Forest Parade

Red Tin Roof

A frost covered the ground this way
Bit the lilacs petals, turned them brown
They are not in blue pitchers
On the kitchen table anymore

‘Cause my mother is down in Mexico somewhere
And I don’t know if she’s ever coming back.
And my father we talk on the telephone sometimes
But the wires, they’re not long enough to fill this hole
And my brother it’s nice to hear his voice
And reminisce about how we all used to live there
Under the red red red red tin roof

Now all separate we walked away
But I need a grasp to take the cold from my hands
A place to lean on so I can feel those strong breaths again
To feel the shape without the light
Or to sit in the gleam of the living room again

But my mother is down in Mexico somewhere
And I don’t know if she’s ever coming back
And my father we talk on the telephone sometimes
But the wire they’re not long enough to fill this hole
And my brother it’s nice to hear his voice
To reminisce about how we used to live there
Under the red red red red tin roof

Will someone please please help me
Unlock this skeleton from this flesh rest
I think it wants to walk away to some place that no longer exists
Why can’t we back track
So we can all sit up on that hill
And watch the trees along the fence grow
All over again
Why can’t we back track so we can all sit up on that hill
And watch the trees along the fence grow
All over again

‘Cause my mother is down in Mexico somewhere
And I don’t know if she’s ever coming back
And my father we talk on the telephone sometimes
But the wires they’re not long enough to fill this whole
And my brother it’s nice to hear his voice
To reminisce about how we all used to live there
Under the red red red red tin roof

But never again will I hear the rain fall
So good
Never again will I hear the rain fall
So good
Like it did on the red, the red tin roof

*** Thanx a lot to Easley for this one ***

Unraveling

Oh, there's something unraveling
I can hear it pulling on my heart strings
And I’m not sure who put these boots on our feet
But we're still walking, walking, walking
Talking about how it used to be

And if you find a seashell
Do you wonder where the life that lived there once has gone
If you find a seashell
Do you wonder where the life that lived there once has gone
‘Cause I do
I do

And will we still remember when the light is
Vacant from the lamp
And how can we plant a garden when the soil has felt these
Seeds of change

And when you feel the heart flames
Do you ask yourself who lit the match
When you feel the heart flames
Do you ask yourself who lit the match
‘Cause I do
I do

And we all agree that something
Something must be done
But no one has any suggestions
And no one has any answers
To the questions
So i ask you

When the trees are falling
Do you find yourself covering your ears
When the trees are falling
Do you find yourself covering your ears
Cause if don't hear it you can pretend
If don't hear it you can pretend
If don't hear it you can pretend
They're still standing there

*** Thanx a lot to Dimitri for this one ***

The Pirate's Gospel

Tired Feet

My tired feet
My tired, tired feet
My tired feet
Oh my tired feet
My tired feet brought me to that red boat
So still and foreign waters

And although I've never been here
Although I've never been here
I know that here I've swam before
Here I've swam before

And soon I came
Oh so soon I came
Soon I came
Oh so soon I came
Soon I came to the silent place of choir voices

In excelsis deo
Deo

Where Jesus, he keeps the streets out
Jesus he keeps the heat out
Jesus he keeps the noise out
And here oh here I've sung before
Here I've sung before
I know that here I've sung before

Here I've sat, I've run, I've walked, I've cried
I've died
I've slept in till noon and I've laughed and I've sighed
I know that here I've sung before
Oh here I've before
I know that here I've sung before
Here I've sung before

The Rifle

Oh I've been knocking on that door in my sleep
Fight my fireplace glow
I've been knocking on that door in my sleep
Fight my fireplace glow to keep me away,
To keep me away from home

Papa gets the rifle from its place above the French doors
They're coming from the woods
Oh they're coming from the woods

And mama you're running too
Oh my mama you’re running too
Mama you're running too
Oh my mama you’re running too

Brother I'm so sorry that you watched the Patens burn
And I've been holding onto the gold
When letting go would free my hands
And I've been tying your tongue in a knot
Oh I've been tying your tongue in a knot
To wrap this death, to wrap this death in a sheet

