Music

while it may not seem like it, i have been making or playing music in some shape or form since around the age of 10. i started on a toys-r-us electronic drum kit and quickly moved over to the guitar when i realized a friend of mine could play the drums much better than me.

guitar (and bass guitar) has been my main instrument over the years. i learned by watching nirvana videos on mtv and listening to metallica albums. i've been influenced by so many different styles over the years, ultimately falling back on simple emo rock riffs. i never learned theory or proper playing techniques (though, i appreciate the hell out of them) but music is the biggest part of who i am so i enjoy doing it the way i do.

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the following is a site map of music in case you are using internet explorer and the drop-down menu doesn't work

2009 - In Progress

and here we are. i guess i don't have much to say about these songs yet other than that they are love songs, hate songs, general feelings about life songs. i find myself writing more often these days, so i will share them as they come.







"in the flesh" - 1/08/09


get undressed
it's what i'm really here for
i want to see you in the flesh
i want to see more
than the pretty dress
you wear so well
i want to touch your body
i want to taste your smell

talk philisophy
talk politics
talk literature
talk about your best friend's wedding
but then talk dirty to me

undress me
it's what you're really here for
you want to see me in the flesh
you want to see more
than the silly shirt
i don't wear so well
you want to touch my body
you want to taste my smell



"phrases" - 1/26/09


staying awake just to feel the pain
stay in pain just to feel awake

what do i care if you're not in my life?

immerse yourself in an alternate
reality that just makes sense

what do i care if you're not in my life?
what do i care if you're not in my life?

the transfer
of energy
from one being
to another

barcodes misrepresent
the products that we've become

what do i care if you're not in my life?

it's hard to believe anybody cares
when i don't even care myself

what do i care if you're not in my life?
what do i care if you're not in my life?

when i'm alone
i wish i'd have a crowd
when i'm in a crowd
i wish i'd be alone

never satisfied



"i am you" - 3/22/09


he wakes to the sound of his heart beating rapidly,
the byproduct of unwanted dreams

the start of another day filled with confusion,
not knowing what anything means

and this life, she made for him

he looks into his eyes in the mirror and mutters these words
to remind himself she doesn't have control

i am you

she wakes to the sound of her children's yearning
for their minimal daily affection

she now has all the time she needs to act upon shelfishness
necessary for leisure and fun

and this life, she made for herself

she looks into her eyes in the mirror and mutters these words
to remind herself she now has control

i am you



"take me out" - 4/11/09


take me out, she said
make me feel like the woman
i deserve to feel like
for all the months of hard work
and sacrifices i have made
all the love that i gave you
when you were beaten down
by the wife who loves you not

take me out
give me something to believe in
make me feel like this is real
not just the work of sinful heathens
we'll kneel down and pray to gods
that we don't really believe in
cause it makes us feel much better

take me out, she said
make me feel like i am more to you
than just a one night stand
than just a ragdoll of convenience
he looked at her a smiled coldly
said "baby, you're just my backup plan
that's all you'll ever be
and that's good enough for me"

i won't take you out
this is nothing to believe in
this isn't love, this isn't real
it's just the work of sinful heathens
i'll kneel down and pray to gods
that i don't really believe in
cause it helps me sleep much better



"light another" - 4/13/09


morning tremors in my heart
not a good way to start the day

light another cigarette
take a deep breath
pray for calm

i don't miss you anymore
i lie to myself and keep moving on

light another cigarette
take a deep breath
pray for death

scream out the pain
wring out my brain

scream out my brain
wring out the pain



"sleeping underground" - 5/13/09


i think i'm better of dead
or maybe sleeping underground
but it's all the same
just a different name
not a different game
not the kind of game i like to play with anybody other than myself
just me and my brain
and the winner goes straight to hell

i think i'm better off here
locked inside this cage
with the rusty bars
and the musty clothes
better hold your nose
don't breathe the air
it's stale and bare
clear of nutrients
clear of sanity
it's so obvious
just listen to my maddening words

i open up the window
and spit out my sympathy
to the heavenly monsters
i scream in agony

i open up my soul
two for the price of one
who's willing to buy?
who's crazy enough

better leave me alone
better leave me be
to rot on my own
i think i'm better off dead
i think i'm better off sleeping underground
where i can't be found



"all it took was a glance" - 5/20/09


why do i try to convince myself that i don't hate you
when all i feel for you right now is hatred
i think it's my right, you ripped my heart and tore it apart
and i was dumb enough to let you do it twice

fuck you for fooling me
fuck you for letting me fool myself
fuck you for not letting me say "fuck you"

i spend too much time making excuses for you
saying i understand why you don't love me anymore
but if my fuck-you's amplify your happiness
then i have no more fuck-you's for you

why do i spend all of my time defending your choices when i should be saying "fuck you"?
why do i spend all of my time belittling myself when i should be saying "fuck you"?
why do i spend all of my time crying for what we had when i should be saying "fuck you?"
why do i spend all of my time wasting my thoughts on you?

