1. |
Hit and Run
03:49
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Swept upon my doorstep
Shadows falling at my feet
Oh my
He asks me for my money
Then throws me toward the street
I’m slipping through his fingers
Slipping through his arms
The car swerves through my gait
Collapsing on my knees
Clawing at the fender
Nails are bleeding
What can you say when such trouble finds your way
Do you kneel and then pray?
The pauper steals his medicine yet reviles his fall from grace
Does he kneel and then prey?
Pulled into an alley
He picks my pockets clean
Trembling, red vision
Anger rising
I grip him by the neck
And squeeze his windpipe free
You'll die, you'll die
You'll die but not I!
The hit and run cannot be undone the moment's gone too soon
You stick and you move
And don't you mix up all the facts for the policeman calls for you
You stick and you move
Patch me up; stitches hold
Reset the broken bones; make me whole again
Call up my folks; tell them I will be home at ten
Tell them I will be home again
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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2. |
Fault Lines
03:50
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Toss me out the door
For heaven sake I won't be here anymore
I’m winking into your voice
Inside a blink of an eye
I thought I stood away
From the fault lines below
Shaking my frame
‘Till I save every little parcel of shame
A ticking time bomb explodes
And there is no visibility of which to speak
As we're spinning into the deep
Don't lose yourself to the trauma unfolding
Don't lose yourself to me
Facades fall down
Uncover cracks that have been forgotten ‘till now
A sacred ground will not rescue you
If you’re still holding on
To that last fragment
It's just too hard to grasp
Toss it into the sea
For it's the only way to finally move on
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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3. |
The Persecuted
05:21
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Have we the courage to carry this load?
Its weight carries our joys
Forty reasons to give up this cause
When struggle is all you find
Rations run thin
We shrink into skin and bones
Yet I will give the deepest thanks to those who will despise us
Building courage to proudly wear this badge
Its coat of arms carry our pain
Countless reasons to behold these truths
When salvation is what we've found
We have known this for so long, you know
The trouble we have caused
Rations run thin
They shrink but still we will gloat
And I’ll be sure to tip my hat to those who will despise us
Our case is made
And the gavel has landed
It won't be supplanted
This moment lifts all of our doubts as your hand touches mine
The night sky clears up
And the museum is still open
Exhibits smear our sights
As we embrace in its backlight
The tunnels, the endless tunnels echo so right
Recover, restart
As our lies tear apart into dust
And I'll be sure to tip my hat to those who will despise us
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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4. |
(descension)
01:04
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5. |
Labyrinthine
03:36
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The heroine’s done for the night
Labored in her breathing
Icy wooden floors
Resonate and splinter
Into a labyrinthine construct
Her boots muddy from the high tide
Turning the lights out, turning the lights out
Turning them out she makes it clear
It’s not going to be a new day
For her to sense the depth of the seas
No auspices, just fitful sleep
Enough to make her disappear
Her head still filled with the noise
From the fiery tempest
Red surrounds the haze
From the moment she was cast down
Alas, she crawls through the blackest fields
Crumbling walls of the gravest courtyard
Brought with her a scattergun
Will blow their brains to kingdom come
There will be no surrender
The bloodiest crypt of a thousand leads to the underground
Signs, they just meet her
Or else she just knows to take a turn
Too wise to let the seconds be owned
Sells herself as more and more ticks break
Ticks break, taking her away from escape
This cloister held in the depths of hell
Beneath the dirt it lurks
Forever in the terror
Her mind’s a curdled maze
Envisage a head case
Blowing apart the pirouettes
Their endless streams of swirling hatred
Turning the lights out, turning the lights out
Turning them out, she makes it clear
It’s not going to be a new day
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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6. |
Living Proof
03:21
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Here I lie, forsaken and living on borrowed time
Have I known you or just forgotten me?
Echoing accomplishments
Fade through each passing chime
The dusty floors embellish the library hall
Full of volumes underlined by my out of mind
I've torn out the pages
Now all the living proof is gone
Whose children will know my story?
The history of my travels will be discarded
As I return to earth
In the womb a life emerges, a cry
Teeming with such pride
Feels daylight yet shivering
From a never ending chill
The moments flutter beyond the grave
Beholding a new name
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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7. |
D-Day
03:24
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Pushing our way toward the droves of lurid life forms
In sarcophagi floating in a foreign sea
Suddenly we have reached the shore
Flag warning do not enter
Yet we will break right past this caution tape
To find where had it all gone wrong
And though the enemy fires at our fleet
Will we be led to safety?
