if i was a young man again
would i put myself on that train
that took me from you
when we were young and in love
i knew it was forever
during the war as a soldier
i waited for your letters
that didn’t come
you must have sent letters it seems
or at least you did in my dreams
when i returned, i married
we raised up a child
my daughter is grown and my loving wife
long since has died
and i think of you
©
there’s a drummer in my living room
playin’ music all day long
and a singer always steps right in
makes up words to a new song
before you know it, the house is rockin’
people dancing outside the door
then somebody hears a knockin’
it’s the police . they’re sayin’
you can’t play that music any more
we said hey, policman step right in
we’ve got nothin’ to hide
if you really want to come into my house
you’ve got to leave that gun outside
don’t you know that ol’ guy did it
left his gun outside the door
after he came in and danced awhile
he didn’t need that stupid ol’ gun
… any more
there’s a drummer in my living room
playin’ music all day long
a singer always steps right in
makes up words to a new song
before you know it the house is rockin’
people dancing outside the door
then somebody hears a knockin’
it’s the police again, he says
can i come in and dance some more?!
©
©
oh vivian, little trevor
you came in the hard way
blazing a trail before you
they named you for the storm
but your heart is full of sweetness
tantrums filled with passion
the love that comes out from you
will keep your folks warm
when the clouds gather over head
thunder rumbles in my ear
the two of you come to my mind
as the storm gathers near
then the sun peaks ’round the edge
of those clouds that did deliver you
i remember our happiness
when trevor made it to two
vivian
big brother trevor
i wish for you a good life
lazy summer sunshine
bluegrass in the rain
when those clouds come to greet you
you’ll answer with a smile
stand up and say i am the storm
then dance on down the lane
vivian, little trevor
oh, vivian, big brother trevor
oh, vivian
©
©
mind goin’ a million miles an hour
stephanie, stephanie
it must be the battery
stephanie, it must be, y’know
it’s run by electricity
how’d you know that, son?
that a battery might make it run
that a battery holds ‘lectricity
did somebody explain?
or is it just your amazing brain
running rampant as it’s always done
but no
it’s the watch in the video tray
that you or teak put in to play
oh, abel
mind goin’ a million miles an hour
stephanie, stephanie
mario runs up the slide
stephanie, he’s got to go
up over the great divide
how’d you know that, son?
which direction mario needs to run
just exactly where he needs to hide
did you write it all down?
his escape route in monster town?
you had a mind like the rising sun
and now
my heart is breaking to see you go
where the sky meets the fallen snow
abel
mind goin’ a million miles an hour
stephanie, stephanie
i wish you had seen me change
stephanie, i fell in love
with the blessed high mountain range
how’d you do that, son?
go from anger to so much fun
becoming one with the wilderness
did somebody teach you?
how did you know to push on through?
you’re heart wide open to everyone
my boy
we’re so thankful we had you here
all i can do is shed a tear
abel
©
whether you make it
whether you don’t
your name is on my mind
whether you come back
or you stay gone
we won’t forget you
we won’t let you go alone
whether you’re here now
or you’re just a memory
i see you clear as the moon is round
whether your whisper
is just a fantasy
i’m gonna listen for you
i know what’s missing
which way are you bound
we know how the sun shines
we know how a tear blinds
we don’t know which way the road winds
but it takes us home
whether you hear me
or you’re too far beyond
i’m gonna cry your name
whether you answer
or you keep traveling on
we know you’re out there
we’ll see you somewhere in times to come
take back the verdict
we don’t understand your reason
take back the verdict
we don’t understand your view
take back the verdict
this decision’s worse than treason
if you don’t take back this judgement
there ain’t nothing we can do
to stop the war in l.a.
all the people are uprising
there’s war in the bay
we are certain what we saw
there’s a war on the way
every color sympathizing
reevaluate your judgement
or eliminate the law
©
where do we walk? we walk in the fire
where do we dance? we dance on the moon
just like that grandmother living inside her
we have the power of life in the womb
we cannot sail by the breath of the north wind
without protection from impending doom
look, there is guidance in the sun’s reflection
womanpath in the cycles of the moon
each step we take on our path through the fire
give us the freedom to take one step more
just like old jericho, as we desire
the walls will crumble we’ll dance through the door
©
the morning was so normal
the afternoon was, too
i took the day in stride
a thing i always do
then off to a good friend’s house
i rode there on my bike
just to see on the tv news
a thing i didn’t like
there was that anchor lady she was
tellin’ us the news
i didn’t think that we were gonna
end up with the blues
your picture flashed across the screen
sadness crossed my mind
i knew she was about to say
a thing that was unkind
before that woman read her story
tears came to my eyes
then she read the words before her
john lennon dies
john lennon dies
at the mercy
of a man without a cause
he called your name
then he shot you down . now you’re gone
at the mercy of a man without a cause
he called your name
he looked you in the eye
he pulled the trigger
then he watched you die
you’ll never write another song
you’ll ask for peace no more
but at least there’s one good thing
you won’t be here for the war
even though your body’s gone
your song remains the same
we won’t forget your energy
we won’t forget your name
it’s sad the things some people do
that’s the way things are
your life here has been sacrificed
we’ve lost another star
we’ve lost another star
at the mercy
of a man without a cause
i guess he couldn’t stand your fame
he couldn’t let it be
he took your life on earth
but i think he set you free
i know he set you free
he set you free
© 1980
©
there’s no stain on your collar . no sweat rollin’ down your brow
there’s no stain on your collar . no sweat rollin’ down your brow
when we talk to you about hunger, you say it’s something america won’t allow
you’ got your sirloin on the table, cows are grazing in the field
you’ got your sirloin on the table, live ones out there grazing in the field
at least a hundred thousand workers could live on the grain that ground would yield
i wash my clothes down by the river . water makes holes all in my sleeve
i wash my clothes down by the river . that water makes holes all in my sleeves
the fish can’t see what they’re drinking, but i can see the air that i breathe
you’ got investments in your pocket, driving a brand new limousine
investments in your pocket, driving a brand new limousine
all the dividends from wall street won’t buy you a clear, bubblin’ mountain stream
©
i’ got a job that drives me crazy
with some people that make me mad
but when it comes to money well i’ll tell ya honey
it’s the best gig i ever had …
i wake up in the morning, put on my dirty clothes
it’s not the kind of gig you go to smelling like a rose
rubber gloves in pocket and i’m ready for the job
it’s really not much fun when the visitors are slobs
well i’ll do your laundry, and i’ll make your bed
but don’t you get superior ideas in your head
i’m the cleaning lady . you think i’m overpaid
i’m the cleaning lady . i don’t serve lemonade
don’t give me no lip and don’t give me no jive
’cause takin’ your money is the pleasure i derive
i’m the cleaning lady, but i’m not the maid
i vacuum the carpets, pull the cobwebs off the walls
shine up your picture frames and dust your china dolls
i wash your windows so you can see outside
i clean your nasty toilet bowls with dignity and pride
i wipe the boogers and bad breath from the phone
but you’d better treat me nicely or i’ll leave you on your own
i’m the cleaning lady . you think i’m overpaid
i’m the cleaning lady . i don’t serve lemonade
don’t give me no lip and don’t give me no jive
’cause takin’ your money is the pleasure i derive
i’m the cleaning lady, but i’m not the maid
i’m the cleaning lady, and i just got paid!!!