There's a terror one enjoys when words get up and flee
It always makes you put the brakes on momentarily
Everything suspends, nothing dares to breathe
Everything's at stake, you could end up on your knees
And then sometimes they come two in a row; just ideas with nowhere to go...
Concepts of the Gods (Out of the blue)
Concepts of the Gods (Coming at you)
Concepts of the Gods (Out of the blue)
And then again the Gods take what they need
They cut you open and then they leave you to bleed
As spontaneous as anything a thought occurred to me
But I knew it would be gone before I counted three
Don't know why I write this shit down...it'll only get lost in the sound of...
Concepts of the Gods (Out of the blue)
Concepts of the Gods (Coming at you)
Concepts of the Gods (Out of the blue)
Right now it's sitting in front of my eyes; But there's no name that will apply
All I can say is that by and by; You'll see it through my eyes
Once I thought I saw it and for a moment it was real clear
Only for a moment and for that moment I was so near
There's something about it that never goes away
I know for my whole life it's bugged me everyday
No one told me it goes so fast, but then again I never asked about the...
Concepts of the Gods (Out of the blue)
Concepts of the Gods (Coming at you)
Concepts of the Gods (Out of the blue)
THE COOLEST THING
Can't tell half the time what you're talking about; discussion as chaos, I
can't figure it out
But it's the coolest thing...coolest thing
It's all in the eyes as you get older; you don't play it the same, it's
like you're more of a soldier
But it's the coolest thing...coolest thing
When something looks good you analyze the attraction; you bend over
backwards for a piece of the action
But it's the coolest thing...coolest thing
HEALER
Wounds cauterized by time - you always lose a little blood
Talking in whispers, thinking in screams
You can plant a hundred gardens - there'll always be weeds
Talking in whispers, thinking in screams
Now I think I know you, and how much I really owe you...
Talking in whispers, thinking in screams
IF I + YOU + STUFF
If I were you and you were me, would you be as timid in the face of destiny?
If I were you and you were me
If I were you and you were me, do you think you could laugh in the same
degree?
If I were you and you were me
Half the time things don't mean nothing
If I were you and you were me, would be as timid in the face of
destiny?
If I were you and you were me
1/22/96
THE LONGEST SONG IN THE UNIVERSE
Let's talk about it; there's got to be a way. We could re-route it; we could
do it today
You say it so much, I know it by heart
The balance doesn't add up, it's long overdue
It's the longest shift on the longest day, it's the longest jam on the longest
highway
Let's talk about it; there's got to be a way. We could re-route it; we could
do it today
Blistered up, filling up someone else's shoes
Tally up your input; walk away annoyed
It's the longest skidmark from the longest car; it's the longest minute, it's
the longest yard
it's the longest song in the universe...
MAGIC POWERS
(03/16/95)
It isn't voodoo or anything like that; Even the wiccan don't know where it's
at
The power to kill the power to heal; The manipulation's real
Can't see much now that she's got my eyes
She's the destroyer of the naive; It's always time for her to
leave
repeat the entire thing
PICKLED EGG
While I was waiting, things were looking up;
While I was waiting, I had some great ideas
So why couldn't you show up while I was waiting?
While I was waiting I played some silly games
While I was waiting, I blocked out all the noise
So why couldn't you show up while I was waiting?
Well, out there is a silly past even I'll admit just couldn't last
While I was waiting was a kingdom where only I ruled
So why couldn't you show up while I was waiting?
I finally got a handle, I knew what it was all about
But when you walked in, my resolve ran out (3x)
SQUARE ONE
I don't remember this hill being so easy to climb; the funeral's over, my
ass is no longer on the line
So I went looking for answers, fretting half of the time
Things look more familiar everyday... all the answers seem to be a few more miles away
Baptisms of fire nearly burned us all out, there were times when I
didn't think any of us would survive the drought
But it occurred to me once that I was there the whole time; my name was
always on the list, at least it looks just like mine
Things look more familiar everyday... all the answers seem to be a few more miles away
Out of kindness they take the time to compare you to Mount
Everest, they say the view from up there would leave anyone breathless
Things look more familiar everyday... all the answers seem to be a few more miles away
If no one cares about the words, they just hang in the air
They always try to retrieve them when it's too late to care...
