Rodney Crowell

[fox69]

"Our Little Town"

"Our Little Town"


If you're just passing through there is not much to do in our little town
If you're moving too fast then you probably won't last in our little town
The man on the street has a light in his eye and a shine on his shoes
There's not much of a darkside here
I just want to make that clear

Hey our little town is a real fine place
Hey our little town has a style and a grace
In our little town we're not gathering dust
Hey our little town is a face you can trust
Take a good look at us in our little town
Our little town

So you've made some mistakes, you can put on the brakes in our little town
You've been living in vain why not get off the train in our little town
The ways of the world are like dust on a windshield
just wipe 'em away
And see how it feels to be right where you want to be

Hey our little town is a real fine place
Hey our little town has a style and a grace
In our little town we're not gathering dust
Hey our little town is a face you can trust
Take a good look at us in our little town
Our little town

In our little town we've got nothing to hide you see
And if I were you there'd be no place I'd rather be

Hey our little town is a place in the sun
In our little town we don't hurt anyone
In our little town we will tell you no lies
Hey our little town looks you right in the eye
We never say die in our little town
Our little town
Our little town
Our little town

 

[fox69]

"Past Like A Mask"

"Past Like A Mask"


I was told to be a man was build defences strong
Keep your woman in her place and she'll keep hangin' on
Now I've grown to realise my life's been filled with lies
A tread I've been hangin' on has broken in her eyes
If I could let my heart be known in spite walls so high
I might taste those bitter tears that I've never learned to cry

But I've got a paast like a mask
And I can see it in her face, the many years I can't erase
A broken heart I can't replace in spite of what I try
But I've got a pa-ast like a mask
And I sure took my time to understand

When I was young, not long ago, I hid my feelings well
Sometimes I let my heartaches show but I could never tell
And now I find I've been blind, insensitive and vain
Cause someone told me long ago "ignore a woman's pain"
If I could change the fool I've been, I know just what'd do
I'd give her everything I can and make all her dreams come true

But I've got a past like a mask
And I can see it in her eyes, the lonely nights, the endless lies
The countless time I made her cry when she was by my side
And I've got a past like a mask
And I sure took my time to understand

 

[fox69]

"Please Remember Me"

"Please Remember Me"


When all our tears have reached the sea
A part of you will live in me
Way down inside my heart
Days keep coming without fail
A new wind's gonna find your sail
That's where your journeys start

You'll find better love
Strong as it ever was
Deep as a river runs
Warm as the morning sun
But please remember me

Just like the waves down by the shore
We're gonna keep on coming back for more
Cause we don't ever want to stop

Out in this brave new world you seek
Oh the valleys and the peaks
I can see you on the top

You'll find better love
Strong as it ever was
Deep as a river runs
Warm as the morning sun
But please remember me

Remember me when you're out walking
When snow falls high outside your door
Late at night when you're not sleeping
And moonlight falls across your floor
When I can't hurt you anymore

You'll find better love
Strong as it ever was
Deep as the river runs
Warm as the morning sun
But please remember me

 

[fox69]

"Preachin' To The Choir"

"Preachin' To The Choir"


My self importance is a god forsaken bore
I aim for heaven but I wake up on the floor

I'd take up with rattlesnakes to get my point across
And I'd argue with a parking brake to show 'em who's the boss
It's my intention to inspire instead I'm preachin' to the choir

I had some money but I blew it livin' high
My wine and women were the best that you could buy
I tried to prove myself a man of certain taste
But all I've got to show you now is written on my face
I'm not someone you'd admire but I'm still preachin' to the choir

I'm born a lion but I don't believe it fits
I'm no King of the jungle out here livin' by my wits
This morning's paper called for romance on a whim
And I reckon I'd believe 'em if they told me sink or swim
I'm under water not on fire but I'm still preachin' to the choir

Baytown Texas there's a fisherman I knew
He read the bible and he spit tobacco too
He said that crap about the rod you spare to spoil the child
Well it's only propaganda meant to keep you in denial
Go on and follow your desire but he was preachin' to the choir

Time is of the essence when you're hangin' by a thread
And the answer to your questions won't unravel in your head
When you're staring at forever from the edge of life's abyss
Ain't no one gonna tell you how it all came down to this
If you say different your a liar but I'm just preachin' to the choir

When I'm standing at St Peter's gate and trying to slip on in
I might as well plead guilty to the worst of who I've been
I used to like to think I had a special way with words
But right now I'm convinced I've more in common with the birds
Until my situation's dire I'll keep on preachin to the choir
Hey I'm not ready to retire so I'll keep on preachin' to the choir

 

[fox69]

"Que' Es Amor (What Is Love)"

"Que' Es Amor (What Is Love)"


Que 'es amor
What is love

It's a crazy man who sings his song in a hurricane

It's a crazy woman who loves his song

Que 'es amor
What is love

I don't know what love is
What is love
Nobody knows what's love

 

[fox69]

"Queen Of Hearts"

"Queen Of Hearts"


Midnight
And I'm a-waiting on the twelve-oh-five
Hoping it'll take me just a little farther down the line

Moonlight
You're just a heartache in disguise
Won't you keep my heart from breaking
If it's only for a very short time

Playing with the queen of hearts
Knowing it ain't really smart
The joker ain't the only fool
Who'll do anything for you

Laying out another lie
Thinking 'bout a life of crime
That's what I'll have to do
To keep me away from you

Honey, you know it makes you mad
Why is everybody telling everybody what you have done
Baby, I know it makes you sad
But when they're handing out the heartaches
You know you got to have you some