all it took was a glance for me to fall in love
all it took was a glance to blindfold me
all it took was a glance to tear the blindfold from my eyes
all it took was a glance to make me hate you again



"the dreamer" - 5/25/09


i find myself searching for a feeling
i can't quite put into words
but i see it everywhere, breathe it in the air
it feels so familiar
i had this feeling in another life
with some kids and a beautiful wife
but when i woke i found myself broke
stranded in this life alone

i'm not going to lie to you
cause i don't know what
i'm even trying to say to you
let me think about it

i find myself searching for a feeling
i only feel in my dreams
but it's all pretend, it's all in my head
it's nothing medication can't fix
come walk with me, you're a pretty lady
prettier than the ones in my head
come talk to me, i need the sound of your voice
to prove it's not in my head

i'm not going to lie to you
cause i like you so much
i think about you always
i need to feel your touch
i dream about you nightly
cause it's all i have
i need to know if this can be
something more than a dream

is it foolish of me
to have only a dream
and let it consume me
and let it use me
i don't have this dream
this dream has me
i won't exist anymore
when the dream wakes up

i'm not going to lie to you
cause i like you so much
i think about you always
i need to feel your touch
is it foolish of me
to have only a dream
and let it consume me
and let it use me

i dream about you nightly
cause it's all i have
i need to know if this can be
something more than a dream
i don't have this dream
this dream has me
i won't exist anymore
when the dream wakes up
is it foolish of me
to have only a dream
and let it consume me
and let it use me
and let it shame me
and let it abuse me
and let it become me
and let it destroy me
and let it erase me
from existing as anything more than a dream



"sheep and wolves" - 5/29/09


watch your back, dear
this world is filled with many wolves
dressed in sheeps clothing
waiting for you
to lower your guard in a moment
of lustful weakness

and i fear you're not alone

watch my back, dear
i'm just a sheep in wolves clothing
trying to survive
and this innocence
will be the death of both of us
when we let down our guards

and i fear we're not alone

we're lambs sent out for slaughter
our hearts beat more than necessary
we're lambs offered up for sacrifice
whos' gonna rescue us from out own demise?

watch you're back, dear
there's only so much protection i can offer
watch my back, dear
i'm sitting naked, powerless against my own kind

and i fear we're all alone



"i'm so nervous" - 6/1/09


i'm so nervous i can't sleep
i listen to my heart and its every beat
a million miles doesn't seem so far to flee

i hear words of encouragement
from those rational people i call my friends
convincing me there's no reason to flee

i'm so nervous i need a drink
i drive myself insane when i start to think
about the dangers of the great unknown

i'm so dumb for feeling this way
jumping to conclusions before i even get to say
"hi, how are you?"

what if she likes me?
what if she doesn't like me?
i hope she likes me
fuck, i feel like i'm back in junior high
what if she likes me?
what if she doesn't like me?
i hope she likes me
fuck, i'm gonna give myself a heart attack

what's wrong with me?
i'm not insane
i'm just not so good at playing this game



"pure and full of sin" - 6/5/09


god looked down on me today
through thundering clouds and rain

she said,
"i have a wonderful secret to tell
"you're going straight to hell

"but it's all about the ride
"i'll make it comfortable
"i'll make you forget your destination"

and amidst all of this shit
she handed me a gift
and that gift was you

you look like an angel
or a deadly siren
you've come to lure me away
with your beautiful eyes
and hypnotizing words
i'll do whatever you say

god looked down on me today
through thundering clouds and rain

she said,
"i have a wonderful secret to tell
"you're going straight to hell

but it's all about the ride
it'll be so comfortable
i'll forget my destination
cause amidst all of this shit
i've been handed a gift
the beautiful gift of you

you can be my angel
pure and full of sin
fly me to the afterlife
pure and full of sin
touch and kiss my soul
pure and full of sin
let's do this together
pure and full of sin

i can be your servant
pure and full of sin
living through eternity
pure and full of sin
we're going straight to hell
pure and full of sin
let's do this together
pure and full of sin

2008 - Misc.

2008 was a year of rebuilding. in addition to re-recording songs and working on organizing albums, i experimented a little. "(driving in) l.a. (bizarro mix)" was a test in combining analog and digital recording techniques. and, because i love them oh so much, i did another cover of a nofx song, this time with a ukulele and bongos.







