Back

Rake Tab

by Townes Van Zandt


----------------------------------------------------------
  Submitted by Christof
----------------------------------------------------------

      
Well, I used to wake
    
and run with the moon
  
I lived like a rake and a young man
  
I covered my lovers
     
with flowers and wounds
   
my laughter the devil would frighten.

                 
My sun, she would come
                
and beat me back down
                           
but every cruel day had its nightfall
               
I'd welcome the stars
                
with whinin' guitars
                       
    full of fire and forgetful

My body was sharp
my dark hair clean
and outraged my joyful companion
and whisperin' women
how sweet did they seem
kneelin' for me to command them

And time was like water
but I was the sea
I wouldn't have noticed it passing
except for the turning
of night into day
and turning of day into cursing

And you look at me now
don't think I don't know
what all your eyes are saying
Does he want us to believe
these ravings and lies
they're just tricks that his brain's been aplayin'?

A lover, the women
he can't hardly stand
he trembles, is bent and is broken
I fall on his true
but I say to you
hold your tongues until after I've spoken

I was taken my pride
and the pleasure I'd known
I laughed and said I'd be forgiven
but my laughter turned round
eyes blazin' and saying
friend, we're holding the weapon

I buried my face
but it spoke once again
night to the day we're a-binding
and now the dark hair's
like fire on my skin
and even the moonlight is blinding