1. |
Traffic
03:09
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SPROCKET:
Puffy-chested law-abiders
Old people and Volvo drivers
Go as slow as you want, but don't waste my time
Just keep to the right, 'cause the left is mine
On the highways and the thruways and the biways
There's a hundred million Mack trucks all going my way
I guess in trucker school they didn't explain:
If you're gonna do the speed limit, get out of the fast lane
Old ladies in their blue and grey Mercedes
Rich girls hopping bars in their daddies' new cars
Rock stars, war heroes, presidents and priests
Everyone's an asshole when they cut in front of me, buddy
Green means go
Green means go
Green means go go go go go go
SPROCKET, JONAH:
Fighting is useless, baby, just play along
Open the window, turn the radio on
There are too many of you for anyone's good
Hope you brought a good book
SPROCKET:
'Cause we're stuck in traffic just like Stevie Winwood
Puffy-chested law-abiders
Old people and Volvo drivers
You're not the only motherfucker on the road
I am!
Brake light, brake light, 1-2-3
The only thing between my home and me
Is a quarter-mile stretch of road
Blocked off by a trailer with an oversized load
Rubberneck, rubberneck, 1-2-3
"The cop is pulled over, but he might catch me -"
And all the other Good Samaritans whose lives won't be complete
Unless they see blood splashed on the cold concrete
SPROCKET, JONAH:
Fighting is useless, baby, just play along
Open the window, turn the radio on
There are too many of you for anyone's good
Hope you packed a nice dinner
SPROCKET:
'Cause we're stuck in traffic just like Stevie Winwood
Puffy-chested law-abiders
Old people and Volvo drivers
School buses and daydreamers, truckers, college kids and Beemers
Green means go
Green means go
Green means go go go go go so GO!
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2. |
The Knowing Ones
02:50
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CARLA:
There's an old oak chest by the window
That my great-grandfather built one shining June
And I love to sit and look at it, proud on the hardwood floor
Gleaming in the rays of summer afternoon
They changed the family name at Ellis Island
And no one here today knows what it was
They ripped up all the records around the second World War
And time took the knowing ones, as it always does
And no one here can tell me any more than what they know
It's a shame the knowing ones were gone so long before
The ones who need to know what we were so long ago
Look in the old oak chest, and you won't see much -
Just a few loose baubles and things
But even if my ancestors were nothing more than carpenters
There's no one here to say they weren't kings
In the old oak chest I see them all as kings.
And no one here can tell me any more than what they know
It's a shame the knowing ones were gone so long before
The ones who need to know what we were so long ago
There's an old oak chest by the window
That my great-grandfather built one shining June
And I love to sit and look at it, proud on the hardwood floor
While the knowing ones are smiling in the rays of summer afternoon.
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3. |
Hell Is A Place
04:38
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D:
So did you feel it:
The bullet that tore you apart?
And did you notice the final futile beat of your heart?
And did you reach down to try and dry the tears as they learned
Beloved son and loving husband would never return?
And were you saved by the prayers offered up in your name?
And were you honored when everybody came out to the town square
Consecrate the ground there
Dedicate a statue
A copper plaque to thank you
Fly the flag at half-mast
Say goodbye to times past
Stop and let your mom know
That you were a hero
Doesn't matter
Because a billion Christians swear that you are burning in Hell
For blood that wasn't Christian blood that stained the ground where you fell
Forever locked out of their Kingdom, but it's just as well -
Eight hundred million Muslims see the Christians burning in Hell.
Hell is a place made of circles and lines
Hell is a place made of nightmares and fire and
Hell is a place where you need to believe you are more than the sum of your flesh and your bones.
So did you hear the cheer erupting up as you scored?
And did you sense the eyes upon you as you took your award?
And did you notice the clapping of the hands on your back?
And did you see your reflection in the plaque
Hung in the town square
Consecrate the ground there
Dedicate a statue
A copper plaque to thank you
Fly the flag at half-mast
Say goodbye to times past
Stop and let your mom know
That you were a hero
Doesn't matter
Because a billion Christians swear that you are burning in Hell
Eight hundred million Muslims see the Christians burning in Hell
Forever locked out of their Kingdom, but it's just as well -
Six hundred million Hindus tell you they just got out of Hell.
Hell is a place where you're hungry and cold
Hell is a place you see over and over again
Hell is a place where you need to believe you are more than the sum of your body and soul.
You know, a billion Christians swear that you are burning in Hell
Eight hundred million Muslims see the Christians burning in Hell
Six hundred million Hindus tell you they just got out of Hell
Two billion Red Chinese don't give a shit
And I say -
Hell is a place where your subway is late
Hell is a place where you never make eye contact
Hell is a place where you're hungry and cold
Hell is a place where nobody is interested
Hell is a place made of circles and lines
Hell is a place where you look old before your time
Hell is a place where you need to believe you are more than a name on a plaque on a wall.
