A Singer Must Die
Composer(s): Leonard Cohen
First release by: Leonard Cohen - 1974
Covered by multiple other artists



Now the courtroom is quiet, but who will confess
Is it true you betrayed us? 
The answer is Yes
Then read me the list of the crimes that are mine
I will ask for the mercy that you love to decline
And all the ladies go moist, and the judge has no choice
A singer must die for the lie in his voice
And I thank you, I thank you for doing your duty
You keepers of truth, you guardians of beauty
Your vision is right, my vision is wrong
I'm sorry for smudging the air with my song

Oh, the night it is thick, my defences are hid
In the clothes of a woman I would like to forgive
In the rings of her silk, in the hinge of her thighs
Where I have to go begging in beauty's disguise
Oh goodnight
Goodnight, my night after night
My night after night, after night, after night, after night, after night

I am so afraid that I listen to you
Your sun glassed protectors they do that to you
It's their ways to detain, their ways to disgrace
Their knee in your balls and their fist in your face
Yes and long live the state by whoever it's made
Sir, I didn't see nothing, I was just getting home late

Waiting For A Train
Composer(s): Jimmie Rodgers
Performer(s): Jimmie Rodgers



All around the water tank
Waitin' for a train
A thousand miles away from home
Sleeping in the rain
I walked up to a brakeman
To give him a line of talk
He says if you've got money
I'll see that you don't walk
I haven't got a nickle
Not a penny can I show
He said get off you railroad bum
And slammed the boxcar door
Oh la-ee, oh la-ee, oh la-ee
Oh la-ee, oh la-ee, oh
He put me off in Texas
A place I surely love
Wide open spaces 'round me
The moon and stars above
Nobody seems to want me
Or lend me a helping hand
I'm on my way from 'Frisco
Goin' back to Dixieland
My pocketbook is empty
And my heart is filled with pain
I'm a thousand miles away from home
Just waiting for a train
Oh la-ee, oh la-ee, oh la-ee
Oh la-ee, oh la-ee, oh

A Simple Thing Like Cry
Composer(s): Nickolas Ashford - Valerie Simpson
Performer(s): Diana Ross



If it didn't hurt so bad
If it didn't hurt so bad
Maybe I could cry

If I thought it was all a joke
And you were putting me on
If I could just make a wish
And this moment would be all gone
If I could see a trace of hope
Somewhere in your eyes
Maybe then I could do
A simple thing like cry

If it didn't hurt so bad
If it didn't hurt so bad
Maybe I could cry

Don't you know I plan to spend
Every moment of my life with you
Now you're trying to tell me
That my dreams just won't come true
Thanks for giving me a million reasons why
But it hurts too bad to do
A simple thing like cry

If I thought it was all a joke
And you were putting me on
If I could just make a wish
And this moment would be all gone
If I could see a trace of hope
Somewhere in your eyes
Maybe then I could do
A simple thing like cry

If it didn't hurt so bad
If it didn't hurt me so bad
Maybe I could
If it didn't hurt so bad
Maybe I could cry
I could cry, cry
If it didn't hurt me
If I didn't love you
Hurt me

Waiting For A Star To Fall
Composer(s): George Merrill; Shannon Rubicam
Performer(s): Boy Meets Girl;
and various other artists



I hear your name whispered on the wind
It's a sound that makes me cry
I hear a song blow again and again
Through my mind and I don't know why
I wish I didn't feel so strong about you
Like happiness and love revolve around you

Trying to catch your heart
Is like trying to catch a star
So many people love you baby
That must be what you are

Waiting for a star to fall
And carry your heart into my arms
That's where you belong
In my arms baby, yeah

I've learned to feel what I cannot see
But with you I lose that vision
I don't know how to dream your dream
So I'm all caught up in superstition
I want to reach out and pull you to me
Who says I should let a wild one go free

Trying to catch your heart
Is like trying to catch a star
But I can't love you this much baby
And love you from this far

Waiting for a star to fall
And carry your heart into my arms
That's where you belong
In my arms baby, yeah

Waiting (however long...)
I don't like waiting (I'll wait for you...)
It's so hard waiting (don't be too long...)
Seems like waiting (makes me love you even more...)

