The Black Rider
Come on a long with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time
Lay down in the web of the black spider
I'll drink your blood like wine
So come on in
It ain't no sin
Take off your skin
And dance around your bones
So come along with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time
Anchors away with the Black Rider
I'll drink your blood like wine
I'll drop you off in Harlem with the Black Rider
Out where the bullets shine
And when you're done
You cock your gun
The blood will run
Like ribbons in your hair
So come along wit hthe Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time
Come on along with the Black Rider
I've got just the thing for thee
Come on along with the Black Rider
I want your company
I'll have the veal
A lovely meal
That's how I feel
May I use your skull for a bowl
Come on along with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time
California Bound
don’t worry, no need for you to hide
among the trees
come into the light and you’ll be free
don’t scurry, it’s such a lonely life up in
the hills
the valley’s gonna cure your every ill
don’t worry, I know that you are lost but you’ll
be found
God willing we are California bound
God willing we are California bound
no, I never will hate you
I just want to show you the one truth
and spread my love all around
don’t worry, don’t bring yourself down
don’t let your mind chase you like a hound
don’t worry, don’t bring yourself down
we’re coming today to save your town
no worries, I know tomorrow brings the golden sun
where there’s wine and olive fruit for everyone
do hurry, now spread the news from there upon your mound
God willing we are California bound
God willing I won’t put you in the ground
no, I never will hate you
I just want to show you the one truth
and spread God’s love all around
don’t worry, don’t bring yourself down
we’re coming to save your mind and town
don’t worry, don’t bring yourself down
we’re coming to chase you like a hound
Chip Away Boy
I used to have some fun
me and everyone
now I’m just employed
I’m a chip away boy
I’m a chip away boy
I remember humid nights
I remember how the full moon tugs
how it used to make us fight
and the language of the bugs
and even our doomsday
I’m a chip away boy
I’m a chip away boy
and I’ll chip away ‘til I make the other side
I think I’m falling in love
and now she’s falling off her stool
it‘s not me she’s thinking of
but I’m her little fool
and she’s my Helen of Troy
I’m a chip away boy
I’m a chip away boy
you put on your camisole
and I’ll jump in the rabbit hole
and head for the sluice-way
I’m a chip away boy
I’m a chip away boy
and I’ll chip away ‘til I make the other side
Cold Heart Of Stone
winter blows through my coat
it’s chilling my bones
but it does not compare
to your cold heart of stone
I pledged you my love
and I gave you my car
now you’re parking with him
yeah I know where you are
your favorite perfume
well I gave you a tub
now your stepping out
for your rubba dub dub
if ever you need don’t call
if ever you need don’t call
I once had a dog
who ran from his home
but that wasn’t even close
to your cold heart of stone
Black Letter Day
every day I work
every day’s the same
the sun is going down when I get home and every day gets
worse
every day I curse the one who left me here alone
every night I take
something for my sleep
every night I dream the world away
and when the morning breaks
I wake and see it’s just another long black letter
day
don’t cry
don’t start
don’t fret your
poor heart
you know it’s just another long black letter day
excuse me, please
do you have the time?
and can you tell me what’s it matter anyway?
please pardon me, sir
do you know the date?
what is the number?
it’s just another long black letter day
Valentine and Garuda
I have a flask but I do not have the wine
I have a suit but I do not have a dime
oh pity me Garuda I don’t where to begin
I had a love and she called me Valentine
I walk alone on streets
below these peaks of stone that block the sky
my hands have lost their grip
through fingers slipped the rarest ever damselfly
I had a love and she was always true
I had a drink yes I gambled then she flew
oh pity me Garuda and turn my hands into wings
I’m coming back to the station I am due
my eyes are small and dark
my pigeon heart is pumping blood so fast
I fly above the earth
for what it’s worth I search for love lost in the
past
How You Went So Far
someday I know that you’ll be coming
back here
will you someday?
I wait to hear you turn that knob on that door
can’t take it no more
Boston to Phoenix
I went in my car
but I don’t know how you went so far
I’ve been to Cairo
seen the bazaar
but I don’t know how you went so far
one day I know that you will come to your senses
will you one day?
it’s too late for me to leave and be with you there
I would be scared
I sailed the Atlantic
and I looked at the stars
but I don’t know how you went so far
no, I don’t know how you went so far
I don’t know how you went so far
End Of Miles
at the end of miles you stare out at the
ocean
mountains at your back you think you’ve tamed
at the end of miles you hope you’ll soon be back in
motion
but you’re never going back from where you came
a little peace at last
yes, I thought that I would stay just for awhile
now a shadow cast
is all what’s left of this wanderer’s profile
but still I have survived
and I know I have arrived
here at the end of miles
I lost it all back east I sold my El Dorado
a stranger helped when I was thirstiest
for some the end of miles is Denver, Colorado
but something always kept me moving west
I’m lately out of reach
in towns along the California shore
I’m leathery and bleached
I’m lost and I am lonesome to the core
I’ve got nowhere left to go
but I’m satisifed to know
there’ll be miles nevermore
1826
I’m going away
I’m going far away
I’m going further than the land that meets the sky
And I won’t rest
until I’m very far
I’ll walk for many days and walk through many nights
I leave today
I smell the death
I smell it very near
I’m going away before that death is coming here
I hear a sound
I hear my enemies
I hear them getting louder, louder everyday
my enemies
I’ll run and run
And I won’t have a home
I don’t know when I’ll stop my running I don’t
know
won’t have a friend
won’t talk to anyone
oh, will I ever stop my running? I don’t know
oh, I don’t know
oh, will I ever know?
will I ever stop my running? I don’t know
oh, I don’t know
The Farewell Bend
oh Pacoima what you give to me?
little heartbreaker mercy me
her eyes are green and her hair is gold
desert day turn to evening cold
I’ve seen you some but I know, I know that it’s
the end
you’re hanging ‘round the farewell bend
you were broken and I fixed you up
I turned your weeds into buttercups
you were lost now you know where it’s at
you were a little thin now you’re a little fat
you gave me love and though I know that it was not pretend
I’ve seen you ‘round the farewell bend
oh, Pacoima what you give to me?
little heartbreaker mercy me
my eyes are red my mood is black
I called your name and you didn’t look back
where are you going and who did you befriend?