“(driving in) l.a” – 7/26/02
(bizarro mix)


driving, driving, driving, driving, driving in la
is making, making, making, making, making me crazy
i wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna kill someone
gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme a shotgun

i feel so excluded by this crack cocaine environment
plastic mind and plastic eyes make for a lovely disguise
hold your breath and make a wish, capitalistic selfishness
down rodeo, up sunset, i didn’t say start breathing yet

i believe air pollution is slowly driving me insane
stupidity—quick solution—to feel like part of the game

sometimes i close my eyes and feel like floating down
but then i realize my feet are still on the ground



“leave it alone”
(nofx cover, ukulele mix)


breathe
ever so soft
we wouldn't wanna break the eggs as we walk
never alone
cautious afraid
i hear the voice of reason on the p.a.

leave it alone
follow the grain
we couldn't stop the irresistable force
leave it the same
change with the leaves
bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the old
leave it alone

dananananananana
dananananananana
dananananananana
dananananananana

breathe
ever so slight
we couldn't take away your god given right
leave it alone, heel and stay
roll over and shake and beg for the bone
leave it alone

dananananananana
dananananananana
dananananananana
dananananananana

Theoretical Socialism

"theoretical socialism" is a couple of singles related by political themes. "advantage: none" was written during the "...beautiful way" era, so i wrote a sister song for it, one that actually became a personal favorite.







“advantage: none” - 3/19/03


words are sent binary
through zeros and ones
words so harsh a feud entails
advantage: none
communication lines disrupted
pre-activation
two sides fight a war unknown
advantage: none

lack of support apparently
means nothing
a faulty system built on lies
and hypocrisy
a world filled with conflict
shaped by ignorance
resolution nowhere in sight
because of stupidity

it is my opinion
that there should be no war
but as long we have the leaders we have
there will be no less
egos swell because they believe
in their own ways
fuck unity, fuck you and me
it’s a big fucking mess
it is my opinion
that we should take them all to an island
and let them fight their own war
it is my opinion
that neither side is right or wrong

but it doesn’t really matter what i think
the true victor is the one with the biggest gun
and since they all collect their grand arsenals
who has the upper hand? advantage: none



"i blame society" - 8/15/05(?)

lyrics document can't be located. i will post them as soon as i find them.

What A Beautiful Way

2008 was a rebuilding year. "what a beautiful way" is my third album, an album that evolved for many years. many of the songs originally intended for the album were written in 2002 and 2003, some of them ultimately not making the cut. the ones from that era that were actually recorded are the ones i liked best. with the vacant space, i recorded some other favorites that were previously recorded, mainly because i wanted cleaner, more professional versions. (while my recording techniques are far from perfect, they are much better than they used to be.) in addition, i completed the album with a couple newer songs. ultimately, the album is a good representation of 5+ years of music.







“i, robot” – 2/4/03


a hand fumbles in the dark
it finds its destination
the power switch is flick on
the power of a robot nation
everyday the same routine
on at 8, off at 5
repeated tasks reward unseen

is this what its like to be alive?

assembly men work assembly lines
while money men laugh and play
gears and arms work in time
this has always been the way
but something doesn’t feel quite right
and though i may be lobotomized
strange electric impulses

tell me we’re all roboticized
is this what its like to be alive?

i, robot (i feel out of place)
i, robot (controller of my fate)
i, robot (no longer can i wait)
i am not a robot

i pull the wires out of my head
its refreshing to think clear
no more remnants of a cloudy mind
no more thoughts of slavery and fear
the domino effect begins with one
i’m already at the starting line
the time has come for liberty

i’ll show you what its like to be alive
cause this isn’t what its like to be alive
is this what its like to be alive?
this isn’t what its like to be alive

i, robot (theres more to life than this)
i, robot (i think i’ll take the risk)
i, robot (they’ll try to shut me down)
but i am not a robot
i am not a robot (don’t let them do the same to you)
i am not a robot (break free and do what you need to)
i am not a robot (free yourself from tyranny)
i am not a robot (our robot nation at last is free)



“(driving in) l.a” – 7/26/02


driving, driving, driving, driving, driving in la
is making, making, making, making, making me crazy
i wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna kill someone
gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme a shotgun

i feel so excluded by this crack cocaine environment
plastic mind and plastic eyes make for a lovely disguise
hold your breath and make a wish, capitalistic selfishness
down rodeo, up sunset, i didn’t say start breathing yet

i believe air pollution is slowly driving me insane
stupidity—quick solution—to feel like part of the game

sometimes i close my eyes and feel like floating down
but then i realize my feet are still on the ground



