Cry All Day
I know that I'm unknowing
I'm never totally right
I'm gonna walk away slowly
Instead I bid you good night
Another goodbye, I'm gonna cry
Cry, cry, cry all day
Whatever you're withholding
I never said it was good
If I could sell it by the dozen
I'd never dare but you would
I know that you would, I'm aware that you could
Cry, cry, cry all day
Cry all night
I had a hole in my heart, I had a "company" me
It kept me whole-y from rolling
Someone into something like me
Something like me, you don't wanna be
I cry, cry, cry all day
I cry all night
I cry all day
And I cry, cry, cry all day
Cry all night
At the open mic
I sing and I stall
I fall on the knife
However there's another
Another future to fight
I never took it so seriously
Oh it was serious alright
Watch them all fight, but you can't fight it
And I'll cry, cry all day
Cry all night
Cry all day
Cry all night
All day
And now the hounds are calling
I see the world I find
I'm sick of your affliction
But you're just a smartass and blind
Out of the light
Now be kind
Cry, cry, cry all day
All night
Into the light
Into the light
Into the light
Country Disappeared
Wake up, we’re here
It’s so much worse than we feared
There’s nothing left here
Our country has disappeared
With the winter trees bleeding leaf red blood
And the summer sweet dreaming April blush
But none of that it is ever going to mean as much to me again
Hold out your hand
There’s so much we don’t understand
So stick as close as you can
To all of your best laid plans
You’ve got the white clouds hanging so high above you
You’ve got the helicopters dangling, angling to shoot
The shots to feed the hungry weekend news crew anchormen
So every evening we can watch from above
Crush the cities like a bug
Fold ourselves into each other’s guts
Turn our faces up to the sun
I won’t take no
I won’t let you go
All by yourself
I know you need my help
When the cold light shakes you like a chandelier
The snowflakes break through the atmosphere
And melt on the blue breath of the auctioneers and disappear
So every evening we can watch from above
Crush the cities like a bug
Fold ourselves into each other’s blood
Turn our faces up to the sun
Christ for President
Let's have Christ our president.
Let us have him for our king.
Cast your vote for the carpenter
that you call the Nazarene.
The only way we can ever beat
these crooked politician men
Is to run the money changers out of the temple
And put the Carpenter in
O It's Jesus Christ our president
God above our king
With a job and pension for young and old
We will make hallelujah ring
Every year we waste enough
to feed the ones who starve
We build our civilization up
and we shoot it down with wars
But with the Carpenter on the seat
away up in the capitol town
The USA would be on the way prosperity bound!
Published by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc./Warner-Tamerlane Publishing
Corp./Words-Ampersand Music [BMI]/Titanic Majesties Music [ASCAP]
Words: Woody Guthrie [no date]
Music: Jeff Tweedy/Jay Bennett 1997
Jay Bennett: banjo, piano, clavinet
Billy Bragg: National guitar
Ken Coomer: drums and percussion
John Stirratt: acoustic bass, bass pedals
Jeff Tweedy: acoustic guitar, vocal
Jesus Wept (Mavis Staples cover)
New Moon
Well, I’ve always been certain nearly all of my life
One day I’d be your burden and you would be my wife
Let me hang like a new moon and let me be your twin
Let me hang like a new moon
Don’t treat me like a stranger again
You keep me as your thief, please let me be a little more
When you fall asleep let me be what you’re dreaming for
Let me hang like a new moon
Don’t treat me like a stranger any more
Well, I’ve always been certain nearly all of my life
One day I’d be your burden and you would be my wife
Let me hang like a new moon high in the wind
Let me hang like a new moon
Don’t treat me like a stranger again
You keep me as a thief, please let me be a little more
When you fall asleep let me be what you’re dreaming for
I’ve always been certain nearly all of my life
Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again)
We'll find a way regardless
To make some sense out of this mess
Well it's a test but I believe
A kiss is all we need
All the above for being in love
Shouldn't that alone be enough
Oh it's tough when love's a weed
It grows inside of me Nothing's ever gonna stand in my
Nothing's ever gonna stand in my
Nothing's ever gonna stand in my way again Waste the days, waste the nights
Try to downplay being uptight
Oh you're right but I believe
A kiss is all we need Nothing's ever gonna stand in my
Nothing's ever gonna stand in my
Nothing's ever gonna stand in my way again A watch that ticks is
