VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE (R. Barraco) Calculated risk sends me through the doorway An unexpected kiss leads me down the hallway Imagination had me steppin' through the midnight The hottest flame burns hot white But some hearts burn with flames turned blue CHORUS: I was a Victim of Circumstance Victimized by glowing eyes at a glance The situation seemed worthy of a chance the night left me a casualty of circumstance Premeditated miss can save yourself from falling Impulsive sweet caress makes ready for the calling Inevitable fate made clearer with each daybreak Defines the chance I did take True love doesn't burn with flames turned blue BRIDGE: Only takes a little time to get shown the way I'm finding it hard to know when to stay Who thought we'd still be here today? ARISE (J. Mattson) Call it an urge-call it a change of scene The boy walks alone in the heat of the day A virgin dreams, A tenderfoot schemes The mountain is huge but it stands in the way Call it his fate-call it a change of heart The boy tests his will on the face of the stone A climbers stance, a daredevil dance By leaving his mark he makes it his own Chorus: Take heed my friend for the hour is at hand The top of the hourglass has run out of sand The waiting is over-the voice is clear AWAKEN, ARISE for someday is here Call it good will-call it a change of luck The boy stays alive by the seat of his pants The wings unfurl, the talons curl His guardian angel leaves nothing to chance Call it a day-call it a change in wind The boy stands amazed at the foot of a cloud A taste of the prize, the light in his eyes His body is tired but his heart, it is proud DONE IS DONE (J. Mattson, J. Markard) You will feel the cost This enemy his shoes are burning It's about the worst war I've ever seen But it costs too much to get a crutch So the wounds are the toleration I must charter a bus and move off this reservation. Chorus: And DONE IS DONE, so it goes And so it dies. The holy ghost takes a bow, Can you fly? The pot is brewing still Your anxious tongue is wet and waiting But will you get your fill? How much game are the soldiers baiting? I'll be a crook, unhook the hook It's blood that I am hating (I think I'll write a book on total cancellation) Bridge: I don't notice many things bad about thee, So you must be teasing when you say we are enemies Who will fetch the bones? The uniforms wretched ranger Will he have to go alone? Will he feel any anger? It's unfortunate I think we're all nuts Forming a congregation Too many ifs, ands or buts to stand by this backward nation DROWNIN' (K. Black, M. Gould, S. Oshefsky) You tried to tell me what I know I tried to tell you that it's just a show I got all my blues in tow Don't you know that I can't go My life ain't been no cup of tea, People stop and they stare at me But I'll keep on goin' just to see What's the point in the lawyer's fee CHORUS: DROWNIN' They call it drownin' it's goin' down with the sun DROWNIN' They call it drownin' yeah yeah Now if the road meets in between And dreams aren't what they seem And you don't know where you been Then you better start tryin' Closing the end of day When my life it seems so far away My body's aching, my hearts in pain I hope tomorrow brings a better day BODY PARTS (THE ANATOMY OF A BREAKUP) (J. Mattson) I was all ears and all thumbs, I had two left feet When I made eyes at you I made an ass of myself When we danced cheek to cheek, you had me down on my knees I got you under my skin (you really stole my heart) I was out of my head-I offered you my hand But you were out for my blood I tried to keep my chin up, I tried to keep my chest out You didn't want none of my lip, so I'd just bite my tongue I'd always stick my neck out and get a slap on the wrist I feel it in my toes that now it's out of my hands You're a pain in my neck, you're a pain in my ass You make my skin crawl You were always twisting my arm and always pulling my leg You were always catching my eye and always bending my ear It wasn't head over heels - you took me hand over fist It really got on my nerves, really went to my head No more draggin' my feet, no more biting my nails I'm sick of losing face So you shake my hand or you can kiss my ass I'm gonna put my foot down, gonna turn up my nose I want you off my back, I want you out of my hair Got it off of my chest (I got no stomach for this) Gonna shake a leg, gonna kick up my heels Cause now I ain't got no-body! SHINE YOUR LIGHT (J. Mattson) Left to my own devices trouble finds me, Seeks me out, surrounds my house Ignoring your advice is how it finds me, Points me out, floods my house All around me warning signs and flashing lights While feet turn into miles, the days turn into nights While arrows of conceit are whistling past my ear My head retrieves the words my heart refused to hear: CHORUS: SHINE YOUR LIGHT around me, Help me find my way Throw me your rope (I'm ready) I hope it's not too late I'm tired of walking alone, I'm ready to dance And I hope from that look in your eye that I still have a chance I hope I still have a chance This path I walk is sinking-built on quicksand, Shifting earth, crumbling stone The price for solid thinking-set in quicksand For what it's worth, I bear alone Her manner was inviting, her face ghostly white She offered me an apple (and I took a bite) And now