1. |
Very Small
01:46
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Maybe it’s a ways out, a tiny boat, a tiny ocean.
Maybe the sun will devour us all.
Jupiter fits in my hand,
but only when I’m very small.
Maybe it’s a way out, and we don’t need to run.
Maybe what looks like the sun is actually a doorway.
Maybe what looks like fire ain’t fire at all.
Imagine it’s a call to become very small.
Burn the blood and boil the bones.
Make it known I’m coming home.
Maybe it’s a ways out. A tiny boat. A tiny ocean.
Maybe the sun will devour us all.
Maybe what looks like fire ain’t fire at all.
Imagine it’s a call to become very small.
It’s a call. I’m finally very small.
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2. |
Ahh Ahh Ahh
02:20
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And I heard voices on my TV,
finding joy within a word.
Always complaining that I’m healthy.
They never had the faith to be absurd.
Ahh. Ahh. Ahh. Ahh.
Your knuckles white until you let go.
Holding out for better days.
But it lost meaning in the echo.
It’s more about the timing than the phrase.
Ahh. Ahh. Ahh. ––
Even though power is a fable, I heard.
And I heard voices on my TV,
finding joy within a word.
Ahh. Ahh. Ahh. Ahh.
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3. |
Sacred Walls
02:42
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Of course I fled then.
Your brother called, and I forgot
I wasn’t doing anything I should not.
I was so indifferent.
The combers pulling us both into
the green, green ocean. Ascend…
From the water to the sand.
Like a poster in a university classroom.
I knew all my past at a glance.
I knew everything.
There was no mystery.
There was no meaning.
I was so indifferent.
The combers pulling us both into
the green, green ocean.
Ascend…
Your brother called, and I forgot
I wasn’t doing anything I should not.
In this sacred walls.
Of course I fled then. Anyone would have.
Of course I killed them. Anyone would have.
I wasn’t doing anything I should not.
It was not possible to do wrong
in these sacred walls.
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4. |
Not Now
02:25
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Winter came early that May.
That was the first inkling you had
that something changed.
Thought you were over it…
Not now.
You made a list
of everything that seemed strange.
You knew a world like this could never last,
could never stay.
Thought you were over it…
Not now.
Were you surprised to find you lied?
The illusion of control,
to which you madly cling…
Aside from your reactions,
you don’t control anything.
Thought you were over it…
Not now.
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5. |
My Apprentice Wept
02:29
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Three kids drove up in a car.
It was 4:10 in the morning.
They left a package at my door,
even though I never asked for it.
I noticed one of them was a red head.
Three kids showed up at my door.
It was 4:15 in the morning.
One of them got left behind,
even though he never asked for it.
They left the red head.
And my apprentice wept.
That’s what my mother said.
Four adults showed up at my door.
It was 4:35 in the morning.
I invited them in, and I even
offered each of them a warning.
Every single one of them came in.
And my apprentice wept.
That’s what my mother said.
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6. |
Mira Brown
02:32
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Oh, Mira Brown, you were so sad.
All the dogs died in town.
Do you feel guilty when you think about the time?
Your mother was your friend, where did she go
when you took it upon yourself to pretend?
Do you feel guilty when you think about the time?
I will defend you to the council.
City hall by the bluff.
I will defend you to the council,
but Mira Brown…
you’ve done enough.
Do you feel guilty when you think about the time?
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7. |
It's Not Worth The
02:30
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Find fear in the funniest interview.
Your fans are no longer afraid of you.
Don’t speak. It’s not worth the…
They know everything about you.
Perfectly qualified to judge, so…
Don’t speak. It’s not worth the…
Do you believe the scripture of 2015?
Did you once have a thought
from somewhere else?
If you don’t believe the scripture of 2015,
I warn you right now don’t speak.
Don’t speak. It’s not worth the…
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8. |
My Smile's Not Fake
02:10
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I believe I’ve mentioned before
how horror is eternal.
Don’t ask me what I mean.
My smile’s not fake. I really am happy.
Thinking about dead branches.
I’m thinking about old teeth.
Don’t ask me to smile, no,
I’ll smile when I’m happy.
Thinking about dead branches.
I’m thinking about old teeth.
When you say “carcass” it sounds so absurd,
but really it is as natural as a bird in flight,
but not in your sight. Not in your sight.
Tell me why.
My smile’s not fake. I really am happy.
Thinking about dead branches.
I’m thinking about old teeth.
Don’t ask me to smile, no,
I’ll smile when I’m happy.
