Lyrics for Other Songs
Copyright © Hacklebarney Music
- Don't Be So Sure
- Homeland
- Kate's Guitar
- Slow Food
- Tell You a Story
- Verona Road
- The Way My Baby Calls My Name
On MUSE: Musicians United to Save the Englert, 2001.
Copyright © 2000 Greg Brown and Hacklebarney Music
Don't be so sure about you and I
Don't be so sure that hello was goodbye
Oh, people drive off in their cars
in search of what they can endure
So don't be so sure.
Don't be so shy when I walk your way
Come on let's try, see what we've got to say
It may be lots, it may be not
Little underneath these stars is pure
But, oh, don't be so sure.
Don't be so sure that our chance is past
Don't be so sure that that little dance was our last
Well I might fall in love with you
and then what would you do?
Oh, babe, don't be so sure.
Oh, babe, don't be so sure.
Homeland (I Want My Country Back)
On The Best of Live from Studio One (KUNI), 2003.
Copyright © 2003 Greg Brown and Hacklebarney Music
I want my country back
and a good dream to stand up for.
Got my hand over my heart,
but I don't feel at home here anymore
Big, big flag above the big, big mall,
and the shake rattle and roll to the core.
Things sprawl after they fall,
and I don't feel at home here anymore
Homeland of Sojourner Truth
and Chief Joseph before,
Many quiet words of wisdom drowned out by TV
and I don't feel at home here anymore.
Blind engineer, war train on the track,
many many a heart is sore.
We want our country back;
we want to feel at home here once more.
I want my country back.
On Nina Gerber's Not before Noon, 2001.
Greg's hand-written lyrics
Copyright © 1997 Greg Brown and Hacklebarney Music
If I had a peaceful heart
it would look like this-
some trees & hills, a creek
by which to kiss-
The fog would be this cool,
The hawk would sail that far,
and the song I'd hear
would come from Kate's guitar
I know why we live
& I know why we die-
I know why we laugh
& I know why we cry
but I don't know how this
color of sky invites the evening star
& I don't know how such peacefulness
found a home in Kate's guitar-
In the hills of California
lovers struggle on-
there's discussions in the kitchen,
a tired embrace at dawn-
Kate left but I don't think
she really went that far-
Sometimes I swear there's
more than two hands
playing Kate's guitar
On WERU's First CD, 1997.
Copyright © 1997 Greg Brown and Hacklebarney Music
People want that slow food
Two minutes and they grouch
But give me ham baked all day long
And help me to the couch
Help me to the sofa
Put the quiet music on
I will lie and think about that ham
Long after it is gone.
I want some slo-o-o-o-ow food.
I don't want no food with cute names
No neon on a sign
A man can't live on advertising slogans
and conceptual design
Let somebody else go surf and turf
Someone else go carry out
Me, I want my food to know itself
Before it knows my mouth.
I want some slo-o-o-o-ow food
With all the love cooked in.
Why don't we start it in the mornin'
Leave us plenty of time for lovin'
Weekend homemade hot fresh bread
Make the whole house smell like an oven
And let it all just simmer
Cook in the good juices and the greases
Then we'll sit down at the table, baby
And slowly tear it into pieces.
I want some slo-o-o-o-ow food
What's the big rush?..../Don't want no hard-hearted Hardee's, no
Muck-muck-muck-muck-donald's....I want a chef, not a clown, to make my
food.../it can even be tofu with the right kinda sauce..../blahblahblah---
I want some slo-o-o-o-ow food
With all the love cooked in.
On Doublewide: The Trailer Records Compilation, 1997.
