Mantoloking
1. I Tried Again
I tried again
to reach out a hand to you
but the more that I felt
the less that I held
until I reached right through you
I tried again
to stock up my world with you
but the more that I kept
the greater the debt
until all I owed was you
I tried again
to speed far away with you
but then as we ran
I lost who I am
and soon I was gone to you
and I believe that we receive
the sum of all that we put in
and that suggests we place our bets
somewhere safe still and serene
but I get bored if I'm not adored
and so I'm looking for a mess
and you're the one I like the best
I tried again
to sever all ties to you
but even as I packed
I knew I'd be back
'cuz I still belong to you
and I believe that we receive
the sum of all that we put in
and that suggests we place our bets
somewhere safe still and serene
but I get bored if I'm not adored
and so I'm looking for a mess
and you're the one I like the best
2. I Just Need My Car
tonight I drive your Honda
from Berkeley Heights to Pensacola
you've got my broken Saturn
my broken heart
I sense a pattern
I moved to find a job
to find a home
where you grew up
but while I met your brother
you went and found another lover
I don't wanna see you
I really don't care how you are
cut the chit-chat
I just need my car
eight flippin' highways
to land in some bumblefuck bar
you're not worth it
I just need my car
six days since you first told me
I was amazed
now I'm just lonely
I guess it's really better
this happened now rather than later
I know it's so Geraldo
I left the stage you stole the show
but wait
the part that's funny?
despite the crap I still love you honey
I don't wanna see you
I really don't care how you are
cut the chit-chat
I just need my car
eight flippin' highways
to land in some bumblefuck bar
you're not worth it
I just need my car
yeah they say to make it good
you gotta do the things you should
and so for our joint cause
I put our love on pause
I went out on a limb
and then you fell for him
I don't wanna see you
I really don't care how you are
cut the chit-chat
I just need my car
eight flippin' highways
to land in some bumblefuck bar
you're not worth it
I just need my car
3. Buy Me Out
I don't have time
to hear your assessment
the mission's planned
the decks are manned
I've got their investment
I've got no ace
it so doesn't matter
I hold full sway
while they're away
I pilfer and flatter
buy me out
buy me out
I've milked it
while you bleed
I count up my winnings
it's safe to say
I'll choose to play
far less than nine innings
is something wrong?
your voice is so distant
a grinding halt?
it's not my fault
just "can" my assistant
buy me out
buy me out
I've milked it
while you are dying I'll fly away
while you are dying I'll fly away
if you can't heed the warning signs
the fault clearly isn't mine
4. I'm Just Trying To Help (Me Like You)
I called you up to let you know
some things that I've learned since I let you go
well for one you're much better than her
yes it's true
but if you want me to come back to you
here's a list of some things
that you could choose to do
there's one thing about her I adore
yeah her stomach is flatter than yours
and don't you get an attitude
since when is honesty being rude?
at the end of the day I'm just trying to help
me like you
like before, when we'd go out
and I'd block the cake you could do without
I can't let you weigh more than 100 pounds
but if you want me to come back to you
here's a list of some things
that you could choose to do
like learn to pick up for your man
and have you considered a spray-on tan?
I kind of want to be with you
as long as you change a thing or two
I recognize you're kind of cool
I might even try to be true to you
just take this time to exercise
focus on slimming those pearly thighs
if you do that it'd be the bomb
and you'd look a little less like your mom
I saw you out the other day
with your new guy did he choose to pay
for your meal? I would never do that
but if you want me to come back to you
here's a list of some things
that you should choose to do
like maybe get rid of your man
'cuz how can he treat you as well as I can?
I kind of want to be with you
as long as you change a thing or two
I recognize you're sorta cool
I might even try to be true to you
just take this time to exercise
focus on slimming those pearly thighs
if you do that it'd be the bomb
and you'd look a little less like your mom
5. Say Goodnight
the frozen winter world
the clouds and flock of birds
you climb the steps to your door
you kick the fallen leaves
your hands tucked in your sleeves
you brace yourself for what's in store
why can't you reap what you sow?
why can't you learn what you know
is right for you? you surely do
so take the cue
and just sit tight for a while
just sit tight tonight and say goodnight
the lonely late of night
the thin fluorescent light
it seems you've lost another day
you try to take it back
uncertain what you lack
you still can't find the words to say
why can't you reap what you sew?
why can't you learn what you know
is right for you? you surely do
so take the cue
and just sit tight for a while
just sit tight for a while
you'll be alright for a while
so just sit tight tonight and say goodnight
6. Failing To Play Nice
he says "daddy loves me some
but momma loves me all"
sometimes it takes him days
to act his usual way
when he's back at her place
he says "can we move to Chicago?
I promise I won't cry"
she says he'll miss his dad
but he says he won't be sad
a blank expression on his face
and how could she have seen this
when she was twenty one
nobody said a word
and even if she'd heard
no matter what they'd said
she'd have kept and made his bed
for as long as she could stand
'cuz it wasn't in her hands
and three is twice the price
for failing to play nice
and back in 1980
was the story just the same
when they sat me on the stairs
and asked me if I cared
that my dad was soon to go
my brother can't remember
how he would get confused
about why we'd go to spend
every first and third weekend
with a man he didn't know
and then came the succession
of more unwanted men
and I made it my task
to tear away their masks
'cuz the way they'd dupe my mom
with money and aplomb
I just wish I'd been a man
but I had such little hands
and still I played the price
for failing to play nice
7. A Merry Christmas To You
when I saw
you standing on the stairs
in his arms
completely unaware
that I'd come
to send you on your way
gift in hand
I knew just what to say
but how could I bare
(look there's that guy back over there)
his hands in your hair
(the one with glasses and the hair)
and how could I miss
(I can't control what's in his mind)
what could have been my kiss?
