See You Smiling

Every time I see you smiling
I find myself in two
Part of me wants it badly
The other wants it too
And I say I’m gonna keep it that way
Whatcha gonna do?
When there’s no help for you
You’re gonna mesmerize with your eyes
I’m gonna let it fly

Every time I see you moving
I wanna move in too
Fill the house with ghost sensations
Make a seance room
And I say I’m gonna keep it that way
Watcha gonna do?
When there’s no helping you
I know you’re gonna haunt my daydreams
And I’m gonna let you

Every time I see you smiling
I break my heart in two
Put me back together baby
I wanna see this through
And I say
I’m gonna keep it that way

My New Shoes

There
In the dust
The scramble
The blush
The dawn
Of a moment
Collapses
To dusk

You gotta love what’s left
And move on from the rest
You gotta love what’s left
And move on from the rest

Check out
My new shoes
They’re handsome
Like you
Clean
Like cursive
The posture
That moves

You gotta love what’s left
And move on from the rest

Spirit Joules


Universal Zoetrope

There is a darkness I believe in
That glitters when the morning comes along
Returns to me like messianic voodoo
Whenever I underestimate the song

There is a darkness I believe in
When all the words are deceiving
There is a darkness I believe in
That is the source of all light


Something Else If

I’m a man of few words
Who talks too much
I start the day
I think I’ve said enough

I try to keep my mouth
From going out running
I break my stride
Just sitting here doing something else

If I’m really here

You’re a funny feeling
In the back of my mind
I can’t quite find
The time to spend

When the river bends
You won’t see it coming
When the feeling ends
You’ll be onto something else

If you’re really there

If we’re really anywhere


Orrery-Go-Round

Awareness is affection
And everything else is aggression
No such thing as confession
For anyone but your reflection

Creation is continuance
And everything else is conspicuous
Turn on your constituents a little bit
Turn on existence

We go round…

Mindlessness is discipline
Comparison; loss of innocence
Breakdown of our consciousness
A little step back towards equivalence

Circumstance is solid ground
We are unwound
Spinning in our sleep
Reconvening rendezvous
A time to choose
On an orrery-go-round

Let’s go round…

Who knew before you?


I Keep Walking

I’ve been crossing this bridge for years
And every day another section disappears
And nothing’s holding me up no more
Yet I keep walking

Nihilism is a vacuumed rug
In the room you’re thinking of
Yet somehow I keep finding dust
So I keep walking

It’s in my bones and in my breath
That I think I’m escaping death
By making more of what I have
As I keep walking

I’ve outgrown all of my clothes
They no longer seem to keep me whole
And now it’s me coming apart at the seams
Yet I keep walking

And I don’t think that I can stop
Even when the ceiling drops
And all my fears were my worst bets
I guess it’s good to live life with a couple regrets
Keeps the fire burning while you take each step

Never turn around never give up on me
‘Cause just a little love is all I need to keep going

Take another look, St. John the Divine
I’ve come to inspect the shape of time
‘Cause time is a just the shadow we see
As we keep walking


Nonchalance Divine

Every day
Wake up, sweaty haze
Wake up, same old dream
Tornado, every scene
Old schools I used to haunt
Blank cities, nascent dawn

Nonchalance divine for me
Nonchalance divine for me

Every day
Get up, turn the coffee on
Try not to turn the tv on
Find silence, the threat of peace
Make way with liability
A little prayer for the sullen sea     

Nonchalance divine for me
Nonchalance divine for me

You know
I really have a long road
The river
Separates the soul
The real me
Is on the other side
Peering
Through the leaves and vines

Will it come to me?
If I let it be
Will it come to me?

Every day.


Hallelujah

Find a threshold to cross
Every single day
Helps the spirit to help the soul to
Find its lonesome way

We all belong to some faith
Whichever form it takes
That both invented pain and
Exists to let it stay

And I heard you listening
And I felt this deep thing
And I kept on moving
Something was moving me!

…Hallelujah!

Well, I resurrected that fight
Like a hungover Christ
I went through my life
Like a poorly planned heist
I can forgive myself
But it’s gonna take some time

As all my cells renew
And consequence subdues
And I’ve got all new blood

…Hallelujah!


Some Say

Some say that paying the ultimate price is dying
I say loving without holding back is equally trying
You gotta live a bit
Without losing it
Good luck with that

You say a thing of beauty is a joy forever
I say the only beautiful thing is surrender
You gotta give a bit
Without losing it
Good luck with that

Some say experience is the mother of wisdom
I say “mother may I” but she just won’t listen
You gotta grow a bit
Without giving in
Good luck with that

Some say
Some people say


Sleepwalking through the Woods

Don’t pray for me
I don’t need a way
Save me from believing things

Those roads run north
Then they tend to fade
They fade, always

How are the birds
This time of year?
(“They sing, always”)

Don’t sing for me (“Don’t walk with me”)
I don’t need it now (“I don’t need you here”)
These trees please me (“Be home, stay calm”)

Ghost in the Room

Every single time I try
Feel like I lose a little bit each time
All that’s left are rustling leaves
And ultraviolet harmonies

I’m the one in your trees
Shaking the winter out of evergreens
When you hear the birds tonight
Know that they are singing for me

Every single time you cry
Feel like I lose a little bit each time
What will I find creeping me?
Shadows from the light I can’t see?

