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Unless otherwise indicated, all the poems on this page are by Woody Johnson. ©2009 All rights reserved.

Amazon

Whine and complain to me, I'll never ignore you;

Cry and explain how the pain never ends and I'll just reach out and hold you.

Cadillac Man

Chorus

Cadillac Man, Cadillac Man,

I'm just waitin' for that Cadillac Man,

I done some bad things in my day,

Looks like they're catchin' up to me -

Anyway... I had me a wife and a family,

Wife said, "Eddie, why d'ya mistreat me?"

Late one evenin' I went out for a walk,

Wasn't 'til I gained Atlanta that I finally stopped.

I met a gal, she was long and tall,

Told me her man went to the wall,

He got out the very next day,

He's lookin' for me now -

Anyway... I passed by a funeral just last week,

I was tired and hungry, branded on my feet,

I followed 'em back to where the widow stays,

They rolled me 'n' baled me, 'n' called the police.

I met a gal who was true and good,

Told her I'd stay 'cause I thought I would,

She loved me and fed me and kept my nose clean,

Caught me out gamblin' an' she turned mighty mean.

Chorus

Yeah, Cadillac Man, Cadillac Man,

I'm just waitin' for that Cadillac Man,

Done some bad things in my day,

Looks like they're catchin' up to me -

Anyway... I fell in with some bad companions,

Said, "Listen, now, Eddie - ya out or ya in?"

"All ya gotta do is look out for us all,"

He had a 32-20, now I'm runnin' from the law.

I always tried to do what I should,

But I turned out bad like Daddy said I would,

Went to school, learned readin' and cipherin',

Now it's cards and dice and a life o' sin.

That Cadillac car is shiny and black,

Takes ya to the graveyard, but don't bring ya back;

Cadillac Man is tall and talks nice,

But he's as cold as the pennies he puts on your eyes.

Yeah, Cadillac Man, Cadillac Man,

I'm just waitin' for that Cadillac Man,

Done some bad things in my day,

Looks like they're catchin' up to me - anyway...

Dreamy Town

Come away to Dreamy Town, Mandy Lou, Mandy Lou,

Where the skies don't never frown, Mandy Lou;

Where the streets is paved with gold,

Where the days is never cold

And no sheep stray from the fold, Mandy Lou.

Ain't you tired every day, Mandy Lou, Mandy Lou?

Take my hand and come away, Mandy Lou;

To the land where dreams is king,

And my heart holds everything

And my soul will always sing to Mandy Lou.

Take my hand and come with me, Mandy Lou,

Where are hands and hearts are free, Mandy Lou;

Where the sands all glisten white,

And the river shines so bright,

In that dreamland of delight, Mandy Lou.

Come with me to Dreamy Town, Mandy Lou,Mandy Lou

Where the fruit is bendin' down just for you;

Smooth your furrowed brow of brown

And my love will be its crown,

Come with me to Dreamy Town, Mandy Lou...

Miss M'Lindy

Oh my Miss M'Lindy,

You're much too sweet for me,

I cannot come to see you,

Until my time is free.

And when I come to see you,

Gonna take you on my knee.

Oh my Miss M'Lindy,

Don't you go away,

I cannot come to see you,

For another day,

And when I come to see you

Y'know I'm gonna stay.

Oh my Miss M'Lindy,

You're the only one,

I cannot come to see you,

Until my time is done.

And when I come to see you

You know we'll have some fun.

Oh my Miss M'Lindy,

My heart belongs to you,

I cannot come to see you,

Until my time is through.

And when I come to see you

Gonna come in my canoe.

Oh Solitude

Oh! Solitude! My sweetest choice!

Oh Solitude! Oh solitude, my sweetest choice!

Places devoted to the night,

Remote from tumult and from noise,

How ye, my restless thoughts delight!

Oh Solitude! Oh Solitude! My sweetest, sweetest choice!

Oh Heavens! What content is mine,

To see those trees, which have appeared from the Nativity of time;

And which all ages have revered,

To look today as fresh and green,

To look today as fresh and green,

As when their beauty first were seen?

Oh! Oh how agreeable a sight

These hanging mountains do appear,

Which the unhappy would invite

To finish all their sorrows here;

When their hard, their hard fate makes them endure

Such woes, such woes as only death can cure.

Oh! Oh how I solitude adore!

Oh! Oh how I solitude adore,

That element of noblest wit,

Where I have learned,

Where I have learned Apollo's love

Without the pains, the pains to study it:

For thy sake I in love am grown,

With what thy fancy, thy fancy does pursue;

But when I think upon my own,

I hate it, I hate it for that reason, too;

Because it needs must hinder me

From seeing, from seeing, and from serving thee.

Oh Solitude!

Oh how solitude I adore!

Sleepy-Eyed Charlie

You know,
There's fellas out there
Who never complain,
Mild as a new-born calf;
They talk soft and low,
Never talk mean,
And laugh an easy laugh,
Yes, they laugh an easy laugh...

Sleepy-eyed Charlie was one such a man;
Never said anything much.
Kept a close council,
Worked steady and hard,
A kind-hearted man, sure enough,
A kind-hearted man, sure enough.

He was big and burly,
Had a gap-toothed grin,
His eyes kinda sparkled and shone;
His hands were bigger
Than an ordinary man's,
He sang work songs all day long,
Sang them work songs all day long, sir.

