Lyrics from Mudshow

Started out a sailor, I got the draft at eighteen

Never got anywhere near any war like the

kind some people seen

Twenty years later I ran away from home

Long run of bad luck I found myself all

alone

Didn’t leave a note, left the kitchen light on

Went and joined the circus to paint a happy face

on

Didn’t know nothing bout no tightrope walkin,

Too big for a clown car

They handed me a shovel and they didn’t ask questions,

Led me to the trailers

And this side of the big top, time moves slow

Stuck in the belly of a travellin mud show

And this side of the big top, time moves slow

Stuck in the belly of a travellin mud show

There’s an ugly clown with big blue hair and red-ringed eyes

Has a lot of fun orderin me around though I’m

twice his size (and I could kick his ass)

And there’s a pretty flier up on the trapeze

Wrote her a poem and now she won’t

look at me

Brought my boombox and I brought my CDs

Brought my toolbox cause it comes in handy

Sweepin the bleachers, a plastic graveyard of

Novelties and sticky gray cotton candy

And this side of the big top, time moves slow

Stuck in the belly of a travellin mud show

And this side of the big top, time moves slow

Stuck in the belly of a travellin mud show

Got some pictures in my wallet and I look at

them occasionally

When I had a drink or two I look at who I

used to be

Heard one of the handlers broke into a pharmacy

Head over later to see what he’s got for me

to… take the edge off

And the wheel of death is turning and the

wheel walker fakes a fall

Wish that they were faking when the

car crash took ‘em all

Wish that he was faking when the

cop made the phone call

One more letter I’ll write without sending and One more night without sleep

One more phonecall I’ll let go on ringing and One less secret to keep

CHORUS

I know the names of the unfaithful husbands

And who leaves my neighbor’s backdoor

I know just about everything that there is

But I don’t want to know what I know anymore

Don’t wanna know about the babies whose fathers are mailmen

Or salesmen or teachers downtown

Don’t wanna know about whose son is seeing whose son

Or bout whose daughter’s running around

One more confidence thrust in my keeping And one more worry to fret

One more image I’m sorry I’m seeing One more thing I’d just soon forget

CHORUS

I know the names of the unfaithful husbands

And who leaves my neighbor’s backdoor

I know just about everything that there is

But I don’t want to know what I know anymore

CHORUS

I know the names of the unfaithful husbands

And who leaves my neighbor’s backdoor

I know just about everything that there is

But I don’t want to know what I know anymore

Don’t wanna know about the mayor and his desk full of bourbon

Or the grocer whose wife’s been gone years

Don’t wanna know whose car is parked down at the hot spot

Or who’s drowning in his own tears

I’m thinking too much about who’s doing what And bout whom I’m supposed to be still

And sometimes I forget if it’s her or it’s him or it’s somebody different still

I’m getting too tired to keep track of it all And I care a little less everyday

But I’m pretty sure someone’ll drop by or call With something clandestine to say

CHORUS

I know the names of the unfaithful husbands

And who leaves my neighbor’s backdoor

I know just about everything that there is

But I don’t want to know what I know anymore

VERSE 1

Red tail hawk circles the sky

School bus has come and gone and I have waved goodbye

Nothing new – in the morning light

Nothing new – ‘cept another stop light (on the corner)

CHORUS

And all this time – where did he go

Buffalo Bill and his rodeo?

VERSE 2

I counted sheep when the hours got thin So hard to sleep thinking bout him

Nothing new – red ring around the moon Nothing new – storm’ll come soon

CHORUS

BRIDGE

And I raise a glass to the ones I missed Being born in the age of inconvenience

But I hold a hope that he still might show

Slinging six-guns, blue-eyed wonder Blazing glory, wrestling thunder

If I sing it sweet, and I sing it low maybe he’ll come back this way –

him and his wild west show

VERSE 3

Red tail hawk found another sky drive to work – don’t wonder why

Nothing new – I lost my wedding ring Nothing new – except everything

Nothing new - except everything

CHORUS AND OUT

All this time where did he go?

