Old 97's

[fox69]

"Beer Cans"

"Beer Cans"


I got laid off my job a week ago today
Now I just can't bring myself to apply for welfare pay
Now I'm walking down that big ol' interstate
I never thought that this would ever be my fate

[Chorus:]
I'm just picking up beer cans on the highway
It's the only thing I ever want to do
I'm just picking up beer cans on the highway
I gotta save my dough so I can marry you

Well you can drop me off on Highway 34
I hear they got some beer cans there, and I gotta get some more
Drive me into town so we can cash 'em in
Then we will never have to live in sin

[Chorus]

In a ditch, I see a flashy shining thing
Well it's only a pop top, but it reminds me of a ring
The wedding ring you'd wear the day you marry me
And that's the day I'm gonna be in ecstasy

[Chorus x2]

I've gotta save my dough so I can marry you

 

[fox69]

"Bel Air"

"Bel Air"


I've been lightin' matches in the boiler room,
Wearing sulphur perfume.
(Don't I smell nice?)

You come sniffin' around just like you own the joint,
You know it's rude to point.
(Don't make me tell you twice.)

Well I like the way you walk,
That's why I left my door unlocked.
I must be going off half-cocked. (I sometimes do.)

You think it's funny, but I know it ain't no joke.
There's nothing left to read in here, there's nothing left to smoke.
Before the band kicks in, the getting better start.
(I'll stomp a mud hole in your heart.)

You poured whiskey in my Slurpee, swear to God you got me drunk,
Now I'm thinking that I'm sunk.
(And I can't swim.)

I'm drowning in the back seat of a '61 Bel Air,
I got a mouthful of your hair.
(A handful of skin.)

I ain't suffocating,
I'm just sick and tired of waiting.
Stop this pointless hesitating. (Pull me in.)

There's an awful lot of stars out here, an awful lot of sky.
I'm turning on the radio, they're playing "Ready to Ride."
Before the band kicks in, the getting better start.
(I'll stomp a mud hole in your heart.)

We could cruise the lake like psychos,
Scare the kids on motorcycles.
(There ain't nothing I would rather do.)

It's 3-D on the TV, but it's empty on the street.
If it weren't for me and you, the avenue would be incomplete.
And I should say this, before this whole thing even starts,
I'll stomp a mud hole in your heart.

 

[fox69]

"Big Brown Eyes"

"Big Brown Eyes"


Big brown eyes and a gust of wind
And the cherry burns the corner of the page that says
"The end is coming soon," not soon enough
Restring all your guitars, pack up all your stuff
'Cause if Robert's dad is right
We might not make it through the night
And I'd hate to go alone
Please pick up the phone
Well a box of red and a pill or three
And I'm calling time and temperature just for some company
I wish you were here. I wish I was too
Well, I'll drink myself to sleeplessness, I always do
You don't want me anymore
Since fame and fortune broke down our door
Well, you don't give me no respect
What did I expect?
If that phone don't ring one more time
Well, I'm gonna lose what's left of my mind
Yeah, you made a big impression for a girl of your size
Now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes
Yeah, your big brown eyes
Yeah, your big brown eyes
Her hands are cold, her breath is warm
She's a port in a storm
And I'm worried now, but it won't be long
Well, it takes a worried man, you know, to sing a worried song
And I've got issues, yeah
Like I miss you, yeah
And I wish I weren't so thick
I'm making myself sick
If that phone don't ring one more time
Well, I'm gonna lose what's left of my mind
Yeah, you made a big impression for a girl of your size
Now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes
Yeah, your big brown eyes
Yeah, your big brown eyes
Yeah, your big brown eyes

 

[fox69]

"Bird In A Cage"

"Bird In A Cage"


I left you last night on the left coast
I'm writin' you a letter right now
The things that you do are rendering you
Something I can't live without

Maybe maybe I've got a pulse now
Maybe my heart's on fire
A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

Left you last night on the left side
The land of the free to be burned
Well the heat of your touch is makin' it such
That I've forgotten everything I've learned

Maybe maybe I've got a problem
Maybe my heart's a liar
A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

Yeah a bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

And I may be a bird in a cage
But it least it's your cage
And I may be a bird in a cage
But it least it's your cage

Left you last night on the left half
Of the bed, the half that used to be mine
The way that you sleep is the image I'll keep
Always on the edge of my mind

Maybe maybe I've got a reason
For livin' even though I'm so tired
A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

And I may be a bird in a cage
But it least it's your cage
And I may be a bird in a cage
But it least it's your cage

