No Deeper Blue

By townes van zandt

Well, billy went down to the battleground
To find a little trinket he could call his own
Didn't see nothin' lying around
He decided he'd dig awhile
Well he dug her up and he dug her down
'fore too long he found some bones
Poor little billy couldn't make a sound
When the bones sat up and smiled


Oh billy you seem like a fine young man
No reason to be a tremblin' soul
Come over here and shake my hand
Make my proud acquaintance
Well billy he was stunned he could hardly stand
Whether he could move he didn't know
But he knew he had to formulate some kinda plan
Or try the boneman's patience


The first thing he wanted to do was breathe
So he gulped in some of that battleground air
Next thing he wanted to do was leave
But billy wasn't raised up rude
Well the boneman grunted and he gave a heave
All of a sudden he was loomin' there
Shakin off dirt and actin pleased
Things didn't look too good


Well billy decided what the hell
You don't meet a boneman every day
A little bit skinny but you never can tell
He might be a pretty good guy
Well they started off with the old soft sell
'fore too long they were jawin' away
By the time the darkness fell
They were seein' socket to eye


They decided right then on a life of crime
With the boneman's looks and billy's brains
They could scare old scrooge out of his last dime
Might as well have a go
Billy he would picked the place and time
From the corner store to the railroad train
Boney'd flash him a smile sublime
And billy he'd grab the dough


They decided they might as well start right then
Time's awastin' so they say
They headed for the park
Where the lights are dim
And only the foolish tread
He was whistlin' a tune
When they spotted him strollin' along
So plump and gay
Boney gave him a great big grin
And billy snagged his bread


Next come a lady of the night
Boney saddled up and said hello
Gave the poor thing such a terrible fright
She fainted dead away
Billy lifted her purse and her earrings bright
Diamond rings and watch you know
Couldn't figure out try as they might
Why they'd ever worked a single day


Billy's plans ended up in ruin you know
They were workin' a quaint little neighborhood
Spied an old lady about eighty or so
Almost looked too easy
Boney put on a pretty good show
The little ol' lady didn't see too good
My kind sir your all bones you know
You need something hot and greasy


Grabbed ol' boney drug him inside
Billy peeked in through the window sill
She fed him boiled and baked and fried
Ol' boney he's chewin like crazy
He gobbled up everything he tried
Pounds added on like you know they will
Billy laid down in the dirt and cried
Watchin boney gettin fat and lazy


Well billy's back workin his job by day
Sleep'n nights it ain't so bad
Never liked stealin anyway
Kinda gives a guy the willies
Boney and ma got a new cafe
Best baked beans you ever had
Ma's expecting any day
And they say they're gonna name him billy

By townes van zandt

I gotta guitar all my own
I gotta quarter for the telephone
I ain't headed down this highway all alone
One two three and maybe four
Honey, they're knockin' on my door
I know you're gonna miss me when i'm gone


Got no daddy but i got a ma
Think she lives in arkansas
Maybe i'll go see her some old day
It ain't like she'd really care
It ain't like she'd pay no fare
But i might just blow on through there anyway


Headed down to alabam
Cause some trouble if i can
Aw, buddy, would you like to come along?
It's a place i never been
And you know i could use a friend
They say they'll give us twenty bucks a song


I gotta guitar all my own
I gotta quarter for the telephone
I ain't headed down this highway all alone
One two three and maybe four
Honey, they're knockin' on my door
You know i'm gonna miss you when i'm gone

By townes van zandt

The old woman finally caught me
Sneakin' 'round her cave
Her hair looked just like barbwire, boys
And her smile just like the grave
She asked me could i stay awhile
I said i'd better go
She slid her arm around my neck
And sweetly whispered no


It's cold and dark and lonely here
As soon enough you'll see
I'm oh so glad you stumbled in
I've been cravin' company
I cannot stay too long you know
I left some friends at home
Don't you fret about your friends
Down here we're all alone


What about my mother
I can't just leave her there to mourn
You don't have to think about her
Just forget you were ever born
I'll disappoint my father
You know he worked so hard for me
If you have to pay your father back
Just send him some misery


I'll miss, i said, a girl i know
I can't just leave there to pine
She's still got plenty of men to go
I'm sure she'll do just fine
What about my little boy
She said, he's just like you
Let a few short years roll by
He'll end up down here too


