Lyrics

Neighbors EP
1. Neighbors
I don't want to know why you're yelling at him
'Cuz something tells me it's deeper down than you can swim
And your sorrows always drown out the night
And I'm no saint but I could treat you right


I could be your next door neighbor
Come over for tea or just see you later
Hear all those tears when they're sounding meaner
I could be your next door neighbor


If you let me be your next door neighbor
I swear that you can come over
Anytime he's got you feeling down
And I'll show you what it means to be hanging round


And when the cops come, I'll string 'em all along
And I won't let them know where you'll be
'Cuz when all those cars go, you'll be living next to me


I'm going to be your next door neighbor

2. I Don't Believe You

I don't believe you anymore

Because you sure stayed out real late last night

And I really think that you just might be running from my arms

Yeah, you just might be running from my arms

And you say your friends just keep you late

But there's a pack of wolves that just can't wait to eat you up

Spit you out, they'll eat you up, you'll swallow down

I don't believe you anymore

And when I lie alone in bed

The thoughts that run right through my head

I lose control, yeah I'm shaking now
I lose control, I'm shaking now

And I can see the girl inside of you who never wanted anything to do with me

But that's too bad, yeah you've really got me, you've got me bad

And you'll give up the life, the pursuit and the joy

For the privilege to play momma to that little baby boy

But that's not the prize you signed up for at the start

No it ain't!

3. Blind Leads

You flip on the switch and it turns on a light

You're bound by desire to wake up screaming for life

Just watch your words, they're secretly laced

With the promise of new leaves but this page don't turn right

So take it all in, take it in stride

Tell me what you want before we go for a ride

And I'll let you in just like I did last night

Yeah, I'll let you in if it's for the right price

I'm buying low, and your selling high

I can buy you a drink if you sell me the sky?

You flip on the switch and you turn on the light

You flip the switch but I've turn off inside

But watch out boy, it's so bright that you'll go blind

And there's something in there I know you won't like

You're coming to grips with a sentient life

You turn on that switch and it turns on that light

I'm not predisposed to what's been on my mind

I go undercover, I find the sublime

Your sentences are undefined

They're growing their wings before they learn how to fly

So take them all down, take them all down

Take them all down into three little lines

I want what's good but you want what's right

And that sure ain't a reason, but it feels like a fight

You flip on the switch and it turns on the light

You flip on the switch but you've already died

But watch out boy it's so bright that you'll go blind

And there's something in there I know you won't like

When you get into bed and you turn off the lights

You dream the same dream you dreamed last night

Wake up to the radio on your bedside

It's telling you truths but you want it to lie

And back your way out but you know you can't hide

Because every love song has a cynical side

And, baby you just died.

4. Holding Pattern

“If I'm going out, then I'm going all in”
Is that how you want your last words to begin?
You can say what want, but you'd better lose that smile,
And you could call it bravery, but denial is denial.
And if you're going out, well then I'm staying in
To balance this beam that we've been tip-toeing.
If there's nothing to offer, then there's nothing to learn
And I'll just keep all my planes in a holding pattern.

So bring all your badges, bring all your guns
Lay them down on the table and let's start having fun
'Cuz I know what I want, and I'm sure you do too
What's taking so long for that to come through?
There's no use in waiting 'cuz that's not your style
But I'll keep on waiting because denial is denial.
I don't have a reason, you can't sink or swim
So I keep all my planes in a holding pattern

5. Mount Midway

We pulled off our coats when we reached the top

And sat taking in the view for hours on end

How beautiful the world looked to us

A sea of industry folded in our hands

We had everything the world would give us

And innocence was our saving grace

I let out a sigh when the sun broke the clouds

But I could see the difference in your face

So bury your dead before the snow melts away

From the winter peaks of Mount Midway.

Your disappointment was etched into your furrowed brow

And your sorrow was carved in stone

So we buttoned back up and climbed on down

This is where you first learned to be alone

Further down snow gave way to the grass

The new life reminded you of the pain
And when your eyes filled with April showers

You swore you saw her dancing in the rain.

