I've got half a mind to stay; 
half a mind to go. 
half that says, “no way;” 
half that just says “no.”

I've got half a mind to have some fun.
half a mind to get a gun.
I've got half a mind. 
that's all I got today.

got half a mind to wonder where you are.
half a mind to wander there, no matter how far.
half a mind to miss you,
half that's glad you're gone away.

half a mind to quit;
half to make a stand.
half a mind, but it ain't always
under my command.

I feel half-cocked and about half-loaded;
half-preserved and half-eroded.
I'm workin' with about half a deck,
on the last half of my last cigarette.

I got half a mind to draw a line
in the sinking sands of time.
half a mind that remembers 
what the other half tries to forget.

[instrumental break]

I've got half a mind to stay; 
half a mind to go. 
half that says, “no way;” 
half that just says “no.”

I got half a mind to have some fun.
half a mind to get a gun.
I got half a mind. 
that's all I've got today.

I got half a mind to wonder where you are.
half a mind to wander there, no matter how far.
half a mind to miss you,
half that's glad you're gone to stay.

I've got half a mind to live;
half a mind to die.
half a mind to laugh out loud,
and half a mind to cry.

I feel half-cocked and about half-loaded;
half-preserved and half-eroded.
I'm workin' with about half a deck,
on the last half of my last cigarette.

I got half a mind to draw a line
in the sinking sands of time.
half a mind that remembers 
what the other half tries to forget.

half a mind that remembers 
what the other half tries to forget.

—words and music by jim parker
© 2012 bad data records and tapes • all rights available

half a mind

you wake in the morning
 to the sounds of the day. 
and you try to shake your dreams off, 
but they won’t go away. they’re here to stay.

welcome to the real world. 
you should have known. 
welcome to the real world. 
there’s a devil in your head,  and he won’t leave you alone.

she said that she loves you, 
but she said it’s the end. 
said you took her for granted, 
and she said that’s a sin. you did it again.

welcome to the real world. 
it’s your turn at last. 
welcome to the real world.
 it’s a world that keeps turning,  but it’s turning too fast.

jesus promised forgiveness.
 but jesus is dead. 
and here, among the living, 
we still wonder what he meant, when he said:

welcome to the real world. 
it’s here and it’s now. 
welcome to the real world.
 don’t refuse it. Just choose it, and use it, somehow.

so you say that you’re leaving, 
and you ain’t coming back. 
but the highway keeps disappearing,
 just like smoke from a stack. imagine that.

and welcome to the real world.
 you’re closing in on the end. 
welcome to the real world.
 when it’s over, you’ll be with rover &amp; aunt bea again.


—words and music by jim parker
© 2012 bad data records and tapes • all rights available

welcome to the real world

i bet it all, sacrificed.
i was sure you’d be worth the price,
that always seemed due.
i did it for you.

but that’s okay.
what can i say?
when there’s no bride and no bouquet,
just a bird that flew.
i did it for you.

we didn’t even taste the wine.
left the grapes out on the vine,
covered in dew.
i did it for you.

i did it for you.
and i know you must’ve done something for me.
but what it was, now i just can’t see.
now i’ve one question for you: 
what did i do, before i did it for you?

what can i do?
what can i say
to a little bird that flew away?
only adieu.
i did it for you.

what can i say?
what can i do?
you were a dream that wouldn’t come true.
that’s what some dreams do:
they do it to you.

that’s what some dreams do:
they do it to you.
that’s what some dreams do:
they do it to you.
that’s what some dreams do:
they do it to you.

—words and music by jim parker
© 2012 bad data records and tapes • all rights available

i did it for you

u know i had a pretty woman 
or more like she had me. 
when she took it on the run 
she took down my economy. 

she like 2 drive me mad. 
baby like 2 drive me mad. 
maybe i expect 2 much 
or i'm a soft damn touch,
but she like 2 drive me mad.

u know i bought her gold 
and i bought her fur,
took a 2nd mortgage on my coffin 
just 2 be good 2 her.

she like 2 drive me mad 
i give her everything i had 
if my best wasn't good enough, 
can i at least have back my stuff? 
or was it just 2 drive me mad?

my grandpa told me 
some women like empty sacks 
u give 'em crepe suzettes 
they'll say they wanted crackerjacks 

they're here 2 drive u mad 
boy, they're just here just 2 drive u mad 
read the writing on the wall 
they're all just here 2 drive u mad. 

