1. STAY FOR THE ENDING

Ooooh, I see you
Shy of a million miles away, here any day
Another extinction
Dodging a bullet that can mutate

You’re cutting yourself to size
Preparing to weaponize
But what good is your disguise
If seen with my naked eyes

Another explosion
Add another and walk away

Way from the flame that came before you
Safe from the one still burning for you
Lay down and take a load off, won’t you
Stay for the ending

Ooooh, I told you
Shy of a million bright red flags

It’s taken you down a size
Before you can demonize
But what good are all the lies
If seen with my naked eyes

Another possession
Add another and walk away…

Way from the ghosts that came before you
Safe from the end of me that haunts you
Lay down and take a load off, won’t you
Stay for the ending

Away from the ghosts that came before you
Safe from the end of me that haunts you
Lay down and take a load off, won’t you
Stay ‘cause the end is all I owe you.
Stay ‘cause I’ve got a spoiler for you
Stay for the ending


2. MIRROR

Turn to me, open to see
What once was will always be
Visions changing your insight
Refracted back in the light

The mirror’s in control
Streaming you your picture show
Reflecting truth you see
The inner workings laid to be

Blinded by this familiar light
You take up arms and fight the sight
Of your exposure vanity
The mirror will have its way, you’ll see

Turn to see, open to me
What is now can always be
Bathing your visions in light
Retracting your last insight

The mirror’s in control
Streaming you your picture show
Reflecting truth you see
The inner workings laid to be

Blinded by this familiar light
You take up arms and fight the sight
Of your exposure vanity
The mirror will have its way, you’ll see

Gaze in me, unlock your mind
When we’re intertwined
It’s hard to separate us from
What the mirror made us

Blur your eyes, remove the lines
Those are yours and these are mine
For just a minute ‘cause
None of this is infinite

The mirror always shows
The one who’s really in control


3. MANY NEW THINGS

I have changes to enact when I come back
With flames and everything packed, fully detached, sorrys in sacks.
I’ll take offers for a pound… the best that I’ve found… and I’ve looked around.
Life changes in a snap. problems unpack, worries intact

I’m learning many new things
That I’m really dying to show you

Everything we tell ourselves
Of the world around us
Too similar to ignore
Simple kind so you won’t put up a fuss

With so much to tell
I’ll never have enough courage to tell you

Everything you ever loved...
Has it really loved you?
Everywhere you put your trust...
Have you made it safer or more valued?

It’s too much to ask
I could never ask you
Such a tale to tell
No courage to turn to

With so much to ask
I could never ask you
With a tale to tell
I’ll never have enough courage to turn to

I’ve learned so many new things
That I’m really dying to show you


4. CROSSOVER

One step at a time
’til it’s a new design
…in the sand, a line
Don’t crossover to my side

One line at a time
If you deserve it, fine
I’ll make your reasons rhyme
But that don’t mean they’re mine

One step over the line
It happens all the time
…with a changing mind
You’ll crossover to my side

Once you realize
That all the water’s fine
I’ll wash away that line
And take your hand in mine

I’m not the first and
I won’t be the last to
Fall prey to you
Can’t deny and
Can’t refuse you, though I
Keep trying to

Legs buckle under me
Eyes roll up in my head
You hold my insides
So safely in your hands

Walk wherever you like
This is a new design
…‘cause I saw your side
It’s not so different than mine
I have seen the light
Without a line, there is no fight
All we want is a good life
Not, just for me and mine


5. DIVIDED WE FALL

Caught in the wake of the claim you stake
Cannot break out till it’s broken
Terms and conditions apply
But it’s been awhile since anyone has spoken
And all your takeaways perpetuate the same truth
‘Cause you only hear what’s best for you

But it grows in corners
And creeps up the walls
It’s closing in until
No light can get in at all
And the only way out
Is to look within
Or grab another lens
And look for a while through it
More than what’s best for you
Now you poked a hole or two
Now you see the whole view
Not just what is best

Grab a hold and don’t let go
Even though you’re gonna wanna throw
It far away from here
Keep it near for moments the
Fearful blind folded try to steer

It is bone-on-bone friction within you
It’s a life-or-death question
That you haven’t thought through
And I’m beginning to understand the ways
You’re stuck in a loop
‘Cause you only hear what’s best for you

But it’s growing stronger
It’s hard to ignore
Cannot identify the wolf at the door no more
Split down the middle
This is do or die
Seems like the same number of states do and don’t unite

Grab a hold and don’t let go
Even though you’re gonna wanna throw
It far away from here
Keep it near for moments the
Fearful blind folded try to steer

Caught in the wake of the claim you stake
Cannot break out till it’s broken
Terms and conditions apply
But it’s been awhile since anyone has spoken
And all your takeaways perpetuate the same truth
‘Cause you only hear what’s best for you


6. LIFE CYCLE

Drifting down silently
To black out the sunlight
Every day they assured us, their only aim:
Show us how to live in harmony, peacefully
Everything began anew

Ghostly memories fade
Of past lives no longer
Relevant to the new world they opened wide
What drives them to give so openly
So endlessly?
When will be the time to know?

