HUNGRY GHOST - LYRICS
1. Rivers
I Collect Rivers
Left my home on the Rio Grande
in a sleepy desert town
17, a pitcher full of dreams
and the thirst to wash it down
Some people build up picket fences
The certainty of stone
Some people got driftwood riddled in their bones
I,
I Collect Rivers
Broke my heart on the Delta blues
up and down the Mississippi
2am in a smokey bar
slinging songs at anyone listening
Some people drown themselves in lovers
The comfort of a drink
Some people just keep moving, swim before they sink
I,
I collect rivers
Had tea by the Bosphorus
Floated the Nile
Met a good man on the Hudson
He asked for a child
I said I can't sit still
I don't want to leave
Waiting on the waters
To wash over me
I can’t sit still, no
I don’t want to leave
Waiting on the waters
To lead me to the sea
Lead me to the sea
I, (x4)
I collect rivers
2. message from dad
(recorded voice message)
3. Silence Of The City
do do do do do do, ohhh
There’s a pit-pit patter of footsteps up the floorboards
It gently wakes me awake
The radiators singin'
And the tea kettles screeching
This kind of silence is new
There's a beep up the street like,
do do do do do do
Garbage truck preaching their blues
I’m right at home
Settled as stone
in the loud silence of the city
in the loud silence of the city
So just try and shake me
with your bills and your laws
stacked up higher than God
I'll write me a lick
To the street sweeper’s hiss
Cause, this kind of silence is free
There's a beep up the street like,
do do do do do do
Garbage truck preaching their blues
I’m right at home
Settled as stone
in the loud silence of the city
in the loud silence of the city
Richer than a king
Smarter than a scientist
Fatter than a cat
Fuller than the moon
In the loud silence of the city
in the loudest silence of the city
-
do do do do do do, ohhh (x4)
There’s a pit-pit patter of footsteps up the floorboards
It gently wakes me awake
The radiators singin'
And the tea kettles screeching
This kind of silence is home.
4. This Is How You Lose Her
You will meet at a cafe
On a Sunday afternoon
When she leans in to kiss your cheek
Your chest will start to bloom
You will tell her she's beautiful
Meaning every word
She will laugh, and let you hold
Her hand in yours
This is how you
This is how you
Find your way into her heart
This is how you
This is how you
Lose her
As you wander up and down
Bars on Houston street
She will wrestle off her guard
Shed it piece by piece
And in the back of crowded bar
You will kiss her slow
Press her up against your scars
She will get too close
This is how
This is how
She'll find her way into your heart
This is how
This is how
You lose her
And all of the stories
you've told yourself
On the shelter of being alone
If no one can reach you
No one defeats you
Leave her out in the cold
When she tries to get through
Burn the road behind you.
This is how (x6)
you lose her (X2)
Silence is your best defense against her
Silence is your best defense against her
This is how (x6)
you lose her (X2)
5. Your Escape
Say you need a break
from the nine to five
I got what'cha need
(Make you feel alive)
I got the red dress
you got the time
I want some mischief
and you, my dear
look so good tonight
I'm not looking for forever
And you're looking like today
You could be my dirty secret
I will be your escape.
I think I've got your bit of bliss abuzz
in my fingertips
Like the quiet before a kiss
no, no, no, no
Don't be afraid of it
I got the red dress
you got the time
I want some mischief
and you, my dear
look so good tonight
I'm not looking for forever (for forever)
And you're looking like today (like today)
You could be my dirty secret (your escape)
I will be your escape.
I'll get you where you want to go
Don't you wanna feel less alone
Your secrets safe with me here.
Cause i got the red dress
If you’ve got the time
I want some mischeif
And I’m gonna bet
You got a real dirty mind
I'm not looking for forever
And you're looking like today
You could be my dirty secret
I will be your escape
Let me be your escape.
6. Higher Than The Moon
I count the freckles on your skin
to pass the time until you wake up again
your constellations are
my meditations
The silent stars that draw me in
Don't need a
lullaby
I've got my
peace of mind
Lying with you by my side
I'm higher than the moon tonight
I wonder what it is you see,
what are you dreaming, stirring in your sleep?
Your every motion
ripples in the ocean
that pulls you closer into me
Don't need a lullaby
I've got my peace of mind
Lying with you by my side
Don't need a lullaby
I've got my peace of mind
Lying with you by my side
I'm higher than the moon
I’m higher than the moon
I’m higher than the moon tonight.
