BLACK RIDER


CALIFORNIA BOUND
don’t worry, no need for you to hide among the trees | come into the light and you’ll be free | don’t scurry, it’s such a lonely life up in the hills | the valley’s gonna cure your every ill | don’t worry, I know that you are lost but you’ll be found | God willing we are California bound | God willing we are California bound | no, I never will hate you | I just want to show you the one truth | and spread my love all around | don’t worry, don’t bring yourself down | don’t let your mind chase you like a hound | don’t worry, don’t bring yourself down | we’re coming today to save your town | no worries, I know tomorrow brings the golden sun | where there’s wine and olive fruit for everyone | do hurry, now spread the news from there upon your mound | God willing we are California bound | God willing I won’t put you in the ground | no, I never will hate you | I just want to show you the one truth | and spread God’s love all around | don’t worry, don’t bring yourself down | we’re coming to save your mind and town | don’t worry, don’t bring yourself down | we’re coming to chase you like a hound


CHIP AWAY BOY
I used to have some fun | me and everyone | now I’m just employed | I’m a chip away boy | I’m a chip away boy | I remember humid nights | I remember how the full moon tugs | how it used to make us fight | and the language of the bugs | and even our doomsday | I’m a chip away boy | I’m a chip away boy | and I’ll chip away ‘til I make the other side | I think I’m falling in love | and now she’s falling off her stool | it‘s not me she’s thinking of | but I’m her little fool | and she’s my Helen of Troy | I’m a chip away boy | I’m a chip away boy | you put on your camisole | and I’ll jump in the rabbit hole | and head for the sluice-way | I’m a chip away boy | I’m a chip away boy | and I’ll chip away ‘til I make the other side


COLD HEART OF STONE
winter blows through my coat | it’s chilling my bones | but it does not compare | to your cold heart of stone | I pledged you my love | and I gave you my car | now you’re parking with him | yeah I know where you are | your favorite perfume | well I gave you a tub | now your stepping out | for your rubba dub dub | if ever you need don’t call | if ever you need don’t call | I once had a dog | who ran from his home | but that wasn’t even close | to your cold heart of stone


BLACK LETTER DAYS
every day I work | every day’s the same | the sun is going down when I get home and every day gets worse | every day I curse the one who left me here alone | every night I take | something for my sleep | every night I dream the world away | and when the morning breaks | I wake and see it’s just another long black letter day | don’t cry | don’t start | don’t fret your | poor heart | you know it’s just another long black letter day | excuse me, please | do you have the time? | and can you tell me what’s it matter anyway? | please pardon me, sir | do you know the date? | what is the number? | it’s just another long black letter day


VALENTINE AND GARUDA
I have a flask but I do not have the wine | I have a suit but I do not have a dime | oh pity me Garuda I don’t where to begin | I had a love and she called me Valentine | I walk alone on streets | below these peaks of stone that block the sky | my hands have lost their grip | through fingers slipped the rarest ever damselfly | I had a love and she was always true | I had a drink yes I gambled then she flew | oh pity me Garuda and turn my hands into wings | I’m coming back to the station I am due | my eyes are small and dark | my pigeon heart is pumping blood so fast | I fly above the earth | for what it’s worth I search for love lost in the past


HOW YOU WENT SO FAR
someday I know that you’ll be coming back here | will you someday? | I wait to hear you turn that knob on that door | can’t take it no more | Boston to Phoenix | I went in my car | but I don’t know how you went so far | I’ve been to Cairo | seen the bazaar | but I don’t know how you went so far | one day I know that you will come to your senses | will you one day? | it’s too late for me to leave and be with you there | I would be scared | I sailed the Atlantic | and I looked at the stars | but I don’t know how you went so far | no, I don’t know how you went so far | I don’t know how you went so far


END OF MILES
at the end of miles you stare out at the ocean | mountains at your back you think you’ve tamed | at the end of miles you hope you’ll soon be back in motion | but you’re never going back from where you came | a little peace at last | yes, I thought that I would stay just for awhile | now a shadow cast | is all what’s left of this wanderer’s profile | but still I have survived | and I know I have arrived | here at the end of miles | I lost it all back east I sold my El Dorado | a stranger helped when I was thirstiest | for some the end of miles is Denver, Colorado | but something always kept me moving west | I’m lately out of reach | in towns along the California shore | I’m leathery and bleached | I’m lost and I am lonesome to the core | I’ve got nowhere left to go | but I’m satisifed to know | there’ll be miles nevermore


1826
I’m going away | I’m going far away | I’m going further than the land that meets the sky | And I won’t rest | until I’m very far | I’ll walk for many days and walk through many nights | I leave today | I smell the death | I smell it very near | I’m going away before that death is coming here | I hear a sound | I hear my enemies | I hear them getting louder, louder everyday | my enemies | I’ll run and run | And I won’t have a home | I don’t know when I’ll stop my running I don’t know | won’t have a friend | won’t talk to anyone | oh, will I ever stop my running? I don’t know | oh, I don’t know | oh, will I ever know? | will I ever stop my running? I don’t know | oh, I don’t know


