Lyrics for One Night...

Copyright © 1982 Brown Street Music
  1. Dream On
  2. Canned Goods
  3. Every Street in Town
  4. Flat Stuff
  5. Downtown
  6. Heart of My Country (CD bonus track)
  7. Butane Lighter Blues (CD bonus track)
  8. Banjo Moon (CD bonus track)
  9. Waiting
  10. Ships (CD bonus track)
  11. You Don't Really Get Me, Babe
  12. On Records the Sound Just Fades Away
  13. Love Is a Chain
  14. Ella Mae
  15. All the Little Places around the Town (CD bonus track)
  16. Never Shine Sun

Dream On

Gonna meet some sweet lover she'll be so wise and so kind Love her 'til we're a hundred 'n' seven Body 'n' the soul an' the mind. That's right, dream on, Little dreamers Dream on This world ain't what you think it is It's just what it is! OK, I will meet some nice person In a quiet little cafe We'll make such sweet love that the birds will applaud And then we'll go on our understanding ways. Good luck, dream on, Little dreamer Dream on. The world ain't what you think it is It's just what it is! The president he gonna start laughin' Pass to the general a toke. All the world bigshots gonna lay down their guns And say "hey folks, it was all just a joke!" (spoken with jazzy fingersnapping) Bombs & stuff? Droppin' on you? You know we would'n' do that to you. We're the leaders-of-the-world We're the real cool guys We're elected, respected, we try to be wise We're not gonna drop a bunch a' bombs on everybody, blow up the whole world over some little political difficulty or border dispute or somethin' Us leaders-of-the-world we'r' like all you people, Jus' to sit back, relax, take it easy.... Dream on, little dreamers Dream on. The world ain't what you think it is It's just what it is. I 'as feeling kinda troubled 'n' upset 'n' confused 'n' out of it. You know how that goes? Time goes along........... things change, you wake up some mornin'g 'n' you realize that you're jus' out of it, I find mysel' at some friend's apartment on a nice spring day, little birds be singin' in the trees?......... All my friends, they be sittin' aroun' inside......... They was gittin' kinda out of it too, I guess, but, seemed to be workin' out awright for 'em....... They be sittin' aroun' in a little apartment watchin' TV, you know, on a nice spring day.......... they'd be watchin' like reruns of "Three's Company", stuff like that........ They be laughin', you know, jus' havin' a great time. I didn' get it........ So I knew I must be kinda outta sync, 'n' outta swing......... I need a little bit a' help. Well, jus' luckily for me, the great Swami, Prisnidadirapi was comin' through town....... (I think he was on his way up to Boulder, Colorado, or somewhere.) He was givin' a li'l advice as he went by 'n' I went to see the guy.......... 'n' in so many words I said to him: "I'm in bad shape here.......... An' I heard you got the true knowledge, which you c'ld give to me, which w'ld clear up all my doubts and difficulties, 'n' git me back on the track, back in the swing, fully adjusted to life in the 20th century....... An' the only trouble I heard about, Swami, is you charge about eight hundred dollars fer the true knowledge............. That's all right, I mean........ I never expected there to be a blue light special on enlightenment or anythin' like that, but I..... I'm just a guitar player, your holy Swaminess, an' I was hopin' we could make a deal where...... I would give you, like, maybe, four hundred dollars........an' I was hopin' maybe you would give me, like, jus' maybe half of the true knowledge?........Jus' enough to git me by for a month or six weeks at the most, 'n' I'll give you the rest of the cash......... you give me the rest of the knowledge, I'll be enlightened, your pockets'll be a little heavy, we both be doing awright, whaddaya say?" Well, the Swami, he looked at me from under his heavy-lidded eyes,...his mysterious eyes...... He smiled at me......... That was nuthin' new, you know, the Swami was always kinda smiling......... Like he knew sumpin' that you didn't know...... Like those people that............ they jus' levitate jus' a lit'l bit, you know, 'n' they git a little smile on their face....... He smiled......... He looked at me 'n' he said: "Dream on, little dreamer Dream on. This world ain't what you think it is it's jus' what it is." This quiet rain will always continue Our kids will always think we're great The world won't keep reeling like a poor drunken fool Who's lost an' upset an' too late Dream on, little dreamers, Dream on. This world ain't what you think it is, This world ain't what you wish it was, Uh, the world Ain't what you think it is It's just What it is.

