1. |
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We sat there talking
the car still running
neither of us noticing the time
and even in the dark
I saw it in your eyes
that shine
And each time you laughed
just when I laughed
I had a thought I almost thought was real
That if we were in love
this is how we'd feel
We've got no business
going near this
It's something we both know
it shouldn't be so hard
to see things as they are
and let go
So you told a story
and I told a story
and we never came close to a kiss
But if we were in love
it would feel like this
And maybe there's a place somewhere
and everything not meant to be
is meant to be there
where the laughter goes on
and the sorrow is gone
and the stars all align...
We sat there talking
the car still running
And I told you what I couldn't help but say
and you got quiet
and I got quiet
like that might make the whole thing go away
and I caught myself
and you caught yourself
then you took my hand and said you had to go
If we were in love
If we were in love
If we were in love
we would know
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2. |
Umbrella People
03:58
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UMBRELLA PEOPLE
Here they come
look at ‘em scatter
See them run
Out of the rain
I’ll get wet
What does it matter?
What does it matter today?
Umbrella people
and it’s hardly even raining
Umbrella people
and the sun’s comin’ through
I’ll stand here
underneath this rainbow
colors I got from you
colors I got from you
Here they come
Look at ‘em scatter
Hurry up, get ‘em up
It could start to pour
I’ll just watch
the rivers gather
‘round my feet
as I’m walking to your door
Umbrella people
and it’s hardly even raining
Umbrella people
and the sun’s comin’ through
I’ll stand here
underneath this rainbow
colors I got from you
colors I got from you
And it’s only been a day or two
How do I know? But still I do
It’s comin’ true
Umbrella people
and it’s hardly even raining
Umbrella people
and the sun’s comin’ through
I’ll stand here
underneath this rainbow
colors I got , I got, I got, I got
I got you
underneath this rainbow
and it’s all comin’ true
I'll stand here
looking at the sky
opened up so wide
and you're the reason
you're the reason
Umbrella people
They don't even know
Umbrella people
open up, open up
let it go, let it go
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3. |
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PICTURES (FV)
Just a picture in my head
drawn from something that he said
or maybe wrote, I can't remember
Either way, it doesn't matter
Just a picture in my mind
some imagined time
I never gave it much attention
Now it's hardly worth the mention
Still I remember some colors
I could almost see it taking form
Pictures come and go, there will be others
All you do is close your eyes
to realize you still can make some more
Just a picture in my head
drawn from something that he said
Except that he meant something different
Either way, it wasn't vivid
Nothing hanging on my wall
hardly anything at all
Barely even started
Just a doodle in the margin
Still I remember some colors
I could see him coming into view
Pictures come and go, there will be others
All you do is close your eyes
to realize there's always someone new
Just a picture in my head
drawn from something that he said
Except that he meant something different
Either way, it wasn't vivid
Still I remember some colors
I could almost see it taking form
Pictures come and go, there will be others
All you do is close your eyes
to realize you still can make some more
Just a picture in my head
Just a picture in my head
Just a picture in my head
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4. |
Claims to Power
03:21
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People claim great power
People claim great power
I read a book where it said if I meditate long enough
I could actually learn how to fly
And impress all my friends but I know before long
they’d only be bumming me out
asking for rides
The same book says that those of great learning
Those of great learning need never die
But I guess after ten thousand years they get bored
And hop off the bed of nails for a beer on the sly
People claim great power
People claim great power
I don’t care how long I live
Long as I live with someone I need
Who doesn’t insist on hogging the covers
Or talking to me about books while I’m trying to read
Someone who knows how to juggle and struggles
To get rid of door to door salesmen mercifully
Someone who’s dumber than Einstein
Smarter than Elvis
Smarter than me
People claim great power
People claim great power
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5. |
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Hard times all around
Trouble sits right down
Smiles that yellow smile
Yeah, he may be here for awhile
And sorrow's back for more
goin' door to door
so you lock yourself inside
to fight the war
With Sgt Pepper, Major Tom
Captain Jack and Delta Dawn
Virgil Caine and Lady Jane
Poorboy Willie, Weird and Gilly
Sam Stone, Jolene
Stella Blue and Billie Jean
Dancing while the world comes to an end
Once again
Hard times all around
Trouble sits right down
Scrunches up his face
Walks around like he owns this place
But you don't even care
finger in the air
You know how it ends
and you got friends
Like Stagger Lee and and Dr. Wu
Carmen and the devil, too
Mrs Jones and Leroy Brown
Bennie's Jets and Kathy's Clown
Sweet Jane, Roxanne
Lola and the Powerman
Dancing while the world comes to an end
Dancing while the world comes to an end
Once again Once again Once again Once again
Once again Once again Once again Once again
Sgt Pepper, Major Tom
Casey Jones and Stacy's mom
Brother Time, Sweet Caroline
and Dr. Funkenstein
Black Betty, Rosalita
Bertha Butt and Lovely Rita
Dancing...
