Songwriters From The United States

"When the last child cries for a crust of bread; When the last man dies for just words that he said; When there's shelter over the poorest head, We shall be free.When the last thing we notice is the color of skin, And the first thing we look for is the beauty within, When the skies and the oceans are clean again, Then we shall be free."

"You know a dream is like a river, Ever changin' as it flows. And a dreamer's just a vessel That must follow where it goes. Trying to learn from what's behind you, And never knowing what's in store Makes each day a constant battle Just to stay between the shores...andI will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry. Like a bird upon the wind, These waters are my sky. I'll never reach my destination If I never try. So I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry."

"Mama was a looker, Lord, how she shined. Papa was a good'n, But the jealous kind. Papa loved Mama; Mama loved men. Mama's in the graveyard; Papa's in the pen."

"'Cause what she's doin' now is tearin' me apart, Fillin' up my mind and emptyin' my heart. I can hear her call each time the cold wind blows, And I wonder if she knows...what she's doin' now."

"Well it's bulls and blood, It's dust and mud, It's the roar of a Sunday crowd. It's the white in his knuckles, The gold in the buckle, He'll win the next go 'round. It's boots and chaps, It's cowboy hats, It's spurs and latigo. It's the ropes and the reins, And the joy and the pain, And they call the thing rodeo."

"Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers. Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs, That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care. Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."

"'Cause I've got friends in low places Where the whiskey drowns And the beer chases my blues away. And I'll be okay. I'm not big on social graces; Think I'll slip on down to the oasis. Oh, I've got friends in low places."

"I think we're all a bunch of weirdos on a quest to belong. The songs are echolocation up in impregnable fog. That's why it's odd to see a pile of imperfections and flaws ascend a pedestal to patronize the rest of the cogs."

"If I had a hammer, I'd build a city on stilts so my feet would stay dry when God's wine glass tilts. If I had a shovel, I'd dig a hole in the dirt and I'll be hiding when his drunken stupor lands upon earth"

"Life's not a bitch, life is a beautiful woman, You only call her a bitch 'cause she won't let you get that pussy, Maybe she didn't feel y'all shared any similar interests, Or maybe you're just an asshole who couldn't sweet-talk the princess,"

"I really do appreciate the fact you're sittin' here. Your voice sounds so wonderful, But your face don't look too clear. So, Barmaid, bring a pitcher, another round of brew. Honey, why don't we get drunk and screw."

"Enduring echoes call out from his past. Time ain't for saving, no time's not for that. Chasing false echoes like a lost legionnaire, He waltzes on memories while he fades like a flare."

"I went down to Captain Tony's to get out of the heat When I heard a voice call out to me, "Son, come have a seat." I had to search my memory as I looked into those eyes; Our lives change like the weather but a legend never dies"

"We're gypsies in the palace, he's left us here alone. The order of the Sleepless Knights will now assume the throne. We ain't got no money, we ain't got no right, But we're gypsies in the palace, we got it all tonight."

"I used to rule my world from a pay phone And ships out on the sea. But now times are rough And I got too much stuff; Can't explain the likes of me.But there's this one particular harbour, So far but yet so near. Where I see the days as they fade away, And finally disappear."

"I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck. Let those winds of time blow over my head. I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead."

"Boat drinks. Waitress, I need two more boat drinks. Then I'm headin south 'fore my dream shrinks. I gotta go where it's warm."

"Now, I don't know, I don't know where I'm a gonna go When the volcano blow."

"Can't you feel 'em circlin' honey? Can't you feel 'em swimmin' around? You got fins to the left, fins to the right, And you're the only bait in town. You got fins to the left, fins to the right, And you're the only girl in town."

"Please don't say mañana if you don't mean it I have heard those words for so very long. Don't try to describe the ocean if you've never seen it. Don't ever forget that you just may wind up being wrong."

"We’ve gotta roll with the punches Learn to play all of our hunches. Makin’ the best of whatever comes your way. Forget that blind ambition And learn to trust your intuition. Plowin’ straight ahead come what may."

"Cheeseburger is paradise. Heaven on earth with an onion slice. Not too particular, not too precise. I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise.I like mine with lettuce and tomato, Heinz Fifty-seven and French fried potatoes. Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer. Well, good God Almighty, which way do I steer? For my cheeseburger in paradise."

"Son of a son, son of a son, son of a son of a sailor. Son of a gun; load the last ton, One step ahead of the jailer."

