Alive

Al, he sells records down on old St. Charley's Street ˇ He's cleaning up Fat Tuesday's mess he keeps the sidewalks neat ˇ And he just lost his father and he just lost his wife ˇ And if it wasn't for the music he couldn't get on with his life ˇ Chorus:And he knows what I know ˇ It's not all that hard to survive ˇ You take the good and the bad and the time in between ˇ It lets us know we're alive ˇ Well now Be Be's singing gospel ˇ And down on Bourbon she sings the blues ˇ She plays on all my heart strings curls my toes up in my shoes ˇ And she knows what I'm after ˇ Chase my dreams with all my might ˇ She says you shouldn't be so anxious and deep down I know she's right ˇ Chorus ˇ Well get on board the rocket ˇ Step right into the front car ˇ You know life's a roller coaster ˇ It ain't got no safety bar ˇ Raise your voices up with laughter ˇ Bring it in with one big sigh ˇ Consecrated in the wonder .... we're alive ˇ Norman he plays music but only in my dreams ˇ Shows me all the beauty that soulful music brings ˇ But sometimes he's a spectre and I wake up clenched with fear ˇ But lesson good or bad he always keeps me clear ˇ Chorus

Solitude

Tim he was a good friend ˇ Yea was a brother of mine ˇ We were imaginary comic book superheroes ˇ Kids wasting time ˇ We were prisoners of our youth ˇ We were growing up strong ˇ'Til the day he was taken away ˇ For something he did wrong ˇ Tim came 'round just the other day ˇ And boy he had some stories to tell ˇ His mama kept him locked up in a rehab ˇ Although the doctors said he was well ˇ He said yeah I been through the anger ˇ And the hatred towards my mom ˇ And I put all that behind me ˇ Just tell me what was it like to go to your prom ˇ Chorus: He said thank you mom for fixing ˇ My clouded broken mind ˇ But excuse me if I seem a little rude ˇ While I was missing my childhood, my brother and my prime ˇYou enjoyed the convenience of my solitude ˇ Well growing up these days just ain't easy ˇ And the kids they're doing the best that they can ˇ So mama you better think twice ˇ Before you lock your kid up and throw away the key ˇ 'Cause soon your little boy is gonna be a man ˇ Chorus ˇ Tim left town yesterday ˇ He left me with these words ˇ He said yeah I know this life's got a lot to give ˇ But my childhood is gone ˇ And I'm not afraid of dying ˇ I'm gonna grab the world by the horns and learn how to live ˇ Chorus

Jesters, Dreamers, and Thieves

Looking back on younger days the view stretched on for miles ˇ We charged into our futures with laughter and smiles ˇ As we traveled blindly the road became so thick ˇ No chance to change direction and we've laughed until we're sick ˇ Now I keep company with wicked evil men ˇ My generosity's brimming but I'm still inclined to sin ˇ My friends think I am crazy and I know that may be so ˇ But I'm as happy with a penny as coffers full of gold ˇ Chorus: And so for all of you I say, don't miss the forest for all the trees ˇ And don't ever question Honor Among Thieves ˇ The undergrowth has parted now the path is easily read ˇ It's lined with all the doubters regretting all they've said ˇ God bless all the dreamers and those who lead with soul ˇ For how can you know virtue 'less you fought out of a hole ˇ Chorus ˇ Trickle of a chuckle as laughter starts to pour ˇ Bells begin to jingle the trickles now a roar ˇ Pan floutist, cloven dancer ˇ The mischief has begun ˇ Laugh with me if it's funny, laugh at me if it's fun ˇ And I don't know St. Peter but I know he believes ˇ There's a place in heaven for Jesters, Dreamers & Thieves

Guinevere

After all the corridors are darkened ˇ When the royal crown is off your head ˇ To your chambers I will creep not a word we will speak ˇ Just love me while the fire light dances 'round the bed ˇ Well there is danger in this passion ˇ Because the king can never never know ˇ And on my blood I've sworn my allegiance ˇ So I'll leave you when the sunlight comes and beckons me to go ˇ Chorus: And the silver shine is tarnished from my armor ˇ And in battle I am paralyzed with fear ˇ And this poison in my soul is the love we'll never know ˇ And it finds me playing Lancelot to your Guinevere ˇ Well and Guinevere is sly enough to steal a little taste ˇ And her laughter it peals into the night ˇ Oh but forbidden fruit always stays sticky on your face ˇ And without virtue I'm worthless in a fight ˇ Stealing little glances at the table ˇ I feel that this is theatre in the round ˇ But far away chasing s in the meadow ˇYour love like wind, blows right by and sweeps me off the ground ˇ Your love sweeps me off the ground ˇ Well now it sweeps me off the the ground ˇ Chorus

