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1. |
Learning How to Swim
03:40
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I’m learning how to swim
I hold my breath beneath the surface
Ration my oxygen
My parents watching makes me nervous
I’m terrified
Does it really make a difference if I
Come back up for air?
I’m at the bottom of the pool wondering
What the hell is even up there?
I don’t know
My crown of paper straws
I watch it dissipate in seconds (Oh, God)
Feel my heart pull me down
It’s either cement or solid gold (La la la la la)
Does it really make a difference if I
Shoot you up a flare?
It’ll probably fizzle out in seconds
Will it even make it up there?
I don’t know, I don’t know
Well, I’m drownin’
I’m circlin’ the drain
How the hell did I get down here?
A thousand oceans on my chest
Might as well just disappear
And I hope I do
‘Cause it feels so permanent
Someone tell me I’m just passin’ through
I’m learning how to swim
I forget (and then I remember)
I take all deep breaths ‘cause God
(Knows when I’ll get another)
//
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2. |
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They took a picture
Of a black hole, baby
A billion times bigger than the sun
Now it fits in my pocket
I put a picture of you
Under my bed
In case I never see you again
Oh, I wish we were talkin’
There will be no comfort in this
I’m afraid you want more love than I can give
Caught in the strangest abyss
And I miss you
(Ooh)
In the summer,
We were tadpoles, darlin’
Paintin’ portraits on the floor
I would sit in your pocket
And now the lakes
Are all frozen over
Countertops & rotten honeydew
And now that we’re honest,
It took so long to get honest
There will be no comfort in this
I’m afraid you want more love than I can give
Caught in the strangest abyss
And I miss you
(Ooh)
I wanna feel close(r) to you
You should just come over
Do you want to?
I think I want you to
Sooner or later,
All stars cave in
Even ones like me and you
Get pulled to the middle
Yeah, beyond time and gravity
You will be one with me
One day
//
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3. |
Anxious in the Alley
04:30
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I’m at the bottom of a barrel behind a motel with no
vacancy makin’ plans to make plans for the future. I was
supposed to be someone by now; I’m still fumbling in the dark -
tryna make a downward spiral look like the latest dance move.
I’m feeling anxious in the alley sittin’ on some throwout
furniture, tracin’ all my scars with magic marker, chewin’ all
my fingernails right down to the bone, yeah I’m talkin’ to
myself out loud just to drown out my thoughts (they’re coming
back). But you don’t have to feel this way. It’ll all make sense
in due time. You don’t have to feel this way. But you already
knew that, didn’t you? I used to be such a romantic - I’d watch
the sunrise from the rooftops, stay up all night long grasping
at The Cosmic Nothing now I close Pheonecian blinds ‘cause I’m
an apple in reverse: sugar in my stomach/poison on my skin...come
take a bite. You don’t have to feel this way. It’ll all make
sense in due time. You don’t have to feel this way. At least not
forever, now. And you know you can fall in love again. You did
it once before now. And you know you can fuck up now and then
‘cause who do ya know that doesn’t? You’re so easily upset it
wasn’t always this and the older that you get, your anger feels
more out of place by now you should be more graceful in your
agony well don’t you know it’s all the rage to feel so empty and
alone despite your punk rock tendencies you are no different but
you can find your way back home if you make maps out of the
stars they’re probably dead by now but they’re still up there,
trying, to say something say something just say something. You
don’t have to feel this way. It’ll all make sense in due time.
You don’t have to feel this way (at least not forever). You
don’t have to feel this way. No, no, not forever. You don’t have
to feel this way.
But you already knew that, didn’t ya?
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4. |
Frozen Strawberries
02:58
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I'M A LITTLE DESPERATE
I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE
RED-EYED AND RECKLESS
A KISS IS TOO MUCH
BUT IT'S NEVER ENOUGH
NO, NO
OH, I'LL BUILD YOU A HOUSE, BABE
RIGHT IN MY RIBCAGE
PLENTY OF SUNLIGHT
WILL SHINE THROUGH
THE HOLE IN MY HEART
SO, LOVE ME
I SWEAR I'LL LOVE YOU BACK
IF YOU LOVE ME
I'M SERIOUS LIKE A HEART ATTACK
YEAH, I'M SERIOUS
OH, I'M SERIOUS
I THOUGHT OF YOU AT BREAKFAST
I WAS EATIN' FROZEN STRAWBERRIES
THEY WERE SO COLD
BUT INSIDE I KNOW THEY'RE SWEET
AND I CAN'T TELL IF THERE'S BLOOD IN MY TEETH
OR NOT
OH, I'LL BUILD YOU AN AIRPLANE
WITH MY LUNGS AS ENGINES, BABE
AND WE'LL NEVER CRASH
'CAUSE I'LL NEVER STOP HOLDING MY BREATH
YEAH, JUST LOVE ME
I SWEAR I'LL LOVE YOU BACK
WON'T YOU LOVE ME?