Spring breaths life but it will take it away

On the blossoming peaks of Mount Midway.

You were in love with life, don't let that ever change

Because we'll sit again on top of Mount Midway

When everything is beautiful again.

6. Black Shadow

Dip your toes before you leap

Into whirlpools or soft eddies

Because caution is something you can understand

And Old King Caesar had a wife

She lived to pay an awful price

He held her name like a philosopher

He held her down with sharp scepter

Like it was nothing, it was just a little game.

And centuries fly by in time

I find myself the next in line

And I'm just waiting for a little touch

I lift my hand in a soft caress

That helps you fall your summer dress

My fingers move around the clasp

Lain sorrowfully across your back

Did I love you or did I phone it in?

So close your eyes, Black Shadow, fall asleep

Rest your bones we've got miles left to dream

And when you wake up you won't remember anything

I never gave you a reason to remember me.
You won't remember anything.

7. The Bear

Sleeping in won't save your life

And it's a mistake if by tomorrow night

I call you up and tell you everything's alright

When I know it's not alright

And I know my best intentions were just designs

To keep us trapped here inside this one-way life

But I'm tired of talking through these tin can lines

I know it's hard to understand.

And I know it wasn't easy for you to see

All the things that we kept underneath

Our eyes that burned when we talked last week

About picking our way down through that heap

Of lost control and insecurities

These were things that you were never supposed to see

I never meant for you to cut your teeth on me

I know it's hard to let it go.

But if you've loved me just like you've owned me

You'd take your claw and tear apart that seam

We look so pretty when we bleed

Take your claw and tear apart that seam

It's getting late you'd better get some sleep

But tonight don't waste a winter on me

Because I've always been an eager kid

Your favorite shirt that never fit

Every time you pulled it down over your arms

It locked you down and left you looking worn

And that's no way to keep a home

And we know that know.

No, the bear don't know any better!

Bestiary EP

1. The Man that you love (is gone!)

Sitting on the staircase of a rusty metal fire escape

With tears streaming out from your eyes

You thought about your true love and what he must be made of

To leave such a sweet girl behind

So dry your eyes and sing along to the lyrics of your favorite song

Because the man that you love is gone!

All the birds on the railing remind you of your sailing

Tossing on the echoes of the sea

You thought you found dry land in the arms of your man

But now you've found kingdom come!

Falling, oh yes he's falling, but he ain't calling you back again

Falling, oh yes he's fallen, for your best friend!

You're pulling out your hair and I don't think that it's fair

To say this a second time

But when you open your heart someday it will fall apart

He was a good man, but now he's gone.

So dry your eyes and stand up strong

Because you were right all along

And that man that you love is gone.

2. Take it Away!

Well I was thinking of a time

When I was drinking out of line

And I could not remember where you stood

So I poured myself another round

To keep the sky from falling down

And I knew we weren't up to any good

But that's the way I remember you to day

And that's the only way you'll ever be

So let's hit the city hard tonight

And if we play our cards alright

Maybe we can say we're not alone

Let's take the airplane for the starts

And everyone we think we are

And this bottle and this river can be home.

I don't want to wait, because everything we took from them

They can take it back, they can take it all away.

So lay your head down next to me

And tell me all there is to see

Because I'm afraid I'll vanish without a trace

I've been sailing far too long

To fall for any siren song

But every record played still has a face

So can I have this dance?

Because every day is just another day that's gonna fade away

So let's just clap our hands.

Every secret that you make,

I'll take it deep, I'll take it to my grave

And we can run away from everything we ever thought was safe.

3. California Dust

I've got a map without a legend

It points in all kinds of directions

You think you're going north when you're really heading west

And where you're off to is anybody's guess.

I've got a frame without a picture

Because sometime life is so much bigger

Than the space we let these four walls contain

But I'm content to stare at nothing all the same.

And I've got a pretty funny feeling

About the people that we're meeting

They all tell me to go right up to your door

But I don't think I'm welcome there anymore.

So hitch your heart to the gold rush

You're selling high but I can still see you blush

And you will do what you must

'Cuz in the end we're all California dust.

