I must admit I also have an ulterior motive for posting them now and some of you will know exactly why
The songs listed below are transcribed as actually sung on the album. These lines may not end up being the official paperwork ones.
They are as close as I can hear them and are of course subject to correction.
1. SLOW
verse 1
I'm slowing down the tune
I never liked it fast
You wanna get there soon
I wanna get there last
It's not because I'm old
It's not the life I’ve led
I always liked it slow
That's what my mamma said
verse 2
I'm lacing up my shoe
But I don't want to run
I'll get there when I do
Don't need no starting gun
It's not because I’m old
And it's not what dying does
I always liked it slow
Slow is in my blood
chorus 1 (LC with girls)
I always like it slow
I never liked it fast
With you it's got to go
With me it's got to last
It's not because I'm old
It's not because I'm dead
I always liked it slow
That's what my mama said
verse 3
All your moves are swift
All your turns are tight
Let me catch my breath
I thought we had all night
I like to take my time
I like to linger as it flies
A weekend on your lips
A lifetime in your eyes
chorus 2 (LC with girls)
I always like it slow
I never liked it fast
With you it's got to go
With me it's got to last
It's not because I'm old
It's not the life I’ve led
I always liked it slow
That's what my mama said
verse 4 (LC with girls)
I'm slowing down the tune
I've never liked it fast
You wanna get there soon
I wanna get there last
So baby let me go
You're wanted back in town
In case they wanna know
I'm just tryin’ to it slow down
2. ALMOST LIKE THE BLUES
verse 1
I saw some people starving
There was murder, there was rape
Their villages were burning
They were trying to escape
I couldn’t meet their glances
I was staring at my shoes
It was acid, it was tragic
It was almost like the blues
It was almost like the blues
verse 2
I have to die a little
Between each murderous thought
And when I’m finished thinking
I have to die a lot
There’s torture and there’s killing
And there’s all my bad reviews
The war, the children missing
Lord, it’s almost like the blues
It’s almost like the blues
verse 3
Though I let my heart get frozen
To keep away the rot
My father said I’m chosen
My mother says I’m not
I listened to their story
Of the Gypsies and the Jews
It was good, it wasn’t boring
It was almost like the blues
It was almost like the blues
verse 4
There is no G-d in heaven
And there is no Hell below
So says the great professor
Of all there is to know
But I’ve had the invitation
That a sinner can’t refuse
And it’s almost like salvation
It’s almost like the blues
It’s almost like the blues
Almost like the blues
3. SAMSON IN NEW ORLEANS
verse 1
You said that you were with me
You said you were my friend
Did you really love the city
Or did you just pretend?
You said you loved her secrets
And her freedoms hid away
She was better than America
That's what I heard you say
verse 2
You said how could this happen
You said how can this be
The remnant all dishonored
On the bridge of misery
And we who cried for mercy
From the bottom of the pit
Was our prayer so damn unworthy
The Son rejected it?
verse 3
So gather up the killers
Get everyone in town
Stand me by those pillars
Let me take this temple down
The king so kind and solemn
He wears a bloody crown
So stand me by that column
Let me take this temple down
(Alex’s violin)
verse 4 (LC with girls)
You said how could this happen
You said how can this be
The chains are gone from heaven
The storms are wild and free
There's other ways to answer
That certainly is true
Me, I'm blind with death and anger
And that's no place for you
verse 5
There's a woman in the window
There's a bed in tinsel town
I'll write you when it's over
Let me take this temple down
You said you loved her secrets
Her freedoms hid away
She was better than America
That's what I heard you say
(Alex’s violin)
4. A STREET
verse 1
I used to be your favorite drunk
Good for one more laugh
Then we both ran out of luck
Luck was all we ever had
You put on a uniform
To fight the Civil War
You looked so good I didn’t care
What side you're fighting for
verse 2
Wasn’t all that easy
When you up and walked away
But I’ll save that little story
For another rainy day
I know the burden’s heavy
As you wheel it through the night
Some people say it’s empty
But that don’t mean it’s light
(oohh… refrain by girls)
verse 3
You left me with the dishes
And a baby in the bath
You’re tight with the militias
You wear their camouflage
You always said we’re equal
So let me march with you
Just an extra in the sequel
To the old red white and blue
verse 4
Baby don’t ignore me
We were smokers we were friends
Forget that tired story
Of betrayal and revenge
I see the ghost of culture
With numbers on his wrist
Salute some new conclusion
That all of us have missed
(oohh…. refrain by girls)
verse 5
I cried for you this morning
And I’ll cry for you again
But I’m not in charge of sorrow
So please don’t ask me when
There may be wine and roses
And magnums of champagne
But we'll never no we'll never
Ever be that drunk again
(oohh….refrain by girls)
verse 6 (LC with girls)
OK The party's over
But I landed on my feet
And I’m standing here, on this corner
Where there used to be a street
The party's over
But I've landed on my feet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street
verse 7 (LC with girls)
So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street
(party’s over... refrain by girls)
5. DID I EVER LOVE YOU
verse 1
Did I ever love you?
Did I ever need you?
Did I ever fight you?
Did I ever want to?
Did I ever leave you?
Was I ever able?
Or are we still leaning
Across the old table?
(above verse repeated as chorus 1 with faster tempo by girls)
(Alex’s violin)
verse 2
Was it ever settled?
