The Greatest Lie

Love is a series
Of stops and starts
Till it stops your heart
Love isn’t really
What you think you’ve got
No, it’s really not
Love is a trick of
The best of you
Then the rest of you
Love is what I’m sick of
An obsession too
How it stresses you

Love is the greatest lie
Of them all
Without it no one would cry
As they fall
Love causes more problems
Than it solves
They say it’s the greatest time
But they’re wrong

Love is a liar
It says, “Listen, here’s
What you want to hear.
Nothing’s required–
Except your life
Everything inside.”
Love is an illness
It poisons you
Tells you what to do
Wish I could kill it
That’s why I’m going to
Be avoiding you

Love is the greatest lie
Of them all
Without it no one would cry
As they fall
Love causes more problems
Than it solves
They say it’s the greatest time
But they’re wrong

Why do I keep coming back to you
When I don’t have the right attitude?
I won’t believe the sweet platitudes
My heart is still chasing after you
I’d rather meet love with my head
So I see the dangers ahead
But all of that’s supposed to be gone
From now on

Love is the greatest lie
Of them all
Without it no one would cry
As they fall
Love causes more problems
Than it solves
They say it’s the greatest time
But they’re wrong

Junk Mail

I’m done with the day
Then I see your name
When I open the mailbox
And it’s back again
Like it was the same
It’s not like I really forgot
My heart is in shreds
And our love is dead
And yet here this envelope torments me
You’re still in my head
The words that you said
But I don’t think you could forgive me
And you decided to set sail
You should have taken all your mail

I almost
Want to forward
Your junk mail
To you
I know it’s
Not a problem
It’s something
To do
I almost
Want to forward
Your junk mail
To you

It gathers in piles
It has for awhile
I guess they never got the message
My heart would go wild
When I saw your smile
And even now I don’t regret it
You changed up the story
Now your territory
Is all uprooted and everywhere
Put yourself before me
And then you destroy me
But maybe in hindsight it’s fair
And you decided to set sail
Without you these walls feel like jail

I almost
Want to forward
Your junk mail
To you
I know it’s
Not a problem
It’s something
To do
I almost
Want to forward
Your junk mail
To you

It’s moments like these that I fail
How love can burn down to the tiniest detail
Why couldn’t they just send e-mail
Instead of leaving me this brokenhearted trail?

I almost
Want to forward
Your junk mail
To you
I know it’s
Not a problem
It’s something
To do
I almost
Want to forward
Your junk mail
To you
To you
To you
I want to forward it
To you
To you
I’d forward your junk mail

 

B.A.S.S. (Bracelets, Armor, Sword and Shield) – inspired by Wonder Woman (2017)

Step to the mic
Sword and shield
The battle will not be fair
So never yield
Great power concealed
In twin bracelets
They never break
So there won’t be replacements
Can’t trust in men
We’ll stay safer here
Never let ’em in
That rule is very clear
Like our water
Keep the isle in order
A man washes up on the shore–
On our borders
Bringing news
Of a Great War
Mankind in danger
Like never before
Only the worthy can
Take the sword
Like Excalibur
One woman has the talent for it

Bracelets
Armor
Sword and Shield
June 2nd
Wonder Woman will be revealed
Waited
So long
Finally it’s real
June 2nd
Wonder Woman will be revealed

Sweep the leg
Like karate, kid
In slow motion
Drop you with a body kick
I stop bullets
With the flick of a wrist
Twice as good so that
No one else is questioning this
So raise your fists
It’s too late for mansplaining
And when the fight ends
It’s Wonder Woman remaining
Relentless
And every night I’m training
A warrior’s gift
Comes from pain that I’m gaining
Achieve mastery
Prevent all catastrophe
Gods in the heavens
And below still mad at me
I take haters
And I’m ready for more
All these keyboard warriors
Aren’t ready for war

Bracelets
Armor
Sword and Shield
June 2nd
Wonder Woman will be revealed
Waited
So long
Finally it’s real
June 2nd
Wonder Woman will be revealed

On June 2nd
I’ll provide the proof
So trust that what I do
Is not decided by you
Hanging my head
At how low they stoop
I disprove you fools
With the Lasso of Truth
Looking like I found
Fountains of youth
‘Cause I’m timeless
Haters realizing I’m finest
Walked away from
A century of horrors
School of Hard Knocks
I graduated with honors
And even scholars
Tell stories so fake
I would know–I was there
I spotted all the mistakes
Man made a world
Where we’re divided
When the foe arrives
They’ll find us united
Before that
It all starts with me
Wonder Woman leads the charge
To the victory
Shall we?

