FISHING
PRIORITIES
PINOCCHIO'S LATER YEARS
A DAY OFF
BREATHE
CAGES
JUST LOVE THE GIRL
TIME TO PAY THE PIPER
LONG WAY HOME
WOLVES IN WOLVES CLOTHING
WHATEVER
SO IT SEEMS
WAIT FOR THE SPRING
BILLY'S LAST MEAL

FISHING
woke up at four, slugs in my sneakers
air mattress leaking again
choke on a smoke, chug down a beaker
a concoction of cold coffee and half sour milk

    i'm ready to go man, you better beware
    you big bony porgies, you better be scared today

haven't had a good meal since the bacon last Tuesday
a big blue would make my blues go away
my head is aching and my limbs are all shaking
and i'm quite emotionally spent

    i'm ready to kill you and then I will grill you
    you big floppy flounders, i'm going to astound you today
    i'll stay here alone, i'm not going home
    to let him beat me to death
    my name is kevin and though i'm only eleven
    I learned how to fish when I was ten

i'm smelly and tired, i'm not getting hired
i'm too young to try anyway
i don't need a job, i refuse to rob
i'm going fishing again today

    i'm going to slay you and then i'll fillet you
    cook you in garlic, and lemon, and butter, and wine

i'm ready to fight, ready to tussle
not eating clams and mussels tonight
if they are biting, i'll be delighting
and the rats won't keep me from sleeping tight

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PRIORITIES

get your priorities straight, there's no time to wait
get them in line, that will be fine
and change the mistakes

    you should know by now, you don't need an hour
    don't be confused, just say what to lose
    and find it again

chorus

    time is time, it's your's and my time
    the time that's your's is also my time
    your indecision is holding my decision
    make up your mind, don't need to be defensive

...oh, did I mention, you don't need to fence in
all those past lies from these eyes
I love you all the same

    speak to me today, say what you have to say
    line by line, taking our time
    i'll love you more today

chorus

things are moving fast now, the world is full of assholes
let's get it done or I have to move on
with my priorities

    I can't let it be now, you know I have to be free now
    though I might be wrong, I have to sing my song
    ...so to speak

chorus

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PINOCCHIO'S LATER YEARS

me and pinocchio were speaking on the telephone
telling me how he'd been feeling kind of monotone
I think that he was drinking, he told me he was thinking

pinocchio was saying that he might not be staying
he needed to get away, a suicide in play
he had a book of matches, better come by before he crashes

    but 'nocchi wasn't made of wood the way he used to be
    he had changed to flesh and blood, I think in '93
    but 'nocchi's complete sincerity peaked my curiosity
    I said, "what if i am wrong? i better go and see?"

so me and pinocchio were listening to the radio
telling me how he'd been feeling kind of afraidio
he was approaching middle age, trapped again in old stromboli's cage

though old stromboli had mended all his evil ways
and 'nocchio himself collected quite a handsome wage
it wasn't his desire to be old stromboli's squire

    but then something happened as we were sittin 'nocchi's cabin
    a message from the radio, it came across in stereo
    the king and queen of italy were having trouble out at sea
    their freighters couldn't sail because of a big gigantic whale

so me and pinocchio sat staring at the radio
i think it must have been for at least five days, you know
it hit us in the wickets, it was the voice of jiminy cricket

finally 'nocchi started saying,"well,if there's one thing I know for sure,
it's how to kill a whale.", he had done it once before
he didn't even need a boat he could do it on a rubber float

    all he really needed was a ride out to the shore
    a snifter of whiskey and a brand new boogie board
    a box of wooden matches and a tin of dinty stew
    though I thought he was crazy he was in a better mood

so me and pinocchio drove to the mediterraneo
telling me how he couldn't live inside a lie and all
and even if he died, at least he would have tried

pinocchio was saying that he had realized
what jiminy cricket had been saying all his life
"a wish upon a star kid, is much better by far"

    so now me and pinocchio are floating out at sea
    looking for that whale, floating on a dream
    you may think we're screwed but we're doing it for you
    so get down on your knees and say a prayer or two

for me and pinocchio, for me and pinocchio, for me and pinocchio

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WOLVES IN WOLVES CLOTHING

I saw the girl walk into the bar
there's no doubt she was a superstar
21, she had it all going on
every move, every smile, in the groove, but all the while...

he tweeks her chin, he lights her slim
he buys her gin, the wolf is in
eye to eye before she realizes
he touches her hip, he kisses her lips, he grabs her waist, now it's too late

    she looks confused to me now
    sister, why'd you come here anyhow?
    in your low cut lace, and that shit on your face
    and your beckoning eyes, in a woman's disguise

