Those dirty little hands

on the grandfather clock

Leaving me behind

with little to no luck

 

I've toiled here long enough

trying to make sense of it all
So I'll stick the landing
on my greatest last fall

​

I furrowed the rows

and I sewed seeds
I raised them up  

their my lost legacies

​

I've told some truths

Hid behind some lies

Asked some questions

and I'm tired of the why's

​

And the past it hangs heavy

like a noose 'round my neck
It ticks as it tightens

I can feel it constrict

​

My body's been broken

Mind's turned to rust

Ashes to ashes
spread them 'round if you must

​

Send them to sea

or put them in ground

Better bury them quick

Don't leave me hanging around

​

That God damn clock

it tells us the day

Well, today is the day

for my passing away

They're livin' out there

beyond the margin
In a much darker place

It's no comparison

They're livin' in the red lines
lines that we cannot see

Keeping them away

from you and your family

​

You tell them to work hard
to quit making excuses

You tell them to suffer and toil
to suffer our consequences

You tell them stop reaching

to pull their hand back

You tell them they're lazy
and nobody gave you jack

​

Beyond the margin

it's where we want them to be

Making us feel better

about the I and the we

Separate and unequal

and stuck in the past

It's a losing proposition

the way that we live

the way they've been cast

​

But back is where it started
a long time ago

Owned and indentured
to pick and to hoe
Failed ideals, counted three fifths
one hundred percent compromised

Curated divide

and continues these rifts

​

Sequestered crossing over the border

following that torch

to the law and the order

Riskin' it all, working dusk until dawn

They're out there doing our dishes

and cutting our lawns

​

So subjugate the meek

the poor and downtrodden

Subjugate them all

and let me know when you've got 'em

Use them as tools and political pawns

Cultivate with hate and

harvest weeds from the gardens

​

To those who are certain

in this land of the so called free

You're certainly unaware

and with no empathy

So take a hard look

over your latte, your cup of joe

Pick your head up

There's so much more to know

​

Beyond the margin

It's where we want them to be

Making us feel better

about the I and the we

Separate and unequal

and stuck in the past

It's a losing proposition

the way that we live

the way they've been cast

Yeah, she calls you on over

and she lures you right in

With a curl of her finger

she beckons

Hey baby, where have you been

 

And she's working it real good

Hiking up that French skirt

Looking you in the eyes
Hey, baby, she's a cunning little flirt

 

Well now she's got you

just where you want to be

Within a kiss of her lips

her liberating sensuality
 

Falling in love with her light

Looking her up and down
Moving in for more

Desiring her crown

​

Oh the boys they clamor on past

Need and want is their baggage

Stepping on others

to get their checks cashed

And the old dodgers hoard the money

like answers to a test

Judges ruling in their favor

sustaining their power

over all of the rest

​

Yeah, she's standing up high

looking down upon us all
Hair cascading over shoulders

High heels and rustling dress 

echoing down marble halls

Sure, she likes it a little rough

blindfolded and measured

Counseling our desires

Appealing to the guiltiest

of our guilty pleasures

​

Now she's got you

just where you want to be

within a passing glance of her truth

and her sensible carnality

​

And so help you, God

You'll do whatever it takes

to curry her favor

You'll make your best case

​

Oh the boys, they clamor on past

Need and want is their baggage

Stepping on others

to get their checks cashed

And the old dodgers hoard the money

like answers to a test

Judges ruling in their favor

sustaining their power

over all of the rest

​

The suits make their way down to last call

slapping backs and grabbing ass

My oh my, how the mighty cannot fall

 

The power, money, and corruption

it's the three headed snake

Perverting Liberty and Justice

and there's not much more they can take

I don't know why

violins make me cry

Vibrations over the bridge

release a melody

that's trapped deep inside

​

I don't know why

these children have to die

Eviscerated in safe spaces

and buried alone

while their parents are left to cry

​

I don't know why 

they're living out on the street

No life and no quarter

Unstable and unable

to stand on their own feet

​

I don't know why

hatred knows no shame

Bullies carrying torches

Cowards marching in step

following that flame

​

I don't know why

old friends drift away
Disappearing into the ether

Leaving us to wonder

if they're really okay

​

I don't know why

I get drunk at night

playing songs from the past

while trying to make it right

​

And I don't know why

I see so much of the wrong

or why I have to get it out

stripped and written down

alone, without a song

​

​

​

​

​

Pray for me

I'm sending the kids off to learn at school

Pray for me

If not there, where are they going to learn the golden rule

Pray for me

I'm going to a concert and I don't know what's in store for me

Pray for me

What kind of act am I going to see?

