1. |
Fingertips
03:45
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In my hour of darkness, in my deep despair
I ain’t ever been one for the power of prayer.
No matter what sorry state I’m in,
I ain’t never been one to repent my sin.
But Lord, if you let things go my way,
I’ll pray to you most every day.
And Lord, if you give me just what I need,
I’ll pray so hard my fingertips bleed.
She wears a cross so it makes sense
That you got her attention, you got influence.
I seen her at church – she’s one of yours.
There must be some kind of contract, some kind of clause.
And Lord, if you get that girl in my arms,
I’d be a believer, wouldn’t have no qualms.
And Lord, if you give me just what I need,
I’ll pray so hard my fingertips bleed.
Touch of her hand, Lord, taste of her sweet lips
I’d get down on my knees and press those fingertips.
She works at night at the Quik Pak Store.
I go get my groceries, then go back for more.
You could give her a sign, tell her right on cue –
Hey the next guy through that door, he’s the one for you.
And Lord, if you give me my heart’s desire,
I’d walk on splinters, crawl through fire.
And Lord, if you give me just what I need,
I’ll pray so hard my fingertips bleed.
The way she strokes her hair, Lord, the way she sways her hips.
I’d get down on my knees and press those fingertips.
I don’t speak Spanish. her English ain’t that good.
I could possibly be misunderstood.
You can speak in tongues, you can intervene.
Appear in a vision, tell her what I mean.
And Lord, if you get that girl in my bed,
I’d wear that crown of thorns on my head.
And Lord, if you give me just what I need,
I’ll pray so hard my fingertips bleed.
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2. |
I Cried Some More
08:19
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You were right there when I went to sleep but gone when I awoke.
At first I thought I must be dreaming – or else it was some kind of joke.
You took your clothes, you took your shoes, you left the key to the front door.
I cried, I cried, I cried, I cried, I cried – and then I cried some more.
All those late night calls to your cellphone, those credit card receipts.
That strange look upon your face, strange perfume in my sheets.
All those trips back empty-handed when you went to the grocery store.
You lied, you lied, you lied, you lied, you lied – and then you lied some more.
Cry me a river – I’ll cry me a lake.
Cried myself to sleep at night, cried myself awake.
Cried til I was all cried out, until my eyes were sore.
Cried until my tear ducts dried – and then I cried some more.
I would give you anything you want – anything you crave.
I’d be at your beck and call - I’d be your servant and your slave.
I tried to give it my best shot but someone beat me to the draw.
I tried, I tried, I tried, I tried, I tried – and then I tried some more.
Cry me a river – I’ll cry me a lake.
Cried myself to sleep at night, cried myself awake.
Cried til I was all cried out, until my eyes were sore.
Cried until my tear ducts dried – and then I cried some more.
Foolish tears and tender tears., tears amid the alien corn.
Broken tears and idle tears, tears on summer tempests borne.
I cried all these kinds of tears plus some you never heard of before.
I cried, I cried, I cried, I cried, I cried – and then I cried some more.
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3. |
Step Back
04:17
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Some of us just might be sinners. some of us just might be saints.
Some of us been touched by Jesus. - most of us though clearly ain’t.
Some of us got that silver spoon in our mouths, acting like we got it made.
Some of us feel so downhearted, some of us just feel betrayed.
You gotta step back and just let it go.
Some of us die way too early, some of us die way too late.
Some of us go kicking and screaming, others just accept our fate.
For some death is pain and sorrow, for some it is a blessed release.
Some of us don’t die at all – we just stalk the earth looking for some peace.
You gotta step back and just let it go.
Hip hop honey, be bop bunny - you gotta let it go in the end.
You gotta keep it all sunny, make a lot of money - take it all whatever they send.
You gotta set it up sister, set it up sister, set it up sister and see.
You gotta break it down brother, break it down brother, break it down brother, bring it back to me.
Some of us like to keep it mellow, some of us looking for a fight.
Some of us will let it all hang out. some keep it locked up tight.
Some of us have lives that are fulfilled, some let it go to waste.
Some of us are addicted to heroin - the rest of us just like the taste.
You gotta step back and just let it go.
Hip hop honey, be bop bunny,
You gotta let it go in the end.
You gotta keep it all sunny, make a lot of money,
Take it all whatever they send.
You gotta shake it up sugar, shake it up sugar, shake it up sugar and see.
You gotta back it up baby, back it up baby, back it up baby, bring it back to me.
Some of us get down and dirty, some of us know all the right moves.
We all have the same dream each night - none of us knows what that proves.
Some of us know just what gives, some of us know what it takes.
A few of us might take the high ground - we all go under when the levee breaks.
You gotta step back and just let it go
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4. |
Haul Away
05:23
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We set sail in the springtime, won’t be back until Fall.
Might not be back til Winter - might not be back at all.
We put out in a rowboat, chasing the whale.
Big fish damn near drowned us with each sweep of his tail.
And it’s haul away, haul away, haul away once more.
Yes it’s haul away, haul away, haul away once more.
Chased him into a fogbank off the Cumberland Sound.
