Lyrics |
LyricsThe following lyrics come from either CD liner sleeves, or personal interpretations of tapes we have. Unfortunately not every Hopkin's tune is listed here (nor is every song listed in the discography page) because we don't have copies of all the songs. 100 SummersPerformed by The Psalms Recorded by The Psalms Appearing on No Great Cathedral It's getting dark and not too bright
Nada still to pray I still can see you through the tears I watched you walk away It's time for seeing things like these Though mine is long since past I wrote it down it stared at me Made too much sense to last Now the party's over Ashamed to hang around The twisted smile you wore so well Is nowhere to be found Feeling that was promised Is left for someone else At times I even wonder if the things we said we felt 100 summers in one night 100 summers, in one night with you Come and join me by the fire Your halo's dark as mine Sit and talk of days gone by 100 summers gone Waist deep in our own remorse We all know why we're here We dance and drink and chase our tails And dance the fire down 100 summers in one night 100 summers, in one night with you Do you believe like I do (Do you believe) Do you believe like I do (Do you believe) ..... Spoken by Doug primarily with a few other voices in there Once if my memory serves me well My life was a banquet Where every heart revealed itself Where every wine flowed One evening I took beauty in my arms I thought her bitter and I insulted her. Eternity is in love with the productions of time Enough! I spoke too much Prisons are built with stones of law, Brothels, with bricks of religion And springtime brought me the frightful laugh of an idiot 25 Women AgoPerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Doug Hopkins & Robin Wilson Appearing on Doug Hopkins & Robin Wilson Acoustic Demos She used to love me
But she just couldn't say it Her friends just told me I just found out today I could have had her in my arms But I didn't know That she used to love me But that was twenty-five women ago If she just could have told me You know I would have been true But she knows all about the girls that I've had There's not a thing I can do Why did they have to tell me I wish that I just didn't know That I could have been happy But that was twenty-five women ago I close my eyes and I see her She's even lovelier now I want to ask her to give me one more chance But I don't even know how And then she speaks to me softly And says there's one thing that I know You get but one chance at true love And yours was twenty-five women ago A Story I Was ToldPerformed by The Psalms Recorded by The Psalms Appearing on A Story I Was Told They watched my dreams turn into plans
And sent them shrinking back again A time for everything they said You can't tempt fate to get ahead A word to keep things all on cue A chance to say, but not to do A time, a penance and a name I don't deserve it all the same A story handed down to us And we can never measure up It praises things that just aren't there And yet, they tell it everywhere A promise made but never kept The one they break without regret The myth defeats us all and then, They send you back to try again It's a standard no one can live for There's always somebody better I don't come close to a story I was told. They watched my dreams turn into plans And sent them shrinking back again A time for everything they said You can't tempt fate to get ahead A word to keep things all on cue A chance to say but not to do A time and penance and a name I don't deserve it all the same The story I was told Never seems to change I can never win And it can never age Absolutely Right And WrongPerformed by Chimeras Recorded by Chimeras Appearing on N/A The black girl in a white dress
Steals the city away from sleep The sun is gone The moon is rising On dreams that she's not realizing She pauses for a moment At the entrance of the liquor store And she finds it hard to get along without Absolutely right and wrong And the wallet was just lying In the garbage on the phone booth floor 87 dollars richer A lotto ticket And some pictures A drivers license falls out In the three steps to the lost and found But she finds it hard to get along without Absolutely right and wrong And it ain't easy writing a bible Every minute of every day Whoah, but that's just what she's doing Everytime you hear her clear her throat and say That she wasn't really lying She just left a few things out How she slept with the man A man who wasn't her one and only wedded husband She tells them she slept over At the apartment of a long lost friend And she finds it hard to get along without Absolutely right and wrong And she finds it hard to get along without Absolutely right and wrong Angels TonightPerformed by Algebra Ranch Recorded by Ten O'Clock Scholars Appearing on Demos (Ten O'Clock Scholars) Party girls between the sheets
