Lyrics for "The Best Of Ed / Why I'm Not Famous"

 

1 YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

2 THE MISSISSIPPI SQUIRREL REVIVAL

3 WIND BENEATH MY WINGS

4 FROG KISSING

5 THE BACKROW OF THE SANCTUARY BLUES

6 HOWARD GRAY

7 A PLACE TO WATCH THE RAIN

8 A DIFFERENT JESUS

9 FLOWERS ARE RED

10 THE BARREL SONG

11 STILL

12 WHY I'M NOT FAMOUS

13 THE ROSE

14 FRIEND OF MINE

15 THE $65 CORVETTE

 

 

1 YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

 

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS, ALL OUR SINS AND GRIEF TO BEAR

WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO CARRY, EVERY THING TO GOD IN PRAYER

 

WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND TROUBLED, AND YOU NEED SOME LOVE AND CARE

AND NOTHING, OH NOTHING IS GOING RIGHT

CLOSE YOU'RE EYES AND THINK OF ME AND SOON I WILL BE THERE

TO BRIGHTEN UP EVEN YOUR DARKEST NIGHT

 

YOU JUST CALL OUT MY NAME, AND YOU'LL KNOW WHERE EVER I AM

I'LL COME RUNNING TO SEE YOU AGAIN

WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, OR FALL, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS CALL

AND I'LL BE THERE, YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

 

IF THE SKY ABOVE YOU, SHOULD GROW DARK AND FULL OF CLOUDS

AND THAT OLD NORTH WIND BEGINS TO BLOW

KEEP YOUR HEAD TOGETHER CHILD AND CALL MY NAME OUT LOUD

SOON YOU'LL HEAR ME KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR

 

YOU JUST CALL OUT MY NAME, AND YOU'LL KNOW WHERE EVER I AM

I'LL COME RUNNING TO SEE YOU AGAIN

WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, OR FALL, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS CALL

AND I'LL BE THERE, YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

 

AIN'T IT GOOD TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

PEOPLE CAN BE SO COLD

THEY'LL HURT YOU, DESERT YOU, THEY'LL TAKE YOUR SOUL IF YOU LET THEM

DON'T YOU LET THEM

 

YOU JUST CALL OUT MY NAME, AND YOU'LL KNOW WHERE EVER I AM

I'LL COME RUNNING TO SEE YOU AGAIN

WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, OR FALL, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS CALL

AND I'LL BE THERE, YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

 

AIN'T IT GOOD TO KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND, AIN'T IT GOOD TO KNOW

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS, YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

 

 

2 THE MISSISSIPPI SQUIRREL REVIVAL

(KALB/KALB)

 

WHEN I WAS A LAD I TOOK ME A TRIP, EVERY SUMMER DOWN TO MISSISSIPPI

TO VISIT MY GRANNY IN HER ANTEBELLUM WORLD

WE'D RUN BARE FOOTED ALL DAY LONG, CLIMBING TREES AN SINGING SONGS

THEN ONE SUMMER, I CAUGHT MYSELF A SQUIRREL

 

I SHOVED HIM DOWN IN AN OLD SHOE BOX AND I PUNCHED A COUPLE OF HOLES IN THE TOP

AND WHEN SUNDAY CAME I SNUCK HIM INTO CHURCH

I WAS SITTIN' WAY BACK IN THAT VERY LAST PEW, SHOWIN' IT TO MY GOOD BUDDY HUGH

WHEN THAT SQUIRREL GOT LOOSE AND WENT TOTALLY BERSERK

 

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS HARD TO TELL, SOME THOUGHT IT WAS HEAVEN

OTHERS THOUGHT IT WAS HELL, BUT THAT SOMETHING WAS AMONG US WAS PLAIN TO SEE

AND WHEN THE CHOIR SANG "I SURRENDER ALL", THAT SQUIRREL RAN UP HARVE NEWMAN'S COVER ALLS

AND HARVE HE LEAPT TO HIS FEET AND SHOUTED, "SOMTHING'S GOT A HOLD ON ME!"

 

CHORUS: THE DAY THE SQUIRREL WENT BERSERK IN THE FIRST SELF-RIGHTEOUS CHURCH

IN THE SLEEPY LITTLE TOWN OF PASCAGOULA

IT WAS A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL THAT BROKE OUT IN A REVIVAL

THEY WERE JUMPING PEWS AND SHOUTIN' "HALILUIA!"

 

WELL, HARVE HE HIT THE AISLES JUST A DANCIN' AND SCREAMIN'

SOME THOUGHT HE HAD RELIGION, OTHERS THOUGHT HE HAD A DEMON

OL' HARVE THOUGHT HE HAD A WEED-EATER CAUGHT IN HIS FRUIT OF THE LOOMS

HE GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES TO PLEAD AND BEG, AND THAT SQUIRREL RAN OUT OF HIS BRITCHES LEG

UNOBSERVED OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM

 

HE GOT DOWN TO THAT 'AMEN PEW' WHERE SAT SISTER 'BETTER THAN YOU'

WHO WAS WATCHING ALL THIS COMMOTION WITH SADISTIC GLEE

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK IN HER EYES

WHEN THAT SQUIRREL JUMPED HER GIRDLE AND CROSSED HER THIGHS

SHE JUMPED UP ON THE PEW, WAVING HER HANDS AND SAID

"LORD, HAVE MERCY ON ME!"