Often I ache fiercely for a new horizon
From whence the great cliffs serenade
Perhaps off the beaten path
We'll find a new dance
Casting a stone eroding illusion to the winds
And unfurl the colors bleeding through the mist
And see if we should take up arms
To lead the world to safety
Rat droppings now cover the floor of which we can't scotch-guard
As we've ingested our own poison
Vertigo sows confusion
A virulent minefield Is laying waste prisoners to certain fate
Who cry, "Where had it all gone wrong?"
And I lie upon this ravaged beach
Wave to all that are striving to keep
Their head above tide
Au Revoir!
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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8. |
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Welcome to my life, healing
Those words you said
Hit me over the head
Just like a touch of your cool lips
Often I can feel unrest but I will say
That I am no longer alight
With the fire and the brimstone
Those days are long gone
Can’t even remember the last time that we fought
Picture a picture so perfect
Just like in the magazines: The American Dream
It’s a moment, it’s a moment to last
But I’m not really quite ready, oh no
I’m not really quite ready for it to pass
We go…
Up the spire and over the wire
Higher and higher
As we climb past the clouds of our discontent
To a place we can call our own
Welcome to my life, healing
Those words you said
Hit me over the head
Just like a touch of your cool lips upon mine
Often I can feel unrest but I will say again
That I am no longer alight
With the fire and the brimstone
Those days are long gone
Can’t even remember the last time that we fought!
Welcome to my life, healing…
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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9. |
(ascension)
01:22
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10. |
Trees
04:42
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Killing off the future where no sun rays go
And it may be a mistake
But I write this note to say goodbye
Now I run up Breakneck Ridge to the heights where I can wean
Off this modern strife
Into the loam enriched with the nutrients
And set my roots
Sharp the pine needles
They hurt
They push me over into a free fall
Down I go
I awake tied up in limbs
Vision spinning through the leaves
And what a surprise, I'm alive
Forgotten what I do for a living
And only know of the path in front of my eyes
As the incline spans open wide
The crickets chirp so sweet
And I feel complete
When I can’t recall any wish to be known at all
The clouds in the sky
Shimmering upon my fronds
Lift me beyond the ledges where I can dream
Of the trees, oh!
A mirage of your face shimmers in the lake
My memory cannot see its name
But that smile is the blossom
For whom I search the water’s edge
A suicide attempt brings upon this new domicile
I transform in the brush
Finding faith in the birds and learning
How to plant myself
To sail into the pistil where I will be reborn
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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11. |
Pinwheel
04:32
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Steering myself with both hands
For I forgot to heed
The traffic that's crowding ‘round my head
Can't take back what I’ve seen
I am just kidding…
No doubt
My wheels are just spinning
Around and around
I can't take it anymore
My car tires are squealing off course
Yet I marvel at the terrible price this may cost
This may cost too much
Can a neutral gear break us through
Past the blind spots of our view?
For the car horns beep too loud
If they can't give up any ground
Around and around we go
Painting water color lines
Toward the threshold of the next stop sign
I turn the corner, didn't notice you
Made the “right” signal before I moved
Slow down, slow down at the flickering light
Slow down!
I’m treading…
You tread across the pavement
As I open my door to peer
Standing between both fenders
Don't see any damage here
That was a close one…
No doubt
I should have been tossed
Around and around
I can't take it anymore
Swapping numbers we collectively sigh
For this was nothing but a moment gone awry
Let it go
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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12. |
Autumn Hymn
03:23
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Off to the parade
Singing songs older than you and I
That speak to our fathers
To the little boy blue
Floating memories
That touch our tired feet to the paving stones
Taking all the time that we will need
To cross the streets below
Dancing high in the sky
The wind it catches our sighs, oh my
Holding hands and walking
Holding hands and talking closely
Leaves are turning
As we will turn to the clearest blue sky
Reviving old glory
Soaring beyond the miles
Been ‘round and ‘round
Now can't find my way back home
This veil's been torn
So could I pass through with you
Through these well worn corridors
Hearing those storied melodies
Echo through the halls
Streamers and banners
Finally settle upon our old oak tree
Rippling chimes
Sound so wild in the eventide
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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13. |
Propagate
03:35
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I pay for my bliss
In self loathing emptiness
In alienation, in loneliness
I pay in bewildered stares
In lovers without a care
I pay in credit charges and straight cash
I pay in a loss of intimacy
Lost in expectations
I pay in endless explanations
And reasons to speak out for myself
For myself
‘Cause the world doesn’t understand
That no one will take my hand
And I pay for my dearest wishes
With the next tidal hit
Swelling from my trail of tears
I’m pulled by an undertow
So fierce with ire
That it leaves me threadbare, shirtless and tired
And although those ships sail on
Those that are not inspired
Their insipid surf extinguishes my hell
Hellfire
‘Cause the world doesn’t understand
That no one will take my hand
And I pay for my dearest wishes
With the next spiteful slap
Shaking my bowing knee caps
We pay for our bliss
In the hot nights and anxious cold sweats
In the times I need an unconditional kiss
From you
But you want me to be prejudiced
To love you more than I love myself
To covet your kisses and spend all my wishes
At the jeweler for your diamond necklace
Until I turn out a bullied old man
Spending all his change on the little grandchildren
Who follow in the footsteps of my forgone freedom
“Was it worth it, was it worth it?” I ask my flaccid libido
“Did I propagate the race, propagate the family name?”