I’ve seen you ‘round the farewell bend
where are you going and honey who did you befriend?
I’ve seen you ‘round the farewell bend
Southbound Bevy
I used to think about the world
like so many people do
I sure did want to get myself to Mexico
but as days of life unfurled
well, there was nothing I could do
I only made it to the bar where I go
I stood below a southbound bevy
and I could not believe my heart could feel so heavy
I used to think about the world
don’t get your spirits high
they’ll all come crashing down
don’t let your trumpet sound
you’ll be left wondering why
I walked along the county levy
and I could not believe my heart could feel so heavy
I used to think about the world
I Will Run After You
if you went away
called it all a day
said that it was through
‘cause a new man
or an old friend
or a guru
‘cause you got a bit tired of me
now that I could believe
yeah, but if you do
if you leave if you leave
if you leave if you leave
wouldn’t even cry
wouldn’t even try
wouldn’t even stew
wouldn’t look for another love, no
listen if you leave
tell you what I do
if you leave if you leave
if you leave if you leave
if you leave if you leave
if you leave if you leave
if you leave if you leave
if you leave I will run after you
I will run after you I will run after you
I will run after you I will run after you
I will run after you I will run after you
I will run after you I will run after you
I will run after you I will run after you
True Blue
in a little while I’m gonna do some
wanderin’| in a little while so let’s pass the
narghile
in a little while one more road for the hit
in a little while find a place for my mind to settle
in a little while like a crocodile
in a little while
though some things have gotten small
I’ve grown tall that’s for sure
other things have disappeared
it’s not clear what endures
ooh ooh ooh
ooh ooh ooh
uh uh uh
uh uh uh
in a little while I’m gonna lose this useless smile
in a little while I’ll write you in an old wine bottle
in a little while I think I’m finally used to it
in a little while I do believe I’m here to stay
in a little while like diamond back terrapin
in a little while
they call me true blue
I’m walking now crawling
I hear her voice calling
I’m falling into you
now through you I’m with you
I’m with you
Jane The Queen Of Love
once my dear is not enough
let me tell you ‘bout Jane she’s the queen of
love
she’s the queen of love and she’s the bane
of we who know wherever she goes she will reign
she will reign she reigns
Jane she’s the queen of love
Jane she makes bumblebee love
you are the only one
yeah, that’s just what you are
I’ve been so blue
sleeping ‘til noon, darling
watching cartoons
but I could not ease the pain
I hear the phone line
and I hope that isn’t you
Jane she was my only love
Jane and though our love is done
you are the only one
yeah, that’s just what you are
Jane she’s the queen of love
Jane she makes busybee love
you are the only one
yeah, that’s just what you are
Jet Black River
jet black river take me on
what’s in-between is waiting on me
revealing caffeine ghosts
and giving up its gasoline
I think I see the stacks of my home blow
sweet memories of dirty monochrome
but once again tonight we sing
jet black river’s calling me
jet black river’s calling me
jet black river’s calling me
jet black river’s calling me
21 Reasons
I rode from TJ up to Berkeley and it started
out so grey
‘til I lost that cool protection when the sun burned
it all away
while the winter’s light shined down on those revivals
from my day
I had dreams of your insurrection taken down by Monterey
I don’t care for the season
I don’t find it that fun
and I’ve got 21 reasons
I’ve got 21 reasons
and there go 22 singers on the run
first I saw the digits crawling slowly up the rocky coast
just some separated fingers looking for their fingerpost
from the water jumped a bloody hand needing desperately
a host
when I saw the bald bell ringers well, I knew then that
you were toast
then went up the baby babels where the iron bells were hung
they couldn’t get them any higher and those iron bells
were rung
with the singers now all gathered they collected every tongue
and so now it was required for every soul to turn the dung
well, you sure can hear a rumble on the royal road today
and those grand halls of correction well, I think that they’re
here to stay
from the time that you are born there are certain bells
you must obey
best you plan for the resurrection best you lower you head
and pray
Whispering Weeds
I went climbing up a weedy hill
to see what I could see
there far below the Hindu shrine
where I go from time to time
and up at the top I met dead Andy
I’m not sure how he got killed
but nailed to a tree is a photograph
yeah I always tip my hat
oh whispering weeds
oh whispering weeds
oh whispering weeds
what are we talking ‘bout today?
and what’s that you say?
up in the flats of Leo Carillo
is a place where I can sleep
a great big rock where I did dream
a happy stone age dream
and the darkness ‘round me started to creep
and I knew that I had to go
‘cause night is the hour of the mountain lion
who sent me back home cryin’
Black Rider
Come on a long with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time
Lay down in the web of the black spider
I'll drink your blood like wine
So come on in
It ain't no sin
Take off your skin
And dance around your bones
So come along with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time
Anchors away with the Black Rider
I'll drink your blood like wine
I'll drop you off in Harlem with the Black Rider
Out where the bullets shine
And when you're done
You cock your gun
The blood will run
Like ribbons in your hair
So come along wit hthe Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time
Come on along with the Black Rider
I've got just the thing for thee
Come on along with the Black Rider
I want your company
I'll have the veal
A lovely meal
That's how I feel
May I use your skull for a bowl
Come on along with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time
