What's it like going through life
Thinking that you're owed
That all the signs up in the sky
On your life have never shone

That the breaks you have had
Have all been bad, out of control
And with that said all that's left
Is thinking that you are owed

Are you afraid to try and make
It out on your own
That your mistakes for heaven sakes
Have all but made you lose that hope

Is it such a leap to sit and think
This Kool-Aid drink, goes down wrong
Can you not see how deep you sink
To even think that you are owed

If you want to know how I spend my time
RC Cola and a Moon Pie
Chewing on a stem of Bahia grass
Just in case you feel the need to ask

Skipping stones across a glass top pond
Blowing wishes from a dandelion off the lawn
Living the country life all inside my head
Before I find there ain't nothing left

Chasing Crawdaddy's in a deep wood stream
Playing hide and seek in a pile of leaves
Cane pole fishing for that elusive Bass
All before Summer's put to bed

Catching Fireflies in their flickering light
Counting all the stars in the skys at night
Stolen Watermelon always tastes the best
That's the part that I'll never confess

Skinny dipping for a living in a mountain lake
Jumping out of planes in a barn of hay
Kids being kids being life fed
Just in case you feel the need to ask

when it comes to indecision
i can't quite decide
am i for it or against it
or just along for the ride

if i don't move do i lose it
or is it the other way around
with all these choices in the choosing
raising all these doubts

yes, no, maybe
can i get back with you on that
all of the above if it'll save me
from dealing with the facts

cause when it comes to indecision
i can't quite decide
am i for it or against it
and is it worth the fight

I hate you
And you hate me
For the things
We think we believe
Not looking at each
Individually
But as a whole
Collectively

I have a mind
And so do you
So why do we
Misconstrue
What you think of me
And I think of you
Which more often than not
Is far from the truth

Just because we voice
Our opinions out loud
Doesn't mean we think
Along with the crowd
Last time I looked
Pretty sure I found
That both you and I
Make our own sound

Which means...

I do not hate you
And you do not hate me
For a lot of the things
That we both believe
Looking at this
Individually
Can't we both agree
Collectively

I hate you
And you hate me
For the things
We think we believe
Not looking at each
Individually
But as a whole
Collectively

I have a mind
And so do you
So why do we
Misconstrue
What you think of me
And I think of you
Which more often than not
Is far from the truth

Just because we voice
Our opinions out loud
Doesn't mean we think
Along with the crowd
Last time I looked
Pretty sure I found
That both you and I
Make our own sound

Which means...

We should not hate
For the things
That we believe
Differently
Looking at this
Individually
Can't we all agree
Collectively

the problem with me and you
is that our tattoos
look like their tattoos
and their tattoos do
look like ours too
which keeps us all a bit confused

we were individuals when we started this
rebel rousers, outskirt kids
making a statement with how we lived
now the statement is
look at this
we now look like all the other kids

cause his tattoo and her tattoo
look like mine and your tattoo
i might just get my tattoo removed
and go back to before i knew
you don't need a tattoo
to be an individual too

I only want a woman
To cook and to clean
No other obligations
Do I really need

No hassles, no hurdles
For me to jump through
No one to tell me
What to not and to do

One that doesn't mind me
Doing nothing all day
Or spouting off mindless talk
With nothing really to say

A woman that does what I need
And then goes away
To do it all over again
On the very next day

Guess what I'm saying I need
Is a woman of some kind
That is all three of these
Deaf, dumb, and blind

I think when all is done and said
I could use a nap
How many by a show of hands
Like me are down with that

I feel like I am zombiefied
One of the walking dead
Just need a simple place where I
Can lay this weary head

If I'm forced to do one more lap
In this crazy daily race
Where I take this longing nap
Will be my final resting place

How many like me do you think
By a show of hands
In all honesty do belive
They too could use a nap

I think I'm in need of new ***
This one I've worn slap down to the bone
Its thoughts and its deeds no longer suit me
Now that I've gotten this old

I think that it's served out its purpose
Slowing down as it's nearing the end
Not losing all hope yet letting most of it go
As this body's no longer my friend

It'd take too much time to iron out the wrinkles
Best if they were all just replaced
With new and improved fancy free and foot lose
Feel free to start with the face