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4. |
Starlet
04:04
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PLACID:
Tell us more of strength and class and dignity, my love
As we trap you under glass and watch you pose, my love
You can stuff yourself with fish eggs and champagne. my love
But tonight, your shit will smell like shit - too bad, my love
PLACID, CARLA:
Someday you will be old, and someday you will die, my love
Someday you will be old, and someday you will die, my love
PLACID, CARLA, GRUB:
Be the model of perfection, be the pinnacle of grace
As the tabloids proudly tell us what it took to make your face
And we know what makes you cuss, and we know what makes you fuss
And we watch you on TV as you pretend to be us
PLACID, CARLA, GRUB, D:
But we see you when you're sleeping, and we hear you on the phone
And we've seen you in the bathroom, and we've seen you all alone
And we've seen you hurt, and we've seen you cry
And we've even seen...
PLACID:
Well of course you never get what you deserve, my love
And of course it's everybody's fault but yours, my love
PLACID, CARLA:
We've all seen your tits - you can put your tits away, my love
And if you've got nothing new to add, shut up, my love
Someday you will be old, and someday you will die, my love
Someday you will be old, and someday you will die, my love
PLACID, CARLA, GRUB, JONAH:
Be the model of perfection, be the pinnacle of grace
As the tabloids proudly tell us what it took to make your face
And we know what makes you cuss, and we know what makes you fuss
And we watch you on TV as you pretend to be us
PLACID, CARLA, GRUB, D:
But we see you when you're sleeping, and we hear you on the phone
And we've seen you in the bathroom, and we've seen you all alone
And we've seen you hurt, and we've seen you cry
And we've even seen...
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5. |
We Wait And We Wait
04:48
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D:
She waits for a fable
For the start of a story
That she heard long ago
Too good not to come true
I can't compete, no way. No way.
Because the man
The man in the moon
Is cooler than me
So constant and brightly smiling
Oh the man
The man in the moon
Cuts holes in the night
And leaves me washed out by his light
Oh to be
The man in the moon
Nothing to prove
Swaddled in nonexistence
Oh and I'll be sick of this soon
But she'll remain
In love with the man in the moon
She waits for a fable
For the start of a story
That she heard long ago
Too good not to come true
I can't compete, no way. No way.
Because the man
The man in the moon
Stares down at the hand
The hand she'll hold out forever
And the man
The man in the moon
He waxes and wanes
Through cycles of cold indifference
And it seems
The man in the moon
Is painting her gold
But his light is her reflection
Oh and I will crumble to ruin
As she stands complete
Alone
In love with the man in the moon
Oh, and the man
The man in the moon
Is cooler than me
So constant and brightly smiling
Oh the man
The man in the moon
Cuts holes in the night
And leaves me washed out by his light
Oh to be
The man in the moon
Nothing to prove
Swaddled in nonexistence
Oh and I'll be sick of this soon
But she'll remain
In love with the man in the moon
I wait for a fable
For the start of a story
That I heard long ago
Too good not to come true.
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6. |
I Like Girls
02:34
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GRUB:
Ah, spring is in the air!
SPROCKET:
I hadn't really noticed.
GRUB:
Sprocket and Victoria!
SPROCKET:
I don't think that's your business.
GRUB:
Go get some, little brother!
SPROCKET:
Aw, I can live without it.
GRUB:
You're not a little swishy, are ya?
SPROCKET:
Don't even think about it.
GRUB, SPROCKET, PLACID:
I like girls
Yeah, I like girls
GRUB, PLACID:
I like girls
SPROCKET:
Giggling in the hallways
Beaching in the Rockaways
Bikinis in the hot sun
Any girl but that one
Maybe if she didn't make it easy
GRUB, PLACID:
Whoa
SPROCKET:
Maybe if she led a little chase
GRUB, PLACID:
Whoa
SPROCKET:
Maybe I just want a little space
GRUB, PLACID:
Whoa
SPROCKET:
Maybe I don't like her fuckin face!
GRUB, PLACID:
Whoa, come on, now!
SPROCKET:
Hey Grub, what do YOU think of Vicky?
GRUB:
She's young, but she's a cutie.
SPROCKET:
Would you hook up with Lucy?
GRUB:
I could, but D might shoot me.
SPROCKET:
See, I think she would diss you.
GRUB:
Somehow I rather doubt it.
SPROCKET:
What about Gorgissima?
