Ashurnatsirpal III
Three walls around the town of Tela when I came.
They expected everything of those walls;
Nobody in the town came out to kiss my feet.
I knocked the walls down, killed three thousand soldiers,
Took away cattle and sheep, took all the loot in sight,
And burned special captives.
Some of the soldiers—I cut off hands and feet.
Others—I cut off ears and fingers.
Some—I put out the eyes.
I made a pyramid of heads.
I strung heads on trees circling the town.
When I got through with it
There wasn’t much left of the town of Tela.
poem by Carl Sandburg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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White Rose From The Atlas
Now Paris
Is washing its eyes
With August rain
Paris is now
A woman
A Babylonian bride
Her wedding
Is set on Christmas
I hear youyous in Paris
And emigrants cheering
And applauding
To welcome
These eyes of marble
This is your day woman
You will hug
Another man
A Parisian
Black-feet
Who does not respect
The rain
In my little house
There are many essays
And poems
Some I do not feel I need
Some are not mine
They are still
Standing up
The way I left them
This morning
The fireplace is silent
Like a grandmother
Who knows when she should talk
Too many books
In different languages
Agitated
Like me
Even your journal
As you left it
It still keeping
Its preferred place,
Its blue color
And the smell of your burned desires
The first December snow
Is falling in a rebellious motions,
It is embracing the town’s big avenue
And dancing with the last falling leaves
Against its will
This is not very important
The town is not
My town
I am an emigrant too
Time in my house
Is yellowish
It creates its own dunes
Just to get lost
This is trouble my house’s door.
Before you left
This town
I drew a plan
To settle and colonized this town
I planned to build
Another Paris
A barbarian one
So you can take me
With your eyes of the Atlas
Through its streets of marble
And to our Andalusia’s house
Then we go
And visit mosques
Churches
And temples
To wash our souls
With the town’s walls
And gates.
Now
And after you left
I burned all the plans
The town’s saltiness is all that remains
And the smell of your burned desires.
poem by Atef Ayadi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Out On The Town
They called her synthesizer suzi
And fast fingers flynn and
Bobby you played saxophone
Like youd never play again
We all four got together
In a divey weekend bar
Working on our standards
Seeing who would be the star
Out on the town
Bobby I knew you were a gambler
cause you made my wheel spin
I should have known you cheated
cause youd never fail to win
We all knew you were a joker
And your luck was running thin
When they took you one cold morning
Out on the town
Out on the town
Were gonna make our rounds
Out on the town
Were gonna close it down
Out on the town
To the last call of the last bar
Out on the town
Now I walk along these darkened streets
With an open mind cause Im tryin to reach
The memory that brought me here
On this lonely night for one last tear
Suzi you moved up town for good
Flynn you would if you thought you could
And Im still staring these same walls down
On a dirty street out on the town
Out on the town
Were gonna make our rounds
Out on the town
Were gonna close it down
Out on the town
To the last call of the last bar
song performed by by Vonda Shepard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Coming Around
Never see you coming around
They know they got their heads screwed on
I'm standing in the middle of town
I know I might never come home
Just standing where I am with all the people passing by me
The sound of all these passers-by mixed in with the bus and motor-car
I must be sure these are the signs
Cos I've been here a million times before
Just tell me when it's coming around, coming around
I think I see you coming to town,
hunting you down Bringing you round
Tell me if I'm bringing you down
Cos I was fine till you came along
You tell me that the tears of a clown
That I'm confusing while abusing my mind
So far away I wanna be
That's not as close to you and me
The things they call our destiny
Now why do you have to pick on me at all?
My walls are coming down
Just tell me when it's coming around, coming around
I think I see you coming to town, hunting you down
Coming around
Just tell me when it's coming around, coming around
I think I see you coming to town, dragging you down
Just tell me when it's coming around, coming around
I think I see you coming to town, just dragging you down
It's coming around
Coming around
song performed by by Travis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Oxford Town
Oxford town, oxford town
Evrybodys got their heads bowed down
The sun dont shine above the ground
Aint a-goin down to oxford town
He went down to oxford town
Guns and clubs followed him down
All because his face was brown
Better get away from oxford town
Oxford town around the bend
He come in to the door, he couldnt get in
All because of the color of his skin
What do you think about that, my frien?
