God, men and the state hospital is closed, and wouldn't you know
Winos and office girls in the park.
Wanted you alone to walk beside her,
Wanted you alone to live beside her, it was morning,
Better roads with light on them.
Chorus:
Can your diamonds talk to you, can you see them shine.
Keep them hiding in your room, can they guide you in your time.
Can they guide you in your time.
Windows were broken by your dear one's hands,
Gates left swinging by your dear one's hands,
An old book salesman asked if he could step in.
The sidewalks you slept on held no rest.
Gave away the money you saved
In your trust, you're sorry now.
Light hits you funny at the time.
(Chorus)
The sidewalks, you slept on
They're so broken. They're so broken down
I'll meet you there. I'll meet you there.
Years before and the trees would start to bloom,
You walked outside, wanted back in your room, what did you hope for.
Turn the corner while you slept ?
God of the rich man ain't the God for the poor.
God, men and the state hospital is closed, and won't you know
Winos and office girls in the park.
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene in the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists/guitarists/songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, their country rock sound was influential on many bands who played the Twin Cities circuit during the 1980s and 1990s, such as Uncle Tupelo, the Gear Daddies and the Honeydogs. They have released eleven studio albums, with and without Olson (who left the band for the first time in 1995), including five on the American Recordings label. After going on hiatus from 2005 to 2009, the 1995 lineup of the band reunited and released the album Mockingbird Time in September 2011; Olson left the band for the second time after the tour to promote the album. After another hiatus in 2013, the 1997 lineup led by Louris reunited to play shows in 2014 to support the reissue of three albums originally released between 1997 and 2003. Since then, the band has continued to tour and record, releasing the albums Live at The Belly Up in 2015; Paging Mr. Proust, co-produced by Peter Buck, in 2016; Back Roads and Abandoned Motels in 2018; and XOXO in 2020.
You may want to listen to both songs - there is a clear resemblance but no "note-for-note" rip off (I assume you do not play a musical instrument or do not have a very good understanding of the English language if you believe it is "note-for-note"). It's not even them same chords, and certainly not the the same riff. The strumming has the same tempo and style, but you'd be hard-pressed to find an attorney to pursue a copyright infringement case for tempo and style. If you want to hear a closer "inspiration", listen to Tom Petty's "Mary Anne's Last Dance(1993)" and compare it to The Jayhawks' "Waiting For The Sun (1992)" which is on the same album as this tune.
2+ years after d-don enjoyed it, I got to experience the CSNY to Jayhawks segue as well.
Awesome New Year's Eve selection!
I gotta admit, I felt really happy hearing those opening notes.
So did I but absolutely no regrets!