Love Is Strange

1. I'M ALIVE

Its been a long time since I watched these lights alone
I look around my life tonight and you are gone
I might have done something to keep you if Id known
How unhappy you had become

While I was dreaming of you
With my heart in your hands
And I was following though
With my beautiful plans

Yeah, now Im rolling down this canyon drive
With your laughter in my head
Im gonna have to block it out somehow to survive
Cause those dreams are dead
And Im alive

I want to go where I will never hear your name
I want to lose my sorrow and be free again
And I know Ive been insane
When I think of places I could have been

But I was dreaming of you
With my heart in your hands
And I was following through
With my beautiful plans

Standing here by the highway side
Watching these trucks blow by
Inches from my face
Yeah, thinking bout the time Ive wasted
And the pleasure we once tasted
Looking up and down this road
Ive been here before
Cant be here no more

Yeah, now Im rolling down California five
With your laughter in my head
Im gonna have to block it out somehow to survive
Cause those dreams are dead
And Im alive

Hey, look at the way I believed in you
And loved you all these years
Now you can fill a swimming pool with all my salty tears
If youd have told me what was in your heart
Instead of all your lies
I thought that it would kill me
But Im alive
Yeah, Im alive

Words and music by Jackson Browne
1993 Swallow Turn Music ASCAP
All Rights Reserved

2. CALL IT A LOAN

In the morning when I closed my eyes,
you were sleeping in paradise,
And while the room was growing light,
I was holding still with all my might.

Oh. what if it's true?
ah, what my heart says?
Oh, what'll I do?
What if this feeling becomes hard to part with.

You were meant to play your part
in the design of a desperate heart.
And while you gave your love to me,
I was betting I was getting in free.

Oh, if I'd only known,
ah, what your heart cost.
Oh, can we call it a loan
and a debt that I own
on a bet that I lost?

In the evening when you see my eyes
looking back at you, no disguise,
I'm not sure who you think you'll see.
I'm just hopin' you'll still know that it's me.

Oh, what if it's true?
ah, better ask the man inside
Oh, oh, there seem to be two.
One steals the love, and the other one hides.

Yeah, can we call it loan
till I'm paid in full for the seeds I've sown?
Yeah, can we say that I've grown
in some way that we may have yet to be shown?

Oh, if I'd only known,
ah, what your heart cost.
Oh, can we call it a loan
and debt that I owe
on a bet that I lost?

By Jackson Browne and David Lindley
1980 Swallow Turn Music ASCAP, Neuoleum Music ASCAP
All Rights Reserved

3. LOOKING EAST

Standing in the ocean with the sun burning low in the west
Like a fire in the cavernous darkness at the heart of the beast
With my beliefs and possessions, stopped at the frontier in my chest
At the edge of my country, my back to the sea, looking east

Where the search for the truth is conducted with a wink and a nod
And where power and position are equated with the grace of God
These times are famine for the soul, while for the senses its a feast
From the edge of my country, as far as you see, looking east

Hunger in the midnight, hunger at the stroke of noon
Hunger in the mansion, hunger in the rented room
Hunger on the TV, hunger on the printed page
And theres a God-sized hunger underneath the laughing and the rage
In the absence of light
And the deepening night
Where I wait for the sun
Looking east

How long have I left my mind to the powers that be?
How long will it take to find the higher power moving in me?

Power in the insect
Power in the sea
Power in the snow falling silently
Power in the blossom
Power in the stone
Power in the song being sung alone
Power in the wheat field
Power in the rain
Power in the sunlight and the hurricane
Power in the silence
Power in the flame
Power in the sound of the lovers name
The power of the sunrise and the power of a prayer released
On the edge of my country, I pray for the ones with the least

Hunger in the midnight, hunger at the stroke of noon
Hunger in the banquet, hunger in the bride and groom
Hunger on the TV, hunger on the printed page
And theres a God-sized hunger underneath the questions of the age
And an absence of light
In the deepening night
Where I wait for the sun
Looking east

