1.How Do You Speak To An Angel
A son who is cursed with a harridan mother
Or a weak simpering father at best
Is raised to play out the timeless classical motives
Of filial love and incest
How does he speak to a
How does he speak to the prettiest girl
How does he talk to her
What does he say for an opening line
What does he say if he's shy
What do you do with your pragmatic passions
With your classically neurotic style
How do you deal with your vague self-comprehension's
What do you do when you lie
How do you speak to a
How do you speak to the prettiest girl
How do you speak to her
How do you dance on the head of a pin
When you're on the outside looking in
How do you speak to a
How do you speak to the prettiest girl
How do you speak to a
How do you speak to the prettiest girl
How do you speak to a
How do you speak to the prettiest girl
How do you speak to a
How do you speak to the prettiest girl
How do you speak to a
How do you speak to the prettiest girl
How do you speak to a
How do you speak to the prettiest girl
You just say, hello, (hello) baby (hello)
...
Baby, angel, how do you talk to the prettiest girl, you say
Hello baby, hello baby, angel, angel, pretty little girl
Angel, angel ....
2.My Old Man
When i was a young boy in brooklyn
Going to public school
During recess in the concrete playground
They lined us up by twos
In alphabetical order, reagan, reed and russo
I still remember the names
And stickball and stoopball were the only games
That we played
And i wanted to be like my old man
I, i wanted to grow up just like my old man
I wanted to be like my old man
I wanted to dress like, i wanted to be just like
I wanted to act like my old man
I wanted to be like, i wanted to act like
I wanted to be just like my old man
And then like everyone else i started to grow
And i didn't want to be like my father anymore
I was sick of his bullying
And having to hide under a desk on the floor
And when he beat my mother
It made me so mad i could choke
And i didn't want to be like my old man
I, i didn't even want to look like my old man
I didn't even want to seem like my old man
A son watches his father, being cruel to his mother
And makes a vow to return only when
He is so much richer, in every way so much bigger that -
- the old man will never hit anyone again
Like my old man (just like my old man)
Like my old man
Like my old man (just like my old man)
Like my old man
And can you believe what he said to me
He said, 'lou, act like a man' (walk like a man)
Why don't you act just like a man
Act like your daddy, act like a man (just like my old man)
Oh, why don't you act just like a man
Like your old man (walk like a man)
(just like my old man)
(just like my old man)
3.Keep Away
You keep your jealousy and your snide remarks to yourself
You know that i'm not seeing anyone else
You just keep your ear down to the ground
Yell your head off if you hear a sound
Here's a whistle, a badge and a phone
You can arrest me if i'm not at home
And if i don't keep my word i swear
I'll keep away
Here's some books and a puzzle by escher
Here's shakespeare's measure for measure
Here's a balloon, a rubber band and a bag
Why don't you blow them up if you think you've been had
Here's a castle, a paper dragon and a moat
An earring, a toothbrush and a cloak
And if i don't keep my word i swear
I'll keep away
I swear i'll keep away, from all we've ever done
I'll keep away the good times, i'll keep away the fun
I swear i'll join the army, or maybe the marines
I'll start to wear designer suits and put away my jeans
I swear that i'll keep away, from all my old-time friends
I'll throw away my records, i'll try to make amends
I swear i'll give up gambling, and playing with the rent
I'll give up food and drinking, i'll give up a life ill-spent
Here's a yardstick you can measure me by
Here's a coupon, maybe there's something you want to buy
Here's a bandied in case you cut your feet
Here's a rubber mallet you can use on your front teeth
Here's a gun no one uses anymore
And a bracelet made of some expensive ore
And if i don't keep my word
You won't see me anymore
I swear i'll keep away, from dignity and pride
I'll keep away from abstracts, i'll keep it all inside
Well, i'll just wrap me up in butter, and melt me on a shelf
I'll fry in my own juices, i'll become somebody else
Well, i'll just swear to keep away, from everything that's good
I'll lie down in the gutter, where i really should
I swear i'll light a candle, to every modern foe
I swear i'll close the book on this, and not see you anymore
'cause i just got to get away
4.Growing Up In Public
Some people are into the power of power
