Tombstone
Written by Jules Shear.
The Jericho outtake "Tombstone" was originally recorded in 1991 by The Band as a demo with an amazing vocal from Rick Danko, and it also appears on the 1999 album Kings of Love by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. Colin Linden writes in the notes from Kings of Love: "I have a great demo of this Jules Shear song by The Band with an amazing Rick Danko vocal. For some reason, it never made it to one of their records. I remembered it real well, but forgot the words to the second verse. Unfortunately, so did Jules. Lucky for me though, my pal Jimmy Weider found a copy of the demo and sent it on to me." The line-up for the 1999 version of "Tombstone" is: Colin Linden - lead vocals (verse 1), electric guitars, Stephen Fearing - lead vocals (verse 2), resonator guitar, Tom Wilson - acoustic guitar, harmony vocals, Richard Bell - piano, John Dymond - bass, Gary Craig - drums, and John Whynot - tambourine.
Lyrics copyright © 1991/1998 Jules Shear.
It’s impatience that’s holding back the clocks It’s a life of dates and documents The soul searchers wheel and deal If you’re looking for repentance They’ll hand you down a sentence Far away in Pittsburg or Paris Love’s for sale and so reasonably priced The answers are few and far between It just bed sheets, my friend They’re blowin’ in the wind Chorus Tombstone, Tombstone I know your face One day I’ll meet you down at that special place The hard-earned wisdom of the night is all for hire And I can’t tell a shooting star from a bird on fire Tombstone, Tombstone Tombstone, Tombstone There’s a pump organ that lives on air I can hear it from the market place Pallid mourners in the crowd Some are withered but alive Where a burnin’ past can find The parishioners pour into the square Thinking there before his grace go I By they are mum with deafened ears The neediest of sinners Will forget it before dinner Chorus Tombstone, Tombstone I know your face One day I’ll meet you down at that special place The hard-earned wisdom of the night is all for hire And I can’t tell a shooting star from a bird on fire Tombstone, Tombstone Tombstone, Tombstone Are you the jailer or will you set me free How many misdemeanors can one felony Tombstone Chorus Tombstone, Tombstone I know your face One day I’ll meet you down at that special place The hard-earned wisdom of the night is all for hire And I can’t tell a shooting star from a bird on fire Tombstone, Tombstone Tombstone, Tombstone Tombstone, Tombstone