THESE DAYS (1995)

THESE DAYS (1995)

1 Hey God
2 Something for the Pain
3 This Ain't a Love Song
4 These Days
5 Lie to Me
6 Damned
7 My Guitar Lies Bleeding in My Arms
8 It's Hard Letting You Go
9 Hearts Breaking Even
10 Something to Believe In
11 If That's What It Takes
12 Diamond Ring

HEY GOD

Hey God, I'm just a little man got a wife and family
But I almost lost the house
Yeah, I bought into the dream
We're barely holdin' on, when I'm in way to deep
We're two paychecks away from living out on the streets

She's a workin' single mom, like a Saint she doesn't complain
She never says a word, but she thinks that she's to blame
Her son just got convicted, he blew some punk away
She did her best to raise him, but the world got in the way

Hey God - Tell me what the hell is going on
Seems like all the good shits gone
It keeps on getting harder hanging on
Hey God, there's nights you know I want to scream
These days you've even harder to believe
I know how busy you must be, but Hey God
Do you ever think about me

Born into the ghetto in 1991, just a happy child
Playing beneath the summer sun
A vacant lots' his playground, by 12 he's got a gun
The odds are bet against him, junior don't make 21

I'd get down on my knees
I'm going to try this thing you way
Seen a dying man too proud to beg spit on his own grave
Was he too gone to save?
Did you even know his name?
Are you the one to blame, I got something to say

Hey God - Tell me what the hell is going on
Seems like all the good shits gone
It keeps on getting harder hangin' on
Hey God, there's nights you know I want to scream
These days you've even harder to believe
I know how busy you must be, but Hey God
Do you ever think about me

SOMETHING FOR THE PAIN

Happiness, it's been no friend to me
But forever after ain't what it's all cracked up to be
Yeah, I had a taste, you were my fantasy
But I lost my faith when I hit reality
I don't need no Guru to tell me what to do
When your feeling like a headline on
Yesterday's news

Loneliness has found a home in me
My suitcase and guitar are my only family
I've tried to need someone, like they needed me
I opened up my heart, but all I did was bleed
I don't need no lover, just to get screwed
They don't make a bandage, that's going to cover my bruise

Pull me under (Help I'm falling)
Run through my veins (Night is calling)
To a place (Feels like I'm flying)
Where I feel no pain (Christ I'm dying)
Be the pillow under my head
Cover me when I'm in your bed
Take me higher than I've ever been
Take me down and back again
Come to me, be my disguise
Open your coat, let me crawl inside
Come on, come on, come on

Come on, come on, come on
Give me something for the pain
Give me something for the blues
Give me something for the pain when
I feel I've been danglin' from a hang-man's noose
Give me something I can use
To get me through the night
Make me feel all right,
Something like you

THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG

I should have seen it coming when roses died
Should have seen the end of summer in your eyes
I should have listened when you said good night
You really meant good bye
Baby, ain't it funny, how you never ever learn to fall
You're really on your knees, when you think you're standing tall
But only fools are "know-it-alls" and I played that fool for you

I cried and I cried
There were nights that died for you baby
I tried and I tried to deny that your love drove me crazy, baby

If the love that I got for you is gone
If the river I cried ain't that long
Then I'm wrong, yeah I'm wrong, this ain't a love song

Baby, I thought you and me would stand the test of time
Like we got away with the perfect crime but
We were just a legend in my mind
I guess that I was blind
Remember those nights dancing at the masquerade
The clowns wore smiles that wouldn't fade
You and I were the renegades, some things never change

It made me so mad 'cause I wanted it bad for us baby
Now it's so sad that whatever we had, ain't worth saving
If the love that I got for you is gone
If the river I've cried ain't that long
Then I'm wrong, yes I'm wrong, this ain't a love song

If the pain that I'm feeling so strong
Is the reason that I'm holding on
Then I'm wrong, yeah I'm wrong - this ain't a love song

I cried and I cried
There were nights that I died for you baby
I tried and I tried to deny that your love drove me crazy

If the love that I got for you is gone
If the river I cried ain't that long
Then I'm wrong, yeah I'm wrong - this ain't no love song

If the pain that I'm feeling so strong
Is the reason that I'm holding on
Then I'm wrong, yeah I'm wrong - this ain't a love song

If the pain that I'm feeling so strong
Is the reason that I'm holding on
Then I'm wrong, yeah I'm wrong - this ain't a love song
Yes, I'm wrong, yeah, I'm wrong - this ain't a love song
Yes, I'm wrong, yeah, I'm wrong - this ain't a love song
Yes, I'm wrong, yeah, I'm wrong - this ain't a love song

THESE DAYS

I was walking around, just a face in the crowd
Trying to keep myself out of the rain
Saw a vagabond king wear a styrofoam crown
Wondered if I might end up the same
There's a man out on the corner
Singing old songs about change
Everybody got their cross to bare, these days

