Ballads (2017)

• God Bless The Child
• I Wish (I Knew How It Feels To Be Free)
• Naima (Instrumental)
• Ode To Billy Joe
• You've Changed
• What A Little Moonlight Can Do
• I'm Old Fashioned
• The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
• Never Will I Marry
• Skylark
• The Ballad Of Hollis Brown
• Body And Soul
• Nice Work If You Can Get It
• Farewell, My Friends
• I Cover The Waterfront
• Blue Moon
• You Hit The Spot
• Willow Weep For Me
• Autumn Leaves
• My One And Only Love 

God Bless The Child lyrics - Paula Cole

(originally by Billie Holiday)

Them that's got shall get

Them that's not shall lose

So the Bible said and it still is news

Mama may have, papa may have

But God bless the child that's got his own

That's got his own

Yes, the strong get's more

While the weak ones fade

Empty pockets don't ever make the grade

Mama may have, papa may have

But God bless the child that's got his own

That's got his own

Money, you've got lot's of friends

Crowding round your door

But When your'e gone, spending ends

They don't come no more

No no they don't come around so lonely

Rich relations give

Crust of bread and such

You can help yourself

But don't take too much

Mama may have, papa may have

But God bless the child that's got his own

That's got his own

Money, you've got lot's of friends

Crowding round your door

But When your'e gone, spending ends

They don't come no more

Rich relations give

Crust of bread and such

You can help yourself

But don't take too much

Mama may have, papa may have

But God bless the child that's got his own

That's got his own

Give'em light

Give'em hope

Give'em heart

God bless the child

I Wish (I Knew How It Feels To Be Free) lyrics - Paula Cole

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free

I wish I could break all the chains holdin' me

I wish I could say all the things that I should say

Say 'em loud, say 'em clear

For the whole round world to hear

I wish I could share all the love that's in my heart

Remove all the bars that keep us apart

Oh, I wish you could know what it means to be me

Then you'd see and agree

That every man child should be free

Well, I wish I could give all I'm longin' to give

I wish I could live like I'm longin' to live

Oh, I wish I could do all the things that I can do

Though I'm way overdue

I'd be starting anew

Well, I wish I could be like a bird in the sky

How sweet it would be if I found I could fly

I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea

And I'd sing 'cause I'd know, yeah

I would sing 'cause I'd know, yeah

I would sing 'cause I'd know

Mmm hmm hmm, whoo

Mmm

Mmm hmm hmm hmm, yeah

Whoo

Naima lyrics - Paula Cole

(Instrumental)

Ode To Billy Joe lyrics - Paula Cole

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day

I was out choppin' cotton, and my brother was balin' hay

And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat

And mama hollered out the back door, y'all, remember to wipe your feet

And then she said, I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge

Today, Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And papa said to mama, as he passed around the blackeyed peas

Well, Billy Joe never had a lick of sense; pass the biscuits, please

There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow

And mama said it was shame about Billy Joe, anyhow

Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge

And now Billy Joe MacAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And brother said he recollected when he, and Tom, and Billie Joe

Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show

And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?

I'll have another piece-a apple pie; you know, it don't seem right

I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge

And now ya tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And mama said to me, child, what's happened to your appetite?

I've been cookin' all morning, and you haven't touched a single bite

That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today

Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way

He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge

And she and Billy Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge

A year has come and gone since we heard the news 'bout Billy Joe

And brother married Becky Thompson; they bought a store in Tupelo

There was a virus going 'round; papa caught it, and he died last spring

And now mama doesn't seem to want to do much of anything

And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge

And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge

You've Changed lyrics - Paula Cole

I've an awful feeling that

This thought that's been a-stealing

Through my brain

Is not to be ignored

But to really tell the truth

Though I'm not a well known sleuth

I honestly believe

That you are bored

You've changed

That sparkle in your eye is gone

Your smile is just a careless yawn

You're breaking my heart

You've changed

You've changed

You're kisses now are so blase

You're bored with me in every way

I can't understand

You've changed

You've forgotten the words 'I love you'

Each memory that we've shared

You ignore every star above you

I can't realize you've ever cared

You've changed

You're not the angel I once knew

No need to tell me that we're through

It's all over now

You've changed

What A Little Moonlight Can Do lyrics - Paula Cole

Ooh, woo, woo

What a little moonlight can do

Ooh, woo, woo

What a little moonlight can do to you

You're in love

Your heart's a-flutter and all day long

You only shudder 'cause your poor tongue

Just won't utter the words "I love you"

