Lyrics

Album: The World Doesn’t End

 

Track 1: DIDN’T HE DIE?

 

CALL ME, AND I WILL BE YOUR HAPPY GHOST

CALL ME, AND COTTON WILL COME ROLLING OUT YOUR MOUTH

CALL ME, AND WE WILL BUILD A FAMILY

THE COLD, DARK THING

DIDN’T HE DIE, IN A LAKE

IN A PIT OR A PLANE OR A PLACE WHERE HE’D NEVER GET FREE FROM AGAIN?

DIDN’T WE PUSH AND SHOUT

AND BEAT ALL THE EVIL AWAY INTO POWDER AND MEDICINE?

OUR FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHT AS TEETH

OUR FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHT AS BEDSHEETS

I HEAR YOU: I’VE MADE A COUPLE MAJOR TWEAKS

I DON’T SMOKE NOW. I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL NEVER DIE

I HEARD YOU, CALLING ME WITH FEATHERS OUT YOUR TEETH

THE BROWN BIRD, THE BRIGHT BROWN BIRD THAT BROKE THE WINDOW

DIDN’T SHE STOP, WITH THE SOUND

WITH THE COIL OF WORD ON THE TIP OF THE TONGUE LIKE A PAINTED SNAKE?

DIDN’T SHE CHOKE? DIDN’T SHE SWIM?

DIDN’T SHE DRAG HERSELF OUT OF THE HOUSE AND TO JUST GO DISSOLVE AGAIN?

OUR FUTURE IS LOOKING GOOD AS THROATS

OUR FUTURE IS LOOKING GOOD AS CLENCHING

WHEN WE WERE MARRIED ALL MY HAIR FELL OUT

WHEN WE WERE MARRIED

 

Track 2: THE SUN IS WHITE

 

THE SUN IS WHITE COME, COME, COME PARTY LIKE YOU KNOW

SOMEONE IS TALLYING THE TICK AWAY

AND WHEN SOME THRUST, SOME THIRST FOR KICKING AT THE BEEHIVE COMES

AND DRIVES ALL OF THE FUN AWAY

MY ARMS WILL OUTPACE ALL SMALL DECENCIES

AND PULL YOU JUST TOO ROUGH INTO ANOTHER PLACE

A MOUTH, A TONGUE, AN EYELID STRUGGLING

TO BLINK, TO PARSE, TO SEPARATE, TO FULL-ERASE

I WILL BECOME YOUR SHADOW

AND DRIVE YOU TO YOUR HOME

YOU WILL MAKE NO MISTAKES WITH ME

I’M SOMETHING DRY AND KNOWN

SO WHEN IT COMES TO DUST AND CRYING AT YOUR DOOR

FOR FOOD, FOR MILK AND FOR A TOURNIQUET

I THINK I’VE SAID THIS MUCH, MUCH BETTER IN A SONG

PLEASE PULL THE TRIGGER AND GET OVER IT

I AM A GHOST, A BREATH, A STAIN UPON A MOUTH

A COUGH MISTAKEN FOR A SUICIDE

YOUR HAIR, YOUR MITT, YOUR CUP, YOUR BELLY AND YOUR BREATH

ARE MAGIC PLACES I CAN CRAWL INSIDE

AND WRAP THE FELT AROUND ME

AND NEVER SPEAK AGAIN

TO LET THE AIR COMPOUND, YOU SEE

TO LET ALL VOICES IN

TO MAKE A KIND OF DIAMOND

WITH EVERY PRETTY WORD

TO BE A BRIGHT BLACK ARMOR

TO BE A BRIGHT BLACK WORD

 

Track 3: HEADLIGHTS; MICE-LIKE-SNOWFLAKES

 

I DON’T KNOW WHERE THIS ROAD IS GONNA GO

BUT YOUR NAILS ARE SHARP AND IT’S STARTING TO GET DARK AND I’M YOURS

I CAN’T MOVE, I KNOW MY BODY WON’T APPROVE

BUT YOUR SKIN IS LIKE A LOCK AND THE SKY IS FULL OF CHALK

AND I AM COUNTING DOWN THE BREATH TILL WE DIE

I’D LIKE TO DIG AROUND INSIDE YOU BUT I’M FAR TO SHY

AND THE HOUR’S GETTING LATE, SO THE ROAD IS LIKE A GATE UPON THE SHORES

SO YOU’RE STARTING TO DISSOLVE; IT’S TIME TO HARDEN MY RESOLVE BECAUSE I’M YOURS

SO WE’LL RIDE UNTIL WE’RE NUMB

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT NAME IT IS

WE ARE TOUCHED, WE ARE BRUISED

I SEE HANDS ACROSS A NECK AND A NOOSE AND I WON’T GO BACK TO THAT

PLEASE BE STILL WHILE I TRY TO GET MY FILL

OF THE SUN OVER THE WHEAT. I AM A FIST I AM COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS

