The Band. The Band.




1. Across the great divide.

Standing by your window in pain, a pistol in your hand, and I beg you dear Molly, girl, try to understand your man the best you can. Across the great divide just grab your hat and take that ride, get yourself a bride and bring your children down to the riverside.

I had a goal in my younger days, I nearly wrote my will, but I changed my mind for the better, I'm at the still, had my fill and I'm fit to kill. Across the great divide just grab your hat and take that ride, get yourself a bride and bring your children down to the riverside.

Pinball machine and a queen, I nearly took a bust, I tried to keep my hands to myself, you say it's a must but who can you trust? Harvest moon shining down from the sky, a weary sign for all, I'm gonna leave this one horse town, had to stall 'til the fall, now I'm gonna crawl across the great divide.

Now Molly dear don't you shed a tear, your time will surely come, you'll feed your man chicken every Sunday, now tell me honey, what you done with the gun? Across the great divide just grab your hat and take that ride, get yourself a bride and bring your children down to the riverside.


2. Rag mama rag.

Rag mama, rag, I can't believe it’s true, rag mama, rag, what did you do? I go on up to the railroad track, let the 4:19 scratch my back. Sag mama, sag, what's come over you? Rag mama, rag, I'm pulling out your gag. Gonna turn you loose like an old caboose, got a tail I need to drag.

I ask about your turtle and you ask about the weather, I can't jump the hurdle and we can't get together, we could be relaxin' in my sleepin' bag, but all you want to do for me, mama, is, rag Mama, rag, there's nowhere to go, rag mama rag, come on, resin up the bow.

Rag mama, rag, where do you run? Rag mama, rag, bring your skinny little body back home. It's dog eat dog, cat eat mouse, you can rag Mama, rag, all over my house.

Hail stones beating on the roof, the bourbon is hundred proof, it's you and me, and the telephone, our destiny is quite well known, we don't need to sit and brag, all we gotta do is rag mama, rag mama, rag. Rag mama, rag, where do you roam? Rag mama, rag, bring your skinny little body back home.


3. The night they drove old Dixie down.

Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the Danville train, till Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again. In the winter of sixty five we were hungry, just barely alive, by May the tenth Richmond had fell, it's a time I remember, oh, so well.

The night they drove old Dixie down and the bells were ringing, the night they drove old Dixie down and the people were singing, they went, la, la…

Back with my wife in Tennessee when one day she called to me, Virgil, quick, come, see, there goes Robert E. Lee. Now I don't mind chopping wood and I don't care if the money's no good, you take what you need and you leave the rest, but they should never have taken the very best.

The night they drove old Dixie down and the bells were ringing, the night they drove old Dixie down and the people were singing, they went, la, la…

Like my father before me, I will work the land, like my brother above me who took a rebel stand, he was just eighteen, proud and brave, but a yankee laid him in his grave, I swear by the mud below my feet, you can't raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat.

The night they drove old Dixie down and the bells were ringing, the night they drove old Dixie down and the people were singing, they went, la, la… The night they drove old Dixie down and the bells were ringing, the night they drove old Dixie down and the people were singing, they went, la, la…


4. When you awake.

Ollie told me I'm a fool, so I walked on down the road a mile, went to the house that brings a smile, sat upon my grandpa's knee, and what do you think he said to me? When you awake you will remember everything, you will be hanging on a string from your, when you believe, you will relieve the only soul, that you were born with to grow old and never know.

Ollie showed me the fork in the road, you can take to the left or go straight to the right, use your days and save your nights, be careful where you step, and watch what you eat, sleep with the light on and you got it beat. When you awake you will remember everything, you will be hanging on a string from your, when you believe, you will relieve the only soul, that you were born with to grow old and never know.

Ollie warned me, it's a mean old world, the street don't greet you, yes, it's true, but what am I supposed to do. Read the writing on the wall, I heard it when I was very small. When you awake you will remember everything, you will be hanging on a string from your, when you believe, you will relieve the only soul, that you were born with to grow old and never know.

Wash my hand in lye water, I got a date with the captains daughter, you can go and tell your brother, we sure gonna love one another. You may be right and you might be wrong, I ain't gonna worry all day long, snow's gonna come and the frost gonna bite, my old car froze up last night, ain't no reason to hang my head, I could wake up in the morning dead. And if I thought it would do any good, I'd stand on the rock where Moses stood.


5. Up on Cripple Creek.

When I get off of this mountain, you know where I want to go? Straight down the Mississippi river to the Gulf of Mexico, to Lake Charles, Louisiana, little Bessie, girl that I once knew, she told me just to come on by if there's anything she could do. Up on Cripple Creek she sends me, if I spring a leak she mends me, I don't have to speak, she defends me, a drunkard's dream if I ever did see one.