I dance with lightning and will face the heat I'll carve these words in stone and lay them at your feet: Corrupted by illusion-dime store drama, Sleight of hand, exotic dance I just blamed it on confusion-born of trauma, Fog and sand, hypnotic trance With eyes shut tight and bated breath I count to ten Then open just to find the beast is back again And I curse the reckless pride that left me deaf to you And now my turn has come to pray my words get through to you: MOTHER FOUND A GUN (J. Mattson, J. Markard) MOTHER FOUND A GUN in the possession of her son And she was the one he was trying to kill And now instead of dying she's lying there and crying CHORUS: Wondering- Where is the love they had? It's gone, gone, gone Where has the love they had gone? Brotherly and sisterly-ignoring blatant mystery Of the who, what, where, when, why and how Though pressure was extreme, we did not yell or scream BRIDGE: Time has passed out its share of memories (Look at me) feeling awful My life's own comedy seems so unlawful Two faces look away (can't see eye to eye) I can't see either way (oh why, oh why?) Why turn and walk away? Why just turn and walk away? Is there nothing left to do but walk away? Now instead of crying I'm merging forth and trying To show that I have somewhere to go And mother she is wandering and brother still is floundering For so, so, so long now, For so, so, so long HOODOO (K. Black) Way past midnight and my baby ain't at home The sun is comin' up, her light just be comin' on So I pick up the telephone, shaking with every ring Waiting for her voice but all I get is that damn machine I got a bad feelin' there's some Hoodoo goin' on So I went to the gypsy and she dealt me the ace of spades Handed me a hangman card holding a broken heart She gave me a mojo hand and a black cat bone, she said, "You're gonna need these son, If you want to keep on keeping on" I got a bad feelin' there's some Hoodoo goin' on I got a bad feelin' there's some Hoodoo goin' on NOT QUITE ENOUGH (R. Barraco, J. Markard) Sometime we will move Some time to stare A package of clothes, a head of hair And all that we leave this deport day Is what all the lies will blow away And we know all the rewards we conjure up Only show fool's how to sleep in peace Fortune, dreams and luck Chorus: And we'd do anything just to fall in love No matter what cost We will pay the dealer off What is now Is NOT QUITE ENOUGH Sometime we will land Some time to dare But what will we find when we get there? Imagine the words that we might say When all's said and done another day Can we grow in empty rooms coated in the dust? Do you know others who take their time And paint the dismal up? Bridge: The set that faces me is cast with strangers A short cut to the edge of my world Sightseeing again BLINDING LIGHT (J. Mattson) Staring at the screen perform its sacrificial rite, It sparks and hisses in violent light and sound Then the faded anthem plays, once the preacher says goodnight. to you who once were lost but now are found. And when I lay me down to sleep, those images remain, Emblazoned on the canvas of my mind. Even in the twilight realm of my dreams I feel their rein Ghosts of what I thought I'd left behind CHORUS: And I can't sit too long in one place I need my daily dose of surprise And I can't see what I once saw Everyday a little piece of me dies And I've got to have a change of pace, another view, a change of place Before I can say that I'm alright Conceived in an age of unrelenting science So far, so fast, so much, so bright, so loud From the moment I was born I never felt the touch of silence Just one more hand, swallowed by the crowd BRIDGE: And I can't pay attention I spent it all so long ago So leave me, if you need to But turn on the T.V. when you go My eyes won't focus, my brain is numb I try to speak but thoughts won't come So how can I say that I'm alright? LAY YOUR LOVE (D. Diamond, W. Capozzi) Still dancing in the spotlight's heat Still dancing in the spotlight, girl Still feeling what the music says Still playing with the same ol' melody You're driving in the fast lane's world You're driving in the fast lane, girl You're faking what you used to feel You're going through the motions everyday CHORUS: LAY YOUR LOVE Lay your love upon me Shine your light Shine your light down on me Still cryin' all those bitter tears Still cryin' over lost years, girl Still fooling all the people that you know Still rocking with the same ol' song and dance You're running through the cold rain's fall You're running through the cold rain, girl You're blinded by what you cannot see You're blinded by the visions in your mind HOMESICK (D. Diamond/J. Markard) CHORUS: I need to go out, Help me find the door that big cold handle that I'm headed for I'm Homesick, it's a fault of my own So Homesick and I can't get home Where is the bright boy? He's always got joy In extra abundance-toy after toy He brings me comfort Just the touch of his hand Is a mile-long campfire in a gold mine of sand Where is the fine man Who lights up the night? He makes down girls fly and he tightens things tight He shoots all the wisecracks With the wink of his eye He is the guy, he is the guy BRIDGE: If I could sublet my expectations And cast my fears off on long vacations I might just have some peace of my own Well, who really knows, who really knows?
