Old 97’s: Lyrics and Tablature

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Lyrics

Chords/Tabs

SONGS A-E

Alone So Far

I watch, as it stops for a girl,
A moment, elaborate and weak.
I am easy in her midst,
Why elaborate, when there's no need to?

But I do, all night,
My words ring like money off a bar.
But she's here, asleep now,
One can only go alone so far.

One can only go alone so far.

I dream of a deep dark grave,
Seven feet below Saint Augustine.
And she's so easy in her breathing,
Why fall in love, when there's no need to?

But we do all night,
Sleep like spoons, forget whom we are.
But she's here, and she's wound down now.
One can only go alone so far.

One can only go alone so far.

Am I Too Late?

When you were just a little girl in Pine Bluff,
Daddy disappeared without a trace.
Now there's no more little girls in Pine Bluff,
They all ran like tears out of this place.

(Chorus)
Am I too late
Am I too late
Tell you that I love you
Now they've carried you away

(repeat)

Never thought that you would see a sickbed,
Never thought that you'd stop bein' 'round.
Now I hear you're lost and gone forever,
Just like all the other girls in town.

(Chorus)

Now I hear that you have gone to Heaven,
And if there's one, I'm sure that's where you are.
Maybe you're the new star in the night sky,
Just outside the moonroof on my car.

(2x Chorus)

Tell you that I love you
Now they've carried you away
Tell you that I love you
Now they've carried you away
Tell you that I love you
Now they've carried you away

Barrier Reef

The Empty Bottle was half empty, tide was low, and I was thirsty.
Saw her sitting at the bar, you know how some girls are,
Always making eyes, well she wasn't making eyes.

So I sidled up beside her, settled down and shouted, "Hi there."
"My name's Stewart Ransom Miller, I'm a serial lady-killer."
She said, "I'm already dead," that's exactly what she said.

So we tripped the lights fantastic, we was both made of elastic.
Midnight came and midnight went, and I though I was the President.
She said, "Do you have a car," and I said, "Do I have a car?"

What's so great about the Barrier Reef?
What's so fine about art?
What's so good about a Good Times Van,
When you're working on a broken,
Working on a broken,
Working on a broken man?

My heart wasn't in it, not for one single minute.
I went through the motions with her. Her on top, and me on liquor.
Didn't do no good, well I didn't think it would.

What's so great about the Barrier Reef?
What's so fine about art?
What's so good about a Good Times Van,
When you're working on a broken,
Working on a broken,
Working on a broken man?

When you're working on a broken,
Working on a broken,
Working on a broken man.

Beer Cans

(a.k.a. - Pickin' Up Beer Cans on the Highway)
by Phil "Homer Henderson" Bennison

I got laid off my job a week ago today
Now I just can't bring myself to apply for welfare pay
Now I'm walking down that big ol' interstate
I never thought that this would ever be my fate

CHORUS:
I'm just picking up beer cans on the highway
It's the only thing I ever want to do
I'm just picking up beer cans on the highway
I gotta save my dough so I can marry you

Well you can drop me off on Highway 34
I hear they got some beer cans there, and I gotta get some more
Drive me into town so we can cash 'em in
Then we will never have to live in sin

In a ditch, I see a flashy shining thing
Well it's only a pop top, but it reminds me of a ring
The wedding ring you'd wear the day you marry me
And that's the day I'm gonna be in ecstasy

chorus 2x
I've gotta save my dough so I can marry you

Bel Air

I've been lightin' matches in the boiler room,
Wearing sulphur perfume.
(Don't I smell nice?)

You come sniffin' around just like you own the joint,
You know it's rude to point.
(Don't make me tell you twice.)

Well I like the way you walk,
That's why I left my door unlocked.
I must be going off half-cocked. (I sometimes do.)

You think it's funny, but I know it ain't no joke.
There's nothing left to read in here, there's nothing left to smoke.
Before the band the band kicks in, I guess I'd better start.
(I'll stomp a mud hole in your heart.)

