You say it was this morning when you last saw your good friend
Lyin' on the pavement with a misery on his brain
Stoned on some new potion he found upon the wall
Of some unholy bathroom in some ungodly hall
He only had a dollar to live on 'til next Monday
But he spent it on some comfort for his mind
Did you say you think he's blind?
Someone should call his parents, a sister or a brother
And they'll come to take him back home on a bus
But he'll always be a problem to his poor and puzzled mother
Yeah he'll always be another one of us
He said he wanted Heaven but prayin' was too slow
So he bought a one way ticket on an airline made of snow
Did you say you saw your good friend flyin' low?
Flyin' low
Dyin' slow
Well, it's sunrise on the freeway as I get back from town
Find you standin' in my boots, kicking my dog around
Empty bottles on the floor
Enough to build a monument
Then you've got the nerve to tell me
Somebody took the rent
Who needs ya'? Think about it baby, who needs you?
Now you can save your lip, just pack your grip
And leave a trail of smoke behind you
Who needs ya'? Can you tell me baby, who needs you?
Who needs you? Think about it baby
Well, who needs you? Can you tell me please?
Last week you pulled another of your tricks
You let your brother move in here with a herd of freaks
They ate us out of house and home
Turned this place into a sty
Darlin' by tomorrow you'll be eatin' humble pie
Now, don't my Night Hog sound mighty tempting?
Hear him scream on by your house
The highway side is my only home
'Cause a demon deep inside keeps drivin' me to roam
Well, I'm nobody's slave
I'm nobody's master
Time is mine
Mornin', night and afternoon
And you hitchhikin' woman, if you see me comin'
Jump on my back and let your hair come tumblin' down
I'm goin' downtown to see my baby
I'm goin' downtown to tell her good bye
Won't hang around it's drivin' me crazy
I'll be out of town 'til the chilly winds start to blow
Now, don't my Night Hog sound mighty tempting?
Hear him scream on by your house
The highway side is my only home
'Cause a demon deep inside keeps drivin' me to roam
What you say to drive that girl away
When she's the one and only?
Who's the one that you been leanin' on
Ev'ry time that you were down and lonely?
How many times did you say to yourself that woman is the devil's tool?
Somehow you knew that you blew it again and didn't wanna look like a ravin fool
But when you need affection
You go to her with a smilin' face
But now she's got a strange reaction
For ladies only
Tired of talkin' 'till somebody hears
For ladies only
Half the world has been built upon their tears
If you've been contemplatin' just what you're doin' wrong
Then you will be a witness to the rumble goin' on
You fight it hard to tell apart the truth from the jive
They've got a right to say it wrong if freedom's to survive
Now if you don't believe your own reflection
Just take a look at all your smooth talkin' friends
I'm sure you'll make the right connection
Chorus
I'll give you my donation to help the cause along
I'll make my contribution 'till the fight has been won
But when my bedroom closes one thing remains
Man, woman, hog or dog, I'm callin' the plays
And if you find the need to raise objections
Don't talk to me 'bout your wasted time
You know you made your own selections
She tried to show me how to love
I bit her lips and bruised her arms
No I hadn't learned Tenderness
She asked "what does love mean to you?"
I grabbed her hair and pulled her down
I looked in her eyes and I laughed
The love I feel is hard and fast
It's for a face and for one night
I don't need to own anyone
She said, she said all your women burn in your flame
But as it dies, as it dies, they'll leave you and seek revenge
She laughed and said "You'll go thru hell
You'll live in lonely rooms unknown
And watch for my lost Tenderness"
I went from her to someone else and someone else
No, I couldn't be satisfied
She said, she said all your women burn in your flame
And as it dies, as it dies, they'll leave you and seek revenge
I wish that I could find her now
My love is soft, my love is warm
I'd take her to bed tenderly
Yes I'd take her to bed tenderly
How ya gonna make it baby?
