Additional Singers:
Brook Baxes, Anthony Carrubba, Dennis Cooley, Richard Corey, Henry Fanton, Cecelia Norfleet, Edward Olmos, Vicki Robinson, Hope Ruff
Release Date: 1972
Duration: 43:22
Label: Rhino/Bearsville
Catalog Number: R2DD 71107
Concerning Breathless:
In a 1975 interview on Radio Clyde (Scotland) Todd says:
"That middle bit I stole almost literally from something that I remembered and I had no idea where I heard it. But I needed it, so I used it. If I'd known where it came from I'd might have been hesitant to use it."
It was late last night I was feeling something wasn't right There was not another soul in sight Only you, only you So we walked along, though I knew there was something wrong And the feeling hot me oh so strong about you Then you gazed up at me and the answer was plain to see 'Cause I saw the light in your eyes Though we had our fling I just never would suspect a thing 'Til that little bell began to ring in my head In my head But I tried to run, though I knew it wouldn't help me none 'Cause I couldn't ever love no one, or so I said But my feelings for you were just something I never knew 'Til I saw the light in your eyes But I love you best It's not something that I say in jest (ha ha) 'Cause you're different, girl, from all the rest In my eyes And I ran out before but I won't do it anymore Can't you see the light in my eyes
Do you remember the last time I said If I ever thought about lying, I'd rather think of dying instead And maybe you remember the last time you called me to say we were through How it took a million tears just to prove they all were for you But those days are through 'Cause it wouldn't have made any difference, if you loved me How could you love me When it wouldn't really make any difference, if you really loved me You just didn't love me 'Cause I know of hundreds of times I could be In the most unfaithful arms that you always picture me And maybe you remember that though I can't always show proof I was true No one else could change my mind or stop me coming home to you But those days are through You just did not love me enough to believe me Enough not to leave me Enough not to look for a reason to be unhappy with me And make me regret ever wanting you But those days are through
"Hey baby, you're on a subliminal trip to nowhere.You better get your trip together before you step in here with us!" Full moon tonight, everything's all right Baby come on back to Wolfman Jack If you want yourself a day man, well I don`t mind You just ditch him when the sun goes down 'Cause the moon shines bright and everything's all right When the Wolfman, he creeps into town Now you maybe want a man who throws 'round his money But he ain't as cool as Wolfman Jack And you might want yourself a man who don't act so funny But he ain't your fool like Wolfman Jack I don't mean to treat you evil I'm just a good boy gone bad But if I catch you after dark walking through the park I'm just liable to do something mad You maybe think you know what love is about girl But it's nothing 'til it's Wolfman Jack And everybody knows, you go round and shout it That your only thrill is Wolfman Jack Full moon tonight, everything's all right Baby come on back to Wolfman Jack I may miss your loving while I'm on my back But you can't escape from Wolfman Jack You can't do this to me Look me in the eyes baby, now you cut that jive You know the Wolfman's just about the number one cat alive You got my great big eyes spinning round in my head How could you love another man instead?
I believe if I was all alone, I would be better off in a world my own I'd forget I ever knew of you, and this dream every night that you put me through We walk along a Hollywood sea and you dance once again with me We are close, we are friends And our love never ends But in the cold morning light I see That you won't be back for me The wound you left is healing and then it starts itching and I scratch it open again So the pain comes out and I give in and indulge my imaginations, whims We sit and drink Victorian tea and your face wears a smile for me I was yours, you were mine Our hearts bound, lost in time But in the cold morning light I see That you won`t be back For me there can be no peace For me there can be no rest I believe though I've tried my best I'm condemned it seems to a life of restlessness and broken dreams
It's true, yes it's true I'm as guilty of the sin as you I lived through it too And as you can see it didn't hurt me You must admit, you helped a bit It takes two to tango You know I wasn't alone It takes two to tango I remember it still Drink a toast if you will This is for the girls who just couldn't see That my only sin was being me And this one's for the girls and they know who they are It's so long ago and I don't know Now I don't recall all the details of the scene at all But I had a ball And learned all the games, forgot all the names You must admit you learned a bit This is for the girls who couldn't understand What it's like to try to be a man And this one's for the girls and they know who they are It's so long ago and I don't know I don't claim to know at all Who was right and who was wrong I just don't remember all All the things that were said What went on in my head But it's easy to see that I used you and you used me This is for the girls who think I've done wrong Could you really hold a grudge that long And this one's for the girls and they know who they are It's so long ago and I don't know who you are
There's a cloud in the sky and it's raining on you Still you try to keep dry but your troubles leak through And you've lost all you could, feeling sad Choose your reveries Keep the good, leave the bad Take a few of these, the sweeter memories Don't forget them please, the sweeter memories To set your mind at ease, the truest remedies Are the sweeter memories There's a life full of pain and a life full of glee So you see that the rain doesn't mean much to me For I know that it pays making light of living's tragedies Make your days be as bright Take a few of these, the sweeter memories
Spoken: Before we go any further...
