Here are the lyrics to the songs on the Greatest Hits album, as printed in the CD booklet:
1. Telling Stories (2000)
2. Baby Can I Hold You (1988)
3. Change (2005)
4. The Promise (1995)
5. Open Arms (1992)
6. Subcity (1989)
7. Fast Car (1988)
8. Bang Bang Bang (1992)
9. Crossroads (1989)
10. Speak The Word (2000)
11. Smoke And Ashes (1995)
12. Sing For You (Single Edit) (2008)
13. You’re The One (2002)
14. Save Us All (2008)
15. All That You Have Is Your Soul (1989)
16. Talkin’ Bout A Revolution (1988)
17. Give Me One Reason (1995)
18. Stand By Me (Live at The Late Show With David Letterman) (2015)
1. “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
© 1999 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP)
2. “BABY CAN I HOLD YOU” LYRICS
Sorry
Is all that you can’t say
Years gone by and still
Words don’t come easily
Like sorry like sorry
Forgive me
Is all that you can’t say
Years gone by and still
Words don’t come easily
Like forgive me forgive me
But you can say baby
Baby can I hold you tonight
Maybe if I told you the right words
At the right time you’d be mine
I love you
Is all that you can’t say
Years gone by and still
Words don’t come easily
Like I love you I love you
© 1982 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
3. “CHANGE” LYRICS
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and Love
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that love can break your heart
When you’re down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad how good does it need to get?
How many losses how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change
If you knew that you would be alone
Knowing right being wrong
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings a pain that can’t be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad how good does it need to get?
How many losses how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change
Are you so upright you can’t be bent
if it comes to blows
Are you so sure you won’t be crawling
If not for the good why risk falling
Why risk falling
If everything you think you know
Makes your life unbearable
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you’d broken every rule and vow
And hard times come to bring you down
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and Love
Would you change?
Would you change?
© 2003 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP)
4. “THE PROMISE” LYRICS
If you wait for me
then I’ll come for you
Although I’ve traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart
If you think of me
If you miss me once in awhile
Then I’ll return to you
I’ll return and fill that space in your heart
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I’ll find my way back to you
If you’ll be waiting
If you dream of me
L like I dream of you
In a place that’s warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I’ll find my way back to you
If you’ll be waiting
I’ve longed for you
A and I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I’ll find my way back to you
Please say you’ll be waiting
Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise
If it’s one that you can keep
I vow to come for you
If you wait for me
And say you’ll hold
A place for me
I in your heart.
© 1994 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
5. “OPEN ARMS” LYRICS
If love is what you want
Baby here I am
If tenderness is what you need
I’ve got that to give
If you need some affection
Baby these are open arms
Open arms, open arms, open arms, open arms
You come hem you’ve had a hard day
Every door you tried to open
Was closing in your face
I’m right here I’ll be right here
I’ll embrace you
I’ll be open with my heart
I’ll let you in
I’ll be open with my thoughts
I’ll be your best friend
If you need some attention
Baby these are open arms
Open arms, open arms, open arms, open arms
Every corner you turn
Trouble come your way
But when you get home
I’ll try to be there
And I’ll embrace you
These are
These are
These are
Open arms
If time is what you need
Baby I’ll stop the clocks
If you’re looking for something
Maybe I’ve got what you want
If there’s one thing to remember
Don’t forget that these are open arms
Open arms, open arms, open arms, open arms
These are
These are
These are
Open arms
© 1992 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
6. “SUBCITY” LYRICS
People say it doesn’t exist
‘Cause no one would like to admit
That there is a city underground
Where people live everyday
Off the waste and decay
Off the discards of their fellow man
Here in subcity life is hard
We can’t receive any government relief
I’d like to please give Mr. President my honest regards
For disregarding me
They say there’s too much crime in these city streets
My sentiments exactly
Government and big business hold the purse strings
When I worked I worked in the factories
I’m at the mercy of the world
I guess I’m lucky to be alive
They say we’ve fallen through the cracks
They say the system works
But we won’t let it
Help
I guess they never stop to think
We might not just want handouts
But a way to make an honest living
Living this ain’t living
What did I do deserve this
Had my trust in god
Worked everyday of my life
Thought I had some guarantees
That’s what I thought
At least that’s what I thought
Last night I had another restless sleep
Wondering what tomorrow might bring
Last night I dreamed
A cold blue light was shining down on me
I screamed myself awake
Thought I must be dying
Thought I must be dying
© 1989 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
7. “FAST CAR” LYRICS
You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Anyplace is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
But me myself I got nothing to prove
You got a fast car
And I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
We won’t have to drive too far
Just ‘cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living
You see my old man’s got a problem
He live with the bottle that’s the way it is
He says his body’s too old for working
I say his body’s too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said somebody’s got to take care of him
So I quit school and that’s what I did
You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way
I remember we were driving driving in your car
