people's photographs

I look at other people's photographs

and wish that I could be like them

with friends with whom you just might share a laugh

and see the spark within

picnics and parties

coke and Bacardi

no one's a stranger in the room

new friends and old

stories to be told

promises you'll be returning soon

I am amazed at people's photographs

because they're always having fun

laughter existing for its own behalf

sun shining bright on everyone

none of that arguing

conflict scarring everything

friendships broken and betrayed

I'm shy as I can be

there is no guarantee

that I won't be afraid

maybe I'll be in a photograph

like all those happy people are

it will be written on my epitaph

I spent my life just wishing on a star

will you invite me?

chances are, it might be

scary but I'll still take the risk

and if you have a camera

you'll take a panorama

to prove to others I exist

I want to be in people's photographs

drink in my hand and smile on my face

but I'll go down a forgotten path

to be strong another day

now I am transparent

my life has been like everybody else's

hard and rough and tough to explain

sometimes I give, sometimes I'm selfish

sometimes I feel as constant as the rain

I have tried to retain my ground

but I can't seem to hide the sorrow I've found

'

           and now I am transparent

           everyone can read my thoughts

           you can look right at my face

           and see what I am not

           now I am transparent

           my insides are outside

           for the whole wide world to see

           there's something fierce inside of me

           now I am transparent

like cellophane over something new

you can see just how I feel 

I'm someone you can see right through

I wear my smile like a shield

I have tried to be somebody else

now I'm afraid to be myself

          and now I am transparent

          now you see just who I am

          I try to hide myself inside

          but I don't think I can

          now I am transparent

          I'm lost and so alone

          I don't know what I can do

          to find a way for breaking through

          now I am transparent

maybe someday I'll do the best I can

and you won't see exactly who I am

          but now I am transparent

          and I'm so disgraced

          everything I feel 

          always shows within my face

          now I am transparent

          like the air that's in the sky

          I'm as clear as I can be

          there's nothing that's surrounding me

          now I am transparent

          

I'll be here

you can have me

to hold onto

if you want

I'll be here

I have courage

to face the things you can't

I see no problem

I have no fear

I will be here

if you need a friend

you can call me

anytime you need

I'll come running

through the bad times

I'll be the one 

to always take heed

around the next corner

around the next corner

around the next bend

maybe you'll find someone

who could be your friend

who might share your problems

who might share your dreams

around the next corner

is not as far as it seems

somewhere in the distance

that's where hope lives

in your reaching out for others

in your attempts to forgive

you're taking a chance

in your need to be free

around the next corner

that's where it will be

when you keep trying

you're on your way where

the passage is open

it's right over there

it may take some trying

you might make some room

around the next corner

you'll be seeing it soon

around the next corner

imagine what you will find

you won't feel a trace

of the pain left behind

away from the people

who will never agree

around the next corner

that's where you will be

everything falls

it doesn't matter

what you are

you could be a mountain

you could be a star

you could be a redwood

standing tall

but sooner or later

everything falls

you can try

to climb a hill in vain

you can fly

in an aeroplane

you can find yourself

high on alcohol

one thing's for certain

everything falls

          everything falls

          it drops down to the ground

          everything falls

          you're never safe and sound

one day you're sitting

on top of the world

with congratulations

flags unfurled

you may be

at the peak of it all

but it's going to happen

everything falls

          everything falls

          no matter what you do

          everything falls

          it's going to happen to you

so do what you want to

make a joyful noise

joke with your neighbors

play with all your toys

one day your footsteps

will slow down to a crawl

it's sad but it's true

everything falls

out of the clouds (rewrite 1)

