Copperopolis

Crossing the bridge where many lean to see
Over the rail to glance the trembling stream
Others stay to the center fearful it might sway
And all those who would choose to turn back the other way

But you and me have own bridge to cross
Weather worn and sea tossed
We've our own bridge to cross let's not
Make any excuses

I came upon someone's used and yellowed paperback
A collection of dreams and their meanings all conveyed
Seems to dream of a bridge denotes a thousand different things
If the planks are secure or the rope is broke or frayed

But you and me have own bridge to cross
Weather worn and sea tossed
We've our own bridge to cross let's not
Make any excuses

Na na na

You and me have own bridge to cross
Weather worn and sea tossed
We've our own bridge to cross let's not
Make any excuses

Maybe the rain's holding off
Surely it knows we're down here
Walking 'round there barefoot lost
Pretty soon these clouds've got to clear

I know it's a lot
Arousing thunder i only ask you to stop
For a second so i could coax you to talk

Think when we first laid eyes
Didn't know who you were and then i was one more passerby
You were the girl in the entryway that's all that i knew but oh
You were still in school and i was insecure

I know it's a lot
Arousing thunder i only ask you to stop
For a second so i could coax you to talk

'bout your dreams and
Orange soda
Tea leaves tv
More
More

Looks like the rain's holding off
Might as well take this slow
You know sometimes when i hold you in silence i listen real close
Then i hear you talking to my soul

Well i know it ain't half
Of this story i'm only meaning to ask
Just what would it take to coax you to laugh
To laugh
To laugh
To laugh

What would it what would it what would it take you to laugh
What would it what would it what would it take you to laugh

Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
To laugh

La la la

Here is the one here is the one here is the one mistake that can not be made
There is a line that is crossed over once and only once let it be said
All of the hubris clenched in our fist won't punch our way out of here
You know what i've told and i tell but you won't let it pass into your ears

Even the oxen ramming their heads on wood rails
Come to know pain before the rusted barrier falls

Before the radio long before radio waves struck down to touch
Off the wild flame that took all in its path and trampled the young underbrush
Music shooed clouds away billowing anxieties are rolled over and out
Seems like a lot of folks gave up and got out except for the truly devout

Who like the oxen ramming their heads on wood rails
Came to be dizzy before the barrier fell

Love is the one love is the one weapon that hasn't been brandished yet in this song
Strikes fear in the pockets of bankers and generals without it we can't carry on
And all of us knew this at one time from teething to toothless it's safe to say
But useless perhaps to point out that we've lost our instincts and awe in this day

And like the oxen ramming their heads on tin walls
Might come to know mercy before the barrier falls
And i come to know mercy before the barrier falls
And i come to know mercy before the barrier falls

Falls falls
And it falls falls falls
And it falls falls falls

You crawl up my vine and my soul's unwound
Clouds are miles down as the song unwinds
I'm conducting nothing anything at all
No i know i know

If i lose the floor i don't want no twist
Want to bite through this 'til i can hear no more
All the talkin' dissin' doggin'
Now i know i know i know

Not like two and two
Never seems to add up like i want it to
Not like two and two

Why can't i get this off lazy spent and spun
Off my chest for once 'cause i'm feeling lost
It's a waste of ink and paper
Laboring over anecdotes

In the center ring welter-weight tongue-tied
He was petrified before the song was sang
He fell back against the rope and
Dared to do the rope-a-dope

Not like two and two
Never seems to add up like i want it to
Not like two and two
It goes on and on on and on

I'm tired of saying i don't get it anymore i don't care
To hear you tell it tell me i can't tell you anything
Ah

[scraps of phrases - spoken]

Why the face the frown now and why so blue
Not like two and two when you're feeling down
It's a thing we both know so so
Can't we just explain away

Not like two and two
Never seems to add up like i want it to
Not like two and two
And on and on on and on
On and on on and on

On it goes on and on
It goes on and on
It goes on and on
Well it goes on and on
Goes on and on
Goes goes
It goes it goes
It goes on
Goes on and on

Gift of the sage chaparral
Born of this bone-dry heat
In summer when roads turn caramel
The earthquakes and everyone leaves

Where have they gone
Far from hyperion
And sunset boulevard
Where have they gone
North up to oregon
And mt. saint helens ha ha ha

Left behind dishes and furniture
Took only the blankets to sleep
Sprinkled their pillows with lavender
Safe from the grasp of the enemy

Where have they gone
Far from hyperion
And sunset boulevard
Where have they gone
North up to oregon
And mt. saint helens ha

Thrown from the nest of los angeles
Naive and motherless each

Dear friends farewell
Write down the e-mail for me
We're out of town till these aftershocks
Let up most definitely

Where have they gone
Far from hyperion
And sunset boulevard
Word is you've gone
On up to oregon
With room for company

Flown from the nest of los angeles
Naive and motherless me

There was a light blue as a welder's torch
It used to shine over the fields
And all the wise men strong men were drawn for miles
Followed a star to bethlehem steel

Our mother's father worked here in world war two
On the main floor operating the drill
And in his open palms little splinters remind him of
The booming days days of bethlehem steel

But the steeples on the hills they point
To a better life beyond this one
And that promise penetrates the clouds
And mighty walls of brick red cinnamon
Ah ah

Take a walk past lazarus moving n' storage
Behind the goodman's furniture store
See the smoke stacks rise on up to heaven's step
While on earth we're burnin' this miracle iron ore

But the steeples on the hills they point
To a better life beyond this one
And that promise penetrates the clouds
Even when they block the fiery sun
The sun

There was a light blue as a welder's torch
It used to shine over the fields
And all of the wise men strong men were drawn for miles
Followed a star to bethlehem steel

Bethlehem steel
Bethlehem steel
Bethlehem steel
Bethlehem steel
Yeah steel
Yeah steel
Bethlehem steel
Ah steel
Bethlehem steel
Bethlehem steel
Yeah steel
Steel
Yeah steel
[a scrap of a phrase - spoken]
Oh steel
Ah steel

You've come this far
Followed each
And every star
Not to reach
The peak would seem so wrong
Your eyes look tired
Want to sleep
Although this climb's
So steep
We must keep pressing on

Down it's the only way down
It's the only way down
Down it's the only way down
It's the only way down

I've heard you sing
Quiet voice
Of adverse things
Now you've made the choice
To overcome
This mountains' spire
Towering
Below the summit
Cowering
You've seen how others clung

Down it's the only way down
It's the only way down
Down it's the only way down
It's the only way down

You've come this far
Along this wind
Around this bend
Now look at where you are