An Angel In A Black Dress

My woman had a baby
Barely four months in
Tiny toes and fingers
Flailing little limbs
This world is tough on stronger things
He did not stand a chance
His heart stopped beating
In the back of the ambulance

We were living on a campsite
By the beach in Hastings
We wrapped her in a washcloth
Borrowed a shovel from a friend
Found a spot out on the beach head
That was sheltered from the wind
I dug a hole about three feet deep
And we laid her in

I still don't know what my little boy meant
When he said he saw an angel in a black dress

Courage is a funny thing
You can't be brave if you ain't scared
There's love to tend the sadness
Like there's thread to mend a tear
This life was made for living
But we don't all get the chance
Ain't always easy being happy these days
But I am doing the best that I can

Picking Out A Stone

There's only so
Many fights
A boy can throw
Before the shame takes hold

The broken glass
Of a boy's shattered pride
A lie only lasts
Until the truth gets told

If you need me you know where to find me
If you want me - well you won't
I'll be in the graveyard or outside below your window
Either way I'm picking out a stone

There's only so
Many times
A boy can fall
Before he can't get up

It takes a lot
Of Sunshine
To build a dawn
to let the darkness up

Clothes on a rail, fridge unplugged
Books on the shelf
you ain't finished reading
Old LP's, broken TV
There ain't a good bye
As clean as just leaving

I Want It All

I wanna go swimming in the watering hole
I wanna go swimming in the watering hole
I wanna go swimming in the watering hole
But the watering hole is dry

I want fishes on my fishing pole
I want fishes on my fishing pole
I want fishes on my fishing pole
But the fishes they won't bite

I'm knocking on your door and talking to your mama
I'm knocking on your door and talking to your mama
I'm knocking on your door and talking to your mama
She says you ain't coming out to play

So I'm out in the street fist-fighting with your daddy
So I'm out in the street fist-fighting with your daddy
So I'm out in the street fist-fighting with your daddy
He was a prize-fighter in his day
Nothing seems to go my way

My woman gave another man a piece of her heart
My woman gave another man a piece of her heart
My woman gave another man a piece of her heart
So I gave 'em both a piece of my mind

I hurt 'em bad and put 'em in the trunk of my car
I hurt 'em bad and put 'em in the trunk of my car
I hurt 'em bad and put 'em in the trunk of my car
Now the trunk of my car's stuck shut
Oh fuck

I want love but I ain't that pretty
I want friends but I ain't that fun
I want love, respect, fame, money and glory
I want it all
But I ain't got none

(Lord, Have Mercy On A) Ramblin' Man

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Because The Devil knows his name
He's singing these songs to anyone who'll listen
He ain't looking for fortune or fame

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Keep him a long way from the cops
'Cos if The Lord knows something 'bout a ramblin' man
It's that a ramblin' man won't stop
No he'll never stop

His eyes are smiling through the thrift and the flack
He's got the sun on his face and the wind at his back
If he sleeps at all, it's out in the open
The only thing he knows is to keep going

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
'Cos there's a woman on his case
She's trying to change the ways of this rambling man
But a rambling man don't change
He'll never change

So, Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Because he walks this life alone
You can give him your heart if you want to
But his hearts out on the road
It's on the road

His eyes are smiling through the thrift and the flack
He's got the sun on his face and the wind at his back
Wherever his heart is now you know it's probably broken
The only thing he knows is to keep going

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
'Cos it's a long road to the grave
He's as handsome as he's funny as he's modest and clean
He's a sure fine soul to save

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Turn his feet into the wings of a bird
Make him a joke to anyone who needs a laugh in this world
And ears to those who need to be heard

His eyes are smiling through the thrift and the flack
He's got the sun on his face and the wind at his back
His feelings are buried down deep but his scars are showing
The only thing he knows is to keep going

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Keep him a long, long way from death
Keep the blood in his veins and the air in his lungs
Keep these crazy ideas in his head

'Cos his eyes are smiling through the thrift and the flack
He's got the sun on his face and the wind at his back
It's killing him, this life he has chosen
The only thing he knows is to keep going

Mortgages & 9-5's

She said I was crazy
Living like I do
I said I cannot imagine what it's like being you
She said she wished she'd lived more
And she said I was brave
And I laughed to myself 'cos I feel like I'm always afraid
Mortgages and 9-5's are scarier than just running away

Her eldest kid got cancer
And he died at 23
I'm sad that he died but I'm glad it was not me
'Cos ain't that just the way the world works
We're all counting down the days
We just dance across the dirt as best we can all the while the music plays
Mortgages and 9-5's are scarier than cancer anyway

These days money's like religion
And God's a venture-capitalist
He's peddling a heaven or a house as big as his
I know I was born with nothing
And I'll probably die the same
But I don't need nothing more than I was born with anyway
Mortgages and 9-5's are scarier than Hell-fire anyway
Mortgages and 9-5's are scarier than just running away