As the miles slip away
She may find cause to stay
the fear was just an illusion
I’ll stay here at home
I trust my friends to leave and roam
and somewhere in between the mystic fusion
my crazy homebody ways
and their wandering foreign days
swinging out along a line of attenuated talk
the years pass slow and fast
they seem to orbit round me as years fly past
wake goodbye and go, a Passage to Bangkok
I can’t imagine what I haven’t go
used to think I was a wanderer but I’m not
I’m happy where I am strange as it seems
I’m glad my friends take flight and leave
I write them fond farewells on my record sleeve
and trust that they will
fill their half of the dream
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
473 : 7/27/99 : Woodstock
By the time we got to Woodstock
It was burning to the ground
And those kids were pulling down
the teevee towers
And I dreamed I saw a seventeen
year old girl
disrobe in front of me
that’s just where I want to be
Forget peace and flowers
We are sleeping
we are drunken
we refuse to let it be
Cause we have to push ourselves
all the way down
We are cowards
we are vandals
We have set the genie free
And we have to torch
it all
down to the ground
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, September 28, 2009
472 : 7/26/99 : The Shell
Could we break free of our boundaries
could we break the wizard’s spell
Could we reach a further harbor
Can we break out of the shell
Rest assured there’s little chance
that we’ll ever take that leap
living lives so short and shallow
and the well so very deep
If we pushed beyond our orbit
if we pushed beyond our star
We might find we’re not the first
to seek beyond all that we are
I believe that we will fail it
I believe that we will fall
I believe a thousand years hence
we’ll have lost and skewed it all
We’ll forget our laws and science
All our wildest dreams as well
back to gods and superstition
one more layer on the shell
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
could we break the wizard’s spell
Could we reach a further harbor
Can we break out of the shell
Rest assured there’s little chance
that we’ll ever take that leap
living lives so short and shallow
and the well so very deep
If we pushed beyond our orbit
if we pushed beyond our star
We might find we’re not the first
to seek beyond all that we are
I believe that we will fail it
I believe that we will fall
I believe a thousand years hence
we’ll have lost and skewed it all
We’ll forget our laws and science
All our wildest dreams as well
back to gods and superstition
one more layer on the shell
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
471 : 7/25/99 : More on the Revolution
I think my revolution dream will never come
Some bandit always lies in wait
To take the reins of the world with a gun
And I’m not going to fool anyone
with my patter and collection plate
Trying to raise a stake for the revolution
Must people just want to fine tune
They want the world they’ve got with better air
A bigger house more cash a built in bar
The revolution was devoured with a silver
spoon
And even the rich idiots are not to blame
we’re all in this together and we all bear fault
They’ve no more choice than I to play the stupid game
They’re driven just like me always
stake some claim
I guess it’s just the way of our gestalt
Cause all the revolutions just turn out the same
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Some bandit always lies in wait
To take the reins of the world with a gun
And I’m not going to fool anyone
with my patter and collection plate
Trying to raise a stake for the revolution
Must people just want to fine tune
They want the world they’ve got with better air
A bigger house more cash a built in bar
The revolution was devoured with a silver
spoon
And even the rich idiots are not to blame
we’re all in this together and we all bear fault
They’ve no more choice than I to play the stupid game
They’re driven just like me always
stake some claim
I guess it’s just the way of our gestalt
Cause all the revolutions just turn out the same
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
470 : 7/24/99 : Dog Days
It’s the dog days
And the heat comes down like a hammer
And you just can’t think
It takes its toll on etiquette and grammar
They say the rich and the poor they both get ice
but the rich get theirs in the summer
I’m announcing a new revolution
I’ll make my case with any comer
Mid July two thousand one
I won’t get my power out of a gun
so stand along or turn and run
the resistance has just begun
In the dog days
boiling in these slow summer nights
they’re so comfortable and used to my
little cog ways
they’re gonna see some crazy sights
A year from now
I’ll show them how
The virtual velvet revolution
has just begun
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
And the heat comes down like a hammer
And you just can’t think
It takes its toll on etiquette and grammar
They say the rich and the poor they both get ice
but the rich get theirs in the summer
I’m announcing a new revolution
I’ll make my case with any comer
Mid July two thousand one
I won’t get my power out of a gun
so stand along or turn and run
the resistance has just begun
In the dog days
boiling in these slow summer nights
they’re so comfortable and used to my
little cog ways
they’re gonna see some crazy sights
A year from now
I’ll show them how
The virtual velvet revolution
has just begun
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
469 : 7/23/99 : The Weight
The weight is pressing down
the weight is pressing down
the weight is pressing
down down down
It’s all just what it is
just like it ever was
It all just
spins around around
The weight is very big
the weight is very old
The weight’s been there forever
Can’t hold it overhead
I’ll feel it till I’m dead
I guess I’m not so clever
I felt the weight a long time back
It pushed me right off of my track
The weight has always been
it serves its purpose
I try to bear it well
But here’s the truth I tell
gravity must usurp us
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
the weight is pressing down
the weight is pressing
down down down
It’s all just what it is
just like it ever was
It all just
spins around around
The weight is very big
the weight is very old
The weight’s been there forever
Can’t hold it overhead
I’ll feel it till I’m dead
I guess I’m not so clever
I felt the weight a long time back
It pushed me right off of my track
The weight has always been
it serves its purpose
I try to bear it well
But here’s the truth I tell
gravity must usurp us
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
468 : 7/22/99 : Three on a Match
Try not to be a target
try not to get caught
try not to be kidnapped
or you’ll lose what little you’ve got
Don’t light three at once
It’s deadly
Too much time to aim
Too much time to track your movement
Just enough to end the game
Hunker down keep a low profile
Keep yourself out of the fray
some enemies are
always waiting
Waiting to usurp your day
keep your head down
walk in shadow
keep your back against the wall
with any luck by the time
they catch up
You’ll have a whole lot longer to fall
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
try not to get caught
try not to be kidnapped
or you’ll lose what little you’ve got
Don’t light three at once
It’s deadly
Too much time to aim
Too much time to track your movement
Just enough to end the game
Hunker down keep a low profile
Keep yourself out of the fray
some enemies are
always waiting
Waiting to usurp your day
keep your head down
walk in shadow
keep your back against the wall
with any luck by the time
they catch up
You’ll have a whole lot longer to fall
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, September 27, 2009
467 : 7/21/99 : Nano
1,582 : 0 ?If we can just get a little bit
smaller
If we can just dig a little bit
deeper
If I’d just stop straining my neck against
the collar
God knows it’s coming the future’s
such a sleeper
Nanojath, nanojath
what’s the symbol what’s the path
To lead us out from the way
the stupid way we feel
Are you man or just an icon
Every time I look you’re gone
No matter how small to get a piece
of it you got to steal
I think things will just stay crazy
otherwise we’d all get lazy
Otherwise we’d all fall down
Leave Nanojath to wear the crown
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
466 : 7/20/99 : Everything
Everything oh everything
is all I want is all I need
to be the best to have it all
to rise and rise and never fall
What a foolish stance to come from
every day I just feel more dumb
that I can’t accept my limitations
Day in day out I accept it
In the big game I’m just a little shit
just another minor reiteration
of the themes that rule the day
Force usurps all and chaos leads the way
Ever seeking to devour
me and strip me of my power
sleep in day time waking senseless
Chaos comes when I’m defenseless
everything fades away it’s just me
I should be put down in my place
I should just give up and save face
Doesn’t matter what I am
Is what I’ve got to be
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
is all I want is all I need
to be the best to have it all
to rise and rise and never fall
What a foolish stance to come from
every day I just feel more dumb
that I can’t accept my limitations
Day in day out I accept it
In the big game I’m just a little shit
just another minor reiteration
of the themes that rule the day
Force usurps all and chaos leads the way
Ever seeking to devour
me and strip me of my power
sleep in day time waking senseless
Chaos comes when I’m defenseless
everything fades away it’s just me
I should be put down in my place
I should just give up and save face
Doesn’t matter what I am
Is what I’ve got to be
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
465 : 7/19/99 : Big Bell
The crimson flames have risen again
over our ruling houses
and the children pay the wages of the fathers’ sins
and the curve of history is always Gauss’
The big bell tolls for me for you
it covers everyone it overshadows
our individuality and paints us all one hue
I cannot cover that with rhymes and bad prose
Do you hear the big bell ringing
Sweeping us into the next big arc
the big waves rising to scrape the ones left clinging
to the side of this unsteady vessel, feed us to the sharks
And if I had a mighty army and a team of engineers
we might straighten this out somehow
but I’m just a little no one drowning in my little fears
And I got nothin’ at all to hold onto now
And if I had twelve score disciples
And a mighty broadcasters
I couldn’t change that down here hype sells
thus the Big Bell makes it masters
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
over our ruling houses
and the children pay the wages of the fathers’ sins
and the curve of history is always Gauss’
The big bell tolls for me for you
it covers everyone it overshadows
our individuality and paints us all one hue
I cannot cover that with rhymes and bad prose
Do you hear the big bell ringing
Sweeping us into the next big arc
the big waves rising to scrape the ones left clinging
to the side of this unsteady vessel, feed us to the sharks
And if I had a mighty army and a team of engineers
we might straighten this out somehow
but I’m just a little no one drowning in my little fears
And I got nothin’ at all to hold onto now
And if I had twelve score disciples
And a mighty broadcasters
I couldn’t change that down here hype sells
thus the Big Bell makes it masters
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
464 : 7/18/99 : Dubious
I’m dubious of the value
that we assign to our works
I’m dubious I’m doubtful
that’s one place my engine lurks
that drives me always always
to question what I’ve got
to question what I’m doing
to always seek for rot
that always leads to chaos
I guess that’s a fool’s game
who knows how my values compare
what I call chaos is just a name
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
that we assign to our works
I’m dubious I’m doubtful
that’s one place my engine lurks
that drives me always always
to question what I’ve got
to question what I’m doing
to always seek for rot
that always leads to chaos
I guess that’s a fool’s game
who knows how my values compare
what I call chaos is just a name
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
463 : 7/17/99 : Put it All Together
If you’re tryin’ to see the future
It won’t make sense
Put it all together
in the present tense
Just get off your ass
Before the present is past
I’d be there already if I weren’t so dense
The first dichotomy is me versus you
That’s the root of all evil the evil do
I made up my mind
to follow my sign
Kick all the bastards out of my crew
cause if you’re trying to be king
You won’t get there
Look at me dance and sing
without a care
Just put it together
All storms that you’ll weather
The whole wide world is ours to share
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
It won’t make sense
Put it all together
in the present tense
Just get off your ass
Before the present is past
I’d be there already if I weren’t so dense
The first dichotomy is me versus you
That’s the root of all evil the evil do
I made up my mind
to follow my sign
Kick all the bastards out of my crew
cause if you’re trying to be king
You won’t get there
Look at me dance and sing
without a care
Just put it together
All storms that you’ll weather
The whole wide world is ours to share
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
And miles to go before I sleep
Hm. I don't know if I can catch this one up... I'm a hair's breadth from throwing in the towel on the lot of it but I guess we'll see.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, July 16, 2009
462 : 7/16/99 : Stutter (Seven Rap Haiku 7/7)
Flutter
Stutter
ghetta rhymes
and a mind inna gutter
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Stutter
ghetta rhymes
and a mind inna gutter
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
461 : 7/15/99 : Anyway (Seven Rap Haiku 6/7)
And that’s all it’s
all about anyway
walk the walk livin’ in the one day
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
all about anyway
walk the walk livin’ in the one day
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
460 : 7/14/99 : If It’s Good (Seven Rap Haiku 5/7)
If it’s good go with it
if it’s yours you get it
transistor radio pop forget it
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
if it’s yours you get it
transistor radio pop forget it
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, July 13, 2009
459 : 7/13/99 : Living (Seven Rap Haiku 4/7)
458 : 7/12/99 : Flow Freely (Seven Rap Haiku 3/7)
Let it go let the rhythm flow
freely; my rhythm’s tight
and my eyes are steely
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
freely; my rhythm’s tight
and my eyes are steely
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
457 : 7/11/99 : My M.O. (Seven Rap Haiku 2/7)
It’s been my M.O.
