Take Me Home

I wrote the book on giving up
My life's a joke so laugh it up
No way around it, every single day is shit
Guess no matter what I lost
Well I refuse

I'll change myself for you
Scrap everything, everything
Re-write myself for you
Is that what you want me, what you want me, to do?

Another lonely night alone
Scrolling comparing on my phone
Yeah I want success, want it more than happiness
It's no wonder we don't talk
Well let's talk

I'll change myself for you
Scrap everything, everything
Re-write myself for you
Is that what you want me, what you want me, to do?

I'll Have What He's Having

Another year, another snow
It covers up what we both know
I said things I regret
Do you think this year we both could forget?

Take me back to all the Christmas pasts
When you were still around my dear
Just once more let’s go the year before
Before we ended, and were left cold

It’s not too late
It's an hour away
Hang the stocking and light the tree
Spend Christmas Eve with me

Is it the lights or the sounds
That make it ok to say aloud
That maybe I was naïve
And maybe you didn't mean the way you treated me

Take me back to all the Christmas pasts
When you were still around my dear
Just once more let’s go the year before
Before we ended, and were left cold

It’s not too late
It's an hour away
Hang the stocking and light the tree
Spend Christmas Eve with me

Baby, I know we broke up for a reason
But I can't remember why this season

Maybe Next Year

Lyrics, guitar, vocals-  Jeff Gorcyca
Percussion, synth, xylophone - Nathan Risley

Wake me up
When you're about to leave

If you want
I won't say anything

All that I dreamed
Is disappearing

This moment now
It means everything

I've been having
Contradicting thoughts

This thing I love
Should I give it up

I deserve
happiness day to day

If it's long term
It's too far away

So take this down
As you hit the road
You can change your life
At any point, you know
And if this city
Really makes you that sad
Go find a new one
So you can finally rest

Stars and starships
Cloud up my mind

I let them go
But it takes some time

Lately I feel
Like I was deceived

By a bunch of people
Who just were lucky

Gave it my all, so my heart is clear
Gave it my all, so what's keeping me here

So take this down
As you hit the road
You can change your life
At any point, you know
And if this city
Really makes you that sad
Go find a new one
So you can finally rest

If I don’t answer
Don’t take offense

I up and left
As a last defense

You Can Finally Rest

Demo of Lost Generation

Lyrics:
Take back the intentions you fake
As the months turn to years there's no time to waste

All the shit that you face unadulterated, its all in your head

Reflect on the countless mistakes
I’m not sorry’s not good when we’re left in the wake

And like a bat that fled out the theatre when someone tuned on the lights

We all flew we all flew

I’m in the lost generation and we
Lost too much
I’m in the lost generation and we
Smoke too much
I’m in the lost generation and we
Broke the odds
I’m in the lost generation and we’ve
Lost enough

Stop thinking about number one
Cause your decisions will last long after you're gone

And then I’ll have to pick the pieces that you've broken

We all will well all will

I’m in the lost generation and we
Lost too much
I’m in the lost generation and we
Smoke too much
I’m in the lost generation and we
Broke the odds
I’m in the lost generation and we’ve
Lost enough

Lost Generation (Demo)

Lyrics:

I'm still reeling from this issue
Of a broken heart

The healing of this tissue
Doesn't seem to start

I leap to conclusions
That aren't the truth

My pulse jumps when I see you
Maybe yours does too?

Can you hear this please?
Hear me now?
And I'll mend my heart

If I let this be
Call me out
And I'll mend my heart

Pace the room, over caffeinate
This place is hell

After a great night in Manhatten
I take the L

What's not been said's been said before

Can you hear this please?
Hear me now?
And I'll mend my heart

Lay next to me
Just for now
And I'll mend my heart

An awkward, an awkward smile
And I'm smitten again

Stay next to me, just for a while
Can this begin?

Hear this please
Hear me out
And I'll mend my heart

Start this thing
I don't care how
And I'll mend my heart

Can You Hear This Please

Lyrics:

I keep it together
The best that I can

My mind knows we're nothing
But my body can't understand

Will I ever feel the way you made me feel
As the days go by I start to doubt this all was real

Had a dream again
Your face was blurry

I can't go back on what was said
I can't erase these thoughts in my head
Slowly I feel we're movin on
Or is this the new normal?

