When You're Me Lyrics

GRATITUDE

It’s a piece of a star that’s been
Magma and trees
And air and grass and
Milk and cheese
And now it’s your fingernail
Shiny and blue
You’ll bite it off one day
As if it’s not you
But everything everywhere
Came from one place
Energy packed in a
Tight little space
Exploded to fill
An unfillable void
Became all we know
Or have ever enjoyed
We’re borrowing matter
We form into brains
To someday return it
As ghastly remains
Someday that’s gonna be
Some other dude
So I smile, I’m kind, and I
Try to show some gratitude

Unless you believe
In a magical guy
Who makes something from nothing
And sits in the sky
You must recognize that there’s
No special time
When life doth emerge from some
Fetus-y slime
We don’t just appear
There be no dispute
You were egg within your mom and
Her mom to boot
Life was an unbroken chain
That goes back
As far as we count and way
Further than that
We are that chain
We all are one life
We share every conquest and
Struggle and strife
So try not to be
Too exceedingly rude
I just smile, I’m kind and I
Try to show some gratitude

Your chest is cut open and
Something is beeping
And suddenly stops
As if it’s been keeping
Your mind in your body
But now that you’re free
You rise up and float down the
Hall where you see
Things occurring in
Some other rooms
That you couldn’t have known
But the beeping resumes
You’re back and awake
And recount to a friend
This really did happen
It wasn’t the end
You got a glimpse
You lifted the veil
You came back remembering
Every detail
This happens a lot
Researchers conclude
So I smile, I’m kind, and I
Try to show some gratitude

Stop scrolling, look up
You will not get this day back
Seek love and connection
And forget getting paid back
You are not an oyster
Get out and share your goo
Tell your friends you love them
And they’re gonna love you too

Life is an illusion
Perpetrated on the living
The universe is stupid, magic
Violent and giving
You might be gone tomorrow
Have more sex, eat more pie
Everything is fleeting
May as well enjoy the ride

TAKE A SEAT

I take a seat up front
And they bring me some Champagne
I’m chatting with a lady
Bound for holiday in Spain
I’m writing one last email
And they’re topping off my cup
When a flight attendant tells me that
It’s time to buckle up

We’re somewhere over Greenland
Or maybe just offshore
Mysteriously it seems that we’ve
Lost engines one through four
The plane begins to pitch
Flight attendants mollify
But everybody knows now that
We all are gonna die

But every hand is different
And every hand’s the same
The point is not the points you scored
It’s how you played the game
Cause one day when it’s over
You may wonder if you’ve won
The measure is the love you spread
And whether you had fun

The factory floor is bustling
When something catches fire
The bolted doors and windows
Make it all seem rather dire
The smoke and ash is spreading
And it starts to sting the eyes
It’s getting pretty clear now that
We all are gonna die

But every hand is different
And every hand’s the same
The point is not the points you scored
It’s how you played the game
Cause one day when it’s over
You may wonder if you’ve won
The measure is the love you spread
And whether you had fun

The cosmos don’t care about
your money or your work
It’s enough to simply be here
And to not be such a jerk
Your wings will have an impact
Every single time you flap ‘em
Just as much as any pop star
Filling venues in Manhattan

I’ve cut the veggies, bought the beer
And put out all the wine
Now the party’s going smoothly and
The Steinway’s sounding fine
And as it may be decades yet
And the end may not be nigh
It’s all too easy to forget
We all are gonna die

But every hand is different
And every hand’s the same
The point is not the points you scored
It’s how you played the game
Cause one day when it’s over
You may wonder if you’ve won
The measure is the love you spread
And whether you had fun

THE PIT

The woods are lit by headlights on the trees
Her long bare legs distract you from your speed
You take a turn too fast and start to spin
And Satan flashes out his sexy grin

Come on down! The party’s here and growing by the day
Come on down! Everyone you meet is here to stay
True believers have to go upstairs it’s dull as shit
Come on down! Heathens only! Welcome to The Pit

