Cipher Lyrics
All songs copyrighted. Watch yer ass.
As You Were
At a Loss
Blinding Flash
Choir of One
Cold Steel Handles
Common Desires
Don’t You Wonder Why
Easier Said Than Done
Easy as She Goes
Got Caught Doing What I Ought Not Do
Heartache’s in Store
Home Sweet Gone
How Can I Teach You to Be Happy
How Nice For You
I Heard You the First Time
If You Hadn't Told Me (I Never Would've Guessed)
It’s Not Like It’s Love
Just Another Mile
Justine
Leaving’s All That’s Left
Little Do You Know
Matter of Degree
Middle of Nowhere
My Incoherent Love
No One Should Be Alone at
Xmas
Official Version
Out of My Way
Pigeon-Toed Girl
Power of Suggestion
Purple Cardboard Cutout Heart
Ring of Truth
Riot of Color
Robert Ryan
Secondhand Soul
Second to None
She Knows It All Too Well
Shouldn’t Something Happen
Something's Bad Wrong
Still More Than You Deserve
Tatyana (Why Don’t She Smile)
Tide Me Over
Too Cute By Half
True Lover’s Knot
Turned Away
Village of Justice
Walk Among the Stars
Way Too Blue
You Gave Better Than You Got
You’ll Never Hear From Me Again
Your Family Lives X Town
As You Were
Someday
you'll see again
Someday
you'll be with me again
Someday
you'll be young again
And those
words will trip from
your tongue
again
I'll
remember you
As you were
Time is a
friend
It lets you
down in the end
They say,
"Just get over it"
And all the
things I know you're going to miss
Well, that
day maybe I'll forgive
All the
things you did
and you long
since forgot
I'll
remember you
As you were
When your
lips are sealed
And when
your mind's been healed
And when all
the mysteries have been revealed
I know
somewhere you'll be
As you were
©1998. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
At a Loss
So few have
ever known such a reckless thrill
If I could
describe just how it felt, no one could keep me still
I’d step
back in time if I could
To when
you’d have understood
and I could
say this loud and clear with just one kiss . . .
This paper
said forever we would be in love
But after
all it wasn’t ever quite enough
Those words
fail me now just as I failed you then
And now,
when I speak to you
I'm at a
loss
How can I
reach you
when I'm at
a loss
I've driven
past that house
about a
thousand times
Like
returning to the scene of
some
dreadful crime
Honey, when
it comes to you
I still
don’t have a clue
I guess I
should have known that the day would come
When all I'd
ever owned would be
as good as
gone
Well, if
it’s a sin in the end,
I’d do the
same damn things again
‘cause the
words you want to hear
just don’t
exist
And now,
when I speak to you
I'm at a
loss
How can I
reach you
when I'm at
a loss
Well, the
words just won't come
Ever since
you struck me dumb
©1998. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher and Bruce White. All rights reserved.
Blinding Flash
I have seen
fools suffer gladly
It’s not for
me, not for me
What I mean
is there’s no pity
deep enough
to set you free
In a
blinding flash night turns to day
Ready or
not, in a blinding flash
You're on
your way
The day we
met, the sky went white
And my eyes
did the same
Now I walk
these halls all through the night
just looking
for someplace to cast the blame
In a
blinding flash night turns to day
Ready or
not, in a blinding flash
You’re on
your way
All decked
out and not a damn place to go
In that
projector light without a film to show
You spend
your life yearning for something
Never
knowing what you’ll find
But "to tell
the truth" is not the same thing
as saying
whatever comes to mind
In a
blinding flash night turns to day
Ready or
not, in a blinding flash
and you’re
on your way
Every stream
looks like a river
And every
river like release
©1997. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Choir of One
There's a still, small voice
Bringing present joys
Through the wall each night it comes
Such an unearthly noise
Should I let her know
that I hear her singing low
Or does she realize it's good
without my ever saying so?
She's a Choir of One
If she's blond, if she's blind
If she's cross, if she's kind
I don't dare knock on her door
For fear of what I'd find
See, this uncertainty
has got the best of me
Can't shake the image of this girl
I haven't even seen
She's a Choir of One
She makes the brown leaves green
Outside the street sounds a little less mean
Even now come the spring
He lies there sure enough
Birds sing and flowers bloom
They're made of sterner stuff
Lord, let there be
At least one mystery
That hasn't been laid bare
for all the world to see
Sometimes the wrong dream comes true
So if it's all the same to you
Let me drift off to sleep
Alone and listen to my Choir of One
©2003. Words and music by Vernam
Cipher. All rights reserved.
Cold Steel Handles
Cold steel
handles burn through these thin white cotton gloves
As all your
long-forgotten loves
sit perched
in a row
You
should’ve seen the gorgeous flowers
The air was
crisp, the sky was clear
And the
memories we all must bear
meant more
than you could know
When I fell
off the horse you got right back on it
There goes a
man who couldn’t take a hint
Veiled
threats and a failed promise I wish I’d kept to myself
In this car
I’ll think of nothing else
‘til the
bad’s outweighed by good
Some people
need to feel more alive
Well, either
you are or you ain’t
Now the rain
they assured me would be fleeting
beats a
tattoo on my hood
Since I fell
off the horse and you got right back on it
There goes a
man who couldn’t take a hint
A man whose
biggest mistake was never admitting he’d made a mistake
And thinking
he was fearless ‘bout scared us half to death
Sometimes
one false step, yeah, one false step is all it takes
That’s all
it takes
Now I’d give
anything to see you walk through that door
But that’s
not gonna happen anymore
I’m sitting
up with this bottle and a case of nerves
Wondering if
you got what I deserved
or more than
you bargained for
When I fell
off the horse you got right back on it
There goes a
man who couldn’t take a hint
©1997. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Common Desires
We met one
evening
And by
midnight
I held you
so tight
No doubt
came between us
By the time
I let go
I'd seen
plenty to know
Our common
desires sure were strong
More than
enough to obscure right and wrong
We've been
led astray
Ever since
the day that
These common
desires came along
It's all
such a waste
We never
seem to learn
Now maybe
it's your turn
to put me in
my place
I saw that
guy catch your eye
Don't you
try to deny it now
'Cause your
common desire's on display
It's naked
and it will betray you
I guess it's
something
I must've
had coming
Your common
desire gives you away
I could give
you back that ring, it's gone green on my finger
But the
jealousy remains like a stain that lingers
f that's how
you feel
Who am I to
fight it?
