Janis Ian

Sometimes it’s all too much to say aloud
The sound’s a shroud
The meanings crowd
Sometimes the words are painful to the ear
They disappear and nothing’s clear

‘Til all that’s left to me are aftertones
I take them home
We live alone
But I remember chains of melody
It pleases me - this song’s for free

Within the memories of our life gone by
Afraid to die, we learn to lie
And measure out the time in coffee spoons
In fading suns and dying moons

‘Til all that’s left to see are aftertones
And no one knows
Where meaning goes
But i remember chains of melody
It pleases me - this song’s for free

And ooh, I like the sound
Of harmony from time to time
I really do believe
In some kind of tomorrow
When it speaks to me

Just the pattern of sunlight on a building
Just a flash in a window I was passing
Just a frame in a movie I remember
Amsterdam
Just the sound of a wheel in the gravel
Just the click of a heel in the pavement
Just a moment like any other moment
Amsterdam
I remember your lips
I remember your eyes
And the taste of the kiss
And your graceful goodbye
You lied… goodbye
Just the scent of perfume on the linen
Just the print of a palm on the pillow
Just the hint of the moon from the window
Amsterdam
Just a ghost in the steam on the mirror
Just a shadow of motion in the water
Just a need to look over my shoulder
Amsterdam
I remember your lips
I remember your eyes
And the taste of the kiss
And your graceful goodbye
You lied… goodbye
Just two lovers asleep in the silence
As I walk from the door
Just the weight of a heart
As it's falling nothing more
I remember your lips
I remember your eyes
And the taste of the kiss
And your graceful goodbye you lied…
Goodbye goodbye, goodbye

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
TREAT HER RIGHT
BE POLITE
MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
GIVE THE SINGER A BREAK
HOW MUCH CAN YOU GIVE
HOW MUCH CAN YOU TAKE


GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
WANNA GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
ANYTHING TO BUY YOUR SOUL
AND MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE


APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
SHE'LL STAND UPON HER HEAD
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
SHE'LL TAKE YOU TO HER BED
AND SHARE WITH YOU THE MEMORIES
OF DREAMS SHE CAN'T FORGET
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
LET'S GIVE THE PRIZE
TO THE LITTLE LADY
WITH THE STARS IN HER EYES


I'LL SELL MY SOUL FOR A SONG
PAY THE PRICE AND CARRY ON
AND SHARE WITH YOU THE MEMORIES
OF DREAMS I CAN'T FORGET
OF LOVERS I HAVE MET
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
LET'S GIVE THE PRIZE
TO THE LITTLE LADY
WITH THE STARS IN HER EYES


APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
TREAT HER RIGHT
BE POLITE
MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
GIVE THE SINGER A BREAK
HOW MUCH CAN YOU GIVE
HOW MUCH CAN YOU TAKE


GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
WANNA GIVE THE SINGER A CHANCE
ANYTHING TO BUY YOUR SOUL
AND MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE
MAYBE SHE WILL DANCE
MAYBE SHE WILL?

I learned the truth
at seventeen
That love was ment
for beauty queens
And high school
girls
With clear skinned
smiles
Who married young
and then retired
The valentines
I never knew
The friday night
charades of youth
Were spent on
one more beautiful
At seventeen
I learned the truth
And those of us
with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social
graces desperately
Remained at home
inventing lovers
On the phone
who called to say
Come dance with me
and murmured
Vague obscenities
it isn't all it seems
At seventeen
a brown eyed girl
In hand me downs
whose name
I never could
pronounce
Said pity
please the ones
Who serve
they only get
What they deserve
and the rich
Relationed hometown
queen
Marries into
what she needs
With a guarantee
of company
And haven
for the elderly
Remember those
who win the game
Lose the love
they sought to gain
In debentures
of quality
And dubious
integrity
Their small town eyes
will gape at you
In dull surprise
when payment due
Exceeds accounts
received at seventeen~

To those of us
who knew the pain
Of valentines
that never came
And those whose names
were never called
When choosing side
for basketball
It was long ago
and far away
The world was younger
than today
When dreams were
all they gave for free
To ugly duckling
girls like me
We all play the game
and when we dare
We cheat ourselves
at solitaire
Inventing lovers
on the phone
Repenting other
lives unknown
That call and say
come dance with me
And murmur vague
obscenities
At ugly girls like me
at seventeen~

