What’s that in the atmosphere

What’s that subtle buzz

What is that what threatens who you is and what you does

You think you hold your fortune in the palm of your hand

Look out kid you’re dancin’ on a patch of shiftin’ sand

Just when dawn’s about to break

Nightmares can come true

The angel headed hipsters wanna spend some time with you

They’re often hard to follow

Sometimes they’re hard to see

They whisper of a major truth

In a minor key

Just beneath the surface of the things you think you know

Somethin’s tunin’ up this town’s about to blow

You can build a wall go run and hide

It don’t matter what you do

The angel headed hipsters wanna spend some time with you

Lace up your big ol’ shoes grab a cuppa Joe

Sit down with your voodoo doll

And poke him in the nose

You’re a victim of bad influence

Watch that hoop snake roll

You don’t get a back stage pass so settle for the show

We got a sacred mantra it goes oooh be do be do

And the angel headed hipsters wanna spend some time with you

Look under your bed Sugar

Look behind the door

They’ll show you all you wanna see

‘Til you can see no more

You’re gonna need some brand new eyeballs

In your pretty face

You’re gonna need some brand new ears

To help you find the place

The chances of you getting out are far between a few

Because the angel headed hipsters wanna spend some time with you

Time will play the trickster lady luck will sing the blues

And the angel headed hipsters wanna spend some time with you

©2005 Lonnie Knight Songs

This train runs to Chicago this highway's headed west

There's coffee 'cross the street, we better get some for the ride

Tell me 'bout the weather darlin' hold me to your breast

‘Cause I can't look too deep at what's inside

It's funny how a little thing like 30 years can simply disappear

I look into your eyes and I know why I live and breathe

If I could hold you here forever there would be no room for fear

But the coffee's gettin' cold my car's warmed up

And your train's about to leave

Some folks only get one chance so far we've had two

But time and tide are funny things

No one can tell what they will do

Summer left and winter called across the miles and through it all

One thing just one thing rings true

I've loved you like no other they can say that on my stone

I may never love another you're always in that part of me

That wonders at a starry night and prays up to the moon

When I don't know the answers to this mystery

So many doors have opened so many doors have closed

But you and I we travel on down paths we never chose

The pundits always tell us

Things happen for a reason and a purpose

Well I suppose

I saw you just the other day on a street not far from home

With a smile upon your lips and a teardrop in your eye

If you wonder why I didn't stop to say hello

It hurts too much to have to say goodbye

©2005 Lonnie Knight Songs

She got all the good that was ever in me

She took everything that this man could be

She left me here drowning in the middle of the sea

With all the other sailors just laughin' at me

And that's why

I ain't lookin' for no alibi

For sinkin' so low livin' so high

I'm just too damn blue to die

She didn't take my money she didn't keep my name

She didn't even tell me why she left me all the blame

Puttin' on her angry hat and fannin' up the flames

Pointin' her finger cryin' shame shame shame

And that's why

I ain't lookin' for no alibi

For chewin’ up the scenery and beatin’ up the sky

I'm just too damn blue to die

I'm knockin' on the door won't somebody let me in

I'm livin' on the edge and the edge is gettin' thin

If I could I'd take 'em back each and every little sin

But there ain't no excuse for the shape I'm in

And that's why that’s why

I ain't lookin' for no alibi

For standin' here laughin' when I really need to cry

I'm just too damn blue to die

And that's why that’s why

I ain't lookin' for no alibi

For sinkin’ so low livin’ so high

I'm too damn blue to die

©2005 Lonnie Knight Songs

Puttin’ up the coffee closin’ up the doors

I don’t want this house to sing old lovers

Older wars sweepin’ up the petals

From the flowers that fell still livin’ on the floor

And there is no more

Nothin’ but days on the pages and dust on the brows

Of the few who remain

This old house won’t stand another rain

I tried to love you open

Through the changin’ of the seasons

And I tried to love you clean when you and I

Could find no reason

Then we tried to love in life

When souls turned black like fighters eyes

And lips that cried all love is treason

Every loving touch is blackmail

Every day we forged the chains

And every night we drove the nails

And this house absorbed the pain

Like a proud and ancient tree

Absorbed the thunder

And stood the gale

There’s no more laughin’ songs

No more gypsy dreams

Gone with the last taste of summer

Born on a wild bird’s wings

Gone with the hard breath of winter

Gone like a thousand things

And there is no more

Nothing but old men and women

And time-yellowed photos

And cracked picture frames

But this old house won’t stand another rain

This day goes by like other days

With wings into the evening

And this stone cast in the river

Sends no ripples back to me

As I go walking in the dark

To ask the dying moon to leave my memories of years

When we were strong and young and free

When tomorrow was a dream

That only children’s hearts can see

Today the walls will crumble

In the rain that falls like fire

And wash our future to the sea

And there is no more

Nothing but echoes of footsteps and shadows of voices

And this cloudy refrain

This old house won’t stand another rain

This old house won’t stand another rain

This old house won’t stand another rain

©2005 Lonnie Knight Songs

Starin' out on a rainy evening

All the poets in the big hotel

Empty hands over silent paper

Still waiting for the starting bell

A Pontiac cruises 'round the corner

Faces hidden from the ones inside

All the poets shake their heads and wonder

Was something born has something died

All the words that used to be so hard to say

I always thought I’d find the chance to say them all one day

I can tell you that I still love you

I can show you if you still want me to

This one's for you  

Stained glass in a dim cathedral

Stained hearts on a downhill ride

We dance to a still piano

And all the poets take a step and slide

All the drinks have turned to water

All the cars have turned for home

