Sleeping Dogs

Cry my eyes blind. Say, I want to settle down. Bleeding hearts lie when they're swollen and proud. Nah nah nah, I miss you. Nah nah nah, I'm scared. Nah nah nah, it's a big old world. It's lonely when you are not there. Cry my eyes blind. Say, I'm scared of being lonely. Gold diggers mine for rocks and sand mostly Nah nah nah, I love you. Nah nah nah, I'm here. Nah nah nah, it feels funny, Boy, funny when you are not near. Cry my eyes blind. Say, I want to settle down. Sleeping dogs lie. Get that dog up off the ground. Cry my eyes blind. Say, I want to settle down. Sleeping dogs lie. Get that dog up off the--he don't wanna. Dog up off the ground.

To Hell and Back

You hold your head high while I just put mine in the sand. I could talk for hours, and you would never understand. When I ramble about nothing, I wish that you'd hold my hand. Oh, Lord, I'm overcome and wanting what is wrong. If my struggle is a sin, I'd go to Hell-- to Hell and back again. You are so beautiful when your lips start to move. I want to be everything that you've got to prove. I'd say something sweet, but I blush and look at my feet.

Good Houses

Good endless surprises. Good reasons for waking. Good friends are good family with hearts over flowing from kindness from strangers. The will to survive. When our hearts are all pounding, God knows we're alive. Good houses. Decisions. You're married with children. Sweet cages, I thought you were mine. With our backs to the wind and our faces to bend all the rules and our feet crossed the line. Apologies given to thin air don't listen. The vibrations don't hit eardrums of the heads that deserve this. The useless excuses. It didn't work, but we really tried. Good timing found speechless, we tripped on our moments. Good gracious, who left who behind? Let's live in the hour. Make powerful statements of how we will not let this die. This is not what I had in mind!

1982

Throw out the bone! You gave the dog away. A neighbor boy with dirt all in his face. He'll treat him just the same way. Oh, Mamma told you not to play those marble games. But did you listen? Turned the TV on. Drowned out her voice with the sound. She didn't ask for those nine months gone. You never thanked her for one. God blessed you on the day that you were born in 1982 and sucked your tooth straight out of your socket. It was a miracle it grew. God blessed you with two legs for moving and two arms that bust-on through the black and blue. All the dirt that all the world has piled on top of you. Regret's a sin. It's a waste of time, they say. It robs you of friends and digs an early grave. Six feet deep in red clay. Why break your back just to find a resting place?

Fish in The Sea

If I blew wings from my spine, do you think that she'd let me carry her? If I grew thick and strong, do you think I wouldn't be so scared of her? Oh, come now, Brother. It ain't as bad as it seems. I've been swimming. There's as many fine women as there are fish in the sea. I could tell her every story if I didn't know how boring I can be. Every whisper sounds like a song that says, I've never felt this way before. Oh, come now, Brother. It ain't as bad as it seems. I've been hunting and bitches be frontin' when they limp like some wounded beast. I don't consider myself the sensitive type, but I get lonely in all the moments in between when she walks out my door and comes running home to me.

The Demise of Madame Butterfly

She paints on her face only moments before the spotlight debut. The man in the top hat is warming the crowd to introduce her. Madame Butterfly: as she falls from great heights held up by strings, and the crowd went wild for Madame Butterfly Formerly muscle man, now he mans tigers to display bravery, but wishes he was one of those lucky bastards that catches her body. The lack of a safety net, sure to inspire a gasp from young and old when she did her triple flip nose dive sixty feet or higher. But this was all new to him--hardly noticed when her foot slipped from the sweat on his hands. She tumbled more awkwardly than one would expect from Madame Butterfly

I Know You Won't

I know you won't ever stop and wonder all about me. Call me, finding my phone number. I know you won't ever spend an afternoon crying, staring at a silent telephone. I know you won't ever say you loved me to your friends. In fact they've never heard of me. I know you won't ever call me Baby like you use to, truth is, it turned out to be fitting. I know you won't ever remember just how gorgeous August was now that it's September.

