last chance loungecontent.bandzoogle.com/users/michaelmcdermott/... · 8. annie & the aztec...

Last Chance Lounge (2000)

1. Getting Off the Dime2. Broken Down Fence3. Unemployed 4. Spark5. Murder on Her Lips6. Hand of the Hunter7. 20 Miles South of Nowhere 8. Annie & the Aztec Cross9. Bourbon Blue 10. Leave Her to Heaven11. Aces & Eights12. Thinking About You13. Junkie Girl

Getting Off the DimeDo you ever feel the forcesThat you have to work againstThey fi ght you all along the wayOn both sides of the crooked fenceSeeds of indecision Are constantly in bloomThey grow the fl owers of regret In an empty low lit roomMy feet were fi rmly plantedOr at least I thought they wereI tipped the cups of morning lightOf so many things I wasn’t sure

Blowin’ through the pagesOf a burning book I foundThat beauty was revealed by designC’mon baby, we’re gettin’ off the dime

Second handed soulsAnd Salvation Army storesThe smell of one too many loversAnd one too many tavern doorsAddictions isolatedTo the closets/confi nes of your mindThat abuse you and confuse youIn the hopes that you get left behindOne day at a time they sayThat Achange comes from withinI’ve been trying each and every dayTo tell myself I’m gonna win

Stumblin’ way back homeIt’s not that hard to realizeIt’s just another wall I have to climbC’mon baby, we’re gettin off the dime

I was standing by the fountainIn some strange Italian dreamThe sermon’s so confusing I can’t discern just what it meansIt said Ablessed those who hungerBlessed those who thirstBlessed are the lost and lastFor they in turn shall be the fi rst

I woke up to the soundsOf the construction drummers beatThe same old voices in my head Singing me songs/symphonies of defeat

Stagnant like a pool of hopeIn a desert fi lled with doubtI’m so fucking sad and sick of the wasted timeC’mon baby, we’re gettin off the dime

Listen to the soundsOf the city while it sleepsIt steels the life right from your soulAnd what it takes it always keepsThe winds of understandingBlew through the curtains of your faithIt’s a long road you’ve been travelingThe struggle shows up on your face

Open up your windows babeOpen up your doors And let the light of life begin to shineC’mon baby, we’re gettin off the dime


Broken Down FenceBall Turret GunnarHe was talkin’ on the phoneTo some lady that he lovedAnd left broke in San AntoneWeek willed WillieAnd that trucker that he’d knownHeaded down the to blue noteTo hear that blind saxophone playerNobody noticedThat Kenny left the sceneHe was on his way to VeniceWith some Merchant MarineHe said Ayou better read the signs Before Paris starts to burn,But you cats round hereYou’re never gonna learn

It seems normal enoughIt doesn’t make any senseWhen you fi nd yourself leanin’On a broken down fence

Suzie closed up shop And to Portland she was boundBut fi rst she had to make a deal With that man in CharlottetownShe walked in wearin’ a straw hat I’d only seen it once beforeShe sat down and knocked my heartAnd my drink on to the fl oorIt’s been a long time since we were over A long time since we were throughShe said she’d never get to highOr fl y far from my viewThe place was pretty empty/crowdedWhen she got up to leaveShe wore a smile on her face But her tears were on her sleeve

It seems normal enoughIt doesn=t make any senseWhen you fi nd yourself leanin’On a broken down fence

It seems normal enoughIt doesn’t make any senseWhen you fi nd yourself leanin’On a broken down fence

Into a hip-hop daydream I go walkin’And the Courvoisier keeps on talkinAnd on the same stone I keep on stumblin’With the same mistakes, baby, time and time againWalkin’ up MilwaukeeI’d seen the brother’s GrimmThey were talkin’ trash and treasonAbout the kind of shape we’re inThey were workin’ on a storyAbout a princess and a frogI told ‘em one about a junkieAnd a philosophizing dogJust around the cornerFrom a brand new dayRight around that time I thought

