Snow

Snow on the cathedral stair
It's always winter there
Doors locked and frozen
but she left a window open

She wants to melt under the December sun
and run into the ocean and shed her soiled skin
but the bitter frost burns so hot and the sun is cold behind the clouds

Snow on the abbey floor
She could not love him any more
So she tried to love him less
A penance to confess

She wants to melt under the December sun
and run into the ocean and shed her soiled skin
but the bitter frost burns so hot and the sun is cold behind the clouds
the snow, the snow, the snow,
the snow keeps coming down

Stained Glass

not the morning after, not the night before
the pulse pushing through my veins
throbbing once or maybe more
i know you know how to find the door

stained glass glowing in the light
you're lovely and luminous tonight
don't want gravity pulling you down to me
i couldn't stand the sight

the door is open, never been barred
won't keep you out or shut you in
don't have a heart beneath this skin
can't break me, i'm already broken

stained glass glowing in the light
you're lovely and luminous tonight
don't want gravity pulling you down to me
i couldn't stand the sight

i'm a mirror for your reflection
fragments in a window pane
doesn't really mean anything
and i plan to keep it that way

stained glass glowing in the light
you're lovely and luminous tonight
don't want gravity pulling you down to me
i couldn't stand the sight

new york, new york

walking down the city block
triple-x and porn shop
caught up in the rush hour flow
pushing past the peep show

maybe she can save your soul
maybe salvation waits behind the red doors
of new york

never thought i'd end up here
faith proved stronger than the fear
give me your tired and your poor
washed up on the concrete shore

maybe she can save your soul
maybe salvation waits behind the red doors
of new york

i read my face, i see my name in the chicken-scratch scrawls
i read my face, i see my name painted on your walls

fate i wait desperately to meet
on 8th and 57th Street
flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone
always and never alone

maybe she can save your soul
maybe salvation waits behind the red doors
of new york

Crocodile Tears

I can be so serious sometimes
Spilling my soul over a bottle of wine
Always was a sucker for a sweet smile
a sharp tooth and crocodile tears

Certain strangers won't disappoint you
but somehow or other that's what they seem to do
Always was a fool for a crooked smile
a pointy tooth and crocodile tears

Hush, hush little baby, don't you cry
Momma's gonna sing you a lullaby
So don't you cry, don't you cry

Baby be careful what you ask for
cuz you might get all your wishes and more
Always had a weakness for a wicked smile
a razor tooth and crocodile tears

Saviour

I'm a stranger to you now cuz I told you how I feel
Just narrow your eyes and pretend you didn't hear me
There isn't enough love to cover all my sins
I'm spreading the disease, so don't get too near me

Wonder why I think I have to say what I have to say?
I have to say it ain't so bad living this way
Maybe it's true, it's true I put myself in danger
But who asked you? who asked you to be my saviour?

You don't recognize me, not the person I've become
Just shake your head and see whatever you want to see
Take the easy way out, come on, give me
something to despise, make it easier on me

Wonder why I think I have to say what I have to say?
I have to say it ain't so bad living this way
Maybe it's true, it's true I put myself in danger
But who asked you? who asked you to be my saviour?

Near Perfect

I know how to fail with near-perfect precision
but I don't know how to feel, will you help with the decision?

I'm gonna end up broken-hearted again

I don't ask for much, I only want perfection
It's not so difficult, just follow my direction

I'm gonna end up broken-hearted again

Where are you tonight? Immersed in some distraction?
If you factor me in I'll be your equal and opposite reaction

I'm gonna end up broken-hearted again

Another Prodigal Son

Guess this is it, guess it's time to leave
You've made it very clear you don't want any part of me
No room for grace, I've had enough of this place

I came here with a dream but I ended up in hell
You don't want a girl, you need a package to sell
Think I'm that kind of trash? well I'll never kiss your ass

I'd give you everything, my little soul cries out to sing but no one is listening
just smile and nod, nod and applaud
Sometimes I think I hate you, I want to spit in your faces cuz you're not listening
you just smile and nod, nod and applaud
Another prodigal son has left the building

Paying for the chance to expose my innocence
to a worthless little herd without intelligence
Well, you can keep your money, I prefer my dignity

Had a head full of clouds, had eyes full of stars
till I drowned my dreams in some redneck bars
I'm sick of cowboys, will the real men step forward, please?

