Some Lyrics

It felt kind of nice to break down a single lyric yesterday. I don’t often make the opportunity to talk about that aspect of the music. I care about it very much but not quite enough to try to correct most of the interpretations from the catalog that are available online. I am not proud of everything I’ve published but I do feel happy to have been trying to write well for all of these years. There are some honkers on every album for sure but it’s rock and roll after all. I’m not tryna be Wordsworth Longfellow over here or nothin.

Here are the lyrics for the upcoming album. Maybe you are interested in reading them many months before you can hear the music. I understand if it isn’t your thing. Most of the musicians I have had in the band over the years openly admit to either disliking or ignoring the lyrics to all songs altogether. There's a funny tension there I think-I try to ignore it:)

(God Created) Lock and Key

On the thirteenth day God created White Denim.

Bobble my beak with lotion bae

Baby Blue eyes look deep like a ocean bay

To see lotsa bootlickers like to learn this trade

I hope you can tell I don’t need them all to know my name

Though I’m happy to repeat it

Please remain seated

The beast I’m feeding

Cash cropping power bottom spinning top but no one taught him

Holy smoke is long forgotten-check me out.

Why did you come out to play

When you could keep your pretties all locked away

I take out my tumors and put the lumps in your tea

You’re sucking like a mosquito and I was born ready to bleed

Yeah

I’m under lock and key baby hey

I’m under lock and key keeping safe

I’m under lock and key turn away

I’m under lock and key baby hey

All along the green line see people cradle devotions bae

If you’re just wanting to waste my time maintain a steadier motion babe

You say you think it’s a sin

I think you know what it is

Take a walk across your city mouth running like paint

Then you wanna cover your lips

You cheated I’m undefeated You don’t believe it I don’t need it

Paranoia Schadenfreude Saturn Goya Pig Destroyer something for you

This employer won’t back down

My daddy is fucking Norman Bates

You put your hand in my pocket

You teach me how to hate

I cried heat bae the day he stalked away

Now I burn meat bae 

These tears are here to stay

I’m under lock and key baby hey

I’m under lock and key keeping safe

I’m under lock and key turn away

Ask me how I’m doing

I’m fantastic man

Ah-you wanna know how I’m doing

I’m fantastic man

Chew Nails

I see everybody falling in love 

Nobody really wants to make friends

Act like they flew here on the wing of a dove

Like they were born without original sin- I say no no

They want to talk about original thought yeah

Then they won’t say where they’ve been

They think it’s ok to be alone uh huh

I think you really want to be just like them yeah

It’s in a letter that you already wrote

It’s in a letter that you waited to send

Oh I’ve given you up like a spare dime

It’s a little too late now to pay mind

You keep pushing it down it don’t feel right

When you get enough of this play fight

You see nothing will hit you like hindsight

You’ve been pushing me down but I’m alright

Oh I’ve given enough of my time

So I’m not gonna cry for you

Chew nails sign your check

I’m standing up with the hair on your neck

See I’ve been listening to your words

And I can hear your girl

As she sings along to my elegant prayers

We hear you stumble down the stairs

She sings I don’t want to be alone oh no

I know I can’t keep playing pretend with him

It’s in a letter that she already wrote

It’s in a letter that she’s waiting to send

Oh I’ve given you up like a spare dime

It’s a little too late now to pay mind

You keep pushing it down it don’t feel right

When you get enough of this play fight

You see nothing will hit you like hindsight

You’ve been pushing me down but I’m alright

I’ve given enough of my time

So I’m not gonna cry for you

Only A Fool 

You laugh as if it doesn’t hurt to remember

Let’s laugh and let the laughter shape our pain

A title underneath a title belongs the way inaction is a holy reaction

Weigh all the way

All the way I will wait

Only a fool believes with certainty

Only a fool rises to meet the occasion

Only a fool like me would keep on waiting

And I will wait

You act as if there’s no use for the center

I’ll act as if the plastic baked your cake

You’ll act as if an immolation erases shame then tell me who’s to blame

A title underneath a title belongs the way inaction is a holy reaction

Weigh all the way

All the way I will wait

Only a fool believes with certainty

Only a fool rises to meet the occasion

Only a fool like me would keep on waiting

And I will wait

I can’t take your sorrows away

I can fill the air around you today

And make them easier to carry

Time Time

Time time precious time

I gave away so much that used to be mine

Now I’m holding on to my precious time

Used to see me rounding the corner

Drinking water

On the high wire

See I was using popular phrases

I was working long as the day is

They lasted so much longer then

In one ear and out of the other

I used to say hello to your mother

When I was undercover

Now sometimes we wonder about old friends with new lovers

Are they taking and leaving or faking and needing

Time time precious time

I gave away so much that used to be mine

