James Taylor Album

There's something in the way she moves,
Or looks my way, or calls my name,
That seems to leave this troubled world behind.
If I'm feeling down and blue,
Or troubled by some foolish game,
She always seems to make me change my mind.

Chorus:
And I feel fine anytime she's around me now,
She's around me now
Almost all the time.
And If I'm well you can tell that she's been with me now,
And she's been with me now
Quite a long, long time
And I feel fine.

Every now and then the things I lean on lose their meaning,
And I find myself convening
In places where I should not let me go.
She has the power to go where no one else can find me,
Yes, and to silently remind me
Of the happiness and good times that I know
But I said I just got to know them

It isn't what she's got to say
Or how she thinks or where she's been.
To me, the words are nice, the way they sound.
I like to hear them best that way
It doesn't much matter what they mean,
Well she says them mostly just to calm me down.

Chorus:
And) I feel fine anytime she's around me now,
She's around me now
Almost all the time.
If I'm well you can tell that she's been with me now,
And she's been with me now
Quite a long, long time
Yes, and I feel fine.

We were ring-around-the-rosy children, they were circles around the sun.
Never give up, never slow down, never grow old, never ever die young.
Synchronized with the rising moon, even with the evening star,
they were true love written in stone, they were never alone, they were never that far apart.

And we who couldn't bear to believe they might make it, we got to close our eyes.
Cut up our losses into doable doses, ration our tears and sighs.
Oh, you could see them on the street on a Saturday night. Everyone used to run them down.
They're a little too sweet, they're a little too tight, not enough tough for this town.
Couldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole, no, it didn't seem to rattle at all.
They were glued together body and soul, that much more with their backs up against the wall.

Oh, hold them up, hold them up, never do let them fall
prey to the dust and the rust and the ruin that names us and claims us and shames us all.

I guess it had to happen someday soon- wasn't nothing to hold them down.
They would rise from among us like a big balloon, take the sky, forsake the ground.
Oh, yes, other hearts were broken, yeah, other dreams ran dry
but our golden ones sail on, sail on to another land beneath another sky.
(Let other hearts be broken, let other dreams run dry)
but our golden ones sail on, sail on to another land beneath another sky, beneath another sky.
Hold them up, hold them up, hold them up, hold them up, hold them up, hold them up...
(Hold them up, don't let them fall).

Last thing I remember is the freezing cold
Water reaching up just to swallow me whole
Ice in the rigging and howling wind
Shock to my body as we tumbled in
Then my brothers and the others are lost at sea
I alone am returned to tell thee
Hidden in ice for a century
To walk the world again
Lord have mercy on the frozen man

Next words that were spoken to me
Nurse asked me what my name might be
She was all in white at the foot of my bed
I said angel of mercy I'm alive or am I dead
My name is William James McPhee
I was born in 1843
Raised in Liverpool by the sea
But that ain't who I am
Lord have mercy on the frozen man

It took a lot of money to start my heart
To peg my leg and to buy my eye
The newspapers call me the state of the art
And the children, when they see me, cry
I thought it would be nice just to visit my grave
See what kind of tombstone I might have

I saw my wife and my daughter and it seemed so strange
Both of them dead and gone from extreme old age
See here, when I die make sure I'm gone
Don't leave 'em nothing to work on
You can raise your arm, you can wiggle your hand
And you can wave goodbye to the frozen man

I know what it means to freeze to death
To lose a little life with every breath
To say goodbye to life on earth
To come around again
Lord have mercy on the frozen man
Lord have mercy on the frozen man

On my own
How could I have known?
Imagine my surprise
Just a fool
From a tree full of fools
Who can't believe his eyes
Imagine my surprise

I was a mean old man
I was an ornery cuss
I was a dismal Dan
I made an awful fuss
Ever since my life began
Man, it was ever thus
I was a nasty tyke who was hard to like

I had to misbehave
I did things in reverse
Refused to wash or shave
I was horrid to my nurse
I got back what I gave
Which only made me worse
I had to have my way
Which was bleak and gray, oh dear

Living in here
One hundred years of rain
Such a drag
This riches to rags
With just myself to blame
A dirty low-down shame

Silly me
Silly old me
Somewhere outside my mind
Clever you
Walking me through
Willing to lead the blind
Just in the nick of time

Who gets a second chance?
Who gets to have some fun?
Who gets to learn to dance
Before his race is run?
Who gets to shed his skin?
Who comes up born again?
Who was a mean old man
'Til you turned him into a golden retriever
Puppy dog
Who's a good boy?

