1. |
Mary A. Longden
03:34
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mary a.
mary a. longden
the only woman who never died
on the grave where her husband lies
her name is there
but the stone's still bare
where that second number should be
mary a.
mary a. longden
born in 1865
st. peter said to have another go
hades told her the river was full
so she’s still alive
but she still lives much the same as she did back then
pumps water from the well every morning
there's a lesson here, there’s a lesson here
'cause all the woman want to know is how she keeps her old skin so smooth
what pills does she take
what creams does she use
every morning
mary a.
mary a. longden
scientists stand on her porch
knocking come on, come on, mary
tell us how you live so long
ah ah ah ah ah ah!
but she still lives much the same as she did back then
pumps water from the well every morning
there's a lesson here, there’s a lesson here
'cause all the women want to know is how she keeps her old skin so smooth
what pills does she take
what creams does she use
every morning
mary a.
mary a. longden
many say her tale is tall
those with eyes that are too small
but the grave says so
and that’s all I know
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2. |
Swim Team
03:41
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what's that boy hiding walking about town in his swimming suit?
there's been no water here for a million years, or maybe more
no public pools
not even a bathtub
he thinks he's so cool
so why won't he show us?
we saw him teaching himself how to swim
on the kitchen floor
we saw the bowls that he'd fill to the brim
spring water from the store
tin foil medallions shining around his neck, he wears them every day
he thinks he's the captain of the school swim team
it's hard not to laugh
'cause there's no public pools
no swim team for miles
we think he's a fool
always all smiles
we saw him bellyflop onto the bed, again and again
tv tray diving board, arms above his head, he gracefully descends
he spent his money
bought a ticket
one stop more
off the bus he gets
a lake a thousand miles away
sittin' in that dusty coach all day
this is where he was born to be
he tastes the air, the humidity
the water surrounds his toes
and it's finally his time
he's taking off his clothes
no more of that dry livin'
he is goin' swimmin' now
ba ba da da da
ba ba da da da
ba ba ba
ba ba da da da
ba ba da da da
ba ba ba ba
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3. |
Fix This House
03:47
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the basement has been flooding for years
let's bring those heavy boxes up the stairs and dry them out
give the walls a fresh new coat of paint
open all the windows, let the sunlight in again
weed the garden, polish silverware
brush away the cobwebs, we are almost getting there
we will fix this house
with our own four hands
from the inside out
you and i will mend
we clean out the closet of old clothes
tattered, no longer fashionable, oh, how we've grown
find a pair for all those single socks
we're doing laundry, look how much we've got in common now
all the time lost, never talking
our poor house just went on rotting
but its not too late
we're almost getting there
we will fix this house
with our own four hands
from the inside out
you and i will mend
we will fix this house
before summer ends
from the inside out
we will try again
no more sweeping dirt under the rug
swallowing what we really want to say
no more hiding the story behind
those pictures we never liked anyway
no apologies on a post-it note
inconspicuous on the fridge
just tell me how you have been doing
all of these uncomfortable years
someday our work here will be done
but for now, let's keep at it
we're almost getting there
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4. |
Good Boy
03:51
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mother always called me her good boy
shows you just how little she knows
i started as a baby breaking toys
now i'm looking for something bigger to throw
na na na na na na
na na na na na na
started a fire on my neighbor's lawn
only 'cause i had nothing to do
he ran out screamin' 'cause his cats tail got burned off
i said, "you better watch out, or i'll do the same to you!"
na na na na na na
na na na na na na
na na na na na na
there was a kid in school, called me a freak
whipped him up so bad that he could barely speak
he kept on fighting, so i tied him to a tree
in the middle of the woods
the police couldn't find him for a week
na na na na na na
na na na na na na
na na na na na na
naaaa naaaa naaa
i am proud of what i have done
mama's boy, but i have my fun
i do what everyone else wants to do
so fill the bag with everything that you've got
stay right there, don't you pull no hero shit
don't you test me, you know i was born bothered and hot
give me all your money
or the lady right here
is gonna get it
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5. |
Small
04:11
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there are times when i consider all the things i've done
and looking back now, i may have been wrong
but i did it my own stubborn way
only way i knew how
and since then i've taken some blame for my faults
but there's so many inside all of these bloody vaults
it's almost impossible
to trace their start
sometimes all i remember
is what i taught to myself
with no help from anyone
i guess it doesn't really help
i feel so small
i may be invisible
and each morning when i rise, i fill up your cup
it's my way of apologizing, i'm working on a better one
you're absent you're gone
sitting right across from me
and every now and then, you'll come back
you'll blink your little eye
staring at me, thinking, wishing maybe i'd just die
but i'm staying here for you
it seems right to do
sometimes all i can remember
is what i taught to myself
with no help from anyone
i'm sure it doesn't help anyone
i feel so small
i may be invisible
and when i fall, i fall like any man would
and when i fall, i fall like any man would
and when i fall, i fall like any man would
when i fall, i fall like any man
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6. |
Rockefeller
04:19
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mr. rockefeller, can I borrow your suit?
got a date tonight
going out on the town
so i gotta dress right
found a hundred dollar bill
in the sewer drain
now, i could save and ration it out
but i'd rather spend it all
spend it all in one place
some sleep on the curb
i find that absurd, i sleep in the park
always knew my luck was turning
but this proves it, money's meant for burning
found myself a payphone
got me a reservation
so prepare the other patrons
for the coming of the king
cut my beard on a campbell's can
carved my name on a park bench
skinned me a rat, made me a hat
if you want to be royalty
you gotta do that
rockefeller
i've been watching you
studied your habits
every type of fork knife and spoon
hostess took one look at him
waving Franklin in his hand
she denied him at the door
you're not welcome here old man
i will sit right here until they let me in!
thought one hundred bucks could buy you anything!
i will sit right here until they let me in!
thought one hundred bucks could buy you anything!
