Splinter In The Soul

When rejection becomes obsession you're whole world is consumed with photographs and epitaphs and her face painted on the moon.

When rejection becomes obsession you waste away the afternoon, listening to Beck's Sea Change and stepping on balloons.

When rejection becomes obsession you're awake in the wee small hours like Sinatra in '55 over your own Ava Gardner.

When rejection becomes obsession your disposition turns sour, you lose all will to live like her fading favourite flower.

Like a splinter in the soul the likeness is unbearable.

You only need one good pull to be free.

Like a splinter in the soul the likeness is unbearable.

You only need one good pull to be free.

When rejection becomes obsession your blood is on the tracks and the walls and the bridges and anything by Bacharach.

When rejection's your only connection to a checkered past, you become the forgotten forgetting nothing ever lasts.

And like a splinter in the soul the likeness is unbearable.

Like a splinter in the soul like a splinter in the soul.

TV's a drug that makes you dumb but if it helps me forget you then give me some.

TV's a drug that makes you dumb but if it helps me forget you then give me some.

What do I do with this box of you? 'Cause although we're through I never threw out that box of you.

What do I do with this box of you? 'Though you say we're through I never threw out that box of you.

Here we are last summer in Des Moines, Iowa on our way to Redding, California.

In your Fluevog shoes and my paranoia, I adored ya, now I wonder what for yeah.

Now what do I do with this box of you? 'Cause although we're through I never threw out that box of you.

There you sit with baby at your breast. Dad's Nikon capturing your tenderness.

I keep thinking here's one for the photo contest, so i can phone ya. Don't want to talk to your lawyer.

Christmas cards I can't discard, I've tried but I'm weak.

But was it really so hard for you to part with your box of me?

Behind my face, other traces of you.

I don't recall where this particular one was taken and here's my ticket from a CTA station.

Just like romance the colours are fading. It's melancholia. I want to call ya!

What do I do with this box of you? Although we're through I never threw out that box of you.

What do I do with this box of you? 'Cause although we're through I never threw out that box of you.

I never threw out that box of you. i can't throw away this box of you.

Buckle in the road. Buckle in the road. She came on like a buckle in the road.

Buckle in the road. Buckle in the road. She came on like a buckle in the road.

And I had no time to swerve. I had no time to get up my nerve.

She came on withh her dead man curves.

Buckle in the road. Buckle in the road. She came on like a buckle in the road.

Blister in the paint. Blister in the paint. She came up like a blister in the paint.

And she stirred up feelings within until I painted myself into a corner again.

She came up with all the colours of a rainbow.

Buckle in the road. Buckle in the road. She came on like a buckle in the road.

A bug in the system. Like a bug in the system. She shut me down like a bug in the system.

Like a virus in the head. A crisis that's been over fed. She shut me down and I bled and I bled and I bled.

Buckle in the road. Buckle in the road. Buckle in the road. Buckle in the road.

If truth be told I can't hold onto this false hope you're giving me.

I'm growing old and I'm not sold on this false hope you're leaving me.

Pin me to your wall until maybe you fall in love with me again. If and when.

But if truth be told I can't hold onto this false hope you're giving me.

I'm growing old and life's too cold without this false hope, you're bleeding me.

Encase me in your shadow box in case you want to walk with me again. But who knows when? Not me. Not me.

Leave the door open just a crack in case one day you want me back. How about that?

But if truth be told I can't hold onto this false hope you're giving me.

I'm growing old and I'm not sold on this false hope you're leaving me.

Hold my breath 'til I'm blue or until I see you once again. But what's worse my friend?

If truth be told I can't hold onto this false hope you're giving me.

I'm growing old, life's too cold without this false hope, you're bleeding me.

Take every fibre of my soul and I'm liable to unroll and descend. The question remains when 'cause i don't know.

Keep the door open just a crack in case one day he turns his back on you. Boo hoo hoo.

Well if truth be told I can't hold onto this false hope you're giving me.

I'm growing old and I'm not sold on this false hope you're leaving me.

You're leaving me. I know you're leaving me behind. So leave me alone.

Step right up! Watch me forget about you. There's a special place for me in Baraboo. I hope you'll come up and see me fall down.

I know you have another, maybe two. Juggling's never been so difficult for you. If I know you and I do, you're not wearing a frown. But I am!

Leaving these big shoes to fill. Big shoes to fill. I know you want to so I know you will fill these big shoes.

There's a broken seltzer bottle on the thrid ring floor. A broken heart in trailor number 4 because I'm sure he fills you up with passion  and with mirth.

