Modern Times
[TOP]
Thunder on the
mountain and there’s fires on the moon
There’s a ruckus in
the alley and the sun will be here soon
Today’s the day;
gonna grab my trombone and blow
Well, there’s hot
stuff here and it’s everywhere I go
I was thinkin’
‘bout Alicia Keys, couldn’t keep from crying
When she was born
in Hell’s Kitchen, I was living down the line
I’m wondering where
in the world Alicia Keys could be
I been looking for
her even clear through
Feel like my soul
is beginning to expand
Look into my heart
and you will sort of understand
You brought me
here, now you’re trying to run me away
The writing on the
wall, come read it, come see what it say
Thunder on the
mountain, rolling like a drum
Gonna sleep over
there, that’s where the music coming from
I don’t need any
guide, I already know the way
Remember this, I’m
your servant both night and day
The pistols are
poppin’ and the power is down
I’d like to try
somethin’ but I’m so far from town
The sun keeps
shinin’ and the north wind keep picking up speed
Gonna forget about
myself for a while, gonna go out and see what others need
I’ve been sitting
down studying The Art of Love
I think it will fit
me like a glove
I want some real
good woman to do just what I say
Everybody got to
wonder what’s the matter with this cruel world today
Thunder on the
mountain rolling to the ground
Gonna get up in the
morning walk the hard road down
Some sweet day I’ll
stand beside my king
I wouldn’t betray
your love or any other thing
Gonna raise me an
army, some tough sons of bitches
I’ll recruit my
army from the orphanages
I been to St.
Herman’s church; said my religious vows
I’ve sucked the
milk out of a thousand cows
I got the pork
chops, she got the pie
She ain’t no angel
and neither am I
Shame on your
greed, shame on your wicked schemes
I’ll say this, I
don’t give a damn about your dreams
Thunder on the
mountain heavy as can be
Mean old twister
bearing down on me
All the ladies in
Look like something
bad gonna happen, better roll your airplane down
Everybody going and
I want to go, too
Don’t wanna take a
chance with somebody new
I did all I could,
I did it right there and then
I’ve already
confessed - no need to confess again
Gonna make a lot of
money, gonna go up north
I’ll plant and I’ll
harvest what the earth brings forth
The hammer’s on the
table, the pitchfork’s on the shelf
For the love of
G-d, you ought to take pity on yourself
[TOP]
Spirit on the water
Darkness on the
face of the deep
I keep thinking
‘bout you, baby
And I can’t hardly
sleep
I’m traveling by
land
Traveling through
the dawn of the day
You’re always on my
mind
I can’t stay away
I’d forgotten ‘bout
you
And you turned up
again
I always knew
We were meant to be
more than friends
When you are near
It’s just as plain
as it can be
I’m wild about you,
gal
You ought to be a
fool about me
Can’t explain
The sources of this
hidden pain
You burned your way
into my heart
You got the key to
my brain
I’ve been trampling
through mud
Praying to the
powers above
I’m sweating blood
You got a face that
begs for love
Life without you
Doesn’t mean a
thing to me
If I can’t have you
I’ll throw my love
into the deep blue sea
Sometimes I wonder
Why you can’t treat
me right
You do good all day
And then you do
wrong all night
When you’re with me
I’m a thousand
times happier than I could ever say
What does it matter
What price I'd pay
They brag about
your sugar
Brag about it all
over town
Put some sugar in
my bowl
I feel like laying
down
I’m as pale as a
ghost
Holding a blossom
on a stem
You ever seen a
ghost? No.
But you’ve heard of
them
I see you there
I’m blinded by the
colors I see
I take good care
Of what belongs to
me
I hear your name
Ringing up and down
the line
I’m saying it plain
These ties are
strong enough to bind
Now your sweet
voice
Calls out from some
old familiar shrine
I got no choice
Can’t believe these
things would ever fade from your mind
I could live
forever
With you perfectly
You don’t ever
Have to make a fuss
over me
From East to West
Ever since the
world began
I only mean it for
the best
I want (to) be with
you any way I can
I been in a brawl
Now I’m feeling the
wall
I’m going away,
baby
I won’t be back
‘til fall
High on the hill
You can carry all
my thoughts with you
You’ve numbed my
will
This love could
tear me in two
I won't be with you
in paradise
And it seems so
unfair
I can’t go to
paradise no more
I killed a man back
there
You think I’m over
the hill,
Think I’m past my
prime.