Ooh, woo, woo

What a little moonlight can do

Wait a while

'Til a little moonbeam comes peepin' through

You'll get bold

You can't resist him

And all you'll say

When you have kissed him is

Ooh, ooh, woo

What a little moonlight can do

You'll get bold

You can't resist him

And all you'll say

When you have kissed him is

Ooh, ooh, woo

What a little moonlight can do

I'm Old Fashioned lyrics - Paula Cole

(originally by Nan Wynn)

I'm old fashioned

I love the moonlight

I love the old fashioned things

The sound of rain

Upon a window pane

The starry song that April sings

This year's fancies

Are passing fancies

But sighing sighs, holding hands

This my heart understands

I'm old fashioned

But I don't mind it

That's how I wanna be

As long as you agree

To stay old fashioned with me

The sound of rain

Upon a window pane

The starry song that April sings

This year's fancies

Are passing fancies

But sighing sighs, holding hands

This my heart understands

I'm old fashioned

But I don't mind it

That's how I wanna be

As long as you agree

To stay old fashioned with me

The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll lyrics - Paula Cole

William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll

With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger

At a Baltimore hotel society gath'rin'

And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him

As they rode him in custody down to the station

And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder

But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears

Take the rag away from your face

William Zanzinger who at twenty-four years

Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres

With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him

And high office relations in the politics of Maryland

Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders

And swear words and sneering and his tongue it was snarling

In a matter of minutes on bail was out walking

But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears

Take the rag away from your face

Hattie Carroll was a maid in the kitchen

She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children

Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage

And never sat once at the head of the table

And didn't even talk to the people at the table

Who just cleaned up all the food from the table

And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level

Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane

That sailed through the air and came down through the room

Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle

And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger

And you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears

Take the rag away from your face

In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel

To show that all's equal and that the courts are on the level

And that the strings in the books ain't pulled and persuaded

And that even the nobles get properly handled

Once that the cops have chased after and caught 'em

And that ladder of law has no top and no bottom

Stared at the person who killed for no reason

Who just happened to be feelin' that way witout warnin'

And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished

And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance

William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence

But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears

Bury the rag deep in your face

For now is the time for your tears

Never Will I Marry lyrics - Paula Cole

Never, never will I marry

Never, never will I wed

Born to wander solitary

Wide my world, narrow my bed

No, never, never, never will I marry

Born to wander 'til I'm dead

No burdens to bear

No conscience or care

No memories to mourn

No turning, for I was

Born to wander solitary

Wide my world, narrow my bed

No, never, never, never will I marry

Born to wander 'til I'm dead

No burdens to bear

No conscience or care

No memories to mourn

No turning, for I was

Born to wander solitary

Wide my world, narrow my bed

No, never, never, never will I marry

Born to wander 'til I'm dead

Skylark lyrics - Paula Cole

Skylark

Have you anything to say to me?

Won't you tell me where my love can be?

Is there a meadow in the mist

Where someone's waiting to be kissed?

Oh, skylark

Have you seen a valley green with spring?

Where my heart can go a-journeying

Over the shadows and the rain

To a blossom covered lane

And in your lonely flight

Haven't you heard the music in the night?

Wonderful music

Faint as a will of the wisp, crazy as a loon

Sad as a gypsy serenading the moon

Oh, skylark

I don't know if you can find these things

But my heart is riding on your wings

So if you see them anywhere

Won't you lead me there?

Oh, skylark

I don't know if you can find these things

But my heart is riding on your wings

So if you see them anywhere

Won't you lead me there?

Oh, skylark

Won't you lead me there?

The Ballad Of Hollis Brown lyrics - Paula Cole

(originally by Bob Dylan)

Hollis Brown

He lived on the outside of town

Hollis Brown

He lived on the outside of town

With his wife and five children

And his cabin all broken down

You looked for work and money

And you walked a ragged mile

You looked for work and money

And you walked a ragged mile

Your children are so hungry

That they don't know how to smile

Your baby's eyes look crazy

They're a-tugging at your sleeve

Your baby's eyes look crazy

They're a-tugging at your sleeve

You walk the floor and wonder why

With every breath you breathe

Rats have got your flour

And bad blood has got your mare

Rats have got your flour

And bad blood has got your mare

Is there anyone who knows?

Is there anyone who cares?

