Steve Conn: The Lyrics

Lyrics from River of Madness

Mardi Gras Morning

I've been to Paris -- I lived in L.A.
I've been down to Mexico and on the road to Mandalay.
I've seen the Seven Wonders of the World --
But there ain't nothing like the Mardi Gras.

I'm gonna get in my car tomorrow -- gonna drive three days and nights.
I'm gonna drive through sleet and snow, 'till I see them river lights.
I'm gonna sleep on someone's floor with a smile on my face.
Wild, wild horses couldn't keep me away.

I'm gonna wake up Mardi Gras morning, down in New Orleans.
I'm gonna act a fool all day long, gonna dance with the Zulu king.
If I have to crawl across Texas, on my hands and knees --
I'm gonna wake up Mardi Gras morning, down in New Orleans.

If you've ever been to New Orleans -- you know what I mean.
I start making plans for home, long about Halloween.
I could be in China -- on my way to France --
But Carnival time will find me, in the mother land.

I'm gonna wake up Mardi Gras morning, down in New Orleans.
I'm gonna act a fool all day long, gonna dance with the Zulu king.
If I have to crawl across Texas, on my hands and knees --
I'm gonna wake up Mardi Gras morning, down in New Orleans.

I can't wait to see it -- Big Chief on parade.
Here come the second line -- struttin' through the Vieux Carré.
I wouldn't miss it -- for a free trip to the moon.
Hey now, Mama Roux, I'm comin' home to you.

I'm gonna wake up Mardi Gras morning, down in New Orleans.
I'm gonna act a fool all day long, gonna dance with the Zulu king.
If I have to crawl across Texas, on my hands and knees --
I'm gonna wake up Mardi Gras morning, down in New Orleans.

River of Madness

I see the clouds descending, coming down on me.
Black as the soul of Satan, from sea to shining sea.
I can't find a simple truth, in this black and blinding fog.
Somebody sound the warning: I just want to go home.

It's an ancient story. It's carved into stone.
We're all bound for Babylon on this ...
River of Madness ... River of Madness.

I hear the frantic wailing of the wicked midnight wind.
Twenty million voices, to hell and back again.
Twenty million voices, crying to be free.
"Hey, can't you keep it down out there? The Emperor can't sleep."

I know this story. I've heard it all before.
We're all bound for Babylon on this ...
River of Madness ... River of Madness.

The rain just keeps on falling -- forty nights and days.
The angels can't stop crying, about this mess that we have made.
But the dream became reality, it can return to a dream.
It's just the waste of a human race that kind of bothers me.

It's a crazy story -- it's a circus parade.
We're all bound for Babylon on this ...
River of Madness.
Let's all go down to Babylon on this ...
River of Madness ... on this River of Madness ...
River of Madness ... River of Madness.

Good Intentions

I work at the paper mill -- like everybody else does.
We were 'bout to starve to death -- the paper company saved us.
I am just a simple man -- trying to feed my family.
I never could understand -- what Daddy used to tell me:

We're paving the road to Hell
With all our good intentions.
Who will heaven call? Only time will tell.

I was born a mile from here -- right beside the river.
The water used to run so clear -- we thought it would forever.
But nowadays the river's quiet -- the fish are all dying.
And all I can hear at night -- is an old man crying:

We're paving the road to Hell
With all our good intentions.
Who will heaven call? Only time will tell.

It's so easy to say that I will change --
As long as I don't have to change tonight.
And it's so easy to look the other way --
'Cause it's so hard to do what's right...
It's so hard to do what's right.

The people from the city say -- there's a hole in heaven.
They say we'd be better off -- if we'd only listen.
My boss gets teary-eyed -- talking 'bout my children.
It seems like everyone's got good intentions.
I am just a simple man -- trying to raise a family.
I'm afraid to understand -- what Daddy tried to tell me:

We're paving the road to Hell
With all our good intentions.
Who will heaven call? Only time will tell.

Love is the Word

The crickets are singing, the night air is wet;
My thoughts have drifted to you.
Where are you now? I heard you'd married.
Sounds just like something you'd do.

