The Pains Of Being Pure
At Heart
The Pains of Being
Pure at Heart
Contender
Look what you've done
What do you have now?
Things that never come
Is it time to come down?
At the back of a crowded scene
You saw the boys in white sing "I'm a pretender"
You never were a contender
I heard your same old tune, singing city sins
Like you were the first one
Gave up books for film, gave up film for time
now that you've got none
A contender
You never were a contender
Come Saturday
I can't stand to see your picture
On the dresser where I left you
Another sunny day and you're 80 miles away
Tuesday
But come Saturday, you'll come to stay
You'll come to sway in my arms
Who cares if there's a party somewhere?
We're gonna stay in
Come Saturday, you'll come to say
Maybe there's no harm
In a wasted summer with no drummer
We're gonna stay in
I could stand to be a fixture
In your faded family pictures
But I can't see into the sunset
All I know is that you're perfect right now
You don't have to write at all
Tou don't have to make a call
I know that you will come again and again
You don't have to dress to please
Perhaps undress for me
I know that when you come we'll be staying in
Young Adult Friction
Between the stacks in the library
Not like anyone stopped to see
We came they went, our bodies spent
Among the dust and the microfiche
Dark winters wear you down
Up again to see the dawn
In your worn sweatshirt
And your mothers old skirt
It's enough to turn my studies down
Now that you feel, you say it's not real
I never thought I would come of age
Let alone on a moldy page
You put your back to the spines
And you said it was fine
If there's nothing really left to say
You're taking toffee with your vicodin
Something sweet to forget about him
If you go your own way I will go my own way
And we'll never speak of it again
Don't check me out!
This Love Is Fucking Right!
Sweet sister, can't you find the words to say?
Your mister, he don't treat you the right way
In a dark room I can see you shining bright
You don't have to tell me twice, it's alright
In a dark room we can do just as we like
You're my sister, and this love is fucking right!
Can you go home?
Look your best friend in the eye
No, you can't go home
After where you slept last night
The Tenure Itch
His indiscretions, oh you don't mind
He says your thoughts need form
But your form's not hard to find
These late night sessions, he's master still
Just one more lesson
Leaves you twisting to his will
Every night he comes and goes again
If it isn't right, it isn't him
He makes corrections, you shut the blinds
You're talking less and less
But the words aren't hard to find
His last suggestion, it makes you ill
Still one more lesson
Leaves you twisting to his will
Stay Alive
Come on down
The furthest reaches of your nowhere town
They suck you in
The black hole kids won't let you free again
Don't you try to shoot up the sky
Tonight we'll stay alive
When it's gone
You sit and stare until the golden dawn
Can't you see?
His arms are hell and you won't ever leave
Everything With You
Start off "Sometimes…" Now it's our time
Are you with me?
Strange teenager, waiting for death at 19
Are you with me?
I'm with you and there's nothing left to do
Tell me it's true
I'm with you and the stars are crashing through
Tell me it's true
I want everything with you
Now your someone says you're no one
Are you with me?
Strange teenager, you'll never know death at 19
Are you with me?
A Teenager In Love
Now you go unseen, perfect you'll stay hidden
And I can dream of things you'll never see
Alli, please, if you are braver than the rest
There's little left that could dispute your claim
And when you'd finally gone
He tells me "She was dead all along"
He was wrong, he hadn't lived a day
The way you lived your final days
a teenager in love with Christ and heroin
Now you feel ashamed
But he feels nothing of the kind
He talks of things he wouldn't mind to try
Sometime
But you've got little left to give
His touch is not a thing you'll ever miss
And if you made a stand
I'd stand with you 'til the end
But you don't need a friend when you're
A teenager in love with Christ and heroin
Hey Paul
You say you've been waiting
Waiting for someone
Waiting for some song
waiting since when you were born
For a moment when everything's alright
And everything's all white
But I just can't wait anymore
Hey Paul, where have you gone?
I want to come along
Hey Paul, what went so wrong?
Have you gone away or been left behind?
You know that I don't mind
You know that you're my kind
'Cuz when I hear "Churchbells"
Or when I see fireflies
You don't know I won't lie
One of these days you'll belong
Gentle Sons
If you shut out the sun
The day will never come
If you turn on your side
This night won't come undone
Now you say you need a friend
But we can't live again
Monday morning comes too fast
You stumble down the diamond path
And every step will be your last
The sunken eyes you just can't see
Remind me how you'll never leave
And every breath could be your last
Now you stand in the rain saying
"Nothing has changed at all"
Save the lines in your eyes
That remind me of summer's fall
Oh no, you say you need a friend
But we can't live again