There we lost sight of our shipmates, there we ran aground.
Oh my poor dead comrades - I got no shovel or trowel.
Laid them out on the ice flow where the polar bears prowl.
And it’s haul away, haul away, haul away once more.
Yes it’s haul away, haul away, haul away once more.
Now I’m back here on dry land, won’t go sailing no more.
Ain’t no ocean in Kansas - no it’s two thousand miles from my door.
Wind calls me ‘cross the prairies like souls from their watery graves.
And the wheat fields at sunset rippling like waves.
And it’s haul away, haul away, haul away once more.
Yes it’s haul away, haul away, haul away once more.
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5. |
Susie Dancing
05:36
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Well I got to the dancehall at a quarter to twelve.
Felt pretty lonely – I’d been left on the shelf.
Thought I’d stick around maybe half an hour then I saw –
I saw Susie dancing and I thought I’d stick around some more.
It was Susie dancing and she danced real good.
Susie dancing and I just stood.
I just stood and watched her move around that floor.
And when the band stopped playing I yelled for them to play some more.
Susie danced – she skipped and hopped.
And I prayed “Lord please don’t let her stop.”
Keep on dancing til you wear out both your shoes.
There’s not another girl in this world who can dance like you.
It was Susie dancing and she danced real pretty.
Susie dancing made me giddy.
I just stood and watched her move around that floor.
And when the band stopped playing I yelled for them to play some more.
Susie dancing, Susie dancing, Susie dancing and she danced all through the night.
Now all the boys they asked her for a dance
But she shook her head and she said “No chance.”
I wanted to ask her but ooh, I felt so shy.
Then all of a sudden she looked up and she caught my eye.
It was Susie dancing and she danced with me.
All the boys jealous as could be.
They just stood and watched us move around that floor.
If I can’t dance with Susie I ain’t gonna dance no more.
Susie dancing, Susie dancing, Susie dancing and we danced all through the night.
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6. |
From Where I Am
03:56
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I’m out on the highway – got myself in a jam.
I’m out on the highway – got myself in a jam.
Gonna turn my car around and drive all the way back from where I am.
My fears are all founded – the whole world feels like a scam
My high hopes are grounded – my whole life feels such a sham.
Gonna turn my car around and drive all the way back from where I am.
If my car breaks down, I’ll catch a train.
If the trains are running, I’ll charter a plane.
If the planes are grounded, I won’t give a damn.
I’ll hijack a bus – or even a tram –
And drive all the way back from where I am.
Wrung out and strung out and hung for a sheep as a lamb.
Wrung out and strung out and hung for a sheep as a lamb.
Gonna turn my car around and drive all the way back from where I am.
I’ll call on your cellphone, I’ll send you a text.
If I can’t get a signal I won’t be perplexed.
I’ll write you an e-mail – don’t treat it as spam.
I’ll send you a postcard – or a telegram –
To say I’m on my way back from where I am.
Wrung out and strung out and hung for a sheep as a lamb.
Wrung out and strung out and hung for a sheep as a lamb.
Gonna turn my car around and drive all the way back from where I am.
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7. |
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Billboards out on the freeway all demand my attention right now.
Sodium-lit shopping malls promise all that heaven will allow.
There’s one-dollar tacos, there’s crooks and wackos with their small print and their cards up their sleeves.
Signs of hope, signs of wonder - tell me, which one now should I believe?
Neon cross by the stoplight crackled and hummed in the air.
Beamed out a thousand watt message, signalled an end to despair.
In the phosphorous flare of the parking lot glare she stood there, not sure what to expect.
Just another lost soul on the highway, feeling the need to connect.
Ain’t looking for a prophet to show me the right road.
Ain’t looking for a Good Samaritan to ease my load.
Ain’t looking for a saviour to set the world to rights.
Just looking for an angel to get me through the night.
We’d both come in search of salvation, but we’d settle for something less.
We both wanted spiritual guidance, but we’d go with the ways of the flesh.
We both wanted more, we both knew the score but it was only ourselves we might kid.
We both came expecting to find some answers - well maybe that night we just did.
Ain’t looking for a revelator to make it all seem clear.
Ain’t looking for a soothsayer say those words I wanna hear.
Ain’t looking for a Baptist to get my soul reborn.
Just looking for an angel to stay with me til dawn.
There’s fruit heavy, slowly ripening, falling far from the tree.
There’s sweet honey dripping from the honey bee.
There’s feathers curling, softly swirling, floating gently down to rest.
My sweet angel - lay your head upon my breast.
Ain’t looking for a faith healer to take away the pain.
Ain’t looking for a witch doctor to bring on the rain.
Ain’t looking for a holy ghost to set my spirit free.
Just looking for an angel to keep me company.
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8. |
The Best Views
06:04
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They’re putting up a new hotel downtown; it’s a Sheraton or maybe a Hyatt.
They say it’s the last word in luxury but I ain ‘t ever gonna try it.
They say up on the 31st floor you can see more than you ever could.
But you won’t see the houses that used to be here now they tore down my old neighbourhood.
Gonna get myself out of here,
Man I just can’t wait.