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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14. |
Vacant
04:18
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I'm waiting for me to live
Life like an eagle soars
But I'm chained upon a load
That threatens to bring us to harm
Am I too vacant to recognize what I ought to conceal
As their hateful eyes are glowing in hordes surrounding?
This moment will pass me by
As these drugs will get me high
But down in the doldrums
The devil speaks a vicious tune singing:
"Bring Hell to all cause the Lord ain't there for you"
Is that true?
Or am I too vacant to understand what I ought to ignore
As their merciless havoc breathes its fire toward my door?
It’s been so long
Can't see what's in front of me
This holding cell won't release my sanity
No it won’t
What is home anymore when I can't breathe
Through the smoke so thick and so wild
Consuming me?
I’m waiting upon this ledge
Just hoping you'll see me score
Take a jump shot into the cloud rim of heaven above
To be kissed by all net
Her lips tainted with blood, with my blood
Am I too vacant to reconcile who's attacking me?
While every side is drawing the same lines on concrete
All are aware that he took his final leap
I took my final leap
Drowning down into the gutter but hope to one day float upstream
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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15. |
Three Marionettes
04:55
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Sever me from the ties that bind ever so tight
For this is my time to roam
They curse and they say I won't be OK
But I don't mind to burn all the bridges down
Jumping off toward solid ground
Picking up pieces of these lives
In this empty wasteland
I'm poking at the traps like when the trainers tamed me
I jump through their flaming hoops and tremble at their cries
All hope denied
They won't allow me to roam
The crowd gathers at my feet
They won't allow me to roam
Circling back toward the meet
They won't allow me to go, to go home
With my pride and my cubs
And the endless breeze in my mane
Sever my strings and cut the wires off my arms
So I can finally see how it feels to walk
To step is too much at first glance
So I'll just stand up real tall
I will touch my toes today if you teach me how to pray
Oh lord
Swatting those flies off my brow
Taking an endless walk
Across the vast lands they shoot me in plain sight
And I scramble up a tree
They won't allow me to roam
Vultures circling overhead
They won't allow me to roam
Parched bellies are distended
We belong to no one
Refugees sing those elegies of their softly spoken deaths
Creeping around their sunken eye sockets
Sever me from their trials
Their pricking and prodding
I'm stuck inside these four white walls
Singing a melody of my lost youth
But no one hears what my kind has bequeathed
With their lab coats their needles and their rules
Hands on my feet no longer walk
They curse and they say I won't be OK
But I don't mind to burn all the bridges down
Jumping off toward solid ground
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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16. |
A Mutiny
05:29
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So long my friends
Tonight will be our last
A mutiny is surrounding
My every act was for naught
Sea walls are caving in, what is happening?
I can’t see ten steps in front of me
My hands they are a-shake as I walk this plank
It’s a reason to maroon
So take me away to another place
I’ll be alone on my lifeboat, barely alive
But still breathing
A mutiny is surrounding
My thoughts driving me out of my mind
Shackles ‘round my feet
Their troubled gazes meet, summoning the ammunition
Please no, please no, please no
No one told me why everyone must die
I pull his blindfold off
“It will be over soon. Stay alert, it’s all you can do.”
Said my sister as she pulls the cannonball
Tied to that noose around my neck
Those blood ties we share
Don’t break our fall from grace
Suddenly the deck transforms
Into a glittering ballroom floor
And the seasick sailors
Lock step into a psychopathic tango
And they swing and they dance
‘Till the dusk turns into dawn
I crumble to the disco floor
Upon an inauspicious moon
Asking why can’t I cut this rope in two
Find justice through this impending doom
So long my friends
This will be our last goodbye
Goodbye!
My every act was for naught
My hands they are a-shake as I walk this plank
It’s a reason to jump…
But I’m alone on my lifeboat, barely alive
But I’m still breathing
I’m still breathing.
Lyrics © 2017 Jason Vitelli
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Jason Vitelli recommends:
Live at Midday Jazz
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David's work as a big band arranger and composer is profound and magical. His music will stick with you; it abounds with soulful virtuosity. Check out the band interplay in this live album.
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Coordinate Plan 2018
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