I’ve been patient as can be
I’ve written many a line about me
seems I’ve got no stories left
I am inconsolable bereft
I have waited still and calm
for a word just like a balm
to come down like morning rain
to feel joy feel joy again
I’ve been patient I’ve been true
I have sworn myself to you
When each day ends like the rest
I have not put you to the test
Will you forget me always
will you walk with me all my days
Will you keep me dedicated
will this fearful thirst be sated
I’ll be patient one more time
wait and listen it’s my dime
wait and offer one last rhyme
hang my head it’s not a crime
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Friday, April 02, 2010
723 : 4/2/00 : Golem
I feel like I’ve been carved from wood
hollowed out and filled with lead
I feel my hands are seven thousand
miles from my head
The Golem of what’s left of me
orbits in an unreal space
Leaving me to contemplate
the thing that I refuse to face
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
hollowed out and filled with lead
I feel my hands are seven thousand
miles from my head
The Golem of what’s left of me
orbits in an unreal space
Leaving me to contemplate
the thing that I refuse to face
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, April 01, 2010
722 : 4/1/00 : Fool
A fool rushes in
ready to begin
the evening’s entertainment
the table was set
the guests were grabbing what they could get
most were already moderately bent
and the fool sang
You’re all gonna die
by and by by and by
I look at you and see only earth
ashes to ashes dust to dust
pretend the bell tolls for your neighbor if you must...
pretend for what pretending’s worth
have you seen it in your dreams
the long table we’re all bound for it seems
welcome to the banquet honored fool
grab a fork and feed your neighbor
an eternity sentence of easy labor
Welcome to the age of the golden rule
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
ready to begin
the evening’s entertainment
the table was set
the guests were grabbing what they could get
most were already moderately bent
and the fool sang
You’re all gonna die
by and by by and by
I look at you and see only earth
ashes to ashes dust to dust
pretend the bell tolls for your neighbor if you must...
pretend for what pretending’s worth
have you seen it in your dreams
the long table we’re all bound for it seems
welcome to the banquet honored fool
grab a fork and feed your neighbor
an eternity sentence of easy labor
Welcome to the age of the golden rule
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
721 : 3/31/00 : After the Wave
After the wave... we said:
now everything’s gonna be different
those days we thought
every idea we had was heaven sent
This has got to be the band
that’s the band
that plays a song that saves the world
and makes me rich and famous
I’m not gonna be the man so bland
I dreamed I was for five long years
when the song came to claim us
After the flood my blood
ran hot and cold for no reason
these days the kids think that
everything that’s old is out of season
And I ride a wave, a wave so high
the world’s lost sight
of how I transcended destiny
and the real big sound
is coming down and I know I know I know
that it is meant for me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
now everything’s gonna be different
those days we thought
every idea we had was heaven sent
This has got to be the band
that’s the band
that plays a song that saves the world
and makes me rich and famous
I’m not gonna be the man so bland
I dreamed I was for five long years
when the song came to claim us
After the flood my blood
ran hot and cold for no reason
these days the kids think that
everything that’s old is out of season
And I ride a wave, a wave so high
the world’s lost sight
of how I transcended destiny
and the real big sound
is coming down and I know I know I know
that it is meant for me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
720 : 3/30/00 : Edge
It doesn’t pay to fool around
around the edge
This world’s a sucker bet
and we all hedge
trying to get the odds on our side
knowing we can get taken for a ride
any time at all
one day we all take the fall
Isn’t it a shame we
have to go away
leave this place forever
until judgment day
until then at the edge you’ll find me
until the great machine unwinds me
and feeds me into the endless loop
another dim child fortune’s dupe
It doesn’t pay to fool around
when you’re at your rope’s end
trying to be strong and wait
For what’s around the next bend
Maybe it’s as good as it gets
So sorry there are no safe bets
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
around the edge
This world’s a sucker bet
and we all hedge
trying to get the odds on our side
knowing we can get taken for a ride
any time at all
one day we all take the fall
Isn’t it a shame we
have to go away
leave this place forever
until judgment day
until then at the edge you’ll find me
until the great machine unwinds me
and feeds me into the endless loop
another dim child fortune’s dupe
It doesn’t pay to fool around
when you’re at your rope’s end
trying to be strong and wait
For what’s around the next bend
Maybe it’s as good as it gets
So sorry there are no safe bets
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, March 29, 2010
719 : 3/29/00 : Heroes
1,790 : 7 ?Heroes fools villains tools
play parts penny wise
push the wheel around
Kings or Queens ways and means
Who knows who rules
all end in the ground
Heroes heroes sums and zeroes
rise to play their piece
bastards minions thieves
Rise and go tally ho
dragging us along
scatter us like leaves
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, March 28, 2010
718 : 3/28/00 : Internalog
The interalog is registering
a complaint that something’s stirring
that we thought we had got rid of
very long ago
It sounds a bit like insect legs
assembling tents with tiny pegs
to worship insect deities
with antennae bowed low
But then again it sounds a lot
like something burning in a pot
a nasty lump of sorrow
from an undigested past
And if that explanation’s thin
allow me to explain again
the image will not hold
because I’m an iconoclast
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
a complaint that something’s stirring
that we thought we had got rid of
very long ago
It sounds a bit like insect legs
assembling tents with tiny pegs
to worship insect deities
with antennae bowed low
But then again it sounds a lot
like something burning in a pot
a nasty lump of sorrow
from an undigested past
And if that explanation’s thin
allow me to explain again
the image will not hold
because I’m an iconoclast
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, March 27, 2010
717 : 3/27/00 : Metaphysical Archaeology
Metaphysical archaeology
excavating all traces of philosophy
ancient protocols of ancient kings
reeds stalks clocks and thick gold rings
Teleological anthropology
The talking cure for cultural oncology
Sometimes we prefer the sickness to the cure
sometimes we’re not so sure
Long ago and far away
Try to understand it in the present day
Left with strange words and artifacts
Unknown parties unknown pacts
Ontological flow dynamics
reason hides in the usual bag of tricks
everybody’s got an explanation
to me it’s all just re-reiteration
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
excavating all traces of philosophy
ancient protocols of ancient kings
reeds stalks clocks and thick gold rings
Teleological anthropology
The talking cure for cultural oncology
Sometimes we prefer the sickness to the cure
sometimes we’re not so sure
Long ago and far away
Try to understand it in the present day
Left with strange words and artifacts
Unknown parties unknown pacts
Ontological flow dynamics
reason hides in the usual bag of tricks
everybody’s got an explanation
to me it’s all just re-reiteration
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, March 26, 2010
Yum Yum Yummy
The inimitable Hungry Bug marks the completion of A Song a Day, project 1, volume 5, Untitled. Tomorrow I'll start posting volume 6, Before the Wave.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
716 : 3/26/00 : Hungry Bug
Hungry bug could
not stop eating away
at the fabric of order
call it a programming error
in the universal virtual reality
generator
Yum yum eat it up
yum yum eat it up real good
just keep packing it away
You knew you would
Hungry bug
Yum yum yum yum
to take the cake
yum yum yum yum
And let the people eat it
Yeah yummy ummy
That hungry
Yummy
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
not stop eating away
at the fabric of order
call it a programming error
in the universal virtual reality
generator
Yum yum eat it up
yum yum eat it up real good
just keep packing it away
You knew you would
Hungry bug
Yum yum yum yum
to take the cake
yum yum yum yum
And let the people eat it
Yeah yummy ummy
That hungry
Yummy
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, March 25, 2010
715 : 3/25/00 : Adios
Adios my friends
head westward down the sunlit trail
as the moon rises
so wide and round and pale
remember me as one
who stayed to see
the glorious battle won
Dear friends
Adios
and so it goes
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
head westward down the sunlit trail
as the moon rises
so wide and round and pale
remember me as one
who stayed to see
the glorious battle won
Dear friends
Adios
and so it goes
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
714 : 3/24/00 : Napster
Napster
I am sleeping now
the visionary
creeping out now
Look not back
look only fore
Aft away
No longer wanting more
napster
sleeping genius
creeping to be in us
past nothing
here it comes
dissolving
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I am sleeping now
the visionary
creeping out now
Look not back
look only fore
Aft away
No longer wanting more
napster
sleeping genius
creeping to be in us
past nothing
here it comes
dissolving
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
713 : 3/23/00 : Start
You better watch what you ask for
You better watch what you start
Once you start something
You’re bound to play the part
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
You better watch what you start
Once you start something
You’re bound to play the part
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, March 22, 2010
712 : 3/22/00 : Bootstrap Gospel
Bootstrap Gospel start from zero
no help no tears bootstrap hero
don’t need anything but true grit
trust me I’ve got plenty of it
Bootstrap Jesus I’ll save myself
I’ll store myself up on the top shelf
I don’t want anything anything
I don’t want what an angel can bring
I don’t want fuss or ado
I only I only want you
bootstrap gospel write my own
listen to me piss and moan
never really cold or hot
pull myself up it’s all I’ve got
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
no help no tears bootstrap hero
don’t need anything but true grit
trust me I’ve got plenty of it
Bootstrap Jesus I’ll save myself
I’ll store myself up on the top shelf
I don’t want anything anything
I don’t want what an angel can bring
I don’t want fuss or ado
I only I only want you
bootstrap gospel write my own
listen to me piss and moan
never really cold or hot
pull myself up it’s all I’ve got
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, March 21, 2010
711 : 3/21/00 : Impatience Too
Loathing agony
impatience too
waiting for the download
waiting for you
I’ll die of impatience
I’ll go to my grave
waiting for the
big computer
to save
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
impatience too
waiting for the download
waiting for you
I’ll die of impatience
I’ll go to my grave
waiting for the
big computer
to save
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, March 20, 2010
710 : 3/20/00 : Sleep
Sleep calls the restless crowds
are silent quiet
for once in all
the days of murmuring
Like a hammer like a wave
black velvet draught
the sleep king gave
Sleep comes quiets all
Silence in the pinnacle
Silence in the hall
comes bearing a dark
and silent gift
this message this riddle
this eye this gift
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
are silent quiet
for once in all
the days of murmuring
Like a hammer like a wave
black velvet draught
the sleep king gave
Sleep comes quiets all
Silence in the pinnacle
Silence in the hall
comes bearing a dark
and silent gift
this message this riddle
this eye this gift
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, March 19, 2010
709 : 3/19/00 : Joy
There’s joy in this world I’m finding
When you least expect the dark unwinding
revealing a feeling a glimmer
of heavenly lights
The eye in the triangle may mean more
than another foolish secret or golden door
the angel of this strange hell has seen
unimagined sights
the light was in the world but the world didn’t know
am I going to be ready when the man says go?
