Can't Stand It

The way things go
You get so low
Struggle to find your skin
Hey ho
Look out below
Your prayers will never be answered again

Phones still ring
And singers sing
Speakers are speaking in code
What now
Well anyhow
Our prayers will never be answered again

You know it's all beginning
To feel like it's ending
No love's as random
As God's love
I can't stand it

The way things get
You get so high
Funny how we make new friends
Hey ho
I gotta go
Our prayers will never be answered again

You know it's all beginning
To feel like it's ending
No love's as random
As God's love
I can't stand it

Speakers speaking
Speakers speaking
Speaking in code

You know it's all beginning
To feel like pretending
No love's as random
As my love
I can't stand it

Your prayers will never be answered again
Your prayers will never be answered again
Your prayers will never be answered again
Your prayers will never be answered again

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

She's a Jar

She's a jar
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid
She begs me not to miss her

She says forever
To light a fuse
We could use
A hand full of wheel
And a day off
On a bruised road
However you might feel
Tonight is real

When I forget how to talk I sing
Won't you please
Bring that flash to shine
And turn my eyes red
Unless they close
When you click
And my face gets sick
Stuck
Like a question unposed

Just climb aboard
The tracks of a train's arm
In my fragile family tree
And watch me floating inches above
The people underneath

Please beware the quiet front yard
I warned you
Before there were water skies
I warned you not to drive
Dry your eyes you poor devil

Are there really ones like these
The ones I dream
Float like leaves
And freeze to spread skeleton wings
I passed through before I knew you

I believe it's just because
Daddy's payday is not enough
Oh I believe it's all because
Daddy's payday is not enough

Just climb aboard
The tracks of a train's arm
In my fragile family tree
And watch me floating inches above
The people under me

She's a jar
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid
She begs me not to hit her

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, backing vocals
Jay Bennett – electric guitar, keyboards, tambourine, backing vocals
John Stirratt – bass
Ken Coomer – drums

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
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
Bloodier than blood
Bloodier than blood
Bloodier than blood

The ashtray says
You were up all night
When you went to bed
With your darkest mind
You changed
You've changed

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

We're Just Friends

Over and over and over again
You say that we're just friends
Forget the implications
Infatuations end
If love's so easy, why is it hard
I can't imagine ever being apart
I'll come back to you
It'll be brand new
But I promise
We're just friends

Over and over and over again
I try to make amends
For everything I've done wrong
My whole world just spins
Make some coffee, hold me up
Try and talk me out of giving up
I'll come back to you
It'll be brand new
But I promise
We're just friends

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals
Jay Bennett – piano, Farfisa, bass drum, backing vocals
John Stirratt – backing vocals

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
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
I'm bragging
I'm always in love

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

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

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 way
Nothing's ever gonna stand in our way
Nothing's ever gonna stand in our way again

Nothing's ever gonna stand in our way
Nothing's ever gonna stand in our way
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

Pieholden suite

There's a whisper
I’d like to breathe
Into your ear
But I'm too scared
To get that close
To you right now
There are dreams
We might have shared
And I still care
And I still love you
But you know how I've been untrue

In the beginning
We closed our eyes
Whenever we kissed
We were surprised
To find so much inside

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, tambourine
Jay Bennett – banjo, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, tambourine, backing vocals
John Stirratt – bass, backing vocals
Ken Coomer – drums
Dave Crawford – trumpet

How to Fight Loneliness

How to fight loneliness
Smile all the time
Shine you teeth 'til meaningless
Sharpen them with lies

And whatever's going down
Will follow you around
That's how you fight loneliness
You laugh at every joke
Drag your blanket blindly
Fill your heart with smoke
And the first thing that you want
Will be the last thing you ever need
That's how you fight it

Just smile all the time
Just smile all the time
Just smile all the time
Just smile all the time

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

Via Chicago

I dreamed about killing you again last night
And it felt alright to me
Dying on the banks of Embarcadero skies
I sat and watched you bleed
Buried you alive in a fireworks display
Raining down on me
Your cold, hot blood ran away from me
To the sea

I printed my name on the back of a leaf
And I watched it float away
The hope I had in a notebook full of white, dry pages
Was all I tried to save
But the wind blew me back via Chicago
In the middle of the night
And all without fight
At the crush of veils and starlight
I know I'll make it back
One of these days and turn on your TV
To watch a man with a face like mine
Being chased down a busy street
When he gets caught I won't get up
And I won't go to sleep
I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Via Chicago

Where the cups are cracked and hooked
Above the sink
They make me think
Crumbling ladder tears don't fall
They shine down your shoulders
Crawling is screw faster lash
I blow it with kisses
Rest my head on a pillowy star
And a cracked door moon
Says I haven't gone too far

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Via Chicago
Searching for a home
Searching for a home
Via Chicago

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, synthesizers
Jay Bennett – banjo, piano, organ, moog, tambourine
John Stirratt – bass
Ken Coomer – drums

ELT

I should've been listening
To every word you said
Oh, what have I been missing
Wishing wishing that you were dead
I didn't mean to be so disturbing
So far from home
Oh, what have I been learning
By being all alone

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
Just tears you apart

When we were younger
Sleep while I'm awake
I was trying to keep the door locked
I realize
That's a mistake

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
Is gonna tear you apart

Every little thing that you do
Seems so much better than I could do
Oh, I should've been listening
To every word you said

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
Is gonna tear you apart

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, backing vocals
Jay Bennett – electric guitars, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, tambourine, backing vocals
John Stirratt – bass
Ken Coomer – drums

My Darling

Go back to sleep now
My darlin’
And I'll keep all the bad dreams away
Breathe now
Think sweet things

And I'll think of all the right words to say
Because we made you
My darlin’
With the love in each of our hearts
We were a family my darlin’
Right from the start

Grow up now
My darlin’
Please don't you grow up too fast
And be sure, darlin’
To make all the good times last

Because we made you
My darlin’
With the love in each of our hearts
We were a family, my darlin’
Right from the start

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jay Bennett – acoustic, baritone, e-bow, and electric guitars, slide bass,
piano, keyboards, tambourine, claps, backing vocals
John Stirratt – bass, backing vocals
Ken Coomer – drums
Mark Greenberg – vibes

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

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

Summerteeth

Like a cloud
His fingers explode
On the typewriter ribbon
The shadow grows
His heart's in a bowl behind the bank
And every evening when he gets home
To make his supper and eat it alone
His black shirt cries
While his shoes get cold

It's just a dream he keeps having
And it doesn't seem to mean anything
And it doesn't seem to mean anything

One summer a suicide
Another autumn a traveler's guide
He hits snooze twice before he dies
And every evening when he gets home
To make his supper and eat it alone
His black shirt cries
While his shoes get cold

It's just a dream he keeps having
And it doesn't seem to mean anything
It's just a dream he keeps having

He feels lucky to have you here
In his kitchen, in your chair
Sometimes he forgets that you're even there

It's just a dream he keeps having
And it doesn't seem to mean anything
It's just a dream he keeps having
It's just a dream
And it doesn't seem to mean anything

Instrumental credits: Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar
Jay Bennett – electric guitar, lap steel, piano, keyboards, bells, backing vocals
John Stirratt – bass, backing vocals
Ken Coomer – drums