Waiting for a star to fall
And carry your heart into my arms
That's where you belong
In my arms baby, yeah

A Simple Man
Composer(s): Lobo
Performer(s): Lobo



Where do butterflies go when it rains?
Who goes around & tucks in the trains?
What makes a teddy bear like to sleep?
Why do we all make promises that we can't keep?

Where do puppy dogs go when their sad?
And what do elephants say when their mad?
Who do you tell if you don't have a friend?
Why do we open our mouths and stick our foot in?

These are the things that bother me,
Not a lot of things across some sea,
I don't even have a master plan,
I guess that I am just a simple man.

Where do robins sleep on the road?
And how can a little ant carry that load?
Why write words that we have to erase?
Why does everyone have more than one face?

Waiting For A Miracle
Composer(s): Bruce Cockburn
Performer(s): Bruce Cockburn;
and various other artists



Working and waiting in the hot sun
With all the rich saints, and the fallen ones
Working and waiting for the night to come
And we're waiting for a, and we're waiting for a
And we're waiting for a miracle
Somewhere out there is a land that's cool
Where peace and balance are the rule
Working for the future like some kind of mystic jewel

Chorus

You rub the palm of your hand on the driving pain
In the hopes that you can see (when you're waiting)
Stand up tall, pretend you're strongIn the hopes that you can be
(when you're waiting)

Like the one's that cry, like the ones that die
Trying to set the angel in us free
And the waiting for a, and the waiting for a
And the waiting for a miracle
Scuffle for a nickel, struggle for a dime
Forget about the past, leave your worries behind
Home come the future has to take such a long, long time?

Chorus

A Simple Life
Composer(s): Jon Lind - Richard Page
Performer(s): John Farnham



Show me the magic
I must've lost it somewhere
In my dreams, so far away
I turned around, everything's changing but me
Where is the soul in my song? 

Once there was heaven in my eyes
Whatever happened to those skies? 
Somebody show me how to
Get back to the simple life

Out of the blue, temptation's all around me
The train came along and I got on board
I danced with the darkness
The skies were the limit
It's such a long way to fall

Once there was heaven in my eyes
Whatever happened to those skies? 
Somebody show me how to
Get back to the simple life

'cause I've done my time in paradise
I've tried it all maybe once or twice
Somebody show me how to
Get back to the simple life

Stars keep me going
And the moon is there to light my way
I need to go where my heart is free
Looking for the way back
Hoping for the way back
Somebody show me how to
Get back to ... the simple life

'cause I've done my time in paradise
I've tried to all maybe once or twice
Somehow the grass was always greener
On the other side

Once there was heaven in my eyes
Whatever happened to those skies? 
Somebody show me how to
Get back to the simple life

Waiting For A Girl Like You
Composer(s): Lou Gramm; Mick Jones
Performer(s): Foreigner



So long
I've been looking too hard
I've been waiting too long
Sometimes I don't know what I will find
I only know it's a matter of time
When you love someone
when you love someone

It feels so right
so warm and true
I need to know if you feel it too

Maybe I'm wrong
Won't you tell me if I'm coming on too strong
This heart of mine has been hurt before
This time I wanna be sure

I've been waiting
For a girl like you
To come into my life
I've been waiting
For a girl like you
Your loving will survive
I've been waiting
Someone new
Make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting
For a girl like you
To come into my life

You're so good
when we make love it's understood
It's more than a touch or a word can say
Only in dreams could it be this way
When you love someone
Yeah, really love someone

Now I know it's right
From the moment I wake up till deep in the night
There's nowhere on earth
That I'd rather be
than holding you
tenderly

I've been waiting
For a girl like you
To come into my life
I've been waiting
For a girl like you
Your loving will survive
I've been waiting
Someone new
Make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting
For a girl like you
To come into my life

I've been waiting
Waiting for you, ooh
Ooh-ooh
I've been waiting
I've been waiting
(I've been waiting for a girl like you, I've been waiting)
Won't you come into my life?

