©2008 Tony Bataska

 

50 Stories

This heart was barely holding on

In a time where right seemed so wrong

My head couldn't figure out

Best results for the long run

 

Moonlight and sandy beaches

Were distractions for awhile

TV and adventure stories

Don't compare to your smile

 

My life was slowly floating by

Without much consciousness

Then I saw your face and I

Flipped a switch on the inside

 

You destroy expectations

That I had in the past

I know we have something here

That's surely built to last

 

No I'm out of my daze

Seeing clearly around the haze

I fell 50 stories to the ground

In love with you

 

You destroy expectations

That I had in the past

I know we have something here

That's surely built to last

 

As You Wish

The lights were low

In this moment we stole

And gravity reversed itself away

I leaned in with fear

Whispered in your ear

Never sure exactly what to say

You stepped back

My stomach dropped

I'm the typical sensitive Cancer

You gave that look

That's all it took

You asked me, "Do I have to answer?"

 

As you wish, As you wish

Was the only response I could give

 

The terms were set

To live with regret

My heart is used to feeling nothing else

But could this work?

With a smirk

You asked me if it was a cold day in hell

 

As you wish, As you wish

Was the only response that I could give

 

You came over to return some things of mine

A few shirts and some DVDs

You forgot the most important thing

You forgot to bring back my heart

 

Astronomy

The sprinkle of raindrops find my eyes

So I can't see

But I know they hit your face

Like freckles on your cheek

The pitter-patter is the same

As the tempo of my thoughts

Not sure if it's tears or rain

But I think our time has been lost

 

It evaporated in the morning

Like the puddles in the street

Rising on up into the sky

To never again been seen

 

I still see the constellations

Embedded in your skin

I'd search the skies forever

And never cure my fascination

I can't forget the night you told me

"Give up astronomy

You only see the moon and the stars

But that's just one part of me"

 

I can't stop writing metaphors

Comparing your beauty

You are the sun and I looked direct

And now sunspots are all that I can see

 

I know it sounds like rambling

But that's all I can do

The only thing that I see

Is what's beautiful in you

 

Cripple My Heart

Rationalize it how ever you want

Something here is out of place

There ain't nothing left for me

Except the pain I can't quite taste

We can sleep away the afternoon and stay awake all night

The fact remains your probably not staying

More than just one sunrise

 

Cripple my heart

With everything you've got

I only play the fool

When I make you stop

 

Rationalize every thought you have

You can't quite function 'til you do

'Cause everyone's a little messed up

Even me and especially you

 

Dial Me Up

Your grace, your smile

Keeps going on for miles

Your laugh, your face

Take me on vacation to a better place

Than here, right now

 

No matter where I am

Or what I do

I'd rather be right here singing for you

Just singing for you

 

I'll find in time a little courage

To let you inside my mind

I knew from the start that no matter the distance

We'd never be apart

 

You might get home

And sleep alone

But I'll never be further away than your phone

So dial me up

 

I just want to feel you breathing

On the other line

Like 1,000 angels telling me

That everything's going to be OK

 

For Better or For Worse

For better or for worse

Sometimes it still hurts

When I think about the way things were

And what we went through together

And how we just walked away

Regretting it all to this day

I want the chance to say goodbye

Just one more time in the hope that we

Couldn’t say it again

 

I keep replaying events in my mind

Like they’re on auto-rewind

Wishing I could turn back the clock

One do-over is all I need

To fix the things that need to be

Perfect in every way

 

I want to be the one who tucks you in to bed

Every night or anytime you want to rest your head

So beautiful, so sweet

Your touch makes me complete

For better or for worse

 

I might be making words up right now

Hoping you somehow

Will show up at my door

Saying, let’s give it try

 

Ghost In My Memory

I'm haunted by the woman that I used to love

She is just a shell of who I used to know

She left the substance to be my own specter

To never forget and always regret her

 

The ghost in my memory is taking over

Seeping inside me I still believe I know her

 

My hand gets possessed to pick up the pictures

Moving them slowly toward my eye fixtures

I’m made to stare, I’m made to stare

And remember the times when she was there

 

The ghost in my memory is taking over

Seeping inside me I still believe I know her

The ghost in my memory refuses to leave

But loneliness gives me nothing I need

 

Kids Playing Guns In The Street

There's kids playing hide and seek

In the home while their parents are gone

They don't care they'll keep on hiding

'Til the early morning hours of dawn

They'll find new places to go

To wait in anticipation

If they're found they'll get right up

And towards home base they'll have to run

 

I remember simpler days

Where nothing mattered except my childish ways

And didn't have to worry 'bout anyone's politics

But if I could have those days back

Would I want to live in apathetic bliss

 

There's kids playing guns in the street

They're shooting each other dead

They don't know that someday it might be more

Than pretend for them

Their Mom comes out of the house

She says, "C'mon don't do that!

You don't have to mimic everything

You see on CNN!"