I’d heard somebody sayIt seems normal enoughIt doesn’t make any senseWhen you fi nd yourself leanin’On a broken down fence


UnemployedI know how to turn water into wineI’m fl ithy rich but I haven’t a dimeI’m luck in love by my girls’ got a manMost of these things I can’t understand

I can take tragedy, loss and defeatChoke your bitterness until your blood turns sweet

Hallelujah, I’m over joyedI’m drunk again and I’m unemployedSay hey mama ain’t I still your boy

Drunk again and I’m unemployed

Singing la hey, it’s gonna be ok

People always ask me what it is that I doAnd very rarely do I ever tell them the truthI’m a consultant, a pilot, a thief or a cookOr I’m just about to publish my very fi rst book

Sometimes I’m a hunter, sometimes I’m a clownSometimes I’m a matador, who just moved to town

Hallelujah, I’m over joyedI’m drunk again and I’m unemployedThe things I’ve wanted I’ve just destroyedDrunk again and I’m unemployed

Drunk again and I’m unemployedSinging la hey, it’s gonna be ok

I must admit that most times I get boredCause the things I want I still can’t affordPeople say AMichael you’re very easily amusedAsk if as a child I was somehow abused

Call me a slacker, call me a wasteI’m just a pauper with a prince’s taste

Hallelujah, I’m over joyedI’m drunk again and I’m unemployedSay hey mama ain’t I still your boyDrunk again and I’m unemployed

Singing la hey, it’s gonna be ok


SparkSome doors seem like there always shutThe hand of faith still seems corruptWhen you’re caught on the wrong side of your own generationThunder cracks like midnight barksIntoxication the slipstream narcsDoes the temple of your soul need restoration?Garreth lived here his whole damn lifeHis job, his lover, his complex wifeBut he said, I’ve never even thought of leavin’He said, Abelieve it or not I’m quite conent, Every now and again, I’ll kneel and repentBut I never seem to fi nd that feelin’, of healing baby

Spark the heart in a godless nightSpark the dark until it turns to lightSpark the colors in the eyes that blameSpark the embers, until they turn to fl ame

From the small town where the dream don’t hideTo the big cities where they do collideTo the hotel rooms, where the clocks have ceased their tickin’I dreamt of Paris and MTVIreland and the BBCBut now those dreams they only make me sickenedNo one knows my name or even caresAs I stumbles so drunk down those stairsAnd the spirits fi re that burned within is temperedI’m haunted by every train running southAnd every lover that I’ve brought to my mouthFor fear of secrets that may soon be rendered or surrendered baby


She dyed her hair since the last time they spokeI got her a drink and I lit up her smokeShe said I don’t know how I wound up so defeatedShe said These pictures in this place always make me so sadMake me think about the family that I never had/make me think about my dadAnd I hate the fact that I’m always feelin’ cheated.And the jukebox played Your Cheatin’ Heart

You can’t see the wounds as well when you’re standin in the darkShe said, I’ll be right back, but I knew she was lyin And me I knew I needed different companyThose kind of talks always get to meThis place smells like everybody’s dyin’, or tryin’ baby



Murder On Her LipsQuarter Girl in that Brazilian barYou were right where you wanted to beFrom a distant world you’d traveled so farInto a head-on collision with meYeah, you held my hand, we moved to the bandI put my hands upon your hipsShe had love in her eyesShe had love in her eyesShe had love in her eyesAnd Murder on Her Lips

You talked about the mountains, talked about getting freeI remember thinking you seemed kinda stonedIn that hotel by the water where you spent those nights with meRemember the way you moved and moanedI held her so and I could feel the undertowI thought the night was just playing tricksShe had love in her eyesShe had love in her eyesShe had love in her eyesAnd Murder on Her Lips

I was still recovering from the night beforeI was trying to put the pieces back into placeI remember Jackson Square when the rain began to pourYour hair fell down around your faceYou spoke to me of him and how you knew it’d be a sinYou said “The man deserves everything he gets”She had love in her eyesShe had love in her eyesShe had love in her eyesAnd Murder on Her Lips