Don’t you fret there’s all that you desire
Men, Women, gyrate here in minimal attire
Weed and acid, ketamine, cocaine
Rails the size of golf clubs call your name

Come on down! No one here is ever partied-out
Come on down! Everyone here wants you- have no doubt
It’s better than you thought, right? This is rad, you must admit
Come on down! Heathens only! Welcome to The Pit

Here’s the bridge — I bet you though there’s gotta be some catch
Boils, fire, itching in a place you just can’t scratch
Nope, it’s just sex and drugs as far the eye can see
Forever and it don’t get old that’s Satan’s Guarantee

You’re overwhelmed and think you need a break
You’re worried you might fart yourself awake
Then you turn and on her face you see a smile
Maybe stay and dance with her awhile

Come on down! You know this moment never has to end
Come on down! To everything you want she now consents
Y’all can do it right here on the floor you’ll be a hit
No one here to chaperone me
No excuse for being lonely
Come on down! Heathens only!
Welcome to The Pit

THE SANDWICH

The sandwich woke with a start
It got up and it did sandwichy stuff
It got in its bath and it washed all its parts
And it got out when it had had enough
It slipped on some mayo and it bonked its bread
And it woke once again in a field
Where beautiful beings were cradling its head
And its body felt strangely more real

And a guy in a cloak said “bread bonk, I see?”
And he smiled a formless smile
“You’ve gotta go back eventually
But why not hang out here for a while?”
Now instead of a field, it was floating through space
A being made of love and light
Everything seemed exceedingly real
An existence where all was alright
And a voice from the void came loud and clear
And echoey, lucid and bright

You were never a sandwich
It’s a trick of the eye
But you learned lots of sandwichy things
And someday you’ll stay here
But now it’s goodbye
You’ll go back in a sec
If you’re wondering why
There’s a message we hope you will bring
Everything is as it should be
Everything is as it should be
Everything is as it should be

Now you thought you had found the one
And he said that he loved you too
And it’s hard to see now that it’s done
He may yet have been worth every chew
I know that you will persevere
Though he stripped you right down to your cheese
He left you different now from last year
With a fresh set of mustards and meats

So are you happy we’re talking right now?
And relieved to be here with a friend?
When the past is different it doesn’t allow
For the present that we now intend
You can’t be your crispest without throwing away
Your soggiest lettuce I think
And if not for that toe cheese you’d still live across the bay
And we wouldn’t be having this drink
So raise your glass and be glad that he’s toast
But remember this fact as we clink

You were never his hoagie
Though you thought that you were
I admit that we both were deceived
Now you’re wary but wiser
That daft saboteur
Left you yet more alive
And I hope you concur
With a fact that I truly believe
Everything is as it should be
Everything is as it should be
Everything is as it should be

It came to on the floor
Dismayed to be a sandwich again
Its ham was achy and sore
But with a message, it reached for a pen
Everything is as it should be

UNRAVELING

I’m a pile of leaves in the wind
I’m what separates fiction from fact
I’m the pages that fall on the sidewalk and scatter
Before anyone can react
I am entering uncharted forest
And I haven’t a clue where I’m going
I’m spinning around like I’m all stopped up and my water just keeps overflowing

I’m unraveling
I can’t see beyond my own nose
I’m unraveling
Incoherent in lyrics and prose
I’m unraveling
Maybe this is just how it goes
When you’re me
When you’re me

If I was a statue in marble
I’d be frozen in time with a squint
As if realizing now I’ve been so in my head that I
Haven’t been taking your hints
If I was a food I’d be natto
I just hate it and what’s more to say?
I suspect those that claim that they like it at all
Might prefer that I take it away

I’m unraveling
I can never get to second gear
I’m unraveling
Lamenting the fact that I’m here
I’m unraveling
You’re ever consumed with The Fear
When you’re me
When you’re me

A train can weight thousands of tons
Immobile and stopped and resigned
But I’ll tell you a secret:
They start up one car at a time

