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 This song from Love and Marine Biology is so codependent that I feel like I should license it to Al-Anon.

I’ve always liked the wordplay — especially the fact that I worked allusions to Shakespeare and Iggy and the Stooges into the same song — but it hurts me to read it.

I try and try and try to make you love me.
I sacrifice without a second thought.
I tell myself you’re thinking fondly of me,
even though I know you’re probably not.

I labor sadly unappreciated,
doing things I know I shouldn’t do,
but until my inner masochist is sated
I’d prefer to get my punishment from you.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to be a pity-hog.
Truth is I’m happy when I’m down.
I want to be your stooge, I want to be your dog.
Don’t hesitate to throw my heart around.

I’d profess my love from atop the highest hill.
I’d write your name up in the sky.
I’d recite “What light?” beneath your windowsill:
anything, my girl, to catch your eye.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to be a pity-hog.
Truth is I’m happy when I’m down.
I want to be your stooge, I want to be your dog.
Don’t hesitate to throw my heart around.
Feel free to spread the word all over town:
I’m at my happiest when I’m down.

Directly influenced by the Band’s version of Bob Dylan’s ”I Shall Be Released”.

So much so that you can actually hear the song playing in one of the home demos I did before putting this song on Love and Marine Biology.

You know what they say — talent borrows, genius steals.

Meaning I must be a pretty big fucking genius.

The baby’s growing up so fast.
Pretty soon I won’t even know her.
She looks so far away through the glass.
Maybe could you send me a picture?
Come on Carmen… Pull it together.
You’ve got to try to hang on.
I talked to the warden. He said my behavior
will have me out before long.
I’ll be home before long.
There’s something you should know about:
I got another letter from Schaeffer.
He’s got a job for me when I’m out,
and this one is supposed to be safer.
It’s good money, and not too much danger,
and this time I won’t get caught.
Come on honey… You have to remember:
This is all I’ve got.
Schaeffer’s all I’ve got.
I can’t handle the straight life.
I ain’t smart like you.
I don’t like it any more than you do, babe,
but it’s all I know how to do.
This is what I do.
I’m no good for the straight life.
I ain’t smart like you.
I don’t like it any more than you do, girl,
but it’s all I know how to do.
This is what I do.
The baby’s growing up so fast…

This one, from Love and Marine Biology, is called “Lover, I’m Waiting.”

Mostly because that sounds so much more poetic than “Lover, Please Stop Cheating on Your Husband and Get a Divorce and Be With Me So We Can Go Grocery Shopping Together”. Poetry is in the details.

Love, don’t stay long in his arms,
’cause my heart’s full to breaking
and I’m waiting for you.
Love, don’t fall prey to his charms,
’cause I’m here for the taking.
I’m waiting for you.
It’s hard to let go when you’re scared of the future
and what the future has in store.
God knows I’m so unprepared for the future,
but I’m ready for the future if you are.
Love, don’t you be too alarmed.
It’s a tough choice you’re making
but I’m waiting for you.
I’m waiting for you.

I should have posted this on Penguin Awareness Day a couple of weeks back, but…. meh, what are you gonna do?

People think I spelled the title wrong, but it means ‘Penguin is in love’, not ‘Two penguins in love’. Duh.

He’s a penguin. She’s a walrus. How hard is it to figure out I’m not talking about two penguins? Whatever.

Another in a long line of ‘I can’t tell you how I feel so I’ll write something silly’ songs. And one of many on Love and Marine Biology.

Penguin waves a nervous wing. Penguin’s in love!
Walrus fights the urge to sing.
This is what she’s dreamed of!
Penguin says,
“We’ll make jokes about our physical differences
with backyard neighbors over white picket fences.
We’ll make sure they’ve got nothing to do
but laugh about how much I love you.”
Penguin overcomes his fear and gives Walrus a kiss.
Walrus sheds a happy tear.
She’s always dreamed of this.
Penguin says,
“I’ll keep house, I’ll watch over the babies.
I’ll be the very model of domesticity.
I’ll make sure you’ve got nothing to do
but laze around letting me love you.”
Penguin rests his sleepy head by Walrus’ side.
Walrus says, “I must be dead. I’m in heaven…
Have I died?”