Wrapped around my wrist, oh no
I'm a bomb regardless, oh
I'm a bomb regardless, oh
I'm a bomb regardless, oh
I'm a bomb regardless, oh We'll find a way
We'll find a way
We'll find a way Nothing's ever gonna stand in our
Nothing's ever gonna stand in our
Nothing's ever gonna stand in our way again Nothing's ever gonna stand in our
Nothing's ever gonna stand in our
Nothing's ever gonna stand in our way again Instrumental credits: Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar, claps Jay Bennett – acoustic, baritone, and e-bow guitars, piano, keyboards,
tambourine, backing vocals, claps John Stirratt – bass, backing vocals Ken Coomer – drums
Pot Kettle Black
Crazy rides rockets
Waves a magic wand
Empty out your pockets
Words without a song
I myself have found a real rival in myself
I am hoping for the rearrival of my health
Sleeping eye sockets
Baby suck your thumb
I'll keep you in my locket
A string I never strum
It's become so obvious
You are so oblivious to yourself
I'm tied in a knot
But I'm not
Gonna get caught
Calling a pot kettle black
Every song's a comeback
Every moment's a little bit later
Lazy locomotives
Wherever you may roll
I think you have no motive
I know you have no home
It's become so obvious
You are so oblivious to yourself
I'm tied in a knot
But I'm not
Gonna get caught
Calling a pot kettle black
Every song's a comeback
Every moment's a little bit later
Every moment's a little bit later
Every moment's a little bit later
Every moment's a little bit later
I'm tied in a knot
But I'm not
Gonna get caught
Calling a pot kettle black
I'm not
Gonna get caught
Calling a pot kettle black
Ashes of American Flags
The cash machine
Is blue and green
For a hundred in twenties
And a small service fee
I could spend three dollars
And sixty-three cents
On diet coca-cola
And unlit cigarettes
I wonder why
We listen to poets
When nobody gives a fuck
How hot and sorrowful
This machine begs for luck
All my lies are always wishes
I know I would die
If I could come back new
I want a good life
With a nose for things
A fresh wind and bright sky
To enjoy my suffering
A hole without a key
If I break my tongue
Speaking of tomorrow
How will it ever come
All my lies are always wishes
I know I would die
If I could come back new
I'm down on my hands and knees
Every time the doorbell rings
I shake like a toothache
When I hear myself sing
All my lies are only wishes
I know I would die
If I could come back new
I would like to salute
The ashes of American flags
And all the falling leaves
Filling up shopping bags
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
More Like the Moon
I see you in the morning
Wearing only one shoe
I say, I see you've lost something
What're you gonna do?
You say but no, I found one
There's another out there for you
I see us all as customers
Holding no purchase so far
Collapsing galaxies
Feathered with falling stars
I see us all as something
But nothing like we truly are
Why don't you come to me now
More like you are
I know we should be grateful
Everything is falling apart
Everything is breaking
And it lifts my heart
To see you as an angel
As some ghostly work of art
Why don't you come to me now
Know who you are
Someone to Lose
Where you gonna go in your winter coat
I wonder what you’re hiding cause it’s not too cold
It’s already too late
Somebody’s gonna get you
And if I hold you to tight, someone else won’t get to
Ohhhh wouldn’t you know it, I keep it rolling
Considering no one punching a path
Facing the blast and the moon and the math
But you still never know where your soul is attached
Oh, wouldn’t you know it, ah wouldn’t you know it
I’m so confused
I can’t move
I can’t even try
I hope you find
Someone to lose, someday
Now where you gonna go like a cobra coiled
Sweating in sweater, you’ve got too much style
But you’re never alone, someday they’re gonna get you
I hope you find
Someone to lose, someday
I hope you find
I hope you find
Someone to lose, someday
When You Wake Up Feeling Old
When you wake up
Feelin' old
At this piano filled with souls
Some strange purse
Stuffed nervous with gold
Can you be where you want to be
Walk down any street
You can find
Look at any clock
Telling time
Sing some strange verse
From some strange song of vines
And you'll be where you want to be I know I can't sing
’Till she brings the song to life
And I blend with kings
I would never change a thing Who knows anything
I don't know
There are so many things
I must leave alone
Some strange person is calling you their home Can you be where you want to be
Can you be where you want to be Can you be where you want to be
Can you be where you want to be Can you be where you want to be
