1. |
Ask John Steinbeck ~ A
05:02
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Ask John Steinbeck
Turtle Two Lane Makin’ his way
Just tryin’ to get where he’s going’
Sunup Risin’ Start of a day
Red shadows are glowin'
Head turns nose up smellin' the air
Tryin' to tell what is comin'
Rumble in the distance far off somewhere
Two engines are gunnin'
One swerves to hit him, one swerves to miss
Ain't that the way that it goes
Pieces of silver all from a kiss
Just ask John Steinbeck. He knows....
Kid down playground little and thin
Just tryin' to get where he's goin'
Head up feet down checkin' the wind
Which way is it blowin'?
Steps off curbside into the street
Cycles on the horizon
Both directions feelin' the heat
Now he's got both his eyes on
One swerves to hit him, one swerves to miss
Ain't that the way that it goes
Pieces of silver all from a kiss
Just ask John Steinbeck. He knows...
Family walkin' out on the street
Just tryin' to get where they're goin'
No one talking, not much to eat
Hard row to be goin'
Move left move right move anywhere
Just don't get any nearer
Heads turn eyes look every which way
Ah, but not in the mirror
One turns to help 'em, one turns away
Ain't that the way that it goes
Pieces of silver get in the way
Just ask John Steinbeck. He knows
From Okema to Cannery Row
Just Ask John Steinbeck
He knows He Knows
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2. |
Seven Trains ~ A
06:22
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Seven Trains
Seven trains come rollin' by my door. Seven trains come rollin' by my door.
Seven trains rollin' by my door, every one longer than the one before
Seven trains come rollin' by my door.
first train gonna make you wanna ride. first train so pretty make you wanna ride
first train make you wanna ride. once you buy a ticket, ain't nothin' inside
first train, well it make you wanna ride
second train is loaded to the door. second train is loaded to the door
second train loaded to the door, lord have mercy still ask for more
second train is loaded up to the door
Seven trains come rollin' by my door. Seven trains come rollin' by my door.
Seven trains rollin' by my door, every one longer than the one before
Seven trains come rollin' by my door.
third train carry bags full o' money. third train carry bags full o' money
third train carry bags full o' money taken from the land of milk and honey
third train carry nothin' but bags full o' money
fourth train ain't never go nowhere. fourth train ain't never go nowhere
fourth train ain't a go nowhere. tyin' up the track and he just don't care
fourth train ain't never go nowhere
Seven trains come rollin' by my door. Seven trains come rollin' by my door.
Seven trains rollin' by my door, every one longer than the one before
Seven trains come rollin' by my door.
fifth train got up a head of steam. fifth train got up a big head of steam
fifth train got a head of steam. jump the track kill a everything
fifth train got a great big head of steam
sixth train all loaded down with coal. sixth train all loaded down with coal
sixth train all heavy with coal, drivin' wheel made from 'a some fool gold
sixth train all loaded down heavy with coal
seventh train all painted up bright and new. seventh train is shinin' all bright and new
seventh train all bright and new. loaded to the top and empty too
seventh train all painted up bright and new
Seven Trains come rollin' down the track. Seven Trains come rollin' down the track
Seven Trains rollin' down the track, coal fire roarin' make the sky turn black
Seven Trains come rollin' right down the track...
Seven trains come rollin' by my door. Seven trains come rollin' by my door.
Seven trains rollin' by my door, every one longer than the one before
Seven trains come rollin' by my Seven Trains come rollin' by my
Seven trains come rollin’ by my door
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3. |
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Inside Out Upside Down
I walked out one mornin' early lookin' all around me
Before too long something went wrong now what can that sound be?
Mansions way up on the hill shot gun shacks in alleys
some ain't got no home until they rest down in that valley
Inside out upside down inside out upside down
Take the pledge and hold the line fatted calf gets fatter
Reach the top, say I got mine, then pull up the ladder
One takes a fortune in an hour by the trading deadline
One ain't got no salt or flour standin' in the bread line
Inside out upside down inside out upside down
Children sent out to be warriors in the name of nations
Battlefields the blood that's spilled ain't from no corporations
Semi's full of semiautomatics stacked up to the gunwales
People ain't got nowhere to go, livin' in streets and tunnels
I walked out one mornin' early lookin' all around me
wasn't long somethin' was wrong. Now what can that sound be
Inside out upside down inside out better turn it around...
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4. |
If I Told You ~ A
03:58
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If I Told You
Same old story different faces
restless hearts beat different paces
Me, I'm finding out it ain't no thrill
You and I have been thru this
enough to know we shouldn't miss
the time. There's not time enough to kill
If I told you. If I told you. If I told you what would you hear me say?
Wouldn't it be just like heaven.
Carry 1 makes it eleven
Feeling like we've never lived before
Give me something I can trust in.