The absolute corrupting power, that makes great men insane
While some people find their refreshment in action
The manipulation, encroachment and destruction of their
inferiors
Growing up in public, growing up in public
Growing up in public, growing up in public with your pants down
Some people are into sadistic pleasures
They whet their desires and drool in your ears
They're quasi-effeminate characters in love with oral
gratification
They edify your integrities, so they can play on your fears
They're gonna do you in public, 'cause you're growing up in
public
They're gonna do it to you in public,
'cause you're growing up in public with your pants down
Some people think being a man is unmanly
Some people think that the whole concept's a joke
But some people think being a man is the whole point
And then some people wish they'd never awoke
Up from a dream of nightmarish proportions
Down to a size neither regal nor calm
A prince hamlet caught the middle between reason and instinct
Caught in the middle with your pants down again
Caught in the middle, i'm really caught in the middle
I'm caught in the middle, caught in the middle deciding about
you
5.Standing On Ceremony
Remember your manners
Will you please take your hat off
Your mother is dying
Listen to her cough
We were always standing on ceremony
We were always standing on ceremony
Can't you show some respect please
Although you didn't in real life
Your mother is dying
And i god damn well hope you're satisfied
We were always standing on ceremony
We were always standing on ceremony
So please play another song on that juke box
Please play another pretty sad song for me
And if that phone rings, tell them that you haven't seen me
If that last phone rings
Tell them that you haven't seen me for weeks
And this one here's on me
Standing on ceremony, standing on ceremony
Standing on ceremony, standing on ceremony
Standing on ceremony, you were always standing on ceremony
(standing, on ceremony)
(standing, on ceremony)
(standing, on ceremony)
(standing, on ceremony)
(standing, on ceremony)
(standing, on ceremony)
...
6.So Alone
She calls on the phone
She says she doesn't want to be alone
She says it's making her neurotic
But please don't mistake it for being erotic
So alone, so all alone
She says let's go for a walk
We'll have a drink and maybe we will talk
And he thinks she has possibilities
If she could just put away her rosary
So alone, nobody wants to be alone
But i just didn't know
I swear to you, i just didn't know
I would never make you sad
If i had known i never would have
Said those things to you
You have to be crazy to say those things to you
Let's face it i made a mistake
Well you know, fools rush in where angels take a break
I can't be smart all of the time
And anyway i didn't know you were making time over him
To tell you the truth, i forget all about him
And you know, i don't think it's nice
Asking one man about another man's vice
I don't care if you pick my head
As long as we end up in bed
Alone, just the two of us alone
I just didn't know
I swear to god, i just didn't know
Can't you understand that it's frightening
When you hear women talking about castrating and hating men
Who wants to know about how you hate men
Well, you said now you wanted to dance
So now we're going to dance
You said that you weren't complete
But we're going to put you on your feet
You said that you were very vexed
You told me to forget about sex
You said you liked me for my mind
Well, i really love your behind
Oh, get up and boogie, oh baby, get up and dance
Oh, get, get, get, get up and boogie, baby, oh, get up and dance
Shake your booty, mama, oh, get up and dance
Your points very clear
You're not one to cry into your beer
Why don't we go to my place
Believe me, i'm very chaste
And i'm so alone, ao all alone
Sure all men are beasts
Hey, look, i'll sit here quietly and i'll stare at my feet
I don't blame you for taking umbrage
With animals staring at your cleavage
So alone, we're so all alone
Hey, do you mind if i turn out the light
Don't take offense, but why don't you spend the night
I know your passions run very deep
But at this point we both need sleep
So alone, and who wants to be alone
7.Love Is Here To Stay
Love is here, here to stay
Love is here, here to stay
It gets proven every day
Love is here, here to stay
They both love chinese food, he hates to dress
He loves to play pinball, she wants to play next
She likes her novels long, he's into comic books
They're gilt-edged polymorphous urban but somehow it works
'cause love is here, here to stay
Love is here, here to stay
It gets proven every day
Love is here, here to stay
