FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION last revised 4/2/95 FEELING GRAVITY'S PULL I fell asleep and read just about every paragraph. Read the scene where gravity is pulling me around Peel back the mountains peel back the sky Stomp gravity into the floor It's a Man Ray kind of sky Let me show you what I can do with it Time and distance are out of place here Step up, step up, step up the sky is open-armed When the light is mine, I felt gravity pull Somewhere near the end it said "You can't do this", I said "I can too" Shift sway rivers shift, oceans fall and mountains drift It's a Man Ray kind of sky Let me show you what I can do with it Step up, step up, step up the sky is open-armed When the light is mine, I felt gravity pull onto my eyes, holding my head straight (looking down). This is the easiest task I've ever had to do... I fell asleep and read just about every paragraph Read the scene where gravity is pulling me around Shift the swaying river's shift Oceans fall and mountains drift It's a Man Ray kind of sky Let me show you what I can do with it Time and distance are out of place here Step up, step up, step up the sky is open-armed When the light is mine, I felt gravity pull onto my eyes, holding my head straight (looking down). This is the easiest task I've ever had to do... Reason had harnessed the tame Holding the sky in their arms Gravity pulls me down MAPS AND LEGENDS (for the Rev. Howard Finster, "a man of vision and feeling - a fine example to all") He's not to be reached, he's to be reached. He's not to be reached, he's to be reached. Called the fool and the company, On his own where he'd rather be. Where he ought to be, he sees what you can't see, can't you see that? Maybe he's caught in the legend, maybe he's caught in the mood. Maybe these maps and legends have been misunderstood. Down the way the road's divided, Paint me the places you have seen. Those who know what I don't know refer to the yellow, red and green Maybe he's caught in the legend, maybe he's caught in the mood. Maybe these maps and legends have been misunderstood. He's not to be reached, he's to be reached. (4 times) The map that you painted didn't seem real. He just sings whatever he's seen Point to the legend, point to the east, Point to the yellow, red and green Maybe he's caught in the legend, maybe he's caught in the mood. Maybe these maps and legends have been misunderstood, been misunderstood. (Maps and legends) (Maps and legends) Is he to be reached? He's not to be reached. (Maps and legends) Is he to be reached? He's not to be reached. (Maps and legends) Is he to be reached? He's not to be reached anymore. DRIVER 8 The walls are built up, stone by stone, the fields divided one by one. And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break We've been on this shift too long" And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away" I saw a treehouse on the outskirts of the farm. The power lines have floaters so the airplanes won't get snagged. Bells are ringing through the town again, Children look up, all they hear is sky-blue, bells ringing And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away" Way to shield the hated heat. Way to put myself to sleep. Way to shield the hated heat. Way to put myself, my children to sleep. He piloted this song in a plane like that one. She is selling faith on the Go Tell crusade. Locomotive 8, Southern Crescent, hear the bells ring again. Field to weed is stricken thin And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break We've been on this shift too long." And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away" LIFE AND HOW TO LIVE IT Burn bright through the night, two pockets lead the way To doors to go between the wall was raised today To doors remain before your others and your own Keep these books well stocked away and take your happy home My carpenter's out and running about, talking to the street My pockets are out and running about Barking in the street to tell what I have hidden there Burn bright through the night, two pockets lead the way Two doors to go between the wall was raised today Raise the walls and shout its flaws, a carpenter should rest So that when you tire of one side the other serves you best My carpenter's out and running about, talking to the street My pockets are out and running about Barking in the street to tell what I have hidden there The hills ringing hear the words in time Listen to the holler, listen to my walls within my tongue Can't you see you made my ears go tin? the air quicken tension building inference suddenly Life and how to live it Raise the walls and shout its flaws, a carpenter should rest So that when you tire of one side the other serves you best Read about the wisdom lost, a knock, a knock, a knock A secret knock one hammer's locked the other wisdom lost My carpenter's out and running about, talking to the street My pockets are out and running about Barking in the street to tell what I have hidden there My carpenter's out and running about, barking in the, listen to the holler My pockets are out and running about Barking in the street to tell what I have hidden there Listen, listen to the holler, If I write a book it will be called "Life and How to Live It" OLD MAN KENSEY Old Man Kensey wants to be a sign painter First he's got to learn to read He's gonna be a clown on TV Flexes his elbow taunt and free That's my folly, I believe Drink up the lake Kensey's awake That's my folly, that's my mistake Old Man Kensey wants to be a goalie First he's got to learn to count He's gonna be a clown on a circus mount Letters to be signed and dropped off Kensey's going far John, Bill and Ed, stand on your head That's my folly, I'm ready to go Old Man Kensey wants to be a dog catcher First he's got to learn to stand He's gonna be a clown in a marching band Letters to be signed ransom greed That's my folly, I believe