Lyrics

Lyrics for True North

1. SPLINTERS

I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK IT'S STUPID
I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK I'M BLIND
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS WORD AND THIS WORD AND THIS WORD HERE
I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
IS IT POSSIBLE THESE THINGS THAT WE NEVER KNOW
HOW DOES THE SUNRISE WITHOUT YOUR COMMAND
AND HOW DOES LOVE GET BIGGER IN A HEART THAT DOESN'T REALLY GROW

DON'T THINK ABOUT, DON'T RUNAWAY
DON'T ANALYZE - IT WILL WORK OUT THAT WAY
ARE YOU JUSTIFIED WHEN YOUR EYES ARE CLOSED
OR WHEN YOU SAY "SEE I TOLD YOU SO"

HOW MANY ANXIOUS LITTLE EINSTEINS
FOUND DISBELIEVERS WITHIN THEIR OWN FAMILY
STANDING TOGETHER IN A UNIFIED FIELD
DISCUSSING PROS AND CONS OF THEIR OWN RELATIVITY

DON'T THINK ABOUT, DON'T RUNAWAY
DON'T ANALYZE - IT WILL WORK OUT THAT WAY
ARE YOU JUSTIFIED WHEN YOUR EYES ARE CLOSED
OR CAN YOU SAY

NOT ME -NOT ME
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK OF ME
-NOT ME, NOT ME
"I'M FULL TIME FIGHTING- RESISTING THE ENEMY WITHIN"

SOMETIMES SPLINTERS ARE ALL THAT'S LEFT
WHEN A SQUARE PEG FITS INTO WHERE A ROUND ONE SHOULD GO
I'M NOT READY TO GIVE IN YET
I'M NOT READY TO LEAVE WHEN I SAY GO

2. BRAVE ME
IT'S NOT LIKE MAKING UP
I JUST WANT TO SEE YOU
I JUST WANT TO KNOW
DO YOU LAUGH THE SAME SURE SMILE
AND DO YOU THINK YOU STILL KNOW WHAT'S REAL
LIKE I DIDN'T

JUST ANOTHER FUNNY MOMENT IN A LONG, LONG DAY
OF SEARCHING THROUGH THE CRUSHED GLASS
FOR DIAMONDS THROWN AWAY
AND THIS OLD GUITAR HAS FORGOTTEN HOW TO PLAY
OH, WITHOUT YOU -OH WITHOUT YOU
- BRAVE ME- TONIGHT

AND I'M SEARCHING THROUGH THESE LETTERS
FOR THINGS YOU MEANT TO SAY
TO COMFORT IN THIS MOMENT
WHEN ALL MY LOGIC BURNS AWAY
AND SOMEHOW THESE LIPS HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO PRAY
BUT I WON'T MISS YOU

YES IT'S BRAVE ME
WHO WASN'T GOING TO CARE
MAKING PROMISES TO THIN, THIN AIR
IF YOU WERE THERE
BRAVE ME

3. ICARUS

YOU CAN LEAVE IF YOU WANT TO
THERE IS NO ONE WHO HOLDS YOU IN PLACE
CHECK THE WINGS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
CHECK THE WINGS OF THE FALLEN FROM GRACE
THERE IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE HERE
EXCEPT THE COMPANY WE KEEP
BUT I AM NOT YOUR KING ARTHUR
AND YOU'RE NOT MY GUINEVERE

SWEET PRAYERFUL PRETENDING
KEEP SMILING AS WE COME AND KNOW
I CHASE OUT THE DEMONS
WHO WARN ME HOW YOU'RE LETTING GO
I AM NOT FEELING THIS NO
TAKE THE ROAD THAT YOU MUST TAKE
BUT I HAVE TO MUCH TO OFFER NOW
AND YOU HAVE TOO MANY PROMISES TO KEEP

I HAD A DREAM LAST NIGHT- I COULDN'T SPEAK TO SAVE MY SOUL
HIGH ON A MOUNTAINSIDE STILL CLINGING TO STRANDS OF HOPE
I COULD NOT FLY I WOULD NOT LET GO

