TONGUES & TEETH

THE MINUTES EXCITE

“Take your hand and trace the lines”, I said
“Follow the cracks to see where our future is being led”
Because sometimes it feels like this body knows more than my head
Maybe now is the time to trust these feet instead
Time to just start walking without another word being said

It seems like we lead a long and ragged life
The wrinkles accounting for every single sore, scrape, bruise, break, pain and strife
But now the sun hits your skin and I can see nothing but light
The glare all around brightening every single thing in sight
The seconds exist, but the minutes. . . the minutes excite!

Because these are our bones, that have been broken long, I’m amazed they have kept working since the day their struggle proved too strong
So touch your hands to mine, as in this moment we’ll find there’s nothing more divine then knowing we’ll keep moving forward to the light

There is no way we can help but grow so now I know everything will turn out right
The seconds exist, but the minutes. . . the minutes excite!

THE TIMING

As I looked past my hand there was just no way to understand how we’re always in a stance trying to survive
While attempting to avoid the blows I thought of all the things I’ll never know and how easily this can all be so terrifying

The world seems so much bigger than us, it can break our leg, it can lose our trust and it seems no matter what we want we’re always walking the line
Poisonous clouds up there in the air, or something entirely new to fear, and it always wrestles with my ear, “Are we dying?”

We must protect our fragile bones and our fragile hearts, (as the time we have has an end and it seems like we just started to rest our feet as the days discreetly got up and walked away), and now it seems like all we doo-doo-doo

With so many things we will never know something told us it was finally time to grow and so we decided it was time to decide
We made a choice to love the simple times, legs kicked up with a bottle of wine but what finally made us change our minds?

It was the way we were raised, it was the place of our birth,
It was the spots of the sun, the rotation of the earth
It was the fate of our teeth, it was being lost in the sound,
It was the color of our blood, it was whatever never beat us down,

It was the roaring of the waves, it was the temperature of the sea,
It was the meaning of the words, it was our tongues which were lazy
It was the searching for the truth, the fact we’re always climbing
It was how it was all on the line and it was the timing.

The Timing.
The Timing.
The Timing!

THE BUZZING OF THE BEES

Sit up straight, hold your head up, son!
Take it from me, one’s work is never done.
Brush your teeth and make your bed,
The buzzing of the bees will always live in your head.

Look at your hand and now slap your face.
This is how it feels when you’re actually in pain.
So lay down the guns, shuck the bullets out.
You can stop waiting for a war, when it’s here there will be no doubt.

THE FIERY NIGHTS

Go tell the stars and the fiery nights that we’ll be just fine
Slipped on the ice as the night it froze and we chose not to drive
Held my hand as we watched the blurring lights all slip on by
Limping along but still reeling because tonight you’re mine

Dropped my coat and felt your tongue down my throat as we walk inside
While the lights of the moon stumble in out of the night
Fell on the bed as we forgot all we said and softened our eyes
Kissed your lips with all that meant and we survived

The lights they all went out
The quiet removes all doubt
because it was in the solemn stare, with your eyes laid bare, the looks we shared that night

So, go tell the stars and the fiery nights that we’ll be just fine
It’s been a week since we clinked our teeth and stayed in that night
The great abyss rests beyond our lips but we won’t mind
So, go tell the stars and the fiery nights we’ll be just fine

THE STATIC (PLEASE TURN THIS RADIO OFF

Although there is magic where we stand, our lives will never seem as grand
Please turn this radio off
But still these fingertips automatically reach for the next prize which is just out of reach,
Please turn this radio off

The buzz in my head must never reach its bed

So won’t you please turn this radio off
Please turn this radio off
Please turn this radio off
Please turn this radio off

But I’ve tried to be stronger and wiser still but I’ve only ever been as smart as my will,
Please turn this radio off
Because it’s hard to trust these hands when we know everywhere they’ve been,
Please turn this radio off

The static within my ear only plays everything I fear

So won’t you please turn this radio off
Please turn this radio off
Please turn this radio off
Please turn this radio off

THE RUSE

I scraped my hand on this ground we stand; we are sometimes so much smarter than all these paths which we choose
As the phone went dead the thoughts they twirled around my head although I know you said there was nothing we could even do

