Producer - John Simon
Arranger - Jimmy Seals and Dash Crofts
Jimmy Seals - Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Dash Crofts - Mandolin
John Simon - Piano, Producer
John Hall - Electric Guitar
Greg Thomas - Drums
Paul Harris - Organ
Stephen Barncard - Engineer
Harvey Brooks - Bass
James Rolleston - Bass on "Hand Me Down Shoe," "Robin," "Today" and "Granny Will Your Dog Bite?"
Eddie Rich - Bass on "Ridin' Thumb," "Tin Town" and "Leave"
Engineers - Steve Barncard, Mark Harman, Tony May
Photography - Richard Edlund
Album Design - Wayne Kimbell
Published by Harem Music Co./Dawnbreaker Music (BMI)
Distributed by Bell Records, a Division of Columbia Pictures Industries
TA 5004

01. Ridin' Thumb
02. Hand-Me-Down Shoe
03. Purple Hand
04. Robin
05. Hollow Reed

06. Gabriel Go On Home
07. Tin Town
08. Today
09. Cotton Mouth
10. Granny Will Your Dog Bite?
11. Leave

Covered by King Curtis on Everybody's Talkin' (1970), Exile's self-named lp (1973), It's a Beautiful Day on It's a Beautiful Day... Today (1973), Three Dog Night on Cyan (1974), and The Fabulous Rhinestones on The Rhinestones (1975).

See the man on the black top highway movin' past a no man's land.
All alone on the black top highway. Movin' just as fast as he can, ridin' thumb, ridin' thumb.
Left his home down in Macon, Georgia. Left the shade of an old oak tree.
Got his dreams in his left front pocket. Got his eye squinted towards the sea, ridin' thumb, ridin' thumb.

He don't care where the road goes, just as long as he gets his ride. And he don't care 'bout food and water.
He just lets his conscience be his guide, ridin' thumb, ridin' thumb.

Left his sister and his mama cryin' (cryin'), beggin' him not to leave that day (leave that day).
Said he'd write but they knew he was a-lyin' (lyin'). Got no razor, got no pay, ridin' thumb, ridin' thumb.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

The world we know is living in a hand-me-down shoe, a hand-me-down shoe.
And don't you know that the shoe don't fit. Maybe there's a hole in it.
We can't walk so we must sit while the world goes on, and on.
Living in a hand-me-down shoe.

The world we know is thinking with a hand-me-down brain, hand-me-down brain.
Insane because it bubbles like the rain causes puddles. Maybe there's no soul to it.
We can't walk so we must sit while the world goes on, and on.
Living with a hand-me-down brain.

Can't cha tell that everybody's leavin', dyin' everyday.
Tryin' to get just anywhere as long as it's away, from the world.

The world we know is living in a hand-me-down shoe, a hand-me-down shoe.
And don't you know that the shoe don't fit. Maybe there's a hole in it.
We can't walk so we must sit while the world goes on, and on.
Living in a hand-me-down shoe.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

It came in early morning, an ordinary day. When all the sleepy citizens were on their merry way.
No mortal eye, no voice, no ear escaped the destined plan. When all of us together had to face the purple hand.

Let them be, don't bother let them be. It's too early for them to see.
Let them go, don't bother, let them go. Come tomorrow, they will know.

First there was an ocean, and ordinary street. Then suddenly a mountain began to show its peak.
Remember back unto the day when twenty thousand taught. This is it get off your knees,
Look what your hands have wrought.

Let them be, don't bother let them be. It's too early for them to see.
Let them go, don't bother, let them go. Come tomorrow, they will know.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

Everywhere I see Robin. Everytime I'm with you, so you see
I could never really leave her. She's everything.
For she comes out in the springtime bringing roses with her words.
Have you heard her when I speak
Robin, Robin, pretty bird
And you're not her.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

[From: Kent Johnson
To: bahai-faith@bcca.org
Subject: Re: "Hollow Reed" Prayer
Date: 10 Feb 1999 22:57
Abdu'l-Baha is thought to have said, "Make me a hollow reed from which the pith of self
hath been blown so that I may become a clear channel through which Thy love may flow to others".
The rest of the "prayer" is a poem written by George Thompson and published in the Star of the West. --Kent]

Make me as a hollow reed, that I may play and plant Thy seed.
Rascal's closet may be lit, and have a needy rhyme in it.
Make me as a flute of stone that when I play Thy wind is blown.
Rascal's hideaway might chill, and die away from sill to sill.
Hollow reed, hollow reed, hollow reed, hollow reed.

Make me as a hollow reed that I may sing your grace, my steed.
Rascal's secret will be seen in its decay and sickening green.
Make me as a proof in turn, I will prove to them that yearn.
Rascal's lie is manifest and never could survive your test.
Hollow reed, hollow reed, hollow reed, hollow reed.

