I like to buy different magazines
And bring them to my home
Cut the faces out I see
And replace them with my own

I always look so happy
In other peoples lives
I can be the best of husbands
Along side the best of wives

It all depends on the mood I'm in
On any given day
I could be hang gliding in the South Pacific
Or hiking the hills of Mandalay

On a sunny beach in Florida
With perfect kids flying colorful kites
At a Hollywood premier
My face on any star I like

I used to lead a boring life
As I sat around at home
Now pasting my face in different magazines
I go and do anything I want

I just purchased NASA monthly
Dare I go to the moon
If they picture two astronauts together
You know I'd go with you

There's this island magazine I've been saving
From a travel agency
Can't wait to paste my face out swimming
In the bluest of bluest seas

I'll flip through all the pages
Till I come up with the perfect tan
On top of the perfect body
Then I will be the perfect man

It's not always fun and games though
I do have a serious side
When I paste my face onto the homeless
Then wet the pages as I cry

There's so many different things I do
Depends on the mood and magazine
What peaks my interest at the store that day
To who I see I'd like to be

I'm tired of this atmosphere
I'm tired of its people
I'm tired of the traps
And stones being thrown

I'm tired of non bending
I'm tired of the breaking
I'm tired of the liars
Too many to count

I'm tired of the fascists
I'm tired of the Nazis
I'm tired of the racists
With fingers that point

I'm tired of the guilt
That comes with the pleasure
I'm tired of them telling me
They will but they don't

I'm tired of the powers
I'm tired of excuses
I'm tired of the pressure
Being under their thumb

I'm tired of the yelling
I'm tired of impatience
I'm tired of the hate
In the name of love

I'm tired of those sitting
I'm tired of not standing
And those being silent
I'm tired of it all

I remember the day that you left
Goodbyes hard to accept
Through the tears I wept I wished you best
Heading off to war

We both know, although you never wrote
Deaths cold hands were always close
To pull the plug on those with little hope
Surrounded by the war

You kept your eyes open wide at night
A certain caution mixed with fright
Taking all you had just to survive
Living in this war

You held the scenes of memories
Where you once kept your sanity
With ears as drums to your heartbeat
Playing out this war

You counted ways with endless days
How long ago had you felt safe
Was it before you gave your soul away
Inside of this war

So many questions I would have asked
Through tear filled eyes I try and accept
That on the day you up and left
You never returned from war

Can you hold me tight
As I fight the sway
Can you make these shakes
Go away

When you kiss my eyes
Can you see the scream
That comes rushing in
With past memories

Will you pour on me
Your sympathy
Will you hold my hand
As if for keeps

Can you say you saw
My inner thoughts
Before those thoughts
All got lost

When tears are shed
Over what's been said
Will you nod your head
As if to understand

Will you strike the match
That lights the way
Will you do it now
Before it's too late

This World...
is a traveling salesman
that doesn't know when to say when
hiding tricks up its sleeve

This World...
is an infomercial
filled with needy commercials
promising free delivery

This World...
is a picnic
that brings its own ants in
to eat a slice of the pie

This World...
is a mortician
with teeth that sharply glisten
waiting for us to die

This World...
is a New York City taxi
weaving in and out of traffic
overrating the fare

This World...
is a child that is missing
on a milk jug that is empty
with no one to care

This World...
is a train wreck
from which you can't turn your head
no matter how hard you try

This World...
is in need of a medic
with an extensive headache
right between the eyes

Life can be funny
You have to admit
A standing joke running
That never quits
A stand-up comic
With a Vegas bit
It's showtime with bright lights
So get used to it

Comes with a cover charge
With no running tab
Who ever is left
Gets the last laugh
Has a short intermission
To clean up the mess
With spinning head when you least expect
It starts over again

A real knee slapper
Bag of funny bones
A six-pack of canned laughter
So you don't have to laugh alone
A lemon meringue pie
Expertly in your face thrown
Life can be funny
...in case you didn't know

the issues we dance with
time after time
the taking of chances
we oft do in life
it's not about you
it's more i, me, mine
if you must know the truth
it's love in decline

different as day
dark as the night
giving so much away
in hopes that we might
secure for ourselves
our own selfish desires
when over time we find
love in decline

with fists raised in anger
we fuss and we fight
not seeing the danger
in the warning signs
you can ask for it all
then hold it all tight
but still we'll all fall
with love in decline