From there we could go any direction
Once down the front or twice round the back
Putting this body out of its misery
You can take that and chew on the fat

If there's someone out there who could help me
Blink twice or just give me a nod
Not looking here for man of the year
Just in need of a bit better ***

i want to take off
all my inhibitions
toss them to the wind
bask in the sun
with the freedom i've been given

start seeing life
in a different frame of mind
toss the doubt that keeps me down
a little more picturesque
than what my inhibitions fed

i'm painting a picture
in my frame of mind
a little bit abstract
outside of the lines
hoping it looks
like what i find
the thoughts in my head
i've colored over time

i'll sign my name
so i'll know who i am
for later in life
in case i forget
i'll paint the view
on the back of my hand
so if i lose a clue
i can wave where i'm at

with my mind blowing free
as i'm passing the time
painting a picture
in my frame of mind

I'm painting a picture
In my frame of mind
A little abstract
A bit out of the lines
Hoping it looks
Exactly like
The thoughts in my head
I've colored this time

I'll sign my name
So I'll know who I am
For later in life
In case I forget
I might paint a hint
On the back of my hand
So if I lose a clue
I can wave where I'm at

With my mind blowing free
As I pass the time
Painting a picture
In my frame of mind

why do you keep on running
are you not yet tired
of this continuous searching
for your inner child

and once it is you find him
what then
will that bring you closer
to the position you wish you were in

will that take you to the place
that you need to be
setting you on the course
of finally being free

how many years has it been
now that you've lost count
since you've been without
your missing inner child

I decided today to sit back
And take a look at my life
Not only from the out
But also from the inside

Like an innocent bystander
I'll take myself a gander
And what it is I find
I'll set it down in rhyme

I notice when I do look on the out
I'm always quick to throw out a smile
Pretty much all of the while
I guess a smile is just my style

The in is the one quick with the wit
That's one thing I must admit
Sometimes gets me into the thick
When it really comes down to it

For the inside to come clean
I must mean what I say and say what I mean
There's no doubt about them there beans
I hope you know what it is that I mean

I'm never much serious about
Anything life has to through out
I do love to clown and joke around
Hang with me and that you'll find out

But it's not always all fun and games
As the outside of me deteriorates
But that my friend is all of our fate
As the older we get and our hour is late

I look at the outside of me
And see an old man in the later degree
But in on the in playfully
Is the child still inside of me

That's pretty much who I am
Living this life the best that I can
On the inners and outers I'll play my hand
Wherever I tumble, wherever I land

So this is what I've come up with
When I took a look at my life
Not only from the out
But also from the inside

from innocence
to what a mess
who would have thought
who could have guessed

the worst in life
would pile this high
with troubles that
some people find

you can choose
to win or lose
what you do
is up to you

take the hate
as your fate
or learn in love
to give away

giving innocense
a second chance
this side of life
hand in the dance

those who know
can't help but grow
past the past
into the hope

and overcome
the trash that's thrown
at the innocence
of the young

till there's no secrets that
are ever kept
when it comes to
young innocence

Out of all that I don't have
The one thing that I most miss
When it all comes down to this
Would be my lost innocence

I find it hard to accept
That which I lost I should have kept
Out of every thing that I had
I most miss my innocence

Imagine this if you can
Never taken that first step
Things would be so different
If I still had my innocence

Which makes me often wonder at
All the reasons that she left
And the fact I've not seen her since
I miss my sweet innocence

If I ever have the chance
To try and win her back again
I would bet all that I have
On both the red and black of my innocence

Little boys and little girls*
Playing in the sand
Taking life for all its worth
Without a care in hand
Enjoy it all little ones
While it is you can
Before this life grabs hold of you
And you begin to understand

Time you spend with mommy
Daily in the park
Good times for you to have
Till daylight kisses dark
If you're  within the sound of my voice
Take a moment where you are
Hug them tight your inner child
For all that they are worth

Childlike innocence always is
The first thing that we lose
Trying to get it back seems to be
The last thing that we choose
I'm sure we would try harder
If it is we only knew
How much losing it would change
Our very point of view

When we stop to view it all
Through wide open eyes
Hits us all so very hard
Should we be surprised
Happens to the best of us
And so goes our lives
I dream of the forgotten days
*Innocence of a child

