 Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions » Lyrics [+ Tillsätt +] |
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1. _ Unwelcome Guest
To the rich man's bright lodges
I ride in this wind
On my good horse, I call you
My shiny black Bess
To the playhouse of fortune
To take the bright silver
And gold you have taken
From somebody else
And as we go riding
In the damp foggy midnight
You snort, my good pony
And you give me your best
For you know and I know
Good horse 'mongst the rich ones
How oftimes we go there
An unwelcome guest
I never took food
From the widows and orphans
And never a hardworking man I oppressed
So take your pace easy
For home soon like lightning
We soon will be riding
My shiny black Bess
No fat rich man's pony
Can ever overtake you
And there's not a rider
From the east to the west
Could hold you a light
In this dark mist and midnight
When the potbellied thieves
Chase the unwelcome guest
I don't know, good horse
As we trot in this dark here
That robbing the rich
Is for worse or for best
They take it by stealing
And lying and gambling
And I take it my way
My shiny Black Bess
I treat horses good
And I'm friendly to strangers
I ride and your running
Makes my guns talk the best
And the rangers and deputies
Are hired by the rich man
To catch me and hang me
My shining black Bess
Yes, they'll catch me napping one day
And they'll kill me
And then I'll be gone
But that won't be my end
For my guns and my saddle
Will always be filled
By unwelcome travelers
And other brave men
And they'll take the money
And spread it out equal
Just like the Bible
And the prophets suggest
But men that go riding
To help these poor workers
The rich will cut down
Like an unwelcome guest
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2. _ I Guess I Planted
I guess I planted some long lonesome seed of a song
Way down inside me long ago
And now I can't remember when it was
But it joined up with the rest of them and grows
It's such a little song it don't compare
With all your big ones you hear everywhere
But when it dawns way in the back of your mind
The big ones are made up of the little kind
Union song, union battled
All added up won us all what we got now
Union song, union battled
All added up won us all what we got now
I can't even start to look around me here
Without hearing this song
And seeing all of us first separated
Hurt apart and afraid
Hungry for the union
And so we kept on
Singing and working, fighting till we got it
And this is the big union song I guess I hear
Union song, union battled
All added up won us all what we got now
Union song, union battled
All added up won us all what we got now
We fought there at your place
We fought there on your ship
And I guess if you missed out on
The fight for our union
You missed out on one awful big step
Us people took
Union song, union battled
All added up won us all what we got now
Union song, union battled
All added up won us all what we got now
Union song, union battled
All added up won us all what we got now
Union song, union battled
All added up won us all what we got now
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3. _ Feed of Man
If you
Beat up, butcher, and
You bleed a man:
If you bang up and badger and
Blood let a man;
And then I come along
On the feet of man
And half way laff and cry 'bout
The meat of man,
And I do what I can to
Bale string and tie some ballad truths
Up cured out
For the feed of man
And
Folks try to tell me
That it's on god's orders
That you bleed your man;
It's on god's good word that you
Bleed your man;
On god's plan print
That you dead a man;
Or you spit and curse and whip
Your man;
I say I'll help you fix and
Squeeze yourself up a new kind of a god
Of some kind;
One that tells you
Fertilyze and multyplye;
One that
Tells you:
Outsow and outblow,
Outplant and outgrow;
Outdo, and outrun, and out climb, and out spread
Every other tree and bush
And brushy fruits and flower petals;
Out fruit them all
For the feed of man;
Out stalk and out hunt and out think
For god's own sweet sake, out think! out think!
Out think the fruits
Outgrow these animal kind and shapes of man!
It you miss and go down
Your dust will turn up on that long hot job
Once more again
To help in the feeding and the seed of man
And not in the bleeding and the end of man.