I understand this show it can't go on because we've been pretending for 8 years on.

Now I know you've gone and this heart has taken the greatest blow on earth!

But it's leaving you with big shoes to fill. Big shoes to fill. I know you want to so I know you will fill these big shoes.

I'm not a strong man but I'm very tall. But you can make feel oh so very small. Like the dwarf in the 2 o' clock show,

I'm a wonder of the world and I wonder where you'll go now.

The sword swallower and the acrobat, they both agree your words were sharp as tacks. Now there's no turning back and no net down below.

The tattooed lady is looking blue. The elephants are grey just like me too. Unlike them you'll forget me by tomorrow.

But please remember these big shoes to fill. Big shoes to fill. I know you're searching for new sights and thrills.

Big shoes to fill. Big shoes to fill. I know you want to but you never will fill these big shoes.

Step right up, watch me forget about you!

The law professor he's not returning my calls. He's busy making up brand new laws in case he ever catches me with his daughter again.

I'm finding out I can no longer visit the world I used to live in.

The curator, she's not willing to admit that she used to like me like she liked your exhibits. Now I'm on the outside, wondering to myself should I peek in.

And get myself a final glimpse of the world I used to live in.

Oh I'm the outsider, nail biter, town crier crying to the extreme.

She's a sidewinder squeezing tighter killing off the fighter in me.

The entrepreneur, he's has offered me aposition shaming my soul but only under one condition. That I leave his big sister alone and let her win.

And be the champion of the world that I used to live in.

Oh I'm the outsider, nail biter, town crier crying to the extreme.

She's a sidewinder squeezing tighter killing off the lover in me.

Those ceramic urns they are waiting to be busted by some jealous freak that she once stupidly trusted.

Now he's pathetically, aestetically all alone. Pressed against the window of the world he thought he used to own.

Now I'm on the outside wondering to myself should I peek in and get myself a final glimpse of the world I used to live in.

I'm finding out I can no longer visit the world I used to live in. No, I'm no longer welcome in the world I used to live in.

I can't remember the last time the drapes were pulled open to reveal the outside world and let the sun warm these shattered nerves.

I can't remember the last time the sheets were washed. I can't remember the last time the teeth were flossed. I can't forget when and what I lost.

Now I'm sleeping in my favourite shirt. I keep having dreams where I don't hurt. Sleeping in a bed I made.

And I'll be sleeping for a thousand days, sleeping for a thousand days in my favourite shirt.

It's been a long time since my face last showed up, reflected in your best plates and cups. These days they're down in the sink with my luck.

Because I'm sleeping and nothing is bitter. When I'm sleeping there's no better place.

If I'm slumbering the reasons are out numbering the creases on my face.

La la la la la la la la la. La la la la la la la la la. Lullabies and good riddance.

"Cause I'm sleeping in my favourite shirt and I keep having dreams where I don't hurt.

Sleeping in the bed I made and I'll be sleeping for a thousand days, sleeping for a thousand days in my favourite shirt.

The neighbour's dog howls outside my window, amongst the grass that remains unmowed and i'm oblivious to the world I used to know.

Now I'm sleeping in my favourite shirt and I keep having dreams where I don't hurt.

Sleeping in a bed I made and I'll be sleeping for a thousand days, sleeping for a thousand days.

Sleeping for a million days. Sleeping for a billion days. Sleeping for a zillion days. Sleeping in my favourite shirt.

The bees are bad this year. They buzz around my beer. Making it hard to appear sincere but I am.

The stewardess was there. She let down her hair. She was putting on airs though she was firmly on land.

Cindy Sherman's ears must be burning, this fairy tale's turning monstrous.

In a cab on Williamson it all came back with a grin as I was reaching in for $15.50.

'Neil Young's Greatest Hits' and R.E.M. on cassette. The soundtrack I won't soon forget to our movie.

Cindy Sherman's ears must be burning, this fairy tale's turning monstrous.

You share the same qualities as a damsel in distress. I wear the same monogrammed hankerchief as Jesus, yeah.

Cindy Sherman's ears must be burning, this fairy tale's turning monstrous.

Yesterday I sat in a Vaughan Road laundromat accepting that that is that and washing you away.

Cindy Sherman's ears must be burning, this fairy tale's turning monstrous.

Cindy Sherman's ears must be burning, this fairy tale's turning monstrous. Monstrous. Monstrous.

Cindy Sherman's ears must be burning.

Something crashed in Lake Monona Last night. A twin engine Beach Craft in Lake Monona Last night.