That's the question to be asked
Life goes on around you
In so many different ways
I know my share of history
How hard it is to be free
From wearing masks that turn to skin
Hiding what you could have been
And I, I, I'm so confused
Which way, which way to choose?
Ride with me baby 'til the end of the day
Mama's home philosophy
Makes everyone a freak but me
Though I'm starvin' in the streets
And can't predict the future
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who's the sanest of us all?
Is he with me or one of them?
How does he dress, who are his friends?
And I, I, I'm so confused
Which way, which way to choose?
Ride with me baby 'til the end of the day
Mama's home philosophy
Makes everyone a freak but me
Though I'm starvin' in the streets
And can't predict the future
Can I have my vision back?
I'll live outside your city walls
You don't have to be afraid
Until I come together
Though I can't show you the years of my life
That I spend on the road to freedom
Don't let it throw you, I know of your strife
I know what it's like to roam
I sang 'em a glad song, played 'em a sad song
Sang 'em the whole night long
Just for a dollar or what they could offer
To somebody's ramblin' boy
When the fun was done, I would pack my bags and I was gone
Though the women were kind there was nothing to bind me to one
'Til somebody changed my rough and rowdy ways
Somebody changed my ole carousing days
Oh when I was a young boy I learned to survive
'Til somebody came and stayed my sportin' life
I lived in the barrooms the juke joints and gin mills
I worked any dive in town
Never to proud to pass my hat around
In every place I found
I'll sing you a glad song, play you a sad song
Sing 'em the whole night long
Just for a dollar or what you can offer
To somebody's ramblin' boy
There were times when lonely was the only feeling left in me
Or when the cold and the rain made it hard on a man to be free
'Till somebody changed my tough and hungry days
Somebody changed my rough and rowdy ways
Now I don't really care no more 'bout nickels and a dime
The one I love is all I need to help me spend my time
Somebody came and rolled away my stone
Somebody came, and she made me feel at home
Somebody changed my rough and rowdy ways
Somebody changed my ole carousing days
Oh when I was young boy I learned to stay alive
'Til somebody came and stayed my sportin' life
I'll sing you a glad song, play you a sad song
Sing 'em the whole night long
Just for a dollar or what you can offer
To somebody's ramblin' boy
Some of us are Rock n' Roll stars
Chasing the flash and travel
Most of us wear the right length of hair
But that's all that is left of the dream
Oh, the dream it was born in the summer of love
And it died with the Woodstock Nation
But what has it left for the carpenter's son
And the new coming generation?
Oh, we all believed we knew the way
But fate did not agree
Now we've tired of asking who we are
And what we ought to be
Children of the night howling at the gate
Here to claim forgotten dreams
Too late, too late
Orphans of the darkness
Waiting to belong
Been list'ning to the same old story
Too long to care, too long
Barely thirteen?hard and they're mean?
Hunting in packs?like jackals?
They prey on the meek, the old and the weak
Like a scourge on the face of the earth
All around our town
They're fighting with guns
And building their homemade bazookas
And ten year old Jimmy got arrested in school
They found a tank in his locker
Oh, we all believed we held the key
To peaceful harmony
But the times have changed the way we feel
And we fear our destiny
Sure must be fun to watch a president run
Just ask the man who owns one
Why, up on the hill, they're killing the bill
That would pay for his capitol crime
But cardinal sin- he blessed him and said
"I know that you're rotten down to the core
But nobody else can do it so well
That's why I'm behind you for three years more"
Oh, they all believed they'd found the one
Who'd lead them to the light
But the tides will turn against the fool
Who'd believe that wrong it right
I was feelin' so bad 'bout my best friend
I could swear the sky was fallin'
He had them put-down blues from wond'rin
Who his old lady was callin'.
I said, "Keep your life and drown your sorrow
And survive the fire that burns you
If you just slow down and cool your temper
You might get off on what I'll tell ya."
