1. |
Come Right In
03:03
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©2017 Marlon St. John & Ella St. John/Work Song
You don’t need somebody to say where you belong
You don’t need anybody to tell you what’s wrong
When you need someone with whom to confide
Come right in, Come right in…
Everyone’s got their reasons, even small thing’s got pride
big and tall ones, nearly all ones, need a shelter inside
If there’s one thing I know, it’s where you should go
Come right in, Come right in…
Pick up the front room, pick up the phone
long distant calls get expensive when there’s no one at home
Here’s where you live with me; here’s where you belong
Come right in, Come right in…
Do you need any cold drink? You need a small dish?
Where ever you find it, it’s somewhere ‘round here if you wish
Don’t be a stranger, no need to knock it’s open
Come right in, Come right in
Come right in, Come right in
Come right in, Come right in
Come right in, Come right in
Come right in, Come right in
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2. |
Don't Keep Me Guessin'
03:14
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©1990 Marlon St. John/Work Song
I’m free and I go where I want to go to
Nobody doing this or saying that, I’m out of here in nothing flat
Am I bothering you?
I’m free
Freedom’s gone when you lay down your voice
Or give it to someone who will leave you with
absolutely no choice
I’m free, I’m free, free…
I’m free
From twelve to fifteen I danced the disco
With my shiny shirt all silvery I practiced my delivery
Now I go where I go
I’m free
Freedom’s where you think what you please
Nobody listening or threatening, no eavesdropping no wiretapping
Up from off of my knees
I’m free, I’m free, free…
I’m free
But it’s the little things you hang on to
All else is sold it all must go, I think I know what I’m ‘bout to say to you
I’m free
And I go where I want to go to
Nobody doing this or saying that I’m out of here in nothing flat
Am I bothering you? Am I bothering you?
I’m free, I’m free, free…
I’m free, I’m free, free
Ooh, ooh, ooh, Selah, I’m free
Ooh, ooh, ooh, Selah, Selah, Selah,
I’m free, I’m free, free…
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3. |
Almost Enough
03:08
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©1999 Marlon St. John/Work Song
Almost enough love to go around
nearly every sweetheart at last has been found
practically no one is lonesome, virtually all are satisfied
except the few, the weary few including you
I wish you had a story with a bright happy ending
I wish you had the guts to stand for a love that’s worth defending
Ninety-nine point nine percent receive in kind what they have sent
What have you done but run away from every truth?
[break]
I wish you had a story with a bright happy ending
I wish you had the guts to stand for a love that’s worth defending
Ninety-nine point nine percent receive in kind what they have sent
What have you done but run away from every truth?
Almost enough love to go around
We pass it on from one another that’s what life is all about
And those that are left remaining they must go without
It’s hardly fair, but what is fair after all
It’s hardly fair, but what is fair after all
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4. |
Stuck Car Horn
06:30
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©1997 Marlon St. John/Work Song
I was sitting by my window, sitting by my open window
There was a breeze blowing in, man was it nice
It was both cool and warm if you know what I mean
It was both cool and warm
And I was just sitting there listening to the quiet of the night
That hung on everything like rain
that hung on everything like rain after a storm
It was right about then that it started in with this stuck car horn
And it wouldn’t stop, that stuck car horn
It just kept blown that same crazy chord
No one did anything about it!
No one did anything about it
Good for nothing stuck car horn
Good for nothing stuck car horn
Stuck car horn
I had to listen, I had no choice
The night was full of desperate noise
The neighborhood dogs joined the symphony
And other cars honked like in empathy
Good for nothing stuck car horn
Good for nothing stuck car horn
Stuck car horn
And then it stopped, that stuck car horn
But the sound stayed in my head
And it wouldn’t let me go that stuck car horn
‘just kept blowing that same phantom note
Until everything was like that stuck car horn
Everything reminded me of that stuck car horn
I looked at my newspaper, stuck car horn
Looked at my television, stuck car horn
Looked at my smart phone, stuck car horn
Looked at my computer, stuck car horn
Looked at my congressman, stuck car horn
Looked at the life I live, stuck car horn
Good for nothing stuck car horn
Good for nothing stuck car horn
Stuck car horn
Oh, baby let me love you right this time
Oh, baby let me love you right this time
Oh, baby let me love you, you know I’ll love you
You know I’ll love you right this time
Good for nothing stuck car horn
Good for nothing stuck car horn
Stuck car horn
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5. |
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©1992 Marlon St. John/Work Song
There’s a great many numbers of ghosts in the kitchen
and I reckon there’s many more just down the hall
they turn over furniture and they steal my beer
I always talk softly so they don’t overhear
and then they get roaring drunk, or they get pretty near
and they knock around into my walls
and many’s the time I’ve been startled awake
by a a big inconsiderate one that’s named Jake
he’ll be snapping his fingers saying, “What’s that you said?”
