don't do as I do
but do as I say
my daddy
used to tell me
most every day
the older I get
the more that I see
the don't do as I do
daddy in me
when you've got kids
that watch like a hawk
they'll do as you do
like it or not
you do your best
to have them behave
but still
do as you do
and not as you say

When the happiness they sold you
Is yellowed out tarnished and torn
And still, the bill comes due
On the smile it loaned

With every grin worth saving
Though you may not feel that way
Don't give up because tomorrow
Will be different from today

When the pain in life is throbbing
Another issue up to bat
There's a knocking on your noggin
In fact, you can hear the crack

Before you give up and hand in
What's left of your hero's cape
Don't give up because tomorrow
Will be different from today

When you want to shrug your shoulders
But your afraid you'll lose your head
Where it seems it's the only thing
These days that's still attached

When all you want to do is give up
And the rest just give away
Don't give up because tomorrow
Will be different from today

How many of us
Believed the promises
That it would all work out
On that you could count
Then life came along
And found they were wrong

Don't give up, don't give in, don't give out

There's an innocence we wish
We could and should have kept
A blind trust
That all was just
Once shooting for the stars
That now seem, oh so far

Don't give up, don't give in, don't give out

When you're at one step
And then two back
Seem to give more away
Than you ever save
When in the line you stand
Begins at the end

Don't give up, don't give in, don't give out

On this road there's many paths
As many rights as there are lefts
With street names like Wandering Day
And Restless Nights along the way
How many times has this vagabond been
On the road of "Don't Go There Again"

There's an empty house on the cul-de-sac
With people in but they're without
Where there never seems to be enough
Welcome to new America
Knock if you like, you're welcome in
Into the house of "Don't Go There Again"

With youth not like back in the day
Innocence packed up tight and shipped away
A crazy attitude to life's demands
How many told they could but find they can't
What's in is out, what's out is in
As we fall in line with "Don't Go There Again"

Your head spins round, completely numb
With your mind being filled with daily junk
You order some sanity on the side
Would you like to up the size
In the drive through line you pull ahead
As they hand you the bag of "Don't Go There Again"

At the moment of conception
In the warmth of Mothers womb
Let this be the beginning of my birthplace
Not the ending with my tomb

My life will serve a purpose
I have so much to give
I am not here by random chance
I am a life that want's to live

If there are choices given
What choice is given me
If you were free to choose to win or lose
What choice do you think that'd be

There are those in life who are childless
There are those who can't conceive
To tell the truth they would be begging you
Please just let me be

So at the moment of conception
In the warmth of mothers womb
Please let this be the beginning of my birthplace
Not the ending with my tomb

Don't just love those that love you
Although it's easy to do
You've got to step out in faith
And also love those who hate
Don't just love those that love you

Don't just take the easy road
When there is one less traveled on
It's a narrow path
Worth everything that you have
Don't just take the easy road

Don't ever take life for granted
Here one minute gone the next
When your concern should be
That of eternity
Don't ever take life for granted

Don't ever say a word untrue
Don't give away that part of you
When a simple lie
Can tear you up inside
Don't ever say a word untrue

Don't always take the easy way
Don't say what you think they want you to say
You've got to stand strong
Who will if you don't
Don't always take the easy way

Don't only love those that love you
Although it's easy to do
You've got to step out in faith
And also love those who hate
Don't only love those that love you

Do you realize
That while we're asleep
Bugs crawl in our ears
And whisper strange things
That's why we have
The strangest of dreams
With bugs in control
While we're asleep
As they try and direct
Our thoughts where we lay
To make us think
That all is okay
But not all is okay
If you know what I mean
As bugs crawl in our ears
And whisper strange things

I have heard talk of us
Moving to the planet Mars
To keep this Human race running

When it's clear our saving grace
Is to come face to face
With the idea of brotherly loving

We need to learn to accept
Instead of packing up our bags
And moving to a new Planetary System

