One Man Band
Released: November 2007
Live concert interspersed with Taylor's insightful and humorous anecdotes on the inspiration for the songs.
One Man Band
- Something In The Way She Moves
Something In The Way She Moves
(re-recording)
Well, there’s something in the way she moves
Or looks my way or calls my name
That seems to leave this troubled world behind
And if I’m feeling down and blue
Or troubled by some foolish game
She always seems to make me change my mindI feel fine any time she’s around me now
She’s around me now almost all the time
If I’m well you can tell that she’s been with me now
She’s been with me now quite a long, long time
And I feel fineEvery now and then the things I lean on
They lose their meaning
And I find myself careening
Into places where I should never let me go, noShe has the power to go where
No one else can find me
And to silently remind me
Of the happiness and good times that I know
Well, I guess I just got to know thenIt isn’t what she’s got to say
Or how she thinks or where she’s been
To me the words are nice the way they sound
I like to hear them best that way
Doesn’t much matter what they mean
She says them mostly just to calm me downI feel fine any time that she’s around me now
She’s around me now I guess just about all the time
And if I’m well you can tell that she’s been with me now
She’s been with me now quite a long, long time
Yes, I feel fine - Never Die Young
Never Die Young
We were ring-around-the-rosy children
They were circles around the sun
Never give up, never slow down
Never grow old
Never ever die youngSynchronized with the rising moon
Even with the evening star
They were true love written in stone
They were never alone, they were never that far apartAnd we who couldn’t bear to believe they might make it
We got to close our eyes
To cut up our losses into doable doses
And ration our tears and sighsYou could see them on the street on a Saturday night
Everyone used to run them down
They’re a little too sweet, they’re a little too tight
They’re not enough tough for this tough townWe couldn’t touch them with a 10-foot pole
No, it didn’t seem to rattle at all
They were fused together body and soul
That much more with their backs up against the wallOh, hold them up, hold them up
Never do let them fall
Prey to the dust and the rust and the ruin
That names us and claims us and shames us allOh, it had to happen someday soon
There wasn’t nothing to hold them down
They would rise from among us like a big balloon
Take the sky and forsake the groundOh, yes, other hearts were broken
I know other dreams ran dry
But our golden ones sail on and on
To another land beneath another skyLet other hearts be broken
Let other dreams run dry
But let our golden ones sail on and on
To another land beneath another sky
Beneath another skyHold them
Hold them up
Hold ’em up
Won’t you hold ’em up
Can’t you hold them up - The Frozen Man
The Frozen Man
Last thing I remember is the freezing cold
Water reaching up just to swallow me whole
Ice in the rigging and howling wind
Shock to my body as we tumbled inMy brothers and the others were lost at sea
And I alone am returned to tell thee
Hidden in ice for a century
To walk the world again
Lord have mercy on the frozen manNext words that were spoken to me
Nurse asked me what my name might be
She was all in white at the foot of my bed
I said angel of mercy, I’m alive or am I deadMy name is William James McPhee
I was born in 1823
Raised in Liverpool by the sea
But that ain’t who I am
Lord have mercy, I’m the frozen manIt took a lot of money to start my heart
Just to peg my leg and to buy my eye
The newspapers call me state of the art
And the children, when they see me, they cryWell, I thought it’d be nice just to visit my grave
See what kind of tombstone I might have
There lay the wife and daughter and it seemed so strange
(So strange)
Both of them dead and gone from extreme old ageI say, when I die make sure I’m gone
Don’t leave ’em nothing to work on
You can raise your arm, you can wiggle your hand
(Unlike myself)
So you can wave good-bye to the frozen man
Good-byeI know what it means to freeze to death
To lose a little life with every breath
To say good-bye to life on earth
To come around again
Lord have mercy, I’m the frozen man
God have mercy on the frozen man
Have mercy on the frozen man - Mean Old Man
Mean Old Man
On my own how could I have known
Imagine my surprise
Just a fool from a tree full of fools
Who can’t believe his eyes
Imagine my surprise‘Cause I was a mean old man
I was an ornery cuss
I was a dismal Dan
I made an awful fuss
Ever since my life began
Man, it was ever thus
I was a nasty tyke
Who was hard to likeI had to misbehave
I did things in reverse
Refused to wash or shave
I was horrid to my nurse
I got back what I gave
Which only made me worse
I had to have my way
Which was bleak and grayOh, dear, living in here
One hundred years of rain
