Baby here I sit tryin’ to forget that you forgot me
But my mischievous mind rolls back to you
Broken hearted never heeded what Mama taught me
Never trust that man no matter what you do

But oh, oh I still believe

In my mind’s eye I envision a grand reunion
In slow motion we part the rain
But it’s all a product of overactive imagination
And a happy day in a picture frame

But oh, oh I still believe
Oh, oh you’re coming back for me

How many times till I lay down and die
And how many days till it ends
How many nights must I break down and cry
And how many tears till I fall again

There’s blood in the water
Cancer in the air
Acid in the raindrops
Poison everywhere
Don’t talk to strangers
Don’t hide yourself inside
You’ve got to look before you leap
You never know till you’ve tried

You spend all your time searching for the truth
You’ve got to live your life like you’re bulletproof

You wrestle with this addiction?
Well take this pill you’ll be fine
You’ve got to think outside the box
But stay in the lines
Don’t go out after midnight
Don’t lay in the sun
Why is everything that’s killing me
So much damn fun?

200 miles I’ve been staring down this center line
Trying to catch a glimpse of insight
‘Cause I’ve walked out on other guys
But never left my heart behind
I called from a pay phone just across the county line
To say “Babe I’ve been lookin’ at things from both sides
And I swear we would be alright
If you’d just say to me tonight …”

Come on over
Lay down your weary head
Tonight I’m sober
I can’t take back what’s been said
Come on over
It’s time to make amends
Baby please forgive me ‘cause you’re my last chance at love

Got your call today
It all came rushin’ back like a reckless train
And I could still taste those salty tears pouring down your face
Just like it was yesterday
And now you’re coming back my way

He’s a jukebox junkie
A gamblin’ man
He ain’t got no money
But he got a plan
10 miles up the river
Down a gravel road
Got a 6 string sittin’
On a pot of gold
AO

He’s got a honky-tonk honey
The love of his life
And she can drive that fiddle
Through your heart like a knife
Knows a brother named Bobby
With an axe to grind
Little Tony’s on the drums
Working overtime
AO

It’s been a long, long, long time comin’

We were on our backs in the fresh-laid snow
On the frozen Hudson Bay
Your arms outstretched like an angel’s wings
And your fingers on my face
I float above this image now
Like a ghost of longings past
And see the space between that night and here
Is strewn with shattered glass

I followed you out across the water
I never feared that we’d fall through
Now as I strip you from my memory
It’s days like these I’d like to hold on to

You rolled toward me and pulled me close
Looked at me with hungry eyes
My heart burned and my breathing slowed
As you pressed your lips to mine
Now this picture blurs as you run from me
Never pausing to look back
I lose your scent and the wind kicks up
And covers up our tracks

Push the pills and needles through my veins
It’s all or nothing when you play this game
But when I awake with a clean slate
I want to make the same mistake

December 31st today
Driving down old 78
The snow has slowly turned to rain
Can’t recall where I’m going
All these talk shows on TV
And suddenly it’s clear to me
Abandon all humanity
Or go out and find it again

I’ve been living a life so much smaller than myself
These invisible ties they just hold me down
Well here’s my resolution –
Not any more

A dying woman’s wish for me
Was to celebrate diversity
Taste the salt of seven seas
Never live with regret
Gonna spin the globe, see where I land
One way ticket in my hand
Gonna try my luck in Ketchikan
Seward’s folly’s fine with me

I’ve been living a life so much smaller than myself
Take a breath; look around at this gold rush town
It’s my evolution
I wanted more

She used to call you babe
Now she won’t even speak your name
And that long walk you took six years ago along the Beach Road Pier
Never saw it ending here
Hush the devil in your head
To satisfy the undead
All your shallow friends with their simple plans to get her off your mind
Such a waste of time

Oh your lonely fall from grace
Way too late for saving face
Tangled and drowning in your fate
In your fall from grace

Such a high class drunk
Only the finest Merlots grace your tongue
But no $50 Pinot nor the cheapest Chardonnay
Could ever drown your pain

Avoid that Chinese restaurant with your table in the back
That antique bookstore where you kissed her in the stacks
You let your idle mind conjure up her face
And memories come tumbling after

We stood in the lamplight
But darkness crossed your face
Long shadows as you walked away
But now the river waters rise
And the high tide bid you stay
When you returned to me from outer space

You came lookin’ for forgiveness
But I’m not askin’ you to explain

You’ve come a long way tonight
A long way tonight
A long way tonight
Down to earth from off in the satellites
You’ve come a long way tonight
A long way tonight
A long way tonight
From the end to the start to where it feels just right

You look out the window
And you try to hide the pain
Of a long forgotten yesterday
You whisper, “look how fast the willow grows,
“but how long does it take
“for a man to figure out this game”

Well if it’s any consolation
All your tomorrows start today

Well I never asked you to save me
And all the hell I put you through
But you kept hanging around like a bad habit
And now I’m addicted to you
I went down kicking and cursing
Wouldn’t let go without a fight
But even small things cast a very long shadow
Before the sun goes down for the night

And it’s been a long time, long time, long time
A long time, long time, long time
A long time, long time, long time
Since I felt this good inside

Well I cast off all my defenses
And I shut down all the alarms
And I slept like a baby
In the comfort of your arms
And I woke up feeling evicted
From my house of pity and pride
You kicked me out of this heartache
And now I can’t go back inside

I sat on the back porch baby and I waited for the sun
I thought you would come back but once again I’m wrong
I said I was sorry lover but you knew that it was a lie
You tell me you’ll pray for me because only God knows why

I only want what I can’t have

When I first met you, you looked at me like I was a prize
And I wanted the answers behind the deep, dark, aching eyes
But now I’m all out of questions and the novelty is worn
But when I see you walking away I just want you to turn

Cause I only want what I can’t have
The mystery and the man

You looked at me like a lover
Uninvited
I tried to break the hold
You had over me
Smoke risin’ to my head
Clouding my judgment
The dark of the night deepens

Small talk at the scene of the crime
I wish I could tell you I’m really not fine
I can’t breathe when I think of the night
I wish I could tell you, I wish I could tell you

Skin separates our souls
And conscience escapes me
Your lips against my neck
The ecstasy
Your needs are satiated
Means so much more to me

Forget what you know
Forget what you see
There’s a hot wet rain
Pouring down on me
I can’t take it back
You can’t be with me
I mourn for the things that will never be

Johnny-boy was the family pride
Served with his brothers on the frontlines
And he’s the 3rd generation in the family
To work the coal mines of Tennessee
And though Daddy’s a God-fearing man
He’s not quite sure he would understand
That he feels this pull everyday
To bring the savior’s word to the depraved

He’s just waiting for his sign
But he hears the calling of his life

Holly Mae has a girlish charm
But she works like a devil on the family farm
Everybody in town knows her name
For singing “Land of the Free” at the ball games
And all her girlfriends have got their plans
To settle down with the perfect man
But she’s got a friend of a friend who knows this guy
That could get her a chance in the Nashville lights

She’s just waiting for her sign
But she hears the calling of her life

So if you’re standing in the rain just awaitin’ on that bolt of lightning
Holdin’ onto the hand of the man that puts you down
There’s a voice deep inside, there’s a heavenly light
That when you seize it, baby you will shine