We spent some nights like this one together,
Talking 'bout money and life.
Who'd ever thought that I'd have gone crazy,
And you'd have been some stranger's wife.

Life seemed so easy when I was a child.
Time couldn't pass fast enough.
But I've seen Mama lonely, and I've seen grown men cry,
And I say the answer is love.

Love is the answer and love is the word.
Like a morning in the mountains, like a beautiful bird.
Like an old lady smiling at a baby in spring.
Love is the song that I'm trying to sing.

Like a mockingbird singing from a dogwood tree.
Like the smell of magnolias at night.
Like the afternoon sun floating down through the pine trees --
Patterns of shadows and light.

Help me sweet Jesus, help me dear friend;
The road to freedom is rough.
But I've seen Mama lonely, and I've seen grown men cry,
And I say the answer is love.

Love is the answer and love is the word.
Like a morning in the mountains, like a beautiful bird.
Like an old lady smiling at a baby in spring.
Love is the song that I'm trying to sing.

Midnight on the Delta

My windshield wipers can't keep up with this rain.
There's water, water everywhere, everywhere I turn.
Lord, that big muddy river's gonna wash us away.

I'd just about forgotten how hard it can rain,
When that old heavy wetness sneaks up from the Gulf of Mexico.
Lord, it feels so good to be home.

Midnight on the Delta ... Midnight on the Delta.

The Delta smells like heaven -- old Levi must've plowed today.
If he'd ever made a nickel, he would have given it away.
He's just doing what the Lord tells him to do.

The rich people just get richer -- and the poor people just get by --
And I remember what old Levi said when I mentioned that one time.
He said, "Well, maybe that's the only way it can be."

Midnight on the Delta ... Midnight on the Delta.

Old Devil River, you put your spell on me.
You made me love you, when you know I cannot stay.
Well, maybe that's the only way it can be.

Midnight on the Delta ... Midnight on the Delta.

Time and Time Again

I was driving slowly, outside of New Orleans.
I just couldn't help but notice her, the woman of my dreams.
Standing in a cane field, suitcase by her side.
But all I heard was an old refrain, rolling in my mind.

Time and time again, love comes knocking but won't come in.
Time and time again, I'm sitting here all alone.
I'm giving everything I've got to love, but all I've got's just not enough.
Time and time again, heartache here I come.

I saw her looking my way; something stopped the car.
She came running and I let her in, into my empty heart.
She looked like my future, she tasted like romance.
I knew I shouldn't, but you never know if you don't take a chance.

Time and time again, love comes knocking but won't come in.
Time and time again, oú les anges vont pas aller.
Tout le monde cherche pour le cœur des cœurs --
ce n'est pas une chose facile.
Time and time again, l'abattoir d'amour m'attends.

She said the words I needed, she said, "This one's for real."
She said she could never live without the way I made her feel.
It's funny how it changed, though; at the time I didn't laugh.
She said she could never live with me, and love can never last.

Time and time again, love comes knocking but won't come in.
Time and time again, I'm standing at the door.
Looking out at the pouring rain -- loneliness is such a doggone shame.
Time and time again, pas tout a fait la porte d'amour.

Time and time again, love comes knocking but won't come in.
Time and time again, oú les anges vont pas aller.
Tout le monde cherche pour le cœur des cœurs --
ce n'est pas une chose facile.
Time and time again, l'abattoir d'amour m'attends.
Time and time again, maintes et maintes fois.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Here you come with your arms outstretched like you want to make amends.
I guess you think that's all it takes for us to be in love again.
But baby it's a great big river full of water been under this bridge.
I think it's gonna take a little bit more -- who're you trying to kid?
I don't think you understand the rules.

It sure does seem like you're the one who said that it was over.
And you're the one who threw those ugly words over your shoulder.
But I guess you were right -- it takes two to break a heart.
And I guess I've done my share to make things harder than they are.
Somebody, won't you show me the way?

Where do we go from here?
Stuck between a smile and a river of tears.
Where do we go from here?

I never thought that love would be so hard to understand.
I saw the movie and I read the book, but love had other plans.
While I sat here ... staring at the walls --
I slowly came to realize ... I know nothing at all.
Somebody, please show me the way.

