@ALBUM: Songs That Made This Country Great Artist: Stan Ridgway 1992 I.R.S. Records All selections by Stan Ridgway unless noted. ------------------------------------------------ @SONG: Salesman Now, I've been travelin' long and hard And all over this big land And I got something here in my bag for every woman and man And nowhere is too far 'cause I cover a pretty wide base >From way down South to way up North I'll shake hands with any friendly face CHORUS Salesman, salesman, Why don't you sell me something? Salesman, salesman, Why don't you sell me something Now I got a box in hand Aand I'm gonna travel that land I'm a salesman for hire And I never get tired So just plug it in and it'll work Don't worry about it breakin' It's factory made and guaranteed, and we're not fakin' CHORUS Now I keep bangin' on my case And smilin' broad and make the deal But sometimes my feet begin to shake Like I'm slippin' on a banana peel And I been everywhere around this world I fly on the edge of the ball I got the umbers all up here I just read the map and steer that's all CHORUS Now I'll never give up this life This life has called me to I gotta get to New Orleans by noon, if I could only find my shoe 'Cause I'm a salesman Pleased to meet 'cha I've seen the dirt and dust of a hundred towns like this I just work my way on through Soometimes it's just hit and miss And got a little something here in my bag to help me burn the leaves But I gotta watch it close this time I know Because nothing comes for free (no, nothing comes for free) I knew a little girl in Idaho Guess I'll look her up now in a week or so She was always good for a laugh and a drink And what the traffic would allow CHORUS Everybody wants a real deal-everybody wants a real deal -------------------------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: Lonely Town They aall say that it's a lonely town They all say that it's a lonely town Wide open spaces, empty rooms If the weather holds out you could get there by noon Shadows crawl on the highway line Don't rush, you got time Pull into a donut shop and get a cup of mud Ask directions from plumber outside He says, "Don't go there bud..." CHORUS 'Cause they all say that it's a lonely town And they all say that it's a drag And they all know those people in a lonely town All those people are lonely and mad Now I got my foot on the gas And as I'm crossing the Mid-West County line I think about those mosquitos on my windshield And how they don't give a damn about Christmas time And as the passing trucks all flash their lights Just as I top the hill I'll remember two green eyes And some flowers dyin' on a window sill CHORUS They're just lonely and mad Out in a lonely town -------------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: Drive, She Said Sittin' right behind me I could smell her perfume It was something I smelled before Went through a red light while I spilled my drink I could feel something sticky on the floor I said, "Miss you gotta tell me where yo wanna go to, I can't keep driving 'round the same block." Then I crumpled my cup and pulled the gum off my shoe And then she told me, "Just shut up and keep your eyes on the ruad... CHORUS And just drive," she said "Just drive," she said Well, I watched her grip her hands on the bag in her lap While I scratched the bald spot on my head I knew then that my cab was just a getaway car But I shut up and drove like she said I took a bite off my donut then I offered her one I said, "Lady, are you in a fix?" Then she reached in her purse and she pulled out a gun and said, "Now, just shut up and keep your hands on the wheel... CHORUS And then the moon disappeared and it started to rain So I turned the windshield wipers on full And on the bag in her lap I saw the name of a big bank downtown And I said, "YOu don't have to worry about me..." And when I turned the headlights on, Just for a minute I thought I saw the both of us On some kinda tropical island someplace Walkin' down a white sandy beach eatin' something... CHORUS We pulled out of traffic down a dark side street She was fixin' her hair in the mirror I made a left turn at a yellow light Drove my cab fast towards the pier She boarded the boat and turned and blew me a kiss and leter on when the squad cars came 'round I ate a handful 'a peanuts and then I told 'em this "I don't remember much... Just keep your haands on the wheel, and just drive, she said." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ @SONG: Don't Box Me In You walk, I'll run, and follow right behind you You call, I'll come, and I won't remember where I come from Over thre, at the end of the bar This fish keeps swimming in a jar I feel a tug on the line Which end will I be on this time? CHORUS Don't box me in One day I7ll show them just what I'm made of There'll be a time when I won't remember what I was afraid of And I'll be swimming in the sea, no banging on this glass for me My eyes turned red when my life turned blue So I'm leaving everything, that's true And I'll jump into a brand new skin and then you won't be able to box me in CHORUS Let go There's a few places 'round that I've never been There's an ocean out there that I gotta swim There's a river out there that flows past my door I wonder...I wonder...What? And if sometimes I can't seem to talk You'll know this blackboard lacks a piece of chalk Don't box me in, I told you not to Don't box me in Let go --------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: Can't Complain "How you doin' Bert?" "Well not so good Charlie, my back's gone out and I cut my finger kinda