 

THAT SQUIRREL DID LAPS INSIDE HER DRESS, SHE BEGAN TO MOAN AND THEN SHE CONFESSED

SOME SINS THAT WOULD HAVE MADE SAILORS BLUSH WITH SHAME

SHE SPOKE OF GOSSIP AND CHURCH DISSENSION, BUT SHE REALLY GOT EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION

WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT HER LOVE LIFE AND STARTED NAMIN' NAMES! (CHORUS)

 

YOU KNOW SEVEN DEACONS AND THE PASTOR GOT SAVED

$25,000 DOLLARS WAS RAISED, AND 50 VOLUNTEERED TO GO AS MISSIONARIES TO KOREA ON THE SPOT

AND EVEN WITHOUT AN INVITATION, WE HAD 500 REDEDICATIONS

AND WE ALL HAD TO BE BAPTIZED WHETHER WE NEEDED IT OR NOT

WELL YOU'VE HEARD THE BIBLE STORIES, I GUESS

HOW GOD PARTED THE WATERS FOR MOSES TO CROSS

OH THE MIRACLES HE HAS WROUGHT IN THIS OLD WORLD

BUT THE THE ONE I'LL REMEMBER TO THIS VERY DAY

WAS HOW HE PUT THAT CHURCH BACK ON THE NARROW WAY

WITH JUST ONE HALF-CRAZY MISSISSIPPI SQUIRREL

 

 

3 WIND BENEATH MY WINGS

 

IT MUST HAVE BEEN COLD THERE IN MY SHADOW, TO NEVER HAVE SUNLIGHT ON YOUR FACE

YOU'VE BEEN CONTENT TO LET ME SHINE, YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO STAY BEHIND

I WAS THE ONE WITH ALL THE GLORY, YOU WERE THE ONE WITH ALL THE STRENGTH

ONLY A FACE WITHOUT A NAME, I NEVER ONCE HEARD YOU COMPLAIN

 

DID YOU EVER KNOW THAT YOU'RE MY HERO

AND EVERYTHING I TRY TO BE

I CAN FLY HIGHER THAN THE EAGLE

'CAUSE YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS

 

IT MIGHT HAVE APPEARED I DIDN'T NOTICE, I HAVE IT ALL HERE IN MY HEART

I WANT YOU TO KNOW I KNOW THE TRUTH, I COULDN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU

 

DID YOU EVER KNOW THAT YOU'RE MY HERO

AND EVERYTHING I TRY TO BE

I CAN FLY HIGHER THAN THE EAGLE

'CAUSE YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS

 

 

4 FROG KISSING

 

DO YOU REMEMBER IN THE FAIRY TALE, HOW THE WICKED WITCHES SPELL

TURNED THE HANDSOME PRINCE TO A TOAD

THROUGH THE POWER OF A POTION, SHE HANDED HIM THE NOTION

HE WAS LOWER THAN THE DIRT IN THE ROAD

AND THOUGH SHE LEFT HIM GREEN AND WARTED, HER EVIL PLAN WAS THWARTED

THERE CHANCED TO HAPPEN BY A YOUNG MISS

WHO IN SPITE OF HIS COMPLEXION, OFFERED HIM AFFECTION

AND BROKE THE WICKED CURSE WITH HER KISS

 

SO IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN FROG KISSIN', THEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU BEEN MISSIN'

THERE'S A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY UNDER EACH AND EVERY LOG

AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN CHARM BREAKIN', THEN YOU'VE NEVER BEEN HANDSOME PRINCE MAKIN'

YOU'VE GOT TO SLOW DOWN, TURN AROUND, BEND DOWN, KISS YOU A FROG

 

ONCE UPON A TIME AGO, I WAS DOWN AND FEELIN' LOW

LIKE A LONELY FROG IN A POND

MY LIFE WAS JUST A JOKE AND I WAS JUST ABOUT TO CROAK

'CAUSE I'D BEEN ZAPPED BY LIFE'S WICKED WAND

BUT IN THE DEPTHS OF MY DEPRESSION, THERE CAME A TRUE EXPRESSION

OF LOVE FROM A PERSON SO SWEET

SHE GAVE ME WARM FUZZY FEELINGS, FEELINGS THAT WERE HEALIN'

AND SHE KNOCKED ME OFF MY LITTLE WEBBED FEET

 

SO IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN FROG KISSIN', THEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU BEEN MISSIN'

THERE'S A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY UNDER EACH AND EVERY LOG

AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN CHARM BREAKIN', THEN YOU'VE NEVER BEEN HANDSOME PRINCE MAKIN'

YOU'VE GOT TO SLOW DOWN, TURN AROUND, BEND DOWN, KISS YOU A FROG

 

THERE'S A HAPPY EVER AFTER LAND, DEEP IN THE HEART OF MAN

WHERE A PRINCE AND PRINCESS ABIDES

BUT ALL WE GET ARE GLIMPSES OF THE HAPPY PRINCE AND PRINCESS

'CAUSE THEY'RE COVERED WITH THIS GREEN WARTY HIDE

AND THOUGHT THEY'RE FULL OF LIFE'S POTENTIAL, THEY'RE LACKING ONE ESSENTIAL

TO ENABLE THEM TO SHINE LIKE THE STARS

AND THAT'S A HANDSOME GUY OR MISSES, TO COVER THEM WITH KISSES

AND LOVE THEM JUST THE WAY THAT THEY ARE

 