STRANDED IN MID AIR
WARM WINGS WON'T CARRY YOU FAR
ICARUS ANGEL -CALL TO ME - FALL TO ME

SO YOU LEAVE IF YOU WANT TO
THERE IS NO ONE WHO HOLDS YOU IN PLACE
AND I'M NOT YOUR CONSCIOUS
I AM NOT THE PUZZLES YOU EMBRACE
THERE IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE HERE
EXCEPT THE COMPANY WE KEEP
BUT I WAS NOT MEANT TO BE THAT STRONG
AND YOU WERE NOT MEANT TO BE THAT WEAK

4. THE GIRL CHANGES EVERYTHING

SHE IS THE SMILE THAT TAKES NO PRISONERS
SHE IS THE STORY THAT’S JUST BEEN TOLD
SHE IS THE FACE THAT TAKES YOU BACK
SHE’S THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF OLD
KNOWING ALL THE WHILE
WHO THE BOSS IS GONNA BE
THE GIRL CHANGES EVERYTHING

SHE IS THE START WITHOUT THE WARNING
SHE IS THE DISTANCE THAT YOU WILL GROW
SHE IS THIS FEARLESS EXPEDITION
BEYOND ALL THE FENCES YOU HAVE KNOWN
LITTLE PERSONABLE PERSON
IMPERSONATING ME
THE GIRL CHANGES EVERYTHING

AND WHO’D OF THOUGHT I WOULD NEED ANYTHING

SPEAKING OF MERCY TWO HANDS TO HOLD
AND TWO EYES TO SEE
THIS IS A GOOD THING THAT’S HAPPENED TO ME

SHE IS THE GUARDIAN OF TOMORROW
SHE IS THE WRINKLES THAT YOU WILL EARN
THE TRUTH YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW
AND THE LESSONS THAT YOU’LL LEARN
A WATERCOLOR SMILE IS SPREADING OVER ME
THE GIRL CHANGES EVERYTHING

5. TRUE NORTH

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO
WHEN TRUE NORTH DISAPPEARS?
AND LEAVES YOU WITH A USELESS INSTRUMENT
AN AWKWARD COMPASS
THAT CANNOT FIND ITSELF TO TAKE YOU HOME
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH WAY TO LEAN
WHEN THE WIND WON'T FILL YOUR SAIL?
AND YOU DRIFT INTO A DEEPER HUE
OF BLUE BEYOND COMPARE
SHE IS ONE LITTLE GIRL
FALLING DOWN THE HILL
WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD IN HER HANDS
AND SHE IS TRYING TO FIND THE MEANING
AND LAUGHING AS SHE'S KNEELING
WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD IN HER HANDS
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WORDS TO SAY
TO PUT BACK ALL THE STARS
THAT CAME UNPINNED TO PROVE MY ARROGANCE
TO SHOW ME HOW FRAGILE, FRAGILE IS
IF YOU WERE ONLY JUST A LESSON TO BE LEARNED
THEN WHY AM I STILL HERE
WAITING FOR THE SECOND BEFORE TRUE NORTH DISAPPEARED

6. THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES
TINY DANCING SPINNING FASTER
SHOW-TIME FOR THE GUESTS
SHE'S HER MOMMY'S SWEET CREATION
IN HER DRESS UP SUNDAY BEST
WINNING SWEET AFFECTION SHE STRIKES THE PRACTICED POSE
LOOK AT HER, LOOK AT HER IN THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES
JUST AS NAKED AS THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN
BUT THEIR PRAISES WILL COVER YOU KEEP YOU WARM
MISTAKING REPUTATION FOR BRAVE HUMANITY
CONFUSING ADORATION WITH THE USER FRIENDLY
SELLING OFF FOR KINDNESS, SELLING OFF FOR FAME
SELLING EVERY PIECE OF YOU -DO YOU KNOW MY NAME
JUST AS NAKED IN THIS LIFE YOU KNOW
UNHAPPY WITH THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES
THEN SOME FOOL STICKS HIS FINGER
IN THIS LIFE THAT YOU ARE LEADING
UNRAVELING THE TAPESTRY YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE WEAVING
SOMEONE STOP THE VOICES - SOMEONE STOP THE BLEEDING
WELCOME TO KINGDOM COME -BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM
YOU CAN WALK ON THIS EARTH FOR MANY A DAY THINKING I KNOW WHO I AM
AND IGNORE THE VOICES THAT REACH FOR YOU IN JAGGED UNISON
DO AND BE WHAT OTHERS NEED TO WIPE AWAY YOUR DOUBT
BRITTLE WORDS BRITTLE WORDS THAT BREAK OFF IN YOUR MOUTH
JUST AS NAKED IN THIS LIFE YOU KNOW
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES

