Lyrics

For the folks who like to sing along — lyrics for Modern Folk, Vol. II.

After The Fall

What can you do when you find yourself caught dead to rights?
What can you say when you’re red-handed caught broad daylight
A hyena grin she walked in and you knew that was all
Busted Bull Drummond style there you are after the fall

After the fall
After the laughter
The tears gotta fall

What can you do when you find yourself shoeless and broke?
Crying so hard that it’s starting to feel like a joke
It wasn’t a spell you could tell when you fell from that wall
It was your name attached to the shame you felt after the fall

After the fall
After the laughter
The tears gotta fall

Now who knows what makes a man act like he’s some kind of king?
Why can’t he stop himself — why must he ruin everything
He’s up on his high horse he’s so proud surveying it all
And one moment later
He’s flying through space
Been put in his place
And fate will erase
That old smile on his face
And there he is after the fall

After the fall
After the laughter
The tears gotta fall

Don’t Knock The Mocking Bird

Flying from tree to tree
Stirring good company
Sweet as you ever heard
Don’t knock the mockingbird

He don’t have a pretty face
But he sings his song with with grace
No heart is left unstirred.
Don’t knock the mockingbird

Don’t knock the mockingbird
Don’t knock the mockingbird
Don’t knock the mockingbird
Don’t knock the mockingbird

No fortune no fame
He don’t have penny to his name

He lets a song go out
Life is sweet when he’s about
He might not know the words
But don’t knock the mockingbird

Don’t knock the mockingbird
Don’t knock the mockingbird
Don’t knock the mockingbird
Don’t knock the mockingbird

Hangin’ On The Mezzanine

Looking down on the people below
Hangin’ on the mezzanine
Downtown run down department store
Just my special girl and me
Hangin’ on the mezzanine

We’ve been walkin’ round since have past ten
Never planned to buy a thing
try it on and hang it up again
Just my special girl and me
Hangin’ on the mezzanine

Grandma used to shop here — Grandpa too
Used to be the place to be
Now it’s just a store that you walk through
Air conditioning is free
For my special girl and me
Hangin’ on the mezzanine

If You’re Gonna Sing

Sing like you don’t have a care
Sing like there’s nobody there
If you’re gonna sing at all

Sing like you just stole a kiss
From somebody that you miss
If you’re gonna sing at all

Sing because somebody needs
To hear a word a melody
Something fine to get them through the day
OK

Sing like you got nothing left
But a pile of tenderness
To share with anybody
Who ever lost somebody
If you’re gonna sing at all

Sing because it feels so good
Not because you think you should
But when the spirit moves you
You’ll know
You’ll know

Sing like you got nothing left
But a big ole pile of tenderness
To share with anybody
Who ever lost somebody
If you’re gonna sing at all
At all
At all

I Got You

Little aches and pains
‘Specially when it rains
But I can’t complain cause I got you
Times I feel like cryin’
Know that I’ll be fine
Up and down the line cause I got you

I — I got you
I — I got you
To hold me close heaven knows
I got You

Slept the whole night long
Woke up with a song
Know that can’t be wrong cause I got you
Hit the day in stride
Sky was open wide
Everything supplied cause I got you

I — I got you
To hold me tight every night
I got you

Clouds block out the sun
Icy winds will come
Still I sit and hum cause I got you
A melody sublime
Shiny like a dime
Does it every time cause I got you

I — I got you
I — I got you
To hold me close heaven knows
I got you

Martha’s Machine

Martha’s machine
Stitched curtains and dreams
Stitched the house together
Sturdy as her seams
Oh Martha’s machine was a Singer
Singin’ all day long

Martha’s machine
Was clean and it was able
Put clothes on our back
Put food on our table
Oh Martha’s machine
Oh Martha’s machine was a Singer
Singin’ all the time

Martha was an alto
Sang the middle part
Never got the lead
But sang with all her heart
Oh Martha’s machine was a Singer
And so was she

Martha’s machine
With it’s little light
Shinin’ on her work
Sometimes late at night
Oh Martha’s machine was a Singer
Singin’ all night long

Martha’s machine
Stitched curtains and dreams
Stitched the house together
Sturdy as her seams
Oh Martha’s machine was a Singer
Singin’ all day long

Never Borrow Trouble

Never borrow trouble
You can’t ever give it back
It hangs around
Like a stray you found
Down by the railroad tracks

Never borrow trouble
Cause it gets all over you
Like a coat of paint
But somehow it ain’t
Your favorite shade of blue

Never borrow trouble
The interest is too high
You’ll wind up in
A tailspin
And likely you will cry

Never borrow trouble
Cause you got enough to start
Then you pile it high
And wonder why
There’s a strain upon your heart

Never borrow trouble
It’ll find you anyway
Hunt you down
Like a police hound
And probably wreck your day

The Long Long Night

Don’t want to talk about your broken heart
Don’t want to talk your broken dreams
Or hitch a ride in your broken car
Stranded in the long long night
Stranded in the long long night

The words you say and say and say again
The more you talk the more I hear the wind
It’s like the night of the living dead
Poundin’ poundin’ in my head
Poundin’ poundin’ in my head

You’ll never change or see a reason to
Stay in the dark and never see the light
Well I for one am giving up on you
Stranded in the long long night
Stranded in the long long night

The Pleasure Of Your Company

The wind swept
The river wept
And flowed into the sea
They never knew
The pleasure of your company

The moon glowed
The rain bowed
And rocked the willow tree
Swaying for
The pleasure of your company

I sang this song
Once before
I saw you there
I didn’t know
If you saw me
Just how things would be

A crow cawed
He see-sawed
On the top branch of the tree
Pinin’ for
The pleasure of your company

Things That I Oughta Do

Things that I oughta do but don’t
I know I should but I probably won’t
Why should I even care
If you don’t care about me
Anymore?

Things on my list that won’t get crossed
Dreams that I had that just got tossed
Why should I see ‘em through
If you’re through seein’ me
Anymore?

Time to change the locks on your heart
Watch as the wheels come off the cart
Wait for the memories to start

The wind does a better job each day
Of blowin’ scraps of memory away
Guess I’ll just ride it
To a place where I just don’t care
Any more

Happiness Is Hard To Find

I don’t want to race around the world
And find there’s really nothing there
Happiness is hard to find
But you know it’s got to be somewhere

I don’t want to be the frantic man
Who’s in a panic every day
Happiness is hard to find
But you know there’s got be a way

I don’t know just when it’s comin’
But I know it’s out there waiting now
Happiness is hard to find
But you know it’s gonna come somehow
Happiness is hard to find
But you know it’s gonna come somehow
Happiness is hard to find
But you know it’s got to come somehow