There were some disagreements, that’s common now for sure
Are you angling for leverage or scraping shit off of the floor?
Negotiations risky, even when you’re in the know
You roll the dice once or twice, all eyes are on the dough

Now you might start to wonder why it all turns out the same
My eyes are glazing over, I’ve seen this picture frame
When I think I’ve had enough, the soda’s lost its fizz
No matter what you wish for, surely, it is what it is

Subterfuge and bullying, complaints of great expense
Seducing the outspoken, suppressing discontents
Summon up the guts, comrade, show a little spine
When it goes wrong, where we belong, is on the picket line

I wish I had the answer and could transfer it to song
There’s always some fine reason, why we can’t all sing along
I don’t play the trumpet, anything like Diz        
But when the music stops, surely, it is what it is

And when you dream alone all night        
Despite so what and because
The table may have turned all right         
Now it ain’t ever like it was

The facts may be disputed, then battle lines are drawn
Rook and bishop always try to dominate the pawn
In the final showdown, while the smoke begins to clear 
We will begin to claim a win, if we’re still standing here

There are always disagreements over what it is about
Open up your mind, but, don’t let your brains start falling out
Now if it seems the acid test was more a little quiz
But when the deal is tallied up, surely… it is what it is

It is what it is… Better luck next time
It is what it is… and no matter how you spin it
It is what it is

If These Walls Could Talk

It’s down the road, just a little bit more
The little palace that some of us grew up in
I’ve heard tell of what happened when
Scratch the surface of the time that was then

And here we are, see the city burning
Nero fiddles, and the world is turning                      
Do you remember the ocean in a shell?
Every soldier has a tale to tell

If these walls could talk
Step on a land mine on the battlefield
If these walls could talk
But, for now, my lips are sealed

C’mon walls, now don’t be stubborn
Tell me something I need to know
You’re a wall, I’m a statue
Like you’ve got somewhere else you need to go?

Rolling eyes and secret smiles
In the archives somewhere in the files
By itself, though, none of it is news
Pay attention, and you’ll see the clues                      

If these walls could talk
If you knew now what was concealed
If these walls could talk
Some of the details might be revealed

Inside this house is a pack of lies
The floorboards creak and the radiator cries
In every room, the DNA of pain
Unsaid and unseen the stains that remain

You’ve got the top hat and the magic wand
You know the buttons to make me respond             
The juicy tidbits are locked away inside
Every day a little harder to hide

If these walls could talk… Under countless layers of paint unpeeled
If these walls could talk… Could the damage ever be healed?
If these walls could talk… If you knew what was concealed
If these walls could talk… All the details would be revealed
If these walls could talk                                
If these walls could talk… But, for now, my lips are sealed

There was a message coming over the transom
A malfunction on the merry-go-round
I never knew I could be held for ransom
She turned my side-show upside down

Now I am confounded, and I must admit
Ever since she arrived on the scene
Nothing is quite where I left it
My little chaos machine

Every entrance is a tour-de-force
Now she’s driving me off of the road
Burning bridges as a matter of course
This little universe about to explode

Expectations must be left at the door  
When she steps out of the limousine
Into the vortex, now I must fall for
My little chaos machine

It was a typical morning, when she said hello        
Part of the show, that’s what they say, all part of the show
Comes without warning, like a tornado       
Can’t help but get carried away and I got carried away!

Now I have to clear space in my closet
I need to eliminate all sorts of crap
Unlikely they’ll refund my deposit
I guess for now, you could call it a wrap

When the battles all are conceded
Here at the end of the old routine
How could I know she was all I needed?
She’s my little chaos machine
It was the plan, right from the start
Make sure to bow when you meet the queen
She found room for me in her heart
She’s my little chaos machine

You gotta fold on a bad hand, before it’s all gone for good          
Blacked out on the corner, in a strange neighborhood
I always took the other road, so here I am with you
I fall for a know it all, a rebel without a clue

The song of the jailbird, it’s a tired tale to tell
Who took a wrong turn somewhere, and jumped on the carousel
Doesn’t matter how you ask it, and so from grace I fell
When the nails are in the casket, I’m going straight to hell          