And Papa gets the rifle from its place above the French doors
They're coming from the woods
Oh they're coming from the woods

And mama you're running too
Oh, my mama you're running too
Mama you're running too
Oh, my mama you're running too

Brother I'm so sorry that you watched the Patens burn
I can't hide the dirty pads down there carpet anymore
No, no I can't hide the dirty pads down there carpet anymore
There were too many heavy boots
There were too many heavy boots
There were too many heavy boots
And there were too many big black boots
And there were too many little brown shoes marching though

So I'm counting it to the sky
Oh I'm counting it to the sky
I'm counting it to the sky
Oh I'm counting it to the sky
And moving back
Oh I'm moving back to
Face the lack of home

The Pirate's Gospel

While some folks row way up to heaven
I'm gonna sing the pirate's gospel
I'm gonna sow these feet for dancing
I'm gonna keep my eyes wide open

Yo ho yo ho
Yo ho ho
Yo ho yo ho ho
Yo ho yo ho
Sing the pirate's gospel

Add another flame
To our forest
Where big bellied whales
Keep us chanting
We're slapping firey thighs
For tiny dancers
Where the children creep
Until the morning
When the sun does seep
Into our fair flesh
Until the fingernails
Will take us home

Yo ho yo ho
Yo ho ho
Yo ho yo ho ho
Yo ho yo ho
Sing the pirate's gospel

While some folks pray
Their path to Jesus
We're gonna sing
The pirate's gospel
We're gonna sow
Our feet for dancing
We're gonna keep
Our eyes wide open
We're gonna sing
The pirate's gospel
We're gonna chant
The pirate's gospel
You'll find us clap
The pirate's gospel

Yo ho yo ho
Yo ho ho
Yo ho yo ho ho
Yo ho yo ho
Sing the pirate's gospel
Sing the pirate's gospel

Foreign Tongue

That sidewalk is a river that I fished dry
Oh that sidewalk is a river that I fished dry
And now it's my heavy hand filling the brim
And it hauled me out of their brim

But my coat of arms burns stronger still
But my coat of arms burns stronger still

And foreign tongue ties me here
Foreign tongue ties me here

So hang my slips out with the words between the lines
Oh hang my slips out with the words between the lines
And bow my head to their ears
Bow my head to those ears

I'll never tip-toe across my home ever again
I'll never tip-toe across my home ever again

Ever again
Ever again

And foreign tongue ties me here
Foreign tongue ties me here

Can You Blame The Sky

Can you blame the sky
When a mama leaves her babies behind
Can you blame the sky
When a mama leaves her babies behind

Can you blame the sea
Oh can you blame the sea
'Cause she's a flowing in that water deep

Is it the dirt that you envy so
'Cause in it her strong roots still grow

No, no, no...

I'll blame those birds flocking so
I'll blame those birds flocking so
Blame those birds flocking so
'Cause with them she's a flying
Oh 'cause with them she's flying

All those mamas are flying
They're watching us from above
They're watching us from above
Dropping their feathers with a mother's love

Something's Gone Awry

This crazy, crazy is caught in the forest
And your parcel's in the sand
A cuckoo wind's blowing
Those sparrows are crowing
And dancing birds slow in the sky

'Cause something's gone awry
Something's gone awry
Something's gone awry
Something's gone awry

The night is much colder
My chest is still older
And love wont pirate my heart

Clenched deeply buttoned
The children are buttoned
And leaves will soon fall to the ground

'Cause something's gone awry
Something's gone awry
Something's gone awry
Something's gone awry

Pieces Of String

I'll have you know
I'll have you know

That if I had one
I'd play this on piano
And if I had one of those
I'd sit it on my knee and count to 1, 2, 3

And if I had one of those other things
You know I'd put it in my mouth

And if I had some of those other things
Oh, I'd put them into jars on the shelf

But I'll have you know
Oh, oh I'll have you know

That if I had 10 or 20
I'd have a choir of little children sing along
I'd have a choir of little children sing along

