Saturday, October 31, 2009
Recalibration of time machine complete
Well damn, I have once more achieved temporal parity with the prior decade. Halloween 1999, I remember it well. A little too well, actually, but that's a whole other story. How long will I manage to maintain the daily-ish posting this time? Try not to let the suspense hurl your sense of order into violent disarray.
569 : 10/31/99 : Not Far (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 16/101)
I’m not far now
It’s not far now
I’m almost there
I’m working on how
It’s not far to go
a future none may know
I’ll find it at my own pace
shuffle through this deck of woe
It’s not far now
to get back to
the start of things
and me and you
I know a guy
who knows just what to do
and it’s not far
he’s not far from
finding what was sought for
answering what was asked
opening to one last knock
revealing what was masked
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
It’s not far now
I’m almost there
I’m working on how
It’s not far to go
a future none may know
I’ll find it at my own pace
shuffle through this deck of woe
It’s not far now
to get back to
the start of things
and me and you
I know a guy
who knows just what to do
and it’s not far
he’s not far from
finding what was sought for
answering what was asked
opening to one last knock
revealing what was masked
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
568 : 10/30/99 : Mother (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 15/101)
I don't care if people laugh
and whisper to each other
I don't care what people say
I'm a mama's boy
I'll always love my mother
I love all my family dear
Dad and sister and my brother
I know where I came from
I'm a mama's boy
I'll always love my mother
This life gives you just one chance
you cannot buy another
I know where my heart belongs
I'm a mama's boy
I'll always love my mother
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
and whisper to each other
I don't care what people say
I'm a mama's boy
I'll always love my mother
I love all my family dear
Dad and sister and my brother
I know where I came from
I'm a mama's boy
I'll always love my mother
This life gives you just one chance
you cannot buy another
I know where my heart belongs
I'm a mama's boy
I'll always love my mother
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
567 : 10/29/99 : Muddy Road (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 14/101)
Come on girl
I’ll lift you in my arms
carry you across this muddy road
ignoring all your charms
When we reach the other side
I’ll set you gently down
it’s just the kind of monk I am
the root of my renown
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I’ll lift you in my arms
carry you across this muddy road
ignoring all your charms
When we reach the other side
I’ll set you gently down
it’s just the kind of monk I am
the root of my renown
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, October 30, 2009
566 : 10/28/99 : A Buddha (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 13/101)
If I renounce my vices
give up smokes and practice Zen
If I follow all the precepts
will I be a Buddha then?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
give up smokes and practice Zen
If I follow all the precepts
will I be a Buddha then?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
565 : 10/27/99 : Happy Chinaman (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 12/101)
There are more happy Chinamen
in this world than any other
kind of man, that’s just statistics
that’s nothing special
If I had a sack of special gifts
If I’d just worked harder on the riffs
I might be some kind of
rock and roll santa by now
I can’t do what I want
So I guess I must do what I can
do I make any sense to you
happy Chinaman?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
in this world than any other
kind of man, that’s just statistics
that’s nothing special
If I had a sack of special gifts
If I’d just worked harder on the riffs
I might be some kind of
rock and roll santa by now
I can’t do what I want
So I guess I must do what I can
do I make any sense to you
happy Chinaman?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
564 : 10/26/99 : Shunkai (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 11/101)
When I read the story of Shunkai
I know that I don’t have the right
to claim stories that aren’t my own
to take up someone else’s fight
It seemed to confirm my suspicion
that it’s a sorry lot we’re handed
God is silent God is mute
the rich are rewarded the good reprimanded
how could I compare myself
to the true pilgrims that went before
still Shunkai would have forgiven me
we all knock at the same door
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I know that I don’t have the right
to claim stories that aren’t my own
to take up someone else’s fight
It seemed to confirm my suspicion
that it’s a sorry lot we’re handed
God is silent God is mute
the rich are rewarded the good reprimanded
how could I compare myself
to the true pilgrims that went before
still Shunkai would have forgiven me
we all knock at the same door
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
563 : 10/25/99 : Last Poem (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 10/101)
I may have fooled you up to now
but you must know I am no master
I cannot predict my last poem
I cannot foresee disaster
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
but you must know I am no master
I cannot predict my last poem
I cannot foresee disaster
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
562 : 10/24/99 : The Moon (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 9/101)
A wolf in a business suit
watch the bastard blow
I’m killing him with kindness
and he doesn’t even know...
the means of production
the source of all wealth
five acres and independence
wolf baby here’s to your health
I wish I could give you the moon
something worth howling at
It used to be yours by right
but you’re a different sort of cat
the will of the people
the truths self-evident
the pursuit of happiness
so many letters that I sent
that said here’s the moon for you
wolf I wanted you to have it
take the clothes off my back
I only wear them out of habit
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
watch the bastard blow
I’m killing him with kindness
and he doesn’t even know...
the means of production
the source of all wealth
five acres and independence
wolf baby here’s to your health
I wish I could give you the moon
something worth howling at
It used to be yours by right
but you’re a different sort of cat
the will of the people
the truths self-evident
the pursuit of happiness
so many letters that I sent
that said here’s the moon for you
wolf I wanted you to have it
take the clothes off my back
I only wear them out of habit
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, October 29, 2009
561 : 10/23/99 : Great Waves (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 8/101)
It seems there is a bellows
it’s working all the time
drawing in the chaos
spewing out exquisite rhyme
And I am just the waves
that took me as a child
How can a man so strong
be so meek and mild
All I ever think of are great waves
Once I was bashful
painfully shiy
now all the little honeys
say my oh my
but all I ever think about are great waves
the universe rocks
between one breath and another
And anyone who’s breathing
I am your spirit brother
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
it’s working all the time
drawing in the chaos
spewing out exquisite rhyme
And I am just the waves
that took me as a child
How can a man so strong
be so meek and mild
All I ever think of are great waves
Once I was bashful
painfully shiy
now all the little honeys
say my oh my
but all I ever think about are great waves
the universe rocks
between one breath and another
And anyone who’s breathing
I am your spirit brother
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
560 : 10/22/99 : Final Announcement (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 7/101)
What can I say but
Wish that I could stay
oh well final announcement
I’m leaving this day
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wish that I could stay
oh well final announcement
I’m leaving this day
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
559 : 10/21/99 : Ain’t No Lovingkindness (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 6/101)
Ain’t no lovingkindness
in this world we built
gonna hafta burn the whole thing down
gonna hafta burn the whole thing down
Ain’t no light or sense
in this system as it stands
gonna hafta run turn this ship around
before the whole thing goes aground
Ain’t no sense in trying
to fix what’s past repair
We’ve got time to start again
We’ve got time to start again
Maybe we will learn something
or do it all the same
guess we’ll never know till when
our sorry shack’s on fire friend
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
in this world we built
gonna hafta burn the whole thing down
gonna hafta burn the whole thing down
Ain’t no light or sense
in this system as it stands
gonna hafta run turn this ship around
before the whole thing goes aground
Ain’t no sense in trying
to fix what’s past repair
We’ve got time to start again
We’ve got time to start again
Maybe we will learn something
or do it all the same
guess we’ll never know till when
our sorry shack’s on fire friend
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
558 : 10/20/99 : If You Love (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 5/101)
If you love you’ll understand
despite my crazy scrawling hand
If you love you’ll see the light
If you don’t love well then goodnight
If you have an open heart
you’ll see that I am not so smart
to hold myself the way I do
to keep myself away from you
In the company of fools
helpless minions placid tools
If they love they’ll see someday
It’s what some try to steal away
What can’t be stolen can’t be bought
or forced by should or must or ought
what can’t be grasped or fastened on
by even virtue’s paragon
If you love be open true
and cast off all the gardyloo
and take this lesson home with you
That if you love you’ll be loved too
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
despite my crazy scrawling hand
If you love you’ll see the light
If you don’t love well then goodnight
If you have an open heart
you’ll see that I am not so smart
to hold myself the way I do
to keep myself away from you
In the company of fools
helpless minions placid tools
If they love they’ll see someday
It’s what some try to steal away
What can’t be stolen can’t be bought
or forced by should or must or ought
what can’t be grasped or fastened on
by even virtue’s paragon
If you love be open true
and cast off all the gardyloo
and take this lesson home with you
That if you love you’ll be loved too
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
557 : 10/19/99 : Obedience (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 4/101)
Called by anger called by dismay
called to the left side watch me obey
called by anguish called by pain
called to the right side see what you gain
called to obedience and discipline
called to the carpet ready to begin
called to gentleness meek as a lamb
I guess I'm finding out what kind I am
I don't mind the sleeplessness or the hurt
I'm rising to enlightenment just keep on your shirt
obedience is hard for me I'm trying hard to change
Guess that I'll just have to wait and see what you arrange
Call me to sit and learn I'll curl up at your feet
the vinegar is bitter but the lotus flower's sweet
the simple truth is there's a truth you can't write down
if you trace it in the air you get to wear the Buddha gown
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
called to the left side watch me obey
called by anguish called by pain
called to the right side see what you gain
called to obedience and discipline
called to the carpet ready to begin
called to gentleness meek as a lamb
I guess I'm finding out what kind I am
I don't mind the sleeplessness or the hurt
I'm rising to enlightenment just keep on your shirt
obedience is hard for me I'm trying hard to change
Guess that I'll just have to wait and see what you arrange
Call me to sit and learn I'll curl up at your feet
the vinegar is bitter but the lotus flower's sweet
the simple truth is there's a truth you can't write down
if you trace it in the air you get to wear the Buddha gown
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Transition Protocol
This brings us to the end of Songs of Days volume 4, Blank Book. We we will proceed forthwith tomorrow with volume 5, which bears the title Untitled (very postmodern, I know. Or perhaps, what's the word? Pretentious). Looking back I'm sort of baffled that I didn't elect to drum up three standalone songs to fill the fourth volume before starting such a long related series as Flesh and Bones: An Homage 1-101, but there it is. I guess I have taken the attitude that the division of the books themselves is essentially arbitrary: start at the beginning, start a new one when the old one is full. In retrospect I do find (or imagine or project) a certain thematic coherence and narrative character in the volumes, but at the time of their writing the content was purely dictated by the flow of the daily writing in the context of whatever blank page happened to be next.
