Abracadabra
With nothing up my sleeve

Watch me carefully
As I try to be
Something that I'm really not
Someone other than me

Abracadabra
With nothing up my sleeve  

Hocus Pocus
Trying to not own this

What's behind the curtain
Is a bit out of focus
You'll never guess what's behind my back
It's best if you don't notice

Hocus Pocus
Trying to not own this

Sim Sala Bim
No more than slight of hand

Watch as I pull out of my hat
Less than life demands
Some say it's magic
Depends on where you stand

Sim Sala Bim
No more than slight of hand

Happy is the look I'm going with
An opportunity I would hate to pass up or miss
Not one to kiss and tell but here it is
It's no secret I'm in love

The way the sun shines brighter in its rays
The giddy feeling I have throughout the day
The attitude of come whatever may
It's no secret I'm in love

The knowing that shows in the way that I smile
My heart eloping with the treasure I've found
Not too hard to find or figure it out
It's no secret I'm in love

Never being alone with you in my thoughts
Paying gladly the price no matter the cost
Finding you're all I need in my needs and wants
It's no secret I'm in love

When the weight of the world all but disappears
When the sound of your voice is all that I hear
When the sky opens up making everything clear
It's no secret I'm in love

It's not me...
It's my phone that keeps calling your name

If you happen to be...
Looking for someone to blame

If you think that you hear heavy breathing
On the other end of the line
Want you to know that me and my phone
Were no where near each other at the time

You have my word...
It's my phone that keeps calling you up

It must have heard...
That at one time we were two birds in love

It must not realize
That you and I are no longer an item
If it did, otherwise
It wouldn't be spending all of it's dimes

What can I say...
It's my phone that loves the sound of your name

Since you left that day...
Things around here have not been the same

As my phone sits in its cradle alone
It doesn't seem to have much of a choice
To tell the truth I really think that
My phone misses the sound of your voice

It's not me...
It's my phone that keeps calling your name

If you happen to be...
Looking for someone to blame

If you think that you hear heavy breathing
On the other end of the line
Want you to know that me and my phone
Were no where near each other at the time

You have my word...
It's my phone that keeps calling you up

It must have heard...
That at one time we were two birds in love

It must not realize
That you and I are no longer an item
If it did, otherwise
It wouldn't be spending all of it's dimes

What can I say...
It's my phone that loves the sound of your name

Since you left that day...
Things around here have not been the same

As my phone sits in its cradle alone
It doesn't seem to have much of a choice
To tell the truth I really think that
My phone misses the sound of your voice

Have you heard the joke
About the economy
Of course you haven't
Because it isn't funny

About the way
This is all going down
Like my bank account
Heading straight South

You can blame it on congress
Or blame it on greed
Not much of a difference
If you're asking me

There's nobody else
That wants to pay my bills
And I can't remember when
My gas tank was last filled

Both my roof and shoes
Are competing for holes
And the line of bill collectors
Won't leave me alone

I used to dine out
In 5-Star Restaurants
Now I can barely afford
A cheap burger joint

Once a man of gain
Now I've nothing to lose
As I'm running late
To pay all that I do

Hey bro, I think you should know
Before I let you go
If you're still holding out hope
It's the end of the world

So if you haven't yet
Up and packed all your bags
There is little time left
For that or your regrets

You can kiss it all goodbye
Said the spider to the unlucky fly
Said the plane while still in mid-flight
Right above the crash site

All that is left is little left said
You can bet that we've made our beds
Oh and that price on our heads
That's a cost that we've never met

So hey bro, if you didn't know
Down the river we've all been sold
For a pound or two of fools gold
It's the end of the world

It's up to you...
in how you do it
It's up to you...
in how you live
It's up to you...
if you never knew it
It's up to you...
in what you give
It's up to you...
to smile through it
It's up to you...
hit or miss
It's up to you...
save or lose it
It's up to you...
how deep you dig
It's up to you...
in how you play it
It's up to you...
in how it's kept
It's up to you...
in how you say it
It's up to you...
in where you step
It's up to you...
in how you spin it
It's up to you...
how you place your bets
It's up to you...
from the beginning
It's up to you...
until your death
It's up to you...

