Someone Else’s Clothes

I started smiling.
It’s not my style,
But it’s been highly recommended that I smile,
So I’ve been grinning
And, sad to say,
I think I like it.

I got a haircut.
I guess it’s “cool.”
I’m doing lots of volunteer work for my shul.
I’ve started jogging,
I bought some plants,
And it’s fantastic.

I’m wearing someone else’s clothes
And looking better.
I’m wearing someone else’s clothes
And feeling fine.

(I had an angry hat, but I took it off.
I had a mopey coat, but I took it off.
I had nasty pants, but I took ‘em off.)

I paint my bathroom
In eggshell blue.
I’m doing lots of home improvement since I fell in love with you.
I write down birthdays,
I offer drinks,
I proffer compliments!

I’m wearing someone else’s clothes
And looking better.
I’m wearing someone else’s clothes
And feeling fine.
I’m eating someone else’s lunch
And it’s delicious.
I’m wishing someone else’s dreams,
And it’s a sign!

(I had an angry hat, but I took it off.)

You said I don’t have to be
The King of Idiosyncrasy,
The grand pariah of the Upper West.
You said I don’t have to al-
Ways bash my head against ev’ry wall,
So I’ll just do whatever you suggest.
Any fool could be a bland infatuated sellout.
Baby, I think you are gonna be impressed –
Say I have to kiss you,
Say I have to love you,
Say I have to marry you,
And I can guarantee you I will figure out the rest.

I’m wearing someone else’s clothes
And looking better.
I’m wearing someone else’s clothes
And feeling fine.
I married someone else’s wife,
And I’m ecstatic!
I’m living someone else’s life,
So here, take mine!

You got an angry hat? Take it off.
You got a moody suit? Take it off.
You got a sulky sweater? Take it off.
And put on them smiley slippers.

You got a mopey coat? Take it off.
You got grouchy trousers? Take ‘em off.
You got negative knickers? Take ‘em off,
And get yourself some happy spats!

You got nasty pants? Take ‘em off!
You got sorry socks? Take ‘em off!
You got lonely loafers? Take ‘em off,
And dig the satisfied beanie!

You got jaded jeans? Take ‘em off!
You got foul flannel? Take it off!
You got burned-out boxers? Take ‘em off,
And put on the boots of joy!

You got bitter buttons? Take ‘em off!
Sarcastic glasses? Take ‘em off!
And that cranky hankie! Take it off!
And get hip to the laughing dickey!

‍

Long Long Road

Hey now –
I see you got your bags all packed
And your ticket’s in your hand.
Hey now –
Look who kept her hope intact
Waitin’ in the wings for her trip to the Promised Land.
And oh, I guess you and I
Know all about new worlds,
And how you’re never quite prepared,
But you – well, you got a long, long road you’re travellin’ –
Gonna take you far far far away.
Hey, say you got a long long road you’re travellin’,
So just follow that track,
Send a postcard back
And you’ll be okay.

Hey now –
Guess you thought it out all right,
How to make your life complete.
Hey now –
Guess you found your shining knight.
Funny all the things you can get on Lafayette Street,
And oh, it just proves what I
Say about new worlds,
And how it ain’t worth bein’ scared,
‘Cause you – well, you got a long long road you’re travellin’ –
Gonna take you far far far away.
Hey, say you got a long long road you’re travellin’,
And if you feel unsure,
Well, I been there before,
And you’ll be okay.

Climbin’ over ev’ry mountain,
Glidin’ over ev’ry sea.
Op’nin’ ev’ry door,
But never really sure
Exactly where the traps might be.
Sleepin’ under scarlet sunsets,
Or flyin’ at the highest speed –
Ready now or not,
All the love you’ve got
Is all the love you’re gonna need!

‘Cause oh, well you got a long long road you’re travellin’ –
Gonna take you far far far away.
Hey, say you got a long long road you’re travellin’ –
But just start right now,
Don’t worry no more.
Check the starboard bow –
Push away from the shore,
And though the river’s wide,
You gotta take that ride!
With someone by your side,
You’re gonna be okay.

‍

Someone To Fall Back On

I’ll never be
A knight in armor
With a sword in hand,
Or a kamikaze fighter;
Don’t count on me
To storm the barricades
And take a stand,
Or hold my ground;
You’ll never see
Any scars or wounds –
I don’t walk on coals,
I won’t walk on water:
I am no prince,
I am no saint,
I am not anyone’s wildest dream,
But I can stand behind
And be someone to fall back on.

