quitting time (rewrite 1)

 

you can keep the letters you've been writing/ you can change the lock on your front door/ I've got some news that's exciting/ I don't need you anymore/ you can keep the thoughts you've been sharing/ you can stop asking me for help/ now, I ain't saying you've overbearing/ but I'll you figure that out for yourself/ you can forget me if you want to/ I need to never cross your mind/ it may be time for you/ to find somebody new/ 'cause for me, it's quitting time

you know that future you've been planning/ the one with me right by your side/ my freedom is what I'm demanding/ and I won't quit until I'm satisfied/ you can keep all of our tomorrows/ you can take the memories/ to be with you is only sorrow/ I just want custody of me/ you can leave at your convenience/ be sure to leave me far behind/ go find somebody else/ who'll put up with yourself/ 'cause for me, it's quitting time

blame

I plan my day/ this is what I do/ make a mental list/ of all I have to do/ bills to pay/ commitments to keep/ when do I get to/ fall asleep?/ every day is always the same/ things need to be done/ and I'm to blame

payoff

 

today I paid my bills/ today I did my chores/ today I made my bed/ and I did so much more/ of everything else/ that needs to be done/ so when do I get/ to have any fun?

I haven't laughed in so long/ my mouth's forgotten how/ and my brain has no idea/ of what I'm feeling now/ I do all my work/ every single solitary day/ hard on that old grind/ when do I get to play

I am so responsible in everything I do/ don't I get a payoff when I make my way through

quitting time

 

you can keep the letters you've been writing/ you can change the lock on your front door/ I've got some news that's exciting/ I don't need you anymore/ you can keep the thoughts you've been sharing/ you can stop asking me for help/ now, I ain't saying you've overbearing/ but I'll let others figure that out for themselves/ you can forget me if you want to/ I need to never cross your mind/ it may be time for you/ to find somebody new/ 'cause for me, it's quitting time

magic

 

I wanted magic to spring from my hands/ onto the instrument I was playing/ my mind's acting crazy. it don't understand/ the words that my mouth was saying/ all that I really want/ is just beyond my reach/ oh, the awful lessons of wisdom/ they ate not mine to teach/ and as I walk away in silence/ I stop and think of you/ with no thoughts of violence/ only the love that we once knew

no never mind

 

how're you doing/ I guess I'm okay/ I couldn't wait to see you/ but now I have nothing to say/ except I remember how you left me/ I'm the one you threw behind/ so this is what I'm thinking/ I'm paying you no never mind

I guess it's good to see you/ I don't know what choice I've got/ it's like I was swimming mid-stream/ and then I got caught/ I'm nothing you're needing/ another fish on the line/ this is what I know/ I'm paying you no never mind

so catch me up/ on what you've got/ going on/ you were the one I learned to build my dreams upon

see you later/ somewhere on down the road/ no matter where I go/ I'm carrying a heavy load/ maybe we'll meet again/ another place, another time/ but until then I'm silent/ I'm paying you no never mind

anyone else but me

 

so many gifted people in this world/ I wish I was one of them/ instead I spend my life complaining/ about the things that could have been/ I could have climbed that mountain/ I could have sailed the sea/ I could have been the one who's right/ instead all this wrong pours out of me/ so what am I to do?/ if I had my way/ I would be you/ that's who I would like to be/ anyone else but me

so much good in this world/ I wish I had it in my heart/ everything's screwed up inside/ my head doesn't know my heart/ I could have helped the hungry/ I could have comforted the sad/ except for this fucked-up brain/ turning everything to bad/ so how am I supposed to feel/ I've gone so far I don't know what's real/ I look in the mirror/ I want to see/ anyone else but me

I am trying

 

I am trying/ as hard as I can/ do to my best/ to be the man/ I always thought I could be/ but trouble won't leave/ me alone/ I am trying/ as hard as I might/ to live the life/ that I know is right/ but no matter how I try/ fact remains, I/ just want to go home/ but tomorrow I'll get up again/ unconvinced that I'll never win/ walking out my front door/ to do some trying once more

looking for you

 

yes, it's you/ my forsaken dreams/ you were left behind, it seems/ but that's not true/ I've been looking for you/ and it's you/ my peace of mind/ you've been so very/ hard to find/ what can I do/ I've been looking for you/ and you were hiding/ while I was deciding/ who I was/ I've got no questions/ the only answer/ is just because