You can turn on the radio
Turn on a dime
Turn on the folk you know
And never know why

Turn on the air
As it's hot in here
Turn on a darkened path
That at first looks clear

You can turn round your life
It's never too late
Bury the knife
On your past mistakes

You can even take turns
With family or friends
Turn to your enemy
And make amends

You can turn it all on
Or turn it all off
Without a single glance
Or a second thought

You can turn left or right
Or even go straight
That's the thing about life
You can turn either way

Why do we make excuses
For the times we get it wrong
Why can't we say I made a mistake
Then from that point move on

Is it that we all have swallowed
The poison pill of pride
Where we need to list our accomplishments
No matter how dark the lie

When did the pretending of perfection
Become the sea that we swim in
When did life's learning lessons
Get buried too deep to dig

When you make a mistake don't make your way
To the side of do no wrong
Tell the truth in all you do
And don't drag the excuses along

With wild flowers in hand
Society congregates
With what little time is left
To visit the open grave

We all have our stories
Funeral Dirge the song
You can plainly see we're not yet done
But it won't be long

Some show up early
Others show up late
Some take what they're given
With no thought of the give away

Darkened clouds are building
Whispering of the storms to come
You can certainly see we're not yet done
But it won't be long

You can close tight your eyes
Even turn your back
But soon enough you'll find
It never leaves your head

Do we need more of a warning
That we need more love
If you ask me we're not yet done
But it won't be long

With a show of trembling hands
Is there one righteous left
I'm sure there must be
But I won't hold my breath

You want to know a secret
That will turn you numb
Hold this in keep we're not yet done
But it won't be long

You know the Old West bit
Shoot from the hip
That is unless
You've already jumped ship

In the deepest of oceans
You still can sink like a stone
With the lure of the sea we're not yet done
But it won't be long

So gather all your flowers
And step up to the open grave
If you have anything saved
Today's the day to give it away

We come and we go
We go and we come
You can stomp your feet to the beat we're not yet done
But it won't be long

i used to do

but now i don't

i used to will

but now i won't

i used to rush

into it all

but now i'm lucky

if i even crawl

i used to laugh

but now i cry

whenever it is

i look at life

i used to leap

when they said jump

now all i am

is a permanent duh

i used to see

through rose colored shades

now i count it lucky

if i'm even awake

i used to do

but now i don't

i used to will

but now i won't

I used to smile
With the best of them
But now for awhile
My grins been thin
When you see the world
And the shape it's in
With an insanity crust
And a crazy filling

I would wake my day
In the usual way
With a howdy do
And a smile on my face
To those I passed
I would kindly wave
As I would always have
Something special to say

But then my smile
One day went South
If you need to know
Take a gander around
Look high, look low
Look up, look down
You too will see
What I'm talking about

When I say ...

I used to smile
With the best of them
But now for awhile
My grins been thin
When you see the world
And the shape it's in
With an insanity crust
And a crazy filling

i used to think this way
that everything would be okay
then life came along, took my needs and wants
now nothing is the same

i used to think i'd find
the rainbows end in life
held a *** of gold instead it held my calls
when reality spent my dime

i used to think the best
would happen at my bequest
but who could have guessed the things i asked
would turn out such a mess

i used to think in dreams
but now i think it seems
that life's cruelty has played its joke on me
and i think i'm in way too deep

I've been looking up
I've been looking down
I've been found looking all around

I've been searching here
I've been searching there
I find myself searching everywhere

I've dug deep within
I have given out
As I waded in a humanities lake of doubt

I've been to the East
I've been to the West
All the different places that I thought were best

Been leaning with the left
Hanging with the right
I have jumped ahead and I fell behind

I have searched the North
I have combed the South
Caught myself looking here and there about

I am searching hearts
I am searching souls
Searching everywhere a mans allowed to go

I am looking in
I am looking out
Listening intently for the slightest sound

I am looking high*
I am looking low
Looking everywhere
*I think that love could grow...

