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The Jesse Winchester Collection
Anthology of Lyrics
Compiled by Alan Freeman"Jesse Winchester"
1970, the first album Pay Day
Biloxi
Snow
Brand New Tennessee Waltz
The Touch I Like
Yankee Lady
Quiet About It
Skip Rope Song
Rosey Shy
Black Dog
The Nudge
Payday
Let's go out on the town tonight
My pockets are heavy with loot
And get drunk and nasty
And loud and aggresive to boot
I've been living from hand to mouth
For what must be three or four weeks
And I can tell you one thing, Jack
You listen when your stomach speaks
I feel good
Just like I knew that I would
And all on account of that wine
That I bought today
And I'm smiling so sweet
For every little girl that I meet
And some fools will try to tell you
It's a sin to feel this way
Yeah, it feels so funny
Having all this money today
I think I feel like dancing the night away
I got me this long-legged girl
To help me to spend my dough
A heart as big as your mama's stove
And a body like Brigitte Bardot
I'm all ready for some rock n roll
With the guitars turned up loud
And some fancy footwork
In a low-down, boozed-up crowd
I feel good
Just like I knew that I would
And all on account of that wine
That I bought today
And I'm smiling so sweet
For every little girl that I meet
And some fools will try to tell you
It's a sin to feel this way
Yeah, it feels so funny
Having all this money today
I think I feel like dancing the night away
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
Biloxi
Down around Biloxi
Pretty girls are swimming in the sea
Oh they look like sisters in the ocean
The boy will fill his pail with salted water
And the storms will blow from off towards New Orleans
The sun shines on Biloxi
The air is filled with vapors from the sea
And the boy will dig a pool beside the ocean
He sees creatures from a dream under the water
And the sun will set from off towards New Orleans
The stars can see Biloxi
The stars can find their faces in the sea
We are walking in the evening by the ocean
We are splashing naked in the water
And the sky is red from off towards New Orleans
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
Snow
I was tuning in the six o'clock newscast
And the weather man mentioned snow
As soon as I heard that four-letter word
I was making my plans to go
If I was a bird I would fly back South
A bear I would go to sleep
Anything rather than hang around here
When the snow starts getting deep
Now you know what they say about snow flakes
How there ain't no two the same
Well, all them flakes look alike to me
Every one is a dirty shame
My ears are cold
My feet are cold
Bermuda stays on my mind
And I'm here to say that if winter comes
Then spring is a ways behind
I don't have no heavy hip boots
I don't have no furry hat
I don't have no long-john underwear
No layer of protective fat
I'd take a plane right to sunny Spain
Oh, but I don't have the dough
But I'd build a bridge and I'd walk there
To get away from all that snow
Oh, I'd build a bridge and walk there
To get away from all that snow
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
Brand New Tennessee Waltz
Oh my, but you have a pretty face
You favor I girl that I knew
I imagine that she's back in Tennessee
And by God, I should be there too
I've a sadness too sad to be true
But I left Tennessee in a hurry dear
In same way that I'm leaving you
Because love is mainly just memories
And everyone's got him a few
So when I'm gone I'll be glad to love you
At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
You're literally waltzing on air
At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
There's no telling who will be there
When I leave it will be like I found you love
Descending Victorian stairs
And I'm feeling like one of your photographs, girl
Trapped while I'm putting on airs
Getting even by saying Who cares
At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
You're literally waltzing on air
At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
There's no telling who will be there
So have all your passionate violins
Play a tune for a Tennessee kid
Who's feeling like leaving another town
But with no place to go if he did
Cause they'll catch you wherever you're hid
At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
You're literally waltzing on air
At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
There's no telling who will be there
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
That's The Touch I Like
The red ribbon in your hair
I'm kind of glad that you put it there
Cause that's the touch I like
Cause that's the touch I like
Um-hum, oh, that's the touch I like
The air of flowers when you're near
Your eyes are wide, and bright, and clear
Oh, that's the touch I like
That's the touch I like
Um-hum-hum that's the touch I like
Maybe I could see you sometime
Goodness you look pretty
And I would be on my very best behavior
I'd be holding doors and coats for you
And trying to be witty
And losing all my cool to win your favor
You have no words to waste
And sweet old-fashioned taste
Um-hum, that's the touch I like
That's the touch I like
Um-hum-hum that's the touch I like
Maybe I could see you sometime
Goodness you look pretty
And I would be on my very best behavior
I'd be holding doors and coats for you
And trying to be witty
And losing all my cool to win your favor
The red ribbon in your hair
I'm kinda glad that you put it there
Cause that's the touch I like
Cause that's the touch I like
Um-hum, oh, that's the touch I like
Oh, that's the touch I like
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
Yankee Lady
I lived with the decent folks
In the hills of old Vermont
Where what you do all day
Depends on what you want
And I took up with a woman there
Though I was still a kid
And I smile like the sun
To think of the loving that we did
She rose each morning and went to work
And she kept me with her pay
I was making love all night
And playing guitar all day
And I got apple cider and homemade bread
To make a man say grace
And clean linens on my bed
And a warm feet fire place
Yankee lady so good to me,
Yankee lady just a memory
Yankee lady so good to me,
Your memory that's enough for me
An autumn walk on a country road
And a million flaming trees
I was feeling uneasy
Cause there was winter in the breeze
And she said, "Oh Jesse, look over there,
The birds are southward bound
Oh Jesse, I'm so afraid
To lose the love that we've found."
