Looks like tonight there’s gonna’ be another plague,
where all your good intentions come crashing down on your parade,
disguised as poor excuses that your promises betrayed,
that always seems to service only you.
And by tomorrow you’ll be miles away from here,
with all your disappointments climbing fences they can’t clear,
well I’m afraid that road you’ve taken has been paved with volunteers
who never learn what they’re not paid to do.
(Chorus)
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah . . . I’ve heard that too many times
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. . . I know – I do.

I guess today you’ll sit and wonder why you came
and crawl among the circles drawing lines around your brain.
Just don’t be overcome with banquets that pretend to feed the pain
‘cause they can swallow up what they can’t eat right through
(Chorus)

And I wish to God for once you’d shut your mouth ‘cause I’m not listening.

Oooh, is anybody out there, does anybody hear you, ‘cause anyone’ll do.
And no one seems to notice so much is out of focus, so much is attitude (so you better not cry)

You better believe in something (Chorus)

words & music – Carl Allocco

I’ve been to hell on a sunny day, followed the dogs in the rain.
Bumped into Jesus on the boulevard asking the beggars for change.
I said, “Hey Messiah, you got a minute – I need to speak with you.”
He goes, “Not now son, I just gotta’ run. Too many pressing, more important things to do.
And I said, Oh no, no, not again, right here in my own backyard.
Oh and Dorothy’s been asking why is life so hard.
(and I don’t know what to tell her)
I’ve been to heaven maybe once or twice, but I don’t remember a thing. Cute strangers talking ‘bout some kind of paradise.
Guess I was drunk and kind of fell out of my wings.
And now the wall goes up and the gate comes down, nobody’s letting me in. All this pressure to be beautiful.
My tabernacle’s having trouble getting thin.
And it’s like No, no, lets’s pretend there’s nothing left to discard.
And Dorothy’s been asking me why is life so hard . . .
Dorothy’s been asking why is life so hard.

Maybe it’s the time you take
to get back on your feet from your big mistake.
‘Cause the world goes on, it just don’t wait for you.
I don’t know what keeps me down. I turn my head but it just turns around. And I don’t feel bad, I just don’t want anybody laughing at me.
Do you know what I mean? I bet you do.

Came back down to earth the other day, I didn’t like what I saw.
So I got back in my rocket ship. I put the peddle to the floor,
and it’s like oh, no, no, not again, right back down that boulevard
and Dorothy’s been asking me why is life so hard . . .
Dorothy’s been asking me why is life so hard . . .
Dorothy’s been asking me why is life so hard

words & music – Carl Allocco

I feel cold, I feel strange, I hear voices that shiver through my frame.
I feel tired but I don’t want to sleep.
Oh, there’s a noise inside my soul, it’s definitely deep.
I feel distance, it’s what I can’t resist.
Just like a little boy afraid of his first kiss.
So am I crazy, I know that’s what you think.
Is no one gonna’ save me, I’m drowning like a child,
near the bottom, at the brink.

(Chorus)
So tell me what to say, what am I to do.
‘Cause when you look at me I’m reaching out to you.
And I can’t walk away and I can’t believe it’s true
that somebody like me could fall so easily for somebody like you.

The way you cry, the way you talk.
The fire in your eyes. The body in your walk.
Your sentimental reasons for holding on to things.
Well, maybe this is treason,
but man, I’m getting tired of just waiting in the wings. (Chorus)

All my life I have tried to be that someone I can’t be.
Well, I’ve resigned, I’ve retired, it’s time to get up off my knees.

So am I crazy, I wonder what you think.
I’m acting like a baby, I’m drowning like a child, near the bottom, at the brink.

(Chorus) Somebody just like you. I feel strange.

words & music – Carl Allocco

The clouds are closing in, the closet sky is paper thin
and I can’t seem to trust the wind today.
The little voice inside has given up on where to hide.
It doesn’t know or can’t decide the words it wants to say.
If left up to me, boy, I’d get down on my knees and die.
No more holding on. I won’t have to try but then I look into your eyes.
And all at once I know, baby, you’re my lifeboat.

The quiet raindrops fall. I stop and try to catch them all.
I never knew that things so small could pray.
The boy with big ideas who rapes you for your eyes and ears,
then justifies his lack of tears with, “I’m sorry, that’s just my way.”
The war’s all for me, boy, the battle’s all I see, yes I.
I’m tired of being wrong when no one knows what’s right,
then I watch you fall asleep at night.
And when your eyes are closed, baby, you’re my lifeboat.

But all this wasted time has caught me standing still.
No use crying over dreams you meant to kill.
And just for once, I wish, I wouldn’t walk away.
Well, maybe now I’ve found my reason. What is my reason? It’s you . . .

The clouds are back again but maybe this time I’ll pretend
the sky is just some lonely friend whose smile has turned to gray.
It’s all up to me, boy, what ever I believe I’ll find.
No more giving in, I’ve lived too long without someone I could care about.
I want you to know, baby, you’re my lifeboat.
So never let me go. Baby you’re . . . you’re my lifeboat.

words & music – Carl Allocco

Something is just not right – I can’t put my finger on it.
Emotional satellites caught up in who revolves around who,
when the gravity’s gone.
It could be circumstance, or maybe my eyes are too big for my head.
Riding the avalanche, covered in things that you said.
Like I’m always finding something wrong with what you mean to me. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.

