The Angry Sore

There’s An Angry Sore In The Pit Of My Tum

Size Of The Of The Nail Upon My Thumb

It’s A Violent Red I Lay On The Bed And Watch 

The Screen From My Left Side As They Quickly Try To Hide It

Take My Blood And An Ecg, Chest X-Ray And A Cup Of Pee As I Join The Ranks Of

The Living Dead I’m A Tickin’ Time Bomb In This Hospital Bed

I’m A Shut In Who Cant Shut It Out Of My Head.

Oh Oh Oh Oh   Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh

And My Ass Is Falling Out Of This Hospital Gown

And I Can’t Fall Asleep Without Being Put Down

No I Can’t Come Out And Play, Doctor Told Me Not Today.

She Said I’m Overwhelmed And Under The Weather Can’t We Pick A

Distant Time When We Can Get Together When I’m

Overwhelmed And At A Disadvantage I Drop The C-Bomb,

Watch It Do The Damage. Oh Oh Oh Oh, Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh

No I Can’t Run Out And Play, Doctor Said It’s Not Ok

She Said Those Publice Places Stay Away From Them.

And Those Shaking Hands, Kissing Lips

Wash Your Finger Tips And Up Past The Wrist

Oh Oh Oh  Oh  Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh 

And My Ass Is Falling Out Of This Hospital Gown. And I Can Not 

Fall Asleep Without Being Put Down, No I Can Not Fall Asleep

Without Being, Being Put Down With Out Being, Being Put Down Put Down.

Surgery

A Couple Of Pills, In A Small Dixie Cup

Then One Sharp Prick And The Nights Looking Up

And My Eyes Roll Back, And My Words Get Thick

No Time To Count Backwards, It Happens So Quickly.

And I’m Sinking Down Through These Hospital Sheets

That Never Stay Tucked In Or Cover My Feet

And I Can Walk On The Water, I Can Talk Under Water

I’m A Ghost, You’re An Angel, I’m A Lamb To The Slaughter

You Can’t Hold Me Down, I’m Floating Above The Ground

I Don’t Ever Want To Wake Up And Come Round

Just Keep The Needles Coming, Pop The Pills For Numbing

Hear The Heart Strings Strumming On…..

Bring It On.   

Bring The Pricks And The Pills And The Carnival Thrills

And The Bear In My Room And The Mop In Full Bloom

No More Pricks, No More Pills. 

No More Pills.

Prayer List

Today I Grew Old And It’s Beaten Me Down

I’m Just One Of Four Men In A Hospital Gown

Prasad Tells The Nurse That He’s Scared To Go Home

Dead Right To Be Scared About Being Alone

And They’re Pushing Him Right Out The Door

Past The Blood From His Pecker That’s Peppered The Floor

And Jim’s Got Us On A Prayer List, Jim’s Got Us On A Prayer List

Me Neil And Prasad. Jim’s Got Us On A Prayer List

Must Be A Pretty Short List And The Whole Thing’s Sad

But The Whole Thing’s Beautiful Too, The Whole Day’s Beautifully Sad.

Neil Just Got Told He Won’t Go Home Today

You Can Feel His Relief That He Wants It This Way

His Wife Isn’t Well She Can’t Take Anymore

Of Scrubbing His Filth Off The Sheets And The Floor

She’s Relieved He Won’t Walk Out The Door

And Jim’s Got Us On A Prayer List

Jim’s Got Us On A Prayer List, Me, Neil And Prasad

Jim’s Got Us On A Prayer List. Must Be A Pretty Short List

But The Whole Things Sad, Yes The Whole Things Beautiful Too

The Whole Things Beautifully Sad

And I’ve Been Waiting So Long To Say I’m Gone

I’ve Been Waiting For Weeks To Move On

I’ve Been Waiting So Long To Be Up And Gone

I’ve Been Waiting For Weeks To Get Stronger

I’ve Been Willing This Time To Move On

I Was The First To Check In, The Last To Punch Out

I Pack Up My Things As I Shuffle About.

