KC Rain
I was born a little sad
I never knew what I had
Mom and dad let it slide
No wonder
I'm never satisfied
I swayed and I swooned
I howled at the moon
Tied myself to the ties
No wonder I'm never satisfied
High in the morning
High in the afternoon
High in evening
When I'm sleeping
I'm with you
Like an old welcome mat
I’m filthy and I’m flat
Now ain’t that the truth
No wonder
I’m so confused
I only care about the cat
Some of this, a little of that
Fat chance I’ll sing the blues
No wonder
I’m so confused
I’m high in the morning
High in the afternoon
High in the evening
When I’m sleeping
I’m with you
written by Jeff Tweedy
Having Been Is No Way To Be
Oh I was naive
My shoes were untied
In heaven everything is just fine
But the phones are dead
And so is the light
And so are you
And honey so am I
But the earth still turns
For the unconcerned
Days pass below like train windows
I was a sapling tree
The birds looked like me
So I begged my nerves to kick me something new
From time to time
I’d watch you sleep
I wonder how much freedom we can dream
And I’m sorry when you wake up to me
I just got tired
Shining steady like a spider web
Is an empty stage
Now people say
“What drugs did you take?”
And “Why don’t you start taking them again?”
What difference would it ever make to them
But they’re not my friends
And if I was dead
What difference would it ever make to them
If I got high
From time to time
I wonder how much freedom you would need
And I’d be sorry when you wake to me
I’m reaching out to you
I’m writing all the time
I don’t see deep but I see far and wide
I see dead trees
But the roots have leaves
Just because I can’t describe it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try
To untwist the knife
To unmake my mind
Having been is no way to be alive
And I’m alive
When I watch you sleep
I wonder how much freedom we need
And I’m here
When you wake up to me
I’m still here
When you wake up to me
Gwendolyn
I don’t think I can take another day
Oh I don’t know how I could ever say
I’m OK being so far away
Oh I don’t think that I can take another day
When Gwendolyn, when she starts to speak
To a county police with a plastic cup between her teeth
The sun beating down like a big trombone
That’s right when I start missing home
She holds my hand between her knees
It’s like a dream, I never know what it means
I only know I’m feeling alone
That’s right when I start missing home
Honestly Gwen I’m not ashamed to say
Between you and me I’m relieved they put you away
Sun coming up like a piece of toast
That’s right when I started heading home
That’s right when I started heading home
Well that’s right when I started heading home
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
I'm coming home
Via Chicago
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Searching for a home
Searching for a home
Searching for a home
Via Chicago
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, synthesizers
Jay Bennett – banjo, piano, organ, moog, tambourine
John Stirratt – bass
Ken Coomer – drums
Stray Cats In Spain
Oh, what a beautiful day
Following
The mosaic
At an angle
From where we stayed
The Stray Cats
Are playing in Spain
Oh, what a beautiful scene
All the tiger prints set free
I believe
They believe
It’s not what you think
Unless
It’s hot pink
Oh, what a beautiful day
Following
The smell of pomade
At an angle
From today
The Stray Cats
Are playing in Spain
Stray Cats in 2019
Rockin’ in the street
written by Jeff Tweedy
Forever Never Ends
On the side of the road
In a tuxedo
Three below zero
In a red cummerbund
Highway 13
Not a king not a queen
I didn’t wanna come
To your stupid prom
A hissing road flare
Baby’s breath in her hair
In the middle of nowhere
In the middle of a nightmare
I had to call my dad
I knew he’d be mad
I’d never seen him not mad
Vomit in the frozen grass
Peppermint Schnapps
Well, here come the cops
They don’t even stop
Oh, there they go
Forever never ends
I’m always back there again and again and again
Forever never ends
I’m always back there again and again and again
Forever never ends
I’m always back there again and again and again
Forever never ends
I’m always back there again and again
On the side of the road
In a tuxedo
In the middle of nowhere
In the middle of a nightmare
written by Jeff Tweedy
A Lifetime to Find
Oh death
Oh death
I was just getting dressed
The place is a mess
I was hoping you’d forget
But I can feel you in my chest
I can feel you in my chest
Oh yes
Oh yes
Death never rests
I can see you’ve done your best
The problem is just this
It’s too late for regrets
I am here to collect
It takes a lifetime to find
A life like the life
You had in mind
It takes a lifetime to find
A life like the life
You had in mind
Now you’re mine
Oh death
I confess
I should have known what to expect
