Stranger Than Fiction
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1. Incomplete
2. Leave Mine To Me
3. Stranger Than Fiction
4. Tiny Voices
5. The Handshake
6. Better Off Dead
7. Infected
8. Television
9. Individual
10. Hooray For Me...
11. Slumber
12. Marked
13. Inner Logic
14. What It Is
15. 21st Century (Digital Boy)
16. News From The Front
17. Markovian Process
18. Leaders And Followers
 
Incomplete

mother, father, look at your little monster, 
I'm a hero, I'm a zero, 
I'm the butt of the worst joke in history, 
I'm a lock without a key, a city with no door, 
a prayer without faith,a show without a score, 
I'm a bad word, a wink, a nod, a shiver, 
an untold story, sex without fury, 
a creeping gray memory, 
I am incomplete... 

doctor, cure me; what is the cause of my condition, 
this madness shoots me, 
like bullets smashing glass in silent movie, 
I'm a trap without a spring, a temple with no god, 
a jack without an ace, the tip of your tongue, 
I'm a promise, an unmailed letter, 
an unbuilt motor, deck without a joker, 
a creeping gray memory 
I am incomplete... 

tell Saint Peter not to bet on me, 
I am a naked obsession, 
a good intention gone bad, 
I am incomplete... 

back
 
 

Leave Mine To Me 

there are desperate times upon us, 
there are codes of white and black, 
political resentment and people start to crack, 
there's hate and opposition, 
there's fumbling dialog, 
yet you sit there and judge me 
and you think it makes a difference 

if you think I'm all alone you are foolishly wrong, 
there's an entire army who blindly follow along, 
and you happen to be one of them believe it or not, 
even though you try not to be we are of the same plague 

the other ways we're taught to fear, 
don't even scratch the surface of the problem here, 
I'm not blind, and I'm not scared, 
so many crucial factors exist out there, 
and we're but one, and they're bout two, 
and how we come to terms will help us pull through 

things cannot change too fast, 
it took us this much time, 
to reach our current platform and walk this fragile line, 
if I thought I'd make a difference I'd kill myself today, 
but so many are like me lost in the fray 

you create your own reality, 
and leave mine to me 

back
 
 
 

Stranger Than Fiction 

a febrile shocking violent smack 
the children are hoping for a heart attack, 
tonight the windows are watching, 
the streets all conspire, 
and the lamppost can't stop crying, 
if I could fly high above the world, 
would I see a bunch of living dots spell the world stupidity?, 
or would I see hungry lover homicides, 
loving brother suicides, 
and olly olly oxenfrees, 
who pickaside and hide 

the world is scratching at my door, 
my morning papers got the scores, 
the human interest stories, and the obituary 

cockroach naps and rattling traps, 
how many devils can you fit upon a match head?, 
caringosity killed the Kerouac cat, 
sometimes truth is stranger than fiction 

in my alley around the corner, 
there's a wino with feathered shoulders, 
and a spirit giving head for crack and he'll never want it back, 
there's a little kid and his family eating crackers like thanksgiving 
and a pack of wild desperados scornful of living 

the worlds is scratching at my door.... 

cradle for a cat, Wolfe looks back, 
how many angels can you fit upon a match? 
I want to know why Hemingway cracked, 
sometimes truth is stranger than fiction 

life is the crummiest book I ever read, 
there isn't a hook, just a lot of cheap shots, 
pictures to shock and characters an amateur would never dream up 

back
 
 
 

Tiny Voices 

the brown and orange sky holds its breath 
as the sun retreats to the distant horizon, 
and our hearts palpitate anxiously as we soon will lay supine, 
and wait for sleep to overcome us 

and from somewhere in our dark, 
subconscious minds when we're asleep, 
comes a haunting swirling mass of voices resonating 
it screams of forgotten victims and their cries of innocence, 
and their desperate plea for recognition and recompense 

tiny voices, echoes of our heritage, 
our long and sallow faces turn the other way, 
tiny voices, harbored deep within 
as we outwardly deny that they have something to say, 
and if we don't confront them they will never go away 

the billions of tiny pinhole embers fade into a morning sky 
filled with poignant morose wonder, 
waking a bear a cosmetic peace that verifies the turmoil 
which we carry deep inside 

back
 
 
 

