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1. |
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Some things happen. Some things happen.
You can get on your knees and pray, yeah, but some things happen.
Some things happen. Some things happen.
You can stay in your head all day, but some things happen.
This is not – the change you're hoping for.
This is not – your long lost love.
This is not – the hot new miracle.
This is, this is, this is IT.
And some things happen. Some things just occur.
My mamma used to say that there’s always a way, but I just stopped listening to her.
And I know you see yourself in everything I say and do.
Well hate to burst your bubble, love: you are not the unnamed you.
And this is not – a balanced argument.
This is not – an old old friend.
This is not – a full ride scholarship.
This is not – a happy end.
This is not – your affirmation call.
This is not – a self-help club.
This is not – your mom’s denial song.
This is, this is, this is, this is, the TRUTH.
This is not your daughter’s fairy tale.
Some things happen. Life goes wrong.
Blackout babies will go away as soon as the lights turn on.
Blackout babies die as soon as the lights – turn – on.
You are NOT the unnamed you, in anything I say or do.
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2. |
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Don’t say you don’t want this. Cold gray is coming after you.
Don’t run, ‘cause you can beat it. No sun will shine the way you do.
You’re afraid that you won’t make it off. Don’t be late.
Can’t say there’s an after. Can’t live like we did before.
Won’t know about each other. Don’t go until you open the door.
You’re afraid that you won’t make it off. Don’t be late.
So bold and getting bolder. No hold from growing older.
I know the soldier’s still in you.
You’re afraid that you won’t make it off. Don’t be late.
You’re afraid, but I know the soldier’s still in you.
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3. |
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I been living on the ghost of nothing since the day I died. Now I’m making it alive again ‘cause I can’t be denied. You were bright like the sun, so I thought that you would warm my soul. But your scared ass collapsed and I fell into your big black hole.
I tried to work it but … Uh-oh, oh no, no go – we’re different people.
Don’t pretend that you’re a settled soul when you’re a Rubik’s Cube. Ya gotta have a side or three figured out before I talk to you. Hey I gave you a shot but all it got me was shot-shot down. Hey I wish you the best but don’t you ever come back around.
Uh-oh, oh no, no go – we’re different people. B----. We’re different people.
(We lost sight of each other in different ways - and when we found each other again - and when we regained that sight - when we regained the sight of each other we found that we were different people.)
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4. |
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No more loneliness. No more heavy sighs. No more angry face. No more long and tortured goodbyes. I’ve killed them all. No more people. Waiting for the reaper now to make his final call.
I’m no longer there. Haven’t lived or died. I was never here. I was never by your side. I’ve killed you all. No more people. Waiting for the reaper now to make his final call.
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5. |
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C’mon.
Thinking about you coming … you set my body humming.
I wanna take you every day. You make me break like unh.
Everyday.
I’m telling you the story of how you make me more me.
I wanna taste you every day. You make me break like unh.
Everyday.
The deeper we go, the higher we fly.
The higher we fly, the deeper we go.
The deeper we fly, the higher we go.
You make me break me every day.
Everyday.
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6. |
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I built your home with a retracting dome so you could see the sky is ours whenever. The universe, a cathedral of words, your whisper warm and soft and loud and clever.
It’s no big thing to hear the ring from when the world clocked in to start its ticking. The matter’s dark, a static spark that fractured from the whole and started sticking.
I should have waited for the flame. I should have waited for the universe to move. I know it’s different but the same, and I can move in any universe with you.
The black holes are your eyes that eat the galaxies. They suck me through right into you. They keep expanding – sideways 8 – my tendencies to witness everything through you.
I should have waited for the flame. I should have waited for the universe to move. I know it’s different but the same, and I can move in any universe with you.
Show me, I can’t see it for myself. Hold me, I never want anyone else. You are my first in any universe.
There’s not a universe where I don’t thirst for you are first and…
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7. |
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Today I woke up and I loved you.
Today I woke up and I didn’t love you.