Good luck had just stung me, to the race track I did go, she bet on one horse to win and I bet on another to show, the odds were in my favor, I had them five to one, when that nag to win came around the track, sure enough she had won. Up on Cripple Creek she sends me, if I spring a leak she mends me, I don't have to speak, she defends me, a drunkard's dream if I ever did see one.

I took up all of my winnings and I gave my little Bessie half, and she tore it up and threw it in my face, just for a laugh, now there's one thing in the whole wide world I sure would like to see, that's when that little love of mine, dips her doughnut in my tea. Up on Cripple Creek she sends me, if I spring a leak she mends me, I don't have to speak, she defends me, a drunkard's dream if I ever did see one.

Now me and my mate were back at the shack, we had Spike Jones on the box, she said, I can't take the way he sings but I love to hear him talk, now that just gave my heart a throb, to the bottom of my feet, and I swore and I took another pull, my Bessie can't be beat. Up on Cripple Creek she sends me, if I spring a leak she mends me, I don't have to speak, she defends me, a drunkard's dream if I ever did see one.

As there's a flood out in California and up north it's freezing cold, and this living on the road is getting pretty old, so I guess I'll call up my big mama, tell her I'll be rolling in, but you know, deep down, I'm kind of tempted to go and see my Bessie again. Up on Cripple Creek she sends me, if I spring a leak she mends me, I don't have to speak, she defends me, a drunkard's dream if I ever did see one.


6. Wispering pines.

If you find me in a gloom or catch me in a dream, inside my lonely room there is no in between, whispering pines, rising of the tide, if only one star shines, that's just enough to get inside. I will wait until it all goes 'round, with you in sight, the lost are found.

Foghorn through the night, calling out to sea, protect my only light 'cause she once belonged to me, let the waves rush in, let the seagulls cry, for if I live again, these hopes will never die. I can feel you standing there but I don’t see you anywhere.

Standing by the well, wishing for the rains, reaching to the clouds, for nothing else remains, drifting in a daze when evening will be done, try looking through a haze at an empty house, in the cold, cold sun. I will wait until it all goes ‘round, with you in sight, the lost are found.


7. Jemima surrender.

Jemima surrender, I'm gonna give it to you, ain't no pretender, gonna ride in my canoe. If I were a barker in a girly show, tell you what I'd do, I'd lock the door, tear my shirt and let my river flow. Oh, sweet Jemima, wont'cha come out tonight? The ground is so warm and the moon is so bright.

Jemima surrender, that’s all you have to do, I'll bring over my Fender and I'll play all night for you. There's a bird on my head and his mouth won't talk, you know he laughs just like a goose but looks like a hawk, Jemima, you know what I'm try'n to say, meet me in front and we'll fly away.

You can change your name, you can find a new walk, you can change a lock, its all the same, you don't have to give out if you'll only give in, you can jump and shout but can't you see girl, that I'm bound to win.

Jemima surrender, I'm gonna give it to you, ain't no pretender, gonna see my tattoo. I hand you my rod and you hand me that line, that's what you do, now, we ain't doing much fishing or drinking any wine. Sweet Jemima, if I were king, I'd fix you up with a diamond ring.


8. Rockin' chair.

Hang around, Willie Boy, don't you raise the sails anymore, it's for sure, I've spent my whole life at sea and I'm pushing age seventy-three, now, there's only one place that is meant for me. Oh, to be home again down in old Virginny, with my very best friend, they call him Ragtime Willie, we’re gonna soothe away the rest of our years, we're gonna put away all of our tears, that big rockin' chair 'wont' go nowhere.

Slow down, Willie Boy, your heart's gonna give right out on you, it's true, and I believe I know what we should do, turn the stern and point to shore, the seven seas won't carry us no more. Oh, to be home again down in old Virginny, with my very best friend, they call him Ragtime Willie, I can't wait to sniff that air, dip'n snuff, I won't have no care, that big rockin' chair won't go nowhere.

Hear the sound, Willie Boy, the flyin' Dutchman's on the reef, it's my belief we've used up all our time, this hill's to steep to climb, and the days that remain ain't worth a dime. Oh, to be home again down in old Virginny, with my very best friend, they call him Ragtime Willie, would-a-been nice just t'see the folks, listen once again to the stale jokes, that big rockin' chair won't go nowhere.

I can hear something calling on me and you know where I want to be, oh, Willie don't you hear that sound, oh, to be home again down in old Virginny, I just want to get my feet back on the ground, oh, to be home again down in old Virginny, I'd love to see my very best friend, they call him Ragtime Willie, I believe old rockin chair's got me.


9. Look out Cleveland.

Look out, Cleveland, the storm is comin' through, and it's runnin' right up on you, look out, Houston, there'll be thunder on the hill, bye bye, baby, don't cha lie so still.

