Story to Tell
I’ve been through hell
On my way to hell
I only fought with myself
So I’d have a story to tell
Once I cut off my arm
I sewed it back on all wrong
Now I don’t have to bend
To reach the bottom shelf
When I need a story to tell
The world is always on the brink
And love is dumber than you think
Singing songs of death and doom
With all the voices inside of you
Once I started a war
But I don’t fight anymore
I held the line until the old oak fell
I was left behind
With a story to tell
The world is always on the brink
Hearts are smarter than you think
Writing songs of death and doom
For all the voices inside of you
Once I looked you in the eye
And I told you lies
How I wish I could have treated you well
I wish I had more than
A story to tell
The world is always on the brink
Love is dumber than you think
Singing songs of death and doom
With all the voices inside of you
I’ve been through hell
On my way to hell
I only fought with myself
So I’d have a story to tell
written by Jeff Tweedy
I Am My Mother
Dangerous dreams have been detected
Streaming over the southern border
As bad as it seems it’s worse than expected
Fleeing through the night corridor
Oh I’ve done the math
With a stick in the sand
I’ve kicked the can
Into a dead end
Oh I can’t mend
Every broken fence
I’m a new man
But I am still my mother
If it was up to me I would have rejected
The idea that money could keep you poor
And as dark as it seems it’s worse than neglected
When you need the one who loves no more
Oh I’ve done the math
With a stick in the sand
I’ve kicked the can
Into a dead end
Oh I can’t mend
Every broken fence
I’m a new man
But I am still my mother
written by Jeff Tweedy
Opaline
I hear the police outside my window
I can hear them talking on their radios
Well I keep my head underneath my pillow
Pray that they’re gonna leave me alone
O’ Opaline
Make believe that you still love me
O’ Opaline
It’s hard to see reality
When you’ve got no love at all
There’s nothing worse than a hearse driving slow
Out on the tollway stopping at the tolls
No change, no E-ZPass, what a way to go
There’s nothing worse than a hearse driving slow
O’ Opaline
Make believe that you still love me
O’ Opaline
It’s hard to see reality
When you’ve got no love at all
I’d like to find out why she had to go
My heart wants what a heart can’t control
Now I hang in the air as the light gets cold
And I hide in her shadows
Welcome her home
O’ Opaline
Make believe that you still love me
O’ Opaline
It’s hard to see reality
When you’ve got no love at all
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
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
Tired of Taking It Out On You
I’m tired of taking it out on you
Tired of needing to
Freeze my warmth away
Tear the tears out of your quiet face
I can’t face
The way I am with you
Or replace
The bite I’m chewing through
Oh I’m tired
Of taking it out on you
I crave
Crazy times again
Our nights, our nights
Would never end
I’m ashamed
Of who I am
When I’m in pain
So I strive
To the nearest star
Street light
Over an idling car
Move across the seat
I’m going to need
You to drive these last few miles
‘Cause I’m tired of taking it out on you
Ooo
Ooo
Freeze my warmth away
Tear the tears out of your quiet face
I can’t take
The way I am with you
Or recreate
Things we used to do
I’m tired
Of taking it out on you
Ooo
Ooo
Ooo
I’m tired of taking it out on you
written by Jeff Tweedy
You Are Not Alone
You're not alone
I'm with you
I'm lonely too
What's that song
Can't be sung
By two?
My broken home
A broken heart
Isolated and afraid
Open up this is a raid
I want to get it through to you
You're not alone
You're not alone
Every night
I stand in your place
Every tear
On every face
Tastes the same
A broken dream
A broken heart
Isolated and afraid
Open up this is a raid
I wanna get it through to you
You're not alone
An open hand
An open....
An Empty Corner
Eight tiny lines of cocaine
Left on a copy machine
In an empty corner of a dream
My sleep could not complete
There are sirens in the birds
And you and I are too far apart
And my eyes need a shave
What else can go wrong?
