a little song

transparent tape

some guitar strings

a little bit

of everything

kalimba keys

sunflower seeds

get your favorite person

and give them a squeeze

please, ma'am, won't you give us a chance

a little song

a little dance

you used to fall in love

you used to drive on mountains

you used to fly above

so many blessings you can't count them

you used to fall in love

you always did your finest

passion always first in line

who are you now, my highness

you're running out of time

I am afraid of past mistakes

they haunt me night and day

if you give me a handshake

I will quietly go away

my words aren't working

they don't come out of me

all I have is this hurting

that no one can see

waiting on you

I'm waiting on you

to bring me the bag

that holds my future in it

I check the time

the scene of the crime

the second hand moves a minute

I don't know who I am

tomorrow moves slow

and yesterday's lone gone

all I need

is a place in need

for which I can hold on

        I'm waiting 

        I'm waiting

        I'm waiting on you

I'm trusting that you

can keep all my secrets

that I can never tell

I've given up on ways

to get through the day

just relying on myself

you are my hope

that the world will run smoothly

lately it's been rough

my fingers are aching

for what's there for the taking

I believe I've had enough

          I'm waiting

          I'm waiting 

          I'm waiting on you

I'm using my hearing

to lift up my spirits

I need your knock on the door

right to the letter

I will feel better

when you bring me more

I'm trying not to be desperate

I know there's some meaning

deep within this space

I don't need advice

but I'll pay the price

as soon as I see your face

'

          I'm waiting

          I'm waiting

          I'm waiting on you

bad habits

bad habits continue

to poison my mind

things are returning

I thought I'd left behind

no questions or answers

no reason or rhyme

no one around to save you

bad habits take time

that could be better spent

earning the money

to pay this month's rent

the way things are going

you'll be living in a tent

nobody to behave to

          I can change, I know I can

          I can change, I know I can

bad habits have got me

afraid of myself

always checking to see

if I'm somebody else

absence of glory

no self-worth or wealth

did I waste all of my time here?

I could if I would

I should set my own self free

claim my stake

in history

working for some

destiny

it's been a long hard climb up here

          I can change, I know I can

          I can change, I know I can

first day outdoors

first day outdoors

I've been a long time gone

nobody but me

to rely upon

I feel no rain

I'm immune to heat

I don't touch carpet

with my feet

a feeling to be stealing one more

first day outdoors

the midday sun

making you and the ones you knew

forever young

I'd sell my soul 

to the company store

just to feel

the first day outdoors

first day outdoors

be still and catch the wind

time for breathing out

time for breathing in

feet planted firmly

on solid ground

open your eyes

look around

a present you cannot ignore

first day outdoors

I don't need your pity

give me something I can use

no more of your abuse

when times were good

they were as good

as times could be

a strong walk in the neighborhood

knock on wood

the way it should be

I wanted good times

a lot more than it was allowed

I don't need your pity

I don't need your pity

I don't need your pity now

new way home

I was looking for a new way home

something previously unknown

called me on the telephone

saying "Hurry! Make it quick!"

I said politely and I turned around

turn that fuckin' jukebox down

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound

I would not throw a brick

heartless

why do you have to be so heartless?

you used to be as free as the wind

now you can't conceive of justice

in this hopeless mess you're in

when did you stop believing?

why do you let life hold you down?

all of your friends take turns in leaving

they just can't take you hanging around

all of your hope has been taken

by circumstances beyond your control

you think it's over but you're mistaken

you still have goodness in your soul

take a moment to search your conscience

you'd be surprised by what's inside

I know you fear the consequences

you can look around but you cannot hide

          where are you going?

          no one can tell you

          you turn the corner 

          at the strangest times

          now you know that

          no one can help you

          you'll have to pay 

          for committing the crime

why do you have to be so heartless?

I know you're afraid to cry out loud

it's so damn hard to be apart, yes,

always somewhere you're not allowed

only you can stop the madness

only you can rearrange

the missing pieces that turn to sadness

you've still got time to change

you've still got time to change

why do you have to be so heartless?

why do you have to be so heartless?

