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LYRICS: LEFT HAND SMOKE

PARADISE BLUES

I'm a-packin' my bags
I'm gonna leave this place
I don't want no kisses goodbye
I don't want to leave a trace
Those were good times we had, mama
But I've lost my hunger for the chase

But I'll see you again
When we're white, winged, and free
And we're no longer these foolish
Broken things we seem to be
Oh, there we will be whole again
Yes, all the wise agree

Turn around, baby
Oh, you know that good lord is smilin'

That's an awfully dark lookin' road
I hope that I find the light
But there's no sense in trembling
Thus far it's been all right
It's gettin' dark now baby
I hope it's not endless night

Turn around, baby
Oh, you know that good lord is smilin'

ANNIE

Was on some hazy winter
When all hope was gone
New York City time
Told me I should be movin' on

When I met up with a peach
By the name of sweet Annie
She said she didn't believe
In giving love unconditionally

With the back drop of the avenue
She glided like a dove
And said, "I think you're in love
With the idea of being in love"

I said, "Oh, that's just the way of the world
As far as I can see
But we can make it through
If we live passionately"

Annie
You're a stone cold blue
Annie
It seems the world follows after you
You know all I can say is a-hey, hey, hey
Annie
I will shelter you

She taught me how to breathe
And laugh and love aloud
She said I'd be a good man
If I wasn't so damn proud

I said, "Take me as I am!"
But she took another man
She said, "I have got some livin' to do
But I'll hold you when I can"

Annie
You're a stone cold blue
Annie
It seems the world follows after you
You know all I can say is a-hey, hey, hey
Annie
I will shelter you

I want to give you shelter

I offered up my soul to you
And you lost it in the storm
I need some place to hide away
Like a blanket, soft and warm

But in a distant rush of summer fire
You'll see my love is true
So float on through your broken world
And someday I'll rescue you

In a distant rush of summer fire
You'll see that love is true
So float on, float on, float on girl
And someday I'll rescue you

Annie
You're a stone cold blue
Annie
It seems the world follows after you
You know all I can say is a-hey, hey, hey,
Annie
I will shelter you

ANOTHER GYPSY ROSE

So you close your eyes
And step out into summer
With a confidence
From all you've ever known

But do you remember
Being stranded on the corner
And just how it felt to be alone?

Hold me close, Gypsy Rose
'Cause good times come and good times go
Hold me close, don't let go
After all, you don't know
It might be a songbird
It might be your radio

When you're shakin' off that summer
Like the way you bid an old friend goodbye
And although you might not see them again
Wasn't it a great time to be alive?

Well, it all melts away, mama
To Friday night dancin'
Romancin' yourself out of the storm
Ring them bells, baby
And remember yourself, lady
And the way you rage against a closing door

Hold me close Gypsy Rose
The sun is crashing into the coast
Just as fast as it came, well, it soon may go
And after all, you don't know
It might be a songbird
It might be your radio

Rage on

PLAY IT FOR ME

A man bends over a faded guitar
On a summer day
He says this is the finest way, by far
To pass the time away

And, you know, I'm tired of loves songs
But, you know, they move the night along
Remember the sweet sound
Of the wild and winsome melody

That I play
Pass the time away
When you need it, you can't defeat it
Time gets turned lonesome
As I play

Crowds of people in their brand new clothes
You try to touch them but they scatter like crows
You can only hope they'll be caught in the throes
Of the wild and winsome melody

That I play
Pass the time away
When you need it, you can't defeat it
Time gets turned lonesome
As I play

Oh, and I know how feels
What you've been kickin' through
Oh, but I live my life
Oh, one life
And it's all mine
All you love shall remain

So long, bye-bye
So long, dry your eyes
Let's bring it back
To where you call home
Let's bring it back
To where we belong
Oh, it's all right
Let's bring it back
To when it meant something
Do you remember?

I say
Oh! Oh! Oh! Play it for me
Oh! Oh! Oh! Play it for me
I know Lord, nothing is free
Oh, Play it for me

Then one fine morning, you'll see
You are home

TEMPORARY LOVIN'

A December evening
In a warm bedroom
She holds me close
By the light of the moon

I think that I could love you
But I'll be leavin' soon
She says, "It's cold in the world outside"
I say, "I'll be warmer soon
In another room"

Now you've got
Shakin' hands and a fragile heart
And you thought I loved you
From the very start
The temporary kind of lovin'
Ain't the kind that keeps you reelin'
Still you roll and say
You don't care

Another evening
Of another day
She's reeled me in
Now she pushes me away

I think that I could love you
But I ain't got long stay
You know I love you more and more
When you push me away

Now I've got
Shakin' hands and a fragile heart
And I thought you loved me
From the very start
The temporary kind of lovin'
Ain't the kind that keeps me reelin'
Still I roll and say
I don't care

So many faces
So many possibilities
Let's toast to you and I
Let's exchange some pleasantries

We'll talk of old devotions
And of our common frailty
But remember if it's not me it'll be you
If not you, it'll be me
It's a shame

Everybody's
Got two hands and one fragile heart
And it hurts just as much
When it gets torn apart
The temporary kind of lovin'
Ain't the kind that keeps us reelin'
Still we roll and say
"I don't care"
"I don't care"
"I don't care"

If you ask me I won't share
How much I care
I don't dare

WAKE ME UP

It's funny how you spend your life waiting
Waiting for a moment to last
And the more time you spend thinking about the future
The more you're blown back into the past

Ah, the wind blows and the heart grows harder
And the leaves they shake the way young lovers do
Oh, and I'm on the back steps thinking do I miss it yet?
Well, yes I do

Ain't it funny that what alludes you
Is the thing that controls you
Over and over?

