Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil: GOLIATH (Deluxe Version)

A LIFE PRESERVED (Lyrics)

Bobbing for air
Iʼm back again
A perfect ten
of a dive
without a pool
A perfect fool
too slow to know
his wind
has been knocked out
ʻtil Iʼm gasping

Bobbing for air
Been up and down
The once renown
angling for another act
Another tactical advance
to who knows where
You found me there
I heard you there

CALLING ME OUT
OF THE SHALLOWS OF MY WORLD
CALLED TO SOMETHING GRACEFUL
AND TRUE
GRATITUDE IS TOO CHEAP A WORD
FOR ALL YOUʼVE REASSEMBLED
FROM A SPIRIT BROKEN
AND UNNERVED
A LIFE PRESERVED

Bobbing for air
Iʼve been atoned
Creation groaned
to lift me as I drowned
And set my feet
up on the mound of rock
you crushed for me
A place to stand
A whispered command

CALLING ME OUT…

Bobbing for air
I have been served
A life preserved
after all Iʼd cast away
You tipped the grayscale
ʻtil the scales
fell back to earth
And I saw colors
I heard a shout

NINETY-NINE
TO ONE


"A Life Preserved" (Soundtrack Version) Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

STANDING IN LINE (Lyrics)

We shared the world like a private joke
Laughed our way out of hues and cries
Inhaled under the Bridge of Sighs
It’s not the way it was

The weather came
you were skating on fire
And love spilled out like antifreeze
The ice floes melted
in separate seas
If I was slow to learn
I will wait for another turn

I’VE BEEN STANDING IN LINE SO LONG
I’VE BEEN STANDING IN LINE SO LONG
I’VE BEEN WEIGHING THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

You draw your lines from memory’s cage
I write songs for a jealous God
Two spoiled kids and a velvet rod
It’s not the way it was
And I’d pursue you through any hell
I’d swim upstream ‘til I find the source
Dam the Mississippi and change its course
If it was up to me
If it was mine to turn

I’VE BEEN STANDING IN LINE SO LONG
I’VE BEEN STANDING IN LINE SO LONG
I’VE BEEN WEIGHING THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

I’VE BEEN STANDING IN LINE SO LONG
I’VE BEEN WONDERING WHAT WENT WRONG
I’VE BEEN WEIGHING THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

you’ll come to 
sooner or later
you’ll come to

I’VE BEEN STANDING IN LINE SO LONG…
AND I’M NOT GONNA LEAVE


Standing In Line - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

DOUBLE NEGATIVE (Lyrics)

Been a nice trip 
Is this our stop? 
I'd leave the stage 
but the curtain won't drop 
The chemicals took my nerve 
I've given up what the saints preserve

The push pull 
The sturm and the drang 
I can't play a lick 
but I'm strumming along
Sing it with me 
You look uptight 
Now is that a yawn 
or are you ready to bite?

DON'T YOU COME NEAR ME NOW 
DON'T YOU COME THROUGH THE WALL
I CAN'T LET GO OF THE SCENE 
I CAN'T STOP HOLLERING UNCLEAN

Been a nice trip 
as hinterlands go 
I took the hint 
and I swallowed it whole
The chemicals color the facts 
On your mark, get set, relax

The negatives double 
Double that again 
I did the math. I need a bath.
Sing it with me 
The widows might 
Now is that a yawn
or are you ready to bite?

DON'T YOU COME NEAR ME NOW 
DON'T YOU COME THROUGH THE WALL
I CAN'T LET GO OF THE SCENE 
I CAN'T STOP HOLLERING UNCLEAN

DON’T YOU COME NEAR ME NOW
I’VE NEVER NOT NEEDED YOU MORE
CURSED WITH A SENSE OF PLACE
I WANNA SEE THE LOOK 
ON THE OLD MAN’S FACE

Bells are ringing 
in the town of the terminal heartache 
Bells are ringing 
Is it Easter 
or the start of an earthquake?

Been a long trip 
The hinterlands know
You took the hit 
then I quit
Now I'm sick as a dog 
but I’ll still fetch 
You won't make it stop 
but you pity the retch

And how do you love? 
We both know 
what your kids are made of 
60 parts water, 40 parts guile 
I've been found 
I wanna drown

CURSED WITH A SENSE OF PLACE 
I LEFT THIS TOWN IN DISGRACE

DON'T YOU COME NEAR ME NOW 
I'VE NEVER NOT NEEDED YOU MORE 
BUT I CAN'T LET GO OF THE SCENE
I CAN'T STOP HOLLERING UNCLEAN

Bells are ringing 
in the town of the terminal heartache 
Bells are ringing 
Is it Easter 
or the start of an earthquake?


