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1. |
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Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a blowtorch burning
I was a key that could use a little turning
So tired that I couldn't even sleep
So many secrets I couldn't keep
Promised myself I wouldn't weep
One more promise I couldn't keep
It seems no one can help me now
I'm in too deep
There's no way out
This time I have really led myself astray
Runaway train never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there
Can you help me remember how to smile?
Make it somehow seem worthwhile
How on earth did I get so jaded?
Life's mysteries seem so faded
I can go where no one else goes
I know what no one else knows
Here I am, just drowning in the rain
With a ticket to a runaway train
And everything seems cut and dry
Day and night
Earth and sky
Somehow I just don't believe it
Runaway train never going back
Wrong way down a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there
Bought a ticket for a runaway train
Like a madman laughing at the rain
Little out of touch, little insane
It's just easier than dealing with the pain
Runaway train never going back
Wrong way down a one-way track
Feels like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there
Runaway train never going back
Runaway train tearing up the track
Runaway train burning in my veins
I run away, but it always seems the same
Same
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2. |
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Well they call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
Down we go
They call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
I ain't got me nobody, no
I don't carry me no load
Ain't no change in the weather
Ain't no change in me
Ain't no change in the weather
Ain't no changing in me
I ain't hidin' from nobody
Nobody's hidin' from me
That's the way it's supposed to be
Well, I got that green light, baby
I got to keep movin' on (here we go)
I got that green light, baby oh
I got to keep movin' on
Well, I might get out to California
Might go to Georgia, I don't know
Hell, I don’t know
They call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
Well, they
Well, they call me the breeze
Hell, I keep blowin' down the road
I ain't got me nobody
Don't carry me no load
I ain't got me nobody
I don't carry no load, no load
Oh, Mr. Breeze
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3. |
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I’m a backseat driver from America
We drive to the left on Falls Road
And the man at the wheel's name is Seamus
We pass a child on the corner he knows
And Seamus says, "Now, what chance has that kid got?"
I say from the back, "I don't know."
He says, "There's barbed wire at all of these exits
And there ain't no place in Belfast for that kid to go."
Cause It's a hard life
Hard life
A very hard life
A hard life wherever you go
And if we poison our children with hatred
Then, the hard life is all that they'll know
And there ain't no place in Belfast for that kid to go
A cafeteria line in Chicago
The fat man in front of me
Is calling black people trash to his children
But he's the only trash here I see
And I'm thinking this man wears a white hood
In the night when his children should sleep
But, they’ll slip to their windows and they’ll see him
And they’ll think that white hood's all they need
Cause It's a hard life
Hard life
A very hard life
A hard life wherever you go
And if we poison our children with hatred
Then a hard life is all that they'll know
And there ain't no place in Chicago for those kids to go
It’s a hard life
I was a child in the sixties
When dreams could be held through TV
With Disney, and Cronkite, and Martin Luther
And I believed, I believed, I believed
Now, a backseat driver from America
I am not at the wheel of control
And I am guilty, I am war, I am the root of all evil
Lord, and I can't drive on the left side of the road
Cause It's a hard life
Hard life
A very hard life
A hard life wherever you go
And if we poison our children with hatred
Then, a hard life is all that they'll know
And there ain't no place in this world for those kids to go
Cause It's a hard life wherever you go
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4. |
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One evening, as the sun went down
The jungle fire was burning
Down the track came a hobo hiking
And he said, "Boys, I'm not turning
I'm headed for a land that's far away
Beside the crystal fountains
So come with me, we'll go and see
The Big Rock Candy Mountains"
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
There's a land that's fair and bright
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out every night
Where the boxcars are all empty
And the sun shines every day
And the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees
The lemonade springs, where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
All the cops have wooden legs
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth
And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs
The farmers' trees are full of fruit
And the barns are full of hay
Oh, I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow
Where the rain don't fall, the wind don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come a-trickling down the rocks
And brakemen have to tip their hats
And the railway bulls are blind
There's a lake of stew, and of whiskey too
You can paddle all around 'em in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
The jails are made of tin
And you can walk right out again
As soon as you are in
There ain't no short-handled shovels
No axes, saws or picks
I'm a-goin' to stay where you sleep all day
Where they hung the jerk that invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
I'll see you all this comin' fall
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
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5. |
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Seems like it's always midnight
Sweepin' up broken glass after every fight
But the sound of a train that I could have been on
Remindin' me that the last one's gone
With you it's always midnight
Are you blind?
