all lyrics typed by myself unless otherwise noted.
in front of the light mix
august 13, 2003
1 danielle smith . fiver . sweet in memory
2 danielle smith . choose your own title . conversation
3 danielle smith . fiver . helicopter
4 danielle smith . fiver . jeffsong
5 stephen kellogg . south of stephen . the way she is
6 stephen kellogg . south of stephen . another midas story
7 james mercer . cambridge, ma (3/2/03) . we built a raft and we floated
8 joe weiner . songs for the classifieds . drive [edit]
9 joe weiner . ledge 2000 . homeless
10 joe weiner . songs for the classifieds . since you left town
11 lauryn hill . mtv unplugged no. 2.0 . war in the mind
12 lauryn hill . mtv unplugged no. 2.0 . peace of mind [edit]
13 elliot pearson . cambridge, ma (2/03) . riff [edit]
14 dan katz . mit coffeehaus (10/18/01) . rose colored glasses
15 nick drake . pink moon . place to be
16 nick drake . pink moon . road
17 ani difranco . out of range . buildings and bridges
18 ani difranco . evolve . slide
19 ani difranco . so much shouting (live) . swan dive
20 ani difranco . living in clip (live) . overlap
1 danielle smith . fiver . sweet in memory
changes come at a growing rate
gather speed as they fall
connections you once had
will burn out or grow stronger
feel or fade as you choose
what it once was, what it could still be
you can't go back now
so keep it sweet in your memory
it will forever be
safe
minor fluctuations in the mood
introverted extroversion soothes
why waste time on a diverging line
maybe if the reason's hard to find
but it's not so hard to start all over again
there will be a place because good hearts never live alone
never live alone
never live alone
2 danielle smith . choose your own title . conversation
oh it's not so hard
to believe that everything is beautiful
when your thankfulness is in your heart
not your hand
learn what i can from the past
and i find i'm not so different from you
keep in mind that we are but another
place in time
and when i look upon my life in the end
and what are the things that i've done
i'll leave you my honesty and lessons i've learned
that is all i can defend
surely there's honor in simple remains
and life by a will that is strong
because most of my heroes are the ones
who never know of their fame
as it takes time for the sun to rise
so it takes time for a change
but the dawn of a new day means we're still alive
and it's time to shed light on our gains
and when i look upon my life in the end
and who are the ones that i've known
i hope they speak fondly of our memories
and realize how far we have come
3 danielle smith . fiver . helicopter
days in flight, no i won't be bound
i'll go on my way above the ground
as you see me pass, you stop and stare
'cause without wings i'll go anywhere
oh without wings ideas alive
oh without wings the visions of a child
without wings
can't drive no car, but i don't mind
i can drive my brain, (and) solutions find
when i think aloud, she holds me tight
close to my dreams, this wingless flight
chorus
let's take a ride just you and me
we'll see beautiful floating free
as if the world was mine and we were one
we ain't comin' down before sun
chorus
4 danielle smith . fiver . jeffsong
i'm a victim of your rhythm
the grace with which you move through your days
and i breathe the air of emotion
travel on, you'll take me all the way
circumstance has shown that love don't come for free
but with you i feel strange reality
and i can't wait for long, no i can't wait for long
to be back by your side
hey
strictly friends, entertainment only
but you took me there and back again you see
i don't mind if this is what i get instead
best of both, the worst of none and all i have to do is
smile
your happiness is the incentive that i need
to be for you what you have always been for me
and i kick back in the love i've found with you
so glad with your arms around me
never let go, i wont let you let go because
you and me are magic. yes indeed
5 stephen kellogg . south of stephen . the way she is
source of lyrics
she's almost an addiction,
like a traveler to the miles
it could be her conviction,
she's so eloquently styled
she keeps her thumbs in my pocket,
i keep my visions down her throat
we talk of flying in a rocket,
i think of sinking in a boat
i want to know mr. jesus, will you sell to me
a little of your angel dust?
give a little taste just to please us
you're the father of grace so don't act like that's unjust
i'm almost addicted, i never stay with what is real
could be my lack of restriction,
because i like the way this feels
my mind's on mars but sometimes i listen,
you know how much i hate to fly
i'm gonna shine, then i just might listen,
she says "why, why, why?"