Let me see what you
got;
We can have a
whoppin’ good time.
[TOP]
I rolled and I
tumbled, I cried the whole night long
I rolled and I
tumbled, I cried the whole night long
Woke up this
mornin’, I must’ve bet my money wrong
I got troubles so
hard, I can’t stand the strain
I got troubles so
hard, I just can’t stand the strain
Some young lazy
slut has charmed away my brains
The landscape is
glowin’, gleamin’ in the golden light of day
The landscape is
glowin’, gleamin’ in the golden light of day
I ain’t holding
nothin’ back now, I ain’t standin’ in anybody’s way
Well, I did all I
know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I did all I
know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I paid and I
paid; my sufferin’ heart is always on the line
Well, I get up in
the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I get up in the
dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I ain’t nobody’s
houseboy, I ain’t nobody’s well-trained maid
I’m flat out spent,
this woman been drivin’ me to tears
I’m flat out spent,
this woman, she been drivin’ me to tears
This woman so
crazy, I swear I ain’t gonna touch on another one for years
Well, the warm
weather is comin’ and the buds are on the vine
Warm weather is
comin’; the buds are on the vine
Ain’t nothin’ more
depressin’ than tryin’ to satisfy this woman of mine
I got up this
mornin’, saw the risin’ sun return
Well, I got up this
mornin’, seen the risin’ sun return
Sooner or later,
you too shall burn
Well, the night’s
filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
The night is filled
with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
I’ve been conjuring
up all these long dead souls from their crumblin’ tombs
Let’s forgive each
other, darlin’, let’s go down to the Greenwood Glen
Let’s forgive each
other, darlin’, let’s go down to the Greenwood Glen
Let’s put our heads
together now, let’s put all ol’ matters to an end
Now I rolled and I
tumbled and I cried the whole night long
Ah, I rolled and I
tumbled, I cried the whole night long
I woke up this
morning, I think I must be travelin’ wrong
[TOP]
In the still of the
night, in the world’s ancient light
Where wisdom grows
up in strife
My bewildered
brain, toils in vain
Through the
darkness on the pathways of life
Each invisible
prayer is like a cloud in the air
Tomorrow keeps
turning around
We live and we die,
we know not why
But I’ll be with
you when the deal goes down
We eat and we
drink, we feel and we think
Far down the street
we stray
I laugh and I cry
and I’m haunted by
Things I never
meant nor wished to say
The midnight rain
follows the train
We all wear the
same thorny crown
Soul to soul, our
shadows roll
And I’ll be with
you when the deal goes down
The moon gives
light and it shines by night
Well, I scarcely
feel the glow
We learn to live
and then we forgive
O’er the road we’re
bound to go
More frailer than the
flowers, these precious hours
That keep us so
tightly bound
You come to my eyes
like a vision from the skies
And I’ll be with
you when the deal goes down
Well, I picked up a
rose and it poked through my clothes
I followed the
winding stream
I heard the
deafening noise, I felt transient joys
I know they’re not
what they seem
In this earthly
domain, full of disappointment and pain
You’ll never see me
frown
I owe my heart to
you, and that’s sayin’ it true
And I’ll be with
you when the deal goes down
[TOP]
I don’t care what you do, I don’t care
what you say
I don’t care where you go or how long you stay
Someday baby, you ain’t gon’ worry po’ me any more
Well, you take my money and you turn me out
You fill me up with nothin’ but self doubt
Someday baby, you ain’t gon’ worry po’ me any more
When I was young, driving was my crave
You drive me so hard almost to my grave
Someday baby, you ain’t gon’ worry po’ me any more
I’m so hard pressed, my mind tied up in knots
I keep recycling the same old thoughts
Someday baby, you ain’t gon’ worry po’ me any more
So many good things in life that I overlooked
I don’t know what to do now, baby, you got me so hooked
Someday baby, you ain’t gon’ worry po’ me any more
Well, I don’t want to brag, I’m gonna wring your neck
When all else fails, I’ll make it a matter of self respect
Someday baby, you ain’t gon’ worry po’ me any more
You can take your clothes, put ‘em in a sack
You goin’ down the road, baby, and you can’t come back
Someday baby, you ain’t gon’ worry po’ me any more
I tried to be friendly, I tried to be kind
I’m gonna drive you from your home just like I was driven from mine
Someday baby, you ain’t gon’ worry po’ me any more
Living this way ain’t a natural thing to do
Why was I born to love you?