We must make no mistake, as all of these bones can break, sometimes the blood isn’t fake so let us try not to confuse
Because sometimes life get’s tough, and it becomes hard to love, and no matter what we want it all feels like a ruse

And now we try, as the birds fly on by, to look life straight in the eyes and say our ‘I do’s'
We must attempt to bare our skin, accept the darkness where our eyes have been and find our strength while knowing full well all we could lose

SLAP YOUR TONGUE

Hold my hand, you said, and step into the light
Hold your tongue, it is love and it’s a sword and it is mine

Slap my hand, let’s celebrate our love and let it shine
Slap my face, hold me close, stroke my hair and then let’s fuck all night

Own your house, plant a garden outside and paint the walls white
Own your time, all these precious moments that we have, because they’re always slipping by

ATTITUDE (AS YOU DO)

Thought back to the time we stayed up all night
The moon undressed as we talked so long we almost saw the morning light
I thought the world would always be on the tip of my tongue
Instead we only plateau while we slowly grow withered from the sun

As you do
As you do
As you do
As you do

But still we just can’t help but to celebrate
All these moments we gain while the earth it rotates
Now as we look at our parent’s and see a future we might not want
How do we embrace the lines and further the celebration?

Attitude
Attitude
Attitude
As you do

THE PROMISED LAND

We’re on our way to the promised land
No matter what you say, nothing can ever hold us back
The cymbals’ sashay as they feel the tip-tappin’ of our feet as we walk on past
On this wind-swept bay the stars are all falling so fast it feels as if they are on the attack

Because I know
Yes, I know we’re going home

There are dancers of light pirouetting as we walk through
Pianos tinkling in time on all four corners of this moon
No clocks tick-tocking in rhyme as we’re surrounded by the colors red, orange, green, grey, gold and blue
A huge blinking sign proclaiming “Don’t you worry about a thing! Rest your bones, you are just dreaming!”

Because I know
Yes, I know we’re already home

ALL THESE SLIPPERY THINGS

ALL THESE BIRDS IN MY HAIR

With my head in the clouds so much you would think I surely must have seen the sky
And with all of these birds in my hair and the sun talking in my ear I still wonder why
But sometimes your heart is so much tougher than your eyes
It will enter the lion’s den while all the other wounded patiently wait in line
But now adays, I only hear the birds say, “Be light”
“Be light”

But there is a dream made of lead, your medusa-haired head gently lying on my bed
A love barely breathing in all these slippery things we dread
Then you so slowly speak and I hear it in the breeze
As the sparrows on your tongue are stifling a scream
I hear you say, as the birds they fly away, “Be light”
“Be light”
“Be light”

THE SNAPPING SOUND

The snapping sound is just my heart, my sunshine, I’ll be alright
But I go too far when I play the part, my sunshine, I must confide
That there are fiery flames on the tip of my tongue, lost dancing with the devil while trying to please everyone
They float heavenly as if they had a choice, all these evil words born in the softest voice; confused as whether to melt or just to rejoice
Now I withdraw these hands, which were built to kill, to my saintly side which subverts my will,
And stare at all the glasses filled with all the discarded progress so prominently displayed on the window sill
But now I’m only in a knot from dreaming of you, lost in all these sentences which will never soothe

I don’t think I can stand without your weight, my sunshine, I’ll be alright
But I’m left with only a shirt to compensate, my sunshine, and it’s not my size
And now I scream from the tips of my lungs, at all these slippery things in which our dreams are so tightly wrung
And now you finally flinch and shed a tear, and collapse into these seconds which now feel so near,
and expose all of these moments which were once revered, and now it all seems so, so clear
But now it stings, this we can’t conceal, but now I know our tragic tongues will never heal

And now this is me me me looking at you you you, we played love like a game, just a word we outgrew,
So now we’ll bow, rest our goddamn feet, as a love is not for laughs, so watch out, we better clench our teeth
And now we’ll say, maybe we’ll see each other soon, and now I’ll walk away, a cold wind’s coming through
And now this is me me me looking at you you you, so tell me me me, what are we gonna do?

