Hello, Rockview
©1998

1.)Last One Out of Liberty City
I know there comes a time when you lose faith in what you believe inside
and did you know somehow it's just a spark that's a start
that keeps us from the crowd.
The other day this girl came up to me
and asked if she used to go to school with me and kinda laughed
and she said wasn't I the guy her friends always called a waste of time.
I know just who I am
and what's in my head is that I don't really give a damn
who you think I am.
When I stop and think about to where I'll be 10 years from now
I wonder if the me of now would call myself washed up or watered down
or part of the crowd?
and the other night this guy came up to me downtown
and can't believe that after 5 years I'm still around
and he said, wasn't I the guy who walked these streets all night?
It's such a waste of time.
 

2.)Help Save the Youth of America from Exploding
And just outside I can heard the sounds
of the early morning street becoming way too loud
and the hum of the engines of the cars on the street
And with this cigarette that I just lit
as I pass the 53rd St. Bridge
Right now the world just seems too big
so sit down and remind me how
this is the same old story of growing up and getting lost.
And outside I can see my breath
in between the words that fog my spinning head
and I can see the sun coming up. And it's just light enough to see
Another cigarette that I just lit
as I pass the 53rd St. bridge
right now the world just seems to big
And all the late night calls and all the lost hopes
and the missed connections and the lost direction.
 

3.)All My Best Friends Are MetalHeads
Do you think it's strange
that there's this way of how you look at,
how you act like, and how you think and pretend they're not the same as you
Do you know about his strength of convictions
or how she puts all her faith in religion
Did you ever take the time
to really discover how little we know about each other?
this all becomes one more chance to
keep us from saying anything
and  separate from everything.
And all this really means
you're one in a crowd and paranoid of every sound
another friend you won't miss anyhow
 

4.)Five State Drive
Got on the 47, transferred to the 89
left town eastbound past all the city signs
and y'know sometimes it's hard to leave your past behind
and as I pass the crummy bars and beat up cars
nothing's gonna change my mind this time
By now you think I've found that things changed, just don't look that way to me
by now you think I've found that things change, and look rearranged to me
it never used to look that me.
At half past seven I'm on the 95
sick of malls and alcohol
just passed the next state line
and I know sometimes it's hard to leave your past behind
and as I think of the corner creeps and dirty streets
nothing will change my mind,
there's no turning back this time.
And when going off is like going on
and never going back is just like giving up
it's like I'm going nowhere fast.
 

5.)Nervous in the Alley
On a tuesday in the rain I never thought there'd come a day
if I put myself to the test would I ever raise a fist
would I just shut my mouth, would I just block it out?
I've sworn a million times never to be left,
standing with that feeling
of hopelessness, just standing nervous in the alley
When all is said and through
would I know just what to do
and if I put myself to the test
would I ever raise a fist
would I just shut my mouth or just block it out
I've sworn a million times never to be left,
standing with that feeling
of hopelessness, just standing nervous in the alley
Is it a change of heart,
that keeps us apart
and you say it's true
and we know it's true
when all we have left is me and you
and it's so strange,
when all I have left to say
is I wonder what's worth fighting for?
 

6.)Motto
Have you ever felt that something,
you know that something that keeps you sane?
and you can't explain why
But you know it's what's left inside you
and I know that it's that something
you know that something that keeps me sane
and I can't explain why when it's all I have I have left to hold onto
when I say It's everything
And from my highest hopes to my dumbest schemes
you'll never know what it means to me.
I'm just a reason away, from that something that keeps me sane.
 

7.)History of a Boring Town
Just talked to this girl who used to live on my street
after all these years you're here and you remember me
She said her old boyfriend
packed up and headed back east
but she always knew someday he would go
she just got a new job but doubts it will last
so lets take a drink and never think
here's to the past
She says it's so funny how life burns out so fast
it's just another wasted day
A boring life in a boring town
with the same old crowd
and I used to say that I'd never stay
but I'm rotting here today
With that same old crowd that's always been around
and I always thought I'd be the first to go
That same old crowd that brings me down
another day in a boring town
And remember when they'd look through you
and then look past me
we were the ones they said would always leave
when you go think of me.
 

