a thoughtless trespass
moved by piqued esteem
no harm intended, minding not
another’s deep despair
like random keys plucked
from school laptops
just to make a word
to put in his pocket

“buck up, pal” the
minor indiscretions
mean no harm
do not intend to injure
only careless words and deeds
that damage nonetheless
and so defend against this
formless threat of danger

the snide, the trite, the insincere
that brew and simmer
one day may
no longer be repaired

Mama’ll get by
Her heart is unafraid
But mama gon’ cry
Her baby gone crazy
Baby done died
Gun in his hand
I told you those boys were not his friends
Mama doesn’t cry
Won’t be afraid
But mama gon’ cry
I told you those boys were not his friends
I told you you won’t like how this ends
I told you
I told you
I told you

Mama done said
Trouble gon’ find a way
But she said, “let the boy be,
He’ll make a fine man one day”
But I told you those boys were not his friends
Gotta be strong
When peace is hard to find
Livin’ this way – hurt’s not far behind
I told you you won’t like how this ends
I told you
I told you
I told you . . .

So, I’m down in old town Ybor City
The days are hot, and, well, the nights get steamy
How I got here – let me tell you why
I’m on the run, but I might stay awhile
Y’see back in Dallas – good job, a nice place
Sweet young thing with a pretty face
Lost it all in a card game, and with my assets cashed
Now she’s after me an’ I can’t go back

Hey, Senorita
I’ll have another margarita
With your very best tequila
You’re a sweetheart, you’re a doll

Y’know, I can get used to this
I feel rejuvenated, in a way
I suppose I could find a real job
Yeah, perhaps another day

Lemme puff on this nice fat LaFaraona Mareva cigar
Platanos? No gracias

Hey, Senorita
Just one more margarita
With an extra shot o’ tequila
Until I hit the wall

So, now I’m smokin’ Tabenero Bocados
In the shade con mis nuevos aceres
Spending my time where she won’t find me
Y’know I gotta lay low, but I don’t mind
Still playin’ poker but only for matchsticks
Perhaps a little broker I have to admit
But at the end of the day in Ybor by the bay
Feliz y borracho – The Big Guava Ballet

Hey, Senorita
Let’s have another round o’ tequila
Maybe one more hit o’ that Colorado reefer
Then bury me where I fall

All the birds – in the trees
Sing their song – and the bees
Do their thing – they don’t know
That you’re gone – that you’re gone
All the birds – in the trees
Sing their song – they don’t know

In the morning – when I wake up
A day that I spend without you
When the sun sets – and the night falls
Alone in this house without you
Nothing I do – no place I go to
Erases the gloom of these blues
The songs that I hear
And the people I see
Remind me that you’re nowhere near
You’ve gone away

Check my phone – got a text – is it you?
Should’a known – could’a guessed – nothing new
When you’d call I’m elated
Like when we were dating
But darling it’s over to soon
On my own – what comes next?
I’m alone – I hear steps – is it you?

All the birds – in the trees
Sing their song – and the bees
Do their thing – they don’t know
That you’re gone – that you’re gone
All the birds – in the trees
Sing their song – they don’t know

Empty moments – my life without you
Time lost as the days slip away
Waiting for you – to come home, dear
To love me don’t leave me this way
You said that we’d be as one endlessly
But my heart aches as I sit all alone
So I bide here – my melancholy
While you’re gone

All the birds – in the trees
Sing their song – and the bees
Do their thing – they don’t know
That you’re gone – that you’re gone . . .

i’ve heard so many people’s stories of their lives
sat around the table now an’ then
my own adventures take me past the world i knew
like a dream keeps dancin’ in my head
on the road again
i’m my own forgotten friend
i’m alone again
can’t explain and can’t pretend
when i’m alone
on the road again

my new found buddies always have a tale to tell
about the folks they left behind
well i left a soul or two my own along the way
how do i say good-bye to them
i’m on the road again
can’t say how it all began
i’m alone again
don’t know when it’s all gonna end
but i’m alone
on the road again

so many places i have been – so many faces i have seen
of all the names that i have known – i can’t recall them all
i have my ticket to the world – and i’ve travelled far and wide
my home is where i find myself – I guess my conscience is my guide
when i’m on the road
don’t know where it all began
i’m alone
on the road again

i look at strangers like my family
they be treatin’ me like someone that they know
i enter places that are new to me
but i always seem to know which way to go
on the road again
just as long as i keep movin’
on the road again
no designs, no delusions
i’m alone again
on the road again

i’ve heard so many people’s stories of their lives
sat around the table now an’ then
an’ i left a girl or two my own along the way
found time to say good-bye to them
on the road again
i’m my own forgotten friend
i’m alone again
can’t explain and can’t pretend
on the road again
i’m alone again