since my journey began
I get my feelings out with paper and pen
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
since my journey began
I get my feelings out with paper and pen
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
456 : 7/10/99 : The Jones (Seven Rap Haiku 1/7)
The labor’s fierce
but I’m doing it gladly; writing’s a stone
And I got the jones badly
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
but I’m doing it gladly; writing’s a stone
And I got the jones badly
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
455 : 7/9/99 : Mind for Sale
I’ve got a beautiful seventies vintage
reconditioned mind for sale... It has
lost its usefulness I should learn
to just do what I’m told...
buy a car buy a taco buy a
shiny diamond ring... let them
tell me what to have and
what to hold... I’m sure you
could use it in your entertainment
factories... I’m sure you could use it in
ballistics... polite and versatile a real
high class tool... it has a
knack for logic and linguistics...
it’s hard to part with it but I can see the
writing on the wall... and I know you’ve
got the technology... I’ll do you a favor
let you take it off my hands... these days
to fall in love you need a master’s in
psychology... Just promise me that you will
give it a good home... Promise me you’ll fulfill its
potential... My drooling body would be thrilled to see it
doing well... Being such a good cog in the great big differential
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
reconditioned mind for sale... It has
lost its usefulness I should learn
to just do what I’m told...
buy a car buy a taco buy a
shiny diamond ring... let them
tell me what to have and
what to hold... I’m sure you
could use it in your entertainment
factories... I’m sure you could use it in
ballistics... polite and versatile a real
high class tool... it has a
knack for logic and linguistics...
it’s hard to part with it but I can see the
writing on the wall... and I know you’ve
got the technology... I’ll do you a favor
let you take it off my hands... these days
to fall in love you need a master’s in
psychology... Just promise me that you will
give it a good home... Promise me you’ll fulfill its
potential... My drooling body would be thrilled to see it
doing well... Being such a good cog in the great big differential
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
454 : 7/8/99 : Fucked
So you’re fucked now huh
well that’s just the other side of the coin
uh huh
Teetering between despair
and megalomania
By now their codependence
Should be plain to yah
I don’t want to listen to myself
chattering on and on
I don’t want to make a habit of
spilling my problems out in song
The moment is already here
The future can’t be more than near
The only thing left to fear is fear
Stealing the freedoms we love so dear
Well I guess we’re all fucked
from one point of view
The have’s and the have not’s
the many and the few
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
well that’s just the other side of the coin
uh huh
Teetering between despair
and megalomania
By now their codependence
Should be plain to yah
I don’t want to listen to myself
chattering on and on
I don’t want to make a habit of
spilling my problems out in song
The moment is already here
The future can’t be more than near
The only thing left to fear is fear
Stealing the freedoms we love so dear
Well I guess we’re all fucked
from one point of view
The have’s and the have not’s
the many and the few
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
453 : 7/7/99 : Lucky Day
This must be
my lucky day
the day I make
it all the way
out of this
half life half place
and see the glory
face to face
This must be
my finest hour
I am filled with
Light and power
My cup’s so full
it is spilling
And yet the font
just keeps filling
every day
is just so good
like nothing else
I knew it would
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
my lucky day
the day I make
it all the way
out of this
half life half place
and see the glory
face to face
This must be
my finest hour
I am filled with
Light and power
My cup’s so full
it is spilling
And yet the font
just keeps filling
every day
is just so good
like nothing else
I knew it would
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, July 06, 2009
452 : 7/6/99 : Snake Oil
1,525 : 4 ?Dear lord here come the
Snake oil men again
Peddling their crazy
potions to foolish men
Here’s one called flat tax
One called family values
Call it what you want
but watch that they don’t steal your shoes
Here come the smooth talkers
paving the way
If rich men live like kings then
What’s so different from yesterday
Here come the beggars
with their social agendas
We best be careful
they could screw up and end us
these snake oil men
been around forever
there’s always somebody
who’s just too clever
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, July 05, 2009
451 : 7/5/99 : Most
North to south east to west
least to most worst to best
near to far cold to hot
here to there x mark the spot
North by northwest
South by southeast
Heaven can wait
Here comes the beast
Ah, ae, ee, oh, ooh
One to none, first to last
how to why, now to past
back to forth, whole to part
quick to dead finish to start
By nature sinful
and unclean
touched by desire
just seventeen
ooh, oh, ee, ae, ah
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
least to most worst to best
near to far cold to hot
here to there x mark the spot
North by northwest
South by southeast
Heaven can wait
Here comes the beast
Ah, ae, ee, oh, ooh
One to none, first to last
how to why, now to past
back to forth, whole to part
quick to dead finish to start
By nature sinful
and unclean
touched by desire
just seventeen
ooh, oh, ee, ae, ah
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
450 : 7/4/99 : 28 Trips
Twenty eight trips
around this independence tip
So why don’t I feel free
An American dream
So bright and hot it makes me cream
I’m very sure you agree
Striving after what you see on the screen
look what they got don’t it make you green
Fools and angels
Modern man bites off too much and strangles
Amazing we still try to stuff in more
Truly oblivious
we stare right through the obvious
evidence of what we’ve got in store
Free to purchase, free to complain
Free to stare at teevee till it softens your brain
Fat and flacid
Docile sheep complacent, placid
Grazing our fast food pasture paradise
sheep for slaughter
Sell your pretty son and daughter
We make the goods but they set the price
You call that freedom, profit and loss
Look around you friend only the rich got no boss
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
around this independence tip
So why don’t I feel free
An American dream
So bright and hot it makes me cream
I’m very sure you agree
Striving after what you see on the screen
look what they got don’t it make you green
Fools and angels
Modern man bites off too much and strangles
Amazing we still try to stuff in more
Truly oblivious
we stare right through the obvious
evidence of what we’ve got in store
Free to purchase, free to complain
Free to stare at teevee till it softens your brain
Fat and flacid
Docile sheep complacent, placid
Grazing our fast food pasture paradise
sheep for slaughter
Sell your pretty son and daughter
We make the goods but they set the price
You call that freedom, profit and loss
Look around you friend only the rich got no boss
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
449 : 7/3/99 : Fallen World
It’s a shame to live in a fallen world
Surrounded by evil and consequences
of our collective ignorance and avarice and vice
of our manic drive to satiate our jaded senses
It’s a crime to live when so many must die
having seen so little, nothing
killed by bad luck, circumstances
killed by apathy and lack of planning
I’m a criminal I need to be brought in
And stood on trial to answer for the sins
of my sex my race my generation
someone has to lose when someone wins
It’s a shame to be a fallen man
to know I am so limited and small
It doesn’t help to have so much company
It doesn’t help to know the same fate waits for all
It would help to think that God was swingin’ for us
Down here it’s hard to take that view
Maybe that’s the nature of a fallen world
Maybe that’s the nature of the evil that men do
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Surrounded by evil and consequences
of our collective ignorance and avarice and vice
of our manic drive to satiate our jaded senses
It’s a crime to live when so many must die
having seen so little, nothing
killed by bad luck, circumstances
killed by apathy and lack of planning
I’m a criminal I need to be brought in
And stood on trial to answer for the sins
of my sex my race my generation
someone has to lose when someone wins
It’s a shame to be a fallen man
to know I am so limited and small
It doesn’t help to have so much company
It doesn’t help to know the same fate waits for all
It would help to think that God was swingin’ for us
Down here it’s hard to take that view
Maybe that’s the nature of a fallen world
Maybe that’s the nature of the evil that men do
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
448 : 7/2/99 : Flesh
If words became flesh
what a bind I’d be in then
they’d pile up around my head
I’d have to eat them all again
I’d find them filling up my drawers
I’d find them in my shoe
I’d find them cluttering
the space between me and you
I guess I’d try to clench my teeth
and hold the bastards back
I guess I’d probably fail
I could not keep my words on track
Words are not flesh and yet persist
and haunt us through our lives
words like God and family
cut through us like two edged knives
And those who know the score are sure
to keep us talking all the time
keep us well distracted
buy our dollars for a dime
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
what a bind I’d be in then
they’d pile up around my head
I’d have to eat them all again
I’d find them filling up my drawers
I’d find them in my shoe
I’d find them cluttering
the space between me and you
I guess I’d try to clench my teeth
and hold the bastards back
I guess I’d probably fail
I could not keep my words on track
Words are not flesh and yet persist
and haunt us through our lives
words like God and family
cut through us like two edged knives
And those who know the score are sure
to keep us talking all the time
keep us well distracted
buy our dollars for a dime
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
447 : 7/1/99 : Living in America
My sense of potential overwhelms me
Living in the richest country there will ever be
Living in America
Living large and bein’ free
Living in America
Such a vivid curiosity
Don’t ask me why we’re the way we are
Don’t pretend there aren’t worse things by far
Living in America
Nothing but a job and a car
Living in America
Let’s all go drive to a bar
And drive home raging drunk and blindly
Try to outrun those flashing lights behind me
Living in America
Maybe the best thing would be
Living in America
If I just watch it on TeeVee
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Living in the richest country there will ever be
Living in America
Living large and bein’ free
Living in America
Such a vivid curiosity
Don’t ask me why we’re the way we are
Don’t pretend there aren’t worse things by far
Living in America
Nothing but a job and a car
Living in America
Let’s all go drive to a bar
And drive home raging drunk and blindly
Try to outrun those flashing lights behind me
Living in America
Maybe the best thing would be
Living in America
If I just watch it on TeeVee
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
446 : 6/30/99 : Whatever Cross
We are computers
constructed
by viruses
Built to specification
block by block
order out of chaos
process of endless reiteration
Our minds model a universe
Scarcely accurate at all
But hauntingly familiar to the powers that be
how do we dream so large
and act so small
I like to think we’re more than that
the sum of meaningless
processes
But I guess it’s all really
pissing in the wind
a man carries whatever
cross is his
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
constructed
by viruses
Built to specification
block by block
order out of chaos
process of endless reiteration
Our minds model a universe
Scarcely accurate at all
But hauntingly familiar to the powers that be
how do we dream so large
and act so small
I like to think we’re more than that
the sum of meaningless
processes
But I guess it’s all really
pissing in the wind
a man carries whatever
cross is his
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
445 : 6/29/99 : This Too Must Pass Away
1,519 : 0 ?This too must pass away
And disappear into the ground
One day even our crimes against the earth
will vanish without a sound
Maybe covered by life ascendant
eventually all must expire
eventually all must be consumed
in all consuming fire
Maybe it’s called supernova
Maybe the hand of God
Maybe the unspeakable tao almighty
Will wipe away the paths we trod
And chances are it’ll be a long time
A long time after I’m gone
disappeared without a trace
nevermore to see my face
Every moment short or long
every inkling every song
Will pass away and be gone
And even the passing away of things
will not go on forever
So he writes so he says so he sings
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
444 : 6/28/99 : Reiteration
I’m sure you’ve heard this one before
boy meets girl and they feel so sure
About their little situation
It’s just another iteration
And I am just a magazine
I take another bullet for the truth machine
I take another bullet for the sake of creation
And fall into the Great Reiteration
Magnets make fields and form follows function
I hook it all together with a conjunction junction
I don’t believe in reincarnation
I know I’m not nothing but an iteration
