Black is the color of a night like any other, as we sleepwalk together down along the river, The air is heavy as we climb onto a levy and see, the lights of the city sparkle on the water, as we dream about the ones that got pulled under, we dream about you and we dream about me, we dream about the way things used to be. You can take my hand now if you really want to or just stay glued to some god forsaken bar stool you better make a move, this moment will never come again. The city glows like a beacon in the mist and tonight I find it hard to resist, you’re asking me if this is some kind of test, well it may be. Despite the suffering of the people, there are crows and eagles nesting in the steeples, oracles calling on some heavenly angels to come on home and carelessly turn the tables. copyright louisledfordmusic

Sweet William what’s the matter with you? You’re into something that you ought’n to. You’re weaving and bobbing like a featherweight. You better get yourself right before it’s too late. Sweet William enough is enough. You better say goodbye to this stuff. If your friends could see you now, what do you think they’d think of you pal? “Oh Billy! What’s there matter with you?” Seen ya bobbling to and fro, you didn’t even wanna say hello. You’re on a path that’s been well tread. If you don’t watch out you’re gonna wind up missing all the things that used to be, like, what it felt like to be free. You wanted the world to know your name and now they do. "Oh Billy! What’s the matter with you?" Oh Bill you’re past due to take a moment and think things through. You’re not the reason that the world is round, why there’s up and why there’s down. Oh Billy enough is enough. You better say goodbye to that stuff! If your friends could see you now, what do you think they’d think of you pal? “Oh Billy! What’s there matter with you?” copyright louisledfordmusic.com

In Cambridge Massachusetts I get in it pretty deep, a poor little junco on ivy beleaguered streets. I sang a song of six pence about a grand corpulent moon, it was over in a second not a second over soon. I thumbed a ride to Boston where they offered me a hand, I declined the invitation because I didn’t understand. It all started in Virginia nineteen hundred sixty six, just a little bit of nothing down below the mason dix. Dogwood and magnolia trees, Coca-Cola and sweet tea, Summers by the swimming pools, brothers breaking all the rules, I dreamed a song of six pence about a grand corpulent moon, It was over in a second not a second over soon. I grew up straight I grew up strong while Watergate and Viet Nam, flickered on the Magnavox, as I broke out in Chicken Pox. Russia had her sights on us. Children climbed aboard the bus. Parents raised an awful fuss, didn’t know whom else to trust. The gas line formed around the block. The old Ford, it ran on fumes. It was no age of innocence. Whitey landed on the moon. They got this saying down in Texas about how not to make a mess, but I messed around there anywhere, just like all the rest. I sang a song of six pence about a grand corpulent moon. It was over in a second not a second over soon. As the gang and I together sang like kings upon the hill. The fires that surrounded us, those fires are burning still. As we wished upon a lone star I packed my meager grip, and climbed aboard a caravan that too a mighty trip. I took her love for granted but I guess it had to be. The open road was calling but it wasn’t calling me. They dropped me off in New Orleans. Étouffée. Rice and Beans. Heat just like a mothers womb. The air a jasmine perfume bloom. Jukebox full of rhythm blues. Picayune ignored the news. Highlife at that Sugar Park. Big Muddy churning in the dark, won me over in a second,not a second over soon. I sang my song of sixpence and au claire du la lune. We got that party rolling and mother nature intervened and destroyed all that surrounded us in one chaotic scene. The poor ones didn’t stand a chance, scattered by the circumstance. The rich fared little better still, they grudgingly picked up the bill. New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, D.C. Asheville, Nashville are all the same to me. I sang my song of six pence about a grand corpulent moon. It was second after second ager second after soon. I was whirling like a dervish. I was a dervish wreck. I said hooray for Hollywood. She bit me on the neck. I found my way to Washington up on Puget Sound. I pitched my tent and found true love and finally settled down, and never for one second or one second for one soon will I chase my tail from hill to dale the way I used to do. I’ve sung my song of six pence about a grand corpulent moon and It ain’t over for one second nor one second for one soon. I’ve had my fun. Don’t doubt me son. This ain’t my final tune. My memories, like souvenirs, in flashes sometimes reappear, like nickels from a slot machine or tremors from a fever dream, or sweet familiar faces in all kinds of places that didn’t have to like me but so often they just do, as I sing a song of six pence and a grand corpulent moon.

