2. Meinong
3. Miles And Miles
4. Mister God
5. Mister Grouter
6. Mister Ondo
7. More Than Anything Else In The World
8. More To The 60s Than Hippies
9. Morning Till Dawn
10. Moron
The Medicine Show
John the Ball, Louie the Chain
the Excelsior Champion heavy in the brain
Mary the Wand, Sarah the Wasp
name your price, pay your cost
they come so high and the go so low
you can see them all at the Medicine Show
the one-eyed son played a game of lose
with a rusty glass against a pair of shoes
no one believed a word he said
he lost his head and was sent to bed
everybody said that he played too slow
and you can’t do that at the Medicine Show
Sweet June the Innocent came for a treat
with her address stamped on the bottom of her feet
when the lights went out she began to shout
and she never did get out
now she waits on tables when the lights are low
she’s the white wine mistress of the Medicine Show
Drug Store Sam told his right hand man
“stash it all just as fast as you can”
so he brought it all down in a wire cage
left lookin’ funny with his face all changed
he had the eyes of a fish, the head of a crow
you gotta be careful at the Medicine Show
the bar man slinks around the telephone booth
while you pay for your drinks with your last gold tooth
the man with the hook, he watches the door
while the three-legged pick pocket covers the floor
you’ll forget everything you know
when you get inside of the Medicine Show
everybody knows it when they pass the door
some walk for miles not to pass it no more
some cover their ears, hide their eyes
break to a run when the hear the cries
“hey you stranger, don’t you know
this is the Medicine Show”
everybody warned me not to take a drink
but my head just swam, my eyeballs blinked
the room came up and clapped my ears
they filled my hat with silver spears
a bull frog, a black crow
they paid me well at the Medicine Show
-------------
Meinong
in Meinong, in the valley of the butterfly time doesn’t go very fast
things just seem to last
in Meinong I saw a butterfly dance the way a butterfly does
made me think about how clumsy I was
in Meinong I saw a man on a bicycle balancing a load of wood
his balance was that good
in Meinong I saw a family of five on a motor scooter
goin’ out for a drive
in Meinong
in Meinong
and it’s a big round world, yes it is
all around the world
and it’s a big round world, yes it is
all around the world
in Meinong there was a temple on the hillside, I prayed to the Buddha
for the flower to open up wide
in Meinong I drank the good strong ginger tea
and it agreed with me
in Meinong everything grew
tomato and the pepper and the beetle nut too
in Meinong I ate the green grass, the fish and the squid
and everybody else did too
in Meinong
in Meinong
and it’s a big round world, yes it is
all around the world
and it’s a big round world, yes it is
all around the world
in Meinong there was a melon so sweet, juicy on my sweater
and somethin’ like an apple only better
in Meinong the sun flew by on a butterfly breeze
ricochet wing way up the trees
in Meinong my spirit got lighter and my head got clear
and I thought to myself I could stay right here
in Meinong
in Meinong
and it’s a big round world, yes it is
all around the world
and it’s a big round world, yes it is
all around the world
in Meinong all around the circle eternity flows
but after a while you gotta go I suppose
in Meinong everybody has a home and I got mine
don’t say goodbye, say see ya next time
in Meinong
in Meinong
and it’s a big round world, yes it is
all around the world
and it’s a big round world, yes it is
all around the world
-------------
Miles And Miles
they paved over the crop lands and cut down the trees
and they filled up the gullies where the rivers once flowed
now the asphalted orchards lay waste in the breeze
and they harvest the beer cans by the side of the road
for miles and miles from the San Francisco Bay
it goes for miles and miles all the way to San Jose
where they once grew the fruit in the orchards of plenty
Kentucky Fried Chicken now ranges supreme
and it’s all for the love of the almighty penny
this cancer of concrete that covers the green
for miles and miles from the San Francisco Bay
it goes for miles and miles all the way to San Jose
they seeded the fields with the dimes and the quarters
and planted them deep in the grounds all around
for they grew into dollars when properly watered
to support the foundations of the flat valley towns
for miles and miles from the San Francisco Bay
it goes for miles and miles all the way to San Jose
now the sunlight reflects on the parking car lots
where they once grew the food that they grow there no more
but nobody gives it so much as a thought
for they buy all their food at the grocery stores
for miles and miles from the San Francisco Bay
it goes for miles and miles all the way to San Jose
these valleys were once the most rich fertile lands
some say the finest in all of the earth
they traded it all for money in the hand
and I hope that they’ve gotten their money’s worth
for miles and miles from the San Francisco Bay
it goes for miles and miles all the way to San Jose
tell me what is the price for this blind man’s progress
that runs over everything caught in its way
how long can you sell out what ain’t yours to begin with
before sooner or later it all gets taken away
------------
Mister God
