Love's That Way, by Amory McKeever

She's got that kind of power
To turn any man a coward

Afraid to live without her

It may be sugar sweet

Or even lemon sour

When your clothes are in the street

You're taking cold and lonely showers

She'll make your knees get weak

Then leave you blue for hours

What kind of sorcery is this

What kind of games did she play

When ignorance is bliss

You never knew love's that way

She's got that kind of magic

To turn your heart elastic

Tied tight around her finger

So you go where she demands it

The scent of her will linger

That's exactly as she planned it

Then every time you breathe

It's as if you couldn't stand it

Knowing you've become a clinger

Bring the mantis home some flowers

And wait to be devoured

What kind of sorcery is this

What kind of games did she play

When ignorance is bliss

You never knew love's that way

She's got that kind of charm

That leaves a man disarmed

Yet you welcome the defeat

In spite of all the harm

Because with her you are complete

and no matter how you squirm

no matter how you ache

it's your bridges that you burn

and your heart that you break

What kind of sorcery is this

What kind of games did she play

When ignorance is bliss

You never knew love's that way

What kind of sorcery is this

What kind of games did she play

When ignorance is bliss

You never knew love's that way

Buy The Ticket, by Amory McKeever

Met this wrinkled man in line

Broken down by father time

Voodoo donuts, steak, and wine

Heart condition with every beat

From years and years of salty meats

Or was it endless jugs of mead

The party life, and wild crowds

The music he played way too loud

That aged and wore his body out

A special woman who drove him mad

A day without her he couldn't stand

And into the sunset, held her hand

When I looked behind those eyes

I could see these words of advice

No one gets to try life twice

Met a sweet old lady at the booth

here to celebrate year sixty-two

young at heart was her gospel truth

Her smile told a thousand tales

of kids, beaches, and mountain trails

she spoke of a man who never failed

to make her laugh and dance with joy

she knew he was the real McCoy

their love no force on earth destroy

But father time knows not defeat

and years and years of salty meats

or was it endless jugs of mead

that took her champion far away

as her smile cracked she had this to say

if you want to live you best not delay

The Thirst, by Amory McKeever

Please take the world from my shoulders

Help me find the river among the boulders

If you could do this before I get any older

Before for my son sees what a tired man will do

To shake the cake of dust from his shoes

Rust gathered waiting long for my canoe

Because I'm all set on paddles you see

The ironic thing is I'm missing the creek

Like a dry season needs the clouds to leak

All around me this thirst has beset

Not a drop of rain has graced me yet

Is it something I'm too hard headed to get

So here I stand on the banks of a drought

Pleading "Oh Atmosphere, help me out!"

