The Best Of
Chris Bell - guitar, vocal 
Alex Chilton - guitar, vocal 
Andy Hummel - bass, vocal
Jody Stephens - drums 

Produced by Big Star
Recorded:
CD Release: 1999 (Ace Records, ENG.)

Tracks 1-7 Track 8-14

"SEPTEMBER GURLS" (Chilton) 

September gurls do so much 
I was your butch and you were touched 
I loved you,  well,  never mind 
I've been crying all the time 

December boys got it bad 

September gurls, I don't know why 
How can I deny what's inside 
Even though I'll keep away 
Maybe we'll love all our days 

When I get to bed, late at night 
That's the time she makes things right 
Ooh when she makes love to me
 

"WHEN MY BABY'S BESIDE ME" (Bell/*Chilton*) 

Don't need to talk to my doctor 
Don't need to talk to my shrink 
Don't need to hide behind no locked doors 
I don't need to think 

'Cause when my baby's beside me, I don't worry 
When my baby's beside me, All I know 
When my baby's beside me, I don't worry 
When my baby's beside me, All I know 

Read all my books and talked about 
Listen to my radio 
Been in school and dropped right out 
Tryin' to find what I didn't know
 

"FEEL" (*Bell*/Chilton)

Girlfriend, what are you doing
You're driving me to ruin
The love that you've been stealing
Has given me a feeling

I feel like I'm dying
I'm never gonna live again
You just ain't been trying
It's getting very near the end

I feel like I'm dying 
I feel like I'm dying
 

"THE BALLAD OF EL GOODO" (Bell/*Chilton*) 

Years ago, my heart was set to live, oh 
And I've been trying hard against unbelievable odds 
It gets so hard in times like now to hold on 
But guns they wait to be stuck by, at my side is God 

And there ain't no one goin' to turn me 'round 
Ain't no one goin' to turn me 'round 

There's people around who tell you that they know 
And places where they send you, and it's easy to go 
They'll zip you up and dress you down and stand you
in a row 
But you know you don't have to, you can just say
"no" 

I've been built up and trusted, broke down and
busted 
But they'll get theirs and we will get ours if you can 
Just-a hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on 

Years ago my heart was set to live, oh 
But I've been trying hard against strong odds 
It gets so hard at times like now to hold on 
Well, I'll fall if I don't fight, and at my side is God
 

"O MY SOUL" (Chilton) 

O my soul mama
I lose control
Go ahead, sing if you wanna
And I'll never know
Come on
You know it's all right
We've got all night

You're driving me mad, now
You shouldn't do that
Gotta get enough
Drink till we drop

You're really a nice girl
And I think you're the most
And when we're together
I feel like a boss

Trying to see you
I knock off your doors
Dying to see you
I'm down on the floor

I can't get a license
To drive my car
But, I don't really need it
If I'm a big star

Never you mind
Go on and have a good time
Yes, indeed
 

"WHAT'S GOING AHN" (*Chilton*/Hummel) 

I liked her face and oh, those eyes 
She left today, oh, goodbye 
And looking at you I'm drained outright 
And isolated in the light 

Don't resent everyone 
Ever since I was young 
I'm starting to understand 
What's going ahn and how it's planned 

I like love, but, I don't know 
All these girls, they come and go 
Always nothing left to say 

Oh, no
 

"IN THE STREET" (Bell/Chilton) 

Hanging out, down the street 
The same old thing we did last week 
Not a thing to do, but talk to you 

Steal your car, and bring it down 
Pick me up, we'll drive around 
Wish we had a joint so bad 

Bust a street light 
Out past midnight
 


"THIRTEEN" (Bell/*Chilton*) 

Won't you let me walk you home from school
Won't you let me meet you at the pool
Maybe Friday I can
Get tickets for the dance
And I'll take you

Won't you tell your dad, "Get off my back"
Tell him what we said 'bout 'Paint It Black'
Rock 'n Roll is here to stay
Come inside where it's okay
And I'll shake you.

Won't you tell me what you're thinking of
Would you be an outlaw for my love
If it's so, well,  let me know
If it's "no", well, I can go
I won't make you
 

"MOD LANG" (*Chilton*/Rosebrough) 

I can't be satisfied
What you want me to do
So I moan, had to leave my home

Love my girl, ooh yeh
She got to save my soul
I want a witness, I want to testify

How long can this go on

All night long I was howling
I was a barking dog
 

"BACK OF A CAR" (*Chilton*/Hummel) 

Sitting in the back of a car 
Music so loud, can't tell a thing 
Thinkin' 'bout what to say 
And I can't find the lines 

Know I love you alot 
I just don't know, should I or not 
Waiting for a brighter day 
And I can't find the way 

I'll go on and on with you 
Like to fall and lie with you 
I'd love you too 

Baby, I'm too afraid 
I just don't know if it's ok 
Trying to get away 
From everything 

Why don't you take me home 
It's gone too far inside this car 
I know I'll feel a whole lot more 
When I get alone
 

"WATCH THE SUNRISE" (Bell/*Chilton*) 

I can feel it, now it's time
Open your eyes
Fears be gone, it won't be long
There's a light in the sky
It's okay to look outside
The day it will abide
And watch the sunrise

Sun, it shines on all of us
We are one in it's hands
Come inside and light my room
Like the heart of every man
It's okay to look outside
The day it will abide
And watch the sunrise
 

"DAISY GLAZE" (*Chilton*/Hummel/Stephens) 

I'm drivin' alone, sad about you
Not goin' home, what's to do
You better not leave me here
Better not leave me here
Ooh, I want you here
How can you leave me here
I lie in the stream, I'm floating fine
Receiving things in my beautiful mind
Sometime drags, sometime, sometime, so sublime
Lover, yes I am, lover, you know I am

Now I'm in a bar, it's gotta be where they are
Gonna dance in the bar, they're gonna fight on the floor
Faster than I can see

Now I'm gonna score, break for the door
who is this whore
Soon be beggin drags

And I'm thinking, Christ
Nullify my life, nullify my life

You're gonna die, yes, you're gonna die
Right now
You're gonna die, gonna decease
 

"GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE" (Bell/*Chilton*) 

You feel sad 'cause I got mad
And I'm sorry, I'm sorry
Things I said made things seem bad
But don't worry
'Cause it's gonna be all right now, be okay
You know I just don't think before I speak

I've been looking for to find
Something to believe in my mind
And I thought it was you

All this time since you've been mine
I've been angry, so angry
Made it known I could make it alone
But I'm changing
And I'm gonna be all right now, be okay
You know I just woke up and I see the way

Don't give up on me so fast
I see it's me that's wrong at last
Give me another chance

It's so hard just to stay alive each day
I really can't go on this way, oh no, oh no
 

"I'M IN LOVE WITH A GIRL" (Chilton) 

I'm in love with a girl
Finest girl in the world
I didn't know I could feel this way

Think about her all the time
Always on my mind
I didn't know about love

All that a man should do is true

I'm in love with a girl
Finest girl in the world
I didn't know this could happen to me