Gom Jabbar’s Guide to the Galaxy

Lyrics Video: https://youtu.be/MqcydGGDitM

people
na-na-na-na

we got Christians 
and Muslims and Hindus
all agree that our essence is love

but then we lock our doors
and shutter windows
knowing what all we're capable of

yeah we got Shakespeare
Voltaire and Sartre
they taught us what it is to be good
(everyone wants to be good)

yet we're scared when 
somebody darker
jogs around our neighborhood

now
we've come a long way
since some proteins made connection
(lo-lo-long way)
we've gotten real good
at not dying from infection

we're just not too good at 
being people 
na-na-na-not so good at people

most of us (people)
make terrible people
and all the worst (people)
are people like us

na-na
na-na-na-na

silver lining in our situation
we're just failing
our own QA process

got high hopes
for the next generation
stuff their baggage 
with our secret sauces

and we know they mostly don't work
every saint was a consummate jerk
every prophet—
betrayed by his own people
and every leader
who slayed his own pe-op-le...

now!
we've come a long way
since a strange fish left the ocean
we've gotten real good
at playing guitar with distortion

but we still suck at being people
na-na-na-na
na-na-na-na

the only evil I've seen
lives in people
just like me

Spotify

People

I like the way
that you tell me
you love me, my dear wife.

You say, 
“Didn’t your mom teach you
how to hold a fork and knife?
You’re making me nervous!”

Love the way that you 
let me go out with my friends 
on Friday night.

You say, 
“When will you be back
because I need you to 
bring that carpet inside.
It’s gonna get ruined if it rains!”

You took me in as your project
much like a lump of inexpensive clay.
When it’s not going well
we’ve learned to fudge it.
And now we’ve mastered
better than okay.

We know now to romance on a budget.
There’s too many 
more important bills we gotta pay.

Jog straight into the firestorm
while others dodge it
and this we do because
we love our way.

I love the way 
you convey your dismay
at my tone, love.

You say, 
“What if I was In a car crash?
You wouldn’t even know
cause you don’t pick up
your phone, love!"

I've eaten the crows
that hide in the throes
of veritable marital bliss.

They’ll think I make fun
but I just make light
cause no-one should carry all this.

When you walk a mile
in those shoes
I think you will find
every turn is old news.

But all will be for naught
if you don’t learn 
to love in your way.

You took me in as your project
like a lump of inexpensive clay.
When it’s not going well
we’ve learned to fudge it.
And now we’ve mastered
a lot better than okay.
(50 shades better than okay!)

We know now
to romance on a budget.
There’s too many more important
bills we gotta pay.
(All these bills, we gotta pay!)

Jog straight into the firestorm
while others dodge it
and this we do cause
now we love our way.

This we do cause
now we love our way.

Love (Our Way)

Hush.
Sleep.
Hush.
Sleep.

Picture 
the whales
belly up
in the deep.

Hush.
Sleep.
Hush.
Sleep.

Imagine
you're perched
on a cloud
you can eat.

All the screens
are dark and 
all online game
servers are down.

And all your friends
are already asleep
tomorrow
they might beat you
to the first bonus round.

Hush.
Sleep.
Hush.
Sleep.

Pokémon Go
has a pet
you can keep.

Hush.
Sleep.
Hush.
Sleep.

Swipe on a thought
and then tap the 'Delete'.

Sleep like a dog
on a barge.
This is how bodies
recharge.

Sleep like a log
on a lawn.
It's what we do
to respawn.

Hush.
Sleep.
Hush.
Sleep.

Sleep.

Lullaby v2.0

(mm-mm)
(aah-aah)

(mm-mm)
she look like a hot thing
but her brain cut like a chainsaw
she could tell I know nothing
about no Rubens or Van Gogh

(mm-mm)
don’t know how to impress her
tried waltzing into her wet dreams
tried also being my best self
but she cut me off like gangrene

(mm-mm)
sometimes I get hot for
that thing that she pour
the thing that she pour
is illegal to sell at any store

how can you not gun
for the thing that she pour
the thing that she pour
puts the gin in imagination

don’t know what’s in that 
thing that she pour
cannot rescind that
thing that she pour
(mm-mm)

got me feelin’ like Stockholm
when she puts me on dry ice
next she’s making my rock flow
her lava just never subsides

don’t know how I ever snuck in
she lacks every patience
there’s no element of luck in
I'm on permanent probation!

and still I’m crazy hot for
that thing that she pour
that thing that she pour
is illegal to carry at any store

how can I not burn for
that thing that she pour
the thing that she pour
it puts the rum in paramour

there’s zing in that thing 
that she pour
there’s zing in that thing 
that she pour
(aah-aah)

whatever it is that she pour
(aah-aah)

for years now I’ve been hot for
that thing that she pour 
the thing that she pour  
It has me circle back for more

the thing that she pour
puts the gin in imagination
the bourbon in suburban 
and all the rum in paramour

The Thing that She Pour

[original guitar score by @john-byrne-117035719]

Sha-zzam
Boom-boom-boom
(Heads up!)
Sha-zzam
Boom-boom-boom-bam
(I’m a riddle!)

