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Pink Flamingos|Close
Diamond eyed, like Las Vegas
never seen the sea
where the river bed runs dry
she closes his eyes
puts her ear to his shirt
and listens to the water
The light is red
she looks in the mirror
the wind has stopped
he can't hear her
She stops in a bar
apparently, she's unhurt
and with a little bit of change
she washed her wings in the dirt
the bar is filled with angels
cuz the world is turned upside down
all of you've been walking on your head
since the day your feet touched the ground
any day...any day we'll go home
any day, any day we'll go home
He knocks on the door
someone showed him how
and I seen him before
I know him somehow
why does he stick to my fingers
what does this look like his soul
they could just make him a heaven or hell
why don't they?
I don't know
What do they want with these angels?
Why don't they take them to Reno?
nobody ever comes for them
they're all inside of the casino
Look at them poking like flightless birds
falling from paper plates
all heavenly earthbound
but the spirit cannot wait
to fly like the pink flamingo
Altar Boy|Close
A monk
with a hard-on
in a lavender robe
that scratches his thighs
for the height that he strove
as he follows a path filled with arid desire
that mimics his footsteps
and sets his prayers on fire
Well I, too, have chosen
that which left no choice
to sing without loving
my solitary voice
to observe with passion
and careful denial
these protrusions
which give my life meaning
for a while
but sometimes I see you in berries and weeds
brushing your teeth with licorice seeds
standing too close
holding your clothes
smiling at God as the meaning of life
grows
Oh and I'll never tell
and I'll never know
what candle you light
after the show
and I'll never tell
and I'll never ask
the meaning of life
after mass
Stewart’s Coat|Close
Hold me love
I can't sleep again
I have to kiss your lips
I wanna lay here next to him
I remember
walking in the rain
rain was falling on my hands
I don't wanna live through that again
Outside
it hardly gets dark now
lovers walking in the park now
children singing songs of when
they'll make all their dreams come true
I'm in love with you
It only takes love
love is a healing thing
when you give everything
you love in the world
the world gives you love
to hold on to
remember who
when summer
is over
Somewhere
older there
remember
Just give me many chances
I'll see you through it all
just give me time to learn to crawl
In September
when the rain comes
and the wind blows
I would see you walking
in your coat
And if you'll let me
I will keep you here
inside the stars
I will love the sound of my sheets
since you have moved beneath them
Just give me many chances
I'll see you through it all
just give me time to learn to crawl
Beat Angels|Close
Beggin down these sun beaten streets
I can't make for no connection
Locals here don't speak no English
Where is my woman, no one knows
It seems some girls just have to leave in the night
When you're fast asleep
But I don't worry, I move in the dark
There were lights, there were border lights
I thought I heard a drum in the distance play
I saw the light, I crossed my heart and beat angels were there
I awoke in some hotel room
Could hardly remember my name
They were only sixteen years old
I was so cold, I wast so ashamed
If sometime I just have to leave
In the night, when you're fast asleep
Turn up your radio andI move in the dark
There will be lights, there are border lights
Thought I heard a drum in the distance play,
I saw the lights
Crossed my heart and beat angels were there
You might wonder where one goes wrong
It was somewhere in a foreign rain
that sent him out to stone
every lamplight in town
Man don't know what he's got it his veins
Until beat angels come take him away
Play on beat angels
Tigers|Close
The tigers come at four
shaped like the curtain and the floor
like the stars they once were wild and cold
Your turn to see me
I can’t believe its really you
Sharpening your teeth on my low womb
Playing with tigers
Chasing the lampshade with my toes
Playing with tigers
‘til i find out where it goes
You check your clothes
You come and lay with me a while
In the theater of dream
we are sleeping in the aisle
wind climbs up the brick
Carrying brightly colored ghosts
They play on you with
the light from the street below
Playing with tigers
Chasing the lamp with my toes
Playing with tigers
Until I find out where it goes
Where it goes, where it goes
I tried to leave you
but you sent all the cars to bring me back
tigers are falling like paper
on our parade
tigers, tigers.
And the mail blowing out of the mailbox
down the street, yeah yeah
tigers.
I can't tell you anymore than that.
I'll tell you tomorrow when the train comes.
Tomorrow when the train comes
Rebel Rebel|Close
Got your mother in a whirl
'Cause she's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey, babe, your hairs all right
Hey, babe, let's stay out tonight
You like me, and I like it all
We like dancing, and we look divine
You know fans when they play it hard
They want more, and you want it fast
Put you down, say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo
Got your mother in a whirl
'Cause she's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey, babe, your hairs all right
Hey, babe, let's stay out tonight
You like me, and I like it all
We like dancing, and we look divine
You know fans when they play it hard
They want more, and you want it first
Put you down, say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo
You've torn your dress, your face is a mess
You can't get enough, but enough ain't the test
You've got transmission and a live wire
Got your cue lines and a handful of ludes
You could be there when they count up the dues
And I love your dress
I love your dress
You're a juvenile success
Because your face is a mess
How could they know?
