Bruce Hornsby Album

[No lyrics]

(B. R. Hornsby)

You're saying I've got, got a lot, a lot of nerve
To say that we could, we could be friends
You're thinking I'm just another one telling lies
You don't want to be fooled, fooled again

And you always go your way
And I always go mine
Maybe one day we'll come together
Across the great divide

I heard somebody calling you a bad name
But I was speechless, didn't say anything to him
Next time I swear, it'll be different
I promise not to be silent again

And you always go your way
And I always go mine
Maybe one day we'll come together
Across the great divide
And I always cross to the other side
But I go back every time
Maybe one day we'll come together
Across the great divide

I saw a bombed aisle, heard a gunshot ring
Saw two matchsticks burn, felt the bedsheets sting
Ugly words on a wall, and a robe in flames
Then I saw a little boy smile, when the clouds did move away

And you always go your way
And I always go mine
Maybe one day we'll come together
Across the great divide

(B. R. Hornsby)

Is he sane or insane
That's all they want to know
Is he crazy or strange then
If so I want to go
I've seen him leave at night
Followed him so far
Drove out about thirteen miles
Then he pulled in to a shothouse bar
For a...

Long tall cool one
Don't know just what's going down
Long tall cool one
Looks like a new friend I've found

Walking in the shadows
Now I want back in the light
As I make the drop I've got some
Second thoughts tonight
You see I walked right in, sat right down
Offered him a light
Big talk for about thirteen hours
He said can you help me with a job tonight,
For a...

Long tall cool one
Don't know just what's going down
Long tall cool one
He said something's in it for me right now
I've reached out into the darkness
Jumped up from my bed
Woke up in the middle of the night
Got myself in way over my head
For the...

Long tall cool one
Don't know just what's going down
Long tall cool one
Looks like a new friend I've found
Long tall cool one
But it better never bite me well
Long tall cool one
Customer's always right...

(B. R. Hornsby/John Hornsby)

Four walls I built one winter
She came to share my name
For years we lived as lovers on the open plains
Far off the heat wave shimmers
Pipelines and the gasoline
One day it all came running like a bad dream

Fire, smoke-filled lungs
I hope I'll be standing when the day is done
We're staring out at the red plains
And we're hiding out from the smoke and the rage
A lifetime living on the red plains
Watching out as it all goes up in flames

Get up on Sunday morning
Repent for Friday night
Don't let them tell you it's gonna be a fair fight
I gave her clothes and a diamond
She loved the things that shine
But one day the gold and the silver get left behind

Fire, smoke-filled rooms
I hope I'll be standing when the day is through
And we're staring out at the red plains
And we're hiding out from the smoke and the rage
A lifetime living on the red plains
Watching out as it all goes up in flames

(B. R. Hornsby)

In the southwest Virginia town of Richlands
I fell in love with an Appalachian girl
She lived in a long line of little row houses
On the side of an old strip mining hill
She walked along on the jagged ridge
She looked as far as she could see
But the hills out there are so up and down
You only see as far as the next big ridge

Everytime I see her face
On the street in the hollow on the hill
Another time and another place
I feel her in my heart still
Everytime I see her face
On the street in the hollow in the bend
I see her in my mind and then
I go down the road not taken again

The coal dust settles on the window display
They have to change it about every other day
Some things never change way out here
An outsider could always remain that way
She walked along on the jagged ridge
She told me she was thinking of me
But every time I tried to take her away
She alway ran back to the rocks and the trees

Everytime I see her face
On the street in the hollow on the hill
Another time and another place
I feel her in my heart still
Everytime I see her face
On the street in the hollow in the bend
I see her in my mind and then
I go down the road not taken again

Oh I went back there after many years
So curious and so secretly
As I looked on I held back a tear
The road not taken overcoming me
Oh I saw her she was sitting there
Older, thinner on the front porch
It seemed the light was a little brighter there
Or maybe I still carried the forgotten torch

Everytime I see her face
On the street in the hollow on the hill
Another time and another place
I feel her in my heart still
Everytime I see her face
On the street in the hollow in the bend
I see her in my mind and then
I go down the road not taken again

Let my inspiration flow in token rhyme, suggesting rhythm,
That will not forsake you, till my tale is told and done.
While the firelight's aglow, strange shadows from the flames will grow,
Till things we've never seen will seem familiar.

Shadows of a sailor, forming winds both foul and fair all swarm.
Down in Carlisle, he loved a lady many years ago.
Here beside him stands a man, a soldier from the looks of him,
Who came through many fights, but lost at love.

