i once was a frog
now i'm a prince
it all came about
from one little kiss

you never know
what kindness will do
i was a frog
now i'm something new

i once was a frog
unwanted by all
where nobody knows
how lonely the soul

everyone here
in circumstance
all need a chance
to become a prince

so kiss a frog
next chance you get
as you never know
how that will impact

I'm thinking of taking up frog juggling
As a part time gig
I'll have to see how it goes with this tossing of toads
Before I throw myself, full time into it

With this fistful of amphibians
I found down at the local swamp
That are just the right size to flip, flop, and fly
When I finally decide to give this a romp

Juggling can be rather slippery
Even in the using of handy household objects
But toss one or two toads into the stew
You'll be lucky if you don't drop it

And there is no way I want to chase frogs cross the stage
In the middle of my act
To the gasp of the crowd as I fumble about
With what little I have going quickly stage left

If you stop to think about it
This may not be as easy as it seems
Perhaps I should try something more on the domestic side
And maybe try my luck at poodle juggling

With broken glass on the floor
Broken promises one and all
If they'd learned to read
They'd have seen the written on the wall

But nothing's here to change
From cradle to the grave

In a worn out trailer park
On a worn out side of town
They thought that things would be different
Than where they are right now

On their planed escape
From cradle to the grave

Crowned High school sweethearts
The righteous King and Queen
With his fist now as his scepter
In her reality

Who's keeping the wolves at bay
From cradle to the grave

Drinks his breakfast, lunch, and dinner
From out a paper cup  
Used to dream for desert
But this town ate that up

Wasting away
From cradle to the grave

The only blessing offered them
Was their Louisiana child
But watching her parents interact
She never learned to smile

Another one on her way
From cradle to the grave

No need for a future
If they even had one at all
So far down in the ditch
It's so hard to recall

With the only thing left to say
From cradle to the grave

I am at this moment
right where I am
just a tick away
from where I had been
the shortest of steps
that I'm soon to be
yet through all this
I'll still be me

just a breath away
from where it all ends
hard now to count
from the days I began
not sure which side
on the dial I lean
my best guess is
it's soon to be seen

what makes life exciting
is the mystery
what adventure is hiding
for the likes of me
to take me beyond
from where I now am
to deposit me
on the other side of that

From the air
Everything looks so different

From the air
It all looks so peaceful and serene

From the air
Way up here I really don't care
Because all that I see is so little to me

From the air
All my problems seem so far away

From the air
Can't see the issues that I face

From the air
I can't hear what I don't want to hear
What most of the people below have to say

From the air
Wish I could stay up here

From the air
The sky always looks so clear

From the air
All I see is what's in front of me
Not what's down below, the world that I know
Of confusion and fear

When I find the door is creaking
And the walls are closing in
Right away you know the meaning
And you take a hold my hand

You lead me to that wanting place
At night by candlelight
Away from the frantic pace
From this world, you help me hide

When there's a crease inside my attitude
Calloused in its form
Unknowingly it calls out to you
For the comfort of your warmth

Lifting me so gently
From the troubles of this life
You are my shelter, you are my keep
From this world, you help me hide

When the air I breathe gets too much for me
And the atmosphere is torn
You hold me tight in the belief
That this won't fray the cord

If you ask me I feel I'm squeezed
By all of its might
That is why in truth I need
From this world, you help me hide

they say you can't
you know you can
lot's you can do
with little left
they throw a no
you catch a yes
give it a go
full steam ahead

they hold you back
every chance they have
they see you smile
they'll have none of that
you're told lose hope
resistance met
give it a go
full steam ahead

for your own good
they know what's best
it's understood
you do what's said
tossed to and fro
with steady hand
give it a go
full steam ahead

I swear at one time
I was a fun loving guy
Why, you can call home
And ask my wife

She’ll say about me
The life of the party
The cats meow
Along with bees knees

A fun loving boy
This bundle of joy
In the lampshade brigade
I was self employed

Quick with a smile
Before I found out
What they’ve tried to hide
What life’s all about

If you only knew
This once fun loving dude
Why, just ask my wife
She’ll tell you the truth

When you get that funny feeling
From your toes up to the ceiling
Kind of hurts but then again it don't

It's a bit surprising
Makes your eyes go to a crying
All the while chuckling along