As it goes with the heart of man
Chances are we'll do it all again
Bringing our daily problems with us

With a major change of heart
We can stay here where we are
Getting along the way it was intended

Before all this selfishness
Knocked on the door to live with us
And everything we touched needed mending

We don't need another planet to rule
As gigantic galactic space age fools
We just need to straighten this one up

And how we proceed to do that
Is with the heart not just the head
Turning to each one of us in love

So whether here or on the planet Mars
We can change just who we are
Getting rid of the old worn out platitudes

We don't need little green men
To tell us how or where to begin  
What we really need is a whole new change in attitude

Every moment that is taken
Has a consequence inside
You can leave or you can take it
In the furtherance of life

You can hold onto your actions
Or let them take a hold of you
Water or drain your passion
Don't let regret be the path you choose

The time you save you give away
At some other point in time
If you don't use it then you'll lose it
Never again to find

With the time you're spending here
Consider it a loan
Write this on your epitaph
Don't regret the path you're on

Life is made up of choices
You either sit out or you dance
That one song may not come back on
To give you another chance

When life asks for volunteers
What are the words you'll say
Stand your ground and do it now
Don't regret your life away

Every moment that is taken
Has a consequence inside
You can leave or you can take it
In the furtherance of life

You can hold onto your actions
Or let them take a hold of you
Water or drain your passion
Don't let regret be the path you choose

The time you save you give away
At some other point in time
If you don't use it then you'll lose it
Never again to find

With the time you're spending here
Consider it a loan
Write this on your epitaph
Don't regret the path you're on

Life is made up of choices
You either sit out or you dance
That one song may not come back on
To give you another chance

When life asks for volunteers
What are the words you'll say
Stand your ground and do it now
Don't regret your life away

I don't want to just get by anymore
There's so much to this life
We don't dare not afford
To lose what we were meant to do
In the striking of the cord
I don't want to just get by anymore

I don't want to spread myself too thin
I want to give all I have
In all I have to give
From this moment forward
A beginning with no end
I don't want to spread myself too thin

I don't want to just hope for a change
I want to be the one on top
Where this can be arranged
Though I don't have all the answers
I do have today
I don't want to just hope for a change

I don't want to breathe my last breath
Until all I have done
Is all that I have said
Then after all of this
I'll lay down my weary head
Sigh and happily breathe my last breath

It's sad to say all you are now
Is just a memory
But somehow in that now I'll get along
So don't worry bout a thing

If you see that I am crying
From your home in heaven above
Just know my dear the reason why
I do it out of love

Love it was the answer
When we were together
Now all I can do is question
Why so soon you had to leave here

At so early of a life
At so early in the stage
When I clearly wasn't ready
To give it all away

But ready or not
Gone you still are
All except for the scar
That's been left on my heart

It is sad to say on that day you became
A heartfelt memory
But you my love are a good one
So don't worry bout a thing

i feel as if i could sleep don't you know
at least for a thousand years
the only dream that i would dream
is to be out of here

i'm worn slap out don't you know
down to the marrow bone
the only thing you can do for me now
is to leave me alone

i need the rest don't you know
mind, body, and soul
make my way to my unmade bed
letting it all go

what used to be bright to me now
is the shade beyond the color of dull
i'm worn and tired set to retire
where sleep is all i need don't you know

the needle and spoon
an off kilter tune
the flick of the bic
ends up burning you
life on the run
the milking of blood
as good as done
i'm not making this up
the sinking of eyes
the pasting of skin
the mirror tells lies
at least you wish that it did
you've traded in hope
for your daily dose
keep this in mind
why they call it dope

There is nothing in my heart
That a good dose of love won't cure
Curing that and so much more
This nothing in my heart

There is nothing in my mind
That will take me to the heights
Like a dose of love will every time
Inside this lonely mind

There is nothing in my soul
That can take away this cold
Like love does in a daily dose
This nothing in my soul

Nothing in my heart
Nothing in my mind
Nothing in my soul
That a dose of love won't cure