THE FAREWELL BAND
oh Pacoima what you give to me? | little heartbreaker mercy me | her eyes are green and her hair is gold | desert day turn to evening cold | I’ve seen you some but I know, I know that it’s the end | you’re hanging ‘round the farewell bend | you were broken and I fixed you up | I turned your weeds into buttercups | you were lost now you know where it’s at | you were a little thin now you’re a little fat | you gave me love and though I know that it was not pretend | I’ve seen you ‘round the farewell bend | oh, Pacoima what you give to me? | little heartbreaker mercy me | my eyes are red my mood is black | I called your name and you didn’t look back | where are you going and who did you befriend? | I’ve seen you ‘round the farewell bend | where are you going and honey who did you befriend? | I’ve seen you ‘round the farewell bend


SOUTHBOUND BEVY
I used to think about the world | like so many people do | I sure did want to get myself to Mexico | but as days of life unfurled | well, there was nothing I could do | I only made it to the bar where I go | I stood below a southbound bevy | and I could not believe my heart could feel so heavy | I used to think about the world | don’t get your spirits high | they’ll all come crashing down | don’t let your trumpet sound | you’ll be left wondering why | I walked along the county levy | and I could not believe my heart could feel so heavy | I used to think about the world


I WILL RUN AFTER YOU
if you went away | called it all a day | said that it was through | ‘cause a new man | or an old friend | or a guru | ‘cause you got a bit tired of me | now that I could believe | yeah, but if you do | if you leave if you leave | if you leave if you leave | wouldn’t even cry | wouldn’t even try | wouldn’t even stew | wouldn’t look for another love, no | listen if you leave | tell you what I do | if you leave if you leave | if you leave if you leave | if you leave if you leave | if you leave if you leave | if you leave if you leave | if you leave I will run after you | I will run after you I will run after you | I will run after you I will run after you | I will run after you I will run after you | I will run after you I will run after you | I will run after you I will run after you


TRUE BLUE
in a little while I’m gonna do some wanderin’| in a little while so let’s pass the narghile | in a little while one more road for the hit | in a little while find a place for my mind to settle | in a little while like a crocodile | in a little while | though some things have gotten small | I’ve grown tall that’s for sure | other things have disappeared | it’s not clear what endures | ooh ooh ooh | ooh ooh ooh | uh uh uh | uh uh uh | in a little while I’m gonna lose this useless smile | in a little while I’ll write you in an old wine bottle | in a little while I think I’m finally used to it | in a little while I do believe I’m here to stay | in a little while like diamond back terrapin | in a little while | they call me true blue | I’m walking now crawling | I hear her voice calling | I’m falling into you | now through you I’m with you | I’m with you


JANE THE QUEEN OF LOVE
once my dear is not enough | let me tell you ‘bout Jane she’s the queen of love | she’s the queen of love and she’s the bane | of we who know wherever she goes she will reign | she will reign she reigns | Jane she’s the queen of love | Jane she makes bumblebee love | you are the only one | yeah, that’s just what you are | I’ve been so blue | sleeping ‘til noon, darling | watching cartoons | but I could not ease the pain | I hear the phone line | and I hope that isn’t you | Jane she was my only love | Jane and though our love is done | you are the only one | yeah, that’s just what you are | Jane she’s the queen of love | Jane she makes busybee love | you are the only one | yeah, that’s just what you are


JET BLACK RIVER
jet black river take me on | what’s in-between is waiting on me | revealing caffeine ghosts | and giving up its gasoline | I think I see the stacks of my home blow | sweet memories of dirty monochrome | but once again tonight we sing | jet black river’s calling me | jet black river’s calling me | jet black river’s calling me | jet black river’s calling me


21 REASONS
I rode from TJ up to Berkeley and it started out so grey | ‘til I lost that cool protection when the sun burned it all away | while the winter’s light shined down on those revivals from my day | I had dreams of your insurrection taken down by Monterey | I don’t care for the season | I don’t find it that fun | and I’ve got 21 reasons | I’ve got 21 reasons | and there go 22 singers on the run | first I saw the digits crawling slowly up the rocky coast | just some separated fingers looking for their fingerpost | from the water jumped a bloody hand needing desperately a host | when I saw the bald bell ringers well, I knew then that you were toast | then went up the baby babels where the iron bells were hung | they couldn’t get them any higher and those iron bells were rung | with the singers now all gathered they collected every tongue | and so now it was required for every soul to turn the dung | well, you sure can hear a rumble on the royal road today | and those grand halls of correction well, I think that they’re here to stay | from the time that you are born there are certain bells you must obey | best you plan for the resurrection best you lower you head and pray


WHISPERING WEEDS
I went climbing up a weedy hill | to see what I could see | there far below the Hindu shrine | where I go from time to time | and up at the top I met dead Andy | I’m not sure how he got killed | but nailed to a tree is a photograph | yeah I always tip my hat | oh whispering weeds | oh whispering weeds | oh whispering weeds | what are we talking ‘bout today? | and what’s that you say? | up in the flats of Leo Carillo | is a place where I can sleep | a great big rock where I did dream | a happy stone age dream | and the darkness ‘round me started to creep | and I knew that I had to go | ‘cause night is the hour of the mountain lion | who sent me back home cryin’