2.28 : 5/31/05 : Burn

2,118 : 13 ?


All the dirty sonsabitches gonna hafta burn
All the violent sonsabitches gonna hafta burn
all the vile sonsabitches gonna hafta burn
any body hurt a child gonna hafta burn
any bastard rape a body gonna hafta burn
any man who kill his fellow gonna hafta burn
all the people looked away from it they hafta burn
anyone forsake their children gonna hafta burn
any leader cheats his people gonna hafta burn
any teacher harms his charges gonna hafta burn
any priest who leads his flock astray he hafta burn
any warden kills his prisoner he hafta burn
all the prophets called for genocide they had to burn
all the kings who sought their own glory they had to burn
every commoner who went along they had to burn
every bureaucrat behind the scenes they had to burn
every general who let them die they had to burn
every father mother let them go they had to burn
every fool like me who knows the score
we have to burn
and if you get left still wanting more
you have to burn

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.27 : 5/30/05 : Slash

Hack slash
dash another throwaway
didn’t want it anyway
thoughtless
half assed
song is not
the cause of
loss of innocence
or the thing that’s gonna show the way
in the halls of
consequences
hey anyway
just gonna
slash slash slash
my way
through all the
detail I bury
and’ll have to exhume some day
when it’s gone
slash through this
jungle till I get to say
So I presume
Dr. Livingstone?

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.26 : 5/29/05 : Adrenaline

Adrenaline high smashed through the
membrane between blood and brain
fusing thought and action into
an inexorable inclined plane
Triggered by the main attraction
brought on by the need that came
around the time that evolution
came up with our family name
Throw me into the big empty
whip me ‘round the center hard
Jump out from the dark right at me
deal me the devil card
Never more to hunt for dinner
never more to travel into
somewhere no one’s been not ever
everywhere you go they’ve pinned you
so we build the rides up higher
and we keep the fake blood flowing
through the whole thing up the volume
yet we can’t quite keep from knowing
that the real danger’s always
waiting patient in the wings
and the sad illusions that we
conjure don’t mean anything
we need a shot to keep us steady
I need a shot of adrenaline
to keep me ready for the main attraction
keep me sharp keep the motor clean

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.25 : 5/28/05 : Spirit

The spirit is silent tonight
I have to invent my own light
I have to present my own tale
the bailiff, the awl and the whale
it’d be better if I was higher
I need a more strong amplifier
I’ll write every verse upside down
I’ll live in my little home town
I’ll make every moment count double
I’ll use seven words to spell trouble
I’ll throw in with gnomes elves and dwarves
The sum of the chi he absorbs
the forest will rattle with life
he’ll pay no attention and move like a knife
that separates marrow and bone
that chops out the vein and leaves muscle alone
free to act but not to think
a farce with all saints but the great kitchen sink
is this what I came back here for
was that you passed out on the floor
no matter the testing ground held
The experiment proved successful as hell

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.24 : 5/27/05 : First Precedent

First precedent of the fifth principle
a package wrapped in celt knot and tulle
A song wrapped up in a pleasant riddle
written for the sackbut, mouth harp and fiddle
An awesome expanse of transcendent verse
I passed from the good to the bad to the worst
maybe I’ll drive a little lower yet
but this is nowhere near as bad as it can get
I’ve set a precedent of deeper intention
don’t claim to be original but give me a mention
as one who faced a lot of false roads down
forsook my paycheck and my golden crown
If I fill the page with successive verse
if I present a case logical taut and terse
but stretch it out into a full bore page
is my attention meant for another age
I’ll fool ‘em all and wrap them up quicker
free from smoke or smoke or beer or liquor
I’ll end it all on a balanced tip
with a thousand options for my final quip

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.23 : 5/26/05 : Two

Two more days of suffering
the numbers just don’t mean a thing
two lads clad in green delight
one last reference to endless night
the one of course is simply me
the other called just what might be
but I get trapped in might have beens
but for habits, but for sins
what if I’d not played the martyr
What if I had studied harder
Always losing sight of this
the reverie the Judas kiss
that knocks the other day around
and kicks it when it’s on the ground
at least I’m feeling free to do
without the need to justify to You

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.22 : 5/25/05 : Three

Three, three the rivals
departures and sudden arrivals
rivals for my affection
demons suggesting defection
my love for you dear has no rival
when put to the test of survival
when put to the test of obedience
they couldn’t keep me settled on the fence
still yet there is one rival left
the one that leaves each one bereft
still I’ll fight that battle in its day
On that subject I’ve nothing more to say

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.21 : 5/24/05 : Four

Four for the gospel makers
and how many left out then
gnostic coptic celtic even
Four for all the movers shakers
Who’s to say we got it all now
scripture is a funny concept
something slipped between our precepts
text an unlikely sacred cow
Matthew, Mark, Luke and me
bootstrap gospel, that’s my action
turned through my special refraction
so let written, so let be
I’ll stick with my four main fictions
Not to think I don’t think it’s true
Still it’s just a book to you
And I’ll live with the old restrictions

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.20 : 5/23/05 : Five

2,111 : 6 ?


