
Cowboy Junkies
Episode 4 | 1h 34m 42sVideo has Closed Captions
The critically acclaimed alt-country/blues/folk rock band performs their 2018 album.
More than 30 years ago, the alt-country/blues/folk rock band Cowboy Junkies arrived on the Toronto music scene to critical acclaim, garnering a cult following. In this performance, the band performs tracks from their 2018 album “All That Reckoning.”
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Lincoln Center Presents is a local public television program presented by WLIW PBS

Cowboy Junkies
Episode 4 | 1h 34m 42sVideo has Closed Captions
More than 30 years ago, the alt-country/blues/folk rock band Cowboy Junkies arrived on the Toronto music scene to critical acclaim, garnering a cult following. In this performance, the band performs tracks from their 2018 album “All That Reckoning.”
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Inside the Concert
Composer Hannah Kendall creates a work inspired by Schumann and mental health in a program conducted by Jonathon Heyward.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipAnnouncer: "Lincoln Center's American Songbook" takes great pride in presenting Cowboy Junkies.
[ Cheers and applause ] Hi.
[ "All That Reckoning" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I once slept with my arms around you ♪ ♪ My legs once bound you ♪ ♪ And I'd wake with my heart so full of you ♪ ♪ And then I found that this bed was poison ♪ ♪ That my life had frozen ♪ ♪ And I lay afraid of ever touchin' you ♪ ♪ I took my heart and laid on the floor ♪ ♪ You took my hand and you softly asked for more ♪ ♪ I once felt that keeping it sealed inside ♪ ♪ Would free me from the fear I hide ♪ ♪ Of ever losin' you ♪ ♪ And then I found ♪ ♪ That the blooming ♪ ♪ All that reckoning ♪ ♪ Had lead me back to you ♪ ♪ I took my heart and laid on the floor ♪ ♪ You took my hand and you softly ♪ ♪ You asked for more ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I took my heart and laid on the floor ♪ ♪ You took my hand and you softly ♪ ♪ You asked for more ♪ ♪ Now I sleep with my arms around you ♪ ♪ My limbs become you ♪ ♪ And I wake with my heart so full of you ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
Man: 1, 2, 3.
[ "Sing Me a Song" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Sing me a song about life in America ♪ ♪ Sing me a song of love ♪ ♪ Sing me a song about life in your neighborhood ♪ ♪ Sing me a song of love ♪ ♪ I know a man who fell to his knees ♪ ♪ Clasping his hands in prayer ♪ ♪ Beside him, she said ♪ ♪ "It looks more like grief" ♪ ♪ But mostly she just didn't care ♪ ♪ Tell me a tale about the one you keep near ♪ ♪ Sing me a song of joy ♪ ♪ Yeah, tell me a tale about those who are dear ♪ ♪ Sing me a song of joy ♪ ♪ She veiled her days in pale hues of gray ♪ ♪ The brightness of her children an undoing ♪ ♪ She spent all her days in a cold burning rage ♪ ♪ The brightness of her children was galling ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Unburden your hearts, let loose your fears ♪ ♪ Sing me a song of forgiveness ♪ ♪ Make a fresh start, face all your fears ♪ ♪ Sing me a song of forgiveness ♪ ♪ He came to that moment in every man's life ♪ ♪ He confronted the path before him ♪ ♪ Betrayed by the emptiness days without light ♪ ♪ He turned and he made a decision ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Sing me a song of joy ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Sing me a song of love ♪ ♪ Beside him, she said ♪ ♪ It looked more like regret ♪ ♪ But mostly she would like to forget ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ Sing me a song of joy ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Sing me a song of love ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thanks a lot.
Well, we're back in New York City.
Whoo!
[ Cheers and applause ] Many, many years ago -- I'd say about 15 at least -- Mike and I did an interview in this building, and there was a guy there.
I don't know who he was or what he was doing, but he wanted to show us this room, which was, I think, brand new at the time.
And we walked in here and just said, "What a beautiful room.
I hope someday we can play this room."
And here we are.
[ Laughing ] [ Cheers and applause ] It's 15 years, but, you know... That's okay.
