LYRICS

First, Here is the cover of my album-in-progress, as designed by Gabriel Kargianis.

Second, come see me perform at Biscuit BBQ in Park Slope, Brooklyn! I'll be playing next Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 8:30. Biscuit is located on Fifth Ave. at President St. No cover!

Also, go HERE to hear rough mixes of tunes from my new album. I'll be changing the line-up regularly, so keep coming back!

Finally, here are the lyrics to the 17 tunes that are in the running. I may cut a song or more, but I don't know which ones yet. Let me know what you think.

Blue Intrepid

And when you came back from Las Vegas

I was poor, you didn't owe me anymore.

And when you came back you were famous

For the way you went away, you would not stay.

Blue intrepid keeps on rollin' on, rollin' down the road.

And when you left me at the station

I was cryin', you were fine, you had no time.

And when you left you were impatient

For the road, you were so cold, you had no soul.

Blue intrepid keeps on rollin' on, rollin' down the road.

I take the tunnel

You take the bridge

I keep on runnin'

While you're rollin' on, rollin' on, rollin' down the road. . .

And if you ever need persuasion

I'll be there, not that you care, just wouldn't dare.

And if you ever need a reason

To come home, I'll be the one, you aren't alone.

Blue intrepid keeps on rollin' on, rollin' down the road.

I take the tunnel

You take the bridge

I'm goin' under

While you're rollin' on, rollin' on, rollin' down the road. . .

And when you came back you were famous

For the way you went away, you would not stay.

Everything You Need

You say you're lonely, there's nobody in your bed

But you're only 22 & you're acting like you're dead

If you can walk & talk, if you can breathe

You've got everything you need.

Now you're married & you say it's all too much

You feel buried underneath this pile of stones that she calls love

She rubs your chest at night until you fall asleep

You've got everything you need.

Now that you have children you are so bewildered

No matter what you do they fall down & they bleed

And as they grow older they stand upon your shoulder

Getting ever bolder until they up & leave

You've got everything you need.

Now you're old & gray, you lie around & wait to die

You feel cold today but all your kids are here to say goodbye

They hold your hand at night & mend you when you bleed

You've got everything

You've got everything

You've got everything you need.

Camouflage

If I told you my name

It would never be twice the same

And if I let you see my face

I would disappear without a trace

And I wear camouflage.

When I tell you that I love you

It doesn’t really mean I’m thinking of you

And when I say words like “forever”

What I really mean to say is “never”

And I wear camouflage

And if I tell you everything

There is no way that I could sing

And if I let you in my heart

This very song will fall apart

It will end before it even starts

And I wear camouflage.

So you have to understand

I can never let you hold my hand

And if you want to look into my eyes

You will have to learn to live with lies

Cuz I wear camouflage

I wear camouflage

I wear camouflage. . .

Humanity Street

Rolling down the river

Peaceful as can be

I have always lived here

Now I'm headed to the sea.

When the sky fell open

The flood came pouring down

For a while I was hoping

The Good Lord wouldn't let me drown.

I was there when the levee broke

I was there to see

Let me tell you, it's a heavy load

Too heavy for the likes of me.

Old Man River risin' up

To fill your silver cup with muddy water

Love can't save you now

It's too late anyhow

If there's one thing I'm sure of

There is no higher ground.

The black clouds have receded

And I am finally free

All those things I thought I needed

They don't mean a thing to me.

Cuz I'm rolling down the river

Headed to the sea

I will always live here

You ain't seen the last of me.

Catch, Kiss, Kill

She puts on a slinky dress

She puts in her special eyes

The ones that always say yes

The ones that hypnotize

She heads out to the party

She’s looking for Mr. Right

Someone to give her heart to

At least for tonight

She will do what she will

Catch, kiss & kill.

She knows as soon as she sees him

He’s standing in a crowd

Everyone’s listening in

He’s talking way too loud

She pulls him into a corner

She looks deep into his eyes

Later she’ll take him home

She hopes he’s circumcised

She will do what she will

Catch, kiss & kill.

She’s wondering how to describe him in the

autobiographical novel she’s writing

She’s looking for the perfect metaphor

Something along the lines of “le petit mort.”

When she wakes up in the morning

She finds he’s already gone

He came & he went without warning

She has to stifle a yawn

It’s all grist for the mill

Catch, kiss & kill.

She will do what she will

Catch, kiss & kill.

