the way we huff and puff these days
seems we're in a backwards race
going back to where we lacked
the progress that's been made
where we don't see eye to eye
being now the case
wave the checkered flag as we finish last
in this backwards race

we place the blame call each other names
in this backwards race
we think we've won as over others we run
in our endless chase
in our searching for the next big thing
keeping it all up to date
here we go again, fingers in the wind
in this backwards race

it's one for one as we run
in this backwards race
no more than a few that we speak to
in our daily face to face
we idly chat in phone tag text
or snap chat along the way
and with that said i best get
back to this backwards race

We've stepped off the path of sanity
Onto the road to ruin
Along the way we lost the key
To where we thought we were going

With no slow lane here to speak of
And the lost all quickly passing
It's hard these days to think straight
So here we are, all mostly guessing

Which ditch is fiction, which is fact
What are we even doing
And who will get the last laugh
On the road to ruin

With no stop sign in plain sight
In the way we are behaving
Where is the caring in mankind
Will there be anything left worth saving

In this everyman for themselves
Out cruising for a bruising
In this heat morals quickly melt
On the road to ruin

my mind aligns with valentines
and the days of candy hearts
conversations in the sayings
that kept us balanced on this applecart

passing them like kids in innocence
with a twinkle in our eyes
not really knowing what it meant
when it said Will U B Mine

when did we let go of those times
drifting off so far
from the sweet and simple life
the days of candy hearts

Most folk don't know
That Casper the Ghost
Has a twin brother
Meaner than most

While Casper always leans
To the friendly side
His evil twin Jasper
Cheats and he lies

It's all that he knows
If truth be said
On both this side and that
Of the living dead

Casper does his best
To lend a helping hand
While his brother floats high his boat
In his demands

Which scares everyone
This side of the grave
The way Jasper whines
And misbehaves

Is it any wonder
Casper does his best
To keep his brothers blunders
Hid from the kids

There are people in this life
As we go passing by
That reach out and cling to us
As we do to them in-kind

A rubbing of the shoulders
Slight scratch that leaves a mark
Although some might go so deep
As to leave a scar

Some might call them memories
I believe it's more profound
Affecting of personalities
With every go round

So hang with those that help you grow
In this life of passing by
That reach out and cling to us
As we also do in-kind

This world in its polarity
Is opposite to what God has planed
Here in the thick of negativity
It's hard to see beyond its losing hand

We make it harder than it needs to be
To shine on the positive side
Batteries included
When Jesus is your light

A shining light on top the hill
For all the world to see
God inspired, Spirit filled
For all of those who do believe

There is a running promise
From the very start of time
Batteries included
When Jesus is your light

Plug into the lasting energy
Of the one true God in charge
Leave behind the negative sin-ergy
Where we find we often are

Here's an idea worth doing
Make sure your bulb is tight
Batteries included
When Jesus is your light

The things that I eat
The way that I breath
Are none of your business
If you’re asking me
None of your business
To tell the truth
What I believe
And what I do
About any subject
The way that I feel
Is none of your business
If you can’t tell
That none of your business
Is the bottom line
In spending my money
Spending my time
How I behave
In this win or lose
None of your business
I’m telling you
If you can’t see
What you conceive
It’s none of your business
If you’re asking me

This old skin
Is wearing thin
The longer it sits
On this skeleton

And the longer it sits
The wrinklier it gets
Yet there's still some fit
So I must not be done yet

While some spots hold tight
Others hang loose
My epidermis I find
Hasn't a clue what to do

As it does it's bit
The looser it gets
One day I believe
It'll sink past my knees

Then maybe I'll tuck
It into my socks
And buy bigger shoes
For my skin that hangs loose

humming along
to this ****** tune
the only song that we know
this side of the moon

eagerly skipping
tripping over ourselves
as the men in white suits
wonder who let us out

what is the harm
in all that we do
holding ever so tight
to this ****** tune

been kept in the dark
thinking we're free
at least that's what they lead
us to believe

with nothing to prove
it's all that we do
humming along
to this ****** tune

You may think of me a fool
It's plain to see, I'm much like you
We pick our friends, choose our sides
Then go along with all the lies

