Credits:
Tracks recorded at ID Sound Studios, LA, and Engineered by James Lowe.
Voices and mixdown done at Bearsville sound Studios, Bearsville, NY.
Mastered at Artisan Sound, LA.
Production, arrangmenets, mixdown, and all voices and instruments except where noted By Todd R.
All selections by Todd Rundgren and published by Earmark-Screen Gems. Columbia Music, BMI
Cover design by Milton Glaser, Push Pin Studios
Cover Photographs by Carl Fisher
Inside Photographs and design by Ron Mael
Tony Sales - Bass 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,11, Conga and Tambourine 1, Tambourine and vibraslap 2.
Hunt Sales - Drums 11, Conga 8.
N.D.Smart - Drums 1,2,3,5,6,7,8, Timbales 1, Maracas 8.
Jerry Sheff - Bass 9,10.
John Guerin - Drums 9,10.
Track Listing:
Discography:
LABEL Cat.
No Tracks/Title Format Cover Country
Bearsville 31002 Be nice to me/Broke Down and
Busted 7" Single No PS USA
Bearsville 31004 A long time, A long way to
go Double A-side 7" promo single No PS USA
Bearsville 31004 A long time, A long way to go/Long flowing
Robe withdrawn 7" promo single No PS USA
Bearsville 31004 A long time, A long way to
go/Parole 7" Single No PS USA
Bearsville 31002 Be nice to me/Broke down and
busted 7" single No PS CANADA
Ampex A-10116 Ballad of Todd
Rundgren Album Standard USA
Rhino F-020 Super Stars best collection CD Re-Issue Different USA
CBS/Sony Z0 AP1990 Ballad of Todd Rundgren Album
re-issue 1990 standard JAPAN
Rhino RNLP70863 Ballad of Todd Rundgren LP
re-issue standard USA
Rhino RNCD70863 Ballad of Todd Rundgren CD
re-issue standard USA
Rhino RNMC70863 Ballad of Todd Rundgren Cas
re-issue standard USA
Rhino R-060037 Ballad of Todd Rundgren CD re-issue
1992 Standard JAPAN
Lyrics:
The Ballad (Denny and Jean)
Bleeding
Wailing Wall
The Range War
A Long Time, A Long Way To Go
Boat on the Charles
Be Nice To Me
Hope I'm Around
Parole
Remember Me
Long Flowing Robe
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
Jean did her best
Denny worked hard
And so together made him a star
And he loved her
Money changed hands
Denny must start
Tallying up things close to his heart
And he loved her so
But we don't always know what to say
When they ask you, what do you say?
No one can tell what's in a heart
People just drift apart
Jean lost her head
Denny got mad
"How, Jean," he said, "can things be so bad
Right before my eyes"
Jean told a lie, Denny deceived
Jean packed her bags to leave
"Jean, if you must go
Before you do
Tell me you know I did it for you
And I loved you so."
Don't be sad now
Get up and start again
Though it's bad right now
It takes a while to mend
Keep your eyes
Upon the other side
Nobody cries
When they know nobody died
We all feel it too
No one needs to change places with you
Take two pills and go to bed
If you lose your body don't lose your head
You're only bleeding
Be a big man
Go on and take the gun
If you lose your hand
You got another one
Pieces fly
But we don't run and hide
Nobody cries
When they know nobody died
Take a stand boy
Let's throw the crutch away
And we'll jump for joy
Though our feet are shot away
When you leave
Leave a bit of you behind
How can you cry
When you know nobody died
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
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
Chain Letter
Don't take yourself too seriously
There are precious few things worth hating nowadays,
And none of them are me
I was only trying to say how things used to be
'Til we grew up and we all went our separate ways
Looking for our own paths to immortality
This is how I thought I'd start my song
And it seems a little silly when I think of it
But now I'm so far along
And no one really wants to know that he's wrong
That his ears can't really hear or he's blind a bit
Or that he's really weak when he thinks that he is strong
Now I'm in the middle and I just don't know
If I'll make it any further if the words don't flow
When you live in silence any sound is dear
But for those who don't, take heart because the end is near
This is the ending of my song
It has made me blind and deaf and weak but most of all
It shows you that I'm wrong
For you see it's really twice this long
And if I should die tomorrow it will carry on
It's a long time and a long way to go
What was once mine isn't mine anymore
All my fears you would not find me
All behind me
It's a long way and a long time to come
When our hearts stray and the troubles begun
I'll forget it if you make me
Please just take me if you will
I know that if you will
Nothing you can say could block my way
Nothing you can do to make me not want you
And love you for a long time
It's a long time and a long way to go
But in my mind there is one thing I know
For as long as we're together
Love forever
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
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
Some happy day, after I'm long gone away
Someone will make you see
You were in love with me
And know what it's like to be
Where I'm standing now
And then you'll find me somehow
You better hope I'm around when you need me
You know I won't be around when you need me
You better know what to do when you need me
No one told me what to do when I needed you
I was a man, now I'm just a bird sitting in your hand
You tell me that it's through
But when it comes to you
That I was in love with you
You'll wonder where to fly
When someone tells you goodbye
Maybe now you cannot see
But I know just what you need
'Cause you're looking for someone like me
And after I leave you here
You'll spend some lonely years
And you won't need my tears
To know what I've been through
And need me like I needed you
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
I don't know how you feel
If you really see
And for years I would pray
That you'd favor me
But for now, please allow
One formality
Down the road, 'cross the sea
Please remember me
Promotional Videos:
Suggested Reading:
Trivia