W. A. S. P. - The Crimson Idol (1992) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Blackie Lawless - Lead Vocals, Lead, Rhythm Guitars, Bass, Keyboards Bob Kulick - Lead Guitar Stet Howland, Frankie Banali - Drums Produced by Blackie Lawless. Engineered and Mixed by Mikey Davis. Arranged by Blackie Lawless. Assistant Engineer: Ross Robinson. Recorded and Mixed at Fort Apache Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA. Design and Art Direction: Kosh Brooks Design. Photography: Gene Kirkland. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At the start of this record, I suspected that I was opening a real "Pandora'a Box". How right I was. So I began the journal to document the recording sessions, the events and the people involved in the making of "The Crimson Idol". The following are excerpts from that journal. The writing of songs for this record began in September of 1989, and on April, 1990 rehearsals for this album began, and lasted until June 21, 1990. On July 17, 1990 the recording commenced and was finished Feb., 1992. Prior to the recording, "Fort Apache" the studio in which this was made, was being built. Little did I know that building a studio is a constant, on going, process. Nevertheless, the making of this record and "Fort Apache" has been a true "Labour Of Love". When I started this record, I had no idea of how long it would take or the diverse elements involved, so we started keeping track. 425 drum heads, 54 sets of guitar strings, 75 guitar picks, over 24 miles of recording tape (48 reels of 2" tape), 150 cassettes, 315 gallons of beer (both domestic and import, Corona Extra owes us an endorsement), 27 gallons of Smirnoff Vodka (Pierre was real popular on this one), 175 gallons of drinking water (this Hollywood shit isn't fit to swallow), 251 gallons of soft drinks, 286 rolls of toilet paper (no comment), 210 light bulbs, over 1,200 pinball games (Mikey's the champ), 15 bottles of aspirin (see Smirnoff), 32 bottles of Vitamin C, an unruly 24 track machine named "Otis" (who did not go to distance), one 6.1 earthquake, and a fucking major flood in Feb. '92 to top it all off. All this and a couple of dozen "knock-down, drag-out" arguments later, this monstrosity is finally complete. I would personally like to thank the people who were directly responsible for helping me make this record. Russell Wallace, "Mr. Everything", more than just my right arm, without whom this album would have been impossible to make. Loyalty of his king cannot be measured. Mikey Davis for helping me finally complete this album. Neither one of us had any idea what we were getting ourselves into. And for pushing himself to achieve "sonic excellence". Ross Robinson for bringing an enthusiasm to these sessions that was truly refreshing. He worked his ass off; I predict he will go a long way. Bob Kulick. Together we created some truly memorable moments, I believe, his best. Many times the agony of these sessions were long and painful - 12 hours at a time, even the toughest fingers bleed. He stuck it out and the result is outstanding. Rob Sore for running my life, and sorting out all my whims, vacations, Vegas trips, and a million other things I'm not even aware of. By the way, the horses need a vet, and the Pantera needs a tune up. Merck Mercuriadis, for doing detective work that would have made Sherlock Holmes proud. When I was knee deep in all the blood and guts of this record he broke his ass for me. Pete Townshend for exorcising a great demon in me. For the encouragement, inspiration and conviction to pursue "The Crimson Idol". He is my mentor. I hope I have done him proud. Andy Taylor for his patience to allow me the freedom to make this record. The "keeper of the gates", the doors remained open and the wolves at bay. He continues to wield his magic and breathe life into my traveling insane asylum. More than just a managing partner, he has become my very dear friend. He has taught me much. I am forever indebted. Rod Smallwood, a man who has believed in me from the beginning. The years later, we're still together. I can't imagine having the confidence in anyone else, like I do in him. To make decisions that will affect not only my career, but my life. He tells me what he thinks, good or bad, and I admire him for that. He understands me and has never let me down when I reach 'the breaking point'. I rely on him more than he knows. He is, the Best of the Best! I THANK YOU ALL! B.L. This album is dedicated to the "Great Guiding Light" in my life, My Father, William. I play B. C. Rich and Guild Guitars and W. A. S. P. use Trace Elliot and Marshall Amplifiers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track Listing CD 1 1) The Titanic Overture (Lawless) 3:32 2) The Invisible Boy (Lawless) 5:13 3) Arena Of Pleasure (Lawless) 4:59 4) Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue) (Lawless) 7:48 5) The Gypsy Meets The Boy (Lawless) 4:16 6) Doctor Rockter (Lawless) 3:52 7) I Am One (Lawless) 5:25 8) The Idol (Lawless) 8:41 9) Hold On To My Heart (Lawless) 4:23 10) The Great Misconceptions Of Me (Lawless) 9:45 11) The Story Of Jonothan (Lawless) 16:37 CD 2 (Re-issue bonus CD) 1) Phantoms In The Mirror (Lawless) 4:36 2) The Eulogy (Lawless) 4:16 3) When The Levee Breaks (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Jason Bonham, John Paul Jones, Memphis Minnie) 7:06 - Re-issue bonus track ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) The Titanic Overture (Lawless) 3:32 I look at my face in the mirror And I don't understand Don't feel like a boy, it's looking clearer And I feel like a man ... