1. |
Lucky
04:12
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I bought the red alligator shoes
They’re lucky
Time was short and rent was due
Lucky
A little too bold
For forty-some years old
But lucky
$69.99, see ‘em shine
like lucky
Everybody
shines sometimes
You and me
We been just a break away from lucky
I bought the red alligator shoes
It was an act of faith
Anytime you sing the blues
Act of faith
That somewhere someone’s keeping count
Up beside the gate
So you take the blows and you don’t go down
Act of faith
Everybody
shines sometimes
You and me
We been just a break away from lucky
And it all comes around
And it all evens out
So please don’t go
And please don’t doubt
I bought the red alligator shoes
They’re lucky
Now I’m walkin’ ‘round like front-page news
Lucky
And any prisoner in any cell
Singing to his sorry self
Swinging from a chain
Praying to a saint called Lucky
And any low-down dirty sod
You, but for the grace of god
Digging for the bottom of the world
There’s still a girl down there called Lucky
And she’s pretty and she’s sweet
And she knows just what you need
And the longer you’ve been down
The more you can count on Lucky
I bought the red alligator shoes
\
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2. |
17
03:49
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There are 17 versions of the rooroo joke
each one ends with there’s no hope
stuck in the jungle what’s to do
but laugh the whole day through
17 ways to say goodbye
two that end in please don’t cry
one you never heard before
you were too far out the door
and the other world
that calls your name
ringing in your ears
it always sounds the same
and the other you
you tried to be
that’s the only one they’ll see
Welcome to the Liar’s Club
grab a number, step right up
stuck in the jungle, what’s to do
c’mon you know it’s true
17 years you didn’t know
then it hits you kinda slow
it’ll find you anywhere you go
and the other world
that calls your name
ringing in your ears
it always sounds the same
and the other you
you tried to be
that’s the only one they’ll …
see I don’t
see the invisible
things I used to see
it’s all so solid now
falling down
around me
17 rules in the book of life
one that keeps you up all night
stuck in the jungle what’s to do
but laugh the whole day through
17 hours in any day
til they let you get away
turn out the light
it’s brighter than they say
and the other world
that calls your name
you hear it in your heart
it always sounds the same
and the other you
you tried be
that’s the only one they’ll see
see I don’t
see the invisible
things I used to see
it’s all so solid now
falling down
around me
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3. |
Let Yourself Down
05:12
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Plato sits in his favorite booth
lookin' at the ugly truth
she ain't got a whole lot on
Socrates is on the floor
We hardly notice anymore
but any man who falls
was only trying to climb
with more than he could carry at the time
So let yourself down, easy
let yourself down, nice and slow
if you let yourself down
there's just no pleasing everybody
don't you know? don't you know?
Moses in the laundormat
says where you are is where it's at
Cuz you can go so far
and still get left behind
for all you do to put it from your mind
chorus
And I saw Joan of Arc
stadning her ashes
waiting for an order
she can never seem to hear
trying to light a cigarette
fumbling with the matches
saying, "back when I was younger it was all so clear"
Lincoln at the taxi stand
cardboard suitcase in his hand
says, "Love'll set you free"
but it's never gonna thrill the crowd
walk away with what'll leave you proud
chorus
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4. |
Going West
04:55
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Peter bought the van, and we drove it off the lot
Mr. Sincerity, in a moment of charity said,
"How much have you got?"
It was a 1963, and the pain was kinda gone
but the seats rolled back and the radio worked
and the damned thing seemed to run
And it was time.
Jimmy climbed aboard, and we loaded up the gear
Japtone drums and threadbare amps
that were just loud enough to hear
it was three against the world
as we left that one-horse town
to lock our horns with the City of Angels
and nothing could slow us down
Driving down the road I could've sworn I heard a voice
that seemed to follow me
It said, "Hold on to this time, in some corner of your mind
'cause you'll never be quite so free
or quite so strong
you'll never be quite so brave
or quote so young
Remember how it feels."
Rolling through the South
Nashville, Tennessee
A room for one and then came the fun
of sneaking in all three
And in Warner, Oklahoma
we put our Stetsons on
and we stood out on a corner on Winslow, Arizona
and acted out that song
Driving toward the sun I could've sworn I heard that voice
Thought I heard it say,
"As you pass through every town
you better take a good look around
'cause you'll never be back this way
back in time
you're gonna leave this place
so far behind
Remember how it feels
Just remember how it feels
Peter bought the van, and we drove it off the lot
Mr. Sincerity, in a moment of charity said,
"How much have you got?"
Driving down the road I could've sworn I heard a voice
that seemed to follow me
It said, "Hold on to this time, in some corner of your mind
'cause you'll never be quite so free
or quite so strong
you'll never be quite so brave
or quote so young
Remember how it feels."
