He gives us all his love
He gives us all his love
He’s smiling down on us
From up above
And he’s giving us all his love

He knows how hard we’re trying
He hears the babies crying
He sees the old folks dying
He gives us all his love

He gives us all his love
He gives us all his love
He’s smiling down on us
From up above
And he’s giving us all his love

Now if you need someone to talk to
You can always talk to him
And if you need someone to lean on
You can lean on him

He gives us all his love
He gives us all his love
He’s smiling down on us
From up above
And he’s giving us all his love

He gives us all his love
He gives us all his love
He’s smiling down on us
From up above
And he’s giving us all his love

He knows how hard we’re trying
He hears the babies crying
He sees the old folks dying
He gives us all his love

He gives us all his love
He gives us all his love
He’s smiling down on us
From up above
And he’s giving us all his love

Now if you need someone to talk to
You can always talk to him
And if you need someone to lean on
You can lean on him

He gives us all his love
He gives us all his love
He’s smiling down on us
From up above
And he’s giving us all his love

Last night I saw Lester Maddox on a TV show
With some smart-ass New York Jew
And the Jew laughed at Lester Maddox
And the audience laughed at Lester Maddox too
Well, he may be a fool but he’s our fool
If they think they’re better than him they’re wrong
So I went to the park and I took some paper along
And that’s where I made this song
We talk real funny down here
We drink too much and we laugh too loud
We’re too dumb to make it in no Northern town
And we’re keepin’ the niggers down
We got no-necked oilmen from Texas
And good ol’ boys from Tennessee
And college men from LSU
Went in dumb – come out dumb too
Hustlin’ ’round Atlanta in their alligator shoes
Gettin’ drunk every weekend at the barbecues
And they’re keepin’ the niggers down
We’re rednecks, rednecks
And we don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground
We’re rednecks, we’re rednecks
And we’re keeping the niggers down
Now your northern nigger’s a Negro
You see he’s got his dignity
Down here we’re too ignorant to realize
That the North has set the nigger free
Yes he’s free to be put in a cage
In Harlem in New York City
And he’s free to be put in a cage in the South-Side of Chicago
And the West-Side
And he’s free to be put in a cage in Hough in Cleveland
And he’s free to be put in a cage in East St. Louis
And he’s free to be put in a cage in Fillmore in San Francisco
And he’s free to be put in a cage in Roxbury in Boston
They’re gatherin’ ‘em up from miles around
Keepin’ the niggers down
We’re rednecks, we’re rednecks
We don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground
We’re rednecks, we’re rednecks
And we’re keeping the niggers down
We are keeping the niggers down

Why weep or slumber America
Land of brave and true
With castles and clothing and food for all
All belongs to you
Ev’ry man a king, ev’ry man a king
For you can be a millionaire
If there’s something belonging to others
There’s enough for all people to share
When it’s sunny June and December too
Or in the winter time or spring
There’ll be peace without end
Ev’ry neighbor a friend
And ev’ry man a king

Got a wife, got a family
Earn my livin’ with my hand
I’m a roller in a steel mill
In downtown Birmingham
My daddy was a barber
And a most unsightly man
He was born in Tuscaloosa
But he died right here in Birmingham
Birmingham, Birmingham
The greatest city in Alabam’
You can travel ‘cross this entire land
But there ain’t no place like Birmingham
My wife’s named Mary
But she’s called Marie
We live in a three room house
With a pepper tree
I work all day in the factory
That’s alright with me
Got a big black dog
Whose name is Dan
Lives in my backyard in Birmingham
He is the meanest dog in Alabam’
Get ‘em Dan
Birmingham, Birmingham
The greatest city in Alabam’
You can travel ‘cross this entire land
But there ain’t no place like Birmingham

There’s a hundred-thousand Frenchmen in New Orleans
In New Orleans there are Frenchmen everywhere
But your house could fall down
Your baby could drown
Wouldn’t none of those Frenchmen care
Everybody gather ’round
Loosen up your suspenders
Hunker down on the ground
I’m a cracker
And you are too
But don’t I take good care of you
Who built the highway to Baton Rouge?
Who put up the hospital and built your schools?
Who looks after shit-kickers like you?
The Kingfish do
Who gave a party at the Roosevelt Hotel?
And invited the whole north half of the state down there for free
The people in the city
Had their eyes bugging out
Cause everyone looked just like me
Here comes the Kingfish, the Kingfish
Everybody sing
Here’s the Kingfish, the Kingfish
Every man a king
Who took on the Standard Oil men
And whipped their ass
Just like he promised he’d do?
Ain’t no Standard Oil men gonna run this state
Gonna be run by little folks like me and you
Here’s the Kingfish, the Kingfish
Friend of the working man
The Kingfish, the Kingfish
The Kingfish gonna save this land

You looked like a princess the night we met
With your hair piled up high
I will never forget
I’m drunk right now baby
But I’ve got to be
Or I never could tell you
What you meant to me
I loved you the first time I saw you
And I always will love you Marie
I loved you the first time I saw you
And I always will love you Marie
You’re the song that the trees sing when the wind blows
You’re a flower, you’re a river, you’re a rainbow
Sometimes I’m crazy
But I guess you know
And I’m weak and I’m lazy
And I’ve hurt you so
And I don’t listen to a word you say
When you’re in trouble I just turn away
But I love you and I loved you the first time I saw you
And I always will love you Marie
I loved you the first time I saw you
And I always will love you Marie