8.)Great American Sharpshooter
So you think of what it could've been
when "time is all you've lost"
keeps burning through your head
now you fall asleep standing but lie awake in bed
watch the clock drag on and think about what you should've said
It's for the better your better half is gone
its O.K. you didn't need her anyway
and I don't want to hear you say nobody can take her place
and what more can I say you didn't need her anyways
So you think of how it should've been
and "it's just over" keeps going through your head
you're hearing all those words
time and time again
watch the phone all night and think about what you should've said.
It's for the better your better half is gone
 

9.)Danny Says
Danny says that he got caught up
in all the talk of how it used to be
and he says "I never used to mind"
that same lame line "it's just you and me"
Danny says that he's so boring now
since he figured out that back in the day
really says"..how I remember this,
and don't give a shit about what you have to say"
He's only 19 burnt out on this scene
and just getting by on its memories
 

10.)Big Crash
Sometimes, I think
something's wrong with me
because I was never one to believe
in anyone or anything
it's always been just me.
and y'know they've always had big plans for you
just to walk you through and cloud your views
and I'll never say that everything's O.K.
and you don't want to say that you're giving up right now
so hold your ground
don't give up in what you believe
why be different
when you can't be yourself
sometimes I think
something's wrong with me
because I was never one to believe
in anyone or anything.
and I don't want to say I'll ever change
because things always change.
 

11.)Theme Song for H Street
You know my best friend,
just left yesterday and I know
I know your girlfriend, couldn't explain, why she moved away
things are so the same,
that all I can really bring myself to say
is that I know
and yeah just outside,
the conversation's getting old
and I know they're right,
betting smokes that our end is just as close.
things are so the same
and remember when they said
just how long can your ideals
keep you warm
and we just laughed that kinda nervous laugh
and we just sang along to that song on the radio
you were right about,
just how we'd figure out things change
but beliefs stay the same
and you were right about just how we'd figure out
a change of ideas I've known
 

12.)Richard Allen George...No, It's just Cheese
Don't call me Rich
don't call me George
just call me cheez
that's who I am
Civilized?
yeah until the keg runs dry
and he's tried
to drink from 9 to 5
then from 5 to 9
always drunk and going crazy
you better believe it
chesterfield
where the kegs never dry
it's always filled
have beer with fear!
have a beer or two
then he'll show you his cheese tattoo
drunk and going crazy
you better believe it
 

13.)Scott Farcas takes it on the Chin
When I think of how things are
right now it feels like
yeah it all feels like some kind of circus show
and how this town it keeps you pinned down
with the same old song from years ago
and y'know this place will chew you up and spit you out
before you go
and when they drag you
kicking and screaming from the scene you know
it's time to leave
when I think of this town right now
it's filled with speed freaks and assholes
and all kinds of creeps
and somehow every new face in every single case
in a year or two will be erased
and to think of how I'm feeling right not somehow
I still remember how I felt 4 years ago
and when I think of how things are right now
it's still the same old song from years ago
what do I know?
that it's still the same old song from years ago
 

14.)Al's War
Al said goodbye to his mom and dad for the first time in his life
tonight left the house and walked out to the waiting car outside
and somehow he thought they'd never understand that nothing lasts
and he just knows that time is just spinning by
and life is passing him by so fast
And sometimes I think I'm the only one
that feels like going nowhere is like giving up
Al said to me a few days ago
that he just thought for the first time in his life
he feels the last 10 years were only a waste of time
and that it was only a compromise of what he always felt inside
his declaration of independence
said to me under the orange street lights
he was the one
who always did the right thing
he was the one that listened to everything they'd say
but today he's never going back
 

Borders & Boundaries
©2000

1.)Magnetic North
There's been borders and there'll be boundaries
and there's been times misidirection's found me
There's been clear heads and there'll be clean slates
and times we'd find we'd pass the night away thinking
Everyone here hates everyone here
for doing the same thing that they do
There's been new starts and they'll be no sleep
and there's been times when inspiration's found me
and there's been walls built and there's been worse days
and times we'd find we spent the night awake thinking
all those people they keep watching me
all those people that hate me
all those people they watch me
all those people are just like me