Canned Goods

Let those December winds bellow 'n' blow I'm as warm as a July tomato. [chorus:] Peaches on the shelf Potatoes in the bin Supper's ready, everybody come on in Taste a little of the summer, Taste a little of the summer, You can taste a little of the summer my grandma's put it all in jars. Well, there's a root cellar, fruit cellar down below Watch you head now, and down you go And there's [repeat chorus] Maybe you're weary an' you don't give a damn I bet you never tasted her blackberry jam. [repeat chorus] Ah, she's got magic in her - you know what I mean She puts the sun and rain in with her green beans. [repeat chorus] What with the snow and the economy and ev'ry'thing, I think I'll jus' stay down here and eat until spring. [repeat chorus] When I go to see my grandma I gain a lot of weight With her dear hands she gives me plate after plate. She cans the pickles, sweet & dill She cans the songs of the whippoorwill And the morning dew and the evening moon 'N' I really got to go see her pretty soon 'Cause these canned goods I buy at the store Ain't got the summer in them anymore. You bet, grandma, as sure as you're born I'll take some more potatoes and a thunderstorm. Peaches on the shelf Potatoes in the bin Supper's ready, everybody come on in, now Taste a little of the summer, Taste a little of the summer, Taste a little of the summer, My grandma put it all in jars. Let those December winds bellow and blow, I'm as warm as a July tomato. [repeat chorus]

Every Street in Town

I knew a woman, She was my friend, When we met I felt like I'd been born again Ah, we spent all our time outside 'Cause people say small things when they stay too long in little rooms. In the sunshine In the rain or snow We even climbed a pinetree in a tornado Outside was where all our live was found And I guess we must have walked on every street in town. Every street in town, Every street in town, In the cool summer evenings Or when the snow was falling down, We'd go walkin' on every street in town. [harmonica break] She'd been gone such a long, long time But it's often I feel her right there by my side When I'm walkin' I'm talkin' to her In the wet and yellow fall Or past the parks in the summer Where the kids is playin' ball An' it's sometimes I see a woman out alone An' she worried about gettin' back to her home An' I think of my friend and all of the joy that we found When we's just walkin' and talkin' on every street in town. An' I wonder when the day will every come When we won't be so sad and so dumb An' when a woman could walk out free in the day and night Without havin' to worry if she's gonna be alright on Every street in town, Every street in town, In the cool summer evenings Or when the snow was falling down, We'd go walkin' on every street in town.

Flat Stuff

Sundown like a showtune Trumpets play full blast To create a great impression Ah, but it doesn't seem to last Flat stuff, flat stuff Way out to the way out to the setting sun The muskrat and the bullfrog The rabbit and the skunk Old barns full of blue sky Backyards full of junk Flat stuff, flat stuff Way out to the way out to the setting sun You can't find no river That ain't low and brown It's full of sixteen catfish Who just lay there farting aroun' Flat stuff, flat stuff Way out to the way out to the setting sun Pete hollers to Ruthie "Open me a beer. When you get it open, Bring it over here." Flat stuff, flat stuff Way out to the way out to the setting sun The sun looks like a cookie That didn't come out right Ah, the moon looks like a cookie And someone stole a bite Flat stuff, flat stuff Way out to the way out to the setting sun When them old boys come through Sometimes I think it would have been best If they'd said, "Jesus, it's too flat here" And just kept going West. Out of the flat stuff, flat stuff Way out to the setting sun.

