Music From Big Pink

Band Music From Big Pink Lyrics
1.To Kingdom Come

B
Forefather pointed to kingdom come
F#
Sadly told his only son
A
Just be careful what you do
'robbie lick'
It all comes back on you.

False witness spread the news
Somebody's gonna lose
Either she or me or you,
Nothing we can do.

(chorus)

A e
Don't you say a word
A e
Or reveal a thing you've learned
A g#m c#m
Time will tell you well
F#m a b
If you truly, truly fell

Tarred and feathered, yea!
Thistles and thorns,
One or the other
He kindly warns.

Now you look out the window tell me
What do you see?
I see a golden calf pointing
Back at me.

I been sitting in here for so darn long
Waitin' for the end to come along.
Holy roaster on the brink
Take a chance, swim or sink.

False witness, cast an evil eye
Said i cannot tell a lie,
Haints and saints don't bother me
I'm not alone you see.

(chorus)

Haints: dialect word for haunts i.e. ghosts.


2.In A Station

C em f dm
Once i walked through the halls of a station
G c7
Someone called your name
C em f dm
In the street i heard children laughing
G c7
They all sound the same
C f
Wonder, could you ever know me
C g
Know the reason why i live
C f
Is there nothing you can show me
Eb f/g c
Life seems so little to give

Once i climbed up the face of a mountain
And ate the wild fruit there
Fell asleep until the moonlight woke me
And i could taste your hair
Isn't everybody dreaming!
Then the voice i hear is real
Out of all the idle scheming
Can't we have something to feel

Once upon a time leaves me empty
Tomorrow never comes
I could sing the sound of your laughter
Still i don't know your name
Must be some way to repay you
Out of all the good you gave
If a rumour should delay you
Love seems so little to save


3.Caledonia Mission

G c
She reads the leaves and she leads the life
G d
That she learned so well from the old wives
Em d c d
It's so strange to arrange it, you know i wouldn't change it
Em d c d
But hear me if you're near me, can i just rearrange it?
G7
The watchman covers me
G7
With his remedy
G7
I can't see and it's hard to feel
D c d g
I think his magic might be real

I can't get to you from your garden gate
You know it's always locked by the magistrate
Now he don't care why you cry, he thinks it's just a lie
To get out, i don't doubt that you'd make a try
If the good times get you through
I know the dogs won't bother you
We'll be gone in moonshine time
I've got a place they'll never find

You know i do believe in your hexagram
But can you tell me how they all knew the plan?
Did you trip or slip on their gifts, you know you were just a
con?
You knew it, why d'you do it, i've been hiding in the dark
Now i must be on my way
I guess you really have to stay
Inside the mission law
Down in modock, arkansas


4.The Weight

A c#m d a
I pulled into nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead;
C#m d a
I just need some place where i can lay my head.
C#m d a
'hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?'
C#m d a
He just grinned and shook my hand, and 'no!', was all he said.

(chorus:)
A e d a e d
Take a load off fanny, take a load for free;
A e d a d
Take a load off fanny, and (and) (and) you can put the load
right on me.

A e d a d

I picked up my bag, i went lookin' for a place to hide;
When i saw carmen and the devil walkin' side by side.
I said, 'hey, carmen, come on, let's go downtown.'
She said, 'i gotta go, but m'friend can stick around.'

(chorus)

Go down, miss moses, there's nothin' you can say
It's just ol' luke, and luke's waitin' on the judgement day.
'well, luke, my friend, what about young anna lee?'
He said, 'do me a favor, son, woncha stay an' keep anna lee
company?'

(chorus)

Crazy chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.
He said, 'i will fix your rack, if you'll take jack, my dog.'
I said, 'wait a minute, chester, you know i'm a peaceful man.'
He said, 'that's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can.'

(chorus)

Catch a cannon ball now, t'take me down the line
My bag is sinkin' low and i do believe it's time.
To get back to miss fanny, you know she's the only one.
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone.