I was nine years old, way back then,
And he kinda took a shine to me;
Told stories 'bout the railroad,
And Parchman Farm,
And stealin' chickens to feed his family,
He stole chickens to feed his family.

One day I says, "Charlie...",
"Yes, cap'n," says he,
I said, "Charlie, what happened to your eye?"
He looked down at his feet,
Got kinda quiet and said,
"Well, cap'n, I ain't a-gonna lie..."
"No, cap'n, I ain't gonna lie..."

He says, "Now listen up, cap'n,"
"You' almost a man,
"Show me them muscles o' your'n!"
Then he took to laughin',
When I stood tall and proud,
He says, "Now listen up, cap'n, an' learn.
"You jus' listen up, now - an' learn..."

"You know I worked the rails
"When I was nigh on 17 -
"Swung a twelve-pound hammer ever' day,
"One day the boss says, boys,
"I wants that last hun'red ya'ds,
"Done by the end o' t'day...
"Done by the end o' t'day."

"Now some o' them boys
"Quit on the spot,
"Others dropped to their knees and moaned,
"I picked up my hammer,
"I wa'n't gonna stop,
"C'menced singin' while the rest o' them groaned,
"C'menced singin' while the rest o' them groaned."

"Now when you' swing that hammer,
"From the hip on down,
"You make that cold steel ring,
"Ya gotta hit them spikes,
"Right dead on,
"Else they come at ya like an arry and sting ya,
"Come at ya like an arry and sting."

I was lookin' at him talkin',
He wasn't lookin' at me -
He was starin' out to the west;
Seemed to me he'd forgotten,
I was sittin' at his feet,
Wonderin' what was gonna happen next,
I was wonderin' what was gonna happen next...

He looked down at me, finally,
And with that wonderful grin, says,
"Ya wanna be the best when you's young,
"Ain't it so?
"Pride's a mighty powerful sin, cap'n,
"Pride's a mighty awful powerful sin."

"Sho' will make ya suffer and regret you' past,"
Then he looked back out to the westland,
Then he looked at his arms,
Examined them slow,
And he looked at his two mighty hands,
He looked at those two mighty hands.

"We laid the las' rail, an' I was still throwin' strong,
"Then I felt a li'l pull in my shol'der,
"Jus' enough to make me long,
"An' when I brought that hammer down,
"I jus' di'n't have time to move over,
"I just di'n't have the time to move over."

He got kinda quiet, and he looked down at me
And he smiled that careless grin,
Rubbed my head with his hands,
Says, "Time we be gettin' in,
"You' mamma's cookin' dinner in the kitchen,
"You' mamma's cookin' dinner in the kitchen..."

First Love/Last Love

Far from the city streets,
Beyond the country road...

In a deep and sacred forest,
Beneath the high forgiving sun...

At the edge of a lush green field that is yours and yours and yours,
The Great Gates are opened for you...

And the joy and pain of Knowledge is revealed -
To you and you and you,
Who are guilty of nothing more
Than Youth and Innocence.

At The Food Emporium, Toronto

Shoppers and sellers,
Mean step-sisters and Cinderellas,
Princes and paupers...
At the Food Emporium.
Hmmmm...hmmmm

Orphans and mothers,
Sisterless brothers,
Family-less others...
At the Food Emporium.
Hmmmm...hmmmm

Grooms and widowers,
Widows and bachelors,
Old maids and party girls...
At the Food Emporium.
Him without her,
And those without them
Always somethin' happenin'
At the Food Emporium.

And someone's watchin' me
Starin' without blinkin',
And writin' somethin' down
Prob'ly what I'm thinkin'
At the Food Emporium...
Hmmmm...hmmmm

Poets

The Romantic poets - who write of love, of pain, of loss -
express their joy, their pain, their empty souls, their overflowing cups,
with words that melt the hearts of all people.

And the Poets of the World
who speak of the children of Palestine,
the children of Somalia,
the children of Chechnia,
the children of Rawanda,
the children of Sierra Leone,
the children of the Congo,
the children of Israel,
the children of Mumbai -
the children of all gods -
express their pain, their loss, their love -
with the words of children,
with words that all the people know,
with words that all the people feel,
because those words are the arrows of truth
and they carry with them one plea...

Now, I Know

When we walked alone at night,
I just wasn't sure,
Even when you held my hand that tight,
I couldn't be certain.

And even when we watched exploding stars
When we marveled at the infinite,
Aurora Borealis,
I questioned everything.

But, that was then.

Now, I know -
And not only that, I am unwavering in my certitude,
About everything - everything.
And now, in my solitude,
I know that only one thing matters - - -
But it is too late for that.

What Frightens Me

What frightens you?
I'll tell you what frightens me:
The thought that I denied the Truth.

What frightens you?
I'll tell you what frightens me:
The thought I could be blind to the Truth.

What frightens you?
I'll tell you what frightens me:
The thought that I 's unkind
'cause jealousy had binded me;
and I was caught reeling from the Truth.

What frightens you?
I'll tell you what frightens me:
It's the thought that I wouldn't be
The man she thought I could be.

To Babylon

Yesterday I thought I saw you,
Walkin' down the street,
And my heart began to break,
My heart began to break,
My heart began to break all over again.