Old lady lost in the city
In the middle of a cold, cold night
It was fourteen below and the wind start to blow
There wasn’t a boy scout in sight
Pull down the shades cause he’s comin’
Turn out the lights cause he’s here
Runnin’ hard down the street
Through the snow and the sleet
On the coldest night of the year
Beware, beware, beware of the Naked Man
Beware, beware, beware of the Naked Man
Old lady head up toward Broad Street
Shufflin’ uptown against the wind
She had started to cry-wiped a tear from her eye
And looked back to see where she had been
Old lady stand on the corner
With a purse in her hand
She does not know but in a minute or so
She will be robbed by a naked man
Beware, beware, beware of the Naked Man
Beware, beware, beware of the Naked Man
Old lady lean against a lamppost
Starin’ down at the ground on which she stand
She look up and scream
For the lamplight’s beam
There stood the famous Naked Man
He say, “They found out about my sister
And kicked me out of the Navy,
They would have strung me up if they could.
I tried to explain that we were both of us lazy
And were doing the best we could.”
He faked to the left and he faked to the right
And he snatched the purse from her hand
“Someone stop me,” he cried,
As he faded from sight,
“Won’t nobody help a naked man?”
“Won’t nobody help a naked man?”
Beware, beware, beware of the Naked Man
Beware, beware, beware of the Naked Man

We’ve taken all you’ve given
But it’s gettin’ hard to make a livin’
Mr. President have pity on the working man
We ain’t asking for you to love us
You may place yourself high above us
Mr. President have pity on the working man
I know it may sound funny
But people ev’ry where are runnin’ out of money
We just can’t make it by ourself
It is cold and the wind is blowing
We need something to keep us going
Mr. President have pity on the working man
Maybe you’re cheatin’
Maybe you’re lyin’
Maybe you have lost your mind
Maybe you’re only thinking ’bout yourself
Too late to run. Too late to cry now
The time has come for us to say good-bye now
Mr. President have pity on the working man
Mr. President have pity on the working man

There she is sitting there
Out behind the smoke-house in her rocking chair
She don’t say nothin’
She don’t do nothin’
She don’t feel nothin’
She don’t know nothin’
Maybe she’s crazy, I don’t know
Maybe that’s why I love her so
Her papa was a midget
Her mama was a whore
Her grandad was a newsboy ’til he was eighty-four
What a slimy old bastard he was
Man don’t you think I know she hates me
Man don’t you think I know that she’s no good
If she knew how she’d be unfaithful to me
I think she’d kill me if she could
Maybe she’s crazy I don’t know
Maybe that’s why I love her so
I’m not afraid of the Greywolf
Who stalks through our forest at dawn
As long as I have her beside me
I have the strength to carry on
Today we will be married
And all the freaks that she knows will be there
And all the people from the village will be there
To congratulate us
I will carry her across the threshold
I will make dim the light
I will attempt to spend my love within her
Though I will try with all my might
She will laugh at my mighty sword
She will laugh at my mighty sword
Why must everybody laugh at my mighty sword?
Lord, help me if you will
Maybe we’re both crazy, I don’t know
Maybe that’s why I love her so

Yes, baby, I been drinkin’
And I shouldn’t come by I know
But I found myself in trouble, darlin’
And I had nowhere else to go
Got some whisky from the barman
Got some cocaine from a friend
I just had to keep on movin’
Til I was back in your arms again
I’m guilty, baby I’m guilty
And I’ll be guilty all the rest of my life
How come I never do what I’m supposed to do
How come nothin’ that I try to do ever turns out right?
You know, you know how it is with me baby
You know, you know I just can’t stand myself
And it takes a whole lot of medicine
For me to pretend that I’m somebody else

Doctor, let me tell you something about myself
I’m a college man and I’m very wealthy
I’ve got no time to trifle with trash like you
Cause I must be ’bout my business
My brother’s a machinist in a textile mill
And he makes more money than you ever will
He just got married to a Polish girl
With a space between her teeth
My sister’s a dancer up in Baltimore
At a small cafe on Main
But she ran off with a Negro from the Eastern Shore
Doctor, she didn’t even know his name
Get me back on my feet again
Back on my feet again
Open the door and set me free
Get me back on my feet again
He took her down to Mobile in a railroad train
He said, “Driver, take me to the Hotel Paree.”
He went into the washroom
Washed his face and hands
Doctor, when he come out he was white as you and me
He said, “Girl, I ain’t a Negro I’m a millionaire
As you can plainly see
So many women were after my money
But I’m proud to say you were only after me
“I’m going to teach you to play polo and how to water ski
And you won’t have to dance no more
And I no longer have to pretend to be
A Negro from the Eastern Shore.”
Get me back on my feet again
Back on my feet again
Open the door and set me free
Get me back on my feet again
Doctor, doctor, what you say
How ’bout letting me out today?
Ain’t no reason for me to stay
Everybody’s so far away
Get me back on my feet again
Back on my feet again
Open the door and set me free
Get me back on my feet again

What has happened down here is the winds have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and it rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangelne
Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tyrin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, “Little fat man isn’t it a shame what the river has done
To this poor crackers land.”
Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away