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2) The Invisible Boy (Lawless) 5:13 Jonathan I was the boy unwanted, a prisoner I'm born to them My brother was the one, that couldn't do no wrong And I was there dying in the shadow of him Jonathan to his father Red, crimson red, am I the invisible boy? Feel the strap, cross my back Yeah I'm the new whipping boy Who am I - the orphan son you would never need? Who am I - cause I'm the boy only the mirror sees Who am I - the slave you gave just the air I breathe? Who am I - cause I'm the boy only the mirror sees Jonathan Oh, I got the same old reruns, horror movies in my head And I can't rest, they scare me to death But if I'm not alive how can I be dead? Jonathan to his father Red, crimson red, am I the invisible boy? Feel the strap, cross my back Yeah I'm the new whipping boy Jonathan to the mirror Oh, why me? The mirror Why him? Jonathan Can you tell me? The mirror Is it confession again? Come talk to me, I see in your eyes Titanic misery, ashamed you're alive I'm the face that you see When the face isn't yours I'm the mirror my boy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3) Arena Of Pleasure (Lawless) 4:59 I don't know where I'm going, but I can't wait to get there All I know is, I'm just going I ran away from home last night, gone forever I was running for my life And I've heard the words of what I should be Live, work, die, I am the orphan of the night Take me down, I'm coming home, the road to ruins Inside the pleasure dome Take me down, I'm coming home, arena of pleasures Where I belong I'm in the eye of my rage, where no hurricane dies I'm in the eye of my rage, where the hurricane lies Oh, a storms it my eyes And like the beast that's in my soul, I'm the restless child Ah mama, I'm running for my life I was sixteen going nowhere, will I see seventeen alive And I was running from the nightmare I stand at the promised land with fire in my eyes I'm in the crossroad of my destiny and desire Oh, God, what will I be And my obsession is the gasoline to feed my fire Oh, it's burning in me Don't waste the tears on my wasted years Mama I'm outta here ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4) Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue) (Lawless) 7:48 Charlie to Jonathan O.K. boy now here's your deal Will you gamble your life? Sign right here on the dotted line It's the one you've waited for all of your life Jonathan to Charlie Ah, will it feed my hunger If I swallow lies right down my throat? Or will to choke me till I'm raw? And tomorrow when I'm gone Will they whore my image on? I'll will my throne away, to a virgin heir and Charlie's slave Jonathan Murders, murders in the new morgue See old Charlie and the platinum armies making me their boy Murders, murders in the new morgue He'll make ya scream for the cash machine down to Chainsaw Charlie's morgue Charlie to Jonathan We'll sell your flesh by the pound you'll go A whore of wrath just like me We'll sell ya wholesale, we'll sell your soul Strap on your sixstring and feed our machine Jonathan to Charlie Ah, will it feed my hunger If I swallow lies right down my throat? Or will it choke me till I'm raw? And tomorrow when I'm gone Will they whore my image on? I'll will my throne away, to a virgin heir and Charlie's slave Charlie to Jonathan Welcome to the morgue boy Where the music comes to die Welcome to the morgue son I'll cut your throat just to stay alive Ah, trust me boy I won't steer you wrong If you trust me sun You won't last very long Charlie to Jonathan I'm the president of showbiz, my name is Charlie I'm a cocksucking asshole, that's what they call me Here from my Hollywood tower I rule I'm lying motherfucker, the chainsaws my tool The new morgue's our factory, to grease our lives Our machine is hungry, it needs your life Don't mind the faggots, and the ruthless scum Before we're done, son we'll make you one I'm the tin man, I've never had a heart I'm the tin man, but I'll make you a star I'm the tin man, I've never had a heart I'm the tin man, but I'll make me the star ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5) The Gypsy Meets The Boy (Lawless) 4:16 Jonathan The tarot is fate, said the Gypsy Queen And she beckoned me, to glimpse the future she'd seen Gypsy to Jonathan She said, do you see what I see?, be careful to choose Be careful what you wish for, cause it may come true When I lay the card down will it turn up the fool? Will it turn up sorrow? If it does then you lose Jonathan to the Gypsy I'm the lost boy can you help me Yeah, I'm the lost boy can you help me Jonathan Then the