Oh all the wonder
in the daily blunders
as the left once again
over plays their hand
In the do as I say
not as I do attitude
for those with no clue
in their daily demands

While inside their bubble
without all this trouble
happy and free
are the elite
Who would have guessed this
uprising of peasants
would open their eyes
and finally see

What's good for the goose
would be the gander in noose
in this new found up rise
hang them all high
As the chains they've been using
are finally loosened
in this wave of the truth
in this turning of tide

While they sit round in wonder
watching it all go under
through all their blunders
losing their bird in hand
We now see what they say
is only meant to enslave
excuses they make
as we all exit stage left

They take what you've got
Waste what you give
Like it or not
Live and let live

Single you out
But you're not alone
Without a doubt
Blood from a stone

You scrimp and you scrape
Just to get by
What little you make
Gone on the fly

The vice grip on you
Gives little hope
It's just what they do
Blood from a stone

Minding your manners
Does it even matter
Life on the run
Struggle to catch her

You know that they do
But tell you they don't
The squeezing of you
Blood from a stone

Starting this off as an innocent child
Running footloose, free, and wild
The years ahead too far to count

Then comes along the blink

Adolescence put to the test
While dodging right and faking left
Forging life on straight ahead

Then comes along the blink

Looking in the face of middle age
Thinking as of late, dawn's early days
Wondering where it went and who gave it away

Then comes along the blink

Now when you move something shifts loose
Can't remember then when the how or the who
Or even the did in the done or the do

Then comes along the blink

The bed that you slept, reserved for the dead
A burial shroud to cover your head
A knock on the door, enter stage left death

Then comes along the blink

Give me a movie
In old black and white
One that has Bogie
Bacall by his side

A leading lady
That always was sure
Black and white movies
Were our afternoon cure

Movies of mystery
That left you to guess
No computer enhancement
Where actors knew how to act

With a nickel soda
And ten cent popcorn
They no longer make movies
Like that anymore

Where Hollywood shimmered
On the hillside at night
We all had a glimmer
As we shared in the ride

Watching both Fred and Ginger
Sliding cross highly waxed floors
Bringing up to remember
The wanting of more

With no need for color
To sparkle and shine
Holding us all to the wonder
In black and white

We'd all rather be
Like Dorothy going home
They no longer make movies
Like that anymore

You expect a different circumstance
Every time you're given half a chance
But after all there's Newton's law
Which goes to prove all things must fall

Cross your fingers and your toes
Hope out loud for good results
What you get you never know
That's just the way things go

Remove all doubt in planning out
Knock the worst down for the count
Plaster a smile to your face
State your case then save the date

You never know what seeds will sow
Be it daisies or wild oats
Until it festers in its growth
That's just the way things go

That doesn't mean you lay it down
Pack your bags, get out of town
When you joined up were you not told
We all go through this, young and old

Otherwise we'd all be bored
On this rusty two edged sword
With one side sharp the other dull
That's just the way things go

They wind us up
Then let us go
Leave off our eyes
So the lies don't show

Tight rusty springs
And loose fit keys
I turn on you
You twist on me

They paint us with
A broad stroke brush
Color outside our lines
With hatefulness

Add shellac
Heavily
Toying with
You and me

Keeping us in play
Until we break
Out of control
Is what they've made  

Winding tight
It's now too late
The toy makers
Latest mistake

I am 'The Incredible Aging Man"
Aging right before your eyes
Something I plan to continue to do
Until the day I up and die

Watch as the wrinkles magically appear
In the most unlikely of places
See the thinning of hair, the enlarging of ears
The forgetfulness of where I last placed it

Learn how to use your patience
As over time I am losing mine
Using familiar phrases like it'll be okay
And you're going to be just fine

Show up with loud voices
As my hearing starts to wain
And feel free to read letters to me
As my eye sight does the same

Listen in as I moan and groan
When weak in the knees I bend and buckle
Come with me on the day they put me away
As I become increasingly befuddled