out of the clouds

and into the sunshine

the weekend's coming

I've got my Sunday shoes on

waiting for you

to give me your sweet time

you shine like the star

I've been wishing upon

          out of the clouds

          and under a blue sky

          the heavens are waiting

          the time, it is now

          I'll be here for you

          no need for a goodbye

          we can have all

          that love will allow

I was so lonely

my life was so sad

I needed a reason

for sticking around

then you brought me the love

that I've never had

you give me the faith

to climb higher ground

          out of the clouds

          and under a blue sky

          the heavens are waiting

          the time, it is now

          I'll be here for you

          no need for a goodbye

          we can have all

          that love will allow

another side of me

I have not changed

I'm the same man I've always been

staying in the same old place

with nothing at all happening

I don't do anything different

there's nothing here to see

maybe you can bring to my attention

another side of me

every step's been taken

everything's been done

all that's in the name of

looking out for number one

everything I do

is on that journey to be free

maybe you can show my mind

another side of me

          maybe I can be hopeful

          if you help me out

          I need to find a way

          I cannot live without

tell me I'm not mistaken

tell me I'm okay

tell me I can learn to live

in an entirely different way

tell me I'm allowed inside

a world where I am free

maybe you can inform me of

another side of me

out of the clouds

out of the clouds

and into the sunshine

Saturday's coming

I've got my Sunday shoes on

waiting for you

to give me your sweet time

you shine like the star

I've been wishing upon

it's been so lonely

my life is so sad

you are the reason

that I stick around

you bring me the love

that I've never had

you give me the faith

to climb higher ground

tell me your secrets

and I'll tell you mine

we can be together

through life's dismal storm

all that we need

we have deep inside 

all that we feel

will now keep us warm

out of the clouds

and under a blue sky

the heavens are waiting

the time, it is now

I'll be here for you

no need for a goodbye

we can have all

that love will allow

I regret everything

all the wrong that I have done

all the pain that I've allowed

everything I've done to anyone

there's nothing I can do about it now

but I am sorry

I apologize

for the coldness inside my eyes

I look in the mirror and recognize

the humility I must bring

with all of the mistakes I've made

I regret everything

every time I've made you cry

every time I've been a fool

every empty alibi

now I'm breaking all the rules

but I am sorry

can I make amends

I ask forgiveness of all my friends

my selfish days are at an end

I'm through auditioning

for a role I cannot play

I regret everything

can you find it in yourself

to let me off the hook

or should I just be someone else

without a second look

I am sorry

I guess I don't know much

except the need for a human touch

my masquerade is just a crutch

for a song I cannot sing

there are no second chances

I regret everything

when it comes to my future

my body is changing

I hope for the better

maybe I'll fit into

my letterman's sweater

I'm hoping I'm smaller

or at least not so large

when it comes to my future

I'm in charge

my luck is changing

it's not so bad

I'm having the best luck

I've ever had

I always do 

the best I can

when it comes to my future

I'm in command

my heart is changing

it's time, I figure

instead of closing up

I believe it's getting bigger

maybe I can care

maybe I can love

when it comes to the future

it's push come to shove

I am changing

it's a natural fact

it's in the way I think

the way I act

I am leaving

my old self behind

when it comes to the future

I'm doing just fine

daffodils and crocuses

daffodils and crocuses

a clear cloudless ocean blue sky

calls to me of the coming of spring

after a long winter's nap

in colors and yellow and purple

the flowers tell me of a new beginning

it is time for renewal

in all of our living things

including ourselves

I walk these sidewalks

along houses with new growth

green lawns fresh from rain

my feet walking through puddles

I want to feel alive

and I will

because spring takes me away from my past

into the unknown

sacred ghost

I dreamed I saw the sacred ghost

was telling me what was to come

different from my plans and dreams

different from where I came from

I tried so hard not to listen

but some words still came through

I raised my fist and softly stammered

"you can't tell me what to do"

the sacred ghost answered back

"this is what it's going to be

a fight between the hidden hopes

a fight that burns inside of me"

and I pretended not to hear

I went on my own way

I thought "I don't need that trouble

assaulting me today"

I don't want to know the future

I am ignoring all my past

I am living in the present

hoping my problems will not last

but the sacred ghost keeps on talking

directly inside my middle ear

"you can't stop the pain I'm causing

I will always be right here"

I'm fighting back, I'm fighting mean

like I was taught to do

the musings of the sacred ghost

for me will not come true

its words are cold and empty now

the ghost has gone away

and left me with its nervous thought

to start another day

I used to have dreams

I used to have dreams

back when I was younger

and I had hunger

for exciting days to come

I always imagined

I would soon be healing

and it would be revealing

as I reached the setting sun

someday way back then

imagination grew wild

I was learning like a child

all the lessons I would need

I wandered through the city

meeting all the strangers

never fearing any danger

in the path I believed

          where I am going

          I do not know

          it's like pulling up roots

          in order to grow

and so on my way

to growing quite old

the stories were told

of what was to be

I sat in silence

waiting for something to happen

I was the captain

alone on the sea

          where I am going

          I cannot say

          but everyone better

          get out of the way

I used to have dreams

when I was younger

now I sit and wonder

where I will go

I don't know the future

but I see it coming

I hear distant drumming

soon I will know

looking out for you

I am looking out for you 

holes in fences

all night through

what else am I supposed to do?

