Written by Robert Johnson

Well I got stones in my passway
And my road is black as night
Yeah I got stones in my passway
And my road is black as night
I got some pains in my heart
And they steal my appetite

Well I got a bird to whistle
I got a bird to sing
Yes I got a bird to whistle
I got a bird to sing
I got a woman that I’m lovin'
But she don’t mean a thing

Well you try to take my life
All my money too
I said to ya baby
What you tryin' to do
I said please
Hey! Let us be friends
You hear me howlin’ in your passway
Baby please let me in

Well I got three legs to walk on
Baby, please don’t block my road
Yes I got three legs to walk on
Baby, please don’t block my road
All of my friends have betrayed me
And I’m booked and I got to go

Written by Son House

I got a letter this morning, what you reckon it read
“Hurry, hurry, the woman you love is dead”
I got a letter this morning, what you reckon it read
It said, “Hurry, hurry, the woman you love is dead”

So I grabbed up my suitcase, head out down the road
When I got there, she was lyin’ out on the cooling board
I grabbed up my suitcase, and I head out down the road
When I got there, she was laid out on that cooling board

Well I walked up right close, looked down on her face
Said “Good God gal, you gotta stay here ‘til Judgment Day”
Well I walked right up, and I looked down right on her face
I said “Good God, old gal, you gotta lay here ‘til Judgment Day”

Well it looked like to me ten thousand people standing ‘round
I didn’t know I loved her ‘til the sun went down
It looked like to me ten thousand people standing ‘round the burial ground
You know I didn’t know I loved her ‘til they laid her body down

I said, Lord have mercy
Come o with my soul
I won’t miss treat no body for my weight in gold
I said God have mercy on this man wicked soul
You know I wouldn’t mistreat nobody for my weigh in gold

Well I put my arms up and I swore to
I said, “Farewell, honey, I’ll see you Judgment Day”
Aww yeah, and then I walked away
I said, “Farewell, farewell, farewell, I’ll see you on Judgment Day”

You know I didn’t feel so bad ‘til the sun went down
Didn’t have nobody to throw my arms around
I didn’t feel so bad until I saw the sun go down
You know, I didn’t have a soul to put my arms around

I love you baby, like I love myself
But if you won’t have me, you won’t have nobody else
I love you honey, better than I did myself
But if you won’t have me, you won’t have nobody else

‘Cause you know love will make you do things you don’t want to
Sometimes love will make you feel so sad and blue
You know, it’s hard to love somebody when they don’t love you
No, there’s no satisfaction, none, no matter what you might do

I said, hush I thought I heard her call my name
It sounds so loud, it sounds so plain.
I said hush

Written by Woody Guthrie

Johnny Hart, he was a desperate little man
Carried a razor and a pistol every day
Cut down a man on the free state line
You should’ve seen Johnny Hart gettin’ away, oh Lord
Seen Johnny Hart gettin’ away

Johnny Hart made a run for the free state line
There he thought he’d be free
The man came walkin’ and grabbed him by the arm
Sayin’ Johnny come along with me, poor boy
Johnny come along with me

Johnny Hart, he wrote his mom and dad
Sayin’ come here and go my bail
But money won’t go his murdering charge
So they laid Johnny Hart back in jail, oh Lord
They laid Johnny Hart back in jail

Now the first one to visit Johnny Hart in jail
Was a girl with a rag on her head
Said I’d never thought I’d see you in that jail
I believe I’d rather see you dead, Johnny Hart
I believe I’d rather see you dead

Now the next one to visit Johnny Hart in jail
Was his loving wife she was so brave
Said I’d rather to see you in your winding sheet
Than to see you on that long rattling chain, dear God
Than to see you on that long rattling chain

Johnny Hart, he stood in his jail cell
And a tear ran down his eye
Said I’ve been the death of many a deputy sheriff
My six gun has never told a lie, no Lord
My six-gun has never told a lie

Hey Hey
Well I’ve run to the east, I’ve run to the west
I’ve run just as far as I can
If I ever get loose from this ball and chain
I’m gonna make it to the free state line, dear God
Make it to the free state line

You got guards to the east, guards to the west
You got guards this whole world round
But before I’ll be a slave I’ll rot in your grave
You can take me to my hangin’ ground, Mr. Jailer
Take me to my hangin’ ground

Written by Hoagy Carmichael and Paul Francis Webster

Baltimore Oriole
Took a look at the mercury, forty below
No life for a lady
To be draggin’ her feathers around in the snow
Leavin’ me blue, off she flew
To the Tangipahoa
Where a two-timin’ jaybird
Met the divine Miss O

I’d like to ruffle his plumage
Baltimore Oriole
Messed around with that big guy
‘til he singed her wings
Forgiving is easy it’s a woman like, now and then
Could happen to sing

