Perfect Circle Cerrone

Mer De Noms

1: The Hollow

Run desire run
Sexual being
Run him like a blade
To and through the heart
No conscience
One Motive
Cater to the hollow

Screaming feed me here
Fill me up again
Temporarily pacify this hungering
So grow
Libido throw
Dominoes of indiscretions down
Falling all around
In cycles
In circles
Constantly consuming
Conquer and devour

Cause it's time to bring the fire down
Bridle all this indiscretion
Long enough to edify
And permanently fill this hollow

Screaming feed me here
Fill me up again
Temporarily pacifying

Feed me here
Fill me up again
Temporarily pacifying

2: Magdalena
Overcome by your Moving temple Overcome by this Holiest
Of altars So pure So rare To witness such an earthly
Goddess That I've lost my self control Beyond compelled
To throw this dollar down before your Holiest of altars
I'd sell My soul My self-esteem a dollar at a time
One chance One kiss One taste of you my magdalena I
Bear witness To this place,
This prayer, so long forgotten So pure So rare To witness
Such an earthly goddess That I'd sell My soul My self-esteem
A dollar at a time For one chance One kiss One taste
Of you my black madonna I'd sell My soul My self-esteem
A dollar at a time One taste One taste One taste of you my Magdalena

3: Rose
Don't disturb The beast The tempermental goat The snail
While he's feeding on the Rose Stay frozen,
Compromising What I will I am Bend around The wind
Silently thrown about Again I'm treading so Soft and
Lightly Compromising my will I am I am I will So no
Longer Will I Lay down Play dead Play your doe in the
Headlights locked down and terrified Your deer in the
Headlights shot down and horrified when Push comes
To pull comes to shove Comes to step around this Self-destructing
Dance that never would've ended till I Rose,
I roared aloud here I will I am.
I am I will So no longer Will I Lay down Lay dead Play
This Kneel down Gun-shy Martyr Pitiful I rose, I roared I will I am

4: Judith
You're such an inspiration for the ways That I'll never
Ever choose to be Oh so many ways for me to show you
How the savior has abandoned you F*ck your God Your
Lord and your Christ He did this Took all you had and
Left you this way Still you pray,
You never stray Never taste of the fruit You never
Thought to question why It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a hateful spear into his side
Praise the one who left you Broken down and paralyzed
He did it all for you He did it all for you Oh so many
Many ways for me to show you How your dogma has abandoned
You Pray to your Christ, to your god Never taste of
The fruit Never stray, never break Never---choke on
A lie Even though he's the one who did this to you
You never thought to question why Not like you killed
Someone It's Not like you drove a spiteful spear into
His side Talk to Jesus Christ As if he knows the reasons
Why He did it all for you Did it all for you He did it all for you

5: Orestes
Metaphor for a missing moment Pull me into your perfect
Circle One womb One shape One resolve Liberate this
Will To release us all Gotta cut away,
Clear away Snip away and sever this Umbilical residue
That's Keeping me from killing you And from pulling
You down with me in here I can almost hear you scream
Give me One more medicated peaceful moment One more
Medicated peaceful moment And I don't wanna feel this
Overwhelming Hostility Because I don't wanna feel this
Overwhelming Hostility Gotta cut away Clear away Snip
Away and sever this Umbilical residue Gotta cut away
Clear away Snip away and sever this Umbilical residue
That's Keeping me from killing you Keeping me from killing you

6: 3 Libras
Threw you the obvious And you flew with it on your
Back A name in your recollection Down among a million,
Say: Difficult enough to feel a little bit Disappointed,
Passed over. When I've looked right through,
To see you naked and oblivious and you don't see me
Well I threw you the obvious,
Just to see if there's more behind the Eyes of a fallen
Angel, Eyes of a tragedy. Here I am expecting just
A little bit Too much from the wounded But I see,
See through it all, See through,
And see you. So I threw you the obvious Do you see
What occurs behind the Eyes of a fallen angel Eyes
Of a tragedy Well, oh well.
. Apparently nothing. Apparently nothing at all.
You don't You don't You don't see me You don't You
Don't You don't see me You don't You don't You don't
See me You don't You don't You don't see me at all