I might
still love you
But I don't
have to like it
I see you
laughing with your friends
Isn't that
how the story ends
But our
common desires brought us here
And they'll
be our downfall, I fear
Something's
gotta to give
Unless we
stop giving in
to those
common desires
those common
desires
those common
desires
my dear
©1999. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Don’t You Wonder Why
She's felt
the wrath
of her
bitter half
way too many
times now
to think of
turning back
He gets what
he wants
if he has to
bluff and taunt
But she’s
tired of trying to see
the man he
used to be
Don’t you
wonder why
It has to be
that way
Don’t you
wonder why
You were
meant to be mine
Don’t you
wonder why
It has to be
that way
Don’t you
wonder why
Don’t you
wonder why
Who knows
what she goes through
Because he
tends to do
such
violence to the truth
It wasn't
hard to see
where that
life was bound to lead
After all
those nights
When she'd
moan just to be polite
She's
through trying to appease
So they make
love, not peace
It's one
more battle to be fought
Like an
afterthought
Don’t you
wonder why, etc.
She left
without a trace
but a note
on her pillow
like a
pillow to his face
"It was a
solemn vow
but we’re
both so different now
Not breaking
any ground
Just digging
through the lost and found
I swear by
all that’s good
I have never
understood
Why you look
so far
for what’s
right where you are"
Don’t you
wonder why, etc.
©1999. Words and
music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Easier Said Than Done
You can give
me
everything
you've got but
Still it’s
not the
very thing I
need
You could be
a friend in deed
but it's
easier said than done
Can't you
tell this
fix I'm in
See I've got
you
under my
skin
I used to
know when to say when
but it's
easier said than done
Easier said
than done
Ever feel
something so good?
Ever need
something so bad?
Something so
bad
Something so
bad
Might as
well be
paralyzed
Free will
has a
certain
price
Wish I had
some good advice
but it's
easier said than done
Ever feel
something so good?
Ever need
something so bad?
Something so
bad
Something so
bad
I nod off
with
you on my
mind
I wake up
just
trying to
find
something
safer to pass the time
but it's
easier said than done
Easier said
than done
Easier said
than done
©2000. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Easy as She Goes
See the
boxes at the curb, as if you hadn't heard
It's all
happening again
Another
woman came and went
Seems no
sooner do they come than I come to find
they're gone
So I'm
learning not to care
when they
decide to disappear
Easy as she
goes -- I might miss you, baby
Easy as she
goes -- but I'll be fine, you'll see
You can go
or stay, it doesn't matter either way
Easy as she
goes
In past
times men were men and when someone's heart broke then
He'd just
head off out to sea
But safe at
home's where you'll find me
See, I won’t
be set adrift just because she up and left
But nowadays
what else can you do
when a woman
walks on you
But take it
easy as she goes -- don't shed a tear for me
Easy as she
goes -- what will be, will be
Let folks
say what they will, I’ll stay on an even keel
Easy as she
goes
So you
really wanna know
just how low
someone can sink?
Let me tell
you, it's a whole lot lower
than you'd
ever think
On a dark
December night when the sky is stark & quiet
A man can
almost start to wonder
If it's not
some star he's living under
Then maybe
all along he's been doing something wrong
If you won’t
give him credit for finally seeing
what a
perfect fool he's been
Instead it's
easy as she goes
Easy as she
goes
Even if I
love you still
Well, it's
really no big deal
Easy as she
goes
Easy as she
goes
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Got Caught Doing What I Ought Not Do
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
We met when I was down
She left when I was on top
Said half the point of coming 'round
is knowing when to stop
Made me swear not to
Give it a second thought
But I got caught doing
what I ought not do
How'd you get out?
I always mean to ask you
The clock don't say much
Mostly 'cause it doesn't have to
Now I don't want to
put you on the spot
But did you get caught doing
what you ought not do?
Cinder blocks never warm to the touch
And no kiss could ever mean that much
Turn the radio down
It's just interference
I'd kill to sleep
and know the difference
You haven't lived 'til you've been under arrest
Who knows what it is could make
an innocent man confess
I'm more alive than I ever was
for all it's worth
There's no reference point
No needle straining north
Shoulda seen me back before
my attention span was shot
And I got caught doing what I ought not do
I got caught doing what I ought not do
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
©2003. Words and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Heartache’s in Store
The memories
are stacked up
so neatly on
the shelves
If it’s pity
that you’re looking for
Well, just
serve yourself
Here’s the
special of the day
The crowds
are lined up at the door
We’re almost
giving it away
‘Cause
heartache’s in store
Every cheap
emotion
has been
priced to sell
We’ve got
jealousy, betrayal
and revenge
as well
Or get
yourself a package deal
That
includes all three
With
10-percent more bitterness
we’re
throwing in just for free
Now we’ve
marked down
Every item
on the floor
You might
have love in mind
but
heartache’s in store
Don’t look
now, but you just fell
for the
world’s oldest pitch
‘Cause
romance is just the bait
and here
comes the switch
You can ask
for the manager
but all
sales are final here
If you’d
read the finer print
It was made
quite clear
There’s no
1-800 number
that you can
dial to complain
Don’t bother
with the Better Business Bureau
Because it’s
all in vain
You’re
positively guaranteed to get
much less
than you pay for
Got a bad
case of buyer’s remorse
And
heartache’s in store
Every day
another one’s born
Heartache’s
in store
The customer
is always wrong
When
heartache’s in store
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Home Sweet Gone
Oh, the days
I've wasted
All alone
and aimless
Cast off,
not missed
No one's
friend
Don't ask
what brought me
when I know
you don't want me
Well, I just
never thought
We'd ever
meet such an end
But our
shortcuts became detours
Crossroads
turned to cul-de-sacs
I'm stuck on
the frontage road of life
And what I
wanted most
was to get
up one day and go
Past where
the city glows
Never to
return
Yeah, I
wished that I could ride
to where the
stars still shine
But if you
won't be my guide
Then where
can I turn?
