Fabrication Of Ancestors
For old Billy Dugan, shot in the ass in the Civil War, my father said.
The old wound in my ass
has opened up again, but I
am past the prodigies
of youth’s campaigns, and weep
where I used to laugh
in war’s red humors, half
in love with silly-assed pains
and half not feeling them.
I have to sit up with
an indoor unsittable itch
before I go down late
and weeping to the storm-
cellar on a dirty night
and go to bed with the worms.
So pull the dirt up over me
and make a family joke
for Old Billy Blue Balls,
the oldest private in the world
with two ass-holes and no
place more to go to for a laugh
except the last one. Say:
The North won the Civil War
without much help from me
although I wear a proof
of the war’s obscenity.
poem by Alan Dugan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Billy Radcliff
Billy radcliffe didnt go to town and when he looked up he was really looking down catching blue in his eyes that were brown billy radcliffe
Billy radcliffe owned by the state from his first breath to the cemetery gate he was the first boy born in space billy radcliffe
Billy radcliffe very first one he really had lived just a cursed son a split in half man sang the cherubim billy radcliffe
Billy radcliffe saw what the devil man saw a spot of blue in the black of the eye of the lord such a cruel love is the kind that has wrought billy radcliffe
Billy sadly didnt live long he had to stay there because he wasnt too strong hes stepping out the door blowing up like a bomb billy radcliffe
Billy radcliffe very first one really a hatched man a light switch son a split in half man sang the cherubim I bet you cried when he died now didja, now didja?
Now billy radcliffe saw what the devil man saw a spot of blue in the black of the eye of the lord now billy radcliffe saw what the devil had and I feel very bad for william radcliffe
song performed by by Frank Black
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stagger Lee
The night was clear, and the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumblin down. . .
I was standin on the corner
When I heard my bull dog bark.
He was barkin at the two men
Who were gamblin in the dark.
It was stagger lee and billy,
Two men who gambled late.
Stagger lee threw a seven,
Billy swore that he threw eight.
Stagger lee, said billy,
I cant let you go with that.
You have won all my money,
And my brand-new stetson hat.
Stagger lee went home
And he got his .44.
He said, Im goin to the ballroom
Just to pay that debt I owe.
(bridge)
Go, stagger lee
Stagger lee went to the ballroom
And he strolled across the ballroom floor.
He said you did me wrong, billy.
And he pulled his .44.
Stagger lee, said billy,
Oh, please dont take my life!
Ive got three hungry children,
And a very sickly wife.
Stagger lee shot billy
Oh, he shot that poor boy so hard
That a bullet went through billy
And broke the bartenders bar.
Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee!
Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee!
(to fade)
song performed by by Huey Lewis And The News
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Half The World
Half the world lives,
Half the world makes,
Half the world gives
While the other half takes.
Half the world hates,
Half the world runs away,
Half the world's late,
Half the world praises the day.
Half the world is,
Half the world was,
Half the world thinks,
Half the world does.
Half the world lies,
Half the world burns,
Half the world cries
While the other half turns.
Half the world cares,
Half the world weeps,
Half the world shares,
Half the world keeps.
Half the world sings,
Half the world laughs,
Half the world brings,
Half the world tries to be the other half.
End.
Stagger Lee
1948, xmas eve, with a full moon over town
Stagger lee shot billy delions
And he blew that poor boy down.
Do you know what he shot him for?
What do you make of that?
Cause billy delions threw the lucky dice
Won stagger lees stetson hat.
Bayo, bayo, tell me how can this be?
You arrest the girls for turning tricks
But youre scared of stagger lee.
Stagger lee is a madman and he shot my billy d.
Bayo go get him or give the job to me.
Delia delions, dear sweet delia-d
How the hell can I arrest him? hes twice as big as me.
Well dont ask me to go downtown, I wont come back alive [no more].
Not only is that mother big but he packs a .45 [four].
