WORDS FILL MY HEAD
The Early Seventies
There's
guns across the river aimin' at you
Lawman at your
trail, he'd like to catch you
Bounty hunters,
too, they'd like to get you
Billy, they don't
like you to be so free.
Campin' out all night on the berenda
Dealin' cards 'til dawn in the hacienda
Up to Boot Hill
they'd like to send you
Billy, don't you
turn your back on me.
There's
mirrors inside the minds
of crazy faces
Bullet holes and
rifles inside their cases
There's always one
more notch and four more aces
Billy, and you're playin' all
alone.
Playin' around with some sweet senorita
Into her dark
hallway she will lead ya
In the shadows of
the ______ she will greet you
Billy, you're been runnin' for so long.
They say that Par
Garret's got your number
So sleep with one
eye open when you wonder
If every little
sound just might be thunder
Thunder
from the barrel of his gun.
Gypsy gueens will play your grand finale
Way down in some
Tularosa alley
Maybe in the Rio
Pecos valley
In the days when
you were better known.
The business men
from Taos want you to go down
So they hired Mr. Garrett to force you to slow down
Billy, don't it make you to feel so low-down
To be hunted by the
man who was your friend?
So hang on to your
woman if you got one
Remember in El
Paso, once, you shot one
Up in Santa F` she
was a hot one
Billy, you've been runnin' for so long.
Gypsy gueens will play your grand finale
Billy, you been so
far from home
Billy, you're so
far away from home.
[Source: the Mexico City tape]
[TOP]
There's
guns across the river
'bout to pound you
There's a lawman on
your trail, likes to surround you
Bounty hunters are dancin' all around you
Billy, they don't
like you to be so free.
Campin' out all night on the berenda
Walk in the streets
down by the hacienda
Up to Boot Hill
they'd like to send you
Billy, don't you
turn your back on me.
There's
mirrors inside the minds
of crazy faces
Bullet holes and
rifles in their cases
There's always one
more notch and four more aces
Billy, and you're playin' all
alone.
Layin' around with some sweet senorita
Into her dark
chamber she will greet ya
In the shadows of
the ______ she will lead you
Billy, and you're goin' all alone.
They say that Par
Garret's got your number
So sleep with one
eye open when you wonder
If every little
sound just might be thunder
Thunder
from the barrel of his gun.
There's always
another stranger sneakin' glances
Some trigger-happy
fool willin' to take chances
Some old whore from
San Pedro to make advances
advances on your spirit and your soul.
The business men
from Taos want you to go down
So they hired Mr. Garrett to force you to slow down
Billy, don't it make you to feel so low-down
To be hunted by the
man who was your friend?
So hang on to your
woman if you got one
Remember in El Paso,
once, you shot one
Up in Santa F` you
bought one
Billy, you've been runnin' for so long.
Gypsy gueens will play your grand finale
Way down in some
Tularosa alley
Maybe in the Rio
Pecos valley
Billy, you're so
far away from home
Billy, you're so
far away from home
Billy, you're so
far away from home.
[Source: the Mexico City tape]
[TOP]
Goodbye Holly,
Holly goodbye
Your wife's gonna
miss you
Your baby's gonna
cry
Goodbye Holly,
Holly so long
All your good times
have passed now and gone
Pat Garrett he shot
you with a Colt .44
He dropped you
'cross the table
Now you're gone for
ever more
Goodbye Holly,
Holly goodbye
Your wife's gonna
miss you
Your baby's gonna
cry
Goodbye Holly,
Holly so long
All your good times
have passed now and gone
[Source: Some Other Kind Of
Songs]
[TOP]
(Alternate version)
If dogs run free,
why not we
Across
the swooping plain?
My ears hear a
symphony
Of two mules, trains
and rain
The best is always
yet to come
So they explain to
me
Every way is the
right way
If dogs run free
If dogs run free,
why not we
If dogs run free
If dogs run free,
then why not me
Across
the swamp of time?