When my
shortcuts become detours
Crossroads
turn to cul-de-sacs
And I'm
stuck on the frontage road of life
Something
won't let me go
But it won't
let me go back
Back to my
home sweet gone
You say
you're leaving
But seeing
is believing
‘Cause I
can’t quite conceive it
Though I
wish you happy trails
How can I
blame you
when all
your fine neighbors
They do you
no favors
Just hoping
you'll fail
And your
shortcuts become detours
Crossroads
turn to cul-de-sacs
Stuck on the
frontage road of life
Something
won't let me go
But it won't
let me go back
Back to my
home sweet gone
©1998. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
How Can I Teach You to Be Happy
When I’m in
I wanna be out
When I’m out
I wanna be in
And I swear
that I’d stop running
If I could
just stand where I am
How can I
teach you to be happy?
I’d make it
all right up to you
with just
the slightest chance
But I’ve
done all that I can do
in this
circumstance
Sometimes
I'm good despite myself
Or else I'm
bad in spite of you
Get laughed
at for long enough
You could
learn to love it, too
How can I
teach you to be happy?
In a world
of false assumptions, now wouldn’t it be something
If every
word I say is true
But don't go
thinking that it matters
when they
all say that you’re on top
Better
figure out when you're being flattered
Before
you’ve no more names left to drop
Your
expectations once were humble
Who knows
where the time went
Your
conscience got you into trouble
So you gave
it up for Lent
How can I
teach you to be happy?
In a world
of false assumptions, anything could happen
but it
probably won't
With your
kisses I was taken
Gain a
lover, lose a friend
Wonder just
whose heart will be aching
With your
patience at an end
How can I
teach you to be happy?
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
How Nice for You
I see a lot
of people
who can't
wait to tell me how you're doing
They're all
sharing the latest details
like they
don't know you and I are through
And my one
reply is
"I always
knew she'd go far"
You're
dealing with success
and your
every dream's come true
Well, baby,
how nice for you
I'm not
saying that you're shallow
just 'cause
I jumped head first,
It was a
tale I couldn't quite follow
A trick I
played on myself
I've got the
postcards you sent
but you
never meant those four words
I hear your
blessings are many
and your
disappointments are few
Well, baby,
how nice for you
It's not
easy hearing old friends brag ‘bout
where you've
gone, who you've seen, and what you've done
I'd trade
places with you if I could
so you'd
know how it feels to be down at your heels
Crawling
after a memory of when you were the one
Don't know
what I'd say
if I saw you
out on the street
Would I say
what's on my mind
or be
slightly more discreet
Well, I
wouldn't give you the pleasure
of seeing me
like this
No, I'd
smile and take your hand
when you
introduce your someone new
Yeah, I'm
impressed, baby
You deserve
the best, babe, yeah yeah
How nice for
you
How nice for
you
How nice for
you
©1998. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
I Heard You the First Time
Held seven
years against my will
If they had
their way I’d be there still
Hied myself
‘cross eleven states
Just to be
left standing at your gate
Don’t fret –
I’ll be moving on
I heard you
the first time
Turned
around and found you looking down at me
My hand may
tremble, but I’ll never let you see
This suit is
stained and needs to be pressed
But it’s no
crime, not the last time I checked
And there's
no need to shove
‘cause I
heard you the first time
Can’t
remember when
Last I was
touched
n something
other than anger
You won’t
let me stay
So how can I
be
Anything but
a stranger
Name a town,
I’ve been down there
Who cares
who knows? Who knows, who cares?
No matter
how tight I shut my eyes
I never
quite remember why
I never
asked nobody’s help
You’re not
so smart your damn self
I heard you
the first time
I heard you
the first time
©2000. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
If You Hadn't Told Me (I Never Would've Guessed)
Did it look like they struck me a glancing blow?
It took more out of me than they'll ever know
Walk out the door each day, you take your chances
We're stuck here in this runout groove with all the
same old things we used to know better than to prove
Is there any truth left, or just consequences?
Well, if you hadn't told me, I never would've guessed
It never crossed my mind, I must confess
Don't ever stop hoping that lightning might strike
But when it does, you might not like it
'Cause bad as things are, they can still get worse
If we did half the things they said we did
God knows by now one or both of us would be dead
Instead of living like some debutante in reverse
If you hadn't told me, I never would've guessed
I'm still trying to master the obvious
Maybe I can't run from what I am
But why not run from what we can?
If you hadn't told me, I never would've guessed
We can sit around and wait while they carve up the past
Or take drastic steps to cover our tracks
If things work out in the end,
let's pretend we planned it
But what's it take to get used to being
taken for granted?
They'd all settle for just the one instead
So what's the point of dying a thousand deaths?
If you hadn't told me, I never would have guessed
If you hadn't told me, I never would have guessed
If you hadn't told me, I never would've guessed
©2003. Words and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
It's Not Like It's Love
I've got
something to say
I think you
feel it, too
We both knew
there'd come a day
When this
fling would be through
It's not
like we're in love
It's not
like it's love
I wouldn’t
toy or trifle with
your
affection but I swear
Little did I
know
just how
much you care
I must say
I'm surprised
by the tears
in your eyes
It's not
like it's love, after all
It's not
like it's love
Wish you'd
told me sooner just how you felt
'Cause at
this point, it can't be helped
I'm not one
to mourn what's already lost
But
something you said gives me pause
It's not
like it's love
At last I
see what's going on
It's not
like it's love
How could I
have been so wrong?
It's not
like it's love
That
doublespeak confused even me
It's not
like it's love
Such a shock
to finally see
It's not
like, it's love
Please don't
let on how I needed you
My pride
would not abide it
Let's try
pretending we've no regrets
though you
can bet there's no use denying it
©1999. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Just Another Mile
Unseen hands
may guide me
Angels ride
beside me
Though it's
been quite a run
I'm looking
for a sign that doesn't ever come
These
spirits have conspired
to keep me
just another mile from you
As a boy, I
was told
of a rapture
in the soul
But no
matter how I climb
There's
always one more rise and now I realize
that I'm
never to be nearer than
Just another
mile to you
But it feels
like more to me
If it's the
last thing I do
I'll walk
just another mile to you
Like some
distant station
That’s how
you try my patience
If this
ain't the darkest night
I sure hope
it's close
'cause this
radio's no use
and there's
not a car in sight
When I'm
just another mile to you
Just another
mile to you
Do you love
me as such?