Double Negative - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

MOONSHOT (Lyrics)

I’m building a rocket
Been working so hard
Getting ready to rocket
straight outta my backyard

I’m building a rocket
It’s bigger than me
It’s my gift to your future
My mega legacy

READY, AIM
THE STARS ARE ALIGNING
READY, AIM
I’VE BEEN SWEATING A LOT
BUT I PERSEVERE
THE HOPES OF A NATION RIDE
EVERYBODY GETS ONE MOONSHOT

I’m building a rocket
The neighbors are tense
When they point and they laugh
I don’t even take offense

READY, AIM
A QUIET CONFIDENCE
HAS BEEN MY MARK
SINCE I WAS A TOT
I’VE BEEN SENT HERE
TO SHOW YOU PEOPLE HOW
EVERYBODY GETS ONE MOONSHOT

I’m building a rocket
It’s totally mine
It’ll spell out my name
where the sun don’t ever shine
My motives are pure
I’ve untangled the knots
I’m ready for sure, Lord
Now give me all you’ve got

MAY THE PLANETS ALIGN FOR YOU
HOLD STEADY AND TAUT
IF YOU’RE FACE DOWN 
IN DESPERATION, KNOW
EVERYBODY GETS ONE MOONSHOT

I’m building a rocket
It’s not about me
You’ll be thanking me after
I’ve saved humanity
I took steel and a feather
and welded them together
I took hellfire and ice
and made them play nice


Moonshot - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

HAPPY GO LAZY (Lyrics)

Don’t say a word
It’s all in your stare
I’m a bum
and I’m nothing
if not self-aware
You say you love me
Is that why you’re in my face?
Well I put this plan in place

I made up a list 
of the things that I lack
Six words:
I want you off my back

HAPPY GO LAZY
THAT’S THE WAY I AM
YOU’LL GO CRAZY
IF YOU THINK YOU CAN 
CHANGE A MAN

I give you good love
You’re giving me grief
Dropping hints
Leaving notes
Texting turn over a new leaf
Turn it yourself
‘cause it’s out of my reach
like that Get Up You Lazy Bum speech

No, I’m not listening
Your friends are correct
I’ve got zero ambition
and I want your respect

HAPPY GO LAZY
THAT’S THE WAY I AM
YOU’LL GO CRAZY
IF YOU THINK YOU CAN 
CHANGE YOUR MAN

HAPPY GO LAZY
YOU’RE CUTE WHEN YOU POUT
I’M SO LAZY
CAN’T FINISH THIS SONG WITHOUT

I’ve seen all the others
They’re not what you need
Wrapped in a suit
Programmed to succeed
Driven by money
They ply you with stuff
But their world is not enough

Baby I’ll grow you a garden
if you give me the space
We’re just wildflowers
We don’t belong in a vase


Happy Go Lazy - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

A Life Preserved - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

IN LAYERS (Lyrics)

You were the first in line
The first to volunteer
Now you’re the last to learn
they aren’t what they appear

 
If it’s naivety
it looks best on the young
Give it time, and you’ll be 
comfortably dumb
 

 
You fall in
You grin
You fake it 
Something stirs 
and the perks can’t shake it
Ask around
Get shrugs from players
Leads and lies 
come wrapped in layers
 

LIES
WE’VE ALL BEEN COMPROMISED
LIES
NOW ARE YOU SO SURPRISED?

It’s in the air, she said
as she took a shallow breath 
It’s in the walls and floors
leaching a slow death  

They call you paranoid 
It’s how they seize control
And once you’re pacified
they’re gonna steal your soul 

You say enough
They call the big boys
You blow the whistle
They crank the white noise 
You fight back 
They send more players
Kick all you want
You’re lost in layers

LIES
WE’VE ALL BEEN COMPROMISED
LIES 
NOW ARE YOU SO SURPRISED?
LIBERTY STARES YOU DOWN
BEFORE IT DIES
LIES
NOW ARE YOU SO SURPRISED?