they say if god wants 2 destroy u
first, he'll make u mad.
he's a fun-lovin' deity 
but the law is ironclad. 

it like 2 drive u mad 
when u give it everything u had. 
maybe he knows good from bad 
but this guesswork like 2 drive me mad. 

u know i loved that woman 
but she didn't love me.
now she's takin' it on the run
somewhere across the sea.

she like 2 drive me mad. 
baby like 2 drive me mad. 
maybe i expect 2 much,
or i'm just a soft damn touch,
but she like 2 drive me mad.

it's a helluva note 2 find 
good love went bad.
and instead of gettin' got
u just got gotten had.

it like 2 drive you mad.
bad love will like 2 drive u mad.
but if my best wasn't good enough, 
will u at least gimme back my stuff? 
or was it just 2 drive me mad?

thought I had a good woman,
but didn't check her bona fides.
so she played me for a chump 
and took me for a ride.

she like 2 drive me mad.
i give her everything i had.
maybe i expect 2 much 
or i'm just a soft damn touch,
but she like 2 drive me mad.

my grandpa told me 
some women like empty sacks.
u give 'em crepe suzettes,
they'll say they want crackerjacks 

they're here 2 drive u mad 
boy, they just here just 2 drive u mad 
read the writing on the wall 
they're all just here 2 drive u mad.


—words and music by jim parker
© 2012 bad data records and tapes • all rights available

like 2 drive me mad

money problems all outta control.
last eight years all down the hole.
you leavin’ is breakin’ down my soul...
all ‘cause of a little jelly roll.

i’d try to make sense of it,
but that ain’t my joint.
i’m moving past the breaking point.

bad news is my stock in trade.
women hustled or stole every good thing i made.
“for better or worse” became a curse.
just write it on the back of my fuckin’ hearse.

no need to make sense of it,
’cause that ain’t my joint.
i done and moved beyond the breakin’ point.

now, miss crystal is my only friend
said she’ll stand beside me until the end.
if anyone listenin’, i don’t mean to offend,
but she make more sense to me than billy graham.

no need to make sense of it,
cause that ain’t my joint.
i done and moved beyond the breaking point.

bad news is my stock in trade.
women stole or hustled every good thing i made.
“for better or worse” became a curse.
just write it on the back of my fuckin’ hearse.

no need to make sense of it,
’cause that ain’t my joint.
i moved beyond the breakin’ point.


—words and music by jim parker
© 2012 bad data records and tapes • all rights available

breaking point

things didn't turn out the way that i planned,
but i guess that's all right.
and you walked away, holding his hand,
out in the pale, pale watery moonlight.

but that ain't cause for grief, it ain't cause,
it ain't cause for despair.
cause now i been to the mountaintop,
and i know that the mountain will always be there.

so i ain't pickin' up the pieces,
cause no pieces have dropped.
and i ain't startin' again,
cause i ain't ever stopped.

i'm just thinkin' about you, baby,
and i'm makin' plans to keep on keeping on.

well, it's hard to live with the truth,
but it's easier than livin' a, livin' a lie.
at least, i don't have to take back a word that i said.
or a tear that i, tear that i cried.

it was a miracle, miracle, miracle,
even loving you at all.
that's why i ain't turnin' my back, i ain't turnin' away,
and i ain't turnin' my face to the wall.

so i ain't pickin' up the pieces
cause no pieces are lost.
and i ain't settlin' accounts,
cause i ain't double-crossed.

i'm just thinkin' about you, baby,
and i'm makin' plans to keep on keeping on.

so now it's time for what's next,
but what's next, I haven't a clue.
but i promise to take what you gave,
and keep givin' it away the way that you do.

maybe i can't see tomorrow,
but i don't even claim to know that much about yesterday.
i just know that i love you, and lovin' you is something
that nobody's ever takin' away.

that's why i ain't pickin' up the pieces,
i got the pieces in my hand.
and i ain't makin' excuses.
i'm just takin' a stand.

and i'm thinking about you, baby,
and i'm making plans to keep on keeping on.


