S

Saint of Circumstance

This must be heaven, tonight I cross the line.
You must be the angel, I though I might never find.
Was it you I heard singing, Oh while I was chasin' dreams.
Driven by the wind, like the dust that blows around,
And the rain fallin' down, but I never know.
Got to be heaven, cause here's where the rainbow ends.
If this ain't the real thing, then it's close enough to pretend.
When that wind blows, when the night's about to fall.
You can hear the silence call, it's a certain sort of sound,
Like the rain fallin' down.

Holes in what's left of my reason, holes in the knees of my blues.
Odds against me been increasin', but I'll pull through.
I never could read no road map, I don't know what the weather might do.
But when that rich wind whines and I see the dark star shine,
I got a feeling there's no time to lose, no time to lose.

Never know now, just don't never know, no.
Well it's been heaven, but even the rainbows will end.
Now my sails are fillin' and the wind is willin'.
And I'm as good as gone again.
I'm still walkin', so I'm sure that I can dance.
Just a Saint of Circumstance, just a tiger in a trance.
And the rain fallin' down, well, you never know, just don't know.
Listen, sure don't know what I going for, but I'm gonna go for it for sure...

Saint Stephen with a rose, in and out of the garden he goes,
Country garden in the wind and the rain,
Wherever he goes the people all complain.

Stephen prospered in his time, well he may and he may decline.
Did it matter, does it now? Stephen would answer if he only knew how.
Wishing well with a golden bell, bucket hanging clear to hell,
Hell halfway twixt now and then,
Stephen fill it up and lower down and lower down again.

Lady finger, dipped in moonlight, writing "What for?" across the morning sky.
Sunlight splatters, dawn with answer, darkness shrugs and bids the day goodbye.

Speeding arrow, sharp and narrow,
What a lot of fleeting matters you have spurned.
Several seasons with their treasons,
Wrap the babe in scarlet colors, call it your own.
Did he doubt or did he try? Answers aplenty in the bye and bye,
Talk about your plenty, talk about your ills,
One man gathers what another man spills.

Saint Stephen will remain, all he's lost he shall regain,
Seashore washed by the suds and foam,
Been here so long, he's got to calling it home.

Fortune comes a crawlin', calliope woman, spinnin' that curious sense of your own.
Can you answer? Yes I can. But what would be the answer to the answer man?

If I had my way, I would tear this old building down.

Well Delilah was a woman, she was fine and fair,
She had good looks, God knows, and coal black hair,
Delilah she gained old Samson's mind.
When first he saw this woman, you know he couldn't believe his mind.

Delilah she climbed up on Samson's knee,
Said tell me where your strength lies if you please.
She spoke so kind and she talked so fair,
Well Samson said, Delilah cut off my hair.

You can shave my head, clean as my hand
And my strength will become as natural as any old man.

If I had my way, if I had my way, if I had my way,
I would tear this old building down.

You read about Samson, all from his works,
He was the strongest man that ever had lived on earth.
One day when Samson was walking along,
Looked down on the ground, he saw an old jawbone.

He stretched out his arm, God knows, chains broke like thread,
When he got to moving, ten thousand was dead.

If I had my way, if I had my way, if I had my way,
I would tear this old building down.

Now Samson and the lion, they got in a tack,
Samson he crawled up on the lion's back.
You read about this lion, he killed a man with his paws,
But Samson got his hands around that lion's jaws.

He ripped the beast till he killed him dead.
The bees made honey in the lion's head.

If I had my way, if I had my way, if I had my way,
I would tear this old building down.

I can't get no, satisfaction. I can't get no satisfaction.
Cause I try and I try and I try and I try, I can't get no, I can't get no.

When I'm driving in my car and that man comes on the radio
And he's telling me more and more about some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
I can't get no, Oh, no, no, no. Hey, hey, hey, that's what I say.
When I'm watching my TV and that man comes on to tell me how white my shirts (?)

When I'm riding 'round the world and I'm doin' this and I'm signin' that
And I'm trying to make some girl
Who tells me, baby maybe come back later next week
Cause you see I'm on a losing streak

When my grandpa was a boy, he went down to the general store.
Saw a picture book of whales, shootin' his spout and flashin' his tail.
Then he go, a sailor's dream, cruisin' around on the salty sea.
Joinin' up with a fisher crew go out and get him a whale or two.
Tell me what kind of men are these that sail upon the salty seas.
Lovin' and drinkin' in the afternoon, swabbin' the deck and sharpnin' harpoons.

Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises.
So early in the morning.

