1. |
Strange Impulse (1989)
04:39
|
|||
|
I told you I want to stay here but
I don’t know if I can stay that long
Warm country, it’s like a desert
And I don’t know if I can stay that long
No one’s going out
But someone’s staying out
‘Though you hear a shout
Who can say?
Strange impulse
In my head
Strange impulse
What’s that you said?
Strange impulse
Here today
Strange impulse
Go away
I sold you a long, long story ‘bout
getting home to a foggy land
You believed me, but I deceive
and you must not need me, please understand
Just one more goodbye
Don’t make me tell you why
Could be another lie
Who can say?
Strange impulse
In my head
Strange impulse
What’s that you said?
Strange impulse
Here today
Strange impulse
Go away
|
||||
2. |
Recognize (1986)
03:54
|
|||
|
Ah, a stroke of luck
For once I’m in the right place
And I will seize my chance
At the tone the time is now
You are a modest man
You’ve lived below your means
But now it’s time to dance
And you will show us how.
Don’t you recognize me?
Don’t you recognize me?
I live my life like an infant does
You don’t do you huh?
I find myself in another world
I find I have gone
We have the power to recognize
I have nothing more
You have a reason to live and die
I have nothing more
Don’t you recognize me?
Don’t you recognize me?
Taking one’s time like an infant does
One gets something done
You have a place in society
I find I have none
Don’t you recognize me?
Don’t you recognize me?
Give me my hat and my coat and then
You’ll find I am gone
You have the power to recognize
I have nothing more
Don’t you recognize me?
Don’t you recognize me?
|
||||
3. |
||||
|
When Mr. Fordheim sees a trouble
It soon gets fixed with magic powder
Others are at a disadvantage point
And the world needs something louder
And a dim bulb may find a job
At a checkout counter
Will his cronies check out before they’ve
Seen the light?
And when you asked who hides the metal fragments
In the baby’s gruel
Were you answered with a contract-muzzle
and your name on a rock at the high school?
It was a treat to hear you laugh
When he called you a fool
Idealism hurt more than it helped
Win the fight
Have you bitten off more than they said you could chew?
Did you wait until the dark and sneak into the zoo?
Did you forget what you are? Are you aching for a clue?
Meat under analysis
When Mr. Fordheim takes a picture
It goes right into the mail slot
Happy meat from coast to coaster
Now examine what they haven’t got
Make more friends
Take a few chances and make more friends
Go to some dances and make more friends
Sharpen advances and make more friends
Scrutinize stances, chances, alibis
Analyze
They said your heart was healed and healthy
That’s the best news of the year
Now the streets feel a little wider
and your face is the picture of cheer
Ladders and cats can be no threat
to the state that you’re in
Was the scenery nice?
Tell us when you get home
Was there a girl behind the curtain?
A little powder near the molding?
Some fire and controversy in the write-up
kept the paper from folding
Gritting your eye, answer the phone
And the letters pour in
Cost of living is high when the living’s alone
Have you bitten off more than they said you could chew?
Did your dreams become nightmares which then became true?
Were you shocked and offended to hear it was you?
Meat under analysis
Did you dodge every question that sounded too new?
Can you sleep in the night knowing what you must do?
Did you forget what you are? Are you aching for a clue?
