They Wanna Put Aligators In Our Apartments

My parents spent 20 years managing apartments. This is how I grew up. These are all true stories. This is a new song. It has me very excited!!!!

They wanna put aligators in our apartments
Big snakes to play with the kids in the backyard
Basketball players to beat us up
And just when you think that you've had enough
They break our legs and then run away
They chop down the trees then ask to stay
And just when you think that it can't get worse
YOU PACK THEIR BAGS AND YOU KICK THEM OUT!!!!

They fight and they scream and their voices seem
like samauri swords cut through paper walls
They shoot their guns down through the floor
once not enough so they shoot some more
They throw their cigarettes in the flowers
three days later it starts a fire
They track us down when we go to church
And it feels like they rule our universe

They wanna put aligators in our apartments
Big snakes to play with the kids in the backyard
Basketball players to beat us up
And just when you think that you've had enough
They break our legs and then run away
They chop down the trees then ask to stay
And just when you think that it can't get worse
YOU PACK THEIR BAGS AND YOU KICK THEM OUT!!!!

They like to get naked when they're alone
Then stand in the doorway when you get home.
They scream and convulse in the parking lots
And then they take up two parking spots
They ALL like to call us on Christmas day
The one day we want them to STAY AWAY
They wake us up at 3 am
Because somebody kicked their front door in
But you can't kick them out when they're selling drugs
Because they say they know karate and their daddy owns the place

The greatest Christmas we ever had is when we locked ourselves away
In a hotel in California in that city by the bay
Oh they couldn't find us if they wanted to NO WAY!
Oh they couldn't find us if they wanted to NO WAY!

They wanna put aligators in our apartments
Big snakes to play with the kids in the backyard
Basketball players to beat us up
And just when you think that you've had enough
They break our legs and then run away
They chop down the trees then ask to stay
And just when you think that it can't get worse
YOU PACK THEIR BAGS AND YOU KICK THEM OUT!!!!

Loving You Means Everything

I'm married to my best friend. Sometimes it is very surreal. Life feels to wonderful - she does not pressure me to change. She loves me. But in our world that might be newly wed bliss (I'm not so sure - we've been friends for a very longtime and worked through alot)... I'm learning that loving someone mean with everything I have which sometimes laying down my past ways of doing things and pressing on regarless of consiquence. Tessa I love you. You are - "Miss full of good ideas!"


I'm laying down my worries all my past mistakes
I'm burning all the the bridges to my past escapes

I'm praying for compassion because some things have to change
Yes me and my priorities Yes things have to rearrange

See I don't lack desired or ability to run
Run right over everything and run right over you

I'm praying for compassion because some things have to change
Yes me and my priorities Yes things have to rearrange

So I'm begging for forgiveness and I'm hoping you'll agree
Because loving you means everything means everthing to me

I'm laying down my worries all my past mistakes
I'm burning all the the bridges to my past escapes

I'm praying for compassion because some things have to change
Yes me and my priorities Yes things have to rearrange

Chords: D A G

Electrified

This song was inspired by a Vena Cava sticker, a book on dreams, and Bob Dylan's record "Desire," The Beach Boys "Endless Summer," some magnets on our fridge that formed the words "Hold her hand with soft desire and say "yes" - let's always make forever tonight" (this quote was influential in Tessa and I deciding to tour this summer) and some song titles off a Safari's record. I'm excited about this song it's most likely the lead track on our new record "Welcome To The Future."

