Tainted Steel

 

Once this blade was fresh and young

As sharp as my own tongue

And hand as quick to deal

Judgment without repeal

 

Confrontation with strong ideals

Unwilling to spin the wheel

To change my line of sight

Mine was the only way – that’s right

 

Chorus

Tainted silver steel

Still holds and old appeal

But it seems not longer real

This flashing blade of mine

Held a strength I can’t define

But it’s no longer part of me

Can no longer slay my fear

This Tainted sliver steel

 

Now time has changed all that

And the edge has long gone flat

No longer right to carry on

No longer steadfast at my side

 

Stained by neglect and crime

Of idealistically closed minds

No longer living in my prime

No longer willing to die  - for my vicious pride

 

Chorus

Tainted silver steel

Still holds and old appeal

It’s power made me reel

This blade would bring my fall

Now it stands against the wall

It’s no longer part of me

No longer can my conscience wield

This Tainted silver steel

 

The years have cleared my sight

My arm can’t bare my might

My mind has slipped the knots

With which a youthful man was caught

 

Growing old with ragged rust

I know is seems it’s lost it’s shine

As I know I have lost mine

A small portion of my pride – I’ve finally set aside

 

 

I Can Still See Your Eyes

 

In amongst my dreams

I can still see your eyes

When I am fast asleep

I know your embrace

 

Show me your face tonight

Help me drift towards your side

Just where I want to be

In amongst my dreams

 

Let me see your gentle side

That determined fire inside

I can still see your eyes

And that mischievous smile

 

Where have you gone

Where have you gone away

Where have you gone

When you left me that day

 

Its been a year and a day

But I can still see your eyes

And I feel your embrace

Just like the day before yesterday

 

Just like the day before

That determined fire inside

And that mischievous smile

Turned its back and walked away

 

Where have you gone

Where have you gone away

Where have you gone

When you went away

 

Still sometimes I dream

And sometimes I feel

And once in a while

I can still see your eyes

 

 

Let it Burn

 

Just a little spark

Makes a little flame

That grows toward inferno

Red hot blaze of pain

 

Just a single match

Touches fragile tinder

I’ve carried it to long

Now its flaming rage

 

Cast it all away

Flames keep reaching higher

Superheated sanctuary

Burn it all away

 

I’ve got to let it burn

Just got to let it burn

Burn away this evil

Burn it out of me

 

I’ve got to let it burn

Let the flames take it away

Cast everything into the fire

Wind takes ashes – cleans it all away

 

A wispy trail of smoke

A slowly dying ember

Peace and quite settle in

For a moment – free again

 

 

This song is not directed at anyone.  Actually it is introspective but ended up working better from the “you” rather than the “I” perspective.

 

Let the Hammer Drop (Slow and ponderous rhythm)

 

Let the hammer drop On the nails On the cross that you bare Martyred by your pride   Tell us all how you have suffered for us Show us the scars of your saving grace All that you do for the world… around you Your life… your life is sacrificed tonight   Let the hammer drop On the nails On your coffin you built With your illness and guilt   You ask for mercy… we offer peace We’ve tried holding you up… until you can stand But you are the one who cannot forgive Yourself – your shame – your lies   Let the hammer drop On the nails Of the house that you raised In the sand of your self-pity   You are the victim; life’s done this to you Open your eyes; take a look around you Your hand has put all these pieces in place And your house will crumble… if you can’t see this … this truth… it’s all in your eyes

Let the hammer drop On the nail For the picture you took Of your body on the alter… forfeit your life for me   You’ve written the book of your life… sacrifice Posed for a picture on the last page… sacrifice Hoped you could give your last drop… sacrifice Hoped we all noticed your…  … sacrifice   Let the hammer drop On the nails Piercing your hands and feet As you try to become your own vision of God   … in your mind … in your sickness … in your mind

 

 

 

I Once Walked Alone

 

Part 1

I had a dream I walked alone

Not a guide in barren lands

Empty shadow in the dust

Signs ahead are lost to rust

 

Stricken with a vacant stare

Sandy oceans of lost despair

Can I find my way out there?

Solitude I just cannot bare

 

You promised you’d be true to me

Always walkin next to me

Cast off like the faith I lost

One set of footprint in the dust

 

Now I know you carried me

Land devoid of life and sea

Now I know you did for me

All the things that I could not see

 

Part 2 

Purposeful stride, steadfast stare

Confidence fills the surrounding air

Two steps forward only one step back

Knowing than I’m right on track

 

 

Anger   (Inspired by Jimi)

 

Anger, torn from the book

Of secrecy and evil lies

Ripples ‘cross the surface

Coloring in crimson red

 

Fear, heeds the distant call

Threatening with its emptiness

Accusing from within

Changing tones along the fringe

 

Pride, cries out indignantly

How can you hurt me so

Can’t you see who I am

Cold resolve starts turning blue

 

Vengeance, dances with the better way

Devising plans for your demise

Or should I look the other way

Menace adds an icy hue

 

Purple hair ablaze with an eerie glow

Flashes into red hot friction

Revenge a turbulent swirling green

But forgiveness is a soothing white.