one more time one fast rhyme I see
it all written
But the story of my joy is the center of all
The difference in a mirror a door and a wall
the antidote to what it wrote the primeval
serpent has bitten
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
When you least expect the dark unwinding
revealing a feeling a glimmer
of heavenly lights
The eye in the triangle may mean more
than another foolish secret or golden door
the angel of this strange hell has seen
unimagined sights
the light was in the world but the world didn’t know
am I going to be ready when the man says go?
one more time one fast rhyme I see
it all written
But the story of my joy is the center of all
The difference in a mirror a door and a wall
the antidote to what it wrote the primeval
serpent has bitten
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, March 18, 2010
708 : 3/18/00 : Perfect
I remember all the hard times perfectly
And the shrink said to be realistic see
I guess I’m hung up on hope and good intentions
I guess that I’m obsessed with being free
this wasn’t supposed to be all about me
It seems I misjudged the thing’s dimensions
This isn’t a story a riddle or poem
it isn’t going platinum or even chrome
A song a day I guess I lack direction
once there was a firestorm wherever I’d roam
not too much left going on in my dome
are these the wages of striving for perfection
I’ve written this song a thousand times
that isn’t true yet but hey it rhymes
But I feel it now just as I felt it then
When Eric and I spoke in Northern climes
of the perfect tree and fate’s chimes
I’m searching for my perfect world again
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
And the shrink said to be realistic see
I guess I’m hung up on hope and good intentions
I guess that I’m obsessed with being free
this wasn’t supposed to be all about me
It seems I misjudged the thing’s dimensions
This isn’t a story a riddle or poem
it isn’t going platinum or even chrome
A song a day I guess I lack direction
once there was a firestorm wherever I’d roam
not too much left going on in my dome
are these the wages of striving for perfection
I’ve written this song a thousand times
that isn’t true yet but hey it rhymes
But I feel it now just as I felt it then
When Eric and I spoke in Northern climes
of the perfect tree and fate’s chimes
I’m searching for my perfect world again
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
707 : 3/17/00 : Preemptive Strike!
Let’s blow the fuck out of everything
Let’s have a preemptive strike!
Let’s have the war to end it all
impale the future on a golden spike
Let’s bomb the state of the union address
Let’s bomb the treaty talks
Let’s bomb the People’s Congress
Blown to the wind like yarrow stalks
in another couple billion years
it’ll all burn up anyway
what the hell difference could it make
if we blew it up today?
at least it would end all the pain and strife
sounds crazy but it would
a preemptive strike on everything
now and forever bad and good
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Let’s have a preemptive strike!
Let’s have the war to end it all
impale the future on a golden spike
Let’s bomb the state of the union address
Let’s bomb the treaty talks
Let’s bomb the People’s Congress
Blown to the wind like yarrow stalks
in another couple billion years
it’ll all burn up anyway
what the hell difference could it make
if we blew it up today?
at least it would end all the pain and strife
sounds crazy but it would
a preemptive strike on everything
now and forever bad and good
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
706 : 3/16/00 : Be Quiet
how shall we be quiet how shall we pray
how will I let go at the end of the day
I know how to be silent, know how to be still
I know in my black heart there’s a truth that can kill
how will I still the tempest deep inside
how will I kill the fear of being taken for a ride
I know how to be stoic I know how to be grim
I know why Jesus wept but I’m not him
How will we be peaceful how will we make love
how will we find the attitude that fits like a glove
I know that there’s an answer from very long ago
I beg the lord down on my knees don’t tell just show
how can I be quiet still my crazy head
how can I talk my way out of sleeping in this bed
when I’m the one who made it I’m the one to blame
When nothing really matters when it all turns out the same
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
how will I let go at the end of the day
I know how to be silent, know how to be still
I know in my black heart there’s a truth that can kill
how will I still the tempest deep inside
how will I kill the fear of being taken for a ride
I know how to be stoic I know how to be grim
I know why Jesus wept but I’m not him
How will we be peaceful how will we make love
how will we find the attitude that fits like a glove
I know that there’s an answer from very long ago
I beg the lord down on my knees don’t tell just show
how can I be quiet still my crazy head
how can I talk my way out of sleeping in this bed
when I’m the one who made it I’m the one to blame
When nothing really matters when it all turns out the same
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, March 15, 2010
705 : 3/15/00 : Pointless
1,776 : 1 ?Your pointed comments leave little to imagine
I may be unambitious but that’s not such a bad sin
Does there really have to be a point to everything
So I am pointless and pointless sing
La la la
You’d like to put me in my place and knock me down
You may be bigger but I’ll make you share this town
someone’s got to be the one who doesn’t have it all
Someone’s got to have the guts to scale the wall
ha ha ha
This may be pointless but it keeps me out of hell
I may be blind but I can hear the tolling bell
If I related all that I have mulled over in thought
You would be amazed at just what song you bought
La la la
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, March 14, 2010
704 : 3/14/00 : Shaky Hands
Shaky hands
shaky prose
knocked down with a fire hose
hard to change
hard to resist
hard to look and not get pissed
shaky morals
fading fast
tempted by a rich repast
double mind
forked tongue
in between not old not young
look at me
on shaky stilts
patchwork mental crazy quilts
Shaky hands
Steady heart
not just any young upstart
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
shaky prose
knocked down with a fire hose
hard to change
hard to resist
hard to look and not get pissed
shaky morals
fading fast
tempted by a rich repast
double mind
forked tongue
in between not old not young
look at me
on shaky stilts
patchwork mental crazy quilts
Shaky hands
Steady heart
not just any young upstart
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
703 : 3/13/00 : Persacutrix
Persacutrix there’s no quick fix
can you hear it
on my dime a verbal climb
a verbal spirit
It’s literal just like a bell
that tolls for thee
She takes her picks the persacutrix
shows for free
The regular just raise the bar
I’m reaching for glory
Who strives to grasp but fails to clasp
the truth of the story
The pin drops my heart stops
and skips a beat
someday the thing won’t start again
won’t that be neat
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
can you hear it
on my dime a verbal climb
a verbal spirit
It’s literal just like a bell
that tolls for thee
She takes her picks the persacutrix
shows for free
The regular just raise the bar
I’m reaching for glory
Who strives to grasp but fails to clasp
the truth of the story
The pin drops my heart stops
and skips a beat
someday the thing won’t start again
won’t that be neat
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, March 12, 2010
702 : 3/12/00 : Fast Master
Past fast master
of the long goodbye
too many nights
deep in thought and high
too many days on the
assembly line
has taken its toll
upon my spine
fast master I’m
a whiz with tricks
for reading hidden futures
in the yarrow sticks
for scrawling down a message
from the great beyond
watch me conjure
with a wave of my magic wand
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
of the long goodbye
too many nights
deep in thought and high
too many days on the
assembly line
has taken its toll
upon my spine
fast master I’m
a whiz with tricks
for reading hidden futures
in the yarrow sticks
for scrawling down a message
from the great beyond
watch me conjure
with a wave of my magic wand
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, March 11, 2010
701 : 3/11/00 : Fugitive
I’m a fugitive I’m on the run
stolen car stolen name stolen gun
I’m blazing a path straight to Tijuana
smoking lucky strike and marijuana
I’m a desperado a man for hire
matched sixes and leather attire
I’m dangerous not a man to know
A man calls with a number and I go
I’m a fugitive I’m hiding away
Won’t poke my head out for many a day
I’ve done more wrong things than I can count
but the worst is I went too many times to the fount
someday the statute of limitations will expire
then I won’t be running hiding or for hire
I’ll show my face in the sun
no more a fugitive living by the gun
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
stolen car stolen name stolen gun
I’m blazing a path straight to Tijuana
smoking lucky strike and marijuana
I’m a desperado a man for hire
matched sixes and leather attire
I’m dangerous not a man to know
A man calls with a number and I go
I’m a fugitive I’m hiding away
Won’t poke my head out for many a day
I’ve done more wrong things than I can count
but the worst is I went too many times to the fount
someday the statute of limitations will expire
then I won’t be running hiding or for hire
I’ll show my face in the sun
no more a fugitive living by the gun
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
700 : 3/10/00 : Beaten
My qualifications seem
strangely arbitrary
I know I’m supposed to be
doing the right things but
I just feel beaten anyway
I just feel beaten again
the answers gleaned thus far
seem very suspect to me
I know I’m supposed to be
making a difference but
I just feel beaten anyway
I just feel beaten again
I’m made of dust and air
numinous ethereal
I know I’m supposed to be
solid and present but
I’ve just been beaten again
I just feel beaten anyway
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
strangely arbitrary
