new day

I'm looking for a new day

not like yesterday or the day before

it's true I've got plenty 

but I always want more and more

I've got food to eat

a roof over my head

friends and family

what do I need instead?

I need to feel peace 

in my heart

where do I start?

very same thing

everyday I do the very same thing

very same thing

very same thing

that I do everyday

there is no up or down

right or wrong

I just accept it

as my way

so I look around

what do I see

so many people

in front of me

sometimes I need to be alone

nothing works out

no matter what happens

nothing works out

you can try your hardest

you can scream and shout

you can compromise

you can play real tough

but remember, fact is

your best ain't good enough

I do what I can

but nothing works out

everyone on earth knows

what I'm talking about

you don't stand a chance

you don't have a clue

nothing but trouble

is waiting for you

very much alive

one thing about life

is that it is fatal

but I am still very much alive

I still can feel with my heart

I still can see you

through my eyes

my life is not over

I am still here

right now

and I will live each day

although I don't know why

although I don't know how

anyway, I survive

I am very much alive

day off

I'm taking the day off

from the job of being me

I've formed a union

and we all disagree

with the way I treat myself

disregarding mental health

ignoring insecurity

so I'm taking the day off

from the job of being me

I'm turning the phone off

and I won't return your calls

your texts are all unread

and I've got some alcohol

I'm leaving yesterday behind

I need time to unwind

to finally feel free

I'm taking the day off

from the mess inside of me

'

          no need to worry

          the worst thing I will do

          is eat up all the cheeze-its

          and watch endless you tube

I'll be back tomorrow

I just need a break

from all my worries

and mostly my mistakes

but for now I feel okay

drifting my life away

I once was blind, but now I see

I'm taking the day off

from the job of being me

yesterday is gone

yesterday is gone

never to appear again

so why does it still haunt me

those times of way back when

all those days of long ago

turn around and hurt me so

I've tried my best, but I don't know

the spirit that's inside me

many years have come and gone

but I still remain

you'd think that it would change somehow

but it's all stayed the same

I have tried the best I could

to turn the evil into good

I've done everything I should

and still peace denies me

          I've worked all my life

          and I'm still not done

          I want to be the man

          that I have become

all those days behind me

need to find a place to rest

all my failings remind me

that I have tried my best

all this time and I'm still not done

I'm close now to the setting sun

hoping like I've just begun

I still can't give up

even though I've had enough

yesterday is gone

but I'm still fighting

ready for snow

Christmas is here

and it's going to be a mellow one

for this year I have been blessed

with peace and acceptance

I am now ready for snow

let there be peace (rewrite 1)

