Wilco

Box Full of Letters

I've got a box full of letters
I think you might like to read
Some things that you might like to see
But they're all addressed to me

I wish I had a lotta answers
'Cause that's the way it should be
For all these questions
Being directed at me

I just can't find the time

To write my mind
The way I want it to read

You'll come back again
And I'll still be your friend

I got a lot of your records
In a separate stack
Some things that I might like to hear, but I
Guess I'll give 'em back

I wish I had a lotta answers
'Cause that's the way it should be
For all these questions
Being directed at me

Just can't find the time
To write my mind
The way I want it to read

You'll come back again
And I'll still be your friend

I can't find the time
To write my mind
The way I want it to read

Just can't find the time
To write my mind
The way I want it to read

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, guitar
John Stirratt – bass, vocals
Max Johnston – dobro
Ken Coomer – drums
Brian Henneman – guitars

I Must Be High

You Always wanted more time To do

What you always wanted to do Now you got it And I, I must be high To say goodbye Bye bye bye

You Never said you needed this Now you're pissed that you missed The very last kiss From my lips And I, I must be high To say goodbye Bye bye bye

You Never looked in my eyes Long enough to find Any piece of mind But now you got it And I, I must be high To let you say goodbye

I  must be high Bye bye bye Bye bye bye

Instrumental credits: Jeff Tweedy – vocals, guitar John Stirratt – bass Max Johnston – dobro Ken Coomer – drums Brian Henneman – guitar Lloyd Maines – pedal steel guitar

Shouldn't Be Ashamed

To live without a savior
Answer to his name
Shouldn't be afraid
Shouldn't be ashamed

Like a kid behind the counter
Remembering your name
Shouldn't be afraid
Shouldn't be ashamed

'Cause if it's not like I told ya
Then it's still your call
You should live how you want
Stay with me
We should stay apart
Just shouldn't ever have to be this hard

Like a man on the sidewalk
Remembering your face
Shouldn't look away
Shouldn't be afraid

He remembers when they still wore gaiters
World war one
Shouldn't be afraid
Shouldn't be ashamed

'Cause if it's not like I told ya
Then it's still your call
You should live how you want
Stay with me
We should stay apart
Just shouldn't ever have to be this hard

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar
John Stirratt – bass
Max Johnston – mandolin
Ken Coomer – drums
Brian Henneman – guitars

No Sense In Lovin' (Uncle Tupelo)

I don't know what you've been through You might think that I don't care But I do And I've tried to understand I've tried to understand your abuse But you've got no excuse And there's no use in lovin' Anyone who hates them self You keep coming back So I hold you for a little while But I always go When I can't take your sad smile 'Cause I can't stand it When you get so intense And it's all a part of our bad inheritance And there's no sense in lovin' Anyone Won't you come back for a while You could see exactly What you've always meant to me But you don't wanna know You don't wanna know And you don't know what I've been through And if I think that you don't care You probably do And there's no sense in lovin' Anyone who hates them self written by Jeff Tweedy originally appears on Anodyne/ Uncle Tupelo

Walk Where He Walked

There's a man on TV claims he killed 23
Burnt their bodies and collected their teeth
There's another man at home with his wife and family tree
Who agreed this would make a good movie
And I'm sittin' here,
Wonderin' what this is all doin' to me

He sold the book rights, and he was set for life
A woman on a talk show wants to be his wife
Another man decides to purchase his knife
A court decides he's got the right
And I'm sittin' here,
Wonderin' how he can ever sleep at night

I don't want to walk where he walked
I don't want to talk to who he stalked
I don't want to walk where he walked

First it was a book, and then it was a movie
They cut it all up and they put it on the TV
The starring role was played by Christopher Lee
He was fine, he was something to see
And I'm sitting here,
Wondering what this is all doing to me

I don't want to walk where he walked
I don't want to talk to who he stalked
I don't want to walk where he walked

Ooh Lord, I didn't catch how he got caught

written by Jeff Tweedy (Appears on Golden Smog album down by the old mainstream)

New Madrid [Uncle Tupelo]

All my daydreams are disasters
She's the one I think I love
Rivers burn and then run backwards
For her, that's enough

They all come from New York City
And they woke me up at dawn
She walked with me to the fountain
And she held onto my arm

Come on, do what you did
Roll me under New Madrid
Shake my baby and please bring her back
'Cause death won't even be still
Caroms over the landfill
Buries us all in its broken back

There's a man of conviction
And although he's getting old
Mr. Browning has a prediction
And we've all been told

