Sometimes I feel so low-down and disgusted Can't help but wonder what's happenin' to my companions, Are they lost or are they found, have they counted the cost it'll take to bring down All their earthly principles they're gonna have to abandon? There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.
I had a woman down in Alabama, She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic, She said, "Boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out, You could die down here, be just another accident statistic." There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.
All that foreign oil controlling American soil, Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed. Sheiks walkin' around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings, Deciding America's future from Amsterdam and to Paris And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.
Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more, You can't rely no more to be standin' around waitin' In the home of the brave, Jefferson turnin' over in his grave, Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.
Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters, Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency, All non-believers and men stealers talkin' in the name of religion And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.
People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it. They say lose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions, They talk about a life of brotherly love, show me someone who knows how to live it. There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.
Well, my baby went to Illinois with some bad-talkin' boy she could destroy A real suicide case, but there was nothin' I could do to stop it, I don't care about economy, I don't care about astronomy But it sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets, There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.
The guilty undertaker sighs, The lonesome organ grinder cries, The silver saxophones say I should refuse you. The cracked bells and washed-out horns Blow into my face with scorn, But it's not that way, I wasn't born to lose you. I want you, I want you, I want you so bad, Honey, I want you.
The drunken politician leaps Upon the street where mothers weep And the saviors who are fast asleep, They wait for you. And I wait for them to interrupt Me drinkin' from my broken cup And ask me to Open up the gate for you. I want you, I want you, I want you so bad, Honey, I want you.
Now all my fathers, they've gone down True love they've been without it. But all their daughters put me down 'Cause I don't think about it.
Well, I return to the Queen of Spades And talk with my chambermaid. She knows that I'm not afraid To look at her. She is good to me And there's nothing she doesn't see. She knows where I'd like to be But it doesn't matter. I want you, I want you, I want you so bad, Honey, I want you.
Now your dancing child with his Chinese suit, He spoke to me, I took his flute. No, I wasn't very cute to him, Was I? But I did it, though, because he lied Because he took you for a ride And because time was on his side And because I . . . I want you, I want you, I want you so bad, Honey, I want you.
You may be an ambassador to England or France, You may like to gamble, you might like to dance, You may be the heavyweight champion of the world, You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage, You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage, You may be a business man or some high degree thief, They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk, You may be the head of some big TV network, You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame, You may be living in another country under another name
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a construction worker working on a home, You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome, You might own guns and you might even own tanks, You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride, You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side, You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair, You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk, Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk, You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread, You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy, You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy, You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray, You may call me anything but no matter what you say
You're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody. Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
When your mother sends back all your invitations And your father to your sister he explains That you're tired of yourself and all of your creations Won't you come see me, Queen Jane? Won't you come see me, Queen Jane?
Now when all of the flower ladies want back what they have lent you And the smell of their roses does not remain And all of your children start to resent you Won't you come see me, Queen Jane? Won't you come see me, Queen Jane?
Now when all the clowns that you have commissioned Have died in battle or in vain And you're sick of all this repetition Won't you come see me, Queen Jane? Won't you come see me, Queen Jane?
When all of your advisers heave their plastic At your feet to convince you of your pain Trying to prove that your conclusions should be more drastic Won't you come see me, Queen Jane? Won't you come see me, Queen Jane?
Now when all the bandits that you turned your other cheek to All lay down their bandanas and complain And you want somebody you don't have to speak to Won't you come see me, Queen Jane? Won't you come see me, Queen Jane?
Born in Red Hook, Brooklyn, in the year of who knows when Opened up his eyes to the tune of an accordion Always on the outside of whatever side there was When they asked him why it had to be that way, "Well," he answered, "just because."
Larry was the oldest, Joey was next to last. They called Joe "Crazy," the baby they called "Kid Blast." Some say they lived off gambling and runnin' numbers too. It always seemed they got caught between the mob and the men in blue.
Joey, Joey, King of the streets, child of clay. Joey, Joey, What made them want to come and blow you away?
There was talk they killed their rivals, but the truth was far from that No one ever knew for sure where they were really at. When they tried to strangle Larry, Joey almost hit the roof. He went out that night to seek revenge, thinkin' he was bulletproof.