“highway 1 (and the caribbean afterlife)” – 1/6/03


i inhale and take the smoke into my lungs
hands on 1 and 7, eyes forward
the sun goes down over the horizon
euphoria kicks in as i travel onward

my foot goes down on the accelerator
the needle shows 120 plus
the metal molds are quickly shredded away
as i sail off the cliff into the deep abyss

the wind upon my face
the tearing in my eyes
i’m falling faster now
no more time for lies
the sorrow that she’ll feel
knowing that i’m free
knowing that she killed me



“i miss you forever” – 12/20/03


i’m quoting you
a poem you wrote for me
what seems like long ago
it has so much meaning now

you were the air i breathe
you were the food i eat
and now we’re on a break
it’s so hard to take

it’s burning a whole deep within my soul
i don’t know how it affects you
but i hope it’s just as painful
it’s only been a few days
a few days of misery

i long for you
i hope to see you soon
it’s only been a few days
but it feels like forever

and so i miss you forever



“last call” – 11/7/08


when the hour hits 2
i'm gonna sell it to you
i want you to know what it feels like
when the hour hits 3
to be a desperate lonely me
i want you to know how bad it feels

pop goes the sound of my futile attempt to feel alive
and it feels so good as it travels down
keeping me warm
keeping my false hopes alive

when the hour hits 3
i'm gonna keep it for me
i want you to know what it feels like
when the hour hits 4
and i'm laying on the floor
eyes wide shut in contemplation

pop goes the sound of another futile attempt to feel alive
and it feels so good as it travels down
filling my broken heart
killing my broken heart one drink at a time

when the hour hits 4
and i'm desperate, wanting more
i want you to know what it feels like
when the hour turns 5
and there are tears in my eyes
i want you to know how sad it feels

when the hour hits 5
i hope i'm not alive
i want you to know what it feels like
to be buried in my grave
such a desperate lonely place
wishing i didn't get so fucking drunk



“frustration” – 11/4/08


the words you speak
you rarely mean
the actions you take
do nothing to make
me feel better
about this abandonment
about losing you
it's what you needed to do

you needed to walk away
so you walked away
you gave up on me
and walked away
you promised me
you'd never give up on me
but you walked away
don't walk away

i don't believe in miracles any more than i believe in god or being happy
but i believe in touching myself when i'm feeling unhappy

you blew me a kiss
your final kiss
it flew right past me
along with everything
we ever had
now it means nothing
i try to hang on tightly
to what is now just a memory

because you walked away
you walked away
you gave up on me
and walked away
you promised me
you'd never give up on me
but you walked away
come back to me

i don't believe in miracles any more than i believe in god or being happy
but i believe in touching myself when i'm feeling unhappy

the frustration runs so deep into my soul
it breaks my heart into another thousand pieces
"you're my favorite, and will always be"
it makes me sad when you say this to me
because i know it isn't so
you're better off without this frustration

i don't believe in miracles any more than i believe in god or being happy
but i believe in touching myself when i'm feeling unhappy

you walked away
you gave up on me
and walked away



“the anniversary” – 4/25/03


he takes a breath and holds it in
he lets out the sigh of relief
the neatly wrapped box tied with a bow trembles with his shaking hands
a moment of silence and solitude as he slowly opens the door
an imaginary rose withers away and dies on an imaginary floor

we gaze into the desperate eyes now swelling with disappointment
step back and see the complete scene

time moves so slow though reality speeds up
his one true love caught in the act
nothing she can say

we gaze into the desperate eyes now swollen with disappointment
step back and see the complete scene

“what is this i feel?” he asks himself
“what is this i have done?”
step back and see the complete scene
his hands trembling
now with rage, now with fear
step back and see the complete scene
life strewn all over the floor
the withered rose now drowning in what once sustained the cheating and lies

step back and see the complete scene
this is the beginning of the end
this is the end of the beginning
this is the anniversary



“the day after the last” – 5/5/03


the mirror reflects a boy starting a brand new day
there’s a hint of desolation in his eyes
the mirror cracks as he puts his head into it
blood dries on his cheek
he cries and the tears loosen the blood
the boy recomposes and steps out the door

into an ugly world
where mechanics rule and the skies are filled with deadly gas
such a lovely world
created by us
this is the day after the last

the boy moves silently, uncompromisingly
he follows a line of others just like him
they move towards unwanted destinations
mechanical beast moving and stopping, moving and stopping in time
the boy just keeps on moving
it wasn’t his choice to be born

into an ugly world
where mechanics rule and the skies are filled with deadly gas
such a lovely world
created by us
this is the day after the last

the boy wakes in the night wishing it was all a dream
but he realizes differently

it will always go on the same
like a clock that keeps on ticking
keeping a rhythm, keeping in time
how boring

until one atypical day
when the heart decides to finally stop
and we all realize that we’ve wasted our lives
no hope for a future cause we forgot about the past
we live everyday like it’s the day after the last

what a beautiful way to live
what a beautiful way

what a beautiful way to die

2007

2007 was a year of a lot of music... but most of it never got recorded. i bought a loop pedal so i recorded lots of repetitive bits but didn't do anything with most of them. "...and furthermore" is another love song i actually recorded. "falling in love" is a cover of one of my favorite nofx songs. it was intended to be used for an animated short.







lyric documents can't be located right now. i'll get back to this...

