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Sixto Rodriguez

American musician (1942–2023)

Sixto Rodriguez (July 10, 1942 – August 9, 2023), known professionally as Rodriguez, was an American singer-songwriter from Detroit, Michigan.

Sixto Rodriguez

Song lyrics

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I've played every kind of gig there is to play now.
I've played faggot bars, hooker bars, motor cycle funerals,
in opera houses, concert halls, halfway houses.
Well, I found that in all these places that I've played
all the people that I've played for are the same people.
So if you'll listen, maybe you'll see someone you know in this song.
  • I've played every kind of gig there is to play now.
    I've played faggot bars, hooker bars, motor cycle funerals,
    in opera houses, concert halls, halfway houses.
    Well, I found that in all these places that I've played
    all the people that I've played for are the same people.
    So if you'll listen, maybe you'll see someone you know in this song.
    A most disgusting song.
 
Born in the troubled city
in rock and roll USA
in the shadow of the tallest building,
I vowed I would break away.
Listened to the Sunday actors
but all they would ever say:
That you can't get away from it.
No you can't get away.
No you can't get away from it.
No you can't get away.
  • Born in the troubled city
    in rock and roll USA
    in the shadow of the tallest building,
    I vowed I would break away.
    Listened to the Sunday actors
    but all they would ever say:
    That you can't get away from it.
    No you can't get away.
    No you can't get away from it.
    No you can't get away.
  • 'Cause I lost my job two weeks before Christmas.
    And I talked to Jesus at the sewer
    and the Pope said it was none of his God-damned business.
    While the rain drank champagne,
    my Estonian archangel came and got me wasted.
    'Cause the sweetest kiss I ever got is the one I've never tasted.
    Oh, but they'll take their bonus pay to Molly McDonald.
    Neon lady, beauty is that which obeys, is bought or borrowed.
    • "Cause" (song)
    • Sixto Rodriguez, "Cause" (song on YouTube)
  • Was it a huntsman or a player
    that made you pay the cost
    that now assumes relaxed positions
    And prostitutes your loss?
    Were you tortured by your own thirst
    in those pleasures that you seek
    that made you Tom the Curious;
    that makes you James the Weak?
    And you claim you've got something going,
    something you call unique,
    but I've seen your self-pity showing
    as the tears rolled down your cheeks.
  • But thanks for your time.
    Then you can thank me for mine.
    And after that's said,
    forget it.
    Don't be inane,
    there's no one to blame:
    no reason why
    you should stay here
    and lie to me.
    Don't say any more,
    just walk out the door,
    I'll get along fine.
    You'll see.
    • "Forget it" (song)
    • Sixto Rodriguez, "Forget it" (song on YouTube)
  • Woman, please be gone.
    You've stayed here much too long.
    Don't you wish that you could cry?
    Don't you wish I would die?
    Seamy seesaw kids.
    Child-women on the skids.
    The dust will choke you blind.
    The lust will choke your mind.
    I kiss the floor, one kick, no more.
    The pig and hose have set me free.
    I've tasted Hate Street's hanging tree.
    I've tasted Hate Street's hanging tree.
 
And I'll forget about the girl that said no.
Then I'll tell who I want where to go.
And I'll forget about your lies and deceit
and your attempts to be so discreet.
Maybe today, yeah,
I'll slip away.
And you can keep your symbols of success.
Then I'll pursue my own happiness.
And you can keep your clocks and routines.
Then I'll go mend all my shattered dreams.
Maybe today, yeah,
I'll slip away.
  • And I'll forget about the girl that said no.
    Then I'll tell who I want where to go.
    And I'll forget about your lies and deceit
    and your attempts to be so discreet.
    Maybe today, yeah,
    I'll slip away.
    And you can keep your symbols of success.
    Then I'll pursue my own happiness.
    And you can keep your clocks and routines.
    Then I'll go mend all my shattered dreams.
    Maybe today, yeah,
    I'll slip away.
 
Going down a dirty inner city side road,
I plotted.
Madness passed me by, she smiled Hi.
I nodded.
Looked up as the sky began to cry;
she shot it.
Met a girl from Dearborn early six o'clock this morn:
a cold fact.
Asked about her bag. "Suburbia's such a drag,
won't go back,
'cause Papa don't allow no new ideas here,
and now he sees the news, but the picture's not too clear."
  • Going down a dirty inner city side road,
    I plotted.
    Madness passed me by, she smiled Hi.
    I nodded.
    Looked up as the sky began to cry;
    she shot it.
    Met a girl from Dearborn early six o'clock this morn:
    a cold fact.
    Asked about her bag. "Suburbia's such a drag,
    won't go back,
    'cause Papa don't allow no new ideas here,
    and now he sees the news, but the picture's not too clear."
 