The war broke out at the break of dawn, it emptied out the streets Joey and his brothers suffered terrible defeats Till they ventured out behind the lines and took five prisoners. They stashed them away in a basement, called them amateurs.
The hostages were tremblin' when they heard a man exclaim, "Let's blow this place to kingdom come, let Con Edison take the blame." But Joey stepped up, he raised his hand, said, "We're not those kind of men. It's peace and quiet that we need to go back to work again."
Joey, Joey, King of the streets, child of clay. Joey, Joey, What made them want to come and blow you away?
The police department hounded him, they called him Mr. Smith They got him on conspiracy, they were never sure who with. "What time is it?" said the judge to Joey when they met "Five to ten," said Joey. The judge says, "That's exactly what you get."
He did ten years in Attica, reading Nietzsche and Wilhelm Reich They threw him in the hole one time for tryin' to stop a strike. His closest friends were black men 'cause they seemed to understand What it's like to be in society with a shackle on your hand.
When they let him out in '71 he'd lost a little weight But he dressed like Jimmy Cagney and I swear he did look great. He tried to find the way back into the life he left behind To the boss he said, "I have returned and now I want what's mine."
Joey, Joey, King of the streets, child of clay. Joey, Joey, Why did they have to come and blow you away?
It was true that in his later years he would not carry a gun "I'm around too many children," he'd say, "they should never know of one." Yet he walked right into the clubhouse of his lifelong deadly foe, Emptied out the register, said, "Tell 'em it was Crazy Joe."
One day they blew him down in a clam bar in New York He could see it comin' through the door as he lifted up his fork. He pushed the table over to protect his family Then he staggered out into the streets of Little Italy.
Joey, Joey, King of the streets, child of clay. Joey, Joey, What made them want to come and blow you away?
Sister Jacqueline and Carmela and mother Mary all did weep. I heard his best friend Frankie say, "He ain't dead, he's just asleep." Then I saw the old man's limousine head back towards the grave I guess he had to say one last goodbye to the son that he could not save.
The sun turned cold over President Street and the town of Brooklyn mourned They said a mass in the old church near the house where he was born. And someday if God's in heaven overlookin' His preserve I know the men that shot him down will get what they deserve.
Joey, Joey, King of the streets, child of clay. Joey, Joey, What made them want to come and blow you away?
It must be getting early, clocks are running late Paint-by-number morning sky looks so phony Dawn is breaking everywhere, light a candle, curse the glare Draw the curtains, I don't care 'cause it's alright
I will get by I will get by I will get by I will survive
I see you've got your list out, say your peace and get out Guess I get the gist of it, but it's alright Sorry that you feel that way, the only thing there is to say Every silver lining's got a touch of grey
I will get by I will get by I will get by I will survive
It's a lesson to me The Ables and the Bakers and the C's The ABC's we all must face Try to keep a little grace
It's a lesson to me The Deltas and the East and the Freeze The ABC's we all think of And try to wean a little love
I know the rent is in arrears, the dog has not been fed in years It's even worse than it appears, but it's alright Cow is giving kerosene, kid can't read at seventeen The words he knows are all obscene, but it's alright
I will get by I will get by I will get by I will survive
The shoe is on the hand it fits, there's really nothing much to it Whistle through your teeth and spit 'cause it's alright Oh well, a touch of grey kinda suits you anyway And that was all I had to say and it's alright
I will get by I will get by I will get by I will survive
We will get by We will get by We will get by We will survive
We will get by We will get by We will get by We will survive
Well I was drinkin' last night with a biker And I showed him a picture of you I said, "Pal get to know her, you'll like her" Seemed like the least I could do
Cause when he's chargin' his chopper Up and down your carpeted halls You will think me by contrast quite proper Never mind how I stumble and fall
You imagine me sipping champagne from your boot For a taste of your elegant pride I may be going to hell in a bucket, babe But at least I'm enjoying the ride At least I'll enjoy the ride
Aw you're a sweet little softcore pretender Somehow, baby got hard as it gets With your black leather chrome spiked suspenders And your chair and your whip and your pets
Well we know you're the reincarnation Of the ravenous Catherine the Great And we know how you love your ovations To the Z-rated scenes you create (Z-rated scenes you create)
