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"Alive"

Al, he sells records down on old St. Charley's Street
He's cleaning up Fat Tuesday's mess he keeps the sidewalks neat
And he just lost his father and he just lost his wife
And if it wasn't for the music he couldn't get on with his life

And he knows what I know
It's not all that hard to survive
You take the good and the bad and the time in between
It lets us know we're alive

Well now Be Be's singing gospel
And down on Bourbon she sings the blues
She plays on all my heart strings curls my toes up in my shoes
And she knows what I'm after
Chase my dreams with all my might
She says you shouldn't be so anxious
And deep down I know she's right

And she knows what I know
It's not all that hard to survive
You take the good and the bad and the time in between
It lets us know we're alive

Well get on board the rocket
Step right into the front car
You know life's a roller coaster
It ain't got no safety bar
Raise your voices up with laughter
Bring it in with one big sigh
Consecrated in the wonder...we're alive

Norman he plays music but only in my dreams
Shows me all the beauty that soulful music brings
But sometimes he's a specter and I wake up clenched with fear
But lesson good or bad he always keeps me clear

And he knows what I know
It's not all that hard to survive
You take the good and the bad and the time in between
It lets us know we're alive

"Solitude"

Tim he was a good friend
Yeah was a brother of mine
We were imaginary comic book super heroes
Kids wasting time
We were prisoners of our youth
We were growing up strong
'Til the day he was taken away
For something he did wrong

Tim came 'round just the other day
And boy he had some stories to tell
His mama kept him locked up in a rehab
Although the doctors said he was well
He said yeah I been through the anger
And the hatred towards my mom
And I put all that behind me
Just tell me what was it like to go to your prom

He said thank you mom for fixing
My clouded broken mind
But excuse me if I seem a little rude
While I was missing my childhood, my brother and my prime
You enjoyed the convenience of my solitude

Well growing up these days just ain't easy
And the kids they're doing the best that they can
So mama you better think twice
Before you lock your kid up and throw away the key
'Cause soon your little boy is gonna be a man

He said thank you mom for fixing
My clouded broken mind
But excuse me if I seem a little rude
While I was missing my childhood, my brother and my prime
You enjoyed the convenience of my solitude

Tim left town yesterday
He left me with these words
He said yeah I know this life's got a lot to give
But my childhood is gone
And I'm not afraid of dying
I'm gonna grab the world by the horns and learn how to live

He said thank you mom for fixing
My clouded broken mind
But excuse me if I seem a little rude
While I was missing my childhood, my brother and my prime
You enjoyed the convenience of my solitude

"Jesters, Dreams & Thieves"

Looking back on younger days the view stretched on for miles
We charged into our futures with laughter and smiles
As we traveled blindly the road became so thick
No chance to change direction and we've laughed until we're sick
Now I keep company with wicked evil men
My generosity's brimming but I'm still inclined to sin
My friends think I am crazy and I know that may be so
But I'm as happy with a penny as coffers full of gold

And so for all of you I say, don't miss the forest for all the trees
And don't ever question honor among thieves

The undergrowth has parted now the path is easily read
It's lined with all the doubters regretting all they've said
God bless all the dreamers and those who lead with soul
For how can you know virtue 'less you fought out of a hole

And so for all of you I say, don't miss the forest for all the trees
And don't ever question honor among thieves

Trickle of a chuckle as laughter starts to pour
Bells begin to jingle the trickles now a roar
Pan flutist, cloven dancer
The Mischief Has Begun
Laugh with me if it's funny, laugh at me if it's fun
And I don't know St. Peter but I know he believes
There's a place in heaven for jesters, dreamers & thieves

"Guinevere"

After all the corridors are darkened
When the royal crown is off your head
To your chambers I will creep not a word we will speak
Just love me while the fire light dances 'round the bed

Well there is danger in this passion
Because the king can never never know
And on my blood I've sworn my allegiance
So I'll leave you when the sunlight comes and beckons me to go

And the silver shine is tarnished from my armor
And in battle I am paralyzed with fear|
And this poison in my soul is the love we'll never know
And it finds me playing Lancelot to your Guinevere

Well and Guinevere is sly enough to steal a little taste
And her laughter it peals into the night
Oh but forbidden fruit always stays sticky on your face
And without virtue I'm worthless in a fight

Stealing little glances at the table I feel that this is theatre in the round
But far away chasing vixens in the meadow
Your love like wind, blows right by and sweeps me off the ground
Your love sweeps me off the ground
Well now it sweeps me off the ground

And the silver shine is tarnished from my armor
And in battle I am paralyzed with fear
And this poison in my soul is the love we'll never know
And it finds me playing Lancelot to your Guinevere

"Sorry To A Friend"

Sittin' on the edge
Looking for songs in a bottle
Talking with strangers who don't know my pain
Blurry eyed and burned out
Choking on more than I can swallow
Crack in a little voice called out my name

