Crooked Lines

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Beanly Records
catalog #Beanly002
Release date 01/23/2002

Recorded by Tony Scherr at his house in Brooklyn, NY.

01. If He Asks You That
02. I’m Alright
03. Where Are You Now?
04. I’ve Got To See You Again
05. Lonely
06. Rockaway
07. It’s Your Fault
08. Start All Over
09. Another Place
10. Sand And Glass
11. Do You Ever Dance When You’re Alone
12. World Of Trouble
13. Something is Calling You
14. Poor Old Dog
15. Save Your Breath For The Crowd
16. Crooked Lines
17. Holding On

If He Asks You That

Four in the morning, white clouds streak the sky
If he asks you that, if he asks you that
There’s no way you can possibly lie
If he asks you that, if he asks you that
What will you say?
Now the sun’s coming up on the east side
If he asks you that, if he asks you that
Night is gone and it’s too late to hide
If he asks you that, if he asks you that
What will you say?
Cause you’ve said so many things
That you didn’t mean
They rolled right off your tongue
And it’s hard now for me to believe
That he was no one, that he was no one
Why are you so afraid to reply?
If he asks you that, if he asks you that
It’s as if you might fall down and die
If he asks you that, if he asks you that
What will you say?
Cause you’ve said so many things
That you didn’t mean
They rolled right off your tongue
And it’s hard now for me to believe
That he was no one, that he was no one
If he asks you that, if he asks you that
What will you say?
If he asks you that, if he asks you that today?

I’m Alright

Faith I need you on my side
When I want to run and hide
I’m leaving places that I’ve known
In my gut’s a heavy stone
Once I waited for things to come
Leaving everything undone
Sat and watched the wheels of chance
While around me candles danced
Take your hat cause it’s cold outside
The moon has come and gone
Day is here, we’ve been up all night
I’m so tired now, but I’m alright
I’m alright, I’m alright
Take your hat cause it’s cold outside
The moon has come and gone
Day is here, we’ve been up all night
I’m so tired now, but I’m alright
I’m alright, I’m alright
Oh I’m alright, I’m alright, I’m alright

Where Are You Now?

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
You took me with you down
Where are you now?
The moon shines on the sea
No one here but me
The moon is full and low
And all I want to know
Is where are you now?
Where are you now?
The moon shines on the sea
No one here but me
The moon is full and low
And I don’t wanna know
Where you are now
Where are you now?
You took me with you down
Where are you now?

I’ve Got To See You Again

Lines on your face don’t bother me
Down in my chair when you dance over me
I can’t help myself
I’ve got to see you again
Late in the night when I’m all alone
I look at the clock and I know you’re not home
I can’t help myself
I’ve got to see you again
I could almost go there
Just to watch you be seen
I could almost go there
Just to live in a dream
But no, I won’t go for any of those things
To not touch your skin is not why I sing
I can’t help myself
I’ve got to see you again
I could almost go there
Just to watch you be seen
I could almost go there
Just to live in a dream
But no, I won’t go to share you with them
But oh, even though I know where you’ve been
I can’t help myself
I’ve got to see you again
I can’t help myself
I’ve got to see you again

Lonely

What good is it to speak across a wire
When here I sit and watch the day expire
With you still too far away
And me strolling by the bay
Where once we walked on mornings hand in hand
And once we talked of moving through the land
Even then I felt a thing in the midst of wandering
Lonely
What good is it to dream of being close
When all this time I seem to need you most
You’re a voice across the sea
Fading into memory
Lonely

Rockaway

If there’s no music in these words we say
If there’s no rhythm when you walk away
Wind up the victrola and drop the needle in
Come sit beside me and hold me again
Be glad I found you down there in the racks
With no one around you
You’re never going back
Play on your organ
Play on your drums
Play on, you orphan
You’re old enough but young
We took the parkway out to Rockaway
Where was everybody?
They were here yesterday…
If there’s no music in these words we say
If there’s no rhythm when you walk away
Play on your organ
Play on your drums
Play on, you orphan
You’re old enough but young
Play on your organ
Play on your drums
Play on, you orphan
You’re old enough but young

It’s Your Fault

I never lied to you
Did what I said I’d do
I promised nothing at all
You hoped and that’s your fault
But I can’t stay
And I won’t let you go
And if you break
I’m sorry, that’s your fault
That’s your fault
I haven’t finished yet
Come light my cigarette
Don’t blame me cause you crawled
You cared and that’s your fault
But I can’t stay
And I won’t let you go
And if you break
I’m sorry, that’s your fault
That’s your fault
I’ve never liked the sun
I don’t need anyone
But if you never call
I’ll die and that’s your fault
But I can’t stay
And I won’t let you go
And if you break
I’m sorry, that’s your fault
That’s your fault
That’s your fault
That’s your fault

Start All Over

Deep in the hollow of my heart
What am I waiting for, something to start?
Some kind of fire to burn me up in a flame?
I would really love to start all over again
I wouldn’t ask you for your sympathy
I’d never want you to worry for me
Isn’t there someplace to put away all the pain?
I would really love to start all over again
Follow me closer now under the stars
Into the water to wash off the scars
Let’s be together and never say we’re afraid
I would really love to start all over again
I would really love to start all over again
I would really love to start all over again

