The picture above is connected to the song Stripping The Jesus. If you haven’t seen The Big Lebowski, the song lyrics may confuse you. To eliminate the confusion, you should watch the movie.
War Zone Nerv is for Warren Zevon fans.
A Call To Mind
Chorus
I want a call to mind; not a call to war.
I want a call to mind; not a call to war.
Economics is used against us.
The media tell us lies.
Political parties around the world
Use democracy as a disguise.
What our leaders say is not what they do.
But we’ve become inured to their lies.
And when these so-called leaders disagree
It’s the innocents who die.
Is there a reason for the pain and sorrow?
I know that life will be the same tomorrow.
Will there ever be a day when we will
End political corruption or will we still
Watch them use power for nothing more
Than pushing us closer to nuclear war.
Bang, bang. Shoot, shoot.
Will killing us 5 times
Make us any more dead
Than killing us one time.
Chorus
Choir
Faith
A condition or state of mind in which an individual indicates a belief in all other individuals right to exist. This implies belief in the necessity of humanity living in harmony with the one environment we know allows us to exist. Faith starts with believing in yourself.
Love
A condition or state of mind which compels an individual to sacrifice his or her own interests to forward the interests of some other individual. This includes the giving of one’s life to save that of another. Love cannot be unrequited. What you give, is ultimately what you receive.
Hope
A condition or state of mind in which people indicate they believe the human race has some future other than extinction. Hope is best expressed by having children and teaching those children to be aware of their relationship not just with their immediate family, but with the family of man.
Trust
A state of harmony that allows for the pursuit of happiness. In times of peace, which have been few and far between in human history it became possible for humans to establish and learn the importance of trust. Love, faith and hope can all exist in times of war, but trust only exists in times of peace.
Preacher
Peace starts with love and fosters faith. From the hope that peace will last, trust emerges, and allows us to evolve. Understand, we do not know for a certainty how we came to exist. We do not know why we exist. We do not know what becomes of us when we cease to exist. We know one thing; that is that we do exist.
We all have two arms, and I’ll tell you this people
I’d rather have them wrapped around me than dropped on top of my head.
Chorus
There Are Only 5 Tribes
Intro
There are only 5 tribes
They all began in Africa
It all began in Africa
I’m a lowly number 5.
Ten thousand years later than my ancestors.
Later than my ancestors.
There are only 5 tribes
There are only 5 tribes
Bridge
Adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine
It was the number 5 mutation
That overcame the rest
We coded for violence
And a willingness
To put ourselves first
To put ourselves first
To put ourselves first
Now all of us are living
The capitalistic dream
We have everything we want
Including identity
When the races merged
Differences were lost
The creation of genetic tribes
Gave more benefit than cost
Cadence
Tens of thousands of years
To evolve to a higher plane
The 5 mutation pushed us
Further than you would ever go
There are only 5 tribes
Further than you would ever go
The 99
For love
The 99, They’re making breakfast
The 99, They get their kids to school
The 99, They jam the highways
They have a lot to do
The sun rises on a brand-new day
But we’re not all hoping for more of the same
Some wonder when we’ll see a rise in pay
Too many looking for someone to blame
And some wonder if we’ll ever gain
The feeling that we’re all the same
It’s clear the money’s getting in the way
Politicians play the 1 percent’s game
The 99, They go to meetings
The 99, They’re local DJs
The 99, Broadcast the news
They have a lot to say
CEOs with golden parachutes
Have the rest of us singing the blues
Here on the ground, it’s the men in boots
That get the work done and pay their dues
It’s up to us to build the schools
We are the ones who set the jewels
Revolutions aren’t started by fools
Our hands and minds will be the tools
The 99, Are fed up with corruption
The 99, Don’t want leaders in disguise
The 99, Are ready to make changes
They’ve heard too many lies
The 99, They’re riding subways
The 99, They get around
The 99, Occupied Freedom Square and
They’re sleeping on the cold, hard ground
They’re sleeping on the cold, hard ground
They’re sleeping on the cold, hard ground
Sleeping on the ground
The 99, the 99
New State of Union
In 1980 they told us it was a revolution
A step back in time to their better day
The cold, hard fact is that you can’t go back
The GOP’s revolt was just more of the same
Now it’s 40 years later, and 25 percent
Of our children under 10 are living in poverty
Millions more can’t afford to see a doctor
And the rich have walls around their properties
Chorus
Let it die, let it die, this conservative pollution
We’re tired of their lies, and their trickle-down solutions
It’s time, now it’s time, for a real revolution
One that brings us all into a new state of union
Chant
Corporations aren’t people but they influence the vote
Politicized courts have us all by the throat
The Supremes have ruled that money equals speech
Do you believe they weren’t paid for that crippling overreach
Follow the money if you can stand the smell
Political corruption is the story it will tell
Power for the sake of power is the long-run trend
The Republicrats use it to take good care of friends
Democracy is not a game for political parties with no shame
The lesser of two evils is still a bad choice
All along the watchtower we witness them abusing power
But the first amendment says we still have a voice
We just can’t seem to learn that fundamentalist thought
Allows leaders to be ideologues who think they’re right even when they’re wrong
So, it’s true we have to fight once again for our rights
We thought the fight was over, but it goes on and on and on.
