1. THE MOON IS DOWN

The moon is down,
and heaven is waiting
for us to find her in our sites
with focus that's strong
but my strength keeps slipping.

Now we're all the terminal cases,
but were so determined to thrive.
And those with defeat on their faces,
are those that we must keep alive.
And I admire your strength.
You keep us going on.
You keep us fighting long after the fire.

You've measured our strides,
marked the degree of our fever.
Charted the log.
Made sure the temperature's rising.

To fan the flames,
and brandish our new courage proudly,
as if it were ours from the outset.
As if we were never alone.

The moon is down,
and heaven is waiting,
for callers and entries
as we're calling out:
"This is ours, ours, ours. This one is ours!"

Now we're all the terminal cases,
but we're so determined to thrive.
And those with defeat on their faces,
are those that we must keep alive.
And I admire your strength,
you keep us going on,
you keep us fighting,
long after the fire.


2. THE BRADLEY

False pretense
A lack of resonance
A derisive sentiment
and confidence.

These bonds were always fake
crafted for safety's sake.
But pasted wings,
and foil rings
do not an angel make.

I see you left me with your,
your last word.
It's ringing,
with the noteless shrill of jealousy,
and the claims of imperfection,
and the crying out for,
the things that you deserve.
But your voice is never audible
beneath the anger in your words
it's ringing,
it's breaking me.

You can't belittle this,
this could change everything.
This one is mine to believe.

This is unparalleled,
a grace that's like gravity,
a clarity I've never seen.

I see you've left me with your,
your last word
it's ringing
with the noteless shrill of jealousy,
and the claims of imperfection
and the crying out for,
the things that you deserve.
But your voice is never audible
beneath the anger in your words,
it's ringing.
It's breaking me.

But the hottest words can cauterize,
and in anger, there's just wasted time,
so your last words, just another,
I won't hear.


3. SNOWBIRDS AND TOWNIES

Fountains and flourescent lights.
When season has come
the snowbirds have crowded the nights.
And old townies are tired
of the beaches and bars
being packed so tight.
And bridges, and traffic, and inlets,
are locked in their fight.

And on these boats,
ride the hopes of working class boys,
dreaming of girls, from far away points.
And better things. Like winter flings.
And longing after spring has sprung.
And they fly north when winter's done.
And we get burned in summer's sun.

Fountains and fluorescent lights.
When season has come
the snowbirds have crowded the nights.
And young townies and tourists
find unlikely love at first sight.
And swear that they're never leaving
and that is their plight.

This winter is lasting forever,
at least for tonight.
And I know that you're never leaving,
until your flight,
takes you off,
and out of my arms,
and into the air,
so far from your charms,
that I can not bare,
another year,
in this long forgotten beach town,
we once shared.

This winter is lasting forever,
at least for tonight.
And I know that you're never
leaving me again.
No, not again.


4. MONACHETTI

The paddle is broken,
the punishment
is served in full.
The welts are faded
and pain still lingers
as it should.
The lone receiver
of empty compliments
taken in
and bought in full.
The lesson's hammered
the message has been
reinforced.

You said there would not be
any reason
to fear this world.
But you're the reason
you're the reason
I feel
broken,
and branded,
and burning with doubt.

The welts are faded
and the pain still lingers
as it should.

These things are dealt in increments.
Constant, and laced with detriment.
How dare you ever feign surprise.
When all those fingers point inside.
They're piercing you.

You said there would not be
any reason
to fear this world.
But you're the reason
you're the reason
I feel
broken,
and branded,
and burning with doubt.

These things are dealt in increments.


5. MADISON PREP

Give up what you think you have to say.
Formalities weaken the meaning that you'd convey.
In truth hidden in the veiled insults,
have failed results for everyone that lived that way.

The training spent on all your words
was obvious in all we heard
was repetition.
Representing your best interests
while wishing us
"the very best"
when that is something
that you would never give.

And some things are better stressed
when unexpressed,
cause silence can be overwhelming

We'll find some way to prove you wrong.


6. NEW YEAR'S PROJECT

Your hands didnt move
well neither did mine.
New Years will bring
so much to say
but nothing comes out right
both of us left without words
both of us lost in this world
it's softer than ever before.

And you were the outline
of everything you would become.
The keeper of these hands.
To hold you now
it is a far cry more than anything that I deserve.

I'm waiting to give you whatever the world may bring
I'd give you my life
cause I don't own anything.
It seemed like the bottom was all that I had until now
I'd give you my life
if you'd give me yours somehow.

Your hands didn't move
well neither did mine
New Years will bring me to you.
I'm waiting to give you whatever the world may bring
I'd give you my life
cause I don't own anything.
It seemed like the bottle was all that I had until now
I'd give you my life
if you'd give me yours somehow.


