1. |
You Can't Save 'Em All
04:20
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every rooftop unsteady on its studs
every rolled ankle leaning on its crutch
every old drunk stumblin backwards searchin for the wall
every palm tree doubled over in the wind
every man on the street lookin sallow and thin
every broke leg racehorse chewin on the gates of his stall
every yachtsman with a million in the bank
afloat on the sea like a flake in a tank
tyin his wrists to the wheel in the face of a squall
you cant save em all
you cant save em all
you got to choose
who you let fall
way down in the mine
behind them ivy'd walls
they're cryin but lord, dont you know
you cant save em all
every old man folded in his chair
talkin and laughin with nobody there
pressin his lips to a phone that dont nobody call
every shit car pullin back onto the road
squealin its tires and gunnin for home
leavin behind it some shit baby too new to crawl
chorus
every innocent head full of god
down on her knees, surrendered and awed
bobbin in front of the prophet that holds her in thrall
chorus
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2. |
Waiting For Some Drunk
04:27
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on streets, in bars
they do what they do and they do it so hard
man just watchin em makes me tired
they got hearts like brush
just waitin for some drunk to toss out a cigarett butt
so they can all go up in flames together
that guys on fire
man, he's headed straight to the top
he's a little bit younger than me
and a little better lookin than i ever was
that girl, she's on fire
she's practiced her moves in the mirror, now she's lettin em fly
they aint tuckin themselves in tonight
first you're talkin like an asshole
puffed up and brave from the lines
then youre stretched out on the carpet
soaked in three hours ago's wine
singing be good to me
be good to me
be a good new year
now i, i don't know
just how they can smile with that steam rollin out of
their noses
kissin hard with the old year barely closed
is it all some ruse
like, hey man, that ain't champagne thats makeup to
cover the bruise
and hey, let's party, let's get loose
and if you aint got anybody
and you just dont know how little time
and youre savin all your pennies
tryin to scrape up a dime
sing be good to me
be good to me
be a good new year
now i'm starin at the numbers
tryin to slow down the time
but the wheels keep clickin over
and theres no one to pin for the crime
be good to me
be good to me
be a good new year
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3. |
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some people are born strange
as a fact of the blood
some people are loose change
pennies sinkin in the mud
they say the devil made the world out of sand and clay
and planted it with seeds that never sprung
this world wants a big rain
this world wants a flood
white haired hunchin over his vows
dreamin of the new bride
who's gonna carry him over through a carved cross door
to a home in the pine
they say a man and a fire go out the same way
cold ashes can't be stoked
but even when the cedar log's vanished in the flames
you can smell its bitter smoke
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4. |
Good News
02:48
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gather round me
all you bucks
with antlers lowered
and ears pricked up
cause i got the good news
been lifted up
i seen the shape
of what's to come
ain't no dues
ain't no debts
ain't no shirt
stained with sweat
aint no chamber
loaded up
aint no bottom
in that cup
ain't no play
nor work
ain't no sky
just dirt
gather round me
all you does
bring your sorrows
trials and woes
let them fall
just like dirt
from an upraised spade
in the yard of a church
aint no play
nor work
ain't no sky
just dirt
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5. |
Bar All the Doors
03:17
|
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there is no cage
there is no bond
there is no chain
can hold you for long
there is no end
dead as it looks
the road may vanish but you can
run through the bush
and if they bar all of the doors
and leave you stampin your feet on the concrete floors
you can run through the windows
there is no vest
plastic or steel
no heavy door
no sturdy keel
there is no gun
of any gauge
no useless lover
that can keep you safe
and if you bar all of the doors
and curl up easy on your hardwood floors
they just come through the window
|
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6. |
No Trouble at All
04:23
|
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see that michigan moonlight
how it pours over the leaves
thats the way my mind runs
over my memories
every brittle carcass
shook loose from its bough
and stripped of its summer colors
looks like silver now
leave it alone
i'll carry it home
it aint no trouble at all
i was young and able
i also was a fool
i never met a table
i wouldnt pull my chair up to
oh rosa she was easy