Buffalo Bill and his rodeo

Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show

VERSE 1

You look a little different Than you used to What have you done?

Maybe someone new A little different? You say that he’s the only one

PRE-CHORUS

But I remember something about you

Maybe I don’t want to live without you

CHORUS

You’re dancing in a minefield like Ginger Rogers

Like anybody looking hard couldn’t see

The sunken eyes and the hands a trembling

And every step is farther from me

Every step is farther from me

VERSE 2

Call him up Call it off Sell your soul if you have to

Look around You got enough To make you happy if you want to

PRE-CHORUS

And I remember something about this

I remember every kiss I ever gave you

CHORUS

VERSE 3

Build a fire With his ashes

Pluck the purple petals with your hands

A doppelganger - is all A pretty picture – is all

This isn’t love, he’s just a traveling man

CHORUS AND OUT

VERSE 1 & 2

An antebellum casualty at the end of a southern street

Kudzu climbing thru the walls and down around my feet

Someone said this house is haunted by a woman

Who couldn’t bear to live when sickness took her children

Right now this house is haunted by the light

outside the window

Making shadows of our bodies as we smoke our

Cigarettes

And I’m sick from too much warm beer, try to fix it with another

Tomorrow I’ll be sinking in the river of regret

PRE-CHORUS

And you are drinking whiskey from the flask your

father gave you

and sometimes you don’t know if you can make

another day

and ghosts are looking up at me from underneath

the floorboards

and someone better talk to them before they go

away

CHORUS:

Before they leave Peach Street

And the pretty houses fall

Before the sun goes down on Peach Street

and the new world takes it all

VERSE 3

There’s an old train station back behind the walmart

Used to be the only way in and out of town

And I know that time moves forward – night are longer days are shorter

Days are shorter than they’ve ever been – but still I miss the sound of trains…

CHORUS (before the skyline reaches Peach Street)

VERSE 4

Caroleanne is swinging on a porch across the street

I can see the highway from here – it’s the color of her hair

And she doesn’t say a word to me – even when I play on her piano breakdown – piano only:

She’s looking past me to someone that used to be here

PRE-CHORUS

When I look back, you’re drinking whiskey from the flask your father gave you

And I know you’re going to lie to me somewhere some day

And ghosts are running fingers thru her long black hair

While Caroleanne is swinging and the old piano’s

playing and the sounds of trains

Are fading in the air…

CHORUS & OUT

Tonight an ill wind is blowing, blowing

Something wicked comes this way

To the woods your daughter’s going, going

For what she will not say

I hear a fire is glowing, glowing

and women dancing round

why this is I am not knowing, knowing

but they never make a sound

(simile)

Get your horse and your saddle, saddle

And ride up to the hill

Mind you stay in the shadows, shadows

and you keep very still

They say they conjure a blue light, blue light And hold it in their hands

They cast a spell upon the ones that they desire

To get their wedding bands

Pity the man whose woman, woman

Is not mild or meek

Pity the man who finds himself wed

To one he did not seek

For if she’s dancing in moonlight, moonlight

A fire feeds her need

And if she’ll wander off without him, without him

His rule she will not heed

I hear a fire is glowing, glowing

and women dancing round

why this is I am not knowing, knowing

but they never make a sound

Steal me a car and we’ll drive on out of here

We’ll stop at the bar to get us some courage

and a cold beer

I’ve seen what happens when people are stayin

in this town too long

Steal me a car and I’ll drive and you can come

along

Don’t have to be much, just something with a stereo

No kinda hot rod, I’m thinking we should take it nice and slow

They’re all ate up, when people are staying in this town too long

Steal me a car and I’ll drive and you can come along

And we’ll drive to New York City where the

skyline’s pretty

And no one looks you in the eye

Then we’ll head to Maine, to dance in the rain

Eat some lobster and sit by the water

You haven’t done nothing since last

Thanksgiving - You been sitting way too long

So steal me a car and I’ll drive and you can

come along

Well I met a girl named Sweet Suzannah Lee

And she says she’s got connections in Nashville, Tennessee

You always said the Grand Ole Opry is where I oughta sing a song

So steal me a car and I’ll drive and you can come along

And we’ll drive to California where the girls are warmer and the sun shines all the time

We’ll stop in Vegas and blow all our wages - eat at buffets and sleep all day

Don’t it make you crazy being so lazy, Never doin nothing wrong?

