gone for a while

the signs of sales are so infrequent
we drag the anchor through the weekend
and pay the rent out of politeness
my dear there's no-one left to fight us

when we go down to the chapel
and you show me your true smile
we'll ride down in the saddle
i hope we'll be gone for a while



autumn clover

there by the marsh where the tide used to rise
there were two kinds of green in your eyes
one for the algae, one for the diamond
that held us in sway while we were still tryin

despite all my pride, i wont keep in inside
i miss you

it glimmered of spirits and buzzed like the bees
at the edge of the universe what emcompases we
as the sand shifting south, as the sea level fall
she whispered "boy, you're just a know-it-all"

i don't care if they know, i don't care if it shows
i miss you



medicine pills

paper and pen: i read the little poem that you left in the kitchen
papers and pens, hand in hand from the lake to the station
papers and pens- needles of pine all rustle impatient
lift high the wine and whiskey; think this medicines' makin me frisky

oh, medicine pills- write a little song on my cousin's guitar
medicine pills- got a new thing but it done make a difference
medicine soul- all among the thankful, who wouldnt miss it?
you wont try and i wont listen
its probably just the medicine

paper and pen: i read the little poem that you left in the kitchen
papers and pens, hand in hand from the lake to the station
papers and pens- needles of pine all rustle impatient
lift high the wine and whiskey; think this medicines' makin me frisky



hesitation waltz

all of my fellas makin time for a dream on the side
they're lonely
and the things that we own are not our own, besides
every girl that growed up dancin in the streets of a soul
with a smile thats beautiful (thats all of them)
hesitation waltz is giving us class
still we try to hold back until we know what the music will be
in our symphony

i would like to get better, but that might mean to forget
dont take it away
you dont undestand- state of affairs i dont want it to change
all i have left is the pain



happy birthday

happy birthday, dont be sorry
i'll be alright, dont worry
its all over- a few more details
we're sending our last emails
no more anger, no more kisses
i hope you get all your wishes
happy birthday, dont be sorry
i'll be alright, dont worry

happy birthday, dont be sorry
i'll be alright, dont worry
its all over- a few more details
we're sending our last emails
no more anger, no more kisses
i hope you get all your wishes
happy birthday, dont be sorry
i'll be alright, dont worry



WFOP

leaning really too far into yours when mine was so forgotten
and overgrown...

the indians come to me as spirits and speak many things
not listening to one in particular, their voices are pleasant
and wide-eyes i mindlessly smile like a child
from the back of the group i feel one of them know me
this spirit moves to the fore of my attention
though i still smile and stare as if in a trance
he does not look into my eyes- he knows i have seen him



lake simcoe

in the still night, long hours thru
i guide my bark canoe
my bark canoe, my love
to you

it is i, love- your lover true
who glides the stream in bark canoe
it glides to you, my love
to you

while the stars shine, and falls the dew
i seek my love in bark canoe
in bark canoe
i seek for you



during the war

its kind of like love is just not fair
but if you look for me, i'll be there
the kids are fucked up but i dont care
when they need me i'll be there
its kind of like love is just not fair
but if you look for me, i'll be there



different kinds of fire, pt. 1

i like your style
but all the times that i could not disguise myself
have made you walk that long and lonely mile

but i still like your style
shepherd, show me how to make this all worthwhile
just make her smile



different kinds of fire, pt.2

know you dont want me but here i am- i gotta try again
know you dont want me but here i am- i gotta try again
here i am
here i am
here i am
here i am
here i am
here i am
how could you have thought there was one person
who could make you happy and that happiness is not
the uneven phenomenon you have known it to be
?



the nimble swan

in the garden, on the paths
moonlight and the blooming cactus

later in the hollow apartment (you didnt call like you said you would)
dreaming for the gods thats starving (waiting by the chinese redwoods)
we dont see it on the shelf (in the garden on the paths)
you and i are someone else (cold moonlight and the blooming cactus)

you didnt call like you said i would (later in the hollow apartment)
waiting by the chinese redwoods (waiting for the gods thats starvin)
in the garden, on the paths (we dont see it on the shelf)
cold moonlight and the blooming cactus (you and i are someone else)
we don't see it on the shelf
you and i are someone else



i'm almost home

please believe this song i'm sending
down from morning's grey-dimmed rendering
all along like birds of sadness
whose aimless wings caress our sadness
i cant be my own reflection
dancing for the girls inspection
when ive gone beneath the reason
hold my calls and take my trees in
just be calm and let them fake it
take it out of what theyre taking
her clean laundry- abstract heaven
show me outfits one thru seven



shirt of lace

if you should wash my shirt of lace
viney flower and rosemary tree
if you wash my shirt of lace
be sure the buttons are in place
viney flower and rosemary tree

and then, oh- my acre beside the sea
viney flower and rosemary tree

oh- water where there is no well
viney flower and rosemary tree
water where there is no well
what name will my true love tell?
viney flower and rosemary tree



john of hazelgreen

early, early in sweet may...the sun had not yet shown
i chanced upon a maiden fair who made a heavy moan
"why make you this heavy moan, and what does all this mean?"
but all that she would ever say was "john of hazelgreen"

"you're welcome to my house and lands, and here i do confide
that you may have my eldest son, to take you for his bride"
"i do not want you eldest son, for i am far too mean-
and i intend to bride no-one but john of hazelgreen"

he took her by the lily hand and led her to the town
he bought a sweep-tail petticoat and it did trail the ground
but silk and satin it did pale against her lovely sheen
and all the while she made a moan for john of hazelgreen

as they did ride the lengthy lane that took them from the town
out stepped john of hazelgreen, and helped his lady down
forty times he kissed her cheek, and forty times her chin
and forty times he kissed her lips as he did lead her in



dark heaven isle

oh devil- its true, i want your help
angel- please prevent me from takin it

all is the one like the same when they said when they did it before
one is the difference that couldnt be done till they made it again
now is just then with more milk
and some sugary ice cream besides (and a star-spangled sofa inside)
even could self wouldnt only be when the sold only but wouldnt besides