Such a drag, this riches to rags
And just myself to blame
The dirty low-down shame of it
The dirty low-down shameSilly me, silly old me
Somewhere outside my mind
Clever you, walking me through
Happy to lead the blind
All in the nick of timeWho gets a second chance
Who gets to have some fun
Who gets to learn to dance
Before his race is run
Who gets to shed his skin
Who comes up born again
Who was a mean old man
Till you turned him
Into a Golden Retriever puppy dog - School Song
- Country Road
Country Road
Take to the highway
Won’t you lend me your name
Your way and my way
Seem to be one and the same
Mama don’t understand it
She wants to know where I’ve been
I’d have to be some kind of natural born fool
To walk on the roads againBut you know I could feel it
Walking on a country roadSail on home to Jesus
Won’t you good girls and boys
I’m all in pieces
You can have my choice
‘Cause I can see a heavenly band full of angels
Coming just to set me free
No, I don’t know nothing ’bout the why or when
But I can tell you that it’s bound to beJust because I could feel it
Walking on a country railroadReckon my feet know where they want me to go
Walking on a country road
Walking on a dirt roadSo take to the highway
Won’t you lend me your name
Your way and my way
Seem to be one and the same thing tonight
Mama don’t understand it
She wants to know where the boy’s been
I’d have to be some kind of natural born fool
To walk on that road againBut you know I could feel it
Feel it, feel it, feel it, feel it
Walking on a country roadWalk on down
Walk on down
Walk on down
Walk on down a country road
La, la, la
Yeah, walk on down
I’ll be walking on a country road
See me walking down a country road
Oh, yeah - Slap Leather
Slap Leather
Want you to take all the money that we need for school
To keep the people in out of the cold
Spend it on a weapon you can never use
Make the world an offer that they can’t refuse
Open the door and let the shark men feed
Hoover the future in the land of greed
Sell the Ponderosa to the JapaneseSlap leather, head for that line of trees
Yeah, now
Slap leather
Go on, Ron
Just about to go myselfTurn the whole wide world into a TV show
So it’s the same game wherever you go
You never meet a soul that you don’t already know
One commercial for the status quo
As if these celebrities were your close friends
As if you knew how the story ends
As if you weren’t sitting in a room alone
And there was somebody real at the other end of the phone, yeahSomebody read down there
Phone love
I’m just about to dial your number
Dial `em upGet all worked up so we can go to war
We’ll find something worth you killing for
Tie that yellow ribbon around your eyes
Big McFalafel and a side of goddamn fries
Big McFalafel
Stormin’ Norman
I used to love a parade every daySlap leather
Phone love
Yeah, Big McFalafel
Just about to go
Just about to go my
Just about to go myself
I’m about to go myselfWell, the thing now is I’m about to go myself
Oh, oh
It’s running like a Swiss watch
Yeah
About to go myself - My Traveling Star
My Traveling Star
Watch my back and light my way
My traveling star, my traveling star
Watch over all of those born Saint Christopher’s day
Old road dog, young runaway
They hunger for home but they never stayThey wait by the door
They stand and they stare
They’re already out of there
They’re already out of thereMy daddy used to ride the rails, they say
So they say, so they say
Soft as smoke and as tough as nails, my daddy
Boxcar Jones, old walking man
Coming back home was like going to jailThe sheets and the blankets and babies and all
He never did come back home
Never that I recallNever mind the wind
Never mind the rain
Never mind the road leading home again
Never asking why
Never knowing when
Every now and then
There he goes againShe had a cat and a dog named Blue
My traveling star, my traveling star
A big old stove and a fireplace too
Old road dog, young runaway
She told me she loved me like it was trueI knew I should stay
I knew I would go
Run, run, run away
Run, run, run away, boyRun before the wind
Run before the rain
Over yonder hill
Just around the bend
Never asking why
Never knowing when
Every now and then
There you go againTie me up and hold me down
Oh, oh, my traveling star
Bury my feet down in the ground
Oh, oh, old road dog
Claim my name from the lost and found
And let me believe this is where I belong
And shame on me for sure
Sing me one more highway songMy traveling star
My traveling star - You’ve Got A Friend
You’ve Got A Friend
When you’re down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing
Oh, nothing is going rightJust close your eyes and think of me
Yes, and soon I will be there
To brighten up
Oh, even your darkest nightsYou just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running
To see you againIt’s winter, spring, summer or fall
Now all you got to do is call on me
And I will be there, yeah, yes, I’ll be there
