A PERFECT CIRCLE
Mer De Noms (2000)
Run desire, run this sexual being Run him like a blade to and through the heart No conscience, one motive to cater to the hollow Screaming feed me, heal, fill me up again Temporarily pacify this hungering So grow, libido, throw Dominoes of indiscretions down Falling all around in cycles, in circles Constantly consuming, conquer and devour ’Cause it's time to bring the fire down Bridle all this indiscretion Long enough to edify And permanently fill this hollow Screaming feed me...
Overcome by your moving temple Overcome by this holiest of altars So pure, so rare To witness such an earthly goddess That I've lost my self control Beyond compelled to throw this dollar Down before your holiest of altars I'd sell my soul My self esteem, a dollar at a time One chance, one kiss One taste of you, my magdalena I bear witness to this place This prayer, so long forgotten So pure, so rare to witness such an earthly goddess That I'd sell my soul My self esteem, a dollar at a time For one chance, one kiss One taste of you, my black Madonna I'd sell my soul...
Don't disturb the beast The tempermental goat The snail while he's feeding on the Rose Stay, frozen compromise What I will I am Bend around the wind silently thrown about, again I'm treading so Soft and lightly compromising My will I am I am, I will, so no longer Will I lay down play dead, play your doe In the headlights, locked down and terrified Your deer in the headlights shot down and horrified When push comes to pull, comes to shove Comes to step around this self-destructing dance that never would've ended till I, Rose, I roared aloud here I will, I am I am, I will, so no longer Will I lay down? Lay dead, klay this Kneel down, unshy, martyr, pitiful I Rose, I roared, I will, I am
You're such an inspiration for ways that I will never ever choose to be Oh, so many ways for me to show you how your savior has abandoned you Thank (fuck) your god He did this, took all you had and left you this way Still you pray, never stray, never taste of the fruit Never thought to question why It's not like you killed someone It's not like you drove a hateful spear into his side Praise the one who left you broken down and paralyzed He did it all for you, ohh - He did it all for you, ohh Oh, so many ways for me to show you how your dogma has abandoned you Pray to your Christ, to your god, never taste of the fruit Never stray, never break, never choke on a lie Even though he's the one who did this to you Thought to question why It's not like you killed someone It's not like you drove a spiteful spear into his side Talk to Jesus Christ as if he knows the reasons why he did it all to you, ohh - He did it all for you, ohh
Metaphor for a missing moment Pull me into your perfect circle One womb, one chain, one resolve Liberate this will to release us all Gotta cut away, clear away Snip away and sever this umbilical residue, keeping me from killing you And from pulling you down with me, in here I can almost hear you scream One more medicated peaceful moment Give me one more medicated peaceful moment And I don't wanna feel this overwhelming hostility I don't wanna feel this overwhelming hostility Kill it, gotta cut away, clear away Snip away inside of this umbilical residue Gotta cut away, clear away Snip away inside of this umbilical residue, keeping me from killing you Snip away inside of this Keeping me from killing you
Threw you the obvious And you flew with it on your back A name in your recollection Down among a million same Difficult not to feel a little bit disappointed, and passed over When I've looked right through to see you naked and oblivious And you don't see me But I threw you the obvious Just to see if there's more behind the eyes of a fallen angel Eyes of a tragedy Here I am expecting just a little bit too much from the wounded But I see, see through it all See through and see you So I threw you the obvious To see what occurs behind the eyes of a fallen angel Eyes of a tragedy Well, oh well Apparently nothing, apparently nothing at all You don't, you don't, you don't see me (etc.) You don't see me at all
Delusional, I believe I can cure it all for you dear, coax or trick or drive or drag the demons from you, make it right for you Sleeping beauty, truly thought I can magically heal you You're far beyond a visible sign of your awakening Failing miserably to rescue Sleeping beauty Drunk on ego, truly thought I could make it right If I kissed you one more time to help you face the nightmare But you're far too poisoned for me Such a fool to think that I can wake you from your slumber, I could actually heal you Sleeping beauty Poisoned and hopeless You're far beyond a visible sign of your awakening Failing miserably to find a way to comfort you Far beyond a visible sign of your awakening And hiding from some poisoned memory Poisoned and hopeless Sleeping beauty
Humble and helpless, learning to pray Praying for visions to show me the way Show me the way to forgive you, allow me to let it go Allow me to be forgiven, show me the way to let go Show me the way to forgive you, allow me to let it go Allow me to be forgiven, show me the way to let go Illuminate me, illuminate me, illuminate me, I'm just praying for you to show me where I'm to begin Hoping to, hoping to reconnect to you (etc.)