I know I’m supposed to be
doing the right things but
I just feel beaten anyway
I just feel beaten again
the answers gleaned thus far
seem very suspect to me
I know I’m supposed to be
making a difference but
I just feel beaten anyway
I just feel beaten again
I’m made of dust and air
numinous ethereal
I know I’m supposed to be
solid and present but
I’ve just been beaten again
I just feel beaten anyway
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
699 : 3/9/00 : Remembrance
Remembrance of things long gone
ain’t I a useless one
While others laugh and carry on
I’ll be remembering
And all you’ve heard so far is lies
My mouth must stink and buzz with flies
What should a man do before he dies
To be remembered?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
ain’t I a useless one
While others laugh and carry on
I’ll be remembering
And all you’ve heard so far is lies
My mouth must stink and buzz with flies
What should a man do before he dies
To be remembered?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, March 08, 2010
698 : 3/8/00 : Switch
1,769 : 3 ?Calcutta express watercress
desire and fire and fire
Malcontent and heaven sent
one day I’ll make it underneath the wire
Nonsense verses read as curses
time relentless unbending
I’m full of shouts looking for outs
some way to stop the signals I’m sending
Bent and battered nothing mattered
so I pushed it into the sea
it floated a while sank with a smile
it never stopped looking at me
the thing in the jar got hit by a car
and was lost forever in a ditch
while I counted change they did a rearrange
then someone pulled a switch
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, March 07, 2010
697 : 3/7/00 : Evolve
Evolve for a purpose
rise to meet God
Individual is meaningless
is fertilizing sod
Evolve due to physics
the meaningless accretion of form
A meaningless evolution of
attraction in the chaos storm
chalk it up to evolution
pass it off as a game
pass it off as a painful
play of words in a pointless name
Nevertheless the cycles
will turn and turn again
As we argue our time erodes
out from under us like sand
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
rise to meet God
Individual is meaningless
is fertilizing sod
Evolve due to physics
the meaningless accretion of form
A meaningless evolution of
attraction in the chaos storm
chalk it up to evolution
pass it off as a game
pass it off as a painful
play of words in a pointless name
Nevertheless the cycles
will turn and turn again
As we argue our time erodes
out from under us like sand
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, March 06, 2010
696 : 3/6/00 : Must I Crawl
Must I crawl now
to reach the finish line
after all now
is this what I came to find
failing dignity
and pride where did that go
one more thing this city
swallowed up whole
Must I crawl now
to get underneath the wire
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
to reach the finish line
after all now
is this what I came to find
failing dignity
and pride where did that go
one more thing this city
swallowed up whole
Must I crawl now
to get underneath the wire
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, March 05, 2010
695 : 3/5/00 : Further Memories of Youth
Where to begin
so many years gone
since I tuned in
and sang a sad song
I dreamed
and couldn’t dream if it was a dream
I blinked and
couldn’t find the edge of the stream
all the temponauts
wondering what to remember
A hard July
or an amazing December
to our future pioneers
these further memories of youth
the taste of clover
a weekend in Duluth
3 hours on an airplane
3 years in a house
12 nights of the ice storm
12 years quiet as a mouse
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
so many years gone
since I tuned in
and sang a sad song
I dreamed
and couldn’t dream if it was a dream
I blinked and
couldn’t find the edge of the stream
all the temponauts
wondering what to remember
A hard July
or an amazing December
to our future pioneers
these further memories of youth
the taste of clover
a weekend in Duluth
3 hours on an airplane
3 years in a house
12 nights of the ice storm
12 years quiet as a mouse
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, March 04, 2010
694 : 3/4/00 : Lyric Plasma
Rolling through the gray miasma
this is the fourth state of song lyric plasma
Word without end everlasting diction
Made possible and brought to you by friction
What’s the point you well may ask
I cannot answer I just set myself a task
Row by row I’m a bricklayer true
I’m just trying to build a bridge of words to you
You can’t walk on words or eat them either
to be or not to be or both or neither
words will not answer the questions they pose
by any name a rose is a rose is a rose
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
this is the fourth state of song lyric plasma
Word without end everlasting diction
Made possible and brought to you by friction
What’s the point you well may ask
I cannot answer I just set myself a task
Row by row I’m a bricklayer true
I’m just trying to build a bridge of words to you
You can’t walk on words or eat them either
to be or not to be or both or neither
words will not answer the questions they pose
by any name a rose is a rose is a rose
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
secretary blues
One of those nights where about the only task I can stomach in the face of an overwhelming sense of futility is transcribing old songs from their pen and paper stasis into the infinite fungibility of digital. It's secretary's work, and I guess I've spent a good piece of my life filling that role. While Jennie watches American Idol I sit and churn it out, listening to Led Zeppelin on the headphones, soundtrack of drug-addled youth, and find it about as satisfying as I find anything lately, which is not saying a hell of a lot.
I've been on a tear with it, which is why the daily song posting has been so reliable. I'm nearing the end of May 2000, not quite halfway through the second to last volume. Closing in on the end of the first project. Which ended very early in 2001. The new project starts early May of 2005, which raises the question of how to do the transition, if I'm going to stick with trying to post things on their birthdays, which does make keeping track easier. I've thought about taking it easy for four months, perhaps putting up the some dozens of songs I've written outside of this project, as many as I can find anyway (some, having never made the jump to digital, are probably lost forever, gone to the fire in one of my youthful spasms of eliminating anything of no immediate utility. I don't have much regret about this, though there are a couple things I wouldn't mind seeing again. I suppose it might be a good time to get it all into ones and zeros.
I could also start dual-posting in May, wrap up the first and start up the next over the same 8 months... Which holds a certain twisted appeal to me in my fetish for round figures and weird superstition about the number five (going from posting ten years after the fact to five). I should push back against that kind of thing, though, and then again I have a feeling even one a day is a little much for most if not all of my tiny band of beleaguered partisans. So I suppose May of 2011 it will be.
Despite everything I once again finished, in some sense of the word, the RPM Challenge I alluded to before. The "album" is a horror, an endurance exhibition of pure stubbornness. In the context of complete failure to generate instrumentals I busted out the handheld digital and recorded all 28 songs written in February - one take, a capella, zero preparation. Even God doesn't want to listen to this one. And with that I think I am truly done with that sort of thing. I feel like I wrote elsewhere, some other year, but can't track it down, that these things are mainly about encouraging people to realize that productivity can be a choice, which is not really, at this point, the lesson that I need to learn.
As well, I think no more of these notes aside, for a while.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I've been on a tear with it, which is why the daily song posting has been so reliable. I'm nearing the end of May 2000, not quite halfway through the second to last volume. Closing in on the end of the first project. Which ended very early in 2001. The new project starts early May of 2005, which raises the question of how to do the transition, if I'm going to stick with trying to post things on their birthdays, which does make keeping track easier. I've thought about taking it easy for four months, perhaps putting up the some dozens of songs I've written outside of this project, as many as I can find anyway (some, having never made the jump to digital, are probably lost forever, gone to the fire in one of my youthful spasms of eliminating anything of no immediate utility. I don't have much regret about this, though there are a couple things I wouldn't mind seeing again. I suppose it might be a good time to get it all into ones and zeros.
I could also start dual-posting in May, wrap up the first and start up the next over the same 8 months... Which holds a certain twisted appeal to me in my fetish for round figures and weird superstition about the number five (going from posting ten years after the fact to five). I should push back against that kind of thing, though, and then again I have a feeling even one a day is a little much for most if not all of my tiny band of beleaguered partisans. So I suppose May of 2011 it will be.
Despite everything I once again finished, in some sense of the word, the RPM Challenge I alluded to before. The "album" is a horror, an endurance exhibition of pure stubbornness. In the context of complete failure to generate instrumentals I busted out the handheld digital and recorded all 28 songs written in February - one take, a capella, zero preparation. Even God doesn't want to listen to this one. And with that I think I am truly done with that sort of thing. I feel like I wrote elsewhere, some other year, but can't track it down, that these things are mainly about encouraging people to realize that productivity can be a choice, which is not really, at this point, the lesson that I need to learn.