Enjoy:

"last night I dreamed of nothing but I woke up with desire to change the world (to change the world) To live an endless summer to spend all of our nights out on the road"

i'm electrified you electrify me
i'm electrified, i'm electrified

"last night I dreamed of nothing but i woke up with desire to change the world (to change the world) to live a true adventure to live the the greatest story ever told"

i'm electrified you electrify me
i'm electrified, i'm electrified

And I will hold her hand with soft desire and say yes
and we will ways make forever tonight
and i will hold her hand with soft desire and say yes
and we'll press on till our dreams come into sight

i'm electrified you electrify me
i'm electrified, i'm electrified

"Last night I dreamed of nothing but I woke up with desire to change the world (to change the world)
And I will walk and not run unil the day is done
I will take a golden minute and sit down
YES I WILL LIVE IN SIDE THE CONTEXT OF THIS MOMENT
and dance like i'm the only fool around....

i'm electrified you electrify me
i'm electrified, i'm electrified

Chords: A E D

The Cops

Cops like to follow our van and make my life interesting. Whenever thers is a behind me I get very nervious. Last night when I was driving home a cop almost hit. That was also scary. I wrote this song in Sutherlin, Oregon on with The Intolerants. The first story if from Sutherlin (2 of the last 3 times I've pulled in to Sutherlin I've been followed by Cops - and gotten stopped once) the second story is from Kansas.

Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops
Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops
Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops
Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops

I swear we just rolled into this town
So why are tailing us trying trying to take us down

Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops
Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops

Well I was sleeping in a parking log
They "They'll kill you boy on this very spot"
Then a few hours later there friends came around
They said, "Listen here boy. You best get out of our town!"

Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops
Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops
Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops
Jesus, Keep Us Safe From The Cops

In The End It Will All Be Ok

I was totally suprised by a song that came back to me from my first acoustic release End of The Rope called The Ballad of a Broken Heart. You can hear the link the original recording by clicking HERE!

Well I thought she was in love maybe in love with me
But I guess I was wrong you see
Well I had such great ambitions and such wonderful ideas
And it all turns out to be a joke

But oh well, all is well - IN THE END IT WILL ALL BE OK

Well I left a good friend on the side of the road
The night after I slept on his couch (sorry joe)
Maybe we'll fight later but I don't really care
Because I am out of out of here

But oh well, all is well - IN THE END IT WILL ALL BE OK

So now I sit with my van on fire just north of Eugene
Strangely enough I'm happy to be hear
And things are more then seem

But oh well, all is well - IN THE END IT WILL ALL BE OK
But oh well, all is well - IN THE END IT WILL ALL BE OK

It's Called Coffee

Marriage has been good for me. I've been in the middle of writing a legitimate batch of songs for the first time since before tour. Along the way I've also managed to finish a song that's been sitting dead for around 6 years amply titled, It's Called Coffee - this simple little tune is a little bluesy and definitely inspired by Deluxetone Rockets rockabilly fun.

There are photos of me drinking coffee at 6 months old.

A fun little note is that my friend Jessica was denied the ability to buy coffee when she was 17 @ a crazy book store in Roseburg because she was underage - the same time she was working @ coffee shop across town.

On my last tour I made a conscious decision to drink caffeine rather than die. Driving alone if my van all day everyday it felt like those were my only choices. By the end of the tour after drinking alot of caffeine everyday, I got to the point where I only had about 7 useable hours in each day, my eyes stopped working at night - speeding vehicles started to look like they were standing still, and my muscles still feel like there shutdown in parts. I was still drinking coffee everyday when I got my current job but during our walk through during orientation I was overwhelmed by the amount of very over weight co-workers I was seeing. I noticed a coffee machines everywhere and it just seemed to easy to just drink coffee all day long. So I decided to try quitting. I now only drink occasionally and most times when I do I feel pretty crappy the next day - dry skink, dehydrated, sore muscles, not to mention the feelings of almost puking when I drink coffee on an empty stomach. So here ya go enjoy the new/old lyrics.


It's Called Coffee

They say life being only after 9 AM and for the most part I agree
But then that coffee it gets inside of me

It's called coffee - if it's a drug then I'm an addict
It's called coffee - if it's so bad then I'm a victim

When I was younger I drank it for the style
now I'm old and grown and I drink it on my own

It's called coffee - if it's a drug then I'm an addictIt's called coffee - if it's so bad then I'm a victim

Now I've got a job working 40 hours
Where everyone drinks coffee seems like the shoot in there showers

It's called coffee - if it's a drug then I'm an addict
It's called coffee - if it's so bad then I'm a victim

Well I'm trying to quit coffee because it's dragging me down
Yes all my youthful energy just is not coming around

It's called coffee - if it's a drug then I'm an addict
It's called coffee - if it's so bad then I'm a victim (x2)

3 Chords and A Smile

I played this song before Tessa's father gave her away at our wedding! I really enjoy it. Tessa and I were both really proud of the fact that we were virgins when we got married, so she was really excited when that was worked into the song.

