Follow leaders when you don’t know where to go
and you wind up lost, somewhere else
And all the creatures in the jungle want to know
why does the pauper in the palace die for the prince up on the shelf
Cause man, he’s only making sounds – he’s got no idea
the hero’s always lying down
But I’ve got a question, but I won’t hang around here
In the middle of the day
In the middle of the day

People standing in the back of the arena
maybe don’t see much, but they get out first
While all the ticket scalping, front row schemers
Have got their hands inn their pockets and their pockets in their purse
Tomorrow they just disregard, ‘cause boy, it’s where you’ve been
They’ll love you in their own back yards
But don’t come knocking, ‘cause no – they’re never, ever in
In the middle of the day, In the middle of the day
In the middle of . . . In the middle of the day

Listen . . . all I do and all I feel
and all I swear and pray and hope to God is real
Falls on me, it calls on you
What is it coming to . . . (back to this)

Small sections of the world are getting fatter
while the boney boys are dying in the dirt
And everybody know just about everything’s the matter
Well, I’ll get my checkbook soon as I finish my dessert
And man, you gotta’ lose some weight
To look good you gotta’ be thin
Your mouth is moving, I can see you face
But don’t say nothing ‘cause nothing ever . . .
No, don’t say nothing ‘cause nothing ever begins
In the middle of the day, In the middle of the day
In the middle of . . . In the middle of the day

words and 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

Lover boy never came by, didn’t call to say why, it’s all the time
Loyal girl sits by herself, wants no one else, she doesn’t mind
He makes a living out of taking her for granted.
He never hurries ‘cause he knows she’ll be there.
She’ll never leave him ‘cause the seed has long been planted.
She just wears the tears, yeah

(Chorus)
Couldn’t he just love her, couldn’t he just love her
Couldn’t he just love her, couldn’t he . . .

Clever boy loves to forget, to get her upset, he plays with her mind.
Loyal girl goes for the ride, she keeps it inside, maybe in time.
He thinks that giving is a present on her birthday.
He doesn’t notice when she’s angry or scared.
And though she knows he’s cold she wants him in the worst way
But he’s so unfair. (Chorus)

Ah, she daydreams, he stays mean.
He don’t believe he’ll ever change. . .

Couldn’t he just love her . . .

words & music – Carl Allocco

I feel like I’ve been alive forever, just getting older, not mature. I thought by now I’d feel a bit secure.
And the months go by like seconds, so why do the days drag on for years. I wish I knew what time was made of.
I just scare myself to sleep and I disregard the reasons. All the promises I’m so ashamed to keep . .
Hey, hey, hey boy, I’m sorry. That’s all I can be. So I sit and watch the clock waiting for my heart to stop.

I feel so disconnected like I’m in pieces on the floor. I don’t know if I can stand to break much more.
If only I could find me someone – someone to save me from myself. I guess it’s me I’m most afraid of. . .
And I can lose my voice to speak, but alone, words have no meaning. All the problem I find so – so incomplete.
Hey, hey, hey boy, don’t worry, it’s only me. So I listen for the knock waiting for my heart to . . .

Stop racing towards what’s caving in, stop chasing all those worthless things.
Stop looking down for saving face, stop running scared – so hard, in place.
Stop living up to where it’s been, stop making sure it’s wearing thin.
Stop beating loud for all to see, Stop killing me . . . please

I feel like I’ve been alive forever, just getting further from myself. I wish I knew just when I gave up.
I still scare myself to sleep and I disregard the reasons. All the problem I find so – so incomplete
Hey, hey, hey boy, if I loved you, could you love me. So for all the things I’m not I waiting for my heart to stop.
So, I sit and watch the clock, waiting for my heart to stop.

words & music – Carl Allocco

You can hide behind the choices that you’ve made, then hate yourself for things you lost along the way
You give to those who won’t approve you
You can pave your ground with sacrificial sheets, then plagiarize your walls with comic book relief
You criticize the ones that choose you
Well, you can’t go on like this, pulling thorns from fingertips
Living life between goodbyes.
(Chorus)
And the sun goes down as your blue sky slips away
And the night sets in as you close your eyes on one more day
and you lie so still, in your bed, so warm and safe
Maybe in time . . . maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow

You secretly despise the company you keep, yet take offense at those who sympathize defeat
Then you laugh – does it amuse you?
Well, how much is not enough, ‘cause giving in’s just giving up
Drawing lines across your floor . . . (Chorus)

Another sunny morning, crowded afternoon
You’re by yourself, alone, and find their’s no more room
You leave the ones that won’t abuse you.
Well, I’ve seen it all before; being right’s not being sure
Oh, and did I mention love . . love (Chorus)

words & music – Carl Allocco

Trying to smile while your world caves in, when your only happiness is where you’ve been and you are too ashamed to look back so you pick another number just to stay clean. The child in your eyes sits still while the adolescent in your brain says kill, and the only way to surface is to dive.
(Chorus)
But oooh . . . you were there, you saw the same things I saw. Oh, I forgot, your eyes were closed most of the time.
And you were there, you heard the same things I heard, or maybe not, some words don’t mean much anymore.

I’m sorry if it gets too grim, but I’m only waiting ‘til the blame kicks in, then I’ll a choose a form of rationale that’ll finger point in your direction. And I know I’m sounding real depressed, but the funny thing . . I’m not a bit upset, I’m just sick and tired of happy all the time.
(Chorus)
But oooh . . . you were there, you saw the same things I saw. Oh, I forgot, your eyes were closing in on mine.
And you were there, you heard the same things I heard, or maybe not, my lips weren’t moving after all.

The words were filed away to glances paved in anger. So why should I behave, when I can’t even hear you, oooh . . .
(‘Guess I’m the man I thought I was)

Try it a while with your face smashed in over repercussions of the money’s gone thin, and the telephone’s a questionnaire of where or when we’re gonna’ see the daylight.
And I know, and if you haven’t guessed yet, their’s a silly rumor going ‘round this tent. But it’s not too late to swallow or reply. (Chorus)

words & music – Carl Allocco

I saw blood on Sullivan street. It didn’t look quite real to me. Like melted cherry red ice cream. I watched it kiss the concrete clean.
And I don’t ask why, I just sit there like some spy whose heart’s afraid to beat.
I saw a truck become a box. And men with iron hands that lock. With little beds that fold up small. And then the box became a ball.
As it rolled away I was thinking out loud, how much was sinking in . . . and she said

(Chorus)
Hold my hand as we walk on by. And we won’t look back, and we won’t ask why.
We’ll just close our eyes as if we can’t see, then we’ll turn our heads because we must. We’re not to blame – we’re just curious.

I saw a face become a crowd. Second glances that stared – none proud. Lips undone from the dry mouth burn. Such expression man, such concern. And I don’t know how I’m not crazy, ‘cause I’ve run out of things to brave me through. Then she says . . . (Chorus)

For walking down the street . . . we’re walking down the street one night, and she says . . .

(Chorus)
Hold my hand as we walk on by. And we won’t look back, and we won’t ask why.
We’ll just close our eyes as if we can’t see, then we’ll turn our heads because we must.
And who’s to blame, if it’s not us. While we complain and we discuss. It’s such a shame, but we’re curious.

I saw blood on Sullivan street . . .

words & music – Carl Allocco

Everybody’s got such big hands, well, just don’t grab me
Having all you can seems not enough these days
Maybe it can cost a lot, but if you ask me
all the things you’re not are what gives you away

(Chorus)
Well, I don’t waste my time
I don’t waste my time wishing yours was mine

I’m tired of the things I want, I’m tired of wanting
What I’ve already got’s enough to weigh me down
No more ornaments, my back is breaking

(Chorus)

Just love me like their’s no tomorrow
That’s all I’ll ask of you today
And I won’t take from you, I’ll borrow
and what I can’t repay I’ll somehow make up to you
‘cause their’s just so much I can use

Everybody wants one more try, just to be sure
Eyes that open wide to only look away
And anybody’s face can change, watch for detours
‘Cause it can get real strange
(Chorus)

words & music – Carl Allocco