You once took a chance on a friend
And you told her things you now regret
Now she won’t text back and you stare at the wall
And you wish you could take back that bet
Well I feel you, my friend, and I see
Cuz it’s there in the lines on your face
The world moves along and they come and they go
But you’re stuck in that faraway place

I’m unraveling
My world’s getting smaller and smaller
I’m unraveling
Exchanging for cents on the dollar
I’m unraveling
She’ll always be choosing another
When you’re me
When you’re me
When you’re me
When you’re me

BODY OF THESEUS

The person standing before me ain’t the person I knew
Did we even exist then?
And only now in this instant did this you become you
But think yourself persistent
I wonder how would they act? And will you now do the same
What sort of change can I see?
Was it a different mortal shared your face and your name?
And am I now the same Me?
Body of Theseus
Body of Theseus
Body of Theseus, ever swapping out matter
Rewiring, changing through time
With every breath we modify being
Advancing to something divine
And those that you love and those that you don’t
Are all made of chocolate and wine
Every instant we live we’re a different person
An ever transformative shrine
A kind of Body of Theseus

What are we trusting at all when we talk about trust?
The man you trusted is here
At least there’s parts of a man who had your love and your lust
Remaining ever sincere
And now I’m not gonna fault you for a time that you strayed
I know that you’re not to blame
You were a different person, and I just gotta say
I love the You you became
Body of Theseus
Body of Theseus
Body of Theseus, ever swapping out matter
Rewiring, changing through time
With every breath we modify being
Advancing to something divine
And those that you love and those that you don’t
Are all made of chocolate and wine
Every instant we live we’re a different person
Injecting an alternate rhyme
A kind of Body of Theseus

First it’s the blood, then the skin and the hair
Surely the nails but it doesn’t stop there
Organs and bones, your heart and your eyes
Swapping out cells to delay your demise
We heal and we mend and we don’t have to try
Our minds compensate when things go awry
But we’re the food that we ate and the feelings we felt
And it’s hard to be mad when you play what you’re dealt
Memories fade, personality changes
One-time lovers become perfect strangers
We crush and seduce and we’re often enchanted
But people we love end up taken for granted
So where did you go? The you that was you
Is lost in the past and it’s like you’re brand new
But constant eternal like the stars up above
You still have my trust and you still have my love
You and your Body of Theseus
You and your Body of Theseus
Body of Theseus

BLOOD RED

The Tenderloin is quiet
Her heels the only sound
A body slumped on concrete
She blithely steps around
Another opening party
A stranger’s ardent grin
Reminds her of a another
Of long ago
She’d never known
What happened to him
A charming starving artist
He wasn’t very good
They shared a summer tryst
And she left him as she always knew she would but
He loved her gifts
The shirts and fancy pants
A DVD
A vintage T
A pair of blood-red Vans

We get hung up
On those we’ve lost
Whatever reason
Whatever cost
Miss them through and through
Do they grieve us too?
We’re lost in thought

It could have been so different
This alternate version of her life
Why’d she ditch him?
Does she miss him?
Were his vices worth the crises and the strife?
Her eyes are teary at the memory
Of being someone’s muse
The world around grows blurry
His tenderness had been so hard to lose
Given back the option
She knows now what she’d choose
Stepping past another body
She overlooks their blood-red shoes

We get hung up
On those we’ve lost
Whatever reason
Whatever cost
Miss them through and through
Do they grieve us too?
We’re lost in thought

I’LL BE HERE

Like a finger in a socket
That’s one-twenty Volts
When I touch you my world glows white
Your elbow on mine
It’s a scandalous jolt
I could stand here all night
And I don’t know if you feel it
The power, the heat
Coursing in and out of our skin
You’re a cactus but
Tender and sweet
And I’m ready for this to begin

We don’t see what we see
We don’t hear what we hear
It’s just chemical pulses
In my chest when you’re near
An explosion of nerves
Expectation and fear
And we thought that we were just friends
And we thought that we were just friends