you mean too much to me

I am looking out for you

like all the friends

who you once knew

not my business

who knows who

your world is mine to see

I am planning for your love

like falling stars

they come from above

any amount is not enough

I can't count the ways

I don't want to see it

falling down

I want it to be

glory bound

I want you here

safe and sound

to be with me today

when day is through

I work all day

I sleep all night

and nothing ever

works out right

so I will dream

as best I can

and hope someday

I'll understand

          I will try and try and try

          I will always question why

          I will do what I will do

          to be at peace when day is through

everything

will turn out all right

that's what I say

in the middle of the night

but come the day

it's a different song

my eyes can't see

anything but wrong

          I will pray and I will dream

          that my conscience can be clean

          I will do what I will do

          to be at peace when day is through

lately I don't

feel ashamed

I don't see myself

as the one to blame

it's a stubborn fact

you know it's true

the rest of it

is up to you

          I will be who I will be

          running toward my destiny

          I will do what I will do

          to be at peace when day is through

for a friend

I have always been nice

and it's nice I will remain

peace, calm and quiet

and not one bit ashamed

you have been my best friend

since we were knee high

now you say you don't need me

and I'm left to wonder why

who are you to tell me

you don't like me anymore

after all we've done together

now we're in a civil war

I'll make you accept me

even if you come to harm

if you think you don't want me

I'm sounding the alarm

you say you didn't mean to hurt me

I don't believe that's true

what would be the reason

for this hate inside of you

if you don't like me

you won't be safe and sound

I will always be your friend

I will always be around

I have always been nice

and it's nice that I will be

but I need to find you here

in everything I see

you have been my best friend

and you will always be

the proof of love and friendship

I feel inside of me

worry oh worry

everything worries me

every single thing I see

I fear that it's my destiny

to worry myself to death

I worry about the years to come

I worry when the day is done

I'll worry about everyone

until my dying breath

worry is my closest friend

it always comes back again

I know I cannot pretend

worry runs my life

sometimes when I try to rest

worry's at its very best

it puts my heart to the test

it wears a great disguise

          worry oh worry

          please leave me alone

          I'm sad and I'm tired

          and I want to go home

          worry oh worry

          please leave me be

          all this worrying

          is murdering me

I'm begging you, I'm saying please

worry brings me to my knees

why do I have this disease

that makes me worry so

it doesn't do me any good

believe you me, I wish I could

take it from my neighborhood

it's time to see it go

          worry oh worry

          please leave me alone

          I'm sad and I'm tired

          and I want to go home

          worry oh worry

          please leave me be

          all this worrying

          is murdering me

the great American novel

I thought I would write

the great American novel

I have art within me

and it yearns to come out

for success I will beg

on my knees I would grovel

for sentences

that know what they're about

here are some words

on a computer screen

from my heart and soul

pain and joy deep within

every word is brilliant

if you know what I mean

and when I am finished

I will write them again

until I have

a story to tell

from what I have been through

from what I have known

every new chapter

has something to sell

from foreign adventure

to home sweet home

I'll be on the talk shows

plugging my book

it'll go to the top

of the New York Times

critics will give it

a long second look

and all of the glory

is going to be mine

so come all you authors

and listen to me

don't let petty jealousy

keep us apart

now I'm a best seller

for the whole world to see

in a place where commerce

is confused with true art

string

with every string I touch

with every note I play

I move one step further

each and every day

to be the man

I was meant to be

with words and music

inside of me

with every dream I dream

with every step I take

I try my best in

the moves that I make

the journey's long

and the journey's short

this is all

I have to report

with every hope I have

with every rising of the sun

another day of living

has begun

I will work

and I will try

until my days

have passed me by

I would like to thank

I would like to thank

the members of the Academy

for this sacred honor

of bestowing this award

i've waited all my life

everyone's been mad at me

for campaigning on my own accord

this was the dream

I wished to come true

if you've got a dream

just wait

it will come to you

thank you

I'm part of history

thank you

for giving this award to me

after the war is over (rewrite 2)

after the war is over

we'll go back to our daily lives

back to our children's children

back to our husbands and wives

everyone did everything

in order to survive

sometimes drunk

sometimes sober

after the war is over

after battles have been fought

we won't know what's to be done

the bloodshed may be over

but the healing has just begun

we will grieve for the families

and fights that can't be won

we'll cry on

each others' shoulders

after the war is over

          we will try to be normal

          exactly like we planned

          we will always remember

          what we can't understand

after the war is over

we'll learn to hope once more

we'll pretend nothing has happened

and ir's like it was before

but war can't be forgotten

we are always keeping score

we will cry

for every soldier

after the war is over

          

after the war is over (rewrite 1)

after the war is over

we will go back to our daily lives

back to our children's children

back to our husbands and wives

we all did everything

in order to survive

sometimes drunk

sometimes sober

after the war is over

after battles have been fought

we won't know what must be done

the war may be over

but the healing has just begun

we will grieve for our loved ones

and the fights that can't be won

we'll have faith

in our corner

after the war is over

          we will try to be normal

          exactly like we planned

          we will always remember

          what we can't understand

after the war is over

we'll have to hope once more

we'll cry on each others' shoulders

and try to act like we did before

but war can't be forgotten

we are always keeping score

we will pray

for every soldier

after the war is over

          

