Footnotes for the Spring (2015)

Dove of Mine

Roaring, rolling down we fall
Oh, I come when you call
Oh, I come when you call
Well, back it up and hide your eyes
Turn your face to the wall
Turn your face to the wall
Dove of mine

Bury me, I lost my mind
I’ll hide under the snow
Deep down under the snow
Well, bat my eyes and rub my nose
When you come and you go
Don’t you come and you go
Dove of mine

Spin ‘round, shudder now to think
When you told me goodbye
Don’t you tell me goodbye
Well, by the sword we live and die
But you never know why
No, you never know why

Thou wilt drop out
Dove of mine

Lark of My Heart

Lark of my heart - dance in the dark and say you love me
Lark of my heart - right from the start and say you love me
Lark of my heart - take back the night and say you want me
Lark of my heart - turn up the light and say we can be
The same, same, same, same…

I can see it in your eyes, can smell it in your lies
You know I want you
And I can hear it in your sighs, I can feel it in your lines
You know I want you
Hello, hello, hello, hello
I can see it in your face, on every marble place
You know I want you
And I can feel it in your grace, in every golden trace
You know I want you

What can I do? Oh boy, your mood creates the weather
What can I do? Oh, how I miss the sound of thunder
What can I do? Roll down around and lift your finger
What can I do? Give me your hand, it’s now or never
Today, today, today, today

I can see it in your eyes, can smell it in your lies
You know I want you
And I can hear it in your sighs, I can feel it in your lines
You know I want you
I know, I know, I know, I know
I can see it in your face, on every marble place
You know I want you
And I can feel it in your grace, in every golden trace
You know I want you

All Our Angels

Calvary running, cavalry coming
Straight as an arrow
Darling, darling
Wandering divot, lost it at shipwreck
Cut to the marrow
Don’t say, don’t say

All of my angels have left me
All of mine, all of my
When all of your angels have left you
All of mine, all of my

Sweetest kisses follow you down
Sweetest kisses follow you down
Soldier, soldier

The heart is a virtue no one can hold to
Be it too narrow
Darling, darling
Mine is your island, a haven divided
My little sparrow
Don’t say, don’t say

Run, run - not far enough
The ground, ground - not high enough
At war, war - not hard enough
To sun, sun - not bright enough
Our love, love - not light enough
Your map, map - don’t say enough
My song, song - told far too much
For long, long, long

Now and Then

Oh, to be young again
Blood, blood is on my hands
And oh, to be loved again
I’d give, give you my best laid plan

Oh, come and dance again
And take, take me by the hand
And oh, come and dream again
And hold, hold to me now and then

‘Cos if the road to hell is paved with our intentions
It’s a fine, fine, fine way to love
But if the hand you deal is hidden in your back pocket
Don’t you dare, dare, dare come around

I found me a bitter man
To give, give me my daily bread
And I’ll find, find me a better man
To take, take, take me as I am

Waiting Around Again

Tumbling low, toiling slow
Crawling along the hours to you
I sang today, my cares away
Waiting around again

Stranded in time, you on my mind
Miles from where I want to be
But I laughed today, my cares away
Waiting around again

Sweetness, won’t you stay

Frozen in space, all out of place
Wishing you were here next to me
I cried today, my cares away
Waiting around again

Over the ground, under the sound
Into the dark you call to me
You danced today, your cares away
Waiting around again

Sweetness, won’t you stay

Fools Rush In

Calling through the pines
Trembling on the vine
Breathing down your skin
Only fools rush in
Foolish by and by
Falling from the sky
Oh, lover bury me
Under lock and key

Come whatever will
Conjured in the still
Coursing through my veins
Chances waxed and waned
Love, don’t leave me cold
Lonely, growing old
Letters in my hands
Writing in the sand

Go down now, love - what do you say?