In rock 'n' roll, things go slow, so... At least in our band, it does.
Anyway, what we're doing here is what we always do.
We're just trying to sell records.
[ Laughter ] What we've learned over the last 30 years is that you sell records one at a time.
It takes a long time and a lot of touring.
[ Cheers and applause ] Our manager's in the office going, "Oh, yeah, tell me about it."
Anyway, what we're gonna do tonight is we're gonna do a whole bunch of songs off the new album.
Those last two were off the new album.
The album's called "All That Reckoning."
And just as you guys get panicked and think, "Oh, God, where's 'Sweet Jane'?"
we're gonna -- we're gonna do some old songs and then we'll go back to the new ones and kind of do that all throughout the night till we're finished.
And hopefully at the end of the evening, one of you might buy an album and we'll be really happy about that.
So...Alright.
That's the agenda.
[ Applause ] This is an old one.
[ "'Cause Cheap Is How I Feel" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ It's the kind of night that's so cold, when you spit ♪ ♪ It freezes before it hits the ground ♪ ♪ And when a bum asks for a quarter, you give a dollar ♪ ♪ If he's out tonight, he must be truly down ♪ ♪ Yeah, and I'm searching all the windows ♪ ♪ For a last minute present ♪ ♪ To prove to you what I said was real ♪ ♪ For something small and frail and plastic, baby ♪ ♪ Cause' cheap is how I feel ♪ ♪ Half a moon in the sky tonight, bright enough ♪ ♪ To come up with an answer ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ To the question, why is it that every time I see you ♪ ♪ My love, it just grows a little stronger ♪ ♪ But your memory leaves my stomach churning ♪ ♪ Feeling like a lie about to be revealed ♪ ♪ But I'll horde all this to myself ♪ ♪ Cause' cheap is how I feel ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ It's not the smell in here that gets to me ♪ ♪ It's the lights ♪ ♪ How I hate the shadows that they cast ♪ ♪ And the sound of clinking bottles is the one sure thing ♪ ♪ I'll always drag with me from my past ♪ ♪ I think I'll find a pair of eyes tonight, to fall into ♪ ♪ And maybe, maybe I'll strike a deal ♪ ♪ Your body for my soul, fair swap ♪ ♪ Cause' cheap is how I feel ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
[ "A Common Disaster" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ A candle burning for everything I ever wanted ♪ ♪ A tattoo burned for everything I ever wanted and lost ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I had a long list of names that I kept in my back pocket ♪ ♪ But I've cut it down to one and your name's at the top ♪ ♪ Won't you share a common disaster?
♪ ♪ Share with me a common disaster ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, a common disaster ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Well, I found myself a friend ♪ ♪ But he's crooked as a stick in water ♪ ♪ So now I'm writing fairy tales ♪ ♪ To catch the spirit of revenge ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ He's got a plan to steal my little sister ♪ ♪ But I'm not too concerned ♪ ♪ 'Cause I will get him in the end ♪ ♪ Won't you share a common disaster?
♪ ♪ Share with me a common disaster ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, a common disaster ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Gonna find me someone to share ♪ ♪ A common disaster ♪ ♪ Run away with me from a life so cramped and dull ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Not worry too much about the happily-ever-after ♪ ♪ Just keep the Caddy moving ♪ ♪ 'Til we're well beyond that hill ♪ ♪ Won't you share a common disaster?
♪ ♪ Share with me a common disaster ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, a common disaster ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
[ "Dreaming My Dreams With You" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I hope that I won't be that wrong anymore ♪ ♪ And maybe to have learned this time ♪ ♪ I hope that I find what I'm reaching for ♪ ♪ The way that it is in my mind ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Someday I'll get over you ♪ ♪ I'll live to see it all through ♪ ♪ But I'll always miss ♪ ♪ Dreaming my dreams with you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I won't let it change me, not if I can ♪ ♪ I'd rather believe in love ♪ ♪ And give it away as much as I can ♪ ♪ To those that I am fondest of ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Someday I'll get over you ♪ ♪ I'll live to see it all through ♪ ♪ But I'll always miss ♪ ♪ Dreaming my dreams with you ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Someday I'll get over you ♪ ♪ I'll miss dreaming with you ♪ ♪ Someday I'll get over you ♪ ♪ I'll live to see it all through ♪ ♪ Someday ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thanks.
