All lyrics by D. Blair
Copyright 2009
All rights reserved
That's Entertainment
Well, this dressing room is a mess.
I don't know what I do this for.
It seems the star upon my door is never big enough.
Well, somebody call the press
‘cause I think I'm in the middle of a bidding war.
I wish you weren’t such a jigsaw puzzle
‘cause baby I could use you on a night like this.
But that's entertainment,
I love the drama and the dream.
That's entertainment,
you and I upon the silver screen.
That’s entertainment,
I’ll put your name on my marquis.
That’s entertainment,
and it’s good enough for me.
Well, you look just like a clock
with your hands on your face
,and I love to watch the time go by.
Such a splendid work of art...
I’d like to hang you on my wall,
but someone could come and you might fall
for some other guy.
But I guess that's entertainment,
one day you're in, the next you're out.
That's entertainment,
now you're career is in a drought.
That's entertainment,
some people would rather do without.
But that's entertainment
and it's good enough for me.
Give me motivation. Brilliant works of art.
Exceed my expectation. Put a song in my heart.
Open up the curtains. Let's dim the lights.
Let's hit those high notes, even if it takes all night.
Because you look just like a clock,
with your hands on your face
and I love to watch the time go by.
Such a brilliant work of art,
I'd like to hang you on my wall,
but someone else could come and you might fall
for some other guy.
That's entertainment,
I love the drama and the dream'
That's entertainment,
You and I upon a t.v. screen.
That's entertainment,
let’s go get drunk and make a scene!
That's entertainment,
and it's good enough for me.
Yeah, it’s good enough for me.
Yeah, it’s good enough for me.
Yeah, it’s good enough for me.
Warzone
A warzone in black and white...
Who's wrong, what's right?
Makes no sense to me.
Will the fighting ever cease?
Between war and peace
which one will I be?
Patrol the line of every coast,
walking with your ghost in every footstep
lining the sand, so called “free hand,”
so often leaves the other broken.
Stuck inside the silence of ignorance and violence, hey hey
When stupid politicians send you off to missions, hey hey
Dig a trench deep in your heart,
one where we could cart this human wreckage.
In the country of my home,
sound bites ring like some unspoken language.
In this the theater of war,
somehow the young and poor pay big admission.
Machine gun lights, the edge of night
signals an end to intermission.
Stuck inside the silence of ignorance and violence, hey hey
When stupid politicians send you off to missions, hey hey
Dig a trench deep in your heart,
one where we could cart this human wreckage.
In the country of my home,
sound bites ring like some unspoken language.
Fighting for the common good,
prepared to spill their blood across the ocean.
The twisted mouth.
The open hand.
These people, dying in slow motion.
In slow motion…
In slow motion...
The Bull
I see you in Sketches of Spain
Hear boleros in your voice
I'm the bull, back again
Whispering to you, “You have no choice”
And all these sidewalks that wrapped around my neck...
I swear that town nearly strangled me
to death
I'm the blood behind your eyes
Sense your danger in my stare
I'm the star of your demise
now it's you who's running scared
And all these sidewalks that wrapped around my neck...
I swear that town nearly strangled me to death.
And all these sidewalks that wrapped around my neck...
I swear that town nearly strangled me
To death...!
Berlin
Berlin,
did your children play in the rubble and the dust?
Did they find it hard later on to adjust?
Or was it all they'd ever known?
Berlin,
did the place where we bought ice burn down?
Is the man who used to work there still around?
Did your children find our bullets in the dirt?
A ladder in a trench, a broken rung?
An abandoned tank?
A soldier hanging out of it like a tongue?
Beneath a German sky filled with yellow stars,
were they ours?
Berlin,
you're a boot entangled in the razor wire,
a panicked room that held the hand of fire.
A small man in the corner of the room.
A document, a piece of rock, a tooth.
Hey, Berlin. Can you hear me in the pouring rain?
Well, were you waiting on a station,
were we waiting on a train?
I've got my own wall down the center of my back,
and I'm never sure just who's bound to attack.
We just live our lives in fear,
hope our poems make things clear.
Like the pain inside the mirror,
I know you.