Pushed aside and picked apart
Till we can't tell who we are
Happy in our foolish ways
Win or lose, make or break

The dangled carrot gives us hope
Makes us think we have a choice
And that the choice is ours alone
How far out have we all gone

They tell us when to raise our voice
What to say when making noise
Who to love and who to hate
Save the date on make or break

In who's lie do you abide
When you find you're choosing sides
In all you say and all you do
It's plain to see, much like you
I too am played for a fool

Charles Darwin was a zombie
******* peoples brain
Some daddies and some mommies
Have never been the same

Ever since he came along
Monkeying around
Digging deep in misery
This not so fertile ground

Charlie the zombie
***** brains out through a straw
Now we seldom listen
To what is truth anymore

There's no bones about it
If we're keeping score
He opened the pit for us to sit in it
Filling it with drool

Pardon, Charlies Darwin
Do you see what has been done
People have forgotten
Where we all come from

Lost our way to this day
A world zombified
Without our brains to this fate
Over man-made lies

nothing surprises me
anymore
from where we are
to where we were
from where we'll be
next in line
there's not a thing
in which i'm surprised

this has all
been going on
the fall of man
from day one
ever since
sin made the scene
not a thing
surprises me

nothing surprises me
in this life
as all man does
is roll the dice
no longer trusting
in the Lord
nothing surprises me
anymore

We come in different sizes
Different heights, different shapes
Nothing should surprise us
These differences in the make

Differences in attitude
Opinions skewed we think count
In what and how the way we do
Plus the things that we allow

We talk in different accents
Be it North, East, South, or West
Once we open up our mouths
It isn't all that hard to guess

Differences as night and day
In the way we behave
Differences in colors
Different pigments in our shades

We gravitate towards comfort
What feels right in our thin skin
Is it any wonder
Why we're all so different

With pocket full of mistletoe
You never know when love will show
Up when you least expect
Come what may with little left

Greenery in short supply
When love catches her wanting eye
Where's a doorway when you need
And not the one in which to leave

With clinched fist she loses count
All the times she's pulled it out
In her hope that love will show
This pocketful of mistletoe

where we are
and where we're heading
all of us
are good as guessing
looking high
laying low
we don't know
what we don't know

come what may
come tomorrow
everyday
is another borrowed
empty plans
ain't it though
goes to show
we don't know

what the future
brings to the table
what it want's
if it's able
how far in
or out it goes
we don't know
what we don't know

There used to be enough
Dreams to go around
Now it's hard enough
To hold a single one down

No longer able
To reach the highest heights
Of all the wish I may's
All the wish I might's

Remember when we used to have
A much longer list
One at least if we tried
We could almost grasp

Now all we do is struggle
To even write it down
Outside of this bubble
In which dreams once were found

All the drams that we had
Holding us so tight
All the wish I may's
All the wish I might's

Have simply slipped away
The way dreams sometimes do
Flying out the window
Along with our youth

i say hey more than i need to
hey is what i say when i'm talking to you
not trying to come up with just any excuse
but hey, it's what i do

hey, what's the big idea
been saying hey since i was a kid
hey makes its way, past and present said
hey, have we ever met?

hey, would you mind
if i brought hey up one more time
not in this but the next line
hey is here by design

hey makes its way into my vocab
ain't that great, ain't that fab
one last time to make it last
if you didn't know then, then you know that

hey, is what i said

Are you just another voice
Adding to the noise
In this world of right or wrong
You still have a choice

You can lend a hand
Reach across the land
In this world of goings on
You can make a stand

Not just do what is right
In other people’s eyes
In this world you might stand alone
But in it you will find

