Tempest
Ironically, "Tempest", the lead track on "Broken World", was supposed to be about breaking out of my shell, expressing myself to the world, and seeing what bounces back. I never really started doing any of those things until after I wrote "Butterfly", the lead track on "Release", some eleven years later. Paperwork has been filed to rename "Tempest" to "Whoops". Trivia of the day: I think "Tempest" might be the shortest Tastiera song prior to the turn of the millenium. Feel free to sprinkle that into a conversation of your choosing.
when you look in my eyes
look a little more closely
behind my disguise
describe what you see
well i see a cascade of rain from the sky
and only just now has the rain hit my eyes
when you hear my voice
can you feel the thunder
behind the white noise
it made me wonder
why have i spent all my life trying to hide
how did i manage to bottle this tempest inside
a tempest inside
i feel alive
for the very first time
the hour has arrived
to begin the climb
and i might fall so far i should have died
saved by the wind from a tempest no longer inside
no longer inside
i feel alive
for the very first time
Glass Houses
This song is all about the dangers of living in a glass house. For example, the insulation is terrible, privacy is a pipedream, hailstorms are a real big problem, and your maid has to be one of those people who only does windows. Throwing stones is bad too, because you could hurt your shoulder. And you especially shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house, because then everybody will see you walking around your house with a hurt shoulder, which would be really embarrassing.
well i remember the day the wall came crumbling down
and watching the cold war hit the ground
but i see walls and i see wars every day
sometimes i wonder if they'll ever go away
it doesn't matter what color or sex you are
or if you've mastered the art of judgment from afar
or if you do what's right to be the apple of god's eye
believe what you will, someday you will die
and aren't we good at throwing stones
and aren't we proud of the ones we've thrown
and i guess someday we'll all find out
each of us lives in a glass house
it's child's play to generalize
and we are all so quick to polarize
the mob mentality is already here
and through the glass your aim is crystal clear
and aren't we good at throwing stones
and aren't we proud of the ones we've thrown
and i guess someday we'll all find out
each of us lives in a glass house
yeah aren't we good at throwing stones
and aren't we proud of the ones we've thrown
and i guess someday we'll all find out
each of us lives in a glass house
Time and Again
Time has always mystified me as a concept, so I thought it was worth writing some lyrics about. More importantly, I have always felt that Heraclitus needed to be mentioned in more songs. A number of otherwise really intelligent musicians have failed to deliver in that department. One of my friends in grad school remarked that this song was "so deep he couldn't touch bottom". Deep in what, I did not ask, figuring as usual that ignorance was bliss.
when you're in a hurry it moves too fast
but when you're alone it moves too slow
when you stare at the second hand it barely moves at all
but when you look away where does it go
they say time flies
but it's okay to be fashionably late
live each moment to the fullest
but all our operators are busy; please wait
heraclitus said it's like a river
and you can't step into the same river twice
and then someone said, hey, you can't even do it once
but that doesn't add up to much advice
is it really the fourth dimension
and does it stop on a ray of light
and if it reversed would we remember the future
and suffer in the morning for what we'd done the following night
though we may try
time and again
born only to die
beginning only to end
there must be something more
and maybe memory will serve us well
only time will tell
only time will tell
though we may try
time and again
born only to die
beginning only to end
there must be something more
Broken World
I don't know about you, but for some mysterious reason I have great difficulty typing the word "borken". See? I wonder what causes that. Kinda funny thing, the mind, isn't it? Oh well, at least I don't have tourble with any other words.
tonight something happened to me again
i was walking home and the starlight took hold of my eyes
and i shrank beneath the silver moon, and I shivered
the immensity left me paralyzed
day by day i live my life
day by day and night by night
all within the wink of an eye
just one split second before i die
why i am here
am i only in your mind
and what shall i do
what shall i leave behind
a broken world
my life is all that i know just like yours to you
and my dreams are on a pedestal
but alone i am only so much dust and ashes
and so i wait for a miracle
the dawn of a new golden age
but who is gonna turn the page
while i hate you and you hate me
our future slips into history
why i am here
am i only in your mind
and what shall i do
what shall i leave behind
a broken world
so tell me
yeah tell me, when all is said and done
what will you leave behind
why i am here
am i only in your mind
and what shall i do
what shall i leave behind
a broken world
Solace
Main reason I wrote this song was because I desperately wanted to have an entry that rhymed with bollocks. Yes, yes, I know, but it was pretty damned close, wasn't it? And I would have succeeded entirely if it weren't for those meddling kids.
