Chicago IL - Vic Theatre

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

Message From Mid-Bar

Hate will keep us together
Love will tear us apart
What has joined us
In the dark

Oh I was worried
I would drive you away
You felt different and I felt the same

Then I told you
And you agreed
Some days I despise
Everyone I see
We're all swine
But you're all mine

What will keep us together
Will tear us apart
Maybe making up your mind
Breaks your heart

Hate will save the dolphins
I wish there was a way
I could change it so nothing
Would ever change
Or stay the same

All I can do
Is sing it for you
Whole lives go by
Then we die
You're all swine
We're swine

Love will keep us together
Love will tear us apart
I don't care what the song says
It's not my heart

Anyway, the point is
Things can always be worse
When you don't have a chorus
It's verse after verse after verse

Then I told you
In my arms
I hate you less
Than the rest
We're all swine
But you're all mine

I Can't Keep From Talking

Hey ain't it great for us to be alive

I've been lying in wait for you to come outside

I know you don't know me but

I know a lot about you

You're the one who knows me better than I do

When I get back home

I'm gonna put your records on

I play 'em way too loud and I'll sing along

I know all the words to every song

And I don't really care

But tonight you sang one wrong

And I can't keep from talking

I can't keep from talking about you

And I just wanted to thank you

Thank you for doing what you do

I wanted to tell the world a little bit about myself

Realize my feelings and put them on a shelf

Then jump out the window so you'd all know what it's about

'Cause I can't be there to help you figure it out

And I can't keep from talking

I can't keep from talking about you

And I just wanted to thank you

Thank you for doing what you do

Country Disappeared

Wake up, we’re here
It’s so much worse than we feared
There’s nothing left here
Our country has disappeared

With the winter trees bleeding leaf red blood
And the summer sweet dreaming April blush
But none of that it is ever going to mean as much to me again

Hold out your hand
There’s so much we don’t understand
So stick as close as you can
To all of your best laid plans

You’ve got the white clouds hanging so high above you
You’ve got the helicopters dangling, angling to shoot
The shots to feed the hungry weekend news crew anchormen

So every evening we can watch from above
Crush the cities like a bug
Fold ourselves into each other’s guts
Turn our faces up to the sun

I won’t take no
I won’t let you go
All by yourself
I know you need my help

When the cold light shakes you like a chandelier
The snowflakes break through the atmosphere
And melt on the blue breath of the auctioneers and disappear

So every evening we can watch from above
Crush the cities like a bug
Fold ourselves into each other’s blood
Turn our faces up to the sun

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

Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Spiders are singing in the salty breeze
Spiders are filling out tax returns
Spinning out webs of deductions and melodies
On a private beach in Michigan

Why can’t we wish their kisses good
Why do they miss when their kisses should
Fly like winging birds fighting for the keys
On a private beach in Michigan

This recent rash of kidsmoke
All these telescopic poems
It’s good to be alone

Why can’t they say what they want
Why can’t they just say what they need
Come clean, listen and talk
Hello private caller
ID blocked

The sun will rise, we’ll climb into cars
The future has a valley and a shortcut around
Who will wear the crown of drowning award
Hold a private light
On the Michigan shore

Fool me with a kiss of kidsmoke
From a microscopic home
It’s good to be alone

I’ll be in my bed
You can be the stone
That raises from the dead
And carries us all home

There’s no blood on my hands
I just do as I’m told

Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down

Satan, your kingdom must come down
Satan, your kingdom must come down
I heard the voice of Jesus say
Satan, your kingdom must come down

Gonna pray until they tear your kingdom down
Gonna pray until they tear your kingdom down
I heard the voice of Jesus say
Satan, your kingdom must come down

Gonna shout until they tear your kingdom down
Gonna shout until they tear your kingdom down
I heard the voice of Jesus say
Satan, your kingdom must come down

written by Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar
March 16-20, 1992 / Uncle Tupelo