I never drink in the afternoon
I never drink alone
But I sure do like a drink or two
When I get home
Every evening what I do
I sit here in this chair
I pour myself some whiskey
And watch my troubles vanish into the air
Rollin’, rollin’
Ain’t gonna worry no more
Rollin’, rollin’
Ain’t gonna worry no more
Used to worry about gamblin’
Throwin’ my money away
Used to worry about wastin’ time
And layin’ round the house all day
But I’m all right now
I’m all right now
I never thought I’d make it
But I always do somehow
I’m all right now
Rollin, rollin’
Ain’t gonna worry no more
Rollin, rollin
Ain’t gonna worry no more

If we didn’t have Jesus
We wouldn’t have
No one at all
If we didn’t have Jesus
We wouldn’t have
No one at all
If we didn’t have Jesus
We wouldn’t have
No one at all

God gonna set
This world on fire
God gonna set
This world on fire
God gonna set
This world on fire
One of these days
One of these days
One of these days

All of the sinners
Gonna turn up missing
All of the sinners
Gonna turn up missing
All of the sinners
Gonna turn up missing
One of these days
One of these days
One of these days

Gonna climb up
Jacob’s ladder
It’s not very far away
Gonna climb up Jacob’s
Ladder one of these days

I’m gonna walk
And talk with Jesus
I’m gonna walk
And talk with Jesus
I’m gonna walk
And talk with Jesus
One of these days
One of these days
One of these days

God gonna set
This world on fire
God gonna set
This world on fire
God gonna set
This world on fire
One of these days
One of these days
One of these days

A rabbit bein’ chased by a big,
black dog
Through the early mornin’ fog
Over the meadow and past the bog,
They were runnin’

The rabbit had jumped a fence or two
Cause that’s what rabbits like to do
Big black dog had to jump ‘em too
They was runnin’

Now this black dog had a brother
‘Cept he was white as snow
One looked like the other
Least that’s how the story go

So the black dog’s
chasin’ the rabbit down the road
And he seen a familiar face he knowed
He said, “Hey there white dog,
what you say?
Take over chasin’ this rabbit,
all right?
Thank you, get away!
Take over chasin’ this rabbit
Or they’ll be no rabbit
stew today for us.”

And here what the white dog say
He say,
“That rabbit smiled as he went by
He know he got you beat, that’s why.
You wait here and I’ll chase a while
Cause I hate to see a rabbit smile.”
So off he go, off the white dog go.

Now when that little rabbit
looked around
He jumped four feet off the ground
He said,
“That big old dog that’s chasin’ me
Why, he’s taken off his jacket
and he’s runnin’ free
He’s taken off his jacket
and he’s catchin’ me.”

Now there’s a moral to this story
For crazy rabbits with dreams of glory
Any rabbit think a dog wear a jacket
Should get out of the rabbit racket.
One dog’s brother is another dog’s child
And no one likes to see a rabbit smile.

Seein’ that tomorrow’s my birthday
Happy birthday to you
Seein’ that this is the final night of my 29th year
Happy birthday to you
Seein’ that all my fuckin’ friends were assembled here to greet me
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
I’m gonna tell you all the story of my life
I’m gonna tell you all the story of my life

My daddy knew Dixie Howell,
He used to cut his hair
Daddy had a shop in Tuscaloosa,
And Howell was on a team up there
When I was born, Daddy put a football in my cradle
Later on, he put a football helmet in my bed
So when he died I put a razor in his coffin
And poured Vaseline all over his head.
Magnolias, magnolias, magnolias they had
The people come from miles around
To follow Daddy’s coffin to the graveyard
And put poor Daddy’s body in the ground
Magnolias, you should have smelled the magnolias, Daddy
Don’t you wish it was me layin’ there instead?
But tomorrow I will be sober, Daddy,
And you will still be dead

Y’all should have seen me
When I was sixteen years old
Had my hair hangin’ free down my back
It used to shine in the sun like gold.

Went eight years of grade school
Four years of high school
I was never sick one day
And the kids that were with you in the first grade
Were with you all the way

We’d go over to Augusta for a ball game
We’d all go down to Daytona for the race
We’d go over to the drive-in every Friday
Shining in the sun like gold

Some cold winter morning, outside the school
And the bell hadn’t rung just yet
We stand outside the gate, smoke a cigarette
Brushin’ the snow off our clothes, and lean against the wall
Shining

And there wasn’t no baby cryin’
And there wasn’t no laundry waitin’ for me on the line
If I didn’t want to be alone, I didn’t have to be alone
All I had to do was shine
Shining
Shining

Lord there must be something better
Lord it just don’t seem right
To cook the same breakfast for the same man every morning
Sleep with the same man every night
For the rest of my life
For the rest of my life

Good morning
Good morning
Good morning
And a very
Happy birthday to you
Susie sing
Happy birthday to Daddy
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you
Susie sing
Happy birthday to Daddy
Happy birthday to you
Now Daddy may not spend
Much time with us
(Fuck off)
But I’m sure
That he loves you a lot
Susie sing
Happy birthday to Daddy
He’s the only daddy
You’ve got
(Fuck off)
Fuck off
But I’m the song
That the trees sing
When the wind blows
Fuck off, but, honey,
I’m the starlight
And I’m a rainbow
Susie sing
Happy birthday to Daddy
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you
Susie sing
Happy birthday to Daddy
Happy birthday to you

