Tom Paxton

[fox69]

"The Name Of The Game Is Stud"

"The Name Of The Game Is Stud"


Well late last night, in the Kettle of Fish
I was havin’ a glass of beer
When up comes a Rounder by the name of Sam
That lately been seen around here
He gives me a “Howdy” and he buys me a drink
And he calls me by my name
Says some of the boys are just a-waitin’ upstairs
Would you like to have a Poker game
There were four or five fellas round the table upstairs
The smoke was thick as sin
They took my coat and they pulled up a chair
And they proceeded to deal me in
I started in winnin’ with the very first hand
And I kept on winnin’ for a while
I had money in my pockets and money in my shoes
And money in a great big pile
But it’s -
Oh Lordy, don’t you see
This old Stud Poker be the ruin of me
You got to get ready to shed some blood
When the name of the game is Stud
I kept on winnin’ for an hour or more
And the boys were feelin’ low
I was lookin’ like a winner n’ feeling like a sinner
And I just about had their dough
I caught a pair of aces on the very last hand
And I bet my whole bank-roll
But Sam he had a pair of deuces on the deck
And another deuce in the hole
And it’s -
Oh Lordy, don’t you see
This old Stud Poker be the ruin of me
You got to get ready to shed some blood
When the name of the game is Stud
You know I lost every penny I had in the world
I lost my last red cent
Now my old woman ain’t talkin’ to me
And the landlord wants his rent
I know I had it comin’ and it sure enough did
And I’ve only got myself to blame
But my fingers keep itching and I keep on twitching
Just to find another Poker game
And it’s -
Oh Lordy, don’t you see
This old Stud Poker be the ruin of me
You got to get ready to shed some blood
When the name of the game is Stud

 

[fox69]

"The Names Of Trees"

"The Names Of Trees"


He’s forgotten the names of trees
Familiar faces have no names
He’s returned from alien seas
To find our father’s house in flames
He tries to read the signs
They’re in an unfamiliar tongue
Some half-remembered lines
He read when he was young
But there are days when he’ll recall
The forest in the fall
When we can walk together, and he’s fine
There are precious days like that
When he can name them all
The ash, the elm, the beech, the oak, the pine
He’s forgotten the names of trees
His thoughts are like the chattering birds
They flutter as they please
And they build their nests with scattered words
The children stop and smile
They offer him their candy bar
They sometimes stay a while
And remind him of who they are
But there are days when he’ll recall
The forest in the fall
When we can walk together, and he’s fine
There are precious days like that
When he can name them all
The ash, the elm, the beech, the oak, the pine
He’s forgotten the names of trees
He smells the land to his surprise
He’s lost in the Hebrides
A stranger to our sunny skies

 

[fox69]

"The Natural Girl For Me"

"The Natural Girl For Me"


All over this great big city
Can't find a woman who's nice and pretty
They all look like a page in a magazine
Legs are long and they eat like a sparrow
Figures stick to the straight and narrow
Top and bottom are the same as in between
Show me a pretty little number
When she walks, she rolls like thunder
Eyes as deep and dark as the deep blue sea
Round right here and round right there
Pretty red lips and her very own hair
Wrap her up, she's the natural girl for me
Went down to a coffeehouse palace
Met a little lady and her name was Alice
She had friends and her friends had her it seems
Face was dirty and her sweater was baggy
Pants were tight and her hair was shaggy
I've seen her kind on college football teams
Show me a pretty little number 314
When she walks, she rolls like thunder
Eyes as deep and dark as the deep blue sea
Round right here and round right there
Pretty red lips and her very own hair
Wrap her up, she's the natural girl for me
Way up in a penthouse pretty
Thirteen miles up above the city
I met a lady from a wealthy family
She could cuss like a real longshoreman
She was makin’ eyes at the doorman
She made a most unusual offer to me
Show me a pretty little number
When she walks, she rolls like thunder
Eyes as deep and dark as the deep blue sea
Round right here and round right there
Pretty red lips and her very own hair
Wrap her up, she's the natural girl for me
Way up at a Broadway party
I met a little lady who was very arty
She took me home to see her studio
She took out her paints and she whispered to me
She said that she wanted to do me
And some of that paint will never come off, I know
Show me a pretty little number
When she walks, she rolls like thunder
Eyes as deep and dark as the deep blue sea
Round right here and round right there
Pretty red lips and her very own hair
Wrap her up, she's the natural girl for me
Wrap her up, she's the natural girl for me

 

[fox69]

"The Parting Glass"

"The Parting Glass"


Of all the money that e'er I spent,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm that e'er I've done,
Alas, was done to none but me.

