Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Red Rocks

Release Date: April 7th, 2009

This recording is from our show in June of 2008 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It includes two CDs and one DVD jam packed with as much content as we could fit in. The CDs include 31 songs and the DVD has the complete show from beginning to end, all 35 songs.

Gary Indiana Blues

Turning like a hurricane
Sleep inside this junkyard train
It's cold and I'm loosing my covers
She won't take me any further south, than Gary Indiana (blues),
I never learned the easy out
Cracklin' chain and silver spoon
I shot a man for stealing food
He got caught with his gun on the table
Mother quit your cryin' now
Think of the sisters and brothers who never learned the easy out
Dancing to the midnight moon
Snowflake in my whisky too
Hear a knock on the door and some screaming
The eviction man is in town
Here's to the sisters and brothers, who never learned the easy out

Blue Sky

We've waited long for this day to come
For all the midnight lights
we've burnt into the morning sun
I can't wait to see your sweet mysteries
The moon, the stars, the sun
The universe, the galaxies

Fly home on your silver wings
With your new song for the world to sing
Light this candle, make it right

Yes you can change the world
True love discovers and
She stands, and she won't back down
Yes you can change the world
There is no other one

Believe and you will find blue sky

Gonna chase the dream, we're gonna set it free
Gonna make it real, gonna make it shine
Gonna keep it grooving on
One small stepping stone
Baby we're not alone
Gonna take you farther, higher, faster
Then you're outta sight

You've got my flame in your fire baby
You've got my twinkle in your eye
Reaching for the distant light

Yes you can change the world
True love discovers and
She stands, and she won't back down
Yes you can change the world
There is no other one

Believe and you will find blue sky

Don't you change too late, hey, yeah yeah
Or fade away
My stars won't wait

Yes you can change the world
True love discovers and
She stands, and she won't back down
Yes you can change the world
There is no other one

Believe and you will find blue sky

Dinner With Ivan

I took dinner at seven. With a tablecloth and wine.
And my poor brother Ivan. Who could laugh but
couldn't smile.
Stories filled the evening. Of his job and of his wife.
How they somehow cheated him. How they
took his life.
Chorus:
Welcome to the wild world brother.
Sometimes it's gonna rain on you.
It rains all over the world, brother.
Sometime's it's gonna rain on you.
The evening went on and on.
But was it time to say goodbye. To all the
big decisions
And dirty dishes in his life. Take some money
Out of your savings brother, have yourself a good time.
But ain't he just too lazy, to wipe the tears
from his eyes.
Chorus
The evening went on and on.
but was it time to say goodbye. To all the big decisions
And dirty dishes in his life. Get in my car, brother.
Turn the key and take a drive.
But ain't I just too lazy, to wipe the tears
from my eyes.
Chorus

Dirty Juice

You know I get a little peace of mind around that woman. She’s like driftin’ and then finding the easy way out. In case you didn’t know she is my caterpillar, she’s my butterfly rolled inside out. Change in the autumn and the springtime. All of her colors roll into one. She’s gonna shock me now, when she turn it loose. She’s got my ‘lectric house rockin’ now, on her dirty juice.
You know I get a little peace of mind around that
woman. That woman is sure good ‘nuff to me. Someone is always shaking her down, always scraping her pink limousine. Taste her kisses sweet as molasses, from a moonbeam or a Christmas tree. She’s gonna shock me now, when she turn it loose. She’s got my ‘lectric house rockin’ now, on her dirty juice. She can’t shut me down. I turn it loose.

Bittersweet

A little light looks through her bedroom window. She dances and I dream, she's not so far as she seems, Of brighter meadows, melting sunsets, Her hair blowing in the breeze. And she can't see me watching. And I'm thinking love... Chorus: It's bittersweet more sweet than bitter, Bitter than sweet. It's a bittersweet surrender I'm older now. I work inn the city. We live together. But it's different than my dream. Morning light fills the room. I rise. She pretends she's sleeping. Are we everything we wanted? And I'm thinking love... Chorus I know we don't talk about it. We don't tell each other All the little things that we need. We work our way around each other As we tremble and we bleed. Chorus

Under a Silvery Moon

While under a silvery moon
A neon flower born of the desert
Love to touch her body of water
Flicker in the morning light

While she was still in the mood
shaken up like a deer in the headlights
Crosscut saw, whiskey and moonshine
Baby don't you spill the wine

Under a silvery moon
You can't find your way back home
Keep her shining on you
Sweet surrender and you're gone
Free at last you're on your own

While under a silvery moon
Sick and tired of the country and western
Get the Eldorado back on the pavement
Marguerita where'd ya learn to drive?

