1. |
Hardly a Day Goes By
03:17
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Hardly a day goes by when I don't need someone like you. Hardly a day goes by. You can take back your gifts you can have them forthwith if that's not true. Because hardly a day goes by when I'm not thinking about you. Hardly a day. Hardly a day goes by when I don't need you to love me. Hardly a day goes by. You can see for yourself if I leave it all out there will it just keep unfolding to a place where hardly a day goes by? Does it matter where it's going or how long it takes when hardly a day goes by? Hardly a day goes by when I don't want to be near you. Hardly a day goes by that doesn't seem to take forever. So I just wait and hardly a day goes by. Hardly a day goes by.
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2. |
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I heard there were spiders. I heard there were snakes. All manner of creatures trying to bite you in the face. I'll help you collect them, sweep em into a pile. Pick out all of the worst ones to spend the rest of their days in a jar. I'm a little confused and I thought that I wouldn't like that. But I'm having a ball and I hope that you are too. Can you believe what we've been through and still be intact? Can you believe what's been said and done? Can you believe that we've moved past it? I heard all of the rumors. I heard all of the threats. But I don't give half a damn what they sound like cuz I ain't giving in yet. Sour grapes ain't so sour if you don't put them in your mouth. How can't they surmise that our hearts are still beating until we throw in the towel? Catch! The best I can do is imagine we still got time to do everything that we ever wanted to do. We can survive every day until the clock runs out on us all. I won't run out on you. Are you thinking it too? Wouldn't you like to get blasted? Wouldn't you like to get calm? What do you say? Cuz I'm asking! Won't you break it with me? Won't you be my codefendant? Won't you say it with glee- I ain't ever going back there again! I'm flat outta fuel. I'm reading splat on the meter. But I'm not in a duel with no losing side and I'm not fooling you either. You can call in the navy. Call in the fire department! Cuz it looks like our love has left a hole in the street. They can fill it up but we're just starting. Let's get out of this line and just go home and make our own coffee. We can sit on the couch and talk about all the troubles we share. About our wishes that never came true and it seems they seldom do but I don't care.
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3. |
Elena
03:24
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Ya tebya obozhayu. For all that you do that you didn't have to- Thank you Elena! For all that is good and all that still could- Thank you Elena! Ya tebya obozhayu. If only everyone else was a little less selfish like dear sweet Elena. If only everyone tried to be a little more like lovely Elena. Because you've done more than just another little favor for me. Cuz I ain't worried about him as long as it's you that's keeping him busy. Cuz he can be weird and he's not always nice. But I know that he loves you and so do I. Ya tebya obozhayu. Who's that warding off the bad things? That's Elena! Who's that keeping it all from crashing? That's Elena! Who's that making him so happy? That's Elena! Who helps baby with his bandaid? That's Elena.
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4. |
Common Decency
02:59
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You know what never gets old? Common decency. One thing I never get tired of, that's common decency. For something that they say is so common, why is it so hard to find? So don't waste much of your time looking round for it. And don't you grow to expect it, cuz you're not gonna get it from anyone out there. You know what gets me to smile? Common decency. Something I ain't seen in awhile, that's common decency. For something supposedly so decent, why does everybody act like a dick? Thank god that ain't necessarily how it always is. As long as a few of us can remain uncommonly decent. If only a few of us who remain. You know what isn't so hard? Common decency! One thing I wish there were more of- That's common decency. And it isn't that hard, so why do we keep fucking it up?
