Find more about Tom’s Netflix special and his new book, You’re Doing Great!, at tompapa.com.
Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times: livefromhere.org/give
—
Listen to our May 23 rebroadcast with Pixies, Black Pumas, Crooked Still, Freestyle Love Supreme, Aoife O’Donovan, and Tom Papa
]]>Find more about Tom’s Netflix special and his new book, You’re Doing Great!, at tompapa.com.
Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times: livefromhere.org/give
—
Listen to our May 23 rebroadcast with Pixies, Black Pumas, Crooked Still, Freestyle Love Supreme, Aoife O’Donovan, and Tom Papa
]]>Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times: livefromhere.org/give
—
Listen to our May 23 rebroadcast with Pixies, Black Pumas, Crooked Still, Freestyle Love Supreme, Aoife O’Donovan, and Tom Papa
—
Lyrics:
1.
Morse: A nibble!
Lincoln: A bite!
A reason to be thankful—
M: —for another sleepless night
But how best to set the hook?
L: How best to reel him in?
M: Hmm...what to send?
L: Hmm...what to send?
M + L: Not my name
L: He’ll know it
M: Rendering this another unclean slate
L: Another couple hours answering for these Divided States
M: And being the amplifier of this rift between Americans
Won’t help me make a friend
L: What to send?
M + L: Hmm...what to send?
L: What are the chances of this meeting? I won’t let it get away
M: Who else will dance me through the dead of night unto the break of day?
L: If I believed in God I’d ask him
M: Father, tell me
M + L: what to say
To make a friend out of this stranger on the wire
L: How’s the weather where you are?
2.
M: It’s hot as stock in Western Union
The air’s as thick as the brow of a grim patent judge
L: Is that your field of law?
M: Nice try. How’s the weather where YOU are?
L: Hot as the barrel of a freshly fired cannon
Air as thick as the skull of McDowell at Bull Run
And the smoke rising up to the sky
Over sons that were loved as much as mine was
M: I’m sorry for your loss.
L: I’m grateful for your ear
I hope I haven’t scared you off
M: Fellow stranger au contraire
Any night you feel like hopping
On this wire I’ll be here
Waiting to ask you how’s the weather where you are
L + M: How’s the weather where you are?
M: Cold as the sweat I woke up in an hour ago
L: Cold as each toe in each boot marching south through the snow
M: Exactly further yet from their hearths and our peace
Were I Abe I would bid each brave toe retreat*
L: What of the war for freedom lost?
M: I don’t believe it’s ours
I hope that doesn’t scare you off
L: Fellow stranger au contraire
Any night you feel like hopping
On this wire I’ll be here
Waiting to ask you how’s the weather where you are
‘Cause you can learn a lot about someone from asking how they feel about the weather where they are
]]>Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times: livefromhere.org/give
—
—
Lyrics:
Here’s a song
For the good folks who
We pay to look for bombs
In each other’s boots
Sure this line is long
Longer than my fuse
But you’re just doing your job
And what a job you’re doing
For the put-upon
Bearers of bad news
Now and forever caught here
Between us and our due
As platinums golds and silvers
Singing the Delta blues
“I can’t believe it’s not in your
Power to move me
To the seat I want
And just forgot to choose
I know you’re doing your job
But what a job to do”
And for the mom
Running stoically through
Each kid-unfriendly gauntlet
Doing the work of two
‘Til the boarding process
Drops her off next to
A childless man of business
Whose cares are few
Enough to voice his problems with
Her toddler on fumes
I heard her tell him off like
“Who the hell are you
To assess this job
That you could never do
Just put your headphones on”
Then away we flew
Then away we flew
]]>—
Listen to our May 2 show with Sylvan Esso, Watkins Family Hour, Gaby Moreno, Josh Gondelman & more
]]>Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times livefromhere.org/give
—
Lyrics:
Boy you’re gonna tire
Yourself right out pretending
That you can write a happy ending
To this story by yourself
‘Cause it’s a long way
Across the wire
Ain’t no shame in falling
Just in being ashamed of calling
For a friend to come and help
Yeah it’s a long way
Across the wire
And it’s been a bad day
Boys you’re gonna tire