Downtown

Yes I could stay home, I could read a book or two I could try to get a little bit better at some of the bad things that I do but the night is young. So I'm out for a little while I'm gonna put on my hat and coat and pants and boots and my smile. 'N' I'm gonna go downtown tonight All around the town, checkin' out all the sights. I'll be back in the morning Feelin' bad or good Gonna do what I want and I ain't gonna what I should. Well, now, if you ever checked it out you know jus' what I mean There's always a few surprises in that same old scene You might meet some fella who can really blow the horn Make you glad for a change you done got born. Don't you wanna go downtown tonight? Uptown, downtown, all aroun' the town, checkin' out all the little sights. So we'll be back in the mornin' Feelin' bad or good I do what I want and I don't do what I should. Some of the people that I meet they say they love the mountains best When I look around in the city I jus' see one big wilderness Squirrels are writin' tickets, dolphins drivin' cars Globefish blowin' tubas, grizzly bears in the bars 'N' I gonna go downtown tonight I'm gonna go all aroun' the town I'm gonna check out all the sights I'll be back in the mornin' Feelin' bad or good I do what I want and I don't do what I should. Yeah, oh but I might get lucky, I might run into my friend Jane Walk to her apartment in the sooty city rain Put on a little record, gonna be so long and tall I'm a-gonna be the wallpaper, Jane'gonna be the wall 'N' I wanna go downtown tonight I wanna go all aroun' the town Wanna check out all the sights. I'll be back in the mornin' Feelin' bad or good Gonna do what I want and I don't do what I should. Ain't you ever known that magic hour just before the dawn When the morning is still sleepy but the night is not yet gone? And you're walking home from some little joint with somebody you love With the moon and the stars and the bells and the birds all ring-a ding-a dong-a up above? Don't you wanna go downtown, tonight? Let's go downtown tonight Let's go all aroun' the town Let's go check out all the sights An' we be back in the mornin' Feelin' bad or good I do what I want and I don't do what I should.

Heart of My Country

When I was a child I heard music and I knew that it was coming from me too Now everywhere I go I hear some kind of music I don't know where it's coming from, do you? And I used to sit by the dim radio window waiting for the magic hour to start You can take the heart out of my country You can't take the country out of my heart Well there comes a time when we all have to travel some to look for home and some to hide There was a war at home and a war across the ocean Families were split from the inside And we stood there holding hands, signs and candles but soon enough our hands all had to part You can take the heart out of this country but you can't take the country out of your heart Well, it's more than cities, fields and mountains more than a place to view the farmer man (??) and everyday I want to thank all the angels that it's more than its congress and its president And I long to hear the music of its choir when everyone shall stand and sing their part And we can keep the heart in our country and we can keep the country in our heart And we can keep the country in our heart

Butane Lighter Blues

She had a butane lighter, but it wasn't really working that good She had a butane lighter, but it wasn't really working too good She said, you coulda used a match I said, yes I could Cedar Valley Shopper's Haven, that's what it said on the side Cedar Valley Shopper's Haven, that's what it said on the side I was out buying a monkey wrench She was just wasting time You want to grab a bite to eat, I asked her with a grin You want to grab a bite to eat, I asked her with a grin I opened the door to my '64 Chrysler and she slipped right in She had those nervous eyes, said she was just passing through the town She had those nervous eyes, she was just passing through the town I guess that she was hungry the way she wolfed her Big Boy down Could you take me out to 80, she asked me soft and slow Honey, could you take me out to 80, she asked me sweet and low She said, I got a girlfriend gonna meet me somewhere out around San Bernadino Thanks alot, take care now, you can just let me out here Thanks alot, take care now, youi can just let me out here I had to watch her fade in my rear view mirror She forgot her butane lighter, I flicked the damn thing a time or two She forgot her butane lighter, I flicked the damn thing a time or two No use, no juice, I threw it out the window tell me what are you gonna do?

Banjo Moon

There was someone that I used to know she was a personal friend of mine we were lovers long ago back in the traveling times and I happened to pass through her town I thought I'd call her on the phone so we could talk about what we'd found she said, hey, please just leave me alone Oh, and I I don't know everywhere I go sorrow is as thin as an electric mandolin and the moon is as round as a banjo I guess he took it pretty hard he just kept drinking all through the night we walked along by the old church yard in the bloodshot morning light He said, "I was always afraid she'd go away I've been expecting it for years" and as I looked at the cold blue bay it looked like my friend's eyes all full of tears Oh, and I I don't know everywhere I go sorrow is as thin as an electric mandolin and the moon is as round as a banjo Oh, grandmother has seen such grief that when she laughs we all go crazy she says that it is her belief that us youngsters get too lazy we give up on love so fast and we scatter out so wide and so far we dream of no future and we love no past grandma don't know where all her great grandchildren are Oh, and I I don't know everywhere I go sorrow is as thin as an electric mandolin and the moon is as round as a banjo There's so many of my friends and I bet there's some of yours too who find themselves at such loose ends all grown up and nothing to do just trying to make a little dough and help eachother through the dark I hope they find a way to go I pray they will not lose their spark Oh, and I I don't know everywhere I go sorrow is as thin as an electric mandolin and the moon is as round as a banjo I'd like to meet you someplace besides a tavern or a station where we could look at eachother's face in a little better situation we could have some supper and a talk play that music that we love and we could take a country walk under the holy stars above Oh, and I I don't know everywhere I go sorrow is as thin as an electric mandolin and the moon is as round as a banjo