Though I
haven't kept in touch
It's an
article of faith
That you're
waiting there just like fate
Or so they
say
But I'm just
another mile to you
And it feels
like more to me
If it's the
last thing I do
I'll walk
just another mile to you
©1999. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Justine
I went by
your house last night
And let
myself in when I saw the light
Okay, so I
admit I’m not that bright, Justine
You were
talking way down low
Don’t tell
me you were on the phone
‘Cause I
know that you were not alone, Justine
On your back
stair a footstep creaked
Across your
lawn I saw his shadow sneak
Why should I
believe a word you speak, Justine?
Give me just
a little truth, just a little truth, Justine
You tell me
to wait and see
Then step
out looking like Miss Tennessee
You never
wore that kind of dress for me, Justine
Can I ask
you where you been?
Oh, were you
really just out with your friends?
Honey, don’t
let’s play this game again, Justine
Wish I knew
what to take
Give me
something to try and dull this ache
Crowd out
this thought that I can’t shake
I think
you’ll never make a wife
And this is
cutting years off my life
‘Cause I
can’t let you outta my sight, Justine
Give me just
a little truth
Give me just
a little truth
Give me just
a little truth
Justine
Justine
Justine
©1997. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Leaving's All That's Left
I'm still
awake at dawn
and you're
fast asleep
Stayed up
too late talking 'bout
things that
couldn't keep
Sometimes
there's no simple way
to solve
troubles that we face
Somewhere
life still makes sense
And I'm
bound to find that place
I told you
once
What's the
use repeating
When leaving
is all that's left to do
The
neighbors have no clue
what goes on
inside this house
We’ve
learned to keep our voices down
so no one
hears a sound
The blinds
don't let them see
How love has
been defiled
And when we
step outside
We always
force a smile
Still, they
ought to know
How looks
can deceive
When
leaving's all that's left to do
I'll leave
my key
I'll leave
my heart
But no
forwarding address
I'll check
the stove
I'll check
the lights
And then
check out like some guest
You're lost
inside a dream
And I'll not
disturb you there
But softly
so you'll never know
I bend and
stroke your hair
And listen
to you breathe
Strain to
hear your heart beat
It's not
easy to concede defeat
But
leaving's all that's left
Yeah,
leaving's all that's left to do
©1998. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Little Do You Know
You thought you were sure to
know
When I was or wasn't trying
Though I rarely let it show
Still I'm tired of denying
Little do you know, little do I care
If I'm not what I seem to be
Well, after all, who is?
I'd say how much this means to me
But after all, the truth is
Little do you know, little do I care
You feel forsaken
Like you've fallen from grace
Unless I'm mistaken
It never mattered in the first place
When life's passing you by
And you're feeling out of touch
It's no real cause to cry
You're not missing all that much
Little do you know, little do I care
How I wish I could make you
Feel good about yourself
I'd tell you something other than the truth
If you think that would help
Let's pretend this means
something, that's a start
Let's pretend it's gonna mean a lot
Even though it's not
If I never find the words
to say I'm through with you
Look in my eyes, you'll be assured
I want nothing more to do with you
Little do you know, little do I care
©2002. Words and music by
Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Matter of Degree
This place
could burn
It wouldn’t
take much
Without
thinking, we could ruin
all we ever
touched
Though our
fates
surely are
entwined
And I know
nothing on this Earth
is going to
change your mind
I’m tired of
going along just to get along
Certain as
you are, you’re just that wrong
Insofar as I
can see
It’s just a
matter of degree
Grand are
the words
that you say
to me
But small
are the thoughts
they betray
to me
You’re so
right, you don’t know what you’re saying
Why should I
explain, there’s nothing to be gained
That’s for
someone else to say
It’s just a
matter of degree
Suffering in
silence and in comparison, too
Was it
really such an embarrassment to you?
A cautionary
tale for the wayward among us
Sometimes
the shortest path becomes the longest
Sometimes
the weakest hunch
becomes the
strongest
You’ve got
polarizing shades
of wrong and
right
But it’s a
mystery to me
Not black
and white
I can’t
begin to comprehend
I don’t
pretend to understand
That’s the
difference between you and me
It’s no
matter of degree
It’s no
matter of degree
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Middle of Nowhere
Meet me in
the middle of nowhere
Meet me in
the middle of nowhere
This room is
so clogged with dust
If I don't
get out soon I'm gonna bust
'Round here,
there's no hiding from
Who you are
and all you might've done
Tired of 'em
putting words in my mouth
Won’t spend
another day in this town
Meet me in
the middle of nowhere
The city's
overrated
Got me
discombobulated
Lost all
sense of direction
In the
mindless stacks of perfection
Tell me
straight Can you keep a secret?
Don’t say
yes unless you mean it
‘Cause all
roads lead to the middle of nowhere
Won't need
your GPS -- no north or south, east or west
I'm neither
here nor there, and I don't care
Outside
Jackson I saw a sign saying
"Last gas
for a 100 miles"
C'mon baby,
don’t you want to go
‘Cause you
know it’s gonna be a while
Who says you
gotta start somewhere?
Meet me in
the middle of nowhere
©2000. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
My Incoherent Love
My
incoherent love, please take your time
Speak
clearly ‘cause you’ve nearly ‘bout
undone my
mind
My
incoherent love, all I do is plead
Like a diary
under lock and key
You’re kinda
hard to read
My
incoherent love, don’t you despair
I wouldn’t
blame you, no, but just the same
You give me
quite a scare
Facts are
sadder than fiction, I must say
Not that
you’d ever know the difference, anyway
My
incoherent love, come beside me to lie
Can’t you
accept I'm too deep in your debt
ever to deny
you
My
incoherent love's senses are enflamed
Haven’t
understood even a single word
It’s just a
trick of your trade
Tell the
truth, or would it ruin your mystique
What’s it
like not to trust yourself to speak?
