LYRICS NOT IN 34 ALBUMS

FINISHED / MOSTLY FINISHED — 347 pieces — Master VOL60

Index — tap a title to zoom there

DRINKING SOLUTION — A0191 Internal Bruises — A0002 POSTAL WORKERS PAYBACK — A0530 People Like Me — A0140 Zeroes — A0183 GARDEN OF EDEN — A0443 Something In The Air — A0157 Two Thousand Miles — A0173 RAINBOWS OR WATERFALLS — A0256 Questions And Answer — A0146 RUMORS FROM HEAVEN — A0257 Bars And Scars — A0078 AMERICAN DREAM — A0410 End Game — A0016 Lonely Clouds — A0025 Prime Time — A0143 FRAMINGHAM BLUES — A0439 Thirst — A0009 Oh Juanita — A0027 Living A Buffet Song — A0035 Lawn Noams — A0116 Radioactive Tuna — A0148 You Spilled My Coffee — A0182 Lazy Citizen — A0118 Let Me Shine — A0119 One Percent War — A0136 Trust Me — A0170 Does The Fire Still Glow — A0005 Kitty Cat Chat — A0115 MY MASTER 11/03/2013 — A0225 CLOSER TO GOD — A0238 FOUR WARS — A0438 Secret Room — A0014 Which Is Which — A0024 Green Eyes — A0031 Bottle Me Up — A0039 Have To Laugh — A0104 Only Here — A0137 Snowing Love — A0154 Wishing Well — A0181 STANDING NEAR THE WALL — A0211 TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN — A0213 LIVING BLUE — A0219 DEAD SILENCE — A0404 AROUND — A0413 DISPLACED — A0431 MONEY TRAIN — A0464 NEVER AGAIN — A0470 OLD MAN WINTER — A0475 PROMISES — A0477 ROW ROW — A0483 WATCHING AND WAITING — A0509 FANTASY AND REALITY — A0701 Lovely Infinity — A0003 Oceanside — A0023 MINORITY MAJORITY — A0462 MONEY, MONEY, MONEY — A0463 THE ALMIGHTY — A0521 HASTA DIABLO — A0524 Surviving The Stairs — A0011 Free Sanity — A0096 Happy People — A0102 Proxy War — A0145 ELA, LADY OF THE WIND — A0434 OPEN MIC NIGHT — A0476 TRIVIAL PURSUIT — A0505 Forty Days — A0095 Grown To Love — A0101 Killing For Pie — A0113 A WELL- PLACED E — A0188 ANOTHER ONE HIT WONDER — A0411 DECEMBERS — A0429 Little More Time — A0008 In A Click — A0048 Miss You Kiss You — A0072 Dear Life — A0086 Friends And Countrymen — A0097 It’s All Right — A0110 Sing Yerself — A0153 Subterfuge — A0162 Wake And Baker — A0178 UNWINDING ROAD — A0216 HORIZON — A0217 PYRAMIDS — A0478 FRIED CHICKEN — A0523 AS WE GO (BY THE MORNING MOON) — A0704 Well Placed E — A0070 BLACK HISTORY — A0416 INNOCENCE LOST — A0199 DRYWALL — A0192 LIKE ROLLING A BONE — A0201 JUST A (GRADY) LITTLE POEM — A0525 Awaken — A0075 Electric Waterfall — A0091 Shadow Of The Drone — A0152 GLOUCESTER SEVENTEEN — A0187 Pandora'S Box — A0001 Dirt Nap — A0006 Studio — A0007 Apples And Oranges — A0017 Blame — A0018 Good Morning Day And Night — A0019 Resolutions — A0021 Camaraderie — A0042 Failing — A0045 Ode To Jason — A0056 Sun Rises — A0065 Avoid — A0074 Being Hip — A0079 Chicken Coup Soup — A0082 Clap — A0083 Deeper — A0087 Dropping Science — A0089 Dry Ice — A0090 Forever Next — A0094 Gods Girls And Gurus — A0098 Goodbye To You — A0099 Hardline — A0103 Head First — A0105 Hiding The Dirt — A0106 Key — A0112 King Klaus — A0114 Lazy Afternoon — A0117 Limitless — A0121 Making A List — A0122 Memories Of You — A0127 My Muse — A0129 No News — A0133 Presence — A0142 Seeds Sewn — A0150 Seeing Is Believing — A0151 So What — A0155 Sorry — A0158 Time To Climb — A0166 Undertow — A0174 BETTER THAN ME — A0189 DRINK MORE WATER — A0190 FACING THE DAWN — A0193 FOURTEEN DAYS — A0195 HELPING OUT — A0197 ORDER IN THE COURT — A0205 POSTERS OF POSERS — A0207 RAINBOW — A0208 TABLE FOR THREE — A0212 GO — A0229 YOUR NAME — A0262 CURVES OF SORROW — A0403 ACID RAIN — A0407 BETTER BITTER — A0414 FADING FAST — A0435 FREE WILLY — A0440 GRANT’S WOMB — A0449 HUNDRED DOLLAR HEADACHES — A0456 OBSERVATIONS — A0474 SECRET CODE — A0490 TEARS — A0499 THINGS WILL GET BETTER — A0501 PASS A RASH — A0529 FOUND POEMS — A0700 DYSLEXIC — A0703 HIGH PRAISE — A0710 SPAMMIN' — A0184 HAVE A DRINK — A0248 SIX WELLS — A0492 TRUTH — A0506 TWO PAIR — A0507 Master Plan — A0123 Something — A0156 This Time — A0164 STILL ROCKING THE WORLD — A0532 Change — A0004 Rescue — A0010 H2Oh — A0012 Smackdab — A0013 Always Moving — A0015 Shepherd — A0020 Good Seat — A0022 Beats Growing Corn — A0026 On Defense — A0028 Hope Floats — A0029 Even — A0044 My Little Hands — A0055 All In — A0073 Barrel Roll — A0077 Better Choices — A0080 Cardboard Box — A0081 Clear View — A0084 Coming Home — A0085 Dream Away — A0088 Flair — A0092 Fleeting — A0093 Indigestion — A0108 Insist — A0109 Jumping Jack — A0111 Life Line — A0120 Me And You — A0124 Me, Myself And I — A0125 Melting Snow — A0126 Mister Ed — A0128 New Currency — A0130 New Planet — A0131 Nine To Five State Of Mind — A0132 Number One — A0134 Of The Daze — A0135 Perception Shift — A0141 Prism — A0144 Red On My Rose — A0149 Splendiferous — A0159 Statues In Capsules — A0160 Street Level — A0161 Tasty — A0163 Time And A Half — A0165 Tones — A0167 Tools Of Fools — A0168 Top Of The Ledge — A0169 Trust Worthy — A0171 Two O’Clock On Sunday Afternoon — A0172 Unencumbered — A0175 Unshore — A0176 Visions — A0177 Wedding Bells — A0179 Well, Well, Well — A0180 FEEDING TIME — A0194 HAPPY ACCIDENT — A0196 LITTLE DITTIES — A0202 LOST LOVE — A0203 PESTS — A0206 TRUST YOUR WHISKERS — A0214 TWO FACED — A0215 POETIC WAX — A0218 SHIMMERING — A0230 ANOTHER SONG — A0234 POLITICIAN BLUES — A0254 SONG FOR MEDIOCRITY — A0258 TWO OF A KIND — A0259 POSTCARD — A0400 OASIS — A0401 ALL BOTTLED UP — A0408 ALL I GOT — A0409 DAY OF ALL DAYS — A0412 BLOTCHES — A0417 BOTTLE CAP SNIFFER — A0418 BUT HIM — A0420 CANDY STORE — A0421 CATS AND COWS — A0422 CERTAINLY UNCERTAIN — A0423 CHANGING A TIRE — A0424 CHANGING THE WEATHER — A0425 CLOSE FRIENDS — A0426 CROSSING CANYONS — A0428 DIME A DOZEN — A0430 DOWNS ANDS UPS — A0432 DUTY — A0433 FILAMENT — A0436 FISH — A0437 FRESH START — A0441 GAMBLER — A0442 GETTING BURNT — A0444 GOLD STAR — A0445 GOOD FIGHT — A0447 GOOD SAMARITAN — A0448 HEAVY TO LIGHT CREAM — A0452 HEN HOUSE — A0453 HIDE AND SEEK — A0454 HOT TODDY — A0455 INDEPENDENT — A0457 IRON WILL — A0458 LESSONING THE LOAD — A0459 MANCHESTER BAY — A0460 ME, YOU, AND HOOBIE DOO — A0461 MONOTONY AND THE CIRCLE OF DEATH — A0465 MY BIOGRAPHY — A0466 MY PLEASURE — A0467 MY WHITE CHRISTMAS — A0468 NAPOLEAN’S DAUGHTER — A0469 NO SNOW — A0472 RACIST — A0479 RAINING IN BOSTON — A0480 RED PEN — A0481 REST OF MY DAYS — A0482 RUNNING SCARED — A0485 SAYONARA — A0486 SCARY THOUGHT — A0487 SCRAPE YOUR SOUL — A0488 SECOND DATE — A0489 SEXUAL INTELLECTUAL — A0491 SONG FOR MEDIOCRITY — A0493 STARVING — A0494 STICKS AND STONES — A0495 STRANGER IN THE MANGER — A0496 SWIMMING IN SALT LAKE — A0498 THANKS DAD — A0500 THOUSAND MILES ABOVE — A0502 TOTEM POLE — A0503 TREES OF GREEN — A0504 WARM WEATHER — A0508 WATER BIRDS — A0510 WITH HER I’LL MAKE IT — A0512 YOUR BROTHER — A0513 BUS DRIVER — A0522 MY LITTLE REVOLUTION — A0526 Or IN THE POURING RAIN — A0527 ONE MORE — A0528 TOMORROW — A0533 YARD DOG — A0535 FIFTY TWO PICK UP — A0707 REST OF MY DAYS — A0713 Or L.M.N.O.P — A0138 YOU CAN NEVER RUN AWAY FROM YOURSELF — A0185 ANY GIVEN DAY — A0235 NOT A ZERO — A0473 WAY UP NORTH — A0511 WINTER THEMED HAPPINESS — A0534 B.S.F. — A0076 Great Greatest Greatest-Er — A0100 High Risers — A0107 Peculiar — A0139 Quick Wit — A0147 GROW UP — A0450 RUN FORREST RUN — A0484 SUMMER THEMED HAPPINESS — A0497 ALWAYS MOVING — A0232 BETTER THAN ME — A0236 HAND ON THE KNIFE — A0242 DOWNS AND UPS — A0243 Toss the Cross — A0246 A FRESH START — A0247 RAINBOWS OR WATERFALLS — A0531 CLOSE FRIENDS — A0705 DECEMBERS — A0706 GO — A0708 GROW UP — A0709 HEAVY TO LIGHT CREAM — A0711 HOT TODDY — A0712 SHIMMERING — A0714 WATCHING AND WAITING — A0715 Internal Bruises VOL2 — A0036 YOUR ALIBI — A0514 SPEAKING OF PROBABILITY… WHAT ARE THE ODDS? — A0250 Misc — A0033 CHEESY PICK UP LINES — A0227 SERIOUSLY A TREASURE — A0228 MY GREATEST MUSICAL/LYRICAL INFLUENCES ARE — A0226 BOTTOM UP, NOT TOP DOWN — A0519 Spoofs — A0034 NOTES:______________________________________________ — A0515 MORE NOTES: __________________________________ — A0520

DRINKING SOLUTION

A0191 — rank 1

I don't have a drinking problem I've got a drinking solution I live in a world with so much pollution I live with it in my blood as dirt runs through my veins I pour it in my cup and I drink it up like rain I don't have a drinking problem I've got a drinking solution I tried to give it up but I figured what's the use? If and when I put it down I'll just pick up something else I've learned from my past by now I just can't control myself My heart is beating far too fast Yet my love is for a false prophet I aimed for first but finished last Now I'm hooked on getting off it I started drinking to drown my sorrows But I gave it up when trouble learned to swim I treaded water for so long I never noticed how deep I was in I've chosen some wrong selections So don't ask me for any directions I can only tell you where not to go I can't explain the ways of the world I can't show you where to dive for pearls I guess there are just some things you have to know I keep my eyes peeled for angels While living in the world of sin I can't tell you where I'm going Only where I've been

Internal Bruises

A0002 — rank 2

I live in a world Where there are no fist fights People fight each other With their mind The bruises that are left Never seem to heal right There is no cure For words so unkind I wish you hit me I wish you hit me I could get over that But what you said to me Yeah, what you said to me I wish you hit me I wish you hit me I could get over that But what you said to me Yeah, what you said to me You know you knocked me flat You're supposed to leave When the love grows old You could never grieve You're just too damn cold You stayed and led me on Kept saying you're my girl You let me play along In your imaginary world I wish you hit me I wish you hit me I could get over that But what you said to me… Yeah, what you said to me… You know it knocked me flat

POSTAL WORKERS PAYBACK

A0530 — rank 3

I got a little jeep that barely gets me around Another day, another route in the same old town Walk to the mailbox then walk back to my ride But I always get confused the steering wheels on the wrong side I work six days a week but it feels more like eight Let me tell you my friend, my life it aint great If it rains they don’t care they send me out in the flood While my feet get wet and covered in mud There’s a blizzard out there they don’t care out the door I go Nothings stops me from doing my job not rain not sleet nor snow There’s a dog chasing me down the driveway trying to bite my ass I got even when he got in front of my jeep I pushed down on the gas This is the life of a mailman, in case you didn’t know I get pushed around by everyone everywhere I go I got done from a hard days work and my boss wants to talk to me When I saw the pink slip in his hand I knew I was history So I packed up all my stuff and headed out the door Not sure what I’m gonna do but I aint gonna take it anymore I got two kids and two ex-wives and more than my share of bills I got an idea to make things even but still better make out my will I’ll go out and buy bullets and guns to satisfy my urge to kill But I got to wait ten days cause of that goddamn Brady Bill Ten days later I’m back at work Just when they thought the coast was clear Bring the yellow tape, bring the white chalk, I’m listening to the little voices in my ear I got laid off after working here for twelve years So you better run away Now I’m back at the office and I brought a friend I call him Mr. A.K. He’s got a lot of bronze but not much brain His address is at 47 cemetery lane Don’t worry, soon you’ll all know where he resides You’re all gonna die so go ahead and cry Besides You can run, you can hide But I’m already here inside What I had wasn’t much but now there’s nothing to lose Now you’re all my hostages so which one do I choose? So much to do, so many bullets so little time This is my way of taking back what was once mine First my boss Joe, get down on a knee I guess it wasn’t such a hot idea firing me Nothing to say except hello and goodbye Try sending me a postcard after you die Its about time I put a stamp on your head I think I’ll use the Elvis one cause you’re both dead Sam's next, the one I’ll shoot This is what he gets for taking my route His turn to meet G.O.D. Sending him to heaven on a C.O.D. Yes I am bitter and homicidal well that may be But I didn’t come here to start an unjust killing spree Think of me as one who’s owed coming to collect a fee But I won’t be tainted by innocent blood: the rest of you are free You may think I’m crazy but I’m not the one Its the guy at the store who sold a postal worker a gun As the last body drops it’s time for me to run Slip outta here quick before the cops see what I done You may think I’m crazy but I’m not the one It’s the guy at the store who sold a postal worker a gun

People Like Me

A0140 — rank 4

Show me a liar once And I'll show you a liar twice Don't say you'll walk across the water When you're really skating on thin ice Don't paint a portrait of your face When it belongs to someone else Don't ever offer up your warm embrace And then let the love never be felt I'll say: Show me a liar once And I'll show you a liar twice Don't say you'll walk across the fire When you're really skating on thin ice Don't say our forever was today And that for us time stands still That's when people like me will feel this way: Like just they just received a cold shoulder's chill There's saying and there's doing Sure, sometimes talk can be soothing But when it comes right down to it It's really best that we get on movin' Get our wheels spinning in revolution 'Cause there's still a lot we got left to prove Let us try to come up with new plausible solutions To the same old problems of uneven distribution Of love, of knowledge, of power, of peace Let's try to specialize in all of the things That you can't always see For now we know what happens When you just Let it be Some people like me... Other people don't like me... 'Cause people like me Don't let it be

Zeroes

A0183 — rank 5

I see people in binary code Walk the streets with my head hanging down low Wishing there were just two types of people: People who would get out of my way And people who would leave me alone I see people in binary code Since there can be only one number one, ya know All these zeroes had best do what they’re told: Zeroes, all get out of my way Zeroes, you had better leave me alone I guess we call it writer’s block When you don’t ever want to grab a pen again Because everything sucks Lost my gift – my bread and butter Feel so dead that I despise my own father and mother Pro-choice poster child of the world Empty as an oyster that’s lost its pearl Like a unicorn that’s lost its horn Devastation is my sole creation Dying inside, I just cried like a little girl Why was I born? If I could only free myself Then maybe I could reach someone else Yet vanity don’t mean anything to me Open your heart and close your eyes It’s really the man who makes the clothes So don’t believe those magazine lies So many hide behind some kind of disguise Be it golden watches and three piece suits Or corduroy pants, floppy hat and tie-dies Surely image is something…yeah…image is nothing This vanity was once so near and dear to me There I said it and you read it but just forget it I could be naked and still walk the streets confidently What doesn’t kill you just defines you As your past creeps up behind you Whatever you run from Is bound to find you If you check your rear view mirror You will see what is blurry is getting nearer I just can’t make it any clearer No magic wand can make it disappear You can put the pedal to the floor But there ain’t no use running any more There’s no escape for what’s in store You think to yourself “Will they remember me?” While I rot in my cell inside the penitentiary I came sooooo close to committing the crime of the century What the hell else does society expect from me? For when a man has lost his dignity Do you really think anything means anything to me? I see people in binary code Walk the streets with my head down low Wishing there were just two types of people People who would get out of my way And people who would leave me alone I see people in binary code Since there can be only one number one All these zeroes had best do what they’re told Zeroes all get out of my way Zeroes you better leave me alone

GARDEN OF EDEN

A0443 — rank 6

I’ve given up thinking and dreaming about all my glorious ideals For everything I’ve set in stone someone somehow comes along and steals The only voices I hear whispering that I allow myself to now listen to Are the echoes of the empty walls inside my mind All that I have left of me where no ones gotten through It is only inside this cave of soul that I am ever free It is only inside this cave of soul that I am not labeled for being me No more guided tours through the depths of my insides No where to go for the entrance has been chained and boarded up There’s nothing for them to hear, feel or see And nothing for anyone that I ever have to show, hide or be My garden of Eden only lacking trees My garden of Eden that even Adam had to leave My garden of Eden with not a face in the crowd My garden of Eden, my cave, only me, myself and I allowed When the day comes that everything I worship and know All I’ve lived for all comes crashing down at my feet I will not seek the comfort of any magical spirit or grace I will stand alone with only a mirror, my face and defeat Strength can not be found in numbers Only inside a mind full of faded old letters For to work and to slave on every given day Only to pray for some sun just to sit back and take notice That the weather it seems isn’t getting any better In times like this I used to shake my fist Only to wonder at the reason why But when you want not to persist You must find some way to resist Know that if you lose all love Than you shall never again cry Upon sensing the perfume of defeat You start planning your retreat Forget all modes of transportation Its back to your underground garden So you might as well use your own two feet My garden of Eden only lacking trees My garden of Eden that even Eve had to leave My garden of Eden with not a face in the crowd My garden of Eden, my cave, only me, myself and I allowed

Something In The Air

A0157 — rank 7

It’s time to wake up Awake from out of your spell Can you smell that there’s something in the air So familiar that I know it all too well One must be careful Of the company they keep For you do not know what your mattress does While you are asleep There is a lobbyist sleeping in the lobby Because somebody moved the capital down the hill He’s busy dreaming of his new hobby He looks like he’s dreaming still And the man, which the lobbyist selected His ego is inflated but still he doesn’t care Has anyone noticed that the president we elected His head is filled with graying hairs The dam next to which we live Has slowly sprung a leak Now it’s leaking like a sieve So it seems that the future does look bleak Old men who have Already lived a lifetime Still believe that they get better with age But sour grapes do not make a fine wine Our grandfathers are all CEO’s While grandchildren watch music videos Busy losing touch with reality Both the past and future is scaring me You either have too much Or there’s too little gained Seems that ain’t nothing changed It’s the same old problems again It’s time to wake up Can you smell something in the air? I went to ask my father But I saw he wasn’t there The infection of money Is never quick to cease It keeps on spreading and spreading Like some airborne disease Throw away those phony pills Try blowing your nose with dollar bills You could be poor and cured Or sick filthy rich So much for any placebo To hell with jumping ship You would rather hit the casino And sit there counting chips It seems that daddy works seven days a week Even though us kids have plenty to eat Mommy teaches and cooks And reads us books It’s time to wake up Awake from out of your spell Can you smell that there’s something in the air? I guess that only a few of us can tell

Two Thousand Miles

A0173 — rank 8

If I were weather I’d be rain Because I’m always falling down Funny people never seem to bat an eye If I were a God I’d be the Holy Spirit Because I speak my words without a sound As I open my mouth all you hear is a sigh If I were an emotion then I’d be pain Because it’s what I’ve known my whole life The only sure thing is that you’ll die If I had to pick a status then I’d be single A life like mine’s too hard on a wife If I said I love anything that’d be a lie If I was a color I’d be green with envy Asking who was it that colored my skin? If I was a war I’d be my own worst enemy Unable to trust in faith nor kin If I was a bird I’d be a raven black as night The same as all others’ eyes see Even if I was benevolent I’d still find some reason to fight For all that’s been done to me If I was wine I’d get better with age Inside my bottle locked so tight If I was a novel Then I’d be blank on every page For I never liked seeing things in only black or white If I were liquor I’d be a hundred and fifty proof Because I’m guaranteed to rearrange your mind For these eyes have seen the horrors To which you’re all so blind If I was a treasure full of knowledge and riches I’d be buried so deep that no one could ever find Long considered just a legend So that no one ever paid me any mind If I were a season I’d be winter Just like this world so cruel and cold Choked by such a heavy blanket oh so white If I were metal I’d be iron Strong as hell forget glittering like gold For what everyone wants isn’t always what’s right If I were another man’s feet Perhaps I’d wear another pair of shoes And maybe I’d think everything’s going fine If I was music to the ears I’d have invented the blues Singing a song that was way before it’s time If I was someone else I’d never know of being me Maybe I wouldn’t be surrounded by these frowns But all happy smiles If I wasn’t a slave Then the word freedom wouldn’t mean much to me And I wouldn’t know That we still have to walk two thousand miles If the color of my skin didn’t make any difference Then you’d think of me as the same as you But raised as you were maybe you can’t be blamed For when a child is taught never to believe in resistance Sometimes they must be forgiven for what they do Even though it’s by their father’s whip that I am tamed Only if I were war Maybe I would be civil I’m just not sure who’d be on my side At least then I could see my enemy I’d rather know and see the devil I’d rather swallow my blood Than swallow my pride

RAINBOWS OR WATERFALLS

A0256 — rank 9

Questions And Answer

A0146 — rank 10

Tonight I’m writing my last will and testament For I’ve found myself caught in a battle again I have suffered defeat and tasted victory Long after I fought in the name of my country But now I find myself trapped in a different war So much has changed - I’m not the same man I was before A maze of scattered thoughts - I sigh and close my eyes As I recall all the things that I now fight for One, two, three…small children playing down at my feet My daughter who’s all grown up yet I never see My dearest Helen who’s always been there for me Family and country will always be the world to me And yet my mind seeks to travel back through time Start anew - select a somewhat different path Collect and form new memories Not just go looking through old photographs I have a heart that longs not to be apart From someone I might not know if I walked past So far, the answers – I have none So many questions I would ask… My darling Roxanne - hello my dear, how are you? Won’t you take ahold of my hand and walk me through Every tear you cried – all the years that I have missed There is so much I long to know - I made a list... Your first steps, your first words, your first test, your first kiss My darling Roxanne has this world been good to you? Have you found passion in life – will you see it through? Won’t you take ahold of my hand - walk and talk with me? It’s never too late to create some new history (another destiny) My darling Roxanne everyday I’ve thought of you Look behind the tears in my eyes – I speak the truth I wish things were different – wish I could make things right I wish I’d have cooked you breakfast every morning I wish I had read you a story every night My darling Roxanne daddy’s enjoyed this time with you There’ve been countless conversations I’ve dreamed up myself And yet the words spoken between us were few Time after time the question and answer’s the same Angel, don’t you know that I love you? Daddy, yes I do

RUMORS FROM HEAVEN

A0257 — rank 11

Now that there’s rock n’ roll in Heaven Everyone enjoys the hymns And the only problem that the church has Is getting everybody in Hard to tell just how the conversation sounds When John’s head is just about to hit the ground As the echo of Jerry starts from the corner of the room Playing long after dark as the echo finds its way around All the while Jim is already out cold He bought the ticket but the ride is getting old The Creator never really had a chance For his disciples could no longer walk straight The power of song and dance Unleashed after ages inside the Golden Gate These guys all got the same room upstairs And though their landlord is God still no one seems to care They all sit and scratch their heads wondering Just who’ll come knocking next Yet time has told them that it’s anyone’s guess Everybody’s grateful to be dead Because now they’re the house band in Heaven They sell out every single night Now that doesn’t sound too upsetting Hey John, it’s George who’s been knocking at the door Because of course Paul would’ve rang the bell John responded that George must’ve left the Maharishi Or else I figured we’d a seen him in hell There goes Jimi playing again without his hands Wearing only his headband and his funky underpants Hey Jerry, go get a bucket of cold water Let’s see if we can get him outta this trance There’s Sammy Davis Jr. He sure can tap dance and he don’t eat much But when Elvis Presley’s knocking don’t ever let him in For he’ll just eat all of the chips and dip – what a sin But Sinatra’s okay ‘cause he always brings gin Hey who invited Bobby Dylan? You know we’re not allowed to let anyone in early Keith Richards came all the way up for nothing But we’re sure we’ll see him again shortly John whispers… “No you ain’t gonna see what I got in my pocket But the words that come to me are knock it off and stop it You want to change your ways but just what’s the use? I have had far beyond my years too much pain and abuse” Jim wakes up mumbling something odd… “The day revolves around the tears That come falling from the serpent’s eyes I hold the pain of the world inside my mind Because my ears can no longer hear a child cry My senses crawl beneath my skin As a man who once saw all becomes blind”

Bars And Scars

A0078 — rank 12

Goodbye my loving wife Goodbye my loving kid They're sending me down the river Found out just exactly what I did Daddy do you have to pack? No son, I don't need no clothes Daddy let me open up the door Son, it's already closed Honey don't cry You'll have to be strong Our son needs a father Another will come along They're sending me away To the tin can The lockup The clink With only time on my hands Time to watch the clock and think They call it life But they should call it death For I'll sit in this place Until my last breath I will have to stand all alone With myself my best friend My fate may or may not be deserved But you know I'd do it all again There are times to turn the other cheek And other times to hold a grudge A time to be bold and a time to be meek Yet sometimes you're the jury and the judge Family is a bond that you can never break So when it's threatened you do what it takes When a stranger breaks into your home There's no chance he'll ever walk home I guess that we all learned a lesson One first taught by Smith & Wesson From that night on Life hasn't been much fun Went from the defender of my home To being out on the run When all your hiding places are gone You got to face the music, you got to be strong And though you didn't choose it Who's to say that you were wrong?

AMERICAN DREAM

A0410 — rank 13

I am surely not a rich man But certainly a wise man because I understand That there are greater things than money And sweeter things than honey in this land I am angered at my situation As I am slowly sinking in yellow sand I am a stranger through separation Been parting ways with my fellow man I am not the type to keep out of trouble I always find myself walking among the rubble I often drive down streets that say do not enter I am not the kind to keep many secrets Or the type to go out hunting rabbits Or a man who’ll let his lady be cold in the winter I am not to blame for the sad state of this affair I am not one to hide in my room pretending That there’s nothing else out there I am trying to find a reason to wake up in the morning But I’d be lying to the point of treason if I said I’ve taken heed to each and every warning Luckily for me a new dawn is fast approaching Everybody knows that I’m a roller Who spends most of his time coasting ANOTHER CIGARETTE Another sleepless night as rain falls from the sky Another cigarette as I ask myself why What have I done that’s been keeping me awake It’s not like I’m a bad man, never a life I did take Grab a beer from the fridge for it helps me to think Though I doubt it’ll make me tired it’s my last drink Looking through an open window at the cars passing by Another cigarette as I ask myself why Could be depression or it could be something more Not sure why I’m down there’s a lot I’m thankful for I’ve done more in twenty years than some in a whole life I’ve already found a beautiful girl who’d make a beautiful wife She’s been gone a week but she’ll be back here in a day I’d tell you all about her but my love is more than I can say Another cigarette as I ask myself why Why I feel low when I should be high For the first time in a while I’ve got myself on track The only time I can remember that they’ve cut me some slack I’m now moving forward rather than turning back How come I can’t get to sleep every time I hit the sack? Another cigarette, I know I should quite but I tried Why do I feel like this, like I want to go and hide? I look okay to you ‘cause you can’t see inside When I say I got something to do then you know I lied I’m the new chairman of the bored ‘cause Frank Sinatra died

End Game

A0016 — rank 14

Dow Jones fell down so hard he can’t get up today Just part of their plan, easier for them that way Happiness to them is when only one percent does okay For us ninety-nine others just stand in their way The pennies your grandmother saved ain’t worth nothing now Unpaid taxes were due so they’re taking her house Moving men came for her stuff the cops threw her out Can you expect to be next - oh, there’s little doubt There're eyes in the sky you can’t see that are watching you And big brother is like Santa Claus and it knows what you do To some it’s a surprise while others know it’s true TVs full of lies because yeah, they own that, too The New World Order’s rapidly gaining control Global domination is their only goal Their master plan, their end game Go watch Alex Jones One press of the button and they can turn off your soul Bilderberg’s the puppet master That pulls the strings Causing organized chaos and disasters to make themselves kings They've been getting there faster while collecting their diamond rings As Paris just got plastered after they took everything One card, one chip, one lone voice that tells you what to do One false step, one wrong move and they’ll be coming after you Listen closely wait for it…here comes the plot twist: Our only real fear are these global economic terrorists And when they hear this they’ll add my name to their list The spreading of information, oh yeah, they fear this Because only when the people know can they resist But it will take more than silent protest Mothers will cry, many will die yet still we must try Yes, it is pure evil that lingers in our midst Together we may stand… Together we could fall… But together we can form a fist

Lonely Clouds

A0025 — rank 15

I find myself in a deep dark place Looked in the mirror but couldn’t see my face I tried to get up yet I could not stand Held onto a memory but couldn’t feel my hands So with this sky above so full of gloom Foreshadowing impending doom I’m thinking I’d be better off Staying inside of my room Such a thick layer of clouds Seems the sun’ll never break through And the way I feel about the weather Is the same way I feel about you Cold, dismal and dreary Whenever you are near me Everything has changed somehow Once bright, happy and cheery Things used to be so clear to me But now there are only lonely clouds Another Monday morning Following a near sleepless Sunday night Groggy, tired and yawning Seems to be the story of my life Waking up to a cold and breezy September morning Feeling uneasy without any kind of warning Perhaps I had a bad dream that I can’t remember A door to my mind burst at the seams and I had to enter Ghosts from my past are no longer trapped And they are slowly gaining control Skeletons from my closet now ask Will you finally pay us what you owe? Sleeping dogs have all begun to bark There is just no avoiding this fact Each day earlier the earth grows dark Every night the sky shades a richer black So with this sky above so full of gloom Foreshadowing impending doom I’m thinking I’d be better off Staying inside of my room Such a thick layer of clouds Seems the sun’ll never break through And the way I feel about the weather Is the same way I feel about you Cold, dismal and dreary Whenever you are near me Everything has changed somehow Once bright, happy and cheery Things used to be so clear to me But now there are only lonely clouds

Prime Time

A0143 — rank 16

Prime time TV… What the hell did you ever do for me? Except raise me from almost infancy Turning me into what you now see Prime time TV… What the hell did you do to me? Except try to keep me blind to the times Marching in neat little lines of authority Your producers try to pawn me As advertisers try to con me While the sellers have already sold me Their hands have helped to mold me And now they battle for control over me… So many hide behind some kind of disguise Golden watches three piece suits Or corduroy pants, floppy hat and tie-dies Surely image is something… yeah…image is nothing Vanity don’t mean anything to me Open your heart and close your eyes See it’s really the man who makes the clothes So don’t believe the lies I have become a number As some people see people in binary code It seems I'll never be number one And being labeled a zero Makes you feel rotten and cold A life based on the movies Another nine o’clock special Not suitable for children Maybe violent, Deadly and racial Actions aimed at imitation Famous for a day and in the news Nothing left for the imagination Even still the papers get sold Every week a new sensation No thought left too bold The value of the media Can only be found by those digging for gold Every night we hurt a little less Because all the stories have been told Let it into your memory and then let it be gone No need to print it, no need to read it No need to see it, no need to heed it Everybody would love to see their face on T.V. Everyone would love to be the inspiration for a movie Everybody would like to think that they have no equal Everyone would be the first to star in the sequel Thoughts float up from the basement of my brain The part of me that loves what’s bad and when it rains

FRAMINGHAM BLUES

A0439 — rank 17

There’s just so many damn people in this world Who just don’t have a clue Women who spend all of their time Trying to look fine Hanging around the bars Long after closing time Can’t open new and better doors ‘Cause they’re so set in their ways That they’ve closed their minds Hence the root word of ignorance is ignore But they don’t care what this wise guy says Those who couldn’t care less And it ain’t just y’all in Massachusetts Where people got what I call The Framingham Blues Either a half of a sweater or a lot of tattoos Tan girls showing too much skin So hip to the hour’s new style Big and dumb guys lifting weights again Screeching their tires While they pass in you in their Benz As they smile They think that they’re so cool It’s everyone else who’s a fool Go around thinking Bling-Bling Is the golden rule That’s why I sing And so should you That’s why I’m sighing That’s what I’m trying To undo ‘Cause it ain’t just y’all in Massachusetts Who got what I call The Framingham Blues There’s just so many damn people In this world who just don’t have a clue I know a man Who doesn’t have a wife or family Because all his life He’s been engaged to a bar stool I believe in higher education Because they never taught me How to do that in school I believe in rehabilitation Even for the silliest if fools And that used to be me But now I’m thinking That it might be you? And it ain’t just y’all in Massachusetts Where people got what I call The Framingham Blues

Thirst

A0009 — rank 18

It appears this wine has a spirit Seems this drink can think on its own The car’s in the yard Lights are on but no one is home I had the worst kinda thirst So after work I popped the corked Nah, I don’t need a primer Since I’m barely a part-timer More like an abstainer Keeping the plane inside the hanger Because I don’t trust the pilot He either never shuts up Or is just too damn quiet He sure makes me nervous There’s no way I can deny it It appears this wine has a spirit Seems this drink can think on its own The car’s in the yard Lights are on but no one is home Now I’m two glasses deep in And not so good at keeping secrets… I’m known for falling out of favor Hey look I just poured a third But it wasn’t to quench my thirst If the second one was better Than this next one can’t be worse It appears this wine has a spirit Seems this drink can think on its own The car’s in the yard Lights are on but no one is home Now I’m waaaay past buzzing Getting close to kissing cousins Blowing kisses by the dozen We all need a little lovin’

Oh Juanita

A0027 — rank 19

Oh Juanita.... Tell me the reasons why You're collecting commissions Off the rise and fall of people’s lives Oh Juanita... Tell me why did you lie? I know it was for money But what are the reasons behind... Why some look and see people as colors While others see people in binary code? Why do the Jones make everybody jealous? As the herd gets lured down Slaughter Road Breath my last gasp breathe Right before my financial death As you place me in a pile Along with all the rest... When I told you to your face That you were a disgrace To the entire human race No, you didn't like that........... So quickly in haste You cried... then you tried To punch me in the face I watched as you fell flat Ha ha.... I just had to laugh: What they say about me is that: "He can be brilliant when he's being either cynical or lyrical" What they say about you is that: "She's such a b%tch I bet she pours black coffee on her cereal" What do they say about me...oh gee... "He grew up to be my child's hero" What do they say about you...oooh "She sends letters to people reducing them to numbers... She spends too much time counting ones and zeros" Oh Juanita... you know I wrote this song for you So that all of your friends Can ask these questions of you: Oh Juanita why do you lie? Do you do it just for the money? Does it make you feel superior? Does it boost your sense of pride? Oh Juanita...you make me wanna cry

Living A Buffet Song

A0035 — rank 20

You know you were drinking too much for too long When you find yourself living in a Jimmy Buffet song I overextended my stay in Margaritaville I’m still wasted this morning and will be for most of the day Now some people claim That the worm is to blame Why my brain feels like it’s been scraping asphalt I’ve just gotten to know Some guy named Jose Cuervo Yeah, we’ve been hanging out together a lot I woke up hung over and feeling depressed Looked to my right… How’d I get myself into this mess? Felt someone leaning on my shoulder Man, I’ve got to get this weight off my chest It seems that last night I rode the fat girl express I was sick to my stomach Had a bad taste in my mouth I heard a noise in the bathroom And another one ton came out Just like the rubber I used her and then threw her away She knows I don’t love her So I have no idea why she stayed Was it so that she could tell me She feels like I ripped a hole inside of her I responded don’t worry, for I have the cure There is the door…it’ll set you free I’d prefer not to see you anymore

Lawn Noams

A0116 — rank 21

Hello my fellow unhappy citizens It's me -- not some zombie but a concerned dissident With the logic of Chomsky And the zen of Zinn I'm ready to step up And lead you my friends... I'm here to rally up ten men who'll rally up ten men Who'll rally up ten men who'll rally up ten men Who'll rally up ten men who'll rally up ten men Who'll rally up ten me and then we'll begin... Drop those pitchforks and torches Pick up your pencils, paper and pens For it's now or never In this point one percent war of us versus them Sometimes were too afraid to blink It's gone beyond my comprehension So why are we so naive to think Nobody's got evil intentions? So please... let's us not keep this between just you and me: Sometimes the word "democracy" Can be misleading If it makes you think of Truth, Justice and Liberty Repeat it, repeat it There's no need to delete it Say it enough times And lots of people will believe (If you can believe it?) After all the evidence has been sealed We find facts that were never disclosed Once again the truth it never was revealed They were caught telling lies... But why do just a few of us know? And those of us left just barely alive Had to give up something just to survive Either freedom of choice or else our free will Now led by a puppet whose masters can kill There's no sorry that we had a fight Oops...maybe this time we were wrong Just: "Someday you'll see that we're right... Here, drink some more Kool-Aid... so you'll grow up big and strong So what of this destruction and bloodshed? Look at the bright side from our point of view We can stay and help them clean up the mess... "We'll be your best friend... like a big brother to you" Dear Noam, I look at your face And see what just one man can do For the whole human race Dear Noam, I wanna be just like you When I rule the world I'll crown Noam Chomsky the king Then I'll sit back and have a drink And let him do everything!!! When I rule the world Everything will be public domain Sure, Prince might get a little angry But hey... at least the Byrds would still sound the same

Radioactive Tuna

A0148 — rank 22

The boat’s name is Lucky Dragon Number Five I’ve got less than six more days left of life Since my game is now selling radioactive tuna… What’s insane is that we got energized By white winds and ash from a clear blue sky That suddenly seemed to blow right through ya… Oh the lies of these New York times Escape all reasons and rhyme When one digs down to the truth of the matter And yet history sings We tend to forget about such things Since we’re all suckers not for formers but for ladders Since it’s easier to forget And much harder to face regret That’s when one chooses to claim ignorance over such matters The bankster said: If you steal twenty five dollars’ worth of bread then you’re jailed and forever labeled a prankster However, ten grand in the hand at the wrong time, place and man Can quickly get you known as an embezzler Yet the fresh coin gained from a cold-blooded kill netted us another cool mil Meaning we’re officially on our way from being just another plain financier to the high office of the State Treasurer Oh the lies of these New York times Escape all reasons and rhyme When one digs down to the truth of the matter And yet history sings We tend to forget about such things Since we’re all suckers not for formers but for ladders

You Spilled My Coffee

A0182 — rank 23

An old lady in a Lincoln just cut you off 'Cause there's some place she's gotta go Oh man, don't it just piss you off Spilling hot coffee all over your clothes? And when you finally flipped her off She just stuck up her nose Now I know it happens all the time But it's really getting old.... Somebody once asked me What I do for work I try to restore People's faith in humanity.... Yeah...and it's a fulltime job Because there's just So much work to do How many times You been ripped off? How many times Have you been screwed? Yeah...well me, too It's those little things in life That tell you all you need to know Little things that'll cut you like a knife Leave you with no place safe to go... Once I didn't leave my room For almost nine months straight I felt like a child in the womb But at least I was free from hate Yeah, once I gave up on people I finally said I had had enough I left my boat floating in the water When the paddling got too tough Cause an old man in a tugboat he cut me off Because there was some place he had to go Oh man, I just got pissed on... By a pelican who thinks I'm a post... And when I finally flipped her off She just stuck up her nose Now I know it happens all the time But it's really getting old.... That's why I get high 'Cause I'd rather live in a dream Than deal with this insane reality Somebody once asked me What I do for work I try to restore People's faith in humanity.... Yeah...and it's a fulltime job Because there's just So much work to do How many times You been pissed on or off? How many times Have you been screwed? Yeah...well me, too

Lazy Citizen

A0118 — rank 24

I'm an inefficient dissident baby Because lately the government has been acting crazy And I been feeling like a lazy citizen But being ignorant doesn't mean you're innocent Sure I still scorn, point and laugh at the rich I hold signs that state When you are born somewhere war torn Poor and poverty stricken That's when life is a b$%ch But I just got a job Hanging these cameras up on poles A shiny badge with my name And a hat saying: Anti-Terrorist Patrol In the name of safety.... I do whatever they tell me I've been feeling lucky lately That no one has yelled at me So hey...God bless the U.S.A. Here's a hip hip hooray 'Cause in some countries what I write or say Would get me killed or at least locked away They let me hold the gun 'Cause I'm good at serving power They said shoot anything that runs As they placed me in this tower Finally a job that's fun They used to pay per metric ton Funny when people lost their faces They allowed it But when they lost money Their faces soured They said sorry son, no health care But we'll replace any limbs we can't repair Hey... if you sign up today and start right away... You get to participate in next year's 401K Oh wait...nevermind... Wage slaves like you only get paid by the hour I'm an inefficient dissident baby Because lately the government has been acting crazy And I been feeling like a lazy citizen But being ignorant doesn't mean you're innocent Sure I still scorn, point and laugh at the rich I hold signs that state When you are born somewhere war torn Poor and poverty stricken That's when life is a b$%ch

Let Me Shine

A0119 — rank 25

Let me shine… That’s all I’m really asking… This light of mine… Let everybody bask in… Raise me high… Not like a God… More like a will-be not a has-been… So the glory be to both you and me… But unfortunately We both know that doesn’t always happen So get yours and be worry free Let life run its course Even if off track’s the way it has to be I’ve lost time and I’ve lost sleep Trying to fight this negativity While reading books that make me think That just thinking is good enough for me Let me shine… That’s all I’m really asking… This light of mine… Let everybody bask in… The light bulb that glows Let’s you know that something’s working As the filament of inpirement grows When the light gets bright you got to preserve it I give my heart to whatever I do And you know I put the work in I try to spread my love To all those who deserve it I try to fly I spread my wings For before I die there are so many things That I would love to do But before I fall Most of all I’d like to spend my life Being husband and wife Sharing my light with you Let me shine… That’s all I’m really asking… This light of mine… Let everybody bask in…

One Percent War

A0136 — rank 26

It’s been seven days since I’ve had a hit And the industry has been asking me Hey man, have you finally given up? Well we all understand if you’ve quit They keep on coming questioning me Hey, can’t a guy get a week? To let his mind unfold And maybe de-commercialize Re-choose again his side and then decide to revolutionize Send the correct information to the right ten women and men And ladies and gentlemen you’d all be surprised How we could untwist the lies That are told right to our eyes At what can happen through rhyme And sure, rapping helps the cause One song could unite us this time For we’re almost all class allies in this ONE PERCENT WAR The propaganda campaign of fear is here Well, what do you think the media is for? Manufacturing consent – just so we’re clear Been going on for years – it’s practically the law To either make your mouth water Or else to make your ears bleed To trick you into wanting Everything you see on T.V. It’s been seven days since I’ve had a hit And the industry has been asking me Hey man, have you given up We’ll all understand if you’ve quit? They keep on coming questioning me They, think this guy’s getting weak? Won’t they be surprised to see… Oh what I got instore

Trust Me

A0170 — rank 27

Hey baby, are you looking for a leader? Someone who would be a good teacher? Someone who knows how to treat you good? When you’re close to the edge… I’d step out to reach ya Hey baby, are you looking for a leader? Someone who would be a good teacher? Of both how to live and how to act… Now tell me just what would You say to that? Sometimes truth it hides behind Half -lies and other things you can’t see But don’t be fooled by a veiled disguised Look me in the eyes and love me… If you knew just what I knew You’d be one of those who loved me For it’s good to know a stand-up guy One who doesn’t lie…trust me… Oh…when we end up off course There surely will be some remorse Not everything will be paradise… But soon you’ll see we’re lucky As you see our picture on the shelf You imagine your life with someone else Soon bitter tastes…stomach aches inside…. You run to find me….that’s when I smile Tears stream from your face…But I don’t ask why When we embrace I know that I’m the guy That you will always be beside just as you are the one Who’s become my burning sun which will never die

Does The Fire Still Glow

A0005 — rank 28

Why don't you stop staring outside your window? For you've learned by now the scene is always the same With the moon lit daytime gaze of a widow Living in an imaginary world playing in your solitary game Clutching on to the only things you trust and know Following in life's parade yet walking so slow As progress is measured in inches at a time Searching the corners of your room Though there’s nothing there to find You think that safety lies in knowing the future ahead But I say if you think like that then you're already dead You hold onto both the best and worst memories of the past For they're all you have now but how long will they last? Don't you ever wonder about what you've been losing every day? Ever wonder what life will be like if things stay this way? You’ve reached that middle stage in life You're either halfway in or out of the cage Do you wanna die from depression Or do you want to die from old age? Why don't you stop staring outside your window? For you've learned by now the scene is always the same With the moon lit daytime gaze of a widow Living in an imaginary world playing in your solitary game You sure haven't won but you got so much more to lose Finally reached that breaking point Now it's time for you to choose Where do you go from here? Finally the coast is clear Will you now break? Or else make your escape? I guess there is only one who really knows Look within your eyes… Does the fire still glow?