Then her pale green eyes began to glow
She placed her hand on mine
She smiled and said don't worry
You'll get used to me in time
As her cold tongue flickered toward
I spun myself around
Made a dive for the passageway
But the walls come crashing down


Now her eyes were the only light
My fevered brain could see
But i tore myself away from them
And fell down to my knees
I've come too far, i can't get back
I beseeched the gods of men
Fame and fortune just laughed at me
Then silence once again


A whisper deep within
Embrace the god of love
I lifted my face and through the tears
I saw light fall from above


I hurled myself into the wall
I ripped and clawed my way
Through the stinkin', clingin' loam
Back to the light of day
I crawled out into the wind again
The sky upon my face
I heard the earth sigh patiently
As it slid back into place


Now i'm back among the ones i love
I'm loved by them in turn
And it's only on the darkest night
That green eyed memory burns
So walk my friends, in the light of day
Don't go sneakin' 'round no holes
There justmight be something down there
Wants to gobble up your soul

By townes van zandt

Hey willie boy what you gonna do
When the wind blows cold
The moon turns blue
Build me a fire
Gonna dance and sing
A little bit of winter don't mean a thing
A little bit of winter don't mean a thing


Hey willie when the birds arrive
The flowers bloom
While the clouds float by
Tell my puppies
And my turtles and things
All gods children need a little spring
All gods children need a little spring


Hey willie boy where you gonna go
When the grass gets sticky
And the wind blows slow
Down to the river
Gonna jump right in
A little bit of summer can't be no sin
A little bit of summer can't be no sin


Hey willie how you gonna feel
When the leaves turn gold
Beneath your heels
Twirl and spin never gonna fall
Fallin just won't do at all
No that wouldn't do at all


Hey willie boy how you gonna feel
Hey willie boy where you gonna go
Hey willie boy what you gonna do
It's time to go to sleep right now
It's time to go to sleep right now

By townes van zandt

There is no deeper blue
In the ocean that lies
As deep as the blue
Of your laughing eyes
No sweeter sound
Than your gentle sigh
No heart was ever so pure


Dream pretty dreams
Touch beautiful things
Let all the skies surround you
Swim with the swans
And believe that upon
Some glorious dawn
Love will find you


Come some day
I'm bound away
Wind and wings on the water
Whatever may
You must stay
And remain my beautiful daughter


There is no deeper blue
In the ocean that lies
As deep as the blue
Of your laughing eyes
No sweeter sound
Than your gentle sigh
No heart was ever so pure


Good night katie belle, good night

By townes van zandt

Ribbons of love
Please keep me true sane
Until i reach home on the morrow
Never never to wander again
I'm weak and i'm weary of sorrow


London to dublin
Australia to perth
I gazed at your sky
I tasted your earth
Sung out my heart
For what it was worth
Never again shall i ramble


There's nowhere left
In this world where to go
My arms, my legs they're a-tremblin'
Thoughts both clouded and blue as the sky
Not even worth the rememberin'


Now as i stumble
And reel to my bed
All that i've done
All that i've said
Means nothin' to me
I'd soon as be dead
All of this world be forgotten


No words of comfort
No words of advice
Nothin' to offer a stranger
Gone the love, gone the spite
It just doesn't matter no longer


My sky's getting far
The ground's gettin' close
My self goin' crazy
The way that it does
I'll lie on my pillow
And sleep if i must
Too late to wish i'd been stronger
Too late to wish i'd been stronger

By townes van zandt

If i was washington
Valleys would i forge for
If i was a fat man
Fun would i gorge for
If i was gingus
Gold would i horde for
Wish i had a dollar a day


If i was a gouger
Gouge would i wish for
If i was a fisherman
Fish would i fish for
If i was a french whore
Frenchies i'd dish for
Wish i had a dollar a day


Turkeys are for flyin'
Chickens are for eatin'
I'm all for fun
Fun's forbidden
Forbidden's forgotten
And forgotten's for gettin'
I wish i had a dollar a day


Buzzards are for circling
Circles are for heroes
Heroes for floatin'
Fiddles to nero
Fingers for countin'
Numbers for zero
Wish i had a dollar a day


If i was washington
Valleys would i forge for
If i was a fat man
Fun would i gorge for
If i was gingus
Gold would i horde for
Wish i had a dollar a day


If i was washington
I'd wear wood teeth
If i was a policeman
I'd walk me a stone beat
If i was a singer
I'd stop right now
I wish i had a dollar a day