If only
a clue
a method for meaning
for me or for you

It's got to be - somewhere
a crack in the narrative
evidence keeps pointing - elsewhere
critical and comparative

Some – Thing - Must  - Change

Obsessive compulsion
To keep on
Despite dwindling returns
Stare at the screen like I'm hunting
Gambling with time as it burns

Sunshower day in the autumn
Golden leaves, sprinkled with light
Warm enough as the cool breeze is blowing
Crisp and clean inspires and insight

Or I could just pop this pill, forget that I'm irrelevant and always unemployed
And I'll stay the same age as I was when I started the Doctor's Results
They tell me that if I smile and go to the gym and count my calories
I can take an extra pill and each time I do I'll live and extra day!

This much I know, there aren't guarantees
That's not how it works, nothing is free
Meaning is a construct, a castle or a frame
The answers aren't written in the rules of the game

Yeah, there are times when things are in place
But not because I put them there
Closing my eyes and hurtling through space
Sometimes it's a curse just to care

Someday I'll get to go to that place faraway – so much fun to be had
Where everything's included and everybody smiles – what about that could be bad – C'mon!
You see here in the video how beautiful it is – I just want to see it for myself
Honestly, I don't have bandwidth for your dissent, you can say that to someone else

That's o.k.

10 Hopes And Fears

What you see
From where you are
Is you're gonna come down 
Stare at me
Focus your bluster
Cause you're headed for the ground
Take a moment 
Blow your smoke 
Hoof the dust
I'm prepared to grab your face and choreograph what we've not discussed.

My questions answered
This is what I must do.
You're going in that cage
I can make it true
Once you're subdued
We can both breathe easy
Defeating you right now is that which frees me

If I can't beat fear
I'll do it scared
I will defy defeat
I am prepared
Confronting punishment
Force a solution
Quiet perseverance
Is my revolution

You slam
I grasp
You flex
I smash
You grind
I grip
You twist
I flip

It's my time
It's your time
One will win
If you are dispatched I can stoke the fire within
Fight me strong
Fight me crazy
Fight me smart
I can only break your body
I cannot break your heart

9 Bull ByThe Horns

You stared at a rosy cross too long
Order of a not so sacred dawn

Nothing you needed
Something you're grieving
Guess I'll be leaving

Something you never said
Those voices in your head 
Something you never said
Those voices in your head again

You came in laughing from the rain
Found a placebo for your pain

What was his name?
What was his name?
What was his name?

Something you never said
Those voices in your head 
Something you never said
Those voices in your head again

You're taking your time on me
You're taking it out of me

You're there under the elderflower
Too blind to see your own damn power
Devour
In your own name
In your own name

Something you never said
Those voices in your head 
Something you never said
Those voices in your head again

8 Free From The Spell

"You know who I am but no one knows you.  You have no clue how I do what I do.
I decide who will become a Rockstar.  You have a brand that got you this far.
Baby, I'm the One that knows what you need.  The buttons to push to 'help' you succeed.
Take this to your band, take your time.  Think of all that it means to be signed."

That was the meeting, this is for real
I knew this would happen, we have a deal.
No more basements, we're going on tour!
Airports and hotels, this time for sure!

Hey!  What if we just wanna play?  Would that be o.k.?
Ambition is for another day.  We just want to write songs!
We love getting along.  We can do it our way.
Come on just turn on the p.a.

What about buying food?  What about paying the rent?
We can't have a band or a p.a. if we all live in tents!
This is our time to fly or we're cursed with regret.
We can't only try.  We don't want to give up yet.

"Hey baby, it's the music/business.  Now don't make me wait.
Your brand's getting old and the hour's getting late."

Our band is a marriage, so it must ebb and flow.
If you're gonna make your "solo album' maybe you should go.

But we could just play through our set, like we used to do.
And we'll come back tomorrow and play it without you.

Hold on, hold on, this is business, it's not a personal attack!
If we can, uh, monetize our fun, what's so wrong with that?

We know the business stinks
We know that it's corrupt
Let's get in now, be safe, be smart.
Before we get chewed up.
We'll get lawyers and accountants, learn all the tips and tricks!
We got to be in it to win it
That ain't just rhetoric.

Hey!  What if we just wanna play?  Would that be o.k.?
Ambition is for another day.  We just want to write songs!
We love getting along.  We can do it our way.
Come on just turn on the p.a.

7 The Barren Handed

I love you
More than ever
On my way
I miss you
Have a great day
That sounds fun
Super helpful
Thinking of you
How's it going
You can do it
Please be safe
Going now
See you later
You're the best
Looking forward
You're the cutest

Something out of nothing - Breadcrumbs in the woods
Yellow circle with a smile - Causes something good
A light within a tunnel - A beacon in the night
Sometimes an empty vessel - Is a teaspoon of insight

Just finished
Just got home
I'll be late
Loved an image
Returning
Home in a few
Goodnight kiss
At Quinte Mall
That sounds rough
Thank goodness
I'm fading
Flight is delayed
I guess not
Where are you
Thank you love
Forgot some stuff

I love you
More than ever 
Thank you 
On my way 
Totally forgot 
I miss you
You're wonderful 
Have a great day

