Another Ghost Without a Grave

Another Ghost Without A Grave


I caught myself
Playing with matches
In the hallway
Of another hotel
South of the Bible belt
These idel hands
When you can't sleep
When you just can't sleep

Had a dream I was a kid's balloon
Keeping me down cause it makes everyone smile
Should I hate the hand or my own string?
And do I really want the clouds?
I mean, do I really want the clouds?
Now it's four hours 'til dawn
Another ghost without a grave

I'm at a loss
With ten missed calls
I should have answered
But I'm feeling small
Maybe they'll leave me alone
It's scary to want it
When you can't sleep
When you just can't sleep

Had a dream I was a kid's balloon
You keep me down cause it makes everyone smile
Should I hate your hand or my own string?
And do I really want the clouds?
I mean, do I really want the clouds?
Now it's three hours 'til dawn
Another ghost without a grave
Another ghost without a grave

I've got a voodoo doll
And a black mirror
I've got candles of saints
And a road full of fog


April 1, 2018

Boy Gone Bust

Boy Gone Bust


Polly Kazan got a new boyfriend
He's got heart full of Warfarin
You know, you know, you know, you know, you know me
You know, you know, you know the way that I see

Johnny B. Good and Rob Roberson
Called it love then let the trust funds win
You know, you know, you know, you know, you know me
You know, you know, you know, you know, you know me

Seppuku Sam got a winning horse
Beat it to death as you do of course
You know, you know, you know, you know, you know me
You know, you know, you know the way that I see
Things play out
Just like they always do
It's not like I want to be right
Might I comfort you?
How would you trust a boy gone bust?
I won't lose you
If you were never mine to have
I won't...
You know, you know, you know, you know, you know me
You know, you know, you know what I will not be

Lenny burned down the revival tent
Then changed the names of the innocent
Had a public affair with his publicist
His finest work of fiction was a grocery list
Polly gave his eulogy in the Everglades
They shot him from a cannon full of retconed alocades
And Sam wanted a punchline without any joke...
I watched the alligators as they watched for a scapegoat
And you know, you know, you know, you know, you know me
And you know, you know, you know, you know, you know me

Cordelia, must you be so gay?
These tempests give to take away
Yeah, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know me
You know, you know, you know the way that I see
Things play out
Just like they always do
It's not like I want to be right
Might I comfort you?
How would you trust a boy gone bust?
I won't lose you
If you were never mine to have
I won't...
You know, you know, you know, you know, you know me
And you know, you know, you know, you know, you know me


April 6, 2018

Powerless

Powerless


Powerless
Oh, it's a wretched feeling
Such wretched wretchedness
Powerless
Such a wretched feeling
So difficult to confess

I am whole
But I'm wholly incontinent as is
I would chew off a limb
To not feel so limbless
When I hear that you're hurting
In despair, in distress
And all I can do for you
Is stand by, powerless

I hope you know
There is a love held on for you
Please know, that there is love meant for you...

Violence
It festers in me
Fetishised recompense
Violence
Oh what I'd do
If I could, if perchance

It takes hold
Like a riptide, I'm pulled astray
Cold blood boils, off I'm shaking
Elucidating shadow plays
I know sheetrock from a cave's wall
I punch it all the same
When I hear that you're hurting
With no dragons to be slayed

I hope you know
There is a love held on for you
Please know, that there is love meant for you

Even though, it is but another - shadow in the valley
In the dark, where you are - so scared but still walk on...
I hope
That you know
That you know
I hope you know...

I am whole
But I'm wholly incontinent as is
I would chew off a limb
To not feel so limbless
When I hear that you're hurting
In despair, in distress
And all I can do for you
Is stand by, powerless
Yeah, I am whole
But I'm wholly incontinent as is
I'd chew off a fucking limb
To not feel so limbless
When I hear that you're hurting
In despair, in distress
And all I can do for you
Is stand by, powerless

Powerless...
Powerless...