I’m talking a talk that goes a long way back
If you think too much about it it all turns black
Cause time ain’t nothing but a destination
And we’re just here to witness the reiteration
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
boy meets girl and they feel so sure
About their little situation
It’s just another iteration
And I am just a magazine
I take another bullet for the truth machine
I take another bullet for the sake of creation
And fall into the Great Reiteration
Magnets make fields and form follows function
I hook it all together with a conjunction junction
I don’t believe in reincarnation
I know I’m not nothing but an iteration
I’m talking a talk that goes a long way back
If you think too much about it it all turns black
Cause time ain’t nothing but a destination
And we’re just here to witness the reiteration
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, June 27, 2009
443 : 6/27/99 : Random Walk
It’s a bright light
but so very far away
so very very very far away
It’s a long shot
this world seems very strange
But I swear I’m gonna get there by next May
I’m a wild one
I refuse to sit up straight
And act the part of every other dupe
When my day comes
I’ll be ready to begin
And amaze you with the speed I make the loop
Don’t look back now
There is only one way through
This dancing random walk along the beach
It’s a straight line
And they all lead to one place
Thank God it’s such an easy place to reach
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
but so very far away
so very very very far away
It’s a long shot
this world seems very strange
But I swear I’m gonna get there by next May
I’m a wild one
I refuse to sit up straight
And act the part of every other dupe
When my day comes
I’ll be ready to begin
And amaze you with the speed I make the loop
Don’t look back now
There is only one way through
This dancing random walk along the beach
It’s a straight line
And they all lead to one place
Thank God it’s such an easy place to reach
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
442 : 6/26/09 : Final Reckoning
Is this the final reckoning
Is this the light of the new day
An intention is lost in a moment
And every slate is cleaned and put away
Do I have to go on after this
Always pushing on
Such a sad way to end a contemplative day
Such a sad little have finished song
Final reckoning draw down
the scorecard by
whoever’s accounting
Draw down the final heil
Already the resistance is mounting
Lie down give it up let it go
It’s all I’ve heard and all I know
final reckoning
Put me off another day
I’ll get my accounts in order
Just give my rope a little more play
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Is this the light of the new day
An intention is lost in a moment
And every slate is cleaned and put away
Do I have to go on after this
Always pushing on
Such a sad way to end a contemplative day
Such a sad little have finished song
Final reckoning draw down
the scorecard by
whoever’s accounting
Draw down the final heil
Already the resistance is mounting
Lie down give it up let it go
It’s all I’ve heard and all I know
final reckoning
Put me off another day
I’ll get my accounts in order
Just give my rope a little more play
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
441 : 6/25/99 : Naturally
Oh Lord what will become of me
I go along this crazy rut
just doing what comes naturally
It always seems harmless but
I can’t deny my situation gives me pause
And it’s a crazy world that I’m in
Man is mortal feeble ruled by laws
wracked by doubt and soaked in sin
And a natural man stands little chance
In a society of cunning and thieves
of finding beauty or enjoying romance
maybe the smart nature boy just leaves
And finds a bunch of people who believe
like him in a better way
And know what you sew you receive
And help them build the new day
It’s just all got to happen naturally
Like everything always does
I see it coming and it’s plain to see
That there only ever is and never was
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I go along this crazy rut
just doing what comes naturally
It always seems harmless but
I can’t deny my situation gives me pause
And it’s a crazy world that I’m in
Man is mortal feeble ruled by laws
wracked by doubt and soaked in sin
And a natural man stands little chance
In a society of cunning and thieves
of finding beauty or enjoying romance
maybe the smart nature boy just leaves
And finds a bunch of people who believe
like him in a better way
And know what you sew you receive
And help them build the new day
It’s just all got to happen naturally
Like everything always does
I see it coming and it’s plain to see
That there only ever is and never was
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
440 : 6/24/99 : Patience
Patience is a virtue it’s said
that kind of truth gets turned on its head
every time it’s inconvenient
Any time the rules get lenient
Patience is a game that I play
finding hidden virtue in a dull day
When you have no choice but a waiting game
When you have no choice patience is just a name
That we give ourselves when we can’t decide
Whether to buy the ticket or miss the ride
The act’s convincing but I can’t hide
the truth of the inevitable where we all reside
Patience is the attitude I’ve sworn to
And seems the sole response to this world we’re born to
The end can be delayed but never stopped
Sooner or later the bubble gets popped
Patience makes the world roll ‘round its track
Sooner or later we all work our way back
RIght out of existence and into light
Patience makes it easy but it can’t make it right
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
that kind of truth gets turned on its head
every time it’s inconvenient
Any time the rules get lenient
Patience is a game that I play
finding hidden virtue in a dull day
When you have no choice but a waiting game
When you have no choice patience is just a name
That we give ourselves when we can’t decide
Whether to buy the ticket or miss the ride
The act’s convincing but I can’t hide
the truth of the inevitable where we all reside
Patience is the attitude I’ve sworn to
And seems the sole response to this world we’re born to
The end can be delayed but never stopped
Sooner or later the bubble gets popped
Patience makes the world roll ‘round its track
Sooner or later we all work our way back
RIght out of existence and into light
Patience makes it easy but it can’t make it right
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
439 : 6/23/99 : Anger Rising
Anger rising that’s unsurprising
It’s all the usual things
I’m sick of thinking of the rest
A little sleep I think is best
If I lay down in anger take it with me to the springs
Hold me up bed soothe this crazy blinded head
Hold my anger in check a little while
strap me down I’m in a fit to paint the town
With a golden crown and a million dollar smile
Bubbling boiling, strikes me while I’m toiling
In the fields of human endeavor
Always everywhere a circle cannot be a square
And we’re all searching for a longer lever
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
It’s all the usual things
I’m sick of thinking of the rest
A little sleep I think is best
If I lay down in anger take it with me to the springs
Hold me up bed soothe this crazy blinded head
Hold my anger in check a little while
strap me down I’m in a fit to paint the town
With a golden crown and a million dollar smile
Bubbling boiling, strikes me while I’m toiling
In the fields of human endeavor
Always everywhere a circle cannot be a square
And we’re all searching for a longer lever
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
438 : 6/22/99 : Grip
1,511 : 0 ?What is grip what is adhesion
How do I get it how do I keep hold?
With this festering lesion
When my hands are so very cold?
What is this surface tension
That throws me back most every night?
These scenes we pass without mention
These horrors we excise from sight
Who is that stranger in the corner
gripping a black flame in his hand
who is that turning as grey as a mourner
who is that sinking in the sand
I lost my grip on passive resistance
Found myself beaten with a cross
Found myself jailed at the public’s insistence
When I get out I’ll be my own boss
What holds the whole damn thing together
Is the grip tight or is it loose
I might feel light as any feather
I’ll weigh enough at the end
of that noose
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
437 : 6/21/99 : Rushing
Rushing to this rushing to that
never a moment to rest or kick back
And we wonder why we’re always
Tired these days
Rush to buy this lay the cash down
Never pause to think what we already own
And we wonder why we never
have enough pay
Rush to get tight, rush to get high
push ourselves until the whole show passes us by
And we wonder why the kids
Are rushing down the same pipe
I’m rushing right now, can’t seem to stop
Somebody please stop this thing and call a cop
Maybe if I were cited I’d slow down
And stop producing such tripe
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
never a moment to rest or kick back
And we wonder why we’re always
Tired these days
Rush to buy this lay the cash down
Never pause to think what we already own
And we wonder why we never
have enough pay
Rush to get tight, rush to get high
push ourselves until the whole show passes us by
And we wonder why the kids
Are rushing down the same pipe
I’m rushing right now, can’t seem to stop
Somebody please stop this thing and call a cop
Maybe if I were cited I’d slow down
And stop producing such tripe
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
436 : 6/20/99 : 1984, 1884
He said it’s just like 1984
I said how exactly do you mean
He said the only thing Orwell got wrong
Was to think they’d have to force us into staring at that screen
He said we’ve lost our sense of history
Well just think back to 1884
We may still read Sappho or Huckleberry Finn
But who remembers With Fire and Sword anymore
Cleveland elected Harry Truman born
There’s always more replacements on the way
No one remembers the first underground train
But we listen to Brahms Opus 90 to this day
What’s the word the rise of Johannesburg
There’s so much history in every thing
Who really knows what was happening then
who could have guessed what the future would bring
I said the only thing I can’t figure
Is how any of it relates to 1984
He said I guess I failed to make my point
just we’re always in the process
of kicking down some door
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I said how exactly do you mean
He said the only thing Orwell got wrong
Was to think they’d have to force us into staring at that screen
He said we’ve lost our sense of history
Well just think back to 1884
We may still read Sappho or Huckleberry Finn
But who remembers With Fire and Sword anymore
Cleveland elected Harry Truman born
There’s always more replacements on the way
No one remembers the first underground train
But we listen to Brahms Opus 90 to this day
What’s the word the rise of Johannesburg
There’s so much history in every thing
Who really knows what was happening then
who could have guessed what the future would bring
I said the only thing I can’t figure
Is how any of it relates to 1984
He said I guess I failed to make my point
just we’re always in the process
of kicking down some door
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, June 19, 2009
435 : 6/19/99 : The Universe
The universe is awfully big and
awfully old and we’re so young and small
And every time I think I know
something I find I don’t know much at all
I find it hard to take you people who
are so sure you’ve got it solved
But are you any worse than guys
like me
Who can’t decide and so won’t get involved
The universe is awfully strange and
spread out awfully thin it seems
And it’s awfully hard to tell just how much
of it’s just a product of our dreams
We dream of order dream of cycles
imagining a permanence we cannot find
our lives are brief and frustrating
This fleeting present moment like the million
we leave behind
I’ve got my patch of ground to roam in
My little stage here in the Big Show
Got no script got no directions
But I play it like you wouldn’t
even know
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
awfully old and we’re so young and small
And every time I think I know
something I find I don’t know much at all
I find it hard to take you people who
are so sure you’ve got it solved
But are you any worse than guys
like me
Who can’t decide and so won’t get involved
The universe is awfully strange and
spread out awfully thin it seems
And it’s awfully hard to tell just how much
of it’s just a product of our dreams
We dream of order dream of cycles
imagining a permanence we cannot find
our lives are brief and frustrating
This fleeting present moment like the million
we leave behind
I’ve got my patch of ground to roam in
My little stage here in the Big Show
Got no script got no directions
But I play it like you wouldn’t
even know
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
434 : 6/18/99 : The Wire
We all know it’s out there
Waiting to cut us off in our prime
None of us talks about it much
But we think about it all the time
We all know it’s down there
buried deep under the ground
carrying the signals conducting
the energy that turns the whole thing around
Everyone comes to the moment
When troubles surround you like a runaway fire
We race ahead blind and wondering
If we’ll manage to slip under the wire
Are we struggling to be free again
Cut the wires and stand on our own feet
Mister be careful what you ask for
there’s many a twisty turn down that street
We may get wired, we may go wireless
We may all get wired for the big sound
We may wake up and find ourselves surrounded
Wires in our heads, up above, underground