You wonder who named this thing
That makes you want to ****** scream
The moment that you hit your Funny Bone

You say it hurts like...Hey!
Before you get carried away
Take a deep breath and remain calm

As you rub that spot real tight
With what is left of your manly might
Exactly where you'll never know

Still you keep rubbing away
Like there's no end to this crazy day
Trying your best to comfort your Funny Bone

How many times in life you'll hit
There's no way of telling it
Guaranteed though to be more than one

It's just a part of this life
That is humorlessly proved from time to time
From the sound of the many groans

And with all of this being said
The best of secrets never kept
Every time you hit your Funny Bone

We fight and we fuss
We fuss and we fight
We all draw straws
In the choosing of sides

We fuss and we fight
We fight and we fuss
We say that they're wrong
They say that about us

We fight and we fuss
We fuss and we fight
Can both sides be wrong
In thinking they're right

We fuss and we fight
We fight and we fuss
Can we stop long enough
To see what's happened to us

I am Future Man
With no future in my plans
If you want something done, well yes I can
But that will be in the future man

I am Nowhere Man
Nowhere is where I make my plans
Looking for somewhere to make a stand
But that seems to be nowhere man

I am who I am
After much debate and less demand
I've come through it all to be the man
Who it is I think I am

But I won't know until the Future Man

At a glance, all you see is a dancer
Making her way across life's stage
With multiple questions to fill in blank answers
Never quite sure of what she should say

Dancing away all her troubles
That bubble up inside her brain
It's hard to keep count with the sound of doubt
Being the tune that continually plays

That's why she's a bit off in rythme
Explains the half-empty smile
Still, she'll keep on in her dancing
Until the day her feet completely leave the ground

Where she'll dance with the night to the stars delight
As they wait in line for their turn
To twist and to twirl with this Galaxy girl
With the answers to questions she’s finally learned

We are all but gamblers here
Betting daily on our lives
In line at sins window
Hoping through it all, we survive

Running human races
On a track that’s circling
Pulling at the reigns of
God's grace, against all odd's for the win

In this constant gambling
Living life up to the edge
We will keep on betting
Until the point there's nothing left

Mostly on the money
At least most of the time
Betting our decisions
Like gamblers do on life

Though we never know which way the wind blows
Or the roll of the dice
And until it is you get there
You never know what you'll find

And still, yet we place our bets
On what is coming next
We spin the wheel as we deal
With the time that we have left

Trying to make it to the window
Right before the window's close
What comes next with our last breath
Only heaven knows

Mostly on the money
At least most the time
Betting our decisions
Like gamblers do on life

I use these cards to tell a story
I use them as a metaphor
The love of the heart, the riches in found in diamonds
All in this game of cards

I use the spades to uncover treasure
With the clubs I guard my score
And still I deal 52 in measure
Playing of the cards

As the Queen holds Suiter's in numbers
Fist clutching tight, Ace in the hole
As the King stands by in royal oblivion
The Joker laughs on

So guard your heart in all its glory
Diamonds does not riches make
No matter what they say a ***** is still a *****
Clubs only get in the way

I use these cards to tell a story
I use them as a metaphor
Have you seen yourself in the deal that I just dealt
Life's a lively game of cards

I'm at the door knocking
Hoping she'll let me in
She cracks it ever so slightly
Wearing only a grin

She beckons me forward
Like a good maitre'd
Sits me on the sofa
Then proceeds to wait on me

Serving up a blue eyed special
With blond on the side
I might even splurge
And order desert tonight

Just a little game
My wife and I play
I think she prefers the waitresses
But me...I enjoyed the nurse yesterday

I often play Checkers
With Fats Domino
In a downtown park
Underneath the lamps glow

When he wins a game
Sings out Ain't That A Shame
Where I'm less than thrilled
On Blueberry hill

Then it's off to Dominos
During the day
With Chubby Checkers
A game he loves to play

Twists and he shouts
When he turns over the tiles
Making up his own rules
I'm not sure that's aloud