You are me.
You're Berlin.
Back Again
Weren’t you the one told me to shoot into the sun?
You sent me in.
When there was no one left to send.
Weren’t you the one who wanted me to come undone
so that you could put me back together again?
Weren’t you the guy who coldly said to dry my eyes?
Love is weak, peace is just a trend.
Sent me away, but all of that ends here today,
‘cause here I am. I’m back again.
And I’ve wasted all this time,
just to get back home.
Spent so much time
surrounded and alone.
Now the least that you could do
is call me friend.
I’ve been gone so long,
but here I am. Back again.
Back again.
Don’t ask me how.
Don’t tell me that the time’s not now.
When all along, that’s what I’ve been fighting for.
‘Cause I can’t settle when I believe I’ve shown my mettle
and I’m not gonna beg
for second class anymore.
Weren’t you the man
who always said he’d understand?
Now that I’m here,
you find it so hard to engage.
We had a plan,
but you say it’s hard to hold my hand
now that they’ve turned into fists of rage.
So I guess I’ve wasted all this time,
just to get back home.
Spent so much time
surrounded and alone.
I think that the least that you could do
is treat me like a friend.
I’ve been gone so long,
but here I am. I’m back again.
Back again.
Enough Rope
Hey Black,
why'd you have to say that,
underneath the tree that
brings them to their knees
and can swing them
back and forth in spaces,
the twist upon their face,
as much as I can see this pain in their eyes,
you always look surprised,
even though you knew just what was coming
you were so tired of runnin’
besides,
where would you have run to?
I wish that you would come to,
but death is permanent, so you can't.
And you changed me today,
I just want you to know.
Your defiance in the face of death has given me hope.
If they insist on always taking me on,
then why should I lay low?
If they're gonna hang me on my own words,
may as well be sure to give 'em enough rope.
Hey Black,
why'd you have to do that
especially when you knew that
these men here were always up to no good?
Did you have to be so ruthless,
add your thread of truth to this
stitch that runs wrecklessly through this hood?
So beautiful and young,
but you could never hold your tongue.
Just kept it coming.
You were so tired of runnin'.
Besides,
where would you have run to?
I wish that you would come to,
but death is permanent, so you can't.
But you changed me today,
I just want you to know.
Your defiance in the face of death has given me hope.
If they insist on always taking me on,
then why should I lay low?
If they're gonna hang me on my own words,
I may as well be sure to give 'em enough rope.
Hey Black,
why you have to be that?
Baby can't you see that
you'll just make things worse.
Be quiet.
Wouldn't wanna start a riot
and rock 'em from their slumber
when you're so outnumbered.
You looked straight through their lies.
Your eyes were on the prize.
You see no need to compromise.
Even though you knew just what was comin'.
You were so damned tired of runnin'.
Besides,
where in hell would you have run to?
Man, I wish that I could hold you,
but death is permanent, so I can't.
But you changed me today,
I just want you to know,
your defiance in the face of death has given me hope.
If they insist on always taking me on,
then why should I lay low?
If they're gonna hang me on my own words,
I may as well be sure to give 'em enough rope.
Air Strikes
We live on opposite sides of the border
and we give maybe less than we can
and we care probably more than we oughtta
that all that is between us is the land.
...and here in this town,
there's blood on all of the dance floors
and here in this town,
there's a fire in every eye
and here in this town,
there's a crack in every window
and we reach through the air, but the air strikes.
There's a chill in the air and a wind in the chimes,
and we both sing our nation's songs.
and just because we've been thrown into this place and time,
we don't have to act as though it's the only where we belong.
...and here in this town,
there's blood on all of the dance floors
and here in this town,
there's a fire in every eye
and here in this town,
there's a crack in every window
and we reach through the air, but the air strikes.
So we fall from the sky
and we reach to touch the sand.
The only distance between us is the land.
We both sit and watch the sun set
and we both know it doesn't burn,
but our leaders point to the sky
and they act as if they own it
and we close our eyes as if to say will they ever learn.