Yourselves right out pretending
That you can write a happy ending
To this story by yourselves
‘Cause it’s a long way
Across the wire
Ain’t no shame in falling
Just in being ashamed of calling
For a friend to come and help
Yeah it’s a long way
Across the wire
And it’s been a bad day
But I bet it’ll get a little better
Bet it’ll get a little better
Boy let a buddy in I bet it’ll get a little better
Whoop
Let it get better
Let everybody in
‘Cause buddy with everybody in I bet it’ll get a little better
We ain’t gonna tire
Ourselves out pretending
That we can write a happy ending
To this story by ourselves
‘Cause it’s a long way
Across the wire
Ain’t no shame in falling
Just in being ashamed of calling
For a friend to come and help
Yeah it’s a long way
Across the wire
And it’s been a bad day
But I bet it’ll get a little better
Bet it’ll get a little better
Boy let a buddy in I bet it’ll get a little better
But I bet it’ll get a little better
Bet it’ll get a little better
Boy let a buddy in I bet it’ll get a little better
Whoop
Let it get better
Let everybody in
‘Cause buddy with everybody in I bet it’ll get a little better
]]>Listen to our brand-new #livefromhome episode now, with remotely recorded music from Chris Thile and our amazing band of Live from Heroes (Madison Cunningham, music director Mike Elizondo, Chris Eldridge, Jeremy Kittel, Trevor Lawrence Jr., and Brett Williams), along with #livefromhome Challenge performances from Rachael Price with Taylor Ashton, Theo Katzman, Louis Cato, Megan Burtt, Kayce Guthmiller, Laurens Joënsen, and Kaitlyn Kelly Faraghan. Plus: Mike Marshall joins Chris for a Bach birthday salute, Claire Coffee helps us celebrate Stephen Sondheim's birthday, and Bodine Boling encourages you to stay creative with an essay from Elizabeth Gilbert.
Head to our YouTube channel for a few behind-the-scenes videos of the recording process.
]]>—
Lyrics:
[BALLADEERS]
He believes (belies (belabors))
Himself into the wee hours of the morning
‘Til even he finds it boring
So he leaves it to long (and then look) for
Someone else with some midnight oil that wants burning
And seeing as he’s made up so much of this story
(We will too)
Behold dear listener some 50 years early
(The first CQ):
[MORSE]
Mark what goes on under the sun
Bonds are broken feuds are begun
Behind veils of pride that no pastor’s son
Can peek through
Peek through
But these treacherous partners with their envy and lies
Have drifted off and left me to my
Own beloved darkness where I
Seek you
Seek you
CQ
[BALLADEERS]
And who should hear our hero
But a sleepless God of Wire in Waiting
Who jumps up from the cot where he ought to be sleeping
Having implored (empowered (imperiled))
The free world into the wee hours of the morning
And because that world keeps adding more to his story
(So will we)
Behold the rail-splitter of Illinois
(At the straight key:)
[LINCOLN]
Mark what goes on under the sun
Bonds are broken wars are begun
Behind veils of pride that no farmer’s son
Can peek through
Peek through
But these treacherous generals asking “how, sir, and why?”
Have drifted off and left me to my
Own beloved darkness where I
Seek you
Seek you
Seek you
[MORSE AND LINCOLN]
Mark what goes on under the sun
The dream is over the nightmare’s begun
Behind veils of pride no daughter or son
Can peek through
Peek through
Let these embattled children with children and wives
Drift off to sleep and leave me to my
Own beloved darkness where I
Seek you
Seek you
Seek you
CQ
CQ
CQ...
]]>The band: Chris Thile, Aoife O’Donovan, Mike Elizondo, Jeff Babko, Matt Chamberlain, Chris Eldridge, Alex Hargreaves, Noam Pikelny.
—
Lyrics:
“Canst thou send lightnings
So that they may go
And say unto thee here we are?”
A rhetorical question
From our Father In Heaven
To Job in his suffering
Here below
To Job in his suffering—
As we sent the first lightnings
All those years ago
I quoted that question by heart
Then delivered the answer
Full of magnets and wire
On behalf of a dreamer
Here below
On behalf of a dreamer—
“Sounds like you did this”
I did but—
It was the least that I could do
—than I would do to serve his genius
To serve his—
`“Sounds like it’s time to set the record straight
Nothing’s wrong with calling a good man great, but a bad man...”
