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
Cruel Country
I love my country like a little boy
Red
White
And blue
I love my country stupid and cruel
Red
White
And blue
All you have to do is sing in the choir
Kill yourself every once in a while
And sing in the choir
All you have to do is sing in the choir
Set yourself on fire every once in a while
And sing in the choir
With me
With me
I love my country like a little child
Red
White
And blue
I love my country stupid and cruel
Red
White
And blue
All you have to do is sing in the choir
All you have to do is sing in the choir
All you have to do is sing in the choir
With me
With me
written by: Jeff TweedyGwendolyn
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
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
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
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)
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
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
Childlike and Evergreen
I seen the big sour apple
I've drank some sweet cherry wine
I've slept through too many appointments
With would-be friends of mine
I think I feel just like Ty Cobb
I'm always on the job
I just can't seem to relax
And that's not good
But if I had it To do
All over again I guess
I should have made more friends
Run through, run with me sister
Childlike and evergreen
When I get up in the morning
I'm gonna change everything
But if I had it To do
All over again I guess
I should have made more friends
I swam the salty seas
Childlike and evergreen
Childlike and evergreen
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
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
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
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
Family Ghost
I’m a dope
Blowing smoke at a tv screen
I’ve lost all hope
Based on the things I’ve seen
I’m a man content
For the sake of argument
But underneath each added straw
I feel so american
Spray paint me gold
Pull my face up to the blinds
I’m a family ghost
You’ll never leave behind
I wanna exist
Where the misfit fits
I want to have some purpose
I believe what she believes
I believe my children
When the lights go off
There’s no applause
Condescending to the hideous thought
Imprisoned in my lonely skin
I feel so american
Spray paint me gold
Pull my face up to the blinds
I’m a family ghost
You’ll never leave behind
Time will tell this story again
Different clothes than they wore back then
Digging holes and filling them in
I feel so american
Spray paint me gold
Pull my face up to the blinds
I’m a family ghost
You’ll never leave behind
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
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
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