HOMELESS

(Bad Radio demo 1989, unreleased)

look me eye just this one time mister
i won't be brushed away
i (fucking) have to hurt you, don't you know
my back is broken and my hands are blistered
i've worked a bloody lifetime
tell me what have i to show
i just wanted you to know
i just wanted you to know
don't go passing by just this one time mister
the tragedy is killing me and you, you say you gotta go
i just wanted you to know
i just wanted you to know
start to understand just this one time, i mean it
i won't be here tomorrow
there's only one place left to go
you think the homeless, think they must be crazy
listen to my last words as i say it ain't so
i just wanted you to know
i just wanted you to know
i'm leaving
oh, you wouldn't know
i can't, i can't take no more, i'm leaving
oh, where will i go?
i'm leaving
oh, yeah, i can't take it anymore
i can't

 

[2002]

YOU'VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY

(Beatles cover - Ed Vedder, from 'I am Sam' soundtrack)

here i stand head in hand
turn my face to the wall
if she's gone i can't go on
feeling two foot small
everywhere people stare
each and every day
i can see them laugh at me
and i hear them say
hey! you've got to hide your love away
hey! you've got to hide your love away
how can i even try?
i can never win
hearing them, seeing them
in the state i'm in
how could she say to me
"love will find a way?"
gather round all you clowns
let me hear you say
hey! you've got to hide your love away
hey! you've got to hide your love away...

 

[2007]

NO MORE

(Ed Vedder, from 'Body of war' documentary)

I speak for a man who gave for this land
took a bullet in the back for his pay
Spilled his blood in the dirt and the dust
and he's come back to say

That what he has seen is hard to believe
and it does no good to just pray
He asks of us to stand
and we must end this war today

With his mind, he's saying, "No more!"
With his heart, he's saying, "No more!"
With his life he's saying, "No more war!"

With his eyes, he's saying, "No more!"
With his body, he's saying, "No more!"
With his voice, he's saying, "No more war!"

Yeah, nothing's too good for a veteran

Yeah, this is what they say
So nothing is what they will get
in this new American way

The lies that were told to get us to go
were criminal... let us be straight
Let's get to the point where our voices get heard
behind the White House gate

With his mind, he's saying, "No more!"
With his heart, he's saying, "No more!"
With his life he's saying, "No more war!"

With his eyes, he's saying, "No more!"
With his voice, he's saying, "No more!"
With his body, he's saying, "No more war!"

No more innocents dying
No more terror rising
No more eulogizing
No more evangelizing
No more presidents lying
No more war

With our minds, we're saying, "No more!"
With our voices we're saying, "No more!"

With our lives, we're saying, "No more war"

 

 

BAD ACTING HACK [Sean Penn song]

(Ed Vedder, unreleased 2008)

Sean is the name for a man or a woman
Penn describes a writing utensil or a federal prison
Put the two together and i'll tell you what he isn't
Just another, just another, just another, just another
Bad acting hack

His dad worked in the movies and his brother chris did too
So i have to admit there's a bit of nepotism but in this case, cool
His other brother plays guitar but he didn't write this song
But if he wants to sing it i'll let him cause it's about his brother Sean

I met him once and i have to say my view of him has risen
Over the years i've developed good taste and i'll tell you what he isn't
Just another, just another, just another, just another
Bad acting hack

I liked him as a surfer
I liked him as an addict
I liked him as a prisoner on the run teaming up with Robert De Niro wearing a habit
I liked him as a lawyer on coke he really seems to inhabit his role
Even when he plays a killer on death row

I met him once and i have to say my view of him has risen
Over the years i've developed good taste and i'll tell you what he isn't
Just another, just another, just another, just another
Bad acting hack

Just another, just another, just another, just another
Sad sack brat pack crackhead fat cat sucking cock on Hollywood's back

Bad acting hack
Bad acting hack
Bad acting hack

 

 

[2008]

ALL THE WAY

(Ed Vedder, 'All the Way' CD single)

don't let anyone say, that it's just a game.
for I've seen other teams, and it's never the same.
when you're born in Chicago, you're blessed and you're healed,
the first time you walk, into Wrigley Field.

our heroes wear pinstripes, heroes in blue,
give us the chance to feel like heroes too.
forever we'll win, and if we should lose, we know...
someday we'll go all the way, hey... someday we'll go all the way.

one with The Cubs, with The Cubs we're in love.
yeah, hold our head high as the underdogs.
we are not fairweather but foulweather fans.
like brothers in arms in the streets and the stands.

there's magic in the ivy and the old scoreboard.
the same one I stared at as a kid keeping score.
a world full of greed, I could never want more.
and someday we'll go all the way, hey... someday we'll go all the way.

and here's to the men and the legends we know.
teaching us faith and giving us hope.
united we stand and united we'll fall,
down to our knees the day we win it all.

yeah Ernie Banks said "let's play two!"
but did he mean 200 years?
in the same ballpark, the diamond, our jewel,
the home of our joy and our tears

keeping traditions and wishes made new,
the place where our grandfathers, fathers they grew.
a spiritual feeling, if I ever knew.
and if you ain't been, I am sorry for you.

when the day comes, with that last winning run
and I'm crying and covered in beer.
I'll look to the sky and know I was right.
someday we'll go all the way, hey... someday we'll go all the way.

