Here are the lyrics to the songs on the Telling Stories album, as printed in the CD / cassette booklet:
Telling Stories Lyrics by Tracy Chapman
01. Telling Stories
02. Less Than Strangers
03. Speak The Word
04. It’s OK
05. Wedding Song
06. Unsung Psalm
07. Nothing Yet
08. Paper And Ink
09. Devotion
10. The Only One
11. First Try
“TELLING STORIES” LYRICS
There is fiction in the space between
The lines on your page of memories
Write it down but it doesn’t mean
You’re not just telling stories
There is fiction in the space between
You and me
There is fiction in the space between
You and reality
You will do and say anything
To make your everyday life
Seem less mundane
There is fiction in the space between
You and me
There’s a science fiction in the space between
You and me
A fabrication of a grand scheme
Where I am the scary monster
I eat the city and as I leave the scene
In my spaceship I am laughing
In your remembrance of your bad dream
There’s no one but you standing
Leave the pity and the blame
For the ones who do not speak
You write the words to get respect and compassion
And for posterity
You write the words and make believe
There is truth in the space between
There is fiction in the space between
You and everybody
Give us all what we need
Give us one more sad sordid story
But in the fiction of the space between
Sometimes a lie is the best thing
Sometimes a lie is the best thing
“LESS THAN STRANGERS” LYRICS
You and me
Had some history
Had a semblance of honesty
All that has changed now
We shared words
Only lover speak
How can it be
We are less than strangers
Oh it hurts to lose in love
Let anger and cruelty win
It’s unfair that you doubt your feelings
And that you’ll ever love again
I know that hearts can change
Like the seasons and the wind
But when I said forever
I thought that we’d always be friends
You and me had some history
Had a semblance of honesty
All that has changed now
We shared words
Only lovers speak
How can it be
We are less than strangers
I thought I saw you yesterday
I thought I passed you on the street
I swear I saw your face
I was not imagining
That you stole a glance my way
You walked away from me
My heart it may be broken
But my eyes are dry to see
You and me had some history
Had a semblance of honesty
All that has changed now
We shared words
Only lovers speak
How can it be
We are less than strangers
“SPEAK THE WORD” LYRICS
Unsettled hearts
Promise what they can’t deliver
Bring me the wine
And the cold night air to clear my head
Gray matter memory house
Master of this trembling flesh
Steady still my doubts
Let me speak the word that precedes bliss
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Love love love love love love love love
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Love love love love love love love love
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
These weakened knees
Have not touched ground or pew in ages
I haven’t bowed my head
I offer thanks to any god or to ask for favors
But watch me now
I’m falling down
Praying
To speak the word that precedes bliss
To speak the word
To speak the word
Love love love love love love love love
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Love love love love love love love love
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word
“IT’S OK” LYRICS
It’s OK
Love is only meant for some
I’m the rock
The shoulder you can cry on
I keep the walls from falling down
I keep the walls from falling down
I keep the walls from falling down
I’ll play it straight
While you laugh and drink and party all night long
I’ll designate myself
To be the driver who takes you home
I keep the walls from falling down
I keep the walls from falling down
You can be pretty and tragic
I’ll try to keep the walls from falling down
You can be beautiful and fabulous
I’ll try to keep the walls from falling down
I can’t reach the pain you feel
But I’ll try to keep the walls from falling down
If you can hold on
Lose your fear
I’ll try to keep the walls from falling down
Falling down
Falling down
Where is your saint?
To let you know you’re not alone
To bring you peace
Help me be your friend your confidante
And keep the walls from falling down
Keep the walls from falling down
Keep the walls from falling down
“WEDDING SONG” LYRICS
I’ve been having dreams and visions
In them you are always standing
Right beside me
I reach out for your hand
To see your arms extending
outstretched towards me
For you I don the veil
By your light
Others pale by comparison
I place my faith in love
My fate in this communion
I’ve been having dreams and visions
In them you are always standing
Right beside me
I reach out for your hand
To see your arms extending
Outstretched towards me
To you I give my pledge
I honor all that’s good
In this life we’re living
To think not only of myself
But of the greater union
Can I get a witness
There is salvation and rapture for the lonely
Can I get a witness
Bless this day sacred and holy
Sacred and Holy
I’ve been having dreams and visions
In them you are always standing
Right beside me
I reach out for your hand
To see your arms extending
Outstretched towards me
With you I am revealed
All my shame all my faults and virtues
Behold body mind and spirit
Heart and soul devoted all to you
Can I get a witness
There is salvation and rapture for the lonely
Can I get a witness
Bless this day sacred and holy
Sacred and Holy
“UNSUNG PSALM” LYRICS
There would be psalms sung by a choir
I would have a white robe a halo newly acquired
I’d be at peace and I’d have no desire
If I’d lived right
There would be cherubs with tiny harps arrows and bows
I’d have a halo and a flowing white robe
I’d be enfolded by a celestial light
If I’d lived right
But I’m feeling hot and bothered under the collar
I feel the sweat breaking out on my brow
I feel the heat and I know it’s the passion
The love I can’t disavow
If this is a dream wake me up now
If this is a movie let’s edit these scenes out
It would be a PG instead of an X-rated life
If I’d lived right
Some would call me a cheat call me a liar
Say that I’ve been defeated by the basest desired
Yes I have strayed and succumbed to my vices
But I tried to live right
But I have no regrets no guilt in my heart
I only feel sadness for any pain that I’ve caused
I guess I wouldn’t bother to worry at all
If I’d lived right
Do you live by the book do you play by the rules?