yeah, I've been looking for you/ the whole day through/ when I think I've found you/ you're somewhere else/ I've been looking for you/ the only joy I ever knew/ and when I find you/ I'm going to keep you/ all to myself/ there's nothing else I can do/ I'm looking for you

hey, there you are/ my misplaced memories/ I've tried to look/ but it's too dark to see/ I don't have a clue/ but I'm looking for you/ and there you are/ my precious love/ no matter how much I have/ it's never enough/ I been feeling so blue/ I'm still looking for you/ and you were hiding/ while I was never-minding/ where I've been/ though I can't find you/ I'm right behind you/ searching for you again

yeah, I've been looking for you/ the whole day through/ when I think I've found you/ you're somewhere else/ I've been looking for you/ the only joy I ever knew/ and when I find you/ I'm going to keep you all to myself/ there's nothing else I can do/ I'm looking for you

another day

 

another day with nothing to say/ an empty slate to make my mark/ I'm going to say it anyway/ it don't take much for me to start/ give me a reason/ tell me why/ I'm feeling so broken/ and empty inside/ I'm looking for some place/ to run and hide/ but it's not forthcoming

another day with nothing to do/ except drink this wine/ and think of you/ and think of the days left behind/ I pay them no/ never-mind/ given me a reason/ let me know/ head says to heart/ "look out below"/ I'm looking for someone/ who'll tell me so/ but it's not forthcoming

I went on a walk today

I went on a walk today/ like a normally do/ except this time it was perfect/ the sky was nothing but blue/ and the flowers were all blooming/ violet, orange, blue, and read/ usually I'd be watching TV/ or surfing the net instead/ but today I put one foot in front of the other/ and wore my mask over my face/ and for once in my life, it didn't seem like/ I was endlessly walking in place/ there was no place to see/ and nothing to say/ I went on a walk today

busking in central park

 

I am busking in central park/ and nobody is listening to me/ I came to this city with all of my hopes/ now there's nothing I can see/ but the blue sky above/ and the gravel below/ and this voice and guitar/ and all that I know/ and I'm playing for you/ I'm playing for you/ but you don't hear me

I am busking in central park/ and you are walking away/ I keep on doing what I must do/ playing and singing what I can't say/ and that's okay/ I'm having a good time/ I'm entertaining myself/ I hope that you don't mind/ that I'm playing for you/ I'm playing for you/ but you don't hear me

I am not stopping

 

I don't know what I'm doing/ not that it makes any difference/ I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing/ no matter what happens/ I am not stopping/ I can't stop/ everything is moving too fast/ and I cannot stand still/ can you guide me?/ can you tell me where I'll be ending up?/ I want to be prepared/ and I don't know how

grateful

I am grateful/ for every second of peace/ that I have been given/ in my life/ I do not take for granted/ the moments/ when things go right/ when wrong decisions don't matter/ where the past can stay in place/ my words live dry leaves scatter/ and my dreams are not erased

I am grateful/ for the silence/ when my mind/ has nothing to say/ I do not take for granted/ how it feels/ when words go away/ when I can sit in sunshine/ and face the day ahead/ not feeling like I feel these days/ waking up in dread/ I need something else instead\

I am grateful/ when the cobwebs/ of my memory/ are put on hold/ I do not take for granted/ the lessons I've been told/ I'm looking at the future/ trying not to be scared/ knowing that whatever happens/ I'll still be caught unaware

I am grateful/ for every second of peace/ that I have been given/ in my life

potter's wheel

I put my hands in the clay/ and let it tell me what to do/ it knows how high it wants to go/ and what it needs to go through/ I spin the potter's wheel/ and it turns around and around/ I let the clay take over/ and go wherever it's bound

I will never betray my heart (rewrite 1)

 

I may become rich/ I may remain poor/ I have no idea/ what the future holds in store/ but there's one thing I'm sure of/ before the future starts/ I will never betray my heart

the world still turns/ as does my mind/ there are so many things/ I leave behind/ but I always will have/ the most important part/ I will never betray my heart

seasons come and seasons go/ there's only one thing for certain I know

I may be smart/ I am not dumb/ but I'm always prepared/ for whatever comes/  I may put the horse/ before the cart/ but I will never betray my heart

I'll never be satisfied

 