Send her back home
Home ain’t home without her warbling
How she could sing
Make a lonely man happy, Baltimore Oriole

Send her back home
Home ain’t home without her warbling
How she could sing
Make a lonely man happy, Baltimore Oriole

Come down off that bough
Fly back home to your daddy now

Baltimore Oriole

Written by Dicky Doo A.K.A. Dave Allard and Marion Smith

I read your letter darling
Tears filled my eyes
All of the promises you made
Were nothing but lies
So I turned your photograph over
Face to the wall
And when I dim the lights in my room tonight
Teardrops will fall

(Chorus)
Teardrops will fall tonight
Tears I can’t hide
Tears that I’d rather keep deep down inside
Tears from a love that’s gone
Beyond these walls
And when I dim the lights in my room tonight
Teardrops will fall

I’m gonna pray tonight baby
Hopin’ you will hear
And maybe you’ll right all those wrongs
And dry each tear
I sit alone tonight
Hopin’ you will call
And when I dim the lights in my room tonight
Teardrops will fall

(Chorus)
Teardrops will fall tonight
Tears I can’t hide
Tears that I’d rather keep deep down inside
Tears from a love that’s gone
Beyond these walls
And when I dim the lights in my room tonight
Teardrops will fall

(Chorus)
Teardrops will fall tonight
Tears I can’t hide
Tears that I’d rather keep deep down inside
Tears from a love that’s gone
Beyond these walls
And when I dim the lights in my room tonight
When I dim the light in my room tonight
Teardrops will fall

Traditional with Revised Lyrics Written by John Mellencamp

Diamond Joe come get me
Diamond Joe come get me
Diamond Joe where you find me
Diamond Joe
Well I got up this morning before the rising sun
I thought I heard him call my name, but I saw no one
There’s some up in those buildings and some out on the farm
Some have gone to the graveyard and some are heading home

(Chorus)
Diamond Joe, come and get me
Diamond Joe, come and get me
Diamond Joe, come and get me, Diamond Joe

The minutes feel like hours, the hours feel like days
Sometimes the dog will stay at home, sometimes he’ll run away
If I don’t go crazy, I’m bound to lose my mind
I can’t see nothing breaking, boys, nothing but a long sight line

(Chorus)
Diamond Joe, come and get me
Diamond Joe, come and get me
Diamond Joe, come and get me, Diamond Joe

Well I don’t come from the city and I ain’t gonna work on this farm
Seems like every place I go wants to do me some harm
So go tell Aunt Mary and my Uncle Jones
Every time that you see me crying, that’s my train fare home

(Chorus)
Diamond Joe, come and get me
Diamond Joe, come and get me
Diamond Joe, come and get me, Diamond Joe

(Chorus)
Diamond Joe, come and get me
Diamond Joe, come and get me
Diamond Joe, yeah come and get me, Diamond Joe

Written by Sylvia Dee and Arthur Kent

Why does the sun go on shining
Why does the sea rush to shore
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
‘Cause you don’t love me anymore

Why do the birds go on singing
Why do the stars shine above
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when I lost your love

I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything’s the same as it was
I can’t understand, no I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it does

I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything’s the same as it was
I can’t understand, no I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it does

Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye

Written by Willie Dixon

Yeah
Meet me at the bottom
Bring me them runnin’ shoes
Hey you can meet me at the bottom
Bring me them runnin’ shoes
I’ll be comin’ out the window
I got no time to lose

You see me streakin’ by
Hey I cannot be late
You see me streakin’ by
Please don’t let me be late
I’m movin’, movin’
‘Cause my life is at stake

Somebody told me
Her old man don’t shoot no blanks
Somebody told me
Her old man won’t be shootin’ no blanks
Don’t want to be bleeding
All over those ol’ river banks

Hey
I hope you see me
When I come streakin’ by
I hope you see me
When I come streakin’ by
Bad ol’ man and I’m too young to die
Bad ol’ man and I’m too young to die
She got that mean ol’ man
And I’m too young to die

Written by Lucinda Williams

Oh my sweet Lafayette
How I’m gonna miss you
You feel so good, Lafayette
Now I’ve come back to greet you
Tell all my friends
I’ve come back again
I couldn’t stay away
I was gone only a day
But I’m coming back
To my sweet Lafayette

I’m goin’ down Lafayette
I don’t care how long I’m gone
It’s hard to leave you, Lafayette
Now I know where I belong
When that sweet fiddle sounds
And Clifton gets down
Music sounds so good to me
I might just dance until three
When I get back
To my sweet Lafayette

