since I've seen you

it's been so long since I've seen you

do you still remember me

am I there in your subconscious

where you don't have to see

am I lost inside your memories

where I will never be seen again

it's been so long since I've seen you

are we ever even friends

it wasn't all that long ago

when you and I were one

or at least I thought so

I thought our journey had begun

you and me and promise

all that came to an end

it wasn't all that long ago

when you and I were friends

headphones on

I got my headphones on

I got the sound up high

I'm leaving this world

I'm saying goodbye

I am not depressed

I will not complain

I just need to hear

the sound in my brain

'cause the sound in my brain

is comforting me

now my ears can hear

now my eyes can see

I don't take for granted

this life that I live

but I spend all my time

trying hard to forgive

I try freeing my past

but it's always the same

I just want to hear

the voice in my brain

'cause the voice in my brain

has made itself known

opened the front door

and made itself at home

everything is going wrong

everything is going wrong

day vs night

wrong vs right

and I don't know how I'll get along

with the forces of the world against me

yes I know it's the same old song

howl at the moon

hopelessly out of tune

I don't think that I'm that strong

all these barriers are out to fence me

nothing is going right

love vs hate

I don't appreciate

and there's not an answer in sight

the questions are there for the asking

yes I know it's the same old tune

nothing has changed

or rearranged

my mind is working hard today

there's no sense in multi-tasking

I keep pretending

I keep pretending

that you'll be coming back to me

a happy ending

is exactly what I want to see

what are the chances?

I know romance is

something you can't force to be

give me one more try

tell me I can't be denied

the right person for you is me

where we had begun (rewrite 1)

my feet stand firmly

on this cold hard ground

it feels so strange

not having you around

the days seemed endless

when we were young

I wish we could go back 

to where we had begun

I see your family

in the front row

funerals

they always go so slow

I say my goodbye

you'll always be number one

I wish we could go back 

to where we had begun

I remember those days

when we were just kids

I look back

on the mischief that we did

I never thought those days would end

like laughter on our tongues

I wish we could go back 

to where we had begun

I hang my head in sorrow

I think of way back then

I listen to the priest

and I whisper amen

a handful of dirt

and my day will be done

I wish we could go back 

to where we had begun

rejected

sometimes I wonder

if anyone who's ever rejected me

ever thinks about me

like, they're crossing the street

and they see some little thing

like a bird or a tree

or some trash on the street

and I just happen to cross their mind

just for a quick second

or maybe they don't think of me

which would be fine,

I suppose

I'm lost in the past

never to be recovered

why do I

feel rejected again?

where we had once begun

my feet stand firmly

on the cold hard ground

it feels so strange

not having you around

the days seemed endless

when we were young

I wish we could go back there

where we had just begun

I sit with my family

in the front row

funerals

they always go so slow

goodbye to you now

you'll always be number one

I wish we could go back there

where we had just begun

I remember those days

when we were just kids

I look back

on the things that we did

I never thought they would end

like the laughter on our tongues

I wish we could go back there

where we had just begun

I hang my head in sorrow

I think of way back then

I listen to the priest

and I whisper amen

a handful of dirt

and my day will be done

I wish we could go back there

where we had just begun

I just want to go home (rewrite 2)

my hair was black

and now it's gray

days of my youth

have long gone away

leaving me

out here alone

I just want to go home

my legs may be slow

and they still get around

but reasons for moving

don't seem to be found

leaving me

with a body of stone

I just want to go home

           days pass by

           in the blinking of an eye

           at my age they go so fast

           days pass by

           without reasons why

           until they become the past

my mind was active

my movements were swift

now thoughts of hope

are too heavy to lift

leaving me

with a future unknown

I just want to go home

where have I gone

where will I go

questions with answers

that I'll never know

leaving me

chilling me to the bone

I just want to go home

I just want to go home (rewrite 1)

