Good Night Moon
Songs *written and recorded during the second half of 2022.
Songs
- Someday Soon Now
- G-R-E-E-D
- That's How
- She Say (Remix)
- No Royal Procession
- Good Night Moon
- God's Table Cloth Trick
- Divining Rod
- Citizen Soldier
- Me and My School-kid Friends
- That's When You Loose Your Way
- Apathetic Blues
Someday Soon Now 12/30/2022
Something optimistic to transition to the new year. The first line came to me on a walk on 12/20/2022 and I wrote the rest the next day. So, this is the last song from me this year. This was recorded live on 1/1/2023. This is take 1 with all mistakes intact and bass and strings over dubbed.
Someday soon now, the wronged will be righted
The dark will be lighted
The hidden revealed
Someday soon now, the imprisioned will be unbound
The lost will then be found
The secret unsealed
Someday soon now,
Someday, someday soon:
Someday soon now, the storm will be quieted
The excluded invited
The divided united
Someday soon now, the troubled will be stilled
The student will be skilled
The emptied will be filled
Someday soon now,
Someday, someday soon:
Someday soon now, the distant will be clear
The far will appear near
The high road will be taken
Someday soon now, the separate will find union
The master will call the tune and
The dreamer will awaken
Someday soon now,
Someday, someday soon...
The dark will be lighted
The hidden revealed
Someday soon now, the imprisioned will be unbound
The lost will then be found
The secret unsealed
Someday soon now,
Someday, someday soon:
Someday soon now, the storm will be quieted
The excluded invited
The divided united
Someday soon now, the troubled will be stilled
The student will be skilled
The emptied will be filled
Someday soon now,
Someday, someday soon:
Someday soon now, the distant will be clear
The far will appear near
The high road will be taken
Someday soon now, the separate will find union
The master will call the tune and
The dreamer will awaken
Someday soon now,
Someday, someday soon...
G-R-E-E-D 12/10/2022 Music:Griffith/DJB, Lyrics:Griffith
This is a collaboration featuring DJB, Dave Bielunski, on (12-string) bass guitar, rhythm and lead guitars. I handed the additional guitars, some sparse keyboard parts and the production/arrangement. I picture this song in an animated "Schoolhouse Rock" episode.
So now we've got 8 billion of people out walking around, most with barely a few dollars in their pockets
There are a few billionaires with plenty to go around, some even own rockets
With so few people living with their satisfaction guaranteed and so many people in so much need
There’s one five-letter word to explain how these things can be
Spell it with me…G-R-E-E-D
Let G stand for goodness and generosity
Let R stand for respect I show to you and you show to me
Let E stand for everybody and also for each other
Let D stand for the dignity we show every sister and every brother
We need a world-wide solution
On this we must agree
If we don’t control our greed it will spell the end for you and me
There’s just one five-letter word to explain this inequality
Spell it with me now…G-R-E-E-D
Say it again...…G-R-E-E-D
Every once in a while, Mr. Someone looks around
And notices there are so many poor
Mr. Someone gets elected and gets a little power
Then Mr. Someone wants more and more
So as not to be affected by the people he has rejected
Mr. Someone chooses simply to ignore
Mr. Someone looks around suddenly he’s found
That he has been bought and paid for
Spell it with me…G-R-E-E-D
It’s plain to see...