Whisper through the trees
Whistle in the breeze
Breathing down your skin
Only fools rush in

Bright Star

All eyes were on your glow
When you scattered on my shore
Head on from Scorpio
With a trail of vertigo
I called you for my own
And then light years you rode
My kismet meteor
Burnt out when I took hold

Not now, not then
Forever never naught
The tie that binds
Your torrent bright and tumbling

Down, down, down, down

The straight and narrow
Is the pathway you chose
The long and winding road
Is the journey you trode

Not now, not then
Forever never naught
The tie that binds
Your torrent bright and tumbling

Down, down, down, down

Maker of My Sorrow

A good man is hard to find
What’s his is yours and mine to throw, oh
He had an angry head
He had a heavy heart to hold poison in the spring

With an orchid in his hand
And a shadow on his thumb
In the barrel of a gun
Me, I will find my love

Oh, oh - Lord knows where did he go
Keeper of my heart’s joy, maker of my sorrow
Oh, oh - Lord knows where did he go
Keeper of my heart’s joy, maker of my sorrow

A good man is hard to find
God knows how I have tried repose, oh
Give me my aching head
Give me my broken heart and cold a woman cannot hold

With a diamond on my hand
And the water on my tongue
In the barrel of a gun
Me, I resign my love

Oh, oh - Lord knows where did he go
Keeper of my heart’s joy, maker of my sorrow
Oh, oh - Lord knows where did he go
Keeper of my heart’s joy, maker of my sorrow

Dealer of my heavy hand
Healer of my wounded heart
Lord knows where did he go

Wax Nostalgic

This is that, Lord knows how did it go?
These days for you all things I never knew
Day in day out pure as the driven snow
These days to you all things I never do
Oh, bitter cold and stealer of my soul

Over, under - steady as it goes
These days, what make all games I never play
Ever never easy as it should
These days, what may all words I never say
Foxes, foxes circling your mouth

Hear me hear you - lovely, might you say
Today a name, a minuet away
High time, high tide - you brought me to my low
Today a place we dare to never go
Hunted hunter - cover me in dirt

Only for Today

Found inbound unfettered to the homeland
Forget regret, I do the best that I can
Your words, birds flying o’er the ocean
I heard a word pin me to the mainland

Egress, egret - we’re two birds of a feather
A stone was thrown, and never mind the weather
Unhinge the wind- a fortress in the venture
In light, take flight - encircling the never

La la la la la la la la
If only for today, today
La la la la la la la la
Darling come what may, what may
Whether you will wander you will
Weather you will wander you will take

Unclear, my dear - drop the coin in, pull the lever
Condoned, unknown - forgettable forever
I place your face on every wooden stranger
I tried my luck but never knew the danger

So farewell, my hell - I only dream in color
Grown, unknown - I’ll be a better lover
One day, some way - I’ll yearn to find another
If fate won’t take us holding to each other

La la la la la la la la
If only for today, today
La la la la la la la la
Darling come what may, what may
La la la la la la la la
If only for today
La la la la la la la la
Only for today

O, You Sinners (2012)

Black Rose

Cry, baby, cry
Over my garden
You know you grow your own
Lay, lady, lay
Under my bed
You know I'll grow my own

Don't let him know
Don't let it show
You reap what you sow
Take this black rose

Stay, lady, stay
Cross my back door
You know you grow your own
Pray, baby, pray
Over our sins
And oh, we'll grow our own

Don't let him know
Don't let it show
You reap what you sow
Take this black rose

Pull, baby, pull
Plant your good deeds
And oh, you grow your own
And crawl, baby, crawl
And fall on your knees
And oh, I'll grow my own

Don't let him know
Don't let it show
You reap what you sow
Take this black rose
My black rose

Devil's Flesh & Bones

There you saw a dirty one, dirty one
Thought you caught a curly one, curly one
Devil's flesh and bones
Catch him if you can

Big boy blue- he ran away, ran away
Find him on a brighter day, brighter day
Leave it on the line
And then he'll understand

When all is left to you
No one coming through
Oh, what's a girl to do?
If the will demands
A sudden change of plan
You catch him if you can

Feel your heart freeze over
Feel your cold steel soldier
Leave him out to dry
And find another man
You try to bring it back- you don't
You try to find a snag- you won't
We're all flesh and bones
So catch me if you can

When all is left to you
No one coming through
Oh, what's a girl to do?
If the will demands
A sudden change of plan
You catch him if you can

You try to bring it back- you don't
You try to find a snag- you won't
We're all flesh and bones
So catch me if you can

Over Cold Shoulders

Over and over
Look over your shoulder
At all of the soot on the ground
Oh, it's been falling down
From the moment you got into town
You're older, you're bolder
You've never been colder
You come in here looking for more
And oh, you take all you can fit in your arms
When you walk out the door

You didn't even see it coming
You know you should've seen it coming
You might have even seen it coming
You could have would have seen it all
Could have would have had it all

Father, oh father
Your sons and your daughters
They'll learn how to stand on their own
Oh, when a slap on the left
And a kick to the right's all they know
Daily, or daily
But then again maybe
You'll learn how to love what you have
Oh, if you'll find there is more to the scheme
Than to give or to grab