When you're faced with a dilemma
On the direction you should turn
Dig deep you'll find it in ya
From past lessons you have learned

Be the purveyor of good news
Give the people a reason to sing
Hold on tight and then let loose
...Do the right thing

When the crowd is heading down
While stringing you along
You don't dare echo the sound
On all that can go wrong

No matter the pressure stand your ground
Be it shallow, be it deep
Even if you're the only one around
...Do the right thing

When you are battered to and fro
One side says yes the other no
You might find it hard to cope
Never once give up hope

Let nothing stand in your way
If you must, go against the grain
Anymore need I explain
...Do the right thing

I'm the envy of all my of neighbors
Way to easy it should be a crime
Everyone on the street treats me like royalty
Since I went and purchased a Double Wide

They all came a running when they heard the horns a honking
As the semi pulled into the street
It was a magical day just like a parade
Dogs barking, children screaming
as the mayor came out and shook hands with me

The local news came in with their cameras
The valumptuous blond liked the siding of torquoise blue
She got next to me real kozy
And asked if she could give me a late night interview

Since I now seem to be a celebrity
All the men oohed and aahed
as I gave them the tour
They all want to be best friends with me
As the women cood and cawed
begging for more

Never before in their lives had they ever seen
a toilet and sink in the brightest of pink
As they blushed and stuttered trying to speak
one way or another making google eyes at me

This possibly could be the very best thing
Turning out to be a wonderful buy
I would never have known or could ever think
When I purchased my Double Wide

I say y'all with a draw
And a slight nasal twang
I'm from the South is about
The best way to explain

To me it sounds quite normal
And to those I hang around
Ain't taking a back by my accent
As they too are from the South

It's clear here that life is slower
We take all that we're allowed
With no time to waste on an endless chase
For things that do not count

Down here we do it differently
Just take a look around
As it all blends quite perfectly
Down here in the South

It's not about the money
It's not about the fame
It has more to do with the friends that you
Make along the way

There's no need to read the daily news
To find out what it's all about
I'm telling you all need to do
Is down here in the south

If being beautiful was a crime
They would have locked you up long ago
Where you'd be doing hard time
Down on good looking row

The judge would take a gander at you
Ask you just what time it is
You'd look at your watch say 9 to 10
He'd say that's exactly what you get

They'd put you on a chain gang
But have to chain you to yourself
Cause when it comes to good looks
It is you and no one else

While others would be out breaking rocks
You'd be putting makeup on
As they're all sweating rivers
A cool breeze on you would blow

You would have free run of the place
Because of your good looks
With that big white smile on your face
They couldn't stand to lock you up

After awhile it'd be just you
As all the prisoners slipped out of there
Not a one of them had noticed
As all the guards just stand and stare

Yes if being beautiful was a crime
They would have locked you up long ago
Where you'd be doing hard time
Down on good looking row

When most of what I see
I just don't understand
With back against the wall
Leaving little left
When the voices in the air
Tell me that I can't
Reminding me of the things
In this life I've said

When all four walls
Are closing in on me
Having a devil of a time
As he won't let me be
When all in front of me
Looks like impossibility

That is when I feel the need
To get down on my knees

When I think about
All that God has done
Thanking him for sending
His one and only Son
When I want to give back
A portion of his love
When He forgives out right
For my many wrongs

When I think about the fact
I have been set free
When I look upon the Cross
And what it means to me
As I am thankful for the call
And that I payed it heed

That is when I feel the need
To get down on my knees

When I gaze out at the world
And the shape it's in
Looking at it deeply
Into the sinful heart of man
When the flame of torment and sorrow
Is being continually fanned
As I see it setting fire
To a once great sovereign land

When I know the answer
But I need the strength
To shout it from the mountain tops
To the valleys deep
When looking for the answers
That keep eluding me

That is when I feel the need
To get down on my knees

So much can change in a lifetime
So much can change in a few
At times you can't get that change back
Obviously I'm still not through paying for you

