Earth Pressed Flat

Detroit, L.A.,Boston, San Francisco,
first time over the ocean on a plane
a billion stars below me lay,
circle slowly JFK,
so much there to see inside of a week
they came looking for something new
try to press it flat inside of a few days
Old Dominion Saturday, Arlingtons eternal flame
Sunday tour Niagara Falls in the mist.
Monday Ill be heading south
New Orleans the Cajun sound
Tuesdays Tupelo Elviss home . . .
try to press it flat inside of a few days
what a wonderful stay,
on a mule Grand Canyon ride on Wednesday,
hope to get to Denver in a day Friday
ride to Washington, in the glacial mountain sun
hop a train for Canada to the east
they came looking for something new
try to press it flat inside of a few days
what a wonderful stay.

Eat For Two

O, baby blankets and baby shoes, baby slippers, baby spoons, walls of
baby blue. Dream child in my head is a nightmare born in a borrowed
bed.
Now I know lightning strikes again. It struck me once, then struck me
dead. My folly grows inside of me. I eat for two, walk for two,
breathe
for two now.
Well, the egg man fell down off his shelf. All the good king's men
with all their help struggled 'til the end for a shell they couldn't
mend.
You know where this will lead, to hush and rock in the nursery for the
kicking one inside of me. I eat for two, walk for two, breathe for two
now. Eat for two, walk for two, breathe for two now.
When the boy was a boy, the girl was a girl, they found each other in
a wicked world. Strong in some respects, but she couldn't stand for
the
way he begged and gave in. Pride is for men; young girls should run
and
hide instead. You risk the game by taking dares with "yes".
I eat for two, walk for two, breathe for two now. Eat for two, walk
for two, breathe for two now.
I walk for two? I'm stumbling. I walk for two?
I'm stumbling. Breathe for two? I can't breathe. I can't breathe

Eden

We are the roses in the garden,
beauty with thorns among our leaves.
To pick a rose you ask your hands to bleed.
What is the reason for having roses
when your blood is shed carelessly?
It must be for something more than vanity.
Believe me, the truth is we're not honest,
not the people that we dream.
We're not as close as we could be.
Willing to grow but rains are shallow.
Barren and wind-scattered seed on stone and dry land,
we will be.
Waiting for the light arisen
to flood inside the prison.
And in that time kind words
alone will teach us,
no bitterness will reach us.
Reason will be guided another way.
All in time,
but the clock is another demon that
devours our time in Eden,
in our Paradise.
Will our eyes see well beneath us,
flowers all divine?
Is there still time?
If we wake and discover
in life a precious love,
will that waking become more heavenly

Ellen

Eager to please was just the way
that he was though his attempts there falling short,
expectation see he would tell of all his conquests, was he bragging?
but in the evening all alone Ellen unplanned delays saving for someone
who really cared about you invincible
they say married to your name she was the kind between a child and a lady,
quick was her temper like a blaze from an ember no one had measured
to her standard, so in the evening all alone all alone how do I tell them
to open their minds and to take a chance maybe on finding
life's treasure stubborn they stay set in their ways really not wanting
to be lonely not alone

Even With My Eyes Closed

Even with my eyes closed,
Funny how I know
it's harder, it's harder now.
Young girl
in my young girl days,
thinking I could live for always.
But like an ocean tide,
I'm drawn back inside
and I know.
Seasons pass
like sand inside a glass
and nothing, nothing returns.
Standing with the friends I've made,
I'll race them to the grave.
Well who won,
won the extra days?
But like an ocean tide,
I'm drawn back inside...
But like an ocean tide,
I'm drawn back inside
and I know.
When you the years toll
on the waters wide,
shallow high and low.
In the autumn sky,
happy to know I'm going home.
Even with my eyes closed,
funny how I know
it's finally,
has it finally begun?
But like an ocean tide,
I'm drawn back inside...
But like an ocean tide,
I'm drawn back inside
and I know...
and I know...
and I know

Everyone A Puzzle Lover

why are some men born
with minds that earn degrees
the loving cups
gilded plaques
grace their study walls
hide the cracks
while their genius is turned
to works of tyranny then
off to market to market
go selling these

with words so fiery and persuasive
they steal cunningly
riches no one can exceed

and why are some men born
with a fate of poverty
one firm bed
for a swollen back
year by year
the bodies wracked while
their obedience is had
with gradual defeat
by the pace by the pace
and the urgency

through a muddled thought
they phrase it
God knows we're deceived
barter for
what they need

and where they go
disdain and jeering
for fools to call
the noble peasantry

o how it puzzles me

I pressed flat the accordion pleats
that had gathered in his cotton sleeves
while he thumbed
yes thumbed I wouldn't say caressed

the final piece
a mountain's crest
soon to reply assuredly

o for man aged ninety years
no words to waste on sermons
he'd be pleased to answer
short and sincere

girl there's a nonsense
in all these heaven measures
it's a heathen creed
so your grandma says
but better to live by...
drink it all in before it's dry

he ended there with a rattle
cough cough
I took away the long gone cold coffee cup
as a trail of Camel ashes fell
on the floor

