Robert LAMM


Skinny Boy

(1974 / 2006)



1. Temporary Jones 3'29
(Robert Lamm / Bob Russell)
2. Love Song 3'15
(Robert Lamm)
3. Crazy Way To Spend A Year 3'24
(Robert Lamm)
4. Until The Time Runs Out 2'31
(Robert Lamm)
5. Skinny Boy 4'35
(Robert Lamm)
6. One Step Forward Two Steps Back 3'14
(Robert Lamm)
7. Fireplace And Ivy 3'43
(Robert Lamm)
8. Someday I'm Gonna Go 1'50
(Robert Lamm)
9. A Lifetime We 3'14
(Robert Lamm)
10. City Living 2'34
(Robert Lamm)
11. Crazy Brother John 2'51
(Robert Lamm)

Bonus Tracks

12. Love Song (Hip Hop Shuffle Instrumental) 2'55
(Robert Lamm)
13. A Song For Richard And His Friends (Jazzy Trio W/Vocal) 4'03
(Robert Lamm)
14. Sing to Me Lady 2'54
(Robert Lamm)
15. The Door
* 3'12
(Robert Lamm)
16. Some of What
* 2'20
(Robert Lamm)
17. Where 'You Think You're Goin'? (Public Service Ad)
** 1'13
(Robert Lamm)

Total Time: 51:17


  • Robert Lamm - Guitar, Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Vocals
  • Terry Kath - Acoustic Guitar, Bass ("Fireplace And Ivy", "A Lifetime We")
  • Ross Salomone - Drums

    Guest Musicians:

  • Alan De Carlo - Acoustic Guitar, Guitar ("Love Song")
  • Guille Garcia - Percussion, Congas
  • James Vincent - Electric Guitar ("City Living")
  • The POINTER SISTERS - Vocals ("Skinny Boy", "City Living", Courtesy of BLUE THUMB RECORDS)
  • Pat Williams - String Arrangements

  • The ORCHESTRA:
      Violin:
      Sidney Sharp
      William Kurasch
      Jerome Reisler
      Endre Granat
      Tibor Zelig
      Claire Hodgskins
      Joy Lyle
      Debbie Grossman
      Robert Sushel
      Stanley Plummer
      Leonard Malarsky
      Carl La Magna Viola:
      William Hymanson
      Joseph Reilich
      Jan Hunka
      Myron Sandler
      Meyer Bello
      Yukiko Kamei Cello:
      Jesse Ehrlich
      Selene Hurford
      Jerry Kessler
      Gloria Strassner Wind, Woodwind:
      William Collette

    Additional Players on Bonus Tracks:

    * Fred Pappalardo (Illinois Speed Press) - Drums
    Terry Kath - Bass
    ** Terry Kath - Drums, Congas, Guitar, Bass, Backvocals

    Produced by Robert Lamm
    Wayne Tarnowski - Recording Engineer
    Recording Engineer: Wayne Tarnowski, Armin Steiner
    Mixing Engineer: Armin Steiner
    Art Direction: Ron Coro
    Photography: Guy Webster

    Recorded at CARIBOU RANCH, Nederland, Colorado 80466 and SOUND LABS, Hollywood, California

    All Selecllctions Written by Robert Lamm
    Except "Temporary Jones" which was Written by Robert Lamm and B. Russell

    All Songs ©1974 ©LAMMINATIONS MUSIC, (ASCAP)

    Except "Temporary Jones" ©1974 LAMMINATIONS MUSIC / HARRISON MUSIC Corp., (ASCAP)
    "Skinny Boy" and "Someday I'm Gonna Go" ©1973 LAMMINATIONS MUSIC (ASCAP) and "Love Song," "Song for Richard and His Friends," "Sing to Me Lady," "The Door," "Some of What," and "Where 'You Think You're Goin?" ©2006 LAMMINATIONS MUSIC (ASCAP)

    Recorded at CARIBOU RANCH, Nederland, Colorado 80466 and SOUND LABS, Hollywood, California

    Manufactured by CHICAGO RECORDS Inc. / 8900 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 300, Beverly Hills, California 90211

    is a Trademark of CHICAGO MUSIC Inc. under license to CHICAGO RECORDS Inc.

