Wilco

Mar.24.2015

San Diego, CA - Balboa Theatre

Hazel

Hazel, Hazel, Hazel eyes
Nobodies ever seen you cry
Hazel, Hazel, Hazel tears
Nobody loves you, nobody cares
No one could protect you from the blood in your own veins
No one could predict who would be taking you away
You vanished in the trees in the woods where we would play
Last seen on Sycamore, I’ve often heard them say
Hazel, Hazel, Hazel green
No one can remember how long it’s been
Hazel, Hazel, Hazel brown
No one can remember when you were around
They caught you in the soil safe between the swarm
Sleeping the orchard unaccounted for
They caught you in the thicket, a prisoner no more
Hooded like a hawk pitiless and poor
Hazel, Hazel, Hazel tears
Nobody loves you, nobody cares

Flowering

Hold me stranger
Don’t deceive
Angel master
Can’t retrieve
Northern knots
Hung high in the trees
Spilling oceans
Existing to believe
Flowering
I told you danger
Carbon crown
March through the salt slush
Howling at the ground
Whistle my answer
Dance a blank face
Torment my sugar
And leap at any trace of
Flowering
Hold me stranger
Don’t deceive
Angel master
Can’t retrieve
Northern knots
Hung high in the trees
Spilling oceans
Existing to believe
Flowering

 

Summer Noon

Summer noon I can always stay
To radiate what the cello can’t play
She spoke to me and provoked my band
And I broke in two in the heat of her hand
Like a lioness or a coyote
At a pink beating heart in the balcony
I followed the finger to the creature’s gate
In the hubbub where the pitiful congregate
I thought there was a note that I couldn’t hear
So I floated to the whisper up against my ear
Afterwards I found my face in the trash
Really at the core of it it wasn’t so bad
Never leave your mother's womb
Unless you want to see how hard a broken heart can swoon

Honey Combed

I can feel the mystery
But I can’t play it
Grey as the children are grey
My thoughts are grim, polluted as I am
Walking out one summer noon
So soon
How will the weather bring
Sing like the children have sung
High as the stars are hung
I vanish before I go
I have written with a rope
Wrapped around my throat
Loomed like an island
Dope hooked and cycloned
Honey-combed my heart in love
And from above
Every cemetery
Against the bloom
Rattle the pigs, visit the silence
Waking up an open wound
I can feel the mystery
But I can’t play it
Grey as the children are grey
My thoughts are dim, polluted as I am
Walking out one summer noon

Desert Bell

Oh, I am sorry you won’t recognize me
Born and bred to be led
and be dead by degrees
I’m taking a moment to express my regret
Before I forget how it goes
As fast as our blood can crackle with blame
The arrows of eyes
Defined our embrace too soon
And piercing the place where even the moon
Would never dream to shine
The deluge day-dreaming turned to pain
Blades of blood
Rained beneath
Silk teeth
I barked like a cricket flaked like a bone
Tricked and switched off in a heap
And buried myself so deep and so true
No one ever saw through
Thoroughly cruel and alone
Am I so sorry you don’t recognize me
I am always the one
You lost to all tomorrows
Oh, look past your anger and please render me down
In a hole in the ground
Mixed with the earth
Remember these words
And let me no longer be worth your sorrow

World Away

I only want to feel
this morning
Catch the avenue
I intend to steal
this moment
As we’re moving through
Make my rendezvous
As if it’s all I do
I’m about to feel it lift
sorrow floats away
Over miles of old world
Darling
Honey I can’t complain
Only a world away
Only a world away
I’m about to freeze the sun
So let me fall away
How it comes to be so really
Nothings left to say
Only a world away
Only a world away
Out of bounds of maps crawl
Over the mounds of bones
Is how I came to call you lonesome
Over the telephone
Over the telephone
Only a world away
I only want to feel
this morning
Catch the avenue
I intend to steal
this moment
As we’re moving through
Make my rendezvous
As if it’s all I do
I’m about to feel it lift
sorrow floats away
Over miles of old world
Darling
Honey I can’t complain
Love me a world away
Only a world away
I’m about to freeze the sun
So let me please explain
How it comes to be so really
Nothings left to say
Only a world away
Only a world away
Out of bounds of maps crawl
Over the mounds of bones
Is how I came to call you lonesome
Over the telephone
Over the microphone
It’s only a world away

New Moon

Well, I’ve always been certain nearly all of my life
One day I’d be your burden and you would be my wife
Let me hang like a new moon and let me be your twin
Let me hang like a new moon
Don’t treat me like a stranger again
You keep me as your thief, please let me be a little more
When you fall asleep let me be what you’re dreaming for
Let me hang like a new moon
Don’t treat me like a stranger any more
Well, I’ve always been certain nearly all of my life
One day I’d be your burden and you would be my wife
Let me hang like a new moon high in the wind
Let me hang like a new moon
Don’t treat me like a stranger again
You keep me as a thief, please let me be a little more
When you fall asleep let me be what you’re dreaming for
I’ve always been certain nearly all of my life