I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
and high school girls with clear skinned smiles
who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The friday night charades of youth
were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen, I learned the truth

And those of us with ravaged faces
lacking in the social graces
desperately remained at home
inventing lovers on the phone
who called to say "Come dance with me"
and murmured vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems at seventeen

A brown-eyed girl in hand-me-downs
whose name I never could pronounce
said "Pity please the ones who serve
They only get what they deserve"
The rich-relationed hometown queen
marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company
and haven for the elderly

Remember those who win the game
lose the love they thought to gained
in debentures of quality
and dubious integrity
Their small-town eyes will gape at you
in dull surprise when payment due
exceeds accounts received at seventeen
To those of us who knew the pain
of valentines that never came
and those whose names were never called
when choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago, and far away
The world was younger than today
when dreams were all they gave for free
to ugly duckling girls like me

We play the game, and when we dare
we cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown
that call and say "Come dance with me"
and murmur vague obscenities
at ugly girls like me, at seventeen

I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired.
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth.
And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say come dance with me
and murmured vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems
At seventeen.
A brown eyed girl in hand me downs
Whose name I never could pronounce
said, Pity please the ones who serve
They only get what they deserve.
The rich relationed hometown queen
she marries into what she needs
A guarantee of company
And haven for the elderly.
Remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
Indebentures of quality
And dubious integrity.
Their small town eyes will gape at you
in dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received
At seventeen.
To those of us who know the pain
Of valentines that never came,
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball.
It was long ago and far away
The world was younger than today
And dreams were all they gave for free
To ugly duckling girls like me.
We all play the game and when we dare
To cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown
That call and say, come dance with me
and murmur vague obscenities
At ugly girls like me
At seventeen.

I’m the belle of the blues, and it’s easy to see
If I win or I lose, it’s all one to me
I was born on a shelf in the rare books library
I reside by myself with my books and my T.V.

I’m an old age pension for the fossilized routine
Anybody for nostalgia, put a record on and see
Here’s a memory of olden days
And a heartbreak grown cold
All that glitters isn’t gold
You get no love for free

You live and you die
And I’ll probably throw it away
But in the end it’s mine
And nobody has a right to say
“Go down lightly - go down silently”
I’ll go down screaming
“Give it back - it belongs to me”

I’m the belle of the blues - I’m used to mingling
With the creme de la creme of higher society
I promise them roses, and an eight-by-ten of me
But when the party’s over
They’re all too glad to leave

Their children sing of sorrow
It’s the same old routine
They’ve begged and they’ve borrowed
Someone else’s misery

It’s an easy act to follow
At least, an easy one for me
Give me my tomorrows
You can have my memories

Souvenirs from an old-fashioned school
Plays coquette on the pillow
Like an old-fashioned fool
Go down lightly
Go down silently
You go down lonely
You go down like me

There's never much to say between
the moments of our games and repartee
There's never much to read between
the lines of what we need
and what we'll take
There's never much to talk about
or say aloud, but say it anyway
Of holidays, and yesterdays,
and broken dreams that somehow slipped away
In books and magazines of how to be
and what to see while you are being
Before and after photographs teach
how to pass from reaching to believing
We live beyond our means
on other people's dreams
and that's succeeding
Between the lines of photographs
I've seen the past - it isn't pleasing
So strike another match
We'll have another cup of wine
and dance until the evening's dead
of too much song and time
There's never much to talk about
or read between the lines of what we
dream about when we're apart
and no one's looking on to say
"You're mine"
It was a good year then
It was a good year then - we all remember
the time you threw the looking glass
and seemed a fool - or very clever
Don't spoil it all; I can't recall
a time when you were struck
without an answer
We'll live a quiet, peaceful time
between the lines, and go together
I'm striking up the band
to play our last hurrah
We'll dance until we've
killed another evening off
Don't think of anyone but me
I'll have no lovers on the side
Tonight is all we've ever dreamed about
for once let's get it right
I'll go down flying in the end
Throw another bottle in between the lines
I'll go down like a ship of state
so let's be gracious now
between the lines

billie's tears fall like dust
from the air into my eyes
seeping in before they rust
spilling secrets words can't hide
i am standing on the bones
of a mound too high to climb
selling secrets to atone
for a song that is not mine

billie's bones are white and bleached
piled high and hard to reach
and the top looks cold and bleak
but i see farther when i stand
on billie's bones in billie's land