2006

2006 was another slim year musically, at least on the recording front. i began working on a concept album entitled "the de-evolution." the album was intended to be a collection of songs, i.e. one long song. unfortunately, i wrote about 10 or so songs and realized, based on the content i was writing about, the scope of the project was going to become much bigger than i intended. to date, the 10 songs have been recorded on 4-track, "the single cell..." being the only one i did a full recording of. other than this, i started experimenting a bit and recorded one of my personal favorite songs, which never received a real title so was left at "041606 2" (Apr 16 2006 was a productive day.) lastly, an acoustic cover of the bloc party song "this modern love." it was recorded as a present and somehow, i even sang it with a weird faux hybrid english accent.







"041606 2" - 4/16/06 **personal favorite**
(instrumental)



"041606" - 4/16/06
(instrumental)



“the single cell opens its eyes” - 11/12/03
(third part in the “de-evolution” concept album)


a single cell
in the presences of a billion other single cells
insignificant

but one day
the single cell
swam away
insignificant and foolish

breaking away from the tradition of inactivity...
heresy
punishable by a new point of view

what did the single cell do?
the single cell
swam away
and became its own being

it began seeing the world in a different way
it began seeing for the very first time

eventually,
the single cell
saw everything a single cell could possibly see
and it came to a dead end
it came to the end of its world

and still
it swam away

and the single cell grew eyes and legs
and walked through its boundary
upon the shores of a brand new world



“this modern love” – 2/1/06
(bloc party cover –featuring faux english accent!)


to be lost in the forest
to be cut adrift
you've been trying to reach me
you bought me a book
to be lost in the forest
to be cut adrift
i've been paid
i've been paid

don't get offended
if i seem absent minded
just keep telling me facts
and keep making me smile
don't get offended
if i seem absent minded
i get tongue-tied
baby, you've got to be more discerning
i've known never known what's good for me
i will be yours

i'll pay for you anytime

you told me you wanted to eat up my sadness
well jump on, enjoy, you can gorge away
you told me you wanted to eat up my sadness
jump right on
baby, you've got to be more discerning
i've known never known what's good for me
baby, you've got to be more demanding
i will be yours

what are you holding out for?
what's always in the way?
why so damn absent-minded?
why so scared of romance?

this modern love breaks me
this modern love wastes me

do you wanna come over and kill some time?
tell me facts, tell me facts, tell me facts
tell me facts
throw your arms around me

Experiment A

"experiment a" is a love song.







“experiment a” – 8/25/05

i - departure

goodbye astronaut
i hope you have a good time floating in space
goodbye astronaut
i hope to see you in my lonely dreams
------

ii - so long, thanks for nothing/something

bleeding my heart and soul, but to what end?
humanity shits in my face, a lovely trend
i gouge out my broken mind in hopes to send
a final goodbye, heartfelt thank you, to all my friends

and somehow you know all the pain that drives me so
you breathe the same air and know all the same things i know
foolish and stubborn, you'd go anywhere i'd go
you'd focus your hundred percent on all things i would show

it’s the end of the world and i can’t breathe
exhaustion is clouding my mind and i can’t see
life has given up hope and set me free
and all of this time you were standing right next to me
------

iii - return

she gives him everything she is
he gives her everything he is
she lives in everything he is
he lives in everything she is

she gives him everything she is
he gives her everything he is
she loves all of the things he is
he loves all of the things she is
you'll be alright, kid
we'll be alright

hello astronaut
did you have a good time floating in space?
hello astronaut
i had many dreams about your beautiful face

The "I Robot" Singles

"i, robot" is the song that is most representative of my ideals, both personally and musically. "i robot #2" was a follow-up, specifically written for a short animated film. the lyrics were ultimately dropped for all versions of the song.







