get enough good grades My uncle Peter had the Parthenon Business Machine Remediation outfit And right there, on the shop floor Hundreds of electric-selectrics, all messed up But I didn't get enough good grades I had a dexadrine hyperactivity selective Attend to relevant Information tempo taken in told to Mechanism coping concept Put my head down crumple my paper Sent to look at the future-job folder-binders I got distracted by the graphs In the resource room Mrs. Petorsky re-enforced me Raisins from her zip-lock bag And free time after my target behavior I was positive about Tickets, tangibles, chips and stars Now playing I'm In My Own Little House Tickets, tangibles, chips and stars I had a dexadrine hyperactivity selective Attend to relevant Information tempo taken in told to Mechanism coping concept Put my head down crumple my paper After school I was sitting in the sitting room Looking out at the pavers in their bright orange vests Holding up the slow-go diamond plastic piece of wood And I knew that I'd never be any good And never wear a hard-hat and do things like that So I joined the police force Damp in Dumbarton dip about the fourteen of May The publican dropped me a line thought there had been foul play The farmer up the hill came in with his knife He mumbled something darkly about his young wife Riding up on the postcoach I thrummed on my notebook The wind was up, I held on my hat. I do up my coat, look The farmer stumbled past holding his gun He mumbled something darkly about his young son About your wife, sir What about her Pray, where is she Nowhere you'll see Locked him up in the store room of Mrs. McVeigh's Inn Take tea up in the manor Sir Robert Grayson The farmer through the window came in with his sword He mumbled out of breath, forgive me my Lord And after that rustic imposition I took a deposition I shared a Woodpecker cider with a local fratricider Who told me all this stuff and more Well I rode up to Springfield on my motorcycle And I's gonna stay with my younger brother Michael Mom's oxycontoins and the Amstel Light But I noticed I was doing most of the talking that night So I got both remotes and turned off the DVD And said Michael is there something that you need to say to me Well I don't know how to tell you You can tell me anything that you want ‘cept I started seeing Jenny I started seeing Jenny My Jenny And he looked down at the floor You know damn well she ain't your Jenny no more And I said, Get her on the phone Don't you think it's a little late No, I don't think it's a little late But I went out the room cause I knew I'd better wait So I went down to her dad's bakery and she said I'm gonna go outside take a break smoke a cigarette I'm still surprised at how mad you get Well what'd you expect That you wouldn't try to wreck your little brother's happiness And I said, Listen to you I know what you're trying to do And what whould that be Mess with Michael's head as some kind of revenge back at me So I drove up to Springfield in my wife's new car And went and had a drink at my buddy's old bar Spaniolated I was eighteen years old, just a research volunteer I walked home from the TCBY each night with no fear One particular starry eleven o'clock, I went down by the water An old man with a burlap bag said, How you doin' my daughter He put me the hole of his old rusty crawler And fed me three pills a day to keep me from getting taller Learned me the rosary and made me pray to Santiago I wish I wish I was back in Chicago Up the river to Seville I was rowing and strumming On my portable guitar my fair lady a humming The pain, the pain, in Spain falls mainly on me The pain, the pain, in Spain falls mainly on me
1917 Going down Morgan with Janko, Jerko, and Jerry We downed our Pils, and over at the South Shore, they sipped their sherry I opened my Kaiserized speller to learn what they know Nurse killers, annexers-executioners, waouh! Hey Slavonians, be ye mindful That our ‘tis tongue dies never The happy Hun Felsch sure likes his blond beer And I like his doubles so much I might even cheer Last year he had enough and got fixed on the cardinal Who'd pardon all The riff-raff and all their sinister ways and halfs and he laughs Over on fifty-sixth, and he's got the arsenic on his left White Sock And he sees the chicken stock in a big black pot And he pours in the lot, but what ruined or saved the day Was that the soup then turned gray, and a hundred higher-ups came Back safe from the hospital to keep getting wafers from Mundelein But now the Gigantics are getting the tar taken out of their pine By my hero Red Faber and I'm ready to get rapprochement with my neighbor As part of the healthy back and forth But not if he's from up north. So I ask Dad, Why can't we ever win, ever win, once Go ask Dad, why you can't ever win, ever win, once Birdie Brain I hate the steam train that whistles woozy my bird brain That sends my spaniel insane And I'll stop riding sidesaddle if they don't stop the clickity clattle I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my wedding gown I've been told the Bronx River stream on moonlit nights is meant To seem like the Rhone in a glacier icy dream but then in a poof t's sulfur steam I hate the aeroplane that nearly misses my birdie brain That terrifies my terrier insane And I'll stop riding sidesaddle if they don't stop the clickity clattle I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my wedding gown I was drinking by the Des Plaines River when the naught of night Served for making me shiver and me the squirrels would hold hands And quiver cause that damnable diesel never fails to deliver I hate the livery cars that have my bird brain seeing stars That drive my Doberman to drink in bars And I'll stop riding side saddle if they don't stop the clickity clattle I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my wedding gown I hate the steam train that whistles woozy my bird brain That sends my spaniel insane And I'll stop riding side saddle if they don't stop the clickity clattle I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my dressing gown
Turning Round Catamaran Man You're my cousin You're my blood You're ten feet tall And tan from the sun After sailing all day You sleep in your car Throw the cushions on the floor And listen to the sweet sweet dub Roll a fag just for fun And dream of the waves And your sails turning round
Wolf Notes Pick up your trumpet Your plastic pretend trumpet Blow me your horn today Pick up your tambourine Your Fisher Price my first tambourine Jingle and jangle today Plug in your keyboard Your symphonic sound samba Samsung Pick out a tune today Turn off your radio Shut away your stereo Put away your disc-man And play me a tune today I rub the peg-paste and the chalk in Scrape and the wolf-notes start to grrr I did a donkey's back with fixed frog And I martellato the slur Through an open wound you watch the guts go Cut cross the cat line, thick and thin All overspun and resigned-up a slow stick trills me, trills me She varnished all around her F-holes Blue tape take aim, but the arms are too low Legato look and sawing detache But you want to bust your bow Bow down and wipe off, snap the case closed Madame Professor says "Well done" But an electric stroboscopic frequency meter'd say otherwise I scratch harmonicas in half-position I pinch my e-string rat-a-tat I double stop on any open string Screw my G on up to B-flat EP Single Again I married a man, oh then I married a man, oh then I married a man He was the plague of my life Oh and I wish I was single again I wish I was single again 'Cause when I was single my pockets did jingle And I wish I was single again And then he beat me he banged me, oh then He beat me he banged me, oh then He beat me he banged me He swore he would hang me And I wish I was single again He went for the rope, oh then He went for the rope, oh then He went for the rope And I think think I was broke And then I wish I was single again I wish I was single again 'Cause when I was single my pockets did jingle And I wish I was single again And then my husband he died, oh then My husband he died, oh then My husband he died And I laughed 'til I cried Oh, to think I was single again I married another, oh then I married another, oh then I married another He's the devils grandfather Oh, I wish I was single again I wish I was single again 'Cause when I was single my pockets did jingle And I wish I was single again And then he beat me he banged me, oh then He beat me he banged me, oh then He beat me he banged me He swore he would hang me And I wish I was single again Here Comes the Summer Last day in May the afternoon Remember Black marks of charcoal from the dune Remember I thought it wouldn't be too soon We'll wait at least until it's June The twenty-ninth of March it rained Remember You'd look so sad that I explain Remember You knew it wouldn't be too soon We'll have to wait until it's June I've been waiting since I don't know when And now it finally seems about to start I swear I swear that I will do my part December dark at six o'clock Remember The freezing wind gives you a shock Remember You knew it wouldn't be too soon We'll have to wait until it's June October damp on down the street Remember The sodden leaves stuck to your feet Remember You knew it wouldn't be too soon We'll have to wait until it's June I've been waiting since I don't know when And now it finally seems about to start I swear I swear that I will do my part July the third we stayed up late Remember And thought how long we'd have to wait Remember It'll be so long until it's soon It'll be so long until it's June
Evergreen I was wielding my axe Drank whiskey at the bar Every night coming home Out the windshield of my car I would look through my boughs And think I saw my lucky star I was spreading my sheets Took dinner all alone Every night of the week Awaiting for the phone And I'd dab off my tears With my favourite pinecone Needle prick my spruce root Dear little hemlock shoot Make me stay sharp and keen, evergreen I would tend to my bees Sell honey on the road Every fall in the wet Watching lorries take their load And I'd get all my winnings Ask for special sap in code In August for three weeks I'm back in the village where I clip All sorts of brambles and thorns From up the hill I pip In a little clay cup I cross myself and sip Needle prick my spruce root Dear little hemlock shoot Make me stay sharp and keen, evergreen I was casting my line Angling way the day The stream was swift it was clear But the light was getting grey I bent down by the thistle And thought of what it was I'd say Needle prick my spruce root Dear little hemlock shoot Make me stay sharp and keen, evergreen Sing For Me Sing for me, my daughter, sing for me When I'm away you'll be the siren that will finally lead me home The girl around her father throws her arms to make him stay "My daddy dear it hails, it blows; you cannot go today!" Sing for me, my daughter, sing for me When I'm away you'll be the siren that will finally lead me home The April mud was on his boots, a' clinging through the fields And desperate it send up its shoots-but at water's edge it yields Sing for me, my daughter, sing for me When I'm away you'll be the siren that will finally lead me home The waves were pounding the dock, the pillars creak and growl The shoreman loading up the stock, the gulls were crying foul Sing for me, my daughter, sing for me When I'm away you'll be the siren that will finally lead me home The father called up to the ship, "You need an extra hand?" "Ah yes, for just a little trip: one month be back at land," The rain had stirred the sea too well; the salt poured on the deck At last the captain rang the bell: they ship was left to wreck Sing for me, my daughter, sing for me When I'm away you'll be the siren that will finally lead me home It's calm but now the fog if thick: so which way should they head The rest knew not and they must be quick-so father softly said Sing for me, my daughter, sing for me When I'm away you'll be the siren that will finally lead me home