Make me as a hollow reed so I may give them what they need.
Rascal's reign will come to end and monarch's eyes will shine again.
Make me strong for I am weak, give me words and I will speak
. Rascal's cheeks will burn in shame when all of us know Your Name.
Hollow reed, hollow reed, hollow reed, hollow reed.
Hollow reed, hollow reed, hollow reed, hollow reed.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

My mind begins to wander. Way back yonder I recall.
The day Aunt Osie stood on the porch and said to me, "Be careful of the world and all."
She knew much more than I thought, but I was young too young to know.
Now I have seen too much too soon and somewhere, and somehow, something's a-gonna blow.

Gabriel your face is red. Be careful you'll hurt your head. And wind up dead.
Like the world has lost its ears and eyes.
Is it wise to sympathize, when harmony has been kicked in the knee.
And sour notes a-singin' their sad, sad song.
Gabriel won't you go on home. Gabriel won't you go on home.

My mind begins to wonder, way out yonder I can see.
A brand new star has now been born to make things warm and bright for you and me.
Hey here, hey there, hey you, I've got some proof, it's really so.
Peace on earth, goodwill to men. And somewhere, somehow, something's a-gonna blow.

Gabriel your face is red. Be careful you'll hurt your head. And wind up dead.
Like the world has lost its ears and eyes.
Is it wise to sympathize, when harmony has been kicked in the knee.
And sour notes a-singin' their sad, sad song.
Gabriel won't you go on home. Gabriel won't you go on home.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

Have you been down to Tin Town, where dreams in cans once were drowned.
A snag somewhere in someone's life caught him there, pulled him to strife.
A bottle here, and there are left. Many broken, the air is deaf.
With non-understanding vows, remember tears upon their brows.
In Tin Town, has-been town. Tin Town, has-been town.

A tiny flag upon the mast, where camptown children played in past.
A river winding through the trees. Banks eroded, extreme degrees.
Once a place to be baptized, when pentecostal need arise.
A shack for two with rotted plank. A fish or two, their eyes are blank.
In Tin Town, has-been town. Tin Town, has-been town.

Well I been down to Tin Town, where once a boy I did fall down.
And cut my arm on piled up junk. I wrapped it up and I hailed a drunk.
He carried me three miles to home, where daddy said I was cut to the bone.
The doctor washed his hands and said, "Five more minutes, the boy'd been dead."
Down where people lose their heads.
In Tin Town, has-been town. Tin Town, has-been town. I know you well.

Well I live here in Tin Town. Not many people come around.
When they do I smile at them. And say, "Hello, it's a mighty hot day.
Can you spare a man a dime? I got thirty cents and I can buy some wine.
I'm livin' in my childhood schemes. Please, mister, you can make my dreams (you can make my dreams!)."
In Tin Town, has-been town. Tin Town, has-been town.
It's my home. It's my home. It's my home. It's my home.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

Today went so softly, just faded away.
Like the rain in the springtime.
On that day, I met you. I met you, when I met you.

Today went so quietly, I turned and it was gone.
Like you, like me, it was lonely.
It went on, it went on, it went on, it went on.

Then a beautiful thing happened, and we were one.
And all the world was a beautiful face to be lost in.

Today went so quickly, just a moment in time.
Like the hours in springtime.
When you were mine, you were mine, you were mine, you were mine.

Then a beautiful thing happened, and we were one.
And all the world was a beautiful face to be lost in.
Today! Today!

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

Covered by the Doobie Brothers on 1972's Toulouse Streetlp.

Red eyed mama keeps cryin'. Blue-eyed cat keeps a-lyin'.
Catfish keeps his eye on the string. Cotton mouth keeps on windin'.
Sing, sing, sing.
Dark moon keep on hidin'.'Gator he keeps on slidin'.
Bullfrog he ain't mindin'. Cotton mouth keeps on windin'.
Sing, sing, sing.
Lightnin' bugs in bottles, give me all the light I need.
Seein' bait for linin'. Cotton mouth keep on windin'.
Sing, sing, sing.
Big iron pot's a-boilin'. Red-eyed mama's a-toilin'.
Crawdad meat's for dinin'. Cotton mouth keep on windin.'
Sing, sing, sing.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

Chicken in the bread pan peckin' out dough.
Granny, will your dog bite? No, child, no.
Circulate and promenade.
And take that lady home.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)

Another day, another teardrop. Fallin' from my rooftop.
And even the look upon the city's face, says leave.
Another Summer, another year gone. Another love that didn't last from now on.
My girl told me yesterday, I better leave. Guess I better leave.
Climbed upon a moutain high. And I looked out and saw the valley.
Then I turned and told this old city, goodbye.
I'm leavin'. And I ain't grievin', I'm leavin'. I ain't grievin'.

Don't know where I'm going, don't know how to begin.
All I know is I'm goin'.
Watch a leaf fallin' from a tree.
To see which way the wind was blowin'.

Another day, another teardrop. Fallin' from my rooftop.
And even the look upon the city's face, says leave.
I'm leavin'. I ain't grievin', I'm leavin'. I'm grievin'.

(Return to Top) - (Return to S & C Lyrics Page)