She can't show that much to me I'd rather drink until I see Angels tonight I had a girl I thought was mine I wised up and just in time Such wisdom makes these sluts look like Angels tonight... As we collide as the lights go out There's someone else she thinks about It's all the best that I can't figure out Angels tonight... Party girls between the sheets She can't show that much to me I'd rather drink until I see Angels tonight I had a girl I thought was mine I wised up and just in time Such wisdom makes these sluts look like Angels tonight... Blame It On The SkyPerformed by Ten O'Clock Scholars Recorded by The Feedbags Appearing on ??? Morning Union Station
Might I use you today Ya see, I'm in need of shelter The sky has turned to gray Bitter winds blow Blow right through my eyes Bitter winds blow Blame it on the sky Blame it on the sky It's a lonesome stroll Down Broadway Avenue To the corner where the whiskey flows Helps me forget the life I once knew Bitter winds blow Blow right through my eyes Bitter winds blow Blame it on the sky Blame it on the sky Down at the square The deals go down with the runaways I finish that bottle there And join on in With the sad parade So long Union Station I'll thank you once again If ever in need of shelter In you I've found a friend Bitter winds blow Blow right through my eyes Bitter winds blow Blame it on the sky Blame it on the sky Blame it on Blame it on Blame it on the sky Blue Eyes BleedingPerformed by Ten O'Clock Scholars Recorded by Ten O'Clock Scholars Appearing on Demos (Ten O'Clock Scholars) Hey Paleface, in the morning sun
Hanging out with my only friends Little early, to be so tired Or late for going on the med Well, two white boys from the wrong side of town Smiling mighty hard while the money runs out Blue eyes bleeding in the marquee lights So what's it gonna be Your smokes, or mine? Neph was driving Think I rode shotgun Down by water, chances are Endless summer just burning in heaven Boning up for finals in a bar Well, I hear you laugh when you ask if I'm me Are you coming home for Christmas Come on, pretty please? Spent in a boxcar Wind blowing in Transistor radio, bottle of gin On the way home Neph wasn't feeling too good As we pulled to the side of the road He was kneeling, I was laughing As he tossed himself all over my clothes Two white boys from the wrong side of town Smiling mighty hard while the money runs out Blue eyes bleeding in the marquee lights So what's it gonna be, what's it gonna be Two white boys from the wrong side of town Smiling mighty hard while the money runs out Blue eyes bleeding in the marquee lights So what's it gonna be Your smokes, or mine? Just fine Cathedral CityPerformed by Chimeras Recorded by Chimeras Appearing on Songs Of Innocence Cathedral City in the dust
Standing tall in twilight And held up by rust 29 palms to line the way Towards a place I think of often But don't really want to stay in Lightening hangs before my eyes Like the veins inside a leaf And every color in the sky Rejoices to be seen The crying of a baby The dying of the sun Today maybe just ending But tonight has just begun The wind just whips the smoke away Out from the ocean It drags salt and sea fog through LA 200 miles from any shore The night comes up into the sky From some indifferent source Lightening hangs before my eyes Like the veins inside a leaf And every color in the sky Rejoices to be seen The crying of a baby The dying of the sun Today maybe just ending But tonight has just begun From the horizon to the sky The colors and the lights They darken as the sun is falling down Across the dust Into the trees And from back to you and me The shadows make them fade and vanish Lightening hangs before my eyes Like the veins inside a leaf And every color in the sky Rejoices to be seen The crying of a baby The dying of the sun Today maybe just ending But tonight has just begun Cheatin'Performed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Gin Blossoms Appearing on New Miserable Experience New York City where it's cold as hell
And the streetlights shone in my blue room I was thinking about the nights we spent Back in Galveston beneath the Georgia moon It was early and I'd had my share I was countin' change for a cab ride back to bed She looked to me through the cold night air And thoughts of you kicked off inside my head Well she was tall hair dark as midnight She had a way just like you do To make me feel just like a woman should You can't call it cheatin' Cause she reminds me of you... Though I loved you and the trust we shared Lord don't tell me that I've thrown it all away A moment's weakness shouldn't change the fact That I need you and there's nothing more to say Lord she was tall hair dark as midnight She had a way just like you do To make me feel just like a woman should You can't call it cheatin' Cause she reminds me of you Christmas IslandPerformed by The Psalms Recorded by The Psalms Appearing on A Story I Was Told Long was the time I've suffered through
