And the Hits Just Keep on Comin’ (1972)

I’ve forgotten how long I’ve been sitting here
Watching my reflection in a disappearing beer
The loneliness is so thick you can slice it
The emptiness is too much for me to fight it

And while tomorrow must be met, it seems
That life’s become a jewel that dimly gleams
From its perch atop a ring that’s slightly out of round
Casting the reflection of a crying clown

Oh-ho, the closeness is gone
Still, the memory lives on

The distance now is growing as the highway sings
Changing the complexion and the scheme of things
And as the world begins to turn, I feel the time has come
To accept apparent loss as a battle won

And with that in mind, I close my eyes and kiss your cheek
Push the loneliness aside and stand on shaky feet
Then reimplant the smile that never really leaves
Gently place my heart back on my sleeve

Oh-ho, the closeness is gone
Still, the memory lives on

[break]

The distance now is growing as the highway sings
Changing the complexion and the scheme of things
And as the world begins to turn, I feel the time has come
To accept apparent loss as a battle won

And with that in mind, I close my eyes and kiss your cheek
Push the loneliness aside and stand on shaky feet
Then reimplant the smile that never really leaves
Gently place my heart back on my sleeve

Oh-ho, the closeness is gone
Still, the memory lives on

There was an element of majesty
In the way the lady said that she
Was leaving in the morning for the coast
And that goodbye should have brought me pain
But I watched her quickly check the reins
Of emotions, which unloosed, would cripple most

Then the thing that struck me strangely
Was the feelin’ that I had when she was gone
The few that left before had left me empty
But she left me with a boldness to lean on

[break]

Then the thing that struck me strangely
Was the feelin’ that I had when she was gone
The few that left before had left me empty
But she left me with a fullness to lean on

So, the bitterness that usually set in
Was effectively undone
By the girl’s uncommon grace
And the thrust of the experience
Was the enrichening and lively sense
She gave to my life and to its pace

I don’t know where she’s gone
Her wanderlust surely was strong
Love would be made much more sure
If all the ladies leaving left like her
If all the ladies leaving left like her

Oh, my lady, she runs
To the ends of the earth
In search of her worth
In search of her worth

Oh, my woman, she cries
What lays here inside
Must not be denied
Shall not be denied

The eyes of a fool
Hide only the sun
And the light from an incoming day
The eyes of the wise one looks
Over the dead
And sees what is said as a play

Sing with an ongoing sound
Of a wisdom that’s found
That’s waiting to speak
That’s wanting to speak

Oh, sweet lady of mine
That life has refined
Expressing the truth and the love
Expressing the truth and the love

Sometimes thoughts coincidental
With activities quite simple
In consideration, seem to be quite meaningless
Yet, hoping for the best
I listen for the rest

Listening to find a way
To overcome earthbound decay
Still, I’m classifying these ideas that come to me
Into those that I can see
And those that I can feel

Seems it should be
So easy to do
The things that I am led to do
But connection and courage sometimes drift apart
And takes me back to the start

Sometimes thoughts coincidental
With activities quite simple
Inconsideration seem to be quite meaningless
Yet, hoping for the best
I listen for the rest

You can’t try and walk down
Two different roads
And look to both of them to bring you home
You must take your own way
Though it is the long way
And sometimes, you find yourself alone

I know
For this all happened once before

Sometimes you think, “I’ll wait”, but
He who hesitates is lost
This is not just a game
It’s the problem of creation
And only meditation
Can make your mind and age the same
I know
For this all happened once before

“Go, Red!”
[break]
“Hmm-hmm, hi-ha.
Da da da.
Hm-hm hm-hm.”

You’d better move along
Don’t wait and let the dawn
And its friendly sunrise catch you at rest
Do what you must
No man can criticize you
As long as what you’re doing is your best

I know
For this all happened once before
I know
For this all happened once before

Half the world concerned
With a slightly tarnished masterpiece
Hoping to return
Is the once forgotten culture thief
Lying on its side
The stately vessel now replete
With harbingers of peace telling lies

Waiting at the door
With the stance secure in second thoughts
Overlooking signs
Of the spiritual bereavement’s cost
Trying to arrive
At a destination that they’ve lost
To ignorance, which winks at them and smiles

Listen well
The patience of the people soon will end
Time will tell
As the melting of your plastic smile begins

Sailing ships of state
And ignoring navigation laws
Through the sea of men
The captains, mad with power, pause
And congratulate themselves
On a virtuous and noble cause
Which must surely save the world and alter time

Well, you and I travel to the beat of a different drum
Can’t you tell by the way I run
Every time you make eyes at me?

