1. |
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If curiosity harms (we all know how it killed the cat)
But ignorance charms (it’s cool to know nothing an’ that!)
You gotta choose a balm (something sweet) to ease you through this.
The popular mind is always seeking fame
In tautology’s bind (repeat till fade)
I need an exit sign (something new) to show the way out
(Could be) Nicotine, drugs or rock ‘n’ roll
(Could be) Sex or celebrity to save your soul
(Could be) Adrenaline, Benzedrine, alcohol – LET’S DO THIS!
Comprehensive incomprehension of all I’m expected to be
But time that you waste doing things you then hate yourself for you will never get back.
We’ve all got a global spread (yet absolutely nothing to say)
Only headlines are read – it seems the details get in the way
Now expertise is dead
Long live ‘opinion’ the king.
You can analyse (and, hey, don’t hold anything back)
It’s no surprise (it feels like we’re under attack)
Cos when you play the game you stake your life
It all ends the same - on a roll of dice
I’ll take my name (Start to fight)
And make something happen…watch me!
If I find myself, will I lose all my friends?
Follow nice and straight or take it round the bend
If I close my mind will I comprehend
The platitudes of the life that you’ve chosen
I don’t want to live on the common ground
Tread peacefully down roads others found
I’m gonna take a right so I can take what’s left
Of the life that’s been stolen.
Comprehensive incomprehension of all I’m expected to be
But time that you waste doing things you then hate yourself for you will never get back.
Comprehensive incomprehension of all I’m expected to be
If hours that you lose doing things you would not choose to do
Make it seem you can’t win
When the image inside of you, starts to die
You must try to never give in.
Knowledge and wisdom take second place to trivial gossip you just can’t escape
Sometimes it feels like I’m doing time, kicking my heels, almost waiting to die.
‘Reality’s something you watch others have.
‘Identity’ is coded on a plastic card.
‘Personality’ comes down to a digitised store
Of ‘Likes’ and ‘Playlists’ and ‘Followers’ and ‘Favourites’.
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2. |
First Time
04:48
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As she presses ‘Play’ on another routine day
She wonders how to live yet stay alive
When any glimpse of green or the scent of tangerine
Transports her to another place and time
And the images will fade
Like chalk lines in the rain
Till only feelings of loss remain.
Like a novel she’s read before
Nothing’s new when you know the score
Familiar – so she knows she’ll never win
When every party ends alone
Every journey ends at home
Every difference ends the same
Every pleasure ends with pain.
She tries to remember
Why it seemed like the answer
But she’ll never get back to the first time
Sunday morning and she wakes alone
Packs a bag, doesn’t take a phone
On the train like she’s going home
For the first time – she smiles.
She tries to remember
When it seemed like the answer
But she’ll never get back to the first time
And the images will fade
Like chalk lines in the rain
Wearing raybans in the shade
Till only feelings of loss remain.
Spinning up your own web of nostalgia
You’ll never get back to the first time
And the images will fade
Like chalk lines in the rain
Till only feelings of loss remain
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3. |
The Distance Between
05:43
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In the mirror I discover
Forgotten lines are etched on me
Explore the past to take another
Look at what I used to be.
It’s not my fault and you’re not the one to blame
For the distance between.
Come on, can’t you see our love is safer in memory.
Come on, can’t you see it’s OK to live without history.
Louisa
My silence hides the contradiction
And spins a web of self-deceit.
Your anger needs no explanation
To make the end of us complete.
It’s not my fault and you’re not the one to blame
For the distance between, we just didn’t change the same.
It’s not my fault and you’re not the one to blame
For the distance between, we just didn’t change the same.
It’s not my fault and you’re not the one to blame
For the distance between.
Does it scare you?
Or don’t you realise the best times have all gone?
Louisa
Soon you’ll be a total stranger
Although your picture’s on my wall
And I still smile when I remember
All the years I could call you my Louisa
Your love’s the best of my memory.
Come on, can’t you see our love is safer in memory.
Come on, can’t you see it’s OK to live without history.
In the mirror I discover
Forgotten lines are etched on me
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4. |
Idiot Compassion
06:25
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Through this lens of contentment
I feel no resentment
To your poetics,
Sucking limp diuretics
For Caesar, for Caesar.
From this shell of protection
I see each indiscretion
Oh but the money though
Hits me hard and low
All of that vitality
Was never meant for me.
IDIOT, Idiot Compassion.
Wherever you may be
Inside the history
Of this descended grid
There always seems to be
A psychic memory
Of what you never did,
Of what you never did.
And somewhere hiding, deep in the shade
Under the parasol of yesterday
You can still hear echoes of the love we made
Calling through, trying to find a way.
I don’t, I don’t believe in borders.
But I can’t refuse panacean orders.
I will wait to shake your hand
Cos nothing ever goes as planned.
Socrates, he stands with me
Sanctified duality
Of all you ever said
And all you ever gave to me.
And somewhere hiding, deep in the shade
Under the parasol of yesterday
The breath of angels disturbs the haze
Touch the memory of brighter days.
You can still hear echoes of the love we made
Calling through, trying to find a way.
IDIOT, Idiot Compassion.
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5. |
The Day Tomorrow Dies
04:06
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Looking back through old photos
Potentially anything, have you become all you could have?
Cos I'm finding it hard to be anyone than what we've become.