It's a question for all
Have they answered our call?
Or are we just nothing but a means to an end?
No more spending our days
Watching time slip away
The only thing that we may lose is our humanity

We have all we could dream
And still we grow restless
Waiting to feel the passion that used to burn
There must be a force that's waiting to collide with us
Children know but they can't say

It's a question for all
Have they answered our call?
Or are we just nothing but a means to an end?
No more spending our days
Watching time slip away
The only thing that we may lose is our reality

The sun, the sky, the earth
All melt away

Now it's time for you to see
There's a new reality
That's bigger than the both of us combined

We came here to guide you through
The separation of the glue
That held you firmly within space and time

Earth no longer can provide
A home for what you have inside
Unleash what lies beneath your flesh and bone

Transformation for all
Now you answered our call
Your arrival signified our childhood's end
We begin a new phase
Leave behind our old ways
We are one with the beating heart of our humanity


7. X

(Instrumental)


8. X-FADED

The smell of fire all around me
Trapped on all sides by a rising sea
Two extremes that feed this
Opposing force that’s fearless

Conserve your favorite, throw away the rest
Running dry is for the best
We can pivot as we see fit
We’re building castles in the sandpit

One wave away from the ending
Ripping apart while mending
These two actions at the same time
What a mess to leave behind

For the lives we’re forced to keep
With no regard for the living
Protect the pre and the post
And if you’re stuck here, learn to cope

Just get crossfaded
Turn off, don’t wait cause
Life’s short, I’ll make it
Drunk, stoned, elated

Bottoms up, inhale it
Burned out and jaded
Don’t get frustrated
Line up and take it

Two slits for eyes is the new way
Squinting to see what is far away
Rosy glass colored ceiling
The hail is far more appealing

One man is trash, one’s a treasure chest
In-between to measure best
Either for or against it
To be or not is the question

Only the choir in attendance
You say your piece, they nod their heads
If they don’t happen at the same time
What a fatalistic crime

Get someone to represent
No regard for the offense
Protect and serve your own
And if you’re not one, learn to cope

Just get crossfaded
Turn off, don’t wait cause
Life’s short, I’ll make it
Drunk, stoned, elated

Bottoms up, inhale it
Burned out and jaded
Don’t get frustrated
Line up and take it

That’s life, don’t waste it
I’m not frustrated
Just get crossfaded
Eyes red and shaded

I’ll get crossfaded
Turn off, don’t wait
Life’s short, I’ll make it
Drunk, stoned, elated


9. DECK IS STACKED

Pedal down, smoke up, gas stop, full cup, soundcheck, backstage, opener’s a buddy
Van sleep, lost keys, trailer latch, CD’s, GPS, backtrack, tour life’s cutty
Encore, VIP, march table, meet n’ greet, hotel, BNB, it’s a lil’ nutty
Hangover, lobby call, long line, bathroom stall, train-car-airport, always in the running

Limping along,
Can’t do no wrong,
Singing our song

(The) Deck is stacked,
Sweat equity won’t buy your break
(The) Game is rigged,
Stream away no cents (sense) to make
(The) Fix is in,
The dream in grasp we’ll never wake
(The) Deck is stacked, but we’ll still play

Fast food, long lines, rest stop, no time, chug down, post up, crashing in the study
Label rep, contract, dotted line, first act, last call, half stack, sound’s kinda fuzzy
Interview, Q&A, radio, travel day, room key, sneak away, beat down and bloody
Plug and play, everyday, other way, still the same, sticking out, never fade, rock n’ roll n’ party

Songs overlong,
Never belong,
Struggle so strong

(The) Deck is stacked,
Sweat equity won’t buy your break
(The) Game is rigged,
Stream away no cents (sense) to make
(The) Fix is in,
The dream in grasp we’ll never wake
(The) Deck is stacked, but we’ll still play


10. THE WATCHER

Just like my father
And his father before him
I see you all
Nothing gets by me

Watching, waiting patiently
657 calls to me

I am the watcher

What gives you the right
To do as you please?

Welcome to the neighborhood
You’ll be so happy here
If you hear otherwise, they’re all just liars

Welcome to the Boulevard
Just sign your name right here
It’s up to you if I
Let you survive or
Bury you within these walls

I've collected my thoughts
I've put them in writing
And after all
I think of you always

Writing, watching constantly
657 calls to me

I am the watcher

Welcome to the neighborhood…
Are you not happy here under my watchful eyes?
You’re looking tired…

Whispers on the Boulevard
Is that your name I hear?
I really can’t decide
To let it die
Or play along a little more

‘Cause you’re starting to bore me
That’s what I cannot withstand
You don’t mean much
You’re just another plaything
Taking bullets from my pen

Where are you going?
We’ve barely just begun
You can’t protect your little ones
Their innocence is gone
The damage has been done
The more you lost, the more I won

I am the watcher