TOM WAITS: Franks Wild Years (1987)

1. Hang On St. Christopher
2. Straight To The Top (Rhumba)
3. Blow Wind Blow
4. Temptation
5. Innocent When You Dream (Barroom)
6. I'll Be Gone
7. Yestarday Is Here
8. Please Wake Me Up
9. Frank's Theme
10. More Than Rain
11. Way Down In The Hole
12. Straight To The Top (Vegas)
13. I'll Take New York
14. Telephone Call From Istanbul
15. Cold Cold Ground
16. Train Song
17. Innocent When You Dream (78)

HANG ON ST. CHRISTOPHER
Hang on St. Christopher through the smoke and the oil
Buckle down the rumble seat let the radiator boil
Got an overhead downshift and a two dollar grill
Got an 85 cabin on an 85 hill
Hang on St. Christopher on the passenger side
Open it up, tonight the Devil can ride
Hang on St. Christopher with a barrel house dog
Kick me up Mount Baldy throw me out in the fog
Tear a hole in the jack pot, drive a stake through his heart
Do a 100 on the grapevine do a jump on the start
Hang on St. Christopher now don't let me go
Get me to Reno and bring it in low, yeah

Hang on St. Christopher with the hammer to the floor
Put a hi ball in the crank case nail a crow to the door
Get a bottle for the jockey gimme a 294
There's a 750 norton bustin' down january's door
Hang on St. Christopher on the passenger side
Open it up tonight the Devil can ride
Hang on St. Christopher now don't let me go
Get me to Reno got to bring it in low
Put my baby on the flat car, got to burn down the caboose
Get 'em all jacked up on whiskey then we'll turn the mad dog loose
Hang on St. Christopher on the passenger side
Open it up tonight the Devil can ride, yeah
Oh yeah

STRAIGHT TO THE TOP (RHUMBA)
I'm going straight up to the top, oh yeah
Up where the air is fresh and clean
I'm going straight up to the top, oh yeah
If you know me, you know what I mean
I can't let sorrow pull ol' Frankie down
Live for tomorrow I have found you
I'm going straight to the top, oh yeah
Up where the air is fresh and clean
I just know I will never stop, oh no,
Until I know I'm wild and free.
I’m like a champagne bubble, pop pop pop
I'm like those birdies high up in the trees
I can't let sorrow pull ol' Frankie down
Live for tomorrow I have found you
I'm going straight up to the top, oh yeah
Up where the air is fresh and clean, yeah

I can't let sorrow pull ol' Frankie down
Live for tomorrow I have found you
Going straight up to the top, oh yeah
Up where the air is, up where the air is,
Up where the air is, up where the air is,
Up where the air is fresh and clean, yeah

BLOW WIND BLOW
Blow wind blow
Wherever you may go
Put on your overcoat
Take me away
You gotta take me on into the night
Take me on into the night
Blow me away
Blow me away

Mary's on the black top
There's a husband in the doghouse
In the middle of a shakedown
I got quiet as a church mouse
Put my Raleigh's on the dashboard
Sugar daddy caught a polocar
There's no solitary tap dance
Way down here

Blow wind blow
Wherever you may go
Put on your overcoat
Take me into the night
Take me into the night
Blow me away

I ride upon a field mouse
I was dancin' in the slaughterhouse
And if you swing along the beltway
You skid along the all day
‘Cause I went a little crazy
And I sat upon a high chair
And I'm smokin' like a diesel
Way out here

And if you'll blow wind blow
Wherever you may go
Put on your overcoat
Take me away
You gotta take me on into the night
Well, you take me on into the night
Blow me away
Blow me away
You gotta blow me away
Blow me away
Yeah

TEMPTATION
Rusted brandy in a diamond glass
Everything is made from dreams
Time made from honey slow and sweet
Only the fools know what it means
Temptation, temptation, temptation
I can't resist.