gnarly. The job's the same and so's the boss, he's still a big ass and my wallet got lost. My wife's sick in bed she says she'll never get well and all these kids today have gone to hell and all that government paperwork caught up with me, hadd to hire a beancounter for an outrageous fee. And I don't know if the chicken or the egg is to blame, but all thins considered, I guess I can't complain." "Cheer up," Charlie said, "things could be worse." "Well yeah, I know, but did I tell you my landlord's a cop, my neighbor's insane, but all things considered, I guess I can't complain." CHORUS Out on the water Where the sailing men all go The water's high while all the fish swim low "You know what Bert," Charlie said, "you got the wrong attitude. Somtims life's a big game and the paths yo can shoose. Thins may go wrong but ya gotta stand tall." "Well I know," Bert said, "but well...that ain't all. My hair's falling out, the roof leaks when it rains, but all things considered, I guess I can't complain." CHORUS "You know what Bert," Charlie said, "you're a real loser, so I'll see you next week if you live 'til then." And as Bert walked out on the sidewalk, ten floors up, two men lost control of a hoist at just the right time, and a big Steinway grand flatened Bert like a dime. And as the crowd gathered 'round and asked, what was his name? And could it be the chicken or the gg to blame? Well, the only thing heard was that all things considered, he really couldn't complain. So if you're a loser in life and your gun's out of ammo, just remember this story about Bert and the piano. 'Cause if you can't string the bow and you're clean out of resin, someone may have planned for you a music lesson. So keep your eyes to the sky, it could be a brand name, and remember all things considered, you really can't complain. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: Goin' Southbound Tell not a word that you heard it here But there's a big trunk waiting tonight at the pier Comin' in on an eastbound boat Don't be late for delivery...here, put this in your coat It's a strange weight from an exotic locale Don't worry 'bout the cops 'cause they're in on it, pal Just pick it up no later than tonight at three o'clock And bring it to the warehouse...here, put this in your sock No one left to save you, Nobody will return You run so fast, you catch on fire You just gotta burn CHORUS Goin' soutbound Follow that sound Whole line of cars just a movin' out of town You got this job and you don't know how And everybody's doin' what nobody will allow Full moon shines like a big cue ball Someone fishin' on the pier, might as well stall Repaint the car, change your license plate How you spell relief? Must be somethin' that you ate All this is a secret As common as that dirt We'll rely on your expert eye Here, put this in your shirt CHORUS Big yellow moon hangin' low in the sky Sun'll rise soon, but nobody knows why And we'll all be waitin' so long Wait so long We'll all be waitin' so long Wait so long, wait so long Now if you get caught, don't tell 'em about me The last one who did, well we tied him to a tree Out in the high desert by an ant hill Haven't been back there since, guess he's swingin' there still Now all this is a secret As common as that dirt We'll rely on your expert eye Here, put this in your shirt CHORUS -------------------------------------- @SONG: Ring of Fire (June Carter/Merle Kilgore) Love is a burnin' thing And it makes a fiery ring I was bound by wild desire I fell into a ring of fire CHORUS I fell into a burnin' ring of fire I went down, down, down And the flames went higher And it burns, burns, burns, The ring of fire The ring of fire The taste of love is sweet When hearts like ours meet I feel for ya like a child Oh, but the fire went wild (Performed by Wall of Voodoo) ------------------------------------------ @SONG: Camouflage I was a PFC on a search patrol huntin' Charlie down It was in the jungle wars of '65 My weapon jammed and I got stuck way out and all alone And I could hear the enemy movin' in close outside Just then I heard a twig snap and i grabbed my empty gun And I dug in scared while I counted down my fate And then a big marine, a ginat with a pair of friendly eyes Appeared there at my shoulder and said wait When he came in close beside me he said, "Don't worry, son, I'm here, If Charlie wants to tangle now he'll have two to dodge." I said, "Well thanks a lot." I told him my name and asked him his And he said, "The boys jsut call me Camouflage." Whoa Camouflage Things are never quite the way they seem Whoa Camoufalge I was awfully glad to see this big marine We fought all night and side by side we took our battle stance and I wondered how the bullets missed this man 'Cause they seemed to go right through him As if he wasn't there And in the mornin' we both took a chance and ran And it was near the river bank when the ambush came on top of us And I'd thought it ws the end and we were had Then a bullet with my name on it came buzzin' through a bush And that big marine he just swat it with his hand Whoa Camouflage Things are never quite the way they seem Whoa Camouflage Was I awfully glad to see this big marine And I knew therre was something weird about him 'Cause when I turned around he was pullin' a big palm tree Rit up out of the ground And swattin' those Charlies with it from here to Kingdom Come When he led me out of danger I saw my camp and waved goodbye But he just winked at me fromhe jungle and then was gone And when I got back to my HQ, I told 'em about my night And the battle I'd spent with