Sit with me here as into the distance I stare
Forgetting now who I am
I do so hope you enjoy the show
Of this "The Incredible Aging Man"

we find ourselves always waiting
for something we've never had
more time to find our name up in lights
more or less, love at its best

waiting for something to happen
not happy with where we are at
we waste away the wages we make
a secret we have that no one has kept

waiting for a fresh new beginning
happiness before the tragic end
anticipate on the way all the while, while we wait
a hit and a miss being the way that it is

waiting for the inevitable nothing
as nothing has a weight all its own
dragging us down, this emptiness with no sound
as we wait it all out, waiting this out alone

If this all looks familiar
Like we've been here before
Then I'd say yes, you've rightly guessed
A case of open and shut door

There is nothing they've been hiding
That should come as a surprise
To have us all in wonder
Where we can't believe our eyes

So we should know the outcome
Is coming soon I fear
We've lost our way and then some
Call me when the coast is clear

If there has been a lesson
In this a lesson learned
It's been rightly said by scores of men
You get what you deserve

As we all had hoped for better
To make its way around
Right down to the letter
That's not what we have found

So we should know the outcome
Is coming soon I fear
We've lost our way and then some
Call me when the coast is clear

We're back in time
Where cavemen rule
I've got mine
And I want yours

Swinging clubs
With angry grunts
Simple minds
Out to lunch

Fighting fascists
In a fascist style
What the hell
Is going on

In this monkey see
Monkey do
Monkeys seem
To all lose

In this daily rage
Of social discourse
Use your brain
Before it gets worse

With this caveman rule
Of do or die
Not a soul
Will survive

That's it, I'm throwing my hat
Into the ring
At the voters behest I'll be the next best
Well...you know the thing

I'll spin on the spot
If the questions they've got
Are way too deep
I'll hem and I'll haw
Hack and I'll cough
Then ask the crowd
What do you mean

So that I do not lose
I'll promise the moon
Then when asked about it
Act like I don't have a clue

And if I have to
I'll jump through some hoops
Crack smiles at the crowd
Never once telling the truth

I'll promise less taxes
To please all the masses
And for that serious look
I'll make sure to wear glasses

I'll kiss ugly babies
Shake a few hands
Tell them all maybe
Hint at some plans

In the scheme of things
I'll make sure they're all grand
As they throw me their votes
Because I am the....

Well...you know the thing

These days I'm in
I'm so thin-skinned
You can look but do not touch me

It's no use
I bleed and bruise
Like a crying boys skinned knee

This getting old
Is getting old
With how old plays for keeps

My youth I'd miss
The only problem is
I've about lost that memory

Which brings me back
To the fact
Of all my cuts and scrapes

As I look at them
Not remembering when
Or how they made their way

To adorn
This body worn
From years of foolish games

With no thought about
This bleeding out
I do every single day

where is the little girl
with stars in her eyes
did the older that she get
darken up her skies
did she fall for it all
behind the thin disguise
when did this little girl
believe all of the lies

where is the little girl
with stars in her eyes
did she go to the window
and close up tight the blinds
not wanting to clearly see
this world in real time
when did this little girl
fall headlong into the night

where is the little girl
with stars in her eyes
did she look at it all
then say never mind
it's not worth all the trouble
not worth all the time
when did this little girl
leave those stars behind

When I find you fast asleep
I whisper in your ear
Subliminal messages
I need you to hear

Ever so sweet and softly
How much I love you
And the fact you need me
Because you love me too

To have, to hold
To forever keep
I whisper ever so softly
As you are sound asleep

Can't quite remember when
This modern pile that we stepped in
Smells like easier to live

Is how we saw the signs

With a lot of this is it
In all of this we daily did
Is this the mess they really meant

Now that we live the lie

The way that we had seen it
We thought it all pure genius
Sold it as convenience

This luxury to life

But what they really gave us
Would soon enough enslave us
Tattoo and engrave us

While turning a blind eye

As technology surrounds us
Gags us and confounds us
Leaving some of us in the dust

Babbling fools out of our minds

Why in this do we feel alone
In what once we all held hope
Locked up tight inside our homes

Could someone please clap out the lights...

