2.58 : 6/30/05 : Vertigo

Model for the hanged man
straight into the fire out of the pan
strung over the great abyss
vertigo and spinning bliss
hung upside down and left for dead
the blood is rushing to his head
a symbol of the twisted path
and if it snaps he takes a bath
but if the card’s dealt upside down
and pale blue sky becomes the ground
his ill fortune will be reversed
and blessed will be what was once cursed

What is the song of the day?

2.57 : 6/29/05 : Noir

The merciless dark divides in two
the distance between herself and you
The shadow cast by the moon
arrives a minute too soon
And waits outside the door
Armed with crushing entropy
The closeness between you and me
the last long glimmer of the light
fades into endless night
and none know what it’s for
A ghost named noir evoked the verse
the plan felt like an ancient curse
the rooster crowed three times
I just kept smashing paradigms
And courted chaos’ paramour

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

2.56 : 6/28/05 : A Box

We put it all in a box
and wrapped it all in twine
and stuck it on a shelf to rot
and drowned ourselves in wine
The next day it was all in stitches
the next day it was mired in mud
we had to flee the house without it
one step ahead of the flood
so who knows where it ended up
who can remember how it looked
who can remember where it all was
probably our goose is cooked

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

2.55 : 6/27/05 : Press the Button

2,145 : 3 ?


Press the button press the button
nobody knows what it does
or where it came from we saw who brought it
but nobody knew who he was
press the button mash your thumb down
show them all what you’re made of
take the chance it might be brilliant
It might fit you like a glove
it’s so shiny it’s so perfect
it’s so red and it’s so bright
it might bring a revolution
or usher in an endless night
just press it don’t think consequences
don’t consider anything
it’s waiting there it’s mocking you
just think of what you might attain
and if perchance it’s not connected
press it another day
the button it will wait for you
until then you’ll just have to pay

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

2.54 : 6/26/05 : These Messages

We interrupt your regularly scheduled day
for these messages of hope
and promises of a better way
and the easing of the slope
that you must push that big rock up
each day a thousand fold
dreaming of a half a cup
toiling in the rain and cold
Days will pass and days will pass
the time slips by like rain
still listen to the hours amass
and stew right in your brain
and if it seems that nothing’s changed
the next day just the same
behind the scenes all rearranged
we’ve started something none can tame

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

2.53 : 6/25/05 : Reset

What was set must be reset
the paradigm the chancy bet
the firefly in the green glass jar
will lead us very far
the counter’s either black or white
the grid must be the symbol of right
the rules that we follow
the beaten paths
the physics the protocols
the dividend the maths
I’ve had enough of counting hours
awaiting revelation and magic powers
the only power I have is to wield my pen
and since nothing on this earth can stop me
here I go again

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

2.52 : 6/24/05 : Recollection Virus

Memory is the real virus
language is the fire inside us
thoughts are a metaphor
composed of words
tied to the ankles of
a bunch of extinct birds
to give it all meaning
at the start of the game
the recollection virus
was given its name
mistaking it for happening
we got lost in the flow
of every illusion
of what we thought we ought to know
but those who found their backs
up against that wall
chose to lose their inhibitions
at the center of it all
chose to forsake recollection
for the precious present moment
leaving nothing else recorded
and just me to write the lament

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

2.51 : 6/23/05 : So Far

So far yet to go
so much so much left to know
without a map or guide at hand
without a promise of a promised land
the ancient stories the old traditions
all the cases all the missions
too many memories not enough spark
too little bite far too much bark
let me thank God for the single step
that continued the voyage while I yet slept
thank God for the heart that has not yet quit
for the small small favor
for the difference split
I’ll steel myself for the thousandth time
I’ll try try again
with the same old rhyme
I’m not the average monkey
and my keyboard is hot
and I’m not about to stay stalled
just for everything
I’m not