That you still have a choice
In how you make that noise
In this world of right or wrong
Not just another voice

Leaning on my shovel
With pillow in hand
Waiting on another
Midnight dream in sand

Where I can start the process
Soundly in my sleep
Searching till there’s nothing left
Digging deep my dreams

I try and stay away from nightmares
Usually in hardpan
Digging there can be a bear
Avoiding all I can

The ones closer to the surface
Come with less meaning
Seldom are they worth it
Digging deep my dreams

There really is no science
In fact hardly a clue
In the way I find it
As dreams stay on the move

Like I said pillow in hand
Shovel on which to lean
All of this a process
Digging deep my dreams

Everything these days is backwards
In and out and upside down
People looking for an answer
Silence being the only sound

What used to be a sky of blue
Is now an angry sea of red
It’s hard to know just what to do
With the world turned on its head

With ears to lend we question men
Of all the mysteries to this life
All we get is a tickling
But nothing funny do we find

In this world of what once mattered
Long ago, all closed down
Leaving people with no answer
Silence being the only sound

The world is a cannibal  

Ready to bite
Say the wrong thing
It’ll eat you alive
Chew you and spit you
As part of its diet
So keep your trap shut
And get into line

The world is a cannibal

Ready to pounce
Holds it against you
At the slightest sound
Any unreasonable reason
That can be found
Picking you up
Slamming you down

The world is a cannibal

Strips you to the bone
Goes for the jugular
If you go it alone
Vicious, malicious
Sits on its throne
Knows all the do’s
But prefers the don’ts

The world is a cannibal

To those in the know…

Let’s preface this with
I am a mess
If you happen to wonder
If you haven’t yet guessed

If you haven’t hung out
With me long enough
Give it a minute
It ain’t all that tough

It’s not like I really
Started this way
It took years of practice
Countless mistakes

To get to the point
Where I am today
Making my way
Through this melee

Not trying that hard
At doing my best
If you haven’t guessed
I am a mess

Shirley had a Temple
Where people worshiped her
Started out in black and white
Soon turned to color

Had us all follow along
To her song and dance
Made her way into our hearts
And she never left

Shirley has a Temple
On the walk of fame
There’s never since been one like her
And never will again

This innocence on the good ship
Called the lollipop
Times were so much better then
As we all sang along

When Shirley had a Temple
Where she daily graced the stage
Back when life was simple
Back in Shirley’s day

Getting crusty round the edges
Like a slice of day-old bread
From the bottom of my twisted toes
To the top of my balding head

Dehydrating like a side of beef
Jerky tough to chew
Not much of me is worth the keep
With nothing hanging that is new

Eyes that once were crystal clear
Now no more than a blur
Please speak loud so I can hear
The meaning of your every word

The lines I blamed on laughter
Aren't funny anymore
Ask me what's the matter
Long ago stopped keeping score

You can take this slice of day-old bread
Remove most of the mold
But when all is done and all is said
Man, I'm getting old

I'm going to need a backup plan
Just in case it all goes bad
Seeing there is little doubt
That it all is heading south

Something I can cling onto
A way out, a sudden move
Whether it is short or long
Before my goose gets good as gone

Hide it all behind my back
Pull it out fast as I can
All the confidence that I need
When I find myself knee deep

Just in case I lose it
And can't remember what comes next
If it all heads quickly south
I need a backup plan no doubt

The world, that day
Changed right away
When the camera's were turned around

Helping us to see
Quite clearly
What the media was throwing down

The very lies
Told over time
Were written all over their face

Every line of script
Along with secrets kept
Laid out on full display

All in it together
Right down to the weather
With the purpose to manipulate

All over the world
Right up to the commercials
Yes master, whatever you say

Helping us to see
Quite clearly
What for years had been going down

In the world that day
It all began to cave
When the camera’s were turned around

This thought came up and bit me
At the moment of mid-blink
Guess you could call it an epiphany
You do you, I'll do me