 

I am not hopeless

I'm not as helpless 

as you think I am

I will find my way 

out of this jam

right now things look hopeless

but your eyes deceive you

the only way to cope is

in what you say and do

I am not hopeless

I've known it all along

you may think I'm weak

but I know I am strong

I'll wake up tomorrow

and find a brand new day

trouble may cause sorrow

but I will find a way

          problems may knock 

          hard on my front door

          but they won't possess me 

          like they did before

I am not helpless

I still have my dignity

I have found the courage

hiding deep inside of me

I don't need your worrying

and I don't want your fear

one way or another

I will make it out of here

my persistence is something

I cannot ignore

I am not helpless

anymore 

I still have my mind

you have your facts and figures

about my biology

you've got your mind made up

when it's concerning me

can I meet your approval?

can I pass all your tests?

can I believe your opinions

when you say you know what's best?

          there is more to me

          than you'll ever see

          you have not witnessed

          my history

          you're looking for

          what you will never find

          I may be an old man

          but I still have my mind

I can still remember

the places of my past

I can still do long division

my knowledge seems to last

I may need help in some things

but listen, so do you

I've still got some miles to go

before my journey's through

          there is more to me

          than you'll ever see

          you have not witnessed

          my history

          you're looking for

          what you will never find

          I may be an old man

          but I still have my mind

so take your facts and figures

your plans and studies too

take your unanswered questions

and all the stuff you do

you think you know what's right for me

but you don't have a grasp

take all your false projections

and shove them up your ass

          there is more to me

          than you'll ever see

          you have not witnessed

          my history

          you're looking for

          what you will never find

          I may be an old man

          but I still have my mind

          I may be an old man

          but I still have my mind

   

worried

I am worried

that's what I do

it doesn't matter

if it isn't true

all of the day

and all of the night

I worry about

everything in sight

come the morning

I wake and find

that worrying has

taken over my mind

I'm tense and nervous

and I'm afraid

that my worrying has

to be obeyed

          take your problems

          make them bigger

          out of proportion

          pull the trigger

          take your problems

          make them worse

          is it a blessing

          or a curse?