AND THAT'S THE SECRET OF FROG KISSIN', AND YOU CAN DO IT TOO IF YOU'LL JUST LISTEN

THERE'S A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY UNDER EACH AND EVERY LOG

THAT'S THE SECRET OF CHARM BREAKIN', THAT'S THE SECRET OF HANDSOME PRINCE MAKIN'

YOU'VE GOT TO SLOW DOWN, TURN AROUND, BEND DOWN, KISS YOU A FROG

SLOW DOWN, TURN AROUND, BEND DOWN, KISS YOU A FROG

 

 

5 THE BACKROW OF THE SANCTUARY BLUES

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL IS OVER, TIME TO GO TO CHURCH

LIKE A HOMIN' PIGEON FLYING TO MY FAVORITE PERCH

JUST SITTIN' IN THE BACK ROW, FAR AS I CAN BE

FROM THE PREACHER AND THE CHOIR AND THE INTROIT SUNG IN C

I GOT THE SUNDAY MORNING SITTIN' ON THE BACKROW OF THE SANCTUARY BLUES.

 

FROM THIS PLACE I'M SITTIN', I GOT A PERFECT VIEW

OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOIN' ON IN EVERY SINGLE PEW

I CAN SEE WHO ISN'T LISTENIN', I SEE WHO FALLS ASLEEP

AND ALL THE TIME I'M TALKIN' TO THE GAL THAT'S NEXT TO ME

I GOT THE SUNDAY MORNING SITTIN' ON THE BACKROW OF THE SANCTUARY BLUES.

 

I DAY DREAM THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES, THE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THE SONGS

THINKIN' ABOUT THE DANCE NEXT WEEK AND WHO TO ASK ALONG

THEN HALF WAY THROUGH THE MORNING PRAYER, I REMEMBER FRIDAY NIGHT

THE DATE THAT I HAD WITH THE PREACHER'S KID WAS REALLY OUT OF SIGHT

I GOT THE SUNDAY MORNING SITTIN' ON THE BACKROW OF THE SANCTUARY BLUES.

 

JUST THEN THE PREACHER GETS EXCITED, HE STARTS TO TALK REAL LOUD

SAYIN' SOMETHING ABOUT SOMEBODY COMIN' BACK ON A CLOUD

WHATEVER HE'S A SAYIN' CAN'T APPLY TO ME

I HAVEN'T MISSED A SINGLE WEEK SINCE 1953

I GOT THE SUNDAY MORNING SITTIN' ON THE BACKROW OF THE SANCTUARY BLUES.

 

SOME PEOPLE THING THIS GOIN' TO CHURCH IS JUST A WASTE OF TIME

TIME THAT COULD'S BE BETTER SPENT ON A COUNTRY CLUB FRONT NINE

BUT CHURCH IS NOT A WASTED OF TIME, AT LEAST IT'S NOT FOR ME

I EVEN WROTE THIS SONG DURING A DOXOLOGY

I GOT THE SUNDAY MORNING SITTIN' ON THE BACKROW OF THE SANCTUARY BLUES.

SUNDAY MORNING SITTIN' ON THE BACKROW OF THE SANCTUARY BLUES.

 

 

6 HOWARD GRAY

Lee Domann ©1985 Shuretone Music (BMI) & Renovation Music (BMI)

 

MOST EVERY ONE I KNEW PUT THE WHOLE GRAY FAMILY DOWN

THEY WERE THE POOREST FAMILY IN THAT LITTLE COUNTRY TOWN

 

HOWARD GRAY LOOKED TOO BIG FOR HIS FUNNY RAGGED CLOTHES

THE KIDS ALL LAUGHED AT HIM AND JIMMY JONES WOULD THUMB HIS NOSE

HOWARD SAT ACROSS FROM ME IN SEVENTH GRADE IN SCHOOL

I DIDN'T LIKE IT MUCH BUT MAMA TAUGHT THE GOLDEN RULE

SO WHEN THE SPITBALLS FLEW AT HIM I NEVER WOULD JOIN IN

I GUESS THAT WAS THE REASON HOWARD THOUGHT I WAS HIS FRIEND

AND AFTER THINGS WOULD QUIET DOWN SOMETIMES I'D TURN AND SEE

THE GRATEFUL EYES OF HOWARD GRAY LOOKIN' BACK AT ME

 

HOWARD GRAY, HOWARD GRAY, SOMEHOW THEY GOT THEIR KICKS OUT OF TREATIN' YOU THAT WAY

DEEP DOWN I KIND OF LIKED YOU BUT I WAS TOO AFRAID, TO BE A FRIEND TO YOU, HOWARD GRAY

 

ONE DAY AFTER LUNCH, I WENT TO COMB MY HAIR AND SAW

THEY HAD HOWARD PINNED AGAINST A LOCKER IN THE HALL

THEY WERE POKIN' FUN ABOUT THE BIG HOLE IN HIS SHIRT

THEY HAD HIS LEFT ARM TWISTED BACK BEHIND HIM TILL IT HURT

TO THIS DAY I CAN'T EXPLAIN AND I WON'T TRY TO GUESS

JUST HOW IT WAS I WOUND UP LAUGHING HARDER THAN THE REST

I LAUGHED UNTIL I CRIED BUT THROUGH MY TEARS I STILL COULD SEE

THE TEAR STAINED EYES OF HOWARD GRAY, LOOKING BACK AT ME

 

