Hospital

the back of my neck
the heat of your breath
floating over
my left hand shoulder
the fragrance of death

goodbye

a silent chest
a body at rest
dearly departed
and i'm just getting started

goodbye

like the Holy Ghost
and a visiting vapor
down to my toes
like liquid paper
white as snow
and everyone knows
if Jesus matters
then heaven comes after...

it has to happen
sooner or later
we're all leaving
for glory or grieving
for glory or grieving

goodbye


Squad Car

hey, help is on the way
i heard your crying
hey, help is on the way
they're coming in a squad car
so put your knees on the floor
they'll lay their hands on top of your head
to duck you in the door

hey, i'm your rotten friend
i'm your only friend
i'm kind enough to turn you in
kind enough to take away your freedom
there is a squad car
screaming out your name
lighting all our faces red

hey, think of what you did
hey, think of what you did
hey, think of what you did
lay your hands of top of your head
to duck you in the door

siren     turning all our faces red
siren     lighting all our faces red


Home Remedy

under a thin blue lip line
a smile is slowly draining
you never were good at home remedies
you never were good at waiting

what have you done this time
i'm sure everyone is worried
why are you holding your eyes closed so hard
     why is your skin cold

and i'm sure you couldn't call it an ending
when it never had a true beginning
guess my name's dearly departed
wondering if you're finally winning
     or finally grinning
or finally feeling your all but elusive home
     remedy

what happened to your heart
why aren't you breathing
when did it stop beating
or did it ever start

so is there a difference
is there any ending
so tell me, was it good for you
     your skin is so cold

is there a difference
should you have believed me
did you see Father and Jesus
or were they as elusive
as you thought they'd be

did you see Jesus Christ
all robed in reality
well, why don't you tell Him
i'm lonely without you
     maybe he could visit me

but i'm not very good at waiting


King Of The Laundromat

she takes black and white photographs
we are to be married in july
she pulls the paper from orange crayons
uses them until nothing is left
she takes black and white photographs
     takes black and white photographs
everything has been life so far
everything has been life so far
i am the king of the laundromat
i wash and dry people everyday
wear out their colors and watch them fade
she says she was born color blind
she takes black and white photographs
everything has been life so far
     i see gray
she sees the contrast
     i see grey

invitations are in the mail
come watch me ruin another girl
maybe this one will last me all year
i am the king of the Laundromat


Without

i thought i saw you
     sitting
i thought i would
     approach you
i thought that we could
     talk a while
     it's been so long
but you looked so happy

i've never been without before


5

i
i miss the life i left behind
the happy song i couldn't write
i
i never offer any light
never seem to be the one to bring
the kind of song you like to sing
     maybe this one
     maybe this one will be
     maybe this one
     maybe this one will be

finally i find
something's right this time
no one knew my mind
offered any light


Before I Go

before i go
i'll let you know
i'll put a flare on the highway
that you travel home
and a note
etched in your door
letting you know
i've come and gone
for ever more

you've seen me desperate
and i've been regretful
it seems like i gone and gave
half of my time to the devil

and you may think everyone's candle
burns long and low
     but i want you to know
that 35 summers
     is not a long time
the road that we travel
     is only a short drive
the flare's on the highway
     my notes on your door
waiting for you to arrive

before i go
please write my folks
     tell them i'm important
no more regrets
and i hope the Good Lord can
     take my life
     use these words
     save your soul

released in 2000

album credits coming soon