Poetry and Lyrics

[TheRainMan]

The Outdoor Type by The Lemonheads


Always had a roof above me,
always paid the rent.
But I've never set foot inside a tent.

I couldn't build a fire to save my life.
I lied about being the outdoor type.

I've never slept out underneath the stars.
The closest that I came to that
was one time my car
broke down for an hour in the suburbs at night.
I lied about being the outdoor type.

Too scared to let you know,
you knew what you were looking for.
I lied until I fit the bill.
God bless the great indoors.

I lied about being the outdoor type.
I've never owned a sleeping bag,
let alone a mountain bike.

I can't go away with you
on a rock-climbing weekend.
What if something’s on TV
and its never shown again?

It’s just as well I'm not invited,
I'm afraid of heights.
I lied about being the outdoor type.

Never learned to swim,
can't grow a beard or even fight.
I lied about being the outdoor type.

 

[cherries_on_snow]

1,000,000

the air comes off the ocean
the city smells fishy
the air is full of fish and mystery
whispering who, what, when
I am warning you I am weightless
and the wind is always shifting
so don't hang anything on me
if you ever want to see it again
I am telling you I'm different than you
think I am

and you can dangle your carrot
but I ain't gunna reach for it
cuz I need both my hands
to play my guitar
and life is a sleezy stranger
who looks vaguely familiar
flirting with a bimbo named disaster
at the end of the bar
and I am telling you that I am different
than you are

at night when you're asleep
self-hatred's going to creep in
and try to blame it on the devil
the one whose bed you sleep in
and don't tell me what they did to you
as though you had no choice
tell me, isn't that your picture?
isn't that your voice?
if you don't live what you sing about
your mirror is going to find out
oh yeah

I'd like to go to all the pretty parties
where all the pretty people go
and I ain't really all that pretty
but nobody will know
cuz everybody loves you
when you're a star
and nobody questions
what it takes to go that far
and life is a sleezy stranger
and this is his favorite bar

no I don't prefer obscurity
but I'm an idealistic girl
and I wouldn't work for you
no matter what you paid
and I may not be able
to change the whole fucking world
but I could be the million
that you never made
oh yeah

I could be the million that you never made
I could be the million that you'll never make
You're looking at the million that you'll never make

Ani DiFranco

 

[cherries_on_snow]

Ain't That the Way

i love you and you love me and ain't that that way it's supposed to be? i
swing my stick legs 'round from the root and i pile drive each foot into a
platform boot. and i'm up and i'm out cuz i'm bouncing off the walls. and i
come when you call and you call. i got a super cute three piece suit. one
piece for your body. one piece for your smile. one more little piece if you
stay a while. yeah, cuz i love you and you love me. ain't that the way it's
supposed to be? i gotta beeline double time. leave my home sweet home for your
honeycomb. then i show up steady ready and proud and i find i've forgotten how
to talk out loud. isn't it just like you to bring me to my knees in my brand
new stockings while the cat is out with my tongue. isn't it just like you to
bring me to my knees in my brand new stockings. love makes me feel so dumb.
cuz i love you and you love me and ain't that the way it's supposed to be?
yeah, cuz i love you and you love the me. ain't that the way it's supposed to
be?

Ani DiFranco

 

[denis hale]

whatever happened to this band?

SUPER BON BON by Soul Coughing

Move aside
and let the man
go through,

Let the man go
through,

Move aside
and let the man
go through,

Let the man go
through...


If I stole
Somebody else's
wave

To fly up

If I rose
Up with the avenue
Behind me

Some
kind of verb

Some
kind of
moving
thing

Something unseen,

Some hand is motioning

to rise,
to rise,

to rise...

TOO FAT- FAT,
YOU GOTTA CUT LEAN!--YOU GOTTA
TAKE THE ELEVATOR TO THE
MEZZANINE - STOP... - CHUMP
CHANGE AND IT'S

ON

Super Bon Bon
Super Bon Bon

Super Bon Bon
Super Bon Bon


And by
the phone
I live in fear
Sheer

Chance
will draw you in
To here...