My mind weaves a
tapestry
Of fine design and
rhyme
Oh, winds which
rush my tale to thee
So it may flow and
be
To each his own,
it’s all unknown
If dogs run free
If dogs run free,
why not we
If dogs run free
If dogs run free,
then what must be
Must be, and that
is all
True love can make a
blade of grass
Stand up straight
and tall
In harmony with the
cosmic sea
True love needs no
company
It can cure the
soul, it can make it whole
If dogs run free
If dogs run free,
then why not me
If dogs run free
If dogs run free,
why not we
If dogs run free
[Source: alternate version from Another Self Portrait]
[TOP]
(Alternate version)
If not for you
Babe, I couldn’t
find the door
I couldn’t even see
the floor
I’d be sad and blue
If not for you
If not for you
The night would see
me wide awake
But day would
surely have to break
It would not be new
If not for you
If not for you
My sky would fall
Rain would gather
too
Without your love
I’d be nowhere at all
I’d be lost if not
for you
And you know it’s true
If not for you
Weather would have
no rain
I couldn't even
hear the robin sing
No, I wouldn't have
a clue
If not for you
[Source: alternate version from Another Self Portrait]
[TOP]
Mama, take this
badge off of me
I can't use it
anymore
It's gettin' dark, too dark to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, put my guns
in the ground
I can't shoot them
anymore.
That long black
cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, wipe the
blood from my face
I'm sick and tired
of the war
Got a lonely hard
feeling and it's hard to trace
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, put my guns
in the ground
I can't shoot them
anymore.
That long black
train is a-pullin' on down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, wipe the
blood off of my face
I can't see through
it anymore
i need someone to talk to and I've no hiding place
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, I can hear
that thunder roar
Echoin' down from God's distant shore
I can hear 'em callin' out from my soul
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Mama, put my guns
in back the ground
I can't fire them
anymore.
That long black
cloud is fallin' down
I feel I'm lookin' at heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, take this
blood off of my face
I can't see through
it anymore
It's a feeling I
just can't trace
Feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, tow my barge
down to sea
Pull it down from
shore to shore
Two brown eyes lookin' at me
Feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knockin' on heaven's door
Knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Like so many times
before
Goin' down by that road
Feelin' down more and more
Take a chain
_________________
Feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Just like so many
times before
Mama, take my ______ and my __________
I don't want it
anymore
Two brown eyes starin' into my face
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Just like so many
times before
Mama, take my poor
star far away
Let it fall down to
the floor
But it's so far so
________ to stay
Feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Just like so many
times before
Mama, take this gun
and put it far away
I won't fire it
anymore
I'll be leavin' for far away
Feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Just like so many
times before
Mama, wipe these
tears off of my face
I can't see through
them anymore
Gettin' out of here into some other place
I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Just like so many
times before
Mama, wipe the
blood from my face
I can't see through
it anymore
Sometimes I feel so
out of place
And I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Just like so many
times before
Just like so many
times before
Just like so many
times before
And I feel like I'm
a-knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Just like so many
times before
[Source: various live versions]
[TOP]
(Alternate version)
Time passes slowly
up here in the mountains
We sit beside
bridges and walk beside fountains
Catch the wild
fishes that float through the stream
Time passes slow
when you’re lost in a dream
Once I had a
sweetheart, she was fine and good-lookin’
We sat in her
kitchen while her mama was cookin’
Stared out the
window to the stars high above
Time passes slowly
when you’re searchin’ for love
Ain’t no reason to go in the morning to town
Ain’t no reason to go to the fair
Ain’t no reason to
go up, ain’t no reason to go down
Ain’t no reason to go anywhere
Time passes slowly
up here in the daylight
We stare straight
ahead and try so hard to stay right
Like a cloud
drifting over, that covers the day
Time passes slowly
and fades away
[Source: alternate version from Another Self Portrait]
[TOP]
(Demo)
I went to see the
gypsy
Stayin’ in a big hotel
He smiled when he
saw me coming
And he wished me
well
And his room was
dark and crowded
Lights were low and dim
“How are you?” he
asked of me
And I asked the
same of him
I went down to the
lobby
To make a small
call out
A pretty dancing
girl was there
And she began to
shout
“Go on back to see
the gypsy
He can rid you of
your fear
He did it in Las
Vegas
And he can do it
here”
Oh, the lights were
on the river
Shining from
outside
I contemplated
every move
Or at least I tried
I went back to see
the gypsy
It was nearly early
dawn
The gypsy’s door
was open
But the gypsy was
gone
And that pretty
dancing girl
Oh, she could not
be found
So I watched the
sun come rising
In a little
Minnesota town
[Source: demo version from Another Self Portrait]
[TOP]
(Demo version)
Oh, the streets of
Rome are filled with rubble,
Ancient footprints
are everywhere.
