1. I'VE LEARNED TO LOVE MYSELF

There’s no way my mother can still love me
The way my father, my father said she did
More like a brother to the others, but to my sister
I am nothing but another statistic

When you’re birthed by seven women over 13 days,
superstitious happy endings seem farther away than you may want to believe
Although our brother is sleeping with our greatest enemy
we still love him like we did when we were kids
But if another of my brothers meets that reaper early
there will be nothing that can stop revolution

Now my mouth keeps running, but it’s running in place
And the mask I used to wear is now becoming my face
There’s no way I will be seen

I’ve learned to love myself
I’ve learned to love myself abandonment
(I believe fear cannot exist within the plan)
And if I feel myself I’ve learned to do it with the touch of death.
I’ve learned to love myself
I’ve learned to love myself abandonment
(I believe fear cannot exist within the plan)
So when you feel yourself
You should be careful with the touch of death

And now my lover is screaming
“Jason, can you love me the way you never even acted like you did?”
The problem I’m seeing with being so damn empty
Is the irony when you’re completely full of shit

When your mouth keeps running to a dangerous place
Can you really call it lost if you don’t want to be saved?
When it rains, it’s pouring on me

I’ve learned to love myself
I’ve learned to love myself abandonment
(I believe fear cannot exist within the plan)
And if I feel myself I’ve learned to do it with the touch of death
I’ve learned to love myself
I’ve learned to love myself abandonment
(I believe fear cannot exist within the plan)
So when you feel yourself
You should be careful with the touch of death

I’ve learned to love myself
I’ve learned to love myself abandonment
(I believe fear cannot exist within the plan)
And once you see it all, it’s all you see and I’m okay with that


2. NU ROMANTICS

Now tell me, lady, do you feel at all? (do you feel at all?)
For all the lazy, for those you can’t write off (write them off...)
I’m feeling, lately, like you’ve been giving up (like you’ve given up)
on every labored hand here in our promised land, on the backs we whipped then covered up

It’s not that far away, it’s not that far away
Every single time I think we’ve made it, I feel the decline I’m proudly jaded, but
It’s not that far away, it’s not that far away
Every single time I think we’ve made it, our fantasy fades away

Grace was amazing until our faith ran out (until our faith right out)
Justice, you’re playing me for bigger bank accounts (big accounts...)
Cocaine arrangements, ghettos, and hand-me-downs (they were handed down)
She’s always got a plan to use her fellow man, no use believing in what she says,

It’s not that far away, it’s not that far away
Every single time I think we’ve made it, I feel the decline I’m proudly jaded, but
It’s not that far away, it’s not that far away
Every single time I think we’ve made it, our fantasy fades away

Now I’ve got it and I’ve lost everything
Every single time I think we’ve made it, I feel the decline, I’m proudly jaded, but
It’s not that far away, it’s not that far away
Every single time I think we’ve made it, our fantasy fades away

These tired and poor, you said to bring them all to you
They’re all waiting for you to reap what you sow
These tired and poor, you said to bring them all to you (it’s all for you)
They’re all waiting for (we’re all waiting for) you to reap what you sow


3. GOOD MOURNING, AMERICA

“We ain’t so different now are we?”
Said the cop to the killer inside of me.
“I’ve heard your story, boy, and that shit gets old.
We’ve got the right to take your life, so do just what you’re told”

He ain’t so big dick now, is he? (Play The victim. Won’t play the victim)
When compared to the heroin next to me (she lives inside us all).
I’ve read about those storied boys, what about real girls?
More than a wife or giver of life, those antiquated roles.

Now, that everybody’s listening
will you shout or shut your mouth again?
Closed mouths again.

“You gotta learn to accept disparity” Said my mother to the fucker inside of me.
“You’re no Guevara, boy. Just a poor man’s Marx. Now I think you better take a step down off that cross.”
So, that shoe doesn’t fit you comfortably. (it doesn’t fit you. will never fit you)
So you’re better off cutting off both your feet (bootstraps that bind us all)
because if you try to stand up you might look too tall.
The bigger they are the better view we get to watch them fall.