And I'll have you know
I'll have you know

That if she had one
She'd put it in a paper bag
If she had one
She'd put it in a paper bag, oh

This long gone Grandma, would put it in a paper bag
Labelled pieces of string too small to use
Pieces of string too small to use

But her autumn leaves are now the dirt
And those summer winds did blow her hair
But now she's pieces of string to small to use

Clickity Clack

How do you
How do you do
How do you
How do you do it

Music makes her stop pressing those strings firmly to my down
Ground water is drying up to fill my jars again

But then click clack clickity click click click
Clickity clack
Clickity clack
I'm through having your harsh march stare down my size
And punish what young is left in these eyes

And how do I
Oh how do I
How do I
How did I
How can I
How will I
How did I
How can I pick up and go

'Cause I lack the wind and trees and the sunlight in the afternoon
And my button collections need to find a home

And that click clack clickity click click click
Clickity clack
Clickity clack
I'm through having your harsh march stare down my size
And punish what young is left in these eyes

Oh click clack clickity click click click
Clickity clack
Clickity clack

And when I turn my back
And when I turn my back
I'll twirl my little skirt
And it'll be my shoes instead of yours
My shoes instead of yours
My shoes screaming back
Click clack clickity click click click
Clickity clack
Clickity clack

Sister Self

That pole isn't growing in my black solid sky
Solid sky
And pirate ships pulled these shoulders back
But in morning slumber I gripped the slender palm of my hand
And I felt the soft of my flesh
And I stared into my sister self

And we was running, running, running
We was climbing, we was fighting
We was breathing fast
Praying please

We were singing
We were dancing
We were clapping
Singing, dancing, clapping

We were returning to the hills
Bringing buckets drawn from the wells
Returning from to the hills
Bringing buckets drawn from the wells

But I've got to hold my own hand
I've got to hold my own hand
And this is my skin I feel
And these are the teeth that I clench
And the hazel of my sight
Plus the colors she wears is mine
Oh that color she's wearing is mine

And we was running, running, running
We was climbing, we was fighting
We was breathing fast
Praying please

We were singing
We were dancing
We were clapping
Singing, dancing, clapping

We were returning to the hills
Bringing buckets drawn from the wells
Returning from to the hills
Bringing buckets drawn from the wells

Pigeon Song

Street-wise pigeon we see you
Camp on the sidewalk if we don't
Hear you anymore

Where did you loose your voice
And how did you loose the trees
Did they make your tangled feathers glow
Did they let your tattered chest flow

From the blatant backs of buildings
Where stagnate airs heat in the sun
From the blatant backs of buildings
Where stagnate airs heat in the sun

So we put our curtains up and ignore the sounds that break walls down
So we put our curtains up and ignore the sounds that break walls down
Break walls down

Do your potted plants really keep you company
Do your potted plants really keep you company

Oh My Mama

Oh my Mama
She gave me these feathered breaths
Oh my Mama
She told me use your voice,
My little bird

She said sing sing sing sing sing sing melodies
And she sang sang sang sang sang sang melodies

Oh my Mama
She did give me fancy feet
I'll be dancing on
And I'll tap tap tap my toes
Into those creaking floorboards

Oh my Mama
She took my little hand and held on tight
Oh the Mamas
Give the waters of their wells
Oh the Mamas
Give the babies this very dirt we're walking on
Oh my Mama
She gave me these feathered breaths
And your Mama
She gave you those feathered breaths too

And when the sky drops all those feathers
And when the birds sing in the morning
I'll be a mama
I'll have a daughter
I'll be a mama
I'll have a daughter

And I'll give her melodies
I'll give her melodies

And I'll give her melodies
I'll give her melodies

And she'll be
My little bird
And then she'll fly
She'll fly

The Silence of Love

True Love Will Find You In the End

(Daniel Johnston)

True love will find you in the end
You'll find out just who was your friend
Don't be sad, I know you will
But don't give up until
True love will find you in the end

