[rev. Apr. 12, 2017]
One more day I may forget my reason
Sun doth sting me babe like a harpoon
Followed politely south it feels like treason
Live out my days beneath the Texas moon
Started out a cardshark in Palm City
Playing for another tablespoon
Lost my fancy vest and both my kidneys
Two red jacks and one red Texas moon
I met a bunch of fools in Oklahoma
Their leader was a loathsome old baboon
Had those rascals hooked on homemade soma
Hooked on that yeah and the Texas moon
He knew a house that opened up in Dallas
I'll stick with you in a dark and sweetened room
She said "I'm afraid I can't accept that fallacy
But lie down here and feel the Texas moon"
Crying is no substitute for laughter
I would've felt but now I feel immune
I'm hell bent for the here and ever after
Cold white fire like the Texas moon
And I expect to find life there unpleasant
My exit will be most inopportune
I'm leaving while I can see this crescent
Crescent of the ghostly Texas moon
It can't be any hotter than this jail
It can't be any colder than this mood
It can't be any deader than a doornail
Or half as live as the Texas moon
Mother send no flowers for my passing
Surely life is just one long lampoon
Brother end your vigilance and your fasting
I'm going down beneath the Texas moon
I'm going down beneath the Texas moon
I'm going down beneath the Texas moon
I'm going down beneath the Texas moon
Going down beneath the Texas moon
Going down beneath the Texas moon
Going down beneath the Texas moon, yeah, yeah
In a garden, in a kitchen
On an earth beyond adventure
On an island in the sea
As a message from the future
As a man who held the answers
As another man comes crashing as me
Inside eyes
I see the blackness of a dead space
A man could float forever and never find this place
Lie down my perfect child
This is but a dream
From a time when sorrow was set free
From a land of doubt and misery
From a suburb listed locally
When the sun was blotted out the sky
When the wind will refuse to die
There was only you and I
Inside eyes
I see the blackness of dead space
A man could float forever and never find this place
Lie down my perfect child
This is just a dream
[rev. May 29, 2010]
[Repeated throughout song in background:]
(Far too many
Much too much)
There's a fire in the eastern perimeter
There's an alligator in the stew
And everybody who's going to heaven
Would they kindly stand in this queue
Because there's far too many
And there's much too much
When the news sinks in holding on to our skin
I only want to give you a touch
At the break of day I was breaking
At the fall of night well I fell
Like a fool I wept as the starbeams crept
Illuminating this hell
And there's far too many
And there's much too much
When the news sinks in holding on to our skin
And I only want to give you a touch
Don't ask me if I'm ready
I'm standing with my ticket in hand
When the boss comes back and he looks at this crack
He sure ain't gonna understand
And there's far too many
And there's much too much
When the news sinks in holding on to our skin
I only want to give you a touch, touch, touch, touch...
And there's far too many
And there's much too much
When the news sinks in holding on to our skin
I only want to give you a touch, touch, touch, touch...
Far too many
Much too much
Far too many
Much too much
Far too many
Much too much
Far too many
[rev. May 29, 2010]
She said thanks for the present
Thanks for the future, too
But it'll take something better than this clichéd love letter
To make me come back to you
You better take it back (take it to the metal)
Take it back (take it to the bone)
Take it back (take it anywhere at all)
Take it back (take it all back home)
Well, I first arrived in this brand new life
With my halo and clean slate
But then I dabbled and I meddled till I couldn't backpedal
And I hate my fate
I want to take it back (take it to the metal)
Take it back (take it to the bone)
Take it back (take it anywhere at all)
Take it back (take it all back home)
She said thanks for the memory
She said thanks for the booze
She said thanks for everything that made me sing
These elemental breakdown blues
Why don't you take it back (take it to the metal)
Take it back (take it to the bone)
Take it back (take it anywhere at all)
Take it back (take it all back home)
(Take it back, take it back)
(Take it back, take it back)
(Take it back, take it back)
(Take it back) (take it to the metal)
(Take it back) (take it to the metal)
(Take it back) (take it anywhere at all)
(Take it back) (take it anywhere)
(Take it back) (take it to the metal)
(Take it back) (take it to the bone)
(Take it back) (take it anywhere at all)
(Take it back) (take it all back home)
(Take it back) (take it to the metal)
(Take it back) (take it to the bone)
(Take it back) (take it to the bone)
(Take it back) (take it to the bone)
(Take it...)
