Words and Music Volume One Read online

  The sun he hasn’t shined for days

  The smile has seemed to left your gaze

  I don’t care what no one says

  I image that at one time or another we all wonder why…

  I WONDER WHY

  Sometimes I think that I think too much

  I hear that I hear too many lies

  Like a prisoner strapped to his chains

  In a mental institute I’m the only one sane

  The world that we live in is the world that I blame

  I wanna stay numb ‘cause I can’t stand the pain

  And I wonder why we have to die

  I wonder why ‘til I start to cry

  I wonder about a place way up in the sky

  Strap on my wings and I’ll try to fly

  And I wonder why, I wonder why

  Until I wonder…why I wonder…why I wonder why?

  Sometimes I read that I read too much

  I watch that I watch too much TV

  Oh God the things you do to me

  Why won’t you just set me free?

  Oh God who am I supposed to be?

  My imagination’s running away with me

  And I wonder why you feel so far above me

  Can you look me in the eye and tell me that you love me?

  And if you really are my brother

  Then why do we wanna kill one another?

  And I wonder why, I wonder why

  Until I wonder…why I wonder…why I wonder why?

  Sometimes I joke that I joke too much

  I laugh that I laugh too many tears

  The things that we do make me hurt inside

  But I shrug it all off and I swallow my pride

  This life that we’re living, it’s just a game

  I wanna stay numb, ‘cause I can’t stand the pain

  And I wonder why we take it all for granted

  Maybe I’m just a little bit too romantic

  Look to the sky and shoot down the eagle

  Shoot ‘em all dead and then we make it illegal

  And I wonder why, I wonder why

  Until I wonder…why I wonder…why I wonder why?

  This lyric was inspired by my many years of attending Grateful Dead concerts; it seemed that every time I’d go to one of their shows I’d see all of these long-haired hippie types, which got me to wondering why I never see any of these dudes walking around the streets in everyday life. My only plausible conclusion was that they were all living in some sort of underground commune type of community and the only time they’d make an appearance in the city was to see a Dead show!

  UNDERGROUND

  Come out from hiding, the band’s in town

  Come on out from the underground

  Pack up that old VW bus

  If it hasn’t yet turned to rust

  We lost the beat but times have changed

  Life can be so very strange

  All those freaks know where it’s at

  But no one know where they’re at

  The only come out when they hear the sound

  The 60’s hit the underground

  Underground

  Revolution

  Lost and found

  No solution

  Come out from hiding, the band’s in town

  They’re making such a crazy sound

  Everybody’s smoking that mellow yellow

  But no one yet has turned to Jello

  The sun is purple, hazy, groovy

  The breeze is scented patchouli

  Pass the ‘shrooms, pass the roses

  Pass the sky before it closes

  Watch the world go round and round

  The 60’s hit the underground

  Underground

  Revolution

  Lost and found

  No solution

  Come out from hiding, the band’s in town

  Let’s do some dancing, spinnin’ around

  Gals in their long and silky skirts

  Guys all dressed in tie-died shirts

  Everything ripples but no one’s movin’

  Captain Trips will keep you groovin’

  You can’t stop us no matter how you try

  Rock n’ roll will never die

  There’s something in the air and it’s going around

  The 60’s hit the underground

  Underground

  Revolution

  Lost and found

  No solution

  Come out from hiding, the band’s in town

  Come on out from the underground

  Pack up the tent and the tribal drums

  Mix up the punch, spiked with rum

  We found the beat, it never changed

  The notes have just been rearranged

  The freaks all sing a protest song

  Everywhere you look there’s something wrong

  The let the fools bring each other down

  The 60’s hit the underground

  Underground

  Revolution

  Lost and found

  No solution

  Underground

  Revolution

  Lost and found

  No solution

  Come out from hiding the band’s in town

  Come on out from the underground

  Come on out from the underground

  Come on out from the underground…

  This is one of those songs that just sort of came to me one day while riding on a packed subway train through the loneliness of the crowded city.

