YOU LOSIN OUT

CANT FORGET THE DAY YOU WALK AWAY.WHEN YOU
COME BACK NEXT TIME YOU’RE HERE TO STAY. FOR THAT REASON I’M TELLIN’ YOU, MAMA
YOU LOSIN’ OUT. IT WAS EARLY ONE MORNIN’ YOU COME DRAGGIN’ HOME. SAID, “FORGIVE
ME DADDY FOR I DONE WRONG.” MAMA YOU LOISIN’ OUT. YOU LEFT THAT TIME AND
YOU AIN’T GWINE LEAVE NO MORE CAUSE I’M PUTTING A LOCK ON MY BACK DOOR. MAMA
YOU LOSIN’ OUT. I FOLLOWED MY BABY TO HER BURYING PLACE. CAN’T GET ANOTHER
RIDER TO TAKE YOUR PLACE. MAMA YOU LOSIN’ OUT. YOU OUGHTA HEARD ME CRYIN’ “BABY
YOU’RE ALL I CRAVE” WHILE I WORTE YOUR WILL OUT UPON YOU’RE GRAVE. MAMA
YOU LOSIN’ OUT. BACK TO THE TOP

TWO DAYS SHORT TOMORROW

MY DARLING, MY DARLING ARE YOU AS
COMOPOSED AS THE SPACE YOU FILL? YOU KNOW THERE’S LITTLE REASON TO DEMAND WHAT
CAN’T BE GIVEN FROM THE TONGUES YOU KILL. YOU AIM YOUR THOUGHTS HOMEWARD AS
IF YOU HAD A REASON TO BE GONE. YOU WERE SIRED BY SIRENS THEY TAUGHT YOU NOT
TO TALK: ALL WORDS ARE EMPTY. BUT THEY LEANT YOU THEIR HATS, SCREAMING BRING
BACK FROM THE OTHER SIDE SOME SYMPATHY. YOU SPARE NO TIME TO WONDER. WHEN YOU
CALIM TO WON THE ANSWER WHY BE WRONG? SO YOU PUT ON YOUR PAINTED DRESS WHILE
THE BERDACHE TAKES YOUR HAND AND TEMPTS YOU HOMEWARD. AND SO I’VE HEARD THAT
YOU’VE GONE WRONG. BUT IS IT O.K. IF I THINK OF YOU? ‘CAUSE YOU MIGHT JUST
BE WHAT I’M COUNTING ON. JUST ONE MORE DAY THAT I MUST GET THROUGH. WELL YOU
BREAK JUST LIKE THE MORNING ADN IF YESTERDAY DOONT KNOW YOU WELL WHO DOES THEN?
IF YOU EVER SEEK ME OUT I’LL BE SOMEONE AMONG THE PEOPLE YOU CALL HAVE BEENS.
WELL YOU’D LOVE TO BE A MARTYR BUT YOU’VE GOT NOTHING TO DIE FOR SO YOU WAIT
AND WINTER TIME IS COMING YOU CAN FEEL THE COLD DRUM DRUMMING ONCE AGAIN AND
I LOVE MY COUNTRY BUT I FEAR YOUR MOTHER. SHE’S GROWING OLDER OR SO THEY TOLD
HER BUT FLOWERD WON’T REPLACE HER. YOU’RE MY SHEATH I’M YOUR RAPIER.

NOTHING TO YOU

WELL MY KIND’S BEEN AROUND FORVER, YET I
CLAIM TO BE ONE OF THE FEW. AND THE LOST CLAUSE OF WORDS WALKS AWAY WITH MY
NERVES ‘CAUSE I’M GAY AS A CHOIR BOY FOR YOU. YOU GOT HAIR THAT RECALLS ME
OF RIVERS, RUN SOFTLY WHILE YOU DREAM OF YOU. BUT YOUR HEART IS SO COLD THAT
IS SHIVERS CAUSE ALL THAT I KNOW IS I’M NOTHING TO YOU. WELL I FOLLOWED YOU
INTO THE PARTY THAT NO ONE INVITED ME TO BUT I GOT SO DAMN DRUNK AND RETARDED,
I FELL DOWN THE STAIRS AND I FELL INTO YOU. BUT I WATCHED YOU FORGET YOUR BELONGINGS
AND BELONGINGS YOU’VE GOT QUITE A FEW. AND I FILLED UP YOUR BAGS WIHT MY LONGINGS
AND SEARCHED THROUGH THIS WHOLE WIDE CITY FOR YOU. BUT THE WALLS OF MY CHILDHOOD
MUST CRUBMLE AND CHILDHOODS I’VE HAD QUITE A FEW. MY LOVE IS SO BLIND THAT
IS STUMBLES BUT NOW IT DON’T TRIP OVER YOU. ‘CAUSE I HEARD THAT YOU GOT YOU
A LOVER, AND LOVERS YOU’VE GOT ONE OR TWO. BUT YOU CAN’T TELL ONE FROM THE
OTHER, NOW MAMA, NOW YOU’RE NOTHING TO YOU. BACK TO THE TOP