(instrumental)
Lying all alone and restless Unable to lose this image Sleepless, unable to focus on anything but your surrender Tugging a rhythm to the vision that's in my head Tugging a beat to the sight of you lying So delighted with your new understanding There's something about a little evil that makes that unmistakable noise I was hearing that unmistakable sound I know so well Spent and sighing with that look in your eye Spent and sweating with a look on your face like Sweet revelation, sweet surrender Surrender, surrender, surrender Tugging a rhythm to the vision... Sweet revelation, sweet surrendering Sweet revelation, sweet Thinking of you, thinking of you, thinking (etc.) Sweet revelation, sweet surrendering
My reflection wraps and pulls me under Healing waters to be bathed in Breña Guides me safely in worlds I’ve never been to Heal me, heal me, my dear Breña Vulnerable, but it’s all right Heal me, heal me, my dear Breña Show me lonely and show me openings To lead me closer to you, my dear Breña Vulnerable, but it’s all right Opening to heal Opening to heal
Been over, been over this before Been over and over, been over this before And over, been over this before So over this, been over this So over this, been over this Over this before
Thirteenth Step (2003)
Clever got me this far, then tricky got me in I am what I'm after, I don't need another friend Smile and drop the cliche 'till you think I’m listening I take just what I came for, then I’m out the door again Peripheral long the package, don't care to settle in Time to feed the monster, I don't need another friend Comfort is a mystery, crawling out of my own skin Just give me what I came for, then I'm out the door again Lie to get what I came for Lie to get just what I need Lie to get what I crave Lie and smile to get what's mine I am what I’m after, I don't need another friend Nod and watch your lips move if you need me to pretend Because clever got me this far, then tricky got me in I'll take just what I came for, then I’m out the door again Lie to get what I came for Iie to get what I need now Lie to get what I'm craving Lie and smile to get what's mine Give this to me Mine, mine, mine - Take what's mine Mine, mine, mine - Take what's mine Mine, mine, mine Lie to get what I came for Lie to get what I need now Lie to get what I'm craving Lie to smile and get what's mine Give this to me Take what's mine, mine, mine, mine Take what's mine, give this to me Take what's mine, take what's mine, mine... Take what's mine, take what's mine, take what's mine This is mine, mine, mine (whispered)
Tilling my own grave to keep me level Jam another dragon down the hole Digging to the rhythm and the echo of a solitary siren One that pushes me along, and leaves me so Desperate and ravenous I'm so weak and powerless over you Someone feed the monkey while I dig in search of china White as Dracula as I approach the bottom Desperate and ravenous... Little angel, go away, come again some other day Devil has my ear today, I'll never hear a word you say He promised I would find a little solace and some peace of mind Whatever just as long as I don't feel so Desperate and ravenous...
So glad to see you well Overcome and completely silent now Without himself you cast your demons out And not to pull your halo down Around your neck and tug you off your cloud But I'm more than just a little curious How you're planning to go about Making your amends to the dead To the dead Recall the deeds as if They're all someone elses atrocious stories Now you stand reborn before us all so glad to see you well And not to pull your halo down Around your neck and tug you to the ground But I'm more than just... With your halo slipping down, your halo slipping Your halo slipping down, your halo slipping (etc.) Your halo slipping down to choke you now
I didn't want to know I just didn't want to know Best to keep things in the shallow end 'Cause I never quite learned how to swim I just didn't want to know Didn't want, didn't want Didn't want, didn't want Close my eyes just to look at you Taken by the seamless vision I close my eyes, ignore the smoke Ignore the smoke, ignore the smoke Call it aftermath, she's turning blue Such a lovely color for you Call it aftermath, she's turning blue While I just sit and stare at you Because I don't want to know I didn't want to know I just didn't want to know I just didn't want Mistook their nods for an approval Just ignore the smoke and smile Call it aftermath, she's turning blue Such a lovely color for you Call it aftermath, she's turning blue Such a perfect color for your eyes Call it aftermath, she's turning blue Such a lovely color for you Call it aftermath, she's turning blue While I just sit and stare at you I don't want to know
Disappear, disappear Higher, higher into the air Slowly disappear No, no longer here Disappear, disappear Thinner, thinner into the air Never really here What that never Floating away, floating away (etc.) Vanishing like a cyan sunday Disappear, disappear Vanish, vanish into the air slowly disappear never really here Floating away, floating away (etc.)