Bound and determined with what we had
Caught up in our meadow of time
Clinging to the right of each other
While holding that thought in mind

Not privy to our destination
Or at what point we would step off
With no hindsight in the mixture
Only the innocence of thought

So many years have come and gone
So many passed us by
To be replaced by second thought
In the haunting question why

I just wonder if you remember
What we held in the secret parts
And also the boy that let you dive*
*Deep into his heart

Do you remember
When love was all that mattered

Yes those were the best of days
With so much to give away

Do you remember
When love was all that mattered

A smile then was what a smile meant
People reached out with open hands

Do you remember
When love was all that mattered

Nothing more and nothing less
Gladly giving all we had

Do you remember
When love was all that mattered

Held it out and let it shine
Mine was yours and yours was mine

Do you remember
When love was all that mattered

Beautiful and natural
Everyone would heed the call

Do you remember
When love was all that mattered

It's not the cough that has you off
Lay back relax you'll soon be seen
The fever you've fought
has to do with your thoughts
In today's realities

If you're looking for the cure de jour
He's got just the thing
As you slip into bed
he slides into your head
A visit from Dr. Dream

His prescriptions don't come in a bottle
For a pharmacy, there is no need
The only pop em if you've got em
to bring you back from rock bottom
Comes to you in your sleep

Stick out your tongue saying ahh sawing logs
While the good doctor takes a peek
In the back of your mind
where nightmares spend their time
Examined by Dr. Dream

As you toss and you turn in your never-ending search
Hoping one day to be free
From the thoughts in your head
that are best left unsaid
Spreading like some dreaded disease

You spend the night looking for answers
Hoping to find some relief
While the good doctors' bedside manners
increase the chances
A visit from Dr. Dream

It's not the cough that has you off
Lay back relax you'll soon be seen
The fever you've fought
has to do with your thoughts
In today's realities

If you're looking for the cure de jour
He's got just the thing
As you slip into bed
he slides into your head
A visit from Dr. Dream

His prescriptions don't come in a bottle
For a pharmacy, there is no need
The only pop em if you've got em
to bring you back from rock bottom
Comes to you in your sleep

Stick out your tongue saying ahh sawing logs
While the good doctor takes a peek
In the back of your mind
where nightmares spend their time
Examined by Dr. Dream

As you toss and you turn in your never-ending search
Hoping one day to be free
From the thoughts in your head
that are best left unsaid
Spreading like some dreaded disease

You spend the night looking for answers
Hoping to find some relief
While the good doctors' bedside manners
increase the chances
A visit from Dr. Dream

I've been saving up dreams
Throughout these busy years
Going to build me a boat
Make my way out of here

Collecting colorful sheets
That I'll mend into sails
To catch the nearest cool breeze  
Blowing the way that I feel

Pockets filled up with nails
To steady the planks
A fist full of charts
To explore the dream life

Where all that's ahead
Are whimsical days
The wind at my back
The past in my wake

The dreams that I've saved
Throughout these busy years
I'm putting into that boat
And sailing far off from here

When I came to pick you up
You were a beauty to behold
I walked you out to my Pinto
And even opened up the door

I know your thinking what a gentleman
But alas your thoughts they do escape me
With the creak of my door hinge so loud
I knew I should have WD-40'd

So you wouldn't tear your dress on the seat spring
I covered it with my Mothers favorite towel
I can see by the look that's in your eyes
I've really won you over now

I'm sorry the AC is out
As I spritz cool water in my dash fan
Is that you blinking in Morse code
You da man! You da man! You da man!