Ain’t no city like the one I’m from.
That one time got me stressing.
Hands up high praying I don’t get shot.

Now that everybody’s listening,
will you shout or shut your mouth again?
Closed mouths again.
I’m a shame, but you’re a saint.
It’s hard to see when you don’t understand it at all.

Now that everybody’s listening,
will you shout or shut your mouth again?
Closed mouths again.
I’m a shame, but you’re a saint.
Hard to think that you’d understand this at all.

We don’t back away, we go that way now.
(I never got it. I never ever got it)
Who got shot today? What’s your body count?
(We’ll never get it. You know we won’t get it)

We don’t back away, we go that way now.
(I never got it. I never ever got it)
Who got shot today? What’s your body count?
(We’ll never get it. You know we won’t get it)

Now that everybody’s listening,
will you shout or shut your mouth again?
Closed mouths again.
I’m a shame, but you’re a saint.
It’s hard to see when you don’t understand it at all.

Now that everybody’s listening,
will you shout or shut your mouth again?
Closed mouths again.
I’m a shame, but you’re a saint.
It’s hard to see when you don’t understand it at all.


4. WHO YOU ARE NOT

Who you are not...

I know we all want to chase the sun,
but I’m the only man who gets burnt for fun.
God bless this heat & my cancerous tan,
and I stand before you with these holes in my hands.

Just so you know, instead of be held, I’d rather behold.
And it shows - I’ve never been whole.

We might be the same,
but if we don’t notice we might be okay.
Despite the cliché, I’m just out of focus,
but you like it that way.

Can I speak half-truths with my smart mouth?
May I feel your ears, with cheer full down
Extend my reach, but I won’t reach out.
I’d rather watch you drown than admit my drought.

So you know, instead of be held, I’d rather behold.
And it shows - I’ve never been whole.

We might be the same,
but if we don’t notice we might be okay.
Despite the cliché, I’m just out of focus,
but you like it that way.

You tell me I’m a bad man with your bad mouth
that’s how I know it’s meant to be
I know we all want to chase the sun
But I’m the only man who gets burnt for fun

We might be the same,
but if we don’t notice we might be okay.
Despite the cliché, I’m just out of focus,
but you like it that way.

We don’t know who you are not...


5. A WEAK AGO

Can't you tell that I'm anxious?
Don't you know that I didn't want this at all?
Can't you see that it makes me sick
When I act overconfident about nothing?

I'm not feeling the way
No, I'm not feeling the way that you want me to
I'm just peeling away
That thick, big skin you want me to put on display

I'm the same as I was a week ago
But everyone's saying I'm not at all
I'm the same and it's become unusual
And everyone says that I got it all

You know that I'm thankful
Even though I feel stuck
Just remember I envy you
Because you don't have to fake anybody out

I'm not feeling the way
No, I'm not feeling the way they expect me to
I'm not falling away
See, I'm just pulling the same shit on a different day

I'm the same as I was a week ago
But everyone's saying I'm not at all
I'm the same and it's become unusual
And everyone says that I got it all

It's the same as it was a week ago
But everyone's saying that it's not at all
The same and it's so fucking difficult
How nobody's there until you've got it all

I'm the same as I was a week ago
But everyone's saying that I'm...oh, fuck

I'm the same as I was a week ago
But everyone's saying that I'm not at all
The same and it's become unusual
And everyone says that I got it all

It's the same as it was a week ago
But everyone's saying that it's not at all
The same and it's so fucking difficult
How nobody's there until you've got it all


6. FOREIGN CAB RIDES

Now that I am dead I hope that ascend to you.
“To who?” Always to you. I’m on my way back down.
I’ll just live it up then shake it off so I never gotta think about it.
I’m like night and day. I never want to stay.
Do you? You do? Me too. I’m on my way back down.
She said “Turn me on then get me off, so we never gotta think about it.”

