John Hiatt

Stolen Moments

Real Fine Love
Seven Little Indians
Child Of The Wild Blue Yonder
Back Of My Mind
Stolen Moments
Bring Back Your Love To Me
The Rest Of The Dream
Thirty Years Of Tears
Rock Back Billy
Listening To Old Voices
Through Your Hands
One Kiss

Real Fine Love

Well I never went to college, babe
I did not have the luck
Rolled out of Indiana in the back of a pickup truck
With no education higher
Than the street of my hometown
I went lookin' for a fire
Just to burn it all down

CHORUS:
You've got a real fine love
You've got a real fine love
One I am unworthy of
You've got a real fine love, baby

I thought I had a line on something
Maybe no one else could say
And they couldn't find it in their hearts
To just get out of my way
Then out of nowhere, and from nothing
You came into my life
I'd seen an angel or two before
But I'd never asked one to be my wife

REPEAT CHORUS

Well you can sprinkle all your teardrops
Across the evening sky
But you cannot hide the twinkle
Of starlight in your eye
Well I left my map way back there, baby
I don't know where we are
But I'm gonna pull my pony up
And hitch my wagon to your start

REPEAT CHORUS

Well now the babies are all sleeping
And the twilight's givin' in
She looks like you, he looks like her
And we all look like him
Well maybe it's just the little thing
The way I feel tonight
A little joy
A little peace

REPEAT CHORUS TWICE

You got it

Seven Little Indians

There were seven little Indians
Living in a brick house on
Central Avenue
Gathered 'round their daddy
Tellin' stories in the living room
From a slightly unrealistic point of view
Momma was off yonder in the kitchen somewhere
Boiling up some hot water for them to all get up to their necks in
The seven little Indians new
If the rest of the tribe ever scrutinized their household
Somehow it would not pass inspection
The big chief railed on
And spun his tales of brave conquest
About the moving of his little band
Up to Alaska
Where the caribou run free
See he had been there putting in telephone lines
For the army during World War II
Even brought back a picture of a frozen mastodon
For the little Indians to see
And some mukluks and some sealskin gloves
And a coat with beads around the collar
His wife kept them in the mothballs
Underneath the Hudson Bays
And every once and a while he'd get all wound up
With one of his stories, he'd put them all on
And dance around in that blue TV light
Like it was some campfire blazing away
Well he stamped and he hollered
But he could not stay warm in that living room
And even the seven little Indians could feel the chill
And although everything always worked
Out for the better in all of his stories
In that old brick house it always felt like
Something was movin' in for the kill
Blazing like a trail
Shot through the eyes of the seven little Indians
Blazing like the sheets of light dancing up in the sky
Up above Anchorage
Blazing like a star shot down to the ground
Back home again in Indiana
Now it finally got so quiet you could hear a pin drop
They started dropping like flies
The oldest little Indian got sick and vanished
The big chief went two years later
The mother raised the six little Indians up
The best she could
To be housewives, musicians, and insurance salesmen
But they all shared this common denominator
You see, all the characters in the big chief's stories
Were named after the seven little Indians
And like I said, in his stories everything
Always worked out for the better
And now as I'm telling this stuff to my own kids
Dancing around in that blue TV light
Well, I wish I had those mukluks, those sealskin gloves
And that coat with beads around the collar

Child Of The Wild Blue Yonder

She has the wind as a witness
She has feelings that fly by night
She believes in forgiveness
But it's not love if it holds too tight

And you can fly beside her
But you gotta go where your heart says go
She lets the bright lights guide her
Through the rain and the drivin' snow
Where she comes from she don't know

CHORUS:
She's a child of the wild blue yonder
Flying out of here
She's a child of the wild blue yonder
Born in an angel's wing

If you see her falling
That's just a little trick she does
She makes a dive for the pain that's calling
Then heads for the clouds like a little dove

She can't help her laughing
She can't stop your crying days
Sometimes it hurts to be having
To hold on a love that surely must fly away

REPEAT CHORUS

Medicine woman raised her
Spirit father praised her
Through their love she was set free
From a baby kicking and screaming
To a full blood woman dreaming
With the power just to be

REPEAT CHORUS TWICE

Back Of My Mind

Well my daddy he stood at the foot of the stairs
He was calling to me at the time
And I knew even then, I could die for the thoughts
That I kept in the back of my mind

But I dared not to speak
How I felt for my dad
Cause there were no words to define
The ball of confusion, of feelings and stuff
That I kept in the back of my mind

So I took to the highway
And I kept to myself
Just a lookin' and hopin' to find
Some solutions, some answers, someway to exist
All this stuff in the back of my mind

So I took me a job
And I took me a wife
And I took me a bottle of wine
And it did not take long, 'til all I had left
Was this junk in the back of my mind

Well the end of the tunnel
It never came up
'til I came to the end of the line
And I saw that the light I'd been hoping to see
Was just a spark in the back of my mind

And the cold wind that blew
Through the hole in my heart
Made a fire for the very first time
From some branches of trust
And a kindling of faith
And that spark in the back of my mind