Steal me a car and I’ll drive and you can come along

Well I better get goin, my time’s up on the phone

But I’d like to hear that when I get outta here I won’t be drivin all alone

I’m gonna need some company, and a little money,

So tell me what you’re with me and you love me honey

Steal me a car and I’ll drive and you can come along…

VERSE

Knocked the sandman off my eyelids

Threw him out my bedroom window

tooth fairy on my dresser stole money from my drawer.

And Santa Claus up in my chimney

Ate the cookies that you made me

Cupid put away his bow and won’t be back here anymore

CHORUS

Tell me a story Make it pretty

Tell me another story, boy

Tell me you love me, tell me

VERSE

Leprechaun took all my gold I didn’t find him fast enough

The rainbow came and went and I was left with only rain

Easter bunny hopped into a hole

And took his basket with him

And the good witch of the north said every home is pretty much the same

CHORUS

BRIDGE

And I am overcome by sounds of drowning men on a ghost ship - on a rough sea;

overcome by how you don’t look at me when you say what you say to me.

The boogieman’s still in my closet dancing with a vampire while

The monster underneath my bed is tangled in the phone wire

And the angel of darkness is drinking with your mother

Drinking brandy from a demitasse And smiling like a lover

CHORUS

Green limes in a red bowl on the table

And I don’t know what you’re calling for

Green limes in a red bowl on the table

And I don’t know what you’re calling for

If I had a dime for every drop of rain

If I had a million dollar name

Would you like me better?

Could it all be better?

Blue bird on the fence post by the hostas

And I don’t know what you’re calling for

Blue bird on the fence post by the hostas

And I don’t know what you’re calling for

If I had a house in the city

And a man to answer my door

In your pretty picture

Would it all look better?

Red coat on the white chair by the front door

And I don’t know what you’re calling for

Red coat on the white chair by the front door

And I don’t know what you’re calling for

If I promised I’d love him forever

Could it all be better

Such a pretty picture

And If I had a dime for every drop of rain

If I had a million dollar name

And fortune and fame

Could he love me?

Could he love me?

Green limes in a red bowl on the table

And I don’t know what you’re calling for

Glory, sister, glory, there is music here before me

There is music in the water and the blood that’s running through me

Calls me when I am sleeping spilling from the cup I’m drinking

I will follow it forever, play you here and then beyond

CHORUS:

I am full up with the memory

In the line of every song

Sweet glory, sister, glory will remain when we are gone

VERSE 2

I dreamed there by the water of a thing I’d never say

Drew a circle in the soft earth and begged the line to stay

Traced your feet and hands Into the muddy ground

I will follow it forever Cause I dreamed your body down

CHORUS

I am full up with the memory

In the line of every song

Sweet glory, sister, glory will remain when we are gone

VERSE 3

And I know that Spring is coming by the moths out in the night rain

I was thinking of your sweater long before you put it on

There is music in the pattern, There is music in your taped hands

I will follow it forever Play you here and then beyond

I will know you by the pattern

In the line of every song

Sweet glory, sister, glory will remain when we are gone

VERSE 4

I dreamed there by the water of a thing I’d never say

Drew a circle in the soft earth and begged the line to stay

Traced your feet and hands Into the muddy ground

I will follow it forever Cause I dreamed your body down

I will know you by the pattern

In the line of every song

Sweet glory, sister, glory will remain when we are gone

I will know you by the pattern

In the line of every song

Sweet glory, sister, glory will remain when we are gone

I will know you by the memory

In the line of every song

Sweet glory, sister, glory will remain when we are gone