“i, robot” – 2/4/03(?) **personal favorite**

a hand fumbles in the dark
it finds its destination
the power switch is flick on
the power of a robot nation
everyday the same routine
on at 8, off at 5
repeated tasks reward unseen

is this what its like to be alive?

assembly men work assembly lines
while money men laugh and play
gears and arms work in time
this has always been the way
but something doesn’t feel quite right
and though i may be lobotomized
strange electric impulses

tell me we’re all roboticized
is this what its like to be alive?

i, robot (i feel out of place)
i, robot (controller of my fate)
i, robot (no longer can i wait)
i am not a robot

i pull the wires out of my head
its refreshing to think clear
no more remnants of a cloudy mind
no more thoughts of slavery and fear
the domino effect begins with one
i’m already at the starting line
the time has come for liberty

i’ll show you what its like to be alive
cause this isn’t what its like to be alive
is this what its like to be alive?
this isn’t what its like to be alive

i, robot (there’s more to life than this)
i, robot (i think i’ll take the risk)
i, robot (they’ll try to shut me down)

but i am not a robot

i am not a robot (don’t let them do the same to you)
i am not a robot (break free and do what you need to)
i am not a robot (free yourself from tyranny)
i am not a robot (our robot nation at last is free)



“i, robot #2” - 2/27/03 **personal favorite**

the hour hand strikes 8 am
the power switch is flicked on once again
a once immobile gear begins to turn
a once imaginary fire begins to burn
silence becomes metal rubbing metal
workers marching in soon become settled down

into conformity
following matching lines
doing the usual
filling the pieces of a most imperfect design

but this is the way it has been and always will be

a lonely glimmer of hope shines through
a wire soldered slightly askew
an error on the part of precision
a thousand more mistakes evolve from one
robot looks away from straight-head
everything around him appears dead
gears and arms working all in time
a breath of life a punishable crime

slowly robot is advanced toward a destination unknown
this just cannot be right
a life that isn’t his own
if no one else does a thing
to set out on their own path
the slave-drivers flicking the switches
will never know the true meaning of wrath

but just one error named robot
can soon start a chain reaction
ignorance replaced by intelligence
the imperfect plan will soon come undone

so robot steps to the side
and watches the lines move along
he surpassed all expectation
and did what they believed to be wrong

robot discovered a world
beyond the set boundaries
a world where many already reside
waiting for other mistakes to step out of line and learn to do as they please

The "I Robot" Demos

"the 'i robot' demos" is my first collection of recorded songs. these recordings are very lo-fi -- recorded with a Tascam analog 4-track -- and many of the songs were only recorded acoustically instead of how they were intended to be.







“so in love” – 12/30/01
(acoustic version)


the door opened at four a.m.
she opened her eyes wide awake
her boyfriend came stumbling in
drunk and looking for something to break
she tried to get up he pushed her down
he threw a closed fist across her face
she slowly fell back and hit the ground

now she’s falling
in darkness
forever
into unconsciousness

she opened her eyes at two p.m.
her head pounding her face in pain
she knew it would happen again
it’s the only thing she thinks that keeps her sane
she goes on with life not a single day goes by
that she doesn’t crumble up into a ball
and let the tears flow out of her eyes

they’re falling
down her cheek
through her heart
she’s happy because

she’s so in love
all her friends think she’s lost her mind
she’s so in love
she thinks her boyfriend is the perfect find
she’s so in love
nothing really matters anymore
she’s so in love

even if it makes her fucking sad
even if it makes her fucking mad



“i, robot” – 2/4/03(?)
(acoustic version)


a hand fumbles in the dark
it finds its destination
the power switch is flick on
the power of a robot nation
everyday the same routine
on at 8, off at 5
repeated tasks reward unseen

is this what its like to be alive?

assembly men work assembly lines
while money men laugh and play
gears and arms work in time
this has always been the way
but something doesn’t feel quite right
and though i may be lobotomized
strange electric impulses

tell me we’re all roboticized
is this what its like to be alive?

i, robot (i feel out of place)
i, robot (controller of my fate)
i, robot (no longer can i wait)
i am not a robot

i pull the wires out of my head
its refreshing to think clear
no more remnants of a cloudy mind
no more thoughts of slavery and fear
the domino effect begins with one
i’m already at the starting line
the time has come for liberty

i’ll show you what its like to be alive
cause this isn’t what its like to be alive
is this what its like to be alive?
this isn’t what its like to be alive

i, robot (there’s more to life than this)
i, robot (i think i’ll take the risk)
i, robot (they’ll try to shut me down)

but i am not a robot

i am not a robot (don’t let them do the same to you)
i am not a robot (break free and do what you need to)
i am not a robot (free yourself from tyranny)
i am not a robot (our robot nation at last is free)



