Velcro

I want to stick to you
like Velcro

How are you, man? Been having fun?

Hey man, how you been?

Just fine, farmboy. Glad to hear you're back. How was California?

I'm still in California. I come back day after tomorrow. I get into Portland on Friday.

Has it been a good trip?

It's been real stressful, but there's been some great times. The family reunion was fuckin' awesome. I wrote a song that I think might be a keeper.

Anyway, I just wanted to get in touch, man. How are you, man? Been having fun?

It's been hot but I'm surviving.

Same here, man. Fuckin' humid, you know?

I'm not a fan of it.

Me neither, man.

Look man, take care of yourself and I'll see you Friday, okay? Stay cool, dude.

wave goodbye

wave goodbye
I'm on my way
nothing you can say
can stop me now
I don't know how
I stayed here for so long

a lot less greed 2

I can't listen to you now
I've got problems my own
what should I do now?
I'm lost and feeling so alone
if you're willing to ignore my behavior
lend one of your ears to me
maybe I'll return the favor
'cause we could do with a lot less greed
don't look at me
we could do with a lot less greed
I believe
we could do with a lot less greed
we could do with a lot less greed

I hate adventure

I'm so fuckin' scared, man.

What's wrong, farmboy?

Everything. I leave for California on Wednesday and I have to get ready. My landlord's coming over to look at the refrigerator, which has been making power-saw-like noises. And I have to renew my driver's license.

Sounds like real life to me, farmboy. Doesn't sound too bad. How are you getting to California?

The train. I thought I told you.

Maybe you did. Anyway, that sounds like fun. A real adventure.

I hate adventure.

No you don't.

What I hate is what my mind goes through. It's always chattering away: What if something goes wrong? What if there's a train wreck? What if I offend everybody just by existing? What if I fall and break my leg? What if I die?

Your mind needs some help, farmboy. It sounds like you might be...

My worst enemy?

Your worst enemy.

Is it too late to get a refund? Even an exchange?

Nope. You get to fix this one, farmboy.

Oh fuckin' joy.

You'll have help. You have good friends, good family. Listen to what they say and internalize it.

Uh...I'll try.

Use your brain for good. Have faith. Use faith. You have a world of help around you.

I know.

I know you know. You're a smart feller...

Thanks.

Which is better than being a fart smeller!

Jeez. Does your advice always have to come with a floor show?

getting older

this getting older?
man, how it hate it
everything they say
is so untrue
getting older?
it's so fuckin' overrated
the golden years are leaving me
black and blue

you don't have to be a turtle 3

I know you love him
he's the guy of a thousand dreams
always thinking of him
but he ain't the man he seems
he'll take advantage of you
and he don't play fair
baby, you'd better
get yourself prepared
you can open your heart
like you have before
but put a lock on the gate
and a dog at the door

a lot less greed

there's a lot of sadness in the world, brother
sometimes it ain't nothing but pain
the way we treat each other
it's just a crying shame
some say love is the answer
and that it's all you need
but I know one more thing, baby
we could do with a lot less greed
yes indeed
we could do with a lot less greed

I don't want to pay no taxes
hey, your piece is bigger than mine
why should I work while the world relaxes?
look, pal, you're cutting in line
there's a preacher on my TV
selling salvation for a sizable fee
I don't need your kind of religion, mister
and we could do with a lot less greed
let's proceed
we could do with a lot less greed

look out future 2

everyday I shake my head in sorrow
everyday I hang my head in shame
everyday I dread the next tomorrow
everyday I accept the blame

I'm gonna change my social outlook
plus the number on my telephone
I'm gonna change the fine print on my eBook
look out future, I'm coming home
I'm coming home
I'm coming come
look out future
I'm coming home

look out future

everyday I feel so inferior
everyday I eat the same damn food
everyday the same old face in the mirror
and that's why I'm in a bad mood

I'm gonna change my way of thinking
and change my rhythm like a metronome
I'm gonna change my world like ol' abe lincoln
look out future
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
look out future
I'm coming home

(possible bridge)

can't you see I'm busy?
don't bother me
I'm deleting my own history

you don't have to be a turtle 2

where are you, baby?
waiting up for your no-good man
don't you think maybe
it's his turn to understand 
he pulls the same shit
time and time again
you gotta learn, darlin'
not to let him back in
I know it don't feel good
I know it ain't no fun
but you gotta look out
for number one

you don't have to be a turtle
but you need a shell
to protect you from
rejection
you know, love's the highest hurdle
so respect yourself
take care of your heart

big easy chair 2

a big easy chair 
is all I want
take out food
from a Thai restaurant 
maybe I'll try
something new
maybe the same old same old
pad see ew
leftovers in the frigidaire
sleep in my big easy chair

What the fuck is all this crap doing here?