HOWARD GRAY, HOWARD GRAY, I CANT BELIEVE I JOINED THEM ALL TREATIN' YOU THAT WAY

I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE BUT I WAS TOO AFRAID, OF WHAT THEY'D THINK ABOUT ME, HOWARD GRAY

 

FROM THAT MOMENT ON AFTER I'D MADE FUN OF HIM

HE NEVER LOOKED MY WAY, HE NEVER SMILED AT ME AGAIN

NOT MUCH LONGER AFTER THAT HIS FAMILY MOVED AWAY

AND THAT'S THE LAST I EVER SAW OR HEARD OF HOWARD GRAY

THAT WAS TWENTY YEARS AGO AND I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND

JUST WHY WE'LL KICK A BROTHER OR A SISTER WHEN THEY'RE DOWN

I KNOW IT MAY SOUND CRAZY BUT NOW AND THEN I DREAM

ABOUT THE EYES OF HOWARD GRAY LOOKIN' BACK AT ME

 

HOWARD GRAY, HOWARD GRAY, I'VE NEVER QUITE FORGIVEN US FOR TREATING YOU THAT WAY

I HOPE THAT MAYBE SOMEHOW YOU'LL HEAR THIS SONG SOMEDAY

AND YOU'LL KNOW THAT I AM SORRY, HOWARD GRAY

 

WE'LL PROBABLY NEVER MEET AGAIN, ALL I CAN DO IS PRAY

MAY YOU AND GOD FORGIVE US, HOWARD GRAY

 

 

7 A PLACE TO WATCH THE RAIN

Ed Kilbourne ©1981 Myown Music

 

WHEN I FEEL IT ALL COMIN' DOWN, CAN'T AVOID THE PAIN

I LOOK FOR A FRIEND WITH SOME PATIENCE TO LEND AND A PLACE TO WATCH THE RAIN

WHEN THE ROAD THAT I'VE TAKIN' HAS TAKIN' ME LOW AND I'VE GIVEN IN AGAIN

I NEED SOMEONE WHOSE SHELTER IS ON DRIER GROUND WHERE THE HEART CAN START TO MEND

 

OH FOR A PLACE WHERE IT ALWAYS WORKS OUT, OH FOR A RAINBOW EACH DAY

OH FOR SOME ANSWERS WITHOUT ANY DOUBTS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I PRAY

BUT THE ANSWER COMES BACK IN THE DARKEST OF NIGHTS IN THE WORDS OF AN OLD BEST FRIEND

I DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS, I JUST HAVE MYSELF AND A PLACE TO WATCH THE RAIN

 

SO IF ALL OF THE PROMISES YOU'D EVER MADE AND ALL OF THE RACES YOU'D RUN

IF EVERY POSSESSION FOR WHICH YOU HAD PAID, GETS BROKEN, LOST, OR GONE

THERE WOULD STILL BE A VOICE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM THAT SAYS I AM THE WAY, MY OLD FRIEND

WE'LL FIND A RAINBOW BUT FIRST WE'VE GOT TO FIND, A PLACE TO WATCH THE RAIN

 

SO IF ALL OF THE PROMISES I'D EVER MADE AND ALL OF THE RACES I'D RUN

IF EVERY POSSESSION FOR WHICH I HAD PAID, GETS BROKEN, OR LOST, OR GONE

THERE WOULD STILL BE A VOICE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM SAYING I AM THE WAY, MY OLD FRIEND

YOU'LL FIND THAT RAINBOW BUT FIRST YOU'VE GOT TO FIND, A PLACE TO WATCH THE RAIN

OF COURSE THERE'LL BE RAINBOWS BUT FIRST THERE'S GOT TO BE, A PLACE TO WATCH THIS RAIN

 

 

8 A DIFFERENT JESUS

Ed Kilbourne ©1988 Myown Music

 

A STRANGER STOPPED ME AND SAID FRIEND DO YOU KNOW JESUS

I SURPRISED HIM WHEN I SAID I'M SURE I DO

THEN HE HANDED ME A BIBLE AND HE SHOWED ME WHERE TO LO0K

AND WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO PRAY TO FIND THE TRUTH

WHEN I TRIED TO TALK, HE WOULDN'T LISTEN

WHEN I WOULDN'T PRAY HE SHOOK HIS HEAD

SO I GAVE HIM BACK HIS BIBLE AND I HUGGED HIM

I DON'T THINK HE UNDERSTOOD A WORD I SAID

 

I SAID I THINK IT MUST HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT JESUS THAN THE ONE I MET WHEN I WAS JUST A CHILD

I THOUGHT I RECOGNIZED THE NAME BUT THE ONE I KNOW COULD NOT HAVE CHANGED THAT MUCH

 