Ugly are the scars I wear Hate was the gift they gave to me But part of me is still lost there Anger is the water that takes you there Defiance is the sun on the sand Baptized by the pain we've both been though Let's wander back hand in hand But when you look back there Christmas Island runs and hides Never quite without it There's a temper, never dies Carry the feeling with me still Everybody has their own Years worth of Christmas taught me well But that was the way I chose But when you look back there Christmas Island runs and hides Never quite without it There's a temper, never dies You can't see mine You've got your own Don't try to find it Leave yours alone Dream With YouPerformed by Algebra Ranch Recorded by Ten O'Clock Scholars Appearing on Demos (Ten O'Clock Scholars) Amena lays in the dark all day
She waits for the sun to go down And in her novel we appear To change her moods around Well she forgets you now Well she forgets you now And girls like that they own the world They'll sell you what you need On languid streets you search for her You win her in your sleep Well she leads you on Well she leads you on Dream with you Well she could only dream with you And the distance keeps her warm Her letters talk of things she's seen Her silence what she's learned Reminisce and drink with them To hasten her return Well she forgets you now Well she forgets you now... Dream with you Well she could only And the distance keeps her warm Dream with you Well she could only And the distance keeps her warm Dream with you... FireworksPerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Gin Blossoms Appearing on Dusted The fireworks from the rooftops fall
Down around whole town And it seems like so long Since I've had you beside me here The streets we walked together Have nothing to show me now And it seems like so long Since I've had you beside me here Well he's got ropes and chains All around her heart And nothing I can say could ever tear them apart The phone calls come less often From the other side of this room And the things she won't say Just reminds me she's not alone Well I can't help but feeling A little more than blue Cause the things that matter Just don't mean a damn to you Well he's got ropes and chains All around her heart And nothing I can say could ever tear them apart The fireworks from the roofs tops fall Down around you And it it seems like so long Since I've had you beside me here Well the streets we walked together Have nothing to show me now And it seems like so long Since I've had you beside me here Well he's got ropes and chains All around her heart And nothing I can say could ever tear them apart Found Out About YouPerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Gin Blossoms Appearing on Dusted All last summer in case you don't recall
I was yours and you were mine forget it all Is there a line that I could write Sad enough to make you cry All the lines you wrote to me were lies The months roll past the love that you struck dead Did you love me only in my head? Things you said and did to me Seemed to come so easily The love I thought I'd won you give for free Whispers at the bus stop I heard about nights out in the school yard I found out about you Rumors follow everywhere you go Like when you left and I was last to know You're famous now and there's no doubt In all the places you hang out They know your name and know what you're about Whispers at the bus stop I heard about nights out in the school yard I found out about you Street lights blink on through the car window I get the time too often on AM radio You know it's all I think about I write your name drive past your house Your boyfriend's over I watch your light go out Whispers at the bus stop I heard about nights out in the school yard I found out about you Hey JealousyPerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Gin Blossoms Appearing on Dusted Tell me do you think it'd be all right
If I could just crash here tonight You can see I'm in no shape for driving And anyway I've got no place to go And you know it might not be that bad You were the best I'd ever had If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago I might not be alone Tomorrow we can drive around this town And let the cops chase us around The past is gone but something might be found To take its place...Hey Jealousy And you can trust me not to think And not to sleep around If you don't expect too much from me You might not be let down Cause all I really want is to be with you Feeling like I matter too If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago I might be here with you Tomorrow we can drive around this town And let the cops chase us around The past is gone but something might be found To take its place...Hey Jealousy Well, she took my heart There's only one thing I couldn't start Hold Me DownPerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Gin Blossoms Appearing on New Miserable Experience So I guess I must have just been dreaming