On a hot August night in Memphis
At the tinder age of forty two
Behind the gates of Graceland
America lost its tune

Gather round the throne room
The king is sadly dead
On the cold linoleum floor
Is where he last laid his weary head

Fought so many battles
In the star filled lonely life he lived
If you're keeping score this is one war
That he lost the battle in

His scepter it was golden
His voice it was the same
He just lost his soul is all
Somewhere along the way

With papers read the words they bled
Out on the written page
Tears that poured as the world all mourned
And still do to this day

So bow your heads the king is dead
Elvis has left the building after all
Although long gone there is still the song
And he still is the king rock and roll

if i were to get old
and lose my train of thought
if i were to grow cold
with every single soul

if my blue eyes bleared
not knowing what they see
would you kindly hold my hand
while you sit beside of me
and show me sympathy

if i become argumentative
with all life throws my way
if i really meant it
but not in the way i say

if this dreaded day deeds
to play my life for keeps
would you kindly hold my hand
while you sit beside of me
and lovingly comfort me

if i continually see things
that are not really there
if i sit in silence
and at the walls i stare

if i am but a shell
of who i used to be
would you kindly hold my hand
while you sit beside of me
to have, to hold, to keep

In crazy times these days I find
A word I often use
When forced on me these sufferings
In todays to-do's

So don your masks and your name tags
In this new faze of meet and greet
The word in hand if need be said
...Seriously?!

With no simple rhyme nor heart-felt reason
To all that's going on
My guess is it's just in keeping
With this societal breakdown

When common sense loses its essence
And everything smells fishy
I've said it before and I'll say it again
...Seriously?!

What comes out of people's mouths
These days is quite insane
Not taking time out to think about
The way they are behaving

I've about had enough to the point of done
Someone please stick a fork in me
Have you not heard it's all absurd
...Seriously?!

Call him what you want
But I've got this crazy hunch
He ain't no up Chuck n' Nancy boy
Thank you very much
You can kick, you can scream
Red faced as you cuss
Who's this I'm talking bout
...Push Button Trump

Like a fair weather friend
That gets under your skin
Can I get a halleluiah
Or at least an amen
Welcome in
To the circus friend
Or is this as some insist
The lions den

He's fast with a jab
Good with a punch
Boiling advisories blood
Bringing pressure up
If you ain't fast enough
Then you're out to lunch
Who's that again
...Push Button Trump

Not one to lose
He's in it all to win
He do what he do, do
Then he do it all again
I ain't here to mess with you
Whether you are out or in
With a wink and grin
Gotta get that last line in

He's one of those Donald's
But he's not one to Duck
Ain't no quitter a real go getter
Goes after what he wants
Only time will tell
If this hunch is out lunch
Have I mentioned who this is
...Push Button Trump

in the come and go
of the give and take
when will we pay heed
to the words they say
dark as chocolate night
plain as vanilla day
who out there regrets
mistakes that they have made

marking this all down
saving hot the date
give it all away
hate that rules the day
don't dare dilly dally
do not doubt delay
otherwise you might
regret mistakes you've made

all of us sleep in
the beds that we have made
i have heard the early bird
never once is late
shut tight all the doors
close and latch the gate
on every last regret
of mistakes that you have made

For those of you who don't understand
I'll explain it slowly if I can
Do you see that writing on the wall
We're steps away from martial law

With the daily craze of escapades
Where you pillage and burn to get your way
What possibly could you think
Would bring us this close to the brink

You fuss and fight for your rights
Who gave you the right to fuss and fight
After all it's your call
One fall away from martial law

I'm no age-old prophet or modern Sage
The crazy I see not okay
Which side do you find you move to
When you search for hidden truth

Do you take what false teachers say
And run with it like sheep astray
Let me tell you a little secret ya'll
We're steps away from martial law

