job

this is my job

this is what I do to make a living

same thing everyday

that's my life

up in the morning

the day is unforgiving

everything I do

is always upright

so why am I here

there must be some kind of reason

for my daily trials

to continue this way

doesn't matter what I do

there's no believing

that my job contributes

to a better day

          everyday I do the very same thing

          very same thing

          that's what I do

          everyday I do the very same thing

          very same thing

          I will never be through

I earn my paycheck

and I deserve every last cent

for the boredom in

this factory

I pay all the bills

and I pay the rent

I just have no time left

for being me

          everyday I do the very same thing

          very same thing

          that's what I do

          everyday I do the very same thing

          very same thing

          I will never be through

just in time

I don't wish for anything anymore

I try not to hope too much

the only thing I want right now

is to experience a human touch

I am feeling so alone 

more than I've felt before

but there's nobody I can turn to

and the pain's too strong to ignore

          so tell me that you are here

          and that you'll place your hand on mine

          I promise I won't disappear

          'cause you found me just in time

I have spent my life alone

with too much time pretending

that everything will turn out fine

and I deserve a happy ending

that's not the way that life turns out

it is not black and white

it tends to stay in shades of gray

where nothing turns out right

          so tell me that you are here

          and that you'll place your hand on mine

          I promise I won't disappear

          'cause you found me just in time

you can find me if you look for me

I'm hiding in plain sight

you can see me if you try

I'm lost inside the night

I am waiting here for you

and it's here that I will stay

knowing you will come to me

in the full light of day

          so tell me that you are here

          and that you'll place your hand on mine

          I promise I won't disappear

          'cause you found me just in time

no matter the way

if I'm not forgetful

and the stars are aligned

I will use this morning

to make up my mind

if I'm coming or going

should I leave or should I stay?

I will be beside you

no matter the way

living is confusing

when you don't know where you stand

everything I claim to be

is exactly who I am

but you know I would change for you

if that's what you say

I will be beside you

no matter the way

I've fallen down a rabbit hole

of lies I've told myself

if I could, you know I'd be

like everybody else

but being here with you

makes everything okay

I will be beside you

no matter the way

I am not allergic to hard work

I am not allergic to hard work

it's just that it's no fun

I'd rather be watching TV

but there's so much to be done

just when I think I'm finished

something comes to take its place

I am not allergic to hard work

but it's better than being disgraced

I am not allergic to hard work

but hard work may be allergic to me

the floors need mopping 

but something is stopping

the worker inside me

I'd rather play on the computer

play video games as a soldier

I am not allergic to hard work

but it needs to wait till I'm sober

I am not allergic to hard work

watch out, right now I might start

to wash the dishes and notice

how they can break apart

but I know I will finish

and move on to the next task

I am not allergic to hard work

someday I'll be done at last

taking care of myself

there's so much to do

I may never get finished

my plans for the day

have greatly diminished

gotta take out the thrash

gotta wash the dishes

gotta cook some supper

healthy and delicious

I do this, that,

and something else

all in the name

of taking care of myself

there's too much to do

and it just won't wait

time to be calm

and meditate

vacuum the carpet

mop the floors

straighten the welcome mat

outside the front door

clean all the knick-knacks

on top of the shelf

all in the name

of taking care of myself

when will I be finished?

when can I take a break?