I want to see you cry
One tear at a time
With or without sound
As they hit the ground
I want to see you cry

I want to hear you beg
With what little pride you have left
But this time around
Turn up the sound
Cause I want to hear you beg

I want to feel your pain
Hotter than any burning flame
As your world in and out
Burns to the ground
I want to feel your pain

I want to smell your fear
Before you leave here my dear
If there is a doubt
What it's about
I want to smell your fear

I want to taste something sweet
From the hand of bitterness to the kiss of relief
Where you're no longer around
To drag me down
I want to taste sweet relief

I see you've got one
I've got one too
Came with instructions
Along with a tube of Elmer's glue

I like to take mine
Do you take yours too
Out for a Sunday drive
Or a plane flight to Timbuktu

I like to keep mine
Safely by my side
You know how these things
Can get sidetracked in life

Since I only have one
And you only have one too
If I ever find another one
I'll gladly share with you

Now that I've got you
            where I want you
                  I'm going to do with you how I please

Now that I've got you
            where I want you
                  Get ready to cry out for relief

Now that I've got you
            where I want you
                  I'm going to hug you tight and squeeze

Now that I've got you
            where I want you
                  You'll only have eyes for me

Now that I've got you
            where I want you
                  Your desire will be to never leave

Now that I've got you
            where I want you
                  It's only you that I do see

But if I stop
            and think about it
                  It might be you who's gotten me

I've had my eyes wide open
I've had my eyes shut tight
I've had the right idea
But left it out of sight

I've had the question asked
I've been the answering
I've had the quota met
I've dug in mighty deep

I've had a show of hands
I've had a hand to show
I've had a thought that counts
As far as I think I know

I've had an even break
I've broken all the odds
I've had this as of late
A bobble head of nods

I've had it all this close
I've seen it far away
I've had it if you must know
Without a word to say

I've had it up to here
I've added to my list
So when I've had enough
I can say that I've had it

I've made a mess of this life
Which has me wondering why
I get it so wrong
When I don't even try

I just wake up and do
Without a single clue
This being about the only thing
That I follow through

I've looked forward and back
Double checked all the facts
I've made a mess of this life
Which has me smack-dab where I'm at

I've made a mess of this life
Without once thinking twice
If I could do it again
I'm sure again I would find

That every time
With no reason nor rhyme
Try as I might with all of my might
I'd make a mess of this life

I've seen a man give it all up
I've seen a man muster for all it's worth
I've seen the hand hold out the rusty cup
I've seen a man pass his brother up

I've seen a man fall down on his knees
Begging heaven above, God help me please
I've seen a man that sees no need
I've seen plenty of men in captivity

I've seen a man on the verge of something
More often than not walk away with nothing
I've seen a man stay down when falling
Not like you couldn't see that coming

How many times have I seen a man cry
Yet too afraid to look him in the eye
When I think about it all, I often to find
That too makes me want to cry

I've seen a man open up his heart
Then close it down for all it's worth
I've seen a man go for broke
Gain the world then lose it all

I've seen men captive, I've seen men free
Both of them at times find it hard to see
I've seen men much like you and me
Lay it all on the line and change their destiny

I have yet to tell myself the truth
that there no longer is a me
happily
connected to a you

Cause I'm not sure I could handle it
or if I would survive
when I find
you called it quits

So I'll continue to live out the lie
with what is left
of the dreams I had
at the time that all was right

That is why when it comes to you
I have yet to tell myself the truth
that when it comes to me
there no longer is a you

I want love...

to take me out to dinner
to introduce me to her mother
to be my only lover

I want love...

to be the sweet fragrance on the breeze
to share her childhood memories
to smile when she sees me

I want love...

to bring about a change
in public hold my hand
to be the one who understands

I want love...

to be the warmth inside the sweater
the one to make it better
in any kind of weather

I want love...

to be that special moment
to know what I want
and when I want it

I want love...

to be the morning new
the glistening of the dew
the yellow sun in sky of blue

I want love...