You’ve got a friendIf the sky high above you
Should grow dark and full of clouds
And that old cold north wind
Should begin to blowJust keep your poor head together now
And call my name out loud, you know
Pretty soon
I’ll be knocking on your doorYou just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running
To see you againIt’s winter, spring summer or fall
Really, all you got to do is call
And I’ll be there
You know I’ll be thereOh, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
When people can be so cold
They’ll hurt you, yes, and desert you
Well, they’ll take your soul if you let them
But don’t you let themYou just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running like as fast as I can
To see you againOh, yes, don’t you know about that
Winter, spring, summer or fall
Oh, all you’ve got to do is call
And I will be there
Yeah, yes, I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend
You’ve got a friend
Ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
Walking and talking and everything friend
Well, I said everybody here tonight in Pittsfield
No matter how low you may go sometimes
Ought to take some consolation in one thing, oh, yeah
Ain’t it good to know
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You’ve got a friend - Steamroller Blues
Steamroller Blues
Well, I’m a steamroller for you, baby
I’ve got to roll all over you
Yes, I’m a steamroller for you, baby
I’ve got to roll all over you
Yeah, now, baby
I’d like to inject your soul with some rock and roll
Maybe shoot you full of rhythm and blues tonight, oh, yeahWell, I’m a cement mixer for you, baby
A churnin’ urn of that burnin’ funk, yeah
You’ve got to drop that thing and come back home to me, baby
A churnin’ urn of burnin’ funk
And I’m a demolition derby, mama
A hefty hunk of steamin’ junkOh, well, I’m a love bomb for you, baby
I’m guaranteed to just blow your mind
Yes, I’m a love bomb for you, baby, yeah
I’m guaranteed to just blow your mind
And if I can’t, and if I can’t, and if I can’t have your lovin’
There won’t be nothin’ ever left behind
Oh, no, no…
No, no, no…
Yeah, no, yeah…
But I never did seem
And I never did seem
In the far distant future
Someday to lose
I can’t seem to lose, baby, yeah
Somebody got to help me to lose
Got to help me lose
Yeah, yeah
Help me to lose my steamroller, yeah
Help me to lose my steamroller, darling
Help me to lose my steamroller, baby, yeah
Help me to lose my…
Now, my baby…
Yeah, yeah, yeah…
Steamroller, baby, ha!
My steamroller blues, ha! - Secret O’ Life
Secret O’ Life
Oh, the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it
There ain’t nothin’ to it
Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill
But since we’re on our way down
We might as well enjoy the rideThe secret of love is in opening up your heart
It’s okay to feel afraid
But don’t let it stand in your way no longer
‘Cause everyone knows that love is the only road
And since we’re only here for a while
We might as well show some styleGive us a smile now, isn’t that a lovely ride
Sliding down, gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely rideNow the thing about time is that time isn’t really real
It’s all on your point of view
How does it feel for you in there, yeah
Einstein said that he could never understand it all
Planets spinning through space
The smile upon your faceWelcome to the human race, yeah, yeah
some kind of lovely ride
See me sliding down and gliding down
And try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely rideIsn’t that a lovely ride
Sliding down and gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride ♪Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
- Line ‘Em Up
Line ‘Em Up
Oh, I remember Richard Nixon back in ’74
And the final scene at the White House door
And the staff lined up just to say good-bye
Tiny tear in his shifty little eyeHe said nobody knows me
Nobody understands
Little people were good to me
Oh, I’m gonna shake some handsSomebody line ’em up, line ’em all up
Oh, line ’em up, line ’em all up
Help me line ’em up, line ’em all up
Yeah, line ’em up, line ’em all upOh, at that time my heart was all broke
I looked like ashes and smelled like smoke
And I turned away from my loving kind
Tried to leave my body and live in my mindBut it’s much too much emotion
To hold in your hand
They got waves out on the ocean
They’re gonna wear away the landI say line ’em up, line ’em all up
Oh, line ’em up, line ’em all up
Can’t you line ’em up, line ’em all up
Yeah, line ’em up, line ’em all upI’ve seen corn in Kansas
And I’ve seen picket fences
And perfect cowboy dances
I’ve been lining up for shows
I’ve been safely placed in rows
Sure, I know how this goesYet another day goes by
Little time machine
I’m breaking my brain over what it might mean
Just to claim the time and to turn away
Just to make today todayWho waits for you
Lonely, tired, old toad
It’s your life laid out before you