I saw you in a midnight conversation
But my love was born long, long ago
It was hatched in a teenage reverie, in the dawn of another age
It's as timeless as a street covered in snow

Well, now I'm babbling, broken down, drunk and dirty
And when you need a friend it's too late to make one
And I think of all the ghosts who haunt these twenty blocks

I can't put a finger on one
They don't go walkin' in the hot sun
They burned out in the long run
Yes, I swear

Wake me up
Like the wretch I was on Sunday
Wake me up
I've been sleepin' for too long
And you never may know
The one who loves you so
Wake me up in a bed where I belong

Wake me up
Like the wretch I was on Sunday
Wake me up
I've been sleepin' for too long
And you never may know
The world that loves you so
Wake me up in a bed where I belong

BLOOD RUNS HOT

I was picked up
Nearly borne away
By the bass drum
And the grand display

And I'm thankful
That they let me play
So I can die livin'
And not live dyin' away

But if love was
Just a flag to wave
I'm gonna wave my banner high
Oh, it's wonderful
With a beating heart
Blood runs cold

I was carried up
Nearly borne away
By the kick drum
And the great escape

And I'm thankful
That they let me play
So I can die livin'
And not live dyin' away

But if this is
Just a flag to wave
I'm gonna wave mine so high
Oh, that's rock n' roll
With a beating heart
Blood runs hot

 

HEY MAMA

Oh, I got a guitar
Strung it up right
Wandered out past
The furthest city light

Now, I'm broke and alone
A young boy can't have known
That you set out to find
What you left back at home
Hear them moan
They're moanin'

Hey Mama

Dawn is breaking
Warm summer sun
This open road
Offers no redemption

Is all you work for in vain?
When you wander in the rain
You discover and uncover
And discover her again
She's not the same
Why can't she stay the same?

Hey Mama

Now I got a guitar
And I toughened up right
And I embraced the darkest corner
Of every single night

Do a tour of one-night-stands
Just to feel it in your hands
That grand desperation
Abandon your plans
Look at these hands
I'm strummin', I'm hummin', I'm comin' for ya

Hey Mama

ROLL AWAY

Hey, it's the nighttime, can't you see?
And I am slippin' in and out of daydreams

It's as warm atop this cobblestone
As it's ever been this quarter century
Too bad I've got dates to keep
And the promise of a better destiny

I want to roll away
Let me roll away

I walked around London town
And I was weak and weary as the rain came down

Thought I must be about 21
Not getting' younger, but I'm not done
Still I can dream of a perfect sun
Way down yonder where the naked women run

Let me roll away
I want to roll away

To a better day
Let me roll away

On a burnt-out, bustling street
Too bad my mind don't follow my feet
But that's all right, there's work to do
Get up, child, the world don't wait for you
I say no, lay a poor boy down

And let him roll away
Let him roll away
A feather in the wind
On a breezy day

Roll on

LET THE WIND RIDE

It's shady on the front porch tonight
All around you there's a freedom
From all the reasons not to feel all right
And be caught up in the music
As you gently rock and sway

You say you're gonna get there, someday
If you could just break away
From the front porch and the oak tree and the promenade
But I say give it up, give it up, give it up

Let it roll I want to move you
Let it roll I want to groove you
Let the wind ride, groovin' you
Let it roll I want to move you
Let it blow right through you
Let the wind ride

And cool you when you begin to fight
So overcome by all that's whipping through the night
This street it moves like music
And you're caught up in the sway

I guess I'm asking you to think twice
'Cause what you want requires a sacrifice
Well it is so lovely, but it has a price
You've got to give it up, give it up, give it up

Let it roll I want to move you
Let it roll I want to groove you
Let the wind ride, groovin' you
Let it roll I want to move you
Let it blow right through you
Let the wind ride

Let it cool you
Let it remove you
Let it ride, let it ride
Let it cool you

Oh, you can't get something for nothin'
You've got to give up something
So give it up, give it up, give it up

Let it roll I want to move you
Let it roll I want to groove you
Let the wind ride, groovin' you
Let it roll I want to move you
Let it blow right through you
Let the wind ride

Oh, let it roll
Let it roll, baby
Let it roll
Let it roll, baby
Give yourself completely
I'll give myself, too
Let it all fall away
When the wind blows on a summer day
Just let the wind ride

 

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