Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison cover

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Van Morrison song lyrics:
Tell Me Something
(see Discography entry)

One of These Days
You Can Count On Me (To Do My Part)
If You Live
Was
Look Here
City Home
No Trouble Livin'
Benediction
Back On the Corner
Tell Me Something
I Don't Want Much
News Nightclub
Perfect Moment

One of These Days

(Mose Allison)
One of these days I've got to get things right
I'm gonna do my business in th' daylight
One of these days you know I've got to get things right
I'm gonna do my business out in the broad daylight
One of these days I've got to get things straight
I'm gonna stop acting like a reprobate
One of these days you know I've got to get things straight
I'm gonna stop staying out late
And acting like a reprobate
One of these days I've got to get in step
It won't be long 'fore I'll be needin' help
One of these days you know I've got to get in step
The way I'm going baby I'll be needin' help
One of these days I've got to go back home
Sit out on my front porch and compose a poem
One of these days you know I've got to go back home
I'm gonna sit out on my front porch, rock away compose a poem

You Can Count On Me (To Do My Part)

(Mose Allison)
Let's talk it over, let's get get it straight
Don't let th' situation escalate
You know there's always problems when a man is wrapped up in his art
But don't you worry baby you can count on me to do my part
You keep on working, I'm looking round
Don't let your girlfriend put me down
You know it's tough these days for a proud man to make a start
But don't you worry baby you can count on me to do my part
You wash the dishes, I've gotta run
You know that night life ain't such fun
Now don't wait up for me 'cause I know you need your rest, sweetheart
But don't you worry baby you can count on me to do my part

If You Live

(Mose Allison)
If you live your time will come
I say if you live your time will come
So child don't mess with that cotton sack
It will scratch your knees and bend your back
And if you live your time will come
If you live your day will come
If you live your day will come
So child don't play with those pots and pans
They will soon enough ruin your pretty hands
And if you live your time will come
If you live a day will come
If you live a day will come
When the sun will shine
And the crops will grow
And you think you're not gonna worry no more
But if you live, your time will come

Was

(Mose Allison)
When I become was and we become were
Will there be any sign or a trace of th' lovely contour of your face
And will there be someone around
With essentially my kinda sound
When am turns to was and now is back when
Will someone have moments like this
Moments of unspoken bliss
And will there be heroes and saints
Or just a dark new age of complaints
When I become was and we become were
Will there be any Susans and Ralphs
Lookin' at old photographs
And wondering aloud to a friend

Look Here

(Mose Allison)
Look here, what you think you gon' be doin' next year
No lie, how you know you no gon' up and die
No doubt, soon enough your friends will find you out
Take care you know you might not have much time to spare
I say, how long have you acted up this way
What know, when you gonna get your own floor show
I'm hip, you could use a button on your lip
Look here, what you think you gon' be doin' next year

City Home

(Mose Allison)
I'm thinkin' 'bout a place
I'm waitin' for the day
When I will make my get away
Because as any fool can see
There's nothin' here for me but
Hurry up boy bring that water
Don't do things you shouldn't oughta
But when I go away and find my easy street
I'll have a smile for all I meet
And they will welcome me I know
Everywhere I go
No more thinkin' that I've missed it How can anyone resist it
And there's a chance
That I will find my big romance
When I get to my city home
But when I go away
And find my easy street
I'll have a smile for all I meet
And they will welcome me I know
Everywhere I go
I'll see the town in all its glitter
How could anyone be bitter
And there's a chance
That I will find my big romance
When I get to my city home

No Trouble Livin'

(Mose Allison)
Don't talk to me 'bout life problems or
How you wish that things could be
'Cause I don't have no trouble livin'
It's jus' dyin that bothers me
Don't offer me no sad stories or
Tell me that you're all at sea
'Cause I don't have no trouble livin'
It's jus' dyin that bothers me
You doin' great
You gettin' straight
You get your call
That's all
So don't tell me your misgivings
Or not to be or not to be
'Cause I don't have no trouble livin'
It's jus' dyin that bothers me
You doin' fine
You sippin' wine
You feel a pain
Last train
So don't tell me your misgivings
Or blame it on the referree
'Cause I don't have no trouble livin'
It's jus' dyin that bothers me

Benediction

(Mose Allison)
My message this evenin'
Is simple indeed
Wherever you wander
Whatever your breed
There's just one thing baby
That comes from above
When push comes to shove
Thank God for self love
Thank Him, Thank Him
God for self love
Thank Him, Thank Him
God for self love
When push comes to shove
Thank God for self love
When livin' gets heavy
And hope starts to fade
You just can't continue
That old masquerade
Remember the power that comes from above
When push comes to shove
Thank God for self love
Thank Him, Thank Him
God for self love
Thank Him, Thank Him
God for self love
When push comes to shove
Thank God for self love

Back On The Corner

(Mose Allison)
I'm back on th' corner
I'm right back on th' corner
I've been in this condition so many times before
Back by my lonesome
I'm right back by my lonesome
Just watching th' people going from door to door
I've got to change my ways
And try to quit this place
'Cause one of these rainy days
I'm gonna need a friendly face
I'm back on th' corner
I'm right back on th' corner
I've been in this condition so many times before
I've got to change my ways
And try to quit this place
'Cause one of these rainy days
I'm gonna be a mental case

Tell Me Something

(Mose Allison)
You say the world is mad
You say that you've been had
You don't like your part in the floor show
You say it's all a bust
There's no one you can trust
Well, tell me something that I don't know
You say the world's a mess
It's anybody's guess
As to who will deliver that low blow
You suffer from the strain
You don't dig pain
Well, tell me something that I don't know
You say there's some mistake
You didn't get your break
You don't see the magic in the moonglow
You're on a one way street
Your life is incomplete
Well, tell me something that I don't know
You're uptight
It ain't right
Well, tell me something that I don't know

I Don't Want Much

(Mose Allison)
I don't want much in this world
It's th' simple things I treasure
'Till I die I would get by on fame, riches and sensual pleasure
I don't ask much in this life
No special consideration
Just treat me like His Majesty
Of a friendly OPEC nation
Some people
Just don't know when to stop
Some people
Just won't quit until they reach the top
But I'm so easy going
I'd make my way through life
On love and understanding
From a rich and beautiful life
Some people
Just never seem to get enough
Some people
Want salvation, paradise and all that stuff
But I'm so easy going
Don't even keep the score
All I want is plenty, but I will take more
If you ask me
I will take more
Say please
I will
Take more

News Nightclub

(Mose Allison)
Been workin' in nightclubs so long, can hardly stand the break of day
Been workin' in nightclubs so long, can hardly stand the break of day
Run down rooms and bad places
But it's still the only way
Gonna be here through Sunday evening, be someplace else on Tuesday night
Gonna be here through Sunday evening, be someplace else on Tuesday night
If I get home with all my money
Everything will be alright
If I had a million dollars, I'd sit right down and relax
If I had a million dollars, I'd sit right down and relax
I'd go off and buy myself a nightclub
And write it off my income tax

Perfect Moment

(Mose Allison)
Sunset glow from a hill
Let it flow take your fill
Such a perfect moment
Mona Lisa smile
One such perfect moment
Makes it all worthwhile
Autumn night crystal clear
Mystic night seems so near
Such a perfect moment
Nothin' you can say
One such perfect moment
Gets you through the day
Mountain sheen, ocean shine
Miocene valentine
One such perfect moment
Never twice th' same
Such a perfect moment
Will keep you in th' game

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