Neither of us caring
What the other thinks
Where we're no longer peering
Over the edge of crazies brink

Live our lives as we see fit
In peace and harmony
Imagine what all that would fix
You do you, I'll do me

It would unload lots of pressure
Given a chance to live freely
Clean the drawers out of that dresser
Less of an upkeep

Now for the million-dollar question
Honestly what do you think
Wouldn't life be more pleasant
You do you, I'll do me

sights that
entice
toss a line
take a bite
wish you may
wish you might
not held
so tight
too late
you find
wasting of
your time
beware
don't dare
it's best
you don't go there
still you
take a dip
just a pinch
no more than an inch
no one
wiser
used to it
secrets kept
with that done
with that said
call off
all bets

She has a tattoo
of the world on her shoulder
Heart on a string
hanging off of her sleeve
Easy to read
even if you don’t know her
She’ll plainly tell you
it’s ink that she bleeds

Writes of the times
with words that engulf her
Her reasoning
is in the hope that she sees
Really no need
to try and console her
It’s all in her tattoo
and heart on a string

We seem to keep on digging
Shovel in both hands
No chatter of bringing a ladder
To climb out, if we could but can't

You'd think we'd have learned us a lesson
With all of these do's and don'ts
No sense in messing with guessing
That this is a bottomless hole

So far down we're drowning in darkness
Nothing bright ever travels this deep
Not sure if they'll ever find us
But if they do, what will they think

Remember, we're in this together
Not a soul will be left alone
From the dense of sense to light as a feather
Digging a bottomless hole

Feel free to bring your own problems
The shovels we will provide
It's a bit labor intense but once you get in
You will be there for life

Digging up dirt for all that we're worth
Never is there a lull
Just so you know, the further you go
This is a bottomless hole

some people say they are happy
some people act like they're sad
some people seem to be in-between
being neither good nor bad

some people out there are reckless
some people in here are refrained
some people elsewhere are helpless
and need a hand every now and again

some people hold onto sorrow
closed tight in the palm of their hands
never once giving tomorrow
any chance to dance at a second chance

some people have learned to move mountains
others fall off of cliffs
some people are like city fountains
others barely can form a drip

some people always look for the best
some can't see past their nose
some people need to give it a rest
some need to learn to let it all go

some people see only their needs
never once caring for others
some people bleat like they are sheep
some would rather stay under the covers

some people are over anxious
about what might come next
are you some of these people
and what will you do with the time you have left

to effect....some people

If all of this looks normal
And never once makes you blink
If you ride the tide to whatever side
Flows into group think

If you do all they tell you to
And then ask them for more
If you play their game and all receive the same
Trophy at the door

If you nod in Bobble Head fashion
With their version of the truth
Never stepping off to question
Then maybe you've been brainwashed too

If you scream out heebie-jeebies
When opposite shows it's hand
And instead of calmly asking
It's more of a demand

If you turn blue when you talk green
And all you see is red
If in your realm of tolerance
You wish the other side was dead

If your blindfold covers both heart and head
On what is the gospel truth
The only conclusion there is left
Is maybe you've been brainwashed too

the further along
the longer i live
the more that i see
it's all meaningless

the day after day
all blends the same
as boredom sets in
then gets in the way

with nowhere to hide
this chasing of time
like that of the wind
always in flight

who's to save us from this
and from ourselves
repeat offenders
no more fingers to count

what do we gain
when it's all the same
this grueling reminder
of being awake

the up's and the down's
who are we trying to kid
round after round
is all meaningless

I'm like you
You're like me
Although at times
We disagree
We both know
We both see
How high, how wide
How shallow, deep

You're like me
I'm like you
In all the things
We go through
We know it all
We see it too
How rough, how smooth
How old, how new

Cause we're like them
And they're like us
With the right change
All on the bus
In what we do
And say because
After all
We're just like us