[Instrumental]

Take to the highway won't you lend me your name
Your way and my way seem to be one and the same

Mamma don't understand it
She wants to know where I've been
I'd have to be some kind of natural born fool
To want to pass that way again
But you know I could feel it
On a country road

Sail on home to Jesus won't you good girls and boys
I'm all in pieces, you can have your own choice
But I can hear a heavenly band full of angels
And they're coming to set me free
I don't know nothing 'bout the why or when
But I can tell that it's bound to be
Because I could feel it, child, yeah
On a country road

I guess my feet know where they want me to go
Walking on a country road, yeah

Take to the highway won't you lend me your name
Your way and my way seem to be one and the same, child
Mamma don't understand it
She wants to know where I've been
I'd have to be some kind of natural born fool
To want to pass that way again
But I could feel it
On a country road

Walk on down, walk on down, walk on down
Walk on down, walk on down a country road
country road
Walking on a country road

take all the money that you need for school and
to keep the street people in outta the cold.
spend it on a weapon you can never use,
make the world an offer that they can't refuse.
open up the door and let the shark men feed,
hoover of the future in the land greed,
sell the pondarosa to the japaneese,
slap leather, head for that line of trees, yeah.
slap leather. go on and run, just about to go myself.

turn the whole wide world into a TV show,
so its just the same game wherever you go.
never meet a soul that you don't already know,
one big advertisement for the status quo.
as if these celebrities are you close friends,
as if you knew how the story ends
as if you aint sittin in a room alone
and there was somebody real at the other end of the phone, yeah!
strip knockin, PHONE SEX!
just about to dial your number.

it all worked up so we could go to war,
we find something worth akillin for.
tie a yellow ribbon around your eyes,
big mac, falafel and a side of fries, yeah!
big mac falafel
stone'in no man,
i just alove a parade!
slap leather.
phone love.
big mac falafel.
just about to die myself.

Watch my back and light my way
My traveling star, my traveling star
Watch over all of those born St. Christopher's Day
Old road dog, young runaway
They hunger for home but they cannot stay
They wait by the door
They stand and they stare
They're already out of there
They're already out of there

My daddy used to ride the rails
So they say, so they say
Soft as smoke and as tough as nails
Boxcar Jones, old walking man
Coming back home was like going to jail
The sheets and the blankets and babies and all
No he never did come back home
Never that I recall

Nevermind the wind,
Nevermind the rain;
Nevermind the road leading home again.
Never asking why,
Never knowing when;
Every now and then
There he goes again.

She had a cat and a dog named Blue
My traveling star, my traveling star
A big old stove and a fireplace, too
Old road dog, young runaway
She told me loved me like it was true
I knew I should stay
I knew I would go
Run run run away
Run run run away, boy

Run before the wind
Run before the rain
Over yonder hill
Just around the bend
Never knowing why
Never knowing when
Every now and then
There you go again

Tie me up and hold me down
Oh, my traveling star
Bury my feet down in the ground
Oh, old road dog
Claim my name from the lost and found
And let me believe this is where I belong
Shame on me for sure
For one more highway song

My traveling star
My traveling star

When you're down and troubled
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, oh nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know, wherever I am
I'll come running (oh yeah, baby)
To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you've got to do is call
And I'll be there (yeah, yeah, yeah)
You've got a friend

If the sky above you
Should turn dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud now
Soon I'll be knocking upon your door

You just call out my name
And you know, wherever I am
I'll come running (oh, yes I will)
To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you've got to do is call
And I'll be there, yeah yes

Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold
They hurt you and desert you
Well, they take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name
And you know, wherever I am
I'll come running
To see you again
(Oh baby, don't you know 'bout)
Winter, spring, summer or fall
(Hey, now) all you've got to do is call
I'll be there (yes, I will)

You've got a friend
Ain't it good to know
You've got a friend

Well, I'm a steamroller, baby, I'm bound to roll all over you.
Yes, I'm a steamroller now, baby, I'm bound to roll all over you.
I'm gonna inject your soul with some sweet rock 'n roll and shoot you full of rhythm and blues.

Well, I'm a cement mixer, a churning urn of burning funk.
Yes, I'm a cement mixer for you, baby, a churning urn of burning funk.
Well, I'm a demolition derby, yes, a hefty hunk of steaming junk.

Now, I'm a napalm bomb, baby, just guaranteed to blow your mind.
Yeah, I'm a napalm bomb for you, baby, just guaranteed to blow your mind
And if I can't have your love for my own, sweet child, won't be nothing left behind,
It seems how lately, baby, got a bad case steamroller blues.

Well the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.
Any fool can do it,
There ain't nothin' to it.
Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill.
But since we're on our way down,
We might as well enjoy the ride.

The secret of love is in opening up your heart.
It's okay to feel afraid,
But don't let it stand in your way, No now.
Cuz everyone knows that love is the only road.
And since we're only here for awhile,
We might as well show some style,
Give us a smile now,

(Chorus)
Isn't it a lovely ride?
Sliding down, and
Gliding down, and
Try not to try too hard.
It's just a lovely ride.

The thing about time is that time isn't really real.
It's all on your point of view,
How does it feel to you in there, and
Einstein said that you could never understand it all.
Planets spinning through space,
The smile upon your face,
Welcome to the human race,

(Chorus)

Isn't that a lovely ride,
Oh la la yes,
See me sliding down and gliding down,
Try not to try too hard,
It's just a lovely ride.

Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time...

I remember Richard Nixon back in '74
And the final scene at the White House door
And the staff lined up to say good-bye
Tiny tear in his shifty little eye
He said nobody knows me
Nobody understands
These little people were good to me
Oh I'm gonna shake some hands

CHORUS:
Somebody line 'em up
Line 'em all up
Line 'em up
Line 'em all up
Line 'em up
Line 'em all up
Line 'em up
Line 'em all up

At that time my heart was all broke
I looked like ashes and smelled like smoke
And I turned away from my loving kind
Try to leave my body and live in my mind
But it's much too much emotion
To hold it in your hand
They've got waves out on the ocean
They're gonna wear away the land

- Chorus -

Oh I've seen corn in Kansas
And I've seen picket fences
And certain cowboy dances
I've gone lining up for shows
I've been safely placed in rows
Sure I know how it goes

Another day goes by
Little time machine
I'm breaking my brain
Over what it might mean
Just to claim the time
And to turn away
To make today today

Who waits for you
Lonely tired old toad
It's your life laid out before you
Like the broken white line down the center of the doggone road

- Chorus -

Yeah, big moon landing
People all standing up
Smiles for the loved ones
They go walking on down the aisles
Each re-engages stepping into the sun
I watch them turn like pages
One by one by one

- Chorus -

Make my bed out of Wonder Bread, spread some mustard upon my head.
I don't want no onions or sauerkraut, mamma, hold on to the bun baby, work it on out.
I'm a chilidog. I guess you guessed by now, babe.
Sure enough, I'm a chilidog, look at me, delicious.

Don't get jealous, better not up and get over zealous, watch out now y'all.
Come on now fella, pass me down the relish.

Don't read no Ann Landers, just don't feed me no Colonel Sanders,
I ain't trying to fool you's, don't bring home no Orange Julius.
Gotta have one more time, get on down again, woh, woh, chilidog, baby.
Yes indeed, I want a chilidog, yeah,
talking about stone delicious, good for you too!