7. GIVING IN
YOU WADED IN WITH YOUR EXCUSES ON
DID YOU THINK A LIE COULD HOLD THE TRUTH UNDER
A RIVER OF YEARS
OF KNOWING YOU BETTER THAN YOU COULD
EVER KNOW YOURSELF
BUT I WASN'T READY FOR THIS
SHARP WORDS MEAN SOFT APOLOGIES FOR ME
DID YOU TASTE THOSE WORDS BEFORE THEY LEFT YOUR LIPS
YOUR HEART, YOUR MOUTH IN MINE
A BITTER/SWEET RECKONING OF A
MUCH BETTER TIME
WHEN I BELIEVED EVERYTHING
NOW YOU CAN'T EVEN SAY YOU'RE SORRY
YOU CAN'T KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH
YOUR LIES ARE YOUR WEAKNESS AND
MINE IS, GIVING IN TO YOU
ARE YOU ASHAMED OF WHAT YOU REALLY ARE
NEVER LET THEM SEE YOU STANDING STILL
FILLED WITH THE GLITTER OF GOLD
BUT NONE OF ITS PRECIOUSNESS
JUST A FOOL GROWING OLD
YOU'D THINK I'D GET USE TO THIS...
HOW COULD YOU OFFER ME HALF TRUTHS AND HALF
LIES, JUST BY WHISPERING MY NAME... A FOOL
WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR MY LOVING YOU AND
LOVING YOU JUST THE SAME..
NOW YOU CAN'T EVEN SAY YOU'RE SORRY
NOT WITHOUT THAT STUPID GRIN
YOUR LIES ARE YOUR WEAKNESS AND
MINE IS, GIVING IN...

8. IT MEANS A LOT
IT’S NOT LIKE PICKING UP THE PAPER
IT’S NOT LIKE WATCHING YOUR T.V.
IT’S NOT LIKE DOING ME ANY FAVORS
WHEN YOU’RE ALONE WITH ME
IT MEANS A LOT TO ME
IT’S NOT LIKE YOU WERE IN A PRISON
AND SOMEONE HAD THROWN AWAY THE KEY
AND WHEN THEY CAME FOR YOUR LAST WISHES
WHO WOULD YOU ASK FOR? – WHO WOULD YOU ASK FOR?
IT MEANS A LOT TO ME
TELL ME WHAT HAS SELF PITY REALLY DONE TO YOU?
ARE YOU ASHAMED, ARE YOU DEFEATED, ARE YOU OBSESSED?
CAN SHE MAKE YOU BETTER? DOES SHE MAKE YOU YOUNG?
STRANGERS MAKING STRANGE CONFESSIONS
HEARTS BY ENVY ARE POSSESSIONS
SO DON’T GO PICKING UP THE PIECES
DON’T GO LEAVING ME AT HOME TOO LONG
‘CAUSE WHEN YOU COME FOR YOUR LAST KISSES
I WILL BE OUT THE DOOR