[ "Missing Children" playing ] ♪♪ This is called "Missing Children."
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ We only see them briefly ♪ ♪ Perhaps just one edition ♪ ♪ Their end-of-year photo stares out ♪ ♪ We only see them briefly ♪ ♪ And it's muggin' politicians ♪ ♪ Cock-eyed, their faces stare out ♪ ♪ But for some their image still burns bright ♪ ♪ Like the glow of a tiger or a light ♪ ♪ Switched-off, but once stared-at ♪ ♪ With such intense concentration ♪ ♪♪ ♪ We only see them briefly ♪ ♪ Then it's idle conversation ♪ ♪ Their perfect frozen bodies again ♪ ♪ We only see them briefly ♪ ♪ Then it's fear and degradation ♪ ♪ Their perfect frozen bodies again ♪ ♪ But for some their image still burns bright ♪ ♪ Like the glow of a tiger or a light ♪ ♪ Switched-off, but once stared-at ♪ ♪ With such intense concentration ♪ ♪ And what shoulder and what art ♪ ♪ Can twist the sinews of thy heart ♪ ♪ And when thy heart began to beat ♪ ♪ What dread hands and what dread feet ♪ ♪ What the hammer, what the chain ♪ ♪ In what furnace was thy brain ♪ ♪ What the anvil, what dread grasps ♪ ♪ Dare its deadly terror grasps ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ You only see them briefly ♪ ♪ Then it's shame and flagellation ♪ ♪ Their end-of-year photos stare out ♪ ♪ And when the stars threw down their spears ♪ ♪ And watered heaven with their tears ♪ ♪ Did he smile, his work to see ♪ ♪ Did he who made the lamb make thee ♪ ♪ We only see them briefly ♪ ♪ Then reach to change the station ♪ ♪ Their frozen perfect faces stare out ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ "Mountain Stream" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I had a dream I was a king ♪ ♪♪ ♪ A king of empty things ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I had a queen, she lit my way ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And she wiped my tears away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ My kingdom was broad and vast ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I ignored it as it passed ♪ ♪♪ ♪ As I walked its mountain streams ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She left me, did my queen ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Alone to think and dream ♪ ♪ As I walked my mountain streams ♪ ♪ I dried my tears and all my fears ♪ ♪ With ten thousand shields and spears ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ My queen came back again ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I was ready to defend ♪ ♪♪ ♪ My heart now hard and cold ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She left me without hope ♪ ♪♪ ♪ With gray hair upon my head ♪ ♪ My queen and youth had fled ♪ ♪ My youth and queen, my mountain stream ♪ ♪ Had been stolen by the years ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I had a dream I was a king ♪ ♪♪ ♪ A king of empty things ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Alone to think and dream ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But not to hope, or so it seems ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But not to hope, or so it seems ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ But not to hope, or so it seems ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
[ "3rd Crusade" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ King Richard came upon them ♪ ♪ Three thousand I am told ♪ ♪ Slit their stomachs in search of jewels ♪ ♪ In search of Islams gold ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ On the road from Acre ♪ ♪ They're crucifying thieves ♪ ♪ Crows are pecking at their eyes ♪ ♪ While the hypocrites run free ♪ ♪ I've been told that you've been bold ♪ ♪ Believing in the shit that you've been sold ♪ ♪ And I hear that you fear the way ♪ ♪ A damn simple dream can disappear ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ They marched on through the seasons ♪ ♪ The skies lit by burning hills ♪ ♪ They gobbled up the cities ♪ ♪ To the sound of raging bells ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ When they reached the Holy Land ♪ ♪ They gave their thanks to God ♪ ♪ Then hammered on the temple walls ♪ ♪ And crushed that filthy mob ♪ ♪ I've been told that you've been bold ♪ ♪ Believing in the shit that you've been sold ♪ ♪ And I hear that you fear the way ♪ ♪ A damn simple dream can disappear ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I've been told that you've been bold ♪ ♪ Believing in the shit that you've been sold ♪ ♪ Yeah, I've been told that you've been bold ♪ ♪ Believing in the shit that you've been sold ♪ ♪ Yeah, you've been sold ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Mmm, believing in the shit that you've been sold ♪ ♪ Believing in the shit that you've been sold ♪ ♪ Believing in the shit that you've been sold ♪ ♪ Yeah, you've been sold ♪ ♪ I've been told you've been sold ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ That you fear ♪ ♪♪ ♪ A damn simple dream ♪ ♪ Can disappear ♪ ♪ That's what you fear ♪ ♪♪ ♪ That's what you fear ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, a damn simple dream can disappear ♪ ♪ Can disappear ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The rich they still get richer ♪ ♪ The poor still spill their blood ♪ ♪ The poppies grow in Kandahar ♪ ♪ And the oil still flows in Saud ♪ ♪ I've been told that you've been bold ♪ ♪ Believing in the shit that you've been sold ♪ ♪ And I hear that you fear the way ♪ ♪ A damn simple dream can disappear ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] I think in the first time in 35 years of playing, there's something to watch onstage.