No, he’s not a bad man
Though it’s true before we met
The God of Wire was struggling to connect
What he had with what he dreamt
Then I applied a method to the madness
And the thing began to click
We were like a couple little kids
‘Cause it was clear this was it
I’d take him by the hand and lead him to whatever future he had seen
And pan whatever gold was in his stream
Of consciousness that flowed between his heart and anything like love for the doer of his dreams
“Sounds like he used you”
He did but—
Oh how I burned to be of use
—to be of use and not be slave to
A mind as—
As cold and dry and barren as this one is
At least when in comparison to one like his
“You have a great mind”
No, his is the great mind
And it will never be at rest
Will ever trade this moment for the next
And what it has for what it’s dreamt
So even if the present is exactly what he wanted it to be
He’ll miss his un-manifested destiny
And find a better man than me
To take him by the hand and lead him to whatever future he’s been seeing
And pan whatever gold’s still in his stream
Of consciousness that flows between his heart and anything like love for me
I send him a lightning
Every now and then
Saying unto him “here we are
I don’t expect you to answer
But I miss you dear dreamer
And what we did together
Here below
O what we did together here”
]]>Find Tom’s tour dates and more information about his forthcoming Netflix special You’re Doing Great! at tompapa.com.
]]>Find Tom’s tour dates at tompapa.com.
]]>—
Lyrics:
This is the Sully—
—As fine a ship as you
can sail from Le Havre France to New
York of a mild October
in the year of our lord
1832
Blessed be the quiet mind—
—such as wielded by a Sully
passenger named Samuel F.B
Morse the nearly famous artist
coming up for air post
years of work and study
Quiet be the weary mind
That hovers o’er the water—
—grateful to be homeward borne by true and perfect boredom
Hallowed be its name
‘Cause—
—weary be the troubled mind
That hovers o’er the water
With its lonely sons and daughter
On the shore ahead
And on the shore behind
So much unfinished business
But there ain’t a cure for distance
Save a long long time
Tick tick ticking several decks
below in steerage next to less-
considered travelers nothing
but their fevers running
wild from bed to bed
To bed
Quiet be their weary minds
Between the old and new world
No more to seek approval
From the loved ones wedded to the shore behind
Calling “y’all are gonna miss us,
Unless you find the cure for distance”
—and in that instant
There it is
A ceaseless current
A boundless grid
A prayer a potion
With form and function
To deliver us
To each other
From each other
Racing be the blessed mind
To a future long imagined
Bright with glory, fame and fortune
It had left for dead
On the shore behind
Jedidiah are you listening
Your son has found a cure for distance
And blessed be his quiet mind
That hears the roaring of an instant
God hath wrought the cure for distance
And that cure is mine
]]>—
Lyrics:
Chris: Tell me beloved
Why is there a tear in your eye?
Tell me beloved
Why is there a tear in your eye?
Sarah: It’s a trick of the winter light
Love everything is fine
C: Then tell me beloved
Why are you now clenching your teeth?
S: I didn’t dress for the winter air
Should’ve worn another layer
Whereas you’ve got your coat and wool underneath
C: Then tell me beloved
Why won’t you let me give you that coat?
S: ‘Cause it’s good to be cold in the wintertime
Love everything is—
Fine it’s because you make me tell you
And I don’t wanna have to tell you
That I have nothing to tell you
‘Cause I’ve said it all said it all said it all before
And you can’t make it all ok
Make me say it all say it all again
And darling we’ll be further from the end
And closer to the forming of another circular mistake
C: Tell me beloved
Why are you angry with me?
S: Well well well look who’s taking on
The role of the hurting one
Who can’t keep his heart off his sleeve
C: Tell me beloved if I could where would we be now
S: Some sweet place where it’s understood
A girl doesn’t have to—
C: Look I thought you wanted me to ask you
And didn’t know what I should ask you
S: I don’t wanna have to tell you
That I have nothing to tell you
‘Cause I’ve said it all said it all said it all before
And you can’t make it all ok
Make me say it all say it all again
And darling we’ll be further from the end
C&S: Cause we’ve said it all said it all said it all before
And we can’t make it all ok
S: Make me say it all
C: If we
C&S: Say it all again
And darling we’ll be further from the end
And closer to the forming
of another circular mistake
C: Tell me beloved
Why is there a tear in your eye?
]]>Find "I Love You More Than All the Windows in New York City" in Jessica’s book Spilled and Gone.
—
Lyrics:
We float above the recycling
And the catcalls
A prelude to the hardest
We will ever fall
No bar is too loud
No bar is too loud
No sidewalk’s too crowded
No stoop too well-lit
No head is too cloudy
For an East Village first kiss
Text me
Text me
Text me
Text me
Don’t forget
Don’t forget me
I will take out the recycling
And pick up the take out
While you stir a pair of Manhattans
And a mocktail
No child is too loud
No dinner’s too hurried
No morning too big
No future’s too blurry
For a South Brooklyn next kiss
So text me
Text me
Text me
Text me
Don’t forget
Don’t forget me
]]>Find Tom’s tour dates and more information about his forthcoming Netflix special You’re Doing Great! at tompapa.com.
