Volcanic Wind I saw a crazy lady on the side of the road feedin’ the coyotes Alpo, Alpo But you can’t scoff an act, a selfless act of kindness, kindness Oh my sugar! Spring has come too early! Let us pray for rain! Let us pray for rain! Again and again let me whisper in your sunburned ear in the volcanic wind, in the volcanic wind I pity this poor place, I pity this poor place all these creatures have God on their face I saw the universe in a jackrabbit’s eye! I pity this poor place, pal of mine, pal of mine Oh my sugar! There’s an uninvited guest! The bear on the mountain he’s mad as heck! We’re just a weak link in this abomination! in the brave new wind, in the brave new wind Wipe a little chapstick on your bakin’ lips I wanna little kiss, I wanna little kiss Wipe a little chapstick on your bacon lips I wanna little kiss, I wanna little kiss I wanna little kiss… Oh my sugar! Spring has come too early! Let us pray for rain! Let us pray for rain! Again and again let me whisper in your sunburned ear in the volcanic wind, in the volcanic wind McCutcheon: vocals, electric guitar, harmonica Jeff Berlin: drums Michael Grimes: upright acoustic bass Kevin Zoernig: wurlitzer --------------------------- Gloriously Tangled Oh, can’t you feel that river, feel that river tuggin’ on you? There’s not much left to do when that river’s tuggin’ you And everything has wings, just like the skippin’ stones we’ll all be washed up on some other shore, where the light is born She stepped into my fingers, grabbed the mane of a silvery mare Said, “Stick around my son, for I may not return from there” Well she’s older now for what that’s worth but once she was a little girl, riding alone on the Rio Grande with the reins in one hand, with the reins in one hand And I have arrived in your valley gloriously tangled, infused, confused Tiny hairs on tiny flowers where every inch of the earth is alive! Take a dive! I pick her up Sundays, pull some weeds and wait for her return I gaze in to the kiln and watch the sun spill over the hills Well she’s older now and she’s returned but once she was a little girl, on the Rio Grande riding alone with the reins in one hand, with the reins in one hand And everything has wings, just like the skippin’ stones we’ll all be washed up on some other shore, where the light, where the light is born! Oh, can’t you feel that river, feel that river tuggin’ on you? There’s not much left to do when that river’s tuggin’ on you McCutcheon: vocals, guitar Michelle Collins: vocals Kevin Zoernig: Hammond B3, piano Jeff Berlin: drums Brett Davis: bass Dave Guiterrez: pedal steel -------------------------------- Green Wish The green pulse is here, bursting in the air the green wish, the next wild summer is here and in its endlessness a set of new green wings to take it there, the green wish is here I call out to my buddy, “Oh, buddy wait for me!” But he’ s already waiting beside me patiently I do not walk the river, the river follows me always and forever flowing straight to thee The green wish is near, the green wish is near the green wish is near, the green wish is here! The cooing scented blossoms lay their heavy jewels upon the arches and sink into the pools Oh take me into this ocean of life! This black holy bottomless bale of timothy! Have mercy on my soul as I yield and accept the simple raw joy of being with her There’s truth in her body there’s truth in her dreams take me by the river and I’ll show you what I mean Like the whiskers on a sage, like an aspen on a grave I’m tapped into the tender music that you make and in its endlessness a set of new green wings to take us there, the green wish is here McCutcheon: mandolin, guitar, vocals, harmonica Brett Davis: electric guitar,bass ]Jeff Berlin: drums Kevin Zoernig: wurlitzer, synth, Hammond B3 ---------------------- Chicken Man Stumbled down Yosemite shooters in Tawalamay didn’t wear no rubber boots because the mud was heavenly and even though his beak was bent and even though his spurs were black still he chased me threw them weeds then he chased me back Taken too many pills by now, I drove too many stakes I had to sleep with forty widows just to cure the shakes but way back when I had I love, she got pecked away from me and there’s dried tears everywhere, everywhere she used to be Blame it on the chicken man! Chicken man is not your friend, no Blame it on the chicken man! Chicken man is not your friend, no here we go I don’t know if you been told but the chicken man he’s a mean old soul So when your life is on the dumps and Percoset won’t get you over the hump and every thing you do or say, can’t get out of your own way God damn the chicken man! McCutcheon: vocals, electric guitar Jeff Berlin: drums Kevin Zoernig: wurlitzer, snippet Brett Davis: electric guitar, vocals Felecia Ford: vocals -------------------------------- Deathgrip I came to the village, stole the queen