seed in the sahara
(1996)
1 - Laws of Nature
I found it all in a letter
You left it in the computer
I read you said I was a sinner
I wear my sin like my most beautiful sweater
I think the old men who wrote the Bible
Were in a sad solid state of denial
In their footsteps you put me on trial
Your true feelings concealed with a smile
Why should I ask a man who never met me
If it is wrong to touch and be touched by another
Who happens to have a similar anatomy
My heart beats as loud as the Pope's or any law that's silly
But I know my love is real
And I trust the laws of nature,
See what I feel
It wasn't wrong to be gay until the Roman Ages
That's when some superstitious king sentenced your soul to cages
To know the woman you must kiss the man who rides the saddle
Without my love the world just turns in endless battle
But I know my love is real
And I trust the laws of nature,
See what I feel
2 - B.Y.O.G. (Bring Your Own God)
I saw a man with no one to talk to
I saw my grandmother with no one to walk with
I saw my brother walkin' away
I saw my sister ask him to stay
I heard a man on the radio dyin'
Of being a puppet in a masquerade tryin'
Hard to remember what music means
Has he let fear corrupt his dreams
Bring your own god
Let's have a party
Bring your own god
We'll do it in the garden
Let's have a god who likes to party
Let's have a god
We'll grow in the garden
I saw dirt flyin' on the arms of a stampede
Of a great family tryin' to leave a country
After the run, the violence was done
Our children were left to die in the sun
I heard you laugh when my skin was burnin'
I heard you cry when Jackie O. died
You are my hero cause you water the flowers
My perfect day celebrates your power
Bring your own god
Let's have a party
Bring your own god
We'll do it in the garden
Let's have a god who likes to party
Let's have a god
We'll grow in the garden
I saw a man with no one to talk to
3 - Today Is Better
You remind me
Of a pony
Giving rides to
Little children
Winking at the
Pretty women
Who will feed you
Cotton candy
She was last seen in a creamy 1964 convertible
With the top down and her spirits high
She took a wrong turn then a right
And drove the day into the night
The headlights called her like the sea
She got a job as a pink ballerina
Hoping she could free the pony man
But you can't buy any pony freedom
Painted on a turning carousel
It was her turn for a pony ride
She jumped on his back so they could fly
She fell in love with the way he moved
And they may drive a million miles
Before the Camel kills them
They do not know, they think it's Kool
But it's really cold to advertise suicide
She drives past the ticket master
Disguised as a pink computer queen
In the rain the paint runs down the pony
He's a blue Marine -
Today Is Better Than Cocaine
Today Is Better Than Cocaine
She was last seen in a creamy 1964 convertible...
4 - Why
Why
Somebody said
It's not to be there
It's in getting it
That's where the flavor is
And I savor it
And I
Have been too hard
My words much too sharp
I should take a run
Scream and let the sun
Tan me turning
To find
You, standing
Fresh out of the shower
Wrap your arms around me
Your strength makes me strong
Your color makes me warm, want to
Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss you
Makes me wanna
Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss you
Makes me wanna
Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss
Somebody said
It's not to be there
It's in getting it
That's where the flavor is
And I savor it
5 - Seed In The Sahara
something more than conversation
carries you to me
something in the early morning
gives me light to see
what I'm lookin' for is true community
not speculation, not imitation
old and young, rich and dumb
kings and queens and all you in betweens
'cause love doesn't care
it takes you as you are
it takes you as you are
when you put your arms around me
that's when I am free
just to touch the world you walk in
gives me strength to see
what I'm lookin' for is true community
not speculation, not imitation
old and young, rich and dumb
kings and queens and all you in betweens
'cause love doesn't care
it takes you as you are
it takes you as you are
if a seed falls down
where the ground is so hard
it will just blow away and die
but if that seed somehow
makes it through some crack
finds its roots and reaches for the sky
there are some seeds that fall
down into the darkest holes
they grow up anyway, despite gravity
despite society, despite nega-nega-nega-negativity
what I'm lookin' for is true community
not speculation, not imitation
old and young, rich and dumb
kings and queens and all you in betweens
'cause love doesn't care
it takes you as you are
it takes you as you are
6 - Millions of Rope
I lie awake
I think of you
And what's at stake
Who the hell knew
You give your love
You say it's pure
So why am I
So insecure
Here on the other side of town
I'm drowning
Here where the night won't wear a gown
Millions of rope
Fall from the sky
Like question marks
No reasons why
Millions of rope
All look the same
But only one
Strangles my name
Here on the other side of town
I'm drowning
