Some Things

For Tessa's birthday I cleaned our spare room and made into a sewing room, complete with all Tessa's old rock n' roll posters from when we lived in SF. She loved it. I wrote this song on Tessa' birthday in the new room. She my inspiration. It was also greatly helped by a concert posters on the wall.

Some Things

You are my beloved and I love your tattoo
Whenever I'm lonely I just think of you
Somethings can't be explained they must be experience
And I'm so glad I ended up with you

Well these are strang days and this is funny weather
Wheneve I'm with you I'm so glad were together
Somethings can't be explained they must be experience
And I'm so glad I ended up with you

You were my favorite thing in San Francisco
You were my favorite thing in San Francisco
And it's true our Rebellion
And it's true our Resolution
And it's true our Evolution's just begun

Well today it's your birthday your turning 31
According to my records you make my life so fun
Some things can't be explained they must be experience
And I'm so glad I ended up with you

You were my favorite thing in San Francisco
You were my favorite thing in San Francisco
And it's true our Rebellion
And it's true our Resolution
And it's true our Evolution's just begun

Asshole

This song was originally set to the tune of the song This Is The Army by Irving Berlin. It's can be percieved an apology or an offence but I prefer to think of it as confession. The second verse contains a reference to the fact it took me 2 years to tell my best friend and now wife that I loved her. The third verse contains refences to two Against Me! songs. Tessa thinks this song will become a standard in the set. 2 of the verses were originally in the song Revolutionary Colors off my Home Again record.

Asshole

I woke up this morning on a sunday
One of my 2 split days off this week
started feeling tired around 8 Pm
And I can't find a kind word to speak

I hate feeling like an Asshole
I hate feeling so unnerved
I hate feeling like the things I hate
And I wish I could take back my words

See I can't even tell you that I love you
But I wanna love before I do
One more year in holy isolation
Maybe I'll finally get to try

Oh truly I've never laughed at danger
But I talk a pretty good game
And when were all walking honest
We all look the same

I hate feeling like an Asshole
I hate feeling so unnerved
I hate feeling like the things I hate
And I wish I could take back my words

I woke up this morning on a Sunday
One year later sleeping next to you
Wishing I could say that I've tamed my tongue
But someday that would not be true

I hate feeling like an Asshole
I hate feeling so unnerved
I hate feeling like the things I hate
And I wish I could take back my words

Chords: G D C

It's Never To Late

A version of Carrying The Banner appeared on Take It Easy but I never liked the chorus. The other day I had some free time around the house and wrote this version which I'm a much bigger fan of. 3 settings are described around San Francisco in the song. There are alot of quotes in the songs "All my roads are set before me" is a C. S. Lewis quote, "It's Never To Late Too Mend" is from Blues Brothers and the title "Carrying The Banner" is taken from Newsies!

All my roads are set before me. Which path will I take?
Will I allow myself to answer? Will I allow my heart to break?

See I'm sitting on the back porch on a sunday afternoon
All the kids are keeping company but it's just not what i do
Yes you told me that you loved me as I walked out the front door
Yes you gave me your interegrity and I just asked for somemore

And this world has raked me over and this world has dragged me down
And the best things that are happening are in you part of town

Oh my baby with a broken heart you mean so much to
And I can't wait to see what our futures will be

It's never too late, oh it's never to late too render
It's never too late, oh it's never to late too mend
It's never too late, oh it's never to late too render
& We can start all over again

Standing in the alley behind the record store
And I'm feeling kinda burnt out and I'm feeling pretty poor
Like the guy around the corner asking for a dollar bill
Just to buy his mom a present and to send her some good will

All my roads are set before me. Which path will I take?
Will I allow myself to answer? Will I allow my heart to break?

And this world has raked me over and this world has dragged me down
And the best things that are happening are in you part of town

Oh my baby with a broken heart you mean so much to
And I can't wait to see what our futures will be

It's never too late, oh it's never to late too render
It's never too late, oh it's never to late too mend
It's never too late, oh it's never to late too render
& We can start all over again

I treated your affection like the woman down the hall
And I don't think I'm quite ready just to hear the trumpet call
But it's time you met my family it's time you met my friends
It's time for celebration it's time we start to mend

All my roads are set before me. Which path will I take?
Will I allow myself to answer? Will I allow my heart to break?

And this world has raked me over and this world has dragged me down
And the best things that are happening are in you part of town

Oh my baby with a broken heart you mean so much to
And I can't wait to see what our futures will be

It's never too late, oh it's never to late too render
It's never too late, oh it's never to late too mend
It's never too late, oh it's never to late too render
& We can start all over again

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