I'd give you everything, my little soul cries out to sing but no one is listening
just smile and nod, nod and applaud
Sometimes I think I hate you, I want to spit in your faces cuz you're not listening
you just smile and nod, nod and applaud
Another prodigal son has left the building

Lily-white

You're a lily-white virgin, You're the foulest whore
He's gonna get you on your knees, he's gonna have you on the floor
Call yourself anything you want, but you're just the latest score
His little whore

You can greet him with blessings or call down a bitter curse
You won't be the last and you sure as hell were not the first
He wrote the book and you know it, chapter and verse, call down a curse
He wrote the book and you know it, chapter and verse, you weren't the first

Do you need me to spell out for you? Stupid, stupid?
Do you need me to spell it out, spell it out?
Stupid, stupid

Just sit back and relax now cuz it's too late to run
He's gonna feed you the wafer, the wine, and his holy son
So close your eyes girl and open your mouth for the gun, too late to run
Close your eyes girl and open your mouth for the gun, his holy son

Do you need me to spell out for you? Stupid, stupid?
Do you need me to spell it out, spell it out?
Stupid, stupid
Stupid, stupid

What a Real Man Can Do

Thought I was above this, but no, I'm just another little whore
Used, abused, paid off, and ushered through the door

How did I come to this place?
I thought you'd want me
How did I come to this place?
I thought you'd need me

and that just goes to show
how little some people know
you can steal my beauty but you will never own my soul

I'm gonna take you, take you, break you in two
I'm gonna show you what a real man can do
I'm gonna take you, take you, break you
I'm gonna show you what a real man can do

Avoid meeting my eyes, it's not like I'm in the same class as you
Doesn't hurt now, after awhile you get used to being screwed

I'm gonna take you, take you, break you in two
I'm gonna show you what a real man can do
I'm gonna take you, take you, break you
I'm gonna show you what a real man can do

Always Feel the Need

City makes me miss the stars. some things in life can't be bought
I'll share a moonlit night with you, if it's a snare I'm willingly caught

The night's not long enough, my will's not strong enough
to hold this moment still, I'll never get my fill
Cannot kill my greed, always feel the need
for more of you

City makes me miss the stars replaced with hollow desire
If i know what's good for me I'll throw my avarice down on the fire

The night's not long enough, my will's not strong enough
to hold this moment still, I'll never get my fill
Cannot kill my greed, always feel the need
for more of you

Never That Simple

gonna take this breath, make it last forever
gonna take this afternoon and stretch it out longer
I wanna take it slow, one sweet endeavour
but it's never that simple. never that simple

gonna stop the clocks and keep back the evening
I ain't getting up. no, i'm never leaving
I'm gonna take it slow, one sweet endeavour
but it's never that simple, never that simple

I could fall for you against my better judgement
sink into you and never rise again
we could take it slow, one sweet endeavour
but it's never that simple
never that simple

We Survive

I can't stop you with a thing I say
doesn't matter, you'll do it anyway
like a martyr you run into the flame
saying, "oh my daughter, do not be ashamed."

We survive, we survive, we survive, we survive

3 generations under the same curse
bow your head and lift your skirt
nurse the wounds but keep them out of sight
full of anger without the will to fight

We survive, we survive, we survive, we survive

September

Painted on a coiled grey cell, the afternoon light of September
Blood that shatters with a smile even the bones will remember

A soul, so much the same
how is this possible?
wanderer, no cage could hold her
but she doesn't want to escape
she doesn't want to escape

Memorize dangerous eyes in the first cool rush of evening
Still some history in the air, words that don't need speaking

A soul, so much the same
how is this possible?
wanderer, no cage could hold her
but she doesn't want to escape
she doesn't want to escape

Safer on the Ground

Looking for your father
Calling for your mother
Praying for your sister
What's lost can never be found

Splashing through puddles
Chasing after rainbows
Running into troubles
What's lost can never be found

