stay

now the seats are all empty
let the roadies take the stage
pack it up and tear it down
they're the first to come and the last to leave
working for that minimum wage
they're setting up in another town
tonight the people were so fine
they waited there in line
and when they got up on their feet
and made the show, and that was sweet
and here the sound of slamming doors and folding chairs
and that's a sound they'll never know

and load those cases and load those amps
and haul those truses up and get'um up those ramps
and when it comes to moving me,
you know you guys are the champs
but when that last guitar has been packed away,
you know that i still want to play.
so just make sure you got it all set to go
before you come for my piano

but the band is on the bus
and they're ready to go
we got to drive all night
and do the show in chicago... or detroit
i don't know, we do so many shows in a row
and these towns all look the same
we just pass the time in the hotel rooms
and wander around backstage
till those lights come up, and we hear that crowd
and remember why we came

now we got country western on the bus, we got disco
and 8-tracks and casettes and stereo
we've got worl scenes and magazines
and we've got truckers on cb
we got richard pryor on video
we've got time to think of the ones we love
while the miles roll away
but the only time that seems to short is the time that we get to play
people you got the power over what we do
or you can sit there and wait
or you can come with us too
come along, sing this song
you know that you can't go wrong
'cause when that mornin' sun comes beating down
you're gonna wake up in your town
and we'll be scheduled to appear
a thousand miles away from here

people stay just a little bit longer
we want to play -- just a little bit longer
now the promoter don't mind
and the union don't mind
if we take a little time
and we leave it all behind and sing
one more song
oh won’t you stay just a little bit longer
please, please, please say you will
say you will

oh won’t you stay just a little bit longer
oh please, please stay just a little bit more

now the promoter don’t mind
and the roadies don’t mind
if we take a little time
and we leave this all behind and sing
one more song

tender is the night

between the darkness on the street
and the houses filling up with light
between the stillness in my heart
and the roar of the approaching night
somebody's calling after somebody
somebody turns the corner out of sight
looking for somebody
somewhere in the night

tender is the night
when you hold your baby tight
tender are the motions, tender is the night

between a life that we expected
and the way it's always been
i can't walk back in again
after the way we fight
when just outside there are people laughing
living lives we used to lead
chasing down the love they need
somewhere in the night

tender is the night
and the benediction of the neon light
tender are the hunters, tender is the night

you're gonna want me tonight
when you're ready to surrender
forget about who's right
when you're ready to remember
it's another world at night
when you're ready to be tender

tender, tender tender...

and in the hard light of an angry sun
no one remembers what was said or done
tender are the words they choose
you win, i win, we lose

tender
tender is the night
tender
the benediction of the neon light
tender
tender are the hunters
tender is the night
when they hold each other tight
tender
tender are the undercover
tender
the stranger and the secret lover
tender
tender are the motions
tender is the night
when you hold your baby tight

tender, tender tender...