No Mystery
color me in black & white or anything in between
anything but shades of gray
it would take the color from a hundred skies
to color you
how did you get so blue
paint a picture from a memory of me
paint it right upon my face
if i looked in to a mirror would i notice any change
what do i know... what i know is

life with you sure ain't no mystery
day to day's about the same
we make our way
we don't make history
and baby that's ok

picture your life as a single photograph
behind glass and inside the perfect frame
does it reveal every tear or every laugh
that ever came to your face
imagine your life on the giant silver screen
with nothing on the cutting floor
i would buy another ticket just to listen to the score
you're what i know and what i know is

life with you sure ain't no mystery
day to day's about the same
we make our way
we don't make history
and baby that's ok

while you slept the other night
i took out paper and a pen
and traced a line all around you
i am almost ready
i just need one more sky to color you

how'd you get so... blue

Do What They Do
i see you spending alot of time
with alot of other people's simple needs
and it makes me wonder who is driving and who is
in the backseat
when you say that you want to be an artist
i just laugh and say hey, i do too
well first we'll need some different clothes
and then we'll step in their shoes
and just do what they do
we'll do what they do

you're working hard at hardly working
you say that making art is such a breeze
the studio pays and the radio plays
and you're tapping your feet
then you say you want to be a folk singer
and get a band and then head out on the road
you're kinda like a kite with no tail
you know, out of control
you want to do what they do
do what they do
you can do what they do
just do what they do

we were driving, i mean i was driving
'cause you were asleep
in the backseat
in to the station for directions
and something to drink
i said, "can you help us find sanctuary?"
i think we took a wrong turn right from the start
he said you just can't follow your nose
you've got to follow your heart if
you want to do what they do
do what they do
i want to do what they do
can i do what they do

No Man's Land
i used to long for you
it happened every day
i can't remember how or why or when it went away
fearing it was a sin
to think what might have been
i fought to erase your memory and scored a win

but now i'm here in no man's land
and where you are i'm wonderin'
i'm lost without your love
and without love i'm lost
in no man's land

i had that dream last night
where we are more than friends
you fell into my arms
and so i fell in love again
and then when evening came
for you i hung the moon
and you said count the stars
and you'll see how much i love you

but now i'm here in no man's land
i carry on but i pretend
i haven't lost your love
it's all i can think of
in no man's land
~*~
but now i'm here in no man's land
and where you are i'm wonderin'
i need three things
or i can't go on
i need your smile and loving arms
' cause i'm lost without your love
and without love i'm lost
in no man's land

i'm lost without your love
it's all i can think of
in no man's land

Long Way Home
all alone on a windswept boardwalk
doin' the soul search again
now that summer and tourists are gone
it's just me and this October rain
up ahead the pay phone awaits
right beside the arcade
there's no laughter behind the locked gate
did i really escape

it was a long way home
over bridges i burned
a long way home

leaving home leaving no note
and i looked back again and again
don't recall that i proved anything
on my knees at the end

and it was a long way home
over bridges i burned
it's still a long way home

yesterday i knew it all
but today it escapes
it's ok 'cause i learned how to fall
tuck & roll, give & take

now i've found a comfortable love
soft and faded and warm
imperfections but i don't care
even roses have thorns

it was a long way home
over bridges i burned
a long way home

but i guess i've always known
somehow love finds a way
'cause it gets me always home

it was a long way home
over bridges i burned
but i'd take the long way home
again

Rand McNally
rand mcnally says you're too far away
the problem is i do agree
and it's not as simple as adding up miles or money
it is a myriad of things

i could almost die that i cannot fly
i could almost scream, you're too far from me
i could almost swear that i saw you there
what's come over me today

rand mcnally says you live in the golden state
well that sounds wonderful to me
but don't you live in fear
i mean, shouldn't you move a little east
before it falls in to the sea

i could almost die that i cannot fly
i could almost scream
you're too far from me
i could almost swear that i saw you there
what's come over me today

there's an info center in the heart of mission bay
at least that's what rand mcnally says
go and ask them why it is
that even after all these years
i'm missing you so much today

i could almost die that i cannot fly
i could almost scream, you're too far from me
i could almost swear that i saw you there
what's come over me today