]]>—
Lyrics:
We’re here
For the vibe
For the grog
For the people
That brought us
We’re here
For the love
Of these Gods
That ain’t trying to stop us
And I’m here
‘Cause it calms me down
Why are you here, Barkeeper?
We’re here
For a glance
From a girl
Or a boy
That reminds us
There’s more
To our lives
Than the goals
Dead ahead
And behind us
And I’m here
‘Cause it calms me down
Whispers breathe in
Don’t just breathe out
And I’ll stay for as many rounds
As it takes you to answer
Why are you here, Barkeeper?
It ain’t the money ‘else
You would’ve made a killing
Selling out to those Scientologists
They would’ve had to clear all of us to raze this building...
Of the vibe
Of the grog
Of the people
That brought us
Of the love
And these Gods
That ain’t trying to stop us
And I’m here
‘Cause it calms me down
Whispers breathe in
Don’t just breathe out
And I’ll stay for as many rounds
As it takes you to answer
Why are you here, Barkeeper?
It ain’t the glory ‘else
You would’ve been out years ago
Before the movie stars soured on your Zombies
Now you’re laying ‘em on me like I’m Brando
And you’re the man in the photo on the back wall
And I wonder
If a fella’s ever shone brighter in his daddy’s shadow
Yeah, a fella’s never shone brighter in his daddy’s shadow
Well, I hope you all are having a good night
It’s Wednesday which is when I like to toast my dad, Ray
That’s his picture up there, you’ve probably seen it.
Anyway, he was the master ninja, he built the tiki, so
Here’s to you Dad
All right
Bottoms up, everyone
Have fun
]]>—
Lyrics:
Three Advil and a coffee
Could cure whatever ailed me
In my twenties:
Sunlight loomed like a wall
(On a late morning after)
I woke up in a well
(They threw me a ladder)
I said “thank God for y’all
(I thought I was a goner”)
They said “we're happy to help
(At least ‘til you’re older)
Soon it won’t be last call
(That’s leaving you hammered)
It’ll be the plight of the world
(And the vanity of your efforts)
So keep your eye on the ball
(Your mind over matter)
And they’ll help find you a girl
(Sooner or later)
And when you fall down a well
(She’ll throw you a ladder)
And when the world goes to hell
(You can crawl out together)
Singing
‘Darling you’re my Advil
Darling you’re my coffee
In the bitter light of morning
Darling you’re my Advil
Darling you’re my coffee
In the bitter light of 2019
Everybody trying to do the right thing
If only for their own’”
So Darling be my Advil
Darling be my coffee
In the bitter light of morning
Darling be my Advil
Darling be my coffee
In the bitter light of 2019
Everybody’s trying to do the right thing
Who knows? It might get done
]]>The band: Chris Thile, Aoife O'Donovan, Rich Dworsky, Mike Elizondo, Alex Hargreaves, Julian Lage, and Ted Poor.
—
Lyrics:
Don we now
Our winter coats
Cheery as a Christmas bonus
Deck the yard with icons
Our neighbors may not like 'em
Set up the lights
And the plastic sheep
Watch our seasonal belief
start to trickle down
May our seasonal belief forever trickle down
Damn we now
Our vague concerns
The sky could fall, Rome might start burning
Deck the hall with revelry
And no regard for history
It's all rum and dancing
Fun and games
'Til someone slips on the perspiration
that trickles down
Someone catch the perspiration as it trickles down
Ornaments
Hang from the branches
Hang from the branches
The year that was
Hangs from the branches
(Hangs in the balance)
Hangs from the branches
America
Hangs in the balance
Hangs in the balance
Dim we now
Our screens in bed
Exhausted as a line of credit
Deck the room with worry
Dream of fire and fury
We smell the smoke
We smell the smoke
We smell the smoke
From the burning hills
We hear the senate swear their millions will trickle down
May the good lord let their joy and comfort trickle down
I know I'm on your list
Because I got my wish
But something's gotta give
'Cause someone always lifts you up
In America we trust
God's been good to us
]]>The band: Chris Thile, Sarah Jarosz, Mike Elizondo, Eric Doob, Chris Eldridge, Alex Hargreaves, Brett Williams
—
Lyrics:
TELEGRAPH OPERATORS (Chris)
Sleep my child and peace attend thee
All through the night
Guardian angels God will lend thee
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping
Hill and vale in slumber steeping
I my loving vigil keeping
All through the night
Though I roam a minstrel lonely
All through the night
My true harp shall praise sing only
All through the night...
