Perfectly Good Guitar

John Hiatt

Perfectly Good Guitar

Something Wild
Straight Outta Time
Perfectly Good Guitar
Buffalo River Home
Angel
Blue Telescope
Cross My Fingers
Old Habits
The Wreck Of The Barbie Ferrari
When You Hold Me Tight
Permanent Hurt
Loving A Hurricane
I'll Never Get Over You

Something Wild

Sometimes I don't even move a muscle

Baby when you lie awake all night

I think I've got nine lives in these corpuscles

Girl, you know sometimes I dont think right

I hear voices in the hall

I wake up and its nothing at all

A hungry wolf, or an agry child

Or something wild

Something wild

Something wild- tell me love is

Its not as if we could think that things were one way

And they would all just be that way right now

When I was a kid I thought that someday

I could tame this lion heart, some way, somehow

Now I'm hungry for the love

That doesnt know what its dreamin' of

Raging for the meek and mild

Like something wild

Something wild

Something wild- tell me love is

Theres a hole where the wind blows through

And some curtains hung

But I can't hid a thing from you

You know where I come from

Well I tried getting there under my own steam

'Til my very last chance was shot

Now you're under my skin like a submarine

I can feel you in my veins running hot

Now if its more than a new pair of jeans, a new car, some pocket money

And a place to go

Then we better get up and scream at the top of our lungs like it

Was gonna die if we didnt make it so

I hear voices in the hall

I wake up and it's nothing at all

An angry wolf, or a hungry child

Or something wild

Something wild

Something wild- tell me love is

Something wild

Straight Outta Time

Hot summer night, I was counting all the starlight on your skin

Airtight, as I watched you breathing out, I'm breathing in

By the lake, so humid that the moon was getting wet

For our sake the crickets started playing their castonets

Like a gypsy, you stole me from a child into a man

It never hit me: I've been running ever since I took a stand

And this love like Spanish moss hangin from the trees

Just swaying in the breeze like a sweet memory

Running straight outta time, straight outta time (x2)

Since you were mine

That autumn chi'll sent a shiver, girl, it shook us to the bone

And we stI'll had February frozen on the phone

Spring thaw, would it find us with our lips frozen blue?

Love calls, but do we really live the time we're running through?

Or like a dream, do we let it die and drift away to sleep

Until it screams like an echo in the history books you keep

'Cause that stream running from the corners of my mind

Looking back I find like a river it unwinds

Running straight outta time, straight outta time (x2)

Running straight outta time just like an old man's fiddle

Looking for the dance; gonna meet me in the middle

I'm never gonna figure out the way that I feel -

Running straight outta time,

but my love's stI'll real

Now I see you- you're looking pretty in your summer dress

I can almost feel you as you clutch your little locket to your breast

Looking down at the picture, girl, you know you're looking fine

Is it me? Was I ever in your heart or on your mind?

Cause I'm running outta time

I'm running straight outta time

Were you ever mine?

Perfectly Good Guitar

Well he threw one down from the top of the stairs

Beautiful women were standing everywhere

They all got wet when he smashed that thing

But off in the dark you could hear somebody sing

CHORUS:

Oh it breaks my heart to see those stars

Smashing a perfectly good guitar

I don't know who they think they are

Smashing a perfectly good guitar

It started back in 1963

His momma wouldn't buy him

That new red harmony

He settled fgor a sunburt with a crack

But he's stI'll trying to break his momma's back

REPEAT CHORUS

He loved that guitar just like a girlfriend

But ever good thing comes to an end

Now he just sits in his room all day

Whistling every note he used to play

There out to be a law with no bail

Smash a guitar and you go to jail

With no chance for early parole

You don't get out untill you get some soul

REPEAT CHORUS

Late at night the end of the road

He wished he stI'll had the old guitar to hold

He'd rock it like a baby in his arms

Never let it come to any harm

REPEAT CHORUS

Buffalo River Home

I've been taking off and landing but this airport's closed

And how much thicker this fog is gonna get god only knows

Just when you think that you've got a grip

Reality sneaks off it gives you the slip

As if you ever knew what it was taking you down the line

CHORUS:

Tearing through the cottonfields and bus shelters

of the south running helter skelter

down through the mississippI delta

with no place to call your own

mixing up drinks with mixed feelings

all along the paint was peeling

down to an indian blanket on a pony

with no rider in the flesh and bone

looking for his buffalo river home

I've been circling the wagons down at times square

Trying to fill up this hole in my soul but nothing fits there

Just when you think you can let it rip

you're pounding the pavement in your daddy's wingtips

as if you had some place better to go

or a better way to get there

REPEAT CHORUS:

Now there's only two things in life but I forget what they are

it seems we're either hanging on a moonbeams coat tails

or wishing on stars

just when you think that you've been gyped

the bearded lady comes and does a double back flip

and you run off and join the circus

yeah, you just let that pony ride

Angel

It is a hurtin' thing you don't wanna talk about it

Pain in your heart well it's takin' your breath away

You left it in lipstick on the mirror no use talkin' about it

Love like this just don't come along every day

CHORUS:

