I get up at four o’clock

and head out for the khumbi stop

Where the ruts are deeper in the road— that’s the only way to know

There’s no schedule—there’s no sign

and one hour late is right on time

Come with me on a khumbi ride

Twenty people squeezed inside

There’s room for you

but not your pride

Come with me on a khumbi ride

I wear a headlamp so I can see.

The locals all make fun of me

A man gets on who wears one too,

but why at first I have no clue

He’s shooting rabbits from the bus—

Says, you gotta eat it’s them or us

Come with me on a khumbi ride

Twenty people squeezed inside

There’s room for you

but not your pride

Come with me on a khumbi ride

Wearing U.S. made T-shirts

from when the hippies

ruled the earth

A few good bumps

and the driver’s wife

has brought forth a brand new life

I turn my head when I hear the cry—

I won’t forget that khumbi ride

Come with me on a khumbi ride

Twenty people squeezed inside

There’s room for you

but not your pride

Come with me on a khumbi ride

She took me to paint a picture

on a blue southwestern sky

of cotton clouds and cactus

on a sun scorched mountainside

Freight train stretching half a mile,

two engines at the end—

dinosaurs, pumping oil,

bob their big black heads

Wooden posts

and rusted barbed-wire

fencing cattle in—

dust storm warning next fifty miles—

grazing’s mighty thin—mighty thin

She took me to paint a picture

of what words could not describe

She took me to paint a picture

but only a fool would try—

fool would try—only a fool would try

She took me below the surface

in the belly of the earth

where years of water dripping

had slowly given birth

to rocks in soft warm colors

and in mushy ice cream shapes

that seemed to melt in minutes,

not the million years it takes

Like pancake batter in sticky strands

dribbling down the walls

and forming daggers on the ceiling—

I simply stared in awe—stared in awe

She took me to paint a picture

of what words could not describe

She took me to paint a picture

but only a fool would try—

fool would try—only a fool would try

She took me through the mountains

and we twisted and we climbed—

elk and free-range cattle,

arms-wide yellow pines

Downward to the canyons

where the people walking by

spoke in different languages,

but none that could describe

the simple beauty that you have

to see with your own eyes

and everyone who took a picture

was more a fool than I—fool than I

She took me to paint a picture

of what words could not describe

She took me to paint a picture

but only a fool would try—

fool would try—only a fool would try

Only a fool would try

I am silent, here alone,

my body crushed

beneath these stones

The mortar of my pharaoh’s tomb,

my spirit rests,

his soul’s exhumed—

dug up with his royal bones

I survived Rome’s rise and fall

Plague and famine—

withstood them all

My name’s not in

your history books,

but my fingers, if you look,

have left their prints

on all that’s good

I am the one they call no one.

I’ve owned ev’ry face under the sun

A powerful force, I get things done—

I am no one

Heroes, legends, mighty kings—

all who dared to do great things

I gave them birth,

I lent my name—

they’ve come and gone—

I still remain

Not one, but so many

we can claim …

I am the one they call no one.

I’ve owned ev’ry face under the sun

A powerful force, I get things done—

I am no one

I am the one they call no one.

I’ve owned ev’ry face under the sun

A powerful force, I get things done—

I am relentless— I am no one—

I am no one

The crack that runs the sidewalk

and the pothole in the road

can be patched ‘til nearly

perfect ‘til they hardly even show

But you can’t fill a heartbreak

with a ton of tar and stone

with could have beens or whiskey

or with anything I know

It takes more than courage

more than wisdom,

more than strength

To crawl out of the hole inside

it takes a thing called faith

It takes, yes it takes,

a thing called faith

Just one time, I’d like to sleep

‘til almost suppertime

to disconnect the rude alarm

that screams at five o five

But with the mortgage coming due

and grass ten inches high

with college bills and car repairs

I get up one more time

It takes more than courage

more than wisdom,

more than strength

To crawl out of the hole inside

it takes a thing called faith

It takes, yes it takes,

a thing called faith

Maybe I need something

more than the day to day

Maybe you need something

somehow to get away

In our thoughts and in our hearts

something to believe

so you’re hanging on a compliment

I’m leanin’ on a dream

It takes more than courage

more than wisdom,

more than strength

To crawl out of the hole inside

it takes a thing called faith

It takes, yes it takes,

a thing called faith

It takes, yes it takes,

a thing called faith

My father stood, with eyes of blue—

on crooked feet, in crooked shoes

Five foot six from head to toe

Not too important, if you must know

But how my daddy loved to sing,

Summertime, and here’s the thing

Livin’ was easy, ‘til he died—

far too early—right on time

My father stood, with eyes of blue—

on crooked feet, in crooked shoes

A common man, no big story,

still his eyes have seen the glory

of the coming of the lord

He loved to sing that battle hymn,

now the Grapes of Wrath

he’s tramplin’