"As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin' man, I have chalked up many a mile. Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks, And I've learned much from both of their styles."

"As the son of a son of a sailor, I went out on the sea for adventure. Expanding the view of the captain and crew Like a man just released from indenture."

"I blew out my flip flop, Stepped on a pop top, Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home. But there's booze in the blender, And soon it will render That frozen concoction that helps me hang on."

"Wasted away again in Margaritaville, Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt. Some people claim that there's a woman to blame, But I know it's nobody's fault."

"These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, Nothing remains quite the same. Through all of the islands and all of the highlands, If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane."

"Mother, mother ocean, after all these years I've found My occupational hazard being my occupations just not around. I feel like I've drowned, Gonna head uptown."

"Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call. Wanted to sail upon your waters Since I was three feet tall. You've seen it all, you've seen it all.Watched the men who rode you, Switch from sails to steam. And in your belly you hold the treasure That few have ever seen. Most of them dreams, Most of them dreams."

"Come Monday, it'll be all right. Come Monday, I'll be holding you tight. I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze And I just want you back by my side."

"I wish I had a pencil-thin mustache, the "Boston Blackie" kind. Or a two-toned Ricky Ricardo jacket, And an autographed picture of Andy Divine."

"Now he lives in the islands, fishes the pilin's And drinks his green label each day, He's writing his memoirs and losing his hearing, But he don't care what most people say. Through eighty-six years of perpetual motion, If he likes you he'll smile then he'll say, Jimmy, some of it's magic, some of it's tragic, But I had a good life all the way."

"He went to Paris, looking for answers To questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, Saving the world on his own. But the warm Summer breezes, The French wines and cheeses Put his ambition at bay. And Summers and Winters Scattered like splinters, And four or five years slipped away."

"The Great Filling Station Holdup"

"And now I wish I was somewhere other than here, Down in some honky tonk, sippin' on a beer. Yes, I wish I was somewhere other than here. 'Cause that great fillin' station holdup Cost me two good years."

"I never used to miss the chance to climb up on his knee And listen to the many tales of life upon the sea. We'd go sailing back on Barkentines we'd talk of things he did Tomorrow just a day away, for the Captain and the kid."

"To me it was more about eight years of bad policy before (Obama) got there that let this happen. It was Dracula running the blood bank in terms of oil and leases. I think that has more to do with it than how the president reacted to it."

"Is there anybody here but me who needs to know?"

"Shopping bugs me, for metaphorical reasons I'm sure, because in life as in shopping, you go in looking for one thing. There's one thing you really need, right? But then there's “Blue Light Specials”, you know, and you just get confused, you get distracted, that's all. It's human. You wind up with this armload of shiny junk. You know, and then you're checking out—I mean, checking out—and suddenly you remember, “Huh… there was that one thing I came in for. Oh no, I forgot—I just have this junk—oh no!” “Too late, you're in the express line!”"

"Another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody, I have some money 'cause I just got paid. How I wish I had someone to talk to, I'm in an awful way."

"Yeah, come on & let the good times roll We're gonna stay here till we soothe our souls. If it take all night long."

"Oh my baby's coming home tomorrow Ain't that good news, man, ain't that news? Baby's coming home tomorrow Ain't that news, man, ain't that news?"

"Don't know much about history, Don't know much Biology. Don't know much about a science book, Don't know much about the French I took. But I do know that I love you, And I know that if you love me, too, What a wonderful world this would be."

"It's summertime and the living is easy Fish are jumping and the cotton is high Your daddy's rich and your mama's good-looking Hush, little baby don't you cry."

"The moon belongs to everyone The best things in life they're free Stars belong to everyone They cling there for you and for me."

"If you ever change your mind About leaving, leaving me behind Baby, bring it to me, bring your sweet lovin' Bring it on home to me Yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah)."

"Let me tell you 'bout a place Somewhere up a New York way, Where the people are so gay, Twistin' the night away...Here they have a lot of fun, Puttin' trouble on the run. Man, you find the old and young, Twistin' the night away.They're twistin', twistin' Everybody's feelin' great. They're twistin', twistin' They're twistin' the night away."

"Cupid draw back your bow And let your arrow go Straight to my lover's heart for me For me... Cupid please hear my cry And let your arrow fly Straight to my lover's heart for me."

"All day long they work so hard Till the sun is goin' down. Working on the highways and byways And wearing, wearing a frown. You hear them moanin' their lives away. Then you hear somebody say:"That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang. That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang.""