You can play the game,
And you can act the part,
Though you know it wasn't written for you.
Tell me how can you stand there,
With your broken heart,
Ashamed to playin' the fool?
One thing can lead to another,
It doesn't take any sacrifice.
Oh, Father, and Mother,
Sister and Brother,
If it feels nice,
Don't think twice

Just shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way that you feel,
Things are gonna work out fine,
if you only will
shower the people you love with love
Show them the way you feel,
Things are gonna be much better,
if you only will,

You can run, but you cannot hide,
This is widely known,
what do you plan to do
with your foolish pride,
when youre all by yourself alone,
Once you tell somebody about the way that you feel,
You can feel it beginning to ease,
I think its true what they say,
about the squeaky wheel,
always getting the grease,

so just shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel
things are gonna work out fine,
if you only will,
what I like to do to you
Shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel,
Things are gonna be much better, if you only will

Shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel,
Shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel,
Shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel,
Shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel,
Shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel,
Shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel,
Shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel,
Shower the people you love with love,
Show them the way you feel.

There is a young cowboy he lives on the range
His horse and his cattle are his only companions
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
As if maybe someone could hear

Goodnight you moonlight ladies.
Rock-a-bye sweet baby James.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
And rock-a-bye sweet baby James

Now the first of December was covered with snow
So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Though the Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go

There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
But singing works just fine for me

So Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rock-a-bye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
And rock-a-bye sweet baby James
Oh, rock-a-bye sweet baby James

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Maybe just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Karen she's a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shinin'
Watch her watch the mornin' come
A silver tear appearing now I'm cryin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind

There ain't no doubt it no ones mind
That loves the finest thing around
Whisper something SOFT and kind
And hey babe the sky's on fire, I'm Dyin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Maybe just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Dark and silent late last night
I think I might have heard the highway calling
Geese in flight and dogs that bite
Signs that might be omens say I going, going
I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

With a holy host of others standing 'round me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon
And it seems like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Maybe just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Won't you look down upon me Jesus
You got to help me make a stand
You just got to see me through another day
My body's achin' and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way

Oh I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Been walkin' my mind to an easy time
My back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows
It'll turn your head around
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line
To talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again now
Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things comin' my way this time around now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you
Fire and rain

Even the old folks never knew
Why they call it like they do
I was wonderin since the age of two
Down on Copperline
Copper head, copper beech
Copper kettles sitting side by each
Copper coil, cup o'Georgia peach
Down on Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
Leanin heavy on the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline
We were down on Copperline

One Summer night on the Copperline
Slip away past supper time
Wood smoke and moonshine
Down on Copperline
One time I saw my daddy dance
Watched him moving like a man in a trance
He brought it back from the war in France
Down onto Copperline
Branch water and tomato wine
Creosote and turpentine
Sour mash and new moon shine
Down on Copperline
Down on Copperline

First kiss, ever I took
Like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook
Down on Copperline
Down on Copperline, yeah
Took a fall from a windy height
I only knew how to hold on tight
And pray for love enough to last all night
Down on Copperline
Day breaks and the boy wakes up
And the dog barks and the birds sings
And the sap rises and the angels sigh, yeah

I tried to go back, as if I could
All spec house and plywood
Tore up, tore up good
Down on Copperline
It doesn't come as a surprise to me
It doesn't touch my memory
Man I'm lifting up and rising free
Down over Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
I'm only living for the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline, yeah
Take me down on Copperline
Ohhh, down on Copperline
Take me down on Copperline

Well the sun is slowly sinking down
But the moon is surely rising
So this old world must still be spinning around
And I still love you

So close your eyes
You can close your eyes
It's all right
I don't know no love songs
And I can't sing the blues anymore
But I can sing this song
And you can sing this song when I'm gone

It won't be long before another day
We're gonna have a good time
No one's gonna take that time away
You can stay as long as you like

So close your eyes
You can close your eyes
It's all right
I don't know no love songs
And I can't sing the blues anymore
But I can sing this song
And you can sing this song when I'm gone