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