Trying to keep myself in line

COVER OF: Lawrence, KS
OIGINAL BY: Josh Ritter
ALBUM: The Golden Age of Radio (2002)

Dirt roads and dryland farming might be the death of me
But I can’t leave this world behind
Debts are not like prison where there’s hope of getting free
And I can’t leave this world behind

I’ve been from here to Lawrence, Kansas
Trying to leave my state of mind
Trying to leave this awful sadness
But I can’t leave this world behind

South of Delia there’s a patch out back by the willow trees
And I can’t leave this world behind
It’s a fenced in piece of nothing where I hear voices on my knees
And I can’t leave this world behind

Some prophecies are self-fulfilling
But I’ve had to work for all of mine
Better times will come to me, God willing
Cause I can’t leave this world behind

This world must be frightening everybody’s on the run
And I can’t leave this world behind
And my house is a wooden one and its built on a wooden one
Seems I can’t leave this world behind

Preacher says when the Master calls us
He’s gonna give us wings to fly
But my wings are made of hay and corn husks
So I can’t leave this world behind

COVER OF: Slip Slidin’ Away
OIGINAL BY: Paul Simon
ALBUM: Greatist Hits, Etc (1977)

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

I know a man
He came from my home town
He wore his passion for his woman
Like a thorny crown
He said Dolores
I live in fear
My love for you’s so overpowering
I’m afraid that I will disappear

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

I know a woman
Became a wife
These are the very words she uses
To describe her life
She said a good day
Ain’t got no rain
She said a bad day’s when I lie in bed
And think of things that might have been

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

And I know a fa-ther
Who had a son
He longed to tell him all the reasons
For the things he’d done
He came a long way
Just to explain
He kissed his boy as he lay sleeping
Then he turned around and headed home again

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

God only knows
God makes his plan
The information’s unavailable
To the mortal man
We’re working our jobs
Collect our pay
Believe we’re gliding down the highway
When in fact we’re slip slidin’ away

Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away

Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away
Mmm…

Una delle ballate folk più belle in assoluto, imho.

COVER OF: Barbara Allen, (Traditional)

‘Twas in the merry month of May
When green buds all were swellin’
Sweet William on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen

He sent his servant to the town
To the place where she was dwellin’
Saying, “You must come to my master dear,
If your name be Barb’ry Allen”

So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she drew nigh to him,
And the only words to him did say
“Young man, I think you’re dying”

He turned his face unto the wall
And death was in him welling
Goodbye, goodbye to my friends all
Be kind to Barb’ry Allen

When he was dead and laid in grave
She heard the death bells knellin’
And every stroke to her did say
“Hard-hearted Barb’ry Allen”

“Mother, go make my bed
Make it long and narrow
My true love died for me yesterday
I shall die for him tomorrow’

“Oh father, oh father, go dig my grave
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William died on yesterday
And I will die tomorrow”

She was buried in the old church-yard
And he was buried there beside her
and from his grave grew a red red rose
from her grew a green a briar

They grew and they grew so very high
‘Til they could grow no higher
Then at the top grew a true lovers’ knot
Twined with green briars’

Niente da dire a parte che mi sento romantica. Senza motivi particolari, peraltro.

TITLE: Like The Sun
YEAR: 2008

Like the sun on your head
Like the sun

Well I came from the highway
I walked through foreign countries
just to see you
I climbed eleven mountains
I crossed the seven oceans
because I missed you

Like the sun on your head
Like the sun

I faced every storm
I fought every flood
just to see you
I walked through the darkness
I walked into the wilderness
because I missed you

Like the sun on your head
Like the sun

Take my hand and I’ll love you
Take my hand and I’ll follow you
down these fields
Take my hand and I’ll lead you
Take my hand ‘cuz I love you
down on these fields

Canzone che amo.
Comunque cantare Dylan senza scivolare nella voce nasale è un’impresa degna di nota.

COVER OF: The Times They Are A-Changin’
ORIGINAL BY: Bob Dylan
ALBUM: The Times They Are A-Changin’ (1964)

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.

Enjoy.