LINCOLN (Sarah)
My dear Sir and Madam
In the loss of your noble son
My affliction here
is scarcely less than your own
Our acquaintance began less than two years ago
Yet I can proudly say we knew each other well
And that the honors he labored for so laudably, and, in the sad end, so gallantly gave his life for, he meant for you, no less than for himself.
May God give you that consolation which is beyond all earthly power
Yours in our common affliction...
TELEGRAPH OPERATORS (Chris)
Love's young dream, alas, is over
Yet my strains of love shall hover
Near the presence of my lover
All through the night...
LINCOLN:
Dear Mrs. Ainesworth
I’ve been informed by an adjutant general
That your noble husband
Has died on the field of battle
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine
As sorrow threatens to blot out the sun
And blind you to what might yet be won
Let the memory of the brave man you loved remind you
Remind you
How much the prize of freedom is worth
How great the role is of death in rebirth
And such peace as there exists on this earth
Will find you find you find you
TELEGRAPH OPERATORS (Sarah)
Love to thee my thoughts are turning
All through the night
All for thee my heart is yearning
All through the night
LINCOLN (Chris)
Dear Fanny I am deeply saddened
To hear of the death your father
Sadder still to think of the pain
Your young heart is being made to suffer...
Dear George I too was a child when I lost my first parent
Dear Sir as you know I’m a parent whose buried his child
So I know what I say when I say that
As sorrow threatens to blot out the sun
And blinds you to what might yet be won
Let the memory of your father, husband, son remind you
Remind you
How much the prize of freedom is worth
How great the role is of death in rebirth
And such peace as there exists on this earth
Will find you find you find you
TELEGRAPH OPERATORS (Sarah, then Sarah and Chris):
Though sad fate our lives may sever
Parting will not last forever
There’s a hope that leaves me never
All through the night
]]>The band: Chris Thile, Aoife O’Donovan, Mike Elizondo, Chris Eldridge, Marcus Gilmore, Brittany Haas, Brett Williams
—
Lyrics:
1.
Morse: A nibble!
Lincoln: A bite!
A reason to be thankful—
M: —for another sleepless night
But how best to set the hook?
L: How best to reel him in?
M: Hmm...what to send?
L: Hmm...what to send?
M + L: Not my name
L: He’ll know it
M: Rendering this another unclean slate
L: Another couple hours answering for these Divided States
M: And being the amplifier of this rift between Americans
Won’t help me make a friend
L: What to send?
M + L: Hmm...what to send?
L: What are the chances of this meeting? I won’t let it get away
M: Who else will dance me through the dead of night unto the break of day?
L: If I believed in God I’d ask him
M: Father, tell me
M + L: what to say
To make a friend out of this stranger on the wire
L: How’s the weather where you are?
2.
M: It’s hot as stock in Western Union
The air’s as thick as the brow of a grim patent judge
L: Is that your field of law?
M: Nice try. How’s the weather where YOU are?
L: Hot as the barrel of a freshly fired cannon
Air as thick as the skull of McDowell at Bull Run
And the smoke rising up to the sky
Over sons that were loved as much as mine was
M: I’m sorry for your loss.
L: I’m grateful for your ear
I hope I haven’t scared you off
M: Fellow stranger au contraire
Any night you feel like hopping
On this wire I’ll be here
Waiting to ask you how’s the weather where you are
L + M: How’s the weather where you are?
M: Cold as the sweat I woke up in an hour ago
L: Cold as each toe in each boot marching south through the snow
M: Exactly further yet from their hearths and our peace
Were I Abe I would bid each brave toe retreat*
L: What of the war for freedom lost?
