The Holy Sleep

last night I had a dream of sparks
the language demons speak
this morning I awoke, I awoke with a mark
of tiny hornet's feet

last night I had a dream of gold 
the color angels weep 
they showed me such things, such beauty untold
things men were not meant to keep

you stare at me with your crystal eyes
and breathe on me with your crystal breath
I'm so sorry darlin, I know a few lies
but the way you move reminds me of death

we roam around like ants and dogs
forever enshrouded by the morning fog
if we were stabbed I don't think we would flinch
a lifetime of ecstasy celebrated ever since

even by myself, I don't think I'm alone
I got a lot of angry words to protect my home
even if i could move, i dont think i could stand
my legs are hourglasses that never run out of sand

Haunted by ghosts composed of what I'm not
I slowed my heartbeat to catch up with my thoughts
I spread all my worries in a land of ash
if they build up again, I'll collect em just as fast.

we sin at the rate with which cracks take glass
and we cling to our habits like dew to the grass
we always speak of change like honey on the tongue
the promise is so sweet, but flavor soon is done

and ive never given up, but i have given in
anxiety and love are fraternal twins
and if i sing loud enough, maybe ill forget
that i dont really understand anything yet

This Isn't Home

sleeping is a kindness, and I've been kind too long
someone wake my friends up, I think their dreams are gone
eyes dot the ground on the path i d to take
they stare at me in disdain at each choice I make

Rivers fled the river bed and they will take no blame
The softest waters always tread where hope buries it's pain
Oh, I see now, these hands were never mine
Why else would they so firmly hold the thorns that broke my mind 

Bread is good and water's fine, I truly do believe
These are certainties that will never ever leave
everything else is subject to change 
I'd have it any other way, but this life is strange

I have been there once before, my head upon the floor
Thought I'd made a bed where all my troubles wash ashore
I cannot keep these methods up
I cannot keep this cup
fingers bent along a fragile life
running purely on luck  

hiding is a freedom that I have nearly drained
and soon my sense of sadness will become self-sustained
preachers preached beyond their reach and cannot come to terms
stubborn is the man who can't love what he can't burn

I fear all that is up above and everything below
But most of all I fear that fear is all I'll ever know
oh, what's the softest your heart has ever been?
why would you change the start if you knew that you couldn't change the end?

drifting was my motto, may I never lose my youth
but my feet were faulty implements that would lead me from the truth
i apologize profusely for the debts that I've incurred  
borrowed hearts light the dark for the sake of lonely words

I have been there once before, my head upon the floor
Thought I'd made a bed where all my troubles wash ashore
I cannot keep these methods up
I cannot keep this cup
fingers bent along a fragile life
running purely on luck

Lighthouse Blues

maybe someday I 'll be dead
with a crown of roses atop my head
at my wake, the preacher will have said
he lived as fast as he bled

maybe someday I'll understand 
I was never a part of some great big plan
if my maker met their maker, I think it would say
I wasn't ready to die today.

maybe some day we'll meet again
and this time, we can be good good friends
and if we can't, well that's fine too
there's just some things I wanna say to you

you were warm
as the songs
they sung in the churches
that I never went to
and you were kind
as the words I wrote
in the letters that
I couldn't send you
But it’s gone, so now what am I worth?
The wind feels fine, but why does it hurt?

maybe some day I'll make a pill
and taking it will make you stand oh so still
I think I'll get addicted and end up no where
I think I'm thinkin circles and ignoring the squares

maybe some day all the strings will snap
there never was a chance of ever going back
moving on is easy, but forgiving is hard 
giving up the ghost won’t get you very far 

maybe some day I'll see your face
and I'll tell you everything that made me feel out place
but if I don't, that's fine I guess
I'll close my heart and forever rest 

you were warm
as the songs
they sung in the churches
that I never went to
and you were kind
as the words I wrote
in the letters that
I couldn't send you
But it’s gone, so now what am I worth?
The wind feels fine, but why does it hurt?

Dust Hymn

death come runnin
death came quick
death came stumblin over broken sticks
oh death come later
death come soon
death goes chasin after
sun and moon
death came quiet
death came screaming
death tiptoes when you're 
softly dreamin
death come alone
death come proud 
death is a burden
you are allowed

death is a flower
inside of my hand
death is a thief
bout to make his demands
death is living 
in the sidewalk cracks
death is collecting
every second we want back
death wears the cloak
of good intentions
death is our father's
greatest invention
death be cruel
death be kind
death is a song 
inside of my mind

and i know it's coming soon
as i drift through the land of nod
for the day will come when i have to stand 
before my patient God

death be ready
death be slow
i'll be done
when i let you know
death be shaking
death be still
death left notes
by your window sill
death is the crest 
on the morning tide
death is a secret
i cast to the side
death be humble
death be greed
death is the only thing
that all men see

death come along 
come hold me close
and we'll debate
who matters the most
death come along 
let's sing a song
we'll march into hell
two men strong
death come along
and take my hand
and we'll find hope
in a heavy land 

death come for you
death come for you 
death come for you
no one else would do
death come for you
death come for you 
death come for you
no one else

and i know it's coming soon
as i drift through the land of nod
for the day will come when i have to stand 
before my patient God

Amen, Amen

oh it's been a while now
since I've last spoke your name
im still deeply in love with everything
that drives me insane

oh it's been a while now
since I've last spoke your name
im still deeply in love with everything
that causes me pain

oh i believe ill stay the same
i believe ill stay the same
i cant sleep at night
till im feelin ashamed

oh i believe ill stay the same
i believe ill stay the same
there's a shadow of a crueler man
inside of my brain

oh i believe ill stay the same
i believe ill stay the same
my heart's grown numb
and foreign to change

oh i believe ill stay the same
oh i believe ill stay the same
part of me believes in you
but another part of me...

believes in cocaine

Same

LYRICS

Everyone takes that twist, that turn
That moment where you realize it's alright to burn
People are bad, people are good
People would love you if they thought they could

Working for a wage, working for a living
Working for redemption isn't quite as forgiving
People are sad, people are mad
People will live the life you wish you had

No one will steal your sadness away from you
No one will peel your madness away for you
It’s already gone, it’s already a ghost
Your brothers and sisters, how could they not know?

Everyone wants that kiss, that crutch
That person who will never ever say it’s too much
People will give, people will take
People will turn you to the person you hate

I’ve never wanted more, in this state of wanting 
Riches of the world seem grotesquely haunting
People are faith, people are sin
People will carry you again and again 

No one will steal your sadness away from you
No one will peel your madness away for you
It’s already gone, it’s already a ghost
Your brothers and sisters, they loved you the most.

This life is gentle, this life is peace
So often I looked for fading release 
Well, I won’t come knocking, I won’t fall away
But I think I know how long I should stay

king.copper