Wash you out of my mind
Every chance that I get

If it's in an app
Or if it's in the porn that I can't quit, no

There's no chance to win
Smooth brain is setting in

How can we fight what I know was right
We should have been

Lock it and load
It's just another wasted day online

I can't go back on what was said
I can't erase these thoughts in my head
Slowly I feel we're movin on
Or is this the new normal?

The good things that happened
They turned to bad

Thought I would call you
Make myself a little less

I can't go back on what was said
I can't erase these thoughts in my head
Slowly I feel we're movin on
Or is this the new normal?

New Normal

Lyrics:

So I’m gonna die alone and lonely
At least I’ll never have to deal with heartache again

Another drink another nervous heartbeat
I think I might lose my mind, but I don’t know when

And it’s just as well
For as far as I can tell
I won’t be getting better any time soon

Every day is rain
And it’s driving insane
How I keep letting
Some girl ruin my day

So here’s my master plan
I’ll erase all that I can
Of any sign of love
Remaining in my life

Cause I don’t want or need it
And I am giving up
Cause any time I find I’m blue
It can be traced back to you
And I don’t want or need it
And I am giving in
Cause when it comes down to it
If I’m feeling like this
I’d rather have my heart not exist
Than have to get fixed

No more cheating, pain, or stupid break ups
Or any time she said that I just don't understand

No more searching for that perfect someone
There’s no such thing and frankly I just don’t give a damn

See all those times I failed
They really knocked me off the rails
And I’m on a course headed to my doom

I never could get it right
Though I tried a thousand times
My insecurities clouded up my sight

But all those times I was upset
Help me never to forget
Why I've banished love 
From messing up my life

Cause I don’t want or need it
And I am giving up
Cause any time I find I’m blue
It can be traced back to you
And I don’t want or need it
And I am giving in
Cause when it comes down to it
If I’m feeling like this
I’d rather have my heart not exist
Than have to get fixed

Don’t pity me
I’m sure that this is what I want

Cause I don’t want or need it
And I am giving up
Cause any time I find I’m blue
It can be traced back to you

And I don’t want or need it
And I am giving up
Cause any time I find I’m blue
It can be traced back to you
And I don’t want or need it
And I am giving in
Cause when it comes down to it
If I’m feeling like this
I’d rather have my heart not exist
Than have to get fixed

Don't Want Or Need It

I'm only happy when I'm asleep
I'm only happy when I can dream
If I close my eyes just let me be
'Cause I'm only happy when I'm asleep

No more my days spent worrying
No more my life wasted wishing
I tried but I know it's too late for me
'Cause I'm only happy when I'm asleep

The weight of the world never fails to bring me down
It's far too much to handle
But when I'm asleep I can do anything
Be with anyone even if for just one night

I'm only happy when I'm asleep
I'm only happy when I can dream
If I close my eyes just let me be
'Cause I'm only happy when I'm asleep

The weight of the world never fails to bring me down
It's far too much to handle
But when I'm asleep I can do anything
Be with anyone even if for just one night

I'm only happy when I'm asleep
I'm only happy when I can dream
If I close my eyes just let me be
'Cause I'm only happy
I'm only happy when I'm asleep

I'm Only Happy When I'm Asleep

I've had my share of fails
This feeling never quells
One drink turns into ten
Then I'm at it again

You say your heaven sent
I've been to hell and back
Looks like we're a better match than I thought

Could it be that I've been duped to long to ever realize?

I think I need some time alone
We'll speak again when the world falls apart
And if you want closure let's close this now
We both live happily ever after with someone else

I'm sorry for what I did to you
I'm trying to give my best to you

I saw your face on my machine
You're older but you're still a dream
You were standing next to him
What's his name... Michael?
He'll never hear this anyway

You text me all these random things
Like "I'm done waiting for your ring"
I guess two kids and half a decade of marriage
Put you right over the edge

But I still dream of what life would be
If you'd gone to U C S D
And studied the algae by me
We'd be happy we'd be free

If you've got the time to lean on me then
You've got the time to clean out all your shit
I understand there's still so much to say
But let a year go by you'll see it's better left this way

I'm sorry for what I did to you
I'm trying to give my best to you

Spring Cleaning (ft. Stephen Finn)

Lyrics:

I'm a mess when
We're not talkin'
I love it when we fight 'cause it means
You are focused on me

Can we go out?
Like we used to?
Like it's the first night, I'll prove to you
I'm worth your time?

