A Brighter Light Lyrics        Reflectin Skin Lyrics       First Name Last Name Lyrics

Minot to Bozeman
I should've known you were trouble the first time you opened your mouth
But there is nothin' east of Billings, and Billings is a hole in the ground
I drove from Minot to Bozeman, in one dotted line, all alone,
I was searchin' for answers to things I couldn't work out at home

Yeah and you were the last black spot on my mind
as I adjusted the mirrors and shifted into drive
And watched the Comstock flatline pass the horizon forever

If you pack my red box with five dozen quality jugs
I would drink them, resounding, and leave the returns on the rug
I drove from Minot to Bozeman, the sun beating hot on my skin
'Cause you hold me responsible now for things I might've said then

When I was runnin' on fumes and the Bonnie was, so
I took to guzzling white lightning and ran for the coast
and I prayed that separation would help me to get it together.

I was dragged from a smarter fella's dream
punched the clock til my hands began to bleed
watched as a blanket of pure-driven snow kept my actions in line
And me, I'm still brandishing the sword
as our petty squabbles spiral into war
put your foot to the carpet, try to make it to the safe house in time

At a truck stop in Rocker, I picked at the scabs til they bled
I bashed penny arcade-sized lumps in the sides of my head
I drove from Minot to Bozeman, I raised a dry fist to your health
Thought I was running from you, when I was running away from myself

There were nothing but white paper lines on the sun,
I adjusted the wipers and shifted into run
but I know in my cockles that nothing will ever get better

The Buckeye State and Russell
He started talking at my face about the government these days
as though my politics were written across my shirt
And then a Steinway-sized obstruction, like the upright in her living room
took refuge in my throat, put me at a loss for words
I didn't come here to prosthelitize, I came to bring the noise,
but all your static's running razors round my dome
While the beating of my heart, cracked and chipped but held together
keep pulsating like a busted metronome

I tried to run away from home, packed a bag and I was gone
left the house like I was going to the store
but I got halfway down the block, thought my heart was gonna stop,
ran back upstairs, didn't even take my shoes off at the door
I could leave this town tonight, move down the street from Endless Mike
The Buckeye state and Russell seem so warm and clean
but the beating of my heart, cracked and chipped, but held together,
keep pulsating like a busted drum machine

I think the kids in this town are the gretest
but I would lose my mind if I stayed here for more than a day
And if the big time, asphalt, dumptruck just crumbled to sugar
I would save myself and watch the old town just drift away

There are no dark corners in Brooklyn
with the sun coming up on a brand-spanking glorious day
It's a long, dark hallway of ghosts on the road to redemption
And an endless mess of disratction that hobbles the way

I heard from Julie, via Michael, about an astronaut who'd never seen an angel
about a scientist who'd never seen a mind,
But he spent his whole life chasing something whispered, and imaginary
something he had dreamt, but never stood a chance to find
I know exactly how he felt, I thought my head was gonna melt,
I should've left that shady lane for somewhere new
Whle the beating of my heart, cracked and chipped, but held together,
keeps pulsating like a normal heart should do.

Overtyme
Watch me like a junkie, shuffle past the party store
And go without the magic tricks that worked so well before
c-c-cauterize my instinct, keep my virtue clean, intact
but trouble always seems to draw a bead on where I am at anyway

Country crunk, the boy's club, fluid motion, solid lines
I'm no hometown hero, fetishize idyllic times
watch me like a liar, fake a smile and bum a light
and double-barrel pondscum, watch me vainly making last call last all night

Even if you begged me, both knees down and slobbering
I would sooner bleed to death than ever keep your company again

Overtyme, your only hope, you could hang the boy for lyin,'
if you only had some rope.
Overtyme, you're seein' red, you should make a stronger effort,
not to get stuck in your head.
Overtyme, it's only you: it's never lonely in the middle,
but there's not a lot to do.
Overtyme, it burns your eyes when you look up from the bottom,
see the sun begin to rise,
Overtyme.

Remain Upright
So even when the weather broke, we never even go outside.
I've got a laundry list of debtors and a multitude of reasons to hide
We started clawing at our throats, we never even break the skin
I've got a green satin jacket from when Larry Bird was only a kid

Sunlight, plants, the cat, it keeps me shakin' out all night
Until he nails my mattress to the plaster
Blood pours to the curb, and I get what I deserve
All you people stare, but I remain upright
(though I may waver)

A broken mess of blood and sweat, you're leakin' oil and sick with fear
And they have never made a record of the buzzy mess of fuzz in your ear
You twist the knob until it broke, re-glue it on and twist again
Until you couldn't tell the difference between a starving, angry mob and your kin

Sunlight, plants, the cat, it keeps me shakin' out all night
Until he nails my mattress to the plaster
Blood pours to the curb, and I get what I deserve
All you people stare, but I remain upright
(though I may waver)