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Waiting to cut us off in our prime
None of us talks about it much
But we think about it all the time
We all know it’s down there
buried deep under the ground
carrying the signals conducting
the energy that turns the whole thing around
Everyone comes to the moment
When troubles surround you like a runaway fire
We race ahead blind and wondering
If we’ll manage to slip under the wire
Are we struggling to be free again
Cut the wires and stand on our own feet
Mister be careful what you ask for
there’s many a twisty turn down that street
We may get wired, we may go wireless
We may all get wired for the big sound
We may wake up and find ourselves surrounded
Wires in our heads, up above, underground
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
433 : 6/17/99 : Big Blue
Look at me standing there
in front of the Big Blue Ocean
I only vaguely remember now
It’s nothing but a notion
I spend far too much time
listening to myself think
It’s a game I like to play at night
edge a little closer to the brink
Hey big blue
Won’t you carry me along
On a big big wave
Won’t you sing me a better song
Oh look at me swinging there
At the intersection of innocence and fate
I imagine that I’m free of care
But even there I hesitate
To make any assumptions
The past is so hard to know
hanging in front of the Big Blue
at an intersection of stay and go
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
in front of the Big Blue Ocean
I only vaguely remember now
It’s nothing but a notion
I spend far too much time
listening to myself think
It’s a game I like to play at night
edge a little closer to the brink
Hey big blue
Won’t you carry me along
On a big big wave
Won’t you sing me a better song
Oh look at me swinging there
At the intersection of innocence and fate
I imagine that I’m free of care
But even there I hesitate
To make any assumptions
The past is so hard to know
hanging in front of the Big Blue
at an intersection of stay and go
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
432 : 6/16/99 : Quid Pro Quo
The name of the game is
quid pro quo
this for that and
this I know
the man with nothing
in his hands
he isn’t even real
in this promised land
The real entertainment
is let’s make a deal
there’s only one rule, that’s
cheat when you can’t steal
me I got nothing
even less than that
still I’ve got few surprises
tucked under my hat
Give something for nothing
surprise the dogs
Who never figured us to be
anything but cogs
I’ve got one last trick tucked up my sleeve
I won’t play by the rules
And I refuse to leave.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
quid pro quo
this for that and
this I know
the man with nothing
in his hands
he isn’t even real
in this promised land
The real entertainment
is let’s make a deal
there’s only one rule, that’s
cheat when you can’t steal
me I got nothing
even less than that
still I’ve got few surprises
tucked under my hat
Give something for nothing
surprise the dogs
Who never figured us to be
anything but cogs
I’ve got one last trick tucked up my sleeve
I won’t play by the rules
And I refuse to leave.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
431 : 6/15/99 : Desperation
1,505 : 3 ?I can’t deny I’m desperate
at least I try to keep it quiet
you must admit there’s not much hope
for those who will not even try it
Try for one day to be silent
listen to the rest of what goes on
listen to the thousand other voices
the one thousand and first song
desperation is my engine
drives me always to ask more
always looking at the far side
looking for an untried door
It might be the secret motive
that fuels flux and revolution
buried deep inside our tissues
desperate seeds of evolution
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, June 14, 2009
430 : 6/14/99 : Well Run Dry
Well the well run dry, wasn’t no water
and they caught him shacked up
with the Governor’s daughter
They dragged her away and set his house on fire
He was livid he was very wroth
He said man takes to trouble
like a flame draws a moth
put a fence round his burnt house
made a’ broken glass and barb wire
Said I know what I’s infer when a well runs dry
Most men would walk away
but I’m no ordinary guy
black stone on stone pile it all up again
We’re always building where our luck
ran out
we always come back
to our temples of doubt
and that two edged sword
is a might mightier
Than my pen
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
and they caught him shacked up
with the Governor’s daughter
They dragged her away and set his house on fire
He was livid he was very wroth
He said man takes to trouble
like a flame draws a moth
put a fence round his burnt house
made a’ broken glass and barb wire
Said I know what I’s infer when a well runs dry
Most men would walk away
but I’m no ordinary guy
black stone on stone pile it all up again
We’re always building where our luck
ran out
we always come back
to our temples of doubt
and that two edged sword
is a might mightier
Than my pen
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, June 13, 2009
429 : 6/13/99 : What Is
All philosophies collapse back to absurdities
And all my silly ditties cannot
bring this bad old world in line
But rocking in my chair close to despair
I find how I fare is not
the only truth I have made mine
What is, what is
what is this eternal optimism
what is, what is
this brave face in the end of endless schism
every religious fusion seems based on love and confusion
pinned under the huge sun we must
somehow make sense of our lot
And that’s a hard row’s hoeing never knowing
where we’re going
always changes wind is blowing
tossed by senses, spirits, thought
what is, what is
that’s all I know and all I’ll ever
what is what is
until I’m part of it forever
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
And all my silly ditties cannot
bring this bad old world in line
But rocking in my chair close to despair
I find how I fare is not
the only truth I have made mine
What is, what is
what is this eternal optimism
what is, what is
this brave face in the end of endless schism
every religious fusion seems based on love and confusion
pinned under the huge sun we must
somehow make sense of our lot
And that’s a hard row’s hoeing never knowing
where we’re going
always changes wind is blowing
tossed by senses, spirits, thought
what is, what is
that’s all I know and all I’ll ever
what is what is
until I’m part of it forever
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
428 : 6/12/99 : What If
We spend our lives in hiding
Fearing the moment that never comes
Whispering crazily to ourselves
When the whole universe is dumb
What if it never comes?
What if I’m only dreaming?
What if nothing is real?
What if there’s only the seeming?
We spend our whole lives running
after a shadowy destination
dreaming there is a finish line
this side of creation
what if we never arrive?
what if I’m on the wrong path
How will I ever survive
on the other side of the aftermath
We spend our whole lives seeking another
man or God or anyone but ourselves
Some see the spirits of days gone by
or smoke DMT and see electric elves
What if we’re all alone?
What if there’s no one anywhere
Could one person alone make all this up?
Could one person alone even care?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Fearing the moment that never comes
Whispering crazily to ourselves
When the whole universe is dumb
What if it never comes?
What if I’m only dreaming?
What if nothing is real?
What if there’s only the seeming?
We spend our whole lives running
after a shadowy destination
dreaming there is a finish line
this side of creation
what if we never arrive?
what if I’m on the wrong path
How will I ever survive
on the other side of the aftermath
We spend our whole lives seeking another
man or God or anyone but ourselves
Some see the spirits of days gone by
or smoke DMT and see electric elves
What if we’re all alone?
What if there’s no one anywhere
Could one person alone make all this up?
Could one person alone even care?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
427 : 6/11/99 : Bitter
I’ll top my cup with a spoon of sugar
The medicine is strong but the cup is bitter
The choices I made put the cup in my hand
I’ll knock the rest back when I’m feeling fitter
But a voice like the sun said you’re not fooling anyone
You got to drink it now
This is the cup you asked me to fill up
It only gets worse with time somehow
Look at me and look on my face
The bitter seeps into my eyes
I can’t remember sun or rain or how I felt
the first time I slipped my hand up between her thighs
Medicine man just doing what I can
Another graceless metaphor
I tip my head back and brace for attack
Such a long bitter trip from here to the door
He said do you really want to end this son
Cause when the drink is gone I’m gonna call you up
I said I’ll take my bitter with my sweet
with my hands locked tightly round the cup
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
The medicine is strong but the cup is bitter
The choices I made put the cup in my hand
I’ll knock the rest back when I’m feeling fitter
But a voice like the sun said you’re not fooling anyone
You got to drink it now
This is the cup you asked me to fill up
It only gets worse with time somehow
Look at me and look on my face
The bitter seeps into my eyes
I can’t remember sun or rain or how I felt
the first time I slipped my hand up between her thighs
Medicine man just doing what I can
Another graceless metaphor
I tip my head back and brace for attack
Such a long bitter trip from here to the door
He said do you really want to end this son
Cause when the drink is gone I’m gonna call you up
I said I’ll take my bitter with my sweet
with my hands locked tightly round the cup
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
426 : 6/10/99 : By Choice
1,500 : 6 ?By choice it seems we take the dreams
That are sent to us that are meant for us
And if it feels like fate
or savage random chance
The little on our plate
That never meets with our demands
By choice I leave or am left to grieve
When friends move on like forgotten songs
And if it seems unlikely that
we choose the shit we’re in
I still insist it’s tit for tat
When first we reckon to begin
I stiffen up I’ve given up
So bound to earth so little worth
The time we spend in calculating
How we’ll beat the clock and city hall
But here’s the truth I’m stating
It’s all a choice made backed against a wall
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
425 : 6/9/99 : Second Organization
Once we scrape down the sides of the barrel
we’re closer than you think
Once we’ve got it all on digital at our fingerprints
And start wasting our lives away on downlink
Once it all blows up in our faces
Race and sex and politics and drugs
Won’t we have a stupid expression
When King Entropy yanks out the rugs
I’m ready I can see into the future
The way we have to fuck it all around
The way we have to fuck ourselves into the deepest hole
we can find every time we hear the Big Sound
Aga Khan and Dalai Lama
Jomo Kenyatta and Marcus Garvey too
We got no spiritmen ain’t got ourselves no heroines
Got only our sorry selves to get ourselves through
Once we start digging into our chaos engines
Our ethics already on vacation
Inevitably the fittest wills survive
Time for the Second Organization
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
we’re closer than you think
Once we’ve got it all on digital at our fingerprints
And start wasting our lives away on downlink
Once it all blows up in our faces
Race and sex and politics and drugs
Won’t we have a stupid expression
When King Entropy yanks out the rugs
I’m ready I can see into the future
The way we have to fuck it all around
The way we have to fuck ourselves into the deepest hole
we can find every time we hear the Big Sound
Aga Khan and Dalai Lama
Jomo Kenyatta and Marcus Garvey too
We got no spiritmen ain’t got ourselves no heroines
Got only our sorry selves to get ourselves through
Once we start digging into our chaos engines
Our ethics already on vacation
Inevitably the fittest wills survive
Time for the Second Organization
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
424 : 6/8/99 : Things Got Strange
It wasn’t anything organized
It came right outta thin air
Fifty thousand strong it blossomed
From hither you and nowhere
Somebody put mescaline in Congress’ water supply
Some of them thought they saw Jesus, some of them
thought they would die
And then things got strange
Do you remember the blitz
of email messages and crazy cartoons
Everybody picked up a little spare power
sifted a little gold outta the ruins
Somebody hacked the big computer’s
motherboard
I’ll never forget the day every cash
machine went out of its gourd
And then things got strange
When all the ecstasy showed up on the street
And everyone’s radio blew the same beat
Someone hacked the satellite from underground
And at eleven fifty one thousand
nine hundred ninety nine they uplinked
the New Sound...
And then things got strange
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
It came right outta thin air
Fifty thousand strong it blossomed
From hither you and nowhere
Somebody put mescaline in Congress’ water supply
Some of them thought they saw Jesus, some of them
thought they would die
And then things got strange
Do you remember the blitz
of email messages and crazy cartoons
Everybody picked up a little spare power
sifted a little gold outta the ruins
Somebody hacked the big computer’s
motherboard
I’ll never forget the day every cash
machine went out of its gourd
And then things got strange
When all the ecstasy showed up on the street
And everyone’s radio blew the same beat
Someone hacked the satellite from underground
And at eleven fifty one thousand
nine hundred ninety nine they uplinked
the New Sound...