...to be you

Please can I have
My America back
The one that I had
When I was a kid
The one that I pledged
Heart covered with hand
It was no secret kept
The day that she left

The one that I knew
In my days of youth
Where the flag proudly flew
Star Spangled Banner the tune
With historys proof
Never to lose
Now where did she move
The country that I once knew

Sitting here hoping you miss me
Cause things ain't been the same
Since that good for nothing city slicker
Keeps trying to give you his last name

Rolling into town
Like a brand new Cadillac
Well I'm here to tell you mister
I want my baby back

He may take you to far off places
Places we could never go
Like over there in Georgia
Where you could visit the streets of Rome

Or take you to a romantic dinner
With candle light just you and he
Toasting you by the riverside
In Paris, Tennessee

You can drive a world away from here
In his fancy sports car like it weren't nothing
Clinking your bottles of Lone Star beer
High stepping it out in Dublin

I even here tell he's taken you
To the sunny shores of Naples
Way down South in Florida
Something I was never able

But can he take you out frog gigging
Or catch fireflies in a jar
In all your worldly gallivanting
Don't you miss the way we were

Has anything he done for you
Been as sweet as chewing on a piece of Bahia grass
While standing in an open field
Watching the clouds blow past

Or listening to a Whippoorwill
Sing out it's nightly song
On the front porch you and me swinging
To it's rhythm all night long

Don't give a hoot about places he takes ya
That's about all I gotta say about that
After all this highfalutin society traveling
All I want is my baby back

If I could be anyone
I wanted to be
After checking my list
I'd still want to be me

From the top to bottom
Then back up again
There's no other skin
I'd fill comfortable in

I'm pretty unique
There's no one out there
Exactly like me
No not anywhere

Out of all of the people
Around me I see
I think that it's best
That I just stick with me

If your out there like me
Then fill free to be
Your very on you
As you let me be me

Accept who you are
And toss out your list
Without the list
Then you'll never miss

You can take that as fact
Jot it down as true
Do all the math
Me=Me, You=You

Oh Lord my God, I want to die
And you are the reason why
Die to self, die to sin
Die to the man that lives within

The man that's deep within my soul
Too often takes complete control
Have mercy on this sinful man
Chief of sinners that I am

But you oh Lord
Have sealed my fate
To live is Christ
To die is gain

So that is why I want to die
And Lord you are the reason why
Die to self, die to sin
Die to the man that lives within

I want to see what makes you laugh
I want to see what makes you cry
I want to see deep inside your heart
And know the reason why

I want to see the time it takes
To get close to where you are
I want to see where love comes from
As we're held in each other's arms

I want to see our beginning
But I never want to see our end
I want to see it now
And I want to see it then

I want to see the sunshine
Reflect off your morning smile
I want to see it once
And then again a million times

I want to see all your desires
Mixed in with all your needs
I want to watch you sleep at night
So I can see inside your dreams

I want to see the playback
When all of this comes true
Then I want to see it rewound
And watch it all again with you

The old become the new
The secret to the truth
With nothing left to lose

I want to see...

The questions that I have
After all is said
All be answered back

I want to see...

The hands being raised
Not just on special days
When promises are made

I want to see...

A moral compass in accord
Pointing straight due North
For all that it is worth

I want to see...

The flipping of the coin
In the early dawn
When heads the coin lands on

I want to see...

The plans being made
As tracks are being laid
To the worlds peace train

I want to see...

The love that's held within
Every woman, child, and man
Across this great land

I want to see...

Desires of my youth
In everything I do
Ripen in its fruit

I want to see...

Positive the change
Forever and a day
Until the shadows fade

I want to see...

All that I can see
In all that's meant to be
In every single need

I want to see...

From beginning to the end
And when we reach that bend
I want to see it all again

I woke up this morning
To quite a surprise
I had a 42 chest
And round shapely thighs

The hair on my face
Had been replaced
With voluptuous lips
And rosy red cheeks

Guess all the dreaming of women
That I always do
Went straight to my head
And changed a thing or two

I went to the mirror
As every man would
And thought to myself
That I look pretty good

So I searched my wife's closet
Found a little red dress
Nothing to fancy
But enough to impress

Off of the hanger
I pulled it down
Then headed out the door
For a night on the town

Dinning and dancing
In all the places I'd been
I break a few hearts
Cause I don't really like men

I tried to explain
That I woke up this way
Neither delusional nor crazy
And certainly not gay

I'm just thinking I think
Of women most all the time
It must have swirled in my head
Till my body fell into line

I'm not really sure
What I'm going to do
But enjoy being pretty
For a moment or two

Just when my wife
Was warming up to the idea
I woke up again
But this time back to a man

The one thing I learned
Out of all this craziness
Is I look good in red
So I'm keeping the dress