—words and music by jim parker
© 2012 bad data records and tapes • all rights available

keep on keeping on

whatever, whenever, wherever 
you need me to be.
i'm not sure whether anything's forever.
but i think, together, we'll reach the sea.

i loved you when I first saw you
and bumped into your crazy dream.
not all dreams come true, 
but i'll be true to you, and i pray you'll be true to me.

whatever, whenever, wherever 
you need me to be.
i'll be that. i won't look back,
as long as you are here with me.

your love is an ocean; 
it flows so deep and wide.
sometimes i feel so lost:
i'll never make it across,
because there is no other side.

whatever, whenever,wherever 
you need me to be.
i'm in you, and i'll continue 
to make you the very best part of me.

i'll love you when my time comes,
and every heartbeat from now till then.
and i won't regret, or manage to forget 
i lived in love with my best friend.

whatever, whenever, wherever 
you need me to be.
i'm not sure whether anything's forever.
but i think, together, we'll reach the sea.


—words and music by jim parker
© 2012 bad data records and tapes • all rights available

whatever, whenever, wherever

I’ve been down for such a long damn time.
if I had one left, I think I’d lose my mind.
problems almost had me hypnotized,
until I put my eyes back on the prize.

I don’t know much, but I know I can do my best
to represent my own damn interests.
lucky I had someone who showed me how.
and if you’re wondering who, I’m gonna tell you now.

I’m gonna do just like my daddy did:
fall in love and then we’ll have a kid.
think it’s time for me to settle down.
I’m tired of throwin’ my heart around.

I’ll be a man like he turned out to be.
create my own opportunities.
if you won’t help, stay out of my way, please.
I've got a long damn road in front of me.

[instrumental break]

I’ll work my job until the day is through.
don’t have to love it, but it’s what I gotta do.
to make life safe and pleasant as it can be
for the little girl who'll depend on me.

cause I’m gonna do just like my daddy did:
fall in love and then we’ll have a kid.
then someday when that little girl is grown,
she can fall in love and have a kid of her own.

and maybe she’ll remember what her daddy said,
when he spoke from his heart and not just from his head.
maybe I won’t unravel any dark mysteries,
but I’ll play a part at the start of her history.

and then, someday, if her own well runs dry,
and she’s lost and lonely and just wants to cry,
she’ll look inside and know that ain’t the plan
and pick herself back up like her old man.

she might even do just like her daddy did:
fall in love and someday have a kid.
she’ll get by the best she can
if I just do my job as her old man.

cause I’m gonna do like my daddy done.
I won’t give up now for anyone.
my life ain’t over, hell, it’s just begun.
if walking’s too slow, then I’ll just have to run.

I’ll be a man like he turned out to be,
create my own possibilities.
if you won’t help, stay out of my way, please.
I got a long damn road in front of me.


—words and music by jim parker
© 2012 bad data records and tapes • all rights available

just like my daddy did

staring into your eyes, I'm hypnotized.
I feel paralyzed, 
but I try to memorize…
everything, everything, everything about you.

you know you are my lady.
you're my lover and my child. 
I want to love you at least forever,
but we've only got a while.
meanwhile, I love everything, everything, everything about you.

I feel love start to happen
when I hold you close to me.
and I feel just like a river 
dancing from the mountains to the sea.
that's when I see
everything, everything, everything about you.

I want to take the rest of your life,
and mix it up with mine.
mix all our colors together,
and disappear between the lines.
'cause I'm fine with everything, everything, everything about you.

everything about you

feels like i'm coming home 
after so long a time.
i wanna love you.  
i wanna make you mine. 
 i wanna be with you, baby, 
 i never wanna leave you alone.

staring into your eyes 
at the end of the day,
i see a look of love 
and it won't go away.
 i wanna be with you, baby, 
i wanna make your dreams my own.

said goodbye to sadness, 
you seen the last of me. 
i'm gonna lose my sorrow,
 i'm gonna fight to be free. 
 i'm gonna make myself  
the man you need me to be.

you know that love don't mean a thing 
if it don't ever sting.
it's a measure of the pleasure it brings.
and you bring everything 
in this world that's important to me.
yes, you bring everything  
in this world that's important to me.

