Paul Inman's Delivery

Valley Of the Skulls Words and Music (c) Paul C Inman 2005

In the Valley Of the Skulls/Winds change direction
Sometimes your only friend/Is your own reflection
No Matter where you stand/No matter where you might fall
When you find you're at the end/Catch sight of a shooting star up ahead
My My My My 2x

In the Anterooms of night/I removed your gown
In the stillness of the dark/Where we laid it down
No matter that we're blind/No matter that we can't see
When we find we're out of words/We catch sight of what used to be our hurt, now
My My My My 2x
    
   In the Valley hang 'em high/don't let their feet touch the ground
   In the Valley don't ask why/If you're gonna hang around please hang 'em high

If you're gonna hang around/please hang 'em high 2x

In the nebulous dream/where we crossed the threshold
And the time came to be free/All we knew was foretold
No matter what we keep/No matter what we may leave
When we find we're out of time/We catch sight of what used to be believed
My My My My 2x

   In the Valley hang 'em high/don;t let their feet touch the ground
   In the Valley don't ask why/If you're gonna hang around please hang 'em high

If you're gonna hang around/please hang 'em high 4x

Outro- ad lib ....


(Oh Mercy, Look At) The Way She Moves Words and Music (c) Paul C Inman 2010

Oh Mercy, look at the way that she moves/when she's crossing the room
By the candle's glow in the gloom/by the pale light of the moon
Oh Mercy, I hope hope she moves for me again soon

She waits upon her mother and father/brings them dinner and her laughter
Her brothers and sisters call on her/to explain the strange things that occur
When night drops down, turns this quiet little town/into a reckless ship going down
Down into the turbulent deep, yeah yeah/haunted by a restless and troubled sleep

Oh Mercy, look at the way that she moves/when she's crossing the room
By the candle's glow in the gloom/by the pale light of the moon
Oh Mercy, I hope she moves for me again soon

"What can I do for you, my dear",  she says, as she passes so near
I can feel her heat and smell her perfume/as she moves about and she straightens the room
Puts all the pictures of the angels and saints/but into the places the mixes her paints
Throws down her magic til the canvas unfolds/all the crazy lovely madness that lies in her soul

Oh Mercy, look at the way that she moves/when she's crossing the room
By the candle's glow in the gloom/by the pale light of the moon
Oh Mercy, I hope she moves for me again soon

   She weaves like a flickering flame/mysterious and haunting
   Every time she says my name/she just leaves me wanting
   Whatever it is she's in possession of/this radiant, caramel dove

In the deep, dark of the night/when the time comes to shut out the light
She lays me down in her cotton embrace/in her bed sheets, where I can see her face
Across the room where she starts to undress/there's nowhere else I'd have to confess
I'd rather be than her in this room/knowing the way that she'll move

Oh Mercy, Look at the way that she moves/when she's crossing the room
By the candle's glow in the gloom/by the pale light of the moon
Oh Mercy, I hope she moves for me again soon
Oh Mercy, look at the way that she moves/when she's crossing the room

Railroadin' Days Words and Music (c) Paul C Inman 2010

You used to never look behind you/you'd leave everything in the dust
Let nothin' get old and in the way
Steal your lovers from another then leave before they'd rust
Turn your pretty head the other way
Time was layin' down it's tracks upon the faces of our friends
You just shrugged it off as if to say
"You can try and track me down, but I'll just lose you along the way
You'll have to try and catch me another day"

We were in the clover/rollin' deep within our love
The river so near we heard it sing
Never once did I believe that push would come to shove
And all your broken promises so sting
You were pulled away from steadiness that fit just like a glove
Threw away your love like a broken play thing
Now when all the stars shine down from the heaven's up above
Really, to you, it don;t mean a thing

It's the end of the sun's endless rays
It's the end of our high flyin' ways
It's my song, mamma, yeah, soundin; out of place
And it's the end of our Railroadin' days

You've been lookin' for a new day/to bring you face to face
With somethin' that we left so long ago
Reachin' out for kindness but there's only emptiness in it's place
You wonder where did that river flow
Nothin' looks as good as memory/Can't nothin' take it's place
No matter how the season's come and go
When you wake and you see the lines that are etched upon your face
Will you turn upstream and start to row?

