The Sissy’s Lament
I'm a little sissy from way down south
glasses on my face and candy in my mouth
you don't like my shoes I don't like them either
but why everyday do you have to always be there?
I used to swing in the willow tree
every body there looked just like me
my feet didn't really ever touch the ground
you walking away was the only sound
I'm a little sissy from way down south
glasses on my face and candy in my mouth
you don't like my shoes I don't like them either
but why everyday do you have to always be there
the time of day might excuse your crime
your alibi is as thin as a dime
you can blame them or the farmer in the dell
but your misfortune falls on me as well
I'm a little sissy from way down south
glasses on my face and candy in my mouth
you don't like my shoes I don't like them either
Rope With A String
she took all the art
my heart had to give
she knew every lie
my life had to live
she was the eve in my everything
she’s got me tied to a rope with a string
she’s inside
every word that I say
she’s the deal
that I’d like to delay
she is the sin I’d like to sing
she’s got me tied to a rope with a string
had I known I was the bone in bonehead
I might have also known she was a dog
she was the goddess
that blessed these merry gentlemen
and though she’s gone to stay
leave nothing to dismay
and May was not her name
but don’t dis her just the same
our love was true
it was rich
it was free
it was on us
but now
its ennui
she is the grab in my gravity
she is the ache in my birthday cake
she took the kin from my king
she’s got me tied to a rope with a string
Invalid
no more will you find me walking past your door
I wanted you then but I don’t want you no more
you taught me how
to live with an invalid
every night at supper time we set down our plates
one for you and me and for the one who waits
you taught me how
to live with an invalid
picking flowers on Monday and Tuesday too
flowers on Wednesday to the weekend through
we’re always picking flowers for you know who
you taught me how
to live with an invalid
out in the garden you were digging some rows
you were planting a flower I think maybe a rose
you were working all alone with a watering hose
you didn’t see it standing there in the shadows
you taught me how
to live with an invalid
I saw you in the tool shed your hand in the box
you was wearing a bathrobe and maybe some socks
you pulled out some pliers like from out of a mouth
you looked to the north and you looked to the south
and you looked to the east and you looked to the west
and then you looked in the mirror where you look best
you taught me how
Correio da má Noticia
I ain’t going back to Correio da má Noticia
I ain’t going to stick my finger
in that rubber and glue
I believe I lost my way
I’ll look for it another day
I’m going to get double undone
and do the double undo
I ain’t going to adore no more
no La Donna Lovista
I ain’t going to find myself
in a monkey town too
I believe you made my day
I don’t know what there is to say
I’m going to find a wonderful way
to work a wonder on you
I ain’t going back to Correio da má Noticia
I ain’t going to fly my plane
where some funny time flew
I believe I lost my way
I’ll look for it another day
I’m going to find trouble in town
and pay whatever is due
History Lesson I love your dutch boy outfit can I ride upon your bike I love your dutch boy outfit can I ride upon your bike you can hide me in your attic stick your finger in my dike I like those heels and fishnets I’ll have that croissant too I like those heels and fishnets I’ll have that croissant too when you climb that Eiffel tower show my resistance something new I feel like taking pictures why don’t you curl up on the bed I feel like taking pictures why don’t you curl up on the bed you don’t have to eat cat food I’ll open up some tuna instead you are my destiny baby and I love your birch bark canoe yes you are my destiny baby and I love your birch bark canoe even in this peaceful kingdom buckskin sure does look good on you
Entropy
I heard a sound last night
like a plea from the void
it was only crickets chirping
or a flea from the void
I like to try and convince myself
it was somewhat humanoid
last night I heard a creature from the void
a lonely hinge is squeaking
in some long abandoned shed
and up above an angel
counts the hairs upon my head
somewheres a horse is talking
and you know I don’t mean Ed
no I don’t remember anything he said
shed’s got a hole in the floor