Tropical Ice-Land Goat's head in the deli case Oh sweet angel angel bearded face Papier maché parade on at night That's what you're doing with no sunlight In the tropical tropical Tropical ice-land Tropical tropical Tropical Icy Icy Bleak church on a cold tundra Mountain-glacier-glacier-glacier-stream Black stone beach and a black death bottle Is all me and my baby'll need In the tropical tropical Tropical ice-land Tropical tropical Tropical Icy Icy Take intermission at the movies Freeze outside for one quick smoke Take a klondike bar from the pop machine Hey it's ice cream, no not coke In the tropical tropical Tropical ice-land Tropical tropical Tropical Icy Icy Let's meet in Kristiana next summer Let's get out before we melt away I've seen enough stray ponies and puffins To get me through till the end of May In the tropical tropical Tropical ice-land Tropical tropical Tropical Icy Icy And if you ever need some hash or weed (backward) You won't be gettin' it here Just take a boat across the bumpy sea Go to Denmark, man, oh it's so near (backward) In the tropical tropical Tropical ice-land Tropical tropical Tropical Icy Icy
Duffer St. George In the back of a mini cab Me and Georgie and Nigel and Sadie "Can I use your mobile Can I use your mobile, Sadie?" On our way to Shoreditch Off to Fabric in Shoreditch Duffer St. George and I don't care Duffer St. George and I don't care On a Spitalfields Sunday Get a two pound curry and roll ups Get a 12p bagel and a camouflage T-shirt and bracelets "Let me check the stalls first" Nige wants a pint first Duffer St. George and I don't care Duffer St. George and I don't care Smelling Cigarettes Very much vodka and too much tequila Those are the ways I learned to deal Across against the light And the sleet scalds my sight Stunned I stayed put and a billboard truck runs over my foot So things are really hopping And my unemployment's stopping And my kitty cat's copping And I need to forget So I go to the window and smell a cigarette Now I'm in the clutches of my crutches I'm laid up, and I sip from my cup And I look outside And I see Christopher Hyde Who just got divorced And there's a restraining order enforced Going in his ex-wife's garage I'm just drunk enough to open the window, yell out gruff "Don't you key that brand-new Camry." And he gave me the cursor "Damn," returning to the spot he was "Mind your own business you!" And I wag my finger "You're not doing what you're supposed to do." And then he's coming toward me And I took a swig of my tequila ‘cause it made me feel a little nervous As he started across against the light But he didn't look to his right as he didn't stay put And a billboard truck came and ran over his foot And the cops responding called out to me "Hey is this your cat?" "Yeah, but sometimes it forgets Ah, wait a minute I"m gonna come out there and smell a couple a cigarettes." Don't you hurry worry with me Don't you hurry worry with me Don't you hurry worry with me I'm gonna pack up your eyes with sand If you tell me that again If you tell me that again If you tell me that again I'm gonna pack up your eyes with sand If you tell me you've been broke If you tell me you've been broke If you tell me you've been broke I'm gonna pack up your eyes with sand If you tell me that again If you tell me that again If you tell me that again I'm gonna pack up your eyes with sand Don't you hurry worry with me Don't you hurry worry with me Don't you hurry worry with me Don't you hurry worry with me I'm gonna pack up your eyes with sand I'm gonna pack up your eyes with sand I'm gonna pack up your eyes with sand You better close your eyes 'Cause I'm about to pack'em up with sand
Cousin Chris Back the bus he cussed "Space suits! Blackened boots Lad, little Lad," he sad, "I've a tip for you See, what about me, what about her, what about me" For five dollars I walked him to his Mom's And on the threshold he said straight and calm, "See what about me, what about her, what about me" Can't kiss cousin Chris could knight, turn off the light With what why's we wave. What wish, it came true See, what about me, what about her, what about me One, two, three, four T'ord ta tippy top Tommy tongue-tied talked Tricked Trish tra trance which church chit-chat Nana nots no know, so down the firehouse we go Fireman Frank friendly fed fee-free Dank dusty doughnuts den da dribble drank Driven droopy drunken In Clinton lake we've sunk in So Tommy, look here what you did Barnacle Bill's bound bonus bid My mommy must a made up my mind Many months me for Mandy Miller resigned Right raise rank rise rust And how she ever fussed About that out-lout doubt-route scout Seems he liked someone better than her Oh Tommy, Trish and Frank You can talk me to the bank So I can bring a little extra today Prop prince prize proof prize-proof, pry pray When the word of your ward was the sword by your side And you dug up the deed in the dump where he died You seemed beside yourself; you're wandering all your wealth ‘While the warp and the woof of your words were worked By perpetually pushing spirits and beers Cause the coffin the cradle the curse Were woven even worse Since the ‘sary sends signs out the fire to whom it may concern Cause the coffin is for me cause I have nothing to do with it And the cradle is for me cause the old dragon attacked me in it And the purse is for me because I don't have money nor friends
Sweet Spots Well I stuffed my stuff into a sport sac and I took the Lake St. El Well I got off Cicero and I snuck in through one of the loading docks And I smiled as I sucked my gem I mean to take a room at the Brack's Well I put things into the pockets of my parachute pants and I walked on up the street Now Galewood makes me nervous but the corn syrup cloud's such a lure So I'm staying off to the side at this end of the M&M Mars tour Well I bought a bike but the chair broke right outside of Parky's Well the wait was making my eyes wet and sticking french fries down my throat But I had to press on cause sweeter stuff's on the other side of the moat Well the cars were turning off Harlem so I had to stop and stare And I had to gulp for air oh my heart was racing I made my escape I's red hot to get lemonheaded and live with Alexander the Grape
Sullivan's Social Slub Brandy Buttersotch bartered and begged Many Motherwell mustered and mugged Lucy Liverspots lied oh! And legged Danny Dungerees digged and he dugged So's'on Saturday say slips'offs'a Sullivan's Social Slub Need a nice ner and a nip and a nub Sup'slides'over Sullivan's Social Slub Candy Cumberland cookied and cleaned. Andy Aspirate assholed and ate Gary Guttergunk gathered and gleaned Stripey Stripleford stripled ‘em straight So's'on Saturday say slips'offs'a Sullivan's Social Slub Need a nice ner and a nip and a nub Sup'slides'over Sullivan's Socail Slub Sally Summerdress something and smiled Vincent Vibraphone hung up and dialed Fanny Firzafrank frowned fie fonna foe Seamus Sweatyset swore at the show So's'on Saturday say slips'offs'a Sullivan's Social Slub Need a nice ner and a nip and a nub Sup'lides'over Sullivan's Social Slub
Rehearsing My Choir
The Garfield El Faster, hammers Faster, hammers Churn and turn into my late train to my lost love Ring away today, stick, bruise into my felt, or so I felt I found a skeleton tooth in the junk drawer And I mean to open the folding green and white door And take a late train to my lost love. Faster, hammers! Faster, hammers! Listen to those dead pianos, pins stuck in their hearts Clang tap bell pedal down dead wood chipped and dull dark steel Rattling and chattering and chilly on a damp November afternoon On tracks one and two And twelve and thirteen On that ribbon spinning and computer colors. Tick tacks on round wire Spun steel spark on three rail thin lines See a minor, a little girl Ask if she would like for instance some fudge But I didn't budge, and said I didn't care I wanted to sit, and I wanted to stare Spin steel, tick tack on three little strings made three little rails made one note clunk Three rails squeaking and sputtering down the west side I found a skeleton tooth in the junk drawer and I mean to open the folding green and white door And take a late train to my lost love Faster, hammers! Faster, hammers! Chatter down the tracks, you thumb tack smiley skull teeth Ticking five dollar throwaway pianos past A late train to my lost love
Listen to those dead pianos, pins stuck in their hearts Clang tap bell pedal down dead wood chipped and dull dark steel Rattling and chattering and chilly on a damp November afternoon On tracks one and two And twelve and thirteen On that ribbon spinning and computer colors. Tick tacks on round wire Spun steel spark on three rail thin lines
Late, by act of Congress and blue all the way to Forest Park, And this ribbon spinning and computer color Into a public transport for everyone to hear and get on track And back to my lost love Faster, hammers! Faster, hammers! We're almost there
Faster, hammers! We're almost there I'd like to tell you a story, kids but instead I'll change the subject Listen to this tune, it sounds like a condolence card Bought at the last minute for someone you can't stand For someone you never liked And isn't it cute La la la... Listen to this tune I'm playing now, kids Does it seem sad Does it remind you of when
The Wayward Granddaughter He said "Come on now babe Let's take a little drive Go slumming down the Carson's in my black X-5." Samples from the Clinique counter and up the escalator And then a knowing glance from last night's cute, talkative waiter Surprise, surprise Going through five hundred king Egyptian size count satin cotton sheets A smirk hello from the tanning salon boy My man mumbled, he realized "They told me that she cheats." "Oh, don't you start! Jealous heart." Jealous heart. Jealous heart I put one foot forward and one foot back My hand upon my hip I gave my hair a flip I can't help it What's he think I got all this loving for Well guess what He don't pay my bills no more Well I guess All this stuff That'll befall ya and bedevil ya And try ya I'll move back in with Yaiyai My daughter, we named her Maureen Can you believe it I never believed it, or her Because she called you Connie The Don Juan he, my husband, loved redheards and thought this name Would turn his baby into the same And each time I see you, Connie Yes? I say God bless, my dear departed Peter That he never had to meet her His beautiful granddaughter who dyed It would have killed him again Her gorgeous red-brown hair black When she turned 15 behind my back You lived with me at that time Yes, I did You were such a cute and smart and obedient and happy and pretty little kid My beautiful granddaughter who dyed Her gorgeous red-brown hair black When she turned fifteen behind my back And which Kevin were you dating I mean letting take advantage of you then the black one, or the white one Once upon a time there were two Kevins You mean two jerks Once upon a time there were two Kevins And being with one Kevin was being in one heaven And not being with the other swell was being in another, well Kevin and Kevin were best friends since seven La la la-la-la la la When they met at Joey Meyer's Red White and Blue Demon basketball seminar tutorial clinic day care camp For underprivileged kids And overstimulated brats. And they're both wearing vintage throw-back fourty five dollar Nineteen eighty three White Sox hats And now at H-F Point guard and shooting guard And now at H-F Point guard and shooting guard And the drill team shouting themselves deaf And then back in the back yard Yours, Yaiyai With the one and then the next night with the other one and one big secret I mean two But little did I know that they knew They knew And would slap each other on the back About what it was they'd do They knew They knew Well, we can talk about it, Connie But often, memories are better off sung Remember when you were young Remember when I was young Remember when you were young Remember when I was young La la la... La la la...
