Lyrics
© 2005, Jim Johnson
Horseshoes
and Hand
Grenades
When
You
Go
The
Pride of the White Star Line
The
End
Of The Day
Drop
a
Small Sun
Back
to Kentucky
Now
It
Won’t Be Long
Ignorance
Or Apathy
Another
Big “C”
When
A
Tree Falls
Red
and Rebel Gray
Too
Late
No
Words
Deal
With The Devil
I’ve
Done All I Can Do
Horseshoes
and Hand
Grenades
Tossed and turned over you last
night - Dreamed about our old chase
Picturing you and our old home -
Another time and place
After all we said and did - All that's
left is this
Felt just like a direct hit - But it
was only another near miss
We were this close - But went just too
far
We were only close - And just left one
more scar
Close - it don't count for much - I
guess like folks say
Close - It only seems to count - In
horseshoes and hand grenades
We settled in and passed the time -
Like most everyone would expect
Cars and kids and jobs and all that -
you came to reject
You heard another one callin' - Went
out for some fun
Gathered up the rest of your life -
and took out on the run
We were this close - Till things got
in the way
It felt like the real thing - Guess it
was all a charade
You played your part well - Your veil
and masquerade
Close - it only seems to count - in
horseshoes and hand grenades
Seemed like we were never meant - to make it all that far
Seemed like I never knew you - and who you really are
Sometimes we were a battle ground - Well armed and out to win
And every time you'd fire one out - I'd turn and lob one in
Sometimes we were a river - Flowing deep and wide and free
Atmosphere so clean and clear - As we rolled on to the sea
We were this close - But went just too far
We were only close - That won't win no cigar
Close - it don't matter - It's just like they say
Close - it only seems to count - In horseshoes and handgrenades
Close - it only counts you know - In horseshoes and hand grenades
Top of Page
When You
Go
Draw your bow across the
strings like this - Hold your hand - this way
Hear the notes as your
fingers roll - Feel the rosewood vibrate
Let the melody flow to your
ear - Keep the rhythm with your
feet
Play the phrase - make the
tone sound clear - Stay in time on every beat
You’re not the first one to
try this - You’re not the first one to
know
Just fake the hard part - it
won’t be missed - And stop the world when you
go
A steady hand so your strings
don’t screech - Let them each one have their
say
I know that high note is hard
to reach - It comes easier each day
You’re out of tune - take a
break my friend - It’s not as simple as it
seems
Now start again - just go
slow at first - Soon you’ll see it in your
dreams
Yes you can quit - I won’t
beg you to stay - Makes no difference to me
It takes commitment to learn
how to play - And nothing worthwhile comes
free
Just a small price to face
your fears - For this gift that you can
keep
You’re a link through a
thousand years - It won’t die when you sleep
You’re not the first one to
try this - You’re not the first one to
know
Just fake the hard part - it
won’t be missed - And stop the world when you
go
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The
Pride of the White Star Line
We came from just north
of Devonshire - when the
famine took it’s
hold
Worked our way down Southampton port - with the little
that we own
An April wind
swept through
that ship so high - as we quit the gray coastline
And of our fortune – she whispered not a
hint - No, she never gave a sign
And
we’ll leave it all up to fate - And
we’ll leave it all behind
And
we’ll sail - on the pride - of the White Star Line
Some walked with
wealth or
carried fame - in the shadow of the mast
Most of us just packed our unknown
names - and stayed down in third
class
Worked six years on that
farm - but failed - back home in county Cork
It’s dark in the belly of
this whale - and we’re eight days from New York
And
we’ll leave it all up to fate - And
we’ll leave it all behind
And
we’ll sail - on the pride - of the White Star Line
The floors below all
screamed - then they cried - when it ripped her from the
side
And the walls began to lean -
and then divide - when she left the ice behind
Some they worked to save - while
the band - stayed till the end to play
Then she rolled - fifteen
hundred faced the grave - And the lifeboats rowed away
And
we’ll leave it all up to fate - And
we’ll leave it all behind
And
we’ll sail - on the pride - of the White Star Line
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THE END
OF THE DAY
Come in -
Get
off your feet - Relax and sit right down
How’ve you been? Pull
up a seat - Come in and sit right down
Spend some time - Ah, the wine tastes sweet
The long days work
is done - The snow is on the ground
The sun is nearly gone - Why don’t you stick
around?