my hair was black

and now it's gray

days of my youth

have long gone away

leaving me

so all alone

I just want to go home

my legs are slow

they still get around

but reasons for moving

don't seem to be found

leaving me

with a body of stone

I just want to go home

           days pass by

           in the blink of an eye

           at my age they go so fast

           days pass by

           without reasons why

           until they become the past

my mind was active

my movements were swift

now thoughts of youth

are too heavy to lift

leaving me

too tired to roam

I just want to go home

where have I gone

where will I go

all these have answers

that I'll never know

leaving me

with the future unknown

I just want to go home

I just want to go home

my hair was black

now it is gray

days of youth

have long gone away

leaving me

feeling so alone

I just want to go home

my legs are slow

but they still get around

but reasons for moving

don't seem to be found

leaving me

with a body of stone

I just want to go home

           days pass by

           in the blink of an eye

           they days, they go so fast

           days pass by

           without reasons why

           so they become the past

my mind was active

my movements were swift

now thoughts of youth

are too heavy to lift

leaving me

too tired to roam

I just want to go home

where have I gone

where will I go

all these are answers

that I'll never know

leaving me

with desire unknown

I just want to go home

broken wheels

all I have now are

broken wheels

I cannot get around

I'm lost inside these fields

of hate and sorrow

pain and misery

what in the blazes

is wrong with me

I once was young

I once had promise

but those days are gone

if we're being honest

now I just wait

for something to do

I wish to God

that I could be like you

peaceful

I want to feel peaceful

in body and mind

I want to look inward

and see what I find

am I pure evil?

am I a saint?

am I just nothing

or something I ain't?

I want to feel peaceful

in action and thought

but I don't want to be

something I'm not

I want to live free

of bad luck and strife

I just want a little more

out of this life

I want to feel peaceful

put my mind at rest

to find peace of mind

is my only request

I'll travel the world

and the seven seas

all I ask

is won't you help me please

hoping I could

I tried to call you

but your line was busy

I know you were talking to

the fella in your life

I was hoping I could

take you with me

I was hoping I could

somehow make us right

I tried to tell you

I apologize

I was hoping you would

take me back

I saw the look of hurt

and anger in your eyes

when heartbreak appears

it's on the attack

water dries (rewrite 1)

I know this man

he works for the state

he tends to the land

with a shovel and a rake, and he

follows the sunshine, but sometimes

the raindrops, they fall on his head

now me, I'd be cussin' and cryin'

but this is what he said

          water dries

          the skies, they clear

          water flies into the atmosphere

          water dries

          it ain't no crime

          everything changes with the passing of time

so look at this man

he works really hard

he does what he can

like it's his own back yard, and he says

there's no use worrying

about the way that it all will turn out

you just do the best that you can

that's what it's all about

          water dries...

it's not like the hard times

don't knock upon his door

he just decided he doesn't need them anymore

          water dries...

water dries

I know this man

he works for the state

he tends to the land

with a shovel and a rake, and he

follows the sunshine, but sometimes

the raindrops, they fall on his head

now me, I'd be cussin' and cryin'

but this is what he said

          water dries

          the skies, they clear

          water flies into the atmosphere

          water dries

          it ain't no crime

          everything changes with the passing of time

I know this man

he works really hard

he tends to the land

like it's his own back yard, and he says

there's no use worrying

about the way it all turns out

you just do the best that you can

that's what it's all about

          water dries...

it's not like the hard times'

don't knock upon his door

he just decided'he don't need them anymore

          water dries...

fuckin' pandemic

I have not met anyone new

since this fuckin' pandemic started

instead I sit at home

alone and brokenhearted

because time is passing me by

and time is moving quick

I think I'm going to be frightened

I think I'm going to be sick

every damn day is exactly the same

nothing ever changes here

the days turn into months so fast

soon it will have been two years

I wear my mask, I don't go out

I never see a friend

I have just about given up waiting

for this fuckin' pandemic to end

so what am I going to do now

the same as the day before

I'll wake up in the afternoon

and see what the day has in store

and if it's the same as yesterday

I will not complain

I do the things I need to do

because I want to remain sane

mercy on the backslider (rewrite 1)