 

Fake Fur Coat

Behold the drift of a distant sun
Cold as my own heart
Blind at the edge of no return
Every time I dare depart
I believe the myth may illuminate
an anchor in dry weeds
At the end of July in a fake fur coat
Hoping that your heart still needs me
I concede there’s beauty in bubblegum
And rolling up my sleeves
To advertise the new freedom
I accept that I can’t receive
Behold the gift of a distant sun
The canyons full of loose bones
The metals and brambles and the jack bitch boss
Thundering down from his throne

Diamond Light Pt. 1

Why don’t we pick one script
and read it
Where the milk has dried
on the throne
Open wide
Sing gracefully beside
Rolling rivers of diamond light
Dash and heave
Each ache to the sky
Why don’t we choose one to
believe in
Where shadows die
Also alone
Coincide
Colliding points of view
Perfect mountains of diamond light
Dash and heave
Each ache to the sky
Are you scared
Are you frightened
Terrified of being alone
Are you scared
Are you frightened
Terrified of being alone

 

Wait For Love

Honey I’m worried the fire is cold our tired souls have lost their way. Stay home and find the song fade away alone and strange, out of range
I’ve heard you say dreams don’t matter That’s why we hold on as the days pass and wait for love
Arm and arm waltz through the distant days the scattered parades as the sweet slips away
Oh I guess you’d say we don’t matter and I bet that could be true. But I still wanna look in your eyes and say I’ll wait for you
Oh I guess you’d say we don’t matter and I bet that could be true. But I still wanna look in your eyes today and wait for love. Let’s wait for love
 

High As Hello

So long I will wait for
Howl at the moon
So low all the way home
Sit at the spoon
I should take you too
O’ I’m as high as
I’m as high as
Hello on the waveform
The wicked will die
So alone I know I’m shade-grown
Now why would I?
I’ll take you too
I’m as high as
I’m as high as
Oh I’ll take you too
I’m as high as
I’m as high as
Hello
Solo all the waveforms
The wicked will die
I’m alone all overtone
The rivers awake
I should take you too
O’ I’m as high as
I’m as high as
Hello
Hello
I’ll take you too
I’m as high as
I’m as high as
I should take you too
O’ I’m as high as
I’m as high as

 

Love Like a Wire (Diane Izzo cover)

Low Key

I want to let it be known
Ever since I was young
I’ve always been a refugee
Of the very high strung
I’ve always been low key
Let’s let the record show
No I won’t jump for joy
I don’t
If I get excited
Nobody knows
But I’m going love you the same
I’ll always be your fool
If it looks like I don’t care
I’m just playing it cool
No I won’t jump for joy
I don’t
If I get excited
No no one will know
I’ve always been low key
You know me
I’ve always been low key
You know me
No I won’t jump for joy
I don’t
If I get excited
Nobody knows
I’m gonna love you the same
I’ll always be your fool
When it looks like I don’t care
I’m just playing it cool
No I won’t jump for joy
I don’t
When I get excited
Nobody knows

 

Nobody Dies Anymore

Sitting in a combed out room
Watching the world to end
I won’t say golden
Until you let me back in
Nobody says goodbye
But everybody goes home
We end the day sober
To a depth we don’t own
I stand where I grew
Oh, I hated that too
When hell’s about to blow in
I saddle up new
And it won’t be long
To find a broken back bone
Or another ocean
Are there any unknown
So I dance my shoe
Beneath the black balloon
Flip it at you for your trouble
So long, so soon
I’m going to
Nobody dies anymore
but don’t you think it’s never over
Nobody dies anymore
No badge knock on a dark front door
Some things still change
But
Nobody dies
Nobody dies
Nobody dies
Don’t I look over my sister
Sister don’t you know me no more
She calls me once every summer
Before the leafs turn gold
When she was the daughter
Of a world without end
They told her I was stolen
She couldn’t comprehend
Poured out in the street
By the blood in the grass
Poured out at the feet
By the broken glass
Nobody dies anymore
No badge knock on a dark front door
Some things still change
But
Nobody dies
Nobody dies
Nobody dies
Love every song that I know
You ask me well how so
Strange I can’t defend
I love how every song ends

 

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)
   

One Wing

We once belonged to a bird
We cast a shadow on this world
You were a blessing, and I was a curse
I did my best not to make things worse
For you

That isn’t true
I always knew this would be your fate
This is what happens when wings separate
This happens to all dead weight
Eventually

We may as well be made of stone
We can’t be flown
One wing will never fly
Neither yours nor mine, I fear
We can only wave goodbye

One wing will never ever fly
Neither yours nor mine
One wing will never ever fly, dear
Neither yours nor mine, I fear
We can only wave goodbye

