1. |
On Beyond 50
05:32
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"On Beyond 50"
[Kent]
I was kickin’ ass/takin’ names/Overnight it seems/I became/a pariah/One of the halt and lame/
In your teens/Opportunity calls/By your 20’s/you’re scalin’ the walls/30’s, 40’s/world by the balls/
But not far past 49/the ground gets shifty/Does anyone/love anyone/on beyond 50?
So much experience/I can’t work nowhere/Finally figured everything out/no one cares/
Still running/but they junk me/cos they’re scared of repairs/Father Time, I have sinned ag’in ye/
for staying alive/Forgive me/Kill me soon or keep me groovin’/on beyond 50...
Save your sympathy/til the end/Hell I’m younger now/my dear friend/here today/than I’ll ever be again/
In my teens/I was shiftless and dumb/By my 20’s/I’d improved on it some/30’s, 40’s/I was comfortably numb/
I been a miner beyond 49/for a gold heart, sifting/Does anyone/love anyone/on beyond 50?
Cougars count me out/I can’t find a date/Younger women are weird/I can’t relate/
Get lonely/but only cos I’m too damn late/Father Time, I hope to cheat you/like I’m in my prime days/
grifting/Kill me today or make my mojo stay/on beyond 50...
Who knows/where I can find the ice floes/if my health or my marbles goes?/
Somebody google map me/the glue factory/if my belfry become batty...
So much experience/I can’t work nowhere/Finally figured everything out/no one cares/
Still running/but they junk me/cos they’re scared of repairs/Father Time, I have sinned ag’in ye/
for staying alive/Forgive me/Kill me soon or keep me groovin’/on beyond 50...
Cougars count me out/I can’t find a date/Younger women are weird/I can’t relate/
Get lonely/but only cos I’m too damn late/Father Time, I hope to cheat you/like I’m in my prime days/
grifting/Kill me today or make my mojo stay/on beyond 50...
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2. |
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"Hard Times for the Thinking Man"
[Kent]
All around me is “Flash!” “Boom!” “Bam!”/To what end?/Nobody gives a damn/about the meanings of the words they choose/
or the metaphors they mix and misuse,/It’s all/find an empty space and cram…
And I can’t understand/why there’s nothing no more/to understand/just a hand job/a chin jab/a cut purse/some dumb dance/and a glad backhand/
Lord it’s hard times/Lord it’s hard times/yes it’s hard times/for the Thinking Man…/
I keeping repeating, “It don’t make sense”/(That’s how I beg me now for self defense,)/I want a wink/not a telegraphed shrug/
come on somebody/pull the rug/out from under me if you can…
And I can’t understand/why there’s nothing no more/to understand/just a hand job/a chin jab/a cut purse/some dumb dance/and a glad backhand/
Lord it’s hard times/Lord it’s hard times/yes it’s hard times/for the Thinking Man…/
Gets me down/I look around/and everybody’s so spellbound/
by a clown with his pants down/feigned pain/
and the outpouring reign/of inane/Somebody explain/it to me!/
Humanity’s gone/the robots won/alone in a skillet my brain lives on/
nothing but self-critique/for this fucked-up freak/ recycled litter/
literature/sine qua non…
And I can’t understand/why there’s nothing no more/to understand/just a hand job/a chin jab/a cut purse/some dumb dance/and a glad backhand/
Lord it’s hard times/Lord it’s hard times/yes it’s hard times/for the Thinking Man…/
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3. |
Just My Machinations
04:03
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"Just My Machinations"
[Kent]
I looked around just now/Nothing moving somehow/and I cannot abide/a lack/of act/ivity/all around/me/
I gotta make shit go/Totally old, I know/but I cannot/tolerate/a spate of nix/or a limbo state/
Oh no.../Oh no.../
Driving/I'm driven/obsessive/obsessed/oh yes oh yes/to do my best/to fight frustration/once again/with/
Just my machinations.../Just my machinations.../Just my machinations.../
Nevertheless/control keeps slipping/away/from me…