Today I woke up and I was too confused,
so I went back to bed and dreamt of someone and you.
I know I don’t know. I know I don’t know.
I don’t know how I know, but I know I don’t know that...
You are not what not what I want. You’re what I want.
I had a notion and I pushed it through.
I had a notion and I took it to you.
A strange emotion that I never knew
pulled me out of bed where I found nothing and you.
I know I don’t know. I know I don’t know.
I don’t know how I know, but I know I don’t know that...
You are not what not what I want. You’re what I want.
You’re taking it all away, and giving it back someday.
You’re taking it all away, and you gave it back.
Am I throwing it all away, the last of our todays?
If I don’t want to stay, I won’t come back.
You are not what not what I want. You’re what I want.
Today I woke up and I loved you.
Today I woke up and I didn’t love you.
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8. |
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I live in fear of myself. I live in awe of you. My temperament is such that nothing ever gets past me. What’s a polymath to do?
I make bones about everything. Can’t rest for nothing, can’t get up until I do. Just when contentment strikes is when the machine starts turning. I live in fear of you. What’s a polymath to do?
You blinked, and your eyes got stuck closed. You think you’re the only one who knows. You stuck to the things that drag you down. Good luck ever having someone around.
What’s a polymath to do?
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9. |
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If I fall in love again, it'll only be 'cause I let my guard down. And I'll never let my guard down, so I'll never fall in love again.
If I lose it all again, it'll only be because you're around. And you're never gonna be around, so I'll never lose it all again.
Yes I will. I'm a boson. I am prey to spooky action at a distance. Yes I will. And I hope you'll be the strange to my charm, the up to my down.
It's better to have never loved, than to carry all this wreckage around. And if I could shoot to kill it now, then I would shoot to kill it now.
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10. |
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Oh without you is all I can take. When I’m beside you, it makes my heart break.
I’ve been sitting here for far too long waiting for your call or text or something. Don’t look like it’s gonna happen, so no way out for me.
I can’t blame you for everything, but I’m going to, ‘cause I want you to feel that sting just like I felt it, baby.
I don’t know what you were thinking of when you shut me down, and why I stuck around. No way out for me.
No way out for me.
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11. |
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Mothers hide your daughters. Fathers hide your sons. There’s nothing left for us here but guns guns guns. Fathers hide your daughters. Mothers hide your sons. All we see around us are guns guns guns. Say it!
Makes me wanna mic my mouth.
Hey! Can you still wait? Can you still believe and leave it up to fate? No way! I can’t sit this out. It’s too much, too far it’s gonna make me mic my mouth. It makes me mic my mouth.
All you sons & daughters, how’s it make you feel? The nightmare visions are coming real real real. Fathers & mothers, does it make you cry? Do you wanna shout up to power why why why? Sing it!
It makes me mic my mouth. Does it make you wanna mic your mouth?
Guns guns guns.
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12. |
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Wisdom through repetition is my mission.
Like a Zen koan about a man fishing.
More time doing, less time wishing.
Success through failures is my tradition.
The power of repetition.
I got a learning curve that’s as hard as hell.
I start off slow so it’s hard to tell.
But when I get going you can feel me swell,
and I drop like a bombshell.
The power of repetition.
My first name is a verb. “Verb” is a cognate of the word “word”.
Forget everything you ever heard. The best MCs are the biggest nerds.
The power of repetition.
Wisdom through repetition is my mission.
More time doing, less time wishing.
If we ever need to remember to learn to know to feel to absorb to grow to change our condition, we need that repetition.
Two years out and I got this down cold.
Ten years out and I still don’t feel old.
Twenty years down and I’m still going strong.
It’s the everlasting now if you love it all along.
Wisdom through repetition is my mission.
Like a Zen koan about a man fishing.
More time doing, less time wishing.
Success through failures is my tradition.
Two years out and I got this down cold.
Ten years out and I still don’t feel old.
Twenty years down and I’m still going strong.