And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall.
So pour for me the parting glass,
Goodnight, and joy be with you all.

Oh, all the comrades that e'er I've had
Are sorry for my going away.
And all the sweethearts that e'er I've had
Would wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should go and you should not.
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call,
"Goodnight, and joy be with you all."

 

[fox69]

"The Perfect Bomb"

"The Perfect Bomb"


Some friends and I have worked for years in deepest secrecy
The work went on around the clock and I look for a treat
We've built the perfect weapon, we're unveiling it today
It turns the tanks to butter, but the people walk away.

The bomb, the bomb, we finally built the perfect bomb
It's impossible to stop, I can hardly wait to drop
The bomb, the bomb, we finally built the perfect bomb
I'll tell you what I'm counting on, the bomb, the bomb

The blast extends for miles and it doesn't harm a soul
Every missile warhead turns into a lump of coal
The guns all turn to licorice, the knives all break in two
The grenades are filled with flowers, colored red and white and
Blue.

[Chorus:]
The wonders of our perfect bomb are very strange to tell
It doesn't only change the guns, it changes hearts as well
An instant of exposure to its penetrating ray
Will turn a Yassar Arafat into a Danny Kay

[Chorus]

But perhaps its greatest feature, its happiest surprise
Is the way our perfect weapon searches out the meanest lies
It captures them completely, and before the bomb is through
Every word a politician says is absolutely true

[Chorus]

I'll tell you what I'm counting on, the bomb, the bomb.

 

[fox69]

"The Spirit Said 'no'"

"The Spirit Said 'no'"


I feel that I must fight, I cried
But the spirit said, no
This time I am right, I cried
But the Spirit said, no
Righteous anger turned my head
All my thoughts were burning red
To see my enemy lie dead,
But the spirit said, no
But the spirit said, no
The need to fight is strong, I cried
But the spirit said, no
My enemy is wrong, I cried
But the Spirit said, No
My faithless enemy broke trust
I'd see him trampled in the dust
For God knows that my cause is just
But the Spirit said, no
The Spirit said, no
Anger flowed like burning liquor
Through my blood and my brain
Hatred for my enemy
The need to cause him pain
Was my obsession now
My craving, now
God damn my enemy
Why, look at him standing there
Why, can't you see
How he hates me
I want to see him dead, I cried
But the spirit said, no
You heard the things he said, I cried
But the spirit said, no
There is no kinder soul than I
But he's a beast, and that is why
I'd see him dead - I'd see him die
But the spirit said, no
The Spirit said, no
Anger flowed like burning liquor
Through my blood and my brain
Hatred for my enemy
The need to cause him pain
Was my obsession now
My craving , now
God damn my enemy
Why, look at him standing there
Why, can't you see
How he hates me
I want to see him dead, I cried
But the spirit said, no
You heard the things he said, I cried
But the spirit said, no
There is no kinder soul than I
But he's a beast, and that is why
I'd see him dead - I'd see him die
But the spirit said, no
The spirit said no
I want to walk the peace walk
I want to talk the peace talk
I want to find the freedom
In my heart
I want to walk the peace walk
I want to talk the peace talk
I want to find the freedom
In my heart

 

[fox69]

"The Subway Song"

"The Subway Song"


Oh, the steps, they go down
To a hole in the ground
Where the subway goes rumbling by
You go in one end in the middle of June
And come out on the Fourth of July
Some grown-ups don’t care for the subway at all
But it’s perfect for all girls and boys
It goes like a rocket - and stops with a jerk
And it makes the most wonderful noise
Oh, the steps, they go down
To a hole in the ground
Where the subway goes rumbling by
You go in one end in the middle of June
And come out on the Fourth of July
Oh, the man who dug tunnels to lay down the track
Is the man in the blue denim shirt
He dug night and day till the tunnel was done
But where did he go with the dirt
Oh, the steps, they go down
To a hole in the ground
Where the subway goes rumbling by
You go in one end in the middle of June
And come out on the Fourth of July
Have you heard what happened to poor Tiny Tim
It happened when he wasn’t polite
A very large woman sat down on his lap
And he vanished completely from sight
Oh, the steps, they go down
To a hole in the ground
Where the subway goes rumbling by
You go in one end in the middle of June
And come out on the Fourth of July
The only thing wrong with the subways at all
Is sitting on somebody’s lap
But won’t it be great when you’re just tall enough
To stand up and hang onto the strap
Oh, the steps, they go down
To a hole in the ground
Where the subway goes rumbling by
You go in one end in the middle of June
And come out on the Fourth of July

