Before

Willie

Sun spreads rays in the air / cooking stones

Barbed wire rust everywhere / and dusty bones

My graduation gawn / is nailed on the wall

I’ve never read a book anymore / since you came along



I grew up in the fields / of this land of mud 

At night I would lie on the ground / just to feel its touch

My daddy used to tell me “Willie, / don’t waste your time.

Should anything happen / Would you walk the line?



The world is pushing at 9 o’ clock / on the freeway

Is beating like my drum / shakes down the neighborood 



And I’m still reeling from hangover / of last night

washing off the smell of cigarettes, / but I had good times 

My friends they’ve gone away, / it’s a long long time, now

Philadelphia, NY and Bombay / money is all around



I watch the horses riding free / in this fields of mine

The apples growing red on the tree, / I’m still growing up



The world is pushing at 9 o’ clock / on the freeway

People busted in the cars. / have they ever lived?

We’re lying on our bed, / with the same tattoo

a Cherokee chief, he ain’t smiling. / Guess he’s feeling blue




The world is pushing at 9 o’ / clock on the freeway
People busted in the cars. / Are they living? We’re lying on our bed, / same tattoo: our Cherokee ain’t smiling. / Guess he’s feeling blue 



washing machine broken

take it to the river

blue jeans you dont’like

take it to the river

car wheels with worn tires

take it to the river

guilt feelings hurt you

take it to the river

everything is broken

take it to the river