I worry about

everything I see

with all the strength

inside of me

I know that it does

no damn good

but I still worry

like I think I should

          take your problems

          make them large

          let them know

          they're in charge

          take your problems

          make them devour

          all your hope

          they've got the power

I am worried

I'm in bad shape

it holds me hostage

I can't escape

my worrying knows

how to attack

but one day I

will fight back

I miss being young

I miss being young

my life spread out before me

like a four-lane Texas highway

that never ends

laughter on my tongue

trouble would ignore me

my parents still alive

good times with all my friends

appreciating stillness

never fearing illness

looking toward the future

with every youthful breath

now I am an old man

doing everything I can

to try not to think about

my upcoming death

I miss being young

hitchhiking by the roadside

flirting with the girls

being one of the boys

climbing every rung

joy was never denied

taking every opportunity

to make a joyful noise

appreciating friendship

not having to defend it

experiencing freedom

with a song inside my heart

now I am an old man

fighting to understand

the meaning of my life

and why I must depart

          no need for excuses

          no reason and no rhyme

          now I just feel useless

          and I need some more time

I miss being young

searching for a companion

hunting for adventure

I never was afraid

always having fun

I never felt abandoned

I never had regrets

for the decisions I have made 

summers in the sunshine

I never feared the bad times

I never thought there'd come a day

when my songs would all be sung

now I am an old man

and I do not give a damn

somehow I still feel hopeful

like my life has just begun

I still want tomorrow

I miss being young

driving across Texas

life takes a long time

when you're driving across Texas

with the windows wide open

and the radio on

destination's clear

and the family expects us

we'll be home by morning

sometime after dawn

you try your damn best

when you're driving across Texas

beer in paper bags

you wish you had AC

eyes on the highway

I hope no one forgets us

there will be better times

for you and for me

          three more hours to Austin

          the engine is humming

          a tune we've always known

          you can tell all the neighbors

          that we are coming

          home

look how the summer stars

shine on the windshield

there's no chance of rain

on this hot July night

unending white lines

tumbleweeds in the field

we're both bone dead tired

but we're feeling all right

          three more hours to Austin

          the engine is humming

          a tune we've always known

          you can tell all the neighbors

          that we are coming

          home 

life takes a long time

when you're driving across Texas

one more Dr. Pepper

one more cigarette

we'll drive forever

if common sense lets us

vanish into the night

we'll get there yet   

          

sweet yesterdays

all my sweet yesterdays

I can see them in my mind

all the people in my past

all the ones I've left behind

they return now and I smile

hoping they will stay a while

keeping me from being alone
coming back to take me home

lost inside of memory

I remember you back then

singing songs down at the beach

you were more than just a friend

when I heard you went away

there was nothing I could say

I could not pretend to know

tell me why you had to go

          you were falling

          and I could not see a thing

          you were falling

          and I could not see a thing

the mistakes that I have made

they come back to haunt me now

they overtake my thoughts

and I really don't know how

this is not the way it seems

they never visit in my dreams

except now they come into view

and all I really know is you

          you were falling

          and I could not see a thing

          you were falling

          and I could not see a thing

all my sweet yesterdays

I will never get my fill

I still have them in my mind

and I know I always will

and I know I always will

          

hiding place

the night is frozen

it's as still as an unknown breeze

it's what has been chosen

it'll bring you to your knees

you say "where am I?"

but you know just where you are

in the blink of an eye

in the falling of a star

          you are here

          exactly where you've been

          someday you will return

          to the hiding place again

everything is broken

nothing is the same

all these words unspoken

except the sound of your own name

you say "who am I?"

but the answer doesn't come

all you can do is try

the trial has begun

          you are here

          exactly where you've been

          someday you will return

          to the hiding place again

everything changes

let's take it day by day

minute by minute

let's look at the day

and see what's in it

it could be the future

It could be the past

all I know is

it will not last

           because everything changes

           no one is to blame

           everything changes

           nothing stays the same

for my own behalf

I never have been listened to 

in all my days on earth

everybody thinks they know 

what's best for me

they tell me that I'm always wrong 

and that I have no worth

they see my faults

but they don't know the rest of me

and that is why 

I'm leaving town today

one last goodbye 

and I'll be on my way

          I'm going where I can be alone

          with no one else around

          somewhere I can walk on my own path

          I'm going to find my own way home

          where I can hear the sound

          of my thoughts all for my own behalf

take me home

I just wanted to make magic

like the ones before me did

imitating others

because I was just a kid

I was learning from my elders

polishing my craft

going higher and higher

for my own behalf

          take me home

          I want to feel that feeling again

          take me home

          somewhere I don't have to pretend

          I've had my adventures

          out in the great unknown

          all I need from you

          is for you to take me home

somebody new

I don't want to be someone else

but I don't want to be myself

I want to be somebody new

I just want to be somebody new

someone with no future

someone with no past

someone with something that will always last

I want to be somebody new

I just want to be somebody new

          I'm tired of the same old same old

          I'm tired of the same old thing

          I'm tired of everybody

          I'm tired of everything

don't tell me I just need to calm down

I need somebody else around

I want to be somebody new

I just want to be somebody new

give me a reason and a bottle of wine

I need some hope in this life of mine

I want to be somebody new

I just want to be somebody new

          I'm tired of the life I'm living

          I'm tired of the things I do

          I'm tired of this world around me

          I'm tired of you

I'm gonna take a look around me

I'm glad dissatisfaction has found me

I want to be somebody new

I just want to be somebody new

I'm not the man that you've always known

I'm looking for a brand new home

I want to be somebody new

I just want to be somebody new

I want to be somebody new

I just want to be somebody new

somebody new

I keep dreaming

I need to dream

it's a problem I have

because no matter where I am

I can't be satisfied

I just can't help it

I need it so bad

it's a feeling inside me

that cannot be denied

          so I keep dreaming

          like a natural born fool

          I don't know what else to do

          'cause my dreams 

          always lead me back 

          to you

my story

hopefully I have some good years left

but you can never tell

I could fall off the highest mountain

or jump into a well

but I'm still out here trying

I can still live as myself

and hope that my story is not over

I don't remember much of childhood

but I got through it anyway

everything is still a blur

when it comes to younger days

so I'm out here making memories

what more can I say?