Hello innocence my old friend
It's hard to say how long it's been
Since you and I held tender hands
I still often wonder where you went

Was it you or was it me
That dove head first into the worldly sea
Or caught the whisper on the breeze
Is that why you felt the need to leave

Was it the way I treated you
Would I go back if this I knew
Trade it all out for the truth
Life's not been the same since I lost you

I used to gaze up in the sky
At puppy dogs and butterflies
That's what I saw as clouds passed by
And life it did the same

In skies of blue the poppie fields
Would share the dreams young minds would yield
Tender thoughts one day until
This adult got in the way

And now those skies hold thunder clouds
I wish somehow I'd not find that out
Collective sighs can't hide the sound
That disappoint makes

I've tried and tried and tried again
But who am I trying to kid
When you've cracked the lid of innocence
You've lost too much along the way

And life never is the same...

For many years we've been together
At times I can lose count
Though I remember the first time I laid eyes on you
I had to find out what you were all about

The sparkle in your eyes
The smile that always held true
I now find after so many years my dear
I no longer love you the way I used to

From the days of our first dating
The spark I felt when we held hands
Is it too cliche to say
You were my woman while I was your man

The long walks we shared in summer
In the lovers month of June
Memories I'll always hold near
Even though I no longer love you

The passionate kisses in the moon light
The way our young hearts beat as one
The feeling I felt when I saw you
And knew nothing more than love

After all these years together
You still hold the key to my hearts door
I no longer love you the way I used to
I now love you even more

This pain
In our lives makes its way
To stand up and have its say
In our every day to day

We complain
In conversations made
More often as of late
From the things we create

Where hate
Finds a way to take away
Love in its state of grace
In our every day to day

We maintain
That it's going to be okay
Justifying things, we do and say
Consequences never weighed

We say
We are ready for a change
But through it all we stay the same
In our every day to day

At this rate
If we remain this way, unchanged
There will be nothing left to save
I only hope we're not too late

my head is filled with crazy thoughts
to the point i went out and bought
a heavy duty combination lock
to keep it all well guarded

keeping them both out and in
the depths of my loony bin
is this were it all begins
homegrown or imported

does it come in a brown bag
to go orders from out the head
taking home all that is left
for later consumption

as always though the sanity leaks
from my crooked smile, between the teeth
as in and out i can't help but breathe
the thought of around the bend, crazy's coming...

We've got fascists on the left
Nazis on the right
Supremacists in the middle
All dressed up in white

As commies come in colors
That are hard at times to see
They're still a colorful array
Of daily catastrophe

Socialists here to tell us
As a matter of fact you can
Take candy from a baby
And put it in someone else's hand

With elitists at the top
To tell us how to breathe
And the poor without a paddle
At the bottom of the stream

And while I'm at it, what life doesn't matter
In the grand scheme of things
Be it red, black, yellow, white
Or fluorescent Martian green

All I really want
Is to be left alone
In my lower middle class
Without your fine tooth comb

Hate who and what you like
Just please leave me be
And I'll leave you alone
To your insanity

In this, today's world
The one which we live
We're all haunted by the saying
Get used to it

Many pray for change
In hopes we find peace
Only to be slapped in the face
With today's reality

Wondering at
What we could have missed
Losing out on the fact
Of live and let live

Until we learn to get along
Me and you, you and me
All our best does and don'ts
Stack up to a hill of beans

Instead of placing blame
On those in the crowd
Insert your own name
To turn it around

Face front the mirror
Before it's too late
To clearly see what needs to be seen
That we ourselves are to blame

And perhaps give a shot
At what is called the Golden rule
Do unto others
As you'd have them do to you

Perhaps then my friend
We could all get along
In the world which we live
Harmony strong...