ON FEATHERS & ARROWS (ON BURNT PINE)

The spots of the sun they filled your eyes,replaced the view in symphonies with what you knew were lies
They took all of your feathers and turned them to stones
Now you are just crawling around proclaiming it’s easy on the bones and that you’ll never let a soul into the world you made
Complaining those lights are always darks, when it’s your eyes that are the shades
But you just stared at me and now you know I know
And now I have an arrow directed at you so lets start the show

Called Quebec home for half the year, every night a cocktail party and you led the cheer
Said, “To our health”, when you knew you were dying
In lieu of your wealth you stated you were retiring
Thought no one would ever know the secrets you hid
Found whatever friends who would take the lowest bid
But now you are stuck in your own shit because you can’t fly without feathers
You think your skin is protected from my arrows with your leather
But I’ve seen your girls as they were mine too: Tina from Poughkeepsie and Tracy from Kalamazoo
I figured it would just serve as a passing phase, a momentary celebration to commemorate my raise

But things get tricky and time gets sticky, you think it’s a youthful thing but now you are turning fifty
Because no wind could blow those thoughts away, there are no feathers to dust them, all apologies appear cliché
Cause I’ve been shot with arrows before, but all these slippery things surprise so I’m left with a quiver on the floor
So now is the time to burst my bubble, spread the contents on the table, no need to hide my troubles
And I’ll remember your life as I change mineand forget all your forests of evergreen, because I’ll suffice just fine with burnt pine

BURNING RED (THE FA FA FA SONG)

For all you lost children, this is your “Welcome in"
Because it's not over yet, the embers, I sense, are burning red.
But we are still holding tight; scanning the skies - preparing for flight,
And in spite all these slippery things might, a glimmer of a glimmer fills my eyes!

Far away. Far away. Far away.

Please come here, bend real close, all you humans, spirits and ghosts.
Because this is our one big chance to grow - to tear down the walls so the light can show.
So, now we will shout to the heavens, now that we finally have their attention.
Our fears are gems (to fill our heads); so we embrace them, and now they are burning red!

Far away. Far away. Far away.

Far away! Far away! Far away!

IN THE LIGHTNING IT IS WRITTEN

This day started just like all of the ones we’ve had
The skies poured as we were lying like lions in the cover of your bed
But I know you’re leaving, I can taste it on your tongue
All this electricity has finally proved way, way, way too much

Though I know as our bodies grow the way all these slippery things go
Tongues twist and toes grip as we finally die and ask how it all comes to this
So tell me what will the skies do, because right now it all seems so stuck
Different languages? Parlez vous what the fuck?

Now as we walk through the abandoned park by your parent’s house
The thunder and our silence both finally strike way, way, way too loud
Because I know it’s over, I heard it on your tongue
And in the lightning it is written all we will become
So, I’m screaming up at those red and blue, blue, blue skies,
Trying to find some way to make it last, our elusive time, it’s our time

It’s our time.

THE ROLLICKING WALTZ

All these Slippery Things.

CHOCOLATE LEMONADE

Walked through our house again, after midnight, feels like nothing’s ever gonna change.
Grabbed your armor from our famous pillow fight, and there I was once again.
Where you tackled my knees just to prove gravity, and all these slippery things came all tumbling down
Because it’s hard to compete, when your smile looks so sweet, and when your enemy is the spoils you found

Walked through our house again, after midnight, and for the first time it looked so, so strange
Thought back to our dinner party and what was supposed to be a calm night, I don’t know why when your mother left, she looked so, so strained
But I guess that’s when it was proven about red, red, red wine, the space it takes frees all the thoughts in the back of your mind
Because I didn’t think she would leave, I thought she knew she was stingy, because you made mention of it all of the time

Walked through our house again, after midnight, realizing all we’ve, all we’ve gained
Your preference for candy corn, though toeing the line, is nothing like my chocolate lemonade
Your preference for candy corn, though toeing the line, is nothing like my chocolate lemonade

It’s nothing. Nothing.

I STAYED UP ALL WEEK

I stayed up all night just to hear the click of the door as you walked in; I felt like a fat man (full of love) made thin. I stayed up all night just to lightly touch your neck, but I couldn’t yet.
Because you said, “Alot has happened since I’ve last labored your eyes”.
Yeah, you said, “Though, it is quite nice to see you too”.

I stayed up all week just to hear what your verdict said; I felt like a fresh bouquet of flowers stalling their impending death.
I stayed up all week just to lightly touch your neck, but I couldn’t yet.
Because you said, “Maybe our time has passed”.
Yeah, you said, “Or maybe all these slippery things will let us last”.