and the only thing that’s in it
isn’t in it anymore
so pass me over that oil can
if your heading for the door
we’ll meet again someday
of this I’m sure
somewhere an angel whispers
with a pencil on a pad
and he don’t really remember
all the good times he had
but counting hairs and wing repairs
don’t exactly make him sad
I think he looks a little like my dad
shed’s got a hole in the floor
and the only thing that’s in that hole
isn’t in there anymore
so pass me over that oil can
if your heading for the door
we’ll meet again someday
of this I’m sure
Just Like Hello
he came into Brussels
like Doc McCord that day
he came into Brussels
like Doc McCord that day
window in his wagon
bullet in his head
a window in his wagon
a bullet hole in his head
body drained and leaning
straight up like El Cid
his body drained and leaning
he sat up straight just like El Cid
goat stood on a rock pile
sky felt like a lid
a goat stood on a rock pile
the sky felt like a lid
a field of clover
falcon circled low
in a field of clover
a falcon circled low
thought I was having
fit just like hello
the thought that I was having
fit just like a hello
every leaf singing
veins full of blood
every leaf was singing
my veins were full of blood
Guts
an eagle scout always ready for the chore
he was raised up believing that some things
really are worth fighting for
he had his heart on his sleeve
when he signed up for the war
but his brains were on his helmet
when they brought him to our door
the mosh at the end of School of Rock
always made him cry
he cried all the way through that movie
he never did know why
he had his heart on his sleeve
when he signed up maybe to die
but his brains were on his helmet
the day they brought him by
intestinal fortitude
ear wax and elbow grease
the backbone to do it
the stomach to take it
and the spleen to dish it out
he was a real boy scout
and he was always ready for the chore
he was raised up believing that some things
really are worth fighting for
he had his heart on his sleeve
when he signed up for the war
but his brains were on his helmet
when they brought him to our door
Chessman
you keep trying to make a chessman out of me
you keep trying to make a chessman out of me
you pick me up and you put me back down
on the square where you think I ought to be
you keep trying to make a chessman out of me
you keep trying to make a chessman out of me
don’t matter if I’m black or white
you rip my rook and you knock my knight
you keep trying to make a chessman out of me
you keep trying to make a chessman out of me
you pick me up and you put me back down
on the square where you think I ought to be
you keep trying to make a chessman out of me
you keep trying to make a chessman out of me
don’t matter if I’m queen or king
you decide if I sink or sing
you keep trying to make a chessman out of ma-ee
you keep trying to make a chessman out of ma-ee
you pick me up and you put me back down
on the square where you think I ought to stay
don’t matter what square I’m on
you bitch my bishop and you punk my pawn
Michele and Arlene
Arlene can I ride on the back of your boyfriend's bike?
I like it when you come to my house and you let me stay up all night
when I ride on your boyfriend's bike I feel so out of control
when I ride on your boyfriend's bike I feel like I'm never going to get old
Arlene will you come to my house make some food and let me watch TV?
I feel like I'm ten feet tall looking down on Monopoly
when I ride on your boyfriend's bike I feel so out of control
when I ride on your boyfriend's bike I feel like I'm never going to get old
Arlene when you ride away on the back of your boyfriend’s bike
I feel so happy for you and you that I know how what it’s like
when I ride on your boyfriend's bike I feel so out of control
when I ride on your boyfriend's bike I feel like I'm never going to get old
Night
a pope and a pontiff
and a pair of purple slippers
are all I remember
the night that I turned twelve
a view through a sky hole
I could see the big dipper
felt a chair moving
heard the ringing of a bell
thought of my father
and mother
went back to my room
on lessons to dwell
deep in the night time
I felt my heart quiver
turned on my pillow
and into it fell
train in the night time
might signal a sliver
to ears in the night time
that listen so well
a dream in the night time
is sure to deliver
a reason to wake up
with stories to tell
All songs © Hills Snyder, 1989 – 2009, Woodpile Songs (ASCAP)