A Candymaker's Knife in my Handbag A night out in the tropics Turned out I couldn't cope After the School of Fancy Cookery With Antoinette Pope I learned brazing and saucing, meringue and sift Knead, flute and flour Each Thursday for an hour Cobblers and plum cakes, tarts savory and sweet A candymaker's knife in my handbag A candymaker's knife in my handbag Well I learned brazing and saucing, meringue and sift Knead, flute and flour Each Thursday for an hour Cobblers and plum cakes, tarts savory and sweet A candymaker's knife in my handbag A candymaker's knife in my handbag That night I was to meet my husband's father, for the very first time I wore the scarf he sent to me French silk, scarlet blue and cream He sits, he waits, a coffee on his knee I wonder if it's as bad as it might seem Zapped by the Zombie Zapped, zapped by the Zombie Zapped by the Zombie in the two-door Dodge Twice-baked brioche and pastry pockets And lock its two-door Dodge Zapped by the Zombie Zapped, zapped by the Zombie Zapped by the Zombie in the two-door Dodge And I did not fail To bust off a nail as the Dodge door handle dodges my hand Delicate, delicate hold my hand Delicate nectarine upside-down chiffon cake Dodge down the downtown loop the loop lightly Hazelnut baby loaves Hazelnut baby loaves Hold my hand inside-out upside-down marzipan Milanese My brain is a blur Hodge-podge - cardinal slice - two-door, brand new What am I gonna do 'Cause on the street the amber lights were hellish hot And the wind in the windows was not giving air And tropical Napeolons But it was too late and I didn't care And I didn't care Because first I went to meet Dr. Christopolous and his wife Claudette Who at the time was my close girlfriend They picked my up in their brand-new Dodge And we went to Trader Vic's, or Mr. Rick's And I ordered, like the others, a Zombie And it bombed me, it just bombed me And when we got to the stoop my father-in-law said "Were you attacked?" My aunt, being helpful, said something that made my heart just go sunk And with a look on her face like something had stunk "She's just drunk!" she hissed I reached for the arm of the armchair and missed A night out in the tropics Turned out I couldn't cope After the School of Fancy Cookery With Antoinette Pope I wore the scarf he sent to me French silk, scarlet blue and cream He sits, he waits, a coffee on his knee I wonder if it's as bad as it might seem
We Wrote Letters Everyday Well, no one was too upset You know we were married in the war And I went with him to Pennsylvania and California But he went out the Pacific And I came back to Chicago to work on the railroad And we wrote letters every day Which were later thrown away And God knows what we wrote or what they said But this is probably how they read I left the letters behind In the basement of the apartment building when we moved For the mice to nibble on I wonder how long they lasted And we wrote letters every day Which were later thrown away And God knows what we wrote or what they said But this is probably how they read Now, at my wedding, my husband didn't have his close family there as I indicated He came from a family of priests At least, there were a lot of priests in his family And so, eight priests presided over our wedding Eight priests, it looked impressive But it didn't sound very good A gaggle of priests Or they were like crows around an overly ornate park bench up there They all had fine voices But, and I mean this respectfully They didn't match pitch Thinking that each one of them was the one in the right So they made some strange note choices Listen...
Forty Eight Twenty Three Twenty Second Street Now, as for my aunt Who told on me She was always wearing her turbans Sailing back to Greece on the Normandy Having dinner at the captain's table Sitting on the deck with 5 men surrounding her With uncle Sam in the back row Back at home, riding up the Taygetus on a donkey named David With her soft leather boots dangling off to the side So full of pride So full of pride. Profitis Elias, so high you can see us 4823 22nd St., standing there with cashmere overcoats And those turbans with their Arabian silver And ostrich and papagou feather hats And not far down from our koumbaros Betinis We've got a secret between us Betinis In the back of the Hawthorne smoke shop In the basement of the hat factory The fedoras got glued together But in that back basement... In that back basement, a lot of things got sewn up! A full compliment of grinchy Italians Counting up on their stubby fingers, and smoking, I'm told The least sophisticated cigars The local lottery and so forth Like anybody was going to get a nit out of that nut Though what a lucky loser is our five thousand dollars a day friend and koumbaros Betinis We've got a secret between us, Betinis In the back of the Hawthorne smoke shop, Haberdashery was the least of it In the basement of the hat factory The fedoras got glued together But in that back basement... In that back basement, a lot of things got sewn up We've got a secret between us, Betinis. Five thousand dollars a day Five thousand dollars a day Five thousand dollars a day Five thousand dollars a day In the basement of the hat factory The fedoras got glued together But in that back basement In that back basement, a lot of things got sewn up! We've got a secret between us, Betinis Not that nobody knows, like nobody knows about the white doves that flew out the cake at the brother's wedding In your hat factory, Betinis, they count up all the buffalo nickels And silver certificates wrung from Lake Superior spirits And prize fight foolery, and sluts speaking easy in the closets on 12th St. And in exchange you put in your pants $5,000 a day to stick under your bed for starters But later in the laundry, so you can feel free to chase your wife around the table When you feel she looked at the apricot and boysenberry boy twice
Guns Under the Counter "Well, good for you. But we have something too." So said my aunt A bowling alley and lunch counter Filled with fellas on their lunch break From the Western Electric plant at a slant across the street And next door when So-and-So's men would come in, and the man himself very often It was guns under the counter every time Guns under the counter every time Guns under the counter every time And bowling on the second floor Very often he was there himself And I, of course, had a special small ball as a little girl, And didn't I grow up, didn't I grow up to be captain of the Morton girls bowling team? I did! Though I don't attach much importance to that now, or then Then riding the old Garfield El downtown And on up to State Street And back to guns under the counter Guns under the counter every time Guns under the counter And bowling on the second floor I never liked Douglas park And no one likes it now But that's neither here nor there There, or here West of Crawford, where it is I stayed Chicago straights alliterates North, and south I lived in the Ms But it was down on the south side Dr. Peter Pane and his brother had their doughnut factory And I mention it now because That one day Now I wasn't there, we were in Davenport at that time Some north side Irish bullets came zipping through that window In Cicero Never stand at a window And past the counter Looking for those men Who had their guns behind the counter And you could smell the boiled cabbage on those bullets One of them managed to hit a young pinsetter in the leg Wouldn't you know it But luckily Panagoulis Dr. Peter Pane Was there to see to it He took some special blackberry filling right out of his lunch bag And applied it to the young man's wound You see, Dr. Peter Pane was an interesting man And an even more interesting doctor As he would use no material or remedy that wasn't used in the manufacture Of his doughnuts down on 82nd and Kedzie with his brother. But he tempered this by the fact that he would rarely use ingredients That didn't have some medicinal purpose Or so he thought Here in the doughnut factory They have confectioner's sugar So sweet it was caustic And chocolate so bitter that it could kill typhus Glazing so shiny It could set back glaucoma And filling so filling, You didn't need stitches The same special blackberry filling that was applied to the young man's wound Blackberry filling that came straight from Dr. Peter Pane's lunch bag We were in Davenport With a big restaurant downtown And I once kept a jackrabbit in the back yard And I'd walk across the river to Rock Island to Greek school On a fine fall day And I'd look up at the sky And down at the river But Davenport changed its name to Hooverville So to speak, and we had to go to Chicago to move in with my aunt Seven Silver Curses My little sister had a glass of wine No doubt a glass of wine too many "I bet he's out right now with his Nazi whore That's right, I said it, that's what she is, and when he Finally saunters back at three or four, Don't let him in, put the chain on the door." But of course I'd let him in, the jerk. Now my silly little sister went to some vlachos coffee-grind reader Ad had a gypsy glint in her eye when she'd smirk "Since that's how you feel, I know what to do Make sure she gets fixed before she takes him from you." It's a hot August night and my sister and I are creeping down south Halsted Towards a storefront past a storefront stoop and a moon And a star and a placard that says Madame Maria's. "Tell me your troubles, But five dollars first." That's what she said And of course, I thought the worst Charlatan, phony Fraud gypsy bitch whose Greek was bad and English was worse I held tight to my purse My sister did the talking and I looked down And tapped my foot and sort of twisted on one heel. Madame pointed to corner And twisted her shawl, Uncovered a dusty old crystal ball I peered in despite myself Somewhere on some love seat, my husband was there Paying court to his mistress and stroking her hair I saw it for myself "I can't believe it!" I cried Madame Maria said, "Well, I had a notion So before you came in, I prepared half a potion Now you must do the other half I wrote you a list You must get seven part-silver curses made special out of bullet bits by some Pollock I know in Evergreen Park And dip them in the potion and drop them in Buckingham Fountain at 3:13 on Friday morning And then she'll be gone, you'll be rid of her!" Quick, for the potion, we have to get three dozen crabapples that fell off a raggedy old tree right in the southwestern corner of Columbus Park! Faster, we have to go up to Caputo's Produce and Fruit Market on Harlem and get the garden snake that lives in the banana bin! Hurry, we have to get the mercury out of the old thermometer they have through the north-facing doors To the left by the shoe-shine boys in the lobby of the Monadnock building! And don't be late, for you must get the silver out of the teeth of one George Karmalitis Who as we speak lies dead under a dirty wool blanket in the basement of the morgue of Laretto hospital The silver teeth of a man killed by a jealous wife! I wasn't always an old maid I didn't always walk down the street And have the children yell at me Spinny Spinny the Spinster And try to knock the hat off my head I had a fiancee, or he led me to believe I'd soon be his fiancee And I did believe him, as I had every right to And I'd put on my best dress and we'd go dance at all the dances And I'd never let the boys from the barracks cut in They'd come out of Great Lakes, usually straight off the farm anyway And I'd never really let any of the country club beaus get a chance Those cream-colored summer suits were never cut to my taste anyhow And those Hyde Park fraternity fellas were out as a matter of course I don't enjoy a man in red, so certainly not maroon, that's for sure I only had eyes for my guy, see But one night he had said he wouldn't be able to take me As he hurt his shoulder and had his arm in a sling But I went anyway and saw him with another woman And she was wearing his ring The silver still smelled and smelted down quick into the copper or lead or whatever else it was And when the metal was still soft and hot you'd engrave the curse into it with a stylus from an old whale bone I thought for a second of what I might write Something a little different, but with the correct sort of spite One of them asked panayia mou to make that blonde's hair fall straight out The potion was ready back at my apartment And my sister and I mumbled and crossed ourselves when we dropped the curses in And I thought of my husband My husband and her And I thought of me and him, of what we were I thought of our wedding day And I was happy, very simply happy Do you hear it A modest young woman's simple contentment It's probably a sunny day, and I think it was The birds were chirping And I felt like I was dancing on air But not very far off the ground I wonder if I knew even then that things wouldn't always be perfect That one day he'd seek solace in the arms of another woman And that to win him back, to win him back, I'd have to do this 3:11!, 3:12!, 3:13! On a hot August night everyone is asleep But the crows were watching, witching and my temple was twitching Twitch, twitch, twitch, twitch, twitch, twitch, twitch, twitch Fountain, sweet fountain Fountain, sweet fountain Let your water react and turn the curses to fact and come true Fountain, sweet fountain Fountain, sweet fountain Let your water react and turn the curses to fact and come true And they do The instant we dropped them in, our hearts started to race And a wind came up off the lake; make no mistake, we felt something released out into the city And I swore And I swooned As I swept back somehow to Austin, I don't remember how Scared of what I had wrought But terrified, I didn't get what I had sought Oh Jimmy, where you been so long Oh Jimmy, where you been so long Oh Jimmy, where you been so long Oh Jimmy, where you been so long Oh Jimmy, where you been so long Oh Jimmy, where you been so long And as the clock struck eight the next morning My husband was next to me with a smile on his face And I looked, no blond hairs on his pajamas And it was as if I had been awakened from a bad dream