But you’re so hard to accept
Last time I checked
I was neck and neck
As healthy as the next
Oh Yes
You were blessed
Blessed in the past tense
But it’s too late now
To make it make sense
It’s too late to pretend
This day won’t ever end
It takes a lifetime to find
A life like the life
You had in mind
It takes a lifetime to find
A life like the life
You had in mind
Now you’re mine
So alright
Today’s the day and
Tonight is the night
There’s no reason there’s no rhyme
It’s just time to go goodbye
But why can’t you try
To ease what’s on
my poor mind
O’ Jeff
Don’t obsess
It’s the best that I can do
To help you see the light
And help the light to see you
It’s true there was a truth
That was you and only you ever knew
It takes a lifetime to find
The life like the life you had in mind
It takes a lifetime to find
The life like the life you had in mind
It takes a lifetime to find
The life like the life you had in mind
Now you’re mine
written by Jeff Tweedy
New Madrid
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
Evicted
Oh I can take a joke but
My clothes are all soaked
It’s too late to be unclear
I’d laugh until I’d die
If it wasn’t my life
If it wasn’t me in the mirror
Am I ever going to see you again?
Maybe I’m a whistle on a lonely old train
I’m crying all the time
Listen to the sound getting further away
Fading deep
Into the night
Am I ever going to see you again?
I’m evicted
From your heart
I deserve it
Black against the shade
Shadow lovers embrace
I look away, I look away
They say heartache
Always fades
I look away I look away
I’m never gonna see you again
I’m evicted
From your heart
I deserve it
Oh I can take a joke but
My clothes are all smoke
It’s too cold to be unclear
I’d laugh until I’m old
If it wasn’t my life
If it wasn’t me in the mirror
I’m never gonna see you again
I’m evicted
From your heart
I deserve it
I’m evicted
From your heart
I deserve it
I deserve it
I deserve it
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)
Throwaway Lines
I don’t want to write about
All the things I’m still working out
Terrible things you wouldn't believe
So I’ll just leave you with these
Throwaway lines
The best I can do
Throwaway lines like
“I love you”
I'm afraid you can see
What I really mean when I sing
In between
Throwaway lines
I don’t wanna let you down
I always want you around
But, man, my tongue gets so tied
And the hurt gets harder to hide
With throwaway lines
It’s the best I can do
Throwaway lines like
“I love you”
They don’t have to be true
Throwaway lines
An endless parade
Throwaway lines
Just taking up space
I’m afraid you can see
What I really mean
When I sing
In between
My throwaway lines
I’m afraid you can see
What I really mean
When I sing
In between
My throwaway lines
written by Jeff Tweedy
Ambulance
Once just by chance
I made a friend in an ambulance
I was half man half broken glass
She had a needle but I wasn’t afraid
I’d slap the cuffs right on my wrists
I’d get so high I’d arrest myself
For honeysuckle on a buckle
Broken teeth biting on my belt
High in a trance
My life smeared right past
In a blue light
I thought she was dancing
But she was just holding my cold hand
Cause everything can shine
Even the devil sometimes
And while I was busy dying
My lord she made some other plan
Traveling salesmen carrying trunks
You can smell them coming like skunks
In the distance, if your eyes can focus
That’s how God once spoke to us
Trying not to laugh
They pronounced me dead at half past
And that priest he pissed his pants
When he heard me start to say hello
Everything can shine
Even the devil sometimes
While I was busy dying
My lord she made some other plan
written by Jeff Tweedy
Feel Free
Feel free
Get on the floor and dream
Cutting pictures out of a magazine
Feel free
Feel free
Plant yourself like a seed
And take your time being buried
Feel free
Feel free
Carry a torch in the street
Say you’re full when we know you’re empty
Feel free
Feel free
To fall in love with the people you know
And fall harder for the people you don’t
Feel free
Feel free
Keep it all pristine
Clean, in its original packaging
Feel free
Feel free
Taking it slow and easy
Even though your heart is racing
Feel free
Feel free
Swim alone in the open sea
Bounce around holding a baby
Feel free
Feel free
Hail Satan, doesn’t matter to me
Or you can be the devil every Halloween
Feel free
Feel free
Lay it down, like a wreath
And leap over what’s underneath
Feel free
Feel free
To never listen and always speak
To never learn and try to teach
Feel free
Feel free
Kick a ball at a tree
Trying to retrieve your frisbee
Feel free
Feel free
Let It Bleed or Let It Be
John or Paul, Mick or Keith
Feel free
Feel free
Think of your name on a marquee
Aim for something you can’t see
Feel free
Feel free
Spin around and get dizzy
Do I know him? Who is he?
