The Bourbon Logs

the police state
there’s nothing wrong
then they pull out their sticks
and they beat us along

the police state
force was justified
a threat was perceived
and we never lie

the police state
we serve and protect
while they circle the wagons
and lip-service respect

the police state
we can police ourselves
put one of us down
and you can all go to hell

the police state
everything is fine
and it’s not really illegal
if we do the crime

who will take this burden off of me
who will take this burden off of me?
i’ve carried it down so many roads
and now it’s time to pay the toll
who will take this burden off of me

who will wipe these tears from my eyes
who will wipe these tears from my eyes?
i’ve seen much i didn’t wish to see
on the crooked trail of destiny
who will wipe these tears from eyes

who will help me shut the door
who will help me shut the door?
the evening light is fading fast
shadows creep across my past
who will help me shut the door

who will put their shovel in the ground
who will put their shovel in the ground?
who will dig it down six feet deep
where children stare and widows weep
who will put their shovel in the ground

we were idling at the corner of Main and 2nd
waiting for the light to change
on a cool and gloomy october afternoon
a pale autumnal light was ceding its ghost
to a wet vancouver evening
without protest
it was a languid moment that we couldn’t arrest
as a matter of fact we were unaware the moment was guilty at all

as the traffic signal changed from green to yellow
an apparition appeared in the intersection:

a girl on a skateboard sailed through the light
turning north off of 2nd
seeking the main line
leaning into the turn
tall and easy on her board
faux fur collar billowing
flushed cheekbones
a look of triumph and ease on her face
that suggested royalty

what light remained was drawn to the girl on a skateboard
carving the corner on a magnet’s course
riding the moment with a casual and practiced perfection
reminding us all
idling in our cars
what it is to steal the light
and secure its heat against the passing of the day

bless this evening
coleman hawkins on the radio
cool breeze through my window
lyra whimpering for a walk downstairs
martini at my elbow
something infinite embraces me
i laugh
halfways along to another beginning
some small thing threatens
a grandiose notion!
drain my glass and answer the pining Shiba Inu down the stairs
ready for anything
even hello

loon shit
have you ever slipped in it
have you ever felt the lack
of a little bit of shoe grit
and when you hit the ground
did you hear a squishy sound
of a bummer of a pant stain
halfway between green and brown

oh lord do we need that mercedes benz
or is it a selfish means to a mean spirited end?
have we ever measured the length of our need
against the width and the breadth of our bottomless greed?
lets use our lungs and raise up a shout
until the sky cracks open and the love pours out

what will we do when the shelves are all bare
when the windows are shuttered and its dark everywhere
when our credit gets called at the end of the line
and we can’t pawn our Rolex cause we’ve run out of time
how many square feet does one family need
how many cars and how many tv’s?
do we ever get tired of all of our stuff
at what point do we say that too much is enough?
lets use our lungs and raise up a shout
until the sky cracks open and the love pours out

outrage is a dish and we serve it up cold
to the poor and the homeless who hold out their bowls
who are these people, where are they from
is this where we go when there’s no place to run
we christians we muslims we buddhas we jews
what did we learn when knelt in our pews?
if it’s all about peace and it’s all about love
why in hell do the bombs rain down from above?
lets use our lungs and raise up a shout
until the sky cracks open and the love pours out

whoop-dee-do whoop-dee do
is all i ever get from you
accolades and great reviews
whoop-deep-do whoo-dee-do
i made the front page of the daily news
in a brand new pair of blue-suede shoes
how come the only thing that interests you
is whoop-de-do whoop-de-do whoop-de-do

the academy called the other day
the nobel prize an inch away
i ran the 100 in seconds flat
climbed a tree and saved a cat
took the flag at the indy 5
charged the line and stayed alive
crossed the line and looked at you
whoop-dee-do whoop-dee-do whoop de do…

there’s a fire sale on at the big retail box
where a father and son fist-fight over socks
i saw a grandmother take down a clerk at the knees
cause the clerk didn’t smile and she didn’t say please