When you've been stood up, when you've been let down
When you can't trust anyone, you're safer on the ground
Safer on the ground

Kneeling at an altar
Searching for a saviour
Desperate for an answer
What's lost can never be found

Choosing your addiction
Losing your religion
Just another victim
What's lost can never be found

When you've been stood up, when you've been let down
When you can't trust anyone, you're safer on the ground
Safer on the ground

Sharpening the Knives

I owe you a scratch or two
but I'm not keeping score
I just wanna know that I hurt you more

You can have your letters back
I know it ain't the cure
I just wanna know that I hurt you more

I could be the nicest girl you have ever seen
but even nice girls can be cruel, nice girls can turn mean
when defending our pride, when fighting for our lives
Send us to the kitchen and we'll be sharpening the knives

Don't lament me or torment me
if you're still unsure
I just wanna know that I hurt you
I just wanna know that I hurt you more

Bitter Cup

lord, I've tasted all the sorrow I can stand to swallow
but you're still holding this bitter cup to my lips
I don't think I can drink another blessed drop
it tastes of death, despair, and loneliness

give me a little faith, a little faith to face another day
i need a little strength, a little strength to make it through tomorrow

lord, it seems somehow I'm right back where I started
don't wanna walk that dusty road alone
you said you'd carry me, carry me when I can't go on
I need you to come now and carry me home

or give me a little faith, a little faith to face another day
I need a little strength, a little strength to make it through tomorrow

Don't Remember Me

I am the withering flower that's lost its bloom
I always fade faster when you're in the room
If I could take just one precious thing from you
I'd take the memories you're no longer entitled to

I don't want you to remember me
not my laughter, not my kisses,
not my body, not my secrets
just forget it, please, please

I am the withering flower crushed underfoot
A slight bit of sweet scent without any root
Full of regret for what i've let myself become
A pale little posey, scared to stretch out for the sun

I don't want you to remember me
not my laughter, not my kisses,
not my body, not my secrets
just forget it, please, please

Already In Me

Gotta learn to be led by my head instead of my heart
'cuz where she falls I always go tumbling after
Pick my aching body up, brush off the dust
and vow this is the last time I let myself trust her

You're already in me, already looking for another love
You're already in me, already looking for another love
And I'm vanishing in your arms while your eyes are busy searching for the door
but you're already in me

I lay awake with my cheek resting on your chest
and listen to the rhythm of your blood and your breath
Then you turn away in your sleep, you turn your back on me
two bodies joined and separated by loneliness

You're already in me, already looking for another love
You're already in me, already looking for another love
And I'm vanishing in your arms while your eyes are busy searching for the door
but you're already in me

Everything in me wants to tell you, "Don't leave."
Everything in me wants to say, "Please stay with me."
"Don't leave. Please stay with me."

You're already in me, already looking for another love
You're already in me, already looking for another love
And I'm vanishing in your arms while your eyes are busy searching for the door
but you're already in me

Come Home

I got lost in the candle flame
thought I heard you calling my name
so I let my soul float up to the rafters
chasing the echoes of your laughter

when will you come home?

Brooklyn skies are baby blue
boy I'm lonely, lonely for you
the window is cold but my hands burn
wait for the stranger to return

when will you come home?

weary of running my own defense
pull me under you and it all makes sense

when will you come home?

The Taste of Blood

Maybe you only want what you can only get
Certainly don't want love cuz it puts you in my debt
Did I ask you to love me, did I place any demands?
Doesn't make sense to my heart, but my head understands

You hate hearing me say that we all want to get hurt
If it makes you feel better, you can hide behind my skirt
I'll be in the corner licking salt from a paper cut
but don't worry, it's okay, I'm used to the taste of blood
I'm used to the taste of blood

Maybe you'll run and put your head under the sand
or laugh it off, purposefully misunderstand
I'm still confused, I thought that what we had was good
Tell me what's so frightening, what's wrong with being loved?

You hate hearing me say that we all want to get hurt
If it makes you feel better, you can hide under my skirt
I'll be in the corner licking salt from a paper cut
but don't worry, it's okay, I'm used to the taste of blood
I'm used to the taste of blood