as the world rushes by
so little time to wonder why
so little room to lay one's head
and catch a breath with nothing said
take me away
and then let me stay
i turn my eyes out the window
and lose myself in a cloud's shadow
open the pane, feel the wind
feel the air come rushing in
it takes me away
where i want to stay
world turning
hearts yearning for a secret hideaway
a little solace
a little rainbow in an ocean of gray
oh how i wish that i could stay
melody and harmony
a starry night and you and me
somehow, some way
it lets me live for one more day
it takes me away
where i want to stay
earth flying
souls crying for a sanctuary
a little solace
a little lighter cross to carry
oh how we wish we could stay
for just a little bit longer
Antarctica
I was at my liberal extreme in the early-to-mid 90's, so a number of my songs were about how we had completely boned up the Earth and were all about to die as a result. "Antarctica" is a perfect example. I've shifted a bit back toward center since then, but I still think we've completely boned up the Earth and are likely to have a pretty crappy century as a result. Tequila shots all around.
we're a little bit too sure of ourselves
as if we're all that life can be
but it's alive and kicking in the harshest of hells
just look across the southern seas
to a frozen land
unscathed by human hands
things we may never know
are buried in the snow
antarctica
so much to say
antarctica
but so far away
antarctica
is there another way
or is this judgment day
we rape the earth and light a cigarette
blow rings of smoke with sickening pride
and above eternal ice and beneath the southern cross
one ring becomes a hole in the sky
and does it touch you at all
as you hit the wall
given all we know
why are we so slow
antarctica
so much to say
antarctica
but so far away
antarctica
is there another way
or is this judgment day
Ever
This song was recorded at Mike Hupfer's studio (see the blurb for "Diamonds"). It took me forever to figure out what might rhyme with "na na na na na na na na na na na na na", and frankly it was becoming a major distraction. It wasn't until I was being extricated from my vehicle that I realized the answer: "na na na na na na na na na na na na na". What a relief. That was the most relaxing ambulance ride I have ever taken.
ever wish upon a star and feel them looking back at you
wishing upon the sun that fills our sky
ever hear the ocean in the middle of a desert
ever hear laughter and want to cry
ever notice me before
ever look at a rainbow and contemplate the colors
and realize how little we can see
ever look at the ground and remember it's hardly there at all
ever meet anyone stranger than me
and do you know what i mean when i say
na na na na na na na na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na na na
ever
ever drink so much you almost discovered who you are
but you never had the sense to write it down
and why do we cry for those who've gone on to a better world
maybe our faith isn't all that sound
and do you know what i mean when i say
na na na na na na na na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na na na
ever
ever catch my eyes focused on your own
and feel me wondering what's on your mind
and i could talk about the rest of our lives
but i think i'll just take it one day at a time
and then maybe you'll know what i mean when i say
na na na na na na na na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na na na
ever
Touched by an Angel
I wrote this song shortly after meeting the woman who would one day become my ex-wife. I wish her the best, but I'm a little more careful with my songs these days.