2.)Kehoe
Ideals are like opinions and beliefs just like tradition
Sometimes both are not enough
Faded stickers and crumpled flyers
They've become the reminder
that there's an anthem in us that fits
the flag we've flown for years
I've always had this same old song
Stuck in my head for so damn long
A soundtrack to whether I'm right or wrong
Ideals are like opinions beliefs just like tradition
Sometimes both are not enough
faded pictures and yellowed flyers
and memories so far behind us
there's an anthem in us that fits
the flag we've flown for years
Ideals and its actions
Beliefs and convictions
Faith and tradition
The flags we've flown for years

3.)Suburban Myth
So let's hit the streets tonight
And I'll show you where I lost my job
and where I got chased by cops
so we'll jump the fence at 13th and 10th
to see where we played our first show
I told you everybody loses sight of
All the how it's been and never was
So let's hit the streets tonight
And I'll show you where I drank on the job
and hung out In that parking lot
left at the light there's park 16th on the right
and that's the place that we called home
That place you'll never get a chance to know
and all the people through the years you could've known
it makes me wonder what your seeing is almost "home"

4.)Look what Happened
And I swear it's the last time and I swear it's my last try
and we'll walk in circles around this whole block
walk on the cracks on the same old sidewalks
and we'll talk about leaving town
yeah we'll talk about leaving
I swear it's the last time I swear it's my last try
We rode across that bridge all night
we talked our way through city lights
traced all the lines we're killing time
under those buzzing signs
from downtown to anywhere but here
tonight yeah I swear to these rooftops
and just hoped that car would never stop
we drove around this place all night
past closed signs and familiar sights
we're moving by passing time
counting those center lines
with 20,000 lines left to go
that lead to somewhere I don't know
it might be the time tha twe leave this all behind
there's been a few times
that we thought it felt right
to take all the westbound signs
and just leave town tonight

5.)Hell looks a lot Like L.A.
He got in his car and told himself to drive
gotta leave it all behind if he wants to feel alive
19 and lost and never thought he'd ever leave this place
vacant mind from endless grind so what's to lose anyways
Another fast food job?
Another 8 to 5 day?
Ten minutes and two miles is just a mile too many today
and you can see why it's easy to say
y'know that hell looks a lot like L.A.
six months ago was the last she felt alive
moved down from the north and told herself she'd try
18 and lost and never thought this place would change
ignored and bored the same feelings as yesterday
she said it's way too much more than she could take
it's one less car that's in the way
y'know that hell looks a lot like L.A.

6.)Mr. Chevy Celebrity
Well I thought all my friends were sane
then I met this kid in the fourth grade
"let's go throw rocks through the neighbor's windows"
I never wanted to go but he would always make me
I wanna know what you were thinking
I wanna know what you were drinking
Mark Cruce
Have another drink Mark Cruce
He's the guy passing out and crashing on your couch
Mark Cruce Have another drink Mark Cruce
He's the guy pissing in the front yard of your house
Mark Cruce
Through all the years not a whole lot's changed
how 'bout that party where you stole the beer tap
off some burnout's keg
I really hope that you know
I almost got my ass beat
have another drink Mark Cruce
he's the guy with the bat that took your mailbox out
setting fire to bags of shit outside your neighbor's house

7.)Gainsville Rock City
This map hung up on the truck stop hallway door
is looking worn and I can hardly read it anymore
I feel like I'm a speck thrown on the map
and I can't help my urge to laugh
I never used to feel like that
Well I'm half awake half a world away
all my past mistakes and every wasted day
I wouldn't have it any other way
I'll try through my haze and half shut eyes
to count up all the reasons why
I should be back at home tonight
Half awake half a world away
all my past mistakes and every wasted day
proves that I'll never change
I'll always stay the same
I wouldn't have it any other way

8.)Malt Liquor Tastes Better When You've Got Problems
And I've been so busy trying
that I've only wound up living
weekend to weekend
getting by just simply "trying"
And I should be out looking for a job
but only wind up heading for a stiff drink
left with nothing else so I think
"it's time to stumble home"
So I say Hello to wasted hours
and I say bottoms up to better days
I've been so busy dying
that I've always wound up living
paycheck to paycheck
scraping by but hardly trying
what will it take to get me out of bed
when half the check goes to rent
the other half goes to debt
I should be out looking for another job
Instead I stumble home
Another day not trying
there's no one left to blame
it's just the routine and the repetition
I've spun out of control