—words and music by jim parker | all rights available

(i wanna) be with you baby

don't take much to keep me satisfied.
maybe a little black skirt and a smile a mile wide.
i keep it all simple, so there ain't no doubt,
ain't no misunderstandin' what i'm talkin' about:

i need tits, i need teeth, 
and i need a fine boom-boom. i need a fine boom-boom.
and you got tits, you got teeth, 
and you got a fine boom-boom, you got a fine boom-boom.

what it means, baby, is you got what I need:
you built for comfort and style and speed.
everything arranged in the right damn place,
from the tips of your toes to the nose on your face.

and you got tits, you got teeth, 
and you got a fine boom-boom, you got a fine boom-boom.
yes, you got tits, you got teeth, 
and you got a fine boom-boom, you got a fine boom-boom.

your sister's fine, but she ain't quite you.
her lashes are longer, but your eyes are blue.
everything about you is so doggone sweet,
from your cotton-candy hair to the soles of your feet.

and you got tits, you got teeth, 
and you got a fine boom-boom, you got a fine boom-boom.
you got tits, you got teeth, 
and you got a fine boom-boom, you got a fine boom-boom.

i mean what i say and i'm talkin' to you.
i ain't misrepresentin', what i'm sayin's true:
when i'm with you, baby, i think of no one else.
when you touch me, baby, i can't help myself.

with them tits, and them teeth, 
and that fine boom-boom. that fine boom-boom.
you got tits, you got teeth, 
and you got a fine boom-boom, you got a fine boom-boom.

roses are red and whiskey is gold,
i'll be lovin' you, baby, when my blood turns cold.
if i pass thru a tunnel and i see a light,
i'll know i'm in heaven if you're holdin' me tight.

with them tits, and them teeth, 
and that fine boom-boom. that fine boom-boom.
even the good lord love some tits and teeth, 
and he love a fine boom-boom, and you got a fine boom-boom.


—words and music by jim parker | all rights available

a fine boom-boom

hoodoo woman give me the evil eye.
if not for my lucky streak, 
i mighta almost died.

coulda shoulda woulda
gone home some other way.
if i hadda, things kinda mighta sorta 
be all different today.

about 3000 miles from i shoulda knew better
but I ain't practicin' my own stuff.
tryin' to get to a place where i still haven't met her,
but i never move fast enough.

coulda shoulda woulda
kept these bitches on away from me.
if i hadda, things kinda mighta sorta
turned out all differently.

life's a crooked game in a crooked house
dealer's crooked as a dog's hind leg
he won't leave me alone and he won't throw me a bone
no matter how hard i beg

coulda shoulda woulda
just upped and walked away.
if i hadda, then i kinda mighta sorta 
be a different man today.

coulda shoulda woulda

I got half a mind to stay; 
half a mind to go. 
Half that says, "no way," 
half that just says "no."

I got half a mind to have some fun,
half a mind to get a gun.
I've got half a mind. 
That's all I've got today.

Got half a mind to wonder where you are.
Half a mind to wander there, no matter how far.
Half a mind to miss you,
half that's glad you're gone away.

I got half a mind to quit;
half to make a stand.
Half a mind, but it ain't always
under my command.

I feel half-cocked and about half-loaded;
half-preserved and half-eroded.
I'm workin' with about half a deck,
on the last half of my last cigarette.

I got half a mind to draw a line
in the sinking sands of time.
Half a mind that remembers 
what the other half tries to forget.

I've got half a mind to stay; 
half a mind to go. 
Half that says, "no way," 
half that just says "no."

I've got half a mind to have some fun,
half a mind to get a gun.
I got half a mind. 
That's all I've got today.

I got half a mind to wonder where you are.
Half a mind to wander there, no matter how far.
Half a mind to miss you,
half that's glad you're gone to stay.

I've got half a mind to live,
half a mind to die.
Half a mind to laugh out loud,
and half a mind to cry.

I feel half-cocked and about half-loaded,
half-preserved and half-eroded.
I'm workin' with about half a deck
on the last half of my last cigarette.

I've got half a mind to draw a line
in the sinking sands of time.
Half a mind that remembers 
what the other half tries to forget.

Half a mind that remembers 
what the other half tries to forget.

My life has always centered around songs. Not music, songs. And not just songs, lyrics.

Melody is important. It's what gives poetry a place to be in the world today. And that place is in the center of our lives: in our songs.

Since song lyrics are a form of literature, and my songs are almost always autobiographical, I've decided to call my second song collection "Autobiophonica." 

It's a collage of snapshots I took with my heart, filtered through my mind, and set to music. Along with my first collection, "Welcome to the Real World," it's the basic soundtrack of my life.

Let me know if I left anything out.

JimParker

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