If you would be willing
There's nothing better than a good Wet Willie
The feel and squishy sound
Of a finger rolling round

Though it may not be
All that sanitary
Between the first and second lick
Over time you get used to it

To you this may sound strange
Slightly off beat if not deranged
Cross eyed with a chill
Second knuckle, to the hilt

Drool dripping from the mouth
World is turning upside down
Any ear, left or right
A slight tingle up the spine

Did he just say this really
There's nothing better than a good Wet Willie
The feel and squishy sound
Of a finger rolling round
Deep inside the ear canal
...what is wrong with this clown

There is safety in numbers
But numbers don't count for all
Dear sisters and brothers
Out there be very careful

There is evil here amongst us
Wolves wearing sheep's clothes
Where there is not a one of us
That shouldn't keep on their toes

Like a hungry lion
Roaming throughout the land
A warning sign of evil times
The darkened heart of man

Where more or one are gathered
Iron sharpening iron
Righteousness matters
In numbers we will find

The safety that is needed
But numbers don't count for all
Take my words and heed them
Out there be very careful

In the midst of this relationship
Colors ever bright
Morning, noon, and night
Sparkle in its shine

The way we come together
Deep green on the vine
Lovers both intwined
Sharing in the light

The colors in-between us
Reds, yellows, and blues
I always promise to
Change colors with you

From the brightness of beginnings
To the fading of pastels
Soft to the touch is felt
Colors still work well

The love that's held be-tween us
As twilight takes our day
Colors start to fade
Into hints of gray

With all that's painted on us
Our canvas tight and true
I always promise to
Change colors with you

If I had the chance
To do it again
Would I only choose
The chance to win

If I never lost
At any cost
Would that be a win
Or would that be a loss

Without a loss
What good is a win
If you never learn
Anything from it

Leaning on my shovel
With pillow in hand
Pull up tight the covers
Heading towards dream land

Where I can start the process
Soundly in my sleep
Searching through the nonsense
Digging deep my dreams

To stay away from nightmares
I sift through softer sand
Too many times, I've been there
Growing in hard pan

With those close to the surface
I treasure the meaning
Making it all worth it
Digging deep my dreams

There really is no science
In fact, hardly a clue
In the way you find it
Dreams both old and new

But like I said, pillow in hand
Shovel on which to lean
All of this the process
Digging deep my dreams

we're as good as dead
is all they've said
from beginning to end

sheeple led
to the edge
and then back again

in the 60's shout
oil was out no doubt
and look it's still around

when the 70's came
it was much the same
the ice age would freeze us out

in the 80's they
blamed acid rain
for destroying all the crops

the 90's scare
of course, the ozone layer
but the farm was never bought

in 2000 they felt
the glaciers would melt
causing the oceans to rise

then in 2010
we'd all be swimming
under a ten-foot tide

here we are today
where it's all much the same
as they shake and stir our brains

to the latest scare
keeping the fear
under the name of climate change

If you're looking for lasting impression
Something to hit the mark
A ditty to keep the crowd guessing
Just who and where you are

A smidgen or two of enticement
Toss of surprise in the ***
A line right on time they can liken
To all of the haves and have nots

Move to and fro through the madness
Deal with the cards you are delt
Take all of what you are left with
And just be yourself

Oh can you see
Do you believe
In love at first glance
Given the chance

Or do you think
That you might need
A second look
Before you’re hooked

One that would last
Forever at best
Do you need a sign
A reason why

Would you give it a try
Love at first sight
If given the chance
For love at first glance

Do you find you dabble
In everything you do
Often check the water
But only with a toe or two

You might do this, might do that
And other things per say
But never take it to the mat
Before the thought has gone away

You find your mind racked with desire
A burning of the soul
You've got the kindle for the fire
Never adding any coal

No saddle to your dabble
On which to hitch your horse
No trophy on your mantel
Never sticking to the course

You find you might try it once
Maybe even twice
But when it comes down to the crunch
You barely take a bite

