after the fact
i don’t want to fall in love with you · after you’ve gone away · i don’t want to remember your face · when it’s covered in shame · i don’t want to set the table for two · if you never plan to show · i don’t think this is a very good idea · i don’t like all those tricks you pull · you can hardly be yourself · the strongest thing you could ever be · is not hurting for someone else · see i’ve never been a slave to love · love is servant to itself · i don’t think this is a very good idea · don’t go climbing ladders leaning on the wrong walls · it’s much too sad to study maps · of worlds already gone · i hate to abandon my philosophy · it’s just starting to make sense · when you know, then it’s time to go · and if you stay the knowing fades away · what’s the sense in the one i love · sleeping at the foot of my bed · why should you guard your heart · when the danger’s in your head · i could have given you everything · but you took it all instead · i didn’t think that was a very good idea
change
free birdsong i heard pick a peck, pick a word · find a proper tree and build a proper nest · of all your shiny treasures coins are far from best · it’s not all things that a coin can fetch · empty out your pockets take this simple test · think you have the answer pencil in your yes · roll up your sleeves and wear your heart upon your chest · it’s not all things that a coin can fetch · tight fist, loose change · think you it a little strange · the number seven will send you off to heaven · the number eight is a bright clean slate · once i was a debutante maybe you’d have guessed · once i was a pauper who slept with pigs and pests · we’re born rich and ugly we are born poor and blessed · it’s not all things that a coin can fetch · tight fist, loose change · think you it a little strange · the number seven will send you off to heaven · the number eight is a bright clean slate · and i’ve made so many wishes · i’ve wished so many fates · on tomorrow, and tomorrow all imaginary dates
anchors aweigh
robots are the turn-on of the century · doesn’t change what gemini meant to me · in the tropical heat each day is valentine’s · in the frozen degrees we can slow stuff down · slow down our breath like yogis and ninjas · and fake our deaths · wouldn’t that be a neat trick · slipping off just to give your heart a break from the beat · anchors aweigh · i don’t want to hurt no one i cried · don’t know maybe i’ve got the evil eye · like midas’s touch ‘stead of turning gold · seems i’m kissing goodbye whomever i’m kissing hello · and every day monsters rear fierce gods · i’m the monster and they’re the gods · they rise up and pull me out of my cave to the light · anchors aweigh · arrested was the heart of my dear old dad · he sat up in bed said i’m not dead yet · you can tell that to all of the worried ears · i’m sticking it out for a star-studded grip of years · so let the magnificent squalls come · where’s my compass and where’s my rum? · weigh the anchor let’s take her out for a moonlit run · let’s take her out for a moonlit run
where you at
you gone, gone one, solid gone · and i’m as sober as the rent · had it been me instead of you · what madness you’d have got into · i couldn’t sing you a nice enough suit · to keep you dancing in your human shoes · if i could play you the boll weevil blues · would you come and hum my shabby tune · not when you’re rollin’ phat · meanwhile looking perfect on paper · nice new hat · dapper ghost the handsomest vapor · schedule a century of séances · break dates with lovers and fiancés · tryst with you in the cemetery · give you my body, write my own obituary · now, would i do that · and pay to have it put in the paper · would i wear that hat · just to catch a breath of your vapor · kicked out, it’s finally kicked in · no house, no pot to piss in · who needs that when you’ve reached ascension · jetset jumbie, touring dimensions · where you at · meanwhile looking perfect on paper · nice new hat · dapper ghost, the handsomest vapor · you’re rollin’ phat · serenading gargoyles and shivas · you’re a real missed cat · who never made the promise to please us
ego trip
my life, i guess, didn’t end · when i said goodbye to my best, best, best, best friend · it seemed like the whole world cared · i’m glad i gave his mother that lock of his hair · when she thinks of me i wonder what she sees · so i quit my fucking job i threw shit away i got on a plane · people are kind here they give me their money · they lend me their ear · when they think of me i wonder what they see · no sentimental sap, no bitch-slappin’ rap · just a smile from a friend every time the road bends · and it rains, and i feel like an actor · when it’s cold and it rains i feel like an actor · when it’s cold and it rains i feel like a poet · and when it’s cold and it rains i feel like a poser