CROW JANE

WELL CROW JANE DON’T MAKE NO SENSE TO ME. SHE LEFT ME SWINGING
FROM THE POPLAR TREE. WELL NO I NEVER EVER FELT SO FREE. HEY LOOK AT MAMA WHAT
YOU DOING TO ME. CAUSE IT AIN’T NO DIFFERENCE WHICH WAY I SMILE. I AIN’T GOOD
LOOKIN’ FROM A QUARTER MILE. ONCE HAD A WOMAN SHE CALL ME ANGEL CHILD. MY REPUTATION
KEEPS ME ON TRIAL. NOW WHOSE GONNA SAVE ME FROM MYSELF. GOTTA LAY THE BLAME
ON SOMEONE ELSE. BUT SOMEHOW I AIN’T GOT NO HOPE CAUSE I’M STILL RUNNIN’ FROM
THE SHERIFF’S ROPE. MY SHOES DON’T FIT ME CAUSE THEY FILLED WITH DOPE. CROW
JANE QUITE ME AND I JUST CANT COPE. BUT ALL I KNOW IS THAT I’LL STILL RUN AND
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE SETTING SUN. I MUST HAVE LOST CAUSE CROW JANE WON.
I’LL NEVER LEARN FROM ANYTHING I’VE DONE. WELL CROW JANE’S THE STRANGEST THINGS
THAT EVER TALKED. LIPS OF HONEY BUT HER TONGUE’S OF CHALK. FEET MAY BE CROOKED
BU SHE SURE CAN WALK. SHE TOOK MY MONEY LEFT ME IN SHOCK. GOS SO MANY MATCHES
THAT IT MAKES ME SICK, SO MANY HABITS THAT I JUST CAN’T KICK, SO MANY WOMEN
THAT I JUST CAN’T TRICK, BUT CROW JANE BURNT ME LIKE A CANDLE STICK. WELL CROW
JANE AIN’T NOTHIN’ BUT A PITIFUL CASE. SHE LEFT ME SUCKIN’ ON MY OWN DISGRACE.
SHE’S OFF TRUCKIN’ AT A CHEATIN’ PACE AND A LAWLESS LIFE IS ALL I CAN EMBRACE.
I’LL DRESS LIKE A PREACHER SO I CAN’T BE FOUND. CHASE CROW JANE FORM TOWN TO
TOWN. I SMELL HER BRAIN SO SHE MUST BE ROUND. JUST LIKE MY PAIN WHEN THE SUN
GOES DOWN.