"i know i make you angry,
i just feel misunderstood
i'm sure that's how he feels too
because if i was him i know would"
6 stephen kellogg . south of stephen . another midas story
source of lyrics
my days were empty and i'd folded
my words were void of any style
begged, broken, cheated, even stolen
thought i'd jump this train and ride a while
you took my mind and blew it open
i hadn't even planned to stay
i'm left here tired and outspoken
not knowing just what i should say
everything that i touch turns to gold
i'm preaching happiness
as my happiness gets old
this house of plenty is all i've known
it confines me though
the way i love this world
it's a shame to ever have to go
it's been too much to get my hands in
your red wing dreams have worn right through
for me there's no misunderstanding
and i always have believed in you
you took my mind and blew it open
i hadn't even planned to stay
i'm left here tired and outspoken
not knowing just what to say
7 james mercer . cambridge, ma (3/2/03) . we built a raft and we floated
one fat tumbling time we braced the cold shore
spent like dimes sink in the mag on an old man's head
trapped like a rat cornered by the flood
we built a raft and we floated
safe for the tricks and the endless lies
we could be liked for our motives
we could be liked for our motives but
i'd rather be crushed or crush the life out of someone
than be caught fitting in with the league of the collapsing grin
baby it's hard when you can't see they don't even know
what they don't know
8 joe weiner . songs for the classifieds . drive [edit]
source of lyrics
don’t go chasing after something when it’s already there
you’re in despair,
you think nobody cares,
i think it’s fucked up that
you’re so into this.
the path of those deceptions make up the storied look in your eyes
someone walks in,
so you put down the knife,
and try to convince her
that things are alright.
names of friends that drifted away
hearing a song from the times
when you had no reason to leave
their circle surrounds you
as you turn radio dial
static begins to prevail
they’re gone
but you’re still right here
the keys in the ignition will turn but you got no place to drive
you’ve beaten your mind,
you say you just can’t go on,
seeking adventure
walking alone
you call me in the middle of searching for a peaceful retreat
you say you’ve been driving
but there’s nowhere to be,
it’s a never-ending
cycle you see
names of friends that drifted away
hearing a song from the times
when you had no reason to leave
their circle surrounds you
as you turn radio dial
static begins to prevail
they’re gone
but you’re still right here.
9 joe weiner . ledge 2000 . homeless
source of lyrics
a passive inclination that your world is under arrest
you're standing at the station with your bags and your ciggerettes [sic]
well my heart has carried this song, for so many years
and people say it fades with age, well i know none of this.
the ceiling fan just makes you dream
those you've known are make believe
and all this talk, to stay on track
you say you're never coming back
would it be wrong to say, to stay,
your ideal
to hide your troubles away
it's crumbling down
drifting from your day jobs, you find yourself barely alive
the city turns anonymous leaving you so unsatisfied
well my heart has made this venture before, and i'm forever changed
and people say it's grace that saves, well i find there's no other way
the ceiling fan just makes you dream,
the you you've known is make believe
and all this talk to stay on track
you say you're never coming back
would it be wrong to say, to stay,
your ideal
to hide your troubles away
it's crumbling down
10 joe weiner . songs for the classifieds . since you left town
so say you're feeling down
well nothing's been easy
since you left town
then oh you won't let down your guard
or make a decision
you don't know what you got, yeah
and i know when you get there
well i'm gonna leave you from the inside out
it's never and i'm certain this time
and you'll have your freedom
when i'm not your man, yeah
11 lauryn hill . mtv unplugged no. 2.0 . war in the mind
source of lyrics
everybody knows that they're guilty
everybody knows that they've lied
everybody knows that they're guilty
resting on their conscience eating their inside
it's freedom, i said it's freedom time now
it's freedom, said it's freedom time now
time to get free, or give your selves up now
it's freedom, said it's free time yo
there's a war in the mind over territory, for the dominium
who will dominate the opinions?