The days are getting warmer, yet
those broken songs won’t play, but with
curling season cashing in
help is on the way
We fared well throughout the fever
full o’ love till the canary died
no oxygen left in that room, but
heaven knows we tried
You’re gonna have to trust me
things will be okay
you’re gonna have to trust me
you’re gonna have to trust me

We both know I’m not a prophet
my inspiration’s not divine
I take wisdom where I find it
but I’ve received, I think, a sign
And yes, that winter war was tough
it caused damage, it left scars
those rough and tumble last few days
those guilty words of ours
But you’re gonna have to trust me
‘cause our love is meant to be
you’re gonna have to trust me
you’re gonna have to trust me

So don’t say good-bye, don’t fare me well
don’t close our crippled, tattered book
ours is a romance for the ages
with just some dreadfully bad luck
And as the flowers in the garden bloom
and when the flocks of birds return
we’ll look back on what we’d brought about
and the lessons that we’ve learned
but, darlin’, until then
You’re gonna have to trust me
our scars were fairly earned
you’re gonna have to trust me
you’re gonna have to trust me

You’re gonna have to trust me
things will be okay
you’re gonna have to trust me
you’re gonna have to trust me

The courting game has gone high tech
(You can) check the rules before you play the game
The train wrecks of yesterday don’t happen quite so often
But a word of caution – your old M.O. will likely be the same

Hughie, he was hittin’ on the waitress
(His sister) Mel, well, she was nodding her okay
I was thinkin’ maybe sparks would fly for breakfast
But not today – our waitress has a wife

Take – me – home – I’m dreamin’ darlin’
Tell me why those pretty eyes are just so bright an’ blue
Take me home, it’s just a date
But I think I’m in love with you

O k cupid and match.com, the list goes on and on
Eharmony, A. Madison, perhaps romantic action
Christians, farmers, gay or straight, it’s easy an it’s safe
Just horny guys and horny gals – no alcohol, no free for all

Sophie, she was sittin’ on a bar stool
Lookin’ like she’d won the beauty prize
Lester, he was actin’ like an ol’ hand tool
An’ you could see it in his eyes – Lester, get a life

Take – me – home – I’m dreamin’ darlin’
Tell me why those deep green eyes just seem to see right through
Take me home, it’s just a date
But I think I’m in love with you

Serious to frivolous, life-long love or merely curious
Investigate, communicate and circulate your bio
Please be cautious with your new found friends
But don’t keep your privates fallow

If you’re lookin’ for a nooner, maybe It’s Just Lunch is it
There’s a bunch o’ funky hook-up sites to visit
Get a date, have some fun, be a lunatic – or be the one
You always wanted to impersonate

Take – me – home – I’m dreamin’ darlin’
Tell me why those blue-grey eyes have such steely hue
Take me home, I know it’s just a date
But I think that I’m in love with you

I wanted her beauty – was longing her passion
her fashion – her irrational intrigue and savvy
as cold as any – assassin you’ve heard of
as wanton as only – a player would know
I asked her to join me – for light conversation
with slight hesitation – she coyly agreed
and everything after – from then and forever
was altered completely – till hell freezes over
a blur wrapped in hunger – and outrageous excess
an eternal detour – from all I’d prepared for
(now) the chains on my soul – keep me tethered immortal
my chortle remorseless – I got what I’d asked for

Enticed by her seductive gifts
and taunted with bewitching kisses
fixated on the ecstasy
my soul descends into a sweet, unending deep abyss
Slow broiled within my own damn rapture
burned by way of rhapsody
ignited by the joy and frenzy
surrendering into the depth, a flame I can’t resist

Every moment we spend – every minute a pleasure
whatever, whenever – wherever, together
the past becomes present – the present the future
the dead become living – the living the dead
now the chains on my soul – keep me tethered immortal
I got what I asked for – was the last thing Satan said