She came looking for some shelter with a suitcase full of dreams
To a motel room on the boulevard
Guess she's trying to be James Dean
She's seen all the disciples and all the "wanna be's"
No one wants to be themselves these days
Still there's nothing to hold on to but these days

These days - the stars seem out of reach
These days - there ain't a ladder on these streets
These days - are fast, love don't last in this graceless age
There ain't nobody left but us these days

Jimmy shoes busted both his legs, trying to learn to fly
From a second story window, he just jumped and closed his eyes
His momma said he was crazy - he said momma "I've got to try"
Don't you know that all my heroes died
And I guess I'd rather die than fade away

These days - the stars seem out of reach
But these days - there ain't a ladder on these streets
These days are fast, love don't lasts-in this graceless age
Even innocence has caught the morning train
And there ain't nobody left but us these days

I know Rome's still burning
Though the times have changed
This world keepd turning round and round and round and round
These days

These days - the stars seem out of reach
These days - there ain't a ladder on these streets
These days - are fast, nothing lasts
There ain't no time to waste
There ain't nobody left to take the blame
There ain't nobody left but us these days

LIE TO ME

Rumour has it that your daddy's coming down
He's gonna pay the rent
Tell me baby, is this as good as life is gonna get
It feels like there's a stronger standing in these shoes
But, I know I can't lose me, 'cause then I'd be losing you

I know I promised baby
I would be the one to make our dreams come true
I ain't too proud of all the struggles
And the hard times we've been through
When this cold world comes between us
Please tell me you'll be brave
'Cause I can realize the danger when forgiveness fades away

If you don't love me - lie to me
'Cause baby you're the one thing I believe
Let it all fall down around us, if that's what's meant to be
Right now if you don't love me baby - lie to me

Pour another cup of coffee
Babe I got something to say to you
I ain't got the winning ticket
Not the one that's gonna pull us through
No one said that it'd be easy
Let your old man take you home
But know that if you walk out on me that darling
I'd be gone

If you don't love me - lie to me
'Cause baby you're the one thing I believe
Let it all fall down around us, if that's what's meant to be
Right now if you can't love me baby - lie to me
Baby, I can take it

It's a bitch, but life's a roller coaster ride
The ups and downs will make you scream sometimes
It's hard believing that the thrill is gone
But we got to go around again, so let's hold on

If you don't love me - lie to me
'Cause baby you're the one thing I believe
Let it all fall down around us
If that's what's meant to be
Right now if you can't love me baby - lie to me
Lie to me
Baby, I can take it
C'mon lie to me

DAMNED

I'm lying here beside you in someone else's bed
Knowing what were doing's wrong
But better left unsaid
Your breathing sounds like screaming
It's all that I can stand
His ring is on your finger
But my heart is in your hands
Damned if you love me
Damned if you don't
It's getting harder holding on, but I can't let you go
Damned if you don't need me
Damned if you do
God, I wish it wasn't me standin' in these shoes
Damned, damned

A door slams liek a shotgun, you jump up to your feet
But it's just the wind blowing through the secrets that we keep
Made me want to want you, God knows I need to need you
By the time the love is over, I'll be sleeping on the streets

Damned if you love me
Damned if you don't
It's getting harder holding on, but I can't let you go
Damned if you don't need me
Damned if you do
God, I wish it wasn't me standin' in these shoes
Damned, damned

Why don't you talk to me? (Because I'm too blind to see)
Why don't you look at me? (Because I'm afraid to breath)
What do you want from me? (All that I can stand)
The lies are on my tongue and I can't turn back I know
My soul is damned

Don't worry
I ain't gonna call you or hear you say my name
And if you see me on the street, don't wave just walk away
Our lives are getting twisted, let's keep our stories straight
The more that I resist it, my temptation turns to fate

Misery likes company, I like the way that sounds
I've been trying to find the meaning, so I can write it down
Staring out the window, it's such a long way down
I'd like to jump, but I'm afraid to hit the ground

I can't write a love song the way I feel today
I can't sing no song of hope, I got nothing to say
Life is feeling kind of strange, since you went away
I sing this song to you wherever you are
As my guitar lies bleeding in my arms

I'm tired of watching TV, it makes me ant to scream
Outside the world is burning, man it's so hard to belive
Each day you know you're dying from the cradle to the grave
I get so numb sometimes, that I can't feel the pain

I can't write a love song the way I feel today
I can't sing no song of hope I've got nothing to say
Life is feeling kind of strange, it's strange enough these days
I send this song to you, whoever you are
As my guitar lies bleeding in my arms

Staringat the paper, I don't know what to write
I'll have my last cigarette-well, turn out the lights
Maybe tomorrow I'll fell a different way
But here im my delusion , I don't know what to say