yo, baby, yo
well the new york girls are pretty · in their city park walks in their nice frocks · you’d like to be one, be one · and if every other boy’s got a guitar in his arms · trying to make it mean so mean what’s it mean · yo, baby, yo baby, yo baby, yo · fall for lullabies of the invisible boy · gladly, blindly fall in visible love · and if heaven is the hot new place to be meeting · then shit, you’re late but he’ll wait, he’ll wait · singing yo, baby, yo, cry, baby, yeah · wherever you go there’s a way to be sad · through the taxi traffic to the pyramid square · where you sit and stare and give away smoke, no joke · singing yo, baby, yo, cry, baby, yeah · wherever you go there’s a way to be · sad for his mama, sad for you · sad for his grandma, sad for you · in the magic twenty minutes · when your day is picture perfect · if you salute the sun, that’s a good one · black angel holds you by the shoulders · says “woman, if you cry into the sidewalk · you’re as sane as the rain”
i'm not asking you
in the field you stood a tree · your head was up, your mind a puppet show · and in the street you marched ahead · your eyes were closed, your heart a trumpet blow · i’m not asking you to believe in me · soaked and oaked and aged in steel · bled by bugs and still you’re pure appeal · but what has come to fill your lungs · what chirp, what trill become your only thrill · i’m not asking you to believe in me · sing to save your soul, sign the waiver · i’m not asking you to believe in me
drum
you’ll only have medicine scars and patience · i’ll be your memory i’ll be your tongue · you are my moon drop when sleep is a-fleeing · i’ll be the high hat you be the kick drum · we’ve got a cool, cool rhythm a-drumming · we’ve got a sweet little six string a-strumming · i’ve got a sweet tooth you’ve got a big tongue · i’ll be the ride now if you be the bass drum · we have so much to discuss · your last visit was really rushed · i guess i’ll see you in the next song · i’ll hum your disappearance all life long · when you hum your throat glows agate blue · atlantean flash in a sunset hue · i’ll be the compass you be the rudder · no you be the fiddle i’ll be the kettle (drum) · we have so much to discuss · your last visit was really rushed · i guess i’ll see you in the next song · i’ll hum your disappearance all life long
there is nothing
there is nothing so romantic as being left alone · with the madness of your mind and the anguish of time · scourging pacing preening for grace · hiding your face from your own mean gaze · i knew this long ago · there is nothing so romantic as being left alone · being let go from a stubborn embrace · finding innocence in strangers · finding strangers in ourselves · being still for once and finding it helps · i knew this long ago
will to love
(neil young)
it has often been my dream · to live with one who wasn’t there · ocean fish who swam upstream · through nets by hooks and hungry bears · when the water grew less deep · my fins were aching from the strain · i’m swimming in my sleep · i know i can’t go back again · got the will to love (never lose it) · got the will to love (never lose the will to love) · got the will to love (never lose the will) · got the will to love (it’s something from above) · i’m a singer on the stage · with golden lights and liquid rage · down from the mountains to the sea · cool running love keeps cleansing me · sometimes i ramble on and on · til all my friends are gone · i see what isn’t really there · like my true lover and i care · got the will to love (never lose it) · got the will to love (never lose the will to love) · got the will to love (never lose the will) · got the will to love (it’s something from above)
human prize
(shane gooding/alisha westerman)
i could be a human prize · flashbulb scars, pale blue eyes · and take my limo home · and i could stroll the city street · hear them stare, see them scream · and feel so alone · with who, owl? · i could be a billionaire · tie my tie, lose my hair · and take my learjet home · and i could have an easy sleep · live off stock and count the sheep · and end my days alone · this got me out of the office · i could be a working dad · feed my kids, bleed my hands · bring the paycheck home · and i could be a single mom · put on my face and work three jobs · and do it all alone · with who, owl? · this got me out of the office