Better Than Ezra Album

There's an angel on the stairs
(as if you'd even care)
When the lights go up,
and the sun has nearly gone down.

Did you see him on the street?
Did you pass him at your feet?
Did you think aloud, "How dare they 
even look me in the eye'?

And he loves the girls.
And he loves the boys.
Going to make twenty dollars
before the weekends over.

So set him up,
Let him fall.
Turn him over in your hands.
God save the King of New Orleans.

Got a ticket to a show.
Going to see him take a blow.
When the drunk one said,
"Cat Sssstevens was the greatest singer!"

And did you kick him in the head?
Did you see the blood run down? Did you laugh at all when the
people walked right by and said aloud,
"You gutter punks are all the same.
" Probably make twenty dollars 'fore the weekends over."?

So set him up,
Then let him fall.
Turn him over in your hands.
God save the King of New Orleans.

Radio in my head.
Radio in that car.
Going down again,
he's going down again....

Anyway you look, anyway you talk it over.
It's easier to let it slip out of your mind.
But it rips your heart out.

Then it kicks your head in.
Just give him one more chance, 
try to see the beauty in his world.
All the way in on my hands, in on my feet,
and shoulders. Going to make twenty dollars 
before the weekend's over.

So set him up,
Then let him fall.
Turn him over in your hands.
God save the King of New Orleans.

Cut a tape of my favorite songs
Said what I can't face to face
I hoped that you would share all my thoughts 
We are young and unimpressed, with all you'd recognize.

So play it all over
Turn it wide.
Now there is nothing but a
Mix tape left behind
Now it won't rewind

In my car we are superstars
Run your lipstick down your chin
While up ahead we saw such a crash 
Right there a song became a soundtrack for this space in time.

So play it all over
Turn it wide.
Now there is nothing but a
Mix tape left behind
Now it won't rewind

Wonder is often lost
Jaded at such a cost
Time undermines you when you close your eyes.
We pass right by you.

So play it all over
Turn it wide.
Now there is nothing but a
Mix tape left behind

Are you lost?
Do you find life turning out
Not quite the way you planned?
Come around stay awhile
That's OK That's Alright
Couldn't get to sleep so talk about it.
Let's talk about it right now.

Here it comes on my head again
I guess I'm born to be the long lost friend.
Long Lost Friend

Are you cold?
Is there no place better, safer, friendlier than this?
Call me up, I'm alone.
That's ok, That's Alright
Rather it be me than go without it.
So don't think about it right now.

Here it comes on my head again
I guess I'm born to be the long lost friend.
Long lost friend

I've given ballast
Held you up when you were falling down
What happens when I'm not around?

Friend?
Friend?

I still remember you dressed in grey.
Working undercover for the CIA
You were cursing Silber living in Back Bay
Sailing on the Charles when I heard you say

Let's go down to Normal Town
Right now
Down, down, down

I washed you lover and scrubbed your face
Running from Miss Porter's you showed up one day
From a flat in South End where you made me strong
You said, "We're burning out at both ends."
So I came along.

Let's go down to Normal Town
Right now
Down, down, down

Hey! Wouldn't it be great to never worry about your future never asking why?
Hey! Hey? In a subdivision watching television and our lives go by.

Let's go down to Normal Town. Let's go down to Normal Town. Right now

Down, down, down .... 

Strong hands
Big plans
All reduced to this.
Hard won Freedom
How could you have missed?

Scared, are you?
You do it on your own
You do it all alone.
We all did.
Scared, are you?
Half the lines we make up dear
The best that you can do

Everything you would be
Passed you like a ghost.
And kind words are scarce at best
When you need them most.

Scared, are you?
You do it on your own
We all did.
Scared, are you?
Half the lines you make up here.
The best that we can do.

Hope brings you luck
Doors open up.
And if you should fall,
I'll catch you dear.
It must be!
It must be!

Scared, are you?
Finally on your own
You do it all alone
We all did
Scared, are you?
Half the lines you make up dear.
The best that we can do
And we do...

