JACK
ELLIS
LYRICS TO SONGS ON
"AFTER THE RAIN"
TRACK 1: SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
(Harold Arlen/Yip Harburg)
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
there's a land that I heard of once in a lila-by
somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
and the dreams that you dare to dream
really do come true
someday I'll wish upon a star
and wake up where
the clouds are far behind me
where troubles melt like lemondrops
way above the chimney tops
that's where you'll find me
somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow why then, oh why,
can't I?
if happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
why oh why can't I
(This song for me has a bit of a story. I volunteer once a month to play music at a home for the aged here in my town. My wife and I took care of our last parent, Myra Lee, until she passed away quietly and lovingly one April morning. Many helped her and us in those last months. I wanted to give back so, in a very small way, I play for the folks at the home. About a year or so back, a lady there asked if I knew the song. I didn't at the time, but I told her I'd sing it to her the next time I played, on the first Wednesday of the next month. In the interim, she had passed on; sadly, I never got to play her this song. It's the first song on this CD. It's for that lady I never got to play it to.)
TRACK 2: MADDIE'S LEAVING HOME
(JACK ELLIS)
MADDIE LEAVING HOME TODAY
SHE SAID SHE LEAVING HOME TODAY
FIND THAT PLACE TO STAY
NO RULES OF YESTERDAY
MADDIE LEAVING HOME TODAY
SHE LEAVING HOME TODAY
MADDIE SAID SHE LEAVING HOME TODAY
AIN'T NO CHICKENS, AIN'T NO CATS
DODGE THE DONKEYS AVOID THE RATS
MADDIE LEAVING HOME TODAY
THERE'S A HOLE IN THE MIRROR
SHE WANTS TO SLIP THROUGH
JUST WANTS TO GO AND DO SLIDE ON THROUGH
WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER
THE WISE MEN SAY
MADDIE LEAVING HOME TODAY.
(TO MY MADDIE JOY)
TRACK 3: HOUND DOG
(JERRY LIEBER/MIKE STOLLER)
YOU AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A HOUND DOG
BEEN SNOOPIN' ROUND MY DOOR
YOU AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A HOUND DOG
BEEN SNOOPIN' ROUND MY DOOR
YOU CAN WAG YOUR TAIL
BUT I AIN'T GONNA FEED YOU NO MORE
YOU TOLD ME YOU WAS HIGH CLASS
BUT I COULD SEE THROUGH THAT
YES YOU TOLD ME YOU WAS HIGH CLASS
BUT I COULD SEE THROUGH THAT
AND BABY I KNOW YOU AIN'T NO KIDDY CAT
YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO BLUE
YOU MAKE ME WEEP AND MOAN
YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO BLUE
YOU MAKE ME WEEP AND MOAN
'CAUSE I'M LOOKIN' FOR A KIND WOMAN
YOU JUST LOOKIN' FOR A HOME
YOU AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A HOUND DOG
BEEN SNOOPIN' ROUND MY DOOR
YOU AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A HOUND DOG
BEEN SNOOPIN' ROUND MY DOOR
YOU AIN'T NEVER CAUGHT A RABBIT
AND YOU AIN'T NO FRIEND OF MINE
(LARRY CARVER ON ELECTRIC LEAD GUITAR.)
TRACK 4: GOOD TIME CHARLEY'S
GOT THE BLUES
(DANNY O'KEEFE)
EVERYBODY'S GONE AWAY
SAID THEY'RE MOVING TO LA
THERE'S NOT A SOUL I KNOW AROUND
EVERYBODY'S LEAVIN' TOWN
SOME CAUGHT A FREIGHT, SOME CAUGHT A PLANE
FIND THE SUNSHINE, LEAVE THE RAIN
THEY SAY THIS TOWN'S A WASTE OF TIME
GUESS THEY'RE RIGHT, IT'S WASTING MINE
SOME GOT TO WIN SOME GOT TO LOSE
GOOD TIME CHARLEY GO THE BLUES