[rev. May 29, 2010]
I, I am the stranger this time around
You, you are the changeless sounds of sand
I could be here forever riding this death
You, you are the distance, my clown
I fall down in the sun
I become everyone who ever walked this way
Where the desolate places meet the oasis
Empty spaces of today
I, I am the journey into the haze
You, you are the hill of yesterdays
I fall down in the sun
I become everyone who ever walked this way
Where the desolate places meet the oasis
Empty spaces of today
I, I am the pulse of the heat
You, you are the name of every man that I meet
I fall down in the sun
I become everyone who ever walked this way
Where the desolate places meet the oasis
Empty spaces of today
There is no reason to struggle
Nothing on earth you should fear
You say you received it but I just don't believe it
We both know why you're here
You never make an appointment
You never make anything clear
You say you're for real like that's a hell of a deal
But we both know why you're here
You need it and you read it and you feed it and you don't believe
It's just a joke
You follow it you swallow it and then you like to wallow in it
Like civilized folk
Who like their rewards nice and easy
But you thought we were the four musketeers
You say you've got the stuff but there's never enough
And we both know why you're here
You say some rich man really loves you
Oh, did you really think he's sincere?
He wants all you got, that isn't a lot
And we both know why you're here
You walk it and you talk it but you never balked in it
Like nothing's wrong
You rush it and you crush it, I'd hate to ever see you suss it
But my curiosity is strong
Alright
We are seething
All those pretty pretty months were so deceiving
We are glowing
All those lucky lucky stars we've been blowing
The hammer falls and it's going, going, gone
And all the pulse in this reflection
We are freezing
And you thought that all that cold war stuff was teasing
The weather's strange so we stay in bed
Prophet of doom went straight to your head
Frozen and distant, release the cold (ice cannot see)
Here in an instant, could be next week (eyes cannot see)
Frozen and distant relic
We say one day
This ice will all melt down but we'll be washed away
Funny how it seems important here and now
Try to leave your mark upon this world somehow
We are boiling
This temporary earth that is recoiling
The weather's changed and it's scratch ahead
Give us today and that daily bread
Frozen and distant, really sublime (ice cannot see)
Here in an instant, could be next time (eyes cannot see)
Frozen and distant relic
[rev. May 29, 2010]
I walk through the forgotten reign
An ancient central nation
Taken under the hand
Blessed like French champagne
Then she moved to know him
To form a perfect creation
Exile waits on God's delights
And I accused of tasting
All the secrets of the past come floating from their caves
Calling like a siren through the waves
The great great river flowed away
Across the sands we lived again
Leaderless, began our fight
Evolution in decay
Priests with hair and eyes so clear
Appealed upon to return
Struck up his flying caravan
Said fifteen years I've been here
All the secrets of the past come floating from their caves
Calling like a siren through the waves
Bloodless soldier weep while the phone rings and
It's gonna take a long time
Floats in the air
Attuned for wings
Prophets schooled
Language lost along the line
All the secrets of the past come floating from their caves
Calling like a siren through the waves
[rev. Aug. 22, 2013]
Anna Miranda, I've been waiting here
On my verandah, southern hemisphere
All of the slow storms which blow the dust across the sky
Anna Miranda, I've been waiting here
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Anna Miranda, distance alters all our words
Time meanders, discordant music of the birds
All of the dark storms which drive the rain across my face
Anna Miranda, I've been waiting here
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Anna Miranda well it's serious
The salamanders are delirious
All of the black storms which shake the fruit down from the trees
Anna Miranda, yeah it's serious
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Anna Miranda, I've been waiting here
On my verandah, almost seven years
All of the wild storms which cause the flowering buds to burst
Anna Miranda, I've been waiting here
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Then I might have known what you would find
(Thank you and goodnight from The Church!)
[rev. Mar. 3, 2021]
A silver lamp-lit sign flashes in the rain
Inside the taxi that takes me to my plane
And the party's over with a head that throbs
It's none of my business you see, I'm just doing my job
I'm gonna track you down
[L] (I lived by the sword, died by the sword)
[R] (He obeys the law, where the stuff is sold)
I'm gonna catch your scent
[L] (And a handsome reward, in the rental Ford)
[R] (What can you afford, and the costs have soared)
I'm gonna spring your trap
[L] (And the costs have soared, what can you afford)
[R] (In the rental Ford, and a handsome reward)
I'm gonna track you down
[L] (Where the stuff is sold, he obeys the law)
[R] (Died by the sword, lived by the sword)
Let's see...
