1. Frank Sinatra

we know of an ancient radiation.
that haunts dismembered constellations,
a faintly glimmering radio station.

while frank sinatra sings stormy weather,
the flies and spiders get along together,
cobwebs fall on an old skipping record.

beyond the suns that guard this roof,
beyond your flowers of flaming truths,
beyond your latest ad campaigns,

an old man sits collecting stamps
in a room all filled with chinese lamps.
he saves what others throw away.
he says that he'll be rich some day.

we know of an ancient radiation
that haunts dismembered constellations,
a faintly glimmering radio station.


we know of an ancient radiation
that haunts dismembered constellations,
a faintly glimmering radio station.

while frank sinatra sings stormy weather,
the flies and spiders get along together,
cobwebs fall on an old skipping record.



2. The Distance

Reluctantly crouched at the starting line
Engines pumping and thumping in time
The green light flashes, the flags go up
Churning and burning they yearn for the cup

They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
Fuels burning fast on an empty tank
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
Their prowess is Potent and secretly stern

As they speed through the finish, the flags go down
The fans get up and they get out of town
The arena is empty except for one man
Still driving and striving as fast as he can

The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
Not long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's driving and striving an hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for who he still burns

He's going the distance
He's going for speed
She's all alone, all alone,
all alone in a time of need

Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's going the distance

No trophies, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no line
He's haunted by something he cannot define
Bowel shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse
Assail him and bail him with monster truck force

In his mind he's still driving, still making the grade
She's hoping in time that her memories will fade
'Cause he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse

The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
Not long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's striving and driving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for who he still burns

'Cause he's going the distance,
He's going for speed
She's all alone
All alone
All alone
In a time of need

Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and ridding on his horse
He's going the distance
He's going for speed
He's going the distance



3. Friend Is a Four Letter Word

to me, coming from you,
friend is a four letter word.
end is the only part of the word
that i heard.
call me morbid or absurd.
but to me, coming from you,
friend is a four letter word.

to me, coming from you,
friend is a four letter word.
end is the only part of the word
that I heard.
call me morbid or absurd.
but to me, coming from you,
friend is a four letter word.

when I go fishing for the words
i am wishing you would say to me,
i'm really only praying
that the words you'll soon be saying
might betray the way you feel about me.

but to me, coming from you,
friend is a four letter word.



4. Open Book

she's writing, she's writing,
she's writing a novel.
she's writing, she's weaving,
conceiving a plot.
it quickens, it thickens.
you can't put it down now.
it takes you, it shakes you,
it makes you lose your thought.

but you're caught in your own glory.
you are believing your own stories.
writing your own headlines.
ignoring your own deadlines.
but now you've gotta write them all again.

you think she's an open book,
but you don't know which page to turn to, do you?
you think she's an open book,
but you don't know which page to turn to, do you?
do you? do you?

you want her, confront her.
just open your window.
unbolt it, unlock it,
unfasten your latch.
you want it, confront it.
just open your window.
all you really have to do is ask.

but you're caught in your own glory.
you are believing your own stories.
timing your contractions.
inventing small contraptions
that roll across your polished hardwood floors.

you think she's an open book,
but you don't know which page to turn to, do you?
you think she's an open book,
but you don't know which page to turn to, do you?
do you? do you?

you think she's an open book,
but you don't know which page to turn to, do you?
do you? do you? do you?



5. Daria

when you tried to kiss me
i only bit your tongue.
when you tried to get me together
i only came undone.
when you tried to tell me
the one for me was you,
i was in your mattress back in 1982.

daria, I won't be soothed.
daria, I won't be soothed over like,
smoothed over like milk,
silk, a bedspread, or a quilt,
icing on a cake,
or a serene translucent lake.
daria, daria, daria,
i won't be soothed.
i won't be soothed.

when you tried to tell me
of all the love you had,
i was cleaning oil from beaches
seeing only what was bad.
when you tried to feed me
i only shut my mouth.
food got on your apron
and you told me to get out.

daria, I won't be soothed.
daria, I won't be soothed over like,
smoothed over like milk,
silk, a bedspread, or a quilt,
icing on a cake,
or a serene translucent lake.
daria, daria, daria,
daria, daria, daria,
daria, i won't be soothed.
i won't be soothed.



6. Race Car Ya-Yas

the land of race car ya-yas.
the land where you can't change lanes.
the land where large, fuzzy dice
still hang proudly
like testicles from rear-view mirrors.

the land of race car ya-yas.
the land where you can't change lanes.
the land where large, fuzzy dice
still hang proudly
like testicles from rear-view mirrors.

the land of race car ya-yas.
ya-yas.

the land of race car ya-yas.
the land of race car ya-yas.
race car ya-yas.



7. I Will Survive

At first I was afraid.
I was petrified.
I kept thinking I could never live
Without you by my side.
But then I spent so many nights
Just thinking how you'd done me wrong.
I grew strong.
I learned how to get along.
And so you're back from outer space.
I just walked in to find you here
Without that look upon your face.
I should have changed my fucking lock.
I would have made you leave your key
If I'd have known for just one second
You'd be back to bother me.

Oh now go.
Walk out the door.
Just turn around now.
You're not welcome anymore.
Weren't you the one
Who tried to break me with desire?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh not I.

I will survive.
As long as I know how to love
I know I'll be alive.
I've got all my life to live.
I've got all my love to give.
I will survive.
I will survive.

It took all the strength I had
Just not to fall apart.
I'm trying hard to mend
The pieces of my broken heart.
And I spent oh so many nights
Just feeling sorry for myself.
I used to cry.
But now I hold my head up high.

And you'll see me with somebody new.
I'm not that stupid little person
Still in love with you.
And so you thought you'd just drop by,
And you expect me to be free.
But now I'm saving all my lovin'
For someone who's lovin' me.