As well, I think no more of these notes aside, for a while.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
693 : 3/3/00 : Pear Quartet
Four ripe round pears
Pear quartet gets stares
lined up just so
four three two go
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Pear quartet gets stares
lined up just so
four three two go
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
692 : 3/2/00 : Quartet Pair
Monday, March 01, 2010
691 : 3/1/00 : My First Best Friend
My first best friend was Robert
but they made me move away
some other school some space issue
I remember it was a hard day
Robert’s dad and mine were both ministers
he gave me a book and a candy pipe
we didn’t really talk that much
we were both the quiet type
I got sent to some other school
didn’t see him for five years
It’s funny how a person
is there then just disappears
we stayed friends all those years
hung out in the neighborhood
and he moved onto another place
disappeared this time for good
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
but they made me move away
some other school some space issue
I remember it was a hard day
Robert’s dad and mine were both ministers
he gave me a book and a candy pipe
we didn’t really talk that much
we were both the quiet type
I got sent to some other school
didn’t see him for five years
It’s funny how a person
is there then just disappears
we stayed friends all those years
hung out in the neighborhood
and he moved onto another place
disappeared this time for good
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, February 28, 2010
690 : 2/29/00 : Outside the Lines
I got kicked out of kindergarten
for coloring outside the lines
the first time
I knew better the next time around
I didn’t make a sound
If you wind up in the wrong room
on your first day of school
they’ll just send you home
eventually
but sooner or later you got to go
you got your own row to hoe
and if you stay inside the lines
you’ll never know
what happens outside
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
for coloring outside the lines
the first time
I knew better the next time around
I didn’t make a sound
If you wind up in the wrong room
on your first day of school
they’ll just send you home
eventually
but sooner or later you got to go
you got your own row to hoe
and if you stay inside the lines
you’ll never know
what happens outside
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
689 : 2/28/00 : Monday Losers
Sundays it plays out
winners or losers
games and distractions
barflies and cruisers
but the Monday losers
gotta get up and go
Yeah the rest of us
just don’t know
Well the whistle don’t blow
these days we keep our own clocks
shackled to our wrists
So back in the box
And only money talks
in this world baby
and to Monday losers
it only says maybe
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
winners or losers
games and distractions
barflies and cruisers
but the Monday losers
gotta get up and go
Yeah the rest of us
just don’t know
Well the whistle don’t blow
these days we keep our own clocks
shackled to our wrists
So back in the box
And only money talks
in this world baby
and to Monday losers
it only says maybe
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, February 27, 2010
688 : 2/27/00 : Days Like This
Days like this I used to think
Better off just to get high
but too much time passed me by
Days like this they’ll warn you of
So I face it crystal clear
taste its measure and feel fear
Did they tell me there’d be days like this
they must of but I didn’t see
they were really talking to me
got no special dispensation
get these days like everyone
when the weight feels like a bone
If I’ve learned one thing it’s this
whatever passes comes again
if it’s not now it will be then
so forget your omens and your signs
days like this can’t be predicted
anyone can be inflicted
One more verse to nail it down
a day like this can’t kill me so
I guess it’s time for me to go
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Better off just to get high
but too much time passed me by
Days like this they’ll warn you of
So I face it crystal clear
taste its measure and feel fear
Did they tell me there’d be days like this
they must of but I didn’t see
they were really talking to me
got no special dispensation
get these days like everyone
when the weight feels like a bone
If I’ve learned one thing it’s this
whatever passes comes again
if it’s not now it will be then
so forget your omens and your signs
days like this can’t be predicted
anyone can be inflicted
One more verse to nail it down
a day like this can’t kill me so
I guess it’s time for me to go
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, February 26, 2010
687 : 2/26/00 : Soil
The worm devours death and makes a bed for life
The cycle of the soil never ending
When I hear the word revolve I test my knife
worm father and his soil wife
never mind the future, the rules we’re bending
the tragedy we make up as we go
never mind the message we’re sending
never mind it’s for ourselves we’re fending
after the dark hour after the snow
The soil abides forever
turns us over in a cycle so slow
back to the soil we all go
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
The cycle of the soil never ending
When I hear the word revolve I test my knife
worm father and his soil wife
never mind the future, the rules we’re bending
the tragedy we make up as we go
never mind the message we’re sending
never mind it’s for ourselves we’re fending
after the dark hour after the snow
The soil abides forever
turns us over in a cycle so slow
back to the soil we all go
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, February 25, 2010
686 : 2/25/00 : Wyrm Wyrd
A man cannot resist the wyrm of his wyrd
He gave up his choice and the option appeared
Warm words make me feel alright
but in the end the end is out of sight
It seems this mute earth is our ward
It seems we best stop rattling our swords
There’s a warm word
and the first word I heard
Came as if in a dream
and the word was word
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
He gave up his choice and the option appeared
Warm words make me feel alright
but in the end the end is out of sight
It seems this mute earth is our ward
It seems we best stop rattling our swords
There’s a warm word
and the first word I heard
Came as if in a dream
and the word was word
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
685 : 2/24/00 : Last Laugh
Rooted in an enigmatic concept map
pull a magic rabbit from a hat by a bootstrap
In the end we’ll see who gets the last laugh
And takes the final draught from the empty carafe
The cosmic joke just might be on us
I dreamed I left the city on a magic bus
And crossed a lake somewhere up north
made it over the wall and went forth
But that was just a dream, untrue
All strung with myth and gardyloo
the truth is harder, more opaque
shot with fractures, more at stake
Restless with the rhythm of a wandering soul
I settle back inside and contemplate my goal
Will I have the last laugh or will I get caught
The vision is for sale but I won’t be bought
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
pull a magic rabbit from a hat by a bootstrap
In the end we’ll see who gets the last laugh
And takes the final draught from the empty carafe
The cosmic joke just might be on us
I dreamed I left the city on a magic bus
And crossed a lake somewhere up north
made it over the wall and went forth
But that was just a dream, untrue
All strung with myth and gardyloo
the truth is harder, more opaque
shot with fractures, more at stake
Restless with the rhythm of a wandering soul
I settle back inside and contemplate my goal
Will I have the last laugh or will I get caught
The vision is for sale but I won’t be bought
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
684 : 2/23/00 : Venerable Stone
Venerable stone
why won’t you talk to me
teach me your language
I want to see what you see
and will see long after me
In innocence my sister gave you
to me to watch over
Venerable stone give me
an answer to the
question I seek
something to make sense
of my weeks
fit in somewhere
and tell me...
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
why won’t you talk to me
teach me your language
I want to see what you see
and will see long after me
In innocence my sister gave you
to me to watch over
Venerable stone give me
an answer to the
question I seek
something to make sense
of my weeks
fit in somewhere
and tell me...
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, February 22, 2010
683 : 2/22/00 : The Third Word
1,755 : 17 ?The third word that came was the word hmm...
If I listen I could hear it
In the spring a cool rain falls softly
It sounds like that a bit
And the voice said write a song
I said what should I say?
said a well just hum along
said I could do that any day
hmm hummm hmm
Maybe a little too far gone now
after it all swallows up
Go about your bit of tao
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, February 21, 2010
682 : 2/21/00 : The Next Word
The next word that came was the word wind
And the path was shown to me
And though I’d dreamed it a thousand times
I still could not believe what I could see
Longer than I could imagine
higher than I could have hoped
broad and narrow crooked and straight
a step for every second I fumbled and groped
While I slept I dreamed I rose above
all of my turnings and twists
I dream I rose on wings of light
to a realm where only light exists
And the voice said the path is long and true
before you were born it was made
and its end lies long past your dying day
and its light shall never fade
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
And the path was shown to me
And though I’d dreamed it a thousand times
I still could not believe what I could see
Longer than I could imagine
higher than I could have hoped
broad and narrow crooked and straight
a step for every second I fumbled and groped
While I slept I dreamed I rose above
all of my turnings and twists
I dream I rose on wings of light
to a realm where only light exists
And the voice said the path is long and true
before you were born it was made
and its end lies long past your dying day
and its light shall never fade
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Lacking the template
While Jennifer nods off on the couch to a DVD playing to no particularly attentive audience (I will admit, perhaps not a context particularly conducive to the creative process) I dust of the DS-10. It's the twentieth and I vaguely decided to do the RPM Challenge project. If you're reading this near the time it was written that profile should be notable in its complete emptiness. I see to my chagrin also that they either lost or I never properly transmitted my second attempt at the project, last year's Bootstrap Gospel, which is a shame, because it is a lot easier to listen to than the one they have, solvet saeclum in favilla. Which is not saying a lot as that album is almost unlistenable. I am probably the only person in the world who has listened to it in full, I am without question the only one who has done so more than twice.
The Korg goes a good ways deeper than I have previously intuited, mocking some of the absurd on-the-fly production techniques I came up with, having failed to grasp the appropriate techniques of multitrack sequencing. After more than a year I finally succumb to reading the manual.
But the forays into composition are painful, simply painful, so unrewarding. If the final production were really tight it would be one thing. But I know it won't be, it will be another slack, looping mess. And I just don't have time for that. Nor do I feel up to dusting off my 17 horribly clichéd chord progressions to produce another shaky singer-songwriter set accompanied by monotonous strains from a second-rate acoustic guitar. Finally, I don't think I can cull another decent set out of GarageBand's prerecorded loops and that's another time consuming process I'm pretty sick of. So either I'll have to renege this year or do what I've long threatened to and record a whole album a capella.
A Capella is hard too though, although not as hard for me as trying to compose and make music. It strikes me at last that the only way the music could ever go anywhere is collaboration. I can see myself getting my signing to the next level, I remain despite everything wholly committed to writing the lyrics. My songs. But I can't make the music well enough. I've made a lot of product but at the end of the day it's just not good enough.
Searching for others is a large and daunting step though. It's been a very long time since I tried to play with anyone and life is so much more complicated now. I really don't know what I'll do. If anything. Not for tonight, anyway. I put aside the DSi and spent some time listening to my strange personal catalog and transcribing songs from the current handwritten book. A pedestrian task but it has to be done if the things are going to get uploaded. It is an interesting way to get to know the songs again. Will they ever have a life outside of their books? Do they need one?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
The Korg goes a good ways deeper than I have previously intuited, mocking some of the absurd on-the-fly production techniques I came up with, having failed to grasp the appropriate techniques of multitrack sequencing. After more than a year I finally succumb to reading the manual.
But the forays into composition are painful, simply painful, so unrewarding. If the final production were really tight it would be one thing. But I know it won't be, it will be another slack, looping mess. And I just don't have time for that. Nor do I feel up to dusting off my 17 horribly clichéd chord progressions to produce another shaky singer-songwriter set accompanied by monotonous strains from a second-rate acoustic guitar. Finally, I don't think I can cull another decent set out of GarageBand's prerecorded loops and that's another time consuming process I'm pretty sick of. So either I'll have to renege this year or do what I've long threatened to and record a whole album a capella.
A Capella is hard too though, although not as hard for me as trying to compose and make music. It strikes me at last that the only way the music could ever go anywhere is collaboration. I can see myself getting my signing to the next level, I remain despite everything wholly committed to writing the lyrics. My songs. But I can't make the music well enough. I've made a lot of product but at the end of the day it's just not good enough.
Searching for others is a large and daunting step though. It's been a very long time since I tried to play with anyone and life is so much more complicated now. I really don't know what I'll do. If anything. Not for tonight, anyway. I put aside the DSi and spent some time listening to my strange personal catalog and transcribing songs from the current handwritten book. A pedestrian task but it has to be done if the things are going to get uploaded. It is an interesting way to get to know the songs again. Will they ever have a life outside of their books? Do they need one?