Enticed by her seductive gifts
and taunted with bewitching kisses
fixated on the ecstacy
my soul descends into a sweet, unending deep abyss
Slow broiled within my own damn rapture
burned by way of rhapsody
ignited by the joy and frenzy
surrendering into the depth, a flame I can’t resist

Now the past becomes present – the present the future
the dead become living – the living the dead
the chains on my soul – keep me tethered immortal
I got what I asked for – was the last thing . . . Satan said

Everybody talks
Some are whisp’rin’
Everybody talks
I ain’t list’nin’
Everybody talks
Things get turned around
Everybody talks
Now ev’rything’s upside down

I’ve been walkin’ through these streets
Thinkin’
Everybody talks!
Every day I’m sinkin’
Down, down, down
An’ I don’t wanna go no further down
(So I’m) gone, gone, gone
I’m gonna get out while I can
I’m movin’ on

Yes, I’ve been told you’ve been
Lyin’
You’ve been sellin’
I’ve been buyin’
Now I’m hangin’ out – at the edge of the earth
Hey, Babe, for what it’s worth
I’m gettin’ tired o’ spinnin’ ‘round
I’m gonna get out while I can
I’m movin’ on

Well, the time we had was quite the
Pleasure
But everybody talks!
When we’re together
(So I’m) gone, gone, gone
Ain’t no need to drag it on
Don’t wanna fool around
I’m gonna get out while I can
I’m movin’ on

Everybody talks
Some are whisp’rin’
Everybody talks
I ain’t list’nin’
Everybody talks
Things get turned around
Everybody talks
Everything is upside down

I am the mountains – I am the trees
I am whatever you want     (me to be)
I am the river that flows to the sea
I am the clouds being tossed in the breeze
I am the spirit of three hundred men
I am resurgence, again and again
I am the living – I am the dead
I am the minstrel spinning yarns in your head

Enjoy your time with me
In both gladness and distress
Take a deep, deep breath
I’m your confidence

I am your promise – I’m your guarantee
I am the gift of a skeleton key
I am your answer – your ideal cup o’ tea
Yes, I am whatever you want     (me to be)
I am the stillness all moonlit and starry
I am the tempest with lightning and fury
I am the respite for bones when you’re weary
I am the ocean waves, their splendor, their glory

I am the mountains – I am the trees
I am the river that flows to the sea
I am the clouds being tossed in the breeze
I am whatever you want     (me to be)

You can cry in your beer
you can howl in the wind
you can cast away all your close friends
or sing old sad songs over
and over again
but your broken heart might never mend
find yourself a wishing well
toss in a coin
visit the gypsies outside of town
wander the mountains
alone and forlorn
but your heart will play games of its own

 Disconsolation, that cacophony of misery
     is messing with your mind
     your isolation, unnatural, irrational
     you gotta leave that mess behind

You don’t have to be heroic
you don’t need to be so fine
you don’t even need your ducks in row
there will always be another
somewhere down the road
and, my friend, that’s all you really need to know
there’s a hundred righteous reasons
for feeling like a fool
guilt-ridden, empty cover-ups for shame
you’ve been dumped and disregarded
and maybe treated harshly
it happens – ain’t no one to blame

 Disconsolation, that cacophony of misery
     It’s a tragedy, fabricated by your broken heart
          proclaiming its displeasure
     your isolation, so damnably irrational
     ain’t nothin’ in this world lasts forever

You can cry in your beer
you can howl in the wind
you can cast away all your close friends
or sing old sad songs over
and over again
but your broken heart might never mend

I’ve been depressed, an’ oppressed, repressed an’ obsessed
I’ve regressed, an’ transgressed – I can’t make no progress
I’ve been second-guessed an’ second best
Always put to the test
I feel undressed and over stressed – I think I need some bedrest

I’ve been criticized, an’ analyzed, an’ scrutinized by pernicious eyes
I’ve prophesized, philosophized – I’ve even had to compromise
I’ve been stigmatized, demonized and they tried to cut me down to size
But I’ve realized, to my surprise, that exercise can draw flies
I need to go somewhere and sanitize

Pray for me, good-hearted soul
I’m not too keen on being trolled
Troubles I’ve seen, mistakes’ been made
Gotta save my tail if it’s not too late

Y’see, I’m outdated an’ mismated, kinda jaded and frustrated
I’ve been court mandated then berated, love-hated an’ liberated
I’m fated to be prorated
I guess I just wanna be traded
I’m always under-rated, sedated or inebriated

I’ve been rejected, dejected, dissected an’ I’m disconnected
Triple-sec-ed, blown to heck an’ feelin’ unprotected
I’m constantly corrected, as expected, perhaps just misdirected
I’m prime suspected or else neglected – I’m lookin’ to be resurrected
Please, feel free to interject . . .