It's the end of the sun's endless rays
It's the end of our high flyin' ways
It's my song mamma, yeah, that's been soundin' out of place
And it's the end of our Railroadin' Days 4x


Down In The Vale Of Old Avalon Words and Music (c) 2010 Paul C Inman

Down in the Vale of Old Avalon
'Neath the splendor of towering Tor
I followed her scent whatever she had on
Whatever she was searchin' for, behind whatever door
Into a shop selling spirit oil
And books filled with ancient and enchanted lore
Down lanes where the ghosts of old lovers toiled
Strewn with all the colors that Autumn had shorn

Crossing the stream she slipped right into the mist
Her crimson hair flowing down her back
Spilling her laughter and trailing her bliss
'Tween the veil of two worlds, she slipped through the crack
And stood on the shore, twin serpents twined on her wrists
Awaiting the Lady Of the Lake to bring her back
Across the waters with lightning balled in her fist
The Avalon barge casting its shadow of black

   Oh, Avalon unseal yourself, concealed in the Vale, revealed on her face
   They say you've disappeared without a trace
   But oh, Avalon, hidden in the mist
   In the sunrise and in evenfall, in the gleam of her eyes, under starlit skies

        Sister of Avalon, open these eyes and heal this heart
        Pluck your harp
        Mistress of Avalon, strengthen these hands, to ring the bell
        And to fill with water, your well

In a quiet cafe, low- lit and incense filled
Pouring through my books and drinking my wine
It seemed as though turbulent waters had stilled
Nothing was moving but the hands of time
I poured my heart and soul into words until
My pages were full of rhythm and rhyme
I looked across the room, I felt a chill
As once more she had crossed the River of Time

   Oh, Avalon unseal yourself, concealed in the Vale, revealed on her face
   They say you've disappeared without a trace
   But oh, Avalon, hidden in the mist
   In the sunrise and in evenfall, in the gleam of her eyes, under starlit skies

   Down in the Vale of old Avalon repeat and fade....


(Faith To Find) Strength Words and Music (c) Paul C Inman 2005

Love give me the faith to find the strength to face tomorrow
I'm already half way there, still I beg steel, and borrow
Take me through the night hold me to your sighin' heart, yeah
   Bring me to your love (to your love)
   Look into the falling dark

You are my open road, you are my heavenly sky
You are my tormented sou,l you are my reason why, yeah
   Bring me to your love (to your love)
   Look into the falling dark
   Feel the way I drink your love
   Hold me to your heaving breast
   Grant me all my fitful rest

She is my craven hunger
She is my parched thirst
(She is my fitful sleep)
She is my fitful sleep yeah yeah

Vamp outro~

Love, give me the faith to find the strength to face tomorrow...


(From The) Phantom Deck Words and Music (c) Paul C inman 2005

Between the muddy riverbanks of time
I'm stuck down here holdin' your place in line
Reachin' out to hold a steady hand
When all you've left to me will not stand me up
On this ragin' river

Rain and snow and the blastin' of wind
Misshaped a dream of judgement I was in
Where all the hearts are broken to the core
And the keys given to us open no doors
To anywhere, anyway where can we go
'Cept following the wind
And the rain and the snow

   Yeah, I wanna be with you
   On the outer banks
    On the higher ground
    On the drier ground
    Instead of down here where I'm alone
    On this ragin' river

When the night comes on and I'm leanin' hard
Into the room where all the times we've laid
Shadows swallow up our bed unmade
And on the night stand is an upturned card
From the Phantom Deck
Dealt by some unseen hand
What is left to defend
On this ragin' river?

Between the muddy riverbanks of time
I'm stuck down here I'm holdin' your place in line
Reachin' out to hold to hold a steady hand
When all you've left to me will not stand
Between the muddy riverbanks of time
I'm stuck down here holdin' your place in line


Cities Of The World Words and Music (c) Paul C Inman 2010

In the predawn amber light
At the far end of the night
Red light burnin' low
Your caramel skin aglow
Eyes lidded heavy as we go
Through Bari- Gotic wreathed in smoke, yeah
   In the cities of the world
   I'm lookin' for a pearl
   In the cities of the world
   I'm diggin' for a pearl

Serpentine streets of Marrakech
Our hearts longing to catch
A glimpse of jeweled truth
Beneath this starlit roof
Eyes shine from behind her veil
On the roiling sea within her, I'd like to sail
   In the cities of the world
   I'm lookin' for a pearl
   In the cities of the world
   I'm diggin; for a pearl

ad lib conversational voices...