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
681 : 2/20/00 : The First Word
The first word that came was the word dream
It came to me while I was sleeping
Hard to believe, hard to conceive
Under cover of dawn a strange truth creeping
While I dreamed that I was awake
a waking dream captured my heart
And I spun for a timeless moment
And watched one word tear my world apart
And a voice said you are sleeping yet
You will wake with the morning light
I put my hands over my eyes
and said take me when it’s right
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
It came to me while I was sleeping
Hard to believe, hard to conceive
Under cover of dawn a strange truth creeping
While I dreamed that I was awake
a waking dream captured my heart
And I spun for a timeless moment
And watched one word tear my world apart
And a voice said you are sleeping yet
You will wake with the morning light
I put my hands over my eyes
and said take me when it’s right
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, February 19, 2010
680 : 2/19/00 : Essene Scrolls
bill tee at mugwort dot com
insisted on a cd rom
of Essene Scrolls he’d scanned in
from the backs of soap labels
It’s Scripture he said
it speaks of a land of the dead
I’ve triangulated on them
using trigonometric tables
and the terms of the Peace Agreement
I’m nothing if not vehement
still so far to go
still we must go on
Still there’s little reason or rhyme
It could be me next time
Nothing to worry about
just to say so long
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
insisted on a cd rom
of Essene Scrolls he’d scanned in
from the backs of soap labels
It’s Scripture he said
it speaks of a land of the dead
I’ve triangulated on them
using trigonometric tables
and the terms of the Peace Agreement
I’m nothing if not vehement
still so far to go
still we must go on
Still there’s little reason or rhyme
It could be me next time
Nothing to worry about
just to say so long
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, February 18, 2010
679 : 2/18/00 : High Art
true or false
Light imitates dark
check my pulse
Let’s get high and make art my darling
Let’s make art an get high as starlings
If it’s really true
that what we
dream of we by and by
get ‘round to
it could be the next super villain
will sing like Poe and dance like Dylan
Let’s make high art
day and night
in sweat and sweetness
in blood we write
I’m so high, Art comes natural
Cold steady and factual
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Light imitates dark
check my pulse
Let’s get high and make art my darling
Let’s make art an get high as starlings
If it’s really true
that what we
dream of we by and by
get ‘round to
it could be the next super villain
will sing like Poe and dance like Dylan
Let’s make high art
day and night
in sweat and sweetness
in blood we write
I’m so high, Art comes natural
Cold steady and factual
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
678 : 2/17/00 : Relentless
Look at me: relentless
after such defeats
still my endless
struggle to break through
pushes on and on and on
Speak to me: I’m lonely
Could it just be
you and only
you could get through
to a heart that was almost gone
relentless not giving in
not today anyway
when they think I’m done I’ll begin
push to the limit
one last one last time
Something’s broken that I can’t fix
it’s all beyond me
something tainted got into the mix
but still I’ll try to
tie it all together with rhyme
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
after such defeats
still my endless
struggle to break through
pushes on and on and on
Speak to me: I’m lonely
Could it just be
you and only
you could get through
to a heart that was almost gone
relentless not giving in
not today anyway
when they think I’m done I’ll begin
push to the limit
one last one last time
Something’s broken that I can’t fix
it’s all beyond me
something tainted got into the mix
but still I’ll try to
tie it all together with rhyme
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
677 : 2/16/00 : Philistine
A curse upon the vulgar classes
The Philistines and slack-jawed masses
Addicted to football and giant cars
A plague upon the house of Jones
And Smith a plague upon their bones
They only want news on weather and the Stars
Philistine Philistine victorious
And your world banal and glorious
Too much butter and easy living
No challenge makes the ego rot
You think this is the good life but it’s not
You think you’re taking but you’re giving
I don’t know why I try to save
a terminal culture from an early grave
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
The Philistines and slack-jawed masses
Addicted to football and giant cars
A plague upon the house of Jones
And Smith a plague upon their bones
They only want news on weather and the Stars
Philistine Philistine victorious
And your world banal and glorious
Too much butter and easy living
No challenge makes the ego rot
You think this is the good life but it’s not
You think you’re taking but you’re giving
I don’t know why I try to save
a terminal culture from an early grave
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, February 15, 2010
676 : 2/15/00 : Affliction
1,748 : 10 ?Cure me of this curse’s affliction
bring sleep to my eyes
the daily grind is grinding me down
grinding me down to size
cure me of the curse of nonsense
spouting out around my head
teach me how to practice silence
and listen to the Big Sound instead
All the words words I trusted
only little sounds
End up chasing me through nights
like relentless hounds
Lord will my affliction leave me
leave me to rest in peace
tell me it will be soon
tell me that the noise will soon cease
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
675 : 2/14/00 : Loss of Way
Cat tail swished at the top of the stair
And loss of way was the subject in the air
We had sought oracles sages and stones
we could feel we had lost our way deep in our bones
the rooster cries morning, crickets call the eve
and all who couldn’t stand to stay still hated to leave
with so much left unspoken and so much left to chance
in the end only those who had lost their way were left to dance
our roads were marked with the signs of all the saints
Who’d gone the path before free of all earthly restraints
and everyone who found the way was marked
but no one could recall just where virtue was parked
so we gathered up together our raggedy band
and everyone took someone’s brother, sister by the hand
and I said despite the road and the weather
despite our lost ways we’ll go it together
the best I see out there today’s a parody at best
300 million souls all pray to be blest
From all who have a little must be taken away
a little oil to light a lamp of the lost way
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
And loss of way was the subject in the air
We had sought oracles sages and stones
we could feel we had lost our way deep in our bones
the rooster cries morning, crickets call the eve
and all who couldn’t stand to stay still hated to leave
with so much left unspoken and so much left to chance
in the end only those who had lost their way were left to dance
our roads were marked with the signs of all the saints
Who’d gone the path before free of all earthly restraints
and everyone who found the way was marked
but no one could recall just where virtue was parked
so we gathered up together our raggedy band
and everyone took someone’s brother, sister by the hand
and I said despite the road and the weather
despite our lost ways we’ll go it together
the best I see out there today’s a parody at best
300 million souls all pray to be blest
From all who have a little must be taken away
a little oil to light a lamp of the lost way
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, February 13, 2010
674 : 2/13/00 : Fascinating Facts
Cheap religious tracts and
fascinating facts from
the Bible cover my walls
I’ve got them hung with tacks
and stored in plastic sacks
in boxes stacked in disused halls
Portraits of the Christ
fitting symbol of my zeitgeist
whatever that may mean
You get them for a price
like soldiers throwing dice
for a robe of one piece no seam
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
fascinating facts from
the Bible cover my walls
I’ve got them hung with tacks
and stored in plastic sacks
in boxes stacked in disused halls
Portraits of the Christ
fitting symbol of my zeitgeist
whatever that may mean
You get them for a price
like soldiers throwing dice
for a robe of one piece no seam
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
673 : 2/12/00 : Rip Van Winkle
Rip Van Winkle
slept a hundred years
imagine what he thought
when he woke up here
Year two thousand
forests all cut down
every kid has got a cell phone
country city town
Rip Van Winkle
I wouldn’t mind his fate
I could use the rest
Wake up to assess the state
Twenty one hundred
Brave new world no doubt
sure it will be amazing
lots of that about
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
slept a hundred years
imagine what he thought
when he woke up here
Year two thousand
forests all cut down
every kid has got a cell phone
country city town
Rip Van Winkle
I wouldn’t mind his fate
I could use the rest
Wake up to assess the state
Twenty one hundred
Brave new world no doubt
sure it will be amazing
lots of that about
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, February 11, 2010
672 : 2/11/00 : Voyage of Sick Drudgery
It’s a pity we’re not all
Spartacus
Stamped by fate
Handsome like Tony Curtis
The rest of us nobodies
Are just chained to our oars
Is ours just a voyage
of sick drudgery
A hard thought to take
But the great mystery
is someone has to row the boat
While another
Wily goat
calls the rhythm
beats the drum
pays the piper
makes the big show run
we’re all sailors
all at sea
chained to our sad oars
no one’s really free
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Spartacus
Stamped by fate
Handsome like Tony Curtis
The rest of us nobodies
Are just chained to our oars
Is ours just a voyage
of sick drudgery
A hard thought to take
But the great mystery
is someone has to row the boat
While another
Wily goat
calls the rhythm
beats the drum
pays the piper
makes the big show run
we’re all sailors
all at sea
chained to our sad oars
no one’s really free
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
671 : 2/10/00 : The Forest
I’m dreaming the forest again
of my youth my misspent dalliance
No forest I know no place I’ve ever been
Who understands the root of experience
in my dream I run like the wind
In my dreams I’m flying through the trees
In my dream I’ve got my motivation pinned
and I make my own rules do as I please
the forest the ancient silent giant
dappled sunlight shadows of leaves
silent green peace yet inside I am still defiant
knowing fate still has trouble up her sleeves
asleep or waking dream will never last
it’s just an echo from so far from now
in the dream a great wind rises up
and like leaves of grass the trees bow
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
of my youth my misspent dalliance
No forest I know no place I’ve ever been
Who understands the root of experience
in my dream I run like the wind
In my dreams I’m flying through the trees
In my dream I’ve got my motivation pinned
and I make my own rules do as I please
the forest the ancient silent giant
dappled sunlight shadows of leaves
silent green peace yet inside I am still defiant
knowing fate still has trouble up her sleeves
asleep or waking dream will never last
it’s just an echo from so far from now
in the dream a great wind rises up
and like leaves of grass the trees bow
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
670 : 2/9/00 : Blank Book
I shout a song unheard before
I demand a mirror a window and a door
and I rise above every challenge
I stand steady a mystery like Stonehenge
the wind blows and the cats meow
I never meant to take that journey anyhow
I wonder how the day got so late
filling a blank book cleaning off the slate
East of the sun west of the Father
I never knew a muse would be so much bother
So hard to feed so hard to care about
So hard to illuminate the shadow of a doubt
I wrote a song unheard of before
about a blank book, a circle on the floor
is it a mystery like the Mary Celeste
Will it stand unsolved or topple like the rest
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I demand a mirror a window and a door
and I rise above every challenge
I stand steady a mystery like Stonehenge
the wind blows and the cats meow
I never meant to take that journey anyhow
I wonder how the day got so late
filling a blank book cleaning off the slate
East of the sun west of the Father
I never knew a muse would be so much bother
So hard to feed so hard to care about
So hard to illuminate the shadow of a doubt
I wrote a song unheard of before
about a blank book, a circle on the floor
is it a mystery like the Mary Celeste
Will it stand unsolved or topple like the rest
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, February 08, 2010
669 : 2/8/00 : End All War
1,742 : 4 ?To end all war a war is not required
And should in fact be well avoided
The war to end all wars and all the bastards that he sired
Good sirs the misery that you exploited
To end all suffering that is a goal unreachable
But do not think it frees you of your shame
For all your fine display of virtue unimpeachable
Good sirs I think you realize your blame
And one man standing silent by the road
and one man hanging lifeless on a cross
and I am just another who was showed
The sad depths of our uninterrupted loss
To end all wars will take another thousand years
It wouldn’t surprise me a thousand after that
It seems our lot is death and bitter tears
and so good sirs to you I raise my hat
And so to you good sirs I bid goodnight
And walk my weary pilgrim road alone
I pray you peace and hope that you sleep tight
and leave the rest of us to find it on our own
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, February 07, 2010
668 : 2/7/00 : Weary Song
The weary mind begs respite
The weary man agrees
Writing one more song is
going to bring him to his knees
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
The weary man agrees
Writing one more song is
going to bring him to his knees
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, February 06, 2010
667 : 2/6/00 : Macrocosm
The realization of the wider
universe
And me so small makes no sense at all
to feel cursed
Nothing at all out there to even
care
The macrocosm doesn’t know you’re
there
The perception of inevitable
mortality
Leads relentless to collective
morality
Say what you may it’s all just
all just words
Accept absolute exile or run
with the herds
Macrocosm it’s a shame that
you can’t see
There’s nothing to you that’s not
inside of me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
universe
And me so small makes no sense at all
to feel cursed
Nothing at all out there to even
care
The macrocosm doesn’t know you’re
there
The perception of inevitable
mortality
Leads relentless to collective
morality
Say what you may it’s all just
all just words
Accept absolute exile or run
with the herds
Macrocosm it’s a shame that
you can’t see
There’s nothing to you that’s not
inside of me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, February 05, 2010
The inevitable
Inevitably my long stretch of writing songs without missing days was broken last night - not intentionally, just a distracted and inattentive night. Final string 114 days, which I suspect will be the the one to beat for a while.