Kitty Cat Chat

A0115 — rank 29

You can unfriend me And then text me why… Or with your eyes Undress me and then send The picture to my phone Spreading more than just dirty lies All the while sharing your little secrets… Let the unknown become known... I won’t cry (no, I won’t cry) Just so long as you now leave me alone… If you see me, then let me be Won’t you please leave quietly… Know I’m not alone… No, I’m not alone… I got her half way there… Down to her underwear… Just when I’m getting restless Is when I find that it’s the bestest It’s just kitty cat chat… It’s just kitty cat chat… It’s just kitty cat chat… I got her half way there… Down to her underwear… A whole bunch of nothing Aimed at getting something It’s just kitty cat chat… It’s just kitty cat chat… It’s just kitty cat chat… I got her half way there… Down to her underwear… It goes a little something like this And a little something like that It’s just kitty cat chat… It’s just kitty cat chat… It’s just kitty cat chat…

MY MASTER 11/03/2013

A0225 — rank 30

I’m not spending my entire life…waiting for a phone to ring Nor am I willing to lose my head…just to say I was the king All I am asking for in this world… and of this entire world Is simply to let me be a clam… I’ll reveal to you a pearl Let me be free to be who I am… and soon one day you will see As strange or crazy as it may seem… (it’s) all part of my master plan If I was a prettier man (If he was a prettier man) I’d have ruled the world (He would have ruled the world) Yes, I could have ruled the world If I was a prettier man (If he was a prettier man) All the girls would’ve gone nuts As if I were a squirrel Yes, I could have ruled the world If I was a prettier man (If he was a prettier man) I’d have had the biggest ego And I’d have hid in its shadow Yes, it could have ruled the world… My ego has always ran the show…been my boss…dictated most of my actions… my ego is MY MASTER. During my college years I was always the one who wowed the class whenever it came to writing papers or giving presentations or anything that involves the “look at me!” factor – I always volunteered to go first just to see the look on the face of the student who had to follow MY act….haha….the fear in their eyes… no one ever volunteered to go after me – the teacher always had to pick somebody…haha… We all have defense mechanisms that we incorporate into our lives to handle or deal with certain aspects of ourselves that we have issues with…sometimes we are aware of these mechanisms and other times we protectively guard ourselves by convincing our self that these defense mechanisms are just paranoia or figments of our imagination or sometimes it’s a plane case of denial. As for me, I constantly over- inflated my ego and tried to maintain a high level of self-assurance to cover my great fears of rejection. Here comes the fun twist – I’ve never liked my appearance and yet I’ve always intentionally tried to not look the best I could…How the hell does that make any sense whatsoever? Here’s my weird –ass thinking: My ego is HUGE when it comes to certain traits or gifts I possess because I honestly believe that there are a few things that I can do as good if not better than anybody else in this world…so naturally, I would be very confident when it came to these areas because I could back it up. I’m not afraid to take credit for something good I’ve done. I let my ego go out and play now and again when it There’s a good example…) but here is where I know myself and I’ve always known that if I was a really good looking guy then I would have taken the easier path in life and gotten by on just my looks and ended up one of the world’s biggest jerks of all time… My ego would have not just its own zip code but its own time zone for crying out loud. I would then have proceeded to get caught up so much in that “I am the center of the universe” mentality that all my gifts and talents that could have been used for something really positive and altruistic would have been wasted on satisfying either passions of the flesh or some other trait that Kevin Spacey killed people for in the movie SEVEN. Speaking of movies, the film REVOLVER inspired me to create this particular poem/song…. I won’t spoil anything about the movie except telling you that if you don’t understand it then watch the credits until the end… I wrote most of these lyrics a day after watching that movie for the FIFTH time this year…haha…. So what is MY MASTER plan? It’s pretty simple… I’ve slowly been learning how to control my ego and harness its potentially destructive powers and turn them into a source of positive energy. Trying my best to better everybody by bringing up everybody rather than focus on just myself or, worse yet, having me stand tall by default after I knocked everybody else down…that sucks! I think I’ve finally reached that point where if I ever did rule the world then I think it would be a pretty good world to live in – not just to be me ruling it - but for everybody else, too. So I guess now my master plan is to go and rule the world!!! Umm…or not…. Next song:

CLOSER TO GOD

A0238 — rank 31

Here I sit by the side of the ocean Wondering just what the ocean sees in me Sometimes I wonder if I should go swimming? If in this game I’m playing I’m winning? And if when the man in the moon looks down He’s really grinning? And if there’s a God Does he always know when I’m sinning? And if there’s a God Did he know that this is how my world would be? . For it’s three o’clock in the morning And I ain’t been to bed I’m still trying to sort out all those hopes and dreams That’ve been floatin’ around in my head It’s just so hard to focus When you’re as talented as me There are about a million things That if I wanted to then I could be Well, I’m a born teacher But I ain’t no preacher For I’ve never been close to God I follow the golden rule Even though I went to Catholic school But all them people sittin’ in their pews Whipping out the green to pay their church dues I think they’re all getting robbed! You see, I’ve never been a fan Of playing follow the leader When the priest might be a pedophile And the guy kneeling next to you Is a well-documented wife beater No I don’t want to raise my kids To grow up to be hypocrites Because organized religion will give you fits You know that it might be time to quit When the Sunday morning That you’re sitting in church Is the only time that you’re safe from getting hit Yeah, some old man asked me If I went to church to pray I responded that God rested on the seventh day But he forgot about me Calluses and blisters I’m all black and blue I wear my work Like a bad tattoo On the subject of religion I’ve only one thing to say There’s only one sacrament That I preach every single day: Every cigarette I smoke Brings me closer to death Which brings me closer to God And upon my last breath… I heard that all smokers go to a heaven Where they have a big ashtray And as long as you put your money in the basket Then you can sit and smoke all day

FOUR WARS

A0438 — rank 32

There are four wars in which I would have gladly fought And let myself bleed: I would have protected my Native American friends For once Columbus came their way of life ends The New World was their world And we gave them thanks We gave them liquor and blankets with small pox To which they weren't immune... Hey, sometimes life sucks While they gave us land and beads and seeds... All traded for disease Thanks be to the king-hating Europeans I'd sneak up and throw my tomahawks so fast That they wouldn't even see 'em If you listen closely you might hear a gurgling sound As a man lay gasping and twitching on the ground Then I'd look around for every pale face in town Find a white village and then burn it down One by one we would take our revenge And then surely the message would've been sent: Go sail back home and leave us alone! There are just four words In which I truly believe... Only fight for peace! There are four wars in which I would have gladly fought And let myself bleed: Fight to free the freedom of choice As a man gets whipped he loses his voice We need to fight the ignorance and greed Shoot every last racist mother father Who dares to raise a fist to try to keep My black brothers from being free For I know white men who were born niggers So let your fingers man the triggers As John Brown comes back for all to see Turn the whole world into Harper's Ferry Ten men die so that one might live Unchained and free... So let it be While dreaming of a country-wide genocide Under their white hoods some of them still hide But these times shall change From this...the sick and deranged As Frederick Douglas is still alive inside of me There are just four words In which I truly believe... Only fight for peace! There are four wars in which I would have gladly fought And let myself bleed: Throw away your free will and follow me That's what Hitler screamed As he guaranteed victory Don't you want a couple slaves for your son? Hey, payback is coming... We all remember World War One After naked Jews were slaughtered in the streets You wouldn't even recognize their faces As a belief was spreading in Germany About the superiority of the Arian race The "so-called" race above all other races But Hitler was but one man So just what could he have the power to do? Thus America said leave us out of this In the very beginning of World War Two And long after Roosevelt's new deal came and went Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini bet the house Perhaps if Japan hadn't been so anxious Then all of us good guys might have been wiped out There are just four words In which I truly believe... Only fight for peace! There are four wars in which I would have gladly fought And let myself bleed: But not this sh$% today when we fight someone And the battle cry is your country's corporate greed Only for the Native Americans... And in the Civil War... In World War Two... And in the eventual World War Three You know that the numbers just keep going higher And some time in the future Someone's gonna start a real big fire That some of us are going to have to put out And you know that someone will end up being you and me

Secret Room

A0014 — rank 33

I have turned the knob That opens up a door To a secret room That doesn't have a floor Where the walls are bare And there is just a folding chair there Floating in both space and time And on it reads a sign That states: This is the throne to a kingdom which awaits Any man who creates A way to rise up above the fray And reach the seat Hanging below this archway For he is the protégé Who can free this world From its ever present pain Block out the sun Turn off and on the rain He who holds the power To build both churches and schools He who holds the power To destroy all under his rule He who holds the power To entrap and enchain He who holds the power And yet he will refrain...

Which Is Which

A0024 — rank 34

I know that you know that Sometimes this world can turn cold And that some times Untruths must be told And that we have to tell lies… To those we love the most… We must shield their ears and eyes… I know that you know that Some things are and aren’t meant to be And also that some things you can touch and feel but never see But beware and be aware… Because they’re still there… Feelings are sight for the blind… I know that you know that Some fears are apparitions that aren’t really there And that some fears Really make you scared So it’s best to realize… Discern which is which… That’s when they’ll call you wise… I know that you know that some people come and go And also that some people won’t ever leave you alone And I know the reason why… I don’t have wings… But I can still fly… Yes, I can still fly

Green Eyes

A0031 — rank 35

If I could capture this emotion I’d lock it away down the bottom of the ocean Uncertainty don’t mean anything to me I’m just biding my time While hiding in my rhyme And I’ll be here long after closing time Hitting my bong and getting along ‘Cause insanity … it don’t mean anything to me There ya read it… I said it And now it’s in my book of poetry If I could turn back this clock Pause the tick, tick, tock Reset everybody’s score to zero At least then I’d be somebody’s hero No rich and no poor No ceiling and no floor No more stacking the deck no more Feed the starving children Watch the fat man as he wastes away My precious advice Is that the world is paying the price You could save a life for about a buck a day… Hey, hey, hey And yet the men and women Who run the country They only see things one way They only see the color green Following the system that their fathers made While so much slips by unseen Old tired green eyes - so much slips past Old tired green eyes - the shadow has been cast Old tired green eyes- Time has shown will never last Old tired green eyes- Cannot see a world spinning so fast The old ways only worked in the old days So when you hear the words “mental set” You better clear the deck The rich living off the poor We know we can't have that anymore The poor living off the rich Hey man, fu$% that sh#% You wanna know where it's at? Well I can't tell you where it is But I can sure tell That it’s all going to hell real fast Because we’re all a bunch of hypocrites I think that I know you… But do I really know me? Am I still a slave to something I can’t see? I can feel deep down… Something changing inside of me How have I somehow become so dull… Dull towards all this pain I see? Those who should lead Are too busy pointing fingers Those who are pointed at They just head up for the hills And as the dead get carried away Their memory still lingers Because it’s well known That equality don’t pay the bills Money, money, money Got to get me some Money, money, money Don’t care where it comes from Money, money, money I need it to survive Money, money, money I get paid a thousand dollars per lie

Bottle Me Up

A0039 — rank 36

Who both likes and yet doesn't like what they see? Yeah... That would be me! (Bottle me up!) Who rests their head On a pillow on their bed Wondering out loud 'Bout what the latest book They just read said? Yeah... That would be me! (Bottle me up!) Who still speaks out of turn Sharing all that he thinks he's learned Whose always watching out for fires At the risk of being burned? The hippy bear hugging a tree Yeah... That would be me! Who knew what once was here Sees what's left and doesn't think it's right or fair... Who can't sleep just stays up all night? Stupidly staring in the mirror? Yeah... That would be me! Whose got more quotes than Bill Bryson? More career knock out hits than Mike f&%$ing Tyson Lots of spice in his writings Who keeps it hot like Curry for three? Yeah... That would be me! (Bottle me up!) Maybe my ground game Has been taking a pounding But when I go all-out arial I'm flat out astounding! Leaving English teachers Lacking adjectives So they start using nouns in their descriptions Like Ruthian, Dylanesque and now I'm Jane's Latest Addiction (Bottle me up!) Effectively I've become both the pill and the perscription It's time they bottle me up To limit the chance of further infliction (Bottle me up!) Got to stop the public from seeking any alternate direction I guess we become free when we're at peace with dying all diseased in the name of fighting the spread of this form of mental infection (Bottle me up!) No, there ain't no shame If next to a man's name Is just a year and a date With the words: "It was just his fate" Yeah... That would be me! (Bottle me up!)

Have To Laugh

A0104 — rank 37

My people are funny Funny how? Well, most of the folks say that They act strange in what that they do... Instead of thinking only about themselves They spend most of their time Thinking about me and you... My people are funny It's very unusual the way in which they live... Our whole lives we're taught To take and take and take But somehow they've been led astray For they try to give and give and give... My people are funny They've got uplifting spirits Yeah, even when life's got them down Their positive energy - oh, you can feel it It's really hard work to be unhappy When you see them coming around... My people are funny Got wrinkles on their foreheads, dents on their faces That I think comes from them smiling all the time Watch out now - I think it might be contagious Since most of them are musicians Perhaps one of the symptoms may be rhyme... My people are funny They're the ones with all these original thoughts That keep on swimming around in their heads They're not repeaters nor fast food eaters Or liars or cheaters and when they hurt inside Try to heal it themselves rather running for meds... My people are funny Seems they always try to try on Everybody else's pair of shoes They talk to me, other friends and family Instead of becoming glued to their TV Or that daily drama that we call the news... My people are funny But in my life they're all I really have So even though they act so different I've learned to except that And I guess it's not so bad My people are just really different... So much so that I just have to laugh

Only Here

A0137 — rank 38

I’m white, bald and I’m pale I now drink dry flat ginger ale I rarely smile but that doesn’t make me mean I like to lick unsalted crackers Ones that I would have called ‘teens’ I ain’t seen the sun Going on year number one… Plus one… Plus one… Plus one… Plus one… That’s five… I’m lucky to still be alive It’s never been sunshine Off of which I thrive Nor has it been water… It’s always been either whisky or wine I draw my strength now From the clouds And secret thoughts society Doesn’t like to talk about out loud And without acknowledgement Well, nothing can or will be changed So here we sit with our heads Stuck in the sand again Just another piece of sh*t Trapped inside the pit of the deranged “I’ll be damned if we’re not all wickedly cursed!” I said when asked what could be worse? “Well, hell...maybe it might not rain” Yeah, only here would that thought sound sane

Snowing Love

A0154 — rank 39

Here's a Christmas song This one is just for you and me... And it goes out to all those Who still stare jealously When they see little girls and boys Unwrapping their presents Unsure of where to start So many newly shining toys While you're sad because you have none Why don't you come and sing along For it's lots and lots of fun... What I got inside is a heart full of love... That's why I don't cry or care If my stocking's stuffed What I got inside is a heart full of love... So I gave all my presents away because that's enough Here at the North Pole No, I've never felt cold Because I see Santa everyday Rudolph has become my closest friend Ol' Kris Kringle even lets me borrow his sleigh Turning unhappy faces Into smiles We go riding off into the night In good cheer and warm spirits With our season's greetings We take flight... Maybe you'll see us the next time you look up For the best present in the world Is knowing love Sing along everybody: What we got inside is a heart full of love... That's why we don't cry or care If our stocking's stuffed What we got inside is a heart full of love... So we gave all our presents away because we know that that's enough

Wishing Well

A0181 — rank 40

You might be down to your final days Since I’m down to my last straw I’ve been thinking about changing my ways All this time have I been fighting for a lost cause? I'm talking to air I'm talking to air She left again Now she's not here I'm talking to air I'm talking to air Seems she's vanished Looks like she has disappeared I got me a pretend friend In fact, right at this very moment I happen to have two… Sometimes they both tell me they love me Sometimes one sits saying nothing The other one then stands Flips me off with not just one But TWO hands And cries out, “F%&k you!” Oh how I wish it was The other way around But all that wishing Ever brought was wells And two cents tossed in From every passing clown So…I’ve learned to let it go What is out of my control So…I’ve learned to let it go Still, I’ll stand my ground even if All I got left is this little patch of soul Let it in, let it out, let it go Breathe out, breathe in and behold You can be on it while in it and even wander off it For one is never truly lost when beginning The building of a road

STANDING NEAR THE WALL

A0211 — rank 41

Standing all alone Half way in between The beginning and the end Standing all alone This wall here has become My only friend Standing all alone I picked this spot When was nobody near Standing all alone Gathering my thoughts So surprised to see you here Standing here with you My judgment suspended Though what we once said We both know we meant it Standing here with you And all your good intentions Our past needn't be mentioned Standing here with you But something's been misplaced I try my best But you can still read my face Standing here with you My heart beats faster my legs start to sink What strange desires I continue to think Standing here with you The moon appears as the sun grows dim I watch a leaf fall dead Down from upon a limb Standing all alone I've faced the fact to sadness I'm akin While the wall is straight It's everything else that spins Standing all alone Leaning against the wall my friend... Soon I'll be off to walk and stalk my thoughts again

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

A0213 — rank 42

Standing alone on top of this mountain Overlooking such a picturesque view Contemplating the smallness of my life Relative to our Earth’s green, ocean’s blue Finding peace of mind in this piece of time No more daily grind and I’m feeling fine Remembering simplicity’s beauty Recalling what I’ve forgotten I knew Standing alone on top of this mountain Overlooking such a picturesque view Contemplating the smallness of my life Untangling known falsehoods from inner truth One hell of a trail but well worth the climb I’m here alone ‘cause ‘twas so hard to find Crawled on my hands and knees when I had to So remote that it was hard to get through Standing alone on top of this mountain Overlooking such a picturesque view Contemplating the smallness of my life While questioning what, where, when, why and who? Searching for the link ‘tween both space and time That escapes all reason, escapes all rhyme Seeking to discover fellow seekers Whatever happened why are we so few? Standing alone on top of this mountain Overlooking such a picturesque view Contemplating the smallness of my life Now that I’m here what am I going to do? I could stake my flag that I had to drag I could build my home and have my own time zone Or return to the life I had before Carry on with my trivial pursuits Go to bed each night wondering what’s the use?

LIVING BLUE

A0219 — rank 43

I live the blues... I couldn't choose any other color And believe me... It's not easy being me Let me tell you my brother... Part of me has died For these songs I write I'm telling you the truth... Inside I began to grow old as I became bestowed With the wisdom of a well-worn, war-torn, battle-tested soldier when I was in my youth Since the dawn of that day Part of me has died For these songs I write I'm telling you the truth... There's lots I've given away Just to say the things I say Many books have been studied and read Many people I've met and let into my heart and into my head... (Some have stayed as others strayed) Some colors run While others just... seem... to... fade... Some colors stain While others wash… out… right… away I live the blues... I couldn't choose any other color And believe me... It's not easy being me Let me tell you my brother... There's so many years of time and tears of mine Within these songs that I write I'm telling you the truth... There's lots I've given away Just to say the things I say Wouldn't wanna go serving ya any pudding without the proof... You gotta live the blues... You gotta live the blues... You gotta live the blues... NOTE: proof is in the pudding - meaning: You cannot be sure that you have succeeded until you have examined the result of your efforts. Jill: I think we've done a good job of fixing the lawn mower. Jane: Well, the proof is in the pudding. We haven't tried to mow the lawn with it yet.

DEAD SILENCE

A0404 — rank 44

I am just another face on a train Smile my worthless smile as I pay what I owe I blend here into this crowd no names are exchanged I’m just another guy that no one wants to know Hear the sound of the whistle blow… That means it's time to stop Hear the sound of the whistle blow… That means it's time to go Thirty people sitting in thirty separate rows Dead silence on the train Next stop one comes on and I watch another one go Dead silence on the train Different faces, different clothes, yet still nothing’s changed Dead silence on the train Same suitcases, same routine, seems nothing has changed Dead silence on the train Strangers sitting so close together Yet they seem so distant, so far apart I see souls from every walk of life Some with broken dreams, some with broken hearts Still no one's said anything to me I hear clickity clickity clack Sounds of this car rolling down the track Still no one's said anything to me Everyone's tryin’ to keep up with time Or else lose or find their destiny... Suddenly a quarter hits the ground I see a tourist who has lost their way And then once again the whistle sounds If she’d asked me I’d have shown her the way…

AROUND

A0413 — rank 45

My spirit has began picking up And yet my house is falling down I got a window that won’t stay shut Through which I watch the world go ‘round Around and around and around… As I choose to stay inside Proclaiming I’ve found a better way To act, to think, to live – I question am I trapped Or have I escaped it swims ‘round Around and around and around… Each morning I wake up to the sun And I half-way draw the blinds Make myself a cup of coffee Try to convince myself That everything is fine As I sit and watch all of the people walk Around and around and around… Sure, time passes – but what did I miss? Not the light of the dawn but that of a new day Starting a fresh page or finding myself a new and better way With each morning, noon and night blending, becoming the same I find my mind it begins to spin Around and around and around… My spirit is picking up And yet my house is falling down I got a window that won’t stay shut I think that tomorrow is the day when I get up I’ll put on my shoes and go walking ‘round Around and around and around… See if I like it better out there I think I’ll go and take a stroll and breathe some new fresh air And maybe try to fix that window See if I can get it to close And maybe try to get a new perspective on life Perhaps there’s something they know that I don’t know Surely there’s something out there that I haven’ t found So I guess that’s it… it’s time to finish with this: Hopefully I’ll see you around…

DISPLACED

A0431 — rank 46

Night falls It's time to go to bed You know how the saying goes Time to rest Your weary head But when the stars shine in the sky It becomes harder to say goodbye... They've all gone... every women I've ever said I loved Save for one but that's my mom And she doesn't count because she has to love me They say that home is where the heart is You don't lease it you can't buy it But you become an owner And now I think that you had better get started Drifting away again another desolate loner The rain that's falling down Don't let it bring you down Stop and take a look around And realize what you've found Everyone is gone whose saddened you Everyone is gone whose hurt you Everyone is gone whose maddened you Everyone is gone whose burnt you Hello my old flame my once sweet heart How've you been How do you do? Seems like life hasn't been much fun since we were one As you start telling me all that you've been through.... Since we grew apart And now that we are two But you... I know you dear How you wish to now be here Holding me at this moment After suprisingly and suddenly you disappeared Leaving me a letter To tell me you were going Then I found something Had been stolen from me Because I can't erase you from my memory We both might agree that some things will never be I just wish we could rewrite history For I won't forget your last kiss to me Night falls It's time to go to bed You know how the saying goes Time to rest Your weary head But when the stars shine in the sky It becomes harder to say goodbye...

MONEY TRAIN

A0464 — rank 47

I’m rolling down that money train Smiling and cruising down the track My wheels spinning, landscape’s splitting On these rails built upon dead peasant’s backs I’m rolling down that money train Oh look there’s so little that I lack Except for the forgiveness from the fallen ones And we know I’ll never get that Come one everybody…join in singing For I bet you all know the song: Get in, get out, take your money…. And when it breaks…the problem will belong To the next poor shmuck who comes along But unfortunately Those people are gonna be Our grandsons and granddaughters The sheep we led to their slaughters Is what it will read in history Working for something Is really working for nothing If instead of saving civilization You’re only good at causing destruction Surely up on some big hill Someday our breaks will fail Family will receive a telegram A “We are so sorry…” in the mail I’m rolling down that money train Smiling and cruising down the track My wheels spinning, landscape’s splitting On these rails built upon dead peasant’s backs I’m rolling down that money train Oh look there’s so little that I lack Except for the forgiveness from the fallen ones And we know I’ll never get that Come one everybody…join in singing For I bet you all know the song: Get in, get out, take your money…. And when it breaks…the problem will belong To the next poor shmuck who comes along

NEVER AGAIN

A0470 — rank 48

Never again Never again Never again Will I cut you out…………..it’s true Never again Never again Never again Could I go without…………you Even though sometimes I might like to….. Cut you out I’ll be here until the very end…… I have no doubt Even if I have to pull what’s left of my hair….. Out of my head Sometimes life just isn’t that fair….. ‘Cause I’ll love you ‘til I’m dead I have decided…… That this is my fate A love that’s one-sided….. Try carrying that weight Following the one who guided me…. And helped create Someone who finally confided…. In what was only first rate It makes no sense to hide it…. There’s no longer any debate Never again Never again Never again Will I cut you out…….it’s true Never again Never again Never again Could I live without……..you

OLD MAN WINTER

A0475 — rank 49

Everything that was once important Has since made an about face turn Ideals and values once written proud The paper has been burned Heard a wise man say The only certainty in life is change Opinions drift with each passing day Nothing ever remains the same Surely things won’t stay this way Seems that passing is the only lane Besides yourself is there anything else? You can grab hold of when the world starts to melt? Though the forms rearrange It shall sometime return to dust All in all do you know who and what you can trust? I long to be in a place where People speak in melody Where I don’t have to do What everybody’s telling me Singing songs all day long Somewhere this place can be found But certainly not here With all these people around A place where you hear Only an Angel’s voice We could all live here It can be your choice Where you can smell the flowers That smiling children bring Where you can fly Even without wings Somewhere this exists Never seen in any brochure Maybe when you wind up dead You’ll wake up on this shore You know where it is just as you know who you are The decisions you are faced with Nothing can replace it And I know how much you hurt inside But it gets a little bit better everyday Where do you look to find salvation? Is it of this world or up on high? Do you seek to escape starvation of the mind? I work my fingers to the bone and sacrifice what is now for what will be Years from now when I’m sitting pretty I’ll look back and forget all this misery But what do I do if when I get there looking ahead I see I’m far behind All this work that I’ve done will be wasted going nowhere, just wasted time Rain has given way to the snow in the sky As steam blows by through breath outside White footprints trace where the animals go Bears in their shadowy caves now hide Dead leaves have all fallen from the trees Birds have escaped to warmer places Harsh winds blow as rivers freeze Red cheeks glisten on the children’s faces I can feel winter melting With every breath I breathe I met with old man winter Told him it was time to leave The clouds are beginning to break But who knows how long that’ll take By myself this lesson I learned Since my books were all burned In the fireplace to keep me warm This summertime breeze Sure seems like such a tease Why does it blow in the middle of winter The sun is felt So more ice will melt Creating puddles I cannot cross The polar caps Have both just snapped And soon all will be lost Enter the clouds and exit the sun Find a warm place for winter has come I set out on my own today I left my watch at home today My life I call my own today Rules I make my own today I can feel winter melting with every breath I breathe I met with old man winter and told him that he should leave Fifty-nine degrees so disconnect the phone I wouldn’t stay inside if you paid me When it was too cold to go outside…it drove me crazy Today I’m finally free My religion is here and now Only what I can see Pray to the man who walks his dog along For I haven’t seen him it’s been so long Pray to children playing in the park For until now it’s been way too dark I set out on my own today I left my watch at home today My life I call my own today Rules I make my own today I can feel winter melting with every breath I breathe I met with old man winter and told him that he should leave

PROMISES

A0477 — rank 50

I may have just made a girl cry But it made me feel better about myself I let out my inside Before I sunk to doubting myself I still have yet To ever tell her a lie But I forgot about a promise I made That's going to haunt me 'til I die I got two paths... That I can take from here And I can't go back... Once the other road disappears I just made... Myself a little scared It's a big, bad, cold Lonely world out there, yeah! I just made... Myself a little more blue While wondering what I'm going to do now without you, hmmm? I just made... Myself a cup of hot tea As my mind marinates Like my lemon in honey I just made... Myself laugh and crack a little smile As a matter of fact I picked up the phone and perhaps I'll dial Your number... To hear your voice and say I'm sorry Sometimes I think too much When there's simply no need to worry... I always keep my promises Well, not all the ones that I make to myself But I always try my darnedest best To keep the ones I make to someone else

ROW ROW

A0483 — rank 51

We’re the victim of a children’s fairytale We’ve arrived alive yet miscast as thieves Everyday our lives’ remain the same story… Oh, what a terrible life to lead….. Oh what a terrible fate indeed…. Row row row We’re all in the same boat Row row row Paddling in circles ‘round this castle moat These walls are too tall to ever climb out And I see a dragon with fire coming out of his mouth Row row row We’re all in the same boat Row row row Paddling in circles round this castle moat And I see a dragon with fire coming out of his mouth But the banks are too steep there ain’t no getting out So we just look at ourselves And keep paddling around On the rubber raft of inflation Too bad it ain’t the prices going down I do believe I am flammable The dragon knows to this ship I am bound Yet everywhere there is water So maybe that would put the fire out Then maybe they’ll let me drown? Now the dragon he just saw us The monster from the lagoon is waking up So it looks like me and friends in this little boat I think our time is up…we are gonna disappear Either be burnt to a crisp or get wet And see what they got down there…. You can look left and right, inside and out, up and down…. Surely there’s always something for you to fear Row row row We’re all in the same boat Paddling in circles ‘round this castle moat Row row row Ah but these walls are too tall to ever climb out

WATCHING AND WAITING

A0509 — rank 52

Watching… Waiting… Staring out the window Down upon a stairway by a concrete wall Watching… Waiting… Wondering which door you will exit Or if you will exit at all Watching… Waiting… Wondering the reasons why I am here Is it for a warm embrace? Is it just to see your face? Is it for love? Or maybe all of the above? Watching… Waiting… As faces enter and faces leave I think they are you and then I am deceived As I see myself in the light’s reflection I wait for you to walk towards my direction Watching… Waiting… As if I am playing a game Cannot unfix these eyes from this window pane Whether or not you appear you still remain the same For better or not I am still glad I came The evening passes The lights begin to grow dim I see a leaf fall dead From upon a tree’s limb

FANTASY AND REALITY

A0701 — rank 53

Fantasy and reality… Meet my best friend And my second worst enemy Since most of you think you already know me I’d like to introduce to you the rest of me To who I’d never let you see Fantasy and reality… I’ve always been an underachiever Especially with the latter However…in love I’m still a believer And isn’t that all that really matters? Fantasy and reality… Bedroom window clouds are beautiful So long as you’re not afraid of the rain There the fruit grows bountiful (and plentiful) Albeit sometimes hard to obtain I’ve seen many apples fall The morning after the storm touched down As I witnessed the tree stand tall I, too, stood firm as everything else blew ‘round Fantasy and reality… One acts as heaven The other a living hell to me It’s been known to change Month to month and sometimes Even week to week Fantasy and reality… All I need is the prison cell key If you ever find it won’t you give it to me I’d be either forever grateful Or else forever free From both fantasy and reality… My best friend and my second worst enemy Since I am my own worst enemy.

Lovely Infinity

A0003 — rank 54

Have a lovely infinity Were the last words you said to me A little piece of poetry Now there's a lot in a little A lot of thought in that riddle That's the reason behind the rhyme When your ears hear something pleasing As gears start turning in your mind Something that'll get you thinking Forget or forgive a problem Other than smoking and drinking We know that's not gonna solve it… I don't have a drinking problem I've got a drinking solution I live in a world With so much pollution I live with it in my blood As dirt runs through my veins I pour it in my cup And I drink it up like rain I don't have a drinking problem I've got a drinking solution I tried to give it up But I figured what's the use? If and when I put it down I'll just pick up something else I've learned from my past by now I just can't control myself My heart is beating far too fast Yet my love is for a false prophet I aimed for first but finished last Now I'm hooked on getting off it I started drinking to drown my sorrows But I gave it up When trouble learned to swim I treaded water for so long I never noticed how deep I was in I've chosen some wrong selections So don't ask me for any directions I can only tell you where not to go I can't explain the ways of the world I can't show you where to dive for pearls I guess there are just some things You have to know ` I keep my eyes peeled for angels While I'm living in the world of sin I can't tell you where I'm going Only where I've been

Oceanside

A0023 — rank 55

Here I sit by the side of the ocean Wondering just what the ocean sees in me Sometimes I wonder if I should go swimming? If in this game I'm playing I'm winning? And if when the man in the moon looks down He's really grinning? And if there's a God Does he always know When I'm sinning? And if there's a God Did he know this is how My world would be? For it's three o'clock in the morning And I ain't been to bed Still trying to sort out all those Hopes and dreams That've been floatin' around in my head It's all on my shoulders now And there are still answers to find Somewhere and somehow At least one more mountain to climb Pictured it in my mind It's only been truly seen by the blind And traversed by the lame With peaks of pleasure Guarded by valleys of pain Where once you've tasted the water You'll never be thirsty again But the problem isn't where but when?

MINORITY MAJORITY

A0462 — rank 56

Well it’s Saturday night And I’m feeling alright Because I’m a Upper middle class white suburbanite Upper middle class white suburbanite Upper middle class white suburbanite When I walk around town I get respect Look at my neighborhood, there’s no neglect When you’re all middleclass or better What else would you expect? I don’t live in the city I’m from a town We only have one vagrant Just bumming around He's become our mascot Like a silly clown... Where I’m from we ain’t got no minorities Keeping them out seems to be the number one priority As long as we stay within the minority majority I get to live in a place where everybody looks just like me You say that the colored didn’t live next door When your daddy was a kid And I say when was the last time You saw a Native American You f%$^&*g dumb s%^t Everybody gets ousted... Everybody’s in trouble... There’s always something Coming over the water... Coming to burst your bubble… You see race relations can lead to tricky situations Lots of people driving Benzes and Beamers Lots of people waiting down at the bus station… Using public transportation… See someone with no car Who has yet to make it very far Why don’t you offer them a ride And just feel lucky that you are… Upper middle class white suburbanite Upper middle class white suburbanite Upper middle class white suburbanite Don’t you feel lucky... Just being who you are? Some kids' great grandparents Never bought and sold people As if they were used cars

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

A0463 — rank 57

I know I know you… But do I know me? Am I a slave to something I can’t see? I can feel deep down… Something changing inside of me Have I somehow become dull To all this pain I see? So many crying faces So many unfulfilled dreams So many dying nations With those too weak to scream Once I cared so much That it tore a hole inside of me But I’ve learned not to trust That someday we’ll all be free Oh, it’s never quite that simple Not everyone uses the same pair of eyes to see Sometimes it takes a bullet through the temple To make a man stop telling lies to you and me Those who should lead are too busy pointing fingers Those who are pointed at they just head up for the hills And as the dead go away their memory still lingers Because it’s well known that equality don’t pay the bills Money, money, money Got to get me some Money, money, money Don’t care where it comes from Money, money, money I need it to survive Money, money, money Makes me feel alive

THE ALMIGHTY

A0521 — rank 58

I got a friend in Jesus the almighty….it’s true But some days I think that f%$&er lives just to spite me ooh ooh Oh Jesus Christ…what the hell is up with you Oh Jesus Christ…tell me what did I do? Sometimes I feel like Judas And other times like I’m Job Once when I was a Buddhist I travelled all across the globe Studying religions All over the land Because I’m an ignorant Belligerent and stupid kind of man I need a leader Someone to tell me what to do I need a religious figure And a church to mail my money to I’m always searching for something to believe in Because I don’t believe in myself That voice that used to talk in my ear Now it belongs to someone else I’ve become a mindless drone Just another ant or a bee I’m looking for a leader To tell me who I am… Someone who’ll speak for me I like fighting religion Because apparitions can’t fight back But instead who can? Those who base their lives on fiction Not fact

HASTA DIABLO

A0524 — rank 59

Hasta Diablo! That’s go to hell in WOP Greek slang And I learned that from a once-angry man Who was able to turn the tables on his hand And endure any pain with just one simple plan…. Hasta Diablo! Let it all out with one big scream… F$*k it! So what???? If you failed at achieving the American Dream!!!!!! Rid yourself of all these poisonous toxins Thoughts like right now – When you wish that your mom and dad had just kept on walkin’ Never stopping and talking and eventually faulkin’ Just some baby batter left on the blanket Then they’d just wash it… If only daddy had spanked it Or if only they had offed it – er, rather you Because the way that you’re feeling Is the deepest, darkest shade of blue And yeah, you had a laugh at the last paragraph But that fun has just passed… So now what are you supposed to do? That’s what the Greeks do with their misery Or else you can take it, and keep it, and let it eat you Despise it, yet somehow take pride in it, as it slowly defeats you Though you can still get off on the big O, But in today’s world you never know – just what you’ll get, or what you’ll catch I used to stick stuff up my nose: like nice cars and gold faucets, Vacations lost & big bills from my wallet I used to just get sauced and wicked hammered, But I could not regain control as I stumbled – when my brain got too wet And then I smoked pot, and with and without words - I fumbled and stammered, As I kept getting lost because I’d always forget... That was all for yesterday… What? A potential soul mate got away? Does it hurt? Yup, but you know what I say………………….. If you can feel it But you can’t see it You’ve got to release it Before you can beat it Hasta Diablo! – it’s the same as yelling go to hell! Hasta Diablo! – helps to heal the wounds that time can never dispel Hasta Diablo! – when you wanted to stay laid down on the ground after you fell Hasta Diablo! – go ahead! Give it a yell…Hasta Diablo! - unless you live in Greece – it doesn’t go over there so well Hasta Diablo – yell it out to be free… 1, 2, 3……Hasta Diablo!

Surviving The Stairs

A0011 — rank 60

(as adapted for ellasings4diamonds) I left last night behind me Only to have it find me in the morning (in the morning) For unlike the sea Which smooths all of its broken glass I got cut without any warning (without any warning) Only to have it find me in the morning Without any warning Without any warning Without any warning Torn and tattered Another glass got shattered What was intact just the night before He left me in a child-like state After a battle that saw me fall from grace I just sat there with a stunned look on my face So far away from HIM, IN an entirely different place ooooh... Left me jaw - dropped staring out the window At the bedroom sun Feeling so far away from just /bout everyone This wasn't by choice It's just something that can happen Fallin’ in and out of love Sure it’s hard forgetting being forgotten Since that day I’ve felt rotten… We’ve all been there Here’s a game that I play At least ten times a day Always trying to climb up After I've fallen down It's a little game I like to play One that I call Surviving the stairs Surviving the stairs Surviving the stairs Torn and tattered Another glass got shattered What was intact just the night before He left me... The note I read it found me in the morning in the morning Without any warning Without any warning Surviving the stairs Surviving the stairs So far away from him and here In an entirely different place

Free Sanity

A0096 — rank 61

I.... I held up a sign that said free sanity Funny how people looked at me Many said you'll never get that for free Hopefully in time...maybe But as of now...it'll cost you your dignity I held up a sign that said free sanity There was a big line But it was for the guy next to me Because he had a sign That read Free Nobel Prize With every purchase of a fill - up So I made up a new sign That said ‘soap on sale’ Works good on both blood and oil Such a yucky mess to clean up!!!!!!!! By accident or design Something or someone will kill me Just give it enough time and The farmer will come and rototill me Even though I'm deceased I'm inclined to believe That every mortician is a thief And he will still try his best to bill me However right now I'm fine For one's country is his state of mind It's still the thrills that thrill me But if I don't get stronger Then this will kill me I think CEO's should be treated like UFO's With all of their deeds captured on videos So we can all see if big companies Really are the main sources of all this misery..... Only three bucks a gallon Somebody's making a killing Sometimes your little coalition Is forced to gather up the willing Oil mixed with blood It's a big mess to clean up But for a man who sells cleaners Sometime it is best not to speak up...

Happy People

A0102 — rank 62

I'm feeling great as I wake up Ready to start the new day ahead Feeling good to be one of those happy people I'm feeling alive inside today As opposed to being one of the walking dead... Looking forward to all that life brings You know that I'm ready for anything So give it to me and I'll take it Like Giles Corey I'll say, "More Weight!" Yeah, the most of what I got Is what I'll make When life hands me lemons I'll make myself some lemonade When I get to the bottom of the barrel I scrape and scrape If I find a bad apple I don't mind the taste So come on come on come on And sing along If you still feel alright Even when things go wrong If when you fall down You stand up strong You see... Rising up tall Through all adversity ain't something You'll learn at any University Defying the laws of gravity And flying high off life Is the way is could be... The way it should be... I'm feeling great as I wake up Ready to start the new day ahead Feeling good to be one of those happy people I'm feeling alive inside today As opposed to being one of the walking dead... Looking forward to all that life brings You know that I'm ready for anything

Proxy War

A0145 — rank 63

“Son, it’s the final battle… Another man just fell dead You can hear the death rattles They’re slaughtering us like cattle” His broken and rusty voice said… Yeah, out of the blue this guy with stripes And a head full of graying hair, you see I saw him looking at me like he Had something to say I could tell By the look on his face and his stare That’s when I turned And started walking away But I soon learned My intuition was working today And that’s rare Hey there my man: I think you’d look good In a green uniform Whose side are you on In this latest proxy war? Where do you stand? Do you even know Which side that you’re fighting for? Now they let you decide… Didn’t you read and fill out the form?” I asked the man near me: So how did you choose? He said he flipped a coin since he had nothing to lose Said he loves taking orders and loves taking abuse… In fact he said he woulda been the first one to join… Had he only knew (Note: some people just like to fight) PUBLIC PLACES By Brian Rainstrom I only meet people in public places May we both never know why... Okay, it's the CIA - why I have that rule One at a time I wear my fifty different faces Otherwise I find people try to play me for a fool This way I can keep my cool... It's a put on That I can take off Or even dispose of... Like a cheap three piece suit Though I've found If you play fast and loose with the truth After the fog of war fades There might not be anyone there Left to sign a truce So let them save their face Let that be their saving grace Well then I think that means I win And any man who thinks twice Had better best think again... Haha... Just as I thought... I'm the least weak Of all of God's weaker men Amen!

ELA, LADY OF THE WIND

A0434 — rank 64

Floating atop the lights of the city A place where the wind holds no bounds You brighten the sky as you glisten Drifting across the dark background You’ve traveled wearily for so long Half-way around the world you’ve come With a faith in yourself that can be so strong We know you’re not the type to be outdone You fly up on the tops of mountains And down across the fields and streams Seeing a path that splits the ocean Following you trail of dreams You know you’re just like a cloud You got no strings to tie you down It seems your feet can never catch up Or ever touch the ground You fly up on the tops of mountains And down across the fields and streams You see a path that leads out of your country And into the border of my dreams Welcome to America “The land of dreams” Where things aren’t always the way they seem I’ve taken it upon myself to show you That there are some things in this world That can’t be seen through the untrained eye Some paths you can walk yourself But for some you need a guide Come out with me for a night on the town Because I’m just the type of guy to show you around Now I’m finally happy because I found…. Ela, lady of the wind All work and no play makes me a sad boy Sometimes I’d trade a week’s pay for an hour of joy Here’s a lesson in life you’ll find is true That hour of joy I’d spend it with you Ela, lady of the wind You know you’re just like a cloud You got no strings to tie you down It seems your feet never catch up Or even touch the ground Ela, lady of the wind

OPEN MIC NIGHT

A0476 — rank 65

The economy is sh^% here… And your bar needs a spark… I’m known for drinking draino And breaking newly-mended hearts I got a book of poems… It’s big, black and dark… I would make a list of things I hate about myself But I wouldn’t know where to start I'm a gamble....I'm unstable.... But I'm funny…and my willy’s still able.... Hi, hello honey I be quick like a bunny Go ask Betty and Mabel... Or Martha and her mommy I laid all them like eggs... Right on this here table!!!!! The economy is s^#$ here… And this bar needs a spark… I’m known for picking on patrons Who dress to impress thinking that they’re smart They get into to their precious Lexus… But why show off such excess? That’s why I had to laugh when My dog went and pissed all over their car I’m a gamble….I’m unstable… but I’m funny…when I ramble… I’m out of the cage now and I’m happy But If I offend you please just slap me You’d be neither the first person nor the last To wanna slap me in the face or else kick my ass Because whether it’s my voice or that of my ventriloquist I’ll make you red be it by anger, laughter or by syphilis

TRIVIAL PURSUIT

A0505 — rank 66

We’ve lost power over here in New York City People say its pitch black Along the whole East Coast A woman cried out, I miss the skyline its so pretty She said, I’ve been walking around here Feeling just like a ghost I heard a man say that the gin mills closed As he continued on walking down the road Sad and alone with no place to go I sat on the sidewalk as this little kid came So angry at the world Cause he couldn’t play video games We’ve lost power over here in New York City People say its pitch black Along the whole East Coast I heard a young thug cuss Cause he couldn’t listen to P. Diddy It seems nothing happened When he turned on his radio An elderly woman complained Because she couldn’t get the weather I told her if she gets too hot To then just sleep in the nude And if she gets cold then go put on a sweater She must have thought that I was either sick or rude I thought I gave her good advice But now I wish I never met her We’ve lost power over here in New York City People say its pitch black Along the whole East Coast There was this sad old vet I met And I asked him, Hey sir, what’s troubling you? He answered that there’s no money in the kitty Since they had to close the V.F.W. A young girl passed by So I asked her where she’s from But she was too busy making a call I overheard that she needed her nails done She was all disappointed she couldn’t go to the mall We’ve lost power over here in New York City People say its pitch black Along the whole East Coast A drunk stumbled over me while mumbling That he wanted to black out during a black out And then he began to boast that he was so witty A homeless man came and asked me for a cigarette Explaining he had proof that this was All a plot by the government I said as a joke that maybe Bush was trying to save oil When he lit up his smoke I saw that his pants were soiled We’ve lost power over here in New York City People say its pitch black Along the whole East Coast A kid my age stopped and asked me What’s going on? He asked me if I got stoned as he pulled out his bong I told him, No, no I don’t, nope, not any more He said he needed wraps But he couldn’t go to the store He told me he was getting high Cause there was nothing to do As I rested my arm on a post I responded Yeah, what a pity When he saw my flashlight turn on He asked me what the hell was I doing My answer to him was that I was writing a song

Forty Days

A0095 — rank 67

God stands above you… And you see he holds the reigns Even HE doesn’t love you… So He says, “Let it rain!” You held the power…to relieve pain You held the power…to heal the lame You held the power…to create change You held the power…yet you abstained So for forty days and for forty nights God got real angry and I can see why He began to hellfire and brimstone Everyone and everything in sight He left everyone here Swimming around With smoke in their eyes From all the sh*t that he hurled down Blacking the sun So now we have no light As the water is getting cold And it’s turning into ice I thought I’d get to live Another fifty years Really thought I was loved But now it seems God doesn’t care Thought I heard a cry for help But it’s really hard to hear Oh, it’s just another kid crying Her eyes filled with smoke and tears Ah, that’s better… Now I don’t hear her anymore Seems that little kid just sunk To the bottom of the ocean floor Now I’m sure a lot of you Are thinking that life’s not fair Think of the bright side: She’ll have a lot of friends to play with down there….

Grown To Love

A0101 — rank 68

Sure there was a sign clearly stating: NO Sluts and NO Whoring! But I heard a voice saying: No Guts then No Glory! So I dropped my pants and I did a little dance Just to see who could ignore me There weren't many if there was anyone Whose hand didn't reach into either My pocket full of money or my big jar of honey Yet the most frequent question that's been asked to me Is why I'm such good friends with the girls in the taxies? The ones who get dropped off down at the strip It's not because they get their socks knocked off It's more because I know just how much to tip Sure there was a sign clearly stating: NO Sluts and NO Whoring! But I heard a voice saying: No Guts then No Glory! They're oh so good at loving and then leaving It's nice at least there's no pretending or deceiving I'm happy now and she, she, and she's the reason For I've grown to love these little liaisons She told me when I'm lonely that she'd hold me For a fee... yes, she charged me hourly to console me But she said for free that she'd help to unroll me Right now there's no waiting and this line is just for laying The other one is for loving which is more expensive than dating Take that other jar you save for the day when it's raining... To find out what sex is like without hearing complaining Because...hey...you know that either way you'll still be paying Sure there was a sign clearly stating: NO Sluts and NO Whoring! But I heard a voice saying: No Guts then No Glory!

Killing For Pie

A0113 — rank 69

Oh great creator of saliva… Still not sure how I survived ya… You turn my mouth water into a whine like Jesus of Nazareth… Surely I’d kill for a slice of your pie… just like I was Pythagoras… I’d look you right in the eyes and lie... to nail you… just like I was Judas from Iscariot … You leaven my bread making my dough rise… that’s true… just like I was Lazarus… You and me should play Adam and Even while Bert and Ernie played Adam and Steve… Or we could play George of the Jungle and you could teach me all about the birds and the bees I could eat some peaches and you could shake some trees For a warm handful of your honey I’d use these two fingers here just like the ears of a bunny And then we could play doctor The day before the morning after you said you felt funny Unhappily nine months after that you sued me for the rights to make a movie Of our life together… And then for alimony and custody of little Suzie… Well F%&k Me! Here you are again and You’re still looking to screw me… Ahhh….. Now that’s killing for pie… It’s no joke and no lie That’s how us good men usually die Once thriving now barely surviving It’s still a thrill for the living Though sometimes the times Can be kinda trying… Ahhh….. Now that’s killing for pie! Now it's time for goodbye And that ain't no lying... (Note to reader: Pythagoras killed opponents of his Theorems - especially Pie. He totally had freaking math nerd disciples who would KILL for PIE. I think killing for math pie is silly!)

A WELL- PLACED E

A0188 — rank 70

Heroin The vial glistens... Is there any blood left running through your veins? Heroin Stop and listen... Can you hear it calling and screaming out your name? Heroin Is this what you're missing... After you've tried it once Did you expect to be the same? Heroin Scars are holes inside of your free will What you've created you now own Are you partners still with? Heroin Let me guess… The answer's yes You only hear one voice and this is what it says: Heroin You can tell me but I'll never be sure Just what goes on On the other side of the door You could be sprawled out on the floor... Heroine… Hey baby! You really beat it this time Heroine… Regained control… Now you're having a better time Heroine… So lucky… You didn't catch HIV and AIDS and die! Heroine… Yes, one silly prick really fu$%ed up your mind!

ANOTHER ONE HIT WONDER

A0411 — rank 71

Just heard such a lame band that it makes me want to write If I saw them on the streets they’d ask me for my autograph, right? Wasting up my time with some made up catch phrase If they were in my head they’d be trapped inside a maze It takes more to be an artist than having a cute blond in the band I would usually keep my mouth shut but its been getting outta hand Sexy says kiss me and I’m thinking outta my head If I’m her biggest fan maybe she’ll crawl into bed Another one hit wonder, another one collecting dust Another one hit wonder, another one bites the dust Buy some records and see some skin Another record - do it again If you’re interested in reality then you’re better off listening to me I should be here for a while before they carry me off to sea When you’re looking for information you know I’m your safest bet In this world of uncertainty you take what you can get Some say it’s the easy way, living life out on the run I knew a man who did it he said it ain’t no fun It don’t matter much if you’re number one or on the bottom of the pile Sometimes everybody, everywhere, everyone has to walk that extra mile I’m not a one hit wonder I got more than fifteen minutes of fame I ain’t never played chess so I ain’t no pawn in any game After I’m gone you’ll remember this name Spending 60 bucks on my box set I know that sounds pretty lame They’ll knock it down to ten dollars if to my funeral you came A man down the street you know he doesn’t trust a soul He never heard of a diamond coming from a piece of coal I once had a girl who became a part of me But after my body rejected her I had to set her free Sometimes I smile the rest all I do is frown Every time I’m high something brings me down There’s a girl I’ve just met who I’d really like to know But she’s busy twenty-three hours a day so there’s no place for us to go With everything I gain there’s ten times more I lack I try to do everything before I hit the sack I usually write before I go to bed but I haven’t found the knack Empty blue lines fill the paper while white lines fill my brain Try tying your galoshes while you’re standing in the rain My hair blowing in the wind while others wait in vain I know those who hurt themselves and those who run from pain But I myself come from a different breed A little less jealousy, a little more greed I don’t know you or where you’ve been And you don’t know me and the things I’ve seen I have been scalded by the sun I thought I was number one My toes got stepped on, my back forced to the wall Like an idiot I got back to them every time they called And soon I felt so small But tomorrow always changes, back to the bottom again But you’ll never be the same after mind starts to bend So many young minds all around But knowledge is not so easily found I’m shinning up my shoes for a big night on the town But I’ll probably come home when there’s no one around Though free from my handcuffs my hands are still bound I’m stone cold like Austin and I’m slammed to the ground After being up for awhile I on my way down And if I’m a one hit wonder banish me from the radio If it happens out to different continents I’ll go When I’m asked I’ll say it ain’t so I’ll respond that I’m just your average Joe Not a one hit wonder

DECEMBERS

A0429 — rank 72

Reality check It's time to check It's time to check your head again So get out Get out Get out now While you still have your skin You know that tomorrow You can always go and try again Will you still be sitting In that same old chair? When it's judgment day Are you still gonna say: I could have went anywhere But at the time I didn't care What wise men say When it's their time to leave They tell us that they're going away But they've planted their seeds Seeds that'll never wash away And how there is no one who is invincible For it just goes against our principles Most times the hard way is the only way That you'll remember a lesson for good Some things, sure, you can learn to fake While other things you only wish you could And still more that you never would Some lessons I've learned all on my own I'm awfully glad That it turned out so Some of the things I learned were never taught Though those things Still I learned to know Don't believe everything you read You know that as well as me Because sometimes people think differently Than what they say or write or speak, you see? No one can tell you where you should go Sometimes some things Just move real slow... The earth is always spinning But we never seem to know So here I am... back where it all started But now I stand here as a man It's been many years since I departed When I was just a boy without a plan No raging fire within -- only a single ember As I bid my time for such a long time Seems like a fist full of Decembers

Little More Time

A0008 — rank 73

My heart… I can no longer feel it My soul… seems no one can heal it My art… is the only thing that saves me Your voice… was my saving grace Your face… you know just seeing it… Now breaks me Leaving me in this fallen state I watch the clock until the sky grows dark And I wait… And I wait… And I wait… I’m now on the outside… Peaking and looking in Into your window… And I see you with him I see you two smiling… wrapped in warm embrace As I sigh out loud… I have to turn away I watch you kiss… And talk about old times As you fondly reminisce… I can feel my eyes going blind I could have been your man Yes, I could have been that guy Had you just given me a try A little faith and a little more time Yet here I stand… Cold and lonely here outside Looking and peaking in your window… While trying not to cry

In A Click

A0048 — rank 74

I'm in a click But I don't fit Well, maybe I do... But not like I thought I did Seems not much has changed Since we were kids When I play host Still got the same guest list Seems not much has changed Since we were kids Got the same friends DJ plays the same song list In many ways I'm still the same Still a slave to fashion and the brand name Never got a clear view of what I became Never saw the cold, hard truth 'Til I hit stop, freeze frame Then nothing ever looked the same again I'm in a click But I don't fit Well, maybe I do... But I'm growing tired of it Still the same surrounding faces And same points of view Keep on tying up the same laces Of the same pair of shoes Maybe it's time I tried on something new? I never wandered No, I never roamed I never wondered What it'd be like to leave home I never been a stranger In any foreign land I've never been much of a changer Once I had my master plan I'm in I click But I don't fit Well, maybe I do Hmm... Seems my allegiance is split...