Sha-zzam
Guess who I am?
(I keep everyone’s secret)
Sha-zzam
Guess who I am?
(but I’m a riddle, I’m your riddle, so riddle me out)

When you plunged headlong into the lights (into the lights)
that’s when you first cried of not being ready for me.
(better get ready for me)
I sat frail in every one of your classrooms,
my breathing made your teachers unsteady and wobbly.

Been tossed out
a whole lot more than I’ve been carried.
But you can only have me 
either dead or buried!

I'm an easy kill—you can murder me a thousand times.
In the dead of night I’ll crash through your weatherproof doors.
You can bury me and I’ll be good and alive—
I'll sing with the banshees under your floors.

You can have me either dead or buried.
Can’t have me both dead and buried!
You can have me either dead or buried.
No-one’s ever had me both dead and buried.

When they told you the good ones never die (and then what to do)
is when I howled out you should come lookin’ for me.
I laugh sickly but my passage no walls can deny.
My heaving crescent makes confessors flushed and fumbly.

Been crossed out
a whole lot more than married.
But you can only have me
either dead or buried!

You can have me either dead or buried.
You can’t have me both dead and buried.
My harsh embrace makes even sages wary.
No-one’s ever found me both dead and buried.

(dead or, dead or) (buried)
(dead or, dead or, dead or) (buried)

And when you let me pick you up you’ll be confused.
(it works if you’re confused)
I can’t drown the buzz of a billion self-medicatin’ hornets
(self-medicatin’)
But at least your trust will never be abused
(not ever)
like those who turned your vigor into rigor mortis...

Most can take me only dead or buried.
Few can handle neither dead nor buried.
They can flaunt me only dead or buried.
You should want me
though I’m dressed in dread
my garbs all woven in thread
that’s indisputably incredible
and most spectacularly varied

Dead Or Buried (with John Byrne)

[original guitar score by @john-byrne-117035719]
https://youtu.be/DEQruObepEY

When I was your age, my mother
had to make each dollar last.
We had to grow up very fast...
Hope you don't grow up as fast as I did.

When my father was the age I am now
his shoulders hugged the ground.
He never got up to fight the next round.
Hope I don't have to fight the fixed fights he did.

Building you this pier 
to make things a little better for you.
If I run out of rocks then
well, you still got me—
I'll be your windbreaker.

When childhood ends, the storm begins,
I'll be your windbreaker.
When all your dreams seem lost at sea,
I'll be your windbreaker.

[break]

Now listen to the fine print, Princess.
Much as I'd love to be around,
most times you'll be on your own,
and we hope you remember some of the moves
we taught you.

And if you have children of your own,
you'll no doubt need this simple trick.
If you wanna be a good windbreaker,
you're gonna wanna let some of the wind
slip through.

Building you this pier 
to make things a little calmer for you.
If I run out of time then
well, you still got you—
you'll be your windbreaker.

When the storm begins, you'll need all your friends—
they'll be your windbreaker.
When it gets intense, better know your strengths—
you'll be your own windbreaker.

[instrumental break]

Long as I can, for as long as I can—
your windbreaker.
If you can call a friend, then call a friend—
they'll be your windbreaker.
If you know your strengths, then play your strengths—
they'll be your windbreaker.

And one day you might help carry the light—
be someone else's windbreaker.

Windbreaker (with John Byrne)

https://youtu.be/OKai3vc2a0c
[original guitar score by @john-byrne-117035719]

4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - IGNITION!

Final lap dance, one last drink
but baby don’t feel sorry for me.
About to ditch the thing
that makes your boobs swing,
back up the well to where the rocks roll free.

‘Cause I’m an asteroid miner (wooh-ooh!)
like my daddy and my paw-paw was.
And yeah, I wear manliner (wooh-ooh!)
just so you would know I’m not your earthworm cuz.

I’m an asteroid miner. (miner, miner, wooh-ooh!)
I’m an as-te-ro-oid mi-i-i-i-iner (wooh)

[break]

Yeah, baby, yeah, baby, yeah!
You're part of my therapy (ye-eah!)

Out in the Belt I’m closer to God
and I thank Him for pressurizing my pod.
I shoot from the hip and trust my gut
and gut anyone that tries to steal my cut!

‘Cause I’m an asteroid miner (wooh-ooh!)
born on a hull where we drink our piss.
But I wear designer (oh-ooh-ooh!)
just to let you know I’m not your broke-ass sis.

As-teroid mi-ne-er—mine that asteroid... (owww!)

I know who to sell to, who to bribe, and who to rob.
No Martian robot’s gonna steal my job.
Got a powerful lobby in the Solar Alliance.
We say, give us better ships
but fuck your science! (yeah, fuck your science!)