December waters are cold. Lord have mercy on the king of soul's soul. Something crashed in lake Monona last night.

Well my heart sank in Lake Monona last night. She made me walk the plank on Lake Monona last night.

She said, to quote the song that she'd been loving me too long. Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.

Down, down, down like a song in the charts. You know his crown was found by some record sharks.

My heart drowned in Lake Monona last night. Not to be found in lake Monona last night.

Submerged, it succumbed like the silencing of Mr. Jackson's drums.

Down, down, down like a song in the charts. You know his crown was found by some record sharks.

Something crashed in Lake Monona last night. Something crashed in lake Monona last night.

December waters are cold. Lord have mercy on the king of soul's soul.

Something crashed, something crashed! Something crashed, something crashed!

Something crashed, something crashed! Something crashed, something crashed!

With the seasons changing in reverse, you found your reasons for leaving me immersed.

And because it's winter in July, your heart wins the ice sculpture prize.

With your totem pinned to the wall, you left me holding and pinned to the fall.

The distance between us paralleled the damage done to my ventricles.

Kangaroo. Kangaroo. It's all thanks to you!

Up and away like you're some kind of super girl and I'm your Krytonite waiting on the other side of the world.

You've been checking into ways to leave. I'm checking out just like George Reeves.

Kangaroo. Kangaroo. It's all thanks to you!

With the seasons changing in reverse.

She said she was an artist but she failed to remind me before she departed that she was the escape kind.

"Confrontation's not my strongest point." A quotation from a phrase she coined. Leaves these loving arms out of joint.

They said she was an artist incomparably so. Creating beauty from darkness, this is the darkest that I've ever known.

Technology it breaks my heart. It gives the ability to make a cruel depart. She signed her name, it must be art.

I want her to sign my chalk outline. I want her to sign my chalk outline.

She said I was an artist who never met his potential. And so I've been discarded like a worn down shading pencil.

Technology it shakes the heart and it gives the ability to make a cruel depart. She signed her name it must be art.

I want her to sign my chalk outline. I need her to sign my chalk outline.

I hope she sign's my chalk outline. Because I need her to sign my chalk outline.

(Down on State Street what a state I'm in. Down on State Street what a state I'm in.)

My chalk outline. My chalk outline.

She's so curt with her words, she cuts me down to size. Despite her laconic ways, her popularity rises higher, higher.

She's so dark with her heart, it puts mine to shame. Though she tears me apart, I keep falling just like rain falling from higher, higher.

I only wish I could be a little more popular like her train driving monkey. Like her train driving monkey.

She's so approachable 'though I can never get near to what she is all about now that I'm no longer needed here by her. By her.

I only wish I could be a little more popular like her train driving monkey. Like her train driving monkey.

Like her drum banging monkey. Like her drum banging monkey.

Mister Postman please don't bring me no more of these. I don't want to read about her popularity.

Mister Postman please don't bring me no more of these. I don't want to read about her popularity.

He wins, he's the best in her popularity contest.

She's off in Thailand now living in Changmai. Banishing herself to the other side.

She's eating corn and lychee. I have a new dilemma. Do I follow her down or wait until September? It feels like forever.

While Bettie Page rides a donkey, I'm a million miles away. She says "act your age" but I'm feeling funky today.

I'm living vicariously through her cards and letters and sometimes I even feel she has it all together.

She's heading down to Changrai then onto Noah's village while I'm at home learning there's no rest for the wicked.

Should I be more specific? I'm not feeling too terrific.

While Bettie Page rides a donkey, I'm a million miles away oh yeah. She says "act your age" but I'm feeling funky today.

And while I'm contemplating she's so tired of waiting. She's so tired of waiting for me.

While Bettie Page rides her donkey, she's a million miles away oh yeah. She says "act your age" but I'm feeling funky today.

Funky today. I'm feeling funky today.

While flipping through the pages of 'The Films Of Charlie Chaplin' he acquired in 1973,

He casts his mind way back but he's not sure how it happened. How he came to being me.

It's a sad and sorted script borerlining on slap stick. It was a real pie in the face to see it turn out like it did.

I need a girl heroine, someone to keep the plot moving. Someone who will save me in the end. A girl heroine, I need a girl heroine. A girl heroine.

While sifting through the FBI files on Charlie Chaplin, he uncovers some lies of his own.

All in the name of keeping them laughing, he buries his heart like a stone.

But the key required most in comedy is pathos. he did a real double take when life became quite a joke.