The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
You got a fast car
And we go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still ain’t got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a big house and live in the suburbs
You got a fast car
And I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I’d always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving
You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way
© 1987 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
8. “BANG BANG BANG” LYRICS
Song for little man
What you go and do
You go and give the boy a gun
Now there ain’t place to run to
Ain’t no place to run to
When he hold it in his hand
He feel mighty he feel strong
Now there ain’t no place to run to
Ain’t no place to run
One day he may come back
Repay us for what we’ve done
Then where you gonna run to
Where you gonna run
But one fine day
All our problems will be solved
Bang bang bang
We’ll shoot him down
Give him drugs and give him candy
Anything to make him think he’s happy
And he won’t ever come for us
He won’t ever come
But if he does
And if there’s no one else around
Bang bang bang
We’ll shoot him down
If he preys only on his neighbors
Brothers sisters and friends
We’ll consider it a favor
We’ll consider justice done
But if he comes for you or me
And we can place a gun in his hand
Bang bang bang
We’ll shoot him dead
What you go and do
You go and give the boy a gun
Now there ain’t no place to run to
Ain’t no place to run
Now we’ll all be at his mercy
If he decides to hunt us down
Cause there ain’t no place to run to
Ain’t no place to run
If he wants the chances that you took from him
And nothing that you own
Then there’ll be no place to run to
There’ll be no place to run
And if he finds himself to be
A reflection of us all
Bang bang bang
He’ll shoot us down
Before you can raise your eyes to read
The writing on the wall
Bang bang bang
He’ll shoot you down
Before you can bridge the gulf between
And embrace him in your arms
Bang bang bang
He’ll shoot you down
© 1992 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
9. “CROSSROADS” LYRICS
All you folks think you own my life
But you never made any sacrifice
Demons they are on my trail
I’m standing at the crossroads of the hell
I look to the left I look to the right
There’re hands that grab me on every side
All you folks think I got my price
At which I’ll sell all that is mine
You think money rules when all else fails
Go sell your soul and keep your shell
I’m trying to protect what I keep inside
All the reasons why I live my life
Some say the devil be a mystical thing
I say the devil he a walking man
He a fool he a liar conjurer and a thief
He try to tell you what you want
Try to tell you what you need
Standing at the point
The road it cross you down
What is at your back
Which way do you turn
Who will come to find you first
Your devils or your gods
All you folks think you run my life
Say I should be willing to comprimise
I say all you demons go back to hell
I’ll save my soul save myself
© 1989 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
10. “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
© 1999 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP)
11. “SMOKES AND ASHES” LYRICS
I’d heard rumors and I’d heard talk
About the trail you’d left of broken hearts
About the sea of tears too wide to cross
But a little bad press has never scared me off
So I burned a path to figure out
How to get me some of what you got
I’ve got a red hot heart
If the talk is true your’s is the same
And we should be together
And let our passions fan love’s flame
When I looked for you I almost passed you by
You were so cool and calm
I thought my friends had lied
But I thought so much reserve must make you wild inside
It was there and then that I knew
I had to get some of what you got
I’ve got a red hot heart
If the talk is true your’s is the same
And we should be together
And let our passions fan love’s flame
I thought I’d won your heart when I held you hand in mine
I thought it was true love the way we complemented each other
But my right is your wrong
And when you’re right then I’m left with nothing
Your light and your heat have all been spent
Leaving only smoke and ashes
Only smoke and ashes baby
I’ve got a red hot heart
And your heart’s as blue as the blood in your veins
I say there’s fire down below
You say it’s only smoke and ashes baby
I’m crying all the time
Salty stinging tears
And mourning for the past carbon-dated years
But knowing now for certain that you were always right
Because if a breeze could blow you out of my life
It’s only smoke and ashes baby
Only smoke and ashes baby
I’ve got a red hot heart
And your heart’s as blue as the blood in your veins
I say there’s fire down below
You say it’s only smoke and ashes baby
I was blinded by devotion
My unwavering love for you
So blinded that I thought all your lies were true
But now I know for certain since you’ve gone away
It was just a smoldering fire I mistook for a blaze
Only smoke and ashes baby
I’ve got a red hot heart
And your heart’s as blue as the blood in your veins
I say there’s fire down below
You say it’s only smoke and ashes baby
Only smoke and ashes baby, baby
© 1994 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
12. “SING FOR YOU” LYRICS
Sweet and high
At the break of dawn
A simple tune that you can hum along to
I remember
There was a time
When I used to sing for you
Knew all the words to the popular songs
With the radio on full volume
I remember
There was a time
When I used to sing for you
Forget the chorus
You’re the bridge
The words and music
To every day I’ve lived
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t give
For one more time
When I can sing for you
Soft and low
When the evening comes
Holding you sleeping in my arms
I remember
There was a time
When I used to sing for you
© 2006 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP)
13. “YOU’RE THE ONE” LYRICS
Some say you’re crazy
Say that you’re no good
Say your family’s cursed with bad blood
But I think you’re cute and misunderstood
And I wouldn’t change you if I could
Let’em talk you down
Call you names
My mind’s made up
It ain’t gonna change
I’m sure in my heart
Happy and free
You’re the one you’re the one
You’re the one for me
Some say you’re bitter
