Lyrics

it's a scene
she's into it
like a dream
she's into it
but how she used to fight it
pushing all of us around
the truth is she was paralyzed

I'm trying to go faster here
and I can see disaster here
I'm doomed if I confide it
but we're dying to move on
we're dying in front of everyone

look at you nowadays
you'd have thrown it all away

I believe in ending this
I believe in rending this
do wishes go to heaven
or are they buried in the ground?

the truth is you are paralyzed

it's sunday morning
she gazes at his head
and wished he were dead
pick it up open your eyes

the bed is sinking
she notices it too late 
laments there sorry state
a lonesome fate
birds fly by
kids outside
I promise we're fine
love will tow the line

I'll take it over
the ships are leaving port
and I'm waving from the shore
till I can't wave no more

someone is speaking
their voice is clear as day
but I don't know what they're saying
who cares anyway
birds fly by
kids outside
I promise we're fine
love will tow the line

please don't cry
I've saved what's mine
we're tired of trying
I can't tow the line

a steady rain fell and froze on the sidewalk
while Betty made her way among the crowd
wondering aloud...

which guests would be invited to the do
and worrying who'd sit next to... 
who's the most talented hostess of all?

she lived in a basement apartment
moved cat-like through the rooms
he had died and left her to struggle
ten years ago last June
now he's walking across to her
once again he's the boss of her
it's important to understand...

the menu for a party must be well planned
so everyone gets along just grand
guess that plain old chicken wouldn't do
wouldn't do at all
guess that plain old chicken wouldn't do
wouldn't do at all
and who's the most talented hostess of all?

now Betty feels his eyes upon her in the aisle
now Betty turns around
presents him with her biggest brightest smile
but folks are cruel
her smile is greeted by an emptiness
which shocks her in her world
an empty truth
she hurries home and tries to shake it off

a steady rain fell and froze on the eyelids
of her...

tripping down assaulted streets
and keeping her nose in the air
with her go-go boots and a dime store wig
she's a creeper but seems not to care
and although it's all so sordid we can see a little girl
peeking from the bushes back at home

in a car on a darkened street
he bends and he fixes his head
points his eyes at the road ahead and drives
home

happiness uncertain wanders lost in hell
happiness uncertain wanders lost in hell
happiness uncertain wanders lost in hell
happiness is certainly an old shill

living on a corner like a vagrant in disguise 
passerby feels sorry but refuse
to catch his eye
and he wishes he were younger then he'd make
them all regret it
it could get him down but he won't let it

happiness uncertain wanders lost in hell
happiness uncertain wanders lost in hell
happiness uncertain wanders lost in hell
happiness is certainly an old shill
happiness in people who are bound to die
happiness in politicians while they lie
happiness in working people everywhere
happiness in children's vacant stares

I asked you for an answer
I wish that you would be
a little more dishonest babe
the truth is bad for me
when last weeks generation
has grown too old to see
you'll be alone and miserable
just like you like to be

in fifty million houses
there's fifty million lies
and fifty million brains avert
a hundred million eyes
you want to be my baby
you want it to be so
well here to you is my advice
if you love it let it go
(what a drag...)

mama's secrets never leaked
and she was brave beyond the call
placed the welfare of her family's illusion
over all
lost in outer space dementia
she'll prevent ya from it all
(runs on ethyl alcohol)

the man has called a meeting
on the fifty-second floor
but meetings bring me down
so I ain't going to them no more
some people's never sated
there's always something more
they've given up their bodies like a
drug-addicted whore
(what a drag...)

mama's secrets never leaked
and she was brave beyond the call
placed the welfare of her family's illusion
over all
lost in outer space dementia
she'll prevent ya from it all
(runs on ethyl alcohol)

I asked you for an answer
should have known what was in store
but the answer that you gave me babe
just made me more unsure
what was I looking for

she's a groovy child yes
and I'd like to make her day in some way
and when I drop to my knees 
I see the sun looks like a halo and
I don't care what people say
anyway

red wine
it takes me far away now babe
it lets me say what I want to say
oh can you come out and play

now I don't know who your friends are baby
and I don't care what your boyfriend say
cuz I grew ten feet just the other day
and let me tell you something I am not afraid
of taking over today

sunshine
it takes me far away now babe
it lets me say what I want to say
oh can you come out and play

in my summertime
and groove to this simple rhyme
the air is warm and I feel fine
hey
come play in my summertime

