LYRICS

BLACK HORSE RIDING 

There’s a Black Horse Riding 
He’s coming your way 
Ain’t no use hiding
It’s judgment day 
And if you see him 
Coming your way 
Go make your peace 

I went out walkin’ 
To go kill a man 
He deserved to die 
But God took my hand 
And showed me another way 
Said here’s a path don’t stray 
That’s my plan 

Well the Sun is Dark 
And the Moon is bright 
There’s a black horse riding
Your way tonight 
And when you meet him 
And see his face 
I pray to God 
Your peace is made 

Well there’s wasted space 
And wasted memories 
Wasted lives 
And wasted days 
And when that sun 
Decides to set on you 
There will be nothing 
Left to waste 

Well I’ll be gone 
Come the springtime 
Though the winter 
Cold and still 
I will stay 
With flame and fire 
‘Til the frost 
Falls from the sill 

There’s a Black Horse Riding
He’s comin’ your way 
Ain't no use hiding
It’s judgment day 
And when you see him 
God takes your hand 
Your peace is made 
That is my plan 
Your peace is made 
That is my plan
 

EAST TENNESSEE

I’m going to the hills of East Tennessee 
That’s where he said he’ll marry me 
Right under the limb of my old family tree 
Yes, that’s where he said he’ll marry me 
I’m going to the hills of East Tennessee 

The hickory wind is blowing cold 
I hear the shrill of an old black crow 
It breaks my spirit, bends my hope 
It chills me to my brittle bones 
When the hickory wind is blowing cold 

            Oooooooh……..oooooooooh……. 

As I slumbered he crept in 
And held my face close to his chin 
He whispered that he loved me then 
His words they burned upon my skin 
As I slumbered he crept in 

When I awoke I said a prayer 
That I would find him standing there 
My eyes still closed; I would not dare 
To gaze upon an empty stair 
When I awoke I said this prayer 

Oooooooh……..oooooooooh…….

 

DESERT 

It’s desert again 
My face against the wind 
Feeling all the concrete in my skin 
My heart is a hole 
The desert is cold 
And up ahead I see an endless road 

It’s a place I’ve been before my friend 
A place I know that I will be again 
It’s a feeling I have for you 
But is the desert just an endless road? 
My heart is tired, my hands are cold 
And up ahead the story is untold 

It’s desert again 
I’ve lost another friend 
Climb into the hills and taste the wind 
My heart still feels a fire 
Walking on a wire 
High above old ashes of desire 

It’s a feeling I have for you 
And I know that I may never feel again 
But I’ll wait in this place for you my friend 
‘Cause the desert’s not an endless road 
My heart wants more than it’s been shown 
And up ahead the story is untold 

The desert sun was sinking low 
My Bedouin heart was beating slow 
But my friend we’ll find the end of the road 
Where we’ll listen for the wind to blow 
Whispering the end of our story 

There was a desert in my heart 
An oasis in your eyes 
Lord let me drink the waters from the skies

FIDDLER OF DOONEY 

When we play our songs down in Highlandtown 
Folks dance like the waves of the sea 
Well my cousin is a priest up there in Baltimore 
And my brother wears the collar in D.C. 

When I passed my brother and my cousin 
They were reading from their books of prayer 
Well, I’ve got my book of Dylan songs 
That I bought at the Sligo Creek fair 

For the good are always the merry 
Save for an evil chance 
And the merry sing to the waves of the sea 
And the merry love to dance 

So when we come to the end of our living 
We’ll find Peter there sitting in state 
He will smile on these three good old spirits 
But call me first through the gate 

He’ll ask aren’t you the one with the fiddle 
And I’ll reply I confess that’s me 
He said I once heard you play down in Highlandtown 
So come on in, your soul is free 

For the good are always the merry 
Save for an evil chance 
And the merry sing to the waves of the sea 
And the merry love to dance 

So when you come to the gates of St. Peter 
You might hear this fiddler’s tune 
You’ll find my brother and my cousin 
Dancing with the angels in the room 

For the good are always the merry 
Save for an evil chance 
And the merry sing to the waves of the sea 
And the merry love to dance 
And the merry sing to the waves of the sea 
And the merry love to dance 
And the merry love to dance 
And the merry love to dance

LIONS’ DEN 

She tossed her thoughts like nickels 
Into the fountain of her fame 
She dreamt of all the days 
When crowds weren’t  drowning out her  name 

She emptied out her pockets 
Found her lipstick cherry red 
Drew her name upon the sidewalk 
To get the headlines out of her head 

She used to dance 
Under the Edison lamps 
Before she slept with the lions 
Waking up in their den 
Another night rushes in 
But she cannot keep herself from crying 

The years flew by like bullets 
Though the days dragged on like lead 
The sun sank low until it cast 
Long shadows across her bed 

She tossed and turned in silence 
Til she found her lipstick red 
Then she drew herself a new face 
With a smile that would knock ‘em dead 