TOO FAT- FAT,
YOU GOTTA CUT LEAN!-- YOU GOTTA
TAKE THE ELEVATOR TO THE
MEZZANINE - STOP... - CHUMP
CHANGE AND IT'S

ON

Super Bon Bon
Super Bon Bon

Super Bon Bon
Super Bon Bon


Move aside
and let the man
go through

let the man go
through


Move aside
and let the man
go through

let the
man go

through.

 

[RhymeFairy]

Artist: Joni Mitchell
Album: Clouds
Title: I Think I Understand



Daylight falls upon the path, the forest falls behind
Today i am not prey to dark uncertainty
The shadow trembles in its wrath, i've robbed its blackness blind
And tasted sunlight as my fear came clear to me

I think i understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones or sinking sand

Now the way leads to the hills, above the steeple's chime
Below me sleepy rooftops round the harbor
It's there i'll take my thirsty fill of friendship over wine
Forgetting fear but never disregarding her

Oh, i think i understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones and sinking sand

Sometimes voices in the night will call me back again
Back along the pathway of a troubled mind
When forests rise to block the light that keeps a traveler sane
I'll challenge them with flashes from a brighter time

Oh, i think i understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones or sinking sand

 

[TheRainMan]

Have You Seen Me Lately? by Adam Duritz


Get away from me, get away.
This isn't gonna be easy,
but I don't need you. Believe me.

You got a piece of me
but it's just a little piece of me,
and I don't need anyone.

These days I feel like I'm fading away,
like sometimes when I hear myself on the radio.

Have you seen me lately?

I was out on the radio starting to change.
Somewhere out in America, it's raining.

Can you tell me one thing you remember about me?

I remember me,
all the little things that make up a memory—
like she said she loved to watch me sleep,
like she said "It's the breathing,
it's the breathing in and out and in and out."

Have you seen me lately?

I was out on the radio starting to change.
Somewhere out in America, it's raining.

Could you tell me one thing you remember about me?

I thought that someone would notice,
thought somebody would say something
if I was missing. Can't you see me?

Come on, color me in,
come color me in.

Give me your blue rain,
give me your black sky,
give me your green eyes.
Just give me your white skin.
Give me your white skin.

I was out on the radio starting to change.
Somewhere out in America, it's raining.

Could you tell me one thing you remember about me?
Just one thing you remember about me.
Just one thing you remember.

 

[cherries_on_snow]

In the spirit of Thank God(ess) it's (almost) Friday:

Orval, Duvel, Corsendonk
Scaldis, Chimay, Rodenbach
Westmalle Triple, Golden Carolus
Belgian Alcoholocaust!!!

Get startin' with Hoegaarden!
I'm flash whacked on Pauwel Kwak!

I've raised many a glass with St. Sixtus
and deviled my brain with Duvel
My mind is as high as the heavens,
but my liver is burning in Hell!!!

Bellvue, Boon Gueuze, Timmermans
DeTroch, Leifmans, Lindemans
Rose de Gambrinus by Cantillion
Belgian Alcoholocaust!!!

Go get say, geuze or peche!
On framboise or kreik, get lambiclly geeked!

Sixtus, Leffe, Affligem
Witkap Pater, Grimbergen
tunic frocked and drunk again!
Belgian Alcoholocaust!!!

The Abbey ales just don't fail!
Several tripples will leave you crippled!!!

Belgium is literally heaven on Earth for the beer afficionado!
No other country can boast of more distinct, individualistic styles,
so rich and complex in character. Whether it's the unique lambics
or the top fermenting, bottle conditioned strong ales,
Belgium's beers deserve the most sincere reverence!
"This is drink most sensuous"

Brigand, Steendonk, Mort Subite
Saison Dupont, Oerbier
Petrus Triple, De Verboden Vrucht
Belgian Alcoholocaust!!!

