"So Long Blues" - from Never Let Me Down
Lyrics
Hang me oh hang me
Cover up my eyes
Put me on the southbound train
Where the moon don't rise
Carry me to the other side,
my race is almost run
Let me out upon a pallet,
feet turned toward the sun
So long, so long
I'll be laying here so long.
Lyin here so cold and white,
I did not look my best
Wrapped up in a linen sheet
Hands across my chest.
Eyes are pressed so tightly closed,
lips are sealed just so
Lying here so patiently,
soon its time to go
So long, so long
I'll be laying here so long.
How long is this journey?
How long is this ride?
How long will I have to wait
til I get to the other side?
One thing that I know is true
I'll be laying here, just as long
as you.
So long, so long
I'll be laying here so long.
If I were a gambler
A cheater and a thief
I'd be laying here for eternity,
expecting no relief
If I did not lie or steal,
but told the truth instead
I'd still end up cold and stiff
one morning in my bed.
So long, so long,
I'll be laying here so long.
Hang me oh hang me
Cover up my eyes
Put me on the southbound train
Where the moon don't rise
Carry me to the other side,
my race is almost run
Let me out upon a pallet,
feet turned toward the sun
So long, so long
I'll be laying here so long.
Lyin here so cold and white,
I did not look my best
Wrapped up in a linen sheet
Hands across my chest.
Eyes are pressed so tightly closed,
lips are sealed just so
Lying here so patiently,
soon its time to go
So long, so long
I'll be laying here so long.
How long is this journey?
How long is this ride?
How long will I have to wait
til I get to the other side?
One thing that I know is true
I'll be laying here, just as long
as you.
So long, so long
I'll be laying here so long.
If I were a gambler
A cheater and a thief
I'd be laying here for eternity,
expecting no relief
If I did not lie or steal,
but told the truth instead
I'd still end up cold and stiff
one morning in my bed.
So long, so long,
I'll be laying here so long.
"Empty Pillbox Blues" - from Driving Live
Lyrics
When I went out on the road
I did not forget to bring
stuff for all kinds of weather
I packed most everything
Three kinds of shoes
T-shirts and briefs
Long pants and short ones
raincoat and fleece.
So imagine my surprise
When I looked inside that box
I forgot to pack the Valium
But remembered all the socks.
My heart began to race
My head began to pound
My mind began to wonder
If I was tension bound.
Chorus:
Well, I’m runnin out of drugs
Supplies are gettin mighty low
My body’s gonna ache
from my head down to my toe
I got the antacid, analgesic,
antibacterial, antioxidant blues.
At one time there was Zantac
in three different hues
when I ran out of Valium
I really got the blues.
I used up the lorezapam
The vitamins and cream.
My pillbox barely rattles
My stash is just a dream.
Well, this story has an ending
This story has a theme
I got through my vacation
But nearly lost my steam.
The next time I’ll be sure to pack
This side of overkill
I’ll never fear of running out
Of any kind of pill.
When I went out on the road
I did not forget to bring
stuff for all kinds of weather
I packed most everything
Three kinds of shoes
T-shirts and briefs
Long pants and short ones
raincoat and fleece.
So imagine my surprise
When I looked inside that box
I forgot to pack the Valium
But remembered all the socks.
My heart began to race
My head began to pound
My mind began to wonder
If I was tension bound.
Chorus:
Well, I’m runnin out of drugs
Supplies are gettin mighty low
My body’s gonna ache
from my head down to my toe
I got the antacid, analgesic,
antibacterial, antioxidant blues.
At one time there was Zantac
in three different hues
when I ran out of Valium
I really got the blues.
I used up the lorezapam
The vitamins and cream.
My pillbox barely rattles
My stash is just a dream.
Well, this story has an ending
This story has a theme
I got through my vacation
But nearly lost my steam.
The next time I’ll be sure to pack
This side of overkill
I’ll never fear of running out
Of any kind of pill.