maybe starting this cleaning

was a major mistake

all of this cleaning

leaves me perplexed

maybe I'll get ready

clean the bathroom next

will cleaning help 

my mental health

it's all in the name

of taking care of myself

tomorrow in her eyes

she doesn't want to feel sad anymore

she doesn't want to cry 

life is not what it was before 

but she doesn't want to hide

she just wants to be truthful

for once in her life

because she can see the future

there's tomorrow in her eyes

she wants to know what it feels like

to be hopeful once more

she's been reaching all her life

but she doesn't know what for

she'd like to take some happiness

and try it on for size

she stares at the setting sun

there's tomorrow in her eyes

around the next corner

she will be there soon

either in broad daylight

or the light of the silvery moon

she just wants to be truthful

she can't tell herself any lies

because today is too quickly passing

there's tomorrow in her eyes

so many problems

I have so many problems

I don't know where to start

but the hardest of them all

is my broken heart

I don't know how it happened

but I know it's true

and now I'm lost and lonesome

and I don't know what to do

my heart shattered into pieces 

when you left me here

alone and so frightened

I thought I'd disappear

nothing lasts forever

those were the words you said

the words that echo soundly

inside my aching head

someday I will heal

but until that day comes 'round

I will live inside my feelings

and I will not make a sound

I will go inside myself

to hide the tears I've cried

and the pain within my heart

will not be denied

I have so many problems

and I don't know where to start

it began the day you left me

when it all fell apart

I will find a way somehow

I will make it through

I have so many problems

and they have to do with you

open window

I can hear everything

through this open window

I hear cars roaring by

I hear the wind blow

people passing

lights a-flashing

children hard at play

strangers talking 

people walking

through another day

I can see everything

through this open window

there are no secrets

nothing that I can't know

I see places to go

people I don't know

all kinds of surprises

I see the milky way

the light of day

as the sun rises

          everything stimulates my senses

          makes me live inside present tenses

I can do anything

through this open window

the day has its own music

I hear the violin bow

singing across strings

there's so much happening

I am at rest here

so much to do

but I'll make it through

I will do my best here

I can hear everything

through an open window

let me say goodbye

there is no end

to the lies that you've told me

just when I think it's stopped

it starts all over again

I look at all the ways

you tried hard to mold me

I can't believe

I thought you were my friend

when we first met

I gave you all my trust

just like a little kid

I gave my best to you

now all my brave plans

have begun to rust

all I'm admitting

is that's the best I can do

          when I see the rising sun

          take over the sky

          I know that it's time to leave

          let me say goodbye

when I am gone

you'll soon find another

who you can tell your nonsense to

and they will believe

it's like I live a life

of being undercover

all I have is freedom

my trick under my sleeve

          when I see the rising sun

          take over the sky

          I know that it's time to leave

          let me say goodbye          

              

always waiting

I am always waiting

no matter what I do

everything takes longer

than it really needs to

I wait for morning to come 

I wait for the day to end

at night I fall asleep

just to wake up and wait again

just when I think I'm finished

the waiting starts once more

at times all of this waiting

is too much to ignore

is it time for supper?

is it time to go to bed?

no, it's time for waiting

for whatever lies ahead

I wait every morning

I wake every night

I wait now and forever

for things to turn out right

I wait for your approval

I wait for answers, too

I wait for everything

what else am I supposed to do?

I am always waiting

for life to go the way I please

I'm begging of you, help me

I'm down on bended knew

one day I will not be here

I'll be at Heaven's holy shore

and the one good thing about it

is I won't have to wait anymore

hobo with an oboe

I studied at the university

I played in all the shows

performed with the Philharmonic

but I guess that's how it goes

ever since I fell on hard times

I have nothing left to choose

I'm a hobo with an oboe

and, yes, I play the blues

I play all varieties

classical and pop

I play fast and I play slow

and hardly ever stop

I can perform Gershwin

Rhapsody in Blue

I'm a hobo with an oboe

that's what I was meant to do

          a hobo with an oboe

          that's exactly what I am

          a hobo with an oboe

          I could play at your next jam

so if you ever need an oboe

I can be your man

with music in my fingers

and woodwind in my hands

at times I can be silent

or I can play the whole night through

I'm a hobo with an oboe

and I'm playing just for you

you are not an accident

you are not an accident

you are here on purpose

I know talking about it

can make you kind of nervous

but it's true

there's intent behind everything you do

and you'll find

you are more than what's left behind

you're innocent

you are not an accident

everything you try to do

has some kind of reason

every effect you have

is more than you're believing

it's a fact

sometimes there's no looking back

sometimes instead

all you can do is look ahead

you're on the ascent

you are not an accident

          you are somebody

          who knows what they're here for

          you belong here

          where the ocean meets the shore

you know your true story

of who you were meant to be

think of where you're heading

it's bound to set you free

while you're here

keep your friends and loved ones near

you will see

that life holds no guarantee

you can reinvent

you are not an accident

bad potato

I've got a message for you

it's right here on my computer screen

the words may be weird and strange

but I'm sure you know what they mean

so listen to my words of wisdom'