What a summer this has been, man. The hits just keep on coming! The fuckin' heat wave is finally over and I've become obsessed with cleaning my apartment. And I mean cleaning.

That sounds like it could be a good thing, farmboy.

Oh, it is. This place, man, I'm just one step away from being one of those hoarders, you know? I see all this trash -- ibags and bags if it, those large 30-gallon trash bags -- and I think What the fuck is all this crap doing here?

But you're cleaning it all up, farmboy. That's great, because it sounds like it could be overwhelming.

It has been, I'll tell you that. It's one of the worst things about living with myself. I mean, it's like I never learned how to clean up. 

But that's changing...

Shit, man, I'm fuckin' changing, too. I sure hope it's for the better.

big easy chair

a big easy chair
is all I need
with a bottle of wine
and a bowlful of weed
potato chips
pizza with extra cheese
and a huge HD 
flat screen TV
sit down in my underwear
in my big easy chair

other people's houses 2

I look in other people's faces
when they're not watching
right into their eyes
I catch them unaware
hoping to catch a tiny
hint of human kindness
I imagine that they're peaceful
and nobody is scared
and nobody is scared

other people's houses

I look in other people's houses
I gaze into their living rooms
when nobody is watching
and imagine who lives there
I imagine happy families
with moms and dads and children
all living in perfect harmony
and nobody is scared
and nobody is scared

Damn, man, I got sick

Hey, man, I'm dragging.

Good to see you, farmboy, haven't seen you for a little while. So why are you dragging?

Damn, man, I got sick. I don't know what caused it.

What is "it?"

Mostly nausea. It's stomach things, which are increasing. I should probably go see my doctor about it. I should also start limiting my coffee drinking.

That's a good place to start. Then you can stop eating fried foods...

I don't eat much fried foods.

How about the stress in your life?

Stress? Me?

If there's anybody I know with too much stress, it's you, farmboy.

Everybody I know has too much stress. 

I'm just thinking that maybe you should do something about it.

Oh, man, I know I should. I'm working on it. I've been doing that deep breathing for quite a while now, and that helps.

Now that you mention it, that's when it all started, when I was going out to catch the bus and it was early and I was afraid I was gonna miss it. Then I lost my transfer and had to use another bus ticket and then I performed and that's always stressful.

So you may have a point: too much stress.

I just thought I'd mention it to you, farmboy.

I'm glad you did.

I dropped my fork

"please, your honor"
is what I said
I said to the judge
inside my head
"please forgive the tantrum
that went off in my brain"

wind and hair 2

sometimes cells rebel
and form a certain kind of hell
and it steals your body
from out under you
and everything you planned
like sand
falls right through your hands
leaving you to ask
what do I do

wind and hair

I can still feel the wind
blowing through my hair
even though I have
no hair anymore
when we're out driving
in that cool country air
I almost feel
like I did before

but we're not driving 
in the country today
we're going to the hospital
I've memorized the way

guilty conscience 2

dear farmboy
I guess I need to say to you
that you're severely lacking
in the area of smarts
looks to me
like you think it's okay for you
to do the stupid things you do
like they're works of art

          I'm your guilty conscience
          and you need to straighten up
          I tell you, mister
          I have had enough
          of you and your guitar
          who do you think you are
          wishing on a falling star
          look, I know better than you

          

guilty conscience

dear farmboy
I'm writing you this letter
because I need to tell you
what an asshole you've been
I'm thinking
you could be doing better
but you do the same old shit
time and time again

          I'm your guilty conscience
          and I know how you should live
          but it's becoming to get harder
          to forgive
          your sick and twisted ways
          I see right through your ganja haze
          let me tell you, if I may
          I know better than you

me and gravity

me and gravity
we don't get along
it wants to drag me down
and I'm saying that's just wrong
I should be in that wild blue yonder
soaring to the stars
getting into trouble out on
Jupiter and Mars
but, you see,
gravity
oh, gravity
it's got a hold on me

I don't want to dream anymore (verse 2)

I don't want to hope anymore
what I want is the truth
that life can get better
I guess I need some proof
and I don't want excuses
or two-bit alibis
I need to see what's in front of me
with my own two eyes