How could they know?
What you wanna know
Where'd you wanna go?
'Cause you've torn your dress
And your face is a mess
Ooo, ooo, your face is a mess
Ooo, ooo, so how could they know?
How could they know?
Etc...
Jolie Jolie|Close
jolie jolie
jolie jolie
you a pretty little thing
bassemoi
toi le nuit
all I want ya to do
is just be happy
if you want me to walk
all the way down the hill
and come back up again
you know I will
just to bring you the mila
to me it's just a little hill
jolie jolie
basse moi
je ponce aux toi
tout le nuit
all I want you to do
is just be happy
if you want me to fly
to heavens gate
for a personal discussion
I won't wait
I'll go right away
cuz to me, it's just another day
jolie jolie
basse moi
j'ponce le toit
tuit le nuit
all I want you to do
is just be happy
if you want me to stop
every time I start
to kiss your lips
you break my heart
but I do this
to me, it's just a little kiss
Running From Mercy|Close
Oh sacred patience
with my soul abide
there's a rainbow above me
that the storm clouds hide
and kind words
will never die
because the magic in kindness
springs from love
Little acts of kindness
little words of love
make our earthly home
heaven above
and there is no sorrow
heaven cannot heal
abide within
no cross, no crown
Running from mercy
hidden and coy
swim in our sleep
down oceans of joy
die in the arms
of natural life
wake in our happiness
drowning in light
wake in our happiness
drowning in light
Oh, mother, this thing was not born with wings
don't you stop her when she sings*
* I wrote this line to all those mothers wo are always telling their babies to be quiet.
LET THEM MAKE A BIG NOISE. Let them sing. Rejoice in them.
Don't always be controlling them. Console them. Be a joyful witness to their existance. - rlj
A Stranger's Car|Close
Take the train
oh you have run
as far as you can go.
They've tied your fingers
to rails of stars
can you hear the whistle blow?
There is no one here
to beat out your brains
there's no one
who'll make you cry
if your parents kill you
year by years
here's the time to say
good bye
And it shines so bright from far away
and it's always warm inside
and there's children there.
There's children there...
Who will touch your face,
who will fill your pockets,
of all that tangled string. .
and who will count the marbles there,
and who will save your penny rings
Come and meet the angels
born this day
sleep now the night is late
be still until this wayward bird
lets go of heavens gate
it was.....
come and meet the angel
born this day
inside another strangers car
be still until this wayward bird
passes over where we are
The Albatross|Close
There, there is my ship
Finally come in
I see the mast rolling on the steps
Over the garden wall
I hear the sailor's call
I see the albatross
Over and down now I'll go home
Home to my children I left behind
Long ago with my mother the moon
That's where my father is
This broken heart is his
Archipelago is turning, turning to strangers
Here in the world, turning to strangers
Oh, they hold on
Here, here's where we live
Here is a sea, my family
We'll always be young as we've ever been
Death will not part us again nearer to heaven than
10,000 ancestors who dream of me
Well I hear you dreaming of me
Yeah sometimes, dream of me!
Discography|Close
Traffic From Paradise (1993, GEFFEN)
▒ Track
1. Pink Flamingos (6:32)
2. Altar Boy (2:26)
3. Stewart’s Coat (4:32)
4. Beat Angels (4:12)
5. Tigers (4:49)
6. Rebel Rebel (4:37)
7. Jolie Jolie (4:23)
8. Running From Mercy (5:59)
9. A Stranger’s Car (2:53)
10. The Albatross (3:11)
▒ Information
released: 1993
producer: Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones performed vocals and played acoustic guitar, mandolin, keyboards, and bowed dulcimer.
Alex Acuna - Drums/Congas
David Baerwald - Electric Guitar
Sal Bernardi - Acoustic Guitar/Backing Vocals
Bobby Bruce - Violin
Brad Dutz - Percussion/Marimba/Tarkas/Bodhran/Udu/Mixing Bowls/Floor
David Hidalgo - 8 String Electric =Guitar/Backing Vocals
Jim Keltner - Drums
Leo Kottke - 6 and 12-String Guitar/Slide Acoustic Guitar/Backing Vocals
John Leftwich - Bass/Cello/Acoustic Guitar/Backing Vocals
Lyle Lovett - Backing Vocals
Doug Lyons - French Horn
Dean Parks - Electric Guitar
Brian Setzer - Electric Guitar/Backing Vocals
Syd Straw - Backing Vocals
Efrain Toro - Percussion
Teresa Tudury - Backing Vocals
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