things were never like they used to be
things were never like they used to be
that 's just a retouched memory
it never really was that way
no such thing as yesterday
things were never like they used to be
there's no such thing as history
you forget what you don't want to see
it fits together a little too perfectly
things were never like they used to be
wrapped in a hazy blanket of a memory
to protect us from our yesterdays
we're so much safer off that way
things were never like they used to be
do not mourn for what you didn't see
the past is gone, so far away
but it's no different from today
things were never like they used to be
i was there, you can trust me
so do the best with the day you have
let the teardrops dry, upon the past....
2001-from the tape: "things were never like they used to be"
everywhere there's awe and wonder
everywhere there's joy and pain
everywhere there's constant motion
somehow, it always stays the same
there are times when we all stumble
there are times when we don't care
there are times we hurt eachother
just by being unaware
normal minds will always wander
make up little things to do
it's ok to chase reflections
just remember they're not you
look on everything with wonder
life's too long not to be free
life is too short to be sorry
for every single thing you see
put your arms round what is simple
trust it, be gentle with yourself
it gets better with the growing
give the most love to yourself
2001-from the tape: "things were never like they used to be"
you don't lose your ability
to play like a child
you give it away
you give it away
you don't lose your ability
to laugh like a child
you give it away,
when you hold on so tight
you don't lose your ability
to smile like a child
you trade it in
for a new pair of sport utility vehicles,
a swimming pool, a rung on a ladder, plastic surgery,
you don't lose your ability
to be free like a child
you don't lose it
in between the seat cushions on the couch
you give it away,
you give it away
in the race,
day after day,
you throw it away
you waste it away
but it's never to late
to let go and play
to let go and play
2001-from the tape: "things were never like they used to be"
the stockmarket's falling, the greyhound is calling
but somehow the sky looks ok,
the curtain is closing, the factory's frozen
the sun it came up anyway.
the wait in line chatter, it don't seem to matter
the buses just go, round and round.
roadmaps on faces, of ambulance chasers
they never lost, what you've found.
it's so hard, when you get in your way.
the houses are grown up, the kids are all sewn up
growing back into the ground.
the railroad is rotten, the empire's forgotten,
to make the stop in this town.
it's so hard, when you get in your way.
you feel so empty, that the wind it could take you,
up if it blew the right way.
snowballing rabbits, it's just a habit,
that met you for coffee one day.
it's so hard, when you get in your way.
-1992
from the tape"live at radio free soundworks"
and "you don't kill time it kills you"
it's been a while since it's been easy
it's been hard for a long while
after a while it's hard to be easy
after a while easy becomes hard
mind over mind over mind over mind over
matter
easy turns turns into boredom
boredom turns restless winds you up
all wound up everything's blurry
blurry becomes just passing you by
mind over mind over mind over mind over
matter
passing you by turns into fear
fear into anger helps you to hide
and as you hide you retreat deeper
further away from who you are
mind over mind over mind over mind over
matter
further away soon becomes empty
empty tries to fill from outside
the more you fill the more need
the more you need easy becomes hard
mind over mind over mind over mind over
matter
mindover matter you thought you had it
turns out what you had was you had enough
mindover matter what's it all matter
sometimes it's good, it's good to give up
mind over mind over mind over mind over
matter
1/99 from the tape "live
at radio free soundworks"
bridges or towers crumbling, trying to break free
me i envy traffic lights, who need no company
with nothing in common, everyone's the same
and the traffic lights are static, as they repeat their change
looking down on jesus, up upon the cross
will you ask a stranger for directions, in the city when you're lost
disappearing glances, through the crossing of barbed wire
will you pour another cup of air, and talk at me a while
look out down below i'm on my way
me i learn the same thing every day
wish it didn't have to go so slow,
sailing, with my wings of stone.
the bus is on the ocean, now we're sailing down the street
on the corner of the intersection, where the day and the nightime meet
barred up in a smoky peeling, window full of shade
and the clouds look just like dinosaurs, walking on parade
hours and hours, on a public telephone
and no one ever misses you, when you're not at home
spray paint your reflection, on the sidewalk when you go
i walk by there everyday with my wings of stone
i'm on the way now look out down below
your time your dime is up now on the phone
slowly sinking with my wings of stone.
