The Silver Jews – Tennessee

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Send "Tennessee" Ringtone to Cell

I saw the river playing in the valley
Rushing 'round a bend and skipping stones
I saw the meadow wobble in the moonlight
I've come to get my girl and take her home

Her doorbell plays a bar of Stephen Foster
Her sister never left and look what it cost her
We're gonna live in Nashville and I'll make a career
Out of writing sad songs and getting paid by the tear

Marry me and leave Kentucky
Come to Tennessee
'Cause you're the only ten I see
You're the only ten I see

I've looked through offices and honky-tonks for men man enough to be
Mr. and Mrs. Tennessee
Mr. and Mrs. Tennessee

Punk rock died when the first kid said
"Punk's not dead, punk's not dead"
You know Louisville is death, we've got to up and move
Because the dead do not improve

Goodbye you suckers and steady bad luckers
We're off to the land of club soda unbridled
We're off to the land of hot middle-aged women
Off tot he land whose blood runneth orange

Marry me and leave Kentucky
Come to Tennessee
'Cause you're the only ten I see
You're the only ten I see

I've looked through offices and honky-tonks for men man enough to be
Mr. and Mrs. Tennessee
Mr. and Mrs. Tennessee

Send "Tennessee" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by 3ric


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11 Comments

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  • 0
    Lyric Correction:This is one of my favorite Silver Jews songs. I've seen them live a few times and I think that he says "Goodbye users and suckers, steady bad luckers." When he's performing it live sometimes it's unclear whether there is a less enunciated "and" before "steady bad luckers."
    Flag Memento22Morion September 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I am pretty sure it is "goodbye uterine suckers and steady bad luckers"

    great song though
    Flag Cortez_08on August 03, 2011   Link
  • +2
    Memory:I don't agree with loudobbs - and of course don't agree with the first post - having seen the Jews a few times live performing the excellent "Strange Victory, Strange Defeat", "We Could Be Looking For The Same Thing", and "Suffering Jukebox" from their last album ('Lookout Mountain Lookout Sea'), I love Cassie Berman's voice as usual. No excuses need to be made for her "untrained" faltering simplicity. It adds immeasurably to their song's authenticity and sweetness of spirit. Frankly, I don't know what David would have done without her, musically and well as personally. She's a G^dsend.
    I think some of the superfans typically underrated 'Lookout Mountain Lookout Sea' because it's more "accessible" or "polished" than previous Jews releases.
    Same stuff they said when 'Terror Twilight' came out.

    Maybe the two bands sacrificed a little free-wheeling creative spirit for a more accomplished overall discipline; is that so bad? ("no" is the right answer)...
    There's a somber quality to both those records, and maybe that's what turns some off: it's a melancholy end.
    Flag ApesMaon January 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is kinda autobiographical, but then it feels like he's making fun of Nashville and the whole county music industry.
    Flag myironlungon August 14, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:wife's voice is perfect here. i have to admit i sometimes don't like it (especially on lookout moutnain), but here it's essential that she doesn't have a polished, groomed singing voice.
    Flag loudobbson July 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Pretty straightforward and autobiographical. Berman lived in Louisville, met his wife there and then moved to Nashville. Great song and leave the man's wife alone. She does fine and shouldn't be shortchanged because of her proximity to the songwriter. This isn't a public service job, it's a rock band and nepotism is OK as long as it doesn't spoil the product...and it doesn't.

    Lyric correction: it's definitely "Goodbye users and suckers" fitting in with Berman's past with smoking crack, PCP, fentanyl patches, Keith Richards' dad's remains, moose scat and whatever else. OK, I made up a few of those.
    Flag supposablethumbson July 14, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:the wife is awesome. this song would be terrible if the female part was all slick or something...
    Flag elizabethemilyon February 22, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:^^ i agree.... and it's his wife
    thier vioces really compliment each others'
    Flag lost_in_twlighton January 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think she sounds great.
    thiis song is the sweetest.
    Flag forthefatladyon December 28, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:i think she sounds great.
    thiis song is the sweetest.
    Flag forthefatladyon December 28, 2005   Link

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