How Can I Tell You
Let me tell you something funny
I was just like you are once
thinking happiness is what we’re owed
I’ve been killing myself daily
trying to prove I don’t know what
now that feeling’s gone and left me cold
See really I’m you and I know how it feels
when the world goes back on its half of the deal
Really I’m you and I know how it is
when all you have left is a love song dissolving to tears
If it’s so that you don’t know
how can I say it always goes wrong
how can I show you this pain I’m holding now?
Click my heels and hope you feel it
when a sweet dreams is all I can give
how can I tell you how I’m feeling now?
I couldn’t describe what heaven’s like
I papered over all the cracks
while you cried into your little sleeves
I myself had paranoia, too scared to go downstairs
I left the light on full and watched you sleep
See really I’m you and I’m always your friend
and none of the games we made up were pretend
Really I’m you so I know you’ll do well
you are flawed and what’s more you’re determined as hell
If it’s so…
We played on the street close to home
how to get there I didn’t know
By the time you grow up will you know me at all?
I’ve known your pain since you were born
If it’s so…
BALLERINE
I like thinking bout you
Try to ‘member if your eyes are green
I don’t give a damn bout your music
Really we are not on the same scene
I don’t need a written note
I don’t need for this to end in tears
I don’t need for anything
I just need for you to come right here
I think you make too many connections
Modernism isn’t very clean
I don’t give a damn though cos I want
You to throw me like a ballerine
Won’t you come on throw me
Ah won’t you come on throw me ballerine?
I don’t need a written note
I don’t need for you to make it clear
I don’t need for anything
I just need for you to come right here
I like talking bout you
Clearly you are good at talking breeze
I don’t give a damn bout your problems
Get a better grip on woman’s needs
Won’t you come on throw me
Won’t you come on throw me ballerine?
Now!
STRAIGHT LINE
(Gimme nother minute)
Mum says you been digging your heels
Since they dragged you out crying
But do they know a thing about standing your ground?
I somehow doubt
Gimme nother minute
All I need is time
I found the limit
It was only in my mind
I don’t wanna worry about
People running round
Tryna buy pleasure on the cheap
I’m in a straighter line
Hold it down
Pain makes better movies
And I found the limit
It was only in my mind
Godsake someone tell them to wait
Paint still drying
Nah but do they know nothing about standing their ground?
I somehow doubt
Gimme nother minute
All I need is time
I found the limit
It was only in my mind
I don’t wanna worry about
People running round
Tryna chase paper and then breed
I’m in a straighter line
Hold it down
Pain makes better movies
And now I’m in a straighter line
Gimme another…
I don’t wanna worry about
All these wasted hours
Playing just to rewind
I’m in a straighter line
Hold it down now
Pain tastes better with time
And no I don’t I don’t wanna worry about
People running round
Tryna buy pleasure on the cheap
I’m in a straighter line
Hold it down
Pain makes better movies at least
And I found the limit
It was only in my mind
NERVOUS TICS
On balance I’d take
‘nother emotional crisis
over your slow pulse rate
I’m picking up more nervous tics
you’re staying inside playing dead
And every time a dog barks
it’s a bomb dropping overhead
You control your breathing
but you can’t control
what you’re feeling for me…
More graphic nightmares
and I could make that better
but you won’t let me, don’t dare
So on balance I’d say
this type of ultra coldness
is the worst kind of shade
I’m picking up more nervous tics
you’re staying inside playing dead
So all this longwave silence
can we please put it to bed
You control your heart rate but you
can’t shut down…
MIDAS
It was right there
in front of me
Screaming loud
I didn’t want to see
Your skewed desires
Crash down on me
Tryna use me up
But I never had a Midas touch
You want to chew me up
But I’m never gonna lose the love
What to live by?
So I cut loose
Violently
When you name your price
it only heightens
I never believed what you sold to me
It’s wrong I know it’s wrong I know it’s wrong
But I defy you all, you’re only frightened
What to live by?
You want to chew me up
But I’m never gonna lose the love
So what to live by?
Maybe you don’t have the right to define me
Maybe you don’t have the dime to entice me
Midas
What shall we do?
We’re playing the game
By different rules
Maybe you should waste your life
‘stead of mine
STEAL
You were running blind
Following your feet to try
and outrun your fate
Standing in a field of flowers
Cerebral voices the loudest
All hollering your name
Is it paradise?
Only if it blows your mind
And then blows away
(Sometimes you wheel, sometimes you deal
Sometimes you have to rob and steal)
Call you a sinnerman
Or call it second sight
Now they treat em all the same
And it’s the thinnest line
they hung you out by
You were holding my hands and saying
What if I only ever took what’s mine
I wanted to tell them
That if I could’ve led a different life
Could’ve led a different life
But now I need somebody who can ease my mind
Need somebody who can ease my mind
You know I could’ve led a different life
Could’ve led a different life
Pulling me aside
Giving me your last advice
And the whole house shakes
Saying keep it in the family hide it
Don’t make the mistakes that I did
Cos it’ll wear your soul away
And I would’ve tried if only it was black and white
But it’s bullet grey
(Sometimes you wheel, sometimes you deal
Sometimes you have to rob and steal)
Call you a sinnerman
Call it second sight
Now they treat em all the same
It’s the thinnest line
To hang you by
Holding my hands and saying
You know I only ever took what’s mine
I wanted to tell them
That if I could’ve led a different life
Could’ve led a different life
But now I need somebody who can ease my mind
Need somebody who can ease my mind
You know I need the remedy to cure my vice
Need the valium to sleep at night
What if I only ever took what’s mine
I wanted to tell them
That if I could’ve led a different life
Could’ve led a different life
But now I need somebody who can ease my mind
Need the remedy to cure my vice
Need somebody who can ease my mind