illusion was real, a crimson idol I saw But the higher he'd fly, then the further he'd fall Jonathan to the Gypsy I'm the lost boy can you help me Yeah, I'm the lost boy can you help me Jonathan to Gypsy I just wanna be, I just wanna be, I just wanna be The Crimson Idol of a million I just wanna be, I just wanna be, I just wanna be The Crimson Idol of a million eyes Of a million ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6) Doctor Rockter (Lawless) 3:52 Jonathan He's the king of sting, Mr. Morphine my friend Uncle Slam, medicine man And I'm a junkie with a big King Kong sized monkey Crawling up and down my back Docktor Rockter Oh, I'll help ya son to rearrange your mind Oh, I'll help ya son, but ya gotta buy this time I'm your docktor Jonathan to Docktor Help me please, oh Docktor, help me please Docktor Rockter, you know I need you Docktor please, my M.D., fix me in my hour of need But, can ya see the fire that's in my eyes Jonathan It's the mirror from the wall, that's on the table Feeding me little white lies And I'm wasted in a waste land, I'm a junk man I got tombstones in my eyes Ah, help me Uncle Slam, the beast claims another man Cocaine, codeine, 714, a tuinol blindfold just what I need Help me, help me, help me Help me please, oh Docktor, help me please Docktor Rockter, you know I need you Docktor please, my M.D., fix me in my hour of need But, can ya see the fire that's in my eyes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7) I Am One (Lawless) 5:25 Demolition, mission-man The old boy is hating me I've became the one, they warned me about Oh he's gonna die before me Oh I am one Love I am one I got something to prove And nothing to lose Oh I am one 18 bloody roses, each a year that bled my soul 18 and numb, I'm somebody's son Mama, look what I've become Will he take me down to the gallows And kill the boy inside the man I'm just a rock and roll nigger I know he don't know what I am I don't see my face in the mirror Any more, or understand Why am I the chosen one I'm the crimson man Long live, long live, long live the king of mercy Long live, long live Is there no love, I am one The side you see is the nasty me ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8) The Idol (Lawless) 8:41 If I could only stand and stare in the mirror would I see One fallen hero with a face like me And if I scream, could anybody hear me If I smash the silence, you'll see what fame has done to me Kiss away the pain and leave me lonely I'll never know if love's a lie Ooh being ... crazy in paradise is easy Can you see the prisoners in my eyes Where is the love to shelter me Give me love, love set me free Where is the love, to shelter me Only love, love set me free Set me free ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9) Hold On To My Heart (Lawless) 4:23 There's a flame, flame in my heart And there's no rain, can put it out And there's a flame, it's burning in my heart And there's no rain, ooh can put it out So just hold me, hold me, hold me Take away the pain, inside my soul And I'm afraid, so all alone Take away the pain that burning in my soul Cause I'm afraid that I'll be all alone So just hold me, hold me, hold me Hold on to my heart, to my heart, to me Hold on to my heart, to my heart, to me And oh no, don't let me go cause all I am You hold in your hands, and hold me And I'll make it through the night And I'll be alright, hold on, hold on to my heart ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10) The Great Misconceptions Of Me (Lawless) 9:45 Jonathan to the audience Welcome to the show the great finale's finally here I thank you for coming into my theatre of fear Welcome to the show, you're all witness as you see A privileged invitation to the last rights of me Jonathan to his mother Remember me? You can't save me Mama you never needed me No crimson king, look in my eyes, you'll see Mama I'm lonely, it's only me, only me Jonathan to all I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be The crimson idol of a million I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be The crimson idol of a million eyes, of a million Jonathan to all I am the prisoner of the paradise I dreamed The idol of a million lonely faces look at me Behind the mask of sorrow, four doors of doom behind my eyes I've got their footprints all across my crimson mind Jonathan to the king of mercy Long live, long live, long live the king of mercy Long love, long live Jonathan to all There is no love, to shelter me Only love, love set me free No love, to shelter me Only love, love set me free I was the warrior, with an anthem in my soul The idol of eight thousand lonely days of rage ago And remember me when it comes your time to choose Be careful what ya wish for, it might just came true Jonathan to the king of mercy Jonathan to all Jonathan to his father Red, crimson red, am I the invisible boy The strap on my back Red, crimson red, no I was never to be Only one crimson son, no it never was me Jonathan to all Living in the limelight little did I know I was dying in the shadows and the mirror was my soul It was all I ever