I'm in line
right on time
trees and sky
rails are fly

here we go 
through the snow
you and I
rails are fly

the train you ride has gone
and shaken away your rhyme
you'll waste just anyone's time 

the children of the radio
like lemmings to the sea
will swallow what they're given
cuz it's easy and it's free
at war and in pursuit of what the jockeys want to hear
they watch it all
disappear

the few who are posessed by this will have to pay a price
because the search is on for that 
infectious pop device and they will
lie to get their name in lights or
on the evening news
lie for the power to abuse

she lay in bed
and the songs rushed into her head
and time stood still for awhile
the dial glowed in the darkness and it
filled her up with a dream
and time stood still for awhile
yes time sood still for awhile...

there's the sadness
on a clear night when the wind is up
and we go stumble through the sand
drunk
and yet awed sober
in a special place which made
almost everything
absolutely everything worthwhile

there's the sadness
on a clear night when the wind is up
and we go boating on the pond
drunk
and yet awed sober
by the size of things above 
almost everywhere
absolutely everywhere above

in his mind
it's time for saturday
it's time for holiday
in his mind
it's time for
blue...

in the evening
I close my eyes and slip away
in the morning
I wake and greet a brand new day
all around us
the oldest have the far away eyes
in their auras
my future seems to wither and die
wither and die

all that we can do baby
today
is touch down in every possible way
waiting for the breakdown

let's drive to the factory
that thrived when plastic was a fad
we'll throw rocks at the seagulls
and sit along the blackened riverside
riverside

all that we can do baby
today
is touch down in every possible way
waiting for the breakdown

there's plague in my hometown
and I wish my dreams would leave me alone
the gods they just wait for sundown
to turn my neighbors into stone
all around us
the oldest have the far away eyes
in their auras
my future seems to wither and die
wither and die

all that we can do baby
today

god and earth decide
rewards for what you've tried
wonder why the world don't get me high
i'm a fourth wave guy
shame it should end this way
with the winter coming down around the shoulders of our town
someone pass the tragedy around
head on
open up your mind
to all the brand new sounds
listen to the music from the sky
and say goodbye
goodbye

the winter chills you to the core
and everything's been said before
you're hoping she'll deliver more
add color to the grey
but everywhere you look it's bleak
and no one has the guts to speak
about the mile-wide yellow streak
you all rode in on today

well she's mine
yeah she's mine 

and even though her eyes are made of steel 
she's fragile porcelain I feel
that force would shatter them
I have to look away
and as we lie in bed I watch
the light that breaks in through the window
"everything in time" she whispers
isn't that a shame

well she's mine...

they stuck in her throat
the words that she whispered
and lies fill the room 
and reside in her eyes

he felt like a dog
and he chuckled through tears
and told her his love
was as real as her lies

she asked in a quiet dispassionate way
if he cried to himself much when he was alone
and this hung for a moment
suspended in air
like a feather which suddenly dropped
like a stone

everything rings with truth and amazement
and every voice sings its' particular praise
I am frail
and gone over the rail

she's young and she's lonely
her bedroom is dark
and the friends that she knew once have all moved away
the shadows surround her
and swallow her whole
like a blanket they've come
to extinguish the day

how many times
she said she'd never go?
how many lies
she lied we'll never know

everything rings with truth and amazement
and every voice sings its' particular praise
I am frail
and gone over the rail

the sun’s gone gone today the sun’s gone today dear gone today come dead come today you’re down gone away the sun’s gone today

giant footfall
restless motion in the hall
goodnite one all
post his likeness in the local station

I'll deny everything
and so will you
I'm down but what's done is done
this is true to the picture
I'm ashamed
aren't you

grownup heartbreak
show the missus to the door
secret teacakes
served at the wake