Chorus
Oh it’s time for a real revolution
One that brings us all into a new state of union
When Tears Just
You’re all alone. No one cares
About you or your personal affairs
You were so sure that love would last
You couldn’t believe it disappeared so fast
Chorus
When tears just. When tears just
When tears just aren’t enough
You sit in the dark and wonder why
people are so cruel
You realized you need more than love
It helps to be friends. Push came to shove
You grew apart. Love didn’t stay
It was time to go your separate ways
Chorus
When you said that we should just be nice
You were told that you’re a fool
When tears just
When tears just
When tears just
War Zone Nerv
The wounded are screaming, some better off dead
The bullets keep flying while blood flows red
It’s a grotesque view, makes some men feint
The medics go in; they don’t hesitate
Stitching human flesh requires steady hands
when the drones rain missiles down on the land
Performing triage in the battlefield
takes brains and guts and they don’t have a shield
They got war zone nerv; they’re tough as nails
Show no fear when all else fails
They got war zone nerv; cut you with a knife
They knock you out, then they save your life
War zone nerv, War zone nerv Cha
War zone nerv, War zone nerv
We want to know and they provide the story
On the front line but they get no glory
They’re shooting pictures while on the run
It’s an adrenaline junky’s idea of fun
They shoot with their cameras when the bombs explode
hoping their flash drives didn’t overload.
They shoot the living; they shoot the dead
They’re giving all they got for the news at 10
They got war zone nerv; they’re tough as nails
Show no fear when all else fails
They got war zone nerv; when the sun goes down
they’re still shooting all over the town
War zone nerv, War zone nerv Cha
War zone nerv, War zone nerv Cha
Cosmically Connected
We have senators and presidents no better than slave masters
Priests and ministers who wish that brainwashing worked faster
Major moral evangelists and Muslims reading Qurans
We have way too many people saying there’s only one right way man
Chorus
Ba da, ba, ba, ba ba dubba
Du ba ba, ba, ba ba dubba
Du ba ba, ba, ba ba dubba
Du ba ba
We have thousands of names for those who claim to deserve fame
We have millions of people who will say them
It seems that in their search for gods they’re right on track and yet their wrong
It’s not true you can buy heaven for a song
Chorus
The solution is not search but see. They’re blind and they will not agree
and if you’re cosmically connected, you just might get resurrected
Bridge
Cosmic wings lift you so high. Get connected; it’s time to fly.
Success is not defined by those who take more than they give
Hurting others to help ourselves is not how we should live
Great wealth is the opposite of spirituality
Matter doesn’t matter to those who truly see
Chorus
They think their thoughts and do their deeds while displaying their acceptance
of the reality of you and me. There is no need for penance
On this journey we call life, helping hands and open minds
being there for us sometimes are all that we should hope to find
Chorus
No need to search for gods we’re here, as we’ve been for 200,000 years
I can live without hope of resurrection.
It’s long past time to change direction, direction, direction
PCV
Was it the toughest challenge I ever had?
It was when I was young
Now I’m a husband and a father. There’s no comparison
Two years of 95 in the shade, never knowing when
Expectations would be met, but I’d do it again
I’d do malaria and flu; fish in the wide open
And watch the sun set in a deep blue shroud
Chorus
You teach and you learn. You give and you take.
Two years come and go, you think that you’ll stay
You remember and forget, wonder and you know.
Back to the States, time fades away.
Bridge
I have to start writing letters
If you catch a fish with your spear, don’t let a shark steal it.
I’m not looking forward to reverse culture shock.
Living in the States again will be so weird.
