Lyrics

SHEETS
I washed you right out of my sheets
So I could be alone when I sleep

I don't need you
Most, most, most of the time

I asked you to comfort me
When my world was coming apart at the seams.
You answered impassively,
"You made your bed, you gotta lie in it"
Though it's cold and lonely.

When I need you you're not there
Most, most, most of the time.

L-I-V-I-N
The radio is blasting some news unfit to print.
A father is lambasting his kid for being a kid.
And I am out back on the porch,
smoking spliffs, L-I-V-I-N.

ZODIAC FOR THE END OF TIME (LION'S SHARE)
Just the other day, I swear I saw it.
Yellow eyes, peeking out of the brush.
Though the media would like to deny it,
I swear, it spoke in a guarded hush.
The contents of that conversation
Are somewhat classified.
And I don't know how long I stood there;
Time froze and flew by at the very same time.
The gist of it was somewhat akin
to life demystified.
Which I why I am pissed I don't remember
That Lion's diatribe.
But of course, of course how could they trust us
Lowly human beings with such divine information?
Knowing full well we'd turn and spill the beans
The the general population, the general population.
I suppose you're all sitting there wondering
"What the hell does this girl mean?"
Let me take a moment, my friends,
And bring you all up to speed.

Here is how it all went down:

I woke up this morning, a day like any other.
I flipped on the morning news.
A fluff piece of journalism, you know the ones,
Designed to detract from our world so cruel.
I saw a fella there, hair unkempt, a wild look in his eye,
What an interesting dude.
The sound faded up and the newsreporter
Asked him to expound on his unique views.
Here is a synopsis of what he said:
[SPOKEN WORD]
The anchorman scoffed and he kinda smirked,
Thinking this guy couldn't be serious.
By that time I had to go, I grabbed my cup of joe,
Ran out of the house feeling a little delirious.
I got in my car, I didn't get too far
Before the traffic was lined up as far as I could see.
It was stop-and-go, interminably slow
I had plenty of time to think about his prophecy.
Then all in a flash, I almost crashed,
Some asshole was trying to switch into my lane.
The car jerked and swayed, my coffee sprayed,
I yelled, "What are you, fucking INSANE?!"
I was covered in joe, pulled my car off the road
And I hoped that my anger would melt away.
Then, as if from my head, I heard a voice that said,
"You were never in any danger anyway."
My eyes opened wide and they fixed on some pines
And I swear that I saw some eyes looking at me.
I got out and stood, I braced myself on the hood,
And I started to walk towards those trees.
Now that we're on the same page,
Let's go back to the refrain....

ANACHRONISTIC HEART
I remain here,
Carefully applying my slick veneer.
I dare you to go ahead and pick any other year.
Take me now, take me then,
Draw contrasts and compare.

I miss me, the way I was when we were together.

You remain there,
Seemingly thriving and settled down, I fear.
I know what meets the eye ain't always as it appears.
Take you now, take you then
Draw contrasts and compare.

I miss you, the way you were when we were together.

I miss us, the way we were when we were together.

OPPOSITES ATTACK
The preamble to my breaking down in the same thing
As the postlude to my screwing around.
Girl, down you think it's time to retire
From this supine life?
I am the liar. And I'm the one believing the lies.
I'm the defier. And I'm the one being defied.
For someone who claims to spout truth, I'm one cagey bitch.
Pretend to be sweet and couth; unleash the tiger at the slightest itch.
Scientific study in two extremes.
Your intervening options don't do it for me.

SERIES OF SUPPOSED TO BES
Geronimo, here I go. Everybody look out down below.
It's better when I relinquish control.

Zaftig girl, get good grades, validated by your praise.
I guess a combination of the two
Would have rendered me unstoppable much too soon.
Evil city, juggernaut, opposite of what I thought.
Cathartic days and snowy nights
Internecine girls gone wild.

And all this time wasted wasted,
Blurring the demons around the fire....

So far, I think I've got it nailed,
Wouldn't say that I've sailed through.
But my attention is focused and I have noticed
All that has been adumbrated.
I feel blessed and elated to have been made privvy
To sybilline thoughts and occurrence.

Geronimo, here I go. Everybody look out down below.
It's so much better when I relinquish control.

Birthday party divebomb bender, faith in God alone defends her.
The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree
A mirror reflecting back at me.
Paradox horoscope screaming take a closer look
Written word expounds on what I already knew
Thoughts that have been brewing a year or two.
Alter ego ultimatum, I could love 'em, leave 'em, hate 'em.
A showcase of two extremes begging allegiance to either team.