It’s elementary
It’s down to you and me
Let’s reframe this reality
Open your eyes and see
There’s enough to go around
Tell it to Mr. Someone
Go and tell it on the mountain
Tell it again to understand it
Tell it until you feel it
Tell it until you can turn it around
Spell it with me
I spell G-R-E-E-D
Sure enough
Ain’t that greed
G-R-E-E-D
There are a few billionaires with plenty to go around, some even own rockets
With so few people living with their satisfaction guaranteed and so many people in so much need
There’s one five-letter word to explain how these things can be
Spell it with me…G-R-E-E-D
Let G stand for goodness and generosity
Let R stand for respect I show to you and you show to me
Let E stand for everybody and also for each other
Let D stand for the dignity we show every sister and every brother
We need a world-wide solution
On this we must agree
If we don’t control our greed it will spell the end for you and me
There’s just one five-letter word to explain this inequality
Spell it with me now…G-R-E-E-D
Say it again...…G-R-E-E-D
Every once in a while, Mr. Someone looks around
And notices there are so many poor
Mr. Someone gets elected and gets a little power
Then Mr. Someone wants more and more
So as not to be affected by the people he has rejected
Mr. Someone chooses simply to ignore
Mr. Someone looks around suddenly he’s found
That he has been bought and paid for
Spell it with me…G-R-E-E-D
It’s plain to see...
It’s elementary
It’s down to you and me
Let’s reframe this reality
Open your eyes and see
There’s enough to go around
Tell it to Mr. Someone
Go and tell it on the mountain
Tell it again to understand it
Tell it until you feel it
Tell it until you can turn it around
Spell it with me
I spell G-R-E-E-D
Sure enough
Ain’t that greed
G-R-E-E-D
That's How 11/02/2022
This one was to some extant inspired by the sound of a bell ringing and a memory of an old movie. A bell rings and an angel gets their wings.
I know you're hurting
You don't want to show it
You want to hide away
Everybody knows it
At one time or another
We're all another’s burden to carry
While the robin sweetly sings
About the sorrow that life surely brings
Let me help you now
That’s how the angels get their wings
How you got here
God only knows
You never thought of yourself to be one of those
To rely on the kindness of strangers to help you through
While the choir softly sings
About the sorrow that life surely brings
Let me help you now
That's how the angels get their wings
You’ve been bent down like a willow in the storm near to the point of breaking
You’ve been knocked down and counted out, but you got up to give back what you were taking
You’ve seen the changes life can bring
So many Winters, so many Springs
Let me help you now
That’s how the angels get their wings
You’ve lost someone close to you
Now you’re wondering how you're gonna get through
When you’ve got those everyday troubles you need to turn to
The telephone no longer rings
On these silent Saturday mornings
Let me help you now
That’s how the angels get their wings...
You don't want to show it
You want to hide away
Everybody knows it
At one time or another
We're all another’s burden to carry
While the robin sweetly sings
About the sorrow that life surely brings
Let me help you now
That’s how the angels get their wings
How you got here
God only knows
You never thought of yourself to be one of those
To rely on the kindness of strangers to help you through
While the choir softly sings
About the sorrow that life surely brings
Let me help you now
That's how the angels get their wings
You’ve been bent down like a willow in the storm near to the point of breaking
You’ve been knocked down and counted out, but you got up to give back what you were taking
You’ve seen the changes life can bring
So many Winters, so many Springs
Let me help you now
That’s how the angels get their wings
You’ve lost someone close to you
Now you’re wondering how you're gonna get through
When you’ve got those everyday troubles you need to turn to
The telephone no longer rings
On these silent Saturday mornings
Let me help you now
That’s how the angels get their wings...
She Say (2005)
*This is an older song that I had yet to post on this site. I re-recorded the track, staying close to the original.
She say...
Her past is a line she been waiting behind
Her door is open, her future waiting, cloud is lifting, sun is shining for miles
She say...
Now is the time, there can be no waiting
Today is the day, there can be no delay
Her nights of suffering are like an old blanket
She's lifting them up to uncover where the years went
She say...
She want to see the sun in the eyes of her children
She want to see the child in the eyes of her man
Life is a drop of rain on the flower, trembling and shaking and gone in an hour
Her past is a line she been waiting behind
Her door is open, her future waiting, cloud is lifting, sun is shining for miles
She say...
Now is the time, there can be no waiting
Today is the day, there can be no delay
Her nights of suffering are like an old blanket
She's lifting them up to uncover where the years went
She say...
