1. |
Thunder Train
04:04
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1) Thunder Train
Near Christmas time, my body got cold;
No heat in the house, and my boom box got sold!
I’m tapping my feet to the sound in my head
Walked past a dealer with snaky dreads.
Feel down and dirty in all kinds of ways
Like a broke actor on an empty stage
sure as one plus one is gonna take you to two,
The thunder-train comes roaring through!
Chorus:
You think you’re gonna break my heart
You gonna spit it right out
You gonna look it over
Until I scream and shout
You know I ain’t gonna run away
Because I’m the thunder train!
I’m the thunder train!
All the days, living in the shack
So black and dismal, thought I’d never come back.
Rueben and Steve—and all your friends,
Pulling me down—they got to make amends!
Didn’t want to look bad in front of you guys:
But now I’ll treat ‘em like a mound of flies.
Sure as one plus one is gonna take you to two,
The thunder-train comes roaring through!
Chorus
You burned my bridge, but here I stand
Swiggin’ justice with a lightning hand
I don’t need to look the other way
And I’m still gonna dance today.
I’m the thunder train, down the track:
Thunder train: I won’t ever look back.
Sure as one plus one is gonna take you to two,
The thunder-train comes roaring through!
Chorus
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2. |
Ivory Castle Walls
04:22
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2) Ivory Castle Walls
By Willie DE
On the misty fields
The wilderness comes to life.
The bluebirds sing to the grasshoppers
On this damp autumn evening
Outside these Ivory Castle walls.
Curtains close, candles die.
I fold into the castle that’s mine.
Forever within myself,
I swim despairingly—
Inside these Ivory Castle walls.
Chorus:
Near the wild of the field she waits?
For these ivory castle walls to come down.
Cold-hearted beast
Roams those misty fields.
She’s not afraid to wander
in the flesh of spring!
—Outside these Ivory Castle walls.
What is sacred is where I can’t go.
By the flowers in the highest field.
Her mind glides,
—in a current of air
Beyond these ivory castle walls.
Chorus
I Imaginine her freedom
I pray hard for my thoughts of love
This year, she’ll lie in the misty fields.
And maybe, together, we will hear the castle walls come down.
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3. |
Kobra King
02:45
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3) Kobra King
He’s caught you in his arms
You’re warming up his soul
Clenching your hands
Your breath takes him home
Scent of cinnamon swirling
Swirling in the air
You’re one more Kobra love affair.
He thinks you’re fool, but you’re a wonderful thing
You’re hangin’ round with the Kobra King
He’s got big greasy hands
He says it don’t matter
Kobra hands you the drinks
You climb the ladder
Don’t get so sweet on him—
He can’t be sweet on you
Temptation is the devil
Don’t give the devil his due.
Thought your were a fool, you’re a wonderful thing
You’re living big with the Kobra King
You let him call the shots
Baby that ain’t wise
Pays the bills
He says he loves all his wives
Don’t get him going
Honey please don’t try
He’s gonna dump you
And leave you on the fly
Though you’re a fool, you’re a wonderful thing
Can you walk away from the Kobra King?
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4. |
Seven Sparrows
04:02
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4) Seven Sparrows
Seven sparrows sitting in a row:
One flew off and was found crippled in the snow;
No leader to guide the way;
Heavy as a stone with wings of clay.
Burning wounds in the snow;
Will I stay or will I go?
make me a fortress in the woods;
Five-story building tilted strong the way it should.
Chorus:
Are we at the Pharaoh’s feet?
Born to tend the Pharaoh's sheep?
Stuck like little chimney sweeps?
I'm like the sparrow
That’s been struck by the arrow
Down from my beautiful tree.
I’m a sparrow in a rage,
Going down this crazed highway
Looking for my kith and kin:
All I see are severed wings
They whirl me down the mountain in the wind
Chorus
Seven sparrows sitting in a row:
One flew off and was found crippled in the snow;
No leader to guide the way;
Heavy as a stone with wings of clay.
Chorus
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5. |
Diamond Days
04:12
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5) Diamond Days
The silver owl flew through the night
And rested on the lady’s arm
It became a tattoo that she never knew
Kept her away from harm.
The lady spun in the air
She sparkled in her ballet clothes
She twisted her wrist, flew like a fish
But she managed to land on her toes.
If only you got to see the way
Before the keenest diamond days
When the darkness wants to roam for a while
It climbs up to the shore
Then soon the moon will come on strong
And the darkness will be no more.
Her world runs like a clock
Gears turning in her brain
She isn’t blind, but is always on time
And she stays pretty sane.
If only you got to see the way
Before the keenest diamond days.
She’s placed in a tall glass bottle
Bending on her knees and toes
She tries to dance but there is no chance
She becomes a shadow.