A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert Mcnamara'd Into Submission)
Composer(s): Paul Simon
Performer(s): Simon & Garfunkel



I been Norman Mailered, Maxwell Taylored
I been John O'Hara'd, McNamara'd
I been Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I'm blind
I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist, 'cause I'm left-handed
That's the hand I use, well, never mind!

I been Phil Spectored, resurrected
I been Lou Adlered, Barry Sadlered
Well, I paid all the dues I want to pay
And I learned the truth from Lenny Bruce
And all my wealth won't buy me health
So I smoke a pint of tea a day

I knew a man, his brain so small
He couldn't think of nothin' at all
He's not the same as you and me
He doesn't dig poetry 
He's so unhip that
When you say Dylan, he thinks you're talkin' about Dylan Thomas
Whoever he was
The man ain't got no culture
But its alright, ma
Everybody must get stoned

I been Mick Jaggered, been silver daggered
Andy Warhol, won't you please come home?
I been mothered, fathered, aunt and uncled
Been Roy Halee'd and Art Garfunkel'd
I just discovered somebody's tapped my phone

Folk Rock
I just lost my harmonica Albert

Waiting For A Friend
Composer(s): Billy Nicholls
Performer(s): Roger Daltrey



If I fell in a lake
Would you dive in or stand there and gape
And if I drowned, would you jump
Or would you let the water burst in my lungs
Well a stranger in the street
Maybe the only one on his knees
When your laying by the roadside
Waiting for a friend to come

Got my hopes
Got my doubts
My gut reaction says I got to find out
Who's against, who to trust
Ooh you never know but I might get killed in the rush
But a stranger in the street
Maybe the only one on his knees
When your laying by the roadside
Waiting for a friend to come

You laugh you think it's a joke
Just stand there grinning
Will you be there at the post
When I ain't winning

Hey, black or white
Good and bad
How many times have I done this and done that
Every life
Everyone
If I knew that I'd probly take out a gun
But it's mother nature's law
To get you coming back for more
Just stand laying by the roadside
Waiting for a friend to come

You laugh you think it's a joke
Just stand there grinning
Will you be there at the post
When I ain't winning

Hey, black or white
Good and bad
How many times have I done this and done that
Every life
Everyone
If I knew that I'd probly take out a gun
But it's mother nature's law
To get you coming back for more
Just stand laying by the roadside
Waiting for a friend to come

Laying by the roadside
Waiting for a friend to come

A Sign Of The Times
Composer(s): Tony Hatch
Performer(s): Petula Clark



It's a sign of the times
That your love for me is getting so much stronger
It's a sign of the times
And I know that I won't have to wait much longer
You've changed a lot somehow from the one I used to know-oh-oh
For when you hold me now it feels like you never want to let me go

It's a sign of the times
That you call me up whenever you feel lonely
It's a sign of the times
That you tell your friends that I'm your one and only
I'll never understand the way you treated me-ee-ee
But when I hold your hand I know you couldn't be the way you used to be

Maybe my lucky star at last decided to shine
Maybe somebody knows how long I've waited to make you mine, mm, mm, mm

I'll never understand the way you treated me-ee-ee
But when I hold your hand I know you couldn't be the way you used to be

Maybe my lucky star at last decided to shine
Maybe somebody knows how long I've waited to make you mine, mm, mm, mm

It's a sign of the times
That you kiss me now as if you really mean it
It's a sign of the times
And a year ago I never could have seen it
Don't ever change your mind and take your love away-ay-ay
Just leave the past behind and, baby, only think of how it is today

It's a sign of the ti-imes
It's a sign of the ti-i-i-i-imes
It's a sign of the times
It's a sign of the ti-i-i-i-imes

It's a sign of the times

Waiting At The Church
Composer(s): Henry E. Pether - Fred W. Leigh
Performer(s): Vesta Victoria
and multiple other artists



I'm in a nice bit of trouble, I confess
Somebody with me has had a game
I should by now be a proud and happy bride
But I've still got to keep my single name
I was proposed to by Obadiah Binks
In a very gentlemanly way
Lent him all my money so that he could buy a home
And punctually at twelve o'clock to-day

There was I, waiting at the church
Waiting at the church
Waiting at the church
When I found he'd left me in the lurch
Lord, how it did upset me!
All at once, he sent me round a note
Here's the very note
This is what he wrote
"Can't get away to marry you today
My wife, won't let me!"