Lots of whales in the deep blue sea, we kill them for the companies.
Drag 'em alongside and chop 'em in two, melt them down and sail it to you.
There hardly is a sailor alive, who can keep a tear from his eye.
Cause he remembers the good old days when there were no whales to save.
Thank the Russians and the Japanese for scouring the deep, blue sea.
Lookin' for ivory and perfume, all the light you'll ever need.

Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises.
So early in the morning.

Shanghi got a lot on the move, put out from Boston in the middle of June.
Thirty-six months out at sea is nothing but death and misery.
Set off on a three year cruise, Union ship and a Union crew.
And after six months he began to see, whalin' not what it used to be.
A modern ship and a modern crew, occalascopes and explodin' harpoons.
A mechanical boat made of steel,
A floatin' machine just to kill all the whales.

Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises.
So early in the mornin'.

When my grandpa was a boy, he went down to the general store.
Saw a picture book of whales, shootin' his spout and flashin' his tail.
Then he got a sailor's dream, cruisin' around on the salty sea.
Joinin' up with a fisher crew go out and get him a whale or two.
Tell me what kind of men are these that sail upon the salty seas.
Lovin' and drinkin' in the afternoon, swabbin' the deck and sharpnin' harpoons.

Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises.
So early in the morning.

Once I was a slave at the sawmill
Talk about a poor boy, talk about a poor boy
Let me have a dollar bill
My work was so hard at the sawmill
Talk about a poor boy, talk about a poor boy
Let me have a dollar bill

See my teardrops falling down my wife left this sawmill town
She said sawmill's life had been a sin
The gravy were much too thin
I can't work no more at the sawmill
Talk about a poor boy, talk about a poor boy
Let me have a dollar bill

If you take your wife to the sawmill
How you gonna please her, how you gonna please her
When she wants a dollar bill
She'll run away and leave you at the sawmill
Women like a dollar, women like a dollar. Yes and women always will.
See my teardrops falling down my wife left this sawmill town
She said sawmill's life had been a sin
The gravy were much too thin. I can't work no more at the sawmill
Yes and women like a dollar, yes and women like a dollar
Yes and women always will

As I was walkin' 'round Grosvenor Square
Not a chill to the winter but a nip to the air,
From the other direction, she was calling my eye,
It could be an illusion, but I might as well try, might as well try.

She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes.
And I knew without askin' she was into the blues.
She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls,
I knew right away she was not like other girls, other girls.

In the thick of the evening when the dealing got rough,
She was too pat to open and too cool to bluff.
As I picked up my matches and was closing the door,
I had one of those flashes I'd been there before, been there before.

Well, I ain't always right but I've never been wrong.
Seldom turns out the way it does in a song.
Once in a while you get shown the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right.

Well there ain't nothing wrong with the way she moves,
Scarlet begonias or a touch of the blues.
And there's nothing wrong with the look that's in her eyes,

Wind in the willow's playin' "Tea for Two";
The sky was yellow and the sun was blue,
Strangers stoppin' strangers just to shake their hand,
Everybody's playing in the heart of gold band, heart of gold band.

Well, I've been searchin', I've been searchin'
I've been searchin' every week and day
Well, I've been searchin', I've been searchin'
I've been searchin' every which way
Like the North West Mountain you know I'll bring her in someday

Well, if I have to climb a mountain, you know I will
And if I have to swim a river, you know I will

No matter where she goes, Oh Lord, you know I will
And if I have to climb a mountain, you know I will
And if I have to swim a river, you know I will
I know she's hiding up there
If you marry him don't you know I'll find her, child I will

Well Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade gonna put that child on me
No matter where she's hiding
She gonna tell me you're coming
I'm gonna walk right down that street just like bulldog jumping
Cause I've been searchin', I've been searchin'
I've been searchin' every which way
Like the North West Mountain you know I'll bring her in someday

You tell me this town ain't got no heart. Well, well, well, you can never tell.
The sunny side of the street is dark. Well, well, well, you can never tell.
Maybe that's cause it's midnight, in the dark of the moon besides.

Maybe the dark is from your eyes, Maybe the dark is from your eyes,
Maybe the dark is from your eyes, Maybe the dark is from your eyes,
Maybe the dark is from your eyes, Maybe the dark is from your eyes,
You know you got such dark eyes!

Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street. Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart. You just gotta poke around.

You think you've seen this town clear through.
Well, well, well, you can never tell.
Nothin' here that could int'rest you. Well, well, well, you can never tell.
It's not because you missed out on the thing that we had to start.

