JIM LAUDERDALE
PERSIMMONS
(Upstart 035)
September 3/1996
Produced by Jim Lauderdale
Billy Bremner, Kenny Vaughn - el.guitar
Pat Buchanan - ac.guitar
Dan Dugmore, Bucky Baxter, Tommy Spurlock, Robby Turner - steel
Glenn Worf, Garry Tallent, John Ciambotti - bass
Larry Atamanuik, Daryl Burgess, Billy Thomas, Bob Mummert, Vince Santoro - drums
Larry Knechtel Piano, Billy Livsey, Greg Wetzel - piano/keyboards
1.
LIFE BY NUMBERS
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '95 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
I met you in the middle of a hurricane
Our feet were barely touching on the ground
You taught me how to rise above the unexplained
The least of which was more than profound
I told you baby listen they can't trade your place
With anybody for the one inside
There's something that connects us more than anything
It all adds up to signify
Life by numbers you and me
Keep your thunder right where my lightning's gonna be
I always wondered how far was infinity
And now I see it flashin' through your eyes
I heard a little voice that said we're almost free
But that should come as no big surprise
Now life by numbers won't lie down
Keep your thunder right but don't trade it for the easy way out
Oh your name puts some rhythm to the game
Keeps on humming through the house
Love when fair makes it more than OK
I'd like to explain but here comes the solo
[ guitar ]
They'll ask you to play She Thinks I Still Care
It's time to bring the singer on down
They'll try to tell you to listen once you been back there
You better learn to get yourself out
Look out now life by numbers you and me
Keep your thunder close where the lightning's gonna be
Look around now life by numbers won't lie down
Keep your thunder don't trade it for the easy way out
Now life by numbers won't lie down...
Now life by numbers won't lie down...
**********
2.
DO YOU LIKE IT
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Movin' a little slower now than back when I would bow to her
You should have seen the way that smile would brighten up her face
I used to make her laugh here's another old photograph
I wish that I had more of them but I still see it all so clear
Do you like it do you like it do you like it
July was hot we though it'd be around forever
Big tall sunflowers growing all the way up to the porch
That's where we used to sit for hours and count the fireflies till dawn
We'd talk about any and everything we were starting to make big plans
She'd say we ought to live each day like it could be the last
Do you like it do you like it...
Say if it's not gettin' late I'll tell you bout those days
They're not so far away
[ guitar ]
Do you like it do you like it...
Do you like it do you like it...
Say if it's not gettin' late...
**********
3.
AND THAT'S A LOT
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Revelations of the deepest kind
are the kind I've been gettin' since you're on my mind
And that's a lot
I've been walking on fire and chewing nails
I must've got lost on the way to hell
And that's a lot that's a lot
Cause when you get right down to the skin and bones
It's just too hard to leave you alone
You make the spirits dance and sing oh la la
You shake my world and soothe my soul
They all started to smile when the master spoke
Started going around like an inside joke
And that's a lot
Well he talked about a man who loved a woman so much
Made the earth heaven with her special touch
And that's a lot that's a lot oh that's a lot oh yeah
When you get right down to the skin and bones...
[ guitar ]
It's not every night that you get reborn
Not every day that your mind is torn
And that's a lot
I swear the world around me is turning blue
I think my skin is burning but I only feel you
And that's a lot oh that's a lot
Oh that's a lot oh yeah
When you get right down to the skin and bones...
It's not every night that you get reborn...
When you get right down to the skin and bones...
Revelations of the deepest kind
Are the kind I've been gettin' since you're on my mind
And that's a lot
**********
4.
AM I ONLY DREAMING THIS
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Welcome home please stay awhile this place sure could use a smile
Let's catch up on what we missed am I only dreaming this
Mostly hearts get traded sort of situated wait for better days to come
This civilization is not too civilized but baby you make it all one
When attracted opposites sometimes meet and can't resist
What each other has to give are they only dreaming this
Streams of consciousness with pools of kissing fishes
Speaking words in French for love
Clouds of purple curling sends emotion swirling
Baby you make it all one
[ guitar ]
Mostly hearts get traded...
Streams of consciousness...
Am I only dreaming this am I only dreaming this
**********
5.