Feel free
Feel free
Get yourself born in the USA
Love with a love they can’t take away
Feel free
Feel free
Shave your head in the sink
Be brave, don’t think
Feel free
Feel free
Put your love above the part you play
Keep your love away from what you get paid
Feel free
Feel free
Make a record with your friends
Sing a song that never ends
Feel free
written by Jeff Tweedy
You And I
You and I
We might be strangers
However close we get sometimes
It’s like we never met
But you and I
I think we can take it
All the good with the bad
Make something that no one else has but
You and I
You and I
Me and you
What can we do
When the words we use sometimes
Are misconstrued
I won’t guess
What’s coming next
I can’t ever tell
You’re the deepest well I’ve ever fallen into
Oh, I don’t want to know
Oh, I don’t want to know
Oh, I don’t need to know
Everything about you
Oh, I don’t want to know
And you don’t need to know
That much about me
You and I
We might be strangers
However close we get sometimes
It’s like we never met
But you and I
I think we can take it
All the good with the bad
Make something that no one else has
You and I
You and I
You and I
You and I
You and I
You and I
You and I
You and I
You and I
Twilight Override
My mind is moving fast
Faster than my stash can last
I’d love a quiet day
Someplace where I could go and stay
Override
Override
Override
Override
Twilight
I’ll need to find a new past
You were sweet, you signed my cast
Now I see clear because
I was not where I thought I was
Override
Override
Override
Override
Twilight
My mind is moving fast
Faster than my stash can last
I’d love a quiet day
Someplace where I could go and stay
Override
Override
Override
Override
Override
Override
Twilight
written by Jeff Tweedy
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
Enough
Has it ever been enough?
Has it ever been OK?
Have you ever felt full
At the end of a day?
Is your heart high?
Don’t lie
Is your heart higher
Than your mind?
Do you feel like you’re dyin’
Tracin’ a line
Out on your own
Like a complete unknown
Is your heart tired?
Don’t lie
Is your heart hidin’
From your fire?
It’s hard to stay in love
It’s hard to stay in love
It’s hard to stay in love
With everyone
Is there anything to say
That could change your day?
I don’t care about your thoughts
I just want everything you got
Is your heart still tryin’?
Is your heart still alive?
Is your heart still fightin’
To get out of your mind?
It’s hard to stay in love
It’s hard to stay in love
It’s hard to stay in love
With everyone
written by Jeff Tweedy
Lou Reed Was My Babysitter
I wanna sweat next to you
Sweat next to you
With a sticky carpet sucking on my shoes
’Cause rock ‘n’ roll ain’t never gonna lose
Nah-ah
I want you to dance into me
Spill my drink
I wanna feel the kick kickin’ in my teeth
My bleeding heart bleeding to the beat
Uh
Look out
I want you to blow smoke in my eyes
Smoke in my eyes
I wanna shake shake shake shake shake until my shoes untie
’Cause rock ‘n’ roll ain’t ever gonna die
Not as long as you and I are alive
’Cause rock ‘n’ roll is dead
But the dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
Whoo!
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
Raooh!
Look out
I wanna feel everything
I wanna feel everything
I wanna listen to the idiot sing
Until I can’t feel anything
’Cause rock ‘n’ roll is dead
But the dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
Whooo!
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
The dead don’t die
Raaaaoow!
Look out
The dead don’t die x16
written by Jeff Tweedy
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