The sky fell down somehow/The roof caved in and how/and the rising tide/of my moat/gets my goat/lifts all boats/ without/me/
I gotta make grass grow/All in vain I guess so/ but the notion/perpetual/motion’s/no go, son/
Me make/wheel roll
Oh no.../Oh no.../
Striving/I step up/I stand up/I'm stood up/Half-full, half-full/
the empty cup/of determination/once again/with
Just my machinations.../Just my machinations.../Just my machinations.../
Nevertheless/control keeps slipping/away/from me…
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4. |
Phases
03:37
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"Phases"
[Kent]
You had a phase/where you mainlined heroin/ those are days/long gone now/and a phase/as a hardcore Born Again/well, you shook it all/off somehow,/
All your phases/are amazing to me,/I’m in stasis/comparatively/
and it’s shocking/to see you these days/living unphased/and I’d say/
happy with me…/
You had a phase/where you married some soul bull dyke,/
Those are days/best forgot/And the phase/where you rode a motorbike/
hangin’ on to a Hell’s Angel/til he got shot/
All your phases/are amazing to me,/I’m in stasis/comparatively,/
and it’s shocking/to see you these days/living unphased/and I’d say/
happy with me…/
Only me/Lucky my love/happened along/to save ya/
Save ya from/the phases/
A simple boring guy/forever for you/Or am I/
just one of the phases, too?/
You’ve had phases in jail/Phases homeless/
Phases in Malibu/Phases in porn/
Phases you can’t talk about/with me/anymore…/
All your phases/are amazing to me,/I’m in stasis/comparatively/
and it’s shocking/to see you these days/living unphased/and I’d say/
happy with me…/
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5. |
Criselda
05:38
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"Criselda"
[Kent]
Criselda, you might as well forget about me/Criselda, they’ve come to cut me out
Like the cancer/ some sorry old man /(who can’t find his own guts)/ thinks that I am…Criselda, they’ve shown me to the door…
This one thing I know to be true: I stumbled through here to be with you,
Criselda, what now, my love?
Criselda, look away from where I fell then/Criselda, they must never come to know/
how we loved while/some sorry old man/searched out new rat holes/to pound down sand/Criselda, we’ve found forevermore…
This one thing I know to be true: I stumbled through here to be with you,
Criselda, what now, my love?
I cut the deck of cards/drew the Ten of Swords/and I did what I had to do/
I searched the ground/til I found a fallen angel/and the angel/I found was you…
Criselda, when the tide is high/ride to join me/I will wait for you…
Criselda, keeping/Sirius in sight,/things may yet be/set aright
Criselda, our time is undone.
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6. |
Leave Well Enough Alone
04:32
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"Leave Well Enough Alone"
[Kent]
Anytime shit goes sideways/and I wonder/whether I/should get involved/
the ghosts/of Yoda/and Obi-wan Kenobi/say, “No be/-ware/
of the unknown!”/
And I/ignore ‘em every time/saying, “Sorry, boys, but I'm/
seldom prone/to leave well enough alone...”/
Leave well/enough alone/Leave well enough alone/That's good advice/and wouldn't it be nice/if I could/leave/well enough/alone.../
Leave well/enough alone/Leave well enough alone/That's good advice/and wouldn't it be nice/if I could/leave/well enough/alone.../
Anytime the roads get icy/and somebody/near and dear/
needs a beer run done /I get/the stink eye/from the ghostly Jedi/
you bet I/hear ‘em moan/
I say I'll obey/(though they know I won't )/as they sing me
“Billy don't/be a hero,” 'n/I can't leave well enough alone.../
Leave well/enough alone/Leave well enough alone/That's good advice/and wouldn't it be nice/if I could/leave/well enough/alone.../
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7. |
I Got Nothin'
04:59
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"I Got Nothin'"