Well I want it all from you
And I want to give in kind
And you’ve got no clue
But I wanna make you mine

Is this ok
Can I put my hand here
You hesitate but approve
A caught breath
A spark in the air
Your thigh is warm and smooth
You stare at the lights
I stare at your eyes
They flutter and lock on mine
Your lips part
The night is alive
And it’s finally time

We don’t see what we see
We don’t hear what we hear
It’s just chemical pulses
In my chest when you’re near
An explosion of nerves
Expectation and fear
I’ve got no pride to defend
No I’ve got no pride to defend

But I want it all from you
And I want to give in kind
And you want me too
So I’m gonna make you mine

We come to and we’re here
Tangled and bright
What ever took us so long?
If living in fear
Is a flavor of right
Then I’m happy to be so wrong

We’ve got all the time
And the space that we need
But maybe you want something more
I can’t stop you
You know that you’re free
I’ve suggested you go and explore
But I’m in the way
And your person is craving
A partner that’s totally theirs
Then there’s nothing here
That we’re possibly saving
We’re just rearranging the chairs

We don’t see what we see
We don’t hear what we hear
It’s just chemical pulses
In my chest when you’re near
An explosion of nerves
Expectation and fear
A heart breaks when it no longer bends
A heart breaks when it no longer bends

And I want it all from you
And I want to give in kind
And you know we’re through
But I’m gonna give you time
I’ll be here
I’ll be here

THE ULTIMATE GAME

Step right on up
And try our new game
The controls are all mental
They connect in your brain
The optics are new
And they’re kind of insane
But that not the craziest part

You’ll forget you’ve a body outside of that space
A mind and a life, like it’s all been erased
It’s so damn immersive, adventure awaits
Once you sign this release you can start

Welcome in, now try out your new reality
Yeah that’s called crying, it gets you what you need
Open your eyes, there’s plenty to see
Look round and take in the scene

But something that I should make clear:
Time will move differently here
So plan on about eighty years
And just follow your heart and your dreams

Take every chance
It’s all a big dance
This world is an open expanse

No two plays are the same
You’ll forget from whence you came
You’re gonna forget you own name
When you’re playing The Ultimate Game

Forty-six years and you’re starting to learn
The rules are just guidelines, a minor concern
And love isn’t something you really can earn
It just kind of shows up sometimes

So how are you doing are you having some fun?
Partners are awesome- I see you’ve got more than one!
Don’t think it’s half over- you’ve barely begun
Though you’re probably now in your prime

So take every chance
It’s all a big dance
Have you found a little romance?

No two plays are the same
You’ll forget from whence you came
You might find fortune and fame
When you’re playing The Ultimate Game

Years of struggle
Great success
Years of love
Years of mess
Some bail out early
Some afraid to go
Amazing to see how one chooses to be
When the game gets you low

Wow- You really hung on at the end
How did you like it- is this a game you’d recommend?
Your disorientation is kind of a trend
When players forget who they were

But welcome on back, I hope it was rad
Your buddy’s still here- he’s holding your bag
You had a good play, we hope that you’ll brag
But reality can be kind of a blur
You can play again now if you prefer

Next time take every chance
You know that it’s all a big dance
I can set the mode to Advanced

No two plays are the same
You’ll forget from whence you came
Love and fun is the aim
When you’re playing The Ultimate Game

MANY WORLDS

There is a universe
Where every possibility
Somewhere eventually comes to pass
Where every first choice
Taken may be
Alternately the very last
The cat is dead
But she also wails
Demanding your attention
A coin lands heads
But also tails
In various other dimensions

And on that toss
In every world
Your future may well rest
You take the job
You dump the girl
And you hope it’s for the best
The job can wait
And somewhere there’s
A You that took the other
The girl was great
But somewhere dares
A You that’s with her brother

Be happy for the You
That always chooses right
That never gets stood up or left behind
And you may feel askew
But know that out of sight
Is a You that’s always perfectly aligned