And then things got strange
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, June 07, 2009
423 : 6/7/99 : The Afterlife
I hope to God there’s another world past this one
I hope to God I hope to God there is
I ponder every point of view but always feel I missed one
I just hope there’s something more than this
I’d like to believe that there’s something for me and you
Past this veil of tears and heartache and bitter strife
Oh God could you bring just bring a sign it might be true
I want so very much to believe in the afterlife
In teevee and in movies the good guys always win
but out here the winners are the ones who make us lose
I’m so tired of waiting for my real life to begin
I’m so tired of waiting in this line I didn’t choose
Whatever’s out there out beyond this crazy game
Whatever happens when our bodies set us free
I just keep hoping it’s not more of the same
But I guess that that what will be will be will be
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I hope to God I hope to God there is
I ponder every point of view but always feel I missed one
I just hope there’s something more than this
I’d like to believe that there’s something for me and you
Past this veil of tears and heartache and bitter strife
Oh God could you bring just bring a sign it might be true
I want so very much to believe in the afterlife
In teevee and in movies the good guys always win
but out here the winners are the ones who make us lose
I’m so tired of waiting for my real life to begin
I’m so tired of waiting in this line I didn’t choose
Whatever’s out there out beyond this crazy game
Whatever happens when our bodies set us free
I just keep hoping it’s not more of the same
But I guess that that what will be will be will be
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, June 06, 2009
422 : 6/6/99 : The Battle of the Bulge
These are the rag men; jaws slack eyes hollow as hell
(I could not have fought in the Battle of the Bulge)
I can only hear the stories that the old men tell
I can only listen to the horrors the old men divulge
They say two thousand died a day the lucky ones
These then are the hollow men who fought for reasons
Who lived and mostly died from disease or bombs or guns
who knows who refused and yet we call their actions treasons
No one has the right we all usurp to create history
Someone steals the right and forces us to go along
Forces us to see to face the bloody evil mystery
Fills men’s minds with memories that never will be gone
Evil’s always pushing out somewhere in this world
Another bulge that someone must push down
Rearing like the serpent’s head around the whole earth curled
Seems like more evil’s the only way to regain that ground
I wish I had a mighty army of the hollow men
Guess they’re mostly dead but still I wish it so bad
Wish I had an army brought down from heaven
Only they could explain how badly we’ve been had
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
(I could not have fought in the Battle of the Bulge)
I can only hear the stories that the old men tell
I can only listen to the horrors the old men divulge
They say two thousand died a day the lucky ones
These then are the hollow men who fought for reasons
Who lived and mostly died from disease or bombs or guns
who knows who refused and yet we call their actions treasons
No one has the right we all usurp to create history
Someone steals the right and forces us to go along
Forces us to see to face the bloody evil mystery
Fills men’s minds with memories that never will be gone
Evil’s always pushing out somewhere in this world
Another bulge that someone must push down
Rearing like the serpent’s head around the whole earth curled
Seems like more evil’s the only way to regain that ground
I wish I had a mighty army of the hollow men
Guess they’re mostly dead but still I wish it so bad
Wish I had an army brought down from heaven
Only they could explain how badly we’ve been had
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, June 05, 2009
421 : 6/5/99 : Fatigue
On the grim outer rim of fatigue
I keep searching for the answers
Questions that seem so far out of my league
and grow in my mind like cancers
I’ve been searching for such a long time
A search leading to nothing but wall after wall
I’ve searched in reason I’ve searched in rhyme
I’ve run until I had to walk
I’ve walked until I had to crawl
I’m so tired of self-reference
I’m too dull for all this trouble
I’m tired of striving without recompense
For every certainty the uncertainty is double
I’m so tired I could fall right over
and sleep forever like the dead
be absorbed and push up clover
just to be free from what’s in my head
I’m so tired and it’s more than half
of what’s wrong
But the questions are there nonetheless
I got no choice but to write my little song
What it’s good for is anybody’s guess
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I keep searching for the answers
Questions that seem so far out of my league
and grow in my mind like cancers
I’ve been searching for such a long time
A search leading to nothing but wall after wall
I’ve searched in reason I’ve searched in rhyme
I’ve run until I had to walk
I’ve walked until I had to crawl
I’m so tired of self-reference
I’m too dull for all this trouble
I’m tired of striving without recompense
For every certainty the uncertainty is double
I’m so tired I could fall right over
and sleep forever like the dead
be absorbed and push up clover
just to be free from what’s in my head
I’m so tired and it’s more than half
of what’s wrong
But the questions are there nonetheless
I got no choice but to write my little song
What it’s good for is anybody’s guess
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
420 : 6/4/99 : Back in the Saddle
I’m back in the saddle again
I tell you friend
sometimes it doesn’t seem like
I’m making much progress
I guess it all must work out in the end
I’m back up on that horse
A little worse for wear of course
Every day I stick to my guns
a little bit tired my voice a little bit hoarse
I made a special vow
to show everybody how
no matter how much
we piss and moan
The curtain comes down we all take a bow
we all bow out in the long run
Sometimes when we think we’ve just begun
And it’s irony sure
the cosmic quip
We all end up silent in the said and done
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I tell you friend
sometimes it doesn’t seem like
I’m making much progress
I guess it all must work out in the end
I’m back up on that horse
A little worse for wear of course
Every day I stick to my guns
a little bit tired my voice a little bit hoarse
I made a special vow
to show everybody how
no matter how much
we piss and moan
The curtain comes down we all take a bow
we all bow out in the long run
Sometimes when we think we’ve just begun
And it’s irony sure
the cosmic quip
We all end up silent in the said and done
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
419 : 6/3/99 : A Confession
I’m sick of writing songs today
It’s a confession I’m sad to say
Has been a long time coming
So sick of the rhyming and tapping and humming
The obsessive delineation of verse
so it all gets cryptic vague and terse
All day I act calm and deferential
While my art gets steadily more self-referential
But I guess I’ll push through another dawn
seems like all I’ve ever learned to do is push on
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
It’s a confession I’m sad to say
Has been a long time coming
So sick of the rhyming and tapping and humming
The obsessive delineation of verse
so it all gets cryptic vague and terse
All day I act calm and deferential
While my art gets steadily more self-referential
But I guess I’ll push through another dawn
seems like all I’ve ever learned to do is push on
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
418 : 6/2/99 : Still Too Far
Almost there but still too far
writing songs on the phone
Singing all day in the train car
Trying trying always
Dying for a feeling
Oh Lord one of these days
Are you gonna call me up
are you gonna fill up my cup
Till it flows over
into the endless fields of clover
Almost almost there
But still too far
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
writing songs on the phone
Singing all day in the train car
Trying trying always
Dying for a feeling
Oh Lord one of these days
Are you gonna call me up
are you gonna fill up my cup
Till it flows over
into the endless fields of clover
Almost almost there
But still too far
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, June 01, 2009
417 : 6/1/99 : Hard Sell
1,490 : 17 ?I’m sick of the hard sell
From men who own it all anyway
From the forest to the city to the bay
They set the clocks they ring the bell
So why’s it so important
To make me decide to do what they want
Why this illusion this stunt
Maybe they can reason it out I sure can’t
Maybe they can’t abide to see the truth in their lies
Constantly spewing from the magic box
Knock back what rolls and stop what rocks
All to pretend the they still got light in their eyes
I’ve had enough of the hard sell
I’m closing my door in their face
I’ll pay to put myself in place
And I won’t ever tell
They held the secret to my escape
I just listened and heard what they said
Then did the opposite thing instead
Look up it’s me the one in the mask and cape
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, May 31, 2009
416 : 5/31/99 : Fell Apart
Well it all fell apart on me
When I wasn’t looking sir
And it could happen to you
It could happen to you sure
No man is immune to bad luck
No man is so humble he avoids every fall
And if you don’t think it could happen to you
Sir you don’t know life at all
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
When I wasn’t looking sir
And it could happen to you
It could happen to you sure
No man is immune to bad luck
No man is so humble he avoids every fall
And if you don’t think it could happen to you
Sir you don’t know life at all
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
415 : 5/30/99 : Brilliant Cycle
I can see the way it all spins around
me and you or anyone
The moon the stars the surfs that pound
This brilliant cycle in the sun
And I cannot complain I’ve got my daily bread
And I cannot deny the truth of what she said
It all happens for a reason
East and west and north and south
And every searcher finds a season
The wisdom out of a a baby’s mouth
the truth is written for anyone to know
It’s written in the heavens and written down bel
This brilliant cycle spins
It cannot stop it’s perpetual motion
Nothing ever ceases nothing begins
Just you just me just one big ocean
There’s a road that runs around the whole way
we’re all on it always everyday
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
me and you or anyone
The moon the stars the surfs that pound
This brilliant cycle in the sun
And I cannot complain I’ve got my daily bread
And I cannot deny the truth of what she said
It all happens for a reason
East and west and north and south
And every searcher finds a season
The wisdom out of a a baby’s mouth
the truth is written for anyone to know
It’s written in the heavens and written down bel
This brilliant cycle spins
It cannot stop it’s perpetual motion
Nothing ever ceases nothing begins
Just you just me just one big ocean
There’s a road that runs around the whole way
we’re all on it always everyday
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, May 29, 2009
414 : 5/29/99 : Meal of Wurms
Take what I get you can bet it’s
just what I deserve
just what I’ve got coming to me
come as I am just a lamb for
the slaughterhouse
never had the answer never had the key
Pain it’s all right no not quite what
I thought was coming
Guess that I just didn’t think it through
Try, come to terms, meal of wurms on
my dinnerplate
It’s enough to get me through a another night
And just the same if my name is
unfamiliar to you
Ah it’s just because my future’s not so bright
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
just what I deserve
just what I’ve got coming to me
come as I am just a lamb for
the slaughterhouse
never had the answer never had the key
Pain it’s all right no not quite what
I thought was coming
Guess that I just didn’t think it through
Try, come to terms, meal of wurms on
my dinnerplate
It’s enough to get me through a another night
And just the same if my name is
unfamiliar to you
Ah it’s just because my future’s not so bright
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, May 28, 2009
413 : 5/28/99 : Birthday Song
You see things just the way you want to
Black or white, ugly or fair
What you seek it surely comes to you
Nobody knows from where
Ain’t that just the way... Ain’t that just the way
Looks like it’s your birthday, this must be your birthday song
I see everything as bad or good
Even though I know that it’s not true
I get so tangled up with what I should
When the hammer comes down I just don’t have a clue
Ain’t that just the way... Ain’t that just the way
Looks like it’s your birthday, just another birthday gone
One year leads into another
one year passes like the next
I heard about these games from my brother
I heard about the way a man gets vexed
Ain’t that just the way...
Ain’t that just the way
You celebrate a birthday
Sound just like a birthday song
Ain’t that just the way
Ain’t that just the way
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Black or white, ugly or fair
What you seek it surely comes to you
Nobody knows from where
Ain’t that just the way... Ain’t that just the way
Looks like it’s your birthday, this must be your birthday song
I see everything as bad or good
Even though I know that it’s not true
I get so tangled up with what I should
When the hammer comes down I just don’t have a clue
Ain’t that just the way... Ain’t that just the way
Looks like it’s your birthday, just another birthday gone
One year leads into another
one year passes like the next
I heard about these games from my brother
I heard about the way a man gets vexed
Ain’t that just the way...