You poured whiskey in my Slurpee, swear to God you got me drunk,
Now I'm thinking that I'm sunk.
(And I can't swim.)

I'm drowning in the back seat of a '61 Bel Air,
I got a mouthful of your hair.
(A handful of skin.)

I ain't suffocating,
I'm just sick and tired of waiting.
Stop this pointless hesitating. (Pull me in.)

There's an awful lot of stars out here, an awful lot of sky.
I'm turning on the radio, they're playing "Let it Ride."
Before the band the band kicks in, I guess I'd better start.
(I'll stomp a mud hole in your heart.)

We could cruise the lake like psychos,
Scare the kids on motorcycles.
(There ain't nothing I would rather do.)

It's 3-D on the TV, but it's empty on the street.
If it weren't for me and you, the avenue would be incomplete.
And I should say this, before this whole thing even starts,
I'll stomp a mud hole in your heart.

Big Brown Eyes

Big brown eyes, and a gust of wind,
And the cherry burns the corner of the page that says "The end
Is coming soon," but not soon enough.
Restring all your guitars. Pack up all your stuff.

'Cause if Robert's dad is right,
We might not make it through the night,
And I'd hate to go alone.
Please pick up the phone.

Well a box of red, and a pill or three,
And I'm calling time and temperature just for some company.
I wish you were here. I wish I was too.
I'll drink myself to sleeplessness, I always do.

You don't want me anymore,
Since fame and fortune broke down our door.
You don't give me no respect.
What did I expect?

If that phone don't ring one more time,
I'm gonna lose what's left of my mind.
You made a big impression for a girl of your size,
Now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes.

Her hands are cold, her breath is warm,
She's a port in a storm.
I'm worried now, but it won't be long.
It takes a worried man, you know, to sing a worried song.

I've got issues, yeah.
Like I miss you, yeah.
And I wish I weren't so thick.
I'm making myself sick.

If that phone don't ring one more time,
I'm gonna lose what's left of my mind.
You made a big impression for a girl of your size,
Now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes.

Bird In A Cage

I left you last night on the left coast
I'm writin' you a letter right now
The things that you do are rendering you
Something I can't live without

Maybe maybe I've got a pulse now
Maybe my heart's on fire
A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

Left you last night on the left side
The land of the free to be burned
Well the heat of your touch is makin' it such
That I've forgotten everything I've learned

Maybe maybe I've got a problem
Maybe my heart's a liar
A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

Yeah a bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

And I may be a bird in a cage
But it least it's your cage
And I may be a bird in a cage
But it least it's your cage

Left you last night on the left half
Of the bed, the half that used to be mine
The way that you sleep is the image I'll keep
Always on the edge of my mind

Maybe maybe I've got a reason
For livin' even though I'm so tired
A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

And I may be a bird in a cage
But it least it's your cage
And I may be a bird in a cage
But it least it's your cage

Maybe maybe you are the only
One my heart's desired
A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

Broadway

In a hotel room just off Times Square it's like a closet
I can watch the dancing class go round.
In a hotel room that costs as much as my apartment
I can watch the working class go down.

And it's enough to make a crooked man go straight -
Broadway, Broadway.

In a hotel room just off Times Square they made a monster
He was unaware of what went down.
Fattening him up just like a calf before a slaughter
He'd had his fill of hollow town.

And it's enough to make a stupid man think straight
Broadway, Broadway
And it's enough to make a crooked man go straight
Broadway, Broadway, Broadway, Broadway.