Bracelets
Armor
Sword and Shield
June 2nd
Wonder Woman will be revealed
Waited
So long
Finally it’s real
June 2nd
Wonder Woman will be revealed

My Last Life

On our summer breeze
Love is sweet for you and me
In everything I please you
And every day I need you
Loving you is treasure
Joyful beyond measure
I don’t want to see
A world where you can’t be
With you my life is better
Like water in the desert

I’ll spend my last sunset
With you
I’ll have no regrets
I choose
To spend my last life here
With you

In the winter storms you’re
The one who keeps me warmer
When you hold me closer
The time, it goes much slower
And our love grows stronger
Even with our faults or
Arguments we lost and
Even with the problems
With you life is simple
You give so much to live for

I’ll spend my last sunset
With you
I’ll have no regrets
I choose
To spend my last life here
With you

No matter the season
Or the reason
Your love, it keeps pleasing
You make me believe with
Just a little squeeze and
You make my heart keep on beating
I feel like I’m dreaming
And you’re all I’m seeking
I promise I’ll never be leaving
You
What I wouldn’t
Do

I’ll spend my last sunset
With you
I’ll have no regrets
I choose
To spend my last life here
With you
To spend my last life here
Will do

 

Commentary:

This song is not inspired by any real events, given that my wife left me fairly recently, but I had the idea for it, so I wrote it.  It must be nice to be loved this way.  I wish I’d loved her this way, but clearly I didn’t, or she’d still be here.

Moving right along…I see this song as a duet, perhaps with each person taking two of the lines in turn.  I’m sure someone more musically inclined could put it to music.  If anyone ever does put any of my songs to a tune, I’d love to hear it–this has always been about making the art for me, not recognition.  In the meantime, perhaps I need to learn to play an instrument…But thanks for reading.  Hope you enjoyed it.

Vanish

I awake in bed
Where you laid your head
Feeling nearly dead
From the words you said
So you’ve made it clear
You must disappear
Were you ever near?
Were you ever here?

So you vanish now
What was it about?
Was it really doubt?
Or did you just want out?
I can manage now
But the only sound
When you’re not around
Is the teardrops on the ground

Had a dream last night
That he loved you right
That’s the reason why
You are by his side
I don’t know the truth
I never had proof
Of the things you do
I feel like a fool

So you vanish now
What was it about?
Was it really doubt?
Or did you just want out?
I can manage now
But the only sound
When you’re not around
Is the teardrops on the ground

You just
Go like
A ghost
In the night
I think
It’s not right
But so what?
It’s your life
You wanted
More than me
Don’t make us
Enemies
We were once
Family
And this is
Our ending
So be it
Turn your back
Do your
Disappearing act

So you vanish now
What was it about?
Was it really doubt?
Or did you just want out?
I can manage now
But the only sound
When you’re not around
Is the teardrops on the ground

 

 

The Battle

Most times it’s what
Life’s about
You get knocked down
Twenty rounds every bout
And the crowd
It can fill you with doubt
The pain so loud
It can feel like a shout
Raise your temperature
Break your intentions
Leave you seeing stars
Like a fifth dimension
Not to mention
The tossing and turning
Dreams so bad
Make you feel like you’re burning
And it’s sad
When you feel like you earned it
Mistakes can make you
Feel like you deserved it
And is it worth it?
So often I’ve heard that
When people hurt you
It’s natural to hurt back
But you need to
Defend from attack
Keep your guard up
Till it’s your time to act

On the ground
It can feel like a ten count
Throwing in the towel
Is not what you have been about
Can’t see
From the cuts in your eyes
And can’t flee
From all the suffering inside
Don’t know
What is real and what’s not
But don’t show
All of the fear that you’ve got
Go slow
When you’re taking your shot
Don’t roll
With all the fakes who forgot
When you lose
There’s not much to do
But you choose
If you want to quit from the bruise
When you fail
You let trials prevail
Nothing can avail you
If bumps derail you
Don’t go drinking
Instead start thinking
That if you go down
You’ll do it while you’re swinging