I have this simple if not profound question
No way could I be wrong
What would be the harm in living
Inside a Jimmy Buffett song

On a cool calming beach way out of reach
A tropical paradise further south
Than anyone could find some
Way of finding me out

With the latest in concoctions
Sipping back at the thrill
Having a few boat drinks
In Margaritaville

While defying gravity
On this big round ball
Just look at me pretty as you please
Inside a Jimmy Buffett song

Taking it all in naturally
Living in 3/4 time
Tell me my friend what could be the sin in
Making it one day at a time

I hear Livingston went to Texas
I'm about to do the same
As I raise a toast to those I know
Along the Gulf Coast way

I knew my life would end up
Sooner here than not
It's more like a grab than a give up
Inside a Jimmy Buffett song

When you make your way from Paris
To all points in between
You find there's no sense in caring
For the things that you don't need

I'm going to change my latitude with a new attitude
As I gently move along
Keeping the beat in the key of Sea
Inside a Jimmy Buffett song

You might think that I'm happy
All of the time
But inside my smile
Is upside down
Otherwise, you wouldn't
Want me around
If all you ever saw
Was a continuous frown
I guess that's why
I'm always clowning around
Not wanting others to see
Me feeling down
It's the only way I can think
To keep you around
On the outside a smile
On the inside a frown

A gaggle of Mad Scientists
Shrunk me down in size
Placed me in a tiny syringe
Injected me into a woman's mind

They gave me special instructions
While there to  look around
Report back to them immediately
All the mystery's to be found

I entered into this giant room
Dozens of doors surrounding the sides
I believe to be the main control center
I am a man in a woman's mind
(Wait a minute...that doesn't sound right)

I skip the rooms RESENTMENT, JEALOUSY,and GOSSIP
No need to open those
I've seen what they can do to a person
Best to keep them locked and forever closed

I come to the door labeled ***
Being a man I try the **** first
Of course it's locked so I knocked and knocked
Go figure, there was no answer...

Before I realized what I was doing
I opened the door labeled NAGGING
All my ears hear is Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah
What in the world was I even thinking

I may be crazy but I ain't stupid
I also pass by the door I'M UGLY, I'M FAT
Why can't women see what the rest of us see
The inner beauty that they all seem to have

Right next door is the room that holds her feelings
I've never been so scared in my life
I do this in the name of science
And for the better of all mankind

As soon as the door swings open
I immediately break down and cry
I've got all of these mixed emotions
And I don't even really know why

I'm not sure if science was ready for this
As I climb out the ear canal blocked by a phone
Not much that a man can do in there
Best to leave well enough alone

A gaggle of Mad Scientists
Shrunk me down in size
Placed me in a tiny syringe
Injected me into a woman's mind

They gave me special instructions
While there to  look around
Report back to them immediately
All the mystery's to be found

I entered into this giant room
Dozens of doors surrounding the sides
I believe to be the main control center
I am a man in a woman's mind
(Wait a minute...that doesn't sound right)

I skip the rooms RESENTMENT, JEALOUSY,and GOSSIP
No need to open those
I've seen what they can do to a person
Best to keep them locked and forever closed

I come to the door labeled ***
Being a man I try the **** first
Of course it's locked so I knocked and knocked
Go figure, there was no answer...

Before I realized what I was doing
I opened the door labeled NAGGING
All my ears hear is Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah
What in the world was I even thinking

I may be crazy but I ain't stupid
I also pass by the door I'M UGLY, I'M FAT
Why can't women see what the rest of us see
The inner beauty that they all seem to have

Right next door is the room that holds her feelings
I've never been so scared in my life
I do this in the name of science
And for the better of all mankind

As soon as the door swings open
I immediately break down and cry
I've got all of these mixed emotions
And I don't even really know why

I'm not sure if science was ready for this
As I climb out the ear canal blocked by a phone
Not much that a man can do in there
Best to leave well enough alone...

A gaggle of Mad Scientists
Shrunk me down in size
Placed me in a tiny syringe
Injected me into a woman's mind

They gave me special instructions
While there to  look around
Report back to them immediately
All the mystery's to be found

I entered into this giant room
Dozens of doors surrounding the sides
I believe to be the main control center
I am a man in a woman's mind
(Wait a minute...that doesn't sound right)

I skip the rooms RESENTMENT, JEALOUSY,and GOSSIP
No need to open those
I've seen what they can do to a person
Best to keep them locked and forever closed

I come to the door labeled ***
Being a man I try the **** first
Of course it's locked so I knocked and knocked
Go figure, there was no answer...