TOO LATE
(01/16/95)
I was throwing out old pages of verse wasted on;
But it's too late to say it, I think it's too late to say it
I had it sorted out, it seems like years ago;
But it's too late to say it, I think it's too late to say it
They weren't kidding, it wasn't easy!
Is it too late to say it? Is it too late to say it?
11 March, 1996
WEIRD BEAUTY
I was on the top deck leaning way over the rail
They say it's crowded on the bottom and it's lonely at the top
There's weird beauty in the jaded, weird beauty in the green
Since you're back where you started
All my magic notions didn't get me through the door
So I stayed in the gauntlet...I ran North and South
I found it in the questions somewhere, somehow, and some way
Since you're back where you started
WHAT'S GOT INTO LU?
Lu's in her cups, everybody Lu's in her cups
And then a voice bounced off the wall from the back of the room
Lu's in her cups, and now she's got the hiccups
And then a voice bounced off the wall from the back of the room
Lu's in her cups, everybody Lu's in her cups
"What's the holdup? I wanna go to the moon!!"
WHATEVER IS ALRIGHT
You know sometimes your brain needs food, but sometimes you're not in the
mood
Whatever is alright - the world is sitting right out there
Days and weeks and months and years have come and gone but we're still
here
Whatever is alright - the world is sitting right out there
ZOE
Vancouver became a great place to die
Maybe she didn't have her contacts in when she passed the road signs
Now it seems to me undiminishing love is what you sought
In a fit of decision she went back over the mountains where she used to have a
home
But like everything else though, she made it through alive
Now it seems to me undiminishing love is what you sought
Back to Mike McDonald Band home page
All lyrics copyright 1996 by Mike McDonald. Reproduced by permission.
Your continuity travels from East to West, and you don't change the topic, you
just switch the context
You cover the moon with the Earth's shadow; rice paper to steel, silence to
bravado
Maybe deft, somewhat true, but in spite of it all it's like you're back on
third base juggling a baseball
Everybody knows it when you do it
You're the coolest thing...coolest thing
Everybody knows it and they do it...it's the coolest thing
Your journey just takes you right back to the start - another audition for
another part
The fourth or fifth time around, you're getting real good; You don't think you
can change it, don't know if you would
Now you've got an angle, you're set in your ways thanking God you've completed
your good old days
Everybody knows it when you do it
You're the coolest thing...coolest thing
Everybody knows it and they do it...it's the coolest thing
You spent half of your life collecting them all, now in your heart you can
hang another print on the wall
And on top of the mountain it's really clear, it's the spot on the map
saying "You are here"
And the wind is your voice and the path is all paved as if Christ Himself
showed up saying "Baby, you are saved!"
Everybody knows it when you do it
You're the coolest thing...coolest thing
Everybody knows it and they do it...it's the coolest thing
We're all wearing Mae Wests, we're all expecting a flood
When they told you the knife in your back came from your own hand
You thought you'd never ever be able to understand
Now anguish knows what came from and out of you
Blessed are the meek - they give us something to do
Sometimes things are pretty much exactly as they seem
Still you helped me stand up and now I can address it all...
I got a brand new dealer...She's a healer
If you can't learn to live among them you'll never be free
You always knew there were better things than being part of the spoils
But the only thing that ever really mattered at all was the soil
Now everything's known, we know everything's worth
We've coped with death, but we made it to birth
Sometimes things are pretty much exactly as they seem
Still you helped me stand up and now I can address it all...
I got a brand new dealer...She's a healer
Those who would control you aren't around...
I can't hear their sounds...I think they're drowned out...
Sometimes things are pretty much exactly as they seem
Still you helped me stand up and now I can address it all...
I got a brand new dealer...She's a healer
The big issues are still around; not even the Ancients could get it down
If I were you and you were me, would you be plagued with bouts of hypocrisy?