7: Sleeping Beauty
Delusional I believe I can cure it all for you,
Dear Coax or trick or drive or drag the demons from
You Make it right for you sleeping beauty Truly thought
I can magically heal you You're far beyond a visible
Sign of your awakening Failing miserably to rescue
Sleeping Beauty Drunk on ego Truly thought I could
Make it right If I kissed you one more time to Help
You face the nightmare But you're far too poisoned
For me Such a fool to think that I can wake you from
Your slumber That I could actually heal you.
. Sleeping Beauty Poisoned and hopeless You're far
Beyond a visible sign of your awakening Failing miserably
To find a way to comfort you Far beyond a visible sign
Of your awakening And hiding from some poisoned memory
Poisoned and hopeless Sleeping Beauty

8: Thomas
Humble and helpless Learning to pray Praying for visions
To Show me the way Show me the way to forgive you Allow
Me to let it go Allow me to be forgiven Show me the
Way to let go Show me the way to forgive you Allow
Me to let it go Allow me to be forgiven Show me the
Way to let go Illuminate me,
Illuminate me, Illuminate me,
I'm just praying for you to show me Where I'm to begin
Hoping to Hoping to reconnect to you

9: Renholder
(Instrumental)

10: Thinking Of You
Lying all alone and restless unable to lose this image
Sleepless, unable to focus on anything but your surrender
Tugging a rhythm to the vision that's in my head Tugging
A beat to the sight of you lying So delighted with
A new understanding Something about a little evil that
Makes that Unmistakable noise I was hearing Unmistakable
Sound that I know so well Spent and sighing with a
Look in your eye Spent and sighing with a look on your
Face like Sweet revelation sweet surrender sweet,
Sweet surrender Surrender.
. Tugging a rhythm to the vision that's in my head
Tugging a beat to the sight of you lying So delighted
With a new understanding Something about a little evil
That makes that Unmistakable noise I was hearing Unmistakable
Sound that I know so well Spent and sighing with a
Look in your eye Spent and sighing with a look on your
Face like Sweet revelation sweet surrendering Sweet
Revelation sweet Thinking of you,
Thinking Thinking of you, Thinking of you,
Thinking of you, thinking.
. Sweet revelation sweet surrendering Sweet revelation

11: Brena
My reflection Wraps and pulls me under healing waters
To be Bathed in Brena Guides me Safely in Worlds I've
Never been to Heal me Heal me My dear Brena So vulnerable
But it's alright Heal me Heal me My dear Brena Show
Me lonely and Show me openings To lead me closer to
You My dear Brena (Feeling so) vulnerable But it's
Alright Opening to... heal.
. Opening to... heal... Heal. Heal. Heal... Heal me

12: Over
Been over, been over this before been over and over
Been over this before And over,
Been over this before so over this.
Been over this. So over this. Been over this. Over this before

Thirteenth Step

"The Package"

Clever got me this far
Then tricky got me in
Eye on what i'm after
I don't need another friend
Smile and drop the cliche
'Till you think I'm listening
I take just what I came for
Then I'm out the door again

Peripheral on the package
Don't care to settle in
Time to feed the monster
I don't need another friend
Comfort is a mystery
Crawling out of my own skin
Just give me what I came for, then I'm out the door again

Lie to get what I came for
Lie to get just what I need
Lie to get what I crave
Lie and smile to get what's mine

Eye on what i'm after
I don't need another friend
Nod and watch your lips move
If you need me to pretend
Because clever got me this far
Then tricky got me in
I'll take just what I came for
Then I'm out the door again

Lie to get what I came for
Lie to get what I need now
Lie to get what I'm craving
Lie and smile to get what's mine

Give this to me
Mine, mine, mine
Take what's mine
Mine, mine, mine
Take what's mine
Mine, mine, mine

Lie to get what I came for
Lie to get what I need now
Lie to get what I'm craving
Lie to smile and get what's mine