YOU WON’T TALK, YET YOU LINGER LIKE YOU WANT ME

TO WASH OFF ALL THE BLOOD AND START OVER; YOU KNOW WHAT

THE LIFE YOU HAD BEFORE YOU MET ME IS GONE

I WOULD TRACK BACK TO THE MOMENT BUT THE STEPS ARE GONE

AND I’M TIRED OF THE DANCE, SO IF YOU’D LIKE TO TAKE A CHANCE ON YOUR OWN

YOU CAN UNDO ME WITH ONE GO: I AM A HUMAN I CAN SHOW YOU THE STONE

THE LIGHT IS STARTING TO COME UP: I WATCH AN ANTHILL SLOW ERUPT ON ALL FOURS

I DESERVE JUST WHAT I GET. YOUR LIPS ARE WET, YOUR FACE IS SHIT AND I AM YOURS.

AND I AM COUNTING DOWN THE BREATH TILL WE DIE

I’D TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT NOW BUT I’M FAR TOO KIND

AND IF YOU’VE NOTHING LEFT TO SAY

I’M PRETTY SURE YOU KNOW THE WAY SO PLEASE GO

I PUT MY RED SELF INTO THIS BUT IF IT’S ME YOU’RE GONNA MISS IT DOESN’T SHOW

AND THE HOUR’S GETTING LATE, SO THE ROAD IS LIKE A GATE UPON THE SHORES

SO YOU CONTINUE TO DISSOLVE; AND ALL I HAVE NOW IS RESOLVE BECAUSE I’M YOURS

SO IF YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE

AND I NEVER GET THE HANG OF THIS

WE ARE FUCKED, WE ARE USED

I SEE SPARKS UPON THE TIP OF A FUSE AND I CAN’T GO BACK TO THAT

 

Track 4: NO TITLE

 

I KNOW A BETTER PLACE THAN THIS

WHERE CLOVER’S ALWAYS GREEN

SO COME OVER

I KNEW YOU WOULDN’T LOSE SO MUCH

OH, THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEAN

COME OVER

I DIDN’T NEED MONEY

SO, ARE YOU ONLY WEALTHY?

BUT I GOT A LITTLE THRILL

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR TIGHT FACE

YOU LOOK A LOCK—YOU LOOK A TAD GUILTY

SO, WILL YOU BE MISSING ME?

AS YOU FINGER AT THE FILL

YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW MY LAST NAME

SO UP AND DIE, SO UP AND SPROUT ANOTHER BEST FRIEND

I SEE NOW: YOU’RE INVINCIBLE

WHO CARES YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A PONY

DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO CRY

I HAD A HOME, I MADE A HOME WITHOUT YOU

SO, GOOD LUCK WITHOUT ME

NO, IT WOULDN’T BE THE MONEY

I’LL PLAY WITH A BUBBLE OF SPIT IN THE MOONLIGHT

I HAVE A TON OF FAMOUS FRIENDS

I’M DOGGY OF THE SCENE

PLEASE COME OVER

NOT TRYING TO BE, NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY

SO, ARE YOU ONLY WEALTHY?

BUT I CAN GUESS AT WHAT THEY MEAN

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR TIGHT FACE

THE EYES ARE RED, THE NOSE A BIT RUNNY

SO, WILL YOU BE MISSING ME?

IT’S SUCH A STRUGGLE TO BE CLEAN

YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW MY LAST NAME

SO UP AND DIE, SO UP AND SPROUT ANOTHER BEST FRIEND

I SEE NOW: YOU’RE INVINCIBLE

WHO CARES YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A PONY

DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO CRY

I BROKE A BONE, MY KNEES ARE ON BACKWARD

SO, GOOD LUCK WITHOUT ME

I CAN SEE HOW THIS IS FUNNY

 

Track 5: THE WORLD DOESN’T END (PART I)

 

