I Challenge The Beast
HEART
Heart on your sleeve, heart in your throat, heartbroke, by the words she spoke
Heart on crutches, heart in a sling, Lyin’ on a stretcher, still wearin’ the wedding ring
Heart hospital, ICU, CPR, hopin’ to make it through
A heart is a pump, a mechanical device, hearts break, and who pays the price
IN THE DEPTHS OF DARKNESS, JUST OUT OF MY SIGHT
A FLICKER OF HOPE, IN THE CORNER OF THE NIGHT
I SAW IT, I THINK, OR MAYBE NOT QUITE
A FLASH OF PURE LIGHT
Heart on paper, heart of glass, heart of gold, you’re hopin’ it will last
Heart full of love, heart full of soul, heart on a spit, low, over the coals
IN THE DEPTHS OF DARKNESS, JUST OUT OF MY SIGHT
A FLICKER OF HOPE, IN THE CORNER OF THE NIGHT
I SAW IT, I THINK, OR MAYBE NOT QUITE
A FLASH OF PURE LIGHT
Heart of darkneww, up river all alone, comin’ unwound, sittin’ on a throne
In the heart of Texas, hey, hand me my gun, set the controls for the heart of the sun
IN THE DEPTHS OF DARKNESS, JUST OUT OF MY SIGHT
A FLICKER OF HOPE, IN THE CORNER OF THE NIGHT
I SAW IT, I THINK, OR MAYBE NOT QUITE
A FLASH OF PURE LIGHT
MISS NELLIE’S PLACE
IF YOU’RE EVER IN NATCHEZ, UNDER THE HILL, & YOU AIN’T QUITE HAD YOUR FILL
& YOU’RE LOOKIN’ FOR SOMETHIN’, A WARM EMBRACE
YOU COULD FOLLOW ME, TO MISS NELLIE’S PLACE
Natchez is a river town, like you ain’t never seen
Friendly folks, you know what I mean
Whatever you’re lookin’ for, devil may care
If you can’t get it there, you can’t get it anywhere
Many a man, laid his money down
Nellie’s house, high side of town
You play by her rules, what she says goes
That’s just how it is, everybody knows
IF YOU’RE EVER IN NATCHEZ, UNDER THE HILL, & YOU AIN’T QUITE HAD YOUR FILL
& YOU’RE LOOKIN’ FOR SOMETHIN’, A PRETTY FACE
YOU COULD FOLLOW ME, TO MISS NELLIE’S PLACE
Natchez is wide open, full of soul, hold on to your wallet, and prepare to roll
You might even, want to hang around a while
There’s livin’ to be had, Mississippi River style, aw, ask Ritchie! Yeah
Smoot’s Grocery, Broadway & High, got the vibe, ain’t no wonder why
Robert Johnson played there, boys I tell you true
Blues with a feelin’, washin’ over you
IF YOU’RE EVER IN NATCHEZ, UNDER THE HILL, & YOU AIN’T QUITE HAD YOUR FILL
& YOU’RE LOOKIN’ FOR SOMETHIN’ MORE, A LITTLE BIT OF LACE
FOLLOW ME, TO MISS NELLIE’S PLACE
Church every Sunday, never late, droppin’ them 20s into the collection plate
Payin’ her share, pavin’ the way, Nellie’ll be first in line, come judgement day
But late one night, when the moon was low, trouble come creepin’, to her back door
& just like that, Nellie Jackson was no more
Good God, what’s mercy for??