I only dine at the finest cuisine
Can't wait till you see what I did
Reservations at Red Lobster babe
I'll even help you put on your lobster bib

I strike up a conversation
Tell you all about my life, my dreams, my job
I continue talking, never mind the food in my mouth
At this point all you here is blah,blah,blah,blah,blah

as soon as it is i fall asleep
i have the strangest of strangest dreams
with the past ahead of me
and the present far behind

i find myself floating out to sea
with empty faces on the shore
all hold flags that once were free
now tattered as well as torn

i try and swim my way back in
but the harder that i try
i'm pulled further and further away from me
with the ever changing tide

as lady liberty waves goodbye
in her overly tarnished stance
i can see she's losing needed strength
from her daily circumstance

then in my dream she topples
top heavy she'd become
is it me or just the dream  
that i can't seem to wake up from

I dreamt that Leonard Cohen
In a poetic moment
Set to rhyme all the ways he died
And the afterlife that he was going

Gently afloat in a silver boat
Upon a golden ocean
In calm waters warm and smooth
Like the voice of Leonard Cohen

All this to the tune of a lavender moon
In the secret place of knowing
That this was a dream of Leonard Cohen
In a poetic moment

If I asked
would you tell me
Could this not be
the strangest dream

I saw a man
in this city park
Standing alone
where we now are

He held a banner
in his hand
Love was all
the banner read

A crowd of people
passed him by
Some of them spat
while others cried

He stood silent,
he stood still
Justified
by Love's free will

Knowing full well
men are taught to hate
Bend the rules
and the soul will break

He stood his ground,
days on end
Not once gave out
not once gave in

He knew a few
might hear him out
That's all it takes
to turn the world around

I ask you now
what do you think
Is this or is this not
the strangest dream

Every night as I lay in my bed
I am handcuffed and often lead
Into the halls of the prison of sleep
My mind confiscated by the dream police

Come to arrest me every night
Never do they read me my rights
Judge and jury all in one
Fast on the trigger with their dream gun

No chance at all for parole
When dreams are all that you know
Need a good lawyer defending me
When I am dealing with the dream police

As they are surrounding my mind
Pulling up in their black and whites
Peak out the window, all that I see
Flashing red lights of the dream police

sometimes my dreams make a living
sometimes they barely make out
sometimes it seems that sometimes my dreams
are more than just riddled with doubt

sometimes my dreams dream me
that's when i have to pinch myself
is this all a dream or mostly reality
and at what point do i find that out

sometimes my dreams take a minute
sometimes they go on and on
feels like i've seen it as they all have me in it
sometimes with strangers, sometimes alone

sometimes i dream in slow motion
sometimes i dream i can fly
sometimes it seems that sometimes my dreams
are just a long drawn out dream in the question of why

sometimes i dream in color
though i'm told it's all black and white
and with that being said it's all in my head
as i bid you all a goodnight

what are the colors of your dreams
are they bright, are they bold
beyond colorful
of anything you've ever seen

what is the length of the night
as you lay down your head
what is the measurement
that you find that you go by

what is the first thing that you see
when you open your eyes
is it the length of the night
in mid-flight of your colorful dreams

sometimes my dreams make a living
sometimes they barely make out
sometimes it seems that sometimes my dreams
are more than just riddled with doubt

sometimes my dreams dream me
that's when i have to pinch myself
is this all a dream or mostly reality
and at what point do i figure that out

sometimes my dreams take a minute
sometimes they go on and on
feels like i've seen it as they all have me in it
sometimes with strangers, sometimes alone

sometimes i dream in slow motion
sometimes i dream i can fly
sometimes it seems that sometimes my dreams
are just a long drawn out dream in the question of why

sometimes i dream in color
though i'm told it's all black and white
and with that being said it's all in my head
as i bid you all a goodnight

I keep my dreams and wishes
Inside a paper sack
While some I feel are full course meals
Others are only simple snacks

I keep them seperated
With soft white cotton twine
Although it's true you can mix the two
It's still good to hold them both tight

I find dreams are much like wishes
They both can look the same
While of the two dreams you cling to
Wishes at times you give away

Daily mounting pressures
What hides behind the eyes
You've tried your best to catch her
This crazy thing called life

While imitating art
No one saw you draw the signs
Sadly here you are
Dressed up like suicide