When I thought I heard myself say no Anyway it looks like no one heard me so here I go Cause when you're in the company of strangers Or just the strangers you call friends You know before you start just how it's going to end When the doors swing open and all the drinks are passed around Anytime the pickins look too easy...hold me down I can't remember why I like this feeling When it only seems to let me down Soon I find I'm searching for the exit from the ground If I think the room is turning faster Then I think the music is too loud By then I've lived another broken story to let me down When those doors swing open and all the drinks are passed around When half the party moves into the bathroom...hold me down Or if you're at the tail end of the evening And Dr. Feelgood comes around Anytime the pickins look too easy...hold me down Down if I want that part Down if I've gone too far Well I guess I must have just been reeling When I felt myself begin to fall I realize I'm bounding down the hallways and off the walls If my bed was standing in the corner I could just fall into it right now And know that I'd just be staring at the ceiling going round When those doors swing open and all the drinks are passed around Anytime the pickins look too easy...hold me down Keli RichardsPerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Gin Blossoms Appearing on Dusted She came to L.A. all the way from Boston town
She wound up on the screen where I saw her goin' down Now I can't see you I can't see you at all No I don't know you I don't know you at all I bought her films, yeah I bought all her magazines And I watched her every move until I saw her in my dreams Now I can't stand it See you caught from behind No I don't know you Girl you gotta be mine Keli Richards come on... Well I bought a gun, there's just one thing left to do Now I can't make up my mind it comes down to me or you Now I can't see you I can't see you at all No I don't know you I don't know you at all Keli Richards come on.. Long Last Lonely MilePerformed by Chimeras Recorded by Chimeras Appearing on Bars & Guitars Well I don't feel much like tryin' to be a man
To keep from cryin' Because it's a sure bet I'll be lonesome for a while And I might have to do some drinkin' Hey I think I might just get stinkin' Cause it's a cold walk down that long last lonely mile Well I came home drunk from work early yesterday I was tired and I'd been fired and I felt half dead I got a one hell of greetin' Found a brand new way of cheatin' It was a woman, not a man with you in bed And I don't feel much like tryin' to be a man To keep from cryin' Because it's a sure bet I'll be lonesome for a while And I might have to do some drinkin' Yeah I think I might just get stinkin' Cause it's a cold walk down that long last lonely mile Better men have sought the bible But I was needin' a quick revival I've been cheated on before, but not like that I'm gonna catch that train and I'll tell the porter "Aim that son-a-bitch for the border" I make my home where I lay my bottle and I lay my hat And I don't feel much like tryin' to be a man To keep from cryin' Because it's a sure bet I'll be lonesome for a while And I might have to do some drinkin' Yeah I think I might just get stinkin' Cause it's a cold walk down that long last lonely mile And I don't feel much like tryin' to be a man To keep from cryin' Because it's a sure bet I'll be lonesome for a while And I might have to do some drinkin' Yeah I think I might just get stinkin' Cause it's a cold walk down that long last lonely mile Lost HorizonsPerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Gin Blossoms Appearing on Dusted The last horizons I can see are filled with bars and factories
and in them all we fight to stay awake... Drink enough of anything to make this world look new again Drunk drunk drunk in the gardens and the graves She had nothing left to say so she said she loved me I stood there grateful for the lie... Drink enough of anything to make this girl look new again Drunk drunk drunk in the gardens and the graves Turn summer trees to bones and ice Turn insect songs against the night With words we build and words we break I'm drunk drunk drunk in the gardens and the graves... Maybe I could use you to reassure myself I wouldn't wish this indecision on anybody else Drink enough of anything to make this world look new again And when the sin smiles how could it be wrong The last horizons I could see are now resigned to memories I never thought I'd still be here today... Drink enough of anything to make myself look new again Drunk drunk drunk in the gardens and the graves My Guardian AngelPerformed by The Chimeras Recorded by The Pistoleros Appearing on Hang On To Nothing And as I hurdle through the cold Nebraskan night
I hear your voice and know that I might be alright And though I once was rich I know what it is to be hungry And though I've nearly drowned I know what it is to be thirsty Translation: You're my guardian Angel My sweetest companion Don't ever leave me In the nighttime or the daylightAngel de mi guarda De me dulce compania No me desampares Ni de noche, ne di dia And as the dawn comes And a brand new day begins And day seems darker than the night have ever been And though I once was rich I know what it is to be hungry And though I nearly drowned I know what it is to be thirsty Angel de mi guarda.... Míja VedaPerformed by Chimeras Recorded by Chimeras Appearing on N/A I see her lying fast asleep against the window
