Settle (Demo)—Solo, 2011
It’s a little bit late for me now
Took a little too long
now I’m back at the bottom
And I wonder if I can get
One more shot at this dream I had
Now they say that a dream is drag
That it won’t pick you up of the bottom in the end
But the end is so near
I can taste it
I tell you, I taste it
And I want to settle down with you
And make a life and maybe a baby too
But I’ve got things to do
Their not better, but I better see them through
And your my everything
But everything is never quite what it seems
It seemms to me these days are getting
Shorter by the minute
And longer by the year
It’s a wonder that anyone dreams
It’s a miracle I can’t unravel it seems
Because the road is so hard
And I’m too damn flawed to get there
The road is so hard
And I’m too damn flawed to get there
And I want to settle down with you
And make a life and maybe a baby too
But I’ve got things to do
Their not better, but I better see them through
And your my everything
But everything is never quite what it seems
It seemms to me these days are getting
Shorter by the minute
And longer by the year
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Stories End—Solo, 2010
Hey you, with that gun in your hand, look at me
I’m you just a year from today and you’ll see
Though it’s true, it ain’t easy to live like you do
You do, so don’t throw it all away
Hey you, my friend
This ain’t how the story ends
Hey you, with that sign on your back, don’t attack
They’re upset by what they don’t understand or don’t get
But who cares if the masses learn to accept
Long as you can live with some self-respect
Hey you, my friend
This ain’t how the story ends
Hey you, with that sweat on your brow, take a bow
You got down, but you got up each day somehow
You know now that a pat on the back can go far
It’s far out, but look how far you’ve come
Hey you, my friend
This ain’t how the story ends
Now let me ask you,
Can you see to the end of it all?
Oh no, I don’t think so
You should be glad that you’re here at all
You could be dead and gone
You could find some companions to call
Your own, alone no more
I did, and look where I’ve come so far
I’m here to rock with y’all
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Take Off (Demo)—Solo, 2009
I took my first steps today
But they were out the door
And every one I take
Only takes me further away
From you
I took another step today
And oh you were so proud of me
I could see it on your face
The lines I made just lifted away
From you
I took my last step today
And looked back on all that I’d done
Well I came a little ways
But nothing to how for I’d gone
From you
But I never wanted to watch my life go by
One step at a time
I wanted to fly and see the whole world in one try
I wanted to sing
I wanted to bring that light to everyone around
But I never found
A way to get up off the ground and take off
Instead of shuffling along
I should be running
But I’m running away
From you
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Ignorant Fool (Live at Workplay)—Bright Henry, 2009
It wasn’t the time or the place
But I couldn’t contain my face
From betraying the thoughts on my mind
I couldn’t believe what I heard
And though I tried not to say a word
And quietly stand to the side
I’ve never been one to
Ignorant fool, how long have you drunk from the well?
Don’t open your mouth ‘till you can think for yourself.
It wasn’t the way that I wanted it to be
But I couldn’t keep this locked up inside me for long
I even tried counting down from ten
Thinking happy thoughts, but then
I just couldn’t keep from shouting out
‘Cause I’ve always been one to
Petulant fool, the words drip from your lips like drool
Don’t open your mouth if that’s what you’re going to let through
Oh but hey, look at me
I am just as bad as he is
So who is the jackass now?
It’s better to be what you believe
Than push what you’re spoon-feeding
On the next guy in the crowd
But I’ve always been one to
Ignorant fool, you keep making the same mistakes
Don’t open your mouth
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No Regrets (Demo)—Bright Henry, 2008
Hello, my friends
How have you been
It’s been a long time coming
I have been gone so very long
and I am sorry for it
you may be mad
but I am still glad I hurt you ‘cause
I am happy with myself
And my past brought me to where I am
And if I had it to do I again
I would, and I’d laugh
And I’d do my song and dance
And I’d look you in the eye
And tell another charming lie because
I can learn from my mistakes
The more I make the less time it takes ‘till
I am happy with myself
And my past brought me to where I am
And if I had it to do I again
I would, yes I would
Goodbye again
It’s been eventful
I have learned my lesson well
I can’t change anything about what happened
So stop stressing
Look ahead, don’t hesitate
Take a leap and levitate
And be happy with yourself
‘Cause your past brought you to your present
And if you had it to do again
Well, you should
Yes you should
2, 3, 4
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Tragic Accident (Demo)—Bright Henry, 2008
Hair slicked back, thin tie on
He’s been waiting a long time for this moment
He’s counting down the seconds now
He don’t know how long he has to go yet
What if this was a trick
What if she changed her mind again
He tries not to think of tragic accidents
Skipping out under dark
Shimmy down the rain-pipe to the back porch
She had to spend too much time
Covering up the bruise her daddy gave her
What if he should wake up
But she won’t be coming back here
And she hope he has a tragic accident
They’ve never been so scared
He holds the car door for her
She opens up a beer
And then lets out a holler
Ten miles out and full of doubt
But he’s got his arm around her shoulder
She don’t say a single word
But she holds his hand as tight as she can
What if they don’t make it
What if something comes between them
But at least it’s not a tragic accident
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Dance Nothing (Demo)—Bright Henry, 2008
There once was a girl who could not see herself
And went through life thinking she did not exist
Though people would tell her how pretty she was
Or how smart, or kind, or talented
She would think they can’t mean me
I don’t exist
Or else they want something I have and are lying
Or pity my lack and so now are just trying to be nice
There once was a boy who had nothing to lose
And went through life without a thing
Now matter how hard he would grasp at it all
It would slip and fall away
He would think it must be me
I’m not meant for holding
I live in the refuse of things that I’ve broken
And I just wish I could keep some kind of token for my time
Well, what do you do when your life is in tatters
Every days the same and nothing else matters
Well, sigh a small sigh and then smile and say thanks
And all the while inside
And all the while inside
And all the while inside
The nothing will dance
Well, once on a time, as they passed each other by
Well, he caught her eye and he kept it
And he held it tightly that she could not deny it
And finally she realized
Hey what do you know?