And all these signs, dancing like a phantasmagoria
In my mind....

So far, I'm hardly complete.
I'm standing knee deep
In the devices I use and vices I abuse
Only to get myself through
Guess I'm saying it's true
It's easier not to try than to risk what you'll lose.

Fate is pushing, pulling me.

AUTONOMY ISN'T AUTOMATIC
Something doesn't feel quite right,
It happens all the time.
When expectations up and ruin surprise.
Hearts on sleeves, what is yours is mine.
Everything created for a million ears and eyes.

DIDACTIC DITTY
I hope this doesn't come off as a pathetic attempt at a lesson.
But if I do say, the moral of this tale
Is you better really love what you're doing.

I've been wearing the same green bra
For the last few years.
It has served me well in that time
And now it frays at the seams.
You've been wearing that same ugly frown
For the past few years.
Fixture, pillar, your sullen facade
Precipitated by your own fear of living.

All you gotta do is change your mind.
Self-perpetuated bear trap keeps contentment confined.
All you gotta do is change your mind.

I've been meaning to buy a new bra
For the last few years.
But I've grown accustomed to this
And thus willing to suffer for convenience.
You've been meaning to change your scene
For the past few years.
Projections, rejections, plans falling through.
Sabotaged by your own fear of living.

All you gotta do...

Now it seems you're wearing the bra
And I the look of gloom.
I have decided not to address
The big, fat elephant in the room.
Now it seems you're moving ahead
On this path for yourself that you've groomed.
While I remain mired in this muck
That sucks me further and further from the truth.

Captain
Captain, it appears to me
That the sea is calm today.
Captain, I think it wise
To sever our ties and set sail.

Captain, let's sell our wares
Forget we were here and be on our way.
Captain, I can't control my mind or my soul
In this evil place.

Captain, this winter's been
The longest I've spent away from the sea.
Captain, the ebb and the flow
How the waves roll, it's calling to me.

Drive
The stray cat eats its dinner from the same pan as the homeless man.
And I guess we aren't all that different, beast and human.
We're just trying to survive the best that we can.

And the fleecy white backs of the mountains are lying in wait.
And the snow covered branches are winter's welcoming gate.
And the whole scene, save for the yellow line, in shades of gray.

And I don't have it as bad as I'd like to think.
No, I don't have it as bad as I'd like to think.

The Last Hurrah
Sitting at home, all alone.
Staring at the wall, just waiting for your call.
Not much going on upstairs.
Just reflecting, recollecting my summer, fall, winter, spring.
Oh, man, I've gone downhill this year.

Nobody, nobody ever crossed their heart
And really hoped to die.
Nobody, nobody every warned me
Life would be rife with so many goodbyes.
And now, twenty-some-odd years have passed me by.
I suppose it's high time to start treating myself right.

Read your letter today.
Girl, you had so much to say in that little space
In your classic, nondescript way.
Guess you're on your own now.
'Cept me, baby, you ain't got nowhere to call your home.
Another orphaned child left to roam.

Nobody, nobody ever thought that words
Were really like sticks and stones.
Nobody, nobody ever warned us
Leave your expectations at the door.
And now, twenty-some-odd years have passed me by.
I suppose it's high time to start treating myself right.

Sitting at home. All alone.
Staring at the wall. Just considering it all.
Not much going on upstairs.
Just reflecting, recollecting my summer, fall, winter, spring.
Man, this one's gonna be my year.

Nellie and Peter
Walking in the park on Valentine's Day.
Dark, pregnant clouds gave birth to rain.

And Nellie ran to seek refuge from this deluge.
Under a tree.
And Peter ran to seek respite with this desperate
Nellie Jean.

Nellie's hair was soaked and she spoke in a low soft whisper.
"Look how the clouds are parting as if the rain never came.
Funny how life is morphing, even when it stays the same."
Peter was not expecting this perplexing bit of information.
He replied, "My clothes will dry,
but these words you spoke will remain in my mind."

Peter reached out his hand and touched Nellie on the shoulder.
He wondered if she would reprimand him for trying to hold her.
Nellie didn't know you were not supposed to do that.
Peter knew you were not supposed to do that.

Nellie knew nothing of this man and her better judgement told her,
"Surely you must concede and understand, this man is much, much, much, much older."
Nellie didn't know you were not supposed to do that.
Peter knew you were not supposed to do that.

And time stood still, as it often will, when lovers are falling in love.

They both leaned in with open mouths and drooping eyelids, as Cupid looked on from above.

Walking in the park on Valentine's Day.
Dark, pregnant clouds gave birth to rain.