Simple Words

Simple words. They sound so good to me. Simple words. They can shake a body down. The church crowd leaves the building when the preacher stops his preaching. The sunrise. This heartbreak. All cause for to celebrate those simple joys. They taste so good to me. Simple joys. We are all drunk on something. When the grass peaks from the snowfall, we will all creep out from our holes. When flowers bloom from barren earth, watch greenery spring. Come, Spring! Rebirth! Watch lovers join in. Lovers join in simple words

Split EP with the Dead Bird

I Do What I'm Told

I do what I'm told. For the most part, it's alarming. Lunge for the blindfold and the tail goes on the donkey. All for party prizes. They're just blue plastic devices. They are borderline surprises that will break when we go home. I do what I'm told and I'm getting aggravated. My spine has been sold to a boy, well; we traded courage for the promise that we'll never be so honest as to question what's between us. We'll say, Honey you're the only one. I do what I'm told by the ticking of a time line. Waiting to grow old. What if there is nothing to find? It's the same but slower. The children look most like father who remembers me much younger. We said, Honey you're the only one.

Going North

Going North? Going north to find a city girl. I don't know her. She don't know me, but every clam has got its pearl. Going East? Going east to find the love of my life. I don't know who she might be. I think I've found my wife. Going West? Going West- California! Them girls are looking pretty- find them in L.A. Going South? Going south to find a well-bred girl. I don't know her. She don't know me. Every clam has got its pearl.

Home to Me

I wake by the touch of his skin but I know it was an accident. I'm glad to be the one he kicks in his sleep. You feel like home to me. I smile when he grins but I know it was the television. I'm glad to be around when he's laughing. You look like home to me. I wait by the telephone and it could ring but it don't. Still, I'm glad to be the voice on his answering machine. You look like home to me. I live for the moments when he looks like he's feeling about half of what I do when I say, I love you. You look like home to me. Oh!

Uncle's Sweetheart

Uncle's got a sweetheart and Aunty don't know her name. The ladies call her Beatrice and her shoes are stained by the rain. She'll wear them til the leather's thin. Uncle's got a silver gun and Aunty has a steady hand. She thinks of mighty evils as she's shooting at her cans. Mad as fire on the grease in the pan. Uncle's got his jar of whiskey and Aunty has her friends. He stinks of city living but she don't know where he's been. The poker hall on 2-80-10.

Uncle's Sweetheart Pt.2

Put a hole in the ground just to bury your poor uncle. Put that shovel down for he's nearing toward his savior. If his heart's light as a feather he can walk right in. It's a shame it's heavier by the burdens of his sins. Oh me! What have I done? Have a paper son and you can light yourself a cigarette. I'll shine up his gun with the corner of my wedding dress. Never shoot a moving thing it just feels good in my hand. Makes me feel more threatening. It makes me feel like a man. Oh me! What have I done? God sees everything but does he have himself an x-ray to see him lie to me. Oh, the stink of gin and whiskey! We'd been known to holler but I love that boy to death. Lipstick on his collar and some whiskey on his breathe. I thought I saw clear waters, but the storm was slow to rest. Lipstick on his collar, and a bullet in his chest. Oh me! What have I done?

Faith (Fighting the world and losing the battle)

Faith, won't you come back home? I don't even know when you left. Faith, you always seemed so strong. You always seemed to know what was best. It was us against the world and the world was against us. Now I fumble with my sword. Now I stumble on backwards. Faith, I know I treated you wrong. I was suffering from a wandering eye. I settled on this lifeless drone, but I think about you all of the time. We were laughing at the crowd and the crowd just laughed at us. I drew comfort from the sound. Now it's quiet as a mouse. Faith, won't you come back home? I'm forgetting all the things that you told me. Like taking the bull by the horns. Better to be dead than be ignored, babe. Oh my God, I've changed completely since the last time she saw me.