wanted, everything I dreamed But the dream became my nightmare and No-one could hear me scream With these six-strings, I make a noose To take my life, it's time to choose The headlines read of my suicide, of my suicide Jonathan to the king of mercy Oh sweet silence, where is the sting I am no idol, no crimson king I'm the imposter, the world has seen My father was the idol, it was never me I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be The crimson idol of a million I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be The crimson idol of a million eyes Jonathan to all No love, to shelter me Only love, love set me free No love, to shelter me Only love, love set me free ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11) The Story Of Jonathan (Lawless) 16:37 - Re-issue bonus track Narration - I was born Jonathon Aaron Steel, to the parents of William and Elizabeth steel. I am a Leo, born under the sign of the lion and I was raised in a lower middle class family with only one brother Michael whom I love dearly. He was five years my senior. My father's nickname was Red which I could never understand why because his hair was sandy blond. Nevertheless, the name stuck. So when my brother was born my father became Big Red and my brother Little Red. I should have known from the first time when I realized their special connection, that I just didn't fit in to my father's plans. And as I grew older the constant comparison between my brother and myself left little doubt who was the image of perfection in my father's eye. To him, my brother could do no wrong and I became The Invisible Boy, the proverbial 'black sheep' and I soon figured out that red and black don't mix. The beatings I received became more and more frequent to the point where I would ask my father "Am I the orphaned son you would never need"? But oddly enough I worshipped the ground my father walked upon. My brother and I were a strange mixture, as different as daylight and dark. Looking back, it's hard to imagine we came from the same parents. I sometimes wondered if we had the same father, but I always dismissed that idea as my mother was far too religious, my father as well, to ever even think of such a thing. But my brother who had always sensed my parent's instilled insecurities tried his best to encourage me. For I was born different and he knew it. He often told me when I was born an angel flew over my bed and christened me with a magic wand and said "You shall be the one." And I had no idea what 'The one' was, but as I grew older I began to understand. Most boys put their mother on a pedestal and worship them like the Virgin Mary but with her too my relationship was different and not for the good. She was opinionated, uneducated, sometimes prejudiced, overbearing, believed everything she read, true or not, and when it came to religion was over-zealous to say the least. A mind boggling combination but she was pretty, very pretty and I would often wonder, bordering on complete confusion, how a person of this description could rationalize life. This was a series of characteristics that many times in my life I would look back on in bewilderment and the women I sought after when I was older would be nothing like her. In the pain of youth, the misery of my neglect, would manifest itself in many ways; depression - my enemy, fear - my friend, hatred - my lover, and anger - fuel for my fire. These four characteristics of my personality would become the guiding force of my life and would control everything I did or was to become. I shall explain later in the story about them which I call my Four Doors of Doom. The mirror, the great plaything for man's vanity. The mirror was to become, at times, my altar of refuge and other, my alter ego and its magnificent obsession with a relentless pursuit of attention. It served as a chilling reflection of my own wretchedness and my greatness. It was the one place I could go to see inside myself, to find love, in an otherwise loveless household where I could be great, where I could be anything or anyone I wanted to be - one hundred percent pure escapism until I discovered its precious secret. The mirror lives, it breathes, it talks, it lies, it has a personality all its own. It is a genie that grants all the wishes you could ever dream, at least in my case - all except two. It was my 14th birthday, the day that changed my life forever. My brother Michael, the one person who was my guiding light, my friend, my hero, was killed by a drunk driver in a head-on collision. He died instantly. I couldn't even bring myself to go to his funeral. My agony was so great I just couldn't come face to face with him that one last time. My failure to attend intensified my parents' resentment for me even more. But from that moment on, nothing seemed to matter, especially that living hell called 'home'. For one year after his death I roamed the streets in a fog barely conscious of anything or anyone. I discovered alcohol, and girls, drugs and in general a life I had never known which was exciting, frightening and wonderfully dangerous. And it was then as