Now I’m holding on to my precious time

My My it don’t seem right

Another forty days in the fluorescent light

Going out of my mind losing sight

Now that we’re a little bit older

Looking over shoulder at the front lines

See together we’ve been through many phases

Sometimes we played the changes

We couldn’t ask for what we wanted then

Everyone’s a little bit see through

Maybe take a little more than we need to

Ring the bell I’ll heed you and you’ll know why

Still sometimes we wonder about old friends with new lovers

Are they waking and leaving or taking and needing

I used to spin the wheel and dream

Of being part of the action

Now I keep a space that’s evergreen

Blooming in quiet

Time time precious time

I gave away so much that used to be mine

Now I’m holding on to my precious time

My My it don’t seem right

Another forty days in the fluorescent light

Going out of my mind losing sight

Crossfyre

I come home late at night and I’m longing and you’re lonely

Right away we’re on attack wishing we could walk it back

You see I don’t want to live my life in the wrong way but I can’t stay

Under the control of the infinite reproach

Whoa tell me why

Is it all or nothing all or nothing

You know me and you know I try

For yours and mine 

I work harder and harder it gets ever darker

We both see the world going blind

Crossfire 

You hold the key to my desire

I play for you

When you want me

I come running

Crossfire

You hold the key to my desire

I pray that you can write another perfect ending

We stay out there trying to make it and we find no peace

Next to nothing left 

Pain meets every breath

We see the money drive the anger and the anger drive the need

This is our escape

It’s the only bed we make

Whoa tell me why

Is it all or nothing all or nothing

You know me and you know I try

For yours and mine 

I work harder and harder it gets ever darker

We both see the world going blind

Crossfire 

You hold the key to my desire

I play for you

When you want me

I come running

Crossfire

You hold the key to my desire

I pray that you can write another perfect ending

Keep Calling Me (Baby)

Keep calling me baby from the early morning til midnight

I’ve been thinking a lot of you lately

My heart is racing won’t stop til we’re all the way home

So right it’s so natural

So much better than good enough

I’ll give you anything that you want

Won’t you give your love to me

Yeah I’m a rocket blasting off

No I won’t come down

Yeah I’m headed right past the sun your little world spins round

Don’t look away keep looking up

There’s no solid ground oh no oh no

Keep calling me baby from the early morning til midnight

I’ve been dreaming a lot of you lately

My heart is racing nonstop til we’re all the way home

It’s alright it’s so natural

So much better than good enough

I’ll give you anything that you want once you give your love to me

Yeah I’m a rocket blasting off

No I won’t come down

Yeah I’m headed right past the son your little world spins round

Don’t look away keep looking up

There’s no solid ground oh no oh no

Maybe a Sagittarius but I’m Leo proud

Oh honey why would you build me up just to tear me down

I’m all alone by the phone just waiting to hear the sound 

Keep calling me baby from the early morning til midnight

I’ve been dreaming a lot of you lately

My heart is racing nonstop til we’re all the way home

It’s alright it’s so natural

So much better than good enough

I’ll give you anything that you want once you give your love to me

Earth To

Earth to Frankie Earth to me

Wake the daughters of color TV

Drinking flat soda

Magpie esteem

Drop a warm floater on your absent dream

I know you just want to come more easily

So I’m sad to say you’ve gotta get crucified to cream here

Earth to Ginger Earth to Maureen

Meet the sons of profanity

On their private aisles

With their bachelors degrees

You oughtta line them up and give them all a big squeeze

Singing Jesus Christ is the hammer supreme

And I’ll do my best not to blaspheme here

Earth to Judy Earth to John

Aleister Crowley got so much of it wrong

He kinda left you empty

Lips to the bong

In your plaid shorts you were just tagging along

Til you found your mark and awaited the gong

Now you’re writing verses to brand new songs ooh

Earth to England Earth to France

In the U S of A we’re doing a brand new dance

Earth to Norway and Germany

In the U S of A we are simple and free singing hot dog

You’re the apple of my eye

Heavens to Betsy I don’t want to die here

That’s Rap

(Can you turn me up a little bit) 

That’s rap that’s rock

I jam I jock

That business solid gold

Cold fact 

Forgot your truth is rotten

Yeah it’s grown quite old

See my match gets hot

I strike a lot

Yes I may be so bold

I left came back 

Just might relax

Relinquish all control

But first I’ll take a little bit of this and a little bit of that

Now what do you have to say for yourself 

When you’re just a kid nobody expects you to know

How to handle your biz but now you’re full grown

You must own some of that bullshit you condoned

And what you stole all alone pick up the phone call home 

From the motherfucking astrodome dome

 “Hi Mom yeah it’s me how are you doing? I’m doing pretty good I guess. Listen the reason why I’m calling is because I need a few thousand dollars. My lawyer’s asking to get paid!”