    ©1995 CHICAGO RECORDS Inc




    1. Temporary Jones

      I think of temporary jones
      A reckless soul nobody owns
      They say he s slightly off the beam
      A dreamer following a dream

      No flies on temporary jones
      The open road is in his bones
      Are solid citizens like me
      Onsidered happier than he?

      He feels he only has one lifetime
      With a world of things to do here
      And it s crazy to be tied down
      When we re only passing through here
      Only passing through here

      I often wonder where he is
      With that philosophy of his
      He s one of nature s rolling stones
      I envy temporary jones

    2. Love Song

      You, of everyone i've known
      The only one who's shown me the way
      I can only say that i....
      I like you

      You, with kindness and a smile
      Have given more to me and for a while
      I can only say that i...
      I like you

      In a world that does not care
      You're with me
      Maybe we can leave some love behind

      You need never have to fear
      That i will ever go away from you
      I can only say that i...
      I love you

    3. Crazy Way To Spend A Year

      What am i doing here
      Sitting on a folding chair
      Plastic cups of coffee rare
      Everybody drinking beer

      What am i doing here
      Soaking up the atmosphere
      Trying hard to disappear
      A crazy way to spend a year

      Ten days out is much too long
      If it s right then what is wrong?
      Sleep will help this feelings fly
      Mornings tend to keep me high

      What am i doing here
      Furthering my career
      Wish that i were anywhere
      Under some intensive care

      What am i doing here
      Feel like a volunteer
      Motivation insincere
      A crazy way to spend a year

      Feel like the world s caving in
      I don t know when i ll laugh again
      This life costs too much of me
      You and i instead of we

    4. Until The Time Runs Out

      It seems like yesterday
      We were together everyday
      Until she passed away

      And now I'm all lone
      No love, no one to call my own
      My children never phone

      But there's a place
      Where I can qo
      It's really lovely
      Some qood old boys
      I used to know
      We all aqree
      Frequent afternoons we spend
      Bowlinq the qreen
      We all play till the end
      Till the time runs out
      Until the time runs out

      You know it's such a shame
      The years
      A lifetime playinq qames
      While the world qoes up in flames

    5. Skinny Boy

      When i was a young skinny boy
      My mama said to me
      The world out there is hard and dirty
      Mean as it wants to be
      I know there s gonna be times when you re down and out
      So listen now kid, listen my son
      I ll tell you what it s all about
    chorus:

    You got try to keep your head above the water
    You got to try to keep a step ahead of time
    And even though you ll do some things you shouldn t ought to
    If you love your brothers, love ll come back to you

      I ve lived my life in so many ways
      To find out who i am
      Time s approaching i really can say
      I truly understand
      I know i got more living to do for myself
      To run along now, play along later
      And stay off of the shelf

      I know the world is turning slow
      And slowly it will die
      But that s something i never will see
      I don t know why
      I m trying to take the world the best i can
      To fight a bit now, love a bit later
      And stand up like a man

    6. One Step Forward Two Steps Back

      One step forward
      Two steps back
      Instant replay
      Sneak attacK
      Life's a fooler
      White is black
      One step forward
      Two riqht back

      Trust in the big circle game
      In the sky
      To save us aqain and aqain
      As we try
      One step forward
      Two steps back

      In the space of one year
      It beqins to appear
      That the world which we knew
      Grew much colder

      It's too qood to be true
      And I think over due
      So the new point of view
      Is the older

    7. Fireplace And Ivy

      Fireplace and ivy
      Piano nearby
      Funny paper walls for your eyes
      Persian rug to sleep on
      Windows to the west and south
      A perfect place to drink our coffee
      And talk and dream
      So much had begun
      I sang the words and played the tunes
      And walked down the hill
      To that corner place
      All those nights
      Closer to the people
      But crying inside knowing i would have to go
      Never wanting to
      Oh please be sure of that,
      Leaving was insane i know
      That secret place for us to grow and cry
      When the time came there was nothing to say

