black diamond

Generated 2007/06/08 20:03:14

Jump to

Big Dumb Town
Gone The Distance
Knife And Fork
Down The Coast Highway
Luther Played Guitar
Stranded
Wild Bill Donovan
Man Of Stone
Pink Parakeet
Underneath The Big Green Tree
As I Went Out One Morning
Crystal Palace
Hear That Bird
Footnotes

Now when the city was in flame you were on the phone
Sellin' fire hoses at a premium loan
Yeah the bankers all smile but when you pass they frown
You're just a little too smart for a big dumb town

Now we seen you drivin' down the boulevard
You throw that trash but not in your backyard
But like Newton and the apple what goes up comes down
You're still a little too smart for a big dumb town

We'll all applaud when you break on through
"He's a genius, boys, but then we always knew..."

Yeah, lofty possibilities, you never had a doubt
We'd all scream from the bleachers when you'd always strike out
But now you're way out in front and you look glory bound
You're just a little too smart for a big dumb town

Now when the world is over, clocks run outta wind
Somebody will scrape through the ruins and find
A little picture of you and in a file they found
Sayin' just a little too smart for a big dumb town

Now you speak so soft but in your heart you're cold
In a tower of glass you've got a mountain of gold
Yeah you talk real sharp but we'll soon cut you down
You're still a little too smart for a big dumb town

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

Ocean wide and water deep
Noddin' off you fall asleep
No one understands their pain
Look outside it's about to rain

Fallin' out of a blue sky
Walk the dog and swat the fly
No one's 'round to recognize
Shades of black behind blue eyes

Now you've gotta prove it all to me
Or you can let it pass just like a speeding car
Is there something left here you gotta see?
Or is it all a million miles from where you are?

Trees are tall and grass is green
One's alone and two's a team
Play guitar and make a scene
Read about it in a magazine

Tired of playin' what to be?
Friend is now an enemy
Slam a door and break a glass
From there to here has gone too fast

Now you've gotta prove it all to me
Then you let it slide to somewhere far
Is there something left here you gotta see?
Or is it all a million miles from where you are?

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

Chorus:
I'm comin' back home to you
Stuck to you like crazy glue
Don't wanna go on living without
Something left to shout about
We'll play the game of love and fate
I'll be the knife and fork, and you be the plate...

Now welcome baby to my pad of delights
Have a drink... do you like my tights?
This switch here'll make the lights go down low
And this one here makes all the bubbles go
The water's warm, yes, a sunken tub
Tonight you'll be joinin' my exclusive club
Here now do you wanna see somethin' fine?
Straight from Singapore... cost me five and nine
It's a picture of a man and an Egyptian queen
Kept in the family, if you know what I mean

Chorus repeat

Now I know you'll say my approach is direct
But don't throw out this mail before you check
We go together like fish and fin
Aphrodite and Zeus, water and Gunga Din
We'll perform here on this sacrificial slab
For your sweet, sweet love, I'll even go back to rehab

Chorus repeat

For you I'll even grow a pencil thin moustache
You can put me in chains... I'll wear that wolf mask
And you can starve me in your basement for a couple of weeks
Just please let me squeeze one of your rosy cheeks
I wanna float with you on a cumulus cloud
I wanna take you far away from this maddening crowd
You can scratch up my back with your long fingernails
We'll drink some weird wine and eat psychedelic snails

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

He took a drive down the coast highway
Blowin' where the air was fresh and clean
He had a plan that said I'll do it my way
Rollin' from the desert to the sea

Hit twenty-one years old up in prison
Just a little night job with a stolen key
Two years liftin' weights and pumpin' iron there in his cell
He came out lookin' just like Mohammed Ali

He drove around tailgating trucks and busses
Whistling some new Michael Jackson tune
He thought back on his momma and what she told him long ago
Do it right son, please, don't do it wrong

He's goin' home
Gonna buy some stuff down at the pier
He's all alone
He's got a radio, a gun, and some japanese beer
And on the highway he saw the big cars in line
And he thought, behind every fortune... there's got to be a crime¹

He took a drive down the coast highway
Blowin' where the air was fresh and clean
He had a plan that said I'll do it my way
But he could not plan for what he couldn't see

He's goin' home
All alone
And he stopped at a couple of markets and drug stores along the way
He'd just walk up and down the aisle and smile––funny that way

The last place he drove into had to be my place
They said he'd run out of gas anyway
And as he walked up to the counter with a blue steel gun in his hand
I took out my long rifle and I blew him away
I blew him away

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

Now we were young and we were bold
We were three out on the road
Stayin' up all night and drivin' past the dawn
Me and two from Tennessee, up in lights on that marquee
From Folsom Prison to San Quentin, oh but now those days are gone

His guitar was dark and deep, he played in the lower range
Even now it sends a shiver up my spine
He played a twangin' metal string, and his tone was round and strange
He left too soon and no one's ever took his place inside my mind

Luther, can you hear me where you are?
I'm still out here on the road and travelin' so far
Yeah Luther?

