Jonathan Richman

They were wild like the USA
A mystery band in a New York way
Rock and roll, but not like the rest
And to me, America at it's best
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground.

A spooky tone on a Fender bass
Played less notes and left more space
Stayed kind of still, looked kinda shy
Kinda far away, kinda dignified.
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground.

Now you can look at that band and wonder where
All that sound was coming from
With just 4 people there.

Twangy sounds of the cheapest types,
Sounds as stark as black and white stripes,
Bold and brash, sharp and rude,
Like the heats turned off
And you're low on food.
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground.
Like this...

Wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand playing, everybody's saying
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground.

Well you could look at that band
And at first sight
Say that certain rules about modern music
Wouldn't apply tonight.

Twangy sounds of the cheapest kind,
Like "Guitar sale $29.99,"
Bold and brash, stark and still,
Like the heats turned off
And you can't pay the bill.
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground.

Both guitars got the fuzz tone on
The drummer's standing upright pounding along
A howl, a tone, a feedback whine
Biker boys meet the college kind
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground.

Wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand grooving, everybody moving
How in the world are they making that sound?
Velvet Underground.

Well, it hurts from the bottom
and it hurts down to your soul
that's because true love is not nice.
And it brings up hurt from when
you were five years old
that's because true love is nice.

Oh, pain, pain, pain,
ain't that just love's name,
love can bring up hurt
from way down low.
It now be unforsized,
true love is just not cizilized.
True love is not nice,
no, no.

Well, you've been hurt before,
but now you're hurt and sore.
True love is not nice.
And if it's real love then
that hurt won't go, well,
true love is not nice.

Oh, pain, pain, pain,
rain, rain, rain,
that's why you felt loves
arrow and said, oh,
Well, you knew from your first flirt,
that love was here to hurt.
True love is not nice,
no, no.

Well, it hurts from the bottom
and it hurts down to your soul
that's because true love is not nice.
And it brings up hurt from when
you were five years old
that's because true love is nice.

Oh, pain, pain, pain,
ain't that just love's name,
love can bring up hurt
from way down low.
It now be unforsized,
true love is just not civilized.
True love is not nice,
no, no.

Well, you've been hurt before,
but now you're hurt and sore.
True love is not nice.
And if it's real love then
that hurt won't go, well,
true love is not nice.

Oh, pain, pain, pain,
rain, rain, rain,
that's why you felt loves
arrow and said, oh,
Well, you knew from your first flirt,
that love was here to hurt.
True love is not nice,
no, no.

Sooner or later she feels the morning come.
Isn't it safer -- dark thoughts all gone.
What a sensation.
She has made it through one more tomorrow.
Raising up her eyes to a brand new sky
she knows the truth at last --
she's never coming back.

*She'll be gone.
So many years...
She'll be gone.
Melting away...
She'll be gone --
this is the day.

Someone is walking up to the bedroom door.
Hearing him knocking -- she knows what it's for.
She's at the window
wondering why there is no one to save her.
Raising up her eyes to a brand new sky
she knows the truth at last --
she's never coming back.

*Repeat

Raising up her eyes to a brand new sky
she knows the truth at last --
she's never coming back.

*Repeat

Ba Ba Da Da Da......

His friends say stop whining,
they've had enough of that.
His friends would say stop pining,
there's others girls to look at.

They've tried to set him up with Tiffany and Indigo,
but there's something about Mary that they don't know.

Mary, there's just something about Mary.

Well, his friends say, look life's no fairy tale,
that he should have some fun, he's suffered long enough.
Well, they may now about domestic and imported ale,
but they don't know a thing about love.

Well, his friends would say he's dreaming
and living in the past,
but they've never fallen in love,
so his friends need not be asked.

His friends would say be reasonable,
his friends would say just let go,
but there's something about Mary that they don't know.

Mary, there's just something about Mary.

That summer feeling (3X)

When there's things to do not because you gotta
When you run for love not because you oughta
When you trust your friends with no reason notta
The joy I've named shall not be tamed

And that summer feeling is gonna haunt you one day in your life

When the cool of the pond makes you drop down on it
When the smell of the lawn makes you flop down on it
When the teenage car gets the cop down on it
That time is here for one more year

And that summer feeling is gonna haunt you one day in your life

If you've forgotten what I'm naming
You're gonna long to reclaim it one day
Because that summer feeling is gonna haunt you one day in your life
And if you wait until your older
A sad resentment will smolder one day
And then that summer feeling is gonna haunt you
And that summer feeling's gonna taunt you
And then that summer feeling is gonna hurt you one day in your life