Tell me words to keep me just in
time. I'll know the heart you're looking for
If I told you. If I told you. If I told you what would you hear me say?
If I told you how I feel tonight,
would the door swing open and the light shine in.....
Points connected thru the motions
disappear into the oceans
washed away by time and tide until
Same old story different faces.
Restless hearts beat different paces
Me, I'm finding out. It ain't no thrill....
If I told you. If I told you. If I told you what would you hear me say?
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5. |
The Center Holds ~ A
03:52
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The Center Holds
Sunrise sunset. In between, well, that's all ya get
Two hearts one song Truth that holds true all along
The Center Holds
The Center Holds
Like strong castle walls tapestries and halls
The Center Holds
Time Flies Time Crawls
In between is no time at all
Love comes love goes
Love is all you ever need to know
‘Cause the center holds the center holds
Like castle and keep, like waters that run deep
The center holds
‘Cause if you are the sculptor then I am the stone
Together much more than either is alone
Swing High Swing Low
Touch the sky and the fields below
Time saved Time lost
All the time spent counting the cost
The center holds The center holds
Like forests and trees bring angels to their knees the center holds
Tho storms wash away castles made of clay the center holds
Sunrise Sunset In between, well, that's all ya get...
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6. |
Africa ~ A
04:01
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AFRICA
Ten thousand years, the trials and the tears
Have given you the skin of the rhino
Armies of fear Legions of famine
Have given you the legs of the wino
Africa
Lyin' in the dust like a white hot diamond
Africa
Will it be just like it's written this time in
Africa
Give with one hand take with another
Carrot and stick beyond the reachin'
When will this land, this soil, this mother
Be returnin' to her teachin'
Africa
Lyin' in the dust like a white hot diamond
Africa
Will it be just like it's written this time in
Africa
When too much sun a desert's makin'
So much light is gonna blind ya
When from the land so much is taken
While havin' one hand tied behind ya
Cradle of man, Cradle of woman
What will become of every nation?
Will the last stand of every human
Point us to our destination?
Africa
Lyin' in the dust like a white hot diamond
Africa
Will it be just like it's written this time in
Africa
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7. |
Turn Around ~ A
04:09
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Turn Around
When I was a boy it all seemed so clear
The falls were so easy the ground was so near
Days were forever skies were so blue
Every thing.... colored so new
The days keep on turnin' and turnin' as days always will
But it don't matter the yearnin', won't make 'em stand still
Turn around turn around Turn around
Wishin' my eyes were able to see
the clouds for the skies all around me
Time and time and time again
Shoulder to wheel get in line, look up and then
Turn around Turn around Turn around
When I was a boy it all seemed so clear
Turn around Turn around Turn around
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8. |
Tell Me No Lies ~ A
03:32
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Tell Me No Lies
Take those dark glasses offa your face
look at me now look at me now
Hold me in your cool embrace,
I will get to you somehow
Look so clean when you're on the street
don't say a word, don't make a sound
The way you sway when you're on your feet
never ever touch the ground
Ah but somethin's wrong here, somethin's wrong
I can see it in your eyes
Tell me no lies tell me no lies tell me no lies
Tell me no lies tell me no lies tell me no lies
You're so cool everything you do
wake up soon better wake up soon
I won't drink your bitches brew
be your dog in the moon
You can fake every move you make
don't fool me nah ya don't fool me
point well taken I've mistaken your identity
Somethin's wrong now somethin's wrong I can hear it in.... feel it in ...
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9. |
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Whichever Way The Wind Blows
The story that you tell Part of the lore I guess
Doesn't ring a bell Wasn't any more or less
Than I'd expect to hear breathin' in my ear
Echo in the street Tanglin' in my feet Foggin up my mirror
Whichever way the wind blows any way the grass grows
Standin' at the window thinkin' only god knows
Whichever way the wind blows
I got it from the start Carried it around and then
Took it to the heart Brought it back around again
Stashed it in a place so i Wouldn't see its face
Mirrored in the glass Offered up at Mass Fallin' outta grace
CH:
Bridge: You tell me this you tell me that
Could I be missin' tit for tat
I turn my head I thought you said
Guess I misread Tea leaves and....
Mandalas and charts Palms and fortunes, hearts
Broken like a string An angel with her wings
Grounded from the start...
So it goes my dear All remains unclear
Echo in the street Tangled in my feet
Fallin' thru my mirror
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10. |
Down To You ~ A
03:40
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Down To You
I admit I had some reservations, been an interesting conversation so far
Talkin' in circles ain't my usual M.O. Really rather you should let me know where you are..
Everything I said still stands, 'til I hear from you, it's outta my hands and..