take all your mistakes

put them in a basket

drive up the mountain

and throw them off the cliff

your heart will answer

anything you ask it

it knows that there's

something better than this

          and when the road is rocky

          and you want to be someone else

          have a little mercy on the backslider

          have a little mercy on yourself

you're filled with regret

cruel as a broken promise

you'd give anything

if you could try it all again

but you are not a loser

if we're being honest

just ask those around you

ask your family and friends

          and when the road is lonely

          more than any tongue can tell

          have a little mercy on the backslider

          have a little mercy on yourself

          keep a little faith

          in everything you do

          you just might discover

          that some dreams come true

          and when you're feeling desperate

          and you could use a little help

          have a little mercy on the backslider

          have a little mercy on yourself

I have tried my best (rewrite 1)

I have wandered this land looking for you

hoping that you'll appear

I've searched this whole world over

and all the time you were right here

give me shelter from the elements

the crippling storms, the howling wind

tell me when the time is right

time for me to try again

          where are you now

          I need you to tell me

          I am broken and battered

          and in desperate need of rest

          where are you now

          I need you to tell me

          I have done all that I could

          I have tried my best

I will not give up searching for you

no matter how I try

I keep thinking I'll see you

from the corner of my eye

keep me beside you in safety

take me back inside

where I will no longer

have to run and hide

          where are you now

          I need you to free me

          far away from the danger

          of being alone

          where are you now

          I have one request

          I need you to lead me

          I have tried my best

I have tried my best

I wander these streets looking for you

hoping that you'll appear

I've searched this whole town over

and all the time you were right here

give me shelter from the weather

the crippling storms, the howling wind

tell me when the time is right

time for me to try again

          where are you now

          I need you to tell me

          I am broken and battered

          and in desperate need of rest

          where are you now

          I need you to tell me

          I have done the best I could

          I have tried my best

the good daughter

she was the good daughter

she did everything she was supposed to do

she had it made

she made good grades 

hard work was all she knew

she was obedient

she did it all and even more

which is why

it was a surprise

when she walked on out the door

nobody special

I am nobody special

attention is not paid to me

I am so invisible

there is nothing here to see

teachers didn't notice

adults refused to talk to me

silent and obedient were

the only things left to be

          and still I'm here

          knocking on your front door

          I know there must be more

          to the life I lead

          I'm still here

          waiting for something

          settling for nothing

          I am a man in need

I am nobody special

no one knows who I really am

it's like I'm always hidden

behind the ones who can

see themselves in this world

believe they have a right to choose

I'm behind these mental bars

I've tried, but I don't know what to do

          and I'm still here

          waiting at your doorstep

          I can't take one more step

          I'm stuck in place

          and I'm still here

          trying to survive now

          I'm opening my eyes now

          I'm uncovering my face

mercy on the backslider

take all your mistakes

put them in a basket

drive up the mountain

and throw them off the cliff

tell your conscience

anything you ask it

tell it that you know

there's something better than this

and when the road is rocky

and you want to be someone else

have a little mercy on the backslider

have a little mercy on yourself

you've done all you could

with what you had

so ignore that voice of failure

that lives inside of you

sometimes your mind can treat you

awful bad

that's when you need

the best that you can do

and when the critics attack you

until you feel like hell

have a little mercy on the backslider

have a little mercy on yourself

today I went walking

today I went walking

but I did not see

any of the sights

in front of me

I didn't see a house

or a bush or a road

I just walked until 

I wound up back home

today I went walking

and I stared at the ground

the sidewalk below me

treasures unfound

trees reaching upward

squirrels running fast

all the time I'm wishing

this all would pass

because I want to be home

hot coffee and guitar

I don't want to leave

I don't want to go far

but still I walk

and I'm so glad

because my body needs it

pretty damn bad

today I went walking

now I'm at home

but all that's worth seeing

is still unknown

maybe tomorrow