FAIL HARD TO REGAIN

ONCE I KNEW A RAILWAY GIRL HER AGE WAS
SEVENTEEN. I GAVE HER ALL I HAD TO GIVE BUT THE BAGGAGE OF MY DREAMS. SHE STOLE
ME FROM THE GAMES WE PLAY, SCORNED ME FROM MY MASK, AND IF SHE’S GONE SHE LINGER
S ON. I BEG YOU PLEASE DON’T ASK, ‘TWAS ON A DARK MARCH EVENING, SOUTHBOUND
I DID RIDE. MY HEAD WAS OUT THE WINDOW WHEN I FOUND HER AT MY SIDE. ASKED WHERE
I WAS GOING TO, I TOLD BUT WHERE I CAME. FOR THE JAILS IN WHICH I’VE DON MY
TIME I FAIL HARD TO REGAIN. “DARK GIRL, DARK GIRL, IT KILLS ME SO TO WATCH
YOU SO AFRAID. YOU KNOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN REAL TO THOSE WHOM REALNESS SHOULD
BE PAID.” HER
EYES GONE WIDE ALIVE SHE CRIED, “DOES PLEASURE EVER LAST?” “WE
LIVE TO SEE BUT PATIENTLY, I BEG YOU PLEASE DON’T ASK.” SHE TOOK ME IN
DESPITE MY SINS, FED ME TEA AND SUCH. AND AS SHE FELL JUST LIKE A CHILD , I
CRUMBLED ‘NEATH HER TOUCH. I HELD MY BREATH AND FEARED TO WEEP FOR THE FRAGMENT’S
OF MY BRIAN. SEE EACH DAY’S BUT A MOMENT THAT I FAIL HARD TO REGAIN. BUT AS
IT GOES THE FIDDLER THROWS ALL VALUES TO THE STREET. WHOLE WORLD’S PAIN INSANES
HIS GAZE, IMPATIENCES HIS FEET. EACH CAPTIVES OF THIS PALTRY TRADE, WE CURSE
OUR MORTAL TASK,. FORGIVE US THROUGH WE ALL MUST GO AND WHERE TO PLEASE DON’T
ASK. NOW I AM A MISSPENT MAN WHO KNOWS NOT WHERE HE’S BEEN. AND THOUGH SO SAPPED
WITH SUFFERING, THE WORST IS YET UNSEEN. RENOUNCE MYSELF FOR FURTHER WEALTH,
TO TAKE EACH BREATH IN VAIN. STILL HAUNTED BY THAT RAILWAY GIRL I FAIL HEARD
TO REGAIN.

THE THROES

‘WELL DON’T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE THIS ANYMORE.’
SHE IS THINKING AS HE SHOVES HER AGAINST THE WALL; SCREAMING, “WELL THEN
WHAT GOOD ARE YOU FOR? YOU DON’T GIVE ME NO PLEASURE AT ALL.” ‘OH BUT
NOW I KNOW I NEED TO LEAVE”, SO SHE TELLS HERSELF AGAIN, SHE WIPES A LITTLE
BLOOD UPON HER SLEEVE BUT SHE DON’T TELL HERSELF WHEN, BABY STARTS CRYING AND
DADDY SITS BACK DOWN, SINKS ANOTHER DRINK TO BRING HIS TEMPER DOWN, HIS IMAGE
THERE REFLECTING ON THE T.V. SCREEN REMINDS HER OF A BETTER DAY SHE THOUGHT
SHE’D SEEN. BUT NOW TAKE YOUR TIME BEFORE YOU GRIEVE AND KEEP YOUR HEART HID
UP YOUR SLEEVE ‘CAUSE THERE AIN’T NO ONE BUT YOU DECEIVED, YOUR SYMPATHY IS
SOON TO LEAVE. AND HIDE YOUR MOUTH BEFORE YOU SPEAK. BETTER YET JUST TURN A
CHEEK. I WATCH YOUR INTEREST GROWING WEEK, YET STILL YOU SAY THAT I’M THE FREAK
AND I GUESS THAT’S FINE WITH ME. ‘I BET HE’S PROBABLY HAD A LONG LONG DAY.’
SHE’S THINKING IN THE KITCHEN WHILE SHE WEEPS’ PUTTING DINNER’S LEFTOVERS AWAY
AS HE STUMBLES OFF TO BED AND THEN TO SLEEP. ‘SURELY HE’LL BE BETTER COME THE
DAWN WHEN I RISE TO COOK HIM BREAKFAST FOR HE GOES. HE WAKES WITHOUT A WORD
AND THEN HE’S GONE. HE’S GOT THAT KIND OF LOVE THAT NEVER SHOWS. ‘ BABY STARTS
WAILING AND DADDY COMES BACK OUT. “SHUT UP THAT CHILD!” SHE HEARS
HIM SHOUT, AND CRADLED IN HER ARMS SHE TRIES TO CALM THE SOUND. ” HOW
AM I TO SLEEP?” HE SCREAMS AND SLAPS HER DOWN. WHEN SHE AWAKES HER HEAD DON’T CEASE TO PAIN. BODY’S
BROKEN AND HER CLOTHES ARE TORN AWAY. STILL THE THREAT OF EMPTINESS REMAINS
AS SHE STRUGGLES O HER FEET TO GET AWAY. ‘OH NO. WHERE HAS MY CHILD GONE?” SHE
SCREAMS AS SHE RUNS FORM ROOM TO ROOM. EVERY SOUND OF SILENCE LINGERS ON. NOT
A SINGLE KICK INSIDER HER WOMB. WHEN HER MIND DROWNS INTO SHADOWS MAMA FALLS
BACK DOWN, WHERE THE WALLS THAT SHAPE HER WORLD SEEM TALLER FROM THE GROUND.
NO MORE BREATH TO SCREAM HER THROAT JUST DRIPS AWAYS. NO MORE LIFE TO LOSE
AS IF THERE WERE TO SAVE.