She want to see the sun in the eyes of her children
She want to see the child in the eyes of her man
Life is a drop of rain on the flower, trembling and shaking and gone in an hour
No Royal Procession 09/24/2022
This started with the line "I've collected a trash can lid full of flowers." One line lead to another...to this. I came up with the lyrics while walking over several mornings. All the imagery in the first verse is from looking around and seeing what I could see during those walks...a pickup truck with black flag, a girl on a skateboard, etc,. I put the words to paper once I had them all. Musically, it's me singing while playing the acoustic guitar all the way through, then some over dubs of other instruments.
I cut you out a cardboard crown for you to wear
Collected a trash can lid full of flowers
Tie this bedsheet around your neck
And let it flow behind you like a train
The kids on their bicycles and that random pick up truck
With the black flag flying behind
That skater girl with the intentionally torn blue jeans
Will all turn to watch you as you walk by
The neighborhood cars are on blocks and won’t start
There’s no royal procession
But, you’ll always be the queen of my heart
I rolled these newspapers and I tied them with string
For you to hand out as royal decrees
Take this broom-handled scepter and this dust-mop sword
You can knight whoever you please
These costumes and props, they don’t mean a thing
People see just what they want to see
Empires will rise and empires will fall
In a few hundred years, they’ll be no trace at all
Our names will be forgotten down to history
There’s no royal procession
But, you’ll always be a queen to me
I’m like some crow picking up things
‘Cause they sparkle and shine
I’m just a thief selling counterfiet diamonds
When all I have are junk-yard finds
When my tombstone speeches and my skeleton rhymes
Stop making sense, even to me
I’ll walk you to the window
So you can wave at your subjects from your ragged balcony
All that are gathered will see what I see
There’s no royal procession
But, you look like a queen to me
Collected a trash can lid full of flowers
Tie this bedsheet around your neck
And let it flow behind you like a train
The kids on their bicycles and that random pick up truck
With the black flag flying behind
That skater girl with the intentionally torn blue jeans
Will all turn to watch you as you walk by
The neighborhood cars are on blocks and won’t start
There’s no royal procession
But, you’ll always be the queen of my heart
I rolled these newspapers and I tied them with string
For you to hand out as royal decrees
Take this broom-handled scepter and this dust-mop sword
You can knight whoever you please
These costumes and props, they don’t mean a thing
People see just what they want to see
Empires will rise and empires will fall
In a few hundred years, they’ll be no trace at all
Our names will be forgotten down to history
There’s no royal procession
But, you’ll always be a queen to me
I’m like some crow picking up things
‘Cause they sparkle and shine
I’m just a thief selling counterfiet diamonds
When all I have are junk-yard finds
When my tombstone speeches and my skeleton rhymes
Stop making sense, even to me
I’ll walk you to the window
So you can wave at your subjects from your ragged balcony
All that are gathered will see what I see
There’s no royal procession
But, you look like a queen to me
Good Night Moon 09/19/2022
For Mom.
