Lyrics for Other Songs

All of Those Things
Better Days
Don't Be So Sure
Homeland
Kate's Guitar
Oily Boys
Slow Food
Tell You a Story
Verona Road
The Way My Baby Calls My Name

All of Those Things

On Yellow Dog, 2007.

I'm the bird and the worm I lie still and squirm I'm soft and I'm firm And I'm all of those things with my baby I'm first and I'm last Delicate and crass The sail and the mast And I'm all of those things with my baby And its love, and its love, and its love, and its love that sets us free And she's all of those, all of those, all of those, all of those things with me I'm work, I'm a toy I'm a girl and a boy Irritation and joy And I'm all of those things with my baby I'm a poet, I'm mute I'm rich, destitute I'm ugly, I'm cute And I'm all of those things with my baby Oh and its love, and its love, and its love, and its love sets us free And she's all of those, all of those, all of those things with me I'm gone, I'm right here I'm brave, full of fear I'm the arrow, the deer And I'm all of those things with my baby I'm old and I'm young I'm on trial, I'm sprung And I'm speaking in tongues And I'm all of those things with my baby Oh and its love, and its love, and its love, and its love that sets us free And she's all of those, all of those, all of those things with me La la la la la la La la la la la La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la La la la la la la la la la la la I'm all of those things with my baby Oh and its love, and its love, and its love, and its love that sets us free Oh and she's all of those, all of those, all of those things with me Transcribed by Jacobi Graziano.

Better Days

On Yellow Dog, 2007.

Well they rushed and they pushed me And they bashed me and the bushed And they threw me out back on the garbage pile They shoved me and they roved me And they diluted me and they polluted me And it looks like this might go on for awhile But I'm okay, I'm alright I'm bound to be in ship-shape by tonight I'm okay, I'm okay Though I'd have to say I've seen some better days Well they polled me and they sold me And they offended me and they born-agained me And they waived their arms and about half grown And they slapped my friends and their clean air in And they pushed our mother around the bend And they stuck my freedom in a 1st amendment zone But I'm okay, I'm alright I'm red, black and brown and yellow and white I'm alright, I'm okay Though I'd have to say I've seen some better days Well they stole the lights and they started fights And they pissed all over the Bill of Rights And they told us we had better not make a sound And they pulled a cue and pushed it through And they told big fat lies to me and you But I a'int gonna let the bastards get me down I'm alright, I'm alright Least I will be when might no longer makes right I'm alright, I'm okay And I'm bound determined to see some better days Yeah I'm bound determined to see some better days Transcribed by Jacobi Graziano.

Don't Be So Sure

On MUSE: Musicians United to Save the Englert, 2001.

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.

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.

Kate's Guitar

On Nina Gerber's Not before Noon, 2001.

Greg's hand-written lyrics

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

Oily Boys

On Yellow Dog, 2007.

I tell you what this war is all about, oil We invaded for that and we ain't gonna leave When you go take what you want Call it freedom and liberty Well you're walking on the cut bullshit side of me Well the media is bought off They ain't gonna tell the truth They're gonna do as they're told, stay employed NBC, CBS, ABC and CIA All of 'em are just workin' for the oily boys Well the democrats are chicken They're tryin' to appease The same oily boys that brought America to its knees Amongst this pile of lies, the only hope I see Get the Green Party going, run the prostitutes out of DC These names will live in infamy Bush and Cheney, Rove and Rumsfield too Well, Condaleeza you know she's just another oily boy And they're wreckin' this world and just are we gonna do It has to be we the people One by one, two by two And then many million strong To say this land is our land And what you're doing in our name is just plain wrong I tell you what this war is all about, oil We invaded for that and we ain't gonna leave When you go take what you want Call it freedom and liberty Well you're walking on the cut bullshit side of me Transcribed by Jacobi Graziano.

Slow Food

On WERU's First CD, 1997.

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.

Tell You a Story

On Doublewide: The Trailer Records Compilation, 1997.

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]

Verona Road

On Down in the Valley: Barn Aid Benefit Concert, 2001.

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.

The Way My Baby Calls My Name

On Down in the Valley: Barn Aid Benefit Concert, 2001.

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 except where otherwise noted.

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