Chimay Blue will slay you!
Liquid grail... Satan Ale!!!

Orvel, Duvel, Corsendonk
Scaldis, Chimay, Rodenbach
tunic frocked and drunk again
Belgian Alcoholocaust!!!

I'm the Stille Nacht snowman
and I'm drowning in Scaldis Noel!
My mind is as high as the heavens,
but my liver is burning in Hell!!!

 

[Decayed Angel]

some Jolie Holland

Darlin' Ukulele

Darlin Ukulele
That I've been dreaming of
Darlin Ukulele
That I love

When I'm in San Francisco
I'm dreaming all the time
Deep in the park
Where the constellations shine

Darlin Ukulele
That I been dreaming of
Darlin Ukulele
That I love

Dreaming by the ocean
Walking by the sea
Talking to a starfish
And the mermaids sing to me

 

[Decayed Angel]

more Jolie Holland

Alley Flowers

Some people say you got a psychadelic presense
Shinin in the park with a bioluminescense
Down these city streets I see you comin'
From afar and I know

In this world ain't nobody's
Got the shine like you
Got to shine in this world
Ain't nobody's got the shine
Like you got to shine
In this world

Nobody sings like Mary Sue Bell
Nobody prays like Willie MacTell
Nobody walks a mile in my stolen shoes like I do

In this world ain't nobody's
Got the shine like you
Got to shine in this world
Ain't nobody's got the shine
Like you got to shine
In this world

I still miss my lonesome lover
And I cain't find no single other
To take his empty place in my heart of hearts
I told him

In this world ain't nobody's
Got the shine like you
Got to shine in this world
Ain't nobody's got the shine
Like you got to shine
In this world

The ghost of Shakespeare's on the street
Corderoy hat layin at his feet
Howlin in the harp these dirty city blues fallin hard

In this world ain't nobody's
Got the shine like you
Got to shine in this world
Ain't nobody's got the shine
Like you got to shine
In this world

Zora Neale Hurston told her story
And they kicked her out of new york city
Just like jesus christ in gallilee like I said

In this world ain't nobody's
Got the shine like you
Got to shine in this world
Ain't nobody's got the shine
Like you got to shine
In this world

Some people say I got a psychadelic presense
Shinin' in the park with a bioluminescense
Down these city streets I see you comin'
From afar, and I know
Ain't nobody's got the shine
Like you got to shine in this world
Ain't nobody's got the shine
Like you got to shine in this world

 

[clutching_calliope]

Light Up My Room - Bare Naked Ladies

.....

 

[TheRainMan]

Houses on the Hill by Whiskeytown


Well, I found a bunch of letters
that were written for the fellow
who broke your momma's heart.
And the envelope folds smelled
of her ancient perfume.
I'll bet she didn't know
how to respond before the blankets of snow
caught him out wandering alone
with no place to go.
There were stars in the sky,
there were houses on the hill
and there were bottles of pills
that were easy to buy, to keep her warm
from the oncoming storm.
I found them in the northwest corner
of the attic in a box
labeled "tinsel and lights."
I didn't know what I was looking for,
maybe just a blanket or artifacts.
Eisenhower sent him to war;
he kept her picture in the pocket
that was closest to his heart
and when he hit shore,
it must have been a target
for the gunner man.
There were stars in the sky.
There were bunkers on the hill
and there were caskets to fill
where he would lie,
shrouded in the red, white
& blue with the stripes.
There were stars in the sky.
There were houses on the hill
and there were bottles of pills
that were easy to buy, to keep her warm
from the oncoming storm.

 

[TheRainMan]

It Came Out of the Sky by John Fogerty

It came out of the sky, landed just a little south of Moline.
Jody fell out of his tractor, couldn’t believe what he’d seen.
He laid on the ground and shook, fearing for his life.
Then he ran all the way to town screaming, “It came out of the sky!”