 

[fox69]

"The Things I Notice Now"

"The Things I Notice Now"


Rained again last night
Streets are slowly drying
Sunlight's not too bright
I don't believe it's trying
I never used to care
It wouldn't cross my mind
You'd be surprised, the things I notice now
The mailman's overdue
Man upstairs is typin'
My neighbour's has the flu
And his wife has started gripin'
I never used to care
It wouldn't cross my mind
You'd be surprised, the things I notice now
I'm sittin' in the window seat
Just watchin' my day walk by
There's a lot of people I should meet
If I could find a reason why
There's a whole lot of things
I oughta get up and do
Like finding you
Mornin' streets are jammed
Taxi driver's swearin'
I think his rage is shammed
He looks like he's past carin'
I never used to care
It wouldn't cross my mind
You'd be surprised, the things I notice now
I'm going to get myself in line
I'm gonna get a hold on things
I'm probably going to be just fine
We'll see what tomorrow brings
There's a whole lot of things
I've gotta get up and do
Like finding you
Rained again last night
Streets are slowly drying
Sunlight's not too bright
I don't believe it's tryin’
I never used to care
It wouldn't cross my mind
You'd be surprised, the things I notice now

 

[fox69]

"The Thought Stayed Free"

"The Thought Stayed Free"


A thought was born in the mind of a man
And it didn't please you and it didn't please me.
So we all got together and we made our plan
To drown that thought in the deep blue sea.

So we wrapped it up in a chain we bought
For it didn't please you and it didn't please me.
To the bottom of the ocean we threw that thought
And the chain went down, but the thought stayed free.

We locked that thought in the dungeon cell.
We slammed the door, threw away the key.
And how it happened no one can tell.
For the door stayed locked but the thought went free.

So the councillers met and laws were passed
The laws were nailled on every tree.
All the sheriffs were summoned, and troops were amassed
All the tanks turned out, but the thought went free.

And the councillers fears were realised
And they were frightened as they could be
For they only had to look in peoples eyes
For the terrible news that the thought was free.

Yes the thought was free and it spread like fire
Though it didn't please you and it didn't please me.
It was banished from the land by the King's desire
And the boat pulled out, but the thought stayed free.

Now worst of all in this terrible tale
Though we tried to hurl it from our shores
Not only did this troublesome thought prevail
But worst of all one thought bred more.

 

[fox69]

"The Willing Conscript"

"The Willing Conscript"


Oh Sergeant I'm a draftee and I've just arrived in camp.
I've come to wear the uniform and join the martial tramp.
And I want to do my duty, but one thing I do implore
You must give me lessons, sergeant, for I've never killed before.

To do my job obediently is my only desire.
To learn my weapon thoroughly and how to aim and fire.
To learn to kill the enemy and then to slaughter more,
I'll need instruction, sergeant, for I've never killed before.

Now there are several lessons that I haven't mastered yet.
I haven't got the hang of how to use the bayonet.
If he doesn't die at once am I to stick him with it more?
Oh, I hope you will be patient, for I've never killed before.

Oh, there are rumors in the camp about our enemy.
They say that when you see him he looks just like you and me.
But you deny it, Sergeant, and you are a man of war,
So you must give me lessons, for I've never killed before.

The hand grenade is something that I just don't understand.
You've got to throw it quickly or you're apt to lose your hand.
Does it blow a man to pieces with it's wicked, muffled roar?
Oh, I've got so much to learn because I've never killed before.

Oh, I want to thank you, Sergeant, for the help you've been to me.
For you've taught me how to slaughter and to hate the enemy.
And I know that I'll be ready when they march me off to war,
And I know that it won't matter that I've never killed before.
And I know that it won't matter that I've never killed before.