The Handshake 

every time you shake someone's hand and it feels like your best friend, 
could it be that it's only superficiality?, 
without regard to well-being, without an inkling of compromise, 
handshakes are nothing but a subtle "fuck you", 
contracts determine the best friendships 

this is the way of the modern world, everyone's vying for patronage, 
this is the way of the modern world, and something has gotta give 

every time you shake someone's hand, 
and you share neither color or creed, 
you gotta overcome the obstacles of history, 
there is restrained passion, mistrust, and bigotry 

and these have created the new foundations of society, 
there's no harmony just class and race 

this is the way of the modern world, 
everyone's fighting for dominance, 
this is the way of the modern world, 
and something has gotta give 

now I believe in unity, and I am willing to compromise, 
but I'm not gonna lie or sell my soul 

every time you shake someone's hand, 
it determines where you stand, 
and if you won't uphold your side then it's better to 
fend for yourself, and shun the handshake, 
someone's gotta give 

back
 
 
 

Better Off Dead 

I'm sorry about the sun, 
how could I know that you'd burn?, 
and I'm sorry about the moon, 
how could I know that you'd disapproved, 
I'll never make the same mistake, 
the next time I create the universe I'll make sure we communicate at length 

but until then...better of dead, 
a smile on the lips and a hole in the head, 
better of dead, yeah better than this, 
better of dead, yeah better than this, 
take it away 'cuz there's nothing to miss 

I'm sorry about the world, 
how could I know you'd take it so bad?, 
and I'll never make the same mistake, 
the next time I create the universe I'll make sure you participate 

But until then... 
Better of dead, yeah better of dead, 
why don't you try pushing daisies instead 

and I'll never make the same mistake, 
the next time I create the universe I'll make sure we communicate, 
just in case 

back
 
 
 

Infected

now here I go,
hope I don't break down, 
I won't take anything, I don't need anything, 
don't want to exist, I can't persist, 
please stop before I do it again, 
just talk about nothing, let's talk about nothing, 
let's talk about no one, please talk about no one, someone, anyone 

you and me have a disease, 
you affect me, you infect me, 
I'm afflicted, you're addicted, 
you and me, you and me 

I'm on the edge, 
get against the wall, 
I'm so distracted, 
I love to strike you, 
here's my confession, 
you learned your lesson, 
stop me before I do it again 

you're clear - as a heavy lead curtain want to drill you - like an ocean, 
we can work it out, I've been running out, now I'm running out 

don't be mad about it baby, 
you and me, you and me, 
I want to tie you, crucify you, 
kneel before you, revile your body, 
you and me, we're made in heaven, 
I want to take you, I want to break you, 
supplicate you, are incurable, 
I want to bathe you in holy water I want to kill you, 
upon the alter, you and me, you and me 

back
 
 
 

Television 

television, television, television, television 

oh yeah! I want to bask in your golden light, 
submerge in electric waves, 
I need my connection to the world outside 

the world outside is buzzing like an angry wasp in summer, 
the candidates are running, and soon the son of God is coming, 
crackle mental convolutions tune in to the revolution, 
whereby everyone's included so we'll never have to be alone 

every atom of my body, blood and sinew, bone and fibre, 
I can't distil you from my blood, 
you're a hungry germ inside of me, 
you're my lover, you're my heroine, 
my conscience and my voice, 
and I know that I have learned to let you in I 
will lever have to be alone 

I'd take after my mother but she's from a different generation, 
I prefer my big brother he's so gentle and understanding, 
and I learn what I can from him by the television light, 
so that when I'm all alone I know everything's gonna be alright 

back
 
 
 

Individual 

individuals run for cover, 
for the multitudes of thoughtless clones have reached a critical mass, 
individuals hide in fear, under cover, 
sheltered by the wafer thin veil of intelligence 

individuals, nowhere to be seen 

urbana is oozing like a bloated carcass, 
with maggots cooking in the desert heat, 
oozing, with progeny writhing and desperate 
for input from someone more determined 

congregating in invisible circles, 
half apart and half apart, 
all too aware of the insignificance, 
pushing on with soul and heart 

individuals don't pray for forgiveness, 
when pinned up against the wall under siege of persecution, 
individuals command exception, 
and accept dichotomy,
maybe you can't choose anymore 

procreation without gain or purpose, 
languid wills and torped minds, 
catapulted ever faster by the arrow of time 

back
 
 
 

Hooray For Me... 