My
Incoherent love, don't know what you say
Don’t be
timid -- C’mon, let’s admit
it was a big
mistake
My
incoherent love, got me in a trance
I don't know
you still, and if I never will
At least I
had my chance
©2000. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
No One Should Be Alone at
Christmas
Two good
buddies and me
Tired and
needing a place to eat
Chased a
star, wandered 'neath the sky
Pulled up to
a Texaco sign
They were
hoping to get some sleep
Me, I
thought we oughta drive on
Bought a pot
of coffee and said
"Bet we'd
make it there by dawn
'Cause no
one should be alone at Christmas
and each of
us has someone at home who'd miss us
Instead of
staying here
in
Pennsylvania on a night so clear
Let's try to
make it there by Christmas"
I spied a
girl, 'bout 17
sitting in a
corner booth
She was
eating some saltines
nursing a
glass of water, too
Seemed to be
all by herself
In not quite
the best of health
Looked so
cold and hungry there
We gathered
what we three could spare
As I
approached, her body tensed
I said,
"Miss, don't take offense,
here's
something, it's not much"
But I could
see that she was touched
With such
kindness in her eyes
Some hidden
source of joy and pride
Then I
noticed at her side
A baby lying
bundled tight
She said,
"See, at least I'm not alone at Christmas
I feel as if
the precious lord has blessed us
Mister,
thanks to you tonight
My girl will
sleep warm and dry
Thank God
you came along this Christmas"
Lord, I wish
no one was alone at Christmas
Though I
know just how forlorn this wish is
And deep
inside I know
Wishing
never made it so
Still, I
hope you're not alone this Christmas
My friends
and me
drove on
that Christmas Eve
©1999. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Out of My Way
For you I
did it all
But you
don’t seem to recall
My going out
of my way
You were
grateful at the time
Now it’s the
last thing on your mind
I went out
of my way
Out of my
way for you
Wasn't out of my head
I wasn’t out of line
Just
seemed like a good idea at the time
Don’t take
offense
if none is
meant
In
retrospect
Just what
did we expect?
Shouldn’t
matter but it does
Shouldn’t
say it but I will
I went out
of my way
As a speck
of dust
I will love
you just as much
Did I say
something wrong?
Did I lead
you along?
Don’t think
too hard, baby
See where
it’s gotten me
I walked
that line in my prime
But that’s
the last time that I’m
Going out of
my way
Out of my
way
Out of my
way
©2002. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Pigeon-Toed Girl
How
gracefully she glides
Back and
forth, side to side
Sorta like a
young giraffe
And I'll
thank you not to laugh
'Cause that
walk, I know it well
And I'm not
ashamed to tell
that I'm in
love with a pigeon-toed girl
When she was
a child
All the boys
would tease
They'd
follow as she strolled
And mock her
as she knocked her knees
Now I see
her cross the room
and it's my
knees that go weak
Every time I
peek at a pigeon-toed girl
She looks
just as fine in front as she does from behind
You can go
ahead and stare, she doesn't really mind
But please
try not to point
I'd know
that shuffle anywhere
Her legs
step through the door
Long before
the rest gets there
Don't you
try to act so cool
'Cause I
know that you'll fall, too
When you
meet my pigeon-toed girl
Yeah, there
goes my
There goes
my
Pigeon-toed
girl
©1998. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Power of Suggestion
He never
lets on where he’s been
but she
knows the instant
his fingers
touch her skin
He wonders
if she’d buy
one more lie
of overtime
Though he
never seems
to have a
dime
She’s been
thinking awful hard
‘bout an
awful lot of things
All it ever
got her
is a lot
more things to think
And when her
mind was snapping,
saying
"These things happen"
was the best
he could do
She’s so
afraid to hear the truth
She’s
pretending not to notice
She’s
pretending not to notice
He’s just
pretending that he cares
Is that
divorcee next door at the root of all this
Or the
waitress who saved him the biggest piece of pie
Could it be
someone new at the office
or has the
latest babysitter caught his wandering eye
He’ll never
fool her with those
flowers or
that kiss
Yet the
power of suggestion
proves too
much to resist
One day the
whispered pleas
and tugged
sleeves won’t dissuade her
And she’ll
admit that he’s betrayed her
And stop
pretending not to notice
She’ll stop
pretending not to notice
He’s just
pretending that he cares
©1997. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Purple Cardboard Cutout Heart
He watched
from the window
As she
dragged the kid down the street
He fought
the urge to follow
‘til they
vanished in the heat
He was calm
until he spied
from the
corner of his eye
A purple
cardboard cutout heart
For years it
sat upon their mantelpiece
Right
beneath his nose
She’d
scrawled his name across the front
Just above
"I love you, Rose"
His face
tightened like a fist
As he saw
what he’d always missed
That purple
cardboard cutout heart
Though it
was torn and faded
Her mother
saved it all that time
No matter
that she couldn’t even
color inside
the lines
And it's the
imperfections
he misses
most about her now
All that he
can do is hope somebody
somewhere’s
looking out for her now
Wishes that
he’d made the time
For it seems
so precious now
Each cross
word he ever said
all at once
comes crashing down
He stares at
the ceiling
but it’s not
sleep he fears
It’s just
the thought of waking
to the fact
that she’s not near
He swears
he’d bear any burden
And pay any
price
Yeah, he’d
do anything
but to take
his own advice
Can’t recall
what it was
He had to
get off of his chest
The thought
left unexpressed
is the one
he most regrets
But wrapped
up with a world of care
and tucked
inside his vest
Is the
purple cardboard cutout heart
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Ring of Truth
Heard your
faith's been broken
I recognize
that sound
But that
won't stop us hoping
That someday
you'll come around
There's no
getting past the ring of truth
You say that
you're unhappy
'cause you
let yourself be used
You found
yourself guilty
Well, we've
all been accused
Be wakeful
for the ring of truth
Your ears
may turn deaf
Eyes may go
blind
Even if your
tongue is cleft
Your words
need not be lies
If all we've
got in common
Is that bed
of cold gray stone
You probably
have it coming
In that
you're not alone
We’ll all be
laid low by the ring of truth
On the day
when it comes calling
somewhere
way on down the line
You'd just
better answer
Don't even
think of trying to hide
Just listen
for the ring of truth
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Riot of Color
Don't worry,
baby
It's just
the flowers breaking out
in a Riot of
Color
You tell
such exquisite lies
In the
morning no one even remembers
Holed up
somewhere in the hills
Who says you
can't hide forever?
I guess
everyone could see
Everyone
except for me
What you had
in store
And who you
had it in for
If the brush
begins to burn
You can wade
into the water
But it's
just the flowers breaking out
in a Riot of
Color
A Riot of
Color
Almost
admired how you worked the room
after
digging out ‘neath that last chandelier
Someday
there’ll be no more names to drop
Even your
dog will start to ignore you
And the
crowds won’t part for you
You know it
in your heart
Your tiny
little heart
Now I’ve got
my mind right
Though your
eyes still tend to deceive me
And as the
end comes in sight
Does it come
as some relief?
