Pointlessly envious

POINTLESSLY ENVIOUS (D G D F# G D, capo 4)

I’m pointlessly envious of everyone else. Everything I’m not.

I’m pointlessly fretting over the things I can’t do anything about.

 

I’m pointlessly pointing my fingers at words and ideas that mean nothing to me.

I’m pointlessly pointing my face to the sun because I read on the internet it’s the right way to wake up.

 

I’m going to sleep because I am tired and when I wake up I think I’ll feel alright.

I might go the beach because that’s where I like to be and when I get home I’ll just sit in the sun.

 

I’m pointlessly just sitting here singing my songs. Making the neighbours feel weird.

I’m pointlessly envious of my friends who have jobs and money and houses but I don’t want a job or that much money or a house. I just want to go to the beach and sit in the sun and sing my songs.

Young flowers

YOUNG FLOWERS (E A D G B E, capo 4)

 

Once we’re done. Once we know. In the shade. In the glow.

Watch the sun melt away. It’s supposed to get hot today. Last night the moon was full and I didn’t sleep.

We’ll be here. Well do what we can with what we’ve found. In the air. In the ground. I mean here. I mean now.

Like young flowers in old dirt. Same story, same hurt. Young flowers in old dirt.

 

Once we’re dry. Once we’re warm. Let it flood. Let it storm.

Watch my face melt away. It’s all I’ve got left. Last weekend the moon was full and I still haven’t slept.

We’ll be here. Well do what we can with what we’ve found. In the air. In the ground. I mean here. I mean now.

Like young flowers in old dirt. Same story, same hurt. Young flowers in old dirt.

 

We’ll be here. We’ll do what we can with what we’ve found.

We’ll be here. We’ll do what we can with what we’ve found.

We’ll be here. We’ll be here.

Like young flowers in old dirt. Young flowers in old dirt. Young flowers in old dirt. Young flowers in old dirt.

Getting there

GETTING THERE (E G D G B E, capo 4)

Who is she, standing there, with a flower in her hair?

Who can say? Who can know? Who will stay? Who will go?

Who is she, asking why, with her hands to the sky?

Will the stars call her name? Will she still feel the same?

The clouds roll in, she doesn’t care.

Happy here, getting there.

 

Who is he, old and grey, sitting in the sun all day?

What does he say? What does he know? When it gets dark where does he go?

Who is he, on the beach, looking out to sea?

Will the ocean tell him why? Will he laugh? Will he cry?

A big wave comes but he’s not scared.

He’s happy here, getting there.

 

Who am I, on the grass, with my chai and my guitar?

Where am I supposed to be? Is anyone expecting me?

The wind picks up and blows the towels.

The ladybugs roll around.

I’m not surprised but I’m not prepared.

Happy here, getting there.

Happy here, getting there.

Getting there.

Clear, open, steady

CLEAR, OPEN, STEADY (E A D G B E)

On a dirt trail through the trees. I follow as she runs. Clear, open, steady.

On a wing above the sand. Returning like we never left. I follow her.

Between mountains, under rocks. We don’t know where we’re going but we’re never lost. She is deep and she is silent.

Clear, open, steady. Clear, open, steady.

Clear.

Until the washing machine goes off

UNTIL THE WASHING MACHINE GOES OFF (E A D G B E)

We’ve only got until the washing machine goes off. And until it does we’ll do what we can with what we’ve found. It’s sunny today, it’s funny how yesterday it was dark. So while the sky’s blue I’ll put my boxers on the line.

 

But until the machine beeps I’ll act like there’s nothing to do. Sit on the grass and sing some songs with my guitar. Though slowly I feel it creeping like the morning alarm. And when it sings out I’ll do my best to do what I should.

 

Oh, hear it comes. I hear it trickling. Is it the pumps or just the tears down my cheek?

And, oh, when it does. My heart is flittering. All of my jobs feel like they’re sitting on my chest.