I'm hoping that my story is not over

          because there's so much to see

          friends that I don't know

          grant me just a little time

          we'll see how far I can go

          this planet is a great big world

          with lots of room to grow

          and still my story continues

each day is passing quickly

and old age is not a myth

and if you ask me what it's all about

I'll have to plead the fifth

but I still have the skills and tools

to spend my life with

I hope that my story is not over

          because there's so much to see

          friends that I don't know

          grant me just a little time

          to see how far I'll go

          this planet is a great big world

          with lots of room to grow

          and still my story continues

old man returning

I am an old man returning

to the secrets of my youth

back when my soul was burning

and I could see the truth

I am an old man returning

to the land of my home

it's the sweetest place I have ever known

I live inside my memories

today is not my friend

I cannot do what I please

I see hope growing thin

I live inside my memories

I cry sometimes and laugh

thinking about when I walked a straighter path

          oh, Lord, take me back

          when life was never wrong

          to the hometown of my childhood

          back where I belong

now I live in silence

I spend my days in fear

life has shown its violence

the end is drawing near 

now I live in silence

my future now has passed

I used to believe life would always last

I am an old man returning

to the scene of my youth

back when my soul was burning

and I could see the truth

I am an old man returning

to the land of my home

it's the sweetest place I have ever known

I forgive everyone

I am an old, old man

I live in a hospital bed

I'd rather be in the fatherland

but I'm here instead

now I'm crossing the final river

in a world hard and rough

I used to wish I could live forever

now I feel I've had enough

          but I have one thing to say

          before I see my setting sun

          I have reached the end of my days

          and I forgive everyone

I fought all the fights I found

I never ran afraid

my consequences knew the sound

of choices I have made

three children I have fathered

with my loving wife

I never yearned for anything other

I'm satisfied with my life

          now I have one thing to say

          at this time I can't outrun

          listen before I fade away

          I forgive everyone

          everything I've ever seen

          somehow became a part of me

          everything I've ever known

          has been welcome in my home

all those who have wronged me

I will not think of you now

my heart always belonged free

of the hate that time will allow

but I know before I go

my soul will live forever

I will fly swiftly as the crow

when I cross my final river

          now I have one thing to say

          now that my time is done

          I have no choice, I cannot stay

          and I forgive everyone

          I forgive everyone

my adopted hometown

a cup of good strong coffee

and I'm lost in memory

feeling kind of lonesome

for where I used to be

I was not born and raised there

but I'm always hanging around

in my adopted hometown

sometimes I remember

the faces of old friends

lately in my nightly dreams

I'm seeing them again

I'm counting all my blessings

for the peace that I once found

in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          if I could, I'd settle down

          in my adopted hometown

the sunrise in the country hills

bluebonnets in the wild

musicians everywhere you go

the way the ladies smile

waiting for a moonlit night

just around sundown

in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          if I could, I'd settle down

          in my adopted hometown

I always thought that I would

end up there one day

I cannot fully explain

just why I moved away

I pray someday I will return

to my place of sacred ground

in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          if I could, I'd settle down

