Warm (when the sun has died)

Please take my advice

Worry into your song

Grow away from your anger

Distance belongs

Oh I don’t believe in heaven

I keep some heat inside

Like a red brick in the summer

Warm when the sun has died

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)
   

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

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

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

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

 

Bull Black Nova

It’s in my hair
It’s on my clothes
It’s in the river over the road
It’s shining down, my angry star
Hanging on the hood of my car

I’m not going far
I’m not going far

It’s coming down
They’re coming up the shoulders
What have they found?
I wonder if they know
I’m in a bull black Chevy Nova
Silhouetted by the setting sun

This can’t be undone
This can’t be undone

If I’m the one with blood on my sofa
Blood in the sink, blood in the trunk
High at the wheel of a bull black Nova
Then I’m sorry as the setting sun

This can’t be undone
Can’t be outrun

It’s in my head
There’s blood in the sink
I can’t calm down
I can’t think
I keep calling there’s blood in the trunk
I can’t calm down

Pick up
Pick up

Let's Go Rain

Oh I’ve heard about Noah’s flood
Washed away a world of sin
Some say destruction is an act of love
And think it should happen again
Let’s go rain
Let's go rain
Again
Let’s go rain
Let's go rain
Again
Once upon a time I was a Christian
I didn’t know I didn’t need to know
Now when the sky speaks I’m going to listen
And when it’s pissing I’ll just figure I’m alone
Let’s go rain
Let's go rain
Again
Let’s go rain
Let's go rain
Again
Oh I should
Build a wooden ark
Wouldn’t you rather live
On an ocean of guitars
Aw c’mon rain
Let’s go rain
Again
Let’s go rain
Let's go rain
Again
Oooooh oooh ooh
Aah aah aaah
Maybe you’re not a believer
Or maybe you don’t have a choice
Or maybe it’s a fever that you haven’t caught yet
‘Cause you haven’t met
Scott McCaughey
Let’s go rain
Let's go rain
Again
Still no rain
Let’s go rain
Again

Impossible Germany

Impossible Germany
Unlikely Japan

Wherever you go
Wherever you land
I’ll say what this means to me
I’ll do what I can

Impossible Germany
Unlikely Japan

(The) fundamental problem
We all need to face
This is important
But I know you’re not listening
Oh I know you’re not listening

If this was still new to me
I wouldn’t understand

Impossible Germany
Unlikely Japan

But this is what love is for
To be out of place
Gorgeous and alone
Face to face

With no larger problems
That need to be erased
Nothing more important than to know
Someone’s listening
Now I know

You’ll be listening

Written by Jeff Tweedy and Wilco

Some Birds

Some birds

Just sit

Useless

Like fists

I wrestle

On TV

But no one ever

Let’s me win

I lean

On the wall

Like a broom

Confused

By the scope

Of it all

Any fool

Can tell the truth

And though I don’t

Think that I should

Add one

To the sum

Of all that you fear

I’d love to take you down

And leave you there

In my window

I have a twin

I look out

He looks in

He has a point

I applaud

Oh my goodness

Oh my god

Is it my fault

The countrysides

Are so full

Of suicide?

I break bricks

With my heart

But only a fool

Would call it art.

No I don’t

Think I should

Be one

Of the sum

Of all that you fear

I’d love to take you down

And leave you there

So why fuss

Why not bend

Like a nail

Hammered in

Times are tough

If I recall

Oh it ain’t easy

No not at all

And no I don’t

Think I should

Complete

The sum

Of all the you fear

I’d love to take you down

And leave you there

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

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

Kamera

I need a camera to my eye
To my eye reminding
Which lies have I been hiding
Which echoes belong

I've counted out days
To see how far
I've driven in the dark
With echoes in my heart
Phone my family tell them I'm lost on the
Sidewalk

No it's not O.K.

I smashed a camera
I wanna know why
To my eye deciding
Which lies have I been hiding
Which echoes belong
I'm counting on
A heart I know by heart
To walk me through this war
Memories distort
Phone my family tell them I'm lost on the sidewalk

No it's not o.k.

I'm counted out
And no one knows how far (tell them I'm lost)
I've driven in the dark (tell them I'm lost)
With echoes in my heart (tell them I'm lost)
Phone my family tell them I’m lost

(yeah I’m lost)

No it's not O.K.

No it's not O.K.

No it's not O.K.

Don't Forget

Don’t forget

Don’t forget you’ve got a key

Yeah a cosmic key

Oh I love you so much

Don’t forget

We’re all blowing in

The interstellar wind

I’m your little galaxy

Don’t forget

Don’t forget sometimes

We all

We all think about dying

Don’t let it kill you

Don’t forget

I won’t forget the long drive

We arrived in time to say goodbye

And the way my roses shook

I won’t overlook

The willows bending by the graves

The very next day in the shade

Sweating in a new suit

I don’t regret

I don’t regret sometimes

We all

We all think about dying

Don’t let it kill you

Don’t forget

Don’t forget to brush your teeth

Or you’ll have a funny smile

You don’t have to smile at me

Don’t forget

Don’t forget sometimes

We all

We all think about dying

Don’t let it kill you

Don’t forget

Don’t forget sometimes

We all

We all think about dying

Oh

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

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

 

I'm Always In Love

Why, I wonder is my heart full of holes
And the feeling goes but my hair keeps growing
Will I set the sun
On a big-wheeled wagon
Well I'm bragging
I'm always in love

When I let go of your throat, sweet throttle
When I clean the lash of your black-belt model
Will I catch the moon
Like a bird in a cage
It's for you I swoon
I'm always in love

I don't get the connection
If this is only a test
I hope I do my best
You know I won't forget

When I fold the cold in my jet-lag palm
When I soak so long I forget my mother
Will I set the sun
On a big-wheeled wagon
Well I'm bragging
I'm always in love

It's a drag I snag
Well I'm always in love
Well I'm worried
I'm always in love

I'm worried
I'm worried

I'm worried
I'm always in love
I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm always in love

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm always in love

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm worried

I'm always in love

  Instrumental credits: Jeff Tweedy – vocals, baritone guitar Jay Bennett – bass, piano, keyboards, drums, backing vocals John Stirratt – piano, backing vocals Ken Coomer – drums

Misunderstood

When you're back in your old neighborhood
The cigarettes taste so good
But you're so misunderstood
You're so misunderstood

There's something there that you can't find
You look honest when you're telling a lie
You hurt her but you don't know why
You love her but you don't know why

Short on long term goals
There's a party there that we ought to go to
If you still love rock and roll
If you still love rock and roll?

It's only a quarter to three
Reflecting off of your CD
You're looking at a picture of me
You're staring at a picture of me

Take the guitar player for a ride
'Cause he ain't never been satisfied
He thinks he owes some kind of debt
It'll be years before he gets over it

There's a fortune inside your head
When all you touch turns to lead
You think you might just crawl back in bed
With a fortune inside your head

I know you're just a mama's boy
You're positively unemployed
So misunderstood
So misunderstood

I know you've got a god-shaped hole
You're bleeding out your heart full of soul
You're so misunderstood
You're so misunderstood
You're so misunderstood
You're so misunderstood

I'd like to thank you all for nothing
I'd like to thank you all for nothing at all
I'd like to thank you all for nothing
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing at all
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing at all

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

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