Bayo, delia said, just give me a gun
He shot my billy dead now Im gonna see him hung.
She went into the delions club through billy delions blood
Stepped up to stagger lee at the bar,
Said, buy me a gin fizz, love.
As stagger lee lit a cigarette she shot him in the balls
Blew the smoke off her revolver, had him dragged to city hall
Bayo, bayo, see you hang him high
He shot my billy dead and now hes got to die.
Delia went a walking down on singapore street
A three-piece band on the corner played near my God to thee
But delia whistled a different tune, what tune could it be?
The song that woman sung was look out stagger lee.
The song that delia sung was look out stagger lee.
song performed by by Grateful Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Riff Raff
See it on television every day
Hear it on the radio
It ain't humid but it sure is hot
Down in Mexico
Boss man tryin' to tell me
Beginnin' of the end
Sayin' it'll bend me
Too late my friend
Riff raff
It's good for a laugh
Riff raff
Laugh yourself in half
Now I'm the kind of guy that keeps his big mouth shut
It don't bother me
Somebody kickin' me when I'm up
Leaves me in misery
I never shot nobody
Don't even carry a gun
I ain't doin' nothin' wrong
I'm just havin' fun
Riff raff
It's good for a laugh
Riff raff
Laugh yourself in half
song performed by by AC/DC from Powerage
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Half The World
Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson
Half the world hates
What half the world does every day
Half the world waits
While half gets on with it anyway
Half the world lives
Half the world makes
Half the world gives
While the other half takes
Half the world is
Half the world was
Half the world thinks
While the other half does
Half the world talks
With half a mind on what they say
Half the world walks
With half a mind to run away
Half the world lies
Half the world learns
Half the world flies
As half the world turns
Half the world cries
Half the world laughs
Half the world tries
To be the other half
Half of us divided like a torn-up photograph half of us are
Trying to reach the other half
Half the world cares
While half the world is wasting the day
Half the world shares
While half the world is stealing away
song performed by by Rush
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Wonder
I wonder what the Jacks have got to laugh and laugh about.
I'm sure the worms don't see the joke when Jacky digs them out.
I wonder which is best: a rich plum-pudding stuffed with plums,
Or lemon ice, or plain boiled rice, or long-division sums.
I wonder why I wear a tie. It is not warm to wear;
But if I left it off someone would say it was not there.
I wonder, if I took a whiff of father's pipe for fun,
Would I be big and strong like him, or just his small, sick son?
I wonder when our old white hen will know her squawk betrays her.
I think she lets us find her eggs 'ust so that we shall praise her.
poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Billys Bones
Billy ran around with the rare old crew
And he knew an arsenal from tottenham blue
Wed be a darn sight better of if we knew
Where billys bones are resting now
Billy saw a copper and he hit him in the knee
And he took him down from six foot to five foot three
Then he hit him fair and square in the do-re-mi
That copper wont be having any family
Hey billy son where are you now
Dont you know that we need you now
With a ra-ta-ta and the old kow-tow
Where are billys bones resting now
Billy went away with the peace-keeping force
cause he liked a bloody good fight of course
Went away in an old khaki van to the banks of the river jordan
Billy saw the arabs and he had em on the run
When he got em in the range of his sub-machine gun
Then he had the israelis in his sights, went a ra-ta-ta
And they ran like shiites
Hey billy son where are you now
Dont you know that we need you now
With a ra-ta-ta and the old kow-tow
Where are billys bones resting now
One night billy had a rare old time,
Laughing and singing on the lebanon line
Came back to camp not looking too pretty
Never even got to see the holy city
Now billys out there in the desert sun
And his mother cries when the morning comes
And theres mothers crying all over this world
For their poor dead darling boys and girls
Hey billy son where are you now
Dont you know that we need you now
With a ra-ta-ta and the old kow-tow
Where are billys bones resting now
Have a billy holiday
Born on a monday
Married on a tuesday
Drunk on a wednesday
Got plugged on a thursday
Sick on a friday
Died on a saturday
Buried on a sunday