​

I guess there's nothing left for us to do

Must be Congress has no control or power over you

Who's going to protect us I haven't a clue 

They've been elected and they elected to abandon you

​

Oh pray for me

Weapons and war, it's baked into the foundation

Pray for me

Now it's being funneled into the largest donation

Pray for me

They're so angry and afraid for their rights

Pray for me

We're governed by a culture of guns and now we're dead in their sights

​

I guess there's nothing left for us to do

Except duck and cover or stare off into the blue

While they stand at attention and fall in love with the 2nd

with no common sense, no further amendment

​

So, pray for me

and I'll pray for you

Cuz really that's all that is left for us to do

Oh I'll pray for you

and you'll pray for me

Together we'll pray for the victims

of a gun philosophy

Pray for me

and until someone governs

this is who we will be

There's red on the seams

and it's bloody and mean

In the white is the might

if you know what I mean
The blue is the glue

and the stars state their rights

Our fathers they found it

and in an off Key he did write

​

He's a flag waiver

and he's done us no favor
He's a flag waiver
he burnt it all down

He's a flag waiver
placed the fear in your neighbor

He's a flag waiver

now we're screwed all around

​

He groped it

wrapped himself all around it

He kissed it and raped it

as they applauded complicit

He skulked away

leaving us alone in the dark
He trampled the norms
and that ignited the spark

​

He's a flag waiver

and he's done us no favor
He's a flag waiver
he burnt it all down

He's a flag waiver
placed the fear in your neighbor

He's a flag waiver

now we're screwed all around

​

Give us your angry and ignorant

your God fearing men

Put them in a stew

and stir it up again and again

The country is boiling

and steamed off its gains

Don't lecture me

how to make it better again

​

He's a flag waiver

and he's done us no favor
He's a flag waiver
he burnt it all down

He's a flag waiver
placed the fear in your neighbor

He's a flag waiver

now we're fucked all around

​

We have blood on our hands

and a future to reckon
Still to account for the past

and the rights that we're wrecking

Take to the streets

love thy neighbor and enemy

Take that flag back

but wave it for both you and me

Maryanne had her wedding day

like she always planned

Seventeen years went by

and fertile soil became sand
Life done went sideways

it's the way that it goes

But I'm not telling you nothing

that you don't already know

​

Working man Johnny

fell right off his ladder
Doc said fractured backbone
Johnny said, "meh, not that it matters"
He took the pills for the pain

They took away more than that

Johnny took them one at a time

'til only the pain remained 

​

These dreams that we dream

they're like a bird that flew

Over the horizon

and on to some place new

These dreams they've flown on

and left us behind

Searching for meaning

for hope of some kind

​

Well that lucky day Bobby

spending cash on scratch tickets
Trying to dig his way out

of the hole and its thickets
He said, "man this is my lucky day!"

Scratched up a couple more

and lost another way

Rolling the dice

it's how we try to fix our living

The buying and the losing

and the chasing of the winning

​

Big Eddie's in his pick up truck

Dog Rusty at his side

Snake on his back window

telling you, better run and hide
daring you to tread on me

Eddie's open carrying his grudge
Fully loaded

unaware of American history

He says, "we're losin' it all Rusty!"

scratching the good ole boy's ears

Blaming others is a sure fire cure

for whitewashing all your fears

​

These dreams that we dream

they're like a bird that flew

Over the horizon

and on to someplace new

These dreams they've flown on

and left us behind

Searching for meaning

for hope of some kind

​

This land of so called freedom

it bends at its knees

Giving us chances

endless opportunities

We just leave them behind

Squandered to rot

or to borrow on credit

and needing it co-signed​

​

Dream on young dreamers ​

you have nothing left to lose

Pick up our broken pieces 

and try to make something new

Hope's a terrible strategy

but while you're at it

take a knee to the pew

Then kick aside my sorrow

and roll up your sleeves

'cuz you've got a lot of work to do

​

These dreams that we dream

they're like the bird that flew

Over the horizon

and on to someplace new

These dreams they've flown on

and left us behind

Searching for meaning

for hope of some kind

Did you hear about old Norm?

That son of a bitch left us

and slipped out on the sly

Disappeared, evaporated

like a fart into a night sky

​

Norm was tough old bastard

He managed to stick around

Always hanging on, biding his time

Sure as hell standing his ground

​

Hey now, Norm is not here

He's long gone

even after all these years

Hey now, Norm is not here

He's long gone
Why'd he just up and disappear?

​

Norm's been forced way to the back

Separated, unequal

But he found his way back

by doing it civil, forcing a sequel

​

Remember when Norm was throttled

by that tricky little dick

Abused by simpletons

waging war on our body politic

​

Hey now, Norm is not here

He's long gone

even after all these years

Hey now, Norm is not here

He's long gone
Why'd he just up and disappear?

​

Norm's attended a party of fools

who warped precedent

breaking our rules

Dimming the enlightenment

and fishing around in our schools

​

Norm sure has seen a lot!

Kids lying in piles in classrooms

their teachers at the door

already been shot

​

Hey now, Norm is not here

He's long gone

even after all these years

Hey now, Norm is not here

He's long gone

Why'd he just up and disappear?

​

Come back Norm

Can't you see

we miss your conversation

and hospitality

You served up consensus

at the table

of common decency

​

Come back Norm

Stop this fall from grace

We need you to save ourselves

before it's far too late

​

Hey now, Norm is not here

He's long gone

even after all these years

Hey now, Norm is not here

He's long gone

Why'd he just up and disappear?

​

Hey Norm, where'd you go?

Where you at?

Send us a note

Drop us a line

Come on, Norm

Please, come back

My family lived in a big house

on the hill

with lots of rooms and comforts

Nicely decorated

and planters out on the sills​

​

My lot was there for generations

Had some feuds along the way

a divorce or two

but was mostly celebrations

​

My family lived in a big house

on the hill

There were always chores to do

Upkeep too

and we lived there with relative free will

​

We took care of our neighbors

Provided them with shelter

Set examples
made a mistake or two

but happiness was ample

​

Something happened along the way

something sure changed
Cacks in the foundation 

and a bow in the frame

Utilities are dated

Cable's fried 

Chimney needs repointing

There's moss
covering the north side

​

Inside a sickness is spreading

Nobody seems to care

We're turning on each other

Windows stuck shut

We can't let in the fresh air

​

My family lives in a big house

on the hill

If nothing changes

I'll live there still

 

But my house is in need
of some kind of a contractor

to save it from collapse,

a structural disaster

My family needs a therapist

someone to mediate

Help us coexist

​

My family lives in a big house

on the hill

Hope to see you around

and if I do

I'll be sure to wave hello

and be sure to wish you well