I staggered through a down town city street in one of my drunken rages I stumbled across a small music shop and in the window stood the instrument, the fiery tool that would become the object of my new found desire. The instrument of my passion, my obsession, the blood-red six string. It was like I'd known the thing all my life. I soon found it was the only way I could truly express myself. It was a way to vent all my frustrations and all my pain - completely opened all my Four Doors Of Doom and I found myself going to the mirror for counsel less and less. Because of this my songs seemed to write themselves and I knew my destiny was in my music but I was going to have to get out of this backwards town I was in if I was ever going to succeed. I was 16 going nowhere and the only thing my parents knew was 'live, work, die.' And if I stayed there that was exactly what was going to happen to me - I was gonna die. So I ran away to the big city with the lights, excitement and danger and a chance for me to finally live and do my music without the persecution I had known for so long. I hitchhiked all the way with a suitcase in one hand and my guitar in the other and as I stood at the edge of the city the magic of the place was incredibly intense. It was to be my new home the place I would call the 'Arena Of Pleasure'. I lived and struggled in the arena for two years trying to get a break in music and make a record and that's when I ran across a delightful business man named Charlie. He had been a lawyer for 25 years before he discovered he could fuck over more people in the recording industry then he ever could in a court of law and he was the president of one of the biggest record companies in the world. The music business to Charlie was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb to be led to slaughter and the weapon of choice was his record company that he'd wield like a mighty sword. The great tool he would lovingly refer to as 'The Chainsaw'. The morgue, Charlie said, was the music business where everyone sells out. Where all the artists will eventually whore themselves to commercialism, the place where the music comes to die. And through him I learned everything I needed to know about the music business and even things I didn't want to know. He said he could make me a star, one of the biggest things the world had ever seen. The big time was calling and I was on my way. He introduced me to an aspiring young manager named Alex Rodman and together we took on the whole fucking world and kicked it square in the ass. Just before the release of my first album I was sitting on the steps in front of my apartment when a gypsy woman passed by. She stopped and asked me if I would like my fortune read and I had never had it done so I was more than happy to say yes. She revealed a deck of Tarot cards and began to tell me of my past in which she went into great detail about the pain of my youth, my brother and my parents. She saw my present with my great struggle to succeed and fulfillment of my dreams and new found happiness but after about ten minutes she stopped and I wanted to know of my future and pleaded for her to go on and finally she spoke. She showed me a very disturbing vision of where I was going. I told her that I wanted a phenomenal wealth and fame and in the cards she saw a fallen hero and looked at me and said "Be careful what you wish for - it might come true, for the face of death wears the mask of the King of Mercy." I asked her if she was sure of what she had seen and with a blank stare she turned and walked away leaving me with the cards and a haunting that would follow me the rest of my life. Success agreed with me with amazing ease. The more records I sold the more excess I had of everything - friends, money, women, cars, houses. It was at one of my nightly hedonisms where a flash individual entered the room. He introduced himself as the Doctor. I asked him what kind of doctor and he smiled and said, "meet my friend Uncle Sam." The mirror that was once on the wall, my alter ego, was now talking to me from the table and the next three years were a blur. Drugs became the new candy and alcohol became the new Coca Cola and Doctor Rockter was my new best friend and I never heard the mirror speak again until tonight. I was at the peak of my career and the world saw me as I had always wanted it, The Idol, the Great Crimson Idol. Now I had everything it seemed, everything but the one thing that would have meant more to me than anything. The pain that manifested itself into my obsession, the acceptance of me by my father and mother, who I had not spoken to since I had left home. One morning my manager Alex came in and broke up one of our nightly Easy Rider Parties. An Easy Rider Party was when everybody would come over to my house, the band, the doctor, hot and cold running women etc. And we'd watch the movie and do everything going on the film only a lot more. And he threatened to leave me if I didn't clean up. It was not that he cared about me as a person he was only interested in my talent and what I could do to further his own