I set fire to the ground around you
A ring of fire to hold my desire
I needed more
To get me off the floor
I needed more
To get me off the floor
I turned on a dime
And I whispered your rhyme
And I stole the time
To make you, make you mine
And I needed more
To get me off the floor
I needed more
To get me off the floor
I set fire to the ground around you
A ring of fire to hold my desire
I needed more
To get me off the floor
I needed more
To get me off the floor
I find myself a little lost
Tired of counting up the cost
Of looking for what I can never find
The crows are calling from the roof
I can’t help but loop the loop
Wishing that you’d just make up your mind
You got some business down the way
You gotta go you have to stay
There’s a phone call every time I start to speak
And from your stereo
Most absolutely nothing slow
Taking all the thoughts that I can think
Them lovin eyes ain’t there to see
I don’t know where did they go?
The happy heart that lay
Beneath me in the snow
Back on the street the people drank
Their whisky and their wine
New Years just ain’t the same since 99
Now every day’s there to behold
But we lie asleep while it gets old
And disappears before we’ve said goodbye
I can’t see how we stand to win
My glass is half empty again
I’ve gotta find the girl from 99
Them lovin eyes ain’t there to see
I don’t know where did they go?
The happy heart that lay
Beneath me in the snow
Back on the street the people drank
Their whisky and their wine
New Years just ain’t the same since 99
And it’s times like these
When I feel that heavy hand
Resting on my shoulder
And I can’t understand
Why these nights don’t give in
When I gave you everything
I ever had
And the closest that I get
Is when she’s sailing off to sleep
Holds onto me like I’m the only
Thing she needs
But I just can’t stand this taste of fear
The sound of craving in my ear
This party isn’t where I wanna be
Them lovin eyes ain’t there to see
I don’t know where did they go?
The happy heart that lay
Beneath me in the snow
Back on the street the people drank
Their whisky and their wine
New Years just ain’t the same since 99
Take a quick grip baby
I’m comin on down the line
I got me two nimble feet
I never run out of time
For you I would do anything
Just to see that smile
The one you give me now and then
Once in a while
And when you look into my eyes
Watch out for the spark
A flame against the darkness
That only wants to start
Not for the first time
Not for the last
We’re tryin to remember
Tryin to look back
Low sun was blinding
Mornings were cold
Sweet sweet vision
Sweet story told
But you cried when I told you
It was over
And you tried not to let me
Walk out the door
This is a Shake
This is a Shake
It’s a Shakedown
I coulda told you
You shoulda known
That I wasn’t gonna be the one
To take you back home
Cos I found the right rhyme honey
Found the right song
Sweet sweet vision
Sweet story told
But you cried when I told you
It was over
And you tried not to let me
Walk out the door
This is a Shake
This is a Shake
It’s a Shakedown
But you cried when I told you
It was over
And you tried not to let me
Walk out the door
This is a Shake
This is a Shake
It’s a Shakedown
I had a plan, to decorate my abode
Esmeralda Red was the colour that I chose
I started on the ceiling
Taped the windows and the doors
Always takin care to never
Get none on the floors
When I finished up the first room
It was such a pretty sight
Standin in the Tuesday sun
And the Esmeralda light
But I couldn’t stop for long
I had a lot of work to do
I worked until the sun went down
Carried right on through the night
But Esmeralda Red was all I saw
Just like the night I laid her on the floor
She talked back, I snapped Lord
That’s all she said
Esmeralda Red
Now Esmeralda walked into my life
One Friday night
I was headed home
Dark was givin way to light
She asked me for directions
She was standin in the rain
I took her by the hand
She didn’t find that strange
Then days turned into weeks turned into months turned into years
When the moon got full was when the laughter turned to tears
Now all my life I’ve been advised
Truth was pretty clear
Wrong and right are miles apart
You choose one you hold it dear
But Esmeralda Red was all I saw
Just like the night I laid her on the floor
She talked back, I snapped Lord
That’s all she said
Esmeralda Red
I painted day and night
Didn’t stop at all
Just to see sweet Esmeralda’s
Colour on my wall
Then Friday morning brought a policeman knocking at my door
Them neighbours been complaining bout ‘them nosies cross the hall’
Now I’m standing at the station
I’m spelling out my name
Ain’t lookin anyone in the eye
And I’m feeling mighty shamed
Cos Esmeralda’s gone
There ain’t a lot that I can do
I’m gonna have to pray tonight
Gonna have to tell the truth
That Esmeralda Red was all I saw
Just like the night I laid her on the floor
She talked back, I snapped Lord
That’s all she said
Esmeralda Red
I wanna be a better man
But I’m not sure how I can
And when no light finds me
Bad company is where I’ll be
But I’ll try and be a better man
I’m gonna fight tooth and nail
And there’s no doubt I’ll fail
So when they say I tried
I’ll know inside, it was all a lie
