Christian Williams

104

A tale of love unrequited.

I'm wanderin' baby, miles away from home.
I'm wanderin' baby, miles away from home.
I ain't got no money, no place to call my own.
And the worst bit baby - you don't even know I'm gone.

I bought you flowers pink, yellow and red.
I bought you flowers pink, yellow and red.
Slept by your window with a rock under my head.
Found the flowers in the garbage, they were wilted, brown and dead.

I saw you walkin' with another man.
I saw you walkin' with another man.
The tears came fast, I put my face into my hands.
Then my legs got weak and I could barely stand.

You're a cold-hearted woman, that I realize.
You're a cold-hearted woman, that I realize.
You got the face of an angel but the devil's in your eyes.
Still I can't stop wishing that one day, you'll be mine.

49

What happens when you take too many swigs of rotgut.

Well, I'll eat when I'm hungry - I'll drink when I'm dry.
If the hard times don't kill me, I'll lay down and die.
Oh whiskey, you villain - you've been my downfall.
You've kicked me and cuffed me but I'll love you for all.

I've gambled for whiskey, I hustled for wine.
Some 10,000 bottles I've killed in my time.
Sometimes I drink brandy, sometimes I drink rum.
But most times I drink whiskey just to make sure I'm drunk.

If the ocean was whiskey, and I was a drunk
I'd dive to the bottom and never come up.
But the ocean ain't whiskey and I ain't a duck.
Still I sit here and daydream and top off my cup.

Her momma don't like me, she says I'm too poor.
She says I'm unworthy to walk through her door.
So I'll drink my own whiskey and I'll make my own stew.
And if I get drunk dear madam, it's nothing to you.

Now I've no wife to quarrel, no babies to bawl.
And the best way of living, is no wife at all.
I left her for whiskey now my money's my own.
But I'm as drunk as the devil so just leave me alone.

28

Picking up the pieces after the woman leaves.

The walls around me are still pink.
And there's still make-up in the sink.
I didn't think it'd take this long to finally realize you're gone.

There's still hangers on the rack
hoping one day you'll come back.
I didn't think it'd take this long to finally realize you're gone.
I'll let the breeze carry my song and pray you'll follow the notes home.

There wasn't much you didn't take
except the dried rose from our first date.
I didn't think it'd take this long, to finally realize you're gone.

When the wine gets to my head
I still sleep on my side of the bed.
I didn't think it'd take this long to finally realize you're gone.
I'll let the breeze carry my song and pray you'll follow the notes home.
Now hear my lonesome wail.

I didn't think it'd take this long, to finally realize you're gone.
I'll let the breeze carry my song and pray you'll follow the notes home.

18

A ragtime number about being with the right girl.

Sweetness, I'm telling you no lies.
My heart leaps up whenever your eyes meet mine.
But I'm mixed up baby don't know which way to go.
I'll follow your lead as long as we go slow.

This world's full of uncertainty
but you can't count on me for eternity.
That's the only thing I know for sure.
There's lots of fishes in the sea
but you're the only one I want to swim with me.
That's the only thing I know for sure.

Had my fair share of broken hearts
been through some times that proved mighty hard.
But somehow honey you've given me hope
that life ain't always like a hangman's rope.

I know it ain't to hard to see
that living with you makes me happy.
That's the only thing I know for sure.
There's lots of fishes in the sea
but you're the only one I want to swim with me.
That's the only thing I know for sure.

Spend my time worrying bout what's to come.
I guess it's so I know what to run from.
But you're an anchor for a stormy soul.
Gonna hold on tight if you don't let me go.

This world's full of uncertainty
but you can't count on me for eternity.
That's the only thing I know for sure.
There's lots of fishes in the sea
but you're the only one I want to swim with me.
That's the only thing I know for sure.

41

Poor guy gets hit with a frying pan by his snake in the grass girlfriend.

Oh CC rider, see what you gone done?
CC rider, see what you gone done?
You made me love you but now your man done come.

You were standing in the kitchen, in your morning gown.
Standing in the kitchen in your morning gown.
Cooking up the best damn corned beef hash in town.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

When I saw him coming, I said "Go and lock the door."
Saw him coming said "Go and lock the door."
You didn't say nothing but your face fell toward the floor.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

So I grabbed my pistol and broke that window pane.
Grabbed my pistol and broke that window pane.
Cocked that hammer and then I took my aim.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Last thing I remember before the room went black.
Last thing I remember before the room went black.
Was the sound of a bell and the smell of corned beef hash.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

So CC rider, see what you gone done?
CC rider see what you gone done?
You made me love you but now your man done come.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

27

Ever notice how love is like drugs?

Call me up honey and I'll come right quick.
You can't squeeze lovin' from a poker chip.
I'm long gone - itchin' for a fix of you.

I'll hitch a ride or I'll steal a bike.
Just promise me you'll leave on the light.
I'm long gone - itchin' for a fix of you.

If you're not tired I'm not either.
It's cold outside but I've got the fever.
I'm long gone - itchin' for a fix of you.

Bossman wants me in by nine.
But I've never been one to be on time.
I'm long gone - itchin' for a fix of you.

My friends, if you can them that,
are always asking where I'm at.
I'm long gone - itchin' for a fix of you.

They ask me why I don't get drunk.
It's cuz I'm on to harder stuff.
I'm long gone - itchin' for a fix of you.

I took up smoking just to quit
but you're one habit I'll never quit.
I'm long gone - itchin' for a fix of you.

My pockets are thin but my heart runs deeper.
I'll prove to you that I'm a keeper.
I'm long gone - itchin' for a fix of you.

26

A song from Woody Guthrie's perspective

I can't tell anymore, but I'm straining.
There's a voice on the breeze and it's pleading.
Her name's caught on my lips
but I have to admit
there's no room in my heart for this feeling.

