The Music

ALBUM LYRICS

1. Dead Ringer

I can’t say what’s wrong with me cuz if I did, I’d not know where to start
I’m into bones & shells, but I’m not empty, I’ve got muscle in my heart
mechanic bolts shoot arrows from my stomach to the soft part of my neck
with radios they say explode, I just got hit & I feel like a wreck
can you help me?
can you help me?
I gave her all my pets & all my pennies that I hope she does not spend
cuz there’s still a couple bucks I owe, some debts to pay some junkies I call friends
& I’m not sure that if you could you would even try to rewind
a .35 to watch a film that uses black & white to tell the time
can you help me?
can you help me?
can you help me?
can you help me?
am I just growing up?
at what age will I die?
when you bury me
leave a bell
in case I
come back to life
her laughs sounds just like mustard gas, but I can’t hear cuz I’m not here at all
I’m watching men with moustache grease take off the clothes of women on the wall
& her skirt it swayed just like when we played Russian roulette with friends across the room
“we’ll meet again,” I smiled & said & she replied, “I hope that’s not too soon”
can you help me?
can you help me?
can you help me?
can you help me?

2. Carpenter’s Theme

the street says we made a mistake
& I’m thinking we should make a clean break
& drive a three-wheeled car, so we won’t get very far
& when we’re done we’ll drive it into LA
you can be my partner in crime
& if we get caught I wouldn’t mind
you know I wouldn’t be mad because I’m sure that we’d have time to make love while we’re doing time
I know there’s no answer
it hit me like a hammer
& I don’t know why it hurts so good
when you hit me like a hammer
kiss me through the bars of our cell
tell the warden that he can go to hell
he better run away because I’m sure if he stays our shotguns will be missing their shells
I know there’s no answer
it hit me like a hammer
& I don’t know why it hurts so good
when you hit me like a hammer
let’s go get tattooed
I’ll shave my face & lace up my boots
we’re on the run without a compass or a clue
let’s live without the eye of the law
we’re breaking hearts, then we’re breaking some jaws
with a push & shove I’ll make you fall in love
it’s a crime that I consider my job
I know there’s no answer
it hit me like a hammer
& I don’t know why it hurts so good
when you hit me like a hammer
you hit me like a hammer
you hit me like a hammer
you hit me like a hammer

3. To be with Sweet Marie

when I leave
I won’t run
I’ll linger
I’ll slam no doors
I’ll watch out for
yer fingers
where I’m going
they’ll be throwing
roses after me
& I can’t wait to be with Sweet Marie
don’t you make me
feel so empty
dry yer dripping eyes
she’s the only
one who holds me
when I’m sick & tired
it hasn’t rained
in 40 years
now its streaming
pinatas hung
though unwellstrung
from yer ceiling
when I arrive
half-alive
& see the party’s being thrown for me
the only gift I’ll want is Sweet Marie
don’t you make me
feel so empty
dry yer dripping eyes
she’s the only
one who holds me
when I’m sick & tired

4. She Lullabies

well she told me
she never
felt like a child
& she hid all her sadness
with sucker-punch smiles
& a star that she tattooed
with an ink pen & knife
but sometimes
she’s a bird
humming upstream
she lullabies by the river
she washed her sins
with whiskey & gin
she waits for her lord to deliver
yeah
well I winked at her
when she straight-faced me
the lightning she loved
when it split open trees
but she was too scared of the thunder to see
but sometimes
she’s a bird
humming upstream
she lullabies by the river
she washed her sins
with whiskey & gin
she waits for her lord to deliver
yeah
deliver
yeah
her liver
yeah
but sometimes
I was polite
when I told her the truth
she said its alright
& I started to swoon
cuz I fall in love
with girls in the nude
she’s so fine
but sometimes
she’s not mine
but sometimes
she’s a bird
humming upstream
she lullabies by the river
she washed her sins
with whiskey & gin
she waits for her lord to deliver

5. Hudson Valley Blues

deal out the cards ‘fore we see the stars
the liqour store’s closed so we’ll walk to the bar
then we’ll sleep in the backseat of your car
I’m not going to bed till I find me a girl
or I’ll get so drunk that the line starts to blur
anyway, I’m not waking up alone
they say the moon
is not the rise
well I’ve been here before & I’m about to do things twice
they say the moon
is on the rise
I’ll open the window if baby you shut your eyes
well we’re passing a joint & we’re holding our breath
& we’re a-hoping & a-praying that there’s one hit left
but there’s never enough & I’ve never stayed sober this long
so lemme buy you a beer because I’m high as a kite
& I’ll leave you alone if you see me tonight
I wish that you may
& darling, I wish that you might
they say the moon
is not the rise
well I’ve been here before & I’m about to do things twice
they say the moon
is on the rise
I’ll open the window if baby you shut your eyes
I chipped my front tooth when I took off your clothes
I put on your socks, you fell asleep & you froze
then you woke up with a cough & a runny nose
so I grab my guitar & I’ll sing you a song
& its missing some strings & I’m singing it wrong
but no one can tell
cuz everybody’s singing along
they say the moon
is not the rise
well I’ve been here before & I’m about to do things twice
they say the moon
is on the rise
I’ll open the window if baby you shut your eyes

6. Don’t Hold My Hand

I’m so reckless
& abandoned
my friends all left
they found a replacement
& I’m so helpless
but I’m still standing
on my own two feet
& on the street
they pretend like
they don’t know me
don’t hold my hand
I’m leaving here tomorrow
you don’t understand
cuz it makes me feel like I’m a man
I’m so spineless
but it’s in fashion
so I’ll find a girl
who can take my aggression
& I’m so restless
with my pants on
& I hope that she
will make me feel
like I’m paying for my own ransom
don’t hold my hand
I’m leaving here tomorrow
you don’t understand
cuz it makes me feel like I’m a man
don’t hold my hand
I’m leaving here tomorrow
you don’t understand
call the cavalry
have em search for me
& find me in the bed of a painted lady
in the bed of a painted lady
in the bed of a painted lady