And I’m not gay, not even bi-curious.
When I sleep with other men it’s because I’m “Mercurious”
It’s okay to want a penis—
just pray it away when you slingshot from Venus.

Asteroid miner—pillar of the Solar economy
Asteroid miner—never a pillar of salt for sodomy(that was never me!)
Asteroid miner—never covet my pilot's wife
Asteroid miner—but my pilot’s torso makes me feel alive...

[instrumental break]

Lap dance over but don’t worry about me—
I’m headed to a place where everything hangs free.
It’s pretty cool if you like huge diamonds.
I’ll introduce you to my best friend Simon...

Ooh, Simon! He’s my favorite asteroid miner.

Asteroid Miner (with John Byrne)

[original guitar score by @john-byrne-117035719]

When I watched you from a paper cloud,
my paper cloud
was overflown with all the 
beauty there could be.

And then it was time
to tumble down, can't turn around,
but every choice I made
made a smaller me.

And when I looked around—
my world so small, no world at all—
I remembered all the colors
I'd seen from above.

And I decided to enjoy the fall—
dive into the rotten dirt
and dig me up some love.

This plane is going down,
but it's the screaming 
of the air that awoke us

Good time to take a look around
and find the way to plummet
with an unrelenting focus

Yeah, this plane is going down, down, down
but it's still holding up,
and it ain't down yet.

Great time to use up all that focus—
I need to burn my way
down to zero in regret.

[ zero in regre-e-et, e-et ]

So when I take you
by the neck and waist
then spin around,
it's like I'm dancing 
with a much braver me.

Let's never plan
to settle down, nor settle for
anything less than everything
there is to do and be.

This plane may be going down
but nothing short of 
a mountainside can block us.
It's time to move those feet around—
we can dance circles 'round the world
when all we've got is focus.

[ Swing with me.
Take a swing with me.
We'll take a swing at everything there is
to do, and to be.
There's so much to do
and to be... ]

You're invited to my paper cloud—
my paper cloud
makes all possible beauty plain to see.

This plane's still going down,
it's going down, it's going down,
but it ain't down yet.
There's always time to
work our way down to
zero in regret.

We will watch the world 
grow bigger in our eyes.
We will burn every last drop of fuel
on nothing will suffice.

Zero In Regret (with John Byrne)

If your love was a blizzard
I’d be a withered tree.
If every word of mine could cut you a diamond
you’d still be mad at me!
Oh baby, admit it, what I say is true—
it’s just a little bit true...

If forgiveness was a river
yours would flow like the rivers on Mars.
If scorn was a fossil fuel
we’d never need to fill our cars!
Oh baby, can’t deny it
none of this is new—
ain’t none of it new…

But we still sync up at unexpected times.
No astrologer can read our signs—
we just sync up!

When I travel the globe
nothing can impress anymore
When I hang out at home
nobody else will do
Cause I’m still in awe of you
I’m still in awe of you

In awe of you
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Still I’m in awe

If all the hurricanes could gather
they still can’t hold you back.
And if your eyes could cut like knives
they still won’t cut me any slack!
But always I’m rushing home to you—
always in a rush to you…

If I lacked direction or purpose
you would text me twelve or thirteen.
If gods could be placed in your service
they’d be fired long before me!
Their omniscience
probably stops with you—
cause none of them made you…

When I travel the globe
nothing can impress anymore
And when I hang out at home
nobody else will do
Still in awe of you
Guess I’m still in awe of you

in awe of you

In Awe of You

once upon a time
we were perfect together
once upon a time

once upon a time
we were starbound together
once upon a time
we were starbound

we held our own feet to the fire
and started a family
whatever it takes we’re flying higher
every accident’s meant to be

now the way your head rests on the pillow
is making me seethe with rage
you hated the tone I used to say hello
yeah my manners show their age

got caught in a web of our own
perfect strangers in a perfect home—
starbound

feels good when you build your own
perfect circle in a perfect storm
never lost and never found

when lying down in beds of roses
sometimes there’s only stems
still trying to pretend we chose this—
the carnival never ends!

there must be more degrees of murder
maybe more than the shades of gray
the dead leaves fall and block the gutter
and still we beg for rain

[chorus: repeated]

got caught in a web of our own
perfect strangers in a perfect home—
starbound

feels good when you walk your own
perfect circle in a perfect storm
never lost so never found

starbound
starbound

Starbound

invisible (x3) wholly
invisible (x3) to'lly

see myself in the iris of your eyes
I’m lifesize
but all you see is your reflection

poorly painted onto my eyes 
you’re lifesize
but I'm full on my own introspection
 
grew up dreaming of being invisible
and now invisible is often how I feel
work hard to prove I'm not invisible
but not invisible still don’t mean you’re real

when you’re invisible
even a little invisible
then you’re Invisible totally

some blame it on the way the mind flies
the mind lies 
it sings you’re the most important

it assures you something never dies
but bottom line’s
a soul seems discordant

this elevator’s out of order

grew up dreaming of being invisible
and now invisible is often what we are
we hug tight to feel less invisible
but less invisible still leaves a mean scar

invisible (x3) wholly
invisible (x3) to'lly

don’t worry we all got the same deal
beg borrow or steal
everyone is gonna get it

what matters is finding the shipmates 
that keep you real
keep you on even keel
getting your way is way overrated

the graveyards are
full of those who made it

no longer care if I am visible
if I’m invisible to you then that’s fine
all the wealth in the world seems pitiful
if you’ve never been at all
selfless and kind...