Some comedy –
You’re bruised and beaten down
And I’m the one
Who’s looking for a favor.
Still, honestly,
You don’t believe me
But the things I have
Are the things you need.
You look at me
Like I don’t make sense,
Like a waste of time,
Like it serves no purpose –
I am no prince,
I am no saint,
And if that’s what you believe you need,
You’re wrong – you don’t need much,
You need someone to fall back on…

And I’ll be that:
I’ll take your side.
If I’m the only one,
I’m used to that.
I’ve been alone,
I’d rather be
The half of us,
The least of you,
The best of me.
And I will be
Your prince,
I’ll be your saint,
I will go crashing through fences
In your name. I will, I swear –
I’ll be someone to fall back on!
I’ll be the one who waits,
And for as long as you’ll let me,
I will be the one you need.
I’ll be someone to fall back on:
Your prince,
Your saint,
The one you believe you need
I’ll be – I’ll be
Someone to fall back on.

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Getting Out

‍

Marco plays piano

Marco's twenty-one

Marco is a former junkie

And a Danish actor's son

Marco dates a model

Marco's very tall

Marco got a deal with Sony

And a gig at Carnegie Hall

And I'm getting out

I can tell when the walls are just too high to climb

I'm getting out

I could work it, but I'd just be wasting time

Just look away

He may never be Cole Porter

But he knows a bunch of words that sorta rhyme

You could be blessed with perfect pitch

You could be pretty, you could be rich

You could get burned and you could just bitch

But I am getting out

Marco does a concert

Lines around the block

Girls are there with their midriffs bare

And the boys in a state of shock

They sell t-shirts and posters

And autographed coasters

They're raking in the bucks

With everyone so happy

Why complain that the music sucks?

I'm getting out

Leave a little room, I'll take my final bow

'Cause I'm getting out

It's too late to find a plastic surgeon now

I just walk away

After all, if fame is fleeting

I'm too old to be competing anyhow

You might have traded your guts for gold

You might be missing the soul you sold

You might wanna die before you get old

But I am getting out

It's nice to be in Naples

It's nice to be at peace

I've really had a lovely trip

But I'm ripping up my lease

And I'm getting out!

I have never been so bored out of my mind!

I'm getting out!

I'm escaping from this Hell that I've designed!

I just walked away

But I guess I've gotten tougher

'Cause I'm goin' back to suffer with my kind

Maybe you think I haven't grown

Maybe it's what you've always known

But if I can't whine and piss and moan

Then I am getting out!

I'm getting out!

I'm getting out!

I'm getting out!

I'm getting out!

‍

Over

Way down there is a little brown square
Where I served since the 10th of December.
Down below are some people I know
That I’m now fighting hard to remember.
I can’t see any grass, any tree,
Any girls getting tanned in the sand I’m flying over.

Take that route where the pavement runs out,
There’s the door to the truck I was driving.
Past that hill, there’s another truck filled
With the guys who are stuck with surviving.
Take that turn, you can see it still burn –
You could choke from the smoke in the wind I’m flying over.

I’m flying over, over and over.
I’m flying over, over and over.
I’m flying over, over and over,
Back to you.

Hey there, Jane, half-asleep on the train –
There’s no way to explain that I’m sorry.
Knock on wood, the insurance is good,
You can fin’lly afford that Ferrari.
We both know how I wanted to go,
But I dreamed ev’ry day of the streets I’m flying over.

Down there, Jane, once I get off the plane,
Just relax when you sign the releases.
Don’t be scared – I’ve been cleaned and prepared;
You won’t see how my head was in pieces.
Just stay calm and take care of my Mom,
And make sure you salute that flag that’s flying over.

I’m flying over, over and over.
I’m flying over, over and over.
I’m flying over, over and over,
Back to you.

Keep crying, Jane, ‘til somebody hears you.
Keep crying, Jane, ‘til somebody hears you.
Keep crying, Jane, keep crying.
Keep crying…

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Music of Heaven

I come with my armor in place,

Emotions in check,

And thinking I’m smarter,

Or just more realistic.

I sit with my frozen smile,

All the while

Reluctant to trust what I’m told.

Cynical, cold,

Challenging music of Heaven

To open a crack in my chest

And let something glorious in.