If you don't know by now, you'll never understand

We drive along through Seneca, a tiny sliver to the North
Yeah, and every tank of gas has me hopin' that we're winning the war
You started clawing at my throat, but never even break the skin
I got a fistfull of knuckles I am dyin' to connect to your chin

Sunlight, plants, the cat, it keeps me shakin' out all night
Until he nails my mattress to the plaster
Blood pours to the curb, and I get what I deserve,
All you people stare, but I remain upright
(though I may waver)

Mr. Two First Names
She took my hand, it wavered like a compass
I'd gotten used to feeling in control
My hesitation aside, we danced like bright red
dervishes protesting the war
And the cynic inside me wonders what the fighting is for

Michael David, Tempe, AZ
A rolling rock, like Elvis on grey screen
You cross the gap between the dock and steerage,
never worried about your health
and I wonder if I'll ever find that freedom
inside of myself
I feel like even when the phone stops ringing pigs be breathing down my neck
And when Caullie comes a callin,' best believe that he's calling collect

No one even noticed when I snuck aboard that black and yellow train
They sneak into the station when they think that no one's looking
everything is possible, the world is just a fraction
I get a certain satisfaction out of bein' held responsible
Someone's pushin' buttons in my head
Someone's takin' candy from my baby

One eye open, you barely let the light in
A screaming fight, the average Lincoln scene
I took a bottlecap down to the liquor store,
where everybody there was dressed like the Who
and they turned around starin' rubberneckin' at me and at you
I feel like even when the phone stops ringin' pricks be stickin' in my back
And you wonder why I shudder when you tell me to breathe and relax

A Brighter Light
The sun goes down on Macon, turns your red hair slightly gold
We brace ourselves together, to embrace the bracing cold,
having gotten used to January, since the big man put the frost on hold
The moonlight on your face looks like a stolen compact disc
You pressed into my pocket to employ my rule of wrist
Seems I've jumped the gun again, I'm runnin' even though
the band don't give a rip
I've put your picture in a brighter light than you can ever hope to crown
Just like Kokomo is just another stain blue collar, Indiana town

D Train out to Coney Island, or where it used to be
The brand new bastard skyline, is like a water sale to me
Where'm I supposed to sleep when my home had been
turned from liquid to liquidity?
2 Train up to Harlem, our bodega'd been torn down
Man, they're mining for a diamond, I was born to hate this town
Like zirconium would ever fool the dull, the rich, the few, the vain, the proud
I've put your picture in a brighter light than you could ever hope to crown
Much like Kokomo is just another stain blue collar, Indiana town

Santa Fe, NM, I saw him in a dream, alive atop a flaming pile of tires
"You've been dead two years," I said, "I never died," said he.
And I laughed: I can always tell a liar.

We never got to Macon, but the salt was in the air,
and something on your faces told me-no one really cared.

Now, Ether spares the microphone, yeah, and Robin is at the door,
when I fold my arms and say that I don't love you anymore.
There's a time and place for lyin' and that's lyin' cold and broken on the floor
I made the same mistake again by puttin' faith in dreams, they always let me down
I've got one head on my shoulders, in the clouds, two feet planted on the ground
Oh, but, man:  New York City feels like it's alive with light, at least when you're around
Much like Kokomo, it's just another stain blue collar, Indiana town.

Trite Fidelity
I could scrape myself clean, and fill the gaps between, the synapses and sinew in my head.  Re-prioritize, and cut you down to size, but you haven't heard a word I said.  You bubble, stuffed with swamp luck, trapped in trite fidelity til I have no strength and no voice left to scream.  I was born with her grin, and a healthy taste for sin, but I spread the sheets and blankets on this bed.  I intend to watch the sun come up again.

Just Like Nathan Hale, P.2
I was hangin' by a tendon o'er the empty hole we dug ourselves in
And thinkin, "Mister, we could use a man like Tricky Richard Nixon again."
But if you nail your best intention to the ancient cross he bore for you that whole damn time.
You would know, then, what it's like to tell the truth and still be caught in a lie.
I've knelt where they kneel, I drank from their cup
I will not hesitate to follow you up

There's an angry fat pornographer, who's voice is fanning me through the flames
He's sayin, "Every time I go back to the bottle, man, I break out in chains."
But if you nail your best intentions to the stupid stuff he spat at me that whole damn day,
You would know, then, what it's like to have a normal life and throw it away.
I've knelt where they kneel, I drank from their cup
I will not hesitate to follow you up

But in the backyard dumpster, Petey's sittin' like a lump
breakin' branches across the backs of his knees
and swearing I'm the only reason that he gulped and gave a second stab at life
Now I am hangin' from the monkeybars a couple dozen years ago
the blood is pourin' all through my brain
And I am holding up a banner and screaming,
"Tigers stay alive in '85."