let them penetrate your mind

if you follow my sage advice

you don't know what you could find

          don't be such a bad potato

          watch out you don't lose your peel

          don't be such a bad potato

          show me how you really feel

you don't like to be criticized

and I know that, I really do

but there's so much room for potential'

that I see inside of you

you're always right, you're never wrong

you're not the one to blame

I can see you've changed the rules

behind your losing game

          don't be such a bad potato

          watch out you don't lose your appeal

          don't be such a bad potato

          show me how you really feel

before I go, I have to tell you

you ought to do your best

just do the work and don't get hurt

time will take care of the rest

everybody knows that you can do it

you can try it on for size

better than being a bad potato

waiting to be turned into fries

          don't be such a bad potato

          watch out you don't lose your peel

          don't be such a bad potato

          show me how you really feel

days move faster

seconds turn to minutes

minutes turn to hours

hours turn to days

and you know the rest  

the time that you have

passes like spring flowers

so treasure every moment

and always do your best

I have made mistakes

much more than just a handful

they follow me everywhere

no matter where I go

almost everyday

my life would only stand still

so to be in motion

is all that I know

          life is confusing

          but that's all that we have

          in the time that we're given

          we might as well laugh

days move faster

the longer you're alive

and life is so much more

than its original worth

you'll do anything

in order to survive

but you're always thankful

for your time here on earth

open up the window

open up the window

I want to hear the neighbors arguing

that's been my main entertainment

since I've been unemployed

I want to know my world

and see if there is trouble brewing

I need something to compete with

the life I once enjoyed

open up the window

somewhere I hear sirens

children are all yelling

as children will do

slamming the front door

stomping on dandelions

looking for some trouble

to get into

open up the window

let me hear the city

horns honking in bad traffic

flies buzzing in mid-air

it's so lonely by yourself

it isn't very pretty

open up the window

let me know life is out there

but I can learn

I don't know much of anything

my life's been set for me

I am not a winning contestant

on Jeopardy!

I may not be a genius

as far as life's concerned

but I can learn

I never learned how

to ride a bike

I always answered wrong

when I should be right

highly skilled intelligence

is something I can't earn

but I can learn

          there may not be much here to see

          but I know my curiosity

I never learned to cook

I never learned to clean

I never learned to use

the washing machine

but that's not the knowledge

for which I yearn

but I can learn

I can learn to love you

if you give me a chance

would you find a way to help me?

I'm asking in advance

I may not have directions

for which way I will turn

but I will learn

but I will learn

big city blues

the clothes are all washed

I've been to the grocery store

my clothes are all washed

I've been to the grocery store

I got nothing else to do

so I'm walking out the door

gonna find some trouble

that I can get into

there's so much trouble

that I can get into

and all of that trouble

is surrounding you

          in this big ol' city

          it's as noisy as can be

          everybody I meet

          is a rank stranger to me

          what can I do?

