yankee foxtrot hotel / wilco

TourYankee Foxtrot Hotel was produced by Wilco. All words were written by Jeff Tweedy. Music was written by Jeff Tweedy with Jay Bennett except tracks 1, 7, and 11, which were just written by Tweedy. All tracks were published by Words Ampersand Music (Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Co., BMI) and You Want A Piece Of This Music (Bug Music, ASCAP), except tracks 1, 7, 11, which were published solely by Words Ampersand. Horn and string arrangements were written by John Stirratt and Jeff Tweedy. The album was ecorded at The Loft, Chicago. Additional recording was done at CRC and Soma E.M.S. Engi-neers of the record include Jay Bennett, Chris Brickley, Jim O’Rourke and Jonathan Parker. The album was mixed by Jim O’Rourke at Soma E.M.S. and mastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios, London.

A promotional tour for Yankee Foxtrot Hotel began in September of 2001 and the album was released

I am an American aquarium drinker/I assassin down the avenue/I’m hid-ing out in the big city blinking/what was I thinking when I let go of you/let’s forget about the tongue-tied lightning/let’s undress just like cross-eyed strangers/this is not a joke so please stop smiling/what was I thinking when I said it didn’t hurt/I want to glide through those brown eyes dreaming/take you from the inside (baby) hold on tight/you were so right when you said I’ve been drinking/what was I thinking when we said good night/I want to hold you in the bible black predawn/you’re quite a quiet domino bury me now/take off your band aid cuz I don’t believe in touchdowns/what was I thinking when we said hello/I always thought that if I held you tightly/you would always love me like you did back then/then I fell asleep in the city kept blinking/what was I thinking when I let you back in/I am trying to break your heart/I am trying to break your heart/but still I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t easy/I am trying to break your heart/disposable dixie cup drinker/I assassin down the avenue/I’ve been hiding out in the big city blinking/what was I thinking when I let go of you

I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART

01

I am an American aquarium drinker/I assassin down the avenue/I’m hid-ing out in the big city blinking/what was I thinking when I let go of you/let’s forget about the tongue-tied lightning/let’s undress just like cross-eyed strangers/this is not a joke so please stop smiling/what was I thinking when I said it didn’t hurt/I want to glide through those brown eyes dreaming/take you from the inside (baby) hold on tight/you were so right when you said I’ve been drinking/what was I thinking when we said good night/I want to hold you in the bible black predawn/you’re quite a quiet domino bury me now/take off your band aid cuz I don’t believe in touchdowns/what was I thinking when we said hello/I always thought that if I held you tightly/you would always love me like you did back then/then I fell asleep in the city kept blinking/what was I thinking when I let you back in/I am trying to break your heart/I am trying to break your heart/but still I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t easy/I am trying to break your heart/disposable dixie cup drinker/I assassin down the avenue/I’ve been hiding out in the big city blinking/what was I thinking when I let go of you

I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART

01

Midwest15 Sep 2001/Chicago, IL/Abbey Pub

I need a camera to my eye/to my eye reminding/which lies have I been hid-ing/which echoes belong/I’ve counted out days/to see how far/I’ve driven in the dark/with echoes in my heart/phone my family tell them I’m lost on the sidewalk/no it’s not o.k./I smashed a camera/I wanna know why/to my eye deciding/which lies have I been hiding/which echoes belong/I’m counting on/a heart I know by heart/to walk me through this war/memories distort phone my family tell them I’m lost on the sidewalk/no it’s not o.k./I’m counted out/and no one knows how far/I’ve driven in the dark/with echoes in my heart/phone my family tell them I’m lost (yeah I’m lost)/no it’s not o.k.

KAMERA

02

I need a camera to my eye/to my eye reminding/which lies have I been hid-ing/which echoes belong/I’ve counted out days/to see how far/I’ve driven in the dark/with echoes in my heart/phone my family tell them I’m lost on the sidewalk/no it’s not o.k./I smashed a camera/I wanna know why/to my eye deciding/which lies have I been hiding/which echoes belong/I’m counting on/a heart I know by heart/to walk me through this war/memories distort phone my family tell them I’m lost on the sidewalk/no it’s not o.k./I’m counted out/and no one knows how far/I’ve driven in the dark/with echoes in my heart/phone my family tell them I’m lost (yeah I’m lost)/no it’s not o.k.