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

2.50 : 6/22/05 : Half Century

I suspect that I may not see
the way to the next half of this century
It’s far from impossible it’s only a hunch
and truthfully it doesn’t bother me a bunch
I only bring it up to underscore the point
that there ain’t no guarantees passed out in this joint
So if you’ve got a plan to gang some great aft agley
you better focus on doing your thing today

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

2.49 : 6/21/05 : Predictable

There’s a theory that everything’s predictable
I’ve studied the data I know it well
the thing of it is it cannot be proved
so until something changes I won’t be moved
It’s hard to deny that compulsion’s suspicious
the moral is depressing but the irony’s delicious
No matter what you do you can’t prove you’re free
but you never had to prove a thing to me
what’s the point of trying to understand
what happens when you hold up your hand
if you don’t know baby no one does
I only know whatever will have been was

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

2.48 : 6/20/05 : Wondrous Moment

2,138 : 15 ?


Shut your eyes and realize
the only wondrous moment is now
see it all unfold before your eyes
it’s another lovely day behind the plow
We all get fooled by the great big picture
we all think this can’t be where it’s at
we all impose such absurd strictures
to keep ourselves from coming up to bat
I’m pretty sure this is where I came in
I’m pretty sure this isn’t only déjà vu
It might be an amazing moment that I’m in
I wish to hell somehow I could share it with you

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

2.47 : 6/19/05 : Dog Meet Vomit

Return return return again
it looks so tasty lying there
I’ve never seen such a lovely pile
Dog meet vomit try not to stare
God a’mighty where to start
Heaven help us save us from this trip
Put the pen down admit defeat
write yourself another pink slip
not a bit of it sir I defy
augury can go and whistle pal
I’ll push it all the way up today
thank god I’ve got a real swell gal
I’m gonna hang up this confessional trash
try some other approach to getting home
not quite a lyric not quite a story
not quite a revelation not quite a poem

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

2.46 : 6/18/05 : Mission Impossible

Mission impossible make a change
everything that isn’t working rearrange
everything that’s work turn the volume full
push until you can’t push anymore then pull
Mission improbable make it stick
Isn’t this humanity thing a kick
isn’t it impossible to change these spots
fitting square pegs into all the round slots
All the distractions make thinking impossible
all the inaction makes things simply awful
There you are doing the same old shit
It doesn’t make a difference doesn’t matter a bit
Even this is ridiculously the same
Laugh about it might as well make it a game
a tasteless denouement to a bad idea
I’m on a declaration trip but I could sure feel freer

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

2.45 : 6/17/05 : Dug Out

I found I’d been at a frenetic pace
running around in circles doing nothing
work equals zero: such a stupid look on my face
but here’s something
I dug out again at half past ten
I created my own terza rima
why not I’ve got my own inferno don’t I, then?
My own version of an extreme, a
portentious dividend
At the four two six I saw the tricks
those subliminal riddles could get you
Reeling every dial up in the mix
Raising every dime they let you
Get by with for a little while yet
They got your reel firm in hand
The means the method it’s a safe bet
It’s been a long time they had this sad estate planned

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

2.44 : 6/16/05 : The Cave-In

As much as I would like to blame
the time of month, this filthy game
the powers that be, the stench of gin
I alone am responsible for the cave-in
the weight of the earth, the smell of smoke
the consequences are no joke
the air is getting foul in here
the end of it all seems quite clear
I’m hoping it is just a small one
but history says this attempt’s done
I try to come up with the rules
the way to beat the odds the tools
to dig my way back out of it
out of this darkness up from this pit
but tomorrow’s tale is hidden
I must go where I am bidden
I must go and keep my silence
hope the thing won’t end in violence

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

2.43 : 6/15/05 : Another Leaf

2,134 : 11 ?