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5. |
A Gift
03:45
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You gave me a gift. You sent it to me. And for once in my life I could do anything. And I guess this is it, here's all I got to show- I wrote 100 songs about stupid stuff- mostly me. Hope to write ten thousand more. Because it's the only way I can repay you that I can think of for the gift that I've received. Now i didn't even know exactly what I wanted. But that's exactly- exactly what I got! I can't thank you enough for the gift that you gave me. Because the gift that you gave won't ever stop-like a P-Funk party! You shook off all my worries. You trampled on my fears. Like a bull from heaven bent on an expensive shop that kills its customers. You tore it up and made that shit disappear. You sure tore it up. Yeah yes you did! While we're on the subject of elation- I'm so happy that my fingertips are curled. My gratitude for you shall know no boundaries. Wanna share it with every last goddamned person in the world. If you ever feel a little lonely, may this song be worth at least a half a friend. You can play it now on your telephone! Did you know that? Back when we were kids I'm sure we could both be a couple of pricks. But you gave me a gift that nobody else ever could give.
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6. |
Crazy Talk
03:56
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What can I do? What can I do? Tell me what can I do to make it sprout any faster? Tell me what can I do now with all this dirt in the way? Tell me what can I do with a gutter full of water? Tell me what would you do if you were in my place? It may sound obvious but you have to remember- You're a whole lot smarter than me now aren't you girl. But if you got a minute or two I got so many questions. Of all the cradles that still riddle the earth how did we wind up here? For all the crazy talk in the world, there can't be many more out there just like you. Just give me half a second to test it, although I'm already convinced you're the best. Can't be many more like you. Not like you! Tell me what can we do when the heater isn't heating? Tell me what can we do with all this fire burning up their pants? Tell me what we can do to keep rolling in the clover? What would you do, given our current circumstance? What can I do? How long has it been since you bothered to uncover that rusty tin pot you forgot was full up with gold? For all they're stocking there on the shelves, honey you don't want anyone else. Baby I'm your man, if you want one. And if you do- Baby I'm right here. Come and get me! Cuz I'll be waiting for you. I wanna be your man and I'm right here and I'm waiting for you.
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7. |
You Two
03:20
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You two- You're so cute. What am I gonna do with you? When you two- You already know just what to do. I wrote you a letter from the ancient past and in it I tried my best to lessen the sting of how the good times never last. You can take that letter, it's buried next to the cat. Dig it out of its hole in the backyard and throw it straight in the trash. Cuz you two- I'm so proud of you. Don't listen to me I don't know what I'm talking about. You turned out just fine you don't need to heed any advice. As for you two- Well you're on the move and there's nothing left that you've got to prove. I know you two- You ain't got no use, for the rambling rant of a tired old man who can't believe that anything's true. And when I send you a text from the future, don't say that I didn't try to warn you of all of the tragedy god has got holding over our head and all the torment he's got in store for ya. Ow! You could be in New York. You could be out in California. I know the odds aren't inspiring when everyone dies but if there's one thing we know will survive, it's you two! You make it through. How do you do it? I'm glad it's you two. You make me wanna puke. Cuz you got the opposite of nothing to lose, and that's everything. Yes it is. Left you with a mess. Well good luck with that. But if it's something anybody can handle, it's you two that can. Congratulations!
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8. |
Say it Ain't So
03:54
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Can you look into what's been and try to make sense of anything else? Can you walk into a dream and argue over it's meaning like you had it yourself? And when it's first to be counted you can still hear me shouting "Hey I'm over here!" And when it finally happens hope I don't see it coming. Just take me out. Just make it clean. And if you're really thinking you're really through with me- I thank you for your time and your delightful company. Cuz it meant everything. So I don't think I'm ready to watch it crumble to dust. Please don't do what you think that you have to. Just do what you must. You can hide under my pillow but I still see your shadow and all of it's shades. We can try to be brave. We can knock em right in the head. I don't think they'll notice. I pray that I can return to a heart that is yearning for something to do. And when I get back, I don't need any more of that, and neither do you.