schisms and isms, keeping us in forms of religion
conforming our vision to the world church of decision
trapped in a section, submitted to committing election
moral affection, epidemic lies and deception
insurrection, of the highest possible order
distorting our tape recorders from hearin' it like underwater
beyond the borders, find the sin in disorder
bound by the strategy of a systemic depravity
heavy as gravity, head first in the cavity without a bottom
a fate, worst then sodom,
what's gotæem drunk of the spirit?
truth comes we can't hear it when you've been programmed to fear it
i had a vision i was falling in indecision
appalling, calling religious a program on television
how can.. dominate wisdom
be recognized in the system
of antichrists'? the majority rules
intelligent fools
p.h.d.'s in illusion, masters of mass confusion
bachelors of past illusion
now who u choosing?
the head or the tail?
the bloodshed of the male or confidence in the veil?
conferences at yale discussing doctrines of bail
causing peoples to fail keeping a third in jail
his words nailed everything to the tree
severing all of me from all that i use to be
formless and void, totally paranoid
enjoyed darkness's, lord keeping me from the sword
blocked from mercy, bitterness serves thee
hungry and thirsty for good meat we would eat
and still dine at the table of deceit
how incomplete, from confrontation to retreat
we belong in true enemies defeat
destitute a necessity
causing desperation to get the best of me
punishment till there was nothing left of me
realizing the inescapable death of me
no option to the valley of decision
the only doctrine is supernatural circumcision
inwardly, only water can purge the heart from words to fiery darts
thrown by the workers of thee arts
inequity, shaping in
there's no escaping when
your whole philosophy is paper thin
in vanity, the wide road is insanity
could it be all of humanity?
picture that, scripture that
the origin of a mans heart is black
how can we show up, for an invisible war?
preoccupied with a shadow, making love with a whore?
aching in sores
babylon the great mystery
mother of human history system of social sorcery
our present condition needs serious recognition
where there is no repentance can be no admission
and that sentence more serious then vietnam
the atom bomb and sadam administer farrakhan
what's going on?
what's a priority to you?
by what authority do we do the majority hasn't a clue
we majored in curses searched the chapters check the verses
recapture the land and remove the mark from off our hand
so we can stand in agreement with his command
everything else is damned let them with ears understand!
{heh} everything else is damned let them with ears understand
it's freedom, said its freedom time now
it's freedom, said its freedom time now
it's freedom, i'ma be who i'm am
it's freedom time, said its freedom time
everybody knows that they've lied
everybody knows they've perpetrated inside
everybody knows that their guilty as
resting on their conscious eating their insides
get free, be who your suppose to be
freedom, said its freedom time now
freedom, said it's freedom time
freedom, freedom time
12 lauryn hill . mtv unplugged no. 2.0 . peace of mind [edit]
source of lyrics
i gotta find peace of mind... i gotta find peace of mind
he says it's impossible...but i know it's possible
he says it's impossible... but i know it's possible
he says there's no me without him... please help me forget about him
he takes all my energy... trapped in my memory
constantly holding me... constantly holding me
i need to tell you all... all the pain he's caused mmmmm
i need to tell you i'm... i'm undone because mmmmmm
he says it's impossible... but i know it's possible
he says it's impossible without him... but i know it's possible
to finally be in love... and know the real meaning of
a lasting relationship... not based on ownership
i trust every part of u.... cause all that you say you do
you love me despite myself
sometimes i... i fight myself
i just can't believe that you.... would have anything to do
with someone so insecure... someone so immature
ohh you inspire me, to be the higher me
you make my desire pure... you make my desire pure
just tell me what to say... i can't find the words to say
please don't be mad with me... i have no identity
all that i've known is gone... all i was building on
i wanna walk wit you, how do i talk to you?
