No Nostalgia

When I walk, there will be no
Speculation, no act to follow.
And my words, they will be strong.
Find your way. Feel free to come.

Now our doubts, they will be cast.
No nostalgia, no point of reference.
Nothing wrong, and no looking back.
Nowadays the truth is every breath you breathe.
So, I'll make the time if you can make believe
We're living in a fortress, safe from the madness
Keeping every promise.

When I walk, there will be no
Hesitation, no pill to swallow.
And my stride sure will be long.
Choose your side, feel free to come.

I'll be the bottles on the beaches
You be the waves that wash them all ashore.
We'll make the most of every message,
Keep a careful eye for ever after on and on
Until we know for sure...
We're living in a fortress, safe from the madness,
Keeping every promise.

Under A Cloud Shaped Like A Tomb

Met on the face of an obscure hillside,
Covered in clouds shaped like a tomb
Stuck in the ground.
Plenty to do, nobody around.

I was employed, she was a risk-taker.
Far from afraid, quiet and kind, easily swayed.
Secrets were kept and promises made.

But oh, how often they called out to remind us
Our ways had no place in it all...

And I was easier then, back when it all started.
Able to wait, still in the end, was hard to defend
A place where they're so unwilling to bend.

And praise came to those who did as they were told.
But whoa, whoa to those who went astray.
And clear, clear was the line, the line not to cross,
The rules to abide.
But deep, deep was the urge to leave it behind...

And oh how we covered our tracks, ever the low profile.
Counting the cracks, wading the days, subtle the flame
Lighting our path again and again.

But oh, how often they called out to remind us
Our ways had no place in it all...

But lately lately I've been one for up and leaving leaving,
See no reason we should change to suit their old ways
Don't you think?

Alright You Restless

Alright, you restless, arise and make believe it isn’t dangerous
To show the fervor you hide. Your big idea’s safe with us.
We’ve got no act to critique, no reason not to take you serious.
So, mull it over, you’ll see you’re bigger here than where you’re at

We’re ready and don’t you know this life is good enough
We’re ready and don’t you know this life is good enough
So get on, get up, you got so much so many wither away
But that won’t happen to us

I came up hard with a weight that didn’t ever seem to taper off
And no amount of restraint could keep it all from adding up
But, here our conscience is clean and we’ve no need to make apologies
And all who come are the same, you’re bigger here than where you’re at

We’re ready and don’t you know this life is good enough
We’re ready and don’t you know this life is good enough
So get on, get up, you got so much so many wither away
But that won’t happen to us

So So Freely

When I see see see that brightness
And I’m so so so reminded
Of the reasons we departed
Anacortes all around us

When I call call call your namesake
And you rush rush out to meet me
And we talk that talk so freely
Anacortes all around
We’re better off in isolation
Than being lost with all the rest

Don’t you take take too much stock in
All their cold cold calculations
Anymore, that’s not our problem
Anacortes all around us

And we’ll leave that gate wide open
For the ones we told so often
Gotta make make up for something
Anacortes all around us
All around us
All around us
All around us
All around we’re better off in isolation
Than being lost with all the rest

When I see see see that brightness
And I’m so so so reminded
Of the reasons we departed
Anacortes all around us

When I call call call your namesake
And you rush rush out to meet me
And we talk that talk so freely
It’ll always be around us,
All around us
All around us.

The Peaks

Meet me in a cave
Memories to share
And you’ll see there’s plenty to appreciate, my friend
So keep it in your heart so you remember we can, we can
Yes, keep it in your heart so you remember
We can

In a tower tall
Witness to it all
I could see the peaks
Where we’re sure to go
All of us are eager for the moment to ascend
So take this in your heart til you remember we can
Yeah, take it in your heart so you remember we can
We can we can

Navy Parade (Escape From The Black River Bluffs)

I set out from that old Black River bluff around an early age
I never did like it there so much, so when the hour finally came
I went out there and enlisted in that old Navy Parade
(counter chorus: I don’t wanna end up in Poplar Bluff, don’t make me
leave this navy parade)

Well, I found myself in the Pacific Ocean waves among a chosen few
But I fell asleep on watch one night and that’s the worst thing that you can do
And when I woke up, there was a flashlight shining right there in my face
(counter chorus: repeat)

Here’s what that voice called out to me:
“Lord knows, you tried to fake it
But you’re better off taking any step
that leads you further from the way you’ll never be
Beyond this mess, there’s something left
And it’s still within your reach
So if you get there before I get there
You better save something for me.”
(counter chorus: repeat)

Da Da Da…
(Oh the toil and strife, the fire and flame, I’m going down in a similar way
but I’ll be counting every step that I’m taking from this Navy Parade)

These Elbows

Found a place in the foliage
Avoided the rest, a steady pulse in my chest
I had no grudge to get over
And no past to regret

It was me and the weather
and the weather was good
And all their nay-saying ways
Could never cloud my perspective.
There ain’t no reason it should

They tried to say I was selfish
Told me I was naïve
And made all kinds of predictions
That had no bearing on me
And all around me was hearsay
Until I found a better place in the Evergreens

I bet you’re bent on destruction
The holes in your blouse, the bitter taste in your mouth
And still no sign of redemption
No time to figure it out

But I was there in your trenches
Defending that cold cold place
And when I came to my senses
There was effort to make

And I bet you think it’s fictitious
You’d say I’m over my head
But I got no reason to wait here with you
And all the other mislead
It’s better under the radar
No need to swallow everything you’re fed

They’re gonna keep you incarcerated
But underneath the radar we’ll be free for evermore.

Tap On Your Windowpane

Came a point where some around us
Fell to dark and ugly habits
Those of us who’d lost our patience
Left for somewhere new, well worth protecting
Now these were days of shared possession
What was mine was theirs and so on
Seldom were there any problems
We could not resolve
On our own, listen carefully
There’s no reason to brandish your teeth
In good time, we’ll have clarity and you’ll see
Beyond that pale our new allegiance
No more time or space between us
Bear no flags and keep no secrets
Til the bitter end
On our own, listen carefully
There’s no reason to brandish your teeth
In good time, we’ll have everything
And you’ll see

When I Was Idle

Idle was the inside, beaten was my path
That weather changed so quick
I could feel the outcome bearing on my path
I wasn’t ready for it
I wasn’t ready for it

So I had to pace myself
Stagger what was left with vigilance
And think of somewhere else
To satiate my mind
To focus on a point
I thought I’d left behind

These, the hours I was left
The moments at my side
They said would never last
But still I had to try
Try
Try

We don’t want your enemies
Save that trouble for yourself
It’s us and no one else in our own story

Souvenir

Share any advice for those of us left yet to decide
On any outcome, we could commit if there were good
Reason for it
And when it matters, promise you this:
Never to wonder, pine or regret.
This is our answer

Sleeves down to my calves, came for resolve, too proud to ask
And words tucked at our side for all who have ears
And feel so inclined
And in the hour, we will project
All within earshot know what we meant
This is our answer

How far should I go when I’m following you
When I’m following you, how should I go?
And what words should I use when I’m wondering how
When I’m wondering how, how should I go?

Feet out of the sand, make any point, do what you can
And with a fervor, we’ll build a case
Everyone listening, hear what we say,
This is our answer:

Brace yourself for the hour