LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR WISDOM “All against always Being at all Time always” Clear as mud so we close the book and look elsewhere for wisdom. We look in the attic amongst boxed-away treasures. We look in the basement where the black mold grows. We look in the tool shed where we keep our good measures. We look in the closet where the naked folks clothe. Did we find it? Do we have time? I have to exercise now. It keeps my blood sugar normal. I’m writing and writing and going insane. Time to put down the pen and look elsewhere for wisdom. I looked in the heavens, birthplace of all crime and I found Father Time singing soft songs sublime. He sang songs with allusion and songs of illusion. He sang in third-person sad songs of confusion. He sang in perfect meter and in simple rhyme. He sang, “Father Time couldn’t stop thinking about time.”
song
Country Lament #48303
Whyyyy couldn't it be you that left me? Whyyyy did I have to be the one to leave you? Hoped we grow apart without much trouble or maybe fall in love with someone new.
When we first met all time stretched out before us. When we first met we couldn’t wait to do the do. When we first met we couldn’t sleep without affections. When we first met we never thought that we’d be through.
Oh, whyyyy couldn't it be you that left me? Whyyyy did I have to be the one to leave you? Hoped we grow apart without much trouble or maybe fall in love with someone new.
The years went on and we lost what was behind us. The years went on and we dealt with the day by day. The years went on and we wondered what did done happened. The years went on and it was clear we had to go our ways.
But whyyyy couldn't it be you that left me? Whyyyy did I have to be the one to leave you? Hoped we grow apart without much trouble or maybe fall in love with someone new.
Did I never tell you you were everything I ever wanted? Did I never tell you how I loved the way you moved? Did I never tell you how it meant to have you near me? Did I never tell you all the little things I never told you?
My darling, whyyyy couldn't it be you that left me? Whyyyy did I have to be the one to leave you? Hoped we grow apart without much trouble or maybe fall in love with someone new.
Liquor Run
It’s time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
It’s time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
Well it’s Friday night and I just clocked out
Pay-check in my hand so you know what I’m about
Throw the truck in reverse then I throw it to first
Peelin’ out the parking lot ‘cause I gotta quench my thirst
It’s time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
Time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
Now I been out in the field all day
and you been cleaning your life away
What we both need is couple of drinks
To whet our whistles - tell me whaddayou think?
What’s that you’re saying?
The cabinet’s dry?
There ain’t no bourbon and there ain’t no rye?
There ain’t no vodka and there ain’t no beer?
Well what the hell are we doing just standing here?
It’s time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
Time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
Now the liquor store man he knows me well
Calls me Mister when he makes that sell
Got a big box ready to lock and load
With bottle after bottle of that liquid gold
It’s time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
Time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
Didja get that whiskey?
You bet!
Didja get that rum?
I didn’t forget!
Didja get tequila?
¡Sí, Sí, Sí!
A bottle of scotch?
Oh yes indeed!
Didja grab some beer?
A case or two!
What about the wine?
Some from me, some for you!
Didja get some gin?
Of course, I did!
Well then get on home and let’s pop them lids!
Let’s drink until we can’t drink no more!
Let’s dance on the couches and sleep on the floor!
Let’s stir up shit like pigs in pen!
Let’s get up tomorrow and do it all again!
When it’s time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
Time to go on a liquor run
Time to go on a liquor run, hun
Letterbox 10/2/88 (after They Might Be Giants)
She’ll never know what she’ll find
When she opens up her letter box tomorrow
‘Cause a big bunny tells me everything I want to know
Except about Grandma Death, Roberta Sparrow
And I’ll never never know
All the things I never never never want to know
Even though I’m Donnie Darko
Since I can see the effervescent chest tubes showing paths though time
I can know the future but still forgot I was gonna shoot my spirit guide
Smack dead in the middle of his eye
I should’ve have talked with you about The Philosophy of Time, shouldn’t I?
Would’ve that worked out fine?
Living Receiver is my new job it’s crazy so there’s no time for sorrow
In my hoodie find a vortex in the sky to die smiling yesterday’s tomorrow
She’ll never know what she’ll find
When she opens up her letter box tomorrow
‘Cause a big bunny tells me everything I want to know
Except about Grandma Death, Roberta Sparrow
And I’ll never never know
All the things I never never never want to know
Even though I’m Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko turns 20 this year…and They Might Be Giants is timeless.