song performed by by Pogues
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A glimpse
a glimpse
the half opened door
some would say
a half closed door
it all depends on the
state of mind you are in
well half closed for pessismist
and half opened for optimist
half opened or half closed door
so long as it is open
and not close
a good exercise for the mind
of a story teller, novelist, a film maker
a glimpse at the half closed door
the mind is thrown open
like the kick you would give
a half opened door
so that you and pet cat could
glide through easily
the stories that start coming out
from a glimpse at the half opened door
agatha's murdered corpse lying behind
a stalker, a ghost in the corridor of the mind
from the glimpse of the half closed door
a million possibilities, ideas pouring forth
half closed door, half opened door
whichever way you may say
it is an opened door
a million stories, ideas, possibilities
knock at the door of my mind
a glimpse of the half closed, half opened door
my half closed half opened eyes
open themselves to my ever curious mind
boundless as the universe
inspired by
A Glimpse
A GLIMPSE, through an interstice caught,
Of a crowd of workmen and drivers in a bar-room, around the stove,
late of a winter night-And I unremark'd seated in a corner;
Of a youth who loves me, and whom I love, silently approaching, and
seating himself near, that he may hold me by the hand;
A long while, amid the noises of coming and going-of drinking and
oath and smutty jest,
There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little,
perhaps not a word.
Walt Whitman
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Billy 1
Theres guns across the river aimin at ya
Lawman on your trail, hed like to catch ya
Bounty hunters, too, theyd like to get ya
Billy, they dont like you to be so free.
Campin out all night on the berenda
Dealin cards til dawn in the hacienda
Up to boot hill theyd like to send ya
Billy, dont you turn your back on me.
Playin around with some sweet senorita
Into her dark hallway she will lead ya
In some lonesome shadows she will greet ya
Billy, youre so far away from home.
Theres eyes behind the mirrors in empty places
Bullet holes and scars between the spaces
Theres always one more notch and ten more paces
Billy, and youre walkin all alone.
They say that pat garretts got your number
So sleep with one eye open when you slumber
Every little sound just might be thunder
Thunder from the barrel of his gun.
Guitars will play your grand finale
Down in some tularosa alley,
Maybe in the rio pecos valley
Billy, youre so far away from home.
Theres always some new stranger sneakin glances
Some trigger-happy fool willin to take chances
And some old whore from san pedro to make advances
Advances on your spirit and your soul.
The businessmen from taos want you to go down
Theyve hired pat garrett to force a showdown.
Billy, dont it make ya feel so low-down
To be shot down by the man who was your friend?
Hang on to your woman if you got one
Remember in el paso, once, you shot one.
She may have been a whore, but she was a hot one
Billy, you been runnin for so long.
Guitars will play your grand finale
Down in some tularosa alley
Maybe in the rio pecos valley
Billy, youre so far away from home.
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Billy The Kid
(traditional, arranged by ry cooder)
(g) - (d)
(g) Ill sing you a true song of (d) billy the (g) kid
Ill (d) sing the record of (g) deeds that he did
Way out in new mexico a long time (d) ago
When a (g) mans only friend was his (d) own forty- (g) four
Now when billy the kid was a very young lad
In old silver city he went to the bad
Way out west with a knife in his hand
At the age of twelve years he killed his first man
Fair mexican maidens play guitars and sing
Songs about billy their boy bandit king
Before this young manhood reached its sad end
Hed a notch on his pistol for twenty one men
It was on one black night that poor billy died
He said to his friends, Im not satisfied
Theres twenty one men that Ive put bullets through
And sheriff pat garretts gonna make twenty-two
Well, this is how billy the kid met his fate
A big moon was shining and the hour was late
Shot down by pat garrett, silver citys best friend
The poor outlaws life have reached its sad end
song performed by by Ry Cooder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Billy 4
Theres guns across the river about to pound you
Theres a lawman on your trail like to surround you
Bounty hunters are dancing all around you
Billy, they dont like you to be so free.
