Billy Said

Billy said you don't live
up above the delivery place no more.
So I went around next door
to see where you had moved.

Jimmy gave me your letter
and we sat down for a drink.
He said he didn't think
that anything much improved.

But I went back to the pick up place
somewhat reassured.
At least I had your word
about that thing.

And I'll be right behind you
as soon as I can roll,
and get out of this hole.
If I call I'll let it ring.

By the time we packed up all our gear
it was getting close to three.
I knew where I had to be
but I didn't know when.

Me and the other three don't talk much
but that's O.K. with me.
The driver said I'd be in
by half past ten.

So I lay back and closed my eyes
and dreamed I saw a face
I could not place
but thought I knew.

And as this face tried to explain
I felt the fault was mine.
That's hard as I was tryin'
I was untrue.

Sometimes you're going along secure
in everything you done.
That's what you have begun
you will see through.

And then a single sideways glance
can shake you to the core.
So all that's gone before
is gonna give way to something new.

And you know you're gonnna make the leap
no matter where you land
'cause you cannot withstand
uncertainly.

And just 'cause you were such a fool
for taking such a chance
that in your ignorance
you got away free.


Plum

I come in to find you glum
as a plum that's been in the sunlight some.
You look up and smile
like a flag going up a pole.

I could play the great pretender.
I'm the last of the big suspends
but Nero to your Rome
is not my role.

You don't have to tell me how you're feeling.
I've had my fill of empty too.
One minute you're up there near the ceiling.
And the next you find
what putting your trust
in a pile of dust will do.

Still, there's no use sitting there
like a losing hand of solitaire
with a few too many odd bits to spare
to ever fit in the pile.

Send those cards back where you got 'em.
My old deck ain't got no bottom.
I swear there's a couple in there
are wild.

Let me lay my cards out on the table.
I'll up the ante 'til you call.
The odds are even though unstable.
But I don't mind
we're two of a kind, now.
Don't that beat all?

Let's invent a game for two
where I play me and you play you.
The object is to have such fun
we always want some more.

Pin the tail on the monkey in the middle.
Top banana.  Second fiddle.
Loser is the one caught
keeping score.

Endless hours of harmless entertainment.
Ages on the ninety-nine can play.
I can hardly contain my containment
in my eagerness to address
this burning question
right away.

Chaos, anarchy, law and order.
I do sometimes cross the border.
Name rank serial number
and one thing to declare.

I don't see why I shouldn't do
what I wanna do, when I wanna do it.
All I'm fighting for
is a breath of air.

There ain't none in longing backward glances.
Even on a mountain it is rare.
Hey, anyone here for taking chances
of having so much fun
we can hardly fall out of our chair?

Do re mi fa sol la ti do
let us laze around the lido
or adopt some similar credo
win place show or draw.

Not that that or anything matters.
Monopoly, snakes and ladders
and do re mi fa
sol la di da.

I declare a general celebration.
Maybe I can use the P.A. in the mall.
But ever if no one answers the invitation
I still guarantee
a good time
will be had by all.

I come in to find you glum
As a plum that's been in the sunlight some...


Greetings as I leave

Here it is mid-afternoon
and all I've done today is tune
my guitar, sing about the moon,
and tend the fire.

Outside coloured leaves blow down
masterpieces by the pound.
The poplar in her sequined gown
and the crows singin' choir.

Grey clouds hurry by.
Oh my.

And when they part
a touch of blue.

Time for me to fly.
Oh my.
And when I part
a touch of blue then, too.

To your island of repose
I'll drag my sorry bag of clothes.
Begging floor.
Nothing more.

I know how you wait for me,
side with me, tolerate me.
I am true.
I love you.

I know how you wait for me,
side with me, tolerate me.
I am true.
I love you.

Here we go again
my friend.
I know it takes
a little while.

I will more than bend
my friend,
if it makes
you smile.

Time is such a petty their.
It doesn't leave a single leaf.
It drains the colour, dries the stem,
and crushes them.

Moments I have tried to hold
act more like sunlight than like gold
which sounds like something I would say
today.

Lovely time of year,
my dear,
and I must get
out of doors.

Wishing you were here
my dear.
Meanwhile I remain
faithfully yours...


Time'll get you Money

Time'll get you money.
Money'll get you time.
The way we waste the both of them
is nothing but a crime.

Love'll get you Love.
Fear'll get you Fear.
What part of that message
isn't very clear?

The weak ones vie for power
The strong ones pray for strength.
To satisfy desire
we go to any length.

Space is only distance.
From way back it looks like matter.
Time is an illusion.
Talk is idle chatter.

There are no contradictions
there's only our confusion.
To fit a predilection
we create an illusion.

Reality depends.
Absolute's subjective.
Now how can I know all these things?
You see, I'm a detective

You might think I'm crazy
As a lon up in a tree.
But if you think you're as crazy as I am
you're crazier than me.

Nothing is exclusive.
Everything's unique
If what you seek's elusive
perhaps that's why you seek.