I woke up this morning
To quite a surprise
I had a 42 chest
And round shapely thighs

The hair on my face
Had been replaced
With voluptuous lips
And rosy red cheeks

Guess all the dreaming of women
That I always do
Went straight to my head
And changed a thing or two

I went to the mirror
As every man would
And thought to myself
That I look pretty good

So I searched my wife's closet
Found a little red dress
Nothing to fancy
But enough to impress

Off of the hanger
I pulled it down
Then headed out the door
For a night on the town

Dinning and dancing
In all the places I'd been
I break a few hearts
Cause I don't really like men

I tried to explain
That I woke up this way
Neither delusional nor crazy
And certainly not gay

I'm just thinking I think
Of women most all the time
It must have swirled in my head
Till my body fell into line

I'm not really sure
What I'm going to do
But enjoy being pretty
For a moment or two

Just when my wife
Was warming up to the idea
I woke up again
But this time back to a man

The one thing I learned
Out of all this craziness
Is I look good in red
So I'm keeping the dress

i sometimes wonder...

at the rhythm of the rain
the fever just beneath the skin

the shimmer of the morning dew
the feeling that i get with you

where are unused teardrops stored
why are the lonely so often ignored

do flowers feel love or pain
when they're cut and given away

i wonder...

why love makes the moon so bright
where the day goes when it's chased by the night

why some people feel the need
to sit and watch their lover bleed

if the world stopped how many would want to get off
if the day is over is it forever lost

would you want to bring it back again
but only the parts that you could win

i wonder...

do babies know they fill a need
a mothers heart gladly receives

how two hearts meld into one
when you find the right one to love

could a fish swim the seven seas
how long must you wait for a bended knee

can all in life that you take to the heart
change the outcome of who you are

i wonder...

why i miss love the way i do
why are thoughts unsaid most often true

why does the heart feel a need for change
when there's the slightest bit of rain

could love be given in return
if that love was never earned

if there was no mercy, love, or grace
what would take its place

a few things that i wonder about
i only wish i could figure out
as i sit and wonder...

I'm afraid that if I close my eyes
I'll miss you if you wave goodbye
My tears won't have a place to cry
If I close my eyes

I also won't know when to smile
If you return and my lids are down
I might still be in mid frown
If you come back around

So I'll keep my eyes open wide
Knowing the turning of the tide
Along with all else that I find
I won't ever close my eyes

There are times when
It might seem that
I am lost and forlorn

With no explaining
Of words conveying
What has me acting so withdrawn

It's hard to fake it
What's in the making
As sometimes life just gets to me

But I keep coming
Back to your loving
As I would not think to change a thing

The way you know me
The way that holds me
Brings comfort deep down in my soul

Although at times
I still might find
The world I'm in losing control

I might withdraw
Before a fall
A safety mechanism protecting me

But for the record
There is no better
And I would not think to change a thing

And on those days
Life's thrown hard my way
Knocking me out of place

My heartbeat
Again tells me
Of the promise that I made

I can take my bouts of mood
If you can too
And if you do, please forgive me

Which is a reflection
Of our loves acceptance
And on that I would not think to change a thing

Jacob dear you are still here
Living in my heart
With every beat, the memory
Of you held in my arms

The day we met although short lived
It's you I still adore
But who am I to question why
God needed you more

As surly as I live we'll meet again
On the other side
But until then I will keep you in
Both my heart and mind

Most folk don't know
That Casper the Ghost
Has a twin brother
Meaner than most

While Casper always leans
To the friendly side
His evil twin Jasper
Cheats and he lies

It's all that he knows
If truth be said
On both this side and that
Of the living dead

Casper does his best
To lend a helping hand
While his brother floats high his boat
In his demands

Which scares everyone
This side of the grave
The way Jasper whines
And misbehaves

Is it any wonder
Casper does his best
To keep his brothers blunders
Hid from the kids

Jealousy
My fine feathered friend
At the most inopportune moment
You come flying in
Creating havoc
Before you take leave
What is there to say
Jealousy

    *Jealousy
    You take the leap
    Fly off the handle
    Before time to think
    Take any situation
    To the utmost degree
    Where is your confidence
    Jealousy