She tried to dance 
Under the Edison lamps 
But she kept going back to the lions 
Back to their den 
When the night rushes in 
But still that won’t keep her from trying 

She drank from the cup of stardust 
Left her mark right there on the  edge 
In the middle she gazed at all her memories 
That kept her heart away from the ledge 

She  used to dance 
Under the Edison lamps 
Before she slept with the lions

SALTED WOUNDS 

Pistol whipped Lips are zipped 
Police were tipped The bet was fixed 
Now all bets are off 
He’s come down with a cough 
His heart’s grown soft 
It’s not a stone 

Could be light as a feather clean as a whistle 
Off-key a little 
Little does he know 
His life’s on the line His dignity is at stake 
Holding time and eating his cake 

Just a little more time 
He’ll come to 
And start to lick 
His salted wounds 

Cross the line of the old picket line 
He’s got an axe to grind so he speaks his mind 
He got laid off 
He got down with the boss 
And now he counts the cost and casts a stone 

Gets back in the saddle flies through the meadow 
Reigns it in a little ‘cause little does he know 
His life’s on the line his dignity is at stake 
Holding time and pulling his weight 

Just a little more time 
He’ll come to 
And start to lick 
His salted wounds 

Chain link fence around the big party tent 
Can’t make a dent in all the nonsense 
But he’s bent towards the sun 
He’s still looking for some fun 
He hasn’t found the right one 
He’s not alone 

Just a little more time 
He’ll come to 
And start to lick 
His salted wounds

NIGHTTIME IN NASHVILLE 

Flying into town there’s not another soul around 
Who cares to sing the songs here in my head 
And looking to the ground I can’t hear a single sound 
And now I’m thinking that I’m somewhere else instead 

I knew the fix was in and that I would never win 
So I packed a bag and headed somewhere west 
A single ticket in my hand, it was my last and lonely plan 
But I stacked the deck and held them to my chest 

And if you don’t believe that I’ve got something up my sleeve 
It’s nighttime here in Nashville, Tennessee 
And if you don’t think it’s true that I’ve got a hand for you 
I’m gonna play it here my dear and then you’ll see 
It’s nighttime in Nashville, Tennessee 

Please don’t wake me in the morning 
Just let the door close gently as you go 
Please don’t it as a warning 
There’s just some things that I think you ought to know 

As I walk on in the crowd of happy people singing loud 
I catch a glimpse out of the corner of my eye 
There’s someone dressed in blue and he’s got a face like you 
But I stop myself before I say goodbye 

I take a turn into the bar and pick up an old guitar 
And join the folks that just came there to play 
I strum down on a chord and say a prayer up to the Lord 
And then I thank him for the time I have today 

And if you don’t believe that I’ve got something up my sleeve 
It’s nighttime here in Nashville, Tennessee 
And if you don’t think it’s true that I’ve got a hand for you 
I’m gonna play it here my dear and then you’ll see 
It’s nighttime in Nashville, Tennessee 

Please don’t wake me in the morning 
Just let the door close gently as you go 
Please don’t take it as a warning 
There’s just some things that you ought to know 

Flying into town there’s not another soul around 
Who cares to sing the songs here in my head 
And looking to the sky I stop to think and wonder why 
And now I know that I am somewhere else instead 

And If you don’t believe that I’ve got something up my sleeve 
It’s nighttime here in Nashville, Tennessee 
And if you don’t think it’s true that I’ve got a hand for you 
I’m gonna play it here my dear and then you’ll see 
It’s nighttime in Nashville, Tennessee 
It’s nighttime in Nashville, Tennessee 
It’s nighttime in Nashville, Tennessee

 

STAR STEALERS 

Park the car by the road 
Where the dogwood grows 
It’s just a stone’s throw 
From old Friar’s Field 
There’s a place underneath 
Within the white arms’ reach 
Where the beggars and old lovers kneel 

A washed up old starlet 
Lives there under the shade 
Just digging up old promises 
She’s longing to make 
But one she makes good on 
She makes with a smile 
As she points to the heavens 
At the stars in the sky 

“Down there by the church 
You’ll find the astrologer’s purse 
Full of stars he’s collected 
From the fallen away. 
Just borrow a few 
He’ll never know it’s you, 
Besides it’s there for the taking 
If you’re lucky today!” 

Well, we made off with Orion 
Who kept his sword by his side 
To ward off the lion 
Who was protecting his pride 
But by our own constellation 
We ran through the park 
And under that dogwood 
We kissed in the dark 

And down there by the tree 
We heard the Handsome Family 
Singing songs about moonlight and love and regret 
And as we drove away 
We heard the old starlet say, 
“Don’t let the stars 
Burn a hole 
In your pocket!”
 