I stayed up all night just to watch the moon undress; I felt like a dictaphone trying to remember all the words you said.
I stayed up all night just to lightly touch your neck, but I couldn’t yet.
Because you said I need to shower first.
Yeah, you said, “Questions are good, because now I’m sure”.
Yeah, you fell into my exhausted arms.
Yeah, you never once felt so warm.

THE SKY SEEMED SO RED TODAY

The sky seemed so red today, whether it was all the flashlights as flares, or just that the sun finally decided to disappear. And I don’t know if the sun will ever find it’s place; because Jupiter’s cold and busy with other things, as is the rest of space. And I don’t know if I’ll notice with my eyes directed down as my heartstrings are pulled and oh how they never know the ground. And do you think people will ever change, or will my feet kick your pants and it won’t feel so strange as now, when all of time has let out, and we are all just floating away? As when, on our day of reckoning, we find out it was all just a mistake?

Trees fell to the ground, a large oak full of birds on the floor or haven’t you heard before the chirps from the dirt, crying, “Save me please, because the darkness is closing in and the demons will be released from the sky up above to glow with wondrous light!” And so I clamor all day, and find myself exhausted at night as the days come with skies glowing red, and I think it’s the pain in my heart and not the pain in my head that keeps me quiet, within all of my might, when I come to your lonely room and sing my song, when all noise has gone, to become your passionate brew.

And I say, “We will be inebriated tonight, and rest with our fear; as cowards who find sleep when heaven is near, but we’ll tell stories of loss and stories of hope as we watch all of our confidence slowly grow out of our ears and into our minds; to become drunk on our dreams, become the leaders of our time which is always slowly fading, as all moments do, from the red of the sun to the blue of the moon". And I’ll be reminded once more that we are all pieces of a puzzle, wondering wild in this whimsical world full of bubbles, trading our time for a life full of poisoned perfume and a stint in the same poignant cartoon of colors unreal, and weather unfelt, and never ask why all of our time is for sale and our words are never sung, and our days merely become coffins only missing the nails with skin that slowly fails, and a sun that can only shine pale.

WE ARE ALL IN THE CLOUDS

Hold my hand, cause it’s getting too intense, but now the light peeks, while wearing it’s short sleeves, it’s all around. It’s all around.
These dreams I’ve had, they started their own band, they learned the tambourine, then broke their own front teeth, they’re busting out. They’re busting out.

Come walk with me, as there are no dead-end streets, with rockets as shoes and a head full of clues, there’s no falling down. There’s no falling down.
Please touch my face, as nothing could ever erase, as all of the times of white, they are now calcified, they’re busting out. They’re busting out!

So we will dance, leave our fates to chance, whittle all of our days away as we are all amazed, we’re all in the clouds! We are all in the clouds!

ALL THOSE SLIPPERY THINGS

BLUE SKIES

Before you just walk out the door please let me finish
because I know the enormous cavalcade is just beginning
to grow as the big-bellied women eating their broccoli begin to gloat
as they know the nights will fade into sunrises and they sense the days are so close
when our tangled tongues and the lightning bugs will all knowingly begin to glow
as they shout out that our time is now!
The walls are all falling down!

Blue skies.
Blue skies.
Blue skies.

The lights were low and all I could do was scrape the floor to find them
underneath the chairs and behind the stares all these slippery things were unwinding
to grow as the big-bellied women eating their broccoli begin to gloat
as they know the nights will fade into sunrises and they sense the days are so close
when our tangled tongues and the lightning bugs will all knowingly begin to glow
as they shout out that our time is now!
The walls are all falling down!

Blue skies.
Blue skies.
Blue skies.

But now all the sun is folded into my skin as the skies bend low and my heart rests on my hand
And now you will see as the dreams they rise slowly and the shadows so tenderly float out past belief
They float on by as the dreams they sigh as the clouds they part to reveal blue skies
They float on by as the dreams they sigh, as the clouds they part to reveal blue skies

Blue skies.
Blue skies.
Blue skies.

IT'S NOT THE WAY

It’s not the way you blow-dried your hair, out on the stairs, and reappeared on your favorite red chair as I sat and watched the game.
It’s not the way you called your mom in a break from our conversation or even the fact that, of course, she said the same.