(chorus)


5.We Can Talk

D em7 d g
We can talk about it now
A
It's that same old riddle only starting from the middle
D em d g
I'd fix it but i don't know how
A
Well, we could try to reason but you might think it's treason
G
One voice for all
F e7 a
Echoing across the hall
Bm g
Don't give up on father clock
A d a
We can talk about it now
D em d g
Come, let me show you how
A
To keep the wheels turnin' you've got to keep the engine
churnin'
D em d g
Did you ever milk a cow
A
I had the chance one day but i was all dressed up for sunday
G f
Everybody, everywhere
E7 a
Do you really care
Bm g
Pick up your heads and walk
A d g7
We can talk about it now
C e7 f
It seems to me we've been holding something underneath our
tongues
C e7
I'm afraid if you ever got a pat on the back
F g
It would likely burst your lungs
A e7 a e7
Woh, stop me, if i should sound kinda down in the mouth
A e7 a
But i'd rather be burned in canada than to freeze here in the
south
D em dm g
Pulling that eternal plough
A
We've got to find a sharper blade or have a new one made
D em d g
Rest awhile and cool your brow
A
Don't need it, no need to slave, the whip is in the grave
G f
No salt, no trance
E7 a
It's safe now to take a backward glance
Bm g
The leaves have turned to chalk
A d a d
We can talk about it now,
A d
We can talk about it now


6.Long Black Veil

G
Ten years ago on a cool dark night
D c g
There was someone killed 'neath the town hall light
G
There were few at the scene and they all did agree
D c g
That the man who ran looked a lot like me

The judge said 'son, what is your alibi?
If you were somewhere else then you won't have to die'
I spoke not a word although it meant my life
I had been in the arms of my best friend's wife

C g c g
She walks these hills in a long black veil
C g c g
She visits my grave where the night winds wail
G c g
Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees
C g d c
Nobody knows but me

The scaffold was high and eternity neared
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold wind moans
In a long black veil she cries over my bones


7.Chest Fever

E d/e a/e

E d/e a/e e d/e
I know she's a tracker, any scarlet would back her
A/e e d/e a e d
They say she's a chooser, but i just can't refuse her
A/e
She was just there, but then she can't be here no more
E b d e b d e
And as my mind unweaves, i feel the freeze down in my knees
B d e f#
But just before she leaves, she receives

She's been down in the dunes and she's dealt with the goons
Now she drinks from the bitter cup, i'm trying to get her to
give it up
She was just here, i fear she can't be here no more
And as my mind unweaves, i feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives

G# c#m
It's long, long when she's gone, i get weary holding on
F#m7 (f#7?) b7
Now i'm coldly fading fast, i don't think i'm gonna last
Very much longer

'she's stoned' said the swede, and the moon calf agreed
I'm like a viper in shock with my eyes in the clock
She was just there somewhere and here i am again
And as my mind unweaves, i feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives


8.This Wheel's On Fire

Am
If your memory serves you well
Bo7
We're going to meet again and wait
E
So i'm going to unpack all my things
F dm am
And sit before it gets too late
C am
No man alive will come to you
C am
With another tale to tell
C a
And you know that we shall meet again
F dm am
If your memory serves you well

Chorus:
Dm f c g g7
This wheel's on fire, rolling down the road
C g f c
Best notify my next of kin
F g a
This wheel shall explode!

If your memory serves you well, i was going to confiscate your
lace
And wrap it up in a sailor's knot and hide it in your case
If i knew for sure that it was yours, and it was oh so hard to
tell
And you know that we shall meet again if your memory serves you
well

(chorus)

If your memory serves you well, you'll remember that you're the
one
Who called on them to call on me to get you your favours done
And after every plan had failed and there was nothing more to
tell
And you know that we shall meet again if your memory serves you
well

(chorus)


9.I Shall Be Released

E f#m
They say everything can be replaced
G#m a b e
They say every distance is not near
F#m
So i remember every face
G#m a b e b
Of every man who put me here

(chorus:)
E f#m
I see my light come shinin'
G#m a b e
From the west unto the east
F#m
Any day now, any day now
G#m a b e
I shall be released

They say ev'ry man needs protection
They say that ev'ry man must fall
Yet i swear i see my reflection
Somewhere so high above this wall

(chorus)

Now yonder standing there in this lonely crowd
A man who swears he's not to blame
All day long i hear him shouting so loud
Just crying out that he was framed

(chorus)


10.Yazoo Street Scandal

Stranded out in the night,
Eliza took me down
To see the widow give
Rain to the town.
It's against the law
To be a tonic man,
But the widow knows
She's got the upper hand.
So i went on in
Feelin' kinda wheezy.
You know she soothed my mind, boys,
She rocked me kinda slow and easy
All day and all night.

Pick a card before you go
It's a long trip to mexico.

Eliza wait by the door,
I can't stay here anymore, no, no.

Then she took a pill
She washed her feet in the mud
She said 'look out son,
You know, i just ordered a flood
For forty days and forty nights'.