I am for real
He said, I don’t get this
But girl, don’t disappear
And oh by the way
Where should we go from here?
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Kings of the Mountain (Demo)—Bright Henry, 2008
Monday, crash there goes the
Alarm, hey I am up again
Another dream ends
But I used to wake up with a
Smile high on each brand new day
Extraordinary
How do I get to color from grey?
Well, I’ll tell you
One, two, listening to Kind of Blue
Three, four turn it up a little more
He’s blowin’ my mind
Five, six a little Sunday morning sex
Seven, eight turn around I’m feeling great
Let’s go again
‘Cause if you take the little things then
You will find that you can survive
Longer than the next man can
So come on children
Look back my children
To the days when you could dance in the dirt
you were the kings of the mountain
crowned in the glory days
you play your dangerous games, oh
you’re so oblivious
to all the misery around you every day
Monday, hey there goes the alarm
But I’m already up
A cup of coffee
And hey, you know, I know
Things are gonna be hard
But that’s alright by me
‘Cause I’ll be happy
‘Cause if you take the little things then
You will find that you can survive
Longer than the next man can
The next man can
Look back my children
To the days when you could dance in the dirt
You were the kings of the mountain
Crowned in the glory days
You play your dangerous games, oh
You’re so oblivious
To all the misery around you every, every, every day
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Christmas In Birmingham—Solo, 2007
At Christmas in Birmingham
You can see for miles and miles
The lights turn on again
And everyone is smiles and hi y’alls
Momma’s cooking up a ham
Dad’s out in the yard
Me and my baby are going hard
At Christmas in Birmingham
At Christmas in Birmingham
The storefronts all get locked and shuttered
We don’t need anything
That we could get there if we bothered
The kids are playing with the toys
Grandpa takes a nap
Me and my baby are going fast
At Christmas in Birmingham
Christmas in Birmingham
Leaves a trail of wrapping clutter
That we will use again
When we gather this time next year
I am packing up my gear
Baby’s in the car
And everyone around here is going far
At Christmas in Birmingham
I am coming back again
Next year
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Rick’s Bitch (Live in Second Life)—Solo, 2007
She got deep pockets
But tighter than most
She’ll make you want to scream
She’ll make you want to boast
She’ll make you want to
Get down on your knees and pray to god
That today’s the day that
She won’t turn away all that you got
She’s a mean, mean lady
She makes me kind of crazy
I’m tearing out my hair
But I can’t let it faze me
‘Cause it’s a game player
So get up and go another round
With Rick’s bitch
But Rick’s the only one
Who knows how to get it done
I want her for my own
But she won’t have me
She got soft surface
But she’s hard to the touch
She’ll make you give in
But she’ll never budge
She’ll make you feel like a god
When you finally get in
But man she was just teasing you
You won’t do that again
She’s a stone cold menace
She’s broken men before this
She takes ‘em for a turn
And then leaves them for the next trick
But hey it’s not her fault
It’s just the way that she’s built
And all the fellas line up
For Rick’s bitch
But Rick’s the only one
Who knows how to get it done
I want her for my own
But she won’t have me
No she won’t
She got, what is it?
I don’t really now
She ain’t that pretty
She got scars to show
But that don’t really matter
When the lights are turned down low
And all you really need to see
Is where you gotta go
She’s an unsolved riddle
She hurts my brain a little
I’m trying to take aim
But I can’t seem to hit her
So I’ll just have to settle
For the next-best medal
And give up on my dreams
Of Rick’s bitch
‘Cause Rick’s the only one
Who knows how to get it done
I want her for my own
But she won’t have me
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Goodnight Moon—Dick Richard, 2007
I’ve been up twitching for forty-eight hours straight
This feels like a disease
Twisted into a blanket cocoon maybe
I will emerge as something clean
And as time ticks away
I look up at the window and say
Goodnight Moon
I’ll catch you on the flipside of the day
Hey baby, I’m coming over soon
I may be crazy, but at least I can talk to you
Walk out the house as the day gets under way
To escape all these questions I’m asking myself namely
What are you running from?