You would think with their names
They'd play different games don't you know
But who can understand those
That Rock & Roll

you play the game and i do too
puzzle pieces, elmer's glue
truth or dare to tell the truth
when you stare i always lose

twenty questions maybe more
wipe it clean across the board
money flowing out our hands
with 3 questions left to ask

folded paper, rock, or scissors
personality trivia quizzes
you try to guess behind my back
while i guess inside your hands

hands we used for patty cake
over used...games people play

there's a hole in my head
where the gamma gets in
tickles my brain
giggles my skin
turns my insides
to outside in
throws all my cares
into the wind
curls my hair
into corn rows
florescent's the jam
between my toes
spittles the spine
blows its own nose
grabs tightly my gizzard
then let's it go
adds purple highlights
to the hair on my face
takes my overbite
and sets it in place
makes me want to run
although there's no race
all through the hole in my head
filled by these gamma rays

All of the Gnomes from around the globe
Just sneezed their very last sneeze
They've had enough of this allergy stuff
And from the garden they're taking their leave

They packed up their bags,  donned their bonnet's and caps
Left in the cover of night
Said goodbye to the trees along with the birds and the bees
And headed out for the big city life

No one had a clue from which wind the Gnomes blew
It was Wa-La they were suddenly there
From Bankers to Lawyers to Tele-marketer callers
They infiltrated every career

Soon they were drinking like fountains as the bills started mounting
With the pressures of the ride to the top
Pills became an everyday need to stay awake and fall asleep
Not sure when this madness will stop

On top of it all they started to cough from the smog
And wondered which one was the worst
The garden allergies or this black lung disease
Either way the Gnomes felt mankind's curse

So they turned in their suits and their ill gotten loot
And took a trip back to the suberbs
Now in the garden they smile cause they know all the while
Yes...it could be a lot worse

There's trouble growing in the garden
As the carrots make fun of those that are green
The potatoes are keeping their eyes out
Staring down those bleeding heart beets

Leaves of spinach are flexing their muscles
And of course the corn are all ears
Broccoli is green with envy
With the onions always in tears

The rhubarb has a thing for the strawberries
Can't seem to get along with anyone else
New to the winter garden which has the vegies talking
Not sure this frost will ever melt

The asparagus has been here forever
And the pole beans are always vaulting the fence
The lima's are out searching for the wisdom of the succotash
As the lettuce wonders where its head went

Yes there's trouble growing in the garden
Like we haven't all seen this before
The only time they get along is flash frozen and packaged
Chilling behind the grocer's freezer door

Strike a match
to the gas
on everything we do and say

Ignore the lack
of the facts
they just get in the way

Don’t be surprised
when you’re lying eyes
see things differently

As we pull the wool
over you
in what you should believe

If we told you
the entire truth
on todays shake ‘n bake

The living proof
would haunt you
until your dying day

As we strike a match
to the gas
on everything we do and say

Ignore the lack
of the facts
they just get in the way

Here at the gate
Of what was and what is
Ready to take
The very next step

With one foot forward
The other in line
Curious as to what
Next I will find

When I come to the gate
Of what is and will be
With the ever-present thought
Of what's next for me

With one foot forward
The other keeping steady pace
Making my way
Through gate after gate

Her name was Gayle
She blew in and out
Of my life like a forcible wind

Knocking down trees
And me in between
I still remember back then

Like it was yesterday
The storm never fades
In the mind of the strongest of men

There is no doubt
As my minds river floods out
We'll never pick up who we were again

They paused it for a second
And not a minute too late
To discuss the here and now
All at a later date

They met out in the middle
To come up with a plan
Passed around a bowler hat
Filled it with demands

Said that they'd get back to it
As soon as they both could
With a grin, spit in the wind
Then promised that they would

Neither could remember
Where they'd drawn lines in the sand
But with the swarm of cluster bombs
There was really nothing left

Plus, they had forgotten
What they were fighting for
But that has never mattered
So, they went back to war

There must be some mistake
This can't be happening
Was I born too early or too late
Into this century

I blame the generation before
For not getting it right
Who did they put in charge
Whoever it was, they wasted their dime

Leaving us here to clean up this mess
I know we can do better than this
What they were thinking is anyone's guess
Being *****-nilly at best

With pollution clogging the air
Wars starting up everywhere
All I see is power and greed
With the attitude of what's in it for me

Now that it's our chance in life
Things are going to change you will find
We won't be making the same mistakes
We won't be following that party line