Meat under analysis
|
||||
4. |
Anybody's Brain (1984)
03:11
|
|||
|
I’m pretty grateful, I’m feeling no pain
I could have been born with anybody’s brain
I’m really grateful, I’m pushing the main
I could have been born with anybody’s brain
It isn’t a great one but it isn’t too bad
I’m never too sad and I’m never too mad
I never go harder than I want to go
I never shoot anybody I don’t know
I’m really grateful, I’m feeling no pain
I could have been born with anybody’s brain
I’m happy for all of my mental strain
‘cause I could have been born with anybody’s brain
It says more things than I could possibly say
Sometimes I even have to file it away
Sometimes it even takes me by surprise
Maybe you can tell if you look in my eyes
I’m really grateful, I’m feeling no pain
I could have been born with anybody’s brain
So many anybodies could’ve laid claim
Can only wonder why I ended up with this brain
I could have been born with anybody’s brain
Hope it stays sane
|
||||
5. |
Molehead (1991)
03:15
|
|||
6. |
Old Homes (1983)
03:37
|
|||
|
Driving to the old homes
Living in the past
Driving to the old homes
And time goes by so fast
An unfamiliar chandelier will shatter summer dreams
No memory untainted, no dream’s what it seems
An unfamiliar chandelier shoots darkness through the night
As if it’s done in spite, as though it was their right
Driving to the old homes
Living in the past
Sighing by the old homes
And time goes by so fast
Collective sweat and brain work
Combined we have a home
And yes you are a beautiful one
No I won’t leave you alone
|
||||
7. |
Guns (1985)
03:29
|
|||
|
Can’t stay much longer or my heart’ll stand still
Give me the keys if you will
Arresting images pound my head
What say we make a break instead?
Could I do much better for you?
You couldn’t do any better for me
But all these guns give me the shakes, y’see
Inside the basement there’s a key on the wall
I better give my mother a call
The biggest mistake that you and I made
Tryin’ to make a living without a real trade
I couldn’t see the forest for the trees
Could you rub my neck if you please
And all these guns, they’re frightening me
If a guy on the street wants to lend you a hand
Just say thanks but no thanks, man
You can’t be sure in these troubled times
You can’t be sure what he’s got on his mind
He might have a gun
He’ll be following close behind
I know a guy that I met in ‘82
He can take pictures and develop ‘em
I’m sorry that you got in this scene
But we’re gonna start over, we’re gonna break clean
I’m gonna miss Mom but we can’t stay a day
We gotta go to the USA
And all these guns, they’re more than welcome to stay
Can’t stay much longer, there’s a knock on the door
I can’t see your face anymore
Remember when we met
God you looked so sweet
It’s getting kinda hard to breathe
Could I do much better for you?
You couldn’t do any better for me
A million guns couldn’t kill this love
There’s a lotta loud noise and it ain’t in my head
|
||||
8. |
Economy (1984)
03:11
|
|||
|
Sordid past extraordinaire
You’re big heap impressed
You’ve taken up with a mean old bear
I never would have guessed
Your eyes light up like heaven and earth
I just eat some food
How could I eat at a time like this?
You think I’m rude
I can’t share your moment of truth
I’m chalking this one up to youth
I’m betting this won’t last the week
I’m hoping I’m wrong, I’m hoping I’m wrong
I hear this guy hits ladies
Let me know so I can break his legs
He’s got a honey on the east side
Likes it when she begs
OK, you don’t believe a word
And yeah, it’s only stuff I heard
Be careful, be careful, don’t lose touch
Be careful, you know you never could take much
I know I’m not your daddy, I know I’m not your daddy
I gotta go now, call me, call me
Sordid past extraordinaire
Look at what you’ve learned
I got older but you got weird
I wanna know it I wanna know
You’re being everything I could never ever get you to be
Thank God for bears in the world
They made life better for me
I don’t wanna talk
I don’t wanna talk about economy
|
||||
9. |
Fencing (1989)
03:48
|
|||
10. |
Always Man (1990)
02:42
|
|||
|
Can’t you see my face looking happy
Can’t you tell I’m an always man
Can’t you see my face looking happy
Can’t you tell I’m an always man
Don’t tread lightly, now
Drink deep of my love
Face to face in the darkness
Feel free with my love
Just look at me
I’m yours, openly
Isn’t it plain to see
I’m an always man
I don’t have a mask
Don’t take me to task
Don’t wonder, just ask
I’m an always man…
Can’t you see my face looking happy
Can’t you tell I’m an always man
Can’t you see my face looking happy
Can’t you tell I’m an always man
You’re a foolish one
To question this love
Face to face in the darkness
Feel free with my love
And if you do ask
I’ll say this will last
Our love cannot pass
I’m an always man
Exceptional
Unquenchable
I love you girl
I’m an always man…
Can’t you see my face looking happy
Can’t you tell I’m an always man
Can’t you see my face looking happy
Can’t you tell I’m an always man
|
||||
11. |
||||
|
The thing that holds the pens may fall behind the desk
And it may take an hour to find it again
To you it’s all the world, life’s geared upon the pens
A year goes by, you think how stupid you were then
All things seem important in their prime
Everything is worthless given time
Really aren’t many, really aren’t many
Events that stand out in a life
Maybe worth a penny, maybe worth a penny
Nothing’s planned out in your life
But don’t stop having fun
You’re wild and free and young
And it may take a lifetime to find it again
Go out and have a blast and pretty soon it’s past
You can’t believe it meant much to you way back when
All things seem important in their prime
Memories are faded given time
Seems kinda funny, seems kinda funny
Now I’ve got real work to do
Musta been a dummy, musta been a dummy
Did things that a jerk would do
So what, you got a D on some biology test?