Was Wednesday evenin' when first we heard the word, it did not come by train nor bird, it was when Ben Pike stepped down to say, this old town's gonna blow away.

Look out, Cleveland, the storm is comin' through, and it's runnin' right up on you, look out, Houston, there'll be thunder on the hill, bye bye, baby, don't cha lie so still.

Chain lightning, fighting as it may seem, must not be mistaken for just another dream, justice of peace don't know his own fate, but he'll go down in the shelter late.

Look out, Cleveland, the storm is comin' through, and it's runnin' right up on you, look out, Houston, there'll be thunder on the hill, bye bye, baby, don't cha lie so still.

Hiding your money won't do no good, build a big wall, you know you would if you could, yeah, when clouds of warnin' come into view, it'll get the old woman right outta her shoe.

Look out, Cleveland, the storm is comin' through, and it's runnin' right up on you, look out, Houston, there'll be thunder on the hill, bye bye, baby, don't cha lie so still.


10. Jawbone.

Oh, Jawbone, when did you first go wrong? Oh, Jawbone, where is it you belong? Three time looser, you'll never learn, lay down your tools before you burn, you keep on runnin' and hidin' your face, spreading your heat all over the place. I'm a thief and I dig it, I'm up on a beef, I'm gonna rig it, I'm a thief and I dig it.

Oh, Jawbone, why don't you sit and moan? Oh, Jawbone, you know that it's stone for stone. Sneak through the night upon your toes, to look in your eye, it never shows, your name upon the post office wall, put you on edge 'cause they wrote it too small. . I'm a thief and I dig it, I'm up on a beef, I'm gonna rig it, I'm a thief and I dig it.

Oh, Jawbone, revenge stays on your mind, oh, Jawbone, you been doin' too much time. Pull off a job with an inside man who needs the cash and likes your plan, then you will know just who to thank, when you land right back in the tank. . I'm a thief and I dig it, I'm up on a beef, I'm gonna rig it, I'm a thief and I dig it.

Oh, Jawbone, why dont'cha go home? Oh, Jawbone, where is it you belong? Boostin' and goin' out on the lam, you know that you'll steal anything that you can, temptation stands just behind the door, so what you wanna go and open it for? I'm a thief and I dig it, I'm up on a beef, I'm gonna rig it, I'm a thief and I dig it.


11. The unfaithful servant.

Unfaithful servant, I hear you leaving soon in the morning, what did you do to the lady, that she's gonna have to send you away? Unfaithful servant, you don't have to say you're sorry, if you done it just for the spite or did you do it just for the glory?

Like a stranger you turned your back, left your keys and gone to pack, bear in mind who's to blame, and all the shame, she really cared, the time she spared and the home you shared.

Unfaithful servant, I can hear the whistle blowing, yes, that train is a-comin' and soon you'll be going, let us not bow our heads for we won't be complaining, life has been good to us all, even when that sky is raining.

To take it like a grain of salt is all I can do, it's no one's fault, makes no difference if we fade away, it's just as it was, it's much too cold for me to stay, goodbye to that country home, so long to a lady I have known, farewell to my other side, I'd best just take it in stride.

Unfaithful servant, you'll learn to find your place, I can see it in your smile, and, yes, I can see it in your face, the memories will linger on but the good old days, they're all gone, oh, lonesome servant, can't you see that we're still one and the same, just you and me.


12. King Harvest (has surely come).

Corn in the fields, listen to the rice when the wind blows 'cross the water, King Harvest has surely come. I work for the union 'cause she's so good to me, and I'm bound to come out on top, that's where I should be.

I will hear every word the boss may say, for he's the one who hands me down my pay, looks like this time I'm gonna get to stay, I'm a union man, now, all the way.

The smell of the leaves from the magnolia trees in the meadow, King Harvest has surely come. Dry summer, then comes fall, which I depend on most of all, hey, rainmaker, can't you hear my call? Please let these crops grow tall.

Long enough I've been up on Skid Row and it's plain to see, I've nothing to show, I'm glad to pay those union dues, just don't judge me by my shoes.

Scarecrow and a yellow moon, and pretty soon a carnival on the edge of town, King Harvest has surely come. Last year, this time, wasn't no joke, my whole barn went up in smoke, my horse Jethro, well he went mad, and I can't remember things being so bad.

Then there comes a man with a paper and a pen, telling us our hard times are about to end, and then, if they don't give us what we like, he said, men, that's when you gotta go on strike.

Corn in the fields, listen to the rice when the wind blows 'cross the water, King Harvest has surely come.


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Año: 1969.
Procedencia de la banda: Toronto (Ontario), Canadá.
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