"St. James Infirmary"
Lyrics
I went down to old Joe's bar room
In the corner behind the square
The drinks were served as usual
And the usual crowd was there
To my right stood big Joe McKennedy
His eyes were bloodshot red
He turned to the crowd around him
These were the very words he said
Well I went down
To the St. James Infirmary
To see my baby there
Laid out on a long white table
So cold, so white, so fair
Well let her go, let her go god bless her
Wherever she may be
You can search the whole world over
Never find one as sweet as she
Well when I die, when I die please bury me
In my high top stetson hat
Put a 20 dollar bill on my watch chain
So the crowd will know I died standing pat
Well put six craps shooters for pall bearers
Three girls to sing me a song
Put a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Raise hell as we roll along
Roll out those rubber tired taxis
Roll out those rubber tired hats
Twelve men goin' to the graveyard
Eleven comin' back
So now I've told my story
Pour out another shot of booze
If anyone should happen to ask you
I got the St. James Infirmary blues
I went down to old Joe's bar room
In the corner behind the square
The drinks were served as usual
And the usual crowd was there
To my right stood big Joe McKennedy
His eyes were bloodshot red
He turned to the crowd around him
These were the very words he said
Well I went down
To the St. James Infirmary
To see my baby there
Laid out on a long white table
So cold, so white, so fair
Well let her go, let her go god bless her
Wherever she may be
You can search the whole world over
Never find one as sweet as she
Well when I die, when I die please bury me
In my high top stetson hat
Put a 20 dollar bill on my watch chain
So the crowd will know I died standing pat
Well put six craps shooters for pall bearers
Three girls to sing me a song
Put a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Raise hell as we roll along
Roll out those rubber tired taxis
Roll out those rubber tired hats
Twelve men goin' to the graveyard
Eleven comin' back
So now I've told my story
Pour out another shot of booze
If anyone should happen to ask you
I got the St. James Infirmary blues
"Don't Look Back" - from Right By Me
Lyrics
She went in to a restaurant,
the time was half past eight
She made a reservation
so they didn’t have to wait
By the time the waiter served them
and retrieved the dinner plate
The tainted spice had done its job
and sealed his mortal fate
Oh oh oh
Take your last breath deep and slow,
Take your number, One last ride,
Good luck to you on the other side
Just go go go.
She picked him up at 6 pm
she was ready for that date
Her hair was high, her neckline low
On her feet she wore the bait
She was dressed to kill and he thought he knew
how the night would culminate
But those spike heel shoes would pierce him through
before the clock struck eight.
Oh oh oh
Take your last breath deep and slow,
Take your number, One last ride,
Good luck to you on the other side
Just go go go.
She rang the bell, he turned the knob,
she met him at the gate
He held a bright arrangement,
one he’d helped create
There was baby’s breath and roses,
but the foxglove lay in wait
By the time he dialed the rescue
it was already much too late
Oh oh oh
Take your last breath deep and slow,
count your blessings don’t look back
Where you’re going you won’t have to pack
Just go go go.
She went in to a restaurant,
the time was half past eight
She made a reservation
so they didn’t have to wait
By the time the waiter served them
and retrieved the dinner plate
The tainted spice had done its job
and sealed his mortal fate
Oh oh oh
Take your last breath deep and slow,
Take your number, One last ride,
Good luck to you on the other side
Just go go go.
She picked him up at 6 pm
she was ready for that date
Her hair was high, her neckline low
On her feet she wore the bait
She was dressed to kill and he thought he knew
how the night would culminate
But those spike heel shoes would pierce him through
before the clock struck eight.
Oh oh oh
Take your last breath deep and slow,
Take your number, One last ride,
Good luck to you on the other side
Just go go go.
She rang the bell, he turned the knob,
she met him at the gate
He held a bright arrangement,
one he’d helped create
There was baby’s breath and roses,
but the foxglove lay in wait
By the time he dialed the rescue
it was already much too late
Oh oh oh
Take your last breath deep and slow,
count your blessings don’t look back
Where you’re going you won’t have to pack
Just go go go.
"How to Be" - from Right By Me
Lyrics
Tent of my emotions
Tent upon my fears
I close my weary eyes
Cover up my ears
I’m watching you, watchin me
But I just don’t know
How to Be.
The cover of my heart
Flies tattered at my feet
my shield of sensibility
Exposes every beat
I’m watching you, watchin me
But I just don’t know
How to Be.
Worn of sense
Shorn of pride
Heart has no safe place to hide
I still wonder
Deep and true
Watching me, watching you
Open to the elements, pelted by the rain
I don’t know what time it is
I don’t know my name
I’m watching you, watchin me
But I just don’t know
How to Be.
Tent of my emotions
Tent upon my fears
I close my weary eyes
Cover up my ears
I’m watching you, watchin me
But I just don’t know
How to Be.
The cover of my heart
Flies tattered at my feet
my shield of sensibility
Exposes every beat
I’m watching you, watchin me
But I just don’t know
How to Be.
