The Fool Is The Last One to Know | Vagabond | Come to Me | Is Anybody Here
Sound On Sound | Don't Look Back | You, In My Mind | A Thousand Times
The Embers | Downtown | When Hearts Collide | Ol' Timeless
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Note: These lyrics come from my listening. Corrections ALWAYS welcome.
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The Fool Is The Last One To Know
(Billy Cowsill/Ralph Boyd Johnson)
Lead Singer: John
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Note: John talks of this song: "I love how the track swings. It kicks ass. I get to pretend I'm Elvis or Dwight Yoakam on this one. It has the type of twang and is a hoot to play live. While recording, I remember trying to practice a double shuffle on drums in the studio on this one, but I couldn't get it down, so what you hear is the single shuffle. My brother Bill would've wanted the single shuffle the listener hears on the recording. He would not want what Bill would call a 'Hollywood Shuffle,' where the drummer swings the shuffle beats on the snare drums instead of just playing the backbeats on the 2 and the 4. Bill's idea of 'fun' was so serious that you didn't know that you weren't having fun, and if you had too much fun, he'd lean over with his hand holding a guitar pick and slap you with it! Bill could command a room as soon as he stood on the stage. He'd grab you right away, and you would pay attention. He was Elvis."
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I'm just a working man
And I've done all that I can
To keep you in your ribbons and your bows
Talk gets around
In a small country town
Where the fool is the last one to know
It takes a fool to do the things I do
Have to be a fool, a fool like me
To be so in love with you
Felt your touch is growing cold
Is there someone that you hold
Nights when I am out and you're alone
Who's that so and so
Darling who's your Romeo
Oh the fool is the last one to know
It takes a fool to do the things I do
Have to be a fool, a fool like me
To be so in love with you
I overhead you on the phone
You were whispering sweet and low
Something that I've never heard before
Saying just what lovers say
When two lovers talk that way
Yes, the fool is the last one to know
It takes a fool to do the things I do
Have to be a fool, a fool like me
To be so in love with you
Yeah, talk gets around
In a small country town
Where the fool is the last one to know
I guess the fool is the last one to know
Yes I'm the fool and I'm the last one to know
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Vagabond
(Billy Cowsill)
Lead Singer: John
Vagabond you'll never settle down
You spin your wheels like an endless merry-go-round
And there's not a place that you can call a home
You're a vagabond, drifting like a rolling stone
You had a womans' love but everything was wrong
It just up and died and now you sing a different song
Like a wayward wind, a child of the underground
You're a vagabond, you'll never settle down
Just like a freight train hobo, riding on an endless rail
There's a place to sleep every now and then
It's usually in the county jail
Vagabond you'll never settle down
Keep spinning your wheels like an endless merry-go-round
You're without a love that you can call your own
You're a vagabond, drifting like a rolling stone
You're like a freight train hobo, riding on the endless rail
There's a place to sleep every now and then
It's usually in the county jail
Vagabond you'll never settle down
Just spin your wheels like an endless merry-go-round
You don't have a place that you can call your own
You're a vagabond, drifting like a rolling stone
Like a rolling stone
Like a rolling stone
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Come To Me
(Barry Cowsill)
Lead Singer: Vicki
If you're feeling down and out
And you're thinking you can't hold out
Come to me
Baby know you can come to me
Give it another try
If you're feeling that you are lost
And your thinking has lost its worth
Well then come to me
Baby now you can come to me
Give it another try. Give it another try
I know it's hard to see the change
But I've been working on it.
You know it's nice to see the same way
But I've been working on it.
If you're thinking times are bad
And your feeling have all been sad
Well then come to me
Baby now you can co
me to me
Give it another try.
You know it's hard to see a change
But I've been working on it
You know it's nice to see the same way
I've been working on it
If you're feeling down and out
And you're thinking you can't hold out
Baby, come to me
Baby now you can come to me
Give it another try
Give it another try
Give it another try
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Is Anybody Here?
(Billy Cowsill)
Lead Singer: John
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Note: This was the first song recorded for this project. One night after a Beach Boys show, Paul Allen took John to Sun Studios in Nashville. Looking at the photos on the wall, it felt right to record this song.