Drivin' like rain, or a runaway train
Flyin' blind, shot from the dark in the back of my mind

Stolen Moments

I used to drink a lot in those days you see
Ya, that's the way the wind blows
These days the only bar I ever see
Has got lettuce and tomatoes

I get pumped up in the back of my mind
Start thinking those days were the best of times
But I never look forward to looking back
Now I see a little daylight coming through the cracks

Don't you know we're living in stolen moments
You steal enough it feels like we're stopping time
These days are gold we're living in stolen moments
Just grab a hold

Well some guy told you that you couldn't dance
And you been carrying that forever
I'm the kinda fella needs a, a second chance
C'mon baby let's boo-ga-loo together

I see you over there just clinging to the wall
Cause they told you like ivy, you were born to crawl
But you kept looking up, girl, and I know why
Cause you knew some day you were gonna touch the sky

Baby, you know we're living in stolen moments
You steal enough it feels like we're stopping time
These days are gold we're living in stolen moments
Just grab a hold and feel your way
These days are yours and mine

Well, I couldn't dream this life I'm livin'
Somehow we just survived and every waste of time forgiven

Now I'm out in the backyard leaning on a tree
And I have no way of knowing
Can't lean too hard that's my philosophy
Man that tree is growing

Maybe I'll never grow up to be straight and tall
But you can lean on me, baby, I won't fall
Maybe in the deal I can learn to bend
Learn to listen like that tree, baby
Like a good friend

Well don't you know we're living in stolen moments
You steal enough it feels like we're stopping time
These days are gold we're living in stolen moments
Just grab hold and feel these days are yours and mine

Don't ya know we're living in stolen moments
You steal enough it feels like we're stopping time
These days are gold we're living in stolen moments
Just grab hold and feel your way
These days are yours and mine

Bring Back Your Love To Me

Darlin' if you've been a hurting
I don't care what it is
I wanna help for certain, but it takes more than a kiss
All this love and affection
I'm feeling for you now
Send it back in my direction, girl
I can show you how

My love is coming on strong
And you know, you've been gone away too long

Bring back, bring back your lovin' to me
Bring back, bring back your lovin' to me

All that words that passed between us
Spoken in haste
Could have gone back and forth to Venus
For all the time we waste
Staying angry at each other
Sometimes just for anger's sake
I don't want no other lover
I got too much here at stake

Our love is worth fighting for
And you know it, even as you close that door

CHORUS:
Bring back, bring back your lovin' to me
Bright it right back here baby
Bring back, bring back your lovin' to me
I want you sweet lovin' right now

Every night I sit and watch for you, baby
I pray to God you haven't found somebody else
But I could never care, like I care for you
When I hurt you girl, well I just can't stand myself

They say pride will be our downfall
Girl I've swallowed mine
I'm begging you, baby, come back
And I will tow the line
To the top of the Eiffel Tower
To the bottom of the sea
If it means just one more hour
Your love will shine on me

Our love is worth fighting for
And you know it, even as you close that door

REPEAT CHORUS

The Rest Of The Dream

You were a tiny spark
Caught in your parents' eyes
When they made love in the dark
You were the big surprise
And the old man came through
Gave his very best for you
And your mother's arms
They kept you warm
Like no other arms could do

CHORUS:
When you couldn't find the light
At the top of the stairs
When you cried in the night
Well, you knew they were there
Will the light of the day
Was as bright as it seemed
And you knew in your heart
You were livin' the rest of the dream

Well, I had a dream of you
But I never realized
Baby, the dream was true
That's when you opened my eyes

And I will come through
Do my very best for you
And your lovin' arms
Gonna keep me warm
Like no other arms will do

When you can't find the light
At the top of the stairs
When you cry in the night
Well, you know I'll be there
Till the light of the day
Is as bright as it seems
And you know in your heart
You're livin' the rest of the dream

Now I see a tiny spark
Caught in your lovin' eyes
As we make love in the dark
And wait for the big surprise

And the old man will come through
Son or daughter, just for you
And your mama's arms
Gonna keep you warm
Like no other arms can do

When you can't find the light
At the top of the stairs
When you cry in the night
Well you know we'll be there
Till the light of the day
Is as bright as it seems
And you know in your heart
You're livin' the rest of the dream

REPEAT CHORUS

Thirty Years Of Tears

Is this a place I can rest my poor head
To gather my thoughts in sweet silence
Is this a place where the feelings aren't dead
From an overexposure to violence
And is this a place I can slowly face
The only one I truly can know

These are tears from a long time ago
I got these tears from a long time ago
I need to cry 30 years or so
These are tears from a long time ago

Oh Darling, oh darling, say unto me
Where have you been all my lifetime
Well I have been swimmin' the seven sad seas
Fair women have thrown me their lifelines
And I just pulled them on to the water's dark grin
I'd have warned 'em but I didn't know

These are tears from a long time ago
I've got these tears from a long time ago
I need to cry 30 years or so
These are tears from a long time ago

Well, I've cried me a river, I've cried me a lake
I've cried till the past nearly drowned me
Tears for sad consequences
Tears for mistakes
But never these tears that surround me