Everything You Wanted to Know About

I took my fantasy to Deborah
You know she's always been a friendly girl
You'll see her cruise the Picadilly streets
And she winks at every man she meets
I've been a fan of hers for quite a time
I tried to pull her with a bummer line
I asked her would she like a cigarette
And she said let's go to bed
(`cause that's what you want)

And so I went
And I was shocked
I was so green
Ground I wish you'd swallow me up
She had to laugh
I nearly died
Some Superstud!
There's more to this than meets the eye

I hurried back to read the manual through
You know the one that tells you what to do
But all I needed was the confidence
To start and break the ice
Experience would be a boon for life
And Debbie smiled as I came strolling by
I said I'd like to have a second shot
And I'd give it all I've got

And with a twinkle in her eye
She led me by the hand
Through a door to a room
Above a Soho restaurant
And she smiled and told me
Not to look so serious
But by the time she'd talked me down
I was delerious, I was away

I had to window shop in Amsterdam
But down the Troubador in Hollywood
I found a lover who was bold enough
To live my fantasy (this isn't a dream)

I was away
Up in the blue
Emmanuelle
How you gonna make it in a jet
The need to shock
Was coming through
Where would it end
You'll never know

Few And Far Between

Times are far between,
and few I bet,
when we can look upon our lives
without regret.
Of all the things I have done,
you think I'm proud
of everyone
without exception?
'Till you make your peace with yesterday,
you'll never build a future.
I swear by what I say.
Whatever penance you do,
decide what it's worth to you
and then respect it.
However long it will take
to weather your mistakes,
why not accept it?
My hands, for now, are tied.
I'm a body frozen.
I'm a will that's paralyzed.
When will you ever set aside your pain and misery?
No matter how I beg,
no matter how I wish or plead,
you'll never be more than alive.
You'll never do more than survive
until you expect it.
Do you want to build a
world with our lives?
You better soon decide
or you can forget it.
My hands, for now, are tied.
I'm a body frozen.
I'm a will that's paralyzed.
'Till you drop that heavy baggage
you're dragging behind,
there won't be room
for us to both go this ride

For You and I

The world is full of other people (ooh ooh)
take a look around
We're quick to laugh when they've got troubles (ooh ooh)
and we put `em down

We go
We're not so hot you know
It's like a roller coaster
On a downward motion
On a one way street
We can't control our feet
We're on the road to ruin
Don't know what we're doin'

She may be quiet
She may be shy
But don't you bring her down
Don't pass her by
The world of wisdom behind her eyes
Could answer everything
But you and I

We seem to wander in a daydream (ooh ooh)
We never look around
The world is full of other people (ooh ooh)
and we put `em down

We go
We're not so hot you know
It's like a roller coaster
On a downward motion
On a one way street
We can't control our feet
We're on the road to ruin
Don't know what we're doin'

She's not beautiful
But don't make it plain
You underestimate
It's not a game
A heart of gold
Behind the drab
Would comfort anyone
But you and I

Should try to see it from the other side (oooh)
We'll get a shock
It could surprise you

The world is full of other people (ooh ooh)
take a look around
We set the pace while others listen (ooh ooh)
never make a sound

The rain must fall
But we can change
Our understanding
will remain
So take a moment
To wonder why
The world keeps turning
For you and I

From Rochdale to Ocho Rios

From Rochdale to Ocho Rios
From Ocho Rios to Dorking
From Dorking its back to Rochdale
From Rochdale to Ocho Rios

You spend half your life in transit
But that's just the way God plans it
Pack a shirt and some fresh pajamas
That's all you need

Tried to get a flight out to San Juan
But Air Jamaica don't fly on Sunday
Gotta get a flight out to San Juan
Because I wanna see the Mama and the Papa

When I look into your blue eyes
I bend the truth but I never tell you lies
I need my lover, I need your care
Understandings not enough to make it fair

From Rochdale to Ocho Rios
From Ocho Rios to Dorking
From Dorking its back to Rochdale
From Rochdale to Ocho Rios

Asleep in a stream of sunlight
Awake in a dream at midnight
I'm rushing to wait for jumbo
Oh where am I now

Tried to get a flight out to San Juan
But Air Jamaica don't fly on Sunday
Gotta get a flight out to San Juan
Because I wanna see the Mama and the Papa

A dressing room so far from home
A corridor with a broken telephone
I wanna call but I got to go
The curtains up and it's time to do the show

Show time!

I just got in to the city
Yeah, it's so insane
But the man with the suitcase
is on the road again

Tried to get a flight out to San Juan
But Air Jamaica don't fly on Sunday
Gotta get a flight out to San Juan
Because I wanna see the Mama and the Papa

Asleep in a stream of sunlight
Awake in a dream at midnight
I'm rushing to wait for jumbo
Oh where am I now

You spend half your life in transit
But that's just the way God plans it
Pack a shirt and some fresh pajamas
That's all you need

Everybody sing!
From Rochdale to Ocho Rios
From Ocho Rios to Dorking
From Dorking its back to Rochdale
Oh where are we now