marsnightlife

there's a man, superior
better, no, just experienced
he molds my future well
he tells me where to drive the ship

i have the conn

there's a woman, my peer
all choices made with no regrets
she takes my love for granted
i learn to think that of myself

i am the con

i'm nothing more than what's believed
i'm only what they think they know
but there's no changing anything
unless i do it on my own

i think i'll just wait for now

and with a glance, the torch is lit
but like a man with his liquor, i can't not hold on to it
the flame has a function and is meant to be used
though some days, it's more like a fuse

but if you oome around
i'm probably the right guy to get lost in the crowd
you'd keep fascinating company if only i were allowed

in this atmosphere of smoke and chemicals
i remain unfazed by the fumes
i was breathing glory and wishes
and i've been holding my breath ever since

you can be my priority
even if i'm just your option

because i'm euphoric on your sound of hope
and the chord it makes with my lonely notes
i remember the moment i asked myself,

"how can a song feel like falling in love?"

the same moment i decided that just the potential was enough

i've given up striving to take this to overdrive
and waiting for acknowledgment that has yet to arrive

the lights go down
remember to breath between lines
the stage is set

so hold your heart in your hands
taste the weight of bearing it all now
is it something worth holding?
or do you rely on something else?

because i'm not convinced that you've got this right

the future begs reassurance
i've never been one for plans
a thousand first rate promises withering in dry heavy hands

no chance to rehearse
did you think to be more prepared?
we've made some mistakes

so hold your heart in your hands
taste the weight of baring it all now
is it something worth showing?
or do you rely on anything else?

cause i'm trying to find a reason my heart is not the prize
i've got nothing to offer but a fierce an worthy soul

found only by the lookers
weary travelers on the interstate, going opposite ways

see, baby, i'm a dreamer
i'm seeing you, and seeing me, but living in a dreamer's way

and defiant until the end!

casting's closed, we've got the roles
we're not here for the crowd to approve
there are no lines, don't know how it's told
and we write the ending we choose

so tell the critics i'm through

doesn't it get old?
you're like a drop of water in a flood
always taking the path of least resistance
rushing to get to all the lowest places

but in life, there are many roads
and each day you must choose
if you knew you could have it better
would you follow through

so take the easy way without a second glance
you and i don't see eye to eye when we're given the same chance
stick to your beaten trail, and i'll find someway new
i came this way, this path i'll take, and i won't follow you

deviate from the map
i will take the road less traveled
and validate myself from within
by means that justify the ends
and when i stand by my beliefs
i hope it makes all the difference

words are meaningless without the actions to support them
faith without works is dead!
where was your passion each time you sold yourself short?
conviction can't be turned on at your convenience

i could not believe my eyes
there they were, all dead, and standing before me
ritual sacrifice brought them to life

in nights i spent alone in my bed
they tried to assimilate me
change who i was, and meant to be

but i could not abandon my well-bred hate
and join in their chaotic ways

wake up, and i'm forgotten

i've been abandoned until i can change
rip these restraints from my arms
and escape their sinister vices

[because i can't believe the things they say
words heard when no lips were moved
tell me it's just a nightmare
i'm afraid i'm the one who is dead]

wake now, son

[when they can see us, we'll stand as one
when you can see us, you'll know]

sometimes i feel as if i am a ghost in this town
fading in and out with the tides of this city
i stand alone and and i stand proud
of who i am and for what i believe in
and i won't compromise to your ideals or to your standards
one by one we rise, first as one, and now as many
banding together to fight this injustice, to fight the status quo
to stand up for who we are, and not for who you want us to be

we are not alone

this ground finds my feet unfamiliar
my eyes find the signs
the paths of lived lives
i see blind turns
and neglect the lessons i've learned

with what hope do i strive
when i'm at the mercy of my own pride?
is there a home i can find
that won't be lost to waves or time?