Miss You Kiss You

A0072 — rank 75

a duet… male =1 female = 2 and together = 3 1 Don’t you know I dream about you When I'm asleep and wide awake Both when I’m half asleep and wide awake 2 I know for I can tell when you're dreaming My upper lip starts to quiver and shake 1 Honey, don't you know I'm thinking of you On these empty, dark, cold and lonely nights? 2 I can tell what you're thinking As if I have the gift of second sight 3 I miss you… I wish to have you here So I can kiss you With passion, deep and sincere 3 And this too… Let me whisper into your ear Can't resist you Cause you're the love of my life And it's so clear 1 You know me so well that I don't have to say When you're away how I toss and turn Sweetie, that's alright Yeah baby, that's okay When out goes the light It’s for you I yearn 3 I miss you… I wish to have you here So I can kiss you With passion, deep and sincere 3 And this too… Let me whisper into your ear Can't resist you Cause you're the love of my life And it's so clear 1 I long to have you I long to hold you I’d like to see this through And grow old with you 1 I miss you, I’d kiss you And this too, I can’t resist you 3 I miss you… I wish to have you here So I can kiss you With passion, deep and sincere 3 And this too… Let me whisper into your ear Can't resist you Cause you're the love of my life And it's so clear 1 Don't you know I'm thinking of you On these empty and lonely nights Yea I can tell what you're thinking Cause I always got you here inside 2 I miss you I want to have you here So I can kiss you Don't ever worry my dear I can't resist you Cause you're the love of my life And it's so clear 2 I long to have you I long to hold you I'd like to see this through No one else out there Makes me feel the way you do 1 I miss you I want to have you here So I can kiss you Don't ever worry my dear I can't resist you Cause you're the love of my life And it's so clear 3 I long to have you I long to hold you I'd like to see this thru No one else out there Makes me feel the way you do 2 I wanna hold you I wanna have you I'd like to see this thru 2 No one else out there Makes me feel the way you do 1 I long to have you I long to hold you I'd like to see this through

Dear Life

A0086 — rank 76

You won’t read it It’s too scary Don’t want to see it No don’t come near me Wouldn’t want to be it The one who sees things clearly The way life could be The way life should be Hang on for your life Yeah, we’re hanging on dearly But we’re slowly Losing our grip… Don’t like my life What’s become of it? Dear Life, Where do I start? Those who know me… Would say my heart And those who don’t… You’re exactly right! They wouldn’t say Anything at all… At least not to my face They save their talking For behind the wall…. Dear life, First tell me where did I go right Before telling me where I went wrong Dear life, My first wife was simply out of sight! So how come I never wrote her a song? Was it because she wasn’t the one? Yeah, that was when I knew we had had our fun And it was time to move on…

Friends And Countrymen

A0097 — rank 77

(NOTE -This quote is spoken by a deep, authoritative voice:) “So anyone who rebels against authority Is rebelling against what God has instituted, And they will be punished!” (NOTE- Music fades in:) Romans: thirteen, two… Just one of the things that religion can do Enslave a race And still keep your faith “Hey, I was just doing what I was told to” Take some priceless advice: “And so should you!” They pay me by the hour to think about whether or not to stop serving power And start pulling up weeds And hacking down diseased trees Begin to reseed a garden of flowers Or I could be like everyone else And when it’s time to work Go run off and play Leave it for another day another day, another day, another day Romans: thirteen, two… Is a get out of jail free card God giveth to me and you to use Who needs free will? They can pay people to Speak and think for you Romans: thirteen, two… Helps keep the status quo Locked here inside the zoo Since we all couldn’t Seem to get along By the time we realized Where we went wrong ‘Twas our fate that it was too late to call a truce

It’s All Right

A0110 — rank 78

If there is more to be learned From an empty page Than one full of words… Then do not write… If there be more wisdom found Within our silence since by spoken word We need not be bound… Then do not speak… It’s all right… it’s all right The present felt alone So she soon left And headed back towards home And since his date arrived so early The future appeared as being late Which only goes to show One can plan for one’s own good fortune But one should never claim to know Or to know of or seek to be above or in vain hubris speak of By the laying of or making claim of being the only true master over one’s domain Or even of one’s fate Which takes more than just one to create: At least one to watch it, Another to watch the watcher And finally the last to act as the recorder The acknowledger of this new order In and out of form and lacking shape This assortment includes the sorted and the sorter All new arrivals, picks – ups and departures No, not just the bows and arrows but the quiver in both the bull’s eyes and in that of the wrists of the archers If there is more to be learned From an empty page Than one full of words… Then do not write… If there be more wisdom found Within our silence since by spoken word We need not be bound… Then do not speak… It’s all right… it’s all right Meanwhile the past is mad at the future For making plans than don’t include him He’s fallen like the tears from the eyes Of the clouds now being dragged Across the sky by the wind Per orders of the rain Forever growing colder Always feeling shortchanged No matter the weather Surely all of this must sound familiarly strange Like some sort of white noise amidst the chaos A harmonious chorus starting off at its worst Although slowly growing and getting better As the face with its blue and silverly hues Of the man in the moon looks down, too Still seeming perplexed, mesmerized and surprised By the death of the night, the next day’s nearing dawn and the light behind the sun's rise If there is more to be learned From an empty page Than one full of words… Then do not write… If there be more wisdom found Within our silence since by spoken word We need not be bound… Then do not speak… It’s all right… it’s all right

Sing Yerself

A0153 — rank 79

I broke up with your sister When I saw your picture That goes double for your brother When in naked walked your mother They sorta sing themselves These country songs Not by the wronging of rights But by the writing of wrongs So that’s why I now say: Go sing yerself! It’s okay to sing along… I done dropped dear baby Ned Flat on his head And poor young Zeke I went and done dar Lost his favorite teeth And when granny come home And she gets hold a me There ain’t no In bigger kinda trouble Than in I’m gonna be They sorta sing themselves These country songs Not by the wronging of rights But by the writing of wrongs So that’s why I now say: Go sing yerself! It’s okay to sing along… So what if my dog and my wife Together once they ran away? It don’t hurt so much drinking Thinking, and hoping that you’ll stay And that red sore on your lip… I got the same thing on the tip Of my tongue… What did you think I was gonna say? I might be southern… I might stick it in my cousin… I might like me some fun drunk hunting… I mike love some back door loving… But that don’t make me dumb They sorta sing themselves These country songs Not by the wronging of rights But by the writing of wrongs So that’s why I now say: Go sing yerself! It’s okay to sing along…

Subterfuge

A0162 — rank 80

I am not afraid... Of any dark entities Or the subterfuge of unwise philosophies Unwise life guides Designed to unenlighten me Or to any degree Try to uninspire me For I shall stand all alone In the worst case scenario If when I reveal how I feel There's no one left willing To stand beside me, Behind me or next to me I am not afraid... When everyone has bailed And seemingly everything has failed I'm still as tough as nails Perhaps that's why The roofers all look up to me The same can be said about The birds in the redwood trees Along with the people in their pews Who are down on their luck And praying on their knees They see the fire in my eyes And the steal in my veins As everyone cries out Still I hold myself restrained I am not afraid... I am NOT afraid

Wake And Baker

A0178 — rank 81

I said here comes some money, honey... If that's what you need And while we're at it... since I'm an addict Can I send you some weed? I'm a wake and baker Hot, fresh from the oven Oh...at least you know The love is coming Helps me to see the show And know my light bulb still glows Oh it eases my mind During these troubled times Helps by putting me to sleep So I can mend broken fences And build up my best defenses For dealing with mental defectives My world is being neglected Being beaten every second We're hearing mad voices And choosing wrong selections We're making bad choices While given wrong directions Oh...you know... The love is coming And I know we're both scared But we'll get there If we can Keep from running If we can summon the courage To free ourselves from fear I said here comes some money, honey... If that's what you need And while we're at it... since I'm an addict Can I send you some weed? I'm a wake and baker Hot, fresh from the oven Oh...at least you know The love is coming

UNWINDING ROAD

A0216 — rank 82

You got picked up And you stayed for awhile Then you asked to get dropped off Like it was going outta style Looked down the open road Decided to walk another mile... Well you've set your course the plans have been laid But when the sun goes down You've often strayed You had to do what Was best for yourself She used to love you Now there's someone else She said she needed a man And that you were just a boy... Now she's got other plans Found a shiny new toy You got picked up And you stayed for awhile You then asked to get dropped off Like it was going outta style Looked down the open road Decided to walk another mile... You had to do what Was best for yourself She used to love you Now there's someone else She said she needed a man And that you were just a boy... Now she's got other plans Found a shiny new toy So you've been...... working on yourself And you've been...... working somethings out For you've been... thinking 'bout your past Sure, you've changed... but not as much... and not as fast As you would have like to... So what's a boy to do? Ummm...I mean a man... Even though I might not seem like one to you You got picked up And you stayed for awhile You then asked to get dropped off Like it was going outta style Looked down the open road Decided to walk another mile... You had to do what Was best for yourself She used to love you Now there's someone else She said she needed a man And that you were just a boy... Now she's got other plans Found a shiny new toy She no longer sees light Behind or in your eyes That fact all alone comes as no surprise First you must learn to love yourself Or else it's all just one big waste of time So it goes...now you know to search inside Before true love you can find Or it can be attained or realized Surely then you will see things clearly As the road unwinds As the road unwinds

HORIZON

A0217 — rank 83

I’m another discoverer out there searching Some turn to run from what’s been lurking Though when this begun is still not certain What’s most important now is how will it end? I checked the weather It’s getting better Sunny blue skies Are on the horizon Meanwhile the men are out working They can hear the birds now chirping As the town that was sleeping Is waking up… I checked the weather It’s getting better Sunny blue skies Are on the horizon ~ ~ I awoke without frowning Not even a yawn when I got out of bed… It’s been quite some time Yes, I’d say it’s been awhile Since last my morning lay began By starting the day by wearing A mischievous smile upon my face… So with neither cold toes nor shiver I headed straight forward on towards the open door and I jumped in the river… Since there was no lake I did whatever it takes Then it became mind over matter And no mind matters more than mine… Since pre-conception is the prison guard and key That lack of recollection allows you to turn and leave Funny how I don’t recall at all What happened to me before the fall… Nor still do I To this standing day Know how or why Time like ice melted and thawed And soon faded away… Even when the vultures circle you must carry on Forgetting all the rest If your right ever turns out to be wrong… I checked the weather It’s getting better Sunny blue skies Are on the horizon

PYRAMIDS

A0478 — rank 84

Why do I care what someone says? If their heart is filled with hate? With age I’ve learned to appreciate Sometimes it’s best to walk away To avoid a big mess Let them laugh in jest You got to show them a better way So what about the price you paid? Why do I care what someone says? If their mind it don’t think straight? Should I take a verbal crowbar to their head? Hurts my ears to hear the sound of clanging lead I’d love to but don’t have the time I’ve got to get back to this rhyme For you see I see life as a paint-by-numbers I’m trying to pyramid everything down to prime Well I’ve got so many things left to do Before my life is over and out; done and though Why on earth should I waste my time when I got my rhyme and better things to listen to: I could hear my lovely girl singing Or maybe money cha-cha-ching-ing Go dreaming of wedding bells ringing But NOT YOU! You ding-a-ling Why do I care what someone says? If their heart is filled with hate? With age I’ve learned to appreciate Sometimes it’s best to walk away To avoid a big mess Let them laugh in jest You got to show them a better way Live to see the light of another day

FRIED CHICKEN

A0523 — rank 85

When all seven seas get rough And the ship is taking on water fast When the times get tough Feel like your next breath could be your last When you’ve had enough F$%k your future and forget your past Feel like you’re handcuffed Like you’re chained and anchored to the mast The only thing that you are knowing Is that you can't get off The water is deep and in it seeps Fills your lungs but you don't cough Soon random thoughts go pop, pop, pop Your mind starts roaming and doesn’t stop This crazy river starts flowing You don't know where you're going…. Out upon the ledge and right over the edge Place your hands above your head or go back to bed What of me? I put my head inside a noose I could remove it but what’s the use? Now I love drinking and playing chicken With the biggest truck on the road To make the motherf&%^*$r jack-knife turn Then crash and burn just so I can watch him explode I don’t care if I die in dirty underwear I don’t care if I die at all I don’t care if I don’t have fancy clothes to wear I don’t care if I wear clothes at all I know you don’t like my voice But this time you don’t have a choice You gotta listen… You gotta listen… You gotta listen… Even if all I say Are the words: Fried chicken!

AS WE GO (BY THE MORNING MOON)

A0704 — rank 86

Moonshine in the morning Gives new meaning to the glory If the same it is still seeming Dragging along is this story Here lies between the same And yet still full worlds apart The pleasure of plundered treasures Finds the fixer of broken hearts In a bedroom sits a lone glass slipper Cindarella being now long past gone At a bar room stands a tall glass sipper Guitar in hand that shares his taste in songs Moonshine in the morning Gives new meaning to the glory If the same it is still seeming Dragging along is this story Here lies between the same And yet still full worlds apart The pleasure of plundered treasures Finds the fixer of broken hearts When time begins speaking in deviled tongues About things that even Heaven does not yet phrophesize or show From wherever that cosmic river begins its winding and its weeping You'll be sure to be at the core or be the driving force and the very source of its flow And what is left is what there is left Which is all of what is best For each of us to know... We will learn as we go (as we go) (as we grow) (as we go) (as we grow) (as we go)

Well Placed E

A0070 — rank 87

Heroin The vial glistens... Is there any blood left running through your veins? Heroin Stop and listen... Can you hear it calling screaming out your name? Heroin Is this what you're missing... After you've tried it once Did you expect to be the same? Heroin Scars are holes inside of your free will What you've created you now own Are you partners still with? Heroin Let me guess The answer's yes You only hear one voice And this is what it says: Heroin You can tell me But I'll never be sure Just what goes on On the other side of the door You could be sprawled out on the floor... Heroine Hey baby! You really beat it this time Heroine Regained control Now you're having a better time Heroine So lucky You didn't catch HIV and AIDS and die! Heroine Yes, one silly prick Really fu$%ed up your mind!

BLACK HISTORY

A0416 — rank 88

Around the year 1600 countless black African slaves were shipped in For 200 years they worked the fields then Eli Whitney created his cotton gin Yet over 200 more years would pass before no one noticed the color of their skin Somehow it helped their bruises heal so their songs of freedom they began to sing Beaten and whipped they were forced to work sunup to sundown each day The fugitive slave law helped to return them when they tried to run away But finally the congress banned the further importation of African slaves Sometime their lives would change at least thats what they hoped and prayed Nat Turner, the preacher slave, leads an uprising is caught and hung Frederick Douglass publishes an abolitionist newspaper the movement has begun John Brown is killed after raiding Harpers Ferry leaving behind 20 daughters and sons Harriet Tubman escapes slavery as the Underground Railroad helps many others run The Missouri Compromise in 1820 banned slavery north of Missouri The Compromise of 1850 stated that the new state of California would be free And that the fate of Utah and New Mexico would be decided by popular sovereignty Since slaves are not citizens Dred Scott is denied, in this case congress can't ban slavery In 1861 Civil War begins: the Confederacy forms, our union breaks as the South secedes Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation declares that all slaves can finally leave In 1865 on April 9th Civil War ends, five days later Lincoln is killed, the nation grieves And soon the Ku Klux Klan is born and begins sewing its racist and hate-filled seeds In 1865 the Constitution prohibits slavery with amendment number thirteen In 1868 U.S. born Dred Scott gains his citizenship through amendment fourteen In 1870 blacks earn the right to vote in what is known as amendment fifteen Black Codes and soon Jim Crow laws make sure these rights aren't all they once seemed In the land of whites when you're black its two steps ahead followed by a giant step back Your civil rights are here and gone when along comes the end of Reconstruction Act When in 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson says that segregation is okay just how do you react? You hum again your song of freedom knowing the foundation of equality has cracked Seeking social justice and political equality you quickly join the NAACP And in 1920 you join the Harlem Renaissance embracing your cultural identity You cheer as Joe Louis defeats Max Schmeling knocking down all of Germany In 1947 you stand when Jackie Robinson takes the field for its not just baseball history Jackie took a swing even before black and white soldiers could fight side by side And Jackie stole home before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on that famous bus ride Jackie got spiked before Brown vs. the Board of Education erased segregation nationwide And Jackie caught the ball before Martin Luther King Jr. had his dream that wouldn't die The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it easier for southern blacks to vote in their state As a riot in Watts demonstrated that there was still tension, hostilities and prejudiced filled hate The Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination based on religion, color and race in 1968 The one man who could unite the masses Bobby Kennedy was doomed to his brother’s fate Fast forward another 30-odd years past both O.J. Simpson and Rodney King Listen, can you hear it? As together white, brown, yellow and black voices sing That very same song of freedom that to which those suffering slaves used to cling On November 4th 2008 we can finally say that yes, indeed, equality is a wonderful thing

INNOCENCE LOST

A0199 — rank 89

I've sat at every bench in this park both before and after dark Looking out at an ocean oh so deep when everyone else is asleep I see the sailboats stopped lookin' just like upside down lollipops I see the seagulls pecking down by the beach but it all seems out of reach Take off my shirt to get a tan wondering about life's master plan Just when my troubles start to fade away I have to go to work soon so I cannot stay But oh what a price I pay... As soon as you're high… Something brings you down As soon as you smile… Something makes you frown As soon as you blink… The second has passed As soon as you're first… You wind up last This world can be such a tease as soon as I feel that my mind's at ease Just when I think I have it made rain falls down on my parade I've had my shares of ups and downs Cried like mimes and laughed like clowns I've been dwarfed by guilt and knocked off of my stilts I've seen the flowers bloom and I have watched the pedals wilt Here at the park I collect my thoughts Try to find a pair of scissors when I'm tied up in knots Then these words became my thoughts... As soon as you're high… Something brings you down As soon as you smile… Something makes you frown As soon as you blink… The second has passed As soon as you're close… You run out of gas I watch the children I've seen so many times before And their innocent eyes not yet knowing what's in store With every game comes a new surprise Every truth told contains at least a part of a lie Under a parent's eye they run so free Not a worry in the world - the way life should be And yet as they grow a little older The winds blow a little colder But we all know it is calm before the storm Mommy still has a blanket to keep them warm She protects them for as long as she can There are some things children Should never have to understand Don't tell them the secret... As soon as you're high… Something brings you down As soon as you smile… Something makes you frown As soon as you blink… The second has passed As soon as the sun rises… The shadow's been cast Yes I was once a child many years ago And I learned the hard way the things I didn't know Life was once so simple but like a gun shot to the temple I was told I couldn't go any higher and then was thrown into the fire Now all I can do is dream back to the days When my own eyes did gleam Someday when everyone is asleep that same child will come here to weep And they too will write their song about how the innocence they once knew is gone And they'll say... As soon as I'm high Something brings me down As soon as I smile Something makes me frown As soon as I blinked My childhood passed What I loved so much... I want it back

DRYWALL

A0192 — rank 90

Molly…There’s no more hiding Molly… Where did you go? Molly… It’s time for deciding Molly… Tell me… Do you love me so? Oh…won’t you let me know Will we be together? Molly….I would hold you and never let you go Molly…Can’t you see? You’ve become the only one Who could ever be an anchor for me Molly… Without you I’d crumble With the first sign of trouble So surely I would stumble And before long I know that I would fall Molly…You are what gives me strength The best accent to my pretty paint Is your picture inside of the frame That’s why it hangs up on my wall Molly…It’s your face that the artists trace To use as the template for when the sculptor creates His so far most perfected-to-date porcelain doll

LIKE ROLLING A BONE

A0201 — rank 91

(Like a Rolling Stone spoof) (SO SORRY, BOB DYLAN) Once upon a time you dressed so fine You went down to Fantasy Island threw the bartenders a dime in your prime, didn't you? People'd call, say, "Beware doll, too many My Ties and you're bound to fall" You thought they were all kiddin' you You used to laugh about Everybody that was carried out Now you don't talk so loud Now you don't seem so proud About having to be feeling like you’ll never heal. How does it feel? How does it feel? To be without a home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone (Instrumental Break) You never got in to the finest schools, stuck with Salem State all right, Miss Lonely But you know you only used to get juiced in it And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it You said you'd never compromise With the mystery tramp, but now you realize There not selling you any scorpion bowls or my ties as you stare into the vacuum of the bartenders eyes And ask him do you want to make a deal? How does it feel? How does it feel? To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete Unknown Like a rolling stone (Instrumental Break) You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns When they all did tricks for you You never understood that it ain't no good You shouldn't let other people mix your drinks for you You used to drive to Fantasy Island in your dodge diplomat Where the waiter carried in his backpack a Siamese cat Ain't it hard when you discover that What you just dipped in duck sauce was your cat Oh you know that you should never let your pet become your meal How does meow meow taste? A little bit like veal? Now you where kitty went When she left and never came home Such tasty meat cant be beat Finger licking good right down to the bone (Instrumental Break) Praying to porcelain is your steeple along with all the pretty people We're drivin, drinkin', thinkin' that weve got it made One point zero blower or over queens and kings But you'd better lift your diamond ring, Better hide it somewhere safe You used to be so amused At the policeman in blue and the language that he used Go to him now, he calls you, the breathalizer you can still refuse The cop said if you aint been drinking, you got nothing to lose You're hammered by now, you got no secrets to conceal You got caught behind the wheel How does it feel? Just when you were rolling up a bone Now theres no chance youre going home Tonight youre not sleeping alone You got too hammered and stoned

JUST A (GRADY) LITTLE POEM

A0525 — rank 92

They say that misery loves company Well I guess it’s good that there’s so many of us around I’ve listened to all the talk of pianos, plays and curses Heard every world said about destiny But once again I had my smile turned upside down Found myself on board a sinking ship again Someday the tide is gonna turn but when? It’s so hard trying to keep your head held high You try not to cry when your team’s on the losing end….again But when it is your captain who lets you down Just what type of message does that send? To all of the rest of the hands on the deck Those who once had faith but began losing respect Just how exactly do you vent your hate? When you needed first class but you got second rate You guys were up by a bunch But then the coach went out to lunch As you let the other team score, and score, and score Every body in Boston screams out “Oh Lord!” But he just keeps on laughing at you Because he’s in there tight with George Even though there’s always Next Year Someone’s still getting tossed overboard Perhaps this could have been the year? Nah, that’s just an old folklore Time to go on home and sleep, wake up and eat some grits Oh sh*t! You just realized that you’d never ever regain their faith Oh sh*t! Just burnt your grits… Oh dear! You left your stove on too long but that’s twenty-twenty hindsight But didn’t anyone ever whisper into your ear… That it’s Timlin in the eighth And Williamson in the ninth?

Awaken

A0075 — rank 93

It’s latent Complacent It sleeps in your soul… Child Awaken What’s taken A lifetime of fractured wisdom to collect and make whole… Smile You’ll make millions And millions of faces Elated… While This special occasion Shall be forever celebrated By the world and all its people No matter what day it is in… Style (In style) There’s no point to do it If you don’t do it in style! We want to create a new holiday That’s what the voice of the people say And who am I to disagree? I turn around and see all of them… And here I stand but little old me Awaken What’s taken A lifetime of fractured wisdom to collect and make whole… Awaken What’s taken A picture captured in an instant And yet the entire story was told

Electric Waterfall

A0091 — rank 94

Turn off, tune in Collectively, respectively The big T.V. This electric waterfall you see And all that comes unnaturally It ain’t what it appears to be… A figure needs a background Just as a singer needs a stage A reader is as essential to a writer As a book is to a page To those who state: “What does it matter?” I respond they’re on To more than they know I could tell by their stares It was right then and there That they too now knew it It’s all about the fluids And the way they flow Beware, beware Oh beware…doll No more tears Around here will fall Don’t be upset Don’t show regret Don’t get wet Don’t forget The electric waterfall The electric waterfall The electric waterfall

Shadow Of The Drone

A0152 — rank 95

(NOTE: lyric changes are in CAPS; original song is named GALLOW'S POLES and I used the Led Zeppelin version) WINGman, WINGman, hold THE BUTTON Awhile, I think I see my friends coming, ARRIVING FROM many a mile. Friends, did you get GAS OR OIL? MAYBE DIAMONDS OR SOME gold? What did you bring me, my dear friends, To SAVE me from the SHADOW OF THE DRONE? What did you bring me to SHIELD me from the SHADOW OF THE DRONE? I couldn't get no silver, I couldn't get no COAL, You know that we're too damn poor to VEIL you from the SHADOW OF THE DRONE WINGman, WINGman, SUCK YOUR THUMB a little while, I think I see my brother coming, DRIVNG many a mile. Brother, did you get me some silver? Did you get a little gold? What did you bring me, my brother, to RELEASE me from the SHADOW OF THE DRONE? Brother, I brought you some silver, yah I brought a little gold, I brought a little of everything To FREE you from the SHADOW OF THE DRONE. Yes, This I brought to CLOAK you from the SHADOW OF THE DRONE WINGman, WINGman, CIRCLE YOUR NOSE awhile, I think I see my sister coming, WALKING many a mile, mile, mile, mile. Sister, I implore you SUCK THE THUMB OF HIS hand, Take him to some shady bower, save me from the wrath of this man, Please take him, save me from the wrath of this mad man. WINGman, WINGman, upon your face a smile, Tell me that I'm free to HIDE, I’LL ride for many a mile, mile, mile. Oh, yes, you got a fine sister, She warmed my blood from cold, She brought my blood to boiling hot, To keep you from the SHADOW OF THE DRONE yeah, yeah Your brother brought me STOCKSHARES; Your sister warmed my soul, But now I laugh and PUSH so hard And see you FALL PREY TO THE SHADOW OF THE DRONE, yah But now I laugh and PUSH so hard And see you FALL PREY TO THE SHADOW OF THE DRONE, DRONE, DRONE FALLEN PREY TO THE SHADOW OF THE DRONE! FALLEN PREY TO THE SHADOW OF THE DRONE! FALLEN PREY TO THE SHADOW OF THE DRONE! FALL AND PRAY TO THE SHADOW OF THE DRONE,

GLOUCESTER SEVENTEEN

A0187 — rank 96

(A Parody of Frank Sinatra’s IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR) For the Gloucester seventeen This was a very bad year This was a very bad year for teenaged girls With pregnancy pacts With one immature act They had crushed their dreams The Gloucester seventeen When they turned twenty-one It was a very bad year It was a very bad year for single moms Who collect welfare Their lives heading nowhere Their lives coming undone They were just twenty-one When they were thirty-five It was a very bad year It was a very bad year for a family of two Of such limited means Living off macaroni and cheese Struggling just to survive When they were thirty five And now they're looking back Figuring out where their lives went off track Realizing the fact that they've wasted their primes They sit there alone Their childhood friends have all gone With just one choice so unwise Becoming mothers not wives... They made a mess of thirty four lives

Pandora'S Box

A0001 — rank 97

Closed is Pandora's box Now there is no face on the clock As this new day begins so surreal and sublime Glide with the ebb and flow Watch a once high tide now grow low As the sea dances in its endless pantomime On the banks of this shore One needs one's self And nothing more There's no reasons, no rhymes And thus everything is fine Just four seasons of sunshine The only killing is that of time There are no words That can hurt Nor lessons once taught Now needing to be unlearned Just a fire that burns Yet does not scorch Acting as a beacon And as a torch Helping to light the way For all those who've Been led astray Neither at work Nor at play Is where I've come to find myself today Lost freedom has been gained How could you ever be the same? Now self-aware of a life without ego or crime Tension has been released Finally your mind is at peace Being here alone is like traveling back in time Our fate still has yet to be sealed A glimmer of hope Has since been revealed No soldiers on the battlefield War has ended And time has healed Returning to the days of yore A glimmer of hope Has since been restored Neither at work Nor at play Is where I've come to find myself today Here along the banks of this shore One needs one's self And nothing more

Dirt Nap

A0006 — rank 98

Can you tell me when this ride is going to end? I've been a passenger in this car Going from here to there both near and far I've been a prisoner of my own device Not the way I planned it being stranded for my entire life Just what exactly would you recommend? What type of direction would you give Which track goes back to the past so that I can relive The last two decades of my life Then I would be ten again and I'd seek alternative advice Is that possible would you tell me my friend? Still I haven't given up and I haven't yet given in I've just thrown all of my fears up into the wind No more living off of the cuff I’ve finally had enough Of playing the game not to lose rather than win When my life is over my heart stops beating and I am dead There won't be any regrets hanging above my deathbed When my time finally expires I won't be buried a liar No one will have said that I just sat there scratching my head For finally I'll have followed through on all the things I've said Sure, I've been victimized by time but it wasn't by design And I am still paying the penance yet never have committed the crime The jury never heard a single one of my words When they said I was guilty they're were all lying The cloud of misery that has shadowed me And the negativity that used to travel through me I used to think it would unravel me Especially when the judge threw his gavel at me But now everything is fine... For I haven't given up and I haven't yet given in I've just thrown all of my fears up into the wind No more living off of the cuff I’ve finally had enough Of playing the game not to lose rather than win When my life is over my heart stops beating and I am dead There won't be any regrets hanging above my deathbed When my time finally expires I won't be buried a liar And no one will have said that I just sat there scratching my head For finally I'll have followed through on all the things I've said And with that I'll take a long dirt nap and see what lies ahead...

Studio

A0007 — rank 99

The price of success is worth it unless You couldn't careless 'bout the rest of us It's a big mess when fame goes to your head Sometimes it happens to the best of us I'm here in the studio And man... you are where? Oh, oh.... I don't know I’m stuck here in this dirty corner of the world While you’re out there planning your grand tour I’m stuck here in this dusty corner of the world While you’re out there making money And being chased by lots and lots of girls When I say I’m better than sliced bread Surely some people act very surprised But once they read my book of poetry You should see the look within their eyes They stuck me here to make hits for you Pacing back in forth in an empty room There ain’t nothing that's gonna inspire me today As I wait for something to come along my way Same as yesterday and the day before Repetition’s made it okay so I no longer desire for more I'm here in the studio And man... you are where? Oh, oh.... I don't know The price of success is worth it unless You couldn't care less 'bout the rest of us It's a big mess when fame goes to your head Sometimes it happens to the best of us

Apples And Oranges

A0017 — rank 100

So now you wish you never met me Just because you couldn't "get me" And now I'm supposed to think I'm nothing When once I used to be "something" Ha ha.... It's so sad -- it makes me laugh.... To think I once had Your picture - your photograph Always in my pocket... The key to my heart.... You could always unlock it.... Betrayal is such a lost art.... But once you start.... You just can't stop it (pause for effect...) The lessons learned And never to be forgotten Is that all fire burns All fruit turns rotten Just as some apples are so very shiny pretty But that doesn't mean that they were meant for eating Some people are best to talk to because they are so very witty But 'tis best to hang up the phone right before you speak of meeting So now you wish you never met me... Just because you couldn't "get me" And now I'm supposed to think I'm nothing.... When once I used to be something... Ha ha It's so sad -- it makes me laugh... Apples and oranges Only get mixed in the trash!!!!

Blame

A0018 — rank 101

Over one single word We had a falling out I can't always help it What comes out of my mouth So now I'm sitting here all alone Wondering what the future will bring Just who will put music to my song? Now that there is no one left to sing Surely I admit that I made a mistake I'll apologize now for it's bound to happen again And some things can't be mended after they break Yet I'm much sorrier about losing you as a friend God surely knows I'm not the sensitive type Lord knows I should be more careful of the things I say I'll pluck the fruit off the vine before it's ripe Or else I'll pick out sour grapes to make my Chardonnay Over one single word We had a falling out I can't always help it What comes out of my mouth Only after the fact Did I feel so ashamed One word had such impact Things were never the same Little did I know that one dropped match Could create such a giant-sized flame How could I know everything would catch There's no one and nothing that I'd blame Surely I admit that I made a mistake I'll apologize now for it's bound to happen again And some things can't be mended after they break Yet I'm much sorrier about losing you as a friend God surely knows I'm not the sensitive type Lord knows I should be more careful of the things I say I'll pluck the fruit off the vine before it's ripe Or else I'll pick out sour grapes to make my Chardonnay

Good Morning Day And Night

A0019 — rank 102

I hate looking over my shoulder I hate playing Sigmund Freud I hate being in sticky situations They’re what I always try to avoid Yet she set the trap While smiling her evil grin Then sat back and had a laugh And watched as I fell in Well I tried to be so strong But now my self-esteem is gone The woman who done me wrong Knew what she was doing all along Oh, she knew what she was doing During every single moment When the clock should have stopped She let it keep right on going Sure, things were all right when I was sleeping Dreams don’t last forever that’s when I woke up For whenever we were both together It seems she was just waiting for the breakup When I knew that it was over I asked her time and time again If you wouldn’t let me get any closer Then why did you ever let it begin? Well I tried to be so strong But now my self-esteem is gone The woman who done me wrong Knew what she was doing all along Oh, she knew what she was doing During every single moment When the clock should have stopped She let it keep right on going After you see ones true colors There’s no more need to wear make up For whenever we were both together It seems she was just waiting for the breakup Now I’ll be heading on back home There’s no chance I’ll spend another night We could’ve had something special But I must confess that it’s all right So let us call it a big mistake or fate Sometimes it’s best to just be polite Since there’s no more words of love There’s no more battle, no reasons left for us to fight I see no need for any words of hate I see no reasons to fight So I’ll simply bid you Good morning… Good day… And good night!

Resolutions

A0021 — rank 103

A new year has come Congratulations to everyone Who has made it through to see this day Congratulations to all you Who've worked so hard To try to change your mind and change your ways Congratulations to all of you Who've made New Year's resolutions To you who've faced up to your own problems So you can now go and find their solutions Rather than turn a blind eye And look the other way Sometimes it's hard to face yourself To all the words you've said and the things you didn't say And own up to what you've done and what you've still failed to do Congratulations to you For I know what you're going through And all the trying times That make you wanna change your mind For it's easier to say That everything is going fine While you live inside a lie Fill your world with circles Rather than straight lines You know you could That you don't have to Just look at me... I've been you… Oh once I strayed Then I found my way So I now say... Congratulations to you

Camaraderie

A0042 — rank 104

Today… celebrities are grown on trees The toxicity of publicity has begun rubbing off on me I’m complicit, I’m right up in it It’s just as delicious as it is vicious Some grow suspicious, still they solicit Gotta scratch that itch Every time they visit Oh how they miss it Oh how they miss it History has foretold All you need’s a toehold Turn it into a chokehold Wrestle away control Starts slow then behold… A flag slides up the pole As their eyes grow ice cold From behind the blindfold... For you see... The camaraderie between authority Can’t be good for you and me Their banner used to be Die to protect and serve Now suddenly we’re the enemy And a shallacking is what we deserve Oh…don’t be black at night Or piss poor and white And f*ck every Muslim Sunni AND Shiite (it shite!) He cracked a smile As his baton raised He watched the trickles of blood Begin running down your face That’s if you see it If not - a drone Now you’re no longer Home sweet home alone As you’re resting in pieces That’s when you see it An oligarchy disguised as democracy Takes your liberty in the name of freedom We’re gettin jacked and taxed to the max It’s no fun - more war’s instore – another one’s just begun Why? Peace in the Middle East don’t sell guns When it comes to killing and dying The weapons we’re supplying Are number one! So line up your shillings and come get some And yell, “Run, b*tch, run ‘cause here I come!” Allies and enemies change daily So check for prices Find for your name On the naughty or nice list See who sold out - We all got our vices You wanna make money? First know that peace is priceless! There’s those who’ve been told and sold there’s more money in death Even if you blow up sh*t until there’s nothin’ left... Ain’t got no respect Ain’t. got. no. respect.

Failing

A0045 — rank 105

When I got out of line it seems I lost my place I spent too much time trying to find my own way When I spoke out against the powers that be Since I was on the wrong side of the fence They told me that I had to leave Got voted off the mainland that I fought so hard to free I tried the best I can but their democracy got the best of me All because I tried to warn the people of what they couldn't see But what got lost was original thought Something you can't watch on T.V. Only when you find it... Deep inside your mind if... You block out everything - that's right... So don't even listen to me... So many things get lost... Or skeletized inside the closet... You hide from everyone and everything - that's right... And you know how that story goes If you know your history I only do it for the love... No, never for the money, honey I know there's a pair of eyes Watching me and it ain't funny, honey Why even try to hide it from yourself That you care more for somebody else? When I say I'm doing fine You know I'm lying to save face I'm slowly dying inside Because it feels like I'm failing my fellow human race I reach inside me... Yeah, I pull it out... Then I get a bad taste Inside of my mouth I look up... I look around... I see tears running And people falling down When I got out of line it seems I lost my place I spent too much time trying to find my own way When I spoke out against the powers that be Since I was on the wrong side of the fence They told me that I had to leave

Ode To Jason

A0056 — rank 106

This is a story about a boy Whose dog ran away During a snowstorm Jason went out But he didn't go out to play Jason set out To find a loved one No matter what the cost But as the dog came home The little boy became lost When you're a fourth grader Finding a dog is no easy task Should you risk your life for a pet? Well it depends on whom you ask The fact that Jason said yes Should come as no surprise He loved that dog to pieces You could see it in his eyes Little Jason was a hero So he set out through the snow It saddens my heart deeply To tell his tale of woe What a brave little soul Right up until the end What a brave little soul To go searching for his friend A little bit of inspiration Is what he left behind He listened to his heart Paid no attention to his mind And right before he left our world With the situation oh so grim The last thoughts that filled his head His dog would do the same for him The saddest of it all And the reason why we cried If not for the heart of an angel He never would have died So when you think of him in memory Try to wipe away your tears Remember him for what he was Which is wise beyond his years

Sun Rises

A0065 — rank 107

Do you feel How I feel? The dream is real Fate's becoming sealed As I'm standing in the afterglow Of what I thought I knew Well, now I know Do you see What I see? The picture of us A family to be is what I believe To be our destiny If you trust in me? Do you deny That I never lie? When it comes to love Love is the light That shines so bright From high up above Let it smile down upon us Let it smile... Let it smile... Sure it seemed dark for a little while Let it in... Let it in... As the moon sleeps A new day begins Smile, smile That's all you have to do Smile, smile Just as the sun rises So doesn't my love for you...

Avoid

A0074 — rank 108

You thought you gave in When you felt like giving up... Guess you shouldn't think about love When you're stuck down in a rut... Yet that seems to be the time When it's hardest to escape... As tricks are played on your mind Leavin' you in such rough shape... Is this really to be your fate? Did ya miss the boat? Is it too late? Yeah, you watched it leave the bay Which means you weren't on it Left the diamond ring still in your coat pocket Forgotten and lost when you went off to pawn it Oh, what a crying shame But don't let it ruin your day At least you can still say That you got a good name But you've got a void inside Eating you alive You gotta feed it!!! Though nobody can tell you What you should do: To fill it... To kill it... Embrace it... Or defeat it... You thought you gave in When you felt like giving up... Guess you shouldn't think 'bout such stuff When you're stuck down in a rut... I think sometimes we think too much...

Being Hip

A0079 — rank 109

Only when the police came Did the crowd finally disperse Because I’m a VERY High Impact Person As a matter-of-fact I got labelled then libelled Least wanted as well as world’s worst Of these facts I am quite certain Who knows who’s got the dirt on me? The government, religions and corporations, Everybody and their mother's self-serving institutions Fillin' your head with mental pollution Well, they all wanna put a hurting on me Keep on upping the ante By raising the bounty on me Leg breaking Tony keeps blurting out: It's curtains for me! As the Godfather pouts: It sounded so good... The offer he made me And the things That he said to me: I...challenge you to defend your beliefs I...am telling you You are surrounded by thieves They are... deceiving you Just so they can get what they need And we are the ones who Are falling to our knees Well, the money's on the table My thoughts are down the drain I'll stand if I'm able Or for as long as I can - yeah I've been holding on for dear life Just as tightly as I can Answering questions truthfully Because I'm an honest man And for an honest man Searching for an honest life There's no place left With an unshined light Ain't no room left Inside of his soul That he can call his own That no one wants to control That's why... Only when the police came Did the crowd finally disperse Because I’m a VERY High Impact Person

Chicken Coup Soup

A0082 — rank 110

When ones asks me of you I sluggishly concede: Yes, I knew her too well And she's crazy as hell Her brain's turned to jell She's got nothing to sell Just more war stories to tell She says she's gone clean No more acting obscene No longer caught up in the scheme Wrestled back her self-esteem She swears her senses are keen But it's still too early to tell If she's truly broken the spell Or if she's still a fiend For sometimes her silence sings like new fallen rain Yet she knows the pawn is only part of the game That is why I had to leave her on the train For I was no longer able to explain That the vision of her that I once saw No longer remained the same Inside my mind she forever lies naked on the rug When I came closer to her She extended her arms out for a hug Yet as I approached I fell into the hole which she dug Got squashed like a bug by the big fly swatter of love Inaudible words dribbled down the side of my face As I wondered what I was still doing inside of this place To think all this time was just a waste For all my fears weren't really in haste Like a butterfly in a cocoon She was still encased... That's why when one asks me of you I sluggishly concede: Yes, I knew her too well And she's crazy as hell Her brain's turned to jell She's got nothing left to sell Just some more war stories to tell She says she's gone clean No more acting obscene No longer caught up in the scheme Wrestled back her self-esteem She swears all her senses are keen But to me it's still too early to tell If she has truly broken the spell Or if she's still a fiend

Clap

A0083 — rank 111

Ain’t it funny how now Only nothing means something to me? Pain infliction is a sickness Much like temptation that can’t be resisted By indifferent souls who’ve become Wrapped up and twisted Within their own self-hatred Now exposed, unclothed and naked The masses scream: “Death to the Queen!” And what about the king? “First chop off his fingers… Then collect up his rings” As for the crown? Let’s ask the crowd: Okay, clap to keep his head? No one made a sound Uh-Oh…people got problems Parading and rallying ‘round their misery Go-oh… puttin’ down everything Pointing and aimin’ little barbs and jabs at me Whoah-whoah Don’t ya know… Cozy, safe and warm Forever free from harm It’s just a myth - a piper’s dream The last flashing happy thought Of another head rolling off Of the guillotine Ain’t it funny how now Only nothing means something to me? Feeling I’m the last one sane In an insane world We all call reality Being stuck here Sure is a very strange place to be… A very strange place, indeed

Deeper

A0087 — rank 112

It seems the deeper I dive The more air more air I breathe Perhaps I’m a fish Or maybe a tree? But I’m sure not myself Living like everyone else I want to burst this bubble That encapsulates me The more I come up for air The more I like it down there I long to live inside the ocean When the shore is littered With mostly broken dreams And the most shallow of thoughts By both the have and have-nots Maybe that’s the reason why I just tied this double knot To an anchor that won’t float That I just dragged inside my boat That I’m gonna row and row and row ‘Til I free myself from the mainland And its step-on and under toes Where I will sit and wait for a wave And pray my soul shall be saved While he sells and she sells sea shells For a few meager pennies a day Oh the deeper I dive The more air more air I breathe Perhaps I’m really just a puffer (puffer fish are the second most poisonous fish) Or maybe a piece of coral reef? But I’m sure not myself Living like everyone else I want to burst this bubble That encapsulates me

Dropping Science

A0089 — rank 113

If you dropped science I can't win by using logic But I can stand defiant Atop this soap box Daring you all to come And knock me off it As I tell everybody Anyone who'll listen That don't make it good Just because it glistens That don't make it right Even if a lot of people believe it Ever since man held flame Ever since birds took flight History has been the same Except for the names get changed Little kids learn to read And then they learn to fight We're all taught to believe That our side was right The sun is shining down upon us Man in moon smiling, grinning with delight... I can't drop science Or win by using logic But I can stand defiant Take back the soap box After I knock him off it And tell everybody Anyone who'll listen That don't make it good Just 'cause it glistens oh no, oh no, oh no That don't make it right Even if a lot of people believe it The truth is might makes right When you make the rules You can call it what you like War and death or campaign for freedom When people are scared to death It’s a heckuva lot easier to lead them

Dry Ice

A0090 — rank 114

This is usually when you cry… You blinked and yet your eyes were dry So you think you might be getting better My heart is getting warmer Hooray, notch a chink in my armor Protecting me from this wintery weather So what’s the deal? Do you feel like Life’s not for real Like your fate’s been sealed Or do you feel like you can’t heal You say you wanna escape I ask from what and you say, "From everything" Then you ask: "What if it’s too late?" I said, "It never is... Haven't you heard the songs I sing?" You said you tried… to love someone more than yourself You tried…. but that didn’t work out so well You tried…. but each time you went through a living hell You tried…and that’s why you locked yourself Inside of this heart-shaped prison cell This is usually when you cry… You blinked and yet your eyes were dry So you think you might be getting better Oooh…but the world’s so cold You think, “You can barely save your own soul” As you re-read a stack of dusty, old love letters

Forever Next

A0094 — rank 115

The Jones make for lousy neighbors Lowly whisper the poor houseless bastards Sure, they work all day – they’re real slavers They’re big spenders spun by their evil corporate masters Into thinking they’re the ones Until slowly reality comes: Being forever next in line It isn’t all that much fun… Haha… Just because I can It doesn’t mean that YOU will This blank check in MY hand Ohh, if looks could kill… Ooooh, YOUR looks could kill Your eyes watching jealously I knew just then how it would be A showdown was soon to come between you and me Until one of us had succumbed to R.I.P. For you to see your own face now That would have been the very end of me I never believed how quickly You could… You would… Become my enemy… My enemy! Money… Created another enemy… Soon there was an entire army out to get me The paparanazi now stands at seven billion strong When the world we love becomes a living wall We must ask ourselves “When and where did it all go wrong?” When the world we love becomes a living wall We must ask ourselves “When and where did we go wrong?”

Gods Girls And Gurus

A0098 — rank 116

What you’ve always had You will always have Now you just can’t hold... If you knew then What you knew now What would change inside your soul? Oh won’t you relax this now suffocating embrace Oh won’t you pull back and let me take a look at your face You built yourself a rocket ship As you held on tight and lit the fuse Having no idea what would come of it Your guide was one thought: "I just knew I had to be with you" It's not fair that being there is never as fun as the getting there And staying there is the hardest thing in the world to do You just want to be warm When out there is so cold Yes I know that you don’t Want to ever let go It's all the more reason to let me go... Yes, even when you don't want to Oh won’t you relax this now suffocating embrace Oh won’t you pull back and let me take a look at your face If you knew then What you knew now What would change inside your soul? What you’ve always had You will always have Now you just can’t hold...

Goodbye To You

A0099 — rank 117

All dark and depressing thoughts It's fun to watch them all fade Still I can sense your voice calling me But I can't hear a word you say Well, I hit rock bottom -- But that was yesterday Evil thoughts, yeah, I fought 'em -- Until I finally drove them all away When I thought you got the heart, honey Is when I gave you my soul That's when I bought you this rock, baby But I watched as down into the gutter it rolled When I thought you got the rhythm, darling That's when I thought I got rid of my blues When I let you lead me on by your string, sweetie But just when I thought of tying the knot... You turned it into a noose Sure, of course, I sing the blues And still I tell sad stories But at least they're not from my shoes And I did it all by myself Without any help from you And now I've found someone else Someone whose vowed to help see me through But I could only say hello to her After I said goodbye to you...

Hardline

A0103 — rank 118

Sure is tough turf to toe… Yes, a hard line to step For there were so many I know And now there’s not many left When it was time to choose sides I was the one holding my breath I’ll always fight for what is right Even if it’s far out and to the left ‘Tis better to be right… and left out than to be on the wrong side But if you become an army of one You’re usually only fighting your pride Or it’s something else you hide… It’s so hard to go From being obsessed with the material And then blend back in With all that’s spiritual Sometimes I believe it’ll take a miracle If I manage to come back at all… Sure is tough turf to toe A hard line to step For there were so many I know And now there’s not many left When it was time to choose sides I was the one holding my breath I’ll always fight for what is right Even if it’s far out and to the left Can you dig it? It’s what I said I don’t care if I bury myself All the way up to my neck Let the world do the rest… The world will surely do the rest… At least I can say that I became A better man because I tried my best What else would you expect?

Head First

A0105 — rank 119

When you're a blind man with a cane All the faces look the same As you take a walk down memory lane You remember voices not faces Recall all the choices that you made Lately I've been wondering who'd really care If I fell head first down a flight of stairs Oh sure, there might be a crowd of people who'd stop and stare But later that week at the church would they be there? So what does that go to prove? It might not mean that much to you... The fact that I wanna rock it hard But so many say I haven't found my groove So now I'm not sure where to start Or what do I have left to say or do? I know that I am a star down my soul But after thirty years that's kind of old If you're not a star yet and making hits It's almost time to check for arthritis and man boob tits As you wake up saying "Owe, my cranky knees" Look back at my life and say "Oh Geez... Getting a double chin just like Thelma... Or was it Louise? Can't remember where did the time go? I feel so old with my steady job... I get a gut check a week That the tax man robs" La La La..... I just get in line... And I try to follow the law Sure sometime I cry But don't we all? When it's my time to be burned at the stake Please tell them I'd like to be served pink...... Or better still put the fire out And just serve me raw La La La...I just get in line And try to follow the law Sure sometimes I cry But don't we all?