I WAS GETTIN' DRESSED FOR CHURCH ONE SUNDAY MORNING

WHEN A TV PREACHER USED THAT NAME AGAIN

HE'S SHOUTIN' JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, AS HE DANCED ACROSS THE PLATFORM

PRETTY LADIES IN THE FRONT ROW SAID AMEN, AMEN

IT WAS LATER ON AT MY CHURCH THAT I REMEMBERED

THAT THE DEVIL TEMPTED JESUS WITH A SHOW

IF HE'D JUST SAY THE WORD THE WORLD WOULD WATCH HIM

BUT WHEN JESUS SAID THE WORD THE WORD WAS NO

 

NOW SOME WILL USE HIS NAME TO SELL YOU BOOKS AND RECORDS

SOME JUST USE HIS NAME TO CURSE AND SWEAR

WE GOT BATHROOM BIBLE THUMPERS AND JESUS-JINGLE BUMPERS

PEOPLE STICKIN' HIS NAME MOST ANYWHERE

WE GOT POLITICIANS WHO PRAY TO GET ELECTED

PEOPLE PRAISE THE LORD AND CARRY GUNS

HOW COME THE ONES WHO USE HIS NAME SO OFTEN

FAIL TO RECOGNIZE HIM WHEN HE COMES

 

OR THEY'D FIND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME OLD JESUS

HE HASN'T CHANGED IN SPITE OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD

STILL A FRIEND TO SINNERS EVERYWHERE, I NEVER MET A MAN WHO CARED SO MUCH

AND HE CARED SO MUCH

 

 

9 FLOWERS ARE RED

 

A LITTLE BOY WENT FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL HE GOT SOME CRAYONS AND HE STARTED TO DRAW

HE PUT COLORS ALL OVER HIS PAPER, CAUSE COLORS WAS WHAT HE SAW

AND THE TEACHER SAID WHATCHA DOIN YOUNG MAN, I'M PAINTIN' FLOWERS HE SAID

WELL IT'S NOT THE TIME FOR ART YOUNG MAN, AND ANYWAY THE FLOWERS ARE GREEN AND RED

THERE'S A TIME FOR EVERYTHING YOUNG MAN AND A WAY THINGS MUST BE DONE

YOU'VE GOT TO SHOW CONCERN FOR EVERYONE ELSE, YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE, AND SHE SAID

 

FLOWERS ARE RED, GREEN LEAVES ARE GREEN, THERE'S NO NEED TO SEE FLOWERS ANY OTHER WAY

THEN THE WAY THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN SEEN

BUT THE LITTLE BOY SAID - THERE ARE SO MANY COLORS IN THE RAINBOW

SO MANY COLORS IN THE MORNING SUN

SO MANY COLORS IN THE FLOWERS AND I SEE EVERY ONE

 

WELL THE TEACHER SAID YOU'RE SASSY, THERE'S A WAY THAT THINGS SHOULD BE

AND YOU'LL PAINT FLOWERS THE WAY THEY ARE, JUST REPEAT AFTER ME, AND SHE SAID

 

FLOWERS ARE RED, GREEN LEAVES ARE GREEN, THERE'S NO NEED TO SEE FLOWERS ANY OTHER WAY

THEN THE WAY THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN SEEN

BUT THE LITTLE BOY SAID - THERE ARE SO MANY COLORS IN THE RAINBOW

SO MANY COLORS IN THE MORNING SUN

SO MANY COLORS IN THE FLOWERS AND I SEE EVERY ONE

 

SO THE TEACHER PUT HIM IN A CORNER, SHE SAID IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD

AND YOU WON'T COME OUT UNTIL YOU GET IT RIGHT AND ARE RESPONDING LIKE YOU SHOULD

THEN THE LITTLE BOY HE GOT LONELY, FRIGHTENED THOUGHTS HAD FILLED HIS HEAD

SO HE FINALLY WENT UP TO THE TEACHER, AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID, HE SAID

 

 

FLOWERS ARE RED, GREEN LEAVES ARE GREEN

THERE'S NO NEED TO SEE FLOWERS ANY OTHER WAY

THEN THE WAY THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN SEEN

 

WELL TIME WENT BY AS IT ALWAYS DOES AND THEY MOVED TO ANOTHER TOWN

AND THE LITTLE BOY WENT TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL, THIS IS WHAT HE FOUND

THE TEACHER THERE WAS SMILING, SHE SAID PAINTING SHOULD BE FUN

AND THERE ARE SO MANY COLORS IN THE FLOWERS, WE'LL USE EVERYONE

 

BUT THE LITTLE BOY PAINTED FLOWERS IN NEAT ROWS OF GREEN AND RED

AND WHEN HIS TEACHER ASKED HIM WHY, THIS IS WHAT HE SAID

HE SAID - FLOWERS ARE RED, GREEN LEAVES ARE GREEN,

THERE'S NO NEED TO SEE FLOWERS ANY OTHER WAY

THEN THE WAY THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN SEEN

 

BUT THEN HIS NEW TEACHERS SAID

THERE ARE SO MANY COLORS IN THE RAINBOW

SO MANY COLORS IN THE MORNING SUN

SO MANY COLORS IN THE FLOWERS AND WE'LL USE EVERY ONE

SO MANY COLORS IN THE RAINBOW

SO MANY COLORS IN THE MORNING SUN

SO MANY COLORS IN THE FLOWERS AND WE'LL USE EVERY ONE

THERE ARE SO MANY COLORS IN THE FLOWERS AND WE'LL USE EVERY ONE

 

 

10 PADDY'S LAMENT (THE BARREL SONG)

 