DRIVE MY CAR

YOU DON’T LISTEN WHEN HE SAYS THAT YOU DON’T
LOVE HIM FOR HIS BRAIN BUT FOR HIS HEAD. SO PRETTY , SO SAFE, AND SO MISREAD.
YOU DON’T NEED THIS KID. COULD IT BE THIS KID? WHEN ALL THE HATE YOU THROW
IS ALL YOU REALLY NEED TO CUT HIM FROM BELOW. SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE GOT TICKETS
TO THE SHOW. TO WATCH YOUR FACE GO RED. COULD IT BE THIS KID? BUT GIRL YOU
SPEAK SO GOD DAMN DANGEROUS. COULD IT BE YOUR JUST LIKE THE REST OF US. THOUGH
YOU TRY YOU KNOW YOU CAN’T ESCAPE FROM US. COULD IT BE THIS KID? WHEN ALL YOUR
KNIGHTS HAVE COME; EACH AS GALLANT AND AS FAITHLESS AS THIS ONE. WILL HE BE
NOTHING MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER ONE. YOU DON’T NEED THIS KID. COULD IT BE THIS
KID? AND WHEN ALL THE BOOKS YOU’VE READ, DON’T DO NOTHING BUT TAKE SPACE UP
IN YOUR HEAD. ‘CAUSE EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS ANYTHING HE SAYS. YOU DON’T NEED
THIS KID. COULD IT BE THIS KID? “IT’S HARD” SHE SAID, “MY FORTUNE’S
BEEN QUITE HARD.” “IT’S HARD” SHE SAID, ” DON’T PLAY THAT
VICTIM CARD.” “IT’S STARS” SHE SAID, “THIS FATE IS CROSSED WITH STARS.” “IT’S
GARD” HE SAID, “IT’S THAT I’LL DISREGARD.” “ITS JAR” HE
SAID, “BUT I’LL LEAVE THE DOOR AJAR.” “IT’S CAR” HE SAID, “CAUSE
YOU COULD DRIVE MY CAR.” “HAS THIS GONE MUCH TOO FAR?” SHE SAID. “HAS
THIS GONE MUCH TOO FAR?” ” I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE. I DON’T KNOW
WHO YOU ARE.” AND JUST BEFORE YOU BREAK IN TWO ONE LAST THING HE’LL SAY
TO YOU. ONE LAST THING THAT’S BEST UNHEARD. SHOULD IT BE UNSAID? I GAVE YOU
MORE THAN YOU COULD TAKE. ALL IT PUT WAS MORE AT STAKE. YOU KEEP YOUR TROPHIES
ON THE WALL BUT I’LL TAKE THE DOOR INSTEAD. CAUSE YOU DONT’ NEED THIS KID.