You can tell
yourself it don’t mean a thing
If you try
hard enough, you'll believe anything
Like when
the street begins to burn
You can wade
into the water
It's just
the flowers breaking out for now
in a Riot of
Color
A Riot of
Color
©2000. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Robert Ryan
He's got
eyes like two little bits of coal
Dark smudges
on the windows to his soul
There's
something smoldering just below
He's got
eyes like two little bits of coal
Now he's in
one of his Robert Ryan moods
One more
drink, man, I wish you would
Don't try
talking sense, iIt won't do any good
When he's in
one of his Robert Ryan moods
He knows
it's wrong, and that just makes it worse
Has a way
with words, knows how to make them hurt
Even when he
says a prayer, it sounds more like a curse
He knows
it's wrong, and that just makes it worse
Did two
hitches back in the second war
Those SOBs
never knew what they were in for
He's not the
type to tell you what he saw
when he was
fighting in the second war
So he's out
getting stinko with some friends
If he ever
bothers coming home again
He'll be
reeking of cheap gin and trying to make amends
When he's
finished getting stinko with his friends
He's a hot
head, there's no use to deny
He'll
promise next time that he's really gonna try
Do you
believe it? Well, it's a lie
He's a hot
head, and there's no use to deny
He doesn't
mean to take it out on you
But he's in
one of his Robert Ryan moods
You don't
know how he's tried, how it tears him up inside
Every time
he takes it out on you
He has his
bad days, he has his good
Just watch
out for those Robert Ryan moods
©1999. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Secondhand Soul
People and
places come to me
Every day as
in a dream
With such
strange familiarity
I’m worried,
wondering what it means
I’ll be
walking down a path I haven’t ever seen
But every
twist and turn seems so plain to me
With a
secondhand soul
Secondhand
soul
You'd think
I'd know by now
You’d think
I’d know by now
Wasn’t made
from whole cloth
Just some
remnants that got torn off
Not mint but
more than fair
With a
little wear and tear
And a
blemish here and there
Only adds to
the character
Of a
secondhand soul
Secondhand
soul
They don’t
make ‘em like that no more
They don’t
make ‘em like that no more
When you’re
dead to the world
and the
feeling is mutual
You wanna
give in to something greater
And be the
last to leave the theater
But credits
roll and church bells toll
It’s time
you waste 'til you’re left in haste
Be sure your
sins will find you out
Be sure your
sins will find you out
If you
stumble on me
while
rummaging ‘round
In some
Salvation Army lost and found
Don't cast
me off or hand me down
Just look
real close behind these eyes
And maybe
try me on for size
Secondhand
soul
Secondhand
soul
Secondhand
soul
Secondhand
soul
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Second to None
She's the
ultimate all-time Number One
There's a
woman second to none
Nearly
perfect in every respect
Nary a flaw
you could detect
When she
says that she loves me,
or words to
that effect
I know she
redeems me
like some
empty bottle
But
explaining what she means to me
is such a
losing battle
She is
gentle, and she is wise
I’d like to
thank whoever spliced me into her life
You could
look around a long, long time
But you’re
never gonna find another one
There’s a
woman second to none
She’s way
beyond compare
Yeah, she’s
the fairest of the fair
Swear I
never meant to hurt her
I started
thinking I deserved her
But there’s
nowhere I wouldn’t follow her
To any
corner of the earth
Or way out
there to the edge of
this cold,
old universe
She’s the
infinite when all’s said and done
Got a woman
second to none
She's the
ultimate all-time Number One
Got a woman
second to none
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
She Knows It All Too Well
She has the
upper hand
And she
knows it well
Her wish is
my command
And she
knows it well
The traffic
stalls when she goes by
And she
knows it well
To her the
rules do not apply
And she
knows it well
I say
dignity is over-rated
I’ve no
knack for understatement
And she
knows it all too well
Even the
Lorelei would envy her
And she
knows it well
She’ll toss
her hair across her shoulder
That shows
she knows it well
I’m in way
above my head
And she
knows it well
It’s filling
me with awe and dread
And she
knows it well
When that
siren’s screaming
I’m the one
who hears her call
And she
knows it all too well
She says
loving me is such a thankless task
And it’s way
more than I ought to ask
‘Cause I’m
too deep in her debt
And she
knows it well
I’ll deserve
just what I get
And she
knows it well
I’m so
easily amused
And she
knows it well
It’s a
privilege to be abused
And she
knows it well
I’m a
willing supplicant
Completely
in her thrall
And she
knows it all too well
She says
loving me is a thankless task
And it’s way
more than I ought to ask
There’s but
one for whom I yearn
And she
knows it well
I have
nowhere else to turn
And she
knows it well
See, I will
always be there for her
I’m
powerless to ignore her
Therefore
she knows it well
She knows it
all too well
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Shouldn’t Something Happen
Shouldn't
something happen
like the sun
go out
Shouldn't
something happen
like the sea
go calm
It's not
just another day
Shouldn't
something happen
when I feel
like this
Shouldn't
someone notice
It’s kind of
hard to miss
Any fool
could tell
It’s not
like I hide it well
Shouldn't
something happen by now?
I've seen it
in the movies and heard it in those songs
How the
whole world stops on cue
But tune in
the evening news and you'd think there's nothing wrong
Now wouldn't
you?
So I turn
off the sound
Pretend
they're talking about us
Though there
ain’t much doubt
they’ll go
right on without us
It's not
just another day
Shouldn't be
another day
Shouldn't
something happen?
