Iowa City IA - Iowa City Songwriter's Festival

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

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

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

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

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

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)
   

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

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

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

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

Please Tell My Brother

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
Golden Smog

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

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

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

Country Song Upside-Down

I found
A
Song
Upside-down
A country song
Like a trout
Dying sky and water
Rainbow
Flickering out

Inside
A dark
Cabin
The more moonlike
I become
I’m rounding all of my edges
Because
I’m worried
It can’t be sung

This is the gist
It goes
Like this

I found
A
Song
Upside-down
A country song
Without a doubt
Dying sky and water
Rainbow
Flickering out

written by Jeff Tweedy

Laminated Cat (Aka Not For The Season)

Springtime comes and the leaves are back on the trees again
Snipers are harder to see my friends
Weeding out the weekends

Summer comes and gravity undoes you
You're happy because of the lovely way the sunshine bends
Hiding from your close friends
Weeding out the weekends

Candy left over from Halloween
A unified theory of everything
Love left over from lovers leaving
Books, they all know they're not worth reading
It's not for the season

When autumn comes you sit in your chair and you stare
At the TV square
Hiding in the deep end
Weeding out the weekends

Winter comes and the days all start late
There's motion on the boughs where the dark shapes prowl
Feeling out the feelings
Feeling out the feeling

Candy left over from Halloween
A unified theory of everything
Love left over from lovers leaving
Books, they all know they're not worth reading
They're not worth reading

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

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