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4. _ Stetson Kennedy
I done spent my last three cents
Mailing my letter to the president
I didn't make a show, I didn't make a dent
So I'm swinging over to this independent gent
Stetson Kennedy
Writing his name in
I cain't win out to save my soul
Long as smathers-dupont's got me in the hole
Them war profit boys are squawking and balking
That's what's got me out here walking and talking
Knocking on doors and windows
Wake up and run down election morning
And scribble in stetson Kennedy
I ain't the world's best writer nor the world's best speller
But when I believe in something I'm the loudest yeller
If we fix it so's you can't make money on war
We'll all forget what we're killing folks for
We'll find us a peace job equal and free
Dump smathers-dupont in a salty sea
Well, this makes stetson kennedy the man for me
Words: woody guthrie (1950) - music: billy bragg (1997)
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5. _ One By One
One by one the teardrops fall as I write to you
One by one my words come falling on the page
One by one my dreams are fading in the twilight
One by one my schemes are failing fast away
One by one the flowers fade here in my garden
One by one the leaves are falling from the trees
One by one my hopes are vanished in the clouds dear
One by one like snowflakes melting in the breeze
One by one my hair is turning gray
One by one my dreams are fading fast away
One by one I ready your letters over
One by one I lay them all away
One by one the days are slipping up behind you
One by one the sweetest days of life go by
One by one the moments stealing up behind you
One by one she'll come and find not you or I
One by one I hear the soft words that you whispered
One by one I feel your kisses soft and sweet
One by one I hope you'll say the words to marry
One by one to one by one forever be
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6. _ My Flying Saucer
My flying saucer, where can you be
Since that sad night that you sailed away from me?
My flying saucer, I pray this night
You will sail back before the day gets bright
My flying saucer, fly back for home
You will get lost in the universe alone
My flying saucer, end all my fears
Sail back tonight, love and kiss away my tears
My flying saucer, I pray this night
You will sail back before the day gets bright
You will sail back before the day gets bright
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7. _ Eisler On the Go
Eisler on the go, Eisler on the move
Brother is on the vinegar truck
And I don't know what I'll do
I don't know what I'll do
I don't know what I'll do
Eisler's on the come and go
And I don't know what I'll do
Eisler on the farm, Eisler on the town
Sister in the tickly bush
And I don't know what I'll do
Eisler on the boat, Eisler on the ship
Daddy on the hen house roof
And I don't know what I'll do
Eisler in the jailoe, Eisler back at home
Rankin scratch his head and cry
And I don't know what I'll do
Eisler him write music, Eisler him teach school
Truman him don't play so good
And I don't know what I'll do
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8. _ Against th' Law
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9. _ California Stars
I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd love to feel
Your hand touching mine
And tell me why
I must keep working on
Yes I'd give my life
To lay my head tonight on a bed
Of California stars
I'd like to dream
My troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my star bed
Make another day
Underneath my California stars
They hang like grapes
On vines that shine
And warm the lovers' glass
Like friendly wine
So I'd give this world
Just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars
I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd love to feel
Your hand touching mine
And tell me why
I must keep working on
Yes I'd give my life
To lay my head tonight on a bed
Of California stars
I'd like to dream
My troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my star bed
Make another day
Underneath my California stars
They hang like grapes
On vines that shine
And warm the lovers' glass
Like friendly wine
So I'd give this world
Just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars
So I'd give this world
Just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars
(Dream a dream with you)
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10. _ Blood of the Lamb
Are your garments all spotless?
Are they white as the snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
Is your soul all spotless?
Is it clean as the snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
I am washed, yes I'm washed
I am washed in the blood
I'm all washed in the blood of the lamb
I'm all clean I'm all spotless
I'm all pure like the snow
I'm all washed in the blood of the lamb
Have you laid down your burdens?
Have you found peace and rest?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
I've laid down all my troubles
I've found peace and rest
I'm all washed in the blood of the lamb
Have you learned to love your neighbors?
Of all colors, creeds and kinds?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
I've learned to love my peoples
Of all colors, creeds, and kinds
I'm all washed in the blood of the lamb
I am washed, yes I'm washed
I am washed in the blood
I'm all washed in the blood of the lamb
I'm all clean I'm all spotless
And I'm pure like the snow
I'm all washed in the blood of the lamb
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11. _ Hot Rod Hotel
I'm a porter and a night clerk at the old Hot Rod Hotel
I clean and scrub the lobby down and thirty-one rooms as well
I wax and shine their boots and shoes
I brush down their crinkly clothes
And I meet the buses and trains and I show you to your door
Bell-bottom pants brought two boys in at six-fourteen last night
Two girls checked in at ten-oh-two and I flipped on the light
The lamrod's wife looks in their doors and finds one terrible sight
Those boys and girls got bawled up in their doors and rooms that night
A bloody flood could never mess these rooms up any worse
It looked like Moe had used this room to grease and breed a horse
Old gum and hairs and sticky rags, old bottles on the floors
Gobs of spit and condom rubbers on the windows, walls, and doors
The lammy tried to make me clean out that crappy mess
Or else he'd fire me off my job and let me starve to death
I laid aside my polish rag and I downed my dusting pan
And I've not seen the old Hot Rod nor that old town since then
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12. _ Secret of the Sea
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
If you can guess the secret of my love for you
We can both know the secret of the sea
Tell me could you ever tell the secret of the sea?