Pray for me, good-hearted soul
I’m not too keen on gettin’ trolled
Troubles are many, mistakes aplenty
Savin’ my ass it’s my modus vivendi

I’ve been depressed and oppressed, obsessed an’ all the rest
I’ve been chastized an’ stigmatized
I wanna be traded ‘cause I’m unappreciated
An’ I’m disconnected, I feel neglected

Pray for me, good-hearted soul
I’m not too keen on gettin’ trolled
Troubles I’ve seen, mistakes are many
Savin’ my ass is my modus vivendi

You’d been gone a long weekend when suddenly it clicked
I knew that something wasn’t right
In the back of the closet I came across a broomstick
After you got home on Monday night
I knew that you’d been witchin’ ‘round again

Ain’t nobody safe in this whole damn town
When my girl grabs her shilelagh
And she whacks that bad boy down
Ain’t nobody safe in this whole damn town
When my girl an’ her babes
Go witchin’ ‘round

You told me that you had been reformed
An’ your cover stories seemed so sincere
You said those witchin’ ways had been transformed
But things were not how they appeared
‘Cause you’ve been witchin’ ‘round again

Ain’t nobody safe in this whole damn town
When my girl grabs her shilelagh
And she whacks that bad boy down
There ain’t nobody safe in this whole damn town
When my girl an’ her babes
Go witchin’ ‘round

I’d like to think you’re crazy but I know that isn’t so
There’s wildness in your eyes, but I can tell
Your soul is lined with silver and your heart is made of gold
But if you keep on I’m sure you’re goin’ to hell
‘Cause you’ve been witchin’ ‘round again

Ain’t nobody safe in this whole damn town
When my girl grabs her shilelagh
And she whacks that bad boy down
Ain’t nobody safe in this whole damn town
When my girl an’ her babes
Go witchin’ ‘round

All the people I know try to run my life
Everybody’s giving me their advice
They wanna tell me what I’m doing wrong
They wanna sing for me their ol’ sad songs
An’ I appreciate the thought, but not so fast
Thanks a lot for your concern, but I think I’ll pass

Sometimes, I feel like a target, like I’m prey, of sorts
Why do people wanna get into my shorts
I thought by now I’d have paid my dues
I’m like a stowaway on a ship of fools
I appreciate the thought, but not so fast
Thanks a lot for your concern, but I think I’ll pass

People think that I don’t have a clue
My life’s such a hot mess, “well, pardon you”
I do, what I do, because I do

I don’t mind being analyzed
Helped along, or even criticized
But y’know friendships can get fairly well mistreated
And your guidance isn’t really needed
An’ I absolutely thank you for your concern, however, since you asked
I appreciate the thought, but I think I’ll pass

People seem to think that I don’t have a clue
My life’s such a hot mess, “well, pardon, you”
I do, what I do, because I do

An’ anybody can tell that I don’t have a clue
My life’s such a hot mess, that may be true
But I do, what I do, because I do

(And I’ll do what I do because I do)

I saw you last night
I tried not to notice
tried not to stare
You were alone
Were you looking for someone?
Why were you there?

I saw you last night
All our memories came back to me
All the passion once forgotten

From a step-up stage
In a run-down downtown cabaret
I saw you last night

The night was slow
The lights were low
Perhaps, you stopped to say, “hello”
I saw you last night

I saw you last night
I tried not to notice
tried not to stare
I saw you were alone
Were you looking for someone?
Why were you there?

You were just as I remember
Though our passion now forgotten

The night was slow
The lights were low
Perhaps you stopped to say, ‘hello”
I saw you last night

Through a smoky haze
From a step-up stage
In a run-down downtown cabaret
I saw you last night
And then you were gone