KAMERA

02

RADIOCURE

03

cheer up/honey I hope you can/there is something wrong with me/my mind is filled with silvery stuff/honey kisses clouds of fluff/shoulders shrugging off/cheer up/honey I hope you can/there is something wrong with me/my mind is filled with radio cures/electronic surgical words/picking apples for the kings and queens of things I've never seen/distance has no way of making love understandable/cheer up/honey I hope you can/there is something wrong with me/my mind is filled with silvery stars/honey kisses clouds of love/picking apples for the kings and queens of things I've never seen/distance has no way of making love understandable/distance has no way of making love/understandable/cheer up/honey I hope you can

Texas21 Sep 2001/Dallas, TX/Gypsy Tea Room 22 Sep 2001/Austin, TX/Stubbs BBQ

RADIOCURE

03

cheer up/honey I hope you can/there is something wrong with me/my mind is filled with silvery stuff/honey kisses clouds of fluff/shoulders shrugging off/cheer up/honey I hope you can/there is something wrong with me/my mind is filled with radio cures/electronic surgical words/picking apples for the kings and queens of things I've never seen/distance has no way of making love understandable/cheer up/honey I hope you can/there is something wrong with me/my mind is filled with silvery stars/honey kisses clouds of love/picking apples for the kings and queens of things I've never seen/distance has no way of making love understandable/distance has no way of making love/understandable/cheer up/honey I hope you can

it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/there’s a war on/you’re gonna lose/you have to lose/you have to learn how to die/let’s watch the miles flying by/let’s watch the miles flying by/you are not my typewriter/but you could be my demon/moving forward through flaming doors/you have to lose/you have to learn how to die/if you wanna wanna be alive/o.k./you have to lose/you have to lose/you have to learn how to die/if you wanna wanna be alive/you have to die/you have to die/you have to learn how to die/if you wanna wanna be alive

WARON WAR

04

South23 Sep 2001/New Orleans, LA/House of Blues 24 Sep 2001/Atlanta, GA/Roxy Theatre

it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/it’s a war on war/there’s a war on/you’re gonna lose/you have to lose/you have to learn how to die/let’s watch the miles flying by/let’s watch the miles flying by/you are not my typewriter/but you could be my demon/moving forward through flaming doors/you have to lose/you have to learn how to die/if you wanna wanna be alive/o.k./you have to lose/you have to lose/you have to learn how to die/if you wanna wanna be alive/you have to die/you have to die/you have to learn how to die/if you wanna wanna be alive

WARON WAR

04

Jesus, don’t cry/you can rely on me honey/you can combine anything you want/I’ll be around/you were right about the stars/each one is a setting sun/tall buildings shake/voices escape singing sad sad songs/tuned to chords strung down your cheeks/bitter melodies turning your orbit around/don’t cry/you can rely on me honey/you can come by any time you want/I’ll be around/you were right about the stars/each one is a setting sun/tall build-ings shake/voices escape singing sad sad songs/tuned to chords strung down your cheeks/bitter melodies turning your orbit around/voices whine skyscrapers are scraping together/your voice is smoking/last cigarettes are all you can get/turning your orbit around/our love/our love/our love is all we have/our love/our love is all of God’s money/everyone is a burning sun

JESUS,ETC

05

East Coast26 Sep 2001/Washington, DC/The 9:30 Club 27 Sep 2001/New York, NY/Town Hall 28 Sep 2001/New York, NY/Town Hall 29 Sep 2001/Philadelphia, PA/Electric Factory 30 Sep 2001/Winooski, VT/Higher Ground 02 Oct 2001/Boston, MA/The Avalon Ballroom

Jesus, don’t cry/you can rely on me honey/you can combine anything you want/I’ll be around/you were right about the stars/each one is a setting sun/tall buildings shake/voices escape singing sad sad songs/tuned to chords strung down your cheeks/bitter melodies turning your orbit around/don’t cry/you can rely on me honey/you can come by any time you want/I’ll be around/you were right about the stars/each one is a setting sun/tall build-ings shake/voices escape singing sad sad songs/tuned to chords strung down your cheeks/bitter melodies turning your orbit around/voices whine skyscrapers are scraping together/your voice is smoking/last cigarettes are all you can get/turning your orbit around/our love/our love/our love is all we have/our love/our love is all of God’s money/everyone is a burning sun

JESUS,ETC

05

the cash machine/is blue and green/for a hundred in twenties/and a small service fee/I could spend three dollars/and sixty-three cents/on diet coca-cola/and unlit cigarettes/I wonder why/we listen to poets/when nobody gives a fuck/how hot and sorrowful/this machine begs for luck/all my lies are always wishes/I know I would die/if I could come back new/I want a good life/with a nose for things/a fresh wind and bright sky/to enjoy my sufferinga hole without a key/if I break my tongue/speaking of tomorrow/how will it ever come/all my lies are always wishes/I know I would die/if I could come back new/I’m down on my hands and knees/every time the doorbell ringsI shake like a toothache/when I hear myself sing/all my lies are only wishes/I know I would die/if I could come back new/I would like to salute/the ashes of American flags/and all the falling leaves/filling up shopping bags