And what are you running from?
And as night fades to day
I look up to the sky and say
Goodnight Moon
I’ll catch you on the flipside of the day
Hey baby, I’m coming over soon
I may be crazy, but at least I can talk to you
Something inside me keeps hoping and I hope it dies soon
Cause I keep on breaking down without any reason
And if I am empty inside I won’t have to hide these feelings
I had this plan to remain calm, but dammit
My plan keeps on catching on your eyes
Step out for a cigarette and to get myself collected
I don’t want you to see me like this
And as you come out to check on me
I look up at you and I say
Goodnight you
I’ll catch you on the flipside of the day
And hey baby, I’ll come again soon
And I may be crazy
But have you seen the moon lately
And at least I can talk to you.
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Going Gone—Dick Richard, 2006
Every day, and right on time
You stumble through my line of sight
I kind of hope you stay awhile
Kind of hope you’re leaving
And I don’t know if I can bear
Any more of your despair
It’s getting really hard to wear
This sunny disposition
So watch me now, and if you do you will see me vanishing
And no-one will notice there’s been any change
Any change at all
Every day another smile
Every night another lie
Justify you peace of mind
Tell yourself a tale
I’m numbing up, I feel no pain
Knock back one more link of chain
There is nothing left to gain
So let’s all go get wasted
But I don’t know if I can be left alone by myself tonight
‘Cause I can’t face the same mistakes made over and over
Again and again and again and again and again
The names they change
But the faces stay the same
The orders vary slightly
I may be kind
But in the back of my mind
My friends are complete strangers
Every day I draw a line
And step across a thousand times
I think somewhere I broke my mind
But I don’t remember
So bye for now
I’m going gone
One less name you can’t recall
I was never really there at all
And for that I am grateful
Lord only knows, I never meant to wait this long
But then I turned my head
And I awoke to find that my life had finally passed me by
Bye-bye, bye-bye, oh bye-bye
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Black Steeples—Solo,2006
Black steeples look down on you and I
And all of the people as they’re blindly rushing by
They don’t care much about our tiny little lives
They know they will still all be here when we have gone and died
Black steeples, they’ve seen it all before
They get so bored, there’s no surprises any more
Ain’t it hard when you’re the worlds revolving door
And if you turn too many corners, you end up back at home
Black steeples, powerless and old
They’re forced to watch as our daily lives unfold
How many small defeats are they supposed to hold
When they finally do crumble, they must just be glad to go
Black steeples
Black steeples
Black steeples
Black steeples
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Cathedral—The Frets, 2005
Some days you wake up
And the world has gone crazy
All the doors shut in your face
And you can’t escape this endless hallway
And everybody stays the same
While you change and change and change
And you can’t go outside anymore
‘Cause baby
When it rains it shines and pours at the same time
Some days everything taste the same
Of cardboard and paste
It’s revolting
Some days colors change
Brights fade and drabs remain
And my head aches, my head aches
And when it rains it shines and pours at the same time
Watch all the walls
Of my cathedral crumble
And fall away
And leave me there
Standing
Alone, at home, surrounded by everyone you know
The background babble leaves you breathless
And you’ve go nowhere to go
‘Cause you’re already home
And no one knows what goes on when they’re gone
And you lay awake and count
All of your mistakes in the dark
And you wait for it to start
To rain and shine and pour at the same time
Let it rain and shine and pour at the same time
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Break Away—The Frets, 2005
I never bother to predict the future
But it seems pretty bleak to me
Dreams of my father stand like
Giants throwing boulders
With the faces of mistakes I’ve made
Honesty always came and went with me
But this whole time I lied to myself
Responsibility never came that easy
But coming easy time is gone
Letters burnt with hope enchanted
Broke in half and destroyed the words
I tried to mend them felt undefended
But you can’t fix a broken vow
Honesty always came and went with me
But this whole time I lied to myself
Responsibility never came that easy
But coming easy time is gone
Come on everybody let us step into the fray
Everything looks different now, we’re changing by the day
If you stare into the abyss, you will want to stay
Get out while you still can and break away
But not today
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Over It—The Frets, 2005
It doesn’t bother me that you really hate me
I am not trying to get you to date me
I haven’t even thought about you lately
But here’s a token of my apathetic courtesy
You think you know me, but you don’t know the half of it
You can’t control me ‘cause I am not attached to this
You want to show me how much you think I’m gonna miss
But what you don’t see is I was down, but now I’m over it
Initial interest was strong, but then you strung me along
I had to give it some thought, but I decided you’re wrong
In every way that I can think of, and so
It makes no difference if you like me or not, oh no
You think you know me, but you don’t know the half of it
You can’t control me ‘cause I am not attached to this
