Modernity Leave
September 2009
An expansive, experimental trip through the world of lo-fi quirky pop, avante-garde and acoustic singer/songwritering. Recorded solely on a dying four-track, this is an album of pure, unrefined creativity.
Track Listing
(click titles for lyrics)
-
Yeah, now you’ve really gone and done it now
I saw the 4.7 on my screen with a furrowed brow
20 kilotons of fun to put them on the run
Now I have to slap your wrist and write you off my listYoo hoo!
We’ve got a Tae Po Dong to boot for the business suits
Yoo hoo!
I’ve got a Tae Po Dong to boot and I’m in my suit
Yoo hoo!
I’ve got a Tae Po Dong to boot and I’m in my birthday suitThey say it’s just a test, but we’re not impressed
It’s a drop in the bucket of the power possessed by the West
And there’s Japan’s old man with an open-ended plan
No mystery man, no ban, no attention spanBut where is the money?
Where the hell is the money?
What, you got no money?You know I don’t kiss and tell
But there’s a rainbow down in the oil well
There’s a shadow on the DMZ
Outshined by the radiation spree -
Kill me on a Friday
Don’t think about funeral
Just write the Roman numerals
Kill me on a Friday
Then kill yourself on Saturday
Keep it in the familyThe rationale was cogent and sound
Though Mary would not understand
It wasn’t planned, you just forced my hand
To be there in you every dayThe timing fits
You’ll need oven mitts
To keep your anger down inside
I’m over me but most importantly
You’re over me just as wellSaturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Kill me -
You and I have been balkanized
Each our own independent state
Always be remythologized againSeparation from the ourselves
From giant men to tiny elves
The ego couldn’t co-exist
Always jumping into a new abyssYou and I have been balkanized
Keeping the map makers up at night
Always be remythologized again -
As a child you fell down
Which built up a frown
All you wanted to, wanted to, wanted to do
Was eat pie
And you wondered what if you die
Will I meet that weird guy?
Is it the same for a fly?Now all you need is love
All you need is loveAs a man you fell down
In an alley downtown
As you drowned in, you drowned in, you drowned in your blood
Your own blood
You thought what if this guy
Who killed and made me die
Would get all of the pie?Now all you need is love
All you need is loveLove love love
-
I don’t like your tone
So I’m gonna freak out and go homeYou say it’s not a big deal
But it matters a lot to me
You see, I have insecurities
That you exploit for laughsI liked that girl
I was going to get a hug
But you just had to open your big fat mug
I don’t even know who I am
Now I really don’t know who I am -
I threw away the chains that kept me down so long
I broke the spell, I found the truth was also wrong
I felt so good at first but something wasn’t right
Creeping up that my condition can’t be seen with sightYou may find
The man behind the curtain was always an also-ran
If you get by his nonsense cries
Another velvet curtain hangs behind the manOne hundred years ago an old man found the key
But fifty years on the new regime does not agree
So sure were they that they had seen behind the veil
But more old men just came along to blaze another trailYou may find
The man behind the curtain always had a cozy pension plan
If you get by his nonsense cries
Another velvet curtain hangs behind the manYou fed me spoon by spoon by spoon by spoon of baby food
Since I’ve been grown they’ve still not shown
The curtain I know is there behind the man -
I’m afraid of the hanta virus
Get away from the country
I’m afraid of the hanta virus
Step away from the deer miceGet away from the country
Moving out to the city
Get a second floor apartment
Make them work for infectionFurry friends are no friends of mine
My life is cold and lonely
Furry friends are no friends of mine
My life is cold and lonely -
Did you hear?
Did you taste?
Pretending all I ever wanted
Over here?
Under you?
Pretending all I ever wantedWalking light down Broadway
Walking right down hallways
Afternoon comes harshly
Millions chewing parsleyTalking into ear drums
Talking into real thumbs
Getting off on pixels
Getting off on picklesBouncing eyes round blue sky
Pouncing on the jet stream
I thought lushly, sadly
Sadly can’t come back to -
I know how it feels
That dog wants to live forever
Fell in the drink
But he’s back thinking ah/shit whateverGet me some tongs
Benny the dog
Get them away
I’m Benny the dog
He’s a little shy, dear
The consequences still unclear
We all saw him disappearHe’s a little off
That dog stares, won’t respond
He knows all the tunes
He’s been to the Great BeyondHe came to my funeral
-
I must admit, you write some pretty good songs
But I cringe when the mandolin solo comes inI don’t know why you felt the need to add that
But a freaking oboe solo would have been a better matchI know your girlfriend was probably impressed
But you didn’t even stop to think about the restI know you want to add exotic flare
But you can’t even see it doesn’t need to be thereSlowly step back from the mandolin
Please step away from the mandolin -
Any perfect life’s a lie
You get what you want and that makes you afraid to die
Please yourself and no one else
Don’t get involved
And don’t find a reason to tryUnderstand you’re no one here
But that might be the plan
The act of living
Understand you need to fail
‘Cause that might be the plan
The act of livingHave you heard at all?