          in my adopted hometown

don't tell me to calm down

I don't want to calm down

don't tell me to calm down

I'm not gonna calm down

I just want to be angry at you

why do you do what you do

I can't believe what you do

I've thought the whole thing through

and I find no use for you

          don't tell me to calm down

          please just stop hanging around

          peace is nowhere to be found

          don't tell me to calm down

don't be hanging 'round my door

just like the ways you did before

I've got no choice but to ignore

the lump of stupid known as you

who the hell do you think you are

all you leave me with are scars

I'm heading to the local bar

because you do not have a clue

          don't tell me to calm down

          please just stop hanging around

          peace is nowhere to be found

          don't tell me to calm down       

one more thing before I go

that I believe you should know

no more putting up a show

leave while the getting's good

I don't like you being here

let me make this statement clear

it's time for you to disappear

leave like you know you should

          don't tell me to calm down

          please just stop hanging around

          peace is nowhere to be found

          don't tell me to calm down

when I get out of prison

when I get out of prison

I'll tell you what I'll do

eat a burger

chug some wine

and make sweet love to you

make sweet love to you

when I get out of prison

I'll tell you what I'll see

I'll look into your pale brown eyes

and you'll look back at me

you'll look back at me

          I'll do away with yesterdays

          and stare straight ahead

          at the destiny that's yet to be

          from the safety of my bed

when I get out of prison

there'll be no one to answer to

the  only one to share my soul

will be the likes of you

and you know that's true

when I get out of prison

I will not be on trial

I'll be living for the future

and the glory of your smile

the glory of your smile

medications

I am held together by medications

pills for my body and my head

I am in a sad situation

I would rather be natural instead

still I take them

every morning

every night

still I take them

they help me work out right

they are my friends, my medications

they help me out when I swallow

lead me not into temptation

help me make it to tomorrow

so I take them

after sleep

when it's time for bed

so I take them

bringing peace to my aching head

they're just like family, my medications

helping me cope through the working day

leading me to pure elation

what more can I begin to say?

I will take them

because I worry

because I care

I will take them

I am so thankful

that they are there

I am held together by medications

pills for my body and my head

chores

all the chores are done

let's go to the river

to see what we can see

there's bound to be excitement

for you and for me

we can rest or we can get wet

but we better not forget

this is our life

it's our one big chance

cry forever (rewrite 3)

I think I will cry forever

when I hear your name

the world is just as you left it

but for me, it isn't the same

the days and nights are lonely here

ever since you disappeared

just like a rapid rolling river

I will cry forever

I will always remember you

when I hear a child laugh

a weed growing through the sidewalk

as I walk along its path

I saw what there was to see

and I keep it in my memory

I will not forget you, never

I will cry forever

          I will think of you

          when the northern breezes blow

          I am so proud

          that it's you I got to know

maybe I'll always be sad

maybe that's the price you pay

and I've paid the price and more

what more can I say

except you will live inside my heart

where we will never be apart

where our bonds will not be severed

I will cry forever

nothing is ever easy

nothing is ever easy

it doesn't matter who you are

one day you're a shining jewel

the next day you're a fallen star

I still wish the best for you

wherever you may go

what I mean is, where you're going

there's no real way to know

you're born naked and fearful

and you don't have a choice

you don't even recognize

the sound of your own voice

you grow into an old man

after many, many years

always asking of yourself

exactly why am I here

but the answers never come

you're as clueless as before

but that has never stopped you

from going out the door

and greeting the new morning

with completely open arms

maybe for once the world

isn't causing any harm

so live inside the moment

you're safe for right now

you're not asking where or when

the only question is how

now it's time to celebrate

the world that you know

by counting all your blessings

until it's time to go

cry forever (rewrite 2)

I think I will cry forever

when I hear your name

the world is just as you left it

but for me, it isn't the same

the days and nights are lonely here

ever since you disappeared

just like a rapid rolling river

I will cry forever

I will always remember you

when I hear a child laugh

a weed growing through the sidewalk

as I walk along its path

I saw what there was to see

and I always will in my memory

I will not forget you, never

I will cry forever

          I will think of you

          when the northern breezes blow

          I am so proud

          that it's you I got to know

maybe I'll always be sad

maybe that's the price you pay 

of all people in your past

begin to pass away

but you will live inside my heart

where we will never be apart

where our bonds will not be severed

I will cry forever

need for the unknown

where fireflies light up the sky

like fireworks on the fourth of July

mom and daddy standing by

this is where you grew up

and you know you love it and always will

the place where time always stands still

the faraway call of the whippoorwill

you could never get enough

so why did the city cry out for you

people to know and things yet to do

it felt so much like home

it's the need for the unknown

self-conscious

I will try not to be self-conscious

but here's the honest facts

yes, I'm the one you read about

and his heinous acts

it's true I killed the Mrs.