Though Let's Be Fair Though let's be fair I had other loves before my husband Other sweethearts Tom Kitsos, for instance And another I won't mention I loved him truly, or so I thought Turned out in another snare he'd been caught They were to get married that June And all the relatives From New Hampshire and Harrisburg, were coming And the day I heard, I went home And closed the door to my room And I laid down on my bed And I may have cried Very briefly I watched and wondered if they would last I tried to tell myself "put it in the past," And that June As I was the organist at our church, didn't you know I was up in the choir loft, looking down On all their friends and relations Playing as they walked down the aisle I'd see him 'round some We'd nod and smile I couldn't decide if I was still in love with him After all this while I'd see them together at church And they'd look sort of grim It didn't seem as though she was happy with him
Slavin' away Slavin' away All for you my love And i've nothin to show for it Cept my dusty old book full of pictures A dusty old book Tell me a story Bout how i wasn't so tired From my slavin' away I ran off Put on corduroy knickers that i got from the coal shovelin' kid And hitchhiked in a rickety old ford Hitchhiked in a rattly old norton side car Down strange roads In the purrin' rain, as the poet put it On up to st. Paul On a cold day in the middle of the fall And they picked me up for not wearin a dress And suspended my sentence If i wore somethin with a strap that was pink And i scrubbed up on somebody's sink So now i catch the canadian pacific And not be too specific, just somewhere up north And get into lumber and slumber when i like And in the spring ride down into cheyenne on my bike I looked out the window And i stuck my head out the door And the snow was melting so slow... And the sky was light but so gray... Slavin' away And all for nothin' my love Cookin and washin in the morning And startin at 9:25 I assemble six boxes of little plastic christmas trees And put in the blue leds On kid toy cell phones with borg batteries And then on to the sewing machine Stick the labels on purple t-shirts And the arms on pull-over jumpers for the uk Slavin' away All for you my love And i've nothin to show for it I've nothin to show for it I could see her lookin in the mirror at me Wonderin' if it wasn't plain for everyone to see Nothin ever seemed to turn out how it might be I could see her doubting now that all had gone and went That anything she got was equal what that she'd spent That she never seemed to get back what that she'd lent Anyway they did have a son And by the time he was married and i played at his wedding too at holy trinity I was choir director myself Rehearsals in the basement twice a week I demanded we'd be in peak condition And everything seemed to be going quite well I got along well with the priest...
Rehearsing my choir But there was one other man with whom i didn't get along The bishop Would head down, head down to deerport station To see what stars on the silver screen might be seen Or broadway stage were all the rage With his black leather autograph book And his black leather pastoral pumps And his pressed black robes And his tidy black beard of which he was so proud And his hat that stuck out in a crowd But there he'd sit At his table at the edgewater hotel Wearing his ecclesiastical furs And lunching with two giggly and none too healthy looking young men And in his shirt pocket up close to his heart was his autographed picture of robert mitchum Which he no doubt used in an impure way And i was at home rehearsing my choir On christmas day In the afternoon I got a call at home The bishop was on the phone Wanting the choir to go and sing On some channel 44 thing And i said "out of the question! The rest of the day is for their families!" And the bishop became furious All that time singing western music Christmas carols, backsliding And no time to represent the diocese But of course he was just upset because he wanted to be on the show And he hated women And i knew he was angry with me But i couldn't worry about it I went about my business Rehearsing my choir Rehearsing my choir (da da da da da da da) Again! (da da da da da da da) Ugh, altos, out of tune! (da da da da da da da) That's not good! (da da da da da da da) That sounds horrible Next sunday was my late sister's namesday La la la And the bishop was coming that day to our church to deliver a sermon Which would give me quite a big surprise "Decadence in the church! Betrayal of our traditions! Look up in the shoir loft, for instance, the lady in red Eva! I ban her from receiving communion And remove her as choir director!" I couldn't believe my ears And the congregation couldn't believe theirs And my husband was furious when he was told, as he wasn't there at the time And letters were written and phone calls were placed And the matter was taken up, and i was granted an audience And i sat there nervous and frightened When into the room Stepped his eminence The archbishop They had a strange deliberating process at his initiative As it was his prerogative alone But the hierarch with the tallest hat and longest beard would stand in the middle And the prelates with shorter hats and beards radiated out With the archbishop in front of them And then they began to intone And i was left on the other side of the door, alone And when they came out, bishop nikolaki was sent to San Jose
Does it Remind You of When How the years have gone It's come to this A rose on his lapel, in the open coffin I'd give him a kiss I have to go up north to play at his funeral And his wife is there In some chapel she's picked out And there's not even an organ I have to play on some broken upright piano Listen to these low notes What a joke And you have to park and you couldn't even hear the ceremony in the cemetery because the noise from the traffic and construction is so terrible And I stood there in the slush And I walked along, very slowly To the tree by the turn And I went in front of my mother and father and sister and husband's graves And looked over to the sun setting to the right Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Tick, tock And I thought of myself And I thought of them In the cold hard ground You still can't believe You still can't believe I didn't believe it then And I don't believe it now I didn't believe it then And I don't believe it now I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now But there it is Listen to this tune I'm playing for you now, kids Does it seem sad Does it remind you of when Shady grave Come the summer it will be Shady grave Come the summer it will be Well I can hear the cars just A hundred feet behind And I smell the rock salt in the air And I know in my bones it isn't fair And the sun sets in the sleet to the side
Bitter Tea In my little thatched hut
In my little thatched hut Where blue-green grass grows by the brook I lounge and i look (i lounge and i look, i lounge and i look) For my own true love to return To come rowing in his rowboat back. In my little thatched hut Where blue-green grass grows by the brook I lounge and i look (i lounge and i look, i lounge and i look) For my own true love to return To come rowing in his rowboat back I'll go to the flower stall And get a violet violet to put in my jet black hair And make him tell me which one is the more fair. And in the meantime i cry In my little thatched hut Where blue-green grass grows by the brook I lounge and i look (i lounge and i look, i lounge and i look) For my own true love to return To come rowing in his rowboat back In my little thatched hut Where blue-green grass grows by the brook I lounge and i look (i lounge and i look, i lounge and i look) For my own true love to return To come rowing in his rowboat back Boat back! I'll go to the flower stall And get a violet violet to put in my jet black hair And make him tell me which one is the more fair And in the meantime i cry But what does it matter Because when i see him again, it'll be tears of joy Tears of joy, tears of joy, tears of joy, tears of joy Tears of joy, tears of joy, tears of joy, tears of joy In my little thatched hut Where blue-green grass grows by the brook I lounge and i look (i lounge and i look, i lounge and i look) For my own true love to return To come rowing in his rowboat back I'm in no mood I'm in no mood to comb my hair There's a chill in the air And it's catching Catching I'm in no mood to comb my hair There's a chill in the air And it's catching Catching Catching Catching I was so drunk last night i didn't even undress for bed And the pin in my hair was still stuck in my head I'm in no mood to comb my hair There's a chill in the air And it's catching Catching I'm in no mood to comb my hair There's a chill in the air And it's catching Catching Catching I was so drunk last night i didn't even undress for bed And the pin in my hair was still stuck in my head I was so drunk last night i didn't even undress for bed And i swear the pin in my hair got stuck in my head I'm in no mood to comb my hair There's a chill in the air And the pin in my hair was stuck in my head I didn't undress for bed I was so drunk last night I'm in no mood to comb my hair There's a chill in the air And it's catching Catching Catching Catching
Black-hearted boy Darling black-hearted boy All the color's gone out of my ribbon loom As i've only got the worst to assume Take your sheet metal sheers Cut a slit up the side of my dark blue dress For a last time lie your love confess Get your gut Some home made twine String up silk your tiger bow Don't paint your board Moonlight white Go dangle your fishook out in the gutter again See the smoke from your kiln Pine boughs burn the bricks dead hard in their fog As i stand cold with my back broke by the bog Find your cross cut saw Come blunt and jagged and dry and try Cut my tongue out to keep on your wall up high I tipped my toe On the bamboo strip I took stone honey in exchange for my rags Don't dare paint your board Moonlight white Go dangle your fishook out in the gutter again See the smoke from your kiln Pine boughs burn the bricks dead hard in their fog As i stand cold with my back broke by the bog Find your cross cut saw Come blunt and jagged and dry and try Cut my tongue out to keep on your wall up high I tipped my toe On the bamboo strip I took stone honey in exchange for my rags Don't dare paint your board Moonlight white Go dangle your fishook out in the gutter again Darling black-hearted boy I went down to wash my robe in the river I thought of you and started to shake and to shiver Leaning there on the rocks I see myself slip down and float 'Til the brackish warm current stops up my throat You swore you swore you'd never leave You swore you swore you'd never leave You swore you swore you'd never leave Bitter tea