What difference does it make
You can’t believe it matters
Wait ‘til you’re 53 and you’re some VIP’s guest
This is what separates
The formers from the latters
Be secure in the knowledge that nothing of worth
is bound to happen to you for several years or more
This should help you relax now that you know the score
It’s sure done wonders for me
Accept triviality!
It can cure a lot of headaches and your problems seem small
You can feel safe and sound
When you’re down on the ground there’s no room left to fall
Can’t you hear me? Can’t you hear me?
When you’re down down down on the ground ground ground
There just ain’t no room at all left for you to fall
It might occur to you, and basically it’s true
Some lining’s prob’ly shining in the ozone layer
As weird as life can be, eventually you’ll see
The intensity of life’s annoyances grows in direct proportion
to the extent to which you care
All things seem important, just calm down
|
||||
12. |
Mystery Eyes (1986)
04:30
|
|||
|
I once met a woman, she was really something other
She was introduced to me by my younger brother
I would never say she’s unkind
But she did play with my mind
She said she wanted to find
the spark inside me that would make me want to be her lover
I’m not a man who’s easily scared
but there was something else there
Not the kind of woman you’d be taking home to mother
She had the mystery eyes
She had the mystery smile
And she could get me to run
For a mystery mile
The most mysterious face
in the whole damn place
And it may be a surprise but
Lord I miss her mystery eyes
She saw that I was shaking when she said “are you alone?”
And I really couldn’t take it when she said “now take me home”
I knew I’d by sorry I had
But I am only a man
And so I take what I can
I went to get the car keys from my brother on the phone
When I got back with the keys
What I saw made me freeze
Her dress was still standing but my mystery girl was gone
She had the mystery eyes
She had the mystery smile
And she could get me to run
For a mystery mile
The most mysterious face
in the human race
And there should be no surprise that
Lord I miss her mystery eyes
Lord, I miss her mystery
Lord, I miss her mystery eyes
|
||||
13. |
Where Are You (1984)
05:04
|
|||
|
The last two remaining dolphins in the sea
Life support requirements far surpassing me
Run the line from the boat downwards
Now listen closely, don’t look at me
I’m on a plane and I’m frowning
Above the rain but my love is far away
Don’t want a happy face button
Oh, where are you? Oh, where are you?
Where are you? Where are you?
Mister, please, don’t say that to me
Why waste the effort when all I have left is my self-pity?
It’ll take a, take awhile, take awhile to mend these scars
I’m gonna learn to love ‘em like a son
‘Cause I’m so alone in this dark city
I’m on a plane and I’m frowning
Above the rain but my love is far away
Don’t want a free wok
Oh, where are you? Oh, where are you?
Where are you? Where are you?
The last remaining branch in the tree
Not the highest any longer, you can see
Gather me and burn me if you can
I hope I keep you warmer than when I was a man
I’m on a plane and I’m frowning
Above the rain but my love is far away
The only thing I want is...
Oh, where are you? Oh, where are you?