Can't you see me standin' here waitin' in line for you?
Are you mine?
Not just when you wanna be over the top, are you?
Are you blind?
Don't you see me standin' here, won't you tell me what it is
I'm waiting to find?
You're right, I must be crazy
You're out gettin' high, I'm here pretendin' I'm in love
The sound of your heart, my head on your chest
Dropped your hands to your sides and gave up
I'd rather be crazy than right tonight
Are you blind?
Can't you see me standin' here waitin' in line for you?
Are you mine?
Not just when you wanna be over the top, are you?
Are you blind?
Don't you see me standin' here, won't you tell me what it is
I'm waiting to find?
A way to get back to you, a way to get outta here
I don't wanna be alone at midnight anymore
How do I get away?
I wanna see you in the daylight
I don't wanna be alone at midnight anymore
But the sound of a train that I should have been on
Remindin' me that the last one's gone
With you it's always midnight
Are you blind?
Can't you see me standin' here, waitin' in line for you?
Are you mine?
Not just when you wanna be over the top, are you?
Are you blind?
Don't you see me standin' here, won't you tell me what it is
I'm waiting to find?
With you it's always midnight
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6. |
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Hey, kids, shake it loose together
The spotlight's hitting something
That's been known to change the weather
We'll kill the fatted calf tonight
So stick around
You're gonna hear electric music
Solid walls of sound
Say, Candy and Ronnie
Have you seen them yet?
Ooh, but they're so spaced out
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh, Bennie
She's really keen
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, oh
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Hey, kids, plug into the faithless
Maybe they're blinded
But Bennie makes them ageless
We shall survive, let us take ourselves along
Where we fight our parents out in the streets
To find who's right and who's wrong
Oh, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet?
Ooh, but they're so spaced out
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh, Bennie
She's really keen
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, oh
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Oh, Candy and Ronnie
Have you seen them yet?
Ooh, but they're so spaced out
B-B-B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh, Bennie
She's really keen
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, woah-oh
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets, alright
Oh, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie
Bennie and the Jets (alright)
Oh, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, B-Bennie
Bennie and the Jets
(Oh I got to sang that one more time)
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7. |
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Loneliness is the cloak you wear
A deep shade of blue is always there
The sun ain't gonna shine anymore
The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky
The tears are always clouding your eyes
When you're without love, oh yeah
Emptiness is the place you're in
There's nothing to lose but no more to win
The sun ain't gonna shine anymore
The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky
The tears are always clouding your eyes
When you're without love
Lonely, without you, baby
Girl, I need you
I can't go on
(The sun ain't gonna shine anymore)
The sun ain't gonna shine anymore
(The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky)
The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky
(The tears are always clouding your eyes)
The tears are always clouding your eyes
(Sun ain't gonna shine anymore)
When you're without love, oh yeah
Baby!