i’m d-e-p-r-e-ss-e-d
i can hardly believe the things that i see
the children of god strive so violently
i’m d-e-p-r-e-ss-e-d

we walk a thin line and it leads to war
everyone wants to settle a score
we all believe in the very same things
but we spell em different and the fighting begins

i’m d-e-p-r-e-ss-e-d
i can hardly believe the things that i see
the children of god strive so violently
i’m d-e-p-r-e-ss-e-d

and it’s one for the money and two for the cash
three for the dough four the stock market crash
five is for enron and six is for greed
seven-eleven and twinkies to eat

i’m d-e-p-r-e-ss-e-d
i can hardly believe the things that i see
the children of god strive so violently
i’m d-e-p-r-e-ss-e-d

i went to my doctor and i said to she
i think i need help desperately
she wrote on a paper and spelled it for me
that paper read p-r-o-z-a-and-c

so now it’s p-r-o-z-a-and-c
i drown it in bourbon
i sip it with tea
and if you feel blue just listen to me
don’t stay d-e-p-r-e-ss-e-d

can you recommend a wine?
my wife died of cancer today
she was 25 years old and is survived by two baby girls
she went from health to the grave in 6 months
our simple menu includes sliced meat, olives, cheese, vegetables and dip

Can you recommend a wine?
my brother-in-law drowned in a river today
he sank in a foot of water in sight of forty people
noone saw him go under
we’re serving baked white fish

can you recommend a wine?
a village in afghanistan was bombed
and a child with a streaked, dirty face is wailing
the child’s mother has been killed by what is referred to as collateral damage
the father does not answer
we’re having roast beef, rare, au jus

don’t know what’s up with me today
guess i got the blues
might be these two left feet of mine
or these two right shoes
been reading my press clippings
so many bad reviews
must be these two left feet of mine
or these two right shoes

i got a lotta work to do
but i can’t get inspired
think i’ll just call in sick today
and set this house on fire
i’d like to make a move
but my feet are stuck in lead
not sure if this fog is real
or if it’s only in my head

i see shapes in the shadows
but they slip away from view
might be these two left feet of mine
or these two right shoes
and if it’s one for the money
there ain’t much left for two
must be these two left feet of mine
or these two right shoes

roads narrow
minds do too
some kinda trouble that we’re drivin through
peril ahead
calamity behind
try to keep it in the centre
gotta make some time

it’s a steep grade
and it’s a heavy load
i’d put the hammer down
but i don’t know the road
i got the engine tuned
man it’s turnin like a top
but one false turn
and it’s a deep dark drop

so heed my prayer
just let me roll along
with the windows down
and this wild wild song
where mountains range
where skies collide
where there’s no end in sight
there’s just this ride

flowers are dying
all over the yard
there’s just too many expectations
and they can’t bear the weight

bones are filling the alley
they rattle the garbage bins
when nobody is watching
damn nuisance really
they have no sense of humour

coyotes are pacing
across the street
cunning
feline
cool as ice
they seem to be content with smalls animals for now
squirrels
pets
but i catch them watching the house next door
when the baby cries

there is a strange light being cast
by a red pickup truck
burning on the corner
it’s license plate reads
ENVY

it’s not the end of the world
because i’m still breathing

mrs. parker knocks on my door
can i come in she asks
and i let her
she doesn’t trust me really
but she knows i have booze and ice
and it’s better than being alone
i fill up her glass
and top up my own
she crosses her legs
and we drink in relative silence

thank god for the clouds
she says finally
i can’t stand the moon
i agree with her
and we continue to sip
wrapped up in warm silence
punctuated with the sounds
of sirens
and the wail of some poor animal
invited to dine
with the coyotes across the street

it’s not the end of the world
because i’m still breathing

a gin and a tonic
for me and for you
two chairs, a table,
and a room with a view
the waiter in white
and the ocean in blue
and a gin and a tonic for two

