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

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

You Are My Face

I remember my mother’s Sister’s husband’s brother Working in the goldmine full-time Filling in for sunshine Filing into tight lines Of ordinary beehives The door screams I hate you Hate you hanging around my blue jeans Why is there no breeze No currency of leaves No current through the water wire No feelings I can see I trust no emotion I believe in locomotion But I've turned to rust as we've discussed Though I must have let you down Too many times In the dirt and the dust I have no idea how this happens All of my maps have been overthrown Happenstance has changed my plans So many times my heart has been outgrown Now everybody’s feeling all alone Can’t tell you who I am When everybody’s feeling all alone Can’t tell you who I am I am looking forward Toward the shadows tracing bones Our faces stitched and sewing Our houses hemmed into homes Trying to be thankful Our stories fit into phones And our voices lift so easily A gift given accidentally When we’re not sure We’re not alone Written by Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline Instrumental Credits Jeff Tweedy – vocals, electric guitar John Stirratt – vocals, bass Glenn Kotche – drums Mikael Jorgensen – piano Nels Cline – lead electric 12-string Pat Sansone – vocals, acoustic guitar, Hammond A100 organ Jim O’Rourke – feedback

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

I am an American aquarium drinker
I assassin down the avenue
I'm hiding out in the big city blinking
What was I thinking when I let go of you

Let's forget about the tongue-tied lightning
Let's undress just like cross-eyed strangers
This is not a joke so please stop smiling
What was I thinking when I said it didn't hurt

I want to glide through those brown eyes dreaming
Take you from the inside (baby) hold on tight
You were so right when you said I've been drinking
What was I thinking when we said good night

I want to hold you in the bible black predawn
You're quite a quiet domino bury me now
Take off your band aid cuz I don't believe in touchdowns
What was I thinking when we said hello

I always thought that if I held you tightly
You would always love me like you did back then
Then I fell asleep in the city kept blinking
What was I thinking when I let you back in

I am trying to break your heart
I am trying to break your heart
But still I'd be lying if I said it wasn't easy
I am trying to break your heart

Disposable Dixie cup drinker
I assassin down the avenue
I've been hiding out in the big city blinking
What was I thinking when I let go of you

(I'm the man who loves you)
   

Handshake Drugs

I was chewing gum
For something to do
The blinds were being pulled
Down on the dew
Inside out of love
What a laugh I was looking for you

The saxophones
Started blowing me down
I was buried in sound
And the taxi cabs were driving me around
To the handshake drugs I bought downtown
To the handshake drugs I bought downtown

They were translating poorly
I felt like a clown
I looked like someone I used to know
I felt alright
And if I ever was myself
I wasn’t that night

Oh it’s ok for you to say what you want from me
I believe that’s the only way for me to be
Exactly what you want me to be

Oh it’s ok for you to say what you want from me
I believe that’s the only way for me to be
Exactly what you want me to be

I was chewing gum
For something to do
The blinds were being pulled
Down on the dew
Inside out of love
What a laugh I was looking for you

The saxophones
Started blowing me down
I was buried in sound
And the taxi cabs were driving me around
To the handshake drugs I bought downtown
To the handshake drugs I bought downtown

Oh it’s ok for you to say what you want from me
I believe that’s the only way for me to be
Exactly what you want me to be

Exactly what do you want me to be

Instrumental Credits Jeff Tweedy Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitar John Stirratt Bass & Background Vocals Glenn Kotche Drums Leroy Bach Piano Mikael Jorgensen RMI Rock-si-chord Jim O'Rourke Electric Rhythm Guitar Tim Barnes Percussion

Side with the Seeds

Tires type black
Where the blacktop cracks
Weeds spark through
Dark green enough to be blue
When the mysteries we believe in
Aren’t dreamed enough to be true
Some side with the leaves
Some side with the seeds

The treetops nod
The rain applauds
The park grows dark
And the swings all slowly die
But you and I will be undefeated
By agreeing to disagree
No one wins but the thieves
So why side with anything

The streetlights glow
Comes and goes
When the sun comes back
As we all can plainly see
Embracing the situation
Is our only chance to be free
I’ll side with you
If you side with me

Written by Jeff Tweedy and Mikael Jorgensen
Instrumental Credits
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, electric guitar
John Stirratt – bass
Glenn Kotche – drums
Mikael Jorgensen – piano
Nels Cline – lead electric gutiar
Pat Sansone – Hammond A100 organ, Mellotron

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

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

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

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

Shake It Off

Sunlight angles on A wooden floor at dawn A ceiling fan is on Chopping up my dreams What is left of them I take to sleep again Where I dare pretend I’m more than I seem Tears get triggered Yours remind me Of the ice melting in my glass Finally full again So I listen for Your lips to break apart Into words It definitely starts to spoil my heart Somewhere there’s a war Sometimes there is art It definitely starts to spoil my heart Somewhere there’s a war Sometimes there is art When I’m awake enough I’m gonna shake it off Gonna shake it off I'm gonna shake it off Shake it off Shake it off Shake it off Shake it off Hotels hold me Thoughts horizon So many hearts Beating in one place Like a giant Beast with many souls No Just a body Full of holes When I’m awake enough I’m gonna shake it off Gonna shake it off I'm gonna shake it off When I’m awake enough I’m gonna shake it off I'm gonna shake it off I'm gonna shake it off Gonna shake it off Shake it off Shake it off Shake it off Written by Jeff Tweedy Instrumental Credits Jeff Tweedy – vocals, electric guitar John Stirratt – bass Glenn Kotche – drums, percussion Mikael Jorgensen – Wurlitzer Nels Cline – electric gutiar Pat Sansone – electric guitar