A crowd gathered round and a scientist said it was marsh gas.
Spiro came to make a speech about raising the Mars tax.
The Vatican said, “Woe, the lord has come.”
Hollywood rushed out an epic film.
Ronnie the Popular said it was a communist plot.

The newspapers came and made Jody a national hero.
Walter and Eric said they’d put him on a network TV show.
The White House said, “Put the thing in the Blue Room.”
The Vatican said, “No, it belongs to Rome.”
Jody said, “It’s mine but you can have it for seventeen million.”

It came out of the sky, landed just a little south of Moline.
Jody fell out of his tractor, couldn’t believe what he’d seen.
He laid on the ground, shaking, fearing for his life.
Then he ran all the way to town screaming, “It came out of the sky!”

 

[MsBug]

Delicate
Damien Rice


We might kiss when we are alone
When nobody's watching
I might take you home
We might make out when nobody's there
It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate

So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've known
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?

We might live like never before
When there's nothing to give
Well how can we ask for more
We might make love in some sacred place
The look on your face is delicate

So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've known
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?

So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've known
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?

 

[RhymeFairy]

Bob Dylan
Lay Lady Lay


Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Whatever colors you have in your mind
I'll show them to you and you'll see them shine.

Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Until the break of day, let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his hands are clean
And you're the best thing that he's ever seen.

Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When he's standing in front of you.

Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you in the night
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead.

 

[MsBug]

Dance Me To The End Of Love
Madeleine Peyroux (Leonard Cohen lyric)


Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic 'til I'm gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove

Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Show me slowly what I only know the limits of

Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
We're both of us beneath our love, we're both of us above

Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the children who are asking to be born
Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn
Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn

Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove

Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

 

[clutching_calliope]

So it's not exactly poetic, but it's damn catchy

Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand

When I woke up tonight
I said I'm gonna make somebody love me
I’m Gonna make somebody love me
And now I know, now I know, now I know
I know that it's you
You’re Lucky, lucky, you're so lucky

Well do ya, do ya, do ya wanna
Well do ya, do ya, do ya wanna
Wanna go where I never let you before

Well do ya, do ya, do ya wanna
Well do ya, do ya, do ya wanna
Wanna go off what I never let you before

Well he's a friend and he's so proud of ya
He's a friend and I knew him before ya
Oh yeah

Well he's a friend and we're so proud of ya
Your famous friend well I blew him before ya
Oh yeah

Well do ya, do ya, do ya wanna
Well do ya, do ya, do ya wanna
Wanna go where I never let you before

Here we are at the transmission party
I love your friends
They're all so arty
Oh yeah

When I woke up tonight
I said I'm gonna make somebody love me
I’m Gonna make somebody love me
And now I know, now I know, now I know
I know that it's you
You’re Lucky, lucky, you're so lucky

Well do ya, do ya, do ya wanna
Well do ya, do ya, do ya wanna
Wanna go off what I never let you before

Lucky, lucky, you're so lucky
Lucky, lucky, you're so lucky
Lucky, lucky, you're so lucky
Lucky, lucky, you're so lucky
Lucky, lucky, you're so lucky
Lucky, lucky, you're so lucky

Yeahhh!!

 

[tungtied2u]

Bill Withers

Use Me

My friends feel it's their appointed duty
They keep trying to tell me all you want to do is use me
But my answer yeah to all that use me stuff
Is I wanna spread the news that if it feels this good getting used
Oh you just keep on using me until you use me up
Until you use me up

My brother sit me right down and he talked to me
He told me that I ought not to let you just walk on me
And I'm sure he meant well yeah but when our talk was through
I said brother if you only knew you'd wish that you were in my shoes
You just keep on using me until you use me up
Until you use me up

Oh sometimes yeah it's true you really do abuse me
You get in a crowd of high class people and then you act real rude to me
But oh baby baby baby baby when you love me I can't get enough
I and I wanna spread the news that if it feels this good getting used
Oh you just keep on using me until you use me up
Until you use me up