Stay a while - There’s still time to eat
Just a little peace
at the end
of the
day - Smiles for the people we meet
It’s not too far down - the
rest of the
way - And soon, we’ll be asleep –
soon, we’ll
be asleep
That cruel December freeze
- It’s finally come around
Dear warm, sweet April breeze - You’re
nowhere to be found
Feel the fire - Before it all dies down
Just a little peace at the end
of the
day - Smiles for the people we meet
It’s not too far down - the
rest of the
way - And soon, we’ll be asleep –
soon, we’ll
be asleep
Top Of Page
Drop a
Small Sun
Line
up
over here – You better listen
to me – You better do just what I tell you to do
Line
up
over there – And do it rapidly
- Don’t you know who’s talking to you
Don’t
ignore me now - I’ll place a
sanction on you - Or maybe an invasion instead
Don’t oppose me now
– A naval blockade crew will simply turn your economy red
We’ll show you how
to build your own democracy
- We might tell you
which God to believe
All we’re really
trying to do is make you free - But when we get
there, we’ll never leave
And if you stand
and fight – our aim is true - And then you’re
gonna wish that you were dead
Cause if you don’t
do what I want you to do - then I’ll drop a small sun on your head
Well you
better take that chip off your
shoulder - Well you
better not be too proud
You
people
won’t get much older - If you’re
boiling ‘neath a mushroom
cloud
You
may
draw your own conclusion - But
a superpower can’t be wrong
Like
an
angry bull - full of confusion
– we even brought our own china shop along
So
don’t
stand in my way – my
technology’s new - Shock and
awe – in the middle of the
night
It’s
a
thankless job - and it’s never
through - Cause
we’re only trying to make the
world right
So
last
chance, friends – The warnings
all through - Or maybe
now, you want to talk instead
But
if you
don’t do what I want you to
do – Then I’ll drop a small sun on your head
Line
up
over here – You better listen
to me - Better do just what I tell you to do
Line
up
over there – And do it rapidly
- Don’t you know who’s talking to you
And if you stand
and fight – our aim is true - And then you’re
gonna wish that you were dead
Cause
if
you don’t
do what I want you to do - then I’ll drop a small sun on
your head
Oh here we
come now – The diplomacy’s
through - You better
hope the innocent have fled
Cause
if you don’t do what I want you to do -
Then I’ll drop a small sun on your head
Top Of Page
Back to Kentucky
Things
are lookin’ blue in my biography - My baby's
gone and told me
she don’t care about me
She crushed me
down, and threw me out alone - Like an empty beer can - to the side of
the road
I’m go’in back
to Kentucky - It’s where
I come from
Down deep in the valley - That’s where I
belong
She
didn’t love me - So I didn’t stay long
I’m
go’in back to Kentucky -Yeah, I’m
go’in down home
I followed her here - from those
old blue hills - But lately I’ve been dreamin’
about Louisville
And I think I know -
just
where I should be - So pretty soon I’ll
be
rollin’ through Tennessee
I’m go’in back
to Kentucky - It’s where
I come from
Down deep in the valley - That’s where I
belong
She
didn’t need me - So I didn’t stay long
I’m
go’in back to Kentucky -Yeah, I’m
go’in down home
Enough of this – I can’t stay
down here this far - And I’m all out of apologies
It’s just like feelin’ I’m
for sale in some bazaar - And no one even bargained
over me
You know when I get back -
first thing I’m gonna do - Find my old hometown - wash
away these blues
I can see those hills rolling
through my brain - And I can almost taste the
crystal air again
I’m go’in back to Kentucky - It’s where
I come from
Down deep in the valley - That’s
where I belong
She
didn’t love me - So I didn’t stay long
I’m
go’in back to Kentucky -Yeah,
I’m
go’in down home.