Cast the calming apple, up and over satelites To draw out the timid wild one, to convince you it's alright And I listen for the whisper of your sweet insanity While I formulate denials of your affect on me You're a stranger, so what do I care? You vanish today, not the first time I hear All the lies What am I to do with all this silence? Shy away, shy away phantom Run away, terrified child Won't you move away you? I'm better off without tearing my will down
Help me if you can, it's just that this It's not the way I want it, so could you please Help me understand why you've given in to all these Reckless dark desires You're lying to yourself again suicidal imbecile think about it, put it on the faultline what'll it take to get it through to you precious I'm over this, why do you wanna throw it away like this such a mess, why would I wanna watch you Disconnect and self destruct one bullet at a time What's your rush now, everyone will have his day to die medicated, drama queen, picture perfect, numb beligerance narcisistic, drama queen, craving fame and all this decadence lying through your teeth again suicidal imbecile think about it, put it on the fautline what'll it take to get it through to you precious I'm over this, why do you wanna throw it away like this such a mess, why would I wanna watch you Disconnect and self destruct, one bullet at a time What's your rush now, everyone will have his day to die they were right about you they were right about you lying to my face again suicidal imbecile think about it, put it on the fautline what'll it take to get it through to you precious I'm over this , why do you wanna throw it away like this such a mess, over this, over this Disconnect and self destruct, one bullet at a time what's your hurry, everyone will have his day to die If you choose to pull the trigger, should your drama prove sincere Do it somewhere, far away from here
One, two, three, four, five, six seven, eight, nine nine, nine, nine ten, ten, ten, ten
Say hello to the rug's topography It holds quite a lot of interest with your face down on it Say hello to the shrinking in your head You can't see it but you know its there so don't neglect it I'm taking her home with me, all dressed in white She's got everything I need, pharmacy keys She's falling hard for me, I can see it in her eyes She acts just like a nurse with all the other guys Say hello to all the apples on the ground They were once in your eyes but you sneezed them out while sleeping Say hello to everything you've left behind It's even more a part of your life now that you can't touch it I'm taking her home with me...
Don't fret precious I'm here Step away from the window Go back to sleep Lay your head down child, I won't let the boogeyman come Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums Pay no mind to the rabble, pay no mind to the rabble Head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war drums Pay no mind what other voices say They don't care about you, like I do, like I do Safe from pain and truth and choice, and other poison devils See, they don't give a fuck about you, like I do Just stay with me, safe and ignorant Go back to sleep, go back to sleep Lay your head down child, I won't let the boogeyman come Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums Pay no mind to the rabble, pay no mind to the rabble Head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war drums I'll be the one to protect you from your enemies and all your demons I'll be the one to protect you from a will to survive and a voice of reason I'll be the one to protect you from your enemies and your choices on They're one in the same, I must isolate you Isolate and save you from yourself Swaying to the rhythm of the new world order and Count the bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drum The boogeymen are coming, the boogeymen are coming Keep your head down, go to sleep, to the rhythm of a war drum Stay with me, safe and ignorant Just stay with me Hold you and protect you from the other one The evil ones, don't love you son Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep (etc.)
Lost again broken and weiry Unable to find my way Tail in hand, dizzy and clearly unable to just let this go I am surrendering to the gravity and the unknown Catch me, heal me, lift me back up to the sun I choose to live I fell again, like a baby unable to stand on my own Tail in hand, dizzy and clearly unable to just (let) this go I am surrendering... Catch me, heal me, lift me back up to the sun Help me survive the bottom Calm these hands before they snare another pill and drive another nail down another meaty hole, please release me I am surrendering...
eMOTIVe (2004)
From dehumanization to arms production For the benefit of the nation or its destruction Power, power, the law of the land Those living for death will die by their own hand Life's no ordeal if you come to terms Reject the system dictating the norms From dehumanization to arms production To hasten the nation towards its destruction Power, power, the law of the land Those living for death will die by their own hand It's your choice, your choice Your choice, your choice Peace or annihilation
Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try No hell below us, above us only sky Imagine all the people, living for today Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for, no religion too Imagine all the people, living life in peace You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope some day you'll join us And the world will live as one Imagine all the people sharing all the world You may say I'm a dreamer... Imagine no possesions, I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man Imagine all the people, sharing all the world You may say I'm a dreamer...
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love And Understanding
As I walk on through this wicked world Searching for light in the darkness of insanity I ask myself, is all hope lost? Is there only pain and hatred, and misery? And each time I feel like this inside there's one thing I wanna know What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? And as I walked on through troubled times My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes So where are the strong? And who are the trusted? And where is the harmony? Sweet harmony 'Cause each time I feel it slipping away, just makes me wanna cry What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? So where are the strong? And who are the trusted? And where is the harmony? Sweet harmony 'Cause each time I feel it slipping away, just makes me wanna cry What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?
Mother, mother, there's too many of you crying Brother, brother, there's far too many of you dying You know we've got to find a way to bring some loving here today Father, father, we don't need to escalate War is not the answer, only love can conquer hate You know we've got to find a way to bring some loving here today Picket lines and picket signs Don't punish me with brutality Talk to me so you can see What's going on, what's going on What's going on, what's going on Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong But who are they to judge us? Simply 'cause our hair is long You know we've got to find a way to bring some understanding here today Picket lines and picket signs...