7. Paradise Cove

don’t wanna be
just where your going
I cannot be
where there’s sand blowing
I think that I
have just started growing
at the beach
I can’t see the ocean
but I was saved
by the weather
when you called my name
I can live
without
yer love
mama
I was
never good
enough
papa
& my mama cried
cuz I wouldn’t die
on the other side
of Paradise
Cove
don’t wanna be
where it’s summer
I cannot see
yer new lover
& I don’t think
that your really crazy
& if I killed
would you still praise me
but I was saved
by the weather
when you called my name
I can live
without
yer love
mama
I was
never good
enough
papa
& my mama cried
cuz I wouldn’t die
on the other side
of Paradise
Cove
but I was saved
by the weather
when you called my name
I can live
without
yer love
mama
I was
never good
enough
papa
& my mama cried
cuz I wouldn’t die
on the other side
of Paradise
Cove
yeah
on the other side
of Paradise
Cove
one more time
on the other side
of Paradise
Cove

8. Big Black Train

let me go, don’t let me go, let me be
let me see all the breaths you want to breathe
when she wears that dress
that dress tells me what I can’t have &
if you close your eyes you can confuse me
& if you start to dance I will stop & speak
yer lies mean so much mama oh oh oh
don’t you come around here
I know how to use a gun
this is not what I wanted
I don’t wanna let me go
on a big black train
far more angry passion conjoined to you
this time I will make it up, falsely true
as I walk on air
I feel I’m drowning, the clouds don’t catch me dear
look into my face when I yell at you
you sit there your smiling, your crying, take my abuse
yer lies mean so much mama oh oh oh
don’t make me tell you two times
I know how to use a gun
this is not what I wanted
I don’t wanna let me go
on a big black train
this is not what I wanted
I don’t wanna let me go
on a big black train
this is not what I wanted
I don’t wanna let me go
on a big black train
this is not what I wanted
I don’t wanna let me go
on a big black train

9. Twine & Trumpets

Ima build you a boat
outta twine & trumpets
& I’ll mend
all the sails
with our clothes
& Ima buy you a banjo
teach you how to strum it
& the brass’ll
blow our blues
to the shore
you made off with the kids
& you found a new husband
& I hear
that your living
in sin
the letters you read
but refused to discuss them
& you tore all my love words within
I miss my mother
though I won’t admit it
& the way
that she sent me
to bed
& I love my sister
I hope she don’t forget it
when I walk the plank with shoes of lead
we hoist the rags
yesterday
we set the sails to sea
you tie my back
to the mast
& drown me in the salty breeze
baby, you may
have a mouth like a gutter
but it’s so pretty
just to see
you grin
I picked up some pearls
from the seafloors of Albany
that’s the only
town I wanna
live in
it was hot as a poolhall
though it shivered me timbers
when she asked me
if I
could stay
but she held like the harbor
& she kissed like a sailor
& I swear I was seasick for days
Ima build you a boat
outta twine & trumpets
& I’ll mend
all the sails
with our clothes
& Ima buy you a banjo
teach you how to strum it
& the brass’ll
blow our blues
to the shore

10. Paradise Cove Pt. II

well I was saved
by the weather
when you called my name
I can live
without
yer love
mama
I was
never good
enough
papa
& my mama cried
cuz I wouldn’t die
on the other side
of Paradise
Cove

SINGLES

Born Too Blue

On the rankest country grass,
fastened tight & out of touch,
steady rhythm of the rolling weeds
They all burn out like the sun.
They’re all burnt out like the sun.
I was born too blue.
I was born too blue.
I forget my steadfast daydreams
Plenty I begot before
Ima listen for your footsteps dear
but there’s the crashing of the shore
Caught you crashing on the floor
I was born too blue.
I was born too blue.
I was born too blue.
Well, I know
there’s a bullet
in my teeth
& I caught it for thee
Roses are blue
Violets are red
I never meant to make you green
She stuck her head with flowers
She caked her neck with dirt
She stood out in the rain to show
Growing flowers doesn’t hurt
Pushing daisies doesn’t hurt
her
I was born too blue.
I was born too blue.
I was born too blue.

Cheap Blood

I’ve seen
cheap blood
I’ve seen cheap blood running through my veins,
Oh Lord, it’s running through my veins.
And I’ve seen
sheep’s blood
I’ve seen sheep’s blood running through my veins
Oh Lord, it’s on the window pane.
And if you carry me to the hole
I won’t follow you anymore
I get wide awake
sleep all day
I’ve seen cheap blood running through my veins,
Oh Lord its running through my veins.
I’ve seen
big floods
I’ve seen big floods washing us in waves
And I feel
earthquakes
I feel earthquakes shaking up the graves
Oh Lord, they’re shaking up my grave
Oh Lord, I’m dancing in my grave.
And if you carry me to the hole
I won’t follow you anymore
I get wide awake
sleep all day
I’ve seen cheap blood running through my veins,
Oh Lord its running through my veins.
Oh Lord its running through my veins.
I’ve seen
locusts
I’ve seen locusts darken up the days
And I’ve seen
bullfrogs
I’ve seen bullfrogs falling down like rain
And I feel
wise blood
I feel wise blood tell me what to say,
Oh Lord, it tells me what to say
Why don’t you tell me what to say?
And if you carry me to the hole
I won’t follow you anymore
I get wide awake
sleep all day
I’ve seen cheap blood running through my veins,
Oh Lord its running through my veins.
Oh Lord its running through my veins.
Oh Lord its running through my veins.
Oh Lord its running through my veins.