Black Flag / White Flag
Eric Erdman (Nov 5, 2017)

Magellan didn’t have John Glenn’s rocket
But still saw the other side of the world 
He wasn’t the only one able to make the trip
But he was the one that had the huevos to let his sails unfurl
He knew, 
You can Hoist the black flag or hoist the white oneThere is no in between 
Be willing to keelhaul all in your way
Or be willing to let your dreams stay dreams

You don’t think Magellan woke up in a cold sweat mutiny and scurvy on his mind ?
Of course he did, but kept those thoughts himselfAnd stocked up on gunpowder and limes

He knew 
You can Hoist the black flag or hoist the white oneThere is no in between 
Be willing to keelhaul all in your way
Or be willing to let your dreams stay dreams

Sometimes that shadowy bastard creeps in 
The one that tells me I should quit
He’s a smooth talkin salesman 
Who’s had years to perfect his pitch 
I shake his hand and use the opportunity
while he’s in my grip 
I pull him in close and dig my dagger in his gutAnd look him in the eye as I give it a twist

You can Hoist the black flag or hoist the white oneThere is no in between 
Be willing to keelhaul all in your way
Or be willing to let your dreams stay dreams

Black Flag / White Flag

What your mom and I lost for each other we still have double for you 
And we’ll make sure you never run out 
I can love you enough for both of us 
And I know your momma, she can too
So there’s no reason you should ever doubt
What your mom and I lost for each other we have double for you 

A Division decision , you weren’t asked 
The robe and gavel decided that
your needs will change every other weekend

And Despite the saying you’ve been told 
It feels more like absence will just make the heart grow cold 
The courtroom’s draft, the beginning of the freezin 


What your mom and I lost for each other we still have double for you 
And we’ll make sure you never run out 
I can love you enough for both of us 
And I know your momma, she can too
So there’s never a reason you should doubt
What your mom and I lost for each other we have double for you 

Now when you need a helping hand
You have two soft places to land
There’s no need to be afraid  

She and I we slipped apart 
But the place you hold in each of our hearts
Will Never fade 

What your mom and I lost for each other we still have double for you 
And we’ll make sure you never run out 
I can love you enough for both of us 
And I know your momma, she can too
So there’s never a reason you should doubt
What your mom and I lost for each other we have double for you 

I’m sure it’s scary seeing so many things rearranged 
But you have to trust The most important ones haven’t changed

What your mom and I lost for each other we still have double for you 
And we’ll make sure you never run out 
I can love you enough for both of us 
And I know your momma, she can too
So there’s never a reason you should doubt
What your mom and I lost for each other we have double for you 






Double For You

Im gonna live a life that lacks lackluster 
Leave the lame for the lame mother...
No more waiting on my dreams to buffer 
Im gonna live a life that lacks lackluster 

Be the only one running the streets of Pamplona with a blue sombrero 
Smilin in the camera
Like I just don’t care no
Wide open like the ams of that statue of Jesus in Rio De Janeiro  

Im gonna live a life that lacks lackluster 
Leave the lame for the lame mother...
No more waiting on my dreams to buffer 
Im gonna live a life that lacks lackluster 

Deep sea dive through raindbow reefs 
Sail through a hurricane with a dagger in my teeth 
Devil take the hindmost , so run with me 

Im gonna live a life that lacks lackluster 
Leave the lame for the lame mother...
No more waiting on my dreams to buffer 
Im gonna live a life that lacks lackluster 

I’ve hoped and prayed  for days and days and still the same result 
Before I realized there’s a choice to be made 
And it’s a choice that really ain’t so difficult 

Im gonna live a life that lacks lackluster 
Leave the lame for the lame mother...
No more waiting on my dreams to buffer 
Im gonna live a life that lacks lackluster 




Lackluster

It’s all for show
It’s all for show
Never trust a person who makes a living by getting votes
It’s all for show
It’s all for show
When they promise the world but I hope you know
It’s all for show

Honest wage
Honest dollar
Dishonest hand in our pocket
They Proclaim to be on our side
But they ain’t

Left will lie
Right will prevert
Both wings of the same dirty bird
What they say means nothing
Cuz to Whitewash their corruption they need your paint

So what they say , ...

It’s all for show
It’s all for show
Never trust a person who makes a living by getting votes 
It’s all for show 
It’s all for show 
When they promise the world I hope you know
It’s all for show

the lights and cameras
they wave those flags
Disguise intent by disguising the facts
We’re just collateral damage in this exchange. It’s nothing new

Pact is made
A vow in November
Once the Ballot’s cast it gets so hard for them to remember
Painted on hair and Plastic smile , should’ve been a clue

It’s all for show
It’s all for show
Never trust a person who makes a living by getting votes
It’s all for show
It’s all for show 

Can’t leave food on the counter then act surprised
When we see the roach
When they promise the world I hope you know
It’s all for show

All For Show

Cleats to clay 
60 feet 6 inches 
Low and away 
Or high and tight clear the benches 
The sniper takes the hill 

He Eyes his prey
Over Leather horizon 
It’s a guarantee 
If they’re leaning they’re dying
When he turns to deal 