but listen to my side

you will soon tell

why it cannot be denied

secret to my dreams

of all the miles I've traveled on

all the lessons I have learned

all I've set my eyes upon

all the bridges I have burned

I long to kiss your fingertips

like a tender mountain stream

out of everyone I've ever known

you're the secret to my dreams

love is an everlasting thought

that lives inside your soul

it has its own body and mind

and it's beyond your control

I fight my best against it

but it brings me to my knees

don't take me down a troubled road

you're the secret to my dreams

and now our time is ending

and the hour's drawing near

for you and I to vanish,

if we were to disappear

are you the cure for all my problems

or are you the disease

either way it does't matter

you're the secret to my dreams

the cheating kind

there are a million ways to say I love you

this here is a million and one

I will always be dreaming of you

after all is said and done

I always hold you in my thoughts

you occupy my mind

is it true what they say about you

that you're the cheating kind

          the cheating kind

          that's what you'll find

          when she has left your sorry ass behind

          when she's gone and you're alone

          the answers will remain unknown

          it happens every time

          she's the cheating kind

          

cry forever (rewrite one)

I think I will cry forever

when I hear your name

the world is just as you left it

but for me, it isn't the same

the days and nights are lonely here

ever since you disappeared

just like a rapid rolling river

I will cry forever

I will always remember you

when I hear a child laugh

a weed growing through the sidewalk

when I walk along its path

 I saw what there was to see

and I always will in my memory

I will not forget you, never

I will cry forever

          I will think of you

          when the northern breezes blow

          I am so proud

          that it's you I got to know

maybe I'll always be sad

the price you pay for being close

of all the people in my past

I will miss you most

but you live inside my heart

where we will never be apart

where bonds are never severed

I will cry forever

cry forever

I think I will cry forever

whenever I hear your name

the world is just where you left it

but for me, it isn't the same

the days and nights are lonely here

ever since you disappeared

just like a rapid rolling river

I will cry forever

I will always know you

when I hear a child laugh

a weed growing through the sidewalk

when I walk along its path

I'm so glad I saw what there was to see

and I always will in my memory

I will not forget you, never

I will cry forever

          I will think of you

          when the northern breezes blow

          I am so proud

          that it's you I got to know

maybe I'll always be sad

the price you pay for being close

of all the people I have lost

I'll miss you the most

but you live inside my heart

where we will never be apart

where bonds are never severed

I will cry forever

the future's wide open

I'm always waiting

anticipating

the worst to happen to me

I'm always trying

but not denying

to see what I can see

where I'm going

there is no knowing

it's just around the bend

but I'm not prepared

there's nothing there

to place my hopes within

          I  keep hoping

          the future's wide open

          though time is running out

          when it's my time to go

          I still won't know

          what this life was about

I've stopped my silence

it's like a science

learning to be me

I've come to ignore

who I was before

I set my own self free

it would upset me

if you left me

I don't want to be alone

I am unraveling

I believe I'm traveling

closer to my home

          I  keep hoping

          the future's wide open

          though time is running out

          when it's my time to go

          I still won't know

          what this life was about

I keep forgetting

what I'm regretting

remind me of my cause

I've had enough

I won't give up

until I hear applause

this world turns

and I'm trying to learn

how to live in this time

I'm broken and scarred

but still I try hard

to find something that's mine

          I  keep hoping

          the future's wide open

          though time is running out

          when it's my time to go

          I still won't know

          what this life was about