When even fourth grade starts looking good
Which you hated
And first grade's looking good too
Overrated
And you boys long for some little girl that you dated
Do you long for her or for the way you were?
That summer feeling is gonna haunt you the rest of your life

When the Oldsmobile has got the top down on it
When the catamaran has got the drop down on it
When the flat of the land has got the crop down on it
Some things look good before and some things never were
But that summer feeling is gonna haunt you one day in your life

Well when your friends are in town and they got time for you
When you and them are hanging around and they don't ignore you
When you say what you will
And they still adore you
If thats not appealing, its that summer feeling
That summer feeling is gonna haunt you one day in your life

Its gonna haunt you
Its gonna taunt you
You're gonna want this feeling inside one more time
Its gonna haunt you
Its gonna taunt you
You're gonna want this feeling inside one more time

When you're hangin around the park with the water fountain
And there's the little girl with the dirty ankles
But she's on the swings where all the dust is kickin up
And you remember the ankle locket
And the way she flirted with you
For all this time how come?
Well that summer feeling is gonna haunt you one day in your life

You'll throw away everything for it (2X)

When the playground that just was all dirt comes hauntin
And that little girl that called you a flirt
Memory comes tauntin
You pick these things apart they're not that appealin
You put them together and you'll get a certain feeling
That summer feeling is gonna haunt you one day in your life

I like green grass and I like pontiacs
I like cheap clothes and boys that'll never know
When the wind blows, I smell El Porto
So I keep cigarettes, down in my panty hose


and I roll like thunder

Ive got a fairlane, I drive with my dog flame
Hes got a red scarf and we sell cocaine
I smoke mistys, and I got red knees
I sweat hair gel, when I do the hard sell

and we roll like thunder

Speed queen
Speed queen


I like young things and I like cheap flings
Flame likes pinball so we hang at the shopping mall
I run red lights, stay out all night
So when I get busted, remember who you trusted

and that we rolled like thunder

Speed queen
Speed queen
Speed queen
Speed queen

Well I had just met the girl and her boyfriend
She was ready for leaving him
And I was the way, I was the key,
I was her way to say, "I'm free"

And he would never talk about it, which made me sad
I didn't see what we'd done
That was so bad

We were all about twenty-one
My career as a homewrecker
Had just begun

I was thinkin' about the Boston rock scene one fine day
And found it too conservative, you might say
I knew her well, I knew him terrific
What's wrong if we wanted something specific?

He never talked about it, which hurted me
I never saw why such sorrow
Had to be

I was now about twenty-four
And I was called "homewrecker"
Once more

If someone's mad at me, why can't they tell me so?
Why do they just avoid me?
If someone's mad at me, why can't they tell me so?
Because I would want to know

Meanwhile out on the West Coast, I started wreckin' homes
Tryin' to convince girlfriends to leave and roam
Now I didn't touch 'em, 'cause I didn't want 'em
But I wanted to affect 'em, I wanted to haunt 'em

And this was the following year
My career as a homewrecker
Was in third gear

Another case of homewreckin' I half-did
Was the girl who loved me no matter what she said
She tried to hide it as long as she could
To save her boyfriend pain
But it did no good

You see I have certain trades and certain wants
Sometimes I'll try a certain thing to provoke a response
Sometimes I'll break a rule just to see who looks
Sometimes I'll knock on a door just to see what cooks

My career as a homewrecker is not yet through
There's all these homewreckin' things to do
Sometimes I'll break a rule just to see who cares
Sometimes I'll knock just to see who's there

(one two three)

Well, my baby love love loves me now
Even more than I prayed for

My baby love love loves me now
Even more than I prayed

I prayed
I asked

But I didn't expect this

My baby love love loves me now
Even more than I prayed for

Even more than I prayed

Well, she loves
She does

But I had to be ready for it

She loves
She does

But I had to be ready

Had to pray, I asked

And I was blessed

Well, my baby love love loves me now
Even more than I prayed for
Even more than I prayed

Well, my baby love love loves me now
Even more than I prayed for

Well, my baby love love loves me now
Even more than I pray

Well, she loves
She hates
But she communicates

And my baby love love loves me now
EVen more than I prayed for
EVen more than I prayed

Well, she loves
She does
But I had to be ready for it

She loves
She does
But I had to be ready

And I prayed, I asked, yeah

And I was blessed
lalala

My baby love love loves me now
Even more than I prayed for
Even more than I prayed

Everything is wonderful
Being here is heavenly
Every single day, she says
Everything is free

