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Mississippi
Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo
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On the day that I was born
Daddy sat down and cried
I had the mark just as plain as day
which could not be denied
They say that Cain caught Abel
rolling loaded dice,
ace of spades behind his ear
him not thinking twice
Halfstep
Mississippi Uptown Toodleloo
Hello baby I'm gone, good-bye
Half a cup of rock and rye
Farewell to you, old Southern sky
I'm on my way -- on my way
If all you got to live for
is what you left behind
get yourself a powder charge
and seal that silver mine
I lost my boots in transit, babe
A pile of smoking leather
Nailed a retread to my feet
and prayed for better weather
Halfstep
Mississippi Uptown Toodleloo
Hello baby I'm gone, good-bye
Half a cup of rock and rye
Farewell to you, old Southern sky
I'm on my way -- on my way |
They say that when your ship comes in
the first man takes the sails
The second takes the afterdeck
the third the planks and rails
What's the point to calling shots?
This cue ain't straight in line
Cueball's made of Styrofoam
and no one's got the time
Halfstep
Mississippi Uptown Toodleloo
Hello baby I'm gone, good-bye
Half a cup of rock and rye
Farewell to you, old Southern sky
I'm on my way -- on my way
Across the Rio Grand-eo
Across the lazy river
Across the Rio Grand-eo
Across the lazy river
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Althea
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I told Althea I was feeling lost
lacking in some direction
Althea told me upon scrutiny
my back need protection
I told Althea that treachery
was tearing me limb from limb
Althea told me: Now cool down boy--
settle back easy, Jim
You may be Saturday's child all grown
moving with a pinch of grace
You may be a clown in the burying ground
or just another pretty face
You may be the fate of Ophelia
sleeping and perchance to dream--
honest to the point of recklessness
self-centered to the extreme
Ain't nobody messing with you but you
your friends are getting most concerned-- |
loose with the truth
maybe it's your fire
but baby. . . . don't get burned
When the smoke has cleared, she said,
that's what she said to me:
You're gonna want a bed to lay your head
and a little smypathy
There are things you can replace
and others you cannot
The time has come to weigh those things
this space is getting hot--
you know this space is getting hot
I told Althea
I'm a roving sign--
that I was born to be a bachelor--
Althea told me: Okay, that's fine--
So now I'm out trying to catch her
Can't talk to me without talking to you
We're guilty of the same old thing
Talking a lot about less and less
And forgetting the love we bring
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| Bird
Song |
| . . . for Janis
All I know is something like a bird
within her sang
All I know, she sang a little while
and then flew on
Tell me all that you know
I'll show you
Snow and rain
If you hear that same sweet song again
will you know why?
Anyone who sings a tune so sweet
is passing by
Laugh in the sunshine
sing
cry in the dark
fly
through the night |
Don't cry now
Don't you cry
Don't you cry
anymore
la-la-la-la
Sleep
in the stars
don't you cry
dry your eyes
on the wind.
La-la-la-la
la . . .
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| China
Cat Sunflower |
Look for a while at the China Cat Sunflower
proud-walking jingle in the midnight sun
Copper-dome bodhi drip a silver kimono
like a crazy-quilt stargown
through a dream night wind.
Krazy Kat peeking through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire
like a diamond-eyed Jack
A leaf of all colors plays
a golden string fiddle
to a double-E waterfall over my back |
Comic book colors on a violin river
crying Leonardo words
from out a silk trombone
I rang a silent bell
beneath a shower of pearls
in the eagle wing palace
of the Queen Chinee
"Nobody ever asked me the meaning of this song. People
seem to know exactly what I'm talking about. It's good that a few things
in this world
are clear to all of us." - Robert Hunter
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| Eyes
of the World |
Right outside this lazy summer home
you don't have time to call
your soul a critic, no
Right outside the lazy gate
of winter's summer home
wondering where the nuthatch winters
Wings a mile long
just carried
the bird
away
Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts
of its own
Wake now, discover that
you are the song that
the morning brings
the heart has its seasons
its evenings
and songs of its own
There comes a redeemer
and he slowly, too, fades away
There follows his wagon behind him
that's loaded with clay
and the seeds that were silent
all burst into bloom and decay
The night comes so quiet
and it's close on the heels of the day |
Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts
of its own
Wake now, discover that
you are the song that
the morning brings
the heart has its seasons
its evenings
and songs of its own
Sometimes we live no
particular way but our own
Sometimes we visit your country
and live in your homes
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own
Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts
of its own
Wake now, discover that
you are the song that
the morning brings
the heart has its seasons
its evenings
and songs of its own
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| Help
On The Way |
Paradise waits
on the crest of a wave
her angels in flame
She has no pain
Like a child, she is pure
She is not to blame
Poised for flight
Wings spread bright
Spring from night
into the sun
Don't stop to run
She can fly like a lie
She cannot be outdone
Tell me the cost
I can pay
Let me go
Tell me love is not lost
Sell everything
Without love, day to day,
insanity's king |
I will pay
day by day
anyway
Lock, bolt, and key
Crippled but free
I was blind
all the time
I was learning to see
Help on the way
I know only this
I've got you today
Don't fly away
'cause I love what I love
and I want it that way
I will stay
one more day
Like I say
Honey it's you
Without love in the dream
It will never come true
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| Franklin's
Tower |
In another time's forgotten space
your eyes looked through your mother's face
Wildflower seed on the sand and stone
may the four winds blow you safely home
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
You ask me where the four winds dwell
In Franklin's Tower there hangs a bell
It can ring, turn night to day
Ring like fire when you lose your way
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
God help the child who rings that bell
It may have one good ring left, you can't tell
One watch by night, one watch by day
If you get confused, listen to the music play
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew |
Some come to laugh their past away
Some come to make it just one more day
Whichever way your pleasure tends
If you plant ice, you're gonna harvest wind
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
In Franklin's Tower the four winds sleep
Like four lean hounds the lighthouse keep
Wildflower seeds in the sand and wind
May the four winds blow you home again
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
Roll away . . . the dew
You better roll away
the dew. . . .
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