let there be peace

in the war zone of your mind

when bitter thoughts control you

when you leave yourself behind

let there be peace

in the coldness of your heart

when love is forgotten

when fear tears it apart

in this time when sadness

never seems to cease

let there be peace

let there be love

when you're feeling all alone

when you're lost and you can't find

your way back home

let there be love

when the road ahead is rough

when everything inside you

says you're just not good enough

when emptiness and hurt 

are all you can think of

let there be love

let there be hope

when hope is nowhere to be found

when the ways of life

try to push you underground

let there be hope

when you haven't got a friend

and your chance of happiness

feels like it's at an end

in this time of feeling desperate

and you don't know how to cope

let there be hope

let there be peace

let there be love

let there be hope

let there be enough

let there be peace

let there be peace

in the war zone of your mind

when bitter thoughts control you

and you leave yourself behind

let there be peace

for the coldness of your heart

when you forget about love

and fear tears it apart

in the times when sadness

never seems to cease

let there be peace

let there be love

when you're feeling all alone

when you're lost and you can't find

your way back home

let there be love

when the road ahead is rough

and everything inside you

says you're just not good enough

when emptiness 

is all you can think of

let there be love

let there be hope

when hope is nowhere to be found

when the ways of living

try to push you underground

let there be hope

when you haven't got a friend

and your chance of happiness

feels like it's at an end

in the times of feeling desperate

and you don't know how to cope

let there be hope

let there be peace

let there be love

let there be hope

let there be enough

how my eyes wept

oh how i cried

without you by my side

the night when I found out

how much you had lied

it mad me so blue

I was so damn upset

oh, how my eyes wept

how my eyes wept

blank page

a blank page

an empty head

out of ideas

so instead

I'll tell you about my daily life

right and wrong and left or right

I'll tell you something

that you might believe

I wake each day

get out of bed

visions of grandeur

in my head

I play guitar

and write my heart

and wait for real life to start

I'll tell you something

that you might believe

come inside

you are someone's daughter

on your journey in this world

you know peace and love oughta

be the flag you have unfurled

but I can see the fear inside you

that you try to hide

please know you can trust me

let me come inside

the worst day in the world (for the mandolin guy)

today is the worst day in the world

today I put my dog in the car

and drive him to the vet

for the last time

it will be the last time

that I will hold him

that I will stroke his fur

with all the love that is inside me

everything will be too quiet

there will be nothing moving

when I come home this afternoon

all that will be left

are memories

that I can't think about

right now

the usual way

the world moved sideways

and then upside down

that's how I feel

whenever you're around

everything's black and white

and various shades of gray

and nothing ever happens

the usual way

on days like these

on days like these

I stay inside

stay under the covers

that's where I hide

I don't send texts 

I keep off the phone

I lock my door

and stay at home

and there I do

whatever I please

on days like these

the sky is gray

and filled with rain

in this apartment

I don't complain

I accept the weather

clouds overhead

I pull up blankets

and stay in bed

I listen to deejays

shoot the breeze

on days like these

          on days like these

          you wait for time to move

          on days like these

          nothing ever improves

on days like this

I do not leave

but life still has

something up its sleeve

it might be trouble

it might be joy

it might be whatever

you employ

Lord, help the man

inside of me

on days like these

everything depends on you

I went walking through the neighborhood

just passing the time of day

when I saw a man with sunken eyes

passing me along the way

I said "mister, where you going?"

but he didn't answer back

he just kept on moving

to where the train meets the track

          what do I do?

          where do I go?

          when the world tells me  

          secrets I don't know

          where do I go?

          what do I do?

          in days like these

          everything depends on you

old man winter

it's cold and I'm frozen

in more ways than one

it's early, but winter

has already begun

problems multiply

and seek out your peace

discovering ways

to make it all cease

          old man winter

          don't come 'round my door

          'cause I don't need you anymore

snow is overrated

and rain's cold and wet

my life's filled with promises

that will never be met

just get it over

what winter brings

get me through these months

till I can see spring

          old man winter

          don't come'round my door

          'cause I don't need you anymore

you've begun

you've got to make a movement

you need to get up and go

lying down in sadness

is not the only life you know

open up the door

and step in the sun

I don't know where you're going

but I see you've begun

toast

I am cold 

it is raining

storms are brewing on the coast

at times like this I'm always

looking forward to toast

maybe an English muffin

or a tortilla will do

but toast is what

I'm looking forward to

in weather like this

what I enjoy most

is a warm and buttery

piece of toast

patience of mind (rewrite 1)