Five symbols at my door
First that says please just one more
Second says I’ll do it later
Third says please don’t be a hater
Fourth the sign of silence coming
Fifth says wait I’m only slumming

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.19 : 5/22/05 : Chance

Take a chance and let the day go
without trying to defy
all the precedents that mounted
all the chances that passed by
If you chanced to be engaged
when Mr. O knocked at your door
recall you can go knock on
his a thousand times or more
Take a chance and leave it there
don’t try to get a day ahead
take a chance on just believing
in the future in your bed
coming sixty beats a minute
whether you are great or small
take a chance on just believing
you needn’t force it at all

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.18 : 5/21/05 : Cluster

Cluster of failure of the social meme
the failure of the poet to enforce a common theme
the symbol of the age appears as skull and bones
and the one after the next one
will be fought with sticks and stones
It seems our favorite riddles get writ down in blood
it seems the name of names is getting dragged
right through the mud
they dragged it through the streets
into Ophelia’s tomb
but in that muddy pool I saw a lotus bloom
I tried to build a cluster bomb of sharpened thought
I put it on the carousel but so few bought
that pitiless dissection of a thousand nights
and I could not deny that they were
well within their rights

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.17 : 5/20/05 : Tapestry

The tapestry that he described to me
this living thing, this mystic sea
But nothing that I’ve ever known
It seems that I could not be shown
So tell me this yea he who treads
of what strange matter’s made the threads
that undulate and bind the mask
this holographic living task
And could the thing be memory?
And is it bound by destiny?
And if I followed every rule
Would that great swath appear to me?
The center that we forged wouldn’t hold
the thing got stale or slow or old
looks like we’re on our own again
So tell me of this tapestry
is it still something you can see?
and is our little part we played
somewhere upon that film displayed
They say all time exists at once
obscure to little fortune’s dunce
but if it’s true then I suppose
by any other name this rose
that seems so long past dry and dead
may one day yet retrieve our thread

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.16 : 5/19/05 : Threads

Pick a thread to follow
pick a thread to pull
watch the thing unravel
fall apart so beautiful
It doesn’t seem like virtue
it doesn’t seem like vice
it just seems like a thing I do
I don’t seem very nice
the thing seems somehow incomplete
somewhere a stitch got dropped
the warp and weft got mixed around
but I just won’t be stopped
I said that I refused to quit
no matter what came next
I said I’d push this seed along
no matter how perplexed
I’m satisfied to leave it there
I’m satisfied the thing's begun
I’m sad I haven’t gotten there
I’m sad it’s not more fun
I guess I’ll never know for sure
and never feel complete
I’m guessing even at the top
I’d still shift in my seat
I’ve still got a dozen days
To meet the old deadline
and whether I feel I’ve arrived
I’ll stick to my incline

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.15 : 5/18/05 : The Lost Thread Pt 2

The secret of the game is to try to forget
If you don’t know what I’m talking about
you haven’t lost yet
Briefing for a descent into hell
you better pick up this thread
and remember it well
Under the spell of a tripart vapor
a truth that I could not get writ down on paper
I saw it so clear I came close to death
Till I remembered the game
was to just take a breath
and rock the whole cradle
across the abyss
I clutched just enough dust to know
in my fist
I said I’ll fear nothing
but to lose it again
took the thread in my hand
and said now I begin

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.14 : 5/17/05 : The Lost Thread Pt 1

Send it by messenger
Send it by post
sent from the list
sent to Most
Whatever the message
I choose to send
In seven minutes
the lost thread shall end
sickness and grief made me forget
if you’re looking for transcendence
it’s a dodgy bet
the whole thing always gets
turned on its head
and I’ve only got time to find one end
of the thread

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.13 : 5/16/05 : Back on the Horse

2,103 : 3 ?