_{9. TROJAN HORSES}
I DIDN'T MEAN TO BREAK YOUR SHOULDER
I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU CRY
OH, I WILL LIFT YOU UP MY DARLING
IF YOU WILL BE MY BRIDE
I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THOSE ANGRY WORDS
DIDN'T MEAN FOR YOUR HEART TO BREAK
BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO STAY MY DARLING
FOR THE CHILDREN'S SAKE
BABY, BABY CAN YOU HEAR ME?
DON'T YOU KNOW WHEN LOVE IS TRUE?
OPEN UP FOR WOODEN HORSES
MAKE BELIEVE THEIR LOVING YOU...
‘CAUSE YOU' VE WAITED FOR IT
LET THEM IN ON BENDED KNEE
TRUST YOUR HEART AND THEN IGNORE IT
AS THE "ANGEL OF REPRIEVE"
I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE SO JEALOUS LOVE
BUT HOW ELSE WAS I GOING TO PROVE
NO ONE WILL TREAT YOU HALF AS KIND
OR LOVE YOU LIKE I DO

10. AGAIN

CATCHIN' FIREFLIES IN A JAR IN THE BACK OF OUR ENORMOUS YARD
WHEN WE WERE HEROES
WHEN YOU DIDN'T CRY AT ALL FROM THAT UNSUPERMANLIKE FALL
OUT OF THAT WILLOW TREE
CATCH THE HONEYSUCKLE ON OUR TONGUES WITH EXPERT TECHNIQUE
SUPER SECRET SISTER KNOWLEDGE
RUNNING HALF THE BLOCK WITH ME ICE CREAM MAN IS ROUNDING BUCK CREEK
MISTER TWO PUSH UPS PLEASE

AGAIN, AGAIN
I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN
SIMPLE LAUGHIN' EVERLASTING
AGAIN

THEN WE MADE THE DISCO SCENE IN OUR SERGIO VALENTE JEANS
PINK PIPING MATCHING HATS DON'T FALL OFF OF YOUR 5 INCH STACKS
YOU DIDN'T FLINCH WHEN JEFFREY FIRST KISSED YOU
I'LL BE SONY YOU BE CHER ‘CAUSE YOU GOT THE BETTER HAIR
BARRY MANILOW CAN SO SING
THE MOONSTONE CASTLE MYSTERIES VOLUME 40 CAROLINE KEANE
NANCY DREW RULES THE WORLD

SO MUCH TO BELIEVE!
I CLOSE MY EYES AND I CAN SEE THE FORMING OF OUR DREAMS
NOT YET WORN DOWN BY FOOLS

WELL THE YEARS FLY FASTER WHERE WE'RE GOING
AND BEAUTY LINES ON OUR FACES SHOWING
AND WE SOMETIMES TRADE DISCOVERY FOR MORTGAGES AND DIVIDENDS
AND GREAT BIG POWER T.V.S
BUT I'M NEVER FAR FROM WHERE WE CAME CAUSE I GOT YOU AND YOU GOT ME BABE
AND I CAN STRAP ON THIS GUITAR AND WE BECOME THE INSTANT ROCKIN' SUPER
MUSIC STARS

11. CAMELOT
THREE LITTLE CHILDREN STAND IN A ROW
WONDERING IF WISHES COME TRUE
THEY ARE BRAVE LITTLE SOLDIERS DRYING THEIR EYES
BRAVE LITTLE PICTURES OF YOU
AND IF I WEREN’T SO MAD I’D MISS YOU
AND I’D REMEMBER HOW YOUR HEART FELT BEATING ON MY BACK
AND I WOULD LET YOU GO IF I COULD HEAR YOU SAY
“I’M COMING BACK MY DARLING, I’VE JUST BEEN AWAY”
HOW MANY LIFETIMES DOES IT TAKE
BEFORE YOU FADE AWAY?
HOW DO YOU COMFORT A FRIGHTENED CHILD
WHO CANNOT REMEMBER YOUR FACE?
AND IF I WEREN’T SO MAD I’D MISS YOU
AND I’D REMEMBER HOW YOUR HEART FELT BEATING ON MY BACK
AND I WOULD LET YOU GO IF I COULD HEAR YOU SAY
“THERE IS NOWHERE I WOULD RATHER BE
THAN HAPPILY EVER-AFTERING WITH YOU”
EVERY LITTLE DREAM WE HAD AND OH
WILL I EVER UNDERSTAND…
THE LESSONS THAT GOD TAUGHT THE MOMENT
THAT CAMELOT DIED

From the CD “True North”