12/28/84 100,000 Tons of Steel 9/23/87
(Brent Mydland)

I know these rails we're on like I know my lady's smile,
We see a dozen dreams in every passing mile.
Can't begin to count the trips she and I have made,
But I wish I had a dollar for each time we've both been down this grade.

100,000 tons of steel, made to roll.
The brakes don't work and this grade's too steep, her engine's sure to blow.
And 100,000 tons of steel, out of control,
She's more a rollercoaster than the train I used to know.

It's one hell of an understatement, to say she can't be beat.
She's tempermental, more a bitch than a machine.
She wasn't built to travel at speed or through mud slides.
These wheels are bound to jump the tracks before they burn like the ties

100,000 tons of steel, made to roll.
The brakes don't work and this grade's too steep, her engine's sure to blow
100,000 tons of steel, out of control She's more a rollercoaster than the train I used to know.

Murphy sure out done himself to pick this stretch of track
I can only hope my luck is ridin' in the back.
Well I have pray to God this ain't the day we meet,
I've done about everything, but try dragging my feet.

100,000 tons of steel, made to roll.
The brakes don't work and this grade's too steep, her engine's sure to blow
100,000 tons of steel, out of control,
She's more a rollercoaster than the train I used to know.

Oh, oh I want to go down slow.

"Hey now," "Hey now," "Hey now," "Hey now"
Aiko Aiko all day, jockomo feno na na nay, jockomo feena nay.

My spy dog saw you spy dog sittin' by the fi-yo
My spy dog told your spy boy, "I'm gonna set your tail on fi-yo."

I said, "Hey now," "Hey now,". "Hey now," "Hey now"
Aiko Aiko all day, jockomo feno na na nay, jockomo feena nay.

My grandma saw your grandma sitting by the fire
My grandma to your grandma, "Gonna fix your chick on fire."

I said, "Hey now," "Hey now," "Hey now," "Hey now"
Aiko Aiko all day, jockomo feno na na nay, jockomo feena nay.

My little boy saw your little boy sittin' by the fi-yo
My little boy told your little boy, "I'm gonna fix your chick on fire."

Other Lyrics:

My spy boy saw your spy boy sittin' by the fi-yo
My spy boy told your spy boy, "I'm gonna set your tail on fire."

My moray saw your moray sittin' by the fire
My moray said your moray "I'm gonna set yo dick on fire."

See that girl she's dressed in red, Aiko Aiko all day
Even at the door she'll shoot you dead, jockomo feena nay

Well, Billy and Bob well they go down town, Aiko Aiko all day
Well if you don't like what the big chief says, jockomo feena nay

Man got the rub on, sister got the rub
They're goin' around doing the rub, the rub
Ain't it crazy, ain't it crazy
Ain't it crazy one day keep on rubbin' that thing.

Two old ladies was lying around in bed
One turned over and this is what she said,
Mama tell the chicken her body was a duck
Put him on the table with his feet sticking up

Two old ladies playing in the sand, each one wishing the other was a man

Well I see that woman goin behind the hill
I'm gonna find that girl, I'm gonna do my will

Well I feel so good, well I feel so fine
All I gotta do is drink that wine

I say the little old rooster called the little old hen
He said he had no lungs, ain't got no wing.

Meet me on the bottom, bring me my running shoes,
When I come out the window, we ain't got time to lose.

Well I ain't superstitious, but a black cat crossed my trail,
Don't brush me with my broom, Babe, I just might land in jail.

Well my right hand itchin', Babe, I get smothered by the shore,
Look down you engine, Babe, but somebody got to go.

Meet me on the bottom, Babe, bring me my running shoes,
When I come out the window, Babe, we ain't got time to lose.

Well I hope you are listening, when I come streaking by,
Got a bad old man, Babe, and I'm too young to die.

Well I ain't superstitious, but a black cat crossed my trail,
Don't brush me with my broom, Babe, I just might land in jail.

Dogs been barking all around my neighborhood,
You give a sign, Babe, ain't do nobody no good.

32 teeth in a jawbone, Alabama trying for none,
Before I have to hit him, I hope he's got the sense to run.
Reason the poor girls love him, promise them everything,
Why they all believe him? He wears a big diamond ring.

Alabama getaway, getaway. Alabama getaway, getaway,
Only way to please me, ya just gotta leave and walk away.

Major Domo Billy Bojangles, sit down and have a drink with me,
"What's this about Alabama? It keeps a coming back to me.
Heard your plea in the courthouse, Witness box began to rock and rise,
49 sister states all had Alabama in there eyes.

Alabama getaway, getaway. Alabama getaway, getaway,
Only way to please me, ya just gotta leave and walk away.

Major said why don't we give him rope enough to hang himself?
No need to worry the jury, this kind takes care of themselves.
23rd psalm Major Domo, reserve me a table for three,
Down in the valley of the shadow, just you, Alabama, and me.

Alabama getaway, getaway. Alabama getaway, getaway,
Only way to please me, ya just gotta leave and walk away.

There must be some way out of here said the joker to the thief.
There's to much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen they drink my wine.
Plowmen dig my earth.
None of them along the line knows what any of it is worth.

No reason to get excited, the thief he kindly spoke.
There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I have been through that and this is not our fate.
So let us not talk falsely know the hour is getting late.

All along the watchtower princes kept the view.
While all the women came and went, their footservents too
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl.
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.