Me and my gal, my gals son
We got met with a tear gas bomb
I dont even know why we come
Goin back where we come from
Oxford town in the afternoon
Evrybody singin a sorrowful tune
Two men died neath the mississippi moon
Somebody better investigate soon
Oxford town, oxford town
Evrybodys got their heads bowed down
The sun dont shine above the ground
Aint a-goin down to oxford town
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hot Town
Written by dewey bunnell, 1998
Found on human nature.
Down in this hot town
At some old cafe tonight
You hear the dogs bay
At the green neon light
Its one hundred degrees
But the heat is free
In this hot town
This hot town tonight
And that there candle
Only adds to the heat
As you sit in your t-shirt
Trying to eat
You watch the waitress, you watch the clock on the wall
And the flies in the window climb up just to fall
In this hot town (hot town, hot town)
This hot town tonight (hot town, hot, hot)
Down in this hot town
Dont know no person to call
And this here cafe
Dont serve no beer at all
Out on the sidewalk
Its cooling down for your feet (cooling down, cooling down for your feet)
But the women are still sweaty and sweet (still sweaty, sweaty and sweet)
So you watch the waitress, you watch the clock on the wall
And the flies in the window climb up just to fall
In this hot town (hot town, hot town)
This hot town tonight (hot town, hot, hot)
Its one hundred degrees
But the heat is free
In this hot town (hot town, hot town)
This hot town tonight (hot town, hot, hot)
Its one hundred degrees (oh yeah)
In this hot town (hot town, hot town)
This hot town tonight (hot town, hot, hot)
(hot town, hot town)
(hot town, hot, hot)... (fade)
song performed by by America
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Walls
Some days are diamonds
Some days are rocks
Some doors are open
Some roads are blocked
Sundowns are golden
Then fade away
But if i never do nothing
I'll get you back some day
Cause you got a heart so big
It could crush this town
And i can't hold out forever
Even walls fall down
And all around your island
There's a barricade
It keeps out the danger
It holds in the pain
Sometimes you're happy
Sometimes you cry
Half of me is ocean
Half of me is sky
But you got a heart so big
It could crush this town
And i can't hold out forever
Even walls fall down
And some things are over
Some things go on
And part of me you carry
Part of me is gone
But you got a heart so big
It could crush this town
And i can't hold out forever
Even walls fall down
Baby you got a heart so big
It could crush this town
And i can't hold out forever
Even walls fall down
They fall down
song performed by by Tom Petty
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Turning The Town Red
Youve been taught that this wont do
They put me in the picture but the film turned blue
A glimpse of you, turning the town red.
A head full of brand new words and a mouth full of shocks
Youre a big boy now, with a face to stop clocks.
Turning the town red. (x2)
You made your bed, and now you better dream in it.
The word that you once whispered, now youre screamin it.
Days drip down like bad wallpaper.
Pictures plastered on the ivy creeper between your old toy soldiers
And your mothers sleepers.
Turning the town red. (x2)
You made your bed, you better face the consequence.
A black pool opened at my feet into a dream sequence.
Turning the town red. aah. (x4)
You know I heard her call my name
Least, I think thats what she said.
Surely Im the correlation thats gonna cause her shame
So, whats she doing in my bed?
Turning the town red. aah.
(repeat.)
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Small Town
Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Probly die in a small town
Oh, those small communities
All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity
Educated in a small town
Taught the fear of jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic thats me
But Ive seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town
Married an l.a. doll and brought her to this small town
Now shes small town just like me
No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be
Got nothing against a big town
Still hayseed enough to say
Look whos in the big town
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and thats good enough for me
Well I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Gonna die in this small town
And thats probly where theyll bury me
song performed by by John Mellencamp
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Night The Carousel Burnt Down
Werent you there when the carousel burned down
The fire and confusion, the smoke and the sound
I swear you were there when the carousel burned down
We were all around
The rings charred and tarnished all over the ground
And the heads hung down
And we all left town the next day
The children all cried when the carousel burned down
The old ladies sighed and the carousel burned down
The rest of us lied as the carousel burned down
And the flames did fly
The pipes steamed and shrieked out a blazing goodbye
As the boiler died
And they melted down the midway
And we all left town the next day
song performed by by Todd Rundgren
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There’s a male baboon loose in town
There’s a male baboon loose in town
walking on its hands and feet
opening all the rubbish bins in town
where eagerly it looks for any food
and it’s easier for him than the bush,
while cursing he talks to the dogs.