The wise man is reclusive.
The fool is always there.
The hypocrite's effusive.
The government's in repair.

Hold on if you can stand it
or let go in relief.
I used to be a bandit
but now I am a thief.

Latch on to your love.
Make up with your neighbour.
When you run for cover
don't fall on your sabre.

My eloquent informant
with the fairy tale wart
just dropped in to tell me
Time Itself is getting short.

Too late for good behaviour.
You've run out of appeals.
I used to be your saviour
but now I'm death on wheels.

Oh, you might think I'm You might think I'm crazy
As a lon up in a tree.
But if you think you're as crazy as I am
you're crazier than me.


Sittin' In A Doorway

I'm sittin' in the doorway
of this old abandoned store.
I picked it out at random
but I'm skiin' it more and more.

You wanna have things your way.
Well, let that be fore now.
It's summy and it's sheltered here
and I'm comforable somehow.

I think that always bothered you
how I could turn it off.
I tried to tell you it is faith
but you, you call it weak and soft.

Whaddayou call it the way you are?
Driven on by fear.
I hate to see you that way
but you refuse to hear.

Even though you know you're in a whirlpool.
You say it's like a tailspin.
Well, I tried reaching out for you
but you, you want me to jump in.

And I refuse to do that.
And then you say I don't care.
The irony would kill me
if I lived in your despair.

But I'm not trying to convince you
that I know what I'm doin'.
It's just a feeling that I've got
and it may not be worth pursuin'.

But it got me this far
and I've learned to trust it more.
It led me to be there with you
now it's brought me to this door.

But I didn't come here to think about all that, no.
I just wanted to sit down.
I'm sittin' in a doorway.
You wanna have things your way.

Well, I'm sittin' in the doorway
of this store.
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Whoa, ohh, ohh.


I used to Be Able To Yodel

I used to be able to yodel.
I used to sing like a bird,
My dedication was total.
I used to yodel every single word.

Then I met up with a model.
She picked me out of the crowd.
Now I have turned to the bottle.
And now I ain't yodelling so loud.

(bad yodelling)

She is attracted to the high life.
I am a son of the soil.
And when I asked her to be my wife
she just shook her head and said: "I gotta go sell
snake oil."

Now I admit I was reckless.
I'm wracked by remorse I confess.
I never should've bought her that necklace
by sellin' my dad's fancy yodellin' vest.

(bad yodelling)

Now I get by as I am able,
Love sure lived up to the hype.
And as I look down at the table
And as I look down at the table
I can't help but notice it and me
are both badly wiped.

Outside my window a starling
offers me one tiny ray.
Tough you are gone now, my darling
I hope my yodelling will come back to me one day

(bad yodelling)


Ducks On The Pond

The ducks are on the pond again.
The buds are on the trees.
And I've been set upon again
and landed on my knees.

I never see who does it.
He hits me from behind.
But since I never notice it
I never really mind.

And nothing much is taken
but my old winter wear
and I may have thrwn that away myself
For all I care.

Oo, oo.  Oo, oo.

And what've we got over here
hiding behind a tree?
It looks like a one handed
bicycle riding, flute playing
coat stealing, poetry spouting
headbanging harbinger
to me.

The rain has swept the gutter.

The park is sparkling clean.
I'll meet you on the corner
by the instabank machine.

And it'll be good to see you
and you will look the same.
My whole perspective's shifted now
I want to call your name.

Given the pick of the litter
you always took the runt.
Whatever we did I'm glad to see
you never gave up the hunt.

Oo, oo.  Oo, oo.

The overcooked potato
I called my firm resolve
got tired of playing the part, I guess
and suddenly dissolved.

There are two things in this world
I thought I'd never see.
One's your smiling face.
And two's your smiling face lookin' at me.

The world's a perfect jewel
we're slowly driving mad.
I'd like to dip it in the pool
and dry it on the rad.

And open up the window
so it can hear the bells.
I'm glad we are no different
like everybody else.

The masquerade is over now
so please remove your mask.
Now am I crazy, would you say?
Or should I even ask?

Oo, oo.  Oo, oo.

I met a man named Gravity.
He said: "I wanna fight."
I said: "I'll think about it."
He said: "I guess you're right."

My life is in the balance
and I'm the referee.
I wonder how I got entrusted
to the likes of me.
Oo, oo.  Oo, oo.

Miracles and wonders
abound on every hand.
They saturate the sea and air.
They permeate the land.

They make the dictionary
entirely arbitrary.
So people made a word for them
and the word is "ordinary".

How can I go with the flow?
It goes against the grain.
And who would want to spend their whole life
going down the drain?

Oo, oo.  Oo, oo.

I want you to enfold me
and always hold me near.
You doubted me for a minute there
and made me disappear.

And made me doubt myself, I hear
but here we are in the end.
Though I don't want to spend the time
on time we didn't spend.

Oo, oo.  Oo, oo.
Oo, oo, oo.


