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Enough To Be On Your Way Lyrics
So the sun shines on this funeral just the same as on a birth
The way it shines on everything that happens here on Earth
It rolls across the western sky and back into the sea
And spends the day's last rays upon this fucked up family
So long, old pal.
Last time I saw Alice she was leaving Santa Fe
With a bunch of round-eyed Buddhists in a killer Chevrolet
Said they turned her out of Texas, yeah she burned 'em down back home
Now she's wild with expectation on the edge of the unknown
Singing oh, it's enough to be on your way
It's enough to cover ground
It's enough to be movin' on
Home, build it behind your eyes
Carry it in your heart
Safe among your own.
They brought her back on a Friday night, same day I was born
We sent her up the smokestack, yes and back into the storm
She blew up over the San Juan Mountains, she spent herself at last
The threat of heavy weather, that was what she knew the best.
Oh, it's enough to be on your way
It's enough just to cover ground
It's enough to be movin' on
Home, better build it behind your eyes
Carry it in your heart
Safe among your own
It woke me up on a Sunday, an hour before the sun
Had me watchin' the headlights out on highway 591
'Til I stepped into my trousers, 'til i pulled my big boots on
I walked out on the mesa and I stumbled on this song
Oh, it's enough to be on your way
It's enough to cover ground
It's enough to be movin on
Home, boy, build it behind your eyes
Carry it in your heart
Safe among your own.
So long, old gal.
The way it shines on everything that happens here on Earth
It rolls across the western sky and back into the sea
And spends the day's last rays upon this fucked up family
So long, old pal.
With a bunch of round-eyed Buddhists in a killer Chevrolet
Said they turned her out of Texas, yeah she burned 'em down back home
Now she's wild with expectation on the edge of the unknown
It's enough to cover ground
It's enough to be movin' on
Home, build it behind your eyes
Carry it in your heart
Safe among your own.
We sent her up the smokestack, yes and back into the storm
She blew up over the San Juan Mountains, she spent herself at last
The threat of heavy weather, that was what she knew the best.
It's enough just to cover ground
It's enough to be movin' on
Home, better build it behind your eyes
Carry it in your heart
Safe among your own
Had me watchin' the headlights out on highway 591
'Til I stepped into my trousers, 'til i pulled my big boots on
I walked out on the mesa and I stumbled on this song
It's enough to cover ground
It's enough to be movin on
Home, boy, build it behind your eyes
Carry it in your heart
Safe among your own.
Song Info
Submitted by
irelandrose On Mar 17, 2006
More James Taylor
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You Can Close Your Eyes
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Copperline
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does anybody know who this song is about? This song captures the exact feeling of separation from reality that one feels after the death of a close relative or friend.
I believe James has revealed later in interviews that this song was about the death of his brother - but that he changed the gender/name to maintain some privacy.
That's what I remember reading too.
That's what I remember reading too.
In addition to that, I always thought the verses were "out of order." I mean, he wrote it - they're the way he watned it, but it doesn't tell a linear narrative.
In addition to that, I always thought the verses were "out of order." I mean, he wrote it - they're the way he watned it, but it doesn't tell a linear narrative.
TO me that final verse should be the beginning...he gets up, drives where he needs to, then he goes to the funeral, then they 'send her up the smokestack' etc. Just a thought.
TO me that final verse should be the beginning...he gets up, drives where he needs to, then he goes to the funeral, then they 'send her up the smokestack' etc. Just a thought.
very powerful song
We sent her up the smokestack, yes and back into the storm
and to dust you shall return
It was about the death of his brother Alex. Look on youtube for a video he made for the song- Way cool tune and "Death keeps no ones calendar but his own"
Very well written song. He told in an interview that he thought it was too painful to sing about his brother, so he changed the location to Texas and the person to "A hippie chick named Alice"