You Version 2

 

you – a universe of twin dimension

the absolute stillness of space

but only picking up momentum

you know it begs the question

 

what drives you

 

what drives you

what drives you

what are you trying to prove

and who might you be trying to prove it to

can you try to remember

 

you

but young enough to wish she were older

not old enough to know how to guard her heart

and only you know what she needs

i wish that i could figure it for you

but you know i can’t afford to

 

what drives you

 

what drives you

what drives you

what could you ever do

to prove it to yourself in absolutes

just try to imagine

 

i’m your proof

i can be your proof

 

The Rolling Cloud

 

are you undecided

still puzzled by the blood on the ground

join me in the clouds when your mind’s made up

“could this blood be my own?”

 

could it be my own

could this blood be my own

 

last night you shocked me

i was running from a cause that’d been lost

you squared up my shoulders and asked me

“if you’re lost, what’s the rush?”

 

what’s the rush

if you’re lost, what’s the rush

 

they’ll box you in

compress the walls til they touch

push back with all your strength

but all your bonds will break

and they’ll siphon off the heat

 

whenever the ice melts

we’ll come back

the cause is never lost

and the cloud will form again

 

whenever the ice melts

we’ll be back

the cause is never lost

and the cloud will form again

 

they’ll loosen the vice grip

and the bonds will form again

 

Guilt

 

its time for your confessional

make a cross with your arms and bow your head

the fatherhood absolves you

no matter what its come to

within reason of course

 

buy guilt at the bakery

guilt in the shower, on the couch and the bed

guilty with your phone, you

reading all the bad news

 

commit the crime and report yourself    

do the time while you plan the next one 

and hope somebody rats you out    

 

she’s a sucker for attention

she clamps down tight and bleeds you dry

tear yourself away, you’ll

only make it more painful

 

guilty when she makes me angry

guilty when i fight or when i run away

guilty when i don’t care

but everything she does just gets me there

 

i was given 19 years by the state

but i’ll do life in the absolute best case

i just count the hours and pray

that nobody breaks me out

 

whip yourself until you’re numb

the father’s digging in

 

Versatile

 

do you ever wonder, when you’re up at night

are you versatile?

can you take it while they take you?

and underwater, do your lungs inflate?

are you versatile?

for when they drag you under

 

what if everyone dies of communication

a detuned dial-tone

a scribble on a note pad

and underwater

the light refracts

the facts are versatile

and they can hold you under

 

have you ever done time in a hostile brain?

where your only friends

are the names scratched in the table

solitarily, does hope suffice?

or will it drag you under?

you’re going under

 

when the light hits the water

when the light hits the water

can you survive, can you adapt, can you breathe underwater?

can you breathe underwater?

 

can you breathe underwater?

can you breathe underwater?

 

In the Morning

 

when i woke up in the morning

i had this song inside my head

and in the morning

i had this song inside my head

and in the morning

i had this song inside my head

only much later

would i find out what it meant

 

it said the tide is always turning

and the ground is only sand

the tide is turning

and the ground is only sand

and cuz it’s turning

it can grind all the rock to sand

over all the ages

the hardest rock can turn to sand

 

run to stage the resistance

and wear them down

bow to contradict them

and null the crown

cuz i died to stop the attrition

and was born a mountain

i was born a mountain

and the age was realigned

 

the path has been determined

but you can’t see round the bend

and it’s interminable

you just can’t see round the bend

it’s been determined

but you won’t see round the bend

whatever waits there

‘s what drives you on ahead

 

all the land’s connected together

and the slopes all level out

the lands attach to each other

and the slopes all even out

they all push on each other

and the slopes bob up and down

a message floats there

run aground, and bury your mast

 

and in the morning

you’ll have this song inside your head

it sings itself over and over

and it churns inside your head

and in the morning

all the rocks have turned to sand

at this elevation

in all directions

realign the age

 

Whats Wrong

 

you can’t fix your toothache by just feeling the pain

your mouth will just have to open up

it can’t help but feel redundant, shame about shame

so what’s wrong

what’s wrong

 

if i already knew the fix, i wouldn’t be here

but now that you’ve got me in the chair

how many cavities am i to endure

and what’s wrong?

 

<<<ooo>>>

what do you want

what do you want

what do you want

what do you want

 

how bout this

let’s play an exercise called

“i want”

what you do

you say “i want” and then you say all things that come to your head right away

without any worry about whether it’s what you’re supposed to want or… anything else

 

Aggression

 

i have a heart, full of aggression

and i’ve been afraid to use it

afraid of what i might set loose

so i’ve learned to subdue it

 

and there is an art, to my depression

my palette is missing colors

but my brush holds the truth

and those lost colors bleed through

 

give up again

come on back and

catch a breath

this is the best it might get

so give it up and get some air

 

go trace the arc

of your professional life

is it a race to impress your value?

are you chasing the loop?

are you yet tired of self-improving?

 

got my head up, but i’m no use

try to keep up, but some things i won’t do

i’m fed up, but low on food

don’t wanna give up, but don’t wanna take it too

 

slip up, they’ll cut you loose

try to tighten up, they got a thousand ways to squeeze you

speak up, anything but the truth

if you stand up, it’s just another way they made you move

 

and whatever you do

the aggression haunts you

you’ll keep on pushing til there’s

nothing more, any heart could give

 

give up again

unclench and release your grip

this is the best chance you’ll get

so give it up and get some air

 

give up again

just admit that you’re innocent

it’s been all self-defense

so give it up and get some air

 

it’s the best chance you’ll get

give up and get some air

 

you’re innocent

 

give up and get some air

 

gotta give up, to get some room

back up, and find another way to move

fess up, to know the truth

 

give up and get some air

 

gotta slow up, to fold the loop

don’t have to measure up, you just gotta prove it to yourself

open up, to close the wounds

 

give up and get some air

 

so give up

come on fess up

whatever you’ve done

 

it was all self-defense

so give it up

 

and the aggression

 

and when you’re in it

 

and in your depression

 

i just hope that you can remember

you’re innocent

 

Take Tomorrow Off

 

take tomorrow off

why don’t you take tomorrow off

because you did the extra credit

yeah you finished your work already

 

and I know what you’re gonna say

 

but you’re good right where you are

you can be sure you’re right where you are

because you cleared the way ahead

yeah you’re on your way already

 

you’re safe from all the noise

i’ll keep you safe from all the noise

i know you won’t ignore the static

yeah i’ve always seen your tender heart

my sensitive one

 

and I know what you’re thinking now

 

but you’re good as you are 

you can be sure you’re just as you are

I said you’re good just as you are

 

and what i want, before anything

big smile on your face

laugh the day away in easy wisps

 

and as the waves embrace the sun

i’ll hold you in my arms

i’ll insulate your heart, it’s what I want

 

along with everything

a smile on your face

go til it gets late, and i can whisper to you

let the earth embrace the sun

i’ve got you in my arms

i’ll insulate your heart

your heart

 

and let’s take tomorrow off