This is a promise with a catch
Only if you're looking will it find you
'Cause true love is searching too
But how can it recognize you
Unless you step out into the light, the light

Don't be sad, I know you will
But don't give up until
True love will find you in the end

Don't be sad, I know you will
But don't give up until
True love will find you in the end
True love will find you in the end

Just One Time

(Juicy Lucy)

Mary Anne, hold my hand
Pretty babe, I understand
You say it’s time to grab it blind
Cheering crowds they screw my mind
Just one time, I tell you now
Do your thing, do it loud
The desert sand, the secret plan
Lord’s own knowledge is in your hand
Grab a hold and ride that freight
Be yourself, don’t hesitate
Be yourself, don’t hesitate

Just one time, I tell you now
Do your thing, do it loud
Grab a hold and ride that freight
Be yourself, don’t hesitate
Be yourself, don’t hesitate

Mary Anne, hold my hand
Pretty babe, I understand

Here Before

(Vashti Bunyan)

Once I had a child
He was wilder than moonlight
He could do it all
Like he’d been here before

Once I had a child
She was smiling like sunshine
She could see it all
Like she’d been here before

Then I had a child
Took his while like northern summer
And he knows it all
Like he’s been here before

Just Like Honey

(The Jesus & Mary Chain)

Listen to the girl
As she takes on half the world
Moving up and so alive
In her honey dripping beehive
Beehive, it's good, so good
It's so good, so good

Walking back to you
Is the hardest thing that
I can do
That I can do for you
For you

I'll be your plastic toy
I'll be your plastic toy
For you

Eating up the scum
Is the hardest thing for
Me to do

Just like honey
Just like honey
Just like honey...

To You

(I Am Kloot)

The gods and the saints preserve you
'Cause nobody here deserves you
I’m living my life in flashback
Since I lost my card or cashback

And I’ve gone to wrack and ruin
Since I don’t know what you’re doing
There’s no clear or present danger
That I see in any stranger

Someone, somewhere said to me
Will someone somewhere set me free
Won't hurry up or harry me
Will someone somewhere marry me
To you, to you, to you, to you

The line on the screen has broken
What once was asleep has woken
I cover your face in make-up
Praying you’ll one day wake up

I’ve littered my life with magic
Yet I’m neither dead nor tragic
The gods and the saints preserve you
'Cause nobody here deserves you

Someone, somewhere said to me
Will someone somewhere set me free
From all that I’m supposed to be
Will someone somewhere marry me
To you, to you, to you, to you

Someone, somewhere said to me
Won't someone somewhere marry me
Won't hurry up or harry me
Will someone somewhere marry me
To you, to you, to you, to you

Blues Run The Game

(Jackson C. Frank)

Catch a boat to England, baby
Maybe to Spain
Wherever I have gone
Wherever I've been and gone
Wherever I have gone
The blues are all the same

Send out for whisky, baby
Send out for gin
Me and room service, honey
Me and room service, babe
Me and room service
Well, we're living a life of sin

When I'm not drinking, baby
You are on my mind
When I'm not sleeping, honey
When I ain't sleeping, Mama
When I'm not sleeping
Well you know you'll find me crying

Try another city, baby
Another town
Wherever I have gone
Wherever I've been and gone
Wherever I have gone
The blues come following down

Living is a gamble, baby
Loving's much the same
Wherever I have played
Wherever I throw them dice
Wherever I have played
The blues have run the game

Maybe tomorrow, honey
Someplace down the line
I'll wake up older
So much older, Mama
Oh wake up older
And I'll just stop all my trying

Catch a boat to England, baby
Maybe to Spain
Wherever I have gone
Wherever I've been and gone
Wherever I have gone
The blues are all the same

Hey, Who Really Cares

(Linda Perhacs)

Been coming down for a long time
Changes coming down on me
Can’t seem to carry ‘em all now
Been wishing there was someone else I could be

Hey now, who really cares
Hey, won’t somebody listen
Let me say what’s been on my mind
Can I bring it out to you
I need someone to talk to
And no one else would spare me the time