Maybe you had too much too fast. Maybe you had too much too fast.
Maybe you had too much too fast. Maybe you had too much too fast.
Maybe you had too much too fast. Maybe you had too much too fast.
Or just over played your part.

Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street. Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart. You just gotta poke around.

Since I'm passing your way today. Well, well, well, you can never tell.
I just stopped in 'cause I want to say, Well, well, well, you can never tell.
I recall your darkness when it crackled like a thundercloud.

Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
When I can hear it beat out loud!

Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street. Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart. You just gotta poke around.

She's got everything she needs, she's an artist, she don't look back.
Takes the dark out of the nighttime, she paints the daytime black.

You will start out standing, proud to steal her anything she sees.
But you will wind up peeking through a key hole, down upon your bended knees.

She never stumbles, she's got no place to fall.
She's nobody's child, the law can't touch her at all.

She wears an Egyptian ring, that sparkles before she speaks.
She's a hypnotist collector, you are a walking antique.

Bow down to her on Sunday, salute her when her birthday comes.
For Halloween but her a trumpet, and for Christmas, buy her drums.

She's got everything she needs, she's an artist, she don't look back.
Takes the dark out of the nighttime, you know she paints the daytime black.

Well she's little and she's low, right down on the ground
Well the way she acts makes a rabbit huddle 'round
She's mine, well she's mine little and low crippled and she's blind

Everybody's laughin' where I go 'cause I'm leading my old lady
Down the road, but she's mine
Well she's mine little and low poor child crippled and blind

She's my baby crippled and blind
She's still my girl, she's mine

Went to see the captain, strangest I could find,
Laid my proposition down, laid it on the line.
I won't slave for beggar's pay, likewise gold and jewels,
But I would slave to learn the way to sink your ship of fools.

Ship of fools on a cruel sea, ship of fools sail away from me.
It was later than I thought when I first believed you,
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools.

Saw your first ship sink and drown, from rockin' of the boat,
And all that could not sink or swim was just left there to float.
I won't leave you drifting down, but woh it makes me wild,
With thirty years upon my head to have you call me child.

Ship of fools on a cruel sea, ship of fools sail away from me.
It was later than I thought when I first believed you,
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools.

The bottles stand as empty, as they were filled before.
Time there was and plenty, but from that cup no more.
Though I could not caution all, I still might warn a few:
Don't lend your hand to raise no flag atop no ship of fools.

Ship of fools on a cruel sea, ship of fools sail away from me.
It was later than I thought, when I first believed you,
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools.

It was later than I thought when I first believed you,
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools.

Silver Threads and Golden Needles

I don't want your lonely mansion with a tear in every room
All I want's the love you've promised beneath the halo moon
But you think I should be happy with your money and your name
Sit alone and hide my sorrows while you play your cheatin' game

Silver threads and golden needles cannot mend this heart of mine
And I dare drown my sorrow in the warm glow of your mind
You can't buy my love with money 'cause I ain't never been that kind
Silver threads and golden needles cannot mend this heart of mine

Simple Twist Of Fate

They sat together in the park as the evening sky grew dark
She looked at him and he felt a spark tingle to his bones
Twas then he felt alone and wished that he'd gone straight
And watched out for a simple twist of fate

They walked along by the old canal a little confused, I remember well
And stopped into a strange hotel with a neon burnin' bright
He felt the heat of the night hit him like a freight train
Moving with a simple twist of fate

A saxophone someplace far off played as she was walkin' by the arcade
As the light bust through a beat-up shade where he was wakin' up
She dropped a coin into the cup of the blind man at the gate
And forgot about a simple twist of fate

He woke up, the room was bare, he didn't see her anywhere
He told himself he didn't care, pushed the window open wide
Felt an emptiness inside to which he just could not relate
Brought on by a simple twist of fate

He hears the ticking of the clocks
And walks along with a parrot that talks
Hunts her down by the waterfront docks where the sailors all come in
Maybe she'll pick him out again, how long must he wait
Once more for a simple twist of fate

People tell me it's a sin to know and feel too much within
I still believe she was my twin, but I lost the ring
She was born in the spring, but I was born too late
Blame it on a simple twist of fate

The warden led the prisoner down the hallway to his doom
I stood up to say goodbye like all the rest
And I heard him tell the warden just before they reached my cell
Let my guitar playin' friend fill my request

Let him sing me back home a song I used to hear. Make my old memories come alive.
Sing me away and turn back the year. Sing me home before I die.

