1. |
Like New
03:00
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pack our meals in little tins, bring them to the old clearing
where the sky is darkening, where the moon is gone
through our common excitement, commune with constellations
like we had experience, like we were family once
night was getting darker, sky was growing deeper
ground becoming steeper until we fell in
on the lamps above, they know the tune
every star that was shines like new
pack our bags for little trips, back and forth by hop and skip
round the world in eighty clicks, round here I get bored
wasn't there a telescope, saw maia and celaeno
for the first time right up close from your sister's porch
light, however scattered, changes into matter
when there is a pattern that the eye perceives
just a glance above is enough proof
every star that was shines like new
there's no way to escape it
every mountain casts a shadow
as it elevates our view
there's a chance if what they say is true
every star that was shines like new
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2. |
Always Greener
02:33
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back in the olden days the stars would have shown the way
follow the leader, grass always greener
up on the east side hills they take just as many pills
their streets are just cleaner, grass always greener
break a limit
make a living
take a little
god is busy, she won't care
when we are dead and gone the future will take so long
no time for dreamers, grass always greener
break a limit
make a living
take a listen
for a god who isn't there
back in the olden days the stars were the only way
now what have we learned, grass always greener
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3. |
Pictures
03:22
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I was living on the wrong side of the river
I was living on the road
I never call back, I know
I was reading old news on the R Line
I forgot my phone
reliving the past gets old
million dreams littering little screens
hard to feel anything
but the feeling that the hounds have us for breakfast
or the feeling that we're doomed
the feeling we've lost, the feeling we're out of room
there's a canine in the window on the corner
there's another on the loose
we're all gonna have to choose
love to sleep somewhere green by the sea
plant a tree, grow some wings
but I'll keep counting sheep on the screen
autumn leaves, silent spring
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4. |
Imitate Life
03:02
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the first line is free, the catch is I always forget it
hard to believe we used to be so connected
sponsored ads and half-friends everywhere I scroll
college kids and has-beens haunt the Wonder Bowl
what if I wrote everything out as it happened
footnote for note, imitate life, camera, action
bars of garbage lyrics slipped through cellphone cracks
someone call a critic, cut me if I slack
working for a living, living for a dream
dreams are unforgiving single-player schemes
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5. |
Good Job
02:58
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said the foreman to the hand, it's my role to understand
it's yours to watch the clock and pull the knob
then he turned on his heel, walked the rows of pounding steel
beneath his breath said, I feel I've done a good job
my great-great-grandfather Ike didn't want to go on strike
but conditions at the mill were miserable
when he fanned the union flame, got a pink slip in his name
he never was the same without a job
knew a guy who worked next door, he ain't working there no more
no one told him about the oil on the hob
and it spilled all down his knees, cooked his legs a few degrees
workman's comp and legal weed do a good job
best be grateful for the grind, forty hours hard to find
if you ain't exhausted you must be a slob
when a paycheck's only meant for gas, electric, food, and rent
spend your last two cents resenting a good job
if I could write songs all day, I swear, I'd have a million plays
and a McMansion for some street kid to rob
as I'm tied up on the floor and they drag duffels out the door
I'll say "take a little more, and hey, good job"
I would rather not get paid than be drinking the kool-aid
I would sooner join the circus or the mob
than another nickel throw at failed distraction from sorrow
a life whose only hope is a good job
if the dollars that I owed could a field of flowers grow
every seedling become rose would sing "good job"
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6. |
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7. |
North
02:57
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calling strangers family, calling this cinder block a home
I know these walls can't protect me if they drop the bomb
calling mostly family from an ancient phone
weed is worth the waitlist, liquor's worth the loan
friends get into school further up north
where the green line stumbles through the night
saw the seasons change from the back of a silent commuter train
the windowpane was cold
got a text about a bonfire, old friends spread out on a lawn
now the party's over, now the friends are gone
married now, I guess, further up north
where the taxis dance through the lights
nothing to save, last dollar went out to the MBTA
Boston's getting cold
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8. |
Someone Else's Dime
03:09
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blue summer, new suburbs, silent streets at dawn
a tame, immaculate lawn, shades drawn
huge bathrooms, new vacuum, spotless SUV
one-size american dream
I'm free and bored and rich on someone else’s dime
I see the stores and silver circles fill my eyes
hey buddy, no money has ever rolled downhill
he cuffed my hand to the till and said it will
head's heavy, bag's empty, and no one knows my name
I play it safe but I hate the game
and I can't afford to live on someone else's dime
but I can't ignore the silver circles when they shine
now streaming: crowds screaming for everyone to hear
big wigs will cover their ears, three cheers
too often I soften the edges of my drive
to keep my spirits alive
as I dive in for a wish on someone else's dime
when I'm ashore put silver circles on my eyes
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9. |
Kels
02:38
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Kelsie you got on that train
with a warm-blooded city in mind
what did you find
Kelsie, did you paint your room
Sacramento Green or Cambridge Blue
in that city you ran off to
I sure hope they are kinder to you there
I always cared
I just didn't know how to show it
I always cared
I was just scared that I would blow it
Kelsie, you're an empty chair
in the breakfast nook I could wait there
well into the evening
til in a dream you reappear to me
Kelsie, you were self-assured
you gave the sign and you kept your word
I should have flown off with you
I should have thrown my caution to the wind
got my headphones in
little white wires keep the conversations away
where do I begin
when the only constant is change
this state I'm in
I could use a talking with an old friend
who knows what it's like to be rounding the bend
hearing your voice I'd be lifted again
I'm drawing circles on the back of my hand
oh Kelsie
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10. |
Thick Line
02:46
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it's not like he wouldn't survive
he could still get a job at a chain restaurant
and make all of his payments on time
crack off-color jokes with his close-minded friends
it's not like he wouldn't be fine
the weather is fair for educated white men
who violate rights and deny any fault
through crocodile tears on the stand
so they gave him the seat after all
after stalling a week to let the fury die down
no surprise what will be his first call
try to dictate to women what their bodies are for
it's a thick line
and it's thicker than ever this time
we throw baseballs and apple pies
across the street
drop the flag at my feet
while the president sleeps under six feet of gold
the circling drones
the devil below
keep watch on the smiling man in the robe
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11. |
Work Harder
02:05
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okay, I should have worked harder
after waking up at five, working outside with no break
lifting tents half my weight, with swimming pools for shoes
getting kisses from mosquitoes and attitude from well-to-do fathers of two
after the nine-hour work day
I should have sat down at the bench
found a pleasant melody and lyrics that make sense
rewrite and rewrite and rewrite
I'll get back to it later
maybe while I'm filling at the roastery
I should step aside, post my demos online, ask people what they like
calculate responses, make a presentation
that is optimistic, sentimental, a paid vacation
get back to my desk to see the order isn't filled
get on bad terms with the boss
get on with it, I know the drill
after a summer working full-time to pay my student loans
this dropout should have just walked home
cooked dinner, done the dishes
kiss the girlfriend, walk the dog
then stay up til three
crossing lines out of notebooks for eternity
cross the country to hear "that's not what we need"
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