Of these high rolling waves along the shore?
The footprints of the lovers that come here to love
By the tides washed away forever more
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
If you can guess the secret of my love for you
We can both know the secret of the sea
You claim to know the secret of a kiss and a hug
And the secret of grass and of the trees
And if you can tell the secret of a warm friends hand
Then we all would feel the secrets of the sea
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
If you can guess the secret of my love for you
We can both know the secret of the sea
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13. _ I Was Born
I was born at half past twelve, almost one in the morning
I was born at half past one, almost two in the morning
Now my birthday comes again and I don't know how old I am
Half past one or two or three, almost four in the morning
I was born at half past four, almost five in the morning
I was born at half past six, almost seven in the morning
How old am I, you ask of me? One year younger than I used to be
Half past seven, half past eight, half past nine in the morning
I was born at half past nine, almost ten in the morning
I was born at half past ten, almost 'leven in the morning
Today my age is tweedle and twee, I'm prettier than I used to be
Half past 'leven, half past 'leven, almost twelve in the morning
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14. _ Joe DiMaggio Done It Again
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
Clackin' that bat, gone with the wind
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
Some folks thought Big Joe was done
Some just figured Joe was gone
Steps to the platter with a great big grin
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
I'm gonna tell you just the way I feel
Man can't run without his heel
Watch that raggy pill split the wind
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
All three fielders jumped their best
Trying to climb that high board fence
They all growed whiskers on their chins
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
Up along the clouds where the eagles roam
Joe cracked that ball to whine and moan
His buddies all laugh as they trot on in
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
Grandma's home by the radio
On the television watching Joe
She jerks the beard off of Grandpa's chin
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
The puppy dog barked at the pussycat
How does it look from where you sat?
Looks like a cyclone slidin' in
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
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15. _ Walt Whitman's Niece
Last night or the night before that
I won't say which night
A seaman friend of mine
I'll not say which seaman
Walked up to a big old building
I won't say which building
And would have not walked up the stairs
Not to say which stairs
If there had not been two girls
Leaving out the names of those two girls
I recall a door, a big long room
I'll not tell which room
I remember a deep blue rug
But I can't say which rug
A girl took down a book of poems
Not to say which book of poems
And as she read, I lay my head
And I can't tell which head
Down in her lap, and I can mention which lap
My seaman buddy and girl moved off
After a couple of pages and there I was
All night long, laying and listening
And forgetting the poems
And as well as I could recall
Or my seaman buddy could recollect
My girl had told us that she was a niece
Of Walt Whitman, but now which niece
And it takes a night and a girl
And a book of this kind
A long long time to find its way back
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16. _ Hesitating Beauty
For your sparkling cocky smile
I have walked a million miles
Begging you to come wed me in the Spring
Why do you my dear delay,
What makes you laugh and turn away?