I always jumped the turnstile, I stole pennies from the blind
When my plans backfired, I was so very hard to find
Dropped wallet and Thimblerig, and other games that are employed
I’ll have to pay in good time for every heart that I destroyed

There’s no relief for this old thief, or my old clientele
Who backed the wrong horse gladly and dance the Tarantelle
For me I fear the path is clear, as I’m the infidel
While the jury may be out for you, I’m going straight to hell

Couldn’t break and refused to bend,
There’s no more bridges left to mend

Despite the years of training, in the sky, a trail of sparks
The bogies and the bandits got the highest marks
Might as well keep on strumming, this dog has had its day
I guess I had it coming, let the bagpipes play

There’s no reprieve at midnight, or rumors to dispel
There are still countless tales you’ll never hear me tell
The bank account is empty, there’s nothing left to sell
Like she said, I’m worth more dead, I’m going straight to hell

I thought I saw you signal to me
As you were getting ready to go
Closed my eyes and could finally see you
Don’t you know, now, don’t you know?

Maybe like a periwinkle
What we have, now it could grow
Rain will fall, but your eyes twinkle
Don’t you know, now, don’t you know?

There are surely many ways
If you need to break my heart
Don’t you know I count the days
Ever since we’ve been apart

All the books and all their pages
All those songs on the radio
It’s the wisdom of the ages
Don’t you know, now don’t you know?

Stars still in the dawning skies
Listen to the rooster crow
There’s no holding back the sunrise
Don’t you know, now, don’t you know?

Through the winter and the storming
But then you feel the afterglow
One caress is transforming
Don’t you know, now don’t you know?

See which way the wind is blowing
See the way I’m stuck on you
Don’t you know the signs are showing
What more do I need to do?

All in good time, I’ll hold steady
Easy come and easy go
Oh, my darlin, when you’re ready
Don’t you know, now, don’t you know?

There’s no place left to hide, just rocks upon the ridge
That river’s mighty wide and too far from the bridge
While they all are prosecuting my glorious career
I could go down shooting and end it all right here

And yet I can hear it coming rumbling through the rain
Before I wasn’t sure, but here it comes again
It’s getting pretty bright in the darkness of the night
That must be the headlight of the oncoming train

Now what there is to show for a life spent on the run
A few footprints in the snow when the day is done
I tried to stake my claim, but how can you prepare?
There is no one left to blame when you lose at solitaire

Arriving right on time, it’s easy to explain
It’s a little habit I’ve been trying to maintain
Wish I may, wish I might, make it through one more night
That must be the headlight of the oncoming train

The tea leaves have been read, gazed in the crystal ball
And hanging by a thread, I’m heading for a fall
The treasure is still buried under rocks and locks and chains
At the bottom of the canyon, you’ll find my remains

Once I dined on caviar, once I drank champagne
So now please understand, why it rubs against the grain
When it comes, I must ignite, my last stick of dynamite
That must be the headlight of the oncoming train

If I had known when I was alone
How the stars might align      
How it all could be    
How the sun might shine       
When you appeared to me

It was almost a gift                
When I was adrift
Lost on a wave                       
A floating on the sea
Nothing left to save               
Since you set me free

Now I feel the rain, the wind and the cold
It’s an old refrain, a tale too often been told

And now here we are             
Not so close and so far
I will follow your lead                       
So, we shall see
Take all the time you need    
But, come back to me

If I was a star… if I was a leaf
If I was a stone… it would be a relief

And now here we are             
Not so close and so far
I will follow your lead                       
So, we shall see
Take all the time you need
But come back to me

There’s a clue that I might’ve missed
It’s a thrill I can not resist
Let’s roll it back now, one more time
And we return to the scene of the crime
The scene of the crime
If it’s not too bold
There’s that missing gold
And a tale to be told
Trying to make sense but there’s a lack of evidence at the scene of the crime

With my fingers in the cookie jar
And no-one in the getaway car
And the flavor was too sublime
And we return to the scene of the crime
The scene of the crime
A bloody Waterloo
It’s the old switcheroo
By the way, where were you?
Trying to make sense but there’s a lack of evidence at the scene of the crime

The plan was good, the joint was cased
The whole ordeal was a total waste
And it was the right place
But the wrong wrong time!                        