She said it's all about the rhythm and blues
Pompadours, taxi confessions
The kind of speed that'll get you arrested
Go on use it baby don't be shy

Under a silvery moon
You can't find your way back home
Keep her shining on you
Sweet surrender and you're gone
Free at last you're on your own

Surrender and you're gone
Time at last you're on your own
Don't give up now
You're almost home

While under a silvery moon
Boxcar Willie's guide to the galaxy
Jack Kerouac's jumping on ecstasy
Chugging down the central line

Elvis and the hullabaloo
Truck got busted just an hour 'fore midnight
Mississippi mud, the river is too wide...

Under a silvery moon
You can't find your way back home
Keep her shining on you
Sweet surrender and you're gone
Free at last you're on your own

Yeah you're almost gone
Under a silvery moon light my way
Oh you're never gonna make it home
Don't give up now baby

Broken Hearted Savior

Fields are white in snowy spring and I can't
remember the last time I've seen her.
The highway is still cold and wet and I can't
forget the way I had to leave her.
And every passing day, she flickers and she fades.
Is someone to help her when she falls from the heavens?
Chorus:
And I'll love her yet, though she has done me wrong.
And I'll bring her back, though she has been long gone.
And I'll be her
broken hearted savior.
And every heavy night takes out the little life that's left within her.
Every man she gives her love, he takes it, and leaves her with a dinner.
Our love was once a flame, now I'm just a forgotten name,
Am I the only one to blame for having, loving her?
Chorus

Ellis Island

New York lady slips underneath the dim trumpet light.
Come from a land she's never known.
She sees in her future castles burning bright,
But she's got no place to go.
And if you should ever speak with her,
Keep your promises to a whisper.
She is listening. She hears everything.
Into the air, and disappears,
Into the evening, forgotten in her lonely soul.
She wonders why everything ain't right
For all the people down here below.
Hey, sister where's your life?
Brother, where's your home?
And if you should ever speak with her,
She is listening. She hears everything.
Into the air, and disappears,
Into the evening, forgotten in her lonely soul.
There's a whisper inside every broken heart.
A frail, frail dream.
Which runs through the traffic and plays a part.
Sweet love through eternity.
And if you should ever speak with her,
Keep your promises to a whisper.
She is listening. She hears everything.
Into the air, and disappears,
Into the evening, forgotten in her lonely soul.

Runaway Train

I keep wishing you'd fly away
How can you hold yourself down?
You carry on like this every other day
You're turning into the sound...
You've got touchin' on the line, but leaving is on your mind
You tell me everything is fine - just fine
On a runaway train tonight
You say "I love you in another way"
You say you are leaving this town
Drive me up to your hideaway, as you were burning it down
Chorus
Now I need a reason to keep away, or get up off my back
I can't stop it or turn away until I run out of track
I got touchin' on the line, but leaving is on my mind
I'll tell you everything is fine - just fine
On a runaway train tonight

Heart of Wilderness

If only there were time and tenderness
Oh, for young hearts of wilderness
We run to the city we build our nest
We work, we get drunk, we make love
But your love won't take me from the grave to the heavens
Your love won't take me from the grave to the heavens
Before I'm gone your arms will be holding some other man
Before I'm gone your arms will be holding some other man
Chorus:
In this heart of wilderness
In this heart of wilderness
Run with me, take my hand, we'll run and dream
in this heart
This time I won't turn out the light
Oh, this time I won't turn out the light
Make believe every thing's alright
and kiss my lover a cold good night
Morning turns to noon and noon to night
Oh, Morning turns to noon and noon to night
My heart is still filled with fright
I'm still the same broken piece of clay
Chorus
I've been dreaming of something underneath the hill
Just around the bin and underneath the hill
A fortune in wood and steel
In restaurants and people without names
Oh sweet Jesus, I'm a broken man
Oh sweet Jesus, I'm a broken man
All I did was follow the plan
But what I wouldn't do to be loved
Chorus

Vincent of Jersey

He's wearing a red and white t-shirt.
He's loving the ladies upon his floor.
A bottle of brandy, a hard box of Camels.
Waiting for love to come knocking on his door.
And he says something like ...
Someday somebody's gonna love me
Someday it's me they're looking for
Someday somebody's gonna want me 'cause I'm ...
Vincent of Jersey.