Who’s the one in my eyes
Silently singing into the mic
Whenever you come to visit me
I don’t know who’s really arrived

Can I say the thing I wanna say?
And come out okay?
Will you hear me when I say your name?
Without blame
Or is it the same?

Gotta get back to long ago
When we were in bloom
And swap out the vivid voice
For the ghost in the room

Safe in Sound

Don’t forget to read
The writing on your sleeves
Don’t let 'em slip away

Look inside and you’ll find
A secret memory
Machine

You can close your eyes
You’re safe in sound

If you feel a force
A wild and crazy horse
Don’t let it run away

Look inside its eyes
And those black holes will sing
They’ll tell you everything

You can close your eyes
It’s safe to sing

You can close your eyes
It’s safe inside
So get lost and then get found
You’re safe in sound

So get lost and then get found
‘Cause you’re safe in sound

Absolute Danger


Anticipation

Anticipation is the haunting
Of things that could happen again
Or, for the first time
There won’t be a next time
If anticipation sets in

You could held me together
You could have left me alone
But you drove on roadway
Not quite ready
Leaving your tracks in the road

Listen to me, young receiver
If she asks you again
Look in her eyes and repeat this next line:
”The anticipation now ends”


Heart-Ripper-Outer

I can’t turn towards mirrors
Looking back at me
Catch a glimpse of something else
Waiting in the weeds

And I know she’s listening
When my eyes are closed
When I’m still and inside out
I turn to see

All my life I’ve seen you
You’re a heart-ripper-outer
You’re a heart-ripper-outer
In me
Waiting underneath

Bon Secours


Out of My System

Flips the switch when she leaves the room
Does the dishes in the afternoon
Writes to loved ones when she misses ‘em
Get this thing out of my system

I hear symphonies in your eyes
Ultraviolet harmonies arise
Kaleidoscopic innervisions
Get this thing out of my system


Losing Orbit

If I could make it right this time
I’d learn to compensate
Gotta keep on rounding out
Need to lean towards the center and skate
I would find a different path
Through your outer space

Would you dare to take my hand
And wobble along with me
Gotta keep our centers locked
As we tumble through the big empty
I don’t want to find ourselves
Looking back to see…

From my head down to my toes
I feel like I’m losing orbit
To everything · I’ve ever known

I can feel you breathing now
Underneath the trees
I can feel you move about
Through the falling leaves
And if I let you in, my love
Then you'll start to see…

That from my head down to my toes
I feel like I’m losing orbit
To everything · I’ve ever known 

Don’t take it out on me
I never wanted this to happen to you
I keep trying to make things right
But they go wrong every time I do

Don’t try, try won’t do
It only makes men behave like fools
Don’t try, try won’t do
It only makes men behave like fools
Don’t try, try won’t do
You pull me as I'll pull you


Aon (Miss You)

Without the other
The sky looks shy
We should design another
And fill it with people

Without the other
A little lie
It’s a single steeple
Draining the sky

The city turns over
To refresh the bed
We should craft another
And fill it with people

Without each other
A little time
It’s the kind of evil
That helps us arrive


Mammoth

Help me, help me
Maybe I’m a mammoth walking
In the first moments
Of an endless life

Well I wake up, yeah
Hey, yeah I’m still sleeping
I’m a mammoth waking
Out of time

And now you see me
Now I’m hiding in the rear view
Let me come up there and sit with you
Holy mammoth, I am you

Big brown baby
I’m alone and weightless
In this waking moment
The phone line dies

Dial tone ringing
Yeah, like a watch tower signal
Casts a single beam
Into the empty night

What comes after you and me
Is swimming in that big black sea

Yeah, well now you see me
Now I’m hiding in the rear view
Let me come up there and sit with you
Now I’m moving right beside you, help me!

Holy mammoth, I am you


Last Day in LA

Last day in LA and I’ve been wondering
Why would anybody come back here?
Bloody Mary mother in the mirror ball
I need a morning-after pill, I fear

If I could see you
Like you see you
I’d see through ya
I’d see all the way through to you

I’ve never been the superstitious type
But I do believe in resonance
Be careful not to line your hopes or desires up
Too eagerly or circumspect

One day, everyone here will resonate
When the earth gives way and sucks ‘em in

Through the tiny glass mouth of the life
In which we reside
We can see the world above *

*… Gu Cheng, from "Eulogy to the World" Reprinted with permission from New Directions Publishing Corporation


Making Visible

Let me see you say
Something about you
I wanna find a way to read between the fault lines
Making visible all the things that aren’t detectable
Everything that I see I know to be

I see you look at me
The way I look at you
Lightning strikes the shape of the Mississippi
Quickly exiting, making visible all your thoughts of me
Everything that I see I know to be

Let it out today
I’ve gotta let it out of my mind
Because I’m never gonna find a way to make it happen tomorrow
Making visible on the promises and the principles
Everything that I see I know to be
Everything that I see I know to be
’Cause everything that I see I know it’s me


Good Help

These trees up above us are keeping time
They sway back and forth like you and I
Good help comes so quickly when there’s room
But I can’t help from wondering, where were you?