By Jackson Browne, Jeff Young, Kevin McCormick, Scott Thurston, Mark Goldenberg, Mauricio Lewak, Luis Conte
1996 Swallow Turn Music, Glad Brad Music, Inc., Eye Cue Music, adm. by Almo Music Corp, Bateria Music, Irague Music, ASCAP / Neurp Songs, Faux Music, Longitude Music Co., all rights on behalf of Faux Music, adm. by Longitude Music Co. BMI
All Rights Reserved

4. THE CROW ON THE CRADLE

The sheep's in the meadow
The cow's in the corn
Now is the time for a child to be born
He'll laugh at the moon
And cry for the sun
And if it's a boy he'll carry a gun
Sang the crow on the cradle

And if it should be that this baby's a girl
Never you mind if her hair doesn't curl
With rings on her fingers
And bells on her toes
And a bomber above her wherever she goes
Sang the crow on the cradle
The crow on the cradle

The black and the white
Somebody's baby is born for a fight
The crow on the cradle
The white and the black
Somebody's baby is not coming back
Sang the crow on the cradle

Your mother and father will sweat and they'll slave
To build you a coffin and dig you a grave
Hush-a-bye little one, never you weep
For we've got a toy that can put you to sleep
Sang the crow on the cradle

Bring me my gun, and I'll shoot that bird dead
That's what your mother and father once said
The crow on the cradle, what can we do
Ah, this is a thing that I'll leave up to you
Sang the crow on the cradle
Sang the crow on the cradle

By Sidney Carter
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co. BMI
All Rights Reserved

5. MERCURY BLUES

Well, if I had money tell you what I'd do
I'd go downtown and buy a Mercury or two
Crazy 'bout a Mercury, Lord I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road

Well, the girl I love, I stole her from a friend
He got lucky stole her back again
She heard he had a Mercury, Lord she's crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road

Well, hey now mama you look so fine
Ridin' round in your Mercury 49
Crazy 'bout a Mercury, Lord I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road

Well, my baby went out she didn't stay long
Bought herself a Mercury, come a cruisin' home
Crazy 'bout a Mercury, yeah she's crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road

Well, if I had money tell you what I'd do
I'd go downtown and buy a Mercury or two
Crazy 'bout a Mercury, Lord I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road

By K. C. Douglas and Robert L. Geddins
B-Flat Music BMI, Tradition Music Co. BMI

6. EL RAYO X

I am "El Rayo".
Soy el cantar del gallo.
Soy el caiman del bayou,
Cuando lo parte el rayo.

Ven, ven aca.
Vuelve aca.
No no tengas miedo.
No no te voy a dar.

Soy alacran pelu,
Que pican en el desierto.
Cuando se va la luz?
El ha no mas el viento.

Oye me flor del Mayo,
Yo soy el hombre Rayo.
Soy el cantar del gallo,
Cuando lo parte el rayo.

Ven, ven aca.
Vuelve aca.
No no tengas miedo.
No no te voy a dar

By David Lindley and Jorge Calderon
Neuoleum Music ASCAP, Googoplex BMI

7. SIT DOWN SERVANT

Sit down!
(oh, please don't make me)
Sit down!
(Cause I just got to heaven.
I'm gonna walk around)
Sit down, servant, and rest a while, sit down.

Oh, I can't sit down,
Oh, I can't sit down,
I can't sit down,
I just got to heaven and I can't sit down.

Now you can talk about me as much as you please,
(Sit down servant)
The more you talk I'm gonna bend my knees,
(Sit down servant)
I'm on my way to heaven to tell my story,
(Sit down servant)
I'm gonna put on my crown and sing in glory.

Oh, I can't sit down,
Oh, I can't sit down,
I can't sit down,
I just got to heaven and I can't sit down.