Ain’t that just the way
You celebrate a birthday
Sound just like a birthday song
Ain’t that just the way
Ain’t that just the way
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
412 : 5/27/99 : Tiny Song
He said I can’t really see myself doing it
I guess I’ll just look at this one again
Well we just keep tryin’
We just keep screwing it
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I guess I’ll just look at this one again
Well we just keep tryin’
We just keep screwing it
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
411 : 5/26/99 : Dull Song
1,484 : 11 ?I got up today and took a shower
brushed my teeth and headed for the street
I got no time to smell a flower
I got no time for anyone I might meet
I got on a bus to take me downtown
Didn’t spend much time looking left or right
Nothing much to see on my way down
And the same in reverse going back tonight
I sat behind a desk and made my contribution
to society with my time
It’s hard to say if I’m part of the solution
It’s hard to tell a good deed from a crime
I rolled back home just the way I came
A dull day a song already sung
Who’s to judge how we fare in the big game
We who are neither old nor young
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
410 : 5/25/99 : Day by Day
Day after day I write what I find to say
Trying not to get too far ahead
Day after day I reap what I sew
Even though I know I’ll have to sleep in that bed
Night after night I wait for a sight
A vision to lead me higher
Every day’s struggle ends in restless sleep
Every night I slip under the wire
Day by day you gotta take it that way
‘Cause that’s the only way it comes
I take what I can and move along
Obey the strong and accept my crumbs
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Trying not to get too far ahead
Day after day I reap what I sew
Even though I know I’ll have to sleep in that bed
Night after night I wait for a sight
A vision to lead me higher
Every day’s struggle ends in restless sleep
Every night I slip under the wire
Day by day you gotta take it that way
‘Cause that’s the only way it comes
I take what I can and move along
Obey the strong and accept my crumbs
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
409 : 5/24/99 : Vegas
Her and me got married in Vegas
we said third time gotta be a charm
why does it seem that the wages
of letting go’s always doing somebody harm
we rolled back to Ohio
And tried to make it down on the farm
With a pig pig here e-i-e-i o
Now nothing’s left of Vegas but a rusted lucky charm
There’s places it’s fast and places it’s slow
But no matter where it’s there you are
In my dreams there’s a place I can never go
You can’t get to that Las Vegas in a car
Where all the tables heat up when I’m around
And all the wedding vows last forever
In my dreams I hear that jackpot sound
As my baby pulls down every lever
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
we said third time gotta be a charm
why does it seem that the wages
of letting go’s always doing somebody harm
we rolled back to Ohio
And tried to make it down on the farm
With a pig pig here e-i-e-i o
Now nothing’s left of Vegas but a rusted lucky charm
There’s places it’s fast and places it’s slow
But no matter where it’s there you are
In my dreams there’s a place I can never go
You can’t get to that Las Vegas in a car
Where all the tables heat up when I’m around
And all the wedding vows last forever
In my dreams I hear that jackpot sound
As my baby pulls down every lever
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
408 : 5/23/99 : Verges
On the verges I always feel
like I’m hanging there alone
All thee usual abysses
All the chances overflown
Everything’s always
about to start
Everything’s always on hold
Somebody always gets there first
Somebody always gets left out
in the cold
I’ve got an urge for verges
I got a bad yen for confrontation
I’ve got a way for all of us
to get up out from under
All we gotta do is dream about it
all we gotta do is wonder
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
like I’m hanging there alone
All thee usual abysses
All the chances overflown
Everything’s always
about to start
Everything’s always on hold
Somebody always gets there first
Somebody always gets left out
in the cold
I’ve got an urge for verges
I got a bad yen for confrontation
I’ve got a way for all of us
to get up out from under
All we gotta do is dream about it
all we gotta do is wonder
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
407 : 5/22/99 : Wind Down
Does it all wind up just to wind down
is that the big secret after all
does the universe expand to contract
does everything rise just to fall
What am I waiting for anyway
at this point it’s just another night
that passes like a slow storm front
there’s nothing at all in it to fight
Kingdom Come is calling my name
all the angels heard on high
the whisper of illumination
fading like the long goodbye
Fading into contemplation
of the oceans of my youth
all the memories that drowned
the ocean as the final truth
Someday at the gates of Glory
I’ll find out how much that I recall
I’ll find out if the wind down
Just starts another wind up
after all
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
is that the big secret after all
does the universe expand to contract
does everything rise just to fall
What am I waiting for anyway
at this point it’s just another night
that passes like a slow storm front
there’s nothing at all in it to fight
Kingdom Come is calling my name
all the angels heard on high
the whisper of illumination
fading like the long goodbye
Fading into contemplation
of the oceans of my youth
all the memories that drowned
the ocean as the final truth
Someday at the gates of Glory
I’ll find out how much that I recall
I’ll find out if the wind down
Just starts another wind up
after all
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Currency
With the dates of the posted songs so close to an even decade ago I decided to experiment with trying to keep the postings current for a while. Seeing as how I haven't posted anything in over a month maybe the title of this post should be overcompensation, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. In my experience also, generally, something ventured, nothing gained, but who's counting. Wow, I'm in a really vicious, cynical frame of mind today. Anyway. Since I'm not willing to have this thing rule my life I'll necessarily have to break with my former convention and post more than one song some days when I miss a day or, uh, thirty. I guess. If I get too far behind I suppose I'll likely to abandon the effort. Maybe it will spur me to keep it up a little better. Or not. The meaninglessness of failure is merely one of the thrilling rewards of utter unimportance.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
406 : 5/21/99 : Minimal Architecture
Given only the minimal architecture
of conformity
Of ignorance prejudice selfishness
and always anonymity
Look what you’ve made
me do now
Look what you’ve gone and
made me do now
It doesn’t take much to
rock this boat
And your complacent platitudes
stick in my throat
Look, see what we’ve
done now
See what we had to go
and do now
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
of conformity
Of ignorance prejudice selfishness
and always anonymity
Look what you’ve made
me do now
Look what you’ve gone and
made me do now
It doesn’t take much to
rock this boat
And your complacent platitudes
stick in my throat
Look, see what we’ve
done now
See what we had to go
and do now
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, April 20, 2009
405 : 5/20/99 : Country Living
1,450 : 1 ?I can’t wait until my ship comes in
I can’t wait for the day that I am free
to move out of this city
And get me to a place where I can just be
Country Living, oh boy! That’s the life for me
Oh Country Living it’s the only place I wanna be
Oh you can take the boy from the country
You can put him down in any bad old town
You can show him all the glitter and the flashing lights
but you just can’t keep the country down
Country Living, oh boy! That’s the life for me
Oh Country Living it’s the only place I wanna be
I seen enough of this city life
And all the fine people in their diamonds and pearls
I seen plenty of money for one lifetime
I don’t want nothing with these city girls
Country living that’s the only life for you and me
You’ll be my country girl the day I get free
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, April 17, 2009
404 : 5/19/99 : Pentagon Files (Day of Inception)
After all the stones we laid down
are torn asunder
long after every one of us
is buried deep down under
they will mine what's left of our files
and wonder
at the foolish lives we used to lead
They won't care about our spreadsheets
or the way the market fared
They will only wonder how so few
stories and songs were spared
Won't it be a sad
commentary on the lives we shared
huddled in the shadow of the
Pentagon Files
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
are torn asunder
long after every one of us
is buried deep down under
they will mine what's left of our files
and wonder
at the foolish lives we used to lead
They won't care about our spreadsheets
or the way the market fared
They will only wonder how so few
stories and songs were spared
Won't it be a sad
commentary on the lives we shared
huddled in the shadow of the
Pentagon Files
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, April 16, 2009
403 : 5/18/99 : Salvia Divinorum
Salvia divinorum
Why must I strain the bounds of decorum
Always seeking higher wisdom
following my dim light
The tricks of the ancient sages sure
That’s very funny but the page is a blur
as tears of recognition
once again blind my insight
Will you show me
the bastards that control me
or guardians to lead me
to the surer path
Will I see the paradox
wrapped in an enigma box
will I lose it all again
like always in the aftermath
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Why must I strain the bounds of decorum
Always seeking higher wisdom
following my dim light
The tricks of the ancient sages sure
That’s very funny but the page is a blur
as tears of recognition
once again blind my insight
Will you show me
the bastards that control me
or guardians to lead me
to the surer path
Will I see the paradox
wrapped in an enigma box
will I lose it all again
like always in the aftermath
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
402 : 5/17/99 : Nothin’ Quite So Funny as a Fork in the Road (The Inertia Machine 36/36)
Ain’t nothin’ quite so funny as a
fork in the road baby
Look at the decisions we made so far
Sometimes it’s hard to see
I know that, maybe
You’d see a little better if you got out of the car
It’s not a suggestion
It’s exactly what it sounds like
This is not a dagger in my hand
Get out of the car
Get on the fuckin’ bike
Pedal your poor ass across this sorry land
Download from the truth machine
reveals that what the magazine
You read in Doctor Deathwatch’s office said
is true
We’re driving ourselves to death
Every mile is one less breath
I guess it’s up to you asshole
to figure out what to do
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
fork in the road baby
Look at the decisions we made so far
Sometimes it’s hard to see
I know that, maybe
You’d see a little better if you got out of the car
It’s not a suggestion
It’s exactly what it sounds like
This is not a dagger in my hand
Get out of the car
Get on the fuckin’ bike
Pedal your poor ass across this sorry land
Download from the truth machine
reveals that what the magazine
You read in Doctor Deathwatch’s office said
is true
We’re driving ourselves to death
Every mile is one less breath
I guess it’s up to you asshole
to figure out what to do
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
401 : 5/16/99 : The Nothing Box (The Inertia Machine 35/36)
Being implies nonbeing implied
all the usual philosophy tricks were applied
as usual
A vessel was created out of
wasted time to contain the order
that disperses without reason
or rhyme transcausal
The ancients of days long gone
spoke of it in image and song It
had been gone a long long time
so they say
But all who are illuminated
agree that the nothing box
was created agree and have stated
It will be found and opened
some unlucky day
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
all the usual philosophy tricks were applied
as usual
A vessel was created out of
wasted time to contain the order
that disperses without reason
or rhyme transcausal
The ancients of days long gone
spoke of it in image and song It
had been gone a long long time
so they say
But all who are illuminated
agree that the nothing box
was created agree and have stated
It will be found and opened
some unlucky day
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, April 13, 2009
400 : 5/15/99 : Seventh Highway (The Inertia Machine 34/36)
1,443 : 3 ?When will I ride on the seventh highway
the one that stretches on and on, eternal
When will the high road appear before me
What will the I write on the last page of the journal
Are you listening way up on high
are you watching as I write through the pain
We need some maps down here the road we seek is missing
when will I find my way home again
Highway 61, Stanyan Street and Mullholland
Babylon and Ting and the Moonlight Mile
I’ve known so many roads and heard of more
The highway is our destiny our testament and trial
Lord won’t you take the wheel from me
And steer me to the proper exit ramp
steer me onto the seventh highway
Or maybe just leave me a lighted lamp
And I won’t hide it underneath my bed
I won’t let the Devil snuff it out
Otherwise I’ll search the highways in the dark
otherwise I guess I’ll have to tough it out
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, April 06, 2009
399 : 5/14/99 : Angel (The Inertia Machine 33/36)
1,436 : 1 ?When my skull is splitting trying to wrap my head
around the math
I like to talk to my friend Dan about the Buddha path
A different sort of wisdom from the kind I got at home
New perplexing riddles from a different dusty tome
Daniel help me figure out the thoughts that paralyze
Is my kitty going to go to heaven when he dies?