Here where the night won't wear a gown
So scared of what the world will think of me
So scared of what the world will do
Millions of rope
Hands from the sky
Like we are bells
When we collide
The words won't come
The world won't know
The rope never broke
You just let go
So scared of what the world will think of me
So scared of what the world will do
So scared of what the world will think of me
You and me
So scared of what the world will do
7 - Skin
Skin
Jump in
So you really think you know
What I'm talking about
(repeat)
White Boy
Gimme that bike, your car
Your lover, your money, your life
Black Boy
Kicking that can, wants to be in the band
Who's calling who Tarzan
Money, money, money, money
Money man – common denominator
Build like a refrigerator
Cold misogynistic undertaker
Sex
Reflex
So you really think you know
What I'm talking about
(repeat)
Hey Girl
Gonna buy you that thing, that drug
That car, that flavor, that ring
Hey Boy
Gonna give it to you, gonna make you feel strong
Gonna make you turn blue
Money, money, money, money
Money man – common denominator
Build like a refrigerator
Cold misogynistic undertaker
Venga aquí a mí, venga aquí a mí
Venga aquí a mí, ahora
mmmcome to me mmmmcome to me
Come to me now
Age
That cage (that stage)
So you think you really know
What I'm talking about
(repeat)
My Man
Gimme that cane, I'll give you my heart
Then I'll feel no pain
Young Soul
Come stand in my shoes, I think I might know
What it's like to be you
Money, money, money, money
Money man – common denominator
Build like a refrigerator
Cold misogynistic undertaker
Venga aquí a mí, venga aquí a mí
Venga aquí a mí, ahora
mmmcome to me mmmmcome to me
Come to me now
8 - Laura
Don't want to say it but I will
Your endless love creates my will
And though I'm so misunderstood
I'll try to stand where I just stood
Laura lives inside my heart
I hear her laughing now
All the things I cannot have
I hear them in a prayer
Love is louder than time
He keeps the beat, I say my line
Love is louder than time
An open heart the perfect
Crime, no law can make you love someone
If nature doesn't care
Icarus ascending to his death
And what could be less fair
Love is louder than time
A day of words uncoil the rhyme
Love is louder than time
The mountains move we start to climb
I never meant to touch the sun
I only wish I could
Without wings
The angels crash and burn and
Say good-bye for good
Love is louder than time
9 - Michelangelo (Paint the World)
I'm comin' by your house and I won't be quiet
This is the way I play, I won't deny it
Wanna paint the world with
Wanna paint the world with
Wanna paint the world with you
You're as weak as a mountain lion
And as cold as a summer in Saigon
This is the way I play
No excuses for makin' love that way
Wanna paint the world with
Wanna paint the world with
Wanna paint the world with you
Call the soul policeman
He'll say to release yourself
Whatever you do now
It's up to you to come out
No I won't apologize... when I look into his eyes
No I won't apologize... that won't protect you
MichelANGELO was
MichelANGELO was
MichelANGELO was too
Wanna paint the world with
Wanna paint the world with
Wanna paint the world with you
Wanna paint the world with...
Wanna paint the world with you
10 - Boxers
I lace up my black boots
I tuck my T-shirt into my jeans
My belt is here somewhere
You'll probably read somethin' into that
Better kept under your hat
Randy introduced me
To my very first guitar
It was my father's
And it was hangin' on the wall
In a Spanish cellar
We became boxers
We fought it all
Every night before I go to sleep
I dare to pray my new found soul to keep
And it's the very best thing that ever happened
You came from the northern land and I
Never thought we'd fall in love
It was the last thing on my mind
After draggin' through the mud
Across the country
We became lovers
Then we became love
Every night before I go to sleep
I dare to pray my new found soul to keep
And it's the very best thing that ever happened
And I know I can't go back there
It only exists in my mind
And I want to tell you everything
But I don't want to waste your time
(do you remember, do you wanna go)
Got a six o'clock soundcheck
Then four more hours and there's nothing to crack
Then it's just like exploding
And every boomerang comes back
We'll become boxers
Then we'll become love
It's the very best thing that ever happens
11 - Love Don't Die
I apologize for taking sides
And putting this charade on parade
Tried to pretend right to the end
That I could always rescue
You and I
God knows
How hard we tried
Love don't die
It just hides
While we decide
Collect my things, no wedding rings
The furniture I bought for the two of us
A lamp, a chair, sit unaware
While I stare blankly back at...
You and I
God knows
How hard we tried
Love don't die
It just hides
While we decide
Only you can disappear the pain
Got to believe that we could really change
Do you believe me now
Do you believe me now
It's been a 1000 years, since we kissed those tears
But I remember everything
And I'd run back again, if I thought we could win
A broken heart must learn to sing or die