Steve Earle

[fox69]

"Little Emperor"

"Little Emperor"



Hey little Emperor, come down from your throne
The hourglass is empty, your time has come and gone
The battlements are crumblin’ the walls are tumblin’ down
Your counselors and concubines are getting’ out of town
Some say it’s an omen, some say it’s the winds of change
Which every way it’s going’ it’s blowin’ like a hurricane
Hey little conqueror, where you gonna go?
The world is even smaller than it was when you left home
Emptiness in front of you and detritus behind
Nobody ever told you that history was kind
Standin’ on the corner, your fortune blowin’ in the wind
Daddy didn’t warn that there ain’t no going home again

No pomp and circumstance, no more shock and awe
You’re just a little emperor, that’s all

Hey little hypocrite, what you gonna say
When you wind up standin’ naked on the final judgment day
How you gonna justify it, who you gonna call
What if it turns out God doesn’t look like you at all
The leaves are in the teacup, the hieroglyphics on the wall
You ain’t the first to rise up, you sure won’t be last to fall

Hey little emperor, come down from your throne
And let another emperor climb on

 

[fox69]

"Little Rock 'N' Roller"

"Little Rock 'N' Roller"



Hey little guy, I can't believe you answered the phone
I guess I didn't know you could do that, God help me, have I been gone that long
I'm in a truck stop somewhere on the Arkansas line
They got all the big trucks here, boy, you ought to hear the big diesels whine
No little guy, your daddy won't be home for a while
It's gonna be another couple weeks and another couple thousand miles
So got to sleep little rock 'n' roller
Your daddy's up there knockin' 'em dead tonight
One of these days when you're a little older
You can ride the big bus and everything will be alright
Until that day you got your mama to hold you
Don't be afraid when she turns out the light
Cause I know there's an angel just for rock 'n' rollers
Watchin' over you and your daddy tonight

No little guy, don't bother your mamma right now
'Cause I only got a minute and I called to talk to you anyhow
I Know you miss me, God knows I'm thinkin' 'bout you
I got your picture in my wallet, it cheers me up sometimes when I'm blue
Well little guy, I'm gonna have to let you go
You know it's way past your bedtime, and they're tellin' me we gotta roll

 

[fox69]

"Little Sister"

"Little Sister"



I don't care what you do to me
I don't care what you do to me
I don't care what you do to me
But won't you let my little sister be

Now you can tie me up an torture me
You can hang me from a willow tree
You can jail me for eternity
But won't you let my little sister be

She's afraid of the dark
She prays for the morning light
She's as free as a bird
And her wings are spread and ready for flight
She knows nothing at all
About you and your emotional plight
But she heard you making noises
In the hallway late last night

If you got to have something to show
And you've got to take it down below
And you're sure that one of us must go
Take me and leave my sister alone

 

[fox69]

"Lonelier Than This"

"Lonelier Than This"



It doesn't get any lonelier than this
I believe my heart'll break
Tonight I prayed I'd die before I wake
With every breath I'm tastin' your kiss
And it's sweet upon my tongue
Until the bitter tears fall one by one

It doesn't get any lonelier than this
'Cause I'm on this road alone
My heartbeat ringin' like a hollow drum
I'm about as lonesome as a poor boy gets
And there's nothin' I can do
'Cause it's dark out here and I can't find you
It doesn't get any lonelier than this

It doesn't get any lonelier than this
I'm as blue as blue can be
Just an empty place where your love should be
I'm sick and tired of walkin' around like this
With my heart outside my skin
Scared to death we'll never touch again
It doesn't get any lonelier than this
And there's no place I can go
Just the dusty corners that the shadows know
Maybe this is as good as it's gonna get
And I'll always be this way
I'll just wander this world callin' out your name
It doesn't get any lonelier than this

 

[fox69]

"Lonely Are The Free"

"Lonely Are The Free"



Lonely are the free
'Cause there ain't that many of them
They don't walk like you and me

They just tumble in the breeze
Lighter than a feather
All together, separately

That's how it's s'posed to be
No matter where they wander
From post to in between,
From here to over yonder,
There's no place for them to land
Lonely are the free

The silent are the strong
Not so much as a whisper
Tells you anything is wrong

You've known all along,
But you can't help but listen
And now the moment's gone.

It keeps you hanging on
Until the stillness signaling
The breaking of the dawn,
Is shattered by the sirens
Singing sacrificial songs
The silent are the strong.