For heaven’s music will not stop,

for this one angel with a hop

My father stood, with eyes of blue—

on crooked feet, in crooked shoes

He left his heart, high on that hill—

it called him then, it calls me still

and that Italian song,

would make us laugh,

how I wish I could sing him back

Join him in that Shanty Town,

and bring that roof

just a tumblin’ down

My father stood, with eyes of blue—

on crooked feet, in crooked shoes

My father stood, with eyes of blue—

on crooked feet, in crooked shoes

Now, if you’re gonna judge his life,

I ask one thing, if you don’t mind,

measure it with a currency

of a different kind

by the songs

that he keeps humming

in the hearts he left behind

My father stood, with eyes of blue—

on crooked feet, in crooked shoes

My father stood, with eyes of blue—

on crooked feet, in crooked shoes

My father stood, with eyes of blue—

on crooked feet, in crooked shoes

She says she’s getting older

and she wonders why I smile

as I fall into her leaf-brown eyes

and rest there for awhile

With life’s colors slowly changing,

like the foliage on the trees,

I notice just how pretty

she will always be

With winter ‘round the corner,

summer’s had its time—

spring has kept its promise—

it’s autumn in my mind

She says she sees a wrinkle—

I say I see a wife—

the smoothest and the sweetest

feeling in my life

The sun has many colors

that are hidden from our eyes

but when it sets, it does its best

to paint them on the sky

With winter ‘round the corner,

summer’s had its time—

spring has kept its promise—

it’s autumn in my mind

She says she’s getting older

and she wonders why I smile

as I fall into her leaf-brown eyes

and rest there for awhile

With winter ‘round the corner,

summer’s had its time—

spring has kept its promise—

it’s autumn as I find

Life’s colors slowly changing,

like the foliage on the trees,

and I notice just how pretty

she will always be

Gus is four years old—

his favorite color’s green

His whole world is one big trampoline

His whole world is one big trampoline

His whole world is one big trampoline

Jumping high enough

to touch the sky

Ev’ry super hero needs to fly

Has no fear for after all

Daddy will catch him if he falls

Gus is four years old—

his favorite color’s green

His whole world is one big trampoline

His whole world is one big trampoline

His whole world is one big trampoline

A UFO with light brown hair—

Spends half his life up in the air

Pound for pound and ounce for ounce

No one else has that much bounce

Gus is four years old—

his favorite color’s green

His whole world is one big trampoline

His whole world is one big trampoline

His whole world is one big trampoline

Up and down and up and down

and down and up

Steel spring flexible—

tarpaulin tough

Up and down and up and down

and down and up

Every time he falls down

he bounces back up

Gus is four years old—

his favorite color’s green

His whole world is one big trampoline

His whole world is one big trampoline

His whole world is one big trampoline

I can’t thank you for being so tall,

for wearing a size fourteen shoe,

For sharing my features

and viewing this world

through eyes that are sunny day blue

But I can thank you

for a spirit that’s calm

and a heart that is kind,

warm, and true

For practicing patience,

studying hard,

and the most thoughtful

things that you do

Well now my son,

all the good things you’ve done

are all diff’rent yet one way the same

They were done on your own

and the most I can say

is I tried not to get in your way

I can’t thank you

for the people who say

you look very much like your mom

But thanks for the part of me

that you have taken

to all the far places you’ve gone

For being curious, being creative,

having that magical spark

For sharing a bit of my

strange sense of humor

and putting a song in my heart

Daughter and son,

all the good things you’ve done

are all diff’rent yet one way the same

They were done on your own

and the most I can say

is I tried not to get in your way

I can’t thank you for being the last—

for being the athletic one

But I can thank you

for joining the game

and being as tough as they come

For racing down hill

on a board or a bike

with the courage to fall or to fly

For losing your things,

but finding your purpose

and knowing you’ll always get by

Son, daughter, son,

all the good things you’ve done

are all diff’rent yet one way the same

They were done on your own

and the most I can say

s I tried not to get in your way

Son, daughter, son,

for who you’ve become,

I thank the Good Lord ev’ry day

And for all that you’ve done

and the love that you’ve shared

Thank You

is all I can say

Skin as smooth as apricot,

lips as bright as fireweed

Giggling softly, she comes dancing,

newborn naked up to me

Blue-eyed Mary’s got a body

that’s as lovely as I’ve seen,

rolling mountains carved by rivers

coursing warm and wet between

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary

Heavy sighs and silk-soft whispers,

bedroom eyes never blink

She is everything you want

and just exactly what you think.

Blue-eyed Mary’s got a secret,

that she’s far too quick to share—

paint you one stroke shy of Eden

with a brush of her blonde hair

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary knows the truth is

that she makes me want to scream

how her legs are so elusive,

absolutely long and lean,

Still they never stretch far enough

to step outside of my dreams

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary

I’ve one too many demons

pounding at my door

The daylight used to chase ‘em,

but it doesn’t anymore

The worst ones are the ones

who seemed the friendliest at first

They’re quick to share a drink,

but they never quench my thirst

Let me be, let me be,

won’t they ever go away?

