In My Tribe

[ natalie merchant ]



I always knew that you would take yourself far from home
As soon as, as far as you could go.
By the 1/4 inch cut of your hair and the army issue green,
For the past eight weeks i can tell where you've been.
For i knew, i could see, it was all cut and dried to me
There was soldier's blue blood streaming inside your veins.
There is a world outside of this room and when you meet it promise me
You won't meet it with your gun.

So now you are one of the brave few, it's awful sad we need boys like you.
I hope the day never comes for
"here's your live round son. stock and barrel, safety, trigger, here's your gun."
Well i knew, i could see, it was all cut and dried to me
There was soldiers blue blood streaming inside your veins.
There is a world outside of this room and when you meet it promise me
You won't meet it with your gun taking aim.
For i don't mean to argue, they've made a decent boy of you
And i don't mean to spoil your home coming,
But baby brother you should expect me to.

"stock and barrel, safety, trigger, here's your gun."

So now does your heart pitter pat with a patriotic song
When you see the stripes of old glory waving?
Well i knew, i could see, it was all cut and dried to me
There was soldier's blue blood streaming inside your veins.
There is a world outside of this room and when you meet it promise me
You won't meet it with your gun taking aim.
I don't mean to argue, they've made a decent boy of you
And i don't mean to spoil your homecoming my baby brother jude
And i don't mean to hurt you by saying this again,
They're so good at making soldiers but they're not so good at making men.

[ dennis drew/natalie merchant ]



Don't talk, i will listen.
Don't talk, you keep your distance
For i'd rather hear some truth tonight than entertain your lies,
So take you poison silently.
Let me be. let me close my eyes.

Don't talk, i'll believe it.
Don't talk, listen to me instead,
I know that if you think of it, both long enough and hard
The drink you drown your troubles in is the trouble you're in now.

Talk talk talk about it, if you talk as if you care
But when your talk is over tilt that bottle in the air,
Tossing back more than your share.

Don't talk, i can guess it.
Don't talk, well now your restless
And you need somewhere to put the blame for how you feel inside.
You'll look for a close and easy mark and you'll see me as fair game.

Talk talk talk about it, talk as if you care
But when your talk is over tilt that bottle in the air
Tossing back more than your share.
You talk talk talk about it, you talk as if you care.
I'm marking every word and can tell this time for sure,
Your talk is the finest i have heard.

So don't talk, let me go on dreaming.
How your eyes they glow so fiercely i can tell your inspired
By the name you chose for me. now what was it? o, never mind it.
We will talk talk talk about this when your head is clear.
I'll discuss this in the morning, but until then you may talk but i won't hear.

[ robert buck/natalie merchant ]



Heaven, is this heaven where we are?
See them walking, if you dare, if you call that walking.
Stumble, stagger, fall and drag themselves along the streets of heaven.

Where is the blessed table to feed all who hunger on earth,
Welcomed and seated each one joyfully served?
See them walking, if you dare, if you call that walking.
Stumble, stagger, fall and drag themselves along the streets of heaven.

Where is the halo that should glow 'round your face,
And where are the wings that should grow from your shoulder blades?
Show them to me.
These are sobering sights i've seen in the city of angels
Have all been one rude awakening that was dues to me in heaven.

There would have been heavenly music i was convinced before.
A host of the dearly to meet me with hosannas sung at the door,
But these are sobering sights i've seen in the city of angels
Have all been one rude awakening that was dues to me in heaven.
In this city of fallen angels.

[ jerome augustyniak/natalie merchant ]



The painted desert can wait till summer.
We've played this game of just imagine long enough.
Wait till summer?
When i'm sure the rains have ended, the blooms have gone,
Everyone killed by the morning frost.
Is a cactus blooming there in every roadside stand
Where the big deal is cowboy gear won in japan?

The painted desert can wait till summer.
We've played this game of just imagine long enough.
Wait till summer?
When i'm sure the rains have ended and the blooms have gone,
Everyone killed by the morning frost.
Is a cactus blooming there upon the northern rim
Or in the ruins of the hopi mesa dens?

You met a new friend in the canyon, or so you wrote.
On a blanket in the cooling sand you and your friend agreed that
The stars were so many there they seemed to overlap.

The painted desert can wait till summer.
We've played this game of just imagine long enough.
Wait till summer?
When i am sure the rain has ended, the blooms have gone,
Everyone killed by the morning frost.
Was a cactus blooming there as you watched the native boy?
In flagstaff trailer court, you wrote the line:
"he kicked a tumbleweed and his mother called him home where the arizona moon met the arizona sun."

I wanted to be there by may at the latest time.
Isn't that the plan we had or have you changed your mind?
I haven't read a word from you since phoenix or tucson.
April is over will you tell me how long before i can be there?

[ jerome augustyniak/natalie merchant ]



Big plans are being made for my sisters wedding day.
We'll have a ball at the sons of roma hall.
Family, friends come one and all.
First the best man makes a toast to rocky and my sister rose,
"a life of years free of tears. bottoms up and lots of luck!"
`
Polka, tango everyone, cha-cha, mambo rose and rock alone.
Frankie rizzo and his combo play on.

Single girls all hear the call from a crowd at the back wall
And when the bouquet flies each one tries to be the best catch and next years bride.
Uncle sam and uncle joe take their places in the row.
They're standing by side to side for dollar dances with the bride.

Polka, tango everyone, cha-cha, mambo, rose and rock alone.
"he's a banker, she'll be well off now."

Sister rose take your mother's place.
Trade your home and your maiden name.
For a list of vows and a veil of lace made a wife of you today.

Now they cut the five tier cake, "that colucci, he can bake."
A frosted tower of sugar and flour for the couple of the hour.

Polka, tango everyone, cha-cha, mambo rose and rock alone.
She was born to wear that gown.

Sister rose take your mother's place.
Trade your home and your maiden name.
For a list of vows and a veil of lace made a wife of you today,
But you're my sister rose the same.

[ natalie merchant ]



The color of the sky as far as i can see is coal grey.
Lift my head from the pillow and then fall again.
With a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my lips as if i might cry.

Well by the force of will my lungs are filled and so i breathe.
Lately it seems this big bed is where i never leave.
Shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
Quiver in my voice as i cry,

"what a cold and rainy day. where on earth is the sun hid away."

I hear the sound of a noon bell chime.
Now i'm far behind.
You've put in 'bout half a day
While here i lie
With a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my lip as if i might cry,

"what a cold and rainy day. where on earth is the sun hid away?"

Do i need someone here to scold me
Or do i need someone who'll grab and pull me out of this four poster dull torpor pulling downward.
For it is such a long time since my better days.
I say my prayers nightly this will pass away.

The color of the sky is grey as i can see through the blinds.
Lift my head from the pillow and then fall again
With a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my voice as i cry,

"what a cold and rainy day. where on earth is the sun hid away?"
I shiver, quiver, and try to wake.