The only book this isn't true of is the final volume of series one, which ends in the middle and so was left half blank because I got to the last song I intended to write. Thinking of that I realize (four years too late) that it would have been more bad ass if, when I started the second series of daily songwriting, I had picked it up on the next blank page of the last book of the first series - instead of starting a new book, which is what I actually did. Though perhaps the decision to establish a concrete break between the two projects was intentional: my memories of starting the second series are surprisingly vague, considering its scope. I remember getting pretty worked up about the idea of returning to daily writing, and about making the huge, 10,000 song commitment, and that I started out with a bunch of complicated extraneous codes and markers that indicated stuff like what time of day the song was written, which were soon abandoned. These days, though, the specific inspiration and trains of thought that led up to these decisions are lost to me. The lesson of this may be no more than that the momentary whims of decision are not as important as we often think: only persistence carries through in the long run.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
The only book this isn't true of is the final volume of series one, which ends in the middle and so was left half blank because I got to the last song I intended to write. Thinking of that I realize (four years too late) that it would have been more bad ass if, when I started the second series of daily songwriting, I had picked it up on the next blank page of the last book of the first series - instead of starting a new book, which is what I actually did. Though perhaps the decision to establish a concrete break between the two projects was intentional: my memories of starting the second series are surprisingly vague, considering its scope. I remember getting pretty worked up about the idea of returning to daily writing, and about making the huge, 10,000 song commitment, and that I started out with a bunch of complicated extraneous codes and markers that indicated stuff like what time of day the song was written, which were soon abandoned. These days, though, the specific inspiration and trains of thought that led up to these decisions are lost to me. The lesson of this may be no more than that the momentary whims of decision are not as important as we often think: only persistence carries through in the long run.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
556 : 10/18/99 : Is That So? (Flesh and Bone: An Homage 3/101)
I thought I saw the universe a simple
spiral code
the small reflects the large
vice versa
nothing less nothing more
is that so? Is that so?
I thought I saw or heard
that all would be well
and all would be well
I want to believe that it is so
but it’s a hard sell
Is that so?
Is that so?
Is it mine? Does she know?
Was it hers
Why did she say what she said?
So many things
You seem to want me to know
Why is it all I say
is
is that so?
is that so?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
spiral code
the small reflects the large
vice versa
nothing less nothing more
is that so? Is that so?
I thought I saw or heard
that all would be well
and all would be well
I want to believe that it is so
but it’s a hard sell
Is that so?
Is that so?
Is it mine? Does she know?
Was it hers
Why did she say what she said?
So many things
You seem to want me to know
Why is it all I say
is
is that so?
is that so?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
555 : 10/17/99 : Diamond In the Road (Flesh and Bone: An Homage 2/101)
Did you find me like a
diamond in a muddy road
You must a known others had owned me
take me on invite me into your abode
I clean up pretty I look real sharp
I cut a fine profile
What a treasure for you to find
along this muddy mile
Diamond in the road
I might be who you were waiting for
If you give me wisdom
I might be the one who sees you through the door
I may be the hardest thing you’ve known
Impossible to penetrate
But trust me I am worth a fortune
Pick me up and don’t hesitate
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
diamond in a muddy road
You must a known others had owned me
take me on invite me into your abode
I clean up pretty I look real sharp
I cut a fine profile
What a treasure for you to find
along this muddy mile
Diamond in the road
I might be who you were waiting for
If you give me wisdom
I might be the one who sees you through the door
I may be the hardest thing you’ve known
Impossible to penetrate
But trust me I am worth a fortune
Pick me up and don’t hesitate
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
554 : 10/16/99 : Cup of Tea (Flesh and Bone: An Homage 1/101)
It seems so obvious
my mind is spilling out on every side
life's a brief candle
and the river's very wide
my cup of tea is running over
trying to make a point
can't solve this with another retreat
can't solve this with another joint
who is pouring out the wisdom
where does the spilt tea go
I can't see the point in crying
how was I supposed to know
If the pot has finally run dry
if the saucer's spilling too
soaking down into the carpet
maybe I can share some tea with you.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
my mind is spilling out on every side
life's a brief candle
and the river's very wide
my cup of tea is running over
trying to make a point
can't solve this with another retreat
can't solve this with another joint
who is pouring out the wisdom
where does the spilt tea go
I can't see the point in crying
how was I supposed to know
If the pot has finally run dry
if the saucer's spilling too
soaking down into the carpet
maybe I can share some tea with you.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
553 : 10/15/99 : Slow But Steady
Slowly but surely
I’m getting nowhere
a feeling I can’t bear
I loathe it purely
Faster and faster
the nights come on
I write some song
Song is my master
I’m turning the pages
slow but steady
I’ll start when I’m ready
I’ll get there by stages
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I’m getting nowhere
a feeling I can’t bear
I loathe it purely
Faster and faster
the nights come on
I write some song
Song is my master
I’m turning the pages
slow but steady
I’ll start when I’m ready
I’ll get there by stages
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
552 : 10/14/99 : Wicked Bone
I’ve got a wicked bone in my body
It’s vibrating right now
It says baby you can have everything
and only I can show you how
give in to my wicked ways
I’ll show you wicked fun
I’ll show you how to make it yours
I’ll show you how this world is run
I’ve got a slightly tarnished halo
and a brass ring that I snatched
it only turned my finger green
but what a wicked thought it hatched
My wicked bone rests quiet now
concealed in flesh and blood
a little like a lotus flower
it will bloom in mire and mud
I’d like to go for wickedness
but the skeleton’s out of the closet
a man must reap the wages of
the treasure he chooses to deposit
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
It’s vibrating right now
It says baby you can have everything
and only I can show you how
give in to my wicked ways
I’ll show you wicked fun
I’ll show you how to make it yours
I’ll show you how this world is run
I’ve got a slightly tarnished halo
and a brass ring that I snatched
it only turned my finger green
but what a wicked thought it hatched
My wicked bone rests quiet now
concealed in flesh and blood
a little like a lotus flower
it will bloom in mire and mud
I’d like to go for wickedness
but the skeleton’s out of the closet
a man must reap the wages of
the treasure he chooses to deposit
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
551 : 10/13/99 : My Million
When I get high enough
and listen to the cosmos seethe
I can hear my restless million
I can hear my million breathe
when I get low enough
I know I’m all alone
I know that only death waits
this poor construction of flesh and bone
when I get wild enough
I know I’ll live forever and a day
And that’s enough to keep
this desperate longing at bay
when I calm down enough
I’ll marshall all my thoughts
and write them down for my million
in five to the fifth electric shots
when will my million rise
when I am ready to begin
I’m a long way off yet
but that is no sin
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
and listen to the cosmos seethe
I can hear my restless million
I can hear my million breathe
when I get low enough
I know I’m all alone
I know that only death waits
this poor construction of flesh and bone
when I get wild enough
I know I’ll live forever and a day
And that’s enough to keep
this desperate longing at bay
when I calm down enough
I’ll marshall all my thoughts
and write them down for my million
in five to the fifth electric shots
when will my million rise
when I am ready to begin
I’m a long way off yet
but that is no sin
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
550 : 10/12/99 : Song of Myself
If I sang the song of myself
what would it sound like
like going down a steep hill
ten years old, on my bike
Is it some thing I should
be hearing right now
is it there and I’m not listening
is it a small or a big sound
song of myself I’m not dancing
but maybe I should be
Maybe I should be crying
for all the things I could be
The song I sing’s the best I’ve got
I guess they’ll have to do
At least there are a lot of them
I wrote them all for you
Maybe in a couple years
we’ll all look back and laugh
At how it all wrapped up so fast
preserved in one last photograph
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
what would it sound like
like going down a steep hill
ten years old, on my bike
Is it some thing I should
be hearing right now
is it there and I’m not listening
is it a small or a big sound
song of myself I’m not dancing
but maybe I should be
Maybe I should be crying
for all the things I could be
The song I sing’s the best I’ve got
I guess they’ll have to do
At least there are a lot of them
I wrote them all for you
Maybe in a couple years
we’ll all look back and laugh
At how it all wrapped up so fast
preserved in one last photograph
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
549 : 10/11/99 : The New Leaf
If you’re waiting for salvation
You best not hold your breath
Well the way that you’re behaving
is just like living death
If you want to live forever
You must do more than wish
You’ve got to turn over a new leaf
just like when Jonah got ate by a fish
in the darkness of its belly
he prayed a fervent prayer
said Lord I’ll turn a new leaf
if you’ll just take me there
Nineveh it’s here again
the writing’s on the wall
listen what I say to you
this whole thing has to fall
if you turn a new leaf now
the Lord might spare your life
If you keep on scorning it
You won’t get nothing but strife
The new leaf the next page
get ready for the next big turn
gonna shake what shakes and rock what rolls
and what will burn will burn
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
You best not hold your breath
Well the way that you’re behaving
is just like living death
If you want to live forever
You must do more than wish
You’ve got to turn over a new leaf
just like when Jonah got ate by a fish
in the darkness of its belly
he prayed a fervent prayer
said Lord I’ll turn a new leaf
if you’ll just take me there
Nineveh it’s here again
the writing’s on the wall
listen what I say to you
this whole thing has to fall
if you turn a new leaf now
the Lord might spare your life
If you keep on scorning it
You won’t get nothing but strife
The new leaf the next page
get ready for the next big turn
gonna shake what shakes and rock what rolls
and what will burn will burn
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
548 : 10/10/99 : Hypodermic
A needle piercing your skin
is the worst thing you can know
that was how it all got started
oh so many years ago
like a hypodermic needle
physics jogged the memory
of brute matter brought forth
the whim of the sensory
with the introduction of the
looped feedback self-referent
there formed the theory of
an arch encrypted glyph that heaven sent
they sought it in the pyramid
they sought it in the hive
they knew it was in plain sight
and they knew its mark was five
So a little information
is a very unsafe thing
best forgo the hypodermic
and the knowledge it will bring