Waiting

[chorus:] Everybody just a-waitin' an' a-waitin' Everybody just a-waitin' an' a-waitin' Everybody just a-waitin' an' a waitin' and a-waitin' Everybody just waitin' their time away Some are waitin' for the county fair some are waitin' for a guy name Joe comin' in Joe's comin' in from the coast You know, haven't seen ol' Joe for a real long time. I hope that Joe's got news that things been goin' better out there than they have been 'roun' here, Everythin's been a little slow in the middle. Everybody, I mean everybody, I mean everybody, I mean Everybody been a-waitin' [repeat chorus] Some are waitin' for their sandwich Some are waitin' on tables An' then the tables Ah the tables they get real inspired an' they get up an' they start dancin' that boogaloo with the chairs Salt an' pepper shaker keepin' time Window shade rollin' up, rollin' down Seems like some of those tables and chairs got a lot more spunk than the people sittin' in 'em, at 'em, all arou' 'em everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody I mean... [repeat chorus] Waitin' for a bran' new day. Some are waitin' for a truck to come Some are waitin' for a bus to stop, take 'em out to San Francisco Jus' about twelve years ago So they can walk into little paperback store Look at a big glossy oversize paperback book All about the Wheel of Time an' mantras An' Baba Ram Dass, Baba Ram Dass, Baba Ram.... Gonna tell ya' what it's all about. Maybe some a' you read about it in a magazine Maybe some of you were there making the scene We didn' know, we didn' know I swear, we didn' know that we was jus' waiting for now. Yeah, but, everybody been a-waitin' an' a-waitin Everybody been a-waitin' an' a-waitin' an' a-waitin' an' a-waitin' an' a-waitin, heavy waitin' Waitin' in the water, jus' like John Everybody been waitin' their time away. Some are waitin' for a new kind of lover Some are waitin' to move it on over to a new kind-a job, You know, even ol' Tom Waits is you know, you know even ol', you know (sinks into Tom Waits voice) you know even ol', you know even, you know even ol' Tom Waits, uh...... you know even ol' Tom Waits has been......... you know even ol' Tom Waits has been waitin' He been waitin' down by the docks, diners, uh...... gotta copy of the poems of Jacques Prevert or sumthin..... back pocket, he's waitin' down...... Lookin' for a blond to come in with big tits an' bad teeth..... uh, ah waitin' aroun'........ bee bop diddily uh kee bop <more scat> ...................... <return to normal GB voice> He's waitin' for his voice to clear up! So he can say "good mornin'" to some real, original, authentic wino-type guy, ya' know a lotta people might look like a wino these days but you gotta check 'em out, <mumble> gotta get a wino card. Say "good mornin' " to 'em an' then that wino guy.....he's....... he looks at Tom an' then he says..... I ain't gonna say what he says........ but.... Tom, he writes it down in a little book, writes it all down in a little book, doin' awright, doin' awright, doin'-an-a-doin'-an-a-doin' awright Jus' waitin' his time away. Some are waitin' for the new Galileo Some are waitin' for the new Picasso Some are waitin' for the new Mr. Freud He was 'sposed to be here about an hour ago. I was hopin' he could clear up for us jus' what's so funny about this garbage disposal we got here's We know it means more than just a garbage disposal, it's a.... It's a symbol, it could be a metaphor, might be a simile, We gotta wait 'til Sigmund gets here..... [repeat chorus] Some are waitin' for the green Some are waitin' for the blue Some are waitin' for the green, some are waitin' for the blue........ You been waitin' for me, I been waitin' for you. But then now you know [repeat chorus]