I need a girl heroine, someone to keep the plot moving. Someone who will save me in the end. A girl heroine, I need a girl heroine.

This must be the dream sequence because she's dressed like an angel.

If I could speak in my defence before the mallet fatal come crashing down, crashing on my head like Mabel said.

He needs a girl heroine, someone to keep the plot moving. Someone who will save him in the end. A girl heroine.

I need a girl heroine, someone to keepp the plot moving. Someone who will save me in the end. A girl Heroine.

I need a girl heroine!

Casting long shadows, I can't smile but I can weep. Under your spotlights with the secrets I can't keep.

My horoscope said I am having a bad week and I wonder where you are tonight, my Jennie Lee.

Elizabeth, singing like a bird. My apologies 'cause I don't understand a word.

That little prince rolls a smoke just for me as I wonder where you are tonight, my Jennie Lee.

Romance, ambulance, one follows the other. When you're afflicted, addicted to the memory of another.

Venus Di Milo while sippin at her wine, waves to the people, claiming a good time.

While Martha wonders what it is that's gotten into me. But all I can wonder is, is where you are tonight my Jennie Lee.

Romance,, ambulance, one follows the other. When you're afflicted, addicted to the memory of another.

Daisy and Violet, they rarely seem alone, joining each other on their saxaphones.

On Wilkinson Boulevard they weigh in happily but there's no way they can tell me where they are.

No they won't say where you are. So I'll stay a humilated star, my Jennie Lee. My Jennie Lee. My Jennie Lee!

It's the end of September, It's the end of an error, we put the game pieces away.

Attempts have all failed to get myself out of jail, you took the money and away you went. tired and spent but nonetheless happy.

Seems you have a new oppenent, one I have never met, I'm not the competitive kind.

No strategy is the word, it's why I'm always in third almost every single time I play. A sore loser but hey, you're nonetheless happy.

While I'm nonetheless empty, nonetheless destitute. Nonetheless bereft of anything remotely cute.

Nonetheless broken and I'm nonetheless blue and I'm nonetheless in love with you.

It's August 12th, I'm back on the shelf. Popomatic trouble indeed.

I'm off the board and you're winning score has brought me more trouble than I need today but I guess I'll find away to be nonetheless happy.

Nonetheless happy!

Meanwhile I'm nonetheless empty nonetheless destitute. Nonetheless bereft of anything remotely cute.

Nonetheless desheveled and I'm nonetheless blue and I'm nonetheless in love with you.

Nonetheless in love with you.

Home Again

Picture perfect like the one on the postcard. The one you sent me from the prison yard.

It's so good to be home again. It's so good to be with bad friends. It's so good to be home, home again.

Breathe that stale air into my lungs. Where nothing has changed at all since the day I got sprung.

It's so good to be home again. It's so good to be with bad friends. It's so good to be home, home again.

I traded my nine to five for five to nine. I gave up punching clocks now I'm just doing time.

I've seen the pros and cons now I'm where I belong. I've made my decision you've got your prison and I've got mine.

The Birdman of Alcatraz on my stolen TV made me so homesick and I slugged a cop on the beat.

It's so good to be home again. It's so good to be with bad friends. It's so good to be home, home again.

It's so good to be home again. It's so good to be with bad friends. It's so good to be home, home again.

Home again. Home again. Home again.

If I could shed my skin for you like cicadas in the afternoon would it change your mind about me?

But never mind, I can't even change my own tune.

If I could star in a trapeze act like some flea acrobats would it scratch a memory or two?

Would it make you want to jump back?

Maybe all I need is a little more dexterity and the GOD given ability to crawl and creep.

If I was to break down and beg. Get down on all six legs would your porch light come on for me

Or would you put your foot down naturally?

Maybe all I need is a little more dexterity and the GOD given ability to crawl and ....

Creep back to you in the dark. With the beetles in deep sleep. Let those bed bugs bark. Yeah, yeah, yeah!

Maybe all I need is a little more dexterity and the GOD given ability to crawl and creep.

Maybe all I need is the GOD given ability and a little more dexterity to crawl and creep.

Here comes another reason to love me as if you needed, as if you needed another. I am strong as strong can be and I won't let them make you suffer.

When you come to me and you're trembling I will calm you and you'll see...

There's no one like me. There's no one like me. Try as they will, they won't succeed because there's no one like me.

There goes another wasted memory and you already have enough of those kind. All bad things are temporary and what goes around comes back around in time.

So when you come to me and you're trembling I will calm you and you'll see...