The Leaving Song

Think ahead before you open your mouth
I might be thinking it through.
Gonna pack my things and catch a train headed South.
Or step right out of my car, into the
Rain drippin' down my fingers,
Into my eyes, you won't see me cryin' but,
What will you do when I am gone.
I creep slowly out of my bed,
Take one final look at you.
To empty out all those sweet memories from my head.
How did I ever end up playing your fool but,
what will you do when I am gone.
I creep slowly out of my bed,
Take one final look at you.
To empty out all those sweet memories from my head.
How did I ever end up playing your fool but
I'm on a train bound for glory,
Goin' klickity klack klickity klack
Away from you but
What will you do, when I am gone?
How the hell you ever get to be so damn cool?
Suck down my money and throw my love away.
How the hell did you ever get to be so damn slick?
You'll come slidin' slidin' down some day but,
I'm on a train bound for glory.
Goin' klickity klack klickity klack
Away from you but,
What will you do when I am gone?

Angela Dangerlove

Every time you wake, dreams come tumbling down. The careless love you take – I’m just another face in the crowd. Your forgetful eyes keep driftin’. Am I ever going to catch them now? Angela Dangerlove, I’m yearning my life away. Angela Dangerlove, I guess I got time to waste.
Ever since you’ve shaken me I’m knocked down under your spell. Your disenchanted rhapsody plays me like a hollow shell. These days go laughing by. Am I ever gonna catch you now? Angela Dangerlove, I’m yearning my life away. Angela Dangerlove, I guess I got time to waste.
That I don’t know you well is something I can’t deny. Just enough to dream, a fool by the trick of the light. I came closer than you think. I saw a tear fall from your eye. Angela Dangerlove, I’m yearning my life away. Angela Dangerlove, I guess I got time to waste. I guess I got time to wait.

Please Don't Tell Her

I always leave her waiting
I always leave her down
if she should come my way
I always turn around
Please don't tell her I love her
I always keep her out
I never let her in
If she should come my way weeping
I greet her with a grin
Please don't tell her I love her
if she should discover the colors of my love
she will fly, fly away
Now you can try tenderness
You can try to hang around
Oh, but I'm sure she'll love you less
I'm sure she'll bring you down
Please don't tell her I love her

Conquistador

Shakin’ ‘em down and drunk on a holiday. Dishin’ them ‘lectric blues in an old school way. Lucy and Glenda Jones and an old beef bone. Drinkin’ that whisky juice till they all alone. They was blues conquistadors, soul conquistadors.
Old Betty Mae was movin’ it and doin’ it right. Muddy and John Lee rockin’ in the house of blue light. Trouble and worry come back on another day. Nellie’s aunt Bee got down and began to pray. They was blues conquistadors, soul conquistadors.
You got to mess around to feel right. Then you slow it down sometimes, just enough to get me home. You got me digging in a coal mine – diggin’ in a blues mine. Jesus gonna help me get there with them blues conquistadors, soul conquistadors.
Been twenty odd years since they burned that Checkerboard lounge. Listen that Howlin’ Wolf make a nasty sound. Muddy and John Lee you know they passed away. But the Gin room boogie still make you shake a leg.

City on Fire

Woke up this morning in a bed of fire
People and buildings in my head,
burning there tonight.
Tonight as I lay sleeping.
I try to hold your hand.
One eye open and dreaming. That this city
Is on fire.
Tell me sweet things in the middle of the night
It's the middle of the night.
Open my window and the room is filled.
Filled with burning light.
Tonight as I lay sleeping I try to hold your hand.
One eye open and dreaming. That this city
Is on fire.