Have you heard there’s no sound left?
Have you heard it all? -
It’s balancing poles
It’s full of holes
It’s just another moon
It’s just another moon
From out of town
There’s two around
It’s just another moon
It’s just another moon
Underneath my blanket I can see a satellite come down
Underneath my atmosphere I can sense it growing nearIt’s marked with scars
It’s in between stars
It’s just another moon
It’s just another moon
They’re young and old
They’re warm and cold
It’s just another moon
It’s just another moon
Underneath my blanket I can see a satellite come down
Hiding my hidey hole I felt the fastly moving poleI don’t need another ancient simple source of light to see
-
Fighting in this battlefield
I won’t throw it away
I haven’t seen you for so many years
The numbers you say are all of you
If only I could believe anything you say
Fighting in this battlefieldOh you want becomes your way
I can only save you for a better day
I won’t throw it away for nothing else
You only make me
You make me want more of youOh you need becomes your way
I can only walk when you don’t want to play
I can’t throw it away like nothing else
You only make me
You make me want more of you
Fighting in this battlefield…Fighting in this battlefield
I won’t throw it away
I haven’t seen you for so many years
The numbers you say are all of you
If only I could believe anything you say
Fighting in this battlefield -
You could do anything
You could do anyone
But you’re wondering why it’s not that way
You could be closer now
You could have had a trow
But you’re wondering why it’s not that wayI’m on your mind tonight
But summer’s over now
Summer’s over
Watermelon rind
Dripping down your mind
But summer’s over
Cuz everywhere I flow
There’s places bound to show
That seven years is a lot to knowIt could be party time
It could be time for laughs
But you can’t escape the box you’ve packed you in
There used to be a flame
The cold’s come back again
The lantern light can’t show the darkness in you grows -
The burning wreckage
The strange package
It never happened but you can’t seem to forget it
The flying island
The screaming children
It never happened but you can’t seem to forget thatI don’t see it
I don’t see it
I just don’t see it
I don’t see it
The seams you can claim to seeI had a seizure
I had a seizure
I had a seizure
I had a seizure
And I’m still falling -
I don’t want to go to school
I just want to stay at home
Curl up by the fire
And play a game of CastlevaniaI don’t want to go to work
I just want to stay in bed
Curl up with my cats
And play a game of CastlevaniaCause it’s a horrible night
It’s a terrible, horrible night
What a horrible night to have a curseI don’t want to play a show
I just want to stay inside
Bake a birthday cake
And play a game of CastlevaniaThere isn’t one I don’t adore
1 and 3 and 64
Though I’m bad at Simon’s Quest
Symphony of the Night is best
(That’s the Playstation one) -
I can play the game better
I can undermine your role
Pushing pens, ink flies
You forever keep our souls
Cuz even though you let me in
I can’t let you win
But since you’re much bigger than me
The universe winsI can rip a phone book in half
Before you change your mind
As long as I get the first move in
I can beat you just fine
But even though I’m in the lead
It’s more time than you need
The laws of physics can be changed
The universe winsI can’t help but think
I bit off more than I can chew
But the universe doesn’t have teeth
So I hope for a draw -
It’s been so long since you were shone
Always having to fight the referee
Maybe you will
Maybe you won’t
Maybe you’ll just have to die alone
It’s been so long since you were shonePush my numbers along until light go out
You infringe on the rights of the music inside of me
Maybe you do
Maybe you don’t
Maybe you’ll just have to change your route
Push my numbers along until light go out -
Would like to peak inside my cabinet of curses?
Could be an enchantment
Could be a tornado
Could be an inferno
Could be forensic evidenceWould like to peak inside my cabinet of curses?