You want to show me how much you think I’m gonna miss
But what you don’t see is I was down, but now I’m over it
Over it, over wasted time spent
Over it, over every last minute
Over it, over all this bullshit
Over it, I’m so over it
I’m so over it
Don’t blame if you feel like you have been used
I picked you up, but I couldn’t find a use for you
I’m sorry if that leaves you with some kind of blues but
So long and thanks for all the nothing at all
You think you know me, but you don’t know the half of it
You can’t control me ‘cause I am not attached to this
You want to show me how much you think I’m gonna miss
But what you don’t see is I was down, but now I’m over it
It doesn’t matter
No, it doesn’t matter
It doesn’t matter at all
No, it don’t know, no, no
It doesn’t matter
No, it doesn’t matter
It doesn’t matter
No, it don’t matter at all
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Spin the Bottle—The Frets, 2005
So you say you got nothing to give
You don’t want nobody by your side
You stopped looking for a reason to live
You started looking for a place to hide
You put your head down and went underground
So you wouldn’t have to face the signs
Come on babe and grab my hand
I’m gonna take you for a ride
Keep your grip tight on the throttle
Spin the bottle
Spin the bottle
So you say you go nowhere to go
You can’t even slink back on home
That must be why you stay inside
smoking up all the home grown
You think that love abandoned you
So very, very long ago
Come on babe grab my hand
I’m gonna show you how much you don’t know
Keep your grip tight on the throttle
Spin the bottle
Spin the bottle
Sit back and let the rhythm wash over you
(Spin and spin and spin and spin)
We will talk of nothing for an hour or two
(Spin and spin and spin and spin)
We’ll tell each other secrets we are privileged to
(Spin and spin and spin and spin)
Getting closer and closer to what we know we have to do
And what we gotta do, is what we gotta do is spin, spin, spin the bottle
Spin the bottle
So you say got nothing left
of what you once had to offer
You say you got it beaten out of you
by one too many trips to alter
And you’re afraid that if you try to take a step
You might trip, you might falter
Come on babe and grab my hand
I’m gonna give you what you need to get there
Keep your grip tight on the throttle
Spin the bottle
Spin the bottle
Spin and spin and spin and spin
Spin and spin and spin and spin
Spin and spin and spin and spin
Spin and spin and spin and spin
And what we gotta do, is what we gotta do is spin, spin, spin the bottle
Spin the bottle
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Brick (Ben Folds Five Cover)—Solo, 2005
6 am day after Christmas
I throw some clothes on in the dark
The smell of cold
Car seat is freezing
The world is sleeping
I am numb
Up the stairs to her apartment
She is balled up on the couch
Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte
They’re not home to find us out
And we drive
Now that I have found someone
I’m feeling more alone
Than I ever have before
She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly
Off the coast and I’m headed nowhere
She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly
They call her name at 7:30
I pace around the parking lot
Then I walk down to buy her flowers
And sell some gifts that I got
Can’t you see
It’s not me you’re dying for
And she’s feeling more alone
Then she ever has before
She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly
Off the coast and I’m headed nowhere
She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly
As weeks went by
She showed me she was not fine
They told me son, it’s time to tell the truth
She broke down and I broke down
Cause I was tired of lying
Driving back to her apartment
For the moment we’re alone
She’s alone
I’m alone
Now I know it
She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly
Off the coast and I’m headed nowhere
She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly
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Falling Leaves (Instrumental)—Solo, 2005
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Undertow—Solo, 2004
Everything seems fine on the surface
But something underneath is making me kind of nervous
The subtle signals that you drop for me
The quiet loss of my dignity
So watch out, ‘cause I’m about to fill this uncomfortable silence
With a nice big portion of comfortable violence
Sweep away all of this patient indifference
Get ready, ‘cause I’m about to end this endless undertow
Well, you know, it make me kind of nauseous
when I think about what you did to me
What, did you think I would not figure it out eventually?
I may be blind, but baby even the blind could see
That since the first day, you’ve been leaving me
So, break down, cry, frown and explain away all your crimes
I’m not going to look away like I did all the other times
It’s not that I don’t love you, love you
It’s just I’ve decided I can only live without
So, let’s take a ride on the undertow
It drags you out and then it never lets you
Let’s take a ride on the undertow
It tears you up and leaves you scattered on the shore
Undertow, undertow, undertow
I’m taking time to resurface
Regain a small measure of lost purpose
The trouble is the puzzle is not finished
There’s some pieces gone, the center’s wrong and there’s no edges
So, wake up and take a look, and then ask yourself a question
Are you happy enough, now that that’s done
And if you’re not than please just ask yourself this last one
How’s it feel to be lost in the, tossed in the undertow?