That's all they used to see
A violent shadow passing 'cross
The sun so fleetingly
That if you have to ask you miss it
Anyway you see
Lonely are the free
Lonely are the free

 

[fox69]

"Long, Lonesome Highway Blues"

"Long, Lonesome Highway Blues"



Bound down that long, lonesome highway just as far as I can go
'Til I outrun your memory
I can't go home 'cause I can't face another day alone
Now that you're gone this ain't no place for me
I want to start all over new
But I can't lose these lonesome highway blues
Down that long, lonesome highway just as far as I can go
'Til I outrun your memory

Bound down that long, lonesome highway just as fast as I can fly
Just wanna go to someplace you won't be
I'm movin' on to a new place and hold my head up high
Where no one knows what you done to me
A thousand miles between us now
And still some how
These blues'll track me down
Down that long, lonesome highway just as far as I can go
'Til I outrun your memory

I'm bound down that long lonesome highway 'cause it's the only place I know
Where there ain't no clouds hangin' over me
Leave me alone 'cause it's a long way no matter where I go
Nothin' but blues as far as I can see
I wish I had you back again
But I know I can't
So here I go again
Down that long, lonesome highway just as far as I can go
'Til I outrun your memory

 

[fox69]

"Loretta"

"Loretta"



Well Loretta, she's a bar-room girl
Wears them sevens on her sleeve
Dances like a diamond shines
Tell me lies I love to believe

Her age is always 22
Her laughin' eyes a hazel hue
Spends my money like water falls
Loves me like I want her to

Oh Loretta, won't you say to me?
Darlin', put your guitar on
Have a little shot of booze
Play a blue and wailin' song

My guitar rings a melody
My guitar sings, Loretta's fine
Long and lazy, blonde and free
I can have her any time

Sweetest at the break of day
Prettiest in the settin' sun
She don't cry when I can't stay
'Least not till she's all alone

Loretta, I won't be gone long
Keep your dancin' slippers on
Keep me on your mind a while
I'll be back babe to make you smile

Loretta, she's a bar-room girl
Wears them sevens on her sleeve
Dances like a diamond shines
Tell me lies I love to believe

 

[fox69]

"Love's Gonna Blow My Way"

"Love's Gonna Blow My Way"



I’m stranded
Standin’ in the pourin’ rain
Really comin’ down but someday
Love’s gonna blow my way
Empty-handed
Haven’t got a shuck to pay
For a ticket outta town but someday
Love‘s gonna blow my way
People goin’ places pass me by
I don’t care ‘cause I know I
Got plans made
And I don’t need to do a thing
But stand right where I am ‘cause someday
Love‘s gonna blow my way

I’ve been prayin’
Light a candle everyday
And every little prayer that I pray
Says love’s gonna blow my way
So I’m just stayin’
Waitin’ on the wind to change
‘Cause generally all the signs say
Love’s gonna blow my way
Stormy weather never brings me down
‘Cause it don’t ever hang around
It just fades
Into another sunny day
Shinin’ down on me ‘cause someday
Love‘s gonna blow my way

I ain’t goin’ nowhere I can’t be
Where my true love can’t follow me
So I’ll wait
Takes forever that’s okay
‘Cause somethin’ in the air says someday
Love’s gonna blow my way

 

[fox69]

"Love's To Blame"

"Love's To Blame"



I was not born in this town
But that ol' highway wore me down
Days roll by and turn to years
I don't know why I'm still here

He told me he loved me so
But there were things he'd never know
Then one day I said I'd stay
But he'd already turned away

I don't know why I gave into to love when it called my name
Now I'm lonely, the highway don't know me, and love's to blame

I swore I'd hit the road again
And I would not recall a thing
But every time I tried to leave
Love came tuggin' at my sleeve

I don't know know why I needed to hear someone call my name
Now I'm lonely, the highway don't know me, and love's to blame

Last night I was fast asleep
Pray the Lord my soul to keep
But I woke up to that highway sound
I knew I'd never leave this town

 

[fox69]

"Lucy Dee"

"Lucy Dee"


I've been sittin' here talkin' at you all night long
Honey, you still come on cool
Well, you could have walked away
Instead you're leading me on
Lucy, who're you tryin' to fool?

[Chorus:]
Yeah, Lucy Dee
You ain't got to run that line on me
It's plain to see
That you ain't all that you're made out to be
Well, you can tell all your friends
That you've finally met your equal, Lucy Dee

Well, you've known all along just what I'm talkin' about
You knew someday there'd come a man
Who wouldn't keep on givin' 'til he finally gave out
Lucy, honey, here I stand

[Chorus]

Well, you tell me you know every thrill that there is to know
But nothin' in this life comes free - nothin'
You tell me you've been every way that there is to go
Lucy, you ain't been with me

[Chorus]