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Is anybody here, to hear this song
That I've been crying here, all night long
This feeling so alone, it feels so wrong
Is anybody here to hear this song
Is this lonely voice
The only voice to sing this song
Is my guitar the only one to strum along
Out my window in the street
The shadow falls on deserted towns
Where the people used to meet
Now but never when the suns gone down
Can anybody see, what's going on
Cuz everybody knows, the right from wrong
Oh we could change it now, or go along
Is anybody here to hear this song
Out my window on the street
A steady rain is still coming down
Till the sun rises up again
Will this world ever come around
Is anybody here to hear this song
That I've been crying here, all night long
This feeling so alone, it feels so wrong
Is anybody here to hear this song
Is anybody here to hear this song
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Sound On Sound
(Barry Cowsill)
Lead Singer: John
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Note: John found this song on a cassette recording of a show from The Troubadour with Barry (and John on drums). Vicki says of the lyrics "Okay, this makes almost no sense. But wait! In Barry talk, it makes perfect sense." John adds: "Barry's talk is cosmic, and we all speak 'Barry. 'And he spoke cosmically when he would refer to things. He would speak in painting a picture, more symbolic than actually referencing the words. You'd have to figure out what he says "when the tree shade is coming across the grass on a rainy day." There's no shadow on a rainy day."
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Looking for the work station
Good to find my boom shovel
Living at the weigh station
Looking for the song of the
Sound on sound
Make no mistake about
Pound for pound
You think you can take
Sound on sound
It's up for me
It's up for you
Pound for pound
You begin to make
Looking for screams of a
Round round steam shovel
Do me (????) till you get the spread back
Look for it
Sound on sound
We got some tricks for you
Pound for pound
Nothing you can take
Round round sound
_________
Pound for pound
You begin to make
I love the sound of pushing and motion
And I love ___ of ______ dream
If you're around
You will know what I'm saying
If you're away, you'll know what I mean.
Know what I mean.
Music for the wave maker
Wrapped in a wealthy man
Now we got the gold rockin'
__________ city
Sound on sound
Make no mistake about
Pound for pound
Gonna make it stick
Ground round sound
We're riding on the crest of it.
Pound for pound
You can know the wave (???)
Sound on Sound
Pound on Pound
Sound on sound
Make no mistake about it
Pound for pound
Gonna make it stick
Round round sound
We're riding on the best of waves
Pound for pound
You can know the wave (???)
Sound on Sound
Pound on pound
Round round sound
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Don't Look Back
(Barry Cowsill)
Lead Singer: Vicki
When you leave us far behind in the morning,
When you drive away from here,
Try to hold back all you tears.
And don't look back, baby, don't look back.
We will miss you when you go away from here.
We know you will miss us too.
Don't let all your sadness through,
And don't look back, baby, don't look back.
And don't look back, baby, don't look back.
Reminisce about all the nice things we do, and what I meant to you.
And what life standed for then, and what it stands for now.
When you leave from here,
Return on the morrow.
Leaving all the things you cherish,
Please do something as you perish.
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You, In My Mind
( Billy Cowsill)
Lead Singer: Vicki
Now, I'm a shy one,
You made me that way.
Don't have to hide none,
I get to come out every day.
I play the sly one,
But you know all the time.
That it's just a game in a dry run,
baby yeah yeah
I got you in my mind.
I got you, you, you in my mind.
All through, through, through my changin' line.
You've been true, true, true all this time.
I got you, you, you in my mind.
How did I find one?
How did you find me?
I couldn't buy one -
Well, she give you her love from free.
She'll play a blind one,
Seeing all the time,
That it's just a game in a hot run,
baby, yeah, yeah
And it's you in my mind.
I got you, you, you in my mind.
All through, through, through my changin' line.
You've been true, true, true all this time.
I got you, you, you in my mind.
Yeah, baby, I got you, you, you in my mind.
All through, through, through my changin' line.
You've been true, true, true all this time.
I got you, you, you got you in my mind.
No, no body, no, no, body but you in my mind
No, no body, no, no, body but you in my mind
No, no body, no, no, body but you
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A Thousand Times
(Billy Cowsill)
Lead Singer: John
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Note: This was the first song John and Vicki did as a married couple. They sang it as The Newlyweds at Billy's benefit in 2004.