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Love Junkie—Solo, 2004
Give me what you’ve got
Anyone at all
Suck you like a sponge
Dry you to the bone
This is all my fault
I can’t fight this jones
You look right at me
Now the hunt it is on
Love junkie
Love junkie
Give me what I need
Anything at all
Got this hole to feed
Keeps me wanting bore
Fix me blissfully
Heal this open sore
Hate to be a cheat
Leave you like a whore
Love junkie
Love junkie
Give me everything
Drain to the last drop
Get into your skin
You can’t make me stop
Taste of innocence
Really hits the spot
Strip you down and then
Use you ‘till you’re used up
Love junkie
Love junkie
Love junkie
Love junkie
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Bethlehem—Solo, 2004
When life has got be my the lips and dragged me to the deep end
There’s one place I get a grip when I need time to mend
I only have to take a trip, it’s just around the bend
And so I’m going home again
To Bethlehem
It’s been a thankless job I know
Teaching me the way to grow
Helping me get back on track
Grabbing what I’ve let go slack
Understanding that I’m trying
Giving me a chance to shine
Making up for all I’ve lacked
Believing when the odds are stacked
Loving me despite my lying
Soothing me when I am crying
Building up my sense of soul
Holding on while I let go
And I just want you to know
That I will always be grateful
For all these things
And all those things I’ve left unsaid
I love you, Bethlehem
I love you, Bethlehem
I love you, Bethlehem
I love you, Bethlehem
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Taste—Solo, 2004
Keep your face inches away for as long as it takes
I don’t mind and most of the time I kind of enjoy it
Let the tension rise until one of us breaks
Waiting only builds anticipation of the taste of you
Taste you
Taste you
Taste you
I want to taste of you
Draw a line, clearly defined, and place it between us
Put your boundaries all around you and raise your defenses
I am not playing a game of how close can I get
It’s more like how can I continue to resist this taste of you
Taste you
Taste you
Taste you
I want to taste of you
And when you wake up in your bed
And it’s late at night and you’re all alone
Don’t you want someone there to hold you tight
How you can stand this I will never know
All I know is I’m here and you’re out of sight
You’re so out of sight baby
Come to the corner diner at a quarter to three
You sip your coffee, and I will tell stories about trivial things
But I get distracted by you looking at me
Can’t eat anything, ‘cause I would rather have a taste of you
Taste you
Taste you
Taste you
I want to taste of you
Taste of you
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Stutter Strut—Solo, 2004
Ten back, two more to go
Oh no, wait I lost track, but who’s counting those
I got my glasses stacked and ready to throw
But instead I drag my ass back in the road.
‘Cause I’m feeling kind of nasty
And those guys in there would thrash me
Smashed, I wouldn’t put it past me, no, no, no
And now leaving, weaving, stumbling
Instead of fucked, I’m feeling funky
The traffic hums the city beat
It fills me up and feeds me need to…
And as I move, shadows of myself surround me
And dance to the beat of their own groove
As my feet meet the ground in a stutter strut
Shimmer shake, the pavement paints a sign
It says kick back, and make up all your lost time
So two-step I tap dance over the line
And past it now I take it all in stride
‘Cause I was feeling kind of crusty until
I stepped out in the street
Now you couldn’t pull me back in, no, no, no
And now leaving, weaving, stumbling
Instead of fucked, I’m feeling funky
The traffic hums the city beat
It fills me up and feeds me need to…
And as I move, shadows of myself surround me
And dance to the beat of their own groove
As my feet meet the ground in a stutter strut
Ther world is spinning round and round
I keep walking so I don’t fall down
Get out my way, I can’t go around
You got a problem with that
Then fuck you, pal
And what, did I stut-ta-stutter, motherfucker?
Sing out loud and people turn their heads
They wish I kept my mouth shut instead
(Keep it down!)
And laughing now I couldn’t feel better
‘Cause I’ll be alive when y’all are dead in bed
That’s right you heard what I said
‘Cause I don’t feel all that crazy, but tonight’s a little hazy
And hey, sanity was never my forte
And now leaving, weaving, stumbling
Instead of fucked, I’m feeling funky
The traffic hums the city beat
It fills me up and feeds me need to…
And as I move, shadows of myself surround me
And dance to the beat of their own groove
As my feet meet the ground in a stutter strut
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Between the Cracks—Solo, 2004
He wakes up in mid-afternoon
Just to contemplate the bathroom door
Stale coffee takes the edge off the night before
Shoes and socks and then he’s out
And then he’s back ‘cause he forgot to bolt the locks
And then he fades down the road
Ragged breaths tighten his chest
As he sprints for the closing doors
And as he stands there on the platform
Watching his better half recede
He sees himself beneath the tracks
Between the cracks
And then he screams
Why am I incapable of changing who I am?
