Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas

Living on the road my friend,
Was gonna keep you free and clean
And now you wear your skin like iron,
And your breath as hard as kerosene

You weren't your mama's only boy,
But her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye,
And sank into your dreams

Pancho was a bandit boy,
His horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel

Pancho met his match you know
On the deserts down in Mexico,
Nobody heard his dying words,
Ah but that's the way it goes

All the Federales say
They could have had him any day
They only let him slip away
Out of kindness, I suppose

Lefty, he can't sing the blues
All night long like he used to
The dust that Pancho bit down south
Ended up in Lefty's mouth

The day they laid poor Pancho low,
Lefty split for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go,
There ain't nobody knows

All the Federales say
We could have had him any day
We only let him slip away
Out of kindness, I suppose

The poets tell how Pancho fell,
And Lefty's living in cheap hotels
The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold,
And so the story ends we're told

Pancho needs your prayers it's true,
But save a few for Lefty too
He only did what he had to do,
And now he's growing old

All the Federales say
We could have had him any day
We only let him go so long
Out of kindness, I suppose

A few gray Federales say
We could have had him any day
We only let him go so long
Out of kindness, I suppose

Well the wicked king of clubs awoke
And it was to his queen turned
His lips were laughing as they spoke
His eyes like bullets burned

The sun's upon a gambling day
His queen smiled low and blissfully
Let's make some wretched fool to play
Plain it was she did agree

He send his deuce down into diamond
His four to hart, and his trey to spade
Three kings with their legions come
Preparations soon where made

They voted club the days commander
Gave him an army face and number
All but the outlaw jack of diamonds
And the aces in the sky

Well, he gave his sevens first instructions
Spirit me a game of stud
Stakes unscarred by limitation
Between a man named Gold and man named Mud

Club filled Gold with greedy vapors
Till his long, green eyes did glow
And Mud was left with the sighs and trembles
Watching his hard earned money go

Flushes fell on Gold like water
Tens they paired and paired again
But the aces only flew through heaven
And the diamond jack called no man friend

Now, the Diamond Queen saw Muds ordeal
Began to think of her long lost son
Fell to her knees with a mother's mercy
And prayed to the angels every one

Now, the Diamond Queen, she prayed and prayed
And the Diamond Angel filled Muds hole
The wicked King of Clubs himself
Fell in face down in front of Gold

Now, three kings come to Clubs command
But the angels from the sky did ride
Three kings up on the streets of Gold
Three fireballs on the muddy side

The club queen heard her husband's call
But Lord, that Queen of Diamond's joy
When the outlaw in the heavenly hall
Turned out to be a wandering boy

Now, Mud he checked and Gold bet all
And Mud he raised and Gold did call
And the smile just melted on his face
When Mud turned over that diamond ace

Now, here's what this story's told
If you feel like Mud you'll end up Gold
If you feel like lost, you'll end up found
So amigo, lay them raises down

Well, don't you take it too bad
If you're feelin' unlovin'
If you're feelin unfeelin'
If you're feelin' alone
Don't you take it too bad

'Cause it ain't you to blame, babe
Well, it's only a game made
Out of all of this living
That we got left to do

And if you go searchin'
For rhyme or for reason
Then you won't have the time
That it take just for talkin'
About the places you've been, babe
About the places you've seen, babe
And how soft the time flies

Past your window at night

And we just can't have that, girl
'Cause it's a sad, lonesome, cold world
And a man need a woman
To stand by his side
And whisper sweet words
In his ears about daydreams
And roses and playthings
And the sweetness of springtime
And the sound of the rain

Well, the clouds didn't look like cotton
They didn't even look like clouds
I was underneath the weather
And all my friends looked a crowd
The swimmin' hole was full of rum
I tried to find out why
Well, all I learned was this my friend
You got to swim before you fly

I got two girls
Ones in heaven and ones below
Oh, one I love with all my heart
And one I do not know.

Two lonesome dudes on an ugly horse
Passed by not long ago
They asked me where the action was
I said I did not know
As they disappeared into the brush
I heard the driver say
He's a little slow between the ears
He's always been that way.

Well, Jolly Jane just lays around
And listens with her mouth
She's had about a dozen husbands
But the last one just pulled out
Now, who's gonna bring her dinner
Through the weary years ahead
All she'll get from me is sympathy
Ain't got time to see she's fed.

It's cold down on the bayou
They say it's in your mind
But the moccasins are treadin' ice
And leavin' strange designs
Cajuns say the last time
That this happened they weren't here
All Beaumonts full of penguins
And I'm a-playin it by ear.