it's really kind of funny, the way things turn
so many candles in the wind, and some continue to burn
i almost never got to look into your eyes that very first time
from where i stand, that would have been a crime
but now when i contemplate those precious rings of blue
i think somebody led me to you
well i'm not too sure about the idea of destiny
and sometimes my logic doesn't work too well
but i can only see one answer
i think i've been touched by an angel
it's a little too early to tell what'll become of you and i
and the last thing that i want is to scare you out of my life
but this burning candle speaks of something meant to be
do you feel like someone led you to me
well i'm not too sure about the idea of destiny
and sometimes my logic doesn't work too well
but i can only see one answer
i think i've been touched by an angel
oh i've never opened my heart this quickly
never made a true friend so fast
maybe the thrill of this moment has captivated me
but wherever this leads, it's gonna last
well i'm not too sure about the idea of destiny
and sometimes my logic doesn't work too well
but i think i like the answer
thank god i was touched by an angel
touched by an angel
Tears of God
This song, like "Ever" and "Diamonds", was recorded at a friend's basement studio in Broomfield, Colorado, hence the generally better sound quality, especially on the vocals (which involved a microphone that cost as much as my entire current setup). There is a line toward the end of this song suggesting that I support public display of the Ten Commandments. The truth is, when I wrote that line, I felt the same way I do now, which is completely conflicted. On the one hand, I'm a firm believer in the separation of church and state, and the first two commandments in particular sort of force a particular kind of God on people. On the other hand, I'm a firm believer in picking your battles, and sometimes topics like this one can detract from more important topics, like the spectacularly inexplicable debate about equating religion with science in public schools. So my mood swings from day to day, and if I'd written the song on Wednesday instead of Tuesday, it might have had a different line. Too often, we want the answers to certain questions to be black and white, when the world is ultimately just varying shades of gray. I'm getting a little too deep for my own comfort. Guy walks into a bar. He says "Ow! That hurt!"
a couple years ago i heard a story about switzerland
a shining city of gold and in the middle
a place called needle park and
everyone there is condemned to die
and no one in that shining city cries
they just keep on selling those white elephants
and they don't even bother to lie
and ooo oh
you see the rain come down from the sky
consider that in our silence we applaud
and maybe you will see the tears of god
across the ocean a fire burns
another family loses their home
amidst the laughter of soldiers
like it's all that either side has ever known
and gazing inward with blood-stained eyes
an entire world paralyzed
our quotas of responsibility are filled
what a shame, could you pass the apple pie
and ooo oh
you see the rain come down from the sky
is it just me or do you feel a little odd
could have sworn i saw the tears of god
another day, another child laid to rest upon the pile
i guess it all comes naturally
when we love our guns more than we love a child
but some lawyers have put in some time
they figured it out, it'll be just fine
take down those ten commandments
before they corrupt our minds
and ooo oh
you see the rain come down from the sky
washing away your innocent facade
nothing escapes the tears of god
Fairy Tale
This song ended up on "Broken World" as a remix, but I think the original version sounded better. It was written as a wedding present to my friends Don and Karen back in 1991 or 1992 (can't remember which, but the important thing is that Don remembers). The vocals you hear in the recording were my first attempt, so I guess I must have had a decent idea of what I wanted to do with it. By the way, Don and Karen are still happily married and now have a beautiful daughter named Sophia. I am convinced it is all because of this song, of course.
once upon a time, i needed a friend
you ought to know, 'cause you were there
the world is so preoccupied with everyone else's problems
it's really hard to find someone who cares
someone like you
once upon a time, i needed a little more
you ought to know, 'cause you were there again
sometimes a heart yearns for a loving touch
that's when you need more than a friend
took me a while to realize that it was you
once upon a time, i finally caught a glimpse of the rest of my life
but i'm not telling you anything new
well i can't remember most of what i saw
the only part that hasn't faded away is you
running through my head is a funny little story that kind of says it all
fifteen billion years ago, the universe exploded
cooling and expanding into all that is today
atoms coalesced into stars, and stars into galaxies
and somewhere very very far away
hurtling 'round a tiny little star, a tiny little world came alive
and evolution and revolution brought us to where we are today
and now i guess it's up to you and i
dare i say happily ever after
once upon a perfect day, it all comes together just right
once upon a blue moon, there is no darkness at night
once upon a frozen hell, evil just gives up the fight
once upon a dream come true, love shines like a light
la da da da da da da da, once upon a time
la da da da da da da da, once upon a time
la da da da da da da da, once upon a time
la da da da da da da da, once upon a time
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