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Law Of Love

That old Buick on the cinder blocks
never got no care
I forgot to change the oil
it won’t drive nowhere
At times our love gets dents and dust
so maintenance is smart
to stop the natural forces
from pushing us apart

It’s a law of life
it’s the law of love
Things left alone will scatter
like leaves from winds above
A garden left untended
will turn to weeds and mud
It’s a law of life
it’s the law of love

The sparks igniting new love
can seem effortless they say
but as we live together
life gets in the way
Jobs and bills and kids and ills
guide who we grow to be
but smiles and walks, and frequent talks
fill love with energy

It’s a law of life
it’s the law of love
Things left alone will scatter
like leaves from winds above
A garden left untended
will turn to weeds and mud
It’s a law of life
it’s the law of love

As anniversaries fly on by
our love becomes more real
not based on wishful thinking
‘bout how the other feels
Even if I think I’m right
I’ll agree with you
when I say the same old thing
you pretend it’s new

We need these little kindnesses
for life’s storms to weather
magnetic force is not enough
to keep us bound together

It’s a law of life
it’s the law of love
Things left alone will scatter
like leaves from winds above
A garden left untended
will turn to weeds and mud
It’s a law of life
it’s the law of love

Dogs Of War

We crossed the border about 4 am
Villa gave the order, 500 men
I think of sweet Maria
crying vaya con Dios
Who let slip the dogs of war?

This is our homeland, the gringos come
Generalissimo Pershing
with his long range guns
I think of sweet Maria,
I know I won't see home
Who let slip the dogs of war?

Though I might slaughter innocence
Maria I will defend
How did this war start?
When will this killing end?

Last night came the message
of Veracruz's fate
The Yankees started shelling,
she tried to leave too late
I think of sweet Maria
lowered gently in the ground
Who let slip the dogs of war?

We crossed the border about 4 am
To my darling Maria, we shall meet again

Lobster

I was born a mistake in Kalamazoo
where your zip code will tell how well you will do
Dad won the lottery, left the next day
I thought that really sucked
turns out it was the closest I’ve come to good luck

I went to Detroit to make auto parts
I planned that my climb to the top was gonna start
I asked God for the good life
must be static ‘tween heaven and earth
‘cause that was the year that Asia took most of that work

I thought I ordered the lobster
why did you bring me cold stew?
I wanted Champaign in fine crystal glass
cheap gin will have to do
Things haven’t turned out the way that I want
but that ain’t that big a deal
I thought I ordered the lobster
guess I’ll need to make my own meal

Ain’t got nothing ‘gainst some guy in Vietnam
stamping bumpers and grills almost for free
Though our daddies fought, maybe his was killed by mine
Is there Karma at work directed at me?

I thought I ordered the lobster
why did you bring me cold stew?
I wanted Champaign in fine crystal glass
cheap gin will have to do
Things haven’t turned out the way that I want
but that ain’t that big a deal
I thought I ordered the lobster
guess I’ll need to make my own meal

Since Adam ate the fruit
we bear our father’s sins
but my choices are up to me
when life gives me lemons
I’ll start making whisky sours
‘cause, sometimes you get what you need

I thought I ordered the lobster
why did you bring me cold stew?
I wanted Champaign in fine crystal glass
cheap gin will have to do
Things haven’t turned out the way that I want
but that ain’t that big a deal
I thought I ordered the lobster
guess I’ll need to make my own meal

She Wants Him To Change

She saw him as a brilliant Knight
her fears, he'd ride to slay
just needed better armor
to become the man she craved

But he thought he was doing fine
following his own call
had his own unfinished plans
didn't want no armor at all

She wants him to change, but he doesn't
he wished she'd never change, but she does
The bond they thought they had, really wasn't
once chains of desire began to rust
Began to rust...

He wanted her for-ever-more
the angel of his dreams
But she was a work-in-progress
With so much of life to see

She tried and learned and conquered fears
at least a few
With amazement and alarm
he saw how much she grew

She wants him to change, but he doesn't
he wished she'd never change, but she does
Dreams had been sidetracked by the dozen
they traveled different paths, just because...

