To download the lyrics in PDF format, click here.
Lyrics from Steve’s Stoneway Close CD
1. The Old Fairgrounds (for Harry) (Steve Nelson / James Wold)
Lately, Harry's been singing in my memory
We were kind of lost we was both lonely
Remember when he told me
Life is but a dream
And it's not only everything it seems
It can be perfect
Depending how you work it
The circus is still in town
Here's hoping they hang around
Up at the old fairgrounds
It's a drag when the tent comes down
Baby, I was high up on the wire I was crazy
You jumped through hoops of fire just to save me
You talk about your moonbeam
Here you are still shining right into me
I'm thinking that you know
The way you move me
The way that you undo me
(Repeat Chorus--solo)
Sadie, sit over here where it's more shady
We'll have us a beer then let's get lazy
Maybe take in main street it certainly has changed
It's not the same street
Where you got my name
When we were married
And threw 'em back with Harry
(Repeat Chorus)
© 2010 Nelsounds SESAC / Your Parents Hate My Music SESAC
2. Trains (Helen Darling / Steve Nelson)
Amanda took the morning train
Right on time and in the rain
She played this day out in her mind
A thousand times
Bobby whispered to the cold steel tracks
I don't think she's coming back
But men like him they never cry
Or say goodbye
The whistle blows in Watertown
It screams right through the grey
And it reminds me when I hear that sound
They were never meant to stay oh
Trains just go that way
One time I heard that whistle moan
The day they brought his body home
He'd just left here six months before
For the war
Then she came back two weeks ago
And found his stone there in the snow
She left a rose in the freezing rain
Then she was gone on the five-nineteen
The whistle blows in Watertown
And it screams right through the grey
It reminds me when I hear that sound
They were never meant to stay no
Trains just go that way
And it happens every day
Trains just go that way
©2010 Voices Carry Music BMI / Nelsounds SESAC
3. Back On Trial (Steve Nelson)
I can peel bananas, and I'll eat them too
Roller skate around in this three piece suit
You make some funny faces and I'll smile at you
Just don't put me back on trial
I got a busy monkey business, it’s pretty much full time
Besides I never met this Darwin guy
I hear we're related, that's no fault of mine
Don't put me back on trial
Who got all the brains it's plain to see
Back on that monkey chain you jumped right over me
There's times that I'm amazed we're family
But don't get me wrong, I love what you've done with this place
You're all a credit to the human race
1925 in Dayton, Tennessee
Eighty years down, you're still shaking up the tree
From where I hang, you're a bunch of monkeyshines to me
Don't put me back on trial
Okay maybe you're the proof of an intelligent design
Me I'm just a monkey, that never crossed my mind
Let's just keep descending, it could change in time
Just don't put me back on trial
You know who got all the brains it's plain to see
Back on that monkey chain you jumped right over me
There's times when I'm amazed we're family
But don't get me wrong, I love what you've done with this place
Why let’s all take a bow right now for the human race
You’re beautiful!!
© 2010 Nelsounds / SESAC
4. Take Me (Steve Nelson / James Wold)
Been in a fog
No telling where to go
Cracks in the cogs
Every thing's turning slow
Slipping into a change of gear
Get us out of here
Get to somewhere where we both can breathe
Take me wherever you're going
Take me wake me up when it's all glowing
Well it could be tonight
It's all in sight right now
Into the light
I can imagine how
Stepping out of the same gray scene
This is not a dream
There's no waiting if we just proceed
I'm thinking that you
Take me wherever you're going
Take me wake me up when it's all glowing
(Bridge)
I’ll go ahead and pack some things
And bring along a song to sing
Take me wherever you're going
Take me wake me up when it's all glowing
© 2010 Nelsounds SESAC / Your Parents Hate My Music SESAC
5. Some Days It Plays Like A Waltz (Annie Mosher / Steve Nelson)
The dreamers, the haters, the anchored, the way wards
All here at humanity's ball
With each song they play us the band creates chaos
Desperation is shaking the walls
Behold this creation, un-civilization
There's times I lose hope for it all
Some days it feels like we don't stand a chance
And every step ends with a fall
But then there are days that just ask you to dance
Some days it plays like a waltz
Watching the mountain with stars all around
And a three quarter moon keeping time
Here in the stillness the peacefulness fills us