DEAR SIR I WRITE THIS LETTER NOW TO TELL YOU OF MY PLIGHT

AT THE TIME OF WRITING IT I'M NOT A PRETTY SIGHT

MY BODY IS ALL BLACK AND BLUE, MY FACE A DEATHLY GRAY

AND I WRITE THIS NOTE TO TELL YOU WHY I'M NOT AT WORK TODAY

 

WHILE WORKING ON THE FOURTEENTH FLOOR, SOME BRICKS I HAD TO CLEAR

NOW TO THROW THEM DOWN FROM SUCH A HEIGHT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA

I ASKED THE FOREMAN FOR ADVICE, HE WAS A CAREFUL MAN

HE SAID THAT I SHOULD CARRY THEM DOWN THE LADDER ALL BY HAND

 

TO CARRY THEM DOWN ALL FOURTEEN FLOORS, IT SEEMED TO ME TOO SLOW

SO I HOISTED UP A BARREL AND SECURED THE ROPE BELOW

BUT IN MY HASTE TO DO THE JOB I WAS TO BLIND TO SEE

THAT A BARREL FULL OF BUILDING BRICKS IS HEAVIER THAN ME

 

SO WHEN I UNTIED THE ROPE THE BARREL FELL LIKE LEAD

CLINGING TIGHTLY TO THE ROPE, I STARTED UP INSTEAD

I SHOT UP LIKE A ROCKET TILL TO MY DISMAY I FOUND

HALFWAY UP I MET THAT BLOODY BARREL COMING DOWN

 

THE BARREL BROKE MY SHOULDER AS TOWARD THE GROUND IT SPED

THEN WHEN I REACHED THE TOP, I HIT THE BARREL WITH MY HEAD

I CLUNG ON TIGHT THOUGH NUMBED WITH SHOCK FROM THIS ALMIGHTY BLOW

THEN THAT BARREL DROPPED OUT HALF IT'S BRICKS SOME FOURTEEN FLOORS BELOW

 

WHEN THE BRICKS HAD FALLEN FROM THE BARREL TO THE FLOOR

I THEN OUTWEIGHED THE BARREL AND I STARTED DOWN ONCE MORE

THE BARREL MISSED ME PASSING BY, I GAVE A THANKFUL SOUND

AND THEN I LANDED ON THE BRICKS IT LEFT UPON THE GROUND

 

I LAY THERE MOANING ON THE GROUND, I THOUGHT I'D SEEN THE WORST

THEN THE BARREL HIT THE PULLY AND THE BARREL BOTTOM BURST

A SHOWER OF BRICKS FELL DOWN ON ME, TWAS THEN I GAVE UP HOPE

AND LAYING THERE UPON THE GROUND, I LET GO OF THE ROPE

 

THE BARREL WAS NOW HEAVIER AND STARTED DOWN ONCE MORE

IT LANDED RIGHT ACROSS ME AS I LAY THERE ON THE FLOOR

IT BROKE THREE RIBS AND MY LEFT ARM AND SO I CAN ONLY TO SAY

THAT I HOPE YOU WILL EXCUSE ME IF I'M NOT AT WORK TODAY

 

 

11 STILL

 

STILL, YOU'RE STILL MY CHILD, BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

WAIT, WAIT ON MY WORD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT YOU FIND SO HARD

AND REST, REST FOR A WHILE UNTIL MY SPIRIT MAKES YOU NEW

STILL, BE STILL MY CHILD, AND KNOW THAT I'LL BE GOD FOR YOU

 

I'VE BEEN WATCHIN' YOU RUNNIN AROUND IN YOUR CIRCLES

ACTIN JUST LIKE THE WORLD IN ALL OF ITS WAYS

NEVER SEEKIN THE TRUTH, OR SEEING THE MIRACLE

NEVER TAKIN THE TIME TO HEAR ME SAY

 

STILL, YOU'RE STILL MY CHILD, BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

WAIT, WAIT ON MY POWER, TO FIGHT THE BATTLES THAT YOU FIND SO HARD

AND REST, REST FOR A WHILE UNTIL MY SPIRIT MAKES YOU NEW

STILL, BE STILL MY CHILD, AND KNOW THAT I'LL BE GOD FOR YOU

 

 

12 WHY I'M NOT FAMOUS

Ed Kilbourne ©1980 Myown Music

 

SHE SAID, MR KILBOURNE, WHY AREN'T YOU FAMOUS, I SAID, SUSIE, I THINK I AM

TONIGHT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER TO ME WERE RIGHT HERE TO GIVE ME A HAND

BUT APPLAUSE ISN'T WHAT REALLY MATTERS, OR GETTING MY SONGS ON THE CHARTS

IF TONIGHT I MADE A DREAMER OF ONE WHO HAD LOST IT, OR MADE FRIENDS WITH A FEW WHO WERE SCARED

OR IF THERE'S ONE NEW BELIEVER WHO CAME HERE A CRITIC AND I SHOWED THEM THAT SOMEBODY CARED

SO SUSIE, I ALWAYS FEEL FAMOUS, THOUGH I'M NEVER SEEN ON TV

I GET ALL THE ATTENTION MY OLD EGO CAN HANDLE, DOIN' THIS LIVE AND FOR FREE

AND DON'T FORGET, YOU SAW ME LIVE AND FOR FREE!