I wish I could shed this skin and break away
Away from me, this me I’ve made
And start again
Never one to take the blame
He cultivates his vices without shame
And in the absence of the outside
He’s caving in
His eyes dilate as he stares into the middle ground
He’s losing focus, but he found another way around
And he tells himself he’s not giving up
He’s counting down
And as he slips into a coma
And he lets his memories drift away
Suddenly he sees a time when he was fine
And the he screams
Why am I incapable of changing who I am?
I was happy once, and I think
I could laugh again
The way I did when I was young
And start again
Throw me off the balcony
I’ll find a way to hit the bottom
The ground is rushing up to greet me
But I can’t wait for it to stop me
From falling
He passes out in his boots on the couch
Nestled in a bed of refuse
Detritus of his day
And the blue light from the TV screen
drones the hours away
And every night before he falls asleep
He tries to cry, but he can’t, he don’t know why
And he thinks man, if is numb
I’d really hate to feel something
And as the nightmares start to surface
And he paws the air unconsciously
He has a vision of his future
An open wound
And then he screams
Why am I incapable of changing who I am?
I’m tired of tossing and turning
And I think that I could sleep so soundly
You could scream, I wouldn’t start
I’d start again
Begin again
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Happy Factory—Solo, 2004
Smile for the camera, you are on the spot
Everyone is waiting for your composure to rot
And they all talk about you like you’re not even here
And still you have to greet them with charismatic flair
Well, guess what everybody, this is not a happy factory
So don’t expect some sympathetic laughter out of me
The days slip by around me, while I just sit and stare
I hardly even notice the flickering of the passing years
Well, they’ll all start to worry if I begin to crack
So I’ll hold it together, stretched thin on the rack
Well, guess what everybody, this is not a happy factory
So don’t expect sunshine to come pouring out for free
I softly tread around you, I try not to disturb
And if I feel like breaking things I try to suppress the urge
This dance of friendship we’ve been doing
Is getting kind of rehearsed
And something’s building up inside me
I’m getting bout fit to burst, oh god
Well, guess what everybody, this is not a happy factory
So don’t expect me to compromise on one more thing
This is not a happy factory
This is not a happy factory
This is not a happy factory
So get the hell away from me
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Blocked—Solo, 2004
Why do I put up with this interminable nonsense?
I have no reason, I am an inert consciousness
Trapped in a meaningless existence of my own creation
Have I created anything, anything at all
Even the smallest of original whatever?
No, no, no!
And time wastes away
All my mind wastes away
I can feel entropy easting at my soul
And still I will continue until I am nothing at all
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Waiting for Change—Solo, 2004
I met a girl, she was so fine
She made me leave my mind behind
And wander off into a sea of possibility
I thought my problems were all gone
And I could finally move on
And get up off this dead end train
A total life-style re-arrange
But I’m still waiting for change
My tie is straight, it’s getting late
And I’m standing in the rain
Scam another cigarette
‘Cause you’re not here yet
And that’s lame
I’m stewing in a finely seasoned
Pot of my own rage
The look the bouncer’s giving me
Is getting kind of strange
And I’m still waiting for change
I’m waiting for change to come and smack in the face
And get me out of this place forever
And want to know right know if you can show me
A way to break this tether
And I want the life where you just sit and talk about the weather
But instead I’m stuck inside going out of my mind
And I just can’t keep it together
Keep it together
Together, keep it together
Together, come on, keep it together
Oh god together, please keep it together
And now that she is finally gone
I thought I’d sit and write this song
A tender ballad, sweet and dumb
About how good my life’s become
And how I have no strong regrets
Cause they all led to my success
But the road behind me is laid to waste
So tragically that’s not the case
And I’m still waiting for change
I’m waiting for change to come and smack in the face
And get me out of this place forever
And want to know right know if you can show me
A way to break this tether
And I want the life where you just sit and talk about the weather
But instead I’m stuck inside going out of my mind
And I just can’t keep it together
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Movin’ On—Solo, 2004
What do you keep and what gets left behind
You been carrying this shit most your life
And if you don’t leave some of it behind
Then you are weighed down
So many things that you thought you would need
The bits and pieces of all your shattered dreams
And if you don’t ditch these memories
Then you will break down
Free at last
I am rid of all this trash
Free at last
I am moving on
I am moving on
A shattered ashtray that bit and made me bleed
A tattered paperback I meant to read
A thousand pictures I can’t bear to see
‘Cause I am in ‘em
A t-shirt stained with only god knows what
A jigsaw puzzle I never even touched
And all the letters that tumbled through the slot
I never opened
Free at last
I am rid of all this trash
Free at last
I am moving on
