| Wherefore And Why When I woke this morning, something inside of me told me this would be my day. I heard the morning train, I felt the wind change too many times, I'm on my way. Come on sunshine, what can you show me? Where can you take me to make me understand? The wind can shake me, brothers forsake me, the rain can touch me, but can I touch the rain? And then I saw the sunrise above the cotton sky like a candy cane delight. I saw the milkman, I saw the businessman, I saw the only road in sight. Then I got to thinking, what makes you want to go to know the wherefore and the why? So many times now, oh Lord, I can't remember if it's September or July. Then all at once it came to me, I saw the wherefore, and you can see it if you try. It's in the sun above, it's in the one you love, you'll never know the reason why. Come on sunshine, what can you show me? Where can you take me to make me understand? The wind can shake me, brothers forsake me, the rain can touch me, but can I touch the rain, so much to lose, so much to gain. The Last Time I Saw Her The last time I saw her face, her eyes were bathed in starlight and her hair hung long. The last time she spoke to me her lips were like the scented flowers inside a rain-drenched forest. But that was so long ago that I can scarcely feel the way I felt before, and if time could heal the wounds, I would tear the threads away that I might bleed some more. The last time I walked with her, her laughter was the steeple bells that ring to greet the morning sun, a voice that called to everyone to love the ground she walked upon, those were good days. The last time I held her hand, her touch was autumn, spring and summer, and winter too. The last time I let go of her, she walked a way into the night. I lost her in the misty streets, a thousand months, a thousand miles. When other lips will kiss her eyes a million miles beyond the moon, that's where she is. But that was so long ago that I can scarcely feel the way I felt before, and if time could heal the wounds, I would tear the threads away that I might bleed some more. The last time I saw her face, her eyes were bathed in starlight and she walked alone. The last time she kissed my cheek, her lips were like the wilted leaves upon the autumn covered hills, resting on the frozen ground. The seeds of love lie cold and still beneath a battered marking stone, it lies forgotten. Black Day In July Black day in July, Motor City madness has touched the countryside. And through the smoke and cinders, you can hear it far and wide. The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside, black day in July, black day in July. And the soul of Motor City is bared across the land as the book of law and order is taken in the hands of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land, black day in July, black day in July. In the streets of Motor City is a deadly silent sound and the body of a dead youth lies stretched upon the ground upon the filthy pavement, no reason can be found, black day in July, black day in July. Motor City madness has touched the countryside and the people rise in anger and the streets begin to fill and there's gunfire from the rooftops and the blood begins to spill, black day in July. In the mansion of the governor there's nothing that is known for sure. The telephone is ringing and the pendulum is swinging and they wonder how it happened and they really know the reason and it wasn't just the temperature and it wasn't just the season, black day in July, black day in July. Motor City's burning and the flames are running wild, they reflect upon the waters of the river and the lake and everyone is listening and everyone's awake, black day in July, black day in July. The printing press is turning and the news is quickly flashed and you read your morning paper and you sip your cup of tea and you wonder just in passing is it him or is it me, black day in July. In the office of the President, the deed is done, the troops are sent, there's really not much choice you see, it looks to us like anarchy. And then the tanks go rolling in to patch things up as best they can. There is no time to hesitate, the speech is made the dues can wait, black day in July, black day in July. The streets of Motor City now are quiet and serene but the shapes of gutted buildings strike terror to the heart. And you say how did it happen and you say how did it start? Why can't we all be brothers, why can't we live in peace? But the hands of the have-nots keep falling out of reach, black day in July, black day in July. Motor city madness has touched the countryside and through the smoke and cinders, you can hear it far and wide. The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside. May I Finders, keepers, losers, weepers, ring around the rosy and I'll catch you if I can. And if you don't say may I, then you'll have to start again. But first you must indulge me and count from one to ten, let the game begin. I adore you when you touch me, pin the tail upon the