Let me tell you something about myself
I’m very wealthy, I’m a college man
I’ve got no time to trifle with trash like you
For I must be about my business (He must be about his business)
Have you seen my summer home in Mobile (Yes, we’ve seen it)
Have you seen me in my plane, racin’ with the sun (Yes, we have)
Have you seen me climb atop the ancient ruins of Tuscaloosa
Just as the old ones must have done
I got a wife named Maria
And I got a big, black dog named Dan
And I got a three-room apartment on East 14th Street
Downtown Birmingham

Birmingham, Birmingham
Greatest city in Alabam’
You can travel ‘cross this entire land
There ain’t no place like Birmingham
There ain’t no place like Birmingham

My brother’s a machinist
And he works at the mill
And he makes more money
Than you ever will
He just got married
To a Polish girl
With a space
Between her teeth
When he was ten
Or eleven years old
He was helping out my Pop
In the barbershop
Sweeping up the hair
As it would drop
On to the boardwalk
And out of the shop

Doctor, doctor, what you say?
How ’bout lettin’ him out today?
I can promise you he’ll be ok
There ain’t no reason
For him to stay

Get him back on his feet again
Back on his feet again
Open the door and set him free
Get him back on his feet again

One day he was workin’
In the barbershop
Knocked over some bottles
With the handle of his broom
And he cried
Daddy took him to a baseball game,
And still he cried
Daddy took him to the zoo,
And still he cried
Daddy said, “Son, I ain’t angry,
But I’m so disappointed in you.”

Get him back on his feet again
Back on his feet again
Open the door and set him free
Get him back on his feet again

A light shines
On the goatherd
And the snow lingers
Yet on the ground
In the forest deep
Where
The grey wolf sleeps
Comes a wonderful
Wonderful sound
Albania, Albania
We pledge
Our faith in thee
Albania, Albania

In America you’ll get food to eat
Won’t have to run through the jungle
And scuff up your feet
You’ll just sing about Jesus and drink wine all day
It’s great to be an American
Ain’t no lions or tigers
Ain’t no mamba snake
Just the sweet watermelon and the buckwheat cake
Ev’rybody is as happy as a man can be
Climb aboard, little wog
Sail away with me
Sail away
Sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
Sail away
Sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
In America every man is free
To take care of his home and his family
You’ll be as happy as a monkey in a monkey tree
You’re all gonna be an American
Sail away
Sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
Sail away
Sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay

I’ve been around the world
Had my pick of any girl
You’d think I’d be happy
But I’m not
Ev’rybody knows my name
But it’s just a crazy game
Oh, it’s lonely at the top
Listen to the band, they’re playing just for me
Listen to the people paying just for me
All the applause-all the parades
And all the money I have made
Oh, it’s lonely at the top
Listen all you fools out there
Go on and love me-I don’t care
Oh, it’s lonely at the top
Oh, it’s lonely at the top

He gives us all his love
He gives us all his love
He’s smiling down on us
From up above
And he’s giving us all his love
He knows how hard we’re trying
He hears the babies crying
He sees the old folks dying
And he gives us all his love
Now if you need someone to talk to
You can always talk to him
And if you need someone to lean on
You can lean on him
He gives us all his love
He gives us all his love
He’s smiling down on us
From up above
And he’s giving us all his love
He’s smiling down on us
From up above
He gives us all his love

Last night I had a dream
You were in it, I was in it with you
Everyone that I knew
And everyone that you know was in my dream
I saw a vampire
I saw a ghost
Everybody scared me but you sacred me the most
In the dream I had last night
In the dream I had last night
In my dream
It started out in a barnyard at sundown
And everyone was laughing and you were lying on the ground
You said, “Honey, can you tell me what you name is?”
“Honey, can you tell me what your name is?”
I said, “You know what my name is.”
Last night I had a dream
You were in it, I was in it with you
Everyone that I knew
And everyone that you know was in my dream
I saw a vampire
I saw a ghost
Everybody scared me but you sacred me the most
In the dream I had last night
In the dream I had last night
In my dream

I may go out tomorrow if I can borrow a coat to wear
Oh, I’d step out in style with my sincere smile and my dancing bear
Outrageous, alarming, courageous, charming
Oh, who would think a boy and bear
Could be well accepted everywhere
It’s just amazing how fair people can be
Seen at the nicest places where well-fed faces all stop to stare
Making the grandest entrance is Simon Smith and his dancing bear
They’ll love us, won’t they?
They feed us, don’t they?
Oh, who would think a boy and bear
Could be well accepted everywhere
It’s just amazing how fair people can be
Who needs money when you’re funny?
The big attraction everywhere
Will be Simon Smith and his dancing bear
It’s Simon Smith and the amazing dancing bear

Everyone has gone away
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
No one cared enough to stay
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
You must remember me old man
I know that you can if you try
So just open up your eyes, old man
Look who’s come to say goodbye
The sun has left the sky, old man
The birds have flown away
And no one came to cry, old man
Goodbye, old man, goodbye
You want to stay, I know you do
But it ain’t no use to try
‘Cause I’ll be here-and I’m just like you
Goodbye, old man, goodbye
Won’t be no God to comfort you
You taught me not to believe that lie
You don’t need anybody
Nobody needs you
Don’t cry, old man, don’t cry
Everybody dies