Another movie ‘bout those sexy sexy guns
another day also rises the sun
Another half formed notion flees my head
another leaf falls dead
Another night crosses the wishing hour line
Another chance to lie and say I’m feeling fine
Another struggle with temptation’s lure
Hello new leaf charmed I’m sure
I’d like to lose it, just succumb
I’d like to give up ‘cause I feel so dumb
another meditation on regret
Seems I haven’t turned that new leaf over yet
Another simple fantasy another hour
And I can only wish I had the power
to cast a spell of such delight on you
as things are now I barely can get through
Only the almighty can turn the great page
Only God can rock the cradle of an age
I need the day to see and night for relief
they say that God counts every fallen leaf

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

2.42 : 6/14/05 : New Precedent

The new precedent I’ve set
would you believe it’s worse than ever
failing rules to hold the line
less a fulcrum for the lever
less a place remote to stand
and ten mile arms to pull the fucker
the world shall not be moved by me
and really only I’m the sucker
who believed in spectral fortune
some fantastic charming fate
dollars in my unstained hands
ambrosia on my dinner plate
I’ll ignore the precedent
I’ll act just like it’s all on track
I’ll call tomorrow a new day
Start from zero flat on my back

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

2.41 : 6/13/05 : Jetlag

Almost caught up with myself
hope I don’t get so far behind
hope I keep up with my jetlag
hope I can keep up with my mind
The quality does not impress
the purpose got tarnished true
the reason for the days of toil
the lag has left me down so blue
Maybe all I need is a long sleep
Say my prayers and drift away
wake up to another time zone
wake up in another day
catch up with myself at last
and then just stay put
stay at home avoid the jet lag
only roam on foot

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

2.40 : 6/12/04 Lowest Common Denominator

Lowest common denominator
pleased to meet you see you later
bring me down to your level
straighten weaken and dishevel
under the bell curve’s big top
backstroke content through the slop
tuck in with the other hogs
let the game to the dogs
figured what it’s all about
my only plan is selling out
if only I could find a buyer
some kind of half baked high flyer

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

2.39 : 6/11/05 : The Gold Rush

Poison Water Sagebrush Ridge
Satan’s Ally Devils Ledge
I can remember the gold rush
I can remember my fated brush
with good fortune with great mammon
swimming upstream like a salmon
tell myself that I was lucky
but the rush it aged me so fast
drove my salad days back far past
never hit my mother lode
never found my stash of gold
All that’s left is ghost town living
and long overdue misgivings
secretly guess I’m still panning
secretly my fortune planning

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

2.38 : 6/10/05 : Rip the Lid Off

Rip the lid off this crib
and bump bump
Meet the emcee most glib
and bump bump
from the dusk to the light
this joint will jump
get you high as a kite
and bump bump
there is glory within
So bump bump
be prepared to begin
and bump bump
till the clock runs down
till fails the pump
till we burn this town
gonna bump bump

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

2.37 : 6/9/05 : Crave

I’ve got a vicious crave on
there’s nothing at all to make it right
there’s nothing around to help me out
there’s nothing to stop this pathetic rout
try to figure out what drives me on
why I’ve kept on pushing so long
why don’t I just put this shit away
call it a wash call it quits call it a day
maybe it’s the craving that drives me on
maybe maybes will keep me up till dawn
maybe this has been the only truth
ignorant unenlightened and uncouth

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

2.36 : 6/8/05 : Wished I Was a Superhero

Wished I was a superhero
what I always wanted to be
when Mom told me there was no such thing
I thought the field’s wide open to me
thought I’d make up my own powers
do it all with science
what the radiation couldn’t do
I’d do with an appliance
Oh reality is so dull
kids they just don’t know it
years they pile up just like blocks
grown ups we always blow it
went and studied chemistry
I forgot just why
No surprise it all went nowhere
No surprise it passed me by
now I’m fat and far from super
no illusions where the years went
don’t think bout my superpowers
think about making the rent
now I’ve got a boy of my own
guess some day he’ll think about
if he asks me if he can be
a real hero I’ll say no doubt

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

official

Finally got the certificate (four months later, which actually isn't bad) in the mail yesterday, the first project of A Song A Day is now officially protected under U.S. Copyright. And presumably there is a copy of the PDF occupying a dozen K or so on the Library of Congress' servers.