Alone in this place with a lifetime to trace
And a heartbeat that tells me it's so
I've got these tears from a long time ago
These are tears from a long time ago
And I need to cry 30 years or so
These are tears from a long time ago
These are tears from a long time ago
I've got these tears from a long time ago

Rock Back Billy

Get a load of that guy
With the dew rag on
And the cowboy tie
Man that cat is gone

Form Memphis to Nashville
Then way out west
Put that Hollywood party
To the acid test

Got a little bungalow
In the valley somewhere
Took a gig playing bass
With Sonny and Cher
He took it on his chin
And never got it off his chest
He wouldn't be caught dead wearing that vest

Not rock back Billy
Rock back Billy

He came to make a stew
With that swamp guitar
He kept it lonesome and blue
Yeah, in the trunk of his car

But no one gave him a long shot
Though he never did doubt
What it was not
Or what it was all about

He got all tangled up with liquor and drugs
Trying to make a racket
Like those English mugs

Till he couldn't get arrested
And he couldn't see straight
He couldn't even shine shoes
In that Golden State

Not rock back Billy
Come on rock back Billy

When you see him on the street
Well, he's no spring chicken
But ask him how he makes ends meet
He'll tell you, "I'm still pickin'"

Aw, rock it, Billy, rock it

Yeah they counted him down
When they dropped that beat
But that red hot sound
They could not defeat

It started coming back from Boston
From East L.A.
Down in Austin, Texas
And up New York way

And as long as there's a kid
In a room somewhere
With a beat up guitar
And some funny looking hair
Well, it might be Billy's kid
You don't know
And all I've got to say is
Go, cat, go

Come on rock back Billy
Come on rock back Billy
Rock back Billy

Listening To Old Voices

They have come to haunt the children
They have come to walk the wind
I can hear them as they rustle through the trees
Looking for the love that killed them
So that they might live again
It's a simple prayer that brings me to my knees

With drums and bells and rattles
They have caught us in our time
To watch the eagle rise up from the fire
Now is it true we are possessed
By all the ones we leave behind
Or is it by their lives we are inspired

CHORUS:
It's a new light, new day
Listening for new meaning learning how to say
It's a new place but you've always been here
You're just listening to old voices with a new ear

It's the livin' and the dyin'
Well it scares the young ones so
They can hardly catch their breath before too long
They see the tears we're crying
And they watch the river flow
And they follow on the banks until it's gone

I surrender to the mountains
I surrender to the sea
I surrender to the one who calls my name
I surrender to my lover and to my enemy
I surrender to the face that holds no shame

REPEAT CHORUS

There's a spider at my window
And she spins a web of truth
More beautiful than all those memories
And she surely is God's artist
As she's caught the morning dew
It's a simple prayer that brings me to my knees

REPEAT CHORUS TWICE

Through Your Hands

You were dreamin' on a park bench
'Bout a broad highway somewhere
When the music from the carillon
Seemed to hurl your heart out there
Past the scientific darkness
Past the fireflies that float
To an angel bending down
To wrap you in her warmest coat

CHORUS:
And you ask, "What am I not doing?"
She says
"Your voice cannot command.
In time, you will move mountains,
And it will come through your hands."

Still you argue for an option
Still you angle for your case
Like you wouldn't know a burning bush
If it blew up in your face
Yeah, we scheme about the future
And we dream about the past
When just a simple reaching out
Might build a bridge that lasts

REPEAT CHORUS

So whatever your hands find to do
You must do with all your heart
There are thoughts enough
To blow men's minds and tear great worlds apart

There's a healing touch to find you
On that broad highway somewhere
To lift you high
As music flying
Through the angel's hair.

Don't ask what you are not doing
Because your voice cannot command
In time we will move mountains
And it will come through your hands

One Kiss

You look just like Mona Lisa, baby
Have you got something up your sleeve?
You got your arms folded and your legs propped up
Oh, I must say, you're looking relieved

Was there some tension eased up on us, baby?
Like two plates shifting on a fault?
They sold Van Gogh's Sunflowers the other day
Some guy stuck 40 million in a bank vault!

CHORUS:
One kiss and we're on our own
One kiss it can mean so much
One kiss and we're almost home
One kiss that's the final touch

They shot that Galileo off to Jupiter
We'll have some pictures in about six years
Gonna stomp anything the Voyager sent back
Cause Galileo dreamed it, it's here

Now Ralph Kramden never sent Alice to the moon
But you know he wanted to
But having a good friend like Norton to ease the pressure
Can really work wonders on a fella's point of view

REPEAT CHORUS

Oh it's bringing me to my knees
They lost all those kinescopes
All of those memories
Doing the cool jerk together

Let's outlive our usefulness, baby
Let's stay in our own skin too long
Till we're so wrinkled all the hatchlings just laugh at us
As they crack out of their eggshells at the break of dawn

We'll say "Oh are y'all just getting home
From a long night of self abuse?"
Well me and the missus we were just getting
The coffee pot to perk
Yeah, it's a dirty job but ya know
We're still living it and loving it
You kids let us know when you're finished with your artwork

REPEAT CHORUS TWICE