[Kent]
Used to have my own 2 cents/to put in/Now? I got nothin'/used have a mouth full of should and shouldn’t/Now? I got nothin’/
Used to have a point to make/Used to have a stand to take/Used to have a whole lotta muck to rake/Now? I got nothin'
Was a time I had a long/list of goals/Now? I got nothin’/ Had box seats way up there where they sell souls/Now? I got nothin’/
Had a woman pushin’ hard/For a riding lawn mower yard/Had my love nest feathered well til I got tarred/Now? I got nothin’/
Musta been somethin’ somewhere/I shoulda’ learned/
Something I could pass along to my son/Always had that arm up/
hopin/to be called upon/like i had the answer/Now? I just shrug/
I got nothin’/
If you're lookin up to me/expectantly:/I got nothin’/Lookin’ right back up to you/
is what I'll be/I got nothin’/Nothin’ much beyond the sound/
of the raindrops rollin' down/a station wagon window too many to count/
Wow/I got nothin’
Musta been somethin’ somewhere/I shoulda’ learned/
Something I could pass along to my son/Always had that arm up/
hopin/to be called upon/like i had the answer/Now? I just shrug/
I got nothin’/
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8. |
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"Sleep on a Sleepless Night"
[Kent]
I look/around me once more/at the latest/shipwreck on the shore/
Shrug when asked,/”What’s it all for?”/
But on beyond/where midnight was/my eyes close in vain because/
my mind/can’t find/anything comforting/(Dizzy is as dizzy does)/
And then, Darling/Darling, you come to me/
like sleep on a sleepless night/
And then, Darling/Darling, you come to me/
like sleep on a sleepless night/
Anyone/as prone to obsess/as I am/has to confess/
unequivocally/how you bless/
me with such/ignorant bliss/Class 3 contents/I can’t list:/
synesthesia/amnesia/Disney Fantasia/in your kiss/
And then, Darling/Darling, you come to me/
like sleep on a sleepless night/
And then, Darling/Darling, you come to me/
like sleep on a sleepless night/
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9. |
Taxing
05:11
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"Taxing"
[Kent]
Pocket’s mostly empty/but reach right in/I’ve grown accustomed to your fleece/Oh I know you’re always/thinking about me/at least,/
Put your arms against me/Hold me down/Can’t remember what/I did before/you were always around/
In my face/on my back/up my…/Ask me not what I can do for you/
What’s mine is surely yours now for the/axing.../Axing.../
As you show your love/and you show your care/to be everywhere/and taxing…/Taxing.../
Walk the streets for you/my unseen pimp/Wimps and gimps we give peace a glance/
Fantasizing madly/our old flame,/Independence,/
Cystic/deceased,/we cease and desist/resisting Nanny’s rules/Mustn’t be late,/
we fish to your net,/for schools,/
Missionary,/doggy-style,/up the…/Ask me not what you can do to me/
Spare me all the eloquence/you’re waxing, Waxing...
As you show your love/and you show your care/to be everywhere/and taxing…/Taxing.../
Now that I’ve had enough/of the shaming and cuffs,/I look around/
but no hacksaw can be found/for the haxing/The credit card you gave me/
for the maxing/was mine/all the time,/
Big Brother can you/spare a dime?/I’m/tapped out by/your taxing…
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10. |
Somewhere Nowhere
03:58
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"Somewhere Nowhere"
[Kent]
Anyone nobody wants/might well/wonder/where/is there/
a love for me?/
Any day might be the day/that one/someone/here appears:/
a love for me/
Somewhere/nowhere/has to change up/for here and now eventually/it's okay/stay open to the possibility...
As we learn to love ourselves/that one/someone/can become/reality/
As we use our hearts to see/we’re the/beauty/there to beam from someone else/
Somewhere/nowhere/has to change up/for here and now eventually/it's okay/stay open to the possibility...
How late do ya stay open?