Anita you were my desire a boyhood fantasy, sprung from the pages of books and magazines. Anita, so beautiful, Imperfect teeth drove a glimmering smile, that had ahold of my heart for a little while. I'd sit and I'd dream of an aeroplane carrying you and an entourage. Up there the world is so far away among the angels, clouds and stars. Oh, that picture of you holding Marlon, your long blonde hair hanging down. You were on top of the world, the talk of the town. Then I learned your life was not all wonderful. Brian beat you and blackened your eye. Instead of fun you had heroin. Instead of happy you got high. When I heard that you died there was a photograph, an old woman and a grocery cart. unrecognizable to my eyes but not to my heart. A cigarette pressed between two lips and lines pressed deep in a face that had overcome artifice and recovered grace. So, Anita I bid you a adieu and a pleasant journey to the next bardo. How i wish you could know, that so very long ago, Anita you touched me.

Is that your costume darling? Come over let me see. We'll have ourselves a time on this Halloween. I'll be a ghost so you can see right through me. There's a cardboard skeleton hanging on the door from a rusty nail, been there since before the war. He's looking horrible, slack jaw goofy grin. I've got candy corns and all kinds of treats for the little monsters roaming up and down the streets. They're incorrigible. I like their spooky style. That one looks like Pee Wee Herman I ain't though about him in awhile. Are you Freda Kahlo or Marilyn Monroe or Ruth Bader Ginsberg, all I know is you're beautiful and I'm Casper the friendly ghost. Take off your costume darling I'll wait for you in bed thinking about the magic we create in our heads. I'm no ghost. I'm a flesh and bone lover man.

Come gather round people a story I'll sing about a brave young man who could do most anything. He left Colorado for the pacific northwest to follow the beat of his heart. Like Gabriel with a trumpet, Orpheus with a lyre the music ran through him like thunder like fire. The gods they took notice and wagered a bet and watched as the poor young man suffered and sweat. They tied down his arm and dared him to play but to no great surprise he played better that way. Like old Job before him they wouldn't let up til he drank every drop that they poured in his cup. He traveled the world and made all kinds of friends his music his message, the means and the ends. The gods became jealous and twisted the screws and the young man did the only thing left to do. He bowed his head but he didn't pray he put his shoulder to the wheel and continued to play. The music got better, got bitter, got sweet. It put smiles on our lips it put dance in our feet But the gods didn't give up. That's not what gods do. They made a wreck of his body by the time they were through. He kicked and he bucked like a mule to the end. I'm proud to say this brave young man was my friend. He left the Pacific NW for parts unknown yet we carry the seeds in our hearts he has sown. Like Gabriel with a Trumpet, Orpheus with a lyre the Music ran through him like thunder like fire.

Sweet Baby listen to me, I wanna be what I wanna be. Tonight lets turn this old town all around. I've had some wine and I'm feeling OK. Come hold me down, cause i might just float away. Sweet Baby listen to me, I wanna see what I wanna see. Tonight lets turn this old town upside down. I've had some whiskey but not too much. I long to feel your warm soft body and roll like that old river rolls down south. If I say too much just shut my mouth. Sweet Baby listen to me. I wanna see what you wanna be. Tonight lets turn this old town inside out. I've had some beers and there's still plenty. Come over here when you're good and ready to roll like that old river rolls down south. If I say too much just shut my mouth. Sweet Baby listen to me. I wanna be what you wanna see. Tonight lets turn this old town all around. I've had some weed and I'm feeling mellow. You're all I need to be a happy fellow and roll like that old river rolls down south and If I say too much just kiss my mouth.

I fell in love at the end of the world yeah buddy believe me it's true. Where liken forms on telephone wire and the sky is the color of you. I wasn't blind. I was right in my mind yet I knew right from the start. I fell in love at the end of the world as my own world was falling apart. I fell in love at the end of the world just below the astral plane, where ancestors voices can be heard, day and night are one in the same. I shed the skin I came here in and now wear a different pose. I fell in love at the end of the world you couldn't stop me I was ready to go. I fell in love at the end of the world where seabirds dance with the crows and dark forrest floors nourish the earth. The weather gets under your clothes. Her eyes are like fireflies. They blink an irresistible glow. I fell in love at the end of the world Ask me why and I'll cry, "Heaven Knows."

Gotta ticket in my pocket that I won't redeem (3x) in a pawnshop in New Orleans. I ain't made a nickel since I don't know when (3x) I've been scratching around this yard like a yardbird. Ooooh Ooooh Country gals got fists like dynamite (3x) you gals got fists like dynamite, gonna light your fuse and get you right. I didn't mean to make her feel so blue (3x) just seems like what she's used to. Ooooh Ooooh repeat 1st verse