Meaning half of half the things I say, half of every Goddamned day
We are all just circus clowns juggling at anyone happening to be around
If I were you and you were me, would we seek the same lap of luxury?
You sweep up the garbage I call art as I'm pulling things out of your grocery
cart
The rest of the time seems to mean something
It probably don't matter but to me it's true...
I don't want you to do anything that I wouldn't do
The big issues are still around, not even the ancients could get it down
If I were you and you were me, would we seek the same lap of luxury?
You sweep up the garbage I call art as I'm pulling things out of your grocery
cart
My hands are yours, please use them...I want to help - don't refuse
them
But on the other side of the coin...
Don't you think maybe you got lost in the part?
It's a logical progression from bad to worse
And it's the longest song in the universe
Looks like maybe you didn't think it all through
I don't think I could ever soothe all of your hurts
Cuz it's the longest song in the universe
The longest misery, the longest curse...it's the longest song in the universe
My hands are yours, please use them...I want to help - don't refuse
them
But on the other side of the coin...
You don't know where to walk, I guess you haven't read the news
They're selling your story - it's on every T-shirt
It's in the longest song in the universe
They only pay attention when you're feeling paranoid
It seems they left your feelings all alone at the church
Oh, it's the longest song in the universe
The longest cannon with the longest burst...it's the longest song in the
universe
It's always the witching hour; She's got magic powers
A different kind of flower ; She's got magic powers
Stopped me dead but it's keeping me alive
Always looking down from her tower; She's got magic powers
Found a thousand answers in my coffee cup;
Priorities in order, everything was crystal clear
At least they were while I was waiting for you to get here...
Fluid, and simple, smooth surfaced, just like a mirror
I could finally relax in terms of the feelings I had
While I was waiting things didn't seem so bad
So why couldn't you show up while I was waiting?
I finally got a handle, I knew what it was all about
But when you walked in, my resolve ran out
Changing the dialogue and distributing blame
I conquered the obstacles deftly, things went my way
While I was waiting, I knew just what to say
Of evil jukeboxes and men hanging around with the boys
Pool hall philosophy, pitchers and pickled eggs
While I was waiting I pulled myself out of the dregs
So why couldn't you show up while I was waiting?
I finally got a handle, I knew what it was all about
But when you walked in, my resolve ran out
So, odds or evens, toss a dime, I thought I'd try just one more time...
And everything I said or did was regarded as cool
So how is it now I appear before you in this way?
I look at my watch, by now my cool is miles away
So why couldn't you show up while I was waiting?
I'm propped up by nothing; go ahead and cut my strings...
That's how I looked ignorant in the eyes of the blind; they were still looking
for potential when I left them behind
Frankly I must say, back then I believed those things
I found half of the questions put me half out of my mind
Later on they told me it was the best time to hear me sing
Statistics say the mountain can rarely be climbed assuming attaining the summit
is the bottom line
Send a postcard when you get there and I'll tell you if you missed anything
It all seems so huge to me, but just like anyone
I've been worrying myself back top square one
We packed everything we had...souls, lives, and limbs
You get to traveling loosely and rolling before the punches; they don't pick
you off one at a time...they waste you in bunches
And if you live through it you sit in your room and write a few hymns
You got to stand there forever holding the same place in line; it's all
instinct and feel, you can't see it with the naked eye
There's a matter at hand, and this is where you fit in
It drives you so backwards you're looking at pictures of babies, you stop
attacking the bitches and start paying homage to ladies
You end up in a place you've no idea how you got in
I stared at it all my life's hours, and just this minute noticed it
It's like uncovering the secret to a lost civilization, or finding the crucial
variable to solve the equation
And then there it is, as if you always had it
A microscopic reality rendered absurd, suddenly things got real big in my
little world
Later on they told me that's when they thought I would quit
The rules are real simple but they're harder to follow; don't fill up with
maybes you'll just walk away hollow
Do anything to get in, that's what you get out of it
It all seems so huge to me, but just like anyone
I've been worrying myself back top square one
But have you seen the face of anyone who made it back down?