a big marine named Camouflage When I said his name a soldier gulped And a medic took my arm And led me to a green tent on the right He said, "You may be tellin' the truth boy, But this here is Camouflage, And he's been right here since he passed away last night." But before he went he said, "Semper Fi," And said his only whish Was to save a young marine caught in a barrage So here, take his dog tag son, I know he'd want you to have it now." And we both said a prayer for a big marine named Camouflage Whoa Camouflage things are never quite the way they seem Whoa Camouflage I was awfully glad to see this big marine ---------------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: The Overlords Well I been breakin' rocks up on coolie #3 I know it's been forever, thought you'd never hear frome The weather up here is rotten, rainin' granite all the time And both moons are glowin' purple and there is no sun to shine I been diggin' deep down in a tunnel that goes twenty miles down And I know my life is cheap when I hear that rumbln' sound CHORUS Oh the overlords Got me workin' overtime Oh the overlords They never make it rhyme And there is something in the air that is burnin' in my throat A big black cloud is passin' droppin' acid on my coat The overlords got me workin' overtime CHORUS It's been ten years and a day after world war nine They pushed us to make meaning and from their meaning was our crime Last night I had a dream where the guards all fell asleep I jumped the fence outside this pen and then I hotwired up The warden's Jeep And I took a walk CHORUS I still rmember all those nights we had together up on Mars We both stood in line t get some new tattoos While the kids got cut some scars And when they check the beds tonight, They'll find a note scratched in the pine You now can seek me underground where' I7ll be monkey-wrenchin' all the time CHORUS >From a planet out in space A signal you could trace Controllin' what you feel but you never see their face Oh the overlords, got me workin' overtime -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lost Weekend (Wall of Voodoo) Performed by Wall of Voodoo Driving out of Vegas in their automobile She was in the backseat while he was at the wheel With the windows wide open All the money frome store they'd gambled away He said, "the best laid plans often go astray." She took the page fromher book and turned it down She lit a cigarette She didn't make a sound "And I know if we'd had just one more chance," he said, "I know-we'd finally hit the big one at last," she said CHORUS Instead of another lost weekend Lost weekend Another lost weekend Lost weekend "Pull over soon," she said, "it's no big deal, you can take any exit that you happen to f feel is the right one. The right one." Aas she slowly blew her somke out the rear wind vent She thought back on all the letters she'd sent For a contest to be on a quiz game show "Maybe I shoulda stayed in school," he said. "Yeah, I know-start your own business cleaning swimming pools," she said CHORUS She leaned forward over the front seat And twiddled with the radio dial She looked out the window Sw a sign and both of them began to smile "There's a place we could stay at...it's up another mile." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: Cannon Song (aka Army Song) (Kurt Weill/Bertolt Brecht/Marc Blitzstein) Performed by Stan Ridgway and the Fowler Brothers John was all present and Jim was all there And Georgie was up for promotion Not that the Army gave a bugger who they were When confronting some heathen commotion CHORUS The troops live under the cannon's thunder FromSind to Cooch Behar Moving from place to place When they come face to face With a different breed of fellow Whose skin is black or yellow they quick as winking chop them into beefsteak tartar Johnny found his whiskey too warm And Jimmy found the weather too balmy But Georgie took them both by the arm and said, "Don't ever disappoint the Army!" CHORUS John is a write-off and Jimmy is dead And Georgie was shot for looting And young men's blood goes on being red While the Army just goes on ahead recruiting CHORUS ------------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: The Big Heat The room was dark It looked like someone had to get out fast A window open by the fire escape "How long have you been following this guy?" The bell boy asked "Not long enough, 'cause we got here too late." CHORUS "And everybody wants another piece of pie today," he said "You gotta watch the ones who always keep their hands clean." It's the big heat There's someone followin' you It's the big heat Step aside we're comin' through Well we followed him from Tucson, ended up in Baton Rouge We trailed him here with information by A woman he knew in Barstow that would like to see him dead That was four weeks ago...well maybe five CHORUS A block away he wondered if he'd left behind a clue The front page of a paper dated 1992 He remembered when he used to be the chairman of the board But that was when the world was young and long before the war CHORUS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: Peg and Pete and Me I can feel the life runnin' out of me workin' here at Pete's Two years ago it was just the thing Workin' cars part time every week I met 'em both at a drag race The both dressed pretty snappy that day Pete's wife Peg she put the make on me While Pete just looked the other way Now no one can say what your future will hold Or what your life will have in store We went home that night, Pete passed out on the couch And then Pege pulled me down on