when the war is over

when the war is over

we will go back to our daily lives

to our children's children

back to husbands and wives

we will have done everything

it takes to survive

sometimes drunk

sometimes sober

when the war is over

after battles have been fought

we'll know what must be done

when the country and its people

reach for the setting sun

after grieving for friends

and the fights that can't be won

sometimes high

sometimes lower

when the war is over

          we will try to be normal

          carry on as always

          exactly like we had planned

          the ones we have lost

          we will always remember

          although we can't understand

when the war is over

we will try to hope again once more

we'll cry on each others' shoulders

and try to act like we did before

but war can't be forgotten

we are always keeping score

sometime fast

sometimes slower

when the war is over

          

don't tell me what to do

don't tell me what to do

I have my own mind

my own heart

and I will not

keep them apart

don't tell me what to do

I know what I'm doing

and I know who I am

and frankly, my dear,

I don't give a damn

I'm here to give you the news

don't tell me what to do

don't tell me who I am

I know myself

I do

and I do not belong 

to you

don't tell me who I am

you don't really know

and you don't really see

that I am not who

you want me to be

I don't think you understand

don't tell me who I am

what's gonna become of me?

I keep waiting for it to happen

and I don't even know what it is

I've been waiting all my life

I don't know if I'm winning

or if I've even taken the quiz

I don't know what is wrong or right

I was born in the state of confusion

now I'm running towards any light

that I may see

what's gonna become of me?

I search the night time

to see if my spirit's alive

every cranny and nook

I do my very best

to see if I can even survive

I'm going to take a second look

I was born with both eyes open

Lord knows I could write a book

of my history

what's gonna become of me?

tell me I'm wrong (rewrite 1)

I don't believe in love

I don't think it really exists

it's only a word to remind me

of everything I've missed

another way to tell me

that I don't belong

do me a favor

tell me I'm wrong

          tell me I'm wrong

          inform me of my worth

          tell me I'm wrong

          that I belong here on this earth

I never view the bright side

darkness is all I see

an endless night of worry

is always inside me

why do I feel so weak

when I need to be strong

give me a reason

tell me I'm wrong

          tell me I'm wrong

          give me some advice today

          tell me I'm wrong

          maybe these blues will go away

I don't believe in love

it's been taken away from me

I know it's in the shadows

but it's too dark to see

help me feel something

I should have felt all along

I don't want to be right

tell me I'm wrong

tell me I'm wrong

tell me I'm wrong

why'd you have to go away

I wish I had kept your message on the machine

I need to hear your voice every now and then

it's too lonesome here living without you

still, I'm glad you used to be my friend

I miss you now that you're no longer here

I wasn't ready for you to leave

but time goes on and people say goodbye

now it's my turn to grieve

          why'd you have to leave this earth

          I think about you every day

          now I'm crying for all it's worth

          why'd you have to go away

you might want to know

I thought I had a chance

maybe I still do

maybe I could dance

with the likes of you

we could be romantic

dance all close and slow

I just might be someone

you might want to know

          you might want to know

          the fool I am

          stuck inside a traffic jam

          you might want to know

          if it's true

          that I am stone in love with you

          uh-huh-huh

set you free

all the joy inside of me

has never found a home

I look around at all I see

my path is still unknown

I long for your loving

though it's not meant to be

I'm doing this for my own sake

I will set you free

there is not a future

for me without you here

all my plans and dreams

have gone and disappeared

leaving me with nothing

positive to see

so I am running from you

I will set you free

          go and do what you want to

          I won't be around

          after what my heart's been through

          I want to be safe and sound

you set a spark inside me

that hurt me to the bone

maybe the best way for me

is to spend my life alone

I am not the one you want

I'm sure you'd agree

you don't need me anymore

I will set you free

tell me I'm wrong (new version)

I don't believe in love

I don't think it really exists

it's only a word to remind me

of all the joy I've missed

another way to tell me

that I don't belong

do me a favor

tell me I'm wrong

I never view the bright side

darkness is all I see

an endless night of worry

is always inside me

I always feel weak

when I must be strong

give me a reason

tell me I'm wrong

          tell me I'm wrong

          inform me of my worth

          tell me I'm wrong

          my home is on this earth

let me feel some love

deep down in my soul

show me there's a better way

to learn to lose control

help me know inside my heart

there lives a sacred song

l need to find some hope 

tell me I'm wrong

          tell me I'm wrong

          give me some advice today

          tell me I'm wrong

          maybe these blues will go away

I don't believe in love

it's been taken away from me

I know it's in the shadows

but it's too dark to see

help me to feel something

I should have felt all along

I need to hear this from you

tell me I'm wrong

tell me I'm wrong

some things never last

take off your headphones

and listen to me

you may not like it

and you may not agree

I'm declaring my own independence

you've been bossing me around

for far too long

but now I'm back

where I belong

for you I am no longer in attendance

it's been a long, long time

since you demanded you were mine

now I'm free and feeling fine

and you are in the past

some things never last