3:15 Train
I can’t keep these notebooks straight since we parted ways. Lord I write somethin new everyday. Nights, they ain’t so hard for me. I just drink myself to sleep with some foolish girl who likes the way I sing. Call me what you will for loving you, and lying with somebody new... Lord it ain’t like you’re waitin around for me. I just say there’s a train that leaves at quarter past three that I’ve got a one way ticket to be on. I can come and stay with you if you want me to, but when you wake up in the morning I’ll be gone. I’m on the road these days in a rental car passing semi’s and city fearing stars, hoping in my heart I’m headed the right way. I met an English girl at an Irish bar, said she was learning how to play guitar, wondered if I’d come and listen at her place. I said there’s a train that leaves at a quarter past three that I’ve got a one way ticket to be on. I can come and stay with you, if you want me to. But when you wake up in the morning I’ll be gone. I called you this morning about a quarter till three. You didn’t answer so I left this message on your machine: There’s a train that leaves at a quarter past three that I’ve got a one way ticket to be on. Don’t you go wait up for me, no, get yourself some sleep, but when you wake up in the morning I’ll be home. There’s a train that leaves at 3:15 that I’ve got a one way ticket to be on. That train it’s takin me to a woman fast asleep that I should have been sleepin with all along.
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Holes in the Roof
Clock strikes twelve... And all’s well... as I sit still in this hotel. And all the silence fills these halls. There are no windows, only walls, in this hasty retreat. And I wait for raindrops to fall inside where I sleep. The holes in the roof where the rain comes through, the holes in the roof... Oh but they let the sunshine in, too. Well a window might make me feel sane, ‘cause this whiskey just ain’t enough proof. Well I’d throw this glass right through the pane, ‘cause this fix broke my promise to you. The holes in the roof where the rain gets through, the holes in the roof... Oh but they let the sunshine in, too.
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Riverman
Call him wise if you want to. There’s only one thing he knows. He’s never felt so far from home. He’s taken planes to New York City and trains to San Antone. But he’s never felt so far from home. He watched his wife of thirty-five years lowered down below and he’s never felt so far from home. Yea and he still kneels by his bed, but he ain’t asking for no cure. No, he knows he’s on his last leg and it ain’t his life he’s praying for. I’ve taken planes to New York City and trains to San Antone. Only got one place left to go. I make my money for the riverman so I can pay his toll and he can punch my ticket home. I hear my wife calling back to me and I want to say hello, so won’t you punch my ticket home. Still works every day of his life, his knuckles to the bone. But that ain’t why he’s bent so low. He’s watched the ones used to live around him pass on back home. No one left to call his own. Lived in that same house since the second war but now he lives alone. He’s never felt so far from home. Yea and he falls asleep by his bed. He’s still in his business clothes. God knows he was on his last leg as his prayers came silent deep within his bones. I’ve taken planes to New York City. And trains to San Anton’. Only got one place left to go. I make my money for the riverman so I can pay his toll and he can punch my ticket home. I hear my wife calling back to me and I want to say hello, so won’t you punch my ticket home.
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I Miss My Home
Cast to a foreign land, I’m on my back left to watch my hometown city drown and government buildings fade to black. It’s gonna take some time, take a whole lot of time, some nail and board, ‘cause everything’s given in to the warring wind, but it ain’t no time to question the lord. ‘Cause I remember when there was something I still believed in. I remember when there was something I still had faith in. I miss my happy home, oh my city lost, oh sweet southern streets. Want to feel that river wind on my face again. That’s all that really matters to me. Don’t get me wrong I’m the son of a Christian man. But goddamn I miss my home. Passed the church where I used to go. It’s barren and caved in. Oh but the people that came to hear the gospel sang, gonna be back to sing those songs again. I miss my happy home oh my city lost. Yea that’s where I’ll be when I’m growing old all my stories told ‘bout sweet New Orleans. Well don’t get me wrong I’m the son of a Christian man. But goddamn I miss my home.