Now that I'm not longed for
Wild life seems wrong
Won't care
Won't stare
You've got family out there
The silver black boot
That cracked my front tooth
Is a new kind of truth
I'm getting used to
Come back lonely
How sad if only
I don't believe you don't care
You've got family out there
Where the power lines are down
Whipping sparks around
Like angels touching down
I see you there
How sad
If only
Don't believe you don't care
You've got family out there
You've got family out there
Hearts Hard to Find
I don’t mind
When certain people die
I can’t cry
I wonder why
I could lie and say
It makes me sad
There’s something wrong with me
Maybe I’m just bad
My heart’s hard to find
Sometimes
Oh I lose it
All the time
Reality
Ruins everything
I like a breeze
Gently shaking a tree
That’s a coin that’s real
Mine to spend
I like a ghost I can feel
Hold out your hand
My heart’s hard to find
Sometimes
Oh I lose it
All the time
That’s a coin that’s real
Mine to spend
I like a ghost I can feel
Hold out your hand
My heart’s hard to find
Sometimes
Oh I lose it
My hearts hard to find
Sometimes
Oh I lose it
My hearts hard to find
Sometimes
Oh I lose it
All the time
written by Jeff Tweedy
Sunken Treasure
There's rows and rows of houses
With windows painted blue
With the light from a TV
Running parallel to you
But there is no sunken treasure
Rumored to be
Wrapped inside my ribs
In a sea black with ink
I am so
Out of tune
With you
I am so out of tune
With you
If I had a mountain
I'd try to fold it over
If I had a boat (probably roll over)
You know I'd probably roll over (leave it on the shore)
And I leave it on the shore (leave it for somebody)
I'd leave it for somebody
Surely there's somebody
Who needs it more than me
I am so
Out of tune
With you
I am so out of tune
With you
For all the leaves will burn
In autumn fires and then return
For all the fires we burn
All will return
Music is my savior
I was maimed by rock and roll
I was maimed by rock and roll
I was tamed by rock and roll
I got my name from rock and roll
The Lonely 1
After the show
You walked right past
Arms reached out
For your autograph
And as you flashed
Your backstage pass
I caught your eye
With a camera's flash
When the band came out
They stood behind you
Cymbals crashed
The lights went blue
You stood alone
In the halo's haze
Shining guitar hung on
Gold lamé
And you
You were the lonely one
You were
The lonely one
When you perform
It's so intense
When the critics pan
I write in your defense
I understand I am just a fan
I'm just a fan
When I get home
I turn off the alarm
I check the phone
No messages on
I play the ones from yesterday
I play your song
Just to hear you say that you
You're the lonely one
You are
The lonely one
You
You're the lonely one
You are the lonely one
I'm Kind of in Love With You
Company In My Back
I attack with love, pure bug beauty, curl my lips and crawl up to you
I attack with love, pure bug beauty, curl my lips and crawl up to you
And your afternoon
And I’ve been puking I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back
I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back Hide your soft skin; your sorrow is sunshine; listen to my eyes
Hide your soft skin; your sorrow is sunshine; listen to my eyes
They are hissing radiator tunes I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back
I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back You learn so slow, old radiant beauty; I’ll curve my flight
You learn so slow, old radiant beauty; I’ll curve my flight
Under your bended knee
And I will always die
I will always die
I will always die, so you can remember me I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back
I move so slow, steady crushing hand; holy shit! there’s a company in my back
There’s a company in my back Instrumental Credits Jeff Tweedy Vocals, Acoustic Guitar John Stirratt Bass Glenn Kotche Drums, Hammer Dulcimer & Percussion Leroy Bach Piano & Korg CX-3 Organ Mikael Jorgensen Fenix Modular Synthesizer & Stylophone Jim O'Rourke Acoustic Guitar
Where Do I Begin
Alright at least you cried
A point of pride has torn in two
What was we where we meets you
From where we end to where do I begin
We're so alone
We're never alone
Forever in debt to the stomach I get
When things can't be known
Our paths overgrown
From where we end to where do I begin
Why can't we tell when we're in hell
Why can't I say something to make you well
When things can't be seen confined within the dream
From where we end to where do I begin
From what was left behind to you're my friend
I won't ever ever ever fall apart like that again
From where we are to where do I begin
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
I got you and that's all I need
I got you and that's all I need
I got you and that's all I need
I got you I got you and I still believe
That you are all I will ever need
It's you, oh All the way back in the seventies
You were my little TV queen
Tarzan and your friend Janine
I got you I got you and I still believe
That you are all I will ever need
It's you, oh It's the end of the century
And I can't think of anything
Except you It's the end of the century
And I can't think of anything
But you, oh All, I, need I got you
I got you, babe
I got you You You, ooh ooh I got you I got you Oooh I got you
The Thanks I Get
Is that the thanks I get for loving you?
Is that the thanks I get for telling you the truth?
You say you wanna know
Where I go when I go
You say you wanna communicate
But you don't hear a word I say
Is that the thanks I get for loving you?
I'm tired of the looks you give me when I get home late
And I'm getting tired of how you forget the loving things I say
I treat you right
I tuck you in at night
Now everytime I go out to play
Why you think I'm leaving?
Is that the thanks I get for loving you?
Now faith and trust are the strongest parts of us
That's okay but you must believe in our love
We can make it better
We can make it better
We can make it better
Let's pull ourselves together
And start it again
I hold you tight
You tuck me in at night
I don't ever wanna fight again
I think we're both crazy
But that's the thanks we get for fallin in love
We can make it better
We can make it better
We can make it better
We can make it better
We can make it better (make it better)
We can make it better (make it better)
We can make it better (make it better)
We can make it better (make it better)
We can make it better
Let's pull ourselves together
And start it again
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
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