Then a thunder rolled that erased all doubt

Oooh, Oh how I pray

For a love filled sky

For some paradise

Oooh, to open it gates

To focus its gaze

On our field so dry

That our seeds might grow

And our souls can fly

We sneak into this world like a mouse

Then during the escape burn down the house

Nothing on earth could that flame ever douse

For a moment of pleasure we trade the rest of our life

Spend ten million dollars for a ten minute wife

Sharpen our tongues till they cut like a knife

We made disposable cups to will last forever

With opposable thumbs we could do much better

We love to talk of justice but have not met her

And I'm sure we'll cheat her if we ever do

That is the only thing I ever knew

About myself at least this much is true

Still I beg for a lifeboat to appear in the flood

pull me from this stick in the mud

I'll gladly bail out the sweat and the blood

Just keep it afloat till we reach heavens shore

With eyes on the lighthouse that shines evermore

I'll kiss that sand like I've kissed nothing before

Oooh, Oh how I pray

For a love filled sky

For some paradise

Oooh, to open it gates

To focus its gaze

On our field so dry

That our seeds might grow

And our souls can fly

Oooh, Oh how I pray

For a love filled sky

For some paradise

Oooh, to open it gates

To focus its gaze

On our field so dry

That our seeds might grow

And our souls can fly

Saving the Damsel, by Amory McKeever

She once held open the golden door

for all those who needed rest 

She stood for something so much more 

a memory buried deep in our chest 

Now sentinels watch our every move 

and their lies pit brother against brother 

For finally when the war was over 

we traded one Magneto for another 

It's been this scratched and broken record 

since as far back as I can see 

That every time we won a war 

we only lost who we fought to be 

That every time we found a cure 

we just became the next infected 

That while supermen may die for us 

it's Lex Luthors that get elected 

If the goal was really peace and love 

we most certainly have failed 

For a long train of usurpation's 

alone is steaming down the rail 

That locomotive never slacks 

with the end of liberty ahead 

We have little time to change our tracks

we must or else the damsel is dead

The Stains of a Wedding Cake, by Amory McKeever

I just wanted my shirt 

folded next to your pants 

Though my colors are always angry

so they go into rants

about how your apples hog the fridge

and your pictures crowd the wall

It's not like my boots

get closet space at all

The counter is covered 

in masks that you wear 

different shades different moods

not that I care

You change your feelings

like coloring your hair

you've become someone else

I don't know if you're there

[pre-chorus]

Can't remove these stains

from our wedding cake

where the bride and groom

have themselves to break

[chorus]

We are gathered here today

to witness some misery

two people who settled

for the runner-up victory

Not the gold nor the silver

but at least they're on the stand

riding off into the sunset

holding regretful hands

When I just wanted my socks 

to share a drawer with yours too 

How my whites are always angry 

remembering life without you 

That life so happy 

not smothered in blues 

My old heart feels borrowed 

and it's time to renew

I just wanted my tie 

to hang next to your dress 

Now the man in these clothes 

is a slobbering mess 

Unable to fathom 

the way that he's blessed

or admit his mistakes

are why he's distressed

[pre-chorus]

Can't remove these stains

from our wedding cake

where the bride and groom

have themselves to break

[chorus]

We are gathered here today

to witness some misery

two people who settled

for the runner-up victory

Not the gold nor the silver

but at least they're on the stand

riding off into the sunset

holding regretful hands

It's hard to give up what you own 

I promise it's better 

than the pain we have known 

or the lack of compassion I've shown 

So like a classic bait and switch 

I'm a salesman with a pitch 

to sell you back your life 

Nothings cheaper than a bitch

So I'll close down the store

and clean off the shelves

I can't take anymore

I need to retire myself

take me out to the curb

and leave me behind

The greatest gift to be kind

is for me to become

out of sight and out of mind

[pre-chorus]

Can't remove these stains

from our wedding cake

where the bride and groom

have themselves to break

[chorus]

We are gathered here today

to witness some misery

two people who settled

for the runner-up victory

Not the gold nor the silver

but at least they're on the stand

riding off into the sunset

holding regretful hands

Can't remove these stains

from our wedding cake

where the bride and groom

have themselves to break

Can, and Will Be, by Amory McKeever

Anything you say
Anything you do
Can, and will be
Used against you

My shield deflects any criticism
about how I treat my fellow citizen
Your civil rights are awfully cute
but power is best when it's absolute
Step out of the car and walk the line
forget what I said it's taser time
Ooops, that wasn't my taser I wager
I'll just claim that my life was in danger
I get a vacation if you try to resist
you reached for a gun, I'm the only witness

Anything you say
Anything you do
Can, and will be
Used against you

I have no duty to protect and serve
pop with my Glock if you touch a nerve
Peaceful assembly to protest the State
tell me how does pepper spray taste
Kickin' in doors like I was in Iraq
down on the floor with my knee in your back
I don't even know if I have the right place
still gonna to throw a flash-bang in your face
Cryin' and screaming is all part of the game
ten minutes later I've forgotten your name

Anything you say
Anything you do
Can, and will be
Used against you

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes
(I feared for my life)
These boots on your neck
come in so many sizes
(I gotta get home to my wife)
That blue line is so much thicker than thin
How can you stop the corruption and win
(I'm just following orders)
When it starts at the top and trickles down
Justice slowly dies to a siren sound

Anything you say
Anything you do
Can, and will be
Used against you

Out of Place, by Amory McKeever

Where are my starry campfire skies

Replaced by coca-cola lights 

Olympians say shut up and buy 

A plasma screen is worth the fight 

Beast versus beast in a Walmart line 

The last elusive hunt for time 

Where indeed are my carrier pigeons 

This handheld device feels so cold 

Every one of these electric widgets 

Sends my words in Sans-serif bold 

Yet the meaning is lost along the way 

The frontier has been uprooted 

Where's my covered wagon train 

When dirty jeans were suitably suited 

No Amber waves on my FaceTime 

Just purple mountain grown chi tea 

Ninety-nine years cut down in my prime 

They can't prescribe a life for me 

While I assure my friends I'm fine 

I scatter to the wind a tumbleweed