Maybe maybe you are the only
One my heart's desired
A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

A bird in the hand is worth a bird in a cage
Is worth a bird on a telephone wire

 

[fox69]

"Blinding Sheets Of Rain"

"Blinding Sheets Of Rain"


These storms they gather forces unbeknownst to fools like me
They hide on the horizon too far gone to see
I could have swore the heart you wore upon your sleeve was mine
I could not see in front of me you were leaving I was blind

Blinding sheets of rain that's what I'm blaming
I must have been blind not to see that you would leave
Now you are gone and the world is an ugly place
And I pray good lord send more blinding sheets of rain

I love you lost its meaning to shipwrecked fools like me
The rain is never-ending there's no ships out to see
We have not seen a good night since these thunderstorms rolled in
I pray god please send them back and make me blind again

 

[fox69]

"Bloomington"

"Bloomington"


She drove a blue car around Bloomington
She was a thin girl but she had substance
She said that most girls who come to Bloomington
Only come here to find husbands
And the existence of God was confirmed
By the way she unfolded herself alongside
And I tried to harden my heart
But she wouldn't let me she wouldn't let me

Bloomington Bloomington
When the rest of the world is over and done
You'll still be the only one I'll ever love Bloomington

In a park that doubled as a parking lot
There was music it was free
The girl in pink took a sip of my drink
And laid down next to me
The way she unfolded herself
Was an earthquake a hurricane tidal wave flood
This is love baby this is love
The moment she let me the moment she let me

 

[fox69]

"Book Of Poems"

"Book Of Poems"


Rowboat lightning I kissed her yeah it didn't mean a thing
Seems like years ago it was yesterday
Fire drill yell freeze don't hang around long face disease
I got a book of poems that's gonna set you free

Well it's bad luck and it's a hard luck story
And I'm sorry I ain't sticking around
I got a real bad feeling that a book of poems ain't enough

Well it's a sick world and sixteen days
I got nightmares every night
I got a real bad feeling that a book of poems ain't enough

Hardcore uptown not the kind of place you wanna settle down
I only walked her home but that was bad enough
Two trains yell freeze it was a head-on cold now it's a love disease
I got a book of poems you gotta see to believe

Well it's bad luck and it's a hard luck story
And I'm sorry I ain't sticking around
I got a real bad feeling that a book of poems ain't enough

Well it's a sick world and sixteen days
I got nightmares every night
I got a real bad feeling that a book of poems ain't enough

 

[fox69]

"Borrowed Bride"

"Borrowed Bride"


The hat on your head the ghosts before breakfast
The lump in your throat the name on her necklace
She's certain she'll never be caught
You can buy her things now but she'll never be bought

The cat on her mind the ring in her tan-line
The lowering lids the perfume is white wine
She's certain her karma is good
Glass houses won't burn but you know this would

So take her inside she's your borrowed bride
And you'll never guess how much she has not cried
Life comes apart at the seams it seems
Life comes apart at the seams

It rings only once when you sit down to dinner
You knew all was lost when she named you the winner
You are certain of nothing at all
Except that it's late but it's not the last call

 

[fox69]

"Broadway"

"Broadway"


In a hotel room just off Times Square, it's like a closet
I can watch the dancing class go 'round
In a hotel room that costs as much as my apartment
I can watch the working class go down

And it's enough to make a crooked man go straight
On Broadway
Broadway

In a hotel room just off Times Square, they made a monster
He was unaware of what went down
Fattening him up just like a calf before a slaughter
He'd had his fill of hollow town

And it's enough to make a stupid man think straight
Broadway
Broadway

And it's enough to make a crooked man go straight
Broadway
Broadway
Broadway
Broadway

 

[fox69]

"Brown Haired Daughter"

"Brown Haired Daughter"


And I tried
And I know what we are
Yeah, I saw it in a strange dream
We're a mess
I'm afraid
That this is the real thing
And I tried
Tried to leave it all alone
Send your brown haired daughter home
But I can't
So I won't
And you ought to hear my heart curse
We're in love
IN a way
And it's only making it worse
And I tried
Tried to leave it all alone
Send your brown haired daughter home
And I'd like
Yeah I'd like to let her be

Set your brown haired daughter free
Yeah, it's strange
How we are
So safe until we're sorry
On a dime
On a dare
And it's not my fault she loves me
And I tried
Tried to leave it all alone
Send your brown haired daughter home
And I'd like
Yeah I'd like to let her be
Set your brown haired daughter free
And I tried
Tried to leave it all alone
Send your brown haired daughter home
But I can't
So I won't