[ Laughs ] It's very exciting.
Let's face it.
There's not much movement.
Occasionally, you might see Mike step on a pedal.
You know?
Al's a statue.
If you stare at Pete too long, you'll get confused and wonder, "What is he doing?"
[ Light laughter ] And if you watch Jeff Bird huffing and blowing away, you might get scared he's gonna fall off the chair and die, so you don't want to watch that.
[ Laughter ] And I try to move, but it's just too much energy.
[ Laughter ] So I'm just gonna sit here for a couple of minutes.
You can watch the traffic go around and around.
This is a song that was written by a man named Vic Chestnutt.
Yeah.
We are big, big fans of Vic's music.
If you don't know his music, go find it.
I know you'll love it.
He wrote a lot of beautiful, beautiful, sad songs that'll make you feel a little better.
[ Laughter ] This one's called "Supernatural."
[ "Supernatural" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Built a king on compliments ♪ ♪ Charisma and advertisements ♪ ♪ Still they see him shimmer ephemeral ♪ ♪ It ain't supernatural, oh, no ♪ ♪ It ain't supernatural ♪ ♪ Supernatural, baby ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ An out of body experience ♪ ♪ I flew around the hospital room once ♪ ♪ On intravenous Demerol ♪ ♪ No, it weren't supernatural, no ♪ ♪ No, it weren't supernatural ♪ ♪ Supernatural maybe ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Sudden smell, a certain view ♪ ♪ Sparks a whoppin' case of the deja vu ♪ ♪ Is it inexplicable?
♪ ♪ No, it ain't supernatural, no, no ♪ ♪ It ain't supernatural ♪ ♪ Supernatural baby ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thanks a lot.
This next song is one of my favorite songs to sing.
I think it's one of Mike's best songs.
I just love it.
And, um, usually I tell a long story about my son in school before it, but we're streaming right now and I have no idea who's watching.
So I have to be kind.
[ Laughs ] Not that my son hasn't heard the story, but it involves the principal and -- Not that I'd ever use her name or his name.
[ Laughter ] Anyway, I'm gonna be really nice and not tell the story.
Man: No.
So...yeah.
I really want to, but I won't.
[ Laughing ] I got to tell it?
[ Applause ] I'm sure she's not watching 'cause I don't think she'll appreciate our music very much.
At least she didn't appreciate mine, that's for sure.
[ Laughs ] Okay, really quickly.
My son was not a very good student.
Still isn't a good student.
He's in grade 11 now.
He's nearly graduated.
Probably graduate when he's 22 or something like that.
Anyway, he's getting there.
But when he was in grade 3, um, I get a call from the principal.
And I used to get a call from the principal probably every week starting from grade 1.
So she calls me, and I'm in the studio.
I really don't want to go.
"Oh, come on."
But anyway, she calls me, says I have to come in.
I come in and I say, "So what's going on?"
And she looks at me with this really cross face, "He's singing!"
[ Laughter ] And I'm like, "Isn't that a good thing?"
