A LOVELY PLACE TO DIE LYRICS
Clarity
Just a little while south on 9 has led me to your town
A brief time in the bottle kept me wondering kept you hanging round
When our eyes met up, I still felt stuck
But all this trying has kept me from dying I’m bound to feel your love
Oh, that clarity
Pulls the smoke out of my dreams
What if you are my missing piece
Then they’ll be more than just a song to sing, my baby
That grocery trip was exactly what I needed
These tunes I give you are to help you in believing
That this nice guy’s past, has burned at last
I won’t return with all I’ve learned just to find I was surpassed
Oh, that clarity,
Pulls the smoke out of my dreams
I think you are my missing piece
You’re much more than just a song to sing (play it bones go)
Ain’t got no promises there’s nothing here to break
Prospects died long ago I left them where they lay
If love was absent, I’d still cherish our mistake
Two broken pieces that could never find their place
We talk of trust and about the time that you’d be leaving
And of the trouble from these lives that we’d be weaving
I’m deaf to fear, I’m numb to tears
Though I won’t blind now to the design of the lines that led me here
Oh, that clarity,
Pulls the smoke out of my dreams
I know you are my missing piece
You’re much more than just a song to sing
Rooster
Rooster, picking through the prison yard
Rooster, living off chicken hearts
May not be living long at least the living ain’t that hard
Rooster, he’s up ‘fore the break of day
Rooster, never kneeled to a bird of prey
Chicken hawk may carry me off but certainly not today
Believer feel the warm sun on your face
Believe her when she says she found her place
Cause she tends this coup and loves you too and you’d better be amazed (I’m amazed)
We sing our song, as the day begins
Carry love above all others here within
We sing our song, as the light grows dim
Leave the night to our brothers when it ends
We sing our song, as the day begins
Carry love above all others here within
We sing our song, as the light grows dim
Leave the night to our brothers when it ends
Rooster, carrying a lion’s heart
Rooster, selling parts as higher art
Top of the line, it ain’t his kind, but he’s fly and that’s a start
Rooster, carrying a lion’s heart
Rock and Roll Man
Baby Blue’s comin’ out tonight
Got the pocket to spend it right
Baby knows when to make the scene
When to order and when to leave, she says
I’m here for hazel eyes
Wait around for my rock’n’roll man
Lines are drawn, hair up tight
Powder my nose and I’m off like a bandit
Baby Blue’s keepin’ out the light
In the shadows she’s catching eyes
Every charmer takes their chance
Shuts it down with a crooked glance, she says
I’m here for hazel eyes
Wait around for my rock’n’roll man
Lines are cast, morning light
Hopes are high but they’ll wake up stranded.
Some get off by staying home
She likes to move towards the danger
There ain’t nothing like getting lost
Finding yourself with a stranger
Fresh tattoo of a lover lies
Behind the color of the night’s disguise
Don’t break stride in the blazing heat
Through the sounds of a crowded street, she says
I’m not scared, don’t ask twice
If you are my rock’n’roll man then
Take my hand let’s roll the dice
We’ll say goodbye whenever we’ve landed
Some get off by staying home
She likes to move towards the danger
There ain’t nothing like getting lost
Finding yourself with a stranger
So long to another man
Stay true to the plan
Now it’s Saturday, Sunday
Her hair looks fine no makeup ran
No time to waste she’s at it again
(I’m here for hazel eyes
Wait around for my rock’n’roll man)
x5
I’m here for hazel eyes
Raging Bull in the Barroom
Well a couple of lies to try and buy a moment alone with you
I’ve found the words and built the nerve to present these riches true
For too long trouble came bubblin’ up from the other room
Should’ve known somebody’d be missing you
Fortune favors fools that’s the way I’ve heard it said
Though the better blade emboldens and that liar ends up dead
Stealin’ a kiss in these parts is worse than stealing bread
Ol’ so and so is seeing red
Now my back’s to the wall
This barroom and I’m thinking soon the law ought be called
Can’t go back to the pen
This raging bull made to play the fool wants my blade against his chin
Got busted booked and bedded in a cell down barrow way
That’s the last time that I trust my life to a woman from Bristol Bay
And I killed her love regardless and I left him where he lay
On the floor of the board of trade
Well this wayward life has led me to a land I can’t pronounce
Inherent vice and poor advice seeking gold by the ounce
I thought this work would lead me to a life of freedom now I’ve got my doubts
I’ve got my doubts, I’ve got my doubts
Now my back’s to the wall
This jail cell in hell I’m thinking there’s six feet left to fall
Can’t take back this life of sin
I’ll just pretend when this life ends I’ll get to start again
I’ll just pretend when this life ends I’ll get to start again
I’ll just pretend when this life ends I’ll get to start again
Oh I’ll just pretend when my life ends I’ll get to start again
Happy Tune
That baby girl what’s she gonna do
I’ve done my share tryna prove my use
Could you use a lover newly recovered from the blues
Oh Lord you speak and she hears it clear
Please tell her the Resurrection’s here
I want her near to spot salvation hiding in the chandelier
Help me take the time to enjoy the work before it’s done
Love her for what’s kept her on the run
For I’ve sang my troubles too
And I’ve resented the color of the blooms
Now all I hear is a happy tune, is it you?