One wing will never ever fly, dear
Neither yours nor mine, I fear
We can only wave goodbye

Bye, bye
Bye, bye
Bye, bye
Bye, bye

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

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

I'm A Wheel

hold on, you risk exciting me
once in Germany someone said nein
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine

hold back, don’t invite me
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine
once in Germany someone said nein

I’m a wheel
I will
turn you

I invented a sister, populated with knives

I’m a wheel
I will
turn on you

um,

I’m a wheel, I will
I’m a wheel, I will
I’m a wheel, I will
turn on you

turn on you turn on you turn on you turn on turn on…

Muzzle Of Bees

There’s a random painted highway
And a muzzle of bees
My sleeves have come unstitched
From climbing your tree

When dogs laugh some say they’re barking
I don’t think they’re mean
Some people get so frightened
The fences in between

The sun gets passed from tree to tree
Silently
Then back to me
With a breeze blown through
Pushed up against the sea
Finally back to me

I’m assuming you got my message
On your machine
I’m assuming you love me
And you know what that means

The sun gets passed from sea to sea
Silently
And back to me
With a breeze blown through
Pushed up above the leaves
With a breeze blowing through
My head upon your knee

Half of it’s you
Half is me

Half of it’s you
Half is me

Instrumental Credits
Jeff Tweedy Vocals, Acoustic Baritone 12 String & Lead Guitar
John Stirratt Piano, Background Vocals
Glenn Kotche Drums
Leroy Bach Bass
Mikael Jorgensen Piano & Farfisa Organ
Jim O'Rourke Acoustic Guitar & Piano

Please Tell My Brother (Golden Smog)

Please tell my brothers I love them still Over the mountains On their phone bill I should call more often But they know I never will Please tell my brothers I love them still Please tell my sister I miss her too My nieces and nepfews And their swimming pools When I think about her Her skies are blue Please tell my sister I miss her too Please tell my father I love him still Forget the railroad And all those bills Head for the cooler And drink your fill Please tell my father I love him still Listen dear mother I miss you the most And as I travel From coast to coast I feel your love And I feel your ghost Listen dear mother I miss you the most Listen dear mother I miss you the most written by Jeff Tweedy

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

Whole Love

My gold marigolds attack
My black bed of roses
I’m going to bring ‘em all back
With hypnosis Ho

And I know that I won’t be
The easiest to set free
And I know that I won’t be the last
Cold captain tied to the mast

I recall you on the telephone
I recall when you get mad
I will still love you to death
And I won’t ever forget how

And I know that it won’t be
The easiest to set free
And I know that I won’t be the last
Cold captain tied to the mast

I’m on the other side
I’m satisfied
I’m a spirit dove
I’m looking for your love

I’m simple as a matter of fact
A punch in the nose don’t overreact
I will still love you to death
And I won’t ever forget how

And I know that I won’t be
The easiest to set free
And I know that I won’t be the last
Cold captain tied to the mast

And I know that I won’t be the one
To securely know when it’s wrong
But I hope I know when it’s past
And I hope I know when to show you my
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
Whole love
I won’t ever forget how

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 And 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 something in my veins Bloodier than blood something in my veins Bloodier than blood something in my veins Bloodier than blood The ashtray says You were up all night When you went to bed With your darkest mind You changed Oh you've changed What you once were isn't what You want to be any more What you once were isn't what You want to be any more What you once were isn't what You want to be any more What you once were isn't what You want to be any more 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

Please Don't Let Me Be So Understood

I don’t wanna give in
All is falling
I don’t want to cold out
Trolling
Trolling
Unrolling
I don’t wanna give you satisfaction
I don’t wanna call in code
I’m all in
You’re boring
Aww I’m so, You’re so fucking boring
I don’t want to kill
All those people
But I don’t wanna grow up
Grow love
I’m boring
You’re boring
I don’t wanna be so understood
Boring
Boring
Boring

Only The Lord Knows (Mavis Staples cover)

Losing End (Neil Young Cover)

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.

California Stars

I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars

I'd love to feel your hand touching mine
And tell me why I must keep working on
Yes I'd give my life to lay my head tonight
On a bed of California stars

I'd like to dream my troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my starbed and make another day
Underneath my California stars

They hang like grapes on vines that shine
And warm the lovers' glass like friendly wine
So, I'd give this world
just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars

Published by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc./Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Words-Ampersand Music [BMI]/Titanic Majesties Music [ASCAP] Words: Woody Guthrie [no date] Music: Jay Bennett/Jeff Tweedy 1997 Jay Bennett: piano, backing vocal Billy Bragg: acoustic guitar Ken Coomer: drums and percussion Corey Harris: lap steel guitar Eliza Carthy: violin John Stirratt: electric bass, backing vocal Jeff Tweedy: acoustic guitar, lead vocal