You looked at me and said, “It’s not the way the stars align, or dreams define the hand of the divine, all we have is right here in our hands.”
I looked at you and said, “It’s not the way I’ve known life to be; to loosen my teeth, open wounds to bleed. I know it will all float right down to our feet.”

It’s not the way I complimented your dress, under duress as you forgot the mess that we had made last night in the living room.
It’s not the way I drove your car, or prayed to the stars in the dark for just one sign to show we grew.

You looked at me and said, “It’s not the way the stars align, or dreams define the hand of the divine, all we have is right here in our hands.”
I looked at you and said, “It’s not the way I’ve known life to be; to loosen my teeth, open wounds to bleed. I know it will all float right down to our feet.”

It’s not the way you blow-dried your hair, out on the stairs, and reappeared, spoke in my ear of all your fears, while I watched the game! It’s not the way!

It’s not the way I drove your car, or prayed to the stars in the dark, for the sake of our hearts, to be just one part of all these slippery things!

It’s not the way the stars aligned, or the gods entwine, the way our lives will unwind! We’ll keep upright if we know all of time is right here inside!

It’s not the way!
It’s not the way!
It’s not the way!
It’s not the way!

ALL THESE TIMES WE TRIED TO SEE

As your raven hair covered your eyes and shielded what up to then had been our biggest surprise:
A look from beyond you don’t want, but, god-dammit, I don’t mind.
All these slippery things are alone again while I am wiping my heart on someone else’s handkerchief.
Now it’s all dripping on the floor, and I don’t know anymore when to say when.

Please tell me, tell me it’s true.
Please tell me, tell me I grew.

I never bought you one thoughtful gift, I was stuck spinning in circles on the waves of whatever is hoping to get something transcendent, so I would know what it all meant.
But I saw the blood that comes out of you, a day of reckoning now raining down upon us like we never knew and the gleam in your eyes, waving goodbye, as our final adieu.

Please tell me, tell me it’s true.
Please tell me, tell me I grew.

Oh, but all these times we tried to see!
Oh, but all these times we tried to see!
Oh, but all these times we tried to see!

WATCHING CARS DRIVE BY

I’m left walking outside, but inside of the rain, watching cars drive by.
Waiting for those clouds to feel a little bit of my pain
Waiting for that sky to cry.
Because you never even took the time to take a step out of your little, little lie.
So I’m left walking outside, but inside of the rain, watching cars drive by.

I’m left looking right through your ghostly eyes, hoping my mind’s deceived.
Questioning everything that I might have ever felt and everything that I once believed.
Because you never even took the time to take a step out of your little, little life. So I’m left walking outside, but inside of the rain, watching cars drive by.

Watching cars drive by.

Watching my life.

CONVERSATIONMUSIC

LONGING LOVE LOUNGE

You’re looking down at my hand, I’m looking down your sleeve; for those words left floating that are now mere memories. They say timing isn’t everything as long as you can forget the clock, and fanged flyers are never as scary without their flock. But the scent always remains the same, as all the cozy night dreams in their beds lay.

I was never one who could abide by my own will imposed, and you have never been afraid to share what everyone knows. But now the unspoken world is sprawling out of it’s gentle bed; sweetly slipped thoughts become wimpered words instead. I’ll cut the line and plunge tastefully. No more bursting hearts discarded wastefully. Look into my eyes and one last embrace.

Let longing love lounge as deserted desires only disgrace.

SOMETIMES I LAUGH TO CRY

I went to the doctor man. I said, “Show me all that you feel you can’t command”. He said, “Son, there ain’t much to tell”.

I went to the money maker. I said, ”Tell me, how does that money make you”. He said, “To be honest, I ain’t doin’ that well. I ain’t doin’ that well”.

I wrote a letter to the poet’s pen. I asked all the questions of which I don’t understand. She said, “Truth can be found between the inside of your eyes and the outside of your lies”.

I sang a song to the lover’s laugh. I asked, “How do you feel to know I’m not comin’ back?” She said, “Sometimes I laugh to laugh, and sometimes I laugh to cry. Sometimes I laugh to cry.”

I stood in the front of the mirror and looked into my own eyes. I said, “What in the hell makes you think you are so wise? Sometimes your own thoughts don’t come in your own size.”

But my grin told me more than I ever knew. The only person you ever need to believe in is you, and though sometimes your words may seem false, sometimes so does the truth.