Music of Heaven

Should puncture me, suddenly

Blessed, blessed, blessed

–Let the music begin.

Let the music begin.

They sing and they cry and I watch,

Lean back in my chair,

The classic New Yorker,

Alone among millions,

Indifference upon my face,

Out of place,

But longing to feel what you feel…Like it was real;

Like there could be music of Heaven

That opened some path to your soul

And let something glorious in.

Music of Heaven

Allows you to give up control …Yes, yes

–Let the music begin.

Let the music begin.

And I sit there with dry eyes

And cold hands

Judging and standing apart.

Dry eyes

And cold hands,

Waiting and wondering

When will it open my heart?

When will it open my heart?

When will I open my heart?

I hear you singI hear you sing

And I want to say,

“Yes!” Yes! Yes!

I hear you singing…Holy Father!

I want to sing Holy Father!

I want to sing Holy Father!

And I want to say Yes!

Say yes!

Say yes!

I need to sing

Holy Father!

I need to cry

I need to believe!

And I can say

Yes! Yes Yes…

I can say yes, yes, yes

I will say

Yes, yes, yes…

Let the music begin.

Let the music begin.

Nothing in Common

There was this kid
A few years back,
A little older than me,
Lived in my house
And looked a lot like my mother.
There was this kid
I knew back then,
And I was sure he would be
The greatest star I’d ever known.

I’d watch him walk into a room
And he was never out of place.
He knew the answer to every question:
The square and cube of every prime,
The name to go with every face,
Like he was king upon a throne.

And we had nothing in common,
Nothing in common:
My mother was convinced
That I failed English out of spite.
We had nothing in common,
Nothing in common,
And thirty-some years later,
I’m still tortured and amazed
By how David always got the answers right.

Now later on,
I knew this guy –
(He was in high school, I think)
Had lots of friends,
And was the pride of the fam’ly.
He’d call me names
Or punch my head
And make me feel like a dink,
And I would hide from him all day.

But if I couldn’t find a friend
(Which happened more than I’d have liked),
I’d go where he was and sulk around him.
He’d say, “You don’t know how to throw,”
And “Just don’t play your stupid songs,”
And then he’d toss the ball my way.

We had nothing in common,
Nothing in common:
I thought he was a jerk
And who knows what he thought I’d be.
We had nothing in common,
Nothing in common,
But twenty-some years later,
I’m still grateful and surprised
By the little gifts that David gave to me.

I knew this guy before I wed –
He had a vision in his head
Of how his life would play out
And his dreams would come true,
But he was stumbling, he was stalled,
And every year, after he called,
I’d just think, “Man, there goes
The loneliest guy I ever knew…”

When people think I’m failing,
They never understand
The temporary setbacks
Are part of what I planned;
And David had his vision,
And David played his game.
We have nothing much in common,
But we are more or less the same.

There was a guy
Who met a girl
Who had a cat
They fell in love
And got a home
And made a vow –
He took her hand
And they lived happily ever after.
Here’s to happily ever after.

‍

I Could Be In Love With Someone Like You

My first crush on an Irish girl,
I was ten years old
And her name was Elaine.
Little red-head girl;
Well, she looked like you,
But if you were ten.
Which you’re clearly not.
Not that you look old,
But you get my…
I’ll just stop now.

Okay, wait, ‘cause I had a point –
No, I swear I did!
Well, I think I did,
Which is all my life
(Or since I was ten)
I have had a yen
For an Irish lass.
Because God knows why,
Like the ancient curse
Of the shiksa queens.

Do I talk too much?

Which is not to say
That I’d want Elaine,
Who turned out to be
(When I last checked in)
A Republican
And a parapsychologist.

If you’ve got a four-leaf clover,
You can make my dreams come true.
I will be your Hebrew slave:
Just do the things that Irish girls do.
Talk about potato famines,
I begin to cry on cue!
Sing about the Emerald Isle and
Get your Irish eyes to smilin’ –
I could be in love with someone like you.

I just left a relationship
With a lovely girl
Named Alyssa Levine.
She was really great,
It was all my fault –
I just got upset
‘Cause she slept with my brother.

So I made a vow
Not to get caught up
In the dating scene
Or the whole routine
With the cousin’s friend
Or the who-knows-what,
Like I need that shit.
I’ve got marks to make,
I’ve got steps to climb,
It’s the perfect time!
I’ve got books to write,
I’ve got things to do –
I go out my door
And bump into you,
And the jig is up,
And my vow is through!
I don’t know what I’m doin’,
But come in and ruin me!