As the pale 6:30 sunset brings the night on down Down upon these streets that we live From one end to the other And if I woke her up right now it might be time To sit us down Míja Veda You've been too long on the avenue This highway runs straight to the ocean Think of how you'd feel Out on the road, away from here With Phoenix in our rear view mirror And the radio grows fainter As the towers fall from sight It ain't easy leaving your whole life behind you But it ain't like this whole towns gonna disappear anymore The fantasy's gone We'll be back someday And we will be remembered And everything we missed will still be here So wake up now Míja Veda You've been too long on the avenue This highway runs straight to the ocean Think of how you'd feel Out on the road, away from here With Phoenix in our rear view mirror And the radio grows fainter As the towers fall from sight Feel your life Breaking like a wave Like the feeling That sometimes rushes over you When the night just feels like it shouldn't be over But all the lights have burnt away To be seen And don't we all remember it So wake up now Míja Veda You've been too long on the avenue This highway runs straight to the ocean Think of how you'd feel Out on the road, away from here With Phoenix in our rear view mirror And the radio grows fainter As the towers fall from sight Míja Veda You've been too long on the avenue This highway runs straight to the ocean Think of how you'd feel Out on the road, away from here With Phoenix in our rear view mirror And the radio grows fainter As the towers fall from sight And the radio grows fainter As the towers fall Pieces Of The NightPerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Gin Blossoms Appearing on Studio Demos Is it any wonder that the stars just don't rush by
When you're only doin' 60 through this oh-so-vacant night But it's lacking something big this time What the hell did you expect to find Aphrodite on a barstool by your side Twelfth night we go After something everyone should know Somewhere in the distance out of sight... Then I saw: gin mill rainfall What do you remember if at all Only pieces of the night... And is it any wonder in the middle of the crowd If you let your feet get trampled on When the music is that loud But you wanted to be where you are But it looked much better from afar A hillside in shadow Between the people and the stars Twelfth night we go After something everyone should know Somewhere in the distance out of sight... Then I saw: gin mill rainfall What do you remember if at all Only pieces of the night... It seems so distant But still only half the night away Where notions between your questions come too Is it any wonder where The pieces of the night have been... Ponyboy And JohnnyPerformed by Chimeras Recorded by Chimeras Appearing on Songs Of Innocence All the sun and all the lightening
Are so far past beneath And all the hopes and muses And everything between They'll wring you out And they'll hang you up And you knew it even then But you know you'll make the same mistakes When you pass this way again And if we didn't look so hard for wrinkles We wouldn't be so quick to grow old And Johnny knew what he was asking When he told Pony Boy to stay gold And live and learn is what they tell you Make lessons from mistakes To turn stupidity into some kind of knowledge However many tries it takes It sounds to simple And it sounds so sweet When they lay life out that way But you lose your youth And what lies beyond Just trying to find today And if we didn't look so hard for wrinkles We wouldn't be so quick to grow old And Johnny knew what he was asking When he told Pony Boy to stay gold And there's nothing here worth wanting So walk on by There's nothing here worth wanting So walk on by And if we didn't look so hard for wrinkles... Quiet BeatPerformed by Algebra Ranch Recorded by Strange Neighbors Appearing on Quiet Beat (Single by Strange Neighbors) It wouldn't be the first night
Spent trying to forget An awkward bit of honesty In something that I've said Lost in that quiet beat My words just fall away Tomorrow night the story Will be all over town Mistakes they're just like memories They follow you around Lost in that quiet beat Your words just fall away And walking slowly This all reminds me So here's to hoping The shadows through my window spoke of so much promise for the summer Drunk on dew and darkness Search out a place to fall The air so thick with memories I can't see through it all Lost in that quiet beat Your words just fall away Away And walking slowly This all reminds me So here's to hoping Everyone's in pairs and so self consciously in love Lost in that quiet beat Your words just fall away Away Scared To DeathPerformed by Chimeras Recorded by Chimeras Appearing on N/A Sometimes you act as if you're the only one who's ever suffered
