Whole Oates

Georgie was a skinny kid
Fond of angling, fonder of dangling his feet in the cool
Brook water
While the reverend's daughter
Sat at his side and fluttered his face with the fuzz of a
Dandelion.

Long about noontime
Floating 'cross the field, georgie heard the peel of a bell
Being rung by the parson
Time for his lesson
As much as he hated it, the preacher was teachin' him to
Play the accordion.

"don't go georgie!" said the reverend's daughter
"when daddy comes lookin' we can duck in the water."
They both went out and dipped down to hide
But the girl caught her locket on an underwater branch
And the next thing she knew... she died

Preacher was a sorry mess
He was cryin', shoutin' 'bout her dyin' and livin' the
Eternal life
Should 'a seen his wife
Sobbin' on the ground as the wind rustled round
And tickled the keys
Made georgie's accordion give an awful dyin' wheeze

I hear you call me, waterwheel
Spin round, round in a circle
Gracing my child dreams on fantasy hill
Spin round, round in a circle
Flash! paddles sending a spray to the air
Lately, my thoughts are still-
With you there as you spin round,
Round in a boyhood daydream
Spin round

My thoughts are drifting to a quieter time
(spin round, round in a circle)
Green covered slippery water-rocks i used to climb
(spin round, round in a circle)
Father and child walking down by the canyon
Lately, my thoughts are still-
With them there as they spin round,
Round in a boyhood daydream
Spin round

Why don't you write me
Call me on the phone
Send western union
You can find me home
I say i'm sorry
I said i'm sorry

You know i bled you
Led you on a lie
You say i fooled you
Who's the fool tonight
I say i'm sorry
I said i'm sorry

High
Love in motion
Walking on the ocean of your sorrow
Round turned the tables
Lost
I am a man with no tomorrow

Lopsided lovin' got me in the end
Looks like i'm done in
Now there's no pretending
Ooh i'm sorry
I said i'm sorry

Lilly, laughing lady,
Does your smile disguise the tears inside?

Lilly, lonely lady,
Only silhouette your happy side.

You give yourself to men who take your love.
Then smile and watch them walk away...
Are you tired of giving lilly?
Are you really happy?

Lilly, laughing lady,
Are you satisfied to live a lie?

Lilly, lonely lady,
Is it in the stars for you to try?

Do you fulfill yourself with lies and dreams?
You seem contented with your life?
Does it only gild the lilly
Or does it make you happy?

There's a thunder storm 'a brewin'
And the day is turning gray
There ain't much to say about the weather
The shower stall is leakin'
And the ceiling's fallin' in
And i'm getting twenty bills to every letter

I've got to move myself out to the country
I'm lookin' out for any place at all
I'm gonna spend another fall in philadelphia

A roving band of youths beat up on johnny
Everybody's gettin' richer sellin' that dope
Say, the stolen bikes are gathering by the thousands
Along with seven million people without a hope

I guess i have to face the fact as real
I think i feel my back up against the wall
I'm gonna spend another fall in philadelphia

Riding out along the river
Stopping by the pines
It's nice for someone speaking, to be heard,
By heart and mind
Lying on the needle floor
The city seems so far
Moving with your eyes and smile,
Your words told who you are
Sunday grey, one window brings the morning
And your words, like dawn, have opened up my eyes
I've been on a sleepy ride without much time for thinking
'til i spent one evening by your southeast city
Window side
Baby hair a blowin'
In the sunday morning air
Dreaming on another place and time,
Wish we were there
In your dreams you're far away
And i'm right behind
You know, it's nice for someone speaking. to be heard,
By heart and mind