©2000. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Something’s Bad Wrong
There's a
guy we all know
People say
he's a little slow
And it only
goes to show
As I've said
all along
He hasn't
got a lick of sense
Kind of
quick to take offense
You can say
he's a little tense
Something's
bad wrong
Likes
collecting shiny things
Has a box,
it's full of string
Sometimes at
night he sings
A simple
little song
He gave his
family fits
Now he and
them are quits
Won't get
far living by his wits
Something's
bad wrong
See him grin
From ear to
ear
He's not
right
This much is
clear
Life has a
funny way
of making
certain people pay
Few have
peered inside his mind
Most are
certain what they'd find
Truth is,
they don't like his kind
And
suspicions sure are strong
He's
cross-eyed, it's a shame
Don't try
seeing things his way
Or mixed up
you're gonna stay
Something's
bad wrong
He’s a jinx,
he’s a dope
He pretends
to get your joke
I don’t see
as there’s any hope
He never did
belong
His mama's
love only hurt
And his
daddy showed him worse
He knows the
chapter, not the verse
Something's
bad wrong
Might seem
he can barely stand
Might look
like a broken man
But he’s the
one with an empty hand
When the
first stone is thrown
Blank
expression on his face
Staring off
into space
There you go
but for the grace
Something’s
bad wrong
©2000. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Still More Than You Deserve
Back then we
believed
we had a lot
to say
Ain't it
hard to realize
You're just
young and in the way
They said it
was bound to happen
Somewhere
along the line
You'd let
your guard down
And let your
hopes get way too high
Is it less
than you expected?
That's what
I heard
Well, if
it's less than you expected
It's still
more than you deserve
Despite what
people think
I know just
where you went wrong
You sold
yourself short
for the
right to belong
And now it
makes no difference
What you say
or do
'Cause this
comeuppance
was long,
long overdue
Is it less
than you expected?
Just mark my
words
Though it's
less than you expected
It's still
more than you deserve
But I
wouldn't say it had to come to this
‘Cause
ignorance ain't such a good excuse
In the end
you always tend to take
exactly what
I can't afford to give
The sun
falls
but you
still can't beat the heat
Slumber
calls
and you're
still too tired to sleep
You replay
the day's events
'til it's so
hard to unwind
Those
threads of regret
Twisting
round and round
Round and
round
Round and
round
in your mind
Promise
you'll remember
where you
heard it first
When it's
less than you expected
and way more
than you deserved
©1999. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Tatyana (Why Don’t She Smile?)
Why don’t
she smile?
While she’s
making you wonder
what’s
underneath that mask,
what she’s
holding back
All you
gotta do is ask
why she
don’t smile
Just behold
her
No room
could enclose her
Was she born
that way?
Or did she
learn to betray
no hint of
pleasure,
nerves, or
dismay?
Why don’t
she smile?
While she’s
making you wonder
what’s
underneath that mask,
what she’s
holding back
All you
gotta do is ask
why she
don’t smile
She’s more
than he can face
like 13
flowers in a vase
She said her
name meant to dance
But he never
had a chance
And some
things never make sense
no matter
how old he gets
She tried
living for the church
She tried
living for the state
She’s gonna
live for herself now If it’s not too late
She thought
the world was a tree-lined street
and the
strong cared for the weak
They shared
a dusty little berth
from there
to St. Petersburg
As the train
rocked them to sleep
he stole a
glance at her silhouette
Though
they’d never meet again
he didn’t
care a bit
As light
from the last station
shone right
through the glass
She flashed
her impatience
She’d hoped
it might last . . .
Why don’t
she smile?
While she’s
making you wonder
what’s
underneath that mask,
what she’s
holding back
All you
gotta do is ask
why she
don’t smile
©1997. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Tide Me Over
Washed up
though I may be
Ain’t seen
the last of me
Just tide me
over
I’ll be your
faithful man
If you’ll
only do what you can
To tide me
over
Deeper than
Nemo or Cousteau
50,000
leagues below
So tide me
over
I’m slinking
off
without a
tether
Sinking soft
as a feather
through the air
I’m gonna be
gone so long
But I’m not
gonna do you wrong
Just tide me
over
Won’t you
extend your hand?
Pull me to
dry land
And tide me
over
Caught in
the undertow
It’s all ebb
and no flow
So tide me
over
I’m slinking
off
without a
tether
Sinking soft
as a feather
through the air
In the cold
and inky deep
I guess
that’s where I’ll sleep
If you don’t
tide me over
©2002. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Too Cute By Half
I wish you'd
say what's on your mind
I wish you
didn't always waste all my time
by forcing
me to guess what you meant
You said
yes, but you shook your head
Oh, baby,
don't make me laugh
You're too
cute, too cute by half
When I think
I've got you figured out
You leave me
standing in the shadow of doubt
You've got
that smile, those eyes, that charm
You turn me
on like a false alarm
I'm gonna
take you to task
'cause
you're too cute, too cute by half
Why'd you
have to be such a tease?
Won't you
get me off of my knees
I stand to
lose all self-respect
when you ask
me what did I expect
I guess I
should've done the math
You're too
cute, too cute by half
I'm headed
for an early grave
If the path
to hell is paved for me
Your
intentions weren't all that good
You're no
better than you should be
Wait a
minute now, not so fast
You're too
cute, too cute by half
That'll be
my epitaph
"Too cute,
too cute by half"
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
True Lover’s Knot
Good people,
they all said
Frank Shea
wasn't brought up right
His future
was unsure
as young
Lucy Tate's was bright
When they
exchanged vows
not one soul
bothered to attend
She gave him
a fragile bow
and a
painted card that read
Not too
loose, not too tight
That'll do
it, just about right
True Lover's
Knot
But tales
spread, house to house
of awful
quarrels that occurred
When Lucy
Shea
dropped from
sight without a word
Though just
a dozen days went past,
dark
suspicions people nursed
For of proud
Frank Shea
They were
quick to think the worst
That’ll do
it, just about right
Not too
loose, not too tight
True Lover's
Knot
Just before
they took his life
The crowd
all paused to bow their heads
Frank’s eyes
were fixed
And not a
word he said
When they
cut him down
clutched in
his useless hand
The
undertaker found
another card
and unraveled strand
Though I’ll
long to hold you tight
I’ll be home
soon, in a fortnight
True Lover's
Knot
Crossing,
winding in and out
Never
ending, round about
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Turned Away
Young face
But old eyes
Promised
love, got told lies
When she
says no
It means
"hell, no"
She says
yes, it means "yeah, I guess"
Turned away
A matched
set
Broken up
Choices made
and plans mislaid
Think
they're smart
More than
most
But they're
not the least bit close
Turned away
And from a
simple impulse
Here come
some complex results
He'll turn