So come on back from New York City
Roll your trucks in at dawn
Walk with me to the fountain
And hold onto my arm

Come on, do what you did
Roll me under New Madrid
Shake my baby and please bring her back
'Cause death won't even be still
Caroms over the landfill
Buries us all in its broken back

originally appears on Anodyne / Uncle Tupelo written by Jeff Tweedy

Pick Up the Change

If it's just your heart talking, I don't mind
If you wanna call me darling, that's just fine, that's just fine
But if it's your mind that's wandering, it'll fall in line
When I kiss your cheek dear, every time, every time

We used to have a lot of things in common
But you know now we're just the same
You always had more than I really wanted
Aw honey, help me
Aw honey, help me pick up the change

If it's just your heart talking, I'll listen every time
Dear, you can talk my ear off, anytime, anytime
But if my mind starts wandering, it won't be gone long
Whenever I hear your heart talking, it's a song, it's a song

We used to have a lot of things in common
But you know now we're just the same
You always had more than I really wanted
Aw honey, help me
Come on honey, help me pick up
Aw honey, help me pick up the change

Aw honey, help me
Come on honey, help me pick up
Aw honey, help me pick up the change

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar
John Stirratt – bass
Max Johnston – banjo
Ken Coomer – drums
Brian Henneman – guitars

Wait Up (Uncle Tupelo)

Are you surprised it's me
Hope I didn't wake anybody
Honey, please wait up for me
I miss you more than I need sleep

Guess I'll let you go
Even though I don't want to
Honey, please wait up for me
I need you and I can't keep up this speed

written by Jeff Tweedy
March 16-20, 1992 / Uncle Tupelo

If That's Alright (Uncle Tupelo)

Every day is dreamlike
It seems like, in every way
And that's why
When I look back on my life
It's like a slideshow out of focus
And as the carousel goes 'round
The slides are upside-down
There's nothing to make out or even notice
When will it all become concrete wouldn't that be sweet
To know where you stand
But until then, it's a slideshow
That you're yawning through
Or even sleeping
And as the carousel goes 'round
The slides are still upside-down
There's nothing to make out or even notice
And if that's alright, then it's alright
If that's alright, then it's alright
And if that's alright
Then I want to hear you say it
And if that's alright
Then I gotta hear you say it now

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

Too Far Apart

You came to meet me out on the line You couldn't believe I was feeling fine When I really needed you, you were gone So long We were too far apart Right from the start I couldn't be any closer to you now Is it really punk rock, like the party line? Do you have to think about that? Can I give you some time? 'Cause when I really needed you, you were gone So long We were too far apart Right from the start I couldn't be any closer to you now Too far apart Right from the start And I couldn't be any closer to you now   Instrumental credits: Jeff Tweedy – vocals, guitar John Stirratt – bass, organ Max Johnston – dobro Ken Coomer – drums Brian Henneman – guitar

Should've Been in Love

You've been dealing with all of these feelings
Like they got you believing they have no meaning
But they do

Your life's been stinking, your heart's been sinking
And you're too busy thinking to stop
You blink and you're blue

Should've been in love
Should've been in love
Should've been in love

Your mind's been racing, your heart's been chasing
And you might as well face it
Time's wasting, it's true

Your life's been stinking, your heart's been shrinking
And you're too busy thinking to stop
You blink and you're blue

Should've been in love
Should've been in love
Should've been in love
I know how it goes
So
I just had to
Let you know I know

My life's been stinking, my heart's been shrinking
And I'm too busy thinking to stop
I blink and you're gone

Should've been in love
We should've been in love
We should've been in love

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar
John Stirratt – bass
Max Johnston – dobro
Ken Coomer – drums
Brian Henneman – guitar

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

Lost Love

Lost love in the desert
Lost love on the sea
If you can put it behind you
But it's still beyond me

'Cause hearts break in the summer
And they meet me in the spring
Broken hearts all around me
But I don't feel a thing
Love love on the highway
Lost love on the phone
Lost love with a suitcase
Heading back home
Where hearts break in the summer
When they meet in the spring
Mines still wrapped inside me
But I don't feel a thing
You're my lost love, I can't see
That you're coming back for me
You're the travel I can't find
And it's only a matter of time
Should've taken it all so hard
Should've taken it all so hard
My lost love

written by Jeff Tweedy (appears on Golden Smog album Weird Tales)

Give Back The Key To My Heart [Doug Sahm cover]

Take my picture off the wall
It don't matter to me at all
Said I was headed for a fall
But you wanted me to crawl

Give back my TV
It don't mean that much to me
While you're giving back my things
Give me back the key to my heart

Give back the key to my heart
Give back the key to my heart
And let my love flow like a river
Straight into your heart, dear

Well, you say I was the one
To blame for the wrong that's been done
Well, you got a friend named cocaine
And to me he is to blame

He has drained life from your face
He has taken my place
While you're alone in San Antone
Give me back the key to my heart

Give back the key to my heart
Give back the key to my heart
And let my love flow like a river
Straight into your heart, dear

written by Doug Sahm © Bluewater Music Corp.