I've got a special category business Down by the multifunctional Dr. Sun yat-sen memorial rollerblade rink Down by the home of bitter tea Bitter, bitter, bitter tea Bitter, bitter, bitter tea I've seen you slinking off of snake alley Why not come up through the hall of butterflies And past lane 170 Into our dragon protector layout And try some bitter tea Bitter, bitter, bitter tea Bitter, bitter, bitter tea On the 13th day of the 5th lunar month Outside a hot spring bath The old banyan tree looked down on me Aren't you curious Aren't you curious A little curious About what the osmanthus blossoms taste like I think you're curious Yes, you're curious A little curious About what the osmanthus blossums taste like With a cup of bitter tea Bitter, bitter, bitter tea Bitter, bitter, bitter tea On the 13th day of the 5th lunar month Outside a hot spring bath The old banyan tree looked down on me I am a crazy crane I lost my true love in the rain I am a crazy crane I lost my true love in the rain Teach me sweetheart
Come away Teach me, sweetheart Come on past Brave young batchelors I'm alone Teach me, sweetheart My mother in law was standing by the stove Hissing like a snake, hissing like a snake Hissing like a snake She gave orders to spill my blood She gave orders To spill my blood, i thought I thought, i thought, and i thought some more Come away Teach me sweetheart Come on past Brave young bachelors I'm alone Teach me, sweetheart My father in law was lying on his bed Growling like a dog, growling like a dog Growling like a dog He gave orders to spill my blood; he gave orders To spill my blood, i thought I thought, i thought, and i thought some more Come away Teach me sweetheart Come on past Brave young bachelors I'm alone Teach me, sweetheart My sister in law was sitting on her stoop Crawing like a crow, crawing like a crow Crawing like a crow She gave orders to spill my blood She gave orders To spill my blood, i thought I thought, i thought, and i thought some more Come away Teach me sweetheart Come on past Brave young bachelors I'm alone Teach me, sweetheart My brother in law was leaning on the love-seat Tapping with his tail, tapping with his tail Purring like a cat He gave orders to spill my blood He gave orders To spill my blood, i thought Waiting to know you
I'm waiting to know you, far away Send up a balloon says write to me soon I'm waiting to know you, far away Set up at the pier, wait 'til you get here And when i'm about to give up hope But nope With my telescope I'm standing guard the navy yard to see Could there one for me be Baby oh no where did you go I'm waiting to know you, far away Flashlight the cave; listen short-wave I'm waiting to know you, far away Dredge up the lake; all the trees shake And when i'm about to give up hope But nope, with my telescope I'm standing guard the navy yard to see Could there one for me be Baby oh no where did you go I'm waiting to know you, far away Send up a balloon says write to me soon I'm waiting to know you, far away Flashlight the cave, listen short-wave And when i'm about to give up hope But nope, with my telescope I'm standing guard the navy yard to see Could there one for me be Baby oh no where did you go Baby oh no where did you go The vietnamese telephone ministry I thought myself an unworthy thing Despairing of my case all the time, boys I thought myself an unworthy thing Despairing of my case all the time, boys Damn it all, damn it all to hell Damn it all, damn it all I thought myself an unworthy thing Despairing of my case all the time, boys I thought myself an unworthy thing Despairing of my case all the time, boys Damn it all, damn it all to hell Damn it all, damn it all Preserve me, preserve me, protect me, save me So vile, so violent Whose thoughts are spent So vile, so violent In thinking how they may So vile, so violent My steps betray So vile, so violent How in a foul mishap may me entrap Who hid in traitor grass their cunning cord may catch me as I pass I thought myself an unworthy thing Despairing of my case all the time, boys I thought myself an unworthy thing Despairing of my case all the time, boys Damn it all, damn it all to hell Damn it all, damn it all I thought myself an unworthy thing Despairing of my case all the time, boys I thought myself an unworthy thing Despairing of my case all the time, boys Damn it all, damn it all to hell Damn it all, damn it all I went to the right road ministry at 4801 s. Normandie I went to the armenian brotherhood bible church at 5556 harold way and while i was at it went to st. Sarkis And then i went to the inglesia evengelica rey de reyes y senor y senores at 2605 w. 7th st. And the alpha y omega--and the brotherhood of the cross and star and kingdom of god in faith at 3810 w. Slauson And i drove around listening to the greater bethany tape ministry And to the sweet hour of prayer mission And i went to st. Innocent orthodox and jesus in delight And then finally i called up the vietnamese telephone ministry At 323-221-7625 323-221-7625 323-221-7625 323-221-7625 Oh sweet woods
I was in tahoe, on the california side Waiting in the lobby at 665 1/2 frontage road When two extra-blond, short-sleeve, button-down White-shirt, blue-tie, mystery mormons Came in and put this music on Came in and took me by the arm And as they had me marching through the parking lot And as they were marching through the parking lot They blew into their shirt-pocket microphones Like this And then they drove me to an albertson's outside of boise And took me into a back room. And they said they wanted to balance my checkbook And they said the wanted to organize my receipts And itemize my expenses And that i had the key To a safety deposit box With treasury bonds and the key To another safety deposit box Where i'd stashed away The only pewter pocket watch That ever belonged to Joseph smith's great-great uncle's brother-in-law And i said you've got the wrong eleanor friedberger. And then they sang at me like this Borneo I was so bored with my old life I was so bored with decent odds My new roommate left her debit card Some sort of test for me. It's too hard Try to run an errand. Nervous sweat I rush back home and if i win i'll give her half I bet Online casino in the caymans Legal disclaimer writ for layman's I moved back into new canaan Babysit my sister's kids; its rainin' They fuss a bit while i put them to bed And grumpy, sitting on the couch, i get it in my head Take metro north. A silver candlestick To aquaduct on lirr. Pick I was so bored with my new life I felt like i knew all the odds I bet 'gainst myself i wouldn't wager My boyfriend's mother's mansion (nothing major) I stole the deed one night when she was drunk I drove onto the reservation with it in my trunk Sensors beep the threshold when i crossed it Thirty thousand marker soon i lost it Baltimore inner harbor (sports) zone Being courted. He's talking on his cell phone "let me tell you why i think i love her She knows you always take the bye week dome home team to cover." Go up to pimlico and i choose It's no fun if it's fine when you lose I was so tired with all the angles I was so bored with losin' easy So i gambled on going further a-field So i flew to sydney and then to bali and then to jakarta And called on my step-father's ex-business partner Major timmy sastrosatomo And he set me up as a silver smith/batik dabber In a house once owned by the princes of mataran. And he told me all his troubles We bribed a cfo at semen cibinong To get them to buy a 40% stake And we got a 5 million dollar order from nieman marcus, Which we filled about 10% But i did sell them my children's book Which i said was a south sumatran Folk tale--which went like this: I played cards for seven days straight, Was up $47 dollars late Evening as the sun went down i saw The ace of diamonds up his sleeve--black velvet on his paw. I fold, say goodbye politely. They bark, you don't get off that lightly I dreamed of a casino way up in the hills of borneo Where i lost with the giant flying squirrels and orangutans and great Morman butterflies all day long. 'Til the bulldozers turned us into whole fruit fruit bar sticks and China markers Police sweater blood vow Forget the dogs and forget the sheep It's only you who affects me On the fun fair track road and helter skelter fall On my ice skater's bruised knees Vibrate buzz buzz ring and beep Tell me what time is it now Vibrate buzz buzz ring and beep Tell me baby what time is it now Blood love sliver locket and police sweater blood vow Nativity jingle, carole and cry Chain smoking ashes all over himself Laugh and hug your white wine wife Vibrate buzz buzz ring and beep Tell me baby what time is it now Vibrate buzz buzz ring and beep Tell me baby what time is it now Parking lot reading, cover my eyes You're a sick moaner, now hold your sides On christmas eve and dizzy escaltor malls Retrace steps for not lost gloves Vibrate buzz buzz ring and beep Tell me baby what time is it now Vibrate buzz buzz ring and beep Tell me baby what time is it now Well i went to sleep sitting up See the diary and cry out That's not right, babe! You're here and i'm there That's not right, babe! You're here and i'm there Vibrate buzz buzz ring and beep Tell me baby what time is it now Vibrate buzz buzz ring and beep Tell me baby what time is it now Nevers There's a town i know called nevers No nevers Never wasn't was what it weren't When it wasn't once. Knew nevers Knew nevers Nothing never i'll ever learnt There's a village i visit, that's vaguely Sorta vaguely Vaguely yes i seem to recall Though it's unclear clearly- vaguely Very vaguely Can't say it's been there once and for all I put back on my overshoes And got in my renault The trips reset so i'm unsure How far it is to go But then it hits me (slap) I've left it off my map There's a city i saw signed something Must be something Something never quite so defined So much so how somewhere something (though some sing) So to speak's the uncertain kind In an index looked up where-it-was Exactly where it was Just in fact to make sure i can't Set a course straight through to where it ain't And where it ain't Ain't gotten to except at a slant I put on my new black boots And pack up my citroen And out of town it huffs and puffs I set off there alone And then it hits me (slap) I've left it off my map There's a place i passed called once upon a time Tiny once upon a time Never wasn't weren't what it was Set the clock back twice or once upon a time In once upon a time Never knew when it wasn't there because Benton harbor blues As i try to fill all of my empty days I stumble round on through my memory's maze Of all my past, only the sadness stays I was moping down by the bridge I rode a bike in the snow to the mini-mart I thought of the ways that i've broke my own heart It's not for me to fill the blue sea with tears But when i think back on all the wasted years All the good cheer and all of the charm disappears I wore the exact same clothes for five days The bailbondsman gave me a smile I was just thinking of only my sins all the while As i try to fill all of my empty days I stumble round on through my memory's maze Of all my past, only the sadness stays Whistle rhapsody
The isolated lady An isolated old lady A dignified dame who keeps her own counsel In love with the out-of-the-way Identifying with the unfamiliar Contemptuously turns her back on the wicked world With its vulgar delusions and correspondingly Scorns its regard Our lady alone With her scarf over her head And her pricey purse over her shoulder strap Wonders up at the heavens And for yesterday yearns The days of old Often, she surrounds herself with Like-minded bluestockings And together they regret the dear beloved Simple folk struggle with their own confused Concerns, still But she puts her pity on pause And withdrawn from the delicate And uncorrupted by the crude She resigns even her/ own Designs- Then all at once Brings in a breath Purses her purple Her honey-black lips And lets loose a high And round and resonant And glad and grave And westward, whistle
Widow City