Give this to me
Take what's mine
Mine, mine, mine
Take what's mine
Give this to me

Take what's mine, take what's mine, mine...
Take what's mine, take what's mine, take what's mine,
This is mine, mine, mine [whispered]

"Weak and Powerless"

Tilling my own grave to keep me level
Jam another dragon down the hole
Digging to the rhythm and the echo of a solitary siren
One that pushes me along and leaves me so

Desperate and Ravenous
I'm so weak and powerless over you

Someone feed the monkey while I dig in search of China
White as Dracula as I approach the bottom

Desperate and Ravenous
I'm so weak and powerless over you

Little angel go away
Come again some other day
The devil has my ear today
I'll never hear a word you say
He promised I would find a little solace
And some piece of mind
Whatever just as long as I don't feel so

Desperate and Ravenous
I'm so weak and powerless over you
Desperate and Ravenous
I'm so weak and powerless
Over you

"The Noose"

So glad to see you have overcome them.
Completely silent now
With heaven's help
You cast your demons out
And not to pull your halo down
Around your neck and tug you off your cloud
But I'm more than just a little curious
How you're planning to go about
Making your amends to the dead
To the dead

Recall the deeds as if
They're all someone else's
Atrocious stories
Now you stand reborn before us all
So glad to see you well

And not to pull your halo down
Around your neck and tug you to the ground
But I'm more than just a little curious
How you're planning to go about
Making your amends to the dead
To the dead

With your halo slipping down
Your halo slipping
Your halo slipping down
Your halo slipping down
Your halo slipping down [repeated]

Your halo slipping down to choke you now

"Blue"

I didn't want to know
I just didn't want to know
Best to keep things in the shallow end
Cause I never quite learned how to swim

I just didn't want to know
Didn't want, didn't want,
Didn't want, didn't want

Close my eyes just to look at you
Taken by the seamless vision
I close my eyes,
Ignore the smoke,
Ignore the smoke,
Ignore the smoke

Call an optimist, she's turning blue
Such a lovely color for you
Call an optimist, she's turning blue
While I just sit and stare at you

Because I don't want to know
I didn't want to know
I just didn't want to know
I just didn't want

Mistook the nods for an approval
Just ignore the smoke and smile

Call an optimist, she's turning blue
Such a lovely color for you
Call an optimist, she's turning blue
Such a perfect color for your eyes
Call an optimist, she's turning blue
Such a lovely color for you
Call an optimist, she's turning blue
While I just sit and stare at you

I don't want to know

"Vanishing"

Disappear
Disappear
Higher
Higher
Into the air
Slowly disappear
No, no longer here

Disappear
Disappear
Thinner, thinner
Into the air

Never really here
What that never
Like a thought brushing up against a sigh
Floating away
Floating away [repeated]

Vanishing like a cyan sunday
Disappear
Disappear
Vanish, vanish into the air
Slowly disappear
Never really here

Floating away
Floating away [repeated]

"A Stranger"

Cast the calming apple
Up and over satellites
To draw out the timid wild one
To convince you it's alright
And I listen for the whisper
Of your sweet insanity while I formulate
Denials of your affect on me

You're a stranger
So what do I care
You vanish today
Not the first time I hear
All the lies

What am I to do with all this silence
Shy away, shy away phantom
Run away terrified child
Won't you move away you fucking tornado
I'm better off without you
Tearing my will down

"The Outsider"

Help me if you can
It's just that this, this is not the way I'm wired
So could you please,

Help me understand why
You've given in to all these
Reckless dark desires

You're lying to yourself again
Suicidal imbecile
Think about it, put it on the faultline
What'll it take to get it through to you precious
I'm over this. Why do you wanna throw it away like this
Such a mess. Why would I want to watch you.

Disconnect and self destruct one bullet at a time
What's your rush now, everyone will have his day to die

Medicated, drama queen, picture perfect, numb belligerence
Narcissistic, drama queen, craving fame and all its decadence

Lying through your teeth again
Suicidal imbecile
Think about it, put it on the fautline
What'll it take to get it through to you precious
Go with this, why do you wanna throw it away like this
Such a mess. Why would I wanna watch you...