Sorry To A Friend

Sittin' on the edge ˇ Looking for songs in a bottle ˇTalking with strangers who don't know my pain ˇ Blurry eyed and burned out ˇ Choking on more than I can swallow ˇ Crack in a little voice called out my name ˇ She said ~ Whatever happened to you, ˇ It's been two years where have you been. ˇ And I guess all my fears were true ˇ The words were all gone the time's been too long. ˇ But I deserve to know what happened to my friend ˇ Staring in her face, I see a past that still haunts me ˇ The road where we split up is paved with the things I didn't say ˇ We had wonderful times, but terrible timing ˇ Now just leave her alone, I'll just be in the way ˇ She said whatever happened to you ˇYou took the coward's way out again ˇ And I guess all my fears were true ˇ The words are all gone, the time's been too long ˇ But it's not too late to say I'm sorry to a friend ˇ I'm sorry to a friend. Sorry to a friend ˇ Like a stone in a stream ˇ Life smoothes all our edges ˇ 'Til we barely make a ripple any more ˇ But those times in my life will live with me forever ˇ But we're not the same people that we were before ˇ And I'm sorry for the smiles we missed and the times that I blew it ˇ I've got so much to tell you I don't know where to start ˇ Maybe I'll find a way maybe you'll help me do it ˇ 'Cause friends like us should not be apart ˇ And I'm sorry to a friend ˇ Well now I'm sorry

America Street

Rubber on my tires making contact with the road ˇ Sign on the streetpost tells me which way I should go ˇ Riding down America Street funny that it's one way ˇ Riding down from uptown ˇ to where the buildings are broken down in decay ˇ America Street it's right nearby ˇ Land of the free and the brave ˇ If we can't work and make some change ˇ There won't be much of this land left to save ˇ It's a classic case of misdirection and slight of hand ˇ We watch while our deficit grows ˇ What a shame that we can't teach our kids to read ˇ Makes you wonder where all the tax money goes ...I don't know ˇ Chorus: Well America Street it's right nearby ˇ Land of the free and the brave ˇ And if we can't work and make some change ˇ There won't be much of this land left to save ˇ Won't be much to save ˇ Excuse me sir pardon me can you spare some change ˇ Because it's cold and I live outside ˇ A thoughtful search into my pockets finds enough so he can rocket ˇ Right up to the bar and enjoy his lie ˇ Chorus ˇ

Russian Roulette

Hey boy pushin' on your girlfriend ˇ Trying to show her all the pain you feel inside ˇ Yeah and head all scrambled and the love is gone ˇ And you don't know what went wrong ˇ But I think I heard you hissing something about blue steel ˇ Chorus: But when you talk about something like gun play ˇ Let me tell you it's a losing bet ˇ But when the hammer falls all bets are called ˇ And five to one you're gonna lose ˇ When you talk about something like Russian Roulette ˇ Tears run down your sweet love's face ˇ I say she's a mirror of your insides ˇ And you can't scream loud enough to let it go ˇ And you mouthful of pride you just can't swallow ˇ Rips your soul like a hurricane tide ˇ Chorus ˇ Pack up your ego and your tantrum ˇ Put it back with your anger and your pride ˇ Beating up on your girlfriend ˇ Ain't gonna change anything inside

Bitter Chill

Sweet love is keeping a very close score ˇ She's cheated death more than one time ˇ The tears roll down her face and on to the floor ˇ The psychic's been reading her mind ˇ Chorus: Women with secrets men with their rage ˇ The lines run deeper than words on the page ˇ Breeze through the window, it turns bitter chill ˇ Pretend we don't feel it, lie here real still ˇ Whispered in visions of new earth shine ˇ We volunteer to do nothing again ˇ The world falls around us all we can do is whine ˇ Living out the future of original sin ˇ Chorus ˇ Well now follow me to the water ˇ Dive right through the film ˇ Swim in the madness, fulfill every whim ˇ Why worry about tomorrow that you'll never see ˇ Why talk about the children that will never be ˇ Give us this day our daily bread ˇ Forgive us our monstrosities ˇ No more stories of the Quick and the Dead ˇ The asphalt will burn with our liabilities

