Leaving West - lyrics
Regret
It's a bad situation. the world spun out of control
Gray skies press down harder
And she's the only one that knows
Long distance always calling
Desperation limp and spent
Forget the dance and the fawning
Every man has his regret
I know you boy and your tailor
And the price of a load
Come on, why all the tears now
You take the steps You've got to go
Another one is dead and gone now
Laid so neatly there to rest
Gravestones are the markers
Signposts of your regret
I know You and that hunger
And the meal You make alone
Come on, why act so glum now
You say you want I know you don't
Count the ones that are gone now
Each one was heaven sent
But the gravestones arc the markers
And every man has his regret
EEBCBE
Amen Corner Girls
"OK. OK. its a drum machine I know what You're thinking".
Cheyenne
1
Revived, coffin break. suffocated. I couldn't wait,
It's ten below and a black top road
Nobody's out there. tonight it's lonely passing through
I think a drink is due. I'll take two
Out of Cheyenne into piney woods, this drive will do me good
Remembering what she said what she said
I'm not your enemy no, I'm now it. can't you see
It's the pass that binds, that's not an alibi
But you never try, why don't you ever try?
2.
I remember a wishing well
Where we stood and whose hand that I held
And the coin that was tossed and what it got
Cigarette smoke and empty roads, it's 4 AM a stupid joke
But what do I know
On a list I'm alone
Einstein. barfly. which one what's the face tonight
But the last thing she said as the phone line went dead
“If You roll alone I'll leave the lights on
If you roll alone I'll leave the lights on
If you roll alone”
D# G A# G A# D Capo 2
Nick Hornbuckle: banjo
Jon Hyde: pedal steel
Andrew Hire: pedal steel
"A true story from the heart of America".
Say It and See
It's funny I should feel this guilt
Walking around with this smile
what's the crime?
I've paid my dues and I've claimed my debts
Ain't gotta lie. This one's mine
This one's mine
You might laugh and shake your head
Say you know me. Say you've seen this
I don't mind, this time I don't mind
So OK, all right
I'm gonna say it And see
I love her and she loves me
I wasn't looking, who'd a figured
Holding out like that someone would get the picture
Now it's a hand to hold and oh good,
Little toes
With our pasts we are quite modern
She's got scars and I've got the daughter
But it fits, we like the fit
But it's true it's a handful
It's modern love and look out below
Ah. but we know
Oh yes, we know
So OK, all right
I'm gonna say it And see
I love her and she loves me
F A# D F A# D# Capo 4
Edd Key: cornet
"A song that took me 42 years to write".
Freak Show
Now I guess it s time we're going to have to see
I'm ready for you, I bet You're not ready for me
I've been away a long time, I couldn't handle this scene
I only return to wipe the past clean
Because I'm ashamed of myself and for some of what I've done
But it's hard to know the truth, especially when you're young
Especially when you're young
And it's hey ho, hi-dy ho
I can Always do the stomp at a freak show
But maybe I'd just like to let it go
Please don't tell me that you never lie
I see shadows creep you could not disguise
I'm not coming back to make them pay
But the things I've got inside yes, they need to hear me say
Because if I didn't say it they'd never know
I'm a sentient creature and not a piece for their freak show
I'm not a piece for their freak show
And it's hey ho, hi-dy ho
I can Always do the stomp at a freak show
But maybe I'd just like to let it go
Looky, looky here what you've gone and done
I've spent long years trying to get this knot undone
Crazy aunt, and uncles. Mom and Dad too
What the hell do you think me and my sister are supposed to do?
When you're young it's hard to say “leave us alone."
I don't want to play, I don't want to be in your freak show
I don't want to be in your freak show
And it's hey ho, hi-dy ho
I can Always do the stomp at a freak show
But maybe I'd just like to let it go
standard tuning
Mark Nichols: keyboard, accordions
Liz Dreisbach: clarinet
"Puts the fun back in dysfunctional...I wrote this in 1984 just before moving to Seattle".
Gypsy's Minor Swing
Instrumental
standard tuning
Amen Corner Girls: Coir
"A song I wrote 15 years ago. Living in Europe brings it back with new life".
The Orphanage
There's a little candle light
Where the children sleep at night
In that home on top of the hill
Where they dream of hands to hold
And never all alone
And Mommy and Daddy don't fight
It's lust a simple wooden house
Left alone and done without
But with angels above and below
And the children run and play
As they pass the time away
Waiting and wanting to go
For a little while it might be all right
It might be OK for just a few short days
But for the unlucky ones, no one comes
And they're waiting there still
In that home over the hill
Well, I was a lucky one
I spent some time and then it was done
And my new parent. are happy with me I suppose
But I'll not forget those days
And the little bed in which I lay
And my friends I left there waiting and wanting to go
For a little while it might be all right
It might be OK for just a few short days
But for the unlucky ones, no one comes
And they're waiting there still
In that home over the hill
D# G A# G A# D#
"The first guitar player I ever saw in person was in a church".