Together for always
Seems such a long time I sometimes forget the reasons
Why we made our lives out to be this way
Why you mean everything to me.
The moon is a stone in the sea of the sky
To me stars reflect light in your eyes.
And I always will love you
Till the day tomorrow dies.
As I watch you sleeping
Are you dreaming of me or the past and of all
The things you could be if it wasn't for me
Do I now disappoint you?
The moon is a stone in the sea of the sky
To me stars reflect light in your eyes
And I always will love you
Till the day tomorrow dies.
And I always will miss you -
Today tomorrow died.
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6. |
Essence of Pure
06:51
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From the minute I saw her, out standing in the crowd
It’s felt like I’m falling, hope I learn to fly before I hit the ground.
With that look I now know so well, captured on a camera screen
I see her everywhere in a never-changing dream
Nothing makes sense when I’m apart from her
Staring through the window – I cannot bear to let her be…. alone…
In the half-light, I watch her eyes not seeing me.
If I had her number I could call her answer phone…just to hear her voice. (After the tone)
I’d leave my silence and caller unknown - is there really a choice?
In a seat across from her I watch her in her underwear (…and then…not that…)
She doesn’t realise, she doesn’t even know I’m there?
Noone makes sense, there’s nothing apart from her
Undecided what to do… but feel so secure
Compromised and all alone… by the essence of pure
Futile fighting on and on… you’re under my skin
No point of reference, it’s all gone… where should I begin?
Conversations that were never said
At events only inside my head
Places that really aren’t there
And memories we didn’t share
(Ah… please let me go)
Over and over, like a mantra or a prayer I say her name (Ah… I don’t even know… your name)
Nothing makes sense, she’s only a part of me.
Undecided what to do… but feel so secure
Compromised and all alone… by the essence of pure
Futile fighting on and on… she’s under my skin
No point of reference, it’s all gone… where should I begin?
Self deception – understood… perfected by me
Contradicted but still good… by all that I see
Never knowing how to face… but certain of her
Risking nothing - I’ll stay safe… Can’t lose what we were
Undecided what to do… but feel so secure
Compromised and all alone… by the essence of pure
Futile fighting on and on… she’s under my skin
No point of reference, it’s all gone
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7. |
Happier Day
02:50
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I’m looking forward but there is nothing in front of me.
Like Friday evening still with no plans for Saturday
Like Christmas Eve but tomorrow never comes.
Like being drunk but the party’s not yet begun.
Looks like, I’ll be holding out for a happier day.
Spinning round and I don’t know which way to turn.
Like being broke, but you’ve got money left to burn.
Like climbing mountains when you suffer from vertigo.
Like being questioned on the stuff you ought to know.
Looks like, I’ll be holding out for a happier day.
The trick is to always anticipate
Never look back or hesitate
Expect the best from every scene
No matter that the past has been so disappointing.
Looks like, I’ll be holding out for a happier day.
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8. |
Million to Three
06:11
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She, the one with an elliptical smile,
Says she follows his way of thinking
With eyes, like a butterfly wings: continually beating.
He desperate to believe admits her into his mind.
She not wanting to deceive, but cuts his dreams with sighs.
She pursues
He feels used
They’re confused.
So nearly, a heart beat away from what’s real
They’re suffused with green light.
Then – they were satisfied with mutual affection
The so, so small differences got no attention.
Now, two divergent lives –
An arrowhead that points straight to their past.
They say that I’m so cynical I disregard the rest
But I know I’m not damned and I don’t think they’re blessed.
She (still with an elliptical smile)
No longer follows his way of thinking
He wanting to believe admits that he’s now dreaming.
Then so satisfied with mutual affection
Now the arrowhead points firmly to their past.
She refused
He abused
They’re bemused
So nearly, a heart beat away from what’s real
Still suffused with green light.
Living your life with compromise
Forgetful of self, so plagiarise
Look for someone that you want to be
The chances of finding one?
A million to three!
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9. |
Out of Time (part 1)
06:05
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Caught in the moment you took me by surprise
After talking for hours you were still by my side.
It was one of those nights that plays you for a fool,
No way to win but to lose.
I buy you roses you light a cigarette.
I pretend not to mind, now I try to forget
All of the reasons you shouldn’t be mine
Unless we can live out of time.
(But if we could) love would be simple then.
(But if we could) I’d no longer need to pretend.
(Step out of time) somewhere to be ourselves.
(Step out of time) a place with no consequence.
Laughter surrounds us as we take a walk through town.
Your hand brushes mine – I daren’t make a sound.
I look at you, you look at me and then suddenly.
Your eyes reflect my thoughts back to me…
If we made this our love song, set out in the snow.
It comes with the tragedy that you’ll never know
The person I used to be when I was young.
But, darling, is half-love much better than none?
That was the moment I finally realised
Love’s not the illusion I’ve always denied.
We could go back now no one would ever know
But can I taste this and simply let go?
(I know I should) so chance becomes memory
(I know I should) we’ll be who we used to be
(Step back in time) from starting on something new
(Step back in time) but I can’t turn away from you.
(But if we could) life would be simple then.
(But if we could) I’ll always have to pretend.
(Step out of time) somewhere you’ll be yourself.
(Step out of time) a place with no common sense.
Out of time you’d become a significant one.
Now instead you’ll become another unforgotten one.
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10. |
Out of Time (part 2)
05:15
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