Doobie Brothers - Southbound Album Lyrics

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Black Water

Well, I built me a raft and she's ready for floatin';
ol' Mississippi, she's callin' my name.
Catfish are jumpin', that paddle wheel thumpin',
black water keeps rollin' on past just the same.

Old black water, keep on rollin',
Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me?
Old black water keep on rollin',
Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me?
Old black water, keep on rollin',
Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me?
Yeah, keep on shinin' your light,
gonna make ev'rything, pretty mama,
gonna make ev'rything alright.
And I ain't got no worries 'cause I ain't in no hurry at all.

Well, if it rains, I don't care, don't make no difference to me;
just take that street car that's goin' up town.
Yeah, I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland
and dance a honky tonk,
and I'll be buyin' ev'rybody drinks all 'roun'.

Old black water, keep on rollin',
Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me?
Old black water keep on rollin',
Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me?
Old black water, keep on rollin',
Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me?
Yeah, keep on shinin' your light,
gonna make ev'rything, pretty mama,
gonna make ev'rything alright.
And I ain't got no worries 'cause I ain't in no hurry at all.

I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland,
pretty mama, come and take me by the hand, by the hand.
Take me by the hand, pretty mama,
come and dance with your daddy all night long.
I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland,
pretty mama, come and take me by the hand, by the hand.
I want to honkey-tonk, honkey-tonk, honkey-tonk,
with you all night long.

I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland,
pretty mama, come and take me by the hand, by the hand. (C'mon, baby, c'mon, ba - be.)
Take me by the hand, pretty mama,
come and dance with your daddy all night long.
I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland,
pretty mama, come and take me by the hand, by the hand.
I want to honkey-tonk, honkey-tonk, honkey-tonk,
with you all night long.


I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland,
pretty mama, come and take me by the hand, by the hand.
(Can you feel it?, can you feel it?.)
Take me by the hand, pretty mama,
come and dance with your daddy all night long.
I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland,
pretty mama, come and take me by the hand, by the hand.
I want to honkey-tonk, honkey-tonk, honkey-tonk,
with you all night long

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Listen To The Music

Don't you feel it growin' day by day,
people gettin' ready for the news.
Some are happy, some are sad
Oh, we got to let the music play.

What the people need is a way to make 'em smile,
it ain't so hard to do if you know how.
Gotta get a message, get it on through,
Oh, now mama's go 'n' to after 'while.

Oh, oh, listen to the music,
oh, oh, listen to the music,
oh, oh listen to the music, all the time.

Well, I know you know better, everything I say,
meet me in the country for a day.
We'll be happy and we'll dance,
Oh, we're gonna dance our blues away.

And if I'm feelin' good to you
and you're feelin' good to me
there ain't nothin' we can't do or say.
Feelin' good, feeling fine, Oh, baby, let the music play.

Oh, oh, listen to the music,
oh, oh, listen to the music,
oh, oh listen to the music, all the time.

Like a lazy flowing river surrounding castles in the sky.
And the crowd is growing bigger,
list'nin' for the happy sounds and I got to let them fly.

Oh, oh, listen to the music,
oh, oh, listen to the music,
oh, oh listen to the music, all the time

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What A Fool Believes

He came from somewhere in her long ago,
the sentimental fool don't see,
tryin' hard to re-create what had yet to be created
once in her life.

She musters a smile for his nostalgic tale,
never coming near what he wanted to say,
only to realize it never really was.

She had a place in his life.
He never made her think twice.
As he rises to her apology,
anybody else would surely know
he's watching her go.

But what a fool believes he sees,
no wise man has the power to reason away.
What seems to be is always better than nothing.
And nothing at all...

keeps sending him somewhere back in her long ago,
where he can still believe there's a place in her life.
Someday, somehow, she will return.

She had a place in his life.
He never made her think twice.
As he rises to her apology,
anybody else would surely know
he's watching her go.

But what a fool believes he sees,
no wise man has the power to reason away.
What seems to be is always better than nothing.

Love can come and love may go,
but why can't love return once more?
Who's got the power?

But what a fool believes he sees,
no wise man has the power to reason away.
What seems to be is always better than nothing.