Stay with me and share my disease.
Gotta find a way back home on the way...

Now that I am dead I finally get to rest with you
until you’re through and send me on my way back home.
Because you’ve given up, taken off, so you never have to worry about it.
Be careful what you say, you might have hell to pay.
“I do.” You do? Me too. That’s why I am all alone.
Because I’m right above ‘don’t give a fuck’ and just below ‘I cannot live without it’.

Stay with me and share my disease.
Gotta find a way back home.
Gotta find a way back home.
So please stay with me and die faithfully.
Because there’s no one left to save your soul on the way down.

And if you’re my better half you won’t know a thing about love either.
And if you’re my better half you won’t know a thing about love either.
Well I know that I’m pathetic. I knew before you said it.
And I know that I’m pathetic. I knew before you said it.

Stay with me and share my disease.
Gotta find a way back home.
I want to find a way back home.


7. RELUCTANTLY DEAD

The blood on my hands is like drugs on my nose
I've been confused with someone who's in control
Of all the things that will happen anyway
So I'll just continue on the path that I hate
Cause I'm gonna find my way

I've been grabbing at sand just to watch it slip away
I put both my hands up and I started to pray
That you ain't like me and you'll let me walk away
But I'll understand it if you choose to kill me

Would've probably done the same
I would've probably done the same

You believe that they came here to protect you
But see I would rather run
Cause now the law results in a death

Once you understand that you've got control
See I'd be confused for someone you'll never know
Cause all of those things were gonna happen anyway
Somewhere within you lies the one that you hate

I'm gonna fuck myself today
I'd rather fuck myself today

You believe that they came here to protect you
But see I would rather run
Cause now the law results in a death

You believe that they came here to protect you
But see I am not the one
Cause I will be reluctantly dead

I'll never be alone again
But do you realize you're my only friend
I feel at home again
Home again

I'll never be a hooligan
Yeah I feel that I'm my only friend
I feel at home again (home again)
And this is all pretend

You believe that they came here to protect you
But see I would rather run
Cause now the law results in a death

You believe that they came here to protect you
But see I am not the one
Cause I will be reluctantly dead


8. ELEPHANT

You are speaking Latin to all.
I am yelling at Chinese walls.
Truthfully, I never really got the point in you (you say...).
You would think that someone would have already had to have ended you (you say...).

Yeah. Now the elephant has filled this whole room and there’s no room to
Stand. Now I’m barely breathing, but this whole room doesn’t want me to.

If you carry the torch for too long
there’s no doubt you will get burnt when you fall.
You believe that everything they taught you is the truth.
These beliefs will be the very thing that ended you.

Yeah. Now the elephant has filled this whole room and there’s no room to
Stand. Now I’m barely breathing but this whole room doesn’t want me to.
Yeah. Now the elephant has filled this whole room and there’s no room to
Stand. Now I’ve got this feeling that this whole room doesn’t want me to.

I never got it at all that’s all I’ve got to say to you.
They never want it at all until they take it all from you.
And now I know how to fall- how to fall away from you.
They never want it at all and all I’ve got to say is.

Yeah. Now the elephant has filled this whole room and there’s no room to
Stand. Now I’m barely breathing but this whole room doesn’t want me to.
Yeah. Now the elephant has filled this whole room and there’s no room to
Stand. Now I’ve got this feeling that this whole room doesn’t want me to.


9. ANOTHER OFFENSIVE SONG

Another offensive song. Another not enough.
Another big mouth poet screaming, but it’s never loud enough for them
to hear us when we’re all down here.
So claw your way out.

It’s not my emotions.
It ain’t just in my head.
Let’s make a motion.
We closed mouths we’ll never see it.
Part time devotion.
Even if you stay long enough to show them.
They just don’t want to see it.

I used to want it all, until I’d had enough.
Now I’m longing for that feeling.
A healthy dose of losers lust.