7. JUST UNTIL SUNDOWN

Spent too many hours holding up walls
standing in corners and clenching my jaw
watching you watching the ones that I wanted to be.

Blaming this all on the moment
blaming this all on my views
blaming the mood of the music
blaming it all on you.
All on you and me.

Just because you said what you wanted
doesn't make it right.
Just because the moment was heated
doesn't mean that I wanted to fight.
And even though I saw your anger
even though I saw your face
the words that you cited were chosen
not fate, not spoken in haste.

Well just for the moment, just one more time
just one more second and we'll be just fine
this could be just, just in case it's the last time.
This could be the last time.

Just until sundown, just one more day
I could hold you.
Just until sundown, just one more day
I would hold you without you pushing me away.

All on you and me.


8. PICTURES OF SHORELINES

If you insist on pictures of shorelines
then i insist on pages of your lines meant for me,
to be sent to me.

Remember watching the storms from the lifeguard stand.
Remember feeling the tingling in my fingertips
when I touched your lips.

And I recall how you sat on the same side of me,
it always seemed that you'd always be on my side.
You're my best side.

And it's early June, so the sand's still dry,
and you have got the boldest eyes,
and I can't help but think it's right,
that inside you it's me I'll find.
And I'm still waiting.

And it's early June, so the sand's still dry,
and the storm off shore is not far behind.
And I'm still waiting.

And sometimes you don't say a thing for a long while.
And the ships off shore hold stories that we'd make.
And sometimes we are held at bay by these miles.
But less of you is more than I can take.

And the moments that we've shared could last a lifetime.
And the faith I have in us will keep you near.
And several of these miles placed in between us
mean several of these words being sent by mail.
I hope this letter finds you well.


9. WEARING THIN

This is the last time I'll try to reach you
and my guess is, you'll just ignore me.
Without a passing glance
without the slightest sigh
without moving your hands
without the softest cry.

If I'd say
go your own way, I'll be with you
make mistakes and I'll forgive you
home is waiting here for you when you return.

Rain reveals the foundation
and this one's wearing thin
and shifting in the sand.

And the water does its damage
with its endless beating pulse
heralding the end

Without a passing glance
without the slightest sigh
wihtout moving your hands
without the softest cry

If Id say
go your own way, I'll be with you
make mistakes and I'll forgive you
home is waiting here for you when you return

This is the last time I will try to reach you
and my guess is that you'll just ignore it.
just ignore me.

Go your own way, I'll be with you
make mistakes and I'll forgive you
home is waiting here for you when you return.


10. A NEW DESERT LIFE

This is where the water becomes shallow.
And nothing here is quite as deep
as you hoped it would be.

You wish the lines were drawn a little clearer.
The tides have turned
this drought will burn
and everything is falling out of place.

And drying in the sun
shriveling and shrinking
the hides are turning brown
wrinkling and stinging.

As you bury yourself

deep in the dust
of the sandiest grave you can find
it's a new desert life.

To be reborn again
out of glass and of sand
and you're shimmering and you are clear.

This is where
the water is shallow and nothing is as deep
as you hoped it would be.

And this drought will burn
and everything's falling
out of place.

And you're glimmering and you are clear.


11. SAY IT AIN'T SO

Oh yeah
Alright

Somebody's Heine'
Is crowdin' my icebox
Somebody's cold one
Is givin' me chills
Guess i'll just close my eyes

Oh yeah
Alright
Feels good
Inside

Flip on the tele
Wrestle with Jimmy
Something is bubbling
Behind my back
The bottle is ready to blow

Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heartbreaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a life taker

I can't confront you
I never could do
That which might hurt you
So try and be cool
When I say
This way is a waterslide away from me
That takes you further every day
So be cool

Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heartbreaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a life taker

Dear Daddy,
I write you in spite of years of silence
You've cleaned up, found Jesus,
Things are good or so I hear
This bottle of Steven's awakens ancient feelings
Like father, stepfather, the son is drowning in the flood
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heartbreaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a life taker.


12. VENGEANCE FACTOR

This is worth it's weight in words
to give in now would be absurd.
So keep your retracted retractions to yourself.

This plays upon my sympathies,
I shouldn't have come.
I know I should leave,
but they said,
but they said
I should see this for myself.

And now these sighs are severing.
And I was saving everything,
can't believe,
I believed,
I believed that this might help.

Making amends, seems so far out of hand.
Still holding strong to where we stand.
Must of lost all sight of how we ever felt.

Gettin even,
gettin even,
gettin ready to fight
gettin smug,
gettin ugly,
and lost all sense of pride,
an I'm forgetting,
I'm forgetting
why I wanted to cry,
and I'm still waiting on a day no hearts would die.