There's no one like me. There's no one like me. Try as they will, they won't succeed because there's no one like me.

Nobody, nobody like me.

When reality gets too real to see I will calm you and we'll just be.

Because there's no one like me. There's no one like me. Try as they will, I'm sure you'd agree that there's no one like me.

Nobody, nobody like me.

There's no one, there's no one, there's no one, there's no one!

Here comes another reason to love me.

Could it be you're not supposed to be so dead? But would you be any different had you lived?

Accidental overdose or had you planned to meet the host? Seeing you so comatose makes me think of when we were close years before,

Like Bud and Lou in '44. The golden age before the rage.

Now I feel like he feels when he swallows his tongue. Now I feel like he feels when he buries his son.

Now I feel it's all too real and the damage is done. It's done and you're gone.

Could it be you're not supposed to be so gone? Should I'd forseen the amputating of my right arm?

Incidental music flows while the heart and breathing slows. And seeing you so comatose makes me think we're not so close anymore.

Like Bud and Lou in '54. Things had changed. The demons did reign.

Now I feel like he feels when he swallows his tongue. Now I feel like he feels when he buries his son.

Now I feel it's all too real and the damage is done. It's done and you're gone.

Now my head is screwed on right I can see the sound, I can hear the light. Now my head is screwed on tight I'll be alright. I'll be alright.

My skies are green and my grass is blue. I'm standing on my head for you.

This confusion runs deep. It's an intrusion of sleep. Losing more marbles by the week.

And now my head is screwed on right. i can see the sound, i can hear the light. Now my head is screwed on tight I'll be alright. I'll be alright.

In through the out door and out through the in. Up the down escalator and down the up again.

Anxiety disorder stamped all over me like a police blotter. Feeling easy just gets harder.

And now my head is on tight. And I sleep most every night. And this world of mine looks very fine. It's turning clockwise.

Head on straight! Better never than late!

Like a ferris wheel ride 'round and 'round my head gets tight. My funhouse mirror never lies.

And now my head is screwed on right I can see the sound, I can hear the light. Now my head is screwed on tight. 

I'll be alright. I'll be alright. I am alright.

She hangs it on her wall and makes me feel quite uncomfortable. Whenever I'm over I feel like crawling underneath.

I wish she'd give it back. The worst photograph ever taken of me.

Now she says she thinks I'm cursed. She compliments me on being well versed in all of the excuses I could give to get sympathy.

But she still won't give it back. The worst photograph ever taken of me.

Now picture this and picture more. Picture me pulling her to the floor.

Attempting to save face. Preventing disgrace. Relenting is such a waste for them all. Just let me fall.

Now I don't know what I was thinking. (He goes home to his dictionary.)

Time goes by in the blinking (Finds his face beside the word 'homely'.)

Of the eye of the lens capturing it all for posterity.

I hear the generations laugh at the worst photograph ever taken of me.

Now picture this and picture that. Picture me pinning her to the mat. 

Opening clenched hands. Revenging her plan to lessen this man before them all. Just let me fall.

Silently. Gracefully. From the family tree. From the family tree.

She says she thinks I'm cursed. She keeps that 2"x3" inside of her purse. I don't want to sound negative but something's developing in me.

And my whole future is looking black since the worst photograph ever taken of me.

But I swear I'll get it back. The worst photograph ever taken of me.

It's written right on the back. It says "the worst photograph ever taken of me."

Leave the grease and grime and erect a sign. Drive it straight through my heart and then you drive away the car.

Without me, without you things have come unglued and I get the feeling the ceiling's falling in on me.

In this house for sale in a very pleasant neighbourhood. There's a house for sale you know I'd stay if I could.

But there's just too many bad memories that hit me rough because there was never any love in this house for sale.

No electricity just like between you and me. I'm in the dark with my ears. It sounds like I've been there for years.

Now with eyes wide open I see a happy home is broken and I get the feeling the ceiling is coming down on me.

In this house for sale in a very pleasant neighbourhood. There's a house for sale. You know I'd stay if I could.

But there's just too many bad memories that hit me rough because there was never any love in this house for sale.

You need a change of address. I need a change from this mess. 

And home is where the heart, home is where the heart, Home is Where the Heart Attack is!

Without you, without me this white picket fence is peeling and I cannot stop this feeling. Oh no, oh no!

In a house for sale in a very pleasant neighbourhood. There's a house for sale. You know I'd stay if I could.

But there's just too many bad memories that hit me rough because there was never any love. There was never any love. No there was never any love

In this house for sale.