 

MR KILBOURNE, DO YOU EVER GET LONELY, I SAID MATT SOMETIMES I AM

THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE THAT I MISS EACH NIGHT WHO AREN'T HERE TO GIVE ME A HAND

BUT YOU KNOW, MATT, IN SOME WAYS THEY'RE CLOSER THAN THE PEOPLE OUT ON THE FRONT ROW

AND WHEN I'M QUIT I HEAR HARRY CHAPIN TELL STORYS, JIM CROCE IS PLAYIN GUITAR

AND THERE ARE PREACHERS AND POETS THAT I'VE NEVER MET LIKE JOHN LENNON, HE HASN'T GONE FAR

SO I'M ALONE BUT I'M NOT REALLY LONELY, I PLAY WITH A BAND YOU CAN'T SEE

THEY GIVE ME ALL THE COMPANIONSHIP MY FAITH CAN HANDLE, SINGIN MY MUSIC WITH ME

CAN YOU HEAR THEM, SINGIN THIS MUSIC WITH ME

 

SHE SAID, MR KILBOURNE, ARE YOU CRAZY, I SAID, NO MAAM, I THINK I'M SANE

I WAS BORN WITH THIS WEIRD SENSE OF HUMOR TO GO WITH A STRONG SENSE OF PAIN

I FOUND THAT THERE'S NOTHING SO SERIOUS, THAT IT CAN'T HOLD ITS OWN IN A JOKE

I ONCE WROTE A DANCE TUNE ABOUT PEOPLE DYIN AND I LAUGH ABOUT LOOSIN MY CAT

AND I MAKE PEOPLE THINK I WRITE SONGS WITHOUT ANSWERS CAUSE I TEASE THEM AND HIDE WHERE THEY'RE AT

BUT I ALSO WRITE TUNES ABOUT RAINBOWS AND A SMILE IS THE LAST THING YOU'LL SEE

ON THE FACE OF THIS CRAZY OLD OUTLAW, LAUGHIN OUT LOUD CAUSE I'M FREE

I LAUGH LIKE THIS CAUSE I'M ME

 

SHE SAID, BUT MR KILBOURNE, DO YOU LOVE JESUS, I SAID, SISTER, DOESN'T IT SHOW

SHE SAID I'VE BEEN LISTENIN' TO YOU FOR OVER AND HOUR AND FRANKLY I'VE GOT TO SAY NO

BECAUSE IF YOU DID YOU'D BE FAMOUS, WITH CONCERTS ON CHRISTIAN TV

YOU WOULD BE SO WELL KNOWN, YOU'D NEVER BE LONELY, YOU'D NEVER GET CRAZY OR WEIRD

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE UP WRITING SONGS WITHOUT ANSWERS

AND AT LEAST YOU SHAVED OFF THAT OLD BEARD

I SAID, I LOVE YOU TOO, SISTER, BUT YOU SURE FOUND IT DIFFERENT THAN ME

YOU SEE WHEN I DO MY BEST, I DO JUST LIKE JESUS, AND HE DID IT LIVE AND FOR FREE

AND HE IS ALIVE AND IN ME!

 

 

13 THE ROSE

 

SOME SAY LOVE, IT IS A RIVER, THAT DROWNS THE TENDER REED

SOME SAY LOVE IT IS A RAZOR THAT LEAVES YOUR SOUL TO BLEED

SOME SAY LOVE IT IS A HUNGER, AN ENDLESS ACHING NEED

BUT I SAY LOVE IT IS A FLOWER AND YOU ITS ONLY SEED

 

IT'S THE HEART AFRAID OF BREAKIN THAT NEVER LEARNS TO DANCE

AND IT'S THE DREAMS AFRAID OF WAKIN THAT NEVER TAKE A CHANCE

AND IT'S THE ONES WHO WON'T BE TAKIN THAT NEVER LEARN TO GIVE

AND THE SOUL AFRAID OF DYING, NEVER LEARNED TO LIVE

 

SO IF YOU'RE NIGHT HAS BEEN TOO LONELY, IF YOUR ROAD HAD BEEN TOO LONG

IF YOU THINK THAT LOVE IS ONLY FOR THE LUCKY AND THE STRONG

JUST REMEMBER IN THE WINTER DOWN BENEATH THE BITTER SNOW

THERE LIES A SEED THAT WITH THE SUN'S LOVE, IN THE SPRING BECOMES A ROSE

 

JUST REMEMBER IN THE WINTER DOWN BENEATH THE BITTER SNOW

THERE LIES A SEED THAT WITH THE SUN'S LOVE, IN THE SPRING BECOMES A ROSE

 

 

14 FRIEND OF MINE

Ed Kilbourne ©1985 Myown Music

 

FRIEND OF MINE, FRIEND OF MINE, OH IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME

SINCE WE'VE SPENT THE NIGHT TOGETHER, BREAKIN BREAD AND DRINKIN WINE

FRIEND OF MINE, FRIEND OF MINE, IT ALL COMES BACK EACH TIME

I REMEMBER HOW YOU LOVED ME, FRIEND OF MINE

 

LONG AGO, I HEAR YOU WALKED ACROSS THE SEA

AND YOU KNOW, I'D HAVE TO SEE THAT TO BELIEVE

BUT EACH TIME MY BROKEN HEART CAN'T FIND THE SHORE

I SWEAR I SEE YOUR FOOTPRINTS FRIEND OF MINE

 

