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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