Dancing while the world comes to an end
Dancing while the world comes to an end
Once again Once again Once again Once again
Once again Once again Once again Once again
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6. |
The Long Con
02:38
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It's a long con
It's a slow game
And you keep that love
on a low flame
Keep your eyes
on that jewel
Time will be your friend
if you can play this cool
It's a long way
To the sweet place
Where love and trust
Fall like grace
Comes a time
It’s not yet
Trust that simple feeling
You can’t forget
How she moves
How she smiles
The laughter in her voice
But this is not your choice
It’s not the time
to show your hand
Keep a certain distance
Know the plan
It’s a long con
It’s a slow game
But you know why
You’re still playing
Take your time
Look away
Learn the power in everything
You never say
How she moves
How she smiles
The laughter in her voice
But this is not your choice
It’s not the time
To show your hand
Trust your heart
Know the plan
It’s a long con
It’s a long con
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7. |
Venus De Milo
04:10
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Venus de Milo
Watch out for beauty
somebody said
when the world's at your feet
it'll go to your head
I told myself
look inside instead
Then you come around
Watch out for sorrow
dressed in disguise
I've come this far so
you think I'd be wise
and look in your heart
and not in your eyes
when you come around
Venus de Milo
it's out of my hands
all that I've seen
is all I can stand
you're comin' home late
with your arms still 'round
some other man
Didn't I know?
Didn't I know?
Venus De Milo
Each time I see you
I know what to say
It's right on my tongue
I rehearsed it all day
See, I've got my pride
and I won't live this way
Then you come around
And what kind of goddess
are you s'posed to be?
to scatter your love
like the winds on the sea
The ships on the bottom
they call out to me
When you come around
And you come around
Venus de Milo
it's out of my hands
all that I've seen
is all I can stand
You're comin' home late
with your arms still 'round
some other man
Venus de Milo
all I can do
is try to believe
what'll never be true
that there'll come a day
when I'll be holding all of you
Didn't I know?
Didn't I know?
Venus De Milo
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8. |
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She sleeps a little later than she used to
her room’s still pretty much the way it was
I move some things around
to see if she might notice
but she never does
I will wait for you
She wears a lot of black but I’m not honored
she always wore a lot of black before
she makes herself a fire
and curls up with her journal
on the cold wood floor
I will wait for you
I will wait for you
Call it gray
call it in-between
call it unknown, unheard, unbelieved
In this house
I will stay
Look for me
when you look my way
I helped her write the song I hear her singing
I guess she thinks the words are all her own
I thought for just awhile
she’d recognize the style
now I leave her pretty much alone
I watch her as she reads the Sunday paper
she’s cut her hair, she’s no longer a girl
some other time and place
some other day
some oher world
Call it gray
call it in-between
call it unknown, unheard, unseen, unbelieved
In this house
I will stay
Look for me
when you look my way
I will wait for you
I will wait for you
I will wait for you
I will wait for you
I will wait for you
I will wait for you
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9. |
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Two white men in bright red ties say,
Come here, sonny we've had our eyes on you.