I decided to improve my social station
I joined a fraternity organisation
Tucked in my shirt
Signed on the line
Right away they said about to improve my mind
The car I drove
The books I read
The food I ate
The booze I drank
The girls I took out
My breath

Said "kid, we don't much like the way you walk
And you gonna have to change the way you talk"
They said "your dress is kind of sludge
And your attitude is mighty grudge"
Said "you got to learn to bubble"
"You got to bubble with enthusiasm" I started bubble
"Most important thing you can't forget
Is learning the entire greek alphabet"
I never did really understand
That that's gonna make me anymore a man
But I learned it
I can whip through that son-of-a-beta backwards in five seconds
Then they hit me with some pretty bad news
Concerning the payment of monthly dues

I never did know where that money went
I never was sure it was well spent
But I paid it
I'm no troublecauser and besides I figured that's life
If you want good friends it gonna cost you

Well, finally got to be party time
I got a great big old jug of wine
I went back to the house in about an hour
(When the boy's were) drinking whiskey sours
Brandy alexanders
Frozen (daquires)
Reciting the greek alphabet to one another

I could see I was gonna have to do my very best
To get myself out of that fraternity mess
I stood right there outside the door
And I chugged that wine like never before
Walked inside and bubbled
All over a couple of their dates

So now everything's back to normal again
But there is still lots of room for improvement my friend
'Cause that fraternity stuff is too much for me
Next time I'm gonna join a sorority
Really get me something to bubble about

If I needed you
Would you come to me,
Would you come to me,
And ease my pain?
If you needed me
I would come to you
I'd swim the seas
For to ease your pain

In the night forlorn
The morning's born
And the morning shines
With the lights of love
You will miss sunrise
If you close your eyes
That would break
My heart in two

The lady's with me now
Since I showed her how
To lay her lily
Hand in mine
Loop and Lil agree
She's a sight to see
And a treasure for
The poor to find.

I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
You know she cools me with her breathin'
Chases away those howlin' bottles of wine

She fits just like my guitar
Man, she's near as tall as me
She fits just like my guitar
She's near as tall as me
She lives way out the D train
But she's Texas as can be

She got a home-spun disposition
Man, she's just as gentle as you please
She got a home-spun disposition
Man, she's just as gentle as you please
She got arms just like two rattle snakes
Legs just like a billow in the breeze

I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
I want to trace her with my body
I want to track her with my mind

Source: LyricFind

I'm goin' out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine
I'm goin' out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine

White freight liner
Won't you steal away my mind?
Ah, New Mexico ain't bad, Lord
And the people there, they treat you kind
And the people there, they treat you kind

Well, it's bad news from Houston
Half my friends are dying
Well, it's bad news from Houston
Half my friends are dying

Ah, Lord, I'm gonna ramble
'Til I get back to where I came
Ah, Lord, I'm gonna ramble
'Til I get back to where I came

I'm goin' out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine
I'm goin' out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine

Won't say I love you, babe
Won't say I need you, babe
But I'm gonna get you babe
And I will not do you wrong
Living's mostly wasting time
And I'll waste my share of mine
But it never feels too good
So let's don't take too long
You're soft as glass
And I'm a gentle man
We got the sky to talk about
And the earth to lie upon

Days, up and down they come
Like rain on a conga drum
Forget most, remember some
But don't turn none away
Everything is not enough
And nothin' is too much to bear
Where you been is good and gone
All you keep is the getting there

To live is to fly
Low and high
So shake the dust off of your wings
And the sleep out of your eyes

Goodbye to all my friends
It's time to go again
Think of all the poetry
And the pickin' down the line
I'll miss the system here
The bottom's low
And the treble's clear
But it don't pay to think too much
On things you leave behind
I will be gone
But it won't be long
I will be a'bringin' back the melodies
And rhythm that I find

We all got holes to fill
Them holes are all that's real
Some fall on you like a storm
Sometimes you dig your own
The choice is yours to make
Time is yours to take
Some sail upon/dive into the sea
Some toil upon the stone

To live is to fly
Low and high
So shake the dust off of your wings
And the sleep out of your eyes

Shake the dust off of your wings
And the tears out of your eyes

She came and she touched me
With hands made of heaven
Reflections sent spinnin'
Through a face laced in mist
Now I stand where she left me
Buried deep 'neath her shadow
And the mirror pleads sadly
Has it all come to this?
And I wonder, will she call my name?