...and here in this town,
there's blood on all of the dance floors
and here in this town,
there's a fire in every eye
and here in this town,
there's a crack in every window
and we reach through the air, but the air strikes.
and we reach through the air, but the air strikes.
and we reach through the air, but the air...
Ocean
Reach for the surface, though it's so far away.
They covered you up with an ocean to hide you away.
Swim through the dark clouds, when it's comin’ on like a dream.
You used everything you had ‘til things were not what they seemed.
But the pain comes in waves like the ocean...
But the pain comes in waves like the ocean...
I know you're nervous at the end of the day,
'cause it took everything you had to push it away.
I've heard you scream when it's comin' on like a flood.
When it do a jack knife dive and swim right through your
walls of skin and blood.
But the pain comes in waves like the ocean...
But the pain comes in waves like the ocean...
Reach for the surface, though it's so far away.
They covered you up with an ocean to hide you away.
I've heard you scream when it's comin' on like a flood.
When it do a jack knife dive and swim right through your
walls of skin and blood.
But the pain comes in waves like the ocean...
But the pain comes in waves like the ocean...
But the pain comes in waves like the ocean...
Let It Roll
Broken down man on the side of the road,
seemed the muscle in his chest was a heavy load.
Well, I knew right away I had to pick him up,
but his heart was too big for the pickup truck.
Now, Mama always taught me to help a man
and I swore in my heart to do the best I can.
So we pushed and pulled until we made some room.
I put the pedal to the metal and I began to zoom.
Whoever said boys don't cry and girls don't fight
weren't talking about this guy and his baby tonight.
I said, “Here's your chance for a brand new start.
No use living with a heavy heart."
Let it roll,
‘cos the world just turns.
Yeah, you got to let it roll
before you crash and burn.
So I hopped on my motorcycle,
took a ride in the pouring sun.
Well, they told me to have some patience,
but I was only having fun.
I may be flirting with disaster, but flirting is what I do.
I've got an appetite for joy and laughter
and I've got my eye on you.
I may be knock-knock-knockin’ on heaven's door,
but I've never had so much fun before.
Come on, chill out man, don't believe the hype.
No use walking 'round afraid of life.
Let it roll,
‘cos the world just turns.
Yeah, you got to let it roll
before you crash and burn.
Dirty old six string,
heavy metal thunder.
I'm doing the four-wheel thing,
that's the feeling that I'm under.
Let's open the door,
take a walk outside.
Let's hop in the car
and go for a ride.
Me and my baby just driving around
with the radio up and the windows down.
Our dreams are tall buildings just scraping the sky.
Laughing so hard ‘til we both start to cry.
Just speeding down the highway without a care,
doing twenty over the limit on a wing and a prayer.
Hands off the wheel as we both start to shout.
Everybody here knows what I'm talking about!
Let it roll,
‘cos the world just turns.
Yeah, you got to let it roll
before you crash and burn.
On and On...
They say there is a God above,
of all that we can see and maybe more.
A God of love and charity,
a God of hope, a God of peace, a God of war.
And if you're praying angry,
you might get confused just who you're praying to.
And if you're one who lives among them,
might be hard to figure out what you should do.
If you're running with the big dogs,
you might want to be careful what you step in!
'cause they got bones and you got bones.
You got teeth but they got teeth, so choose your weapon,
because tomorrow's paper airplane
could be the next day's Blackhawk down.
And those army men you play with
could be future heads protruding from the ground.
And it goes on and on and on...
This goes on and on and on...
This goes on and on and on, until the day is done…
Someone's asking for directions,
he's looking for the promised land.
He sees the world in sections,
hears it's buried somewhere deep beneath the sand.
Someone points him toward the river,
but the river doesn't run through anymore.
So, he empties out his pockets,
sets his faith down on what used to be the shore.
And it goes on and on and on...
This goes on and on and on...
It goes on and on and on, until the war is done….
So, he stares into the distance,
blood red fingers hang from the window of a hearse.
Like they've been eating Chinese apples,
gutting fish, or maybe something worse.
He proceeds to pray for rain to come
and wash its mighty hand across the day.
As if on cue, a wave a mile high
comes crashing in to wash it all away.
And it goes on and on and on...
This goes on and on and on...