It’s the everlasting now if you love it all along.
The everlasting – the power of repetition….
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13. |
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Sunshine … waiting for the rain …
Sunshine … never smile again?
Make another day, make another …
Sunshine … for the rain …
Sunshine … smile again.
Sunshine … shine!
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14. |
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There’s something I wanted to tell you,
That I don’t know how to say,
So I’ll only speak when I’m spoken to.
Oh, what do I have to do So I won’t break you?
I’ll whisper into the pillow,
Cover my mouth with black tape,
Tie up my hands with a rope or two.
Oh, what do I have to do So I won’t break you?
Oh, it’s silly To even have to say,
But I’m thinking, really, You’d be better off running away.
Or I can just throw away all my frustration,
Bury my anger & rage,
Toss out the clubs, knives & ammo too.
Oh, I’ll do what I have to do So I won’t break …
You…. You…. You…. You….
You…. You…. You…. You….
Oh… Oh… Oh… Oh…
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15. |
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I have no preconceptions that have not been disabused. My heartbreak is part of me. It’s blood and bone and cannot be unfused.
And I know I’ll never be the same. Some silences – they have no name. But bit by bit and breath by breath, with every ounce of strength I’ve left, I’m holding on to steady the flame.
No one knows how or when mo(u)rning comes and dies again. What we know, what we feel, in the silence of the real.
Never be the same…
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16. |
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I used to play my songs by myself in a lonely room. I used to write my words for no one else in the world but you. And now I’m on my own, not quite sure who to direct them to. But I keep playing on, hoping one of us figures out the truth.
‘Cause it’s a real life, like it never was before.
Well there’s a fine, fine line between reinvention and apocalypse. I haven’t had the time to figure out which one of them this is. So on and up I go, putting the pieces of my head in place. And I may never know what is the image of my future face.
‘Cause it’s a real life, like it never was before.
I look to all manner of stuff and things, to keep my mind from grinding and make my heart sing. One hand complying with the watchful eye, and then there’s one hand defiantly reaching for the sky.
If one and one make two, does that mean now I’m only half of a whole? Why am I asking you, who believes the universe is dark and cold. Yeah I’ve been on my own, writing words without any ears to know. But I still play my songs, hoping one of us finds the better way to go.
‘Cause it’s a real life, like it never was before.
It’s a real life.
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17. |
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We're perfect for each other 'cause we break each other's hearts in the same way. And we're always trying to go back to the same day when we thought we knew that all was right. But it's alright that it's never gonna be alright. And we're ships in different oceans. I'm the day and you're the night.
The dream that put us together and the world that pushed us apart are the same pain. And we both wish we could get back on the same train that took us to when all was right. But it's alright that it's never gonna be alright. And we're ships in different oceans. I'm the shade and you're the light.
We gotta give it up. We gotta let it go. I think you know we're both strong enough to know that if it hasn't worked by now, it'll never work anyhow. But is that good enough?
No it's not good enough. I wanna fight 'til we get it right.
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18. |
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We took turns driving all night long,
our favorite songs on loop from Bluetooth on our phone.
We had our windows all rolled down,
and all around the sound and the air were humming.
We’d both been out this way before…
But this time there was something more, and we both could feel it.
It’s what we couldn’t believe – it’s what we couldn’t believe,
but it’s all kinds of right.
It’s what we couldn’t believe – it’s what we’d never believe,
but it’s all day & night.
And it’s all kinds of right.
It was our rogue philosophy that we didn’t want to see
the Waze to go cuz it’s better not to know.
We’d sing our songs, hold hands, and wait for Highway 28,
cuz we knew it was ours and coming.
And all we needed were the stars and sky …
For those miles that passed on by to be wild, weird, ours and true.
It’s what we couldn’t believe – it’s what we couldn’t believe,
but it’s all kinds of right.
It’s what we couldn’t believe – it’s what we’d never believe,
but it’s all day & night.
And it’s all kinds of right.