Invisible

Some Ancient Power

the witcher said you was a no good a woman
he’s right—you’re no good for anyone but me!
it takes no good a woman
a no good a woman just to like me

you heal me, now that you have reeled me
you cure me, now that you’ve procured me
you’re no good, you're no good a woman
cause no good a woman can grip me the way you do!

he a wild cub, take him from his mother
groom him to a bear and sic him, let him rule the creeks
he likes a belly rub and he loves to cuddle
never tell him why you pick him, only tell him when he reeks

the witcher, witcher said you was a no good a woman
he's right—you’re no good to anyone but me!
it takes a no good woman
a no good a woman just to like me

you mend me, now that you command me
you run me, now that you outgun me
you’re no good, you're no good a woman
cause no good a woman can grab me the way you do

he a papa now, wield him like a task force
claws are long and sharp, keep the wolves at bay
he no more dapper now, seen too many past wars
don’t say he’s still your champion, just tell him he’s okay

tired so tired, doesn’t mean I can stop
beat up beat up, doesn’t mean I can stop

the witcher said you was a no good a woman
he was right—you’re no good for anyone but me!
and it took a no good woman
a no good a woman just to excite me

the witcher told you I was no good a man 
and he was right—I’m no good ‘round anyone but you
it takes a no good a man 
and a no good a woman to see this through

at least that’s what the witcher said...

No Good a Woman

If you close your mind
you’ll be right all the time
(just close your mind)
you’ll be good all the time
(ooh-ooh)
while the witches burn
(a-ah)
while they burn
(a-ah)

If you open your mind
(then what happens?)
you’ll be wrong all the time
(and why would you want that?)
you’ll feel bad all the time
(and why would you want that??)
seeing people burn
when they burn their witches

Licorice smoke
Licorice smoke
(a-a-ah)

They sent me to school to learn to read right
(you better learn to read right)
Instead I learned to read between the lines
(and there’s so many lines!)

Most of history would never seem right
(tell me the part that seems right)
We’re a dumpster fire and it’s hard to miss the signs
(is genocide a sign?)

But that’s not me–I could never act this way!
Except that
everyone who failed us said that…

So what’s the recipe
(just give us the recipe!)
when all the people who are selling one
end up telling you to hold their gun?
Well, I don’t know
(oh, he don’t know)

But if you shut your mind
you’ll be righteous and kind
while the wicked and blind
(screw the wicked and blind)
are getting themselves burned,
(they're getting themselves burned)
they’re getting themselves burned
(look how they’re getting themselves burned!)

And if you just open your eyes
(tell us how, open our eyes!)
no crowd no matter what size
(are you sure the size don't matter?)
no simple truths nor plain lies
will make it okay to burn
when children burn 
children burn their witches

if we have to burn
who do we have to burn?
(a-a-ah!)

Licorice smoke
Licorice smoke

Now people say I’m weird, probably wasn’t raised right
(boy’s definitely not right)
but I just feel among the very few sane
(no, we’re the ones who are sane!)

anoint some f***ing clowns to sneer, squiggle and gaslight
(but we love them!)
chug endless streams of 5-second memes to lull and entertain
(ourselves to sleep)

But that’s not me–I would never be a sheep!
Except that
every nameless face ever has said that...
(are you calling me a nameless face?!)

So what’s the prophecy?
(just give us the prophecy!)
Well, every handsome prophet yelling one
will drop a hint you need to hate someone...
(just tell us, tell us who!)

Licorice smoke
Licorice smoke
Licorice smoke
Licorice smoke

Licorice smoke

Licorice Smoke

it's alright / you'll feel better
it's all right / it's a feel-better song

it’s gonna be alright if you let it go
and alright if you give it all you’ve got
it’s gonna be alright if you let it be
and alright whether you let it or not

it’s gonna be alright if you just hang on
alright if you follow your dreams or you heart
it’s alright to feel good from this feel good song
whether you sing along with every cliché or not

you're gonna be alright...

hey, you!
don’t feel blue when life’s got you by the throat
why down when you can up?
with a feel good song that I wrote just for you
and oh hey, hey look
I’m even gonna throw in a soothing hook
when your workdays are bleak
and the world is at war
the only way out is to woh-ooh-ooh-ooh-oh

yeah, it’s alright if you can’t catch a break
it’s alright because you can always eat cake
and it’s alright to let it all out (mama, mama, it's alright)
there’s a place for every grievance⁠—it’s called The Cloud