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Scared to Death of Dying
Everybody’s got their dreams. Some just wake up before theirs has told the truth. Others chase them ‘round like children but grow old before theirs has shown their youth. Yea nobody’s got forever. And a dream can make forever feel too soon. It’ll make you scared to death of dying, too scared to even move. I ain’t got songs on the radio; I’m not sure I’d be happier if I did. But I’ll sit and sing a song for you. I’ll make whatever people want to give. And I watch folks around me trembling at the faults they can’t seem to forgive. I might be scared to death of dying, but I ain’t afraid to live. Oh setting sun if you’re coming back this way, won’t you bring me back tomorrow? Oh setting sun if you’re coming back this way, won’t you bring me back tomorrow? ‘Cause I ain’t got much to promise, but I’ll give you all that I know how to give. I might be scared to death of dying, but I ain’t afraid to live. Well my path don’t need a battlefield. This road I walk is dangerous as it is. They put his name there on the war memorial that he and I would skate along as kids. Mr. General he might call me up and call me son, but I ain’t one of his. I might be scared to death of dying, but I ain’t afraid to live. ‘Cause I’d rather miss my home than miss what might be my one chance to run ‘long the lessons of my father, to watch the setting of his only son. He might be tough to look at ‘round midday but he’ll grow gentle when the evening comes. I might be scared to death of dying, but I ain’t afraid to run. Oh setting sun, if you’re coming back this way, won’t you bring me back tomorrow? Oh setting sun if you’re coming back this way, won’t you bring me back tomorrow? ‘Cause I aint got much to promise, but I’ll give you all that I know how to give. I might be scared to death of dying, but I ain’t afraid to live.
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Man on the Corner
Well he calls himself the man on the corner. He’s turned a corner in his life. He sings his songs of redemption while the people pass him by. Young man try and offer him change, but he said son, that shit ain’t worth a dime. Oh he sings his songs of the rich man. He sings of the devil’s gold. Tells stories of a poor man’s heart and the price that it was sold. He says those linen covered bodies will whither but that soul never grows old. He calls himself the Man on the Corner. You can find him playing there on the side of the road. Oh I remember the days when the rains came and I remember the bitter cold, I remember the six strings of that blues man and I remember the hands that used to hold. And I remember that man on the corner lying face down in the middle of the road. Yea his linen covered body did whither but that soul never grows old. Yea his linen covered body did whither, but that soul never grows old.
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Too Late
Early Morning, Late afternoon. Making good time now. Maybe I won’t be too late. Well I walked on and walked on. Till I was five miles out, and a young man drove me the rest of the way. Gotta think I’m getting somewhere now. But maybe it’s just my way trying to find those things I left behind. Seems like just yesterday. I got a dollar twenty-five says this bus will stop right at my feet and I’ll be on my way, maybe I won’t be too late. Oh cause I had a love once. We had a home. But I couldn’t leave well enough alone. I used the fire in her eyes to burn those bridges down. But rivers don’t wind the same way now. Wish I could drop her a line, maybe rewind time. But she’s somewhere in London now. I’ve got a dollar twenty-five says this bus will stop right at my feet. And I’ll be on my way. Maybe I wont be too late. I’m worn ragged now. Tired down in some forgotten town. Feels like I’ve always been that way. It took me this jangling coffee cup I hold in my hand to realize I’ve always been begging for change. – chorus x2–
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Patricia and Her Man
Patricia found out her fairytale had floated away and it broke her apart like her grandmother’s porcelain plates. And all Patricia’s family and all Patricia’s friends couldn’t put Patricia back together again. She loved a West Virginian who didn’t own an acre of land. He had sawdust in his eyes and coal dust on his hands. He held her in the winter and he was all she knew of a man. But a family so soon wasn’t what Patricia had planned. But he said oh weary one. Won’t you lay yourself down soon. You’ve got a long hard road but baby I can take it with you. I know your heart’s worn down and your faith it tears you in two. But its times like these when believin’s the least you can do. When Patricia’s feeling worn out he goes and buys whatever’s in bloom. He says these days you know, you let grow whatever gets through. When he walks in the door, she falls down on her knees. She says I don’t know if I can stand more days like these. He says time is a casualty and there’s nothing to heal the wounds. And you can’t just go carving away at pieces that ain’t never been bruised. And he says oh weary one. Won’t you lay yourself down soon. You’ve got a long hard road but baby I can take it with you. I know you’re heart’s worn down and your faith it tears you in two. But its times like these when believin’s the least you can do. Oh but there’s times when even he falls ‘neath the weight of his mind. He says babe I’d wage wars for you but these wages can’t support a child. And she says oh weary one. Won’t you lay yourself down soon. You’ve got a long hard road but baby I’ll be right there with you. Babe your heart’s worn down, well babe my heart’s worn down too. But its times like these when believin’s the least you can do. Patricia reads her daughter the fairytales her mother would say. And Virginia just smiles, fair as grandmother’s porcelain plates.