ASHES OFAMERICAN FLAGS

06

Canada04 Oct 2001/Toronoto, ON/The Phoenix

the cash machine/is blue and green/for a hundred in twenties/and a small service fee/I could spend three dollars/and sixty-three cents/on diet coca-cola/and unlit cigarettes/I wonder why/we listen to poets/when nobody gives a fuck/how hot and sorrowful/this machine begs for luck/all my lies are always wishes/I know I would die/if I could come back new/I want a good life/with a nose for things/a fresh wind and bright sky/to enjoy my sufferinga hole without a key/if I break my tongue/speaking of tomorrow/how will it ever come/all my lies are always wishes/I know I would die/if I could come back new/I’m down on my hands and knees/every time the doorbell ringsI shake like a toothache/when I hear myself sing/all my lies are only wishes/I know I would die/if I could come back new/I would like to salute/the ashes of American flags/and all the falling leaves/filling up shopping bags

ASHES OFAMERICAN FLAGS

06

I sincerely miss/those heavy metal bands/I used to go see/on the landing in the summer/she fell in love with the drummer/she fell in love with the drum-mer/she fell in love/shiny shiny pants/bleached blond hair/a double kick drum/by the river in the summer/she fell in love with the drummer/another then another/she fell in love/I miss the innocence I’ve known/playing Kiss covers/beautiful and stoned/unlock my body/and move myself to dance/into warm liquid/flowing blowing glass/classical music blasting/masks the ringing in my ears/oh I sincerely miss/those heavy metal bands/I used to go see/on the landing in the summer/she fell in love with the drummer/she fell in love with another/she fell in love/I miss the innocence I’ve known/playing Kiss covers/beautiful and stoned

HEAVY METALDRUMMER

07

Midwest05 Oct 2001/Detroit, MI/Majestic Theatre 06 Oct 2001/St. Louis, MO/The Pageant 25 Oct 2001/Chicago, IL/ Hideout 23 Nov 2001/Chicago, IL/Riviera Theatre 24 Nov 2001/Chicago, IL/Riviera Theatre

I sincerely miss/those heavy metal bands/I used to go see/on the landing in the summer/she fell in love with the drummer/she fell in love with the drum-mer/she fell in love/shiny shiny pants/bleached blond hair/a double kick drum/by the river in the summer/she fell in love with the drummer/another then another/she fell in love/I miss the innocence I’ve known/playing Kiss covers/beautiful and stoned/unlock my body/and move myself to dance/into warm liquid/flowing blowing glass/classical music blasting/masks the ringing in my ears/oh I sincerely miss/those heavy metal bands/I used to go see/on the landing in the summer/she fell in love with the drummer/she fell in love with another/she fell in love/I miss the innocence I’ve known/playing Kiss covers/beautiful and stoned

HEAVY METALDRUMMER

07

all I can see/is black and white/and white and pink/with blades of blue/that lay between/the words I think/on a page/I was meaning/to send to you/I couldn’t tell/if it would/bring my heart/the way I wanted/when I started/writ-ing this letter to you/but if I could/you know I would/just hold your hand/and you’d understand/I’m the man who loves you/all I can be/is a busy sea of spinning wheels/and hands that feel/for stones to throw/and feet that run but come back home/it makes no difference/ever known/makes no difference/ever known to me/but if I could/you know I would/just hold your hand/and you’d understand/I’m the man who loves you

I’M THE MANWHO LOVES YOU

08

West27 Nov 2001/Missoula, MT/UC Ballroom

all I can see/is black and white/and white and pink/with blades of blue/that lay between/the words I think/on a page/I was meaning/to send to you/I couldn’t tell/if it would/bring my heart/the way I wanted/when I started/writ-ing this letter to you/but if I could/you know I would/just hold your hand/and you’d understand/I’m the man who loves you/all I can be/is a busy sea of spinning wheels/and hands that feel/for stones to throw/and feet that run but come back home/it makes no difference/ever known/makes no difference/ever known to me/but if I could/you know I would/just hold your hand/and you’d understand/I’m the man who loves you

I’M THE MANWHO LOVES YOU

08

crazy rides rockets/waves a magic wand/empty out your pockets/words without a song/I myself have found a real rival in myself/I am hoping for the rearrival of my health/sleeping eye sockets/baby suck your thumb/I’ll keep you in my locket/a string I never strum/It’s become so obvious/you are so oblivious to yourself/I’m tied in a knot/but I’m not/gonna get caught/call-ing a pot kettle black/every song’s a comeback/every moment’s a little bit later/lazy locomotives/wherever you may roll/I think you have no motive/I know you have no home/It’s become so obvious/you are so oblivious to yourself/I’m tied in a knot/but I’m not/gonna get caught/calling a pot kettle black/every song’s a comeback/every moment’s a little bit later

