River Runs Red

I got the razor at my wrist
'Cause I can't resist
I've got this fever burnin' fist
That does as I wish
But when I get downtown
And see what's around
I just know there's got to be
A better place to be found

CHORUS
Oh, God help me
The river runs red and I think I'm dyin'

Well I knew there'd come a day
When my mind would say 'Hey are you afraid'
Well all I know is that I been down here tryin'
Well, I'll bleed on through the night
I suppose I'll bedead by the morning light
No don't be surprised if you mind when you find me

CHORUS

Oh, God help me

A little older, little wiser
With every breath I learn just a little more
ANd with all I've seen, I've finally made up my mind
Enough of this world
Enough blood in these eyes
So, so, so sick of this life

CHORUS
It's about time I realized
Release this hate from inside
Enough blood in my eyes

Call it what you will
Call it suicide
Disregard how you feel
I'm just freeing my mind
Clench my teeth as I sleep
So, so, so sick of this life
Cannot take, cannot fake
Can't shake this blood from these eyes

CHORUS

All I have and all I will be
Nevertheless I'll live for all eternity
'Cause you can't erase my words, can't erase my mind
You can't wipe out my thoughts
Can't shake this blood from my eyes
So, so, so don't even try

CHORUS

Just give me one good reason to live
I'll give you three to die
Let's leave this world behind

From day one I could not comprehend
Was it us, was it me or was it them?
Friends will come and go as it seems
And now I have no shoulder on which to lean
Still I do not understand
You break your back for something
Well where's the fans?

CHORUS
Show me-respect
And I'll
Show me-show you right back

I see the boys that I once called my friends
They'll fake a smile and then they'll shake your hand
When will this ever end?
I look around at my brothers
My only true friends

CHORUS

You got a lot to learn my friend
You've got a lot to learn about respect

We've got the method of groove that grabbed your attention
Now that you're aware we're gonna give you the message
My father taught me many things
Living deaf, dumb and blind will get you nothing
SO listen up and hear what I have to say
It's never too late to learn in this day and age
We'll point you in a new direction
Passed down to this generation

If you've learned anything from me
It would be to hold on to your dreams
Learn from my mistakes
And it will take off some of the weight
He said, 'You got your whole life to live,
And so much more to give
Never compromise and you will never live a lie.'
He said, 'Son, remember where you came from.'

We never doubted ourselves for a minute
Oh they may criticize and compromise, but we were always in it
So come on down and see what this is all about
It's in our soul, on the road, wherever we may go
So wake up, nothing can stop us
We got the chaos so just let us
Provide the lines that make your mind spend the time
Think before you sink to the bottom

He said, 'Son, remember where you came from.'

Is there something wrong with me?

Ripping through the walls
Tearing at the doors of education
Not that it's my fault
I just can't help but sort
Through the pieces
Secluded from the whore
I focus at the board-I'm out of focus

CHORUS
There must be a way
There's got to be a way to overcome this
It's these words and music
That keeps me living, keeps me breathing

It may not be much
But this is all I got
And I'm smiling
It all seems so pointless
The hours seem so endless
And for what?
I'd rather be working
Breaking my back doing something

CHORUS

At least I have my brothers, my band and my lover
What more could I need?

I buried my friend the other day
And I saw my life in a different way
It was a cold afternoon for a funeral
I did not shed a tear as I watched the snow fall
Is there something wrong with me?
When did I become this empty?
As I gazed down at his grave
I knew that someday I'd end up
That way!

(Street sounds; door opens; sounds of television, baby crying and Mother
in the kitchen)

MOTHER: Eh, back so soon? You know, don't you have a decent pair of pants
you can put on? You look like a...a PIG walking in the street! Your hands,
your face-filthy! You disgust me! I can't believe you live in this house!
You repulse me. I want to throw up! (Phone rings) Goddamn kids!

(Door opens and closes)

MOTHER: Right! Slam the door again on me! You know, you're just like your
father! (Voice becomes muffled; sound of answering machine tape rewinding)

BOSS: Yeah, I'm callin' 'em now...Hello? Hello? Pick up the phone! Where
the fuck are you? What's the matter, you just decided not to come to work
today? What the fuck is wrong with you? Ya fuckin' lowlife! Hey, you know
what? Don't even bother coming in anymore. I've had enough with you and
your shit. That's it, you're fired. You understand me? Fired. Don't come
back here, fuck you, and goodbye. (Silence on machine; sound of cigarette
lighter; beep)

MRS. GLICKER: Hello, this is Mrs. Glicker. I'm calling to reach you about,
to let you know, that, uh, you, you're not graduating this year because
you are failing two subjects and I need to see you as soon as possible. Be
in my office on Monday at 8:30 a.m., promptly, and we'll discuss this
matter further. Thank you. Bye. (Phone hangs up; silence; beep; shuts off
machine)

You've got that look in your eye again
It's working overtime
Worried about where I'm gonna spend my life
But it's much too late, it's much too late
Oh it's much too late to start picking fights

You said: Where ya been, where ya been
Where ya going to, where ya going to, where ya going to?
'Cause I'm right here, yeah

Can't it wait, can't it wait, can't it wait
Just a minute now, just a minute now, come on

CHORUS
I need some air to breathe
I need some space, just leave
'Cause I'm colder than ever (colder than ever)
I said I'm colder than ever
I'm empty, empty through and through

Someday they'll see, someday I'll be
Unwanting of somewhere to hide
But for now I'll take shelter
Deep in the back of my mind
Can it wait? Can't you wait?
'Cause I ain't ready to lay it on the line
I still shake, I still shake
From this chill in my spine

I've got this chill yeah
In the back of my spine
Baby all the time now
Chilling my bones, chilling all alone now

Find a way, find a way, I've found a way
To cope with the everyday now
Raise your hands if you understand

CHORUS

Smiling's just a phase yeah
And nothing can phase me