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

Guess Again

Oh tomatoes right off the vine

We used to eat them like that all the time

And if you think that’s the best thing

That I ever knew

Guess again

My love

It’s you

Riding with the wind blowing in my hair

And the sun shining down everywhere

If you think that’s the best thing

That I can do

Guess again

My love

Guess again

My love

It’s for you

Oh trouble

I can sing it the same

Or just about the same as any other song you can name

And if you think that

That’s the main thing

Pulling me through

Guess again

My love

It’s you

And if you think that’s the best thing

I’ll ever do

Guess again

It’s you

Maybe you noticed

How light I am

Maybe you’ve been thinking

I’m drinking again

Oh I’m high

But there’s really

Nothing new

Guess again

My love

Guess again

My love

It’s you

Guess again

My love

Guess again

My love

It’s you

Even I Can See

If I may have your attention please

I’ll tell you about my wife and what she means to me

How fiercely she believes what she believes

I laugh and I cry

I live and I die

By her side

From time to time she puts her hand in mine

Holds me like a sharp shiny key

I was never one who needed to believe

In a god hard to find

But I found by her side

There’s a god

Even I can see

They say no work of art is ever done

Carved in bark or yet to come

Rivers run low and flow with only sky

Even gods have to die

But once in a while

There’s a god

Even I can see

Pick Up the Change

If it's just your heart talking, I don't mind
If you wanna call me darling, that's just fine, that's just fine
But if it's your mind that's wandering, it'll fall in line
When I kiss your cheek dear, every time, every time

We used to have a lot of things in common
But you know now we're just the same
You always had more than I really wanted
Aw honey, help me
Aw honey, help me pick up the change

If it's just your heart talking, I'll listen every time
Dear, you can talk my ear off, anytime, anytime
But if my mind starts wandering, it won't be gone long
Whenever I hear your heart talking, it's a song, it's a song

We used to have a lot of things in common
But you know now we're just the same
You always had more than I really wanted
Aw honey, help me
Come on honey, help me pick up
Aw honey, help me pick up the change

Aw honey, help me
Come on honey, help me pick up
Aw honey, help me pick up the change

Instrumental credits:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, acoustic guitar
John Stirratt – bass
Max Johnston – banjo
Ken Coomer – drums
Brian Henneman – guitars

Pot Kettle Black

Crazy rides rockets
Waves a magic wand
Empty out your pockets
Words without a song

I myself have found a real rival in myself

I am hoping for the rearrival of my health

Sleeping eye sockets
Baby suck your thumb
I'll keep you in my locket
A string I never strum

It's become so obvious
You are so oblivious to yourself

I'm tied in a knot
But I'm not
Gonna get caught
Calling a pot kettle black
Every song's a comeback
Every moment's a little bit later

Lazy locomotives
Wherever you may roll
I think you have no motive
I know you have no home

It's become so obvious
You are so oblivious to yourself

I'm tied in a knot
But I'm not
Gonna get caught
Calling a pot kettle black
Every song's a comeback
Every moment's a little bit later

Every moment's a little bit later

Every moment's a little bit later

Every moment's a little bit later

I'm tied in a knot

But I'm not
Gonna get caught
Calling a pot kettle black

I'm not
Gonna get caught
Calling a pot kettle black

Magnetized

Orchestrate the shallow pink refrigerator drone
Carried in the shadows almost bone
Everyone wastes my time

The moment that you thought would murder motions you wait
Every apprehension alien ache ahh
Everyone wastes my time

Everybody goes I'm
I'm lonely

I sleep underneath a picture that I keep of you next to me
I realize we're magnetized

Orchestrate the shallow pink refrigerator drone
Carried in the shadows, ahh
Everyone wastes my time

I sleep underneath a picture that I keep of you next to me
I realize we're magnetized

I realize we're magnetized

I realized we're magnetized

I realized we're magnetized

Meant to Be

If my words say what you meant to say
Doesn’t that say we were meant to feel this way?

Holding our hearts closer together
Keeping to ourselves an empty sea
So we can believe
Our love is meant to be

A lonely man throws himself on an open flame
Doesn’t that say he should have found another way?

