Leaving Ohio Lyrics

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DRAG THE RIVER

They’re dragging the river
The town was all there
Kids covered their ears
When the cannon blared
But you are determined
To stay where you are
I knew you were gone
as I walked to the car
Escape form the horror
of church basement stares
coffee and kindness

I can not
bear all these faces
wearing sympathy
Casseroles are warming
as I turn to leave

Nothing else to be done
Drag the river

They’ll take a collection
and pray for me hard
They’ll send out the kids
to take care of the yard
And if I don’t stop it
they’ll take you away
They’ll help me forget
that your love floats away

Down the river
All gone to the sea
And I’ll take the dread
To keep your ghost with me

This cars feels unsteady
Passed the spot
we laid out on the levy
Through the locks I’ll join you
Out in the river
All gone to the sea
And I’ll take the dread
To keep your ghost with me

WASTE

I estimated your arrival
I never figured on depart
and as you sank beneath your bible
our book just seemed to fall apart

And if we’re pulling out the score card
Mark me down for nothing gained
sad to say

why did I waste such precious
why did I waste such precious time
I don’t remember all the things that took up space
why did I waste

And we ducked under the horizon
flashlights searched our story’s page
And never mind you sat alone when I was gone
It’s been hard to stay this strange

And if we’re pulling out the score card
Mark me down for nothing left
except some regret

why did I waste such precious
why did I waste such precious time
I don’t remember all the things that took your place
why did I waste

And the safety is anything but sound
What tucked you in the riverbed is lurking round
And I don’t’ think I’ll stay awake much longer now
I could have stretched to try to reach you better

why did I waste such precious
why did I waste such precious time
And I remember every smile that lit your face
why did I waste

why did I waste – precious
why did I waste such precious time
I can’t remember all the things that took up space
why did I waste

CARDINAL S.

That damn cardinal again
and the constant cheerful singing
Pluck and pot
Tastes better than he sounds
Got one foot in the clouds
While my head is in the oven
Don’t look down until it’s time to fall

Prop me up to tear it down
The statue in the lawn
Violence is creative
My self-portrait’s almost done
Sorry kids we never had
Your dad and mom are gone
It’s a shame you had to go

Damn sun rose again
with her cheery disposition
I close my eyes but nothing goes away
One foot in the grave
and my mind is in the gutter
Don’t look up the gates have all been closed

Prop me up to tear it down
The statue in the lawn
Violence is creative
My self-portrait’s almost done
Sorry kids we never had
Your dad and mom are gone
It’s a shame I’ve got to go

This thing’s alright

Sing hosanna
No ones there to hear me

NERUDA LEFT THE ROOM

Felt so wrong in all the rented clothes
Till your entrance turned each head in the rows
I remember feeling right
Suddenly nothing  to fight
You winked as you floated
By the time you reached my side
The knot already tied
I could shout it from the steeple

And Neruda’s in the room
How’d he know about me and you
How’d he write what we’d find

God couldn’t give much of a damn
About our normal little plans
I’ll grow old here without you
And I let you go alone
Watched you sinking like a stone
All I did was survive it

And Neruda’s left the room
Just a liar and a fool
Scream his words against the rain

CRUEL REMINDER

I’ve climbed these stairs a million times
Something about the pitch is not the same
I use the wall to brace myself
I guess I know the thing that has changed

And the closet door is closed
I know you’re in there
But I need to free your ghost
Let it out into the air

And the letters spill out
Of your box of treasures
And your favorite dress it hangs
Like a cruel reminder

It took me awhile to get in here
Now I’m just  lying on the floor
I miss my only family
And I am well beyond feeling cold

And the closet door is closed
And I’m in here with you
I don’t want to free your ghost
But she’s breathing all the air

And your letters spill out
From your box of treasures
And your favorite dress it hangs
Like a cruel reminder

Tear the letters up
Pull the hangers down
Fill a box with all
Get it out of the house
And your ghost can leave
Let me get some sleep now
I’ll just

Leave your favorite dress where it hangs
As a cruel reminder

Farewell to your ghost.

LIONS IN THE WOODS

Echo, I’d rather have a voice
So thank you for no choice
Your letters cover
every way you’ve gone

Drag the rocker to the yard
Sleep ambushed all the guards
uprooted all my
fears to fall to sleep

I feel them
Lions in the woods
They’d take me if they could
My eyes will close just one more time
I’m standing naked in the snow
Exposed to it, I’ve got my plans
To build it all again.  
This time in stone

This trees down, counted all the rings
and studied all the things
that made us fall for
Breathing til we drown

The rope is
Coiled in the barn for me
Hope to
Hang in the silo free
Before they tear in
Those lions

KNIVES IN THE KITCHEN

I keep my knives in the kitchen
Just behind the spice
I keep my knives in the kitchen
Right behind the spice
I keep my knives in the kitchen
Over by the spice
Because when I go to chop it up
I want it all to come out nice

I keep my hooch behind a statue
Out there in the wall
I keep my hooch inside the statue
Hidden in the lawn
I keep my hooch beneath a statue
Just out in the lawn

I keep my pills in the cabinet
Up above the sink
I keep my pills in the cabinet
Just above the sink
I keep my pills in the cabinet
Right above the sink
That’s where I go to fill my hand
Before I pour me a drink

There’s a jar in the cellar
Down in the dark
There’s a jar in the cellar
That I once drank from
There’s a jar in the cellar
Sitting in the dark
And when I’m feeling this way
I go and stare at your heart
And when I’m feeling this way
I go and stare at your heart

ONCE WE WALTZED

A knock on the door interrupted a thought
A memory of you at the top of the stairs
Your dress and an aura,  the band had to pause
You smiled down on upon us all

The sheriff is twisting my words with his cane
It’s survival
Steady myself with a drink from the well
It’s survival

Always a fondness to gaze
Lover they want your ghost
Holster your gun I’m not moving
Time holds me to

I swear I remember you went by yourself
Walked into the river alone
I lie on the bank with my eyes shuttered closed
Believe me I wish I’d known

Bury yourself with a
With a teaspoon of earth
Every day it grows
Bury yourself with the facts through a maze
Is there anything we know

Always a fondness to gaze
Lover they taste the blood
Everyone holster your guns
I’m tired
Feed me to roses

Time
Step on the pieces
Your feet bleeding raw
Laugh like we’re fanning ourselves
Under stars in night

I remember the dance
The steps that we took
The passing of time
And since you are gone
Then so will be I

LEAVING OHIO

The rust has been plotting
(To) turn flawless and fine
To rotting and gone
I’ll cover the driveway
With ivy and weeds
Draw the bridge up to stay

You taught
me something about heaven
Then packed it up took it away
Hell is ready for check in
Bell Captain is leading the way

I’m leaving Ohio
What held me is no more
I’m leaving Ohio
Nothing left but the door

I lost it to failing
I lost it to rage
Found it too late
To open your cage
Put your things in the pantry
Swept the leaves from your grave
I will pray for my sinning
but I’ll never be saved

from reaching for heaven
if you’re in the sky
then I’ll try to believe
Hell is a fine destination
I’m not sure which tickets I’ve saved

The flood as it raised
The locust they grazed
But your famine was I never did treasure our days
The crops are all gone
And I give up the farm

I’m leaving Ohio
Lower the drawbridge and let me in
I’m leaving Ohio
I’ll track you and chase you and turn on this pain into fuel
I’m leaving Ohio
Gonna try not to turn back and wave
I’m leaving Ohio
But I’m taking my faith…
I’ll be better when you see me again