I am on the receiving end/ of this internet connection/ I know not what to do/ do you have any suggestions?/ I've done my best to reach you/ I've worried it to death/ now my time has come/ I need to take a rest/ I've had questions and answers and informative stuff/ but one way or another/ it's still not enough/ ro get me through this ride/ I'll never be satisfied

I will never betray my heart

 

I may become rich/ I may remain poor/ I have no idea/ of what the future holds in store/. but I'll tell you what/ before the regrets start/ I will never betray my heart

the world still turns/ as does my mind/ there are so many things/ I leave behind/ but I always will have. the most important part/ I will never betray my heart

seasons come and seasons go/ there's only one thing for certain that I know

I may be smart/ I may be dumb/ but I'm always prepared/ for whatever comes/ I have a magic key/ the northern star/ I will never betray my heart

I write

I write so I have something to do

I write on envelopes, paper bags, and grocery receipts

I write on computers and in my notebook

I write about whatever's happening

and still, most days,

I write nothing of interest

the words like there on the page

not reaching out for my comfort

they say to me:

there is nothing to explain

just keep writing

you will always be young

 

no matter what happens to you/ whatever you know/ whoever you fall in love with/ wherever you go/ you are a special breed/ and you've only begun/ you will always be young

it's a cold and a natural fact/ this world is hard/ especially when you leave the safety/ of your own back yard/ but you, you are a part/ of everything under the sun/ you will always be young

(bridge) no matter how old you get/ the years will treat you kind/ when the bad news comes around/ pay it no never mind/ you'll be just fine

time moves on/ like a train at full speed/ but this world will give you/ everything you need/ there is no reason/ for you to run/ you will always be young

Spring has sprung

 

it is April/ spring has sprung/ a whole new circle/ has just begun/ there's sunshine and flowers/ for everyone/ except for me/ why do the seasons change/ when my life won't rearrange/ everyone tells me I'm to blame/ but as far as I can see/ the roses are blooming and the children are playing/ while, in my heart, my life is decaying/ from what I can tell, there's no use saying/ thye best is yet to come/ it is April/ I run in place/ Spring has sprung

okay day

 

it's been an okay day/ it's going to be an okay night/ everything used to be wrong/ but now it's quite all right/ there is no more work to do/ the trials of the day are through/ nothing left for me to say/ it's been an okay day/ it's been an okay day

another day

nothing works in this heart of mine

solutions are so hard to find 

I pay it no never mind 

I just move on ahead 

nothing works in this hollow brain 

everything remains the same 

you can call me by my name 

but I'm probably playing dead

but I still haven't given up

I guess all my trouble just ain't big enough

I'll keep going on my way

as I walk to another day

now and then

it's been a year since you've gone/ and I'm still trying to move on/ I can't fill the empty space inside my heart/ I try not to think of you so much/ but I still remember your touch/ a memory that can make the teardrops start/ I miss you every morning/ I miss you every night/ without your love, nothing feels right/ I miss my old partner/ I miss my best friend/ do you ever think of me/ now and then

human nature ain't my style

 

human nature ain't my style/ I run at my own speed/ I check my balance to ease my mind/ satisfying every need/ seems no matter where I turn/ there's danger up ahead/ I try my best not to be depressed/ here's where that road has lead

since I got sober

 

since I got sober/ you don't look good to me now/ I've thought it over/ bur it don't do good no how/ I don't remember those days/ waking up  in a haze/ but I'm amazed/ at all the attention I paid to you/ it does no good/I know it should/ but in my neighborhood/ it's time you and me were through

infomercial

you are not a newspaper

you are not the radio

you are not a memory

of somebody I used to know

you are not a question

of what I don't know how

you are an infomercial

and I'm changing the channel right now

every day you show up

with your lies and point of view

with your feeble mental poison

you possess inside you

but I don't have to pay attention

your garbage is not allowed

you are an infomercial

and I'm changing the channel right now

woke up this morning

 

I woke up this morning/ no way to hold my head but down/ I woke up this morning/ no way to hold my head but down/ I know I don't belong here/ but I'm going to take a look around

I woke up this morning/ no way to feel but sad/ I woke up this morning/ no way to feel but sad/ I try to feel good/ but  I always end up feeling bad

help me stay awake

help me stay awake/ I've been driving all night/ and I don't know if/ I should turn left or right/ help me stay awake/ I don't need the sound of my voice/ I need you to comfort me/ by making a whole lot of noise/ I need to make some corners/ shorter than they should be/ help me stay awake/ I'm begging of you, please