“flaming hemorrhoid” – 6/4/02


today i received a message from outer space
today i received a message from outer space

the aliens are coming to kill me
the aliens are coming to kill me
the aliens are coming to kill me
the aliens are coming to kill me

today i received a present from outer space
today i received a present from outer space

the aliens gave to me a flaming hemorrhoid
the aliens gave to me a flaming hemorrhoid
the aliens gave to me a flaming hemorrhoid
the aliens gave to me a flaming hemorrhoid



“the big oh” – 8/9/02
(for some reason, i don't have the recording of this. but here are the lyrics anyway.)


i pressed your button
and your love came down on me like napalm

the burn
the heat
the passion
the pain
the joy
the sorrow
pouring down like rain

i pressed your button
and your love exploded like a time bomb

the burn
the heat
the passion
the pain
the joy
the sorrow
pouring down like rain

you stare at me with eyes that helplessly pull me to you
and all i can do is make love to you
you stare at me with eyes that beg me to go down
how could i resist the temptation
the sensation
the frustration



“highway 1” – 1/6/03
("...and the caribbean afterlife" is an instrumental continuation that didn't get recorded for this version of the song.)


i inhale and take the smoke into my lungs
hands on 1 and 7, eyes forward
the sun goes down over the horizon
euphoria kicks in as i travel onward

my foot goes down on the accelerator
the needle shows 120 plus
the metal molds are quickly shredded away
as i sail off the cliff into the deep abyss

the wind upon my face
the tearing in my eyes
i’m falling faster now
no more time for lies
the sorrow that she’ll feel
knowing that i’m free
knowing that she killed me



“short story of a boy written in first-person point of view (a.k.a. typical)” – 11/1/02
(acoustic version)


i went for a walk the other night
it was a starry night
the day was gray and rainy
i was lonely
typical

somewhere a dog barked
and underneath a cricket played its tune
a simple melody
written just for me

the sky was filled with millions of dreams
and thoughts of hope
atypical
for some strange reason the la orange glow
had disappeared

it put a smile
on my face
to be there right that moment
in that particular place

pain
for just a moment

i look down upon my smiling face
the smile quickly fades
i watch the car quickly speed away

finally a moment of happiness
and look what happens
it’s taken away

typical



“unopened valentine” – 11/1/02


we’re all the same
living our lives
playing the game
of hypocrites
breathing in air
treasure like gold
expelling waste
fungus and mold

i’m on my way
down an open road
hear what i say
the path that i choose
when i meet the fork
is destiny’s way

opened valentine
you never opened mine
my so-called valentine

disappointment
seems reassured
i’m here once again
another fucked up year

the world turns
360 degrees
no matter who
wants to disagree
bombs dropping on
desolate towns
bursting the heart
claiming the frown

nations promise peace
promises they keep
only for a moment
hear what i say
my heart has burst
my life is spent



“plexiglas heart” – 10/16/02


i remember
i lie
i don’t remember much
and with such a lack of consciousness
i don’t feel fit to talk to you
i remember
i lie
i don’t remember you
or anything you do or say
it doesn’t matter anyway

i remember
i lie
i don’t remember but i’ll try
there’s a tear coming from your eye
was it i who made you cry?
i remember
i lie
i don’t remember you
do you remember me?
it doesn’t matter anyway

it doesn’t matter anyway
it doesn’t matter anyway

wipe the smudge off my plexiglas heart
it wasn’t there before, i don’t remember you
alcohol can rub away the burning pain
for what its worth i’m sorry for what i did to you



“permanent deletion” – 1/6/03


i feel the heat of the constant eyes focusing their attention
toward my general direction

sometime, someday, one day soon
they’re gonna strip you of your dignity
and you’ll be dancing to a lonely tune

permanent deletion from the system
control shift alt delete
permanent deletion from the system

unsuspecting victim waiting in a world of conspiracy
the lies they cannot see

one day, one time, not long ago
they stripped me of my dignity
and on i must go

permanent deletion from the system
control shift alt delete
permanent deletion from the system



“inebriate me” – 1/6/03


5 cent redemption for one heartbreak worth of consumption
how many heartaches in an hour? i don’t know
broken shards of glass intact, blood flows from inebriate acts
how many heartaches in an hour? i don’t know

laughter becomes denial becomes hate
thinning blood reinforces fate
she left me to drown in self pity, misery
blacking out reinforces fate

you were so fucking great
a fucking mistake
i fucking hate you



“ninja monkey” – 1/27/03


midnight moonlight
rustling of leaves
bright eyes, highlight
we can’t see what it sees

daylight sunlight
from branch a to branch b
cage concealment
we can’t see what it sees

come on down
take a photograph
gather ‘round
lets all laugh

forget about the tears that swell inside the lonely eyes
forget about the heartbreaking sound it makes when it cries

but one day you’ll get yours
retribution has never smelled so sweet
and we’ll all be trampled underneath their feet

ninja monkey throws its shit at you
what would you do
what will you do
when it comes to destroy you

For A Girl

"for a girl" is my second album, a collection of emo songs written during and after a relationship. for these songs, i started using ACID 2.0 to create the drum tracks, which made completing songs a much easier and tighter process. the album was mixed by Andrew Gau Laben.