     Lift your veil, loose your tongue
     Reach across the void
     At last we will have come to
     A place of now, where can be found
     The truth within the sound
     And we'll look around, to see what abounds while the world turns around

Dusty corridors, open air markets
Crowded streets and Andalusian rain
Galleries and ghosts
And Atlas Mountain air
Sahara Desert bare
Berber whiskey in this heat, at the forlorn dunes we'll meet, yeah
   In the cities of the world
   I'm diggin' for a pearl
   In the cities of the world
   I'm diggin' for a pearl
   "Donde vamos"
   "Que a donde amore"
   "A la plaza"
   "Mira mi angel"
    In the cities of the world
    I'm diggin' for a pearl


Memphis Angel Words and Music (c) Paul C Inman 1994

You rode on a mystery train
Searched for your love in the pouring rain
Helped shake the dust out of these old blue suede shoes
In such a silent time, you were my brightest fuse
   Long after you jumped off that train
   Sound of your engine still remains
   Wherever joy and heartache collide
   And the Lord and the devil work side by side

Memphis angel rest in your Delta cradle 2x

When I pulled into Nashville
It was just gettin' dark
In a Main Street bar I found myself a spark
Bummed me the cigarette hangin' from her lips
Told me her life's story nd left me with a kiss
    "I come from Indiana way,
     I'm headin' back there through the rain~
     When you get to Memphis, babe
     Remember the sound of my name"

Memphis angel rest in your Delta Cradle 2x

Memphis angel rest in your Delta cradle 2x

You rode on a mystery train
Searched for your love in the pouring rain
Helped shake the dust out of these old blue suede shoes
In such a silent time, you were my brightest fuse
   Long after you jumped off that train
   Sound of your engine still remains
   Wherever joy and heartache collide
   And the Lord and the devil work side by side

Memphis angel rest in your Delta cradle 4x 


Ghostman Words and Music (c) Paul C Inman 2000

Sometimes I feel like your ghost man
Riding high upon my skeleton band
Even the sweet love that I hope for
Climbs up to me through my heavy wooden floor, yes and
Then I'm caught in those raven's eyes
Starin' blindly into your hopeless bliss

Sometimes I feel like your junk man
Collecting hearts for my caravan
Misplaced emotions in my dust ibin
Got some of my own, and man, they're really somethin' yes and
I'm up to my ears in my lyin'
God knows that I'm not what you need no, no

Sometimes I feel like your death man
Stealin' years from the honest man
Takin' days from the young one
I twist my words up to frame up your hand, yes and
I'm up to my ears in your lyin'
God knows that you're not what I need no, no

Sometimes I feel like your ghost man
Riding high upon my skeleton band
Even the sweet love that I hope for
Climbs up to me through my heavy wooden floor, yes and
Then I'm caught in those raven's eyes
Starin' blindly into your hopeless bliss

She's Got A Goldmine (c) Paul C inman 1994

Well I was down on my knees, alone in the dark
Askin' your spirit to send me, a river to pull me under
Deep under the water, 'neath the turbulent swell
Where I could be drowned forever, and washed away unnoticed
   She opened the door to my room
   And brought the pale light in
   She brought in the cool air too
   So i could breathe easier

The thread I was hangin' from, she started to come unravelled
I reached for a ledge to climb on, but all I held was the thin air
I felt myself fallin' backwards, through the night unendin'
I could not see what the dark had, but only that she was rendin'
   And then she held out her hands
   And cradled the blow from the fall
   And then she held up my head
   So I could look easier, yeah

She's got a goldmine all of the time 2x

     I though I had everything that I could want
     I thought I knew everything that I needed to know
     I thought I'd seen everything that I needed to see
     Then one day the sky filled up with rain
     The rain came down keepin' perfect time
     And I find that she's...

She's got a goldmine all of the time 3x

Solo

She's got a goldmine all of the time 4x

fade out- she's got a goldmine...