M: I don’t believe it’s ours
I hope that doesn’t scare you off
L: Fellow stranger au contraire
Any night you feel like hopping
On this wire I’ll be here
Waiting to ask you how’s the weather where you are
‘Cause you can learn a lot about someone from asking how they feel about the weather where they are
]]>—
Lyrics:
Here’s a song
For the good folks who
We pay to look for bombs
In each other’s boots
Sure this line is long
Longer than my fuse
But you’re just doing your job
And what a job you’re doing
For the put-upon
Bearers of bad news
Now and forever caught here
Between us and our due
As platinums golds and silvers
Singing the Delta blues
“I can’t believe it’s not in your
Power to move me
To the seat I want
And just forgot to choose
I know you’re doing your job
But what a job to do”
And for the mom
Running stoically through
Each kid-unfriendly gauntlet
Doing the work of two
‘Til the boarding process
Drops her off next to
A childless man of business
Whose cares are few
Enough to voice his problems with
Her toddler on fumes
I heard her tell him off like
“Who the hell are you
To assess this job
That you could never do
Just put your headphones on”
Then away we flew
Then away we flew
]]>—
Lyrics:
What hath God wrought
Of strength unfelt
Gifts neglected
And love withheld
What hath God wrought (x3)
Lucretia left the world without a fight
Father left it clutching the handle of a knife
His memory never failing to give that knife a twist
All has led to this:
Mutton—
My children scattered like so many seeds
Separated from one another and from me
All my colleagues snickering at Samuel Morse the Scientist
All has led to this:
Mutton— (x2)
Dark magic or miracle
I don’t care
It’s wonderful
Listen, America’s about to bare her soul
And maybe her teeth as well
It’s a sound
To behold
Good or bad only someone else’s time will tell
—and strawberries
And a wire to connect the world
A wire to remind it
That nothing can become itself
‘Til something else defines it
One wire to connect the world
One wire to remind it
That nothing can become itself
‘Til something else defines it
Now a ghost of wire haunts this world
A ghost of wire drives it
Unto the need to know itself
And with that knowledge binds it
One ghost of wire haunts this world
One ghost of wire drives it
Unto the need to know itself
And with that knowledge binds it
‘Til we use it to connect the world
And let the world remind us
That none of us become ourselves
While someone else defines us
]]>—
Lyrics:
“Canst thou send lightnings
So that they may go
And say unto thee here we are?”
A rhetorical question
From our Father In Heaven
To Job in his suffering
Here below
To Job in his suffering—
As we sent the first lightnings
All those years ago
I quoted that question by heart
Then delivered the answer
Full of magnets and wire
On behalf of a dreamer
Here below
On behalf of a dreamer—
“Sounds like you did this”
I did but—
It was the least that I could do
—than I would do to serve his genius
To serve his—
`“Sounds like it’s time to set the record straight
Nothing’s wrong with calling a good man great, but a bad man...”
No, he’s not a bad man
Though it’s true before we met
The God of Wire was struggling to connect
What he had with what he dreamt
Then I applied a method to the madness
And the thing began to click
We were like a couple little kids
‘Cause it was clear this was it
I’d take him by the hand and lead him to whatever future he had seen
And pan whatever gold was in his stream
Of consciousness that flowed between his heart and anything like love for the doer of his dreams
“Sounds like he used you”
He did but—
Oh how I burned to be of use
—to be of use and not be slave to
A mind as—
As cold and dry and barren as this one is
At least when in comparison to one like his
“You have a great mind”
No, his is the great mind
And it will never be at rest
Will ever trade this moment for the next
And what it has for what it’s dreamt
So even if the present is exactly what he wanted it to be
He’ll miss his un-manifested destiny
And find a better man than me
To take him by the hand and lead him to whatever future he’s been seeing
And pan whatever gold’s still in his stream
Of consciousness that flows between his heart and anything like love for me
I send him a lightning
Every now and then
Saying unto him “here we are
I don’t expect you to answer
But I miss you dear dreamer
And what we did together
Here below
O what we did together here”
]]>—
Lyrics:
Morse has chained the lightning
The rumors are true
All this dashing and dotting’s gonna bring the world home to you
And tell you what it is or what it might be
So drink today’s coffee with tomorrow’s news...
There’s no more elsewhere
Everywhere is here
With an o-perator, tap-tapping our hope and fear
Speculation and excitement
The clock hands froze the miles disappeared
When Morse chained the lightning
Morse has chained the lightning
Behold these tyrants
Assassins and thieves
Haters of light, law
And liberty
Then behold Morse’s lightning
Nipping at their heels
Fixing to strike them in the middle of the battlefield
Where they left America dying
Of the great divide in what she thinks and feels
Before Morse chained the lightning
]]>Find Tom’s tour dates at tompapa.com.
