you better be good


If I act like I don’t care
Like I don’t know you’re right there
You’re something I don’t want to share
And I never would 
You better be good

And if I treat you unkind
If sometimes I’m hard to find
If you’re wondering if you’re mine
Just do what you should   
You better be good

CHORUS
It’s just past three, and I’m here watching t.v.
And I don’t know where you are
Are you having fun?
Are you with someone?
Hanging out in some bar?


BREAK
CHORUS

When somebody says you look nice
And they’re checking you out twice
Please remember that we pay a price
For something this cool
Don’t make me a fool
Cos I know that you could
So do what you should
You better be good


paul dakota
©2022

you better be good

STARS  


Dreams don’t go away
We watch them pass by
Park the car on red clay
Keep the headlights on high

Stripped of all reason we look to the one
The stars are up high and they’ll hang from the sky when we’re done  
Rise to the surface the glittering quiet
The stars are all out and there’s something about them tonight

Clothes piled on a rock
Dive into the green
Skin shines in the light
Fish swim in the stream

Stripped of all reason we look to the one
The stars are up high and they’ll hang from the sky when we’re done  
Rise to the surface the glittering quiet 
The stars are up high and they’re shining down on us tonight

Paul Dakota - Nov.25/11

Paul D-Oct.12/11

CIGARETTE




When you woke up this morning I wish that I was
Your first cup of coffee that you gave you your first buzz
I wish I was the pillow you left lying there in bed
It slept with you last night and comforted your head

Wish I was the socks and shoes you put on your feet
The feet that took you out the door and down the street
I’d like to be your bicycle that gets you around town
A little bit beat up and painted brown

If I can’t be the cigarette held by your fingertips
I want to be the phone because you hold it to your lips

And when the day is over you watch the setting sun
I wish I was the bathwater that you always run
I want to be the book you hold to read until you sleep
Will I be in your dreams I know in mine you’ll be

Paul Dakota-Sept.7/11

cigarette

SOME OTHER DAY

I can drift by like the clouds in the sky
Watch them chase my trouble away
Watch them all fade away
Come back some other day

I will get dressed but it’s under duress
And I don’t see why she wants to stay
Won’t you please go away
Make it some other day

CHORUS
Oh life’s not hard to ignore
Oh I’ll just sit here some more

I try to stay clean if you know what I mean
See I’ve really got nothing to say
Read the words of the dead
Because it’s all been said

BREAK
CHORUS

She will insist all the chances I’ve missed
Are the ones that I threw away
Make them all go away
Make it some other day

Paul Dakota-Sept.16/11

some other day

ANGIE   SAYS



Angie says she’s got a gun
She keeps it in her dresser drawer
She says it keeps her safe at night
She got it from the kid next door

CHORUS
I don’t know
I don’t know
I don’t know if it’s so bad
She’s the best friend I’ve ever had

She wraps her hand around the butt
When she shows it to her friends
When she goes out she never pays
Stays out nights and sleeps in days

CHORUS

She’s working in a record store
And her friends think it’s cool
She wonders what she’ll miss in school 

She’s sitting waiting in the car
She’s the driver for the band
We’re leaving town after the show
We’ve got nowhere better to go

CHORUS

Paul D-Nov.30/11

angie says

MY WAR


Daylight fades away
Shadows at my door
Like before 
Like before

Senses go astray
Rotten to the core
Like before
Like before

Worn out from worry but I’ll get some rest
Sleeping’s the one thing that I do best
It’s a test it won’t last
Once again I pass by your door
Like before 
Like before

Dropped from a distance much too great
All I can do now is sit here and wait
It’s too late cannons roar
Shot down in my own war
Like before 
Like before
Like before

Paul D - Apr.18/12

my war    wip

Are You Alright


Morning sun shines through the trees
Ringing phone won’t let me sleep
Eyes still closed who’s calling please

Can’t escape the summer heat
Can’t see where I put my keys
Can’t find parking on the street

Chorus
Are you alright (2)

Bright sun’s filling up the sky
And all the cars look painted white
Idling too long at the lights

Behind my eyes, sparks explode
Can’t keep both eyes on the road
Why can’t I turn off my phone?

Chorus

Bridge
Diamond diamond in the sky
Dancing bright, you shine up high
(p) And if I make a wish tonight
What was the rest of that rhyme?

