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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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