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5. |
The Silver Moon
04:40
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That wicked old witch with her dirty old hands
tossin' my dreams in her frying pan
stir it up, stir it up, stir it up best you can
that old lady make a meal of my plans
But the silver moon
in the midnight sky
Older than forever
but it still can fly
I can see
by that silver light
and I might make it home
tonight
Mean old ghost with a rusty chain
Callin' me the least of names
Talk it up, talk it up, talk it up all day long
Nighttime comes he still ain't gone
But the silver moon
in the midnight sky
Older than forever
but it still can fly
I can see
by that silver light
and I might make it home
tonight
Bible man with a bony fist
Says I ain't on the list
make it up, make it up, make it up, call it truth
I got all I need but proof
Black cat talkin' in a devil's tongue
Used to speak when I was young
Give it up, give it, give it up while you can
No one livin's seen the plan
But the silver moon
in the midnight sky
Can no longer sing
but he still can fly
I can see
by his silver light
that alone will get me home tonight
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6. |
Lucifer Jones
04:19
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Lucifer Jones
You old barrel of bones
Leave me alone
For awhile
Ride, ride, ride
To your place on the other side
Where I don’t have to know ya
Where I don’t have to show ya
To the door
Anymore
Lucifer Jones
With your dollar cologne
And your skinny little smile
That’s got no joy
Ride, ride, ride
To your place on the other side
Where I don’t have to see ya
And I don’t have to be your your little toy
You got no joy
I saw you standing on the corner with your porn-star mustache on
Conquoring a Schlitz Malt can like a poor man’s Genghis Khan
Leaning on a car singing Sonny’s part of “The Beat Goes On”
You got it wrong
Lucifer Jones
Stuck on the Stones
Tellin’ me that Brian was your boy
Ride, ride, ride
To your place on the other side
Where I don’t have to hear you
Never goin’ near ya
anywhere
Just don’t care
I saw you talkin’ to the wall-eyed guy at the Lucky Loan
Starin’ at the 1965 I used to own
Teardrop shape and it can’t stop makin’ that killer tone
Leave it alone
Lucifer Jones
Lucifer Jones
Everyone knows
What you are
Ride, ride, ride
To your place on the other side
Where you’ll be on your own some, keepin to your lonesome
Lonesome, lonesome, lonesome Lucifer Jones
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7. |
There We Are
03:36
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The spirits in the cellar
Of some broken down heart
Were talking ‘bout tomorrow
like it’s just too late to start
Mumbling in the dusty air
And the angels you carry
In your miracle bag
Were only as real as the day you had
Comin’ home to no one there
There is something strange here
Suddenly something’s changed here
I’ve never been
this far before
I’m gonna need you near me while we—
Look
for a treasure map
All that the world
has been holding back
We can sing a pirate song
And the bad luck
is gonna change
All of the stars
are rearranged
Watching from a time long gone
There is something wrong here
Suddenly we belong here
Raise high the roof
Up through the clouds
Look from the tallest window
There we are now
There we are
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8. |
Now You're Here
04:01
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There’s a freeway running through
a time long gone
There's a girl who got her name
from a Buddy Holly song
And underneath the world
A dirty river roars
Carrying away
Whatever came before
It’s true
True as you can remember
You came here with your band
Some funny little war
Going on so long
You long ago forgot what for
But you heard somebody say
A soldier cleans his hands
Only when he’s seen about as much as he can stand
It’s true
True as you can remember
Kissing it all away
Watching it fall away
Now you’re here
Try to look over your shoulder
The footprints have disappeared
From Chimborazo Square
You can see across the sky
To where you used to be
And how you used to fly
Whatever came before
It’s like it always knew
It got you to this moment
It put you where you’re standing
Standing true
True as you can remember
True
True as you can remember
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9. |
Something Happens
03:20
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Broke down on 80, cursing like a flare
luck was a lady with fake tits and platinum hair
the rain was coming down, sheets of broken glass
banging on the overpass
Live long enough... something happens
Started off so easy, came up like a rose
Luck is another word for how the story goes
I took what I could carry
now I'm wishing it would snow
Live long enough... something happens
Moses climbed the mountain
but still he paid the price
Forty years of wandering
on the wrong side of paradise
the wrong side of paradise
Caught a ride to Vegas, got a room for two
Luck's gonna shake us upside down
until we're through with all the wishing
through with all that weight
freer than the Interstate
Live long enough... something happens
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10. |
Dona, Dona, Dona
04:12
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You knew how it was all along
Still you kept on
You knew how it was all along
Still you kept on
Dona, dona, dona
How they laugh with all their might
Love
Still you were right
Dona, dona, dona
There is proof in every tear
Love
This much is clear
A good man will fall in the road
So it is told