I just know that she is made of smoke
But I've lost my way, yeah
She knows that I am broke
But I must play, yeah
Temptation, temptation, yeah, temptation
I can't resist.
Oh yeah, aaaaaah, aaaaaah
No lo se, aaaaah, aaaaah, aaaaah
Temptation, temptation, temptation
I can't still resist

Dutch pink and Italian blue
She is there waiting for you
My will has disappeared
My confusion is so, so clear
Temptation, temptation, temptation
Now I can't resist.
Oh yeah, aaaaaah, aaaaaah
Oh yeah, aaaaaah, aaaaaah
Temptation, temptation, temptation
I can't resist
Rusted brandy in a diamond glass
Everything is made from dreams
Time made from honey slow and sweet
Only the fools know what it means
Temptation, temptation, temptation
Temptation, temptation, temptation

INNOCENT WHEN YOU DREAM (BARROOM)
The bats are in the belfry
The dew is on the moor
Where are the arms that held me
And pledged her love before
And pledged her love before

And it's such a sad old feeling
All the fields are soft and green
It's memories that I'm stealing
But you're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream

I made a golden promise
That we would never part
I gave my love a locket
And then I broke her heart
And then I broke her heart

And it's such a sad old feeling
All of the fields are soft and green
And it's memories that I'm stealing
But you're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream

We're running through the graveyard
And we laughed my friends and I
We swore we'd be together
Until the day we died
Until the day we died
And it's such a sad old feeling
All of the fields are soft and green
And it's memories that I'm stealing
But you're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream

And it's such a sad old feeling
All of the fields are soft and green
And it's memories that I'm stealing
But you're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream

I’LL BE GONE
Tonight I'll shave the mountain
I'll cut the hearts from pharaohs
I pull the road off of the rise
Tear the memories from my eyes
In the morning I'll be gone
I drink 1000 shipwrecks
Tonight I'll steal your paychecks
I paint the sheets across my bed
The birds will all fly from my head
And in the morning I'll be gone
Take every dream that's breathing
Find every boot that's leaving
Shoot all the lights in the cafe
And in the morning I'll be gone
I bet 1000 dollars
I have a French companion
I tie myself below the deck
I pull the rope around my neck
And in the morning I'll be gone

It takes a life to win her
There is a drum of bourbon
800 pounds of nitro
His boots are thunder as he plays
There is a stone inside it
Tonight his bones will ride it
I'll need a tent to hide it
And in the morning I'll be gone
And in the morning I'll be gone
And in the morning I'll be gone
And in the morning I'll be gone
And in the morning I'll be gone
And in the morning I'll be gone

YESTERDAY IS HERE
If you want money in your pocket
And a top hat on your head
A hot meal on your table
And a blanket on your bed
Well today is grey skies
Tomorrow is tears
You'll have to wait till yesterday is here
I'm going to New York City
And I'm leaving on a train
And if you want to stay behind
And wait til I come back again
Today is grey skies
Tomorrow is tears
You'll have to wait til yesterday is here
If you want to go
Where the rainbows end
You'll have to say goodbye
All our dreams come true
Baby up ahead
And it's out where your memories lie
Well the road's out before me
And the moon is shining bright
What I want you to remember
As I disappear tonight
But today is grey skies
Tomorrow's tears
You'll have to wait til yesterday is here
But today is grey skies
Tomorrow's tears
You'll have to wait til yesterday is here
You'll have to wait til yesterday is here
You'll have to wait til yesterday is here

PLEASE WAKE ME UP
I put my chips on her shoulder
Running in the carnival time
She bought the things that I told her
Her eyes sparkle and shine
Together we'll ring in the new year
I know that she'll be my queen
And if I fall asleep in your arms
Please wake me up in my dreams

Her out-fit was all made of vinyl
Like nothing that I've ever seen
When our divorces are final
She'll fit right into my scheme
Together we'll ring in the new year
I know that she'll be my queen
And if I fall asleep in your arms
Please wake me up in my dreams

