THE FRICTION I DEMAND


THEATER OF THE ABSURD
Take me down 
To the bottom of the ocean
Take me down
Below
Take me down 
To the bottom of the barrel
Take me down 
To the dregs
To see what lies 
In the minds 
Of the callous heads
_
It’s been a while since I felt so certain
About the state of the world
I spent some time in the belly of the beast
But we’re all caught up in this theater of the absurd
_
It’s not something 
That I ever really wanted
But it’s something that I need
I’m taken down
To when those bottom dwellers feed
Taken down 
To the bottom of the ocean
Taken down 
Below
_
It’s been a while since I felt so certain
About the state of the world
I spent some time in the belly of the beast
But we’re all caught up in this theater of the absurd

THE FRICTION I DEMAND
The wheels just won’t stop turning
I dug my heels into the sand
I couldn’t stop the burning
From the friction I demand
_
Another chapter concluded
So much faster than I thought
I’m bruised, used, polluted
Far from anything I sought
_
All alone again
Crawled into the open wind
I pawed my heels into the sand
Alone as I began

HEAVY AS HUMIDITY
Buried down compacted like stone
A mess of weeds left overgrown
Forgotten dreams and parts unknown
Buried down compacted like stone
_
Let it rise up to the surface
Let the grief unfold and bloom
All that has been carried
Lives reflected in the moon
_
Hurried forth perplexed in love
A mind like clouds dispersed above
Distracted by the mourning doves
Hurried forth perplexed in love
_
Let it rise up to the surface
Let the grief unfold and bloom
All that has been carried
Lives reflected in the moon
_
Heavy as humidity

DEATH BRINGS RENEWAL
My body reels on the heels of a dream
All my desires set fire at the seems
All falls apart and to the start I repeat
Decomposition positions my feet
_
Death brings renewal
But not without grief
When death is in bounty
How do we find relief?
_
My body bends and it pretends not to break
Holding my footing like an ungrounded stake
All falls apart and to the start I repeat
Decomposition positions my feet
_
Death brings renewal
But not without grief
When death is in bounty
How do we find relief?
_
Death brings renewal
But not without grief
When death is in bounty
How do we find relief?

HOLLOWED BONES
Tears live suspended at the back of my throat
Held back as I swallow; hollowed bones begin to float
The burden of my body left tangled in your web
My sense of self distorted; into your mind I am fed
_
Finally the welling brings a wetness to my eyes
You will not keep a hold on me; I am leaving you behind
Your weight is a heavy one, but I will not be your mule
I am not your evil; No I am not your, I am not your fool
_
I wonder why I let you cause this scism
My mind scrambles on in discordant rhythm
I wonder why I let you cause this scism
My mind scrambles on in discordant rhythm
_
I let out another moan
Feeling the eternal drone
Hands held tightly to my heart
Falling backwards into the void
Back to where we start

RELATIVE HEART
Why must I whine and pine?
I live undue privilege to unending time
Complaints still arise and I utter with ease
Leaving knots in my gut I am sickly diseased
_
But it’s never too late to be grateful
To be sowing the seeds, letting gratitude breed
Not that the bitters are a meaningless taste
But alone and out of context we will suffer and waste
Yes alone and out of context we will suffer and waste
_
Relate to this life with a forgiving heart
In the beauty and strife we will replenish, we will restart
_
What does it all define?
All this undue privilege and unending time
It all feels designed and its out of my hands
Or so i say to myself to escape your demands
_
But it’s never too late to be grateful
To be sowing the seeds, letting gratitude breed
Not that the bitters are a meaningless taste
But alone and out of context we will suffer and waste
Yes alone and out of context we will suffer and waste
_
So forgive this life with a relative heart
In the strife and the glory we will replenish, we will restart

WAR IS NOT OVER
War is not over just because you want it
You can’t just close your eyes
The truth is still out there and people are dying
You can’t just close your eyes
_
The earth is revolting to our destruction
We forgot to honor the bees
But it’s not too late now to change are habits
We’ve got to honor the bees
_
I know it’s a little bit harder than I’ve made it out to be
But please don’t walk away
We’ve internalized all that we despise
But please don’t let it stay
_
Breathe it in and feel it deep within your skin
And breathe it out again
Breathe it in and feel it deep within your skin
And breathe it out, breathe it out, breathe it out
Breathe it out again
_
There aren’t two genders just ‘cause you said so
No no no, we can express infinitely
No matter your body, you bestow beauty
And you deserve love intimately
_
I know it’s a little bit harder than I’ve made it out to be
But please don’t walk away
We’ve internalized all that we despise
But please don’t let it stay
Breathe it in and feel it deep within your skin
And breathe it out again
Breathe it in and feel it deep within your skin
And breathe it out, breathe it out, breathe it out
Breathe it out again