March 28, 2018

Hobnail

Hobnail


I'm falling out of your graces
I'm like a skin on a cooling stew
I'm stirring up dust just by leaving the room
Honey, just say I'm spent
You know I can't take a hint
Not when it's so inconvenient

Cause what's a slippery slope to your one and only?
Tell me, what's a crawl in the mud to your dear hobnail?
I'm pushing it all back underneath my skin
What's a crying shame more to your Al Jolson?

I'm picking petals like chambers in a gun
One thing to another, just lead me on
If you be the bottle then I'll be the worm
Honey, just say, "You're it"
I'll spin you round a bit
I've still got one last hit, in me

Cause what's a slippery slope to your one and only?
Tell me, what's a crawl in the mud to your dear hobnail?
I'm pushing it all back underneath my skin
What's a crying shame more to your Al Jolson?


March, 2018

In a Place

In a Place


Did I miss some opening?
Some inside joke while out in the line?
Were you hoping I was keen?
Belladonna you're tonight
I'd rather see you in daylight
Of course I'd rather keep my head on something tight

Am I in a good place?
Come on you should call
Come on you should call my name out when...
Wanted me to answer? I'm answering!
Am I in a good place?
Come on you should call
I'm starting to thaw my widow's veil
I'm in a weird place to let you in
But come in

Cat's in the closet, the bones are all bagged
To confess or brag, the table's set
Hey, first impressions aren't a lifetime past us yet
You're terrible at taking care of yourself
I don't know how to live if not for someone else
Withdraw in disgust, hope doing the right thing is what helps

Pepper's ghost
I feel like a bumkin
Gonna make me lose my head... now
Back in the crowd
I didn't see nothing
Gonna make me lose my head
'Til I forget my parking lot etiquette
I just quit
I can't keep on playing the clown

Am I in a good place?
Come on you should call
Come on you should call my name out when...
Wanted me to answer? I'm answering!
Am I in a good place?
Come on you should call
I'm pawning my feathers off for scales
I'm in a weird place to let you in
But come in

Pagliacci, I'm tonight
Wish you would see me in daylight
Pepper's ghost, can't keep my head on nothing tight

Am I in a good place?
Come on you should call
Gonna make me lose my head... now
Am I in a good place?
Come on you should call
Gonna make me lose my head... now

March, 2018

Ambrosia

Ambrosia


I wish that I could never drink
Another glass of water
Or breathe another breath of air
All the things that you must think
Seeing your trotter wane to totter
Of them I wish that I didn't care

Maybe then I wouldn't need
So many useless things
Just to get from here to there
Where then I come back 'round again
Nothing gained but worse for wear

I wish that I could never drink
Another glass of water
Or breathe another breath of air
Not for having gorged on grief
So as to seek some slow self-slaughter
But to be stronger than a bee toting a bear

Maybe then I wouldn't need
So many useless things
Just to get from here to there
Where then I come back 'round again
Nothing gained but worse for wear

I wish I didn't need to blow
Smoke rings whenever I do smoke
I wish that I didn't need to sing
Whenever silence joins me on the road
I wish I didn't need to paint
Every visage flown from ebbing dreams
To sleep I'd simply close my eyes
Their lids not a movie projector's screen
I wish that I could punch a clock, kiss a good wife and save up to die
Without all of these useless things
That do nothing but make me feel alive

Nothing gained but worse for wear
Nothing gained, you say, but worse for wear
Well, I wish I didn't care!
I wish that I didn't care!
Maybe then I wouldn't need
So many useless things
Just to get from here to there
Where then I come back 'round again
Where then I come back 'round again
Yeah, here I come back 'round again!