Like the broken white line
Down the center of the roadLine ’em up, line ’em all up
Oh, line ’em up, line ’em all up
Help me line ’em up, line ’em all up
So, line ’em up, line ’em all upAh, big Moon landing
People all standing up
Smiles for the loved one
We go walking on down the aisle ♪Each reengages
Stepping into the sun
I watch them turn like pages
One by one by oneOh, line ’em up, line ’em all up
Line ’em up, line ’em all up
Can’t you line ’em up, line ’em all up
Yeah, line ’em up, line ’em all up
Come on, line ’em, help me line ’em all up
We’ve got to line ’em up, just to line ’em up
It works when you line ’em up, line ’em all up
Oh, line ’em up, line ’em all up - Chili Dog
Chili Dog
Make my bed out of Wonder Bread
Spread that hot mustard on my head
I don’t need no onions and sauerkraut, and all
Hold on to the bun
Work it on out nowI’m a chili dog
I guess you guessed by now
Yes, and I’m a chili dog
DeliciousDon’t get jealous
Don’t get overzealous
Come on now, fellas
Pass me down the relishOh, don’t read me no Ann Landers
Don’t feed me no Colonel Sanders, no, now
Well, I ain’t tryin’ to fool youse ♪
(I ain’t tryin’ to fool ya)
Never bring me home no Orange JuliusI’ve got to have the one, two, three
I’ve got to get the dog in me, baby, yeah
Yes, indeed, I want a chili dog
Talkin’ about it’s stone delicious
Good for you too
Mm-hmm, yeah - Shower The People
Shower The People
You can play the game
You can act out the part
Though you know it wasn’t written for you
Tell me how do you stand there
With your broken heart
All ashamed of playing the foolBut one thing can lead to another
It doesn’t take any sacrifice
Oh, father and mother and sister and brother
If it feels nice don’t think twiceJust shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna turn out fine
If we only will
If we only will
Just shower the people
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be much better
If you only willYou can run but you cannot hide
This is widely known
Yes, and what you plan to do with your foolish pride
When you’re all by yourself alone
Once you tell somebody the way that you feel
You can feel it beginning to ease
I think it’s true what they say about the squeaky wheel
Rascal’s always getting the greaseBetter to shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna turn out right
If we only will
If we only will
Oh, just shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be much better
If you only willShower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
(Shower the people you love with love)
Show them the way that you feel
They say in every life
(Shower the people you love with love)
They say that the rain must fall
(Show them the way that you feel)
Just like pouring down rain, pouring down rain, make it rain
(Show them the way that you feel)Make it rain
(Shower the people you love with love)
Make it rain
(Show them the way that you feel)Make it rain
(Shower the people you love with love)
Love, love, love is sunshine
(Show them the way that you feel)Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be much better
If you only will - Sweet Baby James
Sweet Baby James
There is a young cowboy lives on the range
His horse and his cattle they’re his only companions
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons
Just waiting for summer his pastures to changeYes, and as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Just thinking about women and glasses of beer
And closing his eyes as the dogies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but it’s clear
Just as if maybe someone could hearHe says good night all you moonlight ladies
Rockabye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues for the colors I choose
Won’t you let me go down in my dreams
Oh, and rockabye sweet baby JamesNow the first of December it was covered with snow
Yes, and so was the Turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Oh, the Berkshires seemed dreamlike
On account of that frosting
With 10 miles behind me and 10,000 more to go, you knowThere’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
Just that singing seemed to work fine for meSo, good night all you moonlight ladies
Rockabye my sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues for the colors I choose
Won’t you let me go down in my dreams
Oh, and rockabye my sweet baby James - Carolina In My Mind
Carolina In My Mind
In my mind I’m gone to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine
Can’t you just feel the moonshine
Ain’t it like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Oh, I’m gone to Carolina in my mindKarin she’s a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shine
Watch her watch the morning come
A silver tear appearing now
Well, I’m cryin’ ain’t I
I’m gone to Carolina in my mindAin’t no doubt in no one’s mind
That love’s the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