LOVE IN TIME RESTORES

Abundant life in a time of decline
One can find a depth and beauty divine
Moments drifting in the midst of the blaze
Ferments lifting our senses from the haze
_
But we can’t ignore all that is broken
Laws written for the white rich and powerful
No, we can’t ignore all that is broken
Love in time restores
_
We can be comfortable when we’re allowed to breathe
We can be comfortable in the soft sunny summer breeze
Even then we still need some relief
Sent to those reaching up from beneath
_
‘Cause we can’t ignore all that is broken
Laws written for the white rich and powerful
No, we can’t ignore all that is broken
Love in time restores
_
Love in time, time restores
_
Love in time restores

WILDER WONDERS

 

‘NEATH THOSE SYC’MORE TREES
Just past the river
‘Neath those syc’more trees
You’ll find me waitin’ for ya
Suckin’ on a tangerine
And I’m left wonderin’
Are you still comin’ for me
Or should I pack my things and go
Give up on my hopes and dreams
_
I never thought that I could be this lonely
It’s a torture babe that you’re not with me
Are you comin’ for me?
Are you comin’ darlin’?
What’s the hold up, truly
I ain’t foolin’
No no no no
_
Are you comin’ for me?

Are you comin’ darlin’?

Are you comin’ for me?
Are you comin’ darlin’?
‘Cause I’m not certain anymore
Can’t say I was ever sure
_
We were witches
We were wishing, we were watching
With wilder wonders we weave
Then you left me, left me by my lonesome
Wonderin’ why you had to leave
Left me by my lonesome
Wonderin’ why you had to leave
_
“This story is not over,” she said
And this you better believe
I’m prayin’, honey, someday

You’ll find me ‘neath those sycamore trees

 

SEND TO YOU
Uncertain words and time to ponder
Set my mind to wander
Which brings my heart to worry
And as I scurry and hurry
Through what is unknown and unseen
I feel a call from above
And all I can say is
_

I send to you my love

I send to you my love
I send to you my love
I send to you my love
_
Years have past since we were well acquainted
Memories once vivid now are faded
And despite all that has changed
She still remains contained in my heart
But it seems for now we shall remain apart
So all I can say is
_

I send to you my love

I send to you my love
I send to you my love
I send to you my love


RESPECT EXISTENCE

You are the air, you are the water
‘Cause without them, what would you be
The earth and sky and all of space and time
Are completely necessary
_
Treat the earth as a sister or brother
As you should know, nature’s your mother
And it’s such a shame that we take more than we give
When we’ve taken it all, where do we plan to live?
_
Respect your ancestors
And stop and listen
Be a good ancestor
And take care of what we’ve been given
_
The earth and sky and all of space and time
Are completely necessary
_
And it’s such a joy to live in the here and now
But the future someday will be here and now
And how do we expect, expect our persistence
If we can’t come to respect existence?
_
Respect your ancestors
And stop and listen
Be a good ancestor
And take care of what we’ve been given
Respect your ancestors
Respect existence
Be a good ancestor
And show them to expect resistance

WANDERING
I ventured out on the trail

I lost my way
I wandered aimless to no avail
And it’s no wonder
Why I’m shook by the thunder
My mind transfixed on all the things unknown
_
My habits lead me astray
Where ought I go
I cannot help but be this way
And it’s no wonder
Why I falter and blunder
My eyes transfixed all too far away
_
The truth is slipping from my mind
The truth I ever yearn to find
Disappearing in the dead of night
Circles pull me slowly down
But that’s only half the round
Soon I’ll rise and I will see the light
_
The path continues to unwind
And I gaze above
The stars and patterns mesmerize
And it’s no blunder
when I’m full of wonder
My heart transfixed on all the things of love

 