Let's see Britney Spears' handlers try to rip off Scum and Hate now.

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

2.35 : 6/7/05 : Everything On the Internet is a Goddamn Waste of Time

Everything on the internet is a goddamn waste of time
everything on the internet is a goddamn waste of time
if time were a person and killing it a crime
Al Gore would be in prison because
everything on the internet is a goddamn waste of time
videos of stupid shit are a goddamn waste of time
music you don’t pay for is a goddamn waste of time
none of it is worth a nickel, nothing’s worth a dime
every byte and every pixel is a goddamn waste of time

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

2.34 : 6/6/05 : One More One More

2,124 : 1 ?


One more one more minute
Rushing’s such a dull bore innit
two became three very fast
when three becomes four
the moment’s passed
I act like I’m gonna change
something I claim I’ll arrange
but I’ve never time enough
it seems the moment’s passed
well that’s just tough

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

2.33 : 6/5/05 : Seconds

There are only seconds left
that may be tautology
it may all be an artifact
of my unique psychology
I’m going to make this quick
no time to figure or multiply
60 times ten oh wait that’s easy
skimmed under the number of the beast oh my
I’m off for some next last last thing
I think I wrote a song about it
I’m gonna keep it to myself
but someday I will jump and shout it
we’re on a track that’s slightly twisted
but it’s what is too true
I’m still rhyming my way along
I’m still writing every song for you

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

2.32 : 6/4/05 : Cut the Strings

Cut the strings on the puppet man
Let it loose and let it go
If anyone can do it you can
Cut the strings man make it so
let the thing get animated
do the magic watch it rise
send it forth with one law stated
Entertain, sustain, but always surprise
Cut the strings on machine knowing
All over the world they’re hacking
the big machine to solve where we’re going
the big computer to supply what we’re lacking
cut the strings of me dear father
give me will and give me drive
I’ll prove I was worth the bother
You will see when I arrive
I’m tangled in a mass of cut strings
guess I didn’t figure the aftermath
I’m tangled up in cast off things
but by and by I’ll find my path

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

2.31 : 6/3/05 : A Pitiless Dissection

A Pitiless dissection of dynamic verse
The last will show up somewhere but the first stays first
written over years of stress and woe
Who will buy it where will it go
I’m so glad the thing is finished
sadly reckoned much diminished
But I think what’s left is slightly better
brought to you by the smallest letter
Laid out sideways two by two
specially scribed from me to you
read it read it read it always
save it for terrible moments and fine days
34 pages from end to end
designed to make me my millionth friend
that’s ridiculous I’ll just be thrilled
if a hundred read it before it got killed
but hey so be it the thing is over
I’m headed out for my field of clover
in the home I lost half a decade ago
still anytime there in my mind I can go

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

2.30 : 6/2/05 : Innards

Isn’t it the root of horror
all the red pipe stacked within
listen to my innards’ anthem
dance on the head of a pin
such a fuss we’ve made over skin
still we can’t deny we need it
got to keep the innards in
nice distinction mind you heed it
feeling like a gutless coward
feel I’m near to spilling badly
I don’t have the stomach for it
I’ll trade all my clichés gladly
just to know my gut reaction
just to hear my innards clearly
how I’d love to get in touch
yes you know I’d love it dearly

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

2.29 : 6/1/05 : First Next Last One

Strain to remember
the first next last one
loaded somehow in the
first last like a gun
must have been destined
easy to prove it
knew it the first time
I wanted to move it
held out a long day
maybe it was three
don’t quite remember
when that first next last one
came to be
I only know for sure
there were a whole hella lot more
to come
the next one
and the next one
until I gotta laugh at
another next last one
Yet it all went on again
yesterday

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