Sometimes so does the truth.

Sometimes so do you.

A LOVER'S DUEL

I told you that I loved you, one million times. I told you that I loved you and you said I must be out of my mind. You said I must be out of my mind.

You said, "Maybe you’re just crazy", i said, "Maybe I am". You said, "Please, please don’t ever you leave me". I said, "I would, when I can". I said I would, when I can. I said I would, if I even can.

We played love like a carnival game, and now is when you shoot the apple off my head. “Trust me my love,” you proclaimed. “And put the sheet over your eyes,” you said. “Trust me my love, and put the goddamn sheet over your head”. As a lover’s duel is nothing without one lover dead.

A lover’s duel is nothing, without one lover dead.

So, I carved your name, Elizabeth, so deeply down into my skin. A final act of declaration with no regards to who wins or knows. But now I am leaving, maybe you’ll realize you have to go. Maybe you’ll realize you have to go.

(Maybe I’m just too lazy to go crazy anymore. Maybe I’m just too lazy to go crazy anymore. Maybe I’m just too lazy to go crazy anymore.)

GREENS AND CORNBREAD

So I walked to your best friend’s backporch in the rain tonight; it was black as death. I used to never be afraid of the night. So I knocked on the door: one time, then once once more, and my mind flew with only the thought of you as our tongues entwined.

So you floated in my dreams just when I thought I was healed. Some say greens and cornbread, I say guilt’s the most filling meal. So I knocked on the door: one time, then once once more, and I couldn’t sleep, touching your best friend’s feet, now I don’t pray, I kneel.

So I made my own piece of art out in the back, under the moon. It sprung from inspiration, though I did wonder if you’d approve. So I knocked on the door: one time, then once once more, and there I paced, with all love erased, and there I finally grew.

So you floated in my dreams just when I thought I was healed. Some say greens and cornbread, I say guilt’s the most filling meal. Some say greens and cornbread, I say guilt’s the most filling meal.

Some say greens and cornbread, I say guilt’s the most filling meal.

BRIGHT, BRIGHT, BRIGHT YELLOW

Our pardon was granted, and you devilishly say we can never just go back to who we were. All these seeds we planted, come crawling down like our laughter is the rain, but our quiet is the goddamn floor. But, we, we will never let the water seep through the cracks, like it’s just the blue, blue sky that we’ve always lacked. Yes, we, we would never trade our syntax just for a couple of laughs.

But, why, then why did you turn to those perilous skies, and let our eyes burn?

Chariots of green, I thought would ease my search, could ease my spleen. But they turned obscene, as they finally wheeled away my nerves to find the meaning. But, time, time will never tame my soul, as my will is composed of wheels only made to roll. Yes, time, time silently stares as I move on by, moments of hope only now seen as white.

But, why, then why did I turn to those perilous skies, and let our eyes burn?

There are things we will never know, and times of bright, bright, bright yellow.
Times where we’ve tried to grow, and only stubbed our thumbs.
Cataracts we didn’t know, and the sun of bright, bright, bright yellow.
To drench our skin, and to wrestle our fate, and clearly demonstrate all that can go wrong.

Cover all your eyes today, and all the color will be washed away.

THE SPIRAL SONG

Don’t you say a word, because all your have-nots just have me wanting more. Don’t you dare make a sound, because maybe if we were to leave in this silence then at least we can think it was profound, and not just another awkward moment that is slowly spiraling down.

I’ll forgive you that mistake. It’s just another one you promised you wouldn’t make. I’ll give you back your pain. It wasn’t quite my size as it was oozing out your lies, which you promised you would refrain. So, go ahead and try to keep them outside your world, but you should know, they’ll be back again.

THE TASTE

Don’t you forget my face; my eyes so frail, faded black into space. Overt your eyes, seceding is just another form of compromise. You can forget the bite but you can’t forget the taste.

And now cradled in your womb, my hair lightly touching your neck, I won’t let go, I don’t give in. Melancholy moments rest underneath, below the covers, below both of our feet. I want you to know, I can’t forget, I could lay here forever; I like the taste of your sweat.

I passed you as the pride of man. I came with glowing eyes, I don’t understand. Bite my skin, cower underneath my touch, as exhonorated moments never amount to much.