PLEASE STOP THE SONG, I DON’T KNOW THIS DANCE

THE EYES GO WHITE BUT THE BREATH IS WARM AND

I AM SURPRISED THAT YOUR BODY DOESN’T DISAPPEAR WHEN YOU DIE

EVEN WITH ALL OUR CHARM, WE CAN’T MAKE THE JUMP

WHEN YOU THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND AND BUMP UP

ALL OF THE HAPPINESS YOU FISH OUT OF YOUR DRAWER

ALL OF THE HAPPINESS ‘CAUSE HAPPINESS IS MORE LIKE

SOMETHING YOU COULD ALWAYS DO FOR ME

WHEN I GOT TIRED ALWAYS CLEANING UP THE SAME THING:

YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL IT’S TRUE BUT SO IS TURNING OFF A LIGHTBULB

YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL IT’S TRUE BUT SO IS BREATHING

SO NOW YOU’RE BROKEN. IT’S EMBARRASSING

BUT YOU GOT TIRED ALWAYS TELLING ME THE SAME THING:

I’M BEAUTIFUL IT’S TRUE BUT SO IS CHEWING OFF YOUR LIPS

I’M BEAUTIFUL IT’S TRUE BUT SO IS FALLING

AND I TRIED SO HARD TO MAKE A GOOD MOOD

BUT I GOT TIRED ALWAYS CHEWING UP THE SAME FOOD

SO I AM SHOCKED THAT YOUR BODY DOESN’T DISAPPEAR WHEN YOU DIE

AND I WAS SO SWEET TO FAKE A GOOD MOOD

BUT I GOT LONELY ALWAYS SWALLOWING THE SAME FOOD

I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOUR BODY DOESN’T DISAPPEAR WHEN YOU DIE

I TRIED SO HARD TO MAKE THE WORDS TRUE

BUT I GOT TIRED ALWAYS SHITTING OUT THE SAME FOOD

I REALLY NEED THAT YOUR BODY DOESN’T DISAPPEAR WHEN YOU DIE

 

Track 6: THE WORLD DOESN’T END (PART II)

 

DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES, DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES

YOU ARE A DUMB ONE. YOU ARE A WONDERFUL THING

DONKEY OUT THE BEDROOM DOOR

DO WHAT I ASK YOU TO

LIFE WILL NEVER BE SO CLEAR AGAIN

DO WHAT I ASK YOU TO

SAY IT, BE THE TEETH IN MY BLEED

I AM ASKING YOU TO CARE

SILENCE, TEXTURE, GLOSS

REJECT THE VOICE BEHIND YOUR VOICE

DOESN’T GIVE A SHIT, BUT GIVES A DOLLAR

DIAMOND CHOKE-CHAIN THEN HE DOESN’T CALL HER

FOR A WEEK OF CLOUDS, A WEEK OF DYING

THIMBLE FULL OF MEDICINE! HIT THE COUNTER FOR THE WIN!

AND THEN HE HAS A FIT. HE’S GOT A POINT, THOUGH:

SHARE THE SAME FRIENDS, NO PLACE TO GO

CRYING TO THE MIRROR—THAT’S NOT YOUR OWN FACE

GOOGLE HOW TO DRESS AND WISH THERE WERE ANOTHER PLACE

TO DRAG YOUR LITTLE FEET ACROSS A CARPET

WATCH SOME TV, BODY FULL OF TAR, BUT

WASN’T THERE A WORD, A CERTAIN DANCE

THAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FRIEND, HER SPIRIT GOT ANOTHER CHANCE.

(YOUR > HER > HIS > YOUR)

SAY YES

TILL HER BODY CAN’T PROVIDE

TILL INSTEAD OF BLOOD IT’S POWDER

TILL THERE’S NOTHING LEFT TO HIDE

TILL YOU CAN’T LIVE ANY LOUDER

IF YOU CAN MANAGE JUST A WORD

IF YOU CAN MANAGE JUST A REAL LOOK

BUT IT’S SUDDENLY ABSURD

BUT IT’S SUDDENLY THE HOLES BOOK

SO YOU CAN BREAK MY BIRDY BONES

YOU CAN REARRANGE THE HELIX

YOU WILL NEVER BE ALONE

I AM ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO FIX

YOU WILL NEVER BE ALONE

 

Track 7: THIS ISN’T IT

 

IT ISN’T THE CAR

IT ISN’T THE MONEY THAT YOU’VE MADE

OR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT YOU’RE SAYING THAT YOU ARE

IT ISN’T THE LIE

IT ISN’T THE WAY YOU TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN

OR THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS SCRIPTING YOUR REPLIES

IT ISN’T WAKING UP WITH MILK UNDER YOUR NAILS

IT ISN’T CHOAKING DOWN A PILL WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS

IT ISN’T WAITING OUT YOUR TIME INSIDE A CELL

IT ISN’T SLEEPING OUT THE DAY

IT ISN’T DRINKING OUT THE DAY

THIS ISN’T IT

IT ISN’T THE PLAN

IT ISN’T THE TOOTHY RIGID GRIN

IT’S NOT THE TIE AROUND YOUR NECK OR IN YOUR HANDS

IT ISN’T THE LOSS

IT ISN’T SPECIFYING THE TERMS

IT ISN’T OVERPAYING THE KID

IT’S NOT THE COST

IT ISN’T FLASHES OF A CHEST WITHOUT A SHIRT

IT ISN’T HIDING FROM THE DOCTOR WHERE YOU HURT

IT ISN’T GUESSING AT A FACE

IT ISN’T FALLING INTO PLACE

THIS ISN’T IT

 

Track 8: YOU WILL HAVE TO KILL ME

 

I MADE A MEAL OF CHALK AND FIRE

FOR THE TWO OF US BUT WHILE YOU’RE

CHEWING I SEE STRANDS OF MEAT

I SEE THE END COMPLETE, I SEE

THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO KILL ME

YOU LOVE ME LIKE A BEAR LOVES WINTER

LOVE ME LIKE A KNIFE SO SEND YOUR

HAND INTO MY QUIET GUT

UNRAVEL FROM THE LOOSE THREAD

UNTIL YOU’RE SURE THAT I AM DEAD

BECAUSE I DRINK WITH WINGS I SLEEP AROUND

I COERCE PLEASURE FROM THE DOUBT

SO IF YOU WANT TO LOVE AGAIN

YOU WILL HAVE TO KILL ME

SAVE YOURSELF THE SENSELESS GAUZE

OF WAKING EACH DAY IN THE JAWS

OF SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER LOVE

YOUR ENERGY OF BREATHING

THAT SEES YOU AS A MUTE THING

BUT IT’S EASIEST TO KEEP YOU HERE

ENJOYING THE ATTENTION DEAR

I’LL NEVER HAVE THE WILL TO SAY

THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO KILL ME

SO YOU WILL HAVE TO KILL ME

 

Track 9: UNICORN

 

DON’T HOLD ME, DON’T TOUCH IT, DON’T CLEAN AND DON’T WATCH

I WANT NOISE. I WANT VENOM AND LIGHT

SURVIVORS WILL TELL YOU IT’S NOT LOVE THAT FILLS YOU

IT’S FOOD AND IT’S BLOOD AND IT’S NIGHT

I BOUGHT SOME BRIGHT NEW CLOTHES

PLEASE LAY THEM OUT ON TOP OF ME

PLEASE RIG A NEST OF MIRRORS SO I CAN PUZZLE OUT A LOOK

SO WE MADE IT THROUGH THE FALL

AND WE MADE IT THROUGH YOUR BROTHER’S THING

WELL, CALL ME SUPERSTITIOUS BUT THE PLANET LOOKS SO GREY

SO WAKE UP, IT’S EVENING THE SHADES ARE ALL DRAWN

MILKY HEAVEN, A HOSPITAL GOWN

YOU LOOK LIKE MY DAUGHTER IF SLEEP HADN’T GOT HER

LIKE SEA LIFE OR WRIST-WATCH OR DOWN

DAVID, BENJI, TILLY, COLIN AND MARIE, I AM HAPPY

I’M SPITTING UP TEETH

 

Track 10: THREE LITTLE DEVILS

 

THREE LITTLE DEVILS, AND THAT’S WHAT I SAY

THREE LITTLE DEVILS JUMPED OVER THE WALL

INTO THE WINDOW AND MURDERED THEM ALL

THREE LITTLE DEVILS WENT OVER THE WALL

THREE LITTLE DEVILS WERE DEVILS TODAY

THREE LITTLE DEVILS AND DEVILS I SAY

THREE LITTLE DEVILS WERE DEVILS TODAY

THREE LITTLE DEVILS, AND WHAT DID THEY SEE

THREE LITTLE DEVILS, THE DEVIL WAS ME

THREE LITTLE DEVILS, AND DEVILS DO SAY

THEE LITTLE DEVILS WERE DEVILS TODAY

THREE LITTLE DEVILS, AND THAT’S WHAT I KNOW

THREE LITTLE DEVILS, AND WHAT DID THEY SHOW

 

 

Album: Because I Am Always Talking

Track 1: Because I’m Always Talking

The door is locked; I’ve said a curse to keep it shut.
My brother’s safe; my brother’s body will stop breaking.