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
is the worst thing you can know
that was how it all got started
oh so many years ago
like a hypodermic needle
physics jogged the memory
of brute matter brought forth
the whim of the sensory
with the introduction of the
looped feedback self-referent
there formed the theory of
an arch encrypted glyph that heaven sent
they sought it in the pyramid
they sought it in the hive
they knew it was in plain sight
and they knew its mark was five
So a little information
is a very unsafe thing
best forgo the hypodermic
and the knowledge it will bring
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, October 26, 2009
547 : 10/9/99 : Invisible World
1,638 : 10 ?When we are silent
the stories we tell
As I sit and wait
for the whole thing to gel
to come into focus
the night turned to dawn
the sureness we sought for
uncertainties gone
when the world is silent
its stories unfolds
invisible world
not of silver or gold
not of hammers or highways
it sprouts in the cracks
and nothing can stop it
it can’t be held back
we think we’re important
we are in a way
we all have our moments
we all have our day
we find it in silence
just part of the same
the world that turns ever
all part of the game
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
546 : 10/8/99 : Parthenon
If we’re separated by circumstances
or sudden disaster
Meet me at the Parthenon
I’ll be waiting patiently like some Greek master
I may be holding forth like Aristotle
but I’ll stop if I see you
so if fate comes between us
that’s what you should do
Go to the Parthenon
and in the shadow of ruined symmetry
the golden mean the columns
in the shadow of ancient mystery
I’ll be waiting there
I will wait forever and a day
for you to find me
at the Parthenon so far away
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
or sudden disaster
Meet me at the Parthenon
I’ll be waiting patiently like some Greek master
I may be holding forth like Aristotle
but I’ll stop if I see you
so if fate comes between us
that’s what you should do
Go to the Parthenon
and in the shadow of ruined symmetry
the golden mean the columns
in the shadow of ancient mystery
I’ll be waiting there
I will wait forever and a day
for you to find me
at the Parthenon so far away
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
545 : 10/7/99 : Sublime (II)
Whatever value is left
In this crust
will sublime away
disappear without a trace
leaving us alone bereft
of even the dust
of an honest day
met with an honest face
It’s amazing how things
can disappear into thin air
vanishing instantly
gone and forgotten
Can you hear how the bell rings
Can’t you feel the way your hair
stands and trembles hesitantly
can’t you feel this world is rotten
And it’s all sublime
It’s all subliming
It’s all in the wrist and the rhyme
It’s all about timing
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
In this crust
will sublime away
disappear without a trace
leaving us alone bereft
of even the dust
of an honest day
met with an honest face
It’s amazing how things
can disappear into thin air
vanishing instantly
gone and forgotten
Can you hear how the bell rings
Can’t you feel the way your hair
stands and trembles hesitantly
can’t you feel this world is rotten
And it’s all sublime
It’s all subliming
It’s all in the wrist and the rhyme
It’s all about timing
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
544 : 10/6/99 : 3 Magic Spells
3 Magic Spells
will you work for me
will you make it all okay
will you make me happy
will religion save me
Maybe money is the answer
maybe I should quit my job
become a Latin Dancer
If I don’t believe in my 3 spells
will they work anyway
Guess we’ll see if anything answers
Ain’t that just the way
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
will you work for me
will you make it all okay
will you make me happy
will religion save me
Maybe money is the answer
maybe I should quit my job
become a Latin Dancer
If I don’t believe in my 3 spells
will they work anyway
Guess we’ll see if anything answers
Ain’t that just the way
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
543 : 10/5/99 : Any Old Way
the dies cast
the marks made
why don’t I feel satisfied
why don’t I feel saved
the first stroke
the bold plan
why can’t you explain it to me
then I’d understand
it just keeps going on
any old way
I try to go on strong
but it hasn’t been my day
and if I go along
will I someday say
I understand it now
I’ll leave my mark I guess
Heaven just knows how
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
the marks made
why don’t I feel satisfied
why don’t I feel saved
the first stroke
the bold plan
why can’t you explain it to me
then I’d understand
it just keeps going on
any old way
I try to go on strong
but it hasn’t been my day
and if I go along
will I someday say
I understand it now
I’ll leave my mark I guess
Heaven just knows how
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, October 25, 2009
542 : 10/4/99 : Plank (The Clean Slate 3/3)
Put me down
I’m done I give up
You were right all along
clean the slate
start over with a fresh cup
sounds like some kind of song
clean the slate
but put me down first
let me start it blank
let me start adrift and peaceful
before you force me to walk the plank
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I’m done I give up
You were right all along
clean the slate
start over with a fresh cup
sounds like some kind of song
clean the slate
but put me down first
let me start it blank
let me start adrift and peaceful
before you force me to walk the plank
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
541 : 10/3/99 : The Clean Slate (The Clean Slate 2/3)
Could I break it all down
And pile the whole thing up again
Build a revolution by pad and pen
And remake this little town
Can we really clean the slate
Make a fresh start any day
Still there’d be a price to pay
From some forgotten date
Some wrongs you still must make good
Some Caesar must pay his due
Somehow I’d still want you
In some way I’ve never understood
Every moment is a clean slate
and we make the marks we must
the clean slate lurks in blood and rust
there’s one underneath your plate
there can be no final counting
all we see must vanish by and by
we can’t grasp it but we try
as we watch the pressure mounting
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
And pile the whole thing up again
Build a revolution by pad and pen
And remake this little town
Can we really clean the slate
Make a fresh start any day
Still there’d be a price to pay
From some forgotten date
Some wrongs you still must make good
Some Caesar must pay his due
Somehow I’d still want you
In some way I’ve never understood
Every moment is a clean slate
and we make the marks we must
the clean slate lurks in blood and rust
there’s one underneath your plate
there can be no final counting
all we see must vanish by and by
we can’t grasp it but we try
as we watch the pressure mounting
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
540 : 10/2/99 : Tabula Rasa (The Clean Slate 1/3)
I was tabula rasa
when the Big Sound woke me up
I said Lord I’ve had enough
I’d like to go back to my half full cup
I’d prefer not to go forward
I’d prefer to stay right here
No one down here gets their preference
I can see that much is clear
what’s the use to hear the big sound
if it always has to fade
back into the background music
if the piper must be paid
i will choose to pay my own way
with the coin that I see fit
If there is a price to be paid
I by God will pay for it
If I do not have a nickel
if I do not have a dime
I must be the dumbest boy on earth
tabula rasa all the time
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
when the Big Sound woke me up
I said Lord I’ve had enough
I’d like to go back to my half full cup
I’d prefer not to go forward
I’d prefer to stay right here
No one down here gets their preference
I can see that much is clear
what’s the use to hear the big sound
if it always has to fade
back into the background music
if the piper must be paid
i will choose to pay my own way
with the coin that I see fit
If there is a price to be paid
I by God will pay for it
If I do not have a nickel
if I do not have a dime
I must be the dumbest boy on earth
tabula rasa all the time
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
539 : 10/1/99 : Floating World
How it all whirls around
when we realize underground
another world is floating
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
when we realize underground
another world is floating
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
538 : 9/30/99 : High Commander
Yeah well dude when the
demon’s at your door
In the morning sometimes he
comes back with more
friends
You don’t know the places I been
And when the lights go out in
the city man
that’ll just prove it was
God’s Great Plan
all along
You don’t know the road I took
to come to sing this song
Yeah well High Commander
let me whip a salute on you
look what a fine job you done
telling’ everyone what to do
down here
you don’t know the meaning
of the word fear
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
demon’s at your door
In the morning sometimes he
comes back with more
friends
You don’t know the places I been
And when the lights go out in
the city man
that’ll just prove it was
God’s Great Plan
all along
You don’t know the road I took
to come to sing this song
Yeah well High Commander
let me whip a salute on you
look what a fine job you done
telling’ everyone what to do
down here
you don’t know the meaning
of the word fear
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, October 24, 2009
537 : 9/29/99 : Iacta Alea Est
Toss the coin up
that’s all we get
see where it takes us
that’s the bet
nobody gets more
roll of the dice
cross the the river we cast it
no one gets to do it twice
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
that’s all we get
see where it takes us
that’s the bet
nobody gets more
roll of the dice
cross the the river we cast it
no one gets to do it twice
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
536 : 9/28/99 : Hardliner
I’m drawing a hard line
with a firm hand
and I’ll work my way backwards from it
back into the promised land
I’ve been fooled
And misled
My God the sands of destiny
The handful we’ve been fed
I will not step back
from my hard line
I will cast away what’s spent
and cleave to what is mine
I will live a hardliner’s life
of austere hedonism
I will be the new American
I will cure this mortal schism
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
with a firm hand
and I’ll work my way backwards from it
back into the promised land
I’ve been fooled
And misled
My God the sands of destiny
The handful we’ve been fed
I will not step back
from my hard line
I will cast away what’s spent
and cleave to what is mine
I will live a hardliner’s life
of austere hedonism
I will be the new American
I will cure this mortal schism
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
535 : 9/27/99 : Scintillation
Oh scintillation
partway illumination
the truth is always winking
at us somewhere out there
Glimmers of hope or reason
wake us up in the cruelest season
everything that happens here
happened before somewhere
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
partway illumination
the truth is always winking
at us somewhere out there
Glimmers of hope or reason
wake us up in the cruelest season
everything that happens here
happened before somewhere
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
534 : 9/26/99 : Guidance
Give me guidance
give me direction
give me a clue
what’s looking out from my reflection
Give me purpose
give me a plan
I want to make the whole world right
but I am just one man
give me insight
just enough to pull me through
give me a clear path
between me and you
give me focus
give me strength
give me the endurance
to run the whole length
but right now
all that I desire
is for you to watch my back
while I try to light this fire
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
give me direction
give me a clue
what’s looking out from my reflection
Give me purpose
give me a plan
I want to make the whole world right
but I am just one man
give me insight
just enough to pull me through
give me a clear path
between me and you
give me focus
give me strength
give me the endurance
to run the whole length
but right now
all that I desire
is for you to watch my back