bee they talked bad about us, but it was just jealousy Took a little while but I got her to sting me Took a little while but I got her to sting me sting me, sting me The crocuses were pokin’ up through the leaf litter she wore a tight wool sweater and the daffodils brought me to tears So many years I had never smelled the spring so many years I had never smelled the spring smelled the spring, smelled the spring So, lost in the moment! Precious on this earth, on this earth, on this earth Hmmm… The sun set on a wigglin’ fish, in the death grip of a bird of prey, to end the day Took a little while but I finally saw the light! took a little while but I finally saw the light saw the light, saw the light! So, lost in the moment! Precious on this earth, on this earth, on this earth Hmmm… McCutcheon: vocals, harmonica Michelle Collins: vocals Jeff Berlin: drums Kevin Zoernig: wurlitzer, Hammond B3 Brett Davis: lapsteel, vocals -------------------- Seeds and Candy They longed for taste of the country locked up in a cubicle for centuries sunflower seeds and candy the Donner Party jokes ended quickly Way up in the Utah desert the elk would not be seen until June ravens gathered talking in the junipers o’er the random jeep embedded in the dunes They skirted past a sign all blasted with shotgun holes it was not legible their toes were getting cold inside the tennis shoes soon the road they chose became impossible Way up in the monumental valleys The engine idled as he tried to comfort her he rubbed her head and promised mashed potatoes but the cruel wind tore the banker’s words Oh lost, lost… lost and forbidden to ever leave the palace of the maelstrom the drifts were so high as he kissed her one last time one frozen tear against the desert sky Scantily prepared for a picnic in the white blinding rage of the wilderness sweet young thing and her boy friend did bring sunflower seeds and candy Way up in the Utah desert the elk would not be seen until late June ravens gathered talkin’ in the junipers o’er the ill-prepared lovers fated doom McCutcheon: vocals, electric guitar Brett Davis: banjo Jeff Berlin: drums Michael Grimes: upright bass Kevin Zoernig: accordian -------------------------- Pilgrim Drivin’ along… waiting for something vital to give waiting for a piece of the engine to fall waiting on a clutch you know there ain’t much left of this truck. I used to think… that duct tape would last forever But the gas line’s rotten and this old frame’s forgotten and the slow lane’s too fast and I think I’m gonna crash in a wreck from the past. But there’s no sky like the New Mexican sky. And ain’t I been a good ole’ pilgrim for you, for you, for you? Bury me under… Spanish peaks and thunder Next to my sweet Boulder bride sing us a rusty junkyard lullaby when you’re out for a ride. But there’s no sky like the New Mexican sky. And ain’t I been a good ole’ Pilgrim for you, for you, for you? McCutcheon: duct tape, vocals, mandolin, guitar Mark Lewis: dobro, vocals (Recorded by Mark Lewis and Boris at Mark’s place in Barelas, Albuquerque) -------------------------- Branded Instrumental McCutcheon: vocals, guitar David Guiterrez: pedal steel Jeff Berlin: drums Kevin Zoernig: wurlitzer, keys, effects Brett Davis: bass, bells ----------------------- Torn Faith You were champion in the mountains you led the wild horses home their stomachs gurgling purple flowers you knelt down to listen to the growling But it was easy when they followed you down the canyons where Apache roses grew When they hit the valley them horses knew what to do what to do, what to do But now they look at you with big dark eyes piss and squeal when you pass by somehow they know that you’ve lost your nerve They don’t care and they don’t ask why. They don’t ask why The sun was bright. You couldn’t see their breath but you had lots of faith I guess You drove them out ‘cross the frozen lake with hooves as wide as dinner plates, as wide as dinner plates Torn faith, torn faith They tore the faith right out of your heart You sat by snapping pools and watched the birds disappear something old and evil where the water is not clear where the water is not clear Torn faith, torn faith They tore the faith right out of your heart You saw their eyes and you saw them sink like lead so many leather straps tangled in a web, tangled in a web McCutcheon: vocals, acoustic guitar Jeff Berlin: drums Bill Palmer: electric guitar Brett Davis: vocals, ebow Mark Lewis: electric guitar Kevin Zoernig: piano, keys, effects -------------------------- Don’t Get Weird The moon is rising and you delight me. I’ve never been so awe-filled and excited. You’re the woman they said would come to me, come to me Please don’t get weird, don’t get weird on me. I was following the ancient rhythms letting my heart make all of the decisions. I’ve been working so hard not to interrupt your world Please don’t get weird, don’t