FRANK’S THEME
Dream away the tears in your eyes
Dream away your sorrows
Dream away all your goodbyes
Dream away tomorrow
I promise when the sun comes up
I promise I'll be true
And just like before the band starts to play
They always play your favorite tune
And dream away when everyone's gone
Dream away your grey skies too
Dream away and nothing is wrong
Dreams have wishes that are waiting for you
And up ahead the road is turning
Turning for you and me
And just like before the band starts to play
Now there's that twinkle in your eye
And dream away

MORE THAN RAIN
It's more than rain that falls on our parade tonight
It's more than thunder, It's more than thunder
And it's more than a bad dream, now that I'm sober
Nothing but sad times, nothing but sad times
None of our pockets, are lined with gold
Nobody's caught the bouquet
And no dead presidents we can fold
Nothing is going our way

And it's more than trouble, I've got myself into
It's more than woe-begotten gray skies now

And it's more than a bad dream, now that I'm sober
There's no more dancing, there's no more dancing
And it's more than trouble, I've got myself into
Nothing but sad times, nothing but sad times
None of our pockets, are lined with gold
Nobody's caught the bouquet
And no dead presidents we can fold
Nothing is going our way

And it's more than goodbye, I have to say to you
It's more than woe-begotten gray skies now
And it's more than goodbye, I have to say to you
It's more than woe-begotten gray skies now
And it's more than woe-begotten gray skies now

WAY DOWN IN THE HOLE
When you walk through the garden
You gotta watch your back
Well I beg your pardon
Walk the straight and narrow track
If you walk with Jesus
He's gonna save your soul
You gotta keep the devil
Way down in the hole
He's got the fire and the fury
At his command
Well you don't have to worry
If you hold on to Jesus' hand
We'll all be safe from Satan
When the thunder rolls
We just gotta keep the devil
Way down in the hole

All the angels sing
about Jesus' mighty sword
And they'll shield you with their wings
And keep you close to the lord
Don't pay heed to temptation
For his hands are so cold
You gotta help me keep the devil
Way down in the hole
Down in the hole
Down in the hole
Down in the hole
Down in the hole
Down in the hole
Down in the hole
You gotta help me keep the devil
Down in the hole

STRAIGHT TO THE TOP (VEGAS)
I'm going straight to the top, whoa
I'm going where the air is fresh and clean
I'm going straight up to the top
If you know me, you know what I mean
I can't let Mister Sorrow try and pull ol' Frankie down
We live for tomorrow, I have found you
Straight to the top
I'm going up where the air is fresh and clean
I know I'm never gonna stop
Until I know, I know I'm wild and free
Hey, I'm going straight up to the top
And if you know me, you know what I mean
I can't let ol' Mister Sorrow try and pull me down
I live for tomorrow, I have found you
I'm going straight to the top, whoa
I'm going up where the air is fresh and clean
Yeah, whoa

I can't let Mister Sorrow pull ol' Frankie down
We live for tomorrow, I have found you
Straight to the top, oh yeah
Up where the air is, up where the air is
Up where the air is, up where the air is
Up where the air is fresh and clean, whoa
Whoa, how about that band? Whoa!

I’LL TAKE NEW YORK
I'll tip the newsboy, I'll get a shine
I'll ride that dream to the end of the line
I'm gonna be goin' places, I'll get a ride
Take me to the Riverside

I'm gonna take you, New York, I'll make it happen
I'm on the caboose, I'm drinkin' Manhattans
I'll take a splash on the big town
That's how I will arrive
Have you got two tens for a five?
You gotta roll out the carpet, strike up the band
Break out the best champagne when I land
You gotta beat the parade drum, hit all the bars
I want the moon and stars

I'm gonna take you, New York, I'll make it happen
I'm on the caboose, I'm drinkin' Manhattans
And I know someday they're going to name a street after me
Right next door to old Franklin D.
I'm gonna take you, big town
Come on, New York
Come on, move over big town
I'll take New York
Come on, big town
Come on, get happy
New York
Come on

TELEPHONE CALL FROM ISTAMBUL
All night long on the broken glass
Livin’ in a medicine chest
Mediteromanian hotel back
Sprawled across a roll top desk
The monkey rode the blade on an overhead fan
They paint the donkey blue if you pay
I got a telephone call from Istanbul
My baby's coming home today
Will you sell me one of those if I shave my head?
Get me out of town, is what Fireball said
Never trust a man in a blue trench coat
Never drive a car when you're dead
Saturday's a festival, Friday's a gem
Dye your hair yellow and raise your hem
Follow me to Beulah's on Dry Creek Road
I got to wear the hat that my baby done sewed, whoo!