NOTHING HERE IS MINE 

Stuck in stone walls for hours 
Searching for the moonlight through the cracks 
Making my way through this tower 
Tryin’ to find a way down to brass tacks 

But nothing here is mine 
And that’s all right 
Nothing here is mine, and that’s all right 
Nothing here is mine 
And that’s all right 
I’ve hid under the moon now once or twice 
The dark side of the moon is looking nice 
And nothing here is mine 

I keep walking through this tower 
Searching for the bell pull with this flame 
I won’t stop until I’ve found her 
‘Til moonbeam chimes start ringing out her name 

But nothing here is mine 
And that’s all right 
Nothing here is mine, and that’s all right 
Nothing here is mine 
And that’s all right 
Heard the music of the moonlight once or twice 
The bells will break the quiet of the night 
And nothing here is mine 

My footsteps echo as I walk the hallowed lines 
My heart grows lighter knowing nothing here is mine 
I’ve not forsaken all the things I’ve left behind . . . 

My spirit’s now devoured 
Drowning in the moonshine of her song 
This music’s getting louder 
Her melody keeps leading me along 

But nothing here is mine 
And that’s all right 
Nothing here is mine, and that’s all right 
Nothing here is mine 
And that’s all right 
I’ve had a taste of moonshine once or twice 
But nothing like the moonshine of this night 

Nothing here is mine

SNAKES 

Please do not believe that I am wasted 
Please do not believe that it is true 
I am just a victim of these places 
I am quite conflicted by this too 

Saint Patrick would be proud to hear our story 
Of how we drove the snakes into the sea 
And other golden tales of all our glory 
I'm sure he'd be as pleased as he could be 

I'm coming clear, I'm coming right. 
We just do not understand the night 
I'm coming clear, I'm coming right. 
We just do not understand the night 

Then we take a turn into the darkness 
Reality will fade into a point 
We all have got to make some sense of all this mess 
We've got a brand new Saint we must anoint 

Temptation leads away some of our spirit 
Insanity creeps in upon our guest 
A bitter soul derides the one that's nearest 
Our journey home has now become a test 

I'm coming clear, I'm coming right. 
We just do not understand the night 
I'm coming clear, I'm coming right. 
We just do not understand the night 

Ooohhh 

All the driven snakes begin to 
climb their bodies up out of the sea 

Finally the night falls to the morning 
The cold has bitten down into our souls 
The venom of the snakes gave us no warning 
They all had been a-hiding in the shoals 

So listen to these words I set before you 
These words are set in sand upon the shore 
The venom of the snakes it will destroy you 
If you do not drive them off your door 

I'm coming clear, I'm coming right.  
We just do not understand the night  
I'm coming clear, I'm coming right.  
We just do not understand the night 

I'm coming clear, I'm coming right.  
We just do not understand the night  
I'm coming clear, I'm coming right.  
We just do not understand the night 

SERENADE 

There’s an old groove to your new song 
There’s a tune moving through your veins 
But your blood grew weary with the memory 
That played upon the record you had saved 

The needle on the table plays it backwards 
And you wonder what keeps howling out your name 
It was gritty, it was gruesome, it was lovely 
To recognize the voice that you once claimed 

Serenade 
You crawl into the music that you made 
Serenade 
You sink into a wistful serenade 

You keep sinking down 
Under the the wall of sound 

The skipping record brings you to your senses 
And you button up your sleeve and shut the shade 
And you put away the needle and the makeup 
With that record on the shelf you walk away 

There was an old groove to your new song 
There was a tune moving through your veins 
But your blood grew weary with the memory 
That played upon the record you had saved 

Serenade 
You crawl into the music that you made 
Serenade 
You sink into a wistful serenade 

There was an old groove to your new song

WORKMAN’S LIFE 

It’s a workman’s life 
It’s a hard-earned day 
It’s a tired time 
When you’re blown away 
It’s hard-earned sleep 
and some hard-earned pay 
It’s a workman’s life 
On a desperate day 

I’m tired of sitting ‘round 
Just getting old 
Trying to turn these thoughts into gold 
But I’m too busy just doin’ what I’m told 
It’s a broken dream for a broken soul 

 It’s a workman’s life  
It’s a hard-earned day  
It’s a tired time  
When you’re blown away  
It’s hard-earned sleep  
and some hard-earned pay  
It’s a workman’s life  
On a desperate day 

Saturday we're feelin’ fine 
Sunday comes we walk the line 
Oh but I got Monday on my mind 

I’m done working for the man in the moon 
Nothing to promise, nothing to do 
On another lost and loaded Monday afternoon 
Just a wasted day that ends too soon 

It’s a workman’s life  
It’s a hard-earned day  
It’s a tired time  
When you’re blown away  
It’s hard-earned sleep  
and some hard-earned pay  
It’s a workman’s life  
On a desperate day 

Saturday we're feelin’ fine 
Sunday comes we walk the line 
Oh but I got Monday on my mind 

A hard-earned sleep is coming my way 
It’s what we take from this tired day 
And I know I’ve got one more thing to say 
It’s a fruitful gift and for that we pray 

It’s a workman’s life  
It’s a hard-earned day  
It’s a tired time  
When you’re blown away  
It’s hard-earned sleep  
and some hard-earned pay  
It’s a workman’s life  
On a desperate day