Don't Bring Me Down

Well I don't drive a fast car ˇ You know it just ain't my style ˇ And I don't give a damn about that ˇ You know it ain't worth my while ˇ And I've been known to run around ˇ Burned some bridges in my time ˇ You know those girls tried to tie me down ˇ But my heart is still all mine ˇ Well Elvis had his blue suede shoes and Samson had his hair ˇ You know I got my music baby ˇ And My Dreams Will Take Me There ˇ You know I don't smoke cigarettes I don't see the point ˇ And if you're gonna put smoke in your lungs ˇ Might as well smoke a joint ˇ Chorus:Well I don't mind if you hang around ˇ Just don't start talking that love talk baby ˇ Don't Bring Me Down ˇ Well don't call me a scoundrel ˇ Baby don't call me a thief ˇ Don't look down your nose at me ˇ I don't need all your grief ˇ Join me and the Jesters, singing for today ˇ Live life at its fullest ˇ Before it slips away ˇ Chorus ˇ Why you want to shoot me down ˇ I'm just trying to be your friend now baby ˇ But you lock the door, hide the key, hide under the bed ˇ You're gonna hide from me ˇ Come on baby, let me in ...

Kitchen Song

Sitting in the kitchen, ˇ Just staring at the cracks in the wall ˇ I've been sitting here since yesterday ˇ Just waiting on you to call ˇ The cracks remind me of you and I ˇ They're all up, down and split apart ˇ And all the cracks in the wall lead to one great big hole ˇ That used to be my heart ˇ Chorus:Now that I think of it ˇ Nothing ever worked out right ˇ All we ever seemed to do is just cuss, scream, bitch and fight ˇ All we did was fight ˇ The tears I cried ˇ Fell on a cold and lonely floor ˇ No one to wipe them away ˇ The tears I cried ˇ Will be my own and they'll follow me ˇ And that's the way it's gonna stay ˇ Chorus ˇ Oh pretty baby, can't you understand ˇ I'm not made up of enough to be your man ˇ Oh pretty baby, don't know what to say ˇ I just want you to ... go away ˇ Well I'd love to sit and reflect on this ˇ But I haven't got the time ˇ Just tell me why you chose to be so cruel, mean, brutal so unkind ˇThe tears I cried fell on a cold and lonely floor ˇ No one to wipe them away ˇ The tears I cried ˇ Will be my own and they'll follow me ˇ And that's the way it's gonna stay

Thirty Pieces

Thirty Pieces of silver screen ˇ Deep inside our souls ˇ How did we betray our imagination ˇ Watching our futures unfold ˇ Without a whisper for fear of intrusion ˇ We have to see how this part ends ˇ Time out for commercials ˇ Time out to be good friends ˇ But our generation's angry ˇ We're so scared that we can't see ˇ The answer right inside of us ˇ If we can find the place in our hearts where we're all free ˇ Does it see that time works against us ˇ Or does it just march on and on and on ˇ Sometimes it drives me crazy ˇ Proving Nostradamus wrong, so wrong ˇ But we still have secret silos with buttons, codes and keys ˇ We can avert this awful disaster ˇ If we find the place in our hearts where we're all free ˇ And what a tall order ˇ Far be it for me to say ˇ Maybe I'll try a little harder ˇ Starting Here Today ˇ Or just throw in the towel ˇ Lay down five up the ghost ˇ And join all the cynics ˇ Luckier than most. ˇ Maybe I'll check out with a bullet ˇ Would you think less of me ˇ Or would it frighten you enough ˇ Would it rattle you enough ˇ Would it frighten you enough to ... ˇ Find the place in our hearts where we're all free

3 A.M.

It's 3:00 A.M. ˇ I'm awake and my heart is still dreaming ˇ It's 3:00 A.M. ˇ Outside I hear the souls still screaming ˇ It's been so long you know since my head's been this clear ˇ Just like a ship lost in the night ˇ I just don't know which way I should steer ˇ Chorus:But I'll keep chasing my dreams ˇ And only you can make them real ˇ I pour my heart out every night ˇ But do you know the way that I feel ˇ Sometimes this is work ˇ And don't you know sometimes this is play ˇ Sometimes you are listening to me ˇ And sometimes you don't hear a damn word that I say ˇ Sometimes there's a girl ˇ Sometimes I go home alone ˇ And I guess it's no wonder right now ˇ That I do very well on my own ˇ Chorus ˇ And I will play just as long as you will listen ˇ Now I'm in no big hurry to get back on the road ˇ Sometimes in this lifestyle ˇ I feel like there's so much that I'm missing ˇ Well I'm missing you ˇ It's just that I'm ... so far from home ˇ It's 3:00 A.M. ˇ I'm awake and my heart is still dreaming ˇ It's 3:00 A.M. ˇ Outside I hear the souls still screaming