GOOD OL’ BOYS
CRANK UP THE WHITE NOISE

You hit the first clue 
if you drill down far enough 
It’s gonna stare you down 
until it calls your bluff

We’re all hoarders here
caught in layers of sin 
It’s been stratified 
beneath our onion skin 

Throw up your hands
and hell keeps yawning
Open your eyes 
There’s a new world dawning
Sun burns fog
burns all naysayers
Love, like a child 
comes wrapped in layers 

RISE
WE’VE ALL BEEN COMPROMISED
RISE
NOW ARE YOU SO SURPRISED?
LIBERTY STARED YOU DOWN
BEFORE HE DIED
RISE
NOW ARE YOU SO SURPRISED?


In Layers - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

RUBBERNECK (Lyrics)

Rubberneck, over there
Take a picture, don’t stare
Bet you can’t look away
You can get a life any day
Pick a panorama
Post an instagram, aw
This was someone’s grandma
What’s it matter now
What’s the chatter now?

Rubberneck, click go
You got a right to know
Every ugly detail
Get it retail
Ready, tell

HEY YOU, LOOK AT ME
I’M ON THE LOOSE, I’M AN INSECT
ZOOM OUT, MOVE IN TIGHT
YOU GOT A RIGHT 
TO YOUR RUBBERNECK

Rubberneck, over here
You look, I’ll steer
Get a little closer
Get every nose hair
If there’s nothing here to see
Why they stretching out the tape?
You’re agape rubbernecking
Lift the cape, flash,
Wait a second

HEY YOU, IS IT DEAD?
I NEVER SAID YOU COULD BOTTLENECK
ZOOM OUT, MOVE IN TIGHT
YOU GOT A RIGHT 
TO YOUR RUBBERNECK

HEY FOOL, CLICK A LINK
I’M GONNA SEND YOU ON A TRAIN WRECK
POWER DOWN, HANDS OFF BRAKES
I GOT YOUR EYESIGHT
YOU GOT THE SHAKES

SO WHAT’LL IT BE NOW?
WHAT DO YOU SEE NOW?
IN THE SURREAL NOW
WE’RE SCREENING

Rubber check, bounce
Rubber soul, bounce
Where’d they go?
If a soul weighs an ounce
Who can fetch it?
Go on, catch it if you can
Son of Man knows better
We can reconnect
Body & soul
We can resurrect

NOW ZOOM OUT
MOVE IN TIGHT
YOU GOT A RIGHT 
TO YOUR RUBBERNECK

HEY FOOL, CLICK A LINK
WE’RE COMIN’ ON ANOTHER TRAIN WRECK
ZOOM IN, NICE AND TIGHT
WE’VE GOT THE RIGHT TO YOUR
TO YOUR…

HEY YOU
CLICK HERE
WE’VE GOT THE GOAL
A VIRTUAL SOUL


Rubberneck - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

THE SYMPATHY VOTE (Lyrics)

I just read a note
to get the sympathy vote
Apology by rote
to get the sympathy vote
I took a diss too far
Likability dropped 
This must be stopped 
I need your sympathy  

CUT DOWN 
I’M A DEBASER
I CAN’T STOP
IT’S HUMAN NATURE
I’M RUN RUNNIN’ DOWN 
EVERY LITTLE THING YOU SAY
TIL I GET MY WAY

I went and stole a quote
to get the sympathy vote
It was all she wrote
to get the sympathy vote
We’re all picking tribes
with our sympathetic vibes
We shill for The Man
because we can

CUT DOWN…

I CAN’T SETTLE
TIL I PROVE MY METTLE
AND THE COOL KIDS MEDAL
IN MAKING CRACKS

I CAN’T SETTLE
TIL I PROVE MY METTLE
AND THE COOL KIDS MEDAL
IN STABBING BACKS

No no you misunderstood when I said it
I'm not that guy. Give me some credit.
I'm innocent. It was all in the edit. 
Look at the context. Forget it. 

THERE’S ONLY THREE THINGS IN LIFE
OF ANY CERTAINTY
NUMBER ONE IS DEATH
NUMBER TWO IS TAXES
NUMBER THREE IS PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY

I THINK I’M RUNNING LOW
ON EXCUSE ME’S 
I NEED SOME BETTER EXCUSES 
PLEASE?