]]>—
Lyrics:
This is the Sully—
—As fine a ship as you
can sail from Le Havre France to New
York of a mild October
in the year of our lord
1832
Blessed be the quiet mind—
—such as wielded by a Sully
passenger named Samuel F.B
Morse the nearly famous artist
coming up for air post
years of work and study
Quiet be the weary mind
That hovers o’er the water—
—grateful to be homeward borne by true and perfect boredom
Hallowed be its name
‘Cause—
—weary be the troubled mind
That hovers o’er the water
With its lonely sons and daughter
On the shore ahead
And on the shore behind
So much unfinished business
But there ain’t a cure for distance
Save a long long time
Tick tick ticking several decks
below in steerage next to less-
considered travelers nothing
but their fevers running
wild from bed to bed
To bed
Quiet be their weary minds
Between the old and new world
No more to seek approval
From the loved ones wedded to the shore behind
Calling “y’all are gonna miss us,
Unless you find the cure for distance”
—and in that instant
There it is
A ceaseless current
A boundless grid
A prayer a potion
With form and function
To deliver us
To each other
From each other
Racing be the blessed mind
To a future long imagined
Bright with glory, fame and fortune
It had left for dead
On the shore behind
Jedidiah are you listening
Your son has found a cure for distance
And blessed be his quiet mind
That hears the roaring of an instant
God hath wrought the cure for distance
And that cure is mine
]]>—
Lyrics:
In a sunburnt park
Eating greenhouse tomatoes
I warm to my work
As worse comes to worst
Singing heave ho
‘Cause failure isn’t forever
Oh failures aren’t forever
Unless they never try to do better
We’ve left too big a mark
Casted too long a shadow
But failure won’t be forever
Oh failures aren’t forever
Unless they never try to do better
We’re gonna need some believers
To believe that failure isn’t forever
It’s just a point in time to get better
We welcome the dark
That pours through unlit windows
As worst recedes to worse
And we warm to the work
Singing heave ho
Failure isn’t forever
Oh failures aren’t forever
Unless they never try to do better
We’re gonna need some believers
To believe that failure isn’t forever
It’s just a point in time to get better
]]>—
Lyrics:
Dit dah
Dit dah
Dit dah
As in
Alfred asks a bit of advice from his father
And anxiously for another few hundred dollars
(Dit dah) Dit dah (Dit dah)
“Well son I believe a patient waiter is no loser
And America believes in cash why disabuse her
AKA yes here son good luck
When you fall
Fall hard
Fall forward
When you fail
Fail out
On and up
Now go fill
That wire
With this message
Attention:
The Universe”
Thus the future hangs on Vail iron and copper
Thus the distance possible grows ever greater
From father’s heart to Morses code’s lip’s
"When you fall
Fall hard
Fall forward
When you fall
Fall hard
Fall forward
When you fail
Fail out
On and up
Now go fill
That wire
With this message
Attention:
The Universe"
Dit dah
Dit dah
As in
Attention:
The universe
]]>—
Lyrics:
Out the front door
The melting snow
Would turn our creek into a river
Now from the airplane
I catch a glimpse
Of the Mississippi
And my young self asks me
If we’re doing all right
When the pressure of living
Is too much for the wine
I turn to the water
‘Cause none of our failings
Can worry my mind
To the point where a river can’t soothe me
Out the front door
The melting snow
Would turn our creek into a river
And brave explorers
Could sail the globe
And still be home in time for dinner
Now from the hotel
I hear the song
Of the mighty frozen Mississippi
“Under ice and trouble
We will roll along
Bring me your burdens
For all that you’ve earned them
There are no shoulders broader than mine
When the pressure of living
Is too much for your wine
Turn to my water
‘Cause none of y’all’s failings
Should worry your mind
To the point where this river can’t soothe you”
When the pressure of living
Is too much for the wine
I turn to the water and choose
To believe that no failing
Can worry my mind
To the point where this river can’t soothe me
]]>—
Lyrics:
Sing we now our mid-year hymn
Breathe in love
Breathe in
Shush your mind with oxygen
Breathe in love
Breathe in
You need this
Amen
Rest thy voice click-off thy pen
Breathe in love
Pluck not thy weary mandolin
Breathe in love
Breathe in
You need this
Amen
Take thy summer medicine
Breathe in love
With one foot in the looney bin
Breathe in love
And when Fall asks you where you’ve been
You can breathe out
Again
So breathe in love
Breathe in
You need this
Amen
]]>—
Lyrics:
Morse has chained the lightning
The rumors are true
All this dashing and dotting’s gonna bring the world home to you
And tell you what it is or what it might be
So drink today’s coffee with tomorrow’s news...