Good night Moon
My eyes won’t stay open
Won't you watch over the ones that I love
Light their way through their midnight hour
Shine down your light from the dark skies above
Good night Moon
Good night
Farewell sun
I’ll be gone when you rise
Won’t you watch over those I leave behind
Keep them from cold through the long winter
Keep them warm in your sunshine
Farewell Sun
Good night Moon
Good night
Mother Earth
Set me free
Now, I have other places to be
Watch over the ones I leave when I die
Keep them safe between the ground and the sky
Set me free
Farewell Sun
Good night Moon
Good night
Alright Heaven
I’m ready for going
I don’t know the way... I trust you’ll be showing
My eyes won’t stay open one minute longer
When I am weak, you will be stronger
Alright Heaven
Set me free
Farewell Sun
Good night Moon
Good night
Good bye my love
Though, I'm leaving to soon
You'll be watched over by Earth Sun and Moon
Thank you for the love we did share
I leave you now in very good care
Goodbye Love
Alright Heaven
Set me free
Farewell Sun
Good night Moon
Good night
My eyes won’t stay open
Won't you watch over the ones that I love
Light their way through their midnight hour
Shine down your light from the dark skies above
Good night Moon
Good night
Farewell sun
I’ll be gone when you rise
Won’t you watch over those I leave behind
Keep them from cold through the long winter
Keep them warm in your sunshine
Farewell Sun
Good night Moon
Good night
Mother Earth
Set me free
Now, I have other places to be
Watch over the ones I leave when I die
Keep them safe between the ground and the sky
Set me free
Farewell Sun
Good night Moon
Good night
Alright Heaven
I’m ready for going
I don’t know the way... I trust you’ll be showing
My eyes won’t stay open one minute longer
When I am weak, you will be stronger
Alright Heaven
Set me free
Farewell Sun
Good night Moon
Good night
Good bye my love
Though, I'm leaving to soon
You'll be watched over by Earth Sun and Moon
Thank you for the love we did share
I leave you now in very good care
Goodbye Love
Alright Heaven
Set me free
Farewell Sun
Good night Moon
Good night
God's Table Cloth Trick 9/3/2022
A plausible alternative to the "Big Bang"...maybe so...maybe not?
God got dressed up like a vaudeville magician
With a pencil-thin mustache, a top hat and cape
God set a fine table with a cloth of white linen
Crystal, and silver and the best china plate
God looked at the table with a nod and a grin
To no one specific God said, “Let's begin.”
With all of the power at God’s command
God gathered that cloth into God's white-gloved God hands
And in what, in God-time, lasted only a tick
God pulled and God did God’s Table Cloth Trick
For billion years of chaos and wonder
Ever since God pulled that cloth out from under
Space has rushed past in every direction
We spin through creation in need of protection
At the edge of our seats, the panic increases
As we watch the whole thing tumble to pieces
What’s now in collapse will one day fall in place.
When what God set in motion slows down in pace
With no difference between what’s been and what’s to come
These futures and pasts all mix into one
So, when God’s Table Cloth Trick was over and done
God finished with a bow and then God said, “Ta-Dum!”
To no one specific, one more word did God utter.
“Again?” God did ask. Every soul then did shudder.
With a pencil-thin mustache, a top hat and cape
God set a fine table with a cloth of white linen
Crystal, and silver and the best china plate
God looked at the table with a nod and a grin
To no one specific God said, “Let's begin.”
With all of the power at God’s command
God gathered that cloth into God's white-gloved God hands
And in what, in God-time, lasted only a tick
God pulled and God did God’s Table Cloth Trick
For billion years of chaos and wonder
Ever since God pulled that cloth out from under
Space has rushed past in every direction
We spin through creation in need of protection
At the edge of our seats, the panic increases
As we watch the whole thing tumble to pieces
What’s now in collapse will one day fall in place.
When what God set in motion slows down in pace
With no difference between what’s been and what’s to come
These futures and pasts all mix into one
So, when God’s Table Cloth Trick was over and done
God finished with a bow and then God said, “Ta-Dum!”
To no one specific, one more word did God utter.
“Again?” God did ask. Every soul then did shudder.
Divining Rod 5/30/2022
Woke up with the words, "I'm worried about water" and took it from there. I put the rhythm track together. It sounds like banging on trash cans, but I like it. Musically, kept it pretty sparse..a few guitars, a harmonica to fill some space.