The philadelphia grand jury There ain't no more favors to ask; There ain't no petitions to pass; It's all in the hands, it's all in the hands Of the philadelphia grand jury now. More crooked sons of bitches you can't ever have come across. Make sure that they notarized my will. Make sure mom don't look at the news. We already know there ain't no suspense That the philadelphia grand jury strings me up. More crooked sons of bitches you can't ever have come across. Duplexes of the dead I went on down unto the duplexes of the dead, Where the shades are drawn and the shadows shut Unless you know the magic word. (seldom said but often heard, bite your lip!) Then spin around three times: on our honeymoon. My husband sat still With a look in his eyes and a pen in his left hand. He wrote on the varnish the magic word. (seldom seen and never heard.) He shushed me then slumped backwards dead asleep. I went grumpy sitting in the sun by the umbrella stand, Making every single unreasonable demand. I covered my head and went to the office pool, Dipped in reverent a re-soled mule And asked the chlorine fumes if there something they wanted to bring up. Automatic husband Thanks for asking. Yes it's true, we've been waiting for you. We've been waiting for you. Persuade your husband he should stay at our disposal for today and take down everything we say About the new school bus assistant snuck in charge of leaving seven sleeping children in their seats, in a trance induced by air-conditioning. So i went back up to our room And told my husband to sit down on the end-table And that he was getting very sleepy And when his eyes went out i put the pen back in his left hand. At phases 8 and 31 the four faculties are done, but the principles are some The solar period, if you look, is like the bishop in the brook, so it says in this book, Writ by the new school bus assistant snuck in charge of leaving seven sleeping children in their seats In a trance, induced by air-conditioning. And don't forget the imaginary map Of the manifestations of murder-making Owned by the undertaker's office (otherwise known as the cadaverous cosmeticians) Local # dead-as-a-doornail in a church mouse's chin. Or so said the birth-chart i sent away to new mexico for. It was made by a special commission of navajo basketball coaches and blonde ladies. Ex-guru One of those blond ladies had a certain hold on me. I went to all her seminars by the airport in the double tree. I even let her use nephew's seaplane in the bahamas for free. But she means nothing to me now. I tell myself that everyday: She means nothing to me now. I tell myself every single day, I'm quite convinced i escaped her sway. I burned all my clothes with eucalyptus juice; Ripped out the floors and painted all the platforms puce; And i went so far as to sacrifice a second snake to zeus, So she means nothing to me now. I tell myself that everyday: She means nothing to me now. I tell myself every single day, I'm still convinced i escaped her sway. But when she mopes in the moonlight on her mesa in march, Does she kick up a thunderstorm When she thinks of my betrayal? She means nothing to me now. Clear signal from cairo It's a clear signal from cairo: calling me back to your arms. Desert winds are strong but they're not strong enough, love of my life. Desert winds are strong but they're not strong enough, baby doll. My egyptian grammar I never thought it could have happened to me. But on the morning of my eldest daughter's second wedding, i blacked out They said it was it was just stress, but i didn't think so: I couldn't remember the 15 minutes before. A white-haired half samoan girl from darwin Gave me a ride, it seems; she let me the car in. But what it was she said, i couldn't say. Now, that clearly didn't happen. I consulted my egyptian grammar. On p. 333 was the hieroglyph for motorcycle helmet. I combined this with a leather-back's shell as i was i felt instructed. I xeroxed it and posted it down by the bike lock-ups at the oriental institute Maybe a nether-world entity would see it and pass it on to the responsible. That kind of thing must happen sometimes. Now that clearly didn't happen. I consulted my egyptian grammar. On p. 4428 was the hieroglyph for french canal boat. I met on the midway someone channelling up a whatever it wasn't: There are 17 sections of cymbals in the orchestra of the oversold, it said. Your youth is lost and doesn't it now seem you can't make smoke only steam Now that clearly didn't happen. I consulted my egyptian grammar. On p. 5566 was the hieroglyph for a blue jay. The old hag is sleeping My baby's angry. He's always so angry; He smiles only when he can give me abuse. What's the use. What's the use? The church bells are busted again. And at cakewalk class i'm out of sync. I peek at granddad's watch and take a drink. Linen being pawned on a eclipse. Pack the swatches in the pony-cart. Before the gate he squints and's ready to start. My baby's angry, he's always so angry. At best he ignores me and don't curse and stare. Despair, oh despair! He gets pink roses sent by: The other woman now lives upstairs (you think she thinks he really cares?) I go and retire by nine. He's in the kansas city cabinet today; Pretend i'm asleep and i hear him say: The old hag is sleeping! Now old hag, stay sleeping: If you never wake up, it's heaven (as it were): Widower! Widower! My baby's angry, he's always so angry. He smiles only when he can give me abuse. What's the use? What's the use? Japanese slippers Down at the shell shed the boys are pickin' at their pearls. The hole in my mitten lets the rain get in. I bought 22 ounces from the petrol park, waiting at the light; I'm never gonna make it back in time So geraldine and me can begin Before mister raymond and his japanese slippers comes creepin' in. I sit with the fan on my face and sip shandies all day. I learned to sleep standing up so i don't have to make the bed. No tobacco for my rolling papers, warm water in my cup I'll have wait all morning Before geraldine and me can begin; Before mister raymond and his japanese slippers'll come creepin' in. Loaded up with turkey carpets and green glass diamonds I drove back and forth for five long rolling moons. And everyday and every night i thought of back at home And i couldn't get the notion out of my head: That before geraldine and me could begin Mister raymond and his japanese slippers'd come creepin' in. Everything is always a little late; Trippin' on those japanese slippers seems to be my fate. It was my job to cut down all the poplar trees And i'd sit on the stumps and listen to the finches. And look out at the field and eat honey out of the jar And wonder why it always seemed Before geraldine and me could begin Mister raymond and his japanese slippers would come creepin' in. Navy nurse I got warnings from jealous friends; Cases of borrowed clothes And a vial of dramamine from my mother. And she said, "forget what mom likes ‘cause things have changed"; Taught me how to make booze at home: Call it "old uncle zeke" and drink it early next week. Now, if there's anything i've had enough of it's today. It's nice to go nautical when choosing a doormat. Oh so nice to go nautical when choosing a doormat: I trust my navy nurse smile will put them on their feet again; I know my navy nurse smile will put them on their feet again. Save a glacier name for my daughter For when the snow turns red when the train pulls away. Listen to them whisper: (she's alert, she's open-minded, she's involved) (she's alert, she's open-minded, she's involved). So on a warm winter night— On a worry-free winter night (still a woman who enjoys feminine props, Like a filmy sky crowded with filmy white clouds) In parrot green and lemon yellow Appeared champagne's daughter (sitting in a blue lacquered chair With wide gypsy stripes). Now, if there's anything i've had enough of it's today. For it seems no matter whether i weekend in nice or newark, As it were, i get no peace. "so you shirk The excursion and watch them remove from the hold This year's champion dwarf marigold?" But as there's no snakeroot anywhere on the vessel, Or at any of the scheduled landings, And certainly no leopard flower At least he's a first-class gold brick. (she's alert, she's open-minded, she's involved) (she's alert, she's open-minded, she's involved).) Took the velvet-caped me (let me tell you) from the golden slope. Riding the golden gulf weave, Park this florida houseboat On the rocky coast so i can see. Sit side by side beside myself me. On a ninety inch sofa and matching loveseat, Listen to them whisper: If there's anything i've had enough of it's tonight. Uncle charlie Listen, i'm so unbored "the magic word is relax". I'll rub ho-toi, his god of happiness, The one that came with or without boys, And make my wish for the day: No more revenge cobbler or whiskey pie. My cheeks will be the color of dead jellyfish lying on the beach. Let me tell you how Many 18th century grandfather clocks can you squeeze into your neighbors' niches. (if only i knew.) I offered: become a collector of small objects. Make my wish for the day: No more revenge cobbler or whiskey pie. My cheeks will be the color of dead jellyfish lying on the beach. Was i a senior junior appraisal appraiser at mistie's auction hut in centereach Or was i a low level high level appraiser of appraisal at snugaby's Crazy quilts and collectibles collection in hempsted hollow? I can hardly remember. Last year uncle charlie sang a different tune: "the two words i hate most are ‘good enough'." Flipped through the sliding slack racks: "look at what it says on my red-patched pocket: If you're going to be something, why not be something special?" Pull out the loathsome weeds. Don't worry big girl; He sat me down on his handmade mexican mountain chair And showed me his calendar for the next six months. Now make my wish for the day: No more revenge cobbler or whiskey pie. My cheeks will be the color of dead jellyfish lying on the beach. To locate my ex-boyfriend check the yellow pages under plywood. We lived together under a sears bellissimo bedspread. Right by conquest If you wish to wait until dusk i respect your policy. But by all means, my liege, lay siege, lay siege, Or whatever otherwise you might want to call it. We would only be restoring to the rightful from before the migrations of the peoples, you could put it, Or, and i'd prefer, right by conquest. Are the defences, then, to be let down tonight? Yes, or maybe, or not quite? Just a rickety old stockade, i heard, Half diorama plaster and half recovered water-damaged sheet-rock, In which is interred…. It's all that stands in your way, if ‘stands' is the right word. What will you do? Carried off to decorate your bordello! The person who told me believes That the guard, though formerly in the service of duchess of kent, Is an italian greyhound bitch that loves thieves. So you might sing, "well rebecca, get your basket, let's go down to the wood, You might not pick any berries but you'll come back feeling good. Well, all right then." If you wish to wait until dusk i respect your policy. But by all means, my liege, lay siege, lay siege, Or whatever otherwise you might want to call it. We would only be restoring to the rightful from before the migrations of the peoples, you could put it, Or, and i'd prefer, right by conquest. Are the defences, then, to be let down tonight? Yes, or maybe, or not quite? Will you quench these blushes of mine by present practice? Will you, being invited, crack this glass? Here's poison, and here's gold. Quick children! Before you get old! "well rebecca, get your basket, let's go down to the wood, You might not pick any berries but you'll come back feeling good." Restorative beer She tells me about last night and her 103rd first date (she counted). And she counted her pairs of pants again. I've only got 53, minus the ones i've got on. I want a restorative beer So i can take my mind off these tears. I want a restorative beer. Get the catalog free from desert house hg-3 box 111111 albuquerque. Talked on my 25-foot phone extension cord about needlepoint therapy blues. And then i knew I want a restorative beer So i can take my mind off these tears. I want a restorative beer. Wicker whatnots Emma was walking with mandeep and jingjing on the second day of spring Emma was walking with mandeep and jingjing on the second day of spring She said she was sick of her porch pillars and golden axletrees and silver snuffers and all that sort of thing, ‘cause out of the corner of her eye she saw one cherub ten cubits high. You can immolate all those oxen, you can sacrifice so many sheep. You can immolate all those oxen, you can sacrifice so many sheep. You can be surrounded by your four hundred pomegranates and your bright brass shovels, but you still can't hardly sleep, When out of the corner of your eye you see one cherub ten cubits high. How do you arrange a room around a baby grand piano? In the arabian-tented library guest room; In the two-tabled dining room art gallery. And here's one for your party room: An emergency cigarette behind glass. An emergency cigarette behind glass. On a sliding slack rack hangs the calcutta necklace. And the unique stone rubbings i can decorate with giant jacks: With wicker whatnots. With wicker whatnots, In prettier prints with masses of chintz And candy box fabrics. Or the "true meaning of a name" With poem in a frame. Where blue means fair; pink, rain; Purple, variable conditions. Give me mirror magic in the maxi mood And i'll throw away my hollywood chin band. Ulyana, phoebe, and alan knew to say, "we're here for lucy's birthday In the rivoli bar area lounge," but were worried they might be late. Then lucy messaged, "my pa ms. Gill will kindly deal with your queries between 6:30 and 8, Unless out of the corner of your eye you see one cherub ten cubits high." She was accepting cards and small gifts (before the photos) between 9 and 11 She was accepting cards and small gifts (before the photos) between 9 and 11 When gharzi, ovi, roger, and rachel presented her with something that just sent her to heaven: One cherub ten cubits high that she could see out of the corner of her eye. Cabaret of the seven devils Disregard for how and where and with whom You amuse yourself encourages bad behavior. The duke, as was appropriate, held himself in high regard, And therefore considered himself in need of encouragement. He expected the people of madrid render him this service. And as convenient setting for the achievement of this end He established the cabaret of the seven devils. This is what happened: Sick and tired of what passed for diversion at the carnival palace of don diego de cordona So lucky to have him there in the first place, And he certainly was in the first place The duke of medina sidonia, himself, Made up his mind. When he must go back to the ‘capital', Which was soon, "and which i hate," He would take his exercise in the town. The evening in question was a moonless monday. And carrying his own purse, With only one valet (only one but by far his best swordsman) The duke marched into the least auspicious tavern, Tossed his silver bag at whom he assumed was the proprietor And said, or barked, rather, "this establishment will now serve my purposes. And i should like it to be known as the cabaret of the seven devils." 