Cos the best views of this old town
Are speeding by on the interstate.
Ray and Betty ran a store – thought they’d run it til they die.
But the money followed Wal Mart out of town and sucked them dry.
Now they’ll work for gas, they’ll work for food but they just don’t know why
They can’t get by
So they don’t try.
There’s a golf course way up on the hill, a marina down at the lake.
There’s offshore investment banking to cream off the profits that they make.
There’s holding companies and cartels got their hooks into City Hall.
They say the whole town’s gonna be transformed til you won’t recognise it at all.
I know one day the bubble will burst.
I ain’t gonna wait for the blast.
Cos the best views of this old town
Are in my rearview mirror, fading fast.
Cancer took down Little Stevie - man it ran him raw.
A jealous husband did for Bobby – beat him to the draw.
And Captain Jack went MIA in the first Iraqi War.
He might still walk through that door.
God knows what for.
Mom and Dad just bought a condo for the day they retire.
They say it’s the kind of dream home to which everybody should aspire.
They say it’ll have the best views in town; I say “How can you be so sure?”
They say “Just look at this artist’s impression right here in this brochure.”
They say “Some day all this’ll be yours.”
I an’t gonna wait for that day.
Cos the best views of this old town
Are on postcard a thousand miles away.
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9. |
Balbinder
05:20
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She’s my brown-eyed babe from the Punjab.
She takes the top down on her Saab.
She eats lo-fat, she eats lo-carb
So she looks good in western garb.
She wears a tight white dress -
Couldn’t get much less.
She wears those high-heeled shoes.
Now how could I refuse?
And I don’t want Marylou, I don’t want Peggy Sue, I don’t want Linda.
I want Balbinder.
Hey Balbinder, hey Balbinder.
Saw you sneaking through the door, caught you peeking through the window.
Hey Balbinder, hey Balbinder.
You’re the spark, I’m just the tinder.
Hey Balbinder, hey Balbinder.
You might burn my heart to a cinder.
There ain’t nothing gonna hinder
My love for you.
I know a girl who’s Gujerati.
Daddy’s rich and mama’s arty.
Drives a brand new Maserati.
Hey that girl knows how to party.
I know a girl from Goa.
Likes to take things slower.
She got this friend from Mumbai.
Ooh I like it when they come by.
And I don’t want Marielle, I don’t want Lulabelle, don’t want Lucinda.
I want Balbinder.
Hey Balbinder, hey Balbinder.
There was a time I used to hanker
For this girl from Sri Lanka.
Daddy was a merchant banker.
Mama owned a fleet of tankers.
She wanted me to spank her.
Became our lingua franca.
But it all turned to rancour
When I forgot to thank her.
And I don’t want Whitney, don’t want Britney – no no no not even if you twinned her.
I want Balbinder.
Hey Balbinder, hey Balbinder.
And I don’t want Sara, don’t want Tara, don’t want Dara, don’t want Govinder.
I want Balbinder.
And I don’t want Rita or Hasmita, or Samsita, don’t want Navinder.
I want Balbinder.
And I don’t want Meera, or Samira, or Indira, don’t want Jasvinder.
I want Balbinder.
And I don’t want Dina, or Sameena, or Robina, don’t want Parminder.
I want Balbinder.
Hey Balbinder, hey Balbinder.
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10. |
Drive By Love
04:09
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Sitting on my front porch, happy as can be.
I don’t bother no-one and no-one bothers me.
Didn’t see you cruising down the freeway when push came to shove.
Now I’m just another victim of a drive-by love.
Walking down the main street, trying to get a beer.
You came round the corner, slowed down as you drew near.
Now I can’t feel the earth beneath my feet or see the sky above.
I guess I’m just another victim of a drive-by love.
Ooh ooh drive-by love.
Shake that tight red dress baby, loose that long black hair.
You got me in your sights honey - you don’t really care.
You got an itchy trigger finger in a long velvet glove.
I know I’m just another victim of a drive-by love.
No time to run for cover, no place left to hide.
No chance for me to get away – even if I tried.
I just stood there rooted to the spot - oh what was I thinking of?
Seems I’m just another victim of a drive-by love.
Ooh ooh drive-by love.
It’s in all the papers now, it’s on the evening news.
Just another crime statistic for those politicians to use.
Some headline-grabbing opportunities for the hawks and for the doves.
They say I’m just another victim of a drive-by love.
They say I’m just another victim of a drive-by love.
Just another sad and sorry victim of a drive-by love.
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11. |
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When it comes to the great reckoning
And the Angel of Death beckoning.
When joy has gone, all hope denied
I will enter my house justified.
I will enter my house justified.
Never took a nickel or a cent
That somebody else could have spent.
Never had no greed, never had no pride.
I will enter my house justified.
I will enter my house justified.
Never harmed a man that I
Couldn’t look straight in the eye.
When the wounds have healed and the blood has dried
I will enter my house justified.
I will enter my house justified.
Never killed a man that I
Knew didn't deserve to die.
It's still a choice if you don't decide -
You can't just go along for the ride.
I will enter my house justified.
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