She said - Whatever happened to you
It's been two years where have you been
And I guess all my fears were true
The words were all gone the time's been too long
But I deserve to know what happened to my friend

Staring in her face
I see a past that still haunts me
The road where we split up is paved with the things I didn't say
We had wonderful times, but terrible timing
Now just leave her alone, I'll just be in the way

She said - Whatever happened to you
You took the coward's way out again
And I guess all my fears were true
The words are all gone, the time's been too long
But it's not too late to say I'm sorry to a friend
I'm sorry to a friend
Sorry to a friend

Like a stone in a stream
Life smoothes all our edges
'Til we barely make a ripple any more
But those times in my life will live with me forever
But we're not the same people that we were before
And I'm sorry for the smiles we missed and the times that I blew it
I've got so much to tell you
I don't know where to start
Maybe I'll find a way maybe you'll help me do it
'Cause friends like us should not be apart

And I'm sorry to a friend
Well now I'm sorry

"America Street"

Rubber on my tires making contact with the road
Sign on the street post tells me which way I should go
Riding down America Street funny that it's one way
Riding down from uptown to where the buildings are broken down in decay

America Street it's right nearby
Land of the free and the brave
If we can't work and make some change
There won't be much of this land left to save

It's a classic case of misdirection and slight of hand
We watch while our deficit grows
What a shame that we can't teach our kids to read
Makes you wonder where all the tax money goes

Well America Street it's right nearby
Land of the free and the brave
And if we can't work and make some change
There won't be much of this land left to save

Won't be much to save
Excuse me sir pardon me can you spare some change
Because it's cold and I live outside
A thoughtful search into my pockets finds enough so he can rocket
Right up to the bar and enjoy his lie

America Street it's right nearby
Land of the free and the brave
And if we can't work and make some change
There won't be much of this land left to save
Won't be much to save...

"Russian Roulette"

Hey boy pushin' on your girlfriend
Trying to show her all the pain you feel inside
Yeah and head all scrambled and the love is gone
And you don't know what went wrong
But I think I heard you hissing something about blue steel

But when you talk about something like gun play
Let me tell you it's a losing bet
But when the hammer falls all bets are called
And five to one you're gonna lose
When you talk about something like Russian Roulette

Tears run down your sweet love's face
I say she's a mirror of your insides
And you can't scream loud enough to let it go
And you mouthful of pride you just can't swallow
Rips your soul like a hurricane tide

But when you talk about something like gun play
Let me tell you it's a losing bet
But when the hammer falls all bets are called
And five to one you're gonna lose
When you talk about something like Russian Roulette

Pack up your ego and your tantrum
Put it back with your anger and your pride
Beating up on your girlfriend
Ain't gonna change anything inside

But when you talk about something like gun play
Let me tell you it's a losing bet
But when the hammer falls all bets are called
And five to one you're gonna lose

"Bitter Chill"

Sweet love is keeping a very close score
She's cheated death more than one time
The tears roll down her face and on to the floor
The psychic's been reading her mind

Women with secrets men with their rage
The lines run deeper than words on the page
Breeze through the window, it turns bitter chill
Pretend we don't feel it, lie here real still

Whispered in visions of new earth shine
We volunteer to do nothing again
The world falls around us all we can do is whine
Living out the future of original sin

Women with secrets men with their rage
The lines run deeper than actors on the stage
Breeze through the mountains turns bitter chill
Pretend we don't feel it, lie here real still

Well now follow me to the water
Dive right through the film
Swim in the madness, fulfill every whim
Why worry about tomorrow that you'll never see
Why talk about the children that will never be
Give us this day our daily bread
Forgive us our monstrosities
No more stories of the Quick and the Dead
The asphalt will burn with our liabilities

"Don't Bring Me Down"

Well I don't drive a fast car
You know it just ain't my style
And I don't give a damn about that
You know it ain't worth my while
And I've been known to run around
Burned some bridges in my time
You know those girls tried to tie me down
But my heart is still all mine

Well Elvis had his blue suede shoes and Samson had his hair
You know I got my music baby
And my dreams will take me there
You know I don't smoke cigarettes
I don't see the point
And if you're gonna put smoke in your lungs
Might as well smoke a joint

Well I don't mind if you hang around
Just don't start talking that love talk baby
Don't bring me down

Well don't call me a scoundrel
Baby don't call me a thief
Don't look down your nose at me
I don't need all your grief
Join me and the jesters, singing for today
Live life at its fullest
Before it slips away

Well I don't mind if you hang around
Just don't start talking that love talk baby
Don't bring me down

Why you want to shoot me down
I'm just trying to be your friend now baby
But you lock the door, hide the key, hide under the bed
You're gonna hide from me
Come on baby, let me in...