can i leave all i was behind?
i feel resigned to being so open on all sides
with nothing to protect me anymore
i clutch for wherewithal
and i move forward

in time, i will have perfect sight
and answers for questions long passed by
for now, i might as well be blind
i might as well be blind

i've read a thousand stories
that could've ended the same
they remind me of you
and the games i wish we didn't have to play
dropping clues to let you know
you're better on your own
we're only a step in each others' journeys
though i wanted to be more

to make you feel alive

it's always been a stretch
there's no way to make this a living
to "get along" is what i do best
i don't care if the world's not forgiving

there's always some excuse
some plane to catch, some job to take
don't slow down, don't be late
it doesn't leave much time to choose
if i could, i'd let the road decide my fate

there's always been a catch
i just can't commit to anything
that didn't fall right in my lap
it's not something that makes me proud

there were words i never said
i'm much too late with apologies
our paths lead where they're led
in ten years, or right now, i'm sorry

i could be there
but i don't have the night off
so let's drink ourselves to death and pretend
we don't have somewhere to be in the morning

now it's time to run away
and stop missing you to death

well, it started out well enough
kind words and a genuine smile
she took me by the arm
and walked away with so much more

three years down the line
i've seen both sides of the coin
with scars from tragedy
i'm spent, i'm legal, tender

maybe we asked for too much
we could've sworn that we were different
didn't we get what we wanted?
didn't we take it for granted?

believe in what you will
i'm never coming home again
lines have been crossed
there's no turning back this time

i can't stop the motion that i'm in
this tide will carry me away
it's so cold down below
it's neither sink now swim

is there any hope for lost treasure?
is there forgiveness for betrayal?

wait for me... to come up for air

i just got reception
i've been without my phone for hours
but now is not a good time to talk
i need to get away

i don't want to hurt anyone
but i'm still playing with fire
there's plenty of time
to make mistakes

i'll check for messages
and tell myself i'm considerate
i never denied being stubborn
but here's what i won't admit

i don't want to hurt anyone
but i'm still playing with fire
please spare me on how i'm good at breaking hearts

the swelling's gone down
but the scars will remain
and if anyone ever asks
i wonder if i can explain

that i'm selfish to get you to myself
though i'm not sure it's worth the fight
i'll never touch another cigarette
or fall in love again

tell me about your bad news
you say you have restrictions
you have people worried about you
they have their reservations

i say
make it anyway
i might need this more than you think
i need someone to not let me down
in a big, big way

so let me share my good news
i've nicked old convictions
i can't wait for us to get through
and enjoy our new vacation

i say
make it anyway
we might need this more than we think
we need someone to help us out
as we find our way

we have dreams of quiet retreats
i count the minutes to pass the weeks
i could have been scared
somehow we agree
let's hit the road, see what we see

it's about time
i'm glad it was you.

change the record
every track's a letdown
why won't you help me?

you goddamn failure
there's some sort of error
you're stuck on repeat

because you only play the songs
that you want to hear
and when the tune's stuck in your head
it's easier

to tell them all
with a straight face

it's your favorite song

but i know you
and i know you'll have a new one before too long

and every week
your new "single" sounds the same

(you're newly single)

but you sing along anyway
so sing along anyway
tell yourself it's all ok
wouldn't you know?

you're to blame

with your lousy goddamn radio
your new pics, your hair, your clothes
an identity you wouldn't know
without a lousy hipster fashion show

you're indecisive in a lethal way
and your repetition's killing me
so, with clean hands, i walk away
and wouldn't you know?

you're to blame.

It's awfully chilly for spring
and you got me thinkin on many-a-thing
like coffee stains and growing pains from the other side of campus
The wind is bitter this time of year
and it's hard keepin glory in my hair
normally it doesnt matter, but your laugh has me thinkin better
so in between the last lines of this song
you left me in a coffee shop waiting far too long
far too long for a wednesday
but im numb to surprises of tragedy
so no worry, no worry

Ive got thoughts in mind that hopes are bleak
sadly enough ive been writing crap like this all week
forcast calls "cant talk myself out of this one"
let's take hearts and words and watch them dry out in the sun

you can have whatever you want, even me
and you're asking everyday
with your actions, plain and clear
from here, it looks like you're missing something

but i can tell from the back of your head
that it isn't me

you're all smiles in the daylight
and you sing like you own the night
you want us all to know that you stand on your own feet
but i could swear you're missing something

though i can tell by the feint in your voice
that it isn't me

but trust me baby, i've learned my cues
leaving home is always like losing hope
because i knew i couldn't believe in you

i wasn't surprised
couldn't sound enough like i didn't care
and just like you didn't want me back
when i come home
i don't want you there

every day, i learn something new
sometimes i look back on words that meant so much
and as i get better, i regret a few
you couldn't care less, and if you're missing something

i rest assured

because i can tell by the cold in this place
that it isn't me.