Hold my heart
Closer to yours
Vacation is starting
You’re not coming home
To me
Do you still believe?
Our love is meant to be

Each day is longer
Than the one before
Fewer left
Less and less
I need you more

Telling myself
I can wait forever
Holding my thoughts
Far away from never
Keeping to myself
Destiny
And I still believe you’re the only one
Our love is meant to be
It is to me

War On War

It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
It's a war on war
There's a war on
You’re gonna lose
You have to lose
You have to learn how to die

Let's watch the miles flying by
Let's watch the miles flying by
You are not my typewriter
But you could be my demon
moving forward through flaming doors
You have to lose
You have to learn how to die
If you wanna wanna be alive

O.K.

You have to lose
You have to lose
You have to learn how to die
If you wanna wanna be alive

You have to die
You have to die
You have to learn how to die
If you wanna wanna be alive

O.K.

 

ELT

I should've been listening To every word you said Oh, what have I been missing Wishing (wishing) that you were dead I didn't mean to be so disturbing So far from home Oh, what have I been learning By being all alone Every little thing Every little thing Every little thing (Is gonna) tears you apart Every little thing Every little thing every little thing (Is gonna) tears you apart When, when we were younger Sleep while I'm awake I was trying to keep the door locked I realize That's a mistake Every little thing Every little thing Every little thing Is gonna tear you apart Every little thing Every little thing Every little thing Is gonna tear you apart Every little thing that you do Seems so much better than I could do Oh, I should've been listening To every word you said Every little thing Every little thing Every little thing Is gonna tear you apart Every little thing Every little thing Every little thing Is gonna tear you apart Every little thing Every little thing Every little thing Is gonna tear you apart Every little thing Every little thing Every little thing Is gonna tear you apart Is gonna tear you apart Instrumental credits: Jeff Tweedy – vocals, backing vocals Jay Bennett – electric guitars, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, tambourine, backing vocals John Stirratt – bass Ken Coomer – drums

Flowering

 

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 tide 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

I only care about the cat
Some of this, a little of that
Fat chance I'll sing the blues

Like an old welcome mat
I'm filthy and I'm flat
Oh ain't that the truth
No wonder I'm so confused
High in the morning
High in the afternoon
High in evening
When I'm sleeping
I'm with you
written by Jeff Tweedy (need to confirm lyrics with Jeff)

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

Hoodoo Voodoo

Hoodoo voodoo, seven twenty one two Haystacka hostacka, A B C High poker, low joker, ninety nine a zero Sidewalk, streetcar, dance a goofy dance Blackbirdy, bluejay; one two three four, Trash sack, jump back E F G, Biggy hat, little hat, fattyman, skinnyman, Grasshopper, greensnake, hold my hand Hoodoo voodoo, chooka chooky choochoo, True blue, how true, kissle me now Momma cat, Tommy cat, diapers on my clothes line Two four six eight, I run and hide Pretty girl, pretty boy, pony on a tincan, I'll be yours and you'll be mine Jinga jangler, tingalingle, picture on a bricky wall Hot and scamper, foamy lather, huggle me close Hot breeze, old cheese, slicky slacky fishy tails Brush my hair and kissle me some more Published by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc. [BMI]/Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Words-Ampersand Music [BMI]/Titanic Majesties Music [ASCAP]/Poeyfarre Songs [BMI]/500 Ft. Toe Music [BMI]/BMG Songs/Koolhot Muzik [ASCAP] Words: Woody Guthrie  [no date] Music: Wilco/Bragg/Harris Jay Bennett: organ, Farfisa bass pedals Billy Bragg: electric guitar Ken Coomer: drums Corey Harris: electric guitar John Stirratt: electric bass, piano [bass] Jeff Tweedy: vocal

Just a Kid

Maybe I'm just a kid
Maybe I just don't fit in
I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready to go now
I don't wanna go to school
But I don't get to make the rules
Too early, too early, too early, too early in the morning
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Has to do something they don't want to do
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Has to be something, oh, why is that true?

Maybe I'm not so big
Maybe I just don't fit in
I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready for more now
And I don't wanna go to bed
There's so much going on in my head
Not tired, not tired, not tired, not tired right now
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Has to do something they don't want to do
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Has to be something, oh, why is that true?

Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Has to be something, let's have some fun
Na na na
Na na na
Na na na
Na na na
Na na na
Na na na
Na na na
Na na na
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody
Everybody, everyone, somebody, anyone
Has to grow up, let's have some fun

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