The End of the World (La Fin du Monde)(written for the upcoming concept album)
apprehended in the night
shouted orders holding me at point
of a gun that bears my name
looking to place the blame
i’ve seen your photograph
i barely recognize the epitaph
lying on a horizontal plane
looking to place the blame
take these photographs away
i’ve told you what i know, so
take these photographs away
(do you remember the wheel?)
of course i have an alibi
i was with her the entire time
i tried to call and verify
i rang her phone but she’s not home
take these photographs away
i’ve told you what i know, so
take these photographs away
The Kill(written for the upcoming concept album)
with the patience of a saint
i’ll choose my ground and lie in wait
with presence in disguise
you won’t escape my rear-view mirror eyes
every day you wait
is one step closer to the move i’ll make
and every word you speak in kind
is merely stimulus defined
oh, the appetite you satiate
this ritual is so innate
beneath these sheets there’s little room to breath
Hubbard
i never told you all these things
you never asked to be informed
i kept those details to myself
for fear of you being gone
you never told me anything
i never asked to be informed
you kept those details to yourself
for fear of me being gone
you don’t know about these bones
old mother hubbard never had a dog
we never talked of anything
we never asked to be informed
we kept those details to ourselves
for fear of we being gone
you don’t know about these bones
old mother hubbard never had a dog
she never had
Jailbreak
i hope my letters find you safe and sounds and feeling fine
i trust that life is good inside your cozy 9×9
given enough time you may begin to see their plight
just please remember no one here gets out alive
there seems no hope in the advocating for your crimes
you are sentenced to the fellowship of kindred minds
given enough time you may begin to see their plight
just please remember no one here gets out alive
no one here gets out alive
Fortnight of the Soul
how heavy lies this crown upon my brow
regardless of the majesty allowed
i own a robe with colors that confound
in your light the chroma can be found
you don’t seem to mind the tide
that comes rolling in behind
fourteen years won’t seem to stay
when a year is as a day
and my reputation, a respectable veneer
that never lets a confidant draw near
this counterfeit lies just beyond your reach
designed to hide the things that lie beneath
you don’t seem to mind the tide
that comes rolling in behind
fourteen years won’t seem to be
when my Rachel waits for me
my Rachel waits
Causality
we are just machines, marching towards entropy
devoid of reason, devoid of meaning
we are just machines, biological machines
where do we draw the line, descent or design?
we are just machines, brought ourselves into being
programmed for selection, an accidental collocation
we are just machines, biological machines
where do we draw the line, descent or design?
we are just machines
Whitewashed
before you seal my tomb
please whitewash all the rooms
pull the sheet up over my eyes
i can finally sleep
i’ve given up the ghost
on the things that matter most
despite your thoughts on all these things
the contrary
i’ve given up the ghost
but i’m not dead, i’m not dead just yet
to make these matters worse
the shovels hitting dirt
despite your thoughts on all these things
the contrary
it’s title, chapter, verse
but i’m not dead, i’m not dead just yet
Precision
in time, and by your own admission
these innumerable conditions will never fail to surprise
or by, your unfavorable position
we are throwing cosmic darts with absolute precision
for you, for you everything is so fine-tuned
i am here to admire all your beauty
and your force of gravity, pulling down on me
and my heart, my heart is crying treason
when all coincidence it contradicts my reason
for you, for you everything is so fine-tuned
i’m so precise, so precise
my location so precise
the apple of your eye
Reeds
all these lines in the mirror, and on my face…the story is the same
and though i’d rather lie, this mirror has a name
and broad is the road i’ve chosen to climb
with sincere apology, the narrow undefined
such a bruise that fell upon these reeds, trembling in the wake
and though they falter in breeze, they will never break
he won’t let them break
and i feel that these wounds may never heal
yet i see that he restores the reeds
he restores the reeds
Copper Coins
lily of the field, why are you crying, your season has not yet come
and all the sparrows are still flying, every single one in His control
it’s true that our days are numbered, like the very hairs on your head
it’s best to leave the story to the Author, He will write the beginning and the end
consider how they grow, the grass is fully clothed
the greatest story ever told, yes everything is under His control
so lily of the field never worry, for want of anything
even Solomon in all his glory, was never dressed like any one of these
firstborn of the dead, beginning without end
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be
world without end, amen
Evergreen
evergreen within me, the thought of you
withering discreetly, the sands of time i thought i knew
in time i turn, like the seasons before me
in time i turn, like a midsummer’s dream
Bead
darkness is creeping in
pushing away the light of the sun
a luminescent glimmer still lights my world
walking across the grass of God
my name reaches my ears
i turn to see whose voice beckons me
hair thrown back, you smile at me
your gift was in the air
God, don’t let me drop it
please don’t let me drop it