The smokers are crawling around the beach again
looking for butts they tossed last month.
If you catch a fish with your spear, don’t let a shark steal it.
Stand on the edge of the reef during full moon at low tide
The clouds go rolling by. I watch them open eyed
Surrounded by language and culture I don’t know.
Have to learn it all, be a part of the show.
An old friend takes my hand. Walking down the street
Hadn’t seen him since I left the island.
Yokwe, emon ke amor. Yokwe, emon ke amor
Chorus
Repeat Chorus
Cadence
Radio Lae, jouj im ker, Radio 65 Majuro. Kia, kia, kia wot
Radio Lae, jouj im ker, Radio 65 Majuro. Kia, kia, kia wot
Crystal Blue Skies
When your feelings aren’t shared, why should your own thoughts matter?
Did you ever think it would come to this?
Fame is not immortality, and ignorance is not bliss.
It’s rare when a soul is bared. That sort of bravery won’t shatter.
It was hard to move; I couldn’t run.
It gives you the ability to walk away from crisis.
Chorus
Don’t keep it inside. Let the door open wide;
wider than your eyes
No reason to hide your desire to glide
in crystal blue skies
It’s not like he truly cared. To him your words were just chatter.
You never worried, and now you’re stunned.
You gained invincibility by dancing past his kiss.
No easy way to be prepared for thoughts you knew would scatter,
No, I never thought it would come to this.
and the eventuality of rising from the abyss.
Chorus
As you caught your breath and stared, thoughts of writing the next chapter
Did we ever love? Were we too young?
expanded incredulity, and put an end to stasis.
As emotions ebbed and flared, you wondered if there could be rapture.
Take a long last look and we are done.
Faith in serendipity will not settle this.
Chorus
Cadence
Don’t keep it inside. I got nothing to hide.
And now it’s time for crystal blue skies.
Living In The Third World
Living in the third world. How very strange to stay
There while looking back at another place and way
Expectations realized; new perspective gained.
Creative juices flowing; wanderlust gets tamed.
The strangest thing about it; the best thing about it;
was finding love without having to look
A love that amazed, but it was put on hold
Third world duties called for both to be so bold
Chorus
You say this is the third world
So hot it takes your breath away
I don’t mind if you don’t
I like the sound of crashing waves
You say this is the third world
Doesn’t matter if it’s true
You can only live in one world
That’s enough for me and you
They knew no war, but they learned of death
and heard meaningless talk about cultural debt
Separated in space and time, they both felt that was wrong
Third world changed them, but their love remained strong
Words portray much, but can also confuse
They wondered if they would once again have to choose
Between time in third world excavations of truth
or a chance to hold each other, while they still had their youth
Chorus
Living in the third world, how
very strange to stay
There while looking back, at its
own place and way
Woman Warrior
In a distant land so long ago, I met a woman warrior
She fought a war against things wrong with human spirit;
with human spirit
Chorus
Woman warrior
She never asked to be a heroine, but history did it for her
I understand that she was strong enough to fear it;
enough to fear it
Chorus
Although some might say it isn’t so, to let a dream die is murder
I hope her effort still may spawn challenge to forfeit;
challenge to forfeit
Chorus
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh
She’s a woman warrior
He’s A Batman
He wakes up every day; wants to go outside and play.
He runs around the yard; thinks he’s Batman.
He fights the squirrels in the trees, and the buzzing bumblebees.
He’s always on guard; thinks he’s Batman.
Chorus
He’s a Batman, he’s a Batman, he’s a Batman
I want to be a Batman too.
Batman, he’s a Batman, he’s a Batman
I want to be a Batman too.
I want to be a Batman too.
I want to be Batman.
He got his license yesterday; and now he’s driving it away.
It’s a long, long road; thinks he’s Batman.
He’s trying hard to please. Puts the bad guys on their knees.
He has his own code; thinks he’s Batman.
Chorus
I want to be, I want to be, I want to be
Batman, Batman, Batman
Stripping The Jesus
The tourney had begun; the Dude was there
Walter was yelling at Donny for missing a spare
Two pairs away, behind an evil grin
The Jesus was throwing rocks again
Worshipping Jesus
Yeah we’re Worshipping Jesus
Now we’re Worshipping Jesus
He was ready to win
Worshipping Jesus
Yeah we’re Worshipping Jesus
Now we’re Worshipping Jesus
Then he committed a sin
Alleuia, alleuia
The Dude was hot, and Donny was on fire.