    8. Someday I'm Gonna Go

      Someday I'm gonna go
      Someday I'm gonna go
      Far away, far away, far away
      Far, far away
      I'm gonna go
      Far away
      Someday I'm gonna go
      Someday I'm gonna go
      Far away, far away, far away
      Far, far away
      I'm gonna go
      Far away
      I'm gonna go
      I'm gonna go far away

      Did you ever see
      Did you ever want to see
      The way it used to be
      Did you ever try
      Did you ever try
      And there was nothing
      There was nothing
      There was nothing there
      Nothing there

      Did you ever run,
      Did you ever want to run,
      And hide youself away
      Did you ever cry
      Did you ever cry
      'Cause there was nothing
      There was nothing
      There was nothing there
      Nothing there

    9. A Lifetime We

      I found my way
      You saved the day
      I m gonna stay, my lady
      'Cause you always want to play me
      Matinee me

      You gave me blue
      And yellow too
      You sweet zazou, you re shady
      'Cause you love to overdo me
      Rendezvous me

      We realize we harmonize
      What it means to be each other
      Always together as one

      We have the time
      Tequila and lime
      Approaching our prime, my lady
      No telling how high we ll climb, we
      A lifetime we

    10. City Living

      City living
      Just about to break me down
      With the noise and the cars
      And the dirtu streets
      Ain't it sweet
      In the city
      In the city
      In the city

      City living
      Crazy way to spend your time
      With the fun and the girls
      Tryin' to do it all
      You're very small
      In the city
      In the city
      In the city

      City is a lovely place to hide
      Everyone will take you for a ride
      No place else can keep you satisfied

      City living
      Never quite without surprise
      With the good and the bad
      And the Avant Garde
      It's very hard
      In the city
      In the city
      In the city

    11. Crazy Brother John *

      A gentleman came over the sea
      To a valley full of flowers
      Where he courted ladies three
      One of them was dressed in red
      He asked if she would share his bed
      One of them was dressed in green
      He asked if she would be his queen
      The last wore only white
      He asked if she would be his delight
      She said yes

      You may go ask my father the king
      And you must ask my mother the queen
      So you must ask my sister anne
      But do not forget my brother john
      He s a strange boy
      And so he asked her father the king
      And then he asked her mother the queen
      And so he asked her sister anne
      But he forgot her brother john
      Crazy boy

      Her father led them to the hall
      Her mother danced before them all
      Her sister led them to the courtyard
      And sat her on a horse
      ( for the getaway of course )
      it s then john drew his flashing knife
      And robbed the fair maid of her life
      Now she neither sighs nor moans
      She lies beneath the marblestone
      She lies beneath the marblestone
    * - Adapted from Chaucer s Canterbury Tales

    12. Love Song (Hip Hop Shuffle Instrumental)

      (instrumental)

    13. A Song For Richard And His Friends (Jazzy Trio W/Vocal)

      If you will think now, then you will see
      How you can change things
      People are waiting, turning away
      Tired of killing

      Hey now
      Will you go away?
      We're so tired
      Of things that you say

      Even though you never said word
      That would help anyone but yourself
      Tomorrow is such a bad dream
      Oh, bad dream

      If you stay now
      It will only get worse
      Let us pray now
      'Cause the truth really hurts

      Have to be a man
      So today with your brothers and sisters lay dying
      Tomorrow is such a bad dream
      Yeah, such a bad dream

      Listen, please be gone
      Go away and leave us alone
      Bring police
      Go away and leave us in peace, yeah

      Please be gone
      Go away and leave us alone
      Bring police
      Go away and leave us in peace

      Will you go now?
      Will you take all your friends?

      Woah now, if you'd stood like a man
      Even though I know that you cannot be blamed all alone
      For all the sadness you've caused

      Tomorrow is such a bad dream
      Yeah, such a bad dream
      Oh yeah, such a bad dream
      Dig it

      If you will think now you will then you will see
      How we can change things
      People are waiting, turning away
      Tired of killing

    14. Sing to Me Lady


    15. The Door


    16. Some of What


    17. Where 'You Think You're Goin'? (Public Service Ad)