And without a sound it all rhymes
Those halcyon days have all gone on their way
But there's new ones just waiting to shine
Some days it feels like we don't stand a chance
And every step ends with a fall
But then there are days that just ask you to dance
Some days it plays like a waltz
© 2010 Cornflower Music ASCAP / Nelsounds SESAC
6. Weekend In A Coal Mine Town (Don Henry / Steve Nelson)
Hey big sister take me please
I have finished my chores
A buffalo nickel's all I need
Down at the general store
Watch the old men sit and pick
Stomping out a mountain song
Chewing on our licorice sticks
As we clog along
Old Blue barks the whistle blows
Daddy will be getting home soon
Black coal dust from head to toe
Smiling bright as the moon
Supper's served and momma prays
Lord watch over us all
The Philco glows as Acuff plays
Wabash Cannonball
Momma's in her sleeping gown
Sewing in the morning light
Patching' up a hand me down
For the big dance tonight
While we're playing' hide and seek
They're dancing' on the barnyard deck
Between Old Joe Clark and Cripple Creek
Daddy gave mom a peck
Morning comes the church bell rings
Echoing through the trees
As we sit down, the choir sings
Nearer My God To Thee
Preacher preaches 'til we're bored
Daddy says better settle down
Pass the plate and thank the Lord
For a weekend in a coal town
Weekend in a coal mine town
© 2010 Poppermost Music SESAC / Nelsounds SESAC
7. The Finish Line (Lisa Aschmann – Steve Nelson)
There's a crater off the Yucatan
From a long long time ago
Seems a six mile wide meteorite
Crashed into Mexico
We weren't even chimpanzees
It was just the dinosaurs
And when the dust had settled down
They were gone forevermore
Say so yeah that's how it goes
We're just a moment in time
We're running in the human race
And there's the finish line
There’s the finish line
An iceberg the size of Minnesota
Just fell into the sea
Which by the way is rising
Not like the global economy
Hey friends Romans and countrymen
We're headed for a fall
We'll probably see the writing
Just as we hit the wall
(Repeat Chorus)
(Bridge)
Every cockroach is excited
Every bee's a-buzz
Peace at last, yeah they're so jazzed
It'll be the way it was
(Repeat Chorus)
So say so that's how it goes
We're just a moment in time
Too many rats here in the race
And there's the finish line
There’s the finish line
© 2010 Nashville Geographic ASCAP / Nelsounds SESAC
8. Falling Off The World (Leslie Mills / Steve Nelson / Chris Pelcer)
Coming up for air from a deep blue feeling
Getting out of here on a slow ride she's gone
She's got all her bags at the bus stop waiting
Making up her mind and it's goodbye, so long
Don't trace her tracks, no plans to come back
Don't write, don't phone cause she's not home…..she's
Falling off the world
The disappearing girl
Catching her breath doing her very best
Cut herself free gonna be
Falling off the world
The disappearing girl
Don't look her up, down she's not around you see
She's falling off the world
Picture you and me in a romance movie
Then it fades to black and it's over and done
Heavy on my heart like a force of nature
Gravity's a grip that'll hold on so strong
Swing high, swing low, one two three go
Oh yeah, you bet she's not done yet..she's just
Falling off the world
The disappearing girl
Catching her breath doing her very best
Cut herself free gonna be
Falling off the world
The disappearing girl
Don't look her up, down she's not around you see
She's falling off the world
©2002 MPL Tunes/Loveriot Music BMI / Nelsounds SESAC / Million Suns Music BMI
9. Nobody Sent For Ya‘ (Steve Nelson)
Go back to where you came from
You can't just come in here
You just don't fit, in so many ways
I could go on for years
Now all you people you look the same
You're a different color too
And I don't get what you're trying' to say
You don't talk the way we do
And nobody sent for ya’
Why don't you turn around
Nobody sent for ya’
Just go home and settle down
‘Cause nobody sent for ya’
Guess some of you are peaceful
But not the ones I see
Got your guns and knives and alcohol
This could the end of me
And this place that I've been given
To live out all my days
The land of the free
And the home of the brave
And nobody sent for ya’
Why don't you turn around
Nobody sent for ya’
So just go home and settle down
‘Cause nobody sent for ya’
Damn that Chris Columbus
Had to sail that ocean blue
Never saw him coming
And now we're stuck with you
So we will celebrate our redness
With all our tribal kin
Pray you go home, leave us alone
And tell all your pale faced friends
Nobody sent for ya’
Why don't you turn around
You know nobody sent for ya’
<