Wilco

Dec.04.2011

W. Des Moines, IA - Val Air Ballroom 

Cruel to Be Kind performed w/ Nick Lowe

 

Showtime: 7:30PM

 

One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)

This is how I tell it O’ but it’s long One Sunday morning O’ one son is gone Against the weather dawning Over the sea My father said what I had become No one should be Outside I look lived in Like the bones in a shrine How am I forgiven O’ I’ll give it time This I learned without warning Holding my brow In time you thought I would kill him O’ but I didn’t know how I said it’s your God I don’t believe in No your bible can’t be true Knocked down by the long lie He cried I fear what waits for you I can hear those bells Spoken and gone I feel relief I feel well Now he knows he was wrong Ring ‘em cold for my father Frozen underground Jesus I wouldn’t bother He belongs to me now Something sad keeps moving So I wandered around I fell in love with the burden Holding me down Bless my mind I miss Being told how to live What I learned without knowing How much more that I owe than I can give This is how I tell it O’ but it’s long One Sunday morning One son is gone

Poor Places

It’s my father's voice trailing off Sailors sailing off in the morning For the air conditioned rooms At the top of the stairs His jaw's been broken His bandage is wrapped too tight His fangs have been pulled And I really want to see you tonight There's bourbon on the breath Of the singer you love so much He takes all his words from the books That you don't read anyway His jaw's been broken His bandage is wrapped too tight His fangs have been pulled And I really want to see you tonight Someone ties a bow In my backyard to show me love My voice is climbing walls Smoking and I want love My jaw's been broken My heart is wrapped in ice My fangs have been pulled And I really want to see you tonight It makes no difference to me How they cried all over overseas When it's hot in the poor places tonight I'm not going outside They cried all over overseas It makes no difference to me When it's hot in the poor places tonight I'm not going outside It's hot in the poor places tonight I'm not going outside I'm not going outside I'm not going outside

Art of Almost

No!
I froze
I can’t be so
Far away from my wasteland
I never know when I might
Ambulance
Hoist the horns with my own hands
Almost
Almost

I heard a faint olé
True love but
I had other ways to hurt myself
Like calling
I could open up my heart
And fall in and
I could blame it all on dust
The Art of Almost
Almost
Almost
Almost

I’ll hold it up
I’ll shake the grail
Disobey across the waves
Tomorrow
I’ll have all the love I could ever ache
And I’ll leave almost with you
All of almost
Almost

Art of almost
Almost

Art of almost
Almost

I Might

Was I wrong
Off all night long
So high
As the stinking sun
I came alive
Then I felt
Oh Uh Oh
Some guys
Have everything I know
It’s alright
I’ve done a lot of
Crawling around outside
And I heard
It’s alright

Your sno-cone
And it’s piss and blood
It’s in the cards
(oh, oh)
Get well soon
EVERYBODY!
Do all lies
Have a taste?
Let it go
I don’t know oh
A cow’s neck
Bad shave
In the low blow slo-mo
It’s alright
You won’t set the kids on fire
Oh but I might
H0

You come on
Sentimental
If the
Solar car’s coming
I’m home
The Magna Carta’s
On a Slim Jim blood
Brutha!
The sunk soul
With the coal clean toe
Is the mutha!
Yea that’s right
When you gonna find out
I’m all inside
You still might

It’s all right
It’s all right

It’s alright
You won’t set the kids on fire
Oh but I might
Ho ho

It’s all right
It’s all right

 

Misunderstood

When you're back in your old neighborhood
The cigarettes taste so good
But you're so misunderstood
You're so misunderstood

There's something there that you can't find
You look honest when you're telling a lie
You hurt her but you don't know why
You love her but you don't know why

Short on long term goals
There's a party there that we ought to go to
If you still love rock and roll
If you still love rock and roll?