DON'T LEAVE YOUR LIGHT LOW
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Been thinkin' so loud started drawin' a crowd
Been prayin' I don't chicken out tryin' to figure out the way to go
Don't leave you light low bright enough so some of us can carry on
Stop stayin' inside all hypnotized
Got to let it out been shakin' up start shakin' off and realize
Don't leave you light low bright enough so some of us can carry on
Might seem like it doesn't matter no matter what you do
Can't tell if it's gettin' better or if you're gettin' through
Those babes in the woods they only have it so good
For a little while till it's out of style going through that phase they're going
Don't leave you light low bright enough so some of us can carry on
[ guitar ]
Might seem like it doesn't matter...
Stop stayin' inside all hypnotized
Got to get it out got to shake it off try to figure out what's goin' on
Don't leave your light low does that road look familiar yet
Don't leave your light low about a mile ahead so much is told
Don't leave your light low bright enough so some of us can carry on
The sailing is strong you're sailing strong
**********
6.
SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE GONNA TAKE ME BACK
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Well I'm always talkin' to you in my head I can't stop it
Back and forth on the things we said I just wish we could drop it
It's a dark road I'm going on till it seems like you're gonna take me back
Just us phantoms hanging here gettin' off at the old train station
With a backload of quicksand oh my feet they been draggin'
Get the chains undone and I start to run
When it seems like you're gonna take me back
Show me signs I'll read between the lines
Wait till next time gonna make you proud
[ guitar ]
Black velvet cat always starts to laugh
When it seems like you're gonna take me back
It's a promise not a bet we won't crash and burn together
I've got the fever only you can heal yes I will hold out forever
It's a long shot that's all I got till it seems like you're gonna take me back
Take me back
It seems like it seems like you're gonna take me back
**********
7.
I THOUGHT WE HAD A DEAL
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Well I thought we had a deal that was supposed to work out right
Just imagine how I feel when I go turn out the light
Now you say it wasn't real didn't think that was your style
Well I thought we had a deal like the one we had a while
[ steel ]
It's a lot of my concern though you feel it's not my place
But I don't know where to turn now that I don't see your face
Well you taught me how to steal that wasn't very nice
Well I thought we had a deal now who's gonna pay the price
I thought we had a deal now who's gonna pay the price
Now who's gonna pay the price
**********
8.
TEARS SO STRONG
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Well same midnights when the lightning strikes it wakes me
I hear a lover's cry comin' from the sky and it takes me
To where the cobras slide and the gators crawl
They all run from tears so strong
Keeps pouring down burnin' up the ground as they're fallin'
Daddy told me once better listen son start believin'
You might think your tough bit that's not enough when she's leavin'
Someday you're gonna cry some tears so strong
Wash the tattoos off your arm
Gonna break you down it's a lonely sound as they're fallin'
Tears so strong what went wrong
What's done is done feelin' every one as they're fallin'
Tears so strong can't hold on
Until the kingdom comes countin' every one as they're fallin'
I'll never see her again or breathe her fire
Only she could dry these tears of mine
[ guitar ]
Well I got to make sense of the time that's left in a hurry
I'm going blind from all this cryin' and it's blurry
There's nothing worse than these tears so strong
Even a rusty knife through a voodoo doll
Keeps pouring down burning up the ground as they're fallin'
Tears so strong what went wrong...
**********
9.
PLEASE PARDON ME
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
That big one over there he's a tough guy for a living
Till some meaner new guy comes along
If he's lucky there'll be someone there to say to him
Keep him in his place when he goes wrong
Please pardon me there's a part of me
That's wantin' to go free like it oughta be
Please pardon me
If I said I couldn't help myself for lack of better reasons
Is it worth the fall to make the climb
Cause in the bigger scheme of things what shatters your illusions
Seems like it's the right thing at the time
Please pardon me...
Everybody's alibi got the wings but just can't fly
[ guitar ]
Please pardon me...
Lots of folks have left so far I can't say that I blame them
Because of that ol' earthquake in the ground
Someday we'll all meet up again where there's many mansions
Till then I'm gonna miss 'em sticking round
Please pardon me...
Please pardon me...
**********
10.
SOME THINGS ARE TOO GOOD TO LAST
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
[ with Emmylou Harris ]
Lovers leave and don't come back passion waits to live again
Shooting stars fall with the rest some things are too good to last
Flowers by another name live again in memory
Burning hearts that run too fast you were just too good to last
I can keep for sure what we had out of this world
When your tears would warm my smile I knew heaven for awhile
The better part of a short past we were just too good to last
[ guitar ]
I can keep for sure what we had out of this world
Lovers leave and don't come back passions wait to live again
Rainbows fade out with the rest we were just to good to last
Burning hearts that run too fast some things are too good to last
**********
11.