I'm worried about water...Maybe I could find me a divining rod
Maybe I'll go thirsty...I'm worried though about water much more than I aught to
I'm worried about water...Maybe I'll find me a divining rod
I'm worried about justice...Maybe we'll find there's no justice at all
Maybe we'll go thirsty...waiting for justice to call
I'm worried about justice...Maybe we'll find there's no justice at all
Of course, I wonder about heaven...heaven above
Maybe we'll go thirsty...until we find love
Of course, I wonder about heaven...heaven above
I'm worried about water...Maybe I'll find me a divining rod
Maybe I'll go thirsty...I'm worried about water much more than I aught to
I'm worried about water...Maybe I'll find me a divining rod
Maybe I'll go thirsty...I'm worried though about water much more than I aught to
I'm worried about water...Maybe I'll find me a divining rod
I'm worried about justice...Maybe we'll find there's no justice at all
Maybe we'll go thirsty...waiting for justice to call
I'm worried about justice...Maybe we'll find there's no justice at all
Of course, I wonder about heaven...heaven above
Maybe we'll go thirsty...until we find love
Of course, I wonder about heaven...heaven above
I'm worried about water...Maybe I'll find me a divining rod
Maybe I'll go thirsty...I'm worried about water much more than I aught to
I'm worried about water...Maybe I'll find me a divining rod
Citizen Soldier 6/3/2022
Weighing heavy.
Citizen soldier
You told everyone
You’d be the last man standing
With your mighty gun
The last man standing in the noon-day sun
Like John Wayne and Jesus rolled into one
Citizen soldier
Tell me true
What well-regulated militia
Do you report to
Are you acting alone
Is there a conscience in there with you
Are worried about the ricochet
Coming back around hit you
Citizen soldier
That’s some fascination
That you got there with your AR-15
Citizen soldier
In your imagination
Are you taking home the home-town beauty queen
Does it make you feel safe now like you’ve finally been seen
The way you hold that machine
Is just a little obscene
Citizen soldier
I think you know what I mean
Citizen soldier
You told everyone
That your right to your gun is God given
Citizen soldier look at what you’ve done
Suffer not the little children
To be among the living
Citizen Soldier
I know that you’re willing
To kill everyone ’til there’s no one left for killing
A question for you I have but one
Is the gun serving you
Or do you serve the gun
Citizen Soldier
You’re no citizen soldier
You’re just another coward
Hiding behind the gun
You told everyone
You’d be the last man standing
With your mighty gun
The last man standing in the noon-day sun
Like John Wayne and Jesus rolled into one
Citizen soldier
Tell me true
What well-regulated militia
Do you report to
Are you acting alone
Is there a conscience in there with you
Are worried about the ricochet
Coming back around hit you
Citizen soldier
That’s some fascination
That you got there with your AR-15
Citizen soldier
In your imagination
Are you taking home the home-town beauty queen
Does it make you feel safe now like you’ve finally been seen
The way you hold that machine
Is just a little obscene
Citizen soldier
I think you know what I mean
Citizen soldier
You told everyone
That your right to your gun is God given
Citizen soldier look at what you’ve done
Suffer not the little children
To be among the living
Citizen Soldier
I know that you’re willing
To kill everyone ’til there’s no one left for killing
A question for you I have but one
Is the gun serving you
Or do you serve the gun
Citizen Soldier
You’re no citizen soldier
You’re just another coward
Hiding behind the gun
Me and My School Kid Friends 6/12/2022
I had one more thing to say while on the topic.
When I was a school kid
There wasn’t much to worry about
We’d run around the play ground
We scream and we would shout
The teacher then would round us up
To bring us back to class
We’d sit there at our desks
Waiting for the time to pass
The bell would ring, the day would end and
We would be let out
When I was a school kid
There wasn’t much to worry about
Never did I ever
Never once
Never one single day
Never did I ever
Need to worry about
Me and my school-kid friends
Getting blown away
Never did I ever
Never once
Never since I was five
Never did I ever
Need to worry about
Me and school-kid friends
Getting out alive
When I was a school kid
I didn’t worry about too much
Only the usual school-kid stuff
Get to class on time
Pass the history test
Would that girl look my way
Did my hair look a mess
Did I have something to write with
Did I lose my notes and such
When I was a school kid
I didn’t worry about too much
Never did I ever...
I don’t want to bring you down
But something here’s not quite right
Gunshots are not the kind of sound
For kids to have to dream about at night
You can talk to me about your liberty
And quote the constitution
You can wave your flag that reads, Don’t tread on me."
You know that’s no solution...