I used to think of ferries wheel light sounds
The Friday hum of neons and blue
But now they’re like circular cages
Of graded tin and rusted wind

Hey now, who really cares
Hey, won’t somebody listen
Let me say what’s been on my mind
Can I bring it out to you
I need someone to talk to
And no one else would spare me the time

Nobody's Baby Now

(Nick Cave)

I've searched the holy books
I tried to unravel the mystery of Jesus Christ, the saviour
I've read the poets and the analysts
Searched through the books on human behaviour

I travelled this world around
For an answer that refused to be found
I don't know why and I don't know how
But he's nobody's baby now

I loved him then and I guess I love him still
His is the face I see when a certain mood moves in
He lives in my blood and skin
His wild feral stare, his dark hair
His winter lips as cold as stone
He was my man

But there are some things love won't allow
I held him hand but I don't hold it now
I don't know why and I don't know how
But he's nobody's baby now

This is the dress that I loved best
With the blue quilted violets across the breast
And these are my many letters
Torn to pieces by long-fingered hand

He was a cruel-hearted man
And though I've tried to lay him ghost down
He's moving through me, even now
I don't know why and I don't know how
But he's nobody's baby now
He's nobody's baby now
Nobody's baby now
He's nobody's baby now

The North Wind Blew South

(Philamore Lincoln)

My life was drifting
Too far from home and my guiding light
My mind was lifting
Over a way to a mystical height

'Cause the north wind blew south
'Cause the north wind blew south
'Cause the north wind blew south

Pictures of Heaven
Building before me a way to exist
Telling a story
Trying to tell of a way that we kissed

'Cause the north wind blew south
'Cause the north wind blew south
'Cause the north wind blew south...

See My Love

(The Gentle Soul)

See my love
So sleepingly sad
See my poet painter
Drawing his words

How I long for him to
Paint me a poem picture
Of himself for me
So that I might see

See my love
Ever now resounding
Striking the purest homes
To colour his world

And I long to know him
He plans to leave tomorrow
Or stay here with me
So that I might see

See him gazing up to nowhere
Or is it some place I don't know
That he dreams of
But he can't go
He can't go
'Til tomorrow

My, my love
So leaving me quiet
Off to find his rainbow lady
Taking his words

And I long for him to
Send me a poem treasure
From some ancient sea
So that I might see

See my love
See my love
See my love

To be still

Dry Grass and Shadows

There are things that I've seen in my head
While I'm sleeping in bed
Do not wither in the morning light

I'm taken back
O I'm taken back
To the dry grass and the shadows

Thinking I'd like to look at your teeth
Lined up in perfect rows
A maze of children feeding (?) orchard trees
Where the flat lands stretch inside your mouth
And when you laugh all the star thistles stumble out
The flat lands stretch inside your mouth
And when you laugh all the star-thistles stumble out

Strong spines of valley hills
All overgrown in gold
Look softer than a spool of old silk thread
But if we walked down with our feet
I'd be pulling spines and barbs and fox-tails from your skin
O if we walked down with our feet
I'd be pulling spines and barbs and fox-tails from your skin

There are things that I've seen in my head
While I'm sleeping in bed
Do not wither in the morning light

I'm taken back
O I'm taken back
To the dry grass and the shadows

White as Diamonds

I've known mornings
White as diamonds
Silent from a night so cold
Such a stillness
Calm as the owl glides
Our lives are buried in snow

I was sifting through the piles
In my hand a tangled thread
Each patient tug upon the snarl
Is a glimpse of what has been

Burdened bands gain strong hands
Gaping holes where diamonds should be
Must have been morning that stole them
A glint of white in the pocket of winter

And some hearts are ghosts settling down in dark waters
Just as silt grows heavy and drowns with the stones

Some hearts are ghosts settling down in dark waters
Just as silt grows heavy and drowns with the stones

I've known mornings
White as diamonds
Silent from a night so cold
Such a stillness
Calm as the owl glides
Our lives are buried in snow
Our lives are buried in snow