I wish I didn't have a thirst
Like a fool that's tasted ambrosia
I wish I were a bee and not a bear


December 8, 2017

Star-stuck

Star-stuck


It's been a long night
Can't you take a hint?
You keep pushing pillars
But you're not Samson
She wants to have a good time
And you're all out of that
Stand in the middle of the street
It's where you're already at

It's not my job to make you stop
Keep throwing knives, one's sure to stick
Whipsawed in wanderlust
Sick of home and still homesick
Keep throwing knives, one's sure to stick

So where to, Captain?
Every dog has a star
That don't make it your day
You'd rather keep chasing cars
Good as I've been to you
You go and show me your teeth
I ought to cut you down, good
You punky dogwood tree

It's not my job to make you stop
Keep throwing knives, one's sure to stick
Whipsawed in wanderlust
Sick of home and still homesick
You're so sick of home and still homesick

It's not my job to make you stop
Keep throwing knives, one's sure to stick
Whipsawed in wanderlust
Sick of home and still homesick
Keep throwing knives, one's sure to stick


March, 2018

Get to You

Get to You


Hey, hey - Mr. Welcoming Big Smile
Is it safe to touch the new coat of paint?
I was told - but hey, what does it matter?
People say just the damdest things, I guess
Well, I guess

Does it get to you
More than you can take?
More than you can take?
Does it get to you
More than you can take?
More than you can take?
Does it get to you
More than you can take?
More than you can take?
Does it get to you?
Does it get to you, yet?

You play with wandering fingers
Despite holding firm your tongue
Braids and bows in delicate rivers
The kind of spider that wants to come undone
Under thumb

Does it get to you
More than you can take?
More than you can take?
Does it get to you
More than you can take?
More than you can take?
Does it get to you
More than you can take?
More than you can take?
Does it get to you?
Does it get to you, yet?

She's got a haunt in your corner
Breathing right against the back of your neck
Go on and make your grand introductions
She still wears what you wanted her to forget
What you left

Does it get to you
More than you can take?
More than you can take?
Does it get to you
More than you can take?
More than you can take?
Does it get to you
More than you can take?
More than you can take?
Does it get to you?
Does it get to you, yet?


February, 2018

The Kids are Right

The Kids are Right


You tell them that they're the problem
But you won't let them fix it
Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers
We cannot be too hasty
There are rights at stake
Pay no attention to the swastikas
They're just too young to be sincere

You say, what about the video games?
All that hip-hop devil music?
Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers
Let's not go do something crazy
There are rights at stake
Those of people old enough to vote
Old enough to make quite handsome contributions
All you can see is how you're the real victim

Hate to tell you but the kids are right
It's not alright, it's not alright what you've done
On their knees screaming, "none of this is normal!"
Hate to tell you but the kids are right
It's not alright, they shouldn't have to be the adults
Just lick their wounds and pray - no, none of this is normal!

They're just too young to be sincere
They must be puppets
How could they ever know what's best
We know what's best, for them
We fight the fires with gasoline
We know what's best, for them
We fight the fires with gasoline
With gasoline
Just add gasoline!

Hate to tell you but the kids are right
It's not alright, it's not alright what you've done
On their knees screaming, "none of this is normal!"
Hate to tell you but the kids are right
It's not alright, they shouldn't have to be the adults
Just lick their wounds and pray - no, none of this is normal!

Pay no mind to the swastikas
Pay no mind to all these toxic notions of love
Pay no mind to her black eye
This is for shooting and this is for fun
And all you can see is how you're the victim

Hate to tell you but the kids are right
It's not alright, it's not alright what you've done
On their knees screaming, "none of this is normal!"
Hate to tell you but the kids are right
It's not alright, they shouldn't have to be the adults
Just lick their wounds and pray - no, none of this is normal!


March, 2018

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli


We don't talk anymore
Don't see you out at the shows
Have you grown so sick at heart?
Standing ridged 'mongst waving rows
The winds they haven't changed you
So much as brought things to light
Still I don't know where to go from here
No one's leaving to say goodbye...
But I'll try...

We don't talk anymore
Was it something that I did?
I've been sifted down powder fine
Is that a stone stuck to your ribs?
The winds I feel they are carrying me
Like a dervish, round but not far
Another color trying to be the next lapis lazuli
I was a shadow between you and the wall...
Until you ceased to call...

We don't talk anymore
Maybe that is for the best
We don't talk anymore
Just let rest unsaid all the rest
The winds they haven't changed you
So much as brought things to light
Still I don't know where to go from here
No one's leaving to say goodbye...
But I'll try...
But I'll try...


February, 2018