Right away I smell the money
The manicured hands, the power tans
Have a seat. Let me fill your glass.
We predict this world will kick your ass.
Looks like it's halfway done.
Look around while you're still young.
Say hello cruel world, you can't make it stop
But you can make it big
Like the man on top
They say he's mad, they say he's crazy, but he's crazy like a fox
He knows every opportunity knocks like Fort Knox
He's gonna grab with both hands and get all he can
Can you take a hint, young man?
Say hello cruel world, whatcha gonna do?
See it's not so bad, if you're not like you
Yeah, I see it your eyes, that softness, that sweetness
but cotton candy kids like you got zero chance of beatin' this
So before your undertaker gets a text from your priest
You better you shut the fuck up how the devil's been released
How the code's been broken, how the dream's at risk
Oh you poor little babies, kids in cages, stop-and-frisk
See we're all just here for a dirty little minute
Why not take a taste of freedom and the goodies that go with it?
Say hello cruel world, what's it gonna be?
Say how do you do... to reality
Say hello cruel world, how do you dare?
Do you plead and beg with your tail between your legs
or find somethin' else down there?
See I used to be like you, I know the way it feels
I used to see my own reflection in my shiny bright ideals
But that dream is just a whore, in patent leather pumps
And you're just one more in a long line of sorry chumps
One more shill trying to build the great society
Puffed up with all your pretty piety
But little Chuckie Darwin always had it on straight:
In the struggle for survival I can eat off your plate
And his plate and her plate
and their plate, too
If you top me you can stop me
but that ain't what you do
You just fall and get trampled, a glorious example
of the march of evolution, it's a bloody revolution
where the weak and the meek and the too unique
can't stand up to nature's harsh critique
Let's be clear, does the lion shed a tear
for the antelope – goin' down his throat?
Say hello cruel world Say hello cruel world
Hello You’ve got no place else to go
We don't wanna keep you, I think we've made it known
how the precious few tend to view the world we own
It's a battleground that motherfucker stuck us in
There’s one goddamn commandment: Says you better win
Do you best to grab what you can get your sweaty hands on
You could have it all if you just had any balls on
Throw 'em down to the ground, stomp on their chest
And money is the measure of the ones who do it best.
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10. |
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Hung in the dungeon upside down
each day Mr. Bumble comes around
talkin' smack in Funkytown
I just wanna win in the end
Bang the bell that keeps the score
each time that I hit the floor
I don't mind the cheap decor
I just wanna win in the end
Jagged edge, rocky ledge
buzz saw spininin' and the villain grinnin'
right now I don't care who's winnin'
I just wanna win in the end
Gonna feel so right
Gonna be so ready
I just hold on tight
I just hold, hold, hold, hold, hold
steady
Sister Sarah, fortune teller
draws the hanged man in her cellar
she says I'm one lucky fella
handsome for a bottom dweller
Throw the dice, spin the wheel
anything it may reveal
I'm well-acquainted with the deal
I just wanna win in the end
(chorus)
(break)
Wakin' up
in the driver's seat
waitin' out that traffic jam
on Easy Street
I can hear
your estimation
Sir, you underrate my patience
(chorus)
Princes in their royal chambers
laughin at the lion tamers
I ain't askin' any favors
(WOO-HOO)
Lost in space, I lost my crew
I scream like Plant on Zeppelin II
No one hears, it's nothin' new
(WOO-HOO)
Baby's sweet and smart and tactless,
gotta body like mattress,
I ain't done just out of practice
(WOO-HOO)
Now she's in the tower
they locked her
with the most amazing doctor
She'll deny I ever rocked her
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Ira Marlowe Berkeley, California
Ira Marlowe's songs have appeared in indy films, been featured on NPR and Dr. Demento, and won the Parent's Choice Award. He's taught songwriting at UC Berkeley and penned the tunes for four shows by a Tony-winning theatre troupe. He lives in Berkeley, CA with his dog Potus. ... more
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