Yankee lady so good to me,
Yankee lady just a memory
Yankee lady so good to me,
Your memory that's enough for me
I don't know what called to me
But I know that I had to go
I left that Vermont town
With a lift to Mexico
And now when I see myself
As a stranger by my birth
The Yankee lady's memory
Reminds me of my worth
Yankee lady so good to me,
Yankee lady just a memory
Yankee lady so good to me,
Your memory that's enough for me
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
Quiet About It
Be of good cheer
It's all in His plan
He's walking with us
And He speaks through every man
But I have this notion
Call it my fear
That I will die alone
And even He won't be there
But when I feel that way
I thirst, and I want to shout it
Trust me Lord, to be quiet about it
Yes, I am lost
But He is leading me home
And He's my companion
When my friends have up and gone
But still I get lonely
And sometimes I doubt
I want to do right
But it seems like only wrong gets out
But when I feel that way
I thirst, and I want to shout
Trust me Lord, to be quiet about it
Oh quiet about it
Yeah, I'll be quiet about it
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
Skip Rope Song
I used to know a pretty girl
Who cut off all her hair
The scissors flew among the curls
And curls went everywhere
I gathered up her fallen locks
And carried them away
And put them in silver box
And keep them to this day
Song, sing, birdy with the wing
Perfect circle sun
The grown ups get to make the rules
And we have all the fun
Yes, we have all the fun
But now I am in love with you
And I hope that you will stay
And to prove that my love is true
I'll throw the curls away
Song, sing, birdy with the wing
Perfect circle sun
The grown ups get to make the rules
And we have all the fun
Yes, we have all the fun
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
Rosey Shy
I was taken with a younger thing
Known to me as Rosey Shy
She had bells of brass to ring-a-ding
And danced to please your eyes
It seems like lovely Rosey Shy
She shrank from my caress
I think I'm dying from Rosey Shy
Cause my heart can't get no rest
No my heart can't get no rest
And I can't find grace
In the human face today.
Reborn with a baby ear
I'm singing with Rosey Shy
Far away she looks so real
But up close she looks so high
I had a dream about Rosey Shy
And my dream did come true
And every step away from Rosey Shy
That's a terrible thing to do
A terrible thing to do
And I can't find grace
In the human face today.
Sunny breakfast, in the Winter time
Coffee with Rosey Shy
To play or not was on her mind
But to love was in her eyes
And where was I with Rosey Shy
And was I ever on her mind
And if I can't have my Rosey Shy
Then I'd choose to remain blind
Yes, I'd choose to remain blind
And refuse to find grace
In the human face today.
Is there such a thing as all the time
Even when it's Rosey Shy?
And even lyrics that cannot rhyme
They often do apply
I wish the visions of Rosey Shy
Would come back like my dreams
Well, maybe they just signify
A talking, nothing thing
A talking, nothing thing
And I can't find grace
In the human face today.
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
Black Dog
Black Dog up and sniffed his plate
A steamin on the stove
The kids ain't seem you home all day
You're a gentleman born to rove
Black Dog don't believe in sin
Think of where the black dog's been
Think of where he's been today
Have you seen the black dogs teeth
Sharp like a knife?
Have you seen them tear upon a throat
To take a life?
Black Dog don't believe in sin
Think of where the black dog's been
Think of where he's been today
Have you seen the black dogs eyes
Staring in the fire?
It would not occur to him
To question your desire
Black Dog don't believe in sin
Think of where the black dog's been
Think of where he's been today
I've always had a fear of creatures
Crying in the dark
And every form of evil
Seems to bear an evil mark
Black Dog don't believe in sin
Think of where the black dog's been
Think of where he's been today
My woman lays beside me
And my black dog's at my feet
She keeps me from my wandering life
And he robs me of my sleep
Black Dog don't believe in sin
Think of where the black dog's been
Think of where he's been today
I don't know the black dog's name
When I call him, he won't come
How'd I get this black dog
Lord, I never wanted one
Black Dog don't believe in sin
Think of where the black dog's been
Think of where he's been today
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"
The Nudge
Pretty Claire with flowers in your hair
Where did you stay last night?
She's been sold on that old rock 'n roll
Now sitting home just don't suit her right
Now she'd much rather Nudge
It's against my better judgement
To go and do The Nudge with you
I know woman with your evil eye
You upset my soul
There ain't a thing this chick won't try
She's just got to be told
All about the Nudge
It's against my better judgement
To go and do The Nudge with you
Shilly Shally she's got a brand new thing
And if you ask her she might show you
The boyfriend got Shilly a diamond ring
To make sure Shilly Shally stays true
Cause she just loves to Nudge
It's against my better judgement
To go and do The Nudge with you
©1970 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"