POCKET SYMPHONIES FOR LONESOME SUBWAY CARS
WE HAVE MICE
sometimes at night i watch the mice across the kitchen floor
i used to think that they came from the fireplace
but they come in under the pantry door
they get so close i could touch them all
on the nights i wait up for your call
the landlord asks if we've seen them
& she sets traps but i just spring them
the roommates say we should kill them all
but they stay up w/ me on nights you never call
& some nights you never call
TONIGHT WAS A DISASTER
you went out w/ your best sweater on
w/ every intention of dancing til dawn
but when the dj played that song
it all went wrong
& crying in the cab ride home
w/ the frank sinatra on the radio
but it might as well have been lil kim
when every song you hear still reminds you of him
& you'll say that it's no big deal
but it's the shake in your voice that gives away how you feel
& you couldn't have slammed the door any faster
yeah you'll say that it's no big deal
but it's the tears on your face that give away how you feel
they say tonight tonight was a disaster
SUITCASE IN HAND
at the station the train is leaving at eight
& nothing's gonna make me stay
hey hey
no room for trouble in this old suitcase
& nothing's gonna make me stay
hey hey
& i'd call if there was something to say
but hey hey hey
& nothing's gonna make me stay
hey hey
& though it would have been a year in may
hey hey hey
& nothing's gonna make me stay
hey hey
CALTRAIN SONG
i heard the words come out of my mouth
& i watched your face fall
you turned from me to the window of the train
& you wouldn't say anything at all
the stations passed us by
& you still wouldn't look me in the eye
this is regret
this is the 7:10 train into san francisco
the conductor opens the door
& i don't have a boyfriend anymore
DYING BATTERIES
i know you're lying
when you start talking like your batteries are dying
the words get slow
when there are things you don't want me to know
but before you let the room go to ice
i remind you that the song on the radio is nice
so let's just listen
OH CONTESSA
the contessa deluxe
that you bought at laney swap meet for seven bucks
sat on the passenger side the whole way down
to fullerton ca your home town
i'm writing this letter to say
that i read your last letter for the fifth time today
i've memorized the typos under x's & the o's
punched clean through the paper
that typer you bought w/ the c button bent
so you have to use the sign for the cent
& the stamps you stick
on the envelopes you lick
are what keep me close to you in your parents' backyard
punching the typewriter keys too hard
BUS SONG
we ran to the stop as the bus pulled away
impossibly worn out from the seventh shared cigarette of the day
i caught my breath as i watched you
swear at the tail lights of our missed 22
under a sky of darkening blue
it could be half an hour until our bus comes around
by then the sun will be down
YR BOYFRIEND
you pretend that it's alright
to wait up half the night
when he can't be bothered to phone
you spend another night alone
i'm not trying to make you mad
or act like your dad
it's just time that you were told
your boyfriend's an asshole
CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE IN A GREEN COTTON SWEATER
i gave back the t-shirt that you'd always wear
i went by your work & just left it there
all the leaves are brown
& it's autumn now
it was a summer fling
don't take it personal or anything
you can wear your heart on your sleeve
but pull your sweater over
no more kisses under shooting stars
no more rides on the handlebars
no more drive-ins
in the back seat of your parents' car
it was a summer fling
& it didn't mean anything
& you can cry your eyes out on the phone
oh yeah
#10
do you remember when you were still in town
before you abandoned all of us for the puget sound
there were seven of us living in that dilapidated flat
w/ questionable plumbing & a grey cat
you sold your records pushed your mattress to the street
& said goodbye california i've conceded to defeat
you bought a one way ticket on a northbound greyhound bus
i can't say that we weren't jealous
goodbye good luck goodbye
DESTORY THE EVIDENCE
you say you don't want me coming around anymore
you sit in the window but you won't answer the door
the phone rings & rings
you won't let me bring you things anymore
there are 26 steps to your door
but i won't be counting those anymore
i've got seventeen seconds on in my room tonight
& when that's over i've got faith so alright alright alright
i burned all the pictures & let the letters loose
taped over the mixes & cut the noose
there are 26 steps to your door
but i'm not counting anymore
LESLEY GORE ON THE TAMI SHOW
i finally wrote you the letter
w/ all the things i've been meaning to say
but i was walking to your apartment
& the letter fell out of my pocket on the way
seven pages on 16th street
i lost my words under tires & feet
& you'll probably never have a clue
coz i'll probably never say a thing to you
i've been watching out the window of the bus
every time it passes by
just to see if you were outside
smoking cigarettes & passing time
i think of things that i wanted to say
when i ride by almost every day
but you'll probably never have a clue coz
i'll probably never say these things to you
OH ILLINOIS
so nice to hear from you
it's been a while it's true
still gluing up your stamps i see
i never even used the last ones you sent me
what do you do with your days
other than write to boys far away
you work two jobs your apartment sucks
your new boyfriend's a lousy fuck
thanks for the tape the photos are swell
i guess chicago's treating you well
you say you've got my picture on the wall
you sent your number for me to call
i guess i would if i could afford to
coz i know that you're bored too
i guess the only thing that's stopping me
is once that we got talking
i'm afraid of what we might start to say
& i don't want to start missing you again
THE SUBWAY HOME
it gets worse before it gets better
that's what your best friend said in the letter
all the pictures are still on the shelf
& you're barely making rent by yourself
your mom is worried for your health
you said it right from the start
these sorts of things fall apart
you take the subway home after work
from your job as a retail clerk
you're spending all the money you've saved
records keep the quiet away
up all night and sleep all day
he said it right from the start
these sorts of things fall apart
AIRPORT SAMBA
i waited w/ you until the woman called your flight
& when i wished you a safe trip you wouldn't look me in the eye
you tried to think of something else when i kissed you at the gate
it was too sad a moment to try to contemplate
i wish that there was something i could do or say
to make it so you didn't have to go away
i wish that you would look at me but i don't want to see you cry
i wish that you would turn around you never even said goodbye
all lyrics by Owen Ashworth
|