CHANGE WILL COME
We’re so East Coast – So here’s a toast
So here’s to everything that I wanted the most – the most
And baby now – it’s over now
I’m just sitting here though I’ll stand up somehow – stand up somehow
I’ve got a date with a diamond ring
The tramps in the alley watch her shake that thing
I say its all right mama – Its all right now
I never really wanted any of it anyhow
And Oh Oh – A Change Will Come
Oh Oh – A Change Will Come
We were so New York – a silver spoon a plastic fork
We wanted everything – we wanted a little bit more
Give me some more
Can you see – It’s hard to see
She said I’m looking for a lover
He said don’t take a look at me – Look at me
I’ve got a date with a diamond ring
The tramps in the alley watch her shaking that thing
I say its all right mama – Its all right now
I never really wanted any of it anyhow and
And Oh Oh – A Change Will Come
Oh Oh – A Change Will Come
I say its all right mama – Its all right now
I never really wanted any of it anyhow
I say its all right mama – Its all right now
I just couldn’t stand anymore no how
And Oh Oh – A Change Will Come
Oh Oh – A Change Will Come
MANY CAN READ (FEW CAN REASON)
Amen! What’s wrong with you?
You’re doing things that you know you shouldn’t do.
You got the run around – You got the can’t sit down.
You got the itch that nearly burned you down.
When it starts to feel right – You feel brand new.
You trust your instincts trust your insight
And see what they can do
For you
Hey hey – baby’s in black.
She’s looking at you like you’re never coming back.
Hey hey what’s that addiction you got?
You had the answer once – somehow you forgot cause
CHORUS
There’s a lot of places I haven’t been.
Places you could take me but I’m never going in.
I say I, I don’t know where I’d be,
If I was still what I use to be
I saw you talking to the devil last night.
She said I got you boy – I know what you like.
You like to speed it up – you just don’t want to slow down.
Don’t want to stop take a good look around because…
CHORUS
There’s a lot of places I haven’t been.
Places you could take me but I’m never going in.
I say I, I don’t know where I’d be,
If I was still what I use to be
Hey hey…
CHAIN OF PAIN
This little girl she’s all shook up.
She don’t know why her dad is drunk.
Was she so bad? Did she do something wrong?
Why did he promise he’s coming home?
Chain of pain – coming at you like a train.
Each generation always the same.
Chain of pain coming at you like a train.
Each generation always the same chain of pain.
The morning sun is streaming through the blinds.
His trembling hands chop another line.
He swears someday I’m gonna give this up.
He says someday I’m gonna rise above
Chain of pain – coming at you like a train.
Each generation it’s always the same.
Chain of pain coming at you like a train.
Each generation always the same chain of pain.
Chain of pain – Chain of pain
It’s no matter of coincidence
Things you inherit from your parents.
It’s more than just the color of your eyes.
It’s more than just the way you can’t stop getting high
Chain of pain – coming at you like a train.
Each generation always the same.
Chain of pain coming at you like a train.
Each generation always the same chain of pain.
Chain of pain – Chain of pain
THE EYES OF THE CHILDREN OF MARIA
You and I we got our problems – you and I we got hope.
And we assume we will be solving them, we got love – and we can cope.
But the lights in the distance – and the fire burning on the shore…
See the eyes of the children of Maria
Look at the eyes of the children of Maria
See the eyes of the children of Maria
Waiting for the coming of a lord.
Everybody wants some saving grace. Lash you back – shave your hair.
But when the angels come to Saint Marks Place
They’re just looking for something hip to wear
And the ships they’re sailing backwards
Full of rags dreams and shades for the
CHORUS
I can’t believe what I heard yesterday
They say the dollar is bound to fall.
But those books they’re written everyday
I say the writing’s on the wall.
Up above there goes a satellite – bouncing TV shows
For good reception man that’s – its what you got
For what you need…heaven knows.
And the pictures of the babies they are frozen forever in my mind. Like the…
CHORUS
SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT
It was a little bit funny when you lost control
The way your eyes were burning and your words felt cold
Something ain’t right. Whoa – Oh. Something ain’t right.
You know my own behavior gets on my nerves
When I’m sick of myself its you I’m gonna turn on – you I’m gonna burn.
Something ain’t right Whoa – Oh Something ain’t right.
The way you looked at me with hatred burning in your eyes
Like I was everything and everyone you ever despised
My my – Something ain’t right. Oh oh. Something ain’t right.
And you know that I could really relate to that
Because I saw the same thing when I looked back
I’m on the attack…
Something ain’t right Whoa oh Something ain’t right.
We’re living on the cover of a magazine. Living a lie of a life that’s never been seen – keeping it green.