Then i dropped my shoes,
Eliza called my name.
She said it looked to her
Like it's gonna rain.
Then the cotton king
Came in chokin'
And the widow laughed and said:
'i ain't jokin'.
Take once for all'
She said 'now don't ya tease me.
I just fell in love, boy,
So rock me kinda slow and kinda easy,
All day and all night.'

Sweet william said
With a drunken head:
'if i had a boat,
I'd help y'all float'.
Eliza stood there watching,
William in a trance,
But just then an old man
With a boat named 'breezy'
Said: 'you can ride with clyde, boys,
If you rock it kinda slow and easy,
All day and all night'.


11.Tears Of Rage

C am f dm
We carried you in our arms on independence day
Bb f c
And now you'd throw us all aside and put us all away
Am f dm
Oh, what dear daughter 'neath the sun could treat a father so?
Bb f c
To wait upon him hand and foot and always tell him 'no'

(chorus:)
E7 am
Tears of rage, tears of grief
F c
Why must i always be the thief?
E7 am
Come to me now, you know we're so low
F c7 fmaj7 c
And life is brief

It was all very painless
When you went out to receive
All that false instruction
Which we never could believe
And now the heart is filled with gold
As if it was a purse
But, oh, what kind of love is this
Which goes from bad to worse?

(chorus)

We pointed you the way to go
And scratched your name in sand
Though you just thought it was nothing more
Than a place for you to stand
I want you to know that while we watched
You discovered no one would be true
And i myself was among
The ones who thought
It was just a childish thing to do

(chorus)


12.Katie's Been Gone

(a) katie's been gone (g#m) since the spring time;
(f#m) she wrote one time'n (b7) sent her love
(a) katie's been gone for (g#m) such a long time now.
(f#m) i wonder what kind of love she's (b7) thinkin' of.

(a) dear katie,
(e) if you can hear me,
(a) i can't wait to (e) have ya near me.

(a) oh, katie, since ya (e) caught that bus,
Well, i (bm) just don't know how things (c#m) are with us.
(d) i'm still here and (e7) you're out there.

Katie laughed when i said i was lonely.
She said, there's no need t'feel that way.
Katie said that i was her only one,
But then i wonder why she didn't wanna stay.

Dear katie, if i'm the only one,
How much longer will you be gone?
Oh, katie, won't ya tell me straight:
How much longer do i have to wait?

I'll believe you,
But please come through.

(c) i know it's (f) wrong to be (dm) apart this long;
(f) you should (bb) be here, (asus4)near (a)me. (i'm not sure
about those last two chords)

Katie's been gone and now her face is slowly fading from my
mind.
She's gone to find some newer places,
Left the old life far behind.
Dear katie, dont ya miss your home?
I dont see why you had to roam.

Dear katie, since you've been away
I lose a little something every day
I need you here, but you're still out there.
Dear katie, please drop me a line,
Just write, love, to tell me you're fine.

Oh, katie, if you can hear me,
I just cant wait to have you near me.
I can only think
Where are you,
What ya do, may be there's someone new.


13.If I Lose

G
I never thought i'd need you
C
But now i find i'm wrong.
D d7
Come on back, sweet mama,
C g
Back where you belong.
G
I've gambled over this town
C
And find that i can't win,
D d7 g
Come on back and pick me up again.

Chorus:
B c d7 d (b,c,d can be played as single notes.)
Now if i lose,
G
Let me lose.
D
I don't care
G
How much i lose.
G7
If i lose a hundred dollars,
C
While i'm tryin' to win a dime,
D d7 g
My baby, she got money all the time.

Of all the other girls i know,
None can take your place,
Cause when i get into a jam,
They just ain't in the race.
So come on back home, babe,
Let's take another round,
With you here by my side, baby,
The deal just can't go down.

Chorus x2.


14.Long Distance Operator

Long-distance operator,
Place this call, it's not for fun.
Long-distance operator,
Please, place this call, you know it's not for fun.
I gotta get a message to my baby,
You know, she's not just anyone.

There are thousands in the phone booth,
Thousands at the gate.
There are thousands in the phone booth,
Thousands at the gate.
Ev'rybody wants to make a long-distance call
But you know they're just gonna have to wait.

If a call comes from louisiana,
Please, let it ride.
If a call comes from louisiana,
Please, let it ride.
This phone booth's on fire,
It's getting hot inside.