But I’m gonna fight tooth and nail
And there’s no hollow heart in here
Just a place where I can bury all my fear
When it all comes falling down
Comfort is a stranger
Nowhere to be found
This family is all I have
This family’s all I need
Times when I forget, I do regret
When I forget
That this family is all I have
If I could only get out of my own way
But everywhere I go, there I am
If I could only get out of my own way
I’d keep, this evil
Saboteur at bay
And there’s no hollow heart in here
Just a place where I can bury all my fear
When you call me I’ll come home
Like I never left you
Standing all alone
I’m gonna be a better man
Because you know I am
And in the light I’ll see
I’m right where I’m supposed to be
I’m gonna be a better man
I got a cold amber necktie
To put me to rest
Silence was golden
Save for things that you said
I’d preach to your choir
But you already know
You got trouble in your heart
That you don’t wanna show
But don’t get your hopes up
You’re already late
I’m not the kind just to stand
Here and wait
I’ve got a soul, it’s a soul
You can’t save
Short was the lesson
Long is the way
I crawled through your nightmares
Of love bold and true
Caught your diseases this just will not do
St Christopher lost me comin back from the South
But that cold North wind found me
Found me right out
But don’t get your hopes up
Cos you’re already late
I’m not the kind just to stand
Here and wait
I’ve got a soul, it’s a soul
You can’t save
Short was the lesson
Long is the way
Now luck up and left me
I know not where she did go
But I never could say that I told you so
These creatures surround me
At every turn
But I command righteous fire
And I’ll sing while they burn
St Christopher lost me comin back from the South
But that cold North wind found me
Found me right out
But don’t get your hopes up
Cos you’re already late
I’m not the kind just to stand
Here and wait
I’ve got a soul, it’s a soul
You can’t save
Short was the lesson
Long is the way
I Hope it rains
Leaves you hard up and broke
Hope it rains
Leaves you sad sore and soaked
I hope it rains
Like it did that morning in May
I hope it rains
I hope you’re blue
Lonely and forsaken
Hope you’re blue
And the clouds above are breaking
Hope you’re blue
I’ve only one thing left to say to you
I hope you’re blue
I hope the skies
Are far away from clear
And I hope you cry
Like I did when you were leaving
Hope you sigh
At the merest mention of my name
I hope it rains
Throw your picture on the fire
For the sake of auld lang syne
I hope you rue for the rest of your days
I hope it rains
I had the sun
Shining in my eyes
I had the moon
I had the whole horizon
I had you
I had umbrellas I had drains
I hope it rains
I ain’t had much to drink
Not as much as you think
I just been out for a little while
With my friends
And now you’re leaving me
Cos you don’t believe in me
You’re sayin all I do is
Think about myself
Cold hearted Alaska
Never knew a woman who’d been named quite so well
Cold hearted Alaska
Next thing I hear is when the pin
Hits the shell
My little sister just ain’t with us
She jumped right off the bus
She left us crying
And I think I lost my mind
And two years earlier
My friend caused quite a stir
He left us crying
And I know I lost my mind
Cold hearted Alaska
Never knew a woman who’d been named quite so well
Cold hearted Alaska
Next thing I hear is when the pin
Hits the shell
And you’re gone
You’re gone
I can’t go on and on and on like this
I see them little eyes
Just filling up with mist
Watching you and me
Tear it all apart
It’s gonna break my heart
Cold hearted Alaska
Never knew a woman who’d been named quite so well
Cold hearted Alaska
Next thing I hear is when the pin
Hits the shell
And now it’s gettin late
So don’t you hesitate
Just pack your things
Go get out of my life
Cos I found something new
That does not include you
I found a happy way
To live without no strife
Cold hearted Alaska
Never knew a woman who’d been named quite so well
Cold hearted Alaska
Next thing I hear is when the pin
Hits the shell
And I send you to hell
Called your number, yesterday
Once or twice or maybe more
Just like most any other day
But then I guess you know the score
Cos lately I’ve been, gettin drunk a lot
And I been feelin kinda down
Seems all I want is what I ain’t got
And all I wanna do is drown
This bit old sun, comes pouring in
Through my window on a cold cold day
I wish that I could speak some Sunshinese
Tell it just to go away
Cos the silver lining we tore apart
The one that held us close
Now hangs in rags across the ruins of my broken heart
Like some sad old lonely ghost
Oh my sweet sweet baby
Don’t ever wear these lies of mine
Just hold on to your own
You’ll do fine
I found god in a loaded gun
Sad and pretty as a settin sun
Got myself a little religion for the pain
And the shame
Now she is waiting for the long goodbye
Won’t even look me in the eye
I start shaking then I just cry again
Oh my sweet sweet baby
Don’t ever wear these lies of mine
Just hold on to your own
You’ll do fine
And I’d feel a whole lot better but I’m going home
I’d feel a whole lot better but I’m going home
Yes I would feel a whole lot better but I’m going home
Yes I would feel a whole lot better but I’m going home