there's an orchid in her hair
there are bruises on her lips
i would worship if i dared
kneeling at her fingertips
i would tell her how i've yearned
to be worthy of the grail
all these years and all i've learned
is just how brilliantly i fail

billie's bones are white and bleached
piled high and hard to reach
and the top looks cold and bleak
but i see farther when i stand
on billie's bones in billie's land

now the flesh of earth has passed
now the joints have come undone
all that's left of her is ash
scattered on the air like crumbs

there are voices on the wind
stolen whispers, sacred moans
you can hear them through your skin
and the singing of the bones
when the wind blows from the east
i can taste her on my tongue
and the grave is lined and paved with
all the songs we never sung

billie's bones are white and bleached
piled high and hard to reach
and the top looks cold and bleak
but i see farther when i stand
on billie's bones in billie's land

Boy I really tied one on
Spent the night away from home
I know you're not to blame
if I can't recall your name
and I'm sorry if it causes you pain

Boy I really lost my head
I woke up in a double bed
Allow me the pleasure
of taking your measure
though I'm sure you ain't
nobody's treasure
And I know it isn't ladylike
to do what I've done tonight

(chorus)
Wake up I've got news for you
Nobody's knocking at your door
Nobody's gonna pull you through
Nobody needs you anymore, yeah yeah
Nobody's knocking at your door

Boy I went around the bend
Thought I'd made a lifelong friend
Imagine my surprise
when I looked into your eyes
and saw the kind of friends
you meant
I think I'm gonna take the cure
I'm going on the wagon for sure
I may feel a fool
for a Sunday or two
but it's better than a Sunday with you
And I know it isn't ladylike
to do what I've done tonight

(chorus)

Breaking Silence

Come into my solitude
tho i weary be
COme into my tenderness
dream along with me
listen to the wispers sing
listen to the singers shout
come into my solitude
me and my big mouth

thoughts unspoken thoughts unsaid
lies of hearth and home
children broken on the bed and left to lie alone
things you talk around
scum you chock on down
come into my solitude
step on sacred ground

we were speaking
of values and violence
breaking silence

fathers who are lovers to the daughters that they own
mothers who dont leave a child in a single saftey zone
people so unhinged, that death is much to kind
come into my solitude, step over that line

thought i was the only one
thought i was the only one
thought i was the only
thought i was the only
only one
breaking silence

come into my solitude
welcome to the wheel
come into this wonderland
of wounds that will not heal
walls that do not speak
steps that do not sound
come into my solitude
burn this building down

Bright Lights And Promises
A pocket full of dreams
That's what they pay me to be
Gold lame' and diamonds
I'm a hometown queen
Honey, would you sing it just for me?
When I was good then I was bad
I never thought I'd end up this way
With no dreams to hide me
Bright lights to guide me
How long does it take to make the grade?
Ev'rywhere I hear a ringing in my ears
Drummer, let the music play
Small-town blues
Make it loud, make it do
Listen to the music sway


Bar rails and cocktails
"Have you got a light?"
That's all it pays to keep in sight
Overused and much abused
Promises of delight
Honey, would you care to spend the night?
Take a little time
Some memories and wine
Loosen up the sucker by the bar
And if he wants to hold you
If he wants to know you
Honey,That's what you're here for
Until all I see
Is them reaching out for me
Drummer, play that old time melody


Bright lights and promises
That's all it's for
Leave and enterby the service door
Now I'm gold lame' and diamonds
Even if the gold is worn
Honey, can you show me more?

don't let the sun go down on me
I do not want to be alone tonight
We'll be right, you'll see
Night is a shadow on the soul
and if you want to set me wholly free
stay by me tonight

I've been afraid of love
knowing I need you to stay
I've been ashamed to love
knowing you're leaving me
day after day
I'm begging you, pleading
I like you best
when night runs a shadow on the soul
No more empty hands to hold

Don't let the evening sun go down
I haven't found a way
to trade the night
sheer delight
burning bright
candlelight
Lay me down - astound me
Not a sound- surround me
Skies unbound, I'm unwound Lay me down

I've been afraid to love
This is no time to hesitate
I've been ashamed to love
but lay me down, I just can't wait
I like you best
when night is a pleasure you can give
Lay me down - now I know how to
Lay me down - now I know how to
lay me down
Now I know how to live

don't let the sun go down on me
I do not want to be alone tonight
We'll be right, you'll see
Night is a shadow on the soul
and if you want to set me wholly free
stay by me tonight