Age Old Blue

The sea beneath the cliff is the blue in my mother's eyes
That came from the blue in her mother's eyes
Thrown on down the line
By our family who worked the field on borrowed land above the ocean
My family worked the field on borrowed land

Higher hills do not provide
For hearts born of coral and moss
Where rain won’t flow beyond our stream
And water is captive to the well

There was a gentleman,
I've always known his children's songs
Blue eyes were hardened by the war
But still he went on singing

Night can't hide a man
When his eyes are tearing
The night can't hide his cries
There's only a few of us left

Higher hills do not provide
For hearts born of coral and moss
Where rain won’t flow beyond our stream
And water is captive to the well

I've known that age old blue lies in home with sirens tombs
He's left a deep desire for a home beside the water
Shady rhythm calms the night
And that voice is never still
You know a voice is never still
And a voice is never silent

Shady rhythm calms the night
And that voice is never still
You know a voice is never still
And a voice is never silent

Higher hills do not provide
For hearts born of coral and moss
Where rain won’t flow beyond our stream
And water is captive to the well

To Be Still

Have you been wearing holes in your boots out there
Have you been kicking bones in the desert sand
There's a wolf inside the cave and another in the clouds
I've seen them chewing on, on the shadows in your eyes

And it's here at home I wait for your wanders to be still
Oh it's here at home I wait for your wanders to be still
And I won’t drag my feet in whatever dirt you track in
No I won’t drag my feet in whatever dirt you track in

Will you look at me when your face shows the lines of years
While you've been away I have needed your strong hands
California hills will surely welcome us back home
But the way toward the crop of gold is not far from the snow
Oh, the way toward the crop of gold is not far from the snow

And it's here at home I wait for your wanders to be still
Oh it's here at home I wait for your wanders to be still
And I won’t drag my feet in whatever dirt you track in
No I won’t drag my feet in whatever dirt you track in

 Take Us Back

The tops of crags and cliffs, the air is thin
So we'll find a mountain path on down the hill
Meet me where the snow mount flows
It is there my dear where we will begin again
Skipping stones
Braiding hair
Last year's antlers mark the trail

Take us back oh take us back
Oh take us
Take us back

I've a friend who lives out by the rivers mouth
He knows the fiddles cry is an old sound
A lonesome creeks and moans of empty houses
Are songs of like fallen rain
Windblown buildings
Muddy ground
The strength of water can sink a man

Take us back oh take us back
Oh take us
Take us back

When the higher hills have turned blue
And the waves are lapping where the children grew
All that we have know will be an echo
Of days when love was true
Muted voices
Just beyond
The silent surface of what has gone

The Alder Trees

I can hear the elders whispering in words so sweet and low
The alder trees were listening to songs been sung before
My friend and I collecting skeletons of leaves
Making tiny piles oh and sifting through the weeds

Wind blows the tiny green
Tiny green
Wind blows the tiny green
Helicopter seeds

Wind blows the tiny green
Tiny green
Wind blows the tiny green
Helicopter seeds

Oh wandering in days unfolding with hats fashioned of mud and snakeskin
Oh wandering in days unfolding with hats fashioned of mud and snakeskin
Of mud and snake-skin

As I think about the ladies who weren't allowed to sing
Sewing all their pretty rows of thread instead of singing
And what about the black braided sisters of Mariee
We sat upon their grinding rock as children used to be

Beneath the knotted pine
Knotted pine
Beneath the knotted pine
At the garden's edge

Beneath the knotted pine
Knotted pine
Beneath the knotted pine
At the garden's edge

Oh laughing little girls clapping
Ghosts weaving our hair to baskets

Oh laughing little girls clapping
And ghosts weaving our hair to baskets
Our hair to baskets

I can hear the elders whispering in words so sweet and low
The alder trees were listening to songs been sung before
My friend and I collecting skeletons of leaves
Making tiny piles oh and sifting through the weeds
Making tiny piles oh and sifting through the weeds

My Brambles

Sun is dancing my darling
Arms been holding me all morning
Sea is so far from home my darling