I will write my own “Ulysses”
If you’re there to show me how.
Take me back to Glocca Morra,
Bathe me in the River Shannon now.
If you’ll be Mrs. O’Leary,
Baby, I will be your cow.
I’ll deliver shamrocks daily,
Buy your pa a new shillelagh,
I could be in love with someone like…

You could be my inspiration
And get me past this block,
And walk me through the Great Unknown.
You could be my true salvation,
Unchain me from this rock,
And keep me from being alone,
‘Cause I’m no good at being alone!

Take me to another level!
Let me play in bigger halls!
I will do a Riverdance
As long as you keep answering my calls!
Get me out of my apartment!
Keep me from my empty walls!
Someone hire John McCormack!
Start the Wearing of the Green!
Let me win the Irish Sweepstakes!
Let me take you home, Kathleen!
I can be in love with someone!
I can be in love with someone!
I can be in love with
Someone
Like you!

‍

I’m in Bizness

Answer the phones and open the doors
‘Cause I’m in bizness!
Repaint the walls and polish the floors
‘Cause I’m in bizness now!
Get me a pen, a desk, and a chair
‘Cause I’m in bizness!
Get me an office high in the air
‘Cause I’m in bizness now!
Hung my shingle out the door:
“General Store – Why be sore and wait?
Make your splash and pay in cash
While it’s on sale and before it’s too late!”
We got a spot as hot as a sauna
We’ll get a yacht to trot if you wanna
I’m in bizness and business is gonna be great!

Come fulfill your one desire,
Country squire, let the fire be fanned!
Class or schlock, it’s all in stock,
I got miles of supply and piles of demand!
Something for Major, minor, or modal –
Something to make the mountain goats yodel –
I’m in bizness and business is totally grand!

Check or charge or dollar bill –
Get your fill! Buy until you bow!
Wheels and spiels and super deals:
We go as low as the dough will allow!

Spreadin’ the gospel simple as Simon!
We hit the peak without even climbin’!
Look out below, ‘cause baby, I’m in
Biz-Ness Now!

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Coming Together

Come to the water,

The water will flow.

Stand to the night,

See the light, let it grow.

Hold on, for hard winds

Are starting to blow –Stand up, hold on

And swear you won’t let go.

Whatever I said doesn’t matter,

Whatever you said doesn’t hurt.

Whatever we meant

And whatever we did

Is lost in the water.

Whatever I felt I’ve forgotten,

Whatever I planned I released,

But come take my hand,

Come down to the water,

Come down to the water

Where people are coming together

And people are falling apart.

And no one can hide –We’re caught in the tide

And punched in the heart.

And people are harder than diamonds.

People are stronger than knives.

We breathe and we burn

But we never return

For the rest of our lives,

For the rest of our lives.

(People are coming together.People are coming together.)

Come down to the water,

Come down to the water

Where people are coming together

And people are falling apart.

We’re branded and blind,

And we try to rewind

To reset and restart,

And people are louder than fire

And people are stronger than knives.

We pick up the slack

But we’ll never go back

For the rest of our lives,

For the rest of our lives…

(People are coming together.

People are coming together.)

Come to the water,

The water will flow.

Stand to the night,

See the light, let it grow.

Hold on, for hard winds

Are starting to blow

–Stand up!

Hold on!

Stand up!

Hold on!

Stand up!

Hold on!

Stand up!

People are coming together,

People are coming together,

People are coming together,

All across the water!

Stand up, hold on,

Stand up, hold on,

Stand up, hold on…

And swear you won’t let go.

Grow Old With Me

Grow old with me,
Stay as the days go past.
Grow old with me –
Some things are meant to last.
If you’ll agree,
Heaven might wait –
We could delay
Our expiration date.

Grow old with me,
Teach me the words to sing
When my last spring
Has finally sprung!
Stay for an hour,
Stay for a day,
Stay ‘til we shrink
And get wrinkled and gray!
Grow old with me,
And we’ll stay forever young!

Grow old with me –
Darling, let’s fossilize!
With your blue eyes
And my silver tongue!

Don’t leave me flat –
Don’t leave me cold!
Don’t leave me rusted and crusted with mold,
Grow old with me,
‘Til my final fling is flung!
Grow old with me
And we’ll stay forever young!

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