Things will be better at last
Once we clean up their mess
No more famous words have ever been said
By every generation of the past

are we now numb
to what's going on
another life snuffed out
another mothers son
with this now common place
in our daily run
are we now numb
to what's going on

do we shrug and say
it's just another day
think about it for a blink
then go about our way
does it make a difference
in the difference that it makes
do we  shrug and say
it's just another day

do we stop and think
i'm glad it's not me
is that where we are
at this point in history
are lives that meaningless
in this disease
that we barely stop and think
i'm glad it's not me

who will be the first
to break this deadly curse
siphon all the gas
out of the hearse
say this is enough
before it gets much worse
who will be the first
to break this deadly curse

Generation X
Who used to could care less
Now have been replaced
With Generation Hate

Those leaning to the left
Have filled their silly heads
With hopelessness and dread
When all is done and said

With so much fear and doubt
That things will all work out
Taking it into their own hands
Meeting up with their own demands

All they know is push and shove
In their pool of had enough
Saying no thank you very much
Putting all blame on dot government

Coming late to the party
At the door they've all been carded
Sadly turned around and left
Not part of the one percent

So they took to revolution
At someone else's choosing
To take and seal the fate
Of Generation Hate

Is there a cover charge
A fee at the door
A price they say we all must pay
If we're to get along

Do we need to show I.D.
Proof of who we are
Sign a pledge of promise kept
For this and so much more

Is there a certain pass
That they give out freely
To all of those that are running low
Till we're back on our feet

Do we need a body guard
With their own chaperon
Someone with clout to help us out
So we all get along

It looks like life's not treating you right
And you don't like it a single bit
How about you try this friendly advice
...Get over it

Day after day you don't get your way
Where all you want to do is quit
Lean over here so I can whisper in your ear
...Get over it

You think you're the only one with problems
That spends most of your time in the ditch
Here's a news flash, we've all got em
...Get over it

You whine and cry thru the struggles
In the midst of quivering lips
Time after time, questioning why
...Get over it

I'm not saying it can be that easy
And with all of this being said
Still stuck in repeat believe you me
...Get over it

Whether Black, White, Yellow, Red
Or somewhere in-between
We all get butthurt over time
As both sides cause a scene

We have lost the art of humor
In this abstract gallery
If you need a hint, get over it
That's about as blunt as I can be

Why don't we find the funny
In funny anymore
Who turned us into whinny
Little boys and girls

I have a suggestion
Don't spin your ******* in a twirl
Get a grip, get over it
It's not the end of the world

Try your best He, He, Haw, Haw
Adding in a smile
You will soon see that it helps
When you can laugh at yourself

Can we all try and do better?
Not be so quick to bite?
Do our best to get over it?
And learn to laugh at life?

Huh, can we...can we, huh?

Whether black, red, yellow, white
Or somewhere in-between
We all get butthurt over time
If you know what I mean

We have lost the art of humor
In this abstract gallery
If you need a hint, get over it
That's about as blunt as I can be

Why don't we find the funny
In funny anymore
When did we begin to turn in
To little whinny boys and girls

I have a suggestion for this coming into question
Don't spin your ******* in a twirl
Get a grip, get over it
It's not the end of the world

Try your best hee, hee, haw, haw
Adding in a smile
You soon enough will see it helps
When you can laugh at yourself

Can we all try and do better
With a bit less bark and bite
Do our best to get over it
And learn to laugh at this crazy life

I just got off the phone with my Act
We're going to try and get together
But before we can achieve that major feat
I desperately need to check the weather

Cause if it is to cloudy
My Act won't dare go outside
And if the sun is shining to bright
My Act says that he's too white

Don't even mention raining
My Act hates when he gets wet
Says it takes to long to dry himself off
Plus he could shrivel up till there's nothing left

And if the temperature is too hot or too cold
That could really toss the batter
Guess when it comes to me and my Act
We'll have to get together later

It's been awhile
I'm finally tired of it all
I'm going to find my act and get it together

I look inside of the drawer
Where I know I've seen it before
But it's no longer there... go figure

I then search the high shelf
Where it once hung out
But after years all there is is dust

So I look a few shelves below
Where these days it might go
But once again no such luck

So I head to the mall
Where they sell it all
To get myself a brand new act

But the ones that I see
Are too pricey for me
So after fighting the crowds I left

That's when I saw the store
"Discount Bargain's Galore"
I hit the brakes and went back inside

They had mega shelves stacked
With half price discount acts
Only problem...assembly required

I went and purchased a few
Well actually two
In case I lose my act along the way

I took them both home
And now wish I had known
Buying better, the headaches I'd saved