Somebody just stop calling you angel

Somebody just let love get up and go downtown

Somebody just stop calling you angel

Angel wings out in the snow and mascara running down

They called you tookie in high school, you didn't mind it too much

Kind of nice to have a nickname, kind of like they thought about it

You wish that it stuck with you, didn't have to trade it in on

Some crazy lover's pet name, wind up hurtin' so much

REPEAT CHOUS

BRIDGE:

He peeled the skin off of the world and you stopped breathin'

You drew a breath, he sighed, the air was freezin'

Two blood-red hearts pumpin' hard out in the open

You skinned your knee at kickball

Twenty years ago against all hopin'

Y'all put that hammer down and drove through love's angel food cake

Tastin' every spongy layer and lickin' frosting off the moon

Wild-eyed with excitement but childishly disappointed

Maybe even tasted better when mama let you lick the spoon

REPEAT CHORUS

Blue Telescope

I've got a blue telescope, I'm looking at the world tonight

Through a blue telescope; I wish I may, I wish I might

Not see what I see - sheet metal on sheets of ice

Looking through this blue telescope down a moonstruck road tonight

Blue breath on my windshield, I came to a frozen place

She shivered when I said goodbye - I wish I didn't have to face

Her in that rear-view mirror, though she lives in the heart of me

Looking through this blue telescope

I guess she'll always be a star to me

The heavens vast and wide

Wait to escort the bride

She lifts her wedding veil

Her breath a lonesome vapour trail

I got this blue telescope - I'm looking for her tonight

Through a blue telescope; tell me, why must the blue angels fight?

Taking one last shot at heaven while they slip stream through paradise

Looking through this blue telescope down a moonstruck road tonight

I'm looking through this blue telescope down a moonstruck road tonight

I've got a blue telescope

Blue telescope

Cross My Fingers

Baby when I put my mind to it

I slip into another gear

And I travel in another syncopation

When all I wanna be is here with you

And

I'll be true to you cross my fingers

I'll be good to you cross my fingers

I'll be true to you cross my fingers

Sure as a snake along the river

Sure as a ghost is in the trees

There is a promise love delivers

Even though you never promised me

I'll be true to you cross my fingers

I'll be good to you cross my fingers

I'll be true to you cross my fingers

I wanna stay, 'til my thoughts are okay

'Til my motive is clear, 'cause im driftin away

>From the weight of your arms, from your soft feather bed

To a cold white line down the highway in my head

All our little tears are icicles

Hangin' on the telephone lines

And I call you up through all the cracklin' static

I swear I only hear you half the time

No matter how I try to hold you baby

You only seem to slip away from me

And then we're walkin out along the ocean

Or swimmin like the dolphins out to sea

I'll be true to you cross my fingers

I'll be good to you cross my fingers

I'll be true to you cross my fingers

I'll be good to you cross my fingers

Cross my fingers

Old Habits

When the snake of love

Starts pullin' you under

And it wont let go

'Til it starts to thunder

And there's not a cloud in the sky

Gonna make him shake

I guess old habits are hard to break

Cause even the good ones

Just seem to go bad

Might be the sweetest love

That you ever had

You just cant let em go

For goodness sake

I guess old habits are hard to break

The trouble with sainthood, darlin'

You know its tough comin down

But you've been doin it, doin it, doin it, doin it, doin it

Since you left your hometown

A regular Joan of Arc

Burnin at the stake

I guess old habits are hard to break

Maybe the first time he kissed you

The fireworks flew in the back of your mind

And you been lookin just to

Feel this good ever since

But now every time he makes love to ya

Hes just a little bit more unkind

Until it feels like every move you make is in self defense

That aint the facts of life

Its just bad fiction

Honey that sure aint love

You know its just an addiction

Now how much more abuse are you gonna take

I guess old habits are hard to break

Could be your father

Could be your mother

Might be your sister

Or maybe even your brother

Or is it your own self baby

Youve been tryin to shake

Well I guess old habits are hard to break

I guess old habits are hard to break

The Wreck of the Barbie Ferrari

Saturday night he comes home stinking

sunday morning she wakes up thinking and thinking and thinking and thinking

does she need to get the kids dressed to go to church

he's pulled a shotgun out of the lurch

he heads for the TV room starts to search

his problems swollen like a river and his reality's shrinking

he finds them huddled by the toy box and splatters 'em all

the ken and the midge and the skipper doll

they look like a family but they're really not at all

well he's sad but he ain't sorry

it ain't the end of the world

it's just the wreck of the barbie ferrari

he wonders if he ever said I do

to that little blonde plastic voodoo

and his mind's gone fishin'

well it started just as plain as the nose on your face

now it's in a thousand peices all over the place

he thought she was driving but it's twisted beyond recognition

all the diapers and the tutus and the basketballs

she was givin' them a lift to the promised mall

but somewhere by the TV that V-12 stalled

as he loaded the chamber her eyes got starry

it ain't the end of the world

it's just wreck of the barbie ferrari

when they get home from church won't they be sorry

he's cornered 'em all on his urban safari

It aint the end of the world...