6 A Moot Point

Jinx – You owe me, you owe me

One bright September morning - In the middle of July
The sun lay thick upon the ground and the snow shone in the sky
The flowers were singing gaily - The birds were full of bloom
I went upstairs to the cellar to clean a downstairs room
I saw ten thousand miles away a house just out of sight
It stood alone between two more and it was black-washed white

Soda pops and razor blades – potato chips and fries
Books and movies, album titles – limited supplies
Collectively our cognitive ability is meshed 
By possibilities in language drawing from our flesh
Once we think our bright idea has come to save the day
We're compelled to blurt it out and focus eyes our way
Logic dictates that, in fact, results aren't infinite
Whether we are brilliant or just plain full of shit
Consequence occurs when relativity's in play
Coincident causality could suggest a brief delay
Though it can't be “copy cat” to speak at the same time
Must exact a retribution for this victimless crime (little petty)
Whether it is coke or pepsi or a whiskey sour
Lips must lock for keys and passwords to maintain one's power
For if what we say doesn't carry gravity and weight
Then why listen to another or bother hesitate

One bright September morning - In the middle of July
The sun lay thick upon the ground and the snow shone in the sky
The flowers were singing gaily - The birds were full of bloom
I went upstairs to the cellar to clean a downstairs room
I saw ten thousand miles away a house just out of sight
It stood alone between two more and it was black-washed white

It's ok

One bright September morning - In the middle of July
The sun lay thick upon the ground and the snow shone in the sky
The flowers were singing gaily - The birds were full of bloom
I went upstairs to the cellar to clean a downstairs room
I saw ten thousand miles away a house just out of sight
It stood alone between two more and it was black-washed white

5 Chicken And Egg

Nothing, not anymore - To study kung-fu
What do you want to do now - There's lots of other things to do
We don't want to do anything - To make up for yesterday's mistake
What do you want to do now – we just heard that Bruce is awake

Admiring his face - Do you want to become famous
I want to go home - From this point on your blameless
She imagined saying - We cried “wolf” and the wolf came!
We should probably just - because a cheaper brand is not the same

Strong personality trait – I'll join some other school
Should be incompatible with – now that you've heard the rules
What do you want to do now – since you're the guest
What do you want to do now – what do you suggest

Excellent reference - Squeeze orange juice from a stone
Let's make it happen - Don't worry leave it alone
Optimistic about the future - Should we kiss for a bit
Stare him in the eyes - Catch the spirit, catch the spit

I don't know, still out sick - Drink from the coward's cup
I'm not sure, you can pick - Now that the world is opening up
There's a lot of ground to cover - You planned a vague result
Discussing this with the both of you - Is gonna be difficult

As he turns on his side - Do you believe you can
My mum and dad are waiting for me - Since I'm back from Afghanistan
Why or why not – what about your music
Look at all the shells you got – It's all gone when you lose it

Strong personality trait – I'll join some other school
Should be incompatible with – now that you've heard the rules
What do you want to do now – since you're the guest
What do you want to do now – what do you suggest

What do you want to do now – Is there a problem
What do you want to do now – Set aside this time to solve them

4 What Do You Want To Do Now

Coming and going – like infinite trains
Or scores of many – or similar same

Stuff's just everywhich-a-where – stashed in nested sets
Underneath a pile of round tuits and regrets
Called the toll free number – got back no reply
The inquiry has been received – thank you and goodbye

This says it's been paid in full – this says that it's due
One reads it was sent in err – one reads that it's true
A formula for cyphers – wish I could apply
Riddles, puzzles, synchronized – can't be satisfied

All things are organized – architechtonically
Time and place and way are constructs – just to remind me

Been given the slip – but kept the receipt
How can I know what I know – in this quagmire of deceit

The premises of process – the impact on the region
Are these the figures – from the previous season
First the design – the implementation
Critical reason – for the calculation

Density goes down – as the distance increase
What's the solution for solace and peace
The legend of interest – The summary of fees
Addresses and passwords – all just leaves on the trees

The telephone looks idle – from it one can't hide
The ringer's set to vibrate – the call comes from inside

3 Calculation Centre

What's it gonna take
For you to choose the choice
Once acknowledged
That becomes your voice

At the peak of hope
If you can stand the air
Possible to witness
The landscape of despair
From here you can let go
Of the burden of salvation
Maybe this is the rescue
Oblivion of vision

Do it now
It's almost free
If it were any cheaper
It would cease to be

This is the summit
Convergence of creation
Take flight or plummet
Ultimate decision
Whatever you choose
Know that you're supported
So many of both sides
Triumphant or thwarted

One or another
You have my word
This is the way
Let your conscience be heard

Can't shake your own hand
There's no form to sign
The guaranteed promise
Is all in your mind

2 The Third Motive

Dark and cold
Wind and snow
Middle of nowhere
Somewhere to go

There's a fire
Laughter and cheer
Familiar faces
Way out here

Is this seat taken
Don't think so

This is ours
We're already here
No invitations
Have I made myself clear

There's plenty of wood
Make one for yourself
That seat's empty
It's for someone else

If you light a candle
You get more light
You would rather 
You were right

I will keep walking
Always alone
Wherever forward
This isn't home

Light your own

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