Too Many Number

Well I got
too many numbers
in my little black book
I got so many numbers
I don't want to look.
When I'm walking
down the street
so many people
that I have to meet.
And when I want to go out
to the theatre
should I ask Rita
or should I ask Anita?
I got too many numbers
in my little black book
that's my problem.
Oh oh oh

Well I got
too many numbers
in my little black book,
I got so much shakin'
that it's got me shook.
When I want an invitation 
out to dinner
all I do is throw a dark
to see who is the winner.
Is it Madeline? Marilyn?
Jacqueline? Caroline?
Too many numbers
in my little black book
that's my problem.
Oh oh oh

Well is it mystical?
Oh, I don't know.
Is it physical?
Well yes I guess it must be so.
Now I am quizzical,
what can the reason be
for my popularity
hee, hee?

'Cause I got
too many numbers
in my little black book
Yay.  The telephone is ringing 
off the hook.
How'm I s'posed to get my sleep?
How'd I ever get in so deep?
I got
too many numbers
in my little black book
that's my problem.
Yay-ay-ay.

I got
too many numbers
in my little black book
Too many cookers
are ruining the cook.
I got 'em tucked away
In every nook.
I never knew
what little it took.
Ohhh...!


Dancing Eyes

She walks like water flowing .
She weaves like a field of grain.
She can sway her hips all day.
As far as I’m concerned.

I forget about where I was going.
Swept away again
The next dumb thing that I’m gonna do
Is because I never learn

	But when she smiles at me
	By the circus tents 
	the laughing crowd
	Suddenly makes sense

	The lights go on
	My spirits rise
	Then I come upon 
	Those dancing eyes

She waits for me to stumble
She slides into a grin
Maybe wondering if I’ll try
Flattery or a bribe

I’m already feeling more than humble
May as well jump in 
She shifts her hips in an arc
Which cannot be described

	And in that moment
	By the circus tents
	To the background roar
	Of the audience

	She lifts her dancing eyes 
	To mine
	So I can read
	Between the lines

We talk like children playing
Her laughter in my ear
Visions of sun dance glints
Off golden hair

No idea what we are saying 
Her perfume when she’s near
And the thrill of what is happening 
In the air

	Memories of a kiss
	By the circus tents
	To the loud applause 
	Of the audience

	And the fading notes
	Of a rocking band 
As we go walking 
	Hand in hand 


Fireman

I would love you
Till the sky turns blue
Till the rain falls down
Until the world goes round

What can I do
What can I say
To make you stay
I could go on all night
But I've no right to make you listen

If I was a fireman
and you lived in a building
I could set your house on fire
and throw a ladder to your window
And all the way down
We could be alone
We could make our plans
I could take your hand
And in the glow of fire light
Everything would be alright, together.

If I owned a factory.
You could blow the whistle
I would write epistles
In your lunch box daily.
At a quarter to nine,
We could take a stroll
In between the rows
And every night at quitting time
I bunch you card along with mine, sweetheart

If you were an outlaw
And I was a detective
I could be protective
and get the wrong directive
You could escape in the back of my car
I mail the sheriff my star
And if he doesn't like it he
Could get another deputee, darling

I would love you 
Untill the sky tuned blue
Till the rain falls down
Until the world goes round
What can I do, what can I say, to make you stay
I could go on all night,
But I've no right to make you listen.


Rainy Afternoon

The quiet of a rainy afternoon
playin' my guitar
I thought of a tune
But I didn't get very far
You're over at the table
Rolling dought
Since the fire's going anyway
I heard you say about an hour ago
I want to tell you something
But it would only break the spell
What it took for us to get here
Only you or I could tell

The babys in her cradle
The wood is in the shed
I think I'm gunna wait 'till
You're finished with that bread
Then I'm gunna wander over
Put my arms around your waist
Ask you a question
Make a suggestion

On a rainy afternoon
Soon enough to be getting back to chores
Mine and yours

I remember when we moved here
With a blanket for a door
The rain ran in between the roof boards
But it ran right back through the cracks in the kitchen floor
Now listen to them falling
Beating on the tin
I hope no one comes calling
Because I won't wanna let them in
Well it isn't very often
On an ordinary day
That we get to be together
But thanks to the weather

On a rainy afternoon
Soon enough to be gettin back to chores
Mine and yours


Rusty Pain Blues

Well the bread is getting stale
and the water's tasting flat.
Well the bread is getting stale
and the water's tasting flat.
If you want some milk and honey
honey, we can get you that.

You don't have to hurt nobody.
Bring nobody to their knees.
You don't have to hurt nobody.
Bring nobody to their knees.
I can show you how to lead anyone 
anywhere by degrees.

We got your name all over a file.
Sittin' on top of the pile
And even if it takes awhile
we're gonna put you inna condo....

Always say the sun in shining
even in the pouring rain.
Always say the sun in shining
even in the pouring rain.
Never carry nothin' bigger'n a twenty.
Never steal nothin' smaller than a freight train.

The water's tasting flat
and the bread is getting stale.
The water's tasting flat
and the bread is getting stale.
Hey here's your milk and honey
honey, all I had was this here rust pail.