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Lyrics: Old Ways

Song List

Other non-Album songs from this period

Some of these were on the original Old Ways (sometimes known as "Old Ways 1") album that was rejected by Geffen. Others are part of a set of out-takes that's become known as "Old Ways 3".
      
The Wayward Wind

     In the lonely shack by the railroad track 
     I spent my younger days 
     And I guess the sound of the outward bound 
     Made me a slave to my wanderin' ways. 
      
     And the wayward wind is a restless wind 
     A restless wind that yearns to wander 
     And I was born the next of kin 
     The next of kin to the wayward wind. 
      
     Oh, I met him down in the border town 
     He vowed we'd never part 
     Though he tried his best to settle down 
     Now I'm all alone with a broken heart. 
      
     And the wayward wind is a restless wind 
     A restless wind that yearns to wander 
     And I was born the next of kin 
     The next of kin to the wayward wind. 
      
     And the wayward wind is a restless wind 
     A restless wind that yearns to wander 
     And I was born the next of kin 
     The next of kin to the wayward wind. 
      
     The next of kin to the wayward wind. 

      
Get Back To The Country    

     When I was a younger man 
     Got lucky with a rock 'n' roll band 
     Struck gold in Hollywood 
     All that time I knew I would 
     Get back to the country 
     Back where it all began 
     Get back to the country 
     Back in the barn again. 
      
     Now when we hit the road 
     Big buses and trucks unload 
     After the curtain falls 
     Load up and then we all  
     Get back to the country 
     Back where it all began 
     Get back to the country 
     Back on the road again. 
      
     When I was a younger man 
     Got lucky with a rock 'n' roll band 
     Struck gold in Hollywood 
     All that time I knew I would 
     Get back to the country 
     Back where it all began 
     Get back to the country 
     Back in the barn again. 

      
Are There Any More Real Cowboys
      
     Are there any more real cowboys 
     Left out in these hills? 
     Will the fire hit the iron 
     One more time? 
     And will one more dusty pick-up 
     Coming rolling down the road 
     With a load of feed before the sun gets high? 
     Well, I hope that working cowboy never dies. 
      
     Not the one that's snortin' cocaine 
     When the honky-tonk's all closed 
     But the one that prays for more rain 
     Heaven knows 
     That the good feed brings the money 
     And the money buys the clothes 
     Not the diamond sequins shining on TV 
     But the kind the working cowboy really needs. 
      
     Are there any more country families 
     Still working hand in hand 
     Trying hard to stay together 
     And make a stand? 
     While the rows and rows of houses 
     Come creepin' up on the land 
     Where the cattle graze and an old grey barn still stands 
     Are there any more real cowboys in this land? 
      
     Are there any more real cowboys in this land? 

      
Once An Angel      
      
     Once an angel 
     Always an angel 
     You're as close to heaven 
     As I'll ever be 
      
     It's been six years now 
     Since my ring slipped on your finger 
     And those years have made 
     A better man out of me. 
      
     Once an angel 
     Always an angel 
     You're as close to heaven 
     As I'll ever be. 
      
     There've been times when 
     I've treated you so badly 
     I've done things I know 
     You'll never understand. 
      
     But you take me back 
     Turn your eyes towards the window 
     Where you hide the tears 
     You don't want me to see. 
      
     Once an angel 
     Always an angel 
     You're as close to heaven 
     As I'll ever be. 
      
     Once an angel 
     Always an angel 
     You're as close to heaven 
     As I'll ever be. 
      
     You're as close to heaven 
     As I'll ever be. 

      
Misfits      
      
     Up in that new space station 
     Living Kennedy's dream 
     There was an automatic camera 
     Shooting elephantine. 
      
     Well the crew was relaxing 
     Before the video screen 
     Watching old re-runs 
     Of Mohammed Ali. 
      
     The voice of Houston callin' 
     Brought them back to the scene 
     Except the sky is fallin' 
     Do you know what that means? 
      
     Out on that Texas sidewalk 
     Through the hotel mezzanine 
     There walked a see-thru' hooker 
     To a suite with two TVs. 
      
     But by the elevator 
     She began to sneeze 
     With an attack so uncontrolled 
     It brought her to her knees. 
      
     And then the hotel doctor 
     With nurse and stethoscope 
     Announced the worst is over 
     But for her there is no hope. 
      
     Way down in South Dakota 
     On the Needles Highway 
     There's a lone red rider 
     On the road today. 
      