Back where we come from – as lost and scared as everyone,
With every turn on a wrong, wrong road….
But we’re so thankful for the people and places we don’t know anymore,
Cuz they brought us to our home.
And when we saw the city lights, we knew this was our night
to find the place where we belong.
Cuz Highway 28 had come, and in the air the hum
was ours and weird and we loved it.
We let the city pass us by –
Our songs on loop and running high, cuz our home is the road we’re on.
It’s what we couldn’t believe – it’s what we couldn’t believe,
but it’s all kinds of right.
It’s what we couldn’t believe – it’s what we’d never believe,
but it’s all day & night.
It’s what we couldn’t believe – it’s what we couldn’t believe,
but it’s all kinds of right.
It’s what we couldn’t believe – it’s what we’d never believe,
but it’s all day & night.
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19. |
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Take a look up to the sky. Open eyes don’t wonder why. Only you and the earth and sky. Don’t wonder why. Don’t wonder why.
Nothing else but the now & here. Never stop and you’ll never fear. Gotta love that it’s always here. Never stop – you’ll never fear.
Shine and sparkle, it never ends. It never ends and it never ends.
Sparkle shine shine … ahhhhh.
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20. |
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Oh there you go again, choking my inspiration.
If you could just tune out your brain,
I'll take you to a place where there's no hesitation,
And you don't have to be afraid.
'Cause if it feels all right to you, all right, then it feels all right to me.
If it feels all right to you, all right, then it feels all right to me.
We can never foresee....
Oh what's a boy to do when his girl won't come out to play?
If you would only drop the game,
I'll take you to a place where love is all around you,
And you will never be the same.
'Cause if it feels all right to you, all right, then it feels all right to me.
If it feels all right to you, all right, then it feels all right to me.
Yeah if it feels all right, we can go all night. Baby, all you need is me.
If it feels all right to you, all right, then it feels all right to me.
If it feels all right to you, all right, then it feels all right to me.
If it feels all right to you, all right, then it feels all right to me.
Yeah if it feels all right, we can go all night. Baby, all you need is me.
If it feels all right to you, all right, then it feels all right to me.
We can never foresee....
If it feels all right… If it feels all right…
If it feels all right… If it feels all right…
If it feels all right… If it feels all right…
If it feels all right… If it feels all right…
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21. |
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Sometimes when I’m alone, I get a little crazy, and I need to reach out.
‘Cause my mind – it goes to places it shouldn’t go, ‘cause you make me …
You make me wanna think about my life.
Oh, don’t take it all away, no.
When I said so long to you, I know that it was the right thing.
But now our loving is through, I don’t know what is happening.
You make me want to think about all the things that we never had.
You make me want to think about all the times that we were glad
to be together.
You make me wanna think about my life.
Oh, don’t take it all away, no.
And now I’m out in the world, I don’t know how I got to be here.
I’m writing all of the words to show me how I could see clear.
You make me want to think about all the things
that could have been better.
You make me want to think about all the times that we were glad
to be together.
You make me wanna think about my life.
Think about it…. You make me wanna be with you again.
Where did I go wrong?
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22. |
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Don't worry baby, it'll be alright. Well no it won't but you can't stop the fight, 'cause you know it's on its way. You had a good day and you're feeling fine. Forgot the trouble left it all behind, but you know it's gonna stay.
Pick up the pistol and pack it in. The only way to stop rain from rolling in. There's no such thing as 'begin again'. You're gonna let them down.
Pick up the pistol and pack it in. Their love is strong but it can never win. You're life is done and you can't live again. You're gonna let them down.
The voices in your house are calling you, but they don't get there's nothing you can do. They don't know that you can't stay, 'cause you know it's on its way.
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23. |
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You’re not so far away from the place you used to be, but it feels like eternity.
You’re not sure you got to stay in all the places you had to see. But it’s too late, they’re not what they used to be.
Something must create this weight. Something must accumulate. And you try to catch the flow, but you can’t hang on, ‘cause there’s nothing you really know.