I believe she's never going away.

But what a fool believes he sees,
no wise man has the power to reason away.
What seems to be is always better than nothing.

Repeat and fade

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Long Train Runnin'

Down around the corner a half a mile from here,
you see them old trains runnin'
and you watch them disappear.

Without love, where would you be now, without love?

You know I saw Miss Lucy down along the tracks;
she lost her home and her family
and she won't be comin' back.

Without love, where would you be now, without love?

Well, the Illinois Central
and the Southern Central Freight,
gotta keep on pushin', Mama,
'cause you know they're runnin' late.

Without love, where would you be now, without love?

Well, the Illinois Central
and the Southern Central Freight,
gotta keep on pushin', Mama,
'cause you know they're runnin' late.

Without love, where would you be now, without love?

Where pistons keep on churnin'
and the wheels go 'round and 'round,
and the steal rails are cold and hard
for the miles that they go down.

Without love, where would ya be right now,
without love, where would you be now?

Vocal ad lib:
Got to get it, baby, baby, won't you move it down?
Won't you move it down?
Baby, baby, baby, baby, won't you move it down?
When the big train run
And the train is movin' on
I got to keep on movin',
Keep on movin',
Keep on movin',
Gonna keep on movin'

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China Grove

When the sun comes up on a sleepy little town
down around San Antone
and the folks are risin' for another day
'round about their homes.
The people of the town are strange
and they're proud of where they came.

Well, you're talkin' 'bout China Grove, wo, oh, oh,
oh, China Grove.

Well, the preacher and the teacher,
Lord, they're a caution, they are the talk of the town.
When the gossip gets to flyin' and they ain't lyin';
when the sun goes fallin' down.
They say that the father's insane
and dear Missus Perkin's a game.

We're talkin' 'bout the China Grove, wo, oh, oh,
oh, China Grove.

But ev'ryday there's a new thing comin',
the ways of an oriental view.
The sheriff and his buddies
with their samurai swords,
you can even hear the music at night.
And though it's part of the Lone Star State
people don't seem to care,
they just keep on lookin' to the East.

Talkin' 'bout the China Grove, oh, China Grove

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Takin' It To The Streets

You don't know me but I'm your brother.
I was raised here in this living hell.
You don't know my kind in your world.
Fairly soon the time will tell.

You, telling me the things you're gonna do for me.
I ain't blind and I don't like what I think I see.
Takin' it to the streets,
takin' it to the streets, no more need for runnin',
takin' it to the streets.

Take this message to my brother.
You will find him everywhere.
Wherever people live together,
tied in poverty's despair.

Oh, you, telling me the things you're gonna do for me.
I ain't blind and I don't like what I think I see.
Takin' it to the streets,
takin' it to the streets, no more need for runnin',
takin' it to the streets.
Takin' it to the streets,
takin' it to the streets, no more need for hidin',
takin' it to the streets.
Takin' it to the streets, takin' it to the streets,
takin' it to the...

Oh, you, telling me the things you're gonna do for me.
I ain't blind and I don't like what I think I see.
Takin' it to the streets,
takin' it to the streets, no more need for runnin',
takin' it to the streets.
Takin' it to the streets,
takin' it to the streets,
takin' it to the streets.

Repeat and fade

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Jesus Is Just Alright

Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright

I don't care what they may say
I don't care what they may do
I don't care what they may say
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus is just alright

Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright

I don't care what they may know
I don't care where they may go
I don't care what they may know
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah

Jesus, he's my friend;
Jesus, he's my friend
He took me by the hand;
Led me far from this land
Jesus, he's my friend

Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright

I don't care what they may say,
I don't care what they may do
I don't care what they may say,
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah

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Rockin' Down The Highway

Got those highway blues, can't you hear my motor runnin',
flyin' down the road with my foot on the floor.
All the way in town they can here me comin',
Ford's about to drop, she won't do no more.
And I smell my motor burnin', underneath the hood is smoke,
can't stop and I can't stop,
got to keep movin' or I'll lose my mind.

Oh, rockin' down the highway, oh, rockin' down the highway.
Oh, rockin' down the highway, oh, rockin' down the highway.