all the secrets of my past

that I never knew

remain a mystery

after all I've gone through

I guess it doesn't matter

whatever I do

I've tried everything I could

I've been to the doctor

I've been to the priest

I've paid my repentance

to the deceased

I've made my decision

I'm looking for peace

but it don't do me no good

          but still I keep searching

          still I keep hunting

          looking for something

          I don't know what I'll find

          I don't know where

          but I know it's around here

          I need patience of mind

          patience of mind

all the traumas of my youth

where did they go

they keep hanging around

why? I don't know

they live inside my actions

hide above and below

I cannot hide from their fighting

they murmur inside me

they don't speak the truth

they capture my courage

with whatever they do

an eye for an eye

and a tooth for a tooth

the fire inside me is lightning

          but still I keep searching

          still I keep hunting

          looking for something

          I don't know what I'll find

          I don't know where

          but I know it's around here

          I need patience of mind

          patience of mind

patience of mind

all the secrets of my past

that I never knew

remain a mystery

after all I've gone through

I guess it doesn't matter

whatever I do

I've tried everything I could

I've been to the doctor

I've been to the priest

I've paid my repentance

to the deceased

I've made my decision

I'm looking for peace

but it don't do me no good

          but still I keep searching

          still I keep hunting

          looking for something

          I don't know what I'll find

          maybe I don't know where

          but I know it's around here

          I need patience of mind

Christmas has begun (rewrite 1)