the past is a tall ship
watch it sailing away
the future a fast train
we won’t catch today
right here and right now
there’s just me and you
and a gin and a tonic for two

a turn on the promenade
will suit us just fine
there’s a breeze off the ocean
and we’ve lots of time
so lend me your hand
please after you
and a gin and a tonic for two

you’ve poisoned the well dear
you’ve poisoned the well
you’ve spoken the words that
nobody should tell
we could be in heaven
instead we’re in hell
you’ve poisoned the well dear
you’ve poisoned the well

i could never imagine
your tender embrace
would ever allow you
to fall out of grace
and it’s half what you do
and it’s half what you say
and it’s half about watching
your time fly away

is it the devil that holds you
so clost to his chest
does the flame of suggestion
burn in your breast
what cost for his whispers
how high is the price
how dark is your night dear
how sharp is the knife

some doors that are open
will never be closed
some things still unspoken
yet everyone knows
you’ll always remember
the place that you’re from
some bonds that enmesh us
cannot be undone

after the smoke clears
with the risin of the sun
after the smoke clears
and we take a look around
after the smoke clears
you’re gonna answer for what’s done
cause you can’t hide
from everyone
we’re gonna see just what you done

after the smoke clears
and clearer heads prevail
after the smoke clears
and we hear the children wail
after the smoke clears
will your brave words avail
will they mend the hurt
and feed the frail
and empty all your jails

where there’s smoke
they say
there’s bound to be a fire
and where’s there’s fire
they say
there’s fuel for a pyre
and what’s that smell
risin from the pile?
that’s judgement day
and history’s way
of dealin with a liar

after the smoke clears

tell me what
side of history
are you on?
did you win a great war
or did you just move along
do they curse out your name
or do they sing out your songs
tell me what
side of history
are you on?

you can write it all down
in black and white
or keep it a secret
whispered in the night
you can repeat it
on tv
ad nauseum
until it rings like the truth
and we wear it like skin
tell me what
side of history
are you on?

and history is neither true
nor is it false
but you can measure its impact
in long lines of fault
and where it is ugly
and most profane
we’re bound to repeat it
again and again
tell me what
side of history
are you on?

no single thing in this world is true
and definitions
are the best we do
things i see appear to be
but that doesn’t make them real

when words in books
point out the way
there is something
they always fail to say
using black and white
we color gray
but our tongues can’t help
our hearts betray

no single thing in this world is true
but one plus one still equals two
don’t bother asking for directions
it’s not movement we need
it’s connection

in days to come
my heart goes out to everyone
for all our days under the sun
we laughed at things that we had done
at all the races we had run
and all the obstacles overcome
for everything that passes on
my heart goes out in days to come

for those who walk with downcast eyes
and toil under a thankless sky
who follow timidly feckless lies
and can’t afford vanity’s disguise
for those whose prayers get no reply
whose pains are borne without a sigh
in days to come with these i’ll cry

hear the ocean
there the shore
this time and tide forevermore
take a pebble in your hand
smooth like glass worn from sand
skip the pebble out to sea
in days to come we’ll all be free

standing on the edge
overlooking the abyss
it’s the beauty i remember
that we left behind for this
no retreat will we offer
no surrender will we make
we’re so proud of what we’ve built
and we all keep the faith
we put one foot before the other
because progress is our race
but it’s the beauty i remember
as we leap into space

just like water i’m gonna find my own way
i won’t ever leave you
and i will never stay
when trouble finds me
i’ll run away
just like water
i’m gonna find my own way

time is a river
without an end
when you think that you’ve found it
it twists round a bend
sometimes it runs shallow
and sometimes it’s deep
and the water’s inviting
but the bank is so steep

in sorrow and joy
in sickness and health
when fields lie fallow
and when there is birth
the sky will replenish
what tears we have shed
and we’ll play just like children
on this old riverbed