The Black Rider Lyrics

The Black Rider - Lyrics
1	Lucky Day Overture
2	The Black Rider
3	November
4	Just The Right Bullets
5	Black Box Theme - Instrumental
6	T'ain't No Sin
7	Flash Pan Hunter/Intro - Instrumental
8	That's The Way
9	The Briar And The Rose
10	Russian Dance - Instrumental
11	Gospel Train/Orchestra - Instrumental
12	I'll Shoot The Moon
13	Flash Pan Hunter
14	Crossroads
15	Gospel Train
16	Interlude - Instrumental
17	Oily Night - Instrumental
18	Lucky Day
19	The Last Rose Of Summer
20	Carnival - Instrumental

Lucky Day Overture (Tom Waits 1993)
Ladies and gentlemen, Harry's Harbour Bizarre is proud to present under the Big Top tonight, Human Oddities. That's right, you'll see the three headed baby. You'll see Hitler's brain. See Lea Graff the German midget who sat in J.P. Morgan's lap. You'll see Priscilla Bajano the monkey woman. Jo Jo the dog face boy and Milton Malone, the human skeleton. That's right ladies and gentlemen, See Grace McDaniel's the mule faced woman and she's the homeliest woman in the world. Under the Big Top tonight, never before seen and if you have a heart condition, please be warned. Don't forget to visit our snack bar at Charleston Grotto. All sales are final void where prohibited by law You'll see Sealo the seal boy who has flippers for arms. You'll see Johnny Eck, the man born without a body, he walks on his hands. He has his own orchestra and is an excellent pianist. See Gerd Bessler, the human pincusion and don't forget, it's ladies' night here at Harry's Harbour Bizarre. You'll see Ko Ko the bird girl, Mortando, the human fountain. Step a little a little closer ladies and gentlemen and don't be shy. Dig deep in your pockets. You'll see Radion, the human torso deep from the jungles of Africa Ladies and gentlemen, Harry's Harbour Bizarre, ladies and gentlemen
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Lucky Day Overture
(Tom Waits 1993)

Ladies and gentlemen, Harry's Harbour Bizarre is proud to present under the Big Top tonight, Human Oddities. That's right, you'll see the three headed baby. You'll see Hitler's brain. See Lea Graff the German midget who sat in J.P. Morgan's lap. You'll see Priscilla Bajano the monkey woman. Jo Jo the dog face boy and Milton Malone, the human skeleton. That's right ladies and gentlemen, See Grace McDaniel's the mule faced woman and she's the homeliest woman in the world. Under the Big Top tonight, never before seen and if you have a heart condition, please be warned.
Don't forget to visit our snack bar at Charleston Grotto. All sales are final void where prohibited by law
You'll see Sealo the seal boy who has flippers for arms. You'll see Johnny Eck, the man born without a body, he walks on his hands. He has his own orchestra and is an excellent pianist. See Gerd Bessler, the human pincusion and don't forget, it's ladies' night here at Harry's Harbour Bizarre. You'll see Ko Ko the bird girl, Mortando, the human fountain. Step a little a little closer ladies and gentlemen and don't be shy. Dig deep in your pockets. You'll see Radion, the human torso deep from the jungles of Africa
Ladies and gentlemen, Harry's Harbour Bizarre, ladies and gentlemen

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The Black Rider (Tom Waits 1993)
Wait a minute, wait a minute here Come on along with the Black Rider We'll have a gay old time Lay down in the web of the black spider I'll drink your blood like wine So come on in it ain't no sin Take off your skin and dance around your bones So come along with the Black Rider We'll have a gay old time Hey hold on there little sheriff, have your tickets ready You just come on along Anchors away with the Black Rider I'll drink your blood like wine I'll drop you off in Harlem with the Black Rider Out where the bullets shine And when you're done you cock your gun The blood will run like ribbons through your hair Just come on along with the Black Rider We'll have a gay old time Have your tickets ready, see the dog faced boy Pay little sheriff Well just come on along with the Black Rider I've got just the thing for thee Come on along with the Black Rider I want your company Well I think I'll have the veal A lovely meal, that's how I feel Oh may I use your skull for a bowl? Just come on along with the Black Rider We'll have a gay old, we'll have a gay old We'll have a gay old, we'll have a gay old, We'll have a gay old time Walk right up, have your tickets ready Step right up, have your tickets ready Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you Your too kind
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The Black Rider
(Tom Waits 1993)