Inst. chrous (2)

Going shopping in the dark
Sleepwalking through the parking lot
 I put my key in the wrong car



©2022
paul dakota

are you alright    wip

FDR

The FDR in early June
Deep in the back seat while Frank croons
You call to say you’ll be in soon
Then check the stocks that sold

In a luxury car that’s always new
Your driver waits at the toll booth
Resplendent in your 3-piece suit
You trade all day for gold

CHORUS
And when the Street shuts down
You take a trip uptown
Frank’s singing soft and low
Go by a place the locals  know
You’re riding with a grand
You’re here to meet your man
And if the stuff’s really swell
You might miss the morning bell

Strategies and cut-throat plays
Make up 16 hour days
Look out the window through the haze 
From the 67th floor

High above the downtown core
A hooded golden eagle soars
He’s made his home here in New York
The greatest city in the world

CHORUS 

©2023  Paul Dakota

fdr      wip

YOUR  OLD  MAN


I’ve had enough of your old man
How you put up with him I’ll never understand

You say he means well
But it’s sure hard to tell
He can go straight to hell for all I care
You say that isn’t fair
When we talk on the phone I can hear him yelling at you
It’s nothing new

I’ve had enough of your old man
I’ve got a black bass you could be playing in the band

We’ll be getting downtown
When the sun’s going down
Soundcheck’s done come around and we’ll eat
Kids appear on the street
When the cops come around and the music’s too loud to hear
We’ll disappear

 Break

Maybe it’s his worst fear
That you get out of here
And that one day he’ll see
You riding with me
And that’s how it’ll be get your bag
‘Cos there’s room in the van
We can ride in the back
In a week or two you can write
‘Cos we’re leaving here tonight

Paul D-June30/12

your old man

CUT   YOUR   HAIR

Cut your hair, take a load off of your head
Stick your neck out instead
Well so what if they all stare
Go on and cut your hair

Cut your hair, will your friends still recognize
The girl behind the eyes
That look away without a care
When you go and cut your hair

And nobody sees you when you make the effort to dress up
But everybody’s looking when you’re walking up to me

Break

Cut your hair, if it’s the source of some concern
It’s lucky you’ve got looks to burn
You’ve been wondering if it’s wrong
But you’ve had it much too long


©2020  Paul Dakota

Paul D-Nov.2/11

cut your hair

DIVER DOWN


Diver, there’s a diver down this morning
In the deep blue sea
Diver, there’s a diver down this morning
It’s too dark to see
Down, down
The circuit that won’t shut down on you
Down, down
The current that won’t turn off on you

Diver, there’s a diver down this morning
In the deep blue sea
Diver, there’s a diver down come quickly
Can you hear his plea?
Down, down
The circuit that won’t shut down on you
Down, down
The current that won’t turn off on you

Times before, you thought about walking out the door
But if you leave there’ll be no hope for the

Diver, there’s a diver down this morning
In the deep blue sea
Diver, there’s a diver down ,he’s sinking
Won’t you set him free

Round and round, circling underground
See the waters swirl, while his soul unfurls
Round and round, it’s a ghostly sound
That has no compare, the man is losing air

Over and over, under the sky
There’ll be nowhere to go
Over and over, higher and high
If he sinks below
Don’t let the diver drown

©2020  Paul Dakota

Diver Down

CLEMENTINE


O my dear Clementine
I’m not what you had in mind
But I wouldn’t try to be
It’s all the same to me

You lift your eyes to the sun
And look for your special one
The one I could never be
It’s all the same to me

You sit upon your throne like the sun king
And glance down at the gifts that the guests bring
Like it isn’t anything

The cop gives the third degree
The crown enters in the plea
The judge offers clemency
For what’s become of me

Break

And yes, I guess you know, it isn’t very smart
Going it alone, that’s the hardest part
So when’s, it going to start

You lift your eyes to the sun
And look for your special one
But who do you hope to see
Someone who isn’t me

O my dear Clementine
You got yourself in a bind
So I’ll be your deputy
It’s all the same to me

©2020  Paul Dakota

Clementine

NEVER    

In the morning when I rise
All through the day its no surprise
When are you not on my mind?
Never 

And every morning clear and strong
I hear you sing the sweetest song
When will I not sing along
Never

CHORUS
I need you round me more each day
When you’re not here I lose my way
More than a lover, you’re my friend
When will our affair end?
Never

Break

Busy watching our love grow
We can’t help but put on a show
When will I ever let go?
Never

CHORUS2
You’re a thief and it’s my heart you took
The first time you give me that look
I love the drama and surprise
That I see dancing in your eyes


When will you not feel my kiss
On a night as sweet as this
When will our love not exist?
Never


© Paul Dakota 2023

Never

WHERE DO I BELONG 



When dreams are richer than your real life
Nightly adventures deep and  long 
When you come back to this still life
Tell me where do I belong?

Romantic sights, exotic  places
All the things that this life lacks 
When your busy night is over
Are you sad when you come back?


And when you've slept straight through to morning 
Still you're reluctant to wake up
Dream world is reaching out to keep  you 
These nights are never  long enough 

BRIDGE 
And why should you hurry to return now ?
Dear I'm waiting here when you get back   

BREAK 
BRIDGE 

You close your eyes and leave my side dear 
Fantastic trips, dramatic scenes
When you come back from your journeys
Won't you tell me where you've been?      