Glass Bottomed River (c) 2005 Paul C Inman

Gazin' downstream on a glass bottomed river
Standin' still just to rest my weary eyes
Fieldin' questions from an angry crowd, now
I smiled and found myself laughin' right out loud
While the wind died down

In currents and in rapids clingin' to my lifeline
Findin' detritus and remnants of my dispatch 
Far below me there's a rock solid bottom
Slowly wearin' thin and darkenin' so as Autumn
And the longest day, yeah, it's the longest day

   Setting sun or midnight dreamin'
   Always a pale hand recedin'
   Onward through this wall sprung up
   Between us

solo 
   
   yeah, it's the longest day
   Setting sun or midnight dreamin'
   Always a pale hand recedin'
   Onward through this wall sprung up
   Between us

My shadowed heart is longin' to be swiftly movin'
Like the flood tide as it tears into the heartland
Uprootin' everything as it stand in its way
Completely changin' the order of my day
And wills the night, yeah it wills the night

Annabelle Lee (c) 2010 Paul C Inman

Oh, Annabelle Lee, won't you come see about me 
Though you are buried in the Earth beneath my weary feet
In this kingdom by the sea 2x

We Loved each other my dear child, in our kingdom by the sea
But the cold winds blew wild, chilled you and took you from me
Of the love between you and I, the angels in their envy 
Did covet our steadfast tie, and laid you in your grave
In this kingdom by the sea

Our love was far stronger than those much older than we
Neither the angels in Heaven above, nor the demons down under the sea
Can sever the bonds of our love
Or tear your soul from me, or my soul away from thee
When the moon shines bright like a dove
And the stars bleed their light for me, I'll sleep by your grave side
Next to you my love

Oh, Annabelle Lee, won't you come see about me
Though you are buried in the Earth beneath my weary feet
In this kingdom by the sea, in this kingdom by the sea

I'm All Right Tonight (c) 2005 Paul C Inman

I'm all right tonight I guess
If you've got nothin' to confess
Sure'd like to see you in your dress
With that Autumn blossom on your breast
Walkin' down the avenue , Oh, Lord

Stuck in Amarillo, don't know a soul
And I got the Panhandle Blues, Lord
In the land that Woody Guthrie roamed
Thunder and lightnin' as far as the eye could see
Sky and plain as wide as Heaven, Dear Lord

Gypsy moth hangs in the flame
But I'll come see you just the same
You make a promise that you won't keep
You break my heart even when we sleep, love
Guess I'll chase that Black Hills Girl who heard me
Who heard the broken strings in my heart, Lord

   Summer moon over Paha Sapa risin'
   Suddenly through the shadowed pines
   You sat and listened to my song and i said
   "Every little bit of love counts where I come from, tonight"

I'm all right tonight even though
We got nowhere else to go
When i see you down on the street
This old heart does skip a beat
Skips a beat to the broken strings in my heart

Did you hear the broken strings?
Did you hear the broken strings in my heart, Love? 

Down In the Groove (c) 2005 Paul C Inman

Down in the groove I'm pushing for your love
You're cooin' soft like a snow white down
Don't worry babe, I'm trembling too
I see that you're moist as the morning dew

I think i want to go there

Close your eyes think of stars in the sky
Let your breath go, yeah, let go your sigh
Whisper my name, run your hands through my hair
Let your head spin and I'll meet you there

You know I want to go there
Good Lord I need to go down there

   Forbidden fruit is growing ripe on the vine
   Nectar and honey are flowing like wine
   Rosebud and petals are silk in my hand
   I'm drinking sweet water it's all i can stand
   We're taking off and we're not gonna land
   I'm your schoolboy, I'm at your command
   Push my head down, hold my head down

You know I want to go there
Good Lord I need to go down there

   Forbidden fruit is growing ripe on the vine
   Nectar and honey are flowing like wine
   Rosebud and petals are silk in my hand
   I'm drinking sweet water it's all i can stand
   We're taking off and we're not gonna land
   I'm your schoolboy, I'm at your command
   Push my head down, hold my head down
   Let me wear this crown while I kneel down

Your temple is burning, your alter's on fire
Your skin is glistening deep in desire
Your hair is raining on my tongue
The angelus sways until the bell is rung

Think I'm gonna go there
Good Lord, I need to go there
Down in the groove
Down in the groove, yeah