Was it ever over?
And is it still raining?
Back in November?
The lemon trees blossom
The almond trees wither
Was I ever someone
Who could love you forever?
(above verse repeated as chorus 2 with faster tempo by girls
substituting last two lines for these:
It’s Spring and it’s Summer and it’s Winter forever)
(Alex’s violin)
verse 3
Did I ever love you?
Does it really matter?
Did I ever fight you?
You don't need to answer
Did I ever leave you?
Was I ever able?
And are we still leaning
Across the old table?
(chorus 1 repeated with faster tempo by girls + Alex’s violin in the 2nd repeat)
6. MY OH MY
verse 1
Wasn't hard to love you
Didn't have to try
Wasn't hard to love you
Didn't have to try
chorus
Held you for a little while
My, oh my, oh my
Held you for a little while
My, oh my, oh my
verse 2
Drove you to the station
Never asked you why
Drove you to the station
Never asked you why
repeat chorus
verse 3
All the boys are wavin’
Tryin’ to catch your eye
All the boys are wavin’
Tryin’ to catch your eye
repeat chorus
verse 4
Wasn't hard to love you
I didn't have to try
Wasn't hard to love you
Didn't have to try
repeat chorus
7. NEVERMIND
verse 1
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
verse 2
I had to leave
My life behind
I dug some graves
You'll never find
The story's told
With facts and lies
I have a name
But nevermind
chorus 1 (LC with girls)
Nevermind
Nevermind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
There's Truth that lives
And Truth that dies
I don't know which
So nevermind
(female voice in Arabic)
verse 3
Your victory was
So complete
Some among you
Thought to keep
A record of
Our little lives
The clothes we wore
Our spoons our knives
verse 4
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
verse 5
And all of this
Expressions of the
Sweet Indifference
Some call Love
The High Indifference
Some call Fate
But we had Names
More intimate
verse 6 (LC with girls)
Names so deep
And names so true
They're blood to me
They’re dust to you
There is no need
That this survives
There's Truth that lives
And Truth that dies
chorus 2 (LC with girls)
Nevermind
Nevermind
I live the life
I left behind
There's Truth that lives
And Truth that dies
I don't know which
So nevermind
(female voice in Arabic)
verse 7
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried I failed
You turned me in
At least you tried
You side with them whom
You despise
Verse 8
This was your heart
This swarm of flies
This was once your mouth
This bowl of lies
You serve them well
I'm not surprised
You're of their kin
You're of their kind
chorus 3 (LC with girls)
Nevermind
Nevermind
I had to leave my
Life behind
The story's told
With facts and lies
You own the world
So nevermind
chorus 4 (LC with girls)
Nevermind
Nevermind
I live the life
I left behind
I live it full
I live it wide
Through layers of time
You can't divide
verse 9 (LC with girls)
My woman's here
My children too
Their graves are safe
From ghosts like you
In places deep
With roots entwined
I live the life
I left behind
(verse 1 repeated + female voice in Arabic)
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
8. BORN IN CHAINS
verse 1 (LC with girls)
I was born in chains
But I was taken out of Egypt
I was bound to a burden
But the burden it was raised
Lord I can no longer
Keep this secret
Blessed is the Name
The Name be praised
verse 2
I fled to the edge
Of the Mighty Sea of Sorrow
Pursued by the riders
Of a cruel and dark regime
But the waters parted
And my soul crossed over
Out of Egypt
Out of Pharaoh's dream
chorus (LC with girls)
Word of Words
Measure of all Measures
Blessed is the Name
The Name be blessed
Written on my heart
In burning letters
That's all I know
I cannot read the rest
verse 3
I was idle with my soul
When I heard you could use me
I followed very closely
But my life remained the same
But then you showed me
Where you had been wounded
In every atom
Broken is the name
verse 4
I was alone on the road
And your love was so confusing
All my teachers told me
I had myself to blame
But in the Grip of
Sensual Illusion
A sweet unknowing
Unified the Name
repeat chorus (LC with girls)
verse 5
I've heard the soul unfolds
In the chambers of its longing
And the bitter liquor sweetens
In the hammered cup
But all the ladders of
Of the night are fallen
Only darkness now
To lift the longing up
repeat chorus (LC with girls)
9. YOU GOT ME SINGING
(Alex’s violin)
verse 1
You got me singing
Even though the news is bad
You got me singing
The only song I ever had
You got me singing
Ever since the river died
You got me thinking
Of the places we could hide
chorus 1(LC with girls)
You got me singing
Even though the world is gone
You got me thinking
That I'd like to carry on
You got me singing
Even though it all looks grim
You got me singing
The Hallelujah hymn
(Alex’s violin with girls humming +
Singing that Hallelujah hymn)
verse 2 (LC with girls)
You got me singing
Like a prisoner in a jail
You got me singing
Like my pardon's in the mail
You got me wishing
Our little love would last
You got me thinking
Like those people of the past
chorus 2 (LC with girls)
You got me singing
Even though the world is gone
You got me thinking
I'd like to carry on
You got me singing
Even though it all went wrong
You got me singing
The Hallelujah song
(Alex’s violin with girls humming +
Singing that Hallelujah song)
I have edited the words above as follows:
BLUE for additional and different words sung on album than are listed in original lyrics
RED for correctional changes
I'll clarify everything later.