     And though his war is over 
     He's fightin' on anyway 
     Although he's seldom sober 
     He's drinking whisky all day. 
      
     Down in that old box canyon 
     Where only misfits can go 
     He rides with no companion 
     But saloon and rodeo. 
      
     Up in that new space station 
     Living Kennedy's dream 
     There's an automatic camera 
     Shooting elephantine. 
      
     Well the crew is relaxing 
     Before the video screen 
     Watching old re-runs 
     Of Mohammed Ali. 
      
     The voice of Houston callin' 
     Brought them back to the scene 
     Except the sky is fallin' 
     Do you know what that means? 

      
California Sunset      
      
     I remember long ago 
     How I wondered where I'd go 
     While the blizzards, cold wind and snow 
     Pounded outside my window. 
      
     California sunset 
     Going down in the West 
     All the colors in the sky 
     Kiss another day goodbye. 
      
     Land of beauty, space and light 
     Land of promise, land of might 
     You're my home now and it's true 
     California, here's to you. 
      
     California sunset 
     Going down in the West 
     All the colors in the sky 
     Kiss another day goodbye. 
      
     California sunset 
     Going down in the West 
     All the colors in the sky 
     Kiss another day goodbye. 
      
     The golden state! 

      
Old Ways      
      
     Old ways, it sure is hard to change 'em 
     Come what may 
     It's hard to teach a dinosaur a new trick 
     Lately I've been finding out 
     I'm set in my ways 
     Old ways, can be your ball and chain. 
      
     Oh, I'm gonna stop that grass 
     And give up all this drinking 
     Really gonna make my life last 
     Clean up my whole way of living 
     Up until the party last night 
     I was a different man 
     But old ways got their way again. 
      
     The economy was getting so bad 
     I had to lay myself off 
     Well, working was a habit I had 
     So I kept showin' up anyway 
     Then one day things turned around 
     I got my back pay 
     Old ways comin' through again. 
      
     I got old ways. 

      
My Boy      
      
     Why are you growin' up so fast 
     My boy? 
     Oh, you'd better take your time. 
     Why are you growin' up so fast 
     My son? 
      
     Almost time to live your dream 
     My boy. 
     Oh, you'd better take your time. 
     Almost time to make some plans 
     My son. 
      
     Vacation gone, school is out, 
     Summer ends year in year out. 
      
     Oh, you'd better take your time 
     My boy. 
     I thought we had just begun. 
     Why are you growin' up so fast 
     My son? 
      
     Vacation gone, school is out, 
     Summer ends year in year out. 
      
     Why are you growin' up so fast 
     My boy? 
      
     Why are you growin' up so fast 
     My son? 

      
Bound For Glory      
      
     Out on the trans-Canada highway 
     There was a girl hitchhiking with her dog 
     Fireflies buzzin' round her head 
     Like candles in the fog. 
      
     He was three miles down the road 
     Tryin' to stay up, but he knew that he couldn't 
     She was looking for a ride through the night 
     But out there, who wouldn't. 
      
     They were bound for glory 
     Bound for living on the edge 
     They were bound for each other 
     Like two comets heading for a bed. 
      
     She had a new way of living 
     New way of looking at life 
     He had an '84 International and two kids 
     He left back home with his wife. 
      
     He was tired of writin' letters to himself 
     And living in the dark 
     She was open to suggestions 
     And some say she had a broken heart. 
      
     He had everything he wanted 
     'Til it all turned out to be a job 
     One fallen asleep trucker 
     And a girl hitchhiking with her dog. 
      
     They were bound for glory 
     Bound for living on the edge 
     They were bound for each other 
     Like two comets heading for a bed. 
      
     She had a new way of living 
     New way of looking at life 
     He had an '84 International and two kids 
     He left back home with his wife. 
      
     Out on the trans-Canada highway 
     The sun came climbing up the cab 
     By the time it hit the window they were wakin' up 
     From what little sleep they had. 
      
     When that heat hit the blankets 
     They were looking for love at second sight 
     Just starin' in each others' eyes 
     Findin' it in the mornin' light. 
      
     They were bound for glory 
     Bound for living on the edge 
     They were bound for each other 
     Like two blankets layin' on a bed. 
      
     She had a new way of living 
     New way of looking at life 
     He had an '84 International and two kids 
     He left back home with his wife. 

      
Where Is The Highway Tonight?      
      
