1. |
Frankly, Babe
02:23
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When
I was twenty
I thought
I had plenty to spare
I was sharp
I was bright
I could stay up all night if
I dared
Now
I’m confused
I’ve been bull–whipped
and bruised
I pull out
what is left of my hair
You don’t care
Just for a minute
I thought
I could grin it and bear
Face the occasion
with calm
grace
and smooth debonair
Now
to refute
check the back of my suit—
There’s a boot
where there should be
a chair
You don’t care
I know
I’ve failed again—
I’m immersed in despair
Trails
I’ve traversed
left me worse
for the wear
When I woke up this morning
the sun wasn’t there
You don’t care
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2. |
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See her pretty face
Her waiting eyes
To face a girl like that
I’d need the strength
of twenty men my size—
skin and bones
skinny ties
I’ve got a lever big enough
to move the world, oh can’t you see?
Where can I find a love
that’s big enough
for just one girl and me?
Just one girl
I’m off kilter
I’m off balance
like a clown
I built a pedestal for her—
How will I ever get her down
to console me
to confound?
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3. |
Shocked (At First)
04:02
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Sure it hurts, but
I figured it would work this way
Up your shirt were
dirty tricks that you had yet to play
like debts unpaid
and lies you’d yet to lay
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
And the band played “Isn’t It Romantic?”
You cocked your head
like the Titanic
just to let me know
you’d sunk so low
I was shocked (at first)
but understand that I can let it go
Sure it hurts, but
don’t wait for me to die of grief
What’s the moral?
Bore a hole
below a coral reef
to find beneath
your quarrel’s got no teeth
Tee–hee–hee
Tee–hee–hee
And the branding iron’s in the fireplace
so strike your mark upon my pretty face
and watch it glow,
then sign below
I was shocked (at first)
but understand that I can let it go
You hung in your chair
’till you almost fell backwards
Your black hair
brushed the floor
as those four words came out so slow
and stole the show
I was shocked (at first)
but understand that I can let it go
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4. |
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She got a bag full o’ nuthin’
for no good reason —
A tag on her muffin, but I know she’s teasin’,
’cause she showed up just as I was
easin’ into that style —
cowboy hair an’ a country mile
’lectric record players on the checker’d tile
singin’, “Yeah, yeah, yeah! Alright!”
She kept her flag half–masted
just to draw attention
to the trust–fund punks
an’ the lust–drunk pensioners
When I showed up
you coulda cut the tension with my guile—
sidelong muttonchops an’ pickerel style
stickin’ country music records
in the punk–rock pile
singin’, “Yeah, yeah, yeah! Alright!”
She says, “You look like a million people,
You look like a million people
You look like a million people…
Man, I’ve seen enough of that!”
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5. |
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A good cry’ll drive it out of you
like rain’ll drive an earthworm from the ground
I’ll pick up
where I left off —
go down to Wilson Square
so I can stand around
What’s it gonna take
What’s it gonna take
What’s it gonna take
for me to break through?
Oh! For me to break through
...and the attendant
from the duty–free shop
hands me a handkerchief
as I watch you walk
through the airport gate in disbelief
He says, “This time it’s no fake.
You can tell ’cause she didn’t look back.”
Still, I drop my ’kerchief
like a referee
at the half
What’s it gonna take
What’s it gonna take
What’s it gonna take
for me to break through?
For me to break through
Oh! For me to break!
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Jeff Mellin recommends:
Synesthesia
by Gamelan Dharma Swara & Mayer / Kuehne / Molinaro
My brother. Music ranging from avant garde computer music to Balinese gamelan to retro garage rock.
go to album
Living High On The Dirty Business Of Dreams - a wiaiwya sampler
by Various Artists
The BEST UK indiepop label. Oh yes.
go to album
Three On A Match
by Neil Carlill, Jeff Mellin & King Toad
Songs based on the titles of Bette Davis films. Collaboration with Neil Carlill (Delicatessen, Lodger, Chicanery) and King Toad.
go to albumIf you like Jeff Mellin, you may also like:
Move To The Trees
by Winter McQuinn
Winter McQuinn mixes soft rock and psychedelic folk for a sound reminiscent of classic pop purveyors like Cut Worms and the Lemon Twigs.
go to album
Echo Dancing
by Alejandro Escovedo
The legendary Alejandro Escovedo returns with another country-rock scorcher.
go to album
Restless Spirit
by Tucker Riggleman & The Cheap Dates
West Virginia trio showcase strident country rock anchored in bold, anthemic songcraft and deliciously twangy tones.
go to album