I'll deny everything
and so will you
I'm down but what's done is done
this is true to the picture
I'm ashamed

I want to walk just where I please 
and never feel the need to run
I want to be her son
I want to be her son
and when I close my eyes I see a world
where we can be as one 
I want to be her son
well she's a sun

left my worries back in my room
took the red-eye to the moon
saw a man there looked just like me
bathing on the shores of tranquility

saw a plane slide into the bay
fought the urge back to run away
saved a woman looked just like me
saved a groom and a bride to be
saved an old man
saved his cane
saved a senator
saved his aide

took a trip in a boat that was 
carved from a woman's shoe
spent the night in a house on the banks of the sea
wonder how I can breathe in a place where the sky ain't blue
wonder who in this world gonna recognize me
who indeed?

looking at the ground below
I see it all and realize
there's nothing there to overthrow
there's nothing there to dignify

I do what I've done before
I walk where I've been so I know the way
and now I can't walk no more
I think that I'll slide into space

so where'd we go wrong with the gift
that was given
I wished to stop livin'
and a wish can come true
for all of the hours that we've taken for granted
I'd kill for a mile in another man's shoes
fly on 
dream on
breathe on
fly away

open up your eyes today
learn all the things that you want to know
take it all in stride today
and fight when it's your turn to go

I passed over water and looked to the sky
while no one was watching I said goodbye
adrift in a void I'm negated in darkness
and I'd kill for a mile in another man's...
(lama)

who was listening to the wall
when the call went up?
hey driver drive me the long way round
to dark and bloody ground
to where we're free to be
everclear
(all this looks different to me)
and it's hard to believe

who heard the man fall down 
but ignored the sound?
hey driver drive me the long way round
to where the sun abounds
to where he's free to be
everclear
(all this looks different to me)
and it's hard to believe

it's hard to believe

I see you there
I hear your testimony everywhere
the day is clear
don't mind you knowing I still live in fear

the home we had
was rather frightening it was rather sad
and so 
dear dad
this son is setting for the promised land

I think of the little sister 
that I never had
and I know
we've all really missed her
the sister who would have kept 
bitter at bay

my mind divides
when I'm a witness to the pain you hide
my hands do time
I think you need it now
(although what for I can't decide)

my little sister would have smiled
my little sister wouldn't lie

I think of the little sister 
that I never had
and I know
we've all really missed her
the sister who would have kept 
bitter at bay

lonely, and lost in the world
the spaceships are coming down
hiding, he waits for his orders
and blends with the merchants
uptown

shoot straight my son
see them for what they are
and when it's done
you'll see it's best by far
my son

we'll let things grow
and soon there'll be no sign
of their presence, no
memories will fade in time
my son

when the spaceships come down from the sky
who will stand by your side
when your factories and cities are gone
who will answer your cries
and laugh at your tired alibis
this time
the tyrants are falling in line

when the word comes down
plan ahead don't be around
the cleansing fire
will engulf this blackened ground

when the spaceships come down from the sky
who will stand by your side
when your factories and cities are gone
who will answer your cries...

I was coming back on the scene
wanted to get out of here
they came down in a flying machine
that's when I saw my ticket out of here
(hear the space music go...)

when the spaceships come down from the sky
who will stand by your side
when your factories and cities are gone
who will answer your cries
and laugh at your tired alibis
this time
the tyrants are falling in line

Guy and Ro belong together
Guy and Ro moved in today
he's a struggling entertainer
she's there to help him make his way

meet the neighbors in the elevator
stop and chat to pass the time

Guy and Ro were asked to dinner
by the folks who lived next door
they were glad for conversation
but they got more than they bargained for

meet the neighbors in the elevator
they'll help you out once in awhile

Rosemary knows
in water blue eyes and in her secret smile
Rosemary knows
her love is a lie
but nothing's keeping Rosemary 
down