It's only a quarter to three
Reflecting off of your CD
You're looking at a picture of me
You're staring at a picture of me

Take the guitar player for a ride
'Cause he ain't never been satisfied
He thinks he owes some kind of debt
It'll be years before he gets over it

There's a fortune inside your head
When all you touch turns to lead
You think you might just crawl back in bed
With a fortune inside your head

I know you're just a mama's boy
You're positively unemployed
So misunderstood
So misunderstood

I know you've got a god-shaped hole
You're bleeding out your heart full of soul
You're so misunderstood
You're so misunderstood
You're so misunderstood
You're so misunderstood

I'd like to thank you all for nothing
I'd like to thank you all for nothing at all
I'd like to thank you all for nothing
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing at all
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing at all

Capitol City

Capitol city skyline photo Skyscraper shines the sun so Low in the sky Secretaries at the hotdog vendors Cabs honk at the bicycle messengers Rolling by I can’t call with a subway token Anyway the phones are all broken I wish you were here Better yet I wish I was there with you You wouldn’t like it here You should stay right there Breathe in that country air You wouldn’t like it here Capitol towers radiator steam vents Scream along with the clarinets and arguments Echo down the hall I can’t sleep, I can’t wake up I’m shaken up maybe we should break up I wish you were here Better yet I wish I was there with you You wouldn’t like it here You should stay right there Breathe in that country air You wouldn’t like it here Capitol city skyline photo Picture postcard signed the moon so Low in the sky I can’t smile when my hearts still broken Faraway, in love and unspoken I wish you were here Or I was there with you

Company In My Back

I attack with love, pure bug beauty, curl my lips and crawl up to you I attack with love, pure bug beauty, curl my lips and crawl up to you And your afternoon And I’ve been puking I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back Hide your soft skin; your sorrow is sunshine; listen to my eyes Hide your soft skin; your sorrow is sunshine; listen to my eyes They are hissing radiator tunes I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back You learn so slow, old radiant beauty; I’ll curve my flight You learn so slow, old radiant beauty; I’ll curve my flight Under your bended knee And I will always die I will always die I will always die, so you can remember me I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back There’s a company in my back Instrumental Credits Jeff Tweedy  Vocals, Acoustic Guitar John Stirratt  Bass Glenn Kotche  Drums, Hammer Dulcimer & Percussion Leroy Bach  Piano & Korg CX-3 Organ Mikael Jorgensen  Fenix Modular Synthesizer & Stylophone Jim O'Rourke  Acoustic Guitar

Born Alone

I have heard the war and worry of the gospel
Ferried fast across the void
I have married broken spoke charging smoke wheels
Spit and swallowed opioid
I am the driver at the wheel of the horror
Marching circles at the gate
Mine eyes have seen
The fury so flattered by fate

Tonight I’d rather count the warm fuse internally
Subtract the silence of myself
I would rather choose the middle mind of mystery
Reverse a riddle for my health
I’ll unwind strange rinds overpowering
Toss the chimneys in the sea
I believe I’ve seen
The finger divine extremity

Please come closer to the feather smooth lens fly
Sadness is my luxury
Will you weather, join the cold, come before I die
More aware of it than me
The valves are blowing stone
The kids are unabashed
Loneliness postponed
Mine eyes deceiving glory
I was born to die alone
Alone

Alone

At Least That's What You Said

When I sat down on the bed next to you
You started to cry
I said maybe if I leave you’ll want me
To come back home
Or maybe all you mean
Is leave me alone

At least that’s what you said

You’re irresistible when you get mad
Isn’t it sad I’m immune
And I thought it was cute
For you to kiss
My purple black-eye
Even though I caught it from you
I still think we’re serious

At least that’s what you said

Black Moon

I was always right
About the morning
Ok, I’m an old shoe
Danced above the blades
Never stopped crawling
Over the black dunes

And I’m waiting
For you
Waiting forever
Are you awake now too?

I am always one
Without a warning
Whole days
Reappear
Lift away
Past the gate
Desert keeps forming
Underneath the black moon

And I’m waiting
For you
Waiting forever
Are you awake now too?

Impossible Germany

Impossible Germany
Unlikely Japan

Wherever you go
Wherever you land
I’ll say what this means to me
I’ll do what I can

Impossible Germany
Unlikely Japan

(The) fundamental problem
We all need to face
This is important
But I know you’re not listening
Oh I know you’re not listening

If this was still new to me
I wouldn’t understand

Impossible Germany
Unlikely Japan

But this is what love is for
To be out of place
Gorgeous and alone
Face to face

With no larger problems
That need to be erased
Nothing more important than to know
Someone’s listening
Now I know

You’ll be listening

Written by Jeff Tweedy and Wilco

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 starbed and 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

