Written by Tom Waits



Crest fallen sidekick in an old cafe

never slept with a dream before he had to go away

there's a bell in the tower

Uncle Ray bought a round

don't worry about the army

in the cold cold ground

now don't be a cry baby

when there's wood in the shed

there's a bird in the chimmney

and a stone in my bed

when the road's washed out

they pass the bottle around

and wait in the arms

of the cold cold ground

cold cold ground

there's a ribbon in the willow

and a tire swing rope

and a briar patch of berries

takin over the slope

the cat'll sleep in the mailbox

and we'll never go to town

til we bury every dream in

the cold cold ground

cold cold ground

gimme a Winchester rifle and a whole box of shells

blow the roof off the goat barn

let it roll down the hill

the piano is firewood

times square is a dream

I find we'll lay down together in the cold cold ground

cold cold ground

cold cold ground

call the cops on the Breedloves

bring a bible and a rope

and a whole box of rebel

and a bar of soap

make a pile of trunk tires

and burn 'em all down

bring a dollar with you baby

in the cold cold ground

cold cold ground

take a weathervane rooster

throw rocks at his head

stop talking to the neighbors

til we all go dead

beware of my temper

and the dog that I've found

break all the windows in the

cold cold ground

cold cold ground