Thinking about dead branches.
I’m thinking about old teeth.
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9. |
Listen To Them
02:20
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Little further on down the road
there’s a place you can go.
Take a left at the old trail head,
there you can pretend to join
the sacred ranks of the dead.
And the villagers talk…
You can listen to them
remember your good times.
And you can listen to them
say all sorts of kind things about you.
There you will find all hid,
the iron knife I left as a kid.
And it’s magic is strong
even after so long.
We’ll listen to them
remember the good times.
And we’ll listen to them
say all sorts of kind things about you.
Use it. Use it, and I’ll return.
And I’ll talk with them.
Reminisce about the good times.
And I will gladly accept
all their kind words about you.
And I’ll apologize to them,
about the scare I must have given them.
And I’ll promise to never wander off again,
And you can’t bet I won’t.
Good luck. Good luck.
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10. |
Brian L. Cut In Line
02:58
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Peace comes slow.
Under melting snow,
find your body whole.
If you need to know
before you give your will,
you never will, I know.
There is time, and there is time.
Brian L., he cut in line.
I was so inclined I fell.
Your needs are known
the day the seed is sown,
and when it grows it justifies itself.
There is time, and there is time.
Brian L., he cut in line.
I was so inclined I fell.
And even though you like it,
you cannot accept the thing.
Even though you like it,
and it’s probably nothing.
There is time, and there is time.
Brian L., he cut in line.
I was so inclined I fell.
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11. |
Did You Think Of Me?
02:45
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I never wanted to harm you.
Even now, I don’t want to alarm you
but there is some moon up above you.
Some moon… above you.
Did you think of me the night your father died?
Did you feel guilty
with the wrong thing on your mind?
Wait at your door.
I’ll be there two minutes past two.
To see you the instant the moon
is directly above you.
I’m sorry I tore you
away from your loving family.
But now that the bonds are all broken
—they’re gone!—you might as well
come with me.
Did you think of me the night your father died?
Did you feel guilty
with the wrong thing on your mind?
Wait at your door.
I’ll be there two minutes past two.
To see you the instant the moon
is directly above you.
The moon is directly above you.
Remain in her ivory light.
Remain in my humble sight.
Remain a thorn in my side.
I don’t mind.
Did you think of me the night your father died?
Did you feel guilty
with the wrong thing on your mind?
Wait at your door.
I’ll be there two minutes past two.
To see you the instant the moon
is directly above you.
The moon is directly above you.
The moon is directly above you.
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12. |
That Is That
02:07
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I explained again
about the imagined life,
but you were not impressed
by the darkness inside.
Has the sun already set?
Well then, I guess… that is that.
Have I ever told you
I always hated this place?
With its beautiful pillars
and its intricate carved archways.
Has the sun already set?
Well then, I guess… that is that.
I know you know
he gave me everything he had,
but did you ever notice
most of it was bad?
Has the sun already set?
Well then, I guess… that is that.
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13. |
The Words Are
02:56
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Everyone has a logic they cannot deny.
Somehow you see right through it
with your very special eye.
Even though you suspect the stakes are high,
you don’t move in case you’re wrong.
I believe you even though I can’t.
I know the words… they hardly touch it.
I believe you even though I can’t.
I’m sorry the words are not enough,
and they never will be.
And when you were young you heard the song.
Memory’s trimmed it, now it isn’t very long.
Soon enough the final note will also be gone.
You won’t even ask if you did the right thing.
I believe you even though I can’t.
I know the words… they hardly touch it.
I believe you even though I can’t.
I’m sorry the words are not enough,
and they never will be.
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14. |
Made The Weight Change
02:30
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You were the godfather to the idea
that we could share our taste.
I stretched my friendship to the end.
I knew exactly where to point the blame,
but what difference does it make?
Still I am sorry for the way
I made the weight change.
You wandered a long time
at the bazaar, the market
You purchased everything I wanted,
but could not get.
What difference does it make?
Still I am sorry for the way
I made the weight change.
I promoted a record,
so we could be forgotten.
I divested us of echoes,
so we could be forgotten.
What difference does it make?
Still I am sorry for the way
I made the weight change.
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Matthew Allred Twin Falls, Idaho
Matthew Allred is a Renaissance Artist interested primarily in novel-writing, but also visual arts, other creative writing, and of course--making music. As a musician, Allred is primarily interested in creating unique moments and emotions that mix the familiar with the unknown. ... more
Matthew Allred recommends:
Good stuff. NYP download. How could you go wrong?
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