Lord, what a fuss Obadiah made of me
When he used to take me in the park!
He used to squeeze me till I was black and blue
When he kissed me he used to leave a mark
Each time he met me he treated me to port
Took me now and then to see the play
Understand me rightly, when I say he treated me
It wasn't him but me that used to pay

There was I, waiting at the church
Waiting at the church
Waiting at the church
When I found he'd left me in the lurch
Lord, how it did upset me!
All at once, he sent me round a note
Here's the very note
This is what he wrote
"Can't get away to marry you today
My wife, won't let me!"

Just think how disappointed I must feel
I'll be off me crumpet very soon
I've lost my husband, the one I never had!
And I dreamed so about the honeymoon
I'm looking out for another Obadiah
I've already bought the wedding ring
There's all my little fal-de-riddles packed up in my box
Yes, absolutely two of ev'rything

There was I, waiting at the church
Waiting at the church
Waiting at the church
When I found he'd left me in the lurch
Lord, how it did upset me!
All at once, he sent me round a note
Here's the very note
This is what he wrote
"Can't get away to marry you today
My wife, won't let me!"

A Showman's Life
Composer(s): Jesse Winchester 
Performer(s): Jesse Winchester 
and multiple other artists



A showman's life is a smokey bar
The fevered chase of a tiny star 
It's a hotel room and a lonely wife 
From what I've seen of a showman's life

Nobody told me about this part 
They told me all about the pretty girls and wine 
The money and good times 
No mention of the wear and tear on an old honkey-tonker's heart 
Well, I might have known it 
But nobody told me about this part

A boy will dream as children do 
Of a great white way, 'til the dream comes true 
And a phoney smile in a colored light 
Is all it is to a showman's life

Nobody told me about this part 
They told me all about the pretty girls and wine 
The money and good times 
No mention of the wear and tear on an old honkey-tonker's heart 
Well, I might have known it 
But nobody told me about this part

Waiting Around To Die
Composer(s): Townes Van Zandt
Performer(s): Townes Van Zandt;
and various other artists



Sometimes I don't know where this dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
I guess I keep on gamblin', lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

One-time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once cause she cried
She told him to take care of me, she headed down to Tennessee
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

I came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

A friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me, drug me back to Muskogee
It's two long years, just a-waitin' 'round to die

Now I'm out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don't steal or cheat or drink or lie
His name's codeine, he's the nicest thing I've seen
Together we're gonna wait around and die

A Shoulder To Cry On
Composer(s): Merle Haggard
Performer(s): Charley Pride; Mark Chesnutt; Merle Haggard



I came here because I knew I'd be welcome
And because somehow you always understand
You seem to have a way with lonely people
And you always were my greatest helping hand

Now once again I'm here to take advantage
Though I don't deserve the arms I left alone
I need to know there's someone who still loves me
And I need a shoulder to cry on

I over looked the love you tried so hard to give
The love I never seem to understand
I always stay just long enough to hurt you
And what little love I gave was second hand

Now once again I'm here to take advantage
Cause once again the one I love is gone
I need to know there's someone who still loves me
And I need a shoulder to cry on

Yes I need to know there's someone who still loves me
And I need a shoulder to cry on

Waitin' In School
Composer(s): Johnny Burnette; Dorsey Burnette
Performer(s): Rick Nelson;
and various other artists



I been a-waitin' in school all day long
a-waitin' on the bell to ring so I can go home
Throw my books on the table, pick up the telephone
"Hello, baby, let's get somethin' goin'"

Headin' down to the drugstore to get a soda pop
Throw a nickel in the jukebox, then we start to rock
My school gal baby, gonna tell ya some news
You sure look good in them baby-doll shoes

Well, it's a-one, two, a-pull off my shoes
Three, four, get out on the floor
Five, six, come get your kicks
Down on the corner of Lincoln and a-forty-six.....Yeah!