Someday baby, you ain’t gon’ worry po’ me any more
[TOP]
There’s an
evenin’ haze settlin’ over town
Starlight by the edge of the creek
The buyin’ power of the proletariat’s gone down
Money’s gettin’ shallow and weak
Well, the place I love best is a sweet memory
It’s a new path that we trod
They say low wages are reality
If we want to compete abroad
My cruel weapons have been put on the shelf
Come sit down on my knee
You are dearer to me than myself
As you yourself can see
Well, I’m listening to the steel rails a-hum
Got both eyes tight shut
Just sitting here trying to keep the hunger from
Creeping its way into my gut
Meet me at the bottom, don’t lag behind
Bring me my boots and shoes
You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
Sing a little bit of these workingman’s blues
Well, I’m sailin’ on back, ready for the long haul
Tossed by the winds and the seas
I’ll drag ‘em all down to hell and I’ll stand ‘em at the wall
I’ll sell ‘em to their enemies
I’m a-tryin’ to feed my soul with thought
Gonna sleep off the rest of the day
Sometimes no one wants what we got
Sometimes you can’t give it away
Now the place is ringed with countless foes
Some of them may be deaf and dumb
No man, no woman knows
The hour that sorrow will come
In the dark I hear the night birds call
I can feel a lover’s breath
I sleep in the kitchen with my feet in the hall
Sleep is like a temporary death
Meet me at the bottom, don’t lag behind
Bring me my boots and shoes
You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
Sing a little bit of these workingman’s blues
Well, they burned my barn, and they stole my horse
I can’t save a dime
I got to be careful, I don’t want to be forced
Into a life of continual crime
I can see for myself that the sun is sinking
How I wish you were here to see
Tell me now, am I wrong in thinking
That you have forgotten me?
Now they worry and they hurry and they fuss and they fret
They waste your nights and days
Them I will forget
But you I’ll remember always
Old memories of you to me have clung
You’ve wounded me with your words
Gonna have to straighten out your tongue
It’s all true, everything you heard
Meet me at the bottom, don’t lag behind
Bring me my boots and shoes
You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
Sing a little bit of these workingman’s blues
In you, my friend, I find no blame
Wanna look in my eyes, please do
No one can ever claim
That I took up arms against you
All across the peaceful sacred fields
They will lay you low
They’ll break your horns and slash you with steel
I say it so it must be so
Now I’m down on my luck and I’m black and blue
Gonna give you another chance
I’m all alone and I’m expecting you
To lead me off in a cheerful dance
I got a brand new suit and a brand new wife
I can live on rice and beans
Some people never worked a day in their life
Don’t know what work even means
Well, meet me at the bottom, don’t lag behind
Bring me my boots and shoes
You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
Sing a little bit of these workingman’s blues
[TOP]
Beyond the
horizon, behind the sun
At the end of the rainbow, life has only begun
In the long hours of twilight ‘neath the stardust above
Beyond the horizon, it is easy to love
I’m touched with desire
What don’t I do?