You prayed to the Lord above

Please send you a friend

You prayed to the Lord above

Please send you a friend

Your empty pockets tell you

No, that you ain't got no friends

Your baby's crying louder now

It's pounding at your brain

Your babies are crying louder now

It's pounding at your brain

Your wife's screams are stabbin' you

Like the dirty drivin' rain

Your grass is turnin' black

No water in your well

Your grass is turnin' black

No water in your well

You spent your lone last dollar

On seven shotgun shells

Way out in the wilderness

A cold coyote calls

Way out in the wilderness

A cold coyote calls

Your eyes fix on the shotgun

That's hanging on your wall

Your brain is a-bleedin'

And your legs can't seem to stand

Your brain is a-bleedin'

And your legs can't seem to stand

Your eyes fix on the shotgun

That you're holdin' in your hand

There's seven breezes a-blowin'

All around the cabin door

There's seven breezes a-blowin'

All around the cabin door

Seven shots ring out

Like the ocean's poundin' roar

Seven people dead

On a South Dakota farm

There's seven people dead

On a South Dakota farm

Somewhere in the distance

There's seven new people born

Body And Soul lyrics - Paula Cole

My heart is sad, lonely

For you I sigh, for you dear only

Why haven't you seen it?

I'm all for you, body and soul

I spend my days in longin'

And wonderin' why it's me you're wrongin'

Why haven't you seen it?

I'm all for you, body and soul

I can't believe it

It's hard to conceive it

That you'd turn away romance

Are you pretending?

It looks like the ending

Unless I could have one more chance to prove, dear

My life a hell you're makin'

You know I'm yours just for the takin'

I'd gladly surrender

Myself to you, body and soul

My life a wreck you're makin'

You know I'm yours just for the takin'

I'd gladly surrender

Myself to you, oh, body and soul

Nice Work If You Can Get It lyrics - Paula Cole

Holding hands at midnight

'Neath a starry sky

It's nice work if you can get it

And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy

Sighing sigh after sigh

It's nice work if you can get it

And you can get it if you try

Just imagine someone

Waiting at the cottage door

Where two hearts become one

Who could ask for anything more?

Loving one who loves you

And then taking that vow

It's nice work if you can get it

And you can get it if you try

Just imagine someone

Waiting at the cottage door

Where two hearts become one

Who could ask for anything more?

Loving one who loves you

And then taking that vow

It's nice work if you can get it

And you can get it, won't you tell me how?

Farewell, My Friends lyrics - Paula Cole

Farewell my friends, I'm bound for Canaan

I'm traveling through the wilderness

Your company has been delightful

You do not leave my mind distressed

I go away behind to leave you

Perhaps never to meet again

But if we never have the pleasure

I hope we'll meet on Canaan's land

I go away behind to leave you

Perhaps never to meet again

But if we never have the pleasure

I hope we'll meet on Canaan's land

Farewell my friends, I'm bound for Canaan

I'm traveling through the wilderness

Your company has been delightful

You do not leave my mind distressed

I go away behind to leave you

Perhaps never to meet again

But if we never have the pleasure

I hope we'll meet on Canaan's land

I go away behind to leave you

Perhaps never to meet again

But if we never have the pleasure

I hope we'll meet on Canaan's land

I Cover The Waterfront lyrics - Paula Cole

Away from the city that hurts and mocks

I'm standing alone by the desolate docks

In the still and the chill of the night

I see the horizon, the great unknown

My heart has an ache, it's as heavy as stone

Will the dawn come along, make it light?

I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea

Will the one I love be coming back to me?

I cover the waterfront in search of my love

And I'm covered by a starlit sky above

Here am I patiently waiting

Hoping and longing, oh, how I yearn

Where are you? Are you forgetting?

Do you remember? Will you return?

I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea

For the one I love must soon come back to me

For the one I love must soon come back to me

Blue Moon lyrics - Paula Cole

Blue moon

You saw me standin' alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue moon

You knew just what I was there for

You heard me sayin' a prayer for

Someone I really could care for

And then there suddenly appeared before me

The only one my arms will hold

I heard somebody whisper, "Please adore me"

And when I looked to the moon, it turned to gold

Blue moon

Now I'm no longer alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Ooh

Ooh

You Hit The Spot lyrics - Paula Cole

You hit the spot

Like a balmy breeze on a night in May

You hit the spot

Like a cool mint julep on a summery day

You hit a new high in my estimation

I had to fall

'Cause you've got so much on the ball

Oh, you hit the spot

Like the first embrace when the night is tied

You hit the spot

Like a pipe and slippers by a fireside

Matter of factly, I don't know exactly

What it is that you got

But oh oh oh, woah woah woah, you hit the spot

You hit the spot

Like a balmy breeze on a night in May

You hit the spot

Like a cool mint julep on a summery day

You hit a new high in my estimation

I had to fall

'Cause you've got so much on the ball

Oh, you hit the spot

Like the first embrace when the night is tied

You hit the spot

Like a pipe and slippers by a fireside

Matter of factly, I don't know exactly

What it is that you got

But oh oh oh, woah oh oh, you hit the spot

Willow Weep For Me lyrics - Paula Cole

Willow weep for me

Willow weep for me

Bend your branches down along the ground that runs to sea

Listen to my plea

Hear me, willow and weep for me

Gone my lover's dream

Lovely summer dream

Gone and left me here to weep my tears into the stream

Sad as I can be

Oh, hear me, willow and weep for me

Whisper to the wind and say that love is sin

To leave my heart a-breakin' and makin' all a moan

Murmur to the night to hide her starry light

So none can find me sighin' and cryin' all alone

Alone, alone, alone

Sad as I can be

Oh, listen, willow and weep for me

Autumn Leaves lyrics - Paula Cole

(originally by Yves Montand)