     I would be feelin' so low 
     She'd have a new place to go 
     She'd take me in her arms 
     And show me all her charms 
     Until my troubles were gone. 
      
     Then when I left her behind 
     Never a tear could I find 
     Just a haunting melody 
     Comin' back to me 
     Where is the highway tonight? 
      
     Where is the highway tonight? 
     Where are those old days and crazy nights? 
      
     Now the house is all quiet and still 
     Coyote house on the hill 
     How far did I go 
     Before we said hello 
     Where is the highway tonight? 
      
     Darlin', you'll always be mine 
     I'll never treat you unkind 
     But a haunting melody 
     Keeps comin' back to me 
     Where is the highway tonight? 
      
     Where is the highway tonight? 
     Where are those old days and crazy nights? 
      
     A haunting melody 
     Keeps comin' back to me 
     Where is the highway tonight? 

      
Amber Jean      
      
     Every morning got sun to shine 
     Every day got plenty of time 
     Every night there's a moon so fine 
     There for you, my Amber Jean. 
      
     Still some lines that should get crossed 
     Still some coins that might be tossed 
     Still some love that hasn't been lost 
     There for you, my Amber Jean. 
      
     Amber Jean, oh, Amber Jean, 
     Prettiest eyes I've ever seen. 
      
     Every morning got sun to shine 
     Every day got plenty of time 
     Every night there's a moon so fine 
     There for you, my Amber Jean. 

      
Razor Love      
      
     I got to bet that your old man 
     Became fascinated with his own plans 
     Turned you loose, your mama too 
     There wasn't a thing that you could do. 
     I got faith in you, it's the kind of love 
     That cuts clean through. 
     I got faith in you, it's a razor love 
     And it's true. 
      
     And you really made my day 
     With the little things you say 
     Right now I'm looking through the window at a silhouette 
     Trying to find something I can find yet 
     Imagination is my best friend 
     Got to watch out for the greedy hand, greedy hand 
     Make a living like a rolling stone 
     On the road there's no place like home 
     Silhouettes on the window. 
      
     Who was it made your eyes flicker like that 
     Tell me baby, where do get a man 
     I came to you with open arms 
     And I really took you down the track 
     Now all I've got for you is the kind of love 
     That cuts clean through. 
     All I got for you is razor love 
     That cuts clean through. 
      
     You really made my day 
     With the little things you say 
     Right now I'm looking through the window at a silhouette 
     Trying to find something I can find yet 
     Imagination is my best friend 
     Got to watch out for the greedy hand, greedy hand 
     Make a living like a rolling stone 
     On the road there's no place like home 
     Silhouettes on the window. 
      
     I got to bet that your old man 
     Became fascinated with his own plans. 

      
Good Phone      
      
     Back in the days of covered wagons 
     A man had his own way 
     Whether talkin' to a woman 
     Or crossing the U.S.A. 
     No telephones were ringing 
     No angry words exchanged. 
     I wish I was back in the saddle now 
     Riding on the range. 
      
     Let your fingers do the walking 
     Call me up some time 
     I'm listed under Broken Hearts 
     Looking for a good time. 
     I can't reach out and touch you 
     You're hung up on the line 
     I'm your disconnected number now 
     And you're a private line. 
      
     Well, I used to be so happy, 
     When you gave good 'phone. 
     I could call you up from anywhere 
     For a little bit of home 
     But now my heart is aching 
     After every call 
     By the way you talk you'd think 
     You never gave good 'phone at all. 
      
     Let your fingers do the walking 
     Call me up some time 
     I'm listed under Broken Hearts 
     Looking for a good time. 
     I can't reach out and touch you 
     You're hung up on the line 
     I'm your disconnected number now 
     And you're a private line. 
      
     Let your fingers do the walking 
     Call me up some time 
     I'm listed under Broken Hearts. 
     Looking for a good time. 
     I can't reach out and touch you 
     You're hung up on the line 
     I'm your disconnected number now 
     And you're a private line. 

      
Silver and Gold      
      
     Workin' hard every day 
     Never notice how the time slips away 
     People come, seasons go 
     We got something that never gets old. 
     I don't care if the sun don't shine 
     And the rain keeps pouring down on me and mine 
     'Cause our kind of love 
     Just never seems to get old 
     It's better than silver and gold. 
      