You didn't even see it coming
You know you should've seen it coming
You might have even seen it coming
You could have would have seen it all
Couldn't wouldn't shouldn't have to crawl

So shoulder, grow older
Don't ever grow colder
And time will bring love to your side
Oh, if you choose to refuse to sit tight while she passes you by
And maybe, just maybe
She'll take you there safely
No more of your running around
And over and over by nightfall
You'll dance in the soot on the ground

You didn't even see it coming
You know you should've seen it coming
You might have even seen it coming
You could have would have seen it all
Could have would have had it all

Through An Aquarium

"Good luck", said the nightmare
So pretty but I already have
A house with a top hat and coat rack
Well, your hand's on his shoulder
You never did have feelings
And oh, you'd best get along

You'd better run

Her heart's got a picture frame
I guess you fit quite nicely
Although she's hardly young enough for you
Don't get any older
You'll never get to feel this again
And oh, you get along

You'd better run

Girl, you never run away from boys who always get away
Girl, you'd better run away from boys who always steal away

"Good luck", said the nightmare
So pretty but I already have
A house with a top hat and coat rack
Well, your hand's on his shoulder
You never did have feelings, did you?
And oh, you'd best get along
Said oh, you'd best get along
You'd best get along

Cinnamon Bone

Crawling flat on broken glass
To you, to you, to you
Scratch it up and turn
Catch a fire and burn
For you, for you, for you

Couldn't love you more
See your face, for sure
I do, I do, I do
Try to behave, but it's all the same
To you, to you, to you

Cinnamon bone, cinnamon bone
Pin a name on the wall
And take your time
Waste your time on me

Hear the greater call come to break and fall
On you, on you, on you
Make a twisted face, walk a lighter way
For you, for you, for you

Get a loaded gun, take a hit and run
From you, from you, from you
Find another son, one day be done
With you, with you, with you

Cinnamon bone, cinnamon bone
Pin a name on the wall
And take your time
Waste your time on

Cinnamon bone, cinnamon bone
Lovely days have
Come and gone
So take your time
Waste your time on me

Crawling flat on broken glass
To you
To you
To you
For you

O, You Sinners

Seek you, see through
Calling for thee
You're wanted now
Go take a bow
Your stepping stone fell underground
I'll crawl 'round, drop down
Writhing for thee, singing

Hear me out-
O, you sinners
Cry aloud and bless us
O, you saints

Wide blue, high tomb
Lying for thee
Where did you go?
What did you know?
Such easy fears and curly toes, oh
Heartbeat, hard feat
Trying for thee, singing

Hear me out
O, you sinners
Cry aloud and bless us
O, you saints

Will you stay, will you stay
Will you go?
Will you stay
Will you stay, stay, stay
Will you go?

Holy, holy- coming for thee
My bleeding tears will shoot it down
Without a word
Without a sound
So un-die, undead
Rising for me

Hear me, hold me

Pretty Little Head

Hook, line & sinker- drop it down to the bottom
Butterfly float, flicker, soar to the top
Kill for the thrill- cut it, stick it where you got him
Circle rolling under, running red to the stop

Boy, where's your mother? Fall down dead
Dirty mind, dirty mouth, pretty little head
I wish you were here, I wish you'd make my bed
Dirty mind, dirty mouth, pretty little head

Sister, bring it hither, push it down below
Catch yourself a looker, let him go go go
Wanna have your baby, but I'm so so slow
Well, don't you worry, honey, 'cos I can't say no

Boy, where's your mother? Fall down dead
Dirty mind, dirty mouth, pretty little head
I wish you were here, I wish you'd make my bed
Dirty mind, dirty mouth, pretty little head

Take a breath, my heart, and hold your tongue
It's just a cog in the year of all my love
Well, take a breath, my heart, and hold your tongue
It's just a cog in the year of all my love
All my love

Boy, where's your mother? Fall down dead
Dirty mind, dirty mouth, pretty little head
I wish you were here, I wish you'd make my bed
Dirty mind, dirty mouth, pretty little head

Start with Goodbye, Stop with Hello

Start with goodbye, stop with hello
Catching our breath out in the cold
Lover on fire, thrown in the mire
Scandalous man, name me your plan

We'll start with goodbye, stop with hello
Never a hand hardly to hold
Big city sway, move with the day
Wanting it bad, ever-returning

Home

Start with goodbye, stop with hello
Finishing fast, order so slow
Chasm of mind, child in the mine
Cavernous eyes- what's your design?