While the story teller speaks, a door within the fire creaks;
Suddenly flies open, and a girl is standing there.
Eyes alight, with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair,
She takes her fan and throws it, in the lion's den.

Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
The sailor gave at least a try, the soldier being much too wise,
Strategy was his strength, and not disaster.

The sailor, coming out again, the lady fairly leapt at him.
That's how it stands today. You decide if he was wise.
The story teller makes no choice. Soon you will not hear his voice.
His job is to shed light, and not to master.

Since the end is never told, we pay the teller off in gold,
In hopes he will return, but he cannot be bought or sold.

(B. R. Hornsby)

And he stands at the banquet room bar
Looking over the crowd
The reunion band playing too loud
And he sees his fellow old star
Looks him up and down
Sees a little of himself in his frown

The stander on the mountain
Looking for the fountain to drink some, to think some
About the old days
King of the mountain
Nothing could be found of the old ways, the old days
When he was the one
And the stander on the mountain runs

Let us sit and talk of old times
That's what we're supposed to do
And you don't look a day over thirty-two
Yes we were so funny and wild
There's an old friend of mine
Says I'm looking back most all the time

Stander on the mountain
Listens to the sound of the city streets, the lonely heat
The town he once owned
King of the mountain
Nothing could be found of the old ways, the old days
When he was the one
And the stander on the mountain runs
The king of the hill runs away

Oh she's knocking on your door tonight
She wants to see if she remembers right
Say won't you come outside tonight
Alright
They drive to the lookout on the hill

And when it was over
They sat there and looked back
Tomorrow was way in the distance
Tomorrow was a long time away
Nobody thought much about it
There's nothing wrong if we live for today

I recall when you filled it on up
And you bowed to the crowd
The girls in the short skirts screaming loud

The stander on the mountain
Looking for the fountain to drink some, to think some
About the old days
Big man around town
Nothing could be found of the old ways, the old days
When he was the one
And the stander on the mountain runs

(B. R. Hornsby/John Hornsby)

I met a fan dancer down in southside Birmingham
She was running from a fat man selling salvation in his hand
She said he's trying to save me
But I'm doing alright, the best that I can
Just a pair of fallen angels trying to get through the night

Step by step, one by one, higher and higher
Step by step, one by one, climbing Jacob's ladder

Coming over the airwaves the man says I'm overdue
Sing a song, send money, join the chosen few
But mister I'm not in a hurry, and I don't want to be like you
All I want from tomorrow is just to get it better than today

Step by step, one by one, higher and higher
Step by step, one by one, climbing Jacob's ladder

All I want from tomorrow is to get it better than today
Step by step, one by one, higher and higher
Step by step, one by one, climbing Jacob's ladder

[No lyrics]

[No lyrics]

(B. R. Hornsby)

Standing in line marking time
Waiting for the welfare dime
'Cause they can't buy a job
The man in the silk suit hurries by
As he catches the poor old ladies' eyes
Just for fun he says "Get a job"

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
But don't you believe them

They say hey little boy
You can't go where the others go
'Cause you don't look like they do
Said hey old man
How can you stand to think that way
Did you really think about it
Before you made the rules
He said, son

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
But don't you believe them

Well they passed a law in '64
To give those who ain't got a little more
But it only goes so far
Because the law another's mind
When all it sees at the hiring time
Is the line on the color bar

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
But don't you believe them

[No lyrics]

(B. R. Hornsby)

I'm leaning on a rail
Letting my eyes roam over the plain
I'm laughing on my break
Feeling like a captive on a long chain
Watch the people pick up sticks
Big boss man cracks his whip
It's serious but we laugh to keep from crying
Spouting out the company line
Everything here's just fine
He says he cares about me but he's lying
Up, up in the big house
The king of the hill.

I'm watching the boss man
Talking to his sister with the dirty hands
They sit, cussing at the rules
Wishing they could lose me as fast as they can
He's got me in the roughest rig
He thinks I took his brother's gig
People say they've got the game rigged
His daddy gave him everything
A job and a house and his earring
Why does he think that I'm so threatening, so bad
And up, up in the big house
King of the hill
And there, driving the big cat, king of the hill

I'm over in my space
Swatting bugs, sweat stains rolling down my face
I'm trying not to drink
Knowing I've got to roll out of this place
Watch the people pick up bricks
King of the hill with his nightstick
Caught up in accounting tricks
Throw a bone to the poor hicks
Got some candy, take a lick
Great white hope, shooting bricks
Time to let us all share the wealth
Getting coffee for the big stick
Hand in his pants at the skin flick
Lots of poisons, take your pick
Mama, mama, mama come quick
Felling like I'm getting sick
Have you noticeed any nervous tics
Think I'd better take care of myself
And up, up in the big house
King of the hill
And there, driving the big cat,
King of the hill.