If ya only knew how much I missed you,
How I struggle to find peace,
Each day I ask the Lord to bless you,
Each day I ask the Lord to bless you,
Each day I ask the Lord to bless you, "Have mercy on her, please."

On that long lost highway to Babylon.

I know I'm just shoutin' in the wilderness,
I know no one understands,
But if I cannot do this,
If I cannot do this,
If I cannot do this, I'll surely lose my mind.

On that long lost highway to Babylon.
On that long lost highway to Babylon.

My Life

When will my life begin again?
I have changed my voice,
I have changed my body,
I have changed my mind.
I have changed myself.

From this placenta I have emerged,
Ageless, yet with rooted teeth;
Thoughtless, but with one vision.
Innocent, yet awaiting trial:
On my all too human soul the stain of love's denial...

I await the darkness and I await the light.
And with this rebirth, I am out of time.

Hello, Words

Hello, words.
You have something to say to me?
Go ahead - I'm ready...

What's that?
You say that life is good.
Yes... continue.
You say that there is no need to fear, to want, to need, to obtain.
You say that I can go on.
You say that I can dream, that I can breathe again, that I can travel this endless road and be inspired.
This is true? I hope this is so...
You say that the things that seem to matter don't, and the things that don't seem, will.

I will breathe the fire of desir.
I will search for those things that will make me stronger.
I will hunger for The One and my hunger shall be sated.
You say the journey is the destination, and that to fall into love is to love.

Yes.

The Things That Matter

The things that matter are not things.
They are not material.
They are not made to sell.
They cannot be unwrapped and held.

The things that matter are of the heart.
Do you know what I mean, son?
They are not what is given, but rather what is understood by the giving. It is not the gift that brings joy, it is the giving's reason.

The things that matter are time,
The things that matter are gestures and warm glances,
The things that matter must be taught an'
Never forgotten.

Why The Caged Bird Sings

"I know why the caged bird sings", says one whom I admire...
To be captured and imprisoned by love - it's a burning inner fire.
Then, you sing of l'ennui, 'cause you've lost your freedom and flight,
And being possessed, and limited: then you covet all that's within sight.

We were together - no, not for long, but that's just what you required,
To be held, to be subdued, then to regret the dousing of desires.
And when we danced, you danced for them: la coquette, yes, this I know,
'Cause they came to you, and as you spoke you caressed their ribbons and bows.
And you danced, the dance of Salome, mi cabeza that was your prize,
And this you won, and when I conceded, shock and remorse was your disguise.

Tom Waits' Voice

His voice says: "I have measured the depth of emptiness - I have been to its centre -
I have come back to tell you the joy of life."

The voice says: "As you drive along the back streets, look at the sparkle of broken glass
Listen to the howls of brief laughter,
Watch for the smiles that appear only seldomly on the faces of the forgotten ones
And remember them."

The voice says: "I have only a short time to tell you something of vast importance,
so listen closely."

The voice says: "I have been beaten and left for dead,
But I have come back to tell you not to give up."

And the listeners, they seem to applaud, not just the songs,
But the simple truths about Love and Hope;
They applaud the Joy of Life.

She

She's so pretty,
You just wanna smile when you look at her face,
And when she speaks,
You want the whole human race to listen,
And when she loves ya,
You just wanna love her back,
But she won't let you,
She makes her escape
And you just gotta let her.

She's so pretty,
Everybody wants to be her friend,
And when she smiles,
She mends everything that was broken,
And when she's hurtin',
You just wanna hold her in your arms,
But she won't let you,
She makes her escape,
And you just gotta forget her.

She's so wise,
You just wanna sit at her feet and learn,
She's so honest,
You know what you're hearin' is always the truth,
And when she's silent,
You want the whole wide world to hush,
And leave her in peace,
So she can forget
So she can escape.

And after she's gone,
You know you won't see her no more,
And so you try to get back to life before you met her,
And then she returns,
Knocks on your door and wants to come in,
And so you let her,
'Cause you just can't forget her,
And it starts all over again.

She's so pretty,
She turns every head in the place,
And when she looks in your eyes,
You feel your heart begin to race,
And maybe she'll let you,
Hold her in your arms for a couple of hours
And then she escapes,
And ya gotta forget her all over again,
Yeah she makes her escape,
And it starts all over again...

She's so pretty....

What's The Truth, Daddy?

The Truth is not, and never was, anything.
The Truth is everything, and always will be.

The Truth is sacrificed every day on the altar of human vanity.
The Truth is worshipped only by those who cannot speak, cannot hear, cannot see.

The Truth must be avoided by as many people as possible, as often as possible.
The Truth must be confronted now.

The Truth is like ancient parchment: only broken fragments remain.
The Truth is impenetrable, unbreakable, adamantine.

The Truth is Beautiful,
The Truth is is often Ugly

The Truth is despair.
The Truth is hope.

The Truth is the friend of Justice.
The Truth is the enemy of the people.

Driftin'

Used to be sailin',
Friends and relations
Along for the ride,
My baby - yeah, by my side.
Just sailin', mister, sailin'.

Tamed the wind: tacking, navigating,
Glidin' along,
Singin' all those sailor songs.
Land was another planet, cold and foreign
'Cause we were sailin'.