Could be a mullato
Could be an albino
Could be a mosquito
Could be my libido -
I proclaim pirates, they still aren’t funny
I’ve given it some time and they still aren’t money
For laughter
Only five years ago they cast a comic curse
Now five years later, it’s only gotten worse
For laughterAnd the years go by
And the jokes don’t stop
And dreading Halloween
And the parrots and the peg legs
And the eye patches and the puffy shirts
Just make me want to politely tell off Johnny Depp
Just make me want to politely tell off Johnny DeppI proclaim pirates, they still aren’t funny
I’ve given it a couple more minutes and they still aren’t money
For laughter
Only five years ago they cast a comic curse
Now five years later, it’s only gotten worse
For laughter -
As my blood and heartbeats slow
The buildings and the oceans grow past me
As decades pass the well runs dry
I’ll never write my Catcher in the Rye
So my heart becomes resistant
And the golden age turns much too distant
We learn about how time and space are oneUnderneath a willow tree
Someone died, but far away from me
When I was young, I planted one
Now its weeping leaves are hanging over me
So I make like keeping busy
But all this thinking does is keep me dizzy
I knew that time was never relative to meBecause I can’t outlast the night
And I can’t outlast the Sun
I can’t outlast the last of everyone
I can’t outlast the years
And I can’t outlast the new
I can’t outlast even youAs I’ve seen my old friends go
I’ve tried not to let my apprehension show
I just can’t be compliant
The hour hand sound right defiant
Now I know how time and space are one -
Don’t touch my dreams
Don’t touch my drums
I wanna see a fire under both of those thumbs
Sell your car
Sell your guitar
Follow me down into the musical slumsPurse your lips
Fire off the blips
Contract your hips
Do your own back flipsCrash the van
Say that’s the plan
You know you’re the man
Look here comes a fanErase the tape
Pop another grape
Spritz her nape
Make yourself a crepe -
Anywhere
Anyday
Anywhere that I can stay and stare
In my head
In my face
Poisoned by the high amounts of leadThere’s a little 1997
There’s a little 1997
There’s a little 1997 in all of usUnder sheets
Under stones
Understood that she’s meant for the streets
Overtones
Over drones
Hearing music inside of my bonesI died and I didn’t know it
I died and I didn’t know it
I died and I didn’t know it
I died and I still don’t know it -
I thought I lost every one of my songs
Every single last song
Even Wharfless and So Long Mrs. WongAll I had to do was reinstall Windows
Yes, reinstall Windows
Yes, reinstall Windows XPI’d like to thank Mr. Gordon E. Moore
And the father of modern technology
William H. GatesI never wanted to know
I never wanted to know
I never ever wanted to know
How every song I write
Is only everlasting in my mindI thought I lost every one of my songs
And even though I didn’t
I know one day I will
And though I’ll want to kill
Remember nothing wants to stay still -
Get a job, hippie
Cut yer hair, hippie
It’s a mystery to me how you continue to be
Shave your legs, hippie
Get your own place, hippie
You’re a parasite and I don’t want to see you around with my daughterBy the way, I know your father
He’s ashamed a child like you has ruined the family name
I hope you’re happy now, hippieTake a shower, hippie
Put on some shoes, hippie
You’re never gonna get yourself a real woman looking like a hobo
Shut yer mouth, hippie
Just go home, hippie
“Vote for me, I promise I’ll give you everything for free!”By the way, I know your mommy
She’s as weak as you if she claims she ever wanted you
I hope you’re happy now, hippieBy the way, I know your grandpa
He said he didn’t fight in the war for losers like you
I hope you’re happy now, hippieDirty hippie
Lazy hippie -
I, I’m in the catacombs
They’ve been hidden away for a thousand years
I, I’m in the catacombs
I’m in the catacombs
Not deadThough it’s been a real blast
I’m sick of the surface
Took a secret elevator down down down
To find a secret weapon to kill DraculaQuit looking for me
Down with the bones I’ll be
Searching for a treasure tomb
Damn it here, there’s nothing shiny down here
Just a monster in my mindJust a monster in my mind
-
So I came here for a reason
Got sick of giving myself away
Tried to get lost
But I knew this town too well
So sick of giving myself away
So I’ll vanish into the white noise
The silence can only be seen in ultravioletViolet
So I owed you what I can’t give
Incomplete, so intangible
I tried to get you to reject me
But not everyone is like me
So I’ll push off into the country
A sudden bifurcation of one mind to the violetViolet
Oh
Can’t give myself away
Can’t give myself away -
There’s nothing I like more than beer can kickin’
There’s nothing I like more than beer can chicken -
Yes I wanted to
It’s too bright in here
My computer’s dead
I dream too much
It’s a fallacy
I play and work
I’m onto you
I’m onto you
I’m onto you
I’m on top of youYes I wanted to
