Tall Order

Back in the day
There was a promise broken
A couple lies, a couple fights
A couple damning words were spoken
Two souls with no business crossing paths
Brought forth two souls lightning fast
But that love wasn't made to last
It was made to burn

As cold as clay
The color red like where I'm from
A burdened fear, such wasted years
I watched you all turn tail and run
'Cause when the going gets tough, the tough get going
Guess you're goddamned right that I'm not worth knowing
If you ever loved me, the hate I feel would not be growing
That's another lesson learned

So stay
Yes, stay the hell out of my way
Love is nothing more than a charade
Self made malady
I just wanted to belong, but there's no way
No, not with the choices I've made
The tools I've been given don't make any grade
Such a travesty
The only thing I've done right is knowing I'm wrong

Second best
Your guess is as good as mine
I've given my all just to watch it fall
Underneath the hands of time
And when I get close enough to touch my dreams
They transform into that snarling beast
That's been mocking me for centuries
In the confines of my soul

So depressed
I've found no way to escape
I could tell a bold lie about the times I've tried
But these are chains I cannot break
And when you came to my heart and called my name
I thought you would help me ease my pain
You were there for the sunshine, gone for the rain
In this darkness I'm alone

So stay
Yes, stay the hell out of my way
Love is nothing more than a charade
Self made malady
I just wanted to belong, but there's no way
No, not with the choices I've made
The tools I've been given don't make any grade
Such a travesty
The only thing I've done right is knowing I'm wrong

So, stay
Yes, stay the hell out of my way
I haven't got a damn thing left to say
This symphony of sympathy
I sicken myself in song, but that's okay
Time to deal with the choices I've made
With these tools I will dig my own grave
Such a tragedy
The best time I had here was when I was gone

Painting

You created me
With your bare hands
And an austere vision
I am a piece of you
Displayed in frame
A glorious commission

You hung me in an obvious spot
You loved and hated every blot
This collection of time you forgot
That's me on the wall up there

I watch you walk by
Every single day
I fail to see the good I've done
I collect dust
I require explanation
And you're too overrun

I saw you take me down and sell me
When were you planning to ever tell me?
It's not like I'm afraid of what hell means
I just wanted a fair chance

You scoff at me
Turn your nose in apathy
Start a new painting, mine is killed
Say I no longer represent you
You don't think I was ever meant to
But I think I always have and always will