Guy and Ro expect a baby
gonna happen very soon
and though they seem to be elated
looks like the neighbors are more tickled
by the news

meet the neighbors in the elevator
they'll pick you up when you are down

Rosemary knows
in water blue eyes and in her secret smile
do you suppose
she's losing her mind
she thinks she hears her child
somewhere there's hope for her
place in the day
her face regards the sun
Rosemary knows her love is a lie
but nothing's keeping Rosemary
down

I didn't mean to make you mad
but you were grumpy anyway
and this morning I doubted the things that you said
looks like we're in for a very bad start today
today

wrench is gone
and the tools that you used have rusted up and lost their bite
right
is what people spend their time
showing others what they are

I'll show you
open up your sky
let my truth in your third eye

do your friends all know the score?
have they got advice for me?
and should I be prepared for what's in store
a war
between who I am and who I oughta be
oughta be

wrench is gone
and the tools that you used have rusted up and lost their bite
right
is what people spend their time
showing others what they are

I'll show you
open up your sky
let my truth in your third eye

I want to think a thought
that speaks powerfully to you
want to set the record sraight again
but we hate the useless talk
that simply clouds the issue
so i swear I'll never use the L word again
never use the L word again

lovely Arrythmia sighs
and bats her eyes
tucked into her favorite booth 
on the lower east side

just to her left is Muab
who thinks she should break up with Rob
she'd like to
but what would she do
if she didn't get the modeling job

hey it's a riot 
hey do you buy it

now they go down to the show
cuz Thad forced them to go
to the pulse of the music
Arrhythmia's moving out slow

we're restless and mean
and we're waiting for nothing today
we're down with the scene
and we're waiting for nothing today
I'd check my machine
but I'm waiting for nothing today
we're young and we're clean and we're
getting our way
we're getting our way
we're getting away

Darby is always the clue
that nothing's wrong with you
take one look at her and you'll find
all your hopes have come true

it's a lovely day in sunny so cal
my gal says
dig the park where we go down
and run with all her friends

smell the trees the birds and bees 
I'm glad she's on her chain
some day though
I know
she'll break free
and find another man

don't sob
don't cry
cuz there's plenty more to find
no blame
perish shame
it's a lovely day to
start a park stroll
to cleanse her pet soul
sight and sounds roll by
time flies

see how easy treats and games 
sways her
weighs on my mind
how could she forget so quickly
how I treat her kind

don't sob
don't cry
cuz there's plenty more to find
no blame
perish shame
it's a lovely day to
start a park stroll
to cleanse her pet soul
sight and sounds roll by
time flies...

she's got the glower on
she's not miss happiness today
have I done something wrong
to make her glower in this way
but it's alright 
on the holidays hooray

isn't it a shame
scowling for days on end

he's got his waders on
and he's as happy as a clam
and when his shadow's long
he'll make his way back to the land
but it's alright 
on the holidays hooray

isn't it a shame
scowling for days on end

please
show me what I want but haven't got
please
row me out and drown me like a cat
we
lost our purpose back aways
now we while away the days
overgrown

she
calls me up and scares me half to death
these
days I wonder when she'll have had enough
dreams
keep me coming back for more
keep evening the score
overboard

weren't you afraid I'd be
somewhere far away
didn't you trust in love
I got burned that way
wasn't I afraid you'd
stay
to watch me struggling through the day
and pray upon my soul
while drudgery takes its' toll

we've lost our purpose back aways
while following the latest craze
while spitting out some catchy phrase
and bathing in our parents' praise
while we while away the days
overgrown

today
is a quiet day yeah
gives me time
relax my mind
but you
a daughter of the rich babe
I guess that every day's the same
you walked 
up to her face and tell her that you love her so
but she turns and walks away
we are alone 
and you
you're far from home
oh my
you got the time and the place but she's no-show
you had your foot in the door but she's no-show
no-show
today
is a quiet day yeah
gives me time
relax my mind
but you
a daughter of the rich babe
I guess that every day's the same
you should have known better that time
when I took you to the groove and you lost your mind 

hey
who's afraid
of growing old and settled
stay
while you can
you make it all better

streets
and empty doors
broken glass and puddles
fear 
is everywhere
it leaves me bare and troubled

downright free and lost
I'm down
but I'm learning not to care
love's been known
to make the best of it
but love was never here
love was never here

here's to the boys
in their summer dresses
breeze
blows 'em up
and silently caresses

downright free and lost
I'm down
but I'm learning not to care
love's been known
to make the best of it
but love was never here
love was never here