Where do we go from here?
Stuck between a smile and a river of tears.
Where do we go from here?

If I thought it would change a thing, I'd never let you go.
It's not a case of wrong or right -- it's a whole lot of both.
There ain't no hero on a big white horse, no villain dressed in black.
It's just two lonely people -- trying to get love back ... trying to get love back ...

Morning Light

Something that you said one time, I never will forget --
You and I were standing in the rain.
I was so in love with every single move you made --
That's something I don't think will ever change.

An hour after midnight I had watched the fog come in --
That was the year I didn't sleep.
I used to lie awake and wonder where the world would lead --
Much the way I'm lying here tonight --
Waiting for the morning light.

So there I was beside you, with water in my shoes --
I said, "Why are we standing in the rain?"
You looked at me and laughed and said,
"What difference does it make?
Time is just a road that's disappearing at your feet."

Waiting for the morning light ... waiting for the morning light.
Waiting for the morning light ... waiting for the morning light.

I have always waited for the future to begin --
Every road I take is on the map.
You have always acted like a dream was coming true --
You'd think I would have learned a thing or two ... instead of --
Waiting for the morning light ...

I hope you're right, I hope we all wake up --
To a beautiful world, of peace and love.

Every time I hear the distant whisper of a train --
Every time I hear the church bells ring --
I think of all those Sunday mornings, lying in your arms --
Waiting for the morning light ...

The One and Only Truth

The preacher told me: "You're gonna die someday."
The preacher told me: "You're gonna die someday.
So give ten percent to God and let us pray."

The banker told me: "Invest and save."
The banker told me: "Invest and save.
If you're lucky you'll be old and rich someday."

My mama told me -- the one and only truth.
My mama told me -- the one and only truth.
She said, "Spend your money and don't look back,
'Cause you'll never see a hearse with a luggage rack."

A poor man told me: "I don't ask for much."
A poor man told me: "I don't ask for much.
But I wonder if I'll ever have enough."

A rich man told me: "I don't ask for much."
A rich man told me: "I don't ask for much.
One more million might be just enough."

My mama told me -- the one and only truth.
My mama told me -- the one and only truth.
She said, "Spend your money and don't look back,
'Cause you'll never see a hearse with a luggage rack."

The guru told me: "The sky is blue."
The guru told me: "The sky is blue.
And everywhere I turn I see the truth."

The poet told me: "The sky is gray."
The poet told me: "The sky is gray.
And nothing really matters anyway."

My mama told me -- the one and only truth.
My mama told me -- the one and only truth.
She said, "Spend your money and don't look back,
'Cause you'll never see a hearse with a luggage rack."

In An Angel's Arms

I can still remember the night it happened,
I can still feel the heat.
I can still hear my little baby crying,
A song that I'll never forget.
I was just a child, too young to marry,
But what I didn't know I didn't see.
We lived in a shack right down on the river,
Johnny and the baby and me.

They say that the war is over --
The smoke has cleared and the slaves are free.
But all the freedom in this whole damn world
Won't bring my babies back to me.

We were all asleep when we heard the talking,
Someone said they're leaving tonight.
We joined everybody on the levee waving
Those friendly Yankee soldiers goodbye.
They'd been in our town since the third of April,
Acting like they owned everything.
Here we were believing that all was forgiven,
That's the last thing that I ever believed.

They say that the war is over --
The smoke has cleared and the slaves are free.
But all the freedom in this whole damn world
Won't bring my babies back to me.

The wind was coming in from that dirty river,
We didn't smell the smoke until too late.
When I turned around, the whole world was burning,
If God had listened, I'd have died that night.
I'd left my little angel on the bed a' sleeping,
I didn't have the heart to wake her up.
Johnny started running and I heard him screaming,
"Look at what them Yankee dogs have done."
He made it to the door, the roof was falling,
I saw him disappear into the flames.
He made it to his baby and that's how we found them --
An angel sleeping in an angel's arms.

They say that the war is over,
The smoke has cleared and the slaves are free.
I know they say the war is over,
But it will never end for me.
They say that the war is over,
The smoke has cleared and the slaves are free.
I don't know who won the war,
But I know it wasn't me.