The Bug Song

My fourth grade teacher
She said I'll need this
She said that insects
Are so remarkable

She said they're lovely
She said they're God's gift
To the world
And they're so tiny

CHORUS
They've got six legs
And two antenna
They're all alike
But most important

They've got a head
They've got a thorax
They've got an abdomen
Ain't that incredible

Insects are bees
Insects are beetles
But not a spider
'Cause it's an arachnid

Some are our friends
Some are our enemies
I like the butterfly
Cause it's so pretty

CHORUS:
They've got six legs
And two antenna
They're all alike
But most important

They've got a head
They've got a thorax
They've got an abdomen
Ain't that incredible

Buick City Complex

Do you wanna mess around?
Do you wanna spend the night?
I've known both kinds of love
But I want to get it right this time

I don't wanna settle down
I don't want to make no plans
Exept for what I'm gonna do
With a pair of idle hands

CHORUS:
They're tearing the Buick City Complex down
I think we're the only people left in town
Where are you gonna move, where are you gonna move?
Do you wanna mess around?

Do you wanna be my girl
Do you wanna be my friend
Do you wanna start it off
Just to see how it will end

Do you wanna mess around?
I mean deep down in your bones
In hotel swimming pools
On public telephones

They're tearing the Buick City Complex down
I think we're the only people left in town
Where are you gonna move, Where are you gonna move?
Do you wanna mess around?

REPEAT CHORUS

Busted Afternoon

There was a fine rain
There was a red wine
There was a long whistle
and it was a good sign

There was a band playin'
Somewhere upstream
There was a girl sayin'
"Come clean."

CHORUS
In a dream
On a busted afternoon
In a haze
On a busted afternoon
In a bad way
On a busted afternoon

There was a sad truth
There was a punchline
and there was a long whistle
and it was a good sign

And there was a long goodbye
There was a long goodbye

(Repeat Chorus)

Crash On The Barrelhead

You're gonna crash on the barrelhead son
You'll regret the things that you done
One of these days you're gonna rue
All the messed up things you do

You're gonna die the way you live
And the way you drink you're like a ri-
ver bound for falls and not much fun
You're gonna crash on the barrelhead son

Chorus:
You're gonna wake up in your shoes
No one you love a'watching you
You'll hate you're face when the morning shines
On the mirror frame and you're guilty mind.

You're gonna crash on the barrelhead son
And do the walls know what you done?
And do they listen in on you?
Do the walls know what you do?

Chorus

Cryin' But My Tears Are Far Away

Look at me, I'm a picture of happiness
Laughin' and wild, always wearing a smile
Look at you, you're a vision of loveliness
Sweet kisses so warm, wrapped up in my arms
Look at me, I'm a picture of willingness
I'd go anywhere just to show you I care

CHORUS

But the way things seem to go
You might leave me any day
I'm tryin' to pretend
It's gonna work out in the end
I'm cryin' but my tears are far away
I'm cryin' but my tears are far away

Later I may cry
But I'm smilin' today
You can look at me, but you can't tell
I'm cryin' but my tears are far away

Look at me, I'm a picture of loneliness
Singin' here on the road, when I know you're alone
Look at me, I'm a picture of emptiness
In the prime of my life, with no kids or a wife

REPEAT CHORUS

I'm cryin' but my tears are far away

Crying Drunk

Walker lives on an island
I'm still stuck in the south
Walker lives off his hands now
I still live off my mouth

The only difference is you've got integrity, I don't
Only difference is I'll do a lot of things you won't
You'd like to think I'm sleeping very peacefully, I'm not
I'm cryin drunk, I'm cryin drunk, I'm cryin drunk

Walker says you're a cancer
I just say you're the flu
Oh but then I'm a virgo
I'm no match for you

Yeah the only difference is that I pretend that it's
alright
So far I've pretended I can make it through the night
You'd like to think I'm sleeping very peacefully, I'm not
I'm cryin drunk I'm cryin drunk I'm cryin drunk

You'd like to think I'm sleepin very peacefully, I'm not
I'm cryin drunk, I'm cryin drunk, I'm cryin drunk

Designs On You

Standing on the corner of 6th how'd I forget
Trying to do right by you all night Annette
You can go ahead and get married
and this will be our secret thing
I won't tell a soul except the people in the nightclub where I sing

