1. TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

A long time ago, in 1965 or so
I met a man with a face that was a real disgrace
Pictures he took and put them in a little book
So ambitious was he, he even took a picture of me.

Then one day he opened up a studio (start recording now)
Tried to make it pay, making hit records or no
And he asked me along write him a little song
I get the studio free, just sign this paper for me.

You got to take good care of business, my friend
Take good care of yourself
You got to take good care of business, my friend
Otherwise you'll end up on the shelf.

Oh yeah.

Later on, after I wrote that song
Even heard it played up on Radio One (Radio One)
Manager said : 'Money all gone away'
You spent it, you see, up and down the country.

You got to take good care of business, my friend
Take good care of yourself
You got to take good care of business, my friend
Otherwise you'll end up on the shelf.

Well, I started to say, I mean we've got to play
What else can I do ? We're not clever like you.
Then said he : 'You know how I'm fair’
You can sign to the company for another ten years.

You got to take good care of business, my friend
Take good care of yourself
You got to take good care of business, my boys
Otherwise you'll end up on the shelf.


2. NORTH COUNTRY BOY

I'm just an ordinary north country man
I had a dream that bid me come here
Although naïve, I thought that I'd make my way
But fair weather friends is all that I had.

They took from me all that I had to give
Replenished me with their reason
Don't you talk to me about your sacrifice
Then ask of me if I'm leaving.

I'm going down to the water today
I got to wash away my sorrow
I'm going down to the water today
I gotta get me clean by tomorrow.

I'm just an ordinary north country man
My dream has edges that are fading
This year that's passed, it's not such a waste
It's just a hard way to be learning.

We've got no choice in the life that we're born to
Our only choosing is in its living
Now people in their own time will show just that they are
I hope this time I know who I am.

I'm going down to the water today
I’ve got to wash away my sorrow
I'm going down to the water today
I gotta get me clean by tomorrow.

I’m gotta get me clean
I’m gotta get me clean
I’m gotta get me clean
I’m gotta get me clean.


3. STEPPENWOLF

Steppenwolf is stepping out, another lonely night
He's not sure if there's something wrong but he knows it's not all right
Steppenwolf, step into the light.

And by the light of the stars that shine
I can see if the face fits mine and maybe we can talk about it all night
We can sing songs till the morning light
Comes shining over the mountain side
Steppenwolf, you're all right.

I'm getting drunker by the minute, I can hardly see
All the pretty people talking, closing in on me.

And maybe we can talk about it all night
We can sing songs till the morning light
Comes shining over the mountain side
Steppenwolf, you're all right.

Steppenwolf, where can you be ?

If you could just walk through the door
Skipping down upon your knee and maybe we can talk about it all night
We can sing songs till the morning light
Comes shining over the mountain side
Steppenwolf, you're all right.

I've got some friends, don't get me wrong
They're good friends and they're free
(If I had more time they'd be in this song along with you and me)
Steppenwolf, I hope you can see.

If for a minute we could fly away
Escape this endlessly, then maybe we could talk about it all night
We could sing songs till the morning light
Comes shining over the mountain side.

And maybe we can talk about it all night
We can sing songs till the morning light
Comes shining over the mountain side
Steppenwolf, you're all right.


4. NOBODY LOVES YOU ANYMORE

So the world done you wrong
No one's listening to your crazy song
So you turn your back and in your head and then you wonder why
Nobody loves you anymore.

Close your eyes, lock the door
You can't remember what you're looking for
So you hide your love, you don't know why, you don't know why, you don't know
Nobody loves you anymore.

Is this your right ? Oh you could not wait
You never see things 'til it's much too late
So you turn your back and bury your head then you wonder why
Nobody loves you anymore.

You wanna argue, you wanna fight
No one's worried if you're wrong, you're right
So you raise your voice, then you …. then you wonder why
Nobody loves you anymore.

You wanna argue, you wanna fight
No one's worried if you're wrong, you're right
So you raise your voice, then you …. then you wonder why
Nobody loves you anymore
Nobody loves you anymore
Nobody loves you anymore.


5. WHEN THE WAR IS OVER

When the war is over, we can be kind again
You can be my lover, I will be your friend.

And the drunker in the gutter whose laughing at the moon
Will have whiskey and dry ginger served from a silver spoon.

And the phonies and the …., the lonelies and the weird
And one single moment who brush away their fear.

When the war is over, no battles to be won or lost
No one to claim a victory, no one cares to cound the cost.

And the children will be the teachers, their lessons will be so clear
To see with open eyes, to hear with open ears.

And you will understand me, …… and you will find
To reach with open arms, to speak with open mind.

When the war is over, no battles to be won or lost
No one to claim a victory, no one cares to cound the cost.

When the war is, when the war is, when the war is over
When the war is, when the war is, when the war is over
When the war is, when the war is, when the war is over
When the war is....


6. MOONSHINE

Give me moonshine, got to have that old moonshine
Give me moonshine, got to have that old moonshine.

This is the life and times of a man who almost made it
Ace, king to ten in hearts, the perfect hand he almost played.

Give me a moonshine, got to have that old moonshine.

This the plan, the lived in dream, this the scheme within a scheme
With eyes that ran and legs that faltered, the morning found that old corn jar empty.

Give me moonshine, got to have that old moonshine.

Give me moonshine, got to have that old moonshine
Give me moonshine, got to have that old moonshine.

And in his still a new batch cooking, one hundred proof, the perfect blend
Three barrels gone and he's still looking because he said, because it's just because.

Give me moonshine, got to have that old moonshine
Give me moonshine, got to have that old moonshine
Give me moonshine, got to have that old moonshine.


