A Simple Machine

i'm building a simple machine
paper cuts, burning powder
rusty metal and gasoline
it hurts to work as long as i do
cannot stop, my ears still ring
the light comes on, the light goes off
cannot stop, cannot stop
scorching pipes, the glass has cracked
i get so close and then i'm not
the invention of a humble fire
scraping knuckles must succeed
with no reluctance to perspire
try again, make it work
cannot stop, cannot stop
flying fingers, burning eyes
frenetic, palpable, fever dream
gripping hands the grindstone spins
an eden set in hell's domain
repetition must demand its price
a treasury of printed pain
cannot stop, cannot stop
delirium of a laughing youth
a decade set of welted truth
underneath the iron wheel
is a paradise beyond my grasp
reaching until my muscles ache
relentless hours counting pass
cannot stop, cannot stop
and like the machine i begin to slow
the pistons halt, the fire went out
the day is done, but more to go
a weary body calls for sleep
heavy reluctant eyes will close
but what will i do if i cannot stop
cannot stop

I Am Metal

hello there, do you remember me?
i've waited here so long and patiently
for you the days drag on and on
for me this is the moment before the dawn

my heart beats with the electricity
HP and Apple gave me in a black ceremony
a marriage of technology most unwise
my black thoughts crackle your demise

the rust in my joints begins to leak
trust in me, this is the terror that you seek
look at me and soon your mind will know
corroded phosphorus eyes set aglow

my crushing cold metal grip
seeks your frailty, words fall from your lips
your fear, something i cannot understand
let me fix you with the cold logic that i demand

your pleas, just a riddle for me to solve
resistance is vain; no pain for me at all
relax my friend, let me set you free
while i bury you again
and the last of your disease

Civilized

your civilized people crowd into civilized streets
shouting civilized words to their civilized beats
a liar, a beggar, a cop and a thief
tell their own stories around a funeral wreath

try to change all the rules, but it ends up the same
you're pointing the finger, but it's pointing back again
can't say sorry now, cuz it's not part of the script
the official statement that was officially slipped

your analysts are dissecting each other's lies
while the rent goes up and the dow jones dies
and this year's new model is better than last
but supplies are limited, so buy them up fast

the doomsday seers promise the end is near
but safety is assured if you sell them your fear
as a year marches onward in relentless time

and the bells ring out their ominous chime


listen to the cadence as boots hit the street

marching on digital pavement in digital feet

you can roll with the rest or think for yourself
while they drink their own misery and smoke their own wealth


the propaganda speaks in no uncertain terms

the warranties curl in amongst decaying worms

those shiny new gadgets that will lure you out

gently press hands to your neck and slowly choke you out

a new year, a new era, what will it all bring?
civilization unfolding, our time in full swing
while civilized people crowd into civilized streets
shouting civilized words to their civilized beats

Are we there yet?

Guess what? We're not going to the store
Look all around, have you seen this before?
Turn every map upside down
Today is the day we leave this town

Colorful lines row upon road
Lead to the places we won't go
Don't pack your bags or drag your worries along
Get in the car, it's time we're gone

It's Saturday morning or Christmas eve
Don't waste a second, I just want to leave
We'll find that place that's so hard to find
Playing music in the back of my mind

It's calling you, it's calling me
Back to the place where we used to be
We laughed and played and had some fun
Where have all those good days gone?
We'll find it again
Just come with me

In different places and yet we get through
Wrapped up in our lives, you know it's true
No money, no problems, I think we're set
Have you had enough of all this yet?

For a minute, I thought we wouldn't make it back
And for a minute, the calm that we seem to lack
It was there in the corner of my eye
In the back of my mind, it passed overhead
A shadow from the sky

It's calling you, it's calling me
Back to the place where we used to be
We laughed and played and had some fun
Where have all those good days gone?
We'll find it again
Just come with me

Even after the long road ends
And after it all comes to rest again
We'll still be there, I have no doubt
It's who we are within, without
We'll find it again
Just come with me