The falling leaves

Drift by my window

The autumn leaves

Of red and gold

I see your lips

The summer kisses

The sunburned hands

I used to hold

But since you went away

The days grow long

And soon I'll hear

Old winter's song

But now I miss you most of all

My darling

When autumn leaves

Start to fall

But since you went away

The days grow long

And soon I'll hear

Old winter's song

But now I miss you most of all

My darling

When autumn leaves

Start to fall

When autumn leaves

Start to fall

When autumn leaves

Start to fall

My One And Only Love lyrics - Paula Cole

(originally by Vic Damone)

The very thought of you makes my heart sing

Like an april breeze on the wings of spring

And you appear in all your splendour

My one and only love

The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms

In the hush of night while I'm in your arms

I feel your lips so warm and tender

My one and only love

The touch of your hand is like heaven

A heaven that I've never known

The blush on your cheek whenever I speak

Tells me that you are mine

You fill my eager heart with such desire

Every kiss you bring sets my soul on fire

I lose myself in sweet surrender

My one and only love

Hope Is Everywhere lyrics - Paula Cole

Out of the shadows and out of the shame we are rising

No longer accepting the stigma and pain you're providing

All the awakened know love is the last word so listen

Together we'll roll like a hurricane coming for justice

Hold onto your dunce crown as you topple from your wall

Sycophants can't put back humpty dumpty from his fall

Hope is everywhere

(I lift up my head and I look past the pain)

Hope is everywhere

(Growing)

Hope is everywhere

(We're coming together to usher a change)

Hope is everywhere, hope is everywhere, hope is everywhere

Out of the prisons and closets and backrooms and bathrooms

Keeping us out of the boardrooms and into the bedrooms

Keep us in kitchens and courtrooms and ditches and basements

Cooking your food, making profits and wars, beds and babies

Hold onto your tin crown as your deeds bring you to light

Your own hell of karma's coming for you in this life

Hope is everywhere

(I lift up my head and I look past the pain)

Hope is everywhere

(Growing)

Hope is everywhere

(We're coming together to usher a change)

Hope is everywhere, hope is everywhere, hope is everywhere

Voting for love, voting for equal rights

Voting for women, voting for immigrants

Voting for peace, voting for civil rights

Voting for planet earth, voting for love

You can't hold a cyclone in your knuckles anymore

Your hating rolls away like rain

We're showing you the door

Hope is everywhere

(I lift up my head and I look past the pain)

Hope is everywhere

(Growing)

Hope is everywhere

(In every leaf, in every tree)

Hope is everywhere

(Growing)

Hope is everywhere

(You can't stop us)

Hope is everywhere

(You can't stop our love)

Hope is everywhere

(You can't stop us)

Hope is everywhere

(You can't stop our love)

Hope is everywhere...

You can't stop a hurricane

You can't ignore a mountain, of love

You can't stop a cyclone

You can't stop us, you can't stop our love

You can't stop us, you can't stop our love

Hope is everywhere

Hope is everywhere

Hope is everywhere

Hope is everywhere

Hope is everywhere

Hope is everywhere

Hope is everywhere

Hope is everywhere

Jump to the left now, jump

Jump to the right now, jump

Jump to the left now, jump

Jump to the right now, jump

Clap nine times now

Clap nine times again

Clap nine times again

Clap nine times again

Now sing with me

Ooh, ooh, yeah, a hurricane

You can't stop a hurricane of justice

You can't stop a hurricane of love

You can't stop a hurricane of justice

You can't stop a hurricane of love

Jump to the left now, jump

Jump to the right now, jump

Jump to the left now, jump

Jump to the right now, jump

Clap nine times now

Clap nine times again

Clap nine times again

Clap nine times again

Now sing with me, yes

Ooh, ooh, yeah, hurricane

You can't stop a hurricane of justice

You can't stop a hurricane of love

You can't stop a hurricane of justice

You can't stop a hurricane of love

Hope is everywhere

(I lift up my head and I look past the pain)

Hope is everywhere

(Growing)

Hope is everywhere

(We're coming together to usher a change)

Hope is everywhere, hope is everywhere, hope is everywhere