        Jealousy
        The crazy train's set to leave
        You take to the tracks
        Before you digest what you see
        Reaching conclusions
        That only you heed
        You need to take a back seat
        *Jealousy

Jerusalem, O Jerusalem
After all these many years
Your city streets are still flooded deep
With Rachel's salty tears

Crying for her children
As any mother does in love
Will mankind ever find
The peace we seek in God

Jerusalem, O Jerusalem
Can you see the coming storm
It's not too far off in the distance
The way that things are going

I pray for you daily
That you heed salvation's sound
And that in God's grace and mercy
May your heart be found

Jerusalem, O Jerusalem
I feel your hurt and need
As the tears of Rachel
Still flood your city streets

Jessica, I've seen your bruises

The ones you try to hide
You were out shopping, thought no one was looking
While in the grocery isle

Jessica, I knew  this was happening

No need to see the proof
I'm about to do something to that good for nothing
Next time he lays a hand on you

Jessica, I saw you crying

Sitting on that old wooden stump
Just want you to know that no good so and so
May not be there when you get home

Jessica, you can relax now

And be anything that you want
I figured sooner or later I'd find some hungry gators
Down at the edge of Myrtle swamp

Now Jessica's no longer crying...

Straight from the heart of God
A servant to the masses
True to form the Truth in Love
His kingdom everlasting

Bringing into light on that cold Winters night
The Fathers plan set out to free us
Need only open your heart to do your part
Inviting in the love of Jesus

This age old battle already won
From where we stand to Kingdom come
With hope tied tight around  believers lives
Never to come undone

As you fan the flame of this Holy fire
Burning to the outer reaches
A love for all in who you now are
Giving all you have to Jesus

Drawing on His strength falling on your knees
The only way man can be saved
A helper sent to you in deed and truth
Leave it up to God to find the better way

As there is power in His Holy name
The name that's here to free us
From the heart of guilt to the face of shame
That name being Jesus

I go out of my way
To help those in need
You may question why
It's the Jesus in me

What else can I do
For who set me free
Than to honor and serve
The Jesus I need

I try best I can
To live in harmony
Though I know that I
Can make Jesus weep

Life is a struggle
Troubles are deep
And that is the case
Why on Jesus I lean

From early to rise
Into late evening
And all points between
I need Jesus in me

So tired of playing
The same old worn out games
With a nickle and a song
Lifting my own name

Thinking out loud
That I can save myself
You see if not me
Then I ask who else

I'd be rich if I could
Sell off all this shame
Bottled tight up inside
But can't give any of it away

I keep holding out
One of the proud
Jesus is for losers
That's what I'm all about

He takes me just as I am
Down upon my knees
Jesus is for losers
And yes that would be me

I show up right on time
To my own open grave
Stinking to high heaven
Where sin has me its slave

Find I'm drowning in
My own wishing well
Thought back then that I could swim
These days not so well

Got it all locked up tight
Yet I myself have no key
In which to open up
This hardened heart in me

Randomly beat
Facing defeat
Jesus is for losers
I'm pointing fingers at me

Wondering at how
I became part of the crowd
Jesus is for losers
I'll take all that I'm allowed

Never much
On push and shove
Jesus is for losers
When you've had enough

Just as I am
Least we forget
Jesus is for losers
Are we not all there yet...

There is a point in believing
That we all one day must cross
In the mind, in the soul
But mainly in the heart

On the straight and narrow path
Is where my friend you'll find
All the answers that you lack
In the form of Jesus Christ

Whether your walk is gentle
Or you ride the razors edge
We all one day will make it to
The place we're being led

Either by our own dark desires
Which will bring us down in time
Or by the softening of the heart
To the truth of Jesus Christ

So many signs along the way
Can't say you've not been warned
With so much of life at play
Being tattered as well as torn

You'd think that you'd be used to it
At this point in time
Before it is you give up on it
Give in to Jesus Christ

When you find you're sleeping on
A bed of hardened nails
And that life here on earth
Is a living hell

In word and deed the rest you need
I'll tell you where to find
It's the point where your belief
Should be in Jesus Christ

Because life can be a cancer
With Jesus as the cure
If you're looking for answers
My friend look no further

All life has to offer
Is the minimum of hype
When the truth is called for
Call on Jesus Christ