It's down to you its down to you All my talkin's through it's down to you
Mannequin friends they whisper in your ear they
never ever wanted you to hear what I say
I know you never ever told your brother, your neighborhood your cousin or your mother, well ok
So I'm tellin' you now just so you'll know
Anyone's guess how this might go and
It's down to you Its down to you. Nothin' I can do, it's down to you
Bridge:
High up on your stone wall (not talkin' to me)
My My My don't wanna fall (Just lookin' thru me)
All o those horses all o those men ( what will it take to)
Never gonna put it together again (wake up and shake you)
Everything I said still holds before you talk, think about what I TOLD ya
It's down to you its down to you All my talkin's through it's down to you
It's down to you Its down to you. Nothin' I can do, it's down to you
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11. |
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Bells Of Saint Mary's
Kickin' a can down Washington street
Stealin' my old man's smokes
Tryin' to steer clear of old Crazy Karl
So we don't have to laugh at his jokes
And lose it all in some corner game
So we cut through the park past the tramps in the dark
Who ain't got a dime to their name
And the bells of st Mary's are ringing like a mother's voice calling you home
And the bells of st Mary's are ringing. Throw a stone Throw a stone
Now Billy and me wanted just to get free
Of the corners and the cops and the kings
Who ran all the games Who knew all the names
Who seemed to own most everything
Except for the packs we had on our backs
And the medals we tossed in a drawer
And when I returned with the stories I learned
Billy didn't come home no more
CHORUS:
Kicking a can through the old neighborhood
Where Washington street used to be
Till the freeway came through cut the city in two
Split up ol' Billy and me
And now there's no takers to cross Hell's Half Acre
And breathe in the fire that we knew
So the silence is still from this campanile
Where the music of angels rang true
While the bells of st Mary's are ringing like a mother's voice calling you home
Yeh the bells of st Mary's are ringing. Throw a stone Throw a stone
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12. |
Family Trade ~ A
04:29
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Family Trade
Secret soldiers in a secret war
Weapons shouldered. We've all seen this before
A silent cadence in a silent street
The calm before the storm
The muted shuffle of a million feet
All dressed in uniform
Secret meeting in a secret place
Set in motion without a saving grace
And it's now I lay me down to rest
in the places we make our beds
Hopin' this heart beating in my breast
won't give in to the daily bread
Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.
All for the money made
Bone and body, muscle, sinew
All currency in the Family Trade
Secret soldiers in a secret war
Weapons shouldered. We've all seen this before
A silent cadence in a silent street
The calm before the storm
The muted shuffle of a million feet
All dressed in uniform
Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.
All for the money made
Bone and body, muscle, sinew
Still currency in the Family Trade
Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.
All for the money made
Bone and body, muscle, sinew
Still currency in the Family Trade
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13. |
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When The Well Run Dry
Whatcha gonna do when the WELL RUN DRY
Sit on the bank watch the fishes die
Whatcha gonna do when the well run dry tell me
Whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when the CREEK WON'T RUN
Sit on the bank wonder what you've done
Whatcha gonna do when the creek won't run
Whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when the RIVER IS GONE
Sit on the bank wonder what went wrong
Whatcha gonna do when the river is gone
Whatcha gonna do?
You can own ten houses, cadillacs.... play tennis on your lawn
But all your money won't buy you one tin cup of water when it's gone
Whatcha gonna do when your BABY'S ILL
Take it to the bank, drill baby drill
Whatcha gonna do when your baby's ill
Whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when the WELL RUN DRY
Sit on the bank watch the people die
Whatcha gonna do when the well run dry tell me
Whatcha gonna do......
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14. |
I'm Gonna Run ~ A
02:54
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I'm Gonna Run
Whoever you are wherever you go
Don't matter, near or far I just want you to know
That maybe you'll knock me down in the street
But you're never gonna stop me 'cause I'll get back on my feet
On my feet.....
And I'm gonna run I'm gonna run
Don't matter what you've done
You have not won
I'm gonna run
Whoever you be wherever you go
Just listen to me 'cause I want you to know
that you will never take these precious things from me
While you live in the shadows I will be free
I will be free
And I'm gonna run, I'm gonna run
You're just an army of one
you don't know what you've begun
I'm gonna run
Yes, and I will never lie down
so listen very well
You'll hear the sound.....
...of my footsteps
wherever you go
Don't matter near or far
I just want you to know
And I'm gonna run I'm gonna run
Don't matter what you've done
You have not won
I'm gonna run
And I'm gonna run, I'm gonna run
You're just an army of one
you don't know what you've begun
I'm gonna run
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Jim Ballard Akron, Ohio
Jim Ballard
A native of NE Ohio, Jim Ballard has been, for many years a part of the recording/performing
community. After touring and performing all over the country with artists from 10,000 Maniacs to Gordon Lightfoot,The Mekons to Pete Seeger, he moved into his studio, Skylyne. There, he has recorded and worked with artists from Michael Stanley to Don Dixon and Alex Bevan.
... more
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