Monument in Green

Well I rode the green across this country.
Horses lived and died to take me.
Men I killed to help me get there, further West I died to
take me.
Blackened face and dirty laundry. Many days since
I have eaten. Found myself a family. Broke my back
So I could feed them.
Chorus:
High in the wind. Standing in the sun.
We're going to raise up the heavens.
With a shovel and a gun.
I was so much younger then. I would never ever listen.
I am so much older now. I thought that things would
end up different.
Farewell, lover in green.
Elizabeth she is my lady. Says the prayers and
does the learning.
Waking up all the children.
Making love in the early morning.
We took to building up the cities. we built the churches
in our cities.
Happy in the green country. In the green
they buried me.
Chorus
Well I'm dead now. My wife Elizabeth is at my side.
I've got children all around me. I've got grandchildren.
I've got great grandchildren. I've got great
great great great
Grandchildren. Too many for me to remember.
Maybe one of them is you ...

How Easy

I light your world
Yes I painted it with sunshine
But all you see is tall gray clouds
You say your freedom is everything

You need time
But all you really want is out

I don't know why you're trying
to make it hard now
Put your back up against the wall
Over time I'll forget about your charms now
It' ain't so hard for me to take the fall

You can't arrange your life so there

Ain't no pain and everything is fine
I see you hang your head down
Can't believe you let yourself unwind
You're always calling on me
Wrap yourself around my shoulders
We make love like perfect strangers
Spill your glass, tell me that you're mine
How easy love decides

You're acting cold I think you understand I need you
To give affection, to keep me warm
I ain't trying to hold you down, nor to bleed you
Or give you shelter from the storm

You can't arrange your life so there

Ain't no blame and no one's left behind
I see you change your heart now
Can't believe you let yourself unwind
I'm always falling for you
Wrap myself around your fingers
We make love like perfect strangers
Spill your glass and tell me that you're mine
How easy love
It's so easy how love decides

Cashbox

You got love in the cashbox baby
now give it to me
Diamonds on the dresser
Bring 'em on here you see
Didn't your momma tell ya
It's better to give than receive
I've been stealing your love

Bring it all night long

Didn't I give you that golden necklace
What about that golden ring
I sure do think you're precious
But you don't trust me
Didn't your daddy tell ya
It's better to give than to receive
I've been stealing your love

Bring it all night long

You got something in the register, baby
Let's open that sucker up
Jewels on the nightstand so luxurious
Didn't your brother tell ya
It's better to live than to be dust
I've been stealing your love

Bring it all night long

Freedom Fighter

Dance under the missile glow, over the eastern sea
Gunshot by the side of the road - highway scenery
Revolution got no goals, except keepin' the family together
Dang chains isn't sweet on you
Freedom fighter, don't let 'em get you alive
You won't change a damn thing that is true
Freedom fighter, keep your head on tonight
Take me on with you
Take me along with you tonight
She came late for the tank parade with her emancipation song
She plugged in a guitar and played, and sang of Spanish bombs
Jackknifed inside and prayed, the world has come undone!
Yeah, whatever...
Damn chains look good on you
Chorus
Sagittarius rising low, may he follow you
Shine on you and take you home, over the eastern sea

Fortune Teller

Rappers, troubadours sneaking in the back door
Crazy fortune teller drinking on the kitchen floor

All night
Racing down Division at a hundred and three
Her singing it was rapture, it was ecstasy
Oh yeah

Madam Lisa of the stars
Messenger of Hope

Yeah, she was the messenger of

Guiding light and lovin' inspiration
She could break you down with sheer imagination
Oh yeah now
Her old man was so cruel and vicious
One day he went too far and lord, he got his

Madam Lisa of the stars
Messenger of Hope

Messenger of Love
Shine your light on

Makin' love in the setting sun
She's looking at me like I am the one
Wild and free but with nowhere to run
Shine your light on
The trapped, the broken, the innocent ones
Baby we were over before we'd begun
I'll be running for you till my freedom comes
Freedom comes

Shine on, Shine on...