donkey, you will surely win. And if you don't say may I, then I'll pass the cake around and I won't give you any, but you won't make a sound, you don't eat soap, anyhow. Red light, green light, blue light, yellow light, you can take three giant steps or a baby step will do. But if you don't say may I, then I'll march you out the door where you'll be contemplating the numbers one to four, I hope you're keeping score. Cause if you don't say may I, then I'll get you with the hose and spoil your Sunday clothes. Will it please you if I tease you while you're at the spindry, I'll pass the pie around but you won't make a sound, you don't eat blackbird anyhow. There's four and twenty reasons why it can't be wrong, how long have you been gone? Finders, keepers, losers, weepers, Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater, wear your sneakers around sound sleepers. Magnificent Outpouring It is said that all the good things must come to him who can pretend he doesn't have to wait. For as surely as the light of day must come to drive the night away, the needles and the pins, that's where the line begins with your magnificent outpouring of that old familiar story that's been used a million times to ease a million minds. There are times when I have told you that there must be two of us to try to work things out. But if I can't see you every day then I must hide my thoughts away and see you when I can and try to understand with your magnificent outpouring of that old familiar story that's been used a million times to ease a million minds. So let us treat our love like any game. To fan the flames would really be a sin. For as surely as the snow must fall, I shall be waiting for your call, pretending it is spring and you'll be mine again with your magnificent outpouring of that old familiar story that's been used a million times to ease a million minds. Does Your Mother Know Does your mother know you had to go someday? Does your mother know that you would go so fast? Anyway, that's all you think about, you'd call her if you could. But the letters that you write in the faded winter light just tell her, they tell her that you've got ten dollars and you'll be all right and when you get straight you're gonna come back east some day. Does your mother know you have a man in the West? Does your mother know you drove him from your door? Anyway that's all you think about, you'd call her if you could. Does your mother know you walked all day in the rain? Does your mother know how deep your love could be? Anyway that's all you think about, you'd call her if you could. But the letters that you write in the faded winter light just tell her, they tell her that you've got ten dollars and your rent costs eight and when you get straight you're gonna come back east some day. But the letters that you write in the faded winter light, just tell her, they tell her. The Mountains And Maryann All is well, I've made my peace where highways never end. Yesterday's a memory, today is just a friend. For the mountains and Maryann are calling me again, and the red pines will bow their heads, the rivers and the watersheds will swallow up my tears. All is well, I left the cold mid-western towns behind. There's a semi up the road ahead, I'll take him in my time. For the hot-blooded mountain love is calling me again, and the vagabond within me cries, the wind and rain might burn my eyes but I won't feel the pain for the mountains and Maryann will greet me there as only she can do. All is well as I swing up to the border, bent for hell. And the service station man agreed I didn't look too well. But the mountains and Maryann are calling out to me And I got my bedroll on my back and everything that I could pack to see me on my way. All is well, I've made my peace and man, I'm feeling fine. And the losers that I left behind, I'll think about some other time, for the border men were all my friends, they couldn't find a dime. And the prairie towns go sailing by, Saskatchewan there's mud in your eye, I'm leaving you behind, there'll be hot-blooded mountain love to satisfy my soul. And the red pines will bow their heads, the rivers and the watersheds will carry us along and the mountains and Maryann will greet me there as only she can do. All is well, the foothills are coming into sight. Today is just a memory, the future is tonight. And the red pines will bow their heads, the rivers and the watersheds will carry us along and the mountains and Maryann will greet me there as only she can do. Pussywilliows, Cat Tails Pussywillows, cat tails, soft winds and roses, rain pools in the woodland water to my knees shivering, quivering the warm breath of spring. Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses, catbirds and cornfields, daydreams together riding on the roadside, the dust gets in your eyes, reveling, disheveling the summer nights can bring. Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses, slanted rays and colored days stark blue horizons, naked limbs and wheat bins, hazy afternoons, voicing, rejoicing the wine cups do bring. Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses, harsh nights and candle lights, wood fires ablazing, soft lips and fingertips resting in my soul, treasuring, remembering the promise of spring. Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses… I Want To Hear It From You I want to hear it from you, I want to hear it from someone who knows how it is, all the second-hand words seem to get in my way, I want to hear it from you. I want to hear it again, I want to know if the soft scented touch of your lips must be taken away like a mother's first kiss to the life that she gives, I want to hear it from you. I've got a right to get it straight from you, to give my life a different point of view, to find a way to keep from losing you. If you don't know what to say, to understand is my life and the question is why you should cry in the night while your eyes look away every time that I speak and there's nothing to say, I want to hear it from you, I want to hear it from you. Let me know how you feel, you've got to make up your mind, tell me where I can run, when my roof tumbles in? I want to hear it from you, I want to hear it from you. Something Very Special She was something very special to me, the kind of girl you'd like to see in a movie or a rosary. She could be straight-laced or homespun or free and easy on the run, she could be meek and mild or full of fun. She liked country lanes and aeroplanes and cigarettes would make her strange and when she wanted you she made it plain. She would never say where she came from, it didn't seem that she had anyone to answer to or dwell upon. She liked candlelight and good wine and I would call her any time of day or night, she didn't mind. There was nothing that I wouldn't do to prove to her my love was true and she gave to me a dream or two. There were times when she would never appear for days and then she'd disappear, but now the days have turned to years. I was something she could use like a good friend or a pair of shoes or any kind of good news. Now the eastern sky is crimson and red as I lie here in my lonely bed and think about the things she said. She said, darling, there will come a day when I must run far away, I will go my love and you must stay. She departed in the early spring, she didn't leave me anything to follow or to find her. She was something very special to me, the kind of girl you'd like to see in a movie or a rosary. Boss Man Boss man, boss man, what do you say? I gotta get you alone in the mine some day. Boss man, boss man, turn it around, if you don't look away how can I sit down? Look at this load upon my back, gotta get this wheel back on the track. I can't hold on but I can't let go and I can't say yes, I can't say no. Holes in my pockets and holes in my shoes, If you're ready for me I'm ready for you. The company plan takes all my pay, got a child in July and another last May. Boss man, boss man, what do you say? I gotta get you alone in the mine some day. Push your face down in the coal cause you got no heart, you got no soul. Country life's the life for me, in ten more years I'll a pensioner be. The younger lad knows when the girls are out but you might say he's a rural sprout. Boss man, boss man, what do you say? I gotta get you alone in the mine some day. Boss man, boss man, clear the track, you're gonna tear the skin right off-a my back. Boss man, boss man, what do ya say, if you can't lend a hand then get outta my way. It'll be murder in the first degree if you ever lay your hands on me. Boss man, boss man, pay my rent, a dollar I've earned is a dollar I've spent. The company plan takes all my check for breaking my back and risking my neck. Boss man, boss man, what do you say? I gotta get you alone in the mine some day. I can't hold on but I can't let go and I can't say yes I can't say no. Did She Mention My Name It's so nice to meet an old friend and pass the time of day, and talk about the home town a million miles away. Is the ice still on the river, are the old folks still the same and by the way, did she mention my name? Did she mention my name just in passing? And when the morning came, do you remember if she dropped a name or two? Is the home team still on fire, do they still win all the games and by the way, did she mention my name? Is the landlord still a loser, do his signs hang in the hall, are the young girls still as pretty in the city in the fall? Does the laughter on their faces still put the sun to shame and by the way, did she mention my name? Did she mention my name just in passing? And when the talk ran high, did the look in her eye seem far away? Is the old roof still leaking when the late snow turns to rain and by the way, did she mention my name? Did she mention my name just in passing? And looking at the rain, do you remember if she dropped a name or two? Won't you say hello from someone, they'll be no need to explain and by the way, did she mention my name? |
| Did She Mention My Name |