I've been afraid of love
knowing I need you to stay
I've been ashamed to love
knowing you're leaving me
day after day
I'm begging you, pleading
I like you best
when night runs a shadow on the soul
No more empty hands to hold

Don't let the evening sun go down
I haven't found a way
to trade the night
sheer delight
burning bright
candlelight
Lay me down - astound me
Not a sound- surround me
Skies unbound, I'm unwound Lay me down

I've been afraid to love
This is no time to hesitate
I've been ashamed to love
but lay me down, I just can't wait
I like you best
when night is a pleasure you can give
Lay me down - now I know how to
Lay me down - now I know how to
lay me down
Now I know how to live

And when the war was over
I went dancing in the streets
with the corpse of my dead brother
to the sacrificial beat

the Boy Scouts and the Legionnaires
come home from overseas
singing Glory Hallelujah!
to the swank Gestapo beat

Hallelujah
I've never been
In the whole of my life
an intelligent sacrifice
Hallelujah
Give me a reason
to go on believing
and I'm ready
to pay the price

I heard of a plan
in the president's mansion
(high up in the sky)
It called for a sacrifice
and my brother paid the price

Sent him home in a bag,
Tha American flag
was draped around the box
The coffin lid was locked
The note said Thanks a lot

Some and dance with me
I'm home from overseas
I'm a corpse up to my knees
Celebrate the victory

Do you want to dance
and hold me tight?
I'm feeling most diseased
but I'm easier to please
Come and dance

On days like these
When the rain won't fall
And the sky is so dry
That even birds can't call
I can feel your tears
Disappearing in the air
Carried on the breeze
On days like these

Its years like these
That makes a young man old
Bend his back against the promises
That life should hold
They can make him wise
They can drive him to his knees
Nothing comes for free
On days like these

But you can't reap what you don't sow
And you can't plant in fallow ground
So let us fill this empty earth with hope
Until the rains come down

In lives like these
Where every moment counts
I add up all the things
That I can live without
When the one thing left
Is the blessing of my dreams?
I can make my peace
With days like these

I can make my peace
With days like these

Who will die by fire?
Who will seek the flame?
Whose heart's desire has the most to gain?
Who will beg for mercy?
Who will bow their head?
Who will suffer gladly?
Who will welcome death?

Who will play the hero?
Who will turn and run
Who will always follow someone else's drum?
Who will die of beauty?
Who will die of hope?
Who will tell it truly?
Who will leave it cloaked?

Dead men walking in the night
Dead men talking in my ear
I am afraid to ask too much and disappear
When they are near

Who will call me lover?
Who will call me friend?
Who'll be my brother?
Who will just pretend?


Who will I surrender?
Who will I defend?
Will I be remembered?
Will I rise again?

Dead men walking in the world tonight
Dead men talking in my ear
I am afraid to ask too much and disappear
When they are near

Carve my name upon your heart
Let it leave an everlasting scar
A shooting star

Dead men walking in the world tonight
Dead men talking in my ear
I am afraid to ask too much and disappear

Dead men walking in the world tonight
Dead men talking in my ear
I am afraid to ask too much when they are near

Dead men walking in the world tonight
Dead men talking in my ear
I am afraid to ask too much

EVENING STAR
All our good times have been had
and there’s nothing more to be said
I don’t like being trite, but I love you
I love you
When my evening star comes around again
You won’t find me sitting where I was when you first came
When my evening star tells me it’s time for a change
The words may change. The song may change
but love will be the same
I grow tired burning
tomorrow’s fires in
yesterday’s flame
Good times Bad times
Think of all our good times
measured with the bad times
When my evening star comes around to say
Once upon you had someone
Gone now
The light goes out
and the stage is set
Stand by me anyway
I need a lover who
won’t want to bother with
yesterday’s flame
Good times Bad times
Think of all our good times
measured with the bad times
All our good times have been had
and there’s nothin’ more to be said
I don’t like being trite, but I loved you
And I love you
Yes I do
I loved you, and I love you

Anonymous autonomous will likely get the best of us yet
Before you disappear if you can lend me half an ear, I'll regret
If I treat you like a number
It's because I can't remember your name, mmm
So have another cigarette and help me to forget why I came

Run too fast, fly-y too high, Run too fast, fly too high

On dark and lonely nights I'm only right when things are bright on the floor
Dancin' and romancin', gallivanting with a handsome I score
And if you don't believe me you should see me when I'm ready to roar
'Cause I'll lose my concentration with a new infatuation I'm sure