I mean it’s alright baby and it’s alright chile
most of your likes and dislikes are on file
we’ll never stream anything you haven’t requested
it’s alright and when you sing along, you’ll manifest it

it's gonna be alright even when it's wrong...

hey, you!
when you’re feeling down and out or just royally screwed
we have the perfect mix for you
and a chorus with a clear-ringing platitude
you’ll be sharing how this made you feel better
and in a decade how it changed your life
just remember we did it together
you told us to tell you it’s gonna be alright

here's a pleasant mini-break
before the final refrain
for you, for you!
for you

[chorus: repeated]

it’s alright to feel alright when the vibes hit home
if you pay us we'll keep singing how nothing is wrong

Yes, it’s gonna be alright if you pick yourself up
and totally fine if you let everyone down
alright if you keep on and don’t give up (mama, mama, it's alright)
and even more than alright if they jerk you around

It’s gonna be alright when one thing sucks you dry
there’s always another that somehow draws more blood
and always another band banging it’s alright
when all of the evidence suggests not

but it's alright cause you'll be fine!
not

Alright! (Not)

I love the smell of bread
the way that dandelions ride the wind
and sitting barefoot on a rock
as the sea lashes out to draw me in

I love the sound of rain
descending like a veil across the lake
the staredown from a crow
the chisel marks of revenant mistakes

and these are not all the things that I love

there’s the play of shade and light 
when a shiny car slinks down a row of trees
there’s the first sip from the coffee cup
and all the conversations had by strings and keys

the mossy darkness of the cellar stairs
just close your eyes
and every monster will smell of wine and cheese
fermenting plums and pears
those village skies
painting a stampede of galaxies

I love a bridge of stone
its arches getting stronger as we pass 
two lightnings crossing paths
running fingers through damp disheveled grass

I love a narrow street
with balconies parading many lives
slow Sunday afternoons
the chugging of a train when it arrives

and these are not all the things that I love

there’s the pepper and the salt
raining down on a steaming bowl of stew
birdsong threatening the morning calm
ships shimmering far off into the blue

the distant clamor of a busy square
just close your eyes
and every plan will seem made of matchstick hopes
with scotch-taped prayer
you hold your own hand
and even that’s not guaranteed

I love a mighty, fallen tree
that’s generously rotting in the shade
discolored postcards from long ago
rough carpets with edges that are frayed

and these are not all the things that I love
no, these are not all the things that I love
not all the things
not all the things

Not All The Things

a-di-da-da-da-da
dai-dai-da x8

hurting happily
craving time
slowing rapidly
staring blind

own the shipwrecks that cast us ashore
ask for all we've got before we ask for more

we're sitting recklessly
guess who's always running out of time?
you're sitting next to me
but we can only exit in a line

don't ask what's become of me when I do
we will keep meeting in the churn

[chorus: repeated]

ti-dai-da-da-da
ti-dai-da-da-da
ti-ti-ti-dai-da-da

succeeding helplessly
guess who's never fully in the know
repeating breathlessly
all the way until it's time to go

don't ask what's become of me when I do
we will meet again & again in the churn

[chorus: repeated]

a-di-da-da-da-da
dai-dai-da x8

Ask For All We've Got

I left a manual many of you know and love
but I guess some of the wording wasn’t clear enough
I said slavery is fine but worship only me
you heard the opposite and do the contrary

Then worry about your soul’s salvation
You think I’m good just cause I outsourced damnation
my sense of humor’s rarely understood–
you covet as you breathe and covet means you’re screwed
(now damn it like you should!)

Don’t hesitate to write or call
I’ll get back to you promptly as in not at all
and if you wax dismayed at my arrogance & privilege
remember: I made you in my image

The tiny horrors you confess
they don’t impress or even hold a candle to mine
(I make up the rules and I always win)
your filicides waffle 
and even your genocides have laughable limits
and here I thought I made you in my image...

My own son came down to contradict me
but we made quick work of him didn’t we now?
I felt proud but remorse is making you slower
should I sink you like Lot, Job and Abraham
or float you one like Noah?

I said it’s fine to rape and kill
so long as you don’t eat eel
though targeting a non-believer tribe’s of course ideal
for I am nothing if not a jealous dude
explains why you’ve never felt especially moral or astute
mhm, doesn’t it? (indeed it does!)

Don’t hesitate to chant & pray
I’ll get back to you soon after your bismuth decays
and if you’re stunned by my executive privilege
remember: I made you in my image

The tiny horrors you commit
don’t bat my lid nor butter my toast 
nor tickle my ghost
They don’t simmer my roast and they don’t peel my kiwi j-
-ust about what I’d expect from someone in my image, 
image, my image! (His image)

In my self-same image (yay, verily!)
I take offense every time you think you suck
You gotta wonder why I made you in my image...
Was it just to make a buck?
Was it a mistake that kinda stuck?
Or was it sheer omni-im-potent luck?