Now that you’ve come by
Things are gonna change this time
Since you came by
Things are gonna change this time
Since you came by

Things are gonna turn around now, this time
I’m gonna keep on repeating that same line, until you’re mine
If these trees up above us only knew
That you can’t even stick around to watch them bloom

(I’ve got a feeling I keep on feeling…)

I feel summer skies
Fade away when I’m in your eyes
Get the chills, pay the bills, what you will, crawl inside
Now I’m gonna tell you what’s on my mind…

Number one: I think you’re losing touch
Number two: I put the word out on you
Number three: yeah, well three is for…
…all the bullshit that I ignored

Now I’m gone
(Yeah, yeah)
I’ve got some good help now
Now I’m gone, now I’m gone

(Come by
Things are gonna change this time
Since you came by
Things are gonna change this time)


Black El Camino

Can’t find the way to you today
A million people feel this way
As the colors of the transit lines begin to fade
Well don’t worry, things will be okay

I’ve never heard you use my name
Or look inside my eyes for me
These hills around us are just waiting for us to go
And someday, we will, you know
Yeah, someday, we will, you know

I heard you listening last night
To the sonic sequins outside
These leaves are foreigners, yeah, so are you and I
Don’t worry, things will be alright

So let’s take a ride up past those hills
Where chaparral grows thick and still
No one will notice if we keep our voices low
In our black el camino

Common Citysongs


Midnight Raid

Oh, my citizens
You’re never gonna see my face

No, no…

Oh, my citizens
You’re never gonna take my place

The Meadow

The meadow's got a lot to do today
Working for the corporations
Paying for the roads and redistricting
The doctors are losing ——?——, oh yeah

And the meadow learned to show up everywhere
In everyones photo-memories
Praying for the sins of the community
Singing “change will only come when nothing gets done,” oh yeah

The meadow comes around yeah the meadow comes-to
The un-electability of the square room

The meadow comes around yeah the meadow comes-to
The un-electability of the square room

Spaces for People

Downtown, he's building another building
With concrete, and lobbies without ceilings

Which floor? The elevators alternate, you know?
In spaces for everyone and for no one

You say, everything is what it is
Not me, everything is what it could be

Downtown, he's printing another printing
Of a floor-plan, to barricade the city

The silence, between each train — connects you —
Into spaces for everyone and for no one

You say, everything is what it is
Not me, everything is what it could be


The Cave

The traffic engineers
Walking home from work
Making inroads intersect

They work in dark rooms
Underneath their desks
Where the mayor grooms his silhouette

The calm collected
And blown across the floor
And the sewers flow back to the shore

The cave connects you
To the underside
Where traffic helicopters can't fly

The cave connects you
To the other side
Where traffic news comes back alive

The traffic engineers
Come collect their raise
As the old folks can't help their ——?——


Plaza Meditation

Plaza meditation, no one sees it
Sunken in silence, suddenly appears

Plaza meditation, up above us
Deals are being broken, lightning cracks below

Did you hear that? The melody ghosting
Wrapped in whisper, suddenly appears


Houston Tenneco

Hit the switch, my friend
It’s my first time back
Tenneco and gold
She’s a Houston girl, don’t give her too much slack

Turn it up, my friend
It’s a song I know
Tiny golden swirls
Every time I hear those proportions on the radio

They build ‘em tall, my friend
You’re in inch too small
The tallest one of ‘em all
Is in the same kinda place, just a war or two away

I want you back, my friend
You’re in a bad, bad place
Where modern laws do no good
And the first five verses of the song have been erased


Suicide Ramps

The model shows a perfect city
The blueprint sold, yeah, but no one bought it
Don’t turn your head, just burn through the intersection
Don’t turn your head, just look straight ahead and
Learn how to not care less
How to not care
It looked good on paper
It looked good on alcohol
But it’s just not right…
Yeah, but it just might work!

Suicide ramps
That’s what we call ‘em
For the times in life
When you just might need ‘em
What a funny way to merge two lanes together
What a funny way to get you there faster
Let’s merge the left two lanes
Merge the two together, everybody
Share in the secret
No one wants you live or die
They just want to watch you try


The Sears Tower

I guess that it’s all the same
That you can’t remember my name
As things are moving faster each day
Slowly you never change


Mean Time

The loop is closing around the bull

The mailmen zip through postal codes

The gerrymandered elect unshapely men

To comb their hair across each other’s heads

The transit system's hiding underground

Too afraid to make a sound

The planes above us tip-toe cloud to cloud

As the evening newsmen can’t be found

Dn-dn-dn-dn-day

There's nothing left to say

The committeemen agree

That's all they said last week

And the mayor hasn't made a sound

Since he choked on coffee grounds

And a silence fills the sky

In the mean time

I wake up every day with nothing left to say
The committeemen agree

That's all they said last week
And the mayor hasn't made a sound

Since he choked on coffee grounds

And a silence fills the sky

In the mean time

In the mean time…