Now when I get to heaven gonna put on my shoes, yeah, yeah, yeah.
(Sit down servant)
I'm gonna walk all over heaven singin', shoutin' the good news, yeah,
(Sit down servant)
I'm gonna march to the throne and lay me right down, yeah, yeah.
(Sit down servant)
I'm gonna give my ever-lovin' Jesus my new crown, yeah

Oh, I can't sit down,
Oh, I can't sit down,
I can't sit down

Traditional
Arrangement be Robert "Pop" Staples
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co. BMI

8. TAKE IT EASY

Well Im runnin down the road tryin to loosen my load
Ive got seven women on my mind
Four that want to own me, two that want to stone me
One says shes a friend of mine

Take it easy, take it easy
Dont let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
Dont even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
And take it easy

Standin on the corner in Winslow, Arizona
With such a fine sight to see
Its a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford
Slowin down to take a look at me

Come on baby, dont say maybe
Ive got to know if your sweet loves gonna save me
We may lose and we may win
But we will never be here again
Open up, Im climbin in
To take it easy

Well Im a-runnin down the road tryin to loosen my load
Got a world of trouble on my mind
I lookin for a lover who wont blow my cover
Shes just a little hard to find

Take it easy, take it easy
Dont let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy
Come on baby, dont say maybe
Gotta know if your sweet loves gonna save me

Words and music by Jackson Browne and Glen Frey
Swallow Turn Music ASCAP
All Rights Reserved

9. FOR TAKING THE TROUBLE

For taking the trouble, for hanging on and tryin'
Now you've been working through the rubble of a shattered mind

Yeah Baby, tell me why the tears are falling from your eye
Tears of laughter, tears of grief, are they the tears of a captured thief?

You thought that you were home free, thought you had her well in hand
But there were things about her you didn't understand

Yeah Baby, tell me how you're gonna keep that promise now?
To live your life without regret and make it work with what you get

You didn't then, but now you know
When she began to lie-you really should have let her go

You're learnin' how to talk about it, you're learnin' how to bend
It's like you're learning how to walk all over again

Yeah Baby, tell me who you're gonna give your lovin' to?
That girl who catches every eye
Or the one you can set your compass by

You set it by her soulful smile
The fire in her eye
And the way she goes that extra mile
The love you wanted this to be
Is somewhere down the line
You'll find her eventually

Your grandma and her grandma
Sittin' 'round heaven discussin' the law
Lovin' that girl was not your crime,
Livin' without her gonna take some time
Lovin' that girl next thing you knew,
You'd turned away from the thing you do
Lovin' that girl, you couldn't see
Living without her gonna make you free

Words and music by Jackson Browne
2002 Swallow Turn Music, ASCAP
All Rights Reserved

10. FOR EVERYMAN

Everybody I talk to is ready to leave
With the light of the morning
Theyve seen the end coming down long enough to believe
That theyve heard their last warning
Standing alone
Each has his own
Ticket in his hand
And as the evening descends
I sit thinking bout Everyman

Seems like Ive always been looking for some other place
To get it together
Where with a few of my friends I could give up the race
And maybe find something better
But all my fine dreams
Well thought out schemes
To gain the motherland
Have all eventually come down to waiting for Everyman

Waiting here for Everyman
Make it on your own if you think you can
If you see somewhere to go, I understand
Waiting here for Everyman
Dont ask me if hell show
Baby, I dont know

Make it on your own if you think you can
Somewhere later on youll have to take a stand
Then youre going to need a hand

Everybodys just waiting to hear from the one
Who can give them the answers
And lead them back to that place in the warmth of the sun
Where sweet childhood still dances
Wholl come along
And hold out that strong
But gentle fathers hand?
Long ago I heard someone say something bout Everyman

Waiting here for Everyman
Make it on your own if you think you can
If you see somewhere to go, I understand

Im not trying to tell you that Ive seen the plan
Turn and walk away if you think I am
But dont think too badly of one whos left holding sand
Hes just another dreamer dreaming bout Everyman

Words and music by Jackson Browne
1973 Swallow Turn Music ASCAP
All Rights Reserved