(The sun ain't gonna shine anymore)
The sun ain't gonna shine anymore
(The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky)
The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky
(The tears are always clouding your eyes)
The tears are always clouding your eyes
(Sun ain't gonna shine anymore)
Without love
(The sun ain't gonna shine anymore)
The sun ain't gonna shine anymore
(The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky)
The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky
(The tears are always clouding your eyes)
The tears are always clouding your eyes
(Sun ain't gonna shine anymore)
Without love
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8. |
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I know a cat named Way-out Willie
He got a cool little chick named Rocking Millie
He can walk and stroll with Susie Q
And do that crazy hand jive too
Mama told Willie “You’ll ruin my home
You and that hand jive’s gotta go”
Willie said “Papa don’t put me down
Been doing that hand jive all over town”
Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive
Doing that crazy hand jive
Mama, mama, look at Uncle Joe (look at him)
He’s doing the hand jive with Sister Flo
Even gave baby sister a dime (hey, hey)
Say, do that hand jive one more time
Well the doctor and the lawyer and a native chief
They all dig that crazy beat
Way-out Willie gave them all a treat, yeah
When he did that hand jive with his feet
Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive
Doing that crazy hand jive
Hey, yeah
Well, Willie and Millie got married last fall
They got a little Willie Junior and that ain't all
Y’know that baby’s got crazy and it's plain to see
Doing that hand jive on TV
C’mon
Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive
Doing that crazy hand jive
Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive
Doing that crazy hand jive
Doing that crazy hand jive
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9. |
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Sweet wonderful you
You make me happy with the things you do
Oh, can it be so
This feeling follows me wherever I go
I never did believe in miracles
But I've a feeling it's time to try
I never did believe in the ways of magic
But I'm beginning to wonder why
I never did believe in miracles
But I've a feeling it's time to try
I never did believe in the ways of magic
But I'm beginning to wonder why
Don't, don't break the spell
It would be different and you know it will
You, you make loving fun
And I don't have to tell you but you're the only one
You, you make loving fun
(All I want to do)
You, you make loving fun
(All I want to do)
You, you make loving fun
(All I want to do)
You, you make loving fun
(All I want to do)
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10. |
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Well I don't know why I came here tonight
Got a feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
I got clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am stuck in the middle with you
Stuck in the middle with you
And I'm wondering what it is I should do
It's so hard to keep this smile from my face
Lose control, and run all over the place
I got clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am stuck in the middle with you
Well you started off with nothing
You're proud that you're a self-made man
Well your friends they all come crawling
Slap you on the back and say
Please
Please
Well I’m tryna make some sense of it all
But I see that it makes no sense at all
It’s so cool to go and sleep on the floor
I don't think that I can take anymore
I got clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am stuck in the middle with you
Yeah we started off with nothing
You're proud that you're a self-made man
Well your friends they all come crawling
Slap you on the back and say
Please
Please
Well I don't know why I came here tonight
Got a feeling something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
I got clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am stuck in the middle with you
Yeah, stuck in the middle with you
Oh, stuck in the middle with you
Yeah, stuck in the middle with you
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11. |
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Swaying room as the music starts
Strangers making the most of the dark
Two by two, their bodies become one
I see you through the smokey air
Can't you feel the weight of my stare?
You're so close, but still a world away
And what I'm dying to say, is that
I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new
You'll feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you
Crazy for you
Trying hard to control my heart
I walk over to where you are
Eye to eye, we need no words at all
Slowly now we begin to move
Every breath I'm deeper into you
Soon we two are standing still in time
And if you read my mind, you'll see
I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new
You'll feel it in my kiss
You'll feel it in my kiss
Because I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new
You'll feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you
Crazy for you
Crazy for you
Crazy for you
It's all brand new
I'm crazy for you
And you know it's true
I'm crazy, crazy for you
It's all brand new
I'm crazy for you
And you know it's true
I'm crazy for you
Crazy for you, baby
I’m crazy for you
Crazy for you, baby
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12. |
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Let me show you
What I'm made of
Good intentions are not enough
To get me through today
And this life
You're in the basement watching the TV
I'm on the second floor watching the ceiling
We sleep underneath the same big sky at night
I dream the same dream we can fly
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
But I am right beside you
In this life
Let me tell you who you really are
You're my comfort
You're not a superstar
I can reach up and bring you back down to the ground
And give you everything you dream about
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
But I am right beside you
In this life
I'll give you all the things that I never get
Give you all I have and have no regrets
Take you to the places that I've never been
Forgive you all the things that you can't forget
Take away the pain with my healing hand
Wash away your sins and set your spirit free
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
But I am right beside you
In this life
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
I am right beside you
In this life
Let me show you what I'm made of
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13. |
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Look over yonder
What do you see?