IF YOU’RE EVER IN NATCHEZ, UNDER THE HILL, & YOU AIN’T QUITE HAD YOUR FILL
SEND OUT A PRAYER, A LITTLE BIT OF GRACE
THINK GOOD THOUGHTS, OF MISS NELLIE’S KIND FACE
FOLLOW ME, UP TO MISS NELLIE’S PLACE
THE BEAST
Just shy of empty, that needle just seems to stay right there
Can’t catch a break, find no fuel, nowhere
When the shit shakes out, & the truth is laid bare
I’ll be darin’ danger, to come meet me anywhere
Spiilin’ out of my container, I’m sloshin’ all around
I ain’t gone under yet, but I been losin’ some ground
Been searchin’ my soul, & this is what I’ve found
I ain’t afraid of nothin’, that walks upright on the ground
I LIKE MY CHANCES, ROUND FOR ROUND
I CHALLENGE THE BEAST, TO TRY TO TAKE ME DOWN
Gonna grab me a crowbar, pry my way clear
Steal me a pickaxe, cut my way out of here
I’m a man on a mission, I’m a mutineer
& I’m walkin’ the world, without a trace of fear
I LIKE MY CHANCES, POUND FOR POUND
I CHALLENGE THE BEAST, TO TRY TO TAKE ME DOWN
Don’t show me no scars, yeah I’m wounded too
I’m wound up like a ram’s horn, & my choices are few
I’m colder than steel, but my heart is true
I’m a desperate man, no tellin’ what I might do
I’m settin’ the stage, for a singular scenario
I’m a slow rollin’ earthquake, I’m a deadly undertow
I’m gonna break the surface tension, upset the status quo
Like a rock thrown into still water, I’m a bomb, about to blow
I LIKE MY CHANCES, I AIN’T AFRAID OF THAT HOUND
I CHALLENGE THE BEAST, TO TRY TO TAKE ME DOWN
I DEFY YOU, TRY TO TAKE ME DOWN
BEAUTIFUL CRAZY WORLD
I tried to dive down deep, far as I could go
& blast a hole, into forever
Where water won’t seep, & air won’t flow, way down, past never
Passion, & hunger, that’s what, feeds my soul
No regrets, at this juncture, ‘cept I’m sorry ‘bout the love we stole
JUMP, & FLY, GLISTEN LIKE A PEARL
LIVIN’, TIL YOU DIE, IS ALL PART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CRAZY WORLD
Fumblin’, in this lack of light, I can almost see, but I can’t quite
It’s humblin’, but I’ll be alright
Cuz I’m searchin’, for a jewel, in the night
Pure friends, yeah I got me some
I gathered ‘em, on the run
In the end, they’ll be the only ones
Who’ll love me, when the doin’ is done
JUMP, & FLY, GLISTEN LIKE A PEARL
LIVIN’, TIL YOU DIE, IS ALL PART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CRAZY WORLD
The will to survive, to keep on tryin’ until death, do you part
To be truly alive, you can’t fear dyin’
Hold that, in your heart
JUMP, & FLY, GLISTEN LIKE A PEARL
LIVIN’, TIL YOU DIE, IS ALL PART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CRAZY WORLD
IT’S ALL PART, OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CRAZY WORLD
COIL OF BARBED WIRE
Lookin’ for love, that’s what we do
Fumblin’ in the dark, without a clue
Same for me, as it is for you
It’s a quest, more or less
Might or might not, bring you happiness
It tends to tangle, into a beautiful mess
LOVE WILL WEAVE, ITS WAY THROUGH
WON’T STOP, TIL IT’S HAD ITS WAY WITH YOU
AS DELICATE, AS A COIL OF BARBED WIRE
LOVE IS THE SPARK, THAT SET ME ON FIRE
That was just the start of my troubles
It’s a strand, runnin’ through a rope
It’s a crapshoot, that somehow gives us hope
It’s a chance we gotta take, it’s a slippery slope
LOVE WILL WEAVE, ITS WAY THROUGH
WON’T STOP, TIL IT’S HAD ITS WAY WITH YOU
LOVE IS AS TENDER AS A COIL OF BARBED WIRE
LOVE IS THE SPARK, THAT SET ME ON FIRE
I don’t even want to think about it
When the shit shakes out, when the stars realign
When dirty water is turned to wine
Love will still be the thread, that transcends time
LOVE WILL WEAVE, ITS WAY THROUGH
WON’T STOP, TIL IT’S HAD ITS WAY WITH YOU
AS TREACHEROUS, AS A COIL OF BARBED WIRE
LOVE IS THE SPARK, THAT SET ME ON FIRE
I burned up big time, I won’t make that mistake again
Yeah I fucked up
WORLD ON FIRE
Somethin’s burnin’, can’t be denied
They said not to worry, but I think they lied
My stress levels, risin’ higher
Everything I see, is on fire
The smoke will clear, the sun will shine (or so they tell me)
Everything will turn out fine (where have I heard that before?)