666 : 2/5/00 : Pardon
Pardon my sins
and my appetites
pardon my slips
and my long empty nights
pardon my confusion
and my aimless ways
pardon me my anger
and my trivial days
I’m searching for redemption
searching far and wide
I’m searching for a mission
from the other side
I’m searching for a way
to make it all feel real
pardon me for slipping on
cosmic banana peels
pardon me for living
I won’t always be
pardon me for breathing
and for being me
pardon me for giving up
and starting over
pardon me for pushing till I’m pushing up clover
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
and my appetites
pardon my slips
and my long empty nights
pardon my confusion
and my aimless ways
pardon me my anger
and my trivial days
I’m searching for redemption
searching far and wide
I’m searching for a mission
from the other side
I’m searching for a way
to make it all feel real
pardon me for slipping on
cosmic banana peels
pardon me for living
I won’t always be
pardon me for breathing
and for being me
pardon me for giving up
and starting over
pardon me for pushing till I’m pushing up clover
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
665 : 2/4/00 : Flower
Sweet sweet pretty
soft and fragile
pretty flower
subtle and facile
same old clichés
same old line
bright and brightly
colored on the vine
pretty flower
full of schemes
full of essences
full of dreams
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
soft and fragile
pretty flower
subtle and facile
same old clichés
same old line
bright and brightly
colored on the vine
pretty flower
full of schemes
full of essences
full of dreams
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
664 : 2/3/00 : Wage Slave
Wage Slave Maledictus
while we were sleeping
the higher power picked us
You will suffer the curse of knowing
The wages of sin of sin are death
the price of life
infused by God’s breath
All I know for sure is I didn’t start this thing
wage slave slave to earning
slave to consumption
the question burning
why do I go on is on my mind
put your shoulder to that wheel
the hill is very steep
and eternity is real
I must admit from here it seems unkind
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
while we were sleeping
the higher power picked us
You will suffer the curse of knowing
The wages of sin of sin are death
the price of life
infused by God’s breath
All I know for sure is I didn’t start this thing
wage slave slave to earning
slave to consumption
the question burning
why do I go on is on my mind
put your shoulder to that wheel
the hill is very steep
and eternity is real
I must admit from here it seems unkind
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
663 : 2/2/00 : Whole Wide World
Who deserves the whole wide world
Not me, not me...
To much to do too much to see
We are blinded by necessity
The ocean chasm the sea of sand
the Well in the center of the Promised Land
Command the earth the angel cried
and all who saw its face just died
crying for the beauty lost
the maelstrom the early frost
the hanging rock the cavalcade
of sigils that the wind and time made
Who is wise enough to see it all
not me
And the whole wide world is waiting
but I’m blinded by necessity
and led astray by circumstances
and the fear of taking chances
with the whole wide world at stake
it seems a heavy choice to make
To me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Not me, not me...
To much to do too much to see
We are blinded by necessity
The ocean chasm the sea of sand
the Well in the center of the Promised Land
Command the earth the angel cried
and all who saw its face just died
crying for the beauty lost
the maelstrom the early frost
the hanging rock the cavalcade
of sigils that the wind and time made
Who is wise enough to see it all
not me
And the whole wide world is waiting
but I’m blinded by necessity
and led astray by circumstances
and the fear of taking chances
with the whole wide world at stake
it seems a heavy choice to make
To me
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, February 01, 2010
662 : 2/1/00 : Last Brief Song
1,735 : 112 ?One last brief song
before I must go off to war
to fight for all that war destroys
to die for what all war is for
Take my hand love kiss me once
For you may see me never
It is for this all war is fought
the fruitless fight to seize forever
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Commitment
I wrote at some length and elsewhere of my reaction to the memory of a particular scion of technology's definition of "commitment". So I won't rehash that here. While I will surely never work hundred hour weeks in the service of a desperately next century startup, I will say I felt some small personal version of that sentiment when, racked with fever and wringing bodily pain, in the throes of the illness that had kicked me out of bed early that morning to the tune of violently ejecting the contents of my stomach, thrice, in rapid succession, I crept out of my bed of pain some time around 10 in the evening, made my way to the kitchen (as far as I felt was wise, all things considered, my blank books being down a steep set of stairs), tore a page off the memo pad...
and wrote a song.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
and wrote a song.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
661 : 1/31/00 : Piece of Piss
Piece of Piss:
That’s not easy but this is:
a raz a raz a raz a raz
a razmataz
uh hu hu
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
That’s not easy but this is:
a raz a raz a raz a raz
a razmataz
uh hu hu
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
660 : 1/30/00 : Dismal
What a dismal little lot
The average slop has got
pushing this stupid culture up the hill
A rare message for a six line verse
never laugh as you pass the hearse
We don’t believe we’ll die but we will
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
The average slop has got
pushing this stupid culture up the hill
A rare message for a six line verse
never laugh as you pass the hearse
We don’t believe we’ll die but we will
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
659 : 1/29/00 : Paracelsus
Paracelsus father of Alchemy
can you guide me to the fifth principle
Paracelsus can you help me
I’m searching for the philosopher’s stone
I’m looking to get rich and vile
Paracelsus am I gonna hafta make it on my own
It all looks all right to me
gotta be plenty of opportunity
Paracelsus will you show me how to turn it into gold
Paracelsus father of chemurgy
we’re still seeking transformation
praying makes anyone but me repent
I read a pamphlet that said
The hour and the day come quickly now
we must prepare for what heaven sent
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
can you guide me to the fifth principle
Paracelsus can you help me
I’m searching for the philosopher’s stone
I’m looking to get rich and vile
Paracelsus am I gonna hafta make it on my own
It all looks all right to me
gotta be plenty of opportunity
Paracelsus will you show me how to turn it into gold
Paracelsus father of chemurgy
we’re still seeking transformation
praying makes anyone but me repent
I read a pamphlet that said
The hour and the day come quickly now
we must prepare for what heaven sent
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
658 : 1/28/00 : Sphinx
Here’s a riddle sphinx
What has a head but never thinks
What has a tale but never speaks
Passes years as we do weeks
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
What has a head but never thinks
What has a tale but never speaks
Passes years as we do weeks
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
657 : 1/27/00 : Lizard Music
It’s not so interesting
always to be puzzling thinking
Mind over matter matters on my mind
I guess I’m just that just that kind
was I trying to hear lizard music in my sleep
is there a promise my soul can’t keep
if the rhythm wrecks the rhyme
or vice versa how do I tell time?
I’ve got the secret in my hat
Just like the Chicken Man I like it like that
If you understand you’re one of us
and if not go stand in front of a bus
Or wait for one to take you to the fourteenth stop
It’s a jungle out there we’re waist deep in slop
LA cops leave the games early to beat the crowds
I’m staring at shapes in the clouds
On the other side Australia
The last place there is if your heart don’t fail ya
Make your way there when the shit goes down
Look for the Lizard Music store in the nearest town
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
always to be puzzling thinking
Mind over matter matters on my mind
I guess I’m just that just that kind
was I trying to hear lizard music in my sleep
is there a promise my soul can’t keep
if the rhythm wrecks the rhyme
or vice versa how do I tell time?