True Blue
no one else has seen those secret sides of you
that is alone my prize
and sometimes a shame it's true
but i won't tell a soul if you don't want me to
what if i write a book
and put this on page two
and dedicate to you

i'm surrendering my heart
take this prisoner in your arms
i want to be anything and everything for you
and when it's hard to do
if I could be only one
yea, if i could choose one
i would choose true blue
true blue

in my eyes are reflections of the places we have been
they've seen the glory and defeat
and in between
they have looked to you to pull me through
the healing of my troubled soul
all begins and ends with you
that and this is true

I'm a prisoner of my heart
you could say right from the start
if i could be anything and everything for you
i would see it through
but if i could be only one
yea, if i could choose one
i would choose true blue
i would choose true blue

surrender to your heart
surrender to your heart

i'm a prisoner of my heart
i surrendered from the start
i want to be everything
and everything i do
oh it's all for you
but if i could be only one
if i could be only one
yea, if i could choose one
i would choose true blue
i would choose true blue

old times
I was once in new orleans
like a pinball shot down bourbon street
I kinda tilted but I stayed on my feet
and it was lucky for me

all my friends been to Mexico
me, I'd rather see the northwest coast
Nancy and I say someday we will go
but I don't know about Idaho

I lived awhile upon a jersey shore
had the boardwalk out my front door
had my heart broken three times or more
yea, it was a lop-sided score

spent too little time in southern Maine
something there sweetly calls my name
if I go back would it be the same
you know I don't like change when
it's only the past replaced

I tripped the light fantastic
and like a child I still believe in magic
and I will never say never

'been so many towns that I've lost track
memories slippin' through the cracks
looking forward and I'm looking back
one more thing before I fade this song to black

sometimes I wanna go crazy
is it alright if I go a little crazy in the night
you and I could go crazy for old times
sometimes I wanna go crazy
is it alright if I go a little crazy in the night
you and I could go crazy for old times
and I'll drive
I'll drive
I'll drive

the dam just broke
the serenade was nice
it wrapped around me like a perfumed coat
and so i wore it home that nite

she caught me dreaming with a guilty smile on my face
my fantasy went up in smoke
i sift the ashes that were left behind on the ground
i found the traces of a note
it said
the dam just broke...

her silhouette was nice
close to perfection and i had to study close
she caught me once or twice

into the evening
and in places i've never known
i follow anywhere she goes
i will admit i was blind but you know, in my mind
i was safe until she spoke
and then the dam just broke

the silhouettes and lights
the rhythmic cascades
when everything was right
we began our serenade
and the dam just broke

Song for Meg
it's like you're living in a cage
pacing back & forth for days you call to me
seeking nuggets of advice
hoping maybe that one might just set you free
in order to see rainbows, i will warn
you will have to weather many storms
until the sun comes over you
and the sun will come over you

when no solution can be found
you temporarily meltdown, it's hard to speak
you'll get better so you say
but then again it's getting late
what do you need
you shut yourself inside your room
i heard you were in there
painting pictures with words
and the song comes over you
let the song take over you

is this the calm before a storm
or an awakening of sorts
what do you think
you have questioned everything
maybe all you really need's a change of scene
of the great unknown, don't be afraid
be wary of routines that come your way
and when love comes over you
let love take over you
like when the song comes over you
and the song takes over me

Golden Jewel
i don't know
the color of your eyes
or anything about you
but you know
i'm gonna try
i see you at a distance
and a warm wind passes by
then you wave my direction
and i really don't know why
the only words you ever spoke to me
have been goodbyes

if i could talk to you
and just be free
if silence wasn't golden
and in truth
love is all we needed
if i was more than lonely
my hands would be too full
if you were here
then only life wouldn't be so cruel
i see your face
it shines upon my mind
like a golden jewel

i have tried
and i have been on trial
i have won
but it's in losing that
i find that seat upon the aisle
now i may never ever really
find the truth
and skies may become cloudy
and then never again be blue
but for right now
well, i can only think
of you

Can't Dance
i got your messages he said
but i've got nothing for you
but hey pete, i"ll keep you in mind
you see, i'm looking for somebody
not just anybody
and you don't fit the bill
i wonder if i ever will find the rainbow's end
and then finally score
finally soar
but for now and until then
what can i do when i'm stuck in these shoes
can't dance _ can't dance

i get the feeling this is over
i'm taking my heart and i'm going home
i just can't make it rhyme
you don't need somebody like i need somebody
and that's such a hole to fill
i wonder if i ever will find the rainbow's end
and finally soar
finally soar
but for now and until then
what can i do stuck in these shoes
and i'm stuck in these shoes
can't dance_ can't dance
cant't dance_ can't dance

ahh...ahh...
what can i do
can't dance