Get back on the horse
try try again
and if you still don’t succeed
chuck it to the bin
tear it into tiny pieces
chew it to a pulp
mix it with a dram or jigger
down it in one gulp
then get back on the horse
slow and steady wins the race
or so say slow and steady ones
before we get right in your face
to shout we’ve got no horses
to shout we’ve got a plan
to unhorse all the first time winners
down to the last man

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.12 : 5/15/05 : The Inevitable

The inevitable
rules of exception
no rules no stakes
or is this self deception
it’s no matter
I just keep pushing on
easier to sink than rise
drop below the crushing throng
if the rules are just inventions
if its all just acts of will
then I will follow my light
and I’m following it still

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.11 : 5/14/05 : On Demand

Can you kick this beat out on demand
will you scream and shout until they understand?
can you make your point the sharpest
outplay the celestial harpist?
If you’re serious I’ll surely lend a hand
Can you get down to the lowest denominator
can you groove the slowest sort of see you later?
If you’re shaking with the spirit
when the trumpet wails you’ll hear it
so then step up to the cosmic escalator
Will you write this one down in your heart
will you tear it up really tear it apart?
If you’re a bright enough cat
If you can swing a tough bat
The whole ascent will be apparent from the start
Is the answer to the riddle written on the back of your eyelids?
If you’re paid to play the fiddle for the King of the High Kids
Not a piper nor a devil
Still you’re featured in the revel
Representing all us mythic archetype hybrids
But if you can play it straight up on demand
And you stand up for the photo with the band
we’ve a place right center stage
we’ll make the ripple raise a rage
And tear the stops out from here to the promised land

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

Apparently

It's going to take a little more practice to get into the swing of posting every single day again.

2.10 : 5/13/05 : For the Band

For the band force your hand
forge forth and anyone
who does not understand
Leave them behind
For the friends from past the first few
bitter ends
Keep calling we’ll keep it tight
around a few more bends
unlash a few more binds
for the night for what feels right
make a mark stake a place
don’t ever think you’re
past the need to fight
but don’t fight without need
Instead for today
read talk sing laugh play
It’s good its better than the
old sound anyway
So for the band, expand, Godspeed

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.9 : 5/12/05 : Already Rushing

Already rushing to fit one in

No matter how you start every day
You got to start again
Don’t look up don’t lift your chin
Nose to the grindstone one last
turn of the spin
Already surging to evolve divide
fork what works
let the rest of it slide
metasocial suicide
patriarchal patricide
Don’t have to switch it up in midstream
but it’s a little past the limit of
the perfect dream
but if I squeeze my eyes shut
don’t look up till I cream
I might choke it hard enough
to build up enough steam

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.8 : 5/11/05 : Mark the Last

A fix a metaphysic tag
Mark the last long goodbye
there’s no good way to make it last
one hundred days must pass and die

One hundred nights must strike the clock
one hundred songs if I stay true
More honest forthright mindful clear
One day I’ll tell it all for you

One day today though marred halfway
a half truth moment opportune
Another day will bring another
moment playing the same piper’s tune

There’s nothing left to learn about it
nothing really left to say
I mark the last knowing all this clench
of will expires in just one day

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.7 : 5/10/05 : Ooncie

The oonciest toonciest song
was only a couple lines long
it stuttered along then just stopped
before it sparked, fizzled or popped

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.6 : 5/9/05 : Book of Hours

2,097 : 14 ?


Day’s break break fast
think of firsts, think of last
think of this: thinking won’t
lift one finger: if you don’t
move your body: get down
clean up kid clown
write a word or seventeen
say just what you mean
clear the plate, listen well
talk back, tales to tell
make the rounds, clear the decks
mind the small stuff mind the specks
days midst fuel up
fill half full cups
settle in with company
write a one or two or three
cut the chops fry the bread
cut the veggies keep a clear head
lay a table gather all
it’s a picture on the wall
pass the evening below as above
watching over making love
gathered shadows coalesce
all the world’s a wilderness
pull the covers up and snug
all three sweet and sleeping bugs

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.5 : 5/8/05 : Mothers All

Mothers all around the world
gather children all around
gather them and take them home
and lay them gently down
The world gets bigger every day
Expands to match our sight
Expands to stay forever past reach
So as your patch turns past the light
Dear mothers all your children gathered
put them all to peaceful bed
draw the shades around their little world
lay a cool hand on their heads
Inside their minds are like the universe
growing boundless past the known
We know we’ll never be prepared
for how fast they have grown
And spring is tilting toward the summer
Summer will give way to fall
Winter marks another year
Watched over by mothers all