(Call and Response)
We’ve both lived enough to push past the pain
You felt the fall I loved in the rain
It’s not the same as hoping one day we might share our name
Landed in Georgia two hours from home
Just enough time to finish a song
And if I don’t, I’ll rise tomorrow knowing I won’t rise alone
Help me take the time to enjoy the song before it’s sung
Help me find the words for my only one
For I’ve sang my worries too
And I’ve often dug them up from their tombs
Now all I hear is a happy tune it must be you
(Call and Response)
For I’ve sang my troubles too
And I’ve resented the color of the blooms
Now all I hear is a happy tune, it must be you
Noches Largas – Long Nights
Noche larga, me pone a pensar
Mil reflejos, de la luna en el mar
Long nights que todo se empieza a clarar
De madrugada entiendo que fracasé
Hacerte daño, que yo nunca quise
A ver si, me podré perdonar
Me podré perdonar
This should work out naturally
But I won’t let up, won’t let it be
Long nights I’ve had the privilege to be free
Twelve hours of twilight this time of year
Provides dim hindsight then disappears
Long nights I’ve had a reason to deceive
The hours before you wake
I rehearse my own mistakes
For fuck’s sake it breaks me up and brings you down
Deep river darling, sweet hazel eyes
I missed your party and I don’t know why
Bright lights I’ve no reason to see
I see the boys out at half past three
You turned in early, now I’m in the streets
Bright lights I know where you’ll be
Antes de amenecer
Soñando renacer
Allá entre el cielo y la tierra me empiezo a cambiar
The hours before you wake
I rehearse my own mistakes
For fuck’s sake it breaks me up and brings you down
The hours before you wake (antes de amenecer)
I rehearse my own mistakes (soñando renacer)
For fuck’s sake it breaks me up and brings you down
Moving Trees
I feel the wind and watch the moving trees as I avoid all my neighbors
All my friends are growin’ tired of me I’m running out of favors
Patience ain't to my benefit can’t tell to whom it’s tailored
Life once filled with melody now forced to do the labor
Cause I feel time moving in my mind
Though the clock seems to behind
I feel licked less I forget to roll these wheels before the dime
Will the path I made cut into my take?
Will the road ahead show the promises I break?
To prove a life worth livin’ just to make room for something stranger
The riches gained from the gamble now don’t seem quite worth the wager
There was a time not long ago she asked me to take her
But without a drink in hand couldn’t fake the mind to make her
Couldn’t take that time to take her
Cause I feel time moving in my mind thought the clock seems too behind
I feel licked less I forget to roll these wheels before the mind
Will the words I’ve said ever leave my head?
Will the fear what comes next ever let me leave my bed?