“Dead as dead can be”, my doctor tells me But I just can’t believe him, ever the optimistic one I’m sure of your ability to become my perfect enemy Wake up and face me, don’t play dead 'cause maybe Someday I will walk away and say, “You disappoint me” Maybe you’re better off this way Leaning over you here, cold and catatonic I catch a brief reflection of what you could and might have been It's your right and your ability to become my perfect enemy Wake up and face me... Maybe you’re better off this way Maybe you’re better off this way Maybe you’re better off this way You’re better of this, you’re better off this Maybe you’re better off! Wake up and face me... Go ahead and play dead I know that you can hear this Go ahead and play dead Why can't you turn and face me? Why can't you turn and face me? Why can't you turn and face me? Why can't you turn and face me? You fucking disappoint me! Passive aggressive bullshit (etc.)
Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, I need some more, I need some more Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie Don't ask what for, don't ask what for Sitting here like a loaded gun Waiting to go off I've got nothing to do but shoot my mouth off Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie... I know the world's got problems I've got problems of my own Not the kind that can't be solved With an atom bomb Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie... You know I'm gonna go out Get something for my head If I keep on doing this I'm gonna end up dead Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie...
We're different colors, and we're different creeds And different people have different needs It's obvious you hate me, though I've done nothing wrong I've never even met you, what could I have done? People are people so why should it be? You and I shouldn't get along People are people, so why should it be? You should hate me (x2) You're punching and kicking, and you're shouting at me And I'm relying on your common decency So far it hasn't surfaced, but I'm sure it exists It just takes a while to travel from your head to your fists I can't understand what makes a man hate another man, help me understand People are people... I can't understand what makes a man hate another man, help me understand
We're victims of sedition on the open sea No one ever said life was free Sink, swim, go down with the ship Just use your freedom of choice I'll say it again in the land of the free: Use your freedom of choice, freedom of choice In ancient Rome there was a pawn who followed along and watched it fall He cast a stone, he felt secure He felt that he would never be heard Freedom of choice is what you've got Freedom of choice You're given a voice, you don't want it Seems to be the rule of thumb Don't be tricked by what you see You've got two ways to go I'll say it again in the land of the free: Use your freedom of choice, freedom of choice Freedom of choice is what you've got Freedom of choice In ancient Rome there was a pawn... Freedom of choice is what you've got Freedom from choice is what you want
There's so many opposites So many opposites, so many Let's have a war, so you can go and die Let's have a war, we could all use the money Let's have a war, we need the space Let's have a war, clean out this place It already started in the city Suburbia will be just as easy There's so many opposites So many opposites, so many Let's have a war, jack up the Dow Jones Let's have a war, it can start in New Jersey Let's have a war, blame it on the middle class Let's have a war, we're like rats in a cage It already started in the city... Let's have a war, sell the rights to the networks Let's have a war, let our wallets get fat like last time Let's have a war, give guns to the queers Let's have a war, the enemy's within It already started in the city...
Counting Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythm Of The War Drums
Don't fret precious I'm here Step away from the window Go back to sleep Safe from pain and truth and choice And other poison devils See, they don't give a fuck about you, like I do Count the bodies like sheep (etc.) Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums (etc.) Go back to sleep (etc.) I’ll be the one to protect you from your enemies and all your demons I'll be the one to protect you from a will to survive and a voice of reason I'll be the one to protect you from your enemies and your choices son They're one in the same, I must isolate you Isolate and save you from yourself
If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break And the water gonna come in, have no place to stay Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan Thinking about my baby and my happy home If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break And all these people have no place to stay Now look here mama what am I to do? Now look here mama what am I to do? I ain't got nobody to tell my troubles to I works on the levee mama both night and day I works on the levee mama both night and day I ain't got nobody, keep the water away Oh crying won't help you, praying won't do no good Oh crying won't help you, praying won't do no good When the levee breaks, mama, you got to lose I works on the levee, mama both night and day I works on the levee, mama both night and day I works so hard, to keep the water away I had a woman, she wouldn't do for me I had a woman, she wouldn't do for me I'm going back to my used to be It's a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan It's a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan Gonna leave my baby, and my happy home
And so once again, my dear Johnny, my dear friend And so once again you are fighting us all And when I ask you why You raise your sticks and cry and I fall Oh my friend, how did you come? To trade the fiddle for the drum You say I have turned, like the enemies you've earned But I can remember all the good things you are And so I ask you please Can I help you find the peace and the star? Oh my friend, what time is this? To trade the handshake for the fist And so once again, oh America my friend And so once again you are fighting us all And when we ask you why You raise your sticks and cry and we fall Oh my friend, how did you come? To trade the fiddle for the drum You say we have turned like the enemies you've earned But we can remember, all the good things you are And so we ask you please Can we help you find the peace and the star? Oh my friend, we have all come To fear the beating of your drum