You can almost
think that you're seein' double
On a
cold dark night by the Spanish Stairs.
Got to hurry on
back to my hotel room
Where
I've got me a date with a pretty little girl from Greece.
She promised that
she'd be right there with me
When I
paint my masterpiece.
Oh, the hours I've
spent inside the Coliseum,
Dodging lions and
wasting time.
Oh, those mighty
kings of the jungle, I could hardly stand to see 'em.
It sure has been a
long, hard climb.
Train wheels runnin' through the back of my memory,
When I
ran on the hilltop following a pack of wild geese.
Someday, everything
is gonna sound like a rhapsody
When I
paint my masterpiece.
Sailin’ round the world in a dirty gondola
Sure I wish I
hadn’t sold my old Victrola
Ain’t lovin’ like that good old rock’n’roll-a
I left Rome and
pulled into Brussels
On a plane ride so
bumpy that I almost cried
Clergymen in
uniform and young girls pullin' muscles,
Everyone was there
to beat me when I slipped inside.
Newspapermen eating
candy
Had to
be held down by big police.
Someday, everything
is gonna be different
When I
paint that masterpiece.
[Source: demo version from Another Self Portrait]
[TOP]
Rain on the ground,
windshield wipers movin',
Water on the
ground, sure don't feel like groovin'.
Working on a guru,
Working on a guru,
Working
on a guru, before the sun goes down.
Rain all around, I
need me an umbrella.
Water on the
ground, I am that kind of fella.
Looking for a guru,
Working on a guru,
Working
on a guru, before the sun goes down.
Walking on the
street, I need me an umbrella.
Just to keep it
sweet, I am that kind of fella.
Looking for a guru,
Working on a guru,
Working
on a guru, before the sun goes down.
Play it again ...
Rain on the ground,
windshield wipers movin',
Water all around, I
sure don't feel like groovin'.
I'm working on a
guru,
Yes, I'm working on
a guru,
But I'm working on
a guru, before the sun goes down.
Working on a guru,
Working on a guru,
Well, it's true, it
could be you ...
I'm working on a guru.
[Source: Tape]
[TOP]
(Recorded version)
Clouds so swift,
rain fallin' in
Gonna see a movie
called Gunga Din
Pack up you money,
pull up your tent McGuinn
You ain't going nowhere
Whoo-ee! ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
that my bride's a-gonna come
Whoo-ee! are we gonna fly down into
the easy chair!
Djengis Khan and his brother Don
Couldn't keep on keepin' on
We'll climb that
ridge after it's gone
After
we're way past it.
Whoo-ee! ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
that my bride's a-gonna come
Whoo-ee! are we gonna fly down into
the easy chair!
Buy me some rings
and a gun that sings
A flute that toots
and a bee that stings
A sky that cries
and a bird that flies
A fish
that walks and a dog that talks.
Whoo-ee! ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
that my bride's a-gonna come
Whoo-ee! are we gonna fly down into
the easy chair!
Whoo-ee! ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
that my bride's a-gonna come
Whoo-ee! are we gonna fly down into
the easy chair!
[Source: recorded version from More Greatest Hits]
[TOP]
(Recorded version)
You angel you
You got me under
your wing
The way you walk
and the way you talk
I feel I could
almost sing
You angel you
You're as fine as
anything's fine
I just walk and
watch you talk
With
your memory on my mind.
You know I can't
sleep at night for trying
Yes, I never did
feel this way before
Never did get up
and walk the floor
If this is love
then give me more
And
more and more and more and more.
You angel you
You're as fine as
can be
The way you walk
and the way you talk
Is the way it ought
to be.
You know I can't
sleep at night for trying
Never did feel this
way before
Never did get up
and walk the floor
If this is love
then give me more
And
more and more and more and more.
You angel you
You're as fine as
can be
The way you walk
and the way you talk
Is the way it ought
to be.
You angel you
You got me under
your wing
The way you walk
and the way you talk
I swear it will
make me sing.
[Source: recorded version from Planet Waves]
[TOP]
This page last
updated 17 September 2013.