LYRICS FROM FIVE LITTLE LIES EP:

Bottles & Cans

by Carolyn Sills

it's coming down in bottles and cans
if you don't have a cup just use your hands
or if you feel lucky, just open wide...
but if you need a drink, ask me nice and step inside

nothing is free and nothing is gained
when you rely on only the rain
to wipe away the harm that you've done
look out clouds, have you met this lonely son?

the rain that once brought you to your love
drops down like dolly daggers from above

though you were unsure you still put out the fire
now you're living in the way you desired
among the lonesome, the drunk and the mad
welcome to looking for what you once had

the rain that once brought you to your love
drops down like dolly daggers from above

streams run ragged down brooklyn streets
rain is pooling on your blankets and sheets
since you left the window open over your bed
don't you wish you were coming home to me instead?

Prince of the Upper West Side (in memory of Ed Zeltser)
by Carolyn Sills

... and here I thought you needed something
needed someone, needed anything at all but I was wrong
and now you've got it all together, got perfect weather,
got all these dealings in your kingdom going on

but I was wrong...
and now I pass apartments facing central park, light up like lanterns in the dark
so goodbye, to our knight off colombus, that treasure among us
the prince of the upper west side

... and here I thought you'd been depleted, been mistreated
been afraid to leave your tower but I was wrong
and now you're all about tomorrow, all through with sorrow,
all full of everything you need to carry on

but I was wrong...
and now I pass apartments facing central park, light up like lanterns in the dark
so goodbye, to our knight off colombus, that treasure among us
the prince of the upper west side

we drive with him down the west side highway
past the piers and the dock he swore they won't tear down
we drive with him down the west side highway
we won't breath 'till we get to midtown

LYRICS FROM THE VINYL 45

Buzz Like Houseflies
by Carolyn Sills

strange men asking where her daddy's at
taller one's a smoker, fatter's in a stetson hat
she'll let 'em enter 'cause she knows they'll treat her fine
no one looks for trouble knowing daddy's home at nine

like city children to a broken water main
like a stitch of bourbon on a shirt without a stain
they'll buzz like houseflies to the blue light every time
they all want to be there knowing daddy's home at nine

some days the doctor finds he's beaten by a cough
and even postmen need to take a few days off
long as that yoke keeps rising 'bove the county line
all is well and well we'll be once daddy's home at nine

LYRICS FROM THE DEBUT ALBUM, BOSS TWEED

Done Wonders
by Carolyn Sills

if I knew you were drowning I would have jumped in
but the sun can be blinding and I know you can swim
there've been days that I've missed you, more than I've wanted someone else
leaving you was painful but it's done wonders for my health

if I heard you were falling I would have asked where
so my camera could capture you embracing the air
there's been moments I've missed out that count on me plus someone else
leaving you was painful but it's done wonders for my health

I was never good at lying but you can't blame a fool for trying
spending all these wasted hours with myself is doing wonders for my health

if I heard you were drowning, I would have asked where
so my body could sink down 'neath the weight of your stare
there's been days that I've missed you, more than I've wanted someone else
leaving you was painful but it's done wonders for my health

if I heard you were falling I would have jumped in,
one last tumble together before gravity wins
there's been moments I've missed out that count on me plus someone else
leaving you was painful but it's done wonders for my health

Pretty Violent
by Carolyn Sills

take time to think it through before you tell me any bad news
'cause I'm feeling pretty violent this afternoon
take care and write it down before you mouth off any hurtful sounds
'cause I'm feeling pretty violent this time around

there's a storm brewing over your actions
this tempest has taken my name
I'm about to reveal all the heat you can feel from a flame so...

take five, and take it soon, because it's getting hot in this room
and I'm feeling pretty violent this afternoon

After Awhile
by Gerard Egan

I was killed on the water, skimmed across the surface of the sun
and though I know it's getting harder, I don't know why he had me on the run
and it's been about three miles and I can see over my shoulder he has gone
after awhile I will redial, I will defile my favorite movie, it's the one... it's the one...

... where your face is on the screen we haven't exchanged dirty looks
oh that secret in our hearts that tells you mine's an open book
well your face is on the screen we haven't exchanged dirty looks
oh that secret in our hearts that tells you mine's an open book

well it takes two to tango, but I can see you dancing all alone
and how much better are you now, for the tangled web of feelings you have shown
I should have told you from the start, don't be pouring out your heart until it's done
after awhile I will redial I will defile my favorite movie, it's the one... it's the one...

Self Made Man
by Carolyn Sills

morning breaks like eggs over easy
a dog howls like watermellon man
each step breaks backs upon the pavement
each breath is warmth upon your hands

kick start monday early morning
kick back friday afternoons
you're not at home around the collar
your kind's out braying at the moon

you can't depend on the sun to shine...

smile from a second story window
nod from a broken leather brim
green lights blush on your arrival
street lamps bow your days begins

feet pound a rhythm in the concrete
pulse taps a rhythm in your brain
wade through all the voices of the city
pouring down in eavesdrops of rain

you can't depend on the sun to shine...

chief broke a window in the nuthouse
you carved a river in the sand
no waiting 'round for any winning numbers, holy rollers, deal made with the devil's left hand man...

you can't depend on the sun to shine...

Then it Hits You
by Carolyn Sills

then it hits you, you don't know any more than you did last year, or even ten years before that
walking slowly, down weathered halls into avenues that you never knew
would grow warmer with the cold

and it's a strange thing when it hits you
you're not getting older, just further along
oh and it's a strange thing when it hits you
you will never be right 'till you let yourself be wrong

then it hits you, spaces inbetween people that you never knew are even closer than before
talking slowly, though crowded halls into faces that you never knew
would grow warmer with the cold

and it's a strange thing when it hits you
you're not getting older, just further along
oh and it's a strange thing when it hits you
you will never be right 'till you let yourself be wrong

it's like buddy always told me, 'take a look at the grains in the sand and the stars in the sky'
there are people you can count on getting older
and there are people you can always count on to get you high

Real Good Sell
by Carolyn Sills

you're a real good sell but these eyes can tell when a man is still awake
so you've got no choice but to hear my voice in response to this last mistake
like a newborn child, you're naturally wild and prone to fits of rage
and that shows me how we're in the same place now when I used to be half your age

so I'm telling you now that you're leaving... by dawn, by yourself, by any means there ever was
though your eyes may be closed I know you're not sleeping 'cause a man like you never does

it was quite some night, you did love me right oh the tales this room could tell
but we've had enough of that reckless stuff to send everyone to hell

Cleanin' Upsa Ditty
by Gerard Egan

tell me why is cleaning up so hard
never want to do it 'till the mess is so large it just spills over the edge onto the floor
making a mess is the fun part, I don't mind it so much
cooking up food is part breaking down and making up...
if I let it sit long enough, will someone else come along and clean it up

look at what you started, now we're both broken hearted
never got around to cleaning up...