With the minstrels, now, and the bards,
Smilin', but this life is hard.
Now the wild breezes push us
Along these boulevards,
And I long for the sea, the salty westerlies,
Drftin', mister, driftin'.

There are other wanderers
Dancers, poemsters, wordsmiths,
Songsters, and old snake charmers,

The Highway, yeah, it's blue, alright,
We start out walkin' 'cause we might get a ride,
And sometimes at night, a Malaga dancer by our side,
Swaying to the music - ah! the music! - that's what keeps us alive
While we're driftin', mister, driftin'.

Pillar of Salt

I followed these
My only visions: there, ahead of me, my future;
The becoming that would save me;
Strength and ease.
No longer solo; rising before me, City of God:
The belonging I was craving.
Odysseus' seas,
Then the Sirens' call:
No cords or chains for binding;
And I cast my gaze behind...

Growin' Up

Well, you're just a little boy
And with your brand new little toy
You break a tiny feathered thing.

Then, when you're a teen
It's words you fling and
They injure, too, and sting,
An' cause a lot of sufferin' and pain.

And when you reach your youth
You're more physical and ruthless,
And when you strike, you're guiltless, without guile or remorse...
You didn't think about forgiveness,
Didn't think about redemption,
No pity, no regret, no conscience...

Then, one day you're a man,
And you're in love, but you deny it,
Without knowing what effect that's gonna have upon your heart.
And that little feathered thing,
You see it gasping in your fingers,
And you think about unkindness
And those words when you were mindless,
And the hurt you put upon those who were weaker, blind, and blameless,
And you begin to pray in earnest,
And you beg for Grace and Mercy,
And you weep in abject silence
For absolution
And for peace.

Hard To Bear

We seldom know what to expect
Even when we know it's comin' down the line.
When it does, finally,
It's always "Lama sabachthani?"

And the ones that know
That it's comin for them -
Well it's so hard to bear;
The ones that Know it's comin' -
It's just so hard to bear
The knowledge that they do.

Mornin' After The Last Day

It's the mornin' after the last day,
Mornin' after the last day.
I've been waitin' all my life
For the mornin' after the last day.

Sun's a-comin' up.
Sun's a-comin' up.
Been too long since I seen the light,
Now it's the mornin' after the last day.

Gonna live on this big round world now.
Gonna live on this big round world,
Ain't gonna run or hide no more,
It's the mornin' after the last day.

It's the mornin' after the last day,
Mornin' after the last day -
Listen now children, to that train whistle whistlin'...
It's the mornin' after the last day.

Movin' On

I'm movin' on,
Nothin' wrong with that.
Where'd I put my hat?
I'm gonna follow that callin'...

Nothin' wrong with that.
I've had enough,
Throwin' in the towell, an'
There's nothin' wrong with that anyhow...

Bridge

I'm done hangin',
With that stranglin' hold ya had on me,
Wonderin' if we're done,
Well, honey babe, I'm all out an' down.

So, cancel that beer,
I'm movin' on,
On outta here, sister.

Yeah, I'm movin' on,
There's nothin' wrong with that.
Where's my goddamn hat?
I'm followin' that callin'...

Never Knew

I never knew
That what I was holding in the palm of my hand
In the palm of my hand
In the palm of my hand
Was what I was seeking.

I never knew
That what I was holding in the palm of my hand
In the palm of my hand
In the palm of my hand
Was what I was needing.

I never knew
That what I had in the palm of my hand
In the palm of my hand
In the palm of my hand
Was the key to my being.

Now it's ramblin' and rollin' and the kindness of strangers,
Sleepin' in graveyards where you're never in danger,
The open road, 'n' freightcars in trainyards,
Don't ask my advice, mister, 'cause I'll just steer ya wrong.

The Silver Tree

This was your vision,
As we writhed, entwined,
Together,
As those who are destined by fate often do.
Above your head, captured by your eye in a fleeting moment,
A daisy,
Perfect in its elegance,
Simple, pure, radiant,
Its base a fractured mirror, luminescent - like rippled water, flowing.

This was when we became true lovers.

CHOICES

Somewhere out on the edge of time,
Wonderin' if I was even alive or just dreamin'...

And a light was streamin' from somewhere above,
And a voice said, "Do not fear."
And beckoned me with open arms,
Sayin', "Here is better than there..."

And I saw angelic faces, Miss,
And I heard the rustle of wings,
And a choir of a thousand voices
Singin' "Swing low, sweet chariot, swing..."

But I know I wasn't dreamin', sir,
It was real, I could tell,
And it was temptin' to close my eyes
And forget the tollin' of the bell.

It was a funny place to find myself,
On the Universe's edge,
Like between the woods and icy lake,
Exactly like what Frost had said...

And I remembered all those things I loved,
And I remembered the one that I hurt,
I remembered musicians and painters and poets,
All the angels who walk this earth.

And I resolved to change my life,sir,
No matter what the cost,
And somehow find some way to regain,
All the good that I had lost.

Somewhere out on the edge of time,
Knowin' that I was alive, ma'am,
Not dreamin' or wonderin' what was real,
Just knowin' that I was alive...

The Brand New Heartbreak Hotel

At the brand new Heartbreak Hotel
Nobody's cryin' in their beer;
Their laughin' and singin',
And dancin' and doin'
some serious drinkin' over here.