I’m back in the boat
to win the sympathy vote
The words catch in my throat
I think it’s working


The Sympathy Vote - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

COMEDIAN (Lyrics)

The saints came marching in this morning
and they marched back out the door 
wholly offended 
No pun intended

They gave up God for Lent and liked it 
Declared Civilian War
No one’s relented
No pun intended

And I’ll be doing stand-up here all week 
I’ve learned to sign 
so the deaf can watch me speak 

The saints came marching back this evening 
and they fell right through the floor
That number’s ended
No pun intended

The Amen Coroner’s marching orders
got nailed to my front door
They’re all amended 
No pun intended

The King of the One Liners
had us thrilled 
Then came the punchline 
Now we want him killed 
 
And when he’s gone
Gone
Who gets the mic 
if it’s on? 

The buzzards are attacking 
our prayer kites
We lost the air war
Now we’re losing squatter’s rights

And when they’re gone
Gone
We’ll need a new 
comedian 

Man makes plans. God laughs.
Man makes plans. God laughs.

The King and I began a feud 
that time will not erase 
until he wipes that 
omniscient smile 
off his face 

The King and I are in a feud 
that time will not erase 
until you wipe that  
omniscient smile 
off your face 

And when it’s gone
Gone
It’s open mic 
Is this on?

And didn’t I thank you from the dais?
And didn’t I do you good?
And didn’t I take up all your crosses
that were made of balsa wood?

I kept my demons pent up so long 
the devil himself lost track
I’ve since repented
No pun intended 

We stormed the stage 
and occupied your place 
to wipe that all-forgiving smile 
off your face

It’s been there so 
long
Please welcome back 
the first, the last
Comedian 


Comedian - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

HERO

When the house fell asleep there was always a light
And it fell from the page to the eyes of an American boy 

In a storybook land I could dream what I read
When it went to my head I'd see
I wanna be a hero
But the practical side said the question was still
"When you grow up what will you be?"
I wanna be a hero

Hero
It's a nice-boy notion that the real world's gonna destroy
You know
It's a Marvel comicbook Saturday matinee fairytale, boy 

Growing older you'll find that illusions are bought
And the idol you thought you'd be was just another zero
I wanna be a hero 

Heroes died when the squealers bought 'em off
Died when the dealers got 'em off
Welcome to the "in it for the money as an idol" show
When they ain't as big as life
When they ditch their second wife
Where's the boy to go?
Gotta be a hero

When the house fell asleep
From a book I was led to a Light that I never knew
I wanna be your hero
And He spoke to my heart from the moment I prayed
Here's a pattern I made for you
I wanna be your hero

Hero (for JR, with thanks) - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

from the "Deluxe Version" of Goliath (digital exclusive)

"Foils On 45" - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

"Am I In Sync? (Missing Link Version)"
from the "Deluxe Version" of Goliath (digital exclusive)

AM I IN SYNC? (LYRICS)
Synthesizer rock ruled Jessica's feet
As a slave to that ubiquitous beat
Visions of the big screen danced in her head
'In a matter of time' she said
Jessie never got her Hollywood role
And the pogo nights have taken there toll
She can do the monkey off o' the cuff
But her mind had a missing link

Am I in sync?
Paint a picture on a subway train
Carve my name in a video game
Am I in sync?
Out looking for the camera crews
Sell my soul for a second on the evening news
Am I in sync?
Live 'til the bubble pops
Hold my breath when the big one drops
Am I in sync?
Immortality is what I'm buying
But I'd rather be immortal by not dying

Laboratory rats made Roger a fink
And the laws of science drove him to drink
Working for the taste of public acclaim
And a cure that bore his name
Nobel prizes would have been nice
But he lost his mind to renegade mice
Roger traded dreams of 'Man of the Year'
For an understanding shrink

Am I in sync?
Paint a picture on a subway train
Carve my name in a video game
Am I in sync?
Out looking for the camera crews
Sell my soul for a second on the evening news
Am I in sync?
Live 'til the bubble pops
Hold my breath when the big one drops
Am I in sync?
Immortality is what I'm buying
But I'd rather be immortal by not dying


Am I In Sync? (Missing Link Version)- Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

Only A Ride (Daytrotter Sessions) - Steve Tayor & The Perfect Foil

Moonshot (Daytrotter Sessions) - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

Standing In Line (Daytrotter Sessions) - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

Double Negative (Daytrotter Sessions) - Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

Produced by John Painter

"Christmastime"
Written by Larry Norman/Randy Stonehill
Copyright 1973 Glenwood Music Corp.
Strawbed Publishing Co.

(Photo by John Lee Montgomery, III)

"Christmastime" Steve Taylor, Kevin Max, Fleming & John

From the forthcoming "The Last Amen"
Available now at Kickstarter

Splint Entertainment

Pinned to spotlight

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