No one likes us-I don’t know why
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
But all around, even our old friends put us down
Let’s drop the big one and see what happens
We give them money-but are they grateful?
No, they’re spiteful and they’re hateful
They don’t respect us-so let’s surprise them
We’ll drop the big one and pulverize them
Asia’s crowded and Europe’s too old
Africa is far too hot
And Canada’s too cold
And South America stole our name
Let’s drop the big one
There’ll be no one left to blame us
We’ll save Australia
Don’t wanna hurt no kangaroo
We’ll build an All American amusement park there
They got surfin’, too
Boom goes London and boom Paree
More room for you and more room for me
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town
Oh, how peaceful it will be
We’ll set everybody free
You’ll wear a Japanese kimono
And there’ll be Italian shoes for me
They all hate us anyhow
So let’s drop the big one now
Let’s drop the big one now

There’s a red moon rising
On the Cuyahoga River
Rolling into Cleveland to the lake
There’s a red moon rising
On the Cuyahoga River
Rolling into Cleveland to the lake
There’s an oil barge winding
Down the Cuyahoga River
Rolling into Cleveland to the lake
There’s an oil barge winding
Down the Cuyahoga River
Rolling into Cleveland to the lake
Cleveland, city of light, city of magic
Cleveland, city of light, you’re calling me
Cleveland, even now I can remember
‘Cause the Cuyahoga River
Goes smokin’ through my dreams
Burn on, big river, burn on
Burn on, big river, burn on
Now the Lord can make you tumble
And the Lord can make you turn
And the Lord can make you overflow
But the Lord can’t make you burn
Burn on, big river, burn on
Burn on, big river, burn on

What have you done to the mirror?
What have you done to the floor?
Can’t I go nowhere without you?
Can’t I leave you alone any more?
Can’t I leave you alone any more?
I know you don’t think much of me
But someday you’ll understand
Wait’ll you learn how to talk, baby
I’ll show you how smart I am
I want to show you how smart I am
A quitter never wins
A winner never quits
When the going gets tough
The tough get going
Maybe you don’t know how to walk, baby
Maybe you can’t talk none either
Maybe you never will, baby
But I’ll always love you
I’ll always love you

Sing a song of long ago
When things were green and movin’ slow
And people’d stop to say hello
Or they’d say “hi” to you
“Would you like to come over for tea
With the missus and me?”
It’s a real nice way
To spend the day
In Dayton, Ohio
On a lazy Sunday afternoon in 1903
Sing a song of long ago
When things could grow
And days flowed quietly
The air was clean and you could see
And folks were nice to you
“Would you like to come over for tea
With the missus and me?”
It’s a real nice way
To spend the day
In Dayton, Ohio
On a lazy Sunday afternoon in 1903

Baby, take off your coat…(real slow)
Baby, take off your shoes…(here, I’ll take your shoes)
Baby, take off your dress
Yes, yes, yes
You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on
Go on over there and turn on the light…no, all the lights
Now come back here and stand on this chair…that’s right
Raise your arms up in to the air…shake ‘em
You give me a reason to live
You give me a reason to live
You give me a reason to live
You give me a reason to live
Suspicious minds are talking
Trying to tear us apart
They say that my love is wrong
They don’t know what love is
They don’t know what love is
They don’t know what love is
They don’t know what love is
I know what love is

Cain slew Abel, Seth knew not why
For if the children of Israel were to multiply
Why must any of the children die?
So he asked the Lord
And the Lord said:
Man means nothing, he means less to me
Than the lowliest cactus flower
Or the humblest Yucca tree
He chases round this desert
‘Cause he thinks that’s where I’ll be
That’s why I love mankind
I recoil in horror from the foulness of thee
From the squalor and the filth and the misery
How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me
That’s why I love mankind
The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree
The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV
They picked their four greatest priests
And they began to speak
They said, “Lord, a plague is on the world
Lord, no man is free
The temples that we built to you
Have tumbled into the sea
Lord, if you won’t take care of us
Won’t you please, please let us be?”
And the Lord said
And the Lord said
I burn down your cities-how blind you must be
I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we
You all must be crazy to put your faith in me
That’s why I love mankind
You really need me
That’s why I love mankind

Whatever happened to
The things you used to do
And all the dreams you dreamed so long?
Stop livin’ in the past
The good times never last
Well now’s the time for movin’ on.
Let It shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
If there’s hope in your heart
Then let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine shine shine
If there’s hope in your heart
Then let it shine
Why don’t you ever do
All that you want to do?
There’s nothin’ stoppin’ you, you know.
You’ve waited all this time
To leave the past behind
Well now it’s fine to let it go.
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
If there’s hope in your heart
Then let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine shine shine
If there’s hope in your heart
Then let it shine

Maybe I’m doing it wrong
Maybe I’m doing it wrong
It just don’t move me
The way that it should
Maybe I’m doing it wrong

There ain’t no book you can read
There ain’t nobody to tell you
But I don’t think I’m getting
What everybody’s getting
Maybe I’m doing it wrong

Sometimes I throw off a good one
At least I think it is
No, I know it is
I shouldn’t be thinking at all
I shouldn’t be thinking at all

Maybe I’m doing it wrong
Maybe I’m doing it wrong
It just don’t move me
The way that it should
Maybe I’m doing it wrong