When you get down to the bottom, where the interstate connects to the trees
I feel like all my Jesus-freak friends have a pretty big advantage on me
Cause if you nail your best intentions to the simple truths he told to all us dudes
You would know, then, what it's like to kill the messenger what brung you the news
I've knelt where they kneel, I've drank from their cup
I will not hesitate to follow you up
Marlon Brando

Just Like Nathan Hale, P.1
Put yourself up on the cross that he bears for your sometime
Make up your mind, make up your mind
and follow me down to the floor if you need a reminder
make up your mind, make up your mind

so I will walk, eyes closed, into the sin
I will march, to that field, tied to the wind

Endlessly
Close your eyes, punch the clock
Bang the drum, put your pants on
do the math, write the check,
lick the stamp, sing a sad song
lock your door, scratch your legs
hope he snuffed out all the eggs
down the hall,  a different world,
across the street, different

Jefferson, grab a seat,
stretch your legs, get a write up
Walk the walk, raise your voice,
clear your throat, pass the red sauce
Catch the F, go downtown,
spend a whole day underground
Live your dream, go back home,
close your eyes, let em all go

You talk in circles, got him barking up your tree
And I bleed like hopelessness poured out of me
Endlessly

Build a wall, hide your eyes,
close the drapes, keep em guessin'
Burn the bridge, take the cash,
flip the switch, turn a corner
cross the stage, take a bow,
spend your whole life lookin' down
Live your dream, go back home,
close your eyes, let em all go

Be prepared, stay informed,
have a plan, keep your dukes up
raise the glass, hold the floor,
while your life takes a nose dive
brace yourself for the worst
if the drugs don't kill you first
Save yourself, save yourself,
Save yourself, Savior (self)

You talk in circles, got him barking up your tree
And I bleed like hopelessness poured out of me
Endlessly

Song for Linda Perry
With everything grey cell green in the end
A canary-yellow legal pad, and a felt-tipped black pen
I sat down on the corner of 12th street and A.,
as though I lived upstairs
My mind was a razor, my mouth was agape,
as a thousand words a minute, I commit my dailies to tape
but I bleat, like a mute in the steeple,
with dust in the air

And my hand clamped, a vice on the stylus,
As my bad guy beat out everything I wanted to say
That I can see clearly, now, that when the rain is gone
there's gonna be a black spot on the pavement that day

My whole world made up of this violent dread
I put down all the times that I wish you were dead
licked the seal, kissed the stamp, dropped my arm,
walked home and walked tall
And I realized quickly, in a haze of white noise
that for the first time in months, i missed the sound of your voice,
but the only eyes on my back are the lights of the next passing car

And my hand clamped, a vice on the stylus,
as my bad guy beat out everything I wanted to say
That I can see clearly, now, that when the rain is gone
there's gonna be a black spot on the pavement that day

I peeled back the paper where we used to run tongues
I made doubly certain that every line had been drawn
on the beach, where we once stubbed our toes,
in a rush to the falls.
With nothing to eat and a notch in my belt, I felt, then, like
Linda Perry must've felt, when she quit that band and took a room
with no doors and no walls

And my hand clamped, a vice on the stylus,
as my bad guy beat out everything I wanted to say
That I can see clearly, now, that when the rain is gone
there's gonna be a black spot on the pavement that day
and it's gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiney day

Stockholm St. Syndrome
He drank himself to death the same day monthlies came in due
because the good ones all were taken, he spent his savings on the papers
and the asphalt must look bleaker on the dark side of the pool
because he caught the first one over, he cut the chase to baiting racial slurs
at every pinche gringo that drove past, to try to make the message last
so when the rent comes due for me I change my plans,
and try to be the bigger man.

He asked if I was lonely, he tried to follow me inside
But I had barely got to know him, and so I slammed the door behind me
ran upstairs and past the party, I took a diver off the roof
I sprouted wheels and crossed the country, I stopped for gas in Palo Alto,
and now every day I'm running from the guilt, and I will stay that way until
I meet a girl who fucks like drums, like holds my hand, and I will stay right where I am.

The Year I Get It Right
So every summer I declare that this'll be the year I get out there
And burn all my troubles in the summer's light,
and how this'll be the year I get it right
til the sun comes up tomorrow, and I'm stuck inside,
just wondering how much I loved you, and why

I checked the lock so hard I broke the key
And now there's nothing left between the world and me
There's a well-fed army down the hall
and I can't explain what's bleeding through the walls
I've been wasting cake and paper in these troubled times,
And I'm wondering how much I loved you and why

I missed the boat but have no fear, I swear I won't be alone this time next year
With a hope insurgent, burning bright,
that this'll be the year I get it right
I have finished treading lightly, when I meant to dive
and I'm wondering how much I loved you and why

So every summer I declare, that this'll be the year I get out there
and burn all my troubles in the summer's light
and how this'll be the year I get it right
Now I will shine a brighter light
and this'll be the year I get it right.