Ships

Mariyln Monroe was so tired, she was so tired, she was so tired City girl lost in a field of rye and see what she has done Now she's out on a boat on the ocean turning around and around Sail for a dress and her hand on her breast out on the rolling sea out on the rolling sea John Wayne was so sick he was so thick, he was up a crick Cowboy lost in a long steel hall and see what he has done Now he's out on a boat on the ocean turning around and around Lashed to the mast and free at last out on the rolling sea out on the rolling sea Elvis Presley was so fat they gave him all that, just to stand pat Jaguar lost in a living room and you see what he has done Now he's out on a boat on the ocean turning around and around The dolphins gather to hear him moan out on the rolling sea out on the rolling sea And will you rock the boat, Mr. Presley? Will you let us see it, Miss Monroe? Will you save us, Mr. John Wayne, sir? We come so far to go back alone We come so far All the long ships are sailing away with one little candle to light the way 'til they come to a place where the sun goes down and they all start turning around and they all start turning around they all start turning around

You Don't Really Get Me, Babe

You don't really get me baby An' it makes me lonely I don't really get you baby There's a lot of things I don't see You don't really know You don't really know what I'm after Many times when you turn to tears I turn to laughter. You don't really get me baby But I hope you can see You don't really get me baby But you really get to me. You don't really get me baby So I go lookin' I'm a-dreamin' of a new situation Somethin' really cookin' I don't really know I don't really know where you go When we get on easy But findin' you again That's the only thing that could please me. You don't really get me baby An' it makes us lonely You don't really get me baby But you really get to me. You don't really get me baby Can you hear me callin'? Trying to get in touch with you Across the wire without fallin'. Loneliness and frustration Have left us cryin' But for some sweet unknown reason We both keep tryin'. I don't really get it baby And it makes me lonely You don't really get me baby But you really get to me. You don't really get me baby But you really get to me.

On Records the Sound Just Fades Away

On records the sound just fades away The players they grow smaller and smaller They return to their homes in the wires With one last riff and one last holler. And did you ever make it in tha big city, pal? Or did you crash down in some rainy alleyway? I saw six angels wrapping you up in newspaper Ah, but that might have been a dream. I used to lie awake when I was five years old, by the Motorola radio I was tryin' so hard not to go to sleep So I'd know where those little people go. And on records the sound jus' fades away The players they grow smaller and smaller and smaller The return to their homes in the wires and the wax and the cassettes and the chips With one last little riff and one last little holler Sayin' somethin like: Baby I want you, baby I need you, baby I love you, oh baby I do Baby I want you, baby I need you, baby I love ya, oh baby I do And their little outfits get smaller and smaller, An' their little guitars get tiny, tiny, tiny And their little waa-waa pedals get down 'bout the size of a match head an' fade away. An' even their little semi-trucks, well they get tiny, tiny An' their lttle tour buses get smaller.......... Fade away. They all gotta go back to LA. They got a big important business meeting tomorrow morning In a 25 storey building but it's tiny, tiny, tiny Gotta go back to LA. I hear them singin' it as they cross the Rockies Baby I want you, Baby I love ya', Baby I need you, Baby I do. [fades out]

Love Is a Chain

If you're free, stay free. If ya ain't free, git free. But if ya' can't git free, join me All my life I been bound in the chains of love. An' I said to myself I would leave Said I gonna travel an' just do as I please An' I stood with my back to you, darlin' An' we both ended up on our knees. [chorus:] Love is a chain, Love is a chain Though I try to fly Off through the sky But here I remain. Many times I have gone to the depot Jus' to listen to the departure times I was thinkin' of all the places I would love to go An' gonnaleave everything behind. Ah, but I know I could go to the moon, To the cold side where everything is dark But I'd still see your face before me An' I would still say your name in my heart. 'Cause... [repeat chorus]