Theologians

Theologians they don’t know nothing
About my soul
About my soul

I’m an ocean
And this emotion
Slow motion, slow motion

Illiterati lumin fedei
God is with us everyday
That illiterate light
Is with us every night

Theologians, oh they don’t know nothing
About my soul
Oh they don’t know

They thin my heart with little things
And my life with change
Oh in so many ways
I find more missing every day

Theologians

I’m going away
Where you will look for me
Where I’m going you cannot come
No one’s ever gonna take my life from me
I lay it down
A ghost is born
A ghost is born
A ghost is born

I am a notion
I am all emotion
I am a cherry ghost
Cherry ghost
Hey I’m a cherry ghost
Cherry ghost

Walken

I’m walking
All by myself
I was talking to myself about you
What am I going to do

I was singing
This song about you
I was thinking about singing
This song for you

The more I think about it
The more I know it’s true
The more I think about it
The more I’m sure it’s you
Honey I think you’re just right
You’re just right

I was walking
Like I said by myself
I was talking
To myself about you
Like I always do

The more I think about it
The more I know it’s true
The more I think about it
The more I’m sure it’s you
Honey, I think you’re just right
You’re just right

The more I think about it
The more I know it’s true
The more I think about it
The more I’m sure it’s you
Honey, I think you’re just right
You’re just right

Written by Jeff Tweedy and Wilco Instrumental Credits Jeff Tweedy – vocals, electric guitar John Stirratt – bass Glenn Kotche – drums Mikael Jorgensen – piano, Hammond B3 organ Nels Cline – lap steel Pat Sansone – electric guitar

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

 

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

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.

 

Jesus, Etc.

Jesus, don't cry
You can rely on me honey
You can combine anything you want
I'll be around
You were right about the stars
Each one is a setting sun

Tall buildings shake
Voices escape singing sad sad songs
Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks
Bitter melodies turning your orbit around

Don't cry
You can rely on me honey
You can come by any time you want
I'll be around
You were right about the stars
Each one is a setting sun

Tall buildings shake
Voices escape singing sad sad songs
Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks
Bitter melodies turning your orbit around

Voices whine
Skyscrapers are scraping together
Your voice is smoking
Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around

Our love
Our love
Our love is all we have
Our love
Our love is all of God's money
Everyone is a burning sun

Tall buildings shake
Voices escape singing sad sad songs
Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks
Bitter melodies turning your orbit around

Voices whine
Skyscrapers are scraping together
Your voice is smoking
Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around

Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around

Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around

Hate It Here

I try to stay busy
I do the dishes, I mow the lawn
I try to keep myself occupied
Even though I know you’re not coming home

I try to keep the house nice and neat
I make my bed I change the sheets
I even learned how to use the washing machine
But keeping things clean doesn’t change anything

What am I gonna do when I run out of shirts to fold?
What am I gonna do when I run out of lawn to mow?
What am I gonna do if you never come home?
Tell me, what am I gonna do?

I hate it
I hate it here
When you’re gone

I caught myself thinking
I caught myself thinking once again
Have to try to keep my mind out of this
Try not to pretend

I’ll check the phone
I’ll check the mail
I’ll check the phone again and I call your mom
She says you’re not there and I should take care

I hate it here
When you’re gone
I hate it
I hate it here
When you’re gone

I try to stay busy
I take out the trash, I sweep the floor
Try to keep myself occupied
Cause I know you don’t live here anymore

Written by Jeff Tweedy and Wilco

Kingpin

I wanna be your kingpin Living in Pekin I wanna be your bigwig Living in Pekin I got the flu and away I flew N.Y.C.P.D. blue Dimetapp and spinal tap City maps and hand claps Statue of Liberty play It only works once Don't throw it away ’Cause I wanna be your kingpin Living in Pekin Living in Pekin Living in How can I How can I give my love to you when I don't know what to do

The Late Greats

The greatest lost track of all-time
The Late Greats’s “Turpentine”
You can’t hear it on the radio
Can’t hear it anywhere you go

The best band will never get signed
The Kay-Sette’s starring Butcher’s Blind
So good you won’t ever know
They never even played a show
Can’t hear ‘em on the radio

The greatest singer in Rock-n-Roll
Would have to be Romeo
His vocal chords are made of gold
He just looks a little too old

The best songs will never get sung
The best life never leaves your lungs
So good you won’t ever know
You’ll never hear it on the radio
You can’t hear it on the radio

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

 

What Light

If you feel like singing a song
And you want other people to sing along
Just sing what you feel

Don’t let anyone say it’s wrong

And if you’re trying to paint a picture
But you’re not sure which colors belong
Just paint what you see
Don’t let anyone say it’s wrong

And if you’re strung out like a kite
Or stung awake in the night
It’s alright to be frightened

When there’s a light (what light)
There’s a light (one light)
There’s a light (white light)
Inside of you

If you think you might need somebody
To pick you up when you drag
Don’t lose sight of yourself
Don’t let anyone change your bag

And if the whole world’s singing your songs
And all of your paintings have been hung
Just remember what was yours
Is everyone’s from now on

And that’s not wrong or right
But you can struggle with it all you like
You'll only get uptight

And there’s a light (what light)
There’s a light (one light)
There’s a light (white light)

There’s a light (white light)
There’s a light (one light)
There’s a light (white light)
There’s a light (one light)
Well, there’s a light (white light)
There’s a light (one light)
There’s a light (one light)
There’s a light (white light)
There’s a light (white light)
Inside of you

There’s a light (white light)
There’s a light (white light)
There’s a light (white light)
There’s a light (one light)

Written by Jeff Tweedy