And I know you know better than that And sometimes the things you do to yourself You worry me clear to the point where I can't Be with you when you need me I know I should walk away and yet It's yourself you're killing But it's me you're scaring to death You've always had good intentions, I suppose But we both know the road to hell is paved with those Did you honestly think the breath of life was free? (Look what it's done to you, look what it's done for me) I'll be with you when you need me I know I should walk away and yet It's yourself you're killing But it's me you're scaring to death Sometimes it's just too hard to be your friend (I just can't watch you go through all of this again) You wrote this script, I guess you know the end (Sometimes it's just too hard to be your friend) You've got to learn how to learn You've got to learn to believe In something greater than yourself for you and me Sometimes I wonder if you ever listen to me at all (I always listen to you, and I come when you call) You know I'll stand by you, every single step of the way But it's your decision I'll just hold your hand and pray Slave Dealer's DaughterPerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Gin Blossoms Appearing on Dusted I've been trying for so long
Trying to forget The ports of northern Africa and the man I met He said he had a daughter Maybe I could meet her He thought I was a trader Oh, that was how I met That slave dealer's daughter Her eyes were black her hair was raven Her skin was soft and brown Eighteen years she looked a woman I thought she'd been around She'd never met a jailbird I knew that she was lonely She offered me her body So I fell in love With that slave dealer's daughter Her father's men came after me Trying to hunt me down For three long years I've hid my face And run from town to town She never met a jailbird I knew that she was lonely She offered me her body So I fell in love With that slave dealer's daugther Southbound TrainPerformed by Chimeras Recorded by Chimeras Appearing on Bars & Guitars As autumn turns to winter
And half the moon moves across the sky Every bar and cafe on this street All seem haunted now to me Just like every jukebox and every dance floor And I bet you couldn't find A single hotel doorway That I haven't slept behind And though I can't rewrite the past Or change the things I've done I might just catch the last train at the crossing If I run So pick me up, and take me down Southbound train, southbound train A hundred miles from here to Tucson Might be far enough away Might be far enough away And it's happened once to often now I never can recall her name Finding myself plastered on a barstool Between two of my old flames I pretend that I don't remember And they pretend that they don't care And we stare straight ahead in silence And wish that they weren't there And though I can't rewrite the past Or change the things I've done I might just catch the last train at the crossing If I run So pick me up, and take me down Southbound train, southbound train A hundred miles from here to Tucson Might be far enough away Might be far enough away I've seen about as many familar faces As I can stand to see today So pick me up, and take me down Southbound train, southbound train And when I get to Tucson And find a place to stay I'll drop a line so you can tell me Just how glad you are that I'm away And though I can't rewrite the past Or change the things I've done I might just catch the last train at the crossing If I run So pick me up, and take me down Southbound train, southbound train A hundred miles from here to Tucson Might be far enough away I've seen about as many familar faces As I can stand to see today So pick me up, and take me down Southbound train, southbound train Southbound train, southbound train Still Wondering Where Those Bastards ArePerformed by Gin Blossoms Recorded by Doug Hopkins & Robin Wilson Appearing on Doug Hopkins & Robin Wilson Acoustic Demos We were on our way to Flagstaff
Driving up that windy road With two roadworthy vehicles And one hellacious load Somehow they fell behind us We thought we'd meet them there But here we are in Flagstaff And the van's Christ knows where And I'm still wondering where those bastards are They're probably swilling in some Sedona bar I think I'll have a cigarette and I'll sit here on the car 'Cause I'm still wondering where those bastards are Well they didn't bother calling They knew just where we'd be The band was told to start at nine And now it's ten-fifteen If we don't get set up and play The bar will close its doors Then we'll have to pay for our way home By sweeping up the floors But I'm still wondering where those bastards are They're probably swilling in some Sedona bar I think I'll have a cigarette and I'll sit here on the car 'Cause I'm still wondering where those bastards are The owner told us flatly We won't play here again Until hell freezes over, Perhaps not even then Well it's time to leave this empty bar It's closing anyway You might say we're shit out of luck But all that I can say is... I'm still wondering where those bastards They're probably swilling in some Sedona bar I think I'll have a cigarette and I'll sit here on the car 'Cause I'm still wondering where those bastards are. |
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