First off the instructions were missing
So it was like in the wind I was *******
That's what I did when I had my old act

With a hammer and plenty of glue
And a couple left over loose screws
I put my act back together at last

Now that my act is together
Since you ask...yes I am feeling better
Going to grab life by the reins and just do it

With my act now in the bag
Going to give it all that I have
As soon as I find what I did with my
"Round To It"

I'm making it my goal today
To get my act together
But before I can achieve this major feat
I'll have to check the weather

Cause if it is to cloudy
My act will not step foot outside
And if the sun is shiny
My act acts like it is blind

Raining? Forget it!
An act that's soaking wet
Takes much to long to dry itself
And shrinks till there's hardly anything left

With temperatures to hot or cold
You know that really matters
Guess when it comes to my act
Weather permitting, I'll do it later

I can't help it, I've got the shakes
I'm back to see the man
He rolls it tight just the way I like
Adds a little extra if I ask

He must have gotten a special order
Isn't that a deeper shade of green
Perhaps from the South of Asia
Where they grow the finest **** across the sea

There's a tingle of excitement
At all the variety
As my man rolls up a little something special
He knows what pleases me

He's got to know just what it does
Measuring the product as I watch
Not speaking a word, the place is silent
The anticipation, almost to much

My mind and mouth are salivating
The whole table is lighting up
We're all so very happy
To be having "sushi" again for lunch

Getting crusty round the edges
Like a slice of day-old bread
From the bottom of my twisted toes
To the top of my balding head

Dehydrating like a side of beef
Jerky tough to chew
Not much of me is worth the keep
With nothing hanging that is new

Eyes that once were crystal clear
Now no more than a blur
Please speak loud so I can hear
The meaning of your every word

The lines I blamed on laughter
Aren't funny anymore
Ask me what's the matter
Long ago stopped keeping score

You can take this slice of day-old bread
Remove most of the mold
But when all is done and all is said
Man, I'm getting old

Things I see I don't believe
And don't quite understand
If you ask me with certainty
Things are quickly getting out of hand

If I had to choose my next move
According to the plan
What I would do is follow through
With more supply and less demand

But as it goes there's an undertow
Just below this sifting sand
You should know to grab a rope
As things are quickly getting out of hand

From all I see and often need
If given half a chance
I guarantee that yes indeed
We could change our circumstance

If I had my say the takeaway
Argumentatively man to man
We'd find a way to shift the blame
As things are quickly getting out of hand

There are ghosts in-between us
Haunting all our thoughts
The joy we thought we'd found
The joy we know we've lost

They float themselves in and out
Of our well-worn heads
The mess we wish we could put to bed
Won't give it any rest

These ghosts that we don't want
That won't leave us alone
Everywhere we dare to care
Following us all home

Ghosts of the here and now
Ghosts of the haunted past
Reminding mist of what we're left with
And what we no longer have

Ghost we know that often float
Us like we're in a dream
Making this life hard to cope
Caught up in mid-scream

These ghosts that are in-between us
Haunting all our thoughts
The joy we thought we'd found
The joy we know we've lost

I know this girl from Texas
Who rustles up smiles for free
Feels like home on the range
With lasso in hand
Pretty as you please

Warm and comfortable as a campfire
Wild as a coyotes howl
God was right in his choice
Giving her an angels voice
Mixed in with a Southern draw

There's a mischievousness to her roundup
Like that of a rouge rodeo
Playing life's full hand
From sunrise to sunset
This girl from Texas that I know

Fresh shower and a shave
First one I've had in days
Clean pressed jammies, and new sheets
Off to meet the girl of my dreams

I pull down tight on the shades
Hoping against hope I'm not running late
We get together most Saturday nights
When I pull up the covers and shut out the lights

I often wonder where we'll go
As neither of us ever really knows
Where the mind travels in its comatose state
Or where dream girls like to go on dates

We might end up at some fancy dance
Or a beach somewhere in the South of France
It all depends on her or is that depends on me
When I'm out cold with the girl of my dreams

Sometimes I play her hero well
But not that super if the truth I must tell
Slowing moving as if in a dream
Most Saturday nights in my sleep

Over time she has never changed
In fact even I look pretty much the same
Whenever we have a chance to meet
Out on a date with the girl of my dreams