Jean's serene and pleased
to be around today
but as she sits upon the stoop she wonders
why she doesn't always feel quite this way
it seems like every day she's deeper underground

when the light from the day goes down
she can smile and it makes her astounded
it's a game

later on she settles into the routine
where there's a certain kind of liberation
sees an old acquaintence in a magazine
and is reminded she forgot to take a shower

now that things are all sorted out
in the buisness that everyone goes about
while the sugar-plum world goes round
it's a game

Jean's serene and pleased to be around today
but we're tired of having to hear about it
now she's found a way tp make
the feeling stay
so we'd better all get used to her new powers

when the light from the day goes down
she can smile and it makes her astounded
while the sugar-plum world goes round
it's a game

I'm sorry I
couldn't shake my gaze
she's crying now
as he slides away

in sweets it charms
and led us all a bit astray
and so disarms 
brings peace to a world in decay

shine into me

was his trust in love betrayed?
he spurned allegience far inside away
and leaned on friends who lived a lie
and hung on for the ride

someone's gone
put their mind to the cork
and the drink spilled all over the floor
now we fall and we soil our knee
drink it up cuz there might not be more

someone's gone 
dropped a bomb on our house 
now the t.v. don't work good at all
all your favorite channels are blurred 
and you're banging your head on the wall

here
stands the fence I build
there
is a crime

someone died
but their soul couldn't rise 
cuz it was too weighted down with the guilt
so it slithered around on the ground for awhile
till it found a small hole in the tomb we'd built

someone's lost
but they feel like a fool
cuz they were so sure they'd find their way through
without your offer of help
but you've abandoned yourself
and let them get them into you

here
stands the fence I build
there
is a crime

so he got upset with himself
and carved out a hole in his head
yeah

so he got upset with himself
and carved out a hole in his head
and these were the friends in their cry-suits
who showed him the way to the dead bed

showers down

through gate three and feeling free
I love her and she loves me
in the air into the sky
I will blow away

now I'm home and we're alone
except for the telephone
she walks in all sheepish grin
I wait and listen
and this is what she says

rock this down
rock this down again

and when she feels that it's all hopeless deep inside
he is there to smooth the ride
and though she knows that folks think it's great just to be alive
she don't buy that jive

and while she watched her favorite television show
he checked the color of her eyes
and though he loved her
he felt the tug of compromise

rock this down
rock this down again

her heart was broken like a cup
she stood stood up
where will she go what will she do
she's wishing all the things she'd said before
had talked him into loving her

my baby's brittle little life
collapsed around her overnight
around the corner there's a brand new day that's waiting for her
my baby's brittle little life 
was draped around her like a shroud
and all her misery allowed
was that she saw his figure
big as life in everything

she took the train home in a daze
saw not a soul along the way

and when it dawned on her too late 
that she had missed her stop
she smiled

my baby's brittle little life
collapsed around her overnight
around the corner there's a brand new day that's waiting for her
my baby's brittle little life 
was draped around her like a shroud
and all her misery allowed
was that she saw his figure
big as life in everything

riding in the subway on a snowy afternoon
avoiding people's eyes
noticing how many different kinds of shoes there are
watching them go by

riding in the subway on a snowy afternoon
dreaming about you
thinking how the light in here makes everyone look blue
I look like I feel

my body keeps its' distance from the couple that
dozes awkwardly in a love embrace
I'm happy cuz I've found a little inner space
could you love me?

riding in the subway on a snowy afternoon
wishing I was through
we've been through a lot I know so this I pledge to you
I'm still in love with you
and I still love you...