it’s just a bead made of wood
like the cross that Christ withstood
God, don’t let me drop it
please don’t let me drop that bead
Whirlybirds
ask her and she’ll tell you things are different
photographs adorned in sepia tones
outside there’s a current flowing upwards
whirlybirds are searching for a home
lately i resemble more the statue
marbled to convey a stately pose
inside there’s a current flowing northern
whirlybirds are looking for a home
august, if you please, wake me when the maple bends
kindly do allow me some more time to mend
august, if it seems, that all is what it should have been
i’ll turn my collar to the wind
on the porch there lies an empty shoe
shaken of the dust that worried you
gliding forward, steady as she goes
whirlybirds are trembling in the throes
august, if you please, wake me when the maple bends
i hope you will allow me some more time to mend
august, if it seems, that all is what it should have been
i’ll turn my collar to the wind
we were always at the mercy of the wind
Attaboy
serenade, and all your music falls upon my ears of late
renegade, your revolution failed but you’re still wide awake
attaboy, you can learn to live with your mistakes
attaboy, you don’t need to save the world you made today
colonnade, these failures wait to stare you right back in the face
promenade, and tripping over all the words left in the way
you renegade, your revolution failed but you’re still wide awake
attaboy, you can learn to live with your mistakes
attaboy, you don’t need to save the world you made today
you don’t need to save the world today
it’s not that way
Apparition
these visions are so fleeting, they might be the end of me
and you seem to have a way, a way with my memory
i’m not sure which of me is true, baby it’s just you
across the universe, hey it might be worth the wait
and these paper cups are filling up with an endless rain
what a marvelous ambition to pursue, baby it’s just you
don’t you realize your value? a collision of the simple and the true
don’t you realize your value? an afterimage bending all the rules
the few and far between, minus the view: baby it’s just you
an apparition coming into view, baby it’s just you
Mobius
let’s get this party started
let’s plug this thing into the socket
a thousand points of light inside your eye
perhaps we can change the channel
maybe just try the tuning
a thousand points of light inside your eye
and all our conversations they only have one side
because we never get a word in edgewise
Disengaged
if you ever feel that you’re out upon the ledge, well
if you look for me then i’ll be gone
if you ever need a shoulder to cry upon, well
if you look for me then i’ll be gone
i’m gone
stay with me, through all these years, stay with me
if you ever feel that the walls are closing in, well
if you look for me then i’ll be gone
if it ever seems that the world will soon be over, well
if you look for me then i’ll be gone
i’m gone
stay with me
i’ve been right here, there’s no need to look for me
i’ve been right here the whole time
stay with me
Filter
i want to kiss you through this filter
where all my flags are waving white
i want to feel you through this filter
where all my flags are waving white
i hope you find your answer
where all my flags are waving white
i hope you get your way
where all my flags are waving white
i want to feel you through this filter
where all my flags are waving white
i want to love you through this filter
where all my flags are waving white
breathe through this filter
feel me through this filter
touch me through this filter
love me through this filter
Daylight Drivei’’m going out for a spin, out on a whim
i’m driving southbound on a one-way street
we’re blowing stop signs, red means green
and i’m not the only one who is wondering
how your mommy cried, that night
how your daddy sat beside her, in spite
well i lost track of the line in this daylight
well i carried you there, only you were not there
i hope this goes by quickly, i can’t seem to see the beauty of it all
daylight drive, with my headlights on
Write With Me
i don’t want to sleep, and miss the sunrise
i don’t want to peek, and ruin the surprise
with a soft hello, a timid smile
i felt the shyness die
exchange a few words, and i’m captured
taken by your eyes
we will be a story worth reading, so write with me
there’s still time for poetry, so write with me
to learn a little more about you
there’s interest in your life
the story is still there, left unwritten
like the stars without a night
so write with me
Fine By Me
all the broken plaster, a crooked picture frame
a shouted ultimatum and the words in the way
all the creaky hinges, and all the television
your worldly possessions are a ghost on parade
it’s fine by me
if you want to stay, i won’t need to
if you want to stay
these ghosts are on parade, if only meant to
keep you on your way
the messages unanswered are a message all the same
now tell them what you have to, it’s fine by me
Domenica
save a prayer for Mary, maybe one for me
a kind word is sometimes all it takes
and though the distance holds me close at hand
i’m never from your grace
help me see the joy of faith
help me see the truth of fate
for i will always wonder of heaven
they say that you are in a better place
but i wonder if that’s true
after all the only things that sill remain
are memories of you
for i will always wonder
Apology
open your eyes, look and see
i know it’s hard not to laugh at me, it’s ok
don’t take the blame for what is wrong, it’s not your fault
whatever will be will be
don’t make this harder than it has to be
it took me this long to come clean
i’m building bridges from now on