“love #2” - 8/19/03


an empty road stands in front of me
precarious as usual
my eyes scan the horizon
visual capacity is full

waves of heat pass over unwanted highway lines
indecision, i don’t know which way to go
give me a sign

and there you appeared
standing in innocence right in front of me
and you held my hand
guiding me in a valuable direction

a once empty road lies behind me
slipping from my memory
all attention focused on my rescuer
you saved me from myself, you saved me from everything

waves of heat pass over us
and quickly we melt into one
a union unforeseeable, unpredictable

so perfect

and there you appear
standing in innocence right in front of me
and you hold my hand
and i willingly will follow

wherever you may go
wherever you may guide me
and you may never know
the love i have inside me
but the empty roads ahead
and vast empty horizon
don’t seem so empty now because of you



“i look at you” - 10/25/03


i look at you because i can’t resist
i look at you because i can’t look away
i look at you because you’re everything
i look at you and i want to stay

…here with you, forever
with you, forever
with you, forever
with you, for eternity!

i look at you and it makes me smile
i look at you and it makes me happy
i look at you and it makes me melt
i look at you and it makes me want to be

…here with you, forever
with you, forever
with you, forever
with you, for eternity!

you’re perfections are so imperfect
you’re imperfections are so perfect
i look at you because i want to
i look at you because i want you forever



“i miss you forever” – 12/20/03 **personal favorite**


i’m quoting you
a poem you wrote for me
what seems like long ago
it has so much meaning now

you were the air i breathe
you were the food i eat
and now we’re on a break
it’s so hard to take

it’s burning a whole deep within my soul
i don’t know how it affects you
but i hope it’s just as painful
it’s only been a few days
a few days of misery

i long for you
i hope to see you soon
it’s only been a few days
but it feels like forever

and so i miss you forever



“free at last” - 7/12/04


what happened to us?
we used to be so happy
but we’ve become a waste
of time and energy
apparently our love
just isn’t good enough
and so you’ve gone away
this will sure be tough

i can still smell
your beautiful hair
i can still see
the sparkle in your eyes
but sparkles fade away
and there’s nothing i can do
maybe one day you’ll appreciate me
cause i’ll always love you

i can’t breathe
i can’t sleep
i can’t eat
but i can weep

and i know this is how it’s supposed to be
i can’t love you and you can’t love me
and as hard as it will be
i’ve finally set you free

i can’t breathe
i can’t sleep
i can’t eat
but i can weep
(but i’ve finally set you free
i’ve finally set you free
you’re free at last)



“fix” - 7/17/04


all i feel is pain
running through my veins
how do i not feel this way anymore

such and awful burn
i will forever yearn
to not feel this way anymore

there is only one cure
so innocent and pure
but its status is only temporary

i need a hit of your love
to help me float above
this painful world that scares me

youre floating through my veins
why won’t it go away
why does it have to be this way
i just want my drug
i just want your love
and its driving me insane



“why does it hurt so much?” - 07/19/04


i don't know how to give you up
it hurts so much when i try
the tears burn so much when i cry
burning a hole through my heart

all i ever wanted was to be good for you
but sometimes things just aren't good enough
the tears burn so much when i cry
the pain stays no matter how hard i try

i'm so afraid
to let you go
afraid of losing you
afraid to know
that our love
has really gone away
no matter how much
i want you to stay

why does it hurt so much?
why can't it be easier?
why do i hang on when nothing is for sure?

the standing ovation is complete
the audience has gone away
off go the lights and down fall the curtains

but still i sit
waiting
hoping
for an encore
waiting
hoping
for your return

why does it hurt so much?



“the perfect kiss” - 8/6/04


the sunrise
shined in my eyes
and when it all cleared
you were standing here
with arms outstretched
you looked perfect
your lips gleaming
and you leaned to me

and smiled
your perfect smile
it only took a little while
and we had the perfect kiss

but now the sun sets
and it wets my beaten eyes
i let out a sigh
we’ve come so far together
through sun and stormy weather
but the darkness on our face
says its time to leave this place

and your smile
your perfect smile
can be but only a memory
but still you have the perfect kiss

and i will always remember our perfect kiss