Slow Down

Ghosts use doorbells for they've lost their hands to dying. The alarm might as well be the noise of feathers falling. It happened too quickly and I wasn't looking. I thought it would make a sound. You get up- you get! Go! But I'm scared of moving! It's a quick trip to the ground. Slow down. You're just five feet from standing. How could you give up now? Ghosts sleep for days. They don't wake for fear of finding all that wept around their graves are alive and softly changing. I blinded! I can't see what is coming so I keep low and keep down. You get up. You get! Go! But I'm scared of moving. It's a quick trip to the ground.

Kissing and Dancing Lyrics

What The Devil Don't Know Won't Hurt Him

Shoot a Squirrel, a baby girl don't even know her father. I sent her away on the fifth of May to a steamboat in the water. I loved her well, but I'm going to hell and she won't know its fires. When I'm away, she'll dine in Maine on Bloody Marys and Lobster. The day I die, well by that time, she will be a woman. She won't know me but her love's at sea with a steamboat captain husband. Can't sleep at night, well she's wondering why she don't know her father. Tell her she was born when the beauty of the sun fell into the water. The devil don't know, but I'll be counting his gold tonight. You can't grow old when you're counting his gold tonight When she dies white wings won't fly her all the way to Jesus. Her soul will lay and move with the waves. The devil told me all his secrets.

Oh My Darling

Oh my darling, oh. I'm sorry that I tied you. It's all that I could do with my bundle of twine You can still speak softly and murmur nothings to me. Your poetry probably sounds like your mind. Oh my darling, oh. You're so beautiful. My statue idol with ropes across his spine. Miss your family? Well, now you have me. And I'll love you til the day I die. Oh my darling, oh. Where is the fire? Is such terror necessary for a boy like mine? I'll dress you pretty and take you to the city. We can drink ten gallons of wine. Oh my darling, oh. Keep from the window. Fall and I would simply lose my mind.

I Left The Light On

I left the light on and it's burning. Burning just for you! Just for you! Your phone just ain't calling! Calling like it used to. Like it used to. Open the door and you're running. Running away. Away. Follow and I grab you. No! Grab you in a haze. In a haze. Steering wheel the car is turning. Turning but the light's red. But the light's red. Drive up to your building. Building don't know what I did. Don't know what I did

Sailing Away

Jumped for the water. I was on the harbor and he's sailing. He's sailing away. Left her for dead. I guess it's for the best cause she sure felt gone today. Away Decapitated everything he hated and he's sailing. He's sailing away. She's so gullible. Fell for the joke, so she's quicker on the uptake. Away Message in a bottle the ink got muddled and he's sailing. He's sailing away. Live without regrets, well, who would have guessed that she'd feel so ashamed. I saw the sails fly up, but I thought if I played pretend; close my eyes and eat the lies then they'd go away. The beach is pretty. The sand's a little gritty but the sunsets sure are great. I'm a land lover and he lives for the water. I'm no stowaway.

Machina De Bella

Love her like you did before but treat her twice as wella. Find her at the discotech she'll be dancing like a fella. You better ring la Machina de Bella. You better ring la Machina de Bella. You better ring ring la Machina. You better ring la Machina de Bella Oh, if you break her heart, she's just sixteen and willa cry alone in the dark and wait for the ring of Machina de Bella Love her like you did before, but offer your umbrella. Buy her clothes, cause what does it show when she looks like Cinderella?

Dumpster Dive Mother

I've been down. I've been down a road. The gravel and the dust have gone from boots to bones. I bought these pants. I bought these pants from an army officer. One hand and six children. Time has gone. Time has gone with me. The autumn leaves will fall from trees from here to Kentucky. Born in North Carolina but I don't see how that matters Son of a road side diner and a dumpster dive mother Soon as he learned to walk well, he learned to wander. Son of a roadside diner and a dumpster dive mother. I ain't got much; I ain't got much but my thumb. It's carried me from sea to sea. Lord knows it's just begun. Charity. Charity garbage cans. The police have forbidden me. They think I'm less than man. And oh, they're right. No, I am not like them. The land's my law. These handcuffed paws only raise to defend. I fell in love. I fell in love with the setting sun. I'll spend my life chasing my wife from New York to the Grand Canyon. Maybe then. Maybe then I'll settle down. I've seen defeat in comfort's reach. I'm off to press holy ground.