olive she was light
now im old and faded
honeys where are you tonight
dont leave me alone
who's gonna carry me home
now it aint no trouble at all
even on my best sunday
my voice ringing ragged and full
breakin here in sorrow
then howlin a sinners doom
yes even at the pulpit
shinin in my deepest black
in my heart i never
bought into my act
leave it alone
i'll carry it home
now it aint no trouble at all
i was no believer
still i really aint
though i been known to quiver
when i see those rollin saints
lord of wooden benches
lord of bended knees
god of no defenses
come on pull this off of me
don't leave me alone
come on and carry me home
i know it aint no trouble at all
|
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7. |
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o jesus, come and raise me
like lazarus from dust to flesh
i'm worn, i'm goin crazy
i'll do whatever you suggest
i'm inclined
i'm inclined
to throw my hands up
i was born far from my home
i looked but i couldnt find it
i saddled up my days
i fitted them with blinders
i rode until they fell
a-heavin in the meadow
then i broke that ponys bones
and i sucked away the marrow
now im inclined
im inclined
to throw my hands up
o jesus come on down and rescue me
im tied to the world and i cant get free
i never asked no one for anything
now come on down here and rescue me
o jesus, you little kitten
you gutless little rainbow
ive rent my garments ragged
im holy as an angel
i dont believe in mercy
i never read the bible
and i dont need no forgiveness
i need bullets and a rifle
but im inclined
im inclined
to throw my hands up
|
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8. |
Outside in the Snow
03:45
|
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take your pride
throw it on the ground
put on a shepherd's cap
to replace your crown
abandon your wingtips
for a sturdier shoe
you got a long way to go
better lace up your boots
there is only
one place to go
when you're a once high and mighty
out shovelin coal
you got to stand
(stand outside)
you got to stand
(stand outside)
you got to stand
(stand outside)
outside canossa in the snow
take your meat
feed it to the dogs
take all your fine dishes
dash them on the rocks
human kindness
is a skinny old cow
but you've got no other milk
to rely on now
what can you do
when your luck gets thin
when you can pile all your riches
on the head of a pin
chorus
there's a line behind your heels
that you cant step back across
youre a free man now and like all free men
youve got to beg for the things youve lost
you can walk all the way to the eastern coast,
press on to the western shore
but youll never, never, never be free
'til you beg at the foot of the door
chorus
when all your money
all your fortunate bread
flips over the rail with the six horse
when he breaks to the left
when youre down
and your friends turn their backs
when youre scroungin for tickets
while they close down the track
chorus
|
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9. |
It's Easy to Be Strange
03:36
|
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once i had a wife, i had three children
i left them in the rain outside a hilton
it's been so many years i keep forgettin why,
i guess i had to die to keep on livin
and once i had a mother, one that bore me
but i killed the boy she carried, now i'm only
jack the strange, i'm pickin up whatever's thrown me
oh lord, it's easy to be strange
i'm livin now up north across the border
i been workin these few months as a loader
i got a woman, i suspect that i wont know her in a year,
maybe i'll head south towards dakota
nobody and no place is gonna keep me
you ask me if it's hard i say it's easier by far
i'm gonna keep my wheels beneath me
oh lord, its easy to be strange
|
||||
10. |
||||
call out your cavalry, strike up the band
put on your most convincing air of command
i know when i've been dealt a shitty hand
call out your cavalry, strike up the band
i'll wear any chains, i don't want to be free
like a tiger born in a cage, i wouldn't know what to
do with me
i don't want to run to live to fight another day
i'm ready to be the prisoner in your victory parade
call out your cavalry, strike up the band
your easy victory is close at hand
i'll fight just hard enough to keep you looking grand
call out your cavalry, strike up the band
get your tallest hat, shine up your boots
get a tailor to let out your ill-fitting generals suit
i dont want to waste my time pretending i can win
i'm throwin up my hands, i'm turnin myself in
call out your cavalry, strike up the band
put on your most convincing air of command
i know when i've been dealt a shitty hand
call out your cavalry, strike up the band
measure out your beams, i'll look good on a cross
hitch a yoke around my neck, let me haul your wagon boss
i don't want to keep you from the crowds callin your
name
now take me to your market square, let them call out my fate
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