Where do we go from here. Who will the fallout shelter.
Relying on atmosphere, strung out on who dissolves into who.
Your identity’s gone.
Who do we sacrifice. Who’s gonna’ run from what should ‘ve been said. Sizing up paradise by blurring the boundaries in bed.
And I’m always wanting something more than what you give to me. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.

Maybe I’m talking to myself just to hear things I’d like to say.
Maybe I’m crying out for help – if could get out of my own way.

Could it be circumstance, or maybe my eyes are too big for my head.
Riding the avalanche, covered in things that you said.
Like I’m always finding something wrong with what you mean to me. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.
That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.

words & music – Carl Allocco

You don’t have to share my bed, or kiss my mouth with past regret,
or wonder why those things I said just won’t let go of you.
You don’t have to toss and turn, and question what you’ve yet to learn.
This can’t go on, I’m so concerned with all that we’ve been through.

(Chorus)
I’ll be standing under you, so don’t ever be afraid to fall
‘cause I will catch you, you won’t hit the ground.
I will catch you. Oh, I’ll be around.
So go, go on, fly (be) free . . . but I’ll be right there if you need me.

You won’t have to dry those eyes and feel torn up and numb inside.
There’s nothing really to decide ‘cause you already know.
So, be stubborn, climb that fence. I hope you find your confidence.
But security’s no accident, it’s not whose hand you hold. (Chorus)

Just don’t try too hard to find yourself, you might wind up somebody else and you’ll forget just who you are.

So, be strong, my fragile friend. This is nowhere near the end.
And to you, with all my love, I send a message from my soul. (Chorus)

words & music – Carl Allocco

Nothing is wrong, nothing is right, when nothing is clear.
And nobody wins, nobody waits ‘cause nobody knows what’s real.
And how could you be so cruel.
How could you let me think that you were happy to be there,
waiting around for me

(Chorus)
And love, just when I believed in you, you did just what I thought you’d do – you released me.
And now I’m here alone.

Somebody’s bored, somebody’s tired of someone who won’t show it.
Well, here is my hand. But I hear it’s too late.
You don’t have the strength to hold it.
And why did you wait so long. And why did you let me lead you on.
Did I take you nowhere? Did I just make sounds? Now he . . . (Chorus) . . .

Now I’m here, making promises I’m not sure I can keep.
I still don’t know if I can do it.
But let me tell you, just be sure you’re over me.
‘Cause I’d hate to have you feel, oh, the way I feel,
a day, a week, a month, a year from now.

And how could you be so cruel.
How could you let me think that you were happy to be there,
waiting around for me

(Chorus)
And love, just when I believed in you, you did just what I thought you’d do – you released me.
And now I’m here, now I’m here, now I’m here alone.

words & music – Carl Allocco

Now I saw God in a convertible with a yellow bandana on his head.
He had a long white beard, and man, He acted weird,
‘guess He remembered what the angels’ said.
Then I saw God on an airplane, it struck me funny,
‘cause I thought He could fly.
You know, I thought He had wings and halos and things,
a little dove that told us why.
So I asked Him, what’s the problem, and He made this remark.
People only pray when life gets hard, then they blame it all on God. God.

Now, I saw God in a movie. He didn’t speak ‘cause He had no lines.
And since He didn’t talk I watched the way He walked
and His footsteps echoed mine.
Then I saw God in a baby. You know, those little things that cry.
And it looked up at me, but all I could see
was an old man trying to hide.
So I asked Him, could He tell me, how come so many false starts.
And He said, people wait ‘til their worlds fall apart,
then they blame it all on God. God.

Now I think God is a fairy-tale, like a shelter from the rain
for people who need miracles and love to just complain.
‘Cause I saw God in the mirror and He looked me in the eye.
But I combed my hair and walked away, again I passed Him by.
‘Cause that day I felt happy and the pain was not that sharp.
We all seem to think we’re all so smart;
We sit and watch our world just fall apart.
And people only pray when life gets hard and then we blame it all on . . . we blame it all on . . .

words & music – Carl Allocco

Drunken angels learn to swim while the matador does his serpent thing
and the tired old cowboy rides off into the sun.
Armchair heroes clap their hands for the ballerinas as they take the stand
in defense of what they should have or could have done.
Big man buys the beer, dangles keys and his career.
Talks God from a pick-up truck, he loves to talk, he smokes too much,
but hey, everything’s just fine in a world in decline.

Cartoon saviors raise their fists
while their animators rub their worn out wrists.
Then one by one they whisper in the hall.
Paparazzi point their guns on the self appointed chosen ones
while the dreamer throws his vision to the dogs.
Small boy buys the fear, sells us hope like souvenirs.
Walks tall with a Midas crutch, he hates the things he loves to touch,
but hey, everything’s on time in a world in decline.

And if you wait for me, who waits for you,
‘cause I don’t climb when I’m this low.
You pray for me, I’ll pray for you,
‘cause I’m behind and I don’t know . . .

Politicians wave their flags while the unsuspecting grab their rags
to polish what is left of what was true.
Itsy, bitsy big machines make it easy for the dragon queens
while the allocators laugh at me and you, and you, and you.
Brave world, so sincere. Pave the way, what’s new this year.
All rise to the ways and means where dirty hands keep conscience clean,
but hey, everything’s on line in a world . . .
and hey, everything’s on time in a world . . .
and hey, everything’s just fine in a world in decline.

words & music – Carl Allocco