You were last seen leaving Tony's Bar with a dark suspicious man
And some intoxicated woman 'cause your wife doesn't understand
A carnation in your buttonhole, greed inside your veins
Smooth threats and promises, hotel rooms and chains
I'm gonna track you down
[L] (Lived by the sword, died by the sword)
[R] (He obeys the law, where the stuff is sold)
I'm gonna catch your scent
[L] (And a handsome reward, in a rented Ford)
[R] (What can you afford, and the costs have soared)
I'm gonna spring your trap
[L] (And the costs have soared, what can you afford)
[R] (In a rented Ford, and a handsome reward)
I'm gonna track you down
[L] (Where the stuff is sold, he obeys the law)
[R] (Died by the sword, lived by the sword)
Closing in like snow and rust
Leave you high and dry
First you're gonna simmer
Then you're gonna fry
I'm gonna track you down
[L] (Lived by the sword, died by the sword)
[R] (He obeys the law, where the stuff is sold)
I'm gonna catch your scent
[L] (And a handsome reward, in the rented Ford)
[R] (What can you afford, and the costs have soared)
I'm gonna spring my trap
[L] (And the costs have soared, what can you afford)
[R] (In a rented Ford, and a handsome reward)
I'm gonna track you down
[L] (Where the stuff is sold, he obeys the law)
[R] (Died by the sword, lived by the sword)
[rev. May 29, 2010]
Washed into a sentimental group
Lonely mistress breathes about preview
Battle-clad Byzantium command
And these dark cards look nothing like my hand
Lightning strikes a second time
Songbird knows just when to die
Emperor cries immortal from the grime
Sun is in the hole, rend the sky
Emptiness builds up with perfumed pride
There's an enemy cruising on the plain tonight
Harmony is lost and then it's wet
Don't know how I'm so far off from my bed
Lightning strikes a second time
Songbird knows just when to die
Emperor cries immortal from the grime
Sun is in the hole, rend the sky
Lightning strikes a second time
Songbird knows just when to die
Emperor cries immortal from the grime
Sun is in the hole, rend the sky
Memories of serpents in the drain
Melting like ice cream in the rain
As my self grows closer to the grave
As my self grows closer to the grave
As my self grows closer to the grave
As my self grows closer...
[rev. Aug. 22, 2013]
Out in the open, high in the sun
Blue fields of sky where the West is one
I fell into town and I covered up my wings
Yet to get a taste for everything
You're gonna ride into the sunset
I guess you can count me in
Don't feed the fire in here
Don't tell a soul
This uniform and war
Well it's all been done before
I'm nervous playing someone else's role
Take a look around you, these walls ain't real
There's nothing behind these façades
Get our gifts exchanged, why do you think that's strange
Why do you make it so hard
You're gonna ride into the sunset
I guess you can count me in
Don't feed the fire in here
Don't tell a soul
This uniform and war
Well it's all been done before
And I'm nervous playing someone else's role
Out in the open, high in the sun
Blue fields of sky where the West is one
I fell into town, I covered up my wings
And now I've got a taste for everything
Gonna ride into the sunset
I guess you can count me in
Don't feed the fire in here
Don't tell a soul
This uniform and war
Well it's all been done before
I'm nervous playing someone else's role
(Coming out)
It seems you think I promised you the moon
You must be seeing stars
The callous future with a nervousness soon
But that's all in the past
You got off light
Lying there in your own world tonight
Turn off the charm, it's too damn bright
Hey you got off light
The rude rumors you started were partially true
You should be very proud
How will it be when they catch up with you
You're standing face to face with the jeering crowd
You got off light
Lying there in your own world tonight
In the dark with your second sight
You got off light
You didn't make, that's a big mistake
I should have checked on your credit
I pressed your hand in a clammy handshake
And I knew that I'd regret it, ha!
You got off light
Lying there in your own world tonight
But you're just too civilized to fight
You got off light
You got off light
Lying there in your own world tonight
Turn off the charm, it's too damn bright
You got off light
You got off light
[rev. May 30, 2010]
Remembering eye brushes no obstacle
You feel nothing, nothing touches you
Nothing, nothing coming through
Disrupt this transmission
Blood money transfusion
Nor is that conclusion really true
You sell up your stocks and buy out your bonds
You're down to your socks and you're waving your wand
But it sure ain't magic I guess you ain't a real blonde
I wanted this to be
Something really fine
Starlight into mystery
Clock provides the time
Your canopy snaps and your engine is gone
Your altitude drops and you've lost all your guns
Your flying days are surely nearly done
Your goose is cooked and there's too many chiefs
Spoiling the rot that the Indians eat
Can I have some more, just leave off that meat
You fall from a dream into your bed and scream
You fall from a scream into your bed and dream
Wreckage from another crash
Litter under camouflage
Wreckage from another crash
Reckon it involved you
Wreckage from another crash
Litter under camouflage
Wreckage from another crash
Reckon it involved you
[rev. May 29, 2010]
There were many guests at the table
Misfortune, jealousy, and sloth
Acting fine, drink the wine
Spill it on the tablecloth
What a surprise for you to come home to
Look through the eyes that you've grown used to
It's impossible (yes I know)
It's too tempting too (I admit)
It's unforgivable (but I have nothing to lose)
And then when the feast was over
The guests withdrew to the fire
Talking proud, laughing out loud
To pretend, deceive and admire
What a surprise for you to come home to
Look through the eyes that you've grown used to
It's impossible (yes I know)
It's too tempting too (I admit)
It's unforgivable (but I have nothing to lose)
(Three blind mice, three blind mice)
Rats danced on the Persian rug
The cats fell down drunk in the chair
They reverted again to women and men
If only you had been there
What a surprise for you to come home to
Look through the eyes that you've grown used to
It's impossible (yes I know)
It's too tempting too (I admit)
It's unforgivable (but I have nothing to lose)
It's impossible (yes I know)
It's too tempting too (I admit)
It's unforgivable (but I have nothing to lose)
Instrumental