Lovers, I know you've had a few
But hide your heart beneath the covers
And tell 'em they're the only one
And others, they know just what I'm going through
And it's a-hard to be a lover when you say you're only in it for fun

Playing with the queen of hearts
Knowing it ain't really smart
The joker ain't the only fool who'll do anything for you

Playing with the queen of hearts

 

[fox69]

"Reckless"

"Reckless"


Last night I lay dreaming I was drinking in a hotel bar
Two women came up and kissed me
And you were watching from a distant star
I know it doesn't make much sense, but what can I tell you
Judging by the evidence, I'm feeling reckless

I don't know why I would go there, all to make a fuss over what
I've got a woman like you and what do I do
Pretend I might be something I'm not
I know you know it's not your fault, it's something inside me
Would that I were worth my salt, but I'm feeling reckless

You give me more than I deserve
You could say I've got some nerve

So slay me with your tender mercy
Comfort me with words of steel
You can catch me in a lie when I cast a roving eye
But you'll never know the way I feel
I know you know you're smarter than me
Tell me something I don't know
There's so much more that I could be, but I'm feeling reckless

Last night I lay dreaming I was drinking in a hotel bar
Two women came up and kissed me
And you were watching from a distant star

 

[fox69]

"Ridin' Out The Storm"

"Ridin' Out The Storm"


The New York City winter comes in cold grey sheets of steel
A numbness in his hands and feet is all that he can feel
Alcohol and sterno turns a doorway to a bed
And the ghost of who he might have been lives on inside his head

In a canyon made of brownstone on a sidewalk icy black
He wanders nearly barefoot with his righteousness intact
A man of many mansions in a cardboard box replete
And he lies sleeping with an angel while his heart pretends to beat

Ah the wind blows down on Lonely Street like an ice pick through the air
Midst the Sunday times and the coffee grinds and thrwino's in Times Square
Five flights up on Easy Street you know she's safe and warm
And way down low 'neath a foot of snow he's a-ridin' out the storm

I offered him my winter coat, politely he refused
Like an educated man he spoke with words I seldom use
He said I don't need pity for these choices are my own
He bowed his head just slightly and then quietly moved along

Ah the wind blows down on Lonely Street like an ice pick through the air
Midst the Sunday times and the coffee grinds and the wino's in Times Square
Five flights up on Easy Street you know she's safe and warm
And way down low 'neath a foot of snow he's a-ridin' out the storm

Well its not like he's a victim of the homeless life he stalks
Nor helpless to get back across the fine line that he walks
Riding out the storm means yesterday's already spent
Tomorrow don't mean nothing it won't even make a dent

Ah the wind blows down on Lonely Street like an ice pick through the air
Midst the Sunday times and the coffee grinds and the wino's in Times Square
Five flights up on Easy Street you know she's safe and warm
And way down low 'neath a foot of snow he's a-ridin' out the storm

Ridin' out, ridin' out, ridin' out
Ridin' out, ridin' out, ridin' out
Ridin' out, ridin' out, ridin' out
Ridin' out, ridin' out, ridin' out

 

[fox69]

"Say You Love Me"

"Say You Love Me"


I've been up all night and the night before
My teeth are dirty my eyes are sore
There was a good time had by all accounts
And we were drinking to you in tall amounts
I guess we had a little trouble in the hotel bar
Some hometown bubba went a little too far
He said he don't like Catholics he don't like Jews
He don't like me and he don't like you

Say you love me
Say you need me
Say you want me - don't disappoint me
Say it
Say it
Say it
Say it

I've got ten good years left in my legs
Someday baby I won't have to beg
The first thing to go is not your mind
You have known that for a long long time
You've got the Irish eyes and the raven hair
From your head down to your underwear
Poetry is the language of choice
Whenever I'm within the sound of your voice

Say you love me
Say you need me
Say you want me - don't disappoint me
Say it
Say it
Say it
Say it

Speak your mind darlin' state your case baby
Lay it on the line sugar cut to the chase maybe
Say it in your own words and don't be proud
If it's something that you wanna get heard
You've got to say it to me right out loud

Say it
Say it
Say it
Say it
Say it
Say it
Say it
Say it

 

[fox69]

"Sex And Gasoline"

"Sex And Gasoline"


So much beauty, abs and tush
Swoop down on you like a burnin' bush
Pop religion bullwhip thin
Says you ain't nothing but the shape you're in
Come on now girl, genuflect nude magazine
This mean old world runs on sex and gasoline

19 candles adorn your cake
Life's simple pleasures is a chance you take
So here's the skinny, indulge the urge
Then sometime later you can binge and purge
Come on little girl, we both know what I mean
This mean old world runs on sex and gasoline

You're pushing thirty, why you old hag
Here's something dirty for your shopping bag
You spend the money and here's the deal
We'll do our best to mend your sex appeal
Ah, come on dear girl, the process is routine
This mean old world runs on sex and gasoline

Your over forty, that's it for you
I'm pretty sure there's nothing else that we can do
Perhaps the convent, perhaps the knife
You woulda, coulda, shoulda been a rich man's wife
Come on old girl, Lolita in her prime was yet thirteen
This star crossed world runs on sex and gasoline

Tired ol' story, sad but true
We mama's boys have got it in for you
Our faults are many, our virtues nil
We never loved you and we never will
Ah, come on now girl, it's time we both come clean
This mean old world runs on sex and gasoline

From the first grade princess to the last homecoming queen
The star crossed world runs on sex and gasoline
The whole wide world runs on sex and gasoline
Oh yes and your momma's world ran on sex and gasoline