Hiding The Dirt

A0106 — rank 120

Cleanse me from the dirt I hide Then buckle me safe on this bumpy ride If you try to look inside of my soul You'll see that it is blackened coal Let this darkness fade...let the sunlight in Since metaphors are my only friends When all the people have come and gone All that's left is what I had all along The only voices I can now hear are the ones inside of my head Some are distant and others near Please tell me the reason they never let me forget Unentrap me from this...this mental maze Release me from my confining cage Oh won't you help me find the key so I can swim back to the sea Where I can then begin to set all my troubles free If a pearl is buried inside me... try to pry me open and show it to me Then no longer would I watch you all so enviously Rather than feeling bitter about what has happened to me For I would pleasure you with loyalty Rather than watching you all so jealously Would you believe that I was once royalty? Before I became frozen here in time And chosen by rhyme and poetry Cleanse me from the dirt I hide Then buckle me safe on this bumpy ride If you try to look inside of my soul You'll see that it is blackened coal Let this darkness fade...let the sunlight in Since metaphors are my only friends When all the people have come and gone All that's left is what I had all along

Key

A0112 — rank 121

Well I don’t view the world through rose-colored spectacles You got pulled over for not using your directionals They attacked you because you’re so susceptible I’ve seen what they’ve done No, it’s not so respectable You better take it easy When the going gets tough You better take it easy Learn enough’s enough If you don’t get it today then you’ll get it tomorrow When I tried to lend you would not borrow I know a man This man I met He says is this it? As good as it gets? Well sometimes I said you can’t see so clear I said look around you can go Anywhere from here You can build your own mountains You can part your own sea You can float with the clouds Or turn off gravity You can fight to make change Or just let things be You can unlock the door ‘Cause only you have the key

King Klaus

A0114 — rank 122

Justice versus power... It's the struggle of our time The haves vs. the have-nots Those who get meals served to them While the rest of us wait at the back of the breadline Justice versus power... I don't have to say Which side usually wins Some day when I get my way The game is gonna change And a new game is gonna begin: I hold the final piece that completes the puzzle in my hand I hold the key to the kingdom and get to divide the land I hold a grudge against no one I'm quick to forgive and understand I hold myself accountable to me that's what it means to be a man That makes me the king... That's why I'm the king... When they asked me to be the king I said, "I have a couple of conditions before I say that it's a sure thing..." So long as you keep the crown, the throne, the scepter and the ring.... My suggestion is to add another jester And maybe someone who could sing

Lazy Afternoon

A0117 — rank 123

I visualize greatness in the morning So hopefully I’ll get to it by the afternoon… On this lazy afternoon On this lazy man’s afternoon On this lazy afternoon On this lazy man’s afternoon I just moved the clouds with my mind Because I needed some sunshine At least I can say that I tried This act of hubris personified Nah, I ain’t never been afraid to die With my good name attached to a cause I ain’t afraid to fight even if I gotta say that I lost They say lightening never strikes In the same place twice I say we all deserve a second chance In this game called life I got the Moo Moo Blues With all these big eyes staring at me I see hayed-out horses lying down ‘Neath the shade of an old oak tree We got the ripples We got the stream We got the sun And cloudless dreams We got it together When it got rough We got each other And that’s enough

Limitless

A0121 — rank 124

Does she cry because it rains Or does it rain because she cries? Perhaps they are the same… No, I would not be surprised She’s got her own center of gravity But that’s not what first attracted me It was her delicate femininity Woven within the strengths of masculinity Within an aura wrapped up so tightly Of such limitless infinite energy Like a snowman In a shaken globe When suddenly it started Snowing down on me Was now all around me Inspiration had found me This limitless infinite energy from within now surrounds me As loving notes from some sort of spiritual symphony embrace me Snug as bug in a rug we hug For finally she has turned to face me As she sees no longer are we enemies Since I am her and she is me… Reality is that we are we… Forever family Forever meant to be I got the wisdom flowing Finally the light bulb it be glowing Above my head as I see She sees now brightly We have become one I feel the music It’s now within me As she lies here with me And it lifts me… It lifts me… It lifts me… (Note: Here come the MIB)

Making A List

A0122 — rank 125

I am seeking an alternative to this I’m looking for a better way to live After gazing into the eyes of a hypnotist I believe that I now know what it is: I think that I will make myself a list Of what I have and what has me Separate the do-without’s and deal-with’s What I can control and what I can’t resist First free myself from doubt then I can figure the rest out What this world is all about Take it all in and then give back whatever It is left that I can give And it could be something monumental… Or maybe just a big waste of time An abstract lost amidst all this concrete Or some state of war conquering my state of mind Oh….some visions are at best blurry Even to the painter, the author or Whoever’s telling the story Oh…seems we’re always in a hurry Caught in this time trap Some kind of mind warp but at best it’s just so boring I am seeking an alternative to this I’m looking for a better way to live After gazing into the eyes of a hypnotist I believe that I now know what it is First free myself from doubt then I can figure the rest out What this world is all about Take it all in and then give back whatever It is left that I can give

Memories Of You

A0127 — rank 126

We could go our separate ways We could each head home Spend forever unfulfilled What seems like an eternity all alone I see your hazel eyes The same color as mine Yet beauty such as yours Is so hard to define If I was the only one to see That the others are so blind For a heart pure as yours Is the hardest thing to find I offer my bed And I offer my hand As someone who knows Life never goes as planned Yet It makes you feel better When someone understands You know I see a woman And I look at myself: a man Unlike Adam and Eve Who strayed from the garden We know the prime of our lives Is just now starting Please don't turn away Plant your feet on the ground Just hold onto my hand Please don't make a sound Just hold me close Feel my heart beat pound Know that I've been upped And I've been downed I've lost my direction But I think I've found Someone who knows that Love's been known to cut like a knife Yet holding onto someone you love It helps you sleep good at night I offer my bed And I offer my hand As someone who knows Life never goes as planned Yett before you answer And fate becomes sealed Know that I am a poet Who believes in ideals I could still be strong If you left me here holding on To just these memories of you This love song would still ring true... This love song I'd sing for you

My Muse

A0129 — rank 127

My desire has begun to bleed Emotional droplets for what my heart needs Though discovery is bleak When what you seek Is so hard to catch As one's beauty is sketched With the pen of love Filled from the pool of one's own blood Your eyes appear on my paper Your long hair flows in front of me Just as ink flows through my pen In my mind I once thought I could exist Independently from you But it looks like I should think again For sometimes we must retrace our past To see if little girls and boys Have grown into women and men Have you ever taken a moment to look back? At how straight a path you have taken From where you have first began? These are the thoughts of a lonely artist Whose love was once a blank canvas But you have since become my masterpiece These are the words of a lonely artist Who has finally found some color In this land where darkness shall never cease I see your eyes as I draw your face You take me to a place Where hatred is gone It has been erased So I am going to trade my pen For oil and canvass once again As I am the greatest artist in the world Every time that I draw you For this man who used to Paint pictures with words Can still remember when... Each and every time The last second that I saw you I am the greatest artist in the world Whenever I draw you My muse, my love The limit is the sky These feelings I have for you Could circle the world wide My muse, my love With your picture in my mind Now I'm never all alone You're always by my side You're always here inside... Always here inside... Here inside... Inside...

No News

A0133 — rank 128

No news is good news When you deal with those that I do Because some things are harder to believe When they’re not happening to you There are those who act as mirrors You look at them seeing not the face of someone else For sometimes when they fall down You see that you’ve become bruised yourself I’m not sure if her first instinct Is to be fantastic Or perhaps over time She’s just developed a knack for it But my dog bet his biscuit Along with all the chickens in the basket That if this girl left my world The results would be disastrous She told me: Feel free to fall in love with my art Just be careful when it comes to me and my person I've spent my life running from broken hearts Most of those I've loved have been left hurtin' Did you think that you were the exception to the rule? Sorry, it looks like I played you, too Did I leave you feeling like you'd been fooled? I'm so sorry for such and such that happened And for all those things I never meant to do... Oh dear, believe me, this is true Still I've done these things to you... So now no news is good news When you deal with those that I do Because some things are harder to believe When they’re not happening to you There are those who act as mirrors You look at them seeing not the face of someone else For sometimes when they fall down You see that you’ve become bruised yourself This is why I try to stay to myself Limit the harm I inflict on anyone else Hiding safely here behind this pane of glass Where I can deny that I told a lie On the single biggest question That I've ever been asked: Are you okay…are you happy? Well of course I am! Why? Do I look sad? Just because lately I’ve been silent It’s doesn’t mean that things are bad… No, it don’t mean that things are bad

Presence

A0142 — rank 129

As I'm... looking all around I see so many people looking down As they're so busily crossing the street Their eyes... surely never look at me Their eyes... still have failed to see This world's beauty in its sights and sounds never stopping to look at the birds in the tree Or marvel at the clouds That now linger aloft above their head As they choose to stare at the pavement Forever failing to live in the moment Always constantly thinking instead at the day ahead As I'm...looking all around I see so many People looking down Their eyes growing cold With their thoughts so depressed because they're either growing old Or else they're tired and stressed I long to grab them And shake them and say Tell me what will you have gained When today becomes yesterday? How will you feel when you look back And you realize the fact You were given a gift but the present has passed We know that we can't rewind time And you know you missed the warning signs Sometimes it's best if you press pause That's when you would see things Others never would have believed you saw...

Seeds Sewn

A0150 — rank 130

As I approach another day I proceed to plug away To pave the way I’ll chop all day I’ll chop all night, too That’s okay The most gifted in life Don’t do much sleeping Someone gave us time Borrowed not for keeping This is how I meditate In the black of night I found my safe place While I’m waiting for daylight You see, no matter what the time Time isn't something we should waste... That's why hope is always in my eyes A genuine smile hugs my face... If you deviate From the path to success... Then you’ll be left To clean up your own mess... I have known and lost someone For every leaf on a tree Yet after each one fell Up grew another seed My future’s been planted Out here in the fields With every choice I have made Part of my fate has been sealed We’re all searching for answers Yet everyone should know That after you’ve planted You have to take it slow As you sit inside your garden And you watch it grow... Watch it grow... Watch it grow... Pain and sorrow? You’ll pass them on the road Today and tomorrow? Are seeds already sewn

Seeing Is Believing

A0151 — rank 131

What gets me by is getting high and looking up at the sky With the moon in my eyes as I tell myself lies as another night slips by And still I pretend that I am the greatest What gets me by is getting high and looking up at the sky With the moon in my eyes as I tell myself lies as another night slips by And still I wait for the day I can say I finally made it But then I went from being a blaspemist To seeing life through the eyes of an optimist It had nothing to do with my optometrist Yet I'll leave that between me and my psychiatrist Sure I'm still fighting the cold When my thoughts become too bold Though there's no more losing control For when nothing's collected there's nothing owed As I fly as high as I can... You had better watch out below For the more I get to know myself The more I'm falling in love Should I give thanks to Charles Darwin? Or to the lord with my high praise above? No matter, for now I'll save that one for later Be it Adam & Eve, the serpent or an alligator I believe I'm God's greatest gift to evolution For if you present to me a problem I'll find you a solution So...tell me which side are you on... Have you or have you not Ever had dinner at brianrainstorm.com ?

So What

A0155 — rank 132

I'd like to meet myself Through another set of eyes Am I really who I think I am Or am I wearing a disguise? So many of my friends They like to play pretend They all swear they are Just as you see While in truth They know not what they are Nor what they could be Becoming seduced by their own lies Caught within a state of suspense Somewhere in between fantasy and reality Failing at becoming wise When what they find is the illusionist's imagery disappearing Right before their very eyes As all of these people places and things Keep playing tug of war with my strings There's just so many faces that I have either worn or seen Too many locations I have been The good, the bad, the ugly and all that's in between I could never recount all the roads I have traveled It is simply amazing that I have yet to unravel Sometimes your best It is just not enough So it seems like it's time to give up When you've never seen your face on the front or back page When you've never seen your name up there in the lights So what if they've never seen you playing up there on the stage So what if it turns out You didn't make the cut.... So what?

Sorry

A0158 — rank 133

When nobody seems to care... That you've disappeared... I will still be here... With arms longing to embrace you If ever you feel yourself weak Or if you feel the need to speak I will still be here... I've never been afraid to face you Even though you act sometimes As if you're twelve years old Given our history You became family to me And it's been so sad to see you go The way you left was so abrupt So suddenly... Sure...no, no... It wasn't fair The way that you treated me And what you said to me Had to have been meant to hurt me My clairvoyance is my certainty At that moment in time It was too much for me to bare Still I've always tried my best To avioid manifest Destinies and hopeless quests I still try to maintain full control At least over my own soul And the things I know be Still left up to me Unchained and free I burried the hatchet For all to see And declared to the world With this bond as my word That I am sorry So very sorry

Time To Climb

A0166 — rank 134

Life is one big competition when's it gonna stop? We all strive to scale the mountain trying to reach the top The first step's a doozy As you walk along the summit of the cliff The wheels of the mind spin uncontrollably Just then suddenly the ground begins to shift Have you ever tried to move mountains with only your mind? Or do you tell everyone You could never do that so why even try? Well I've found out Just one thing to be true: If you wanna break the mold First you gotta break the rules Yet deviate from the path to success You'll be left to clean up your own mess Daddy brought home the bacon As mommy made up your room Even your big brother had to tie the bows on your shoes for you But you're getting older now sonny boy And that same old act will never do Waiting for all us monkeys to evolve Is like saying you're watching the earth revolve Or praying to a toilet bowl porcelain god Never believing that this great puzzle can and will be solved Oh my child... what are you doing that for? Oh my child... you could be doing so much more It's when you've given up on trying Stop believing in yourself That's when you start dying It's finally time to climb rather than lying low When the alarm clock fails to wake you Is when earthquakes will no longer shake you So don't ever misplace the self That you once used to know

Undertow

A0174 — rank 135

I am afraid I cannot say What makes me feel this way Which is why I'm staying down Inside of this ditch In which I hide and have been laid My head is bowed as I face up To all the mistakes that I've made And the price of my actions that I know now that I must pay Yet desperate times Call for desperate measures So I've been digging up the island While looking for buried treasures For desperate times Call for desperate deeds Sure I'm fighting time and the rising tide But at least I know what it is that I need Here I stand with the sand filling up my empty shoes A vessel without blood Looking for some kind of clue Of what I'm supposed to do Screaming: Let me out Let me out Let me out....of my skin Open up the door... The one that lets me in Maybe then... All shall be well again Somewhere in here... Yet I don't know exactly where There lies something greater than I Somewhere out there... In fact it's quite clear I know right where Sits a woman who is ready to cry We can each turn and drift away and go it alone When caught within the winds of this internal storm Its strong current and undertow Sitting here idle all the while Waiting to see where it is that we'll be blown Into a harbor of safety Or perhaps an ocean of indifference or worse hate Yet surely the tide keeps on rising So let us choose our sides before it becomes too late Be it always taking and never giving And never trusting since that's becoming forbidden Forget ever searching for what's hidden That's like lying and saying you did When you know you didn't But to me that's not living In fact, that's no life at all Forever kneeling and never standing All because you're too afraid to fall... Surely to me that's not living In fact, that's no life at all

BETTER THAN ME

A0189 — rank 136

He loved her like I love you Only he would do what I couldn't do Though she was far away she was in his heart With a love so strong that the sea would part He is the man to whom I kneel They were the two whose fate was sealed Wedding rings, souls bound so tight Nothing's wrong when the love is right The young lady, I knew her well But some people's heaven is another's hell They were the two with their hearts so entwined But I still remember when she used to be mine From jealousy and hatred I should be free Yet I find myself thinking how could she do this to me? The day she left I knew she was right But so unexpected that we didn’t fight He is the man to whom I kneel They were the two whose fate was sealed Wedding rings, souls bound so tight They're in love so it must be right I will recover, it'll take some time If you’ll be my lover then I'll be fine I set out searching for a love so true If my eyes don’t deceive me I've found it in you Won't you take a chance to set me free? Undo all that she's done to me Erase my bleeding memory Don't let me think that he's better than me Bring out a part of me that I don't see

DRINK MORE WATER

A0190 — rank 137

I came inside and knocked my boots Finally I shook off and kicked these winter time blues Suffice to say it's all because of you When you went away I needed something new So this time... Rather than run to you for help I've begun to look first towards myself I'm no longer scared or afraid What's that phrase? No guts no glory? For Eric Burdon, he once told me That, "Everybody has got a story" And then he said, "Drink more water!" That's some good advice... It could save your life I came inside and knocked my boots Finally I shook off and kicked these winter time blues Suffice to say it's all because of you When you went away I needed something new Something... That's been laying dormant and latent within me Something... I've always had but needed another to bring it out in me Something... You shouldn't keep hidden but let it out for all the world to see Something... That which we call strength and having faith in one's own capabilities

FACING THE DAWN

A0193 — rank 138

Perhaps it was fate... 'Twas the reason that I came I walked in and said hello But I didn't catch your name You looked a little troubled Yet I passed right on by Went about my business I wasn't asking why My own insides were breaking For I've seen trouble myself Looking back you know now I'm not one to leave you by yourself So we had a conversation on the subject: Of love, of not, and of moving on The last thing either of us needed Was needing someone Just to look and see they've gone Sure, the faces are changing And figures are transforming The night has already faded But there's a new sunrise this morning There's no escape from this place So face the dawn with open eyes Just look at all the names from the past You are free to love But that love comes with a price Take a breath of fresh air Open up your window Though there's so much trouble out on the street Don't think of all the love that you've lost Only of all the new people you will meet Sure, the faces are changing And figures are transforming The night has already faded But there's a new sunrise this morning Don't be fooled into thinking it's too late Never give up searching For you might be surprised Begin anew and like the sun...rise Begin anew and face the dawn with open eyes

FOURTEEN DAYS

A0195 — rank 139

Nine o'clock in the morning I'm yawning and I can't get out of bed Am I still dreaming? Because it seems this feeling The music that I'm hearing Is playing only inside my head My soul is being lifted As I'm watching it try to fly away All I know is that I want to follow Such a beautiful way to start the day Surely, I'm tired but newly inspired Oh...so no more words need to be said I haven't played in fourteen days Just laid in bed and hid away I covered my tracks And then I covered my head So I never heard a single word Of what was being said Be it behind my back or in front of my face I haven't played in fourteen days But I got this feeling That soon everything is gonna change Nine o'clock in the morning I'm yawning and I can't get out of bed Am I still dreaming? Because it seems this feeling The music that I'm hearing Is playing only inside my head

HELPING OUT

A0197 — rank 140

My life it seems like it's fading Trapped in this harbor...I got to get out I can't tell which way I'm heading I once had direction but now... I've been debating how much and what I believe that this world owes me I'm angry but could it be that possibly It's all because nobody really knows me? As my light bulb keeps on glowing Am I joking, kidding or faking? For surely these thoughts aren't for showing When the truth could be all too revealing And I've been sitting here waiting for a time when I didn't feel lonely Lately I've been hiding by escaping yet I am healing oh so slowly Still my thoughts they keep on sinking While my confidence is fleeting Because I keep on thinking All about our last meeting And how I never tasted such bitter self-defeating Thinking my life was wasted… it was such an unpleasant feeling My life it seems like it's fading Trapped in this harbor... I got to get out The wind is blowing but nothing's changing Whatever faith I had in myself has turned to doubt Do you think that I should give in, give up, Try or not try to suck it up or cry and pout If I could just get a few words from you... You know that would really help me out

ORDER IN THE COURT

A0205 — rank 141

I figured half the jury would live to serve me And in a day everyone And I mean everyone will have heard of me And within a week I'd be released Yes this is just an allusion to one man's idea for a solution My proclamation to clean up pollution Hey, it's an idea at the very least Doctor...I ain't seen one since I got laid off My old medical bills still ain't been paid off Free health care... we all want it but ain't got it Senators and Congress people know we really want it Meanwhile deals are being made As crooks are getting paid Changing their mind on what they said What's inside YOUR wallet? What did you put in your pocket? 'Cause I keep sinking in debt So I suggest you stop it Or we're gonna start chopping off The tops of the totem poles For they make for great gallows poles Now it's time to start diggin' holes When Charlie got convicted on murder one Charlie yelled out, "But I killed two" And with that... the whole room had a laugh One person got very angry and had to be removed The judge shouted, "Order in the court" Charlie replied, "How 'bout number three?" And with that... his lawyer's neck was snapped This time the room clapped and the jury set Charlie free

POSTERS OF POSERS

A0207 — rank 142

She's all mine... You two could never be any closer Even if you were a rock star... She told me she'd never ever buy your poster No, you could never scare me... I've met a lot of guys like you She said not even if you dared me... Would she ever go out with you You only try to crowd her... She calls you just another poser Even if you were a rock star... She'd never ever buy your poster As old as the earth is Why do you even try to be original? You thought you were the first to discover fire... Until sadly, you noticed someone else's smoke signals Usually the short end of the stick It's always a roll of the dice While others have only had to pay once Seems you always end up paying twice Don't believe everything you read You should know that as well as me Because sometimes people think differently Than what they say or write, you see?

RAINBOW

A0208 — rank 143

See the beauty of being the first color of the rainbow As you see where it shall lead One by one the other colors will all follow The rain clouds pass by It's no wonder why Because side by side There's no need to be afraid Parents and children run Towards the happy tears of the sun And together as one That's how they spend the rest of the day In this endless sea of harmony We get to see how easy it could be The brilliant vibrant joy of life Inside of you and me Became so apparent when The very first color felt free To embrace their place In the sky above As a gentle reminder That in courage there is love See the beauty of being the first color of the rainbow As you see where it shall lead One by one the other colors will all follow

TABLE FOR THREE

A0212 — rank 144

The coffee’s on I just pedaled back From the store A nice ride Found everything I was looking for No, we don’t hide The fact that we rarely like To drink our coffee alone Children aren’t the only ones Who ride bikes as they ponder life What else do you think that the seat is for? The coffee’s on I just pedaled back From the store It didn’t take long Before we were wrapped up All cozy again in our quarters No, we don’t hide The fact that we rarely like To drink our coffee alone As we talk Of fulfillment of achievements And the greatest of life’s milestones As we talked Before long we began To hold hands As we talked Our slice of life Suddenly seemed so sweet Just like strawberry jam After that we sat and had a laugh As we took a mental photograph And I thought about Just how lucky I am...

GO

A0229 — rank 145

by tom jensen Lately I've been drifting I been thinking My thoughts they have been shifting As the cloud is being lifted Seems I'm gaining new perceptions It's the gift that keeps on giving When you don't doubt the life you're living Trust which way your compass is facing Trust in the direction you've been heading For right now the good seems good for getting You find yourself Up high in the sky Is where the dreamers fly It's where I come from And where I'll be going As for my roots lie Within the soul of the soil Beside the banks of a rich river And a big old weeping willow That comforts and hides me And also tries to remind me That I have the power inside me And let others confide in me That they hurt and it's curtains This time they are certain When their world is caving in When their walls are falling down So when they need some helping out They know I'll be around And I won't ever let them down I have the precious gift to give Of love and seeing the world Through the eyes of the paradigm Looking at life just like a little kid Seems I'm gaining new perceptions It's the gift that keeps on giving When you don't doubt the life you're living Trust which way your compass is facing Trust in the direction you've been heading In knowing that the best things in life worth getting Are the ones most You know! Since to know her is to love her Flowers grow up all around her Looking so pretty next to each other You must not wait any longer So go!

YOUR NAME

A0262 — rank 146

By the time I got to my paper My pen was too tired to write My eyes they started closing And then I lost my sight I don’t quite exactly remember Just what I was thinking of It had something to do with you And it had something to do with love Blah, blah, blah The words all sound the same Ha, ha, ha Even silence sings your name Nah, nah, nah There’s no one I blame La, la, la I’m just so happy that you came Some say that absence Makes the heart grow fonder But I wasn’t waiting around much longer And though I’ve never been good At predicting fate With each new day my feelings for you They just keep on getting stronger In what I will now say I will not hesitate You were well worth the wait Last night you would not find me sleeping Even though I certainly was dreaming It looks like I have just found Somebody worth keeping So for now I will just enjoy this feeling For I’ve learned from the mistakes That I’ve made in the past Before I’d fall asleep I’d lay awake and ask… Could this be the time When something great will last? When I was young I learned to walk Only to learn how to crawl When I was younger I learned to stand Only to learn how to fall Now that I’ve grown I’ve learned how to play the game To finally win in the end Now that I’ve grown I’ve found myself being tamed Now I’ll never break Because I finally know how to bend

CURVES OF SORROW

A0403 — rank 147

The smell of beer still lingers in the air Better leave now while the coast is clear As these wasted lives try to recapture the past But still they know A dark shadow has been cast So another drink It soon fills their glass As they sit and they wonder which road that they passed... The road that would have led them Far away from this place The road that could have very well Put a smile on their face Deep down they know That new roads lie ahead And if they miss the next turn They'd be better off dead The blank expressions on their face Seems to lay most doubt to waste Say give it one last shot Jack or Jim just whatcha got? The smell of beer still lingers in the air Better leave now while the coast is clear As these wasted lives try to recapture the past But still they know The shadow has been cast As another drink Soon it fills their glass They sit and they wonder which road that they passed... The road that would have led them Far away from this place The road that could have very well Put a smile on their face... The paleness of their skin Shows the places they've been they've never thought a lot about now nor tomorrow Their situation is worst case As the lines on their face I began to slowly trace Each held the curve of sorrow Their heavy and deep-circled eyes Show so little surprise Since they know just one taste Their lips curved 'round a bottle

ACID RAIN

A0407 — rank 148

I’d die to inspire Splat, flattened by another car While changing a crazy lady’s tire But I didn’t know her for I had just met her She was just a stranger on the roadside Surely some might say I should’ve known better With any chore or task You don’t have to ask I live to help others I treat friends better than family And enemies like we’re brothers So when another car came Veering out of its lane It came and turned me into butter But it’s not such a sh%&$y thing Because now I got these wings Watch me pee off the clouds Which, of course is forbidden which means it’s not allowed – No, I’m not kidding… As someone yells out, “Ah….for crying out loud!” Well those aren’t tears Raining from my eyes Just a little surprise Salty like perspiration To some perhaps inspiration Sorry your eyes they sting Acid rain - it’s not so great tasting Sure, I told ya I’d die to inspire But goddamn it I died while changing a tire! And I forgot to tell ya That truthfully…I’m a liar

BETTER BITTER

A0414 — rank 149

All alone here with my fears Driven me down below the basement stairs I asked myself so many times Why am I here? Why is it? That I'm alive Nearly every time A voice answers back to me But sometimes....... there's no reply When I'm lucky It is the word 'destiny' that I hear that is being cried.... I just wrote myself a letter To keep my mind occupied I began to feel bitter And that was better As it kept me satisfied I search for truth So far I've been denied Without that what's the use? How can you gauge prejudice or tell humility from pride? The difference between Freedom and honor Or quest for power that's veiled that they hide They say knowledge is a flower.... That can grow as tall as it can wide Give a seed some sun, Some soil and a shower And someday it will touch the sky Someday it will touch the sky All alone here with my fears Driven me down below the basement stairs I asked myself so many times Why am I here?

FADING FAST

A0435 — rank 150

Looks like summer’s fading fast Pretty soon I’ll be back at school Then again is there anything that lasts Except the ignorance of fools For the first time in my life I eagerly await the fall June, July and August I almost lost it all Didn’t go so well My back was nailed to the wall When I pulled the nails out Down, down, down I fell I picked myself up and kept going As the midnight moon was glowing The dealer’s hand he was not showing The only thing that I was knowing Was the opposite of what I know now I barely made it through the summer But I believe I’ll live to see the winter And the snow falling to the ground The boulder to which I was shackled I left on the side of the road The devil’s seed he planted in my mind Somehow got unsewed I never thought I’d live to see it The snowfall of another winter I never dreamed of finishing the race I always was a sprinter Looks like summer’s fading fast For awhile I was right behind Time for the past to pass Not a second time

FREE WILLY

A0440 — rank 151

I’ve got just one A. This bunch of B’s…and a C…honey That’s why I got more love… Than any man could ever have money Yeah, so I sit in this room and study Thinking of cute s%$t that’s funny… Just to make you smile and laugh And I have for the last year-and-a-half Sure, sometimes I carry on like a Sunday preacher About how I’ve found the most wonderful teacher To whom I hand an apple to each day Hoping for the slightest touch of her finger So I say so what if I gut a Buddha-like belly… A bunch of chin fuzz -all grizzly and stubby… I still got more love… Than any man could ever have money Since I’m invisible when we go out Why should I wanna leave the house? Nobody looks at me when I’m with you ‘Cause you’re wicked, wicked hot… So I might as well just take it off! Free Willy and take off all my clothes If I’m next to you…then nobody will know Oh yes, I must confess I never dress to impress I could be wearing anything… I could be wearing nothing… I could just bare everything You know you’re really, really something!

GRANT’S WOMB

A0449 — rank 152

Tonight I’ll call this place my home Tonight I’ll call this place my own Tonight is what life is all about Take all of the bad and block it out Because sometimes life can be so damn depressing Those deep, dark feelings that there’s no suppressing Sometimes you just have to give yourself a chance To hear a song To get up and dance To just live in the moment To just ride the wave Cause once it starts flowing It’ll take you way Nothing….it happens. Don’t let it happen to you Because there’s no coming back When your time here is through Don’t cry to me that there’s nothing to do I’m sure you can find something Once you leave your room I walked in and the band was playin’ Bobby Dylan So I grabbed a drink and started chillin’ Tonight Ill call this place my home Tonight Ill call this place my own Tonight is what life is all about Take all of the bad and block it out Because sometimes life can be so damn depressing Those deep, dark feelings that there’s no suppressing Sometimes you just have to give yourself a chance To hear a song To get up and dance To just live in the moment To just ride the wave Cause once it starts flowing It’ll take you way I’ve spent too many days staring at the ceiling Within the confines of my room Holding my head as I was kneeling Felt like someone broke in and my soul he was stealing Waiting to live just like an unborn child in the womb Feeling like Ulysses S. Grant buried inside of his tomb But I’m still living And I’m still breathing Get me out of my shell I take what’s givin So give me a reason Make one up if you have to Get me out of my shell This is the only time I know for sure that I’m coming around So why in the world would anyone settle for being so sorrow bound? Get up! Get out and make something happen Go shake your stuff and make sure your hands are clapping Be a magician and go make some magic happen You just might die right in your bed as you’re napping Don’t let it happen to you Because there’s no coming back When your time here is through Don’t cry to me that there’s nothing to do I’m sure you can find something Once you leave your room

HUNDRED DOLLAR HEADACHES

A0456 — rank 153

I am no witch doctor Nor some black magician And I can turn a hundred dollar bill Into one hell of a headache Way back in the day When we all learned How to barter and trade We thought what a great idea We all thought we had it made But tell that to the man Whose job it is to dig out all the graves Oh baby, I dig a little every day Every time I go a little deeper And it is here where I will lay Oh baby, this wasn’t my first choice When they asked me what I wanted to be I lost all my nerve And then I lost my voice So my name went back into the pile And when they called it again I was still as innocent as a child I’m still not sure just who to blame So they handed me a shovel Told me I had to start right away That was many years ago And I’m still digging today Like I said before I can turn a hundred dollar bill Into one hell of a headache Now my shoulders hurt And my backs about to break It seems that I will dig forever I guess we all make mistakes

OBSERVATIONS

A0474 — rank 154

Through rain, sleet or snow – there’s someplace I got to find you know And I’ll follow my path and learn as I go There’re some forever searching and some who’re in the know The days before me are dwindling Burning in the fireplace like kindling The flame that burns must end you know It’ll all end you know The smoke from the fire soon dissipated With the love and desire I once anticipated Deep down inside I know we could have made it I could have made you feel alive If only you waited If only you had waited The power is in the mind And it works both ways You can find your way home in the darkness Or else easily be led astray They all told me not to play with fire And I called them all liars said I won’t burn They told me the straits were dire It was a hard lesson I was made to learn It’s a see saw Swing, swing, swing Up then down To smile then frown Lefts and rights And rights and wrongs Thoughts then words Then poems then songs Sun up, sunset Fantasy and then regret To heaven and to hell To know and to tell To say and to do To lie just to be true To fight and to lose To fight and to win To fight and call a truce To end just to begin To ride the see saw To fall off and then try again To ride the see saw To love and to sin I cannot stand I fall right down I cannot change I cannot swim I will surely drown Get out while You still have your skin You know that tomorrow To can try again Woke up half dead So I just lay in bed I find myself believing That the best time lies behind Show me a sign Of better days ahead Tell me of a time When I am anxious to awake Tell me if I can make it Or if this more than I can take I open the window But I’m only looking at the street I can see victory But all I taste is defeat

SECRET CODE

A0490 — rank 155

I just lost another dealer Yes, I coulda stopped After I copped a cheap feel Surely all would’ve been forgiven But of course….I mounted that horse!!! Which in secret code means I didn’t First we took a drink And then the drink took us We used to drive ourselves But now we take the bus I said goodnight…and she said: “Say hello to the sun for me…” She said she had a date with a pillow… To which I responded: “Oh…how dreamy” You know I lived in a camper once It was kinda fun for the first couple of months Getting stoned and driving around You could never get lost Or you could never be found… But knock twice – for I could be creating life… You know I dated a stripper once It sure was a blast for the first couple of months We had our highs and lows And our share of thrills But she kept blowing her nose Soon I ran outta bills… You know I was a councilor for lepers once It was kinda fun for the first couple of months But I couldn’t uses phrases That us unafflicted often say and hear Like won’t you please give me a hand Or won’t you kindly lend me your ear… I just lost another dealer Yes, I coulda stopped After I copped a cheap feel Surely all would’ve been forgiven But of course….I mounted that horse!!! Which in secret code means I didn’t

TEARS

A0499 — rank 156

Seems like silver is the color Given up all chances at grabbing gold Seems like silver is the color Got to reach for something ‘cause I’m getting old Usually the short end of the stick Always a roll of the dice Others have only had to pay once Why do I always end up paying twice The blame is pointed The burden is passed You were the first in line Only to end up being served last I used to type on a computer Until daddy stopped giving me hugs I used to go to private school Until I started doing drugs I knew my days were numbered When the calendar fell off the wall I knew the weather was getting colder When my spring turned into fall I once saw the light but it was so bright I ran away That was a long time ago Many years have passed So many times I look back And wished I’d stayed Now tears burn my eyes And I tell myself lies Like I can still change Like I can turn the page

THINGS WILL GET BETTER

A0501 — rank 157

When you’re feeling confused and you gotta get away Just remember me and the words I’m gonna say Things’ll get better but before they do they might get worse Just be happy you’re not riding around in the back of a hurst You never know when the tide’s gonna change You never know when your life will rearrange Take a cold shower if you can’t stand the heat Go and play the drums if you wanna find the beat When you can’t find your way know that it gets dark at night You can’t win the battle if you don’t put up a fight I can’t take it I’m not gonna take it You thought I tried but I faked it When you’re weak I’ll make you strong When you’re sad I’ll sing a song When you cry I’ll dry your tears When you’re afraid I’ll quiet your fears

PASS A RASH

A0529 — rank 158

When I’m free stylin’ I go buck wild and I always leave the people Laughing and smiling Or else all red With anger and offended I’ve broken fences That have never mended Sometimes when I say Hey…Hello, how are you and f%^k you… I didn’t mean it…I didn’t mean to… But I guess I meant it When I’m free stylin’ I go buck wild and I always leave the people Laughing and smiling There was more than one Thriller in Manila Even though she looked like Godzilla………. Still I did her Why? Well because I never wanna look back over my shoulder Thinkin’ I woulda and I coulda and I shoulda…. yet I never…… So I grabbed her by her boulders and I rolled her and then I road her and I wrapped my arms around her But I could barely hold her Because she was far larger and stronger But I did the deed I guess it could have lasted longer But I didn’t feel the need I just want to say I did it Seems I just couldn’t resist it So I after I got up to the elbow I decided to go two fisted Then when she said Ouch I told her I had to leave And that there was someplace I had to be I left there and I went to Taiwan I met a girl who looked just like King Kong Well by now with this song you know where I’m gonna go Boy….she was a ‘ho Many soccer and football teams she’s known But it’s not just the referee’s calls that get blown Oh there’s more than one thrilla in manila And I’ve been from there to Vietnam and china Had more than my share of vagina I get by on my charm I try to get a piece of ass Whenever it comes along Sometimes I pass a rash……. Sometimes I share a song

FOUND POEMS

A0700 — rank 159

(previously unpublished; recently uncovered/re-discovered) Hey all you high rollers... I got money in the bank And I'm here all by myself... I'm thinking, I'm sinking, I sank She really loved me It took me two years to be sure But now she hates me For everything I've done to her She had a party at the house at eight o'clock And at seven thirty I walked out the door I took a drive to clear my mind Drown down a street I'd never been down before She really loved me But not after this sequence of constant wrong turns And now she hates me The fire in her eyes no longer burns I've got no one to blame but the guy in the mirror Looking back at me from within this shattered frame Through these distorted reflections the future seems nearer if not clearer But in order to believe in myself everyone else had to suffer some sort of pain This is a new world Can't go back thirty years into the past This is a new world There never were any guarentees that this would last This is a new world Where peace, love and harmony have disappeared This is a new world A time of war, a time of panic, a time of fear The leader of us that you hear on T.V. Speaks only for himself - he doesn't speak for me I stopped listening to commercials for candidates back in nineteen sixty-three I stopped believing the lies back in sixty-five Now look at me...Somehow I'm still alive Skip ahead to the future and two thousand and eight As I picked up the torch before it was too late Now I'm drinking myself into oblivion Transformed a diamond ring into obsidian An old friend just walked through the door But I can't stand to look at her anymore I'm so far away from where I used to be Happiness was once my best friend Now we're no longer allies but enemies I'm so far removed From the place I used to call my home It seems I have deceived myself I'm here in the same room as my wife Yet still I feel as if I'm all alone Today or tomorrow... Or perhaps ten years to this day I will tell you to your face Why I didn't have the strength to stay

DYSLEXIC

A0703 — rank 160

I never was a good enough actor to sell myself as victim of sacrilege So label me as an Intentional Anachronism Since I never sit up high enough on the tree to see If it's really a pyramid-shaped world... Or that's just the way it's shaping up to be Oh Geeh... From flat to round to a pyramid and then a mound... For what goes up... must fall back down I think it's time to turn Illuminate the light tonight... And let it burn Oh, let it burn If: "You got your pyramid turned the wrong way." It sounds like something that only Only a Superman would say. Alas, you’ve found your own Kryptonite Not with X-ray vision but by seeing in black and white They have working eyes and yet are lacking sight They claim suits and wear ties Creating walls of numbers which they like to hide behind Leaving me to be an I.A. in a world full of A.I.s Ay yi yi... It's not just the freaks That sleep down at the beach Lately I see Lots of people like you and me These are crazy times If you read between the lines You can find lots of uncovered crimes Under your blanket in What we call the New York Times I never was a good enough actor to sell myself as victim of sacrilege So label me as an Intentional Anachronism Since I never sit up high enough on the tree to see If it's really a pyramid-shaped world... Or that's just the way it's shaping up to be Oh Geeh...

HIGH PRAISE

A0710 — rank 161

I make my own gods and worship my own idols But at least I don’t try to pawn them off on you I don’t go knocking on doors with my good book in my hand No bumper stickers about which religion That I think is the closest to the truth I praised your name everyday… But you’re not Jesus, no Holy Spirit… Divine and true You became my favorite Drug of choice And I needed you... Oh, how I needed you Waves…they come in so many ways I’ve thought a lot about that today You can't drink away your sorrows They were right about what they said Crests and troughs Are you in over your head? (I was in way over my head) Have to catch your breath Again and again and again (and what then...) Soul mates lost became a lot less mourned When you look down and you're drowning And you look up and it's pouring Waves…they come in so many ways I’ve thought a lot about that today... Still, I got nothing but high praise

SPAMMIN'

A0184 — rank 162

(Bob Marley spoof of Jammin' with lyric changes in CAPS) ALL DAY...All NIGHT... I'm SPAMMIN I wanna SPAM DIS WIT you. I'm JAMMIN' ....DA SPAM IN YOUR INBOX HOPING you visit MY CHANNEL SOON... Ain't no rules, JUST SEND DELAY SENT FROM CHANNEL: TUBESBESTMUSIC.... AND YOU GET IT RIGHT AWAY.... 'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO I WANT TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH YOU GONNA SPAM 'TIL MY SPAMMIN'S THROUGH I'M SPAMMIN- YOU think that SPAMMIN' was a thing of the past; I'm SPAMMIN', HOPE MY FRIEND REQUEST GETS TO YOU FAST No YOUTUBE can't stop me now, GOT A LIST WITH FIFTY SONGS YOU'LL LIKE... OLGA'S YOUNG: and TOM SIMANEK IS OLD THEIR MUSIC'S OUTTA SIGHT YA HERE MUSICIANS CAN unite AND SOME DAY THEIR RECORDS WILL TURN GOLD I'm SPAMMIN (spammin', spammin', spammin') And I'm SPAMMIN in the name of GOOD SONGS; I'm SPAMMIN' (spammin', spammin', spammin'), I'm SPAMMIN' -- JOIN IN AND SING ALONG. Yeh! MY CHANNEL IS LIKE A YOUTUBE RADIO STATION WITH A GREAT SELECTION OF MUSIC FROM ALL THE NATIONS Yeah, I'm -- I'm SPAMMIN' (won't cha watch), (Won't cha won't cha watch), I'm SPAMMIN' (won't cha watch) See, I wanna SPAM DIS TO you I'm SPAMMIN (spammin', spammin', spammin') JAMMED IN YOUR INBOX MUSIC THAT DOESN'T SUCK... I hope you like MY SPAM, too. THIS NEW CORPORATE TUBE NO LONGER ABOUT YOU SOLD US OUT THAT'S NO LIE ADS ARE EVERYWHERE SO WHEN GOOD MUSIC YOU WANT TO HEAR I'M HOPING YOU'LL STOP ON BY THAT'S WHY I'm SPAMMIN' (spammin', spammin', spammin') yeah-eah-eah! I wanna SPAM DIS wid you. NICKY MONTE is jammin' SMARTBLUECAT is jammin' KAREN ENG IS slammin' MARY CIGARETTES is jammin' AND SLIPPEREAL is jammin', too. ROB ELLIOTT is jammin' (jammin') DANIELLA ANDRADE... she's jammin' (jammin') OH WOW! I wanna (I wanna SPAM DIS wid you) SO I'M GONNA ... GONNA FRIEND INVITE you now... SPAMMIN, THAT ALYSSA MUNARETTO'S jammin' too). Eh-eh! I hope you like WITHNAILUS HOPE YOU LIKE THE HAPPY FALLEN 'Cause (I wanna SHARE THEIR JAMS wid you) SHARE THEIR JAMS wid you. I like - I hope you... I hope you like LADYWEAVER, too. SO I KEEP ON SPAMMIN...

HAVE A DRINK

A0248 — rank 163

I know you’re thinking Pondering tomorrow I finally quit drinking Drowning in my sorrow Saved myself from sinking I put down the bottle When it started leaking Some things you only borrow So I know what you’re seeking Who do you lead…whom do you follow? We both know of what I’m speaking What do you need and what is hollow? Do you see your reflection in an empty bottle? I don’t have a drinking problem I’ve got a drinking solution I live in a world With so much pollution I live with it in my blood As dirt runs through my veins I pour it in my cup And I drink it down like rain I don’t have a drinking problem I’ve got a drinking solution I tried to give it up But I figured what’s the use? If and when I put it down I’ll just pick up something else I’ve learned from my past by now I just can’t control myself My heart is beating far too fast Yet my love is for a false prophet I aimed for first but finished last Now I’m hooked on getting off it This path I walk wasn’t chosen all on my own As the thoughts I think are so deceiving Everyday drifting farther from home I regret the day I thought of leaving I don’t know where I’m going… Only God knows where I been But the river keeps on flowing And the part of me unknowing Always goes wading on in Signs read danger, don’t fall in Or you don’t know the trouble you’re in Water so sweet it tastes just like gin Take a dip and be baptized in the pool of sin I started drinking to drown my sorrows But I gave it up when trouble learned to swim I treaded water for so long I never noticed how deep I was in The hard stuff’s in the freezer The thirty pack’s in the fridge The troubles of the world are building Which way to the bridge? I’ve chosen some wrong selections So don’t ask me for any directions I can only tell you where not to go I can’t explain the ways of the world I can’t show you where to dive for pearls I guess there are just some things you have to know I keep my eyes peeled for angels While living in the world of sin I can’t tell you where I’m going Only where I’ve been I know you’re thinking Pondering tomorrow I finally quit drinking Drowning in my sorrow Saved myself from sinking I put down the bottle When it started leaking Some things you only borrow So I know what you’re seeking Who do you lead…whom do you follow? We both know of what I’m speaking What do you need and what is hollow? Do you see your reflection in an empty bottle?

SIX WELLS

A0492 — rank 164

Well there's... So many things I'd like to change The world and its ways all be rearranged Too busy pointing fingers Who will pay? Who's to blame? All the while the problem lingers And things still stay the same Well it's... Been a long time Since we truly had something to believe in It seems we’re all riding on the edge Daring anyone who blinks To just give us a reason Well you... Cant make money off the poor So just kick 'em out the door Wipe off the greed that's sweating out your pores For all of our eyes just make sure You cover all their lesions Caring only for yourself and nothing more Only in yourself do you pledge your allegiance Knowing full well what's in store Doing whatever is pleasing What I call Mother Nature You call whore We don't own the world Were only leasing Ha ha ha - funny..... funny how? Not like Jackie Gleason Fare well... You'll never get to see another morning Regretfully, you did not heed to any warning With your me...Not I's You closed your eyes While our world was burning Well now... You're unable to rise Chastised and despised You can't open your eyes Praying there's no god And you know why No one's mourning SKATING WITH BILL LEE So what if all of the people here can't remember... If they were born in October or November? It's a good sign for our time We still enjoy circles more than lines For awhile I was inclined To believe we'd lost our minds.... When hell freezes I'll be skating And my friend Bill Lee will be waiting With a dubee in his hand Wearing a big smile and a tan I'll just say, How you doing... Mr. Spaceman? Yeah, me and Bill we talk a lot We got the same dealer who sells us pot Once we fought out in a parking lot Over which one of us just bought The rest of what he had got Until I said uncle........ From inside a headlock Needless to say that now Bill has to bring the brownies That keeps us hip with All of the local townies I'll bring the chip and dip And my big book of poetry Together we'll fan the fire of a flame Right after we roll up a tree We'll pass it to the left, we'll pass it to the right First pass is to me and then to you We'll keep passing with a passion 'Til the asking for more passing is through So what if all of the people here can't remember... If they were born in October or November? It's a good sign for our time We still enjoy circles more than lines For awhile I was inclined To believe we'd lost our minds....

TRUTH

A0506 — rank 165

I am as they would have me be I see like them, I act like them Part of a civilization corrupted - pretending to be free I see like them, I act like them We are smarter than dolphins, we are smarter than apes As a whole we have far surpassed Distilling wine, fermenting grapes Leaving a legacy we are sure will last Misery is cornered and forced to face to the wall Those witnessing concern are shown the door Only the sacred are allowed into this house Though whore rich in goods they trade their morals with the poor Life always lends a helping hand Only when daddy loads all of your troubles into his van He takes a trip with trouble and drives to some foreign land Leaving you uncorrupted with your life set as planned Your mother is filled with virtue Your father seems an honest man He has his hopes and dreams for you Your life may not be perfect but he understands He is the type who provides for his family He never put himself first but he’s far from last He’s lived the struggles labeled from A to Z You cannot learn from what he’s done unless you’ve asked Fathers have done more for most than just give us life Mothers have done more for most than just hold us for three-fourths of a year And grandparents have more influence in your raising you Then you will ever know What they’ve given your parents goes beyond what they can hear We take what we’ve been through and we place it on the scale We learn that the parenting do’s and don’ts come in all shapes and sizes Realizing where our forefathers succeeded and where they have failed Dealt a losing or winning hand though life hides in so many surprises We face our fate and pretend it is our own decision Choosing our walk and talk and the ways in which we act We dictate our moves playing the game of life just like chess with such precision We all try to prove our opinions and when in doubt we cling to them as fact I am closest to my ancestors as I climb up my family tree I have graduated from college and recently come to understand My eyes are inherited as I use them to interpret the world I see By these eyes I try to see God and see I’m damned What we worship usually comes from beyond our grasp Hatred is taught because racism comes from difference Due to my blood I’ve taught myself to think before I act Because hatred can be learned in an instance I try to live a life free from segregation My shoes are traded for new ones as often as possible Because even without my presence this world is full of degradation For the prejudice and hate present at my birth I know I am not responsible ‘

TWO PAIR

A0507 — rank 166

We’ve been best friends for years We’ve said all we can say Figured we’d be at each other’s side When it comes down to judgment day We’ve had mud on our feet And dirt in our eyes But we’ve never been once Taken by surprise We grabbed the world by the neck Yet our fate still lies As there is no you and me In a world full of eyes Both one in the same Even our circle of friends Though neither places blame When it comes down to the end We know the search is never easy As you find the bottom of your drink Though when your soul feels uneasy Sometimes it makes you think Would we be better… If we never had been brothers? Would our world be different… Had we never met each other? When in need of advice Each other we seek Yet the same hell lives on Each week to week Brand new day… Same old story We keep seeing ourselves But the scenery’s getting boring One hand washes the other But the same saying goes when you play in dirt When all is said and done you’re still my brother Even though we keep getting hurt A cheer full of beer The same slap of the hand But the older I get The more that I understand Both born of different names But I believe in family by choice So why does my brother Listen to the same little voice? Hope is still ahead of me When I’m by myself But the tide turns around When I’m by myself The questions seem to hide When all the answers are known Can I live the life I need with my brother Or do I have to go it all alone? Was that a flash of brilliance? Or just the lightning crashing? Do I really want to know the answer Or should I stop myself from asking? We’ve both seen the worst that can happen Even through what was seemingly the best of times Celebrated many a’ nights Written many a’ rhymes It may in fact be hip to be square But unfortunately the circle keeps its shape We still got some years But how long will it take? We never want to give up On a family member taken in But the question pops up When you’re surrounded by sin False gods I have never preached By some higher power up there I truly beseech Come to the aid of a couple of people out of reach Whose life goal is goodness to teach Given to the takers Taken nothing from those who give Do it long enough You’ll find you way to the bridge Surely someone, some two is out there somewhere Women who’ll take some time for us if they truly care As long as they never, ever expect the best For deep down inside our nature we’re just like the rest Because each new day we’re learning That waiting never pays But its so hard to get a sun tan Without any of the sun’s rays Just two of a kind Waiting for two pair We’ve never won at poker But we know you’re out there somewhere Biding our time by praying for the day When you’ll reveal yourselves Hoping that the sea’s not so rough That we’ll have to swim it ourselves

Master Plan

A0123 — rank 167

I’m not going to Afghanistan Or Pakistan or Iraq or Iran Because I just saw Our big master plan And there was no mention of Giving them democracy So that all the people are free Just a book about how To deceive the poor people To make more profits for the elite Bodies are lying right beside The New York Times And yesterday's headline which reads: McDonald’s buys India Since the country stopped getting oil From the Middle East Now it’s illegal NOT to eat beef Sure it sucks to be a Hindu But even worse for the cows Well, anyhow…. I’m not going to Afghanistan Or Pakistan or Iraq or Iran Because I just saw Our big master plan There was no mention of Giving them democracy So that all the people are free Just a book about how To deceive the poor To make more profits for the elite

Something

A0156 — rank 168

Something's been draining me Of all of my positive energy Lately, I've been feeling down and out My battery needs recharging Yeah, I gotta get outta the house I've got to find some deeper meaning About what this World's all about Can't learn anymore being trapped in here Wasting away my life Living underneath a cloud of fear Yeah... I gotta find a new thing! Gotta get that passion back inside my soul I gotta find a new thing! Something...anything... that will bring back My self-worth, my love of self and my sense of self-control I can't stand feeling helpless As if my fate wasn't something that I create Where the footprints have been hollowed So that I follow along a path That has already taken shape That's when I know That I must escape...