while I try to light this fire
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
533 : 9/25/99 : Simple Life
I can see myself
living the simple life with you
I can see myself loving
every day the way I do
Right Now
I can see how I value
each day’s simple feast
and I heard you shouting love
At the heart of my beast
Don’t stop now
It’s simple to reach
out a helping hand
I know we can make it
So strike up the band
Let’s go
It’s simple enough
live in this one day
If I could just learn to
hear what the beast has to say
say it’s so
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
living the simple life with you
I can see myself loving
every day the way I do
Right Now
I can see how I value
each day’s simple feast
and I heard you shouting love
At the heart of my beast
Don’t stop now
It’s simple to reach
out a helping hand
I know we can make it
So strike up the band
Let’s go
It’s simple enough
live in this one day
If I could just learn to
hear what the beast has to say
say it’s so
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, October 23, 2009
532 : 9/24/99 : Bourgeois Lady
Bourgeois Lady won’t you come out with me tonight
Don’t you know only the revolution
Is going to make you feel all right
We won’t make the same mistake this time
Trying to make what you are a crime
We’re through trying to make it with an iron glove
So we’re going to bring you over with love
Bourgeois Lady wear your pearls and fancy things
Your French perfume and silk and diamond rings
We’re going to kill the capitalist state for good
And you’ll be right beside me
Just like I knew you would
Bourgeois Lady step out and see the town
Can’t you tell this whole machine
Is going to run right down
But we ain’t gonna fuss or fight
We’ll just lay down loving to last all night
We’ll kill it with kindness and just like that
Your proletariat man is up to bat
Bourgeois Lady with your cognac and portfolio
We got the answer to your sad imbroglio
We’re gonna dance it all apart for once and all
Stick by me and see
The rise after the fall
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Don’t you know only the revolution
Is going to make you feel all right
We won’t make the same mistake this time
Trying to make what you are a crime
We’re through trying to make it with an iron glove
So we’re going to bring you over with love
Bourgeois Lady wear your pearls and fancy things
Your French perfume and silk and diamond rings
We’re going to kill the capitalist state for good
And you’ll be right beside me
Just like I knew you would
Bourgeois Lady step out and see the town
Can’t you tell this whole machine
Is going to run right down
But we ain’t gonna fuss or fight
We’ll just lay down loving to last all night
We’ll kill it with kindness and just like that
Your proletariat man is up to bat
Bourgeois Lady with your cognac and portfolio
We got the answer to your sad imbroglio
We’re gonna dance it all apart for once and all
Stick by me and see
The rise after the fall
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
531 : 9/23/99 : Brazil Tent’s Spiracle
We came a long damn way for nothin’
In the twenty first century
Bad sex and bad teevee
And if it’s just one thing
Well that’s one brilliant miracle
So what are we doing here
eating chemicals and drinking pisswater beer
the truth is streaming form a Brazil tent’s spiracle
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
In the twenty first century
Bad sex and bad teevee
And if it’s just one thing
Well that’s one brilliant miracle
So what are we doing here
eating chemicals and drinking pisswater beer
the truth is streaming form a Brazil tent’s spiracle
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
530 : 9/22/99 : Brevity
Brevity is a virtue I have not learned
I tried to keep my mouth shut
But the words inside me burned
a hole in my pocket
I’d like to take a rocket
back in time to when this
wurm first turned
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I tried to keep my mouth shut
But the words inside me burned
a hole in my pocket
I’d like to take a rocket
back in time to when this
wurm first turned
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
529 : 9/21/99 : Ship of Woe
If this ship sinks
I’m not gonna swim for it this time
I’m not gonna fight to get on a lifeboat
I’m not gonna waste my time
This beautiful vessel of love
has just become a ship of woe
I’m lashing myself to the wheel
If it goes down so will I go
We sailed past the siren’s rock
we kept out of the reef
who was it knocked a hole in our boat
who was the vandal who was the thief
If this ship sinks
I’m keeping the captains role
I’m heading toward the bottom
nothing else will satisfy my soul
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I’m not gonna swim for it this time
I’m not gonna fight to get on a lifeboat
I’m not gonna waste my time
This beautiful vessel of love
has just become a ship of woe
I’m lashing myself to the wheel
If it goes down so will I go
We sailed past the siren’s rock
we kept out of the reef
who was it knocked a hole in our boat
who was the vandal who was the thief
If this ship sinks
I’m keeping the captains role
I’m heading toward the bottom
nothing else will satisfy my soul
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
528 : 9/20/99 : The Helix and the Caduceus
Now the big machine unrolls the scroll for us
The patterns are revealed in a handful of dust
The serpent and the tree the helix and the caduceus
can you find coincidence in what you see
the fruit is very sweet but the enlightenment is bitter
the ball is small and I’m a very shaky hitter
the lion and the lamb, a God who calls himself I am
after all this time you would expect at least a telegram
Jesus, Buddha, Jim Jones, Vishnu
Koresh,, Yoda, Orpheus too
Zoroaster, Kant and Nietzsche
Every crazy mystic teacher
In the clay or on the moons of Jupiter
And if you don’t believe it you couldn’t be stupider
the templates of life are spinning as we speak
and by all indications they still haven’t hit their peak
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
The patterns are revealed in a handful of dust
The serpent and the tree the helix and the caduceus
can you find coincidence in what you see
the fruit is very sweet but the enlightenment is bitter
the ball is small and I’m a very shaky hitter
the lion and the lamb, a God who calls himself I am
after all this time you would expect at least a telegram
Jesus, Buddha, Jim Jones, Vishnu
Koresh,, Yoda, Orpheus too
Zoroaster, Kant and Nietzsche
Every crazy mystic teacher
In the clay or on the moons of Jupiter
And if you don’t believe it you couldn’t be stupider
the templates of life are spinning as we speak
and by all indications they still haven’t hit their peak
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
527 : 9/19/99 : Dog of War
The dog of war
runs in this world
it will not stop: it won’t stand still
It makes the rounds: it never sleeps
it counts the clock: the time it keeps
is
Carthage: Persia: Laos: Troy
Hiroshima: watch out: Big Boy
London: Boston: Kosovo
The dog of war finds someplace to go
What are we seeking to conquer?
What are we seeking to gain?
can anybody still believe
the outcome could erase the stain
of
Dresden: Paris: Rome: Afghanistan
Babylon: Saigon and Pakistan
The dog of war gnaws at its bone
and if it seems a shame to you you’re not alone.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
runs in this world
it will not stop: it won’t stand still
It makes the rounds: it never sleeps
it counts the clock: the time it keeps
is
Carthage: Persia: Laos: Troy
Hiroshima: watch out: Big Boy
London: Boston: Kosovo
The dog of war finds someplace to go
What are we seeking to conquer?
What are we seeking to gain?
can anybody still believe
the outcome could erase the stain
of
Dresden: Paris: Rome: Afghanistan
Babylon: Saigon and Pakistan
The dog of war gnaws at its bone
and if it seems a shame to you you’re not alone.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
526 : 9/18/99 : Brief
Brief pause aside to say
I saw the devil out today
observing all the busy streets
He keeps a close watch on his beats
I said to God who’s been off site
It’s getting harder to believe
This will turn out right
He didn’t say much
Guess he’s busy
Just the concept
makes me dizzy
In brief then
things seem bad
but I’m easy
I’m quite glad
I’ve got an answer to fill your cup
Do not heed them
And don’t give up
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I saw the devil out today
observing all the busy streets
He keeps a close watch on his beats
I said to God who’s been off site
It’s getting harder to believe
This will turn out right
He didn’t say much
Guess he’s busy
Just the concept
makes me dizzy
In brief then
things seem bad
but I’m easy
I’m quite glad
I’ve got an answer to fill your cup
Do not heed them
And don’t give up
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
525 : 9/17/99 : Song for Fun
I’ll give up my bad habits
And howling at the moon
just to get better
just to be with you
I’ll sail across the ocean
To any foreign bay
Just to get beside you baby
I don’t care if that’s cliché
The kind of love I’m feeling
I never felt before
makes me want to live forever
get a peek through every door
But I’m desperately lucky
I got luck I’ll never earn
I don’t have to cross the ocean
or to sail where the river turns
to the mighty delta mouth
and the gulf of Mexico
Out into the mighty blue
And across another sea to go
Just to meet up with you
So let’s go there just for fun instead
and sing this silly song
for fun as we lay late in bed
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
And howling at the moon
just to get better
just to be with you
I’ll sail across the ocean
To any foreign bay
Just to get beside you baby
I don’t care if that’s cliché
The kind of love I’m feeling
I never felt before
makes me want to live forever
get a peek through every door
But I’m desperately lucky
I got luck I’ll never earn
I don’t have to cross the ocean
or to sail where the river turns
to the mighty delta mouth
and the gulf of Mexico
Out into the mighty blue
And across another sea to go
Just to meet up with you
So let’s go there just for fun instead
and sing this silly song
for fun as we lay late in bed
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
524 : 9/16/99 : Old Dog
Look at this old dog
gon’ haft’ to learn new tricks
seems a little stiff and slow
just the way things sometime go
That truth applies to everyone
doesn’t make it stick less goin’ down
But once the pill is in your mouth
Nowhere left to head but south
One more day ain’t gonna kill me
guess I’ll push for one more try
or maybe fade quite away
old dog waiting for my day
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
gon’ haft’ to learn new tricks
seems a little stiff and slow
just the way things sometime go
That truth applies to everyone
doesn’t make it stick less goin’ down
But once the pill is in your mouth
Nowhere left to head but south
One more day ain’t gonna kill me
guess I’ll push for one more try
or maybe fade quite away
old dog waiting for my day
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
523 : 9/15/99 : All Is Vanity
It isn’t fair you should expect this of me
given the condition that I’m in
You just had to show me all is vanity
Isn’t it a shame but it’s time to begin
Isn’t it a shame she went and did that to you
Isn’t it a shame we have to go
isn’t it a shame we got our hopes up
Isn’t it a shame we didn’t know
27 years was not enough for you
so you pile another on the heap
don’t think any phoenix is gonna rise outta that
inferno of the things I couldn’t keep
All in all it’s all just vanity
knowing doesn’t make it any better
There’s no use in thinking of the possibilities
if she wants to go you have to let her
there is nothing in this world to hold on to
nothing’s waiting for your grasping hand
nothing in this world is gonna change things
baby that’s a vanity I cannot stand
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
given the condition that I’m in
You just had to show me all is vanity
Isn’t it a shame but it’s time to begin
Isn’t it a shame she went and did that to you
Isn’t it a shame we have to go
isn’t it a shame we got our hopes up
Isn’t it a shame we didn’t know
27 years was not enough for you
so you pile another on the heap
don’t think any phoenix is gonna rise outta that
inferno of the things I couldn’t keep
All in all it’s all just vanity