instrumental with: "breathless, I'm so breathless"
Weren't you there when the carousel burned down The fire and confusion, the smoke and the sound I swear you were there when the carousel burned down We were all around The rings charred and tarnished all over the ground And the heads hung down And we all left town the next day The children all cried when the carousel burned down The old ladies sighed and the carousel burned down The rest of us lied as the carousel burned down And the flames did fly The pipes steamed and shrieked out a blazing goodbye As the boiler died And they melted down the midway And we all left town the next day
I think I'm gonna love it I think I'm gonna love it Because I know someday someone else will see it my way And then I'll know I was not wrong I know they won't believe it I know they won't believe it They think that I'm no good but I will make myself understood 'Cause I believe it all along I think I'm gonna love it I know they won't believe it When they finally see the saving grace in me I know the time is gonna come When I will mean something to someone Until that day I'm hanging on
Marlene Marlene, you're the prettiest girl I've ever seen Do you care for me at all Marlene, I care for you And I just don't care who knows it and I guess that means that I love you Marlene Marlene, who'd believe that you're only seventeen I'm in trouble if your folks get mean And if they do Then I don't care if they bust me and I guess that means that I love you I don't need no fantasies Just one thing I need I you could make it here, Marlene Dear Marlene, Marlene Marlene, when I think that it all is just a dream I remember that your eyes are green And mine are blue They will always see each other and I guess that means that I love you I don't need realities Just one thing I need If you could make it here Marlene Dear Marlene, Marlene Marlene, I'm depending on you now Marlene
I am a Viking of some note Knut's my name and here I float Out on the sea in a great big boat and I'm the one who beats the drum in time To stroke the oars that drive our galleons on And while we rowed we had our song And we had our god, and it may seem odd But at least there was a cause Caught a wind and we upped the sail Lost two ships when it turned to a gale Down went a third when she rammed on a whale Though we despaired we could not fail And through it all we never faltered Late at night I lay on the decke Wondering whye I risk my necke Picture myselfe in a sinkinge wrecke Ande downe I'me goinge notte knowinge whye I just can't quite recall the reason why It's such a drag to carry on But there was a cause, but there was a reason If you like I'll be your Viking Sit you down to a Nordic meal Give you strength that you might wield A Viking sword and a Viking shield And off we'll sail in mighty ships of yore Perhaps we shouldn't let our hands get sore We need someone to pull the oars And to do the chores So we need a cause, so we need a reason why (Erik is here!)
In a voice soaked with euphoria: I went to the mirror this morning I looked in the mirror instead The first thing to come into focus Was a face wrapped all around my head There's something sticking out of the middle I guess it's my nose (I suppose) I just don't recognize those eyes All these years I've been watching from the other side The voice is now one of brutal stupefication. The underlying question is - "If you went crazy, would you know it?" Uh oh, here I go thinking them crazy thoughts again. Who is that there? You mean I been walking around in that all these years? What's it all about? Where's it all at? I don't want to get heavy but what am I doing here? uh My lip has a dark spot upon it (The voice of a mature adult who's comprehensive capacity has suddenly been reduced to that of a cherrystone clam) My teeth look like plastic in chips And there on my chin I discover One lonely red and arrogant zit I went about my business this morning You got to get out of bed and make that bread But try as I may to get away I won't forget what I seen in the mirror today Boogie on out to a brand new day. Get off your back and dance! I seen my eyes. I seen my nose. My lips. My teeth. My, my gums. I seen my gums! I looked all the way down my throat! I looked at my ears. I looked real hard at my ears. I looked at my hair. I think I'm going bald. I had hair all over the sink or something...