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

The Long Cut (Uncle Tupelo)

I've been searching
And you've been gone
Out looking for the shortest path
To the one that you're on

And I've already seen
All I wanna see
Come on, let's take the long cut
I think that's what we need

When we were younger
And we were strong
We felt a lot better
Than the things that we'd done

Now if it's to be, if you still believe
Come on let's take the long cut
I think that's what we need
If you wanna take the long cut
We'll get there eventually

I've been searching
And you've been gone
Out looking for the shortest path
To the one that you're on

Now if it's to be, if you still believe
Come on let's take the long cut
I think that's what we need

We've been in a deep rut
And it's been killing me
If you wanna take the long cut
We'll get there eventually

Eventually
Eventually

originally appeared on Anodyne / Uncle Tupelo written by Jeff Tweedy

Black Eye (Uncle Tupelo)

He had a black eye He was proud of Like some of his friends It made him feel somewhere outside Of everything and everywhere he'd been Like his brothers
He emptied himself
And played it safe
Like their father
He wanted to remember
But he almost always
Forgot what he was gonna say

Black eye
Black eye

When he realized
That this one was here to stay
He took down
All the mirrors in the hallway
And thought only of his younger face

Black eye
Black eye

written by Jeff Tweedy
March 16-20,1992 / Uncle Tupelo

Wherever

When you get back from wherever
Let me know what it's like
And I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you
What it's like to watch you go

You say, “Hey, what’s that mean”
Make it sound so simple
And you say, “Hey, what’s that mean”
Don’t make it sound so simple

So don’t even try
'Cause this is your day
Even the sky might go your way
Well I’ll get by
Just being OK
So you can deny
That this is your day

When you get back from
who cares
I really…
When you get back from wherever
Be sure to let me know

written by Jeff Tweedy

Pecan Pie (Golden Smog)

As I walk along and stumble
Trains rumble in my head
As I breeze along and grumble
Think about you instead

And a piece of pecan pie
And you thats all I want
Just a piece of pecan pie
And all I want is you

Sometimes I get so hungry
Think about pie all day
Just a little whipped cream
Honey, Im on my way

With a piece of pecan pie
And you thats all I want
Just apiece of pecan pie
And all I want is you

Just a piece of pecan pie
And you thats all I want
Just apiece of pecan pie
And all I want is you

Now, dont you call me key lime
You are the apple of my eye
Dont you know Ill be fine
Whenever youre by my side

With a piece of pecan pie
And you thats all I want
Just a piece of pecan pie
And all I want is you

All I want is you
All I want is you
All I want is you
All I want is you

written by Jeff Tweedy (Appears on Golden Smog album Down By The Old Mainstream)

Reincarnation

Let's Hear It For Rock and Roll

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

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

Listen To Her Heart

Acuff-Rose (Uncle Tupelo)

Early in the morning,
Sometimes late at night
Sometimes I get the feeling
That everything's alright
Early in the evening,
Sometimes in the day
Sometimes I get the feeling
Everything's okay
Because everything
Cuts against the tide
When you're by my side
Name me a song
That everybody knows
And I'll bet you it belongs
To Acuff-Rose
Children in the playground,
The folks in the home
Anybody anywhere
Who's ever been alone
'Cause everything
Cuts against the tide
When I hear that sound

Blue Eyed Soul

You've got a blue eyed soul
And if you don't let it show
It'll leave you, you won't even know
Without your blue eyed soul
Can you keep it simple? Can you let the snare crack?
Can you let it move without holding back?
Are you afraid to let it go
Without your blue eyed soul?

You're gonna lose control
You're gonna lose control
Without your blue eyed soul
Without your blue eyed soul
Without your blue eyed soul

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar
John Stirratt – bass
Max Johnston – mandolin
Ken Coomer – drums
Brian Henneman – guitar
Lloyd Maines – pedal steel guitar

Piss It Away