This Time

A0164 — rank 169

I arose as one with the sun And the dawn's new light I'd been fighting this time Against the day before's night So anxiously awaiting For you to come back home For all I needed was a hug Couldn't get that on the phone Lately I'd been feeling Unsettled and unfulfilled Spent too much time of mine thinking Yet I find myself thinking still I know that I am now needed Somewhere for something by someone Knowing there is so much that I can do That so far had been left undone I was hoping you could help me Find out exactly what that was I was hoping you could help me You know that you've earned my trust I'm longing for your healing touch To take the form of a warm embrace For I'm now feeling down on my luck Oh how I miss your smiling face

STILL ROCKING THE WORLD

A0532 — rank 170

If you were an explorer You would have found Exactly what you seek If life was a mountain You'd be standing at the peak If you were a miner you'd find love in a heart of gold If life was a river you'd be swimming 'gainst the flow If Einstein was a musician He'd have studied Your technique If music had a body Then you'd be Its heartbeat If Mozart was a scientist his mathematics would walk and talk on their own If music lived a life then you'd breathe that life into its soul And If you let the people select Then you'd be the guy that they'd elect.... For the youtube music hall of fame There'd be a giant statue of Lai And next to that would be one of everyone with whom he's played If mankind had a voice your solo'd be the one of choice for the youtube music hall of fame

Change

A0004 — rank 171

I’m awoken Not broken I was toking Listening to Joe Rogan Wondering how long until he’s calling For me to be coming on his show I’m just trying to get noticed But nobody knows this So many magnifying glasses out there Yet where are they focused? At others not on yourself So you really think that’s gonna help? Free your mind from bad thoughts That be plaguing like they’re locusts Oh...it’s a slow death That so many live Sad ‘bout what they didn’t give But tell me who benefits? Those who do the opposite Of everything that they say Mother f*cking hypocrites Especially on election day! Five fingers slowly closing And about to form a fist Relax, don’t relapse, resist Close your eyes, look inside, believe this: I can do better than I’m doing now I can pull myself up some way; somehow The circle’s been spiraling out of control As I’m deep in doubt of everything that I know With my past as my compass I left and now I’ve returned To scorched earth and bridges burned Hey, they say nothing ventured nothing learned And now I’m running out of places to go There’s not many left to call friend or foe And I’m running out of directions I have yet to face Even inside my soul no longer seems like such a safe place… Running out of answers, excuses, people to blame I’m hiding under the covers whenever I hear my own name I’m starting to think I’m never gonna get back to where I once was again Seems I’m gonna have to change my game Rather than cling to that same old refrain

Rescue

A0010 — rank 172

I know a man who died for his country But it's probably not quite what you think Paul was a rescue worker at ground zero And when he went he was imbibed with drink You see he drank himself into a stupor A hundred grand in the hole with medical bills His country said he had a pre-existing condition Sorry, but it wouldn't help him cure his ills Since they never asked him for his help For any of the three months that he was there When he got sick like so many others did They told him where to go... and it wasn't there For they never asked Paul for his help He just showed up on his own accord Then he got sick like so many others did And so this is his reward? All he got was this song by me No medal of honor No key to the city All he got was a cold shoulder's turn Chronic bronchitis and first degree burns All he got was a name and a date On a stone that his parents paid for All he got was a slap in the face For following the advice of JFK And other greats who came before What did we learn? Keep on walking? The next time you hear a cry for help As this voice in our ear keeps on talking Let us go before we fall victim ourselves...

H2Oh

A0012 — rank 173

I don’t hide who I am I’m not that kinda man...anymore On what I don’t know I don’t speak and think slow...for sure The best place to hide a lie Is in between two truths Sometimes pretty eyes can blind you And disguise what otherwise would suffice as proof When one’s identity seems to be Seeded in the imitation of mediocrity To be superior to the inferior Just makes you average at best Most often even less Ten percent of the people have ninety percent of the fun And what’s left for all the rest ain’t enough for everyone Uh Uh… So you know how that goes You keep it all bottled up Wait and see when and where it’s gonna explode Best to keep a safe distance For there will be blood when this thing goes up Unless it’s too late and it’s already check mate Here we all are living in a comatose state If that’s the case Then why should we wait? Let us not hesitate End all of this debate Open up the floodgates Purge and cleanse the earth Let the H2O flow Drown out all the hate!

Smackdab

A0013 — rank 174

I got lost in an idiot coma Tangled in weed, my ego and greed, my soma Dumbed downed to such a degree Nobody recognized me When I was lacking form Oh how the flies did swarm And other creatures meaning to do me harm I see what’s bad for my health Worst of all for me was myself I was becoming someone, something else… I landed smackdab in the middle of rehab “Lucky for me it was only weed” reads the hashtag Worse than just the munchies and constantly being paranoid Looking back at me I saw a junkie Who kept trying to fill the void I dropped the sauce And kicked the blow What seems like Two lifetimes ago When I was outta breath I gave up cigarettes I got just one thing to do That I haven’t done yet… I’ve never not had something to help take off the edge I’ve forgotten what it’s like to live inside my own damn head I’ve taken too many hits from the bong That’s usually how I get along All my life - now I’m not saying it’s wrong My mind’s been reminding me it’s time to move on

Always Moving

A0015 — rank 175

I only free my mind when it's closing time I only find my way home when I am truly alone The only doors open Are the ones I can't slam shut The only lesson I've yet to learn Is that enough is enough I always find myself moving But it's not always up The only piece of mind I ever find Is lying on the floor and yeah that's tough No this is not another fiction So far, far from a fable I'm simply biding my time For as long, as long as I am able But don't get me wrong I'd never sell myself short I'd be the man with the gavel If the world was a court In another time On another day Things might not have Been this way But when I woke up I put on my shoes Came to this conclusion We all gotta pay our dues But just what device do you use To measure wasted time? And just who made the ladders We're supposed to climb? I guess that's just part of the great mystery The Rubik's cube we must all unfold Something accidentally deleted When they were writing history Just another piece of paper discarded As they were walking down the road

Shepherd

A0020 — rank 176

Trapped in this invisible cage Forced to live within the confinement of society Walking along the roads that they paved Worshipping the idols that they made Stray too far from the master’s eye He will yank on your leash causing you to yelp Free thought and free expression Has such a cost that few will dare pay And if they choose to pay then they are branded With the devil’s conceit and called underhanded Sacrificed for the good of the many So that none will step out of line The courageous have been exiled To the land where there are no sheep Only wolves Just where they would want a shepherd to reside Where only the birds hear his words And only the stars heed his call Off in a foreign land of languages That no one understands He cries to the moon and prays to the sun Tears and prayers never answered The master must have his hand upon them too But one day the master will fall asleep Leaving unherded all of his sheep For even Achilles had his heal And to God even the Pope must kneel ‘Tis then that the shepherd will raise his cane Time for Abel to see the face of Cain No longer will the people be deceived As the true shepherd shall finally be received It shall then become known as evident To every resident That there is no need for any priests or presidents The shepherd will unite As the master urges all to fight The battle lines will then be drawn up As wrong verses right But the color of blood Will drip shades of gray The true color of the people Is neither white nor black As they slowly turn red The day is coming The shepherd is back The day the master dreads

Good Seat

A0022 — rank 177

Have you ever bought a picture Just because you liked the frame? Have you ever quoted scripture Just because it backed up your claim? Have you ever done nothing When doing something would have changed the outcome But since you didn't everything remained the same Because you just sat on your thumbs The powers that be Finally let me hold the gun But I’m not sure of which way I’m supposed to aim it… No, I’ll never make anyone rich… But now I can make you famous! Lesson one: Don’t give a gun to just anyone Especially one that’s loaded I’ve seen a powder keg Left unguarded so I got a good seat so I could see to watch it when it exploded It’s a good way to die No, I wouldn’t mind going out that way A nice thing to have written on your grave Lots of people would talk I wonder what they would say? Sure, he shot straight… But didn’t always know that sometimes it’s best to walk away

Beats Growing Corn

A0026 — rank 178

I’m just a farmer growing marijuana I don’t wanna harm ya I’m not trying to alarm ya Just here to tell you That I bought a new shotgun With the name on it of anyone caught Trying to snatch my crops and run I built some giant fences To use as my defenses Against anyone here not coming to their senses Grandma’s in the tower feeling like king of the hill She drools while she chews bullets She’s got great aim and shoots to kill My wife is in the greenhouse pickin’ all my crops While my youngest son spends his time keeping an eye out for the cops I’m not gonna harm ya Not trying to alarm ya Just be weary when you visit a marijuana farmer Wintertme around this place you couldn’t feel any higher Whenever we get cold we toss another plant into the fire The heat is always set between eighty and ninety-five It’s actually amazing that we’re still alive We’re just simple folks having fun before we’re old If you’re ever passing by come on in from the cold The door is always open and the fire’s always warm We all think that this is the life… Hell…. It sure beats growing corn

On Defense

A0028 — rank 179

Sitting here all alone Keeping one eye on the clock And the other on the door Should I go home? Knowing this madness won't stop Just sit back and relax And see what's in store? When your memory finally gives in And you forget about where you've been You can only think about where you're going Hiding the pain that you can't relieve All those lost feelings you find so hard to retrieve Those thoughts you think that You shouldn't be showing Yet it is that which you truly believe That so many others find it hard to conceive That you know deep inside That everyone should be knowing Caught up here in the rat race of time Slowly separating from the rest of mankind Can't seem to free myself from my own mind Whatever lies ahead I am willing to leave it all behind Sitting here on the fence, man Waiting for some kind of sign Wanting to see the master plan Through the eyes of the divine Yet my patience is wearing thin Perhaps I'll let this night pass As I'm sleeping and let a new day begin And continue my search for something to believe in

Hope Floats

A0029 — rank 180

Rise up, rise up and follow me... For I've been sent to help defend Good old democracy From all you corporate kids Who've failed to see... What's blowing is more than just the breeze There's lots of negative energy Coming from your cries of “What's in it for me?” Won't you kindly Oh pretty please Show me or tell me: What do you love about yourself? Come on now, honestly... Surely it'll end up no surprise When we all see far worse Than sad eyes and bruised pride When the U.S.S. Enterprise Is engaged in Star Wars As we all run for our lives... If we just let things be... We'll find that our state of mind Will be in a state of remorse Ooh...there is and will be great misery If we get too greedy Actually, we may already be Swallowed up by an endless sea Inside the big black hole Known as the status quo Sure, they can sink my boat But they can't take my hope That's still beyond anyone's control So with that it's time for me to go... Telling everyone I know There's something better Waiting down the road Just what it is I can't wait to see... And who'll be Standing next to me Well, time will show

Even

A0044 — rank 181

That I stick to beer and pot About me that says a lot Shows I still have some self-control Yet at the same time I just wanna let go… Just need to escape But I know there’s no escape Most times I find I’m too smart for my own good So I don’t do things I should End up in places other people never would… The one true cost can only be paid with time That’s the way it is with love No use trying to deny it Or crying out shouting you’ll defy it All that’s been said Is still in your head You can accept or reject it A body, heart, mind, soul infection This seemingly fatal affliction Everything thrown at you but the kitchen sink And you’re thinking It really is time give up drinking Better that than loving Sometimes loving is better than leaving Sometimes leaving is better than living In deception and self-deceiving If you catch my drift And take this tip I’d call us even Maybe that would end this rhyme With some reason…

My Little Hands

A0055 — rank 182

I know it seems like things are going slowly... Although I must say I feel anything but lonely I used to hide in the corner where nobody could see me My dark shadow would follow and it would never free me Just stood there beside me... Would never release me I could never find The inner peace within me Never mind the thought Of letting it lose sight of or releasing me Never let me fly... Kept holding my hand And yet I never asked why I couldn't run like the other ones Have my summer fun Instead only the shade Of an empty room An unoccupied and empty mind But the bed was made And in they'd help me climb It was there I stayed With drawn blinds My little hands prayed For a single friend to find With a smile to lend One whose heart beat kind It was at this very second I got a phone call from you So I stopped writing and recording It was then I knew that this song was through

All In

A0073 — rank 183

When she said her cell phone was on “I’m too far gone” was my response I just might tell you something I’ve mentioned a time or two before How a meeting in the middle Might really be a step forward But I don’t push it… Nah, I don’t go there… Since there’s so much at stake I hesitate as I pull back in fear So there I go painting myself into a corner Looks like I’m in for one long afternoon Lately I been feeling like a musician Every instrument I touch is outta tune I went for a long walk in the sun Far away from everyone With just my music, My past and my soul A big book of poems And a head full of dreams That are beyond my control All this blue sky and sunshine Hasn’t been wasted on me While some might say I’m past my prime I guess they’re not seeing the same picture as me… Since I try to get a little better with every day I live My best day shall be my last on this earth I don’t mind being taken once I’ve got nothing useful to give Once I lose my value and my sense of self-worth Until that day… Don’tcha know that I’m in it to win it… Yeah, I’m all in…all the way!

Barrel Roll

A0077 — rank 184

I was a maurder by design Trying to teach my paradigm The separation of love from lust Is the best way to rise above The sea collects these shiny things And shows them how to rust Yes dead men Are the only ones I trust I collected books And now they collect dust I was a pauper who became a king Once I had and lost everything In too short of time I've learned too much I rarely swear but... We're pretty much f$%^#&d In one sentence That about sums it up It won't be a pretty end When the final day comes But I've had a lot of fun Wondering how I'm gonna die Lalalalalala could be Muslim terrorists Parachuting down from the sky Might get struck by lighting Or a victim of a driveby homicide Insane fears that’ve been preached to me Shall never be my destiny…. For hiding is not living So afraid that something is going to get the best of me Barrel Roll No engine sounds Light ‘em up says Captain Leary Because the plane is going down Or stuck in the barrel on a tidle wave I'll take my final ride... I'll go out in style like a dead president with a smile three feet wide

Better Choices

A0080 — rank 185

Umm…hello. Oh…yeah, I…. Crank out the legitimate lyrical hits And also take and break the fake politicians Yeah, I like to give ‘em sh*t So… sure: you’d think that I’d be: Stinking, filthy rich! But when you’re born to a dirt floor It makes you doubt yourself even more And this is just part of the plan Thought up by men known as the man Though one of the better choices For learning valuable life lessons Is avoiding all toxins and poisons Including thoughts and possessions If life’s a riddle As sometimes I question Then she’s become my answer Or at least a good investment Won’t you just keep this between you and I It wasn’t a lie that I might be the guy Yet I still might put myself above her… So don’t go telling her yet that I love her… Because friends don’t let friends become lovers Without first truly discovering each other And quite honestly…that’s no place to want to be If it would disrupt all sense of harmony Ya know….the most important stuff that you can’t see What you can trust besides the birds and the bees And that we all return to dust quite literally Sure sometimes I rhyme ‘til I’m blind It healed me…this time Together we paddled across this rough sea Luckily for me and you, too Yes all of you, humanity…

Cardboard Box

A0081 — rank 186

I started from nowhere but ended up somewhere But just how I got here I can’t tell you for sure I opened my eyes one day Then suddenly there was sunshine And having no memories I had nothing to track time by My eyes were closed But soon they opened up And once I saw the light I couldn’t get enough I knew that one day The world would open up And I’d get to explore All the doors that were locked And I’d get to find my way Out of this cardboard box That they placed me in and I’ve tried so hard to get out And it gets even worse when You look up and it rains out It’s true… it happened to me I hope it never happens to you You don’t want to be one of The unfortunate people Who get wet in the rain Because they are not equal To the people with money Who get to buy a place where It’s dry and warm and It’s always safe there But if you live to give to others Rather than take it all for yourself People will say nice things when you’re dead Seems that frostbite turned out your lights Once it started to get cold out

Clear View

A0084 — rank 187

I had a clear view through the mirror At what was left behind me And in the rear view I saw nothing back there That I want coming to find me Yes I must confess that I just recently left a big and bloody mess Here I now stand on this dangerous precipice with newly found freedom Knowing I must forget what I let go for not Sure, the war came and went and yet I never fought I ducked for cover, turned tail and hid Now I got the rest of my life to learn to live with it I didn't wanna be a hero When it was time to make a stand So I yelled, "Retreat!!!" as loud as a man possibly can Oh the pain, oh the humanity To see one man lose his sanity Especially when that man is me And I'm lacking a family One that could potentially Say the right things to me That would be the incentive For me to do the right things, you see? But I guess that's why I'm here in the first place Less we forget that I fell Flat on my face in the first race When I carried the weight of the world on my back Yeah, I really thought I could Huh, just try imagining that Ahh...on second thought... I wouldn't... (Well...I would)

Coming Home

A0085 — rank 188

From the first moment I picked up my pen To write her a poem I was never the same My passion keeps on Calling out her name As I became changed Forever by a single day This light of another morning's dawn To me is a fresh page of my life's book Since I've been searching for so long I've only got a few places left to look Have you seen her? The one with the sparkles of diamonds in her eyes? She's got a heart of gold Rock n' Roll deep inside her soul; a tongue that never lies Yes I saw her once But I let her slip away Her picture's worth one million words So there's a lot more I could say I've sketched her into memory Until we shall get to meet again As I watch her delicate footprints Tiptoe across my mind's eye lense Since time heals... whatever life deals I never get upset and still feel no regret Will we find ourselves together... will things get better? Yes, my guess is that I'd take that bet Yeah, because I've been waiting for my baby Longer, much longer, than anybody should Someday the girl who used to tell me, "Maybe..." I'll say, "Well at least now I knew she would" Then whenever I get lonely And my mind begins to roam I'll be thinking of how much I love her And how long it will be before she comes home

Dream Away

A0088 — rank 189

I'm light as a bird I'm free as a feather Hmm...when I first wrote those words Somehow they sounded better... I like the early morning when it's just the birds and I When the sun has just woken up And shown his face up in the deep blue sky And even those who say that there is nothing good that ever lasts Can feel the weight being lifted as for at least one fleeting moment it seems as though all their troubles have passed While watching the birds sing From above atop of their trees Wondering why life couldn't be that simple For all of us, for you and me Oh...to live so free within a world with no restraints To draw on an empty canvas with infinite colored paints Then some peace of mind We could easily find While we take a breath at ease Then we'd look at what we've done In creating our own little masterpiece This is how I meditate In the black of night When it's getting late I dream away to another place A place where People speak in melody Where I don't have to do What everybody's telling me Where we sing songs all day long I know right where this place is found Where we can fly Even without wings As we smell the flowers That the smiling children bring We could all live here If only for five minutes First draw this place inside your mind And now picture yourself in it...

Flair

A0092 — rank 190

She’s got more flair for the dramatic Than Captain Gordon the fisherman’s got haddock Or your radio in Timbuktu’s got static… It’s true That’s what makes this comedy so tragic Herein lies both the loss and the magic… But really, what more is there for one to need? Nothing! That’s what I learned from Lou Reed May he rest in peace… Sometimes it’s not who you know It’s who knows about you And then finds out about me Full of gas price knowledge and coffee pot wisdoms It’s not quite the cup of tea Many make it out to be When they said it sounded like a song That a dead man would write Then said you can take that how you want Since then I’ve hidden way out of sight You see? We’re all broke and in need of fixing Never had money – that’s not what we’re asking Glory be to what… to who? To me? To you? Seems there’s a lot less of that than before left to bask in… I know sometimes that less is more But that’s like knowing there’s a ground floor with a front door And choosing to live forever in the basement or the attic

Fleeting

A0093 — rank 191

Looking back at my reflection through a dirty window Looking forward to better times ahead Thinking about how life is just a series of circles I know it sounds strange These many things that I've said My inspiration is fleeting Like two old friends meeting On a dark and lonely, cold road My head is so deep in the sand I've lost track of time And all that I am I see the faces in bars Have become like moving cars So blurrily driving by Tinted windows you can't see inside Yet we all have our Buried thoughts and our troubled pasts Things we've done and we can't take back Times when we've failed to reap Any of the seeds we've sewn Sure, we worked in the garden Never to harvest what we've grown I just drove by Another forclosure for sale That for a long time ago I used to call my home Talking to ya man-to-man and face-to-face Facts are just that...facts... no regrets, no retracing I'm not a shmoozer anymore I can't talk, lie and smile Until my face get sore I'm not a boozer anymore I can't drink in denial When I say that what I found Wasn't what I set out searching for When they'd ring the bell That meant head towards the door I used to give them hell When anyone would tell me Sorry... we can't serve you anymore

Indigestion

A0108 — rank 192

She was a bender and a molder A shape shifter always in full control And I was her good soldier Playing follow the leader Believing that I need her In order to dig a little deeper Sometimes I hear that mind creeper You see that she turned me into a light sleeper… Gotta keep on or lose your toes Now I wish I could start over Without the overdose That’s coming closer and closer But that’s just the way it goes When it comes to being clean and sober For you see that authenticity Has become the exception To the rulers As the foolers fake the faith healers Into sharing their sacred secrets Long held by the non-revealers Nowadays people say: Hey! Don’t cut in line in front of me Exclaimation point Followed by their favorite obscenity Don’t you know who I am? Who are you? I’m next…oh… Holy Cow! So now… This veggie man has got a beef at the deli… Where oh where is Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli So you can see - just look at me Besides when I’m live on T.V. You know I’m afraid of rejection: I - I - I stutter… why? There’s no no no reply So I’m open to suggestions… Umm….Perhaps it’s just indigestion!

Insist

A0109 — rank 193

I have spied the dawn of a new age Where all the lies are gone I have turned onto a new page Writing of all the wrongs I have crawled through the filth and waste Just to try to put a smile on your face But I just fell down when I couldn’t keep pace Couldn’t bear the weight of the human race Please don’t be mad at me for giving in I tried my best I really did I been so sad I couldn’t keep it hid Gotta suck it up and deal with it I’m just an average Joe, you know Trying my best to fit in Now I'm doing everything I can to blend Just like every other kid I keep my true feelings hid No I never been to Disney Land And I never shook no president’s hand I rarely shave and got a farmer’s tan I economically misbehave By trying to save all that I can But what haunts me is this sin That for so long I’ve been living with I let you fall flat face first for their hired hypnotist For all we been through we deserve some help… So I just dialed my lawyer…I couldn’t resist Now won'tcha hold this rope while I hang myself I insist...

Jumping Jack

A0111 — rank 194

This is all make believe My contribution to our race Is a shrine to myself And a worn out public face Why should I bother telling a story That paints me as a villain when I could have glory? I've been trying to forget That I gave up on a sure bet Been having a moment of regret Got a strange tingle in my head Just right now as a matter of fact My lid did a flip a mental jumping jack This is a fairytale I could go anywhere I could fly or set sail I could leave far from here Wait…this is just a fantasy That helps to fill my void When I don't hear the word "daddy" From a little girl or boy However, this is not my destiny… Just one guy’s quest looking for clarity Am I in it to win it? For love? Or is all this just to satisfy my vanity? What I want most is to leave a legacy Free of enemies; One filled with positive energy I want people to say…no, shout... good things about me Even those who once had their doubts about me They’ll all stand up and vouch for me: I was wrong about that guy I’ve found He used to bring everybody down Boy, he sure turned his life around

Life Line

A0120 — rank 195

I got a hundred dollars in my pocket Love in my heart and still I got my good name I watched the sun break through the clouds And I began to feel happy again That's the power of Mother Nature Good karma and strength in one's soul When all it takes is one good moment To remember who you are And regain your self-control Sure, the beer in my hand Helped to lift my spirits high But it would have brought out the worst in me Had my life been based upon The building of a series of lies Yet when you search for eternal truths The essence of existence of it all It's times like these you know you will rise When so many others will fall Sometimes in the name of being selfish You can find the greatest good As you understand your place in this world You learn things became as they should Still air can define a lifetime Just as swirling breezes can become too strong Sometimes what's needed is to be thrown a lifeline And to know it's alright when everyone tells you you're wrong For the morning is wiser than the evening As ignorance grows bliss with the setting sun Life's lessons often involve grieving For both what you have and haven't done

Me And You

A0124 — rank 196

Corporatists hire hypnotists To collect all the liars Who come up with new lyrics That the public just can’t resist This runaway rhetoric Which greases the pliers That acts as the wrench To turn the screw That becomes part of the wall They keep trying to build To separate me and you Once upon a time Time it was still And right before that Life was beautiful Long before machines Could kill at will Soon you and I Were awakened from our slumber We became mechanized And then given a number I found a cat Living in a boat The boat was in a yard Where it sat all summer Covered up by a tarp There’s a skunk Sleeping beneath the plow When the cat goes to bed Then the skunk comes out That’s what this world is coming to My back yard’s become a zoo Imagine the farms are worse than this When the people don’t even fit There’s no place left for the animals to live…

Me, Myself And I

A0125 — rank 197

The scenery is changing The sky is growing bluer No more loose ends left hanging You tied the knot You untied the knot Now you wish you never knew her But wait a minute... This isn't one of those types of songs You've shared some great times together And you were oh so happy when she first came along But then the time came When it was time for a change Once your heart began wandering And your thoughts became strange Now the only face you see in the mirror Belongs to you for it is your own For the first time that you can remember You woke up cold and all alone Yet there was sunshine Pouring in through the window The morning started off cold But the weather got better from there Though it seems like a lifetime ago The last time you had found yourself here You fought with and defeated your pride Soon struck a deal with your ego Now that your other half has disappeared You feel that a weight has been lifted Now you roar like a lion and you can soar like an eagle The town might be empty and the streets might be clear Sometimes it seems the whole world has left you And yet you are not scared Everyone has retreated back to from whence they came At least now you finally know everybody by name You're getting along just fine… Giggling and laughing And having a good time Thinking that now your best friends 'til the end Are me, myself and I Of course you might reminisce…but you surely don't cry

Melting Snow

A0126 — rank 198

Just hoping you’ll come along Now that calls for a song Just thinking of you tonight Gives me more poetry to write For words must be my comfort When you can’t be here by my side Some nights when lovers sleep alone They find they are not cold yet deny But you and I have passed that test Neither one of us was pressed from that mold I sleep well knowing as I rest I’ve seen that special something that you’ve showed… The warmth of your eyes Could easily melt snow Just how do you choose allies? Well, sometimes you just know Everybody needs a helping hand Sometimes even two When I cry you’ll dry my tears Because that’s what lovers do I got some money Maybe I’ll spend it on you I still got some love left Hopefully enough to get us through In this world of disparaging remarks We all need to hold something true Whenever you need me I’ll be there And I know I can count on you

Mister Ed

A0128 — rank 199

Morals are a waste… As long as you follow orders And you lack haste For you there’s no wait You are now a practicing politician So long as you can lie With a smiling face To your fellow race And lack any strength In your convictions Especially when you help create Made up facts out of fiction Like the time you said about Mr. Ed Nine out of ten women could find a way to resist him Well he debunked the myth and then he bucked the system It’s the lawyers who will come next With the corporate bankers… I’d like to ring their gold necks Handing them their asses back After cashing in their checks Find Lockheed Martin’s Robert J. Stevens Fill both his pockets full with rockets Light them up and watch him take off Lobbyists for big oil and tobacco road I’d like to fill their heads with helium So they’d float away and explode… There’s so many more Shall we make a list? Of those greedy people Who serve as corporatists?

New Currency

A0130 — rank 200

Atop the ocean floats dead things Wrapped up all nice in a warm coat of oil At my feet lies a polluted field Here where there was once rich soil Do only us poor souls know That not much can grow and thrive in poverty? Thus I’ve had problems lately Just providing for and feeding my family So much so I’ve been thinking about Uprooting the whole family tree I’d sure like to move I just don’t have the money Here I stand looking up at a man Who holds in his hands the new currency He sold away our dreams for fear As he says he knows what’s best for me But what does fear buy? It buys control… And it also buys time When the elites don’t know: Just how the people they will respond To all the injustice that’s been going on Both domestically here and also abroad By those who get off on playing God Such a tangled web of truth, deception and lies Who can’t we trust? Here are some names to examine: The Illuminati believe they’re the only souls of worth For what they strive for is both feast and famine Free Masons want to rule the world But I can’t say I really blame them Bilderberg wants control over all the earth These ruthless lions no one can tame them Seems we’re all now paying for an imperialist past That our government knows should have been taxed To the concerned citizens of the old regime Hence this learned dissident has been a busy little bee Gathering up information And trying to unravel the scheme Ever since this burden Was passed and placed onto me I’ve yearned to learn all about the world’s history Of the evolution and expansion Of the total lack of humanity I think it was Gandhi who once said famously: “Western Civilization – it does indeed… Sound like a good idea to me”

New Planet

A0131 — rank 201

Empty polling places mean Cracked and shifting political bases… Confused and unhappy Looking down at the ground With a frown faces… Goin’ around and around all over town To all these places… As if they’re up in the air All plugged in to outer spaceland… Less than a person More of a manifestation Just a series of gestures And causal relations Barely branded as human Of unknown origins or nations Speaking in non-tongue talking gibberish Declaring self-righteous and indignant proclamations As the minority of the opulent Pay space taker uppers and people place holders To hold signs that state: ‘It’s STILL love if you love to hate’ and ‘Hegemony before survival’ While here on the other side of the line Is me standing and holding mine that reads: The majority of the populous Disagrees and we hereby decree: We want a world without war Not a war to end all wars For if we see world war three Then our world may fail be… Oh masters of the universe To the Wizards of Davos I pray Won’t you get back inside your limousines Tell your assistant to have your driver Take you real, real far away… The one race you don’t want to win Is the race to our final demise and destruction It’s best to give in to the livin’ just to fight again Than it is to say you won and make a final sign Saying: WARNING! DANGER! BROKEN! New planet now under construction Yeah, we’re all f%&$ed then… (Note: Lawn Noams sold separately!)

Nine To Five State Of Mind

A0132 — rank 202

I'm never going to be as smart as Noam, baby I'm never going to be confused with Chomsky, no… I'm looking to gather up like-minded people I'm trying to find like-minds, you know… I'm trying to gather all the like minds That I can find: as I think it's time… For us to unite and rally around a reason – How about my rhymes? Let’s go from scared safe To balls-to-the-wall Go-for-it-all Hell, screw this system! That's why I am here… Nine-to-five Is a state of mind that must be resisted……… The result of a wreckage of lies Oh how the truth becomes twisted……. As you turn your head to read and hear what was said….. Oh, by that time has passed – you already missed it……… You missed it…..and I’m sorry It was only a puddle, it was shallow Just as the dreams they sold you They were all were hollow…. Remember there’s still tomorrow…. If you put a value in a moral Rather than to take money To end any and all quarrel…. If you speak up loudly Against something horrible If you feed the birds And try not to run over squirrels

Number One

A0134 — rank 203

We were never really sure Just exactly what his name was But we knew that he lived right next door And he’d always try to scam us But we both knew what to expect From someone surviving off a government check A lot of people say hey what the heck I’m living in the projects So be it Cal, Carl or Kyle You still know all the right numbers to dial And when we see you You always come with more than just a smile You may check his pockets But you forgot about his socks When he comes a’ knocking Then the party really rocks It’s like paying for a friend Always asking for some money to lend But I bet he rakes in more than us For all the errands he’s been sent A man with more stories that a preacher Of life’s not fair he is the teacher He costs about thirty-five cents on the dollar But you don't get dirty, you just give him a hollar But I am not trying To paint his picture in blood Because he’s ranked number one in the world When it comes to getting bud (Note: bud is another name for mary j.)

Of The Daze

A0135 — rank 204

I used to be so incredibly free What the hell did they do to me? I used to walk in the woods And breathe clean air Now I tried to go back there But they’re not there Doesn’t anybody care? Does anyone dare speak up? Has anyone had enough? I say hello to someone on the street They respond with “Who me?” Just put their head down and walk on by So I’m thinking “So sue me” I should be quiet or they probably will And I ain’t got no free time to kill Every day’s a race against the clock You think it will but it’ll never stop Beware of the suites Beware of the ties Beware of the truth Beware of the lies You know what I’ve found It’s all meant to drag you down Be careful of the badges Be careful of the light Be careful of the daze Be careful of the night Not everyone is here to serve and protect Just getting home safely is a real project Every path taken is not direct Living round here what else would you expect?

Perception Shift

A0141 — rank 205

I’ve been beginning to wonder If really I do care at all? Or am I too scared to ever try to fly Because I know that I might fall? Oh…to have an answer to it all… Well she just turned her head again Now I hope she looks the other way No, I don’t wanna fall in love today I thought not this time will I be led astray Have I really lost my deeper devotion To make anything greater than my art To speak or say nothing of love… Oh, what will become of my heart? Lost, it’s gone, my greatest gift Since I’m still reliving my past While stuck here in the future With this present that’ll never last Am I strong enough to do what it takes? Am I afraid to awake from a fairytale world? I’ve been fast asleep And yet still I hesitate How much longer will she wait? I keep telling her she’s my girl And that we’ve both met before Someplace that didn’t have a floor We met there and we danced In this timeless and spaceless land We learned the meaning of all meaning Was ours to be held inside our hand We yearned for the reason behind reason Knowing that it was ours to understand We faced the fact that reality and fantasy Are whatever you want them to be Same goes for nightmares and dreams And everything else in between Perception shift is an exceptional gift But to be blind all the time and left tapping a stick Seeking advice from those who’re nice is a risk I’d rather not take for it’s too easy to fake (cough, cough)…Kinda like being sick

Prism

A0144 — rank 206

I feel kinda like a baker no not a banker without an oven I feel like a tester no not a taster that's why they make a baker's dozen I'm a free-er not a collector I'm a see-er not a speculator I'm a greeter not a see you later Oh how I hate her! Give ya a false crocodile smile, alligator! If you keep your head in the smog Please find another planet to live on For if your life happens to be without a goal Then to me your life has become worthless Just another worn out rubber clog A shoe that's lacking a soul For four walls without a door is known as a prison And a prison without a window is no place for me I have a crystal just need the light to form a prism That'll give me something pretty Something shiny for all to see Everybody's got something When they got nothing A little escape A little freedom A little something To make the time pass But that time Eventually catches up to you Especially when you feel So distant from those You're the closest to For when I saw your eyes You knew that I knew There are winners There sure are sore losers There are sinners Then there are the boozers Some roll pinners Yeah, that's the users And finally those who close their innards They're the refusers

Red On My Rose

A0149 — rank 207

I’ve been wanting to see you While waiting to tell you That things have changed Since the last time that we last spoke Me, he who was once So rich with love Well, I still have no money But I’ve never been broke Nor broken or defeated That’s why I’ve been looking forward to us meeting So I can tell you the news I want to write a song for you Have you ever been a muse? Lately I’ve been tapping my toes And feeling far less confused Even though I don’t know Just how the melody goes Nor am I sure of the words They’re still here inside of my soul Still I’m inspired to write tonight Even though I recently lost my best friend And now I’m back with just my pen Feeling so happy-go-lucky just to feel love again For a long time My heart was closed Yet you pried it open… I bet you didn’t even know For so long I hid it not to leave it exposed You’re the one who did it you put the red back on my rose At the same time you put the smile on my face When I found myself in such a negative place Trapped inside a time When I thought I fell from grace You made me want to stand up And rejoin the human race I’m inspired to write today About what’s been on my mind the most I’ve been wanting to bring you a flower For putting the red back on my rose

Splendiferous

A0159 — rank 208

When I make myself shake I know I’ve hit upon what is splendiferous Oh I see you in the distant light And with this…this greaterinsite… I bow down to what I have deemed to be glorious… No, I need not bow down to my knees Nor become a victim to your disease I let you in to do what you please Be it show me love or cease my existence Or whatever you please there would be no resistance Because I trust in you and your good intentions My love for you hence needn’t be mentioned For you know where I stand Firm with you…your wish is my command Snap your fingers and I’d be there in an instant You have my heart but you’ll never have my soul For you’d never sign your name on the dotted line To take from me that which is beyond my control That why I find myself being less Than half of what is the whole That’s why I laugh when people say, “You know…she’s really got ahold Of your heart and of your mind You know she could do you great harm If she ever feels inclined” Then the time when I’d reply: You know I’d say, “I do” Yes, even when I didn’t I love her ‘til death does part And ever after and I ain’t kidding She could use me as bait Just to go out fishing She could burn me a hundred times I’d still be her kindling You have to believe in something In this world of crooked institutions And if she’s my biggest problem I’d never, ever seek a solution She could tell me I was a monkey I’d say, “To hell with evolution!” If she wanted to pimp my soul I’d respond, “I’m cool with prostitution” I reached that point where I love her more than me If you ever hurt her you could find me in the penitentiary For snapping your neck like a chicken without even blinking Give me a life sentence or a term of a century I’d do the same again so go ahead and try me Plug in the chair and then hit the juice and fry me Sometimes life isn’t fair but if she came crying to me Then you better disappear because she’d never lie to me So warning beforehand is the best way to portray That I’d spend my entire life in darkness if it would brighten up her day But there’s no need to be frightened So long as you treat her and her boy okay…

Statues In Capsules

A0160 — rank 209

All that’s left to keep you holding on Is the memory of a loved one’s face But soon even that’ll be gone As the humming of the machine Is growing stronger by the day And while that face is beginning To become erased it is you Who also slowly disappears All that’s left is the shadow of the displaced, A sense of trembling and eyes full of tears Oh…that sound you hear means the machine is here Since it feeds off of fear it just keeps on eating And eating and eating Feeding off of everything We are, we ever were or we ever thought of being It will all be swallowed up All our moral fiber and every goal of achieving Keeps on chewing up until you got nothing to believe in Every thought that you’ve been sold Even the myth you’ve been born into That has become part of you And so slowly you’ve become soldered to Has become a cement base which holds you As you wait it dictates your fate: it encapsulates you And soon it creates another human statue One that looks just like you, in fact it is you… Your mind’s inclined to say: It might be time to give it up When you’re forced to face the face Admit the fact that every institution is corrupt Yet you know crime only loans… It doesn’t really pay Is what people who think straight say: After you get in… you gotta get out Time to take on another nobler trade Before you wear down or wear out A lesson in life can be learned So many different times and ways But since your sense of pride is fake Your still let you ego stands in the way Since your senses have been dulled As all light has been dimmed Your face can’t see our fears illuminated Or that we’ve got to regain power again Maybe then we’ll all realize The troubled shape we’re in Then we’ll say, “To hell with statues And being trapped in capsules I only wanna be a man (or woman); A free human being

Street Level

A0161 — rank 210

The street level sidewalks At first made him feel vulnerable and far less superior But the three hour talks Were simply so magical That three years disappeared... His internal clock Told him it was time To either move on Or else move in To either give up, to see it through Or else to give in Since that's what they're used to When you let everybody else Face you in the direction in which They think you should be heading As if when you wish you could flick a switch Just like you would turn on and off a light Wouldn't it be easy? Oh, wouldn't it be nice? If you could just sit right back And let other people run your life When you faced a tough decision Or when you knew you had to make a change Call a time out and put them in For certain plays in the game At least there'd be someplace else to point the blame...

Tasty

A0163 — rank 211

I’m using you as my crutch….. And it sucks But it seems to be enough….. That’s my bluff I'm using you as my drug... Gimmie hug That'll have to be enough... That's good stuff! I dug a hole in my soul Covered my hurt with dirt When I lost my possessions I gained control With empty pockets I finally got paid what I was worth I thought it was something When it turned out to be nothing, no… Since they couldn’t collect it It means they couldn’t tax it, so… It meant it couldn’t be treasured Because it couldn’t be sold Since it wasn’t shiny like silver It’d never be as precious as gold So thrown out onto the street To the dogs goes this piece of meat They ripped out the heart of me That was my favorite part of me Will I ever see it again? We’ll see "Umm…tasty" was the last words I heard And with those words the herd dispersed "Yum yum" was all that they said to me And here I am... A broken man Picking up the pieces Of what's left of me....

Time And A Half

A0165 — rank 212

I’m tired of real life And what goes on out there Lately I’ve been seeing Lots of red circles and blue squares As soon as I started working at Lowe’s I started getting high off oil-based paints Did you read my last rhyme? Wrote it in big bright colors and shapes Perhaps a better life indeed Can be found right here in aisle three.... Oh sure it may bring you to your knees But you just found a shiny penny That lay hidden quietly beneath Where the last guy didn't sweep But… at least it's honest So what if it isn't fair? A guy's gotta feed himself He can't leave the pantry bare Can't leave any empty bellies.... Can't look at any hungry stares.... Gotta set the alarm for 5 o'clock in the morning Sure love to hit that snooze button…but I don’t dare! I got boys who want bikes And girls who need toys I’d get that look from my wife If I was ever unemployed…. Sure I might get a check from the state And shortly after the cold side of the bed So that snooze button will just have to wait Another month of Sundays before it’s pressed So what if time and a half Gives me blurred double vision This is much more fun Then taking my kids fishing…. (actually, it isn’t)

Tones

A0167 — rank 213

Gray, dark and ominous clouds Prevent the light Of the bright blue sky As well as the sun From shining down Sure, that's what's up above But down here below I'd still like to know What's stopping you? So my head is deep in contemplation Trying to find the root of the source I'm unsure why there's such hesitation Getting your life back on track at this concourse As you break down your eyes tear You scream, "I want to take the easy way out!" Your nose wrinkles while you bite your bottom lip And the skin by and in the corners of your mouth I then hear your cries of "Why do I have to live in a world where everything dies?" Pretty soon come the sighs... It's your weekly creed These sighs are well-known Though through the years There's an increasingly deeper tone Something positive is what I try to give When I'm at my best I feel the most compelled However lately it seems I've become the voice of everyone's broken dreams Sometimes I find myself Damning it all to hell In a senseless confusion During a paranoid state One man's mastery Over other's illusions By which he keeps on tempting fate

Tools Of Fools

A0168 — rank 214

Who wants to remember? Who wants to forget? Who wants a revolution? Who wants to be led? Who wants to be a leader? Who still needs a saviour? Who is willing to do right now Whatever it is I tell ya? Who is willing to buy Whatever it is they're selling ya? Who is willing to give it the old college try... Come on and give me a yell now! I got something new for you 'Cause what we got right now won't do Everywhere I look this seems to be true All I see are people being used... I bet it's happening right now to you At the top of the hill There's some silly fool Blowing his horn to start the charge But in the front lines it's your mind That screams at you as you're alarmed As you find yourself alone and unarmed To the admirer of the great empire Goes seeking the treasures and the spoils Only because his hands never had to Go turning over the soil Of a freshly dug grave Of a soldier who went to war Of a life that could have been saved Had they known what they were fighting for But what does the fool care if a mother dies from despair Because when her child came home A box of pieces was what was waiting there?

Top Of The Ledge

A0169 — rank 215

I can’t remember the last time No one knocked at my door Asking advice on how to find Something they were looking for I just looked at them and said How can I help you? If I can’t even help myself But I will guide your search And for what it’s worth If for what you dream of never comes true I can get you something else Which will get you through But every label contains a warning That not everybody heeds For sometimes there’s that something That everybody needs I have never been afraid to say goodbye My body is just a way to get me high I keep one foot on the threshold I'm always standing by the door In my never ending my search To find some (thing) more I don’t walk a straight line I tend to drift towards the edge I never ever seek The safety of the ground I always find myself standing On the top of the ledge There is no exaggeration in moderation As denial is a river too wide to cross The water isn’t that great for tasting When finding their way many have gotten lost

Trust Worthy

A0171 — rank 216

Who’ll hold the flame? Who shall carry the torch? Who’ll be to blame? For only sitting on the porch? Who is trust worthy for such a task? Who’ll bridge the gap? But the job is so dirty Who’ll tell us where we’re at? First find a captain And then we’ll find him a hat Even though the boat’s not too sturdy My guess is that later we’ll have to deal with that Elation Devastation Sinking civilization Disheartening realization That eventually disintegration Without complete integration So essential is education Of such fundamental information Why is everyone on vacation? Head in clouds like aviation Cannot save a dying nation Suffering most is our future generation Masked men in ties rule by dictation While young men guard the battle station Defending dead presidents and ask for identification Fighting to save the raft from over inflation Too many enemies you soon realize Frozen with fright as you’re left paralyzed That is why I try to make only allies And walk a straight line - just as the crow flies

Two O’Clock On Sunday Afternoon

A0172 — rank 217

Have you ever felt like You were trapped in time? Or living in a book Whose pages never turn? Not really living Not really dying You say you’re still studying So what have you learned? You try to live your life As if love was tangible That helps make your day A little more manageable Especially when times are tough And becoming harder to handle When passion burns your flame You let love become the candle Yet you are the closest to those Who are the farthest away When asked about your life Then that’s your sentence It’s the first thing you’d say All those who come too close Are bound to get pushed away There’s a support group for those Left hurt or wounded by you That secretly meets once a week It’s a fun place to go Just to see who you know Though it’s always the same story No matter who speaks I’ll give you the address So come by and say hi and hello Sit down and have a healthy cry And a free hot cup of joe If you’re ever free With nothing to do At two o’clock on Sunday afternoon

Unencumbered

A0175 — rank 218

You show me a hero and I'll show you a dead guy Hand me a bow and arrow and I'll hit you a bull's eye Drop a piano out the window and watch the poor people run for their pathetic little lives Get grandma to drink the Draino and you can buy whatever you want to buy… I'll be your alibi When you look at me and think to yourself that I should act my age... I look back at you and wonder who ever let you out of your cage? And when all seven seas get rough The ship’s taking on water fast When the times get tough Feel like your next breath could be your last When you’ve had enough Forget your future and to hell with your past Feeling like you’re handcuffed Chained and anchored To the top of the mast Since you stopped swimming You've barely been able to tread water Forget losing or winning You're getting that sinking feeling That you're washed up cannon fodder Thinking there’s no place for me Except for off the grid For it shall be there Where I'll choose to live I shall dwell in a cave As I barter and trade I’ll keep to myself And the few close Friends I’ve made Who says you need electricity? Certainly nobody not from the last past century and a half Has ever said words like that to me No great explorer or warrior, high priest or king Ever became encumbered by the lack of such a thing I’m a man who just needs a hug For I’m a man who stands alone Inside a hole which someone dug And into which I was thrown Lately punching the clock Is like getting slapped in the face Slowly wasting away the day today Feeling ashamed and disgraced But the fog is fading… Clouds are burning up in the haze What’s left is being blown far away Today just may end up being a good day... So maybe tonight… if the air feels right… Together we’ll take a ride… Up to the hillside… And go stargazing They say what you can see Besides your destiny All at once is both very crazy and truly amaziing...