Well I don’t care about being fair. Do you?
It’s just another song.
A song about distrust, but this time
I’m sure you’ll hear it
when it’s blowing up the airwaves or in your face.
We’ll rip your eardrums out.

It’s not my emotions.
It ain’t just in my head.
Let’s make a motion.
We closed mouths we’ll never see it.
Part time devotion.
Even if you stay long enough to show them.
They just don’t want to see it.

This ain’t just a hypocritical complaint
where you can say that the pot is calling the kettle black.
No it is not. But this is a scenario
where you can say the cop is calling the killer
“Black”, “Hispanic”, “Asian”, “Caucasian”,
and if you’ve got it really bad - “Other”.

It’s not my emotions.
It ain’t just in my head.
Let’s make a motion.
We closed mouths we’ll never see it.
Part time devotion.
Even if you stay long enough to show them.
They just don’t want to see it.

To love a man as a man or to live as that man who knows she’s a woman,
this ain’t about these “types” of people.
It’s about all of us, as a people.

Those words might get you shot.
Your skin might get you shot.
Who you fuck might get you shot.
My big mouth will probably get me shot.
Write songs that tear through.
Speak words that scare you.
Stoke the fire, I dare you.
Kill me off,
This movement can’t be stopped.


10. IF I'M THE DEVIL...

Are you the one, the handsome bastard son,
that nobody will talk about it all?
I am the one, most fortunate of sons,
that no one gives a damn about at all.

I am singing for you, I am singing for you.
All the privileged and the foolish - this is for you.

All we’ve done, regrettable but fun.
There’s something you should know about us all.
If you bite your thumb, you better pray I bite my tongue.
Where I’m from we throw hands then we talk it out.

I am singing for you, I am singing for you.
Sensitive yet violent fools - yeah, this is for you.

It’s what you think, therefore I am.
If I’m the devil, you’re the reason.
The reason that we kill ourselves and give ourselves all away.

Can you name one fool that sang along?
One person that has heard about us?
Worst of all, of all these sad old songs,
no verse was ever sung about them.

I am singing for you, I am singing for you.
All the privileged and the foolish - this is for you.

It’s what you think, therefore I am.
If I’m the devil, you’re the reason.
The reason that we kill ourselves and give ourselves all away.
It’s what you think therefore I am.
If you’re the devil, I’m the reason.
The reason that it still ain’t safe to put ourselves on display.
It’s what you think therefore I am.

I know what you’re thinking about and there ain’t no use in that.
They seem too good for that. Are you good with that?
Well, get used to that.
I know what you’re thinking about and there ain’t no use in that.
They seem too good for that. Are you good with that?
Well, get used to that...


11. COPPER COLORED QUIET

My world is on fire and I’ve got no one to watch it burn.
No one to admire how well I disappear, I disappear.
Don’t call me a liar while crossing bridges I meant to burn.
You wreak of desire; that’s why there’s no one here.
There’s no one here to

Watch me as I fall asleep.
They assassinate the ones who dream.
If I got it all, I got it for you.

We all came to watch your world as it burns.
We all came to watch your world as it burns.
My world was on fire way before it was meant to burn.
Ironic how dying makes them all appear when they’re all up here.
Now that I’m a liar, no one’s willing to mark my words.
Come down to the wire. You’ll enjoy it here when there’s no one here to

Watch you as you fall asleep.
Assassinate the ones who dream.
If I got it all, I got it for you.

We all came to watch your world as it burns.
We all came to watch your world as it burns.
Everybody wants me to save my breath
because it’s all in jest.
We all came to watch your world as it burns.

Cause I, I can’t wait unless it’s for you.
I, I can’t wait unless it’s for you.

We all came to watch your world as it burns.
We all came to watch your world as it burns.
Everybody wants me to save my breath
because it’s all in jest.
We all came to watch your world as it burns.
We all came to watch your world as it burns.
We all came to watch your world as it burns.
We all came to watch your world as it burns.