Before I realized what I was doing
I opened the door labeled NAGGING
All my ears hear is Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah
What in the world was I even thinking

I may be crazy but I ain't stupid
I also pass by the door I'M UGLY, I'M FAT
Why can't women see what the rest of us see
The inner beauty that they all seem to have

Right next door is the room that holds her feelings
I've never been so scared in my life
I do this in the name of science
And for the better of all mankind

As soon as the door swings open
I immediately break down and cry
I've got all of these mixed emotions
And I don't even really know why

I'm not sure if science was ready for this
As I climb out the ear canal blocked by a phone
Not much that a man can do in there
Best to leave well enough alone...

There ain't a whole lot going on
With these thoughts here on their own
Dig deep enough you're bound to find
There's not much to see inside this mind

You might catch my eyes in mid-blur
When the rusty gears start to turn
Not sure what that means in the scheme of things
It might just be the grind that helps me breath  

No there ain't a lot found back to front
Inside this mind, that's going on
How many fingers am I holding up
Table for one, out to lunch

To the party, my thoughts are running late
When they gave the last door prize away
Soon enough you find the well is dry
With the rusty bucket of this mind

It's a hit and miss on the bait and switch
When you have so little to work with
A turn of the cards a toss of the dice
There's not much going on inside this mind

There's a battle that some people fight
When old age hits rock hard the pavement
It's weapon of choice you will find
Is that of sleep deprivation

You lay awake in the middle of night
Tossing and turning on the edge of your dreams
Insomnia being its battle cry
As your white flag is torn apart at the seams  

With your mind like a kite in the breeze
Flying this way and that in your lack of sleep
Too far behind the enemy's lines
To find the help you seek for your wandering thoughts need

While you'd love to sneak back over the border
Into the comfort of a soft feather bed
You trudge through the fields of disorder
Stepping on mines blowing up in your head

A battle that rages on nightly
The enemy ever so sneaky and sly
In whose grip you will stay as you lay awake
With insomnia as its battle cry

There's a battle that most folk will fight
When old age slips onto the pavement
It's weapon of choice you will find
Is that of sleep deprivation

You lie awake in the middle of night
Tossing and turning on the edge of your dreams
Insomnia its battle cry
As your white flag is torn apart at the seams

With your mind like a kite in the night breeze
Flying this way and that with your lack of sleep
Too far behind the enemy lines
To even find the help that you need

While you'd love to sneak back over the border
Into the comfort of a soft feather bed
One good nights sleep is what the Commandant's ordered
So as to rest your weary head

Still the battle rages on nightly
The enemy both sneaky and sly
In whose grip you will stay as you lay awake
With insomnia as its battle cry

there's nothing convenient about it
this shop until we drop
with crying child on every isle
we long ago sold out of love

there's a big demand for pride in the can
mixed up with lust and greed
before they give it away grab you some hate
up and down isle one, two, and three

then in the back on the discount rack
is dish upon dish of selfishness
if you haven't yet tried your hand
while it lasts grab it fast

with a bag half empty of why not me
there is shelf upon shelf of envy
although others worked hard for it
you still feel it should be free

slowly make your way through excess of the day
in disarray on the bottom shelf
no need to reach high for this scrumptious delight
but hurry before it's too late

with nothing convenient about it
we'll all shop until we drop
leaving behind crying child on every isle
we long ago sold out of love

In all my years of happening
I never would have imagined
That I'd make the front page of the Daily News

If you look close I'm right there
Under the headline of "He Didn't Care"
The boy was desperate with nothing to lose

You see I held up a bank
With no job in which to thank
What can you say about the unemployment blues

I'm pretty sure that I'll be missed
By the last girl that I kissed
Once this gets into the hands of Mary Lou

She'll have to cancel all the plans
That these two young lovers had
Where we were to marry in mid June

She'll probably take it pretty hard
When she finds it was over
The pawn shop ring I hated to lose

I figured I needed it out right
Far more that I did this life
When you're in need of a wife what can you do

The stories sure to mention the teller
Being a rather nervous fella
Who had a gun but had no clue

Wasn't there to hurt anyone
When he reached for said gun
And in the heat of the moment shot me clear through

That's now where we're now at
With me cold at the morgue long gone dead
You can read all about it in the Daily News

I once met a man in the Land of Plenty
Who made it a point, to give free advice
With do as I say, for it to go your way
When it comes to living out this life