  RAT RACES

  Rat races, doggie bags

  Cat chases, mean old hags

  Red light, green light, hit the gas

  Looking through the looking glass

  Watching visions as they pass

  Sun goes down, we lose control

  Shadows cast upon my soul

  …on my soul

  Riding subways, standing up

  Beggar holding out a cup

  Crowded cities, people stare

  Filled with pity, filled with fear

  How about a compromise

  Let me look into your eyes

  Give me your attention love

  Don’t forget to mention love

  …always mention love

  On his throne the King once sat

  And from his hat he pulled a cat

  Through her eyes she saw a rat

  And the race runs on and on

  The race runs on and on…

  Rat races, doggie bags

  Cat chases, mean old hags

  Fat faces, dressed in rags

  Shoes laces, spirits lag

  How about a compromise

  Let me look into your eyes

  Give me your attention love

  Don’t forget to mention love

  …always mention love

  On his throne the King once sat

  And from his hat he pulled a cat

  Through her eyes she saw a rat

  And the race runs on and on

  The race runs on and on…

  And the race drags on and on

  The race drags on and on…

  The race drags on and on…

  So please give me your attention love

  Don’t forget to mention love

  …always mention love

  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

  ALWAYS MENTION LOVE

  Have you ever had one of those days where you just wanted to leave everything you know behind you and start a new life beyond that next bend in the road?

  WANDERLUST

  The streets I walk are too familiar

  The morning sun don’t shine on me

  This city life has got me crazy

  I just don’t know where I wanna be

  I say wanderlust

  Until we turn to dust

  In God we trust

  California or bust

  The bills collect I ain’t been paying

  Church bells ri
ng I ain’t been praying

  This wanderlust has got me rowing

  I just don’t know where I’m going

  I say wanderlust

  Until we turn to dust

  In God we trust

  California or bust

  The park is filled with children playing

  An old man picks on his guitar

  He sings the blues because he’s lived the blues

  He just drifts from town to town to town

  He says wanderlust

  Until we turn to dust

  In God we trust

  California or bust

  The days go by, I got no future

  Late for work, the crowds rush on

  I let them go, there’s something, holds me

  I just had to STOP…and watch the old man play

  I just had to STOP…and watch the old man play

  In loving tribute to that old Chuck Berry style of musical poetry I present you with this little ode to rock n roll.

  ROCK N ROLL (‘TIL THE ROOF CAVES IN)

  The last glass of beer had too much foam

  I’d better take a taxi home

  Like that old cliché, look before you leap

  I could use a good night’s sleep

  But just as I’m headed out the door

  The band comes on for just one more

  And then a sweet little girl with long blonde hair

  Grabs my by the hand and whispers in my ear

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til the roof caves in

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til we run out of gin

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til the break of day

  ‘Til the police come and take us away

  She pulled me to the floor and we started to dance

  I got a second wind at the thought of romance

  I’m thinking maybe she won’t, I’m thinking maybe she will

  I’m thinking maybe I’ll ask her, if she’d just stand still

  But the beat’s so strong, pulls you out of your seat

  Everybody’s dancing, shuffling their feet

  Their waiting in line just to get inside

  There’s a hole in the roof about ten feet wide

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til the roof caves in

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til we run out of gin

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til the break of day

  ‘Til the police come and take us away

  The guitar’s cooking and the drums are getting hot

  It’s a rock n roll menu, like it or not

  The walls are shaking and the dance floor’s packed

  I thought I saw a windowpane starting to crack

  And I’m trying to get my girl to come home with me

  But she twirling around faster than the eye can see

  The rhythm’s got her going and she just can’t stop

  The owner’s getting nervous so he calls the cops

  But still we’re gonna rock n roll ‘til the roof caves in

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til we run out of gin

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til the break of day

  ‘Til the police come and take us away

  Last call comes and we shout for more

  The band starts up even louder than before

  The police start busting up through the door

  But they can’t get the people off the dancing floor

  ‘Cause our bodies are rolling like an old freight train

  (Crack, bam, boom) there goes another windowpane

  Yeah we’re starting to rumble, we’re starting to shake

  Like a ten point Richter Scale big earthquake

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til the roof caves in

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til we run out of gin

  We’re gonna rock n roll ‘til the break of day

  ‘Til the police come and take us away

  My twisted attempt at a country song!

  BEER DRINKING, HELL RAISING, SON OF A BITCH

  If you ever drive through Oklahoma

  Down by the Texas line

  Don’t be looking for no trouble

  Because you’ll find him every time

  That’ll be him riding horse-back

  A six gun by his side

  Looking like ol’ Jesse James

  What’s a man if he don’t have pride?