CHORUS

    and the newspaper said they found her dead
    in a hotel room two hundred miles from here
    and the newspaper said there was a fight
    a scratch and bite will identify him
    and the newspaper said a wolf's on the prowl
    better keep your eyes wide open now
    and the newspaper said we're just going to have to live in fear

it just doesn't happen in the other town
it just doesn't happen when you're not around
it just doesn't happen to those other whores
sometime it happens to the girl next door, sometime it happens to the stool next to yours

I saw him walk into the bar
it was the angel of death, he was smoking a cigar
checking it out, disguised in a crowd
the scent of blood, the scent of musk, a little lady full of lust

TOP

BREATHE

you're an idiot, where do you get off pulling this shit
you knew I had my ticket, you knew what time I had to split
the whole thing had been arranged, now i'm covering your ass and going insane
you're an idiot for making her die, you're an idiot for making me cry

CHORUS

    but never you mind
    this isn't the time
    the time to think of all the screams
    the time to think of all the broken dreams
    friend, just lay back and breathe
    just lay back and breathe

you're an idiot for ruining the night
you're an idiot for ruining you're life
you thought you were so cool, you thought you never got drunk
but now you're a fool and everyone thinks you're a punk
you're an idiot for making her die, you're an idiot for making me cry

CHORUS

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CAGES

down around my favorite road, where I have my favorite home
I write the checks to pay my loans
this is where I make my bed, rest my philosophies in my head
where i dream my dreams, conceive my schemes

    this is my bar, this is my town
    hold my stool, i'm coming down
    you can count on me being around

chorus

    heard it said that the truth will set you free
    heard it said all you got to do is believe
    well, i believe in the truth, yeh, i believe in myself i guess
    i believe that god helps those who help themselves
    (and all kinds of nonsense like that)

up on the hill is my favorite church where my favorite priest works
pleading his case for all us jerks
this is where I get my salvation, wafers and wine equals liberation
ah, such a sweet calculation

    this is my baker, this is my banker
    this is the station where I fill my tank up
    to drive to strive to move up in rank

chorus

across the way is a favorite place, you'll find me there on my off days
sitting on the dock of my favorite bay
this is where I make my escape, where my spirit misbehaves
like a bird out of a cage

    this is where I am a human being
    this is where I try to sing
    about all those silly, silly things
TOP

JUST LOVE THE GIRL

yes, I know, god is love
yes, I know, his love is pure
yes, I know, it's above our love
yes, I know, there's something more

yes, I know, there's something better
than her dark sultry eyes, and her tight fitting sweater
and the gentle way she looks and smiles at you
when she thinks no one will see, or realize it's you

chorus

    in my opinion, love isn't something you find
    in my opinion, it's something you learn
    in my opinion, love's a change of mind
    in my opinion, love is a return
    so why don't you just love the girl

maybe she isn't all that smart, like you always say
you know, you might be right, she might be gay
if that makes you uptight, friend, what can I say
if you believe it's not right, why don't you stay away

maybe it's true, you'll have nothing to talk about when you're 52
maybe she isn't quite the socialite like you
maybe you're right, the timing and alignment's not right
for a pisces and a sagitarius to fall in love tonight

chorus

love is a journey through the wilderness
with wind, and rain, and cold, and pain
with rocks, and cliffs, and thorns, and thistles
and ravenous beasts, and bloody knees

love is a winding mountain trial
and as you climb up, on and on
it becomes apparent to your heart
the wonderful thing that you've become

TOP

TIME TO PAY THE PIPER

oh so many years hence
never thought you'd see me in the present tense?
left me for dead with a kick to the head
raced off to paradise with all your beautiful friends

    look up jericho, look all around you
    the sound that surrounds you, will soon astound you
    your walls that oppose this trumpet of love are just not enough
    there will be no denial there will be no survival

chorus

    it's time to pay the piper
    just a nod and a smile is his price
    for those who will take my advice
    and dance nice

never thought you'd see this face again
that your indiscriminate rage left bloodied and pained?
whose scars shine like stars for your darkened soul
to see the demons within that have made you cold

we are the believers of the dreams
by years of tears we are redeemed
from the sorrow you still haven't seen
into the dreams you still haven't dreamed

TOP

LONG WAY HOME

I guess it doesn't matter, said I with a frown
scarcely a way up and no way down

    and it's a long way home

my, o my," said I in reply
chances are I might die

    such a long way from home

tell the stars, tell the moon
to tell me what I need to do

    it's a long way home

tell the trees, strong and tall
to catch me if I fall

    it's a long way home

scarcely a way up, and no way down
miles and miles above the ground

    it's a long way home

guess it doesn't matter how I got here, I moaned
it's pretty damn clear which way I have to go

    it's a long way home

TOP


A DAY OFF

lazy day, lazy may, there's nothing here to make me stay
call in sick, take off the day
play frisbee in the trees with the crows and the jays

    got some time coming to me
    screw the pay, I want to be free today

got a bottle of wine sitting on the shelf
got some time all to myself
got no worries troubling me
i'm going to let that old bottle be