Now what do you have to say for yourself

Young rat take walk

I jam I jock

That business solid gold

I clap you watch

Charisma shocking misses hot and cold

See my match gets quite hot 

So I strike a lot

Yes I may be so bold

I left came back 

Just might relax

Relinquish all control

But first I take a little bit of this and a little bit of that

Hired Hand #2

Fine blue people pumping sequins in the oven

Push a head into a pillow dream up a little loving loving

All the baby bridges that we burn along the way

Are only little words we wanted to but couldn’t say say

Clap applause people introduced me to the flames

Held a card right upper sleeve

I guess their life’s a funny game

Now they wink when they walk past me stacking bricks that they once threw

I’m building a wall I can’t get through to you (or you or you and you)

Hired hands working hard across this land

Hired hands are in supply to meet demands

I found myself a job writing other people’s songs

The sun was just as shiny but my nights were quite long

I keep listening to the boss baby doing what they say

Avert your eyes I’m giving big loads away today

I’ve seen a lot of suffering I know it ain’t my fault

There’s a whole lotta things that just had to get bought

I can jump into the river if I get a little hot

Im prepared to fill the slot if you’ve got slots and get hot hot

Hired hands working hard across this land

Hired hands are in supply to meet demands

Fine purple people barely breathing start to sing

A punchy little number that don’t seem to mean a thing

Blow a kiss up to your daddy and his ears will start to ring

I keep bumbling and bumping in my jingling jeans

Did you make yourself a moment then sorta sadly let it pass

Start sharpening crosses in a house that’s made of glass

Know someone won’t soon forget wiping your tiny baby ass

Kissing you bye before your classes in the past

Hired hands working hard across this land

Hired hands are in supply to meet demands

Ruby

Ruby come on quit sneaking around

You’ve been playing that game since you came back to town

Am I your king or a joker

Discarded Confounded

I came to be faced

I ended up on the ground

I came to get wasted

I like to do my bidding in the city

I like to roll around all night in your gown

You know the hand that your’e lending isn’t pretty

That’s hard to see when the sun’s gone down

Waking up is the hardest thing to do

Bad luck since the day that I met you

Ruby come on you see me coming unwound

If its game over baby please turn off the sound

I’d die to hang on you know my will

Won’t you tell me what’s next if you don’t want the deal

How much more of my time are you willing to steal

I like to do my bidding in the city

I like to roll around all night in your gown

You know the hand that your’e lending isn’t pretty

That’s hard to see when the sun’s gone down

Waking up is the hardest thing to do

Bad luck since the day that I met you

Matchbook Baby

Matchbook baby blowing off steam

Three X bottle above a number 13

I wasn’t calling you

You weren’t calling me

It’s exactly what it looks like but it’s not what it seems

Blank look oh I know what that means

I’m lying awake

Your’e laughing in a dream

You’re drifting away again

All we really needed was a friend

Maybe time to let it go

Maybe time to let it go

It hurts and we both wish it weren’t so

It maybe time to let it go

Coming unraveled like a knotted rope

In the shotgun shallows of your river of hope

Crying for the baby

Crying for the rain

Crying out lately

Crying in pain

For crying out loud time is up like smoke

We’re still waiting around for the end of the joke

I’m a flash in the pan baby

Marlboro man baby

Kicking up sand 

I’m a flame your a fan lately

You’re drifting away again

All we really needed was a friend

Maybe time to let it go

Maybe time to let it go

It hurts and we both wish it weren’t so

It maybe time to let it go

Quiet Moment

Not my love

Oh not my life

Not today 

Oh not tonight

My heartbeat in your palm my love

Quiet moment gone

This interval belongs my love

Don’t sing me that old song my love

The one we’ve moaned so many times before

I need more

All I can see I cannot know

A moon will pass

A sun will go

I cut my name into the snow

This winter fades and I will go

Old familial chain

Time to steal away

The heartbeat in your palm my love

Quiet moment gone

This interval belongs my love

Don’t sing me these old songs

The ones we’ve moaned so many times before

I need more

All I can see I cannot know

A moon will pass

A sun will go

I cut my name into the snow

This winter fades and I will go

Quietly carrying pain that throbs in my teeth

Drive Trucks

I can still smoke like I used to

I can still drink until mid July

If I have to drive trucks again next winter

I will show you one wholesome heck of a guy

I really don’t need a new computer

The one I already got is pretty good

I really don’t need the way that I used to 

I made it out with all that I could

God is a witness

Every soldier has a weakness

Kindly asking your forgiveness

When I’ve let you down

I can still mope like I used to

But now I can tell you exactly why

If I have to drive trucks again next winter

I’ll be making a choice to get by

No I can’t predict the future

But this here moment

Well it feels pretty good

I really don’t need the way that I used to

Maybe I had a little more than I should

God is a witness

Every soldier has a weakness

Kindly asking your forgiveness

When I’ve let you down

Oh I’m doomed to repeat this 

Until I’m dumb and depleted

I hope that I’m still needed 

Whenever I turn this rig around

I can still hope like I used to

That you can see the truth inside the lie

I’m living for things that I remember

I remember having many reasons to try

Grinding the axe has always given me splinters 

When I was hanging on as hard as I could

I really don’t need the way that I used to

Maybe I had a little more than I should