Do you care what is thought by others about you?
If this day is all that is promised to you
Do you life for the future the present the past?
If there is one thing I know I know I will die
If anyone cares some stranger my critique my life
I may be revered or defamed and decried
But I tried to live right
There would be psalms sung by a choir
I would have a white robe a halo newly acquired
I’d be at peace and I’d have no desire
If I’d lived right
“NOTHING YET” LYRICS
Good times and bad
Seen them both
Hope fly out the window
Fortune walk through the door
Learned not to believe
This is as good as it gets
Because we ain’t seen nothing yet
Hands untied
But the same shuffle once again
Running all the time
Ain’t going nowhere
It’s a new page in the same book
It’s a new game with the same rules
The lights go down
Fade to black on the set
And we ain’t seen nothing yet
Saddled with bonds
Broken and in disrepair
Forty acres to a forty-ounce
Don’t seem fair
The sirens rise and wail
Shadowed by Liberty’s torch
As the boats that brought us over
Are slowly sinking off the shore
And we ain’t seen nothing yet
This life a crime
A blessing and a curse
Chosen and unwanted
Displaced and usurped
I’d run away
But there is nowhere to go
So I’ll stand and fight
And hope and pray
That the best is yet to come
And we ain’t seen nothing yet
“PAPER AND INK” LYRICS
Touched the mirror
Broke the surface of the water
Saw my true self
All illusions shattered
Money’s only paper only ink
We’ll destroy ourselves if we can’t agree
How the world turns
Who made the sun
Who owns the sea
The world we know will fall piece by piece
Sat down up close to the colored black hole
Like they’d always told me not to
Saw the one dimension polka dot pacifier
And all illusions shattered
Money’s only paper only ink
We’ll destroy ourselves if we can’t agree
How the world turns
Who made the sun
Who owns the sea
The world we know will fall piece by piece
Bared myself wholly heart and body unadorned
Stripped down solely
To the evil and the good
Felt no shame
Naked to the world
And all illusions shattered
Money’s only paper only ink
We’ll destroy ourselves if we can’t agree
How the world turns
Who made the sun
Who owns the sea
The world we know will fall piece by piece
Faced towards the sea
Looked to heaven up above
Felt the world revolve around me
No one could tell me otherwise
But the turbulent waters won’t reflect this life
Only the sun the moon and sky
And all illusions shattered
Money’s only paper only ink
We’ll destroy ourselves if we can’t agree
How the world turns
Who made the sun
Who owns the sea
The world we know will fall piece by piece
Money’s only paper only ink
“DEVOTION” LYRICS
If I am right
If I can be
Constant and faithful
You’ll find me
In my devotion
In my devotion
What if you find a fault
Between my purpose and my deeds
And deem me beyond salvation
Judge me to be unworthy
Of your devotion
Of your devotion
If this be obsession deliver me
A passing infatuation deliver me
A feeling lacking in purity deliver me
A test of fidelity deliver me
Deliver me
Deliver me
What if I should find
You’re no good for me
What if I can’t be strong enough
What if I can’t break free
Of my devotion
Of my devotion
“THE ONLY ONE” LYRICS
She was the only one
Of my flesh and blood
Now I have no calling
I can do no worldly good
I sit silent
I sit mourning
I sit listless all the day
I’ve mostly lost the voice to speak
And any words to say except
Does heaven have enough angels yet?
I’ve gone hard
And I’ve gone cold
I can’t make the piece of this cracked life fit
Please forgive me for wanting to know
Does heaven have enough angels yet?
Together oh together
No there’ll be no more of that
But I would not dare for myself to ask
Does heaven have enough angels yet ?
She was the only one
Of my own flesh and blood
Sometimes I hear her calling
Straight from the house of god
“FIRST TRY” LYRICS
Can’t run fast enough
Can’t hide I can’t fly
I’m struggling with the limits of this ordinary life
I’m just a
Just a
Just a first try
Can’t hear what you say
Can’t see by the light
I’m struggling with the limits of this ordinary life
I’m just a
Just a
Just a first try
Can’t say what I mean
Can’t love from the heart
Can’t trust in the mercy and the goodness in the world
Can’t learn to accept that it’s alright
To struggle with the limits of this ordinary life
Can’t be
Just a
Just a first try
Can’t be
Just a
Just a first try
Just a
Just a
Just a first try
Read about the Telling Stories album or visit the page dedicated to the Telling Stories album guitar tab page.
