@ALBUM: The Wishing Chair 10,000 Maniacs (this is the second part of the album) @SONG: Among the Americans dance to the sun a kiss to the earth embrace a stone come the small black book come the brandy cask one strange disease the well worded paper signed by the drunken hands of thieves and suddenly they were told to leave as the snake uncoiled on a road the length was eighty miles wagons' weary horses lead the feverish exiles barefoot in the early snow on a ridge where they beheld their home coarse and barren not the haven promised by the Father Jaksa Chula Harjo Jaksa Chula Harjo Jaksa Chula Harjo (* the Red Sticks first and the Dancing Ghosts were pierced with arms of fire and the weeping widows left could not avenge so the Western Star manifest its will drove them clear into the Pacific O gone the way of flesh turned pale and died by your god's decree for he hated me (* Cherokee name for Andrew Jackson the 7th president of the U.S.A. @SONG: Everyone a Puzzle Lover why are some men born with minds that earn degrees the loving cups gilded plaques grace their study walls hide the cracks while their genius is turned to works of tyranny then off to market to market go selling these with words so fiery and persuasive they steal cunningly riches no one can exceed and why are some men born with a fate of poverty one firm bed for a swollen back year by year the bodies wracked while their obedience is had with gradual defeat by the pace by the pace and the urgency through a muddled thought they phrase it God knows we're deceived barter for what they need and where they go disdain and jeering for fools to call the noble peasantry o how it puzzles me I pressed flat the accordian pleats that had gathered in his cotton sleeves while he thumbed yes thumbed I wouldn't say caressed the final piece a mountain's crest soon to reply assuredly o for man aged ninety years no words to waste on sermons he'd be pleased to answer short and sincere girl there's a nonsense in all these heaven measures it's a heathen creed so your grandma says but better to live by... drink it all in before it's dry he ended there with a rattle cough cough I took away the long gone cold coffee cup as a trail of Camel ashes fell on the floor @SONG: Cotton Alley one time you made me cry be proud that I remember my chin is sore the bruise is gone but the spot is tender gave my hand a sister coy to Cotton Alley where you did enjoy your wicked games you curious boy tied my laces up together when I fell you laughed until your belly was sore in the brick laid aisle behind the five and dime store that's how I made you blush but doubt if you remember were my tears genuine or those of a skilled pretender nothing precious plain to see don't make a fuss over me not loud not soft but somewhere in between say sorry let it be the word you mean I was a little pest who never took a hint could never take a hint you pinched my fingers in a door tossed my colouring book in a rusty barrel pulled spiders from my hair fingers in the door my favourite blue blouse stained on the back running from a berry war can you hear me scream in Cotton Alley scream in Cotton Alley in Cotton Alley @SONG: Daktari like a weasle in the clover tilt, toss, pop, turn over sit down tremble, weave like a moth by flame deceived sit down like a weasle in the clover tilt, toss, pop, turn over sit down tremble, weave like a moth by flame deceived sit down spill with your words caught dance in your room slide like you're buttered up roll back the tomb sit down sit down sit down when the thunder clouds sound ants all scatter to high ground sit down bolt scuff jilt chase circle riddle shake in haste sit down bolt scuff jilt chase circle riddle shake in haste sit down sit down when the thunder clouds sound ants all scatter to high ground sit down like a weasle in the clover tilt, toss, pop, turn over sit down tremble, weave like a moth by flame deceived sit down spill with your words caught dance in your room slide like you're buttered up roll back the tomb sit down sit down sit down when the thunder clouds sound ants all scatter to high ground bolt scuff jilt chase circle riddle shake in haste sit down sit down sit down like a weasle and like a weasle and sit down @SONG: My Mother the War she borders the pavement flanks avenues the parades pass white glove attended by my mother the war she'll raise a shaft lift a banner toss a rose my mother the war she knows every neighbor chats at their doors compare econosize electric appliances come share tea and a seat by my cradle with my mother the war forsaken vigil three years each tour hands of God enfold him prayed mother of the war haunt a doorway beg a postman is there word for mother the war 5 black stars in bitter defiance she's spiting the corps wet a brood short league for combat my mother the war well aquainted with sorrow with grief my mother the war folded lace carrion and blood soaked robes folded lace carrion blood soaked shroud my mother the war @SONG: Tension Makes a Tangle as frail hinges pivot on a case's door commemorative souvenirs from places containers change with each occasion a cellophane encased display of paper certificate to credit years of service a tool of central enterprises the early hope for permanence the words the rings consistancy the social security a miracle is high tragedy thought mistaken for a memory clear the dust from smiles in boxes pass a patterned wall recall their voices a local post will list your friends in order of disappearance the lawn scattered tins feed birds a portion baked for absent guests and the mass edition icon God sent comfort your salvation but who grants absolution for sins that never were committed tension makes a tangle of each thought becomes an inconvenience sound as it never penetrates as servile edges break and feint thought mistaken for a memory a dress length assasination a fractured family tie another christening christening christening christening @SONG: Arbor Day wide open falsehood the clan destine truths rival till the end in a series of duels pardon the drapery language I choose Waltz in Vienna has taught me to use every tall room a fiction leather bound treasure books up to the ceiling gold spine upon spine the guile and the treason the faith and allegiance wide open falsehood the clan destine truths rival till the end in a series of duels pardon the drapery language I choose the author grew fat to imagine his lead pen careening gave voice to the scheming an Aryan cabale to dethrone the guile and the treason the faith and allegiance to the empire unknown the baron and his mistress dine in fine banquet hall as rebel insurgents plot in the attic space crawl wide open falsehood the clan destine truths rival till the end in a series of duels pardon the drapery language I choose his small hand did strive to explain all the rants and raves of a people enslaved by the cant of the shrewdest capable men the guile and the treason the faith and allegiance now lie in my hand the guile and the treason the faith and allegiance now lie in my hand