Somewhere cross the bayouSomewhere where the canebrake endsIs a ghost that still haunted her insideI was due in Memphis, had to meet up with some friendsShe said she couldn’t come along for the rideShe whispered in my ear, without the slightest bit of fearAnd her words got my stomach doin’ fl ipsShe had love in her eyesShe had love in her eyes

She had love in her eyesAnd Murder on Her

Love in her eyesShe had blood in her eyesShe had love in her eyesAnd Murder on Her Lips


Hand of the HunterThere’s tethers of truth, tongues telling liesCracks in the colors of your bloodstained eyesThe wolves are dancing in sheep’s disguiseAnd their presence is very unnervingBackfi ring engines in fi elds full of knowingThere’s blood in the dirt with the seeds you’re sowingAre you aware of the gifts your gods are bestowingEven though you feel undeservingYou’re standing in line, waiting for rationsLike Jericho, the walls down came a-crashingStiletto the sounds, the lights all a-fl ashingDo you bow to the one that you’re servingAre you free from the Hand of the HunterAre you free from the Hand of the HunterAre you free

There’s many hills to climb, many rivers to crossAnd if you’re not careful, boy, you’re bound to get lostYou might not have a dime, but you’ll cover the costOr you’ll dance in the circles of sorrowMeanwhile, alone, far across townJudy laid her newborn baby downShe said “It’s hard to fl y when you’re chained to the groundAnybody got some wings I could borrow?”And I’ll be free from the Hand of the HunterI’ll be free from the Hand of the HunterI’ll be free from the Hand of the HunterI’ll be free

The ghost of MichelangeloThey carved me from my world of stoneListening to a fading fi reIs it true, they say, all dreams one day expireI believe itSucculent sermons sung from the sunBroken descendants are out on the runThe art of war, it has only begunThe silence is rolling like thunderSpilling like wine, the healing was landingOur only bastion was our understandingWith my fi st in the air, the winds I was commandingFree from the spell I was underThe hostages of iniquityWere put on display for all to seeThe chosen tongue, the communion of threeLeft everyone dazzled in wonder

I’ll be free from the Hand of the HunterI’ll be free from the Hand of the HunterI’ll be free from the Hand of the HunterI’ll be free

I believe itI’ll be free from the Hand of the HunterI’ll be free from the Hand of the HunterI’ll be free from the Hand of the HunterI’ll be freeI believe itI believe it

Sing a song, sing a song of freedomSing a song, sing a song of freedomSing a song, sing a song of freedomSing a song, sing a song of freedom


20 Miles South of NowhereDan sat at the bar, talkin’ about his car with AliceShe was heading out to Vegas, running from her dark days in DallasShe had a brother she could stay with, Said he didn’t know she was comingYeah, but I bet he never guessed what kind of person she was becomingJimmy Moran and his one-man band played every note like it was his lastHe played “Strangers in the Night” too slow And always played Neil Diamond songs too fast

20 Miles South of NowhereYeah, me and mine20 Miles South of Nowhere

Gray-haired Marie watched her sports TV and began to write somethin’ downTommy Turrets twitched his regrets that the Celtics were coming to townDora came in, she was stinkin’ of ginShe referred to me as “sailor”She was beautiful not long agoBefore everything began to fail herNow Will’s been in the bathroom for so long Now he either jumped out the window or diedEverything’s been so dull around this place But everything’s been done or at least been tried

20 Miles South of NowherePearls and swine20 Miles South of NowhereDoing my time20 Miles South of Nowhere

The Last Chance Lounge on the near North SideEverybody’s watchin’ the newsMusic comes back when “Friends” comes onHear Van the Man singing the Irish bluesColleen just got a 550 SLI wonder what the hell she’s doin’ hereShe asked me if I wanted to go for a ride, I said “Babe, I just ordered a beer”She wants everyone to think she’s made it, But I know her mama bought her thatA guy asked me if I was an artist, I said “A con artist, mon frere” and turned my back