From the very top
Let's start this off
With happily ever after

And from the moment here
Make the way clear
For the sound of Loves Pitter Patter

Moving far beyond
The ache of alone
To one of joy and laughter

Born with a need
For sweet relief
To the sound of Loves Pitter Patter

There's a ray of hope
We all hope to know
In the realm of things that matter

Leaving you with this
Do your best to not miss
The sound of Loves Pitter Patter

Through the struggle and the strife
Every single day of life
Did it ever cross our minds to think
That the ladder we would climb
In our daily 9 to 5
Would turn out to be this slippery

We started down this crooked road
With the highest of highest hopes
Thinking there was nothing we could not achieve
Little did we know
Our daily do's would all be don'ts
And we would settle from mediocracy

Moving up and down, in and out
To the sounds of not allowed
Bringing it all close to the brink
We can try and figure out
This riddle filled with doubt
Humming to its tune while skipping beats

Now all we seem to do is strive
Just to try and make it by
Hoping we'll at least see some relief
It didn't start out this way
All out to break the bank
Now all we do is settle for mediocracy

You might be right
I may be wrong
But then again
Could be both of us
Pointing fingers
Hitching thumbs
All of the figures
Don't add up

Playing dumb...
To what's going on

Going down
What's cooking up
Mixing, stirring
Double barrel guns
Mixed messages
Poured out in throngs
Seeing is believing
Just move along

Playing dumb...
To what's going on

Fistful fighting
To the bone
Ignorance
Is all we know
No standing up
To what we own
Hope for the best
Don't make it so

Playing dumb...
To what's going on

what's the sense in reminiscing
being the one that's left behind
when all your friends go missing
by way the art of dying

when you reach the fold of much too old
to want to carry on
if truth be known out loud was told
all your friends are gone

what's the sense in reminiscing
if all you do is cry
no need to waste time guessing
when you know the reason why

when the world moves into season
where all it knows is cold
in its quest best be believing
that you're the next to go

what's the sense in reminiscing
if all you have are last goodbyes
trying to keep the secret hidden
that death is a part of life

you find this section hard to row
being the last one in the boat
what's the sense in reminiscing
when you can barely stay afloat

Not sure if this would be consider taboo
To even mention the view
Did I just hear her say the word touche
When the doctor proceeded to do what she had to do

With stage crew and camara in hand
Filming what little dignity I have left
Are the tapes rolling, I may need consoling
When this crazy trip finds somewhere to land

Do I even need to mention the day before
Pills and laxatives by the score
To clean out my innards must be at least 10 pounds thinner
Need I say anything anymore

Back to the uncomfortable crowd
You can hear a pin drop at the sound
For them it's routine, for me a dastardly deed
Could someone please send in the clowns

Adding a touch of savoir faire
Excuse me, is there enough room in there
If things get a bit tight make sure the pliers are sanitized
Anyone up for a game of truth or dare

Doesn't get anymore personal than this
Best friends now without even a kiss
Operation at 7 film at 11
To be viewed YouTube via Internet

Back in the day when I was seventeen
Most of me was wrinkle free
Had a full head of hair that's now switched to my ears
I even think I had a memory

Way back when in my younger days
I could stay up way past late
Now I'm lucky most the time if I make it to nine
Otherwise I'm  zombiefied  all the next day

Back in the day when I was seventeen
I had eyes that could clearly see
Now with glasses on I struggle to see what's going on
Even if it's right in front of me

Way back when in my younger days
When I was fit and trim without all this weight
Now I can barely bust a move tying my own shoes
To even think to make it to the starting gate

Back in the day when I was seventeen
That I'd end up this way was never on my screen
Old as dirt where every inch of me hurts
This I never dreamed when I was seventeen

you keep collecting your dollars
without any sense
in what you are wanting
in how it is spent
how much of life
are you banking on it
collecting your dollars
without any sense

you dream of tomorrow
without being awake
making yesterdays sorrows
todays mistakes
drawing up plans
without saving the date
tomorrow will come
but you'll be too late

when your fistful of dollars
are all white washed rinsed
expecting a change
every spin of the wind
you take all you've saved
with a mindset to give
but find out to late
nothing makes any sense

Both burning down this blacktop
At times out of control
With life ahead our daily backdrop
Heart to heart and soul to soul

How many miles is not the matter
Or how often we've paid the toll
As far as we can see it's you and me
To the end of this road