4. Early Burglary

I park my car outside every night

Looking for an address that never feels right

I dig deeper in my pockets just trying to find

A little something else for my celluloid mind

If I could hold a stereo up above my head

Would you think twice or even leave your bed?

Would you open your window and call out to me

Or would you keep on looking and not even see?

Oh, honey I'm sorry, I saw the devil today

And she was beautiful, she was so beautiful

I'm going nowhere like jumping on a train

And I can tell right now you're bleeding out your veins

Every day's a struggle when we push ourselves away

Because we're so concerned about what the papers say

But they'll never know what their savior can do

She can be to be to me just what she is to you

There's a battle coming up and they've started taking sides

Can you really tell if you were ever alive?

I was never alive.

5. Serpent's Tongue

Poor old mother, sitting in her chair,

Running a comb through her daughter's hair

She said, “I want you to grow up, I want you to have fun,

But just beware of the serpent's tongue!”

She said, “I've done my traveling and I've seen my sights

I've seen the darkness all around that creeps into the night,

And every word he whispers will make you feel so free

But many a poor girl hangs from his tree.

The sweetest fruit is always close at hand

But it's always more tender just across the land

So take a plane or take a train or take an automobile

Take any way you can just to taste a fruit so real!”

“He'll get you when you're tired, he'll get you when you're cold

He'll curl up right next to you, shimmering scales of gold,

And every word he whispers will make you feel so right

But that's when he comes around and wraps you up so tight!

I've seen it all around me as I go from town to town

Everywhere the serpent goes the bodies line the grown

And if you don't believe me, then look no further dear,

For I was a young girl too when the serpent caught my ear.

He promised me perfection, he promised me delight,

He promised everything in sight, and I almost took that bite

But then I remembered what my mother said to me

She said don't be the next girl to hang from his tree!”

6. Faces

Every time I close my eyes, a curtain shuts, I keep inside

I lock the door and turn out the lights

And I try to think back to that time

When I was yours and you were mine

And we both had bedroom eyes.

But what's that song I used to sing, the one that meant so much to me?

I better push it off to the side.

And if I bat a lash for you to show you what I want to do

Do you think I could crash right here tonight?

There's a face in the mirror...

Every time you close your eyes, is there a face that you despise

Staring you right back in the eye?

Don't sweep it up to throw it away or save it for a rainy day

Just kick it back to your old love

Because this world is such a busy place to place your bets on just one face

But I'm still kinda wishing that you'd say

“All these looks we give to you, every single one of them is true,

And don't worry, all of our faces are the same”

Take your face from my mirror...

I don't want to be afraid but one of us will be betrayed

And I don't want to look like that tonight

So scrape away the day's decay and all the wrinkles from your faith

'Cuz I can't stand it when I have to look away.

7. Each and Every Night

Lay your head on your pillow and dream good dreams of me

'Cuz I'm so far away but I'm closer in your sleep

It's so much easier than waiting til we meet again

I'm there for you every night, my love, my closest friend

As long as you're hear, there's nothing for you to fear

I'll be by your side each and every night.

My bed's too empty to fall asleep tonight

But I see your face every time I close my eyes

And I can hear your voice softly counting sheep

And then I'm in your arms and you're rocking me to sleep.

Bonus Tracks

Apologies

If I could talk to myself loud enough to be heard

I'm sure I would hear an encouraging word

But I know what I've done and I know what I've said

And the girl in my heart is not that girl in my bed (I'm sorry...)

Well, I picked the fruit from the cherry tree

And little did I know what it'd do to me

I got the fever and I got the chills

But when I got better I went back up that hill
And so, my little darling, you can seeHow a pretty little fruit can be so deadly

Go grab your gloves and I'll grab my ax

And we can cut that cherry tree into a little wood stack

Oh, little boy blue, go and grab your gun

And we'll watch this rain fall down on everyone

All we can see when we're way up high

Is everyone else trying to touch the sky

But we can look down and wave hello!