We'll start with goodbye, stop with hello
Breaking my heart cracking your code
Down in her lap, sat on her knee
Quivering tongue, flicker with unnamed

Love

Ruing the moons when you were mine
And I stood face-first, clutching my coat
But your house on the hills has got in the way
And it seems to me we've run out of words
And I'm ruing the moons when you were mine
And I stood face-first, clutching my coat
But your house on the hills has got in the way
And it seems to me we've run out of words to

Say
We say
We love
We say we love

Start with goodbye, stop with hello
Catching our breath out in the cold

White Words

White winds blow, drifting over the inside
Cold breath flow- chill a soul on the outside
Will it slow- turn your head til it feels right
Lay it low- turn back on our heart fight

Black fog slow- crawling over the hillside
Cold words go, calling under the outside
Slain for no falling down on the inside
Lay me low- turn your back on our heart fight

Warm will glow- burn a hand on your frost bite
Down down down- make a deal with the daylight
Satellite love- hover over our hot night
Dead bones know- carry them til you feel fine

Coming Up Roses

Lover of mine, hand over the key
The teeth have all long been gone
And darling divine, you're cutting my bones
With words you won't say, hands you don't hold
Better the last time, sweeter than this time
See that you're older still
What turned you around, pushing you down?
My lips are in bloom fighting your frown

Tell me your secrets, I'll ask you no questions
Braving your mountaintop
When I'm around you, when I'm allowed to
Taking my chances, I'd make a fortune
I'll love you, I'll love you- the darkest part of you
Write you the sweetest song
Drop down from the ledges, hand over defenses
I'm longing to see you through white picket fences

If God kept his promise, I'd tiptoe through tulips
Gather your moss again
Jump over your hedges, stand under your branches
We're coming up roses
Coming up roses indeed

Is patience a virtue, or waiting what fools do?
Mama would never tell
But this onward drive home- it's cutting my bones
With kisses of stone from a heart made of gold
Return to the last time, sweeter than this time
Tugging against my will
To dive under your dock, swim in your pond
Knowing the water will carry you on

If God kept his promise, I'd tiptoe through tulips
Gather your moss again
Jump over your hedges, swing on your branches
We're coming up roses
Coming up roses

If God kept his promise, I'd tiptoe through tulips
Gather your moss again
Jump over your hedges, swing on your branches
We're coming up roses
Coming up roses indeed

We're coming up roses indeed

Gild the Lily (2009) & rarities

Girl

Girl, oh, girl
Grow- oh, how you grow
But girl- he'll be a man real soon
And girl- he's got designs on you

Girl, oh, girl
Give- oh, how you give
And girl- he'll turn his eyes to you
And girl- you'll know just what to do

So chase it down
And wrap around
And you'll fly with your life
And die with his lies

So go, go, go
And oh- oh no, you know
That girl- he's going to blow your mind
And girl- he'll waste your precious time

Lily Love

Lily waits down by the park
To come up pink when the moon grows dark
And shine a light on every broken heart
Lily floats when you fall apart

She says,
"Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Go and grow"

Lily love will get her bees on the ground
She'll take that honey and she'll lay it down
Lily, keep that bee from flying away
Tuck him into a daisy chain

And tell him,
"Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Go and grow"

We're always on the run from the brightest change
You'll make the same mistake but who will you blame?
Well, you were flying high- built your nest in the sky
And then I came along with my bow & arrow...

Lily wakes when the fruit is here
Air is clean and the water clear
Lily love will keep it hangin' around
Grab that tree and shake it on down

And then
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Go and grow
And grow

Foot Soldiers

The legion's out to get me
Don't look back, don't breathe
Now we're on the run
It's a silly ordeal for me
You say a brother doesn't matter
In a bind or at the bee
But when you're working for the man
It's a very big deal indeed

Silly little soldiers, foot soldiers
Takin' your time to fight for me
My crazy little soldiers, foot soldiers
Man, oh man, don't mind your mind
Don't forget to wipe your feet
And don't forget you work for me
You couldn't fool the grapeshot
You're never gonna get past me

Maneuver on the left, a quick shift right
We're right on time
It doesn't matter why 'cos you know
It's gonna turn out fine, fine, fine
You say a little crown got
Danced last night with he, he, he
Well, you're working for the man
And it's a really big deal indeed