Published by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc./Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Words-Ampersand Music [BMI]/Titanic Majesties Music [ASCAP] Words: Woody Guthrie [no date] Music: Jay Bennett/Jeff Tweedy 1997 Jay Bennett: piano, backing vocal Billy Bragg: acoustic guitar Ken Coomer: drums and percussion Corey Harris: lap steel guitar Eliza Carthy: violin John Stirratt: electric bass, backing vocal Jeff Tweedy: acoustic guitar, lead vocal

I'll Fight

I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go
I’ll go for you
I’ll fight, I’ll fight, I’ll fight
I’ll fight for you
I’ll kill, I’ll kill, I’ll  kill
I’ll kill for you
I will, I will, I will

I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go
I’ll go for you
I’ll fight, I’ll fight, I’ll fight
I’ll fight for you
I’ll die, I’ll die, I’ll die
I’ll die for you
I will, I will, I will

And if I die, I’ll die, I’ll die alone
On some forgotten hill
Abandoned by the mill
All my blood will spring and spill
I’ll thrash the air, then be still

You’ll wake with a start from a dream
And know that I am gone
You’ll feel it in your heart but not for very long

You’ll rise each day as planned
Your will as your command
And stand each Sunday
A hymnal steady in your hand

And you’ll sing to yourself the rising,
falling melody
That you could never read
Without the choir’s lead
Still alone and lost indeed
And your soul will not be free

I will go, I will go, I will go
Into war’s waters, I will wade
And I will know without remorse
Or regret the fairness of our trade

For you to live, I took your place
A deal was made and I was paid
And in gold as I was told
With a place where my body could be laid

You will steer your life and die old in bed at home
Surrounded by your peers
Without suffering or fear
Grandchildren far and near
And none will shed a tear
For their love no longer here

I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go
I’ll go for you
I will
I’ll fight, I’ll fight, I’ll fight
I’ll fight for you
I will, I will, I will

I’ll kill, I’ll kill, I’ll kill
I’ll kill for you
I will
I’ll die, I’ll die, I’ll die
I’ll die for you
I will, I will, I will

And if I die
I’ll die, I’ll die alone
Like Jesus on the cross
My faith cannot be tossed
My life will not be lost
If my love comes across

I Got You (At the End of the Century)

I got you and that's all I need I got you and that's all I need I got you and that's all I need I got you I got you and I still believe That you are all I will ever need It's you, oh All the way back in the seventies You were my little TV queen Tarzan and your friend Janine I got you I got you and I still believe That you are all I will ever need It's you, oh It's the end of the century And I can't think of anything Except you It's the end of the century And I can't think of anything But you, oh All, I, need I got you I got you, babe I got you You You, ooh ooh I got you I got you Oooh I got you

Outtasite (Outta Mind)

I know we don't talk much
But you're such a good talker
Oh-whoa

Well I know we should take a walk
But you're such a fast walker, oh-whoa,
Well alright

I know where I'll be tonight, alright
Outta mind outta site

Well okay
I know you don't love me
But you'll still be thinking of me, oh-whoa

Well alright
I know you probably hate me
That's okay with me
Alright!

I know where I'll be tonight, alright
Outta mind outta site
Outta mind outta site

You don't see me now
You don't want to anyhow

Look out
Here I come again
And I'm bringing my friends

Look out
Here I come again
I'm bringing my friends
Okay, alright, okay alright!

I know where I'll be tonight, alright

Outta mind outta site
Outta mind outta si-ite
Outta mind outta si-i-i-ite

Cruel to Be Kind (Nick Lowe)

Oh I can't take another heartache
Though you say you're my friend, I'm at my wit's end
You say your love is bonafide, but that don't coincide
With the things that you do
And when I ask you to be nice, you say

You've gotta be cruel to be kind, in the right measure
Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign
Cruel to be kind, means that I love you, baby
(You've gotta be cruel)
You gotta be cruel to be kind

Well I do my best to understand dear
But you still mystify and I want to know why
I pick myself up off the ground
To have you knock me back down, again and again
And when I ask you to explain, you say

You've gotta be cruel to be kind, in the right measure
Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign
Cruel to be kind, means that I love you, baby
(You've gotta be cruel)
You gotta be cruel to be kind

Well I do my best to understand dear
But you still mystify and I want to know why
I pick myself up off the ground
To have you knock me back down, again and again
And when I ask you to explain, you say