You run too fast, fly-y too high, Run too fast, fly to high-igh-igh
You got no past, no goodbyes, You run too fast, and you fly too high

Would you believe I was once gonna be somebody-y-y-y
I packed up my bags and I took what I had to the city-y-y-y
Man it was rough to find the best I could be
Waitin' for the limit on a colour TV
Now I've made it this far, Got a room on the park and a view
Brand new, Fly too high
Full Boar version ends here, Night Rains version continues:

Run too fast, Fly too high, Run too fast, Fly too high

Hanging around on the infield, what do you steal
But another feel at the top
Making believe in the long run, when a shotgun
Is the way to get out of the shop
Hang tail in a new jail, You can go bail
You can dance until you drop
'Cause there's no fool like an old fool, in a new school
You just can't stop

Run too fast, fly-y too high
You run too fast, fly-y too high-igh-igh
Run too fast, fly-y too high, mmm-mmm
Run too fast, fly to high (fade)

I'm leaving by night
I'm leaving alone
Leaving it lie
When you waken I'll be gone
I would not beg for me
As I would not beg for you
Though I'd like to be
The one to see you through
Every step you have taken
Disappears with the tide
You're torn up and shaken
With changing your mind
You haven't got the grace
To say you'll finally decide
And you haven't got
The strength to stay to fight
Those people who surround you
Only want to see you weak enough to crawl
They'll lie for you, decide for you
And buy up all your rights & all wrongs
And they'll try to stop your singing
In the middle of your song
For they do not want you free
And they will not make you strong
But only drag you down
In the hole they're coming from
They say you are foolish
In wanting the sun
Say you are selfish
In learning to run
Tell you that the darkness
Is a blessing in disguise
For you never have to notice
If you're sighted or you're blind
And they'll do their best
To keep you from the light


You're more than beginning
You're learning to fly
You feel like you're falling
But it passes in time
I hate to see a friend go down
In flames without a song
So I'm waiting by the doorway
But I will not linger long
I'm leaving by night
I'm leaving alone
I'm leaving it lie
When you waken I'll be gone
I would not beg for me
As I could not beg for you
But I'd like to be
The one to see you through

Borrowed pens on dotted lines
Sign the past away.
This is yours and that is mine,
So the papers say.

How can you move so quickly?
How can you heal so fast?
And what will I do with my mornings?
And what will I do with my nights?

Tell me what you see in her that used to be in me,
Why is it the simple truths are hardest to believe?
How can I start all over?
Knowing we'll just be friends.
And what will i do with my mornings?
And what will i do with my nights?

You want answers that I can't give,
You want words I don't know.
Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Mmmmm oooh

After this day is over,
How will my dreams go on?
And what will I do with my mornings?
Tell me what will I do with my nights?

You want answers that I can't give,
You want words I don't know.
Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Borrowed pens on dotted lines
Sign the past away.
This is yours and that is mine,
So the papers say.

How can you move so quickly?
How can you heal so fast?
And what will I do with my mornings?
And what will I do with my nights?

Tell me what you see in her that used to be in me,
Why is it the simple truths are hardest to believe?
How can I start all over?
Knowing we'll just be friends.
And what will i do with my mornings?
And what will i do with my nights?

You want answers that I can't give,
You want words I don't know.
Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Mmmmm oooh

After this day is over,
How will my dreams go on?
And what will I do with my mornings?
Tell me what will I do with my nights?

You want answers that I can't give,
You want words I don't know.
Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Ask me when I'm through getting over you.

Don't sing me love songs
You know they make me cry
Don't bring me any promises
You've none I want to buy
Don't send me any letters
You know I never learned to read
Leave them on the doorstep
Sit back and watch me bleed

Bleeding for the sailors
Who never caught the tide
And the wind goes on forever
Tomorrow never dies
And I wave goodbye to morning
And stake my life on land

I was sitting on the doorstop
Watching Satan have his day
It was half past morning
'Fore I tore myself away
I've never looked beyond the mirrors
Of our used-to-be
The gilded edges shadow sketches
In the light of memory

And I found the paint by number
With your name across the top
And the room began to dance
To the spinning of the clock
And I waved goodbye to morning
But I left the door unlocked

Well, the tears flow like wine
And the salt makes you blind
So you beg a little time
'Cause you're choking on the vine
But the words begin to pour
And it feels just like war
And your face is on the floor
And you cannot find the door

