Neil Young : American Stars 'N' Bars

Rock / Canada
(1977 - Reprise Records)
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Lyrics

1. THE OLD COUNTRY WALTZ

They were playing that old country waltz
In this empty bar echoin' off the wall
When I first got the bad news that you set me free
The band played the old country waltz to me

Well, I loved, and I lost, and I cried
The day that the two of us died
Ain't got no excuses
I just want to ride
While the band plays the old country waltz

Out the window the moon shines
On the roofs of the cars
While I knock down tequila and salt
And the band plays the old country waltz

And we're playin' it, that old country waltz
In this empty bar echoin' off the wall
Ain't got no excuses, we just want to play
That good old country waltz

I ain't got no excuses, I just want to play
That good old country waltz
That good old country waltz


2. SADDLE UP THE PALOMINO

Oh, oh, Carmelina
The daughter of the wealthy banker
Since she came to town all my friends are gone
And I'm stuck out here with melody

Saddle up the palomino, the sun is going down
The way I feel, this must be real

If you can't cut it, don't pick up the knife
There's no reward in your conscience stored
When you're sleepin' with another man's wife

Saddle up the palomino, the sun is going down
The way I feel, this must be real

I wanna lick the platter, the gravy doesn't matter
It's a cold bowl of chili when love lets you down
But it's the neighbor's wife
I'm after

Saddle up the palomino, the sun is going down
The way I feel, this must be real


3. HEY BABE

Hey babe, say you're mine, all mine.
I need it oh so bad.
Hey babe, hey babe.
I know that all things pass
Let's try to make this last

Oh, can you see my love shining for you
Oh, can you see my love shining for you

Hey babe, can I count on you
To see me through
Hey babe, hey babe
All I need is your love
And the stars above

Oh, can you see my love shining for you
Oh, can you see my love shining for you

Hey babe, say you're mine, all mine
I need you oh so bad
Hey babe, hey babe
I know that all things pass
Let's try to make this last

Oh, can you see my love shining for you
Oh, can you see my love shining for you

Hey babe, I know that all things pass
Let's try to make this last


4. HOLD BACK THE TEARS

Hello, my old friend
It's good to see you smiling
You've been around so long, you must be strong
And single life really has its fine points
Like friends to help you out when things go wrong

Hold back the tears
That you've been crying
Push off the fears
When they come around

Hold back the tears
And keep on trying
Just around the next corner
May be waiting your true love

Two lying fools
And then four crying eyes
Counting on one another to survive
Crazy love must surely have this pain
If getting up means going down again

Hold back the tears
That you've been crying
Push off the fears
When they come around.

Hold back the tears
And keep on trying
Just around the next corner
May be waiting your true love


5. BITE THE BULLET

There's a bar hall queen down in Charlotte town
I'd sure like to see her when the sun goes down
I swear her hair is midnight black
And I can't wait till I get back

Carolina queen
She's a walking love machine
I'd like to make her scream
When I bite the bullet
Bite the bullet

Born and raised at the top of the South.
You know she knows what it's all about.
Good old boys are coming from miles around.
Wanna watch that bullet lay them down.

Carolina queen,
She's a walking love machine
I'd like to make her scream
When I bite the bullet
Bite the bullet

There's a bar hall queen down in Charlotte town
I'd sure like to see her when the sun goes down
Good old boys are coming from miles around
Wanna watch that bullet lay them down

Carolina queen
She's a walking love machine
I'd like to make her scream
When I bite the bullet
Bite the bullet


6. STAR OF BETHLEHEM

Ain't it hard
When you wake up in the morning
And you find out that those other days are gone
All you have is memories of happiness
Lingering on.

You might wonder who can I turn to
On this cold and chilly night of gloom
The answer to that question
Is nowhere in this room.

All your dreams and your lovers won't protect you
They're only passing through you in the end.
They'll leave you stripped of all that they can get to
And wait for you to come back again

You might wonder who I can turn to
On this cold and chilly night of gloom
The answer to that question
Is nowhere in this room.

Yet still a light is shining
From that lamp on down the hall.
Maybe the star of Bethlehem
Wasn't a star at all.


7. WILL TO LOVE

It has often been my dream
To live with one who wasn't there
Like an ocean fish who swam upstream
Through nets, by hooks, and hungry bears.

When the water grew less deep
My fins were aching from the strain
I'm swimming in my sleep
I know I can't go back again.

Got the will to love, the will to love.
I'll never lose it, never lose the will to love
Never lose the will.
It's like something from up above.

I can be like a fire in the night
Always warm and giving off light
But there comes a time when I shine too bright
Oh, I'm just a fire in the night.

And now my fins are in the air
And my belly's scraping on the rocks
I still think someone really cares
And I'll keep swimming till I stop.

Got the will to love, the will to love
I'll never lose it, never lose the will to love
Never lose the will.
It's like something from up above.

I'm like a singer on the stage
With the golden lights and liquid rage
Down from the mountains to the sea
Cool running love keeps cleansing me.

It keeps my gills from getting dry
But it distorts things in my eyes
Sometimes I see what really isn't there
Like my true lover, and I care.

Got the will to love, the will to love.
I'll never lose it, never lose the will to love
Never lose the will.
It's like something from up above.

Sometimes I ramble on and on
And I repeat myself till all my friends are gone
And get lost in snow and drown in rain
And never feel the same again.

I remember the ocean from where I came
Just one of millions all the same
But somewhere someone calls my name
I'm a harpoon dodger, and I can't, won't be tamed.

Got the will to love, the will to love
I'll never lose it, never lose the will to love
Never lose the will
It's like something from up above.

Baby, if I see boredom in your eyes
I'll know my river has run dry
But I won't turn back with that lonely tide
I bought that ticket and I'll take that ride.

If we meet along the way
Please sway beside me, let us sway together
Our tails together and our fins and mind
We'll leave this water and let our scales shine
In the sun above and the sky below
So all the water and earth will know

It has often been my dream
To live with one who wasn't there.


8. LIKE A HURRICANE

Once I thought I saw you in a crowded hazy bar
Dancing on the light from star to star.
Far across the moonbeam
I know that's who you are
I saw your brown eyes turning once to fire.

You are like a hurricane
There's calm in your eye.
And I'm getting blown away
To somewhere safer where the feeling stays.
I want to love you but I'm getting blown away.

I am just a dreamer, but you are just a dream
You could have been anyone to me.
Before that moment you touched my lips
That perfect feeling when time just slips
Away between us on our foggy trip.

You are like a hurricane
There's calm in your eye.
And I'm getting blown away
To somewhere safer where the feeling stays.
I want to love you but I'm getting blown away

You are just a dreamer, and I am just a dream.
You could have been anyone to me.
Before that moment you touched my lips
That perfect feeling when time just slips
Away between us on our foggy trip.

You are like a hurricane
There's calm in your eye.
And I'm getting blown away
To somewhere safer where the feeling stays.
I want to love you but I'm getting blown away


9. HOMEGROWN

Homegrown is all right with me.
Homegrown is the way it should be.
Homegrown is a good thing.
Plant that bell and let it ring.

The sun comes up in the morning
Shines that light around.
One day, without no warning
Things start jumping up from the ground.

Well, homegrown is all right with me.
Homegrown is the way it should be.
Homegrown is a good thing.
Plant that bell and let it ring

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