I really didn’t plan to find each foot in front of every other.
I really didn’t plan to find my father’s ropy arms at such a special cant.

The blade goes dull because I’m always talking.
My teeth fall out; I find myself asleep again.

The walls have changed: they make themselves of stone instead of plaster.
Become a faun, become a thing that changes shape.

I didn’t really think about the time I’d spend away from being human.
I didn’t really think about the chance of living somewhere past my teens.

I don’t need food, now, because I’m always talking.
I don’t need air or warmth, because the car can drive itself.
I don’t need water: my cells are bricks in cubby holes.
I don’t need memory: my tongue reads like a book.

Track 2: The Water Kept Coming

Your nose was a smear of blue upon the page:
such whiskers, such clean water pours out.
The earth grows grass like bodies grow a song, or a letter or a word.
The earth grows grass like money grows a family tree.

I had a dream love, where fingers were the way to be.
Your shirt was made of wool; your gloves were made of cotton.
The island drank us up—the island became something new.
The island drank us up.

Track 3: It’s Funny

It’s funny how the charcoal makes the water clean,
soaking up the little bits of evil from the thing.

It’s starting to make daylight:
the pinprick in my head and spine are faintly glowing.
It’s starting to make sense now: the helices of Percoset and bits of mind.

I came out here with you because we both agree,
to wallow in the char and kelp is really to be free.
I’m happy that you’re trying—
I’m happy that you brought the food that we will eat here.

The setup on the rock, the pathos flitting in the weave,
our seven-doallar tablecloth, it’s periodic breathing:
I had never thought to come here;
I always hated outings till there were plans to go.

You brace your elbows in the sand
and I control my distant hands with puppeting skill.
It’s funny how your glassy eyes reflecting off the silver sky
could see anything worth making them work.

The plumb and vicious slip of skin, the cool abrasive lock:
my chin is tucked behind your shoulder.
I am breathing up the ground.
You are pretending not to notice that curt, halting, grunting sound.

I fake kissing you.
I fake noises someone else has maybe made.
I think hardly of when your father died.

The feeling of our cleaning up is something like a dream.
I float over the basket and start filling up the thing with honey and water,
with shit from the seagulls stowed away.
I claw and I drop things; I kick some blue animal, a stray.
I snap bits of wicker; I’d love to be glad we came.

Track 4: I Had A Kid

I had a kid to keep the family quiet for a while.
We bathed it, you and I, on our white kitchen’s only-tile.

Is it so obvious? I hope to breathe diamonds soon.
I won’t be long: I hope to find gold there.

So what if we are keeping warm this useless pitch of skin?
It’s coming clear the thing and I are gunning for a win.

Put on your red coat: we’re going out tonight.
I’ve made some money, and we will spend it drinking.

I had a kid to keep the family growing, understand,
that now I see my body nest obscenely in the plan.

Is it so obvious? I want to breathe better air.
I love my family like I love growing business.

Track 5: Old Crow

Old Crow, with unclean maw, I left a note, I sloughed a body.
Please don’t wonder where I’ve gone: the city’s wide; it has clean hands.

In the trunk I kept my clothing; in a sleeve I left some gold.
Buy a houseboy, buy a TV, get new sinks.
I am working for a factory.

The same beak in every well: bits of food upon my fingers.

See this white shirt, with a paling stripe; I’ve become a better person.
See this sweatband, slender food; the city is a fortune.

Old Crow, with lovely feet, I haven’t got a stitch to wear.
I would go out, but every step blooms animals.

Track 6: Odd Exchange

This funny ignorant life:
The squeeze of the laundry;
the dip of your smallish hands.

Desire, oh desire: rigid and dumb, and gut by the real thing.

This odd exchange: a trade like a perfect noise,
not an appropriate way, in wet sock.

Track 7: Quite

It isn’t safe, but it’s not sorry; the gas is growing crystals in the lungs.
It’s not bad, but it’s not perfect: maybe this is just a trial run.

Is this my house? Do I own free weights?

I am a fucking man, my chromosome’s a forked tongue.
It’s my garage: it’s my gas, my car, my time, and my enclosure.

Don’t be last, and don’t be lonely. See a special kind of timing in the leap.
Don’t be cruel, don’t be annoying, don’t sell yourself short.

Is this my ring? I must have four kids.
The dimpled plastic roof is not quite yellow.
Are these my hands? They look like trees choked out by vines.