NOBODY'S PERFECT
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Well you got to be careful and might need to be
Your heart was ready and stolen by thieves
Then comes the searching that takes you away
One time too many but those are the breaks
Nobody's perfect haven't you heard that
So much to learn yet so much to change
And you're looking for fate to come to the table
And you're playing it safe till it's meant to be
[ steel ]
Well I thought I was ready for some kind of move
So many things that I wanted to prove
You heard your calling and went out to see
Some throw away what some others still need
Nobody's perfect haven't I heard that
So much to learn yet so much to change
Looking for fate to come to the table
Playing it safe knowing that
Nobody's perfect haven't you heard that
So much to learn yet so much to change
And you're looking for fate to come to the table
And we played it safe cause it's meant to be
**********
12.
HAD A LITTLE TIME
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
It's better not to hurry and have it all right now
And wait for many kisses coming from your mouth
You said I shouldn't worry it's good to have a break
I don't know how much more of that I can take
I hoped I prayed it started gettin' late
I had a little time had a little time
I'm hopin' that you'll join me while I'm hanging on the vine
Had a little time had a little time
Wondering if you're ever gonna realize
Since I was just a young'un drinking my coco down
I knew I had it coming when you moved to town
I'm not like Rip Van Winkle I can't sleep through it all
Reincarnated as the guy that you make fall
You'll laugh you'll cry I'll see you by and by
When you have a little time have a little time
I'm hopin' someday you'll join me while I'm hangin' on the vine
I'd walk I'd drive just get me there alive
[ guitar ]
I'd walk I'd drive just get me there alive
When you have a little time have a little time
Hope someday you'll join me while I'm waitin' on the vine
Had a little time had a little time
Wonder if you're ever gonna realize
Had a little time had a little time
Hope someday you'll join me while I'm waitin' on the vine
Hangin' on the vine had a little time
Wonderin' if your ever gonna realize
**********
13.
THAT'S NOT RIGHT BABE
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Can't ask a loaded question to ease your worried mind
Can't leave a guilty conscience where it's rainin' all the time
That's not right babe that's not right babe
If it was ever simple and you'd get what you deserve
And there'd never be no danger no matter which way that you swerve
That's not right babe that's not right babe
That's not right babe that's not right babe
Just because somebody told you you could always do what you want
Just because somebody told you you could always do what you want
[ guitar ]
That's not right babe that's not right babe
Just because somebody told you you could always do what you want
While you're lookin' in the future if you could keep what you were shown
And never hurt nobody's feelings no matter who'se side that you're on
That's not right babe that's not right babe...
**********
14.
OPTIMISTIC MESSENGER
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
I know I think my big mistake was written on the sky
To roll with fate or should I wait until we coincide
The optimistic messenger was in my neighborhood
You could have promised anything and I wish you would
Saying I'm sure saying I'm sure
More than the smile of a child on the mountains sweet and pure
You told the other passengers while we rode through the night
To close our eyes and become wise so we could have some sight
Saying I'm sure saying I'm sure
I'll never find another kind that's quite like yours
Saying I'm sure saying I'm sure
More than the smile of a child on the mountains sweet and pure
[ guitar ]
The optimistic messenger...
Saying I'm sure saying I'm sure
More than the smile of a child on the mountains sweet and pure
Saying I'm sure saying I'm sure
I'll never find another kind that's quite like yours
I'll never find another kind that's quite like yours
**********
15.
JUPITER'S RISING
(Jim Lauderdale)
« © '96 Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Laudersongs, BMI »
Those kinds of words are better left unsaid
Might start believing that stuff we read
Who's gonna mention cause I ain't saying
But something tells me you know more than you let on
Hail hail Jupiter's rising hail hail Jupiter's gone
That light above us up over our truck
Cut off the engine drained all the power
Out in the meadow that spot was burned out
Nobody even tried to explain why
Hail hail Jupiter's rising hail hail Jupiter's gone
[ guitar ]
Hail hail Jupiter's rising hail hail Jupiter's gone
Those flying saucers or what ever they are
They might be landing at any hour
Walking among us how many who knows
Well maybe next year there'll be a lot more
Hail hail Jupiter's rising hail hail Jupiter's gone
Somebody knows it so what they got to hide
Are they afraid it would blow all our minds
Now everybody seems kinda different
Except for me and my cousin Brenda
Hail hail Jupiter's rising hail hail Jupiter's gone
Hail hail Jupiter's rising hail hail Jupiter's gone
So many things that I want to tell you
But since they've been here you've kinda changed too
**********