Unofficial studio version
Two, three, four
You stare in the mirror at the lines in your face
And you try to see, girl
The way things were when we were at your place
In the days it was just you and me, girl
And you cry because things ain't like before
Well don't you know they can't be that way anymore
But don't worry baby
But I can't talk now, I'm not alone
So put your ear close to the phone
'Cause this is the last dance
This is the last chance for hearts of stone
Hmmm
If there was something, baby, that I could do
Something that would last, honey, I would
But we all know, girl, especially you do
How you can't return to your past, no
So girl close your eyes and I'll be there
Hold me once more and we can go anywhere
Ah, we could babe
Oh with you I can't talk, I'm not alone
Just put your ear close to the phone
This is the last dance
The last chance for hearts of stone
Whoa well, Big Man
With you I can't talk, I'm not alone
So put your ear close to the phone
Baby this is the last chance
The last dance for hearts of stone
Whoa yes it is babe
You stare in your mirror at the lines in your face
And now you try once again to see
The way it was, the way it was when it was you and me
And you cry because things get so strange, so fast
And you cry because times change and you lived in the past
Well I know babe
If there was something I could do
Well baby I promise I would
But this is the last dance
The last chance for hearts of stone
This the last dance
The last chance for hearts of stone
Hmmm
The above lyrics are for an unofficial studio version of HEARTS OF STONE, recorded on 14 Oct 1977 at The Record Plant in New York City, NY. It's the same core recording as the official studio version which was released on the Tracks box set in 1998, but a different mix.
This original 1977 recording of HEARTS OF STONE has been heavily edited and polished for its release on the Tracks box set. A horn section and background vocals were added, and the verses in the second half of the song were drastically rearranged or edited out (see details below).
Count-in:
The count-in is edited out on the official studio version.
Unofficial studio version: Two, three, four Official studio version: [not available]
Verse 1:
This verse is left intact on the official studio version.
Unofficial studio version: You stare in the mirror at the lines in your face And you try to see, girl The way things were when we were at your place In the days it was just you and me, girl And you cry because things ain't like before Well don't you know they can't be that way anymore But don't worry baby Official studio version: You stare in the mirror at the lines in your face And you try to see, girl The way things were when we were at your place In the days it was just you and me, girl And you cry because things ain't like before Well don't you know they can't be that way anymore But don't worry baby
Verse 2:
This verse is left intact on the official studio version.
Unofficial studio version: But I can't talk now, I'm not alone So put your ear close to the phone 'Cause this is the last dance This is the last chance for hearts of stone Hmmm Official studio version: But I can't talk now, I'm not alone So put your ear close to the phone 'Cause this is the last dance This is the last chance for hearts of stone Hmmm
Verse 3:
This verse is left intact on the official studio version.
Unofficial studio version: If there was something, baby, that I could do Something that would last, honey, I would But we all know, girl, especially you do How you can't return to your past, no So girl close your eyes and I'll be there Hold me once more and we can go anywhere Ah, we could babe Official studio version: If there was something, baby, that I could do Something that would last, honey, I would But we all know, girl, especially you do How you can't return to your past, no So girl close your eyes and I'll be there Hold me once more and we can go anywhere Ah, we could babe
Verse 4:
On the official studio version, the first line in this verse is replaced by the first line from verse 2.
Unofficial studio version: Oh with you I can't talk, I'm not alone Just put your ear close to the phone This is the last dance The last chance for hearts of stone Whoa well, Big Man Official studio version: But I can't talk now, I'm not alone Just put your ear close to the phone This is the last dance The last chance for hearts of stone Whoa well, Big Man
Verse 5:
This verse is edited out on the official studio version.
Unofficial studio version: With you I can't talk, I'm not alone So put your ear close to the phone Baby this is the last chance The last dance for hearts of stone Whoa yes it is babe Official studio version: [not available]
Verse 6:
This verse is edited out on the official studio version and replaced by the last three lines from verse 1, plus a fourth line ("I know it baby") that was added in 1998 ─ the vocals on the fourth line are obviously modern.
Unofficial studio version: You stare in your mirror at the lines in your face And now you try once again to see The way it was, the way it was when it was you and me And you cry because things get so strange, so fast And you cry because times change and you lived in the past Well I know babe Official studio version: And you cry because things ain't like before Well don't you know they can't be like that anymore But don't worry baby I know it baby
Verse 7 (lines 1-2):
On the official studio version, these lines are replaced by lines 1-2 from verse 2.
Unofficial studio version: If there was something I could do Well baby I promise I would Official studio version: But I can't talk now, I'm not alone So put your ear close to the phone
Verse 7 (lines 3-4):
On the official studio version, these lines are replaced by lines 3-4 from verse 4 (of the unofficial studio version).
Unofficial studio version: But this is the last dance The last chance for hearts of stone Official studio version: Baby this is the last chance The last dance for hearts of stone
Verse 7 (lines 5-6):
These lines are left intact on the official studio version.
Unofficial studio version: This the last dance The last chance for hearts of stone Hmmm Official studio version: This is the last dance The last chance for hearts of stone Hmmm
This unofficial studio version of HEARTS OF STONE has been in circulation on bootlegs since the mid-eighties. It can now be on several CD bootlegs, including Darkness Outtakes 1978 Vol. 2: The Way (Scorpio) [track 16], Son You May Kiss The Bride (unknown label) [track 06], and The Definitive Darkness Outtakes Collection (E. St. Records) [disc 1, track 07].
List of available versions of HEARTS OF STONE on this website:
HEARTS OF STONE [Official studio version]