I can't write a love song the way I feel today
I can't sing no song of hope I've got nothing to save
And I can't fight the feelings buried in my brains
I send this song to you, whoever you are
As my guitar lies bleeding

IT'S HARD LETTING YOU GO

It ain't no fun lying down to sleep
And there ain't no secrets left for me to keep
I wish the stars up in the sky
Would all just call in sick
And the clouds would take the moon out
On some one-way trip

I drove all night down streets that wouldn't bend
But somehow they drove me back here once again
To the place I lost at love, and the place I lost my soul
I wish I'd just burn down this place that we called home
It would all have been so easy
If you'd only made me cry
And told me how you're leaving me
To some organ grinder's lullaby

It's hard, so hard - it's tearing out my heart
It's hard letting you go

Now the sky, it shines a different kind of blue
And the neighbor's dog don't bark like he used to
Well - me, these days
I just miss you - it's the nights that I go insane
Unless you're coming back for me
That's one thing I know that won't change

It's hard, so hard - it's tearing out my heart
It's hard letting you go

Now some tarot card shark said I'll draw you a heart
And we'll find you somebody else new
But I've made my last trip to those carnival lips
When I bet all that I had on you

It's hard, it's hard, it's hard, so hard
It's hard letting you go
It's hard, so hard, it's tearing out my heart
But it's hard letting you go

HEARTS BREAKING EVEN

It's been a cold, cold, cold, cold night
And I can't get you off of my mind
God knows I've tried
Did I throw away the best part of my life
When I cut you off
Did I cut myself with the same damn knife
Hide my tears in the pouring rain
Had my share of hurt and pain
Don't say my name, run away, 'cause it's all in vain

My hearts breaking even, now there's no use we even try
Hey I cried, yeah I lied, hell I almost died
Don't got a reason
Let's just fold the cards and say good-bye
It's all right, just two hearts breaking even tonight

It's been a long, long, long, long time
Since I've had your love here in my hands
We didn't understand it, we couldn't understand it
But, nothing's fair in love and hate
You lay it all down and walk away, before it's too late
We danced all night as the music played
The sheets got tangled in the mess we made
There in the stains, we remain
No one left to blame

Go on, get on with youru life
Yeah - I'll get on with mine
Broken hearts can't call the cops
Yeah - it's a perfect crime
Twisting and turning the night keeps me yearning
I'm burning alive
I'm paying the price again
But I'll see the light again

I lost all faith in my God, in his religion too
I told the angels they could sing their songs to someone new
I lost all trust in my friends
I watched my heart turn to stone
I thought that I was left to walk this wicked world alone

Tonight I'll dust myself off
Tonight I'll suck my gut in
I'll face the night and I'll pretend
I got something to believe in

And I had lost touch with reason
I watched life criticize the truth
Been waiting for a miracle
I know you have too

Though I know I won't win
I'll take this one on the chin
We'll raise a toast and I'll pretend
I got something to believe in

If I don't believe in Jesus, how can I believe the Pope
If I don't believe in heroin, how can I believe in dope
If there's nothing but survival, how can I believe in sin
In a world that gives you nothing
We need something to believe in

I played the part of a broken heart upon a show
I played that part so lonely and so well
Thought that love belonged to someone else, not me and you
Yeah, I know that you've been shattered
You been bruised
We both know what it feels like when you lose
But I'd bet my life on a roll of the dice for you

If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
Tonite's the night, I'm gonna prove it to you
Do I have to break down, baby just to break through
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes

I bet you counted all the tears I bet you've cried
I bet you swore you'd never let love back inside
'Cause it hurt youway too bad to say good-bye
Now, there'll be times when I might put us to the test
And it's hard for broken hearts to just forget
But I'm driving blind, I'll lay it all on the line for you

So, when you feel like jumping
Just when your heart starts pumping
When you're stading out on that ledge-staring over the edge
I'll be there to talk to you down
I'll be there before you hit the ground

If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If we take the time to do it right, I know we'll put through
If it took all my life, I'd prove it to you
If that's what it takes, that's what I'd do
If that's what it takes

DIAMOND RING

Diamond ring, wear it on your hand
It's gonna tell the world, I'm your only man
Diamond ring, diamond ring
Baby, you're my everything, diamond ring

Red, red rose brought it home to you
Blood red rose, tells me that you're true
Red, red rose, blood-red rose
Like a fire inside that grows, blood-red rose

When you're hungry, I will fill you up
When you're thristy, drink out of my loving cup
When you're crying, I'll be the tears for you
There's nothing that I wouldn't do for you

You know, I bleed every night you sleep
'Cause I don't know if I'm in your dreams
I want to be your everything

Diamond ring, wear it on your hand
It's gonna tell the world, I'm your only man
Diamond ring, diamond ring
Baby, you're my everything, diamond ring
Darling, you're my everything, diamond ring
Now, you've got me on your string
Diamond ring