Tom Paxton

The conversation pauses, while the waiter pours our tea, This timely interruption is a great relief to me. I wish he'd stay all day, I'd never have to say, About the children. You're looking really lovely, and the dress is really you. The necklace I remember,...

I've got news of the very best kind About troubles that are falling behind About people that used to be blind Till they opened up their eyes to see It's news, when they begin to ask why They're poor until the day that they die They're tired of the pie i...

All night long, Dreaming badly, Feeling something's wrong. Faces crying As they fade away, Who can say where they were going. Where's their song Did they leave it in Their hearts too long. Were they waiting for A sunny day. Who can say who's wind is blowing....

Jesus loves Anita, or so it doth appear. Lately things are looking strange or dare I say it? - queer. In spite of controversy, so the morning paper said, She's retained her high commission to squeeze fruits for heavy bread. CHORUS: You squeeze mine, Anit...

What's your hurry? Just watch this. This is one you mustn't miss: Annie's going to sing her song, Called "Take Me Back Again." A drink for me, a drink for you; You're going to need a drink or two: Annie's going to sing her song, Called "Take Me Back Ag...

The gentle sound of your breathing, the murmur of the night The sounds that really belong in music and someday I just might Meantime I just lie here smiling wide wake at dawn And I wonder where my bad old days have gone Oh, I wonder where my bad old days have...

As a schoolboy I played with a plastic grenade It was gray and with caps it was loaded In the dirt we would cry and dramatically die As it flew to the air and exploded As a young man my dream was to be a marine My flag was worth all I could bring it The...

Ramblin' around this dirty old town Singin' for nickels and dimes Times getting rough I ain't got enough To buy me a bottle of wine Bottle of wine, fruit of the vine When you gonna let me get sober Leave me along, let me go home I wann'a go back and start ove...

Cindy's cryin' but it ain't no use - She's got a habit and she can't get loose. Stoppin' each and ev'ry man she meets, Gonna be a hooker on Bleecker Street. On Bleecker Street, Honey, makes you feel like cryin'. You said you'd leave it and I hope you're...

Clarissa Jones got bit on the heel by a rat and she hit it with a broom. He ran to the corner and stood there grinning like he owned the god damn' room. Clarissa Jones threw an iron at the rat and the rat just seemed to say, "Fine." He twitched his tail in...

Way down in Columbus, Georgia I wanna go back to Tennessee Way down in Columbus Stockade Folks all turned their backs on me Well, you can go and leave me if you want to Never let it cross your mind In your heart, you always love another You can leave m...

Governor Lamm spoke to old folks in Colorado, little darling Did you hear what the governor had to say? If you're growing too old in Colorado, little darling You should die and get out of the way Come and grow old with me in Colorado, little darling We'l...

I was angry with myself. I was lost and confused. There wasn't an unkind word or spiteful thought I hadn't used. All the anger I carried was bound to explode. I was walking in a rage down a long hard road. (Cho:) O Corrymeela, I need to rest myself. I n...

Civil rights leaders are a pain in the neck Can't hold a candle to Chang Kai Shek How do I know? I read it in the Daily News Ban the bombers are afraid of a fight Peace hurts business and that ain't right How do I know? I read it in the Daily News Daily...

I love the candle light, I love the soft violin I love the dark corner table, the bottle of wine But when I'm holding you, just when the music begins Honestly darling the kitchen will suit me just fine Dance in the kitchen honey, dance to the radio Right...

Back in the trees, where I learned to say "Please", where I begged for a taste from the table, she made me know there was need to go slow, when she taught me to dance in the shadows. Where were my hands that were mine to command? Now they seemed to be so...

Oh, the Deep Fork is a muddy river Near my home, near my home The Deep Fork is a muddy river Near my home, near my home And the Deep Fork is in Oklahoma Near my home, near my home The Deep Fork is in Oklahoma Near my home, near my home I can hear hou...

I find myself a fool I laugh too loudly, speak inanely I strive to seem so cool So self-possessed, I fail mainly All the hours I spend Examining my poor reflection To a childish end A simple glance in my direction But what if you should see me As t...

Don't be rude to a Rhinoceros Don't try pushing him aside In a cafeteria he will cause hysteria If his face isn't dried Give him silverware and napkins Place them neatly on his tray But don't be rude to a Rhinoceros Kindly step aside and let him have h...