There’s a male baboon loose in town
walking on its hands and feet
stripping everything that it finds
and as an outcast it did desert,
he scratches between rubbish, old papers and mail,
trying to baptize himself in the sewerage,
there’s a male baboon loose in town
walking on its hands and feet.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Stranger In My Own Town
J. spinks, t. lewis
I still remember what I saw last night
Three small kids stealing money from a poor man
Now that aint right - no that aint right
Im still thinking bout the things I heard
Poor old man - he was frightened and afraid of every word
- and its all so absurd
But times are changing now an d I still care
There must be something we can do out there
Im like a stranger in my own town baby
Im like a stranger in my own town baby
I keep on walkin through these run down streets
Graffiti walls - this aint nothing like it used to be
Not for you or for me
This towns never been so down before
Looks like a photograph - someone mighta taken in
The second world war
Oh but what was that for
So many people gave their lives for this
Theres nothing left for us to reminisce
Im like a stranger in my own town baby
Im like a stranger in my own town baby
When those sad days were over
Im sure they all thought that weld won
But now as I look around
Were still invaded by everyone
Things wont ever be the same again
Ive not lost a town - Ive lost my only friend
Oh but where does it end
Well never change these times with good intent
But right now I know I dont feel content
Im like a stranger in my own town baby
Im like a stranger in my own town baby
song performed by by Outfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Walls
Walls of stone and walls of brick,
Some walls thin and some walls thick,
Walls so high and walls so low,
Walls to hide and walls to show.
Walls quite short and walls quite tall,
Some walls, last well, some walls fall,
Walls for comfort, walls of hate,
Walls for security, walls ornate.
Some as a barricade, some to support,
Walls of wood and walls of iron wrought,
Walls as a barrier, walls to enclose,
Some are to sit on, some to lean and doze.
Walls we build ourselves, these aren't good,
Walls for privacy, walls that have stood,
So many years through weather foul or fine,
Walls, that are yours, walls that are mine.
Brick by brick they are built to last,
Whether built now or in the past,
They shelter us from so many things,
And shield us from whatever this life brings.
poem by Ernestine Northover
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Streets Of Your Town
Writers: leo sayer & frank farrell
Have you seen the old men
That lean on the walls
Of salvation halls
In the streets of your town
You cant have missed
The vagrant
He is the rubble
He is the trouble you want to remove
In the parks about sundown
He makes his bed
His shoes are a pillow for his head
Have you seen the young men
That look so old
Theyd rather have the cold dark lonely road
Have you ever wondered
Why do they go
Leaving the tv and the automo
You can see them hailing trucks down the open road
You wave your thumb and you hop on board
You aint got no keeper you dont need a friend
I betcha wish you were the same
Yeah I betcha wish you were the same
Have you seen the old men
We lean on the walls
Of salvation halls
In the streets of your town
Were just a little shady
We get a little crazy
In the streets of your town
In the parks about sundown
We lay our heads
Our shoes are our pillow
The grass our bed
Dont need no keeper
And dont need no friend
I betcha wish you were the same
Yeah I betcha wish you were the same
song performed by by Leo Sayer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In A Town This Size
In a town this size, theres no place to hide
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
You cant steal a kiss in a place like this
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
In a smokey bar in the backseat of your car
In your own little house someones sure to find you out
What you do and what you think
What you eat and what you drink
If you smoke a cigarette theyll be talkin about your breath
In a town this size, theres no place to hide
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
You cant steal a kiss in a place like this
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
Oh, I had a fight with my girlfriend last night
Before the moon went down it was all over town
How he made me cry how I said goodbye
If its true or not doesnt seem to count alot
In a town this size, theres no place to hide
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
You cant steal a kiss in a place like this
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
In a town this size in a town this size
song performed by by John Prine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In A Town This Size (feat. Dolores Keane)
In a town this size, there's no place to hide
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
You can't steal a kiss in a place like this
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
In a smokey bar in the backseat of your car
In your own little house someone's sure to find you out
What you do and what you think
What you eat and what you drink
If you smoke a cigarette they'll be talkin' about your breath
In a town this size, there's no place to hide
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
You can't steal a kiss in a place like this
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
Oh, I had a fight with my girlfriend last night
Before the moon went down it was all over town
How he made me cry how I said goodbye
If it's true or not doesn't seem to count alot
In a town this size, there's no place to hide
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
You can't steal a kiss in a place like this
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
In a town this size In a town this size
song performed by by John Prine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Everybody is Getting Out of Town
Population getting out of town,
Population wearing running shoes,
Population wondering which road to choose,
Everybody's getting out of town.
