Note: A blank field in the "Original Artist" column indicates that the writer also performed the song.

I am a lineman for the county
and I drive the main road
searching in the sun for another overload

I hear you singing in the wire
I can hear you through in the whine
the Wichita Lineman is still on the line ...

You know I need a small vacation
but it doesn't look like rain
and if it snows the stretch down south will never 
stand the strain

and I need you more than I want you 
and I want you for all time
the Wichita Lineman is still on the line ....

and I need you more than I want you 
and I want you for all time
the Wichita Lineman is still on the line .....

still on the line
still on the line 
....

We had an apartment in the city
Me and Loretta liked living there
It's been years since the kids have grown
A life of their own
And all left us alone

John and Linda live in Omaha
And Joe is somewhere on the road
We lost Davey in the Korean War
I still don't know what for
Guess it doesn't matter anymore

Chorus: You know that old trees just grow stronger
And old rivers grow wilder every day
Old people, they just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say, "Hello In There"
Say Hello ...

Me and Loretta, we don't talk much now
She just sits there and stares through the back door screen
And all the news just repeats itself
Like some forgotten dream
That we've both seen
Someday I'll go and call up Rudy
We worked together at the factory
But what do I tell him when he asks, "What's New?"
"Nothing, what's with you"
"Nothing, much to do"

Chorus

So if you're walking down the street sometime
And spot some hollow ancient eyes
Please don't just pass 'em buy and stare
As if you didn't care
Say, "Hello In There"
Say hello, hello, hello, hello
Say hello ....

-Sponge-

pleasure is melting like chocolate
my blue ribbon gumption is gone
all my gravy must have soaked into something
and the world...
the filthy steps, the cold concrete
the phony earth below my feet
the ancient odor of the streets
yes the world it is a sponge
and when the crisis passes
when the coast is clear
I'll be buffed down to a liquid
and the world it is a sponge
throughout this entire ugly outing
I've been mumbling the convex of what I should be shouting
but I'll soon be silent you'll soon hear nothing
'cause the world it is a sponge

And finally, here is where you can reach me:

E-Mail me at: d_haglof@efn.org

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