Ooh she’s so pretty alone
Ooh so good to me and she’s gone
Ooh she’s so pretty alone
Ooh so good to me and she’s gone
I feel the wind and watch the moving trees as I avoid all my neighbors
All my friends are growin’ tired of me I’m running out of favors
No Doubt About It
Closed doors but an open mind
So many secrets left to find
Always doubting what’s next for me
Keeps me from a life that’s mine
Ain’t no doubt about it, something ‘bout the silence
Draws me closer to the drink
Last time I saw my father, couldn’t even bother
Heavy cost of livin’ free
Sea salt, distant shores
Crashes down on my beliefs
Four walls, empty room
Feel you standing next to me
You can tell me the world is ending
Say change my ways or I’ll be doomed
Ain’t no doubt about it, something ‘bout the silence
Draws me closer to the drink
Last time I saw my father, couldn’t even bother
Heavy cost of livin’ free
Understand, these words I write
Mean no harm to you
Your excuse, a troubled youth
The same past haunts me too
Take me on a runaround
Lead me to the sound, oh the place where it began
I’m a liar now
Believe me anyhow, pick a part to understand
Ain’t no doubt about it, something ‘bout the silence
Draws me closer to the drink
Last time I saw my father, couldn’t even bother
Heavy cost of livin’ free
Road to Make Believe
I’ve danced with every kind of honkytonk angel
I cash my paychecks in the bar
And on Friday nights I’ve been known to succumb to their western charm
Neon smoke floats through everything lately
Can’t keep the whiskey in the jar
It’s always weekend, night time, same wheels, wrong dime again
Well the sound was kinda muddy and we couldn’t harmonize
They say we wasn’t worth the money, a sea of heedless empty eyes
They say this town wasn’t put here for us, should’ve known it wasn’t right
But on this road to make believe, just passing through we’re doing fine
On to the next town, on to the next round
Tip jar bailed us out again
Jimmy’s off with the tender
Joey’s sleeping off a bender in the van
Watching the horizon, thinking about her eyes and
Wondering if she’ll understand
The life you chose may also expose all the faults in her master plan
Foot on the gas, fogging up the glass
Cutting lines in the snow
Over one more pass we’ll be home at last
Just seventeen miles to go
Well the sound was kinda muddy and we couldn’t harmonize
They say we wasn’t worth the money, a sea of heedless empty eyes
They say this town wasn’t put here for us, should’ve known it wasn’t right
But on this road to make believe, just passing through we’re doing fine
(We’re doing fine)
Shape of Things
Mama do you know the shape of my thoughts?
These triangles and rectangles they tangle up my mind
Don’t sit around for me baby
Or watch this lost one’s fate
Don’t sit around my pretty girl
Don’t believe the lies my pretty girl
There’s only one who can walk into the night
If I stay now lord, it wouldn’t be right
Don’t send no love my way
Or watch this bastard’s fate
Mama do you now the shape of goodbye?
How do you know which bye means goodbye?
Does it show in their face?
With those I show my fate
And if you have to go so far away
Then go far away, go far away
Go far away, go far away
Mama is this your idea of goodbye?
Would it feel more real if I cried?
Tell me is it too late?
For our love to reshape (one more again)
Show me is it too late?
For our love to reshape
Surrender
I am the son of a red clay rambler
Who bent the land to his will
His whole life he wrestled with the devil
Was it cedar square or science hill
Had to turn his head from violence
To keep us kids out of the gale
But surrendering was the hardest thing
What do you hammer if not a nail?
My mother was a dark haired angel
A sort of Denton debutante
She had to search to find her power
In some little Texas restaurant
Had to turn to her head from judgement
A lesson Martha taught her well
But surrendering was the hardest thing
Set that course without a sail
If we all keep our heads up maybe we'll end up fighting on the same side
Show those cards with their face down they’re no good now even if you’re right
But what is a party without a fight?
Sometimes we sing to keep from crying
Sometimes we have to write it down
But surrendering was the hardest thing
Young No More
Walked up and the bouncer asked me
Excuse me sir can I see your ID?
Part of the job man you look pretty young to me
I chuckled and I thanked him twice
For doing me a favor this far into life
Ordered up a round and said I feel pretty young tonight
Well I ain’t that old, I ain’t young no more
You know I’ve done a lot of living but I got more to prove for sure
From what I’ve been told, if you wanna stay pure
You gotta love em like you leave em never live like you did before
Little lady sat right next to me
Pretty as hell a little pale in the cheeks
Said I ain’t bashful and you look pretty good to me
Both postured and we said our piece
And talked about a little catch and release
Til I found out she was born in 2003
She says you ain’t that old but you ain’t young no more
I bet you got a lot to teach me and you know that’s what the night is for
If I may be so bold, what’s mine is yours
I know you’ve loved a lot but you could always use a little more (that’s what she told me)
Getting late towards the end of night
Fella approached me with his hair turned white
Said excuse me son do you think that you’re living right?
Not right but I’m living just the same
Said close enough and he asked my paw’s name
We shared a beer and our song sounded much the same
If you think you’re old, try sixty-four
When the good times are past you and the simple things are now a chore
If I may be so bold, you shouldn’t be so sore
You still got a lot of riches us old folks can’t afford (let’s get out of here boys)
Well I ain’t that old, I ain’t young no more
You know I’ve done a lot of living but I got more to prove for sure
From what I’ve been told, if you wanna stay pure
You gotta love em like you leave em never live like you did before