You know?
He's singing and he's a boy, and he's singing.
She said, "No, it's what he's singing."
I said, "Oh, God, what's he singing?"
She said, "Well, it's scaring the children.
It's about death and hearts and better ways and bleeding."
She starts talking about all these things.
Oh, my God.
It's one of my songs.
[ Laughter ] Now, the problem is, is that how I work on songs is I work on them in the car.
And when I have a part that I kind of want to just do specifically, I play it again and again.
Here's this little guy in the backseat, you know, hearing the same line over and over about blood and bleeding and hearts and better ways and suicide.
I don't know what he's hearing.
Who knew he was listening?
I don't know, so... [ Laughs ] I look at the principal, and I say, "Well, you know, it's one of my songs."
And, um...
I said, "I'll do something."
I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to do.
It's not in any parent book, believe me.
So as I'm leaving the office, I'm like, "Oh, God, what am I gonna do?"
And I get in the car and I put on my tape machine and the song that I'm working on at that moment is called "Fuck, I Hate the Cold."
[ Laughter ] Oh, my God.
So...
I left the school.
I just thought, "I can't do it."
Reputation's ruined.
He starts singing "Fuck, I Hate the Cold" in public school, it's not gonna be good.
Anyway, this song is called "Fairytale."
It's about blood and guts and bleeding.
[ Cheers and applause ] [ "Fairytale" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ There's a rock and a field and a dirty sky ♪ ♪ I'm still as a corpse, content as a bride ♪ ♪ Thoughts of you and those flyin' shoes ♪ ♪ All around me ♪ ♪ And one wrong step and it's a long way down ♪ ♪ So I triple check the hand holds ♪ ♪ I stand on firmer ground ♪ ♪ But it's not so easy when the whole mountains ♪ ♪ Coming down on you ♪ ♪ So we wait for the morning ♪ ♪ When we'll stumble on the truth ♪ ♪ And fail to recognize it as we're digging at its roots ♪ ♪ The sorrow and the anger that we've sown ♪ ♪ In the fields all around us ♪ ♪ Hey, little princess, hey, little pea ♪ ♪ Come down from your tower and dance with me ♪ ♪ Yeah, you're the fairest one in the land ♪ ♪ Try on this glass slipper and give me your hand ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ There's a rock and a field and a collapsing sky ♪ ♪ I'm precious as a snowman, fragile as a lie ♪ ♪ Thoughts of you and those flyin' shoes ♪ ♪ All around me ♪ ♪ I'm afraid of the anger of the hard twisted heart ♪ ♪ That beats in the chests of those who are caught ♪ ♪ In the ruins of the lives of those ♪ ♪ All around them ♪ ♪ I'm sick of the blood and I'm sick of the bleeding ♪ ♪ The effort it takes just to keep on dreaming ♪ ♪ About better days, and better ways ♪ ♪ Of living ♪ ♪ Hey, little princess, hey, little pea ♪ ♪ Come down from your tower and dance with me ♪ ♪ Yeah, you're the fairest one in the land ♪ ♪ Try on this glass slipper and give me your hand ♪ ♪ Hey, little princess, hey, little pea ♪ ♪ Come down from your tower and dance with me ♪ ♪ Yeah, you're the fairest one in the land ♪ ♪ Try on this glass slipper and give me your hand ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] This is off the new album, "All That Reckoning."
It's called "Shining Teeth."