I am moving on
Free to run, free to hide
Free to fun, free to ride
Free to slum, free to grind
Free to burn, free to die
This empty room is staring back at me
Like it just had a frontal lobotomy
And all the cluttered corners I can finally see
Reveal nothing
Now there’s another place for me to fill up
And hide all of my secrets in disgust
Another year goes by without a fuss
‘Till I unearth ‘em
Free at last
I am rid of all this trash
Free at last
I am moving on
I am moving on
I am moving on
I am moving on
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Appeal—Solo, 2004
The space between is so deafening
I don’t know half of what’s going on
Or if anything’s wrong
The gap between us widening
But all things I love are linked to you
Yeah, it’s sad but true
So here is my appeal
Let’s stop this silent treatment trend
And strike up a new deal
‘Cause I am really missing my best friend
This daily ambush is threatening
To scare away my peace of mind
Time after time
The next shock is just around the corner
I only have to turn my head to see
You staring back at me
So here is my appeal
Let’s stop this silent treatment trend
And strike up a new deal
‘Cause I am really missing my best friend
We had such a brilliant time
I don’t see a good reason why
I should give this up, or just let it slide
We had so much fun together
Now all we talk about is the weather
I’m getting tired of pretending that that is fine
I didn’t listen when you needed me
Took you for granted and you still believed
You believed in me
So I will understand the silence
If you want to keep on going this way
I just wanted to say
I’m so sorry
But here is my appeal
Let’s stop this silent treatment trend
And strike up a new deal
‘Cause I am really missing my best friend
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The Kitty Song—Solo, 2004
Hey kitty, what’s going on?
I know we just, but I think you’re pretty fun
And I’d like to run around a bit and lay out in the sun
Together
Hey, buddy, get out of here
‘Cause I was doing just fine before you came along dear
And it really would be icefine if you would just disappear
Forever
Well, come on, come on, come on, come on
Let’s do the dance
Put up your dukes and let’s take a chance
We got no choice so raise your voices
Pretty soon we’re going to have to face the facts
We’re going to have to get together
Hey kitty, I know you’re mad
‘Cause I’m sleeping in your bed and you didn’t plan that
I don’t mean to take your space, I’m just really glad to
Be here
Hey buddy, I’m so confused
‘Cause I don’t remember asking to feel so abused
And you play you’re little games, I’m just not amused
Whatever
I am falling, you are following my every movement
Everything looks different now, we’re changing by the second
You can build it up, but then I am gonna wreck it
We are going down together, there’s nothing we can do about it
Hey kitty, I’m sick of this
I thought you were the one, but it’s a swing and a miss
And the fallout from the arguments is getting ludicrous
I’m out of here
Hey buddy, don’t go, don’t go
I’m feeling kind of silly, ‘cause I didn’t catch on quickly
And I’m really gonna miss you, if that’s what you want hear
That’s what I fear
Well, come on, come on, come on, come on
Let’s do the dance
Put up your dukes and let’s take a chance
We got no choice so raise your voices
Pretty soon we’re going to have to face the facts
We’re going to have to get together
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The Wrong Song—Solo, 2004
Last night I wasn’t paying attention
and now I got kicked in teeth
Then you came along
And upset my balance
And now I am drifting
I should be angry
‘Cause I keep on losing everything
Yes I do
But instead I have this
Grin plastered all across my face
This shouldn’t be a happy song
But now I need something to dance to
So thank you for making my night a little better
And hey, this one’s for you
Last night, try as I might
I couldn’t keep my frown on
It’s tight, it won’t fit
Around my widening smile
You must be some kind of special
If you’ve got me feeling ok
I wouldn’t be surprised if you
Opened up the sky and stopped the rain
This shouldn’t be a happy song
But now I need something to dance to
So thank you for making my night a little better
And hey, this one’s for you
Last night I lay quietly trying to sleep
One thing kept surfacing
A vision rising from the deep
And it wasn’t of mistakes
Or all of the things gone wrong
What kept me up was your face
So I sat down to write this song
Now I have got me a happy song
And something funky to dance to
So thank you for making my life a little better
And hey, this one’s for you
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Cinderella Story—Solo, 2004
I‘ve had a few princesses in my time
Princesses in their own mind
Their fingers clutching the phantom tiara
They can’t let go of the lie
But I must have accidentally
Wished upon a star, ‘cause here you are
The raw deal, the real McCoy
A princess in the flesh
I thought that story book love
Was for the naïve
But now count me among their midst
I must have accidentally
Wished upon a star, ‘cause here you are
And now I’m stuck in Cinderella story
Without a shoe to my name
Stand on the sidelines
While some prince steals the glory
And rides off into my sunset
Into my sunset
I thought that fairy tales had happy endings
I thought we’d close on the kiss
But just because I’ve become a believer
Doesn’t mean I get to share in the bliss
I must have accidentally
Wished upon a star, ‘cause here you are
And now I’m stuck in Cinderella story