YOU KNOW MY HEART KEEPS TELLING ME
YOU'RE NOT A KID AT 33
YOU PLAY AROUND YOU LOSE YOUR WIFE
YOU PLAYTOO LONG YOU LOSE YOUR LIFE
I'VE GOT MY PILLS TO EASE MY PAIN
CAN'T FIND A FRIEND TO EASE TE RAIN
I KNOW I SHOULD TRY AND SETTLE DOWN
EVERYBODY'S LEAVING TOWN
SOME GOT TO WON SOME GOT TO LOSE
GOOD TIME CHARLEY'S GOT THE BLUES
TRACK 5: THE TYGER
(FROM WILLIAM BLAKE'S POEM, "THE TYGER"/
MUSIC BY JACK ELLIS)
TYGER TYGER BURNING BRIGHT
IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT
WHAT IMMORTAL HAND OR EYE
FORMED THIS FEARFUL MIGHT
DOOMED IN THE DISTANT DEEPS
BURNS A FIRE IN YOUR EYES
ON WAT WINGS DARE YOU FLY
WITH WHAT HANDS CAUSE THE CRY
TYGER TYGER BURNING BRIGHT
IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT
WHAT IMMORTAL HAND OR EYE
FORMED THIS FEARFUL MIGHT
AND WHAT SHOULDER AND WHAT ART
TWISTS THE SINEWS OF YOUR HEART
AND WHEN THAT HEART BEGAN TO BEAT
FEAR THE HANDS DREAD THE FEET
SWING THE HAMMER SWING THE CHAIN
SO CHANNELLED IN YOUR BRAIN
STRIKE THE ANVIL WITH KNOTTED GRASP
DARE THE TERRORS CLASP
TYGER TYGER BURNING BRIGHT
IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT
WHAT IMMORTAL HAND OR EYE
FORMED THIS FEARFUL MIGHT
WHEN THE STARS THROUGH DOWN THEIR SPEARS
SO BROKE HEAVEN'S TEARS
WHO SMILED AT WHAT'S DONE
WILLING ALL THE LAMBS ON THE RUN
TYGER TYGER BURNING BRIGHT
IN THE FORSTS OF THE NIGHT
WHAT IMMORTAL HAND OR EYE
FORMED THIS FEARFUL SYMMETRY
TYGER TYGER BURNING BRIGHT
IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT
WHAT IMMORTAL HAND SO RIGHT
FORMED THIS FEARFUL MIGHT
TRACK 6: AFTER THE RAIN
(JACK ELLIS)
ALL INSTRUMENTS, PERCUSSION...JACK ELLIS
TRACK 7: I'D FIND A WAY
(JACK ELLIS)
IF I WERE A THIEF
A THIEF OF YOUR HEART
I'D ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO HOLD YOU
A WAY TO HOLD YOU
CLOSE TO MY HEART
IF THE YEARS GLIDE AWAY
GLIDE AWAY LIKE THE STARS
I'D ALWAYS FIND A WAY
A WAY TO HOLD YOU
HOLD YOU CLOSE TO MY HEART
IF THE NIGHT COMES UPON US
COMES UPON US LIKE WARM RAIN
I'D ALWAYS FIND A WAY
A WAY TO HOLD YOU
HOLD YOU CLOSE TO MY HEART
TRACK 8: HAZEL'S SONG
(JACK ELLIS)
SHE DREAMS WITH HER EYES WIDE OPEN
AND SHE FLIES WITH THE EAGLES IN THE AIR
SHE LEAVES NO DOORS UNOPENED
AND SHE CRIES WHEN THERE'S NOBODY THERE
SHE HEADS DOWN TO THE HARBOR
TO THE TRAIN TRACKS BY THE SQUARE
SHE HUMS A SONG OF HER DADDY'S
HOLDING IN THE EMPTINSS CAUSE HE'S NOT THERE
DOWN THE HILLS BY THE HARBOR
SHE LOOKS BEYOND THE WAVES WISHING LIFE WAS FAIR
SHE SMILES SINGS A SONG SHE REMEMBERS
FELLS THE WIND LIKE HER DADDY PLAYING WITH HER HAIR
WHEN IT COMES TO LIVING THERE'S NOTHING VERY CLEAR
YOU LET GO OF SOME THINGS WHAT YOU FIND YOU HOLD DEAR
IF EVER THERE WAS LONESOME IF EVER WORDS WERE CLEAR
SHE WOULD TAKE DOWN THIS CURTAIN AND CHASE AWAY HER FEARS
TRACK 9: NEAL'S LAST WALK
(JACK ELLIS)
WALKING ALONG THESE TRACKS JUST COUNTAIN TIES
FINDING THE OLD WIND NOT ABIDING MY LIES
FEELING THAT TRAIN JUST PASS ME BY...THIS TIME
WALKING ALONG THESE TRACKS JUST COUNTAIN TIES
FEVER COMING DOWN LEFT ME HIGH AND DRY
FIRE BURNING ALL AROUND ME JUST WANT TO JUSTIFY...THIS LIFE
WALKING ALONG THESE TRACKS JUST SOUNDING TIES
FURTHER ALONG THIS PATH SEARCHING TO RECTIFY
TAKING THIS TAKING THAT JUST SING ME A LULLABY...THIS NIGHT
WALKING ALONG THESE TRACKS JUST COUNTING TIES
FINDING IN MY POCKET THE SNAPSHOT THAT SAYS LIVE A LIFE