WARM HEART (J. Mattson, J. Markard) A heart has no soul to her, it's just an appliance There's no art to her love, she has it down to a science. We met once by coincidence and fell into a dirty ditch I thought I'd make the best of it through arbitrary eyes Chorus: You can paint by numbers it won't impress me In your shut eye slumber the colors you see May toss you and turn you uncomfortably While I rest in peace with a warm heart for you I'm keeping my heart warm for you, for you A heat rash in a cold war with an uncontrolled fire A stem without the flower end pretends to be desire I wrestled with the best of her got bloodied in the end I gave my life a bend and held my observations high Bridge: And she says that time is money and that money buys her fame And she wants to be rich and live up to her name And she thinks that gold will buy her a life without pain But the truest of fortunes is love The kind handed down from above This automatic pilot pointed downward for a landing This woodworker took a nap while circular sanding I found an empty bottle in a hole a dog had dug I placed it near her mug she'll drink alone now in the morning WHERE YOU WANT TO BE (D. Diamond, W. Capozzi) Giving up my freedom, living without romance Give 'em what they're needing, make them dance Open up a moment, spoken but without words Smoking like a fine blend, quench their thirst Taking all that's given, making out like bandits Layin' down the rhythms, nature's gift Skipping round the reasons , slipping without falling Tripping on the media, make 'em sing Chorus: I travel onward and never look back I leave you sittin' here in my tracks I'm no leader but if you follow me I'll take you where you want to be Goin' through the motions, knowin' that it's alright Throwin' out emotion to make their night Skipping round the reasons, slipping without falling Tripping on the meaning to make them say WHO ARE YOU (R. Barraco) Who you think you're talking to now One of your friends you're talking so loud? You've had your troubles and I've had mine You must be joking, you're wasting my time Chorus: Who are you really and what were you before If she can stand it so can I Bridge: You can't fly on one wing, you can take it from me But Lord I'm so dry so what's it to you I'm longing and I'm falling Please give no pain dear momma now I guess you think it's up to me now Your hand or my hand no answers are found You've got nothing cause nothing is what You've got no one cause I'm on the run GOIN' DOWN SLOW (J. Mattson) Where holy elders speak in tongues that no one understands Where men of faith are cataloging every grain of sand Where enough's enough and done is done, the sweetest songs are still unsung I hear you callin' I hear you callin', callin' me. Where what is real is judged to be by men with hardened hearts Where all the acting men in charge have not rehearsed their parts Where all the beds remain unmade the best of plans are yet unlaid I hear you callin', I hear you callin', callin' me. Chorus: Goin' down slow, where your shadow walks one step ahead Goin' down slow, where the living walk among the dead Goin' down slow, where strange waters flow Where here and now's a place and time that you may never leave Where all you give is twice as much as all that you receive Where a summer day can last a year, love came upon a midnight clear I hear you callin', I hear you callin', callin' me. THAT'S ALL (J. Mattson) Reeling from three non-stop months on the road She caught me off guard with no warning at all I had sailed home triumphant my army behind me Just to loose footing on her threshold and fall Stunned into silence by the flash and the fury As she paints me a picture of a love left alone A river of anger flooding all that's before her And now I shall reap from the seeds I have sown Chorus: And now she's seen the bottom of too many glasses Took too many cues from the words, “Last Call” She's been in the punch line of too many stories Finally come 'round to saying, “That's all, that's all, that's all, that's all” Finally come 'round to saying, “That's all” Drinking for her helped smooth out the rough edges Blunting the jab of a pointed remark Dimming the lights on the constant reminder That when all's said and done she's left alone in the dark And try as she would to drown out all her sorrows Sooner or later they'd come up for air And one day, I guess her own mirror showed her A face that was losing, it was worse for the wear Now the years have left wounds that homecomings won't tend to Champagne cannot quench a thirst of love left alone