touch my mouth with your hands... touch my mouth with your hands
oh i wanna understand the meaning of your embrace
i know now i have to face... the temptations of my past
please don't let me disgrace... will my devotion last
now that i know the truth... now that it's no excuse
keeping me from your love... what was i thinking of
holding me from your love... what was i thinking of
you are my peace of mind... that old me is left behind
you are my peace of mind... that old me is left behind
he says it's impossible... but i know it's possible
he says it's improbable... but i know it's tangible
he says it's not grabbable... but i know it's haveable
cause anything's possible... cause anything is possible
please come free my mind... please come feed my mind
can you see my mind ohh... won't you come free my mind
oh i know it's possible
anything, anything, anything, anything, anything.... yeah
anything, anything, anything, anything, .... yeah
anything, anything, anything, anything, anything.... yeah
oh, free... free, free, free your mind
free... free your mind
free.. free your mind
free free free free your mind
oh, it's so possible... oh, it's so possible
i'm telling you it's possible... i'm telling you it's possible
free, free, free....... free, get free now (repeat)
you are my peace of mind... that old me is left behind
you are my peace of mind... your my peace of mind
he's my peace of mind... he's my peace of mind
he's my peace of mind... what a joy it is to be alive
to get another chance, yeah... every day's another chance
to get it right this time... everday's another chance
oh what a merciful... merciful, merciful god
oh what a wonderful... wonderful wonderful god (continue to end)
what a merciful... merciful, merciful, merciful god
what a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, merciful
merciful, merciful, wonderful
merciful, wonderful...........
13 elliot pearson . cambridge, ma (2/03) . riff [edit]
14 dan katz . mit coffeehaus (10/18/01) . rose colored glasses
i got the data in this morning
it seems this whole time i've been rash
the numbers told me that i should leave you
so i promptly threw them in the trash
the problem with you is that you're addictive
and thus i just can't turn away
i said in a moment i'll be done with this
i believe that was some time yesterday
the problem with you is that you lead me around
the problem with me is i follow
the problem with you is that you tear at my insides
the problem with me is i'm hollow
the problem with you is everything that you say and everything that you do
and the problem with me is i can't see through these
rose colored glasses
hide where the truth is
i can't remove this
cursed and obstructing pair of
rose colored glasses,
there the disguise is
please realize this warped misunderstanding's not your fault
i just walked in to find you naked
funny how your clothes stay on for me
it's not a simple case of lust, no
your bare heart is all i really want to see
the problem with you is your perfectionist ways
the problem with me is my mistakes
the problem with you is your stability kick
the problem with me is my earthquakes
the problem with you is everything that you say and everything that you do
and the problem with me is i can't see through these rose colored glasses
the problem with you is that you lead me around
the problem with me is i follow
the problem with you is that you eat at my insides
the problem with me is i'm hollow
the problem with you is everything that you say and everything that you do
and everything that you know and everything that you feel
and every feeling that's fake and every feeling that's real
every move that you make and every step that you take
and every soul that you crush and every heart that you break
and the problem with me is that i can't be
the one to admit that i can't see through these rose colored glasses
15 nick drake . pink moon . place to be
source of lyrics
when i was younger, younger than before
i never saw the truth hanging from the door
and now i'm older see it face to face
and now i'm older gotta get up clean the place.
and i was green, greener than the hill
where the flowers grew and the sun shone still
now i'm darker than the deepest sea
just hand me down, give me a place to be.
and i was strong, strong in the sun
i thought i'd see when day is done
now i'm weaker than the palest blue
oh, so weak in this need for you.
16 nick drake . pink moon . road
source of lyrics
you can say the sun is shining if you really want to
i can see the moon and it seems so clear
you can take the road that takes you to the stars now
i can take a road that'll see me through
i can take a road that'll see me through.
you can take a road that takes you to the stars now
i can take a road that'll see me through
i can take a road that'll see me through
i can take a road that'll see me through.
17 ani difranco . out of range . buildings and bridges
source of lyrics
buildings and bridges
are made to bend in the wind
to withstand the world,
that's what it takes
all that steel and stone
is no match for the air, my friend
what doesn't bend breaks
what doesn't bend breaks
we are made to bleed
and scab and heal and bleed again
and turn every scar into a joke
we are made to fight
and fuck and talk and fight again
and sit around and laugh until we choke
sit around and laugh until we choke
i don't know who you were expecting
probably some bitch who does not budge
with eyes the size of snow
i may get pissed off sometimes
but you seem like the type to hold a grudge
and in the end, i just let go...