The people we become
Aren't how we had begun
Can love survive and thrive?
When changes come

She wants him to change, but he doesn't
he wished she'd never change, but she does
Dreams had been sidetracked by the dozen
they traveled different paths, just because

She wants him to change, but he doesn't
he wished she'd never change, but she does
The bond they thought they had, really wasn't
once chains of desire began to rust
Chains of desire
began to rust
just because
just because
began to rust
just because

Hard To Please

She's stubborn as gravity, drifts with the breeze
Spends most of her time too far over her skis
follows shooting stars to plan where to go
not sure what she wants
but damn sure she wants more

Little miss hard to please
she wants everything she sees
Little miss turn their heads
green light slams to red
I'm getting off her crazy ride
'cause she just can't decide
Little miss hard to please
I'll miss a little of her trying hard to please me

She tries not to be mean, but that don't make her kind
One man ain't enough to keep her in line
She always knows how but can't decide whether
won't find what she wants
but maybe something better

Little miss hard to please
she wants everything she sees
Little miss turn their heads
green light slams to red
I'm getting off her crazy ride
'cause she just can't decide
Little miss hard to please
I'll miss a little of her trying hard to please me

Her dreams cascade like rapids
she always seeks perfection
her bucket list is longer
than Shakespeare's whole collection
She's honest, for the most part
her sweetness can disarm
her casual narcissism
kinda adds to her charm

Little miss hard to please
she wants everything she sees
Little miss turn their heads
green light slams to red
I'm getting off her crazy ride
'cause she just can't decide
Little miss hard to please
I'll miss a little of her trying hard to please me

Little miss hard to please
I'll miss a little of her trying hard to please me

Can't Happen Here

They killed the Missouri compromise
in 1854
Then bleeding Kansas plunged
into fierce guerrilla war

Very few predicted
and fewer still would listen
to cries of circling crows foretell
the coming cataclysm

We're Bobby Lee's infantry
and love that rebel yell
you say that it can't happen here
we're waiting for you in Hell
The devil's in the details
sent to scout the Union Corps
you say that it can't happen here
that's what we said before the war

We're fighting for our rights
fighting to right all wrongs
we were just about to start our lives
when they gave us uniforms
It was brother against brother
not so long ago
from the time of Cain and Abel
that's how the story goes

We're Bobby Lee's infantry
and love that rebel yell
you say that it can't happen here
we're waiting for you in Hell
The devil's in the details
sent to scout the Union Corps
you say that it can't happen here
that's what we said before the war

Ask the ghosts of Sarajevo
Mosul and Kandahar
they thought it couldn't happen there
they'll tell the cause of war
Their leaders were little men
who bickered and debated
for their own gain and glory
fed sectarian hatred

They killed the Missouri compromise
in 1854
then bleeding Kansas plunged
into fierce guerrilla war
Put country over politics
or leaders run the risk
for credit in their epitaphs
for opening the abyss

Sparks, Nevada

Her car wasn't in the driveway
closet didn't have her coat
house was much too quiet
on her pillow I found a note

Said, "I'm goin' to Sparks, Nevada
what I'll need I've got all packed
just feel like it's time to leave
don't think that I'll be back"

But, no one moves to Sparks without a reason
I ain't believin' that she just picked anywhere
She don't say why she went
her letter gave no hint
Can't help but wonder why she's running there
she just dealt me a hand of solitaire

She sent my call to voicemail
I was lookin' on a map
where the heck is Sparks?
I began to smell a rat
did a childhood sweetheart
become a face book friend?
was there an old flame
that she wanted to burn again?

But, no one moves to Sparks without a reason
I ain't believin' that she just picked anywhere
She don't say why she went
her letter gave no hint
Can't help but wonder why she's running there
she just dealt me a hand of solitaire

Should I just let her go?
but then I'd never know
if there was another chance
I wouldn't want to blow
I guess I need to pack
to be getting on her track
need to try and see
if I can get her back

No one moves to Sparks without a reason
I went to Sparks to try to find her there
well, she found another guy
I've got to let it lie
But Sparks feels good to my heart
think I'll stay and try for a new start
Sparks feels good to my heart
think I'll stay and try for a new start

Meant To Say

My dad was a doer, didn't talk much at all
just told me to get up, every time I'd fall
I'm sure he was thinkin he loved me and would
protect me from all harm, the best he could

I think that's what he meant to say
but the words came out another way
"suck it up and stop crying, you'll be okay"

Things left unsaid, can't be heard
or often even be inferred
intent can easily be obscured
'cause what he meant to say
I wish he'd put in words

A few years ago, driving near Dad's place
dropped in by surprise, hoping to erase
my ignorance of his deepest goals and dreams
wanted to ask about all the life he'd seen

That’s what I meant to say
but the words came out another way
said "weather's looking cloudy today"

Things left unsaid, can't be heard
or often even be inferred
intent can easily be obscured
'cause what I meant to say
I wish I'd put in words

From "please don't go"
to "I shouldn't stay"
the proper words seem to slip away
I'm gonna try again
before the setting sun
Why's it so hard for thoughts
to get past my tongue?