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NOW IT
WON’T BE LONG
There’s
a chill as
I hear the dark and icy knock upon my
door
I hide in the
shadow - so it looks like I don’t live here
anymore
The hinges groan
out wide - and in rolls, an awful mist of
gray
A hooded
silhouette
in black - bleached and boney fingers curl
my way
Leave
my doorway - please sir be
gone - It’s
not time yet - Something’s
wrong
Then
thunder rolled
- Now
it won’t be long
Clearly some
mistake was made – the keeper of your list must
be at fault
For I am still
young, you see - and don’t deserve this cruel
assault
I appeal to you,
kind sir - and your sense of all that’s good
and fair
Leave me to embrace
the sky and breathe the crystal air
Leave
my doorway - please sir be
gone - It’s
not time yet - Something’s
wrong
Then
thunder rolled
- Now
it won’t be long
Floating in the
entrance - the figure turned and looked my
way
In silence hovering
there –as I searched for something more
to say
Now
many days are
gone since then – but I remain to write
this song
I
had never noticed
him before – but I believe he may have
been there all along
Leave
my doorway - please sir be
gone - It’s
not time yet - Something’s
wrong
Then
thunder rolled
- Now
it won’t be long
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IGNORANCE
OR APATHY
Blue sky through that classroom window - It
was too hard, not to stare
“Clear
your desks and take out paper” - Said
the teacher from my worst nightmare
“Define
Ignorance and Apathy, - First
contrast and then compare”
So,
I wrote “I don’t know and I don’t care”
The
boss brought back my assignment - And
then he fixed me with his glare
He
said, “This is some sorry work you do, -
Someone
else is gonna have to repair.”
“Is
it ignorance, or apathy - Residing
inside there?”
I
said, “I don’t know and I don’t care”
It’s
hard to say, ‘bout the state I’m in
Every
day is hit or miss
Somehow
I think I’ll be a happier man
If
ignorance is bliss
My
wife asked me for the third time - I
said, Who’s that? What? Where?
She
said “Haven’t you been listening? - Well,
I might as well talk to that chair”
“Is
it ignorance, or apathy - that’s
your greater cross to bear?”
I
said, “Well I don’t know and I don’t care”
I
don’t think I’m all that rare - There’s
folks like me most everywhere
If
it’s ignorance, or apathy - Or,
I’m indifferent, or just unaware.
Well,
I don’t know and I don’t care.
Top
Of Page
ANOTHER
BIG “C”
I
gaze across the canyon - While trying to decide
From here I can see the
border - There’s no place left to hide
Some things grow in silence
- You never dream you’ll be the
one
Chosen or forsaken - Another big “C” has begun
We wonder how
it happens - Where do these things come
from?
It only strikes but some of
us - Then some of us are done
Like
a deaf man in the corner - As he tries to lead the blind
Still searching undercover - Some things you
never find
One day we’ll go - and then we’ll know – one
day
When we fly - far away – so
far away
I whistle past the graveyard - Where innocence all lies
The faithful sit in
mourning - With fear’s best compromise
Now soon I
may see him - With his face just like the
sun
Never thought I’d
need a savior - Another big “C” has begun
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Of Page
WHEN A
TREE FALLS
It
stood for a hundred years - Before the storm that brought
it down
Another oak in the forest - That grew on the edge of town
With
branches wide and roots
grown deep - It was sturdy from the start
But the clouds rolled in -
and the lightning struck
And split it through the
heart
She walked into the kitchen -
Where he sat with the morning
news
She said “Hey - we need to
talk” - And then she told him they
were through
And the breakfast fell in
silence - The teapot screamed in turn
Then the paper folded gently
While the toast began to burn
When a tree falls in the forest
-
And there’s not a soul around
Will you feel the blow from
the impact?
