life on the sidewalk

life on the sidewalk

walking every day

where I am going

doesn't matter to me

I just keep on walking

going my own way

there's so many places

I have yet to see

life on the sidewalk

rain or shine

something happens

when I'm out here

almost every day

I take the time

sometimes it's cloudy

sometimes it's clear

          one foot in front of the other

          holes in both my shoes

          look and you will discover

          there's so much you can do

life on the sidewalk

listen to birds

warble and whistle

it floats through the air

can you be peaceful

not one bit disturbed

stroll through the afternoon

walk like you don't have a care

life on the sidewalk

heading for home

look at the squirrels

like they are your friends

walking in silence

kicking a stone

you know that tomorrow

you'll be out here again

barbed wire heart

I've got a barbed wire heart

and I won't let you in

I'm careful with my feelings

and I don't know where you've been

I'm trying to protect myself

the only way I know how

by staying away from you

that's all that I will allow

this way I am safe

and I don't have to depart

I've got a barbed wire heart

I've been hurt too many times

I won't go through that again

I need some company

I know I can't win

'cause I've had people desert me

my hope's begun to rust

I don't know a single soul

that I can even trust

I will leave as fast as I can

and I'll take a running start

I've got a barbed wire heart

          don't try to be close to me

          I don't need anyone around

          I will see what's not to be

          I will let you down

I've got a barbed wire heart

and it's all filled up with doubt

I will go to any length

to keep everybody out

I don't need any trouble

my heart's on high alert

I'll do anything possible

to avoid the hurt

I have learned from my past

that love just isn't smart

I've got a barbed wire heart

I've got a barbed wire heart

I used to be fearless

life was nothing but a promise

and I meant to keep it

I didn't know about honest

and I still don't believe it

but I found out

what it was all about

and now I'm shaking

alone and tough

I've seen enough

I was mistaken

          I used to be fearless

          I used to be the one who had a dream

          I tried to be near this

          now nothing is the way it seems

          now all I see

          are sides of me

          that I can't comprehend

          I've been burned

          so I have to learn

          over and over and over again

          I used to be fearless

          I used to be fearless

I thought life would have some meaning

turns out I was wrong

I didn't know which way I was leaning

I was confused all along

and now I'm here

hiding my tears

maybe you can help me through

as I grow older

the world becomes colder

give me an idea of what to do

          I used to be fearless

          I used to be the one who had a dream

          I tried to be near this

          now nothing is the way it seems

          now all I see

          are sides of me

          that I can't comprehend

          I've been burned

          so I have to learn

          over and over and over again

          I used to be fearless

          I used to be fearless

     

the more I learn

the more I learn

the less I know

information's rising

and I can't keep up

my mind can't contain

all that it owns

so I'm bowing out

I've had enough

I've got so much knowledge

I can barely move

I can hardly speak

much less improve

it's all filled up

where my mind's concerned

the less I know

the more I learn

where I'm going

what I need

is all the knowledge

I've acquired

but I'm adjusting

to this life

but I am

all sorts of tired

where are the questions

I used to ask

where are the tools

to complete this task

where the hell

am I supposed to go

the more I learn

the less I know

give me a chance

to be a blank slate

all I want

is to continue to learn

my mind is lazy

but with a little help

my mind will have

wisdom to burn

all things considered

I may not be smart

but you can still teach me

I'm ready to start

I still believe

that I can grow

the more I learn

the less I know

you think you don't deserve love

you think you don't deserve love

but you're wrong

love could have been your close companion

all along

all your life you've learned the lesson

that love was not made for you

all that pain you're now addressing

only proves it isn't true

now what are you going to do

you think love doesn't exist

but you're mistaken

you've lived without it for so long

now your heart is aching

all your life you've made decisions

to be completely alone

now you're facing a collision

you're in the danger zone

searching for a way back home

but when you discover that there is love

there's no going back

you peek behind corners and open up doors

still there's something you lack

but sooner or later you'll find it

now that you've found a place to start

you might try to never-mind it

but it's got a place inside your heart

you think you don't deserve love

but you're wrong

brand new history

I'm looking for 

a brand new history

I know one exists 

inside of me

a happy childhood

with lots of joy

a job I like

where I'm employed

a wife and kids

a life of ease

where I did

what I pleased

there's a lot of world to see

when you've got a brand new history

I'm looking for 

another past

where pleasure exists 

and bad news doesn't last

where nobody cheats

or bullies you

and no one tells you

what to do

and no one hits you

of their own free will

and problems remain

standing still

and good times will always be

inside my brand new history

           time is a concept

           that doesn't do any good

           where life never goes

           the way it should

I am looking for reasons

to change the way I am

some say it's not possible

but I don't give a damn

I just want to start over

this life that I live

with chances to take

and people who forgive

I just want to start over

I'll say it again

I know it won't happen

but I'm still asking when

can a person like me be free

I need a brand new history

why does it have to be so hard

why does it have to be hard

can't you just do something

instead of thinking it will scar you

for a long, long time

why does it have to be so bad

you're going to do it anyway

you don't have to be so sad

work is not a crime

why does it always have to suck

this thing that we call living

can't you just not give a fuck

and do what needs to be done

why must you always complain

about what life hands you

you've got a problem with your brain

it's stuck on the setting sun

why does it have to be so hard

can't you just accept it

work on your own back yard

I will help you through it

you will make it through somehow

I promise that you will

I guarantee the time is now

I know that you can do it