[Jandek] Ready for the House

[Al Heldermon]

Naked in the Afternoon (1/1)
I got a vision, a teenage daughter
Who’s growing up naked in the afternoon
I know a brother close to his mother 		(I know a brother close to a 
mother)
Who stays out late in the evening time
I keep repeating, it takes a beating		(I keep repeatin', it takes a 
beatin')
To grow up naked in the afternoon
You are a cowboy if you wear those boots
You are a cowboy when you wear those boots [3x]         (1x)
Big time in the city [4x]
I got a letter 						(I got a letter, I read in the paper)
I read in the paper 					(--)
It said a man was shot to death
It said a cow gave poison milk
Big time in the city when you wear those boots
I keep repeating, it takes a beating 		(I keep repeatin', it takes a 
beatin')
To wear those boots in the afternoon
You call it a question 					(You call it a question, you call it a 
color)
You call it a color 					(--)
I got a letter 						(Well, I got a letter, I think it's a vision)
I think it’s a vision 					(--)
Big time in the city
I got a vision
I know a brother close to his mother
After the morning 					(After the morning, you've had your rest)
You’ve had your rest 					(--)
Well I got a letter 					(--)
You are a cowboy 					(--)
Big time in the city 					(--)
Time to go naked in the afternoon
Take off your hat, take off your coat
Big time in the city
You’ve had your rest
I got a letter
You are a cowboy
Read in the paper
Big time in the city
It’s time to go naked in the afternoon

First You Think Your Fortune’s Lovely (1/2)
Everything’s so restless
The wind has come again
Blowing me so far 					(Blowin' me so far)
I think I see a star
First you think your fortune’s lovely
And you fly out through the door
Grandmama I feel so lonely
My rapture’s painted on the floor
The roads lead all to Jacob’s kitchen
I’m sitting moon eyed at the table 			(I'm sitting blue-mouthed at the 
table)
Sitting blank-eyed by the door
Oh Lord, do you really think I’m able
Well I chose this love completely			(Well, I chose this life completely)
When you took away the charm
Set your mind on breaking burdens
Said you done no one no harm
I feel a bit like floating water
Headed for the rocks at bay
Crash upon some ocean liner
Comes upon my lonesome way
Thought I see your eyes a-flashing 		(Thought I'd see your eyes 
a-flashin')
Thunder in your hair
I burnt a match for your complexion
The lights went out and you weren’t there
Seated by the ranch I’m owning 			(Seated by the ranch I'm ownin')
Staring at the cellophane
Somebody came in for a question
I poured a glass out in the rain
The reason I have been accepted
Is that I failed to come on strong
Found a chair beside a window
Found a place where I belong
Inside myself there is no question
Just the jangle of our brain
Three times four is twenty-seven
Only fragments still remain
I curse the day I found my freedom
You took the mirror from the wall
Placed it in a single suitcase
Pointed down a hollow hall
You said you see your true direction 		(And said, You see your true 
direction)
I’ll be there behind the sun 				(And, I'll be there behind the sun)
And I’ll go with you in the springtime 		(And, I'll go with you in the 
springtime)
When all your travels have been done

What Can I Say What Can I Sing (1/3)
What can I say what can I sing 			(What can I say, what can I sing?)
You always knew about everything 		(You always knew 'bout everything)
What can I show what can I do 			(What can I show, what can I do?)
Is it all for me, is it all for you 			(Is it all for me, is it all for 
you?)
Well I don’t know, we’ll have to see
Everyone needs, ’cept you and me 			(Everyone leaves 'cept you and me)
And then sometime I’m not so sure
There’ll never be another cure
The early morning sun shines through 		(The early mornin' sun shines 
through)
And all my thoughts are shades of blue
Oh I don’t know, I’ll have to go
Oh I don’t know the reason for
I already left 						(I already left, it's no surprise)
It’s no surprise 						(--)
I saw it in your raining eyes
Adrift a dream 						(Adrift a dream, a time we spent)
A time we spent 						(--)
Much more than that
Forever was all that we meant

Show Me the Way, O Lord (1/4)
Would you show me the way, O Lord
Show me the way
I got an ace to tell the time
I got my face all red with wine
I got my eyes above all men
I don’t even listen to them
Would you show me the way, O Lord
Show me the way
I’m walking on a planet 				(I'm walkin' on a planet)
I take everything for granted
The stars are falling					(The stars are falling, emptiness)
Emptiness, and I am calling 				(And I am calling for your caress)
For your caress 						(--)
Would you show me the way, O Lord
Show me the way