a piece of rock came falling down one bright and shiny day
to hit this earthly ground from many million miles away
and the people from the institute, they took it in their stride
they said "this rock came from the planet Mars and its got life inside
and what I want to know is
what're you gonna do now, Mr. God
Galeleo was a scientist who made his matters worse
when he said the earth was not the center of the universe
"oh yes it is", they said, "and that's where it's gonna stay"
and they arrested him for heresey and carried him away
and what I want to know is
what're you gonna do now, Mr. God
Darwin had a thought, he couldn't keep it to himself
that he was once a monkey and so was everybody else
they said "but man is in the image and the image must be true
so if man was once a monkey, god was once a monkey too"
and what I want to know is
what're you gonna do now, Mr. God
down in Arizona land, a sacred native place
they're building them a telescope for staring into space
and the church is there to bankroll, to help and not to hurt them
should the aliens be heathens they'd like to be there to convert them
and what I want to know is
what're you gonna do now, Mr. God
in matters of reality it's always touch and go
some would try to dam it up and some would let the waters flow
its a simple understanding when the final score is in
between the rock and the water, the water always wins
-----------
Mr. Grouter
every day early in the mornin’
when the sunlight rises cuttin’ through the fog
footsteps slowly sound around the corner
it’s Mr. Grouter a-walkin’ with his dog
coat collar up warm against the weather
got his captain’s cap ridin’ in place
daylight brightens and the mist is liftin’
it’s another new day you can see it on his face
goin’ back to Louisiana one of these days
when I’m able and the weather is clear
goin’ back to Louisiana one of these days
but till then I’m gonna stay right here
never made much money in the money world
never learned to read or to write so well
never had a vote ‘cause he couldn’t read the ballot
but he could see fine just as clear as a bell
used to work a job in the ship yard docks
when years ago he was a younger man
changes came and left him stranded
put him out walkin’ with time on his hands
goin’ back to Louisiana one of these days
when I’m able and the weather is clear
goin’ back to Louisiana one of these days
but till then I’m gonna stay right here
so every day early in the mornin’
with his best friend Curly walkin’ by his side
thinkin’ about family relations
way down south is a mighty long ride
good mornin’ Mr. Grouter tell me how you’re doin’
it’s a mighty fine day with the sun so bright
tell me have you got any plans for the future
well I’m gonna take a trip if it works out right
goin’ back to Louisiana one of these days
when I’m able and the weather is clear
goin’ back to Louisiana one of these days
but till then I’m gonna stay right here
-------------
Mr. Ondo
one afternoon as I came home
to the building where I lived alone
I met an old man on the stairs
as he paused to catch his breath there
his face was drawn and pale
his hand was clenched to grip the rail
he had a long way to go
and his name was Mr. Ondo
I offered him my helping hand
my steady legs to help him stand
“my room’s upstairs and straight ahead
I’m not feeling very well,” he said
we reached the door, he turned the key
he turned around to look at me
and I saw myself in years to come
“thank you” he said, I said “you’re welcome”
and we all have so far to go
don’t we, Mr. Ondo
time passed by and all too soon
there came another afternoon
when I was home alone once more
with some one rapping at my door
it was Mr. Ondo looking well
holding out a dollar bill
as so eagerly he bowed his head
“this is for your help” he said
I refused but he would not relent
and then I saw how much it meant
a dollar for the man inside
for that was how he wore his pride
and pride is all that you’ve got left
when they’ve all gone and you’ve been left
at home alone in a winter’s chill
so I took his dollar bill
and we all have so far to go
don’t we, Mr. Ondo
I never saw him after that
the place was sold and that was that
we all had to pack up and leave
and he’s passed on I do believe
but sometimes when all is said and done
and I see myself in years to come
I think how fragile this humanity
I hope some one does the same for me
and we all have so far to go
don’t we, Mr. Ondo
More Than Anything Else In the World
after all of these years beatin’ my head on the wall
stumblin’ into blind alleys and bein’ fodder for a fall
I must’ve thought I was eternal the way I spun my wheels
oh but this time it’s different, this time it’s for real
and more than anything else in the world
anything else in the world
more than anything else in the world
I can’t let you down
I can’t let you down
oh when I was much younger and I was on my roll
I gave my life away in pieces like it was out of my control
illusions of reality, how they whisper in a double talk
oh but this time I make my move I’ll know which way to walk
and more than anything else in the world
anything else in the world
more than anything else in the world
I can’t let you down
I can’t let you down
they say that life is like a river, I think they might be right
I know that shadowy illusions disappear in the morning light
all things are possible now, the future is in view