Nothing at all, Jake, I was asleep in my bed
If I was talkin’ it was off of the top of my head
“Are you sure?” he says walking away
And when I come home after a hard day of living
They’re spinning records of Fats Domino
And I know that somewhere an explanation exists
Logic and reason easily handle this
But there’s a troubling fact amid the evidence
I don’t own any records of Fats Domino
And when I’ve told them they’ve broken my turntable needle
They look at me laughing, falling apart
And you must be thinking I’m losing my mind
Usually everything’s normal and most of the time
They hide in the shadows and I don’t even mind
But this time they’ve gone too far
This time they’ve gone too far
This time they’ve gone too far
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6. |
Me and The Planet Earth
02:14
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©1993 Marlon St. John/Work Song
Me and the planet Earth one day
we were strolling about
and I looked at her and she at me
we developed a philosophy
we hit it off in and offhand way
we got our thing, not much to say
Me and the planet Earth one day
Me and the planet Earth
And the stars all like to shout and talk
we just let them talk
and the moon’s aloof and cold and shy
but what does it matter to the planet Earth and I
no trickster games do we ever play
no innuendo do we overly
me and the planet Earth I say
me and the planet Earth
Me and the planet Earth
Me and the planet Earth
Me and the planet Earth
Me and the planet Earth
Me and the planet Earth one day
we were making our usual rounds
roaming through the deep, long night
full of silence and delight
and then at once without care
we suddenly grew listless there
and just as quick we slid apart
it liked to nearly break my heart
Me and the planet Earth
Me and the planet Earth
Me and the planet Earth
Me and the planet Earth
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7. |
I'm Free
04:22
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©2003 Marlon St. John/Work Song
I’m free and I go where I want to go to
Nobody doing this or saying that, I’m out of here in nothing flat
Am I bothering you?
I’m free
Freedom’s gone when you lay down your voice
Or give it to someone who will leave you with
absolutely no choice
I’m free, I’m free, free…
I’m free
From twelve to fifteen I danced the disco
With my shiny shirt all silvery I practiced my delivery
Now I go where I go
I’m free
Freedom’s where you think what you please
Nobody listening or threatening, no eavesdropping no wiretapping
Up from off of my knees
I’m free, I’m free, free…
I’m free
But it’s the little things you hang on to
All else is sold it all must go, I think I know what I’m ‘bout to say to you
I’m free
And I go where I want to go to
Nobody doing this or saying that I’m out of here in nothing flat
Am I bothering you? Am I bothering you?
I’m free, I’m free, free…
I’m free, I’m free, free
Ooh, ooh, ooh, Selah, I’m free
Ooh, ooh, ooh, Selah, Selah, Selah,
I’m free, I’m free, free…
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8. |
My Honeymoon
03:52
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©1997 Marlon St. John/Work Song
Now, I’m not one to reminisce nostalgically
my personal history, I save bits and pieces
champagne for two, some wedding clothes
a lamp with a reddish glow
a small cottage, a September moon
that was my honeymoon
We snuck away from family and friends
on a night with rain and mist
there was a threshold waiting there
a stubborn lock, I was fumbling with my key
with her in my arms all done up in lace
her face could light up a room
it’s all as clear as yesterday like a fond, familiar tune
that was my honeymoon
We didn’t travel to Paris
we didn’t go to St. Croix
it was only Indiana
might as well been Illinois
I mostly keep my memories to my self
'cause that's where they belong
but one in every while
one will rise to the surface
that bridal dress had so many buttons, yes
all up and down to undo
nineteen in all if I recall
my honeymoon, that was my honeymoon
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9. |
Twenty-two
03:07
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©2014 Marlon St. John/Work Song
Twenty-two, didn't know what to do
'thought about striking out
'heard about a plan to get a lotta men
to build bridges in Australia
It got me up pacing 'round
sounded pretty good to me..."
Leave or stay is not the question
where's my hat, where's my direction?
Then I heard they're going to build a replica
of the Great Pyramid of Giza
breaking ground in Memphis, Tennessee
It was in the evening newspaper
I was working setting steel
in Lafayette, Indiana
On TV was Joe Isuzu
Saying, if I'd lie, would I like to you, too?