Take me back
Yeah
Baby back to the start
Yeah
Back before my heart
Yeah
Swelled and burst every day like it did last year

Are you tongue tied?
Cause we talk less?
Have you noticed severance as we
Watch Apple TV?

So what's the point of
Not pretending
That there's still a spark between us
When we look this cute?

Take me back
Yeah
Baby back to the start
Yeah
Back before my heart
Yeah
Swelled and burst every day like it did last year

And if you
Want this
Let's go back to basics
Re-apply that lipstick
You used to like and I'll wear that old henley

I'm a mess when we're not talkin
I'm a mess when we're not talkin

Take me back
Baby please just take me back
Before we let this fall apart
Maybe you and I can restart?

Take Me Back

I wrote this song after I had an existential crisis about all the things I like.  Because truth is, I love a lot of things, but hate them too.  And hate that they could define me... especially if over the years they start to suck.

So, why call the song Yup, I Know?  It's sort of my answer to my own insecurities about songwriting, and the content of this song in particular.  I hear this voice in my head saying:

This clearly caters to nerds because you say video games!
This song is too simple!
That solo isn't hard to play!
This sounds like Best Coast!
You said Star Wars!  You want this song to grab the attention of Star Wars fans!
.... and on and on and on....

and my answer?

Yup, I Know.

I hope you dig it.  Thank you for listening.  More tunes are on the way :)

Yup, I Know.

I wrote this one a few months after a pretty nasty breakup.  I thought I was doing pretty well, and had moved on, but then one day seemingly out of nowhere, I found that I missed my ex more than anything-- and for a short while I reverted back to how I felt that first week after we separated.  Instead of suppressing, I sort of allowed those emotions to rule me for the day, and the result was this song.

More Time, Please came together pretty quickly.  I wrote exactly how I felt, 1-1 from my brain to the page.  I usually write tongue in cheek or try and be clever, but this is one of the rare songs where I just wrote down real things from my life, or what was going on in my head.  The result is something really personal, and also something I'm really proud of.

I hope you enjoy, and if you find this song and are going through those first few months after a breakup-- I've been there.  It's awful.  And it gets better.

Lyrics:

I say I'm ok to anyone who asks
My friends see me smile, they're glad we didn't last
I hate to still admit I see you every day
In everything I do, In all I put away

I find it hard to breathe
If you're not here with me
I find it hard to sleep
If you're not next to me
I find it hard to speak
If you're not listening
I find that everything is not as good or bad
When I'm happy or sad

I try out other girls who mean nothing at all
When they start to talk, I feel that they're wrong
I run six miles, I'm free for a while
Then I lie on my bed and replay all we said

Because

I find it hard to breathe
If you're not here with me
I find it hard to sleep
If you're not next to me
I find it hard to speak
If you're not listening
I find that everything is not as good or bad
When I'm happy or sad

I find it hard to breathe
If you're not here with me
I find it hard to sleep
If you're not next to me
I find it hard to speak
If you're not listening
I find that everything is not as good or bad
When I'm happy or sad

More Time, Please.

I love the riff in this song.  I remember I wrote it long before a break up happened, and I wasn't able to put words to it.  Then, enter break up, and suddenly I had a lot to say, and this song came together.

Very much inspired by Motion City Soundtrack and blink 182's acoustic songs, Greek Taverna (Stay With Me) is one of my more personal songs that is sort of a "last attempt to save this thing" out cry, as both parties are watching it not work.

Check it out, and as always, thank you for listening.

Lyrics:

I see you there across the room
I know it's late.  We'll go home soon
So badly I've been wanting to ask
Do you feel this pull?  Is it going too fast?

Cold and sharp, I know who you are
I've seen this before.  It ends when it starts
Did I let my inner most fears come true?
Could this have worked if you allowed it to?

But baby if you want then stay with me
I'm thinkin there's a lot we both couldn't see
How many times have I had it good then set it free?
So if you want, then stay with me
Yeah if you want, then stay with me

Baby if you want then stay with me
I'm thinkin there's a lot we both couldn't see
How many times have I had it good then set it free?
So if you want, then stay with me
Yeah if you want, then stay with me

Too many times I see you sad
Starin' at me thinking how hard it is to be present here
So forgive all the men who treated you bad
It's a simple task but I can't even imagine

Greek Taverna (Stay With Me)

This one I wrote to kinda be a passing thought, which is why it's so short!  Ever get the feeling you know the future, but you're just going through the motions?  That's this song.  I hope you dig it.