Wait a minute, wait a minute here

Come on along with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time
Lay down in the web of the black spider
I'll drink your blood like wine
So come on in it ain't no sin
Take off your skin and dance around your bones
So come along with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time

Hey hold on there little sheriff, have your tickets ready

You just come on along Anchors away with the Black Rider
I'll drink your blood like wine
I'll drop you off in Harlem with the Black Rider
Out where the bullets shine
And when you're done you cock your gun
The blood will run like ribbons through your hair
Just come on along with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old time

Have your tickets ready, see the dog faced boy
Pay little sheriff

Well just come on along with the Black Rider
I've got just the thing for thee
Come on along with the Black Rider
I want your company
Well I think I'll have the veal
A lovely meal, that's how I feel
Oh may I use your skull for a bowl?
Just come on along with the Black Rider
We'll have a gay old, we'll have a gay old
We'll have a gay old, we'll have a gay old, We'll have a gay old time

Walk right up, have your tickets ready
Step right up, have your tickets ready
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you
Your too kind

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November (Tom Waits 1993)
No shadows, no stars There's no moon and no cars, November It only believes in a pile of dead leaves And a moon that's the color of bone No prayers for November to linger longer Stick your spoon in the wall and we'll slaughter them all November has tied me to an old dead tree Get word to April to rescue me November's cold chain made of wet boots and rain Shiny black ravens on chimney smoke lanes November seems odd, you're my firing squad, November With my hair slicked back with carrion shellac With the blood from a pheasant and the bone from a hare Tied to the branches of a roebuck stag Left to wave in the timber like a buck shot flag Go away you rainsnout Go away, blow your brains out, November
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November
(Tom Waits 1993)

No shadows, no stars
There's no moon and no cars, November
It only believes in a pile of dead leaves
And a moon that's the color of bone

No prayers for November to linger longer
Stick your spoon in the wall and we'll slaughter them all
November has tied me to an old dead tree
Get word to April to rescue me
November's cold chain made of wet boots and rain
Shiny black ravens on chimney smoke lanes
November seems odd, you're my firing squad, November

With my hair slicked back with carrion shellac
With the blood from a pheasant and the bone from a hare
Tied to the branches of a roebuck stag
Left to wave in the timber like a buck shot flag

Go away you rainsnout
Go away, blow your brains out, November

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Just The Right Bullets (Tom Waits 1993)
There is a light in the forest There's a face in the tree I'll pull you out of the chorus And the first one's always free You can never go a hunting With just a flintlock and a hound You won't go home with a bunting If you blow a hundred rounds It takes much more than wild courage Or you'll hit just the tattered clouds You must have just the right bullets And the first one's always free You must be careful in the forest Broken glass and rusty nails If you're to bring back something for us I have bullets for sale Why be a fool when you can chase away Your blind and your gloom I have blessed each one of these bullets And they shine just like a spoon To have sixty silver wishes Is a small price to pay They'll be your private little fishes And they'll never swim away I just want you to be happy That's my only little wish I'll fix your wagon and your musket And the spoon will have it's dish And I shudder at the thought of your Poor empty hunter's pouch So I'll keep the wind from your barrel And bless the roof of your house
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Just The Right Bullets
(Tom Waits 1993)

There is a light in the forest
There's a face in the tree
I'll pull you out of the chorus
And the first one's always free

You can never go a hunting
With just a flintlock and a hound
You won't go home with a bunting
If you blow a hundred rounds

It takes much more than wild courage
Or you'll hit just the tattered clouds
You must have just the right bullets
And the first one's always free

You must be careful in the forest
Broken glass and rusty nails
If you're to bring back something for us
I have bullets for sale

Why be a fool when you can chase away
Your blind and your gloom
I have blessed each one of these bullets
And they shine just like a spoon

To have sixty silver wishes
Is a small price to pay
They'll be your private little fishes
And they'll never swim away

I just want you to be happy
That's my only little wish
I'll fix your wagon and your musket
And the spoon will have it's dish

And I shudder at the thought of your
Poor empty hunter's pouch
So I'll keep the wind from your barrel
And bless the roof of your house

