Be Passersby
tread the ground of no ground
walk away on your own
tell the truth and be the truth
truly love and be gone
be passersby
go it alone
don't take a thing
not even your phone
be passersby be passersby
go it alone
all night long: their howling song
will these dogs never rest
don't return you'll only burn
for every deed you confess
be passersby
go it alone
don't take a thing
not even your phone
be passersby be passersby
go it alone
a bridge you crossed slick with moss
down the trestle you descend
you're dwelling now and god knows how
this underside became an end
be passersby
go it alone
don't take a thing
not even your phone
be passersby be passersby
go it alone
passersby detach yourself
these worldly things are just false wealth
passersby go on
the rearview is cracked
passersby by in a charade
the wife and kid; you had it made
passersby roll on
never look back
* * * * * * * * * *
Done Wastin’ Time
early in the morning ... hear alarm bell ring
got my new guitar strings gonna make 'em sing
early in the morning is good a time a day
for just a little loving to put me on my way
done wastin' time
you got the corner office you've been working for
but you hate your colleagues so you close the door
underneath the ozone ... don't know what you need
so you crank up your computer ... prepared to spill your seed
done wastin' time
i'm wastin time again what can i do
i'm wastin time again i should be making up to you
nevermind the motion that puts your mind to sleep
a lifetime of devotion can make a grown man weep
you didn't see it coming: a note left on the fridge
kinda makes you wonder what the hell you did
done wastin' time
* * * * * * * * * *
Las Galeros
it's a long road home to las galeras
the people up in philly man they can really scare us
and this place ain't no paradise by the sea
you take a beautiful child you kick her in the ribs
somewhere down the line she lost the will to live
you could call it bad luck or you could it destiny
there's a limo driver in a prison cell
could be on his way to heaven or own his way to hell
if you listen to his story, man, it wasn't him to blame
hit her hard enough and a lung collapses
neighbors stand around say "they put one past us"
don't sweat it, amigo, there's plenty of fault to claim
oh the days get clipped ... down in the dirty dip
but oh up on the hill ... in a way ... it's a just slower kill
it's a long way home to las galeras
but i'm living in mt. airy and i'm nowhere near it
you might even say this is a rich man's neighborhood
sure there's trouble over here on the inside and the out
but i ain't complaining 'cause i got no doubt
no matter where you turn there's some bad and there's some good
chorus
it's a long road home to las galaras
the deck of cards you're dealt may not be the fairest
when you're looking for a better school and a better life
fresh cement and single bouquet
at the threshold of the jungle in an unmarked grave
you think it's better here, man, i'll tell you, you better think twice
there's a grieving mother 'neath a mango tree
there but for fortune could be you or could be me
sent her angel up to philly on a wing and a prayer
the american dream is filled with violence
we do it different up here than they do down in the islands
you can roll them bones on a dead end desperate dare
* * * * * * * * * *
Lord Baltimore
it's the singular way you walk through the door
it's the singular way you ask me for more
time to decide the place where we stand
i'm begging you please let go of my hand
i saw your car parked at the lord baltimore
and a glimpse of a girl as she opened the door
and i waited in vain for you to appear
and i'm watching the rain in my rear view mirror
i thought that i left my feelings behind
is it true what they say about healing in time
the lord baltimore was shuttered this week
a nuisance they said but if these walls could speak
a story they'd tell of the passion and pain
and the lies that steal love and leave nothing but shame
* * * * * * * * * *
Who Needs the Muse?
who needs the muse?
she's just a ruse
to keep you from the game
coffee and cigarettes
a girl last night you met
they'll do you just the same
you can hang around
for the perfect sound
that'll never come
after a thousand dates
there ain't no perfect mate
sorry to tell you, son
goffin and carole king
exchanged their wedding rings
didn't let it slow 'em down
a tiny office space
perhaps a touch of grace
and those two got it down
singing for angry stares
while the t.v. blares
where was the muse back then?
