MY ABSENT WILL
Be wary where we rest our heads
We never know just where they've been
And as we lay there warm in bed
The vipers strike us sleeping there

What's in your heart
That in the dark you can't repel
Caught in the nightlight

TWIN ARROWS
Breathe deep
Let the red rust fill your lungs
Seity
There is history in this dust
It's been a long way down
A long way down for me

Believe
Millions once sang my name
Underneath
I am gilded, proud and praised
It's been a long way down
A long way down for me

Debris
These two lanes will crumble soon
Guarantee
These twin arrows fall to ruin
It's been a long way down
A long way down for me

TURNS OUT YOU WON
Help me understand
What are we doing here
When we both had plans
To move on

The weight of your kiss
Is faint against my lips
At times like this
I hold on

Hold on

We drive through the night
Past dirty city lights
We almost find
Someway way out

Hold on

And you put on your Sunday best
A matching dress and shoes
And I will find my only suit
I swear I'll make this up to you

But the battle is done
Turns out you won
And I just keep
Holding on

Hold on

PLINIAN
When the stones rained down
And smoke rose above the clouds
Dodging debris
My uncle put his fleet to sea
And as he waived and turned away
Set his sails across the bay
Who could ever guess
My dear Tacitus
The gods were so enraged

And the lightning arced
And dust turned the daylight dark
And the helmsmen cried
Wondered if they'd survive
But through the thickening smoke
They found the harbor choked
Still he urged them on
While he stayed calm
And the ash fell like snow

And the mountain growled
Tearing the buildings down
And for two dark days
Fires lit the Naples Bay
And when it came for them to leave
There was no escape by sea
And his body fell as the vapor swelled
They say he died as if asleep

A lonely ridge
A couple focus in
Their lenses train
On smoke, and fire, and flame
And in unison they rise
As the plume reached greater heights
While around the bend a grey cloud descends
That will be their demise

And with blindingly speed
They are both killed instantly
And the island roars
Boiling the ocean floor
Though their bodies disappear
Mingle with the earth and air
They will echo on through the work they've done
Projected through the years

BALLAD OF AN OPPORTUNIST
Somewhere there is something breaking
Be it bone, code, vow or routine
We can treat it as an ending
Or an opportunity

Things are breaking all the time
Promises and party lines
Lord knows that you've tried
It'll be alright

'Cause what's the point
Of putting up with all his shit if
He can't find a quiet life you both can live with
Well I know it's hard
So let's call it a start

Somewhere there is someone breaking
Breaking up, breaking down, breaking clean
And I can just go on pretending
Just as long as you come home with me, eventually

'Cause what the point
Of crying over all of this when
I can give simple answers you've been missing
Now don't fall apart
Just turn your heart to me

MARCH
Set your clocks to a Catholic hour
Eleven days that never were
And my position falls too soon
Don't think I don't know
This is over
Don't think I don't know
What this is over
And like the coming of Spring
Julian was good to me
But now with Gregory
My role is shaken

REJOICE
Help me down, down to the edge
Let me stand with the crowds once again
Drive me out, out of this Earth
Where the smoke and the fires emerge
Rejoice, rejoice
Behold what I have made
Rejoice, rejoice
Behold what the father has said

And we'll sing
Halleluiah, Halleluiah
And the final bow will be well rehearsed
And the greatest gifts will be yours to earn
And the final push will be understood
And the greatest gifts will be

Take me down, down to the end
Let me taste the salt air again
Blow me out, out of my skin
Let the man, let the martyr begin
Rejoice, rejoice
Behold what I have made
Rejoice, rejoice
Behold what the father has said

And they'll scream
Halleluiah, Halleluiah
And the final bow will be well rehearsed
And the white sheets down will cover the worst
And the final point will be understood
And the greatest gifts will be

Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah

And the final bows will be well rehearsed
And the greatest gifts will be mine to earn
And the greatest gifts will be understood
And the greatest gifts will be mine to earn

LIMBLESS SCULPTURE
Oh my arm
You've spent another year away from me
On my heart
Without you I won't ever feel complete

Pain carved on my face
Open eyes ablaze
They burn within
From the absence of my limb

Oh my arm
Never even stopped to say goodbye
On my heart
I always thought you'd be there by my side

At night I dream you're here
Morning light makes clear
I'm still alone
Just a broken piece of stone
That once called you my own

Tell me, tell me
I need to understand
Tell me, tell me
You've been at my right hand
Since our life began
And I need you back again

For 500 years
You fail to re-appear
Now it starts to seem
You chose a life from me
You left deliberately
Now I'm left incomplete

AT LEAST WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER
We can't keep this up for long
They have our backs against the wall
Our enemies knives are drawn
And I expect we'll be overrun

History is made by average men
Who walk around like it's all for them
But when the gunfire is overhead
They return to dust again

Oh you can walk on water or drag your feet
Raise your fist or fall to your knees
It won't matter once you're buried beneath
We're all lambs to the slaughter

There are books filled with ancient songs
That tell the story of ancient sons
Though these men lived but once
They remain with each of us

I've traveled well, I've traveled far
I've spent the night under foreign stars
So promise me that you won't grieve
When the trumpets call for me

It Won't matter if you're awake or asleep
Lock your doors or march through the streets
Just like leaves loose the tree
Just like lambs to the slaughter
Some of us just get there faster

Now my dear if you received these lines
Then I should say my last goodbye
And when it's your appointed time
I'll be waiting on the other side.

NEW YORK
New York City gleams
For everyone it seems
To those left behind
While others say goodbye
And I would be lying if I said I'm fine
That city's trying to take friends of mine

Well I just can't compete
With the glow from neon streets
So when their cars are packed
I'll smile and wave right back

But I would be lying if I said I'm okay
New York is trying to take more friends away

ALHACEN
If Euclid is right we'd be shining
From deep within our eyes
For centuries to justify morning light
We were filled with fire

From the tiniest dot
Watching the lanterns fall across
The far wall

Don't embrace what you hold
Don't accept every well-worn testament
It's not what we know
It's what it is
And in this life
Find it
In this life
Find it

As the sun strikes the lens
Watching the glow scatter and bend
It's not what we know
It's what it is
Take it in