play along

I hope you get better
I hope you're alright
sometimes I know you pray
just to make it through the night
I hope you find rest
I hope you have peace
I know you're still searching
for so many things
everyone is wondering
what happened to you
where have you been
if what they're hearing is true
keep on moving
keep on praying
keep on playing along

you are the one who pulled me out
of so many dark pits
I've found myself so fragile
and so unable to reach out to you
I am a man
strong in so many ways
but your words are frightening and grave
I'm bad at this game
but I'm willing to try
just as long as you play along
just as long as you play along.

wasting my time

Take my lies
take my lies
this is what I need from you
I need to abuse
all of your fantasies
I need to disabuse you
of all of your fallacies
I am lightning
piercing your clouds
I am angry rain
flooding the ground
I am a speck of human grime
wasting my allotted time
waiting for something interesting
to come along

If the watchers do their jobs
then let them be agast
if the singers sing their songs
then let them be deafening
If the players play along
then let them riot
let them roar
every time you get close
I inject you
with my pretty little lies
every time I taste your mouth
you taste my caustic hate
pretty girl
I own you
come to me
feed from my filthy hands
sip from my lying lips
we will dance
and we will die
in each other's arms
but do you really know me?
I feel your trusting heart
racing with mine
your doubt and defenses
lay with your discarded clothes
I am in you
and I am snared
the more we struggle
the more we are enmeshed
and the more your faith
in this burned out man
starts to make sense.

expect friction

I've always told myself
I can have whatever I want
the problem is--
what I want is a bounty of filth and disease
what I want is
a thousand strange girls all for myself
endless debauched nights
of cigarettes and alcohol
these things can be mine
but
I've got to expect friction
princes and principalities
will have to realign
the angel on my shoulder
will have to resign
day will turn into night
this beast will become a monster
and I will have to say goodbye
to the one who restrains me
the one who contains me
maims me with one look
from those innocent eyes
she is the one who remains
my conscience
my virtue and my guide
without her
there is laughter but it is cruel
there is hope but it is false
there are dreams but I call them nightmares
without her
it's easy to see the simple truth:
that I have all but disappeared.

last thing on your mind (lights)

Don't think too hard
If you think it hurts that bad
don't talk about it
don't let it get you down
It's only one part
of the story
just let it go
don't let it bring you down now

Sing the last thing on your mind
the last word on your breath
I'll be the one to keep you
I'll keep you at your best
the last thing on your mind
cause I don't need your mess
I'll be the one to keep you
one disaster less

Straighten up your tie
take the microphone
forget about it
don't let it get you down
now is not the time
and you're not alone
shut up about it
no one can bring you down now

Sing the last thing on your mind
the last word on your breath
I'll be the one to keep you
I'll keep you at your best
the last thing on your mind
cause I don't need your mess
I'll be the one to keep you
one disaster less

I'll be okay.
I'll be okay if you'll sing

Sing the last thing on your mind
the last word on your breath
I'll be the one to keep you
I'll keep you at your best
the last thing on your mind
cause I don't need your mess
I'll be the one to keep you
one disaster less.

your problem

I think you have a problem
I think it's me
you're coming clean
and I'm getting dirty
I think you have the right to be angry
I see it now
your painted skies
so what are you going to do
with your little problem
how are you going to turn things around
what is the point
if this is all you get
I know I'm hard to handle
slippery and increasingly out of reach
the truth doesn't bend
for you or for me
if you want proof
it's not hard to find
I'm not hiding anymore
there is a purpose
in all of this
but nobody is going to believe me

This anger was drilled into me
with malicious intent
my eyes are burning
my throat is closing
but you just want to hold my hand
so humor me
tell me I'll be alright
tell me I'm gonna
make it through the night
this world needs believers
this world needs hope
this world doesn't need another
self-obsessed suicidal malcontent
I've played my games
I did my time
I did a pretty good imitation of a human being
I did what I wanted
did a lot I'd rather not repeat
so let me take this time to say
goodbye.