knowing doesn’t make it any better
There’s no use in thinking of the possibilities
if she wants to go you have to let her
there is nothing in this world to hold on to
nothing’s waiting for your grasping hand
nothing in this world is gonna change things
baby that’s a vanity I cannot stand
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
522 : 9/14/99 : Vanity
I don’t know what you’ve been told
but the whole thing was paid for
with fairy gold
Oh, oh our insanity
And I can’t tell you what is true
I don’t bother trying to
proselytize the likes of you
oh, oh the humanity
It’s just a night like any other night
I can’t sort out wrong from right
they both just seem as strange
And I’m not sure what kind of party
I thought I was trying to arrange
I hung a symbol on the situation
gravely practiced meditation
and went softly to each night
And though I traced a thousand stars
the things in jars
kept blotting out the light
I don’t know it matters much
but I waited seven years for your touch
Oh, just my vanity
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
but the whole thing was paid for
with fairy gold
Oh, oh our insanity
And I can’t tell you what is true
I don’t bother trying to
proselytize the likes of you
oh, oh the humanity
It’s just a night like any other night
I can’t sort out wrong from right
they both just seem as strange
And I’m not sure what kind of party
I thought I was trying to arrange
I hung a symbol on the situation
gravely practiced meditation
and went softly to each night
And though I traced a thousand stars
the things in jars
kept blotting out the light
I don’t know it matters much
but I waited seven years for your touch
Oh, just my vanity
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
521 : 9/13/99 : Nothing to See
There’s nothing to see here
So pass on by
I will not endure the
fictionalization of my life
Keep your eyes fixed straight on
Walk on by this accident
there’s nothing to see here
You’ve got your own sins to repent
I took the corners so fast
I didn’t slow down to read the signs
I didn’t think to pack a map
I didn’t stay inside the lines
I should have known I’d come to this
I should have kept my eyes fixed on the road
I should have gotten much more sleep
considering the row I’ve hoed
So grant me in my downfall
some small courtesy and grace
take a picture if you need to remember
the mystified look on my face
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
So pass on by
I will not endure the
fictionalization of my life
Keep your eyes fixed straight on
Walk on by this accident
there’s nothing to see here
You’ve got your own sins to repent
I took the corners so fast
I didn’t slow down to read the signs
I didn’t think to pack a map
I didn’t stay inside the lines
I should have known I’d come to this
I should have kept my eyes fixed on the road
I should have gotten much more sleep
considering the row I’ve hoed
So grant me in my downfall
some small courtesy and grace
take a picture if you need to remember
the mystified look on my face
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
520 : 9/12/99 : Innocence
The universe is spun around
by innocence
It doesn’t know that down here
we got pollution and outrageous rents
the poor thing doesn’t know
that everything must wind down
and down here that makes
for a lot of Hard Knocks caps and gowns
and as a consequence
A little innocence
flies outta the world forever again
Do you think you’re in control friend
We’re all getting dragged around
the same bend
And down here we all
wind up as nothing in the end
Maybe we go on to something else then
But who knows for sure
And so we cannot help always
Searching for the cure
for the burden of the present tense
and the consequences of lost innocence
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
by innocence
It doesn’t know that down here
we got pollution and outrageous rents
the poor thing doesn’t know
that everything must wind down
and down here that makes
for a lot of Hard Knocks caps and gowns
and as a consequence
A little innocence
flies outta the world forever again
Do you think you’re in control friend
We’re all getting dragged around
the same bend
And down here we all
wind up as nothing in the end
Maybe we go on to something else then
But who knows for sure
And so we cannot help always
Searching for the cure
for the burden of the present tense
and the consequences of lost innocence
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
519 : 9/11/99 Gardyloo
We make everything so complicated
I thought you wanted me I know I wanted you
Why can’t we just collide like two ships in the night
Instead of messing around with the gardyloo
I only know I wish I had you here with me
It just makes me sad you can’t be here, too
Why can’t I just tell you what I mean
I always got tangled in the gardyloo
look into my eyes you cannot lie to me
you have to have to tell me what is true
are you still on my side?
Without you my life’s all just gardyloo
Will you always come back home to me
Will you hold my hand and say I do
All I want is everything with you
As we cruise through all the gardyloo
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I thought you wanted me I know I wanted you
Why can’t we just collide like two ships in the night
Instead of messing around with the gardyloo
I only know I wish I had you here with me
It just makes me sad you can’t be here, too
Why can’t I just tell you what I mean
I always got tangled in the gardyloo
look into my eyes you cannot lie to me
you have to have to tell me what is true
are you still on my side?
Without you my life’s all just gardyloo
Will you always come back home to me
Will you hold my hand and say I do
All I want is everything with you
As we cruise through all the gardyloo
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
518 : 9/10/99 : The Clean Slate
I’m cleaning the slate
I’m drawing all the accounts down
I just need to roll up one big score
then I’ll blow this town
I stayed underground
I kept my mouth shut drew my pay
I dreamed about my big blue ocean
dreamed about every dog’s day
So much chaos and clutter
a lifetime’s writing on the wall
I’m wiping the tablet blank and clean
this time I won’t hesitate or stall
this time I won’t fumble my lines
this time I won’t have one regret
this time will be different
I’ll end up with what I set out to get
one more time Please Jesus
just give me one more try
I will make it really happen
I’m just that kind of guy
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I’m drawing all the accounts down
I just need to roll up one big score
then I’ll blow this town
I stayed underground
I kept my mouth shut drew my pay
I dreamed about my big blue ocean
dreamed about every dog’s day
So much chaos and clutter
a lifetime’s writing on the wall
I’m wiping the tablet blank and clean
this time I won’t hesitate or stall
this time I won’t fumble my lines
this time I won’t have one regret
this time will be different
I’ll end up with what I set out to get
one more time Please Jesus
just give me one more try
I will make it really happen
I’m just that kind of guy
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, October 19, 2009
517 : 9/9/99 : Myself
1,631 : 3 ?Me myself myself and I
and I am just one just one guy
here in the real world perfect it’s not
god knows I learn slow but that one I got
I can’t explain myself hot under the collar
going mad from eating crow and chasing the dollar
Just myself to face the music
I was just but now I’m too sick
to recall the lessons I learned
when everything was possible and I just burned
with a light that knew no reason
I was there so don’t step to me son
I myself was there to see
when it turned down into a blind alley
And led us to the state we’re in
I got strong medicine but it can’t cure sin
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
516 : 9/8/99 : In the Event
this is just a test
it’s not the real thing
if this were a real emergency
fifty different kinds of bell would ring
In the event
that the shit hits the fan
chances are the power will fail
You’ll have to figure out your own plan
In the event
that your culture collapses
try to trust the basic instincts
lurking back in your synapses
If it all turns out
to be a house of cards
In that event just roll with it
and get ready to go backwards
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
it’s not the real thing
if this were a real emergency
fifty different kinds of bell would ring
In the event
that the shit hits the fan
chances are the power will fail
You’ll have to figure out your own plan
In the event
that your culture collapses
try to trust the basic instincts
lurking back in your synapses
If it all turns out
to be a house of cards
In that event just roll with it
and get ready to go backwards
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
515 : 9/7/99 : Reason for a Song
Everybody wants to get away
that’s no reason for a song
Everybody wants to turn out right
But half of us go wrong
The other half are fine and mighty
They deserve the song I sing
they’re the ones that deserve everything
My kingdom for a country
My kingdom for a war
My kingdom for a battle
That’s what the horse is for
My kingdom for a horseshoe
My kingdom for a nail
I’d drive it to the center
For the want of a hammer my cause will fail
My kingdom for a reason
My reason for a song
A thousand songs if you can tell me
Why the hell we can’t all get along
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
that’s no reason for a song
Everybody wants to turn out right
But half of us go wrong
The other half are fine and mighty
They deserve the song I sing
they’re the ones that deserve everything
My kingdom for a country
My kingdom for a war
My kingdom for a battle
That’s what the horse is for
My kingdom for a horseshoe
My kingdom for a nail
I’d drive it to the center
For the want of a hammer my cause will fail
My kingdom for a reason
My reason for a song
A thousand songs if you can tell me
Why the hell we can’t all get along
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
514 : 9/6/99 : Push Me Pull You
Why do you pull me
Why do you pull me in so many directions
all the time
in a life measured in cigarette butts
and erections
You’ve given me too many words to rhyme
Why do you push me
Why do you push me around so much
everywhere
I’ve spent my life reaching for the touch
of brilliance beyond compare
It’s not my fault
It’s not my fault if I haven’t got a clue
About who to be
That’s something between me
and You
Yeah you up there You talkin’ to me?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Why do you pull me in so many directions
all the time
in a life measured in cigarette butts
and erections
You’ve given me too many words to rhyme
Why do you push me
Why do you push me around so much
everywhere
I’ve spent my life reaching for the touch
of brilliance beyond compare
It’s not my fault
It’s not my fault if I haven’t got a clue
About who to be
That’s something between me
and You
Yeah you up there You talkin’ to me?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
513 : 9/5/99 : Backlash
There’s always the backlash
equal and opposite even in
human affairs
Halfway down the stairs
she’ll turn on you
Let you listen to your spirits crash
There’s always the anti
and extremes are in a sickening
symbiosis
The psychosis... that is born
of our own division evidently
Well I’m ready this time
I’ll stand and face all
challenges
The melanges
of public opinion and everyones’ hang ups
will reveal their perfect crime
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
equal and opposite even in
human affairs
Halfway down the stairs
she’ll turn on you
Let you listen to your spirits crash
There’s always the anti
and extremes are in a sickening
symbiosis
The psychosis... that is born
of our own division evidently
Well I’m ready this time
I’ll stand and face all
challenges
The melanges
of public opinion and everyones’ hang ups
will reveal their perfect crime
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Spirit of Song
As you may have noted if you are not at the destination you expected, the Spirit of Salt web domain has been forwarded to this location. The prior weblog et cetera has been permanently suspended due to an interruption in the site's hosting. My current vague plan is to view this as a sign to do something else there at some point in the indefinite future. Drop me a line if you wish to be informed at the time of this recreation.
