Jackson Browne – If I Only Had A Brain lyrics

(from the soundtrack album the wizard of oz in concert: dreams do come true; performed by jackson browne backed by ry cooder & david sanborn)

See, I can't scare anybody.
They come from miles around
To laugh in my face and eat in my field.

Said a scarecrow swinging on a pole,
To some blackbirds sittin' on a fence,
"oh, the lord gave me a soul,
But, forgot to give me common sense. "

Said the blackbirds, "well, well, well.
What the thunder would you do with common sense? "
Said the scarecrow, "would be pleasin'
Just to reason out the reason
Of the wishes and the whyness and the whence"

If I had an once of common sense...
(if he had an ounce of common sense)

(well, what would you do scarecrow? ")

I would while away the hours
Conferin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.

I'd unravel every riddle,
For every individle,
In trouble or in pain.
With the thoughts I'd be thinkin',
I could be another lincoln,
If I only had a brain.

Oh i-- could tell you why,
The ocean's near the shore.
I could think of things I never thought before,
Then I'd sit-- and think some more.

I would not be just a nothin',
My head all full of stuffin',
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and by merry,
Life would be a dingle derry,
If I only had a brain.

If I only had a brain--
(if he only had a brain.)

I could tell you why
The ocean's near the shore.
I could think of things I never thought before
And then I'd sit-- and think some more.

Ya, it would be kind of pleasin'
To reason out the reason,
For the things I can't explain.
Then perhaps I'd deserve you,
And be even worthy of you,
If I only had a brain.

I could dance and by merry,
Life would be a dingle derry,
If I only had a brain.

If I only had a brain.
(if he only had a brain.)