Go-on Ahead

If I were to die tomorrow,
I know right now what my Lord would say,
he'd say, "Go-on ahead, go-on ahead,
You lived your life well, now go-on ahead,"

If I were to die today,
I wouldn't carry with me no bags of sorrow,
say, "Go-on ahead, go-on ahead,
you lived your life well, now go-on ahead,"

I ain't claiming no sanctity,
my life ain't been no straight pine tree,
say, "Go-on ahead, go-on ahead,
you lived your life well, now go-on ahead,"

I ain't saying I been narrow,
been winding all over like an old magnolia,
say, "Go-on ahead, go-on ahead,
you lived your life well, now go-on ahead,"

I went down to the old boneyard other night,
saw my pappy playin cards in a young man's skin,
betting 10 times his size,
but I know'd that devil'd win

bury the dead right where you find 'em,
to take 'em home will leave you blinded,
say, "Go-on ahead, go-on ahead,
you lived your life well, now go-on ahead,"

bury the dead right where you find 'em,
to take 'em home will leave you blinded,
say, "Go-on ahead, go-on ahead,
you lived your life well, now go-on ahead,"

you lived your life well, now go-on ahead...

Snake in the Grass (tentatively titled)

Snake in the grass
do you think it's enough
to hedge on another war?
coins spilling over your paper cup
are you drinking for one or two?
tiger in the streets
did you really believe
I would play your fool again?

cause it was over, before it began
we're lapping up, the puddles with our hands

went to your house on the top of the hill
buried in the the clouds
almost got lost on the way back down
slipped on your crystal stairs
you gave me a show of your favorite tricks
juggling fire and knives
nice for you but I'd hate to be your neighbor downwind

cause it was over, before it began
we're lapping up, the puddles from our hands

(solo)

reach into the air with your ashy tongue
tastin for the rain
snakes pouring out of your golden cup
are you drinking for one or two?
next flood will be your last
written in the red moon

cause it was over, before it began
we're lapping up, the puddles with our hands
cause it was over, before it began
we're lapping up, the puddles from our hands

The Piss Song Sequel

Took a chair down by the lake to kiss you one last time,
but you weren't there so I had to pretend,
though it didn't feel quite the same
probably better cause if you were there
I would've said something selfish and hurtful

for example: "piss off you heartless witch"

Got pissed, took a piss in the lake,
and it made me think of you
and all the times you got pissed at me for saying stupid things,
well I can live with myself and my mistakes,
but if you can't well then that's your problem, I guess,

so you can piss off you heartless witch,
maybe we'll meet again on a lake somewhat like this,
and bitch about suburnban sprawl,
cause we deplore it more than each other

if you come around to be my friend again,
I'll try not to hold a grudge, but it may take a week or two
cause when you left, you took my old copy of Moby Dick,
so when I forgot the ending, I had to steal another copy from the library,
but it didn't have my old angry notes written in it

I'm trying to get over it,
so just give me some time and we can be friends,
doubtful ever again lovers

and in the meanwhile...
you can piss off you heartless witch,
maybe we'll meet again on a lake somewhat like this,
and bitch about suburnban sprawl,
cause we deplore it slightly more than each other
yes we deplore it more than each other

Merry-go-round (February 2008)

My father was a merry-go-round driver
he took the same track everyday
now I’m out to derail 1000 lives
to make up for his lack of mistakes

If you’re looking for an anchor,
don’t cast your nets here,
if you’re asking for gravity,
search the sun,
cause I’m the kind of guy who won’t be around
when breakfast comes

I’m gonna get you high,
I’m gonna get you low,
take your body and leave your soul

now I’m out alone on the desert,
but pretty soon I’m gonna be in your town,
for a demolition derby
we’re wrecking hearts on the floor

I hope you ain’t wearing a seat belt,
papa sure better taught you to drive,
we gonna chicken baby on dead man’s curve,
and I’m bettin’ on a crash

here I come baby,
you got what it takes to take me on?
green eyes of fire and ice starin’ back,
I hope you brought your boxing gloves,