Every time I hear a sweet bird singin', I think of you and I my dear, I think of you and I. When I hear the evenin' bells a-ringin', I hang my head and cry my dear, I hang my head and cry. And they will ring, and they will ri - i - ing When we are gone....

I have a dog, and his name is Fred. Poor old feller, he'd be better off dead, Than to live his life with me; Me being one old flea. Fred used to scratch his back and side, Poor old feller, I would run and hide, I'd drink me a big old beer, And wait til...

The summer sun was beating down, Oh pity would it show George Chester's office air conditioner Would no longer go. As pools of sweat rolled off his brow He had one reverie. He saw himself with his wife and kids In his cottage by the sea. He paid for...

Gettin' up early to see the mist still kissing the land I watch the sunrise the way the great creator planned I walk the long grass get my legs all covered with dew Gettin' up eary remembering you Gettin' up early remembering you Out in the meadow I see...

Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, Zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow; Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, We can stay all day. (Cho:) We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo; How about you, you, you? You can come too, too, too. We're going to the zoo, zoo, z...

Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, Zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow; Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, We can stay all day. We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo; How about you, you, you? You can come too, too, too. We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. See the el...

When the Good King Buzz was buzzin', I was halfway down the street Heard the sound of music and the sound of dancing feet Like a second-hand calliope just slightly out of key They all raised their voices in a harmony When the Good King High was risin', I...

I was out for a stroll, just a-walking a pup Checking the scene, seeing what was up I wasn't bothering nobody, I was easing on down the road Just behind me come a piddy piddy pat I said "Good Lord, tell me what was that" I turned and looked and my brain...

Father, Father build me a cabin fine. There I'll go at once and lay me down. Build for me a bed of pine, For I feel my time is a coming 'round. Love of mine, love of mine. Love of mine, love of mine. No daughter of mine will suffer shame. I'll build yo...

Now the High Sheriff of Hazard is a hard-working man. To be a fine sheriff is his only plan. He digs in our pockets he takes what he can, For he's the High Sheriff of Hazard. He looked through my pockets, He's searched them with care, But nary a nickel o...

As my aching head is begging for a sleep that will not come I rise and walk the morning street again I keep wondering how you're doing and I wonder where you are And I know I'll be all right, but I don't know when Hold onto me, babe, wherever you may be Hold o...

Tell the rose not to bloom, the stream to flow. Tell the rain not to fall, the tree to grow. Tell the high summer sky to lose its blue, but don’t tell that I don’t belong with you. You could send me away and I would go. I would go but I would not go too far....

Down by the Canadian River early one morning in spring I wondered what I might give her to go with a gold wedding ring The land that my granddaddy fought for The land where my two parents lie A piece of my sweet Oklahoma A home for my sweetheart and I H...

How beautiful upon the mountain Are the steps of those who walk in peace How beautiful upon the mountain Are the steps of those who walk in peace Across the bridge at Selma you came marching side by side In your eyes a new world on the way Hope was in your he...

It's a long and a dusty road A hot and a heavy load The folks I meet ain't always kind Some are bad, some are good Some have done the best they could Some have tried to ease my troublin' mind And I can't help but wonder Where I'm bound, where I'm bound Can't...

Ever again the morning creeps across your shoulder Through the frosted window pane the sun grows bolder Your hair flows down your pillow, you're still sleeping. I think I'll wake you now and hold you Tell you again the things I told you Behold I give you the...

I like the way you look when you don't know that I'm lookin' at you And everywhere you look you're seein' somethin' or somebody new I can see you startin' to smile but why I haven't a clue I like the way you look when you don't know that I'm lookin' at you...

If you can't come along, love, then you must stay behind You're bound to say farewell to me I must bid you goodbye, though I hate to see you cry But I'm bound for the mountains and the sea Fare thee well, bound for the mountains and the sea It's so hard to ex...

Oh the price of gold is rising out of sight And the dollar is in sorry shape tonight. What the dollar used to get us Now won't buy a head of lettuce. No, the economic forecast isn't bright. But amid the clouds I spot a shining ray. I can even glimpse a...

Everybody and his uncle is in debt, And the bankers and the brokers are upset. Goldman Sachs’s, Merrill Lynch’s Saw themselves as lead-pipe cinches, Now they’ve landed in the biggest screw-up yet. Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns and all their kind Have...