1234567 Pricked in the heart Listen, these are not drunken as you suppose. It might not be 3 o'clock in the morning like it seems: The little children will be prescient. And your young men will see shows, And your old men will dream dreams. I found a typescript double-spaced, Printed out on a daisy-wheel (so all femme). In the former treatise (dear friend theophilus) it was placed, Written by lisa which was present at the doings of them. I gathered all the tokens of her passion, people, Waiting for the promise of her father ("whereof you heard of me"). In the past John baptized with water; now, with wine. But don't weep, he'll make sure: Pricked in the heart the wednesday after last. In a cash and carry next to mt. Olivet (and all around), Megan, mary, lisa, and kenisha gave it out, "stick with me." Or you'll reap the reward of iniquity, Cashed out and carried to possession of a plot of ground. Well, the vapor of smoke came up from the earth beneath, Outside the bodega called beautiful. When it was whom With su and kenisha, under a silver-leaf wreath, Called not fit to sit: might as well have come halt out your mother's womb. I gathered all the tokens of her passion, people, Waiting for the promise of her father ("whereof you heard of me"). In the past John baptized with water; now, with wine. But don't weep, he'll make sure: Pricked in the heart the wednesday after last. A light shined in the lodge and the chains slipped off her hands, So to speak: she packed up her things and she sailed off to cyprus, Sending greetings from felix with a please to put paul on. Misunderstands Me, she, and her all went home (gave up the boast) and left lisa to type us. Widow city Antioch agent wrote a letter per usual Dated it's 100 degrees perpetual, Sent via the swift dromedary traversing her ways On the odd and even days. It said the lion's come up from his thicket And they've managed to void, "my lottery ticket. Drunk on wormwood in widow city, Widow city's drunk on wormwood. Tomorrow night when the sun sets at nine I might need tangle myself with the degenerate plant of a strange little vine. And foxes on the mountain, girls! There're foxes on the mountain, girls. So to negotiate the deserts and pits You can't rely on your dimwits." Wag your head and clean your clocks; Ready for the rendezvous with the sticks and the stocks. Taught the wicked ones the ways said what was sent via the swift dromedary traversing on the odd and even days. Drunk on wormwood in widow city. Widow city's drunk on wormwood. Tomorrow night when the sun sets at nine I might need tangle myself with the degenerate plant of a strange little vine. They've made my chain even heavier if you can imagine.
I'm Going Away
I'm going away I'm going away, I'm going away I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day I'm going away, I'm going away I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day Please tell me man what more can I do Please tell me man what more can I do Lord knows I can't get along with you I'm going away, I'm going away I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day I'm going away, I'm going away I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day Get away from my window quit knocking on my door Get away from my window quit knocking on my door I got another man now can't use you no more I'm going away, I'm going away I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day I'm going away, I'm going away I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day When you're in trouble I work to pay your fine Now I'm in trouble you don't pay me no mind Get away from my window quit knocking on my door I got another man now can't use you no more I'm going away, I'm going away I'll be back some old day I'll be back some old day Drive to Dallas If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do I'm not going to cut my hair or run around the block I'm not going to drive to Dallas with blurry eyes ever again With windshield wipers that can't wipe away my tears And everything I own piled up in the backseat With a speeding ticket from that speed trap town The one that got my license revoked But I never got pulled over Never got questioned No, I never got pulled over Never got questioned But I still drove all around, all around, all around without it If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do I'm not going to cut my hair or run around the block I'm not going to drive to Dallas with blurry eyes ever again No tomorrow won't be the day I drive up to Dallas With red eyes, blurry eyes and dull wipers that no don't work Everything piled up in the backseat so I can't use the mirror You said we had unfinished business but it's finished now You said we had unfinished business but it's finished now You said we had unfinished business but it's finished now If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do If I, if I, I don't know If I, if I, I don't know I don't know, I don't know, I don't know If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do If I see you tomorrow If I see you tomorrow If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do I don't know what I will do If I see you tomorrow What I will do I don't know what I will do I don't know I don't know what I will do If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do If I see you tomorrow I don't know what I will do I'm not going to cut my hair or run around the block I'm not going to drive to Dallas with blurry eyes ever again I'm not going to cut my hair or run around the block I'm not going to drive to Dallas with blurry eyes ever again The end is near The end is near. The end is near, the time has come There ain't no way Nobody will save you now The end is near The end is near, the time has come Don't even think That there's a way out of this Down the road and up the creek, it's over It's such a clear and certain hell of thing, it's over "You're on your own" You're on your own, once upon a time The other night, you couldn't do nothing right "I'm on my own," You said to yourself down on your luck Woe is me, etc. Lonely, see The worst times weren't so bad, compared to this Though that ain't much comfort I might try to reminisce. No. The end is near The end is near, the time has come Don't even think That there's a way out of this The end is near The end is near, the time has come There ain't no way There's nothing will save us now Charmaine champagne She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She likes a strong sangaree that shakes for twelve hours at least She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat And teach me not to get baited with stage whispers like, Can anybody turn me on I saw a girl last night called Charmaine Champagne She wasn't an ex-so and so, not from times square But she went to Johnny Romero's till it was too hot to handle And she's got nothing to show for it; no money, no love But she could always tell you the squarest thing there on the jukebox She could always sing you the squarest thing on the jukebox baby She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She likes a strong sangaree that shakes for twelve hours at least She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat And teach me not to get baited with stage whispers like, Can anybody turn me on I saw that girl again last night called Charmaine Champagne I said show me how to make all those cups and punches We went to Johnny Romero's till it was too hot to handle They said we had to get a quarter pound of peach leaves on a dry and sunny day And she showed me the squarest thing on the jukebox Then she sang me the squarest thing on the jukebox baby She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She likes a strong sangaree that shakes for twelve hours at least She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat And teach me not to get baited with stage whispers like Can anybody turn me on Cut the cake When I heard the news I nearly lost my breath My heart stopped And I held my chest How could it be true, how could it be true I bought ten copies of the paper I tried to buy them all But they wouldn't let me How could it be true, how could it be true I cut out the clip And wallpapered my wall I took it to work to make copies so I could paper the whole house How could it be true, how could it be true I scanned it too So I could show it to my out-of-town friends I wrote a letter to the editor To give praise and a mention to the names they forgot And the answers they didn't question And those answers they didn't question So what's one to do With all this fame and glory Hire a pr firm To tell the rest of the story How could it be true, how could it be true Write it down quick So I can make the 4 o'clock news I know it's only local But if it's what they choose How could it be true, how could it be true We'll celebrate over dinner Maybe dancing too And who cut the cake without any warning Who cut the cake With my special knife Into tiny little pieces for every fella's wife And who cut the cake without any warning Who cut the cake With my special knife Into tiny little pieces for every fella's wife How could it be true, how could it be true How could it be true, how could it be true How could it be true, how could it be true Even in the rain
You wore your wrestling badge from your wrestling match You wore a t-shirt over your suit that says you just won state I guess I still don't mind that you were late I guess we must have done a lot of kissing Must have known not what we were missing She followed us to the motel and I lied all the way I rode on the back of your bike all the way to Lake Geneva I let you wear the helmet even though you never offered anyway Even in the rain, even in the rain Even in the rain, even in the rain, even in the rain This could be the day the earth stood still Take it from me I know we've had our fill Never been this calm as I wander ‘round Never bring harm to those that I surround Well I keep consuming to avoid my own thoughts, they tell me Love keeping busy, love keeping busy at any old cost But there's nothing I could say would keep my mind off of you And there's nothing I could do to keep my mind from thinking of you Even in the rain, even in the rain Even in the rain, even in the rain, even in the rain She followed us to the motel and I lied all the way I rode on the back of your bike all the way to Lake Geneva I let you wear the helmet even though you never offered anyway Even in the rain, even in the rain Even in the rain, even in the rain, even in the rain Even in the rain, even in the rain Even in the rain, even in the rain, even in the rain She followed us to the motel and I lied all the way I rode on the back of your bike all the way to Lake Geneva I let you wear the helmet even though you never offered anyway Even in the rain, even in the rain Even in the rain, even in the rain, even in the rain Even in the rain, even in the rain Even in the rain, even in the rain, even in the rain Staring at the steeple You followed me to Manchester To meet the guy who says my name You heard him say my name You heard him say my name And now you gotta know where he stands from Inside a booth or behind a desk Or on his own two feet Now we're gonna sit down Sit down face to face I'm staring