So many Yous
So many ways
That you can live your story
All that you choose
Is but one route through the maze
With countless routes to glory
And some of them fail
And some of them die
A gruesome tragic early death
But for all that derail
There are more unified
By their glowing resounding success

Be happy for the You
That always chooses right
That never gets stood up or left behind
And you may feel askew
But know that out of sight
Is a You that’s always perfectly aligned

The infinite is bigger than
You ever could imagine
And many-worlds is certainly
A lot to be unpackin’
And all the Yous have ups and downs
And all of them are blessed
So be glad that you are you
And don’t you worry about the rest

THE MYSTERY

Pull a blanket off the bed
Throw it out in the air
It settles in a strange shape in the void
Something is there

An empty bench on the patio
The rain is misty and light
Revealing a form you cannot otherwise see
It’s a mystery here in the night

Like a merry go round throws children
A galaxy should throw stars
But something else pulls
And the children hold on
They’re grasping invisible bars

Dark matter and god
A cryptic tableaux
Dark matter and god
Hidden from view
They’re ours to pursue
But some things we’ll never know

You wake in the night
Still high with scattered thought
A presence you sense it’s by the table
You know you’re alone and yet- not

Everything everywhere is just energy
And it’s not always clear what it’s for
Bowser doesn’t care about transistors
He just wants to shoot fireballs and roar

What it means to be wet
A fish just doesn’t understand
And what else is here
That we fail to sense
A mystery we can’t see firsthand

Dark matter and god
They dance and they flow
Dark matter and god
Forces unseen
And what do they mean
Some things we’ll never know

How lucky to live right now
We’ve got time to stop and think
Discussing existence
Over oysters and drinks
We don’t need more evidence or agreement in believing
Cos god isn’t the sought—it’s the seeking

Of course we think we know
And theories are hard to replace
We think we’re protons and neutrons and quarks
And mostly empty space

But that fireball it’s not made of fire
They’re freakin’ zeros and ones
So who am I to tell you what you’re made of?
I’m just condensed energy with thumbs

Dark matter and god
Dark matter and god
The mysteries endure
And all that’s for sure
Is knowing what we can never know

EXPAND

This time you’re six foot two
White, male, refined
This time they all tell you you’ve
Earned your every dime
This time on easy mode
Your challengers are slain
Spewing literary quotes
You garner wide acclaim

But this time your friend will lose
Her children in a crash
You know not what to say and choose
To greet her with a laugh
Lesson learned, you lose the friend
And quickly spiral down
Another life, a sudden end
Better luck next time around

I hope that you learned something
Something to make that one count
That’s why we’re here
To watch you grow
By any small amount
Every life is worthy
I think you always knew
Everyone is magic
Everyone is you

This time a single mom
You’re trodden down and beat
Every moment with aplomb
You’re always on your feet
This is what you wanted, though,
A reason for your rhyme
You love them more than they could know
You savor this time
And glad you did ‘cause skidding rubber
Claims them both one day
A friend comes by to pay respects and
Knows not what to say
He tells a joke
You kick him out
The grief too much to bear
Without the kids and friend about
You give in to despair

I hope you learned something
Something to make that one count
That’s why we’re here
To watch you grow
By any small amount
Every life is worthy
I think you always knew
Everyone is magic
Everyone is you

The universe conceives us
The Egg
The Fetus

Family of three you thought
Not quite what you’d have ordered but
This time you’re loved and think you’ve got
Some love worth giving forward
But Mom is busy, brother’s hung-up
Watching basket ball
You found a boy
Bright and young
And handsome most of all
He’s your every moment
Fulfilling every want
He loves you back and lets you know
You’ll be his confidante
So everyone is in the car
You’re driving them around
Content to be just who you are
Now what’s that screeching sound?

I hope you learned something
Something to make that one count
That’s why we’re here
To watch you grow
By any small amount
Every life is worthy
I think you always knew
Everyone is magic
Everyone is you

Before you go back countless more
You’ve got to understand
Your soul is here to just explore
Evolve
And love
Expand