11. YOUR BRIGHT BABY BLUES

Im sitting down by the highway
Down by that highway side
Everybodys going somewhere
Riding just as fast as they can ride
I guess theyve got a lot to do
Before they can rest assured
Their lives are justified
Pray to God for me, baby
He can let me slide

Ive been up and down this highway
Far as my eyes can see
No matter how fast I run
I can never seem to get away from me
No matter where I am
I cant help feeling Im just a day away from where I want to be
Now Im running home, baby
Like a river to the sea

Baby if you can see me
Out across this wilderness
Theres just one thing
I was hoping you might guess
Baby you can free me
All in the power of your sweet tenderness

I can see it in your eyes
Youve got those bright baby blues
You dont see what youve got to gain
But you dont like to lose
You watch yourself from the sidelines
Like your life is a game you dont mind playing to keep yourself amused
I dont mean to be cruel, baby
But youre looking confused

Baby if you can hear me
Turn down your radio
Theres just one thing
I want you to know
When youve been near me
Ive felt the love stirring in my soul

Its so hard to come by
That feeling of peace
This friend of mine said,
"Close your eyes and try a few of these"
I thought I was flying like a bird so far above my sorrow
But when I looked down I was standing on my knees
Now I need someone to help me
Someone to help me, please

Baby if you need me
Like I know I need you
Theres just one thing
Ill ask you to do
Take my hand and lead me
To the hole in your garden wall
And pull me through

Words and music by Jackson Browne
1976 Swallow Turn Music ASCAP and WB Music Corp
All Rights Reserved

12. TU TRANQUILO

Voy bajando por la carretera
a ver si echo algo pa fuera
pq a veces no hay manera
voy a reventar
Tengo siete mujeres en la cabeza
claro, claro, as me pesa
como a Joselito
el levante empieza a soplar
hay cuatro que me quieren amarrar
hay dos que me quieren apedrear
una me queda
que la va diciendo
a todo el mundo por ah
que es mi colega!
fjate tu que plan

Y yo me digo;
t tranquilo
hztelo tranquilo
no le des ms vueltas
t tranquilo
porque yo me digo
t tranquilo
no le des ms vueltas
t tranquilo

Apoyado en una esquina
viendo como pasa la vida
el semforo est en verde
y t te paras a mirar
dime que no te paras
slo para verme la cara
si hay una palabra que odio
la acabas de pronunciar
qu forma de hablar es esa
de "a lo mejor..."
he de saber seguro
si va a salvarme tu amoor
podemos ganar
podemos perder
pero aqu no nos volveremos a ver
as que abre la puerta
y mueve el culo
y arranca ya
que yo me subo

t tranquilo
hztelo tranquilo
Tu Tranquilo
no le des ms vueltas
t tranquilo
Voy bajando por la carretera
a ver si echo algo pa fuera
solo necesito una cosa
una amante que no sea religiosa
ni peligrosa y que me
coma como un bogavante
en salsa rosa
es lo que yo me digo

t tranquilo
hztelo tranquilo
Tu Tranquilo
no le des ms vueltas
t tranquilo

t tranquilo
hztelo tranquilo
Tu Tranquilo
no le des ms vueltas
t tranquilo

Words and music by Jackson Browne and Glen Frey
Translated by Kiko Veneno
Swallow Turn Music ASCAP
All Rights Reserved

13. LATE FOR THE SKY

The words had all been spoken
And somehow the feeling still wasnt right
And still we continued on through the night
Tracing our steps from the beginning
Until they vanished into the air
Trying to understand how our lives have led us there

Looking hard into your eyes
There was nobody Id ever known
Such an empty surprise
To feel so alone

Now for me some words come easy
But I know that they dont mean that much
Compared with the things that are said when lovers touch
You never knew what I loved in you
I dont know what you loved in me
Maybe the picture of somebody you were hoping I might be

Awake again I cant pretend
And I know Im alone
And close to the end
Of the feeling weve known