Hidden treasures in secret drawers
Quiet whispers behind closed doors
If I only had a dime
And we return to the scene of the crime
The scene of the crime
Looking for a break
All I found was fake
I made a big mistake
Trying to make sense but there’s a lack of evidence at the scene of the crime

In every ocean you come upon 
There’s a whale and there’s a shark
And now you know, the con is on
As soon as you can see the mark
You never know the real agenda        
I can look you in the eye
At least until you surrender               
Good start to the art of the lie

Add a touch of confusion
While there is fruit left on the vine
And for the very next illusion
Turning water into turpentine
Sure, it’s a risky enterprise
Some demand and some supply
We all practice in disguise
The heart of the art of the lie

Buy a ticket for the ride
Spin the wheel and roll the dice
All reservations swept aside
Half the value for twice the price

After all, preaching to the choir
All the echoes amplify
Once I know what you desire
The best part of the art of the lie        
Crocodile tears have their uses
As American as a black eye
What’s a few minor bruises?
All part of the art of the lie

Arriving from a distant land, then we began to fall
You said I was drifting, but it’s hard now to recall
Through the cloudy corridor, it was getting hard to see
One thing that was really clear, was you were there with me

In a world I thought I knew, a hint, a tease, a taste, a clue
Of course I remember you, good morning déjà vu

In the forest, in the night I heard the bugle call
The animals were watching us as we approached the wall
There was an endless stairway. There was an unlocked door
And there was a voice assuring me, we’ve all been here before

The colors changed from green to blue, jumping like a kangaroo
Something old and yet so new, good morning déjà vu

There are rooms we’ve never seen and places that we’ve always been
We still have that day we met and other scenes we can’t forget

In my hands this fine guitar… Add this to my repertoire
All the chords, they disappear … We are only sleeping here
Remember this when we’re apart, Put the horse before the cart
Once again, we have returned… Before this tale has been adjourned          

It surely was a journey and we’re going someplace new
But every single word is true, good morning déjà vu

I heard a change is coming
Hard to say exactly when
What is there left here for me?
Before the storm rolls in
Sometimes a pot of honey
Or a thorn stuck in the claw
If a wish could make it so
It’s the luck of the draw

I was hiding in the archives
When suddenly who appears
The ghost of a face in a photo
I hadn’t seen in years
In every place I saw you
Hard to say exactly when
Surely can’t be the last time
‘Til you return again

You might say the deck is loaded       
But, you know that’s against the law
You can’t avoid the tragic kingdom    
It’s the luck of the draw

What I tried to tell you
Before my brain turned to rot
Bits and pieces I remember
So much more that I forgot
There’s a miracle that is coming
Hard to say exactly when
I hear you can beat the odds now
Well, maybe every now and then

There’s still a few more miles to go
Before the last hurrah
Call it what you want, my friend
It’s the luck of the draw
Some might call it destiny
But, that’s the fatal flaw
Call it what you want, my friend
It’s the luck of the draw

It was unexpected, seemed worthwhile         
How could I resist, the eyes and the smile?
Here we go, again, but I don’t mind              
There’s a few weeks before the papers are signed
It was an easy climb… Floating on air, most of the time                              
It’s all good… It’s all too good                                 
Everybody knows there are highs and lows
It’s all too good to be true     
It’s all too good to be true

They called me in to issue a warning…
To list corrections that need to be made
Not sure if I have a job in the morning
Perhaps my welcome had been overstayed
It took me by surprise when I began to realize                                              
It’s all good… It’s all too good
Everybody knows the emperor has no clothes
It’s all too good to be true
It’s all too good to be true                        

They slapped on the handcuffs, pushed me around  
They seemed to imply I was some kind of clown
Not sure if I should laugh or cry                    
I had a rock-solid alibi
The insults turned into praise                        
Yes, my friend, these are the days
It’s all good… It’s all too good
Everybody knows this is the life I chose
It’s all too good to be true

Went out with the boys for a night on the town
We ended up at the same old place
For years they tried to shut it all down
It’s finally gone, without a trace

There was a song or two I needed to hear
Because this life we knew had to disappear
Way too late now for damage control
For the last gasp of rock’n’roll

I drove by the house where you used to live
Everything was different yet it seemed the same
Those devastating looks only you could give
Hold a place of honor in my hall of fame

There was a song or two I heard them sing
I’m pretty sure what the future will bring
Here’s hoping they’ll let me out on parole
Before the last gasp of rock’n’roll

The monster has fallen into a ditch
I might as well crawl in, now ain’t that a bitch?