Weary and beaten from her hoping and coping And now I shall reap from these seeds I have sown DOWN THE ROAD (K. Black, K. McCool) Just because I love you That don't mean you can jive me around Baby just because I love you That don't mean you can jive me around Use up that last chance Down the road I'm gone You can beg the Lord for mercy Plead with me to come on home You can beg the Lord for mercy Plead with me to come on home Use up that last chance Down the road I'm gone. Bridge: You know I love you baby I'll give you anything you need You even want my blood babe I wouldn't stop myself from bleeding. CALLIOPE (R. Barraco) Pieces of poetry litter the floor Muse of the blues raps at the door Close it behind you Calliope Close it behind you Calliope Chorus: Call on me Calliope My head aches with the pain of prying Call on me Calliope Easy with you little trying Tortured meaning dissected dead Lies there and bleeding on the bed A cold cadaver my child of heart A cold cadaver my child of heart Bridge: Calli when the dog star reigns, it will pour from me Calli when the dog star reigns, it will pour CALL OF THE WILD (R. Barraco, J. Markard) What is it I'm searching for Answers that won't leave me torn The wind has knocked me down before Reminding me of names I've worn Am I right or am I wrong? Am I weak or am I strong? Can I carry you along? I've been called to go And now what I don't know is where the rush, where the rush is taking me Chorus: Call of the wild and a wasted land that my fore fathers dwelled in Call of a child can't replace it Song of the wild and a wasting wind Watch my pace a show for sure From time to time I can hear more I change direction at the shore Knowing that I'm wanting more Avoiding sink or swim, I'm ready to jump in I'd like to have you come along But I've been called to go And now what I don't know is where the wave, where the wave will carry me Bridge: This life has a hold on me , and spirits taking over Underneath my roof of pain, the spirit's taking over SAY THAT I AM (J. Mattson, B. Koral) One toast for liberty, two toasts for luck Trapped in the world's tension Dance with the dagger, romance with the buck Grasping in vain for what's real It's too hot to handle, to hard to hold The world is screaming in whispers Your hand's on the pedal, your foot's in control It's a crazy dizzy old wheel Chorus: But I want to be someone who believes we can go on, Inside of and in spite of roads that lead on Won't you say, Say that I am, Say That I am We walk in the shadows, straining for light Though some say there's none to be found here Let faith be my candle and burn through my life Reveal what I'm hoping to see I've wandered across someone, a-twist in the wind His hand held the tragic finale His head is rocking and rolling in time With the menacing sky Watch them fall, one and all. Watch them fall, one and all Tell me my fortune, tell with some truth Make sure these words I can live by Tell me a story, one from my youth Tuck me in with my dreams. Back to A Love Surreal
EILAT (J. Mattson, B. Koral) Traveling the world preserving your own terms Deny your past so you are free Strike up with rich and strong willed girls Held not by love but gravity Chorus: And ooh, it sounds Like you're passing on your rounds When you're taking up with me And your idea of reigning as the queen of queer Will end its course with me. Oh, Eilat. Girl meets girl, girl dumps her for the world A Charming tale for nursery You wanted it all thrown down at your heels But all you got rid of was me
A Love Surreal 1. Eilat 4:16 2. Warm Heart 11:39 3. Where You Want To Be 5:26 4. Who Are You? 3:27 5. Goin' Down Slow 11:48 6. That's All 4:33 7. Down the Road 3:42 8. Calliope 5:01 9. Call of the Wild 8:04 10.Say That I Am 5:01
Shaking Off the Weirdness1. Talk of the Town 8:32 2. Light of Life 5:52 3. All Night Long Blues 2:33 4. Waiting for a Sign 4:10 5. Sleepwalking 7:10 6. Last Ten Years 5:15 7. The One 7:22 8. No One Said It'd Be Easy 4:25 9. High Horse 9:45 10.The Dean Street Mess Around 3:12
Talk of the Town (J. Mattson, J. Markard) I brought my check to the teller, She smiled and took it from me And what she handed me, Oh boy, I wish you could see. Then I continued my journey, I bought a brand new TV And then I thought to myself, “Hell, I could have bought three!” And life just seems very easy. The waves and gestures of welcome Are filling the air with a flowering, Hours of showers, the confetti of foreign men, Who tell me that the struggle is over You're the Talk of the Town. Now I can make my own record. One time that felt like a dream, But now my fortune has funded A full head of steam. And when they come for donations You'll see me shell out the green. My generosity's over When my pockets are clean. Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