And It’s not for the money 
It’s not for the crowd 
It’s not so they remember his name
The grit in his eye 
And that never say die  
Is for the love of the game

Snap and spin 
Late break off the table 
Their only chance at all is
to foul it off if their able 
Chances are they can’t 

4 Seam flame 
Nibbles the Edge of the zone 
Circle change 
They’re as good as gone 
Before it leaves his hand 

And It’s not for the money 
It’s not for the crowd 
It’s not so they remember his name
The grit in his eye 
And that never say die  
Is for the love of the game

But There’s only so many innings
In one elbow
He can feel his starting to give 
He should probably take some off 
But the tying run’s on second
And this is the payoff pitch 

So whether it takes ice
Or a surgeon
Or even if it is never again the same   
in this war of attrition 
He’ll leave em Swinging and missing 
sharing mighty Casey’s fate




For the Love of the Game

The subtle charisma of shadows
Draped like lingerie 
From the intent of what they chose not to show 
While the dashboard whispered a cabaret 

I-75 slithered smooth and empty 
Beneath our midnight ride 
My hand couldn’t fight being tempted
Toward the shotgun side

We didn’t need to say a word
We spoke in speed and steam
Sin and seat belts 
To Miami from St Petersburg
 ...and in between?
Well....it’s as alive as I’ve ever felt 

I think of that trip often 
And though I ache to go back 
I know the place I long to go
Is not on any map 

It’s the fact 

We didn’t need to say a word
We spoke in speed and steam
Sin and Seat belts 
To Miami from St Petersburg
 ...and in between?
Well....it’s as alive as I’ve ever felt 


Alive as I’ve Ever Felt

SHOE IN

I’m a shoe in ...for the long shot 
Top contender.... for the underdog 
Bastard son 
Of Slim and none 
I’m a shoe in ....for the long shot 

There’s no money in the favorite 
When the odds get so inflated 
So make no mistake, kid
Your cash cow is the sleeper 
(So just follow the sound of my voice) 

I’m a shoe in ...for the long shot 
Top contender.... for the underdog 
Bastard son 
Of Slim and none 

Every now and then
The Dark Horse is bound to win
Yeah I’ll bring em to their feet
When I take the lead 
Because they never thought I’d be
(Anything But) 

....a shoe in ...for the long shot 
Top contender.... for the underdog 
Bastard son 
Of Slim and none 
I’m a shoe in ....for the long shot

Shoe In

Wind of swirling rumors 
Shake even the sturdy tree
When What should be hard to believe 
Leans with the breeze

Once early bloomers 
Lush and Vibrant green 
Always dodged it seems the Saw’s angry teeth
And its Gnawing Jealousy  

But Even our love , strong as an oak
That Lasted many Summers and many Springs 
couldn’t outgrow 
What I just had to know 
As I Cut it in half to count the rings 

Good thing we fell
When no one was around 
It would’ve made without a doubt
An unbearable Sound 

But I couldn’t help myself
had to ask , so now  
I’m lying here on the ground
And I’ve found 
(That)
Even our love , strong as an oak
That Lasted many Summers and many Springs 
couldn’t outgrow 
What I had to know 
As I Cut it in half to count the rings 

Live and learn
That it’s more about living than learning 
In the end 
Now that I’m left alone like well enough  should have been 

Even our love , strong as an oak
That Lasted many Summers and many Springs 
couldn’t outgrow 
What I had to know 
As I Cut it in half to count the rings 




Count the Rings


Bed side table, an orphaned ring
Silent as a tomb 
not even the echo of a ghost to help fill the room

but no use feigning shock 
Over a love emptied 
Or retracing the cracks 
Of what was honesty

Sure as I know my name
Sure as I know anything 
That bird has flown 
And Gone is gone 

It’s not a matter of what I believe
But what I know to the core 
It would be pointless 
To fight for what is no more 

It’s like A “Hello My Name Is” sticker on God above
It’s Window dressing on a guarantee
Betting with lost love 
Or Padding stats for destiny 

Sure as I know my name
Sure as I know anything 
That bird has flown 
And Gone is gone 

There is no battle left to be won 
It is done 
And it is done 
And it is done 

Sure as I know my name
Sure as I know anything 
That bird has flown 
And Gone is gone 



Gone is Gone


Worst of both worlds

One eye crosses toward her nose 
the way her daddy’s does, I suppose
Can’t look at me straight but lord she’s trying 
Got big ol knobby knees
Like the folks on the other side of her family tree
To me she ain’t nothing but fine

She got the worst of both worlds
Lord, She got the worst of both worlds 
But I always loved abstract art
She got the worst of both worlds
But my baby girl she’ll be getting the best of my heart

I know she won’t be seen as a classic beauty
My baby is more avant garde
Genetics may have felt 
Symmetry shouldn’t be the cards she was dealt 
But don’t feel bad, I think she has the perfect parts 

She got the worst of both worlds
Lord, She got the worst of both worlds 
But I always loved abstract art
She got the worst of both worlds
But my baby girl she’ll be getting the best of my heart

She got the worst of both worlds
Lord, She got the worst of both worlds 
But I always loved abstract art
She got the worst of both worlds
But my baby girl she’ll be getting the best of my heart

Eric Erdman

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