Can you be where you want to be Instrumental credits: Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar, toy harp Jay Bennett – keyboards, tiple, backing vocals John Stirratt – bass, backing vocals Ken Coomer – drums Leroy Bach – piano
Sky Blue Sky
Oh, the band marched on in formation
The brass was phasing
Tunes I couldn’t place
Windows open and
Raining in
Maroon, yellow, blue, gold and gray
The drunks were ricocheting
The old buildings downtown
Empty so long ago
Windows broken and dreaming
So happy to leave what was my home
With a sky blue sky
This rotten time
Wouldn’t seem so bad to me now
Oh, I didn’t die
I should be satisfied
I survived
That’s good enough for now
With a sky blue sky
This rotten time
Wouldn’t seem so bad to me now
Oh, if I didn’t die
I should be satisfied
I survived
That's good enough for now
Written by Jeff Tweedy Instrumental Credits Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar John Stirratt – bass Glenn Kotche – drums Mikael Jorgensen – piano Nels Cline – lap steel Pat Sansone – Chamberlin
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
Happiness
My mother says I’m great
And it always makes me sad
I don’t think she’s being nice
I really think she believes that
So now I bend my days around the people, other people obey
Whoah
So sad it’s nothing, happiness depends on who you blame
I gather things can change
So maybe she’s asleep in her grave
She gave her body to science
So I’m not sure what’s in her place
Maybe roses or Tanqueray™
So sad it’s nothing, happiness depends on who you blame
I know the dead still listen
She sings a part of every refrain
Under the weight of the living pointing a finger with no eyes to aim whoah
So sad it’s nothing, it’s absolutely nothing
So sad it’s nothing, it’s absolutely nothing
So sad it’s nothing, happiness depends on who you blame
Childlike and Evergreen
I seen the big sour apple
I've drank some sweet cherry wine
I've slept through too many appointments
With would-be friends of mine
I think I feel just like Ty Cobb
I'm always on the job
I just can't seem to relax
And that's not good
But if I had it To do
All over again I guess
I should have made more friends
Run through, run with me sister
Childlike and evergreen
When I get up in the morning
I'm gonna change everything
But if I had it To do
All over again I guess
I should have made more friends
I swam the salty seas
Childlike and evergreen
Childlike and evergreen
Nope
Oh I can’t say what qualifies as pain
So transfixed by the wavering flame
Mortal kings of each grade and grain erased
Oh I’m blessed
The slant may rain knows my door
Tambourines my floor in four
Laughs and shakes my folded face where Jesus mowed my lawn
Fame has legs, blazing chrome
Amputate but it’s never quite gone
Rakes in clover shown like snakes shine over rate my crime
Why kill a man when you can drive him crazy
Why make it end when my amusement always depends on the joke
Won’t you lend me my punchline
As a favor, can you be entertained so that
day I can savor whatever remains
Of hurricanes too rattled to romance massive plates of circumstances
We've Been Had (Uncle Tupelo)
We’ve Been Had
There's a guitar leaning on a Marshall stack
Used to sound like the sun on the horizon
Now I think we've been had
There's a young girl screaming all the way in the back
Poor kid, she never saw it coming
Now she knows she's been had
Watching labels spinnin' on my turntable
There's no call waitin' in my headphones
And every star that shines in the back of my mind
Is just waiting for its cover to be blown
There's an eardrum bleeding, yeah, it's in my head
Could I still be so in love when I know
We've been had?
Republicans, Democrats can't give you the facts
Your parents won't tell you 'til you're grown
That every star that shines in the back of your mind
Is just waiting for its cover to be blown
Flashing your badges, just like the law of averages
Nobody likes 'em where they're from
And every star that hides on the back of the bus
Is just waiting for its cover to be blown
written by Jay Farrar
originally appeared on Anodyne/ Uncle Tupelo
Passenger Side
Hey, wake up
Your eyes weren't open wide
For the last couple of miles
You've been swerving from side to side
You're gonna make me spill my beer
If you don't learn how to steer
Passenger side
Passenger side
I don't like riding
On the passenger side
Roll another number for the road
You're the only sober person I know
Won't you let me make you a deal
Just get behind the wheel
Passenger side
Passenger side
I don't like riding
On the passenger side
Should've been the driver
Could've been the one
I should've been your lover
But I hadn't seen
Can you take me to the store, and then the bank?