 

I’ve only got until the washing machine goes off. But who am I kidding? I’ll just keep putting everything off. Putting everything off. Putting everything off. Putting everything off.

Just cos

JUST COS (E A D G B E)

Just cos the wind is strong. Just cos you had it wrong. Just cos you’re barely hanging on. Just cos you thought.

Just cos your belly aches. Just cos you’re out of place. Just cos you’re tired but you’re wide awake. Just not today.

Just when you’ve had enough. Form the sky to the stars to your aching heart. I know what follows us is true.

Just cos it rains today. Just cos you got blown away. Just cos it’s not what you’d want if you had a say. Just cos it ain’t fair.

Just when you’ve had enough the sky turns blue and the sun comes up. I know you well enough. You know me well enough. You know it’s only just cos.

Let's just go

LET’S JUST GO (E A D G B E)

Let’s just go. I don’t know and I won’t until I do.

Let’s just go. I don’t know and neither do you.

No one’s expecting you. But don’t be late.

The air outside is warm but it won’t stay.

 

Let’s just go. Maybe we can learn to trust ourselves.

I move slow but slow can be quick when the timing is right.

Sometimes when you ask why, the feeling dies.

It’s ok to be scared. So am I.

 

I’ve got to do my jobs. But they won’t take very long.

We can pause our shows. No one even needs to know.

I don’t know. Let’s just go.

Let’s just go.

Let’s just go.

Let’s just go.

She doesn't say much

 SHE DOESN’T SAY MUCH (E A D G B E, capo 2)

 

She doesn’t say much. She doesn’t need to. She hears her heartbeat thud soft like thunder.

One at a time. One after the other. One to keep. One for each other.

She writes her own songs and I’m just a con man trying to keep up the best I can.

Like a can of beans. Or a tin of fruit. There’s plenty for me and heaps for you.

 

Like a fool I fell. Tumbling down wells I dug up out of fear.

Like a fool I crashed. Everything just broke. Now I’ve got to clean this mess.

 

She doesn’t say much but she looks closely. She’s on her own but she’s never lonely.

She’s got a choice and some big decisions. The bigger they are the more she listens.

When she goes the wrong way she always makes it right. Wherever she lands she never breaks her stride.

And she sleeps real good every night. No matter the place, no matter the time. No matter the daylight. Especially in daylight.

 

And it’s been true for ages. And I mean literally ages. How sweet it is to know.

The wise are good, the wise are bad. The wise are angry, the wise are glad. The wise are privileged in their choice.

 

Give me space. Give me time. Give words to describe all these things I feel inside. Let them not eat me alive.

Give me space to hold close. Give me light. Give me a ghost. Give me pain. Give me a rope. Give me a tree. Tell me a joke.

I'm a perfect person

I’M A PERFECT PERSON (E A D G B E)

I’m a perfect person. Whispers through the curtain. It’s light enough to see your face.

I’m a perfect person. Precision like a surgeon. It’s dark enough to get away.

 

Listen to my sermon. Wrap me like a turban. See everything worsen.

I’m a perfect person. Now I know for certain. Show me where you’re hurting.

 

Watch the things you love burn brightly.

Flying through the sky like shooting stars.

The things you love were never really in your hands.

 

Meet me in the margin. Scold me like a sergeant. Hold me like I’m brahmin.

Bring my name to action. Satiate my passion. Everything’s a pattern.

And I’m a perfect person.

 

Do you realize you have the most beautiful face ???

Do you realise we’re only holding our own place?

 

I’m a perfect person. Now I know for certain. Watch everything worsen.

Because I’m a perfect person.

The water was deep

THE WATER WAS DEEP (E A D G B E)

The water was deep and the waves were wide.

She went to sleep on a rising tide.

When she woke stars filled the sky.

 

The mountain was steep and the path was narrow.

Moonbeams unravelled and fell like arrows.

She travelled lightly. She cast no shadow.

 

The sun was bright and the sky was blue.

The grass was cold and wet with due.

And suddenly she knew what to do.