Without a shoe to my name
Stand on the sidelines
While some prince steals the glory
And rides off into my sunset
Into my sunset
Into my sunset
Into my sunset
Happy ending
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Back to the Blues—Solo, 2004
You beat me up, then up to the top I go
And I know nothing could make me stop
Then you pull me back down again
Right back down to the ground again
Why do you keep bringing me back to the blues
I read the news, the news isn’t good
So I roll it up and toss it out with the truth
Then I step right out in the midst
Of all this trouble and trip on the stories I missed
And I wonder why I keep on coming back to the blues
I go out, to walk out the doubt
But I know the doubt won’t go just because I wish it so
As the sun sets over the avenue
I take one long last look at you
A temporary distraction and then back to the blues
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Break Away (Acoustic)—Solo, 2004
I can’t be bothered to predict the future
But it seems pretty bleak to me
Dreams of my father stand like
Giants throwing boulders
With the faces of mistakes I’ve made
Honesty always came and went with me
But this whole time I lied to myself
Responsibility never came that easy
But coming easy time is gone
Letters burnt with hope enchanted
Broke in half and destroyed the words
I tried to mend them felt undefended
But you can’t fix a broken vow
Honesty always came and went with me
But this whole time I lied to myself
Responsibility never came that easy
But coming easy time is gone
Come on everybody let us step into the fray
Everything looks different now, we’re changing by the day
If you stare into the abyss, you will want to stay
Get out while you still can and break away
But not today
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The Cat Came Back—Solo, 2004
Let me tell you a story
About this cat I know
And the sexy little kitty
He just couldn’t let go
He met her in the alley
He was prowling one night
She flashed him a grin
And then put up a fight
But the cat came back
The very next day
The cat came back
He should have known better
The cat came back
He just couldn’t stay away
He said, now baby
Don’t put up a front
Just come right out
And tell me what you want
She said, oh daddy
Just follow my lead
And she vanished faster
Than you could say speed
That’s when he knew
That this kitty was trouble
But still he sprinted after
Quick on the double
He rounded the corner
She was nowhere in sight
He’s left standing alone
In the sole streetlight
But the cat came back
The very next day
The cat came back
He should have known better
The cat came back
He just wouldn’t stay away
The cat came back
Day after day
Hoping to catch
A glimpse of her again
He waited and waited
And waited some more
And right when he gave up
She came through the door
She looked surprised
When he looked right at her
He made his move
But she moved right past him
She didn’t remember
That night on the street
When his life changed forever
Hers just missed a beat
But the cat came back
The very next day
The cat came back
He should have known better
The cat came back
He just couldn’t stay away
Here’s the moral of the story
For you strays on the street
A sexy little kitty
Is a hard thing to beat
But think twice about chasing
If she flash you a grin
‘Cause might end up living
Your life like my friend
The that cat came back
The very next day
The cat came back
He should have known better
The cat came back
He just couldn’t stay away
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Lost & Found—Solo, 2004
It was gonna be short walk
Just around the block
Hands in pockets
Some quiet talk and
The leaves are drifting across our path
I feel like crying, so I’m trying to laugh
But I must have made a face
‘Cause you brushed the hair from my eyes
That tender embrace came as such a surprise
That before I realize it
We’ve stumbled across the horizon
Into a forest of our own devising
Now we are lost and found
Now you are dreaming
And I am lying awake
I tried sleeping
But there’s too much at stake
The space between us
Is just a couple of inches
But it might as well be
Miles and miles of enemy trenches
And I want to touch you
But I’m afraid it might be a mistake
I want to love you, but I’m afraid my heart might break
Then before I know what’s happening
You’ve reached across the gap and
Taken hold of my hand
And now we’re lost and found
And all the paths
And all the markings
All the breadcrumbs
All the scatted stones
Are suddenly all gone
And all the signals
All the signs
Have changed their minds
They’re turning me around
I feel like I’ve been drowned
And I am standing here alone
With no one home
Just waiting by the phone
Trying to let you go
But every time
It try to get by
I break inside
And fail to find a way
A way to walk the line
It was gonna be a short walk
Just around the block
Hands in my pockets
Some quiet thought
The snows now drifting
Across my path
And I’ve been crying
‘Cause it’s too hard to laugh
And I must have lost my way
‘Cause I don’t know where I am
I don’t recognize a thing
And it’s been hours since I’ve left
And though I don’t know where I’m going
I’m just following the road
Into the great wide unknown
I find I’m fine with lost and found
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Dick Richard: Sam George (Vocals, Keys), Andrew Doba (Bass), Justin Rohrlich (Drums)
Bright Henry: Sam George (Vocals, Keys), Matt Myrick (Guitar), Barrett Brown (Bass), Daniel Long (Drums)
The Frets: Sam George (Vocals, Keys) Pat Inverso (Guitar, Bass)