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Better the Parcel than the Post
1. The M Train
when the wings brush against you it's too late
they're gonna have to amputate
even Richard Burton has got some bills to pay
too many stories told
the story's gonna swallow you whole
canvas of Olympus the hills and valleys below
port authority-assisted suicide
he's on the budget plan to see the old gray man
his hair is dirty and he's wearing platform shoes
might make the evening news
see you then on the M train
the people la gente
have done evil in my eyes
they have set up idols
in the house that bears my name
they have built high places
to burn their daughters and sons
I did not command them nor did it enter my mind
her breath is musty but her water table's high
unlike the new Southwest
desert once and desert yet
she drops her briefcase and collapses the soufflé
for Papa Doc Duvalier
see you then on the M train
2. Jefferson & Liberty
campaign victory song for TJ, 1802
 back to top
3. When the Surface Heats the Core
he put the cart before the horse
he grew the grape without the vine
he threw the paper at her door
before her mother started crying
and the moon will be rising
when the surface heats the core
he took the poll before the vote
he made the law before the crime
he put his eyes before his mouth
mister white knuckles going south
and the moon will be rising
when the surface heats the core
he put the china on the shelf
he sold the bread before the line
he took his coffee with no cream
he slept well at night without a dream
and the moon will be rising
when the surface heats the core
he put the laugh before the joke
he blew the smoke before the screen
he paid the parcel and the post
what he didn't have he misses most
and the moon will be rising
when the surface heats the core
4. Root, Hog, or Die
this is the church and this is the steeple
open the doors and see all the people
were you surprised in this time and day
that some will burn and some collect the pay?
can we be sure from such a distance
who is insured and who is in business?
the band sits down the drums begin to play
and who does the talking anyway?
the other day in Morgantown
a church was burned down to the ground
beneath the rafters once so tall
upon his knees he did fall
the in your face complicity
the what you get is what you see
is lost unto the newscaster
she twists her hair and makes a curl
back to top
5. Jimmy Carter Says Yes (Walls)
unofficial campaign victory song for JC
6. Everest
when I shakes your hand
when I fall up the stairs
when I wield my sword
don't act so bored
I'm the man
spank them girls
when you get the chance
as I climb that peak
when I describe my phlegm
when I move my bowels
cheers and howls
I'm the man
two miles high
ain't never gonna die
with each step I take
as seen on ESPN
when my speech is slurred
do I look absurd?
I'm the man
pass the dead
without digging them a grave
7. Mattress in the Basement
(instrumental)
back to top
8. Motherthumb (lyrics - Mike Vargo)
old Ben Franklin set the tone for patriotic duty
for liberty and equality and the joy of chasing jukee
Thomas Jefferson had slave girls
he liked them young and slim
and when the girls got pregnant
all the babies looked like him
Aaron Burr's diplomacy was always intimate
and thus we see his progeny were illegitimate
but while these men were out there getting hot and bothered
the country was the only thing that Washington ever fathered
the father of our country was a mama's boy
there ain't nothing wrong with that
George in fact grew strong from that
'cause if you can learn to cope
with a domineering mama
you can handle any trauma
now Jefferson & Hamilton were at each other's throats
while other so-called patriots were rocking other boats
and when their squabbling could've brought the revolution down
George was there to keep 'em straight and make 'em rally 'round
you see while some men argued how the country should be run
George was busy getting out from under mama's thumb
and unlike men who always need to have their egos flattered
George knew independence was the only thing that mattered
9. Father, Holy Ghost, and Son
there comes a time when she realize
that fate is in his hands
and rightly understand
Margaret put your hair in a bun
show your teeth hold out your tongue
a simple nod is all we'll need
won't hurt a bit won't even bleed
please don't take this precious one
father, holy ghost, and son
and so the door to his room
is closed every night
no stereo or light
don't you think his work's undone
years were spent or grafted from
a thorny branch a familiar tree
there he sits right next to me
please don't take this precious one
father, holy ghost, and son
I see a face on the moon
in the carpet of my bedroom
in the bottom of the well
where Jimmy Creegan fell
and so I will try to love you tonight
back to top
10. IPO
there are sheep and there are shepherds
the good book will tell you that
I program convincing haphazards
needs can be met like that
I played all those newspaper men
dining at half-past ten
sometimes you have to hedge your bet
but I wasn't raised like that
live monkeys and caviar
help yourself at the bar
in two years I'll own CBS
titans must show largesse
cloudy day in late september
bulls left town and the bear layed on down
at the bank spoke to the lender
sorry friend
but your credit has come to its alien end
time flies like an arrow
I cannot go back now
fruit flies like bananas
they just don't know quite how
who knows where the red fern grows?
the good book won't tell you that
I study the water still muddy
from the end of the summer past
11. Saint Joseph's Couch
the pyramids of Egypt were lost in outer space
breast implants may not change your face
robotic arm on a migratory farm worker
stealth bomber floating through the desert
stealth bomber riding a Suburu
I parachuted from C-Span
today I'm a rapper, too
little beaver swimming in a locked fever
I like his hair it's Christmas time
the Congress is bored oh happy days
I know a dentist who prescribes
jewelry and a rotisserie
from Pittsburgh, PA
Saint Joseph rode a horse
and he sat in a leather couch
and he blocked out the sunlight
and he cooked us a blind shake
of World War II
back to top
12. The Farmer Is the Man
Populist Party campaign song, 1880s
13. Ghostownhouse
(instrumental)
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