At first mom and papa called their little boy Ned They raise him on the banks of the river bed A houseboat tied to a big tall tree a home for my papa and my mama and me The clock strikes three papa jumps to his feet Already mama's cookin' papa somethin' to eat At half past papa he's ready to go he jumps in his piro headed down the bayou He's got fishin' lines strung across the Louisiana River Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat Headin' crops in the swamp catchin' everythin' he can Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man Muskart hides a hangin' by the dozen even got a lady make a muskart's cousin Pile of hide drying in the hot hot sun tomorrow papa's gonna turn them into mon [ Steel ] Well they call mama Rita and my daddy Jack A little baby brother on the floor that's Mac Riz and Liz are the family twins big brother Ed's on the bayou fishin' On the river float papa's great big boat that's how my papa goes into town He takes every bit of the night and day Then ever reach the place where the people stay I can hardly wait till tomorrow comes around That's the day my papa takes his fure to town Papa promised me that I could go even let me see a cowboy show I saw the cowboys and Indians for the first time then I told my papa gotta go again Papa said son we got the lines to run we'll come back again there's work to be done He's got fishin' lines...

When the black man's word was spoken, yes And the white folks thought it was a token, ooh We have suffered our whole lives through Doing things that you're not supposed to do, no We were beaten 'til our backs were black and blue Oh I, I was born a loser Oh I, I was born a loser Because I'm a black man I was living in my own land I was moved because of white man's plan Now I am living in a white man's land We don't want no war or fighting, oh no All we need is love and some living, ooh We must try and live with each other Knowing that we were made by our Father We have suffered our whole lives through Oh I, I was born a loser Oh I, I was born a loser Because I'm a black man I was living in my own land I was moved because of white man's plan And now I am living in a white man's land Hey man Oh oh oh well, yeah yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah Still I'm living I've got to keep on the going Oh oh

Who are these ones who would lead us now To the sound of a thousand guns Storm the gates of hell itself To the tune of a single drum Where are the girls of the neighborhood bars Whose loves were lost at sea In the hills of France and on German soil From Saigon to Wounded Knee Who come from long lines of soldiers Whose duty was fulfilled In the words of a warrior's will And protocol Where are the boys in their coats of blue Who flew when their eyes were blind Was God in town for the Roman games Was he there when the deals were signed Who are the kings in their coats of mail Who rode by the cross to die Did they all go down into worthiness Is it wrong for a king to cry And who are these ones who would have us now Whose presence is concealed Whose nature is revealed In a time bomb And last of all you old seadogs Who travel after whale You'd storm the gates of hell itself For the taste of a mermaid's tail Who come from long lines of skippers Whose duty was fulfilled In the words of a warrior's will And protocol

Upon the Bitter Green she was The hills above the town Echoed to the footsteps As soft as eider down Waiting for her master To kiss away her tears Waiting through the years Bitter Green they called her Walking in the sun Loving everyone that she met Bitter Green they called her Waiting in the sun Waiting for someone to take her hand Some say he was a sailor Who died away at sea Some say he was a prisoner Who never was set free Lost upon the ocean He died there in the mist Dreaming of a kiss Bitter Green they called her Walking in the sun Loving everyone that she met Bitter Green they called her Waiting in the sun Waiting for someone to take her home. Musical Interlude But now, that Bitter Green is gone The hills have turned to rust There comes a weary stranger His tears fall in the dust Kneeling by the churchyard In the autumn mist Dreaming of a kiss Bitter Green they called her Walking in the sun Loving everyone that she met Bitter Green they called her Waiting in the sun Waiting for someone to take her hand Bitter Green they called her Walking in the sun Loving everyone that she met Bitter Green they called her Waiting in the sun Waiting for someone To take her hand

In the early morning rain with a dollar in my hand With an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand Now, I'm a long way from home and I miss my loved ones so In the early morning rain with no place to go Out on runway number nine a big 707's set to go And I'm stuck here in the grass where the cold wind blows Now, the liquor tasted good and the women all were fast Well, there she goes, my friend, well she's going down at last Hear the mighty engines roar - see the silver bird on high She's away and westward bound - far above the clouds she'll fly There the morning rain don't fall and the sun always shines She'll be flying over my home in about three hours time This old airport's got me down - it's no earthly good to me 'Cause I'm stuck here on the ground as cold and drunk as I can be You can't jump a jet plane like you can a freight train So, I'd best be on my way in the early morning rain You can't jump a jet plane like you can a freight train So, I'd best be on my way in the early morning rain