And now cradled in your womb, my arms sprawled across your breasts. Lost in the undertow, I forget how to swim. Melancholy moments rest underneath, below the waves, below both of our feet. I want you to know, I can’t forget, I could lay here forever; I like the taste of your sweat.

I like the taste of your sweat as it is cascading down your neck. I like the taste of your sweat as it is streaming down my neck. I like the taste of your sweat as it is cascading down my neck. I like the taste of your sweat as it is streaming down your neck.

WOW (OR DRUNK IN A BAR AT 6:30 ON A TUESDAY)

Exited from my intoxicated moment I reflect back and see all the moments, and the exits. I gasped and grasped around to catch it before, to pretend my pretend situation was, in fact, pretended. But it has never really been that elementary since elementary school.

I lost it on my voyage from picking my nose to wondering if someone knows. And, now, I am back at picking my nose again. I think I like it, though, to exist apart and within. To carve out my solitary moment on the skin of a beautiful, bustling, rustling, hustling hootenanny full of sin. Attempting to weave underneath your arms and place the nape of my neck on the crook of everyone’s shoulders; pleading,

“Hold me, hold me, hold me...make me whole”.

I drift again, and forget for a second, and there I am within my imaginary moments looking for imaginary moments. Somewhere in that fickle belly though I find what sustains me, what wipes out the stains in me. The times where I morph into the muttering, mistaken madman on the street and love it. Where my pen hits my pad with so much passion that my hand cramps from all of the love above it.

In an hour, though, i’ll sigh, thinking I lost myself because my soul got so high. I’ll leave my normal existence for these formal pricks and pens; thinking that I was crazy then, while all the while praying that I am crazy now. Trying to lose myself and forget the presence of the present somehow.

Weaving in and out of my knots of rope swings, while only hoping to multiply the moments where my mind goes blank, my body swells, and all I could think to mumble is “Wow”.

CHOCOLATE LEMONADE

Walked through our house again, after midnight, feels like nothing’s gonna change. I grabbed your armor from our famous pillow fight, and there I was, once again. Where we shuffled on the floor, the lords of our domain which remains no more; at least our dreamer’s life is never poor. Tackled my knees just to prove gravity, and then I came all tumbling down. But it’s hard to compete, when your smile looks so sweet, and when your enemy is the spoils you found.

Walked through our house again, after midnight, and for the first time it looked so strange. Thought back to our dinner party and what was supposed to be a calm night, I don’t know why when your mother left, she looked so strained. But I guess that’s when it was proven about red, red, red wine, the space it takes frees all the thoughts in the back of your mind. I didn’t think she would leave. I thought she knew she was stingy, because you made mention of it all of the time.

Walked through our house again, after midnight, realizing all we’ve gained. Your preference for candy corn, though toeing the line, is nothing like my chocolate lemonade.

Your preference for candy corn, though toeing the line, is nothing like my chocolate lemonade.

Walked through your house again, after midnight, nothing’s ever gonna be the same. Walked through your house again, after midnight, nothing’s ever gonna be the same. Walked through your house again, after midnight, nothing’s ever gonna be the same.

OTHER SONGS AND POEMS

A STONE'S THROWN

Went down to the riverside, went down to the riverside. I found my hand slowly scratching a lie. Went down to the divers’ depths, went down to the divers’ depths. "A lie is a lie is a lie," she swam and wept. But how, oh how, can you know for sure? Because now, oh now, oh now, I need a little more. Because now, oh now, oh now, I need a little more.

Went down to the devil’s door, went down to the devil’s door. I said, "Give me the medication for what’s ailing me as up here I can’t find no cure." Went down to the sinless saint, went down to the sinless saint. I’ve read all the prose of the child who rose, but now I’m awake. I burned all the lies of those who so easily compromised my human restraint. But you, oh you, are not gonna say it all was just an honest mistake. Because now, oh now, oh now, things will never be the same. Because now, oh now, oh now, things will never be the same.

Went down to the riverside, went down to the riverside. I found my own two hands slowly uncovering my own two eyes.

I saw, oh I saw, all of our complicated woes. It seems, oh it seems, heaven and hell swirl together in any of our wind that is blown. So don’t fall, oh don’t fall, from the weight of your own stones because now, oh now, oh now, at the end of the day, you’re on your own. Because now, oh now, oh now, I don’t wanna go!