Another Place

Can there be another place
Someplace you could find
Can there be another place in your mind?
Can there be another place
You don’t have to try so hard?
Can there be another place?
A face turns you on
And woos you with its song
But leaves you wondering
What went wrong this time
Can there be another place
Not up in the sky
Can there be another place nearby?
Can there be another place
You don’t have to fly so far?
Can there be another place?
A face turns you on
And woos you with its song
But leaves you wondering
What went wrong this time
A face turns you on
And woos you with its song
But leaves you wondering
What went wrong this time

Sand and Glass

The road outside where you crashed
The changing tide
See it from the place you passed from sand to glass
Winter weeks of books and jazz
Seemed so bleak
Living in the place you passed from sand to glass
Sand to glass
On the floor paint was splashed
And once more it’s the only thing that lasts
From sand to glass
Sand to glass
Sand to glass

Do You Ever Dance When You’re Alone

Do you ever dance when you’re alone
All by yourself inside your home
Where your samba music plays
And no one can see your face
While the evening bus goes by
Through the buildings in the sky
Do you ever dance when you’re alone
And laugh beside the ringing phone?
No one else can know the way
To this dimly lighted place
There’s no need for a disguise
Or a mask to hide your eyes
Sometimes in pearls and black
You’ve been in love
But you come back again
Do you ever dance when you’re alone
And cross the threshold just to roam
Where the elevated train
Takes you out across the plain
Over rooftops in the night
Like a harbinger in flight
Sometimes in pearls and black
You’ve been in love
But you come back again
Sometimes in pearls and black
You’ve been in love
But you come back again

World Of Trouble

It starts off slow with a kiss of folly
And you don’t see it as more
But after awhile when all the dogs see you
Sneaking in the back door…
You don’t believe when they tell you
You don’t believe
Then a world of trouble is all you see
Nights when the phone rings and it’s so easy
To get up and go back again
You don’t stop, you don’t think to live without it
Knowing that you’ll never win
You don’t believe when they tell you
You don’t believe
Then a world of trouble is all you see
This is the last time or the beginning
Whenever you say it’s enough
While each day, each month rolls out behind you
The lost time is calling your bluff
You don’t believe when they tell you
You don’t believe
Then a world of trouble is all you see
A world of trouble is all you need

Something is Calling You

Don’t tell them
They’ll only drink your tears
Don’t do it
Not in a hundred years
You know it, you feel it
I do too
Just listen
Something is calling you
What difference do you think that it makes
If you give or if it’s you who takes?
I know it, I feel it
You do too
Just listen
You’ll hear me calling you
What difference do you think that it makes
If you give or if it’s you who takes?
I know it, I feel it
You do too
Just listen
Something is calling you

Poor Old Dog

Poor old dog on the quay
Your black tongue could not say,
“Will someone rescue me?
Take me on out to sea?”
I dreamed you inside the ship rolling by
It rocked you in the tide
“That old mutt?” Someone chimed,
“He’s been here a real long time!”
Poor old dog in the way
No one saved you today
I dreamed you inside the ship rolling by
It rocked you in the tide

Save Your Breath For The Crowd

Save your breath for the crowd
Though your heart’s filled with pain
It was always the same
Why pretend that it’s changed?
Now you sit there in doubt
Is it worth it to stay
When that voice is so loud
Just saying “run away”?
Painted faces in other times
Lit on stages by candlelight
Sang their songs out every night in the theatre
Did you think I’d walk out if the sky broke with rain?
Save your breath for the crowd
All these words are in vain
Painted faces in other times
Lit on stages by candlelight
Sang their songs out every night in the theatre
Painted faces in other times
Lit on stages by candlelight
Sang their songs out every night in the theatre

Crooked Lines

Listen, I’ve seen this before
Listen, I’ve walked through that door
But why am I still here today?
Why have I not gone my way?
You were lovely, you were kind
Now you’ve gone and changed your mind
Is there something that won’t stray
In the change from night to day?
Strange to say at this hour
That you were all I had
When everything you gave me
You have taken back
Maybe we’re just crooked lines
I thought we got straight this time
Dancing through the old arcade
To the drums of the parade
Strange to say at this hour
That you were all I had
When everything you gave me
You have taken back
Vainly I reached out to fly
Thinking life might pass me by
End up down along the shore
Where no one knows me anymore

Holding On

I’m holding on
Till I make it through
I’m holding on
That’s all I can do
Even if I should go
Even if I know
I’m holding on
Maybe here in vain
I’m holding on
Till we meet again
Even if I descend
I will rise again
For the moonlight is still bright
I wouldn’t need hope at all
Just this song
I’m holding on
For a little while
I’m holding on
Till I see you smile
Even with miles to go
Miles of darkened road
For the moonlight is still bright
I wouldn’t need hope at all
Just this song
I’m holding on
Through the wind and rain
I’m holding on
Till we meet again