POT KETTLEBLACK

09

North West28 Nov 2001/Seattle, WA/The Moore Theatre 29 Nov 2001/Portland, OR/Roseland Theater

crazy rides rockets/waves a magic wand/empty out your pockets/words without a song/I myself have found a real rival in myself/I am hoping for the rearrival of my health/sleeping eye sockets/baby suck your thumb/I’ll keep you in my locket/a string I never strum/It’s become so obvious/you are so oblivious to yourself/I’m tied in a knot/but I’m not/gonna get caught/call-ing a pot kettle black/every song’s a comeback/every moment’s a little bit later/lazy locomotives/wherever you may roll/I think you have no motive/I know you have no home/It’s become so obvious/you are so oblivious to yourself/I’m tied in a knot/but I’m not/gonna get caught/calling a pot kettle black/every song’s a comeback/every moment’s a little bit later

POT KETTLEBLACK

09

it’s my father’s voice trailing off/sailors sailing off in the morning/for the air conditioned rooms/at the top of the stairs/his jaw’s been broken/his ban-dage is wrapped too tight/his fangs have been pulled/and I really want to see you tonight/there’s bourbon on the breath/of the singer you love so much/he takes all his words from the books/you don’t read anyway/his jaw’s been broken/his bandage is wrapped too tight/his fangs have been pulled and I really want to see you tonight/someone ties a bow/in my backyard to show me love/my voice is climbing walls/smoking and I want love/my jaw’s been broken/my heart is wrapped in ice/my fangs have been pulled/and I really want to see you tonight/it makes no difference to me/how they cried all over overseas/when it’s hot in the poor places tonight/I’m not going out-side/they cried all over overseas it makes no difference to me/when it’s hot in the poor places tonight/I’m not going outside

POORPLACES

10

California01 Dec 2001/San Francisco, CA/The Fillmore 02 Dec 2001/San Francisco, CA/The Fillmore 03 Dec 2001/San Francisco, CA/The Fillmore 05 Dec 2001/ Los Angeles, CA/El Rey Theater 06 Dec 2001/Los Angeles, CA/El Rey Theater

it’s my father’s voice trailing off/sailors sailing off in the morning/for the air conditioned rooms/at the top of the stairs/his jaw’s been broken/his ban-dage is wrapped too tight/his fangs have been pulled/and I really want to see you tonight/there’s bourbon on the breath/of the singer you love so much/he takes all his words from the books/you don’t read anyway/his jaw’s been broken/his bandage is wrapped too tight/his fangs have been pulled and I really want to see you tonight/someone ties a bow/in my backyard to show me love/my voice is climbing walls/smoking and I want love/my jaw’s been broken/my heart is wrapped in ice/my fangs have been pulled/and I really want to see you tonight/it makes no difference to me/how they cried all over overseas/when it’s hot in the poor places tonight/I’m not going out-side/they cried all over overseas it makes no difference to me/when it’s hot in the poor places tonight/I’m not going outside

POORPLACES

10

how can I convince you it’s me I don’t like/not be so indifferent to the look in your eyes/when I’ve always been distant/and I’ve always told lies/for love/I’m bound by these choices so hard to make/I’m bound by the feeling so easy to fake/none of this is real/enough to take me/from you/O I’ve got res-ervations/about/so many things/but/not about you/I know this isn’t what you were wanting me/to say/how can I get closer and be further away/from the truth/that proves it’s beautiful/to lie/I’ve got reservations/about/so many things/but/not about you/I…reservations/about/so many things/but/not about you/not about you/not about you/not about you/it’s not about you

RESERVATIONS

11

West08 Dec 2001/Denver, CO/Ogden Theatre

how can I convince you it’s me I don’t like/not be so indifferent to the look in your eyes/when I’ve always been distant/and I’ve always told lies/for love/I’m bound by these choices so hard to make/I’m bound by the feeling so easy to fake/none of this is real/enough to take me/from you/O I’ve got res-ervations/about/so many things/but/not about you/I know this isn’t what you were wanting me/to say/how can I get closer and be further away/from the truth/that proves it’s beautiful/to lie/I’ve got reservations/about/so many things/but/not about you/I…reservations/about/so many things/but/not about you/not about you/not about you/not about you/it’s not about you

RESERVATIONS

11