 

 

[2010]

MY CITY OF RUINS

(Bruce Springsteen cover by Ed Vedder, from single 'My City of Ruins' - Benefiting Artists for Peace and Justice Haiti Relief)

 

There's a blood red circle
on the cold dark ground
and the rain is falling down
The church doors blown open
I can hear the organ's song
But the congregation's gone

My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Now the sweet veils of mercy
drift through the evening trees
Young men on the corner
like scattered leaves
The boarded up windows
The hustlers and thieves
While my brother's down on his knees

My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Come on rise up!
Come on rise up!

Now there's tears on the pillow
darling where we slept
and you took my heart when you left
without your sweet kiss
my soul is lost, my friend
Now tell me how do I begin again?

My city's in ruins
My city's in ruins

Now with these hands
I pray Lord
with these hands
for the strength Lord
with these hands
for the faith Lord
with these hands
I pray Lord
with these hands
for the strength Lord
with these hands
for the faith Lord
with these hands

Come on rise up!
Come on rise up!
Rise up

 

 

 

 

BETTER DAYS

(Ed Vedder, from 'Eat, Pray, Love' soundtrack)

I feel part of the universe, open up to meet me
My emotion so submerged, broken down to kneel in
Once listening, the voices they came
Had to somehow greet myself, read myself
Heard vibrations within my cells, in my cells
Singing 'Ah-la-ah-ah ah-la-ah-ah'

My love is safe for the universe
See me now, I'm bursting
On one planet, so many turns
Different worlds
Singing 'Ah-la-ah-ah ah-la-ah-ah'

Fill my heart with discipline
Put there for the teaching
In my head see clouds of stairs
Help me as I'm reaching
The future's paved with better days

Not running from something
I'm running towards the day
Wide awake

A whisper, once quiet
Now rising to a scream
Right in me

I'm falling, free falling
Words calling me
Up off my knees

I'm soaring and, darling
You'll be the one that I can need
Still be free

Our future's paved with better days

 

 

UNDER PRESSURE

(Queen & David Bowie)

Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for
Under pressure, that burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets
It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming let me out
Pray tomorrow, gets me higher
Pressure on people, people on streets
Chippin’around, kick my brains around the floor
These are the days
it never rains but it pours
People on street, people on streets
It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming let me out
Pray tomorrow, gets me higher
Pressure on people, people on streets
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don't work
Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn
Why, why, why
Love
Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking
Can't we give ourselves one more chance?
Why can't we give love that one more chance?
Why can't we give love?
Cause love's such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change
our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure

 

 

 

 

DON'T BE SHY

(Cat Stevens)

don't be shy
just let your feelings roll on by
don't wear fear
or nobody will know you're there
just lift your head
and let your feelings out instead
and don't be shy
just let your feelings roll on by
on by, on by, on by...
you know love is better than this song
love is where all of us belong
so don't be shy
just let your feelings roll on by
and don't wear fear
or nobody will know you're there
you're there, you're there, you're there...
so don't be shy
just let your feelings roll on by
and don't wear fear
or no one will know you're there
you know love is better than a song
love is where all of us belong
belong, belong, belong...

 

 

TROUBLE

(Cat Stevens)

trouble...
oh trouble, set me free
i have seen your face
and it's too much for me today
trouble...
oh trouble, can't you see?
you're beating my heart away
and there's nothing much left of me
i've drunk your wine
you have made your world mine
so won't you be fair
oh won't you be fair
i want no more of you
so won't you be kind to me
and let me go there
i have to go there
trouble...
oh trouble move away
i have seen your face
and it's too much for me today
trouble...
oh trouble, can't you see?
you have made me a wreck
now won't you leave me in my misery
i've seen your eyes
and i have seen death's disguise
oh hangin' on me
oh hangin' on me
i'm beat and torn
i'm shattered and lost and worn
too shocking to see
too shocking to see
trouble...
oh trouble, please be kind
i don't wanna fight
and i haven't got a lot of time

 

 

 

 

IF YOU WANT TO SING OUT, SING OUT

(Cat Stevens)

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
cause theres a million things to be
You know that there are

And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
cause theres a million ways to go
You know that there are

Chorus:
You can do what you want
The opportunitys on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
You see ah ah ah
Its easy ah ah ah
You only need to know

Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
cause theres a million ways to go
You know that there are

And if you want to be me, be me
And if you want to be you, be you
cause theres a million things to do
You know that there are

Chorus

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
cause theres a million things to be
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are

 

 

 

WALKIN' THE COW

(Daniel Johnston)

Trying to remember,
But my feelings can’t know for sure.
Try to reach out
But it’s gone...

Lucky stars in your eyes...
I’m walking the cow...

I really don’t know how I came here...
I really don’t know why I’m stayin’ here...
Oh, Oh, Oh. I’m walking the cow...

Tried to point my finger,
But the wind keeps blowin’ me around
In circles...circles...

Lucky stars in your eyes...
I’m walking the cow...