The highway patrol got his eyes on me,
I know what he's thinkin' and it ain't good.
I'm movin' so fast he can barely see me,
gonna lose that man, I know I should.
I gotta kick in my peddle, make my Ford move a little bit faster,
can't stop and I can't stop,
got to keep movin' or I'll lose my mind.

Oh, rockin' down the highway, oh, rockin' down the highway.
Oh, rockin' down the highway, oh, rockin' down the highway.

Oh, rockin' down the highway, oh, rockin' down the highway.
Oh, rockin' down the highway, oh, rockin' down the highway

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Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me)

I know you're leavin' me behind
I'm seein' you darlin' for the very last time
Show a little tenderness before you go
Please let me feel your embrace once more
Take me in your arms and rock me, rock me a little while

We all must feel heartache sometimes
Right now, right now I'm feelin' mine
I've tried my best to be strong, but I'm not able
I'm like a helpless child left in a cradle
Before you leave me behind let me feel happy one more time

Take me in your arms and rock me, rock me a little while

I'm losin' you and my happiness
My life is so dark I must confess
I'll never, never see your smiling face no more
I'll never, never hear your knock upon my door
Before you leave me, leave me behind
Let me feel happy one more time

Take me in your arms and rock me, rock me a little while

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South City Midnight Lady

Up all night I could not sleep,
the whiskey that I drank was cheap,
with shakin' hands
I went and I lit up my last cigarette.
Well, the sun came, night had fled,
and sleepy-eyed I reached my bed,
I saw you sleepy dreamin'
there all covered and warm.

South city midnight lady, I'm much obliged indeed,
you sure have saved this man
whose soul was in need.
I thought there was no reason
for all these things I do,
but the smile that I sent out returned with you.

When day has left the night behind,
and shadows roll across my mind,
I sometimes find myself alone out walking the street.
Yes and when I'm feelin' down and blue,
then all I do is think of you,
and all my foolish problems seem to fade away

South city midnight lady, I'm much obliged indeed,
you sure have saved this man
whose soul was in need.
I thought there was no reason
for all these things I do,
but the smile that I sent out returned with you.

South city midnight lady, I'm much obliged indeed,
you sure have saved this man
whose soul was in need.
I thought there was no reason
for all these things I do,
hey, but the smile that I sent out
returned with you

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You Belong To Me

Why'd you tell me this while you look for my reaction?
What do you need to know?
Don't you know I'll always be the one.

You don't have to prove to me
you're beautiful to strangers,
I've got lovin' eyes of my own.

You belong to me in this life.
Anyone could tell.
Any fool can see who you need.
I know you all too well.

You don't have to prove to me
you're beautiful to strangers,
I've got lovin' eyes, and I can tell.

Tell him...
You belong to me.
Tell him you were foolin'.
You belong to me.
Ah, girl, you belong to me.
You belong to me.
Tell him he's a stranger.
You belong to me.
You belong to me.

Tell him...
You belong to me.
That you belong to me.
You belong to me.
Girl, girl.
You belong to me.
Tell him he's a stranger.
You belong to me.
Girl, that you were fooling.
You belong to me.
Yeah.
You belong to me.
Please tell him.
You belong to me.
You belong to me.
You belong to me.
You belong to me.
Tell him you were fooling.
You belong to me

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Nobody Intro

[Instrumental]

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Nobody

Evil ways of practice may surround you
Callin' on your inner core of life
But your father was just a complex man of bus'ness
And your mother merely portioned out your fright
But run the risk of a sudden loss
You got no mama to bear your cross beside you
Uh huh, uh huh
As midnight angels shine their wings
And time begins just bo build a wall around you
Nobody, nobody gonna take my love away from me
Nobody, nobody gonna take my love away from me

Settin' out on a voyage down to Jenner
I've given all I've got to help the cause
Need a place just to settle out my pressures
A place where you and I can sit and pause
So I can see the sky at night
Without a fear of hidden light to blind me
Mm, mm
And so you see the path is clear
And changes will be swayed around me

Nobody, nobody gonna take my love away from me
Nobody, nobody gonna take my love away from me