They're gamblin' away the last of their pay
And actin' just like they don't care;
Bus ask any of 'em why,
They're so merry and bright,
They get quiet, tear up, and just stare.

Chorus

At the brand new Heartbreak Hotel
Nobody feels any pain, sir;
'Cause Doc sets 'em up,
We keep knockin' 'em back,
Again and again and again, sir.

And everyone's smilin', talkin' and grinnin'
As the last call for the bar approaches;
The music gets louder,
The dance floor gets crowded,
As the band plays "The Tennessee Waltz".

At the brand new Heartbreak Hotel
They turn up the lights and we see
How crowded and lonely it gets at the bottom
At the bottom of every empty.

Antonio

Who was she? What was her name - the one who made you pray...
She called to you, you answered;
She asked, and you came,
She whispered in your ear and you listened,
And then you made her smile.

Why did she do to you those things that made you sad?
Why did she not listen to your words of truth, of devotion, of strength, of love?
You were a light, Antonio, and a fire; and now your heart - the heart that was the eternal source - it beats for no one.

We miss you, Antonio.

My Name, Your Name

My name is important because
It means I have a family.
And your name is important, too,
'Cause it means you have a family like me.
And our names are important because...because...
Yes, our names are important because
It means that we are loved

Now your name might sound unfamiliar
To my ear
And my name
Might sound funny to you,
But it doesn't mean what I'm sayin' isn't true.

That our names are important because...because...
Our names are important because
It means that we are loved...

ASCHENPUTTEL

Poor little Aschenputtel
Works so very hard in Schule.
And when she returns home
She works her fingers to the bone -
Then Stiefmutter works her harder...

Poor little Aschenputtel,
Her Stiefschwestern are so cruel,
Sometimes they send her to her room,
And when she's all alone
She is mehr das traurigere.

But little Aschenputtel
Has eine freunde und ein aufrechter Mensch:
A little Fee-Schwester,
Who takes away her pain
And offers her a refuge
When her hands begin to blister...

Little Aschenputtel,
Don't you worry, not a little,
There's a home for you out there,
A place for you to settle...

Sorge' Sie sich nicht, Little Aschenputtel,
A Prince is searching for you:
Für eine hübsche Prinzessin in einem Arbeitskittel.

My Good Book

My Good Book ain't about killin' for glory,
It's not about vengeance,
In the name of the faith.
It's not about hatred
For them that are pagans,
The withdrawal of the sword in exchange for compliance.

The words I read don't mention some world
On some other plane
Beyond this vale of tears;
They don't need repeating
Again and again,
These words plead for tolerance towards those without shame.

My Good Book is about making this life
A musical place full of art and belonging;
My Good Book calls for study and playing,
It's for children and freedom,
For redemption and song.

So wrap all them children in bright scarlet ribbons,
While those jasper gates up in Heaven are swingin',
Release all them children you're holdin' for ransom,
And send 'em down here
Where Life is our King,
and Love is our Queen.

Everything

I took the strings from my guitar,
and I gave them to a vagabond.

I gave away the waters,
and all that grows from the ground.

I gave away the seasons,
the axis of the stone.

I gave away the spoken truth,
and live by its silent tone.

I stopped the machinery of desire,
and from the infinite keep an only one.

Mother

"Is there something wrong?" I asked,
"Is there something wrong?"
She wiped away her tears and said,
"This day was not very long."
And then she sighed, and bowed her head.
"Too soon this day is over."

"What do you mean?" I asked,
And I asked her once again.
She dried a tear and then another,
"Another day's come to an end,
"I awake, and soon it's over.
"I awake, and soon, it's over."

Too soon, too soon -
And all of us, I know -
We take for granted the sunlit hours,
We forget that ill winds blow,
And see only the blooming flowers.
And then, too soon, it's over.

Oh, mother, my dear mother,
How well you understood,
The simple truths of Love, of Grace,
Humility and Good,
Prayers and Joy and Kindness and Faith...
And then, too soon, it's over.

And the days for me pass quickly,
And my nights are blue and restless,
And labour is tiring and difficult now,
And though every effort is my best,
My heart sighs and my tears flow, too:
The day, how soon it's over.

For Paul

Paul will never know
That I wrote this for him.
He won't know what you now know: that I love him dearly,
'Cause his life is filled with Grace and Charm.
Loved by many, for he does no harm to anyone.

He laughs with the honesty of the innocent.
He satisfies his appetites without offense
And with the manners and politesse of ambassador and prince.
He is wealthy with empathy and sympathy and justice.
And this will sustain him,
For he is loved by many, because of his kind ways.

His art is in his living,
His ability to understand 'n' analyze
Each all too human fault.
He gently reminds, and with kind gestures redirects,
Until we realize that we can be just like him:
Loved by many, if we change our ways.

I Ain't Lookin' At The Moon No More

Every time I look at the moon,
I see the past.
I ain't lookin' at the moon no more,
I ain't lookin' at the moon no more.

Waxin' moon, wanin' moon,
Now I know that nothin' lasts.
I once was rich, now I'm so poor.
I ain't lookin' at the moon no more.

When it's ghostly lemon in August,
I remember walkin' through the snow,
And not even carin'
How far we had to go.
Lookin' up there and thinkin'
How beautiful the night,
Laughin' in the wind,
You holdin' my arm that tight.