You imagine me sipping champagne from your boot For a taste of your elegant pride I may be going to hell in a bucket, babe But at least I'm enjoying the ride At least I'll enjoy the ride Yeah! Least I'll enjoy the ride
You analyze me, attempt to despise me, you laugh When I stumble and fall There may come a day I will dance on your grave If unable to dance I will crawl across it Unable to dance I will crawl Unable to dance I'll crawl
You must really consider the circus It just might be your kind of zoo I can't think of a place that's more perfect For a person as perfect as you
And it's not like I'm leaving you lonely Cause I wouldn't know where to begin Well I know you will think of me only When the snakes come marching in When the snakes come marching in
You imagine me sipping champagne from your boot For a taste of your elegant pride I may be going to hell in a bucket, babe But at least I'm enjoying the ride At least I'm enjoying the ride Ride, ride, ride, ride At least I'm enjoying the ride Ride, ride, ride, ride At least I'm enjoying the ride Ride, ride, ride At least I'm enjoying the ride Ride, ride At least I'll enjoy the ride Ride, ride, ride, ride At least I'll enjoy the ride Ride, ride, ride At least I'm enjoying the ride Least I'm enjoying the ride Least I'm enjoying the ride Least I'm enjoying the ride Least I'm enjoying the ride Ride, ride Least I'm enjoying the ride
Shaking in the forest, what have you to fear? Here there may be tigers, to punch you in the ear With gloves of stainless steel, bats carved out of brick Knock you down and beat you up and give your ass a kick When push comes to shove, you're afraid of love
Shaking in the desert, now wherefore do you cry? Here there may be rattlesnakes, to punch you in the eye With shotgun's full of silver and bullet's made of glass String barbed wire at your feet, that do not let you pass When push comes to shove, you're afraid of love
When push comes to shove When push comes to shove You're afraid of love When push comes to shove
Shaking in the bedroom, covers on your head Cringing like a baby at the hand beneath the bed? Phantom in the closet, scratching at the door Believe it's the mystery killer that you saw on channel four When push comes to shove, you're afraid of love
Shaking in the garden, the fear within you grows Here there may be roses, to punch you in the nose Twist their arms around you, snap you till you cry Wrap you in their sweet perfume and love you 'til you die When push comes to shove, you're afraid of love
When push comes to shove When push comes to shove You're afraid of love When push comes to shove
When push comes to shove When push comes to shove You're afraid of love When push comes to shove
I'm looking for a chateau, 21 rooms but one will do I'm looking for a chateau, 21 rooms but one will do I don't want to buy it I just want to rent it for a minute or two
I met an old mistake walking down the street today I met an old mistake walking down the street today I didn't want to be mean about it I couldn't think of one good thing to say.
West L.A. fadeaway, West L.A. fadeaway Big red light on the highway, little green light on the freeway.
Got a steady job moving items for the mob Got a steady job moving items for the mob Know the pay's pathetic It's a shame those boys couldn't be more copasetic
West L.A. fadeaway, West L.A. fadeaway Big red light on the highway, little green light on the freeway.
I need a West L.A. girl, already know what I need to know I need a West L.A. girl, already know what I need to know Lord, just how far to go.
West L.A. fadeaway, here's one chance you say. She tries to live by the Golden Rule. Said you treat other people right, Other people probably treat you cool.
I know these rails we're on like I know my lady's smile, We see a dozen dreams in every passing mile. Can't begin to count the trips she and I have made, But I wish I had a dollar for each time we've both been down this grade.
And 100,000 tons of steel, made to roll. The brakes don't work and this grade's too steep, her engine's sure to blow. And 100,000 tons of steel, out of control, She's more a rollercoaster than the train I used to know.
It's one hell of an understatement, to say she can't be beat. She's tempermental, more a bitch than a machine. She wasn't built to travel at speed or through mud slides. These wheels are bound to jump the tracks before they burn like the ties
And 100,000 tons of steel, made to roll. The brakes don't work and this grade's too steep, her engine's sure to blow And 100,000 tons of steel, out of control She's more a rollercoaster than the train I used to know.
Murphy sure out done himself to pick this stretch of track I can only hope my luck is ridin' in the back. Well I have pray to God this ain't the day we meet, I've done about everything, but try dragging my feet.