I can see my teenage father standing straight on a desolate corner, 
in the shadow of tentacled towers by the red light of America, 
I imagine how his mother felt when she heard that her husband was dying, 
and that underground heroes of the tarmac shooting smack were blowing up worlds 
and Damned out loud, 
he, can you tell me how does it feel? 

yeah, tell me, can you imagine, for a second, 
doing anything that you don't have to? 
well that's what I'm accustomed to so hooray for me 

when I slept with stony faces on the riverbank, 
my angeldevil reveller shook me desperately in dying, 
I don't exactly want to apologize for anything, and now 
we're all mad and tangled in secret rooms with roman candles, 
on an endless graveyard train 

yeah, tell me, can you imagine, for a second, doing 
anything just 'cuz you want to? 
well, that's just what I do so hooray for me 

yeah, I was dreaming through the "howzlife", yawning, 
car black, when she told me "mad and meaningless as ever..", 
and a song came on my radio like a cemetery rhyme, 
for a million crying corpses in their tragedy of respectable existence 

oh, yeah, I'm not respectable, and never sensible, 
I've been incredible so damned irascible 
and I like the things I do so hooray for me 

back
 
 
 

Slumber 

so, you're feeling unimportant, 
'cuz you've got nothing to say, 
and your life is just a ramble, 
no one understands you anyway 

well, I've got a piece of news, son, 
that might make you change your mind, 
your life is historically meaningful, 
and spans a significant time 

slumber will come soon, 
and you are helping put it to sleep, 
side by side we do our share faithfully 
assuring that slumber will come soon 

well, now do you feel a little better?, 
lift up your head and walk away, 
knowing we're all in this together, 
for such a short time anyway 

there is just no time to parade around sulking, 
I would rather laugh than cry, 
the rich, the poor, the strong, the weak, 
we share this place together, 
and we pitch in to help it die 

I'm not good at giving morals, 
and I don't fear the consequence, 
if life makes you scared and bitter, 
at least its not for very long 

back
 
 
 

Marked 

if I'm a monster, 
I am a willing one, 
this roller coaster ride is an enticing one, 
on the tip of a continuum flowing wavelike 
through disorder carry me like a vessel to water 

everything you see leaves a mark on your soul, 
everything you feel leaves a mark on your soul, 
everything you touch leaves a mark on your soul, 
everything you make leaves a mark on your soul 

if I can touch it, 
I can destroy it, 
if it's imaginable to some degree, 
I can become it, 
like a hungry turning vortex that just flickers to existence, 
consuming bits and pieces until I'm finally extinguished 

everyone you see leaves a mark on your soul, 
everyone you bare leaves a mark on your soul, 
everyone you touch leaves a mark on your soul, 
everyone you love leaves a mark on your soul 

everything you take leaves a mark on your soul, 
everything you give leaves a mark on your soul, 
and all the fear and loneliness that's impossible to control, 
and every tear you cry leaves a mark on your soul 

back
 
 

Inner Logic 

automatons with business suits clinging black boxes, 
sequestering the blueprints of daily life 
contented, free of care, they rejoice in morning ritual 
as they file like drone ant colonies to their office in the sky 

I don't ask questions, don't promote demonstrations, 
don't look for new consensus, don't stray from constitution 
if I pierce the complexity I won't find salvation 
just the bald and over truth 
of the evil and deception 

there is an inner logic, 
and we're taught to stay far from it 
it is simple and elegant, 
but it's cruel and antithetic 
and there's no effort to reveal it 

graduated mentors stroll in marbled brick porticos 
in sagacious dialog they despise their average ways 
displaying pomp and discipline, they mold their institution 
where they practice exclusion on the masses every day 

decorated warriors drill harmless kids on pavement 
simulating tyranny under red alert 
protecting the opulent and staging moral standard 
they expect redemption of character and self-growth 