The sun is a-risin'
Most definitely
A new day is comin', whoo-hoo
People are changin'
Ain't it beautiful, whoo-hoo
Crystal blue persuasion
Better get ready
Gonna see the light
Love, love is the answer, whoo-hoo
And that's all right
So don't you give up now, whoo-hoo
It's so easy to find
Look to your soul (Look to your soul)
And open your mind
Crystal blue persuasion
It's a new vibration
Crystal blue persuasion
Crystal
Blue persuasion
Maybe tomorrow, whoo-hoo
When he looks down
In every green field, whoo-hoo
And every town
All of his children
In every nation
There'll be peace and good
Brotherhood
Crystal blue persuasion
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Crystal blue persuasion, aha
Crystal blue persuasion, aha
Crystal blue persuasion, aha (Oh)
Crystal blue persuasion, aha
Crystal blue persuasion, aha
Crystal blue persuasion, aha
Crystal blue persuasion, aha
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14. |
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Baby, baby, don't you leave me here to make it alone
'Cause I don't think that I could take it for a day on my own
Why would you wanna hurt me
When I love you, baby, can't you see
You're precious to me?
And I can't let you go
Baby, one day you'll see
That you'll always be
So precious to me
Well baby, baby ya can tell me when will we meet again
If I can't be your one and only then I'll have to pretend
Ah, that you're still with me
Boy, I love ya so affectionately
You're precious to me
(I love you so) and I can't let you go (can't let you go)
Baby, one day you'll see (boy can't you see)
That you'll always be (you'll always be)
So precious to me
Why would you wanna hurt me
When I love you, baby, can't you see
You're precious to me?
(I love you so) and I can't let you go (can't let you go)
Baby, one day you'll see (boy can't you see)
That you'll always be (you'll always be)
So precious to me, to me
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15. |
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Little child dry your crying eyes
How can I explain the fear you feel inside
'Cause you were born into this evil world
Where man is killing man and no one knows just why
What have we become just look what we have done
All that we destroyed you must build again
When the children cry let them know we tried
'Cause when the children sing then the new world begins
Little child you must show the way
To a better day for all the young
'Cause you were born for all the world to see
That we all can live with love and peace
No more presidents and all the wars will end
One united world all as one
When the children cry let them know we tried
'Cause when the children sing then the new world begins
What have we become just look what we have done
All that we destroyed you must build again
No more presidents and all the wars will end
One united world all as one
‘Cause when the children cry let them know we tried
When the children fight let them know it ain't right
When the children play let them know the way
'Cause when the children sing then the new world begins
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Blue Élan Records has been a believer in the mission of the Alliance for Children’s Rights for a long time. Over the years, we’ve been privileged to release two-holiday albums and various holiday singles to bring attention to the Alliance and the good that it does.
Precious to Me, an album executive produced by Blue Élan Records' very own artist Colin Devlin and label co-founder Kirk Pasich, revisits classic songs from over the years contributed by Grammy award-winning artists Soul Asylum, Gerry Beckley, Ozomatli, and more. Precious to Me includes songs that the artists love—and that we thought would be fun to cover—“Call Me the Breeze,” “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” “Always Midnight,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “The Sun Ain’t’ Gonna Shine Anymore,” “Willie and the Hand Jive,” and “Stuck in the Middle with You. Others are songs that we also love, but that we thought said something in their own way about helping children—“Runaway Train,” “It’s a Hard Life,” “You Make Loving Fun,” “Crazy for You,” “In This Life,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” “Precious to Me,” and “When the Children Cry.” Something within each of them resonated with the Alliance’s mission, with caring for children, and with wanting to make the future a better place for all children.
With this album, we hope to raise more awareness for the wonderful work the Alliance for Children’s Rights continues to do. We hope you enjoy it, and know that by listening, you’re helping the Alliance for Children’s Rights protect and advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable members of our society every day - foster children. For direct donations and more information about The Alliance for Children’s rights please visit
allianceforchildrensrights.org
released March 17, 2023