The Jesus beat them, but it went down to the wire.
Wearing purple pants, and chains of gold
The Jesus had no soul, but that s.o.b. could roll.
Just one problem, the Jesus’ well licked ball,
had too much side weight. That was the call
Tourney officials said there’s no doubt about it.
The Jesus’s team would have to forfeit.
Questioning Jesus
Yeah we’re questioning Jesus
Now we’re questioning Jesus
The shot was in; how did he get out?
Questioning Jesus
Yeah we’re questioning Jesus
Now we’re questioning Jesus
What was that about?
Alleuia, alleuia
The Dude, Donny and Walter were just about to ride
When they heard they’d won, Walter broke down and cried.
The Jesus sat in his chair, head hanging in despair
His dream had vanished into thin air.
Stripping the Jesus
Yeah we’re stripping the Jesus
Now we’re stripping the Jesus
Of his title
Stripping the Jesus
Yeah we’re stripping the Jesus
Now we’re stripping the Jesus
No longer an idol
Alleuia, alleuia
Agnus dei
qui tollis peccata mundi
miserere nobis.
Time Knows No Master
Places I will never be; Callisto and Ganymede
Seem so near and yet so far, held in place by a yellow star
Humans reach but feel the tug. Gravity wells must be dug
Rockets blazing through the dark, looking for a place to park
If it’s true that all’s for naught, should the good fight not be fought?
If life is just an accident, there is still purpose and intent. Isn’t there?
Time knows no master. Salvation won’t come faster
no matter how many prayers we send
Time knows no master. Chaos and disaster
are all there will be at the end
Persons I will never know pile up like the driven snow
There will be no history; no one to say it’s a mystery
Aum Shinrikyo and Heaven’s Gate thought they understood our fate
Apocalypse is so attractive to those who can’t live and let live
When life is spent for death’s exult should reward by the result?
Will we ascend on gossamer wings?
Are endings really just beginnings? Really?
Time knows no master. Salvation won’t come faster
no matter how many prayers we send
Time knows no master. Chaos and disaster
are all there will be at the end
Time knows no master. Chaos and disaster
are all we will know at the end
My Mom (Is In The Psych Ward)
Can’t remember the words, can’t remember their names
She goes to senior daycare, sings and plays games
She’s been all over the world in her own mind
She keeps looking for something that she’ll never find
She’s talking to a stranger. That’s her new best friend.
This is what I’m watching as we approach the end
Chorus
My mom’s hanging with the nurses in the psych ward
Their taking blood. Their giving drugs.
My mom’s hanging with the nurses in the psych ward
They’re doing an evaluation of her imagination
My mom’s hanging with the nurses in the psych ward
She’s putting up a fight. Time to say good night.
Repeat Chorus
Cold Sweat
It’s not the things that go bump in the night
Vampires are the stuff of childhood fright
It’s what you think about when you’re alone that
makes you want to hear from a friend on the phone
But all that does is shine a bright, white light
on your self-imposed depressive plight
You get out of your chair, give the dog a bone
You’re still just an actor that can’t get a loan
And so it goes, and so it goes, and so it goes
You feel like you’re going to explode
Chorus
Then it creeps up from behind, from a deep, dark hole in your mind
You want so badly to forget
But it’s time again to break into a cold sweat
You want so badly to forget
But it’s time again to break into a cold sweat
It’s time again to break into a cold sweat
Harmony - What do you think about when you’re alone
Bridge
Where is she? I hate waiting
I can’t stop anticipating
Consciousness is evaporating
Is that a knock I hear at the door
What number is she? I don’t know 5, 6, 7, 8
She’s become part of the flow 8
Fades into background glow 7
She’s knocked 8 times at my door. Sex
Icicles stab you in the spine
You just might take the meds this time
You’re not even close to feeling fine
You’re searching for a simple rhyme
Drinking doesn’t help, makes you feel like your cursed
When the rope pulls tight, you know that you’ve felt worse
You’re looking at life from the back-end of a hearse
When you got no rhymes, you got no verse
Then you notice something looking at you in the mirror
It’s just your face smiling like an axe-murderer
That’s when you know there’s a problem or two
and there’s no mistaking who is who
And so it goes, and so it goes, and so it goes
You feel like you’re going to explode
Chorus
Harmony - Searching for a simple rhyme
Whoa, whoa you know.
A cold sweat.