7. Alberta
Your hearts hid out
Like the sliver of a moon
Under brooding skies it’s
light fills the room
Aint nothing for miles
But perfect white snow
Soldier, stay a while
I hear it gets cold
You could come inside
Rest your head here
Lay on by the fire
You could come inside
There’s nothing to fear
lay on by the fire
and when the storm rolls through
I wanna take care of you
Shelter you
Cause I’m not afraid to bruise
Your wounds and your wars
They do me no harm
Leave the fire to the stove, love
I’ll keep you warm
You could come inside now
Rest your head here
Lay on by the fire
You could come inside
There’s nothing to fear
lay on by the fire
and I’m not here to bandage you
Lord knows I’ve been tempted to
But I‘ve seen my share of battles too
lived my life afraid to lose
I want someone to see the winter through
won’t you come inside
Rest your head here
Lay on by the fire
Cause you could come inside
There’s nothing to fear
Just lay on by,
lay on by the fire
We’ve got nothing to fear love (x4)
(oooooh)
Your hearts hid out
like the sliver of a moon
But your light fills the room
Still your light fills
The room
8. Partner In Crime
I'll egg on all your dirty jokes
Forge the name on your doctor's notes
Call in sick when we’re feeling fine
Keep you out till the bars are closed
Tumblin’ down like we’re dominoes
Sing so loud someone calls the cops
I will be your alibi
Your partner in crime
Your partner in crime
We’ll make pancakes at dinner time
Making out till we lose our minds
Watch the sunrise till the sky explodes
Your secrets will be safe with me
Promise I won’t say a thing
You and me up against the world
I will be your alibi
Your partner in crime
Your partner in crime
Heart is pounding
Palms are sweaty
I'm ready
In the getaway car
Road is open
Eyes so steady
If you let me
I’ll get you far
I will be your alibi
Your partner in crime
Your partner in crime
Take my hand, I’m on your side
Your partner in crime
Your partner in crime
You and I…
Partners in crime
9. A Good Man
He wasn’t groomed in the ivy league
His walls aren’t framed with fancy degrees
but paper don’t compare to chemistry
A good man is
good enough for me
He doesn’t dress in Armani suits
His wardrobes lined with Levi’s & boots
but money can’t account for what he do
A good man is
good enough for me
Been serenaded by the finest poets
Wined and dined with Nobel laureates
By the time morning comes to
they all leave to find something
shiny and new
He’s never summered in Istanbul
He picks me daisies, not antique jewels
Oh, to leave him I’d be a fool
A good man is
Good enough for me
Ran my luck against world-class champions
Carved my heart for master craftsmen
Trust me, girls, this one thing is true...
They all just want somethin'
hollow to screw
He loves me simply,
Loves me true
he brings me coffee
in the afternoon
Keep the games,
And the players too
My good man is
good enough for.. (x3)
...me
10. Slow This Heart
You walk in and knock me off my feet
A room so full and still you’re all I see
Weaving through the crowd
I hear my heart beat loud
One word and I’m drawn into your lips
Take a breath a breath and picture our first kiss
Scenes of you and I
Racing through my mind
Slow this heart
Slow this heart
Since you left the room
it’s pounding with a boom
Slow this heart
I could rest forever on your chest
anchored by the rhythm of your breath
hide all afternoon
Let me lie with you
Slow but steady
I am ready
Slow but steady
Slow this heart
Slow this heart
Since you left the room
it’s pounding with a boom
Slow Slow
Slow this heart
11. Lift Me Up
Give me cheap merlot on Tuesday nights
Gonna lose some sleep to the neon signs
that Camel smoke all up in my hair
I’ll burn more bridges than I care to say
I like my coffee black, language obscene
I'll trade all my secrets for shattered dreams
Take a long swing of Jim Beam
Fall to the curb
Never lived saintly
But I'll tell you,
I've learned
I've got nothing to prove
Nothing to lose
On my way down
I’ve paid all my dues
earn every bruise
When I hit the ground
Let the bottom lift me up
Let the bottom lift me up
I’ve searched for love
in stranger's beds
Lost count of the selfish
things that I said
Not asking forgiveness
or an easy way out
Lord knows I've been knocked down,
But I'm standing now
I've got nothing to prove
Nothing to lose
On my way down
I’ve paid all my dues
earned every bruise
Until I hit the ground
Let the bottom lift me up
I’ve got to see
the darkest part of me
know I’m never going back again
I’ve got to see
the darkest part of me
and know,
and know,
and know,
I’ve got nothing to prove
Nothing to lose
On my way,
On my way down
I’ve paid all my dues
Earn every bruise
when I hit the ground
I’ve paid all my dues
Earn every bruise
whenl I hit the ground
Let the bottom lift me up (x4)
12. Firing At Flames
Drink drank drunk
I reeled it my sails and sunk
Straight down your line
And I hope that’s okay
Write, roam, run
Oh honey I’ve held that gun
And don’t you grow tired
Of firing at flames
I shouldn’t be smoking
And drinking alone
But it feels so good
To sit with your ghost
I’ve been chasing
A place of my own
With so much road to go
And you taste like home.
Pretty face
With a penchant for
good mistakes
Wanna lay down your arms
And make a mistake with me
Chalk it to whiskey nights
Littered with neon signs
And brace for the fall
Heartache and all
I shouldn’t be smoking
And drinking alone
But it feels so good
To sit with your ghost
I’ve been chasing
A place of my own
With so much road to go
And you taste like
home.
You last like home
So pin me down
Screaming my name out loud
I shouldn’t want it all
But i need this
Now
So I’m here smoking
And drinking alone
Cause it feels so good
To sit with your ghost
I’ve been chasing
A place of my own
With so much road to go
And you taste like home.
You take like home.
13. The Good Wine
Been picking away at my guitar for hours
a melody to help you sleep
one last lullaby
to a heart beat falling out of time
Too broken up to write a song
with all the lessons you passed along
Written in this note
A few things I think I know now
walk till you run out of road
talk to folks
everywhere you go
think less about money
and more about time
Never save the good wine
You drove your car till the wheels fell off
Rusty sides and torn up seats
I never realized
You made that sacrifice for me
Haggled down to the dime
and all those years I called him cheap
now I can see
He saved every last dime for me
walk till you run out of road
talk to folks
everywhere you go
think less about money
and more about time
Never save the good wine
Still hear you laughing from up the street
you wouldn’t believe how it embarrassed me
Some day I’ll find this note folded in between
Photo albums and magazines
Then I’ll realize
You gave that damn laugh to me
Walk till you run out of road
Talk to folks everywhere you go
Think less about money
and more about time
Never save
Don’t you ever save
Never save the good wine