Every Raindrop
I caught you smiling
as you were stepping through the sun
that was bouncing 'round the sky,
a smile for everyone.
The waves were racing
for a chance to greet you at the shore.
I went surfing to the heart of you
in my search for something more.
My life was crazy.
It just got harder everyday,
but I got through on my own two
and tried to push the clouds away.
I thought just maybe
that I could shut and lock that door.
There was a side of town that got me down.
I don't go there anymore.
Now I don't want no bad times.
I don't want no grief.
I don't want no sorrow.
I don't want no beef.
I don't want no trouble.
Don't come with none to give,
‘cos I just want to live!
At the top of every mountain,
to the deep of every sea,
in every corner of the world,
there's somebody struggling to be free.
Everyday I want to wake up,
see what the world's got in store.
There was a side of town that got me down,
I don't go there anymore.
Now, I don't want no bad times.
I don't want no grief.
I don't want no sorrow.
I don't want no beef.
I don't want no trouble.
Don't come with none to give,
‘cos I just want to live!
Every raindrop falling from the sky,
is like a tribute to the blue skies following behind.
Every raindrop pushing to the sea,
is like a testament to a new life that will come to be.
I caught you smiling
as you were stepping through the sun
that was bouncing 'round the sky,
a smile for everyone.
The waves were racing
for a chance to greet you at the shore.
I went surfing to the heart of you
in my search for something more.
My life was crazy.
It just got harder everyday,
but I got through on my own two
and tried to push the clouds away.
I thought just maybe
that I could shut and lock that door.
There was a side of town that got me down.
I don't go there anymore.
Now I don't want no bad times.
I don't want no grief.
I don't want no sorrow.
I don't want no beef.
I don't want no trouble.
Don't come with none to give,
‘cos I just want to live!
Every raindrop falling from the sky,
is like a tribute to the blue skies following behind.
Every raindrop pushing to the sea,
is like a testament to a new life that will come to be.
Every raindrop falling down
is simply on its way to push a flower from the ground.
Every raindrop falling from the sky,
is like a tribute to the blue skies following behind.
Hey DJ
I heard your DJ show
last night on the radio
and I loved all the different styles.
You played some B-52s,
Al Green and the Sugar Cubes,
Tricky and you followed it up with Miles.
That’s why I love to turn you on,
stay with you all night long,
‘cos when you’re on the air,
I never need to touch the dial.
Seems that the other radio shows
keep their music so pigeonholed,
stuck all in that corporate style.
When it comes to DJs,
I put you at the top of the class,
‘cos I love rock and funk
and pop and punk
and all that jazz.
From hip hop to bee bop to doo wop,
you ain’t playin’ no flops.
The way you kiss my ears kicks my ass.
Fell asleep to some dance hall,
woke up with slick classical.
Loved your segue from Mozart to Mos Def.
You played some rap for awhile,
but you still changed up the style
with MC Lite and WA and a Tribe Called Quest.
So drop the needle on some Celia Cruz,
Tom Waits and some Delta blues,
‘cos when it comes to music,
don’t matter to me where it’s from.
The way the words just fall into place,
and add a little bit of stand up bass,
or maybe even a talking drum.
When it comes to DJs,
I put you at the top of the class,
‘cos I love rock and funk
and pop and punk
and all that jazz.
From hip hop to bee bop to doo wop,
you ain’t playin’ no flops.
The way you kiss my ears kicks my ass.
So let it play, let it play.
Yeah, DJ
all night long.
So let it play, let it play.
Yeah, DJ
just one more song.
Howlin’ Wolf to Mary J,
Coltrane to Lady Day.
When you’re on the air,
I never need to look that far.
So play a little disco,
Motown and some techno,
country, folk, roots,
reggae and some ska.
When it comes to DJs,
I put you at the top of the class,
‘cos I love rock and funk
and pop and punk
and all that jazz.
From hip hop to bee bop to doo wop,
you ain’t playin’ no flops.
The way you kiss my ears kicks my ass.
So let it play, let it play.
Yeah, DJ
all night long.
So let it play, let it play.
Yeah, DJ
just one more song.