Dream, dream dream dream, dream, dream dream dream

When I want you in my arms, when I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is

Dream, dream dream dream, dream, dream dream dream

When I feel blue in the night, and I need you to hold me tight
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, any time, night or day
Only trouble is, gee wiz, I'm dreamin' my life away

I need you so that I could die, I love you so, and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is

Dream, dream dream dream, dream

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, any time, night or day
Only trouble is, gee wiz, I'm dreamin' my life away

I need you so that I could die, I love you so, and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is

Dream, dream dream dream (repeats out)

I was born in the desert Raised in a lion's den
I was born in the desert Raised in a lion's den
Oh, my number one occupation is stealing women from their men

Well, I'm a wanted man in Texas, busted jail and I'm gone for good.
Said, I'm a wanted man in Texas, busted jail and I'm gone for good.
Well, the sheriff couldn't catch me,
But his little girl sure wish she could.

Well now the doctor call me crazy, sometimes I am, sometimes I ain't,
Said now the doctor call me crazy, sometimes I am, sometimes I ain't,
Yes, and the preacher man call me sinner
But his little girl call me saint.

Well a couple shots of whiskey women `round here start looking good,
I said a couple shots of whiskey women `round here start looking good,
A couple more shots of whiskey, I'm going down to Minglewood.

Said, I was born in the desert Raised in a lion's den
Said, I was born in the desert Raised in a lion's den
Yes and my number one occupation is stealing women from their men

I was born in the desert Raised in a lion's den
I was born in the desert Raised in a lion's den
Oh, my number one occupation is stealing women from their men

Sleepy Alligator in the noon day sun,
Lyin' by the river just like he usually done.
Call for his whiskey, he can call for his tea,
Call all he want to, but he can't call me.

Oh, no! I've been there before,
And I ain't gonna come around here any more.
Creepy alligator coming all around the bend,
Shoutin' about the times when we was mutual friends,
I checked my memory and I checked it quick, yes I will.
I checked it runnin' some old kind of trick.

Oh, no! Well I've been there before,
And I ain't gonna come around here any more.

Sailin' down the river in an old canoe,
A bunch of bugs and an old tennis shoe.
Out of the river all ugly and green,
Came the biggest old alligator that I've ever seen!

Teeth big and pointy and his eyes were buggin' out,
Contracted the union, put the beggars to rout.
Screamin' and yellin', he was pickin' his chops,
He never runs he just stumbles and hops.

Just out of prison on ten dollars bail,
Mumblin' bitches and waggin' his tail.

I told Althea I was feeling lost, lacking in some direction.
Althea told me upon scrutiny that my back might need protection.
I told Althea that treachery was tearing me limb from limb.
Althea told me better cool down boy, settle back, easy Jim.

You may be Saturday's child, all alone, moving with a tinge of grace.
You may be a clown in the burying ground, or just another pretty face.
You may meet the fate on Ophelia, sleeping and penchence to dream.
Honest to the point of recklessness, self-centered in the extreme.

Ain't nobody messing with you, but you, your friends are getting most concerned.
Loose with the truth, baby, it's your fire, but baby don't get burned.
When the smoke has cleared, she said, that's what she said to me.
Gonna want a bed to lay your head and a little sympathy.

There are things you can replace, and others you cannot.
The time has come to weigh those things.
This space is getting hot, you know this space is getting hot.

I told Althea I'm a roving son, and I was born to be a bachelor.
Althea told me, okay, that's fine, so now I'm trying to catch her.
Can't talk to you without talking to me, we're guilty of the same old thing.
Been talking alot about less and less and forgetting the love we bring.

Lay down my dear brother, lay down and take your rest,
Won't you lay your head upon your savior's chest,
I love you all, but Jesus loves you the best
And we bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight.

Walking in Jerusalem just like John (goodnight, goodnight)
I would never ride, well, I would never ride (goodnight, goodnight)
But His rod and His staff, they comfort me (goodnight, goodnight)
Tell "A" for the ark, that wonderful boat (goodnight, goodnight)
Tell "B" for the beast at the ending of the wood (goodnight, goodnight)
You know it ate all the children when they wouldn't be good,
Walking in Jerusalem just like John (goodnight, goodnight)
I go walking in the valley of the shadow of death,
And we bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight.

Well the joint was jumpin', going 'round and 'round,
Hey! realin' and a rockin', what a crazy sound,
Well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down.

Well it sounds so sweet I had to take me a chance,
I rose out of me seat Lord, I had to dance,
Started moving my feet, well a clapping my hands.

Well I kept on dancin', going 'round and 'round,
Hey! realin' and a rockin', what a crazy sound,
Well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down.

Well at twelve o'clock Lord, the place was packed,
The front doors was locked Lord, the place was packed,
When the police knocked, those doors they flew back.

Well I kept on dancin', going 'round and 'round,
Hey! realin' and a rockin', what a crazy sound,
Well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down.

In the attics of my life, full of cloudy dreams unreal.
Full of tastes no tongue can know, and lights no eyes can see.
When there was no ear to hear, you sang to me.

I have spent my life seeking all that's still unsung.
Bent my ear to hear the tune, and closed my eyes to see.
When there was no strings to play, you played to me.

In the book of love's own dream, where all the print is blood.
Where all the pages are my days, and all the lights grow old.
When I had no wings to fly, you flew to me, you flew to me.

In the secret space of dreams, where I dreaming lay amazed.
When the secrets all are told, and the petals all unfold.
When there was no dream of mine, you dreamed of me.

This page was made by John Tupper
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