Well the wind careens madly
Through wide windows paneless
Fragrancies mingle
In a room full of shade
The peons pick partners
And waltz 'cross the ceilings
But the violins whisper
That I've been betrayed
Tryin' not to look ashamed

Well the drunkards drink deeply
From cups full of nothingness
Ghost lovers laugh
At the games that they play
While the moments do somersaults
Into eternity
Cling to their coattails
And beg them to stay
Saying I got nothing to hide

Well Illusions projected
On walls made of tiffany
Mad minuets to
A sad satin song
A harlequin mandolins
Harmonize helplessly
Hoping that endlessly
Won't last for long
Praying that their God ain't dying

Then I turn and I see her
In a dress made of moonlight
Teardrops like diamonds
Run slow down her face
And her arms surround me
Like chains made of velvet
And the demons fall faithfully
Into their place
And the river runs with jewels

Now the morning lies open
The night went quite quickly
Memory harmlessly
Fractures and fades
All the poets do push-ups
On carpets of rubber foam
Loudly they laugh
At some joke that's been made
And the wise men speak like fools

Among the strangest things I ever heard
Was when a friend of mine said "Man, let's get some Thunderbird"
I said "What's that?" he just started to grin
Slobbered on his shirt, his eyes got dim
He said "You got fifty-nine cents?"

I said "Yeah, I got a dollar, but don't be a smartalec
I ain't gonna spend it on no Indian relic"
And he said "Thunderbird's not an old Indian trinket,
It's a wine, man, you take it home and drink it."
I said "It sure don't sound like wine to me"
And he said he'd bet me the change from my dollar

We hustled on down to the nearest you-Tate-Um
The guy wanted my ID, I whipped her out and showed him
He got a green bottle from the freezing vault
My friend started doing backward somersaults
Through the cottage cheese

Took it back to his house, started drinkin'
Pretty soon I set in to thinkin'
"Man, this Thunderbird tastes yummy, yummy, yummy
And I know it's doing good things to my tummy, tum, t"
It's so you reason when your on that crap

Got a few more bottles, chugged them down
I pulled myself up off the ground
Decided I go see my dearest sweet wife
Who met me at the door with a carving knife
Said "Get them damn grape peel from between your teeth."

I could see we're gonna have a little misunderstanding
I said "Dear, I better get in touch with you later"
She said "Forget it, man, you're never touchin' me again!"

Now I've seen the light and heard the word
And I'm staying away from that ol' dirty Thunderbird
A message come from heaven radiant, and fine,
All I drink now is communion wine
Six days a week

Ride the blue wind high and free
She'll lead you down through misery
Leave you low, come time to go
Alone and low as low can be

If I had a nickel I'd find a game
If I won a dollar I'd make it rain
If it rained an ocean I'd drink it dry
And lay me down dissatisfied

Legs to walk and thoughts to fly
Eyes to laugh and lips to cry
A restless tongue to classify
All born to grow and grown to die

So tell my baby I said so long
Tell my mother I did no wrong
Tell my brother to watch his own
And tell my friends to mourn me none

I'm chained upon the face of time
Feelin' full of foolish rhyme
There ain't no dark till something shines
I'm bound to leave this dark behind

Ride the blue wind high and free
She'll lead you down through misery
Leave you low, come time to go
Alone and low as low can be

This nine pound hammer, it's a little too heavy
For my size, baby, for my size
I'm goin' on the mountain, gonna see my baby
But I ain't comin' back, well, I ain't comin' back

Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
Tell me, how can I roll, when the wheels won't go?
Roll on buddy, pull a load of coal
Now, how can I pull, when wheels won't roll?

It's a long way to Harlan, it's a long way to Hazard
Just to get a little brew, just to get a little brew
Well, when I'm long gone you can make my tombstone
Outta number nine coal, outta number nine coal

Hey, roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
How can I roll, when the wheels won't go?
Roll on buddy, pull your load of coal
Tell me, how can I pull, when wheels won't roll?

- Merle Travis

Oh, why does she sing
Her sad songs for me, I'm not the one
To tenderly bring her soft sympathy, I've just begun
To see my way clear
And it's plain if I stop I will fall
I can lay down a tear for her pain
Just a tear and that's all

Oh, what does she want me to do?
She says that she knows
That moments are rare
I suppose that it's true
Then on she goes to say I don't care
Oh, she knows that I do

Maybe she just has to sing
For the sake of the song
And who do I think that I am
To decide that she's wrong

She'd like to think I was cruel
But she knows that's a lie for I would be
No more than a tool
If I allowed her to cry all over me

Oh, my sorrow is real
Even though I can't change my plans
If she could see how I feel
Then I know that she'd understand

Oh, does she actually think I'm to blame?
Does she really believe that some word of mine
Could relieve all her pain?
Can't she see that she grieves
Just because she's been blindly deceived by her shame?

