Song Lyrics
Heroines
In her opinion
Money dignifies anything
Snowy girls peek at bitterness
Imagination falters
Tragedies of painted women
There aren't any new ones
I have seen all the ones there are
There aren't any new ones
Don't get the sun in my eyes
I can't swim
I'm everywhere and sometimes and somewhere soon
They think he writes all the songs
There aren't any new ones
I have sung all the songs there are
There aren't any new ones
Firefly dreams
Tears at the seams
Scars (stars) that can't be seen
Heroines
back
Extracts
Sprinklers woke me every night at two
hid gin in old bottles of shampoo
From the mountains we noticed wood walls were only photos
we drank extracts at home in the bathroom in the dark
Holy spaces parked cars and dark parks
we drank extracts in the bathroom in the dark
Bad manners in the mountains
falling down in the fields and the fountains
after midnight the sprinklers let loose
and we did too
stars or straws made sips simple
they'd crumple
back
The Guest
Stuck in a cage tornado-eyed in a house
Up on a mountain some call family some call spouses
And her house is fairly often full of company
Arched velvet wine fools most ancient entertainers
The sky is one of many surprises as she tries to feel at home
But I guess she's still the guest
It doesn't seem right if you look at it
Especially through the tv to all uncouncious when she's weary
I believe they call that sleep
She feels weightless and holy original fairly free vacation in a fantasy
The sky is one of many surprises as she starts to feel at home
But I guess she's still the guest
She may as well be on her own now avoid catastrophe
There are oceans of it in that valley
The sky looks like wrapping paper
It's so interesting to talk to her in a patch of some sort
The sky is one of many surprises as she starts to feel at home
But I guess she's still the guest
back
Pretty Feet
Have you ever seen justice fall all around your pretty feet
don't you ever question it at all just look around
everywhere it's fucked up now
I can see it now oh man the way I've been treated
the time I spend listening to lies
come on now see if I can take it
come on now I see it's in your eyes
you know I've seen it you and all your lies
Too many times I've favored the wind in my hair
pushing dreams to my face
avoiding what I couldn't bear to see
What's fucked up what I believed in
whatever that was I can't recieve it
it doesn't involve me I wash my hands clean
take back my trust from this corrupt scene
manipulate the dirty truth
For a long time I waited
it took an effort to wake my hushed mind
see all that I hated
it's going to take some time to find what struck me
This joyless sunshine this feeling of death
I've seen it for sometime it's just a little change
sweet change of nature meant to chase dull care away
meant to move me
back
Pennies
break the silence for a time
little mention of the crime
though I used to rub his feet
when he won't talk I'll cheat
all i knew what I said I said I said
all I knew
I try to read his face
confrontation to take place
'cause he never does his part
lost the trailer and my heart
all I knew and what I said I said I said
all I knew and what I meant I meant I meant
all I knew
stretching limbs to become whole
anyway that's just my role to be good
saving pennies in a jar
so that I can go to the bar
pay in pennies stuffed in rolls
nobody wants to accept those
back
Drawn To
Pretty poisoness years
Nearly drained me of all my tears
Taking precious bites of my skin
'Cause they knocked and I let them come in
But I don't even like them anyway
Still I'm drawn to the poison
Pretty blossoms that want me for a day
Kept my sorrows contained
Klthough I knew they were coming
My head was caught up in him
'Cause he knocked and I let him come in
But I don't even like him anyway
Still I'm drawn to the poison
Pretty blossoms that want me for a day
I said something
I said what it was
i said something
I said put my finger on it
Put my finger on it
I didn't even want it
I don't even want it
back
I Knew You When
I knew you when
you sat me down
and gave me a papercut
on all your beliefs
you left a bad deal
to find you a good one
stretch your toes across these states
and make some mistakes
I knew you when
I knew you when
you played me your records
taught me the blues
painted my portrait
took my polaroid
then you said I could choose
I knew you when
I knew you when
I knew you when
you said you wanted to be in those magazines
more and more that just isn't my dream
I've nothing to prove about it
nothing to say
except when you come home for christmas
will you come out to play
I knew you when
I knew you when
back
Amended
amended long pauses
pretended to take the blame again
explain don't complain
offended just causes
suspended and go away again
respect don't protect
to put it right again
to make it right again
intended small loses
amended and play the game again
deliver me from all that's shattered
to put it right again
to set it right again
to make it right again
to pray it's right again
back
Thirst
Dusty dirt cigarette
