Fingers in the Air
Drifter
I see you came to bleed me; bleed me of my soul
To take the power that kept me from your arms
You see I still remember the silent silver blades you thrust deep in me
Because you needed a little change
And now your standing at my door telling me old lies
Well tell them elsewhere cuz I don’t need that pain again.
And you can go anyway you like cuz I don’t care anymore
Do it all day or do it all night
I don’t care anymore
You always used your body, rubbed it next to mine
In filthy bedrooms where dreams choked and died
Well, I don’t need your pleasures
Like I don’t need your pain
I’ll take my solace and you can take a train
And you can go anyway you like cuz I don’t care anymore
Do it all day or do it all night
I don’t care anymore
11/18/77
Shoes
When I dream, I see you
Light in your hair, smile on your face
I remember all the good times, when we would laugh
Hold on to each other
Now those dreams seem so far away now that you’re gone
I walk alone with a thousand people
We take our steps one after the other
I look around at familiar places
Hands in my pockets, feet in my shoes
But there’s no place left to go now that you’re gone
9/5/85
When She Sings
I see the weary, the angry, the people who are never amused
Rushing headlong into fury, or something
They’re not willing to lose
But I just smile and know-it could be worse
Could be a passenger in a hearse
I don’t mind if the world isn’t fair
As long as I’m there
When she sings to me
Someday trouble will find me
And I’ll have to take my turn
Let the cuts and bruises remind me of the lessons I’ve learned
Still, you never believe
She’ll be waiting for me
And I don’t mind if the world isn’t fair
As long as I’m there
When she sings to me
Still, you never believe
She’ll be waiting for me
And I don’t mind if the world isn’t fair
As long as I’m there
When she sings to me
5/4/15
Hands Across the Water
I had a vision, I saw you there
Your brain was on fire, your hands in the air
I hear you chanting: all you beware
Our day is upon you, pray if you dare
Dance with me (I don’t want to)
Don’t say: you don’t love me, we can’t play
There are no dangers in the things you say
I believe, I believe in me
I don’t understand you, your words are vague
Intrigue, innuendo, what are your games?
Don’t call me brother, don’t call me friend
Your butchers are bloodied with the love you send
Dance with me (I don’t want to)
Don’t say: you don’t love me, we can’t play
There are no dangers in the things you say
I believe, I believe in me
11/27/85
The Roadside Bar
Well hello buddy
Yes, I’ve seen your face before
Like all your outlaw buddies crawling through the door
Your mouth says whiskey
But your eyes scream something more
Is this a dream? Is this a dream?
Welcome you early morning beggars
It’s time to raise a glass
To all that you have lost
And those of us who’ve come to watch you die
You say you’re guiltless
And you’ve done nobody wrong
That’s not your finger on the trigger of that gun
You are so innocent in all that you have done
But these are all your friends
Welcome you early morning beggars
It’s time to raise a glass
To all that you have lost
And those of us who’ve come to watch you die
Why do you come here if you know that you will die?
Why not get in that ancient truck and say goodbye?
Goodbye you early morning beggars
You know this bar is dry
Just time to kiss the earth
And those of us
Who’ve come to watch you die
1/29/86
Wood Urn
Don’t you hear it? I hear it everyday
Can you say it? The words come right from my mouth
Like rivers from streams, door to door, swathed in love
Come, here, with me
We are dancing with pretty words in our heads
As with fire, we consume what we’re fed
Stale wooden dreams, hand in hand, joy to all
Come, here, to me
The fire sings
We are playing with pretty words in our heads
As with love, we consume what we’re fed
Like rivers from streams, door to door, swathed in love
Come, here, like me
Sing with me
1/7/86