Nothing says I love you
It was a moonless night
Not a star in the sky
No one around
But you...and I
On the back porch
Bathed in candlelight
Neighbors fast asleep
Dreams in their eyes
Our bellies full
From all that cabbage stew
Than a'rumblin' began
From that devil’s brew
Oh ...
I used to wonder what it'd take to prove this truth
I used to wonder how to make a mark
But now I know now how simple that it really is
Nothing says I love you
like farting
in the dark
Cold Tequila
We drank
cold tequila
on a simmering summer night
We went
skinny dipping in the river
under stars a-shining bright
We lost
innocence and inexperience
just trying to get it right
Desperate youth
and cold tequila
on an endless summer night
I saw you in the parking lot
of the Town & Country store
Riding shotgun with your girlfriends
in a dusty, rusty Ford
Your hair was blowing out the window
Your smile an acre wide
I chased you down to invite you all
to go swimming with us that night
We drank
cold tequila
on a simmering summer night
We went
skinny dipping in the river
under stars a-shining bright
We lost
innocence and inexperience
just trying to get it right
Desperate youth
and cold tequila
On an endless summer night
You showed up close to twilight
with cold tequila and warm beer
We listened to No Fences
And we hollered and we cheered
Billy built a bonfire
Right on the pebbly shore
The reflection in your eyes
Left me hoping for a kiss or more
When you handed me the bottle
and said that you was having fun
I knew you’d be my only girl
Until our days were done
We drank
cold tequila
on a simmering summer night
We went
skinny dipping in the river
under stars a-shining bright
We lost
innocence and inexperience
just trying to get it right
Desperate youth
and cold tequila
on an endless summer night
The night it ended far too soon
It was time to get on home
As you piled into your pickup
Said I’d call you on the phone
Watched your taillights as they disappeared
down the dark two-laned highway
I could taste your lip gloss just a bit
And my memories replayed us
drinking
cold tequila
on a simmering summer night
skinny dipping in the river
under stars a-shining bright
losing
innocence and inexperience
just trying to get it right
Desperate youth
Cold tequila
Long gone summer nights
The Only Secret That I Know
I never knew a sweeter melody
Than the one that called me home
I never knew the mind of god
Except when I was stoned
I never knew the rain would fall
Until the drops darkened my coat
Now I’m telling you a secret
The only secret that I know
I never felt the rocky path
Underneath me when I roamed
I never thought to hold your hand
While you were standing close
I can’t forget the way you looked
Traveling down that road
So now I’m telling you a secret
The only secret that I know
I never had a single care
I never stopped, I never slowed
I never wanted anything
Except to hear you say, “Don’t go”
I never shed a single tear
Least that’s how the story goes
And now I’m telling you a secret
The only secret that I know
And the Gang
Zack Sang, I wanna wear your skin
Zack Sang, oh won’t you let me in
Zack Sang, don’t ya tell me no
Zack Sang, you’re on my radio-o-o
Late night, I hear your grating voice
Damn right, what I listen to’s my choice
But Zack Sang, I wanna make a man-suit outta you-oo-oo
Hoo-hoo
So Zack Sang, let me wear your skin
Oh, Zack Sang, now the bleedin’ begins
Zack Sang, you’re my only one
Zack Sang, don’t it sound like fuh-uh-un
At night, driving around town
Ain’t right, the goofy way you sound
Oh, Zack Sang, I’m gonna wear the hell outta you-oo-oo
Hoo-hoo
Yeah Zack Sang, I’m gonna wear the hell outta you
Oo oo oo
Zack Sang
Gonna wear-air you
Zack Sang
Oo oo oo
Zack Sang
Oo oo oo
Yeah, Zack Sang
Zack Sang Zack Sang Zack Sang
Roman’s Song
I don’t have feelings
I just have legs*
That carry me away from
Carry me away from
Carry me away from you
Cause I’m cold
And I’m hard,
And I’m afraid
And I’m told
I tear apart
Those in my wake
I do have something
Deep down inside
That I can never share with
Still can never share with
Can never ever share with you
Yes, I’m told
I tear apart
Those in my wake
‘Cause I’m cold
And I’m hard
And I’m afraid
I don’t have feelings
I just have legs
That always bring me back to
Always bring me back to
Always bring me back to you.
—————————————————————
*Roman Awesome Preu, 22.5 months old
Jason Preu 