Know Thy Self (2/1)
You think I got time for you?
You’re just somebody in the snow
I don’t even know why I think about you
Somehow I just keep seeing you around		(Somehow I just keep seein' you 
around)
Everybody’s coming and going 			(Everybody's comin' and goin')
I thought I’d stay for a while
It had to be you threw me out 			(It had to be you, threw me out)
I didn’t know you were so cruel
But thanks for all the gifts
Hang on silver branches
And now we’re all out here
And your eyes find me in the glass

They Told Me About You (2/2)
They told me about you
They told me about you
	Sneaking up on me 				("tab" optional)
I’m crazy about you
I'm crazy about you
Forever to time (?) 					(Forever to tie)
Forever do mine 						(Forever do my)
	Take it up and lock it				("tab" optional)
Arrange a new day
Placate a new way
	Gangrene in two legs 				("tab" optional)
	Drunken I’m up on pegs 			("tab" optional)
Leaning, a month or so
	Wrestle with a wandering 			("tab" optional)
See the lights up in the sky
Vagrant in your cripple eye
	Wandering’s been creeping by		("tab" optional)

Cave In on You (2/3)
A stick would do the trick
A dog would jump all over you
A mine cave in on you
Jump out the window					(Jump out the window, hit the floor)
Hit the floor 						(--)
Tap tap tapping at your door			(Tap, tap, tapping at your door)
In the moonlight behind the sun
The blind man’s coming 				(A blind man's comin', he's the one)
He’s the one to read about you 			(To read about you, to say your name)
To see your name 					(--)
My blind man						(My, blind man, I'm glad you came)
I’m glad you came 					(--)
Blind man blind man 					(Blind man, blind man, be the one)
Be the one behind the moonlight 			(--)
In the sun 							(Behind the moonlight, in the sun)
You tell my fortune 					(You tell my fortune, wait, you are my fate)
Wait, you are my fate 					(--)
My hands are bleeding 				(My hands are bleeding, am I too late?)
Am I too late						(--)
								(Too late, too late)
								(Blind man's coming)
You walk outside						(You walk outside, a moon is low)
A moon is low 						(--)
Round the corner 					(Round the corner, an eskimo)
An Eskimo 						(--)
Gently tapping 						(Gently tapping, whispers your name)
Whispers your name 					(--)
Says hi how are you 					(Says, Hi, how are you?)
 From the blind man I came
To read you a message

They Told Me I Was a Fool (2/4)
You got real fancy instincts
But your mouth is so large
I think I see a hundred people in it
I guess you like it that way 				(I guess you like it that way 'cause 
you're a flop)
Because you’re a flop					(--)
And there ain’t no more wringer washers
To roll your fingers through
I see your insides aren’t the same since 1951
You’re dying inside a window			(You died inside a window)
I saw your face all cut with glass
And underneath the window
The hands you dug your grave with
You could have built an empire
He would have helped you now you know	(He would have helped you now, 
you know)
You’re going to fetch the wind			(You're going to fetch the wind on a 
unicorn)
On a unicorn 						(--)
Feet all dangling down
Wish them well at the marketplace
I fear a fiery face
Is staring from the future
It’s not the way
They told me I was a fool
Well it’s your friend and mine 			(Well, it's your friend and mine)
And ??? 							(And he ----)
The sky is black in a blue night
The winter is true or so it may seem		(The weather is true, or so it 
may seem)
Carnival tricks in the corners
The floor is made of tracks
That follow your footsteps

European Jewel (2/5)
You sure are cool, a European jewel
	I dig you most 					("tab" optional)
A letter came, it’s not the same
	The ink was blue 				("tab" optional)
A relative stopped by to say he saw you, hey 	(A relative stopped by to 
say)
	(He saw you, hey)				("tab" optional)
A walkin’ down a lonesome town
	Some time ago 					("tab" optional)
He said you had a mouth so bad
	The lips were rotting off 			("tab" optional)
You dropped a tear to end his fear
	You seem quite well 				("tab" optional)
It’s a long time spell 					(It's a long time spell, I'm wonderin' 
where)
	I’m wondering where you got that infection    ("tab" optional) (You 
got that infection)
There’s bugs in my brain 				(There's bugs in my brain, I can't feel 
any pain)
I can’t feel any pain 					(--)
	Just a shaking sha— 				("tab" optional)
[song ends abruptly]


********************

The task of transformation:

			X
	"...
80	His sight, still dizzy with earthly death,
	can't take it in.  But her gaze
	frightens an owl from behind the pschent.  And the bird,
	brushing, in slow neat-quitting, along the cheek,
	the one with the ripest curve,
	faintly inscribes on the new
	death-born hearing, as though on the double
	page of an opened book, the indescribable outline.
	..."
									-RMR


Thanks, Seth (& Christina Carter), for all your work.  I'm sure it's 
appreciated by many.

Al Heldermon

  
     
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