And I think I found the answer
Where you left it on the shelf
But it's too late to wonder
If I left it there myself
And the room begins to rock
And the walls begin to steam
And the clock won't stop
And I'm living in between
And I wave goodbye to morning
And stake my life on dreams

When I was just the age of five
My world had just come live
Wonderous things to see and be done
All that I could think of was fun

With hair of spun gold
Lips of ruby red
And eyes as deep as the deepest sea

When I was just the age of ten
My life had been changed again
I threw away all my childish toys
And worked on getting noticed by boys

And when I was just thirteen years of age
Going steady was all the rage
My mother picked out the cutest boy
My little leather-jacketed toy

And hair of spun gold
Turned to black as night
And the ruby red lips
Turned to pale pink

When I was fifteen years of age
He had my hand in marriage
And when fifteen years of age
In my arms I held my babe

And now I'm twenty-one
And I feel my life's over and done
And I'm looking down on my little child
Wondering, wondering if she'll be so wild

She's got hair of spun gold
Lips of ruby red
And eyes as deep as the deepest sea

When I'm looking down on my little child
I swear she'll have the time
There'll be time to love
There'll be time to learn
But childish memories she won't burn
We'll find time to laugh
We'll find time to play
She won't have to throw her toys away
I swear to you we'll wait for time
To take its time

When we grow old
And love grows cold
And time runs down
Like a river
That calls us home

The eyes grow dim
The light grown thin
And time will
End here forever
Long time gone

Then time and the river
Must stop in their tracks
Or roll on forever
There’s no turning back
I’ve waiting too long
To be left here like this
Long time gone

Then weep no more
The heart is pure
These hands are sure
Like a river
That clings to shore

The love we learn
The love we burn
A love that burns
In the darkness
Will weep no more
Dreams die young

If I could only hear my mother sing again
If I could close my eyes and hear your voice as then
All the friends and family
Would sing along with me
And set your spirit free

In my heart I hear you sing again
Every note as natural as then
When I sing those songs
With family and friends
In my heart I hear you sing again

I know the troubled times that turned your hair to grey
And all the tears and sorrows followed to your grave
But deep within the heart of hunger
There were always melodies
Passed from you to me

In my heart I hear you sing again
Every note as natural as then
When I sing those songs
For family and friends
In my heart I hear you sing again

And it's a long, long road I've come
Since my mother's songs were heard
But the child I can't outrun
Still hangs on every word

In my heart I hear you sing again
Every note as natural as then
When I sing those songs
With family and friends
In my heart I hear you sing again

Friendly stranger
look what you do to me
Smiling faces
and I melt inside
singing praises of your company
I want to lay me down
Stay all through the night

You are too good to be
wholly and totally mine
You are too good to be
slipping away like wine
and I'm waiting, praying
skating on the edge of the line
Let me down easy
Let me down easy

chorus:
I want to make you love me
and I want to make you smile
and I want to be your family
for just a little while

I get frightened by the thunder
and the lightning roars
like a bullet in the pourin rain
I get heightened
by your wondering arms
Lay me down-
do it all over again

you are too good to be
wholly and totally mine
You are slipping away
and I'm making you stay
and I'm waiting for the sun to shine
I go rolling down the incline
holding on a lifeline
stopping on the edge of a dime
Let me down easy
Let me down easy

repeat chorus

Friendly stranger
look what you do to me
Smiling faces
and I melt inside
singing praises of your company
I want to lay me down
Stay all through the night

You are too good to be
wholly and totally mine
You are too good to be
slipping away like wine
and I'm waiting, praying
skating on the edge of the line
Let me down easy
Let me down easy

chorus:
I want to make you love me
and I want to make you smile
and I want to be your family
for just a little while

I get frightened by the thunder
and the lightning roars
like a bullet in the pourin rain
I get heightened
by your wondering arms
Lay me down-
do it all over again

you are too good to be
wholly and totally mine
You are slipping away
and I'm making you stay
and I'm waiting for the sun to shine
I go rolling down the incline
holding on a lifeline
stopping on the edge of a dime
Let me down easy
Let me down easy

repeat chorus

Look at me I would like to dance
But I haven't the clothes for romance
So I'll stay with the boys in the band
I would like to be cool
Like the ladies who drool as they advance
But I can't get my feet
To go where I lead with my toes