I can tell this old road's been good for my soul.
Even though I feel pangs for letting her go.
She thought I should stay
I said, "It's better this way."
At least that's what I thought when I left her.

I know that she gave it all to me.
And everyone wondered where my mind could be.
But I didn't have words
or the time to explain,
for my mind it was flying, toward the great plains.

So I look to the stars in the sky.
And the trees floating past on this westbound freight line.
I know that I'm selfish
and there's just me to blame,
but I'll make it up to her when I come back some day.

17

My idea of a perfect 401k

Green grass waving in a summer's breeze.
Clouds float by in the sky with ease.
Eyes closed tight as my mind daydreams.

Might be morning or it might be late.
Got work to do but it all can wait.
Last thing I'm doing is wasting this day.

These are the things I'll remember most
when my hair turns gray and my body grows old.

Sunlight sneaking past those lazy drapes.
Bright beam follows my hand to your face.
But it's your smile that lights up this place.

Shut the clock off 'bout an hour ago.
Plans have changed I thought you should know.
Well I ain't leaving your arms no more.
No I ain't leaving your arms no more.

These are the things I'll remember most
when my hair turns gray and my body grows old.
I thought you should know I'm not leaving you no more.

36

What I hope will happen when I buy the farm.

One mornin' 'bout the break of day.
I heard my loving pappy say,
"By the Lord above this old oak treek.
Don't let me rest in no six-by-three.

"No matter what your momma thinks
I won't be bound by no chain link.
And when it's time for soul to die
I want my ashes to fill the sky.

"You can spill me from a moving train.
Or let me fall from an aeroplane.
However you do it, I don't care.
Just promise me I'll be in the air.

"My eyes'll see New York's skyline.
While my legs stretch past the Great Divide.
My ears'll hear Congress debate
while what counts is already in the Pearly Gates.

I asked, "What of the preacher man
who says that we belong in the land?
Ashes to ashes and all that stuff -
that we gotta go back to where we came from?"

He said, "The way I see it my curious son
in heaven this old body won't serve no one.
If all I need is my heart and soul,
why not let these old bones circle the globe?"

14

A little ragtime number about a no good woman.

You're my no good baby, best I ever had.
I could find a better lady but I'll always want you back.
Cuz, you're my no good baby, best I ever had.
I could find a better lady but I'll always want you back.

I got half-a-mind to ask you, "Where you been last night?"
But you smile and bat your lashes and it takes away my fight.
Sometimes I get anxious and I don't feel right
when all you ever ask for is more of my money and wine.

But, you're my no good baby, best I ever had.
I could find a better lady but I'll always want you back.

You ain't much for conversation and that would be fine
if instead of conversation you'd let me hold you tight.
The bar boys tell me I should cut your line
but a few shots of whiskey shuts them up all the time.

You're my no good baby, best I ever had.
I could find a better lady but I'll always want you back.
Cuz, you're my no good baby, best I ever had.
I could find a better lady but I'll always want you back.

12

Coming back to what you left behind, only to find it's long gone.

The sign post tells me almost, but not quite.
And my coat is soaked on this cold, rainy night.
But I'm still walking toward her light,
I'm looking for the candle in her window.

It's been too long since I last saw her eyes.
And I should've followed her heart instead of mine.
But I learned that lesson serving time.
Now I'm looking for the candle in her window.

I was restless for a life I never knew.
I must admit it's wasn't easy leaving you.
To my defense I didn't know what else to do
than shake these bones and come back home
when my ramblin' days were through.

I didn't last long without her in my arms.
And the trail I took offered temptations charms.
While my body wandered I left her me heart.
It's waiting by the candle in her window.

I kept an honest face for quite a spell.
'Till I shot the man who told me to go to hell.
The details aren't important enough to tell.
Now I'm running toward the candle in her window.

I was restless for a life I never knew.
I must admit it's wasn't easy leaving you.
To my defense I didn't know what else to do
than shake these bones and come back home
when my ramblin' days were through.

I see the shadow of a broken home.
And the porch swing creeks while the tree branches moan.
But I realize before me head hangs low,
there's never been a candle in her window.

I find a weathered note nailed to the door.
And it's written by the one whom I adore.
My eyes fill up - I can't read anymore.
These words are the source of my sorrow:

I was restless for a life I never knew.
I must admit it's wasn't easy leaving you.
To my defense I didn't know what else to do
than shake these bones and come back home
when my ramblin' days were through.

Most days, all I do is sit and cry.
And there's work to do but I can't even try.
But before I lay my head down every night,
I light my darlings, candle in my window.

10

The song in my head when I think of Charlie Chaplin

18

Inspired by a trip with my honey to guess where.

When I watch my memories flip past like slides
I see each image clearly through the glasses of time.
And though I might pause quick to dwell on what was
it's just to remember from where I came from.

Where worries once wandered hope's loosened the binds.
And the tears that filled buckets have turned into wine.
Dreams once hard to reach pave reality's streets
and I don't wish to be someone other than me.

These are the things you think about
when you're climbing Telegraph Hill.
These are the things you think about
when you're breathing in North Beach.
These are the things you think about
in San Francisco.

My heart I protected so selfishly
that my soul remained hidden so tragically
But you my true love as my heart's only key
are the guide through my being unchartered.

Through fog shrouded shoreline my eyes strained to see
that which to me now can be viewed easily.
I've thousands of questions to ask the great sea
but the journey's worth more than the answers I seek.

And these are the things you think about
when you're sleeping on Nob Hill.
These are the things you think about
when you're haggling in Chinatown.
These are the things you think about
in San Franciso.
This is what I thought about
in San Francisco.