(no equality, no opportunity, 
no tolerance for the progressive alternative...) 

back
 
 
 

What It Is 

there's a purpose, there's a goal, 
there's a virtuos, and immoral, 
there's a reason for all of this, 
and I don't know what it is 

I am one, and plural too, 
I accept them but they exclude, 
I could make sense of all of this, 
but I don't know what it is 

the seeds of inspiration never germinated in my mind, 
the beacon of awakening is somewhere that I can't find, so 
I don't know what it is 

there's a beginning, and there's an end, 
there's a climax, some would contend, 
there's a way to signify this, 
but I don't know what it is 

back
 
 


21st Century (Digital Boy) 

I can't believe it, 
the way you look sometimes, 
like a trampled flag on a city street, 
oh yeah, 
and I don't want it, 
the things you're offering me, 
symbolized bar code quick id, 
oh yeah, 
I'm a 21st century digital boy, 
I don't know how to live (or read) 
but I've got a lot of toys, 
my daddy is lazy middle class intellectual, 
my mammy's on valium, 
she's so ineffectual, 
ain't life a mystery? 

I can't explain it, 
the things they're saying to me, 
going yayayayayayaya, 
oh yeah, 
I tried to tell you about no control, 
but now I really don't know, 
and then you told me how bad you had to suffer, 
is that really all you have to offer? 

back
 
 


News From the Front 

Blood is a river, 
Flowing darkly amidst the tangled roots of the tall shining city 
Crazy flowing mantide migrations 
Engorge the big ventricle of heartbroken America 
So many heaven hoping, hopeful groping breathers 
All tap together quietly and desperately in unison 
Hey, hey, hey, is anybody listening? 

News from the front 
News from the front 
We're living in troubled times 
So many fighting for their lives 
Why do the troops despise the news from the front? 

Ignorance is the root of fear 
Fear is the kindling of anger 
War is the bringer of shame 
But never has the burden lain so heavily upon the victim 
Rage and desolation 
Pain and loneliness 
Isn't it all alarmingly familiar? 
Hey, hey, hey, silence is a killer. 

News from the front 
News from the front 
Yeah these are troubled times 
How many more will have to die 
Before the governors can't deny the news from the front? 

Break down the barriers, ally the carriers, 
What is your motivation? Take a good look in the mirror 

News from the front 
News from the front 
So many are fighting for their lives 
How many more will have to die? 
Why does the government decry the news from the front? 

back
 
 
 

Markovian Process 

You will all say that I am surely crazy 
Only an unrepentant pessimist whose thoughts should be detained 
But facts are sterile, not vulgar nor sublime 
And they're not religion, they're for everyone 
And signify the times 
Today is a window, tomorrow the landscape 
All you need to do is take a look outside 
To know what we're bound to face 

The level of disparity 
The common man 
The manner of destruction of the native land 
The poverty of reprisal from all involved 
And the scathing trajectory from the past 

Markovian process lead us not in vain 
Prove to our descendants what we did to them 
Then make us go away 

back
 
 


Leaders and Followers 

There's the image of a man 
Who commands a high opinion 
And he hides his hatred with a sheepish grin 

And beside him flanking closely 
Are the boisterous hollow masses 
Who lap up whatever trickles in 

This intercourse of nature, 
This vulgar social pastime 
Reflects the lowest mark of our progress 

And the few who ride peripheral 
Maintain subtle advantage 
Fighting hard to abstain and redress 

Tell me do you know your place 
In the big parade? 
Are you more than they? 

Leaders and followers 
Leaders and followers 

Recognition by proximity 
And a brand new face 
Just a smidgen of success pie 
And a pinch of social grace 
You can play with the big boys 
Or you can tell them what to do 
But sooner or latter there's another one like you 

The voyeuristic public 
Of which we're all a part 
Maintains perspective on the human play 

And while many have desires 
Of joining in the show 
Many turn and go the other way 

Tell me do you know your place 
In the big charade? 
Are you fear and shame? 

back