Tomorrow it will be

forever and a day

They’ll paint you a grand facade

with temptation’s brush

While the devil’s in the details

but they never show that much

Be wary of forbidden fruits—

the secrets that they keep

it’s not their bites that taint your soul,

it’s the company they keep

Let me be, let me be,

won’t they ever go away?

Tomorrow it will be

forever and a day

Failure will not haunt you—

to fail you have to try,

but giving up will dog you

‘til the day you die

I’ve one too many demons

pounding at my door

The daylight used to chase ‘em,

but it doesn’t anymore

Let me be, let me be,

won’t they ever go away?

Tomorrow it will be

forever and a day

She keeps me out of trouble—

helps me ev’ry time

it seems this world is out to treat me

anything but kind

She helps me to sip slowly

when there’s whiskey in my glass

and to paint a brighter portrait

when I’m picturing my past

She serenades my lover,

content to play her part

Her taught strings are not jealous

of the soft strings of our hearts

She waits for me at midnight

and at the break of day

and never fails to compliment

the foolish things I say

and I say—yes, I say

The sweetest lady that I know

is made of wood and steel

She is the one who always

knows just how I feel

How I feel—how I feel—how I feel

Shy enough to whisper

bold enough to scream

sad enough to cry out load

and cool enough to dream

As lively as a dancer

the rhythm of a train

as constant as a heartbeat

and soothing as the rain

The sweetest lady that I know

is made of wood and steel

She is the one who always

knows just how I feel

How I feel—how I feel

The sweetest lady that I know

is made of wood and steel

She is the one who always

knows just how I feel

How I feel—how I feel—

how I feel—how I feel—how I feel

There’s an old man rocking

on his front porch

watching as the world goes by

a trickle of life that filters through

the hazy film upon his eyes

He stammers and mutters

of long gone lovers

and reaching way down deep inside

breaks off pieces of his brittle heart

for the cold dark shadows

who walk right by

They leave him scattered

like the glass in the gutter

and the tickets that promise

but claim no prize

And we gather up his memories—

bitter bygones and a beer

put it in and grind it up

and it all comes out here—

comes out here—

comes out here—

it all comes out here

A beggar died on the street today

the cause of death we will never know

They were a bit hasty

when they wrote her name

because it’s Jane, but it ain’t Doe

She died the same day

that a princess did

but a whole lot less people showed

to wish her well in eternity

but hell one day we’ll all know . . .

how much difference a title makes

when you’re stripped right down

to your soul

And we gather up our sympathy

add a flower and a tear

put it in and grind it up

and it all comes out here—

comes out here—

comes out here—

it all comes out here

I walked past God’s house tonight

wondering if he was home

wondering if I should knock

and why all of the doors were closed

I listened to the stained glass break

a young man reaching back

and throwing stones

felt the shards of guilt slice through

and lodge like bayonets in my bones

I stared into an old man’s eyes

and asked him where heaven goes

As we gather up some words of faith—

add everything but ears

put it in and grind it up

and it all comes out here—

comes out here—

comes out here—

it all comes out here

And though it seems a bit too strange

the answer’s only far too clear

Be careful what you put in it,

‘cause it all comes out here—

And though it seems a bit too strange

the answer’s only far too clear

Be careful what you put in it,

‘cause it all comes out here—

comes out here—comes out here—

comes out here—comes out here—

​comes out here—

It all comes out here

You call me from New Mexico,

but that’s not where you are

You call me from New Mexico,

but that’s not where you are

You call me from New Mexico,

but that’s not where you are

Driving for a dozen days,

you haven’t left my heart

Two thousand miles away

is not enough to make you gone—

when I’ve a million memories

right here where you belong

They tuck me in, wait faithfully,

to kiss my eyes at dawn—

softer than a teardrop

and every bit as warm

You zig across the U.S.A.

then zag into the air

peek at Michael Angelo—

wink and disappear

A half a world away

is not enough to make you gone

when I’ve a world of memories

of you here in my arms

They tuck me in, wait faithfully,

to kiss my eyes at dawn—

Softer than a teardrop

and ev’ry bit as warm

You could board a rocket-ship

and take off to the stars

Your outer-space

has an inner place

right here inside my heart

So call me from New Mexico—

from places strange and far

When I need to find you,

I know just where you are

There’s no amount of distance

that could ever make you gone—

And no end to the knowing

that right here’s where you belong

So tuck me in, wait faithfully,

to kiss my eyes at dawn—

Softer than a teardrop

and ev’ry bit as warm

and call me from New Mexico

You call me from New Mexico

You call me from New Mexico

You call me from New Mexico