There’s no more elsewhere
Everywhere is here
With an o-perator, tap-tapping our hope and fear
Speculation and excitement
The clock hands froze the miles disappeared
When Morse chained the lightning
Morse has chained the lightning
Behold these tyrants
Assassins and thieves
Haters of light, law
And liberty
Then behold Morse’s lightning
Nipping at their heels
Fixing to strike them in the middle of the battlefield
Where they left America dying
Of the great divide in what she thinks and feels
Before Morse chained the lightning
—
Lyrics:
In a sunburnt park
Eating greenhouse tomatoes
I warm to my work
As worse comes to worst
Singing heave ho
‘Cause failure isn’t forever
Oh failures aren’t forever
Unless they never try to do better
We’ve left too big a mark
Casted too long a shadow
But failure won’t be forever
Oh failures aren’t forever
Unless they never try to do better
We’re gonna need some believers
To believe that failure isn’t forever
It’s just a point in time to get better
We welcome the dark
That pours through unlit windows
As worst recedes to worse
And we warm to the work
Singing heave ho
Failure isn’t forever
Oh failures aren’t forever
Unless they never try to do better
We’re gonna need some believers
To believe that failure isn’t forever
It’s just a point in time to get better
—
Lyrics:
“Monette”
He whispers at the backdoor
“This is just a trap your
Loving folks have set
But you don’t have to spring it
Gather up your things it’s
Time you placed your
Own bet”
Monette
Replies “boy don’t I know it
But I’d be disowned if
I just up and left
In the middle of the plan to
Raise our family’s standing
By what man I wed
My mom and his are in the parlor
Talking guest list dresses drinks and rings
My father asked his then he asked my father no one’s bothered asking me
So Milkman
Lover boy
Adam whatcha after
A partner
Or a pretty toy
Adam whatcha after
I’m almost scared ask ‘cause
What if you’re too scared to ask me too and—
“Monette
I’m after marrying a goddess
Giving her just cause to
Bless the day we met
Yeah we’ll be in San Diego
Spreading avocado
On our morning
Toast yet”
Monette
Replies “well ain’t that nice
But dear a high society
Girl daren’t accept
Why don’t you run along and party
With those movie stars and
Give them my regrets
My mom and his are in the parlor
On to what our children’s names should be
My father asked his then he asked my father
And that’s quite enough for me”
Milkman
Loverboy
“Monette”
His heart sinks as he whispers
“Well I guess that’s it for
This huh please forget
That I so misunderstood us
As my train rolls good-guy-
-Like into the
Sunset”
Monette
Replies “Christ on a cracker
Hon, I’m kidding, packed, and
Not a bit upset
But since you couldn’t tell I’d
Chase your love to hell if
That were where it led
So Milkman
Lover boy
It’s off to California
I’m your partner
Your my pretty toy
And we’re off to California”
—
Lyrics:
Three Advil and a coffee
Could cure whatever ailed me
In my twenties:
Sunlight loomed like a wall
(On a late morning after)
I woke up in a well
(They threw me a ladder)
I said “thank God for y’all
(I thought I was a goner”)
They said “we're happy to help
(At least ‘til you’re older)
Soon it won’t be last call
(That’s leaving you hammered)
It’ll be the plight of the world
(And the vanity of your efforts)
So keep your eye on the ball
(Your mind over matter)
And they’ll help find you a girl
(Sooner or later)
And when you fall down a well
(She’ll throw you a ladder)
And when the world goes to hell
(You can crawl out together)
Singing
‘Darling you’re my Advil
Darling you’re my coffee
In the bitter light of morning
Darling you’re my Advil
Darling you’re my coffee
In the bitter light of 2019
Everybody trying to do the right thing
If only for their own’”
So Darling be my Advil
Darling be my coffee
In the bitter light of morning
Darling be my Advil
Darling be my coffee
In the bitter light of 2019
Everybody’s trying to do the right thing
Who knows? It might get done
Find "I Love You More Than All the Windows in New York City" in Jessica’s new book 'Spilled and Gone': https://www.upress.pitt.edu/books/9780822965725/
]]>We’re back with new shows! Check out our season schedule at livefromhere.org/tour.
]]>We’re back with new shows! Check out our season schedule at livefromhere.org/tour.
]]>Originally from January 27, 2018.
]]>