There's been rest stops, there's been exits
More than one construction zone
Still you and me in keeping with
To have, to love, to hold

Blessed to not have yet reached our sunset
Moving on these brittle bones
Getting close but not quite there yet
To the end of this road

Blessings landing in our laps
As the windows down are rolled
With hair on top our heads a raging mess
What little we still own

At times heeding signs of warning
Of all life's does and don'ts
We've done it well with the stories to tell
To the end of this road

Times like these are hard to choose
Who's to win and who's to lose
All depends on what you do
And where you line up with the truth

Doesn't matter where you are
When it comes to fighting wars
Who can say whose keeping score
As we fall on our on swords

Where's the good in all the harm
Brother against brother with loaded arms
Can we not see what's going on
As this world buys the farm

With scissor hands we cut the cord
Without a plan can we afford
To show ourselves for all we're worth
As we fall on our own swords

We unequally divide a fabric torn
With needle eyes, can't see to sew
Would all this change had we known
In all this that there's little hope

As hate and deception bore in our hearts
We continue the fighting of this war
With only one outcome that is for sure
As we all fall on our own swords

I am not a fan of Jesus
To you that might seem odd
No longer will I sit here
And watch what's going on
Won't hang out on the side lines
Cheering from the stands
When it comes to Jesus
I no longer am a fan

I am a follower of Jesus
One that gets involved
However Jesus needs us
I will answer to the call
In this world of death and pain
Where all of nature groans
Through his strength and saving grace
Jesus I will follow

I am not a fan of Jesus
Only here for the thrill
One of the 5000 as he feeds us
Looking for another meal
Using him as fire insurance
My golden key into Heaven
When it comes to Jesus
I no longer am a fan

I am a follower of Jesus
One that knows the truth
Both in my head and in my heart
Not a fan without a clue
One that stands for righteousness
When the world won't play along
I will stop at nothing less
Than Jesus to follow

You may feel you have a voice
Even think you have a choice
But we will tell you what to say
And if you don't behave, take it all away

We will tell you who to hate
For your own good for goodness sake
Don't give an inch, don't compromise
We'll spread our truth made up of lies

You'll have a choice of who to vote
But we'll only give you one of those
We're so good you'll think you thought
All of this out on your own

We'll change your minds how we decide
How close to set the battle lines
We'll have you cussing family, friends
Not trusting a single one of them

You'll love it here in Zombieland
Working for pennies, pounding sand
We'll wave the carrot on a stick
Have you constantly reaching out for it

Where you may think you have a choice
Even feel you have a voice
But crazy is as crazy does
And you will never be rid of us

Last year in order to save some money
Which in hindsight wasn't smart
Me and my buddies got together
To make our own fireworks

And as luck would have it
We found all we need under the kitchen sink
The whole time looking to do this cheap
Instead we came out free

Knowing this day would draw a crowd
As soon as the rumor mill filled up
So in our vast wisdom with a few cells missing
We mixed the batch up in Jimmy's tub

Not being exact on science
As illustrated in that magazine
We felt no need to measure
And might have gone a bit extreme

As soon as the stuff started bubbling up
That thought did cross our minds
Remember at the start, saying it wasn't smart
And that little mention of hindsight

With the size of the flash, little wonder we're not ash
And still have all our fingers and toes
It's hard to explain the size of the bang
And why now Jimmy's house is one big hole

But we did put on a show not soon forgotten
That could be seen from outer space
And where Jimmy's house used to be
There's now a community pool in it's place

So come and join us on this holiday
Burgers, beer, and of course fireworks
In fact we're heading to Davy's house now
To mix a few things up...

We raise the white flag
But who's flag is it
Since we've all about had enough

The moms and dads
Along with their screaming kids
Are all but fed up with this stuff

Why always say
We don't get your way
Then force our way in a cloud of dust

We think we know
Life's does and don'ts
But long ago we missed the bus

A stitch in time
Should draw the line
But we're all the time changing it up

We roll the dice
On cheap talk and lies
When will all of this be done

The up's and downs
Along with the turn arounds
No thank you very much

Let's switch the flag
To checkered instead
And call this crazy race run