When she pulled the trigger
I could hear it ring out for miles and miles
From the circus where we grew up
Your head turned to me
I was caught up in the light
Shaken by the sound
The confession in her eyes
From when we met
And I was sentenced for life
I know we will never forget

Makin' love in the setting sun
She's looking at me like I am the one
Wild and free but with nowhere to run
Shine your light on
The trapped, the broken, the innocent ones
Baby we were over before we'd begun
I'll be running for you till our freedom comes
Freedom comes
Shine on

Cruel Fate

It's painful to realize
I've been on the back
I've been hypnotized awhile
Troubled by the stack of untraveled miles
I found out too little
I found out too late
Cruel fate

Memories of what went wrong
Like a meteor returns to home
Kinda steals away your life, away your song
I'll sing mine anyway... sing it
So called destiny

But you won't let it go
Until you win Miss Universe
And then you won't reap what you sow
There must be someone to blame, yeah
Cruel fate

If promises could punish you
If thoughts could do damage to you
You can run but they'll follow you

But you won't let it go
Until you win Miss Universe
And then you won't reap what you sow
No one ever escapes
We all suffer the same
We found out too late
Cruel fate

It's Alright

You can turn back the tide of the cold tears from your eyes,
The pangs of wounded pride if you hold me.
Did someone do you wrong yeah,
Good lovin's good as gone.
Maybe you ain't as strong as you wanna be.
Chorus:
It's alright if you don't wanna go home.
It's alright if you don't wanna be alone.
It's alright if you don't wanna go home.
I understand.
Nothin' stays if it's gotta go now.
You can't get water from a stone now.
Sometimes you've got to think about
The things you're gonna love.
You can point the finger at him.
You can say you've suffered for your sins.
Somehow it never was, never was good enough.
Chorus.

Bridge:
When the morning comes and you put yourself together
To face another day.
And when the day is done and you ain't feelin' better
You come walkin' my way.
Now that you're doing alright,
You're pretty much outta sight.
I don't see you knockin' 'round my door anymore.
I'm glad to hear you're doing well,
But I know that time will tell.
Only when you're broken down, is that what friends are for?
It's alright if you just wanna go home.
It's alright if you just wanna be alone.
It's alright if you just wanna go home.
I understand.

Spanish Highway

We'll never know the reasons
Things have ended up this way
You had to turn the page
But I'm still writing of my love for you
On and on

Just one kiss and then you knew
Still you left me without a trace
Where are you tonight?
Do you feel me wanting you
Desire, makes my heart ache

Empty runway
Now I know that there's life after you
Over you
Spanish highway
Driving back to what belongs to you
Longs for you

The first time that I fell for you
Your eyes read me the book of your heart
Speaking in recurring dreams
Visions and mysteries of how you are my star

Empty runway
Now I know that there's life after you
Over you
Spanish highway
Driving back to what belongs to you
Longs for you

Hey now my light is shining on
Every cloud is gone
Hey everything is singing of your love for me
On and on

Empty runway
Now I know that there's life after you
Over you
Spanish highway
Driving back to what belongs to you
Longs for you
I long for you

Resignation Superman

He'll come flying out of this town
A resignation superman
And today the bad guys win
'Cause he turned his cape in
Now, he says
And I'll turn my back on this world
Yes, I'll turn my eyes from this world
Oh well ...
Yes, he's tired of fighting in this town
All the suffering and vice
He wants to fall in love
Maybe settle in and live a life
And I'll turn my back on this world
Yes, I'll turn my eyes form this world
Oh I want to believe in you now that I'm suffering
Oh lord, I need to receive your hand in my heart
And he keeps an eye upon this town
The resignation superman
He'll keep himself amused
With the evening news
Oh my ...
And I'll turn my back on this world
Yes, I'll turn my eyes from this world
Now I broke my back on this world
Now I'll wash my hands of this world
Oh I want to believe in you now that I'm suffering
Oh lord, I need to receive your hand in my heart

Circle

It seems to me, you and me,
Are chasing something.
What it is does anybody here want to know?
It seems to you, you and me,
Are forgetting something,
When love is so easily forgotten.
And if I pick you up will you drag me down?
If I run to you will you turn around?
Rise and fall turn the wheel 'cause all life
Is really just a circle.
It seems to me, you and me
Are being chased by something.
What it is has anybody here apprehended?
It seems to me, you and me
Are terrified of nothing,
When nothing is the reason we are here.
Oh, nothing at all.
And if I cry to you, will you laugh me down?
But I'm asking you to turn around.
Rise and fall turn the wheel 'cause all life
Is really just circle.