[ Cheers and applause ] [ "Shining Teeth" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't wanna see your shining teeth ♪ ♪ Show me your bruised and battered heart ♪ ♪ Prove to me that you'll be true ♪ ♪ Let me touch the wounds that have haunted you ♪ ♪ Share with me the wounds that still haunt you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm goin' down to the river ♪ ♪ It's a place where I can breathe ♪ ♪ Splash the waters, miss my daughters ♪ ♪ Focus on my retrieve ♪ ♪ Work on my reprieve ♪ ♪♪ ♪ "I don't wanna see your shining teeth no more" ♪ ♪ She screams as she flies across the floor ♪ ♪ I don't wanna see your shining teeth no more ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This life becomes a thin stream ♪ ♪ And thinner with each day ♪ ♪ I'm goin' down to the river ♪ ♪ It's a place where I can play ♪ ♪ It's a place where I can pray ♪ ♪♪ ♪ "I don't wanna see your shining teeth no more" ♪ ♪ She screams as she flies across the floor ♪ ♪ I don't wanna see your shining teeth no more ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Over time we become that line ♪ ♪ And bow and drift and fray ♪ ♪ I'm goin' down to the river ♪ ♪ And wash the blood away ♪ ♪ Wash the blood away ♪ ♪ "I don't wanna see your shining teeth no more" ♪ ♪ She screams as I'm backin' out the door ♪ ♪ I don't wanna see those burned-out empty eyes ♪ ♪ I don't wanna see your shining teeth no more ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
A long time ago, I... We played this club called Mississippi Nights down by the Mississippi River in St. Louis.
And it was disgusting.
[ Laughter ] No, it was really bad.
It was, uh, all covered in mold and falling apart and I'm sure there was all sort of disease crawling through the rugs that have been there 100 years.
And, um, the dressing room is probably the size of this carpet here.
Anyway, uh, we'd been on a long tour and I was really tired and we're in this place.
I just didn't want to be there.
So, uh, we do this next song, and I'm just crying through the song and enjoying my own sad and lonely life on stage.
[ Laughs ] Totally into my own world.
And, uh, that's that, you know.
Enjoyed myself.
Made me feel better.
Anyway, what I didn't know was that a friend of my uncle's -- my dad's -- my dad's brother Pete, my Uncle Pete -- his friend was in the audience and he's a...psychiatrist.
[ Laughter ] After the show, he called my Uncle Pete to tell him that I had serious problems.
I needed a lot of help.
[ Laughs ] My Uncle Pete called me the next day, "Are you okay?"
I said, "Yeah, I'm fine.
Just doing my thing.
I was in a disgusting club, and I decided to cry about it."
[ Laughs ] It felt good.
I think that was the appropriate, healthy response to a disgusting, moldy club, don't you think?
Anyway, I'm glad I'm feeling good tonight, so I won't be crying through the song.
[ Cheers and applause ] On another night, I might.
This is called "Bea's Song."
[ "Bea's Song" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Speed river at my feet running low and flat ♪ ♪ I'm sitting here burning daylight ♪ ♪ Thinking about the past ♪ ♪ And that distance out there ♪ ♪ Where the earth meets the sky ♪ ♪ The slightest move and this river mud ♪ ♪ Pulls me further down ♪ ♪ John's at my side, but he's sitting on firmer ground ♪ ♪ John says I look at the moon and the stars ♪ ♪ These days more often than I look into his eyes ♪ ♪ And I can't disagree ♪ ♪ So I don't say nothing ♪ ♪ I just stare on past his face at Venus rising ♪ ♪ Like a shining speck of hope hanging over the horizon ♪ ♪ With each passing year that I sit here ♪ ♪ That horizon seems to inch just that much nearer ♪ ♪ And all that appears on it seems as clear as spit ♪ ♪ But if there's one thing in my life ♪ ♪ That these years have taught ♪ ♪ It's ♪ ♪ That you can always see it coming ♪ ♪ But you can never stop it ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Speed river at my feet running low and flat ♪ ♪ I'm sitting here burning daylight ♪ ♪ Thinking about the past ♪ ♪ And that distance out there ♪ ♪ Where the earth meets the sky ♪ ♪ The slightest move and this river mud ♪ ♪ Pulls me further down ♪ ♪ John's at my side, but he's sitting on firmer ground ♪ ♪ The slightest move and this river mud ♪ ♪ Pulls me further down ♪ ♪ John's at my side ♪ ♪ But he's not noticing that I'm drowning ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm drowning ♪ ♪ I'm drowning ♪ ♪ I'm drowning ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ La la la la la ♪ ♪♪ ♪ La la la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la la ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Mmmmm, yeah ♪ ♪ La la la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la la ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Anyone who's ever had a heart ♪ ♪ Wouldn't turn around and break it ♪ ♪ And anyone who's ever played a part ♪ ♪ Wouldn't turn around and hate it ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Yeah, sweet, sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Waiting