They all want to leave; they would if they could,
But right now the road ain't no good,
If you ain't crying, you might as well laugh,
While you're trying to get out of town.
Power plant, glowing in the dark,
Nobody sure what set off the spark,
They say the island is sinking fast,
Everybody's getting out of town.
Population looking for a sign,
Whose fault is it, living on the fault line,
Better do better if there IS a next time,
But for now, just get out of town.
Population looking for something to eat,
Population looking for what was the street,
If you leaving, all you got is your feet,
Good luck getting out of town.
poem by Richard Jarboe
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Her Town Too
Shes been afraid to go out
Shes afraid of the knock on her door
Theres always a shade of a doubt
She can never be sure
Who comes to call
Maybe the friend of a friend of a friend
Anyone at all
Anything but nothing again
It used to be her town
It used to be her town, too
It used to be her town
It used to be her town, too
Seems like even her old girlfriends
Might be talking her down
Shes got her name on the grapevine
Running up and down
The telephone line
Talking bout
Someone said, someone said
Something bout, something else
Someone might have said about her
She always figured that they were her friends
But maybe they can live without her
It used to be her town
It used to be her town, too
It used to be her town
It used to be her town, too
Well, people got used to seeing them both together
But now hes gone and life goes on
Nothing lasts forever, oh no
She gets the house and the garden
He gets the boys in the band
Some of them his friends
Some of them her friends
Some of them understand
Lord knows that this is just a small town city
Yes, and everyone can see you fall
Its got nothing to do with pity
I just wanted to give you a call
It used to be your town
It used to be my town, too
You never know till it all falls down
Somebody loves you
Somebody loves you
Darling, somebody still loves you
I can still remember
When it used to be her town, too
It used to be your town
It used to be my town, too
song performed by by James Taylor
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Take Your Guns To Town
On the eastern highway we ride
Windshield wipers disperse the rain from the sky
Whats left is ivy and vine
All the letters Id sent back home
Never express the idea of how a young man
Can be so far from home
Take your guns to town
Dont take your guns to town
Take your guns to town
Dont take your guns to town
Stumble down main street alone
Just gotten home with my hand on the phone
I was drinking alone on the quilted (? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? )
Take your guns to town
Dont take your guns to town
Take your guns to town
Dont take your guns to town
song performed by by Whiskeytown
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sown Home Town
The world outside don't like us much,
'Cos they ain't got our classy touch,
But they ain't good enough to breathe,
This towns good air we make 'em leave
CHORUS
But it's no, no, no,
you really can't do that,
No, no, no,
down home town
No monkey business in this town,
Well who do you think you're pushing 'round,
This towns respectable and clean,
Just look around you'll see what I mean
CHORUS Repeat
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
CHORUS Repeat
We got the best town band around,
Just listen to their crazy sound
When they get hot they gonna blow,
You see them running every show
(I wish I was in the land of Dixie
Look Away...)
Down home town,
Gotta get down
Down home town
Gotta get down
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
CHORUS
(I wish I was in the land of Dixie
Look Away...)
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Circus
Little man with his eyes on fire
And his smile so bright.
In his hands are the toys you gave
To fill his heart with delight.
And in the ring stands a circus clown
Holding up a knife.
What you see and what you will hear
Will last you for the rest of your life.
And its sad, so sad,
There aint no easy way round.
And its sad, so sad,
All you friends gather round
cause the circus left town.
Little man with his heart so pure
And his love so fine.
Stick with me and Ill ride with you
Till the end of the line.
Hold my hand and Ill walk with you
Through the darkest night.
When I smile Ill be thinking of you
And every little thing will be all right.
Chorus
Chorus
The circus left town, left town.
The circus left town, left town.
song performed by by Eric Clapton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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