Look at me…

D i n o s a u r

World peace – it doesn’t concern me anymore

Oh please – when will you learn it’s such a bore?

The Middle East – nuke the joint & turn it into a Wal-mart store

Dinosaur!

Poverty – it makes me feel glad I’m not poor

Don’t bother me – hey, don’t get sad, go get a job

Do like me – whenever I get mad I start a war

Dinosaur!

We once roamed the earth & stomped on everything we saw

Those were the days, yeah those were the days.

Until that asteroid blew us all to kingdom come

What can one say but “Live for today”?

Clean air – what does it matter anymore?

Who cares? I’m driving my Hummer to the store

So there – global warming means longer summers at the shore

Dinosaur!

We once roamed the earth & ate up everything we saw

Those were the days, yeah those were the days.

And now the time has come to pick up right where we left off

Let’s start today – bombs away!

World peace – haven’t we heard it all before?

Hug trees – I tried it once & my arms got sore

I eat meat – cuz it’s more fun to be a carnivore

Dinosaur!

Epitaph

Sun comes up

Desert heat comes pouring down like rain

The sky erupts into a blinding pool of blue.

When I'm looking at your photograph

It's the only thing that's real.

Pink corsage

Pinned to a dress of silky blue

A mirage that keeps me just this side of sane.

Last night my best friend here got blown in half

On the road back from Irbil.

Sometimes, baby, I just have to laugh

So I don't have to feel.

Sun goes down

Desert wind blows sand into my boots

Shots ring out, the sky is tinted red with flames.

And all those useless things I used to have --

I tell you now I want them still.

But if I have to die to get them back

You can use this as my epitaph:

"You can go to hell."

It Don't Matter To Me

You say you think you love me

But I'm not sure you do

You say that you can show me how

To fall in love with you

Even if it's just a waste of time

It don't matter to me (x2)

You say that since you found me

Your heart is beatin' fast

You say you like to be around me, baby

Let's see how long it lasts

If you're gone tomorrow, that's OK

It don't matter to me (x2)

When you come on strong, I'm sure

You are the one for me

But I've been known to be wrong before

So please…

Oh oh oh-oh, oh oh oh

Go ahead & shut the door

It don't matter to me (x2)

I hope you will believe me

When I say I have no fear

Cuz when you finally leave me, baby

I will not shed a tear

I don't want to cry no more

It don't matter to me (x2)

Don't want to say goodbye no more

It don't matter to me (x4)

G o n e

He remembers the first time he kissed her

His heart cracked open just like a blister

All the pain, all the hurt came pouring out

All the love, all the hurt came pouring out.

They were lying beside the river

She was crying into his shoulder

Her hands were cold but her lips were very warm

Her eyes were closed and her lips were very warm

And he knew - he knew he was gone

Yeah he knew - he knew he was gone

And he was never going home.

He reached under the blanket of moonlight

When he touched her she felt just right

She was frightened, she was shivering with fear

He was frightened when he whispered in her ear

I want you. . .

I want you. . .

He remembers the last time he kissed her

His heart cracked open just like a blister

He didn’t see there were tears in her eyes

He didn’t hear her when she said goodbye

But he knew - he knew she was gone

Yeah he knew - he knew she was gone

Yeah he knew - he knew she was gone

And she was never, never, never coming home.

Something Tells Me

Something tells me you ain't coming home tonight

A little birdie whispered in my ear.

When I held you in the middle of last night

I could tell you want to disappear.

Something tells me you ain't coming home tonight.

When I met you I thought I finally got it right

You laughed at all my jokes & drank good beer.

When I let you take me home that rainy night

You held me close & whispered, "Never fear."

Something tells me you ain't coming home tonight

I don't know what went wrong—it's a mystery

One day we're getting on, the next is misery

There's rumors going 'round I can't believe

If you're not coming home

I hope you hear this song.

You left this morning & didn't even say goodbye

Just turned & wiped away a single tear.

Then this evening, with a full moon shining bright

In the open doorway you appear.

Happy ending—you came home to me tonight.

But can you tell me—will you come home tomorrow night?

High

High above the clouds

above the earth

above the trees.

I can see for miles

I see the stars

I see the sea.

Queen Mary.

Catalina.

I am so high

I’m as high as the moon.

Please, do not cry

for I will be home soon.

Please believe me.

Please don’t leave me.

Please believe in me

and don’t cry

when I say from now on I can fly.

High above the clouds

above the earth

above the trees.