Through flame and through fire
I’ll build my world around you
Beyond the horizon, in the springtime or fall
Love waits forever for one and for all
Beyond the horizon, across the divide
‘Round about midnight, we’ll be on the same side
Down in the valley, the waters run cold
Beyond the horizon, someone prayed for your soul
My wretched heart’s pounding
I felt an angel’s kiss
My memories are drowning
In mortal bliss
Beyond the horizon, at the end of the game
Every step that you take, I’m walking the same
Beyond the horizon, the night winds blow
The theme of a melody from many moons ago
The bells of St. Mary, how sweetly they chime
Beyond the horizon, I found you just in time
It’s dark and it’s dreary
I been pleading in vain
I’m wounded, I’m weary
My repentance is plain
Beyond the horizon, o’er the treacherous sea
I still can’t believe that you have set aside your love for me
Beyond the horizon, ‘neath crimson skies
In the soft light of morning, I’ll follow you with my eyes
Through countries and kingdoms and temples of stone
Beyond the horizon, right down to the bone
It’s the right time of the season
Someone there always cared
There’s always a reason
Why someone’s life has been spared
Beyond the horizon, the sky is so blue
I’ve got more than a lifetime to live lovin’ you
[TOP]
Lost John’s
sittin’ on a railroad track
Something’s out of whack
Blues this mornin’ fallin’ down like hail
Gonna leave a greasy trail
Gon’ travel the world is what I’m gonna do
Then come back and see you.
All I ever do is struggle and strive.
If I don’t do anybody any harm, I might make it back home alive.
I’m the oldest son of a crazy man,
I’m in a cowboy band
Got a pile of sins to pay for and I ain’t got time to hide
I’d walk through blazing fire, baby, if I knew you was on the other side
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o’er
Winter’s gone, the river’s on the rise
I loved you then and ever shall
But there’s no one left here to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
Well, the world of research has gone berserk
Too much paperwork
Albert’s in the graveyard, Frankie’s raising hell
I’m beginning to believe what the scriptures tell
I’ve gone where the Southern crosses the Yellow Dog
Get away from these demagogues
And these bad-luck women stick like glue
It’s either one or the other or neither of the two
She says, “Look out, daddy, don’t want you to tear your pants
You can get wrecked in this dance.”
They say whisky’ll kill you, but I don’t think it will
I’m ridin’ with you to the top of the hill
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o’er
Winter’s gone, the river’s on the rise
I loved you then and ever shall
But there’s no one left here to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
Don’t know why my baby never looked so good before
Don’t have to wonder no more
She been cooking all day, gonna take me all night
I can’t eat all that stuff in a single bite
The judge’s coming in, everybody rise
Lift up your eyes
You can do what you please, you don’t need my advice
‘Fore you call me any dirty names, you’d better think twice
Gettin’ light outside, the temperature dropped
I think the rain has stopped
I’m gonna make you come to grips with fate
When I’m through with you, you’ll learn to keep your business straight
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o’er
Winter’s gone, the river’s on the rise
I loved you then and ever shall
But there’s no one left here to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
The bright spark of the steady lights
Has dimmed my sights
When you’re around me all my grief gives ‘way
A life time with you is like some heavenly day
Everything I’ve ever known to be right has been proven wrong
I’ll be drifting along
The woman I’m a-lovin’, she rules my heart
No knife could ever cut our love apart.
Today I’ll stand in faith and raise
The voice of praise
The sun is strong, I’m standing in the light
I wish to G-d that it were night
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o’er
Winter’s gone, the river’s on the rise
I loved you then and ever shall
But there’s no one here left to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
[TOP]
If
it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break,
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break.
Everybody say that this is the day only the Lord could make.
Well, I worked on the levee, mama, both night n’ day,
I worked on the levee, mama, both night n’ day.
I got to the river and I threw my clothes away.
I paid my time and now I’m good as new,
I’ve paid my time and now I’m as good as new.
They can’t take me back unless I want ‘em to.
If it keep on rainin’, levee gonna break,
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break.
Some of these people gonna strip you of all they can take.
I can’t stop here, I ain’t ready to unload,
I can’t stop here, I ain’t ready to unload.
Riches and salvation can be waiting behind the next bend in the road.
I picked you up from the gutter and this is the thanks I get,
I picked you up from the gutter and this is the thanks I get.
You say you want me to quit ya, I told ya, ‘No, not just yet.’