I've been a-waitin' in school all day long
a-waitin' on the bell to ring so I could go home
Throw my books on the table, pick up the telephone
"Hello, baby, let's get somethin' goin'"

Headin' down to the drugstore to get a soda pop
Throw a nickel in the jukebox, then we start to rock
My school gal baby, gonna tell ya some news
You sure look good in them baby-doll shoes

Well, it's a-one, two, a-pull off my shoes 
Three, four, get out on the floor
Five, six, come get your kicks
Down on the corner of Lincoln and a-forty-six

Yeah! Well, let's go now!!

Well, it's a-one, two, a-pull off my shoes
Three, four, get out on the floor
Five, six, come get your kicks
Down on the corner of Lincoln and a-forty-six

You gotta move, start rockin' baby
a rockin', rockin' baby
Gonna rock all night, rock all night
Just wait 'n' see...... Yeah!!

A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues
Composer(s): Terry Thompson
First release by: Arthur Alexander - 1961
Covered by multiple other artists



Well, if your hands start a-clapping 
And your fingers start a-popping 
And your feet start a-moving around 
And if you start to swing and sway 
When the band starts to play 
A real cool way out sound 
And if you get to can't help it and you can't sit down 
You feel like you got to move around 

You get a shot of rhythm and blues. 
With just a little rock and roll on the side 
Just for good measure. Get a pair of dancing shoes 
Well, with your lover by your side 
Don't you know you're gonna have a rocking time, come on! 
Don't you worry 'bout a thing 
If you start to dance and sing 
And chills come up on you 
And if the rhythm finally gets you and the beat gets you too 
Well, here's something for you to do 

Get a shot of rhythm and blues 
With just a little rock and roll on the side 
Just for good measure 
Get a pair of dancing shoes 
Well, with your lover by your side 
Don't you know you're gonna have a rocking time, come on! 
Don't you worry 'bout a thing 
If you start to dance and sing 
And chills come up on you 
And if the rhythm finally gets you and the beat gets you too 
Well, here's something for you to do 

Get a shot of rhythm and blues 
Get a pair of dancing shoes 
Get a shot of rhythm and blues 
Well, with your lover by your side 
Don't you know you're gonna have a rocking time, come on! 
Don't you worry 'bout a thing 
If you start to dance and sing 
And chills come up on you 
And if the rhythm finally gets you and the beat gets you too 
Well, here's something for you to do
Well, here's something for you to do
Well, here's something for you to do

Waitin' For The Wind
Composer(s): Luther Grosvenor; Mike Harrison; Gary Wright
Performer(s): Spooky Tooth



Lonely is the night
Now that darkness has fallin'
Nothing seems right
And the world is callin'

Everybody's looking back
As the wind comes whispering by
The're waitin' for the answers then
Like the time they heard a cry

Hang on
Don't ever go
Life's here
I know

Wind called on me
How it took me by surprise
Cause night come upon me
Creeping through the distant skies

Wind tell me what you can
'Bout the life - what I came from
A breeze blew and whispered then
In a voice rich as the sun

Hang on
Don't ever go
Life's here
I know

A Shine On Your Shoes
Composer(s): Arthur Schwartz - Howard Dietz
Performer(s): Roger Wolfe Kahn
and multiple other artists



When there's a shine on your shoes
There's a melody in your heart
With a singable, happy feeling
What a wonderful way to start
To face the world every day
With a "deedle-um-dee-di-di"
Little melody that is making the world go by

When you walk down the street
With a happy-go-lucky beat
You'll find a lot in what I'm repeating
When there's a shine on your shoes
There's a melody in your heart
What a wonderful way to start the day

Waitin' For The Train To Come In
Composer(s): Martin Block; Sunny Skylar
Performer(s): Peggy Lee;
and various other artists



Waitin' for the train to come in
Waitin' for my man to come home

I've counted every minute of each live-long day
Been so melancholy since he went away

I've shed a million teardrops or more
Waitin' for the one I adore

I'm waitin' in the depot by the railroad track
Lookin' for the choo-choo train that brings him back
I'm waitin' for my life to begin
Waitin' for the train to come in

I'm waitin' in the depot by the railroad track
Lookin' for the choo-choo train that brings him back
I'm waitin' for my life to begin
Waitin' for the train to come in

Waitin', just waitin'
I'm waitin' for the train to come in