Camping out all night on the veranda
Walking in the streets down by the hacienda
Up to boot hill the like to send you
Billy, dont you turn your back on me.
Theres mills inside the minds of crazy faces
Bullet holes and rifles in their cases
There is always one more notch in four more aces
Billy, and youre playing all alone.
Playing around with some sweet signorita
Into her dark chamber she will greet you
In the shadows of the maizes she will lead you
Billy, and youre going all alone.
They say that pat garretts got your number
So sleep with one eye open, when you wander
Every little sound just might be thunder
Thunder from the barrel of his gun.
Theres always another stranger sneaking glances
Some trigger-happy fool willing to take chances
Some old whore from san pedroll make advances
Advances on your spirit and your soul.
The businessmen from taos want you to go down
So theyve hired mister garrett, hell force you to slow down
Billy, dont let it make you feel so low down
To be hunted by the man who was your friend.
So hang on to your woman, if you got one
Remember in el paso once you shot one
Ill be in santa fe about one
Billy, youve been running for so long.
Gypsy queens will play your grand finale
Way down in some tularosa alley
Maybe in la rio pecas valley
Billy, youre so far away from home
Billy, youre so far away from home
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Look at the Time! (A Drinking Song)
Look at the time! It's half-past six!
Time for me to be getting my kicks!
I'll have some whisky,
It'll make me frisky,
And then I'll get up to my usual tricks!
Look at the time! It's half-past seven!
And I feel that I should be going to heaven!
I'll have some rum
'Cos I'm not dumb,
And then I'll be drunk by ten to eleven!
Look at the time! It's half-past eight!
I didn't know it was getting so late!
I'll have some brandy
Instead of shandy,
And then I'll be able to face my fate!
Look at the time! It's half-past nine!
(And I know that this doesn't really rhyme!)
I'll have some gin,
It's a bit of a sin,
It's time for a party and I'm feeling fine!
Look at the time! It's half-past ten!
Time to go back to bed again!
I really think
I've had enough to drink,
But I'll be back on the bottle tomorrow again!
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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When The Lights Go Out
Well you say you have a friend
You trust him with your life
You trust him with your car, you trust him with your kids
You even trust him with your wife
You better watch whats going down when the lights go out
When the night is dark, when there aint nobody looking around
When the lights go out
Down in this dirty little town
Well now the world is dark and funny
You better listen to what I say
You aint gonna know whats going on
By what you see in the light of day
You better watch whats going on when the lights go out
When the night is dark, when there aint nobody looking around
When the lights go out
Down in this dirty little town
Well now baby she trusted billy
With reason you understand
But billy he kept coming home late at night
And in the morning he had that smell on his hand
Well now the world is turning
Rome is burning
Me Im watching
And Im learning
They say it sure is gods hand in the ticking of the clock
The lords light shining under every dirty rock
Well now last night I slept right here
And I heard gods voice whisper in my ear
You better watch whats going on when the lights go out
When the night is dark, when there aint nobody looking around
When the lights go out
Down in this dirty little town
Down in this dirty little town
Down in this dirty little town
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Ballad Of Conley And Billy (The Proof's In The Pickin')
Screamn' whitewall tires and a guitar by his side
Billy's got the fever as he rolls on thru the night
Some were born to listen, some were born to play
He was lightning on the highstrings and thunder on the bass
Chorus
He could play it high, he could play it low
He could make it cry, he could make it moan
He knows when push comes to shove
the proof's in the pickin'
In a smoky little tavern just off of Bourbon Street
Tobacco stained fingers waited on the down beat
Conley was the master, the undisputed king
He'd ruled the town for thirty years
with an army of six strings
Chorus
Sometimes after midnight Billy drives through New Orleans
Straight to the French Quarter there's a man he has to see
The music is a raging like a city that's on fire
Billy felt just like an altar boy at the feet of a higher power
Conley watched as Billy walked across the room
Opened his case and started a tune
The whole club was silent and the lights were turned down low
Billy stepped up on the stage and Conley whispered Go son, go
Chorus
Conley held his hand up, no one made a sound
And he handed Bill his old archtop and stepped into the crowd
Billy played it soft, Billy played it sad
Then he made it talk and in came the band
Soon the room was shaking before Billy's wall of sound
And just a block off Bourbon Street, a new king's been crowned.