512 : 9/4/99 : Everything Waves
A while ago they realized
the universe had a split personality
Wave and particle particle and wave
Shuttling between a separate reality
the smallest and the largest
are hidden in dark shadows
the secrets of the ancients
lie exposed where only sand blows
maybe it’s why we fluctuate
maybe it’s why my pendulum swings
I behave well or badly
but I always take what the day brings
Maybe when you wave at the universe
everything waves back at you
maybe that’s the explanation for it all
maybe that’s the basis of all that’s true
Maybe this is all just a grand experiment
Designed to figure out the plan
why everything waves endlessly
and back and forth for every human
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
the universe had a split personality
Wave and particle particle and wave
Shuttling between a separate reality
the smallest and the largest
are hidden in dark shadows
the secrets of the ancients
lie exposed where only sand blows
maybe it’s why we fluctuate
maybe it’s why my pendulum swings
I behave well or badly
but I always take what the day brings
Maybe when you wave at the universe
everything waves back at you
maybe that’s the explanation for it all
maybe that’s the basis of all that’s true
Maybe this is all just a grand experiment
Designed to figure out the plan
why everything waves endlessly
and back and forth for every human
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
511 : 9/3/99 : Big Mind
hello big mind
hello again
hello never gone
gone nowhere then
hello big mind
where did you go
until I can’t talk to you
I’ll never know
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
hello again
hello never gone
gone nowhere then
hello big mind
where did you go
until I can’t talk to you
I’ll never know
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
510 : 9/2/99 : Little Mind
Chittering chattering
frittering clattering
Always my little mind
drunken and snowblind
think this
think that
think thoughts
brick bat
through the glass houses
the spirit it rouses
is doomed by the grind
of the little mind
made of a nothingness
it’s what I do best
I do it so badly
I’d give it up gladly
Just for my one day back
Lord scoop my little mind
out of its little rind
end all this clickety clack
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
frittering clattering
Always my little mind
drunken and snowblind
think this
think that
think thoughts
brick bat
through the glass houses
the spirit it rouses
is doomed by the grind
of the little mind
made of a nothingness
it’s what I do best
I do it so badly
I’d give it up gladly
Just for my one day back
Lord scoop my little mind
out of its little rind
end all this clickety clack
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
509 : 9/1/99 : Extremophile
When you told me of the dream you had
When you and Dawson were in the hot tub
And he was telling you about how he
Sometimes liked to just stand around in his boat
and think
That’s when I knew
They had destroyed your mind
And I was gonna have to kill you too
Nothing’s ever easy for us is it
everybody goes that extra mile
We must really like it the hard way
You must just be an extremophile
And a thousand tacos will not kill the hunger
and a thousand coca colas
will not wash the taste from my mouth
There’s nothing left but television
nothing left at all from north to south
So I told you of the dream I had
with Mr. T and Cheryl Ladd
And we just laughed about it
Maybe that’s something but I doubt it
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
When you and Dawson were in the hot tub
And he was telling you about how he
Sometimes liked to just stand around in his boat
and think
That’s when I knew
They had destroyed your mind
And I was gonna have to kill you too
Nothing’s ever easy for us is it
everybody goes that extra mile
We must really like it the hard way
You must just be an extremophile
And a thousand tacos will not kill the hunger
and a thousand coca colas
will not wash the taste from my mouth
There’s nothing left but television
nothing left at all from north to south
So I told you of the dream I had
with Mr. T and Cheryl Ladd
And we just laughed about it
Maybe that’s something but I doubt it
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
508 : 8/31/99 : Too Many Words
I wrote too many words today
I can’t claim that I had that much to say
When did I sow such a bumper crop
Somebody help me I don’t think I can stop
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I can’t claim that I had that much to say
When did I sow such a bumper crop
Somebody help me I don’t think I can stop
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, October 16, 2009
507 : 8/30/99 : Ho, Hum, Ho
Ho hum ho
and so it goes and so it goes
ho hum ho
and so it goes
We all grow weak
our minds grow dim
good God! Almighty
that Reaper’s Grim
Ah ho hum ho
and so it goes
My my my
a man is just a born to die
my my my
and all die all die
The truth is not spectacular
get used to the vernacular
My my my
we all gone to die
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
and so it goes and so it goes
ho hum ho
and so it goes
We all grow weak
our minds grow dim
good God! Almighty
that Reaper’s Grim
Ah ho hum ho
and so it goes
My my my
a man is just a born to die
my my my
and all die all die
The truth is not spectacular
get used to the vernacular
My my my
we all gone to die
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
506 : 8/29/99 : Halls of Reason
You talk about crawling through barb wire
Well I just tried to set my heart on fire
aren’t we crazy aren’t we desperate aren’t we doomed?
I heard the song the siren sang to me
I came awake and saw plain my misery
And every time another died the big bell boomed
And there were songs of triumph and dirges
In the halls of reason we hid from the scourges
That we’d set in motion with a cough
The mantles of the ruler were on the floor
the bastards in Congress were already out the door
We were left with a feeling we could not brush off
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Well I just tried to set my heart on fire
aren’t we crazy aren’t we desperate aren’t we doomed?
I heard the song the siren sang to me
I came awake and saw plain my misery
And every time another died the big bell boomed
And there were songs of triumph and dirges
In the halls of reason we hid from the scourges
That we’d set in motion with a cough
The mantles of the ruler were on the floor
the bastards in Congress were already out the door
We were left with a feeling we could not brush off
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
505 : 8/28/99 : Active Sequence
Karma means action nothing more
not quid pro quo or what’s in store
We’ve all got it just the same
just some of us don’t know its name
The same sequence will dissolve us all
So I’ll see you on the far side of the wall
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
not quid pro quo or what’s in store
We’ve all got it just the same
just some of us don’t know its name
The same sequence will dissolve us all
So I’ll see you on the far side of the wall
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
504 : 8/27/99 : Make Haste
Make haste o Lord to deliver me
I’m shackled but I must be free
from avarice envy and deceit
make haste to set me back on my feet
Oh Lord open up my lips
and my mouth will launch a thousand ships
against oppression greed and war
We’ll finally find out what life is for
Make haste to help me I need it badly
show me your temple I’ll go there gladly
Away from the crowds and crazy talk
Lord just point my feet to walk
Glory be to the father glory be to the son
Glory be to the three and the two and the one
As it was in the beginning it’s never done
What a place what a waste the race is run
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I’m shackled but I must be free
from avarice envy and deceit
make haste to set me back on my feet
Oh Lord open up my lips
and my mouth will launch a thousand ships
against oppression greed and war
We’ll finally find out what life is for
Make haste to help me I need it badly
show me your temple I’ll go there gladly
Away from the crowds and crazy talk
Lord just point my feet to walk
Glory be to the father glory be to the son
Glory be to the three and the two and the one
As it was in the beginning it’s never done
What a place what a waste the race is run
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
503 : 8/26/99 : Let It Go
Someday I’ll be peaceful
Someday I’ll be wise
Someday I will have
a look of knowing in my eyes
Someday I’ll complete this row I hoe
Someday I will learn
to let it go, let it go
Somewhere there’s a job for me
That only I could do
I know that there’s one girl for me
and baby that is you
We’ve seen the rain we’ve seen the snow
Somewhere where we yearned
to let it go, let it go
Somehow out of all of this
wandering
I’m going to build this thing
I’m pondering
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Someday I’ll be wise
Someday I will have
a look of knowing in my eyes
Someday I’ll complete this row I hoe
Someday I will learn
to let it go, let it go
Somewhere there’s a job for me
That only I could do
I know that there’s one girl for me
and baby that is you
We’ve seen the rain we’ve seen the snow
Somewhere where we yearned
to let it go, let it go
Somehow out of all of this
wandering
I’m going to build this thing
I’m pondering
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, October 15, 2009
502 : 8/25/99 : Signs
I’m about to be overwhelmed
I need a chart or some kind of system
There must have been warning signs
I guess I must have missed ‘em
I guess I gotta accept
That I’m just one crazy cat
I try to put a brave face on it
try to pretend I like it like that
I try to pretend I believe in progress
cause staying here is not an option
staying here is gonna kill me slowly
suffocated by the stench of corruption
that’s it I’m dome with sign
and portents in the sky
they never work out anyway
while opportunity passes me by
but I’ve still got a few surprises
I can work just like a dog
watch me build the perfect engine
while I masquerade as just another cog
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I need a chart or some kind of system
There must have been warning signs
I guess I must have missed ‘em
I guess I gotta accept
That I’m just one crazy cat
I try to put a brave face on it
try to pretend I like it like that
I try to pretend I believe in progress
cause staying here is not an option
staying here is gonna kill me slowly
suffocated by the stench of corruption
that’s it I’m dome with sign
and portents in the sky
they never work out anyway
while opportunity passes me by
but I’ve still got a few surprises
I can work just like a dog
watch me build the perfect engine
while I masquerade as just another cog
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
501 : 8/24/99 : Blah Blah Blah
You may view my slack-jawed visage with disdain
but I’ve got an awful lot of clutter in my brain
And whenever I try to hear what it is I’m sayin’
It just goes blah blah blah
After all that I’ve written and all that’s gone on
I got nothin in my head but another man’s song
Have we come all this way to turn out so wrong
and all I can say is la la la
The talking in the brain’s the curse of the sphinx
Cause she’s still pissed off at our little hijinx
But we’ll never figure out what she thinks
Cause we can’t hear nothin’ but blah bla blah
So I just tray to stay very peaceful and calm
Like the way that I read about in a psalm
I got the secret here in my palm
and I whisper to it sha sha sha
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
but I’ve got an awful lot of clutter in my brain
And whenever I try to hear what it is I’m sayin’
