Lyrics
north of clear lake
​
they closed the doors on north shore drive and turned out all the lights
the kids all left the ballroom and headed out into the night
someone tossed a coin as the frost began to bite right to the core
but they knew it was over as the snow began to fall
​
yes the snow fell on the mid-west in the winter of '59
a few miles north of clear lake west of highway 35
falling softly where they never made the climb above the shore
just above the horizon was all they were looking for
with no stars to guide them nothing mattered any more
​
from llano estacado all across the western plains
never thought those days would ever end
in the early morning hours when shadows start to fade
lights from mason city seem to falter in the haze
for the early morning traffic it’s just another working day like before
for maria santiago nothing matters anymore
the sun rose on the midwest in the spring of ‘59
50 years rolled over like the winter left behind
and we all sang the songs just one last time – like before
but we knew it was over nothing mattered anymore
​
​
silver coin
now that I’m older I know I’m not old enough to know
what it is to be lonesome what it is to be without a home
but i've a friend in mind who loves me rain or shine
don’t ask me why
but her younger eyes are so much older eyes than mine
i thought i was well read that I wouldn’t need to ask her for a lead
but when i read what her eyes said i knew i had nothing more to read
nothing more to say no nothing more to do
but throw all my words away
on someone who needs them who can’t find a woman like you.
i ran all the way here to be the first to see the rising star
but there were others before me the sound of beauty travels far
i hear it sweet and clear and it rings like a silver coin
thrown down on stone
and though i'm lost in a crowd i just know she’s around me somehow
no where else to go
i'm looking out at the stars tonight across the western sky
the whole thing moving at the speed of light don’t know where or why
maybe it’s just a great escape heaven only knows
they’ll all be back tomorrow night ’cause for now
they've got nowhere else to go
he never said he was done with this he said i'm going to see it through
didn’t matter if they shook their heads the doctors don't have a clue
you and me we should head out east maybe go to mexico
but when he closed his eyes i realised that for now
he had nowhere else to go
i might go down to the waterfront looking out to sea
thinking about what a friend had said something that he said to me
i watch the waves come rolling in breaking on the rocks below
from far across the sea they come but for now
they’ve got nowhere else to go
i might go down to mexico maybe leave for spain
spend some time in the western isles head out south again
looking out at the sea and the stars there’s a woman i used to know
she waited for me all these years 'cause she knew
i had nowhere else to go
​
that was then this is now
i've been living in empty spaces kicking over all the traces
trying to find a place to settle down
i ain’t sad and i ain’t lonely just going nowhere slowly
that was then this is now
up and down the same old highway 90 miles of neon light my way
but one by one those lights give out
every road i ride gets darker every bend a little sharper
that was then this is now
sometimes when the night is falling i can hear those voices calling
and i turn on the radio
those good old boys in country drive-thru’s,
hit their horns and play them dance tunes
that was then this is now
broken hearts they need mending with cadilliacs and conversations
beat the drum and blow those trumpets loud
i’m doing fine but thanks for asking made it home and i'm still standing
that was then this is now
one of these days
one of these days i’ll see the horizon
see the sun slide into the sea
watch the flood tide and the water rising
hear a footstep hear a key.
one of these days i’ll stand on the outside
no more sorrow no more shame
no more sighing no more crying
one of these days i’ll be free again
there are times when you stumble
when your neighbour he’ll lay you aside
the river is deep and the water troubled
and you can’t see to the other side
but one of these days i'll walk on that shore line
in the north wind the cold and the rain
and together we’ll walk on the water
one of these days I’ll be free again
​
from here to rosedale
​
just another poor boy riding freight
playing on some heartstrings though his playing wasn’t great
young enough to pity old enough to hate he was …
down down down
across the highway dark and cold
the moon was rising and it ran with blood and gold
jerusalem was over and he sold his soul he was …
down down down
​
from here to rosedale leroy sang the blues
satan on his shoulder stones was in his shoes
that boy had nothing nothing left to lose
he was down down down
up and down the delta somewhere down the line
standing on some corner with the devil right behind
you'll cry for a nickel die for a dime when you’re …
down down down
he climbed aboard for one last ride
nobody saw him everybody passed him by
but when leroy sang the blues the whole world cried
they were down down down
​
​