Think you’re mean
Uncouth untamed and unrestrained
But I think you’re sensitive and sweet
Stay as you are don’t change a thing
Let’em talk you down
Call you names
My mind’s made up
It ain’t gonna change
I’m sure in my heart
Happy and free
You’re the one you’re the one
You’re the one for me
Some say you’re bawdy
Wicked and wild
A restless useless juvenile
But I think you’re funny and I like your smile
Want to be with you want you to stay awhile
Let’em talk you down
Call you names
My mind’s made up
It ain’t gonna change
I’m sure in my heart
Happy and free
You’re the one you’re the one
You’re the one for me
A no ‘count mixed up
Amount to nothing
A day away from a bum on the street
Some low class kind of royalty
That’s what they say about you
When they’re talking to me
Some say you’re bad
A bad bad seed
You love to play with fire you love gambling
But I know what you love and I know what you need
And I like it when you play with me
Let’em talk you down
Call you names
My mind’s made up
It ain’t gonna change
I’m sure in my heart
Happy and free
You’re the one you’re the one
You’re the one for me
© 2001 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP)
14. “SAVE US ALL” LYRICS
I know Jesus loves me
In my heart I know it’s true
I know Mary’s little baby
Came in the world
Just to save me
But I don’t know about you
My God’s a mighty big God
My God can shake the world up
Plagues and famines
Frogs and locusts
Walking on water
Burning bushes
Rolling the thunder
And parting the waters too
My God is good in the kitchen
Make a god meal from bread and fishes
Feed the hungry pour the wine
Everybody’s welcome to have a good time
Sit at his table enjoy the food
I know that Jesus loves me
He says I should love you
My neighbor not his wife
Don’t covet steal kill or lie
My God’s got a lot of rules
My God made creation
Six days work one day vacation
Made a garden
Filled it with apples
Adam and Eve walked around natural
Until they ate that one piece of bad fruit
I’ve heard that your God’s older
Buddha Allah Krishna
Manifest with many faces
Worshipped the world over in foreign places
I assume your God must love you
I know Jesus loves me
And my God is good and great and true
But it pride goeth before the fall
I hope someone’s God will save us all
Save us all
And love the sinners too
© 2007 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP)
15. “ALL THAT YOU HAVE IS YOUR SOUL” LYRICS
Oh my mama told me
‘Cause she say she learned the hard way
Say she wanna spare the children
She say don’t give or sell your soul away
‘Cause all that you have is your soul
Don’t be tempted by the shiny apple
Don’t you eat of a bitter fruit
Hunger only for a taste of justice
Hunger only for a world of truth
‘Cause all that you have is your soul
I was a pretty young girl once
I had dreams I had high hopes
I married a man he stole my heart away
He gave his love but what a high price I paid
And all that you have is your soul
Why was I such a young fool
Thought I’d make history
Making babies was the best I could do
Thought I’d made something that could be mine forever
Found out the hard way one can’t possess another
And all that you have is your soul
I thought thought that I could find a way
To beat the system
To make a deal and have no debts to pay
I’d take it all take it all I’d run away
Me for myself first class and first rate
But all that you have is your soul
Here I am waiting for a better day
A second chance
A little luck to come my way
A hope to dream a hope that I can sleep again
And wake in the world with a clear conscience and clean hands
‘Cause all that you have is your soul
All that you have
All that you have
All that you have Is your soul
© 1989 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
16. “TALKIN’BOUT A REVOLUTION” LYRICS
Don’t you know
They’re talkin’ bout a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
Don’t you know
They’re talkin’ about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
While they’re standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion
Poor people gonna rise up
And get their share
Poor people gonna rise up
And take what’s theirs
Don’t you know
You better run, run, run…
Oh I said you better Run, run, run…
Finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin’ bout a revolution
© 1982 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
17. “GIVE ME ONE REASON” LYRICS
Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around
Because I don’t want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind
Baby I got your number and I know that you got mine
But you know that I called you, I called too many times
You can call me baby, you can call me anytime
But you got to call me
Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around
Because I don’t want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind
I don’t want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I don’t want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I just want someone to hold me and rock me through the night
This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
But I’m too old to go chasing you around
Wasting my precious energy
Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around
Because I don’t want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind
Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why
Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why I should stay
Because I told you that I loved you
And there ain’t no more to say
© 1986 Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
18. “STAND BY ME” LYRICS
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No I won’t be afraid, no I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
Oh darlin’, darlin’, stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry, no I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darlin’, darlin’, stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand now by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah
And darlin’, darlin’, stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand now by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah
Whenever you’re in trouble won’t you stand by me, oh now now stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me
© 1961 Lyrics by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