20 Miles South of NowhereYeah, me and mine20 Miles South of NowhereDoin’ my time20 Miles South of NowherePearls and swine20 Miles South of NowhereYeah, me and mine


Annie & The Aztec Cross“Its much more gripping than fi ction,” Delilah said of her bookI hadn’t been paying attentionWhen she gave me that disapproving look I said “I was thinkin’ ‘bout Annie,” Delilah said “Please not again.” She said “Babe I’m just not in the mood,to hear about your dying friend.” She was torn by the waves of the cityBut the price was too high a cost I remember her lookin’ so prettyThinkin’ bout’ Annie and the Aztec cross

Annie found religion in LimaAt the temple of Martin De Pourus She said, “I never understood the love of God, And just how much he adores us So pray for the wicked, pray for the weak Pray for the martyrs and pray for the meek And pray for all the forgotten soulsThat passed in vain before us” Her words fl owed just like a riverBut her ghost hung like Spanish moss There was a peace that nobody could give her Thinkin’ ‘bout Annie and the Aztec cross

Annie painted pictures of JesusShe could talk for hours about Magdeline And how the gates of the free and the righteousAre open to hearts heavy with sin She was Indian on her mother’s sideIrish on the side of her dad That girl could drink you under the table, But the drinkin’ got to gettin’ her feelin’ sad Burning with amber and sandalwoodA soul so beaten and lost/tossedBut things never worked out the way I thought they would For Annie and the Aztec cross

She traveled South and Central America I got a letter every month for years Until one day I opened a packageAnd with the letter realized my deepest fears I don’t know if she was shootin’She just said, “my days are few And enclosed is my beautiful Aztec cross

I only wanted Michael to be with you But when you think of me, think with a smile Shed not a single tear for meCause you know my faith is oh so strong Know that I’ll be watching over thee” Peacock feathers blowin’ around in this room A raven beauty that we have lost I dream of her dancing ‘neath the Peruvian moonRemembering... Annie and the Aztec cross

Remember!


Bourbon BlueGraceful, moving like a dancerI was waiting for an answerShe just sang alongI didn’t know that songCaptured, raptured by your spiritIn the words I couldn’t hear itWhat was I to do?I was feeling like a fool

Listen to the wistful sounds of morning coming throughI keep holding on for my Bourbon Blue

Ballerina, she moved slowlyHer air was almost holyRestored what I had lostPut nails in the crossBreathless, caught myself driftingWith the weight I had been liftingTo try and fi gure outwhat this whole thing was about

Downward, I was falling... reaching... for a strand so trueI keep holding on for my Bourbon Blue

I know it’s stupidIt’s a stupid way of thinkingWhen the clearness clouds my drinkingAnd I’ll kneel and confessTo my total lack of purposeSinging, writing songs by numberLiving life locked in a slumberFor reasons I can guessI felt so useless

Downward, I was falling... reaching... for a strand so trueI keep holding on for my Bourbon Blue

For my Bourbon Blue... I keep holdingMy sweet Bourbon Blue... I keep holdingMy sweet Bourbon Blue


Leave Her to HeavenDrop me on DamenWith a vulturous stareAnd I’ll talk till I’m drunk With the ways that they don’t compareSpark like the strandedUntil I fall downAnd don’t throw me a lineIf it looks like I’ll drownSo where does your God goIn an hour like thisI thought of his sonWhen you gave me that kissI thought I was on targetBut I know now I missedYeah I rolled the diceThen he broke my wrist

So leave her to heavenWon’t you be surprisedTo fi nd me goneWhen you look for my eyesSomewhere in the crowdSomewhere in skies

Leave her to heavenIts time for good-byeStick with the knifeOf the blade of your tongueAnd don’t ever forgetWhere it is that you’re fromDreams are like shadowsThat never/until they appearOr maybe just not On the streets around here

Leave her to heavenIt was so hard to sayThat line to myselfWhile I walked awayTo witness such beauty And then let it strayOh leave her to heavenI knew I couldn’t stay