I used to be so careless
As if I couldn't care less
Did I have to make mistakes?
When I was Mary's prayer

Suddenly the heavens rolled
Suddenly the rain came down
Suddenly was washed away
The Mary that I knew

So when you find somebody who gives
Think of me and celebrate
I made such a big mistake
When I was Mary's Prayer

*So if I say save me save me
Be the light in my eyes
And if I say ten Hail Mary's
Leave a light on heaven for me

Blessed is the one who shares
The power and your beauty,
Mary Blessed is the millionaire
Who shares your wedding day

So when you find somebody to give
Think of me and celebrate
I made such a big mistake
When I was Mary's Prayer

*Repeat (2x)

If you want the fruit to fall
You have to give the tree a shake
But if you shake the tree too hard,
The bough is gonna break

And if I can't reach the top of the tree
Mary you can hold me up there
What I wouldn't give to be
When I was Mary's prayer

*Repeat (2x)

Save me, save me
Be the light in my eyes
What I wouldn't give to be
When I was Mary's prayer

What I wouldn't give to be
When I was Mary's prayer
What I wouldn't give to be (save me)
When I was Mary's prayer

She said don't worry baby
I'll do my own crying I'm a big girl now
Now I'm gonna be okay
Yes I'll find a new way of living
you know I will

*And you lie there without sleeping
And you stare at your wall
And you realize you're not weeping
You don't need her anymore

You say don't hate me baby
It won't hurt you if you do
You got no reason not to

She'll kiss you on the head
Says there's no easy road for leaving
if it hurts you too

*Repeat

You walk by the old place
Looks like just any other place
yeah that's what you say
You say I'll be okay
Yes I'll find a new way of living
sure I will

*Repeat (2x)

Guess it's over.

Well, she's back with her old boyfriend,
he don't challenge her, he don't contend with her.
And she don't answer the cards you send,
and you're jelous of the time that he spends with her.

Just let her do into the darkness,
let her learn from all the things there.
Let her go into the darkness,
let her go, let her go, let her go.

I heard she's back with her old boyfriend
He don't challenge her, he don't contend with her
And she don't answer the cards you send
And so you're jealous of the time that he spend with her

Just let her go into the darkness
Let her learn from all the things there
Let her go into the darkness
Just let her go, let her go, let her go

You want to tell her that her boyfriend's no friend
You want to tell her that she don't know where he's at
But she won't listen, 'cause she's just not listening
Better take them sheets to the old Laundromat

And let her go into the darkness
Let her learn from all the things there
Let her go into the darkness
Let her go, let her go, let her go, oh

Course she's taking drugs, what did you expect?
An alcoholic, too, yeah, don't worry about that
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
Laundromat, Laundromat, Laundromat

And let her go into the darkness
Let her learn from all the things there
Let her go into the darkness
Let her go, let her go, let her go

Oh, I see you've got your shoes on
What, you want to go take a walk?
But you're headed for her neighborhood
You want to talk to her, don't you?
She won't want to talk
You want to warn her that her boyfriend's no good?

No, no, no, just let her go into the darkness
Let her learn from all the things there
Let her go into the darkness
Let her go, let her go, let her go, oh, well, well

Pretty women out walkin' with gorillas down my street
From my window I'm starin' while my coffee goes cold
Look over there
(Where?)
There!
There's a lady that I used to know
She's married now or engaged or somethin', so I'm told

*Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
Cause if my eyes don't deceive me
There's something going wrong around here

Tonight's the night when I go to all the parties down my street
I wash my hair and I kid myself I look really smooth
Look over there
(Where?)
There!
Here comes Jeannie with her new boyfriend
They say that looks don't count for much and so there goes your proof

*Repeat

But if looks could kill
There's a man there who's marked down as dead
Cause I had my fill
Listen you take your hands from her head
I get so mean around this scene
Hey, baby

*Repeat

Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around - here

Half past 9, quarter to ten
10:15, and we're coming around again
hold off, are we going soft?
Flushed my Zoloft, and we're comin' around again
Found out, and I almost drowned
Walked back down, and we're coming around again

*If I could talk I'd tell you
If I could smile I'd let you know
You are far and away
My most imaginary friend

Khmer Rhouge, and genocide qua
Your place or mein kempf, now I'm givin' the dog a bone
slight hunch, without the vaguest clue
to keep the blood balanced,
now we're coming around again
half past 9, quarter two,
10:15, and we're comin' around again

*Repeat

Sometimes I think of only her
Sometimes no
I'm feeling delicate and
This must show