LIPS ARE NUMB

We’ve been dancing around just a little bit trying to figure out how we fit and now it’s getting in the way. Rose petals on the mantle folds under an altar to prove what you know and now there’s nothing I can think to say, except, three inches on the bottom just to make you look taller. Take just one piece when you know you want all of them. Four people telling me how I could have a better life. How I could grow back my hair. How I could buy my wife. How I could make myself a better me, subject myself to your philosophy, but I’d rather just walk away.

There were times when I was meaning to tell you and I believe there were times I did. There were lies they were trying to sell you and though I thought you’d look, you just reared your head and bit. Told you you were only pretty if you were the skinniest one so you smoked 5 packs a day, but now your lips are numb. The latest issue of your magazine said the season’s color was red, but now that you spent all your money on clothes, you realize it’s not “in” to be in debt. Been listening to someone’s words so long you forget which are your own. Would drive away into the sunset, but cars come with loans meaning you could never own, but you can always buy: supplement someone’s pockets while you get your 5-minute high. And I would judge it all and proclaim ‘The evil one I saw’, the Eden that would fall, but I’m riding in the same boat. My eyes are stuck on the same road. The only difference I sense which incenses me to wince is that I’m aware I’m slipping and I lost my shoes. That your kindness is just a passive kind of abuse. But it just blew my fuse, and I flew the coup after I tried to reach you to share my truth. And still you just stay, but that’s okay because I’ll leave alone. I’m not afraid of being on my own, because I know I can just walk away.

THE TIDE

Try the drugs. Try to control your breath. Though I’m not sure if there is any way to prepare for what comes next. So can your vegetables and can your fruit. The buzzed look in our eyes let me know exactly just what to do.

Now I cut the ropes and remove the fabric from our eyes as I couldn’t help but sneeze from the sudden light. We fought through our youth with a will to survive, but now that we finally have grown we realize we’re at the mercy of the tide.

So, let us just sit down and enjoy this meal. Say our blessings and ask for no appeal because there is sun and food and everything we need. Let us build a home, start a fire and grow a family.

THE WIND

I keep hearing that same song again, the one which we always used to love. But now these ears sense a dissonance, my eyes finally see the writing on the wall. All the lazy tongues say it was just the timing. Just one more secret we will never know. But I’ve always wanted to hear you call my name as you pass on by because I’ve always been in love with the wind. Because I’ve always been in love with the wind. I’ve always been in love with the wind.

Now my hand is resting on my heart again, calming the inevitable rushing of my blood. Maybe all there is to say now is “Amen”, and accept this life is not meant to be understood. Now all the lazy tongues say it’s part of the design, just one more secret we will never know. But I’ve always wanted to hear you call my name as you pass on by because I’ve always been in love with the wind. Because I’ve always been in love with the wind. I’ve always been in love with the wind.

DO THE MATH (THE HUMMINGBIRD SONG)

Yesterday I saw you flying around in my backyard. I promised I’d forget you, but with you always humming around my head it kinda makes it hard. But I’ve before survived on my own. The sky has went black, but my eyes were still glowin’. It’s just that in this specific case, and maybe only at this specific time, it seems as if I may not be specifically doing my part.

Hummingbird won’t you hum my way. I said, "Hummingbird won’t you hum my way."

I remember the way you once ruffled my feathers and the way you chased me all around. I once heard that some other birds mate by nearly avoiding death while dropping straight down to the ground. But now it seems for the first time since I was sixteen before I knew love was more than the birds and the bees that the irony of the aforementioned anecdote merely may point out that my relationship with love is a wee bit tightly wound.

Hummingbird won’t you just go away. I said, "Hummingbird won’t you just go away."

But earlier this morning I flew over to the neighbors and took a bath. I soaked in the smells and the sounds all around and was surprised when I muffled a laugh. I didn’t know there was so much sugar in this world. I got lost in you and thought you were the only girl. And though I was never good in school, us 2 minus 1 you is more than enough for me, so why don’t I let you do the math.

Hummingbird just do as you may. I said, "Hummingbird just do as you may." I had enough of you humming all around so please, please, please, please just go away. I said, "I had enough of you humming all around so please, please, please, please, please just go away. Though I obviously can’t say the same for you as you lied to me about kissing Jimmy Roberts and then went behind my back and lied to my mom about me cheating on you, I know that I mean what I say.