Any captain
Can sink with their ship
Life likes to happen
When we’re not equipped
Books can offer
A path or a tip
But applying your mind
Is the best kept gift
I never slip
From the sweat and the blood
We know how to quit
We learn not to give up
And it’s a battle, man
I won’t lie
People die when drawing up the battle plans
As for me
Not having it
There’s a peace after war
And peace is what I have to get
So will they sink me now?
Not happening
My mind is my fist
My sword, spear and javelin
And when the world’s unraveling
I take up the pen and pad
And keep battling
And while I’m not quite
Rapping yet
Life is a gift
And I’m not done wrapping it

What Is This?

I didn’t leave you here
You left me behind
High and dry
You act like I don’t need you here
But you were always on my mind
Inside
I cried for you

Tell me, what is this?
Are those the types of games you play
With me?
Tell me what good is it?
Why did you even change your name?
Oh, please

I couldn’t be with someone else
After our game of show and tell
You played me
No matter what it is I felt
Another love could never help
To save me
From what must be

Tell me, what is this?
Are those the types of games you play
With me?
Tell me what good is it?
Why did you even change your name?
Oh, please

Never imagined you’d be gone
You were unhappy, it went wrong
And as it happens it’s my fault
I had you running from these arms
How could you run off with this heart?
I didn’t practice for this part
Your face was like the perfect art
Now love is frozen, no restarts
Live every moment with these scars
No longer hoping on these stars
But love should never be this hard
When will this pain inside me stop?

Tell me, what is this?
Are those the types of games you play
With me?
Tell me what good is it?
Why did you even change your name?
Oh, please
It was too easy to leave

Rap Double Feature: My World/Knightmare, Inspired by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

My World

 
From the sky came down
As an infant
Lived here thirty years
Without incident
Other than rumors
From a Smallville community
No one believed them
No one could prove it’s me
I lived like a drifter
Through the heartland
Saved people in need
When I saw them
Heard Canadian men
In a bar, there’s
Talk of an alien ship
Then I was gone there

Rest of the story goes
As it was told
I learned how to fly
And I rescued them all so
They built a statue
Of me and they hoped
That the next time trouble came
I’d save their souls
But there were still those
Who fell through the cracks
The mothers and fathers that
I can’t bring back
It was my fault
It’s just like I killed them
Called Zod here
And he made me a villain
So I can’t blame them
Because they blame me
I had to kill him
That decision changed me
I have to carry the guilt
Atop the world
As I look at the names
Of the orphaned little girls
People wondering why
I don’t smile much
Thousands of lives
That my actions have now touched
They don’t know what it’s like
To have to bear it
I’m learning that right
Doesn’t come without errors

Is there anything left
Worth fighting for?
Articles on football?
What am I writing for?
There’s a man like a bat
And he’s branding folks
And I don’t know what it is
That he’s planning for
I still believe in the hope
That I’m standing for
Underneath the mask
Is a man of war
He’s been around
Been a rumor for a long time
But somehow
He has gone to the wrong side
I confront him
He’s a jerk with a smirk
I could easily stun him
And end all his life’s work
But we’re not foes
He’s hurting, I know
He saw his parents killed
And it torments him so
Now he can hurt me
And put me at his mercy
Evil plans at others’ hands
So disturbing
I recall at his root
He is powerless
I must remind him
That evil is cowardice
That he became
Just like Joe Chill
When for no cause at all
He decided to kill

Red hair
And the looks of a goddess
She’s the one who understands
I can be honest
Tough as nails
On the trail of a story
Life by her side
It could never be boring
She can stand up to anyone
From a terror in the desert
To the heads at the Pentagon
A man of steel wouldn’t feel
But a third as strong
Without her in this world
I do not belong
I’m afraid I would burn it all down
If the day ever came
When my world’s not around
Now I realize that
She is my world
I would stop any fight
To go rescue my girl
So I don’t have to be afraid
Of a doomsday
Saving the world?
No, just another Tuesday

 