and when today becomes tomorrow, well I will think of you
and more than anything else in the world
anything else in the world
more than anything else in the world
I can’t let you down
I can’t let you down
-------------
More To The Sixties Than Hippies
there was more to the sixties than hippies
do tell, I remember it well
there was war in a country over-seas
war in the streets and the universities
tear gas mixed with the morning dew
sirens wailin’ and the people too
a paradigm shattered like a house of glass
a population reaching critical mass
days of brilliance, days of rage
a decade burned into history’s page
there was more to the sixties than hippies
do tell, I remember it well
these city streets went up in flames
the day that Martin Luther King was slain
with bullets from the FBI
how many more would have to die
there was Fred Hampton and Malcom X
seemed like anybody could be next
where to run to, where to hide
there was danger on every side
there was more to the sixties than hippies
do tell, I remember it well
music was a soundtrack played
for almost every move we made
festival city in the pouring rain
two-hundred and fifty thousand people came
to re-align our state of mind
assault upon the power lines
if a life worth living is worth a try
you need a song to sing it by
there was more to the sixties than hippies
do tell, I remember it well
there were flood gates of chemestries
brainstorms of LSDs
a little poison in the brew
and you never knew who was who
some under cover hired thugs
supplying everybody’s drugs
and considering the damage done
I think I know where it was coming from
there was more to the sixties than hippies
do tell, I remember it well
there were women who threw away their chains
freed their bodies, unleashed their brains
and faced up to the counter-attack
of a culture that would hold them back
sisters, daughters, girls next door
soldiers in another kind of civil war
all those battles lost and won
and still the struggle carries on
there was more to the sixties than hippies
do tell, I remember it well
there were veterans of Viet Nam
who threw their medals on the White House lawn
who peace marching side by side
got their heads split open wide
who cried their disbelieving tears
and woke up every night to nightmares
who shot at shadows, cracked and ran
and now they’re living out of garbage cans
there was more to the sixties than hippies
do tell, I remember it well
there was a glimmer and a window then
and I say there will be again my friend
and by whatever means necessarily tried
we have to push that window open wide
for we all know there are those
who would stop at nothing to keep it closed
and through history and circumstance
we may never get another chance
-------------
Morning Till dawn
it’s a dark distant hour you’ve come a long way
and this is no time to be up on your feet
but there’s no place that’s hidden that isn’t forbidden
and no one allows for a bed on the street
keepin’ late hours, walkin’ the streets
New York till sunset, morning till dawn
to get there was easy, the highway was clear
the sign told you welcome the water is free
so now you just wait for the snow to melt
and the man to come to present you with the key
keepin’ late hours, walkin’ the streets
New York till sunset, morning till dawn
you feel in your pocket and the feeling is bad
the money you had is all gone and all spent
and the people you knew who said to come by
who really knows where they all went
keepin’ late hours, walkin’ the streets
New York till sunset, morning till dawn
so you walk and you wonder has there been a mistake
maybe they don’t know that you’re here
then you see the old timers, the day to day miners
and you know it’s just like that all through the year
keepin’ late hours, walkin’ the streets
New York till sunset, morning till dawn
do you think about leavin’ do you wish you could go
does it cross your mind you should never have come
you soon understand you must leave as you are
and you’ll just have to walk ‘cause its too far to run
--------------
Moron
he may be celebrity
he may be on TV
he may be the big WB
Jesus what a sight to see
he’s a moron
he may be authority
he may have seniority
he may be the main event
he may even be the president
but he’s a moron more often than not
he may have been a little boy
who liked to play with power toys
but he’s old enough to squeal now
and all his toys are real now
and he’s a moron
he may be a college grad
a credit to his dear old dad
clean cut and well bred
pat him on his little head
‘cause he’s a moron more often than not
morons on the TV morons on the news
I see any more of these morons gonna get me the moron blues
just the other day
this moron was heard to say
“your flag is like a parachute
don’t think about it just salute”
just salute
some people think they’re entertaining
but me I find it kinda draining
to watch this moron politic
walk softly and carry a big stick
a big stick
wonder what they’re gonna do with it
he may be only following orders
acting like a human tape recorder
a professional automaton
soon to be an ex-con
but he’s a moron
he may be your father’s ghost
the movie start you love the most
a savior with a six-gun
but after all is said and done
he’s a moron
morons in the white house morons on the news
I see any more of these morons gonna get me the moron blues
No comments:
Post a Comment