I'M SERIOUS LIKE A HEART ATTACK
YEAH, I'M SERIOUS
YEAH, I'M SERIOUS
AAH!!
(OOH)
OH, I'LL BUILD YOU A FIRE ESCAPE
I'LL MAKE THE LADDER OUT OF MY VEINS
YOU CAN LEAVE ANYTIME YOU LIKE
(BUT PLEASE DON'T)
PLEASE LOVE ME
I SWEAR I'LL LOVE YOU BACK
WON'T YOU LOVE ME?
I'M SERIOUS LIKE A HEART ATTACK
LOVE ME
I SWEAR I'LL LOVE YOU BACK
WON'T YOU LOVE ME?
I'M SERIOUS LIKE A HEART ATTACK
OH, I'M SERIOUS
YEAH, I'M SERIOUS
OH, I'M SERIOUS
I AM SERIOUS
//
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5. |
Creature of Habit
03:59
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Well, if wine just makes you sad
Why do you drink?
And if folksongs feel so good
How come you don’t sing?
And if voicemails make you angry
Then why do you call back?
If colors make you happy
Why do you wear black?
If parties make you nervous
Why do you go?
If you only read the headlines
How do you know?
And if you feel so defensive
Then why do you attack?
If colors make you happy
Why do you wear black?
Creature of habit
I know ya too well
And you think it’s easier
With all that comfort
But I know ya too well
And you still got the itch
Even when you scratch
You slam the door
But you don’t close the latch
And the light is overwhelming
Even just through the cracks
If colors make you happy
Why do you wear black?
Creature of habit
I know ya too well
And you think it’s easier
With all that comfort
But I know ya too well
And I know
That you’re serious about this
And I know
If you were here with us
You’d wanna talk things out
So c’mon, c’mon
Creature of habit
I know ya too well
And you think it’s easier
With all that comfort
But I know ya too well
I know ya too well
Well, if God just makes you mad
Why do you pray?
And if you hate California
Then why do you stay?
And if love can only break ya
How is anyone still intact?
If colors make you happy
Why do you wear black?
//
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6. |
Intermission
03:49
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Waitin’ for a call
I think you got my number
Tally the love in retrospect
Askin’ for a friend
Are you doin’ okay?
I’m throwin’ my keys across the fence
So call me when you get this
I just wanna talk
I’m feelin’ like a kid
I don’t know how to reach ya
I hope I see ya at the show
And I’ll dig through the trash
Lookin’ for confirmation
I’ll bring it in case that you still go
So call me when you get this
I just wanna talk
I can’t help if I’m helpless
Oh, I just wanna talk
AND THE HEART GOES BACKWARDS
NO ONE EVER TELLS YOU THAT
LOVE CAN BE FORGOT
AND YOU KNOW THE STILL HURTS
SO DOES MOVING FORWARD
TELL ME WHICH IS WHICH
'CAUSE I THINK I FORGOT
I only ever stay
Until the intermission
It’s too hard to watch a good thing end
We collide and we part
Like nuclear fission
And the broken glass just cuts my hands
Again and again
So call me when you get this
I just wanna talk
Am I selfish or selfless?
Yeah, I just wanna talk
AND THE HEART GOES BACKWARDS
NO ONE EVER TELLS YOU THAT
LOVE CAN BE FORGOT
AND YOU KNOW THE STILL HURTS
SO DOES MOVING FORWARD
TELL ME WHICH IS WHICH
'CAUSE I THINK I FORGOT
If only I could talk (to you)
(Yeah)
//
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7. |
Not Even Hungry
03:55
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Well, I’m not even hungry - I’m just bored
I’m just spinning out for the two of us
Yeah, I’m exactly like you - I’m just lonely
I’m just freakin’ out for the fuck of it
Killing time
Swallowing oxygen
Turn the lights down
Back up again
Are you still here?
I wish you just say anything
I’m a nightmare
You’re wide awake
Well, God can’t even touch me - I’m too fast
Time is fake, but I’ve got plans tonight
Just give me some attention - I’m all sparks
Nothing good will come of this (unless we let it)
Killing time
Swallowing oxygen
Turn the lights down
Back up again
Are you still here?