 

Neon Sign

I found a bit of hope at a neon sign

In the middle of the night

I never thought I'd need more than you

To tell me everything will be alright

But I feel just like the beer spilled on the bar

Waiting to be mopped up

How I wish I could've been a more civilized drink

Like some coffee in your cup

 

The gravel streets crunch underneath my feet

Telling me I'm going somewhere

No destination stated, So I'll just be patient

Believing I'll find somewhere sometime soon

 

I found myself back at the neon sign

One week later again

My face was recognized, My drink poured

They were happy to see I'd come in

I'll keep returning there until I find myself

Not healed by liquid band-aids

The jukebox keeps playing songs inside my head

And I pay it all my quarters anyway

 

There's probably not much point in following my dreams

We'll meet up one of these days

There's probably not much point in keeping tabs on you

We'll meet up probably never again

 

Never Claimed to Know

I never claimed to know

Anything about the opposite sex

Mostly they walk away

And I see their sillouttes

Shadows off in the distance

 

But then there was that night

When the stars seemed to align

When I asked your name

You didn't feed me a line

Or feel the need to lie

 

Do I take the hint?

And just fade away

I simply can't do that

Mostly 'cause of how beautiful you are

 

I haven't felt that spark

In way too long

Thought I had it before

But apparently I was wrong

Now my small flame is gone

Like it never belonged

 

I never claimed to know

Anything about the way you are

I'd like to get to know

Anything about the way you are

Anything about the way you are

Everything about the way you are

 

Do I take the hint?

And just go away

Down that long, dusty trail

Where I never find how truly beautiful you are

 

Shallow Water Blackout

 

The Song Lost In The Fire That I Can't Remember

My strings won't stay in tune

'Cause they've been thinking 'bout you

They conspire to make the chords I wrote

Dissonant and broke

My fingers can't play the keys

As gentle as need be

They crash and crunch together

Straining harmony

 

Somebody turn my tunepeg

Somebody bring me back home

Somebody say some words

Other than "I'd rather be alone"

 

The fire in the fireplace

Escapes confided space

It moves futher every second

Looking for something to erase

My piano and guitar gone now

No way to play this song

Its melody lost in the haze

And the vapors fade away

 

Somebody call 9-1-1

Somebody rescue this song

Better yet someone sing another one

The rights something that is wrong

 

Saturday Boy

You might think that I'm a dime a dozen

But I'm not quite the same as all the others

There's a bit extra for you to enjoy

Even if I'm only your saturday boy

 

You might think I'm like every other singer

Not quite enough to make you a fan

But I'll keep singing the songs I hope you enjoy

To get an upgrade from being just your saturday boy

 

I ain't asking for a girlfriend or a wife

I'm not even close to buying a ring

You keep haunting me all inside my mind

With all the beauty that you bring

 

You might think I'm hit and miss

But I disagree because of the way we kiss

I guess I'll keep being your little toy

Until I can be more than just your saturday boy

 

I ain't asking you to tie any knots

I'm scared of joint taxes and fights

You keep me thinking of you all the f***ing time

I wish you were here tonight

 

When you walk into the room

I can see nothing else

 

Share This Heartbreak

If I was sure, what'd be the fun in that?

I'm a fan of the chase and logic that's cracked

I'm not that consistent or totally right

I'll say something now and say the opposite tonight

 

But we should share this heartbreak together

Or I'll keep wandering aimless forever

No one ever said there's never bad weather

But we should just share this heartbreak

 

My thoughts are confusing my words even more

How can I blame you for sprinting towards the door

And when do I ever figure myself out

The harder I try the more questions come about

This Time Around

She tells me she loves me

And I let her go

I tell her I love her

And she lets me know

That I'm not the man for her

This time around

 

She tells me she needs me

And I refuse

I tell her I need her

And she looks confused

"What made you think that I was interested

This time around"

 

These are the days where nothing seems right

We wander around trying to figure out what we like

I'm not quite sure that it's ever coming 'round

I'm just trying to keep my two feet on the ground

 

She tells me she wants me

And I laugh it off

I tell her I want her

And says, "Enough is enough

This time around"

 

These days make me realize

That I'm not perfect for you

But that just makes me want you more

And love all those wrong things you do

 

What's Inside

 

What's the Past Got in Store? 

Her brown eyes were anvils

Crashing through the floorboards

Never temped to lift up

And take a peek at the scoreboard

 

What's the past got in store?

What's the past got in store?

You'd think I'd have learned all my lessons all before

What's the past got in store?

 

The time was perfect

To unhook the latch

She knew it was pointless

To play a game with a catch

 

What's the past got in store?

What's the past got in store?

You'd think I'd have learned all my lessons all before

What's the past got in store?

 

I never let my head

Get the best of me

But maybe this time

Won't be quite like the last

 

You're Not Just Another Girl  

My attention span is lengthened today

I hang on to every word you have to say

I see the flowers again

Spring is here and they are back blooming

 

You're not just another girl

In this completely f***ed up world

And I want you to know

That you've got to let it show

 

Go on, let your hair down

Take the night off and go out on the town

You deserve all you've worked for

Especially that natural beauty that I can't ignore

 

I can't understand

No, I can't understand

I'll never understand

How someone like you

Ever feels bad

 

©2008 Tony Bataska