What people neglected to tell us was that sex is hard work!

I'm telling you that I love you with 3 chords and a smile on my face
Yes with you I feel satisfied even in this crazy place

Yes I swear I've never been happier than whenever I'm holding your hand
I can't believe you wanna marry me feels like I've reached the promised land

And I Love You, Tessa I Love You
And I Love You, Tessa I Do

They say were gonna be happy and I thank God that there right
Because we've both waited all our lives to celebrate our wedding night!

And I Love You, Tessa I Love You
And I Love You, Tessa I Do

And I Love You, Tessa I Love You
And I Love You, Tessa I Do

We Can Work Together

A song about my relationship with my best friend and soon to be wife Tessa. I've decided I'm better when I'm with her even when we've had a long weekend and I'm beyond tired. An interesting subnote is we watch We Are Marshall tonight. Part of the first verse was written several months ago on tour and references the town of Hurricane in W. Virginia where Marshall University is located.

* We decided to play this song in lue of lighting a unity candle at our wedding.

Since the first time that I saw you I've never been the same
Because I love your perfect smile and I love your perfect name
Yes your so faithful and true and not just when I want you to
Yes your so patient and kind and least most always all the time
So in sickness and in healthy may kindness be our weath
Because your my better half your my best friend and I'll love you tell the very end

We can work together - We can work it out
We will work together through all our fears and doubts

Well I took a left turn and I might never return to the states that's for lovers and the people they spurn Well I fell like I've been through a hurricane And I've been driving on 95

We can work together - We can work it out
We will work together through all our fears and doubts

So if this time is for just being THAN I'M BURNING MY REGRETS -
Of not saving the world with a song
YES if the GREATEST TIME IN HISTORY is being here with you
then we'll put on some coffee and we'll talk the whole night through

(potential trumpet solo)

We can work together - We can work it out
We will work together through all our fears and doubts

We can work together - We can work it out
We will work together through all our fears and doubts

Chords: A G A/D

I'm Not An Anarchist

I'm particularly excited about this song!!! It's our engagement story. We've been performing it live.. Tessa sings her lines. We have loads of fun.

I'm not an anarchist but I play one on TV
I'm not a communist but that cd is free
I'm just an average man but at least I have a plan
Yes I'm looking for a job to put some tires on my van

I picked you up in Carolina and I took you for a ride
I said I was your ambulance and you filled me with pride
Then I took you to a parking lot and I asked to hold your hand
How could I have ever know that you'd wanna join the band

I'm not an anarchist but I play one on TV
I'm not a communist but that cd is free
I'm just an average man but at least I have a plan
Yes I'm looking for a job to put some tires on my van

We've never been to Memphis but we've been to Illinois
And whenever I'm with you, my heart is filled with joy
Well it's your first winter in Oregon and the rain it's gonna fall
But whenever I'm with you my dreams don't feel so small

I'm not an anarchist but I play one on TV
I'm not a communist but that cd is free
I'm just an average man but at least I have a plan
Yes I'm looking for a job to put some tires on my van

Then I took you to a mountain top and I got down on my knees
I said Tessa Gretel Rhyne would you marry me please
Then you started hyperventilating and I started to get scared
(You said) - Are you serious?
(I said) - Is that a yes?
(You answered) - um um um uhuh YES!" ..... SHE SAID YES!

I'm not an anarchist but I play one on TV
I'm not a communist but that cd is free
I'm just an average man but at least I have a plan
Yes I'm looking for a job to put some tires on my van

Chords: G C D