Conventional Wisdom

You're not right and I'm not right.
Sometimes two wrongs just might
be the answer. There's no danger.
What if I say I won't try to change you
Or rearrange you

I'm not the one and you're not the one
But maybe we're not just anyone
comes through that door. Hit the floor
runnin' and gunnin' and hopin' for more
There has to be more

We're no us but maybe we could be
something amazing, and amazingly
productive, not self-destructive
Like elements engaging and attractive
Like elements reactive

Conventional wisdom says don't try
Sometimes not all wisdom is wise
Take it in stride, set it aside
No expectations, but fully alive
Hopeful and still alive

Erosion

Faith, belief in what cannot be seen
Not always what it seems
Just heed the master plan
Ignore the logic if you can
I really want to see
Did we invent this thing?
Is it a part of me?

I've heard the cries, I've seen the wars
But I still can't shake the feeling
That what we are is not the thing that we want to be

Give me a clue, give me a sign
Give me a reason to get in line
Behind the masses, join the throng
Everyone's right and everybody else is wrong
Passing the plate, another example
How can you smile as the people are trampled
Under foot...God's will doesn't seem to apply

I've heard the cries, I've seen the wars
But I still can't shake the feeling
That what we are is not the thing that we want to be

Trust, the essence of the Shining Way
But there are so many ways
Salvation at your door
Just read this colorful brochure
I really want to see
Are they deceiving me?
Are they the enemy?

This Is The Day It All Falls Apart

I've got something in my head
And I've got something in my heart
Sometimes these things are one and the same
Sometimes these things are far, far apart
I'd like to know which path to choose
I'd like to find my way
But in the end, there's not much I can do
And nothing...nothing at all to say

There's a devil on my left shoulder
And an angel on my right
One tells me I should walk away
The other one says stand and fight
Sometimes its not that easy
To tell which one is which
I think I know the difference
But when I close my eyes, they always seem to switch

Today is the next day of the rest of our lives
Today is the best day to end this constant parade of lies
Today is a good day to think about a fresh start
Today is the day that everything falls apart

There's something on my mind
But what it is I don't think I'm gonna tell
There's some people I should talk to
But really...they can all go straight to hell
There's some shit I need to do
But I really don't want to start
But there's not a lot of time left
Before everything begins to fall apart

Today is the next day of the rest of our lives
Today is the best day to end this constant parade of lies
Today is a good day to think about a fresh start
Today is the day that everything falls apart

Paradox

I want to talk on the phone, I want to call you at home
I want to seal myself off from this world that you own
Why don't you hold on tight? Why don't you just let go?
Why do you keep saying yes when you really mean no?

I want to give to you, I want to take from you
I want to lie to you, I want to be lied to
I want to hold you close, I want to push you away
I want to be with you always, just not for today

I want to treat you like china, I want to wear you like gold
I want to chop you into pieces so you'll never grow old
I want to hold your hand, take a walk in the park
I want to throw you to the floor, I want to take you in the dark

C^3I

All knowing, lifeless I wait
Watching and listening
Secrets and rumors are the blood in my veins
What you're doing, I know
Who you're with, where you go
You wanna be alone?
I don't think so
In dreams my servants dog your every move
In darkest corners I hit my groove

Information stained with blood and gold
(Not gold but numbers)
Numbers are credit and credit is access
These keys to locks on invisible doors
Swift like light, beautiful, symmetrical
In like Flynn, leave no trace
This is no foot race

(unknown)

Lifeless from the start
Lifeless we depart
Breathing living dieing
Together or apart

Faceless we begin
Faceless at the end
Eating fucking killing
Take whatever form will win

Moving through the maze
Living out of phase
Timelessly exist and
Wait for end of days

Lifeless we begin
Lifeless to the end
Striking out in anger
Striking foe and friend

Lifeless from the start
Lifeless we depart
Breathing fucking dieing
Never be apart

Protector

You capture my fancy with your bottomless eyes
You press my trigger with your stories, your lies
You give me a reason, make me your protector
You control me, I'm not sure if that's wise

You consecrate me like I'm the chosen one
I need to save you before you come undone
Your problems and your pills, I think I've seen this before
You take, I take 'til we can't take anymore

You are my falling angel, one of the favored few
I see your beacon I come to rescue you
I seem balanced and steady as I throw you the line
But my love is a quicksand and it will drag you down too

Save yourself
Run and hide
Save yourself
Stay alive
Save yourself
Forget about me
I can't save you
You won't save me

Save yourself
Run and hide
Save yourself
Stay alive
Save yourself
Forget about me
I can't save you
You won't fucking save me

My Dark Secret

There is a place deep inside of me
A place that you can never see
And though we may be close
Sharing more than most
Its true that you can never know
My dark secret

We could turn out to be
Something really special
But there's a wall
A wall you'll never climb
There'll never be a time
For my dark secret

This thing may tear me apart
It may rip a hole right through my heart
But its clear as any bell
Despite my private hell
Its something I can never tell
My dark secret

The Strange and Wonderful Girl

She first came to me one long lost day
A spring-time flower along my way
Unique and fairer than the best
More fragile still than all the rest

Day by day upon my trek
I saw her waiting by the wreck
of my redemption, lifeless still
as I meandered aimlessly and without will

Soon the scene became familiar
Springtime moving into summer
Obsession grew each passing, perfect
Second As the stars turned into lines

Then suddenly upon a dare
I crossed a line 'tween here and there
And she was gone, not where but when
Never to return again

Deepest Sleep

Drifting on a sea of light
Your breath the wind pushing me
Imagined yet not there your gaze I see
Your hand on my shoulder

Watching as the world passes
Surroundings growing younger
Call out but my voiceless cry is not heard
Life's memories slip by

Fading into dark slumber
The music calls me softly
Pulsing beats carry me like gentle waves
Deeper into the night

Dreamless and unconscious
Remains of the day depart
Silent and still, and when I awaken
The sun will be shining

Introduction

Over the years I've written a number of song lyrics/poems. Some have been lost, others have not passed the test of time, however a number of them do seem to not totally suck. This has been going on somewhat sporadically since high school. Generally, but not always, I think of these as "song lyrics" rather than poems, and I often have melodies in my head that go along with them.

The only time they've ever been "published" was when Bureau of Control was actively recording...you can click on that link to hear that project if you wish. Those lyrics will probably end up here at some point. When that project went dormant, the writing stopped for a number of years, but then mysteriously picked up again in 2008. Overall I'm not very prolific, but it comes and goes. I am going to start with the more recent material and work my way back. At any point I reserve the right to not post something if on further review I decide its completely awful. Feedback is welcome, of course, but be gentle...we song writers are a sensitive lot. No, I'm kidding...feel free to lay it on me.

I may or may not include some commentary on inspiration or meaning, but in most cases its not even clear to me. Something not fully understood triggers this stuff, and I often don't really have a clear, conscious meaning in mind when I write it. Interpretations welcome.

Finally, a word of warning: Some of these are more or less R-rated. If language, imagery or bad poetry offends you, turn back now. Yes Mom, this means you. :-)

Naturally, everything here is (c) Jeff Smith. You have to ask me if you want to include any of it in your "How Not To Write Poetry" writing manual.