all the colors in the world

are meeting in the sky

hovering over the city

in the blinking of an eye

shining over the horizon

tilting toward the sun

a full December rainbow

Christmas has begun

Halloween is over

Thanksgiving's at an end

and nobody's ready

for the holidays again

the internet is crowded

with sales from Amazon

break out your credit card

Christmas has begun

          bells are ringing in the mall

          selling gifts to buy your sweetie

          if you eat all those cookies

          you'll get diabetes

there's lights on the tree

tons of tinsel too

those songs you've been dreading

now live inside you

snow forms and falls 

melting on the tongue

time to count your blessings

Christmas has begun

don't forget your jacket

Christnas has begun

fallen angel

so many little problems

fill the spaces in my brain

I'm filled with rage and anger

all I do is complain

so when I have a peaceful moment

I tend to hold it close

because somehow I don't trust it

it may be a lethal dose

so I am left to worry

about everything and more

the headlines and the deadlines

wolves waiting at my door

if I could accept the quiet

I would settle down and rest

but then I wouldn't have myself

to scold and second guess

          give me a minute

          to look around and see

          there's a fallen angel

          and he lives inside of me

there are many ways to burden

your heart in times like these

love is just a memory

and fear is a disease

so I will keep on moving

for someday I will find

all signs of hope and kindness

that I have left behind

          give me a minute

          to look around and see

          there's a fallen angel

          and he lives inside of me

winter has begun

all the colors in the world

are meeting in the sky

hovering over the city

in the blinking of an eye

shining over the horizon

at whatever will come

a full December rainbow

winter has begun

Halloween is over

Thanksgiving's at an end

and nobody's ready

for the holidays again

the internet is crowded

with sales from Amazon

break out your credit card

winter has begun

          little kids are looking

          for Santa on his sleigh

          the air is getting cold now

          snow is on its way

there's lights on the tree

tons of tinsel too

those songs you've been dreading

now live inside you

springtime is far away

summer is gone

time for gloves and jackets

winter has begun

          the days have grown shorter

          the nights are way too long

          the birds have all flown south

          you won't hear their morning song

all the colors of the world

are seen in Christmas lights

on rooftops and windows

they shine through the night

snow forms and falls in flurries

melting on the tongue

time to count your blessings

winter has begun

winter cooking

winter cooking

soups and stews

freshly baked bread

will have to do

December kitchen

coffee brewed

toast and jam

breakfast for you

winter cooking

it's just begun

nutmeg and sage

cinnamon

kids and cookies

they decorate

don't eat too much

stomach ache

winter cooking

pineapple and cloves

tamales reheated

on the stove

lots of snacks

with lots of cheese

some of that

and some of these

winter cooking

lots of fun

enough food

for everyone

break out the wine

pour the beer

I like it best

this time of year

busy day

I had a busy day

woke up and drank my coffee

went to work and came home

and now I am here

in front of my computer

catching up with the world

and all its problems and worries

all the things that I fear

after a while, I'll go to bed

a couple of pillows to rest my head

and for those of you

keeping score

tomorrow will be like

the day before

and at some point I will say

I've had a busy day

and it will be just like today

except it isn't

tine has moved

and I have not

all the days I spend

are days I've forgot

it doesn't matter anyway

I had a busy day

to be with you

I'm standing here waiting

anticipating

you to walk on by

I'm going through it

I can do it

we can make it if we try

trouble moves through midtown traffic

trying to get in our way

but we are tripping the light fantastic

we're living for today

can't you see

you were meant for me

to be with you

2021

I've got my cap on backwards

and I look like shit

and, brother, that is not

the worst of it

bought my son a shotgun

he tore up his school

it was their fault

for enforcing the rules

          Lord have mercy

          ain't we having fun

          this is life in 2021

the year's almost over

it's going to be through

and there's so much

we didn't do

so much for health,

equality and free speech

there's so much trouble

bubbling down beneath

          Lord have mercy

          don't say we've just begun

          this is life in 2021

war and famine

a woman's right to choose

drugs and violence

front page news

so much for this year

it's going to be in the past

the most I can say is

it's better than last

          Lord have mercy

          it's hard being number one

          this is life in 2021

you will always be young (rewrite 1)

too many candles

too many cakes

too many worries

too many mistakes

don't look in the mirror

don't think about your age

no matter what happens

you're turning the page

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

you once were a child

my, how you've grown

so much has happened

since you left your home

all that crying and moaning

it's a natural fact

but you've got something inside you

you always bounce back

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

          

          time moves slowly as you float downstream

          it happens only if you're lost inside a dream

too many candles

too many cakes

you'll get there

no matter how long it takes

so it's off to the future

wherever it may lead

I hope that you find

exactly what you need

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

you will always be young

too many candles

too many cakes

too many worries

too many mistakes

don't look in the mirror

don't think about your age

no matter what happens

you're turning the page

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

you once were a child

my, how you've grown

so much has happened

since you left your home

all the pain and hard times

that's a natural fact

but there's something inside you

you always bounce back

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

          

          time moves slowly as you float downstream

          it happens only if you're lost inside a dream

too many candles

too many cakes

you'll get there

no matter how long it takes

so it's off to the future

where it may lead

someday you will find

exactly what you need

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

          you will always be young

standing up

trouble hanging around my door

I don't need you anymore

you've won this time

you've knocked me down

but soon you won't be hanging 'round

'cause I know what's been going wrong

you have told your lies for way too long

          I've fallen but I'm standing up

          I've fallen but I'm standing up

          I've fallen but I'm standing up

          and I'm standing on solid ground

you've knocked me down and laid me low

I had nowhere else to go

but I can't go back to before

'cause I don;t need you anymore

i'm telling you, I've had enough

'cause I am made of stronger stuff

          I've fallen but I'm standing up...

someday I'll look back and laugh

happy on my own behalf

every mistake that I have made

every dept I've left unpaid

I'll accept them all and more

when I find what I'm looking for

          I've fallen but I'm standing up...

as your memory fades (rewrite 2)

you are disappearing

from my heart and mind

I tried to lose you long ago

but it took a little time

I never fit into

the plans you had made

you're leaving my mind

as your memory fades

in my imagination

I no longer picture you

all the time you were someone

I couldn't hold on to

I always knew I'd be the man

who would be betrayed

but it doesn't matter now

as your memory fades

          my mind's completely silent

          when I think about you now

          I'd remember all the good times

          but I don't know how

some mornings I wake up

by the alarm clock's call

I get up and start my day and

don't think of you at all

I'm smarter and I'm stronger

no longer afraid

of being alone 

as your memory fades

you're growing fainter

as your memory fades

as your memory fades (rewrite 1)