Where are you? Where are you?
|
||||
14. |
Bazbo (1991)
02:49
|
|||
15. |
Bazbo the Flea (1991)
06:57
|
|||
16. |
||||
|
The wreckage was large
It’s the life of El Debarge
A shocking story, scandalous
I thought I’d better take care of this
Driving to Hollywood
With a bag full of food
A VCR, some tapes of M*A*S*H
Doctor’s orders for El Debarge
I’m just a 16-year-old girl
Nothing else for me in this world
I don’t like shopping or movie stars
I’ve just got to help El Debarge
I am lonely, all alone
Always waiting by the phone
His music pulls me through
God I hope I can help him too
When I reach the home of El
It’s empty, I can tell
He must be touring far away
Needing me to save the day
I’m just a 16-year-old girl
Nothing else for me in this world
I don’t like shopping or movie stars
I’ve just got to help El Debarge
So I called his management
Who say a glossy shall be sent
I say no no, you don’t understand
I’ve got to see him and lend a hand
They say thank you for your concern
They’re sure that El will be pleased to learn
That his music has touched
A girl so much
I’m just a 16-year-old girl
Nothing else for me in this world
I don’t like shopping or movie stars
I’ve just got to help El Debarge
|
||||
17. |
||||
|
Please be careful
When choosing the words you plan to say
The message you’re transmitting today
Will no doubt make its way
To unintended ears
It could destroy in seconds
What in the making took years, years
Look at what you’ve got here
Break it gently down into factors
You’ve been friends, you haven’t been actors
Don’t make the night blacker
All the energy spent
In a friendship that should never die
Now spent
Building bigger lies
Now where’s your courage, you’re only
Building bigger lies
With one flourish you could
Blow it all away
You don’t want to do that, do you?
A careless comment on the phone
Some things are better left unknown
Don’t think such things ‘til you’re alone
It’s never safe to place your trust
So totally, but if you must
Don’t turn what’s golden into dust
It’s nothing but a shame
You could be strengthening ties
If you weren’t so busy
Building bigger lies
Just act your age and stop
Building bigger lies
At this stage you can’t just
Throw it all away
You don’t want to do that
You can’t want to go on
Building bigger lies
Building bigger lies
‘Cause you could throw it all away
You don’t want to do that
Do you?
|
||||
Mike Keneally San Diego, California
Mike Keneally has been a lot of things in his 35 year career: stunt guitarist/keyboardist, singer/songwriter, orchestral
composer, producer, music director, painter, and more. After getting his start in Frank Zappa’s legendary 1988 big band, Keneally released his first solo album hat. in 1992. Since then he has released dozens more and is working on a new double album.
Learn more at keneally.com
... more
If you like Mike Keneally, you may also like:
supported by 15 fans who also own “The Tar Tapes, Vol. 2”
This recording makes a great workout companion! All tracks exercise my mind while I'm power walking the hills where I live in Massachusetts. Keeps the feet moving for my daily 3 miles. Thank you MFTJ and all Keneally music.
go to album
My Mom's Getting a Horse
by MFTJ
supported by 13 fans who also own “The Tar Tapes, Vol. 2”
I have been a huge fan of the great MIKE KENEALLY for many years. He is such a brilliant talent! I’m really really enjoying the latest MFTJ album a great deal. “What Wally Thinks” and “I Remember When Candy Bars Were A Nickel” respectively are a perfect one-two punch to open up an album! I’ll be enjoying this one for a long long time!!
go to album
The Bird Brain EP
by The Bird Brain
supported by 12 fans who also own “The Tar Tapes, Vol. 2”
This is a shitload of talent in one place!
go to album
Kansas City trio Flooding draw out the more mystical qualities of slowcore and noise rock for a heavy sound that's less stony than doom.
go to album
Drag All the Lights Inside
by Nesting
From Seattle comes this tumultuous art rock record, full of intricate songs that alternately whisper and kick.
go to album
The latest from indie rock outfit Activity has a charmingly sinister feel, blending in stark rhythms and washes of dark ambient.
go to album
FREEZE! Live In Europe 2020
by The Aristocrats
supported by 10 fans who also own “The Tar Tapes, Vol. 2”
This album really shows The Aristocrsts at their best - live! Great collection of songs and just fabulous performance and playng from start to end. 10/10, no doubt!
go to album