In the summer of '87
they were questioning the Colonel
I was just knocking about
I was keeping rhymes internal
I was leaving, heading out the door
stopped and said, "What am I going there for?"
—and, do you know, that it is true...
you can get Tangled Up In Blue
I was playing blues in a band
called the Stabilizers
Then we changed our name to King Wing
'guess band names weren't our thing
The guitar player worked for Orville Redenbacher
and he played like Albert King
We sure could make the sheriff deputies
come to turn the sound down
You get something if you give something
if what you get ain't what you give
'Tell the boss the envelope's light
Then he'll pay you zero wrong or right
Coming home when you been nowhere
Is like not coming home at all
don't come 'round here cryin' to me
Haven't a told you already?
Twenty-two, didn't know what to do
'thought about striking out
'heard about a plan to get a lotta men
to build bridges in Australia
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10. |
Brothers
04:43
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©1993 Marlon St. John/Work Song
We belong in the afterlife
we belong in the here and now
we belong in the solid ground
we belong in the empty sky
And we will know by beating heart
speak it by its truest name
we were once we will remain
Brothers never far apart
Brothers never far apart
brothers never far apart
We were once we will remain
brothers never far apart
We are blood, we are flesh and blood
we are light rapped in shadows tight
given hope, indemnified
carried by a rushing flood
Brothers never far apart
brothers never far apart
We were once we will remain
brothers never far apart
The power of unspoken thought
will bridge the crevassed ground we share
divisions shall all disappear
in one tribe and circle we are brought
Brothers never far apart
brothers never far apart
We were once we will remain
brothers never far apart
‘Cause we belong in the afterlife
we belong in the here and now
we belong in the solid ground
we belong in the empty sky
And we will know by beating heart
speak it by its truest name
we were once we will remain
brothers never far apart
Brothers never far apart
brothers never far apart
We were once we will remain
brothers never far apart
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11. |
Travelin'
03:56
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©1986 Marlon St. John/Work Song
Well, the back roads offer nothing but long rides
cornfields with low yields and pesticides
this town should be a vague memory
instead you’re calling it home
And I believe I’ll go traveling
I believe I’ll be on my way
caught between the sea and the sycamore tree
my future’s about to begin
Well, no woman ‘round here dreams about me
and their ain’t no reason I shouldn’t be free
no occupation shackles me down
I could be just as lonely in another town
And I believe I’ll go traveling
I believe I’ll be on my way
caught between the sea and the sycamore tree
my journey’s about to begin
Well, I’m crossing the last familiar overpass
and wondering how long winter’s gonna last
Well, they’re talking about snow on the radio
but the station’s getting farther away
And I believe I’ll go traveling
I believe I’ll shake loose my strings
caught between the sea and the sycamore tree
my journey’s about to begin
caught between the sea and the sycamore tree
my journey’s about to begin
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12. |
Last of The Night
05:50
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©1995 Marlon St. John/Work Song
Tagger played a tune on paper and comb
Huntington was off again just skin and bones
Logan gave a benediction, and then out he tooled
Angel wished him well, but was nobody fooled
When the piano’s played poorly and your money’s run out
and everybody’s sayin’, “Now, let me tell you about…”
it’s pride talking, serves you well, just as right
you’re always late leaving, the last of the night
You’re always late leaving the last of the night
just when you say you gotta get along your words have no bite
someone says, ‘here, have another’ you don’t put up much of a fight
and you’re always late leaving, the last of the night
Go on and smile at miss hairstyle she sees right through you
you’ll never win her heart end to end, through and through
then again you might get lucky, with her you just might
and you’re always late leaving, the last of the night
You’re always late leaving the last of the night
just when you say you gotta get along your words have no bite
someone says, ‘here, have another’ you don’t put up much of a fight
and you’re always late leaving, the last of the night
Well, those small hours were precious to you I’d have guessed
when those high starts were rolling like they’ve been saving their best
but they’ve all faded away and lost all their light
and you’re always late leaving, the last of the night
You’re always late leaving the last of the night
just when you say you gotta get along your words have no bite
well, your full of good intentions, your intentions don’t serve you right
and you’re always late leaving, the last of the night
you’re always late leaving, the last of the night
you’re always late leaving, the last of the night
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Marlon St. John Chicago, Illinois
I'm a Chicago singer-songwriter and part of a dad/daughter trio with Abi and Ella St. John called the St. John Family Hour.
They make me sound better than I am, and I make them play with me when they can.
Over the years, I've been told I look like Art Buckwald and sound like Joe Cocker. I've been told I sound like Boxcar Willie. After a while you realize that the audience is always right.
... more
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