while grownups sleep in Sunnymede
the children leave their beds
and tiptoe down the creaky stair
where only children tread
they slip into the wondrous night
down to the moonlit shore
and watch as phospherous fishes play
in waters deep and warm

across the waves a ship's horn sounds
in greeting to it's friends
and beacons dance across the tides
where dancing never ends
the children lie flat on their backs
and gaze up at the sky
and pick which stars they'd go to if
they had the power to fly

while grownups sleep in Sunnymede
this magic comes alive
and while they dream their grownup dreams
an ocean kingdom thrives
in darkness where a precious few
can trust in what they see
it's special children everywhere
who set the night world free

in God we trust I must confess
I've found that trust is meaningless
when even love can make you tired 
and all your thoughts are uninspired
reject the unkind machine

the sky is blue the grass is green
my feet are dragging through the rain
I cringe when people use the phrase
get back up on your feet again
I've heard you use that phrase before
reject the unkind machine
I've heard you use that phrase before...

a tree in Orange was witness to
a man fall down
it's not a large disply
today
but tree has been here for other days
when cars have lost control
and houses burned to their foundations
in the cold

and children played in the open street
on four July
they watched the summer sky
turn blue then gold then white
and dogs hid under a thousand beds
their eyes drawn wide with fear
while couples huddled in the darkness
of their final year...

Sarah goes down to confession
while priest he tows the line
Sarah likes to think she's good
at wasting priesty time

Charlie goes down to the boy's room
and locks himself inside
it's sad to think of all he could have done
if he'd only set his pride aside

she shrouds her eye
she's far away...

we watched 
and were awed at the war that she waged
with herself
and we saw that she swayed with the weight
of her father and brothers and boyfriends who piled
like a landfill
and swallowed her smile in their wake

till at five o'clock sunday she purged them 
away
it shifted all into grey

like cops conceal holsters beneath their lapel
she hid dangerous things
but she downplayed them well
and instead chose to focus on twinkle and shine
while her watch ticked off seconds
and bang was in time
for the party they threw when she turned twenty-nine
so welcome to twinkle and shine

as an encore she faded away
stepped out of the party and into the street
she had nowhere to go
what would she say to the relatives
who came to see how she had grown
and who could have known that the time was approaching
when she'd be alone
yeah who could have known
that the time was approaching when little miss wonderful
stepped out on her own

soul rocket fuel
pushes me up and out
of sight of the people on the street
keeps me away from the common man
I pull the pin on the grenade
of frustration
and three-two-one
bang
it's all here locked
inside this skinny brain so come on
and sing a song that fuels you too

please can we talk about it
please stop talking and just listen for awhile

we raised our glasses all in celebration of the news
their separation was the best thing at the time
the past few weeks had been a trying time for all involved but
now the smoke had cleared their eyes could see that it
was way too late

we are the friends of the unhappy couple
we are the friends of two who broke their ties today

and what a day it is to waste away
it's Bob and Carol's blackest birthday

the wedding plans had stalled and everyone had seen the truth
they faced the wall and touched eachother now
like total strangers
all in all they'd felt the call for distant solitude and 
chapters from a Russian novel spring to mind
to find description

and everyone cried
and everyone sighed
and watched their boat go down

and what a day it is to waste away
it's Bob and Carol's blackest day...

and everyone cried
and everyone sighed
and watched their boat go down

so now the friends have gathered silently
to say hello
attend the funeral where no one liked the dear departed
the conversation turned to things that happened years ago
and everyone agreed
that they were doomed before it even started

and everyone cried
and everyone sighed
and watched their boat go down

and what a day it is to waste away
it's Bob and Carol's blackest birthday...

a million little light bulbs
went on over the minds
of the dogs and cats and bureaucrats
who change what we see through our eyes
like nothing went wrong

deep in the rainforest a ritual occured
and somewhere in the embers of the funeral pyre
something was done
so all our machines couldn't run

on zero day

it's amazing how New York defends it's city to the death
though now the earth is warmer you'll all find youselves
shorter of breath

on zero day

and the weathermen will stop
and they'll listen awhile
for some sign of improving conditions
remember the summers we spent by the sea
we would lie on our backs while the sun baked our bodies
first I'd lotion you
and then you'd lotion me
in the old days when sunlight was easy and free

a million little postcards were dropped into the mail...