There is this thing about Fathers They live in their own zone They tell you, "Hi, how are you?" And then hand your mom the phone At things like sharing feelings Let's admit they are not great But the lucky ones have daughters Like my Jennifer and Kate...

Jennifer slept in her little bed With dreams of a rabbit in her little head Jennifer's rabbit, brown and white Left the house and went to town one night Along with a turtle and a kangaroo And seventeen monkeys from the city zoo They went for a ride on an...

Get up Jimmy Newman the morning is come The engine's are rumbling the coffee's all brewed Get up Jimmy Newman there's work to be done And why do you lie there still sleeping There's a waiting line forming to use the latrine And the sun is just opening the sky...

I bought a car; a beauty It was sexy, it was neat It made me feel about ten feet tall To turn the ignition key I bought a brand new barbecue And I put it in my yard And every morning's mail Brought another credit card I am a Jones boy Try keepin' up...

Oh, I have a little daughter and my daughter's name is Kate And she's every bit mischievous as a kitten on a skate With a bandage on her forehead and the bruises on her knees You would swear she'd fought with buccaneers upon the seven seas For it's up the sta...

Everyone wants to sit with Huey King of the Cat Cafe Just to be recognized by Huey Is enough to make one's day He never moves from his corner table Under the poster of Betty Grable Nothing escapes the notice of Huey King of the Cat Cafe All of the poe...

With a dark and rolling sea Between my love and me I keep walking through this cold hard town While I wait for better days I could use a place to stay Or a floor where I could lay my blanket down If I could beg, steal, or borrow A ticket on some boat or plane...

Let's go Michael Jackson's house The party never stops Be sure to bring your jammies Well, really, just the tops! 

May the sound of children be your music May your blessings be the ones you earn May your days be filled with sun May you deeply love someone May that someone love you in return And life - May yours be long and loving Peace - May you enjoy its blessing...

I got a letter from L.B.J It said, "This is your lucky day" It's time to put your khaki trousers on Though it may seem very queer We've got no jobs to give you here So we are sending you to Vietnam Lyndon Johnson told the nation Have no fear of escalation I a...

Fare thee well, my own true love Fare thee well, my dear For the ship is a-waiting and the wind blows high And I am bound away to the sea, Mary Ann And I am bound away to the sea, Mary Ann Ten thousand miles away from home Ten thousand miles or more Th...

Someone's morning begins, The phone in the next apartment is ringing, The man upstairs in the shower is singing loudly. Someone's morning begins, The shadows on his window are thinning, The picture on his dresser is grinning proudly. [Cho:] Morning aga...

My dog's bigger than your dog, My dog's bigger than yours, My dog's bigger And he chases mailmen, My dog's bigger than yours. My dog's better than your dog, My dog's better than yours, His name is King, And he had puppies, My dog's better than yours. My dad'...

Some ladies are foolish Some ladies are gay Some ladies are comely Some live while they may Chorus My lady's a wild flying dove My lady is wine She whispers each evening She's mine, mine, mine She likes pretty pictures She loves singing birds She'...

My son, John, was a good boy, and good to me. When we had hard times, well, he stood by me. We were in work and out of work and on the go. If he had complaints, I never heard of one. He would pitch in and help me like a full grown man. My son, John. John,...

It was a phone call in the night- The kind you hear before it rings. It was a phone call in the night, When you can hear an angel's wings. When you know before you answer That it's someone's time to die, And when I learned that it was you, And as I stoo...

Not tonight, Marie, it's been a day Of deals goin' down and bills to pay A lousy boss, a double cross And golden chances slipped away I'm tired, Marie and so depressed I hid my eyes while you undressed It's been a long hard day for me I'm tired, so not...

Now that I've taken my life, hiding the dampenings Scouring the stubborn stains erasing them carefully. Breaking the dreams of a life and interring them pray fully My telephone never stops ringing Now that I've taken my life Now that I've taken my life, plead...

On the road from Srebrenica, I saw a woman with two babies and one broken arm. She could only carry one, And one would have to stay behind to quickly die. The gunmen shouted orders, And the woman started moving down the road, While the baby in the blank...

Humankind has survived some disasters, I'm sure. Like locusts and flash floods and flu. There's never a moment when we've been secure From the ills that the flesh is heir to. If it isn't a war, it's some gruesome disease. If it isn't disease, then it's wa...

I spent my hungry young years running wild There was so much for me to do And I spent cities like a handful of change But I never quit looking for you One time and one time only Been such a long time lonely One time for all time it will be Been waiting...