Will you hear any trace of the
sound?
When love’s gone in a moment
- And
the bonds have all come
apart
Will you feel the blow from
the impact?
Or hear the sound of a broken
heart?
Walking through deserted woods
-
He felt his hands were
turning cold
Gray sky took away the sun - Made him feel like he was old
He came upon a fallen oak -
Down
from a fatal storm
Roots exposed - bark stripped
free
Heartwood split and torn
Then he fumbled from his
pocket - And it flashed in the light
of day
And it cracked the sound of
the stillness - The echo’s faded away
Now on the floor of the
forest - Brothers rest on the morn’
Opened up and set free
Hearts all split and torn
When a tree falls in the forest
-
And there’s not a soul around
Will you feel the blow from
the impact?
Will you hear any trace of the
sound?
When love’s gone in a moment
- And
the bonds have all come
apart
Will you feel the blow from
the impact?
Or hear the sound of a broken
heart?
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Red
and Rebel Gray
Standing
straight –
tall and proud
- A soldier dressed
in gray
Caleb’s
hair - your
mother’s eyes
- Only yesterday
Our
first born –
The years flown by
- Must be seventeen
Marching
off – my
young son
- In red and rebel
gray
Won’t
be gone –
no time at all
- Heard
the
Captain say
Summertime
–
early fall
- Won’t
have long
to stay
Soon
be home – Harvest
time - Safe and duty
done
Won’t
be gone –
no time at all
- The
Cause will
soon be won
Gather
boys – form
your lines
- The battle’s just
begun
Captains
cry – “Now
your time!” - “The
South needs
all her sons”
Cannon
fire – yet
another round
- Last count -
seventeen
Still
they come –
line from line
- Red and gray and so
green
Lie
there still – my dear son
- Sleep
- all tucked away
Muddy
hair – Bloody eyes
- Red
and rebel gray
Abandoned
on the field unknown
- No
more to be seen
I
carved your name into a stone
Only
seventeen
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TOO LATE
An old song keeps its place in your
mind - safe and locked away
An old song may feel so inclined –
and sing
for you today
The memory – it fires from beyond -
across
the great divide
Like fragments
from a wreckage
washed ashore-abandoned by the tide
And the days fly by - the years roll
on –
freewill turns to fate
And they speak as one, all those years
long
gone
And they tell me its too late - though
it’s
not, too late – no it’s
not, too late
Some folks do their livin’ out of time
–
mainsprings all unwound
Some folks chase fashion by design –
and
never make a sound
And youth – it will soon need someone
– to
ride the hormone’s rage
That lovesick fool’s gone all undone –
and
just can’t turn the page
And the child lies safe in it’s
mother’s arms
–the old folks merely
wait
And they speak as one - all those
years long
gone
And they tell me
it’s too late – but it’s not, too late – no it’s not, too late
Maybe I’ll start next summer – Maybe
I’ll
start next fall
Snow's deep in December – another’s
gone –
maybe, most all
A lone lost face reappears - haunting
from
the past
Pathways and doors left undone –
regret will
always last
And the miles of analysis can’t tell -
the
forest from the trees
Like the weather and the scholar –
they’re
all measured by degrees
and the days fly by and the years roll
on –
freewill turns to fate
and they speak as one, all those years
long
gone
and they tell me
it’s too late. . .
An old song knows its place in your
mind –
It’ll barely weigh an ounce
An old song may feel so inclined – and
just
show up unannounced
All the questions line up here – all
your
problems lost and found
Too bad my dear, there’s not enough of
anything to go around
And the child lies safe in it’s
mothers arms,
the old folks- they just
wait
And they speak as one - all those sad
old
songs
And they tell me, I’m too late – oh am
I, too
late? – just a little,
too late?