The Pontiac cruises 'round the corner

Steel echoes on rusty chrome

All the words that used to be so hard to say

I always thought I’d find the chance to say them all one day

I can tell you that I still love you

I can show you if you still want me to

This one's for you

I meant to tell you on a rainy evening

I meant to tell you on a sunny day

I meant to show you there's a love that guides us

And I meant to tell you before you went away

There's a poet in a bell jar crying

Over lovers who have gone astray

A Pontiac cruises 'round the corner

All the words that used to be so hard to say

I always thought I’d find the chance to say them all one day

I can tell you that I still love you

I can show you if you still want me to

This one's for you

©2005 Lonnie Knight Songs

Mama told me boy you’ll get your hands burned

Digging in the hot bed looking for a fast turn

Stay away from shotgun lovers

Stay out of the shadows tonight

You don’t believe the sky is cold dark and lonely

You think the stars shine down for only you

Why do you look so hard

Ain’t nothin’ shakin’ in your own back yard

If that’s wrong then maybe I don’t wanna be right

Because I am lookin’ for a good time I’m walking in a straight line

I’m starin’ down the bad signs looking for a good time

I’m lookin’ for a good time I’m walking in a straight line

I’m starin’ down the bad signs looking for a good time

Mama mama now the streets are so pretty

‘Neath the fine tuned half moon lights of the city

It’s reeling out like a James Dean movie

On an endless Saturday night

Ooooh mama were you right did you know

Was I the victim of the late late show

I got to carry on I got to keep it up til dawn

Punch my ticket step right into the light and I will be

Lookin’ for a good time I’m walking in a straight line

Starin’ down the bad signs I’m looking for a good time

I’m lookin’ for a good time  I am walking in a straight line

I am starin’ down the bad signs I am looking for a good time

I am lookin’ for a good time I am walking in a straight line

I am starin’ down the bad signs looking for a good time

©2005 Lonnie Knight Songs

I’m not too holy I have a soul

But I can be wild as the devil inside of me

But you can soothe me you can move me

You can lead me to see

I can’t go on without you

Won’t you care for me

I know sometimes you suffer

Sometimes you wonder if I’m the man

That you dreamed that I would be

But if I take you for granted hold out your hand

And lead me on lead me on to ecstasy

I can’t go on without you

Care for me

This is no confession I’m just a man

And men can only try and men can only fall

But if you stand by me stand by me

When I’m lost in the lonely night

You can hear my call

And steer me take the fire in my soul

And turn it around for the love that was meant to be

‘Cause I ain’t no good without you

Won’t you care for me

This is no confession baby I’m just a man

And men can only try and men can only fall

But if you stand by me darlin’ stand by me

When I’m lost in the lonely night

You can hear me and steer me baby

Take the fire in my soul

And turn it around for the love that is

And love that was meant to be

‘Cause I ain’t no good without you

Won’t you care for me

I can’t go on without you

Care for me

You know I can’t go on without you

Care for me

©2005 Lonnie Knight Songs

Someone's playing piano in the front room

Johnnie Ray is crying on the record machine

I keep missing the trash bag with my beer cans

All this noise is keeping me from getting mean

The traffic's loud but I keep the windows open

‘Cause it drowns out the wind that softly calls your name

Denise just walked in looking

For something that mixes well with brandy

Somehow it all ties in and keeps me sane

Flies are in the cupboard and my face is on the floor

Some crazy fool is out front and he's knocking on my door

I said put it where you want it don’t bother me no more

Well the minute I came here I felt like I'd been here before

Frank is throwing knives around the corner

He says it's in the wrists and I believe that he's right

Crazy Terry's dealing blackjack with his eyes like loaded shotguns

But he just asked my Saint Bernard to step outside and fight

You're still on my mind I just can’t help it

I ain‘t drunk and all the whiskey does is bite

Lady Edna from Virginia is phoning from the tavern

Well she said she just got better and she'd love to spend the night

Flies are in the cupboard and my face is on the floor

Some crazy fool is out front he's still knocking on my door

I said put it where you want it just don't bother me no more

Well you know that the minute I came here I felt like I'd been here before

Now they're stringing bells and lights around the bathroom

Men in tights and girls in dungarees

The Salvation Army marching band is coming through the window

And the biggest bug I’ve ever saw is nipping at my knees

And as I write these words I know you won’t believe them

But I'll testify that every one is true

Now they're making up my bed for Edna's sometimes trained gorilla

And as the sun sinks down I'm still in love with you

©2005 Lonnie Knight Songs

Through an old lover’s eyes

I saw the Sunday morning skies

I felt the world about to rain

In an old book of poems I saw the sun

Through a steaming window pane

I came here of my own accord

I got my own reward

And I lost along the way

She showed me who I used to be

She looked it up for me

She said these were better days

With an old friend of mine

I swept away the webs of time

We took the years down from the shelf

We turned them over in the light

Held them close and felt their bite

Just another fool in search of self

I know sometimes I’m easy

Greener pastures please me

But green can turn to gray

I know sometimes I’m hard

You can feel the scars

Of a search for better days

Through an old lover’s eyes

I see I’ve changed but not like I thought

Not like I’ve taught myself

I’ve bought and sold myself

Too many times to know

The truth from lies the jive from reason

A man for any season

Me can you see me now it’s me

Wash away the years and there’s still me

Somewhere and somehow me

Through an old lover’s eyes

I stripped away my old disguise

I crawled my bloody mile

Now standing in my own shoes

I can sing my own blues and I can walk away

I see through my own heart and this is where I start

To find better days

To find better days

To find better days

©2005 Lonnie Knight Songs