I Have Eight Weeks Ahead Of Me Cutting And Pasteing

With No Guarantee Of Just What I’ll Be Facing

I’m All Skin And Bones And My Spirit Is Wasteing Away

And Jim’s Got Us On A Prayer List, Me Neil And Prasad

Jim’s Got Us On A Prayer List

And The Whole Things Sad, But The Whole Things Beautiful Too

The Whole Things Been Wonderfully Sad

And I’ve Been Waiting So Long Just To Say I’m Gone

I’ve Been Waiting For Weeks To Move On

I’ve Been Waiting This Long To Be Up And Gone

I’ve Been Waiting For Weeks To Get Stronger 

I’ve Been Waiting For Weeks Get On.

Moving Day

I Walked Past Your House Today. 

As The Moving Truck Swept You Away.

All Your Paintings Books And Chairs.

Were All Picked Through By Your Kids, Your Heirs

And You Were Gone, You’ve Been Given Away.

I Know You’re Gone, I Saw Them Drive You Away.

They Marched You Up And Down The Stairs

Packed You Up Into Cardboard Squares.

Marched You In And Out The Door 

And The Rest Got Dropped At The Goodwill Store

And You Were Gone, You’ve Been Given Away

I Know You’re Gone Because It’s Moving Day

This Time I’m Sure, This Time For Sure

This Time You’re Gone For Sure, For Sure…..

You Left Your Love In His Rocking Chair

With A Chipped Tea Cup And A Vacant Stare

You’re Gone, You Left Him Here Today

And He Won’t Stay Long Because 

He Just Can’t Be Here With You Gone

He’ll Be Moving Away, He’ll Be Gone Come Moving Day

This Time I’m Sure, This Time For Sure,

This Time He’s Gone For Sure

These Are The Instructions

These Are The Instructions You Should Follow Should I Die

Burn Me In A Cardboard Box. Save Your Money For My Wake.

Save Your Money For My Wake. Pick A Pub I Don’t Care Which.

In Which You All Can Celebrate.

Toss My Ashes In The Ocean, Throw Them Hard And Over Hand.

If The Wind Kicks Up And Blows Them Back Towards The Land.

It’s Not A Sign, It’s Just The Wind, So Brush Me Off And Try Again.

I Want Every Woman, Man And Child To Have A Drink.

Mother’s If You’re Child Can’t Raise A Glass.

Pull Them Tight Against Your Chest.

Let Them Suck Upon Your Breast I Think That That’s In Line.

If I Were There I’ld Drink Red Wine

But Your Breast Might Do Just Fine.

Here’s A Short List, Just Two Songs That I Demand Be Played

The Whole Of The Moon Will Light My Way

Somewhere In The Middle Ben Hepner Sings Nessun Dorma

And When He Hits The High C Raise A Cheer, Or Talk Right Through

Shed A Tear, It’s Up To You Not Me To Carry On

With A Brave Face And Your Bright Red Lipstick On.

Mmm Mmm Mmmm Mmmm Your Bright Red Lipstick On….

Keep My Name Alive And Close

Cause I’m The One You’ll Miss The Most

Raise A Glass And Make A Toast To Me The One Who Loves You Most

To Me The One You Love The Most.

Thank You

Thank You For The Phone Calls The Flowers The Dinners And The Cards

Thank You For The Kind Words, Black Humour And The Plums From

Your Yard.

I Opened Up And Dropped Them In.  I Felt The Love Run Down My Chin

Thank You For The Joke That Nearly Ripped Me Apart

Thank You For Checking On Me As I Lay Alone In The Dark.

I’m In Love With The Evening Shift. You  Gotta Love A Woman

Who Can Where That Colour Green And Get Away With It.

I’m The Kid That They Cut Apart, Stitched Back Up

Then Grew A Softer Heart, I Grew A Real Soft Heart

Bless You For The Bedtime Gift Of Needles And Pills.

To You, For Never Saying No For Always Saying You Will.

Come When I Ring My Bell, Then Gently Lay Your Hand

Upon My Hand As Well

Bless You For Sleeping At The Foot Of My Bed

To You For Coming All This Way To Plant A Kiss On My Head

I Woke Up And Took You In.  I Felt Your Lips Press Gently Down 

Upon My Skin, I’m The Kid That They Cut Apart Stitched Back Up

And Grew A Softer Heart, I Grew A Real Soft Heart, Thank You,Thank You

I Sit And Wait For The Black Crows To Fly By My Windows

Hey Here Come The Black Crows, To Fly Past My Windows

Thank You…  Thank You… Thank You

For Jill

Ours Was No Tender Courtship. We Hit The Hard Wood Floor.