hallway keep top lock lock
at always grey sky
grey ash falling
grey circles keep me stalling
I'll get away from it all
with a free ride on the free side
of the big city
looks like my thirst has gotten worse
looks to me you'd be so good
going down
I'm not hesitating
I'm sick and tired of waiting
I'll get what I want and I'll leave the rest aside
you gotta see mine
you gotta oh oh pour the wine
let it flow
you gotta see mine
you gotta
I want more of it so pour the wine
I'm not kicking
I'm not gonna stick it to you
no need to look so terrified
not safe for never be never will
so take what's real from the wild free side
you gotta see mine
you gotta oh oh pour the wine
pour it slow
back
20 Mile Bridge
Spinning our wheels
no one knows
before anyone knows we're there
snows in Georgia
Memphis Tennessee
we're there
we're there
sin in the moon
they were known
sin in the moon
made sure they were known
bridge freezes
before the road takes you there
you've been to every city
you're names on the wall
it's there
it's there
sin in the moon
they were known
made sure they were known
sin in the moon
20 mile bridge
write what you know
on a nervous stomach
keep your voice low
don't you know
you're always lied to
write what you know
on a sour stomach
keep your voice low
don't you know
you're always lied to
write what you know
on a nervous stomach
keep your voice low
don't you know
you're always lied to
back
Out of Town
Everybody needs you
They'll say you let them down
And I know 'cause I answer the phone
And I wrote those messages down
Everybody needs you but not me
I treat you like a clown
And you're out of town
You leave the town for Hollywood
and I think that's good
You had dreams of being a star
And they'll take you far
In New York you'll act like the rest of us
In the sewers and on the bus
So take off that frown
Cause you're leaving out of town
You're out of town
Everybody needs you
They'll say you let them down
And I know 'cause I answer the phone
And I wrote those messages down
Everybody needs you but not me
I treat you like a clown
And you're out of town
back
Freewheelin Johnnie
What Johnny was
what Johnny said he was
what Johnny was
what Johnny said he was
what Johnnie was
girl gets real
Johnny wants to freewheel
what Johnnie was
what Johnnie said he was
"I feel bad, made you sad"
was what he said and thought he meant
it's such a shame that you get fooled
again again, again again
I hate time, I hate space
I hate that look upon your face
that says it might as well be Mars
where I'm from
A fantasy
spat back at me
boy of the big world
one that turns
it's such a shame that I get fooled
I hate news, I hate space
I hate that look upon your face
that says it might as well be Mars
where I'm from
back
Steal
A song for you baby, for each girl I've known
I should have left you alone
But I want to eat dirt, to suckle the Earth
And have a virgin birth
I am alive, afraid, mistakes I've made
They make me cry
I'll have to steal, to lie, to cheat and hide
I wanna fly
fade away
Loam and clay I'm unclean today
For I have dug a new grave
cuz I wanna eat dirt, to suckle the Earth
But it was you that I hurt
I am alive, afraid, mistakes I've made
They let me know how you feel
Hope I finally find you wearing a smile
That I didn't mean to steal
Fade away
Fade away
I'll have to fade away
back
Cafe No Problem
is it just a front anyone out back
though the gates are down anyone out back
closed
it's always closed
little kids made of glass
were reflected in the empty case made of glass
closed
it's always closed
that's the phantom
sure she's ever happened
that's the phantom
sure she ever knew
I was half asleep anyone out back
though the gates are down anyone out back
closed
it's always closed
back
Evangeline Falls
Cold, cranky and caught up
in potential
she carries it around in her pocket
sometimes she takes it out
and looks at it
and she's reminded
of everything
she still hasn't done
panning for gold in her hometown
checking out rivers
looking for a way out
she doesn't know what she's there for
she doesn't know what it means
but she knows what it means to need
strike
gold
strike
gold
strike
gold
strike
gold
back
Futurectomy
I catch you looking at me
from my eyes forward
What what shape things to come
What shape the sun
Might we lose what we found
on the ground of today
The future, we set it on fire
Crucified this part of my brain
Intending to grow
Like toddlers in the snow
Like there's no tommorrow
Like there's no tommorrow
back
Dying on the Vine
meet me at the edge of something sacred sometime
I'll hold your breath if you hold mine
I had it safe
in your mouth
I thought it was good
I knew that I was only waiting
I kiss skies or lids of eyes not yours
only I'm a wreck every week
it gets worse a little lonley
I had it all safe
in your heart
I knew it was good
I thought that I could live forever
In case you didn't notice
I'm dying on the vine
in case you weren't around to
speak your piece when I spoke mine
in case you didn't notice
some eyes grow dim while yours shine
hush now baby darlin'