Unshore

A0176 — rank 219

I walk the beach this summer’s day I can feel the sun but it’s so out of reach Do I want her… is she the one? Questions asked while walking up and down the shore Do I wait or has our time past? Am I treading water in a motionless state? Is she more mother or daughter? Are those same eyes I know The same as I saw before For she left me here and I’m so low (solo) She’s probably home sitting there without a care The oceans blue, but not alone We share this song that I now share with you Are her castle walls just made of sand? Is the rising tide ahead our down fall Is there something she’s trying to hide? Would I even recognize the truth from lies? I still am trying to understand Why she didn’t call and still has yet to show So I walk the beach with an empty hand I’m unsure, still have such a long way to go But now I’ve lost all hope So what else can I do Except pour my gin And smoke a cigarette or two So it comes to no surprise Smoke gets in my eyes And then I begin to cry Okay so I told a lie It wasn’t the smoke at all The reason my tears did fall For down below it all Its because she didn’t show; she didn’t call She made me feel so low (solo) she made me feel so small That I begin to ball I’m going back to bed To rest my weary head Id rather do that instead So just forget all I’ve said Though my story’s been revealed Could no longer be concealed It seems emotions never heal My eyes still red There my story’s now been told My pain is yours, the shores, not just my own See my hearts as black as coal Hidden down deep within my soul My sorrow is now one with the deep blue sea Tomorrow maybe I can set myself free By becoming a sailor deep at sea Who has forgotten this - his history I’d rather be alone than here remain Rather face the sun or storm clouds of rain For when I think of land I think of pain Of something lost and nothing gained

Visions

A0177 — rank 220

Am I setting myself up for a letdown? Will the next season I see be fall? Will I smile for a moment only to frown once again? Putting it all on the line just to lose it all? For every love letter I've ever gotten or sent Was just one more heart that's gonna have to mend Women I’ve met... the list is a mile long Heartbreak I’ve suffered ... sometimes makes it hard to go on What do I get after she's gone? A pile of regret A poem? A song? With every new face and each new passing soul Time wasted comes alive and I feel I’m getting old And what I’ve learned is that some things are out of your control Will this time I rise above or sink deeper into my hole? If you live in a cave... you’ll never see daylight If you never get up on stage... you’ll never have stage fright If you never do it wrong... you’ll never know when you’re doing it right The only thing I have to believe in... is what I saw tonight My past tells me now this is as good as it gets I can change my ways though I have no regrets We’ve entered a new year so place your bets... Can I erase my memories Of some of these things I think I'd like to forget? By the waving of my pen you shall forever live on Though everyone’ll know about the rose in your bong No matter what they think or say you’ll just have to go on Either with or without this poet named Brian Be it by your culture or your ways I am so intrigued Your words are my food and I am ready to feed Perhaps you came along when I was in need Maybe you are my Jesus and I need to believe But don’t let the weight of my world fall upon your shoulders I’ve simply learned to seek what I want as I’ve gotten older In this world of shapes and curves I seek to be the molder With global warming maybe life won’t get any colder All you need is love – I just stole the Beatles’ banner In this earth full of impulses one must learn to be a planner With only one line left it is time to ask you out to dinner Bob Dylan’s not the only one who’s seen visions of Johanna

Wedding Bells

A0179 — rank 221

There's no choice left but to stand and face the music This path you chose to take You didn't have to choose it You took your shot You gave it a go When you had nothing left to lose No matter which direction you face The water level's rising higher Now you're wading up to your waist Perhaps these rain clouds are beginning to break But who knows how long that'll take You've been hiding here in the shadows for so long That you can no longer write the words to any other song The CD is stuck on skip And it's been such a long, hard trip Seems you can't swim Or run from your past No, no one's ever swam Or run that fast As you watch her dance You begin to feel it again Will you ever feel better Well only time will tell... But you know you'll probably never be the same Until ringing in your ears you hear the sounds of those wedding bells... It's just the same old feeling It comes and it goes Will it ever disappear? Nobody really knows But it's back again A pain you know all too well As again you're suffering through This age old hell...

Well, Well, Well

A0180 — rank 222

Well there’s… So many things I’d like to change The world and its ways all be rearranged Too busy pointing fingers Who will pay? Who’s to blame? All the while the problem lingers And things still stay the same Well it’s… Been a long time Since we truly had something to believe in It seems we’re all riding on the edge Daring anyone who blinks To just give us a reason Well you… Can’t make money off the poor So just kick 'em out the door Wipe off the greed that’s sweating out your pores For all of our eyes just make sure You cover all their lesions Caring only for yourself and nothing more Knowing full well what’s in store Doing whatever is pleasing What I call Mother Nature You call whore We don’t own the world Were only leasing Ha ha ha - funny.....funny how? Not like Jackie Gleason Fare well… You’ll never get to see another morning Regretfully, you did not heed to any warning With your me…Not I’s You closed your eyes While our world was burning Well now… You’re unable to rise Chastised and despised You can’t open your eyes Praying there’s no god And you know why No one’s mourning

FEEDING TIME

A0194 — rank 223

Pens, pencils and paper And lots of it… Yeah, ‘cause I’m gonna need it I got a musical monster Living in me… And it’s time for feeding Might I suggest you all stand Behind the dotted line It can get a little messy around here Right about this time Gnashing and gnawing Creeping and crawling Hungry and growling Not listening is not allowed Less you don’t mind dying And forever being branded a coward So you know you must travel onward Capturing the magic of all the music That is held within this realm Keep on feeding the beast You’ve grown to know so well Until it’s time for his release Hold on tightly to the keys of his cell For surely he has got more notes to play And still more stories to tell

HAPPY ACCIDENT

A0196 — rank 224

No, ants and bees Don’t get to do as they please So why do I think Things should be different for me? Just a mindless drone Born with my role in the colony Religion is the tool by which politicians make and then break the rules Much like how Britain writes the scripts America provides the actors Welcome to the s^it Sure, there are other factors As parasites separate from the source That is when they can lead the mainstream off-course My best defense is that my mom was a secondhand knicker-wearing tramp Daddy a well-endowed, bow-legged philosopher And a philanthropist I’d never say I was a mistake... I prefer that I was a happy accident Since mamma never rolled me and the car into the lake Though she once told Bob Ross that she had a little room to rent Trade in you framed pictures for life experience Survive to revive and then thrive by being non-grudgemental Become your own greatest Motivational speaker Be in it to own it and love it because this life ain't a rental

LITTLE DITTIES

A0202 — rank 225

If I could just learn to play this here damn guitar I'd get up on the stage and they'd see I was a bright and shining star And if only one day I could learn to sing They'd play my songs on the radio and They'd pay me royalties like I was a king You see I'm a dancing man deep down in my soul And you know it's all because of my love of rock n' roll I'd do a little ditty and a there we go Gather up, gather round all the friends I know And then go and gather strangers I'm talking 'bout the strangest of the strange We'd all have a good time together Betcha you wouldn't hear very many complaints

LOST LOVE

A0203 — rank 226

The only feelings I conceal That what deep down is not real Is when it comes to breaking hearts I serve deception and untrue love in equal parts It seems that the nature of women Is that emotion rules all The reason they rise The reason they fall I know I should have told her the truth And then maybe run away Because no matter when she knows She’ll still cry anyway… For there's a fine line between... Life and death Noise and silence Thoughts and breath Benevolence and violence There's a fine line between... Peace and war Fortune and fate Me and you Love and hate There's a fine line between... I love you You're just okay We are through Now go away, go away All her fears have begun to mix with tears As thoughts of me act as flashing pictures in her memory As she says: “How someone so dear to me drive me to the break of insanity?” “I’ve always worn my heart upon my shoulder But ever since I’ve been old enough to love The winds of the world keep blowing colder Every day something else loses my trust” And today I found out the truth… But I lost my love…

PESTS

A0206 — rank 227

Do not be afraid… Fly on the wall Tell me what do the six sides of your eyes see? As you sit and lay your eggs on and feed Off all the shit that’s been hurled at me? Do not be afraid… Buzzing bee on my screen Wait a second and I’ll let you fly away I know you sting but so what if I get stung I’d do the same thing again and say it’s okay Do not be afraid… Mosquito on my arm Suck my blood until you’ve had your fill Because feeling like I do today I’d rather itch and scratch than slap and kill Do not be afraid… Spider on the floor I know of all the good things that you can do I’m the one man who just can’t understand Why everyone’s always been so afraid of you Do not be afraid… Termite on my ledge Thank so much for not leaving me alone You’re welcome to eat all of my house Since it no longer feels like my home Do not be afraid… Tiny flea on my bed I’m content to lie beside you instead Of letting anyone else into this room And let their negative thoughts creep into my head And I’m afraid… It’s because of those pests from my own kingdom, Phylum, class, order and race that originally Got me into this mess there in the opening verse Of the very last line in the first place

TRUST YOUR WHISKERS

A0214 — rank 228

She left for work Without saying goodbye Just shook her head and rolled her eyes I'm not sure what I did to her Because when you're hung over such as I Your morning is a blur My little black cat jumped on my bed He looked at me and this is what he said... He said: "I've got to get out of this house... Get up and open the door and let me out!" Just because my life didn't go as planned Doesn't mean that my fate isn't in my own two hands So what if Miley Cyrus never sang my song And Cheech and Chong never hit my bong Maybe it's good Paris Hilton never touched my willie And that Cris Crocker never called me silly Or that David Letterman never had me as a guest And Fred never sent me a friend request Sure, I wrote to Ray Charles once But I bet he never read my letter When I met Jim Morrison in a dream He told me in actuality that the East was better That's when I said: "Trust your whiskers... Have some faith in your inner cat" Why do you think they got eight more lives than you? Because they know what it is, what it does and where it's at

TWO FACED

A0215 — rank 229

Abe Lincoln once said, "If I were two-faced would I wear this one?" He might've been an ugly guy but hey, at least he got stuff done And hopefully you'll say the same about me When it's my turn to be up on that balcony... Then dress me in a three-piece suit After my date with the great, great grandson of John Wilkes Booth I don't know the statistics or logistics But surely when a bullet ends all rebuttal It hurts more than just the guy on the floor Seems to me that we're all in trouble... How many severed heads? How many snapped necks? How many people lay dead? With a bullet lodged in their cerebral cortex? How many great leaders Have been erased before their time? I wonder what this world would be like If it wasn't for such crimes?

POETIC WAX

A0218 — rank 230

Ideological trappings by mastery of the means Hiding the islands now approaching the size and scale of the sea With candle wax in their eyes They rose like trout The gladiators of the quill All fell ill As with closed-mouth zeal They discovered the dormant genius By way of the slippery verbiage Of another A smug bumbler My most ablest aide No provincial bumpkin But a born crusader Unveiled in this convoluted saga In which autodidacts Squeeze tightly over their reigns While fletching ladies promenade By way of the contracted receptacles of bigotry Flout the odious past the drunken sage Living room forums were held on principle grounds Conscripts hid in the sand Those subtle rascals all went underground History can be murdered by the moral majority Or by just an army of one if it is extemporaneously allowed… As they say if the peg hole fits then place in it the proper dowel So smoothly did they lay on the flattery as if with a trowel It was an assault from the inside Within one’s own direct complicity Sinister plotters now return to their labyrinth of fancy layers Since crime, once exposed, has no refuge except in audacity The destruction was mutual In this phased out withdrawal Offering protection from contagion But hey… may God bless us all!

SHIMMERING

A0230 — rank 231

by tom jensen I think I just saw the look The one that I've been waiting for The one that once just shimmered Every now and again Suddenly has a shine much more brighter than before Seems that there maybe a reason Why the Earth turns as it does In a world full of changing seasons Tis' this our time for love? So beautiful an experience That I have just felt My eyes are watering But it's my heart that now melts Last night you would not find me sleeping Even though I certainly was dreaming It looks like I have just found somebody worth keeping For I've learned from mistakes That I've made in the past Before I'd fall asleep Could this be the time when something great will last? When I was young I learned to walk Only later did I learn how to crawl When I was younger I learned to stand Only later did I learn how to fall Yes, I finally put a name to a face And such a beautiful face it was I've finally had an intelligent conversation That not many lately have risen above I have finally found a voice worth talking to I've finally found someone worth walking with I usually settle for my second choice just to make due Yet this time I was interested without faking it Her mystery is in her illusion As her sanity has become my confusion Is she really all that she seems? Or in reality is she a collection Some kind of reverse projection of all my shattered dreams Eyes of passion and without loneliness A heart of gold that fights off bitterness With such deep thoughts I have mixed emotions Have I really found love and total devotion? For once I saw the light but it was so bright That I ran away That was a long time ago Many years have passed So many times I look back And wished I hadn't strayed Now tears again they sting my eyes Sitting here hoping it's not a lie That people can change And that all great books can turn their page

ANOTHER SONG

A0234 — rank 232

When I’m with you… I never want to say goodbye To a face so beautiful, that the angels sigh I think of you… in thoughts so kind I painted your picture, hang it in my mind An artist with an inspiration Attempting to portray what is true Michael Angelo couldn’t paint a picture Beautiful enough to match what my eyes see When they are looking at you Or what my heart feels Whenever I’m thinking of you Oh whenever I’m with ya My mind paints your picture During the last second I see you You do what no one else can do To a man that paints pictures with words The fact that I traded my paper and pen I guess it may seem quite absurd That I’ve given up my pen For oil and canvass again The day I looked into your blue eyes The love I felt was such a surprise I would always remember your face The last second that I saw you As I’d become the greatest artist in the world Every time that I would draw you I used to write my words of love Believing I would never cease until my death I used to find myself sleeping With only paper and pen As I’d awake with anxious breath But I just found an old poem That I once wrote for you I’ll add it with the rest To the top of the pile Of dreams that never came true When you told me you were leaving I somehow found the strength To write once again Convinced myself that I was happy Just to have you as my friend But captured here in rhyme Your memory still it lives on As I now remember you Long after you have gone With or without you I will have to be strong Since it was not meant to be Then this will just be a song

POLITICIAN BLUES

A0254 — rank 233

Someday I’ll be famous And everyone’ll know my name (Of course I’ll probably change it first) Someday I’ll be a star with all this fortune and fame (I probably won’t like it much though) It all starts now and it all starts here I sing real loud, the message is clear Be yourself, do what you have to do Life is tough But somehow I know you’ll make it through Even if you don’t like me this still applies to you There’s a new path unpaved so it’s up to you We’ve been taught to follow the leader - you do it too It can’t be that way anymore Time for us to settle the score Start pushing the old values aside No more can we run and hide The government that rules us Practically everyone is a liar Word’s catching on and on And now it’s spreading like a fire They’ve talked enough nothing more they can say Just follow me and I’ll show you the way Going to Washington D.C. Time to meet the true enemy But beware For their twisting tongues will tell you it’s me Don’t listen to them if you want to be free Join us - every color and race Speed up! - We’ve got to quicken the pace Million man march - huh - multiply that by ten History, we’re going through it again Do it for the homeless you meet Do it for the children on the street Think about the hungry, the ill, and the sick We’ll dismantle the system brick by brick

SONG FOR MEDIOCRITY

A0258 — rank 234

What is the single greatest hypocrisy? We are lacking a song sung In the name of mediocrity So now we’re all blessed Since I guessed it was up to me To pen something For over ninety-percent of humanity Perhaps true happiness is just a dream? Being great just might not be as great As it might seem Especially if you’re still unable to unravel the fable And the moral of the story Wasting your words on your former days of glory Since all the tales that you have told Are all recycled and old And a preacher who isn’t following Is the same as eating without swallowing Never ever forgetting history And yet still forever regretting yesterday So far unable to just let things be Wondering why things went this way? When you should have been trying To unlock the mystery But you still begin most of your days By screaming out, “Fu@#ing ‘A’” Sometimes you close your eyes Hoping it would all go away Since the power’s in the mind It works both ways: Either find your way home in the darkness Or else be easily led astray It takes a strong hand to turn the page And write an all-new chapter For you can always pick something else If you can’t capture what you’ve been after Yes, I guess it took awhile Before I knew I’d never do what I wanted to do When I looked at someone who was average And thought to myself that, “I am just like you” Someone says, “Power to the people” But I just can’t find the strength today It’s so hard to think about tomorrow When you’re still trapped in yesterday When will this clouded curtain lift? When will these winds begin to shift?

TWO OF A KIND

A0259 — rank 235

We’ve been best friends for years We’ve said all we can say Figured we’d be at each other’s side When it came down to judgment day We’ve had mud on our feet And dirt in our eyes But we’ve never been once Ever taken by surprise Both one in the same Even our circle of friends Though neither places blame When it comes down to the end We know the search is never easy As you find the bottom of your drink Though when your soul feels uneasy Sometimes it makes you think Would we be better… If we never had been brothers? Would our worlds be different… Had we never met each other? When in need of advice Each other we seek Yet the same Hell lives on Each week to week Brand new day… Same old story We keep seeing ourselves But the scenery’s getting boring One hand washes the other But the same saying goes when you play in dirt When all is said and done you’re still my brother Even though we keep getting hurt A cheer full of beer The same slap of the hand But the older I get The more that I understand

POSTCARD

A0400 — rank 236

Unfadable... Is what your memory... Has become to me Traceable... It's so easy to see... How these things came to be I got a postcard from you A day before yesterday "Sorry for my silence" Was all that it said "I need some peace of mind, Some time for my head" No greetings, no farewells: Only these words I just read I felt so helpless And so utterly alone You seemed so distant So I picked up the phone And I fell asleep to beeping Alas, you were not home Empty thoughts began seeping Sogging this mind unable to roam Irreplaceable... To find one of a kind in heart, Soul and mind is beyond valuable Indispensable... Webster put your picture symbolically Next to this word in his dictionary I just opened up a letter That I received and read today It seems you were feeling better And beginning to find your way Our friend Mother Earth Biggest blessing in the world Yes, she can help you to steer the course Let her navigate she's your best resource When you feel lost or your paths Become crossed she'll set you straight... Oh gee...it made me happy today Just to see your smiling face Seems you finally got to see the sunshine After so many cloudy days and shades of gray So heartwarming was our embrace No, nothing could pull us away Unerasable... Were your words that I would read... The priceless advice I would need Unavoidable... That you and I would become one And then soon become we

OASIS

A0401 — rank 237

Can you feel a dark entity... Clutching hold of your sanity... All in the name of vanity... Creating such a calamity... Within you and all of your family... And all the things you love Chasing the mirage of an oasis A paradise you still believe is real Yet those of us who wear our real faces Acknowledge that some wounds are slow to heal Yet dying is not healing With so much life left to live Hiding all the pain you're feeling Holding on to what you know you should give Let it out! Find your release Unlock the door To your inner peace Cage the beast That has been released Put him back in his place And you shall find the smile That has been lost from your face Once in a while we let the monster run free Once in a while we repeat a doomed history .Once in a while the skeleton gains flesh Once in a while our past and our future will mesh... Into one What you have created is now seeking revenge You cannot hide, you cannot run It knows what you're planning And every thought you're thinking You may have a head start But the clock has begun There's no escape not even in sleep You left the cage door unlocked And out it quietly creeps Waiting for you in your weakness And in the loneliness of your mind Slowly closing your eyes Slowly making you blind Slowly stripping your senses Until you have lost them all Leading you upon a treacherous trail Hoping you will fall And you will surely fall If you allow the monster to lead the way "But at least she was thin and pretty" That and a year is all your gravestone will say The only excuse left to hide under is that of weakness For ignorance is no longer a card to be played A world full of love is what you hold upon your fingertips If only you find the courage to unmake what you have made

ALL BOTTLED UP

A0408 — rank 238

It’s all bottled up All this love, all this pain All of these emotions which make me man But I think it sucks When you think the road runs straight but it’s a dead end When you feel like you do yet you can’t understand Would I change it all? Knowing I would either always stand or always fall I’m not sure, forever in truth or always lying To begin living or end by dying Want to roll over and play dead Got to fight on and I’ll sure die trying What’s the point of living? If you’ve never needed or never given? An existence found on the edge of all alone Skip, skip, skip, you’ve thrown your stone You’ve built your house but do you call it a home? I am not to blame For the sad state of this affair I am not one to hide in my room Pretending there’s nothing else out there I am trying to find a reason to wake up in the morning But I’d be lying to the point of treason if I said I’ve taken heed to each and every warning Waiting for the other shoe To drop to the floor I've given up trying to make sense Of anything any more A black hand Shadows the land But this in not How it was planned Yet evil has no defining face Can hide in leather Can hide in lace Always present Though can fade away That which may pass through tomorrow Suddenly is here today It feels like Friday night But it’s only a Thursday All it takes is something unplanned To turn your best day into your worst day Another cold wet morning Passed troubles come finding you again The world so fast is turning That you go looking for long lost friends I’ve been wasting time like I’m gonna live forever But they say what is here today is gone tomorrow If I’m a shepherd then it is time to lead the way And if I’m a sheep I’ll have to choose just whom to follow All of a sudden the world has grown colder When there’s someone behind you You find yourself looking over your shoulder They say there’s a Heaven but this sure ain’t it I keep on saying we can’t live like this So I’m just trying to find a place where I fit I’d rather be an outcast, be a misfit Then the king reigning over the land of sh*t Yesterday is history Tomorrow is a mystery By the time you realize the present It has already passed We cannot catch What moves so fast

ALL I GOT

A0409 — rank 239

When General Tom said: "The dream was gone... the battle lost -- the gig was up" I became withdrawn with too lost of a cause you know I felt like giving up I tried to guide the blind in the dark But I was a lamb leading the lame Though sometimes I'd see the whites of their eyes But those eyes had no spark... little light... and even less flame... No, they wouldn't listen for the deaf couldn't see On myself is where I place the blame for all this misery inside of me Since there's just more competition Yet our race remains the same I see the contrast now grows stark As a fleeting once glowing ember Was now left flickering in the rain If I'm a shepherd then it is time to lead the way And if I'm a sheep I'll have to choose just whom to follow Yeah, I've been wasting time like I'm gonna live forever Though they say what is here today it is gone tomorrow Just as children build a sand castle Only to watch it wash away Excited faces try to defeat the tide So they return the very next day The waves of the ocean only speak What grown-ups could never understand For only us adults know That walls of sand could never withstand The ocean's crashing waves Sometimes a castle Just can't be saved... So what if yesterday is history? Tomorrow is still a mystery By the time we realize the present It has already passed We can never catch That which moves so fast So I now plan my future Try to forget my past And when the stakes are high I pick and choose my spots But this is no lie: I give it all I got... I give it all I got

DAY OF ALL DAYS

A0412 — rank 240 — formerly: ANY GIVEN DAY

The prophets said this day was coming A prelude to the end of days The unthinkable just entered your mind World Trade Center's been set ablaze We wonder how'd this happen and why? After air control towers lost all contact The sun's not the only sight in the sky The devil's signed a new contract True terror hides beneath lies It's not hidden in a particular place Today is your day to say goodbye Regardless of your religion or your race What strikes in a second Impacts more than just one life Leaving weeping children A disbelieving crying wife Of course heroes are found And likewise evil is blamed Two buildings fall to the ground A covert hatred no longer tamed Yet words filled with scorn Still fail to articulate As our rose finds its thorn Unfortunately too late An eye for an eye is written in red Many wave banners of hate And even though people still hurt It is said we must retaliate Somewhere, someone must pay Without a doubt the highest of price Maybe then we'll feel better we pray A tooth for a tooth, a life for a life For the terrorists certainly know what's in store The mothers of the enemy must suffer as well For no one wins when you go to war Bibles get burned when your earth is hell So sad this is what it takes For a great nation to finally unite For everybody to wave our flag For everybody to lose some sleep tonight And yet small acts of hatred Pass before each others eyes on any given day But everyone just keeps on walking Pretending it's not an obstacle in their way It is true that perfection is never truly attainable But is this way of life really sustainable It was all bound to come crashing down one day But no one ever figured they'd live to see the day

BLOTCHES

A0417 — rank 241

I return to my most Favorite familiar place The empty canvas Of a fresh new page This clean and blank slate As I can write happy things Oh joy! Hiding from where you Can’t see my face Oh boy! Because if you could Then you would See my paper fill With blotched ink stains Left from when The ink of my pen Mixed with tears that ran Down upon my face From when I failed to abstain From crying in fear most often While most people are Deathly afraid of dying I’m scared of living While not being given A chance to make a mistake And then proceed to learn from it A chance to turn my words into deeds A chance to be there and care For you and all of your needs Not to have you say from afar I’ve gained your trust and love I want the chance to really earn it

BOTTLE CAP SNIFFER

A0418 — rank 242

She’s a bottle cap sniffer A two-beer queer She had three I turned around And she wasn’t there You know what happened next After she had four I let go of her hand And she fell on the floor I held her in my hands For two happy hours Finally her eyes opened up Just like the pedals of a flower Tell me, what more love could you give When you barely even know her Tell me what kind of man are you? Well you certainly just showed her And if you had come from down that road Then you would never, ever close your arms For if there’s anyone who’d ever know Just how much that stuff can do you harm Mistakes are inescapable There are some things that anyone can do For even Mother Theresa is capable Of doing the same thing, too Even saints still make mistakes Come and meet the human race Unsurpassed so far But we’re all losing faith It’s time to raise the bar But just how long will we have to wait?

BUT HIM

A0420 — rank 243

I happened to read it Luckily, no one else would care And though it was quickly deleted Still the thought got out there: I’m so glad not be a celebrity It would be way too easy To dig up dirt on me Gee, now let me see… I could make a list: One, two, three, four That’s just starting with the girls Who I’ve had who were whores Five, six, seven, eight That’s how many times I got caught jerkin’ off Yah see that even before I came across Chomsky I used to Mass. debate Nine, ten, eleven, twelve There’s beers in a pack That’s half of a rack Go ahead and drink that And your back teeth’ll float And you’re wet brain’ll swell Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen Well that’s old enough for love In all but six states But if you’re where I’m from Then still you gotta wait! Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty That’s those who once loved me And have since left me Let’s see… Two are quite hefty One turned me into a lefty Three tried to sue me Another claimed she never knew me Her brother tried to killed me Yet her sister consoled me While her mother gave us Both a scolding about Having and holding Her father wanted to kill me But then he just billed me For the family therapy… Oh gee…where the hell was I? Another one refused to see me Funny, she was the one who beat me! Now that’s something That you don’t normally see Imagine ME calling the police… And where were you? Doing all the things That a good girl is supposed to do And that’s why I love you And I’m never gonna Put nothing ever above you…

CANDY STORE

A0421 — rank 244

My love has just turned twenty-four Yet I still see a child when I look within her eyes A little kid at the candy store running wild For I’ve found that she’s not yet grounded I’m a little sorry for the way that sounded Let’s just go back to what I was saying before… My little sweet girl who used to be twenty-three Well, you see she’s becoming the world to me She just walked in through my bedroom door Sometime around just before quarter to four She knows I know that she never does it on purpose But I admit that sometimes it makes me nervous Sometimes I just wanna Hang it back up on the shelf And leave it alone on the street I know that she’ll meet someone else I usually hang up on hang-ups, Has-beens and cheaters But I was sitting on the heater And then she tossed me a change up By the way…. I found out who You’ve been writing to? We all got things that we got to do… So goodbye…. we’re through Save some change to summon the paramedics When there’s a diabetic inside the candy store Just another lost soul Still searching for something more Yet I’m still not quite sure Whether or not that refers to me or to her

CATS AND COWS

A0422 — rank 245

I keep awaking to the sunrise Without an ill-conceived thought Towards the day ahead I can scarcely even open up my eyes Before I want to stay in bed It’s another day full of misery For someone somewhere The front page of the news On the television or else a story on the radio Sometimes it makes me doubt If there is really someone up there But I guess I’ll have to wait ‘Cause there’s only one way to really know Where can I go to get away? Someplace that I hope isn’t too far What will I have to pay? To hitch a ride on that shooting star To be someplace where my senses are keen Where all my thoughts are clean And where not everybody knows Of all the indifference we’ve seen I need a change of scenery Maybe I’ll go out and find some greenery Of course only if the law allows There might not be any left any how Perhaps we’re better off When we we’re worshipping cats and cows It seems like now we’ve somehow turned ourselves Into a den of serpents and a pen of sows

CERTAINLY UNCERTAIN

A0423 — rank 246

I change the world One person at a time It’s just the way I do things But it seems its working fine I never let down A friend in need For everyone’s entitled To be done a good deed And all that you do It all gets added up to Either the evils of men Or their code of virtue So never stare directly Into a pair of lying eyes When what they look at they trust While what you look at you despise Keep your head above the water Stay afloat among the waves Be careful of the sharks And just know that hard work pays For you can never tell When there’s a storm out at sea No way to see your future And what’s gonna be So have faith in us And what your sisters and brothers see Stand tall with your companions In the land of good deeds We can never tell when But soon the captain will board It’s so certainly uncertain So you’ll just have to take our word

CHANGING A TIRE

A0424 — rank 247

Your faith may be shaking Could it be the choices you’re making? For sometimes you must look afar And stare up at towards the stars For only the man in the moon knows who you truly are I am myself For better and worse I have yet to seek the fate of somebody else Okay maybe once but it was only because I hurt My love belonged to someone who wasn’t me But in the end things are as they should be I’ve found that only if you believe Can you plant your seed? Forget all past misery and some future greed Have faith in the people who matter And always remember that no one matters more than you As the curtain falls down we just do what we do I am not here to flatter For I have no time for that unless infinity appears You may know what you need to know Yet drown out the truth in a refrigerator full of beers Time is not forever; death does not come in any particular order And the advice of some people is worth less than a quarter But I live knowing that my ideals are good For I never try to steer anybody wrong Always try to encourage people to act in the way they know that they should Whether it be in a conversation, a poem or a song To prove my point I just changed the tire of an old man Whom I’d never seen before I was dressed up nice to go out but I couldn’t let myself pass on by If not me, it wouldn’t have been anyone And what a hard night he would have had in store Although he gave me ten bucks - the act was my reward – hey, at least I try I try to make this world better, and it’s do or die Surprisingly, most of the time it’s easier seek out those who are unhappy Befriend them and then ask them why? Then just to simply walk by trying to muffle their sigh It was just a small act, sure, we’re all capable of doing better It was cold tonight… but let’s forget the weather

CHANGING THE WEATHER

A0425 — rank 248

To pave the way I chop all day I’ll chop all night too but that’s okay The most gifted in life don’t do much sleeping Someone or something gave us time Only borrowed not for keeping Tick tock of the clock Batteries don’t last forever At some point they stop The creator was great But our engineers are getting better Already it’s getting to the point Where we’re changing the weather Bring in Global Warming Watch the Poles melt in silence Kilimanjaro is an island Ozone layer was such a tease We all went crackers when it turned into Swiss cheese Knew about the problem yet we all remained silent No one ever figured anybody would die from it People now build houses on the backs of whales And money don’t mean anything Unless it’s used for making sails We all wish we traded in our Ferrari’s For yellow submarines Too busy playing Atari and wiping out safaris I guess our senses weren’t too keen That hobby got soggy in a hurry, huh? Only left us feeling sad, seeing red, and feeling blue The ocean’s too dirty for swimming So we’ll just swim in sorrow All our dreams got washed away When we kept telling reality That we would meet up with him tomorrow

CLOSE FRIENDS

A0426 — rank 249

Sometimes it seems like The light of this life Is a sunken treasure Buried five miles below The abyss in this sea of hate You take a deep breath You want to dive right in But it's a fool's death When you don't know How and where to begin... Only slow and steady Wins this here race But it's a sure bet that Before the game ends You will find your place And I'll be your saving grace If you plan your steps You can slow your pace For the best things come To those who wait... (wait for it...) No, I'm not selling souls roadmaps Just a bunch of spattered clichés Oh, and I've learned to take little naps Rather than try to stay awake or hibernate For life is so preciously short Surely this is no time to waste With so many piles of things to sort And they just get higher with haste Though burning the candle at both ends Always causes you know who to catch fire I've told this to many of my close friends In my defense no one's ever called me a liar

CROSSING CANYONS

A0428 — rank 250

So you think you've felt pain? Why don't you try changing into a new pair of hiking boots? With everything you've gained How could you ever feel that you've got nothing left to lose? The mountains you've climbed It is only you who are aware of the cost Though you know that some people have had everything yet still become lost Yes, they somehow lost it all Even the deepest of canyons Can still be crossed Only if you're too meek to stand Clutching the ground so afraid of being tossed Will you ever really fall, fall, fall Always achieving without failing It's the same as never capsizing when you're forever sailing It's implausible For rising without ever sinking Is much like having thoughts without ever truly thinking It's impossible It is simply impossible

DIME A DOZEN

A0430 — rank 251

There’s a blue sky above But the weather’s still cold Up there there’s a rainbow So everyone down here Is still searching for a pot of gold At least the ones Who’ve believed every story ever told But me, I only want what’s real What I can see What I can feel No time for make believe That’s not the kind of life I lead I no longer beg and plead With people who deceive As soon as they say hello I tell them I’ve got to leave They sell their kind For a dime a dozen They're here and then gone All of a sudden And so it is I live with people like this whose time is just wasted Basted just like a turkey in an oven This world can make you cling to lies Because so often truth is cruel It seems everyone makes their own rules Some think that each new encounter is a potential duel Another corner turned, another fool Those who could live in the Artic and not keep their cool Just keep on treading water in misery’s pool While being used as evil’s tool Chasing a carrot on a stick just like a mule Some may call them an ass But I don’t call them at all But I guess it depends on who you ask Anyway, they’re setting themselves up for a fall If you ask them They’ll say they’re doing fine Ask me and you’ll get a piece of my mind But before I go on ranting and raving Complaining and talking Are you one of us? Or should I leave And just keep on walking?

DOWNS ANDS UPS

A0432 — rank 252

Stress level going up Self-esteem going down Tons of work piling up Stacks of papers falling down Not much patience I have left What is happening just isn’t right I’m starting to hate everything And people who think I’m nothing Everything I do is wrong Every mistake I can’t correct In the game of life I surely lose Even my thoughts I can’t collect Anger screams let me out Peace whispers let me in Even the art of making love To some is considered a sin Too often my life is so dull That I ponder what’s the point? Just what’s the use in trying to stand? Like leaves on trees I’m bound to fall It’s just so difficult to stand so tall It causes pain and life’s too short Maybe in my years I’m getting soft But this life I lead is much too hard I try to sleep then toss and turn at night So busy worrying about each coming day There’s no way I’ll ever make it through, I think There’s no telling the future is what they say Maybe some day I’ll be able to get ahead And then I’ll leave all of these troubles behind A case of the blues and bad luck I would lose Under some rainbow a pot of gold I would find And then I’d be so gay - you know what I mean If only this world would or could ever be so kind

DUTY

A0433 — rank 253

An empty notebook Lying on the table Man may be tamed When not left alone Yet my pen and paper Have a mind of their own Stomach growling Sounds like thunder Eyes entranced Your spell I’m under My wheels spin In wide-eyed wonder Just like this I spend my time Wrong or right I speak my mind My two cents Another little rhyme Of dreams so pleasing Or reality unkind Just a another magician Waving his magic hand The subject of his study What we don’t understand Everything on the subject Has already been burned and banned When you expect the unexpected You cannot leave anything unplanned But a teacher of intelligence Is always in high demand Knowledge is a flower That needs some time to grow To defend my garden I’ll stand toe to toe Climb up to my tower With my arrow and bow I’ll guard high And I’ll guard low I may have to show them If they don’t know That I’ll fight to the death With any living foe

FILAMENT

A0436 — rank 254

I've got a light inside me And a big cloud hanging above me That hides me I've got no doubts about it I want to scream and shout and tell you all about it I've got that feeling I slave all day like cindarella Yet I'm missing something Some say I remind them of the singer The one who plays for the Smashing pumpkins I've got unlimited potential And all the key ingredients That are essential To make somebody really, really happy For I love to laugh Even if everybody has lost their ass While laughing at me Yes, I smile because I've got no ill will towards anybody No, I don't ask for much in this world of plenty Just to be needed and appreciated For this element can't be understated For this is the filament Of the light that guides me As I seek fulfillment While running from this cloud That tries to hide me I've got these legs That are starting to grow tired I'm not a dog that begs But I've been thinking it's worth trying So please, oh pretty please Won't you toss me a bone? Rescue this hound from the pound Oh, won't you take me home?

FISH

A0437 — rank 255

She lives in a vacuum bag Inside of a box She’s got no internet, television And no clocks Just a cross upon her neck No watch on her wrist If it wasn’t for her religion She’d never know what day it is When it comes to the world She’s so innocent...naïve Yet she could speak for a week All about Adam and Eve She calls you Doubting Thomas Because you still don’t believe Saying you’ll never end up in Heaven with me Until you fall down upon your knees And you say, “Please!” You call her a trained monkey As you try to shake her from her tree Explaining Eve ate more than Adam’s apple Yup, she caught an STD... She passed it to the Jake the snake And Sally the slimy salamander was pissed But Adam threw them both in the river And that’s how we got fish Adam then found a genie in a bottle Who would grant Adam just one wish So Adam decided to have God rubbed out And he told Eve to dig a ditch With that Adam became the ruler Of this planet we call the Earth A land filled with corruption and chaos Hey, I say... Adam got what he deserved

FRESH START

A0441 — rank 256

I’ve been piercing into my soul Yet there are some things out there Which we cannot control I’m still young inside my heart It’s the experience that’s getting old Sometimes you just need a fresh start When the weather gets cold… And the weather’s been cold For quite some time So I’ve finally made up my mind Crossing things off my list one at a time Here’s another check just tell me where to sign Seems like such a crying shame Playing this waiting game Look at me nowadays… In some ways I’m still the same And yet there are some things I still lack For all that I’ve gained Still trying to find the hiding fire inside me And then fan the flames Now I want to know How to free myself from pain To be worry-free and in harmony Sure sounds good to me No more of the same old complaints ‘Cause there ain’t nobody left to blame It’s all on my shoulders now There are still answers to find Somewhere and somehow At least one more mountain to climb I’ve pictured it in my mind Only been truly seen by the blind And traversed by the lame With peaks of pleasure Guarded by valleys of pain Where once you’ve tasted the water You’ll never be thirsty again But the problem isn’t where – it’s when? My burning desire The single candle that lights my fire… I long to stand naked in the rain And then maybe I can Learn to love myself again Here I am alone with my thoughts Sitting, staring, watching the clock Wondering when it’s going to stop? Or rather when it’s going to begin? I find myself trying to find myself More often than not and that’s quite a lot Seems I won’t get to rest Until I’ve finished this quest Lord knows that I’ll try my best For being happy ain’t no mortal sin And though I know I’ll get there I can’t say with whom, why, where or when But I know that…. I’ll be happy then

GAMBLER

A0442 — rank 257

All the cards fell off the table When the gamble asked for a hit Hell gamble until he’s broken You know hell never quit Whether a royal flush Or just another bust Hell play the game Until he’s covered by dust He’s mining for diamonds With just his spade Trying not to get clubbed Hoping with all his heart He doesn’t run out of luck What do they say? Lucky at cards and unlucky in love And this man is well on his way To being number one The richest man in the world He got a lot of money but he got no girl Most people think you can buy yourself some honey A human mannequin for showing off your pearls That you bought with all the loot from the table See the shock within their eyes when you tell them that’s a fable Responding so despondently That in hindsight your birthright stole your vitality The plight of your life wasn’t so dynamite A future once so bright never came to be You set your sights on staying up and staying out all night The moonlight was your delight but something doesn’t feel right? Never having or knowing a family That’s for me to question And for you to see

GETTING BURNT

A0444 — rank 258

With her by my side my ego’s been bruised My body’s always the same but my mind’s been used Safe to say I’ve never suffered so much hidden abuse But love hides in the shadows of the soul Conversations always centered on us getting burnt Crying too many tears over the hard lessons we’ve learnt Never happy with what we were only sad about what we weren’t Yet only with pressure do we get diamond from coal Always saying together we’d find the answers we searched for someday Kind of figured we’d find out on our own and that was okay We followed along this plan all right but that was before today Yet today was the day we threw away our self-control The plans changed by a long shot since way back when It seems that we’ve crossed the lines between lovers and friends Finally a green light after so many stop signs and dead ends No more will my nights turn circles into themselves and uncertainty Study dates seemed too much like unfavorable situations Always pressed for time we never gave into temptation So with this break between school it’s a different time we are facing Tonight I think will be the night I can sleep sound knowing what will be Things that were meant to be just sort of happen when no one’s around Usually when the teachers bell rings it puts my feet back on the ground But of course to this false face we all wear we’re bound It’s been part of me for far too long it’s just kept me in misery Even as we were we still said the words I love you We looked into each others eyes and we knew what was true Never ever wondering whether we would speak the words I do It seems I weakened my pride just by being alive Writing poetry at midnight wanting you by my side Just when I thought the last one made all those feelings die A heart of stone possessing well I bet some will probably say Yet what was once taken and broken may be returned some day If you pick up the bible then it might be your time to pray But I take up the belief that praying will get you nowhere Farther than you are For I have heard that the word Is that we all come from the stars

GOLD STAR

A0445 — rank 259

You can shave your head You can paint your face You can get tattoos all over the place You can wear white leather You can wear black lace But somewhere along the way You’ll lose your place What was the message That you were trying to get across? In all this nonsense It must have got lost The skirts are getting higher As the standards are going down Chart toppers of today Tomorrow are no longer around All those padded pockets They’re all skipping town By the time you get to read this The master will have gone A funeral will come and go As time will have traveled on The torch will have to be carried too The line forms to the right Half the people will say good morning The others will good night I will say nothing My words speak for them self Either I will be placed on a pedestal Or on some dusty shelf I have already reached myself I simply get a gold star If I enter the mind of someone else When the sun starts to shine ‘Tis end of the night Means that it is almost time for bed But before I rest my pen Before I rest my head A lesson taught Is a lesson learned A candle is put out So another may burn

GOOD FIGHT

A0447 — rank 260

I thought I spotted her car In the corner of the parking lot I was right outside the bar So I found a cozy spot I pulled out a bong from inside of my jar And then I broke out my little baggie of pot Turn off the car I ain’t going far To think that this is all that I got Les just say I’m not getting’ smart Still attached to a string – Sometimes it gets hard Being so stuck on everything Can leave ya tied up in knots Every time I try to gaze up at the stars I keep having the very same thoughts: My love for her keeps me in this prison Can’t you see these bars? And since what has no ears can never listen It leaves some people smoking, broken and scarred Leaves others longing for a flogging, then feathered and tarred All the while puffing on a great big cigar For the past nine years More happy tears than sad ones More indifference than being mad… Well, depending on how you take that Thus there has been more than just one thing That I’ve been missing: The life I have wanted to lead It is a life I have never known Never been able to explain to my significant other Quite exactly what it was that was wrong I save that for my poetry My big old book of song And for that it means the world to me The only way I get along Even if some times I don’t seem happy Then someone please stop me and slap me And explain that you are just being polite For a man has no reason to complain Think of dog, hand, and bite When that man has finally come into being Only after seeing the light It don’t matter if it’s wrong or it’s right Kinda like car crashes and cancer You don’t pretend you know all of the answers… You just put up a good fight

GOOD SAMARITAN

A0448 — rank 261

Free me from this bond of hate I swear to you it’s not too late One man’s love can only go so far Yet I am not one to run from a falling star Too much freedom and your hands are chained Think too much and your mind thinks strange Everything I hate about myself makes me All I love myself for I know in time will break me Just how do I change the man I’ve made? Dealt myself straight hearts and spades Short suited some might say but the dealer was me The deal was clean - all right, all wrong Two extremes with nothing in between With what I know and what I’ve seen It can end up being such a wonderful thing But a nature such as mine is guaranteed To either make you a pauper or make you a king And the angel on my shoulder Warned me of glory and talked of fate Told me of the burden of carrying this boulder At least she reached me before it was too late So the road I’ve made was far from paved There’s still a chance I won’t die from old age Busy little Samaritan helping everyone else Busy little Samaritan won’t you help yourself? If you’re wishing for a fairy princess to kiss a toad Sometimes you have to leave people lying by the side of the road History never changes even as it grows old No need to relive the story that’s already been told Dreams of love, of peace, of magical potion Of mountains, of valleys, of the bottom of the ocean No devils, no gods, just what is real What is known to be true - only how I feel Selfish is a creature near the bottom of the sea Sometimes you get wise when you just let them be Give everything you got and you’ll wind up there too You look at someone’s nature and you’ll know what they’ll do So much to give yet even more to lose Can’t save the world so you have to pick and chose The truth of the matter of saving anybody else The first step begins once you save yourself There are lepers to be found Though soon one of them you shall be What can you accomplish in the ground? Nothing any man will ever see Busy little Samaritan how full is the glass? Will you drink it down quick or let it last? Busy little Samaritan it comes down to you For only you know what it is you will do

HEAVY TO LIGHT CREAM

A0452 — rank 262

I'm a Road's Scholar of the soul Already got my PhD in Rock n' Roll And everyone that can read Seems to agree That I put the 'man' in HU-MAN-ITY So...Yeah It certainly feels good to be me I admit that surely and freely that there's even a few who'd like to be With me, for me Because they love me... No wait...they ADORE me They create fantasies Then write letters that floor me! Then say, "I'm so sorry" It's mostly those who find Beauty in a gentle wind's Soft caress in this deep Forrest of one's soul At least that's where those in the know who know They know that that's Where to go to find me It's where I hide When I'm tongue-tied It soothes my mind Every time Since I got friends there I'm never scared We sit and opine about what is and what can be

HEN HOUSE

A0453 — rank 263

If you find a piece of fruit You’d better grab it and eat it Before its bounty is collected Gathered, rewards reaped or stockpiled On this fruit tree I see sits A smiling and pretty parrot I’ve seen vultures and hawks But not a single starling or dove in awhile You see I recently counted all my chickens Long before the first one ever hatched When my golden goose finally laid her golden egg But alas I left the hen house door unlatched So now my chickens… I know that I have none All my eggs taken and eaten Or else become broken and smashed Oh how could I… Be so dumb? As I find myself solely wishing For things I know I can’t take back I know I should have Gathered that fruit And not left the Hen house door unlatched

HIDE AND SEEK

A0454 — rank 264

Let me expand upon my plan It involves a woman and a man And a place and a time That’s as far as I’ve gotten At least so far with this rhyme… The place is fairly certain And the time is still when? So why do I find myself Having mixed feelings again? I know it’s just weakness For I’ve exposed my ego and pride She knows what I’ve been seeking And now it’s her turn to hide Surely I’ve been loving life’s journey But it’s been such a roller coaster ride Sometimes without warning comes the hurting From laughing too much inside Yet conversely and much worsely Is the hungering and being thirsty For the lust of greed for all that you see This unfortunate disease that dormantly sleeps Inside of you and inside of me And (sigh) it just loves to come out and creep For you’ve heard the saying About praying/preying for/on the weak I used to pray for wealth, yes And I used to pray for fame… Now I pray to take away Letters from your mailbox (and your name!)

HOT TODDY

A0455 — rank 265

Well sure… Let this fact be said: That I now dance Just like a crack head… Because once I was Left for half dead… Out in the middle Of the ocean… Is where I was gonna drown Myself in alcoholic potion… But I was so drunk That I drank the lotion… And soon liquor was What covered my body… As every one Began acting naughty… They drank it up Like it was hot toddy… Hey, I got my kicks Just like karate… There was a bunch of chicks… I couldn’t get ‘em off me… But when the seagulls came… That’s when things got bloody! Worse yet my pants were gone Along with all of my money You maybe laughing But it surely wasn’t funny It’s worse than being in Jelly Stone Hands bound and covered in honey Or even worse than being Italian And owing your godfather money

INDEPENDENT

A0457 — rank 266

Every morning geese fly by my window Usually just as I get up from my bed Every night I hear the seagulls cry Sometimes it might as well be me instead I sit and watch the snow When I got no place to go It always makes me feel so insignificant I raise my head from down below Looking up through the midnight glow Bowing to the stars they’re so magnificent Just what am I to gain tonight away from you? My body and mind as separate as heaven and hell Yet my spirit glides to embrace your touch While my physical being is locked away in this cell You are right next to me yet you are not I feel as if I’m dirt and yet I’ve been cleansed In my mind I thought I could exist independent of you But it looks like I should think again I see your face in the corner of my eye Yet in reality you are not so close But even as you are not really here You are never really gone Even if I am only a minute away That thrilling anticipation to see you still lives on Watch you feel is so different than me I look into your eyes but love I’ve yet to see Seems the more I grow the more things stay the same Always love within and love without I cannot yet say if I’m the one to blame Your time has come this second is your last I am my own man, I’ll stand whether I have you or not To hell with you and the spells you cast You had your chance I gave you all I got

IRON WILL

A0458 — rank 267

My senses are sharp as a tack For so long the five points on my star Were so very dull I gathered my horse and my wagon And I got back on track Freed myself from that living hell Every hoof print and footstep Leads me farther away After the mountains I climbed and survived From here it’s all down hill all the way Passing abandoned ghost towns Full of crumbling decay When your only defense Is an iron will You cannot listen to what others say Following the stars on my horse My mind set on the miles ahead Setting my own course Because I’m so sick of being led Heading north, heading north Yes, that’s what I said I traded my pistol for some blankets Which I’ll need to keep me warm Given up my shot glass for a poncho That will protect me from the storm I’ve sold my past to buy some time Until I find some piece of mind My ladder has become a parachute For I no longer have to climb

LESSONING THE LOAD

A0459 — rank 268

How much money does it take? For you to feel good about yourself? Would you be willing to give away a Benjamin Franklin? And let him go play with someone else? To someone whom you’ve never met before Would you ever trust someone who claimed they came upon hard times? Would you consider it just another lesson learned? If you got screwed for the two-thousand seven-hundred and eighty-sixth time Would you part with money? Part with your money if it meant doing good deeds? Would you ever trust anybody? Trust your honey to a pack of swarming bees? What if a man talked of being reborn? What if he said he was a Christian who’d finally found his way? Would you risk a lesson on trust if it meant you could learn? For a relatively small amount of money would you gladly pay? Would you ever trust in human nature? Even though some say it walks hand in hand with the devil? If it meant that you’d stand tall in stature Money could be used for good, money could be used for evil Do you trust yourself enough? To decide to be the judge and jury And even though times are tough Is there anyone who you would deem worthy? So when that question was asked of me I know where Id put my faith I’d know that time will tell and that in time we’ll see So I guess Ill just have to wait I figured that if you never go out on a limb Then you’ll never know if what you did was wrong There must be a reason why some people write hymns While others stick to simple songs I’ve never been religious But I blame that on Catholic school I’ve spent my life by pondering Whether or not we are by nature cruel Well at least I’ve told my story Now I’ve said all that I can say If I’m right maybe I shall have my glory If I’m wrong then it’ll all get sorted out When it comes to judgment day At least I was never afraid To get or give another chance To enter the gates of Eden Maybe someday Ill have it made Or else be lying by the stairway to hell Bruised, broken and bleeding (Hey, guess what? I got screwed!!!)