And the thumbnail moon in May,
Makes me think of cool November,
And all those nights gettin' warm -
And oh how I remember,
That light streamin' in through a sleepy window,
Seein' the magic of its caress
Upon your face on my smilin' pillow.
I just can't look at the moon no more.

And that round yellow August moon:
I wonder where you are, an' how you're doin...'
I once was rich, now I'm so poor,
I ain't lookin' at the moon no more.

Ukelele Girl

Wrote this tune 'bout a gal I know,
When she sings my little heart go'...

An' when she leaves, I don't know why,
My little heart it'll heave and sigh;
Sometimes I think I'm a-gonna cry
My little heart a-goin'...

One o' these days an' it's gonna be soon
Gonna set her down and play this tune
While my little heart goes 'Boom Boom Boom'
Goin' ...

'Cause she's so pretty, goodness sakes,
If I can't see her my little heart aches.
Sometimes I think it's just a-gonna break,
Goin'...

Hellhound On My Trail

Oh, Lord,
I got a hellhound on my trail.
Oh, Lord!
I got a hellhound on my trail,
His path is sure and steady,
He ain't got but one thought in his head, Lordy, Lord!
I got a hellhound on my trail.

Well, he knows me better than I know myself.
He knows me better than I know myself!
He's peered deep inside my heart,
And he knows my future's dark,
Lord, he knows me better than I know myself.

Lord, you know that I ain't scared of dyin'.
Lord, you know that I ain't scared of dyin'!
In this world of fear and lyin'.
Well, I done my share of cryin',
So you know - I ain't scared of dyin'.

And I can feel his cold breath on the back of my neck.
I can feel his cold breath on the back of my neck!
He's whisperin' somethin' in my ear now,
But, Lord, I don't feel any fear,
An' I can feel his cold breath on the back of my neck.

Well, I'm just gonna turn myself around now.
Lord, I'm just gonna turn myself around now!
I know my time has surely come,
I'm gonna stop now, I ain't gonna run,
I'm just gonna turn myself around now.

Oh, Lord, have mercy on me please.
Oh, Lord, have mercy on me please!
Yeah, I caused some folks lots of pain,
I ain't gonna ask You but once again,
Oh, Lord, have mercy on me please.

On The Lost Highway

You know what they're sayin' 'bout him,
'Bout why he don't come 'round no more?
They say it's about that woman
In them last songs he wrote.

And some folks they're claimin'
That he don't come 'round no more
'Cause of somethin' that changed him,
Tore him apart, note by note.

They tell me he don't come 'round,
They say that he left town,
He's gone and gone to stay,
And some say he's dead and gone.
Some say they heard he went out west,
Some say he went to Spain,
Some say he's gone to see the King,
Up there singin' with Blind Willie Johnson.

He's well nigh on his way, sir,
Forever ramblin', that's for sure,
Draggin' a dead racoon behind him,
Down that long Lost Highway, amigo.

Well he stopped makin' hay, ma'am,
Lost all hope, and there ain't no cure,
A Blue Highway that has no end,
and it's 'Vaya con Dios, senor'.

Levee Camp Moan

I'm goin' where nobody knows my name, Lord, Lord, Lord.
I'm goin' where nobody knows my name.
I'm goin' where nobody knows my name.

I'm goin' where the chilly winds don't blow, Lord, Lord, Lord.
I'm goin' where the chilly winds don't blow.
I'm goin' where the chilly winds don't blow.

I'm goin' where they don't shovel no snow, Lord, Lord, Lord.
I'm goin' where they don't shovel no snow.
I'm goin' where they don't shovel no snow.

I'm leavin' on the KC line this mornin', Lord, Lord, Lord.
I'm leavin' on the KC line this mornin'.
I'm leavin' on the KC line this mornin'.

O baby, where you been so long? Lord, Lord, Lord.
O baby, where you been so long?
O baby, where you been so long?

O baby, let your hair hang down, Lord, Lord, Lord.
O baby, let your hair hang down.
O baby, let your hair hang down.

O baby, you done let your hair grow long, Lord, Lord, Lord.
O baby, you done let your hair grow long.
O baby, you done let your hair grow long.

I'm leavin' baby, don't you want to go? Lord, Lord, Lord.
I'm leavin' baby, don't you want to go?
I'm leavin' baby, what you waitin' for?

Oh God, Almighty Father

Oh God, Almighty Father,
Creator of all things,
The heavens stand in wonder,
While earth Thy glory sings.

(Refrain)
O most Holy Trinity,
Undivided Unity,
Holy God, Mighty God,
God immortal, be adored.

O Jesus, word incarnate,
Redeemer most adored,
All glory praise and honour
Be Thine, our sov'reign Lord.

(Refrain)

O God, the Holy Spirit,
Who lives within our souls,
Send forth Thy light and lead us,
To our eternal goal.

(Refrain)

Ж'H

All them grains of sand,
And all them drops of rain,
And all the hope I got,
Don't amount to anything...

All the places that I've been,
And all them smiling faces,
Like some disappearing dream,
Don't amount to anything...
Without you.

Without you... you.

Without you,
All them waves out on the water,
All those prayers and wishes for our daughters and sons,
And all them stars up in the heavens,
They just don't mean nothin'...
Without you.

Everyday is Valentine's Day

There's a time for buyin' red roses,
And there's a time for dancin' 'til three,
And writin' Romantic prose and poems,
And takin' picnics out in the country.