And you know it…
Never did you ever...
There wasn’t much to worry about
We’d run around the play ground
We scream and we would shout
The teacher then would round us up
To bring us back to class
We’d sit there at our desks
Waiting for the time to pass
The bell would ring, the day would end and
We would be let out
When I was a school kid
There wasn’t much to worry about
Never did I ever
Never once
Never one single day
Never did I ever
Need to worry about
Me and my school-kid friends
Getting blown away
Never did I ever
Never once
Never since I was five
Never did I ever
Need to worry about
Me and school-kid friends
Getting out alive
When I was a school kid
I didn’t worry about too much
Only the usual school-kid stuff
Get to class on time
Pass the history test
Would that girl look my way
Did my hair look a mess
Did I have something to write with
Did I lose my notes and such
When I was a school kid
I didn’t worry about too much
Never did I ever...
I don’t want to bring you down
But something here’s not quite right
Gunshots are not the kind of sound
For kids to have to dream about at night
You can talk to me about your liberty
And quote the constitution
You can wave your flag that reads, Don’t tread on me."
You know that’s no solution...
And you know it…
Never did you ever...
That's When You Lose Your Way 6/26/2022
Another cautionary tale. I sang and played the song all the way through with the acoustic guitar then added electric guitar and bass..and a few other sounds. I like the tone of my Gretsch with a P-90 played through a $100 Blackstar mini amp with a room mic.
When you’re hurting
And it seems like there's no one
Like no one is listening
That’s when you’re likely to believe
In someone who comes around
Who comes around to say
Only they can understand you
Be careful of what they'd hand you
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell you lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
When your feeling trapped
And it seems like there is no way
Like there is no way out
That’s when you’re likely to believe
In someone who comes around
Who comes around to say
Only they can sympathize
Be sure to look them in the eyes
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell you lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
When you’re alone no one is looking out for you
You’re looking to believe in someone
Someone to tell you just what you’re supposed to do
You better take a good look around
When you’re on the ground
And it seems like there’s no one
No one to help you up
That’s when you’re likely to believe
In someone who comes around
Who comes around to say
Only they feel your pain
Be sure they can explain
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell you lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
When you’re lost
And it seems there is no one
To help you make a stand
That’s when you’re likely to believe
In someone who comes around
Who comes around to say
If they were only in command
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell you lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
When you’re alone no one is looking out for you
You’re looking to believe in someone
Someone to tell you what you’re supposed to do
You better take a good look around
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
And it seems like there's no one
Like no one is listening
That’s when you’re likely to believe
In someone who comes around
Who comes around to say
Only they can understand you
Be careful of what they'd hand you
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell you lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
When your feeling trapped
And it seems like there is no way
Like there is no way out
That’s when you’re likely to believe
In someone who comes around
Who comes around to say
Only they can sympathize
Be sure to look them in the eyes
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell you lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
When you’re alone no one is looking out for you
You’re looking to believe in someone
Someone to tell you just what you’re supposed to do
You better take a good look around
When you’re on the ground
And it seems like there’s no one
No one to help you up
That’s when you’re likely to believe
In someone who comes around
Who comes around to say
Only they feel your pain
Be sure they can explain
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell you lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
When you’re lost
And it seems there is no one
To help you make a stand
That’s when you’re likely to believe
In someone who comes around
Who comes around to say
If they were only in command
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell you lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
When you’re alone no one is looking out for you
You’re looking to believe in someone
Someone to tell you what you’re supposed to do
You better take a good look around
That’s when you lose your way
That’s when they tell lies
They may have fooled you once
Don’t let them fool you twice
Apathetic Blues 8/11/2022
Some lines inspired in part by a recent road trip.
This house sits on a bend on the river
I’m sitting on the front porch
The world’s passing by
I’m losing track of those things that used to matter
I know that I should go
I can’t bring myself to try
Paula’s got a broom and she’s sweeping the moths out the door
She says, “Don’t come back inside until you’ve figured out what it’s all for.”