You've gotta be cruel to be kind, in the right measure
Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign
Cruel to be kind, means that I love you baby
(You've gotta be cruel)
You gotta be cruel to be kind

Oh in the right measure
(Cruel to be kind), it's a very very very good sign
(Cruel to be kind), it means that I love you, baby
(You've gotta be cruel)
You gotta be cruel to be kind

Oh in the right measure
(Cruel to be kind), yes it's a very very very good sign
(Cruel to be kind), it means that I love you, baby
(You've gotta be cruel)
You gotta be cruel to be kind

Oh in the right measure
(Cruel to be kind), yes it's a very very very good sign
(Cruel to be kind), it means that I love you

written by Nick Lowe and Ian Gomm

Dawned On Me

I’ve been young
I’ve been old
I’ve been hurt
And consoled
Heart of coal
Heart of gold
So I’m told

I’ve been lost
I’ve been found
I’ve been taken
By the sound
Of my own voice
The voices in my head

I can’t help it if I fall in
Love with you again I’m calling
Just to let you know
It dawned on me

Every night is a test
To the east from the west
The sun rises and sets
That’s the sun at it’s best

I forget, then I know
I’d regret letting you go
Sometimes I can’t believe how dark it can be

I can’t help it if I fall in
Love with you again I’m calling
Just to let you know
It dawned on me
It dawned on me

So on
And so forth
And again
I will stop to begin
At the end

I can’t help it if I fall in
Love with you again I’m calling
Just to let you know
It dawned on me

Oh I can’t help it if I fall in
Love with you again I’m calling
Just to let you know
It dawned on me

I'm Always In Love

Why, I wonder is my heart full of holes
And the feeling goes but my hair keeps growing
Will I set the sun
On a big-wheeled wagon
Well I'm bragging
I'm always in love

When I let go of your throat, sweet throttle
When I clean the lash of your black-belt model
Will I catch the moon
Like a bird in a cage
It's for you I swoon
I'm always in love

I don't get the connection
If this is only a test
I hope I do my best
You know I won't forget

When I fold the cold in my jet-lag palm
When I soak so long I forget my mother
Will I set the sun
On a big-wheeled wagon
Well I'm bragging
I'm always in love

It's a drag I snag
Well I'm always in love
Well I'm worried
I'm always in love

I'm worried
I'm worried

I'm worried
I'm always in love
I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm always in love

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm always in love

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm always in love

  Instrumental credits: Jeff Tweedy – vocals, baritone guitar Jay Bennett – bass, piano, keyboards, drums, backing vocals John Stirratt – piano, backing vocals Ken Coomer – drums

Hummingbird

his goal in life was to be an echo
riding alone, town after town, toll after toll
a fixed bayonet through the great southwest
to forget her

she appears
in his dreams
but in his car, and in his arms
a dream could mean anything
a cheap sunset on a television set could upset her
but he never could

remember to remember me
standing still in your past
floating fast like a hummingbird

his goal in life was to be an echo
the type of sound that floats around
and then back down like a feather
but in the deep chrome canyons of the loudest Manhattans
no one could hear him
or anything

so he slept, on a mountain
in a sleeping bag underneath the stars,
he would lie awake and count them
but the great fountain spray of the great Milky Way
would never let him
die alone

remember to remember me
standing still in your past
floating fast like a hummingbird
remember to remember me
standing still in your past
floating fast like a hummingbird
a hummingbird
a hummingbird

Instrumental Credits


Jeff Tweedy Vocals
John Stirratt Electric Rhythm Guitar & Background Vocals
Glenn Kotche Drums
Mikael Jorgensen Piano
Jim O'Rourke Bass & Electric Lead Guitar
Frankie Montouro Hammer Dulcimer
Karen Waltuch Viola

Whole Love

My gold marigolds attack
My black bed of roses
I’m going to bring ‘em all back
With hypnosis Ho

And I know that I won’t be
The easiest to set free
And I know that I won’t be the last
Cold captain tied to the mast

I recall you on the telephone
I recall when you get mad
I will still love you to death
And I won’t ever forget how

And I know that it won’t be
The easiest to set free
And I know that I won’t be the last
Cold captain tied to the mast

I’m on the other side
I’m satisfied
I’m a spirit dove
I’m looking for your love

I’m simple as a matter of fact
A punch in the nose don’t overreact
I will still love you to death
And I won’t ever forget how

And I know that I won’t be
The easiest to set free
And I know that I won’t be the last
Cold captain tied to the mast

And I know that I won’t be the one
To securely know when it’s wrong
But I hope I know when it’s past
And I hope I know when to show you my
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
I won’t ever forget how

War On War

It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
There's a war on
You’re gonna lose
You have to lose
You have to learn how to die

Let's watch the miles flying by
Let's watch the miles flying by
You are not my typewriter
But you could be my demon
moving forward through flaming doors
You have to lose
You have to learn how to die
If you wanna wanna be alive

O.K.