Don't say that you won't when it comes to hope
Do your best to get as close as you can to the fire
Don't dare pass up the slightest chance for love
Remember, the ladder of success doesn't always take you higher

Lend to those you know can't pay you back
Always smile with no reason why
Cross every bridge you can but never with a match
Have the innocence of a child in your day to day life

Start off every morning with rejoicing
At another chance to get it right
With you and the Lord being of one accord
Stand up for those in the throes of a fight

Find a field you can lay on your back in
Then take the time to count the stars at night
Go barefoot in the sand every chance you can
Don't worry about always being right

Said the man in the Land of Plenty
Where he had plenty of good advice
I took it to heart to do my part
When it comes to living out this life

My God holds the world in the palm of His hand
Keeps the sea back from invading the land
Captures the wind then sets it free
And still finds the time to spend time with me

He's the one who created the stars and set them in place
All seen and unseen is all that he's made
Placed the hidden line between day and night
Sharing this beauty by giving us life

His grace taught the flower to open in Spring
Taking in pleasure the beauty it brings
Sets into song all of the birds above
Doing this all out of His precious love

Bringing to wonder, the eyes of a child
As far off distant thunder speaks of His power
Giving His Son to us all so all could be free
As Jesus hung on the Cross He had in mind you and me

Yes my God does all, of this and more
Crown Him as King, Praise Him as Lord
His blessings beyond counting the grains of sand
As He holds it all in the palm of His hand

I'm fixing to do something
That I shouldn't oughta
But let me say mister
These are desperate times

Can anyone blame me
For feeding my family
When you fight for survival
Is it considered a crime

When you hold up a store
That sells the devils firewater
Would that be a sin
In the good Lords eyes

Cause that's what I'm bout to do
You can read it in the papers
I just hope it don't say there
A desperate man died

And that he was too young
When the clerk with the shotgun
Without a question
Ended his life

With words from his family
How the kids miss their daddy
Story continued and ending
On page 25...

If you'd care to know how I grew up
It was in the shadow of country folk
Days spent on the family farm
Young and dumb, loads of fun

Swimming in a catfish pond
Having my toes nibbled on
Days on end spent in a rash
Rolling round Bahia grass

Hours of play in summer hay
As through my youth I made my way
Flying high on a rope swing
Are some of my best memories

An entire summer with no shoes
What came next, I had no clue
Half of what I did meant certain death
That's how you roll when you're a kid

Living life down on the farm
Empty fields at night beneath the stars
That's the best way I can show
Growing up in the shadow of country folk

In the wake, who is to say
Mistakes we've made along the way
Aren't just life lessons on display
If we would only treat them that way

Who is to show, what we know
About them only helps us grow
It seems to be a needed hope
In these days of do's and don'ts

I'm afraid we've lost our way
In the wake of all the blame
Not a one of us could name
A single one of us are the same

Learn to accept the differences
In what we have more or less
Adds a level we might have missed
If we had not taken the chance

On mistakes along the way
In the wake of what we say
Life lessons in the make
Plainly here on display

In the year 65'
pulled by raciest tides
Thrown into a time
on the verge of a fight

You're not like me
or so it seems
To play a part
in this American dream

When did the color of skin
ever make a man
Or what a man said
get so out of hand

And why when we judge
is it not in righteousness
But what we think that we think
is better for us

Who all would be hurt
if the tables were turned
How much kindling is needed
for a generation to burn

Tossed into the lie
that not being alike
We can't get along
when it comes to this life

We need to open our hearts
help free our minds
Learn from lessons taught
in the year 65'

See what it really means
to have a dream
That we are all equal
in the scheme of things

Where generations to come
will live it in love
Not the hate that is made
when we don't know enough

As clear as day and night
in this do or die
The place we should be
is in the love of mankind

No matter what we look like...

First they say do this, do that
When that's exactly what we did
Then they change what they just said
Up and down then round again

This is good, that is bad
More of this, less of that
This is bad, that is good
More or less misunderstood

Then they say not that, not this
Adding more onto the list
Stop it now avoid the crunch
The whole bunch is out to lunch

Do or don't be too surprised
As much as we all change our minds
If we knew the who's and why's
We'd all be running for our lives