Will you sell me one of those if I shave my head?
Get me out of town, is what Fireball said
Never trust a man in a blue trench coat
Never drive a car when you're dead
Saturday's a festival, Friday's a gem
Dye your hair yellow and raise your hem
Follow me to Beulah’s on Dry Creek Road
I got to wear the hat that my baby done sewed
Well, take me down to buy a tux on Red Rose Bear
I got to cut a hole in the day
I got a telephone call from Istanbul
My baby's comin' home today

Sell me one of those if I shave my head
Get me out of town, is what Fireball said
Never trust a man in a blue trench coat
Never drive a car when you're dead
Saturday's a festival, Friday's a gem
Dye your hair yellow and raise your hem
Follow me to Beulah's on Dry Creek Road
I got to wear the hat that my baby done sewed, whoo!

COLD COLD GROUND
Crest fallen sidekick in an old cafe
Never slept with a dream before he had to go away
There's a bell in the tower, Uncle Ray bought a round
Don't worry 'bout the army in the cold cold ground
Cold cold ground
Cold cold ground
Cold cold ground

Now don't be a cry baby when there's wood in the shed
There's a bird in the chimney and a stone in my bed
When the road's washed out, we pass the bottle around
And wait in the arms of the cold cold ground
The cold cold ground
The cold cold ground
The cold cold ground

There's a ribbon in the willow as a tire swing rope
And a briar patch of berries takin' over the slope
The cat'll sleep in the mailbox and we'll never go to town
‘Till we bury every dream in the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
The cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground

Give me a Winchester rifle and a whole box of shells
Blow the roof off the goat barn, let it roll down the hill
The piano is firewood, Times Square is a dream
I find we'll lay down together in the cold cold ground
The cold cold ground
The cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground

Call the cops on the Breedloves, bring a Bible and a rope
And a whole box of Rebel and a bar of soap
Make a pile of trunk tires and burn 'em all down
Bring a dollar with you, baby, in the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground

Take a weathervane rooster, throw rocks at his head
Stop talking to the neighbors until we all go dead
Beware of my temper and the dog that I've found
Break all the windows in the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground
In the cold cold ground

TRAIN SONG
Well, I broke down in East St. Louis, on the Kansas City line
Drunk up all of my money, that I borrowed every time
And I fell down at the Derby, the night's as black as a crow
It was a train that took me away from here, but a train can't bring me home

What made my dreams so hollow, was standin' at the depot
With a steeple full of swallows, that could never ring a bell
And I've come ten thousand miles away, with not one thing to show
It was a train that took me away from here, but a train can't bring me home

Well, I remember when I left, without botherin' to pack
Don't you know I up and left, with just the clothes I had on my back
Now I'm so sorry for what I've done, and I'm out here on my own
It was a train that took me away from here, but a train can't bring me home
It was a train that took me away from here, but a train can't bring me home

INNOCENT WHEN YOU DREAM (78)
he bats are in the belfry
The dew is on the moor
Where are the arms that held me
And pledged her love before
And pledged her love before

It's such a sad old feeling
The hills are soft and green
It's memories that I'm stealing
But you're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream

I made a golden promise
That we would never part
I gave my love a locket
And then I broke her heart
And then I broke her heart

And it's such a sad old feeling
The fields are soft and green
It's memories that I'm stealing
But you're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream
Innocent when you dream

Running through the graveyard
We laughed my friends and I
We swore we'd be together
Until the day we died
Until the day we died

And it's such a sad old feeling
The fields are soft and green
It's memories that I'm stealing
But you're innocent when you dream, when you dream
You're innocent when you dream, when you dream