Is this my breath? It’s more like gun-smoke?
Two fingers pulling greasily at chicken.
Is that the sun? It looks too sharp and clean:
a bubble filling endlessly with air.
Is this my friend? It feels to forced for that.

It isn’t wrong, but it’s not quite right.
Now living feels like whispering at night.
I have a couch, I have a TV now.

Track 8: You Love Me

You love me, even if my body’s laughable.
Even if my body’s break tends to make this awful spraying sound.

You love me, even if my humor’s angry.
Even if I am an only son, the chosen one to soak up your support.

You love me, even if I am a fool for you.
Even if I love to fight, and tonight, well I have made such funny plans.

You love me, even if we have been here before,
laid out leaking on the bathroom floor, leaking anything but like.

You love me, and I wish you would get smarter soon.
Oh, I wish you’d poison every room, so I could take my perfect form.

Track 9: Frog Went A-Courtin’

Froggie went a courting and he did ride
With a sword and a pistol by his side

Ki-mo-ke-mo ki-mo-ke

Way down yonder in a hollow tree
An owl and a bat and a bumble bee
King kong kitchie kitchie ki-me-o

He rode ’til he came to miss mousie’s door
And there he knelt upon the floor

He took miss mouse upon his knee
And he said little mouse will you marry me

Miss mouse had suitors three or four
And there they came right in the door

They grabbed mr. frog and began to fight
In the hollowed tree it was a terrible night

Mr. frog brought the suitors to the floor
With the sword and the pistol he showed all four

They went to the park on the very next day
And left on their honeymoon right away

Now they live far off in a hollow tree
Where they now have wealth and children three

Album: Oh, Light

Track 1: After Bonnie Beecher
(instrumental)

Track 2: I Shot an Apple Off Her Head

These shoes are new, these shoes are ways to talk to you—
and on my face, a little smear of icing.
The sun could be more out; my teeth could be much warmer—
and still this pit of dread: it’s summer.

Oh, little prince, who’s happy in a desk-chair! Oh, evil kid,

I’ve made a secret car, a face in every window,
a hand upon the seat, a knee upon the seat.
Oh, pain! Oh, little button that kills me.
Oh, pain, oh, magic button.

These fists are jewels, these fists could dig a shelter.
Windy days: a splinter in each knuckle.
My face could be more snub; my eyes could be much brighter,
and still the gem of hair, the gem of fingers.

Oh, little light, eking out a tunnel! Oh, ways to be.

Track 3: Scrappy

If death-sweats mean that much to you, the ghostly folk you keep for cold
can sing and do their best—god knows we’re happy trying.
I’d hate to think that all these paper roses I spit up were wasted.

Funny, the angels in the songs were always fiercely white and strange,
that the girl in every part had something over-awful.
He has special powers, he can even nail both hands up;
he’s got help in others, bodies, lovely, flowy armies.
I’d hate to think that all these paper roses I spit up were wasted.

I can’t believe that such a ratio could be spent.
There is some way that by a pressing I restart the thing;
there is some lever I can crank to pull my skin back tighter;
there is a powerful machine to fill the holes inside my bones and teeth.
I’d hate to think that all these paper roses I spit up were wasted.

The times we spent laid back and soaking up another’s chlorine,
it’s worth the little fits and starts and silly happy endings.

Track 4: Laid Out

Laid out and winking, running my own hand over my own skin;
oh, to be the object again.

Hands down, a lovely one. Don’t take this from me.
My own skin, how I love to look at it.

I’m shy, god, don’t judge me, you sick fuck, above—
see, it all fits perfectly.

Track 5: Every Epiphany

Oh, light in my hair, the thoughtless trigger of your thumb,
and the way we caught ash on our tongues.

Track 6: New Life

Since your dip in the cake, the fingers,
rising buoys to the novocain-mouth, like,
isn’t it silly: the drama, the hollow.

Raked special garden of sand,
wet by a trickle of spit from our happy mouths:
this is the year of the new birth. This is the year.

New life: new kinds of oil. New heat: new life.

I found diamonds in my dresser drawer.
Don’t tell anyone—I’m 30; there’s not much time.
Take the cash for a ferry, a hot air balloon.

Just a day now. I’m biding the minutes
till the pressure lets out like a cork.
Oh, brim: secret muscle guarding the soul.

New life: new kinds of oil. New heat: new life.

Track 7: Oi, etc.