So lately I make camp and watch the procession struggle on, listening to all of
them resisting their bonds
That many all at once...imagine how that sounds!
You're in and out of decision, it never makes sense...you've spent too many
days thinking, just sitting on the fence
Bowed by nothing more than the reason that you're in pain
You've read all the pertinent biographies, and you know all the theory, but
your melody's still limp and your poetry's always been dreary
But you come pretty close, so close to be a shame...
It all seems so huge to me, but just like anyone
I've been worrying myself back top square one
Forgotten things, those phone
numbers are all long gone
And as I stoically purged the physical heartache;
I realized I still owed a
couple hours of laying awake
To redesign my past, do it like everybody else;
go into the other room and read
the books upon the shelf
If we don't know it by now I'd suppose it's too late to say it
I thought I understood,
where did the blinders go?
And then one day the puzzle just seemed to come apart;
It took both of my hands
to hold together my heart
And redesign my past, do it like everybody else;
Go into the other room and
read the books upon the shelf
If we don't know it by now I'd suppose it's too late to say it
Almost wore me down...it was real
hard
Will it take tears? Or some great admission?
It is my fears, and it already has
my submission
So I looked back on my past, did it like everybody else,
I went in the other
room and read the books upon the shelf
Because we see it right now maybe it ain't too late to say it
It ain't too late to say it
It's not too late...
The water raged below me like an innocent man in jail
It just depends on when you get to that four way stop
Go back and forth long enough - you'll know what I mean...
Why don't you start from there?
You're not the dearly departed
I don't know why you care.
Since you're back where you started
Why don't you start from there?
Cuz all the things I had to say, they'd heard it all before
Wondering who was really saying what was coming out of my mouth
I believe now that it was me the whole time, the whole way
Why don't you start from there?
You're not the dearly departed
I don't know why you care.
Since you're back where you started
Why don't you start from there?
Well the news got here last week and somehow it shook some of us up
Heard from the resistance; yes, he's still around
And the old garde seem to have lost their penchant for the profound
The survivors equipped themselves a long, long time ago
And the ones that don't care just let all the air out real slow
"Enough Bob Dylan, play one of your own tunes!!"
What's got into Lu?
Somebody else we know died, but nobody was sure and then the guy showed up
Who was it then? I only think I know
Oh well, business as usual... especially for all of the John Does'
And now we don't know where to place our sorrow
So it ends over here with the money that we borrowed
"Get out of my way, I wanna play the spoons!!"
What's got into Lu?
There was a blast from the past that blew each and everybody's skirt up
The argument was clearly won a while ago
But the victor waits for a crowd before the final blow
And the loser is the only one looking dignified
Because only losers get to look dignity eye to eye
And then a voice bounced off the wall from the back of the room
What's got into Lu?
But you're my gal and we can watch what you want to tonight
It's hard to draw a line between living with you or living in a dream
But you're my gal and whenever, whatever is alright
Whatever is alright - tomorrow it'll still be there
Whatever is alright...
But you're my gal and where the hell else would you think I'd be?
The end is not the issue here, and the start was consumed by all those
years
But you're my gal and whenever whatever is alright
Whatever is alright - tomorrow it'll still be there
Whatever is alright...
Were they pilgrims or were they lemmings? Now it's for the families to wonder
why
There's a girl I know who had big plans for all the time she was wasting
I was so afraid that one day I'd find her dead somewhere on Hastings
Went left instead of right or something, replaced her old junk with something
more refined
More refined, clandestine, less inclined towards any pursuit
Except the one, and she really followed suit
Now it seems to me undiminishing love is what you got
Zoe-I think you got here just in time
Like she'd done a thousand times except for now she's not alone
Something else stirred her insides now, and drove her in these directions
The irony of the vulnerable offering protection
That's right, and as usual, life's a bitch if you are to survive
And stacked up against nothing, sometimes it's the best that we can do
But don't worry Zoe, a lot of the good things start with you
Now it seems to me undiminishing love is what you got
Zoe-I think you got here just in time