Toad the Wet Sprocket--Fear

WALK ON THE OCEAN

we spotted the ocean at the head of the trail
Where are we going, so far away
and somebody told me that this is the place
where everything's better, everything's safe

walk on the ocean
step on the stones
flesh becomes water
wood becomes bone

and half an hour later we packed up our things
we said we'd send letters and all those little things
and they knew we were lying but they smiled just the same
It seemed they'd already forgotten we'd came

now we're back at the homestead
where the air makes you choke
and people don't know you
and trust is a joke
we don't even have pictures
just memories to hold
that grow sweeter each season
as we slowly grow old


IS IT FOR ME?

Bradley says it's haunted
the house upon the hill
and if we meet at 4 AM
then we would know for sure

We carry the ladders
and lean them against it
and climb them as we look

someone kicked a ladder
Bradley took a spill
said his leg was broken
so we dragged him down the hill

and through the door
what do I see?
something is happening
is it for me?

Mom found out the whole thing 
Mine was first to call
Bradley's leg healed badly
at least he still can walk

we leave in the morning
and no one will hear us
and meet in the clearing
and I'll bring the sandwiches
David come quickly
you're missing the whole thing
now open your big eyes
and take in the sunrise

and through the door
what do I see?
something is happening
is it for me?


BUTTERFLIES

(we saw something gigantic floating on the water)
in time I will collect the world
the eggs (I love) the wings (the wings) of butterflies

a man drove up in an ugly car
and he flashed his lights at everything he saw
and his eyes were red
and his stereo was so loud you couldn't hear the engine's roar
and he yelled at everybody in the road
and did not notice all the moths he'd massacred
spread across the open road

(weird when you get close to something that BIG you can't see anything at all)
In time I will (you who fell)
collect the world (on calvary)
the eggs and wings of (had you wings of) [I give my children]
butterflies 

a moth had settled down upon his arm and he looked at it with a lazy eye
and he lifted up a gigantic hand
and he spread his fingers towards the sky
and he nudged the moth to make it fly away
but moths are fragile things
and he just wiped its body down across his shoulder blade

he's a wonde, he's a black wing boy
oh my daughters
he'll fill you with joy

In time I will (you who soar)
collect the world (o'er calvary)
the hearts and limbs (had you wings of) [oh father, I offer]
butterflies


NIGHTINGALE SONG

we sing the nightingale song alive
streets never border further than my sight
we sing the nightingale song alive
we might be different but our hearts won't lie

and little ever changes if anything at all
but the song rings loudly through these halls

we sing the nightingale song alive
we might be different but our hearts won't lie

and little ever changes when you view it from the sky
and the damage we encounter the earth just passes by
and little ever changes if anything at all
we just remind ourselves how small we are


HOLD HER DOWN

take her arms and hold her down and hold her down and hold her down and hold her down
until she stops moving
take her arms and hold her down...
until she stops kicking

and they don't know her but what the fuck
they've got nothing else they can do
and they've no reason
but still they come
and I would have a hard time facing you
This crime 
the shame of what I man can do

Take her arms and hold her down...
until she stops screaming
take her arms and hold her down...
until she stops breathing

and they don't know her but what the fuck
they've got nothing else they can do
and they've no reason
but still they come
and I would have a hard time facing you
This crime
the shame of what a man can do
I would've died
from all the hell that you've been through

Take the night back
All they've stolen
all we took from you


PRAY YOUR GODS

I will give the secrets you request
and you will be the one to sacrifice
so lay your olive arms across my breast
and sing the poems, free the butterflies

pray your gods who ask you for your blood
for they are strong and angry jealous ones
or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my time is short
there are armies moving close
be quick, my love

I feel my body weakened by the years
as people turn to gods of cruel design
is it that they fear the pain of death
or could it be they fear the joy of life

pray your gods who rule you by your fear
for they are quick and ruthless punishers
or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my day is done
there are armies moving on
be quick, my dear