          I'm feeling so confused 

          all I have left to do

          is sing the blues

I'm coming to get you

then we can be on our way

I'm gonna get you

then we'll be on our way

what we're gonna be doing

well, I just can't say

take me to the corner

I will be by your side

right there on the corner

I will be by your side

I've got the big city blues

and I can't be satisfied

your imagination

there you are

floating in mid-air

high above the world

no one around to care

you feel like you've committed

the perfect crime

it's your imagination

playing tricks with your mind

late at night

too much wine

you're not worried

you're feeling fine

feeling nostalgic

'for way back when

it's your imagination

hard at work again

do not think

just let it be

let your mind

set itself free

give yourself a minute

let everything go

it's your imagination

doing what it knows

there you are

your worries have ceased

finally a moment

when you are at peace

let it surrender

in all you do

it's your imagination

and it's protecting you

when summer begins

when summer begins

there are no uses for rules

the sun above is soaring

the kids are out of school

but I look forward to winter

and I hope that it will snow

but for right now, it's summer

two more seasons to go

when summer begins

morning light comes early

the sky bursts in freedom

and the sun has no worries

but me, I do not celebrate

because I can't agree

all this joy and glory

seem inaccurate to me

when summer begins

dragonflies and hummingbirds ride

down across a tiny breeze

that does its work outside

but I remain in one place

staring at a screen

questioning my sitting here

like I'm some kind of machine

when summer begins

the robins sing their song

the squirrels jump and run

like they have been all along

while I wait for winter

to show its face again

I always go outside

when summer begins

after all these years

some times were hard

other times were soft

but we can start over 

right where we left off

a world of youthful laughter

and all those useless tears

it's so good to see you again

after all these years

time keeps on moving

full speed ahead

it doesn't matter what you hoped for

it doesn't matter what you said

you made it through your troubles

you made it through the fear

still, so much has happened

after all these years

there's so much I remember

about my time with you

you always stood your ground

somehow you always knew

seeing the world through your eyes

made it crystal clear

tell me, what are you up to

after all these years

you're looking fine and healthy

all right instead of wrong

I hope to see you soon again

I hope it's not as long

we need to see each other again

before we disappear

it's so good to see you again

after all these years

I fall asleep

I fall asleep

after a long night thinking of you

it's all I can do

to not stay awake

and then I dream

about what we're going through

even though it isn't true

it's there to take

I fall asleep

after I've had a few drinks

I don't need time to think

I just want to rest

my weary eyes

look for you all day long

but all I see is wrong

even though I try my best

          when I'm awake

          you take all my attention

          but everything I think

          is only a reinvention

          that I can't control

I fall asleep

when I can't stay awake no more

all that time keeping score

in case I win

my active mind

I can feel it closing down

someday you won't be around

and I can fall asleep again

life in front of me

I see the mountains ahead of me

I see the tops of the tall pine trees

bouncing in the back of an old beat-ip truck

I caught a ride and decided it means good luck

when I was young I lived in wonder

in love I fell with the spell I was under

I believed in the family of my good friends

oh, how I wish it was like that again

          take me back to the times

          that I once left behind

          when daydreams were mine

          and the living was free

          take me back to the land

          where I once had no plans

          except to understand

          the life in front of me

I used to be as innocent as the wind

time held no fear and life was my friend

joy whistled like birds and I knew the song

and here was the place where I belonged

          take me back to the times

          that I once left behind

          when daydreams were mine

          and the living was free

          take me back to the land

          where I once had no plans

          except to understand

          the life in front of me

brand new day

I wake up

brush my teeth

tie shoes on

my two feet

walk out

in the morning light

and face the day

birds sit high

on a telephone wire

sing like angels

in the choir

I could join them

and I might

I have so much to say

          the sun is shining

          in the east

          so much warmth

          to be released

          everything will be okay

          on this brand new day

sidewalk calls

take a walk

a time or two

around the block

lift your legs

on solid ground

get that heart rate pumping

squirrels race

up old oak trees

robins sing

in harmony

grasshoppers abound

in the middle of jumping

          the sun is shining

          in the east

          so much warmth

          to be released

          everything will be okay

          on this brand new day

but Hollywood (rewrite 1)