Talking about you using me but it all depends on what you do
It ain't too bad the way you're using me
Cause I sure am using you to do the things you do
Ah ha to do the things you do

 

[Angeline]

Joni Mitchell

My Old Man

My old man
He's a singer in the park
He's a walker in the rain
He's a dancer in the dark
We don't need no piece of paper
From the city hall
Keeping us tied and true
My old man
Keeping away my blues

He's my sunshine in the morning
He's my fireworks at the end of the day
He's the warmest chord I ever heard
Play that warm chord, play and stay baby
We don't need no piece of paper
From the city hall
Keeping us tied and true
My old man
Keeping away my blues

But when he's gone
Me and them lonesome blues collide
The bed's too big
The frying pan's too wide

Then he comes home
And he takes me in his loving arms
And he tells me all his troubles
And he tells me all my charms
We don't need no piece of paper
From the city hall
Keeping us tied and true
No, my old man
Keeping away my blues

But when he's gone
Me and them lonesome blues collide
The bed's too big
The frying pan's too wide

My old man
He's a singer in the park
He's a walker in the rain
He's a dancer in the dark
We don't need no piece of paper
From the city hall
Keeping us tied and true
No, my old man
Keeping away my lonesome blues

 

[Angeline]

Written for Charlie Mingus

Furry Sings the Blues
Joni Mitchell

Old Beale Street is coming down
Sweeties' Snack Bar boarded up now
And Egles the Tailor and the Shine Boy's gone
Faded out with ragtime blues
Handy's cast in bronze
And he's standing in a little park
With a trumpet in his hand
Like he's listening back to the good old bands
And the click of high heeled shoes
Old Furry sings the blues
Propped up in his bed
With his dentures and his leg removed
And Ginny's there
For her kindness and Furry's beer
She's the old man's angel overseer

Pawn shops glitter like gold tooth caps
In the grey decay
They chew the last few dollars off
Old Beale Street's carcass
Carrion and mercy
Blue and silver sparkling drums
Cheap guitars eye shades and guns
Aimed at the hot blood of being no one
Down and out in Memphis Tennessee
Old Furry sings the blues
You bring him smoke and drink and he'll play for you
lt's mostly muttering now and sideshow spiel
But there was one song he played
I could really feel

There's a double bill murder at the New Daisy
The old girl's silent across the street
She's silent waiting for the wrecker's beat
Silent staring ar her stolen name
Diamond boys and satin dolls
Bourbon laughter ghosts history falls
To parking lots and shopping malls
As they tear down old Beale Street
Old Furry sings the blues
He points a bony finger at you and says
"I don't like you"
Everybody laughs as if it's the old man's standard joke
But it's true
We're only welcome for our drink and smoke

W. C. Handy I'm rich and I'm fay
And I'm not familiar with what you played
But I get such strong impressions of your hey day
Looking up and down old Beale Street
Ghosts of the darktown society
Come right out of the bricks at me
Like it's a Saturday night
They're in their finery
Dancing it up and making deals
Furry sings the blues
Why should I expect that old guy to give it to me true
Fallen to hard luck
And time and other thieves
While our limo is shining on his shanty street
Old Furry sings the blues

 

[mxsinder]

My hand is played...