Knightmare

It’s a Knightmare
There’s a bright light there
This scenario would even make
Bat-Mite scared
There’s a city destroyed
Just ahead of me
The last Greek letter
Is the symbol of my enemy
Burned in the ground
Burning the town
Surrender now
Or head underground
I spot a big truck
Also see a big bus
Hoping the delivery man
Is someone we trust
He pulls up
There’s no sign of suspicion
Shows me a container
That looks in good condition
Then he opens it up
I look inside
It’s a battery and not Kryptonite
I’m surprised
He pulls a gun
As he apologizes
And my people are killed
Before I realize it

What have I done?
There’s a gun in my hands
Ever since that night
I know I can’t stand them
It’s so strange
I’m blowing folks away
Snapping necks, breaking limbs
And crushing brains
‘Cause I’m the last hope
For Earth’s salvation
Burn the rule book
And save the human race from
These evil aliens
What is this about?
One punch to my head
And I’m knocked out
I come to
Hung up next to two dudes
Sounds in the distance
Like a sonic boom
I see the soldiers
Taking one knee
And a god comes down
From the sky ‘cause he wants me
Heat from his eyes
Kills in mere seconds
He saves me for last
And I start to feel desperate
But I’m resolute
Nobody can rescue you
If I meet the end
Dad and Mom, I’m expecting you

He rips off the mask
Looks kind of mad
This is what it’s like
When aliens turn bad
He explains that I took
Someone from him
He murders me
It’s a done deal
I hear some shouting
And I see a bright lightning
A dude in red reaching for me
It’s frightening
He’s telling me
I was right to fear him
I don’t have a clue
I can barely hear him
He warns me,
“You have to find us, Bruce!”
And make friends again
Like I was trying to do
Was it a dream
Or a memory?
A warning from a future
Ruled by evil entities
We have to stand
And unite the league
Bring justice to any
Wanting fights with me

Release

Where I go
Is a
Lonely road
It often seems so hollow
And I don’t want you to follow
After me
It’s on my mind
Every-
Thing behind
I try hard to be strong
With everything that I’ve done wrong
I can’t go home

There was
You and me
Where we
Used to be
Right where I used to kiss you
Now there’s just a simple picture
From years ago
And then
Truthfully
What a
Useless thing
To be stuck here where I miss you
But it did no good to give you
All I owned

Truth be told
I just
Do not know
All my questions have unraveled
So no path is left to travel
That I see
It makes me cold
Down to
My bitter soul
What was the point of the battle
To end up as broken, scattered
Poetry?

Chorus:

It follows me
Like melancholy
Full of angst and anger
I can see the greatest dangers
But can’t flee
No matter how far I go
They chase me
Until they grab ahold
And won’t release

Conquer Me

I’d surrender
To feel its warmth upon my face
I’ve been through winter
I need some light to find my way
I’ve got some ways to go
But really I don’t know what is for me
I’d like to take it slow
But I’ve waited a long time to see

Love conquers all, they say
But will it look my way?
My white flag gladly waves
I want for love to conquer me
Love should be worth the wait
But will it look my way?
I want it here today
I want for love to conquer me

I dreamt I walked right past it
And never noticed it was there
A vision of us happy
You’d look at me as if you cared
But you’re too good for me
You’re more than I could ever hope to earn
But you’d be good to me
You’re everything for which I truly yearn

Love conquers all, they say
But will it look my way?
My white flag gladly waves
I want for love to conquer me
Love should be worth the wait
But will it look my way?
I want it here today
I want for love to conquer me

I don’t think we have met
And could I love again?
But the touch of your hand
My heart whispers, “I can.”
Love makes its promises
I try to honor them
And then she’s gone again
I’m sure I’m wrong again
But would I fall again?
And would I ever land?
Does someone understand?
Wish you would wait for me
Keep my heart safe for me
I’d hold you gratefully
As you’re embracing me
And then you’d say to me:
“You can have faith in me.
You’ll always have a place with me
No matter where we’ll be.
I’m yours and you’re with me, of course,
Our love will always be
All we’ll ever need, I’m sure, for all eternity.”

Love conquers all, they say
But will it look my way?
My white flag gladly waves
I want for love to conquer me
Love should be worth the wait
But will it look my way?
I want it here today
I want for love to conquer me