The Moose Song

I have seen, babe I haven't heard.
Did someone put you down.
Was your lover just another scheme
That never did work out?
Chorus:
When it hurts, when it hurts inside.
Why can't you see it's only you he's thinking of.
Who ever told you it was your right to be alive?
If your heart is breaking, you're just lucky to be in love.
You keep claiming that you paid too high a price.
You want something for your own.
So worried about the change he puts in to your pocket.
You can't see that he's dead and gone.
Chorus
Babe get into your car. And turn and turn
and turn around.
Yeah the road it ain't inside you.
You need some help to get you there.
Chorus

Secret Mission

I once knew a woman,
she put a curse on me
that eventually came true.
She was a head on wreck,
on a mystic ride (you know the kind).
Among the visions and the ruins.
Yeah, she was my unsuspecting secret mission.
Leftover passoion and desire
they only depen the wound.
But you must admit that the pain is sweet.
Makes you howl at the moon.
I guess you are my unsuspecting secret mission.
Every eleven days or so.
I get a message from you.
invisible ink on invisible paper.
But I can smell the perfume.
I guess you ain't my un suspecting secrt mission.
You know you aren't my unsuspecting secret mission.

Beautiful Rain

Desperate chances and accidental meetings
Spin out your life as your stars collide
And I forget your name

I was coming down like
Down like sheets of silver
Streets like wild rivers cry
Lightning thunder
Flash across the buildings
Plays on our roof tonight
Sunshine no it ain't for me
'Twas pouring on the day you came
Now that I'm yours
I finally learned to see the beautiful rain

I skidded out, I lost control
Don't turn away, turn away, turn away darlin'
I won't let go

Took our chances as
We were lost and drifting
Without words to say
When the storm comes
With tales for all our children
How we crashed our cars that day

Sunshine, no it ain't for me
'Twas pouring on the day you came
Now that I'm yours
I finally learned to see
I'm drenched with gladness
Dance with you madly in the
Beautiful rain

Beautiful World

Seems you let a lot pass you by
When you let ambition decide
Everything has went up and gone
And all your money left you alone
Chorus:
We made a planet, a beautiful world
Let love surround it, and give it a whirl
I can't understand why it's so hard to keep
This beautiful world living and free ...
Time to let the watch unwind
Tell your heart to make up your mind
We can't wait to give at the end
Wasting all the time we can't spend
Chorus
Running after things you don't need
Is bound to trip you up with your greed
Stop your hand from lifting its load
Tell that traveler 'come on home'
Chorus

If You Can't Slow Down

You got your whole life for loving
She ain't the only girl around
You can't achieve by shovin'
What can't be shaken down
I know you got nothing going on
But you can't sing a love song
If you can't slow down
You take your heart full of trouble
For what might happen someday
you can't by weeping double
what you can't keep or can't make
I know you're tired of waiting for your true love
but don't let yourself just settle for a someone
I know you got nothing going on
But you can't sing a love song
If you can't slow down
If you stop to look you'll discover
What was there all the time
You'll find your sisters and brothers
together gonna get it right
I want you to open up your eyes 'cause what you
don't have is gonna make you a little wiser
I know you're tired of waiting for your true love
But don't let yourself just settle for a someone
I know you got nothing going on
But you can't sing a love song
If you can't slow down.

Her Own Kinda Woman

I won't stand in her way
Spread her wings and she'll fly
You know it's hard to be free
When you slave to get by

This time

I ain't gonna let it get me down
It ain't too late to start again
She wants to be her own kinda woman now
You are baby

I don't care what she says
Ain't no love when you're poor
I can't get to my bed
She won't unlock the door

This time

I ain't gonna let it get me down
It ain't too late to start again
She wants to be her own kinda woman now
You are baby

On my way I roll on
Wipe the dust off my shoes
Greyhound bus run till dawn
Flower child dust my blues

This time

I ain't gonna let it get me down
It ain't too late to start again
When she's checkin' in, I'll be checking out
I'm gonna find myself another friend.
She wants to be her own kinda woman now
You are baby