Shade

A little voice came in the shade
A louder whisper as I lay
It said, "my friend" began to fade
And swept my memory away

Then soon I woke to wonder where
I lost my thoughts and growing scared
A little whisper waiting there
Said pss pss psssp and better shares

So took the whisper in did I
For welcoming a soft reply
My lips let tremble simple tithe
And whisper smiled sweetly by

Then night was falling in my breath
And slowly calling whisper went
To ease my muse my better left
And warm the nape upon her neck

So hot, she said it was my best
And sweet, she red, turned further less
More eye to see more lip to bless
When whisper was my happiness

 

[cjh]

the dimming of the day -- richard thompson

This old house is falling down around my ears
I'm drowning in a river of my tears
When all my will is gone you hold me sway
I need you at the dimming of the day

You pull me like the moon pulls on the tide
You know just where I keep my better side

What days have come to keep us far apart
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the bonnie birds have winged away
I need you at the dimming of the day

Come the night you're only what I want
Come the night you could be my confidant

I see you on the street in company
Why don't you come and ease your mind with me
I'm living for the night we steal away
I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you at the dimming of the day

 

[Angeline]

This old house is falling down around my ears
I'm drowning in a river of my tears
When all my will is gone you hold me sway
I need you at the dimming of the day

You pull me like the moon pulls on the tide
You know just where I keep my better side

What days have come to keep us far apart
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the bonnie birds have winged away
I need you at the dimming of the day

Come the night you're only what I want
Come the night you could be my confidant

I see you on the street in company
Why don't you come and ease your mind with me
I'm living for the night we steal away
I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you at the dimming of the day

For Lovers everywhere, but mainly yours and mine.

Love is real, real is love
Love is feeling, feeling love
Love is wanting to be loved

Love is touch, touch is love
Love is reaching, reaching love
Love is asking to be loved

Love is you
You and me
Love is knowing
we can be

Love is free, free is love
Love is living, living love
Love is needing to be loved

 

[BooMerengue]

For Lovers everywhere, but mainly yours and mine.

Love is real, real is love
Love is feeling, feeling love
Love is wanting to be loved

Love is touch, touch is love
Love is reaching, reaching love
Love is asking to be loved

Love is you
You and me
Love is knowing
we can be

Love is free, free is love
Love is living, living love
Love is needing to be loved

Can this be for a lover without a love?

Hello GF! How the hell are ya? Doin good here, but I'm starting to feel like an outsider on this forum. Been away too long, I guess. Sadly (but not really) it's a boy. Aiden Lee Cooper Warden. Coming Feb 22. I can't wait.

Miss you guys- ALL of you!!

 

[cjh]

fourth of july - dave alvin

For Lovers everywhere, but mainly yours and mine.

<snip>

dave alvin is one of my favorite songwriters. i loved him with the blasters. i loved him with x. and i love him in his present incarnations.

one song of his that always spoke to me is "fourth of july."

when i first listened to it, i thought it was about dying love, about finally saying out loud what was long known. i think the electric version with x creates that impression, actually.

he has an acoustic version, though, that strikes a different mood. it's one of love lost being revived.

She's waiting for me when I get home from work
But things just ain't the same
She turns out the light and cries in the dark
Won't answer when I call her name

On the stairs I smoke a cigarette alone
The Mexican kids are shooting fireworks below
Hey, baby, it's the Fourth of July
Hey, baby, it's the Fourth of July

She gives me her cheek when I want her lips
And I don't have the strength to go
On the lost side of town in a dark apartment
We gave up trying so long ago

On the stairs I smoke a cigarette alone
The Mexican kids are shooting fireworks below
Hey, baby, it's the Fourth of July
Hey, baby, it's the Fourth of July

Whatever happened, I apologize
So dry your tears and baby, walk outside
It's the Fourth of July​

 

[annaswirls]

All this talk of Alts inspired to post a song with my own, everyone knows Jennifer Juniper, but this one is a keeper too:

Mike Doughty

27 Jennifers
I went to school with 27 Jennifers
16 Jenns, 10 Jennies, and then there was her

It’s the sweet shine of,
Yeah, force of divine love
The blessed arrival of you

You might be the one that I’ve been seeking for
You might be the strange delightful
You might be the girly who shall end all girls
You might be the sweet unspiteful

I rode the bus with 27 Jennifers
15 Jenns, 10 Jennies disapproved of her

Yeah, get from my sight, man,
Gladness is a blight, and
Happiness stinks up the room