  Yes he’s the last of a dying breed

  To each and every woman, polite in every way

  But if you ask the sheriff, then this is what he’ll say

  He’s a beer drinking, hell raising, son of a bitch

  He loves picking guitars and wearing his shit-kicking boots

  He hates urban cowboys who ride those mechanical bulls

  His glass is half empty while everyone else is half full

  (half full of shit that is)

  He smokes and drawls and cusses

  Calls everybody Jim

  You can have your dry Martini

  But it’s whiskey straight for him

  You can find him most every night at the honky-tonk

  Telling tales about the South

  Then he’ll be loading up that old juke box

  With every sad song that Nashville’s ever put out

  When they buried his momma he cried like a baby

  But he’s tougher than nails just the same

  He’s a lover, a loner, rumor has it a stoner

  Most folks don’t even know his first name

  He’s a beer drinking, hell raising, son of a bitch

  He loves watching NASCAR and driving his beat-up old truck

  He hates talking bullshit so don’t even bother

  And don’t poke a man when he’s down on his luck

  He’s a beer drinking, hell raising, son of a bitch

  He loves watching football and smoking a reefer or two

  He hates politician and bible-belt preachers

  Who steal all your money from you

  He’s a beer drinking, hell raising, son of a bitch

  He loves smoking Camels and drinking down Budweiser Lights

  He’s a peace-loving man but you better not test him

  Because he ain’t opposed to starting a fight

  He’s a beer drinking, hell raising, son of a bitch

  He loves finger-licking, Kentucky Fried Chicken

  He hates bar room brawling, but if you get his clock ticking

  Then you better watch out or you’ll get an ass-kicking

  He’s a beer drinking, hell raising, son of a bitch

  He loves picking guitars and wearing his shit-kicking boots

  He hates urban cowboys who ride those mechanical bulls

  His glass is half empty while everyone else is half full

  (half full of shit that is)

  When it comes right down to it, no matter what we do in this world, we will all be judged by a higher power.

  JUDGMENT DAY

  You tell me who’s right, you tell me who’s wrong

  You tell me about my favorite song

  You tell me who’s best and you tell me who’s worst

  You tell me who’s blessed and you tell me who’s cursed

  You tell me where and when to pray

  I say hey, hey

  Hey-hey-hey

  You won’t be my judge on Judgment Day

  Law and order, guns and knives

  You don’t even know who runs your lives

  Power’s a revolving door

  You sell yourself just like a whore

  And justice is your passion play

  But I say hey, hey

  Hey-hey-hey

  You won’t be my judge on Judgment Day

  Judgment Day, Judgment Day

  Coming down just like they say

  Judgment Day, Judgment Day

  Coming down, blow you away

  You pass your judgments down on me

  But opinions are just like China’s tea

  You c
an put me in chains, throw away the key

  Lock me up, but I’m still free

  And I don’t give a fuck about what you say

  I say hey, hey

  Hey-hey-hey

  You won’t be my judge on Judgment Day

  If it’s true that only the strong survive

  Then how come I am still alive

  We’ll see whose soul is missing in action

  We’ll see who is the main attraction

  We’ll see who’ll see the light of day

  I say hey, hey

  Hey-hey-hey

  You won’t be my judge on Judgment Day

  Judgment Day, Judgment Day

  Coming down just like they say

  Judgment Day, Judgment Day

  Coming down, blow you away

  I say blah-blah-blah

  And nay-nay-nay

  You won’t be my judge on Judgment Day

  I think this song might almost be too rowdy to be played at concert!

  FIST RAISING ANTHEM

  I believe in live and let live

  But if you trap me in a corner

  Then something’s got to give

  I believe in “turn the other cheek”

  But brother you’re making a big mistake

  If you think that I am weak

  Because I don’t wanna fight, but if you push me I will

  Put on a fist raising anthem and I’m ready to kill

  Raise your fists

  Raise your voice

  Sometimes they don’t leave you

  With no other choice

  I’m raising my flag

  And I’m waving it proud

  Put on a fist raising anthem

  And I crank it up loud

  Step up to the juke box and make my pick

  I need an attitude adjustment and I need it quick

  Sing along with the words, because I know them by heart

  I’m living out the song and their playing my part