get weird on me girl. The reaper is hiding behind a screen of rusted dying tambourines. I’m afraid to go, I’m afraid to leave you here Please don’t get weird, don’t get weird on me dear. I can hold you, I can hold you a thousand glaciers melt I told you times are weird, don’t get weird on me, on me. I’ll be Lexi’s little clown. I’ll be Lexi’s little clown. And I’ll worship the ground that you walk upon each day I’ll be Lexi’s, Lexi’s little clown. McCutcheon: vocals Jeff Berlin: drums Kevin Zoernig: keys Michael Grimes: upright bass ----------------------------------- Caves of Burgundy © Mark Ray Lewis “Come down, come down” she said to me “to the Caves of Burgundy You can set me under a dripping rock and have your way with me” I won’t go down, I won’t go down to the Caves of Burgundy Your hands are soft and your voice is sweet but your face is unfamiliar to me “Come down, come down” she said to me “to the Caves of Burgundy I will dip my cloth in a pool of ice and wipe the pain from thee” The pain, the pain now I recall what’s pouring out of me but I believe I must hold on to return to my family “Your wife” she said, “has gone ahead to the Caves of Burgundy She was carried there by six strong men she was smiling, she was happy” “Come down, come down” she said to me “to the Caves of Burgundy I have many other girlfriends there that I want you to meet” But wait, my son was also in the car he was riding along shotgun I threw my arms across his chest I must return to him “Your son” she said, “is having fun in the Caves of Burgundy He has found a friend with lots of toys he will not return to thee” “Come down, come down” she said to me “to the Caves of Burgundy You can set me under a dripping rock and have your way with me” I’ll follow, I’ll go, just show me the way to the Caves of Burgundy I will lay my head upon your lap if you’ll sing me to sleep McCutcheon: vocals, very old Kay Craft acoustic guitar Kevin Zoernig: toy piano, wurlitzer, keys, effects Brett Davis: electric guitars Michael Grimes: upright Bass Jeff Berlin: drums Mark Lewis: vocals ----------------------- Hold That Thought Remember the last time we passed through the moment Hold that thought Was it for love, or was it for naught Hold that thought And thinking to yourself Life is good, life is good A woman and man, and a babe in the sand Hold that thought The light from the lake plays on their faces Hold that thought And saying to yourself Life is good, life is good Oh, your heart is golden Oh, your heart is golden Oh, my pilgrim open your arms Hold that thought And know what it means to be harmed Hold that thought And hold onto yourself Life is good, life is good McCutcheon: vocals, guitar, harmonica Recorded by Mark Lewis and Boris at Mark’s place in Barelas, Albuquerque ------------------------------------ Charles Mingus Bird I didn’t know this morning I’d be standin’ in a claw-foot bathtub by the boiling sea Snappin’ a line at the edge of the world listenin’ to the Charles Mingus Bird. And I know that there’s no beauty in a straight line and the thin hem ‘tween worlds in Autumn time But one of these mornings I’m gonna rise and shine gonna be on time, be on time, be on time. Well the Charles Mingus Bird likes to whistle while he works he whistles be-bop tunes from days gone by It drives the neighbors crazy but it always makes me cry when I think about leavin’ the Charles Mingus Bird. We carry on until it’s coffee time Give it hell until it’s coffee time A man is made of sawdust cut from the divine We carry on until it’s coffee time. Tugboat came a boppin’ up the harbor I heard the captain call out his name The shipmates waved but he did not wave back he was too busy fishin’ shingles to react. Well the Charles Mingus Bird he’s a rough one some call him the Mayor of this old town Gonna catch the old man before he hits the ground thats why I’m workin’ for the Charles Mingus Bird. When we’re drivin’ in his ‘37 Chevy I close my eyes and pray we cross Main Street Everybody waves at the life that he paints that’s why I’m ridin’ with the Charles Mingus Bird. We carry on until it’s coffee time Give it hell until it’s coffee time A man is made of sawdust cut from the divine we carry on until it’s coffee time. And I hope I wasn’t too much of a burden when I told you what was eatin’ me inside I found a certain peace in the wood grains of your mind beetlebung, cypress, yellow pine. And I know that there’s no beauty in a nail gun and Jesus was a carpenter divine But one of these mornings I’m gonna rise and shine gonna be on time, be on time, be on time. Well that Bird he painted worlds and now I’m paintin’ mine It’s gonna be on time, be divine, be divine. McCutcheon: vocals, guitar, harmonica Dan Stouffer: drums Kevin Zoernig: piano Michael Grimes: upright bass (Recorded by Mark Lewis and Boris at Mark’s place in Barelas, Albuquerque) ---------------------------