And I love you baby yeah I’m sure of that. But that doesn’t seem to help when we’re get off the track – I’m on the attack
Something ain’t right. Oh oh. Something ain’t right.
And I don’t know what else to do but get on my knees. And ask for some help – won’t you help me please
Oh oh. Something ain’t right. Oh oh. Something ain’t right.
AND THAT’S CALLED INSANITY
The fun was over a long time ago
We tried to recapture it but it wasn’t so easy to find
What was lost between the lines
And that’s called insanity
Doing the same thing over and over again
Thinking that its gonna be different this one time
The party was over but I wouldn’t go
They called me a taxi but I said
Hell no I’m not going out there
Those people are crazy they always stare
CHORUS
You know you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten
If you keep on doing what you’ve always done
All my bad habits soon forgotten
When I gauge my actions choose appropriate ones
The war was over but we kept the guns
In the hands of generals – just in case they ran out of fun
Got bored with the peace – had to blot out the sun
CHORUS
THEME SONG (LOOKING FOR A…)
There’s a memory of you asleep in my heart
I dare not disturb for it would tear me apart
It’s lying still, covered in dust
I tread softly cause I know that I must.
There’s a lady in purple she’s walking in the park she’s got a feather in her hair she’s walking in the dark.
When a memory turns real and into a ghost a ghost with a heartache it can haunt you the most.
And you’re looking for a theme song.
Looking for a theme song.
And you know it ain’t wrong.
Now lunatics and lovers and poets agree
You can get what you’re after but you get nothing for free
Well I got a vision, I got a cause – I got special interests, I won’t admit all is lost
Deep in the classics there’s an ideal or two, beneath Corinthian columns there’s a moment of truth.
But the bright lights big city make a magnet so strong,
Beneath the glitter and the gloom it pulls the righteous and the wrong
And they’re looking for a theme song
Looking for a theme song.
And you know it ain’t wrong.
And the lights go down so mysterious
And the credits start to fade
And you know and you know and you know…
Well I got trouble sleeping I got trouble waking I got trouble eating though my heart ain’t breaking
I know what you’re thinking but this is no love song
Yeah I got a woman who’s courageous and strong.
You see what I’m missing is very obscure, it’s very intangible, its very pure and everything I’m missing well, so are you,
We try to hide it but you know that it’s true
And we’re looking for a theme song. Looking for a theme song.
And you know it ain’t wrong
On a Subterranean night when the feeling is right
ACTING SO FRIENDLY
What would I do if I lost you?
I’d be so desperately alone on the phone
I got some plans, someday we can buy some land
And build a small house all our own – all our own.
Acting so friendly all their lives – Acting so friendly all their lives
We’d take it slow
We’d watch the early show
You could sit in your rocking chair – I’ll be there
I’ll tell a joke – you say I can’t tell a joke
But you’d still laugh after all these years – all these years
Acting so friendly all their lives – Acting so friendly all their lives
Like a Norman Rockwell cover on a magazine with your grandkid on your knee – We’ll will be so much better then – we’ll be better off you’ll see
I’d walk you home, protect you though I’m not strong
I’d be your hero anyway, anyway…
Acting so friendly all their lives. Acting so friendly all their lives.
FEEL THAT WAY
He said now someday baby gonna get you into my life
Cause I’ve been walking around the city like a stick of dynamite
Ready to blow my top if I’m gonna be alone tonight
He said someday baby gonna get you into my life
Gonna get you into my life
But oh how you gonna feel that way
How you gonna feel that way
How you gonna feel that way
She was a girl from the top, he was a boy from the bottom line
Pounding the pavement she flashed him a peace sign
She had studs on her boots an her short skirt so sublime
Listen to me can’t you see – its gotta be just you and me
Would you like to make a movie tonight
But oh how you gonna feel that way
How you gonna feel that way
How you gonna feel that way
Now the moral of the story is that moral is a hard word to rhyme
You can go though life alone if your cooking is really fine
And when you’re taking a vacation
You better pick a pretty sight
Cause you’ll be talking to yourself
You’ll take the razor off the shelf
Gonna have some party tonight
But oh how you gonna feel that way
How you gonna feel that way
How you gonna feel that way
THE GOODBYE SONG
Pull away in a taxi cab – I see your face pressed to the glass
Oh I, I’m gonna wait for you
Say goodbye to the neighbor’s kids
The secrets – the things we did
Oh I, I was to late for you
Goodbye – Goodbye – Goodbye – Goodbye
She was living in Baltimore – at a truck stop outside Arkansas
He said ah, ah what’s the use for me
He hangs up his eyes start to burn
Out of habit he checks the coin return
Oh I…I better let it be
Goodbye (leavings overdue) – Goodbye (its sad but true)
Goodbye (all that we went through) – Goodbye (go on – start a new)
He was so shook up pushing in that truck and she was never gonna know
He said I’m out of here, I know my road is clear and nothing to fear anymore
The writer sits with his head in hand
Make a statement take a stand
But I, I’m not so mad anymore
Secretaries at their IBM – they answer the phone and say He’s not in
And I – I wait for her at the door
Goodbye to the lost brigade – Goodbye as the sunlight fades
Goodbye on a whole new world – Goodbye as real as cultured pearls – Goodbye to the five and dime – Goodbye ah the wasted time – Goodbye to the lies we told
Goodbye coming in from the cold – Goodbye we went off the track – Goodbye but you can’t look back – Goodbye to the sacred truth – Goodbye of your eternal youth
TIME FLIES
Time flies we just walk
Long distance hello mom just wanted to talk
Amazing how we see so little these days
And I know your ways – you know my ways
Those crazy years seem so long ago
We both were much too sure of things we couldn’t know
But I wonder if you knew that I loved you all the time
Well that’s fine – and that’s fine
Because a family ties with invisible threads
And the most important things are rarely ever said
But the feelings that survive
If they’re true – if they’re strong – they can’t be wrong
They can’t be wrong
All Songs by Elliott Murphy ©1988 Elliott Murphy – Lyrics Reprinted by Permission
Change Will Come
New Rose Records
1988
Produced by James A. Ball & Elliott Murphy
Recorded and Mixed by J.A.B.
