In the "A Note On The Text" section of the book it states: In some sections of this book, certain poem titles and texts have been altered from their original publication.

The poems in italic have, for this edition, incorporated the word "commentary" into the title.

Selections from Beautiful Losers and Book of Mercy were given titles for this edition.

All but three of the poems selected for this edition from The Energy of Slaves were originally untitled.

[1] Lyrics omitted from the collection: "Stories of the Street," "A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes," "The Old Revolution," "The Butcher," "Tonight Will Be Fine," "Last Year's Man," "Dress Rehearsal Rag," "Love Calls You by Your Name," "Sing Another Song, Boys," "Lover Lover Lover," "Leaving Green Sleeves," "Iodine," "Death of a Ladies Man," "Humbled in Love," "The Smokey Life," "The Law," "Hunter's Lullaby," "Heart With No Companion," "Jazz Police," "Tacoma Trailer."