SING MY SORROWS
I’ll sing my sorrows from the rooftops
I’ll sing my sorrows from my grave
I’ll sing my sorrows till the morning breaks
I’ll sing until I let go, let go of this ache
_
I wonder can you hear my fever
I wonder do you see the reasons why
I got a fervor in this maddening time
But I gotta rise up singing, this world won’t pass me by
_
And when you talk about destruction
You know that you can count me … in
We’ve got to tear down these walls and ignorance
And plant a better seed that we keep on nurturing
_
I’ll sing my sorrows from the rooftops
I’ll sing my sorrows from my grave
I’ll sing my sorrows till the morning breaks
I’ll sing until I let go, let go of this ache


MY HEART, IT SWELLS
I feel myself moving on

Taking one more step down the line

I feel myself moving on
Taking one more step down the line

But I’m not ready yet

I left my family behind
_
The time has disappeared
Slipped out from underneath my feet
The time has disappeared
Slipped out from underneath my feet
Hopped on a railway train
Now I’m headed back east
_
But I can’t help but feel my heart
It swells with a sorrow
I do not wish to leave this place
But I can’t help but feel my heart
It swells with a sorrow
I do not wish to leave this place
_
The mountains they do inspire
And I feel much gratitude
The mountains they do inspire
And I feel much gratitude
As I return to the plain
I hope the feeling will remain
_
But I can’t help but feel my heart
It swells with a sorrow
I do not wish to leave this place
But I can’t help but feel my heart
It swells with a sorrow
I do not wish to leave this place

WISDOM IN THE TREES


WISDOM IN THE TREES
It is hard to know how to proceed

when we live in times like these
It is hard when our planet is ravaged
by dams and refineries
As I walk into the wild
I see the wisdom in the trees
If we don’t hold onto our roots
then we will go a-tumbling
_
I yearn to return to the wild
Just pondering conjures a smile
The stream fills my dreams with a feeling so alive
Yet back to the city I drive
_
How do we learn to live in harmony
Return the balance of yin and yang to our communities
Rid the dominance residing in the heart of society
Land, birds and people should never be anybody’s property
_
As I walk into the wild
I see the wisdom in the trees

If we don’t hold onto our roots
then we will go a-tumbling

 

MUTTERING THE TURNING BREEZE
I turn to the trees

Muttering the turning breeze
Breathing out a collective sigh
Leaves return and nurture time
_
And I forget for weeks on end
That new life comes at each decent
The light is fading but nonetheless
The night remaining is one to bless
_
And I know that I’ve departed
Gripping tightly to my reasons
And I know it’s time that I relinquished my intent
My movement is echoing the seasons
_
I arise with the sun
Realize what’s done is done
In this space the sprouts will grow
Grateful for the golden glow
_
And I remember here today
All the things I want to say
Never fear nor hesitate
But careful not to move with haste
_
And I know that I’m returning
And I’m certain there’s a reason
I can feel the lifting of the fog

My movement is echoing the seasons

DEEP POWER
I feel a rise in the tension

Spirit winds and intensifies
But there is power in this moment
To release and redefine
But still we’re overtaken by the tension
By the binding in our spines
But if we feel clear our awareness
Might we find a path to align?
_
The mystery unfolds
Bringing life to meaning
And as I witness grieving
The misery is told
And as I sit unmoving
Electric all around
I pray for resolution
But I do not make a sound
_
And in the wake of our fallen sisters
We will ask ourselves what went wrong
Deep power in the depths of our sorrows
We can sing the most beautiful songs
Still the war rages ever louder
We see violence and visions for peace
But we’re still creating our tomorrow
Some will die and some will rise to their feet
_
The mystery unfolds
Bringing life to meaning
And as I witness grieving
The misery is told
And as I sit unmoving
Electric all around
I pray for resolution

But I do not make a sound


AUTUMN WINDS

I feel my yearning mind

receding inward

The things that I will find
as I travel westward
The equinox arrives
and I feel the air cooling
I know that it is time
the autumn winds renew me
_
Long ago I saw the ocean
and I’ve been eager to return
To the coast in a winding motion
mind the dizzy turns
The mind and heart together
ever wander in the west
A damn fine cup of coffee and the huckleberry pie
I tell you is the best thing I’ve ever tasted
And what we found atop the mountain
is reflected down below
In that water is a mirror
in the stillness our souls will grow
_
Oh so many rivers
find their convergences
Pulled in together in gravity
winding to emerge in the ocean
And I know my heart is just the same
traveling alongside my family and friends
Flowing along steadily
knowing we’ll reach the source as one in the end
_
I feel my yearning mind receding inward
The things that I will find as I travel westward
The equinox arrives and I feel the air cooling