I'm so confused I'm so confused
I'm so confused I'm so confused

I like to do stuff but I
Best go slow
I look around nowadays but
I don't know

I'm so confused I'm so confused
I'm so confused I'm so confused

I think maybe I should just stay alone
But I'm too young to just stay home

I have to sigh now
Hah
I have to sigh-now
Hah

I must stay honest and
Not play apart
So when I meet someone
I say right at the start

I'm so confused I'm so confused
I'm so confused I'm so confused

(You're thinking too much)
I know
(You're thinking about this too much)
I know

I have to sigh now
Hah
I have to sigh now
Hah

I'm so confused I'm so confused
I'm so confused I'm so confused

I should let this go but I just can't
And now it's just a lesson I can't grasp
So what's really the best that I could do
To hope to see you every year or two

And the things you said
Do they still make sense
Could you mean them now
Did you even mean them then
I could torture myself Insane and tense
But I don't have the strength

I'm crushed in pain you drifted through my life
But even looking back I know it's right
I gave you my heart scared complete and whole
When all you ever asked for was my soul

And there's nothing left
But a song or two
That mean not a thing
If I can't play them for you
If I could hear your voice just one more time
Maybe I'd be fine

But I guess I won't
'Cos it's too late now
And I guess you're gone
'Cos it's too late now
And the pain I feel
Is all I can take
Maybe this turn of karma
Is too late
Maybe I was wrong
Maybe I was caught In a net of passion
Maybe I was caught
Maybe I should take it all with salt
And soon I'll believe that it's not my fault
And it's not my fault
And it's not my fault
And it's not my fault
And it's not my fault
And it's not my fault
And it's not my fault
If I say it enough
I'll believe that It's not my fault

The word is about, there's something evolving,
whatever may come, the world keeps revolving
They say the next big thing is here,
that the revolution's near,
but to me it seems quite clear
that it's all just a little bit of history repeating

The newspapers shout a new style is growing,
but it don't know if it's coming or going,
there is fashion, there is fad
some is good, some is bad
and the joke is rather sad,
that its all just a little bit of history repeating

.. and I've seen it before
.. and I'll see it again
.. yes I've seen it before
.. just little bits of history repeating

Some people don't dance, if they don't know who's singing,
why ask your head, it's your hips that are swinging
life's for us to enjoy
woman, man, girl and boy,
feel the pain, feel the joy
aside set the little bits of history repeating

.. just little bits of history repeating
.. and I've seen it before
.. and I'll see it again
.. yes I've seen it before
.. just little bits of history repeating

Hey, come this May
We'll be running in the sun again, your time to come
You're just an young broken heart
Been out sleeping in the yard, how could you be so dumb?

All we losers stand in line just waiting for our time
Broken angel take that plane and finger paint the sky
Till everything shines
Everything shines
Everything shines
Everything shines

Old broken clock
Haven't heard your old tick tocking man for much too long
And lonely jukebox
In the corner of the nightclub, man, I need your song

All we losers stand in line just waiting for our time
Broken angel take that plane and finger paint the sky
Till everything shines
Everything shines
Everything shines
Everything shines

Summertime I was getting paid
Getting drunk and then getting laid
I grabbed the phone call you up to say
Quit your job 'cause I've got it made
Anytime baby lets go
Every day should be a holiday

Supercool the dandys rule ok
Back in town they got the raves
Anytime call me up if you've
Got the sun then I've got the waves
Anytime baby lets go
Every day should be a holiday

Anytime baby lets go
Every day should be a holiday

Anytime baby lets go
Every day should be a holiday
Anytime baby lets go
Every day should be a holiday

Well I walked past just yesterday
And I couldn't bare that new mall no more
I can't expect you all to see it my way
But you may not know what was there before
And I want them to put back my old corner store.

Well I walked past just like I say
And I felt this hurt that would not go home
I can't expect that you're gonna see it my way
But you may not know the trees I've known
And I want them to put back my old corner store.

I know it costs more money to shop there
But this was love, this was love
I know you had to pay more money
I'll pay money, I'll pay more
I don't care what the mall has got
I want back that corner store

And what did I feel when I walked by slow
Sorrow sorrow, all around
Why I would feel sorrow I now know
I smell a ghost smell from the ground
That old wooden smell from the old corner store

Bam a nib a nib a nib way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store
Bam a nib a nib a nib way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store

I walked past one final time
And I wished the worst on the place I shop
Now I can't expect everyone to feel like I am
But I spot a trend that has got to stop
And I want them to put back that old corner store