Ten cent lovers
beneath the covers 
Riding on a wet dream 
Silver tonic free

High stool sweet tarts
Equipped with green cards
Chomp their 401 k's
Semi-chocolate brie

Digging in Las Cruces
for an army drab container 
Carbon dating clothes for the last time they were washed

Shelby and Sheila
Onomatopoeia
Catch hang nail on Banlon
Shiver Martin Sheen

Preschool mothers
in Technicolor
Are fire bombing Dresden
Stanton, Harry Dean


Feeding line caught tuna to a neutered Bodhisattva 
Writhing peaches for the President Out on the White House lawn 
Beating Herbert Hoover 
With a leather tipped Pinada Thorn and Katy drink the milk tinted Amerasian Green 
RETURN, RETURN, RETURN

They say you're off (a bit confused)
But when the day is done
I'll be with you
I like your eyes
They say you're true
The others whisper and lie

And you framed the sun
Shot out the stars
You paled the sky
And hung the moon

They say "your loss"
That your mind's diseased
But when you finally won,
Tell me who always believed

Chorus:
Down way low
They never remember
Down way low
Down way low
You always remember
Don't let the words you hear leave your head.

They say you're gone
That you left today
But if you change your mind
Know I still feel the same way

Chorus

Past the road to your house
That you never called home
Where they turned out your lights
Though they say you'll never know

I remember running through the wet grass
And failing a step behind 
Both of us never tiring 
Desperately wanting 

When they pumped out your guts
And filled you full of those pills 
You were never quite right 
Deserving all the chills 
They say the worst is over
Kicked it over and ran 
Then they ask what went wrong 
When they turn you on again
They turn you on again. 

Chorus: 
Kick them right in the face 
Make them wish they weren't born 
And if they bring up your name 
Well they'll say you won the war.
Baby burst in the world 
Never given a chance 
Then they ask what went wrong 
When you never had it right 

Oh the letters have dropped off 
Though they say you got them all 
I finally figured out some things you'll never know. 
Take back your life and let me inside 
We'll find the door if you care to anymore. 

I remember running through the wet grass 
and falling a step behind 
Both of us never tiring 
Desperately Wanting.

Everybody talking saying you will be walking
This neighborhood will never be the same
You said we'd understand. 
You found out what's happening now.
So we all sat down and you broke the news.

Now Daddy don't love her anymore.
It's still life with Cooley
Now Daddy don't love her anymore.
It's just still life with Cooley.

All your friends show on time.
They come in bringing red wine.
You said if it's over then we'll go in style.
You better best take care keep one hand to your ear
So you're not left hanging when they're finally gone.

Chorus:

Whatcha' saying?
You're going to stay of at St. Madigan's?
(reeled in again)
You're just fooling around fooling around

People hanging with their good friends
Listening to those old songs.

Now Daddy don't love her anymore.
It's still life with Cooley
Now Daddy don't love her anymore.
It's just still life
It's just still life with Cooley.

WWOZ is on in stereo
A string of flowers haloed around your head
Candle light
Ceiling fan
Curtains blow away and back again
Back again
Don't wake me, I think I'm in a dream

Sleeping is easy
I used to lay in bed for hours
I've waited a lifetime now maybe I'll learn

Calling back and forth through heavy air
The barges sound their warnings in the dark
Peace comes like a trusted friend
As it starts to rain again fall away
Fall away
So don't wake me, I think I'm in a dream

Now sleeping is easy
I used to lay in bed for hours
I've waited a lifetime now maybe I'll learn
Sleeping is easy
I used to walk the streets for hours.
I've waited a lifetime now maybe I'll learn

Let go of you fear, let's grow old together
Find a place along the way
Let's reel through the years
Each makes the other better.
But what thoughts can I call allies
When this circle of ribs keeps working on its own?

Chorus:

WWOZ's on in stereo. Well it's on in stereo.

And though you will say I'm wrong.
It's much easier with you along.
Sundays were made for this.
Seeing Bond give the villain a kiss ....

Holding your face in the glow
Play on, play on
Happy endings

I thought that you'd like to know.
I'm finally letting her go.
You always said, "Tell me when
You're ready at last to begin."

Learning to chance it again.
Play on, play on
Happy endings

So let them all dissolve
And welcome a new resolve
Here's where the credits run.
Riding off into the sun

And love is real
Reading your eyes in the glow
Play on, play on
Happy endings

If they calm you down,
Then excite them
If they call you out,
Then ignore them.

You're speeding up
You're speeding up
To slow down

When they all believe
You reject it.
When they all are for,
Be against it.

You're speeding up
You're speeding up
To slow down

If they call you out
They-will tear you down
When your world falls in
Then they'll leave you dry

You're speeding up
You're speeding up
To slow down
Down, down, down ...

[No lyrics]