Worn of sense
Shorn of pride
Heart has no safe place to hide
I still wonder
Deep and true
Watching me, watching you
Open to the elements, pelted by the rain
I don’t know what time it is
I don’t know my name
I’m watching you, watchin me
But I just don’t know
How to Be.
"Living with an Empty Heart" - from Never Let Me Down
Lyrics
It happened once again
It occurred the other night
Could not have been avoided
But it gave me such a fright
I had the strangest vision
A terrible creation
A most peculiar artifact
Of my imagination
Oh I dreamed of an empty heart
It was only an empty shell
It was cold, so lonely
Dried up and dark
Dreamin of an empty heart.
Dried up and dark like
an old dry well.
Empty and hollow like a rusted bell
Well, I accepted my predicament
Bloodless, hopeless testament
Living with an empty heart.
It happened once before
But maybe I forgot
The feeling that the clock
had stopped
And put me on the spot
It was a scary premonition
A most unpleasant vision
Like living without oxygen
Or water in the ocean
Oh I dreamed of an empty heart
It was only an empty shell
It was cold so alone
Nothing there to hold
Dreamin of an empty heart.
Dried up and dark like an old dry well.
Empty and hollow like a rusted bell
With due respect to my lost innocence
I'm living with the consequence
Living with an empty heart.
It happened once again
It occurred the other night
Could not have been avoided
But it gave me such a fright
I had the strangest vision
A terrible creation
A most peculiar artifact
Of my imagination
Oh I dreamed of an empty heart
It was only an empty shell
It was cold, so lonely
Dried up and dark
Dreamin of an empty heart.
Dried up and dark like
an old dry well.
Empty and hollow like a rusted bell
Well, I accepted my predicament
Bloodless, hopeless testament
Living with an empty heart.
It happened once before
But maybe I forgot
The feeling that the clock
had stopped
And put me on the spot
It was a scary premonition
A most unpleasant vision
Like living without oxygen
Or water in the ocean
Oh I dreamed of an empty heart
It was only an empty shell
It was cold so alone
Nothing there to hold
Dreamin of an empty heart.
Dried up and dark like an old dry well.
Empty and hollow like a rusted bell
With due respect to my lost innocence
I'm living with the consequence
Living with an empty heart.
"Angels Gonna Carry Me Home" - from Never Let Me Down
Lyrics
I'm a leavin,
won't be back no more
I'm a leavin for a distant shore
When you close that door,
lock it up so tight
Angels gonna guide me through
the darkest night
I'm a leavin
Angels gonna carry me home.
Open up the sky
It's the break of day
Open up the sky
It's a long long way.
Well this ain't no vacation,
ain't no retreat
Angels gonna lead me cross
the widest street
I'm a leavin
Angels gonna carry me home.
Judgement comes a calling
Hear that doorbell chime
Judgement gonna count
Every sin and crime
I know its my turn
When I hear that sound
Read the verdict,
tell me where I'm bound.
I'm flyin out this morning
Leave the clouds behind
I'm flyin out this morning
I got peace to find
My number's confirmed,
papers all signed
No more sorrow or trouble in mind,
I'm a leavin
Angels gonna carry me home.
I'm a leavin,
won't be back no more
I'm a leavin for a distant shore
When you close that door,
lock it up so tight
Angels gonna guide me through
the darkest night
I'm a leavin
Angels gonna carry me home.
Open up the sky
It's the break of day
Open up the sky
It's a long long way.
Well this ain't no vacation,
ain't no retreat
Angels gonna lead me cross
the widest street
I'm a leavin
Angels gonna carry me home.
Judgement comes a calling
Hear that doorbell chime
Judgement gonna count
Every sin and crime
I know its my turn
When I hear that sound
Read the verdict,
tell me where I'm bound.
I'm flyin out this morning
Leave the clouds behind
I'm flyin out this morning
I got peace to find
My number's confirmed,
papers all signed
No more sorrow or trouble in mind,
I'm a leavin
Angels gonna carry me home.
"Poster Child for the Blues" - from Never Let Me Down
Lyrics
Well I ain't pretty
Never could dance
My papa was the victim of circumstance
My teachers did not give me
a second chance
I'm a poster child for the blues.
Well my mama she tried but not
so hard
She held me but never in high regard
I was left in the box like a joker card
I'm a poster child for the blues.
Well I went to the doctor I spoke
with the nurse
They told me I was suffering from
a stubborn curse
It was only expected to get
that much worse
I'm a poster child for the blues.