I really don’t know what I have to fear...
I really don’t know why I have to care...
Oh, Oh, Oh. I’m walkin’ the cow...
Lucky stars in your eyes...

 

 

 

 

MILLWORKER

(James Taylor)

Now my grandfather was a sailor
He blew in off the water
My father was a farmer
And I, his only daughter
Took up with a no good millworking man
From Massachusetts
Who dies from too much whiskey
And leaves me these three faces to feed

Millwork ain't easy
Millwork ain't hard
Millwork it ain't nothing
But an awful boring job
I'm waiting (on) a daydream
To take me through the morning
And put me in my coffee break
Where I can have a sandwich
And remember

Then it's me and my machine
For the rest of the morning
(and) the rest of the afternoon
And the rest of my life

Now my mind begins to wander
To the days back on the farm
I can see my father smiling at me
Swinging on his arm
I can hear my granddad's stories
Of the storms out on Lake Eerie
Where vessels and cargos and fortunes
And sailors' lives were lost

(Yeah), but it's my life has been wasted
And I have been the fool
To let this manufacturer
Use my body for a tool
(I'll) ride home every evening
Staring at my hands
Swearing to my sorrow that a young girl
Ought to stand a better chance

So may I work your mills just as long as I am able
And never meet the man whose name is on the label

(it's still) me and my machine
For the rest of the morning
And the rest of the afternoon (and on and on and on...)
for the rest of my life

 

 

 

HER MAJESTY

(Beatles)

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
but she doesn't have a lot to say
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
but she changes from day to day

I want to tell her that I love her a lot
But I gotta get a bellyful of wine
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
Someday I'm going to make her mine, oh yeh,
someday I'm going to make her mine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOREVER YOUNG

(Bob Dylan)

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

 

 

 

I AM A PATRIOT

(Steve Van Zandt)

and the rivers shall open for the righteous
and the rivers shall open for the righteous
and the rivers shall open for the righteous, someday
i went walking, with my brother
and he wondered, oh, how i am
said what i believe with my soul
ain't what i see with my eyes
and there's no turning back this time
i am a patriot, and i love my country
because my country is all i know
i wanna be with my family
people who understand me
i got no place else to go...i am a patriot...
i went walking, with my girlfriend
she looked so fine, i said baby what's on your mind
she said i wanna run like the lions
released from their cages
released from the rages burning in my soul tonight...i am a patriot...
and i ain't no communist, and i ain't no socialist
and i ain't no capitalist, and i ain't no imperialist
and i ain't no democrat, i sure ain't no republican either
i only know one party, and that is freedom, i am, i am, i am
i am a patriot, and i love my country
because my country is all i know
and the rivers shall open for the righteous
and the rivers shall open for the righteous
and the rivers shall open for the righteous, someday
someday, someday, someday...

 

 

 

 

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'

(Bob Dylan)

come gather round people, wherever you roam
and admit that the waters around you have grown
and expect that it soon, you'll be drenched to the bone
if your time to you is worth saving
well you better start swimmin'
or you'll sink like a stone
for the times they are a-changin']
come writers and critics
who prophesize with your pen
and keep your eyes wide
the chance won't come again
and don't speak too soon
for the wheel's still in spin
and there's no tellin' who
that it's namin'
for the loser now
will be later to win
for the times they are a-changin'
come senators, congressmen
please heed the call
don't stand in the doorway
don't block up the hall
for he that gets hurt
will be he who has stalled
there's a battle outside
and it is ragin'
it'll soon shake your windows
and rattle your walls
for the times they are a-changin'
come mothers and fathers
throughout the land
and don't criticize
what you can't understand
your sons and your daughters
are beyond your command
and the old road is
rapidly agin'
please get out of the new one
if you can't lend your hand
for the times they are a-changin'
the line it is drawn
the curse it is cast
and the slow one now
will later be fast
as the present now
will later be past
and the order is
rapidly fadin'
and the first one now
will be later the last
please get out of the new one
if you can't lend your hand
and you better start swimmin'
or you'll sink like a stone
and it shakes at your windows
and rattles your walls
for the loser now
will later be win
for the times they are a-changin'

 

 

 

THROW YOUR ARMS AROUND ME

(Hunters & Collectors)

i will come to you in the daytime
i will raise you from your sleep
i will kiss you in four places
as i go runnin' down your street
i will squeeze the life right out of your
i will make you laugh, i'll make you cry
and we may never forget it
as i make you call my name as i shout it to the blue, summer sky
and we may never meet again
so shed your skin lets get started
and you will throw your arms around me
and you will throw your arms around me
i will come to you at nightime
i will climb into your bed
i will kiss you in 155 places
as i go runnin' round in your head
i will squeeze the life right out of your
i will make you laugh, i'll make you cry
and we may never forget it
as i make you call my name as i shout it to the blue, summer sky
and we may never meet again
so shed your skin lets get started
and you will throw your arms around me
and you will throw your arms around me
ohh yeah, uh huh, uh huh...
ohh yeah, uh hum, ooh...
ohh yeah, uh huh, uh huh...
oh...and you will throw your arms around me...