A good man will carry him home
So it is told
Dona, dona, dona
How they laugh with all their might
Love
It's alright
Dona, dona, dona
There is proof in every star
Love
What we are
Dona, Dona, Dona
How they laugh and always have
Love
What we have
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11. |
Blue Green World
02:52
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The dear old lord
with his rusty sword
and his Book of Days
and his Ouija board
holds his breath
scared to death
wondering what
we might try next
And far below
on a blue green world
I will draw you closer
And the eagle flies
and the white dove hides
praying for
neither side
and the million stars
in the one great sky
dim their light
to cry
And far below
on a blue green world
I will draw you closer
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12. |
OUTTAKE: The Sure Thing
04:06
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When you’re on a secret mission
Hearts’ll break and walls’ll listen
Everything you see
Is nothing like it seems to be
Anything you find
You better stop and look behind
But then I found you
Now I know what I’m gonna do…
I’m gonna go
With the sure thing
It’s a rare thing
To be sure
I didn’t know
My heart from a hole in the ground
My head from the hollowest sound
Made as I stumble around
Used to love to play the ponies
Heard my bookie on the phone
Said I’ve got a marker due
and she could leave a mark or two
Cupid roughed me up enough
to never ever call that bluff
I’m givin’ up on 10-to-1
Wishin’ never got it done
I’m gonna go
With the sure thing
It’s a rare thing
To be sure
I didn’t know
My heart from a hole in the ground
My head from the hollowest sound
Made as I’d
stumble around
Stumble around
Stumble around
Used to know a gypsy queen
She banged me like a tambourine
Took me to some other land
right underneath her neon hand
But any roll that feels so nice
is bound to come from loaded dice
And she was just a caravan
From town to town to man to man…
I’m gonna go
With the sure thing
It’s a rare thing
To be sure
I didn’t know
My heart was a hole in the ground
My head made the hollowest sound
Til she turned it around
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13. |
OUTTAKE: Puppets
03:54
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Pinocchio, that lying bastard
thumbs his nose at each disasster
Karl the perfect puppet-master
gives the crowd just what it’s after
A dose of fear, a dose of fervor
Freedom here will be your server
Mother Courage lost her nerve, her
children get what they deserve
Oh… it’s been a long year
Oh… it’s gettin’ cold here
And did they tell you to be careful with your life?
Did they tell you to befriend yourself?
Every puppet thinks he’s doing what he likes
But he’s only doing what he can’t
help
help
help
Powder up the fearless leader
Pick his brain with cash and tweezers
Says he’s got a friend in Jesus
Wish he had more friends like Caesar’s
A dose of fear, you can’t resist it
Superheroes, iron-fisted
Fine print, I guess they missed it
at the mall where they enlisted
They were raw but they were ready
Just nineteen, but holding steady
Tickertape for Shell and Getty
Bags and bags of red confetti
Oh… it’s been a long year
Oh… it’s gettin’ cold here
And did they tell you to be careful with your life?
Did they tell you to befriend yourself?
Every puppet says he’s doing what he likes
But he’s only doing what he can’t
help
help
help
Come on, Venus, don’t get sappy
Mars was always trigger-happy
Bat your eyes and shut your trap, he
might just let you off his lap
Huns are come down from the Highlands
Sons of Cain were born to violence
When our heroes’ guns are silent
See ‘em on the traffic islands
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14. |
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Stalin and Nixon
walkin down the hall whistlin'
'talkin like they talk when nobody's listenin'
all the pretty rules for the pawns and the prisoners
and the bodies in the road
just the cost of doin' business
Close your eyes and it might go away
Close your eyes and it might go away
Sam's got somethin' hidin' under his hat
no, don't even think about thinkin' 'bout that
it's secret
better let it go
secret
you don't wanna know
it's their world
and how they gonna keep it
if they can't keep, they can't keep,
they can't keep,they can't keep,
a secret?
a secret
History groans with the muffled sound
of every hero the earth tramps down
Another one falls every time we turn around
But we're into something new
before they even hit the ground
Pinochet laughs and Rumsfeld sneers
No, it's never hard to make a troublemaker disappear
The scream to the heavens and nobody hears
we're all boppin' down the street with plugs in our ears
Close your eyes and it might go away
Close your eyes and it might go away
We stand at attention when they rattle their drums
while something quiet this way comes
it's secret
better let it go
secret
we don't wanna know
it's their world
How they gonna keep it
if they can't keep, they can't keep,
they can't keep,they can't keep,
a secret?
secret, secret, secret
Close your eyes and it might go away
(c) 2011 Ira Marlowe/Slow Reveal Music (BMI)
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Ira Marlowe Berkeley, California
Ira Marlowe's songs have appeared in indy films, been featured on NPR and Dr. Demento, and won the Parent's Choice Award. He's taught songwriting at UC Berkeley and penned the tunes for four shows by a Tony-winning theatre troupe. He lives in Berkeley, CA with his dog Potus. ... more
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