Live 19 Apr 1996 version
[Spoken intro:] Thank you. This is a uh... another song about men and women. [in German:] Mann, Frau, Liebe, Sex, sehr schwierig, sehr kompliziert, aber notwendig. This is about one of those relationships where you think you're trying hard -- I guess you are -- but uh, you don't quite know what you're doing, can't keep it from falling apart. There's some part of yourself falling apart more likely. This us, this is called "Dry Lightning".
I threw my robe on in the morning, I watched the ring on the stove turn red
I stared hypnotized into a cup of coffee, pulled on my boots and made the bed
Screen door hangin' off its hinges kept bangin' me awake all night
As I look out the window, well the only thing in sight
Is dry lightning on the horizon line
Yeah it's just dry lightning and you on my mind
I chased the heat of her blood like it was the holy grail
Descend beautiful spirit into the evening pale
Her appaloosa's kickin' in the corral smelling rain
There's a low thunder rolling across the mesquite plain
But it's just dry lightning on the horizon line
Yeah it's just dry lightning and you on my mind
I'd drive down to Alvarado street, here where she danced to make ends meet
I'd spend the night over my gin and I'd watch her as she talk to her men
Well the piss yellow sun comes bringin' up the day
And she said, "Ain't nobody gonna give nobody, but they really need anyway."
You get so sick of the fightin', you lose your fear of the end
But I can't lose your memory and the sweet smell of your skin
It's just dry lightning on the horizon line
It's just dry lightning and you on my mind
The above lyrics are for the live 19 Apr 1996 performance of DRY LIGHTNING at ICC Berlin Saal 1 in Berlin, Germany, during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. The song was played solo on acoustic guitar. Ten songs from this show, including DRY LIGHTNING, were radio broadcast in various countries.
List of available versions of DRY LIGHTNING on this website:
DRY LIGHTNING [Album version]