Just a song we shared, I'll hear
brings memories back, when you were here
of your smile, your easy laughter,
of your kiss. Those moments after.
I think of you
and think of you
and think of you.
  • Just a song we shared, I'll hear
    brings memories back, when you were here
    of your smile, your easy laughter,
    of your kiss. Those moments after.
    I think of you
    and think of you
    and think of you.
  • I wonder how many times you've been had.
    And I wonder how many plans have gone bad.
    I wonder how many times you had sex?
    And I wonder do you know who'll be next?
    I wonder. I wonder. Wonder, I do.
    I wonder about the love you can't find.
    And I wonder about the loneliness that's mine.
    I wonder how much going have you got?
    And I wonder about your friends that are not.
    I wonder. I wonder. Wonder I do.
    • "I wonder" (song)
    • Sixto Rodriguez, "I wonder" (song on YouTube)
  • Now you sit there thinking. Feeling insecure.
    The mocking court gesture claims there is no proven cure.
    Go back to your chamber, your eyes upon the wall.
    'Cos you got no one to listen, you got no one to call.
    And you think I'm curious.
    Drifting, drowning in a purple sea of doubt
    you wanna hear she loves you
    but the words don't fit the mouth.
    You're a loser, a rebel-a-cause-without.
    But don't think me callous.
  • And you measure for wealth by the things you can hold
    and you measure for love by the sweet things you're told
    and you live in the past of a dream that you're in
    and your selfishness is your cardinal sin.
    And you want to be held with highest regard.
    It delights you so much
    if he's trying so hard.
    And you're trying to conceal your ordinary way
    with a smile or a shrug
    or some stolen cliché.
    But don't you understand?
    And don't you look about?
    I'm trying to take nothing from you
    so why should you act so put out, for me?
    • "Like Janis" (song)
    • Sixto Rodriguez, "Like Janis" (song on YouTube)
  • My pocket don't drive me fast,
    my mother treats me slow,
    my statue's got a concrete heart
    but you're the coldest bitch I know.
    In the factory that you call your mind:
    graveyard thoughts of stone.
    A master thief, I wouldn't enter there,
    you've nothing I would care to own (so help me).
 
The moon is hanging
in the purple sky.
The baby's sleeping
while its mother sighs.
Talking about the rich folks:
rich folks have the same jokes
and they park in basic places.
The priest is preaching
from a shallow grave.
He counts his money
then he paints you saved.
Talking to the young folks:
young folks share the same jokes
but they'd meet in older places.
  • The moon is hanging
    in the purple sky.
    The baby's sleeping
    while its mother sighs.
    Talking about the rich folks:
    rich folks have the same jokes
    and they park in basic places.
    The priest is preaching
    from a shallow grave.
    He counts his money
    then he paints you saved.
    Talking to the young folks:
    young folks share the same jokes
    but they'd meet in older places.
  • The generals hate holidays.
    Others shoot up to chase the sun blues away.
    Another store front church is open.
    Sea of neon lights. A boxer, his shadow fights.
    Soldier tired and sailor broken.
    Winter's asleep at my window.
    Cold wind waits at my door.
    She asks me up to her place
    but I won't be down anymore.
 
Street boy,
you've been out too long.
Street boy,
ain't you got enough sense to go home?
Street boy,
you're gonna end up alone.
You need some love and understanding,
not that dead end life you're planning,
street boy.
  • Street boy,
    you've been out too long.
    Street boy,
    ain't you got enough sense to go home?
    Street boy,
    you're gonna end up alone.
    You need some love and understanding,
    not that dead end life you're planning,
    street boy.
    • "Street boy" (song)
    • Sixto Rodriguez, "Street boy" (song on YouTube)
  • Sugar Man, won't you hurry
    'cause I'm tired of these scenes.
    For a blue coin, won't you bring back
    all those colors to my dreams?
    Silver magic ships, you carry
    jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane.
    Sugar Man met a false friend
    on a lonely dusty road.
    Lost my heart. When I found it
    it had turned to dead black coal.
    • "Sugar Man" (song)
    • Sixto Rodriguez, "Sugar Man" (song on YouTube)
 
Don't sit and wait.
Don't sit and dream.
Put on a smile,
go find a scene.
I'm sure you'd meet
someone who would really love you.
Don't sit and hope.
Don't sit and pine.
If you've been hurt
make up your mind.
I'm sure you'd find
someone who would really love you.
  • The Mayor hides the crime rate.
    Council woman hesitates.
    Public gets irate but forgets the vote date.
    Weatherman complaining "Predicted sun. It's raining."
    Everyone's protesting. Boyfriend keeps suggesting
    you're not like all of the rest.
    Garbage ain't collected. Women ain't protected.
    Politicians using people they're abusing.
    The mafia's getting bigger, like pollution in the river
    and you tell me that this is where it's at.
  • Don't sit and wait.
    Don't sit and dream.
    Put on a smile,
    go find a scene.
    I'm sure you'd meet
    someone who would really love you.
    Don't sit and hope.
    Don't sit and pine.
    If you've been hurt
    make up your mind.
    I'm sure you'd find
    someone who would really love you.
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