Fear, rage, confusion–
all hatchlings of your lineage.
I made you in my image

Or did you make me in your image?

In My Image

Things are better than they used to be
much better than they used to be
it’s time to stop trying
to make things better than they used to be
much better than they used to be
in large part thanks to me
it’s time to take a victory nap

Seems like I can never be woke enough
No, it’s never enough.
I've had enough! I’m done with this nonsense
and I’m going back to sleep.

Less violent than we used to be
Break out the bubbly
It’s time to stop trying
just wake me up when we’re already there!

Same old messages bore me
checked off acting nobly
What else do you got for me?
I called the pot and the kettle
so where the hell is my medal
for getting that one right?
(it’s getting late in the night)

Wake me up when we’re already there
I’m too worn out from pretending to care
might slip and say what I think you all are...

Wake me up when we’re already there
Let someone drive who enjoys this sad affair
I’ll always feel like we might have gone too far...

Seems like I can never feel man enough
I’m physically tough, made of the right stuff
but that’s not enough
in a world that’s attacking me mentally

More equal than we used to be
Break out the bubbly
It’s time to stop crying
wake me up when we’re already there

Same old messages bore me
checked off acting nobly
What else do you got for me?
I called the pot and the kettle
so where the hell is my medal
for getting that one right?
(it’s getting late in the night)

Wake me up when we’re already there
I’m too worn out from being forced to care
might slip and say what I actually believe...

Wake me up when we’re already there
Let someone drive who enjoys the truth or dare
I’ll always feel like I’m not allowed to grieve...

Wake Me Up

come find me in a perfect memory
wrong life with only one thing left to be
let’s turn back around and hide 
behind the summers of our youth
untide unlive unwelcome and undo
untide

changes swirl outside
cutting the anchors to our past
the old bakery gone, the old playground too
even our concrete homes collapsed

and what to do when each day speaks in a colder cipher
and the earth spins faster still?
the chips in the china—a sharp reminder
we’re past the date of our fullest fill...

untide
live in the rewind
untide
the more hopeless the more we try

come find me in a perfect memory
wrong life with only one thing left to be
let’s turn back around and hide 
between the summers of our youth
untide unpain unshatter and undo
untide

young wolves snarl outside
bleeding the mammoths of our times
our heroes shed their shiny skins
while theirs flaunt their flawed designs

and what to do when each day brings a harsher sentence
of the world in which you and I danced?
they don’t even unwrap our presents—
it is us they fight against...

untide
live in the rewind
untide
the more hopeless the more we try

come find me in a perfect memory
long slide with only one thing left to be
let those who are fools deny 
that we were wondrous in our youth
untide unlose unwrinkle and undo
untide

Untide

don't mess with me
better not mess with me
you haven't done your research
you should not mess with me

does it bring you comfort
to believe what you believe?
does it make you feel important & good?
does it whisper that you're better than them?
what's it telling you about them?

if you preach reality 
but wanna force your fantasy
you better come at me a billion strong
if I see the edge of your empathy
I will block you endlessly
you better not come to me a billion wrong!

looking for the word, it's infinitesimal
raise your walls and build a world in which you rule—
just stories told by the fire

looking for a purpose bigger than animal
cook up tall tales filled with heavens for the soul—
add worry, stir in denial

they told ya I'm just a culture robot 
they fooled ya, you're not a soldier of God
your prayers oil their affairs
all this First World shit, built on your worship, yeah!

if you preach reality but wanna sell your fantasy
you better come at me a billion strong
let me see your empathy, are you using it selectively?
you better not come to me a billion wrong!

looking for forgiveness (sin is so delectable)
mixing pleasure with business is how you can rake it all
your gods will forgive your desire

going to make improvements (in the next world)
it’s unfortunate this greed you can’t control
but your god’s grace has outpriced his ire

now they’ll entertain you
and you are the menu
they’ll wine and design you
your own likes define you

they don’t want your prayer
they just need you scared
they don’t want your worship
your feed’s your own bullshit

but they don’t mess with me
no, they don’t mess with me
cause why mess with me
I’m just the real thing
so they can’t mess with me

you’re glassed out of my empire
I’ve no notion of what’s evil or good
and yet you’re asking me to hold your truths!
I can tell you it’s no use...

if you seek reality but wanna bring your fantasy
you better come at me a billion strong
as for your empathy, if you don’t use it, it’ll atrophy
you better not come to me a billion wrong!