Oh, little light, won’t you jump into the seat of my car.
Little light, though you have better things to do.
Snake of hair, running cold across the nape.
The three of us, the three of us—though we have better things to do.

Trick of breath, rasping happy in the lungs. Trick of air. Oh, trick of knowing!

Track 8: Carnival

Come my little ones, I’ve got an angry story:
I got cheated at a carnival—a warehouse of axes to grind.
You know the money that we gave our organs for? Well, that’s all gone,
and the kicker is I’m done too, at the end of this song.

It’s a curse or something; I didn’t listen right. Ask joanna; I just can’t keep up.

Phone your grandparents and tell them that I love their carpet.
It’s something that I’ve never said and god, I hope it doesn’t freak them out.
I haven’t got a lot of words left, let’s see…. Feed the cat, dear—
I would hate for it to gobble you up.

Here’s a thought! Maybe I’ll sing forever like this,
and when I sleep, a dusty bellows for my voice.
I’m just terrified of my silly life. Just terrified.

Track 9: Fox and His Friends

The fellow cut you down—oh no, the subway lights flouresce!
Turned over like a ham: heavy, raw, and sugar-stuck.
And through the day you would have melted like a summer ghost would like;
condense a life of the boredom-fear.

I have clean blood I have clean blood I have clean blood

Foxy little look; a snowy resonance.
Dogs have lots of names. That’s what makes them special.

I have clean thoughts; I lead a clean life. I lead a clean life.

Track 10: I Loved a Girl but She Loved Me

I am waiting, arms across my chest, for you to impress me, dear love.
My fingers are knitting deep into my ribs.
I don’t know how to touch you in other ways.

Track 11: We Give Up

We give up, not to the charismatic leader, but to the theory.

Track 12: Turns Out

Draw a little mouth where the ears should be: I have some bad news.
See, the truck rolled back like a bear, like a good smell.

Turns out I’m sawdust—who would have guessed?
Turns out I’m happy. Oh, the trick of knowing, trickled confidence.
Give me money, give me ways to see
exactly how special this ridiculous pale body could be.
Give me knowledge, give me skills to care.

Dryness so much it could strip off the palette, just slipping an awkward noise.
Darlin’ your sour tongue, collecting the ash. No pretty blood, no upsetting you.

Turns out I’m sawdust—who would have guessed?
Turns out I’m happy. Oh, the trick of knowing, trickled confidence.

Track 13: I Shot Smaller and Smaller Fruits Off Her Head

Go back and dig a magic hole where our great nature was—
I have a feeling everything we’ve done was fun once.
Go back and lay a folded napkin where our hands were,
lay a pile of ash and grapes and what we came here for.

Let’s make a pact that we were swimmers once.
Let’s just agree we made the finals.
Let’s build a monument to all the times we must have had,
and light it up with lanterns and a shadow.

Lately the way the light comes in and singes all the corners
of the room, the hand, the house, the face, the clothing,
it begins to play at the fringe of linen dragging sad along the garden,
as the house picks up to find a cleaner place than this.

Let’s make a monument to memory, as if the home were something other
than sticks and mortar keeping out the rain and murderers.

Of course it is, of course it is, of course it is.

Album: Nightcat

saturday-
let’s start a family to fill up your life on the days when I’m away.
I know (I know, I know, I know) you’ve heard it all,
but still I’d like to think that I tried this once to save you
let’s start a family

life lacks little interlocking plastic crap in yellow red and blue
life lacks something we can throw our lives into

dakota (kota… kota… kota)’s calling me
I know (I know, I know, I know) that it needs me
I know that your mind is not where it needs to be, and somehow mine is
slipping on the hardwood floor
and the baby’s not worth saving
and the doggy’s not worth killing

life lacks little interlocking plastic crap in yellow red and blue
life lacks something we can throw our lives into

bounce-
the kill-christ kid with wooden lungs and sweetheart lips, talcum
tongue, came crawling up to suck my thumb, to suck the vodka off my
pants. I opened up, to let it breathe, to seep the gasses through my
teeth and wiped up supper from my sleeve. the moment finally passes.

my heart, my heart is broken, swinging unchecked, rusty hoses, firing
sweat, smoke, blood, wet roses, vomit, chocolate and heat.

the curly, brown-blond, oily kid bounced up to crack her melon head,
she laughed, rolling one eye, and said, “there’s nothing left here for
me,” so I drink quickly, tuck my teeth behind my dick-suck lips and
leave her loving me, but quietly, there’s nothing left here for me.