Out behind the gypsy's, drinking someone's wine, Out behind the gypsy's, drinking someone's wine, Someone passed the smoke around, just a friendly toke around. I declare we all felt fine I declare we all felt fine Out behind the gypsy's waiting for a sign,...

Pulled into Jackson in the morning light, Saw the last of Jackson about ten last night, Had some chili, and caught a show, Deputy sheriff said time to go, Out of luck and out on another highway. Lord, lord, wouldn't I love to throw these shoes away, The...

I left the harbor at break of day, shook out my sail I've got splashes of salty foam coming over the rail I'm breathing easy ocean air, I'm sailing who the hell knows where I'm in pure motion out on the ocean Out on the ocean, out on the sea No where I n...

Outward bound, upon a ship that sails no ocean Outward bound, it has no crew but me and you All alone when just a minute ago the shore was filled with people With people that we knew So farewell, adieu, so long, vaya con Dios May they find whatever they are lo...

Peace, Peace will, Peace will come, And let it begin with me. We, We need, We need peace, And let it begin with me. Oh, my own life Is all I can hope to control. Oh, let my life, Be lived for the good, Good of my soul. Let it bring peace, Sweet p...

(For Phil Ochs) Words and Music by Tom Paxton I opened the paper, there was your picture, Gone, gone, gone by your own hand. I couldn't believe it, the paper was shakin', Gone, gone, gone by your own hand. I know I'm gonna spend the rest of my lifetime...

He was a man and a friend always. He stuck with me in the bad old days. He never cared if I had no dough, We rambled round in the rain and snow. So here's to you my Rambling Boy, May all your rambling bring you joy. So here's to you my Rambling Boy, May all y...

My love lies beside me breathing soft and slowly Deep in slumber holy out on a sapphire sea On her lips but barely a gentle smile is playing A hint of come what maying as she lies close to me She is the one touch of heaven I know Here on this vagabond pl...

She sits on the table in a dress made of paper Diplomas all over the wall One university, one school of medicine She's overwhelmed by it all The nurse is all sympathy, voice of experience: Let's have a look at that eye It's going to look bad for a week,...

Well I went out for a walk last week, I passed a shop they call a boutique. Fancy Dresses of every size, fancy wigs to pop your eyes. Bracelets, diamond rings, stuff for women too. Well I didn't want to see no more, I slipped inside the grocery store. I...

Spoken: "Ahhh... Let's do that again Do you believe that?" Well, when I landed in Vietnam I hardly got to see Saigon They shaped us up and called the roll and off we went on a long patrol Swappin' lies, swattin' flies, Firin' the odd shot here and t...

The first plane hit the other tower, right after I came in. It left a gaping, fiery hole where offices had been. We'd stood and watched in horror, as we saw the first ones fall, Then someone yelled "Get out, get out! They're trying to kill us all!" I grabbed...

Stephen Biko lay in shackles on a urine-sodden mattress In the solitary section, he was made to lie there naked Ah, ah! Given nothing he could wash with, exercise was not permitted Stephen Biko lay in shackles, compliments of Colonel Goosen Ah, ah, Africa...

Now there once was a young man, and he came to the big city Seeking a lucrative position commensurate with his talents And he walked the streets all day and he couldn't find a job Till at last he secured employment working in a stone quarry with all the oth...

I sit down each morning and I start to move my pen It's what I know that I was meant to do Without knowing how I find I write your name again Oh, it's always true the first song is for you Every time I start it's still the same When I move my pen it writ...

When I find myself with a song to write, I remember candles in the night. Voices raised in ragged harmony, Singing this land was made for you and me. Some of those voices are silent now and gone; I'm glad to see how you've been keeping on. I remember the...

I'm a guard in the great iron prison, at least I was 'till now. It was never a picnic social, never a date. They never come in laughing and you know they never taught them how It was damn hard work, and you wouldn't believe the pay. It was early in the mornin...

The orders came, the midnight rain Was driving down the window pane They rose like cattle, mess-kit rattle Showed them green and new to battle Out on the road, the mud knee-high The tortured trucks were slithering by Toward the ruptured, shattered sky...

It's a lesson too late for the learning Made of sand, made of sand In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin' In your hand, in your hand Are you going away with no word of farewell Will there be not a trace left behind Well, I could've loved you better, didn't...