I’ve got the secret in my hat
Just like the Chicken Man I like it like that
If you understand you’re one of us
and if not go stand in front of a bus
Or wait for one to take you to the fourteenth stop
It’s a jungle out there we’re waist deep in slop
LA cops leave the games early to beat the crowds
I’m staring at shapes in the clouds
On the other side Australia
The last place there is if your heart don’t fail ya
Make your way there when the shit goes down
Look for the Lizard Music store in the nearest town
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
656 : 1/26/00 : Record of the Long Journey
Early in the record of the long journey
Weak handed, weak eyed, dying to return
To some simpler paradigm long gone by
Some sea change to shake this ship stem to stern
chapter four there were incidents
of mutiny and temporary insanity
Some ships were lost with all hands at sea
better them than me but oh the humanity
On an important day of the long journey
The captain realized the time had come
Deep in the throes of a fit of passion
Strapped down under Damocles’ pendulum
You’ll never know if you’ll finish a journey
Or what will wait for you to come back
So best keep a record of the Long Journey
If you manage to return we’ll add it to the stack
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Weak handed, weak eyed, dying to return
To some simpler paradigm long gone by
Some sea change to shake this ship stem to stern
chapter four there were incidents
of mutiny and temporary insanity
Some ships were lost with all hands at sea
better them than me but oh the humanity
On an important day of the long journey
The captain realized the time had come
Deep in the throes of a fit of passion
Strapped down under Damocles’ pendulum
You’ll never know if you’ll finish a journey
Or what will wait for you to come back
So best keep a record of the Long Journey
If you manage to return we’ll add it to the stack
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, January 25, 2010
655 : 1/25/00 : The Worm In the Lotus
1,727 : 105 ?The student came upon
a lotus bud
that had been
preyed on by a worm
He took it to his Master
saying,
there is a worm in the
Lotus, Master
The Master replied:
The worm
is not in the lotus
the lotus is in the
worm
and at that moment
the student was
enlightened
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Milestones 2010
Been tough going lately. I feel stuck in various thematic and structural ruts with the current writing, frequently questioning whether I'm really forging any new or worthwhile territory or just obeying the dumb dictates of an obsessive structure. Not the first time, of course, and what is there to do? Push on.
Note a couple of milestones in spite of this. Yesterday I finished Notebook 23, the 10th volume (!) of the second song of the day project.
For many years my dad has kept a journal in those green hardbound RECORD books. Over the years of my youth I asked him for three of those books, all of which were short-lived attempts at keeping a journal of my own (the pages of which were eventually torn out, some destroyed, some socked away somewhere with the many, many journals I eventually kept in notebooks of my own - a habit I no longer carry out for many a long year now). What was left of all three eventually became Song of the Day books, volumes 1 and 2 of the first project, now finally volume 10 of the second project. Waste not, want not.
And, as will be noted in today's song's status update note, for the first time the continuity figure (how many songs I have written in a row without missing a day) passed three digits. Yesterday was the 105th consecutive day of continuous daily songwriting.
On reflection these observations don't exactly argue against the "obsessive structure" argument but hey, you take what you can get.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Note a couple of milestones in spite of this. Yesterday I finished Notebook 23, the 10th volume (!) of the second song of the day project.
For many years my dad has kept a journal in those green hardbound RECORD books. Over the years of my youth I asked him for three of those books, all of which were short-lived attempts at keeping a journal of my own (the pages of which were eventually torn out, some destroyed, some socked away somewhere with the many, many journals I eventually kept in notebooks of my own - a habit I no longer carry out for many a long year now). What was left of all three eventually became Song of the Day books, volumes 1 and 2 of the first project, now finally volume 10 of the second project. Waste not, want not.
And, as will be noted in today's song's status update note, for the first time the continuity figure (how many songs I have written in a row without missing a day) passed three digits. Yesterday was the 105th consecutive day of continuous daily songwriting.
On reflection these observations don't exactly argue against the "obsessive structure" argument but hey, you take what you can get.
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, January 24, 2010
654 : 1/24/00 : Buddha’s (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 101/101)
Buddha’s ashes are falling
slowly in the temples
in the mountains above Hiroshima
Don’tcha know the score by now
up is down and north is south
That’s not the same thing at all
Nothing means anything
that’s the only lesson of
the modern post nuclear age
I regard all things on earth
passing flickers drifting by
mind drifting along another page
What you see is what you get
It may miss the mark but I’m not there yet
I only get to glimpse it now and then
I should have mentioned it
I guess I did a while ago
I don’t know nothin’ about Buddha’s Zen
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
slowly in the temples
in the mountains above Hiroshima
Don’tcha know the score by now
up is down and north is south
That’s not the same thing at all
Nothing means anything
that’s the only lesson of
the modern post nuclear age
I regard all things on earth
passing flickers drifting by
mind drifting along another page
What you see is what you get
It may miss the mark but I’m not there yet
I only get to glimpse it now and then
I should have mentioned it
I guess I did a while ago
I don’t know nothin’ about Buddha’s Zen
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, January 23, 2010
653 : 1/23/00 : Silent Temple (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 100/101)
How do I get to the silent temple
Who do I ask the way
As the leaves fall in autumn
This autumn I'm falling through the silent Play
Watch me falling through the motions
of another grand campaign
that's not how the Silent Temple
transacts its buck's bang
Show me to the silent temple
This must be a proof
Sometimes silence is the
only answer to your spoof
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Who do I ask the way
As the leaves fall in autumn
This autumn I'm falling through the silent Play
Watch me falling through the motions
of another grand campaign
that's not how the Silent Temple
transacts its buck's bang
Show me to the silent temple
This must be a proof
Sometimes silence is the
only answer to your spoof
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, January 22, 2010
652 : 1/22/00 : Vinegar (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 99/101)
The vinegar is sharp sharp
but I my friend am mum mum
edging past the Buddha
Amida please excuse my bum
vinegar vinegar
Clouds then clarifies
watch the mystic transformation
pass before your eyes
alchemy astonishing
and me working for coins
My vinegar is all I need
and watch how past and future joins
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
but I my friend am mum mum
edging past the Buddha
Amida please excuse my bum
vinegar vinegar
Clouds then clarifies
watch the mystic transformation
pass before your eyes
alchemy astonishing
and me working for coins
My vinegar is all I need
and watch how past and future joins
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, January 21, 2010
651 : 1/21/00 : Non Attachment (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 98/101)
If I gave up smoking
and defied all augury
gave up always looking ahead
then where would I be
Hey na na na non attachment
Nothing not present is required
I will stay the course I’ve chosen
full or hungry rested or tired
If I gave up telling fortunes
just lived in the day
If I gave up writing songs
What else would I have to say
Hey na na na non attachment
Rising it collapses to a point
I am free of everything
falling it creates another joint
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
and defied all augury
gave up always looking ahead
then where would I be
Hey na na na non attachment
Nothing not present is required
I will stay the course I’ve chosen
full or hungry rested or tired
If I gave up telling fortunes
just lived in the day
If I gave up writing songs
What else would I have to say
Hey na na na non attachment
Rising it collapses to a point
I am free of everything
falling it creates another joint
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
650 : 1/20/00 : The Ultimate (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 97/101)
I am blind and I am sleeping
I must wake up I must gain my sight
Is it true what I said
everything would turn out all right
The ultimate thing in the whole wide world
Is to hold your lantern high
the ultimate objective of
living is to one day die
Brother could you spare a light
and a cigarette also
could you smoke it for me too
I had to give them up you know
Brother could you spare a candle
Seems my lantern’s lost its light
Somewhere on the unseen path
I navigate through second sight
If you run into a stranger
on your blind path let him by
listen close as he goes past you
he’ll reveal the ultimate lie
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I must wake up I must gain my sight
Is it true what I said
everything would turn out all right
The ultimate thing in the whole wide world
Is to hold your lantern high
the ultimate objective of
living is to one day die
Brother could you spare a light
and a cigarette also
could you smoke it for me too
I had to give them up you know
Brother could you spare a candle
Seems my lantern’s lost its light
Somewhere on the unseen path
I navigate through second sight
If you run into a stranger
on your blind path let him by
listen close as he goes past you
he’ll reveal the ultimate lie
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
649 : 1/19/00 : Drop of Water (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 96/101)
1,722 : 99 ?I didn’t like the doctrine
I resented the creed
I was hearing around me
all thought word and deed
singing I’m just a little
drop of water
like a rain drop in the sea
or a tear-drop on the blotter
One day I’ll dissolve
into the sea at last
to my scattered millions go
on by me through the door into the past
why to go on from there?