Ev'rybody wants to be my friend,
But nobody wants to get higher.
Ev'rybody wants to be my friend,
But nobody wants to get higher.
Long-distance operator,
I believe i'm stranglin' on this telephone wire.


15.Lonesome Suzie

C e7 am fmaj7 bb c
Lonesome suzie, never got the breaks
E7 am g
She's always losing so she sits and cries and shakes
C e7 am f bb c
It's so hard just to watch her, and if i touch her
Eb bb c am c g c
Oh, poor suzie, i'm wondrin' what to do

She just sits there, hoping for a friend
I don't fit here, but i may have a friend to lend
Maybe i mistook her, but i can't overlook her
Must be someone who can pull her through

E7 am fmaj7 bb c
Anyone who's felt that bad could tell me what to say
E7 am g
Even if she'd just get mad, she might be better off that way
C e7 am
And where is all the understanding
Fmaj7 bb c
Her problems can't be that demanding
Eb bb c am
Why is it she looks that way
C gsus4 c
Every time she starts to cry?

Lonesome suzie, i can't watch you cry no longer
If you can use me until you feel a little stronger
I guess just watching you has made me lonesome too
Why don't we get together,
Dm7 g7 c
What else can we do?


16.Orange Juice Blues(Blues For Breakfast)

D7 g7 c7
I had a hard time waking this morning
G7 d7
I got a lotta things on my mind
C7
Like those friends of yours
F7
They keep bringing me down
Bb7 d7
Just hangin' round all the time

I've had a hard time waking most mornings
And it's been that way for a month or more
You've had things your way
But now i've got to say
I'm on my way out the door

Chorus:
(nc) d7
Why don't you get right, try to get right, baby
C7 bb7 a7
You haven't been right with me, why don't you get right?
D7
Try and get right, baby, don't you remember how it used to be?

(solos like verses (2), repeat chorus)

You had a hard time waking this morning
And i can see it in your empty eyes
But there's no need for talking
Or walking round the block
Just to figure out the reason why

I have a hard time handing out warnings
I'll just slide on out the door
Cuz i'm tired of everything
Being beautiful, beautiful
And i ain't coming back no more

(repeat chorus, solos like verses (2), chorus fade...)


17.Key To The Highway

Chorus:
I've got the key to the highway,
Packed up and bound to go.
I'm gonna leave here running,
Cause walking is most too slow.

I'm going back down to the border
Where i must fairly go(?)
Cause you ain't done nothing but
Drive a good man away from home.

So give me one more, one more kiss, baby
Just before i go
I'll be back out on the highway,
That's the only place i know.

And when the moon creeps over my room, honey,
I'll be on my way.
I'm gonna roam this old highway
Until the break of day.

Chorus.

Well, its so long, so long, baby.
I must say goodbye.
I gotta roam, roam this highway
Until the day i die.


18.Ferdinand The Imposter

A a/d a a/d a
(intro)
A bm e d
Ferdinand standing in the tower thinkin how to get the power

Empress knows that it would cost her
For ferdinand the imposter
Came to me to make a deal,
Dressed like general butterfield.
A bm d e
Couldnt wait to thank him for the stuffed birds and rubber door

A g d
Donated to him from the poor
D a
But its just his game
D a
And he carries no shame
A g d
Still, he done nobody wrong
D a
He knew he didn't belong
D a
But he went along
C#m
D e e7
Looking to see if there's somebody else he'd like to be

Benny the barber, luke and me,
Passed out tickets cautiously,
To see the burning of the soup,
Down at lucy's chicken coop.
Then of course ferdinand,
Started out doing charlie chan.
That last atlas honkey's fall,
He says he's gonna do them all.

A voice just said he's not for real,
But its just his game,
And he carries no shame.
Still he done nobody wrong,
He knew he didn't belong,
But he went along.
Lookin' to see if there's somebody,
Else he'd like to be.

C#m bm
Oh its hard, oh, don't you know
C#m bm
To be somebody that you dont even know
A d
But he's friendly, yes he's kind
B e e7
I can't help wonderin why they'd want to change his mind

Got a message in the mail,
Ferdinand was thrown in jail.
I left the snow with abigail,
Went on down to fix his bail.
They had him locked in a gunny sack,
His hands were tied behind his back.
He claimed he was a doukhobor (*)
But they never heard of that in baltimore.
The police said he'd better go home,
And he went back alone,
Back to the snow.

Still he done nobody wrong,
He knew he didn't belong,
But he went along.
Lookin' to see if there's somebody,
Else he'd like to be,
Mainly free.