If you had asked permission
Would they grant the fall
Have you ever heard them listen
To your cries before

Set with tunnel vision
To the world outside
Giving out you give in
Dressed up like suicide

What was once distance thunder
Now goes off in your head
The down pour pulls you under
Held by the hand of death

A cushion for your problems
Sign on the dotted line
Smoke em if you got em
Dressed up like suicide

Some days I get up early
The days I don't sleep late
Grab a cup of coffee
Then proceed to hesitate

Can't seem to make decisions
The days I can't decide
Sipping on my coffee
Contemplating life

A friendly game of back and forth
With the cherubs on my shoulders
Draining my first coffee
Ready for another

My black cat jumps in my lap
Sending good luck vibes my way
While my second cup of coffee
Helps me stay awake

Never at a loss with caffeinated thoughts
Moving freely to the beat
Of my pounding heart that's ready to burst
Over my many cups of coffee

Toss My life out the car window
See it tumble in the breeze
Watch its progress in the rearview
As it scrapes its tinder knees

Stop by the park of  "Somethings Missing"
Pull up to the lake of  "Past Regrets"
Roll the window down to listen
To the sound of nothing left

Feel the need to change the station
On my worldly radio
No need for further explanation
As top 40 rambles on

Toss my life out the car window
See it tumble in the breeze
Watch its progress in the review
As it scrapes its tinder knees

Daddy somebody shot that man
I heard this eleven year old say
I didn't really understand at the time
I just knew a man was dead

But with the years that followed
I came to learn how much he meant
To this world in its great need
And how well that time was spent

He preached of equality he preached of peace
As he spoke of man as one
He marched his way down city streets
Facing adversity with the face of love

He was done with all the hatred
That fills so many lives
To him color was a vision
Of equality in his eyes

A life so young a life cut short
By the wickedness in us all
Will you stand with me and follow him
Will you heed his righteous call

To call every man your brother
The way Martin Luther King Jr. did
To keep the vision of this visionary alive
A reality in which all mankind should live

Daddy somebody shot that man
I heard this eleven year old say
I didn't really understand at the time
I just knew a man was dead

But with the years that followed
I came to learn how much he meant
To this world in its great need
And how well that time was spent

He preached of equality he preached of peace
As he spoke of man as one
He marched his way down city streets
Facing adversity with the face of love

He was done with all the hatred
That fills so many lives
To him color was a vision
Of equality in his eyes

A life so young a life cut short
By the wicked in us all
Will you stand with me and follow him
Will you heed his righteous call

To call every man your brother
The way Martin Luther King Jr. did
To keep the vision of this visionary alive
A reality in which all mankind should live

Daddy somebody shot that man
I heard this eleven year old say
I didn't really understand at the time
I just knew a man was dead

But with the years that followed
I came to learn how much he meant
To this world in its great need
And how well that time was spent

He preached of equality, he preached of peace
As he spoke of man as one
He marched his way down city streets
Facing adversity with the face of love

He was done with all the hatred
That fills so many lives
To him color was a vision
Of equality in his eyes

A life so young, a life cut short
By the wicked in us all
Will you stand with me and follow him
Will you heed his righteous call

To call every man your brother
The way Martin Luther King Jr. did
To keep the vision of this visionary alive
A reality in which all mankind should live

Daddy somebody shot that man
I heard this eleven year old say
I didn't really understand at the time
I just knew a man was dead

But with the years that followed
I came to learn how much he meant
To this world in its great need
And how well that time was spent

He preached of equality he preached of peace
As he spoke of man as one
He marched his way down city streets
Facing adversity with the face of love

He was done with all the hatred
That fills so many lives
To him color was a vision
Of equality in his eyes

A life so young a life cut short
By the wicked in us all
Will you stand with me and follow him
Will you heed his righteous call

To call every man your brother
The way Martin Luther King Jr. did
To keep the vision of this visionary alive
A reality in which all mankind should live