You're a hesitating beauty, Nora Lee
Well I know that you are itching to get married
Nora Lee
And I know I am twitching for the same thing
Nora Lee
By the stars and clouds above
We can spend our lives in love
You're a hesitating beauty, Nora Lee
We can build a house and home
Where the flowers come to bloom
Around our yard I'll nail a fence so high
That the boys with peeping eyes
Cannot see that angel face
Of my hesitating beauty, Nora Lee
We can ramble hand in hand
Across the grasses of our land
I'll kiss you for each leaf on every tree
We can bring our kids to play
Where the dry winds blow today
If you'll quit your hesitating, Nora Lee
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17. _ All You Fascists
I'm gonna tell all you fascists, you may be surprised
People all over this world are getting organized
You're bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
Race hatred cannot stop us, this one thing I know
Poll tax and Jim Crow and greed have got to go
You're bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
All you fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You're bound to lose, you fascists
Are bound to lose
People of every color marching side by side
Marching across these fields where a million fascists died
You're bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
All you fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You're bound to lose, you fascists
Are bound to lose
I'm going into this battle, take my union gun
Gonna end this world of slavery before this war is won
You're bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
All you fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You're bound to lose, you fascists
Are bound to lose
I said, all you fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You're bound to lose, you fascists
Are bound to lose
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18. _ Another Man's Done Gone
Sometimes I think I'm gonna lose my mind
But it don't look like I ever do
I've loved so many people everywhere I went
Some too much, and others not enough
Well I don't know
I may go
Down or up or anywhere
But I feel
Like this scribbling might stay
Maybe if I hadn't seen so much hard feelings
I might not could've felt other people's
So when you think of me, if and when you do
Just say, "Well, another man's done gone"
Well, another man's done gone
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19. _ Airline to Heaven
There's an airline plane
Flies to heaven everyday
Past the pearly gates
If you want to ride this train
Have your ticket in your hand
Before it is too late
If the world looks wrong
And your money's spent and gone
And your friend has turned away
You can get away to heaven
On this aeroplane
Just bow your head and pray
Them's got ears, let them hear
Them's got eyes, let them see
Turn your eyes to the lord of the skies
Take this airline plane
It'll take you home again
To your home behind the skies
Well a lot of people guess
Some say no and some say yes
Will it take some and leave some behind?
But you will surely know
When to the airport go
To leave this world behind
Oh a lot of speakers speak
A lot of preachers preach
When you lay their salary on the line
You hold your head and pray
It's the only earthly way
You can fly to heaven on time
Fly to heaven on time
Them's got ears, let them hear
Them's got eyes, let them see
Turn your eyes to the lord of the skies
Take that airline plane
It'll take you home again
To your home behind the skies
Your ticket you obtain
On this heavenly airline plane
You leave your sins behind
You've got to take this flight
It may be daytime, might be night
But you can't see your way if you're blind
Them's got ears, let them hear
Them's got eyes, let them see
Turn your eyes to the lord of the skies
Take that airline plane
It'll take you home again
To your home behind the skies
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20. _ Remember the Mountain Bed
Do you still sing of the mountain bed we made of limbs and leaves?
Do you still sigh there near the sky where the holly berry bleeds?
You laughed as I covered you over with leaves
Face, breast, hips, and thighs
You smiled when I said the leaves were just the color of your eyes
Rosin smells and turpentine smells from eucalyptus and pine
Bitter tastes of twigs we chewed where tangled wood vines twine
Trees held us in on all four sides so thick we could not see
I could not see any wrong in you, and you saw none in me
Your arm was brown against the ground, your cheeks part of the sky
Your fingers played with grassy moss, as limber you did lie
Your stomach moved beneath your shirt and your knees were in the air
Your feet played games with mountain roots as you lay thinking there
Below us the trees grew clumps of trees, raised families of trees, and they
As proud as we tossed their heads in the wind and flung good seeds away
The sun was hot and the sun was bright down in the valley below
Where people starved and hungry for life so empty come and go
There in the shade and hid from the sun we freed our minds and learned
Our greatest reason for being here, our bodies moved and burned
There on our mountain bed of leaves we learned life's reason why
The people laugh and love and dream, they fight, they hate to die
The smell of your hair I know is still there, if most of our leaves are blown
Our words still ring in the brush and the trees where singing seeds are sown
Your shape and form is dim but plain, there on our mountain bed
I see my life was brightest where you laughed and laid your head
I learned the reason why man must work and how to dream big dreams
To conquer time and space and fight the rivers and the seas
I stand here filled with my emptiness now and look at city and land
And I know why farms and cities are built by hot, warm, nervous hands
I crossed many states just to stand here now, my face all hot with tears
I crossed city, and valley, desert, and stream, to bring my body here
My history and future blaze bright in me and all my joy and pain
Go through my head on our mountain bed where I smell your hair again.
All this day long I linger here and on in through the night
My greed's, desires, my cravings, hopes, my dreams inside me fight
My loneliness healed, my emptiness filled, I walk above all pain
Back to the breast of my woman and child to scatter my seeds again
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