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T'ain't No Sin (Tom Waits 1993)
When you hear sweet syncopation And the music softly moans T'ain't no sin to take off your skin And dance around in your bones When it gets too hot for comfort And you can't get ice cream cones T'ain't no sin to take off your skin And dance around your bones Just like those bamboo babies Down in the South Sea tropic zone T'ain't no sin to take off your skin And dance around your bones When you hear sweet syncopation And the music softly moans T'ain't no sin to take off your skin And dance around in your bones When it gets too hot for comfort And you can't get ice cream cones T'ain't no sin to take off your skin And dance around your bones Just like those bamboo babies Down in the South Sea tropic zone T'ain't no sin to take off your skin And dance around your bones
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T'ain't No Sin
(Tom Waits 1993)

When you hear sweet syncopation
And the music softly moans
T'ain't no sin to take off your skin
And dance around in your bones

When it gets too hot for comfort
And you can't get ice cream cones
T'ain't no sin to take off your skin
And dance around your bones

Just like those bamboo babies
Down in the South Sea tropic zone
T'ain't no sin to take off your skin
And dance around your bones

When you hear sweet syncopation
And the music softly moans
T'ain't no sin to take off your skin
And dance around in your bones

When it gets too hot for comfort
And you can't get ice cream cones
T'ain't no sin to take off your skin
And dance around your bones

Just like those bamboo babies
Down in the South Sea tropic zone
T'ain't no sin to take off your skin
And dance around your bones

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That's The Way (Tom Waits/William Burroughs 1993)
That's the way the stomach rumbles That's the way the bee bumbles That's the way the needle pricks That's the way the glue sticks That's the way the potato mashes That's the way the pan flashes That's the way the market crashes That's the way the whip lashes That's the way the teeth knashes That's the way the gravy stains That's the way the moon wanes
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The Briar And The Rose (Tom Waits 1993)
I fell asleep down by the stream And there I had the strangest dream Down by Brennan's Glenn there grows The briar and the rose There's a tree in the forest But I don't know where And I built a nest out of your hair Climbing up into the air The briar and the rose I don't know how long it has been But I was born in Brennan's Glenn Near the end of spring there grows A briar and the rose Picked the rose one early morn Pricked my finger on a thorn It had grown so close It's winding wove the briar around the rose I tried to tear them both apart I felt a bullet in my heart And all dressed up in springs new clothes The briar and the rose When I'm buried in my grave Tell me so I will know Your tears will fall To make love grow The briar and the rose When I'm buried in my grave Tell me so I will know Your tears will fall To make them grow The briar and the rose Your tears will fall To make them grow The briar and the rose
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The Briar And The Rose
(Tom Waits 1993)

I fell asleep down by the stream
And there I had the strangest dream
Down by Brennan's Glenn there grows
The briar and the rose

There's a tree in the forest
But I don't know where
And I built a nest out of your hair
Climbing up into the air
The briar and the rose

I don't know how long it has been
But I was born in Brennan's Glenn
Near the end of spring there grows
A briar and the rose

Picked the rose one early morn
Pricked my finger on a thorn
It had grown so close
It's winding wove the briar around the rose

I tried to tear them both apart
I felt a bullet in my heart
And all dressed up in springs new clothes
The briar and the rose

When I'm buried in my grave
Tell me so I will know
Your tears will fall
To make love grow
The briar and the rose

When I'm buried in my grave
Tell me so I will know
Your tears will fall
To make them grow
The briar and the rose
Your tears will fall
To make them grow
The briar and the rose

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I'll Shoot the Moon (Tom Waits 1993)
I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby I'll be the pennies on your eyes for you baby I want to take you out to the fair Here is a red rose ribbon for your hair I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby I'll shoot the moon for you A vulture circles over your head for you baby I'll be the flowers after you're dead for you baby I want to build a nest in your hair I want to kiss you and never be there I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby I'll shoot the moon for you Ah, you know I love you baby So why don't you call me? You know my number, 392 7704, call anytime, ah I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby I'll shoot the moon for you I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby I'll be the flowers after you're dead for you baby I want to build a nest in your hair I want to kiss you and never be there I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby I'll shoot the moon for you
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I'll Shoot the Moon
(Tom Waits 1993)