for Jimmy down in the alley ♪ ♪ Waiting there for him to come back home ♪ ♪ Waiting down on the corner ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Thinking of ways to get back home ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Yeah, sweet, sweet Jane ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Anyone who's ever had a dream ♪ ♪ Anyone who's ever played a part ♪ ♪ Anyone who's ever been lonely ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ And anyone who's ever split apart ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Heavenly wine and roses ♪ ♪ Seem to whisper to me when you smile ♪ ♪ Heavenly wine and roses ♪ ♪ Seem to whisper to me when you smile ♪ ♪ La la la la, la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la, la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la, la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la, la la la ♪ ♪ Sweet Jane ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet Jane ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ "The Things We Do to Each Other" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Fear is not so far from hate ♪ ♪ So if you get the folks to fear ♪ ♪ It only takes one small twist ♪ ♪ To kick it up a gear ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ And you can control hate ♪ ♪ But only for so long ♪ ♪ And when you lose control ♪ ♪ Oh, man ♪ ♪ The things we do to each other ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, my sister ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ And you can control hate ♪ ♪ But only for so long ♪ ♪ But when you lose control ♪ ♪ Oh, man ♪ ♪ The things we do to each other ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, oh, my brother ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, my sister ♪ ♪ My brother ♪ ♪ Things we do to each other ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, well, yeah ♪ ♪ Fear is not so far from hate ♪ ♪ So if you get the folks to fear ♪ ♪ It only takes one quick turn ♪ ♪ To notch it up a gear ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, my sister ♪ ♪ Yeah, my brother ♪ ♪ Things we do to each other ♪ ♪ Yeah, my sister, my brother ♪ ♪ Things we do to each other ♪ ♪ Yeah, my sister ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, my brother ♪ ♪ Things we do to each other ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Things we do to each other ♪ ♪ Yeah, my sister ♪ ♪ Oh, my brother ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thanks so much.
We've got one more song to do.
But before we do that song, first of all, we have to thank our crew who are very small in number but mighty in heart and strength and in every other way possible.
Dev and John... [ Drums playing ] [ Cheers and applause ] It's been a crazy day for the two of them.
They've worked up a [indistinct] Uh, there are a whole bunch of people that work in this building that have been helping our crew out all day.
They've been helping us out.
They've been really super kind and made us feel at home.
We couldn't do it without them.
I know our crew couldn't do it without them.
So thank you very much, all you nameless people I don't know.
[ Applause ] Alright.
People up here.
Back here playing mandolin, harmonica, and all sorts of little shaky things, Jeff Bird.
[ Drums beating ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Now, Jeff's a musician like us, and when he's not with us, he records his own music, and he sells records one at a time as well.
And he's selling at the CD stand here tonight, and I know he'd be so happy if he sold one.
Two would just make him crazy happy, so if you're so inclined... Over here on bass, Alan Anton.
[ Cheers and applause ] [ Drums beating ] ♪♪ Al!
That's Al.
Behind me on the drums is my little brother Pete.
[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ [ Drums beating ] And sitting down over here, playing electric guitar is my brother Mike and he writes all these songs that I sing.
[ Drums beating ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ If you've been to any of our shows here in New York City, you kind of know it's not exactly my favorite town.
I live on a farm, and I like my space and my quiet and big sky.
Then I come here, and I'm like, "Aaah."
Freaks me out.
I'm not scared of it or anything.
It's just like -- It's just overwhelming.
And, uh... Man: Well, we love you!
That's why I come back.
I like coming and playing for you, that's for sure.
I'll never not come.
But, you know, coming in today to play this room was so exciting, and just standing there tonight... wondering if a big T. Rex would come by and join me.
[ Laughter ] I was thinking of a giant wave coming down the street.
[ Laughing ] I watch too many bad movies.
Um, tonight has been terrific, and it's been an honor to play for you on this stage.
Thank you so very much.
[ Cheers and applause ] We wouldn't be here if you guys didn't buy the tickets and make the promoters happy, so thank you very, very much.