I don't want to get you all worked up
Except secretly I do

I'd be lying if I said I didn't have designs on you
I'd be lying if I said I didn't have designs on you

Standing on the corner of 6th
Where do I go
The parade's shut down now the rain is running the show
Where did all these people come from
And how soon can they leave
Normally I1d be into it but I need to get some sleep

Though I do wish you1d come over
But I'm warning you if you do

I'd be lying if I said I didn't have designs on you
I'd be lying if I said I didn't have designs on you

(guitar break)

Standing on the corner of 6th
Where do I get
Trying to do right by you all night Annette
This would only be an experiment
In things that could have been
You can go ahead and get married
And it'll probably never happen again

I don't mean to make you excited
Except secretly I do

I'd be lying if I said I didn't have designs on you
I'd be lying if I said I didn't have designs on you
I'd be lying if I said I didn't have designs on you
I'd be lying if I said I didn't have designs on you

Desperate Times

alternate chording
Last night I dreamt of you, Abbie Hoffman peddling your books,
I gave five bucks to you, the other kids just gave you dirty looks.
I said "I'm sorry it didn't work out quite the way you planned."
You said, "That's silly boy, the revolution is at hand."

And if you got a ten spot brother, I got a dime,
These are desperate, desperate times.

Last night I dreamt of you, Pepe Lopez strung out on a stage,
It don't even look like you, smiling like sawed-off twenty gauge.
I still remember the Telecaster down around your knees,
It's late November and I think I smell tequila on the breeze.

And if you got the Cuervo honey, I got the lime,
These are desperate, desperate times.
And if you got the shotgun honey, I got the crime,
These are desperate, desperate times.

Doreen

(Hitchhike to Rhome lyrics.
Minor variations found on Wreck Your Life.)
When I first met Doreen
She was barely seventeen.
She was drinking whiskey sours in the bar.

The way she tossed 'em back
I would've had a heart attack.
But as it is I let her drive my car.

We galloped through the boroughs
Like a pair of horny thoroughbreds,
Until I said, "Stop the car, Doreen."

Well you can roll your eyes and nod
But I swear that I saw God,
In the moonlight on a side street in the wreckage we call Queens.

Doreen, Doreen, Last night I had an awful dream.
You were laying in the arms of a man I'd never seen.
Come clean Doreen. Come clean Doreen.

Well I'm pulling into Cleveland
In a seven-seater tour van.
There's eight of us, so I'm sleeping on the floor.

The guy that plays the banjo
Keeps on handing me the Old Crow,
Which multiplies my sorrow, I can't take it anymore.

Doreen, Doreen, last night I had an awful dream.
You were laying in the arms of a man I'd never seen.
Come clean Doreen. Come clean Doreen.

Now I'm begging and I'm pleading,
"Well pull over guys, I'm bleeding.
There's a Fina off the highway with a phone."

I'm calling you Doreen,
But it rings and rings and rings.
Where is it that you are, if you aren't in our bed at home.

Doreen, Doreen, last night I had an awful dream.
You were laying in the arms of a man I'd never seen.
Come clean Doreen. Come clean Doreen.

Dressing Room Walls

I might have wound up in L.A. panning for gold
Found me a woman to warm up with when the water got cold
But I heard that there ain't no gold there
There's just line upon line of cocaine
I've been there once and I ain't gonna go there again

I stopped believing in true love when Reagan was king
The years have gone by now and the years haven't changed anything
Trying like hell to get better
But I'm gearing myself for the worst
The punk rock will get you if the government don't get you first

I'm gonna write down my name in the lady's room stall
Find me a pay phone and place a few calls
I'm gonna try not to fall down when I'm singing for y'all
I'm gonna die someday staring at the dressing room walls
I'm gonna die someday staring at the dressing room walls

My advice is to not let us boys in
For we chose misery as our rock
Misery must love all the new friends that she's got

I'm gonna write down my name in the lady's room stall
Find me a pay phone and pay for it all
I'm gonna try not to fall down when I'm singing for y'all
I'm gonna die someday staring at the dressing room walls
I'm gonna die someday staring at the dressing room walls

I'm gonna die someday staring at the dressing room walls
I'm gonna die someday staring at the dressing room walls

Drowning In The Days

(Hitchhike to Rhome lyrics. Minor variations
found on The Old 97's cassette)

I've been reading books when no one's looking,
I've been listening to the sirens in the night.
Robert says I'm going straight to hell yeah,
If I hang around here I just might.