It just goes blah blah blah
After all that I’ve written and all that’s gone on
I got nothin in my head but another man’s song
Have we come all this way to turn out so wrong
and all I can say is la la la
The talking in the brain’s the curse of the sphinx
Cause she’s still pissed off at our little hijinx
But we’ll never figure out what she thinks
Cause we can’t hear nothin’ but blah bla blah
So I just tray to stay very peaceful and calm
Like the way that I read about in a psalm
I got the secret here in my palm
and I whisper to it sha sha sha
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
500 : 8/23/99 : In the Morning
I know I don’t look so stylish now
It seems my old charm is wearing out
but baby you’ll see a change in me
when I get up in the morning
I know I must look quite a mess
It’s worried me I must confess
But you will be amazed to see
me first thing in the morning
I’ll put a bold face on my fear
And testify to every ear
that I woke up a changed man
when I got up in the morning
I’ll be a different person
Won’t I be interesting then
I’ve had a revelation and
I’ll never be the same after this morning
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
It seems my old charm is wearing out
but baby you’ll see a change in me
when I get up in the morning
I know I must look quite a mess
It’s worried me I must confess
But you will be amazed to see
me first thing in the morning
I’ll put a bold face on my fear
And testify to every ear
that I woke up a changed man
when I got up in the morning
I’ll be a different person
Won’t I be interesting then
I’ve had a revelation and
I’ll never be the same after this morning
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
499 : 8/22/99 : Everything In Its Place
Lord won’t you please slow it down
won’t you stop this ride a minute
If I could just step back
I think I’d finally get it
I just want to put everything
everything in its place before I go
I just want to make sure everything’s
accounted for before I shut the door
Lord won’t you give me
a few more days just a few
I swear to God that
everything is really just for you
Let me put my house in order
let me kiss my friends goodbye
Oh Lord won’t you let me
finish up before I die
I just want to put everything
everything into its place before I’m gone
I heard there’s a place for everything
Maybe I’ll get mine after I’m done
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
won’t you stop this ride a minute
If I could just step back
I think I’d finally get it
I just want to put everything
everything in its place before I go
I just want to make sure everything’s
accounted for before I shut the door
Lord won’t you give me
a few more days just a few
I swear to God that
everything is really just for you
Let me put my house in order
let me kiss my friends goodbye
Oh Lord won’t you let me
finish up before I die
I just want to put everything
everything into its place before I’m gone
I heard there’s a place for everything
Maybe I’ll get mine after I’m done
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
498 : 8/21/99 : Crackpots
Castaneda, Allan Watts
I’ve read all the visionary crackpots
Couldn’t get through Nietzsche, tried three times
guess I’ll have to pay for my crimes
everybody has an answer, everybody has an answer
but me
read Suzuki, Thomas Merton
I’ll work it out just keep your shirt on
Adam Smith, also McKenna
Every theory that twitches my antenna
Plato Jesus Descartes Berkley
Does anyone here know how to work me
All the crackpots all the saints
a slow transformation like watching paint
everybody has an answer everybody has
an answer but me
Guess I’ll have to find my own way
Books are nice but it’s not about what words say
We all just try and take our shots
keep looking for the light through
the cracks in the pots
Everybody has an answer, everybody has an
answer but me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I’ve read all the visionary crackpots
Couldn’t get through Nietzsche, tried three times
guess I’ll have to pay for my crimes
everybody has an answer, everybody has an answer
but me
read Suzuki, Thomas Merton
I’ll work it out just keep your shirt on
Adam Smith, also McKenna
Every theory that twitches my antenna
Plato Jesus Descartes Berkley
Does anyone here know how to work me
All the crackpots all the saints
a slow transformation like watching paint
everybody has an answer everybody has
an answer but me
Guess I’ll have to find my own way
Books are nice but it’s not about what words say
We all just try and take our shots
keep looking for the light through
the cracks in the pots
Everybody has an answer, everybody has an
answer but me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
497 : 8/20/99 : If
If I started meditating
read the Bible every day
If I started doing pushups
If I threw my smokes away
If I started saving pennies
If I started eating bran
If I wrote a song a day
And got to where it all began
If I had a mighty army
If I had a mighty heart
If I had a million dollars
could I finish what I start
If I never make it all the way
If I never make it through
Remember me to whoever’s left
I loved every minute I spent with you
If this finds your ears somehow
Think of me a little while
Think of me if you desire
if the thinking makes you smile
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
read the Bible every day
If I started doing pushups
If I threw my smokes away
If I started saving pennies
If I started eating bran
If I wrote a song a day
And got to where it all began
If I had a mighty army
If I had a mighty heart
If I had a million dollars
could I finish what I start
If I never make it all the way
If I never make it through
Remember me to whoever’s left
I loved every minute I spent with you
If this finds your ears somehow
Think of me a little while
Think of me if you desire
if the thinking makes you smile
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
496 : 8/19/99 : Set Me Free
When the moment comes upon
some eerie futuristic dawn
creeping through the open windows
stretching out across the lawn
When the reaper comes for me
baby will you set me free
will you will you will you set me free
When I’m chained across the wheel
when the sirens sing their song
And the rocks are straight ahead
And the storm is near and strong
baby when the lightning strikes the sea
will you will you set me free
will you will you will you set me free
Walk along the garden path
see the sights the main attraction
find our own great garden
to initiate the chain reaction
When our movement sprouts a might tree
baby will you be with me
will you go free with me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
some eerie futuristic dawn
creeping through the open windows
stretching out across the lawn
When the reaper comes for me
baby will you set me free
will you will you will you set me free
When I’m chained across the wheel
when the sirens sing their song
And the rocks are straight ahead
And the storm is near and strong
baby when the lightning strikes the sea
will you will you set me free
will you will you will you set me free
Walk along the garden path
see the sights the main attraction
find our own great garden
to initiate the chain reaction
When our movement sprouts a might tree
baby will you be with me
will you go free with me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
495 : 8/18/99 : Inattention
Inattention
Impatience
Failure
Why can’t I
ever tell my
tale pure
and simple
straightforward
To the point
I always blunt my
edge hammering
at the joint
words in my mind
nothing left but
ideas and notions
but I’ll work my way back
I’ll see myself
across wider oceans
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Impatience
Failure
Why can’t I
ever tell my
tale pure
and simple
straightforward
To the point
I always blunt my
edge hammering
at the joint
words in my mind
nothing left but
ideas and notions
but I’ll work my way back
I’ll see myself
across wider oceans
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
494 : 8/17/99 : Grave Self-Doubt
Well we’ve let the cat out of the bag
and the writing’s on the wall
And the truth was grave self-doubt
was troubling us all
We tried to act like we were managing
We tried to act like we’d get through
But those of us who paid attention
Could not dodge the things we knew
And all through our little town
You heard people freaking out
I knew that day we had a
bad case of Grave Self-Doubt
nineteen hundred ninety nine
Just starting to get hot
I thought that it might be the big one
I saw that it was not
So if I cannot hear the big sound
if my ears are stuffed with sand
If I keep my head well-buried
If I’ve nothing in my hand
If I come to you all empty
naked blinded painted gold
will you kindly take me up
Because my ass is in peril of being sold
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
and the writing’s on the wall
And the truth was grave self-doubt
was troubling us all
We tried to act like we were managing
We tried to act like we’d get through
But those of us who paid attention
Could not dodge the things we knew
And all through our little town
You heard people freaking out
I knew that day we had a
bad case of Grave Self-Doubt
nineteen hundred ninety nine
Just starting to get hot
I thought that it might be the big one
I saw that it was not
So if I cannot hear the big sound
if my ears are stuffed with sand
If I keep my head well-buried
If I’ve nothing in my hand
If I come to you all empty
naked blinded painted gold
will you kindly take me up
Because my ass is in peril of being sold
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
493 : 8/16/99 : Envelope
The envelope tears when I try
to push all I feel inside
why am I drawn to broad gestures
Why do I always get drawn aside
The luminary principle
I thought I’d founded myself on
I got distracted by the hype
and when I looked for it it was gone
Time to wake up time to get up
time to face another day
comes as no surprise I’m dreaming
When I should be kneeling to pray
I need a hand up
I fell through my envelope
I pushed it one day too far
help me up this slippery slope
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
to push all I feel inside
why am I drawn to broad gestures
Why do I always get drawn aside
The luminary principle
I thought I’d founded myself on
I got distracted by the hype
and when I looked for it it was gone
Time to wake up time to get up
time to face another day
comes as no surprise I’m dreaming
When I should be kneeling to pray
I need a hand up
I fell through my envelope
I pushed it one day too far
help me up this slippery slope
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
492 : 8/15/99 : Shorn
1,624 : 0 ?The things I’ve seen
you’d have to call it porn
the way they line the children
up to get shorn
Well set them all up in vests
It’s the next big thing
separate the fools
from the money that they earn
That story’s old hat by now
they’re still running that old burn
You got to be with the times if you
wanna take a pass at that golden ring
The things that I watch
As you fall into the ranks
And it’s ten long years
since that kid faced the tanks
And God only knows where he is now
probably sitting in jail
we treat all the pictures
and images the same
we like to talk big but we
all play the game
all afraid to look too hard
at what we chose on the holy grail
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
491 : 8/14/99 : Everything (2)
Ants and bees and all the hives
Our highrise condominiums their faceted eyes
telescope lenses and parabolic mirrors
all the shells and bottles that wash up on clear shores
dogs and doorways mushrooms and dirt
a blue satin dress and a pressed white shirt
How the hell am I supposed to make sense of
everything
submarines and submachine guns
black lights and books on punctuation