I recall last Sunday morning when the choir from off the street
Came in to sing a few old gospel songs
And I heard him tell the singers there's a song my mother sang
Can I hear it before you travel on.

Sing me back home a song I used to hear. Make my old memories come alive.
Sing me away and turn back the year. Sing me back home before I die.

Sitting here in limbo, but I know it won't be long.
Sitting here in limbo, like a bird without a song.
Well they're putting up resistance, but I know
that my faith will lead me on.

Sitting here in limbo, waiting for the dice to roll.
Sitting here in limbo, got some time to search my soul.
Well they're putting up resistance but I know
that my faith will lead me on.
I don't know where life will lead me, but I know where I've been.
I can't say what life will show me, but I know what I've seen.
Tried my hand at love and friendship, but all that is passed and gone.
This little boy is moving on.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the tide to flow.
Sitting here in limbo knowing that I have to go.
Well they're putting up resistance, but I know
that my faith will lead me on.
Sitting in limbo...

Sitting on Top of the World

Mississippi River so big and wide, blond haired woman on the other side.
Now she's gone, gone, gone and I don't worry 'cause I'm sitting on top of the world.

I worked all summer, spring and fall, blond haired woman the cause of it all.
Now she's gone, gone, gone and I don't worry 'cause I'm sitting on top of the world.

I saw her in Dallas and El Paso. Said come back baby, I need you so.
Now she's gone, gone, gone and I don't worry 'cause I'm sitting on top of the world.

Mississippi River so big and wide, blond haired woman on the other side.
Now she's gone, gone, gone and I don't worry 'cause I'm sitting on top of the world.

Smokestack Lightnin'

Oh, smokestack lightnin', shinin' just like gold
Why can't you hear me cryin'? Ooooo
Oh, stop your train, let a hobo ride
Why can't you hear me cryin'? Ooooo

Oh, fare you well, I never see you no more
Why can't you hear me cryin'? Ooooo

Oh, stop your train, let a poor boy ride, callin' yes I do
Let a poor boy ride, let his foot step on

Oh, who've been you baby, since I've been gone

You say you want to try again
Well you don't realize
That I have a better end in mind.

It doesn't seem you really have to
Close your eyes to see
Though I hope you don't need me
You are so far from me.

There was something I had caught inside
Screaming hard to make it go
And tied me down low
It doesn't seem you really have to
Close your eyes to see
You have been all you'll be
It's just you babe
And we can't relate at all.

It doesn't seem you really have to
Close your eyes to see
Though I hope you don't need me
You are so far from me.

This time's the last time i want to say so long
this song's my last song for you
There's just nothing here to hold on to babe
Nothing to hold on to.

Could have been a spoonful of coffee
Could have been a spoonful of tea
Just a little spoon of your precious love is good enough for me
Man lies about that, man cries about that
Man dies about that, spoonful, spoonful, spoonful

Could have been a spoonful of water
Spread out on the desert sand
Just a little spoon fortifies, save you from another man
Man lies about that, man cries about that
Even dies about that, spoonful, spoonful, spoonful

Could have been a spoonful of diamonds
Could have been a spoonful of gold
Just a little spoon of your precious love to satisfy my soul

Everybody's talking about spoonful
Spoonful, spoonful, spoonful
Everybody's fighting about spoonful

1948, Xmas eve, with a full moon over town
Stagger Lee shot Billy DeLions
And he blew that poor boy down.
Do you know what he shot him for?
What do you make of that?
Cause Billy DeLions threw the lucky dice
Won Stagger Lee's Stetson hat.

Bayo, Bayo, tell me how can this be?
You arrest the girls for turning tricks
But you're scared of Stagger Lee.
Stagger Lee is a madman and he shot my Billy D.
Bayo go get him or give the job to me.

Delia DeLions, dear sweet Delia-D
How the hell can I arrest him? He's twice as big as me.
Well don't ask me to go downtown, I won't come back alive [no more].
Not only is that mother big but he packs a .45 [four].

Bayo, Delia said, just give me a gun
he shot my Billy dead now I'm gonna see him hung.
She went into the DeLion's club through Billy DeLions blood
Stepped up to Stagger Lee at the bar,
Said, "Buy me a gin fizz, love."

As Stagger Lee lit a cigarette she shot him in the balls
Blew the smoke off her revolver, had him dragged to city hall
Bayo, Bayo, see you hang him high
He shot my Billy dead and now he's got to die.

Delia went a walking down on Singapore Street
A three-piece band on the corner played "Near My God to Thee"
But Delia whistled a different tune, what tune could it be?