     I used to have a treasure chest 
     Got so heavy that I had to rest 
     I let it slip away from me 
     Didn't need it anyway. 
     So I let it slip away. 
     I don't care if the sun don't shine 
     And the rain keeps pouring down on me and mine 
     'Cause our kind of love 
     Just never seems to get old 
     It's better than silver and gold. 
      
     I don't care if the sun don't shine 
     And the rain keeps pouring down on me and mine 
     'Cause our kind of love 
     Just never seems to get old 
     It's better than silver and gold. 
     Better than silver and gold 
     Better than silver and gold 
     Better than silver and gold 
     It's better than silver and gold. 

      
Hillbilly Band      
      
     There was an ill wind blowing 
     Through my hair last night 
     That froze me in my blue jeans. 
     I couldn't find a light 
     I know that something's coming 
     I can feel it in my bones 
     Thank God for those old country boys, 
     I ain't out here alone. 
      
     My friends all tell me 
     I got daggers in my eyes 
     There's an anger in my heart 
     That they don't realize 
     I'm mad as hell at something 
     That I don't understand 
     Thank God I'm on the road tonight 
     With this old hillbilly band. 
      
     Thank God I'm on the road tonight 
     With this old hillbilly band. 
     We may not be good looking 
     But we sure get outta hand 
     Was that The Devil's stagecoach 
     Flying over the Rio Grande? 
     Thank God I'm on the road tonight 
     With this old hillbilly band. 
      
     I swear that The Devil 
     Came visiting me last night 
     Surrounded my old stagecoach 
     With his eerie light 
     He was pounding on my windows 
     Rattling my wheels 
     I may not be The Devil 
     But I know just how he feels. 
      
     Thank God I'm on the road tonight 
     With this old hillbilly band. 
     We may not be good looking 
     But we sure get outta hand 
     Was that The Devil's stagecoach 
     Flying over the Rio Grande? 
     Thank God I'm on the road tonight 
     With this old hillbilly band. 

      
Nothing Is Perfect      
      
     There's plenty of food on the table 
     Lots of love in the house 
     The children all do what they're able to do 
     We got so much to be happy about. 
      
     I got a woman standing beside me 
     She really knows how to stand by her man 
     She's strong and she's soft and she's honest to me 
     She really helps me to be a good man. 
      
     But nothing is perfect in God's perfect plan 
     Look in the shadow to see 
     He only gave us the good things so we'd understand 
     What life without them would be. 
      
     There's plenty of wheat on the prairies 
     Lots of coal in the mines 
     We got soldiers so strong they can bury their dead 
     And still not go back shooting blind. 
      
     There's women and men on the workforce 
     Doing forty hours plus overtime 
     So the hostages held at the airport 
     Can come home to something worthwhile. 
      
     But nothing is perfect in God's perfect plan 
     Look in the shadow to see 
     He only gave us the good things so we'd understand 
     What life without them would be. 
      
     And there's plenty of food on the table 
     Lots of love in the house 
     The children all do what they're able to do 
     We got so much to be happy about. 
      
     I got a woman standing beside me 
     She really knows how to stand by her man 
     She's strong and she's soft and she's honest to me 
     It  really helps me to be a good man. 
      
     But nothing is perfect in God's perfect plan 
     He only gave us the good things so we'd understand. 
     No, nothing is perfect in God's perfect plan. 

      
Grey Riders      
      
     The night was cold 
     And the wind was howling 
     I was awaken by the sound 
     Of hoof beats pounding. 
      
     Outside the window, on the ground 
     Our hound dog was growling 
     Grey Riders flew across my lawn 
     I looked again and they all were gone. 
      
     That voice was calling 
     And it cut through the night 
     Come on boys, let her go. 
      
     Up on a hill 
     They rode in one long column 
     They were freezing with the chills 
     Of the new day dawning. 
      
     Their hair long and grey 
     They heard just one voice calling 
     Grey Riders on the morning sky, 
     The sun made diamonds of their road-weary eyes. 
      
     That voice is calling 
     And it cut through the night 
     Come on boys, let her go. 
      
     The night was cold 
     And the wind was howling 
     I was awaken by the sound 
     Of hoof beats pounding. 
      
     Outside the window, on the ground 
     Our hound dog was growling 
     Grey Riders flew across my lawn 
     I looked again and they all were gone. 
      
     That voice was calling 
     And it cut through the night 
     Come on boys, let her go. 