He's played with cars and guns since he could crawl

now he wishes he'd never met that doll with her face gone

there wasnt nothing he ever thought about

he couldn't drive through or shoot his way out

as he surveys the family room littered with dolls

he can't find one leg to stand on

he aims the gun at his head now he's starting to cry

looking for the courage to let it fly

can't live without his family now that something has died

he's not sure who's hurt not sure who's sorry

It ain't the end of the world...

When You Hold Me Tight

(let me hear ya get funky now)

When your heart touches mine

And my thoughts explode

When our wires get crossed

And the fire burns my soul

Then I know you're home

When you shine your light

And i dont have to use the phone

To call you

Baby when you hold me tight

We can count heartbeats and squeeze

Baby when you hold me tight

You can really make a man say, please

When im down to my last

Cigarette in your bed

And the smoke rings blow

THrough the dreams in your head

And we burn through the dark

With a light so bright

And the hardes part is leavin'

Baby when you hold me tight

We can count heartbeats and squeeze

Baby when you hold me tight

You can really make a man say please

Please dont ever let go

Good god it hurt me so

Baby please dont let go

Please dont ever let go

Baby cause it hurt me so

Hey baby

When the morning comes

And you're still here with me

And you give me some

Of your sweet mystery

And it feels so real

And it feels so right

And I want your love

Forever

Baby when you hold me tight

We can count heartbeats and squeeze

Baby when you hold me tight

You can really make a man say please

Baby when you hold me tight

We can count heartbeats and squeeze

Baby when you hold me tight

You can really make a man say please

Permanent Hurt

What is that fallin' out of your eyes

What is that rollin' on down your shit

Thunder and lightning from the bloodshot skies

This time its feeling like a permanent hurt

What is that lipstick up on his sleeve

Where's the forgiveness that's stronger than dirt

Tearin' the words out when you ask him to leave

This time its gonna be a permanent hurt

A permanent hurt, yeah a pemanent hurt

The pain and the memories do the dirty work

Promises broken hearts on red alert

The surface will heal

But its feelin' like a permanent hurt

What were you thinkin when you fell in love

What were you thinkin in that little black skirt

Bet you a rainbow you werent thinkin of

Suffin' your heels up on a permanent hurt

A permanent hurt, yeah a pemanent hurt

The pain and the memories do the dirty work

Promises broken hearts on red alert

The surface will heal

But its feelin' like a permanent hurt

It's all temporary like the big book tells

Ashes to ashes, baby dirt to dirt

Something gets scary

Someone runs like hell

Somebody winds up with a permanent hurt

A permanent hurt, yeah a pemanent hurt

The pain and the memories do the dirty work

Promises broken hearts on red alert

The surface will heal

But its feelin' like a permanent hurt

Loving A Hurricane

You answer questions like a natural disaster

Voices in the wind- you let em call her out

The whole foundation just went flying past her

She puts her heart into it - and you just yank it out

You pulled her love out through the window pane

Thats what she gets for loving a hurricane

She could have rode off with some Texas tornado

Some mister twister she could kick up her boot heels with

Could have rode him on down to Laredo

But you flew in from the gulf like a hot wet kiss

You blew her mind fast as a bullet train

Thats what she gets for loving a hurricane

Waah waah- wind and rain- waah waah- its a shame

Waah waah- loving a hurricane

Waah waah- wind and rain- waah waah- its a shame

Waah waah- loving a hurricane

She might have known youd get her sooner or later

Living in that railer park down by the sandy beach

Where tides roll in like the big dream generators

Forces of nature, blow everything out of reach

Water in her living room, fire up in her brain

Thats what she gets for loving a hurricane

Waah waah- wind and rain- waah waah- its a shame

Waah waah- loving a hurricane

Waah waah- wind and rain- waah waah- its a shame

Waah waah- loving a hurricane

Waah waah- waah waah

Waah waah- loving a hurricane

I'll Never Get Over You

I would have thought time would erase

I'll never get over you

The feelin's lost in your embrace

I'll never get over you

But still I try

And still I cry

Still I'm wonderin' why

CHORUS:

I'll never get over you

I tell myself my heart will find

A way to get over you

When I've already lost my mind

Tryin' to get over you

The voice goes on

The feeling's long

But still sleep never comes

REPEAT CHORUS

So now I've met the enemy

Trying to get over you

A shroud of rain, a memory

Trying to get over you

I recognize

Those crazy eyes

And still they're tellin' me lies

REPEAT CHORUS