at the steeple I'm staring at the steeple I wonder who's preaching They say it's two women in there They say one wears a robe One wears a crystal One keeps time The other keeps a pistol He sent me a check for a thousand dollars I thought it was a gift but boy was I wrong Now I'm supposed to go and cash his check And give it out dollar at a time Hand it out penny by penny, penny by penny, penny by penny I'm staring at the steeple I'm staring at the steeple I wonder who's preaching They say it's two women in there They say one wears a robe One wears a crystal One keeps time The other keeps a pistol If I can't help you nobody can If you can't talk to me, who can you turn to If you don't make up your mind now I'm going to make it up for you The days are getting darker and I'm all alone We're practically married but no you're never at home I'm staring at the steeple I'm staring at the steeple I wonder who's preaching They say it's two women in there They say one wears a robe One wears a crystal One keeps time The other keeps a pistol Ray Bouvier Ray Bouvier made me shoot the shoe He won the local lottery and took us out We put a barricade down the middle of the bed But that didn't stop me from looking down the barrel Well I thought I was thinking, but apparently not Well I thought I was thinking, but apparently not Ray Bouvier made me shoot the shoe I kept the bullet as a souvenir and Took it to the knife show to carve out my name and the date But it was too heavy to wear around my neck Well I thought I was thinking, but apparently not Well I thought I was thinking, but apparently not Ray Bouvier made me shoot the shoe If Kristi kills me I'll know who told her We've never kept secrets from each other at all But luckily, it wasn't her favorite pair Well I thought I was thinking, but apparently not Well I thought I was thinking, but apparently not Ray Bouvier made me shoot the shoe He took us out drinking after he won the local lottery We put a barricade down the middle of the bed But the smoke never cleared from the room, not at all Well I thought I was thinking, but apparently not Well I thought I was thinking, but apparently not Keep me in the dark The bazaar in ouarzazate Had an emerald for sale, we heard In the silver band were etched the initials of you know who His momma pawned the gulf stream Returned the antiquities to Italy Said in no uncertain terms buy it back for my youngest son Please don't tell me nothing I'd rather, tell me nothing Keep me in the dark With the opposite of anything Please don't tell me nothing I'd rather, tell me nothing Keep me in the dark With the opposite of anything Please don't tell me nothing I'd rather, tell me nothing Keep me in the dark With the opposite of anything Please don't tell me nothing I'd rather, tell me nothing Keep me in the dark With the opposite of anything Went through my per diems By the middle of the morning You won't mind me writing my own receipts for boys or smoke Contracted three merchant fevers Embellished two early evenings At an arcade in the afternoon looked back and forth with you know who Oh please, don't tell me nothing No I'd rather tell me nothing I keep me in the dark With the opposite of anything Please, don't tell me I'd rather tell me Keep me in the dark Oh keep me in the dark Please don't tell me nothing I'd rather, tell me nothing You keep me in the dark With the opposite of anything Please don't tell me nothing I'd rather, tell me nothing You keep me in the dark With the opposite of anything No, no... Lost at sea
There was a time I was proud to be me But now I'm all Lost at sea There was a time when I couldn't complain But now it's you I only blame Baby I'm, baby I'm, baby I'm, baby I'm, baby I'm Maybe I'm not me There was a time I was happy to know you Because you were me And I was you But now I wish I had left you Without knowing All of his feelings Baby I'm, baby I'm, baby I'm, baby I'm, baby I'm Maybe I'm not me You were my best friend And I pulled out the rug from under your feet I can't believe I had the nerve to leave you standing out on the street There was a time I was proud to be me But now I'm all Lost at sea Baby I'm, baby I'm, baby I'm, baby I'm, baby I'm Maybe I'm not me
Cups & punches I saw a black girl last night called Charmaine Champaign She wasn't a worn out ex-so-and-so, no not from times square But she went to Johnny Romero's till it was too hot to handle And she's got nothing to show for it: no money, no love But she could tell me the squarest thing on the jukebox She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat Teach me not to get baited with stage whispers Like, "can anybody turn me on?" Show me how to make cups and punches It's so simple without a simple syrup You have to gather a quarter pound of young peach leaves on a dry and sunny day And the cost is so uncertain since peach leaves are seldom sold She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She likes a strong sangaree that shakes for twelve hours Keeps warm for twelve months, then sits for six months more Then she's gonna sing me the squarest thing on the jukebox She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat Take me round again Take me round again in the wildwood where the bluebells grew With the merry widow waltz singing take me back to New York town When the birds in Georgia sing of Tennessee Fifty miles from Boston When a fellow's on the level with a girl that's on the square That's the talk of New York town Well I've got rings on my fingers I saw a show called Carrie marry Harry Down among the sugar cane, listen Lester When a fellow's on the level with a girl that's on the square The longest way round is the sweetest way home I wonder who's kissing her now In Brattleboro Vt performing with the people's choral union The longest way round is the sweetest way home With the merry widow waltz At the fatal wedding the Dalton boys And the Dalton boys ran a simple game I've got rings on my fingers See saw, Margery Daw Well I've got rings on my fingers I saw a show called Carrie marry Harry Down among the sugar cane, listen Lester When a fellow's on the level with a girl that's on the square The longest way round is the sweetest way home I wonder who's kissing her now At the fatal wedding in Brattleboro Vt Performing with the people's choral union Where death got married til nothing ‘cept yourself do you part I've got rings on my fingers Nobody knows, nobody cares Listen Lester The Dalton boys ran a simple game Where my caravan has rested See saw, Margery Daw Yeah I've got rings on my fingers I saw a show called Carrie marry Harry Down among the sugar cane, listen Lester When a fellow's on the level with a girl that's on the square The longest way round is the sweetest way home I wonder who's kissing her now With the Japanese tragedienne And the old Nestor company at the Blondeau tavern At the new Amsterdam theatre playing "a Parisian romance" Down among the sugar cane The man who owns Broadway up in a balloon I saw a show called Carrie marry Harry I wonder who's kissing her now Yeah I've got rings on my fingers I saw a show called Carrie marry Harry Down among the sugar cane, listen Lester When a fellow's on the level with a girl that's on the square The longest way round is the sweetest way home I wonder who's kissing her now In the wildwood where the bluebells grew That's the talk of New York town When the birds in Georgia sing of Tennessee Take me round again When a fellow's on the level with a girl that's on the square Singing take me back to New York town With the scandal of the Honduras lottery Fifty miles from Boston I've got rings on my fingers I saw a show called Carrie marry Harry Down among the sugar cane, listen Lester When a fellow's on the level with a girl that's on the square The longest way round is the sweetest way home I wonder who's kissing her now Listen Lester I've got rings on my fingers Nobody knows, nobody cares Where my caravan has rested The Dalton boys ran a simple game, In Brattleboro Vt performing with the people's choral union See saw, Margery Daw At the fatal wedding Well I've got rings on my fingers I saw a show called Carrie marry Harry Down among the sugar cane, listen Lester When a fellow's on the level with a girl that's on the square The longest way round is the sweetest way home I wonder who's kissing her now
Non Albums Tracks
Down At The So And So On Somewhere Trigonometry tutors often go to dance class three times a week You taught me that at some point that night Connecting dots tangent to your cheek You check your timewarp watch in the car The angle ain't all oblique There we were Down at the so and so on somewhere Cross town from where we were some other time Don't you remember we were happy there Can you remember it right now I can picture powder blue matches in the mirrors and I had to go Get things at the gas station fast forward to the last time and apropos Of nothing, called you up in a car the very same color so It couldn't have been cuter Down at the so and so on someplace Not far from where you lived some other time Don't you remember we were happy then Can you remember when right now The dog's asleep in its crate And everything is right with the world perhaps But I wouldn't see you like that again for years Now one can't make good the gaps I wake up trying to text emoticons and XO all caps Would you meet me Down at the so and so on somewheres When was it ever enough, was never enough Don't you remember we were happy there Can you remember it right There we were Down at the so and so on somewhere When was it ever enough, was never enough Don't you remember we were happy there Can you remember it right now
I'm Leaving
( Sunday Nights - The Songs of Junior Kimbrough )
Well, I'm leaving, I'm leaving, I'm leaving I'm leaving you babe I'm going Well, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry right now Oh, girl, then I ain't Well, I'm leaving, I'm leaving Leaving you babe Oh, girl, then I'm going Well, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry right now Oh, girl, then I feel so bad Well, I'm leaving, I'm leaving, I'm leaving I'm leaving you babe I'm going Well, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry right now Oh, girl, then I feel so bad
Norwegian Wood ( This Bird Has Flown Tribute to the Beatles LP ) I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me She showed me her room, isn't it good, norwegian wood She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine We talked until two and then she said, it's time for bed She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath And when I awoke I was alone, this bird had flown So I lit a fire, isn't it good, norwegian wood
One More Time ( Uncut - White Riot: A Tribute To The Clash Volume 1 ) Must I get a witness? for all this misery There's no need to, brothers everybody can see That its one more time in the ghetto you know One more time if you please now One more time to the dying man They say one more time if you please The old lady kicks karate For just a little walk down the street The little baby he knows kung fu He tries it on those he meets Cos its a one more time! Cos it's a one more time in the ghetto One more time if you please One more time for the dying man One more time to be free You don't need no silicone to calculate poverty Watch when Watts town burns again The bus goes to Montgomery Cos it's a one more time in the ghetto One more time this year One more time for the dying man One more time if you please One more time
Winter ( The fall Cover / Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One LP )
Entrances uncovered Street signs you never saw All entrances delivered Courtesy winter Entrances uncovered Street signs you never saw All entrances delivered Courtesy winter The mad kid walked left-side south-side towards me He was about seven His mother was a cleaning lady She had a large black dog And the mad kid said "Gimme the lead Gimme the lead Gimme the lead" I'd just walked past the alcoholics' dry-out house The lawn was littered with cans of Barbican There was a feminist's Austin Maxi parked outside With anti-nicotine anti-nuclear stickers on the side On the inside and they didn't even smoke Anyway two weeks before the mad kid had said to me "I'll take both of you on, I'll take both of you on" And then he seemed the young one He had a parka on and a black cardboard Archbishop's hat With a green-fuzz skull and crossbones He'd just got back from the backward kids' party Anyway then he seemed the young one But now he looked like the victim of a pogrom Entrances uncovered Street signs you never saw All entrances delivered Courtesy winter Entrances uncovered Street signs you never saw All entrances delivered Courtesy winter