The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren

Cruising makes some people get uptight
But nothing beats a lonely friday night
Friday night, nothing much to do but hang around
Think i might just grab myself a cab and head downtown
And for hours, i hang around the dance hall crowd
I feel like a boor
But then i turned around and cast my eyes to the door

In a long flowing robe
She appeared at the ballroom door
I was hard-pressed to know
What i hoped she was looking for

Coming on at first may not seem right
But nothing beats a lover at first sight
What a sight, nothing can compare with simple grace
It's all right, i see it in the look upon her face
That she wants me the same way that i'm wanting her
In fact maybe more
But as i take her hand
She turns and heads for the door

In a long flowing robe
She took off through the ballroom door
I was hard-pressed to know
What did she go and do that for

Friday night, nothing left to do but go to bed
Sleeping tight, when something stirring deep inside my head
Said "wake up and cast your eyes to the door."

In a long flowing robe
She appeared at the bedroom door
I was hard-pressed to know
What i knew she was looking for

Put down that phone and listen
Baby how can you be so unkind
If they catch me out of line only one more time
I'll be down in the slammer 'fore you count to nine
I didn't mean to step out without you
And i'm sorry way down in my soul
But it ain't easy being on
Parole with you baby
Before they throw me in the hole
I got to get my dose of rock and roll
And it ain't easy being on
Parole with you baby, let go
Put down that gun and listen
If you shoot it would be such a waste
'cause any one of these days i just might change my ways
And i won't be around to see the look on your face
I know that it might make you happy
To fill my body full of holes
But you know it ain't easy being on
Parole with you baby
Put down the phone and put down the gun
Please let me know you still believe in me, hon

There's a grand old maid
Across the sea
So the story was recalled to me
And from dawn 'til dark you hear her call
Down in front of the wailing wall
And she cries all day so sad and alone
'til someone comes along and leads her home
Nobody listens and nobody seems to care
But everyday you'll find them there and
Kneeling down
For sadness sake
Crying just as though their hearts would break
And from dawn 'til dark you hear them call
Down in front of the wailing wall
And they cry all day so sad and alone
'til someone comes along and leads them home
You know i don't listen and you know that i don't care
But everyday you'll find me there and
Kneeling down
For sadness sake
Crying just as though my heart would break
And from dawn 'til dark you'll hear me call
Down in front of the wailing wall

No catch, no strings
None of the usual things
I'm happy just to lay and look
Let's throw out the book
Now we're off the hook
And please just be nice to me
Won't you be nice to me
So tired, so sad
So sick of being had
By everyone who comes along
Would it be so wrong
If you played along
And please just be nice to me
And would it bring you down if i hang around
Just be nice to me
It's been a long, long time since i felt so fine
And i know your love is fine
I know what's on your mind but
Don't laugh, don't cry
Don't make me wonder why
You're doing what you're doing now
Can't you see somehow
It's the wrong time now
So please just be nice to me
You know i ain't in heat
And it would feel real neat
If you would just be nice to me
Come on think of me

Yore daddy runs sheep and mah uncle runs cattle
Nothin' can keep us out of this battle they wage
As it burns up the range, 'til no man is left
In the saddle
Yore ranch is upstream and they dammed up the water
Thirsty cows scream for mah uncle to slaughter
The sheep while yore daddy's asleep
And i do the same for his daughter
If i had my own way, we would be together
Back in pittsburgh
It's the only town east of the river i know
And i feel kinda bad, bringin' our grief
Upon this pore old farmer's house
But we ain't got nowhere else to go
Three years on this range since they started the range war
Nothing has changed except maybe change for the worst
If i'd married you first,
There might not have been any range war
You wouldn't be lost to the range war

Boat on the charles
Train on a spur down by the riverside
The door's open wide
Planes in a line just seven miles away
They leave every day
And someone's always going south
A guy with a truck here about is going new year's eve
Why don't you leave

Why don't i leave
I can't make myself believe
No one really cares for me here
I can't make no sense of this place and i fear
I can't spend another day without hearing from you
Throw my life away and pass my body through into the charles

Boat on the charles
Bird on a wire outside my window pane
It's started to rain
Buses in line just seven blocks away
They leave every day
And someone's always asking me why i can't seem
To make myself see
That you won't answer me
Why don't you leave

Why don't i leave
How many times can a man be told
How many times before i lose control
I don't give a damn for my immortal soul
It's just about time i let my insides show
So here i go