(B. R. Hornsby)

So nice to be here
With all you good people
Is anybody listening
To what we're doing tonight
Could you give us a chance
While you hit the sauce
Might try a little flash up here
Just to get ourselves across

Hit it
Let the spirit linger
Get up
And do the spider fingers

I could show you on a table
I could show you on a chair
It's best shown on the black and whites
I know I could take you there
It's just a little hand trick
A little prestidigitation
Better get out your Hanon
Practice and repetition
We better do something
Before they tell us to get lost
Sometimes you've just got to repeat yourself
Just to get your point across

Hit it, let the spirit linger
Get up, do the spider fingers
A little spider tongue

How long will we be here
Well babe I just don't know
Depends on fate, the luck of the draw
Or maybe a little flashy show

Hit it
Let the spirit linger
Get up
And do the spider fingers

[No lyrics]

(B.R. Hornsby)

Crawl up the back steps
Up to the back door
Reach up in the dark
Turn the handle a little more
Open up real slow
So the door don't creak
Look ahead and look behind
Don't shuffle your feet

They say he's crazy, they say he's gone
We play our tricks, make up funny songs
Sneaking around, feeling badly
Sneaking up on Boo Radley

Hear the caterpillar crawl
Hear the bed buds bite
Hear the crickets scream
All the sounds of the night
Hear the sound of footprints
ON the ground I think I say
Don't step on the lightning bugs
Watch the crack in your knees

They say he's crazy, they say he's gone
We play our tricks, make up funny songs
Sneaking around, feeling badly
Sneaking up on Boo Radley

They say he's funny, got a loose screw
Stay away, he's a threat to you
Give him a break, what do we know
Might turn out we would like him so
We fear what we just don't know

I heard he served a long time ago
Saw some things we'll never know
We laugh and sneak around in teh night
Fun and games but I know it's not right
Scared and fascinated
Ignorant we castigate him
Scared and fascinated
Ignorant we flagellate him

They say he's crazy, they say he's gone
We play our tricks, make up funny songs
Down the street, walking sadly
My little sister, loves him madly
Feeling like the Man From Gladly
Sneaking up on Boo Radley

(B.R. Hornsby)

I'm sitting wondering, watching the parade
In my ever-present chair
People laughing and smiles all around me
Balloons and paper in my hair
There's a man in a car with the top down
Waving wildly at me
"The poor son of a gun", I know he's thinking
Better him, him than me

I've stared down the devil, and had to look away
Called out to the angels, but no-one ever came
Laid down odd and even, but double zero played
That's alright, I'm a lucky one
Such a fortunate son

I was always taught well, taught well
To be the strong one and keep it inside
But sometimes I sit beside the freeway
And howl out at the dark, dark sky
I might just have to go out and burn one
Have a drink or a few
Fade away in a cloudy haze of smoke
And give the old man's best salute

I've stared down the devil, and had to look away
Called out to the angels, but no-one ever came
Laid down odd and even, but double zero played
That's alright, I'm a lucky one
Such a fortunate son

(B. R. Hornsby/John Hornsby)

Sometimes I lead sometimes I follow
This time I'll go where she wants me to go
She said maybe today maybe tomorrow
Go deep in the woods down the low valley road

While no one was looking on the old plantation
He took her all the way down the long valley road
They sent her away not too much later
And left him walking down the old valley road
Walk on, walk on alone
Walk on, walk on, walk on alone

Out in the hall they were talking in a whisper
Everybody noticed she was gone awhile
Somebody said she's gone to her sister's
But everybody knew what they were talking about

While no one was looking on the old plantation
He showed her what they do down the long valley road
She came back around like nothing really happened
And left him standing on the old valley road
Walk on, walk on alone
Walk on, walk on, walk on alone

Standing like a stone on the old plantation
The rich old man would have never let him in
Good enough to hire, not good enough to marry
When it all happens nobody wins
Walk on, walk on alone
Walk on, walk on, walk on alone

Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standin' by
But "happily ever after" fails
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyer dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly

But I know a place where we can go
That's still untouched by men
We could sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
You can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

O'beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to lie.

