Don McLean Album

McLean Don

Well this is life, this is Prime time
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
This is livin' the American way

I was ridin' on the subway in the afternoon
I saw some kids 'a beatin' out a funky tune
The lady right in front of me was old and brown
The kids began to push her, they knocked her down
I tried to help her out but there was just no way
A life ain't worth a damn on the street today
I passed the ambulance and the camera crews
I saw the instant replay on the evening news

Well this is life, this is Prime time
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
This is livin' the American way

Well will you take the car, or will you take the trip?
Remove annoying hair from your upper lip
What's it really worth? Does she really care?
What's the best shampoo that I can use on my hair?
Hey what's the real future of democracy?
How're we gonna streamline the bureaucracy?
Hey, hey, the cost of life has gone sky-high
Does the deodorant I'm using really keep me dry?

Well this is life, this is Prime time
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
This is livin' the American way

Well spin the magic wheel and try to break the bank
Think about your life when you fill in the blank
Here's a game that's real if you wanna try
One spot on the wheel that says you must die
American roulette is the game we play
But no-one wants to have to be the one to pay
You get to pass "GO", you get to pass away
But before we start our show, here's our sponsor to say:

"Well this is life, this is Prime time
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Well this is life, this is Prime time
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
This is livin' the American way"

Well down in Mexico, the laundry's on the line
There's where you can go if you land on the nine
Canada is nice if you're fond of ice
If you land on the two then we'll send you there twice
We interrupt this game for a news release:
A man has gone insane and been killed by police!
Now back to the game, that's a dangerous play
'Cause if they see you in C-U-B-A you must pass away

Well this is life, this is Prime time
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
This is livin' the American way

My supper's on the stove, the war is on the screen
Pass the bread and butter while I watch the Marine
The shot him in the chest--Pass the chicken breast!
The general is saying that he's still unimpressed.
"We had to burn the city 'cause they wouldn't agree
That things go better with democracy!"
The weather will be fair, forget the ozone layer,
But strontium showers will be here and there

Well this is life, this is Prime time
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
This is livin' the American way

Well livin' in the country watchin' shadows fall
My reception ain't too good in a power stall
Bombers in the air, missiles in the sea
Chemicals in everything, including me
They don't keep their promise in the promised land
It's getting mighty hard to find an honest man
But coming very soon, a show you'll die to see
It's called "The End Of The World", on channel "C"

Well this is life, this is Prime time
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Well this is life, this is Prime time
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
This is livin' the American way

[No lyrics]

McLean

[Chorus]
Well you better jump, jump, jump,
If you wanna' live at all.
Yes you better jump, jump, jump,
Even though you're bound to fall
Cause' they're gonna' make you sorry gonna' make you cry
If you don't jump, jump, jump, into the seat by and by.

Well, you jump for joy and happiness,
You jump when things go right.
You jump when you're asleep
And you hear a strange voice in the night.
Sometimes we get to use to things, they don't mean what they did.
I know that what make my floor, make another fellows lid.

(Chorus)

Well, I'm always on the lookout,
For somethin' fresh and new.
Like bein' on a cookout with a crazy Kangaroo.
Just when I think I've found a place where I'm sure I wanna' stop.
My body won't quit cookin' and my mind begins to hop.

(Chorus)

Well, I'm thinkin' about a thousand things,
I'm a losin' lots of sleep.
I'm glidin' on my inner wings, I'm gettin' set to leap.
I'm ridin' on my pony, I'm lettin' out my rope.
I'm lookin' for an idea that a big bar of soap.

(Chorus)

(Instrumental Break)

(Chorus)

Well, one man was cold and hungry,
One man was rich and well.
One man stood at the window, as the crowd began to yell.
While the poor man prayed to Jesus and the rich man made a deal.
One man was standing naked yellin' do what you feel.

(Chorus)

[No lyrics]

McLean

I'm walkin' away, and leavin' you standin'
I've nothing to say, for I've said it all the best way I know how
Cry, cry if you need to, but I can't stay to watch you
'Cause that's the wrong thing to do.
Does it ease you to know, that I've thought about stayin'
Yet I think I will go, and let the words of goodbye go unsaid
Speak, speak if you need to, but I can't stay to hear you
'Cause that's the wrong thing to do.

All the words that you whisper are words that have nothing to say
And the thoughts they reveal are the reasons I'm goin' away
From the touch of your voice, I can feel separation
So you leave me no choice, for to remain would mean living apart
Touch, touch if you need to, but I can't stay to hold you
'Cause that's the wrong thing to do.
That's the wrong thing to do.
That's the wrong thing to do.

McLean

The pattern is broken, the pieces don't fit.
Pull them apart and move them a bit.
See what you've made and see who you are.
The plans that you've laid can go just so far.
Before the pattern get's broken, the pieces don't fit.
Pull them apart and move them a bit.
See what you've made and see who you are.
The plans that you've laid can go just so far.

Then it's the end of sunny weather.
When all the pieces fit together.
And it looks like the final ending.
But it's really the beginning.
And though the pieces are apart now.
And you got a broken heart now.
Someday the sun is gonna shine on a fabulous design,
That only you can see. Ahhhh.

But then the pattern get's broken, the pieces don't fit.
Pull them apart and move them a bit.
See what you've made and see who you are.
The plans that you've laid can go just so far.
Before the pattern get's broken, the pieces don't fit.
(The pattern's broken and the pieces don't fit)
Pull them apart and move them a bit.
(Pull them apart and then move them a bit)
See what you've made and see who you are.
(See what you've made and see who you are)
The plans that you've laid can go just so far.
(The plans you've laid will only go just so far)
Before the pattern get's broken, the pieces don't fit.
(The pattern's broken and the pieces don't fit)
Pull them apart and move them a bit.
(Pull them apart and then move them a bit)
See what you've made and see who you are.
(See what you've made and see who you are)
The plans that you've laid can go just so far.
(The plans you've laid will only go just so far)

Ahhh, ahaha, ahhh, ahaha, ahhhhhhhh, ahhha...