Copyright © 1997 Greg Brown and Hacklebarney Music
i've been thinkin' all about you
out here on the cold & lonesome road
& sometimes i feel like shoutin'
but i hold it in 'til i get home
& i'm a-gonna throw my arms around you
make sure that we're all alone
i'm savin' up the dreams that surround you
i'm gonna tell them to you all night long
[chorus:]
oh i'm gonna tell you a story
i'll whisper in your ear soft & low
baby make a little time for me
it's a story you might like to know
it's about our love & glory
just needs your imagination to come true
i'm gonna tell you a story
& i ain't gonna tell it to nobody but you
i can't put it in a letter
can't even tell you on the phone
it's gonna be so much better
when we're together all alone
i'll pour out some champagne wine
fill our glasses to the top
then i'm gonna tell you a story
& baby i might never ever stop
[repeat chorus]
On Down in the Valley: Barn Aid Benefit Concert, 2001.
Copyright © 2001 Greg Brown and Hacklebarney Music
Out on Verona Road
There's a lot of building going on but there is everywhere
Come get your share
Of the American trance
Out on Verona Road
I seem to always find myself driving there
Headed nowhere
When I get a chance.
And the sun keeps coming up and going down
World keeps turning 'round and 'round and 'round
There was more snow than we'd ever seen
You wouldn't have thought that this old world
Would ever again be green.
Out on Verona Road
She ain't in love with her husband but they get along
He don't do her wrong
And the kids are good
Out on Verona Road
In her flower garden she tells herself to be strong
Just go along
And do what she should.
And the sun keeps coming up and going down
World keeps turning around and 'round and 'round
There was more snow than we'd ever seen
You wouldn't have thought that this old field
Would ever again be green.
Out on Verona Road
Thunder clouds pile up like dirty thoughts in the western sky
Up real high
And down real low
You can make your heart so tired
If you keep asking why
Should I try
Or just let go.
And the sun keeps coming up and going down
The world keeps turning 'round and around and around
There was more snow than we'd ever seen
You wouldn't have thought that old yard
Would ever again be green.
Out on Verona Road
Drive through once more as I head out west
I think it's best
If I start again
Out on Verona Road
Sure looks like she is gonna stay
I hope she finds a way
To open her heart again.
And the sun keeps coming up and going down
The world keeps turning 'round and 'round and 'round
There was more snow than we'd ever seen
You wouldn't have thought this old yard
Would ever again be green.
And the sun keeps coming up and going down
The world keeps turning 'round and around and around
There was more snow than we'd ever seen
You wouldn't have thought this old world
Would ever again be green.
On Down in the Valley: Barn Aid Benefit Concert, 2001.
Copyright © 2001 Greg Brown and Hacklebarney Music
My love and I we're always talkin'
Even though she reads my mind
When you ain't too busy lookin'
It's just amazing what you'll find
The sock that was lost forever
The story in the flame
I love love in the mornin'
And I love the way my baby calls my name.
Well, the moon can't make it up tonight
And it's tangled in some brush
Sometimes love gets heavy
Sometimes it's just a crush
A little sunshine in the mornin'
And an evening all full of rain
Oh and I love a good firm pillow
And I love the way my baby calls my name.
I got a squirrel talkin' dirty
In my walnut tree
A crow stole my number
And he won't give it back to me
Trees are wavin' crazy
Naked and unashamed
Oh I love the smell of coffee
And I love the way my baby calls my name.
I might dream of the Kenai River
Might dream of Portugal
Might dream you're doin' what you're doin' honey
Or I might not dream at all
I might wake up in the morning
Throw another greenback in the game
And I love a good firm pillow
I love the way my baby calls my name.
She said I know you love me baby
You don't have to give me proof
You don't have to climb way up there honey
And try to fly off the roof
I know you love me honey
I can tell it by these rings
She said you don't have to get up there on the roof baby
To try to flap your wings.
Oh, I love her when she's happy
I love her when she's sad
I love her when she's way too good
And when she's so darn bad
When she tells me not to look at her like that
And then smiles I 'bout go insane
And I love the way she does it
I love the way my baby calls my name.
Oh, I love the way she does it
I love the way my baby calls my name.
And I love love in the mornin'
I love the way my baby calls my name.
I love the smell of coffee
And I love the way my baby calls my name.
Yes, I love the way she does it
I love the way my baby calls my name.
Transcribed by Shirley Cottle.
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