Well I'm the butt of the joke
Left holding the bag
You get the new suit, I get the rag
Well my lettuce is wilted and my
bread's too hard
Others take the butter
I get the lard.
I take a message from the IRS
Well my taxes they surely must
be less
They answer with a penalty,
and more to assess
I'm a poster child for the blues.
Well I tried to pray
I spoke with the Lord
I noticed he was getting
mighty bored
He did not even bother to give
me the word
I'm a poster child for the blues.
(You know where I'm
going next)
I went to the crossroads,
nothing to lose
The devil appeared,
but he looked confused
He turned on his heel
and he returned my dues
I'm a poster child for the-
poster child for the-
I'm a poster child for the blues.
Well I ain't pretty
Never could dance
My papa was the victim of circumstance
My teachers did not give me
a second chance
I'm a poster child for the blues.
Well my mama she tried but not
so hard
She held me but never in high regard
I was left in the box like a joker card
I'm a poster child for the blues.
Well I went to the doctor I spoke
with the nurse
They told me I was suffering from
a stubborn curse
It was only expected to get
that much worse
I'm a poster child for the blues.
Well I'm the butt of the joke
Left holding the bag
You get the new suit, I get the rag
Well my lettuce is wilted and my
bread's too hard
Others take the butter
I get the lard.
I take a message from the IRS
Well my taxes they surely must
be less
They answer with a penalty,
and more to assess
I'm a poster child for the blues.
Well I tried to pray
I spoke with the Lord
I noticed he was getting
mighty bored
He did not even bother to give
me the word
I'm a poster child for the blues.
(You know where I'm
going next)
I went to the crossroads,
nothing to lose
The devil appeared,
but he looked confused
He turned on his heel
and he returned my dues
I'm a poster child for the-
poster child for the-
I'm a poster child for the blues.
"America the New" - from Right By Me
Lyrics
When the pastures were filled with plenty
And the fields were ripe with grain
There was hope in California
That stretched across to Maine
When home was of the brave
And land was of the free
Anthems of allegiance rang
Through halls of liberty
Those were the days when the good life came
To anyone who tried
Those were the days when the world was small
And god was on our side
Bless the new America, confident and wise
Congratulations on how far you’ve come
hard to recognize.
When the suffocating grip of reactionary myth
hadn’t sapped the future of prosperity
When social was a word instead of homeland,
that described security
When liberal signified a compassionate heart
and responsibility to lend a hand
Now the tyranny of power and greed
are tearing up the land.
We thought we had it good in our black and white world
of fear encrusted fences
when the politics of greed did not run wild,
and paralyze our senses
When faith did not demand
the abdication of our mind,
and the smoke of rhetoric hadn’t rendered the nation
hypnotized and blind.
Those were the days when the good life came
To anyone who tried
Those were the days when the world was small
And god was on our side.
Bless the new America, eloquent and wise
Turn of the phrase twist of the machine,
all secrets, no surprise.
Bless the new America tolerant and wise
Suffers the differences
Celebrates the small
Land where hope will rise.
When the pastures were filled with plenty
And the fields were ripe with grain
There was hope in California
That stretched across to Maine
When home was of the brave
And land was of the free
Anthems of allegiance rang
Through halls of liberty
Those were the days when the good life came
To anyone who tried
Those were the days when the world was small
And god was on our side
Bless the new America, confident and wise
Congratulations on how far you’ve come
hard to recognize.
When the suffocating grip of reactionary myth
hadn’t sapped the future of prosperity
When social was a word instead of homeland,
that described security
When liberal signified a compassionate heart
and responsibility to lend a hand
Now the tyranny of power and greed
are tearing up the land.
We thought we had it good in our black and white world
of fear encrusted fences
when the politics of greed did not run wild,
and paralyze our senses
When faith did not demand
the abdication of our mind,
and the smoke of rhetoric hadn’t rendered the nation
hypnotized and blind.
Those were the days when the good life came
To anyone who tried
Those were the days when the world was small
And god was on our side.
Bless the new America, eloquent and wise
Turn of the phrase twist of the machine,
all secrets, no surprise.
Bless the new America tolerant and wise
Suffers the differences
Celebrates the small
Land where hope will rise.
Marjorie featured on The Oprah Winfrey ShowThe increasingly popular Marjorie Thompson was the subject of this feature on The Oprah Winfrey Show, February 28, 2008. It isn't long, but it tells the story!
Copyright © 2005-2011, Marjorie Thompson. All rights reserved.