COVER OF: In The Sun
ORIGINAL BY: Joseph Arthur
ALBUM: Come to Where I’m From (2000)

I picture you in the sun wondering what went wrong
And falling down on your knees asking for sympathy
And being caught in between all you wish for and all you seen
And trying to find anything you can feel that you can believe in

May God’s love be with you
Always
May God’s love be with you

I know I would apologize if I could see your eyes
cause when you showed me myself I became someone else
But I was caught in between all you wish for and all you need
I picture you fast asleep
A nightmare comes
You cant keep awake

May God’s love be with you
Always
May God’s love be with you

’cause if I find
If I find my own way
How much will I find
If I find
If I find my own way
How much will I find
You

I don’t know anymore
What its for
Im not even sure
If there is anyone who is in the sun
Will you help me to understand
cause I been caught in between all I wish for and all I need
Maybe youre not even sure what its for
Any more than me

May God’s love be with you
Always
May God’s love be with you

A dispetto del testo io amo il bluegrass. L’idea sarebbe quella di dare alla canzone un arrangiamento bluegrass, prima o poi. Spero che il banjoman non corra a nascondersi. xD

TITLE: I Won’t Sing Your Bluegrass
YEAR: 2008

You can’t convince me, oh no
I won’t sing your bluegrass song
It’s not my music, it doesn’t speak to my soul
I’ll just get back to my rock’n'roll
You’re annoying as a summer school class
I won’t ever sing your bluegrass
never never never

You can’t convince me, oh no
I won’t sing your bluegrass song
You’ve never felt the rhythm or learnt the beat
You could rather sell peanuts on these streets
You’re really annoying as a broken piece of glass
I won’t ever sing your bluegrass
never never never

(instrumental solo)

You can’t convince me, oh no
I will NEVER sing your bluegrass song
It’s not my music, it doesn’t speak to my soul
I’ll just get back to my rock’n'roll
You’re annoying as a summer school class
I won’t ever sing your bluegrass
never never never

Non so se ne sono del tutto soddisfatta, però il pezzo lo adoro. Enjoy.

COVER OF: California Stars
ORIGINAL BY: Billy Bragg & Wilco
ALBUM: Marmaid Avenue (1998)

I’d like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I’d like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars

I’d love to feel your hand touching mine
And tell me why I must keep working on
Yes, I’d give my life to lay my head tonight
On a bed of California stars

I’d like to dream my troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my starbed and make another day
Underneath my California stars

They hang like grapes on vines that shine
And warm the lovers glass like friendly wine
So, I’d give this world
just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars

Dopo molto frugare tra le canzoni di Johnny Cash ho scelto questa. Più che altro perché riflettevo che la maggior parte di canzoni d’amore che adoro sono scritte da uomini e chiaramente rivolte a donne, quindi non coverabili. Questa invece era abbastanza personalizzabile (spero), quindi… I walk the line.

COVER OF: I Walk The Line
ORIGINAL BY: Johnny Cash
ALBUM:I Walk The Line (1964)

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I’ve known proves that it’s right
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

You’ve got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can’t hide
For you I know I’d even try to turn the tide
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

Per inaugurare la nascita di questo e perché durante la prima tappa di questo tour (Stone Pony, Asbury Park) l’ha dedicata a Danny. E anche perché mi piace moltissimo, of course.

EDIT (14.05.2008): Ri-registrata, tutto considerato che la versione precedente era abbastanza orribile.

COVER OF: Monster Ballads
ORIGINAL BY: Josh Ritter
ALBUM: The Animal Years (2006)

Radio waves are coming miles and miles
Bringing only empty boats
Whatever feeling they had when they sailed
Somehow slipped out between the notes

Out on the desert now and feeling lost
The bonnet wears a wire albatross
Monster ballads and the stations of the cross
Sighing just a little bit
Sighing just a little bit

And I was thinking about what Katy done
Thinking about what Katy did
The fairest daughter of the Pharaoh’s son
Dressed in gold ‘neath pyramids

Out on the desert now and feeling lost
The bonnet wears a wire albatross
Monster ballads and the stations of the cross
Sighing just a little bit
Sighing just a little bit

Ones and zeroes bleeding mesa noise
And when you’re empty there’s so much space for them
You turn it off but then a still small voice
Comes in blazing from some vast horizon

And I was thinking about my river days
I was thinking about me and Jim
Passing Cairo on a getaway
With every steamboat like a hymn

Out on the desert now I’m feeling lost
The bonnet wears a wire albatross
Monster ballads and the stations of the cross
Sighing just a little bit
Smiling just a little bit