Will you have whiskey with your water
Or sugar with your tea?
What are these crazy questions
That they`re asking of me?
This is the wildest party that there ever could be
Oh, don`t turn on the light `cause I don`t want to see
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
Mama said, “That ain`t no way to have fun”
Open up the window, let some air into this room
I think I`m almost choking on the smell of stale perfume
And that cigarette you`re smoking `bout to scare me half to death
Open up the window, let me catch my breath Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
Mama said, “That ain’t no way to have fun”
The radio is blasting, someone`s beating on the door
Our hostess is not lasting – she`s out on the floor
I seen so many things here I ain`t never seen before
I don`t know what it is – but I don`t wanna see no more
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
Mama said, “That ain`t no way to have fun”

What can you do to amuse me
Now that there’s nothing to do
The TV set’s busted and can’t get a picture
The radio plays nothing but news
Why don’t you tickle me
Gee whiz won’t that be fine
What a great idea
What a perfect way to kill some time
Can’t stop to think ’cause if we do we’ll lose our mind
Why don’t you tickle me
Don’t we have fun every minute
Oh what a gay life we lead
One chocolate milkshake with two straws stuck in it
What else does anyone need
Why don’t you tickle me
There’s nothing else to do
You won’t have to talk to me
And I won’t have to talk to you
When we’re done I’ll think of something else to do
Why don’t you tickle me

I’ll be home
I’ll be home
When your nights are troubled
And you’re all alone
When you’re feeling down
And need some sympathy
There’s no one else around
To keep you company
Remember baby, you can always count on me
I’ll be home
I’ll be home
I’ll be home
I’ll be home
I’ll be home
Wherever you may wander
Wherever you may roam
You come back and I’ll be waiting here for you
No one else will ever love you the way I do
I’ll be here to comfort you
And see you through
I’ll be home
I’ll be home
I’ll be home

Home again and the streets are not much cleaner
And the quaint old south side scenery
Is quaint no more
Just older than before
Go up the stairs and down the hallway
To my daddy`s door
Your son is home, Dad, and he`s found a girl
And she`s the greatest girl in all the world
I think you`ll like her, Dad, I hope you do
But if you don`t that`s alright, too
What`s new? Do you still work at the drugstore?
Is that true? Still polishing the same floor?
I missed my good old Dad
My but I`m glad to see you
Home again
But we won’t be staying here Dad
Come and see us, Poppa, when you can
There`ll always be a place for my old man
Just drop by when it`s convenient to
Be sure and call before you do
So long Dad

The milk truck hauls the sun up
And the paper hits the door
The subway shakes my floor
And I think about you
Time to face the dawning gray
Of another lonely day
Baby, it`s so hard
Living without you
It`s so hard
It`s so hard
Baby, it`s so hard
Living without you
Ev`ry one`s got something
And they`re out tryin` to get some more
They got something to get up for
Well I ain`t about to
Nothin`s gonna happen
Nothin`s gonna change
Baby, it`s so hard
Living without you
It`s so hard
It`s so hard
Baby, it`s so hard
Living without you

Last night I had a dream
You were in it, and I was in it with you
And everyone that I know
And everyone that you know was in my dream
I saw a vampire
I saw a ghost
Everybody scared me but you sacred me the most
In the dream I had last night
In the dream I had last night
In my dream
It started out in a barnyard at sundown
And everyone was laughing and you were lying on the ground
You said, “Honey, can you tell me what you name is?”
“Honey, can you tell me what your name is?”
I said, “You know what my name is.”
Last night I had a dream
You were in it, I was in it with you
And everyone that I know
And everyone that you know was in my dream
I saw a vampire
I saw a ghost
Everybody scared me but you sacred me the most
In the dream I had last night
In the dream I had last night
In my dream

Broken windows and empty hallways
A pale dead moon in the sky streaked with gray
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it`s going to rain today
Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
With frozen smiles to chase love away
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it`s going to rain today
Lonely, lonely
Tin can at my feet
Think I`ll kick it down the street
That`s the way to treat a friend
Bright before me the signs implore me
To help the needy and show them the way
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it`s going to rain today

Don`t send me no young girl to love me
With their eyes shinin` bright
All the young girls are afraid of me
Send me a woman tonight
Don`t send me no hand-holdin` baby
`Cause I been with babies before
Don`t send me nobody that`s crazy
Don`t send me no young girls no more
I was entertaining a little girl up in my rooms, Lord
With California wines and French perfumes, Lord
She started to talk to me about the War, Lord
I said, “I don`t want to talk about the War.”
Don`t send me nobody with glasses
Don`t want no one above me
Don`t send nobody takin` night-classes
Just send me somebody to love me
Please answer my prayer
Please answer my prayer
Please answer my prayer

Maybe I’m doing it wrong
Maybe I’m doing it wrong
It just don’t move me the way that it should
Maybe I’m doing it wrong
There ain’t no book you can read
There ain’t nobody to tell you
But I don’t think I’m getting What everybody’s getting Maybe I’m doing it wrong
Sometimes I throw off a good one
At least I think it is
No, I know it is
But I shouldn’t be thinking at all
I shouldn’t be thinking at all
Maybe I’m doing it wrong
Maybe I’m doing it wrong
It just don’t move me the way that it should
Maybe I’m doing it wrong