MANCHESTER BAY

A0460 — rank 269

Down in Manchester Bay A place where the seagulls No longer fly They have an old expression That all the locals say Sometimes you shouldn’t bother To wonder why Here the shore is soaking wet Yet the water’s always dry Where the faces are always smiling Yet people still surely cry Lines form to stare at the sunset Falling over great Misery Island Yet people stand with their head down And even the children all are silent Some speak of eight multiple intelligences Where I’m from you’re lucky to even find two But this is not my system it’s the way I found it What do you expect just one man to do? We’re not taught to change the system We’re only taught to obey Never a lesson on how to start a revolution Only lessons on the price we will pay The students in the class have been rearranged But the teachers are still shackled To the same rusty chain Told to teach what history has taught Though history repeats itself The more things change The more that they remain the same Racism, segregation Prostitution, revolution New problems Old solutions What’s the truth then? I don’t have to fake it I know I’m gonna make it What life deals I know I can take it You want to come along for the ride? You know where I reside The line forms to the right But right now there’s no need to fight You’re first, though it could be worse There could be no line at all I won The game is over Now that she said She’ll come back to me But while she decided I’ll never try to hide it I got a taste of other Fish I caught in the sea

ME, YOU, AND HOOBIE DOO

A0461 — rank 270

Well ladies and gentlemen It is time to tell a story About a student who liked to earn A’s He knew what he had to do to make it Who knew that hard work pays Had a nice perspective on life Knew whom he wanted for a wife But for a long time He let her slip away He practiced all the words he’d say He’s still searching For that woman To make his life complete Anyone who knows him at all Will tell you he’s not the type To settle for defeat Been searching for so long Written so many bad songs Speaking like a prophet That he still won’t get off it He wants to have his cake And eat it too There are certain choices you have to make And you also have to learn from your mistakes This is something that he knows But apparently she knew it too There’s only one thing that he wouldn’t do And that’s stop smoking the hoobie doo Hence she left and went away At another place she stays Now he’s learning it doesn’t pay So he’s saving for a rainy day There’s no telling when it will end There’s no telling who’s your new best friend Locked is an open door One that’s never been entered before There’s no telling what is in store Soon you’ll understand Nothing ever goes as planned Your fate is decided By how you handle adversity You know I cannot hide it I’ve been treated the worse you can be Every blow I’ve dealt too myself I cannot blame anyone else She said me, you, and hoobie doo That’s more than two And that won’t do

MONOTONY AND THE CIRCLE OF DEATH

A0465 — rank 271

I wake up in the morning, its just another day Another day, the same routine it always remains the same Six days a week I’m not myself, shackled by my chains Although you left me in body your memory still remains Within my mind you’re still with me it’s as if nothing’s changed I try to stay with familiar faces while everything’s deranged Monotony will drive you mad unless you play pretend Though we all play the game I think it’s time to end Free and easy is the only way for me Sometimes its better to just let it be There are things in this world that’ll drive you mad I tried taking the good with the bad If you’re like me then you’ve worked so hard that there’s no time left for fun There’s nothing left for you to do ‘cause everything’s already been done The hands of the clock always moving my feet always on the run A hamster on his wheel a race never to be won My free time left at the end of the day A date with the books so I can get my ‘A’ Seems things always stay the same This is my life almost everyday I endure the same old pain With each new day I play the game I am stressed and overwhelmed My life’s been deemed a living hell I get up when I should stay in bed Try to live when I feel so dead Find the strength deep down inside Life’s a journey so enjoy the ride The steps are long which lead uphill You think that they’ll stop but they never will The higher and higher the darker the sky The circle continues and then you die

MY BIOGRAPHY

A0466 — rank 272

I was born in Massachusetts In a town called Salem While my mom was lying on the table Busy screaming and wailing The year was nineteen seventy eight And compared to now it doesn’t seem real great My life was too simple All I’d do is eat, sleep and sh*t Whenever hungry I’d just grab hold of a tit Now I’m not saying I’d ever do that again I’m a lot older now so it’s probably a sin Besides, I don’t think that that would be fun My mom’s almost fifty and she weighs a ton As I fast forward until puberty You’re not missing much Only beatings and bed-wettings And fat jokes and such I was a fat little bastard Who couldn’t run down the street Due to my own insecurity I made fun of those I would meet I was the toughest in my class Because of the size of my ass Don’t mess with me or I’ll sit on your head If I hadn’t matured then I’d rather be dead I used to play at recess, I’d sing and I’d dance Praying for some girl to give me a chance I waited and waited until days turned to years “Maybe I’m supposed to be gay” Became my biggest fears I finally realized that I pretty much sucked If I kept going on this way Then my life would be fu$%ed In my third year of high school I figured it out Changing my life is what it was all about I quit smoking butts And trying to fit in with the “cool” I had to get skinny so I ran track after school I had to quit candy bars So I could drop the pounds Goodbye Snickers, M&M’s and Mounds Even after all this still no date Hmm…maybe it was my inside That wasn’t so great So I tried to find myself by helping others And soon I realized we’re all sisters and brothers As time went on I became who I am Now life is sweet like strawberry jam I wrote this poem so maybe you can see It just takes a few changes to be happy like me

MY PLEASURE

A0467 — rank 273

Open your windows for our pleasure All the computer people type together They stay on-line and in line And on the outside of the inside No matter the weather They could be doing so much better Never get to transcend the trendsetters So hell-bent on finding what went wrong It wasn’t a virus that needed removal It was just your stamp of approval That told me that I never Would have gone mad If I had given away My little yellow notepad And my pen and that’s something I would never do again…so let me see… Open your windows for my pleasure Girl, I’d love to dig for treasures With you on a bed full of feathers With you wearing nothing but me And me…I’m wearing leather Ooh, I could tie you to a tether And we could make sweet love together However, if the rope snapped like a carrot I think we’d both be embarrassed If we landed on each other Passed out and upside down There’d be those smiling And those wearing frowns Just as there would be those Who’d drag your name All around town

MY WHITE CHRISTMAS

A0468 — rank 274

My world is dark with little light Preventing the past from becoming my future My biggest fight What a struggle, oh man if you ever knew How harder it becomes whenever I’m without you Just thinking about it makes me sick I’m in the middle of it and boy is it thick Unplug the phone and lock the door Board up the windows and sleep on the floor Ma, lock me in I did it again Boy what a sin I though she was a friend But we did it again I live in a place with trouble so near Have a craving? Walk right over here Here’s my Christmas money, is that all I get? Next year I’ll ask for gift certificates Thanks for the stuff and have a nice day See ya around is all that I’ll say Back to the spot, my home on the range If you’re not wearing my shoes this might sound strange We lay it out on the table and sit on the floor Go grab a razor and lock the door Might as well say it’s the key to our cell Trapped in this mess can be a living hell If you were here we would have been home tonight And I wouldn’t have done this… Well, I might

NAPOLEAN’S DAUGHTER

A0469 — rank 275

A jet plane That ain’t so high So don’t say hello Before you say goodbye Leave that to me And save your family tree Only your mother Puts limes in my Corona’s But it’ll just be myself Drivin’ up the road No dead end I ain’t yet a gonner Take a seat by my side You’ll see it’s true I have no greater weakness Than when I’m with you Just what can be new? Working in the same old zoo The rat race has begun Number one ahead of number two Freedom has a voice But what if you have no choice When she calls your name You’ll never be the same Napolean came and went Not much he left unconquered But she’s not the type to leave your mind Love like that will drive you bonkers Isn’t that why you left The last one alone? Said you’ve eaten your cake And now it’s time to go home As the music fades into the walls How much can you take? The only voice you long to hear Is the only one who never calls

NO SNOW

A0472 — rank 276

Well the mountains have no snow But that won’t last very long we know And once the trees have lost their leaves So it seems that nothing much will grow I will always remember This last December Oh how could I forget? Find myself humming the same tune That I began in June In every sunset and each sunrise I keep seeing The same pair of eyes While up above the nights are becoming longer All the while down here my love keeps getting stronger I’m a man without a nation Living in my own world after being badly beaten I’d suffer from starvation If love was something that had to be eaten In a land without an ocean Is where I found my pearl Half way around the world She says, “Here I am” – yeah, that’s my girl

RACIST

A0479 — rank 277

Smile… because yellow is the new white Lie… because wrong is the new right The truth can be fugly And we all must face it The color of green is envy Money makes everyone a racist According to the surgeon general I’m an American infection Just because I inform the public That there’s a third selection Like a surgeon I should come with a warning Open your eyes Open your ears Then I'll let myself right in Into your heart Into your mind Into your soul Oh...I've seen some go blind But if you see like me Then we can start our climb To the very top of the tower Then we'll rip it off - This shrine that serves power This figurehead by which they are led Time to disperse the bread From the warehouse to the underfed And the same with the meds Now free to all those with diseases Let's start by giving out All things by order of who needs it Stop using money for measuring When it comes from greatest to least Because when some sit to a feast While others don't eat I get sick to my stomach And my appetite's gone It's time to journey to the summit Time to right the wrong

RAINING IN BOSTON

A0480 — rank 278

Staring into a darkened, turned off television screen While my little black radio softly plays The smoke floats up from my cigarette Through a window with no curtains the sun hits my face I’ve got to quit smoking Because God knows it’s kicking my ass I’ve got to give up drinking All have said it’s time to put down my glass But you learn to make up all kinds of excuses When you’re raised in Boston, Mass Where the teachers talk a lot about history And something about never forgetting your past This city, based on tradition, somehow always brags of being free But the old town team was the last to have a black player In the American League This doesn’t sound so American to me But it all evens out For they haven’t known of winning since Cy Young was ‘bout twenty-three Cry, Baby, Cry Cry over all the milk that’s spilled Sigh, Baby, Sigh Try to win back your own free will This is my team’s theme song baby So listen closely So here you go Billy, here you go Joey It seems to suit both the highly and lowly It’s always raining here in Boston Seems the skies are always filled with deep, dark clouds The sign at the gate states “Loserville” And the motto we live by is that not complaining is never allowed Seems every resident has some cross to bear Yet we walk with our heads down pretending not to care For all the b*tching and complaining Somehow falls on deaf ears

RED PEN

A0481 — rank 279

Your eyes appear on my paper Your long hair flows As though it were Ink from my pen In my mind I once thought I could exist independently from you But it looks like I should think again For sometimes we must retrace our past To see if us little girls and boys Have grown into strong women and men Have you ever taken a moment to look back? At how straight a path you've taken from where You first began? These are the thoughts of a once lonely artist Whose life is your blank canvas As I've slowly become your masterpiece These are the words of a lonely artist Who has finally found some color In this land where the darkness shall never cease My muse.... my love The limit is the sky To wrap my arms around you I would encircle the world wide This man who used to Paint pictures with words Still remembers when... He said to himself As he put down his paper 'Twas time to trade in his pen... For oil and canvass once again Now my desire... Flaming eyes of fire.... That have begun to bleed Emotional droplets known as cried tears For what my heart needs Though sometimes Discovery seems bleak When what I seek Is so hard to catch As your beauty is sketched With the pen of love Filled from this pool of my own blood

REST OF MY DAYS

A0482 — rank 280

I couldn’t tell you what I know Or share all that I knew And even if I wanted to… There are some things You can’t read, write or say Some things we just gotta do… I know that you’ll surely understand Why it seems I’ve been hiding my head in the sand For you know that all my life I’ve been working on my master plan And wanting you for my wife Without us ever even holding hands Now there’s a chance We might never even meet Let alone hug or kiss Forget lying in between And beneath the same set of sheets As I ask myself: How did it come to be like this? From you saying about the lake When you were looking up at the stars: “You should have been there” Don’t you know I was… Here within my heart I know I made my share of mistakes But you know my intentions always came from the right place I guess I blame my body for being too far away And know I always will for the rest of my days

RUNNING SCARED

A0485 — rank 281

Running scared Do you feel so secure You who once dared To invade what was not yours Opening a dark, dark door Another side never seen before Is this your glory Will you die to carry this fate To this cross you are staked You did all that it takes May wish at sometime you didn’t But the time for that is much too late Do you envy the face in the mirror? The frame is splintered and broken Though the pictures seen clearer Do you really believe The words you have spoken? Does a part of you grieve? The infamy of the devil Would it be better to have never been known Your name now synonymous with evil A part of you now which you own Giver of advice and taker of life Watering seeds of hatred now all grown Who is your higher power? Who would dare worship a figure such as this? The sharpest thorns holding no flower You needn’t turn your cheek When you can simply shake your fist Who needs words just let your actions speak Defiance is your only defense Terror is held within your hands When the final day comes can you make amends? Will anyone even listen or try to understand? Stake your flag deeply into innocence Right through the heart of a fallen man Time is precious better unleash your final fury From the depths of your inner cave You are sought by the judge and the jury who Seek confine you within the walls you have made Men carrying shovels are coming to bury you Only one in the ground and yet so many saved

SAYONARA

A0486 — rank 282

I’m the kid in the lass who likes to clown If you missed what was said I wrote it down Unless my mind is freely roaming and it be Immersed in the cleansing pool of poetry For then I could only be paying attention To what was truly important And that is what is trapped inside of my soul When it wants to come out Then it is out of my control It doesn’t give a damn about me Just screams, “Stop, look, listen and feel” Keeps on saying that there is this big plan for me And I don’t care what it is so long as it is real Ever since I underwent deep meditation I finally found what makes this world go round After many long months of stoned contemplations I am finally ready to reveal what I have found… Sorry, could you repeat the question? Oops, I didn’t know I was the only one who talked If the idea was a ship then it just went off to sea We’ll have to catch up to it the next time it hits the dock Funny how I don’t remember things as well as I seemed to yesterday It only goes to show we are growing older every day I just had a thought and I lost it It happens a lot here in Boston Just when you think that you got it You watch it…slip away Yeah, some call it fate When you separate And find that it’s too late… To wait or to take back what you once stated All about how you wanted to get traded See ya, sayonara is what they say

SCARY THOUGHT

A0487 — rank 283

Blank page so I must fill it The truth someone must spill it But it ain’t beans it’s more like the Hoover Dam Everything is as it seems yeah that’s their master plan Spare me your mystery of illusion When you hide the problem it takes longer to propose a solution I don’t put my trust in anyone I hear on the radio unless it’s me you know Someone must carry the torch that can’t be bought by money or taken by force Someone must be able to share the story we all know Why should I be the one to speak for my generation? Because we need good advice when it’s our turn to rule the nation It’s a scary thought From where I sit There’s less than twenty years before we come to it Can’t blunder it It’s a wonder that We’ve yet to find something to believe in Something greater that ourselves The magic is still missing

SCRAPE YOUR SOUL

A0488 — rank 284

When I don’t have a bowl I usually scrape my soul When I’m free of dependency That is the time that I depend on me The more I know about myself The more I see that I need someone else Someone to keep me pointing in the right direction Someone to let me know when I make the wrong selection There are those who use trickery There are those who use deceit Those who are deceited Who every once and awhile can somehow get through Without ever getting defeated But the above named Are few and far between As those of us left know To only use such tactics when in dire need I only bluff at poker when the moneys on the line I only try to hide some of myself When I’m either running out of patience or running out of time But when it comes to loving someone else I’ve never been afraid to sell my soul blind But only for the right one Would I ever consider chopping down my roots And only for the right one Would I ever risk sticking my head inside a noose The biggest trouble in this world Is that you never get out of it alive Yet she maybe the only girl For who I may be able to put on hold All of the things for which I strive Were all learning all the time With each new step we take As you search the strangest thing you’ll find Is that putting everything you got out on the line Sure sets you up for a heartbreak Just say the word to me And Ill find the greater purpose I must serve Just say the word we Ill give you everything that you deserve

SECOND DATE

A0489 — rank 285

Sitting here surrounded by so many Yet I am all by myself The sky is clear Clouds…there’s hardly any It’s a nice day to go out Out on the streets It’s raw and uncut Still sticking out of the suitcase That was slammed half shut The power’s in the mind And it works both ways Find your way home in the darkness Or else be led astray Time to turn the page And write another chapter You can always pick something else If you can’t capture what you’re after I guess it took awhile Before I knew what I wanted to do Yeah, maybe… Perhaps I am just like you I hear you say, “power to the people” But I can’t find the strength today So hard to think about tomorrow When you’re still trapped in yesterday My hand is but symbolic Of a man who stands with a fist Imprisoned by his watch Which hangs upon his wrist The clock upon the wall It dictates both time and fate I’ve been pondering I’ve been wondering And I have been pawning things As I have been wandering Ain’t got nothing left to trade I know a man who lives by the book I knew a woman who never learned how to cook I know that when life throws you a curveball you better duck And when you get a second date on your stone Then your time is up

SEXUAL INTELLECTUAL

A0491 — rank 286

I got a sign on my mind that reads space for rent I burn holes in my pockets and then all my money’s spent Some say I’m just another link in the chain Born into the information generation I got all these maps and these books And I give them a look But I still can’t tell which direction I’m facing…no no This sort of branding for others may be true But I got my own term that I like to use I call myself a sexual intellectual Another f$^%&*g know it all The doctor told me I had a hernia Just when I thought that I had life by the balls I’ve learned my place In this hurried race Stay directly in line Please follow every sign What ever you do don’t touch the walls For they’re very, very breakable Oops is that retractable? These people are like vegetables So very, very negotiable Easy to bend Easy to mold Easy to be bought Even easier to be sold Perhaps all the information they know Has taken up room in their soul Maybe shattered a few of their wills And when the time comes to pay the bills They’ll see they’re the one who owes But not the sexual intellectual He says he stays on his toes But will he ever become successful? I don’t think anyone really knows

SONG FOR MEDIOCRITY

A0493 — rank 287

What is the single greatest hypocrisy? We are lacking a song sung In the name of mediocrity So now we’re all blessed Since I guessed it was up to me To pen something For over ninety-percent of humanity Perhaps true happiness is just a dream? Being great just might not be as great As it might seem Especially if you’re still unable to unravel the fable And the moral of the story Wasting your words on your former days of glory Since all the tales that you have told Are all recycled and old And a preacher who isn’t following Is the same as eating without swallowing Never ever forgetting history And yet still forever regretting yesterday So far unable to just let things be Wondering why things went this way? When you should have been trying To unlock the mystery But you still begin most of your days By screaming out, “Fu@#ing A’” Sometimes you close your eyes Hoping it would all go away Since the power’s in the mind It works both ways: Either find your way home in the darkness Or else be easily led astray It takes a strong hand to turn the page And write an all-new chapter For you can always pick something else If you can’t capture what you’ve been after Yes, I guess it took awhile Before I knew I’d never do what I wanted to do When I looked at someone who was average And thought to myself that, “I am just like you” Someone says, “Power to the people” But I just can’t find the strength today It’s so hard to think about tomorrow When you’re still trapped in yesterday When will this clouded curtain lift? When will these winds begin to shift? You’re all so blind to what I’ve been living with Given up trying to find a reason to live Within the confines of the lines Drawn up by hypocrites Every day of my life I’ve thought like this Lying on the floor and clenching my fists All the time wondering why should I exist? Pass the time trying to find some way to resist I can’t take anything back nor start over again I guess true happiness is just a dream When you’re just like everybody else Just another salmon in the river Swimming up the stream

STARVING

A0494 — rank 288

Welcome to my new life Let me give you the guided tour Show you all the things that hurt me Tell you why I don’t go back there any more I once road the roller coaster Up, down and around it went Then one day I lost my ticket Id found all my money been spent The tracks I followed whirled me around Shook my faith and dignity I never added up the nights on the town Pretended that it never affected me The scenes I saw were of someone else So I never had to sink to doubting myself Because of course nothing bothered me Blinded by the moon so I could not see Since then I’ve been climbing the ladder Finally caught sight of the top rung Seen scowling faces and heard tongues that flatter Still not sure where one ends and the others begun Stood on the very tips of my toes All the while starting to lose all feeling Have you ever wondered where it goes Figured it wasn’t ever worth stealing Yet you find your guess so incorrect Looking around but who do you suspect? Who would have the nerve to hide and steal and not reveal What you deserve now a hurt burning deep which you feel An empty void which takes away a part of you that you knew That yesterday you would have sworn would always stay Such a desperate act with so little motivation Just like taking food from a suffer of starvation

STICKS AND STONES

A0495 — rank 289

Since I kill people with rhyme They can run but they can’t hide But yes, even I break pencils From time to time, sometimes Like when I think of your skull And try to crush it with my mind Or lash out at you with my tongue Telling everyone what you’ve done I’ve caused five known suicides But some might call them homicides You could either go and ask a jury But I’ll go free if Judas Priest decides For no amount of money will I be marginalized Victimized, puppetized or terrorized by Any body, agent, church or state that tries To get me to follow or believe something I hate So liars, cheaters and those who steal I got your penance written right here It starts off by me calling you all bad names And it ends with you all beginning to disappear For what if I wasn’t a man of words? But a man of action; a man of deeds In fact, what if I had a new creed: “If you piss me off enough… They’re gonna find you in the weeds” SLAM, BANG, CHOP! With that last line You’re dying…you’re poetically dead And I was barely even trying I feel much better now You’re lucky you’re only crying… Was it something I said? Or maybe something you read? When I see evil people… I start chanting:

STRANGER IN THE MANGER

A0496 — rank 290

I've been thinking that my life needs some changing Some things still need a little rearranging And even though I wouldn’t say I’m angry If everything starts to stay the same keeps keeping on so strangely I knew what to do back in two thousand and two so just blame me (no one framed me) If maybe I was watching the world go by And never even bothered to blink an eye Maybe I was watching too many sunrises And never bothered to read all the rules I was supposed to comply with You know the one with the stranger who owned the manger Its so full of danger that its a real cliffhanger Forget the name, its probably now forgotten, but it had its fifteen minutes of fame Includes both love and pain the blind and the lame the honorable and the rotten You know: The one they said no other book could ever equal So why did they ever go and write the sequel? They believed they were all alone Until I told them that I was writing my own Started calling me some kind of false preacher I responded that I’m just a knowledge teacher To which they responded, don’t you even try it I became despondent You had better be damn well quiet For words like that can cause a riot I almost thought that they were gonna hang me But I got the right to say it And no one has to okay it Better still no one has to obey it For I saw that the Constitution states it plainly Choosing your religion Is just like going fishing Sometimes you have to throw it back in Jump right in And start all over again When you know there’s bigger and better fish in the pond For this is the only planet I know for certain that I’m on Don’t want to be baptized in a pool of sin Trying my best to make certain that I dont fall in

SWIMMING IN SALT LAKE

A0498 — rank 291

Everybody told me I should go to church To find a girl To complete my life To give me a reason to live in this world Well my friend Life ain’t just that simple The next thing I knew I was sitting in temple I dated a Jew but she didn’t do I gave back my key My colored coffee filter Then we were through Soon my heart beat for another A blonde Catholic Angel And I was back at church Listening to the Brothers I hummed wedding bells But she didn’t hum at all When I was supposed to kneel I stood too tall I prayed it could last Then I lost it all After I just got My heart broken again I stopped to turn around And that was when… I saw the face of Heaven God knows I needed saving I saw her pictures of Jesus It was then I knew that She was what I needed Isn’t life divine? When you’re not looking And you find A soul mate For the rest of your life A lover, a mother, a wife I was stuck in a rut I was a desperate man People tried to tell me But I didn’t understand Now I go swimming In the salt lakes Finally learning From my mistakes Never know which way The world is turning I never knew I’d marry a Mormon She’s my escalator straight to the top You know I love her and I’ll never stop After I took her to see Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page I knew I’d never leave her Until I die of old age Now we’re together Every single day And I even go to mass Praying to the man upstairs Who put her on earth To save my ass No I never listened To a single sermon Until I fell in love With a blue-eyed Mormon

THANKS DAD

A0500 — rank 292

You don’t know what it’s like to work for a living To you everyday is happy thanksgiving While your friends work their hands to the bone You just call daddy dearest up on the phone And you tell him all about how you got it so rough Then you start crying that your allowance just isn’t enough You don’t know what it’s like to work for a living To you everyday is Happy Thanksgiving But what if I told you That to some it’s always Halloween Just tricks and no treats Forget candied sweets No treats were ever found When vampires and reapers Are the only one’s around Happy Halloween Say hello to defeat Life sometimes can get pretty mean When there are people walking Without any shoes on their feet But you, you wouldn’t know There’s always someplace that you can go To daddy’s cottage on the lake Or maybe his mansion on Boca Raton You never had to pay for any mistake Daddy just had to wave his magic wand Then trouble disappeared With life again like chocolate cake Do you even know what planet you’re on? You have your own two feet for goodness sake Someday you’ll have wished you had stood These words I say are for your own good

THOUSAND MILES ABOVE

A0502 — rank 293

She came from the land of the sun Parting the clouds that hang above Conquering new cities in the name of love From a thousand miles away To a thousand miles above When we first met I knew That she was not ordinary Conversation sent a chill through my bones Falling in love in just an hour Is so extraordinary From that moment on I didnt want to be alone Before she came I had loved And I had lost, oh but of course Still I had to pay the cost Bitch got half when we got divorced Well the mistakes I made I soon had corrected Funny how love creeps up When you least expect it She only wanted my friendship But I wanted so much more Best friends forever Seems like such a bore This feeling for her I have to direct it So like a dog on the porch I wait To sneak in the back door When she least expects it As I dream of her Its like staring at the stars I soon lose my train of thought And go walking into cars She could end up killing me But what a way to die Lying on the street face up Seeing her face in the sky The day she tells me Well never go any higher Is the day I sell my shoes And walk across the fire To prove my love Ill race into any burning building To rescue anyone her heart desires Even her dog or her cat Tell me what you think of that? Day after day you still amaze me Dont tell me no itll drive me crazy Dont fan the flames Dont burn me Im not so bad When you learn

TOTEM POLE

A0503 — rank 294

I took my axe to the top of my Totem Pole Flexed my muscles and let a good swing go With one swift chop a head fell to the ground Try to bury that sunuva bitch Where it’ll never ever be found I’ve been climbing the ladder of drugs Almost to the top of the wrung And I just decided to take a step down That’s why I swung Straight down the middle and follow through You don’t get measured by what you say But rather what you do Alcohol had its days, its months, and its years I’ll be the world’s greatest magician If I can make a bottle disappear Step by step, booze and butts and then bongs For they’ve been the inspiration For far too many of my songs Almost time to choose something better Almost time to come back to earth Almost time to slay the three – headed monster Almost time to lift the curse You maybe young but some things still get old Got to reshape your life while you can still break the mold The one that you created while your ego was being deflated Your balloon filled up with led so now it won’t fly Just what happened to your head and blinded your eyes? Your cross weighs the same as your Totem Pole Everyday it gets heavier so you need to dig a bigger hole Every face has a pair of eyes able to stare into your soul Once it grows too strong it’s out of your control Every enemy face must fall Start chopping Do it once and for all Not all this starting and stopping For no totem pole is ever too tall

TREES OF GREEN

A0504 — rank 295

Just what is wrong with me? Maybe there is something wrong with us Finding life in someone else Living so vicarious - ly I took a minute to get away from myself Decided to look through somebody else Stared towards the street as the cars passed by So many other souls maybe I’ll give them a try Looked at every car of every color I soon discovered - There were so many faces Looked at all the people of every color I soon discovered - There were so many races From my eyes I gave myself some advice How can we be racist when it’s the roll of the dice? All the trees are green I guess that’s why they get along So I’m just being me That’s why I sing my song What else can’t you see? That you haven’t seen all along Hatreds only for the wicked With eyes too colored to see Roots… I’ll tell them where to stick it If they ever come questioning me Never be afraid when your opinion is based on fact Know it is your own decision to not be told how to act Every day I become a little bit stronger Every day my story becomes a little bit longer And I’m not afraid of that

WARM WEATHER

A0508 — rank 296

Here I sit all alone Weeping in a state of motionless silence In my mind I am far from home Keeping busy by fighting off the violence Losing all my passion Like a style going out of fashion Hating the human race Hurting in my soul Like a compass encompassed Lost its place Hating growing old I even started hating my own face After you’d leave I would fondly reminisce Staring at the ceiling While dreaming of your kiss Spending so many sleepless nights Wondering about you and I Hoping my pillow became you And my ceiling the stars and sky When it didn’t come true I would just close my eyes But I kept thinking of you Believing that tomorrow was another day Then one night to my surprise I finally heard the words I longed for you to say Now that were together Nearly every hour of the day Everything’s gotten better The rain clouds have lifted As I can finally feel the warm weather I received a gift and am now gifted

WATER BIRDS

A0510 — rank 297

Flying high as a gull While you swim like a fish Now your life isn’t dull Did you get your wish? Nobody really knows Just where the feeling goes Twelve feet off the ground When you’re standing on your toes Are you happy when it’s gone? Empty mirror, empty vein Empty bottle, empty bong Have you had enough? Is it getting tough? Is the paddling rough Shaking the stuff Just a blind man’s bluff Is this the last? In a world so vast On a street so fast Not every second lasts Is it time to accept the passing of the past? Find yourself confined within the same old walls Where the windows are still barred Still making the same old calls Haven’t yet made it very far A life molded in a well-known shape Waking up every morning staring at the same old face Trying to find some way to escape Some are dedicated to the flag Others pledge allegiance to the bag But where ever your faith lies Keep in mind only fools are taken by surprise Sometimes fire is the cleanser Except when on a bender When there’s more than just juice On the inside of your blender Fighting sobriety Cracking ‘em in the jaw Losing every ounce of dignity While breaking every law

WITH HER I’LL MAKE IT

A0512 — rank 298

I’ve wrote too many sad, sad songs About how the love we had was once so strong Trying to remember where we went wrong I need you back it’s already been too long I’m coming to find you so please don’t hide If you only knew how badly it hurts inside Open your heart again please swallow your pride I tried to convince myself I didn’t need you but I knew it was a lie When you left my better half died Even though I’m a man I too will swallow my pride If you lay down the law I promise to abide For I know I wasn’t right I had my priorities confused And even though I hurt you we’ve both been abused I got off the phone with you and I know you still love me… I once set her free but she hasn’t flown back home to me She’s the best I’ve ever seen, I wrote her in a letter But we can’t get together ‘til I get better It’s a slow process so I’ll take it step by step We’ll find ourselves together is your safest bet It gets lonely in the basement when your dreams turn to pain Too many choices can rinse your life down the drain Behind door number one - an angel in disguise Door number two - your biggest surprise Behind door number three - filled with crooks and lies But you’re behind number four - I can see it in your eyes I should turn the key so you can show me the way Whatever it costs then I’ll gladly pay I’ve got to stop this livin’ day to day But when all is said and done this is the price I pay You gotta turn the next page, start over again Sort out acquaintances and weed out your friends For it’s hard to see when smoke gets in your eyes Hard to know what’s pure in this world full of lies Through trial and error you’ll find yourself And discover those which you can’t live without I’ve found them all though one’s been misplaced She stands behind a wall but I caught a glimpse of her face She cries “let me out or let yourself in!” I’d love to show her Heaven and shield her from sin But she might have to wait ‘cause of the shape I’m in Once I get it together then we’ll be family again

YOUR BROTHER

A0513 — rank 299

Maybe some day it will all fall into place - so naturally No more charades or this big f&%^(*#g façade I throw a parade to get past this giant blockade To start a new novel or else to flip the page For you are right…I am rarely blunt you see Don’t fight on the eminence front to put it eloquently Yeah I’ve been given second sight, and thank Townshend for me He helped opened my eyes to what I couldn’t see As I learned to comprehend this great big mystery Find the one key that will set yourself free It could be me for you And it could be you for me If we give it a chance Then time will tell and we’ll see… Nothing else would mean the world to me Be better than me going down in history As the second coming of Jesus in Bible number three… Do you still go up to Heaven Even if you commit blasphemy? But we both know that God Wouldn’t want that from me I’ve always felt like more of a loner Yet if it was one or the other I still wouldn’t want to be your brother And that has more to do with you… Than with you mother…. Coo-coo-cachew This song is over ‘Cause I’m getting a……. If you don’t know, well, I thought you knew I got no regrets…did you forget who you were talking to?

BUS DRIVER

A0522 — rank 300

I am still alive (cigarette hangs from mouth) Even though I try to kill myself daily I'm still breathing... (cough, cough, cough) but just barely Someday I'm gonna die Perhaps that why I don't choose fact But good old fiction When it comes time to talk Over the subject of religion I have realized That there's something Greater, more important than me I am just another ant In this hurried race To hell with humanity Because I found Christianity And I am learning my place When to sit, stand and kneel I'm becoming a nameless face But hey...they say I am healed So I boarded their bus... But soon there was no driver at the wheel... The guy dressed in black He was in the back Spreading the word to all the little boys Once they began to cry and shout That's when the driver had to get out... When he could no longer turn a blind eye Something...something that rhymes with smile La la la...hmm...pedophile!!!! I'll give you just one guess Who is now unemployed... Hey, by the way... does anyone need a ride?

MY LITTLE REVOLUTION

A0526 — rank 301

This is no type of world in which to run and play Not that it matters much anyway Of course this fact is evident Our lives tell the story that words could never say Generally there's no real argument Only people pointing blame Yet where we're going is more important Then from wherever we all came There are too many lives lacking purpose... So many with misplaced ambition Just what's the point of one's existence... If you spend your entire life going fishing? I never understood such remedial repetition By those who could make a real difference They end up selling their soul For a few dollars a pound All the while believing they're fully in control Have they ever stopped to look around? Perhaps they're too busy counting their bankroll To stop and get off this meaningless merry-go-round You've got to ask for contributions Because there ain't no money in saving the world Most people just look at you funny Thinking you're nuttier than a squirrel Mistaking attrition for absolution They won't join in my little revolution Would rather go home and shine their pearls Their precious heirloom saved for their little girl Yet when it's time for little girl to reign supreme Just when she's about to enter into her prime There'll be nothing but wall-to-wall human beings Everything worth saving will already be gone Her parents kept on following the old regime As she's left to wonder where it all went wrong Seems they never acted on what they were seeing When it was time to wake up mom and dad just yawned

Or IN THE POURING RAIN

A0527 — rank 302

Oh, that’s right…You were a thousand miles above A thousand miles away on a plane He said son, That’s not fair of you To say that to me… Someone’s got to pay the bills And feed the family I said dad, that might be right for you But what if it doesn’t work for me? My music is my legacy I didn’t choose it – it selected me Sure it might be a DEAD END And it might be AWAR But it’s the only thing I have That’s truly mine And worth fighting or dying for And to give in and to give up After so many years In all honesty HONESTLY never again Would my EYES be AT LOST FOR TEARS I have to SEE THIS THRU This is THE PROMISE I made to myself the other day Yes, I can see your point of view So here’s to my failure Or to my success So I guess there’s NOTHING MORE TO SAY

ONE MORE

A0528 — rank 303

One more beer And then I’ll head home Unless she comes over her Then I wouldn’t be alone One more story This time I just can’t resist It’s time to share my pain And what I’ve been living with So come along everyone And pull up a chair You’ll get to learn why My eyes are full of despair You see… once I had a jealous girl And she had a jealous mind Oh yes… once I had a jealous girl But you can see she’s no longer mine Yet everyday she walks on by I never seem to catch her eye Everyday I wait for her To look at me like she used to… But she never does…she knows the truth Someday she’ll regret Treating me like we never met… Oh someday she’ll agree She had a good thing when she had me…. Through an open window In climbed a broken vow Once she let another enter Where no one was allowed She said that like the crooked picture frame In which we once hung up upon her wall We were hanging on by just one nail So she knew we were going to fall

TOMORROW

A0533 — rank 304

So much to say so little ink Too much confusion its hard to think Is this a poem or is it a song? Don’t know yet so I’ll play along Try to gather just how I feel Like Mr. Jones or the man of steel Who am I gonna be when I grow old? Don’t wanna be bought Don’t wanna be sold Life isn’t easy but it’s probably better than dying Gotta fight on and keep on trying I have a good life so I should be glad But when she leaves it makes me sad Soon she’ll realize I’m the one she seeks It may take time, maybe weeks and weeks Could take years just who’s to say? Might be in April or maybe in May? I didn’t start on the bottom but I’m moving on up Gotta buckle down learn enough is enough Drink and drugs just bring me down Probably the reason I get kicked around Somebody tell me when things will look bright Trapped in a tunnel searching for light I may have a star and it may be blonde But after years and years there’s still no bond Should I pack up and move away? Run from trouble or is it here to stay? I’m an all right kid who earns his pay “Regrets are pathetic” is the quote of the day Can’t think about the past only today There’s always tomorrow is what they say

YARD DOG

A0535 — rank 305

No, not everyone understands I’m not looking for total freedom Just enough to make me my own man I opened up the window and released them: Let out what I had in my hands Adam knew there were apples that grow And that he couldn’t eat ‘em Just as surely some things you shouldn’t grapple with When you know you can’t join them or beat them I am ridding myself of all these poisonous toxins Such as these thoughts like right now – When I wish that my mom and dad had just kept on walkin’ Never stopping and talking and eventually f&%^in’ Just some baby batter left on the blanket Then they’d just wash it… If only daddy had spanked it Or if only they had offed it Err, me…No, I would never wanna off you It’s not your fault that the way I feel Is the deepest, darkest shade of blue And yeah, you had a laugh at the last paragraph But that fun has just passed… So now what are we supposed to do? I’d like to share your greatness with you Then maybe it’d rub off and I’d be great, too There’s simply nothing I wouldn’t do To lie down at your feet, yeah I’d die to serve you Now I’ve got to get motivated baby But it’s just too goddamn hard I still feel like I’m attached to your chain, babe Yeah, I’m that dog in your yard

FIFTY TWO PICK UP

A0707 — rank 306

Sure, I know that you’ve been fooled before Many times by false tags and signs So why does this one really hurt? Seems like it hurts more… How do you know when you’ve lost something good? Once it became misplaced did someone come and pick it up? That’s one way to tell if you’ve made a mistake? Should you go blaming yourself or just chalk it up to plain dumb luck? They told you not to put All your chickens in one basket They told you not to count up All your eggs before they hatch At least that’s how you remember it You know it goes something like that… There are so many people in this world Who just haven’t got a clue This girl you met last week Told you - you were kinda cute So tonight when you came back to see her Looks like your picture’s the one hanging on the rear view mirror And right now you’re wishing you went to someplace else For when your eyes finally did meet You failed to sweep her off her feet Since she was two booths away And she wasn’t sitting by herself…

REST OF MY DAYS

A0713 — rank 307

Or L.M.N.O.P

A0138 — rank 308

Hope you can understand And comprehend clearly… That I f%&k like a rabbit Try to fly like a maggot Can your ears hear Them yelling: “Watch your spelling and auto-correcting!” Or next under sex they'll be questioning, Over messaging and texting Did or didn't I try a guy like a faggot… I'll reply: Hey, I see something shinny So I go and grab it ‘Cause I just gotta have it I know it’s a bad habbit Since I look like I lie Like a Persian rug, Judas and a priest All rolled into one But at least… Wait, freeze, go back… Did that ‘but’ have One or two t’s? Oh boy! Since my train of thought Is filled with pot If it didn’t have tracks I’d get lost a lot Then I’d have forgot Where I parked… Oh yeah, over there In the parking lot Here's where I get off (haha) Then I’d say: “Hey, have a nice day.” (and wave…that same fake smile on my face) As I’d drive away In a big, bright white car With out-of-state plates With black lights that at night read: “Candy Rapper Superstar” (ha ha ha!) John Lennon was right… And right you are! Deep down you knew it Anyone can do it… Be a candy rapper superstar

YOU CAN NEVER RUN AWAY FROM YOURSELF

A0185 — rank 309

I lay on the ground As I feel death’s cold eyes Even in defeat I am not taken by surprise I am my own rock By no man’s law I abide In desperate times You can look for a place to hide But you can never Run away from yourself In good times and bad times In sickness and health There’s no escape when trouble Has already come For you can never take back anything That you have done I lay on the ground As I feel death’s cold eyes Even in defeat I am not taken by surprise I am my own rock By no man’s law I abide In desperate times You can look for a place to hide But you can never Run away from yourself In good times and bad times In sickness and health Never run away from yourself… p. 1 ABSOLUTELY MARIE by Klaus Bluetner ……….…..………. …… LOVE p. 2 ALISON'S AIRPLANE by Justin Justice ………….. DRUGS & ALCOHOL p. 3 ALL IN A DAY by Klaus Bluetner………………….………….CHOMSKIAN p. 4 ALL IN GOOD TIME by Klaus Bluetner ……………...........…. INSPIRING p. 5 AS FOR ME by Klaus Bluetner….....………...…INTERNAL STRUGGLES p. 6 AS I PLAY by Klaus Bluetner…………............................……..INSPIRING p. 7 BEAUTIES AND BEASTS by Klaus Bluetner……………. ….INSPIRING p. 8 BLESSING IN DISGUISE by Justin Justice …………. ….……INSPIRING p. 9 BOTTOM OF THE LAKE by Klaus Bluetner ….....…… RELATIONSHIPS p. 10 BREAKING HER HEART by Justin Justice …..…........… HEARTBREAK p. 11 BREAKING THE CHAINS by Tiffany Anne .... INTERNAL STRUGGLES p. 12 BRICKLAYER by Klaus Bluetner ……….……….....……… CHOMSKIAN p. 13 BROKEN MIRROR by Klaus Bluetner …......................……. INSPIRING p. 14 BUTTERFLY by Klaus Bluetner……….…..........................………..LOVE p. 15 CARRY ME by Klaus Bluetner …......…………. INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 17 CLEAN WIPE TO THE SLATE by Justin Justice…………......INSPIRING p. 18 COLOR OF LOVE by Klaus Bluetner….................................……..LOVE p. 19 COME FOR A RIDE by Bryan Magsayo ………….……..HEARTBREAK p. 20 COMING OF FALL by Tyler Thompson ……………..MISCELLANEOUS p. 21 CONCRETE PEOPLE by Klaus Bluetner…………….……CHOMSKIAN p. 22 COST OF WAR by Klaus Bluetner ……...................... SOCIAL ISSUES p . 23 CURVES OF SORROW by Tyler Thompson ……DRUGS & ALCOHOL p. 24 DEAD END by Justin Justice ……...................… DRUGS & ALCOHOL p. 25 DEAD SILENCE by Justin Osowiecki ……………..… SOCIAL ISSUES p. 26 DEEP SEEDED by Klaus Bluetner …………... INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 27 DOWNWARD SPIRAL by Max Weltman ……………..... DEPRESSING p. 28 DREAMLAND by Klaus Bluetner……………….……..………….…LOVE p. 29 DUST TO DUST by Klaus Bluetner…..................…..RELATIONSHIPS p. 30 END OF THE ROAD by Klaus Bluetner………….…………………LOVE p. 31 FALLEN CLOUDS by William Elmore ..……………..MISCELLANEOUS p. 32 FALLEN WALLS by Klaus Bluetner…………………..…SOCIAL ISSUES p. 33 FIGHT FOR PEACE by Lynette ……………………..…….. CHOMSKIAN p. 34 FIRST CLASS by Klaus Bluetner …………….…..…..MISCELLANEOUS p. 35 FIRST PLACE by Klaus Bluetner ………………..….. MISCELLANEOUS p. 36 FLOW by Klaus Bluetner ………………….……..……............ INSPIRING p. 37 FOURTEEN DAYS by Klaus Bluetner………….INTERNAL STRUGGLES p. 38 FOURTH SHAKRA by Klaus Bluetner…………..……………….......LOVE p. 39 FRAMES by Jon Jacobs …...................................…. RELATIONSHIPS p. 40 FRESCO by Justin Justice…...........................................................LOVE p. 42 GIFT by Klaus Bluetner ….........................................…… CHOMSKIAN p. 44 GOLDEN ARCHER by Klaus Bluetner ..........................…… INSPIRING p. 45 GYPSY MAMMA by Klaus Bluetner…......................................…..LOVE p. 46 HALF FULL by Klaus Bluetner ……………………...... RELATIONSHIPS p. 47 HALL OF FAME by Klaus Bluetner …………………….…….. INSPIRING p. 48 HARRY PATCH by Klaus Bluetner ……………..…… INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 49 HERE AND NOW by Justin Justice ……………..….. INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 50 HERE I AM by Klaus Bluetner……....................................................... LOVE p. 51 HOUSE OF SHATTERED GLASS by Klaus Bluetner ……… HEARTBREAK p. 52 HOW CAN YOU by Bryan Magsayo ….............................….. HEARTBREAK p. 53 IN THE POURING RAIN by Justin Justice …………………………....…LOVE p. 54 INTERNAL BRUISES by Justin Justice ………………….…... HEARTBREAK p. 55 IT COULD BE YOU by Sandy …….................................................…. LOVE p. 56 IT IS YOUR TURN by Klaus Bluetner …………………………….. INSPIRING p. 57 JULIA’S GARDEN by Klaus Bluetner …………….… INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 58 LAST MAN STANDING by Klaus Bluetner………………………… INSPIRING p. 59 LAST CUP OF COFFEE by Justin Justice …………………….…. REAL LIFE p. 60 LEAVING CALIFORNIA by Klaus Bluetner ……………… MISCELLANEOUS p. 61 LEAVING YOUR ROOTS by Klaus Bluetner ………. INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 62 LET DOWN by Justin Justice ……….................................…..HEARTBREAK p. 63 LITTLE BIRD by Justin Justice …...........…………….......…… HEARTBREAK p. 64 LOOKING FOR LOVE by Klaus Bluetner…………................. HEARTBREAK p. 65 LOW DOWN by Klaus Bluetner……..............................…..… DEPRESSING p. 66 LYRICAL GROOM AND MUSICAL BRIDE by Klaus Bluetner…….…....LOVE p. 67 MARRIED TO SOMETHING ELSE by Justin Justice .....DRUGS & ALCOHOL p. 68 MATCH MAKER by Klaus Bluetner…................................…RELATIONSHIPS p. 69 MAYBE SOMEDAY by Bryan Magsayo …….........................… DEPRESSING p. 70 MELODY OF SORROW by Klaus Bluetner ….……………..….HEARTBREAK p. 71 MICHELANGELO AND MARBLE ….........................................…..INSPIRING p. 72 NATURE OF MAN by Justin Justice ………………………….. HEARTBREAK p. 73 NEVERMORE by Klaus Bluetner………….………. INTERNAL STRUGGLES p. 74 NEXT IN LINE by Klaus Bluetner…........................................................LOVE p. 75 NIGHT OUT by Klaus Bluetner……………..…..…. INTERNAL STRUGGLES p. 76 NOW BOARDING by Klaus Bluetner……………………..…….HEARTBREAK p. 77 OASIS by Klaus Bluetner ……............................................... DEPRESSING p. 78 OLD ELI by Klaus Bluetner……..................................…... SOCIAL ISSUES p. 79 ONE SLIP OF THE KNIFE by Justin Justice ………………… DEPRESSING p. 80 OVERRATED by Tyler Thompson ………………….……..…. DEPRESSING p. 81 PENDULUM by Klaus Bluetner ………………………….. RELATIONSHIPS p. 82 PENNYWISE by Klaus Bluetner………………………………. CHOMSKIAN p. 83 PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS by Klaus Bluetner……………………. LOVE p. 84 POSTCARD by Klaus Bluetner…………………………RELATIONSHIPS p. 85 PRAYER FOR LIFE’S MEANING …………………………..…INSPIRING p. 86 PRETTY TOYS by Klaus Bluetner …………………………. CHOMSKIAN p. 87 RAINYDAY SUNSHINE by Justin Justice…………………….......…LOVE p. 88 RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES by Justin Justice ……………….. FUNNY p. 89 RIPPLES by Klaus Bluetner ……………….......................…. INSPIRING p. 90 ROCKING THE WORLD by Lai Youttitham …………...…… INSPIRING p. 91 SANDCASTLES by Klaus Bluetner…...………....……RELATIONSHIPS p. 92 SEE THIS THRU by Justin Justice…………………………..………LOVE p. 93 SHE by Klaus Bluetner …….........................…. INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 94 SINGER SONGWRITER by Klaus Bluetner …..INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 95 SLEEPWALKERS by Klaus Bluetner …………………...…. CHOMSKIAN p. 96 SMELL THE FLOWERS by Rebekah Ann Curtis ……...…… INSPIRING p. 97 SNOWFLAKES by Justin Justice ……...........................…… INSPIRING p. 99 STARS by Klaus Bluetner……………….........................……INSPIRING p. 100 STILLTHINKING OF YOU TONIGHT by Tyler Thompson ……….LOVE p. 101 STRANDED by Justin Justice …...............................……DEPRESSING p. 102 STRANGER…THEN FICTION by Klaus Bluetner ……….…...…..LOVE p. 103 SUMMER’S THE TIME by Klaus Bluetner……...............…. INSPIRING p. 104 SUNLIGHT by Klaus Bluetner ……...................................…INSPIRING p. 105 SURE SHORE by Klaus Bluetner…..........……INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 106 TABLE FOR TWO by Klaus Bluetner……......................HEARTBREAK p. 107 THUNDERSTORMS by Klaus Bluetner ...……INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 108 TONIGHT'S MOONLIGHT by Tyler Thompson………………..….LOVE p. 109 TRASH CAN by Klaus Bluetner…..............................…HEARTBREAK p. 110 TRAIN by Justin Justice……..........................................HEARTBREAK p. 111 TRENDING by Klaus Bluetner…........................…..MISCELLANEOUS p. 112 TRYING TIMES by Klaus Bluetner ….......….. INTERNAL STRUGGLE p. 113 UNITY by Justin Justice & Lai Youttitham ……….... RELATIONSHIPS p. 114 UNTITLED UNLABELED by Klaus Bluetner…………………....…LOVE p. 115 USED TO BE by Klaus Bluetner ……............................HEARTBREAK p. 116 VISITED A PLACE by Klaus Bluetner ………………. SOCIAL ISSUES p. 117 WARM SHOULDER by Klaus Bluetner……………………….....….LOVE p. 118 WARMER WATERS by Klaus Bluetner ….......…… DRUGS & ALCOHOL p. 119 WATCHER by Matt McCarthy…........................................….INSPIRING p. 120 WATER FLESH AND BONE by Justin Justice …..…… RELATIONSHIPS p. 122 WHAT I’LL DO by Klaus Bluetner….................................................LOVE p. 123 WHAT WE SHARE by Justin Justice…………………………............LOVE p. 124 WHERE I AM FROM by Klaus Bluetner …………………………….. LOVE p. 125 WITHIN REACH by Klaus Bluetner …..................…… RELATIONSHIPS p. 126 WORTH THE WAIT by Justin Justice……………………….........….LOVE p. 127 YOU CAN NEVER RUN AWAY FROM YOURSELF by Justin Justice … INTERNAL STRUGGLE

