Tourism

1. Triptych

I won't lie to you, mother
can't you see it's true
that you've not been laughing
for so long it seems
that you've mislaid all your dreams?

I know why you're blue, father
hopes now overdue
stuck in the traffic jam
between your ears
where you sublimate your fears
and file away the years

I can feel your pain, sister
though you don't complain
who would you complain to?
'sides the one you spend
all your weeknights with 'till ten
we'll come get you then

2. Undefeated Champion of The Arcade

free guy
if you shoot him in the eye
don't die
don't die

I'm undefeated champion of the arcade
I disregard all the street cred that you made
you're next in line, droppin' down your token
I win again, the joystick must be broken

I'm undefeated champion of the arcade
I'm flushing down every last cent that I'm paid
for seven years, this my only calling
it's closing time, I can't admit I'm stalling

I'm undefeated champion of the arcade
they tore it down and built another Rite-Aid
now that it's gone I need to win at something
come take me on, a round won't cost you nothing

3. Behind My Smile

you know I'm standing by
you know I would not lie

hidden behind my smile
I'll wait for a little while

your new boy's so damn brash
I never talked such trash

but I won't speak my mind

I guess I blew my stack
but he'll come crawling back

say you'll still be my friend
and I'll be good again

4. Ashley Christian

I know, you've got no time
but can we talk now?

you say everything's fine
but I can't see how

you can be so content
when I'm here churning

I guess you know all the facts
that I'm stil learning

Ashley Christian
you caved my heart in
you hardly knew him
and yet you screwed him

I heard you met this new guy
at some lame cook-out

just what did he do right
to make you put out?

oh fine, I'm just a jerk
you've pegged me squarely

next time you break someone's heart
just do it fairly

Ashley Christian
you caved my heart in
you hardly knew him
and yet you screwed him

5. Morning Pales

I keep dreaming of you
pressing to me on the bow
falling backwards as we kiss
morning pales compared to this

I keep dreaming of you
a candle lit beside the tub
whisper soft by christmas light
lending secrets for the night

I keep dreaming of you
barefoot near me on the couch
encircled close within my arms
heaven lost with my alarm

6. Bottled In Glass

corduroy cuffs in a world of jeans
maple leaves hang from the rafters
migrating birds draw Vs through the clouds
if I wrote your name would you call mine aloud?

Halloween night, you're one of the stars
fallen beside me
we would play chess and you stole all my pawns
the day that we lay in the snow on your lawn

I'll never forget chestnut hill in the spring
or how I would dream of our hearts twined by string
if I could still find us both bottled in glass
I'd drown out the present and drink in the past

7. Starling

my ears are ringing
the floor is spinning
the roof now open air
my hands in your burnt hair

my little starling
in all our quarreling
I did not take clear aim
and now our world's in flame

pathetic sovereign
strewn on the mountain
impaled upon my crown
I struck my family down

please help me, madness
and blank my brain
for even heaven's flame
could never cleanse my name

8. Stars & Stripes

I pledge allegiance to the waves in your hair
though I'm not convinced to salute the flag

I pledge allegiance to the ring on your hand
and the rockets burning within my mind

and in DC, as they pass down their choice
to send young blood burning from the bay

I pledge allegiance to the light that you cast
as a civil twilight engulfs our land

I pledge allegiance to the sound of your feet
on the way to work in the early morn

I pledge allegiance to the stars in your eyes
though I'm not convinced to salute the stripes

and yes I guess why execs at their desks
never air an arab on CNN

I pledge allegiance to the sound of your name
and all I ask is that you take mine

9. Callisto

floating in the void
somewhere near Ganymede
without my friends
a soliloquy in time of need

an eclypse
so common in these parts
so many moons
one of them has my heart

Callisto betrayed me
and holds me still with gravity

Callisto, cold and fair
found Jupiter and left me there

her giant boyfriend
storms rage in his eyes
fills my vision
with his brazen lies

beneath the clouds
so smooth and civilized
lies violent truth
he's got her hypnotized

Callisto betrayed me
and holds me still with gravity

Callisto, cold and fair
found Jupiter and left me there

10. The More Things Stay The Same

when you ran back inside
as if you had something to hide
I called you up just to see what gave

I think you said I move to fast
but soon today will be in the past
and nothing ventured, nothing gained

and when I sent that note to you
I didn't know what else to do
it was desperation that made me brave

and all I want is to be a friend
there's no advance for you to defend
I never meant to make things strained

I took a walk 'round the block
just to search for a clue
I still can't figure out
how to synch up with you

all those things I said outside
I meant to show I had nothing to hide
I don't know why I tried so hard

I think it's cuz I've lost so much
and you remind me of someone I trust
but now I've made you raise your guard

I took a walk 'round the block
just to search for a clue
I still can't figure out
how to synch up with you