the floor Well I know now she knew what she was doin' Forbidden fruit, but what the hell, I bit That's all it took, my fate was sealed That night the flame was lit CHORUS And every night when the lights go out Pete drinks his booze and then he passes out And I hear a footstep outside my door And then I remember what I started workin' here for Peg and Pete and me One and one and one make three Peg and Pete and me One and one and one make three Now tell me what would you do if you were in my shoes? Tonight Peg we gotta stop p this thing I don't know if I can Peg said, "Don't worry, now Pete's asleep and I've got a certain plan. You uknow everything is in my name," she said, And anyway I love you so very much. He'll never feel a thing...just like he never woke up, And after that it'll be just us..." CHORUS The next morning when I woke up Peg was gone But the detective said, "Son, you gotta come downtown, 'Cause we know you killed Pete dead." The jury found me guilty And sent me up for ninety-nine to life And if there's any advice I can give fromhis cell Never trust a rich, dead man's wife CHORUS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: Mexican Radio (Wall of Voodoo) Performed by Wall of Voodoo I feel a hot wind on my shoulder And the touch of a world that is older Turn the switch and check the number Leave it on when in bed I slumber I hear the rhythms of the music I buy the product and never use it I hear the talking of the DJ Can't understand just what does he say? CHORUS I'm on a Mexican radio I'm on a Mexican radio I dial it and tune the station They talk about the U.S. inflation I understand just a little No comprende-it's a riddle CHORUS I wish I was in Tijuana Eating barbecued iguana I'd take requests on the telephone I'm on a wavelength far from home I feel a hot wind on my shoulder I dial it in from south of the border I hear the talking of the DJ Can't understand just what does he say? CHORUS ---------------------------------------------- @SONG: I Wanna Be a Boss I been doodlin' on this notepad And I been takin' telphone calls I cantell this job's at the end of the line And I'm ready for the fall But I been watchin' the boss carefully And he always seems to be havin' a ball And then I scratch my head and wonder Why I'm down here and he's up the hall All of my paychecks aren't worth the paper they're printed on I get 'em Friday and Monday they're all gone There must be some way to change my situation It's time that I took up a brand new vocation I wanna take a two week vacation 26 times a year (Add 'em up) When I fly to exotic places my jet will be a Leer I'll need severl secretaries just to jot down notes I'll wear Gucci loafers and expensive shirts And blue, executive exotic coats CHORUS I, I said I wanna be a boss Well I'll drive in fancy cars Well, no maybe I'll just cruise With a limo and a chauffer, TV, telephone and booze Tinted windows so the common folk can't see me inside Maybe every now and then for fun I'll give some old coot a ride Then maybe I'll slip 'em a thousand dollar bill The he'll smile and shake my hand And I'll put him in my will I'm gonna count up all my widgets and digits and all my stuff I'll make millions in a day but it'll never be nough Nope...not enough CHORUS Now if I find a product I like I'll buy up the whole company Then I'll shave my face and grin and smile and sell it on TV And everyone will know me I'll be more famous than Howard Hughes I'll grow a long beard and watch "Ice Station Zebra" in the nude And grow my nails like Fu Man Chu And keep a row of specimen jars Get other people to work for me Wellno...maybe I'll buy the planet Mars And build an amusement park up therre Better than old Walt's place You'll have to be a millionaire to go We'll smoke cigars and lounge in lace And talk the talk of businessmen and basses that we are So here's to me the drinks are free 'cause I just bought this bar CHORUS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @SONG: Walkin' Home Alone Now there's last Sunday's paper Crumpled up and rollin' down the street away And there's a piece of gun Just waitin' for a ride on someone's feet today CHORUS And tonight I'll be walkin' home alone Therre's a million things I said And twice as many that I didn't say And I remember an afternoon A broken coffee cup and some Broadway tune And I shook her hand and I said...OK and now as I stroll by some skinny dog Left outside without a bone CHORUS And ain't it funny how one afternoon Can make two people stop and say That all the time they spent together Really didn't mean that much anyway Except a sink full of dirty dishes And a picture in a drawer And a hairbrush on the table And a hole punched in a door And if sher were here right now I'd tell her things I never told her before So now I hear a clock and I get up fast And draw the curtain on a brand new day I can't wait to get this cast off The telephone's dead, I guess they turned it off today Turn the key on the mailbox slot I'm lookin' for a letter but bills is all I got And even the cat she left me with Is goin' out with someone else So put another quarter in the jukebox Pete, But don't play the one with the sad trombone 'Cause tonight I'll be walkin' home alone --------------------------------------------------------------- DON'T BLAME ME... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Wincentsen "Greetings from the Humungous- 267@ef.gc.maricopa.edu The Lord Humungous!" Glendale Community College, -The Road Warrior Glendale, Arizona ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I DIDN'T VOTE FOR SLICK WILLY!