In many ways it's a throwback to all those bands and sounds I loved in the 90's and 2000's.  Some of them are easily 15-20 year old albums. Time flies, huh?

Thanks for listening and checkin' out my music.

Lyrics:

Taken by surprise again
Since nothing matters, let it in
Promise me this isn't it
New York skyline, becomes shit

But I'll stand with you
There's no way back it's true
But if you want me that badly, I'll see what we can be
Even though I know

But I'll stand with you
There's no way back it's true
But if you want me that badly, I'll see what we can be
Even though I know

See What We Can Be

Cover of Weezer's The Good Life I did today.  Enjoy :)

The Good Life LIVE (Weezer Acoustic Cover)

A song about insecurities in relationships, in art, in my job, in everything.  All while living in Harlem.  Hope you dig it.

Harlem Blues

I wrote this one when some friends and I decided to each make a piece of art inspired by how we were feeling in isolation.  Could be a scene that we act, or picture, or animation, or in my case, music.  I found that I was writing little snippets of real life events, which eventually became the verses, but I couldn't figure out how to string them together.  Then I realized I have been listening to the news and podcasts non-stop during quarantine, and many of the things I was listening to were macro versions of my problems.  Each news sample kind of juxtoposes, and somehow complements, each verse.  At least I hope that comes across.  Hope you dig it, and as always, thank you for listening.

Lyrics:
In the middle of the month
I packed up all my things
My dad picked me up
And we left the city
Though I may be safer
Though it may have been right
Not being on the front lines
Keeps me up and night

One day randomly
An ex reached out to me
She said I'm sorry for everything
She ever said or did to me
Now that I'm alone
And living in my phone
I can't help but start
To miss her

At a dinner conversation
I asked my mom what's wrong
She told me that she's scared
Of the end times that will come
That one day time will stop
And we'll all see ourselves
Before we die
I wanted to cry

Now all my dreams have stopped
My life has no cause
I spend my waking hours
With my whole life on pause
Slowing down to stopping
Didn't bother me at first
It was kinda fun
I was wrong

It All Goes Down

Lyrics:

She packs her semester into her empty car
She wants it to work but thinks it might be too far
He tells her don't worry I'll call you every day
He squints through the sun and waves as she drives away

The summer is gone she goes back to school that fall
Sometimes it's a week before either of them call
He takes out her picture smiles cause his works a bore
She's starting for forget what they're trying for

Cause this is real life and it's movin way too fast
People rearrange and no good things will last
Nothing lasts
Yeah no good things will last

He's debating to drive to her cause it's been so long
He texts here "I miss you" sensing there's something wrong
She responds I love you still with a tear in her eye
Then she puts down her drink to sleep next to some other guy

Cause this is real life and it's movin way too fast
People rearrange and no good things will last
Nothing lasts
Yeah no good things will last

She comes unannounced up to his empty room
She waits there in silence cause he'll be there soon
He knows that today's the day she will break his heart
But it was only a matter of time from when they decided to start

This is real life and it's movin way too fast
People rearrange and no good things will last

Yeah and this is real life our dreams they come and pass
No things never change and only memories last
They will last
Yeah only memories last

Real Life

I actually made a music video to go with this one, check it out if you have a moment--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vq80Q17Vvw

Lyrics:

There's something happening inside my head
I can't figure it out
It goes unsaid

This constant waiting and debating it out
I can't give up now
Though I have doubt

And I know
It's too late
And I know
I'm to blame

There's a tension in the air I breathe
It gets worse with time
Consuming me

A fight breaks out but I just turn away
It gets me down to see
Other people this way

And I know
It's too late
And I know
No one's to blame

I just want to make the young me proud
It's been a while since he's been around
But as the world stops from this circumstance
If I run away now do I even stand a chance

Flying Used To Be Fun Until I Started Doing It For A Living

Kill by Jimmy Eat World
Cover by Steve Finn and Jeff Gorcyca

Follow Steve Finn @stephen-and-zooey

Kill (Jimmy Eat World Cover)

Actor, singer, voice over, eater of ramen.

Jeff Gorcyca

Popular tracks