Oh, maybe she just has to sing
For the sake of the song
And who do I think that I am
To decide that she's wrong

Oh, but nothin's what it seems
Maybe she'll start someday to realize
If she abandons her dreams
Then all the words she can say are only lies

Oh, why can't she see that to gain is only to lose?
All that she offers me are her chains and I got to refuse

Oh, but it's only to herself that she's lied
She likes to pretend
There's something that she should defend with her pride
And I don't intend
To stand here and be the friend
From whom she must hide

Oh, maybe she just has to sing
For the sake of the song
And who do I think that I am
To decide that she's wrong

If I had no place to fall
And I needed to
Could I count on you
To lay me down?

I'd never tell you no lies
I don't believe it's wise
You got pretty eyes
Won't you spin me 'round

I ain't much of a lover it's true
I'm here then I'm gone
And I'm forever blue
But I'm sure wanting you

Skies full of silver and gold
Try to hide the sun
But it can't be done
Least not for long

And if we help each other grow
While the light of day
Smiles down our way
Then we can't go wrong

Time, she's a fast old train
She's here then she's gone
And she won't come again
Won't you take my hand

If I had no place to fall
And I needed to
Could I count on you
To lay me down?

Oh Loretta she's a barroom girl
Wears them sevens on her sleeve
Dances like a diamond shines
Tell me lies I love to believe
Her age is always 22
Her laughing eyes a hazel hue
Spends my money like water falls
Loves me like I want her to

Oh, Loretta, won't you say to me
Darling, put your guitar on
Have a little shot of booze
Play a blue a and wailing song
My guitar rings a melody
My guitar sings, Loretta's fine
Long and lazy, blonde and free
And I can have her any time

Sweetest at the break of day
Prettiest in the setting sun
She don't cry when I can't stay
'Least not 'til she's all alone
Loretta, I won't be gone long
Keep your dancing slippers on
Keep me on your mind a while
I'll be back, babe, to make you smile

It's plain to see, the sun won't shine today
But I ain't in the mood for sunshine anyway
Maybe I'll go insane
I got to stop the pain
Or maybe I'll go down to see Kathleen.

A swallow comes and tells me of her dreams
She says she'd like to know just what they mean
I feel like I could die
As I watch her flying by
Ride the north wind down to see Kathleen.

Stars hang high above, the oceans roar
The moon is come to lead me to her door
There's crystal across the sand
And the waves, they take my hand.
Soon I'm gonna see my sweet Kathleen.

Soon I'm gonna see my sweet Kathleen.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: John Townes Van Zandt

Like silent she stands
like laughter she falls
from a castle of sand
like a memory she crawls
and the mockingbirds grieve
'Cause they can't make her cry
they'll soon start to believe
that the lady has died
what it all goes to show
it ain't my job to say
for who am I to know
why she's actin' this way

Once again turn away
if you're sure that it's done
tell your prophets to pray
tell your bandits to run
take your eyelids of stone
they won't do you no harm
take your cross made of bones
take your your fly-paper arms
and when everything's placed
in your coffin and go
through a scarf 'round your face
'Cause the subway gets cold
pack up your sunflower smile
and your bandana blues
take your worthless denials
they're all you've got left to lose
take your Tinkerbell lies
and your weary desires
take the tears in your eyes
take your cup full of fire
give your lover a call
if your legs start to fail
and he'll come break your fall
with a bed full of nails

No need to glance back again
there ain't nothin' to see
just this drunken old man
and this woman and me
and you've made it quite plain
that we're just wastin' time
and you say that it seems strange
that I'm staying behind
but you don't worry 'bout me
I can make it alone
'Cause I got no place to be
and I ain't far from home

Everytime my baby and me go up town
Police come and they knock me down
Cocaine all around my brain
Hey baby, better come here quick.
This old cocaine is making me sick.
Cocaine all around my brain.
Yonder comes by baby, she's dressed in red
She's got a shot-gun, says she's gonna kill me dead.
Cocaine all around my brain
Hey baby, better come here quick.
This old cocaine is making me sick.
Cocaine all around my brain.
Early one morning, half past four
Cocaine came knockin' on my door.
Cocaine all around my brain
Hey baby, you better come here quick.
This old cocaine is making me sick.
Cocaine all around my brain.
Cocaine's for horses and it's not for men
Doctor said it kill you, but he don't say when.
Cocaine all around my brain.
Hey baby, you better come here quick.
This old cocaine is making me sick.
Cocaine all around my brain.

