Don’t Forget How Much I Love You
in the summer
we climb down to the river
looking for pictures in the clouds
lying on our backs
watching creatures pass
stepping on the stepping stones & laughing
don’t forget how much I love you
don’t forget how much I care
when you see the stars or leaves up above you
just remember I am there.
in a quiet car
as the sun goes down
yr dreaming a dream
& I’m humming a tune
the window is open wide
air is rushing in
we looking out the window
& yr dreaming
don’t forget . . .
in the winter
as the sun comes up
it’s dark outside as the water boils
a paper sack
& a kiss goodbye
yr off to see the world & I’m breathing
Never Enough
You gotta closet full of junk
You gotta room full of junk
You gotta house full of junk
You gotta room full of junk
You gotta closet full of junk
& it’s never enough
you gotta head full of smoke
you gotta world full of pain
you gotta truck load of bombs
you gotta world full of pain
you gotta head full of smoke
& it’s never enough
you got yr mind on my money
you got my money on yr mind
you got my money on yr mind
& yr mind on my money
& yr hand in my pocket
but it’s never enough, never enough, never enough
Little Tiger
little tiger sitting on a balcony
little tiger flipping through a magazine
she’s got her sunglasses on
& a tear in her eye
not really feeling much like a tiger today
little tiger told me everything that was wrong
little tiger slept all afternoon on the lawn
her paws twitched in her dreams
she got up & cocked her head
maybe feeling more like a tiger today
she talks in her sleep
to herself for a solid week
she finds out what it’s like
to be more of a tiger tonight
little tiger bouncing on the bed
little tiger shaking every hair on her head
she dances like a swan
stretching out her claws
really feeling more like a tiger today
Giant Step Backwards
working in a factory
you were always next to me
when the sun came up
we got our coffee cups
walking down the road
to a dirty job
a muddy road to a dirty job
you’ve taken off
& I’m taken aback
I’ll take a giant step backwards
to bring you back
once I was a cowboy
left out high & dry
but that was in the past
you would never do that
there’s an empty space
where you used to stand
my factory girl has gone missing
Walking Out the Door
we’re sleeping in a hotel room
yr sleeping by my side
yr stirring & yr waking up
I can hear you sigh
I gotta go to work, my boots are on the floor
why you only want me as I’m walking out the door
there’s no question that you love me
I’m certain that you do
you give me all yr heart & soul
tender kisses too
you leave me purple blossoms & love notes just before
you tell me that you want me as I’m walking out the door
after 7 years of waiting our time is finally right
you travel to my city or I fly to your side
through hurricanes, torrential rains or deadly thunderstorms
& then you only want me as I’m walking out the door
we’re in a time when everyday
we find true love anew
I can’t let this slip away
because I won’t know what to do
my cards are on the table
our fate is in our hands
we made a crazy gamble w/ a losing hand
I’m gonna love you everyday in every way & more
& hope that you still want me as I’m walking out the door
I hope you always want me as I’m walking our the door
Sweetheart
sweetheart is let out of jail
sweetheart just wants to stay small
don’t want any trouble
standing up tall
sweetheart is let out of jail
sweetheart got hurt long ago
she thinks she’s got no place to go
she’s getting out today
I’m meeting her half way
sweetheart got hurt long ago
sweetheart will sleep good tonight
resting by the fireside
I’ll wash her feet & hands
polish them w/ sand
sweetheart will sleep good tonight
sweetheart, I’ve loved you so long
I know that we’ve done some things wrong
w/ destiny in play
I was powerless to say
sweetheart, I’ve loved you so long
Handsome Devil
here comes a stranger
a friend of a friend
knocking on our door
sliding it open
he talks the blues, so do you
this ring is getting tighter
my finger is falling off
this changes everything
he stole your wedding ring
this changes everything
he walked right in, sat right down
baby let your mind roll on
& roll right outta town
where’s my gun?
oh that right, I don’t have one
so devilishly handsome
should of know he was actually Satan
this changes everything
Jump into my Arms
pacific ocean eyes of green
we never swam beyond the waves
or laid up in a beach hotel, sunburned skin
drinking gin & playing it
you never jumped into my arms
you use that length to keep me away
there’s a doorway, call it a threshold
I could carry you through
but you won’t jump into my arms
you are like a full moon
you come shining through my bedroom
once a month you come calling
& I recall just how much I love you
your beauty is so unfair
& like the moon your skin is pearly white
though I was sleeping fitfully
you came down & woke me up w/ your wintery light
but you won’t jump into my arms
I don’t know what you wish for
But I know what I wish for
There’s a doorway, call it a threshold
I could carry you through but you won’t jump into my arms
Lucky Penny
when we walk
your moonlit hand
swings by your thigh
sweeps into mine
you take my hand
so casually
& pick me up like a penny
put me in your pocket
hold me there for keeps
squeeze me like I’m
you last dime
hold onto me
‘cause I’ll be good
for a long, long time
in the hall
your blushing cheeks
against the wall
you’re crushing me
in your dreams
I pull you through
lost & found
that’s me and you
Cottage in the ‘Dale
the neon sign says open
on a building selling caskets
a woman outside in a wheelchair
is greeting potential customers
a mother 32 & a mother 16
both started smoking in 7th grade
grown men riding bicycles
probably lost their license
a hundred & ten in September
ain’t nothing to an 08-er
they jump into the river from a tree
& show off their tattoo # 23
so much has changed in this 21st century
but we can lay here in our hammock
in the shade of a tree
you & me
in our cottage in the ‘dale
they still play Buck & Merle Haggard
but it’s ‘Senior Sunday’ at the honky-tonk
teenage men at the front porch
& punk rock at jerry’s pizza
uncle bernie’s beat-up pick-up
pulled water skiers through the canal
arrows shot into the woodwork
over the bar @ the tejon club
the wind still blows hot in the summer
& you sure can grow tomatoes & roses
a fine red dust covers kitchen tables
to remind everyone of the dust bowl
Painting the Town Blue
the bartender’s eyes are full of pity
as he tells her, ‘you’re alone & it’s 2:30
all the chairs are on the table
& it’s time to close’
“a minute ago they were staring at me
where the hell’d they go?”
she went out to paint the town.
roses are red
violence is too
everyone knows
I’m painting the town blue
you look funny when you cry
were his last words
as he turned & said goodbye
she flipped her finger
& so she picked her shoes up
picked up her feet
& let them walk hand in hand
down the dirty hallway
then she went out to paint the town.
was she beat, did she suffer from a working hand
she always hated his hacking cough
early in the morning
she went to the Greyhound
to take a little ride
he can look in the corner of every town
but he won’t find her
‘cause she went out to paint the town.