I got me a straight shootin' woman
She's right on al the time
But all my friends they got shot down
Women shot them from behind
Now those Hollywood women
They pack a pistol 'tween their toes
And when you've got your back turned 'round
They go and shoot the man next door.
So I believe, I believe.
I believe I'll keep my lovin' at home
I believe, I believe,
I believe I'll keep my lovin' at home
Now, if you want (Straight Shooter)
To keep (Straight Shooter)
You better leave (Straight Shooter)
Your travelin' gun alone
Yeah, if you want (Straight Shooter)
To keep (Straight Shooter)
You better leave (Straight Shooter)
You travelin' gun alone.
Wo, got me a Straight Shootin Woman
She's right on all the time
Got me a Straight Shootin' woman
She's right on all the time
She keeps her bed turned down
With clean sheets on
And I can jump in it any ol' time
She keeps her cylinder greased and loaded
Just to ease my troubled mind
She's all mine
She's on my mind
Take her down
You look so bored with your jet set mother
Standing there at the airport
You sure came alive when your eye caught the headline
And saw the picture of the rebel queen
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
Everything that went through your head
Time to step in the danger zone
And start a fire of your own
Oh, Caroline, oh, Caroline
Are you ready for the outlaw world?
Oh, Caroline, oh, Caroline
Are you ready for the outlaw world?
Caroline, oh, Caroline
Are you ready for the outlaw
Ready for the outlaw world?
You talk so low in the back street cafe
Makin' plans with your mystery man
You pour out your heart and you tell him your story
Giving yourself just to save the whole world
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
Every word that passed through your lips
Time to step in the danger zone
And start a fire of your own
Repeat Chorus
This generation they want a legend
Carol is that you?
The evening news an injection
And you can be that too
I was raised in the ruins, mama, 'till I was thirteen
Every day I heard the radio
Every night I had the same old dream
To sing a song, oh, baby, to watch my name in lights
If you wanna see your dream come true
Honeychild, you gotta get right down and fight
Well I sailed cross the ocean, girl, I felt so all alone
Many times I thought about goin' right back home
But the Joy I found in song gave me the will to carry on
Live your life the way you want to
Don't let fools lead you astray
Live you dreams so you hold on to
All you need along the way
I was payin' my dues right here in the land of the free
All the time I learned to sing along
I could not speak and I could barely see
Still all the while I knew where I was at
But the people that believed in me
Lord, I could count them all in seconds flat
Well, someday I would be, I knew it all along
A gentleman of leisure, girl, right or wrong
And though my dream has come and gone
There's plenty more where those came from
One glass in the mornin', two shots at night
Three fourths anytime that you wanna get tight
Drink wine to remember, swill gin to forget
And blame the world for the peace that you haven't found yet
He stood at the bar with a bottle in his hand
And he complained so bitterly 'bout a world he could not understand
He said "All my life, I've hustled and paid to survive
Say, can't you see, what's wrong with the world ain't me"
Ain't nothing' like it used to be
Ain't nothing' like it once was
Ain't nothin' like it ought to be
Ain't nothin' right no more
One pill in the mornin', two joints at night
Three spoons any time that you want to feel right
Toot coke to remember, shoot smack to forget
And blame the world for the life you haven't lived yet
Get up in the mornin', give love at night
And take time for yourself when you're losing the fight
Take care to remember, it takes time to forget
Thank God for the time that you haven't had yet
Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin' with the wind
And the feelin' that I'm under
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
And she walks along by the river
Where you can be alone with your dreams
And she screams at the world "I'm done getting burned
When do I get my chance for a win
Oh and where is my lover when I really need him
To give me peace for an angry heart"
Ah, but then he pulls up beside her with the radio blastin'
And they race down the highway for a brand new start
And the rock n' roll rebels are ridin' tonight
Crusin' till daylight again
Yes they're rockin' this town for the time of their lives
Wishin' this night'd never end
And he locks the door to his secret
That holds the key to his hopes and fears
