Up to Me

Roger McGuinnRoger McGuinn 

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Roger McGuinn

James Roger McGuinn (born James Joseph McGuinn III on July 13, 1942) known professionally as Roger McGuinn and previously as Jim McGuinn, is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with The Byrds. more »

Year:

1976

5:37

104 Views

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Everythin' went from bad to worse, 
Money never changed a thing,
Death kept followin', trackin' us down, 
At least I heard your bluebird sing.
Now somebody's got to show their hand, 
Time is an enemy,
I know you're long gone,
I guess it must be up to me.

If I'd thought about it 
I never would've done it, 
I guess I would've let it slide,
If I'd lived my life 
By what others were thinkin', 
The heart inside me would've died.
I was just too stubborn 
To ever be governed 
By enforced insanity,
Someone had to reach 
For the risin' star,
I guess it was up to me.

Oh, the Union Central is pullin' out 
And the orchids are in bloom,
I've only got me 
One good shirt left 
And it smells of stale perfume.
In fourteen months 
I've only smiled once 
And I didn't do it consciously,
Somebody's got to find your trail,
I guess it must be up to me.

It was like a revelation 
When you betrayed me with your touch,
I'd just about convinced myself 
That nothin' had changed that much.
The old Rounder in the iron mask 
Slipped me the master key,
Somebody had to unlock your heart,
He said it was up to me.

Well, I watched you slowly disappear 
Down into the officers' club,
I would've followed you in the door 
But I didn't have a ticket stub.
So I waited all night 
'Til the break of day, 
Hopin' one of us could get free,
When the dawn came over the river bridge,
I knew it was up to me.

Oh, the only decent thing I did 
When I worked as a postal clerk
Was to haul your picture down off the wall 
Near the cage where I used to work.
Was I a fool or not 
To try to protect your identity?
You looked a little 
Burned out, my friend,
I thought it might be up to me.

Well, I met somebody face to face 
And I had to remove my hat,
She's everything I need and love 
But I can't be swayed by that.
It frightens me, 
The awful truth of 
How sweet life can be,
But she ain't a-gonna make me move,
I guess it must be up to me.

We heard the Sermon on the Mount 
And I knew it was too complex,
It didn't amount to anything more 
Than what the broken glass reflects.
When you bite off more 
Than you can chew 
You pay the penalty,
Somebody's got to tell the tale,
I guess it must be up to me.

Well, Dupree came in pimpin' tonight 
To the Thunderbird Cafe,
Crystal wanted to talk to him, 
I had to look the other way.
Well, I just can't rest 
Without you, love, 
I need your company,
But you ain't a-gonna cross the line,
I guess it must be up to me.

There's a note left in the bottle, 
You can give it to Estelle,
She's the one 
You been wond'rin' about, 
But there's really 
Nothin' much to tell.
We both heard voices for a while, 
Now the rest is history,
Somebody's got to cry some tears,
I guess it must be up to me.

So go on, boys, and play your hands, 
Life is a pantomime,
The ringleaders 
From the county seat 
Say you don't have all that much time.
And the girl with me 
Behind the shades, 
She ain't my property,
One of us has got to hit the road,
I guess it must be up to me.

And if we never meet again, 
Baby, remember me,
How my lone guitar 
Played sweet for you 
That old-time melody.
And the harmonica around my neck, 
I blew it for you, free,
No one else could play that tune,
You know it was up to me.

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