Seems I’m babbling like an old buffoon
In a riddle no one needs to decode
But now it’s last call at the old saloon
And its getting time for me to hit the road

What should I pay to bribe the guard?
You can hit me now with that final card
There’s no one left out on patrol
Before the last gasp of rock’n’roll

Maybe I’ve been on this planet too long
Maybe I’m a sad old foolish soul
I still want to hear my favorite song
Before the last gasp of rock’n’roll

Rollin’ on in like a hurricane
Stoli shots and crap champagne                            
Ain’t no way one can predict
The type of damage she might inflict
When that gal strolls into view
Spicy hot like a vindaloo
She’s a runaway train to destroy your day           
C’mon, c’mon, get out of the way
Get out of the way

When she walks by all heads spin
Knockin’ you out of whatever you’re in
Polka dot dress and a purse to match
She’s the epidemic you’d like to catch
Makes you feel like you’re the one
Hard to stop once you’ve begun
It’s a dumpster fire in a pink beret
C’mon, c’mon, get out of the way
Get out of the way

Take a walk downtown if you’ve got nothing to do       
It won’t be hard for a gal like her to catch somebody new
She’s got one tugging on the line    
While you’re waiting for the sun to shine

Broken hearts are a cryin’ shame
And the price you pay to be in the game
Everyone knows there’s no guarantee
We always see what we want to see
You need a firehose to put out the flame
When you come to, she’ll forget your name
What happens next, I can’t say
C’mon, c’mon, get out of the way, get out of the way
Like a misfire with a ricochet, get out of the way
You’re a fresh hors d'oeuvre to a bird of prey, get out of the way,
Get out of the way, Get out of the way

I admit I’ve got some flaws, maybe more than a few
There’s lousy crap I know I’ve done, I wish I didn’t do
I told lies by the pack, I know there’s no turning back
Now, I’ll be good for you… We’re much better off as two  

I’ll admit you are only one here in this world for me
Everyone else I’ve come upon brings me pain and misery
OK, this time you’re right… No need for us to fight
Now, I’ll be good for you… We’re much better off as two  

I’m coming home tonight with my packet of pay
Whatever it takes to make it right, I’m gonna find the way
I’ll fix the door and I’ll plaster the wall
I’ll make you dinner for sure, and that’s not all…
I’ll be good for you… We’re much better off as two

I gotta say don’t turn me away, it wouldn’t be fair
There’s no critical damage here that we can’t somehow repair
No need to turn the screws, don’t you see there’s so much to lose
Now, I’ll be good for you… We’re much better off as two  

Everyday without fail, I’ll take down the trash and bring up the mail                      
I’ll keep you safe from harm, I’ll be your goddamn lucky charm
Here for you through thick and thin, if you say we can try it again  
Now, I’ll be good for you… We’re much better off as two
We’re better off as two, We’re better off as two

Standing on the platform, the train is running late    
Nothing I can do, I’ve got to wait
It comes when it comes, in this daily grind   
There’s a runaway locomotive, going through my mind      
Don’t you know all I want to do                    
Making it home to you

Now it’s an old tire ready to explode            
Another sabotage on my side of the road
But what’s mine is yours as we roll down the line    
It’s a small part of the grand design
I hope you know all I want to do                   
Making it home to you

There’s a million places in the world to see
There ain’t no other place I need to be

I can not recall where… where should I begin?        
Much as I might like, I can not give in
I can see on the horizon not so far away       
Precious drops of time, I want you to stay
Don’t you know all I want to do                    
Making it home to you
Don’t you know all I want to do                    
Making it home to you