You have to lose
You have to lose
You have to learn how to die
If you wanna wanna be alive

You have to die
You have to die
You have to learn how to die
If you wanna wanna be alive

O.K.

 

A Shot in the Arm

The ashtray says You were up all night When you went to bed With your darkest mind Your pillow wept And covered your eyes And you finally slept While the sun caught fire You've changed We fell in love In the key of C We walked along Down by the sea You followed me down The neck to D And fell again Into the sea You changed Oh, you've changed Maybe all I need is a shot in the arm Maybe all I need is a shot in the arm Maybe all I need is a shot in the arm Maybe all I need is a shot in the arm Maybe all I need is a shot in the arm Maybe all I need is a shot in the arm Maybe all I need is a shot in the arm Something in my veins Bloodier than blood something in my veins Bloodier than blood something in my veins Bloodier than blood something in my veins Bloodier than blood The ashtray says You were up all night When you went to bed With your darkest mind You changed Oh you've changed What you once were isn't what You want to be any more What you once were isn't what You want to be any more What you once were isn't what You want to be any more What you once were isn't what You want to be any more What you once were isn't what You want to be any more  Instrumental credits: Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic and 12-string guitars, synthesizers Jay Bennett – lap steel, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, drums John Stirratt – bass Ken Coomer – timpani

Heavy Metal Drummer

I sincerely miss
Those heavy metal bands
I used to go see
On the landing in the summer
She fell in love with the drummer
She fell in love with the drummer
She fell in love

Shiny shiny pants
Bleached blond hair
A double kick drum
By the river in the summer
she fell in love with the drummer
another
then another
she fell in love

I miss the innocence I've known
Playing Kiss covers
Beautiful and stoned

Unlock my body
And move myself to dance
Into warm liquid
flowing blowing glass
classical music blasting
masks the ringing in my ears

Oh I sincerely miss
Those heavy metal bands
I used to go see
On the landing in the summer
She fell in love with the drummer
She fell in love with another
She fell in love

I miss the innocence I've known
Playing Kiss covers
Beautiful and stoned

I miss the innocence I've known
Playing Kiss covers
Beautiful and stoned

Playing Kiss covers
Beautiful and stoned

Playing Kiss covers
Beautiful and stoned

 

I'm the Man Who Loves You

All I can see
Is black and white
And white and pink
With blades of blue
That lay between
The words I think
On a page
I was meaning
To send to you
I couldn't tell
If it would
Bring my heart
The way I wanted
When I started
Writing this letter to you

But if I could
You know I would
Just hold your hand
And you'd understand
I'm the man who loves you

All I can be
Is a busy sea
Of spinning wheels
And hands that feel
For stones to throw
And feet that run
But come back home
It makes no difference
Ever known
Makes no difference
Ever known to me

But if I could
You know I would
Just hold your hand
And you'd understand
I'm the man who loves you

All I can see
Is black and white
And white and pink
With blades of blue
That lay between
The words I think
On a page
I was meaning
To send to you
I couldn't tell
If it would
Bring my heart
The way I wanted
When I started
Writing this letter to you

If I could
You know I would
Just hold your hand
And you'd understand
I'm the man who loves you

If I could
You know I would
Just hold your hand
And you'd understand
I'm the man who loves you

If I could
You know I would
Just hold your hand
And you'd understand
I'm the man who loves you

I'm the man who loves you

I'm the man who loves you

I'm the man who loves you

 

Red-Eyed and Blue

We've got solid-state technology
Tapes on the floor
Some songs we can't afford to play

When we came here today
All I wanted to say
Is how much I miss you

Alcohol and cotton balls
And some drugs
We can’t afford on the way

When we came here today
We all felt something true
Now I'm red-eyed and blue

official show poster by Rick Turek Studio

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