I wish you just say anything
I’m a nightmare
You’re wide awake
Well, what if I was easy?
And what if I was good?
Don’t think about it too much
All love is incomplete
I think about you so much
You don’t have to love me
//
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8. |
Vampires
03:19
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I am living with vampires in my room
They are startin' to freak me out
I should be gettin’ my angel wings here soon
I am dyin’ to finally be alone
Bought a bucket of flowers I could burn
Kept a couple to give to you
Still deciding which language I should learn
I am dyin’ to finally be alone
And you know that it’s exactly what it seems
I’m just paranoid and waiting
I am melting my rings and chandeliers
I am running for president
I am saving my true self for the day
When I can vanish and finally be alone
And I am trying to Frenchkiss my concepts
Show the mirror my photograph
Someone’s pulling my ribs out from my side
I am dyin’ to know if it’s me?
And you know that I’m too terrified to think
That I’m just angry and projecting
It’s far too convenient that they’d be
Locked in every room just waiting
Yeah, I highly doubt that (but I highly doubt most anything)
I am living with vampires in my room
In the shower and in my car
I am starting to think that it’s a joke
“The Idea of Trying to Be Alone”
I am living with vampires in my room
I am trying to catch my breath
I am starting to get sick of the sun
And I am dying to stop dying
//
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9. |
I Wish I Could Cry
05:01
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It’s the mornin’
It’s already been a long day
Thinkin’ of you
And how come you went away
Forever tracin’ shadows in the dark
And my bedroom
Is heavy and empty
And the basement’s flooded
With water you sent me
It’s only ever slippin’ through my palms
I wish I could cry
Well, you talked about love
So unembarrassed
Maybe it’s supposed to be like this
Whatever
I’d be happy for ya if I wasn’t sad
I wish I could cry
(Yeah, yeah)
And I love you
I know that now
And it’s over
I know that now
But you’re out there
Floatin’ ‘cross the floorboards
Of somebody else
I think I need some time (alone)
See ya again someday (I hope)
It’s just different now
(And I wish it wasn’t)
(Ooh, ooh)
//
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10. |
No Tiger
03:06
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There’s no tiger on my tail
There’s no boogeyman under the bed where I sleep
There’s no demon in the dark
I’m still shakin’
Got a monkey on my back
Got a skeleton at home that I keep in a drawer
Got a scar across my chest
I’m still achin’
Yeah I’m freakin’ out
But, don’t you wanna dance with me baby?
Don’t you wanna walk slow?
Don’t you wanna sleep with both eyes closed?
And breathe real easy, now
Swallow spiders in my sleep
There’s no wonder why inside I’m always spinning out
Swimmin’ scared like a shark
Like stillness would kill me
And I swear to God that I can change the past
And the future, babe (I’ll do one with each hand)
I’ll shoot the albatross and wear it’s wings
I’m gonna fly me home
But, don’t you wanna dance with me baby?
Don’t you wanna walk slow?
Don’t you wanna sleep with both eyes closed?
And breathe real easy, now
I hear echoes all the time
Of the sirens that sheltered my mother from harm
They will bellow and decay
I know I will
Don’t you wanna dance with me baby?
Don’t you wanna walk slow?
Don’t you wanna sleep with both eyes closed?
And breathe real easy, now
//
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11. |
Hangin' Out
03:23
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You’re at the bar
I think I’m seein’ stars
I like the way that you put your hair up
Fresh-ironed shirt
My eyes are in the dirt
I got a lot that I wanna tell you
It’s okay
I got nowhere else to be anyway
I’m just killin’ time ’til you come around
I’ll be hangin’ out
Spacklin’ walls
Screenin’ phone calls
Hope I get what I put in here
Wanna feel at home
I wanna feel less alone
I guess I’m hopin’ that’s what you feel
It’s okay
I’ve got nowhere else to be anyway
I’m just killin’ time ’til you come around
I’ll be hangin’ out
(mm)
It’s 3 A.M.
I lost my voice again
Pushin’ trees down, hopin’ you hear ‘em
But nothin’ moves
If nothin’ moves it
Sittin’ here hopin’ I could move you
It’s okay
I’ve got nowhere else to be anyway
I’m just killin’ time ’til you come around
I’ll be hangin’ out
//
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Mackin The Destroyer Los Angeles, California
One time I snuck out of summer camp to see The Postal Service 10th Anniversary show at The Greek. I bought a grilled cheese and a beer with a fake ID. I ate, drank, and cried alone. It fucking rocked.
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