And I'd like to take some medicine,
I'd like to drink some wine,
I'd like to wake up numb like all my friends.

There's a road to where I came from,
It gets longer all the time,
There's a road to where I'm going it never ends.
And my moon - it always it always wanes,
And my guitar always plays...

(Chorus)
Drowning in the days, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh
Drowning in the days, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh
Drowning in the days, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh
Drowning in the days, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh

I've been writing fairy tales and postcards,
Writing down the story of my life.
Cari says I make everything so hard,
Cari says I'm difficult - she's right.

And I'd like to take some medicine,
I'd like to take you home,
I'd like to get that woman off my mind.

Well I like your pouty lips,
I like your pretty little bones,
But I'm sleeping with the porcelain tonight.

And my cloud - it always rains,
Ken's feedback always fades...

(Repeat Chorus)

El Paso

by Marty Robbins

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso,
I fell in love with a Mexican girl.
Nighttime would find me in Rosa's cantina,
music would play and Felina would whirl

Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina,
wicked and evil while casting her spell.
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden,
I was in love, but in vain I could tell.

One night a wild young cowboy came in,
wild as the West Texas wind.
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing,
with wicked Felina the girl that I loved.

So in anger I
challenged his life for the love of this maiden,
down went his hand for the gun that he wore.
My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat,
the handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor.

Just for a moment, I stood there in silence,
shocked by the foul, evil deed I had done.
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there,
I had but one chance, and that was to run.

Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran,
out where the horses were tied.
I caught a good one, it looked like it could run,
up on it's back, and away I did ride.

Just as fast,
as I could from the West Texas town of El Paso,
out to the badlands of New Mexico.

Back in El Paso my life would be worthless,
everything's gone in life, nothing is left.
It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden,
my love is stronger than my fear of death.

I saddled up and away I did go,
riding alone in the dark.
Maybe tomorrow a bullet will find me,
tonight nothing's worse than this pain in my heart.

And at last,
here I am, on a hill, overlooking El Paso,
I can see Rosa's cantina below.
My love is strong, and it pushes me onward,
down off the hill to Felina I go.

Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel,
a deep burning pain in my side.
Though I am tryin' to stay in the saddle,
I'm getting weary, unable to ride.

But my love,
for Felina is strong, and I rise where I've fallen,
though I am weary, I can't stop to rest.
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle,
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest.

From out of nowhere, Felina has found me,
kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side.
Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for,
one little kiss...
and Felina goodbye,
and Felina goodbye.

Eyes For You

I've got eyes for you
And I keep them in a jar up in my room
When you walk in they open wide
Lids are gone, no place to hide
I've got eyes for you
I've got eyes for you

I've got lips for you
Some of what they say just might be true
Well it's a scary thought I must confess
You're an ice cream cone in a mini-dress
I've got lips for you
I've got lips for you

CHORUS
Oh well I think I'm going crazy
I'm feeling pretty good
This isn't love
It's just I think my body likes you
More than any body should
Your body likes me too
That's why I've only got eyes for you

I've got a nose for you
And the way you smell I wish that I had two
Ah well you always smell a bit like gin
You're gonna make me take to drinkin' again
I've got a nose for you
I've got a nose for you

REPEAT CHORUS

I've got eyes for you
And I keep them in a jar up in my room
When you walk in they open wide
Lids are gone, no place to hide
I've got eyes for you
I've got eyes for you
I've got eyes for you
I've got eyes for you