Light of Life (K. Black) Instrumental Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
All Night Long Blues (T. Circosta) My babe stays with me all night long Stays with me all night long. She's crazy for me, crazy for me and she Stays with me all night long. I wake the day and I work in the evening So I could sleep in the morning. My baby's away, all of the day but she Stays with me all night long. Playtime is always the right time. That's what my friends always say. My babe she quits her job on the weekend So she can see me sing the night away. Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
Waiting for a Sign (K. Black, K. McCool) Caught inside this spinning wheel, Waiting for a change. The sun could rise and set a thousand times, Some things never change. Yet the road keeps going like the river winds, Drawn to a dream that just wasted all your precious time. I know you're waiting for a sign. Life goes on without you. You've got to free yourself to fly, Leave that world behind you now, that world behind you now. Brick by brick the walls came down, Leaving you exposed To heartache and sorrow, the likes you've never known. Though it makes you stronger, years will come and go. You can hide the hurt, but those scar's still gonna show Caught inside this spinning wheel, waiting for a change. Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
Sleepwalking (J. Mattson) I missed the parade, it went down my street, And all I heard was the fading beat Of a drummer who beat the cadence of a song of bitter regret. Well, play me that song for it has no end While I pray to the Lord for Him to send A wind to ring the bells that peal a song of second chance. Have I slept through the rising of the sun? Or do I wander aimlessly like a fool in the dark all alone? Walking in dreams and waiting for light, And hoping for the vision to make it alright I'm Sleepwalking again. Well, gather ye rosebuds while ye may For you may nevermore stand this way In this garden among the vines that climb into the sky. Or with both feet anchored in a raging stream That joyously splashes toward your sacred dream. Lay down, and let that graceful water carry you away. Well, I've been at arms length from my elusive grail, My tireless quest which I must not fail. So close and yet so far ('cause almost doesn't count). So easily distracted that my hands were tied, I thought I could have had it if I really tried. But too late I saw its last light slowly fading out of sight. Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
Last Ten Years (T. Circosta) Ten years later I stand alone Beatin' my brain for a rock and roll song. I guess everybody's gonna wait and see If I'm just finally gonna be with me. With me, with me I don't know why but she had to go Can't say how but she had to know. The winter mornings seem to freeze Memories gone with the breeze They're gone, memories are gone. Off to the coast where I needed to go That's where I found what I needed to know. The miles we drove were fast, Movin' on to pick up the past, And find me a love like the last ten years, While the music can dry my tears. Next year that won't happen to me Time will tell how I need to be. Hittin' the road I vow my deed To pick up the life that I used to lead. The life, that I used to lead. Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
The One (J. Mattson) A tiny light In shadows burned A pale reflection of warmth returned. He would not see He would not hear He walked in darkness made blind by fear. Years blow away like dust and ashes. A glimpse of love like lightning flashes, oh. I can see it so clear, look without fear You were the one, Always the one. In darkest night He made his way Until the darkness turned into day. His oats were sown Wild days behind A well-worn pathway, his own design. Fearless at arms length from salvation. I failed to read this invitation, oh. But I can see it so clear, now that you're here You were the one, Always the one. The truth was there, you only had to see it. Your dream of love, you only had to be it. Just be it. Unbound to earth Through dreams we fly Aloft on breezes that never die. Windows and doors All fall away All chains are broken, no debt to pay. Her ancient words now rang like thunder. Their simple truth once dragged me under, oh. But I can see them so clear, look without fear You were the one. And I can see it so clear, now that you're here That you were the one, Always the one. Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