We Banged Our Hips, Bruised Our Lips, Licked Our Wounds And More.

And The Names Of God And Jesus Christ Echoed Down The Hall.

Where A Photograph, Your 8×10 Was Taped Up On The Wall.

I’ll Love You All Over Again. Just Like I Promised I Could.

In Sickness And Health In All Absence Of Wealth Like I Knew I Would.

On The Heat Of Summer Asphalt, In The Middle Of Our Road. 

On A Dirty Old Car Blanket, With The Pavement Turning Cold.

We Counted Shooting Stars On Naked Fingers, Naked Toes.

We Keep Counting On Each Other To Still Love What We Behold.

I’ll Love You All Over Again, Just Like I Promised I Could 

At The Edge Of The Beach, At The Edge Of The Trail, At The Edge Of The Woods

And When Our Hair Goes Grey Or Gone. 

And Our Hands Turn Thin And Frail.

At The Edge Of The Cliff, At The Edge Of The Woods

In Sickness And Health In All Absence Of Wealth

Like I Knew We Would.

Today Is Your Birthday

Today Is Your Birthday So Here’s To You

Today Is The One Day That We Can Make A Fuss

All Over You From Us .  

You’re Loved.  Just Look Around This Room.

If You Weren’t Here There’ld Be An Empty Space

Without Your Loving Face

We Need You Here, You Keep Us In Our Place

Cause Old Friends Say It All In Short Hand With A Kiss

Old Friends Draw Circles On The Calendar

So No One Will Be Missed.

Today Is Your Birthday 3 Cheers To You

Today Is The One Day When We Can Raise A Glass

We Can Make A Toast

To Those We Miss And Those We Loved The Most

Cause Old Friends Say It All In Shorthand With A Kiss

Old Friends Draw Wircles On The Calendar So No One Will Be Missed

My Little Lamb

Don’t Say Maybe My Sweet Baby. Don’t Be So Eager To Please

He Might Be A Stand Up Guy Till He Wants You On Your Knees.

Drinks After Dark, On Beaches And Parks. Hoping You’ll Give It A Miss.

Cause Young Lips Were Only Made To Blow A Kiss.

It’s All A Mistake, It’s Yours To Make

But It’s My Heart That Will Break.

I Know It’s Your’s To Lose But

You’re My Little Girl To Take Uh Hun

He’ll Beg, He’ll Plead, He’ll Prompt He’ll Need, He’ll Promise

You The World. And When The Deed Is Done He’ll Slink Away

And You’ll Be Left Alone To Say That You Still Defend His Honour.

Oh Girl You Don’t Know Him Like I Do.

Cause I Begged And I Pleaded,

I Pushed And I Needed When I Was His Age Too.

It’s All A Mistake, It’s Yours To Make

But It’s My Heart That Will Break.

I Know Its Yours To Lose

But You’re My Little Lamb To Take

I Know Its Yours To Lose

But You’re My Little Lamb,

You’re My Little Girl To Take.  Uh Huh

Oom Papa Oom Papa

Of Mice And Men

You Sleek And Cowrin’ Timid Beast

Oh What A Panic’s In Your Breast

You Need Not Start Away So Hasty

I Would Be Loath To Run And Chase You

I’m Truly Sorry Man’s Dominion

Has Broken Nature’s Social Union

And Justifies That Ill Opinion

Which Makes You Startle At Me 

My Fellow Mortal

My Friend You’re Not Alone

In Proving Fore Sight May Be Vain 

The Best Laid Schemes Of Mice And Men

Will Go Awry And Leave Us Not But Grief And Pain

But You Are Blessed Instead Of Me 

Only The Present Touches You

And As I Backwards Caste My Eye

And Forwards To Though I Can’t See I Guess And Fear

My Friend You’re Not Alone In Proving Fore Sight 

May Be Vain. The Best Laid Schemes Of Mice

And Men Will Go Awry And Leave Us Not But Grief And Pain.

All Songs Copyright 2014 John Mann /Socan