Disconnect and self destruct one bullet at a time
What's your rush now, everyone will have his day to die

They were right about you
They were right about you

Lying to my face again
Suicidal imbecile
Think about it put it on the fautline
What'll it take to get it through to you precious
I'm over this. Why do you wanna throw it away like this
Such a mess, I'm over this, over this!

Disconnect and self destruct, one bullet at a time
What's your hurry, everyone will have his day to die
If you choose to pull the trigger, should your drama prove sincere,
Do it somewhere far away from here

"Crimes"

One... two... three
Four... five... six
Seven... eight... nine
Nine... nine... nine
Ten... ten... ten... ten

"The Nurse Who Loved Me"

Say hello to the rug's topography
It holds quite a lot of interest with your face down on it
Say hello to the shrinking in your head
You can't see it but you know its there so don't neglect it

I'm taking her home with me all dressed in white
She's got everything I need pharmacy keys
She's falling hard for me I can see it in her eyes
She acts just like a nurse with all the other guys

Say hello to all the apples on the ground
They were once in your eyes but you sneezed them out while sleeping
Say hello to everything you've left behind
It's even more a part of your life now that you can't touch it

I'm taking her home with me all dressed in white
She's got everything I need some pills in a little cup
She's falling hard for me I can see it in her eyes
She acts just like a nurse with all the other guys

Say hello to the rugs topography...

"Pet"

Don't fret precious I'm here, step away from the window
Go back to sleep

Lay your head down child
I won't let the boogeyman come

Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Pay no mind to the rabble
Pay no mind to the rabble

Head down, go to sleep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Pay no mind what other voices say
They don't care about you, like I do, like I do
Safe from pain and truth and choice and other poison devils,
See, they don't give a fuck about you, like I do.

Just stay with me, safe and ignorant,
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Lay your head down child
I won't let the boogeyman come
Count the bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Pay no mind to the rabble
Pay no mind to the rabble

Head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war drums

I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and all your demons

I'll be the one to protect you from
A will to survive and a voice of reason

I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and your choices son
They're one in the same
I must isolate you
Isolate and save you from yourself

Swayin to the rhythm of the new world order and
Count the bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums

The boogeymen are coming
The boogeymen are coming

Keep your head down, go to sleep, to the rhythm of a war drums

Stay with me
Safe and ignorant
Just stay with me
Hold you and protect you from the other ones
The evil ones
Don't love you son,
Go back to sleep

"Lullaby"

Go back to sleep...
Go back to sleep [whispered]

"Gravity"

Lost again
Broken and weary
Unable to find my way
Tail in hand
Dizzy and clearly unable to
Just let this go

I am surrendering to the gravity and the unknown
Catch me heal me lift me back up to the sun
I choose to live

I fell again
Like a baby unable to stand on my own
Tail in hand
Dizzy and clearly unable to just let this go
High and surrendering to the gravity and the unknown
Catch me heal me lift me back up to the sun
I choose to live, I choose to live, I choose to live

Catch me heal me lift me back up to the sun
Help me survive the bottom

Calm these hands before they
Snare another pill and
Drive another nail down another
Needy hole please release me

I am surrendering to the gravity and the unknown
Catch me heal me lift me back up to the sun
I choose to live, I choose to live

Annihilation"

From dehumanization to arms production,
For the benefit of the nation or its destruction
Power, power, the law of the land,
Those living for death will die by their own hand,

Life's no ordeal if you come to terms,
Reject the system dictating the norms

From dehumanization to arms production,
To hasten the nation towards its destruction
Power, power, the law of the land,
Those living for death will die by their own hand,

Life's no ordeal if you come to terms,
Reject the system dictating the norms

From dehumanization to arms production,

To hasten the nation towards its destruction
Power, power, the law of the land,
Those living for death will die by their own hand,

Life's no ordeal if you come to terms,
Reject the system dictating the norms

From dehumanization to arms production,
To hasten this nation towards its destruction,

It's your choice, your choice, your choice, your choice,
Peace or annihilation

"Imagine"

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say Im a dreamer,
But Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

(Imagine all the people sharing all the world)

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
But Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love And Understanding"

As I walk on through this wicked world,
Searching for light in the darkness of insanity,
I ask myself, Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain, and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know,
What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?,
What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?