I’m gonna get you high,
I’m gonna get you low,
take your body and leave your soul

Rosa Parks (OutKast remake) (February 2008)

I’ll be walking again tomorrow just like now,
raising myself foot by foot always proud,
to carry past the line in the sand,
been doin’ it since I was a child anyhow,
well, that’s where they get you thinking you different but,
in the back of my mind I’m always asking like “what,
you see in me that ain’t also in your blood?”
now I’ve had about enough of that lyin’ so here’s what

while you fellas up high is wonderin’,
which jet to take some of us others is runnin’
just to catch the number #5 on time,
cross town just to get in line,
cause while a minute means a dime to you,
that cents got us sweatin’ cause what we do
ain’t got time for mistakes, you suits can’t wait,
so we bustin’ or our ass is grass and you’er hungry,
and still some other can’t get they’s belly half-full,
and how you gonna trade your brothers in the south,
given them lies like its medicine, Tuskegee nothing but experimentin’
oh wait you poisoned that too, weren’t they sayin’
that Alabama is the place where the heart’s worn,
torn by dialects of hate and callousness, this,
color ain’t worthy of nothing better, your skin
and coat will make a nice rug underfoot,
I’ve had a well to cry about it, but today I’m sittin’ on it and ain’t movin’ for ya’ll

over 40 years now it’s been, and still my people are runnin’
indoors for cover with nothing but a paper,
Civil Rights you callin’ it but we wise enough to see the lines still dotted, ain’t signed,
and when you gonna get off your behind and make it more,
we got the feet to walk so why we waiting at the bus stop?

Frontiers (January 2008)

(Intro drum solo)

when all of your frontiers have stopped at the sea,
California melts to salty breeze,
who’s won the gold wrenched in your hand,
was it you, your posse, your clan?

but you couldn’t stop there and the end of the land,
the moon lay await in your plan,
did you ever stop to consider the bones,
at home before you made war in other sands,

take a minute to reflect on the past—
do we want that life for ourselves?
to build a hero on killing fields,
is to pour blood on the tops of our hills¬

if you could only see where this day ends
and the light and the end of the tunnel,
it’s not so far, not so near as it seems,
you could take the proper steps to see us through,
color the sky lavender if you please,
it’s yours, but you’ve got to make it with your dreams,

(breakdown)
you’ve got a responsibility,
to see your people through to the end,
if you offer life, love, and liberty
you better be willing to give what it takes

this is a message to ourselves,
because at this point we have no one else to count on,
like it or not our fates have been set up to now
by the choices of our fathers,
if we wish for nothing but mediocrity
there’s no more to ask for,
but can we save ourselves,
not just as individuals, but as humans,
because we all share this sphere,
and we all turn with it,
and if you’ve only heard these words it’s enough,
to change the color of your sky,
to set you on a brighter path

you’ve got a responsibility,
to see your people through to the end,
if you offer life, love, and liberty
you better be willing to give what it takes
for freedom

The Kusatsu Bridges are Conspiring to Divide Us

I’ve got 25 bridges outside my door
and not one can get me closer to you
curled-up in the corner
with my hands on my head
squeezin’ ‘til the bloods run out,

phone me up to say there’s something in the water
but you drank a gallon anyway,
curled-up in the corner
with both hands on your stomach
heavin’ all your bile out,

(and we’re) off to the hospital again,
checking in for a monthly stay,
but even here is poison,
(change up timing, slow words down)
stonewalling you in my silence
while you’re calling me to the rescue,
but it's June and the summer hail’s chasing me away,

the sirens in the distance weren’t such a surprise
I could hear ‘em 10 miles away,
but with your thumbs in your ears
and your tongue in the air
you built a new dam everyday

cause even if you here now you wasn’t then
love a tightrope without a net
and no smile at the other end

the life you take will be your own
to leave by the road or carry home
what to make of her frustrating mystery
that’s my responsibility

love her with a pure heart
love her with a clean heart
the love you give will be your own
the life you take
well that’s my responsibility