For tonight he will try to leave his troubles behind
For it has been just one of those years
And he picks up the gang at the usual places
To hear the soundtrack of their lives
Oh yeah, they're rolllin' downtown to hear that rock n' roll music
Well, it may not save the world but it helps them survive
And the rock n' roll rebels are ridin' tonight
Crusin' till daylight again
Yes they're rockin' this town for the time of their lives
Wishin' this night'd never end
Good evening one and all, this is channel 24
Bringing you the latest news around the world
Down in Florida today, someone tried to get away
When he commandeered the train at Disney World
Until noon it was a standoff, but then he lost his luck
When someone shot him down, dressed up like Donald Duck
It was a midget G-man
And we're sorry that we could not show it live
But we'll have film of the shooting here at five
Give me some news I can use, let me smile for a while
For the madness has taken it's toll
Give me some news I can use, just a break for the sake
Of my mind which is losing control
From Washington today, called a senator to say
That our future has been cancelled 'cause we're broke
We called the white house without end finally reached the President
Says he don't know if it's real or just a joke
And last night at the playoffs, things got pretty grim
They crucified the referee and tore him limb from limb
Ah, you should have been there
And in the weather, there's a hurricane in sight
And that's the way it is with us tonight
Give me some news I can use, let me smile for a while
For the madness has taken it's toll
Give me some news I can use, just a break for the sake
Of my mind which is losing control
Seems like every single day another mind gets blown away
And the world goes just a little more insane
I got problems of my own, tryin' to keep my house and home
And I sure could stand some cheerful news again
My agent called to tell me my record's on the chart
It's number 90 with an anchor, I never said that it was art
I gotta eat too, ya know
And my buddy who still owes me for his bail
He says, "don't worry, your check is in the mail"
Give me some news I can use, let me smile for a while
For the madness has taken it's toll
Give me some news I can use, just a break for the sake
Of my mind which is losing control
Crossing the line in the dead of night
Five years old and on the run
This ain't no game, boy, don't make a sound
And watch that man with the gun
Say a prayer for the ones we leave behind, say a prayer for us all
Come take my hand now and hold on tight
Take one last look at that wall
Think of the shattered lives, think of the broken hearts
Think of the battered dreams, of families still torn apart
Wall of bitter tears, wall of crying pain
Wall of chilling fear, you will never keep me here
For I, I shall crawl right down through that wall
I will crawl right on through that wall
That fateful night I was one that got away,
A young and restless renegade
Chasing my dreams, still on the run,
I had some moments in the sun
Years flew by like a speeding bullet train, I sang my songs to one and all
Then came the day when I had a chance to pay
My respects to the names on that wall
I saw the wooden crosses, saw the bloody stains
Saw the gruesome pictures of all the ones that died in vain
Wall of countless victims, wall of endless shame
Had just one thing gone wrong I might have joined that list of names
And I cried for all who died there at the wall
I recall weeping at the wall
"Freedom has many difficulties, and democracy is not
perfect,
But we've never had to put a wall up to keep our people
in?
While the wall is the most obvious demonstration of the
failures of communism,
We take no pride in it?for it is an offense against
humanity, separating families,
Dividing husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and
People who wish to be joined together?
All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of
Berlin
And therefore, as a free man I take pride in the words
"Ich bin ein Berliner".
(Excerpts from John F. Kennedy speech at the Berlin wall June 26, 1963)
Turned on the news in November '89
I could not move, I could not speak
Something was burning up in my eyes,
Something wet ran down my cheek
All those laughing faces, all those tears of joy
All those warm embraces of men and women, girls and boys
Sisters and brothers dancing, all singing freedom's song
God, if only I could be there to shake your hands and sing along
Oh I, I would climb right up on that wall
And join you all dancing on the wall
Standing tall walking on the wall
Tear it down, right down to the ground
Tear it down, right down to the ground