When I was just a wee little lad full of health and joy, My father homeward came one night and gave to me a toy. A wonder to behold, it was, with many colors bright, And the moment I laid eyes on it it became my heart's delight. (Cho:) It went "zip" when...

Some friends and I have worked for years in deepest secrecy The work went on around the clock and I look for a treat We've built the perfect weapon, we're unveiling it today It turns the tanks to butter, but the people walk away. The bomb, the bomb, we fi...

A thought was born in the mind of a man And it didn't please you and it didn't please me. So we all got together and we made our plan To drown that thought in the deep blue sea. So we wrapped it up in a chain we bought For it didn't please you and it did...

Oh Sergeant I'm a draftee and I've just arrived in camp. I've come to wear the uniform and join the martial tramp. And I want to do my duty, but one thing I do implore You must give me lessons, sergeant, for I've never killed before. To do my job obedient...

There goes the mountain, father of fir trees Home for the grizzlies, under its snow Shorn of its timber, torn by the monsters Taken by truckloads to the great plains below There goes the mountain, the avalanche maker Heaven's caretaker, breeder of stream...

This world goes round and round Green leaves must turn to brown What goes up must come down It all comes back to you You find whatever you feel You lose whatever you steal Just like a spinning wheel The world goes round and round People knocking at th...

I see a long train comin' across the Polish plains The passengers it carries aint comin' back again. This train is bound for Auschwitz Like many another one The passengers condemned to die But no crime have they done They are jammed into the boxcars...

What a friend you are If I had a golden star I'd pin it on you For seeing it through with me, with me What a friend indeed Oh they all but had me[Incomprehensible] till you came along And you made me strong and free, and free When I needed you, you were ther...

What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine? What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine? I learned that Washington never told a lie. I learned that soldiers seldom die. I learned that everybody's free. And that's what th...

Late at night, somewhat tight Guardian angels put to flight Freddie's doused the neon light That promised while it shone Time to go, time to blow They don't push me 'cause they know I am still in my long ago When Annie took me home There, was I wondering why...

How can you do it? It's heartless, it's cruel It's murder, cold-blooded, it's gross To slay a poor vegetable just for your stew Or to serve with some cheese sauce on toast Have you no decency? Have you no shame? Have you no conscience, you cad To rip th...

When princes meet The poor little men must tremble In judgment seat They speak of their wars While great armies assemble Their armor shines To shame the sun They move like gods They do resemble All bow their necks To iron feet when princes meet W...

When we were good she had a way with me She'd simply stay with me and make my whole day ring When we were good she'd made the nights go fast She'd put out the lights so fast, she made my body sing Oh, she knew me inside out Oh, she made my senses shout And I...

When you shook your long hair down, when you sat beside me, all my terrors came to town and then began to ride me. I was left without a word, I lost my situation; when you shook your long hair down you shook my whole foundation. When you shook your long...

You are flying to Vienna, you have phones aboard your airplanes Sit at oaken tables and speak in solemn tones While the leaders of all nations keep a deep respectful silence You're moving pawns and bishops made of flesh and blood and bone But the white bo...

Whose garden was this? It must have been lovely. Did it have flowers? I've seen pictures of flowers, And I'd love to have smelled one ! Whose river was this? You say it ran freely? Blue was its color? I've seen blue in some pictures And I'd love to have been...

Willie Seton was a lad His age was just sixteen Golden curls run down his neck The fairest ever seen His true love was the prettiest thing In the countryside And after Willie courted her She swore to be his bride He had no gold to give her dad No go...

Wish I had a troubadour sitting by my knee, Playing stately rhythms of the ancient balladry. If I had a troubadour, I'd signal with my hand And he would sing for you, He would sing for you until you'd smile. Wish I had a castle clown with bells upon his hat....

You are the light in children's eyes You are the hope that never dies You are all the best in me And you forgive the rest in me You are courage wrapped in grace You are victory's laughing face You are Noah's returning dove You are love You are the we...

Quit your bellyachin', bub Sayin' you can't afford your grub Sayin' a dollar ain't a dollar no more Well tell me buddy, what's new? You can't afford to buy bread no more Well, this ain't a charity store You say your kids are hungry too Well, we've good...

One night as I was walking down Columbus Avenue The sushi bars were shuttered, and the dark cantina too I stood there in the darkness as an empty cab rolled by When all at once I heard the sound of yuppies in the sky The herd came down Columbus for as far...