She likes truman capote, he likes gore vidal
He likes edgar allan poe, she's into mean joe greene
She thinks eating meat's disgusting, he likes hot dogs
She's into gestalt therapy
While est and the vest just make him ill
But love is here to stay
Love is here, here to stay
Love is here, here to stay
It gets proven every day
Love is here, here to stay
Love is here, here to stay
Love is here, here to stay
It gets proven every day
Love is here, here to stay
8.The Power Of Positive Drinking
Some like wine and some like hops
But what i really love is my scotch
It's the power, the power of positive drinking
Some people ruin their drinks with ice
And then they, they ask you for advice
They tell you, i've never told anyone else before
They say, candy is dandy but liquor makes quipsters
And i don't like mixers, or sippers or sob sisters
You know, you have to be real careful where you sit down
In a bar these days
And then some people drink to unleash their libidos
And other people drink to prop up their egos
It's my burdon, man, people say
I have the kind of face you can trust
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive drinking
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive drinking
Some people say, alcohol makes you less lucid
And think that's true if you're kind of stupid
I'm not that kind that get's himself burned twice
And some say liquor kills the cells in your head
And for that matter so does getting out of bed
When i exit, i'll go out gracefully, shot in my hand
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive drinking
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive
The pow-pow-pow-pow-power of positive drinking
9.Smiles
Smiles, i was taught never to smile
I was told the stylish smiles of buffoonery
Chicanery and larceny abound
My mom said unless someone sticks you right in front of a camera
A smile is the last thing that you wanna do
Those smiles, those mirthless toothy smiles
Smiles, they all smile on tv
The quizmaster with his withered crones
The talkshow hosting movie stars, the politician licking feet
The mugger, the rapist, the arsonic lover
All smile out from the news, at one time or another
Those smiles, those garish sickly smiles
When i was young my mother said to me
Never, ever, let anyone see that you're happy
Smiles, never, ever let them see you smile
They'll always put you down
With those smiles, never, ever let them see you smile
They'll always put you down
With your smiles, never, ever let them see you smile
Don't you know they'll make you go
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
10.Think It Over
Waking, he stared raptly at her face
On his lips, her smell, her taste
Black hair framing her perfect face
With her wonderful mind and her incredible grace
And so, he woke, he woke her with a start
To offer her his heart
For once and for all, forever to keep
And the words, that she first heard him speak
Were really very sweet
He was asking her to marry him, and to
Think it over
Baby, think it over
Think it over
Baby, why don't you think it over
She said, somewhere, there's a faraway place
Where all is ordered and all is grace
No one there is ever disgraced
And everyone there is wise and everyone has taste
And then she sighed, well la-dee-dah-dee-dah
You and i have come quite far
And we really must watch what we say
Because when you ask for someone's heart
You must know that you're smart
Smart enough to care for it, so i'm gonna
Think it over
Baby, think it over
Think it over
Baby, i'm gonna think it over
11.Teach The Gifted Children
Teach the gifted children
Teach them to have mercy
Teach them about sunsets
Teach them about moonrise
Teach them about anger
The sin that comes with dawning
Teach them about flowers
And the beauty of forgetfulness
Then take me to the river (take me to the river)
And put me in the water (and put me in the water)
Bless them and forgive them (take me to the river)
Father cause they just don't know (take me to the river)
All the gifted children
Teach the gifted children
The way of men and animals
Teach them about cities
The history of the mysteries
Their vice and their virtues
About branches that blow in the wind
On the wages of their sins
Teach them of forgiveness
Teach them about mercy
Teach them about music
And the cool and cleansing waters
What do they say, take me to the river (take me to the river)
Take me to the river (take me to the river)
Put me in the water (take me to the river)
And teach the gifted children (take me to the river)
All the gifted children (take me to the river)
(take me to the river)
(take me to the river)
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