Production Assistance by Ernie Brooks
Engineered by Teddy Trewella
Assisted by Joe Hanahan & Ed Korengo
Recorded at Record Plant Studios, New York City
Cover Photo: Marc Ginot
Design: Jorge Otero
Thanks to Ray Cicala and Nicky Schiralli
Musicians:
Elliott Murphy: Vocals Guitars, Harmonica, and Organ
Ernie Brooks: Electric & Acoustic Bass, Backing Vocals
Art Labriola: Grand Piano, Organ, and Fender Rhodes
Lewis King: Drums, Percussion
Additional Musicians:
Shawn Colvin: Backing Vocals (“Chain of Pain,” “Something Ain’t Right,” “The Goodbye Song”)
Blondie Chaplin: Backing Vocals (“The Eyes of the Children of Maria”)
Paul Prestopino: Mandolin, Lap Steel Guitar
Jim Babjak – Electric 12 String (“Change Will Come”)
Record By Record, Murphy By Murphy: Change Will Come
Back to New York and again at the Record Plant Studios, which closed shortly afterwards. I think half of the songs are fine but I should have worked more on the rest. Anyway, I had just stopped drinking and so my mind was still a big pickled. Blondie Chaplin sang on “The Eyes of the Children of Maria” and now he sings with The Rolling Stones. Maybe one day I’ll get Keith Richards to play on an album. The cover was shot in Sete at George Brassens grave.
Taken from Crossroads magazine.
About The Cover – “The Grave Of Georges Brassens”
You wouldn’t know it from the photo but I was standing over the grave of the iconic French singer-songwriter Georges Brassens in Sete, France where he’s buried. The photo was taken by Marc Ginot who has taken quite a few of my cover photos back in the day. When I first moved to France in 1989 I spent some time with Marc down in Montpellier and that’s when we shot this photo.
Liner Notes
They were driving. They were driving home for the country to the city. Talking.
“There is conversation,” he said. “And then…there are thoughts.”
“No,” she said. “There are first thoughts. And then we pick the crop of conversation from the fields of words.”
“And some thoughts never leave the field,” he said.
“That’s right,” she said. “Some never leave.”
“And what happens to them?” he asked. “Do they die on the vine?”
He turned on the radio. The FM radio.
“If you’re lucky,” she said. “Or else…or else they take flight into the skies of anxiety.”
“And anxiety is more difficult to harvest; harder to turn into words.” He said.
“Yes. That’s right.” She said. “Do you mind if we change the station?”
“Change will come,” he said.
“And what about songs?” she asked. And at that moment they crossed a line.
“Songs are the angels of words…words with wings. Songs can fly but words alone live on the ground.”
“You have thought all of this out before, I guess,” she said.
“Never, I just made it up.”
“All of it?”
“All of it.” He turned off the radio
Elliott Murphy 7/11/88
(Inspired by Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire)
Vinyl LPs
France:
New Rose Records Rose 158
CDs
France:
New Rose Records Rose 158 CD
Musidisc 120452 (1996)
Japan:
Teichiku Records TECP-25601
Century Records CECC-00649 (1994)
45rpm Vinyl Singles
“Change Will Come” / “The Eyes Of The Children Of Maria”
France: New Rose Records NEW 113 (Picture Sleeve) (1988)
Please note: If you have additions or corrections to this discography, please send them to the webmaster.