buildings and bridges
are made to bend in the wind
to withstand the world,
that's what it takes
all that steel and stone
is no match for the air, my friend
what doesn't bend breaks
what doesn't bend breaks
18 ani difranco . evolve . slide
source of lyrics
she was hungry so hungry
and she was trying to think clear
but she kept opening the fridge door
and looking at the mustard and the beer
and then finally she went out into the rain
carrying her bicycle chain
and her feet worked the pedals
while her appetite steered
and after that she just followed her nose
cuz fate is not just whose cooking smells good
but which way the wind blows
she laid down in her party dress and never got up
needless to say she missed the party
she just got sad
then she got stuck
she was wincing like something brittle
trying hard to bend
she was numb with the terror
of losing her best friend
but she never sees things changing
she only sees them ending
and some vicious whispering voice
keeps saying you have no choice
cuz when i look at you i squint
you are that beautiful
and my pussy is a tractor
and this is a tractor pull
i'm haunted by my illicit, explicit dreams
and i can't really wake up
so i just drift in between
thinking the glass is half empty
and thinking it's not quite full
the pouring rain is no place for a bicycle ride
try to hit the breaks
and you slide
and you slide
and you slide
19 ani difranco . so much shouting (live) . swan dive
source of lyrics
cradling the softest, warmest part of you in my hand
feels like a little baby bird fallen from the nest
i think that your body is something i understand
i think that i'm happy, i think that i'm blessed
i've got a lack of inhibition
i've got a loss of perspective
i've had a little bit to drink
and it's making me think
that i can jump ship and swim
that the ocean will hold me
that there's got to be more
than this boat i'm in
'cuz they can call me crazy if i fail
all the chance that i need
is one-in-a-million
and they can call me brilliant
if i succeed
gravity is nothing to me, moving at the speed of sound
i'm just going to get my feet wet
until i drown
and i teeter between tired
and really, really tired
im wiped and im wired but i guess its just as well
because i built my own empire
out of car tires and chicken wire
and i'm queen of my own compost heap
and i'm getting used to the smell
and i've got a lack of information
but i got a little revelation
and i'm climbing up on the railing
trying not to look down
i'm going to do my best swan dive
into shark-infested waters
i'm gonna pull out my tampon
and start splashing around
'cuz i don't care if they eat me alive
i've got better thing to do than survive
i've got a memory of your warm skin in my hand
and i've got a vision of blue sky and dry land
i'm cradling the hardest, heaviest part of me in my hand
the ship is pitching and heaving, my limbs are bobbing and weaving
and i think this is something i understand
i just need a couple vaccinations for my far-away vacation
i'm going to go ahead and go boldly because a little bird told me
that jumping is easy, that falling is fun
up until you hit the sidewalk, shivering and stunned
and they can call me crazy if i fail
all the chance that i need
is one-in-a-million
and they can call me brilliant
if i succeed
gravity is nothing to me
moving at the speed of sound
i'm just gonna get my feet wet
until i drown...
20 ani difranco . living in clip (live) . overlap
source of lyrics
i search your profile
for a translation
i study the conversation
like a map
'cause i know there is strength
in the differences between us
and i know there is comfort
where we overlap
come here
stand in front of the light
stand still
so i can see your silhouette
i hope
you have got all night
'cause i'm not done looking,
no, i'm not done looking yet
each one of us
wants a piece of the action
you can hear it in what we say
you can see it in what we do
we negotiate with chaos
for some sense of satisfaction
if you won't give it to me
at least give me a better view
come here
stand in front of the light
stand still
so i can see your silhouette
i hope
you have got all night
'cause i'm not done looking
no,
i'm not done looking yet
i build each one of my songs
out of glass
so you can see me inside of them
i suppose
or you could just leave the image of me
in the background, i guess
and watch your own reflection superimposed
i build each one of my days out of hope
and i give that hope your name
and i don't know you that well
but it don't take much to tell
either you don't have the balls
or you don't feel the same
come here
stand in front of the light
stand still
so i can see your silhouette
i hope
you have got all night
'cause i'm not done looking
no, i'm not done looking yet
i search your profile for a translation
i study the conversation like a map
'cause i know there is strength
in the differences between us
and i know there is comfort
where we overlap