When dreams are richer than your real life
Nightly adventures deep and  long 
When you come back to this still life
Tell me where do I belong

Are you sure which one is real dear?
And tell me where do I belong?                                                 

©Paul Dakota 2024

Where Do I Belong

Paying tribute to the majesty of Paul Williams and the Carpenters on this one. 
This song is for One.


                                                 YOU  COULD  BE  THE  ONE


You don’t talk to me like the others
You listen and you’re thoughtful and we laugh
And when we’re done
Well we’re never really done
No we’re never really done by half

And sometimes when the mood’s upon us
Those times we don’t talk at all
But I hope you heard
That I don’t need words
To know you’re going to catch me if I fall

CHORUS
And you could be the right one
When all my worries try to bring me down
And I need somebody sweet around
To have some fun
You could be the one

PRE-
You can read my moods just like a book
You can warm my winter nights with just one look
And when we love
Oh we’re never really done
No we’re never really done at all

CHORUS (2)
And you could be the right one
When all my worries try to bring me down
And I need somebody sweet around
To have some fun
You could be the one

© 2024  Paul Dakota




Recorded mixed and produced at B.Musique Studio, Toronto.

You Could Be The One

NOW I KNOW 


All my life
I've heard how dangerous it is to lose control    
To love someone with all your heart and soul
I thought they were only words 
But now I know
Now I know 


All full of pride 
I strutted through the world willful and bold 
But when I saw you it was my heart that was stole
I held you in the candles glow 
And there we danced 
Soft and slow


BRIDGE
Now I know 
If I hadn't been such a headstrong fool 
The love we made 
So sweet and pure 
Would have endured
Of this I'm sure  

BREAK

Til I die 
You're going to live inside my mind wherever I go 
A constant reminder of  the love I'll never know  
A lesson learned  but far too slow  
How love should grow
I didn't let my feelings show   
Then watched you go 
Now I know

© 2024 Paul Dakota

Now I Know    piano

In my dreams, lost Cocteau Twins bed track.

EOB   DeadStars  wip

Saskatoon

NEW YOU


So baby here we are 
I just got off the plane
I would've moved heaven and earth 
To celebrate this special day   

And if the journey here was long 
You know I never had one doubt 
That you'd be standing here today 
Looking gorgeous in your gown


Filled  with so much emotion
Oh honey I'm so proud
So many things I never told you
So let me tell you  now


Precious loved ones in your life
Helped send you on your way
The sacrifices your  parents made
Are why you're standing here today   


CHORUS 
So here's to your bright future
Baby here's to your new life
The sun is high the sky is blue
While I watch -you turn  into 
a brand new 

BRIDGE 
You.......
It's a big world out there
And honey you'll go far
I've got a front row seat
To watch you reach the stars



VERSE 3:
There's a picture of you in a forest
That I took when you were young
Where you're standing beside a tree
And you're giving it a hug 

And in that tiny little frame 
Abides a spirit big and loud 
And the light that shone in your eyes
Is the same light I'm seeing now
 


CHORUS II
Baby this is your moment 
Darling now's your time to shine 
You've got the stuff I always knew
And it sure looks good on you 

Yes here's to your bright future
Baby here's to your new life
Go out and make your dreams come true. 
I love the way you grew into                                                                       
A brand new you

 
                                                         ©2025       Paul Dakota

New You  piano  wip

Sometimes WIP

Everytime You Say Goodbye   
                                                                                        

You answer when I call                                                                                        
I pick you up when you fall                                                                           
So forgive me if I don't believe                                                                             
That today you're going to leave     

CHORUS                                                                                                                      
I watch your eyes get wide                                                                            
Every time you say goodbye                                                                          
And then your tongue gets tied  
Every time you say goodbye   
                         
When you sing then I clap                                                                              
When I'm silly then you laugh                                                                               You're my whole world                                                                                  
You're my favourite song                                                                                
Look inside you know it's wrong                                                                   

CHORUS 2                                                                                                          
You never tell me why                                                                                   
Every time you say goodbye                                                                          
You go and tell a lie                                                                                       
Every time you say goodbye                                                                      

BRIDGE                                                                                                              
You say you need me but then                                                                                 You go and leave me again                                                                                 
You wonder if we’re better off as just good friends    
                                                                                                                                              BRIDGE 2                                                                                                         
Then I hear your voice on the phone                                                            
Crying saying you wanna come home                                                    

CHORUS 3                                                                                                            
I watch your eyes get wide                                                                                       Every time you say goodbye                                                                           
And then your tongue gets tied                                                                            Every time you say goodbye                                                                           
You know you tell a lie                                                                              
Everytime you say goodbye                                                                     
Everytime you say goodbye                                                                                   
But don’t you ever say goodbye.                                                                          


© 2025  Paul Dakota

paul dakota pop

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