 "Rarer Than Rare" The Rarest of Jackson Browne's unreleased songs This is NOT an album. Rather, it is a listing of some of the most rare songs in Jackson's catalog. These are songs that Jackson has never released and did not appear on his early demo recordings. They are songs that may have been sung in concert once or twice, and then never heard again! Tracks:
copyrights by Jackson Browne This page includes those songs that Jackson never officially released which also never appeared on the Nina or Criterion Demos -- songs from those two demo sessions are listed on other pages on this website. Mostly these are songs that were played one or two times in concert and then faded into history. If you know of any songs not listed above that should be included, please send me an email.
HOLIDAY INN (TOGETHER AGAIN) by Jackson Browne (unreleased Jackson Browne song, performed in Syracuse, NY on March 27, 1971) Together again at the Holiday Inn With the very best friend of the woman That I once took to carry my name Oh, she'd die of shame If she knew where we'd been Together in sin At the Holiday Inn Oh, I know that you're feeling Like the lowest thing God ever made And it don't make me proud To think of the price that's she's paid To make a good home For our kids and their friends But it's worth it to be Back with you once again Together again at the Holiday Inn With the very best friend of the woman That I once took to carry my name Oh, she'd die of shame If she knew where we'd been Together in sin At the Holiday Inn TAKE IT UNDERGROUND by Jackson Browne (unreleased Jackson Browne song, performed in Syracuse, NY on March 27, 1971) Well, I was walking on the avenue With my old lady and the baby, too This police car swings into view With a red light on the hood Well, I was standing there ready Just to watch it roll right by When this voice from a megaphone Petrified the sky "You better stop where you are Put your hands in the air Step away from the people And tell us who you are." You can bet your cooking spoon I was a little indisposed I could have ate what I was holding But it would have been another overdose So I guess you must be wondering How I'm still here talking to you They kept me there all afternoon But they didn't look in my shoes You know it's getting very heavy When they swoop right down on you But it's heavier stilll When they can be that stupid, too We better take it underground Careful who you talk to And keep away from those places Where you are just another bull's eye And likely to cause them trouble, too Well, the streets are full of federals Under the order of the general In the name of peace and Jesus Christ They'll take you for a ride We better take it underground Careful who you talk to And keep the picture clear in your mind Say what you have to say Do what they claim You must not do WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR MONEY by Jackson Browne (unreleased Jackson Browne song, performed in Syracuse, NY on March 27, 1971) Oh, Stagger Lee shot Billy People, what about that? 'Cause Billy lost and tried to rip off Stagger Lee's Stetson hat But Billy was no outlaw Let me tell you how he died Begging for his life But Stagger Lee could not let him slide When you lose your money You've got to chalk it up for dues When you lose your money Learn to lose Now Billy's woman loved her man And she loved her children, too She's working hard both day and night Just to bring her family through Still she knows there's certain things That the good Lord will decide When she seen 'em carrying Billy home Well, she broke right down and cried When you lose your money Good God, don't lose your mind Because you took off after Easy Street But you left your life behind When you lose your money You've got to chalk it up for dues When you lose your money Learn to lose So now the judge said to Stagger Lee, "Don't you worry about a thing Because we intend to carry out the law Before we see you hang." So Stagger Lee just told the truth When they put him on the stand Well, he laughed right in the judge's face And said, "You better kill men while you can." When you lose your money You ought to chalk it up for dues When you lose your money Learn to lose Now Bobby Seale said Stagger Lee Is just a brother off the block Whose actions had to speak for him 'Cause he couldn't relate to talk Now listen all you millionaires There's one thing that I know If he ever gets his shit together Some of you gonna have to go When you lose your money You ought to chalk it up for dues When you lose your money When you lose your money When you lose your money Learn to lose When you lose your money When you lose your money When you lose your money Learn to lose WORLD TO GAIN by Jackson Browne (unreleased Jackson Browne song, performed in Syracuse, NY on March 27, 1971) If you're trying If you have to try Just to make it by Another empty hour Another frozen day There may be one who knows what to say One who watches for the moment When his words might find their way (Now) If you're sorry If you must be sad If you have never had a reason And you're waiting for your purpose to appear There may be one who knows it is near One who stares into the waters That are clouded by your fear And who sees that after all you will run clear Learn to live Learn to die Take this time Don't ask why Are you lying in pain Where we all one time have lain Who says you must remain You've got the world to gain If you're trying If you have to try Just to make it by That same old falling mountain That hides you from your way There may be one who knows what to say Learn to live Learn to die Take this time Don't ask why Are you lying in pain Where we all have one time lain Who says you must remain You've got the world to gain You've got the world to gain You've got the world to gain JUST LIKE FOREVER by Jackson Browne (unreleased Jackson Browne song, performed in concert at least twice during August 1978 and also mentioned in an October 1977 radio interview) It wasn't me at your window, Baby. It wasn't me at your door. It must have been some other fool With his heart in his hand, Coming back for more. I was there when you closed your eyes. But it wasn't me when you came. I just thought I heard you call my name. You were there when I needed someone With your warmth and your style. I was back in the world again And it was real for awhile. I was ready for love to be coming, But not for what love became, And I thought I heard you call my name. Call my name. Now there was something only we knew together Far too