But I know a place where we can go
And was a away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kiss
Come and take a long last look
Before we say goodbye

Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

(B.R. Hornsby/Mike Mangini)

One eye is open, the other eye is shut
Don't throw anything to me
I'm in no place, no place to receive
And I just can't move a thing
Things are rough down here
You know it's a little grim
Whatever you've got to pick me up
To help me out, I'm in
I'm down with that

In my dream I can fly, fly high
Over the fields and across the sky
Then I'm awake and I'm back on the ground
If you could take me back up there
I'm down, down with that

When I escape and close my eyes
Can't tell you from me
Sometimes in the dreams I look at myself
And it's looks so good, what I see
I'm having a little trouble here
Could you maybe help me out?
A little confidence pill you got
To take away my self-doubt
I'm down with that

In my dream I can fly, fly high
Over the fields and across the sky
Then I'm awake and I'm back on the ground
If you could take me back up there
I'm down, down with that

Slow down sun, shake yourself
Why make your own hell?
Say what are you doing son?
I'm just trying to like myself
I'd love to help myself
You know I really, really would
May your days be bright and well

In my dream I can fly, fly high
Over the fields and across the sky
Then I'm awake and I'm back on the ground
If you could take me back up there
I'm down, down with that

Well, I ride on a mailtrain, baby, can't buy a thrill
Well, I've been up all night, baby, leanin' on the window sill
Well, if I die on top of the hill
And if I don't make it, you know my baby will

Don't the moon look good, mama, shinin' through the trees?
Don't the brakeman look good, mama, flagging down the "Double E"?
Don't the sun look good goin' down over the sea?
Don't my gal look fine when she's comin' after me?

Now the wintertime is coming, the windows are filled with frost
I want to tell everybody, but I could not get across
Well, I wanna be your lover, baby, I don't wanna be your boss
Don't say I never warned you when your train gets lost

(B. R. Hornsby)

Well he came to town with a strong pull
Would flash his moves for the worshipful
Shoulder moves from side to side
Go over your head and dot your eyes

Every night about a quarter to ten
From the middle of June to the summer's end
People would gather from miles around
To see the mighty Rainbow knock 'em down

He'd pull up from around the back
Folk's say, "There's Rainbow's Cadillac"
Fancy shirts and shorts of plaid
Coat of more colors than Joseph had

Every night about a quarter to ten
From the middle of June to the summer's end
People would gather from miles around
To see the mighty Rainbow knock 'em down

Take a quarter from the collection plate
Every night he would dominate
Jump to the top and pick off a dime
Throw it down at the proper time

Every night about a quarter to ten
From the middle of June to the summer's end
People would gather from miles around
To see the mighty Rainbow knock 'em down

(B. R. Hornsby/John Hornsby)

The song came and went
Like the times that we spent
Hiding out from the rain under the carnival tent
I laughed and she'd smile
It would last for a while
You don't know what you got till you lose it all again

Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break
Every time she runs away
Listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go

A cool evening dance
Listening to the bluegrass band takes the chill
From the air till they play the last song
I'll do my time
Keeping you off my mind
But there's moments that I find
I'm not feeling so strong

Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break
Every time she runs away
Listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go

Running down by the lakeshore
She did love the sound of a summer storm
It played on the lake like a mandolin
Now it's washing her away once again

The boat's steaming in
I watch the sidewheel spin
And I think about her when
I hear that whistle blow
I can't change my mind
I knew all the time
That she'd go
But that's a choice I made long ago

Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break
Every time she runs away
Listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go

When the last rose of summer pricks my finger,
And the hot sun chills me to the bone,
When I can't hear the song for the singer,
And I can't tell my pillow from a stone,
I will walk alone by the black muddy river,
And sing me a song of my own,
I will walk alone by the black muddy river,
And sing me a song of my own.

When the last bolt of sunshine hits the mountain,
And the stars start to splatter in the sky,
When the moon hits the southwest horizon,
With the scream of an eagle on the fly,
I will walk alone by the black muddy river,
And listen to the ripples as they moan,
I will walk alone by the black muddy river,
And sing me a song of my own.

Black muddy river, roll on forever,
I don't care how deep or wide, if you've got another side,
Roll muddy river, roll muddy river, black muddy river, roll.

When it seems like the night will last forever,
And there's nothing left to do but count the years,
When the strings of my heart begin to sever,
And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears,
I will walk alone, by the black muddy river,
And dream me a dream of my own,
I will walk alone, by the black muddy river,
And sing me a song of my own, sing me a song of my own.