Yes, and I still miss the time, when we'd three play "Walk The Line"
With Marshall on the bass, I sang
And Luther played guitar

Now my heart still skips a beat, when I look at that back seat
And think back on those crazy times and one night stands
And all through the early days, past the booze and pills and haze
Oh, time just moves along and no one's left but God to understand

Luther, can you hear me where you are?
I still hear your guitar play at every honky-tonk and bar
Yeah Luther?

And late at night when I close my eyes I see black suits and bolo ties
And Marshall on the bass, I sing
And Luther played guitar

Luther, can you hear me where you are?
Now we're sleepin' in this big jet plane instead of your old car
Yeah Luther?

And while through this old world I roam, if the Lord should call me home
Put Marshall on the bass, I'll sing
And Luther play guitar

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

She was standin' near the railroad track when she first flagged me down
I was drivin' outta town
All alone

Her face held every feelin' in but her eyes gave her away
One look and you would say
No way home

Walkin' through an airport lounge
Somewhere way off in Spain
Through a scratchy intercom it came
Loud and clear...

Chorus:
You're worn and used and you can't talk
Your flight has been postponed, now you must walk
Straight up that hill––now you must push your own rock

The iceburg cut into the hull while the captain rang the bell
How he went down, who could tell
Cold as ice

Beneath the waves the ocean liner sank into the sand
You still could hear the band
Auld Lang Syne

Out in space their orbit then just started to decay
She was burnin' up the atmosphere
Burn away

Chorus repeat

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

In a time between two wars
When a slip could get you killed
A man appeared with a master plan
And they called him Wild Bill

He talked you 'round in circles
When he was done, yeah, you knew less
And he started up the company²
From what was left of the O.S.S.³

Chorus:
Wild Bill, Wild Bill
The secrets that he'd hold
Wild Bill, Wild Bill
He slept out in the cold

Now he was there in '45
When the good war had wound down
The enemy had all been caught
But some could not be found

The price of information
Sometimes takes a sacrifice
A secret traded for a life
But someone pays the price

Chorus repeat

The world was on fire for Bill
He had to take control
The enemy was close at hand
The tanks were told to hold

But deep inside Bill's massive head
A master plan did bloom
Buy the information out
By sellin' a brand new tune

Chorus repeat

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

It could have been a million years ago or maybe yesterday
I crawled out of this wilderness, a debt I had to pay
I must have tipped the scales somewhere way back
Never saw the seeds I'd sewn
So now I travel backwards looking for a man of stone

A foggy night, a neon light... I've seen him standing there
Movin' where the shadows creep––no he never did play fair
And one night I almost got him, but I knew you'd tapped my phone
And communication is dangerous, lookin' for a man of stone

With Juan in Argentina I thought I saw him in the street
In a seaplane over Hydra he sat in the captain's seat
And I've chased him from the Colosseum down the Spanish steps in Rome
And history just gets hazy lookin' for a man of stone

In the mornin' out your I saw him leanin' on a tree
Wearin' a snappy suit of grey and then he motioned to me
He pointed with his finger, as if to say my soul he owned
But I had sold that long ago to you lookin' for a man of stone

Now I sit in this burnt out barn they call The Raven's Nest
Drinkin' bloody monkeys⁴, your name tattooed on my chest
Sometimes I think of Juan or you––or sometimes I think of hime
And sometimes I don't think of anything but lookin' for (that's right) a man of stone

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

Your pink parakeet still waits for you to free her
So I've kept this cage closed tightly when I feed her
Your room is locked up solid and the key's here 'round my neck
Your soul and property I still protect

No this world won't understand you or accept you
You'll need someone just like me to hold the wolves at bay
I love you like a sculptor loves his chistle and his stone
How can you go with all the love I've shown

I've invested many precious hours of training
Your poise, your grace, your youthful face is fading
And without me you will falter, and confuse and soon go blind
I know what scares you there inside your mind

Now without you to advise I'm feeling weaker
This game's no fun to play without a teacher
And without my guide and counsel you will surely die alone
I demand you back, look at the love I've shown

Now I've never been unfaithful 'til this moment
You've made me now investigate my life
My scars and stitches shown, I've been stripped now to the bone
Look what you've done with all the love I've shown

Now what word, maybe somewhere will finally trip you?
How cool of you to do this thing to me
And I know you'll always fail, I always did
But I hold no grudge or groan
How could I now, with all the love I've shown
With all the love I've shown

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

Is there a home, a home for me?
Where the people stay until eternity?
Is there a road that winds up
Underneath the big green tree?
Is there a home, a home for me?