The river keeps on rolling just like before
I’m feeling pretty much near the end
I don’t know how or when
I ever came down with these apathetic blues again
Sometimes I go down to the river
I walk into the shallows
And pick up some rocks
Sometimes I find coal
Sometimes I find gold
Until you sort it out, you never know what you got
Paula’s in her bare feet knocking the dust off her shoes
She says, “Don’t come inside until you've worked out how to pay your dues.”
The river keeps on singing the blues
I’m feeling pretty much near the end
I don’t know how or when
I ever came down with these apathetic blues again
I’ve been from Red Lodge Montana
Over that Bear Tooth Pass and back again
It’s beautiful scenery up there
With the lakes and the clouds rolling in
You got to watch your speed or you might drive right off that mountain
The road signs reads 20 and I’m pleading with her to only go 10
Paula’s got the wheel and she’s pushing the pedal to the floor
She says, “I’ll let up when you tell me there’s no one following behind us anymore.”
I’m checking the rear view mirror all the while thinking how I’m gonna get out the door
I’m feeling pretty much near the end
I don’t know how or when
I ever came down with these apathetic blues again
Back on the front porch, Paula’s quoting John Stuart Mill again.
She says, "Are you going to sit there doing nothing, paving the way for evil men?
"Don’t come inside until your song’s done.” Then, she throws me a pen.
The river is laughing and daring me to jump on in
This country’s in a real big mess
People everywhere are in distress
If you go following a mad man
Chances are good you’ll be led into his craziness
Paula’s at the the door inviting me to come on in
She says, “What you been waiting for? The weather’s about to change again.”
I started writing this song a week ago
I’m now just getting around to finishing
It’s time to head home as nice as this vacation has been...
The river is miles behind us now and I’m feeling pretty much near the end
I don’t know how or when
I ever came down with these apathetic blues again
I’m sitting on the front porch
The world’s passing by
I’m losing track of those things that used to matter
I know that I should go
I can’t bring myself to try
Paula’s got a broom and she’s sweeping the moths out the door
She says, “Don’t come back inside until you’ve figured out what it’s all for.”
The river keeps on rolling just like before
I’m feeling pretty much near the end
I don’t know how or when
I ever came down with these apathetic blues again
Sometimes I go down to the river
I walk into the shallows
And pick up some rocks
Sometimes I find coal
Sometimes I find gold
Until you sort it out, you never know what you got
Paula’s in her bare feet knocking the dust off her shoes
She says, “Don’t come inside until you've worked out how to pay your dues.”
The river keeps on singing the blues
I’m feeling pretty much near the end
I don’t know how or when
I ever came down with these apathetic blues again
I’ve been from Red Lodge Montana
Over that Bear Tooth Pass and back again
It’s beautiful scenery up there
With the lakes and the clouds rolling in
You got to watch your speed or you might drive right off that mountain
The road signs reads 20 and I’m pleading with her to only go 10
Paula’s got the wheel and she’s pushing the pedal to the floor
She says, “I’ll let up when you tell me there’s no one following behind us anymore.”
I’m checking the rear view mirror all the while thinking how I’m gonna get out the door
I’m feeling pretty much near the end
I don’t know how or when
I ever came down with these apathetic blues again
Back on the front porch, Paula’s quoting John Stuart Mill again.
She says, "Are you going to sit there doing nothing, paving the way for evil men?
"Don’t come inside until your song’s done.” Then, she throws me a pen.
The river is laughing and daring me to jump on in
This country’s in a real big mess
People everywhere are in distress
If you go following a mad man
Chances are good you’ll be led into his craziness
Paula’s at the the door inviting me to come on in
She says, “What you been waiting for? The weather’s about to change again.”
I started writing this song a week ago
I’m now just getting around to finishing
It’s time to head home as nice as this vacation has been...
The river is miles behind us now and I’m feeling pretty much near the end
I don’t know how or when
I ever came down with these apathetic blues again