Black Maria, you scare me so I feel as though my heart stop dead You're a liar, this I know I watch you go around my head Oh, I'm going down slow You scare me so Oh, you never let go You scare me so Gay deceiver, my eyes they burned My insides turned, my brain it rolled Unbeliever, but now I've learned I took my turn, I come up cold
One more day They said we'd be home for Christmas but I'm still here today One more day I went to see the first lieutenant he said shut up and wait One more day, no word We don't pick no more trees 'til the union OK If they don't get a contract soon then I don't think we can stay One more day, no word All alone, all my friends are gone Ears of stone, eyes gone blind Too little to do and too much time I haven't seen my girl in a year last July She hasn't even written a letter but I try not to cry One more day, no word
Keep your head and everything will be cool You didn't have to make me feel like a fool When I try to say I feel the way that I do I want to talk to you And make it load and clear though you don't care to hear Couldn't I just tell you the way I feel I can't keep it bottled up inside And could we pretend that it's no big deal And there's really nothing left to hide Something sure doesn't seem right to me When you can turn your back whenever you please And you stroll away and calmly bid me adieu Why can't I talk with you And put it in your ear though you don't care to hear Hear me out Why don't you lend me an ear You've got no reason to fear I'll make it perfectly clear I love you I don't come whining with my heart on my sleeve I'm not a coward if that's what you believe And I'm not afraid but not ashamed if it's true I got to talk with you And then I'll make it clear
When you say goodbye to the love that we knew This you can be sure of I will torch on for you I will carry my torch for you When you break somebody's heart, nothing much left to do Howsoever sadly I will torch on for you Somewhere in the back of my heart it's there And every day it finds me then reminds me I will bear my cross, I will bear your cross too I will pine forever I will torch on for you I will carry my torch for you
You got to ease into line boy But once I hit the open road I'll be sailing off and on my own You and me in my GT With those little red lights in front of me When I go to heaven you know that's where I want to be Would you please fill it up boy I'd like to stop and catch myself a bite but I sure hate to leave the road tonight Instrumental in 3 movements: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. And when I'm racing the clock You know that I would die or kill somebody just to move this hunk of steel one more block Spoken (with mild disdain as one gropes for the stick): I think I see a little red light in my rear view mirror A terrific case ensues, resulting in many highway statistics and ultimately, the realization of the desire expressed in the chorus. RIP
excerpts from the early days (includes "Money (That's What I Want)")
Tell everyone that I am sorry, truly sorry For all the wrongs I done I never meant to hurt nobody Lord I never want to do no wrong I have lied, I have begged and I have cheated And I know my ship won't be coming in As I lay me down to take my rest I see that it's just dust in the wind Take hold my hand, hold it tighter, ever tighter You must believe that I love you still But my strength, it grows weaker, ever weaker And my body has lost its will Oh my Lord, I have lost once again And I got no one to help me find my way But I never wanted to hurt nobody And I never wanted to do no wrong
We figure, my daddy and me Things are still the same, it seems As when he lived it in his teens as a kid in school Aaron was a junior, the class of '32 His momma called him angel, but everybody knew he was the King king, the gross out king They called him Piss Aaron They always caught him pissin' in the hall Piss Aaron, he never would refuse when nature called Dumb Larry from homeroom 9 Kept his locker full of weeds Just to satisfy his smoking needs and his love of fire Went to a game and lit a stink bomb in the bleachers The coach, the cheer leader, and the chem teacher, and the Dean dean, duh dean dean was after Dumb Larry, they always caught him smokin' in the john Dumb Larry, you never would have missed him when he's gone Chuck Biscuits, conservative-jive The biggest pig in all the school He would sit and smack his lips and drool as he eyed your lunch I left a bag in his desk one night A raw egg sandwich and when Hungry took a bite he had to Up chuck, uh up up-chuck, a'pukin' Chuck Biscuits, they always caught him eatin' in the class
Hello, it's me I've thought about us for a long, long time Maybe I think too much but something's wrong There's something here that doesn't last too long Maybe I shouldn't think of you as mine Seeing you Or seeing anything as much as I do you I take for granted that you're always there I take for granted that you just don't care Sometimes I can't help seeing all the way through It's important to me that you know you are free 'Cause I never want to make you change for me Think of me You know that I'd be with you if I could I'll come around to see you once in a while Or if I ever need a reason to smile And spend the night if you think I should
There ain't a man alive today Who doesn't want to have the world in his hand And everything to go his way And abuse what he don't understand Some people never can be satisfied less they push somebody else around But I can't give no aid or take no side I just watch them drag each other down because Some folks is even whiter than me Some folks is even blacker than me I got myself caught in the middle somewhere And that's just where I want to be I'm talking bout the outside Talking bout the inside too I spent a lot of time alone And when I'm gone you won't remember my name But I ain't never been nobody's boss but my own And I hope that you can say the same And I feel just like everyone around I like so sing my songs of change like a crooner But if we was all to live another mile uptown I think we'd like to get it changed a whole lot sooner
Love is infectious and I was a victim The worst case you'd ever see But still I know no doctor or nurse Could cure what you gave to me 'Cause you Really, you left me sore You really left me sore now baby You messed me up for sure and I don't mean maybe 'Cause you really left me sore You didn't tell me and I didn't ask so there's Nobody left to blame But still I know no place I can go That helps to relieve the pain But now I know no good ever comes From love on a one night stand
See that girl, watch her dance If I knew her name I wouldn't have to sit on my hands If my mouth don't work I get some help And she don't mind if I don't keep my hands to myself You're all right You put up such a good clean fight I'm afraid that you lose tonight S-L-U-T She may be a slut but she looks good to me You're so clean, so refined You don't care to get messy just to have a good time She's got saggy thighs and baggy eyes But she loves me in a way I can still recognize
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