I know that it is time; the autumn winds renew me


LISTEN

Don’t let the fear cripple you
Just feel the ripples through the water
Just ask your mother
She will answer in due time
In the meantime
Listen as the wind blows by and by
_
Don’t hold your head above your heart
Instead feel where is starts
Listen to your heartbeat
And take a seat by my side
We’ll breather together
Watching as the wind blows by and by
_
Don’t let the fear *stifle* you
Just feel the ripples through the water
Just ask your mother
She will answer in due time
In the meantime
Listen as the wind blows by and by
_
Don’t forget where your source is
And don’t forget to come back home
Just watch the cycles
You’ll see it all comes back around
An ever present lesson
Listen as the wind blows by and by
_
Don’t let the fear *stifle* you
Just feel the ripples through the water
Just ask your mother
She will answer in due time
In the meantime
Listen as the wind blows by and by


CLIMB

Slowly climbing, foot falls
Restlessness pulls pushed back by exhaustion
Climb without desire
Each step a joy nothing more required
_
The mountains on the horizon are eclipsed in my dreams
And I am taken to the stratosphere, so cool and serene
The mountains on the horizon are eclipsed in my dreams
And I am taken to the stratosphere, only to descend again
_
Don’t forget to listen
Feel your toes against the stones and plantain
Take advise from the spider
Weaving your own story ever higher
_
The mountains on the horizon are eclipsed in my dreams
And I am taken to the stratosphere, so cool and serene

The mountains on the horizon are eclipsed in my dreams


NOT HERE TODAY

I wish I held more space for you
I told you I would stay with you
I wish I left a trail for you
I am led astray
_
I taught myself my problems
I sought every fear
It’s only what I wanted
Every pleasure, every tear
Every measure, every year
_
I told myself my story
I created every scene
I see my life a picture-book
Every face, every dream
Every page, every ream
_
I wish I held more space for you
But I’m not here today
I told you I would stay with you
What else could I say
I wish I left a trail for you
But now I’m far away
I am led astray
_
I wish I held more space for you
But I’m not here today
I told you I would stay with you
What else could I say
I wish I left a trail for you
But now I’m far away

I am led astray

 

WINTER IN THE CITY
It is winter in the city

It’s a long time, cold and gritty
And the wisdom seems so far away
And the dreams come, howling in my brain
And I’m restless, fighting fever
Never quite dressed for the weather
But I know the season is not my distress
And to the reason, I better not digress
For it is winter in the city
And so begins another year
_
But we will get by, we will get by
With time and inclination
In line with our creation
We will get by, we will get by
Taking only what we need
Finding ways to plant good seeds
We will get by, we will get by
Until the day we die we will get by
_
Springtime rounds the corner
And as the season warms, I follow suit
Divine life is teaming
Showing me the meaning in the rain
Rising to the summer
I begin to wonder what to do
Seconds later trees are fading
Back around again, around again
And the season brings us back around again
_
And it is winter in the city
And so begins another year
_

But we will get by

 

 

 

SINGLES

 

MOLECULE MENAGERIE
A blanket of clouds coats the sea
A molecule menagerie
Ocean bound to rainbow skies
Impervious to perceived lines
Moving fast never felt so slow
Consuming constructs, nothing known
Homeward bound yet bound to memory
Arrivals rival bygone needs
_
Contradiction colors my view
It’s astonishing but it’s nothing new
Brokenhearted and out of touch
Yet grateful that I love you
Grateful that I love you so much
_
I want you close, I want you to stay
Yet waywardly I turn away
Ecstatic pleasure your skin brings
My instinct stunted, left to sting
I’m stung and stuck and it’s all my fault
Momentum stumbled, my moments halted
Someday I may turn around
Until then tucked under the ground
_
Contradiction colors my view
It’s astonishing but it’s nothing new
Brokenhearted and out of touch
Yet grateful that I love you so much
And I do


SHE LIVES WITHIN ME
The Forest, she lives within me
Weaving a web of diversities
My bones the trees, my heart is a drum
My skin the leaves that thirst for the sun
_
The Stars, they live within me
Painting the skies with profundity
_
The River, she lives within me
Cascading veins and arteries
My heart is in flow from trickle to rapids
Letting gravity move what will happen will happen
_
A mind is a light amidst a dark sea
A wonder to all that will soon come to be