Yep. It’s a Pee-wee Herman anti-crack ad.

Wrote this one for the wife. We’re both quite fond of the scratched out first draft, dated August 14, 2001.It was eventually recorded 3 years later and released on The Year of Longing Dangerously.

By the way, this post finally completes the collection of Year lyrics on this site. Search for the album title to see them all.

If I could freeze this moment in time,
Then I would sweep the clouds from the sky for you.
You deserve the brightest of sunny days,
The warmth of the sun’s embrace.
The comforting breeze that sails through the trees
Blows softly and sweetly for you.
Sunshine feels so good on my face —
A lifeline keeping me here in this place.
All of my doubts and fears melt away
In the warmth of the sun’s embrace.
My lonely heart sings with all the thousand things
I’d do in a second for you.
I’d bring you the head of the man in the moon on a plate.
I’d pile the world’s gold till the earth caved in under the weight.
Whatever you wanted, I’d get it – no price is too great
For you.
Never before have I wanted you more than right now.
High on this feeling I’m scraping the ceiling,
I’m weightless somehow.
Give me as much of your touch as my heart will allow.
All I have is for you.

The ramblings that became this song, the eighth cut on The Year of Longing Dangerously, were penned after a drunken strike-out in a hotel somewhere. Like a banquet server is going to come back to a guest’s room, anyway.

The minutes drag and disappear…
Lover I’m waiting. Why aren’t you here?
The clock ticks out my solitude…
Every second another year.
The bottles line up one by one.
Lover I’m waiting. What have I done?
My heart beats out an hollow sound.
The sound of my dreams come undone.
I count the hours.
I watch the time crawl.
I sit up nights and I drink till sunrise,
Staring at the walls.
You said I’d be a wreck without you,
But I’m going to be just fine.
I’ll keep myself together
As long as I can keep myself in wine.
The night bleeds slowly into dawn.
Lover I’m waiting… Where have you gone?

I’ve been trying to write this one for a couple of months now. I’ve had the concept and a couple of lines since watching the final episode of Californication, but I’ve been stuck.

And now, here it is. I like it so much it could make the next record.

Do you take this man for better? For worse?
From the start to the end? Honeymoon to hearse?
Do you take this man
Or do you take me?

Do you take this man for richer? For poorer?
Are you sure of his feelings, or could you be surer?
Do you take this man
Or do you take me?

I don’t want to spoil the wedding.
I don’t want to trump the priest.
But he said “speak now”
So I’ve gotta speak now
‘Cause I’ve never known how to hold my peace

Do you take this man in sickness, in wellness?
In newlywed bliss? In sheer living hell-ness?
Do you take this man
Or do you take me?

I know my timing could be better
I know clichés are such a bore
But he said speak now
So I’ve gotta speak now
Before you make that vow I need a second more…

Do you take this man to honor and obey?
To tell him through clenched teeth that you’ll always love him
   though your heart’s gone astray?
Do you take this man
Or do you take me?

Take a breath and face the fear
Take yourself away from here
Take a chance on me my dear and say you
Take me

Here’s a Jack Russell-type pooch meting out justice the only way he knows how.

Fun stuff. Until the dog chokes on a balloon, of course.

But until then… Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoiFGva_JoY

My crack at “Just My Imagination” by the Temptations, this little nugget from The Year of Longing Dangerously was written as an angry song about a neighbor who consistently ignored me when I would say hello.And we’re talking complete silence.”Hello.”

“——.”

Bizarre.

You don’t even know my name,
But I’m smitten just the same.
I have seen you from afar.
You don’t know me, but I know who you are.

I could make you happy dear,
But you don’t even know I’m here.
I could answer all your prayers
If you would only walk up a flight of stairs.

I dream some day we’ll have a life:
A country husband and his country wife.
When we’re wed we’ll buy a farm
And walk the pastures arm in arm…

We’ll have chickens and a rooster too,
A couple of hounds and a horse or two,
A couple of cows and a couple of sheep,
And a couple of kids to sing to sleep.

You pass by me every day.
I struggle for words to say.
Some day my tongue won’t be so tied…
You don’t know me, but you will by and by.