Leave her to heavenShe belongs to the skiesAnd the mystery hiddenDeep in her eyes

Leave her to heavenAnd leave me right hereFor in darkness will lightBe the fi rst to appear

Leave me with whiskeyPoetry and verseI’ll tell you which lifeThat I fi nd to be worseAnd I don’t know how I was graced with this curseOr these pools of frustrationIn which I’m immersed

Leave her to heavenAnd leave me to hellI’ve got such a sweetLittle story to tellAbout a girl on the runA ghost and a cell

Leave her to heavenLeave her to heavenLeave her to heavenAnd me where I fell

Gonna leave herGonna leave her


Aces & EightsGood morning sunshineYou got dreams on your lips

Was it the moonshine That got you to shake your hips?We eluded dangerBut it’ll be coming around againAnd again

It’s a town of dreamersThat’s why I’m still hereNobody’s a strangerIf they whisper into your earEverybody knows my nameBut nobody knows who the hell I amFoe or friend

I’m a prince and a pauperI’m the gutter and the magistrateStill looking over my shoulder, one more timeHoldin’ aces and eights

I had to steal for everythingEverything I ever held/lovedListen to the blackbird singFrom the ruthless carouselBabe I ain’t got no regretsIt’s only failed opportunityHey that’s me

You better be carefulIs that a staff or a rattlesnake?Your never too safe, one more timeHoldin’ aces and eights

Do you ever start to feelLike this whole thing’s a fi x?No matter what hand they dealEvery dealer’s got their tricks Maybe some sweet surrenderWill be coming around againIn the end

I know my days are numberedMe and salvation got a dateIt’s never too late, so sick of this handHoldin’ aces and eights


Thinking About YouI thought I had come far enoughTo forget what I’d left behindI thought I’d grown up enough to knowWhat is and isn’t mineI’d like to say it doesn’t bother meLike it did not long agoI’d like to say I’m over itBut it seems that isn’t so

I hate to admit itBut I’m afraid it’s all trueCause I wake up every morningThinkin about you

Last time I called youI had too much to drinkBut it seems like in those momentsIt’s like I’m about to sinkEverything around this dumpReminds me of what we hadI think about the good timeI’m unclear about the bad

Stumblin’ way past midnightLookin for healin in the moonI’m driving myself crazyThinkin’ about you

These corners are so lonesomeAnd I’m lookin to scoreAnd it seems like this townHolds nothin’ for me no moreBaby I’m sincerely sorryI never meant to cause you harmI’m sorry about my drinkin’I’m sorry about your arm

I don’t know what it wasThat made me act so cruelI with these was something to stopAll this thinkin’ about you

So I’ve been keepin’ all your paintingsHidden deep beneath my bedI’ve been keepin’ all these secretsHold up in my headI’ve been fi ndin’ all these lettersIn notebooks by the phone

But none of these thingsCan help me feel any less aloneThird act curtain risingI present to you a foolWho’s got noone to blameFor always thinkin about you


Junkie GirlEyes as black as Kentucky coalLooking like a vulture for the rest of her soulA day not long ago she cannot recallWhite witch in her red velvet shirtAcross the tracks where it no longer hurtsStories of daggers and the veils hung at Rose HallThe smartest woman that I’ve ever metA sweet soul lover that I’d never forget

She’s my Junkie GirlShe’s my Junkie GirlShe’s my Junkie GirlI really do think that I love her

She’s been with women and she’s been with menSee the gates of the kingdom from Lucifer’s denWhat are you hiding, girl, what are you running fromPain from panes just looking outWas it the fear or was it the doubtThat got you running, girl, that got you feeling numbI don’t think she felt me at allCountin’ all the ways she could make me crawl


She talks to me in ways I cannot recognizeRings on her toes and bruises on her thighsStrangely enough she was impressively well readCaught like this it doesn’t do much goodTo read your horoscope or knock on woodStrange to be living with so much of you that deadThere’s not much anyone can doWhen a sucker’s soul has turned black and blue



Think that I love herYeah, think that I love her. . . think that I love her

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