Of all there is to know
But I’ve had the invitation
That a sinner can’t refuse
And it’s almost like salvation
It’s almost like the blues
SAMSON IN NEW ORLEANS
You said that you were with me
You said you were my friend
Did you really love the city
Or did you just pretend
You said you loved her secrets
And her freedoms hid away
She was better than America
That’s what I heard you say
You said how could this happen
You said how can this be
The remnant all dishonored
On the bridge of misery
And we who cried for mercy
From the bottom of the pit
Was our prayer so
damn unworthy
The Son rejected it?
So gather up the killers
Get everyone in town
Stand me by those pillars
Let me take this
temple down
The king so kind and solemn
He wears a bloody crown
So stand me by that column
Let me take this temple down
You said how could this happen
You said how can this be
The chains are gone from heaven
The storms are wild and free
There’s other ways to answer
That certainly is true
Me, I’m blind with death
and anger
And that’s no place for you
There’s a woman
in the window
And a bed in Tinsel Town
I’ll write you when it’s over
Let me take this
temple down
A STREET
I used to be your favorite drunk
Good for one more laugh
Then we both ran out of luck
Luck was all we ever had
You put on a uniform
To fight the Civil War
You looked so good I didn’t care
What side you’re fighting for
It wasn’t all that easy
When you up and walked away
But I’ll save that little story
For another rainy day
I know the burden’s heavy
As you wheel it through the night
Some people say it’s empty
But that don’t mean it’s light
You left me with the dishes
And a baby in the bath
You’re tight with the militias
You wear their camouflage
You always said we’re equal
So let me march with you
Just an extra in the sequel
To the old red white and blue
Baby don’t ignore me
We were smokers we were friends
Forget that tired story
Of betrayal and revenge
I see the Ghost of Culture
With numbers on his wrist
Salute some new conclusion
Which all of us have missed
I cried for you this morning
And I’ll cry for you again
But I’m not in charge of sorrow
So please don’t ask me when
There may be wine and roses
DID I EVER LOVE YOU
Did I ever love you
Did I ever need you
Did I ever fight you
Did I ever want to
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
Are we still leaning
Across the old table
Did I ever love you
Did I ever need you
Did I ever fight you
Did I ever want to
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
Are we still leaning
Across the old table
Was it ever settled
Was it ever over
And is it still raining
Back in November
The lemon trees blossom
The almond trees wither
Was I ever someone
Who could love you forever
Was it ever settled
Was it ever over
And is it still raining
Back in November
The lemon trees blossom
The almond trees wither
It’s Spring and it’s Summer
And it’s Winter forever
Did I ever love you
Does it really matter
Did I ever fight you
You don’t need to answer
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
Are we still leaning
Across the old table
Did I ever love you
Did I ever need you
Did I ever fight you
Did I ever want to
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
Are we still leaning
Across the old table
MY OH MY
Wasn’t hard to love you
Didn’t have to try
Wasn’t hard to love you
Didn’t have to try
Held you for a little while
My Oh My Oh My
Drove you to the station
Never asked you why
Drove you to the station
Never asked you why
Held you for a little while
My Oh My Oh My
All the boys are waving
Trying to catch your eye
All the boys are waving
Trying to catch your eye
Held you for a little while
My Oh My Oh My
Wasn’t hard to love you
Didn’t have to try
Wasn’t hard to love you
Didn’t have to try
Held you for a little while
My Oh My Oh My
NEVER MIND
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
I had to leave
My life behind
I dug some graves
You’ll never find
The story’s told
With facts and lies
I had a name
But never mind
Never mind
Never mind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don’t know which
So never mind
Your victory
Was so complete
That some among you
Thought to keep
A record of
Our little lives
The clothes we wore
Our spoons our knives
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
And all of this
Expressions of
The Sweet Indifference
Some call Love
The High Indifference
Some call Fate
But we had Names
More intimate
Names so deep
and Names so true
They’re blood to me
They’re dust to you
There is no need
That this survive
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
Never mind
Never mind
I live the life
I left behind
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don’t know which
So never mind
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried I failed
You turned me in
At least you tried
You side with them
Whom you despise
This was your heart
This swarm of flies
This was once your mouth
This bowl of lies
You serve them well
I’m not surprised
You’re of their kin
You’re of their kind
Never mind
Never mind
The story’s told
With facts and lies
You own the world
So never mind
Never mind
Never mind
I live the life
I left behind
I live it full
I live it wide
Through layers of time
You can’t divide
My woman’s here
My children too
Their graves are safe
From ghosts like you
In places deep
With roots entwined
I live the life
I left behind
BORN IN CHAINS
I was born in chains
But I was taken out of Egypt
I was bound to a burden
But the burden it was raised
Lord I can no longer
Keep this secret
Blessed is the Name
The Name be praised
I fled to the edge
Of the Mighty Sea of Sorrow
Pursued by the riders
Of a cruel and dark regime
But the waters parted
And my soul crossed over
Out of Egypt
Out of Pharaoh’s dream