And 100,000 tons of steel, made to roll. The brakes don't work and this grade's too steep, her engine's sure to blow And 100,000 tons of steel, out of control, She's more a rollercoaster than the train I used to know.
Picture a bright blue ball Just spinning, spinning free Dizzy with eternity
Paint it with a skin of sky, Brush in some clouds and sea Call it home for you and me
A peaceful place or so it looks from space [A] closer look reveals the human race
Full of hope, full of grace is the human face But afraid we may lay our home to waste
There's a fear down here we can't forget Hasn't got a name just yet Always awake, always around Singing ashes, ashes all fall down (ashes, ashes all fall down)
Now watch as the ball revolves and the nighttime falls And again the hunt begins, and again the bloodwind calls
By and by again, the morning sun will rise [But] the darkness never goes from some mens eyes (oh no) It strolls the sidewalks and it rolls the streets It's taking turf, dividing up meat
Nightmare spook, piece of heat It's you and me, You and me
Flashblade in ghetto night Rudies looking for a fight Rat cat alley roll them bones Need that cash to feed that jones
And the politicians throwing stones Singing ashes, ashes all fall down (ashes, ashes all fall down)
Commissars and pin-striped bosses roll the dice Any way they fall, guess who gets to pay the price
Money green, the proletarian gray Selling guns instead of food today
So the kids they dance, they shake their bones While the politicians throwing stones Singing ashes, ashes all fall down (ashes, ashes all fall down)
Heartless powers try to tell us what to think If the spirit's sleeping, then the flesh is ink History's page will be neatly carved in stone The future's here ? we are it ? we are on our own (on our own, on our own! On our own!)
If the game is lost then we're all the same No one left to place or take the blame
We will leave this place an empty stone Oh that shinning ball We can call our home
So the kids they dance, they shake their bones While the politicians are throwing stones Singing ashes, ashes all fall down (ashes, ashes all fall down)
Shooting powders back and forth Singing black goes south while white comes north And the whole world full of petty wars Singing "I got mine and you got yours"
And the current fashions set the pace Lose your step, fall out of grace And the radical, he rant and rage, Singing "someone got to turn the page!"
And the rich man in his summer home, Singing "just leave well enough alone!" But his pants are down, his cover's blown
And the politicians throwing stones So the kids they dance they shake their bones Cause its all too clear were on our own Singing ashes, ashes all fall down (ashes, ashes all fall down)
Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free It's dizzying, the possibilities
Ashes, ashes all fall down (ashes, ashes all fall down)
When the last rose of summer pricks my finger, And the hot sun chills me to the bone, When I can't hear the song for the singer, And I can't tell my pillow from a stone, I will walk alone by the black muddy river, And sing me a song of my own, I will walk alone by the black muddy river, And sing me a song of my own.
When the last bolt of sunshine hits the mountain, And the stars start to splatter in the sky, When the moon hits the southwest horizon, With the scream of an eagle on the fly, I will walk alone by the black muddy river, And listen to the ripples as they moan, I will walk alone by the black muddy river, And sing me a song of my own.
Black muddy river, roll on forever, I don't care how deep or wide, if you've got another side, Roll muddy river, roll muddy river, black muddy river, roll.
When it seems like the night will last forever, And there's nothing left to do but count the years, When the strings of my heart begin to sever, And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears, I will walk alone, by the black muddy river, And dream me a dream of my own, I will walk alone, by the black muddy river, And sing me a song of my own, sing me a song of my own.
I had a hard run Running from your window I was all night running, running, running I wonder if you care? I had a run-in Run around and run down Run around a corner Run smack into a tree
I had to move Really had to move That's why if you please I am on my bended knees Bertha don't you come around here anymore
Dressed myself in green I went down to the sea Try to see what's going down Maybe read between the lines Had a feeling I was falling, falling, falling
Turned around to see Heard a voice calling, calling, calling You was comin after me Back to me
I had to move Really had to move That's why if you please I am on my bended knees Bertha don't you come around here anymore
Ran into a rainstorm Ducked into a bar door It was all night pouring, pouring rain But not a drop on me
Test me, test me Why don't you arrest me? Throw me in the jail house Until the sun goes down Till it go down
I had to move Really had to move That's why if you please I am on my bended knees Bertha don't you come around here anymore
Moses come ridin' up on a quasar His spurs were jingling, the door was ajar His buckle was silver, his manner was bold And I asked him to come in out of the cold.