Oh now go.
Walk out the door.
Just turn around now.
You're not welcome anymore.
Weren't you the one
Who tried to break me with desire?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh not I.

I will survive.
As long as I know how to love
I know I'll be alive.
I've got all my life to live.
I've got all my love to give.
I will survive.
I will survive.



8. Stickshifts and Safetybelts

stickshifts and safetybelts,
bucket seats have all got to go.
when we're driving in the car,
it makes my baby seem so far.
i need you here with me,
not way over in a bucket seat.
i need you to be here with me,
not way over in a bucket seat.

but when we're driving in my malibu,
it's easy to get right next to you.
i say, "baby, scoot over, please."
and then she's right there next to me.
i need you here with me,
not way over in a bucket seat.
i need you to be here with me,
not way over in a bucket seat.

well a lot of good cars are japanese.
but when we're driving far,
i need my baby,
i need my baby next to me.

well, stickshifts and safetybelts,
bucket seats have all got to go.
when we're driving in the car,
it makes my baby seem so far.
i need you here with me,
not way over in a bucket seat.
i need you to be here with me,
not way over in a bucket seat.



9. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps

you won't admit you love me.
and so how am i ever to know?
you only tell me
perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

a million times i ask you,
and then i ask you over again.
you only answer
perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

if you can't make your mind up,
we'll never get started.
and i don't wanna wind up
being parted, broken-hearted.
so if you really love me,
say yes.
but if you don't, dear, confess.
and please don't tell me
perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

if you can't make your mind up,
we'll never get started.
and i don't wanna wind up
being parted, broken-hearted.
so if you really love me,
say yes.
but if you don't, dear, confess.
and please don't tell me
perhaps, perhaps, perhaps,
perhaps, perhaps, perhaps,
perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.



10. It's Coming Down

it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's raining outside.
you've nowhere to hide.
she's asking you
why you think it's funny.

it's coming down.
it's coming down.
she's leaving your house.
she had to get out.
she's mad,
and she'll take her mattress with her.

it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.

it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
you lie on the floor.
she's slamming your door.
she's gone,
and she's wearing your red sweater.

it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.
it's coming down.



11. Nugget

heads of state who ride and wrangle,
who look at your face from more than one angle,
can cut you from their bloated budgets
like sharpened knives through chicken mcNuggets.

now heads of state who ride and wrangle,
who look at your face from more than one angle,
can cut you from their bloated budgets
like sharpened knives through chicken mcNuggets.

shut the fuck up.
shut the fuck up.
learn to buck up.
shut the fuck up.
learn to buck up.

now nimble fingers that dance on numbers
will eat your children and steal your thunder,
while heavy torsos that heave and hurl
who crunch like nuts in the mouths of squirrels.

now nimble fingers that dance on numbers
will eat your children and steal your thunder,
while heavy torsos that heave and hurl
who crunch like nuts in the mouths of squirrels.

shut the fuck up.
shut the fuck up.
learn to buck up.
shut the fuck up.
learn to buck up.

now simple feet that flicker like fire
and burn like candles in smoky spires
do more to turn my joy to sadness
than somber thoughts of burning planets.

now clever feet that flicker like fire
and burn like candles in smoky spires
do more to turn my joy to sadness
than somber thoughts of burning planets.



12. She'll Come Back to Me

last night i said to her
i didn't want to live inside a lie.
if she wants him
more than she wants me,
let this be.
she'll come back to me.
she'll come back to me.
she'll come back.

all day i wait and wait
to hear her footsteps on my walkway.
she never came.
she never even called.
she'll come back to me.
she'll come back to me.
she'll come back.

somehow i know it won't last.
somehow i know it won't last too long.

she'll come back to me.
she'll come back to me.
she'll come back to me.
she'll come back to me.



13. Italian Leather Sofa

she doesn't care
whether or not he's an island.
she doesn't care,
just as long as his ship's coming in.
she doesn't care
whether or not he's an island.
if they laugh, they make money.
he's got a gold watch.
she's got a silk dress
and healthy breasts
that bounce on his italian leather sofa.

she doesn't care
whether or not he's a good man.
she doesn't care,
just as long as she still has her friends.
she doesn't care
whether or not he's an island.
if they laugh, they make money.
he's got a gold watch.
she's got a silk dress
and healthy breasts
that bounce on his italian leather sofa.

she's got a serrated edge
that she moves back and forth.
it's such a simple machine.
she doesn't have to use force.
when she gets what she wants
she puts the rest on a tray
in a zip-loc bag.

she's got a serrated edge
that she moves back and forth.
it's such a simple machine.
she doesn't have to use force.
when she get what she wants
she puts the rest on a tray
in a zip-loc bag in the freezer.

she doesn't care
whether or not he's an island.
she doesn't care,
just as long as his ship's coming in.
she doesn't care
whether or not he's an island.
if they laugh, they make money.
he's got a gold watch.
she's got a silk dress
and healthy breasts
that bounce on his italian leather sofa.



14. Sad Songs and Waltzes

i'm writing a song all about you.
a true song as real as my tears.
but you've no need to fear it
cause no one will hear it.
sad songs and waltzes aren't selling this year.

i'll tell all about how you cheated.
i'd like for the whole world to hear.
i'd like to get even
with you cause you're leavin'.
but sad songs and waltzes aren't selling this year.

it's a good thing that i'm not a star.
you don't know how lucky you are.
though my record may say it,
no one will play it.
sad songs and waltzes aren't selling this year.

it's a good thing that i'm not a star.
you don't know how lucky you are.
though my record may say it,
no one will play it.
sad songs and waltzes aren't selling this year.