breathe slowly
I'll hold your breath if you hold mine for me
I had it all
safe in your mouth
I knew it was good
I thought that I could live forever
In case you didn't notice
I'm dying on the vine
in case you weren't around to
speak your piece when I spoke mine
in case you didn't notice
some eyes grow big while yours shine
back
Hysteria
Pull the girl out of the wings
she's been waiting
getting dizzy killing spiders spinning webs
soft steps hard kisses full flung on the neighbors
I checked it out and these aren't strange behaviors
HYSTERIA - IT'S NOT HER, IT'S NOT HER
HYSTERIA - IT'S NOT HER
Once she's out she's throwing fits
she's not used to it
she's been busy licking up the spills she did not spill
I tried to help her, she fell down
she threw up and I fell down
getting dizzy in those bright-eye-lights
I shut them off
HYSTERIA - IT'S NOT HER, IT'S NOT HER
HYSTERIA - IT'S NOT HER
Months go by I come around
she's not out of it
she's been daily beaten down
I wasn't around to pull her out of it
she can't eat and she can't like the way she looks
sits around the house reading self-help books
HYSTERIA - IT'S NOT HER, IT'S NOT HER
HYSTERIA - IT'S NOT HER
back
Spirit is Willing
He's leaving today
Got carried away
Too drunk for his theories
Too weary to play
And though the heart felt
The mouth couldn't speak
The spirit is willing
The flesh it is weak
Must give up my blessings
To capture my beasts
I found it quite thrilling
To sleep with a freak
Flirting with insanity and sin
Spirit willing, spirit will
Because I happen to exist
I should live in bliss
I polished my armor
To capture the beast
Got drunk with my theories
Too fearful to sleep
Those down to Earth
Inherit the meek
The spirit is willing
The flesh it is weak
Flirting with insanity again
Spirit willing, spirit can't
Convince the body of the sin
Crushing cigarettes into skin
There was a time there was a place
Spirit willing, spirit will
Because I happen to exist
I should live in bliss
I should live in bliss
I will live in bliss
I will live in bliss
Fighting for the will
Fight against the will
Fighting for the will
the will
back
Dusty
the spell
was broken
the gifts
were taken back
a lightning
so
und
flashed
I was taken
aback
the radio
scratchy
sporadic news
announcements
we sat
backs to the wall
scraping skins
and facing facts
I SAVE MYSELF
THE DUST OF THE ROTTING GRIP
AND I HAVE NO STRENGTH
NOT TO LET MY FOOTHOLD SLIP
TEN FINGERS WORTH
I GRIP THE ROCK
TWENTY-FOUR MORE
UNTIL I STOP
my leather coat
soaked up the ground
moisture
and addicts
a tiny wound
a little sound
I made this
while you were gone
while you were gone
i held
on
I SAVE MYSELF
FROM THE DUST OF THE ROTTING GRIP
AND I HAVE NO FAITH
NOT TO LET MY FOOTHOLD SLIP
TEN FINGERS WORTH
I GRIP THE ROCK
TWENTY-FOUR MORE
UNTIL I STOP
I said goodbye
to the bathroom walls
which for so long
had held my
attentions
you gave me nothing to work with
though you gave me soul
nothing to work with
though you made me
whole
back
Angels 2
miss mixer and emily sweet
dressed like angels w/guaze wrapped around their feet
shared souls w/some of us
who crossed this world on a bus
made a name for themselves on the page
slandered and slaughtered because they'd caught the rage
of the age of seventeen
well of course they were going to be mean
they knew
they knew
angels two
tattered clothing tattered heads
not so fresh from their carmelized beds
they landed on the floor
getting more than they asked for
never mind what they've been through
they were raised not to pick on you
unless of course they do
it's understandable
they know
what to do
angels 2
they felt
they felt like someone needs
hands off they asked you please
bent back
they asked like someone pleads
hands off they asked you please
in the canyon finally to smile
holding hands for a little while
until the wind had to blow
and it was time to go
never mind what they had been through
they were raised not ot pick on you
unless of course they do
it's understandable
they knew
they knew
angels 2
angels 2
back
Special
my dim clothes
turned down nose
i prefer
hiding in shadows
hit me again
with your soft grin
I'll never win
your affection
I stay home
I am alone
don't make no plans
I don't play in bands
so hit me again
with your soft grin
I'll never win
your affection
I'll send my fears around for another look at this town
send my fears around for another look at this town
send my fears around
send my fears around
I'll send my fears around for another look at this
back
The Way of Colleen
found it out
momma said, make your bed
colleen found a girl instead
felt bad again
called her a friend
instead of what
I knew her to be
found it out, shut it out
don't you go, the way of Colleen
It's my mother's worstest dream
felt bad again
called her my friend
instead of what...
no no no no no no no no
I can't ever tell her so
she's the one who cannot know
the way of Colleen is the way I go
found it out, shut it out
don't you go the way of Colleen
she's my sister so it seems
back
Spanish Olive
It was the first time I ever said a swear word.