I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby
I'll be the pennies on your eyes for you baby
I want to take you out to the fair
Here is a red rose ribbon for your hair
I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby
I'll shoot the moon for you
A vulture circles over your head for you baby
I'll be the flowers after you're dead for you baby
I want to build a nest in your hair
I want to kiss you and never be there
I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby
I'll shoot the moon for you

Ah, you know I love you baby
So why don't you call me?
You know my number, 392 7704, call anytime, ah

I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby
I'll shoot the moon for you
I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby
I'll be the flowers after you're dead for you baby
I want to build a nest in your hair
I want to kiss you and never be there
I'll shoot the moon right out of the sky for you baby
I'll shoot the moon for you

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Flash Pan Hunter (Tom Waits/William Burroughs 1993)
The flash pan hunter sways with the wind And his rifle is the sound of the morning Each sulfurous bullet must have it's own wit And each cartridge comes with a warning Beware of elaborate telescopic meat It will find their way back to the forest For Wilhelm can't wait to be Peg Leg's crown And the briar is strangling the rose back down His back shall be my slender new branch It will bend, it will sway in the breeze As the devil does his polka With a hatchet in his hand As a sniper in the branches of the trees As the vulture flutters down The snake sheds his dove Wilhelm's cutting off his fingers So they'll fit into the glove For Wilhelm can't wait to be Peg Leg's crown And the briar is strangling the rose back down The briar is strangling the rose back down
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Flash Pan Hunter
(Tom Waits/William Burroughs 1993)

The flash pan hunter sways with the wind
And his rifle is the sound of the morning
Each sulfurous bullet must have it's own wit
And each cartridge comes with a warning
Beware of elaborate telescopic meat
It will find their way back to the forest

For Wilhelm can't wait to be Peg Leg's crown
And the briar is strangling the rose back down

His back shall be my slender new branch
It will bend, it will sway in the breeze
As the devil does his polka
With a hatchet in his hand
As a sniper in the branches of the trees
As the vulture flutters down
The snake sheds his dove
Wilhelm's cutting off his fingers
So they'll fit into the glove

For Wilhelm can't wait to be Peg Leg's crown
And the briar is strangling the rose back down
The briar is strangling the rose back down

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Crossroads (Tom Waits/William Burroughs 1993)
Now, George was a good straight boy to begin with There's bad blood in him someway and he got into the magic bullets And that leads straight to Devil's work, just like marijuana leads to heroin You think you can take them bullets or leave 'em, do you? Just save a few for your bad days Well, well we all have those bad days when we can't hit it for shit And the more of them magics you use, the more bad days you have without them So it comes down to finally all your days being bad without the bullets It's magics or nothing Time to stop chippying around and kidding yourself, kid, you're hooked, heavy as lead And that's where old George found himself out there at the crossroads Moulding the Devil's bullets Now a man figures it's his bullets, so it will take what he wants But it don't always work out that way You see, some bullets is special for a single target A certain stag, or a certain person And no matter where you aim, that's where the bullet will end up And in the moment of aiming, the gun turns into a dowser's wand And points where the bullet wants to go (George Schmid was moving in a series of convulsive spasms Like someone with an epileptic fit With his face contorted and his eyes wild like a lassoed horse bracing his legs But something kept pulling him on. And now he is picking up the skulls and making a circle) I guess old George didn't rightly know what he's getting himself into The fit was on him and it carried him right to the crossroads
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Crossroads
(Tom Waits/William Burroughs 1993)

Now, George was a good straight boy to begin with
There's bad blood in him someway and he got into the magic bullets
And that leads straight to Devil's work, just like marijuana leads to heroin
You think you can take them bullets or leave 'em, do you?
Just save a few for your bad days
Well, well we all have those bad days when we can't hit it for shit
And the more of them magics you use, the more bad days you have without them
So it comes down to finally all your days being bad without the bullets
It's magics or nothing
Time to stop chippying around and kidding yourself, kid, you're hooked, heavy as lead

And that's where old George found himself out there at the crossroads
Moulding the Devil's bullets
Now a man figures it's his bullets, so it will take what he wants
But it don't always work out that way

You see, some bullets is special for a single target
A certain stag, or a certain person
And no matter where you aim, that's where the bullet will end up
And in the moment of aiming, the gun turns into a dowser's wand
And points where the bullet wants to go

(George Schmid was moving in a series of convulsive spasms
Like someone with an epileptic fit
With his face contorted and his eyes wild like a lassoed horse bracing his legs
But something kept pulling him on. And now he is picking up the skulls and making a circle)