simple to explain. Love smiled on us just like forever. You're always leaving town. First you come around. Then you can't be found It always brings me down. There's nothing wrong with my heart, Baby. There's nothing wrong with the world. If a girl don't feel the same way I feel, There's nothing wrong with the girl. Maybe we were too different to love each other. Maybe too much the same. Anyway, I thought I heard you call my name. Call my name. Like you were drifting away down the river. All my voices and curses in the pain Love flows on just like forever. You're always leaving town. First you come around. Then you can't be found And it always brings me down. Da da da da da Da da da dum dum dum Da da da Ohhhh no no no no no no Na na na na na Just like forever. Da da da da da Just like forever. Just like forever. THE LIVING PROOF by Jackson Browne (unreleased Jackson Browne song, performed in San Jose, CA on March 8, 1987) There's a golden light in the ? There's a blue light on in the ? (your sighs?) And I know your heart's been tried before And by those more clever than I Tell the truth about your precious dreams Duh duh duh duh the living proof When you're all done duhing duh duh Life goes on Your life is strewn with broken hopes I guess it takes all kinds You say the duh duh duh duh duh She just takes but what she finds I don't want to take your ? There's no ? I don't want to know your secrets There's no time But your light so bright Shines on in my soul Here in the night Your smile is true Love is alive And the living proof Living to go higher and higher While the years ? ? in your eyes But the songs ? ? time goes by instrumental bridge I don't want to take your ? There's no ? I don't want to know your secrets There's no time But your light so bright Shines on in my soul Here in the night Your smile is true Love is alive (or a fire?) And the living proof Here in the night Your smile is true (?) The living proof Love is alive Love is alive Love is alive Love is alive Love is alive I HAD A GIRL by Jackson Browne (unreleased Jackson Browne song performed at a benefit for Dan Hamburg For Congress at the Silverado Country Club, Napa, CA, on October 4, 1992) I had a girl Oh, I would not have hurt her For the world I was in love With an angel from above And she was in love with me She was so young I believed as every word Fell from her tongue Believed in her touch And the truth of her tenderness And she believed in me I know she's home I call She won't pick up the phone I watch her door I think she's not alone I hear my heart say Just walk away Walk away (Jackson hums the melody/bridge along with the piano.) Yes, I'm alone But I know no other way I could have known That love can be lost And in spite of what it cost To have heard love And answered her call I'd rather be here And see love disappear Than to never have known love at all I know she's home I call She won't pick up the phone I watch her door I think she's not alone I hear my heart say Just walk away Walk away I had a girl Oh, I would not have hurt her For the world I was in love With an angel from above And she was in love with me I had a girl I had a girl I had a girl I had a girl LEARN TO LIVE by Jackson Browne (unreleased Jackson Browne song) On Saturdays and Sundays, They go running all around Among the Trees and Tables, where the Sunlight can be Found Their fingers in the Spinning Sky,Their feet on solid ground These Laughing Children fill my Eyes, My ears Believe the Sound The Old Men on the benches, watch the Children running by And play their Checkers in the Shade,the Heat just makes them Sigh See them shake their Weary Heads and hear their muffled Cry No Sooner do we Learn to Live, Than we must Learn to Die Chorus: Learn to Live, Learn to Die, Take Your Time, Learn to Fly The Lovers on the Lake go Drifting to and from the Shore Glancing at their Lives, They are not Children Anymore Whispering Sweet Promises, that they've all heard before They'll have to Take their Pleasure, as their Passing thru the Door Learn to Live, Learn to Die, Take Your Time and Learn to Fly DID YOU TRY TO REACH ME? by Jackson Browne (unreleased Jackson Browne song, from an unreleased demo) Well I heard you tried to find me And you asked around behind me Like you wanted to remind me Who to choose Well I guess you had to call on me And I guess you had to fall on me And I guess that wasn't all we had To lose You are confused I am amused I just want to know if this will be the last time That you come to me With flowers in your hand I keep thinking this could maybe be the one time That you look into my eyes and see The sorrow that has captured me And you lay down all your work and understand You were far when first I found you With the soldiers all around you And your child on the ground Among your friends Now the soldiers have marched off to find The child who has lost his mind And it feels just like this again So why pretend This is the end I must say I think you'll have to do without me Like you did without me when I was around From this day you'll wonder what it was about me That I really didn't plan to say These things, I said them anyway Now I'll tell you what I'd really like to know Did you try to reach me? In my mind where I live Cause I haven't been at home, you know I've been looking for a safer place to go And I'm hoping that my weariness won't show STEEL YOURSELF by Jackson Browne & Pat McDonald (unreleased Jackson Browne song, sung June 10, 2006 at Steel Bridge Songfest 2 in Sturgeon Bay, WI) Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself for the coming storm Steel yourself 'cause it won't be long Steel yourself in the things you do Steel yourself and you might get through Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself They teach you when you're just a kid To sell yourself at the highest bid Just as long as you get your price The job you hate and the wife that's nice Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Not smart enough to steal this book But you're cool enough to steal that look You can't steal enough to fill the frig Are you bad enough to steel this bridge Steel yourself like a railroad track Like a tin roof on a shotgun shack Steel yourself from the moon so bright And we'll all get together on the other side Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself for the coming storm Steel yourself 'cause it won't be long Steel yourself for the long dark rider Armageddon and the great decider Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself Steel yourself |