MY MADONNA

YOUR VISION’S BEEN BLESSED IF I’M STILL FULLY
DRESSED BUT BEFORE YOU LEAVE ME HERE’S ONE LAST REQUEST NO I DON’T CARE AND
NO I DON’T MIND IF YOU DON’T HEAR A WORD FROM THIS BROKE HEART OF MINE BUT
CAN I BORROW YOUR FACE JUST TO UNLOAD MY MIND. NO I KNOW I’M PATHETIC, ANOTHER
SAGE OF ABSURD BUT I WON’T VIOLATE YOU WITH TOUCH BUT WITH WORDS HEARD THERE’S
NO NEED TO ASK. SHUT YOUR MOUTH RAISE A GLASS BUT THE YOUTH THAT WE DRINK TO
IS ALREADY PAST, AND THE BOY ON YOUR ARM, GIRL YOU KNOW HE WON’T LAST. MY MADONNA’S
UNDRESSING HER ROBES ARE ALL TORN AND I SWEAR THAT SHE’S CALLING MY NAME BUT
FOR ALL HER CARESSES MY SENSES ARE WORN AND SWEET LADY JUST DON’T TASTE THE
SAME. I’LL DRINK JUST TO DRIVE IF MY LOVE DON’T ARRIVE. I DON’T WANT TO SURVIVE.
I DONT’ WANT TO SURVIVE WHEN ALL THAT I KNOW IS I SMILE JUST FOR SHOW AND NOBODY’S
LISTENING BUT EVERYONE KNOWS. SO JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH WHILE MY MEMORY CORRODES.
WELL I CURSE MY OWN COMFORT FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND ‘CAUSE ITS DARK AS A
DUNGEON WAY DOWN IN THE MIND. AND I WAKE ON THE FLOOR WITH MY COUNTRY AT WAR
AND I WISH I COULD WEEP BUT MY LIVER’S TOO SORE. IF LIQUOR’S A LOVER YOU KNOW
I’M A WHORE.

TRAIN THAT STOLE MY MAN

MY DADDY WAS A ROUNDER, HAD TO MAKE
HIMSELF SOME CHANGE CLIMBED DOWN OFF THE MOUNTAIN, SHAVED HIS HEAD, AND CAUGHT
A TRAIN. BUT I KEEP MY SKILLET GREASY, KEEP MY LAMP TRIMMED LOW. MY WEARY FEET
THESE FLOORS I WALK BUT WHY I’LL NEVER KNOW. I HEAR ECHOES OF HIS HEART BEATING
BACK FROM DISTANT LANDS AND I HEAR THE LONESOME WHISTLE OF THE TRAIN THAT STOLE
MY MAN. NOW I CUDDLE TO MY CHILD TEACH HIM TO TO UNDERSTAND TO TAKE THE BLOWS,
THE TOS AND FROS AND DEAL WITH WHAT HE’S PLANNED. BUT MONEY’S RUNNIN’ LOW YOU
KNOW, NO FRIENDS TO HELP ME THROUGH. JUST ONE LAST THING THAT I CAN SELL AND
THAT WILL HAVE TO DO. I FEEL HUNGER IN MY BABY’S GUT, NATURE’S NAUGHTY PLAN;
AND I FEEL THE RUMBLING OF THE WHEELS OF THE TRAIN THAT STOLE MY MAN. NOW MY
MIND JUST TAKES TO RAMBLIN’ AS THE DAY GOES WALKING WEST AND MADNESS COMES
A-CRAWLIN’ THROUGH THE HOLE INSIDE MY BREAST. SORROW SINGS A SIMPLE SONG THAT
SCREAMS THE WHOLE NIGHT THROUGH: A MELODY OF HIM AND ME THAT NEVER RANG SO
TRUE. I SEE DARK CLOUDS ON THE RISE AND I SEE MIDGETS IN THE SAND AND THEY
PAINT MY SIGHT WITH VISIONS OF THE TRAIN THAT STOLE MY MAN. I DREAMT I FOUND
HIS CROSS-ROADS IN A LAND OF STICKS AND STONES WHERE THE PETTY WORRIES OF THE
HEART ARE WORRIES SO UNKNOWN. HE TOOK ME IN HIS ARMS AND TIED ME TO HIS SIDE,
CAUGHT THAT FIRST WIND OF THE HILLS AND FURTHER WE DID RIDE. I FELT HIS TOUCH
UPON MY BREAST THAT UNFORGIVING HAND BUT WHEN I WOKE I COULD SMELL THE SMOKE
OF THE TRAIN THAT STOLE MY MAN. NOW THE WIND RUNS THROUGH MY SKIN. THE RAIN
RUNS THROUGH MY EYES I BREATH, I BREAK, I PALE BENEATH GODS UNFORGIVING SKIES
BUT COME THE DAWN I’LL CLEAN MY TEETH, FLOWER UP MY BREAST, TAKE OFF MY FADED
APRON, PUT ON MY SUNDAY BEST. AND TO FIND THE STRINGS TO STITCH MY HEART I
WILL LOOK TO HOLY LANDS AND LAY MY BACK DOWN ON THE TRACK OF THE TRAIN THAT
STOLE MY MAN.