I've got five dollars we can put in the tank
I've got a court date coming this June
I'll be driving soon
Passenger side
Passenger side
I don't like riding
On the passenger side
I don't like riding
On the passenger side
Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar
John Stirratt – bass
Max Johnston – mandolin, fiddle
Ken Coomer – drums
Brian Henneman – small stoned guitar
Locator
Locator sees me swaying through the catacombs
Locator hears me whispering in my home
Even when the waves are falling
Beating me into diamonds
Even when the wheels are whining
Even when the wheels are whining
Something in the sky can find me
I x8
Hide x8
Here below
Hide
Oh no, Locator it is I
Even when I run
I’m crawling
Even through the walls and blinds and
Even when the wheels are whining x3
something in the sky can find me
I x8
Hide x8
Here below x4
I love Locator everywhere I go
I tell Locator everything it wants to know
I'm A Wheel
hold on, you risk exciting me
once in Germany someone said nein
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine
hold back, don’t invite me
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine
once in Germany someone said nein
I’m a wheel
I will
turn you
I invented a sister, populated with knives
I’m a wheel
I will
turn on you
um,
I’m a wheel, I will
I’m a wheel, I will
I’m a wheel, I will
turn on you
turn on you turn on you turn on you turn on turn on…
Outta Mind (Outta Sight)
Well I know we don't talk much
But you're such a good talker
Ooh, whoa
Well I know that we should take a walk
But you're such a fast walker, oh-whoa,
Well alright
I know where I'll be tonight, well alright
Outta mind outta sight
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
Well that's okay with me
Well alright
I know where I'll be tonight
Well alright
Outta mind outta sight
Outta mind outta sight
You don't see me now
You don't want to anyhow
Well look out
Here I come again
And I'm bringing my friends
I said, look out
Here I come again
And I'm bringing my friends
Okay, alright, okay, alright
I know where I'll be tonight
Well alright
Well outta mind outta sight
Outta mind outta sight
Outta mind outta sight
Well alright
That's quite alright
I know you don't love me
I know you don't love me anymore, alright
I know youJust Say Goodbye
Sometimes when I’m fading
I fight to stay awake
Here I lie, come and take me
I’ll go
I will go so far
Just to say goodbye
My my in my opinion
I try, I huff and I puff
Why am I in my skin again
Well, I don’t know
How it works so I
Just say goodbye
Sometimes I see sorry faces
I don’t think I qualify
Be kind as the nights embrace us
Oh, oh, we tried so hard
Oh, as if I have answers
Oh, we tried so hard
Just say goodbye
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
Gun (Uncle Tupelo)
Falling out the window
Tripping on a wrinkle in the rug
Falling out of love, dear
It hurt much worse when you gave up
Just don't tell me which way I oughta run
Or what good I could do anyone
'Cause my heart it was a gun
But it's unloaded now
So don't bother
Climbing up the ladder
Breaking my shin on the very first rung
Waking up the neighbors
It's all right, they understand they're just as dumb
And they don't tell me which way I oughta run
Or what good I could do anyone
'Cause my heart it was a gun
But it's unloaded now
So don't bother me now
Don't bother
Crawling back to you now
I sold my guitar to the girl next door
She asked me if I knew how
I told her I don't think so anymore
Don't tell me which way I oughta run
What good could I do anyone
'Cause my heart it was a gun
But it's unloaded now
So don't bother
written by Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, Mike Heidorn
I Can't Keep From Talking
Hey ain't it great for us to be alive
I've been lying in wait for you to come outside
I know you don't know me but
I know a lot about you
You're the one who knows me better than I do
When I get back home
I'm gonna put your records on
I play 'em way too loud and I'll sing along
I know all the words to every song
And I don't really care
But tonight you sang one wrong
And I can't keep from talking
I can't keep from talking about you
And I just wanted to thank you
Thank you for doing what you do
I wanted to tell the world a little bit about myself
Realize my feelings and put them on a shelf
Then jump out the window so you'd all know what it's about
'Cause I can't be there to help you figure it out
And I can't keep from talking
I can't keep from talking about you
And I just wanted to thank you
Thank you for doing what you do
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
Casino Queen
Well the money's pouring down
And the people all look down
And it's floating out of town
I hit the second deck
And I spent my paycheck
And my wife that I just met
She's looking like a wreck
Casino Queen
My lord you're mean
I've been gambling like a fiend
On your tables so green
I always bet on black
Blackjack
I'll pay you back
The room fills with smoke
And I'm already broke
And the dealer keeps on joking
As he takes my last token
Casino Queen
My lord you're mean
I've been gambling like a fiend
On your tables so green
Casino Queen
My lord you're mean
I've been gambling like a fiend
On your tables so green
Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar
John Stirratt – bass, vocals
Max Johnston – fiddle, vocals
Ken Coomer – drums, vocals
Brian Henneman – guitars, vocals
Daniel Corrigan - vocals
Dreamer in My Dreams
Well there's a dreamer in my dreams
Swinging from the beams
With light shining off the snow
Well there's a singer in my heart
Burning up my charts
With songs about things we all know Well there's a blister on his brain
That's driving him insane
’Cause all good things they gotta go Well there's a child on the way
It could be any day
But how his life will change
That we don't know Well there's a child on the way
Gonna look just like him
One day, he's gonna say
"Ain't you my dad?" Then he's gonna look down and smile
And after a while, he'll say,
"That's for sure, cause you got my eyes." Well there's a dreamer in my dreams
He's hanging from the beams
With light shining off the snow There's a blister on his brain
It's driving him insane
And all good things have to go There's a dreamer in my dreams
Swinging from the beams
With a light shining off the lake Well I know I've made mistakes
I'm passing them on
But I hope he gets up before dawn There's a dreamer in my dreams
Climbing up the back
Of a car they used to call a Cadillac
It's got a brand new set of keys
It’s got a new look, it’s got a new look
And he’s gonna, he’s gonna take it all the way There's a dreamer in my dreams,
Swinging from the beams
All jacked up in my garage He's hanging from a belt
He don't know what he's done
Just don't forget to say goodbye when he's gone