The song that woman sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee".
The song that Delia sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee".

Well, put your arms around me like a circle in the sun
Stay with me baby like my easy rider done

If you don't think I love you look what a fool I've been
If you don't think I'm sinking look what a hole I'm in

I'm stealin' pretty mama don't you tell on me
I'm stealin' back my good old used-to-be

Well, the woman I love she's about my size
She's a married woman, comes to see me sometimes

All the years combine, they melt into a dream,
A broken angel sings from a guitar.
In the end there's just a song comes cryin' up the night
Thru all the broken dreams and vanished years.
Stella blue. Stella blue.

When all the cards are down, there's nothing left to see,
There's just the pavement left and broken dreams.

In the end there's still that song comes cryin' like the wind.
Down every lonely street that's ever been
Stella blue. Stella blue.

I've stayed in every blue-light cheap hotel, can't win for trying.
Dust off those rusty strings just one more time,
Gonna make them shine, shine

It all rolls into one and nothing comes for free,
There's nothing you can hold, for very long.
And when you hear that song come crying like the wind,
It seems like all this life was just a dream.
Stella blue. Stella blue.

Sugar magnolia, blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care,
Saw my baby down by the river, knew she'd have to come up soon for air.

Sweet blossom come on, under the willow, we can have high times if you'll abide
We can discover the wonders of nature, rolling in the rushes down by the riverside.

She's got everything delightful, she's got everything I need,
Takes the wheel when I'm seeing double, pays my ticket when I speed

She comes skimmin' through rays of violet, she can wade in a drop of dew,
She don't come and I don't follow, waits backstage while I sing to you.

Well, she can dance a Cajun rhythm, jump like a willys in four wheel drive.
She's a summer love for spring, fall and winter. She can make happy any man alive.

Sugar magnolia, ringing that bluebell, caught up in sunlight, come on out singing
I'll walk you in the sunshine, come on honey, come along with me.

She's got everything delightful, she's got everything I need,
A breeze in the pines and the sun and bright moonlight, lazing in the sunshine yes
indeed.

Sometimes when the cuckoo's crying, when the moon is half way down,
Sometimes when the night is dying, I take me out and I wander around, I wander
'round.

Sunshine, daydream, walking in the tall trees, going where the wind goes
Blooming like a red rose, breathing more freely,
Ride our singin', I'll walk you in the morning sunshine
Sunshine, daydream. Sunshine, daydream. Walking in the sunshine.

When they come to take you down When they bring that wagon 'round
When they come to call on you and drag your poor body down

Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me
Please forget you know my name, my darling Sugaree
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me

You thought you was the cool fool and never could do no wrong
Had everything sewed up tight. How come you lay awake all night long

Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me
Please forget you know my name, my darling Sugaree
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me

Well in spite of all you gained you still had to stand out in the pouring rain
One last voice is calling you and I guess it's time you go

Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me
Please forget you know my name, my darling Sugaree
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me

Well shake it up now Sugaree, I'll meet you at the jubilee

Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me
Please forget you know my name, my darling Sugaree
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me

Gazing at the fire, burning by the water
Before he speaks the world around us quiets.

With eyes as sharp as arrows and turning to the fire
He clears the air and cuts it with a feather.

Many in a circle slowly 'round the fire
When he is gone I want to know him better.

No one is forsaken, no one is a liar,
He plants the tree of life on our foreheads with water.

He hums, there are drums, four winds, rising suns,
We are singing and playing, I her him saying.

I remember breezes from winds inside your body
keep me high, like I told you, I'll sing to them this story and know why.

Well, dizzy ain't the word for the way that you're making me feel now
Well, I need some indication, girl, if all of this is real now, tell me girl now

Well, I've heard it said there's something wrong in my head, now
Got to help me, girl, now
Could it be infatuation or am I just being misled now?

Little bolt of inspiration Way you strike me now
Sparking my imagination, got the lightning now
Cause me such excitation, got the lightning now
'Bout to end my suffocation, come on strike me now
Little bolt of inspiration Way you strike me now, she's back in my imagination

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Swing low, sweet chariot coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot coming for to carry me home

I looked over Jordan and what did I see coming for to carry me home
A band of angels is coming after me, coming for to carry me home.

If you come to heaven before I do, coming for to carry me home,
Tell all my friends I'll be coming there too coming for to carry me home.

Well I'm sometimes up and I'm sometimes down coming for to carry me home,
But I'd steal my soul if it ever were down coming for to carry me home.