But she’ll revel in the morning light
Cut a shrewd deal with her muse,
Feel our desire. Sink our teeth in the wire
And send a bright spark through the fuse.
If only you got to see the way
Before the keenest diamond days.
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6. |
Joy & Sugar
02:46
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6) Joy & Sugar
I’m traveling towards Loreena
I’m waiting on Loreena
She was sick, now she's well:
We’ll go dancing on the hill,
Joy and sugar is in the air.
I’m holding on to Loreena
I’m listening for Loreena:
She was lost now she’s found
We’ll go jumpin’ into town,
Joy and sugar is in the air
I’m in trance with Loreena
But I’ll take a chance with Loreena:
We’ll float off like a red balloon,
Love her late and love her soon,
Joy and Sugar is in the air
Joy and Sugar’s bustling in
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7. |
Louie Haryll's Party
04:47
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7) Louie Haryll’s Party
Laughing under the crescent moon,
Mr. Paint will be here soon.
He can’t wait to get to you,
Mr. Paint’s got business to do.
Chorus:
Come all ye children,
Sons and daughters of men,
Swing on forward; swing back again.
Let’s begin the best time of your life:
It’s Louie Haryll’s party tonight.
Now Mr. Paint he comes flying in black,
Bats with baby faces flapping at his back;
Mr. Paint sees what you’ve done;
He’s got the sins counted, every one.
Chorus
Josh the Eskimo will be there, too;
He knows just what you didn’t do.
Josh is a spook on his own mission—
Crying out ‘bout the sins of omission.
Chorus
Step out of the party, step into the light:
Tell Josh and Paint, you’re through for the night.
Tell Louie Haryll that you’re going home.
Tell his spooks they better leave you alone.
Chorus
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8. |
Southwest Ramble
02:59
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8) Southwest Ramble
Started out in old Decatur,
Knew I’d get there sooner or later,
Started out down in Decatur,
Met a Georgia girl—some kind of gator.
I took a ramble down, down Southwest.
Got myself to Auburn town,
Strangers staring far and wide,
Got to a college town,
They toasted too long and got fried.
I took a ramble down, down Southwest.
Reveling in New Orleans,
Got the gumbo on my mind.
Dancing in New Orleans
Joyous times aren’t hard to find.
I took a ramble down, down Southwest.
Back here in my homeland
It’s all familiar now.
I know where I am in my homeland,
Virginia is sweet and sour
I took a ramble down, down Southwest:
I was feelin’ lucky, and I was feelin’ blessed.
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9. |
Release them Hounds
05:21
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9) Release them Hounds
I’m gonna take a night ride to San Francisco.
I can feel that train’s old engine going.
I can hear the whistle as it blows.
Summer’s almost over and soon it will be cold.
Chorus:
So when the fleas bite and the wool gets damp,
I’ll be waiting for the spirits to take your hand.
I don’t know what I’ve found,
One of these days we’re gonna release them hounds
Twenty-four cents to go into the pictures.
Fifty cents for a little rice lo mein.
Feels like I’m living inside of a castle.
San Francisco makes me feel this way.
Chorus
I’m gonna take a night ride to San Francisco.
I can feel that train’s old engine going.
I can hear the whistle as it blows.
Summer’s almost over but it doesn’t have to go.
Chorus
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10. |
Swampy Blues
03:33
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10) Swampy Blues
The roosters are loose;
Chewing sunflowers in the field.
Got your motorcycle juiced,
Black thug boots astride the wheel.
No time left to lose. You gave me the swampy blues.
Slip a tooth on a chain,
You wrap it around your neck.
You’re a chief of the plains
On your highway trek.
No time left to lose: still I got the swampy blues.
You dig gamblin’ in the back of bars
Eating lobster near the bay.
You dig Smoking Cuban cigars
And getting drunk in the heat of the day.
No time left to lose. Will I always have the swampy blues?
I’ll keep on fighting through
While you roll and hum, down the avenue.
Oh let me crawl away from all that’s you.
No time left to lose. Oh to be rid of the swampy blues.
Been bitten by a copperhead,
Never seen a great white shark.
To a balcony in New Orleans, I said.
To Barcelona, I should embark.
No time left to lose. Cheer the end of swampy blues.
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Willie DE Charlottesville, Virginia
A native of Central Virginia, Willie has toured extensively and shared the stage or opened for a diverse group of top-flight musicians including the North Mississippi All-stars, David Olney & Sergio Webb, Ivan & Alyosha, Alash Ensemble, Eric Taylor, and The Hackensaw Boys. His first solo album, Egg Cracked, The Bird Went Wild, is full of songs of rebirth and regeneration. ... more
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