7. LAZY

I take my time 'cause I'm timing my mistakes right through
I'm getting silly and I've got no point of view
I know some people might think I'm mad but I know just what to do
Lying lazy, loving with you.

You've been around and you've heard all the sounds going down
You get along by singing your songs to the crowd
But in the back of your mind you can see there's only one place you wanna be
Lying lazy, loving with me.

Ooh, my head is spinning around in your bed
Ooh, my life would be alright
Lying lazy, loving all night.

Ooh, my head is spinning around in your bed
Ooh, my life would be alright
Lying lazy, loving all night.

I've had enough of the upside down uptight times
I'm sick of wondering if I'm in my wrong or my right mind
Don't even seem to matter too much if I'm out or if I'm in
As long as I am lazy loving.


8. ROLL ON RIVER

Step by step, we climb the stairs in search of something far away
Day by day, we fade away and watch each other disappear
Maybe it's all in vain trying to suit my pain.

On the river bay and all along the way side
There are crowds of unbelievers
There's nothing ever said, all is in their faces
All are hopeless cases.

So roll on, river, river, roll on
Roll on, river, forever roll on.

Step by step, we climb the stairs in search of something far away
Day by day, we fade away and watch each other disappear.

Winding river.

There's nothing ever said, all is in their faces
All are hopeless cases.

So roll on, river, river, roll on
Roll on, river, forever roll on.

Hopelessly we try to .... the boats of every broken dream
Drifting with my only friends and sinking as the river bents.

Winding river.

Roll on, river, river, roll on
Roll on, river, forever roll on
Roll on, river, river, roll on
Roll on, river, roll on, river.


9. TOW THE LINE

He wores great face when you say you're grace
Mama's gonna put you in your face
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?

And my little brother likes a whole lotta fun
The bottom is ……. but you come undone
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?

Now shoe lace and a paper chase
Somebody else gonna take your place
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?

My grandfather say don't hide your head
And Mama's gonna put you in your bed
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?

He wores great face when you say you're grace
Mama's gonna put you in your face
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?

And my little brother likes a whole lotta fun
The bottom is …… but you come undone
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?

Now shoe lace and a paper chase
Somebody else gonna take your place
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?

My grandfather say don't hide your head
And Mama's gonna put you in your bed
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?
Don't you know you've got to tow the line ?


10. GOODBYE

‘Oh, make me laugh’ - said the king to the wizened court funny man
‘Oh, Jester, please, play the fool, I'm feeling low-down’
‘Do it all, give me rest’ - said the heaving white sovereign
Crystal tracks disappear converting his frown.

It's in the way you say (goodbye, goodbye)
Savour our parting 'til I see you next time
I won't do one thing alone.

Make me laugh, freeze my tears with tales now of yesterday
Taking off all alone, I'm losing my cares.

It's in the way you say (good time, good time, so kind, so kind)
Still at our parting, will I see you next time ?
I can't do one thing alone.

(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)


BONUSTRACKS (RE-ISSUE 2005)


11. DEALER'S CHOICE

You got five in your pocket, ten on the table
Keep a smile on your face, boy, you're gonna be able to win this one
Son of a gun, you're gonna really win this one.

Some say I'm lazy, some say crazy
Me I don't care 'cause it's yes no maybe, got an ace up my sleeve
It's more than a drunkards dream, you'd better believe.

Oh yeah, you got dealer's choice
Yeah, yeah, you got dealer's choice
Maybe in the morning you'll have lost all but your voice
But it don't matter now, you know it don't matter now.

I know where you come from, I know where you been
I can hear what you're saying and I know what you mean when you say life's the game
Put your money where the mouth is, no need to explain.

Oh yeah, you got dealer's choice
Yeah, yeah, you got dealer's choice
Maybe in the morning you'll have lost all but your voice
But it don't matter now, oh no, you know it don't matter now.

Yeah, yeah, dealer's choice
Oh, yeah, yeah, now, dealer's choice
Maybe in the morning you'll have lost all but your voice
But it don't matter now, you know it don't matter now.

Dealer's choice
Yeah, yeah, you got dealer's choice
Maybe in the morning you'll have lost all but your voice
But it don't matter now, you know it don't matter now.


12. TONIGHT

Feeling better now that I know you're near
Growing stronger with everything I hear.

You know I'm trying harder, it's working out here just fine
Loving longer now that there's more time.

Getting ready to setting fire to
I hope I'm getting to you
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight.

Moving faster, speeding right up and into
Coming further with all the new things to do.

You got me rolling sideways
Your way’s just right
And remember tomorrow, tonight.

Getting ready to setting fire to
I hope I'm getting to you
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight.

Do that once more, can't seem to get my fill
Don't say : 'Don't, please' - just say that you will.

Getting ready to setting fire to
I hope I'm getting to you
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight.

Tonight, tonight ....


13. YOU PUT THE LAFF ON ME

All my friends they told me about you
How you always running 'round
Here I am now sitting without you
And the story's all over town.

You put the (laff on me, baby)
You put the (laff on me, baby)
Oh, you put the laff on me.

First you acted so tenderly
But you played it to your own rules
Then you went and told everybody
That you took me for a fool.

You put the (laff on me, baby)
You put the (laff on me, baby)
Oh, you put the laff on me, yes you did.

It all ended so quick somehow
They were right and I was wrong
Tell me, does it give you a kick now ?
To know you've been featured in a song.

You put the (laff on me, baby)
You put the (laff on me, baby)
Oh ..

You put the laff on me, baby
You put the laff on me, baby
You put the laff on me, baby
You put the laff on me, baby
You put the laff on me
You put the laff on me
You put the laff on me....


14. IN YOUR HAND

(No lyrics available)