This is a last letter from a journeyless adventurer
2 hours from home and a fated history from hope
through the eye of a misery's devouring
this is act 2 and youre the plot

Look south and lust for golden memory
It's high tide for hearts
... and truth cant be temporary

You're buried, youre buried! Underall, overall
Caught between moments and snagged deeply
But please allow me to speak freely!
(even) your beauty in barnacles is...

Drink a day away, one day away
make an accident of nature
and gently stumble into me (it's a one time thing)

Make sure you breathe between lines
casting's closed, weve got the roles
I'm drawing blanks, you forgot how it's told
...and the crowd knows
The lights like us best
nobody plays it like you
and i'm holding this stage 'til our finale's in view

Look south and lust for golden memory
It's high tide for hearts
...and truth cant be temporary

We hit the ground running
but there's no escaping a happy ending

arise in the hall
such a shame this dust lies here
near the portrait of the young man
who fell, dear to me

don't you know the world wasn't meant for something like us both?

where does this go?
raise the sword and call it out
an exit is an entrance
we're one and out and whole again

a curse brought to us
one child's judgement to break the house of another
in time
he'll beg forgiveness of the one

inquisitor
you are mine
so march, march with me
until the day is won

say, inquisitor
keep on, hold the line
and fall, fall with me
until our days, they number one

just one, our days are numbered
mark the codex just so
just so you know
one more day is only tomorrow

and we'll see tomorrow
if it's the last thing we do.

order
we'll call this to order
i told you once you'd pay for your crimes

treason
betrayed those who loved you
you told me once that it made you feel alive

for one to be so bold
tackle your complex with a vengeance
the same way that you always did
just out of season
feeling old
take part in this to break the season's crawl
who are you to want to end it all?

like purgatory, broken and temporary
waiting, just waiting
i'll teach you what you want to know

he gave his all
and now all the connections go
the way of the work
this is what works

for one who is so bold
conquering the world with a vengeance
the same way that you always did
in season
red and gold
into retreat the autumn season falls
over and out breaks the commander's call

you killed the signal, smoke and it's over
over's the order, stand shoulder to shoulder

stand tall and account for yourself

stand tall and i'll show you the life of one who is so bold
conquering the world with a vengeance
the same way that you always did
in season
red and gold
into retreat the autumn season falls
and in time, our frozen hearts will thaw

it's cold tonight
and i'm outside to take in the skyline
all i have are my thoughts, and our loss

i want to know if you get lonely, my little singer
it just goes to show how empty our home is

the process robs me
prenuptuals consume dreams and hopes

where is the ring in my ears which reminds me of our adventures the night before?

strictly casual
eventually means no fun at all

how hard would you fight
for something that you knew was right

tell your secrets
and keep your lies

it's my business to try
even if it's fortified

mortar and stone
behind calcified bone

a chamber with a petrified heart
soft tissue with all the love drained out

rhythmic motion restores life and warmth
but carries no sense of what you're fighting for

though it sometimes leaves an argument for what is pure

i will never start it again
because i have my doubts

and you always run away
keep running, running, running
and change your name
because i wanted it for something else

you ruin things
but most often, you ruin yourself

stop making me sad
stop making me feel bad for you
i mean, when did you ever deserve it?

do you know how many times i said,
"when are you going to figure it out?"

well, when?

it's much too late
i hope i never picture us
standing together again.

in a way, it's ironic
when she wouldn't let go
it was always shortly after she left me by myself

and she'd ask if i had kissed anyone
as she was laying there with someone else

i don't even know what good it does
to let this all out now

but i'm letting it out
because i don't want to feel this small ever again
i'm more than a footnote
i'm the greatest love you never had...

it's funny how they all turned out to be like that
because even california knows what i'm talking about

and if you think about it, we've never even met

always better safe than sorry,
you've got a talent to make me worry
should i really be telling myself that
i really should've known better?

is that what you wanted?
it's a complete role reversal
and you're the one holding on to the past

you're the one holding us back

i wish you wouldn't try so hard
to make it fit your expectations
and i wish you wouldn't hide so much
and think i don't know what you're doing

where did you give up?
and decide you weren't interested
i can tell you i got the message
and from now on will be respecting your limits

you're doing it again
i wish you wouldn't do it again
but i can't stop you, i can't even try

at least we're still friends
you can tell yourself that we are still friends
and forget to notice where i've let go

don't worry, you've only opened my eyes
it's ok because i know you don't need me

a week goes by

i can see you've changed, and i torture myself
because this time you've stopped being fun