No One Said It'd Be Easy (K. Black) Lately I've been tryin' to find just a little peace of mind. But every time I turn around it's gone, gone, gone. It's funny how time slips away. Tomorrow becomes yesterday and the dreams we have today can fade away. Nothing is easy. Nothing is free. Only you can make your life what you want it to be. No one said it'd be easy No one said it'd be easy. It's a long hard road Full of twists and hairpin turns. No one said it'd be easy. It's a long hard road. A lesson to be learned. No one said it'd be easy. All this talk about love is confusing enough. It's something that we'll never understand. Just when you think you've got it licked it gets under your skin. Caught in its grip. An addiction even broken hearts can't kick. Nothing is easy. Nothing is free. Only you can make you life what you want it to be. No one said it'd be easy. Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
High Horse (J. Mattson) He came here to court but his speech was cut short And impaled on a fine point of order. Left with no choice he lowered his voice And laid down his sad heart there before her. “Your highness, I fear, has left you unclear Your eyes cannot see what's before them. They're drained of their light and what's left of your sight Is fogged by the strange air around you.” “Come dismount your high horse and consider the source Of this seismic rift that divides us. Come and peer through the haze of your half-lidded gaze To that place where there's no one besides us.” “Come down off your throne to where it's just us alone And step out of your shrine of pretension. For this crown that you wear is more cross that you bear And you live just to feed its attention.” “Remember a day not so far away When we stood at the edge of the wild. We walked hand in hand, our feet in the sand And saw through the eyes of a child.” “But then you slipped out of range and made the exchange For this mantle of pride you revere. Now your hands are kept clean, your face kept unseen And you've sacrificed warm love for fear”. But she just looked away, not a word did she say And they led him away in his sadness Because he knew down inside if from love she did hide She walked in the shadows of madness. A statue of a hero keeps vigil in the square. No one seems to know the names of those who put it there. Jaw bone thrusting forward, fist thrown in the air But people love a fountain and birds live in its hair. Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
Originally a Zen Tricksters tune debuted December, 1999The Dean Street Mess Around (J. Mattson) Instrumental Back to Shaking Off the Weirdness
from Phil Lesh & Friends- There and Back AgainLEAVE ME OUT OF THIS (J. Mattson, R. Barraco) Little angel on my shoulder Barkin' in my rightmost ear Says “You better walk the line If it's fire that you fear” Little devil on my left And he's diggin' in his heels Says “Forget this straight and narrow jive, Let's talk on how it feels.” But she's a feisty little angel For a creature born of light Says “Take your fork and hit the road 'less you're lookin' for a fight.” By now he's glowing scarlet With his nostrils blowin' steam. And I think I better interrupt Before they start to scream. Chorus Leave me out of this, I never asked for your assistance. Leave me out of this, I walk the path of least resistance. I got a young and sweet thing waitin' So sister Angel, brother Satan Leave me out of this. “Now hold on just a minute.” I said “I've seen enough, Arguing is one thing But this here's getting rough.” “Now if you folks wanna tussle You can fight until you're dead, But take your battle elsewhere, Please just not inside my head.” Chorus Leave me out of this, I never asked for this attention. Leave me out of this, Won't be the bone of your contention. I see and angel and a demon I hope to God I'm only dreamin' Leave me out of this. Well it seems my little friends Have ignored my pleading lines And in fact my moral fiber Is the last thing on their minds. And it's getting pretty boring Just to listen to them yell. So I'm going back to bed. And they both can go to hell! Chorus Leave me out of this, Pardon me, you're interfering. Leave me out of this, Though your concern is quite endearing. I got a young and sweet thing waitin' So sister Angel, brother Satan Leave me out of this Leave me out of this Leave me out of this Leave me out of this
BACK TO