career as a true showbiz mogul. But it was then I realized just how far things had gone. So I sat there alone in my palace of pain and I was just numb from the alcohol and the drugs but equally as intoxicated by my own fame and I had just enough courage to pick up the phone and dial the number. My mind went into a whirlwind thinking of what would happen and the fear overcame me and I started to put down the phone but before I could a voice at the other end rang out and it sent a chill through me that I had never known. It was my mother. It was hard for me to speak, my heart pounding out of my chest but when I did I did the best I could. She was very cold. But I knew the shock of suddenly hearing from me after all these years was overwhelming and I was hoping that all the time that had passed would heal the deep wounds between my parents and me but ... I desperately wanted them to approve of me, to accept me - it was all I ever wanted. I hoped my success would finally prove my worthiness and they would welcome the prodigal son home. All I wanted was for them to be proud of me but less than 50 words were spoken. The last four were "We have no son." Some wounds never heal and mine had scarred me for life. A great star fell from the sky that night and with its descent left a scorched path in its way - a great path of self-destruction before burning out. And on this night the great finale is finally here. 'Be careful what you wish for - it may come true.' Long live, long live the King of Mercy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CD 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) Phantoms In The Mirror (Lawless) 4:36 - Re-issue bonus track Come look at me do you like what you see? If you smash the mirror you'll still not be free Look in the glass and you'll see who you are And you'll run but you'll not run far If you talk to me maybe I'll talk to you We'll tell lies together but never the truth Just you and me and I'll see what you do You'll watch me, and I'm all over you Come to the mirror my boy I'm the face that you see When the face isn't yours A Phantom, I'm hiding inside Yes I'm what you see When you see in my eyes My doctor said listen I'll help if I can But you're psychosomatic so I'm not your man The head doctor made me, give you what you need Some sedation to stop what you see But no one can help me I hide in my room, but he moves and lets loose my four doors of doom Just let me out, you'll see who I am I'm controlling the man Come to the mirror my boy I'm the face that you see When the face isn't yours A Phantom, I'm hiding inside Yes I'm what you see When you see in my eyes Don't act surprised I see what you do Can't let your ... And kill off the boy that's in you Trust me you fool The price that's inside you Two will kneel They can't see who they are A reflection is cast On a conscience of war I am the mirror The plaything of men The true alter ego The phantom within Come to the mirror my boy I'm the face that you see When the face isn't yours A Phantom, I'm hiding inside Yes I'm what you see When you see in my eyes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2) The Eulogy (Lawless) 4:16 - Re-issue bonus track I saw my face in the mirror And now I understand Jonathan Jonathan Jonathan I'm just a man There was no love to shelter me .... love ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3) When The Levee Breaks (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Jason Bonham, John Paul Jones, Memphis Minnie) 7:06 - Re-issue bonus track (from Led Zeppelin "Led Zeppelin IV" (1971)) If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break When the levee breaks I'll have no place to stay Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan Got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home Ooh yeah, ooh yeah, ooh yeah Don't they make you feel bad When you're tryin' to find your way home You don't know which way to go If you're goin' down south Then there's no work to do And you're going on to Chicago Cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good Ooh, cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move All last night sat on the levee and moaned All last night sat on the levee and moaned I said left my baby and my happy home Going, go'n' to Chicago Go'n' to Chicago Sorry but I can't take you Going down, going down now, going down Don't they make you feel bad When you're tryin' to find your way home You don't know which way to go If you're goin' down south Then there's no work to do And you're going on to Chicago To Chicago Going down, going down, going down ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Any artist who is lucky enough to have anyone take interest in what they create, and have those people go on to support them thereafter, is indeed, truly fortunate. There is a part of me in Jonathan and I felt the need to share both of us with all of you. The most honest proclamation any artist could ever make to an audience would be "hold on to my heart, all I am you hold in your hands". I am truly sincere when I say "Thank You", too you all everywhere.