How long have I been sleeping?
How long have I been drifting alone through the night
How long have I been dreaming I could make it right
If I closed my eyes and tried with all my might
To be the one you need

Awake again, I cant pretend
I know Im alone
And close to the end
Of the feeling weve known

How long have I been sleeping?
How long have I been drifting alone through the night
How long have I been running for that morning flight
Through the whispered promises and the changing light
Of the bed where we both lie
Late for the sky

Words and music by Jackson Browne
1974 Swallow Turn Music ASCAP
All Rights Reserved

14. THESE DAYS

Well Ive been out walking
I dont do that much talking these days
These days
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do for you
And all the times I had the chance to

And I had a lover
Its so hard to risk another these days
These days
Now if I seem to be afraid
To live the life I have made in song
Well its just that Ive been losing so long

Ill keep on moving
Things are bound to be improving these days
One of these days
These days I sit on corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten, my friend
Dont confront me with my failures
I had not forgotten them

Words and Music by Jackson Browne
1973 Open Window Music ASCAP, Companion Music ASCAP
All Rights Reserved

15. RUNNING ON EMPTY

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields
In 65 I was seventeen and running up 101
I dont know where Im running now, Im just running on

Running onrunning on empty
Running onrunning blind
Running onrunning into the sun
But Im running behind

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive
Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive
In 69 I was twenty-one and I called the road my own
I dont know when that road turned onto the road Im on

Running onrunning on empty
Running onrunning blind
Running onrunning into the sun
But Im running behind

Everyone I know, everywhere I go
People need some reason to believe
I dont know about anyone but me
If it takes all night, thatll be all right
If I can get you to smile before I leave

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I dont know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
I look around for the friends that I used to turn to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running too

Running onrunning on empty
Running onrunning blind
Running onrunning into the sun
But Im running behind

Honey, you really tempt me
You know the way you look so kind
Id love to stick around but Im running behind
You know I dont even know what Im hoping to find
Running into the sun but Im running behind

Words and Music by Jackson Browne
1977 Swallow Turn Music ASCAP
All Rights Reserved

16. LOVE IS STRANGE/STAY

Love, love is strange
Lots of people take it for a game
Once youve get it you never wanna quit
Once you`ve had it you`re in a awful fix
Some people, they don`t understand
They think lovin` is money in their hand
But your lovin` will never be arranged
Love is mystery, love is change
Baby, my sweet baby, baby you`re the one
People stay just a little bit longer
We want to play - just a little bit longer
Now the roadies don't mind
And the union don't mind
If we take a little time
And we leave it all behind and sing
One more song...

Oh wont you stay just a little bit longer
Please, please stay just a little bit more?

Won't you put your sweet lips
To mine
Tell me you love me baby
All of the time

Stay just a little bit longer
Please please please please tell me that you find too
Now the promoter don't mind
And the union don't mind
If we take a little time
And we leave it all behind and sing
One more song...

"Love is Strange" by Mickey Baker, Elias McDaniels, Sylvia Robinson
Ben-Ghazi Enterprises, Inc., BMI, Twenty Nine Black Music BMI

"Stay" by Maurice Williams
Cherio Corporation BMI
All Rights Reserved

17. THE NEXT VOICE YOU HEAR

Gather your deeds and your possessions,
Whatever certainty you've known,
Forget your heroes,
You don't really need those last few lessons.

Stand in the open;
The next voice you hear will be your own.

Well alright, they knew how they could hurt you,
And you let them cut you to the bone.
But God forbid,
You allow them to rid you of your virtue!

Forget their laughter;
The next voice you hear will be your own.

The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear will be your own.

Throw down your truth and check your weapons.
Don't look to see if you're alone,
Just stand your ground,
And don't turn around -- whatever happens.
Don't ask directions;
The next voice you hear will be your own.

The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear...
The next voice you hear will be your own.

Words and music by Jackson Browne
1997 Swallow Turn Music ASCAP

Discography

Love Is Strange