BEFORE YOU WERE BORN

how can it happen that every time
you ask us this question the answer seems like a lie
you know what we're saying and you know what it means
and it's always sincere god knows
but it never gets through to where you need

before you were born someone kicked in the door
there's no place for you here, stay back where you belong
before you were born someone kicked in the door
you are not wanted here, stay back where you belong

god damn the people who left you in pain
god damn the father without face, without name
and god damn the lovers who never showed up
and god damn the wounds that show how deep a word can cut

before you were born someone kicked in the door
there's no place for you here, stay back where you belong
before you were born someone kicked in the door
you are not wanted here, stay back where you belong

and how can it happen now that you know the cause
that nothing is changing and everything's wrong
but pain is the healing and the tears sting like alcohol
just keep on there breathing
we'll help you down the long, long road back home


SOMETHING TO SAY

he's got a thing about losing control
carries it a mile just to see how far he'll go
and he brushes his chops as he tries to fake a smile
a friend indeed but what I need's someone who'll stay awhile
someone to stay awhile

you can bend my ear
we can talk all day
just make sure that I'm near
when you've really got something to say

he drops hints but he won't tell you what's really on his mind
but I know if I look that it's easy to find
and he's got a way with his anger and the way he lets it show
like the smoldering smoke when the fire's left the coals
when the fire has left the coals

you can take me down
to show me your home
not the place where you live
but the place where you belong
you can bend my ear
we can talk all day
just make sure I'm around
when you've finally got something to say
and what are you meaning by
"I don't deserve this life"?

his door is always open and he's always got this time
to give a little something even though he gets behind
and your trips become his and your lives are entwined
but like the horse with the junkie it's all in your mind
it's all in your mind

you can take me down
to show me your home
not the place where you live
but the place where you belong
you can bend my ear
we can talk all day
just make sure you're around
when I've finally got something to say


IN MY EAR

didn't know they were a part of it
i can't tell
it would seem there's a lot that I don't know

standing with the perfect view
I could not go far enough away from you
I've seen it all before
and know it's only words

Never meant half of the things I said to you
so you know
there's a half that might be true

hello
i can't hear, it's in my ear
hello
Have you heard a single word
hello?


ALL I WANT

nothing's so loud
as hearing when we lie
the truth is not kind
and you've said neither am I
but the air outside so soft is saying everything
everything

all I want is to feel this way
to be this close, to feel the same
all I want is to feel this way
the evening speaks, I feel it say 

nothing's so cold
as closing the heart when all we need 
is to free the soul
but we wouldn't be that brave I know
and the air outside so soft, confessing everything
everything

and it won't matter now
whatever happens will be
though the air apeaks of all we'll never be
it won't trouble me

and it feels so close
let it take me in
let it hold me so
i can feel it say


STORIES I TELL

don't give me answers for I would refuse
"yes" is a word for which I have no use
and I wasn't looking for heaven or hell
just someone to listen to stories I tell

Now what is a blessing and what is a dream
caught between portraits and none's what it seems
and why is it people expect there's a change
when I feel i'm a part of something I can't see
I feel the same

Now don't ask me questions or I will retreat
fame is a cancer and ego its seed
now I wasn't looking for heaven or hell
just someone to listen to stories I tell
stories I tell


I WILL NOT TAKE THESE THINGS FOR GRANTED

one part of me just wants to tell you everything
one part just needs the quiet
and if I'm lonely here, I'm lonely here
and on the telephone
you offer reassurance

I will not take these things for granted

how can I hold the part of me that only you can carry
it needs a strength I haven't found 
but if it's frightening, I'll bear the cold
and on the telephone
you offer warm asylum

I'm listening 
flowers in the garden
laughter in the hall
children in the park
I will not take these things for granted anymore

to crawl inside the wire and feel something near me
to feel this accepting
that it is lonely here, but not alone
and on the telephone
you offer visions dancing

I'm listening
music in the bedroom
laughter in the hall
dive into the ocean
singing by the fire
running through the forest
and standing in the wind
in rolling canyons

I will not take these things for granted