with water running underneath
and all this ringing in my ears
is my conscience calling loud and clear
so what i’m really trying to say, is that i don’t have the words to say
yeah, that’s my apology
take it or leave it, it’s all the same
i’ll try anyway
Overrated
say to me, you can’t believe what is going outside
say to me, you can’t believe what is going on outside
it’s on your mind, most of the time
say to me, you can’t believe the things i’m saying
say to me, you can’t believe what is going on outside
it’s on your mind, most of the time
you know, you’re so overrated
say to me, you can’t believe the things you’re seeing
say to me, you can’t believe what’s going on outside
it’s on your mind, most of the time
you know, you’re so overrated
overrated
The Silver Lining
i would tell you all the truth
if the timing was right
and my heart is on display
underneath this pastel sky
and all these words you speak
and the air that hangs between
what you said was true
all these words they ring true
the day i know you’re mine
all the trains will run on time
now press with all your might
against the changing tides
my heart is open land
for these castles made of sand
and what you said was true
all these words they ring true
you can leave at any time
just don’t read between the lines
Number 8
among the two giants
the greater and the lesser
staring into space
and seeing the change
i saw your reflection, i saw
consider them all
deep on the outskirts
in the rings of saturn
staring into space
and seeing the change
i saw your reflection, i saw
is that all i can do
from a safe distance
Sap
letters carved, on a park bench
words and hearts, on this tree branch
do you still share, the same air i do
with noble intent, these words bleed straight through
are you a mother or an orphan?
are you a lover or a has-been?
if a stitch in time saves nine
a stitch in wood will make you mine
because after all, it begs the question
just who are you, this name in mention
and all these things i’ve held on to
all these words bleed straight through
Difference
i always heard there was a place, where two roads separate
one curved off and one was straight, i must decide which one to take
there is a difference
can you tell the difference between the light we made and light we need
can you tell the difference between where the broad or the narrow leads
people i see who walk both ways, a few go home while many stray
the broad seems easy with friends around; the narrow calling, you lost be found
there is a difference
here at the fork but who could know, where one will lead or the other goes
but the lives i see they will not show where the traffic flows
can you tell the difference, there is a difference
Where Were You
where were you when the buildings fell, or when the world was shaken
where were you when the innocent man and child were slaughtered by the millions
i don’t remember you being there
where were you when the bomb was dropped, or when the war was over
where were you when the rains came down and washed us all away
i don’t remember you being there
where were you when we walked away; when we chose to die
Mary
the day began, her baby cried, she’s been up all night
she took a moment to wonder why, and pray to sleep tonight
she’s too young to take this on, herself a child not that long
though this joy she can call her own, she never thought she’d be alone
Mary, Mary, my yoke is light
Mary, Mary, I’ll carry your burden tonight
Concrete Paradise
if you could find the timing of your life
and still you hide, this concrete paradise
if what you want is what you need
if what you want is love
…is what you really need
love is what you really want
…is what you really need
concrete
Pleasure Principles
hurry, hurry look what’s on display
a brand new pet for us to entertain
never mind your thoughts and opinions
abandon hope all you who enter here
if you really want to know the ruse
pleasure principles don’t equal truth
it’s not as if i’d ever let you down
please pay no attention to the man
who is back behind the curtains pulling strings
with candy-coated visions on display
pain + consequence = entertainment
it’s not as if i’d ever let you down
Gold Digger
how much digging will i have to do
to find a nugget of the truth
and all of this is just because
i fell in love with the stone
if you’re given enough time
you’ll just change your mind
and you’re easy enough to fool
with pyrite’s golden hue
it’s easy enough for me to see
what works for you won’t always work for me
and all of this is just because
i fell in love with the stone
When Push Comes to Love
i’ve been waiting all my life to hear what it is you’ve said
of all the things to be believed, these doubts are in my head
when push comes to love
Modus Operandi
why leave a living witness, what difference will it make
for me the sun it rises with her, it’s a risk i’m willing to take
now Eady get your gun
it’s like you’ve always said of me, all i am is all i am after
and i will not hesitate, not for a second…just don’t ask me what will happen
now Eady get your gun
now please just tell me what you think you saw
i promise i won’t tell a living soul
The Prodigal
i will run, and not grow tired
jump through this great divide
further up and farther in i’ll go
further up and farther in i’ll go
now prepare the greatest feast
slaughter the fattest beast
gather up the very best of clothes
for my son is finally coming home
further up, farther in
further up, farther in
now my talents buried in the sand
and the few invested by your hand
break the bread, carry out the loaves
for my son is finally coming home
for my son is finally coming home