I guess old George didn't rightly know what he's getting himself into
The fit was on him and it carried him right to the crossroads

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Gospel Train (Tom Waits 1993)
Come on people got to get on board Train is leavin' and there's all room for one more God, don't listen to the devil he got ways to move you This train don't carry no smokers This train Well, come on people 'Cause it's startin' to rain Get on board, it's the gospel train, yeah Don't listen to the devil now People don't listen to the devil Satan will fool you Satan will fool you I said Satan will fool you Well, this train don't carry no smokers This train, this train Wooo, wooo, wooo Come on people get on board Train is leavin' and there's room for one more Just trust in the Lord Wooo, wooo
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Gospel Train
(Tom Waits 1993)

Come on people got to get on board
Train is leavin' and there's all room for one more
God, don't listen to the devil he got ways to move you
This train don't carry no smokers
This train

Well, come on people 'Cause it's startin' to rain
Get on board, it's the gospel train, yeah
Don't listen to the devil now
People don't listen to the devil
Satan will fool you
Satan will fool you
I said Satan will fool you
Well, this train don't carry no smokers
This train, this train
Wooo, wooo, wooo

Come on people get on board
Train is leavin' and there's room for one more
Just trust in the Lord
Wooo, wooo

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Lucky Day (Tom Waits 1993)
The prettiest girl in all the world Is in a little Spanish town But I left her for a Bonnie lass And I told her I'd see her around But that Bonnie lass and her heart of glass Would not hold a candle to bumming around So don't cry for me cause I'm going away I'll be back some lucky day Well tell the boys back home that I'm doing just fine I've left my troubles and woe So sing about me for I can't come home I've many many many more miles to go Why, there's Miss Kelsey, she taught dance at our school And old Johnny O'Toole I still beat you at pool So don't cry for me for I'm going away And I'll be back some lucky day Well when I was a boy my daddy sat me on his knee And he told me, he told me many things And he said son, there's a lot of things in this world That you're gonna have no use for And when you get blue and you've lost all your dreams There's nothin' like a campfire and a can of beans Why, there's Miss Kelsey she taught dance at our school And old Johnny O'Toole I'll still beat you at pool So don't cry for me for I'm going away And I'll be back some lucky day So don't cry for me for I'm going away And I'll be back some lucky day
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Lucky Day
(Tom Waits 1993)

The prettiest girl in all the world
Is in a little Spanish town
But I left her for a Bonnie lass
And I told her I'd see her around
But that Bonnie lass and her heart of glass
Would not hold a candle to bumming around
So don't cry for me cause I'm going away
I'll be back some lucky day

Well tell the boys back home that I'm doing just fine
I've left my troubles and woe
So sing about me for I can't come home
I've many many many more miles to go

Why, there's Miss Kelsey, she taught dance at our school
And old Johnny O'Toole I still beat you at pool
So don't cry for me for I'm going away
And I'll be back some lucky day

Well when I was a boy my daddy sat me on his knee
And he told me, he told me many things
And he said son, there's a lot of things in this world
That you're gonna have no use for
And when you get blue and you've lost all your dreams
There's nothin' like a campfire and a can of beans

Why, there's Miss Kelsey she taught dance at our school
And old Johnny O'Toole I'll still beat you at pool
So don't cry for me for I'm going away
And I'll be back some lucky day
So don't cry for me for I'm going away
And I'll be back some lucky day

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The Last Rose Of Summer (Tom Waits 1993)
I love the way the tattered clouds Go wind across the sky As summer goes and leaves me With a tear in my eye I'm taking out my winter clothes My garden knows what's wrong The petals of my favorite rose Be in the shadows dark and long Though every year it's very clear I should be carrying on But I can be found in the garden Singing this song When the last rose of summer is gone The last rose of summer is gone, gone
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The Last Rose Of Summer
(Tom Waits 1993)

I love the way the tattered clouds
Go wind across the sky
As summer goes and leaves me
With a tear in my eye

I'm taking out my winter clothes
My garden knows what's wrong
The petals of my favorite rose
Be in the shadows dark and long

Though every year it's very clear
I should be carrying on
But I can be found in the garden
Singing this song
When the last rose of summer is gone
The last rose of summer is gone, gone

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