Chorus
song performed by by Diamond Rio
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A real joke
Oldie we were really fooled
That sent chill and make us cool
We can do nothing but laugh
It is story of fools only half
Who prefers and loves to laugh?
Who wants to be alone and rough?
Take it as gift from almighty
Laugh it out as sign of nicety
Lessen out the burden
Which has come all of sudden?
Don't loose composure even
You will be really be happy then
Not to laugh it out is cruel joke
The sadness may remain as yoke
To keep confined if some one pokes
Then it may be really big stroke
We are certainly made to believe
It is fallacy and unreal world that we live
Not everything can go as per plan
You got to swim across the lake like swan
Your efforts may not be liked by all
They will cut jokes at your fall
They have nothing to do with your agony
The matters seems to them unreal and phony
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Only A Snippet From History
A young Brooklyn man
'Billy The Kid'
Was sentenced to death
~~ For murder ~~
He escaped the punishment
By murdering again, but
This was in vain.
He was still on the run.
One County Sheriff
'Saw red' it is said!
And using a gun
Shot Billy dead.
The history of Billy
Is detailed with care.
This is only a snippet
I do declare.
poem by Joyce Hemsley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Stagger Lee
The night was clear and the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumbling down
I was standing on the corner
When I heard my bulldog bark
He was barking up at the two men
Who were gambling in the dark
It was stagger lee and billy
Two men who gambled late
Stagger lee threw a seven
Billy swore, he threw an eight
Stagger lee told billy,
I cant let you get away with that
Well, youve won all my money
And my brand new stetson hat
Stagger lee ran home
Went and got him his 44
Said, Im going to the bar room
Just to pay that debt that I owe
Go stagger lee, go stagger lee
Go stagger lee, go stagger lee
Said, i m going to the bar room
Just to pay that debt that I owe
Stagger lee went to the bar room
Boy, he stood across the bar room doors
Said, now, nobody move
And he pulled out his 44
Stagger lee, cried billy
Oh, please dont you take my life
I got me three little children
And a very sickly wife
Go stagger lee, go stagger lee
Go stagger lee, go stagger lee
Got me three little children
And a very, very sickly wife
Stagger lee shot billy
Boy, he shot that poor boy so bad
That the bullet came thru billy
And went right thru the bartenders glass
While I was standing on the corner
When I heard my bulldog bark
He was barking up at the two men
Who were gambling in the dark
Go stagger lee, go stagger lee
Go stagger lee, go stagger lee
Well, he was barking up at the two men
Who were gambling in the dark
song performed by by Neil Diamond
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Easier to Digest
Civil unrest
Civil war
Civil chaos
Or...
My personal favorite,
Civil disobedience!
Which of these has more flavor...
And yet caffeine free?
More taste,
And yet less filling?
'I vote we go with civil unrest!
It's easier to digest...
And maintains that robust appeal.'
Now we are getting somewhere!
And you George...
What would you like?
~Just pass me the vodka!
No rocks! ~
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Fundamental of Liar Chapter XXII: Laugh
there's laugh, forced laugh
laugh, gentle rejection without word
laugh, looking sympathy with laugh
laugh but actually doesn't laugh
hiding anger, hiding pain
cheerful laugh but alone inside
why you try hard to impress people?
tired and wounded more
laughing your foolish joke
and crying life in the dark room
laugh for yourself
laugh with your heart
and you'll never regret to try an honest laugh
poem by Maria Sudibyo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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