ANY GIVEN DAY

A0235 — rank 310

Another morning As the sun comes up again You drink a cup of coffee Say hello to your friend Take a peek at the paper Any good news today? Seems like nothing but trouble So face down it will stay Eight o’clock in the morning As your cubicle cries out your name You sit down in front of your computer The monotony remains the same Another sip of coffee The stacks of papers stay in your drawer So many places you’d rather be As you find yourself asking for what And for who are you doing this for? Ten years of marriage to your work Yet how could this be so engraved into your life? Dropped off the kids at school A kiss goodbye to your loving wife You really need a vacation Tried to get the week off but you couldn’t go The boss promised you next week You should have pushed stronger But how could you expect to know Yet you’re still sitting here Up on the sixty-sixth floor You could have been ascending on a plane Maybe heading off towards Europe to go explore Gazing out your window You see that the New York skyline is so pretty And your office is such a bore Suddenly you see a sight among sights Never seen a plane flying so low before This day was coming The day of all days The unthinkable enters your mind The World Trade Center’s in a blaze Your last thoughts wonder How’d this happen and why? After the air control towers lose all contact As the sun’s not the only sight in the sky The devil’s signed a new contract Today is marked your day to die As terror has no face Neither hides in eyes Nor hidden in a place Strikes in a second Yet stays for a life Leaving weeping children Comforted by a crying wife Heroes are found As evil is blamed Two buildings fall to the ground A covert hatred untamed As words filled with scorn Still fail to articulate Our rose finds its thorn However too late An eye for an eye is written in red As some wave banners of hate And even though people still hurt We must retaliate Somewhere, someone must pay Without a doubt the highest of price Maybe then we’ll be okay A tooth for a tooth, a life for a life For the terrorists certainly know what’s in store As the mothers of the enemy must suffer as well For no one wins when you go to war You throw away your bible when your earth is hell So sad this is what it takes For a great nation to finally unite For everybody to wave a flag For everybody to not sleep so good tonight And yet small acts of hatred Pass before our eyes on any given day But everyone just keeps on walking Pretending it’s never an obstacle along their way It is true that perfection is never truly attainable But is this way of life really sustainable It was all bound to come crashing down one day But no one ever figured they’d live to see the day

NOT A ZERO

A0473 — rank 311

Nobody told you the way in which to walk In order to make it easier to get to where you want to go And no one ever whispered into your ear All of the things that you’d be better off to know You’ll have to find these things all by yourself As this is the only advice you will need I wouldn’t bother listening to anyone else Who maybe trying to sell you something you don’t need I am not like the rest when it comes to my own ego I try never to pretend that I’m some kind of super hero I never wanted to be as cool as Robert DiNero I’ll settle for the safety of simply not being a zero Between the ears Is where it hides The bear in the cave Here it sleepily lies Waiting for when the time is right The time to unleash the full fury Nowhere to run when nothing’s left in sight A wave like this sure crashes in a hurry Dormant and inactive it hangs around in the basement Waiting for the day that you’ll have to face it And to think that everybody’s so concerned With what they have in their closet Sometimes when you can’t close the door There’s just no knowing how to stop it Seems now there’s no choice left other than to let it out Release what burns within you and lift all doubt I am not like the rest when it comes to my own ego I try never to pretend that I’m some kind of super hero I never wanted to be as cool as Robert DiNero I’ll simply settle for the safety of just not being a zero Break down the rock wall surrounding yourself Don’t worry about the eyes of anybody else There is only one lifetime of which we can be sure Never want to look back wishing you were something you weren’t Will you speak your opinion proud or will you bend in the wind Will you die dignified when eyes have spied seeing all that you did? With flowers lowered down in casket or sadly leaping off of a ledge Would you do it all again and would the same allegiances you pledge? The masks each unknowing actor wears for every new face at the door Who with each passing day comes closer to what’s inevitably in store All the while playing magnificently well in the game of charades Now unable to untie the knot he has made even as his life begins to fade Mistakenly mistakable to the naïve, untrained and common eye Who blinks the very second that difference comes walking by Another angry ignorant for whom there’s no more room for here Another silly fool hand him a scroll full of knowledge and then watch him tear I am not like the rest when it comes to my own ego I try never to pretend that I’m some kind of super hero I never wanted to be as cool as Robert DiNero I’ll settle for the simple safety of just not being a zero

WAY UP NORTH

A0511 — rank 312

You can walk through the city Searching for peace But you’ll probably find war Yes, I too, looked long ago I found a friend who turned into a foe As soon as I walked inside his door My palms were sweating I was still unsure of what I was getting into Or what was in store But after I learned How easy you can get burned I promised myself I wouldn’t go back there any more Now I hide Way up north I reside Where the only things flying are the birds When the trees softly speak Their advice I seek Though they do not seem to speak in words As I gaze up at the stars That once seemed so far Now they don’t seem so unreachable When the man in the moon looks He now sees me reading books He never knew I was so teachable When I lived in the city I lost all hope But now I love my country And somehow I can cope I traded my nights for days I traded smog for the suns rays I traded slugs for love And I traded my drugs for hugs WEATHERING THE STORM I called you on the phone but don’t worry nothing’s wrong I was sitting by myself and feeling kind of all alone I don’t need to hear anyone’s sad, sad song I see things all too clear whether right or wrong It could be all on you but maybe that’s better than all on me I’ve got my own chains of reason by which freedom I don’t see Some captains sink their own ship with all hands on deck Rather than giving out a sign of distress I once was floating by blinded through my eyes Nothing I despised not in either truth nor any lies What a way to live where nothing was taken Nothing to give but maybe I was mistaken Nothing gained and so much lost And what I paid was the highest of cost Well I am the captain and the water is deep The bow is all wet and I’ve began losing sleep And sleep is the only purification of the sole It hasn’t been this way for a while but even the past’s gotten old I’ve survived hurricanes, sea monsters, typhoons and snow I’ve hidden in so many ports that there’s none left to go Where I am now the birds can no longer be seen flying It’s going to be a long, dark trip but I’ll have to keep trying I’ve heard stories of rainbows, leprechauns and pots o’ gold Of hunters and slave ships with people bought and sold But when you add up the time we’re really all doing fine We’ve come so far but there are still mountains we must climb If you don’t believe then you will never bleed If your heart’s cut through it’s not even black and blue Without a change in form you’ve wasted being born You must break from safety if you seek to weather any storm

WINTER THEMED HAPPINESS

A0534 — rank 313

(co-written with youtube channel names in parentheses) Finding your soulmate, (COSTAR75) Dancing in the moonlight, (RESEARCHX) A log in the fireplace burns (RESEARCHX) A good book, (NINURE), A warm fire, (RESEARCHX) Holding on to a loved one, (RESEARCHX) Being held in return (RESEARCHX) A little note from my lover, (SHARBOHEMIA) A scenic drive (MIRELLA514) And a nodding approval (SHARBOHEMIA) The sound of music in the morning and Coffee (EFFRONWHITE) Served with warm apple strudel (SHARBOHEMIA) A cup of tea on a winter’s day (QUEENOFWANNABE87) In a peaceful town far from the city (PURPLEWINGS123) A melody so heavenly It changes destiny benevolently (ANSEL989) A new day’s sky, (KAWAIIKYONEKO) Sharing sunrise with the sparrows, (MAYANALIEN) And watching winter’s first snow (DOBBYJUNIOR) Long, sincere conversations, (ONEMANBAND1963) People showing love, (COSTAR75) Marshmallows in hot cocoa (DOBBYJUNIOR) Christmas Eve, A smiling grandmother, Such thoughtfulness, (IJUSTLIKETOPLAY) Warm hugs and sweet kisses (RAI452) A random act of kindness, Snow angels, snowmen and children wearing mittens A glass of wine lifting spirits, (WIZARDEAL) An honest day’s work, The righting of a wrong (WIZARDEAL) A victory where goodness wins, (CHOCOLATECOVEREDDUDE) Art for art’s sake, (YELLOWRHAPSODY) Hearing your favorite song (TADEK59) Sunset, (GJANIE) A finely-tuned piano, (ROCKERDADDYFARMS) An untouched landscape free of high rises (ROCKSTARDREAMS15) Giving gifts, giving thanks, (CHOCOLATECOVEREDDUDE) A child’s innocence during nighttime lullabies After dinner chocolates, (MISSTWINX) (ILIKETHESMELLOFSAND) (BAJANSWEETIE) Honesty and truth, (WATCHMEWHEELS) Surprise fresh flower bouquet A good night’s sleep, happy dreams, Knowing some memories will never fade away (CHOCOLATECOVEREDDUDE)

B.S.F.

A0076 — rank 314

Like a big stinky fart In a little empty room That’s how I feel Being so far away from you… Like seeing an un-Christened urinal With a fresh new gleaming bowl So badly then I had wished to pee But now, alas… I just don’t have to go… Oh no! Oh no… No, no… We were Best Friends Forever… Yes, forever and a day In time would we grow old? The answer was NO… NO NEVER! I wish I could believe that now today… Hey… Hey… Hip.. f%&king hip Ah, my f%&king hip! Hip… Hooray! As we watch it all… One by one we rise, we stand, we fall… And then together from the floor We watch it all fall away And then we watch it all fall away some more… Pondering the next dream world We have conjured up to go and explore

Great Greatest Greatest-Er

A0100 — rank 315

As for the Alexander Known as the Great The end was near For it was too late When he said They would have been wed Had he only had a first date… Yet they never met So, no he never ever met her Never wed her Never bed her And never wet her bed For that matter! That’s when the great Heavy weight Champion Came on in After being At the gym And with a grin From nose to chin… Muhammad Ali Secretly Told Alexander And he quickly Told me That he Agreed That she Was better Who am I to disagree With the two of greatest men In all of history? Either one could Certainly turn me Into Swiss cheese Or if they pleased A pile of shredded cheddar

High Risers

A0107 — rank 316

Well it seems you ended up with nothing In this world of plenty When everybody else went shopping for an audi you wanted an inny When everybody else was getting fat Why are you so skinny? Now you're looking at me and I think you're ready... They brought me down To police station For questioning And interrogation My friends had to call up the chief of police To negotiate my release But they just pay him off Because the guy's a crook He got taught real well Straight outta the book.... They no longer look they know the reason I'm always booked on the same charge of treason They wanted me to play follow the leader... Yet the powers that be were in full retreat But when they said We should all fight to the death How come all at once each head turned and looked at me? My government just labeled me as an Al Qaeda sympathizer All because I didn't straighten up like I took two pills from Pfizer When I say hey people steal I'm not talking about high risers My momma knows I'm not a terrorist So how come you gotta treat me like this? I'm just one of those concerned citizens A Chomskian poet otherwise known as a dissident Obama......what the hell is going on? You said you'd bring change.... Yeah....But only for a dollar bill..... And that's wrong!!!!

Peculiar

A0139 — rank 317

Time for another game Here on another plane Where the pieces of the puzzle Have all been rearranged And the puzzle has no frame Every piece fits together With each other Yet no piece is the same… Downside up is now left side right Right is center And parallel’s adjacent to What is perpendicular The day is dawn And dawn is night Triangles are square And squares are oblong and circular… Familiar albeit very peculiar Similar to a non-sequitur All of these goings ons On this planet earth Where the drinks are hard The colors are soft As these words I say Become food for thought Above they float aloft And love is in the air… It’s always been there… Yet we sometimes fear It has been lost… But it has not (Inspired by Wilt Chamberlain’s A VIEW FROM ABOVE)

Quick Wit

A0147 — rank 318

With quick wit You gotta spit the sh*t Before you get dissed And then dismissed It’s a one shot world Don’t get hit by what’s hurled And when it’s your time to shoot Don’t miss… Swish! All my fans cheer While I smile Go buck wild That’s my style With wide-eyed stares Their fans hiss Meanwhile… Who cares? We won the game I was in the game I was on my game I am the game I own the game Everybody knows my name My claim to fame Has always been the same I put in my time The dues have been paid I lay it all on the line Every single day The world is a whopper Gonna have it my way She swallowed Said she liked fast food Because it came right away Hey! You know what they say: With quick wit…

GROW UP

A0450 — rank 319

My best friend Has stopped returning my calls Won’t respond to any emails Now he’s just plain busting my balls So I decided to write him a poem Maybe it’ll be a song the tube It’s called “come on….grow up… And quit being a boob” For I hate all of this… This soap opera affair We’ve become too close To let all this disappear Friends often disagree Have arguments and debate I’ve still yet to hear from you… And so…I wait… Childish games were fun When I was three feet tall I’ve got my phone right here Please give me a call For over these years I’ve tried to act like a man And sort out all the things That I just don’t understand I tried to patch things up Yet it didn’t work like I planned The phone…pick it up! Before things get out of hand There is no ultimatum No time tables or threats Only great memories That I’ll never forget And I’d like to make more If that’s alright with you So turn on your skype And I’ll talk to you soon….

RUN FORREST RUN

A0484 — rank 320

He got five hundred dollars And a ticket outta here I’ve had a hard life But very few care Many times I’ve cried out That my life’s not fair But there was no one there To help me or to hear…. Everyone had disappeared I can write my way Right out of a wrong Like he sings himself Right out of the song I’ve grown tired of picking him up Every time he has fallen Finally reached that point of giving up To where it looks like there’s no returning When it was time to save Bubba In the movie Forrest Gump I rolled and ducked for cover And remembered Jenny saying: “Run Forrest Run!” The day the president’s son Gets shipped off and sent to war Is the day there might be Something worth fighting and worth dying for When it was time for me To drag Lieutenant Dan I thought a lot about oil And I thought a lot about Attacking Iraq and Afghanistan But when what goes for the goose Also goes for the gander The world won’t have any armies left Or at least one with a general or commander

SUMMER THEMED HAPPINESS

A0497 — rank 321

(youtube collaboration – channel names in parentheses) Hiking in the mountains, (LOSTAGAIN1701) Listening to the wind (LOSTAGAIN1701) Dogs playing frisbee, (LOSTAGAIN1701) Little kittens chasing string (LOSTAGAIN1701) Ice cream in summer (XXMAKESOMEONESMILEXX) And dewy foggy mornings (PAULSGIRL4EVS) Long walks deep in the forest, (NINJABLUEWINGS) The first day of spring These are some things that make my heart shout out and sing Finding out a nasty rumor just isn’t true (NINURE) Pony rides and learning something useful and new (NINURE) (DSANW) A rainbow (ONEMANBAND1963), A spider’s web glistening with dew (YVETTEGR) A warm wind blowing softly, (YVETTEGR) Some good barbeque (EFFRONWHITE) All these gifts from the heavens make me feel brand new Butterflies (ALYSSEXY), People acting sincere and polite Trips to museums, (PAULSGIRL4EVS) Making up after a fight (CHOCOLATECOVEREDDUDE) Days at the beach, (ROCKSTARDREAMS15) A barking dog that doesn’t bite And hearing a river flowing into the night (MISSYA1958) All reassure me I’m going to be alright Surprise phone calls from old friends long lost in the past (CHOCOLATECOVEREDDUDE) (PURPLEWINGS123) Flowers blooming in sunshine (BOUCRATE) And freshly cut grass (PURPLEWINGS123) Finding hidden money I’d forgotten I had (DONELLEGLATT) Looking through old photos of my mom and my dad (DONELLEGLATT) With things such as these how could I ever feel bad? Tears that have all dried up (WATCHMEWHEELS), Relieving someone’s pain (STORIESTHATNEVERWERE) A soldier coming home And swimming in the rain (MAYANALIEN) Warm April showers, A smiling face on the train (STORIESTHATNEVERWERE) New brides and grooms, The pop of the cork of champagne When it comes to these things you won’t hear me complain Strangers helping strangers (WATCHMEWHEELS), The smell of French perfume Summertime concerts, (ANNACALIFORNIA) A bunch of water balloons (0X0ANGIE0X0) Baby socks and A field of clover in full bloom (SHERRYWINE1941) Lazy Sunday mornings (JTBALL1888) And black and white cartoons (ROCKSTARDREAMS15) and (NINJABLUEWINGS) All have a way of lifting any doom and gloom Polar bears, pandas, koalas, a kangaroo (DOBBYJUNIOR) Bald headed eagles, (MISSYA1958) flamingos, a cockatoo Penguins and llamas, tigers, deer and caribou Dolphins, rabbits and otters (DOBBYJUNIOR), a trip to the zoo For all of God’s great creatures I must say thank you

ALWAYS MOVING

A0232 — rank 322

I only free my mind when it’s closing time I only find my way home when I am truly alone The only doors left open Are the ones I can’t slam shut The only lesson I’ve yet to learn Is that enough is enough I always find myself moving But it’s not always up The only piece of mind I ever find Is lying on the floor and yeah that’s tough No this is not another fiction So far, far from a fable I’m simply biding my time For as long, as long as I am able But don’t get me wrong I’d never sell myself short I’d be the man with the gavel If the world was a court In another time On another day Things might have not Been this way But when I woke up I put on my shoes Came to this conclusion We all gotta pay our dues But just what device do you use To measure wasted time? And just who made the ladders We’re supposed to climb? I guess that’s just part of the great mystery The Rubik’s cube we must all unfold Something accidentally deleted When they were writing history Another piece of paper discarded As they were walking down the road

BETTER THAN ME

A0236 — rank 323

He loved her like I love you Only he would do what I couldn’t do Though she was far away she was in his heart With a love so strong that the sea would part He is the man to whom I kneel They were the two whose fate was sealed Wedding rings? Souls bound so tight Nothing’s wrong when the love is right The young lady, I knew her well But one person’s heaven is another’s hell They were the two with their hearts so entwined But I still remember when she used to be mine From jealousy and hatred I should be free Yet I find myself thinking How could she do this to me? The day she left I knew she was right It was so expected that we didn’t fight She simply shut the door one night Without saying goodnight He is the man to whom I kneel They were the two whose fate was sealed Wedding rings? Souls bound so tight They’re in love so it must be right I will recover, though it’ll take some time But if you’ll be my lover then I’ll be fine I set out searching for a love so true If my eyes don’t deceive me I’ve found it in you Won’t you take a chance to set me free? Undo all that she’s done to me Erase my bleeding memory Don’t let me think that he’s better than me Bring out a part of me that I don’t see And as you said “yes” The death inside of me died Now I’ve got nothing But a lifetime of love inside

HAND ON THE KNIFE

A0242 — rank 324 — formerly: DOES THE FIRE STILL GLOW

Why don’t you stop staring outside your window? For you’ve learned by now the scene is always the same With the moon lit, daytime gaze of a widow Living in an imaginary world playing your solitary game Clutching on to the only things you trust and know Following in life’s parade yet walking so, so slow As progress is measured in inches at a time Searching the corners of your room for nothing you want to find You think that safety lies in knowing the future ahead But I say if you think like that then you’re already dead You hold onto both the best and the worst memories of the past For they’re all you have now but how long can they last? Don’t you ever wonder about what you’ve been losing everyday? Ever wonder what life will be like if things stay this way? It is true that you’re middle age You’re either halfway in or out of the cage Just where do you go to find yourself? Is there anywhere inside your soul where you can look for help Inside your heart is no use for it’s bled too many times And you’re afraid to search your mind because only God knows what you’ll find So desperate because you don’t know where to look Might end up being someone else if you open up a book And you been told you’ll end up blind if you stare too long at the moon You’ve either been lost atop of the mountains or else stranded at the foot of the dunes So out of tune that you feel you’ve lost all hope at harmony Feeling like a piece of ivory living in a land of ebony You may have found strength in equal parts of love and sin But no one could ever judge you for they wouldn’t know where to begin That is why we must all judge ourselves during some point in our life And then decide if we should place our hand on the bible or our hand on the knife You sure haven’t won but you got so much, so much more to lose Finally reached that breaking point that it’s time for you to choose Where do you go from here? Finally the coast is clear Will you now break? Or else make your escape? I guess there is only one who really knows Look within your eyes and tell me…Does the fire still glow?

DOWNS AND UPS

A0243 — rank 325

Toss the Cross

A0246 — rank 326 — formerly: FOUR WARS

Struggling to believe in the unbelievable Attempting to achieve the unachievable Striving to conceive the unconceivable Trying to perceive the unperceivable When words are at a loss You have to toss the cross That for you they made Rip off their masks and hoods In this game of charades No one gets to cash in Until the debt’s been paid And never give in Unless you’re dead in your grave That’s my creed and what I believe So try it if you dare It’s served me well I feel compelled to freely share What some others might try to sell: There are only three words In which I believe…fight for peace! There are three wars in which I would have gladly fought And let myself bleed: I would have protected my Native American friends For once Columbus came their way of life ends The New World was their world And we gave them thanks We gave them liquor and blankets with small pox To which they weren’t immune… Hey, sometimes life sucks While they gave us land and beads and seeds… All traded for disease Thanks be to the king-hating Europeans I’d sneak up and throw my tomahawks so fast That they wouldn’t even see ‘em If you listen closely you might hear a gurgling sound As a man lay gasping and twitching on the ground Then I’d look around for every pale face in town Find a white village and then burn it down One by one we would take our revenge And then surely the message would’ve been sent: Go sail back home and leave us alone! There are only three words In which I believe…fight for peace! There are three wars in which I would have gladly fought And let myself bleed: Fight to free the freedom of choice As a man gets whipped he loses his voice We need to fight the ignorance and greed Shoot every last racist mother fu$%er Who dares to raise a fist to try to keep My black brothers from being free I know white men who were born true niggers So let your fingers man the triggers As John Brown comes back for all to see Ten men die so that one might live Unchained and free… So let it be While dreaming of a country-wide genocide Under white hoods some of them might hide But the times shall change From these…the sick and deranged As Frederick Douglas is still alive inside of me There are only three words In which I believe…fight for peace! There are three wars in which I would have gladly fought And let myself bleed: Throw away your free will and follow me That’s what Hitler screamed When he guaranteed victory Don’t you want a couple slaves for your son? Hey, payback’s a bitch… And we all remember World War One After naked Jews were slaughtered in the streets You wouldn’t even recognize their faces

A FRESH START

A0247 — rank 327

RAINBOWS OR WATERFALLS

A0531 — rank 328

Will it be rainbows or waterfalls? I better choose soon or else I’ll lose them all Only one can stand so the other will fall Listen to my inner voice and wait to hear the call Who would ever guess the rain could cause so much pain? How can you lose so much and still have gained? How do you choose so carefully that you risk going insane For after a decision has been made things will never be the same The clouds in the sky have never looked so bright And how I longed for your everything while holding you tonight Somehow I found strength in indecisiveness Feeling your arms around me while longing for your kiss Many years have passed since we first kissed Even in each other’s fondness so many times we would resist For some unknown reason we think finally our time has come So why am I trying to stop it before it’s barely begun? My tanned skin beauty queen whose smile can always be seen Opening my heart again even when my senses aren’t so keen I try to turn the switch off only to find it broken Falling in deeper and deeper with every word left unspoken To lay in each other’s arms knowing we needn’t talk The safety in only ourselves - giving us both a bounce when we walk For whom time stands still when it is only us and us ourselves It burns my soul deep within just to think there’s someone else You’ve never known your father but I’ll always be your man But just where I fit in your life I do not yet fully understand I could never close my eyes towards you nor ever close my door I know where our past comes from but not what we have in store My mature older woman yet still such a child at heart When I’m with you there’s never a problem - only when we’re apart Your independence sets you free though responsibility chains you down I would do anything you asked to break the ball to which you’re bound My Dominican princess so full of distress That you try so hard not to show There’s been many a mornings as I’m busy yawning When I’d still see your face following me wherever I go I am your teacher as you are my pupil Though I never knew how much I would learn I still feel your spark when I’m alone in the dark But I’m so afraid of either of us getting burned You traveled into my life and from so far away you came You are my rainbow so full of color from head to toe Even after the rain you still remain the same I love you no matter where you are or with whom that I go Will it be rainbows or waterfalls? I better choose soon or else I’ll lose them all Only one can stand so the other must fall Listen to my inner voice and wait to hear the call Who would ever guess the rain could cause so much pain? How can you lose so much and still have gained? How do you choose so carefully that you risk going insane For after a decision is made things will never be as they are now again I gazed into her blue eyes and stared into my own soul I looked again into my heart to see if it was she who stole The part of me that makes me whom that I love so much Without ever making contact I became so touched The day we first met her eyes were red and her cheek was still wet For someone close to her had doubted her nature and then lost his bet I took it as a personal attack for we fell from the same tree So what he said about her he also said it to me She asked me if I believed that everything happened for a reason I calmed her for I knew her forever in the matter of an hour And answered, “When you’re stuck in the middle of the rainy season” “Sometimes you have to expect a shower” my delicate flower For when it rains it pours but sometimes it rains love For sometimes you need not ask a weatherman what falls from above The night you were hurting we somehow fell into each other’s lap So maybe there is something called fate so put away your map A beautiful young artist who knows herself well She only believes in here and now - forget heaven and hell She has these blue eyes - the kind that make your heart melt She can touch you with her spirit like very few have ever felt Her family has never had wealth yet they are much richer by far Mom and dad have always told their children to reach for the stars She climbs closer and closer with every day that comes to pass She’s answered so many of her own questions now she no longer has to ask Her smile comes so free that it’s the only thing you’ll see Like the waves of the ocean so untamed and free Like a waterfall rushing overhead - the way it should be Seems I never think of her alone - it’s always her and me She swam into my pond and found me inside my cave Threw a stone in the water and it caused many waves Made me see the one I once loved just wasn’t quite right I knew that when I thought to myself I wanted to stay all night I was forced to rethink my relationships with every girl I knew Maybe the feelings I felt about others weren’t really all that true For since she crossed my path my eyes haven’t seen the same So now I am labeled simply another pawn and this thing called love’s the game Her starry blue-eyes; into this waterfall - fallen I have I’m so full of emotion but I’m anything but mad I’ll risk what I have for what possibly could be For as long as she’s in my life I owe that much to me Will it be rainbows or waterfalls? I better choose soon or else I’ll lose them all Only one can stand so the other will fall Listen to my inner voice and wait to hear the call Who would ever guess the rain could cause so much pain? How can you lose so much and still have gained? How can you take someone else’s love and flush it down the drain? For after a decision is made things will never be as they are now again Yet why do you ask when you know how you feel? There’s no need to make excuses for what’s bound to be revealed Given enough time everything shall be healed I looked again into her blue eyes and my fate was sealed

CLOSE FRIENDS

A0705 — rank 329

DECEMBERS

A0706 — rank 330

GO

A0708 — rank 331

Drifting... Lately I've been drifting I been thinking My thoughts they have been shifting As the cloud is being lifted Seems I'm gaining new perceptions It's the gift that keeps on giving When you don't doubt the life you're living Trust which way your compass is facing Trust in the direction you've been heading For right now the good seems good for getting You find yourself forgetting... Yes you're floating... You're drifting... Up high in the sky Is where the dreamers fly It's where I come from And where I'll be going As for my roots lie Within the soul of the soil Beside the banks of a rich river And a big old weeping willow That comforts and hides me And also tries to remind me That I have the power inside me To lead me...to help guide me And let others confide in me That they hurt and it's curtains This time they are certain When their world is caving in When their walls are falling down So when they need some helping out They know I'll be around And I won't ever let them down I have the precious gift to give Of love and seeing the world Through the eyes of the paradigm Looking at life just like a little kid Seems I'm gaining new perceptions It's the gift that keeps on giving When you don't doubt the life you're living Trust which way your compass is facing Trust in the direction you've been heading In knowing that the best things in life worth getting Are the ones most worth waiting for... You know! Since to know her is to love her Flowers grow up all around her Looking so pretty next to each other You must not wait any longer So go!

GROW UP

A0709 — rank 332

HEAVY TO LIGHT CREAM

A0711 — rank 333

HOT TODDY

A0712 — rank 334

SHIMMERING

A0714 — rank 335

I think I just saw the look The one that I've been waiting for The one that once just shimmered Every now and again Suddenly has a shine much more brighter than before Seems that there maybe a reason Why the Earth turns as it does In a world full of changing seasons Tis' this our time for love? So beautiful an experience That I have just felt My eyes are watering But it's my heart that now melts Last night you would not find me sleeping Even though I certainly was dreaming It looks like I have just found somebody worth keeping So for now... I will just enjoy this feeling For I've learned from mistakes That I've made in the past Before I'd fall asleep I'd lay awake and ask... Could this be the time when something great will last? When I was young I learned to walk Only later did I learn how to crawl When I was younger I learned to stand Only later did I learn how to fall Yes, I finally put a name to a face And such a beautiful face it was I've finally had an intelligent conversation That not many lately have risen above I have finally found a voice worth talking to I've finally found someone worth walking with I usually settle for my second choice just to make due Yet this time I was interested without faking it Her mystery is in her illusion As her sanity has become my confusion Is she really all that she seems? Or in reality is she a collection Some kind of reverse projection of all my shattered dreams Eyes of passion and without loneliness A heart of gold that fights off bitterness With such deep thoughts I have mixed emotions Have I really found love and total devotion? For once I saw the light but it was so bright That I ran away That was a long time ago Many years have passed So many times I look back And wished I hadn't strayed Now tears again they sting my eyes Sitting here hoping it's not a lie That people can change And that all great books can turn their page

WATCHING AND WAITING

A0715 — rank 336

Internal Bruises VOL2

A0036 — rank 337

[body missing]

YOUR ALIBI

A0514 — rank 338

You show me a hero and I'll show you a dead guy Hand me a bow and arrow and I'll hit you a bull's eye Drop a piano out the window and watch the poor people run and hide Get grandma to drink the Draino and you can buy whatever you want to buy… I'll be your alibi

SPEAKING OF PROBABILITY… WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

A0250 — rank 339

Odds of bowling a 300 game: 11,500 to 1 Odds of getting a hole in one: 5,000 to 1 Odds of Winning an Olympic medal: 662,000 to 1 Odds of injury from fireworks: 19,556 to 1 Odds of injury from shaving: 6,585 to 1 Odds of injury from using a chain saw: 4,464 to 1 Odds of being murdered: 18,000 to 1 Odds of getting away with murder: 2 to 1 Odds of dating a supermodel: 88,000 to 1 Odds that a first marriage will survive without separation or divorce for 15 years: 1.3 to 1 Odds that a celebrity marriage will last a lifetime: 3 to 1 Odds of getting hemorrhoids: 25 to 1 Odds of being on plane with a drunken pilot: 117 to 1 Odds of being audited by the IRS: 175 to 1 Odds of having your identity stolen: 200 to 1 Odds of dating a millionaire: 215 to 1 Odds of writing a New York Times best seller: 220 to 1 Odds of finding out your child is a genius: 250 to 1 Odds of becoming a pro athlete: 22,000 to 1 Odds of finding a four-leaf clover on first try: 10,000 to 1 Chance of an American home having at least one container of ice cream in the freezer: 9 in 10. Chance of dying in a terrorist attack while visiting a foreign country: 1 in 650,000 Chance of dying in a fireworks accident: 1 in 1,000,000 Chance of dying from food poisoning: 1 in 3,000,000 Chance of dying from legal execution: 1 in 3,441,325 Chance of dying from parts falling off an airplane: 1 in 10,000,000 Chance of dying from ignition or melting of nightwear: 1 in 30,589,556 Chance of dying from being bitten by a dog: 1 in 700,000 Chance of dying from contact with a venomous animal or plant: 1 in 3,441,325 Chance of dying from being bitten or struck by mammals (other than dogs or humans): 1 in 4,235,477 Chance of dying from a mountain lion attack in California: 1 in 32,000,000 Chance of dying from a shark attack: 1 in 300,000,000 Chance of having a stroke: 1 in 6 Chance of dying from heart disease: 1 in 3

Misc

A0033 — rank 340

Save the story for the jury I don’t have time I’m in a hurry You can take my virginity But leave me my integrity They say you claim it You own it So you can call me A poet I didn’t squash the bug Believing he might have been a Buddhist Left him sitting snuggly on the rug You see if I were him and he be me I’m thinking that he’d do this…. What if one’s state of grace Was found in free fall? Just what would change? Would it matter at all? Spend less on war And you make fewer enemies Instead of more, more, more! Steal, buy, lend or lease… We’re all aging like we’re presidents Already two terms in I can feel myself getting ready to be tossed Into the precipice off the edge of the cliff An elephant’s heart will beat a billion times…. She said, Corporal Cavernosa And pulled my head in closer… A day is a long time when you’re in pain To think I may never see you again… Eddie Vedder sings the alphabet Three is the number that gets you in trouble The gore the merrier All lyrics contained in this collection are: Copyright by Tom Jensen All rights reserved reachtomjensen@mail.com 7/20/2022 I give you a poem/song (366) for every day of the year by Tom Jensen There is an alphabetical index on page 376 that includes the title of the poem or song, what page it is on and also what subject category it is listed under. Poems and songs are listed by categories on page 390. Subjects

CHEESY PICK UP LINES

A0227 — rank 341

Do you have a mirror in your pocket? Because I can see myself in your pants! Are you an interior decorator? 'Cause when you walked in suddenly the room became beautiful. Do you know what would look good on you? Me. If I created the alphabet I would have put U and I together. Did it hurt? When you fell out of heaven… I'm new in town. Could you give me directions to your apartment? Excuse me, but does this smell like chloroform to you? If I had a nickel every time I saw someone as beautiful as you, then I'd have…a nickel. Your legs must be tired because you've been running through my dreams all night. Bam Bam… I'm no Fred Flintstone, but I can make your bed rock. Hunny, there's only one thing I want to change about you and that's your last name. See my friend over there? He wants to know if you think I'm cute. Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again? You must know karate ‘cause your body's kickin’! Is your last name Campbell? Cause you're mm…mm… good! Sorry, but you owe me a drink…because when I first saw you, I dropped mine. Your name must be Daisy, because I have an incredible urge to plant you right here. Do you work at the post office or for UPS? Neither? ‘Cause I noticed you were checking out my package. Excuse me beautiful, but can I get at least a fake phone number from you? That shirt is very becoming on you, but if I was on you I'd be cumming too! Damn, if being sexy was a crime you'd be guilty as charged! I may not be the best looking guy here, but I'm the only one talking to you. The only thing your eyes haven't told me is your name. I'd marry your cat just to get in the family. You know girl, your eyes are the same color as my Porche. If I told you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me? (checks tag on back of shirt) Just as I thought, made in Heaven! You look just like my first wife but the funny thing is I’ve never been married. Excuse me, do you have a band-aid? I just scraped my knee while falling for you. You remind me of a parking ticket because you've got ‘fine’ written all over you. I lost my virginity. Can I have yours? Girl, are you a dumpster? ‘Cause I wanna put a baby inside of you. My buddies bet me that I wouldn't be able to start a conversation with the most beautiful girl in the bar. Wanna buy some drinks with their money? Are you gonna kiss me or do I have to lie to my diary? You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. Was your dad a boxer? Cause you're a knockout! Hey, don't frown. You never know who could be falling in love with your smile. I'm not a photographer, but I can picture me and you together. Did you sit in a pile of sugar? Cause you have a pretty sweet ass. Does your neck hurt? Because you've been looking right all day. I'm not staring at your boobs. I'm looking into your heart. Do you remember me? No? Oh that's right, we've only met in my dreams. Your ass is so nice that it is a shame that you have to sit on it. This isn't a beer belly, it's the fuel tank for a love machine. What is a nice girl like you doing in a dirty mind like mine? Will you help me find my lost puppy? I think he went into this cheap motel room across the street. If you're feeling down, I can feel you up. I'm no weather man, but you can expect more than a few inches tonight. Hey, you wanna do a 68? You go down on me, and I'll owe you one. You are so selfish! You're going to have that body for the rest of your life and I just want it for one night. Baby, I'm like a firefighter, I find 'em hot and leave 'em wet! Let’s just play house, you can be the door and I'll slam you all night long! Do you know what winks and screws like a tiger? Wink. Wink. Hey there, I just took some Cialis and I have 18 hours left. I wanna put my thingy into your thingy. Let's go to my place and do the things I'll tell everyone we did anyway. You must be yogurt because I want to spoon you. Can I buy you a soda? I would love to “Mount and Do” you. My name's [insert your name here]. Just so you know what to scream. Is it hot in here, or are your boobs just huge? Nice socks. Can I try them on after we have sex? The only reason I would kick you out of bed would be to $%&# you on the floor. The word of the day is ‘legs.’ Let's go back to my place and spread the word. Let's go back to my room and do some math: Add a bed, subtract our clothes, divide your legs, and multiply. First, I'd like to kiss you passionately on the lips, then, I'll move up to your belly button. What are you doing tonight? Besides me, of course… Do you wanna come dance with the big bad wolf? [ No! ] It’s okay, the other two pigs said no, too! You smell like trash… do you think I could take you out? Let's have breakfast together tomorrow – should I call you or nudge you? Here's $20.00 - drink until I am good looking and then come and talk to me. If I had to choose between one night with you or winning the lottery then I would choose the lottery. But it would be reeeeeeally close. Gee, you don’t sweat much for a fat chick. You MUST have a nice personality. I would say God bless you but it looks like he already did. Excuse me, I am a little short on cash, would you mind if we shared a cab home together? Well, here I am. What are your other two wishes? You’re like a dictionary, you add meaning to my life. I’ll buy you dinner tonight if you promise to make me breakfast tomorrow morning. I’m not drunk, I’m just intoxicated by you. Let’s play carpenter. First we get hammered, then I'll nail you! Excuse me, but are your parents retarded? Because you sure seem like one special girl. I was going to tell you a joke that'll make your tits fall off. But it looks like somebody already did that. Do you mind if I stare at you up close instead of from all the way across the room? I was just curious? Are you as good as all the guys say you are? I've just received government funding for a four-hour expedition to find your G-spot. You know, you might be asked to leave soon. You're making all the other women here look really bad. Excuse me, do you think you might possibly have a mutual friend who could introduce us. Excuse me, I am about to go home to masturbate and needed a name to go with the face. Were you just smiling at me from across the room, or did I just put my contact lenses in inside out again? Sorry to bother you, but I had to find out what kind of woman would go out dressed like that. A penny for your thoughts…or ten bucks if you flash me. According to the second law of thermodynamics, you’re supposed to share your hotness with me. If your ass was a phone I’d hit the pound button all night long. I may not have gotten your virginity, but can I at least have the box it came in? I would call Heaven and tell them an angel was missing, but I'm kinda hoping you're a slut! Mind if I hang out here until its safe back where I farted? I just checked my schedule and I can have you pregnant by Christmas. Hey baby, do I stand a chance with you or shall I just move on to your fat friend? Is it just me or do most guys picture you naked? Hey babe let’s play army, I’ll lay down and you can blow the hell out of me! Do you want to be my insignificant other? Most people call me [insert your name] , but you can call me tomorrow. If I had four quarters to give to the four most beautiful women in the world, I’d blink three times and give you a dollar. So, you wanna go halfsies on a bastard child? The same goes for these YouTube channels:

SERIOUSLY A TREASURE

A0228 — rank 342 — formerly: ALL OF THESE COMMENTS CAME DIRECTLY OFF OF MY SONG VIDEOS

"I didn't realize I was missing out on a lot of great music by listening only to commercially recorded music." Joanne Joyce - about STARS "Why hasn't anyone commented on this? This is a seriously a treasure. The lyrics are real. I love it. I'm so tired of hearing the trash that people listen to nowadays, and this song reminds me of those times where Bob Dylan was the voice of reason, and all that he sang was for us. For the people. It seems like things are falling down all around us, and people aren't even paying attention. This song really speaks to me, and I hope it gets to be heard by others. Stay strong, and thanks." LeonardoHakaisha - about WE ARE THE ONES "Hard to find genuine songs like this on YT! Great!!!" Sur Rod - about MATCH MAKER Really haunting, Tom & Justin. Really liked: "but it seems like nothing's going on, so face down it will stay" Your stuff feels meditative in a 1970's English kind of way, Al Stewart comes to mind. The images are vivid, but you pull back often enough to make it subverted. I dunno, I'm having a hard time saying it, but there really is something you're doing that's very strong and rare. Peace to you." GusMcAttisonMusic - about LAST CUP OF COFFEE "You are worthy of your channels name.555555." beachfrontal - about USED TO BE ivocarvalhosalles - about DEAD END "This was awesome, the piano is used well. It sounds much better than what I've been hearing on the radio, if you aren't getting paid for these songs it's a shame." spacestakespace - about CLEAN WIPE TO THE SLATE "I knew a poet who wants everybody can make music to his poems. For example this is a good example." ceseyo - about JULIA'S GARDEN "I read this poem months ago! Really cool poem finally made into a song! Yeah! : )" cbfall - about BLESSING IN DISGUISE "Beautiful, I will learn English listening to these songs" mawreycos - about UNITY "This is probably my favorite song to have been made out of your poetry! It kinda fits how I've been feeling lately, and listening to this has helped clear my head a little! Keep up the beautiful work!!! ^_^" alchemgirl13 - about IN THE POURING RAIN "Nice vocal & piano .. works great with the lyric :) bdf" becksdollface - about LET DOWN "There should be more music like this :) can I download?" oobeedoobee scoobydoobeebanoobee - about THUNDERSTORMS "Please tell me this is a true story, haha. Amazing :D" Nasphaeraa La Fae - about GYPSY MAMMA "Here I am! I bet you say that to all the girls. :)" ShelliKittens - about HERE I AM "I love the lyrics, these are really thought out with interesting metaphors. Great job, this is the kind of music i'm looking for." Tanner15000 - about AS FOR ME "I cannot say 'Tyler Thompson and Tom Jensen' unless I say it reeeeally slowly" "I thought I was at a party somewhere" nc17atnce101 - about TRENDING "Wonderful lyrics and music, thank you so much for this precious gift. Love it, so sweet." gisltome - about RAINYDAY SUNSHINE "As the Simpson's mister Burns would say,excellent" JazzKeyboardist1 - about CURVES OF SORROW "%^&* me you have a lot of songs. I can't be bothered to go round disliking them all!!!" bass234 - about IT IS YOUR TURN "Love the guitar tone in this, lyrics are searching as usual. Great job guys!" Colin Alexander - about LOOKING FOR LOVE "A very important topic sung beautifully in a wonderful song. Too many marriages wind up this way. My wife and I have been married for thirty years and realize, now that the children are grown up, that I have been insensitive for many years. We are working things out. We believe in living up to our HandwhistlerBen - about MARRIED TO SOMETHING ELSE baddoggie101 - about MICHELANGELO AND MARBLE "I love the groove of this song!!! Awesome!!! Thumbs Up" skeletone111 - about FIRST CLASS "This is a full song if you know what i mean. well orchestrated love it" Mickey Bavington - about SHE AsRandomly - about BRICKLAYER "I usually don't do this but I have got to tell you, in my opinion, this is the worst attempt at music I have heard in a long time. I've been a musician for over 25 years and I'm sorry to sound like this but holy christ this is just awful. I can't really comment on the lyrics because I just can't bring myself to listen long enough. Tip: Lyrics are suppose to have a flow, they aren't suppose to be stuffed together and rushed then sputtered out like a bad taste in your mouth." theweeklystash - about DEEP SEEDED "Lots of confidence in the lyrics." Aleksandar Milosevic - about HALL OF FAME Tom, Thanks for including the lyrics. I love them. Thanks for sharing. Thumbs way up!!!! Congratulations !!! Wishing you both a fantastic weekend. Your friend, Sasha" SkinnyBabe38 - about FOURTH CHAKRA "Klaus is one of the most creative arrangers. Key changes galore, but everything flows seamlessly." Oswlek - about UNTITLED UNLABELED "Fantastic!!!! a hug" Amanda Love - about HOUSE OF SHATTERED GLASS "Wow, man far out lol!!! That my friend was good i like the whole song it was great" mobull greek - about SUMMER'S THE TIME "This just blew my mind! Sold performance :D" Young Mike - about WORTH THE WAIT "Nice tune good job deep song take care Al" funfrankie59 - about WARMER WATERS hnatkowicz - about CARRY ME "Wow the melody is is just ..wow." J rawl - about FRESCO "For some reason this song was sounding in my head a lot today even without me wanting it, lol. :) Amazing work with songs, Poet! :)" BreathOfWords - about PRETTY TOYS "Beautiful blues and lyrics. The glass is half full for sure!" shalimarsgirl - about HALF FULL "Awesome loved it!" morningmayan - about LEAVING CALIFORNIA "What a brilliant song!! I mean it!! Just puts my mind at ease!!" cbfall - about LEAVING YOUR ROOTS "Barely made it halfway through." SumboDeSpeshal - about DOWNWARD SPIRAL "Wow, this made me think of David Bowie" Balian62 - about SINGER SONGWRITER "I landed on this channel after I got your request to add me. I guess it came just in time at the right time since I am currently experiencing a very painful breakup! Thank you for asking me to add you! I can relate to this song!" ChristisCountingOnMe - about TABLE FOR TWO "Thank you ! It is a great song, the lyrics are extraordinary !" Elena98506 - about WHERE I AM FROM "Really like this. Really happy tune with a folky/ beatles feel." Daniel Davis - about PENDULUM "Good one! Billy Joel eat your heart out." 19SUBSOUNDS65 - about RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES "Sounds more like sh*tflakes" somor98 - about SNOWFLAKES "That was really good, and quite profound using colour as a metaphor for something that we can never really describe with words. love is what it is for those who share it." kate4ever1 - about THE COLOR OF LOVE "Deep lyrics!! I can dig it" falleyfal2thet - about TRYING TIMES MartelKate - about RIPPLES "Klaus and Tom - a winning combination! Beautiful!! :)" TheNYCUrbanite - about SLEEPWALKERS "I LOVE the music. Has a great retro feel. Sweet, warm and friendly song." justplainpissed - about ALL IN GOOD TIME "This is great. No, this is real great. No, this is fantastic!!!" locklin011 - about HOW CAN YOU "Super j'aime !" TUPEGURU - about ROCKING THE WORLD "Hauntingly beautiful. Voice is incredible!! Ironic how the title is so close to my community page ~Breaking the Chains of Silence~ (aka: Spreading Abuse Awareness Worldwide)" Becky Murphy - about BREAKING THE CHAINS "Excellent man this was great, i could imagine a Van Halen solo over it" Graham Hunt - about WHAT WE SHARE "What a beautiful song! Great lyrics!" Anke Zohm - about STILL THINKING OF YOU TONIGHT "Exactly what I've been saying in thought. Tks putting into poem, lyrics, and song. Cannot believe the US has killed over 1 Million Iraqis, looking for 3000 Talibans. Many on Facebook, see no problem with genocide, therefore have scaled back my privacy settings and acct. there drastically." Eco Paint, Inc. - about FIGHT FOR PEACE "I love this song. Kind of reminds me of something like Simon and Garfunkle, its awesome!" RandomMusicalObjects - about YOU CAN NEVER RUN AWAY FROM YOURSELF MsAndi63 - about STRANDED tunesampler - about WATER, FLESH AND BONE "Many many thanks to Justin and Tom for really really great Song. songs remain teamwork that it is wonderful here many many thanks from germany, Thomas" T. Meyer - about BREAKING HER HEART "I enjoy this wonderful song my friend, thank you for sharing" mykey4fun1 - about ALISON'S AIRPLANE "Love This Song. And I Love All Of Justin Justice's Work. Jeana Justice" Jeana Dylan - about ONE SLIP OF THE KNIFE "Stunning" BAZHE - about THE TRAIN

MY GREATEST MUSICAL/LYRICAL INFLUENCES ARE

A0226 — rank 343

aerosmith eric burdon **** steve miller band blues brothers tupac shakur**** eric clapton pearl jam**** jimi hendrix Jefferson airplane tom petty nirvana the beatles **** crosby, stills and nash elton john bob dylan **** red hot chili peppers**** billy joel traveling wilburys weird al greenday neil young**** lynryd skynyrd creedence clearwater pink floyd david bowie**** led zeppelin**** alanis morrisette the doors**** frank sinatra method man / wu tang clan bob seger rage against the machine**** simon and garfunkel george michael bob marley ice cube**** ice t chicago the animals journey the who**** queen three dog night coolio madonna guns n' roses elvis canned heat grateful dead easy e arethra franklin milli vanilli the rolling stones lou reed**** **** means they had the greatest impact on my writing, its style and my general life philosophy.

BOTTOM UP, NOT TOP DOWN

A0519 — rank 344 — formerly: THAN CHOMSKY...BUT OTHER THAN THEM....THIS GUY IS THE BEST

EXAMPLE OF WHAT JUST ONE PERSON CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD... THESE POEMS ARE WRITTEN BY ME BUT ARE WRITTEN IN THE SPIRIT OF NOAM AND IN THE ZINNIAN (HOWARD ZINN) PERSPECTIVE OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND NOT FROM THE TOP DOWN....IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT I MEAN BY THAT THEN JUST START READING AND YOU'LL SOON FIGURE IT OUT... PAGE NUMBERS FOR CHOMSKIAN POETRY: 77 another history lesson 78 beast 79 being hip 80 better bitter 81 can't have that 82 cardboard box 83 cement 85 complicated subject 86 east timor 87 empty room 88 end game 90 enemy of this state 91 failing 92 fences 93 have not 94 heresy speak no evil 97 hidden evils 100 high risers 101 hope floats 102 i am 103 insomnia 104 intellectual property 105 keeping up 105 knowing the know 106 lazy citizen 108 master plan 109 me and you 110 mickey d's 111 monetization 113 nine to five state of mind 114 obamafication 115 oh juanita 116 one percent war 117 pardon me 120 picture something nice 122 playing chess 124 power is 125 pushing the button 126 racist 127 rescue 128 sign of the times 129 staking the flag 131 status quo woes 133 the cost of war 135 the paradigm 136 the poorest chorus 139 time bomb 140 tools of fools 141 uncashable 142 united we stand 144 violence is their solution 145 visited a place 147 you spilled my coffee

Spoofs

A0034 — rank 345

fuzzy math 370 she don't come easy 371 cinnabun girl 372 fifty ways 373 dom vio 375 NEW AND/OR UNFINISHED POEMS by Tom Jensen © ten percent tom bldm every four weeks closure free speech money and time to rule the world chasing girls more mexicans wrong turn dance club whore green eyes hocus pocus act fasting rap dude thing slinging lines musical tastes sleepless nudged learn to swim danish clouds you in the morning undefined in the kitchen phase two catch twenty-two period cavelight portant people politicians n presidents lithium shuffle today or tomorrow fast money biggest mistake morality tale cannibals sustenance my book everyone is there this one got away crime of the century misc

NOTES:______________________________________________

A0515 — rank 346

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MORE NOTES: __________________________________

A0520 — rank 347

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