Jim Croce Album

I've been up and down and around and 'round and back again,
I've been so many places I can't remember where or when.
And my only boss was the clock on the wall and my only friend
Never really was a friend at all.

I've traded love for pennies, sold my soul for less,
Lost my ideals in that long tunnel of time.
I've turned inside out and around about and back and then
Found myself right back where I started again.

Once I had myself a million, now I've only got a dime,
The diff'rence don't seem quite as bad today.
With a nickel or a million, I was searching all the time
For something that I never lost or left behind.

I've traded love for pennies, sold my soul for less,
Lost my ideals in that long tunnel of time.
I've turned inside out and around about and back and then
Found myself right back where I started again.

And Now I'm in my second circle and I'm headin' for the top,
I've learned a lot of things along the way.
I'll be careful while I'm climbin' 'cause it hurts a lot to drop,
When you're down nobody gives a damn anyway.

I've traded love for pennies, sold my soul for less,
Lost my ideals in that long tunnel of time.
I've turned inside out and around about and back and then
Found myself right back where I started again.

Spin, spin, spin
Spin around, spin around

The harlequin dances in a costume of green
Spin around
But under his makeup his age can't be seen
Spin around
But where are you spinnin'
When will you know
That life is for livin'
That it isn't a show?

Spin, spin, spin
Spin around, spin around

You look out on the city from your penthouse so high
Spin around
But your pedestal's your prison and so is your high
Spin around
But where are you spinnin'
When will you know
That life is for livin'
That it isn't a show?

Spin, spin, spin
Spin around, spin around

Your pills are you conscience
They make ev'rything seem all right
Spin around
Take a white one go to sleep
Take a red one to stay up all night
To spin around
But where are you spinnin'
When will you know
That life is for livin'
That it isn't a show?
Spin, spin, spin
Spin around, spin around
Spin, spin, spin
Spin away, spin away
Spin, spin, spin
Spin around, spin around

Perhaps I'll never show this world all I could be
I just can't sing to any man the song he wants to hear
And I know that some won't like me
Others try to be my friend
But I'm all of me, and that's all that I am

And if life is for the living
Then why can't men be real
'Stead of hidin' in their costumes
Forgettin' how to feel, forgettin' how to feel

We still live in a time when manners cover what is real
There's a basic fact of life that the times cannot conceal
That if some are masqueraders
Others live in their facade
But I'm what I am
I cannot be what I am not

And if life is for the living
Then why can't men be real
'Stead of hidin' in their costumes
Forgettin' how to feel, forgettin' how to feel

I may be too honest and offend those who pretend
I don't claim I'm always right, that I'm ev'rybody's friend
Perhaps for them it's easier to be what they are not
But I'm what I am, and I just can't play that part

And if life is for the living
Then why can't men be real
'Stead of hidin' in their costumes
Forgettin' how to feel, forgettin' how to feel

Tell me, what do people do
When there ain't nothin' to do?
When there's nobody else around to do
Nothin' with or to
Have you ever been in that position in a small town motel room
Where the diners all close at nine
And the trucks keep a rollin' by
And you just can't get to sleep
Even though there's nothin' on your mind?
Tell me what do people say
When there ain't nothin' to say?
When there's nobody else around to help you pass the time of day
Have you ever stared at the ceiling
Till you thought you'd lose your mind
Looked for a wall that you could climb
Still you just can't get to sleep
Even tho' there's nothin' on your mind?
Have you ever been stuck in a small town motel
Lookin' all around but there ain't nothin' to see
In a never endin' mind bendin', troublin' position
Sayin' why did it happen to me?
Tell me, what do people do
When there ain't nothin' to do?
When there's nobody else around to do
Nothin' with or to
Have you ever been in that position in a small town motel room
Where the diners all close at nine
And the trucks keep a rollin' by
And you just can't get to sleep
Even though there's nothin' on your mind?
Tell me, what do people do
When there ain't nothin' to do?
When there's nobody else around to do
Nothin' with or to
Hope you never in that position in a small town motel room
Where the diners all close at nine
And the trucks keep a rollin' by
Till you just can't get to sleep
Even though there's nothin' on your mind?

My dusty feet have kicked the stones
Between a thousand railroad ties
From Boston down to New Orleans
I left the girls a-cryin'
But I've still got some ramblin' in me
Got some miles left on my shoes
And before I take a job again
I'll have to be low-down
Cryin' the blues

So it's goodbye baby
The whistle is a-blowin'
If I miss the train
I'll have to stay around
But as long as those railroad tracks
Go on un-ending
I'll be off to another day
In another town

You say you'd like to ramble with me
This ain't no life for a girl
Too many people out to get you
In a hobo's world
And it gets mighty cold
When you're on the road
'Cause a boxcar never was a home
But you could join me if you want
I'm gettin' mighty tired of bein' alone

So it's goodbye baby
The whistle is a-blowin'
If we miss the train
We'll have to stay around
But as long as those railroad tracks
Go on un-ending
We'll be off to another day
In another town

But as long as those railroad tracks
Go on un-ending
We'll be off to another day
In another town
We'll be off to another day
In another town

I'd like to think about her
And the way she used to love me
But I just can't live without her
'Cause her arms are not around me
And the season's getting later
And my body's getting colder
And the vespers ring and I'm all alone
Without my love beside me

She'd call me in the evenin'
And ask me to come over
She'd be standing by the window
With her hair down around her shoulder
We'd talk a while and then she'd smile
Then she'd lock the door
And she would sit beside me
And we would talk no more