Betty Page

The female form, oh Betty Page in leopard print lemonade. The world became sour at the sight of her. I loved her like a sister or a piece of furniture. A rubber dress and a leather whip. Her photographs were well equipped at shocking the government of the day. If they just new poor Betty for her innocence and naiveté I am miss puritan. I know my answers are right. I am miss holier than. I will win this justified fight. It's not easy. No, it's not easy. A silver gun what a glorious hit man stuck inside his lover's basement, thinking about the situation in front of him. He loves her like a mother or a piece of furniture. Two lives left, and one is for the taking! He's the husband, an insurance agent. Now he's the target for the postman who brought lust with his deliveries of innocence and naiveté. The bullets flew and it hit her face. The insurance paid for the wedding day and now there's a partner for the postman. He loves her like a mother or a piece of furniture. And Betty Page isn't made of sin now that Jesus Christ is her only best friend and her bikini is her bible. I guess they call that survival when all your pictures turn yellow.

Seeing Double

Do you see the water that's dripping from the kitchen down to the basement? Will you tell your sister that lives there or are you not that in love with her? The water will rise but she can't scream You got her tied up just like me The electric shock from the TV on playing re-runs all night long. Your dad smells like my boyfriend. Oh no‚ I'm seeing double again. Your garden looks like my home , which is funny because you don't know where I'm from. You've got something in your mouth I wish that you would take it out Roses can prick your lips, my friend. I'll sit back down so I can stand again If my mom calls, I'm not here. Her reaction would prove all that I fear Happens behind locked doors. You look so pretty, can I look some more? Oh my god, I'm drowning in the silent dripping everything In your pocket, there's a key next to a dollar bill and me and me and me and me and me and me and me and me and me and me and me and me

Nobody

I'm just a nobody because nobody smiles at me. You must be somebody cause your friends sell smiles for free. I wish you were lonely cause maybe I wouldn't be. You'd feel so sorry for that other nobody. Who needs friends when you can come and cry with me? It all depends when your cup is half full or half empty I'm just a nobody. I like to write and read. You must be somebody cause you never talk to me. I wish you were ugly cause I would feel so free to hold hands and sing with that other nobody. Who needs friends when you can write bad poetry? Talk of when love ends. The hurt sets in. The faithful art of the lonely. I'm just a nobody. I call my own phone. You must be somebody cause I've never seen you alone. I wish you weren't so huggable when I feel like a cactus tree. Who wants to touch the thorns of a hopeless nobody?

Scarred by the Devil

Scarred by the devil with pock mark on cheek. She sang like an angel with a voice that would never keep. And I mourn for her when her spirit rise. And I don't want to go home. Pretty and peculiar. She glowed when dawn turned dusk. The light gave off a buzz and the buzz it gave off sparks. I watched for crying but her eyes were dry. And I don't want to go home. The day before Christmas her dear daddy took flight. She didn't bat her lashes as he walked into the night. She screams for no one because no one is alone. And I don't want to go home. I weep without thinking. I quiver at a touch. I will never be her. I wasn't built that tough. She talks without speaking. I don't talk at all. Oh, when I'm this alone- I don't want to go home. History repeats and brings me to my knees. Over my shoulder she's older and older and I'm just a little girl.