Is there a place, somewhere around?
Maybe out in space, or inside a sound?
And is there a room that always
has a swinging door?
Is there a place? I don't know anymore...

I was dreaming 'bout you yesterday out on the pier
And I felt you close at hand, your presence in the sand

I could hear you whispering so softly in my ear
Then your words ring true, accept just what you do

Is there a home, a home for me?
Is there a place, a place to be?
Or is there a road that winds up
Underneath the big green tree?
Is there a home, a home for me?
A home for me?

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic guitar
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

As I went out one morning to breathe the air around Tome Paine's
I spied the fairest damsel that ever did walk in chains
I offered her my hand, she took me by the arm
I knew that very instant she meant to do me harm

Depart from me this moment I told her with my voice
She said but I don't wish to, said I but you've got no choice
I beg you sir, she pleaded from the corner of her mouth,
I will secretly accept you and together we'll fly south

Just then Tom Paine himself came a-runnin' across the field
Shouting at this lovely girl and commanding her to yield
And as she was letting go her grip, up Tom Paine did run
I'm sorry sir, he said to me, I'm sorry for what she's done

credits

Written by: Bob Dylan
Published by: © Copyright 1968, 1976 Dwarf Music

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

Movin' kinda slow, no I never had much balance
Why does everyone I know keep makin' lots a' dough
I guess I'll find out soon when I get to that crystal palace in the sky

I've heard stories second hand about its grand interior
Its gold and silver strands, cathedral ceilings way up high
All the furnishing's unique when you get to your crystal palace in the sky

Well, I've worked as a part time circus boy
Collected cans down Saticoy
And patiently put forth my master plan

I've imagined futures and full plates
And slept with every subliminal tape
But now I'm so angry at someone
My contract is in breach
Why must my crystal palace be on hold this week?

I feel lucky I suppose, at least we're all still breathin'
Stuck here in escrow, just a' waitin' out our loan
But no big armed patrol will stop me when I get to my crystal palace by and by

And it'll be my way or the highway
Gettin' to my crystal palace in the sky

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Ted "Sticks" Andersen: drums, percussion
Harlan Boddicker: bass guitar
Bob Elmo: bass guitar, cello, violin
Larry Grennan: percussion, background vocals
Stanard Ridgway: vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, theater organ, recorder
Pietra Wexstun: keyboards, background vocals

I hear that bird chirpin' in the tree
I wonder what he's seein' I don't see
Now everybody's happy, but today I feel so wrong
So I guess I'll just shut up and move along

Chasin' dreams that float like dust in th' air
Grab 'em once, but twice, they disappear
Up in smoke they hover, like dope rings from a bong
So I guess I'll just shut up and move along

I was thinkin' 'bout you just the other day
And if you could see me now, and what you'd say
Some things do get better––yeah, the weak goes to the strong
But then I guess I'll just shut up and move along

I hear that bird chirpin' in the tree
I wonder what he's seein' I don't see
Everybody's happy, but today I feel so wrong
So I guess I'll just shut up and move along
Guess I'll just shut up and move along
Guess I'll just shut up and move along
Just move along

notes

The lyrics to this song have not been published; they were transcribed by Larry Hastings. The performers listed are a guess.

credits

Written by: Stanard Ridgway
Published by: © Copyright 1996 Dis-Information Music (administered by BMI)
Produced by: Stanard Ridgway

performers

Larry Grennan: percussion
Stanard Ridgway: acoustic guitar, vocals, whistling

1. Behind every great fortune there is a crime. ––Honore de Balzac

2. "The company" is a nickname for the CIA.

3. The Office of Strategic Services, a precursor to the CIA.

4. What's in a "bloody monkey"? Clark Price says: its Myer's Rum and Papya Juice with a dash of coconut. Over ice with a twist. after three or so, you grow a tail...