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9. |
Smokestack Walter
04:28
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C'mon get ready. Put on your dress. Cuz I'm going to meet you in a place where time itself is meaningless. Don't think that anyone goes by the name of Smokestack Walter, but I can promise you one thing I will always try to mean what I say. You'll know when I'm joking, and when my heart is broken, and when I'm ready for bed. Now Smokestack Walter- He don't have any friends. Aw- Too bad for him! Well Smokestack Walter, ain't got nothing to do with any of the things I'm singing of in this song. No he don't belong now! But you do. At least I want you to. I Hope you don't mind my hoping, that you never stop smokin'. You devil you. Cuz what we're all wanting. What we're all craving. What we're all needing is a story that goes on forever. We'll accept nothing less, but take what we can get from a story that just goes on forever. Forever and a day. Can we stretch it out any longer? Till the day after tomorrow? Or sometime next week? And if you're too busy to stay, is the following forever OK? Do you have anything going on for the next infinity plus one? Cuz I'm pretty sure that I'll probably be free then. So if anyone out there goes by Smokestack Walter- I guess that you're a part of it now. But in the end, all that we ask for is a story that just goes on forever. Lord all I'm asking, the only thing that I want is a story that just goes on forever. Can you tell me a story that lasts forever? Look at Smokestack Walter- He's in a story that just goes on forever. A story that just goes on forev.....
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10. |
Perfect Nonsense
02:56
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The sun is setting so I just might switch up our positions so it's shining in your eyes. How do you do? Let's not find out. Whose middle finger needs more action? Who's got more firepower? I don't care what you do. I ain't trying to tell you nothing. But I got some things need getting done so put that thing down I'm coming. Hi ho may we never know what side do you think I'm on. What signals am I sending? Please don't you get me wrong. And no I surely don't want to get in a mixup with the likes of you. Grew out my beard didn't cut my hair. Thought I was just being lazy. Did it work out well? Hell I can't tell. Don't know now who thinks I'm crazy. There was a time when you knew where you stood, and for most of us it wasn't that good. But now that everyone is wearing camouflage, how can you not be confused? Have fun forgetting all the crying faces that you brought down must be so proud. Boy you put them in their places. How much is enough for every last bible thumping one of us? To turn our backs on the devil instead of courting his graces? Stand down you can hold your ground but don't mind me passing through. I can show my support or just go to the store, cuz I got every right to. Back off bitch you're making it itch and it don't need anymore scratching. You don't need to be some kind of scientist to latch on to all that's been catching. Or maybe you do. Cuz it doesn't make sense. Or just maybe- Maybe it makes perfect sense. Perfect nonsense.
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11. |
16 Miles
03:27
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Twice upon a time I promised to be true. But you know things fall apart. No matter what you do. Try again. Try again. 16 miles. !6 miles away. Is this a possibility? On my way to you I go slow. I drive. I fly. I throw my mixed feelings out the window on Moore Mountain Road. 16 miles. 16 miles away. Is this a possibility? Try again. Try again. Try again.
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12. |
Yes We Could
05:13
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If today is an indication of what you hope tomorrow might be, Then tomorrow has another thing coming if it's thinking that yesterday's gonna be easy to beat. It takes talent to fall on your face and never surrender. It takes courage to admit that you're scared halfway to death. If it takes more than a dollar and it's making you holler, I can sweeten the pot, I can top it all off. Please don't you make me wait any longer than I can hold my breath. And if you think that you're all out of options, you can like it or not or forget it. Hey now you got three! We can rip up the script. We can wing it from the beginning. We can turn into a couple of pumpkins who live by the sea. You and me. It ain't a far fetched premise to imagine something better. Lurking there just round the corner, straight up ahead. It's no walk in the park. It's a shot in the dark. It's a toss of the dice. It doesn't come in your size. But it just might be what you always wanted to see waiting there instead. It might be some of what you're needing in there. Or it could be a disaster. You can have your pick. Who knows you might win. Make a splash in the river. May I have you for dinner? Can I be seen in public by your side? We can have our revenge on all who offend us. We can bask on the brim of the fire and make it brighter. Don't care if nobody thinks that we can. Cuz nobody said that we can't. Don't care if no one thinks that we should. Cuz I just know that we could. I know that we could. I just know it. I know that we could, and we can yes we can. And I will and I would. I would do anything. Cuz we could, and we should, and we will. Yes we will yes we will.