Time strikes pathways in your head, like the river carves up the land. And you can repeat everything they said, still there’s nothing you can understand.
The more you try to guess, the more you realize we’re living in a mess, a fiction in disguise.
Something must create this weight. Something must accumulate. And you try to catch the flow, but you can’t hang on, ‘cause there’s nothing you really know.
Someone’s calling out your name in a language you don’t understand. Close your eyes and take their hand.
Something must create this weight. Something must accumulate. And you try to catch the flow, but you can’t hang on, ‘cause there’s nothing you really know.
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24. |
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We’ve had it tough. Some days are just too difficult.
Morning comes - we don’t want to wake up. But what are we gonna do?
We step up - make our days great cuz they are enough.
Keep going till we hit the ground rough. Cuz life is the life we choose.
We wanna be happy. Don’t wanna cry no more.
It’s about time – we drop the weight and let it all fly.
It’s about time – we kick the hate and take to the sky … to the sky.
Every day - could be the last. Don’t give it away.
Or do. It’s not for me to say. So what are you gonna do?
You’re the one - the only one who can get it done.
Make time for work – make time for fun. It’s all you – it’s all you.
Don’t you wanna be happy? Don’t you wanna cry – NO MORE!?
It’s about time – we drop the weight and let it all fly.
It’s about time – we kick the hate and take to the sky … to the sky.
This is the life we choose – this is the life we choose.
And whether we choose it, it’s the only life that we lose.
Whatever we have to do to wake up (wake up!) high (high!) …
Like the day after a heartache’s over – it’s about time!
It’s about time – we drop the weight and let it all fly.
It’s about time – we kick the hate and take to the sky … to the sky.
It’s about time – we drop the weight and let it all fly.
It’s about time – we kick the hate and take to the sky … to the sky.
To the sky…
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25. |
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I got love. I got love. I got a beautiful love.
I got love. I got love. I got a beautiful love.
So you are really happy. You think you’ve discovered something:
Hey, you don’t really need me. Is that what you say?
So there’s a million like me in every state and cunt-ery.
It’s easy to delete me. Is that what you say?
I got love. I got love. I got a beautiful love.
I got love. I got love. I got a beautiful love.
So you just need to be free to follow your own trajectory.
And this is not about me. Is that what you say?
Oh, and it don’t mean shit if you're running away.
Oh, I can rock your shit if I’m having a bad day.
I got love. I got love. I got a beautiful love.
I got love. I got love. I got a beautiful love.
Oh, and it don’t mean shit if I’m having a bad day.
Oh, you can try to quit but you’re not getting away.
I got love. I got love. I got a beautiful love.
I got love. I got love. I got a beautiful love.
I want you to love love, to love my beautiful love.
‘Cause I got love. I got love. I got a…….
And you know that you want it.
And you know that you need it.
And you know that you need it.
And you know that you want it want it want it want it
Want it want it 1 2 3 4 !!
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26. |
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Three more minutes tick off the clock
and you’re that much closer to checking out forever.
Do you ever feel like checking out forever,
and it’s a feeling that just won’t go away?
Well is it possible that you’re not very clever?
There’s a million ways to go but only one to stay.
Take your time. Get it right. Do it now.
In the temporary world, there’s only one conclusion.
It’s an arbitrary fact that you can’t escape.
It’s natural to want to rush to a solution.
But there’s a singular expression you can shape.
Take your time. Get it right. Do it now. Stop the fight.
I shouldn’t do it, but I’m gonna, ‘cause I wanna.
(Stare it in the face cuz it’s your constant companion…)
Is everything worth it? Is every last little thing you wanna do worth it?
Why do you even bother? Why do you even bother to risk so much when you’ve got so much?
Give it a breath. Give it time. Giving up is not the same as giving in. It’s why I’m telling you
NO! – Give it three more minutes … let it tick off the clock yeah
NO! – Give it three more minutes … I swear the feeling will stop yeah
NO! – Give it three more minutes … you can’t unclose that door
NO! – Give it three more minutes … and three more and three more and three more
Three more minutes tick off the clock
and you’re that much closer to checking out forever.