I'd love to say I'm gonna be able to meet you all afterwards, but I'm not allowed tonight.
They said no, so I can't.
But next show, I'll come out and say thank you personally.
So thank you very much.
[ Cheers and applause ] [ "Blue Moon" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I only want to say ♪ ♪ That if there is a way ♪ ♪ I want my baby back with me ♪ ♪ 'Cause he's my true love ♪ ♪ My only one, don't you see?
♪ ♪ And on that special day ♪ ♪ Perhaps in the new sun of May ♪ ♪ My baby walks back into my arms ♪ ♪ I'll keep him beside me ♪ ♪ Forever from harm ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You see, I was afraid ♪ ♪ To let my, let my baby stray ♪ ♪ I kept him too tightly by my side ♪ ♪ And then one sad day ♪ ♪ He went away and he died ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Blue Moon ♪ ♪ You saw me standing alone ♪ ♪ Without a dream in my heart ♪ ♪ Without a love of my own ♪ ♪ Blue Moon ♪ ♪ You knew just what I was there for ♪ ♪ You heard me saying a prayer for ♪ ♪ Someone I really could care for ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now I only, I only want to say ♪ ♪ That if there is a way ♪ ♪ I want my baby back with me ♪ ♪ 'Cause he's my true love ♪ ♪ My only one, don't you see?
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much for coming, letting us play.
Take care of yourselves and those around you.
Thank you.
[ Cheers and applause continue ] [ Cheers and applause continue ] Thanks a lot.
[ People shouting out song titles ] [ "Five Years" playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Pushing through the market square ♪ ♪ So many mothers sighing ♪ ♪ News had just come over ♪ ♪ We had five years left to cry in ♪ ♪ News guy wept and told us ♪ ♪ Earth was really dying ♪ ♪ Cried so much his face was wet ♪ ♪ Then I knew he was not lying ♪ ♪ I heard telephones, opera house, favorite melodies ♪ ♪ I saw boys, toys, electric irons and TVs ♪ ♪ My brain hurt like a warehouse ♪ ♪ It had no room to spare ♪ ♪ I had to cram so many things to store everything in there ♪ ♪ And all the fat, skinny people ♪ ♪ And all the tall, short people ♪ ♪ And all the nobody people ♪ ♪ And all the somebody people ♪ ♪ I never thought I'd need so many people ♪ ♪♪ ♪ A girl my age went off her head ♪ ♪ Hit some tiny children ♪ ♪ If the Black hadn't have pulled her off ♪ ♪ I think she would have killed them ♪ ♪ A soldier with a broken arm ♪ ♪ Fixed his stare to the wheels of a Cadillac ♪ ♪ A cop knelt and kissed the feet of a priest ♪ ♪ And a queer threw up at the sight of that ♪ ♪ I think I saw you in an ice-cream parlour ♪ ♪ Drinking milkshakes cold and long ♪ ♪ Smiling and waving and looking so fine ♪ ♪ I don't think you knew you were in this song ♪ ♪ And it was cold and it rained, and I felt like an actor ♪ ♪ 'Til thought of Ma and I wanted to get back there ♪ ♪ Your face, your race ♪ ♪ The way that you talk ♪ ♪ I kiss you, you're beautiful ♪ ♪ I want you to walk ♪ ♪ We've got five years, stuck on my eyes ♪ ♪ Five years, what a surprise ♪ ♪ We've got five years, my brain hurts a lot ♪ ♪ Five years, that's all we've got ♪ ♪ We've got five years, stuck on my eyes ♪ ♪ Five years, what a surprise ♪ ♪ We've got five years, my brain ♪ ♪ My brain hurts a lot ♪ ♪ Five years, that's all we've got ♪ ♪ Five years ♪ ♪ We've got five years, stuck on my eyes ♪ ♪ Five years, that's all we got ♪ ♪ That's all we've got ♪ ♪ That's all we've got ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.
Take care!
[ Cheers and applause continue ]


- Arts and Music
The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross
A pop icon, Bob Ross offers soothing words of wisdom as he paints captivating landscapes.












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