      
Beautiful Bluebird

	One mornin' when I was ridin'
	In my old pickup truck
	A beautiful bluebird came flyin' down
	My eyes caught the color
	As it lead me down the road
	Dippin' and bobbin' in the sun
	I've never seen that blue before
	'cept in one place
	And she's not here with me right now
	So I followed all the way
	To the top of the hill
	That's where she kept on climbin' Lord
	Someday I will

	Beautiful bluebird
	See how she flies
	Looks like she's always goin' home
	If heaven had a window
	Where the sun came shinin' through
	Like a beautiful bluebird
	I'd come flyin' back to you

	Well it kind of struck me funny
	Sort of made me smile
	After all these years on this old road
	How God could show me somethin'
	Never say a word
	There's so much that I don't know
	I've never seen that blue before
	Except in one place
	And she's not here with me right now
	I followed all the way to the top of the hill
	That's where she kept on climbin' Lord
	And someday I will

	Beautiful bluebird
	See how she flies
	Looks like she's always goin' home
	If heaven had a window
	Where the sun came shinin' through
	Like a beautiful bluebird
	I'd come flyin' back to you

	Beautiful bluebird
	See how she flies
	Looks like she's always goin' home
	If heaven had a window
	Where the sun came shinin' through
	Like a beautiful bluebird
	I'd come flyin' back to you

      
Leavin' The Top 40 Behind

	Here comes another day
	And another
	I got so many ills and pills
	I'm about to smother
	Hit 39, leavin' the top 40 behind
	Holdin' on to what I got
 
	I tried to tell myself
	It doesn't matter
	It's just the time of life
	Another rung in the ladder
	Each morning I
	Look in her sky-blue eyes
	The downside of life looks better
 
	That old man standin' on the corner
	He should be proud of those lines on his face
	'cos either he's been laughin' too much
	Or feelin'  too much pain
 
	Here comes another day
	And another
	I sure am glad
	I got you for a lover
	Hit 39, leavin' the top 40 behind
	Holdin' on to what I got
 
	That old man standin' on the corner
	He should be proud of those lines on his face
	'cos either he's been smilin' too much
	Or feelin' too much pain
 
	Here comes another day
	And another
	I sure am glad
	I got you for a lover
	Hit 39, I'm leavin' the top 40 behind
	Holdin' on to what I got
 
	Hit 39, leavin' the top 40 behind
	Holdin' on to what I got

      
Time Off For Good Behavior

	My brother went to prison
	He's in Kingston doin' time
	He got seven years for sellin'
	What I've been smokin' all my life
	Time off for good behavior
	But the boy don't feel too good
	Locked behind those steel bars
	I don't know if he should
 
	Yeh a few years ago they called me
	Back home to get a big award
	They also called my brother
	But they made him say "My Lord"
	They locked me up in a Hall of Fame
	And threw away the keys
	But when they put my brother away
	It really did somethin' to me
 
	Now I'm guilty as hell for sayin'
	"Boy you better go back home"
	You know you'll get a fair shake there
	We're running all alone
	When he called me up from the border
	With the Mounties on his tail
	I said go back to Canada
	We can raise the bail
 
	Now I get these letters
	From a cell with no TV
	He says he's outside one hour
	And inside twenty three
	Time off for good behavior
	But the boy don't feel too good
	Locked behind those steel bars
	I don't know if he should
 
	Now I'm guilty as hell for sayin'
	"Boy you better go back home"
	You know you'll get a fair shake there
	We're running all alone
	When he called me up from the border
	With the Mounties on his tail
	I said go back to Canada
	We can raise the bail
 
	My brother went to prison
	He's in Kingston doin' time
	He got seven years for sellin'
	What I've been smokin' all my life

      
Your Love Again

	I don't wanna bring you down
	I don't wanna change you
	All I want is
	Your love again
 
	You and I want different things
	But we need each other
	All I want is
	Your love again
 
	Love is always changin' faces
	Who knows what it means
	The whole World is tryin' to find
	The answer to its' dreams
 
	Why should we lose what we got
	We could rearrange it
	All I want is
	Your love again
 
	I don't wanna break your heart
	I just wanna hold you
	All I want is
	Your love again
 
	You and I knew from the start
	Now we gotta make it happen
	All I need is
	Your love again
 
	When you walked into my life
	On the heels of a dream
	I thought I saw in your eyes
	A little bit of me
 
	I don't wanna change your life
	I just wanna share it
	All I want is
	Your love again
 
	All I want is
	Your love again
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