Drink up the lake, John, Bill and Ed, That's my folly, that's my mistake Kensey's awake, stand on your head That's my folly, I'm ready to go CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE (published in Guitar Magazine in 1985. a few lines were reprinted in Goldmine in 1987 and some appear in the video as well) When the world is a monster Bad to swallow you whole Kick the clay that holds the teeth in Throw your trolls out the door If you're needing inspiration Philomath is where I go by dawn Lawyer Jeff he knows the lowdown He's mighty bad to visit home I've been there I know the way Can't get there from here I've been there I know the way Can't get there from here I've been there I know the way Can't get there from here I've been there I know the way When your hands are feeling empty Stick head jumpin off the ground, 'round Tris is sure to shirr the deers out Brother Ray can sing my song I've been there I know the way Can't get there from here I've been there I know the way Can't get there from here I've been there I know the way Can't get there from here I've been there I know the way Hands down, Calechee bound Landlocked kiss the ground Dirt of seven continents going round and round Go on ahead Mr. Citywide hypnotized, suit and tied Gentlemen, testify If your world is a monster Bad to swallow you whole Philomath they know the lowdown Throw your trolls out the door I've been there I know the way Can't get there from here I've been there I know the way Can't get there from here I've been there I know the way Can't get there from here I've been there I know the way Thank you, Ray. GREEN GROW THE RUSHES The wheelbarrow's fallen Look at my hands They've found some surplus cheaper hands Rubbing palms and pick and choose, who will they choose? Here is the news. Look at that building, look at this man Haloed and whitewashed Gone to find a cheaper hand he'll offer a pound, offer a pound. Green grow the rushes go Green grow the rushes go Green grow the rushes go The compass points the workers home Pay for your freedom, find another gate Guilt by associate, the rushes wilted a long time ago Guilty as you go Stay off that highway, word is it's not so safe The grasses that hide the greenback The amber waves of gain again The amber waves of gain Green grow the rushes go Green grow the rushes go Green grow the rushes go The compass points the workers home KOHOUTEK Who will stand alone? She carried ribbons, she wore them out Courage built a bridge, jealous tore it down At least it's something you've left behind Like Kohoutek, you were gone We sat in the garden, we stood on the porch I won't deny myself, we never talked She wore bangles, she wore bells On her toes and she jumped like a fish Like a flyin' friend, you were gone Like Kohoutek, can't forget that Fever built a bridge, reason tore it down If I am one to follow.. who will stand alone? Maybe you're not the problem scissors, paper, stone If you stand and holler, these prayers will talk She carried ribbons, she wore them out Michael built a bridge...Michael tore it down At least it's something you've left behind Like Kohoutek, you were gone Michael built a bridge... Michael tore it down If I stand and holler... will I stand alone? AUCTIONEER (ANOTHER ENGINE) She didn't want to get pinned down by her prior town Get me to the train on time, here take this nickel make a dime Take this penny and make it into a necklace when I leave What is at the other end, I don't know another friend Another wife, another morning spent Listen, listen to the auctioneer Another engine, another engine We never wrote the reasons that I need explained Some things are givens, and others get away This time its for myself you call it what you may Okay, we won't say goodbye so long, so much more Listen to the auctioneer Another engine, another engine Listen to the bargain holler Listen to the barter holler Listen to the auctioneer Get me to the train on time here take this nickel make a dime Take this penny and make it into a necklace when I leave What is at the other end, an I don't know another friend Another wife, another morning spent Listen to the auctioneer Another engine, another engine Do I stand the bargain holler? Listen to the barter holler Listen to the auctioneer GOOD ADVICES When you greet a stranger look at his shoes Keep your money in your shoes put your trouble behind When you greet a stranger look at her hands Keep your money in your hands put your travel behind Who are you going to call for, what do you have to say Keep your hat on your head home is a long way away At the end of the day, I'll forget your name I'd like it here if I could leave and see you from a long way away When you greet a stranger, look at her shoes Keep you memories in your shoes, put your travel behind Who are you going to call for, what do you have to say Keep your hat on your head Home is a long way away At the end of the day, when there are no friends When there are no lovers, who are you going to call for What do you have to change A familiar face a foreign place I forget your name I'd like it here if I could leave and see you from a long way away Who are you going to call for, what do you have to say Keep your hat on your head Home is a long way away WENDELL GEE That's when Wendell Gee takes a tug Upon the string that held the line of trees Behind the house he lived in He was reared to give respect But somewhere down the line he chose To whistle as the wind blows Whistle as the wind blows, with me He had a dream one night That the tree had lost its middle So he built a trunk of chicken wire To try to hold it up But the wire, the wire turned to lizard skin And when he climbed inside There wasn't even time to say Goodbye to Wendell Gee So whistle as the wind blows Whistle as the wind blows, with me If the wind were colors And if the air could speak Then whistle as the wind blows Whistle as the wind blows