9.)Bad Scene and a Basement Show
Well the scene here he wants her back
he's trying to use the phone
she's hanging up he's given up
he should've known
looking lost then he wanders off
and tries to sing along to some song he's never heard
but just keeps mouthing all the words
It gets worse before it's all over
I know I'll get through this somehow
and nothing's gonna change her mind for now
Well the scene here he's still alone
another band goes on in this crowded basement
with too much smal talk and lame inside jokes
feeling useless out of excuses
he should've known to let it go
she said "it's done"
second chances seem to never come
After all the bad endings and misunderstandings
and all of the late night last hopes and lost time
and all that she left for me wasonly a memory
all I can say is she don't understand me

10.)Is This Thing On?
When all the things that you've been thinking
has you so confused and so unglued
your head is spinning
well we've all felt the same inside
I've been on that ledge countless times
and I know what that feels like
you've on your own can't make it through this world all alone
is this thing on at all?
when all your friends don't have the answers
and you're so convinced that inch by inch
they've turned to strangers
we've all seen the different sides
no one hears even though you've talked all night
and I know what you feel like
can we really measure if we're any better
than that skyline that goes on and on forever on and on?

11.)Pete Jackson is Getting Married
I can see it all right now
his mom and dad so proud of his son and his new found wife
and I wonder if after all these years
will his dad still give him a pep talk for his wedding night?
I can smell his cousin's polo mixing with his grandpa's old spice and the
Swedish meatballs look so tempting that his two fat aunts might even fight
and his uncles have all gone drinkin'
highballs and hamms light in the parking lot
while the rest of his relatives are busy just tearing up the Manville Elks Lodge
I can smell his cousin's polo mixing with his grandpa's old spice and the mashed
potatoes look so tasty that his two fat aunts might even fight
on that day what else could I say?
I'd say here's to you staying drunk
here's to all your good luck
you're gonna need it

12.)1989
Let me give you some insight into my insides
I haven't been this confused in such a long time
you can't believe I've spent just losing my mind
I can't believe that 10 years have really gone by
it's been a long time
Had a plan for every year I've been alive
a million more I've built up inside of me
there's a million more that I have bottled up
and that I've fucked up
do you feel like the hard times are mountains you've climbed lying awake
it still feels like it's '89 it's been along time
those mindless days the plans that I've made
the countless mistakes all the times I've changed
through the years I faced all that's kept me sane
every single day

13.)Last Hour of the Last Day of Work
I couldn't help but think back to the advice
that I got from my dad a few times
he said"...time goes by so fast in a blink of an eye
so never close your eyes..."
"...I always wanted something more than 50 hours every week
and a paid vacation on the jersey shoreline"
And he said
So when ambition turns into competition
I'll never be the better man
I can't help but think back to the time
he said "life goes right by"
And told me never think twice
"you can't second guess how to live your life"
All these years have been way too short
to be spent on some factory floor like me
I never went back again
I never looked back again
And he said
So when ambition turns into competition
I'll never be the better man
It's the last hour of the last day
don't fall so far behind now
you'll be another nameless face
he said

14.)Bigger Picture
Breaking down from every insult that you've taken
from one sided conversations
Burning out from all the minor misconceptions
that just play on your frustrations
your self doubt has your head so turned around
there's not a catch phrase that can save you
and it's not that hard to figure out
disappointment doesn't have to cut to a commercial now
I'm breaking down I'm burning out
and it's not funny like on television
when your self doubt turns you inside out
it's still not funny like on television
I'm passing time since I've been right
and it's not funny like on television
those times I've cracked with no laugh track
and it wasn't funny like on television

15.)Faction
And I
I wonder if you'd understand
if I said I'll never go never go along again
And if I told you all that I believe in
and gave you my reasons and always had an answer
an honest answer for all of them
sometimes you just want to belong
at any loss or any cost
yeah I've
I've made mistakes before
but I just can't seem to remember them anymore
and I've followed everyone's lead before
and I've made my own decisions
and I've never felt so strong before
I've never felt so strong before
sometimes you just want to belong
at any loss or any cost
sometimes your best defense is a good reminder
of your common sense
strike a match and hope it lasts
here's to following your own lead
it's the path that I have taken
after all the contemplation
it's the promise I have made
I hope it lasts

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