the longer I try

the harder it is

to break into

that ol' show biz

I'm a star

as far as I can see

but Hollywood

is not ready for me

I know my lines

I hit my mark

there is charisma

inside my spark

you can ask

anybody in town

but Hollywood

doesn't look around

          look at my face

          work's been done

          because I'm headed for

          number one

          I always do

          the best I can

          but Hollywood

          can't understand

so wish me luck

I'm standing here

in my alleged

acting career

so light the lights

top of the list

but Hollywood

for me doesn't exist

but Hollywood

the more I try

the harder it is

to break into

that ol' show biz

I'm a potential star

far as I can see

but Hollywood

is not ready for me

I know my lines

I hit my mark

there is charisma

inside my spark

I'm represented

by the best in town

but Hollywood

doesn't look around

look at my face

surgery's been done

because I'm headed for

number one

I always do

the best I can

but Hollywood

won't understand

so wish me luck

I'm standing here

in a star struck

atmosphere

so light the lights

top of the list

but Hollywood

for me doesn't exist

today I am going home

it hasn't been bad here

I've had a good time

but now I'm returning to

the scene of the crime

I'll be traveling back

to the life that I have known

today I am going home

it's been fun seeing you

and seeing all the sights

driving around all day

playing music all night

but I could use a little time

just being on my own

today I am going home

          my bag is all ready

          I've packed up my stuff

          you've been so kind

          I can't thank you enough

I'll see you again soon

we had quite a time

playing our songs

full of rhythm and rhyme

with you in my heart

I'm not traveling alone

today I am going home

my imagination

my imagination

has lost all its power

it is not mine to know

but in the light

of my darkest hour

I know where it will go

it will lead me to places

where hope can exist

even when I know it's not true

it leaps over hurdles

it will take the risk

to lead me back home to you

my imagination

has grown very tired

I test it most all of the time

it leaves me alone

to be uninspired

here at the scene of the crime

but I am not worried

it's just taking a rest

so it can continue working

it does what it knows

and does its level best

to find ways to keep me from hurting

my imagination

is made out of wonder

it sees anything that it needs

in visions of lightning

and fields of thunder

it will not allow me to bleed

when I am finished

when I am done

I know it will stay behind

running ahead

of the setting sun

who knows what it will find

when Janie lost hope

I want to go home

were the words she said

while she lay alone

in a stranger's bed

all that alcohol

went straight to her head

no one beside her

completely alone

feeling forsaken

and dry as a bone

she packed up her things

and she left on her own

          by the harsh light of the morning

          she walked the city streets

          back to her apartment

          she finally admitted defeat

but she'll be all right

it's a matter of time

given some distance

she'll end up just fine

but for now she had nothing

no way she could cope

that was the moment

when Janie lost hope

Woodrow Parsons

Woodrow Parsons was a man

who lived on my street

he kept his own company

but he wasn't hard to meet

he sat down every afternoon

watering his lawn

missing his wife and daughter

now that they were gone

Woodrow Parsons lived alone

and he felt it was all right

he'd sleep until the sun came up

and watched TV all night

I used to wonder who he was

and tried to hide and see

but no matter what I saw

he was still a mystery

          Woodrow Parsons

          the neighbor I never knew

          living in this small town

          there isn't much to do

          but talk about the townsfolk

          and pry into their business

          but when it came to Woodrow Parsons

          nobody was a witness

Woodrow Parsons lived on disability

he didn't move too well

but his heart just kept on ticking

but only time would tell

he would say good morning

but that was all he said

he would never have a busy day

and then he'd go to bed

          Woodrow Parsons

          the neighbor I never knew

          living in this small town

          there isn't much to do

          but talk about the townsfolk

          and pry into their business

          but when it came to Woodrow Parsons

          nobody was a witness          

Woodrow Parsons died alone

we didn't know for a few days

I wished I could have known him

I wondered what he'd say

nobody really noticed much

about how his life would end

but Woodrow Parsons taught me

every person needs a friend

          Woodrow Parsons

          the neighbor I never knew

          growing up in this small town

          there isn't much to do

          but talk about the townsfolk

          and pry into their business

          but when it came to Woodrow Parsons

          nobody was a witness

silent prayer

I will say a silent prayer for you

I can send it anywhere you want me to

I can write it down

or improvise my words

I can be on bended knee

and speak with a voice unheard

I just want to send you love

and let you know I care

I will say a silent prayer

save me a place

I don't need any help

but thank you anyway

I can take care of myself

no matter what people say

I don't have to ask a stranger

any questions right now

maybe I can't do it

but I'll eventually learn how

all my life I've been alone

and that's all right with me

the only peace I've ever known

is now just history

but maybe you can talk to me

conversation is what I need

remind me I'm a human being

I will plant the seed

          save me a place

          tell me I belong

          my final saving grace

          is to live inside a song

          show me I'm a member

          of the human race

          tell me that I'm wanted

          save me a place