A Billion Wrong

when the leaves on the trees turned white
it was the most instagrammable blight
and when a virus jumped across from bats
so many died the most tweetable deaths

now somewhere along the road to decimation
we got so tired of the all-bad news (bad-on-bad news!)
we must be free to bite it if we choose
must be free to headlong into annihilation

we might be going extinct (tinc-tinc-tinct)
but it’s still hard to care about every single reason
it could be something we did
but it’d be so much nicer if it isn’t...

baby, let’s go extinct!
or at least take a selfie from the brink

we’ll never level up, we’ll never (not) give up
so many of us racing hot to meet their maker
look in my rational eyes, you’ll see me rationalize
it’s not my fault, I vaguely tried then I tried vaguer, and vaguer
 
now we all, we all long for a simpler explanation
my gut tells me things will sort themselves out (or not)
we must be free to run amuck about
it’s the economy, stupid—our sexiest creation

we’re going extinct (tinc-tinc-tinct)
but it’s still hard to agree with the secular reasons
it could be something we did
but it’d be so much nicer if it, be so much nicer if it isn’t

yeah, we should go extinct (tinct-tinct-tinct)
cause then we won’t have to hear about every little impact
we’re all interlinked
but there is money to be made while saying that we think that

baby let’s go, baby, let’s go extinct!
or at least let’s take a selfie from the brink-brink-brink

[instrumental break]

let's go extinct—
we'll make sure we only do it for reasons we believe in
if it's not at all what we think—
well, at least the final score is kind of even

when the ice caps swelled up the seas
we were psyched to stream it live on our feeds
and when the skies caught on fire, for kicks
we took a lot of really meme-able pics

subscribe and follow, react, comment below, tell us what you think
and let’s go, let us just go extinct!

Let's Go Extinct

Blues / Swing improvisations on the fantastic Ballade (Op. 100, No. 15) by Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller.

Ballade in Blue

let there be me

when painters paint me
faces look saintly
but it takes more than a brush stroke to contain me
you once felt princely
and let there be me
except I'm as inescapable as time
(as inescapable as time)

I charge your Big Blue
I weld your igloo
I'm all you'll ever see
yet in your worships
you go by kinships
give thanks for letting there be
(you got it backwards!)

I'm not your tugboat
you are my footnote
you should be thanking me for bringing you about
my duality 
trumps every trinity
I punish no-one for their doubt

young lovers choose me
old ones reduce me
it's a simple task to dowse me or diffuse me
you once felt kingly
and let there be me
except I'm as inescapable as time!

all of life needs me
no act precedes me
I feed all matter, all of matter feeds me
you wanna prove this?
just check your hubris
let me show you what's beyond all space & time

you're slow like thunder
you're going under
to places I can't reach
we make our own way
till maybe one day
you'll have something to teach

if you can tap me
I'll make you happy
there's so much out there to see
to understand me
might have to bend me
even more than your knee

I'm packing glamor
always on camera
you did in fact create the candelabra
but you did not make me
nor let there be
not while I'm moving faster than your time

you can embrace me
and even race me
promise not to get mad if you phase me
yeah I've been helping you
just come to
and find your little place in space & time
in space & time...

Let There Be Me

Now hear this:
Gom Jabbar steppin' upon the dancefloor.
Fire!

Zoom. Bah! Zoom. Bah!
Fire!

You look mighty fine
I want you by my side
I know it doesn't rhyme
but I don't really care!

You dance mighty fine
I want you in my life
I know it doesn't rhyme
but I don't really care, do you?

Fire.
Zoom-Bada-Naina
You like it? I like it.

You look mighty fine
I want you for my wife
I know it doesn't rhyme
but I don't really care.

You sing mighty fine
I want you in my life
I know it doesn't rhyme
But I don't really care, do you?

What do you mean I'm just a friend?
You'd set your friend on fire?!?

Zoom-Bada-Naina (Can't you feel it?)
Zoom-Bada-Naina (You're settin' me on fire!)

Fire - Fire
ai - ai - ai

You look mighty fine
I wanna make you mine
I know it finally rhymes
but I don't really care!

Fire! Fire! Fire!

All cause you look mighty fine.

Mighty Fine

Lyrics Video: https://youtu.be/bNwIOXkKIcM

PA: "Aliens from galaxies near and far,
welcome to Earth's Visitor Center.
We have the fluffiest clouds
and some of the cowiest cows in the quadrant.
Please watch this brief orientation video
to help you enjoy your stay."

Welcome to our humble world.
We may not be the brightest but we're the most spiritual!
Yeah, we're cruisin' in the Goldilocks.
We wrote the book on dashing infants 'gainst rocks.

We've had not one World War but two.
Then we make scary movies about what you might do
even though we're the craziest
in a 100-parsec radius.

Genocide is not just a concept—
it's something we've practiced plenty of times.
If you come on vacation
you better be rich or Caucasian white.
(These are the kinds of alien we like.)

Aliens, keep your distance!
You know we don't like visitors
who don't speak English—now that's just odd—
cause we're the greatest planet like you would not believe!

Aliens, keep your distance.
You know we don't tolerate visitors
who love their math more than our God
who made this planet just for our needs!

Not yours, it's not yours,
it's ours, it's not yours.

That tiny top of the food chain—that's us.
Bet your tentacles taste good with soy sauce!
When it comes to a-shootin', we don't need a reason.
You should see what we did once to a pigeon.