Well, I look in your eyes, I see nobody other than me,
I look in your eyes, I see nobody other than me.
I see all that I am and all I hope to be.
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break,
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break.
Some of these people don’t know which road to take.
When I’m with you, I forget I was ever blue,
When I’m with you, I forget I was ever blue.
Without you there’s no meaning in anything I do.
Some people on the road carryin’ everything that they own,
Some people on the road carryin’ everything they own.
Some people got barely enough skin to cover their bone.
Put on your cat clothes, mama, put on your evening dress,
Put on your cat clothes, mama, put on your evening dress.
Few more years of hard work, then there’ll be a 1,000 years of happiness.
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break,
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break.
I tried to get you to love me, but I won’t repeat that mistake.
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break,
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break.
Plenty of cheap stuff out there still around that you take.
I woke up this morning, buttered eggs in my bed,
I woke up this morning, buttered eggs in my bed.
I ain’t got enough room to even raise my head.
Come back, baby, say we nevermore will part,
Come back, baby, say we nevermore will part.
Don’t be a stranger with no brain or heart.
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break,
If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break.
Some people still sleepin’, some people are wide awake.
[TOP]
As I walked
out tonight in the mystic garden,
The wounded flowers were dangling from the vine,
I was passin’ by yon cool crystal fountain,
Someone hit me from behind.
Ain’t talkin’, just walkin’
Through this weary world of woe.
Heart burnin’, still yearnin’
No one on earth would ever know.
They say prayer has the power to heal, so pray for me, mother.
In the human heart, an evil spirit will dwell.
I am a-tryin’ to love my neighbor and do good unto others,
But oh, mother things ain’t goin’ well.
Ain’t talkin’, just walkin’
I’ll burn that bridge before you can cross.
Heart burnin’, still yearnin’
There’ll be no mercy for you once you’ve lost.
Now I’m all worn down by weeping,
My eyes are filled with tears, my lips are dry.
If I catch my opponents ever sleeping,
I’ll just slaughter them where they lie.
Ain’t talkin’, just walkin’
Through the world mysterious and vague.
Heart burnin’, still yearnin’
Walkin’ through the cities of the plague.
Well, the whole world is filled with speculation,
The whole wide world which people say is round.
They will tear your mind away from contemplation,
They will jump on your misfortune when you’re down.
Ain’t talkin’, just walkin’
Eatin’ hog-eyed grease in a hog-eyed town.
Heart burnin’, still yearnin’
Some day you’ll be glad to have me around.
They will crush you with wealth and power
Every waking moment you could crack.
I’ll make the most of one last extra hour,
I’ll avenge my father’s death when I step back.
Ain’t talkin’, just walkin’
Hand me down my walkin’ cane.
Heart burnin’, still yearnin’
Got to get you out of my miserable brain.
All my loyal and my much-loved companions
They approve of me and share my code
I practice a faith that’s been a long abandoned
Ain’t no altars on this long and lonesome road
Ain’t talkin’, just walkin’
My mule is sick, my horse is blind.
Heart burnin’, still yearnin’
Thinkin’ ‘bout that girl I left behind.
Well, it’s bright in the heavens and the wheels are flyin’,
Fame and honor never seem to fade.
The fire gone out but the light is never dyin’.
Who says I can’t get heavenly aid?
Ain’t talkin’, just walkin’
Carryin’ a dead man’s seal.
Heart burnin’, still yearnin’
Walkin’ with a toothache in my heel.
The suffering is unending;
Every nook and cranny has its tears.
I’m not playing, I’m not pretending,
I’m not nursing any superfluous fears.
Ain’t talkin’, just walkin’
Walkin’ ever since the other night.
Heart burnin’, still yearnin’
Walkin’ ‘til I’m clean out of sight.
As I walked out in the mystic garden
On a hot summer day, a hot summer lawn.
Excuse me, ma’am, I beg your pardon:
There’s no one here, the gardener is gone.
Ain’t talkin’, just walkin’
Up the road, around the bend.
Heart burnin’, still yearnin’
In the last outback at the world’s end.
[TOP]
This page last
updated 12 October 2006.