I'll be surprised

I'll go for my walk

with open eyes

one day after another

one day after another

time keeps moving on

minutes turn into hours

and in a second it's gone

just like that

in the blink of an eye

today you're alive

one day you'll die

and all you will leave

is the love you've passed on

along the way

everything will be okay

waiting for the sun to rise

life is hard

living is rough

my best just ain't

good enough

I thought I'd show them

how I'm so tough

and that I'm never

giving up

but the plans changed

and no one told me

and now today

here I be

waiting for the sun to rise

I can't believe my eyes

I have to wonder why

waiting for the sun to rise

make it through today

you live your life

like you'll be given a second chance

to get it right

try as you might

you can't find the circumstance

to make it through the night

so just relax now

rest your tired mind

all that thinking and rethinking

just leaves you left behind

you'll be okay

just make it through today

so many worries

so many problems

that you can'r get out of your head

you're in a hurry

all that trouble and trials

are enough to make you play dead

so just be quiet

turn your mind off for a while

all that thinking and rethinking

thoughts on the murder mile

you'll be all right

just get through tonight

nothing to say

I've got nothing to say

but I'm gonna say it anyway

and mail it to you

don't be disturbed

but I've got lots of words

and they're ready to move

it's more than a letter

in some ways, it is better

it's sentences and random thoughts

nouns and verbs and qualifiers

moving vehicles with flat tires

whatever you need is what I got

I will be your friend

you can be silent now

it's okay

I won't look

the other way

we don't need to talk

about when or why

sometimes you can't 

help but cry

crying happens now and then

I will be your friend

I will be your friend

you can be

whoever you like

I won't shine

a searching light

I will accept

who you need to be

if you accept

the part of me

that doesn't need to pretend

I will be your friend

I will be your friend

          and when the night is cloudy

          and hope is nowhere to be found

          if you will allow me

          I will stick around

you can stand alone

I know that's true

but if you need someone

I'm right in front of you

I know how to listen

I will be there

don't be frightened

don't be scared

I will stay with you until the end

I will be your friend

I will be your friend

every morning I wake up

every morning I wake up

and I don't want to get out of bed

every morning I wake up

pull the pillows over my head

I don't want to face the day

lots of danger out there for me

people arguing about this and that

why can't they just let it be

every morning I wake up

and I'm on my own

every morning I wake up

and I want to stay home

every morning I get up

and I feel like I can't win

every morning I get up

I'm depressed once again

where I'm going, I do not know

what I know is that I'm not okay

living appears to be harder

when you're like this everyday

every morning I wake up

and I just want to sleep

every morning I wake up

the blues are mine to keep

I went to the doctor

I went to the doctor

she said "My, you're so healthy"

I said that's a load off my mind

with the way I've been living

I'm feeling so grateful

I don't want to leave life behind

I went home on the bus

it was raining and cold

and I thought about

what it means to be so old

"age is just a number"

that I've been told

but I'm not sure that it's true

raindrops on my glasses

raindrops on my glasses

for some reason, I can't see

the roadblocks and the turnstiles

that wait in front of me

I'm tripping in a puddle

my shoes are soaking wet

and I am walking these battered streets

to see if I can forget

no matter what I think about

I can't get you off my mind

even though I keep walking way

I'm still falling behind

they rain, it keeps on falling

and me, I do not care

to get you off my mind

I would walk anywhere

raindrops on my glasses

you still in my thoughts

it would be so much better

if you were someone I've forgot

I will go home soon

drenched and cold as snow

it would be so much better

if you were someone I didn't know

Jacob's ladder

I am trying

as hard as I can

I am climbing Jacob's ladder

but I am only a man

there's not much that is sadder

than to see my limitations

I ignore them and move on

it's a long way and it's dark

but I can see the dawn

I keep on moving

I cannot stop

until I 

reach the top

I am climbing

as high as I can

loserville

I stayed in bed this morning

until it turned into afternoon

this winter's so cold

and I'm feeling so old

that I don't know what to do

wake me up

fill my coffee cup

with something that will keep me warm

it's another day in loserville

keep me free from harm

keep me free from harm

when I was lost

when I was lost

you found me as a helpless child

where wolves and dragons run wild

and no one is round me

I paid the cost

I stood behind a doorless wall

gazing at the unfairness of it all

until you found me

          will you keep me

          free from harm

          will you keep me

          safe and warm