my heart, my heart is broken, swinging unchecked, rusty hoses, firing
sweat, smoke, blood, wet roses, vomit, chocolate and heat.

exception/sensitive-
we move inside our clothes
we move inside much bigger things,
you know it proves (it proves, it proves) we’re the exceptions

I like all kinds of books
I like all kinds of movies
*

through the bathroom door, I shouted at her, “let’s go, let’s go,
let’s go!” I’m sensitve (more sensitve than this), most of the time.
I broke a favorite plaything, unfeeling (don’t know what I’d feel. . .).
I’m heavier than I should be.

rooting-
we all want the same things I’m sure; we’re rooting for the fuckups,
and their sloppy way of eating, and their sloppy, happy ways. When
it’s sad, we like to hold it, make it warm and thankful. god, it’s
hard to be alive with everything, when somebody’s crying.

And it’s sad to want to hold them, to think myself to wriggle inside
of them. god, it’s hard to be a human, when I know they’re out there
spreading their patchy, awful inner thighs (they’re beautiful and
they’re ugly and they’re true, right? Anyone who thinks so is a
voyeur and exploitive and a bastard! : )

shooting range-
take me, when I was another, out to the range to shoot with my brother
there, at targets shaped like people, at I-don’t-care.

as we drove back, and I fell asleep in the car, in that way where you
just stop attending, not knowing how far we’d gone or when we’d get
back, I watched the simpsons for a while, and I dreamed I was no
killer.

I would be sorry, if I were sticking around, but at the moment I feel
sorry enough.

all the glasses-
all the glasses, all the glasses, they were clinking
and there were congratulations all around at me
and all the time I wove my fingers rapidly
and tugged all of the stitching from my old black coat.

the time it comes upon us rapidly
the time when we were caught here came up stupidly

celebration, celebration went on all in spite of it
and flames were crawling on all of our velvet shit.
we struck our matches on our lesser friends,,
we struck our matches on our shoeheads

the time it comes upon us rapidly
the time when we were caught here came up stupidly

bad-
it was in the moment of the universal, stinging sense of cold,
that we
felt communion, and in this feeling I was moved

I’ve been bad too fantastically to punish.
I’ve been great to rarely to be punished for this.

we fought on the rooftops, we fought in jeff’s garden’s, we
fought for
a penny. we fought.

(same as above)

I’ve been called a liar, and I’ve come to enjoy it. I’ve been
called
so many things that I’ve come to enjoy.

(same as the first above)

country-
it was a long drive, way out to the country, to stuff acorns
in our mouths and visit local oddities. I stepped out of the
SUV, and a dog came right up to me. I waited till the woman
looked, and kicked at that dog’s tummy. The thing just cocked
its head, and left me. Hard times come down on everybody.

They wanna raise my taxes; the fuckers’re gonna starve my
kids, now. I gotta pay for three cars, and a uniform school, if I
want the things to make about what I do, if I want the things
to suvive. I won’t choke on the acorn, like the book would
have you believe, but it’ll still be bitter.

little animal song-
I was a little bird, living for myself, and everything was dying
to me.

I was a little fish, and all my flippers had gone atrophic. I was
your favorite one.

I was a little dog, and all my fur had come off. Your arms
formed a ring around my stomach like that. Your arms
formed a ring.

the jawbone song-
the (my) body was never so hot than laying stripped down to
nothing in back of your silly van with the seats with fur on
their covers. the body was never so dry but I spit up anyhow,
in spite, perhaps.

the teeth melt down to gum like they were candlesticks, the
gums receded to the jawbone, the jawbone flipped around
worn like a visor.
and the head? it stayed on tight.

every danger is imagined for anyone as lucky as we are, except
the one, and that’s so far off.

The tallest things have tilted over.
My head’s caught between there upper edges, and I am
trapped.
Their corners poke under the softest parts, now.

I am mean, I know it.
I have lived to know the parts that you have liked and yank
them out from under you, but now . . . .

I’m in need. I swear I’m dying, and what’s worse, the schools
that I’ve applied to have accepted me and I just can’t lose that.

remember when we snuck into your parents’ room, and threw
on some of their shit like we were married, and suddenly
when they got home we tore it all off? I tore a seam, I stole
an earring.

We kept our mouths shut, like we knew we should.
Your mother’s lips flapped slower than I thought they could.
Your father, he might have hated you. He might have hit you.

the teeth melt down to gum like they were candlesticks, the
gums receded to the jawbone, the jawbone flipped around
worn like a visor.
and the head? it stayed on tight.