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11. |
New Boots
04:56
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"New Boots"
[Kent]
So I went and bought some new boots/with the last of my unemployment/
Figured stompin’ in some new boots/might bring me some enjoyment/
Won’t sneak anymore/so sneakers won’t do/No sense anymore/for sensible shoes/
New boots/finally got my stride right/New boots/add an inch or two in height/New boots/are made for walkin’/(Nancy was right...)/
Gonna show the world my new boots/cos you can’t keep new boots at home/
Figure new boots need some new blood/and new chromosomes/
Can’t loaf anymore/so loafers won’t do/Tennis anyone?/No?/ Screw tennis shoes!/
New boots/tell the world I just arrived/New boots/
kickin’ shit n’ hornet hives/New boots/teach my feet of clay to survive.../
I told Nike/Take a hike!/Adidas, who needs ya?/
I want a wanton woman to wonder:/
whose boots has her bed been under?/
Whose boots has her bed been under?/
New boots/finally got my stride right/New boots/add an inch or two in height/New boots/are made for walkin’/(Nancy was right...)/
New boots/tell the world I just arrived/New boots/
kickin’ shit n’ hornet hives/New boots/teach my feet of clay to survive...
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12. |
Drop Dead
04:17
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"Drop Dead"
[Kent]
Drop dead/we got to work 'til we drop dead/Drop dead, drop dead/Aint no Sun City or Sarasota up ahead/
No, the tracks we're on/end in a ditch/Its a line with only one switch:/somehow/now/we gotta strike it rich/
probably just around the bend/
Til then/we get to work/until we drop/dead.../
Drop dead/if we're lucky we'll just drop dead/Drop dead, drop dead/Aint all golfin' and grandkids like they said/
Years ago/I kissed with surety/Bye-bye to my/Social Security/Men of promise,/they done us dirty/
Probably got/what we/deserve/
No nerve/so we work/until we drop/dead.../
Once upon a time/a time set off parenthetically/ from the rest of history/
when a worker would/work steadily/for one company/and not pathetically/
hopping job to job/like birds from feeder/to feeder/in an economic winter/once upon a time/
we slogged til sixty/and died of old age/in bed/
Instead/we get to work/until/we drop/dead/
Fifty-five, sixty-five, eighty or so/tell the boss it was my time to go
Eighty-four, ninety-four, hundred and five/tell the boss it was the circle of life...
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13. |
Just Like Rock N Roll
04:20
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"Just Like Rock N Roll"
[Kent]
You/you secretly dread being dead/So you/you dye your hair black, green or red/
You/you think your hand-me-downs are new/To you/“dereliction” translates as “true,”/
Surfin’ USA Today/Sweet Little SixtyLay Ladies Gaga, Madonna/Lay down Sally…
To me/you’re just like Rock-n-Roll/Can’t tell Nirvana/from some Hole/
To me/ you’re just like Rock-n-Roll/Can’t tell 20 Temptations/from one Jellyroll/
Aint you just like Rock-n-Roll?/Aint you just like Rock-n-Roll?/Aint you just like Rock-n-Roll?/
Louie-Lou-eye/Louie, Louie, Louie…
You were there yelling “Judas!”/at Dylan/tramplin’ Who fans/
to a pulp vermillion/you were dishin’ viciously/on Milli Vanillin’/
casting Metallica into a villain/while Spector is killin’…
You/as real as a fake I.D./yet you/you treasure authenticity/
You/you treat “Hey Joe” like “Hey Jude,”/and You/teach your children
well to be rude/
Come on down to my boat/Rick-roll and rock the vote/
bring your legions of Guitar Heroes/who can’t play a note…
To me/you’re just like Rock-n-Roll/Can’t tell Nirvana/from some Hole/
To me/ you’re just like Rock-n-Roll/Aint no Judas Priest/
gonna save your De La Soul/Aint you just like Rock-n-Roll?
Aint you just like Rock-n-Roll?/Aint you just like Rock-n-Roll?/
Aint you just like Rock-n-Roll?/Louie-Lou-eye/Louie, Louie, Louie…
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Claxton Kent Portland, Oregon
"...I didn't grow up rich, but my father did. He owned a ranch in Texas with over ten thousand dairy cows. Those cows didn't give milk, though, they gave oil. That is a true fact. Those cows were so valuable they weren't branded, they were engraved..." excerpted from Claxton: A Life-like Life. ... more
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