Very far away in a foreign land
Live the yellow woman and the yellow man
He`s been around for many-a-year
They say they were there before we were here
Eatin` rice all day
While the children play
You see he believes
In the family
Just like you and me
Oh, yellow man, oh, yellow man
We understand, you know we understand
He keeps his money tight in his hand
With his yellow woman he`s a yellow man
Got to have a yellow woman
When you`re a yellow man

Turpentine and dandelion wine
I’ve turned the corner and I’m doin’ fine
Shootin’ at the birds on the telephone line
Pickin’ em off with this gun of mine
I got a fire in my belly
And a fire in my head
Goin’ higher and higher
Until I’m dead
Sister Sue, she’s short and stout
She didn’t grow up – she grew out
Mama says she’s plain but she’s just bein’ kind
Papa thinks she’s pretty but he’s almost blind
Don’t let her out much ‘cept at night
But I don’t care ’cause I’m all right
Oh, the sun shines bright on
My Old Kentucky Home
And the young folks roll on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on
My Old Kentucky Home
Keep them hard times away from my door
Brother Gene, he’s big and mean
And he don’t have much to say
He had a little woman who he whupped each day
But now she’s gone away
He got drunk last night
Kicked mama down the stairs
But I’m all right so I don’t care

Cold gray buildings where a hill should be
Steel and concrete closin` in on me
City faces haunt the places
I used to roam
Cowboy, cowboy – can`t run, can`t hide
Too late to fight now – too tired to try
Wind that once blew free
Now scatters dust to the sky
Cowboy, cowboy – can`t run, can`t hide
Too late to fight now – too tired to try

I`ve been his friend since we were little babies
I was a comfort to his mother and a pal to his dad
Before they passed away they said,
“Please take care of our Davy
You may be the only friend he ever will have”
Davy the fat boy, Davy the fat boy
Isn`t he round? Isn`t he round?
What do he weigh folks?
Can you guess what he weigh?
It`s only a quarter
Win a teddy bear for the girlfriend
Or something for the wife
You got to let this fat boy in your life
I think we can persuade him to do
The famous fat boy dance for you
Give me half a chance
I just know you`ll like my fat boy`s dance
Davy the fat boy, Davy the fat boy
Isn`t he
Isn`t he round?

I`ve been around the world
Had my pick of any girl
You`d think I`d be happy
But I`m not
Ev`rybody knows my name
But it`s just a crazy game
Oh, it`s lonely at the top
Listen to the band, they`re playing just for me
Listen to the people paying just for me
All the applause-all the parades
And all the money I have made
Oh, it`s lonely at the top
Listen all you fools out there
Go on and love me-I don`t care
Oh, it`s lonely at the top
Oh, it`s lonely at the top

Have you seen my baby
On the avenue?
You know she’s driving me crazy
With the funny things she do
I seen her with the milkman
Ridin’ down the street
When you’re through with my baby, milkman
Send her home to me
Hold on, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on
You know it’s been so long
Since she have been gone
Hold on, hold on, hold on
I seen her with the gypsies
Dancin’ in the wood
She’s always been unfaithful to me
She ain’t never been no good
I say, “Please don’t talk to strangers, baby”
But she always do
She say, “I’ll talk to strangers if I want to
‘Cause I’m a stranger, too”
Hold on, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on
You know it’s been so long
Since she have been gone
Hold on, hold on, hold on

Let’s burn down the cornfield
Let’s burn down the cornfield
And we can listen to it burn
You hide behind the oak tree
You hide behind the oak tree
Stay out of danger ’til I return
Oh, it’s so good
On a cold night
To have a fire
Burnin’ warm and bright
You hide behind the oak tree
You hide behind the oak tree
Stay out of danger ’till I return
Let’s burn down the cornfield
Let’s burn down the cornfield
And I’ll make love to you while it’s burning

Will you have whiskey with your water
Or sugar with your tea?
What are these crazy questions
That they’re asking of me?
This is the wildest party that there ever could be
Oh, don’t turn on the light ’cause I don’t want to see
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
Mama said, “That ain’t no way to have fun”
Open up the window, let some air into this room
I think I’m almost choking on the smell of stale perfume
And that cigarette you’re smoking ’bout to scare me half to death
Open up the window, let me catch my breath
The radio is blasting, someone’s beating on the door
Our hostess is not lasting – she’s out on the floor
I seen so many things here I ain’t never seen before
I don’t know what it is – but I don’t wanna see no more
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
Mama said, “That ain’t no way to have fun”

I saw your name, baby
In a telephone booth
And it told all about you, mama
Boy, I hope it was the truth
I took down your number
Looked up your address, Sue
And I was hopin’ that maybe
You could love me, too
I’m gonna wait in the shadows
For you to come by
I’m gonna wait in the shadows
For you to come by
And then I’ll jump from the shadows
And try and catch your eye
Gonna run my fingers through your hair
And love you everywhere
Now I don’t want to get too romantic
That’s just not my way
But when I get my arms around you
I’m gonna rock you all the night
Gonna rock you all the day
Suzanne, you won’t know it but I’ll be behind you
Don’t try and run away from me, little girl
Wherever you go I’ll find you
And when you go to the pictures
And I know you do
Don’t take no one with you
‘Cause I’ll be there, too
Suzanne