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7. |
Alright
03:17
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alright, i won’t fight it
alright, i won’t fight it
i'll learn to love the wires in your eyes
all the miles of pipes buried underneath the ground
'cause lips made red by artificial dyes
never taste quite right
like what it says on the box
but we didn’t read it anyway
with headphones in our ears all day
while everything in the world went chrome
we forgot our primary colors
we forgot the peach in our cheeks
alright, i wont fight it
'cause everyone seems to like it
look into my cereal bowl
milk and nuts and bolts, but i go on eating
bland, so i add more salt
and ignore that my mouth is bleeding
'cause i can get a transfusion, easy solution
life gets better
zap it in the microwave to invigorate
life gets better
ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
alright, i won’t fight it
alright, i won’t fight it
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8. |
Charlie
04:16
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she looks like an angel in a cloudy cradle
passed out on the bed in your room
your sweet little darling
all she knows is falling
down the stairs
or in love
so charlie got a tattoo on his wrist
hoping that she'd stay there like his skin
and i'm dying to know if i could win
with a heart like hers
with a heart like hers
she looks like Diana with a leopard in her hands
as she leaves holding all of her laundry
your sweet little moon beam
all she knows is moving
down the street
or in her sleep
so charlie got a tattoo on his wrist
hoping that she'd stay there like his skin
and i'm dying to know if i could win
with a heart like hers
with a heart like hers
she looks like an actress in her yellow sundress
as she smashes the bugs in her apartment
your sweet little lady
all she knows is fading
like a t-shirt
or a friend
so charlie got a tattoo on his wrist
hoping that she'd stay there like his skin
and i'm dying to know if i could win
with a heart like hers
with a heart like hers
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9. |
Underwater
02:09
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stumble down to the water's edge
shed our clothes in a frenzy there
flash of lightning, but we don't care
rivermud in our hands in our hair
hold your breath
underwater
we will stay here
till we drown
evolution was quite a thing
pretty flowers and birds on wing
whisky flask turns the clock around
we will be fish by the dawn
hold your breath
under water
we will stay here
till we drown
they say our parents were once like us
went outside with holes in their socks
then decided their dreams were all talk
got jobs and stayed safely ashore
hold your breath
under water
we will stay here
till we drown
or grow scales
gills and fins
swim away
never be found
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10. |
The Strongest of Hands
03:32
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hey, i missed you all day while you were at work
i painted this picture for you, can't you tell?
it's the bird that flew inside our house last week
that bird was stubborn but you rescued him with care
i kissed you on the cheek with feathers still in your hair
you looked just like an indian chief
you are my protector, you are my stone wall
you make all my troubled seem so awfully small
the strongest of hands
opening up any jar
hot sand at the beach
you carry me to the car
in your arms
so safe
from monsters i fear
you keep the coast clear
i'm never afraid
at the country fair nearing summer's end
you proved to me you were the mightiest of men
holding the hammer in your hand
you hit the target and the bell it rang so loud
soon competing with the cheering of the crowd
you look just like the head of state
you are my protector, you are my stone wall
you make all my troubled seem so awfully small
do do do do do do
do do do do do do do!
you say come along
and i will follow
you tell me right from wrong
and whole from hollow
you are the wisest one that i will ever know
the strongest of hands
opening up any jar
hot sand at the beach
you carry me to the car
in your arms
so safe
from monsters i fear
you keep the coast clear
i'm never afraid
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11. |
Just Watching My Breath
02:56
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one day I'll bear your last name
and I'll write it after mine
photograph the children
matching sweaters in a line
the mountain air will rid you of
the broken glass collecting in your spine
don't you see this humble life with me
would be just fine?
we shed our shoes deciduously
for boots warm enough to brave the snow
walk slow with your arms around me
no darkness follows down this path
the kindling that we found is burning
our children softly wakened by the sound
and while the world is quickly turning
our little house stays firmly in the ground
you don't know me yet
i don't know you yet
me finding you here
is my daunting task
this city's too fast
just watching my breath
don't you see this humble life with me would be just fine?
spend your days with me amongst the pine
when I find you
i will take you far away
when I find you
i will take you far away
when I find you
i will take you far away
when I find you
i will take you far away
when I find you
i will take you far away
when I find you
i will take you far away
when I find you
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12. |
Food
03:48
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i used to have two stomachs, one for dinner, one dessert
the first would fill up quickly and the second always growled and gurgled
that news is old. those papers fuel for charcoal fires
so i eat to remember
daddy made us dinner whenever mama came home late
sat at the head of the table when he thought no one was looking
a man can cry, he can sincerely empathize,
and a woman can bring home the bread
i live in the city now
i fend for myself
i cook family-sized meals for my family sized appetite
i eat for two to keep me company
but the thing that I'm still missing is somebody to complain to
about the trivial things
i go to any supermarket, they all look the same
i can imagine the exit will open on a familiar parking lot
and we'll drive home through the massachusetts hills
with our trunk full of groceries
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