Word of Words
And Measure of all Measures
Blessed is the Name
The Name be blessed
Written on my heart
In burning Letters
That’s all I know
I cannot read the rest
I was idle with my soul
When I heard that you could use me
I followed very closely
My life remained the same
But then you showed me
Where you had been wounded
In every atom
Broken is the Name
I was alone on the road
Your Love was so confusing
And all my teachers told me
That I had myself to blame
But in the Grip
Of Sensual Illusion
A sweet unknowing
Unified the Name
Word of Words
And Measure of all Measures
Blessed is the Name
The Name be blessed
Written on my heart
In burning Letters
That’s all I know
I cannot read the rest
I’ve heard the soul unfolds
In the chambers of its longing
And the bitter liquor sweetens
In the hammered cup
But all the Ladders
Of the Night have fallen
Only darkness now
To lift the Longing up
YOU GOT ME SINGING
You got me singing
Even tho’ the news is bad
You got me singing
The only song I ever had
You got me singing
Ever since the river died
You got me thinking
Of the places we could hide
You got me singing
Even though the world is gone
You got me thinking
I’d like to carry on
You got me singing
Even tho’ it all looks grim
You got me singing
The Hallelujah hymn
You got me singing
Like a prisoner in a jail
You got me singing
Like my pardon’s in the mail
You got me wishing
Our little love would last
You got me thinking
Like those people of the past
You Want It Darker
YOU WANT IT DARKER
If you are the dealer
I’m out of the game
If you are the healer
I’m broken and lame
If thine is the glory
Then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame
Magnified and sanctified
Be Thy Holy Name
Vilified and crucified
In the human frame
A million candles burning
For the help that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame
Hineni Hineni
I’m ready, my Lord
There’s a lover in the story
But the story is still the same
There’s a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it’s written in the scriptures
And it’s not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame
They’re lining up the prisoners
The guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle-class and tame
Didn’t know I had permission
To murder and to maim
You want it darker
Hineni Hineni
I’m ready, my Lord
Magnified and sanctified
Vilified and crucified
In the human frame
A million candles burning
For the love that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame
If you are the dealer
I’m out of the game
If you are the healer
I’m broken and lame
If thine is the glory
Then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame
Hineni Hineni
I’m ready, my Lord
TREATY
I seen you change the water into wine
I seen you change it back to water too
I sit at your table every night
I try but I just don’t get high with you
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes this bloody hill
I’m angry and I’m tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
They’re dancing in the street—it’s Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love but now we’re free
I’m so sorry for the ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real—and that was me.
I haven’t said a word since you’ve been gone
That any liar couldn’t say as well
I just can’t believe the static coming on
You were my ground—my safe and sound
You were my aerial
The fields are crying out—it’s Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love but now we’re free
I’m so sorry for the ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real—and that was me.
I heard the snake was baffled by his sin
He shed his scales to find the snake within
But born again is born without a skin
The poison enters into everything
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes the blood
y hill
I’m angry and I’m tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
It’s over now, the water and the wine
We were broken then, but now we’re borderline
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
ON THE LEVEL
I knew that it was wrong
I didn’t have a doubt
I was dying to get back home
And you were starting out
I said I best be moving on
You said, we have all day
You smiled at me like I was young
It took my breath away
Your crazy fragrance all around
Your secrets all in view
My lost, my lost was saying found
My don’t was saying do
Let’s keep it on the level
When I walked away from you
I turned my back on the devil
Turned my back on the angel too
They ought to give my heart a medal
For letting go of you
When I turned my back on the devil
Turned my back on the angel too
Now I’m living in this temple
Where they tell you what to do
I’m old and I’ve had to settle
On a different point of view
I was fighting with temptation
But I didn’t want to win
A man like me don’t like to see
Temptation caving in
Your crazy fragrance all around
Your secrets in my view
My lost, my lost was saying found
My don’t was saying do
Let’s keep it on the level
When I walked away from you
I turned my back on the devil
Turned my back on the angel too
They ought to give my heart a medal
For letting go of you
When I turned my back on the devil
Turned my back on the angel too
LEAVING THE TABLE
I’m leaving the table
I’m out of the game
I don’t know the people
In your picture frame
If I ever loved you
It’s a crying shame
If I ever loved you
If I knew your name
You don’t need a lawyer
I’m not making a claim
You don’t need to surrender
I’m not taking aim
I don’t need a lover
The wretched beast is tame
I don’t need a lover
So blow out the flame
There’s nobody missing
There is no reward
Little by little
We’re cutting the cord
We’re spending the treasure
That love cannot afford
I know you can feel it
The sweetness restored
I don’t need a reason
For what I became