Oh those girls, Lafayette
Smilin’ so pretty
Those sweet girls, Lafayette
Sure think the world of me
Danced all night long
To a sweet Cajun song
Drinkin’ and jivin’ ‘til dawn
I could dance on and on
Doin’ a two step
In my sweet Lafayette

Take me back, Lafayette
Way down on the bayou
Here I am, Lafayette
And I’m gonna hang around
Eatin’ that gumbo
And rollin’ and tumblin’
Do crazy things every night
Soon I’ll be feelin’ alright
When I get back
To my sweet Lafayette
When I get back
To my sweet Lafayette

Written by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie McCoy

Police comin’ with a ball and chain
Oooh-ooh
Police comin’ with a ball and chain
Accusing me of murder
I never hurt no one

Well some got six months, some got one solid year
Oooh-ooh
Some got six months, some got one solid year
Take a look at me baby I got a lifetime here

Well lawyer pleaded, clerk he wrote it down
Oooh-ooh
Lawyer pleaded, clerk he wrote it down
When the judge passed my sentence
I was Joliet bound

Well police shoot the gun, pain all in my side
Oooh-ooh
Police shoot the gun, pain all in my side
If you run with me, baby, you know you’re bound to die

Heya
You wanna quit me baby, first thing you wanna do
Oooh-ooh
You gonna quit me baby, first thing you wanna do
Someday you gonna want me
And hey I won’t want you

When they had my trial, you could not be found
Oooh-ooh
Had my trial, you could not be found
Yeah, I got all messed up
Now I’m Joliet bound
Hey

Traditional

Tell me who’s that writin’
Tell me who’s that writin’
Tell me who’s that writin’
John the Revelator
He wrote the book on the seven seals

You know God walked down in the cool of the day
Called Adam by his name
He refused to answer
‘Cause he was naked and ashamed, yeah
Naked and ashamed

Who’s that writin
Tell me who’s that writin’
John the Revelator
Tell me who’s that writin’
John the Revelator
He wrote the book on the seven seals

You know Christ had twelve apostles (oh yes he did)
And three he led away
He said watch with me one hour
As I go yonder to pray

Tell me who’s that writin’
John the Revelator
Tell me who’s that writin’
John the Revelator
Tell me who’s that writin’
John the Revelator
He wrote the book on the seven seals

You know that Christ came on Easter morning
Mary and Martha were there to see
Go tell my disciples to meet me in Galilee
And when he looked around
He saw feet just like brass
They tell me eyes like fire, head like steel
And voices singin’
Take me higher, Take me higher
a singin'
Take me higher Take me higher
a singin'
Take me higher Take me higher

Tell me who’s that writin’
Tell me who’s that writin’
John the Revelator
Tell me who’s that writin’
John the Revelator
He wrote the book on the seven seals

Traditional with Revised Lyrics Written by John Mellencamp

Eight years of peace and prosperity
Scandal in the White House
An election is what we need
From coast to coast to Washington

So America voted on a president
No one kept count
On how the election went
From Florida to Washington

Goddamn, said one side
And the other said the same
Both looked pretty guilty
But no one took the blame
From coast to coast to Washington

So a new man in the White House
With a familiar name
Said he had some fresh ideas
But it’s worse now since he came
From Texas to Washington

And he wants to fight with many
And he says it’s not for oil
He sent out the National Guard
To police the world
From Baghdad to Washington

What is the thought process
To take a human life
What would be the reason
To think that this is right
From heaven to Washington
From Jesus Christ to Washington

ALBUM CREDITS:

Andy York: National Guitar, Acoustic Guitars, Bass
Mike Wanchic: Mandolin, Acoustic and Electric Guitars
Dane Clark: Cocktail Kit, Drums, Percussion
Miriam Sturm: Violin and Viola
Michael Ramos: Accordion, Field Organ, Hammond B-3
Toby Myers: Upright Bass
Pat Peterson: Background Vocals, Tambourine
Courtney Kaiser: Background Vocals, Washboard
Heather Headley: Background Vocals
Janas Hoyt: Background Vocals
Michael Clark: Pedal Steel
T. Blade: Kazoo

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

Produced by: John Mellencamp
Recorded at Belmont Mall, Nashville, IN from February 10 to February 29, 2003
Engineered by: Ray Kennedy and Paul Mahern
Assistant Engineer: Scott Davis
Technical Engineers: Mike Stucker and Ross Alexander
Mixed by: Paul Mahern, Mike Wanchic and John Mellencamp at Belmont Mall, March 2003
Mastered by: Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering & DVD, Portland, ME
Photography by: Elaine Mellencamp
Hand Lettering: John Mellencamp
Design: George Corsillo/Design Monsters

This album was dedicated to:
Timothy White 1952 - 2002 and to Laura Mellencamp
"Life is short, even in its Longest days"