(he'll take the hint I'm sure it's fine)
don't know his name
though I've seen him once or twice
had no idea
that you'd kiss him on the ice
near the stop
waiting for the train
will he be here
when you come back again?
as I walk
I stop to see the sights
people shop
the doors are decked in lights
and this book
the one I got to show
you how I feel
I'll leave it in the snow
'cuz how could I bare
(look there's that guy back over there)
his hands in your hair
(the one with glasses and the hair)
and how could I miss
(I can't control what's in his mind)
what could have been my kiss?
(he'll take the hint I'm sure it's fine)
8. You're Out Of Luck
the weather turned
and your fear came back
it settled into the shadows
of your cul de sac
and a turn for the worse
is it always next?
let's hope the whiplash that's coming
doesn't break your neck
and in the distant past
was it just the same?
do the experts know what's coming?
is it a different game?
you better watch your lip
you better raise your guard
always watch the latest headlines
and thank your lucky stars you're still fine
yeah you can't hide and you can't run
the warning signs stole all your fun
you sleep alive you're walking dead
you can't shake the tremors
from your head
yeah you survive but you don't walk tall
you wouldn't want to risk the fall
you sit and watch the ticking clock
until it stops
you're out of luck
as the light grows dim
as the charts go red
you stop to consider the canteen
hidden beneath your bed
should you fill it up?
is it premature?
and where on earth would you run to
when it finally hits your front door?
yeah you can't hide and you can't run
the warning signs stole all your fun
you sleep alive you're walking dead
you can't shake the tremors
from your head
yeah you survive but you don't walk tall
you wouldn't want to risk the fall
you sit and watch the ticking clock
until it stops
you're out of luck
9. The Chatty Bandit
you have a look that makes me want to
yes when I see you there all I want to do
is find a way to coax that subtle smile to stick around
and maybe lift your body
just a bit right off the ground
'cuz I see that there's a sadness in your eyes
though I know that I can hardly sympathize
and I can't pull the sun through a cloudy sky
but too bad 'cuz I'm gonna have to try
there was a night we were IMing
so many times I couldn't keep from LOLTMing
I knew that I was hooked when you said
"good lord, Vincent Price!"
and I tried to fire back with EMS tent flap advice
it's cool you're so much better at this game
and your wit puts all my feeble lines to shame
and to think I can hang I must be high
but too bad 'cuz I'm gonna have to try
'cuz you're the chatty bandit
and I am so glad you've landed
here on my shore when I was blue
I know I might sound sappy
but I wanna make you happy
and so I wrote this song for you
then at my show you had been drinkin'
I sat beside you to see what you were thinkin'
you said you liked my jacket
and my brand new pair of pants
and I went out on a limb to say
you're sexy when you dance
'cuz I know how you've been made to feel before
but to me you seem so easy to adore
and I know these lines can't replace a guy
but too bad 'cuz I'm gonna have to try
'cuz you're the chatty bandit
and I am so glad you've landed
here on my shore when I was blue
I know I might sound sappy
but I wanna make you happy
and so I wrote this song for you
some people might think that it's strange
all the games that we arrange
to keep us entertained
but I really couldn't care
yeah they can go ahead and stare
when we're dancing in our cubes
'cuz you're the chatty bandit
and I am so glad you've landed
here on my shore when I was blue
I know I might sound sappy
but I wanna make you happy
and so I wrote this song for you
'cuz you're the chatty bandit
and I am so glad you've landed
here on my shore when I was blue
I know this might sound sappy
but when you're near I'm happy
and so I wrote this song for you
10. All Surface
float away winter
put a rest
to your test
climb aboard summer
a gentle breeze
stirs the trees
stay a while lover
make me feel
like I'm real
turn your face to me
let me know
before you go
why they don't know me
like they should know me
like they said they would
and I don't mean it
and they can't see it
like I wish they could
did you sail sister
around the world
clever girl
as you span oceans
locked by land
not my plan
and they don't know me
like they should know me
like they said they would
and I don't mean it
and they can't see it
like I wish they could
and I'm tired of being here
fading to one with no purpose
all surface
coming undone
did you hear father?
they called my bluff
I'm not so tough
cut my chest open
found a plan
but not the man
and I don't know me
like I should know me
like I thought I would
and they don't mean it
and I can't see it
like I wish I could
and I'm tired of being here
fading to one with no purpose
all surface
coming undone
11. Won't You Be Mine?
when I've walked a mile or more
in zig-zags from our front door
my mind clears and finally slows
the unending to and fro
the sun melts the week-old snow
there's nowhere we need to go
so let's just shut off our phones
together we'll be alone
I know you
I'll show you
we'll steam it
redeem it
and now that
I've found it
won't you be mine?
our days have most clearly changed
each hour so prearranged
but the scarcity of time to be
shows me all the more
you're dear to me
I know you
I'll show you
we'll steam it
redeem it
and now that I've found it
won't you be
I know you
I'll show you
we'll steam it
redeem it
won't you be
and now that
I've found it
won't you be
won't you be
won't you be mine?