Don’t send me no young girl to love me
With their eyes shinin’ bright
All the young girls are afraid of me
Send me a woman tonight
Don’t send me no hand-holdin’ baby
‘Cause I been with babies before
Don’t send me nobody that’s crazy
Don’t send me no young girls no more
I was entertaining a little girl in my rooms, Lord
With California wines and French perfumes, Lord
She started to talk to me about the War, Lord
I said, “I don’t want to talk about the War.”
Don’t send me nobody with glasses
Don’t want no one above me
Don’t send nobody takin’ night-classes
Send me somebody to love me
Please answer my prayer
Please answer my prayer
Please answer my prayer

We met one summer evening
As the sun was going down
She was lying on the beach
In her graduation gown
She was wrapped up in a blanket
(I could tell she knew her way around)
And as I lay down beside her
You know she never made a sound
On down the beach came the beach-cleaning man
Scoopin’ up the papers and flattening down the sand
“Lucinda, Lucinda, Lucinda – we’ve got to run away
That big white truck is closin’ in
And we’ll get wounded if we stay”
Now Lucinda lies buried ‘neath the California sand
Put under by the beach-cleaning man
Lucinda, Lucinda, Lucinda – why’d you have to go?
They sent her to high school
They sent her to low school
She just wouldn’t go no further

Creole ladies walk along with rhythm in their thighs
Rhythm in their hips and in their lips and in their eyes,
Where do highbrows find the kind of love that satisfies?
Underneath the Harlem moon
There`s no fields of cotton; picking cotton is taboo.
They don`t live in cabins like the old folks used to do.
Their cabin is a penthouse up on Lennox Avenue,
Underneath the Harlem moon
They just live for dancing,
They`re never blue or forlorn,
It ain`t no sin to laugh and grin;
That`s why darkies were born.
They shout, “Hallelujah!” every time they`re feeling low.
Every sheik is dressed up like a Georgia gigolo.
You may call it madness but they call it hi-de-ho,
Underneath the Harlem moon

Very far away in a foreign land
Live the yellow woman and the yellow man
He’s been around for many-a-year
They say they were there before we were here
Eatin’ rice all day
While the children play
You see he believes
In the family
Just like you and me
Oh, yellow man, oh, yellow man
We understand, you know we understand
He keeps his money tight in his hand
With his yellow woman he’s a yellow man
Got to have a yellow woman
When you’re a yellow man

Turpentine and dandelion wine
I’ve turned the corner and I’m doin’ fine
Shootin’ at the birds on the telephone line
Pickin’ em off with this gun of mine
I got a fire in my belly
And a fire in my head
Goin’ higher and higher
Until I’m dead
Sister Sue, she’s short and stout
She didn’t grow up – she grew out
Mama says she’s plain but she’s just bein’ kind
Papa thinks she’s pretty but he’s almost blind
Don’t let her out much ‘cept at night
But I don’t care ’cause I’m all right
Oh, the sun shines bright on
My Old Kentucky Home
And the young folks roll on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on
My Old Kentucky Home
Keep them hard times away from my door
Brother Gene, he’s big and mean
And he don’t have much to say
He had a little woman who he whupped each day
But now she’s gone away
He got drunk last night
Kicked mama down the stairs
But I’m all right so I don’t care

Rosemary, won’t you come out tonight?
The moon is shining and the stars are bright
If you stay inside, how can I love you, dear
When you’re up there and I’m down here?
Come on down, we’ll take a walk in the park
I know a place there where it’s nice and dark
I’ll hold yours, baby, and you’ll hold mine
I’m thinking about you all the time
Hear that wind blow
‘Gainst your window
And I call your name
I need you so, baby
I’m ready to go, baby
Ain’t that a shame?
Take your shoes off
Come with me
Take your shoes off
Rosemary, won’t you come out tonight?
The moon is shining and the stars are bright
If you stay inside, how can I love you, dear
When you’re up there and I’m down here?
When you’re up there and I’m down here?
Rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary

There ain’t no moon
There ain’t no stars
Have to close up soon
‘Cause there ain’t no cars
Got no radio
Got no telephone
I’m just awful bored
And I’m so alone
Baby, please come to the station
And I’ll wipe your windshield clean
If you need oil, I’ll give you oil
And I’ll fill your tank with gasoline
Baby, please come to the station
You know I get so lonely there
Bring some wine for inspiration
And wear a ribbon in your hair
Hear those dogs bark
Man, they can feel this cold
And it’s so dark
I need your hand to hold
Baby, please come to the station
You know I need you so tonight
Come and put your arms around me
Baby, come and hold me tight
Please, baby, come to the station
I’ve taken all that I can take
Baby, how can you be sleeping
When you know that I’m awake?

I’m goin’ down to the corner
Gonna have myself a drink
I’m goin’ down to the corner
Gonna have myself a drink
‘Cause that shit that we been usin’
It sure confuse my thinking
I’m goin’ down to the drugstore
Buy myself a goat
Tie him up in my front yard
For all my so-called friends to see
Ain’t nobody gonna look in window and laugh at me
I been up so long
That it looks like down to me
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Baby, are you against me too?
Had a great idea the other night
Come-A-Ti-Yi-Yippie, baby
Look out
When the blue of the night
Meets the gold of the day
We love you
We love you
We love you