I know it seems a small thing in a world of world-class doubt
But angel kitties are the only thing I think about
Is my kitty sentient does my kitty have a plan
Is he how I think of him a furry little man
Does he have a conscience are there thoughts behind his golden eyes
Daniel is my kitty going to heaven when he dies?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
398 : 5/13/99 : Inauspicious (The Inertia Machine 32/36)
Does it seem to you my friend
we have chosen an inauspicious
moment to arrive? We have a hard
time communicating with such
a badly organized beehive.
Even so we’re here to stay
this unlucky day marks our
disembarking. We have to say we
like it here okay, your technology
is harmless and your solar system
has easy parking. Well it’s never
much of a day the losers say
for colonization. You’ve got
little cause to complain you’ve used
the same argument, we think you
need more civilization
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
we have chosen an inauspicious
moment to arrive? We have a hard
time communicating with such
a badly organized beehive.
Even so we’re here to stay
this unlucky day marks our
disembarking. We have to say we
like it here okay, your technology
is harmless and your solar system
has easy parking. Well it’s never
much of a day the losers say
for colonization. You’ve got
little cause to complain you’ve used
the same argument, we think you
need more civilization
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, March 30, 2009
397 : 5/12/99 : The Flowers of Inertia (The Inertia Machine 31/36)
1,429 : 12 ?The flowers of inertia
gunmetal petal unseen
from here to ancient Persia
It is written what will be has been
Nonetheless they grow
No surprises monstrous sizes they attain
With nothing to stop them on they go
Need no sunlight need no rain
Beware don’t smell that flower
Intoxicating it’s baiting you leading you astray
They designed it in the same secret tower
It’s designed to suck your color till you’re gray
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Transition
The last posting marks the completion of my blogging of Song of the Day volume 1.3, The Functional Notebook. I'll shortly begin blogging volume 1.4, Blank Book.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
396 : 5/11/99 : Perilous (The Inertia Machine 30/36)
We all walk a line a fine line
in this world it’s perilous
Devils and angels that are mine
It's quite a show it’s dangerous
Voices that whisper in my ear
I know the devil is me in disguise
I know I’m a devil in a bad year
The natives call me angel eyes
Talk to your left shoulder check your right
check your blind spot and check the boxes
Check to make sure you’re not in the line of site
they’ve got you set up to release the foxes
All the devils and angels around
Quite a crowd in the waiting room
I searched long but the evidence I found
was nothing but a tract that said boom, boom, boom
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
in this world it’s perilous
Devils and angels that are mine
It's quite a show it’s dangerous
Voices that whisper in my ear
I know the devil is me in disguise
I know I’m a devil in a bad year
The natives call me angel eyes
Talk to your left shoulder check your right
check your blind spot and check the boxes
Check to make sure you’re not in the line of site
they’ve got you set up to release the foxes
All the devils and angels around
Quite a crowd in the waiting room
I searched long but the evidence I found
was nothing but a tract that said boom, boom, boom
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
395 : 5/10/99 : Devils Inside (The Inertia Machine 29/36)
1,416 : 0 ?Devils inside angels outside
never thought that I'd take this ride
through this hectic modern age
that strives so hard to write its own page
hammering against my noggin
so what if I'm just a cog in
some gig past my comprehension
cooked up in some high dimension
by the angels we presume
the cat stares at the corner of the room
And I assume that on some plane
I'd see them too if I'd just strain
my poor brain hard enough to pry
the devils' hands off from each eye
but until then I'll have to trust
if things can balance then they must
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, March 13, 2009
394 : 5/9/99 : Cardamom (The Inertia Machine 28/36)
There he sits the smooth talker
cracking cardamom seeds
A three piece jumped up gun
stocked with virtual recall and satellite feeds
tucked up somewhere back behind his jaw
ain’t he the coolest thing you ever saw
Hyped up tuned up glory my cup
runneth over packed with rhymes and reason
always the seductive argument
and comes in every color for the change of the season
the weave of his tie is hypnotic and he talks so good
‘bout all the things you want to do but don’t think that you should
Boy walk away if you see him
cracking jokes and seeds and tiny skulls
of the the tiny friends who tried to warn you
ain’t you sorry you never listened to their parables
you never take advice from anyone
don’t come crying to me when you run afoul of that gun
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
cracking cardamom seeds
A three piece jumped up gun
stocked with virtual recall and satellite feeds
tucked up somewhere back behind his jaw
ain’t he the coolest thing you ever saw
Hyped up tuned up glory my cup
runneth over packed with rhymes and reason
always the seductive argument
and comes in every color for the change of the season
the weave of his tie is hypnotic and he talks so good
‘bout all the things you want to do but don’t think that you should
Boy walk away if you see him
cracking jokes and seeds and tiny skulls
of the the tiny friends who tried to warn you
ain’t you sorry you never listened to their parables
you never take advice from anyone
don’t come crying to me when you run afoul of that gun
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
393 : 5/8/99 : The Worst Thing About the Devil 2 (The Inertia Machine 27/36)
The worst thing about the devil
he knows how to play the angles
he knows how to hide in the cracks
of situations that are moral tangles
He’s a tricky devil yes it’s true
Almost by definition
It makes my head spin
I just get by by intuition
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
he knows how to play the angles
he knows how to hide in the cracks
of situations that are moral tangles
He’s a tricky devil yes it’s true
Almost by definition
It makes my head spin
I just get by by intuition
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
392 : 5/7/99 : Caravan (The Inertia Machine 26/36)
Dreaming of turquoise blue oceans and
shores of white sands, dreaming of destiny
Dreaming hand in hand
Drifting away on the wind of the fantastic
reality’s so plastic when you drift
oh the change so drastic
Eternal vacation dreaming by the sea
Is that what I call free, forever with nothing to do
Just you and me
Life’s not a day dream a bright shining jewel
it takes a sharp tool to dig it out
and the result is sometimes cruel
so we all dream all we can
with little plan of realizing
our dreamy little caravan
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
shores of white sands, dreaming of destiny
Dreaming hand in hand
Drifting away on the wind of the fantastic
reality’s so plastic when you drift
oh the change so drastic
Eternal vacation dreaming by the sea
Is that what I call free, forever with nothing to do
Just you and me
Life’s not a day dream a bright shining jewel
it takes a sharp tool to dig it out
and the result is sometimes cruel
so we all dream all we can
with little plan of realizing
our dreamy little caravan
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, March 09, 2009
391 : 5/6/99 : Devils and Angels (The Inertia Machine 24/36)
1,409 : 4 ?My devils and angels are cheek to jowl
I give up the ghost and let out a howl
Fight it out between yourselves; I’ll sit it out
I roll up the carpet and give out a shout
There’s an angel on my right, there’s a devil on my left
I see cherubim marching up the treble clef
I see them flying everywhere I see them in my sleep
My devils and my angels dear lord my soul to keep
I went to a shrink to knock my head down a size
I said I can’t distinguish between angel truths and devil lies
look me in my eyes doc and set me straight
is it the angels or the devils that keep me up so late
I’ll make it without therapy I’ll make it without pills
Even the valley of the shadow of death has its thrills
I am working my way upstream I am working my way back
I’m working with my devils and my angels on my back
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, March 08, 2009
390 : 5/5/99 : Engines of Paradox (The Inertia Machine 23/36)
Engines of paradox
are you gonna calculate
our asses out of the slings
we knocked ourselves into
Everybody talks
about how long they had to wait
in their fine fancy dresses and diamond rings
to get inside the clubs you been to
We worry about the stupid lies
We’re drawn to it like shit and flies
The equations the engine’s persuasions
can’t convince us
We’ll dance until the floor caves in
We’ve learned to hate life and crave sin
The engines’ persistence and quiet insistence
Is no evidence to us
Engines of paradox
are you gonna clarify
our sad history of failing
To work out our problems alone
Everybody always stalks
But the closer you get the air seems to rarify
And leaves you clutching the railing
trying to remember where you saw a telephone
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
are you gonna calculate
our asses out of the slings
we knocked ourselves into
Everybody talks
about how long they had to wait
in their fine fancy dresses and diamond rings
to get inside the clubs you been to
We worry about the stupid lies
We’re drawn to it like shit and flies
The equations the engine’s persuasions
can’t convince us
We’ll dance until the floor caves in
We’ve learned to hate life and crave sin
The engines’ persistence and quiet insistence
Is no evidence to us
Engines of paradox
are you gonna clarify
our sad history of failing
To work out our problems alone
Everybody always stalks
But the closer you get the air seems to rarify
And leaves you clutching the railing
trying to remember where you saw a telephone
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, March 05, 2009
389 : 5/4/99 : 4th (The Inertia Machine 22/36)
The fourth level of operations is transcausal
overall patterns emerge which are collated
In the level three cycle
of loop driven paradox engines
Most people have seen projections
of the results of these equations
but few truly comprehend that
what they are seeing is but a shadow
cast by an object that cannot be visualized
an eventuality
At the fourth level of operations
the indigents are unconcerned
with questions of metaphysics
or personal salvation
From the perspective of timelessness
their positions afford
they focus what can only be called minds
on the patterns that seem
always different but always
equally aligned
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
overall patterns emerge which are collated
In the level three cycle
of loop driven paradox engines
Most people have seen projections
of the results of these equations
but few truly comprehend that
what they are seeing is but a shadow
cast by an object that cannot be visualized
an eventuality
At the fourth level of operations
the indigents are unconcerned
with questions of metaphysics
or personal salvation
From the perspective of timelessness
their positions afford
they focus what can only be called minds
on the patterns that seem
always different but always
equally aligned
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Combo Breaker
I noted with chagrin this morning that I'd unthinkingly omitted to write a lyric yesterday, breaking my longest chain of continuous on-time songs since I started tracking continuity - 40. This is not a number that is very impressive to me, but it's hard to sustain an uninterrupted chain of attention and intent.
As opposed to the first project - the one you're reading now - there's no way in the new one to determine whether a song was written on its appointed day or later (I still don't permit working ahead, i.e. banking). Aside from a temporary, ongoing tally for the online status updates I don't keep a permanent record of the continuity figures either. Only the songs remain. I can't decide whether I think that's better or not or irrelevant.
The relevance of any aspect of it is of course arguable.
There are two ways songs get missed: yesterday I fully intended to write one in the evening and simply forgot somewhere along the way. Otherwise I skip it willfully. I feel like I do more of the latter since I stopped highlighting late songs. Sometimes I just decide that I want to relax or whatever and elect before the fact to not write one day, but usually it is a snap decision made in the duress of what I feel I need to accomplish as the day approaches its end. I guess a putative third scenario would be one where despite my best intent and attention I am detained beyond reasonable expectation - chained to a stone, perhaps, left for the eagles to pluck out my liver.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
As opposed to the first project - the one you're reading now - there's no way in the new one to determine whether a song was written on its appointed day or later (I still don't permit working ahead, i.e. banking). Aside from a temporary, ongoing tally for the online status updates I don't keep a permanent record of the continuity figures either. Only the songs remain. I can't decide whether I think that's better or not or irrelevant.
The relevance of any aspect of it is of course arguable.