Shaking in my Boots

I'm falling apart, you know, and I'm not the only one. You and me, we stuck together like some bubble gum. Listening to music- all I hear's a vibration. That boy's good looking but I don't really know him. So what do I do now? The orange juice is cutting loose and the milk has all gone sour. So what do I do now? I'm shaking in my boots and my eyes are facing down. I'm kicking a can, you know, in front of your house. Throw it in the window with a note that says Mickey Mouse. I'm making pictures cause I draw on photographs. I gave buckteeth to her and I gave you a mustache. I'm calling a phone and, boy, you don't know his name. Neither do I, but I saw him yesterday. He was reading letters in a book inside his hand. Cried out, Oh God! and Could that be a man? But I said it softly, so it went under my breath. I felt so awkward that I got up and I left. Maybe sleeping is so you can wake from dreams. Maybe waking is harder than it seems. So what do I do now that I'm cookie cutter. I'm painted rubber and I've got a mouth. So what do I do now? I'm shaking in my boots and my eyes are facing down.

A Different Place

She's my best friend. She's my very good friend. I can't keep her down. Times are changing. We're growing and we're aging but I don't want to turn around. She's my best friend. She's my very best friend. We both see eye to eye. She gets taller and I'm staying smaller. Now we both see different sides. She's my best friend. She's my very good friend. When she laughs I smile. But lately, it's just so irritating. She only laughs when a boy walks by. She's my best friend. She's my very good friend. I wish she'd come and play. Like she use to. Loved to do the hoola hoop. We're both in a different place.

Silver Trucks

Where do they go? San Francisco and New York. Bug eyes tell soap operas and commercials are beautiful. Oh, the flicker. It tells you to change The channel. Oh, calamity and the noise. *Eeeyah! And to Harlem on Tricycle. Bike biking to their furniture in tall buildings that seemed taller when they were small. And we go back And they're no wonder at all *Eeyah! And the flyers on street corners. The neon and the black. It turns on to pupils if you -you don't go back Back to nature back to San Francisco or New York When you return you will be someone else *Eeyah! So Harlem ain't so scary in the dark. With the twilight and the white bright silver trucks. (two times)

Watch the Rain

Poetry is all cliche. It talks of flowers, of love, and May. Any beatnik black beret could ruin the day for me. Leave me here alone in my room, feeling genius, feeling blue, and I'll Finger pick and I'll watch the rain. *Oh, I watch the rain. Oh, I watch the rain. I see romantic comedies. She's so funny. He's quirky. They were so different in the beginning; you would never suspect the ending. I'm so glad to be ignored. Your company was such a chore so I Finger pick and I watch the rain *Oh, I watch the rain(repeat) and magazine articles. These three steps and he's all yours. Well, I tried so hard to follow, but I must have skipped the last one. I'm so happy for you but I have my good times too when I Finger pick and I watch the rain. **Oh, I watch the rain. I watch the rain. When your eyes close, does it burn you? When your spine freeze in memories Is it killing you like it's killing me? Companionship is overrated. Solitude is where I'm staying. Don't you feel sorry for me. This is just where I thought I would be. I'm so happy for you but I have my good times too when I Finger pick and I watch the rain

Bella's Song

No creator. No savior. From sex and not sin. The earth starts to shudder and the cycle begins. From the breath of two lovers comes baby's first yawn And somewhere here hidden there's a birthday song. Count your blessings daily. I dare you! May your fears rarely scare you. Let your heartstrings grow thick and long. Somewhere here hidden there's a birthday song. Hail to ancestors and where we came from For Great Grandma's ghost lives within your bones. She was a baby before daddy was born. Somewhere here hidden there's a birthday song.
The Piece That Fits

We don't talk too loud. Mutter to ourselves to distance the crowd. I'm thankful. We don't act too cool. It's just bathroom humor from middle school. I'm thankful. *He knows my body and I'm- I'm not so scared. I'm not half as brave as when he is there. For all that suffers and all that pines For the piece that fits, I'm glad he could be mine We don't laugh all the time, but sometimes the silence sounds just as nice I'm thankful We paint the town red, but we still know how to get down. I'm thankful. *I know someday he'll be miles away. The skin that touches his won't be the same But for all that suffers and all that pines For the piece that fits, I'm glad he could be mine.