Oh just like a drop of water
the story always turns a page
and my wage is just a
drop in the lottery
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, January 18, 2010
648 : 1/18/00 : Letter to a Dying Man (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 95/101)
Hey brave little trooper
All that I can say
Is it’s a little bit closer
That it’s not as far away
Every song’s a letter
to a dying man
And all that I can say
is I am what I am
That’s a sad song
but then every one
is just a letter
to some poor dying mother’s son
watch another
disappear into air
like a snowflake
here then nowhere
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
All that I can say
Is it’s a little bit closer
That it’s not as far away
Every song’s a letter
to a dying man
And all that I can say
is I am what I am
That’s a sad song
but then every one
is just a letter
to some poor dying mother’s son
watch another
disappear into air
like a snowflake
here then nowhere
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Sunday, January 17, 2010
647 : 1/17/00 : Midnight Excursion (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 94/101)
Daytime the extended version
Me still pondering the midnight excursion
station to station day to day
channel to channel hell to pay
when it's all done and it doesn't matter
anymore just more dust to scatter
the answer is hidden in a recursion
M.C. Escher version of a midnight excursion
If the master catches me scaling the wall
I'll never go out at night again at all
No more midnight excursions of pleasure jaunts
No more to revisit these old haunts
Rewriting the aspect in new designs
rereading the roles the sun assigns
Living in the day in the noontime sun
So this excursion day version begun
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Me still pondering the midnight excursion
station to station day to day
channel to channel hell to pay
when it's all done and it doesn't matter
anymore just more dust to scatter
the answer is hidden in a recursion
M.C. Escher version of a midnight excursion
If the master catches me scaling the wall
I'll never go out at night again at all
No more midnight excursions of pleasure jaunts
No more to revisit these old haunts
Rewriting the aspect in new designs
rereading the roles the sun assigns
Living in the day in the noontime sun
So this excursion day version begun
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, January 16, 2010
646 : 1/16/00 : Storyteller’s Zen (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 93/101)
I can tell a story
with storyteller’s Zen
that will take you back to where
it never happened way back when
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
with storyteller’s Zen
that will take you back to where
it never happened way back when
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
645 : 1/15/00 : Firepoker Zen (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 92/101)
Whether a lover; a fighter
a dancer; some kind of cosmic joker
old lady jumped up from her loom
and smacked me in the head with a firepoker
Firepoker Zen
It’s not easy
Firepoker Zen
What else can appease me
I went to get a glass of tea
in a shop the other day
that old lady walloped me
and sent me on my way
Firepoker Zen
It’s not easy
Firepoker Zen
It’s not easy
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
a dancer; some kind of cosmic joker
old lady jumped up from her loom
and smacked me in the head with a firepoker
Firepoker Zen
It’s not easy
Firepoker Zen
What else can appease me
I went to get a glass of tea
in a shop the other day
that old lady walloped me
and sent me on my way
Firepoker Zen
It’s not easy
Firepoker Zen
It’s not easy
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, January 14, 2010
644 : 1/14/00 : Taste of Sword (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 91/101)
Once you got a taste
of the sword
once you got a taste of
the sword of word
You'll never stop dodging it
You'll learn so fast you'll wish you'd quit
Once you taste the edge
of the sword of word
You'll have to think of
every one you ever heard
searching for the one that shatters
all that shakes and all that matters
If you take a vow of silence
Be on guard for sudden violence
If you get a taste of it
name of names
taste the blade the edge
of it through the flames
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
of the sword
once you got a taste of
the sword of word
You'll never stop dodging it
You'll learn so fast you'll wish you'd quit
Once you taste the edge
of the sword of word
You'll have to think of
every one you ever heard
searching for the one that shatters
all that shakes and all that matters
If you take a vow of silence
Be on guard for sudden violence
If you get a taste of it
name of names
taste the blade the edge
of it through the flames
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
643 : 1/13/00 : The Last Rap (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 90/101)
I don’t mind leaving
I’m not afraid to go
I don’t mind spinning off the coil
It’s only natural
The way of all flesh
ashes to ashes and soil to soil
all I’m really
worried about
Is that last rap on the head
one more shock
the final blow
that sends me evermore to bed
the last rap
an affectionate tap
from the hand of the diligent master
I can’t think of a
better way to go
the dice roll from the hand of the caster
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I’m not afraid to go
I don’t mind spinning off the coil
It’s only natural
The way of all flesh
ashes to ashes and soil to soil
all I’m really
worried about
Is that last rap on the head
one more shock
the final blow
that sends me evermore to bed
the last rap
an affectionate tap
from the hand of the diligent master
I can’t think of a
better way to go
the dice roll from the hand of the caster
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
642 : 1/12/00 : Dialog (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 89/101)
Wherever the wind may blow
or if you think it’s a shame
we have to go the dialog will show
a future bounded by strict correlation
the dust bin of history is
rolling down the street
threatening to knock a
poor boy like me off my feet
it can’t be beat
its inertia the philosopher’s equation
As the leptons vanish to escape our wicked gaze
It’s a race between me and the ancient of days
don’t mind what he says
the dialog is merely a demonstration
of the mists of causality parting like a veil
the beginning of the end of
the thousand and first tale
don’t bail on me
speak unreservedly
without hesitation
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
or if you think it’s a shame
we have to go the dialog will show
a future bounded by strict correlation
the dust bin of history is
rolling down the street
threatening to knock a
poor boy like me off my feet
it can’t be beat
its inertia the philosopher’s equation
As the leptons vanish to escape our wicked gaze
It’s a race between me and the ancient of days
don’t mind what he says
the dialog is merely a demonstration
of the mists of causality parting like a veil
the beginning of the end of
the thousand and first tale
don’t bail on me
speak unreservedly
without hesitation
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, January 11, 2010
641 : 1/11/00 : Chinese Poem (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 88/101)
Sunday, January 10, 2010
640 : 1/10/00 : Disciple (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 87/101)
Make me into
a good disciple
knock me around
real good
I can do it
for you if
you really think
I should
I’ll stand out
among the
bags of french
fries on the street
And the Calvin
Klein clothes horses
that patrol
the strip mall beat
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
a good disciple
knock me around
real good
I can do it
for you if
you really think
I should
I’ll stand out
among the
bags of french
fries on the street
And the Calvin
Klein clothes horses
that patrol
the strip mall beat
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, January 09, 2010
639 : 1/9/00 : Living Buddha (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 86/101)
Hey living Buddha
where are you at
won’t give me audience you’re
one elusive cat
If I were a tubmaker
at least I’d make some sense
have a reason to hang ‘round
on this side of the fence
I need a mentor
to lead me on the path
I need some guidance
and an abacus to do the math
I need a metronome
to keep a steady beat
I need a stiff one now
to keep me on my feet
hey living Buddha
try and help me out
I really want to learn the way
to live beyond my doubt
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
where are you at
won’t give me audience you’re
one elusive cat
If I were a tubmaker
at least I’d make some sense
have a reason to hang ‘round
on this side of the fence
I need a mentor
to lead me on the path
I need some guidance
and an abacus to do the math
I need a metronome
to keep a steady beat
I need a stiff one now
to keep me on my feet
hey living Buddha
try and help me out
I really want to learn the way
to live beyond my doubt
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, January 08, 2010
638 : 1/8/00 : Time to Die (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 85/101)
Time passes time moves
time flies right by
time to rise time to fall
time to live time to die
Time to die moving on
to the next escapade
I must be a lucky star
got it all got it made
could it be that the end
of the melody
is not the point at all
Yet if there were no end
to the melody
I’d never have heard the call
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
time flies right by
time to rise time to fall
time to live time to die
Time to die moving on
to the next escapade
I must be a lucky star
got it all got it made
could it be that the end
of the melody
is not the point at all
Yet if there were no end
to the melody
I’d never have heard the call
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Thursday, January 07, 2010
637 : 1/7/00 : True Friends (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 84/101)
If I could lay me down to sleep
I’d pray for God my friends to keep
And should I die I hope that
You won’t cut the strings of your harp
True friends are few and far between
I know how lucky I have been
To find so many who would
listen to me rant and carp
I’ve sung a song bitter and black
I’m trying to work my way back
without my friends I’d wither up
a branch cut from the vine
it’s eerie when love cuts the strings
a taste of what tomorrow brings
sends a shiver up my spine
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
I’d pray for God my friends to keep
And should I die I hope that
You won’t cut the strings of your harp
True friends are few and far between
I know how lucky I have been
To find so many who would
listen to me rant and carp
I’ve sung a song bitter and black
I’m trying to work my way back
without my friends I’d wither up
a branch cut from the vine
it’s eerie when love cuts the strings
a taste of what tomorrow brings
sends a shiver up my spine
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
636 : 1/6/00 : No Work No Food (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 83/101)
No Work No Food
uh huh uh huh
No work No food
uh huh uh huh uh huh
gird your loins up
uh huh and
adjust your mood
find your tools
No work no food
uh huh uh huh uh huh uh huh
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
uh huh uh huh
No work No food
uh huh uh huh uh huh
gird your loins up
uh huh and
adjust your mood
find your tools
No work no food
uh huh uh huh uh huh uh huh
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
635 : 1/5/00 : Nothing Exists (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 82/101)
Nothing exists there is not one Word
and not one song and not
one note and everything is
meaningless is nothing more
then its own exhibition
of an insensible cacophony
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
and not one song and not
one note and everything is
meaningless is nothing more
then its own exhibition
of an insensible cacophony
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Monday, January 04, 2010
634 : 1/4/00 : Go To Sleep (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 81/101)
Sunday, January 03, 2010
633 : 1/3/00 : Miracle (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 80/101)
It's a miracle I'm breathing
That I'll probably survive
through to the next tomorrow
It's a miracle I'm still alive
I'm eating when I'm hungry
I'm sleeping when I'm tired
I'm writing every chance I get
Look at the strange procession I've sired
look at this foolish rambling mess
it's a miracle heaven knows
it's a miracle I'm still around
it's a miracle my eyes can close
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
That I'll probably survive
through to the next tomorrow
It's a miracle I'm still alive
I'm eating when I'm hungry
I'm sleeping when I'm tired
I'm writing every chance I get
Look at the strange procession I've sired
look at this foolish rambling mess
it's a miracle heaven knows
it's a miracle I'm still around
it's a miracle my eyes can close
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Saturday, January 02, 2010
632 : 1/2/00 : Incense Burner (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 79/101)
judge this song for free
one in a thousand
imperfect, of an imperfect hand
expressing what will be, will be
I used to drink and smoke and carry on
didn’t make me a better writer
another man would give up but I’m a fighter
so I blindly follow the fairy song
Sung by the will o wisp
in the dark woods of an uncertain past
flag of childhood dreaming flies half-mast
I weighed 67 pounds, spoke with an endearing lisp
I’m on the path but I’m a slow learner
So put this one in your pipe and smoke it
does discipline give birth to creativity or choke it
I’ll torch that with my other
imperfections in my incense burner
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
one in a thousand
imperfect, of an imperfect hand
expressing what will be, will be
I used to drink and smoke and carry on
didn’t make me a better writer
another man would give up but I’m a fighter
so I blindly follow the fairy song
Sung by the will o wisp
in the dark woods of an uncertain past
flag of childhood dreaming flies half-mast
I weighed 67 pounds, spoke with an endearing lisp
I’m on the path but I’m a slow learner
So put this one in your pipe and smoke it
does discipline give birth to creativity or choke it
I’ll torch that with my other
imperfections in my incense burner
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Friday, January 01, 2010
631 : 1/1/00 : Real Prosperity (Flesh and Bones: An Homage 78/101)
Father to father son to son
Real prosperity is in the progression
Who can hold onto time at all
And you’re lucky if you wind up
as a painting on the wall
Father to grandfather son to grandson
3 generations and a hundred years are gone
Look how it changes never stays the same
At least they’ll carry on the family name
It’s the order of things I guess
It works out in the long run
but the details are a mess
Real prosperity is just in the day
Fathers or sons for the moment anyway
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
Real prosperity is in the progression
Who can hold onto time at all
And you’re lucky if you wind up
as a painting on the wall
Father to grandfather son to grandson
3 generations and a hundred years are gone
Look how it changes never stays the same
At least they’ll carry on the family name
It’s the order of things I guess
It works out in the long run
but the details are a mess
Real prosperity is just in the day
Fathers or sons for the moment anyway
You can read an explanation of the origin of these lyrics here
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