The Panics Album

I'm staying stubborn in retreat
I was standing on your corner
Pondering defeat
An old lady fixed my collar
Said her steps were getting steep
I said I live by the top
But not permanently
I know you follow I can hear you
And the patter of your feet
I'm looking like I'm still half asleep
And it feels like your standing on me

Why do you ask me?
I don't know my way
Why do you keep me here?
I have no more cards to play

I've got eyelids like concrete
They're too numb to blink
You drain the life out of me
I've forgotten how to think
I was sitting on a fortune
Now I'm staring down a sink
I've got one too many itches
And you're just another sting

You can hope that I might
But I never feel a thing
You can hope that I might but I never feel a thing

Why do you ask me
I don't know my way
Why do you keep me here
I have no more cards to play

A strange thing happened in my mind
All your words turned to scribble
By the time I recognize
I never looked right
In the reflection in your eyes
I'd wait to hear your voice
But I never could reply

Why do you ask me?
I don't know my way
Why do you keep me here?
I have no more cards
To play
Why do you ask me?
I have nothing left to say

I'm worried I aint got the nerve to play
I'm told my problem's I act to late
That even though I know what I say
It may not translate
I only ever try to avoid these games
If I lose my baby then I lose my way
Who never could wait

I aint competing just to hold you back
I'm never hiding you just follow my tracks
I have the kind of thoughts you gotta distract
I wouldn't lean on that

I get no feeling the ordinary way
I'm only guessing, guess I like it that way
You see that habit still remains
Of hiding from change

The only voice that answers me
Is the voice of mine at age thirteen?
Who learnt you never get no place
With the weakest handshake

I lie under and hide the worst
I prepare for the end of the first
I have the kind of thoughts
That sleeps like a curse
And it leans on her

I aint competing just to to hold you back
I'm never hiding you just follow my tracks
I have the kind of thoughts you just gotta distract
I wouldn't lean on that

I ain't so kind to wait
I don't like the idea of it all
You leave me here sighing
Just tryin to make sense of it all
I guess I'm scared to watch this get old
So I wont let it start

I think we've half a chance
Judging by all of the people that I've met
But I ain't so sure
I could use one more face to forget
I'm only gonna leave you misled

Let it go my way
Leave me in my place
You know in a way
You're still my best mistake

I ain't so used to it
I just keep her from thinking out loud
I say nothin'
That never could calm her down
I'm just there to watch it go round

Let it go my way
Leave me in my place
You know in a way
You're still my best mistake

We're so sure
All before we ever get caught
We ran by
Under you're old mans eyes we'd move

I hear a back gate slam
And creak as we go through
And the anchor dragging you
Will draw out its line
Through every burnt out shipwreck on the roadside

And like an unwelcome guest
I'll take my time with us

I'll keep you in my mind
My love don't say sorry,just say yes
I'll keep you in mind
My love don't say sorry,just say yes

As we stared into the dark
The place lit like a spark
And I hear the dogs bark like distant drums
And through the sprinklers in the sun I saw us there

If your'e ever that shy get outside
Get a bruise swinging on a clothesline
I'll end up alone there I suspect you'll slip by or I'll forget

And like an unwelcome guest
I'll take my time with us

I'll keep you in my mind
My love don't say sorry,just say yes
I'll keep you in mind
My love don't say sorry,just say yes

I'll take a page and try to read it to you
cos I write the stuff I find it hard to speak
I echo all the words you leave
I only dress them up in mystery

On any morning you can tell the story
Cos I only ever give myself a fright
But if you're feeling just alright
Please don't dress it all up in love
You think that this will do for now
Someone somewhere somehow

On Friday morning in the court of petty sessions
Under bail act of 1982
I took a pledge to understand
Agreeing to comply with demands

At any moment you will hear her calling
Like no one ever spoke to her before
But I only ever tried my luck
I hardly need to dress it up at all
You think that this will do for now
Someone somewhere somehow

Early morning without any warning
I heard some words I hoped you'd never say
And I wrestle with the thought of it
And bit me lip each time I hear her name
You think that this will do for now
Someone somewhere somehow

I will mistake the other
When she acts quite peculiar
I watch them stand together
I cannot wait for the first chance to take

It's all that planned
Can anyone smile like that
Look around my friend
Don't leave her with an open hand

She keeps me pinned forever
There behind her dresser
She hides like silent letters
She says I think she's hurting me for the better

With all that said
I'll never get a smile again
I hang around her stairs
Waiting for the sisters there

Is all that planned can anyone smile like that
Look around my friend
Don't leave her with an open hand

If one pretends
I'm never gonna get a smile again
I'm waiting for the sisters there

You move slow like the shade
Like litter by the drain
But you cross my path quick
Like the shadow of a plane
In your eyes there is something
That flickers like a flame
Steady as she goes
This'll burn thru my brain

I'm looking for a chance to speak
Wake up now and answer me
Sliding thru an empty space
Looking back like a minor a

I watch you breathe slow
Thru the crowd as it split
And I walk thru the hall
Keeping time like a drip
We close every curtain
Give daylight the slip
Steady as she goes
With no sound from her lips

I'm looking for a chance to speak
Wake up now and answer me
Sliding thru an empty space
Looking back like a minor A

If you speak it under your breath
You give me every reason darlin'
for giving in close to the end
I won't be left here waiting again
If holding on to me makes you sad
Loosen any ties you have
Ill be moving on as best as I can

Time may show us yet
When to learn
But in between
Its not of our concern

So stand straight
I tried to lose you
You didn't take my bait
Instead you left me feeling much the same
I tipped my hat
You sent me on my way


I guess were a bit like a face
More than a name
That never read well
But it looked good on the page
Just a lie

I may surprise you yet
If you prefer
I guess I'm glad we met
But i ain't sure
All I ever did was make you feel further
I'm just cradling some thought I could murder
I don't lie

Time may show us yet
When to learn
I guess I'm glad we met
But I ain't sure

The strangest thing is happening
It sounds a little funny I know
I met a girl and I ain't sure
If she's leaving or she's ready to go

I lose my mind seeking signs

We sit on beaches
Drink like leaches
The only kiss I gets from the sun
She goes her way
I go my way
Though we heading in the same direction

I lose my mind seeking signs

She takes me out and shows me round
Aint going no place I wanna go
There comes a time you realize
You're better off just leaving alone

I waste my time seeking signs
I'll see her later goodbye

Someday I hear him calling
The broken sound
It slow us down
It's gently spoken
It stares us down
It opens the ground
The general calling

It's oh so late
To try recalling
A staring crowd
overbearing sound
Struck in motion

A silent stand
Recurring plans
Keep gently calling

A stolen glance
A blown chance
The general calling

I'll give you a word to hold
cos it covers my whole damm world
Any weight left to load
Its history on the road

Someday I hear him calling
The broken sound
It slows us down
Its gently spoken
It stares us down
It opens the ground
The general calling

I looked through your room
And I saw where you lay
As the light shone through it
Through a lead lamp shade
And I looked for a clue
And for some remains
And the dust blew through it
And the words just came

Keep an eye on me
Keep an eye on me
Keep an eye on me
Keep an eye on me

I tap to a tune
And my thoughts would stray
Your voice rang through it
And the ground would sway

The blinds would slap at your window at night
Over the fence and down under the wire
I'd follow you're steps as you'd slip from my sight
I was always afraid you'd leave me behind

Just keep your mind on me

I'll make it worth it if you wait for me
I'll make it worth it if you wait for me
Is god my witness there for all to see
And keep an eye on me
Keep an eye on me

Wait for me
Wait for me
Wait for me
Wait for me