So squeeze my arm and kiss me on the cheek

And I'll give you tomorrow if you lend me next week

I didn't have sense now to hear you sing

But I've been taking lots of lessons on home cooking

There's a lock on your belly, I can't find the key

And if you'd eat a little something I'd be so happy

Because it gets a little weary eating breakfast alone

So let me fix you something that will warm your bones

Just dig in with your fingers, wipe your mouth on your sleeve

And when you say you're finished then I will leave

Kicking stones down the sidewalk 'til the morning light

And if our pebbles touch, well that would be alright!

Oh but little boy blue yeah, it's been fun

But that rain's got to fall down on everyone

So I'll meet you on the ocean floor

Where nobody will care what we've done before

And we can look up at all them waving hello

'Cuz they'll never send us any further below

Secretary

When you walk into a room and the room it follows you

Down every avenue you take on these late nights when everyone's talking

About anyone but you, but silence is priceless when it cuts like a knife

Through every word you choose, so you sit with a blank stare

On a stool in a bar where they're calling out last call

And you dig in your pockets for those ten scribbled digits

And you're waiting for that fall, and all the starry eyed Romans

In their fancy clothes are backed into a wall

And nursing your last drink gives you more time to really think

About the hungry ache of it all, and it's not someone you're missing

Or someone she's kissing, but...

Our love is not a soapbox, she whispered in my ear

So take our names to memory and keep all your enemies near

So what's your bottom line? Are you gonna keep dancing or are you

Making more plans to leave this place on time?

And go to the ends of the earth with a friend who tells you

Everything is fine, but that's the sounds of a liar and you can't remember

Why you let that fire die, and if that was a mistake but now you just can't wait

To turn on your TV and see the faces of people who you'll never meet

Or who you'll never be, but you're not discouraged and baby why should you

Waste this charity? One foot out the front door, and the other is a suitor

Who don't look anything like me, well, I've made my peace dear

But you're hard to please 'cuz...

Nothing really matters, at least that's what you'd like to hear

But if nothing really matters, then why am I standing right here?

I'll walk you home tomorrow, and you can hold my shaking arm

And we'll take this song to memory, because we can't trust our hearts.

Unreleased Songs

Cheap Accordion

I'm a front porch singing chameleon

When I sing I'm bleeding in

To my dirty city and this dirty street

But I can't dance 'cuz I ain't got no feet

I'm a cheap accordion

I'm the master's whore for ya

Take me out whenever you're feeling fine

Oh, take me out I swear it'll be alright!

I'm a brainwash simpleton

I don't knock 'cuz I'm sneaking in

Well all your money was lying on the floor

I filled my pockets but baby I still want more.

Can you see my head it's in between your legs

Oh, look at my head it's dangling from your legs

I told you I was scared of being brave

And I won't call 'cuz it's really all the same.

And baby's too young to be carrying a child

And they're too young to make it worth your while

But my kind of love's the kind that don't discriminate

And I'm too young to sit around and wait

I'm a cheap accordion

I'm the master's whore for ya

Take me out whenever you need a ride

Take me out and I swear you'll be just fine

I'll sit shotgun and baby you can drive

But I'm gonna take you for a ride

It's gonna be alright, alright, alright, . . .

This Economy Isn't Going to Fix Itself!

I got a garden in my home

It takes four years to watch it grow

To see those vines start to unwind

To that violent beat of rotting time

And that fruit you pick you cannot sell

Another harvest here won't do me well

I got a picture in my head

It turns from green and blue back to red

It's painted like the stormy sea

And it brings me down on both my knees

To pray all night for a safe landing

In your arms or underneath

So tell me now what you said last night

Split my heart down the middle 'cuz you know it's right

And I've been waiting for that day to arrive

When work means more than to survive

I crossed a line drawn in the sand

I left my home for a better man

He's twice the boy I'll ever be

He brings home paychecks every week

He pays the rent and it's right on time

But I hope you know that my heart still lies.

I got a theory of my own

It tells me everything I need to know

About how we work and what we sow

About what we do and what we don't

It all begins with a simple twist

And then it finds its way onto your lips

I hope that you understand,

I hope that you understand that I did what I could to lend a hand.