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27. |
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Sometimes it's better to be alone than with someone with whom you've built a wholly untenable world.
I’m running low, strung out and desiccated, hiding in a hole you somehow infiltrated. But I’ll find a way to escape because I’d rather be alone with myself than alone with you.
Of all the worlds we could have co-created, ours is the worst I’d have anticipated. So you know I’ve got to go because I’d rather be alone with myself than alone with you. I’d rather choose my own kind of hell than the hell you do. The heart will want what the heart needs. (I’m the dunce here.) I’ll always be the one who bleeds. (I’m the dunce here.) I made a promise I shall keep in my darkest hour. The one I break will make you weep – you can feel my power. Forgive me for what I must do. (Necessary.) ‘Cause I’d rather be lost in the world than find myself with you.
Oh no no.
Our ride is done. It’s all been wasted pavement. When I find the sun, I’ll turn back this thing I came in. And you know I’ll make my way because I always find a way.
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28. |
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I’ve missed you every day I’ve been without you. I know we hold each other in our hearts. Don’t think you know how much I think about you, and how much it hurts to know that we’re apart.
I’m sorry for the things I couldn’t give you. I’m sorry for the times I made you cry. Don’t know if I can ever make it up to you, but every day of my life I will try.
And while you’re on your own and building something – a life with love and adventure all your own, remember one thing: My life would be nothing without you. Now that I will be without you, every day I’ll think about you, and hope you’ll take me with you wherever you go.
There’s no place I go where I’m not with you, oh. So living without you is something I’m never gonna do.
And now you’re on your own and building something – a life with love and adventure all your own, don’t forget this one thing: My life would be nothing without you. And I will never be without you, cuz every day I’ll think about you, and know you’ll take me with you wherever you go.
Wherever you go, I hope you know….
I love you.
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29. |
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I found it, and I wasn't even looking for it. Now I don't know what to do with it, so I'm asking you.
I had my idea of a complete life. It wasn't perfect but it was my life. But now there's you.
How did you get to take my perfect plan to live my life alone, to be the perfect man, and get that little thing inside me to need that little thing inside you?
I want that quiet life I had to come back, but I know that there's no going back. There's only you.
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30. |
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It does not sound like this person is going to meet the other person in this horrible garden.
Oh my love, you wait for me in the garden. The garden is full of people. People don’t like me and I don’t like them.
Oh my love, you wait for me in the garden. The garden is growing time. Time don’t like me and I don’t like it.
Oh my love, you wait for me in the garden. The garden is full of people. People don’t like me and I don’t like them. The garden is wasting time. Time don’t like me and I don’t like it. The garden is growing time. Time don’t like me and I don’t like it.
Oh my love, you wait for me in the garden. The garden!
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TWO VOLUME collection of REC's best songs from all eight albums spanning 2007-2020. All songs REMASTERED. This is REC like you've never heard before. It showcases REC's genre-busting music style - with REC's signature electro power pop sitting right along side ambient & techno & folk rock & quirky-weird & funk & r&b. If you're one of those music fans who loved old FM radio, or local stations, or DJs who played a little of everything - if you get in a mood to mix it up & listen to it all - THIS ALBUM IS FOR YOU.
released September 28, 2022
Written, Produced & Performed by Nick DeMatteo
*except tracks 1, 9, 14, 17, 20, 22, 25, 29 - co-produced by Daniel Cousins
Cathryn Lynne - backup vocals on tracks 18 & 28
Daniel Cousins - guitar, backup vocals, keys, programming etc. on tracks 1, 9, 14, 17, 20, 22, 25, 29
Justin Nadal - drums etc. on tracks 1, 14, 20, 25
Lori Naps - guitar on track 20
Katie & Nicky DeMatteo & Liz Furtado - backup vocals on track 20