Marion Ettlinger

Marion Ettlinger

She takes a mean picture

All the lions of literature

Won't you take one of me?

There he is, ol' Ray Carver

At the desk where he carved his words

He always knew what it means to hurt

He knew so much more than me.

The world in black & white

Bathed in a milky light

Their eyes are shining bright

Too bright for me.

Cormac McCarthy there

In the dry southwestern air

So unnerving to see his stare

Tell me, what does he see?

Joyce Carol Oates sitting in a chair

Glasses off & the parted hair

Kinda looks like a vampire

So melancholy.

And there's so many more

Ken Kesey, Richard Ford

John Irving & Mary Karr

Jeffrey Eugenides.

You always see their hands

Marion understands

Every word is a grain of sand

Pluckcd from the sea.

Marion Ettlinger

She's the queen of portraiture

All the lions of literature

Won't you take one of me?

Take one of me…

This Guy is Falling

When it hit there was no telling what went wrong

If this is it there is no time for a song

Fire & smoke & shattered hearts all around

I think I spoke but never made a sound

And if you go away. . .

When we met there was no way we could have known

You wouldn’t let me even take you home

Nine years on we find ourselves here on fire

I’d carry on but now I’m way too tired

And if you go away. . .

This guy is falling, so take my hand

I hear you calling but I can’t understand

The sky is crying, so close your eyes

This guy is dying & you know me, I cannot tell a lie.

When the smoke cleared you were nowhere to be found

It’s no joke here, there’s no way around it

No one told me it would ever come to this

Growing old just waiting for your kiss

And if you go away. . .

CHORUS

When it hit there was no telling what went wrong

If this is it there is no time for a song

And if you go away. . .

U n i f o r m

Up in the attic room

Dusty as a tomb

In a cardboard box marked VIETNAM

Underneath a pile of medals

Combat boots & odd mementoes:

Daddy's uniform.

And when I tried it on

It fit me like a charm

The mirror showed a boy now fully grown

I wished I could know him

I wished I could show him

My uniform.

And in the pocket was a letter that said

“To My Son,” so I opened it & read:

“When you go to war

make sure you know what for

And remember who you once were

Cuz when you come home

It won’t keep you warm

Your uniform."

When you come home

It won’t keep you warm

Your uniform.

The Unrequited

When she walks in a room

I turn to see the bloom

of the flower in her hair

she put it there for me.

And when she sings her song

I know there’s nothing wrong

in the world cuz when she sings

she sings for me. . .

I don’t know how to play this game

I don’t even know her name.

All I know is when I see her smile

I’ll be all right for a while

in a world that isn’t fair

when she’s not there for me. . .

And everything stays the same

She don’t even know my name.

And when she walks out the door

she’ll leave me wanting so much more

of what she has to give

now I live for her. . .yeah I live for her. . .

What I'm Talkin' About

Fine – if you're gonna lay there

If you're gonna play dead

Instead of playin' with me.

Why – why you wanna do it?

Why you wanna ruin it

Instead of stayin' with me?

You know what I'm talkin' about!

Try – c'mon, baby, what do you got to lose?

It's up to you now to choose

C'mon & dance with me.

Don't cry – you know it ain't worth the time

You can turn on a dime

C'mon & take a chance with me.

You know what I'm talkin' about.

Sigh – you've got a whole lot to learn

A lot of bridges to burn

Before you get to me.

Lies, lies, lies – why do you believe 'em?

When you gonna leave him

And come on back to me?

You know what I'm talkin' about.

L o r e l e i

I lie awake watching as you sleep

Holding your hand while you’re in a dream

Where do you go? You’re so far away

I need to know - can you hear me say. . .

Why are you laughing?

Why do you cry?

When will you wake up, Lorelei?

I don’t know how to live in this world

I don’t know how to fly

I don’t know why you catch me falling - Lorelei.

The night is dark & we’re so far from home

And though you’re near I still feel alone

Where do you go when you’re in a dream?

I need to know - can you hear me scream. . .

Why are you running?

Why do you cry?

When will you wake up, Lorelei?

I don’t know how to give in to you

I don’t know how to try

I don’t know why you catch me falling - Lorelei.

When you wake up will you remember?

Will you still have that light in your eye?

You said that our love would last forever

Remember, Lorelei.

I don’t know how to live in this world

I don’t know how to cry

I don’t know why you catch me falling - Lorelei.

Lorelei. . .

All songs by Chris Belden ©2006 (ASCAP)