Downtown Train

by Tom Waits

Outside another yellow moon
Has punched a hole in the nighttime
I climb through the window and down into the street
I'm shining like a new dime

The downtown trains are full
With all those Brooklyn girls
They try so hard
To break out of their little worlds

You wave your hand and they scatter like crows
They have nothing that will ever capture your heart
They're just thorns without the rose
Be careful of them in the dark

If I was the one
You chose to be your only one
Oh, can't you hear me now?

Will I see you tonight
On a downtown train?
Every night is just the same
You leave me lonely now

I know your window, and I know it's late
I know your stairs and your doorway
I walk down your street and past your gate
I stand by the light at the four-way

You watch them as they fall
They all have heart attacks
They stay at the carnival
But they'll never win you back

Will I see you tonight
On a downtown train?
All of my dreams fall like rain
All upon a downtown train

I'm Going to Go Back There Someday

Paul Williams

This looks familiar
Vaguely familiar
Almost unreal, yet
It's too soon to feel yet
Close to my soul
And yet so far away
I'm going to go back there someday

Sun rises, night falls
Sometimes the sky calls
Is that a song there?
And do I belong there?
I've never been there
But I know the way
I'm going to go back there someday

Come and go with me
It's more fun to share
We'll both be completely
At home in midair
We're flying, not walking
On featherless wings
We can hold onto love
Like invisible strings

There's not a word yet
For old friends who've just met
Part heaven, part space
Or have I found my place?
You can just visit
But I plan to stay
I'm going to go back there someday

September in the Rain

by Al Dubin

The leaves of brown
Came tumbling down
Remember in September
In the rain

The sun went out
Just like a dying ember
That September
In the rain

To every word of love
I heard you whisper
The raindrops seemed to play
A sweet refrain

Though spring is here
To me it's still September
That September
In the rain

Young

by Chris Thile

Young and with no clue
And I want to love you
Give me the key to
What it's about

Everything I've read
Everything you've said
Prove you're over my head
Help me climb out

I know that you don't need nobody
Are you sure you're that sure about me?

Hey, what did I do?
I've spoken too soon
Listen to this tune
Forget the words

Wait until someday
'Cause when I know what to say
I'll say it in the best way
You've ever heard

I know that you don't need nobody
Are you sure you're that sure about me?

Young and with no clue
Still want to love you
Give credit where it's due
I've got good taste

It's not like I want to get married
I never asked you to kiss me
Just don't want you to be sorry
You didn't try

Ronnie and Neil

by Patterson Hood

Church blew up in Birmingham
Four little black girls killed
For no goddamn good reason
All this hate and violence
Can't come to no good end
A stain on the good name
A whole lot of good people
Dragged through the blood and glass
Blood stains on their good names
And all of us take the blame

Meanwhile in north Alabama
Wilson Pickett comes to town
To record that sweet soul music
To get that Muscle Shoals sound

Meanwhile in north Alabama
Aretha Franklin comes to town
To record that sweet soul music
To get that Muscle Shoals sound

And out in California
A rock star from Canada writes
A couple of great songs
About the bad shit that went down
'Southern Man' and 'Alabama'
Certainly told some truth
But there were a lot of good folks down here
And Neil Young just wasn't around

Meanwhile in north Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd comes to town
To record with Jimmy Johnson
And that Muscle Shoals Sound

And they met some real good people
Not no racist pieces of shit
And they wrote a song about it
And that song became a hit

Ronnie and Neil
Rock stars today ain't half as real
Speaking their minds on how they feel
Let them guitars blast for Ronnie and Neil

Now Ronnie and Neil became good friends
Their feud was just in song
Skynyrd was a bunch of Neil Young fans
And Neil he loved that song
So he wrote 'Powderfinger'
For Skynyrd to record
But Ronnie ended up singing
'Sweet Home Alabama' to the Lord

And Neil helped carry Ronnie
In his casket to the ground
And to my way of thinking
Us southern men need both of them around

Smells Like Teen Spirit

by Kurt Cobain

Load up on guns and bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over-bored and self-assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word

Hello, hello, hello, how low?

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now: entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now: entertain us

A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido

I'm worst at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it was hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind

A denial

(They Long to Be) Close to You

by Hal David

Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you

Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you

On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust
In your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue

That is why all the guys in town
Follow you all around
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you

Train

by Melanie Penn

Wait on the platform in silence
New Jersey Transit train
Factory with broken out windows
Across the way

We're a lot like them
Once perfectly clear
Begging to be seen through
Lately just shattered and edgy
Nothing to be seen through to

Please say something
But I don't either
We're not touching
Pride is our proud leader

My chest is aching and heavy
One million words weighed down
Inmates of my explanations
Imprisoned in my mouth

Oh to just say them
But I don't know how
To articulate the truth
When you are resentful and quiet
I know I am, too

Please say something
But I don't either
The train is coming around
So why don't we?

I'm still hoping
The end is so much sweeter
We'll start trusting
That Holy Ghost healer