McLean

In someone's hand there is a land, where I must surely go, where she is,Â
to learn what she must know, when she gives all her love away.Â
To him that seems as in her dreams, unbroken by the storm on the sea,Â
But quiet deep and warm ever free, to give his love away.Â
And when these two have found the land, the world is not the same,Â
For though it spins when love begins, the world is not the same.Â

This is one change I always have longed for,
I always belonged more to you than to anyone
and in your hand the stars the sand, the rain and wind are new, as we liveÂ
and learn what love can do, when we give all our love away.Â
And now we too have found the land, the world is not the same,Â
For though it spins when love begins, the world is not.... the.... same.

McLean

I got a color TV for a limited time.
and you can have it by tonight, it'll bend your mind.
I wouldn't just sell it to an ordinary fool,
y' have to be sure that the fool has cool.
Since you look like a man with heart and soul.
If you buy it from me now, you get a free mixing bowl.

I'll even let you have a little button I' got
that says have a nice day , you're gonna like it a lot.

Popular music is the national craze.
Rock and Roll stars have the kids in a daze.
But twist the knob around for a different point of view
and you'll twist that knob till it comes unscrewed.
There's only one song that the TV sings and that's
Pennies From Heaven, while the register rings.

So it's easy to see, right from the start
that what makes good money, makes good art.

Now did you read the encyclical that's written by the Pope
sayin' folks with private property just got no hope.
The rich ain't welcome in the heavenly Palladium,
but the Knights of Columbus own Yankee Stadium.
Now I ain't sayin' that the Pope was wrong
but he can easily afford to sing that song.

If you'd like to call him up when you need some dough,
his number's Et Cum Spiri 2 2 0

The kids that fought the war are livin' outa state
and the CIA is runnin' things of late.
When we elect a man, we put him on the spot,
'cause if he don't play ball, he might get shot.
The national security keeps it from the voters,
'cause what's good for America isn't good for General Motors.

We went and found ourselves some mighty strange lovers.
The kind that like to blow from underneath the covers.

Well millions can avoid with Dr Sigmund Freud
those realities of life that tend to make me paranoid.
Lookin' for the answer just gives me indigestion
I spent so much time, just dealin' with the question.
We'd rather talk of dollars and forget about events
when what we have to decide is; Does it all make sense?

Well everybody's happy, I saw it on the news,
but me, I' got a case of color TV blues.

You know, just 'cause you're paranoid
doesn't mean they're not trying t' get ya'

McLean

I'm building my body
I'm happy when I'm building my body
I'm tired of fighting, let's make friends
I'm tired of burning both ends
That's why I'm building my body
It hurts me but I'm building my body
And I know what the pain is worth
I know I feel the pain of birth
I'm pushin' up
And gettin' down with my body
There's no-one else around with my body
One look says I'm a stone disgrace
Don't kick no sand in my face

Because I'm building my body strong
I'm watching what I eat
And I'm sorting out right from wrong
Hey, not a lot of meat
And I know that it won't be long
Before I gotta quit smoking

Because I'm building my body
I'm peaceful when I'm building my body
I'm sweating out mistakes I've made
I'm getting back the dues I've paid
I'm doing more
And getting sore with my body
But I'm gaining a rapport with my body
And this seems like the perfect time
They say I'm in my prime

That's why I'm building my body strong
I'm thinking at the table
And I'm sorting out right from wrong
I'm reading every label
And I know that it won't be long
Before I gotta quit smoking

'Cause I'm building my body
There's someone else inside of my body
He's waiting to be born again

[No lyrics]

McLean

When a good thing goes bad, it's not the end of the world.
It's the end of a world that you had with a girl.
Though it's hard to admit that the memory's sad
when you think what you had, when a good thing goes bad.Â

Love is so strange, it's a mystery to me.
It's easy to change and to lose what could be.
So you wait and you watch for the one who'll agree
with the things that you need and the life that you lead.

When a good thing goes right, it's a joy beyond worth.
As the roots of your love intertwine with the earth.
And your bodies are one, but you're living for two
and your future looks bright, oh yes, when a good thing goes right.

But time is the test, like the sea pounds the rocks.
And those who love best sometimes fail with the shocks.
And the waves break you down and you watch your love drown.
And she's so far from reach as you stand on the beach.

When a good thing goes bad, it's not the end of the world.
It's the end of a world that you had with a girl.
Though it's hard to admit that the memory's sad
when you think what you had, when a good thing goes bad.

Carr-Kennedy

South of the border, down Mexico way
That's where I fell in love, when the stars above came out to play
And now as I wander, my thoughts ever stray
South of the border, down Mexico way

She was a picture in old Spanish lace
Just for a tender while I kissed a smile upon her face
'Cause it was fiesta and we were so gay
South of the border, Mexico way

Then she sighed as she whispered, ?manana?
Never dreaming that we were parting
And I lied as a whispered, ?manana?
'Cause our tomorrow never came

South of the border, I jumped back one day
There in a veil of white, by the candlelight, she knelt to pray
The mission bells told me that I mustn't stay
South of the border, Mexico way

The mission bells told me, ding, dong, that I must not stay
Stay South of the border, down Mexico way

[No lyrics]