-8/92- appears on the tape "Loose is More"
there's nothing like a good resentment
come on we're marching off to war
always fighting with a vengence
can't remember just what for
there's nothing like a good resentment
anger seething deep within
every day's another scorecard
for her and them and her and him
girls on the island of resentment
all have the seven deadly implants
they're a bunch of slutty bitches
doing all the things you can't
and on the good ship of resentment
all the men are millionaires
they're all cheating on their taxes
and doing things that you don't dare
there's nothing like a good resentment
hey i' m burning up inside
grudges covering my fear
blinded by my sense of pride
my best friend doesn't get resentment
and i resent that don't you know
she says that i can do it too
i just have to let it go
i've got to let go of resentment
there's gotta be a better way
cause i simply can't afford it
no one really wins it any way
1997/ appears on the tape BINKYSPOOMINNEEP
the feeling of a red leaf, against an empty blue sky
do what you do, and then let go
the sky never really gets any bluer than this
do one thing at a time, and repeat
have fun, and don't forget to watch the leaves
be a sponge, and pay attention
in winter, birds fly south with no maps or car keys
be what you are doing and smile all the time,think less, love
more
rain falling washes flower and sewer the alike
love every one at a time
the tide comes in and goes out, with no electricity
try not to take yourself personally
the snow falls silently in it's own time
be patient, give yourself room
like slow frost, melting in the warm morning sun
life will fall into place for you
there will always be another red leaf, if you wait long enough
rerelease the blues, and be unreasonably happy
1998-appears on the tape "individual residual stain"
elmer he got french fried out on fridays
singing to the showers in the hardware store
the silly things you find
when you got too much liesure time
and too much money, and no one listens to you anyway
i said, what's so scary about boredom anyway
what's so scary about boredom anyway
blue haired old ladies ride the bus for free on fridays
with rainbow colored wigs, and dried out perms
it's funny how they stare
at punk rock kids who've got blue hair
and everybody's wearing orthopedic shoes
i said, what's so scary about boredom anyway
what's so scary about boredom anyway
perhaps i'll go to sleep again on friday
or learn a foreign language in a traffic jam
in cars i pick my nose
just to keep from being alone
i know that you have never done the same.
i said, what's so scary about boredom anyway
what's so funny about boredom anyway
4/95
from the album "toolbox, toybox go!
go! go!"
lord bless my soul, when there's no remote control
and the pavement is spreading, out of control
the sidewalks are sprouting, nervous telephone poles
and i remember dirt, and i remember trees
cars strung out like rabbits, as they multiply
faster in red traffic, the future passes by
we're running out of airholes, in that paper plate sky
and i remember dirt, and i remember trees
your mother is a hornpout, and they slowly reeled her in
with tootie on the cellphone, tv drooling down her chin
the lottery never shows us, the billions that don't win
and i remember dirt, and i remember trees
walking to school barefoot, twenty miles in the snow
before they invented the breeze, you did what you were told
now you respect your elders, they paved the world for you to go
and i remember dirt, and i remember trees
i've been there i've done that, and i still flossed in between
the world is like a bathtub, with a liquid history
we're dog paddling away on the crayola sea
and i remember dirt, and i remember trees
keep on moving westward, till there's no west left to go
tomorrow and the bus left us a long long time ago
you're only as smart as the things you don't know
and i remember dirt, and i remember trees
7/19/96
from the album: toolbox, toybox, go! go!
go!
1.
some people know, what their life's calling is
but it might be a wrong number, that just seems like it is
well i don't drive the bus, and i like it that way
it helps me sleep softly, at the end of the day
2.
well the warden finally died, and the bed sprouted wings
we're all tucked in tidy, in our own little dreams
we childrens is simple, with free time to breathe
because we pay attetion, to life's little things
3.
like crayola fishes floating, in aquarium tv's
with unlimited cable, and lollipop trees
with straight line horizons, you can see for miles
i mind my own business, once in a while
and they thought, they thought she was a rock
and they thought, they thought she was a rock
and she was, a styrofoam rock.
4. well the circus is here, but don't be afraid
because even the fire eaters have parents these days
and it will work out, in a butterfly way
and the stars will come up, at the end of the day
5. so pull up a rowboat, and a good book to read
and we'll row off to nowhere, and we'll make make believe
the swingset is empty, it's time to let go
it's time to be happy, if you dare to be so
6. and hey can't you see it, we're all on death row
some just have better seats, than others you know
so keep on surviving, and striving to grow
don't forget to be love, to the people that you know
and they thought, they thought she was a rock
and they thought, they thought she was a rock
and she was, a styrofoam rock.