I see it as slightly more dire
Cuz everyone I talk to, is on fire
A LITTLE FRICTION, MIXED WITH AIR
SULPHUR & PHOSPHOROUS, QUITE A PAIR
NOW WE’RE POURIN’ GASOLINE, ON THE PYRE
CUZ OUR WHOLE WORLD, IS ON FIRE
Today’s headlines, breakin’ through
Ain’t nothin’ we can do
Comin’ in now, over the wire
Everything that matters, is on fire
A LITTLE FRICTION, MIXED WITH AIR
BLUE DIAMOND, STRIKE ANYWHERE
NOW WE’RE POURIN’ GASOLINE, ON THE PYRE
CUZ OUR WHOLE WORLD, IS ON FIRE
Hope is hard to find, it’s true
Nothin’ but love can pull us through
How much more suffering, is required
When everything everywhere is on fire
A LITTLE FRICTION, MIXED WITH AIR
BUTANE LIGHTER, YOU CAN BUY ‘EM ANYWHERE
NOW WE’RE POURIN’ GASOLINE, ON THE PYRE
CUZ OUR WHOLE WORLD, OUR WHOLE WORLD
OUR WHOLE WORLD, IS ON FIRE
MAKE IT HOME
I’M ROLLIN’, & I’M SCARED
BY THE LOOKS OF IT, I COULD BE ANYWHERE
I’M HURTIN’, & I’M ALONE
ALL I WANNA DO, IS MAKE IT HOME
I get the feelin’, I been here before
Maybe once or twice, I can’t be sure
Searchin’ the cosmos, for a clue
Find my way, back to you
I don’t wanna, make the call
Not yet, I gotta stall
Bound to see something, I recognize
& find a way, to meet your eyes
I’M ROLLIN’, & I’M SCARED
BY THE LOOKS OF IT, I COULD BE ANYWHERE
I’M HURTIN’, & I’M ALONE
ALL I WANNA DO, IS MAKE IT HOME
I love you, so bad
I can’t lose, what we had
The minutes, seem like miles
I’d give everything, to remember your smile
I’M ROLLIN’, & I’M SCARED
BY THE LOOKS OF IT, I COULD BE ANYWHERE
I’M HURTIN’, & I’M ALONE
ALL I WANNA DO, IS MAKE IT HOME
ALL I WANNA DO, IS MAKE IT HOME
I WANNA COME HOME
Thinkin’ ‘bout you, your golden shine
I can’t get you, off my mind
I miss you so, I’m feelin’ low
It’s movin’ so slow, you got to know
I WANNA COME HOME, I WANNA COME HOME,
Time is crawlin’, it barely goes by
I started thinkin’, that I could die
I love you so, I’m sinkin’ low
If I could get out, I’d go
I WANNA COME HOME, I WANNA COME HOME, I WANNA COME HOME
Ain’t had enough sleep, for far too long
The drums keep poundin’, on & on & on
I’m here in Bejar, but I don’t know
If this is Texas, or Mexico
I WANNA COME HOME, I WANNA COME HOME
I WANNA COME HOME, I WANNA COME HOME
We had a chance, now our chance is gone
We’re penned in, dreadin’ the dawn
I hear voices, whisperin’ low
Just waitin’ for the bugles to blow
I WANNA COME HOME, I WANNA COME HOME
I WANNA COME HOME, I WANNA COME HOME
I feel it out there, I can hear it call
It knows my name, it’s comin’ over the wall
This scene was written 13 days ago
No quarter, blood will flow
I WANNA COME HOME, I WANNA COME HOME
I WANNA COME HOME, I GOTTA COME HOME
WELL WELL WELL
I hear wailin’, & moanin, how long I been down here, I can’t tell
Echoes, of drippin’ water, & I’m not sure, how far I fell
All I know is, I’m off that carousel
WELL
I hear weepin’, & sobbin’, feel the pressure, on the rise
There’s pain, in the darkness, that a lifetime of living, sometimes buys
& somehow, somehow, it ain’t no surprise
WELL WELL
solo
I find myself, among lost souls
Who somehow find themselves, down in the holes
For whatever reason, ain’t no matter
They took their hands off, the controls
Might be better that way, might better that way
I suppose
WELL WELL
solo
I hear wailin’, & moanin
Must be deep down, in some well
Echoes, of drippin’ water
& I’m not sure, how far I fell
But I smell sulphur
WELL WELL WELL