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No
Words
My
dictionary – it’s all dog
eared - Cover’s gone, and the binding’s
broke
The pages torn and yellow now -
From the search for a word
that spoke
Just to speak – so you could
see - And hear – all that I’ve
heard
And to write – so you can
feel it too - But there just aren’t any
words
The
gifted few, find the
perfect ones - And make all the pieces fit
In a jigsaw world, they work
the scene - And you can see it - bit by
bit
They put in some, that ring
like truth - And some, that smell like
lies
And some where you might
catch a glimpse - Of the fire behind their eyes
I'd like for you to know - it's so hard
to tell you, though
The chase feels so absurd - There just aren't any words
If my
voice were red and gold
- I’d converse with the
evening
sky
Or with another mother tongue
- Tell a whippoorwill’s reply
But when they brought me
from
near death - And asked, what I saw and
heard
“Well, I’d love to tell you how
it was - But there just aren’t any
words”
So on
I’ll go - and try to
show - The beauty in the light
Like the space that springs -
between the wings - Of a hummingbird in flight
I’ll describe for you - all
the shades of blue - And the places they occurred
So you can be there with me
too - Oh, but there just aren’t any
words
I'd like for you to
know - it's so hard to tell you, though
The chase feels so absurd - There just
aren't any words
No, there just aren't any words
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DEAL
WITH THE DEVIL
I'll make a
deal with the devil today
I'll make a deal with the devil today
Well I’ll sell
him my soul – if he can take my heart
And
make all
this pain go away
He
can have all my future would hold
I’ll
lay down and start to descend
And
then give up my ghost – fairly bought and sold
If
he can bring all this pain to an end
He
can lead me through those gates of hell
And
show me to that room
Leave
all the clocks – make the time stand still
And
seal my eternal doom
I’m
ready for that brimstone road
Where
the hopeless all lie entombed
If
he can wash the pain from this forlorn heart
He
can take all his fire can consume
It’s
an offer that I just can’t refuse
His
contract’s drawn and signed
And
we’ll seal the deal – for this mournful heart
Inscribed
on the bottom line
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Of Page
I’VE DONE ALL I CAN DO
You
want to get on an airplane - You want to get
on a boat
You want to get
on a sidewalk - You want to leave
me alone
You
want to see what’s coming - You want to leave
what’s done
You want to get
on an airplane - You want to leave
me alone
It don’t make any difference - It
ain’t nothin’ new
It don’t make any sense, but - I think I know that we’re
through
I’ve tried everything - I’m losing sight of you
It’s only self-defense now - Don’t know this side of you
We’ve seen the end coming –
Not much
left to say
And the sky is turning -
another shade
of gray
Can’t believe this has
happened – Can’t
believe we’re through
This is the end of the line -
I’ve done
all I can do
I rode your roller coaster
- Rode it low and high
I got to tell you baby - That was a hell of a ride
And it’s been nice to know
you - I think you’re bound to fly
Never want to owe you - I’ll only take what’s mine
We’ve seen the end coming -
divided up
the pain
And the sky is darkening - I
think it’s
bound to rain
Can’t believe this has
happened – Can’t
believe we’re through
This is the end of the line - I’ve
done all I can do
I watch your storm door
closing - And stare down at my shoe.
I still feel like knocking - Still want to try to break
through.
But it’s too late and I know
it - In spite of all we’ve been
through.
We can’t stay together. - Divide one into two.
We’ve seen the end coming - I
packed my Chevrolet
And the sky is falling -
Washing me away
Can’t believe this has
happened - Can’t
believe we’re through
This is the end of the line -
I’ve done
all I can do
I want to get on an airplane - I
want to get on a boat
I want to get on a sidewalk - I want to leave you alone
I want to see what’s coming - I want to leave what’s
done
I want to get on an airplane - I want to leave you alone
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