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13. |
Stolen Strings
04:12
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I play guitar. I try to sing. I make a part out of nothing. Hey girl I'm glad it's you who's stopping by for a bit. I'll write you a song on stolen strings and everybody's making out to it. Hey girl I don't know how to play your favorite tune. But if you'll listen for a little while I could make one up about you. About you. It could take less than a minute, or it could take a lot of time. But I'll write you a song on stolen strings that nobody knows aren't mine. And I hope you'll help me count it off. Help me think of some words that rhyme that ring true that I haven't used that can't even begin to describe the paradise in your eyes. I see paradise. I'm in paradise. Are you climbing the walls? We can pray that they fall somewhat neatly and safe in some faraway place. But not so distant we never can visit to see how they fare, and cheer em on, and give them our best. I play guitar and try to sing. Hey girl do you remember when, back before we'd even spoken. I wrote you a song with stolen strings cuz the one's that I bought were broken. Hey girl hope you don't mind, but I might have caused all this to be, cuz I wrote a song on stolen strings about you loving me. And I probably stole it from some other poet whose howls of disdain put my work to shame. But I'll keep on trying to define a direct line that leads straight to you and everything- Everything you do.
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14. |
In the Great Pig's Eye
04:02
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No it's not like you- To be mad enough to slap it to death. But I've gone and I've done it. I pushed you so close to the edge you're beyond just not having it. You don't ever want it again. No you don't. And I can't blame you. Who would ever want to dissolve in a vat of bad attitude. Who would want to jump back into that voluntarily? Are they crazy? Yes they are and there's so many of them I don't think I can take anymore. Darling if I might speak for the last of my breed I'm no better. I'm no worse. Might be worser. I know that isn't a word. Neither is this- BLEEAHRRGH! Why oh why, when push comes over to shove, can't you go a little easy on me. For all the infinite lights in the universe, I got two, maybe three. OK I got three. Baby I got three! That's not like you. I don't feel like myself very much either. You got storms spinning inside you, where you plop em in a great big sky. You lay em down and pop em in a great big sky. You just set em down and pop them in in a great big sky, In a great big sky. You can pop em in a great big sky.
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15. |
My Last Cigarette
03:43
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If I ever get down to my last cigarette. I hope that the harm has not already been done. Cuz once I get down to my last cigarette, I'm going to hold on to that last deep lungful of breath as long as I can. But it's so hard to let go of an old friend regardless of every single evil thing they've done in the past. But when it's time to say goodbye, you're not the only one who lied. I'm sick of both our bullshit and I'm tired of being the only one who answers for it. However much I love you I don't want to leave my other poor baby crying. Therefore- It's you that's retiring. Bye bye! I didn't need you before, and I don't need you now. And if there's one thing that's for certain, you don't need me. Cuz there's plenty of fish in the sea. There's so many more suckers for you to bother with yours truly. Please don't you bother with me. Cuz I'm doing my best not to walk down your street. And you're never more that just a half block away honey. I thank you for your support through all of the bad times. Thanks for every day with my coffee. You were the best. But you were never really my friend and since one of us has to come to an end. It's gotta be you who leaves town. Cuz I got more than just a couple reasons to stick around. Yes I do! I'm so sorry, but it's gotta be you who goes down. Go and run away and find your next victims to surround. And when I finally put out my last cigarette, someday I hope that I won't ever want one again.
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16. |
Lucia
02:35
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It's going to be OK. It's going to be just fine. Everything- Everything is gonna be alright. I'll stay here with you. Days and nighttimes too. Everything- Everything is gonna be alright. And if I have to fight, or run away in the night. I'll take you girl- Take my girl. It's gonna be alright. Stay with me. Please-Please don't go. Don't make me pick out your last clothes. Cuz I want to know you, and watch you grow. Stay with me. Please don't go. It's gonna be OK. It's gonna be just fine. Everything- Everything is gonna be alright. It's gonna be alright.
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Covid Charlie's Demo-lution Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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