LIVE A LIE
FACING MY REFLECTION TIME CANNOT PURIFY...THIS DAY
...THIS NIGHT
...THIS LIFE
...THIS TIME
TRACK 10: STORMY MONDAY
(TBONE WALKER)
THEY CALL IT STORMY MONDAY BUT TUESDAY'S JUST AS BAD
THEY CALL IT STORMY MONDAY BUT TUESDAY'S JUST AS BAD
WEDNESDA IS WORSE AND THURSDAYS ALSO SAD
THE EAGLE FLIES ON FRIDAY; SATURDAY I GO OUT TO PLAY
THE EAGLE FLIES ON FRIDAY; SATURDAY I GO OUT TO PLAY
SUNDAY I GO TO CHURCH
THAT'S WHEN I GET DOWN ON MY KNEES AND PRAY
I SAID LORD HAVE MERCY, LORD HAVE MERCY ON ME
LORD HAVE MERCY AVE MERCY ON ME
OH LORD HAVE MERCY
WON'T YOU SEND MY BABY HOME TO ME
TRACK 11 WATCHTOWER/GIMME SHELTER
(B.DYLAN/ JAGGER-RICHARDS)
THERE MUST BE SOME WAY OUT OF HERE
SAID THE JOKER TO THE THIEF
THERES TOO MUCH CONFUSION I CAN'T GET NO RELEASE
BUSINESSMEN THEY DRINK MY WINE, PLOWMEN DIG MY EARTH
NONE OF THEM ALONG THE LINE
KNOW WHAT ANY OF IT IS WORTH
NO REASON TO GET EXCITED
TE THIEF HE KINDLY SPOKE
THERE ARE MANY HERE AMONG US
WHO FEEL THAT LIFE IS BUT A JOKE
BUT YOU AND I WE'VE BEEN THROUGHALL THAT
AND THIS IS NOT OUR FATE
SO LET US NOT SPEAK FALSELY NOW
THEHOUR IS GETTING LATE
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER
PRINCES KEPT THE VIEW
WHILE ALL TE WOMEN CAME AND WENT
BAREFOOT SERVANTS TOO
OUTSIDE IN THE DISTANCE
A WILDCAT DID GROWL
TWO RIDERS WERE APPROACHING
AND THE WIND BEGAN TO HOWL
A STORM IS THREATENING OUR VERY LIVES TODAY
IF I DON'T GET SOME SHELTER I'M GONNA FADE AWAY
WAR CHILDREN IT'S JUST A SHOT A WAY
WAR CHILDREN JUST A SHOT AWAY
SEE THE FIRE SWEEPING OUR VERY STREETS TODAY
BURNS LIKE A RED COAL CARPET MAD BULL LOST HIS WAY
WAR CHILDREN IT'S JUST A SHOT AWAY JUST A SHOT AWAY
A FLOOD IS THREATENING MY VERY LIFE TODAY
IF I DON'T GET SOME SHELTER I'M GONNA FADE AWAY
WAR CHILDREN IT'S JUST A SHOT AWAY, JUST A SHOT AWAY
WAR CHILDREN JUST A KISS AWAY A KISS AWAY YEAH
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER
PRINCES KEPT THE VIEW
WHILE ALL THE WOMEN CAME AND WENT
BAREFOOT SERVENTS TOO
OUTSIDE IN THE DISTACE
A WILDCAT DID GROWL
TWO RIDERS WERE APPROACHING
AND THE WIND BEGAN TO HOWL
TRACK 12: TO LIVE IS TO FLY
(TOWNES VAN ZANDT)
DAYS UP AND DOWN THEY COME LIKE RAIN ON A CONGA DRUM
FORGET MOST REMEMBER SOME BUT DON'T TURN NONE AWAY
EVERYTHING IS NOT ENOUGH AND NOTHING IS TOO MUCH TO BEAR
WHERE YOU BEEN IS GOOD AND GONE
ALL YOU KEEP IS THE GETTIN THERE
TO LIVE IS TO FLY LOW AND HIGH
SO SHAKE THE DUST OFF YOUR WINGS
AND THE SLEEP OUT OF YOUR EYES
WE ALL GOT HOLES TO FILL THEM HOLES ARE ALL THAT'S REAL
SOME FALL ON YOU LKE A STORM SOME YOU DIG YOUR OWN
THE CHOICE IS YOURS TO MAKE TIME IS YOURS TO TAKE
SOME SAIL UPON THE SEAT SOME TOIL UPON THE STONE
IT'S GOODBE TO ALL MY FRIENDS IT'S TIME TO LEAVE AGAIN
THINK OF ALL THE POETRY AND THE PICKIN' DOWN THE LINE
I'LL MISS THE SYSTEM HERE THE BOTTOM'S LOW AND THE TREBLE CLEAR
BUT IT DON'T PAY TO THINK TOO MUCH ON THINGS YOU LEAVE BEHIND
I WILL BE GONE BUT IT WON'T BE LONG
I'LL BE A BRINGIN' BACK THE MELODIES
AND THE RYYTHM IN MY SONG
LIVING'S MOSTLY WASTING TIME AND I'LL WASTE MY SHARE OF MIND
BUT IT NEVER FEELS TOO GOOD TO REACH FOR DAYS GONE BY
EVERYTHING IS NOT ENOUGH ND NOTHIN' S TOO MUCHTO BEAR
WHERE YOU BEEN IS GOOD AND GONE ALL YOU KEEP IS GETTIN' THERE
TO LIVE IS TO FLY BOTH LOW AND HIGH
SO SHAKE THE DUST OFF OF YOUR WINGS
AND THE SLEEP OUT OF YOUR EYES