But if we'd only feet
It is here that we'd roam
Oh if we'd just two feet
It is here that we'd roam
And your arms would be keeping me all day

'Cause your love calms my brambles
And your hands bring me sweet lavender
Oh you love calms my brambles
And your hands bring me sweet lavender

The glow will dance into the mountains
And darkness falls upon the canyon
And when the heat is gone my darling
Please come gather me
Please come gather me, oh, oh
Please come gather me, oh
Please come gather me my darling
Please come gather me, oh, oh
Please come gather me, oh
Please come gather me my darling

'Cause your love calms my brambles
And your hands bring me sweet lavender
Oh you love calms my brambles
And your hands bring me sweet lavender

The Ocean

She was always walking singing to her footsteps
Dirt ditch paths and pine cones
Digging up glass bottles
Rusty springs from feather beds
Old hubcaps on the picket fence
She planted beds of flowers
Stayed outside for hours

In spirit she's drifted to the ocean
All those years of waiting for the water
She's watching long shadows caught in the tide
But the sunset by the sea is in her mind
The sunset by the sea is in her mind

And she was always hoping to someday leave the mountain
Domestic chores and children
The darkness of the winter
Painting all these mermaids
Wandering to the sea shore
She wanted him to follow but his heart is with the hillside

In spirit she's drifted to the ocean
All those years of waiting for the water
She's watching long shadows caught in the tide
But the sunset by the sea is in her mind
The sunset by the sea is in her mind

These days you'll find her walking
Singing to the deep sea
But she will always love him
Lost up in the mountains
The sun set in the ocean
Gathering shells and beach glass
Dancing with the rogue waves
Gives her peace of mind
But she will always love him
Lost up in the mountain
Oh she will always love him
Lost up in the mountain

Every Path

All the back roads
All the highways
Distant countries that I've passed through
Every path has lead me back to you
Every path has lead me back to you

Down by the river by the light of the moon
I feel the echo of the current in my core
As I roam, as I roam, as I roam, as I roam

Every path has lead me back to you
Every path has lead me back to you

But I've around
I want you near
Handsome fellow will you hold me dear
I've seen blue eyes and straight white teeth
Golden minds and sturdy feet
But every path has lead me back to you
Every path has lead me back to you

Down by the river by the light of the moon
I feel the echo of the current in my core
As I roam, as I roam, as I roam, as I roam

Every path has lead me back to you
Every path has lead me back to you

Put your hand upon my breast
My little darling I know of restlessness
My little darling I know of restlessness

Tatted Lace

Gold around those fingers shown
Bound for to carry home
Fond of the flattest field
But you know there're bones buried deep below

Tatted lace frail figure graced
That has since been torn and stained
Tatted lace frail figure graced
That has since been torn and stained
And put and put so far away
Oh so far away

Novels we don't write
Hearts been lost in flight
Skin in the black of night
Love is a sinking kite

Tatted lace frail figure graced
That has since been torn and stained
Tatted lace frail figure graced
That has since been torn and stained
And put and put so far away
Oh so far away

Gold around those fingers shown
Bound for to carry home
Suitcase filled with stones
Snow keeps me alone
Suitcase filled with stones
Snow keeps me alone
All alone

Lady Divine

When the day, when the day falls to the line
At the end of my time
I call to the dark
"Take the bones off my back"
And I chant to the black
"You were my lady divine"
'Cause my children are in hiding
Mortar and pestle they grind

Those songs whistled through white teeth
Do scuff the days
With songs for children to sing

Those songs whistled through white teeth
Do scuff the days
With songs for children to sing

When the chairs are tucked into the fading song
And the silver of their pores has grown long
They call to the dark
"Take the bones off my back"
And they chant to the black
"You were my lady divine"
And they glowed like a bitter wine in their bellies
'Cause the bones have been removed from their hunched over backs
And their children are all grown now
Mortar and pestle they grind

Those songs whistled through white teeth
Still scuff the days
With songs for children to sing

Those songs whistled through white teeth
Do scuff the days
With songs for children to sing