And as I walked on through troubled times,
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes,
So where are the strong?,
And who are the trusted?,
And where is the harmony?,
Sweet harmony

'Cause each time I feel it slipping away, just makes me wanna cry,
What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?,
What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?

So where are the strong?,
And who are the trusted?,
And where is the harmony?,
Sweet harmony

'Cause each time I feel it slipping away, just makes me wanna cry,
What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?,
What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?,
What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?

"What's Going On"

Mother, mother,
There's too many of you crying,
Brother, brother, brother,
There's far too many of you dying,
You know we've got to find a way,
To bring some loving here today

Father, father,
We don't need to escalate,
You see, war is not the answer,
For only love can conquer hate,
You know we've got to find a way,
To bring some loving here today

Picket lines and picket signs,
Don't punish me with brutality,
Talk to me, so you can see,
Oh, what's going on,
What's going on,
Yeah, what's going on,
Ah, what's going on,

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong,
But who are they to judge us?,
Simply because our hair is long,
You know we've got to find a way,
To bring some understanding here today, Oh

Picket lines and picket signs,
Don't punish me with brutality,
Talk to me,
So you can see,
What's going on,
What's going on,
What's going on,
What's going on,

"Passive"

"Dead as dead can be," my doctor tells me
But I just can't believe him, ever the optimistic one
I'm sure of your ability to become my perfect enemy
Wake up and face me, don't play dead cause maybe
Someday I will walk away and say, "You disappoint me,"
Maybe you're better off this way

Leaning over you here, cold and catatonic
I catch a brief reflection of what you could and might have been
It's your right and your ability
To become... my perfect enemy...

Wake up (we'll catch you) and face me (come one now),
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
Cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll (someday I'll) walk away and say, "You disappoint me,"
Maybe you're better off this way

Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way
You're better of this; you're better off this;
Maybe you're better off!

Wake up (can't you) and face me (come on now),
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
Cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll (someday I'll) walk away and say, "You fucking disappoint me!"
Maybe you're better off this way

Go ahead and play dead
I know that you can hear this
Go ahead and play dead
Why can't you turn and face me?
Why can't you turn and face me?
Why can't you turn and face me?
Why can't you turn and face me?
You fucking disappoint me!

Passive aggressive bullshit

"Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie"

Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie,
I need some more,
Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
Don't ask what for

Sitting here like a loaded gun,
Waiting to go off,
I've got nothing to do,
But shoot my mouth off

Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
I need some more,
Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
Don't ask what for

I know the world's got problems,
I've got problems of my own,
Not the kind that can't be solved,
With an atom bomb

Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
I need some more,
Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
Don't ask what for

You know I'm gonna go out,
Get something for my head,
If I keep on doing this,
I'm gonna end up dead

Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
I need some more,
Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
Don't ask what for

"People Are People"

We're different colors,
And different creeds,
And different people,
Have different needs,
It's obvious you hate me,
Though I've done nothing wrong,
I've never even met you,
What could I have done?

[X2]People are people so why should it be?
You and I shouldn't get along.
People are people so why should it be?
You should hate me.

You're punching and kicking,
And you're shouting at me,
I'm relying on your common decency,
So far it hasn't surfaced,
But I'm sure it exists,
It just takes a while to travel
From your head to your fist.

I can't understand,
What makes a man,
Hate another man,
Help me understand,

[X2]People are people,
So why should it be?,
You and I shouldn't get along,
People are people,
So why should it be,
You Should Hate me

[X3]I can't understand,
What makes a man,
Hate another man?,
Help me understand,

"Freedom Of Choice"

We're victims of sedition on the open sea.
No one ever said life was free.
Sink, swim, go down with the ship.
Just use your freedom of choice.