It was damn.
Well, actually, it was God damnit.
Spanish Olive
I said it to him because he did something to a friend of mine.
I can't remember exactly what he did to her.
I was mostly pissed, but partially confused.
Spanish Olive
partially confused
At this point, none of the boys had ever liked me.
That's why I was safe to protect her.
I had nothing to lose.
Spanixh Olive
partially confused
I was scared and repulsed by him at the same time.
But I was supposed to want him to like me!
Eventually, I learned to want him to like me.
Now I can't live without him.
He ran around and around and around the dusty diamond.
It was a sunny sunny day.
I used to pick dandelions and buttercups.
Flipping around the monkeybars.
Feeling itchy, and dirty.
I hated being a girl.
back
Let Me Go
let me go
I wanna go so let me go
if it's fair
I don't care
I'll still run my fingers through your hair
let the sleeping boy lie
let the girl say goodbye
singing her lullabye
that says what's mine is mine
tried to run
ruby fell
ruby ruled my head there for a spell
let loose the dogs of war
lay down the law
I wanna go so let me
back
Pale Blue Sweatshirt
She is on parade today
if she's my mistress then I'm her slave
she would never take a spouse
in her pale blue sweatshirt painting my house
I know
I know
you'll linger on
you are so slow
He leaves me lying on his floor
if he's the sea then I'm the shore
building castles made of sand
in her pale blue sweatshirt he takes my hand
I know
I know
you'll linger on
you are so slow
Fortune smiled upon me dear
fortune made it vry clear
nature gave me a nasty chore
it's a task I like to ignore
and if it's the same to you
you'll be a vision dressed in blue
back
Stories (road trip #81)
Motel up north in rainy season by the ocean
Buy me a drink it is enough it's a magic potion
I turned the tables sat by the door and watched the telephone ring
I am amongst them they do crazy things, the craziest things
We spent time on the road
In back seats, in bars
Dressed in dirty laundry
And parked amongst the cars
I know it's not the truth but I chose to believe it
Just taking my medicene rolling up my pretty sleeve
You are my angel o pretty one o savage one
You sculpt you stories like a vagabond intentionally
We spent time on the road in back seats in bars
We dressed in dirty laundry and parked amongst the cars
back
Daddy Drum Drum
daddy drum drum you were here
for 20 years
wanted to play the drums every day
daddy drum drum help us out
knock don't shout
daddy drum drum
ludwig pearl
for your little girl
to your lounge act
we will take you back
daddy drum drum one rim shot
all you've got
daddy drum drum
you made a record
in the fifties
heard it on the radio
it was called
bad
bad
guitar
man
for awhile
it came true
for awhile
daddy drum drum magic tricks
with your drum sticks
your hard hits could do the trick
daddy drum drum knock us out
help don't shout
daddy drum drum
for awhile it was you for awhile it came true for awhile
back
Plaster
hollow walls that we had painted
hollow faith in what was tainted
oh the things these walls have seen
I tried to wash them but they wouldn't come clean
later on I tried to
figure out what's wrong
later on I got too strong
I tried to spit away the sugar
I tried to sit in a different chair
instead I covered the walls with plaster
covered up what I think about when I sit and stare
all alone I might not
figure out what's wrong
all alone I'll get too strong
to say that I just might tag along
protect the walls that I have plastered
enjoy this loneliness i've mastered
later on I tried to
bring you back but that's up to you
I put toothpaste on your pillow
I laid kisses on your head
you were weeping like a willow
you were weeping at what I said
I put plaster on the walls
I played marbles in the hall
no more marbles in the hall
no more staring at the plaster on the wall
back
Turtles
days last like turtles and she's not supposed to worry
but the clock keeps moving slowly
and she doesn't have time to waste
she waits
seems like forever
waiting
but she doesn't believe
climbing the walls wearing out the floors she just wants to escape
so she lives in her mind around around around around
nights go on eternally and she's not supposed to worry
but her heart keeps pounding slowly
and she doesn't have life to waste
they say to live in the moment to live in today
she can't help thinking about tommorrow
she needs to know
around the walls around the floors she just can't get out of her head
so she lives there inside her mind
and she doesn't have life to waste
back