1/97 from the tape 'crayolafishes'
there's something in the air, that don't feel quite right
like a bad hairpiece, under real bright light
the glitter, and the paint, and the rosin glue
the papers and the rapers and the tv crews
the csars and the cars, and the latex nose
the bars and the vipers and the ro-day-yo's
everyone keeps coming back, again and again
like a cucumber sandwhich that repeats to no end
well, there's one thing for certain, in them hollywood hills
if the smog doesn't get you, then the silicone will
got a mind like a humming bird, dartin in a funk
like being at the dance, when the drummer's drunk
wish i could sit here and meditate like a rock
like a cross between a buddha, and a cement block
run the spinning wheel, into a rut
everyone's a hamster, when the sun comes up
bumper to bumper, and you're marching in line
shackles on your tailpipe, rolaids on your mind
well, there's one thing for certain, in them hollywood hills
if the smog doesn't get you, then the silicone will
madder than a bladder, about to burst
climbing up the standings, going from last to worst
the baby carriage passing, like a runaway train
got credit cards going, for your jugular vein
faster than the herpes, greedy hurricane
the earth is just a marble, going down, god's drain
you know i've been running, as fast as i can
but you never stay ahead, of the garbage man
well, there's one thing for certain, in them hollywood hills
if the smog doesn't get you, then the silicone will
7/24/96 from the tape "toolbox,
toybox, go! go! go"
nomads unnoticed, drift softly by
tv gentle attention, with the stars as their guide
and i will ride horses, and you take the car
they're dead in the water, so stay where you are
a stock exchange prophet(profit) or someone like that
said despite all the warnings, we repeat the past
and all the kings victims, and all the kings men
have slept with the future, and they've run off again
i'm heading south in the fall
watching the south as it falls
do not you worry, that you missed the mark
because they dont' have orders, to go very far
and they do not take chances, at the end of the day
the receding headlines, they are fading away
build up the landfill, as the city decays
they've blinded the autumn, now heaven awaits
stay in the car now, and keep yourself low
the funeral is over, and it's time to go home
i'm heading south in the fall
watching the south as it falls
12/16/92 from the album 'crayolafishes'
in the high school all the kids have begun molting
in the high chairs, quick go get the loofa sponge
i've got training wheels on my computer
and the raindrops here are turning into guns
they are marching off in line to face the future
the light in march makes lines in empty space
everyone is frightened by the shadows
who will win the race to middle age
and it's a long, way, down
for babies
it's a long, way, down
well maybe it's.....
and on the playground all that's left is perfect
in the playboy, all the girls have perfect ........ smiles
sharkey johnson, he's got a perfect jump shot
and his kids have learned to read between the lines
dave uranus he broke moon martelli's nose here
his mama said just let the children play
my mama always said that i was something
she said a little bit of you goes such a long long way
and it's a long, way, down
for babies
it's a long, way, down
well maybe it's.....
and in the end it all comes down to footwear
and in the end you're fighting with your clothes
some day the prom score will not really matter,
and we'll be left alone with time to molt
and it's a long, way, down
for babies
it's a long, way, down
well maybe it's.....
3/95 from the tape "toolbox, toybox, go! go! go!"
chinups on your coffee cup
racing down the drain
don't you glazed donut
never feels no pain
forcing a square peg
in a hole in the ozon layer
nobody is looking
time to take great care
everybody smells, but some people stink
you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him think
it was the hardest thing,
i never had to do
to keep my opinions to myself
and get along with you
throwing my baggage
over the top and side of the boat
trying very hard to do
nothing that you don't
everybody smells, but some people stink
you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him think
mind your own slow business
watch the things you think
don't you know an empty puppy
will lick everything
eat when you are hungry
sleep when you are tired
try and keep it simple
doing one thing at a time
everybody smells, but some people stink
you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him think
the mountain's always moving
the waves don't know the tide
no one knows the difference
but you on the inside
no more competition
learning to not talk
the ocean swallows the mountain
when i slow down and walk
12/97 appears on the tape "hit record? hit record! chapter Two"
old autumnal bluehead
waiting in line
in automatic happiness
we believe and desire
death row allowance
empty headed heart
great Sunoco river
pale brown sky
cardiac sundown
stainless goodbye
lead lined umbrella
miles of regret
hooray for global warming
repackaged daylight
hit the reset button
hold your breath tight
heart attack submarine
safe inside
user friendly radiation
nightlight limeglow
genetic synthetic
engineering French Toast
swallow all the residue
and hope for the best
uneven distribution
inform me to death
trench a deeper dig
chemistry sets
the same thing
is on every channel
out here on my planet
i'm so very well known
you can know me better
if you leave me alone
emancipated Cadillac
polyurethane dreams
3/98 appears on the tape "hit
record? hit record! chapter Two"