I'll say it again in the land of the free
Use your freedom of choice, freedom of choice.

In ancient Rome
There was a pawn
Who followed along
And watched it fall
He cast a stone
He felt secure
He felt that he would never be heard.

Freedom of choice
It's what you've got
Freedom of choice

You're given a voice
You don't want it
Seems to be the rule of thumb
Don't be tricked by waht you see
You've got two ways to go

I'll say it again in the land of the free:
Use your freedom of choice, freedom of choice.

Freedom of choice
It's what you've got
Freedom of choice...

In ancient Rome
There was a pawn
Who followed along
And watched it fall
He cast a stone
He felt secure
He felt that his voice would never be heard.

Freedom of choice
It's what you've got
Freedom from choice
It's what you want.

Freedom of choice -
It's what you've got.
Freedom from choice.
It's what you want.

Freedom from choice
It's what you want.
Freedom from choice.

"Let's Have A War"

There's so many of us,
So many of us,
So many, there's so many, there's so many

Let's have a war,
So you can go and die,
Let's have a war,
We could all use the money,
Let's have a war,
We need the space,
Let's have a war,
Clean out this place

It already started in the city,
Suburbia will be just as easy

Let's have a war,
Jack up the Dow Jones,
Let's have a war,
It can start in New Jersey,
Let's have a war,
Blame it on the middle-class,
Let's have a war,
We're like rats in a cage

It already started in the city,
Suburbia will be just as easy

Let's have a war,
Sell the rights to the networks,
Let's have a war,
Let our wallets get fat like last time,
Let's have a war,
Give guns to the queers,
Let's have a war,
The enemy's within

It already started in the city,
Suburbia will be just as easy

"Counting Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythm Of The War Drums"

Don't fret precious I'm here, step away from the window
Go back to sleep
Safe from pain and truth and choice and other poison devils,
See, they don't give a fuck about you, like I do.

Count the bodies like sheep
Count the bodies like sheep

Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Count the bodies like sheep

Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Counting bodies like sheep

Go back to sleep
Go to sleep [x14]
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Counting bodies like sheep

Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Counting bodies like sheep

Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums [x2]

I'll be the one to protect you from your enemies and all your demons
I'll be the one to protect you from a will to survive and a voice of reason
I'll be the one to protect you from your enemies and your choices son
They're one in the same, I must isolate you...
Isolate and save you from yourself ...

"When The Levee Breaks"

If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break,
If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break,
And the water gonna come in, have no place to stay

Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan,
Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan,
Thinking about my baby and my happy home,

If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break,
If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break,
And all these people have no place to stay

Now look here mama what am I to do?,
Now look here mama what am I to do?,
I ain't got nobody to tell my troubles to

I works on the levee mama both night and day,
I works on the levee mama both night and day,
I ain't got nobody, keep the water away

Oh crying won't help you, praying won't do no good,
Oh crying won't help you, praying won't do no good,
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to lose

I works on the levee, mama both night and day,
I works on the levee, mama both night and day,
I works so hard, to keep the water away

I had a woman, she wouldn't do for me,
I had a woman, she wouldn't do for me,
I'm going back to my used to be

It's a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan
It's a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan
Gonna leave my baby, and my happy home

"Fiddle And The Drum"

And so once again,
My dear Johnny, my dear friend,
And so once again you are fighting us all,
And when I ask you why,
You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall,
Oh, my friend,
How did you come?,
To trade the fiddle for the drum,
You say I have turned,
Like the enemies you've earned,
But I can remember,
All the good things you are,
And so I ask you please,
Can I help you find the peace and the star?,
Oh, my friend,
What time is this?,
To trade the handshake for the fist

And so once again,
Oh, America my friend,
And so once again,
You are fighting us all,
And when we ask you why,
You raise your sticks and cry and we fall,
Oh, my friend,
How did you come,
To trade the fiddle for the drum

You say we have turned,
Like the enemies you've earned,
But we can remember,
All the good things you are,
And so we ask you please,
Can we help you find the peace and the star?,
Oh my friend,
We have all come,
To fear the beating of your drum