Yes, you cry and moan and say it’ll work out
But honey child, I’ve got my doubts
You can’t see the forest for the trees

Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I knock it
It’s just that I am not in the market
For a girl who wants to love only me

And I’m not sayin’ that you ain’t pretty
All’s I’m sayin’s that I’m not ready
For any person, place, or thing
To try and pull the reins in on me

Well, I feel pretty sure that you’ll find a man
Who will take a lot more than I ever could or can
And you’ll settle down with him, and I know
That you’ll be happy

So goodbye, I’m a-leavin’
I see no sense in your cryin’ and grievin’
We’ll both live a lot longer
If you live without me, babe

“Oh, the [???].”
[break]

Well, I feel pretty sure that you’ll find a man
Who will take a lot more than I ever could or can
And you’ll settle down with him, and I know
That you’ll be happy

So goodbye, I’m a-leavin’
I see no sense in your cryin’ and grievin’
We’ll both live a lot longer
If you live without me, babe
If you live without me, woman
Woo, if you live without me

While lightly perusing
My state of affairs
With nothing apparently wrong
A silent and quiet restoration occurs
Of emotions forgotten and gone

Then slowly, my eyes
Start an effortless rise
Exposing the past to review
And the harmony constant
In all of these things
Is the thought of the future with you

Unlimited joy, unlimited time
And the beauty of infinite light
Unlimited freedom that’s rightfully mine
And is yours, is unlimited life

The concept of loving
As ultimate might
The power of peace and truth
And the harmony constant
In all of these things
Is the thought of the future with you

“Play, Red.”
[break]

Unlimited joy, unlimited time
And the beauty of infinite light
Unlimited freedom that’s rightfully mine
And is yours, is unlimited life

The concept of loving
As ultimate might
The power of peace and truth
And the harmony constant
In all of these things
Is the thought of the future with you

Consider the source and ignore if you can
Whatever is said to undo the plan
Consider the source and ignore it, my friend
You’re doin’ just fine
Keep on keepin’ on

Keep in mind the difference
Between courage and will
Don’t be afraid to stop what you’ve begun
The straight folks think that winning
Gives them license to kill
But number good is better than number one

Consider the source and ignore if you can
Whatever is said to undo the plan
Consider the source and ignore it, my friend
You’re doin’ just fine
Keep on keepin’ on

The eye that cast aspersions
On the quiet way of life
Is lost among the past and partly blind
And aggressive undermining
Of what you know is right
Is the work of fools who think without their mind

Consider the source and ignore if you can
Whatever is said to undo the plan
Consider the source and ignore it, my friend
You’re doin’ just fine
Keep on keepin’ on

With a gentle overturning
Of the darkness for the light
Extend yourself with caution to the call
And should tomorrow find you
Moving slowly through the night
Don’t let their cries of terror make you fall

Consider the source and ignore if you can
Whatever is said to undo the plan
Consider the source and ignore it, my friend
You’re doin’ just fine
Keep on keepin’ on
You’re doin’ just fine
Keep on keepin’ on
You’re doin’ just fine
So keep on keepin’ on

She was a lackluster lover
Who thought of another
When I offered her my hand
To help her in out of the rain

Then she became quite possessive
When I gave her the message
That I had to leave
On the outbound ten o’clock train

She said, “I thought you were stable
And that I might be able
To talk you into stickin’ around
For a couple of years”

I said I roll with the flow
Wherever it goes
And it’s rollin’ out of here

There was this didactic minister
Who told me of sinister things
Which would happen if I were
To do something wrong

He spoke at length about brimstone
And lives that were based on belief
That the bad and the good
Were equally strong

That’s why I think I undid him
When I started to kid him
’Cause he said, “If you’ll give me some time
I’ll make it quite clear”

I said I roll with the flow
Wherever it goes
And it’s rollin’ out of here

[break]

Those are two fine examples
Of the way that I handled the pressure
That tried to draw me away from the light

And in the final analysis
It’s foolish if you resist
The changes that come into
Your everyday life

There might be some trepidation
But don’t let hesitation
Deprive you of hope
And try to replace it with fear

You just roll with the flow
Wherever it goes
Even if it rolls out of here

You just roll with the flow
Wherever it goes
Even if it rolls out of here

You just roll with the flow
Wherever it goes
Even if it rolls out of here