Ella Mae

[spoken introduction:] My grandparents on my father's side had a strawberry farm. It's a beautiful thing, a beautiful occupation.... a strawberry farm. We always used to try to go down there at just the right time of year. "Oh, are the, are the berries ready? Oh. Good!" Ella Mae - the redwings returned today A little rain fell in the morning The afternoon was clear An' that song you loved to hear Was filling up the fence row where the birds all go To talk over their long journey and sing. Ella Mae - all the gifts you gave Tremble in my life like a startled deer You gave me my Pa Who is in me as you are And the southern piney hills The clear water and the running rills That tumbled through the lives of us all. Six big men and one big strong woman You and little Granpa David raised up there They all had families We all come back to see you You hugged us all in turn Cocked you head and said we'd grown And touched us with your hands That smelled like bread Ella Mae - it's a clear warm summer's day The young birds are trying out their wings Ah it's something to see them try To get up there and fly And my own child is bound to do the same Today she learned three birds' names. Ella Mae - I can see you plain as day Sailing out like a ship to your garden In your old wide-brim straw hat With a long handled hoe in your hand. pausing at the gate I see you look south to the pond A long time quiet smile on your face. Ella Mae - when your David went away After cutting brush all day long Well, your life just slowly closed Like a worn out autumn rose You could not find the bread You could not make your lonesome bed Or really do a thing but rise and go. Ella Mae - the redwings left today Passing in a long cloud of wings They're headed down your way They'll be there in a couple of days They'll sing that song you loved As they fly above Your resting place by David in the pines.

Never Shine Sun

Oh the night is long when I'm all alone Long as a wire looking for a telephone I want to take all those nights Where we was lonesome and blue String them all back together and spend them all with you. [chorus:] Never shine sun, Let the moon stay above I wanna keep on keepin' On lovin' my love. Hey, Mr. Rooster, get yourself a backpack, Catch yourself a night flight Grab yourself a catnap Hey, Mr. Songbird, go visit your cousin That pretty one you've been missin' I think she lives down in Tucson. [repeat chorus] Go shine on Canada on the windchill factor Go shine on Russia - help them build another tractor Shine on LA - climb up and down the charts Shine on Washington, D.C. and warm up their cold hearts. Shine on Shreveport, St. Louie or Kokomo Jus' don't shine here for another week or so. [repeat chorus] There's a drop of dew hanging on each blade of grass Hang on and tremble - don't let the night pass Light on the horizon - linger on and on Oh, it's jus' some city - it can't be the dawn. [repeat chorus]

All the Little Places around the Town

Mary Beth is that fancy woman standing over there the expression on her face is just like her underwear carefully chosen, easy to see through 2 a.m. when the game is up tempting to undo (?) but dawn breaks on her sad smile and I'll see you around all the little places around the town Gabriel was painter a good one in his youth between poverty and a hustle he chose a substitute Tenure and a greenhouse and little trips to Mexico an affair with a deep-eyed girl every couple years or so When he looks inside at what he hasn't done he comes tumbling down to all the little places around the town The university poets buzz around in their little japanese cars they hit the parties for the out-of-towners you don't see them much at the bars All their thin and stiff little books not too much to say yaking at eachother in the APR (?) while the years slip away the horseman passes by the classroom scene and a cold wind blows around all the little places around the town Julie and me we see eye to eye when we stand toe to toe and I surely will not soon forget that day in her studio The colors all got brighter than the corona of the sun it's action painted while we moved it (?) and still life when we was done I'm always hoping I will run into her when I'm out catting around at all the little places around the town The faculty wives they get gray and tattered like the books upon their shelves they're sitting around by their big bay windows reading fiction about themselves Dreading the hour when they hear that well-heeled step once more and see those sad eyes through the glasses he bought at the professor eyeglass store Couldn't she have shopped around a little longer while she was out checking it out at all the little places around the town? Charley had a habit of going too many rounds with the wall he's drinking to celebrate the spring he's drinking to mourn the fall He made it out to Colorado when he got tired of the flat I ain't too worried about that boy he don't wear no cowboy hat I sure miss him on these winter nights when the blue snow settles down on all the little places around the town When you were here I never went to any of these little joints we spent all of our time outside what else is the point What else but the railroad tracks gleaming in the winter sun what else but the spring graveyard showing the ghosts how it's done But you left like everyone does and I found myself going down to all the little places around the town Well the lights go red, the lights go green traffic moves on through the lights go up, the lights go down you get a flash of who's who Who is true and who is one (?) and who ain't really sure who has seen too many times what they've already seen before Who is free to come and go and who will forever be bound to all the little places all these little places all the little places around the town Transcribed by Emily L. Ferguson; CD bonus tracks transcribed by Stephen Elsemore.

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