At the debutante's ball everybody does all they can do to enhance
Every corset in town in a gown made specially in France
And the men here can tell at a glance
I would like to maintain
but it sure seems a shame to sit on my hands
And I only got into the swim
by the seat of my pants

Not another woman in the world
Who could make a living
Pitching the light fandango
dancing on the streets of the city
Look at me, playing freelance at the ball
Catch my entrance to the hall
Far from the gilded lily

Look at me would you like to dance
I've a book illustrating the stance
And I can't get my head
To go where I lead
With my toes
I feel solo

I'll cry tonight
night is the enemy
Poisons the memory
Martyrs it secretly
Midnight comes too fast
It comes too silently
The moon has no mercy now
to live anymore

One day the rains will come
and wash away the tears
Sunlight will fade the years
Midnight comes too fast
and I don't want
the night to last

Shadows on the glass
Faces in window panes
Old lace and picture frames
rattle their ancient chains
Midnight will surprise
moonlight at the door
The night has a thousand eyes
and i don't know why
to live any more

They told me how you loved me
when I finally got the bravery
to look beyond these prison walls
and shadows hanging over me
I cannot find a way to be
a lover for your life, although
they tell me it comes easily
I somehow cannot let the seasons pass
without demanding that they last
and though I know forever well,
I also know my private hell
Silent voices in the night
They are crying- Sacrifice

One day the rains will come
and wash away the years
Sunlight will fade the tears
Midnight comes too fast
and I don't want
the night to last

The days are okay
I watch the TV in the afternoon
If I get lonely
The sound of other voices
Other rooms are near to me
I'm not afraid
The operator
She tells the time
It's good for a laugh
There's always radio
And for a dime I can
Talk to God, dial a prayer
Are you there
Do you care
Are you there?
And in the winter
Extra blankets for the cold
Fix the heater, getting old
I am wiser now, you know
And still as big a fool
Concerning you
I met your friend
She's very nice, what can I say?
It was an accident
I never dreamed we'd meet again
This way - you're looking well
I'm not afraid
You have a lovely home
Just like a picture
No, I live alone
I found it easier
You must remember how
I never liked the party life
Up all night, lovely wife
You have a lovely wife
And in the winter
Extra blankets for the cold
Fix the heater, getting old
You are with her now, I know
I'll live alone forever
Not together now

JESSE COME HOME
THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BED
WHERE WE SLEPT
NOW IT'S GROWING COLD
HEY JESSE, YOUR FACE
IN THE PLACE WHERE WE LAY
BY THE HEARTH, ALL APART
IT HANGS ON MY HEART
AND I'M LEAVING THE LIGHT ON THE STAIRS
NO I'M NOT SCARED - I WAIT FOR YOU
HEY JESSE, I'M LONELY, COME HOME

JESSE, THE FLOORS AND THE BOARDS
RECALLING YOUR STEP
AND I REMEMBER, TOO
ALL THE PICTURES ARE FADING
AND SHADED IN GREY
BUT I STILL SET A PLACE
ON THE TABLE AT NOON

AND I'M LEAVING A LIGHT ON THE STAIRS
NO I'M NOT SCARED - I WAIT FOR YOU
HEY JESSE, I'M LONELY, COME HOME

JESSE, THE SPREAD ON THE BED
IS LIKE WHEN YOU LEFT
I'VE KEPT IT ALL FOR YOU
AND ALL THE BLUES AND THE GREENS
HAVE BEEN RECENTLY CLEANED
AND THEY'RE SEEMINGLY NEW
HEY JES, ME AND YOU

WE'LL SWALLOW THE LIGHT ON THE STAIRS
WE'LL DO UP MY HAIR
WE'LL SLEEP UNAWARE
HEY JESSE, I'M LONELY, COME HOME

Jesse come home
There's a hole in the bed
Where we slept
Now it's growing cold
Hey Jesse, your face
In the place where we lay
By the hearth, all apart
It hangs on my heart

And I'm leaving the light on the stairs
No I'm not scared - I wait for you
Hey Jesse, I'm lonely, come home

Jesse, the floors and the boards
Recalling your step
And I remember, too
All the pictures are fading
And shaded in grey
But I still set a place
On the table at noon

And I'm leaving a light on the stairs
No I'm not scared - I wait for you
Hey Jesse, I'm lonely, come home

Jesse, the spread on the bed
Is like when you left
I've kept it up for you
And all the blues and the greens
Have been recently cleaned
And it's seemingly new
Hey Jes, me and you

