She Used To Be

Some of these new songs contain my fabulous wife singing along on them... This is one of the first songs I wrote specifically for her to sing with me. All the lines he used to are Tessa singing about me. Tessa also helped write some of the lyrics on this number. We wrote this on the way to a friends house where we heard the Moldy Peaches for the first time. It seems they share some similiar dynamics. I guess I'm behind the times.

She used to be a drummer in the marching band
She used to be a person I don't understand
She used to be a stranger from so far away
And now she's my best friend

He used to be the singer in a punk rock band
He used to be a baseball player in the sand
He used to be a stranger from so far away
And now he's my best friend

She used to call a commune in Chicago home
She used to never ever wanna be alone
She used to be the truth behind my contradictions
And now she's my best friend

He used to be a cheerleader in Highschool
He used to wear hammer pants when they weren't cool
He used to be the truth behind my contradictions
And how he's my best friend

She used to drive me crazy and right up the wall
And then she'd go and answer all my phone calls
And then she went she went ahead and married me
And now she's my best friend

He used to be the answer to my greatest fears
You see he is my junior by a few years
And then he went he went ahead and married me
And now she's my best friend

Now were so happy to be living not alone
Yes were so glad to not be talking on the phone
Yes I'm with you and I'm so happy your with me
AND NOW YOUR MY BEST FRIEND!

Chords: G D C

Driving Out Of Cleveland

I was trying to tell Tessa a story one night on tour and I was so tired I said the phrase "I was driving out of cleveland" about 30 times.. I kept forgetting the story about 2 lines in and almost falling asleep in my van. We ended up laughing alot until the line became one of those inside jokes that means nothing to anyone else. The song is me processing the changes and compromises that now exsist after choosing to be committed to someone for life.

The line about quite being passive is taken from a Microcosm Publishing sticker. The phrase haunted me until I told Tessa I loved her. Thank you Microcosm! This song also has reference to Social Distortion, The Beach Boys and The Hanover Saints. Can you find them?

I was driving out of Cleveland across the USA
Away from all my problems in California
Then I called you up, I was too tired to speak
Then I called you everything for six straight weeks
Then I quit being passive quit making laws
started loving my best friend now I have in-laws

And 2 become one, that's what we've done
and 2 become one, one, one that's what we've done

Now I'm sitting in Portland, strange sunny day
Not quite sure if this is where we wanna stay
See it's warmer than Chicago, colder than LA
East coast keeps calling us so far away

And 2 become one, that's what we've done
and 2 become one, one, one that's what we've done

I was driving out of Cleveland across the USA
Away from all my problems in San Francisco Bay
Now were raising the banner singing harmonies
Yes this is our future you and me

And 2 become one, that's what we've done
And 2 become one, one, one that's what we've done

And as the truth rings out on a saturday night
I'm gonna love you.... my whole life