hauling my ass to work
just like the other jerks
that bitch is not my friend
* * * * * * * * * *
No More
there's a tractor in the shed
it's battery is dead
and it don't do shit no more
the signals gotten crossed
and along the line we lost
we don't do shit no more
no more no more
we don't do shit no more
there's a rattling in my cage
the test results were grave
and the blood don't flow no more
arteries are clogged
from living too high on the hog
and the blood don't flow no more
no more no more
the blood don't flow no more
there was a snake out in the grass
used to slither round so fast
but he don't slither 'round no more
lying bleached out in the sun
yea, his slithering days are done
he's a husk of what he was before
before before
i'm a husk of what i was before
there's a song still to be sung
on the tip of my tongue
but that song won't be song no more
there's files to be shared
and the bossman's running scared
no, i won't sell my song no more
no more no more
i won't sell my song no more
before before
a husk of what i was before
no more no more
blood money won't pump no more
no more no more
we can't do shit no more
* * * * * * * * * *
Praying to St. Joe
a little trinket did you ever think it
you and me in such discord
trapped like prisoners we were both bad listeners
and paid more than we could afford
we were always reaching for a prize beyond us
looking up when we shoulda looked low
now i'm talking to an agent and i'm trying to be patient
and i'm praying to st. joe
it's a million miles since you walked down the aisle
and i felt a weakening in my knees
but the years'll get ya and the day i met ya
is a fading memory
did we give it a fair shake or just give up
i suppose it's too late now to know
relying on a broker's like a losing hand at poker
and i'm praying to st. joe
then on one fine chrismas day
santa didn't come
how the hell do you explain
the banker owns the chimney son
a small piece of plastic for a move so drastic
but i'm gonna try anything
a house on the market and a future so dark it
cast a shadow on our little angels wings
a nine day novena: believe and trust
words that i'm not sure we know
listen, it can't hurt to dig up a little dirt
and bury old st. joe
then on one fine christmas day
we lived in different homes
i wonder did you realize
what it's like to live alone
* * * * * * * * * *
A Wig and A Wonder
looking for a room with an hourly rate
my stomach up in knots but my heart can't wait
hot sheet special ... just a twenty dollar dent
it's a wig and a wonder and money well spent
somebody gonna win
somebody gonna lose
somebody gotta stay
somebody gotta move
there was a tranny in houston i found out was a man
but i didn't realize it 'til he showed me his hand
man girl girl man what's a boy to do
stumblin from the icehouse got vomit on my shoe
somebody gonna win ...
how in the world did it come to this
i was trying so hard to walk a line
only takes one drunk kiss
in a world of despair yourself you'll find
next day i'm praying in the rothko chapel
i got a lonesome ache in my adam's apple
no east coast eve gonna hold me down
me and my friend mort gonna hit this town
* * * * * * * * * *
Wonder and Pray
was not fruitful ... did not multiply
fiddled and diddled ... got mud in my eye
you with me, baby?
from the way you look i couldn't say
sometimes i wonder ... sometimes i pray
saw a cop beat up a homeless guy
thought to stop but i walked on by
courage to summon
i guess i'll leave that for another day
sometimes i wonder ... sometimes i pray
sometimes i wonder ... sometimes i pray
sometimes i shake it to the break of day
sometimes i slide and sometimes i split
sometimes i think i had enough this shit
looking in a fountain trying to find my youth
leaned in too close and i chipped my tooth
you ever seen that thing?
they got it parked out there on j.f.k.
sometimes i wonder sometimes i pray
sometimes i wonder ... sometimes i pray
sometimes i shake it to the break of day
sometimes i bubble and sometimes i crack
sometimes i swear that i'll never look back
pulled a splinter from my finger and laid it on my desk
a pounding on the door led to a pounding in my chest
a bag lay on the carpet
you put it there but coulda walked away
sometimes i wonder sometimes i pray
sometimes i wonder ... sometimes i pray
sometimes i shake it to the break of day
sometimes i rock ... sometimes i roll
sometimes i wonder what i'm doing to my soul
sometimes i wonder ... sometimes i pray
sometimes i shake it to the break of day
sometimes i spin and sometimes i turn
sometimes baby i just burn burn burn
* * * * * * * * * *
All lyrics by Jon Houlon, 2013