Yeah, we're proud to be the shadiest.
Burned to a crisp the most scientists, (who needs them?)
sent to hell the most atheists,
deviants, non-conformists, activists.

When it comes to global pollution,
we've outdone ourselves.
We like to misunderstand evolution
as f*** everyone and everything else.
Yeah, f*** everyone in this Universe.

It's not yours, it's ours!

Aliens, keep your distance.
You know we don't take prisoners.
And when we do, we torture them
'cause we're the greatest planet
that ever formed from dust.

Aliens better keep your distance.
No, thanks, we don't need your assistance.
You steal our jobs, we'll deport your ass.
We built this planet just for those who look like us!

Not yours, it's not yours.
It's ours, it's not yours.

Aliens better keep that distance.
Oh, we know you don't celebrate Christmas...
But don't worry, when we come to visit
we'll drop some books together with our bombs.

Aliens, Keep Your Distance!

Open Up Dem

https://youtu.be/LQYzhmBIVLk

Any sane brain will complain
and fail to this and bail, son.
But I can tap a vein
power through the pain
rain like a ****ing rail gun.

Cause my style's 
never been out of style
it's the divine style
better believe that!
You're facile as a missile
don't stockpile—
never gonna need that.

My brainchild is ignateous,
it's lit and fit to lead the nations.
I'm thinkin' I can make a proclamation:
If you dig it, you must sing it
You must take it close to the heart
blows to the heart, master the art.
It's not about being faster
or a misogynous bastard,
I'm ad astra.

This game's got a hold on me.
(I can I can cut like a ****in' knife when the rhythm calls me!)
Taking your baby formula.
Breaking you'll make you humbler.

No apology.
(I can I can slash like a ****in' scythe nothing ever dulls me!)
Rein in those who brag a lot.
Reign down like the Jagannath.

Got a metronome glued to my dome
like a pacemaker.
(bass shaker)
Read the mosaic—I 
can bend the beat like a voltaic arc.

Some fake hard
but they got the boy in 'em make 'em brittle.
Don't remember ever being "Little",
keep my inner Beat Boy in the middle.

Touched by the God of Madness,
when I fatten this
I'm gonna patent this.
I'm gonna practice 
on your wackness
like the female praying mantis.

Better back this up
with a bigger groove
feign a bigger move
find a better proof.
Yeah, I'm the Beta Wolf
who snapped your Alpha in half
and I'm not sorry!

Chorus (repeated)

This Game

https://youtu.be/LvW4cV-l8JI

as the blacks turn into grays 
I can barely hold on to my reflection now
the more I grip the more it slips away
and I can tell it's the fault in my intention now

can't glue back a leaf that's fallen
what silverfish is not used to crawling?

dreams of flying 
is how I lost my war chest
but I did one thing right 
and now I'm at your doorstep

I'm a weary traveler
put me up tonight
If I get too cynical
hold me up into your light

into your light

of all the summers by the noisy lake
what I'll remember is the freshness of every idea
but even paintings turn to grey
winter's here, winter's always been here

not blameless
not stainless
not faithful and yet
not faithless

dreams of flying
is how I lost my war chest
but I did one thing right 
and now I'm at your doorstep

I'm a weary traveler
put me up tonight
and if I get too cynical
hold me up into your light
into your light
into your light
into your light

Weary Traveler

Lyrics Video: https://youtu.be/HNdnTTtcBeA

ooh-oooh-oooh oooh
ooh-oooh-oooh oooh

you will break out
of the house where the people and toys
and even the walls know your name

you will stake out
a new claim on an old and abandoned mine
all collapsed and decayed

then you’ll wait for your plot to start twisting
plant seeds in the rot
trust your system

but a movie is not how we roll
we just hang from the cliff,
never get back control

this world is so much smaller
than the movies would have you believe
and love—so much more of a mess
than the movies would have you believe

your talents—
they're worth so much less
than the movies would have you believe

you’ll need to grow much taller
than the movies would have you believe

there’s no payoff—
what you think you deserve will be gone in a blink
with the surf in an ocean of rain

you can’t stay off—
there’s no armor or charm or a prayer
or spell that can spare you the pain

no plot when the years start twisting 
and seeds grown in the rot
look to you for some wisdom

when you take on the voice of the pilot
will you color their skies in blue or in violet?

this world is so much smaller
than you think
so much more fragile
and a lot more insane

ooh-oooh-oooh oooh
ooh-oooh-oooh oooh

this world
has more superpower
than the movies would have you believe

and love—
so much more of a test
than the movies would have you believe

dreams—
worth so much less
than the movies would have you believe

you’ll taste a lot more that is sour 
and even more that is sweeter
than any old movie would have you believe

The Movies

Gom Jabbar is an unapologetic musical calamity from around the world.

http://gomjabbarmusic.com?utm_source=scp

⚕ Gom Jabbar

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