you are disappearing

from my heart and mind

I tried to lose you long ago

but it took a little time

I never fit into

the plans you had made

you're leaving my mind

as your memory fades

in my imagination

I no longer picture you

all the time I was someone

you wouldn't hold on to

I always knew I'd be the one

who would be betrayed

but it doesn't matter now

as your memory fades

          my mind's completely silent

          when I think about you now

          I'd remember all the good times

          but I don't know how

some mornings I wake up

I hear the alarm clock's call

I start my day and

I don't think of you at all

I'm smarter and I'm stronger

no longer afraid

of being alone 

as your memory fades

you're growing fainter

as your memory fades

as your memory fades

you are disappearing

from my heart and mind

I tried to lose you long ago

but it took a little time

I never fit into

the plans you had made

I see you going

as your memory fades

I no longer picture you

in my imagination

all the time I was someone

of your own creation

I never thought I'd be the one

who would be betrayed

it doesn't matter now

as your memory fades

          my mind's completely silent

          when I think about you now

          I'd remember the good times

          but I don't know how

some mornings I wake up

I hear the alarm clock's call

I start my day and

I don't think of you at all

I'm smarter and I'm stronger

no longer afraid

of being alone 

as your memory fades

you're growing fainter

as your memory fades

Becky reads about celebrities

Becky reads about celebrities

on Saturday afternoons

stuck inside a dirty house

waiting in her bedroom

silver screens in magazines

works on her imagination

dreams and schemes about movie queens

is her situation

Becky doesn't like her life

high school is such a bore

mathematics

English class

all too easy to ignore

so she yearns to be in fantasy

she longs to be famous and rich

real life doesn't turn out right

she doesn't know which is which

you belong

I can see you

hiding in the corner

thinking that maybe

you shouldn't be here

like some refugee

like some sort of foreigner

looking for some way

to silently disappear

well, you can step on out

don't let it alarm you

it'll be okay

ain't nothing going to harm you

back and forth

to and fro

up and down

right or wrong

you belong

you belong

you've been waiting

in these dark days

for somebody to

shine a light

but you won't find them

with your eyes closed

completely shut

in the dark of night

well, you can search like that

but you won't find it

look around yourself

don't never-mind it

touch and go

light or dark

it's all yours

for a song

you belong

you belong

I would speak to you

I would speak to you

if I could figure out the words

they all come out dry and dusty

not nice and happy

the way that you prefer

but that's the way it must be

I don't like confrontation

it's an investigation

into hearts and minds

and hopes and dreams

I am just a common man

trying to do the best he can

but nothing ever is

the way it seems

I would speak to you

if I knew just what to say

but all my words crumble in your sight

I wish that they were loving

but I have to go away

somewhere in the stark, black night

I'm sorry for my actions

I know that satisfaction

will never happen

between you and me

so I will go away now

there's nothing I can say now

that can bring us back

to where we used to be

          if I could speak to you

          the way I used to do

          I would never waste my time

          with your promise

          of carefree days to come

          our path had just begun

          except you had no intention

          of being honest

I would speak to you

if I knew what words to use

but all my stories are spoken for

all these memories

add up to an excuse

to make my way to an open door

I don't what I can say

I'll silently go away

to a place where I can start my life anew

you're now a memory

that I'm hiding inside me

now I'm figuring out what I can do

I would speak to you

I would speak to you

thanksgiving haiku

thanksgiving morning

it's time for some eating

be grateful today

the words you say to me

the words you say to me

go in one ear and out the other

I know you're talking

I can see

your big mouth moving, brother

two lips in motion, a working jaw

all your words are bla, bla, bla

the words you say to me

oughta be outlawed

everything you're telling me

I have heard it all before

let me save you a little time

I don't want to hear no more

all self-pity

all self-praise

all you do is talk these days

the words you say to me

they're not here to stay

          talk about your future

          talk about your past

          I don't keep your words inside my head

          that way they don't last

the words you say to me

are words that hold no power

up and down

inside out

taking up eternal hours

be silent

you can do it

it's easy if you try

the words you say to me

they say hello, and then goodbye

everything is wrong

everything is wrong today

the sun refused to shine

maybe bad news is on its way

but I don't mean to whine

it's just that nothing ain't no good

nothing is the way it should

everything is turning wrong

like it has been all along

move forward (rewrite 1)