I walk 47 miles of barbed wire,
I use a cobra-snake for a necktie,
I got a brand new house on the roadside,
Made from rattlesnake hide,
I got a brand new chimney made on top,
Made out of a human skull,
Now come on take a walk with me, Arlene,
And tell me, Who Do You Love?

Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?

Tombstone hand and a graveyard mine,
Just 22 and I don't mind dying.

Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?

I rode around the town, use a rattlesnake whip,
Take it easy Arlene, don't give me no lip,

Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?

Night was dark, but the sky was blue,
Down the alley, the ice-wagon flew,
Heard a bump, and somebody screamed,
You should have heard just what I seen.

Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?

Arlene took me by my hand,
And she said ooowee Bo, you know I understand.

Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?
Who Do You Love?

- Bo Diddley of course

So close and yet so far away
And all the things I'd hoped to say
Will have to go unsaid today
Perhaps until tomorrow

Fears have built a wall between
Our lives and all that lovin' means
Will have to go unfelt it seems
That leaves only sorrow

You built your tower strong and tall
Can't you see it's got to fall
Some day

Close your eyes and speak to me
Of faith and love and destiny
As distant as eternity
From truth and understanding

The wind blows cold outside your door
It whispers words I've tried before
But you don't hear me anymore
Your pride's just too demanding

You built your tower strong and tall
Can't you see it's got to fall
Some day

The end is coming soon, it's plain
A warm bed just ain't worth the pain
And I will go and you'll remain
With the bitterness we tasted

A mother's breast
A newborn child
A poet's tear as an drunken smile
I can't help feelin' all but while
Their meaning won't be wasted

You built your tower strong and tall
Can't you see it's got to fall
Some day

Sometimes I don't know where
This dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
I guess I keep a-gamblin'
Lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
It's easier than just waitin' around to die

One time, friends, I had a ma
I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once 'cause she cried
She told him to take care of me
Headed down to Tennessee
It's easier than just waitin' around to die

I came of age and I found a girl
In a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit in on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, bought some wine
And hopped a train
Seemed easier than just waitin' around to die

A friend said he knew
Where some easy money was
We robbed a man, and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me
And drug me back to Muskogee
It's two long years I've been waitin' around to die

Now I'm out of prison
I got me a friend at last
He don't drink or steal or cheat or lie
His name's Codine
He's the nicest thing I've seen
Together we're gonna wait around and die
Together we're gonna wait around and die

The name she gave was Caroline
Daughter of a miner
Her ways were free
It seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her

She came from Spencer
Across the hill
She said her pa had sent her
'cause the coal was low
And soon the snow
Would turn the skies to winter

She said she'd come
To look for work
She was not seeking favors
And for a dime a day
And a place to stay
She'd turn those hands to labor

But the times were hard, Lord,
The jobs were few
All through Tecumseh valley
But she asked around
And a job she found
Tending bar at Gypsy Sally's

She saved enough to get back home
When spring replaced the winter
But her dreams were denied
Her pa had died
The word come down from Spencer

So she turned to whorin' out on the streets
With all the lust inside her
And it was many a man
Returned again
To lay himself beside her

They found her down beneath the stairs
That led to Gypsy Sally's
In her hand when she died
Was a note that cried
Fare thee well
Tecumseh valley

The name she gave was Caroline
Daughter of a miner
Her ways were free
It seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her

Won't you lend your lungs to me?
Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe
Up the time that's passing
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
And pray the day's not poison
Stand among the ones that live
In lonely indecision

Fingers walk the darkness down
Mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you've found
You fool, it's only moonlight
And if you stop to take it home
Your hands will turn to butter
Better leave this dream alone
Try to find another

Salvation sat and crossed herself
And called the devil partner
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Who'll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at its mouth
Take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Bathe in fiery answers

Jesus was an only son
And love his only concept
Strangers cry in foreign tongues
And dirty up the doorstep
And I for one, and you for two
Ain't got the time for outside
Keep your injured looks to you
We'll tell the world that we tried

Don't go saying I'm leaving you
Thinking I never got close enough to stay
Time runs in, and then runs out
Starts again and it's always been that way
You're gonna drown tomorrow
If you cry to many tears for yesterday
Tomorrow's half of all you've got
So treat him good, 'cause when I'm gone, he'll stay

I won't be forgetting you
You won't be forgetting me, I know
If memory comes a summer cloud

Rains her sweetness down to me below
I see you like you look right now
Maybe wonder why I had to go
But heaven is the way she is
Rain falls and rivers flow

So here's to feelin' good
Here's to feelin' bad
Here's to bein' thankful
Sorry for the pleasures that we had
And autumn days and window panes
God, forgive us if you feel decieved
The clock don't know you like I do
And it's only him or me you got to believe