His brain was boiling, his reason was spent Nothing is borrowed, nothing is lent I asked him for mercy, He gave he gave me a gun. Now and again these things just got to be done.
Abraham and Isaac sitting on a fence You'd get right to work if you had any sense You know the one thing we need is a left-hand monkey wrench.
Gideon come up with his eyes on the floor Said "You ain't got a hinge, you can't close the door." Moses stood up a full six foot ten Said "You can't close the door when the wall's caved in."
Ask him for water, he poured me some wine We finished the bottle and broke into mine. You get what you come for, ya ready to go Well, it's one in ten thousand that come for the show.
Abraham and Isaac diggin' on a well Mama came quick with the water witch spell Well cool clear water well you can't ever tell.
Abraham and Isaac sitting on a fence You'd get right to work if you had any sense You know the one thing we need is a left-hand monkey wrench.
32 teeth in a jawbone, alabama trying for none, Before I have to hit him, I hope he's got the sense to run. Reason the poor girls love him, promise them everything, Why they all believe him? he wears a big diamond ring.
Alabama getaway, getaway. alabama getaway, getaway, Only way to please me, ya just gotta leave and walk away.
Major domo billy bojangles, sit down and have a drink with me, "what's this about alabama? it keeps a coming back to me. Heard your plea in the courthouse, witness box began to rock and rise, 49 sister states all had alabama in there eyes.
Alabama getaway, getaway. alabama getaway, getaway, Only way to please me, ya just gotta leave and walk away.
Major said why don't we give him rope enough to hang himself? No need to worry the jury, this kind takes care of themselves. 23rd psalm major domo, reserve me a table for three, Down in the valley of the shadow, just you, alabama, and me.
Alabama getaway, getaway. alabama getaway, getaway, Only way to please me, ya just gotta leave and walk away.
You say you want to try again, wear it down between the lines Well, I have a better end in mind it doesn't seem to really have you Close your eyes to see though I know you don't mean to be You are so far from me
There was something I had caught inside screaming hard to make it go And tied me down low, it doesn't seem you really have to Close you eyes to see, you've been all you'll be to me Though I know you don't mean to be, it's just too late And we can't relate at all
This is the last time I wanna say so long This song is my last song for you There's just nothing here to hold on to Baby, nothing to hold on to
I told Althea I was feeling lost Lacking in some direction Althea told me upon scrutiny That my back might need protection I told Althea that treachery Was tearing me limb from limb Althea told me, now cool down boy Settle back easy, Jim
You may be Saturday's child all grown Moving with a pinch of grace You may be a clown in the burial ground Or just another pretty face You may be the fate of Ophelia Sleeping and perchance to dream Honest to the point of recklessness Self-centred to the extreme
Ain't nobody messin' with you but you Your friends are getting most concerned Loose with the truth, maybe its your fire Baby I hope you don't get burned When the smoke has cleared, she said That's what she said to me You're gonna want a bed to lay your head And a little sympathy
There are things you can replace And others you cannot The time has come to weigh those things This space is gettin' hot You know this space is gettin' hot
I told Althea, I'm a roving sign That I was born to be a bachelor Althea told me, OK that's fine So now I'm trying to catch her Can't talk to you without talking to me We're guilty of the same old things Thinking a lot about less and less And forgetting the love we bring
Inside you're burnin' I can see clear through Your eyes tell more than you mean them to Lit up and flashin' like the reds and blues Out there on the neon avenue Well I, feel like a stranger (feel like a stranger)
Well the music's thunderin', restless and hot You keep firin' me glances across the room And I can't stop wonderin' just what you got Get the feeling I'm going to find out real soon But I feel like a stranger (feel like a stranger) So let's get on with the show, let's go
Yes, and the wheels it's smokin 'round midnight You show me a look that says "Let's go" Yes, and it feels about like running a red light Now there ain't no point in looking behind us, no! Still I feel like a stranger (feel like a stranger) You know It's gonna get stranger, let's get on with the show
If this were love now how would I know? How would I know? Feel like a stranger Gonna be a long, long, crazy, crazy night Silky, silky, crazy, crazy night