We'll swallow the light on the stairs
We'll do up my hair
And sleep unaware
Hey Jesse, I'm lonely, come home

Ooo, let me be lonely
I'd rather be by myself
than with you acting holy
I want to be with the one
I want to be
or else I want to be free
Ooo, let me be lonely

Saving up for a rainy day
or donate to charity?
Impossible
Think you'll make history?
improbable
give your love to me

Ooo, let me be wanted
I've a right to tonight
to delight
when you got it you flaunt it
and if you're not
what you seem to be then
how come you're coming on strong?
Ooo, let me be wanted

all you do with your time
is tease me
Couldn't you find the time
to please me?
With your kind
it looks so easy
shoving the blues away

Ooo - let me be lonely
I'd rather be by myself
acting holy
I want to be with the one

Ooo, let me be lonely
All you do with your time
couldn't you find the time?
With your kind it's done

Ooo, let me be lonely
I'd rather be by myself
than with you acting holy
I want to be with the one
I want to be
or else I want to be free
Ooo, let me be lonely

Saving up for a rainy day
or donate to charity?
Impossible
Think you'll make history?
improbable
give your love to me

Ooo, let me be wanted
I've a right to tonight
to delight
when you got it you flaunt it
and if you're not
what you seem to be then
how come you're coming on strong?
Ooo, let me be wanted

all you do with your time
is tease me
Couldn't you find the time
to please me?
With your kind
it looks so easy
shoving the blues away

Ooo - let me be lonely
I'd rather be by myself
acting holy
I want to be with the one

Ooo, let me be lonely
All you do with your time
couldn't you find the time?
With your kind it's done

I hear your voice in every corridor
See your face in every picture frame
I feel your eyes in every starry sky
Lover, am I coming home again
Now am I humble, who once was proud
Now am I silent, who once was loud
Now am I waiting for the sound of your saying
Lover, am I coming home again
When you're gone, the sun don't shine
Light a light, light a light for me
Bring me back home again
And how we loved, 'til the years were days
How we laughed all our tears away
And now the time begins to fade
Lover, am I coming home again
There's wisdom in the teachings
of the old familiar songs
and a sorrow in repeating
all the old familiar wrongs
and a lesson to be learned,
though I've known all along
Lover, am I coming home again
Light a light, light a light for me
Light a light, light a light for me
Light a light, light a light for me
Bring me back home again
Bring me back home again

Love is blind
love is on_ly sor_row

love is no to_mor_row
since you went a_way

Love is blind
how well I re_mem_ber

in the heat of sum_mer
pleas_ure win_ter fades


How long will it

take be_fore
I can't re_mem_ber

mem_o_ries
I should for_get

I've been burn_ing
since the day we met

Love is blind
love is with_out a mer_cy

love is now you hurt me
now you've gone a_way

Love is blind
love is no ho_ri_zon

and I'm slow_ly dy_ing
here in yes_ter_day


In the morn_ing

wak_en to the sound
of weep_ing

some_one else
should weep for me

now it's o_ver
lov_er let me be

Love is blind
love is your ca_ress

love is tend_er_ness
and mo_men_ta_ry pain

Love is blind
How well I re_mem_ber

in the heat of sum_mer
pleas_ure win_ter fades@

Lay down and slumber
Mama's boy is torn asunder
All the fields have gone grey
All the leaves are gone brown
Let me tell you a story
Lay down, I know you're weary
While the star's in the sky
While the moon's on the rise
Lay down and don't you wake till morning
Close your eyes and helpless through the night
Lay down and dream of love and glory
This is a lover's lullabye


Once was a magician
Fair he was, and handsome
And he brought to the table
All the fool's gold and wine
And he promised us three favors
Said he was a saviour
But we drank all his glory
And we borrowed all his time
Lay down, and don't you wake till morning
Close your eyes and helpless through the night
Lay down and dream of love and glory
This is a lover's lullabye
My love, sleep tight my love
And softly fade away
The moon was made of old green cheese
To keep the night away
Softly now, close your eyes
Lightly will you fade
The moon was made for wakeful boys
To keep the night away
Lay down, and don't wake till morning
Close your eyes all through the night
Lay down in all your glory
This is a lullabye
Lay down, and don't wake till morning
Close your eyes all through the night
Lay down in all your glory
This is a lullabye
This is a lullabye