    got some time coming to me
    screw the pay, I want to be free today
    little sliver of moon smiling in the noonday sun
    aren't you tired, your evening's work is done
    crazy daisies lazing up against a wall
    in the cold dark shadow of a mighty mall
    i think that moon is smiling at you
    it's a match made in heaven, and earth too

hey joe, call that a throw? yea, I know, your only a crow
hey jay, what do you say, want to show that crow how to play

    got some time coming to me
    screw the pay, I want to be free today

TOP


WHATEVER

they're chanting and ranting down at the old town hall
the missiles are amassing and pointing toward disaster
they're studying the prophets down at the knigdom hall
and the fighters are flying, the mothers are crying,
the fathers are dying, and i'm not even trying to take a side
the leaders are lying, the young girls are crying,
the young men are dying, and i'm not even wondering

they're shooting up the heroin, snorting shit up their noses
they're raping little boys, and they're raping little girls too
they're sharpening their knives to cut your throat
the prostitutes are tricking, the pushers are dealing,
the politicians stealing, and i'm not even sickened by it all
let the wicked be wicked, let the darkness grow and grow
then the truth will glow, and everyone will see and know

whatever needs to happen, whatever needs to be
yeh, even if i'm full of shit, let everybody see
whatever needs to come down, whatever needs to build up
whatever needs to suffer, whatever needs to die,
whatever needs to go up in flames, I think that I know why
whoever needs to be below, whoever needs to be above
the reason for all this is, almost nothing is done in love

chances are you hate me for singing this song
but all that really does stupid, is prove my point
let the wicked be wicked, let the darkness grow and grow
whatever man, it don't matter, soon everyone will know

TOP


SO IT SEEMS

your heart skips a beat everythime you hear those feet
shuffling on the porch above your head
so you creep back into the shadows instead
of the crisp autumn sunlight filtering red
and you wait for the shackle to clamp around your neck

    so it seems, so it seems

six days in this chisled out grave
maybe you're better off being a slave you think
but the seventh is dawning and pouring it's beams
penetrating the cracks and the seams of the structure that stifles your dreams
what you thought kept your life may be causing your death

    so it seems, so it seems

chorus

    and you run wisdom's words in a loop through your mind
    as you drink the frail wisp of light in just like wine
    but a verse at a time never seems to get it done
    but your mind needs the time to adjust to the sun

you think again of those nights in the woods
with the sentinel shouts and the dogs howling like wolves
as you rushed down the bank and plunged into the stream
how much longer is your spirit to scream before the vision's fulfilled and you're finally redeemed
it's the end of the line and you still aren't free

    so it seems, so it seems

chorus

go out to the point, to the edge of the land
remove the cap from the telescope, focus your sight on the cerulean blue canadian shore
i know there is something you're looking for
i know that you know there is something more
but what was freedom last night seems to constrain you today

TOP

WAIT FOR THE SPRING

wait for the spring to wander in, wash you soul in it's rains, you said
hold out a teacup and let it fill up, drink till it eases you're pain
and though a cool metal bullet might feel good rolling in your hand
and the rush of a plummet might excite your sombered mind
    you'll be darkening our souls
    you'll be enslaving our minds
    the thought without the action
    is even now taxing my time
    so wait for the spring to wander in
    wash your soul in it's rains
    hold out a teacup and let it fill up
    drink till it eases your pain
    listen to the stars as we go around
    and in the springtime...listen again

how many turns, how many years?
how long rehearsed till each man hears?
each position in the orbital skies views a different theme, a different rhyme
from act to act, from scene to sign...aries, taurus, to gemini
from year to year, from age to age, mankind grows into god's image

    and you look out upon the fields
    and it rightly makes you despair
    but you tend to overlook the wheat
    till all you see are the tares
    but wait for the spring to wander in
    wash your soul in its joy
    hold out a teacup and let it fill up
    to save for your little boy

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BILLY'S LAST MEAL

i remember sitting in billy's cell
7 years of harsh despair crammed into that square
kept his heartbeat in the darkest corner
a picture of his relatives and a fingerpainting of his daughter's
late at night he'd gather himself there for warmth
from the icy cold wind that descended
from his recollection of that voice that banished him from his soul

chorus

    billy, but that was so long ago
    hey man, that was so damn long ago
    it was only yesterday, he said,
    and it's here again today

i saw him once kicking rocks as he went along the road
how was i to know they were the same damn rocks they used to break his bones
later on that night he lay in a heap weeping tears of vodka and beer
at the edge of the creek where no one goes
the structure of his life was razed
she was going to be his wife some day

chorus

so step up and place your order
well, please excuse the scowl on my face
so you want your eggs overeasy? well, alright
you want your bacon like your ma used to make it!?
ketchup with the bacon, butter on the egg side
that's the way billy used to take it
before he slipped the knot with his new wife
took his place hanging a'dangling next to his own life

TOP

mike@sthuckleberry.com

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