There are two ways songs get missed: yesterday I fully intended to write one in the evening and simply forgot somewhere along the way. Otherwise I skip it willfully. I feel like I do more of the latter since I stopped highlighting late songs. Sometimes I just decide that I want to relax or whatever and elect before the fact to not write one day, but usually it is a snap decision made in the duress of what I feel I need to accomplish as the day approaches its end. I guess a putative third scenario would be one where despite my best intent and attention I am detained beyond reasonable expectation - chained to a stone, perhaps, left for the eagles to pluck out my liver.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
388 : 5/3/99 : Palindrome (The Inertia Machine 22/36)
Only this, more nothing
everyday dealing with
what anyone can see
and moment by moment and
see, can anyone, what
with dealing everyday
nothing more, this only
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
everyday dealing with
what anyone can see
and moment by moment and
see, can anyone, what
with dealing everyday
nothing more, this only
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, March 02, 2009
387 : 5/2/99 : Chaosium (The Inertia Machine 21/36)
1,401 : 38 ?Welcome back to the chaosium
Gee it’s like you’d never gone
Everything’s just as it was before
the truth seems stupider these days
guess it’s my old fashioned ways
I never knew I was such a prisoner
That’s an old story boy
Fate can make a man a toy
Fate can make a man renounce his creed
our works are wrapped around our wills
One man reaps what another tills
And the social bargain is fulfilled in another filthy deed
Welcome back to the chaosium hotel
Here are all the old friends you knew so well
Such a crew of ragtag rulers just like in the movies man
And if we want it all to change it can
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, February 27, 2009
386 : 5/1/99 : The Pill (The Inertia Machine 20/36)
Son you’re mentally ill won’t you please take the pill
I don’t know if I will I prefer where I am I prefer
things dark ma’am there’s no room here for glam
there’s no room now for big hair or train
tracks that go there or blue skies and clean air
He’s a star by his looks I’ve seen his kind in books
I know all his best hooks there’s nothing new
even among the best and he’s just like
all the rest his soul is half undressed by madness
on all sides bordered take it son please it’s just what
the doctor ordered I’d rather be drawn and
quartered take it don’t you know it’s for your good
can’t live if I have to wear that hood my eyes
cleared and I saw where I stood my eyes
looked back behind I saw the moon was
on my mind it hung there like a gnawed-at rind
it hangs around the way it will I watch it
clock and chart its fill until it shines a full round pill
with madness steaming in its gears I shut my
eyes and stop my ears I’m scared enough without
the moon’s fears scared enough to stick out my
tongue let them bust me down another rung
Let them blow the cork and pull the bung and
let it all come boiling out watch out it’ll
be a rout that leaves the strongest man with
little clout watch which pills I’m given
you think this is crazy you should see me when I’m
driven I thrive on forgotten and unforgiven
I drive on and go straight through here to
nowhere me to you the pill the poem and what is true
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I don’t know if I will I prefer where I am I prefer
things dark ma’am there’s no room here for glam
there’s no room now for big hair or train
tracks that go there or blue skies and clean air
He’s a star by his looks I’ve seen his kind in books
I know all his best hooks there’s nothing new
even among the best and he’s just like
all the rest his soul is half undressed by madness
on all sides bordered take it son please it’s just what
the doctor ordered I’d rather be drawn and
quartered take it don’t you know it’s for your good
can’t live if I have to wear that hood my eyes
cleared and I saw where I stood my eyes
looked back behind I saw the moon was
on my mind it hung there like a gnawed-at rind
it hangs around the way it will I watch it
clock and chart its fill until it shines a full round pill
with madness steaming in its gears I shut my
eyes and stop my ears I’m scared enough without
the moon’s fears scared enough to stick out my
tongue let them bust me down another rung
Let them blow the cork and pull the bung and
let it all come boiling out watch out it’ll
be a rout that leaves the strongest man with
little clout watch which pills I’m given
you think this is crazy you should see me when I’m
driven I thrive on forgotten and unforgiven
I drive on and go straight through here to
nowhere me to you the pill the poem and what is true
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, February 26, 2009
385 : 4/30/99 : Signs of Spring (The Inertia Machine 19/36)
You’d think I’d had enough of doom and damnation
You’d think that I’d be ready to relax the rules
But on and on I go this unsuccessful delineation
Of a perfect system of government for fools
Think about wouldn’t you think a clever kid like me
Would finally figure out the scales are permanently bent
Sometimes the chips fall against you other times the ride is free
And when you’re on the skids it does no good to ask where your luck went
I find it hard to believe there’s a hidden meaning in the words I sing
I can’t believe I’m any closer than I was before
What mystification it must be a sign of spring
The way my luck went walking out the door
What does it mean it’s nothing a con job
Pay no attention do not ask about it
Just thinking about it makes the vessels in my temples throb
I want to climb the ziggurat and shout it
That the whole wide world is a maze of misperception
And you cannot lay your and on anything
And if you come around and find a cold reception
Well I guess it just must be the signs of spring
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
You’d think that I’d be ready to relax the rules
But on and on I go this unsuccessful delineation
Of a perfect system of government for fools
Think about wouldn’t you think a clever kid like me
Would finally figure out the scales are permanently bent
Sometimes the chips fall against you other times the ride is free
And when you’re on the skids it does no good to ask where your luck went
I find it hard to believe there’s a hidden meaning in the words I sing
I can’t believe I’m any closer than I was before
What mystification it must be a sign of spring
The way my luck went walking out the door
What does it mean it’s nothing a con job
Pay no attention do not ask about it
Just thinking about it makes the vessels in my temples throb
I want to climb the ziggurat and shout it
That the whole wide world is a maze of misperception
And you cannot lay your and on anything
And if you come around and find a cold reception
Well I guess it just must be the signs of spring
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
384 : 4/29/99 : Strife (The Inertia Machine 18/36)
Given as we were to faction
Given as we were to strife
we found we couldn't pry ourselves
away from all this modern life
Given as we were to dispute
always cutting out our neighbor
we found competition didn't
really optimize our labor
There's always disagreement
Some good reason we can't get along
and you're a bigger fool than I thought
if you think the answer's in a song
Given a fine chance to save the world
we found we can only reflect what we are
disaffected striving blindly
Darkly crossed by some dark star
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Given as we were to strife
we found we couldn't pry ourselves
away from all this modern life
Given as we were to dispute
always cutting out our neighbor
we found competition didn't
really optimize our labor
There's always disagreement
Some good reason we can't get along
and you're a bigger fool than I thought
if you think the answer's in a song
Given a fine chance to save the world
we found we can only reflect what we are
disaffected striving blindly
Darkly crossed by some dark star
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
383 : 4/28/99 : Cataract (The Inertia Machine 17/36)
Where is the cataract in my eye
the void that is blocking my vision
between what is perceived to be
and what we hope for and what
it seems could be, there
is the cataract in the
impulse of moments
in a flash of inattention
in the sly assumption of some
universal principle of slack
The gap yawns open and
society falls through the
cracks again
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
the void that is blocking my vision
between what is perceived to be
and what we hope for and what
it seems could be, there
is the cataract in the
impulse of moments
in a flash of inattention
in the sly assumption of some
universal principle of slack
The gap yawns open and
society falls through the
cracks again
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, February 23, 2009
382 : 4/27/99 : Parthenon Blues (The Inertia Machine 16/36)
1,394 : 31 ?In the beginning they say
there was one mind one being
The meaning of the division
or separation, or
creation of the many
minds is shrouded in mystery
Lord, it’s not so easy to
know anymore
I wish I was back at the Parthenon
when abstraction had not gotten so far along
Lord there’s just not enough mind
to go around these days
I’m dying for the valleys of my youth
when we stood in the shade of the
fine things we’d made when
the music of the spheres was clearer
I guess if they had the option
they’d take a turn in my shoes
But there’s no trading places this
turn round oh it gives me the Parthenon Blues
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, February 22, 2009
381 : 4/26/99 : The Chaos (The Inertia Machine 15/36)
The Chaos, this pervasive static
cannot completely disguise
The patterns of an underlying meaning
from forming before my eyes
The chaos they say was introduced
by a virus into the system’s core
No one knows whether God or man made it
we just know it wasn’t there before
Under the lens an image coalesces
Like smoke turning to words in the air
Spells out a signal from the heart of darkness
That spins at the center of the Spidergod’s lair
Where do all the useful moments go?
What further process does entropy’s engine drive
They all wind up in heaven you know
Almost nobody gets there alive
I just can’t imagine things being any worse than they are
and if I’m to fall apart that isn’t any great loss
even universes go to pieces by and by
and all around it all dissolves in the Chaos
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
cannot completely disguise
The patterns of an underlying meaning
from forming before my eyes
The chaos they say was introduced
by a virus into the system’s core
No one knows whether God or man made it
we just know it wasn’t there before
Under the lens an image coalesces
Like smoke turning to words in the air
Spells out a signal from the heart of darkness
That spins at the center of the Spidergod’s lair
Where do all the useful moments go?
What further process does entropy’s engine drive
They all wind up in heaven you know
Almost nobody gets there alive
I just can’t imagine things being any worse than they are
and if I’m to fall apart that isn’t any great loss
even universes go to pieces by and by
and all around it all dissolves in the Chaos
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, February 21, 2009
380 : 4/25/99 : The Theory (The Inertia Machine 14/36)
So the theory goes
Each life each mind each moment
is encoded is embedded
is infinitely present in the universal structure
in the fabric of time
so the theory goes
beyond life beyond mind beyond the moment
that is all we can receive
we will all rise again
we will all exist
or to put it another way
we will have already existed
we will all be together
we will all be present
so the theory goes
but proposes no suggestion
of the nature of the being
we shall become
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Each life each mind each moment
is encoded is embedded
is infinitely present in the universal structure
in the fabric of time
so the theory goes
beyond life beyond mind beyond the moment
that is all we can receive
we will all rise again
we will all exist
or to put it another way
we will have already existed
we will all be together
we will all be present
so the theory goes
but proposes no suggestion
of the nature of the being
we shall become
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
379 : 4/24/99 : The Disagreement (The Inertia Machine 13/36)
The disagreement involved a resolution by the
committee to establish a fixed frame of cardinal
directions to be used for the organized division
of known space into a theoretical grid.
It was agreed unanimously that the benefits
of a fixed frame of reference would be
profound in ecumenical studies of astronomy,
temporal logistics, naturally in space exploration.
The disagreement occurred over which direction
was to be deemed “up.” There was a surprising
diversity of opinions on the subject. It was
astonishing how vehemently each participant
held to the particular set of barely
articulated assumptions and cultural
prejudices that gave rise to
a specific definition of up. The entire
project threatened to founder the first
day, before a single point was
triangulated. Fortunately, an older
scholar of spiritual texts, who was there
mainly for the luncheon, suggested they
simply make a new system of measurements -
new cardinal points, new axis coordinates -
and assign them randomly. “Each of
us,” he said, “will in the inmost heart
know which way is truly up.”
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
committee to establish a fixed frame of cardinal
directions to be used for the organized division
of known space into a theoretical grid.
It was agreed unanimously that the benefits
of a fixed frame of reference would be
profound in ecumenical studies of astronomy,
temporal logistics, naturally in space exploration.
The disagreement occurred over which direction
was to be deemed “up.” There was a surprising
diversity of opinions on the subject. It was
astonishing how vehemently each participant
held to the particular set of barely
articulated assumptions and cultural
prejudices that gave rise to
a specific definition of up. The entire
project threatened to founder the first
day, before a single point was
triangulated. Fortunately, an older
scholar of spiritual texts, who was there
mainly for the luncheon, suggested they
simply make a new system of measurements -
new cardinal points, new axis coordinates -
and assign them randomly. “Each of
us,” he said, “will in the inmost heart
know which way is truly up.”
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
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