There's a time for sparkin' 'n' flirtin',
Awkward moments when new lovers blush,
For courtin' and doin' things on a lark,
When there's no earthly reason to rush.

Cards and long love letters,
And little things that mean so much,
Things that you don't realize are gifts,
Like the softness of a lover's touch.

I see it all the time now, sir,
And I have to look away,
Reminds me of everything that I lack: Yeah, everyday's Valentine's Day.

Everything just loses its meaning -
It's like losin' your only best friend:
The places you can never go back to,
That emptiness just never ends.

Every morsel I taste, each aroma,
Every colour and every sound,
All that candy and perfume around me,
All those people laughin' out loud...

From first frost to spring's final thawin',
From high summer to when fall declines,
Reminds me reminds me reminds me,
Every day is Valentine's.

Thelonious Sphere Monk

He knew what he was doing,
With those discordant sounds;
That rhythm-a-ning thing:
Asnaturalas
Jazzbrea - th-ing,
Jazzthought/think - ing,
Jazzsoul-sou - nd - ing,
Jazzli - ife/liv - ing,
Jazzfoo - ood/eat - ing,
Jazzdrin - k/drink - ing,
Jazzlove, jazz-love, jazz love/lov - ing -
For Ruby,
For Nellie,
For The Baroness,
For Orrin Keepnews,
For T.S. and Boo Boo,
For his piano.

And watching him play, doesn't it make you cry?

Threnody For Antonio Caldarella

Maintenant les oiseaux chantent une mélancolie chanson .
Les fleurs ont perdu leur lumière intérieure.
L'air a perdu sa chaleur.
Les gens semblent solitaires.

Et le monde a changé.

Nous ne nous étions jamais rencontrés,
Nous n'avions jamais parlé ensemble,
Nous n'a jamais cassé du pain ensemble,
Mais je lui connaissais bien.
Son coeur était lourd, j'ai pensé.
Il eut aimé pour une fois dernière moment
et ensuite - une personne elle a écrit 'FINE' dans cire rouge...
et a apposé un cachet à l'anéantissement de ton coeur

The birds sing a different song now.
The flowers have lost their inner light.
The air has lost its warmth.
The people look lonely.

The world has changed.

We had never met, never spoken together, never broke bread,
But I knew him well.
His heart was heavy, I thought.
You loved one last time, and then - 'END' - embossed in red wax,
the seal affixed to the destruction of your heart.

Highwire

Up on the highwire
Some of us are here for different reasons
Up on the highwire
Some of us are followin' our dreams and
Up on the highwire
Some of us are tryin' to change our luck,
And some of us just haven't given up.

Up on the highwire
Some of us are tryin' to have some fun
Up on the highwire
Some of us just got no where else to run
Up on the highwire
Some of us got a song to sing
And some of us are just tryin' to make a livin'.

Bridge
And down below there are some
Hopin' that we'll slip
And there's some down below
Bitin' their lip 'n' prayin' to St Dominic
And down below there are some
Who just can't look and cover their eyes
And some have got the music inside 'em.

Up on the highwire
Some of us are livin' just like gypsies
Up on the highwire
Some of us don't own no keys
Up on the highwire
Some of us head back to a house and home
And some of us are just like rollin' stones.

Up on the highwire
Oh God, bless and keep us please
Up on the highwire
Lord, some of us are sinners on bended knees
Up here on the highwire
Some of us are barely holdin' on
And some of us are just here
Some of us are just here
Some of us are just here
Because of the song.

Up here on the highwire
Up here on the highwire
Up here on the highwire
Up here on the highwire

La Belle Dame Sans Souci

I see them on the streets,
They walk by with their heads bowed down,
Their faces scowlin',
And I wonder why they keep on goin'
And I think, "This will never happen to me"

I had an uncle,
He drank a lot, and he'd dance beside the sea,
Then sit in silent reverie,
Recalling what he'd left behind.
And I'd hope this would never happen to me.

Sittin' with my friends,
Avec la belle dame sans souci,
In a basement like some kinda refugee,
You never thought it'd be games of chance,
That this would ever happen to me.

HER

She's a high-waisted girl,
Her belt pulled tight.
And ready to fight.
She's a high-steppin' long-legged gal,
Heeled high and steady,
With her hair pinned up,
And her lip like that.
A high-strung,
Two-fisted girl,
With pants that tight,
And her make-up just right.
She's a slow grindin'
Easy-dancin girl,
And she'll look you in the eyes,
An' hypnotize you.
A low ridin'
Don't say much kind o' gal.
Smooth calves
And waist grabbin',
Hard livin',
Loves lovin' girl.

El Padre de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

I said, “I guess my problem is one of faith,
I can’t believe that all it takes
Is the askin’,
And suddenly I’m all clean and shiny.
For what I done I'm gonna require
More'n the grace of God and heaven's choir
And the blessin’ of the Trinity and Mother Mary, too.
‘Cause the only one who can absolve me,
Though she loved me true and so completely,
Has turned forever away
Turned away."

And the water rose and the light grew dark, I felt that weight
Upon my heart,
'Cause I knew
The askin’
Wasn’t gonna get an answer.
‘Cause the pain and sufferin’ that I caused
Is somethin’ God woulda never done to Job,
And I’ll forever be a vagabond and a wanderer,
A vagabond, just another wanderer.