up at her door again
Press that
button for all the good it does to him
Shoeless she
stood
Bathed in a
light
Taken back
to heaven alive
People
change
and time
won't last
He goes on
dying in the past
Turned away
Turned away
©2000. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Village of Justice
In a round
roof house by the sterile lake
He’d sing
her to sleep then drink himself awake
Word in the
second-guess city
said he was
no damn good
But she gave
him a chance
when nobody
else there would
Days on end
they spent alone
a law unto
themselves
The promise
that he made but
should’ve
kept to himself
No one
bothered living up to it in the Village of Justice
The place
could burn
It wouldn’t
take much
Without
thinking he ruined
all he ever
touched
Not many
years had past
but the door
was painted shut
And
newspaper stacks
were fading
into dust
In the
closet hung the dress she never wore
A photo on
the wall from 1964
As the trees
began to talk
and the
light grew dim
Time came to
a crawl
like an
Elgin with a broken stem
No one
bothered living up to it in the Village of Justice
Dirt gets
thick
Mixed with
blood
Makes a
darker
Sort of mud
Her memory
was his sole pursuit
and he
didn’t get far
It chased
him right down
by the
cal-sag reservoir
He went down
there one last time
At the end
he pictured her as she was in her prime
Even now
come the spring
He lies
there sure enough
Birds sing
and flowers bloom
They’re made
of sterner stuff
No one
bothered living up to it in the Village of Justice
©2001. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Walk Among the Stars
You say show
me the proof
Not what
might be true
All your
grand experiments and theories—
just ask me
if I care
Make me feel
that awe
Show me all
that I never saw
Take me for
a walk among the stars
It's as real
as anything else
Take me for
a walk among the stars
Let me know
what I've only felt
Spread me
thin across the sky
If some
truth within me lies
Then we'll
walk among the stars tonight
You
monopolized my time
and
scandalized my name
Some people
take whatever's real, then pervert it
and preach
about it to the converted
I'd go live
out in the woods
If I thought
it would do any good
Just take me
for a walk among the stars tonight
You might
take me for a fool and tell me everything I know is wrong
But try not
to be that cruel Just ‘cause I can’t work it out on my own
I want to
see what can't be seen
Want to
touch what can't be touched
You wake up
in the middle of a dream
and somehow
life never meant so much
Save me from
winning, save me from losing
Save me from
thinking, save me from choosing
Take me for
a walk among the stars
It's as real
as anything else
Take me for
a walk among the stars
Let me know
what I've only felt
Spread me
thin across the sky
If some
truth within me lies
Then we'll
walk among the stars tonight
©1997. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Way Too Blue
Take it from
me
You're way
too blue
Don't play
that card
It don't
suit you
This old hat
wears awful
thin
Ain't been
yourself
since who
knows when
Did you make
the scene
or did the
scene make you?
It's plain
to see
You’re way
too blue
At first you
liked passing
time by
yourself
Now you're
not doing
much of
anything else
Can't help
thinking
that's your
whole problem
The thoughts
keep on coming
the more you
try to stop them
Something
must be said
once and for
all
"There's
something to be said
for saying
nothing at all"
Don't make
me ask twice
I beg of you
I hear it in
your voice
You're way
too blue
Heard you
did some hard living
And found
yourself unforgiven
But let’s
trace that searchlight wherever it leads
Let’s find
an itch to scratch until it bleeds
People say
Something's
bad wrong
Life might
be short
But the
nights sure are long
Morning
paper's late
What else is
new?
The boy lost
his way
He's way too
blue
©2000. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
You Gave Better Than You Got
Strapped our
bags to the top of a two-door Ford
Were we in
love or just bored?
Left that
town in a rush
with dreams
that never did amount to much
We saved to
buy a house on Marble Hill
Soon came
the day we'd had our fill
So all we
raised there were doubts
It’s just a
memory that nags me now
Darling, you
gave much better than you got
You gave
much better than you ever got
Don't ask me
where I've been when you know I can't say
Take my word
for it, honey -- you’d love me anyway
Though every
day brought more bad news
everyday I
did what I had to
'Cause I had
you to cut the odds in half
Now it all
seems such a laugh
If words
best left unsaid keep running through your mind
Let's not
dwell on that, you know I’m not that kind
No flowers
mark the spot where love died
Now there’s
no such thing as foolish pride
Tell me how
can I atone
when you
can’t know what I’ve done?
Darling, you
gave much better than you got
You gave
much better than you ever got
©1997. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
You'll Never Hear From Me Again
I know what
it means to be forgiven all too soon
And how it
is being sorry a little too late
When things
that made you proud
Start to
make you feel a fraud instead
There's
nothing to discuss
You'll just
never hear from me again
They'll all
ask why when I disappear
Let's just
say I got spooked by something in the mirror
When even
real good friends
say you'll
come to no good end
I'd love to
stay and prove 'em wrong
But you'll
never hear from me again
And as I
walk along
I wonder why
I didn't walk
a long time
ago
There are
things far worse than to turn and run away
Sometimes
that takes more nerve than it would to stay
So go on,
say what you will
This is more
than just a whim
We all must
do what we do well
So you'll
never hear from me again
You say the
fault's all mine But it's subject to debate
And this is
not the time -- can't you see, it's getting late
So grant me
one last request
Don't rest
on what might have been
Just tell
yourself it's for the best
When you
never hear from me again
And as I
walk along
I wonder why
I didn't walk
a long time
ago
©1999. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.
Your Family Lives X Town
Billy needs
a haircut
and sister's
shoes aren't tied
No one's
home to wash the dishes
and one
thing you can't deny
Your home's
a mess ever since you left
to sneak and
fool around
I don't
wanna be a drag, but your family lives 'cross town
Your man can
do without your loving
but there's
certain other things
a fella's
just gotta have from
the one who
wears his ring
What's a guy
to do when there's a woman who
is nowhere
to be found?
I hate to
break it to you, but your family lives 'cross town
I'm not
talking 'bout who you kiss
or who
you're holding tight
If you're
home in time for breakfast
he won't
care where you slept last night
This is your
last chance
to get where
you belong
Why not just
swallow your pride
and admit
that you were wrong
If you don't
go back, then they'll have to pack him
deep, deep
in the ground
Don't let me
stand in your way when your family lives 'cross town
Now I've got
to get to work, and your family lives 'cross town
©1998. Words
and music by Vernam Cipher. All rights reserved.