 

 

 

Sitting Beside a Dying Fire

 

Sitting beside a dying fire Glowing embers in the night Cooling evening air surrounds A figure huddled in his thoughts   Tranquil is the nearby river Turbulent the inner man Peaceful breeze through yonder trees Might fan the flames inside   However he might try today To cast his troubles far away This untamed and simple place Can only pacify a scornful hunger   Seeking peace in a reclusive nature Contains the trouble like the storm Fury released in a blinding flash Thunderous booming crash   The world goes on its merry way Nature ebbs and flows and seasons Change upon another’s whim Another day fades into night’s obscurity

But this struggle is woven through him As a dripping cloak he wears indignantly Praising his self-righteous sacrifice Unaware of the burden that he bares   Visions of the shifting stars He cannot see beneath his load The constellations tell his fortune But these wonders he can’t feel   The man stares into the dying fire His features flicker in the flames The fire snaps, “cast off your burden We shall both be free again tonight”   As the cloak falls into flames It carries scars of life’s lost battles Leaving tired eyes to wonder at Dawn emerging through the dewy haze

 

If I Tripped and Fell in Love

 

If I tripped and fell in love

I got off easy

If I slipped when I fell in love

I got off light

And if I only stubbed my toe

Well, I guess I did alright

If I only broke my arm

Then I got off pretty light

 

If I only lost my mind

Then God was good to me indeed

And if it only broke my heart

It won’t be long ‘till I’m alright

Well, if it only cost my sight

I’d see more clearly right away

And if I only lost my soul

I’ll find I didn’t need it anyway

 

Chorus:

If I fall in love today

I’d be a lucky man, I’d say

And if I were still in love tomorrow

I’d have twice the fun and half the sorrow

And if I’m still in love at 10:00

We’ll just turn the lights out then

And if you’re still by my side when the sun does rise

I’ll know the price was worth the prize.

 

I’ve paid the price and lost the love I’ve found

It feels like about a hundred times

But I still stand with spirit strong

I hope some day soon you’ll come along

And when you do, I’ve just one thing to say

When the piper brings the bill to pay

It’s a good thing love is blind today

And I wonder which limb I won’t need anyway

 

Chorus:

If I fall in love today

I’d be a lucky man, I’d say

And if I were still in love tomorrow

I’d have twice the fun and half the sorrow

And if I’m still in love at 10:00

We’ll just turn the lights out then

And if you’re still by my side when the sun does rise

I’ll know the price was worth the prize

 

Last Part Spoken:

And if you accidentally come my way

And I happen to see you with my remaining eye

I lisp hi through my missing teeth and shake your left hand with mine

Maybe you can support my remaining leg and walk with me

But not to fast for my artificial heart

Toward the sunset or at least

That really shiny thing over there

And as we walk, soul to prosthetic soul,

I hope to hear you say, “how romantic”

But speak up, my hearing aids were cheap

But if you even whisper, “I love you”

I’ll surely hear

And all that came before will disappear

 

 

Into Another Day

 

Rage lives in me

It breeds hateful deeds

Changes what I see

Exploding inside of me

 

I’m not putting down

My anger today

Drag these chains

Along tomorrow

Live this burden

Again another day

Carry this rage

Into another day

Fear feeds on me

It clings to me

Claws tearing my skin

Bleeding dry my faith

 

I’m not putting down

My fear today

I going to drag this beast

Along tomorrow

I’m going to live its lie

Again another day

I’m going to carry this fear

Into tomorrow

Self-righteousness

My ugly mask

Keeps me apart

From the world I seek

 

I’m not putting down

This misshapen thing

I’m going to drag this evil

Along tomorrow

I’m going to live this disease

Again another day

I’m going to carry this thing

Into tomorrow

Enslaved to my pride

Cannot look inside

What I seen in me

Is just not real

 

I’m not putting down

My ego today

Drag this misconception

Along tomorrow

I’m going to live this image

Again another day

I’m going to be my own God

Into another day

 

(Slow Tempo)

Flaws of mind and spirit

I cannot cast aside

Don’t want to live this life of lies

Don’t want to live in vain

Show me what’s real inside

I know  I can live better

Someday I’ll not have to hide

Just have to live in stride

Take along an open mind

Into another day