Toss in your line time after time
But never catch a thing
You might find it's all a sign
You're only dabbling

What if yesterday, today, and tomorrow
Came together for one day
Would they all dwell on their past mistakes
Or live life for today

Would they dream about tomorrow
As today's dreams fly away
If they had it all to do again
Would they relive yesterday

Life can be confusing
My hope is that you'll find
That after yesterday, today, and tomorrow
have had their say
You'll live one day at a time

I look back then and remember when
We said forever we would be friends
Not so long ago but then again
Life was yet to blow its cold hard wind

Given the chance we all would dance
Music made this band of friends
Young and dumb, hand in hand
No demands on what we had

But the days they say of separate ways
Tends to show its ugly face
Making it hard to keep the dream in place
When said dreams run away

To tell the truth, still think of you
And the many things we used to do
And when I do the tears let loose
Knowing all they've been through

When looking back remembering
Forever times, forever friends
Far back when but then again
Life had yet to blow its cold hard wind

To say I'm new to the scene
Would be an understatement, of extremes  
I've watched men rise; I've seen them fall
Still, I've yet to see it all
From here on out to Kingdom come
I will do it all in love

No matter how hard the daily climb
I'll make sure I am the light
Pointing to a path that's straight
Helping those to see the way
The ties that bind, secure the knot
I will do it all in love

For the cause I won't grow faint
Giving of myself away
The time that's set is ever short
In the coming of the Lord
From here on out Thy will be done
I will do it all in love

Do pathological liars
Think they're telling the truth
Cause believe you me from all I see
These tongues of fire are on the loose

When we're all faced with the facts
They put a spin on the fiction
We all would laugh if it weren't so sad
A part of their soul must be missing

As the world cookie crumbles around us
And these craisins with their hands in the jar
Rust or bust, they're all on the bus
This fist full of pathological liars

Seriously do they believe
This mess they're force feeding us
Doesn't even include a smidgen of truth
All the stuff they keep making up

So I ask again, do pathological liars
Believe a single word they say
To tell the truth, I'm not sure they do
But they'll keep on lying anyways

You may take me for a fool
But after all I'm much like you
Shaken or stirred, with or without a clue
In how we present our points of view
You are me and I am you
In a lot of what we all go through

We happen to be much the same
Though different colors, shapes, and names
Some prefer early, some preform late
Some jump right in, some hesitate
Some spill the beans in what they say
Some by all means don't give a thing away

With this true who are we to judge
Life itself is tough enough
We need to learn to get along
This hate we've made is overdone
Turn off the stove, pull out the plug
Come together in one cause

No ifs, ands, or even buts
No wish you man a lot of luck
All are equal to the sum
Both you and me and everyone
Not all that simple, more than tough
But it can be done if done in love

Because after all I'm much like you
In all the foolish things we do

Every morning when I wake up
And turn on my T.V.
People I don't even know
Keep smiling back at me

Telling me they know my problems
And how they sympathize
Smoke um if you got um
Try these on for size

Pounding me down into the ground
With the newest latest fad
And how life's not complete because I need
Exactly what they have

Well I don't want to have it my way
Or any way at all
In this drop your drawers, bend over for
Turn your head and cough

Trying to sell me all the bacon
On the latest diet fad
I've had more than I can take and
I'd rather just stay fat

And  this trying to look much younger
These aren't wrinkles but memory scars
So take your natural lotion, magic potions
And cram them where it's dark

All you people I don’t know
Smiling back at me
Every morning I wake up
And turn on my T.V.

A tad bit loose
You wear it well
This wrinkled suit
In which you find yourself

Thread bare
To the bone
This suit you've used
For who knows how long

Scuffed and scraped
Patched and sewn
Once priced high
Now bid low

Shimmered, shined
Once colored bright
This now loose suit
Past trimmed and tight

This worn out suit
You now have on
You’ll wear it well
Till you buy the farm