Just Thought I'd Say...

If you're my friend... then I thank you
If you're my family... I love you
If you're both... then I'm a lucky guy

So sayeth The Brad...

Days of Yore

Listening to songs that make you jump and leave you wanting to sing
one of your own
Imagining yourself with a throng of fans yelling things you never
knew they'd shout
I remember the days of sitting in the backseat and yelling at the
top of my lungs
And now we're in the frontseat days with the windows down and the
stereo louder to mask what's coming out

There were days when radio waves were ruled by mighty kings, and
queens
And thousands strong would sing along, their songs and praises
honoring
Why did the twilight end, where are we now, and what is this all
about?
Was it a brazen calf we burned or a gift horse looked in the
mouth?

Before the twilight we rested in rennaissance and basked in
masters' glow
Concertos rose and symphonies fell and finales were
never the rage
Prior to the sparks of modernity the halls were filled with
passion, talent and renown
And a man could be born and live and die within the
notes upon a page

The birth was bubbling with primordial potential and simmered and
overflowed to the world
Man could not contain it and the beats began while melodies
traveled the wind
Tribal tunes beat and streched on drums with chanting that raised
to the heavens
A feeling, a song, a desire, a tune, the music that came
directly from within

I sing a song of angel muses and minstrels on scitar
As Mozart raises symphonies and Plant supplies guitar
Oh why did days of yore retire and burn out long ago?
A longing for that hallowed place, that I might someday go

So sayeth The Brad...

The Hurting

You said goodbye, farewell, so long,
I didn't think it true,
So long ago, I was so blind
And now I'm missing you...
Much more than touch, or sight, or smell
Was what we'd always shared
You'll always be my favorite...
But now the pain's too much to bear

Never thought it could hurt like this
Phantom thoughts of always missing
And remembering all the times we had
I'll never tell another joke
Or sing a verse, or hear a note,
Without you playing in my head

(This is about as far as I dare go with this song... I don't know if it'll ever be finished because I don't know that I have the lyrical capacity to transcribe into words or even thoughts how much it hurts to have you favorite band break up. We can all agree that no amount of side projects or new bands can ever fill the spot in your heart like the one band that really crafted how you enjoy music. I'll always love my Five Iron Frenzy... And to them, I raise a salute.)

So sayeth The Brad...

Encounter

Craving more we try and try
Seeking falsehoods just to justify
Arrogance of modern man
Thinking we can live our lives
(Devoid of cause, devoid of plan)

Without a hope, without a prayer
We seek to find what isn't there
Belief and virtue just a trend
And all forsaken in the end
Creature, Creator,
Evolution Debator,
Divine Enactor,
We need Encounter

Flirting with the dangerous
Reason is enough for us
Casting pale, we cannot see
Open the Venetian minds
(Sun illuminating)

So sayeth The Brad...

Sub-Textual

Behind the verbs and paragraphs
That people take as true,
When kids can say the darndest things
As adults can also do,
When I looked back over the pages
Of dialogue I’ve left behind
Just what all has gone unsaid?
That’s what I’m out to find…

Children listening to parents
Day until the night
No matter what they’re saying,
Mom and Dad must know what’s right
And though they might not say it,
Both parties hope it’s true
The children mean “I love you”
And the parents, “I love you too”

Teachers with their students,
Lover with another,
Reverend and his congregation,
Sister with her brother,
Conversations very different,
With a same, unspoken vein,
They all don’t share enough
Of their affection and their pain.

The people passing by
Conversating softly
And angry couples shouting,
Voices getting lofty…
But what was left unsaid
Was a whisper and a feeling
“I don’t want to die alone,
Speak into me and give my life some meaning”

You know me...
I am The Lonliest Monk.

Directionless

I feel detached from everything
A high like none I've ever had
Stars streak and burn across my face
A universe in your head
Sense dulled, love blinded,
I feel so enlightened
And then I reach to feel my heart beat, and it's not there
I don’t seem to be myself, cause I feel you everywhere.

I swim in endless circles
In pools that never cease
Lifted up and spun around
Carried by the steady beats
Staying near, straying far,
Becoming what and who you are
I have no form, no eyes, but I see:
It was your touch, your kiss that enveloped me

My heart won't beat without you
No matter how it tries to
I lost all sense of who I was
When I got lost inside you

I'm mixed up and turned around
Don't know if I'll come back
I make the shiver up your spine
I am the warmth caressing your neck
Without you I’m nothing
But in you I'm everything
In the back of my mind, I wonder: do you
Feel like you’re a part of me while I’m wrapped up in you?

You know me...
I am The Lonliest Monk.

Hot Pockets (The Final Movement)

Sometimes I don't know what's going on
(It doesn’t matter, I realized)
Recognition comes and then its gone
Millions feel the need to falsify
(Dirtied from the caked-on lies)
Claiming things that just don’t qualify

Why did you walk away?
I heard the things you didn't mean to say
Though all the world’s a joke
Seeing you were fake hurt me the most

Did you think you'd really pull it off?
(Had me going for a while)
Hope you ache from all the trust you lost
Just like all the rest and now I see
(Saw past your Cheshire smile)
Get your filthy lies and take them off me

There's no way that we can still be friends
(Took a knife and ripped my heart open)
Won't let you hurt me like this again
I woke up after all of these years
(Face wet from my sleepy tears)
I looked up and you just weren't there

You know me...
I am The Lonliest Monk.

Fatigue

Digging trenches in my skin
Below the bone and deep within
Wearing away my very soul
Apathy takes its tole
Fingers that will bruise and leave me cold
Answers are so hard to find
Confession of this empy mind
All I know is nothing
When once I knew enough things
To tell myself that I was in control

I'm tired of not knowing when to try
I'm sick of letting hopes and memories die
I can't go on when nothing makes sense anymore
Nonsensical evermore, no nevermore

My spirits bloated, overloaded
Nothing sweet or candy-coated
Begging, pleading,
Hoping, needing,
Hungering for things that never come
How many empty phonecalls,
Or blanked out writing on the walls,
Does it take to realize
That which isn't a surprise
You can still get hurt while feeling numb.

I'm tired of not knowing when to try
I'm sick of letting hopes and memories die
I can't go on when nothing makes sense anymore
Nonsensical evermore, no nevermore

You know me...
I am The Lonliest Monk.