V I O L E T

Is a collection of songs by Rick Riley performed, written and recorded between 2008 and 2025. The Killing Swans is the latest EP by VIOLET

WOODENFACE (see below) is my band from the past comprised of Rod Riley, Mark Wagner, Marty Agey, Jack, Ed and myself active in the early 90’s.

 
 
 

T H E K I L L I N G S W A N S

 

W O O D E N F A C E

 

A M E R I C A N A

 

A R C H I V E

 
 
 
  • HEAD IN A HOLE

    a coming attraction

    thats two for the show

    a common reaction

    my head in a hole

    seems like something less is

    more than she can give

    thers a box down in  the floor

    she keeps it hid

    I thought I would to tell her

    I thought I would know

    going blind inside my mind

    my head in a hole

    up high on the mountain

    down here on the ground

    the minutes are countin

    its up and its down

    Head in a hole now

    hea d in a hole now

    now something from nothin

    no faith no more

    a kind of corruption

    a hole in the door

    seems like something less is

    more than she can give

    thers a box down in  the floor

    she keeps it hid

    I thought I would to tell her

    I thought I would know

    going blind inside my mind

    my head in a hole

  • OPEN SEASON

    I see the stars fallin down from the sky now

    i see the moon and the sun in the sea

    seven times

    seven times

    seven times now

    its open season

    its open season yea

    i see the sky turning red in the night now

    i hear the angel of death at my door

    seven times

    seven times

    seven times now

    they keep on knockin

    they keep on knockin yea

    i hear trumpet of God in the sky now

    the heavens shake and they cry and they moan

    Get in line

    Get in line

    Get in line now

    its open season

    its open season yea

  • SISTER TRANSISTOR

    (a robot love song)

    hey there sister

    sweet transistor

    where you goin with out no soul

    so synthetic

    photogenic

    she’s got a face and a mind of her own

    Look out

    hello sister

    ruby slipper

    Kansas calling they couldn’t twister

    she’s fantastic

    automatic

    so hard to hear though all of that static

    xray vision

    blocked transmission

    hard luck stories that seem so strange

    hands on fire

    electric wire

    I’d stay on the phone but im all out of change

  • SUPER NOVA

    i can see your war paint in the shadows

    i dont think that im the only one

    So put on your lipstick

    Put on your face

    I’m all out of words

    Lets get out of this place

    every thing about it is a cryin shame

    I said it before

    I’ll say it again

    Drive to the sun

    in my supernova

    My supernova

    It’s 1961

    In my supernova

    My supernova

    the Satalight is calling from the sky now

    I dont think that we’re the only ones

    the mercurys risen

    transmission dead

    The speeds a narcotic

    It will go to your head

    every thing about it is a cryin shame

    I said it before

    I’ll say it again

    this thing goes at lightspeed when you drive her

    something tells me im th only oner

    That’s one for the moneyr

    two just for more

    keys on the dashboard

    four on the floor

    Reach for the sky now

    Reach for the stars

    She’s a solar eclipse

    From the surface of Mars

  • sing

    birds of prey

    40 nights and days now

    shadows fall as angels

    to the sand

    you

    only you

    Know its true

    the sky is blue as heaven

    up above now

    And I just sit here

    waiting on the man

    and i feel alright

    like a cowboy junkie

    and i feel alright

    Im a wanted man

    and i feel alright

    yes i feel alright now

    yes i feel alright

    im a seventh son

    hey

    whats the plan

    neither rocket ship nor man

    can follow where im going

    pray for rain

    sing

    birds of prey

    and i feel alright

    like a strung out monkey

    and i feel alright

    im a setting sun

    and i feel alright

    yes i feel alright now

    yes i feel alright now

    pray for rain

    sing

    birds of prey

    40 nights and days now

    shadows fall like angels

    to the sand

    And I just sit here

    waiting on the man

    sing

    birds of prey

  • kick 17 honey

    back on the scene

    well it’s late for the show now

    don’t matter no how

    go get a shoe shine

    you got a real fine soul

    kick 23 now the damage is done

    she’s an envious mistress

    I’m a penniless son

    it’s just a fact now

    headed strait for the door

    throwing gravel and lipstick

    apocalyptic

    stains on the turnpike

    stains on the floor where she bleeds

  • SO TOMORROW SEES

    Looking for something more than convention

    Something more than a scene

    Was she a kind of devine intervention

    So tomorrow sees

    I wanted to tell her something

    I wanted to know

    So tomorrow seems

    So tomorrow seems

    So tomorrow seems

    Al of the souls adrift on the ocean

    All of the fish in the sea

    Stare at the blind for devine misdirection

    So tomorrow sees

    I wanted to tell her something

    I wanted to know

    So tomorrow seems

    So tomorrow seems

    So tomorrow seems

    she used to swim through the sky like an ocean

    Sun with the fish in the sea

    Time after time after time everlasting

    So tomorrow sees

    I wanted to tell her something

    I want you to know

    So tomorrow seems

    So tomorrow seems

    So tomorrow seems

  • x

    lookin for something

    gonna ease my mind

    maybe a woman

    maybe some time

    here’s what I’m thinkin’

    bury the money

    bury your soul

    down in a coal mine

    deep in mexico

    it’s just an illusion

    heading south this fall

    cigarette money

    a hole in the wall

    Cralin on my knees for

    miles and miles now

    crawling on my knees

    here’s what I’m thinkin

    lookin for something

    gonna ease my mind

    maybe a woman

    maybe some time

    it’s just an illusion

    a thing in the head

    the cost of confusion

    or something I read

  • I wanna be

    a cat on a string

    I wanna be

    your diamond ring

    See her there

    when the night comes down

    with her hands on fire

    and her lipstick on

    name any date

    she’ll tell you what she wore

 
 
  • I left the coast on sunday

    for a pleasure seeking ride

    a man in black with cane and hat

    sat down beside my side

    didn’t say a word until we hit the rio grande

    takin bout that 59 dollar man

    he produced a deck of cards

    and drew an able looking hand

    his fingers they were those of welth

    as any self made man

    I figured I had lost the bet

    while sitting out the game

    talking bout that 50 dollar man.

    well I hit the ground a runnin

    just like able run from cane

    I spent a moth of Sundays,

    just hoppin train to train

    wislin dixie, passion time

    spitting in the wind

    talking bout that 50 dollar man.

    Well I stole a car in Austin and I

    headed for the west

    it soon broke down just east of town

    I laid my sole to rest

    I woke up to the purring of a long black limosine

    talking bout that 50 dollar man.

    I found my way way to prescott

    and I come in from the rain

    I turned the key to get a room

    and saw a hat and cane

    a note there on the table

    on a 50 dollar bill

    writings from the 50 dollar man

    He say I am a man of prescience

    though surprised from time to time

    was unexpected seeing you

    out east before your time

    I go by many names

    and many faces I have worn

    you know me as the 50 dollar man.

 
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