Things left unsaid, can't be heard
or often even be inferred
intent can easily be obscured
'cause what I meant to say
I wish I'd put in words
'cause what I meant to say
I wish I'd put in words

Apex Predator

She needs bear bells on her boots
to try to warn the guys
that she's coming down the trail
'cause they swarm to her like flies

Other women follow her
for roadkill to be found
like buzzards searching for
a body on the ground

You really have to credit her
'cause she's an apex predator
Like a shark waiving its dorsal fin
that pretends to be vegetarian
Drives any man insane
she's top of the mating chain
ain't got no competitor
'cause she's an apex predator

She acts sweet and cheerful
says she wants to save the whales
she projects an air of innocence
which she never fails to nail

She's been trying hard
to trust the human race
but she carries a Beretta
just in case

You really have to credit her
'cause she's an apex predator

Like a shark waiving its dorsal fin
that pretends to be vegetarian
Drives any man insane
she's top of the mating chain
ain't got no competitor
'cause she's an apex predator

She'll love them or she'll leave them
it don't matter which
in nature's ecosystem
she just fills her niche

Man hunting's in her DNA
she'll devour them alive
as Darwin discovered
only fittest will survive

She can't help breaking hearts
is her excuse
but her five inch heals
shows that it's a ruse

You really have to credit her
'cause she's an apex predator
Like a shark waiving its dorsal fin
that pretends to be vegetarian
Drives any man insane
she's top of the mating chain
ain't got no competitor
'cause she's an apex predator…

Bucket List

It was 2 pm in Tahoe
twelve short years ago
when we gathered all our friends
to vow forevermore

Our plans and dreams seemed finely paired
like wedding plates and cups
but that fairytale beginning
ain't how we ended up

We've grown our different ways so fast
this is more than a rough patch
we can't keep livin' in the past
Though we wanted it to last
we each have dreams we have to catch
because honey, our bucket lists don't match

As the calendar dragged us forward
we wandered more apart
we wondered when the life we'd planned
was really gonna to start

You're blissful in your garden
your roots in your home town
I've got unfinished business
some treasure to be found

We've grown our different ways so fast
this is more than a rough patch
we can't keep livin' in the past
Though we wanted it to last
we each have dreams we have to catch
because honey, our bucket lists don't match

The grass is always greener
many secrets are ours alone
will someone else's arms
ever really feel like home?

After a while of feeling blue
We will each find someone new
it's time for new chapters for us two
honey, you know it's true
You don’t want the stuff I do
my bucket list just don't work for you

We've grown our different ways so fast
this is more than a rough patch
we can't keep livin' in the past
Though we wanted it to last
we each have dreams we have to catch
because honey, our bucket lists don't match

It's All Turtles

"According to the creation myths of several
cultures, the earth rests on the back of a giant
turtle. Fair enough, but what does THAT turtle stand on? - let's talk about it."

TV's on, drinkin', thinkin' 'bout the universe
Saw an infomercial for a metaphysics course
called the 900 number, to sign up right away
Took a bus down to the school later that day
Teacher comes in
wearin' blond dreadlocks and beads
Starts writin' on the chalk board
'bout life's mysteries

It's all turtles, all the way down
It's all turtles, all the way down
Count their legs then divide by four
then get ready to count some more
To the edge of the universe and beyond
It's all turtles, all the way down

Well that makes sense, was my first reaction
I need to know the details for my satisfaction
Stacked up feet to shell was how it had to be
But "why turtles?" was bothering me
Why not llamas, hippos or ferrets?
I though my question had some merit

It's all turtles, all the way down
It's all turtles, all the way down
Count their legs then divide by four
then get ready to count some more
We don't know if they're green
or they're brown
But we know it's turtles, all the way down

My teacher shouted - can't you see?
You need to write out a check to me
Then you can get to turtle consciousness
and live in ever after turtle bliss"
But why not hedgehogs,
wouldn't that be wiser?
I guess I just ain't no philosophizer
I guess the truth is, I'm a quitter
think'n 'bout turtles and other critters
I'll return to my daily plight
like where can I find a date tonight?

It's all turtles, all the way down
It's all turtles, all the way down
Count their legs then divide by four
then get ready to count some more
they might have a smile,
they might have a frown
But it's all turtles, all the way down