I Don't Know
I'm going to tell You something
I'm not going to lie
So if you come here early honey
Don't say you're surprised
I'd like to stay forever
But I'm feeling filled up and full
So I've packed my bags, I've found the key
I guess it's time to go
But OK, friends think I'm crazy
Friends think I'm stupid
But I don't know, I don't know
I'll be looking for sunshine
Had enough of this rain
Course it's true, I'm sad about leaving
But I'm not going to stay that way
You can't say we never tried now
You know we did what we could
‘Course I always know that there is more that you can do
But it doesn't always mean that you should
But OK, friends tell me it's easy
Friends say it's simple
But I don't know, I don't know
I don't know
I'm not looking for trouble
But I've had enough of blue
I looked in the mirror and had to make a choice
Darling, didn't mean to hurt You
Of course I could write a letter
Maybe put this in a song
It's been nice, darling, I love you too
But take a look and l'm gone
But all right, friends tell me it's easy
Friends think I'm crazy
Friends think I'm simple
But I don't know
All right, easy
Tell me it's all right
I don't know
D# G A# G A# D#
"Stubborn Taurus me".
Tonight
Say no more, I'll take the chance
You've had your share I know
But I'm not that kind of man
I'll take care
And besides, I've got a different kind of plan
Why don't we just hold hands?
Not forever and a day, oh no
I could not stand the wait
And I'm not so very strong and besides,
Yes I'm sure I know that you're the one I want
In time and fortunately
Let's dance all night
Tonight
OK, I know. it might be impossible
A silly notion
Dumb idea
But if you want to get close and see
Can anybody love?
Can you and me?
Let's dance all night
Dancing all night
Tonight
Tonight
D# G A# G A# D
"I still love watching old Fred Astaire movies.
Thanks for the memories, Fred".
Caroline's Dream
Instrumental
Caroline Berthet: sleep sounds
Amen Corner Girls: choir
"Don ‘t fall asleep in the studio when somebody's making a record".
One Single Rose
One calendar page, too many days
This is borderline insanity
To bend my knees and have to wait
But I'll try to laugh as I wipe my eyes
And try to remember some innocence
And wonder if this life will be kind
Forget about the running
Forget about the devil's curse
I never saw this coming
No time to steal away or worse
So I am fortunate but I am stunned
Sometimes drawing blanks just like a child
Confronted with stupid adult questions
Silently I climb, straight to the top
Where I'll catch my breath and try to see
You can watch but I won't fal
It's one single rose. growing in this garden
Waiting I hope and fascinated enough
To see and love
EGBGBE Capo7
"Falling in love is definitely great inspiration.
Being in love is even better".
Big Stick
Because I want it around here, don't make it so
Sitting in the middle of this corn field
My daddy warned me to go
Highway 41 I know and just where it goes
I can't, I want but I won't
Damn this dry county and number nine coal
I wish we didn't need the heat so bad
But Christ it's getting cold
No job here and nine fingers
But that's the way it goes
There's not much left here now, but I wonder
If I could stir at with this old stick
What would float?
I used to like this living. working the land
When my daddy was alive it made a lot more sense
But things was different back then
Now he's gone. most of my friends too
And I've got the itch when a little luck would do
I can't, I won't, I can't move
A Band-Aid, cigarettes, this land I walk
I'm not going to worry about the Chevrolet
Troubles I've got enough
Now Nancy's packed and wants an answer from me
Or says she s not coming back
There's not much left here now, but I wonder
If I could stir at with this old stick
What would float?
There's not much left I know but I wonder
If I should spend a little more
But I don't know
standard tuning
Jon Hyde: pedal steel
"The little farms of the world are fast disappearing. Here's just one more story".
Baby Bean
1
Hello blank page, disasters galore
Best double time it, television sores
White noise chicken, scratch paper pie
Fold over corner, slip goes the night
2.
Can't you hear her knocking now,
Squeezing off a sneeze
Try a little harder, better say it louder please
A friend indeed, sang his songs for me
So good luck mama and little baby bean
3.
Down near the bottom now
Running out of reach
Don't bother hollering
No one will hear you scream
A friend is gone
The rocking chair creaks
But good luck mama and little baby bean
Good luck mama and little baby bean
C G C G C E Capo 4
Sean Sippel: Jaw harp and didjeridoo
"My first thought was about the kid".
Was a Friend
Instrumental
D# G A# G A# D
"It's in the title".
Slow Poison
Hello poison, we hear you calling
Familiar like a friend
At least now it's in the great wide open
It's good we don't pretend
It's taken time, television and time
Of course we know living life here in the city
It's everywhere you look and see
The hateful stares and the silent signs
Directed at my dark skinned friends and me
But we know why
We know why our nation
Plays trickle down and lies to control
We know why they're jealous
And fear to ever really let go
Oh we know
We know
Same old trash, overused bedsprings
Same old take away
Babies grown and jumping, busy doing nothing
No work or money to play
And it's why try
Slow poison
So dissatisfied
Nowhere really to climb
If You want to run
Where do you go?
Where do you want to live?
Where do you come from?
And what's pride?
But we know that our nation
Plays trickle down and lies to control
We know that they're jealous
And fear to ever really let go
Oh we know
We know
D G# A# G# A# D Capo 1
"Too much time in the city perhaps. I'm not sure-It's not difficult to see and know what's going on, though, no matter where you live.