Late Again

I need a bride, but the dolphins are runnin'
A woman who'd cry, but the sea must provide.
A child to unravel the snarled nets of lovin';
First things first when you get to the sea.
A rich man eats when he wishes; a poor man whenever he can.

I need a home, but my boots keep goin'
Healing and peace that a fire could provide.
A place to unburden my brain of its sorrow;
First things first when you get to the fire.
A rich man eats when he wishes; a poor man whenever he can.

I need a song, but the spring is for sowing
A word to the wise that the earth must provide.
A tune to untangle the riddle of growing;
First things first when you get to the land.
A rich man eats when he wishes; a poor man whenever he can.

I need the moon, but the landlord needs money
A field of wildflowers that the stars could provide.
A bird for my shoulder to fly through the rainbow;
First things first when you get to the sky.
A rich man eats when he wishes; a poor man whenever he can.

Sunday morning, very bright, i read your book by colored light
That came in through the pretty window picture.

I visited some houses where they said that you were living
And they talked a lot about you
And they spoke about your giving.
They passed a basket with some envelopes;
I just had time to write a note
And all it said was "i believe in you."

Passing conversations where they mentioned your existence
And the fact that you had been replaced by your assistants.
The discussion was theology,
And when they smiled and turned to me
All that i could say was "i believe in you."

I visited your house again on christmas or thanksgiving
And a balded man said you were dead,
But the house would go on living.
He recited poetry and as he saw me stand to leave
He shook his head and said i'd never find you.

My mother used to dress me up,
And while my dad was sleeping
We would walk down to your house without speaking.

Too much of nothin' can make a man feel ill at ease
One man's temper might rise, while the other man's temper might freeze.
In the days of long confessions, we can not mock a soul
When there's too much of nothin', no one has control.

(chorus)
Say hello to valerie, say hello to marion,
Send them all my salary, on the waters of oblivion.

Too much of nothin' can make a man abuse a king
He can walk the streets and boast like most but he don't know a thing.
It's all been done before, it's all been written in the book.
But when it's too much of nothin', nobody should look.

(chorus)

Too much of nothin' can turn a man into a liar
It can cause some man to sleep on nails, another man to eat fire.
Everybody's doin' somethin', i heard it in a dream
But when it's too much of nothin', it just makes a fella mean.

(chorus)

I would like to apologize for my friend, here;
He hasn't been himself for a long, long time.
From the beginning of his minding
Other people's dids and don'ts.
He could excuse himself but he won't
And i'm sorry if we busted up your party.

Yes, there was a girl in his life, and then some!
He was had by her and a good time by all.
She was exactly half at fault
He thought the other was his own
So only half the man has grown
And it's taking him sometime to get together.

He was the first kid on his block to have one;
And he wants to share it with you all of the time.
He takes advantage of your kindness;
Says he needs that just to live
He doesn't want you to forgive him
But he thinks you might if you have half a mind to.

Yes, i think i would enjoy some coffee;
I've had a lot to think in the past few days.
And if i told you all the ways
My friend and i were not to blame
You'd see yourself as just the same
So i think i'll wait and save that for the next time.

There's grievin' in the country
There's sorrow in the sand.
There's sobbin' in the shanty
And there's anger in the land.

A woman broods in silence
Close beside an open door;
Flung on her flimsy doorstep
Lies a corpse upon the floor.

"you'll not ask me why i'm silent"
The woman said to me;
Her two eyes blazed in anger
And her throat throbbed agony.

Once my heart could cry in sorrow
Now it lies there on the floor
In the ashes by the hearthstone;
They can't hurt it anymore.

Oh, let the wind go cryin' yonder
In the tree-tops by the spring
Let its voice be soft and feelin'
Like it was a livin' thing.

There's grievin' in the country
There's sorrow in the sand.
There's sobbin' in the shanty
And there's anger in the land.

Hey, margaret, i left you a note, did you get what i wrote?
I laid it between your records.
It said i'm changing my mind, and i'm leaving to find
An answer for both of us.

I think that it's better that we be apart;
I've got to find out what life is about.
I'll drop you a postcard from time to time
When i, when i, get to love city.

Hey, margaret, i landed today, and i flew all the way:
Now i know what you'll say about airplanes;
If god had meant us to fly
We'd be amply supplied with wings.
Ah, didn't he?

I can't waste a minute, a minute won't wait.
How would you like if i found it a minute too late?
Margaret, i miss you, want you by my side
While i'm, while i'm in love city.

Hey, margaret, i'm not comin' home, and i'll stay here alone
If you can't get free to follow.
But margaret, the days are so few, won't you please hurry, too?
There's so much we must do for tomorrow.

It's getting much closer, it's coming your way.
And something more beautiful happens
Inside me everyday!

I'm sending a flower; they're hard to find.
They grow, as you know, in love city.