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.4 : 5/7/05 : Shock and Awe

rain of blood
then rain of fire
the rain of cement
will short circuit your wire
ground all exploding
buildings collapsing
fires all starting
fires all synapsing
shock the masses
awe the asses
force the freedom
down through all classes
rock the shock we
saw the awe
make no mistake
this is no Panama
a block of dope
a pound of nails
the radii
the flesh impales
the shell’s not spared
the carrier
the seed that slips
each barrier
for all the shock and awe you dealt
I’ve written one more verse
God help you all I sealed each one
with an irresistible curse

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.3 : 5/6/05 : Watch This Space

Watch this space for the coming attraction
Watch this space for the main satisfaction
of the twenty first century plugged in mainline
on-demand downlink of the hour's best ultra-sublime

Half priced half baked going out of business
We’ll ship it all across the continent at your behest
We’ll ship you here instead our place is your place
And we’re only here to serve it up watch this space, watch this space

Open wide and say ah ah all aboard
this trip is gonna drop your drawers and pop your gourd
because the big sound workaround finally dropped
And when we plugged it in then the noise finally stopped

We heard still in the silence a small voice clear
say hey man what you’re looking for come over here
Pretty soon your man is gonna come to state his case
You know you always gotta wait but watch this space

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.2 : 5/5/05 : First Early Riser

On the dawn of the last day
The first early riser
may be heard to say
It all looks the same as what I left behind
except the traces of that hour
is just fleeting
cascades in my mind
One will rise first
One will rise last
the paradigm of the individual
will transcend at last
only to be subsumed
In some sublime cosmic slop
stop the presses
hold the phone
Someone get a cop

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

2.1 : 5/4/05 : First Song

I’ll write you the first song
might not be the worst song
yet: but you can bet
I’ll write you a lesson
make sure it can guess one
Story that you’ve never told
Be you ever so bold
as
to
Write the first song
Strike the first stroke
Would you sing along
Join the cosmic joke
Lay it down line by line
It’s poetry, I say, I’m feeling
fine.

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

this seed's in flight

All right then, that's that for The Interim. I've updated its explanatory essay with a helpful guide to its various phases. I've also updated, I sincerely hope for the last time in a good long while (27 years? One can hope) the general explanation of this website and the lyrics it contains, in anticipation of embarking on the posting of the Songs of Days, Project 2. See you on the flip side, babies.

The Lepton Lyrics 13: Wings and Seeds and Flight

Look up, look up now
Define silence this moment
winged seeds in flight

a craft set sailing
on the old tide of the wind
with wings fixed for flight

silent breeze trailing
from there where all things begin
this seed set alight

look up, look up then
and ask after this riddle
ask of they that fly

who writes the message
that you carry on the wind
from what book what page

oldest messenger
tree sings its ancient refrain
runes read in the earth

stark shadow on white
fleeting in a cold fall sky
moment out of time

see only traces
no one can read its message
only dancing light

a crystal spiral
ever decreasing circle
seed flies only once

this brilliant cycle
authored by the lonely wind
the old song plays on

Ask the seed ask why
it knows not what it falls, falls
follows destiny

Ask where the seed goes
it only holds the message
follows gravity

are you searching, child
for some eternal answer
in a seed in flight

why, yes you ask why
you see there is no answer
that the mind can find

only what will come
when the mind is silent, calm
an unspoken truth

the seed is just seed
there is no special meaning
things are what they seem

so each seed must fall
fall and perish in the ground
fall and rise again

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

The Lepton Lyrics 12: Finest Messenger

Walk in these empty streets
Walk in the monolith maze of stone
Life has gone underground
Walk on the skin that the golem’s grown

Number one, a work’s day to be done

Whisper through pores of steel
Spore of a world, blown in from out
Coat flows, floats behind
casts round a corner and swirls about

Here among where a work’s day to be done

I am the finest messenger
I bring what you cannot spare
cannot be seen in light in lightning
I am the one thing out there

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here

The Lepton Lyrics 11: Push On Andromachene

Under the curve the unearthly void
under the stars that shone
Under the haze of water and airs
the earth spins like a magic stone

You don’t fool me andromachene
you make it seem so peaceful and serene
But if your expectations leave you hanging...

Push On
Push On
Push On

Under the fragile green tapestry
under cathedrals of stone
Dances a seed of bright mercury
with currents and continents all its own

You don’t fool me andromachene
you make it seem so peaceful and serene
But if your higher purposes are foundered....

Push On
Push On
Push On

Under the time weathered map of skin
Under the pillars of bone
a single flash a brilliant spark
burns spins and shines in everyone

You don’t fool me andromachene
you make it feel so regal and serene
but if you make a hollow curse of failing...

Push On
Push On
Push On

You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here