Hey, baby, the sky’s on fire
I’m dyin’ ain’t I
Ain’t I gone to Carolina in my mindIn my mind I’m gone to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine
Can’t you just feel the moonshine
Ain’t it like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Till I’m gone to Carolina in my mindDark and silent late last night
Think I might have heard the highway calling
Geese in flight and dogs that bite
And signs that might be omens
Say I’m goin’, I’m goin’
Gone to Carolina in my mindIt’s with a holy host of others
Standing round me
Still I’m on the dark side of the moon
And it looks like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I’m gone to Carolina in my mindIn my mind I’m long gone to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine
I said can’t you just feel the moonshine
Ain’t it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Oh, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind
Oh, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind
So I’m already gone
I’m gone
Say nice things about me
I’m gone
You’ll have to carry on without me
I’m gone
Oh, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind
I’m gone
Yes, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind - Fire And Rain
Fire And Rain
Just yesterday morning
They let me know you were gone
Suzanne, the plans we made put an end to you
I walked out this morning
And I wrote down this song
Just can’t remember who to send it toI’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days I thought they’d never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought I’d see you againWon’t you look down on me, Jesus
You’ve got to help me to make a stand
You just got to see me through another day
My body’s aching
And my time is at hand
And I won’t make it any other wayOh, I have seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days I thought they’d never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought I’d see you againSo I’ve been walking my mind to an easy time
My back turned towards the sun
Lord knows the cold wind blows
It’ll turn your head around
Well, there’s hours of time on the telephone line
Talkin’ about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines
in pieces on the groundOh, I have seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days I thought they’d never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought I’d see you somehow
one more time again
Thought I’d see you one more time again
There’s just a few things coming my way
this time around
Thought I’d see you, thought I’d see you,
fire and rain
Thought I’d see you just one more time,
Suzanne - Copperline
Copperline
Even the old folks never knew
Why they call it like they do
I was wondering since the age of two
Down on CopperlineCopperhead, copper beech
Copper kettle sitting side by each
Copper coil, cup o’ Georgia peach
Down on CopperlineHalf a mile down to Morgan Creek
I’m only living till the end of the week
Hercules and a hognose snake
Down on Copperline
Take me down on CopperlineWarm summer night, Copperline
Slip away past suppertime
Wood smoke and moonshine
Down on CopperlineOne time
I saw my daddy dance
Watched him moving like a man in a trance
He brought it back from the war in France
Down on CopperlineBranch water and tomato wine
Creosote and turpentine
Sour mash and new moonshine
Down old Copperline
Take me down on CopperlineOh, first kiss ever I took
Stole a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook
Down on Copperline
Walk me downI took a fall from a windy height
I only knew how to hold on tight
And pray for love enough to last all night
Down on CopperlineDay breaks and the boy wakes
And the dog barks and the bird sings
And the sap rises and the angels sighI tried to go back, as if I could
All spec house and plywood
Tore up, tore up good
Down on CopperlineIt doesn’t come as a surprise to me
It never touched my memory
Well, I’m lifting up and rising free
Down over CopperlineHalf a mile down to Morgan Creek
I’m only living till the end of the week
Hercules and a hognose snake
Down on Copperline
On Copperline
We were down on Copperline
Oh, down on Copperline
Take me back down on Copperline
Lay me down on Copperline - You Can Close Your Eyes
You Can Close Your Eyes
Oh, the sun is surely sinking down
But the moon is slowly rising
So this old world must still be spinning around
And I still love youSo close your eyes
You can close your eyes, it’s all right
I don’t know no love songs
And I can’t sing the blues anymore
Oh, but I can sing this song
And you can sing this song when I’m goneIt won’t be long before another day
We’re gonna have a good time
And no one’s gonna take that time away
You can stay as long as you likeOnly close your eyes
You can close your eyes, it’s all right
Oh, I don’t know no love songs
And I can’t sing the blues anymore
Sure, but I can sing this song
Yes, and you can sing this song
When I’m gone