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I told you no a thousand times
Don't try to make me change my mind
You see I'm happy where I am
And I don't need your cheating kind
I told my baby I'd be true
Twas on the day we said I do
To hurt her once would be a crime
I told you no a thousand times
I've been a fool before
Now I don't fool around no more
Cuz when it comes to love
I learned my lesson well
Don't get me wrong it's crossed my mind
I've just won't step across that line
She's someone I don't want to lose
True love is hard enough to find
Go give your heart to someone else
Then maybe you'll see for yourself
And understand the reason why
I told you no a thousand times
You see I've been a fool before
Now I don't fool around no more
Cuz when it comes to love
I learned my lesson well
Go give your heart to someone else
Then maybe you'll see for yourself
And understand the reason why
I told you no a thousand times
You'll understand the reason why
I told you no a thousand times
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The Embers
(Billy Cowsill)
Lead Singer: John
The embers keep burning
Long after the fire
Old memories returning
Like your voice on the wire
Though our love's in ashes
You're still my one desire
And the embers keep burning long after the fire
Unkind words were spoken
But we said them in hast
Now two hearts are broken
True love is nothing to waste
But my memories are ashes
And there's this haunting desire
Cuz the embers keep burning long after the fire
Oh and burn they will, right on until eternity
Not all the fire has burned
But I have learned this flame will reach no higher
Still the embers keep burning long after the fire
Now my memories are ashes
That leave this haunting desire
And the embers keep burning long after the fire
Yes the embers keep burning long after the fire
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Downtown
(Barry Cowsill)
Lead Singer: John
There's a TV in my back room
If you want to stay home
There's a dog in the backyard
So you won't be all alone.
But, I know where I got to go.
And you can stay warm and cozy
While the sun is sinking low
I'm going downtown
I got to see the lights
I'm going downtown
Going downtown tonight
I'm going baby,
Got to see what I see
I'm going downtown
Won't you come along with me.
Well the batty is getting to me
I've been working all the time.
And your _____ that the boss is asking for
_____ a mighty fine wine
Nobody knows a _____
Before I die from work or a heart attack
I'm going downtown
I got to see the lights
I'm going downtown
Going downtown tonight
I'm going baby,
Got to see what I see
I'm going downtown
Won't you come along with me.
Going to be taking you downtown ohhhh tonight
Going to be taking you downtown all night, all night, baby
Downtown, Downtown
Downtown, Downtown
Going Downtown, Downtown
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When Hearts Collide
(Barry Cowsill)
Lead Singer: John
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Note: Barry sang this song as John and Vicki walked down the aisle at their wedding.
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In the early morning
With n'ry a breeze,
My love will rise,
Like an old oak tree.
And I'll reach up
And touch your sky.
Feel your sun
Come closer
When Hearts Collide
When Hearts Collide
When Hearts Collide
No matter how far
Or long ago
You'll live in me,
For always
And we will sing,
And take to flight,
On the wings of our love.
When Hearts Collide
When Hearts Collide
When Hearts Collide
Just takin' in mind
With all the luck
And of all things
The way we struck
Two separate worlds
In a long abyss
And when we hit how could we miss.
And like a mother,
Laying me down
For the timeless sleep,
Of lovers.
I'll cover you up,
Just like an old oak tree.
My branches bend,
They surround you.
When Hearts Collide
When Hearts Collide
When Hearts Collide
That's for sure
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Ol' Timeless
(Barry Cowsill)
Lead Singer: Vicki
Move on down the road,
Ease me through the door,
Take me to your dreams Ol Timeless
I wantta go.
Move me down the road,
I don't mind the pain.
'Cuz the gates I'm passing through have no set boundaries.
As I cast my blessings to the seventh wind tonight,
I'll keep in mind the promises I made.
From the land I find to hold it for the others,
As I move on down the road.
Ease along the way.
Take me to your dreams Ol Timeless
I gotta know.
Put me on the path,
There is nothing more to say.
'Cept swing your mighty scales,
Let's be onward.
And I take the secret treasures,
Of my heart and soul,
Gonna keep them covered safe within my reach.
Till the time when I can share them with the others.
And I move on down the road,
Slip me through the door,
Oh take me to your dreams Ol Timeless
I want for more.
Send me on my way,
To them other times.
There's alot of work ahead for me tomorrow.
A lot of work ahead for me tomorrow.
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