FRIEND OF MINE, FRIEND OF MINE, OH IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME

SINCE WE'VE SPENT THE NIGHT TOGETHER, BREAKIN BREAD AND DRINKIN WINE

FRIEND OF MINE, FRIEND OF MINE, IT ALL COMES BACK EACH TIME

I REMEMBER HOW YOU LOVED ME, FRIEND OF MINE

 

LATE ONE NIGHT, YOU HAD EATIN WITH YOUR FRIENDS

YOU SAID, NOW, THIS IS WHERE THE WORK BEGINS

WE'RE GONNA WORK AT LOVE, THE WORLD WILL KNOW US BY THIS SIGN

THEN YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE TO PROVE IT, FRIEND OF MINE

 

FRIEND OF MINE, FRIEND OF MINE, OH IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME

SINCE WE'VE SPENT THE NIGHT TOGETHER, BREAKIN BREAD AND DRINKIN WINE

FRIEND OF MINE, FRIEND OF MINE, IT ALL COMES BACK EACH TIME

I REMEMBER HOW YOU LOVED ME, FRIEND OF MINE

 

SO HERE WE ARE, CAN'T YOU FEEL THE TIES THAT BIND

AND HOLD US CLOSE, WITH ONE FAITH, ONE HEART, ONE MINE

HE LIGHTS THE WAY, JUST LIKE A CANDLE IN THE NIGHT

SHINING DOWN THE ROAD TO FREEDOM, FRIEND OF MINE

 

FRIEND OF MINE, FRIEND OF MINE, OH IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME

SINCE WE'VE SPENT THE NIGHT TOGETHER, BREAKIN BREAD AND DRINKIN WINE

FRIEND OF MINE, FRIEND OF MINE, IT ALL COMES BACK EACH TIME

I REMEMBER HOW YOU LOVED ME, FRIEND OF MINE

 

 

15 THE $65 CORVETTE

 

ONE MORNING WHILE READING THE PAPERS, IN SEARCH OF A NEW SET OF WHEELS

THE CLASSIFIEDS HAD A MOST CURIOUS AD IN THEIR LISTING FOR AUTOMOBILES

I READ WITH SUSPICIOUS AMUSEMENT, WHAT SEEMED LIKE A WILD STROKE OF LUCK

CORVETTE STINGRAY IT READ, LOW MILEAGE THE AD SAID, '83 MODEL, $65 BUCKS

 

WELL I WAS USED TO MY NEWSPAPER'S TYPOS, BUT I CALLED UP THE NUMBER STRAIGHTWAY

WHAT RESPONSE HAVE YOU HAD TO YOUR CLASSIFIED AD, SHE SAID NONE, YOU'RE MY FIRST CALL TODAY

I SAID THERE'S BEEN A MISTAKE IN THE PAPER, THEY PRINTED YOUR PRICE WRONG SOMEHOW

OH NO, REPLIED SHE, THEY CHECKED THAT WITH ME, I SAID DON'T SELL THAT PLANE, I'M LEAVING NOW

 

SHE LIVED IN A PART OF THE CITY, THAT FOLKS LIKE ME ONLY PASS THROUGH

AIRLINE CAPTAINS, BANK PRESIDENTS AND LAWYERS ARE THE RESIDENTS AND THE HOUSES ARE MASSIVE AND NEW

AS I TURNED UP HER HALF MILE LONG DRIVE WAY, THERE IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY

IN THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT GLEAMED THE CAR OF MY DREAMS, JUST $65 DOLLARS AWAY

 

 

THE UPOLSTRY WAS DONE IN WHITE LEATHER, IT HAD A 487 V-8

GULL WING-SPAN DOORS, HURST FOUR ON THE FLOOR AND THE 10-SPEAKER TAPE DECK WAS GREAT

IT HAD CHROME ON THE CHROME ON THE FENDERS, AND AN AERODYNAMIC DESIGN

IT HAD A BAR, A TV, BUT WHAT WAS BOGGLING TO ME WAS FOR $65 BUCKS IT WAS MINE

 

I THOUGHT THAT THIS WOMAN MUST BE CRAZY, TO BE SELLING THIS CAR AT THAT PRICE

BUT AS SHE WALKED DOWN THE LANE SHE SEEMED PERFECTLY SANE, SHE WAS CHARMING AND REALLY QUITE NICE

AND SHE SMILED WITH COMPLETE SATISFACTION, AS SHE HANDED ME THE TITLE AND THE KEYS

I SAID I'VE JUST GOT TO KNOW WHY YOU'VE LET THIS THING GO, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR TELL ME PLEASE

 

SHE SAID I'LL BE 60 NEXT THURSDAY, I'VE LIVED HERE WITH MY HUSBAND EARL

AFTER 30 YEARS WED, WITHOUT A WORD SAID, HE LEFT ME FOR A YOUNG TEENAGE GIRL

BUT WITH HIS CREDIT CARDS HERE ON THE TABLE, I KNEW THAT HE WOULDN'T GET FAR

AND LAST MONTH FROM FLORIDA HE, SENT A WIRE TO ME, SAID I NEED MONEY, DEAR, SELL THE CAR!