The Padre said: “You must forgive her unforgiving way
With all your heart, and one day,
Your soul will finally rest, my son.”
But I knew
That was gonna be a test
That Jesu in the desert would never have passed,
And I thanked him, and turned away,
I turned away.

Unforgiven

I've been all around this world, sir,
East and west, and up and down.
With the witches in Navarre,
And the Zubaroa gypsies.

With the pilgrims doing penance,
El Camino de Santiago,
It was there that I confessed a sin,
God nor devil could abide.

Asked the strong-willed and the feeble,
The humble and the pride-filled,
"Is there mercy in this world,
For the harm that I have done?"

Asked condemned men, and the blessed,
"Where do I find redemption?"
They scratched their beards and they turned their heads,
And their eyes filled with tears.

Their silence was louder,
Than the strongest condemnation.
Women held their children close,
Made a sign and whispered prayers.

Now I travel through this desert,
In sackcloth, and unwashed, sir,
Without a name, seeking Grace,
Alone, unforgiven.

They just don't come along that often.
But, sir, they sure do come along.
Don't be afraid to look to heav'n,
Close your eyes and sing her Solomon's song.

'Cause they just don't come along that often.
But, ma'am, they sure do come along.
And believe it or not, it's Mother Mary,
That you can thank - 'cause she's the one.

Refrain
The Sacred Heart of Second Chances,
You can't deny when the day is done.
The Sacred Heart of Second Chances,
The day, for sure, that bell's unrung.

And when that day arrives - 'n' it will, sir -
You have to seize it and you have to run.
And don't look back - or you'll regret it,
It'll slip through your fingers 'fore the day is done.
The Sacred Heart of Second Chances
Is watchin' out for you, my son,
The Sacred Heart of Second Chances,
Calm after storm, sure enough's gonna come.

So, don't be afraid to look to the sky,
Then with a bended knee bow down.
The Sacred Heart of Second Chances
Gonna hear you askin' an' come around.

Gunnysack Riley

Ol' Gunnysack Riley,
Rollin' along,
An ol' guitar an' a bag full o' song.

Railroad bull hit 'im with his stick,
Ol' Gunnysack's gone, a-lickity-split.

Rolled him so hard his blood ran cold,
Rolled him so hard, the moon's eyes closed.
Buried him out where the cock don't crow,
Out where the farmer and the children don't go.
Buried him deep beneath the corn,
Too deep to hear ol' Gabriel's horn.

All's they found was his ol' guitar,
His ol' rucksack an' his empty jar;
A half e't' apple in a brown paper bag
That he stole from an orchard, and wrapped in a rag;
An ol' photograph an' an address writ' down,
Where his mother lives in Philly-town.

Ol' Gunnysack Riley never hurt no one,
Now ol' Gunnysack's dead an' gone.
There's people out there, though,
Still singin' his songs,
"Ol' Gunnysack Riley, rollin' along..."

Hymn: Thou Art Lovely Source of True Delight

Thou lovely source of true delight whom I unseen adore
Unveil Thy beauties to my sight that I might love Thee more
Oh that I might love Thee more

Thy glory o'er creation shines yet in Thy sacred word
I read in fairer brighter lines my bleeding, dying Lord
Oh my bleeding, dying Lord

'Tis here whene'er my comforts droop and sin and sorrows rise
Thy love with cheering beams of hope my fainting heart supplies
My fainting heart's supplied

And ah too soon the pleasing scene is clouded over with pain
My gloomy fears rise dark between and I again complain
Oh and I again complain

Jesus my Lord, my life, my light, oh come with blissful ray
Break radiant through the shades of night and chase my fears away
Won't you chase my fears away

Then shall my soul with rapture trace the wonders of Thy love
But the full glories of Thy face are only known above
They are only known above

Hymn: Saviour Do Not Pass Me By

Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

When Ol’ Sis’ Judy Pray

When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray,
De teahs come stealin’ down my cheek,
De voice ur God widin me speak’;
I see myse’f so po’ an’ weak,
Down on my knees de cross I seek,
When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray.

When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray,
De thun’ers ur Mount Sin-a-i
Comes rushin’ down f’um up on high–
De Debbil tu’n his back an’ fly
While sinnahs loud fur pa’don cry,
When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray.

When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray,
Ha’d sinnahs trimble in dey seat
Ter hyuh huh voice in sorro ’peat
(While all de chu’ch des sob an’ weep)
“O Shepa’d, dese, dy po’ los’ sheep!”
When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray.

When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray,
De whole house hit des rock an’ moan
Ter see huh teahs an’ hyuh huh groan;
Dar’s somepin’ in Sis’ Judy’s tone Dat melt all ha’ts dough med ur stone
When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray.

When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray,
Salvation’s light comes pourin’ down–
Hit fill de chu’ch an’ all de town–
Why, angels’ robes go rustlin’ ’roun’,
An’ hebben on de Yurf am foun’,
When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray.

When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray,
My soul go sweepin’ up on wings,
An’ loud de chu’ch wid “Glory!” rings,
An’ wide de gates ur Jahsper swings
Twel you hyuh ha’ps wid golding strings,
When ol’ Sis’ Judy pray.