The bells would ring at six o'clock
And she'd be in my arms
Her head upon my shoulder, gently resting
And then she'd wake and look at me
Not knowing I'd been watching
Kiss me softly, then drift off to sleep

She'd call me in the evenin'
And ask me to come over
She'd be standing by the window
With her hair down around her shoulder
We'd talk a while and then she'd smile
Then she'd lock the door
And she would sit beside me
And we would talk no more

Big wheel, don't you roll
Big diesel, don't you whine
Through the night as I'm runnin' down the road
Big semi, don't you stop, 'cause if you do I'm not
Gonna make it back to Baltimore with my load

Well, the truckstop's warm and friendly
And the coffee keeps me up
And the waitress there would like to waste my time
But I'll have to pass it by
As it's down the road I fly
Just a racin' with that pocket watch of mine

Big wheel, don't you roll
Big diesel, don't you whine
Through the night as I'm runnin' down the road
Big semi, don't you stop, 'cause if you do I'm not
Gonna make it back to Baltimore with my load

Smoke a-puffin', tires a-hummin'
Burnin' up the road
Countin' road signs and the miles to Baltimore
One eye out for weighin' stations
One for radar traps
They can't stop me, 'cause my plans don't call for that

If it were just another day
You know I might have stayed
To be beaten to the ground
But I couldn't hang around

You asked me for something
You know I couldn't lend
You tried to make me break
But it hurt too much to bend
And the more I see of what used to be our love, I find
That we've just been going nowhere
And we're never gonna get there
And we're wastin' our time

If I were just another guy
You know I might have tried
To fit into you schemes
And to have a plastic dream

You asked me for something
You know I couldn't lend
You tried to make me break
But it hurt too much to bend
And the more I see of what used to be our love, I find
That we've just been going nowhere
And we're never gonna get there
And we're wastin' our time

It was just another lie
I couldn't swallow when I tried
Just enough to realize
I'd been pretendin' all the time

You asked me for something
You know I couldn't lend
You tried to make me break
But it hurt too much to bend
And the more I see of what used to be our love, I find
That we've just been going nowhere
And we're never gonna get there
And we're wastin' our time

You asked me for something
You know I couldn't lend
You tried to make me break
But it hurt too much to bend
And the more I see of what used to be our love, I find
That we've just been going nowhere
And we're never gonna get there
And we're wastin' our time

And the more I see of what used to be our love, I find
That we've just been going nowhere
And we're never gonna get there
And we're wastin' our time
And the more I see of what used to be our love, I find
That we've just been going nowhere
And we're never gonna get there
And we're wastin' our time

The last face that I looked on
Can't recall too much about
The image of it left me
Each time the lights went out
The last mind that I wandered
I remember how I ran
Just to find the road had ended
Just where it began

The next man that I marry
There ain't nothin' he won't do
Most likely love me too much

The next hands that I hide in
Will be warm and dry as smoke
Just as satisfied to hold me
As to dust my winter coat
The next soul that I sleep in
Will be soft as summer rain
And when I need more lovin'
He'll love me once again

The next man that I marry
There ain't nothin' he won't do
Most likely love me too much

The next man that I marry
There ain't nothin' he won't do
Most likely love me too much
Just like you

Oh my room will always have some people
You see Johnny Carson is a friend of mine
And my music box will always play me something
If something's what I need to ease my mind
Take what you want
I'll feel much better
Don't hang around
Till I get myself together
You can leave those pieces right there where they fell
Someone else will come along and pick 'em up
Say what the hell
If I don't see you in the morning
Guess the sun might come up anyway
And without you here to love and stand beside me
Guess I just might make it thru' the day
If you should call from time to time
Don't be surprised
If the voice that answers ain't mine
'Cause you left the pieces right there where they fell
Someone else just came along and picked 'em up
Say what the hell
If you should call from time to time
Don't be surprised
If the voice that answers ain't mine
'Cause you left those pieces right there where they fell
Someone else just came along and picked 'em up
Say what the hell
If she don't love me come tomorrow
If you can't get what you want, want what you got
And I won't be drugged with words like joy and sorrow
I won't feel one way or the other
Like as not
I'll soon forget you
Leave my life
Guess you thought I'd never let you
'Cause you left those pieces right there where they fell
Someone else just came along and picked 'em up
Say what the hell

I'm a dreamer by nature
And I've always been tryin'
To dream myself out of this world that I'm in
In my dreams I escape all the troubles around
And it hasn't cost a penny
For the pleasures I've found

What is the part
That I'll play today
Beggar, a bus'ness man, king for a day?
I've played many parts
And I'm the first to agree
That I'm still lookin' round for the man that is me

I'm a dreamer by nature
And I've always been
Looking for something not there
My financial position
Don't bother my dreams
'Cause in fairy tale money
I'm my own millionaire

What is the part
That I'll play today
Beggar, a bus'ness man, king for a day?
I've played many parts
And I'm the first to agree
That I'm still lookin' round for the man that is me

I'm a rich man in dreams
But in real life I've hid
From the fact that I've got me a wife and a kid
If I lose what I've got
Then they lose it too
Tell me what in this world's a poor dreamer to do

What is the part
That I'll play today
Beggar, a bus'ness man, king for a day?
I've played many parts
And I'm the first to agree
That I'm still lookin' round for the man that is me