I drink a cup of coffee 

and I begin my day

with no expectations

life goes on either way

I set upon this journey

not knowing what I'll find

I'm trying to move forward

but life keeps me behind

what can I tell you, darling,

life doesn't go as planned

one minute you're okay

then you don't understand

me, I try my best

but it's just not good enough

I'm trying to move forward

but the road ahead is rough

but still I keep on trying

that's all I know to do

looking for a hidden path

that I will know as true

some ways lead us to sorrow

while some are a surprise

I'm trying to move forward

but I can't believe my eyes

give me half a reason

to continue on this search

paradise or misery

I can't tell which is worse

there's tons of turns and tunnels

and hundreds of dead ends

I'm trying to move forward

and I'm pointed straight ahead

forward

I drank a cup of coffee 

and I started on my day

with no expectations

life can go on either way

I set upon this journey

not knowing what I'll find

I try to move forward

but my mind keeps me behind

what I can tell you, darling,

is that life doesn't go as planned

one minute you're okay

the next, you don't understand

me, I try my best

but it's just not good enough

I try to move forward

but the road ahead is rough

leaving today behind

today I packed up cardboard boxes

it's time to move again

off to another city

where I have no job, no friends

just an inkling of adventure

that I'm hoping I can find

I'm leaving here to morrow

I'm leaving today behind

misbehaved

I should have misbehaved more

when I was a child

good kids don't get attention

which is why I was always alone

I should have pretended childhood

was a chance to run wild

instead of knowing my place

was to be afraid at home

all the years I can't get back

not that I want to return

to a time unwanted

where time will not move

all my grown-up wishes

are never to be answered

I am now an old man

and I still don't know what to do

to help me disappear

it was once in sight

I got lost along the way

it's happening right now 

but I'm drunk on yesterdays

pour me another drink

get that coffee out of here

I need something stronger

to help me disappear

I don't need your pity, darling,

but I wouldn't mind some help

point me in the direction

of my former self

I ain't lying to you

I couldn't be any more sincere

could your show me a way

to help me disappear

          oh, I once had dreams

          but those days are long gone

          I've given up looking

          for a reason to hold on

I'm telling you quite honest

I mean every word I say

if you ask me how I am

I'd say I'm not okay

I look at life and curse it

get the hell out of here

there needs to be something

to help me disappear

every sunrise

we woke up every sunrise

to the smell of fresh brewed coffee

as the sun broke through the window

for the mornings of our lives

I never stopped to notice

what you really meant to me

I never thought to treasure

the love inside your eyes

I did not recognize

what I really had

until it was gone

and I needed it so bad

I keep looking

I keep looking

inside my own mind

I don't know what for

but I know I will find

something inside there

to make me feel proud

even though I know

it is never allowed

my thoughts are scattered

they don't seem to know

the reason I look for

is where I must go

today I am searching

inside my brain

to see if my actions

and thoughts are the same

new skin (rewrite 1)

I'm growing a new skin

I'm shedding my old one

it once had its uses

but now it's done

it's time for a change

and that time is now

I'm growing a new skin

but I don't know how

my old skin is useless

because I've changed my ways

I can't see life

through this leftover haze

I'm trying to build shelter

around my old self

I'm growing a new skin

any chance you could help?

my old skin is leaving

it's done run its course

a replacement is what

I am looking towards

if you will lead me

God knows what I'll find

I'm growing a new skin

leaving my other behind

speak the truth

I will speak the truth

even though you won't like it

it's just that I do

what needs to be done

I will speak the truth

even though you can't find it

if you're looking for answers

just know I have none

new skin

I'm growing a new skin

I've shed my old one

it once had its uses

but I believe it's done

it's time for a change

and that time is now

I'm growing a new skin

but I don't know how

my old skin is useless

because I've changed my ways

I no longer can see life

through this leftover haze

I'm trying to build a new skin

around my old self

I'm growing a new skin

any chance you could help?

how thin is your skin

how thin is your skin?

can you take joking around?

or are you always serious?

life is better when

you laugh out loud

when your insides are delirious

midnight ukulele

she played a midnight ukulele

at three in the afternoon

for me and her friends

in the living room

she told us all the secrets

hidden in her song

funny thing, I think I have

known them all along