staple pullers and giant pinecones
toothpicks, ballpoints, slugs and smooth stones
telephones and plastic statues
eggplants rugs and high heeled shoes
How the hell am I supposed to make sense of
everything
thumbtacks plywood jellyfish
canned ham on a dented steel dish
screws, gnats, books, bats, satellites
My God how we spin in this endless night
roosters cigarettes and folders
tiny rocks and massive boulders
how the hell am I supposed to figure out everything
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Our highrise condominiums their faceted eyes
telescope lenses and parabolic mirrors
all the shells and bottles that wash up on clear shores
dogs and doorways mushrooms and dirt
a blue satin dress and a pressed white shirt
How the hell am I supposed to make sense of
everything
submarines and submachine guns
black lights and books on punctuation
staple pullers and giant pinecones
toothpicks, ballpoints, slugs and smooth stones
telephones and plastic statues
eggplants rugs and high heeled shoes
How the hell am I supposed to make sense of
everything
thumbtacks plywood jellyfish
canned ham on a dented steel dish
screws, gnats, books, bats, satellites
My God how we spin in this endless night
roosters cigarettes and folders
tiny rocks and massive boulders
how the hell am I supposed to figure out everything
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
490 : 8/13/99 : Flow
Why do I always forget
Where it comes from and where it all will go
Why do I always forget to
pay attention to the flow
How can I remember
that there’s only one thing
there’s only one story to tell
there’s only one song to sing
There’s only one way to get out
It’s hard and it’s lonely as hell
but since we’re all in here together
doesn’t it seem that we might as well
let the flow take us away
ride it till we find the promised land
somewhere in our dreams and expectations
God must somehow show his hand
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Where it comes from and where it all will go
Why do I always forget to
pay attention to the flow
How can I remember
that there’s only one thing
there’s only one story to tell
there’s only one song to sing
There’s only one way to get out
It’s hard and it’s lonely as hell
but since we’re all in here together
doesn’t it seem that we might as well
let the flow take us away
ride it till we find the promised land
somewhere in our dreams and expectations
God must somehow show his hand
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
489 : 8/12/99 : This Ain’t Your Perfect World
This ain’t your perfect world
that thing just don’t exist
No reason to go nuts
no reason to get pissed
this ain’t your momma’s home
You do just what you please
work like a little bee
kick back and take your ease
this ain’t the Taj Mahal
we do the best we can
And many did much worse
with all the shows they ran
It’s nothing like a story
It’s nothing like a book
It’s nothing like a movie
Step back and take a look
It’s nothing like a love poem
It’s nothing that you’ve seen
Yet strangely where you’re going
seems just like where you’ve been
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
that thing just don’t exist
No reason to go nuts
no reason to get pissed
this ain’t your momma’s home
You do just what you please
work like a little bee
kick back and take your ease
this ain’t the Taj Mahal
we do the best we can
And many did much worse
with all the shows they ran
It’s nothing like a story
It’s nothing like a book
It’s nothing like a movie
Step back and take a look
It’s nothing like a love poem
It’s nothing that you’ve seen
Yet strangely where you’re going
seems just like where you’ve been
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
488 : 8/11/99 : This Can’t Be The Way
Am I doing this thing right
this can’t be the way
Everything I do must be wrong
that’s what the voices say
could this be the perfect world
that just sounds insane
Anyhow how could I judge
I’ve only got one brain
And it’s obsessed with crazy things
It ponders all day long
Asking after esoteric
questions and strange songs
Could this be my way to get out
crazy late at night
What little truth I know slays me
I’ve not yet begun to fight
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
this can’t be the way
Everything I do must be wrong
that’s what the voices say
could this be the perfect world
that just sounds insane
Anyhow how could I judge
I’ve only got one brain
And it’s obsessed with crazy things
It ponders all day long
Asking after esoteric
questions and strange songs
Could this be my way to get out
crazy late at night
What little truth I know slays me
I’ve not yet begun to fight
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, October 02, 2009
487 : 8/10/99 : Howard Hughes Blues
I just can’t get that
clean feeling anymore
back a long time ago I must have
picked something off the floor
And it always always seemed
I was closing the last door
but the filth is going to find you in the end
Lately I’ve been trying
just to not move very much
Since I’ve realized how many
Things a man can touch
And though I tried for years
not to think of it too much
Those thoughts were always waiting ‘round the bend
microbes viruses and spores
molds and rots and slime
that’s what we’re all destined for
it could happen any time
And I may seem insane to you
but that is not a crime
so kindly keep your distance from me friend
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
clean feeling anymore
back a long time ago I must have
picked something off the floor
And it always always seemed
I was closing the last door
but the filth is going to find you in the end
Lately I’ve been trying
just to not move very much
Since I’ve realized how many
Things a man can touch
And though I tried for years
not to think of it too much
Those thoughts were always waiting ‘round the bend
microbes viruses and spores
molds and rots and slime
that’s what we’re all destined for
it could happen any time
And I may seem insane to you
but that is not a crime
so kindly keep your distance from me friend
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
486 : 8/9/99 : I’ll Never Know
How does it how does it feel to be big
to be big as a blue whale?
How does it feel does it feel to be
big as a blue as a blue whale
I’ll never know, I’ll never know, I’ll never
I’ll never, I’ll never know, I’ll never
know, I’ll never know, I’ll never I’m
so pissed that I’ll never know
How does it feel to stand in the sequoias
and know the might forest is a thousand miles
around us
I’ll never know, I’ll never know, I’ll never
I’ll never, I’ll never know, I’ll never
know, I’ll never know, I’ll never I’m
so pissed that I’ll never know
What must it be to be you looking at me
to see from your mind
I’m afraid of your gaze but I crave
you view oh love is blind
I’ll never know, I’ll never know, I’ll never
I’ll never, I’ll never know, I’ll never
know, I’ll never know, I’ll never I’m
so pissed that I’ll never know
What comes after this little slice
we’re left with? Something nothing I’m just
curious to know Heaven or hell I guess
I’ve always accepted There are some things
that refuse to show but someday I’ll know
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
to be big as a blue whale?
How does it feel does it feel to be
big as a blue as a blue whale
I’ll never know, I’ll never know, I’ll never
I’ll never, I’ll never know, I’ll never
know, I’ll never know, I’ll never I’m
so pissed that I’ll never know
How does it feel to stand in the sequoias
and know the might forest is a thousand miles
around us
I’ll never know, I’ll never know, I’ll never
I’ll never, I’ll never know, I’ll never
know, I’ll never know, I’ll never I’m
so pissed that I’ll never know
What must it be to be you looking at me
to see from your mind
I’m afraid of your gaze but I crave
you view oh love is blind
I’ll never know, I’ll never know, I’ll never
I’ll never, I’ll never know, I’ll never
know, I’ll never know, I’ll never I’m
so pissed that I’ll never know
What comes after this little slice
we’re left with? Something nothing I’m just
curious to know Heaven or hell I guess
I’ve always accepted There are some things
that refuse to show but someday I’ll know
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
485 : 8/8/99 : Emergency
This is an emergency
this one is for real
I know the last fifteen were drills
but trust the way you feel
this is not a loyalty test
this time I’m sincere
I’m not being self-important
no one is in charge here
Never thought we’d have to live in
a state of emergency
thought those bad old times were long gone
finished between you and me
but it seems the revolution
got some television play
got some funders, got some sponsors
kept it solvent one more day
this is an emergency
this is not a fake
anything that’s not nailed down
someone’s going to take
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
this one is for real
I know the last fifteen were drills
but trust the way you feel
this is not a loyalty test
this time I’m sincere
I’m not being self-important
no one is in charge here
Never thought we’d have to live in
a state of emergency
thought those bad old times were long gone
finished between you and me
but it seems the revolution
got some television play
got some funders, got some sponsors
kept it solvent one more day
this is an emergency
this is not a fake
anything that’s not nailed down
someone’s going to take
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
484 : 8/7/99 : The Voice
I love your voice the way
your tongue slides
sweet around those words
and stops to glide by
the meaning I am defied by
soft and low or high and sweet
I love the sound
The way your even
white teeth bite down on
on the lies we run aground on
I can hear your bell ringing
I can hear its perfect tone
I hear it everywhere
It won’t leave me alone
I’ve been turned by what it’s shown
I heard the whole world sing out
I heard the song in me you bring out
there is a bell that will ring out
when my day comes
when our day comees
Very soon
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
your tongue slides
sweet around those words
and stops to glide by
the meaning I am defied by
soft and low or high and sweet
I love the sound
The way your even
white teeth bite down on
on the lies we run aground on
I can hear your bell ringing
I can hear its perfect tone
I hear it everywhere
It won’t leave me alone
I’ve been turned by what it’s shown
I heard the whole world sing out
I heard the song in me you bring out
there is a bell that will ring out
when my day comes
when our day comees
Very soon
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
483 : 8/6/99 : Sublime
The reason and the rhyme
the tempest and the time
Lord isn’t it sublime
when it comes down slow
The new and the antique
Direct and the oblique
Spare me the harsh critique
When I’m sweet and low
The old man and the sea
The flower and the bee
You know it’s just like me
to let it go at that
So simple and so dumb
I felt my heart go numb
I know I’ll make her come
And arch her back up like a cat
That’s how I let it go
sublime and soft and slow
And everything I know
Oh everything I know
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
the tempest and the time
Lord isn’t it sublime
when it comes down slow
The new and the antique
Direct and the oblique
Spare me the harsh critique
When I’m sweet and low
The old man and the sea
The flower and the bee
You know it’s just like me
to let it go at that
So simple and so dumb
I felt my heart go numb
I know I’ll make her come
And arch her back up like a cat
That’s how I let it go
sublime and soft and slow
And everything I know
Oh everything I know
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
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