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Simple Wind
I, I’ve been lost for four days. That’s four more days than I’ve ever felt alone. And last night I had four dreams. That’s four more dreams than any wishing man could ever ask for. If you need a hand to hold onto, looking for a lover in another’s touch, well baby it’s the simple wind that’s gonna hold you up, lift you up again. Baby won’t you breath it in, ‘cause it’ll never blow this way again. Well I, I watched the rise of three suns, but on that fourth one couldn’t bring myself to rise. And I, I’m on a train bound for simple love, but I’ve been sidetracked more than once by the lust in her pale blue eyes, in her pale blue eyes. But if you need a hand to hold onto, looking for a lover in another’s touch, well baby its the simple wind that’s gonna hold you up, lift you up again. Baby won’t you breath it in, ‘cause it’ll never blow this way again.
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Growing Older Now
Frail old man there on your bed, your life behind and mine ahead. Oh what can you say to me? Can you say much of anything? He says I’ve seen classic cars and World Wars, Things nowadays you couldn’t afford. And I’m growing older now. So much older now than I ever thought I would. I’m growing older now. So much older now than I ever thought I would. Newborn babe there on your bed. My life behind and yours ahead. Oh what can you say to me? Can you say much of anything? ‘Cause I’ve watched sun and moon playing chase all afternoon. And I’m growing older now. So much older now than I ever thought I would. I’m growing older now. So much older now than I ever thought I would. And I’m growing older now. So much older now than I ever thought I would. I’m growing older now. So much older now than I ever thought I would. Dear old friend I used to know not so many days ago... Oh what can you say to me? Can you say much of anything? Oh I remember your smiling face just before you left this place. And I’m growing older now. So much older now than I ever thought I would. I’m growing older now. So much older now than I ever thought I would.
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Outside Your Door
She said son, its cold. I said momma I know. She gave me my great grandpa’s coat; It had stripes on the sleeve, a tear in the seam and two cigarettes from 1944. Goddamn I love when it rains at night, makes all my misfortunes feel almost right. When everyone else lies in their rooms by themselves, I take a walk in the middle of the street. As long as you give more than nothing, I don’t plan to ask for much more. If you can walk out your room with more than lies and perfume, babe I’ll wait outside your door. The moon it stands like a sailor that drifts according to the stars. And me, I’m a grain of sand on a far away land that the sailor will never set foot on. Oh but it feels like I could walk on forever, long as I don’t turn around it don’t seem to get old. Though I do so enjoy sitting with you on your porch close enough that it ain’t quite as cold. – chorus – This is as fast as I go. This is as fast as I go. Oh but if you need something more, won’t you light up my old smoke, and I’ll be on my way outside your door.
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Coming Down Over Here
Well night just turned into morning but I’ve been mourning all night. Yea and it just keeps storming and my power’s gone so I’ll write by candlelight. Yea I’m writing a letter, don’t know if I’ll ever send. Ain’t nothing you haven’t heard, just in different words, but I’ll tell you again. It says babe its been storming, at least it has so far. I guess I saw the clouds forming, but I didn’t think it would be this hard. Oh and maybe tomorrow, I’ll see it all so clear. Is it raining where you are? ‘Cause it’s coming down over here. I took a moment to sleep babe, sometimes these days I forget. ‘Cause when it was you and me babe, felt like the sun never set. I went and blew out my candle with just one gentle breath, but re-igniting the flame, it don’t work the same ‘less you’ve got one good match left. And babe its been storming, at least it has so far. I guess I saw the clouds forming, but I didn’t think it would be this hard. Oh and maybe tomorrow I’ll see it all so clear. Is it raining where you are? ‘Cause it’s coming down over here. And if I should ever see you out there on the street... you try to talk about the weather or whatever keeps your mind from me. I’d say babe its been storming, at least it has so far. I guess I saw the clouds forming, but I didn’t think it would be this hard. Oh and maybe tomorrow I’ll see it all so clear. Is it raining where you are? ‘Cause it’s coming down over here. Oh and maybe tomorrow I’ll see it all so clear. Is it raining where you are babe? ‘Cause it’s sure coming down over here.
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