GRUB:
Don't even think about it
GRUB, SPROCKET, PLACID:
I like girls
Yeah, I like -
SPROCKET, PLACID:
I like girls
GRUB:
Painted up on St. Marks
Stilettos shooting off sparks
Banging like we're brain dead
Sneaking out - I mean, waking up in her bed
GRUB, SPROCKET, PLACID:
I like girls
Yeah, I like girls
GRUB:
Oh man, it's hot in here.
PLACID:
I hadn't really noticed.
GRUB:
So Placid, what do you do for a living?
PLACID:
I don't think that's your business.
GRUB:
Come on - we have so much in common.
PLACID:
Well, I can think of one thing...
GRUB:
Oh yeah? And what might that be?
PLACID:
I guess you weren't listening -
I like girls
GRUB:
No!
PLACID:
Yeah, I like girls
SPROCKET:
Oh snap!
GRUB:
Sprocket..!
GRUB, SPROCKET:
I like girls
PLACID:
Pretty on the outside
Gritty on the inside
Dominatrix or debutante
They know what I want
GRUB:
So you hate men in general?
PLACID:
I wouldn't say I hate 'em.
GRUB:
But guys are frickin awesome!
PLACID:
Well, cool - then YOU can date 'em.
GRUB:
Man, are you serious?
PLACID:
And don't you ever doubt it.
GRUB:
Maybe you and Price and I could -
PLACID:
Don't even think about it.
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7. |
I Have A Rose
03:09
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VICTORIA:
So you sit in your room
Like you never understood that this was real
Time is real
And it's way faster than you are
So you pull out the box
With the pictures and the letters
Thinking:
Anything is possible.
And it's here
In the last of the twilight from the window
Faded down
To a dry, dusty burgundy reminder
Of a time
That was real
So you touch the only proof you have
That anything is possible
No matter how improbable
I have a rose that he gave to me
Three years ago today
I forgot it was here
Dried up and shut away in the dark
Buried with a little candle, burning:
Anything is possible.
So you sit in your room
Like you never understood that this was real
Time is real
And it's way faster than you are
So you pull out the box
With the pictures and the letters
Thinking:
Anything is possible.
VICTORIA, SPROCKET:
I have a rose that he gave to me
Three years ago today
I forgot it was here
Dried up and shut away in my room
In the twilight from the window
Faded down to a dry, dusty burgundy reminder
Of a time that was real
Buried with a little candle, burning:
Anything is possible.
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8. |
Before I Was Born
03:17
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PRICE:
The Lord cursed me before I was born
My first cells divide
The program inside was already running
The Lord cursed me before I was born
The choices I'd make
Were already made before I had choices
The Lord cursed me.
He gave me the spirit to never say die
The talent to raise expectations too high
Now nothing's enough and I can't figure why
PRICE, D:
The Lord cursed me before I was born
It can't be denied
The pull of the tides, the call of your nature
The Lord cursed me before I was born
My first cells divide
The program inside was already running
The Lord cursed me.
PRICE:
He gave me the conscience to know wrong from right
So the tiniest fuck-up would kill me inside
He gave me compassion, then drove me to crime
PRICE, D:
The Lord cursed me before I was born
The news from on high:
Everything that you try will blow up and burn you
The Lord cursed me before I was born
"In your formative years," He said,
"You'll have no idea how to handle rejection."
The Lord cursed me.
PRICE:
He gave me the insight to open my eyes
To know when you're lying, which is most of the time
I prayed for a respite
This was the reply:
PRICE, GRUB, D:
"There is no point, there is no plan
Don't even try to understand
You have no rights, you have no soul
You'll take it 'til I say so
GRUB:
On your knees and open wide"
PRICE, D:
The Lord cursed me before I was born
His Holy Decree:
"By age twenty-three your hair will be graying."
The Lord cursed me before I was born
His Heavenly Word:
"Before you get heard, you'll turn suicidal."
The Lord cursed me.
PRICE:
He made me look normal so I could fit in
And get close enough to see what I was missing
And all of the bad things that I would become
Were waiting in ambush before I was born.
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9. |
Rise And Shine
04:31
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D:
This is how it feels to have it all:
Stains around my eyes
Limp hair and I just need to get some rest.
Beds hold and support us
They cradle and recharge us
When you get up from the bed it should be only 'cause you're feeling
PRICE, GRUB, JONAH, PLACID, CHRIS:
Ready to rise
D:
To rise and shine.
This is how it feels to have it all:
Shaky knees and aching ankles
Hanging head and film over my eyes
I don't kneel, I just lay myself down
Every moment on my feet, I dream of no tomorrow
And I pray to break the chain of days.
D, PRICE, GRUB, JONAH, PLACID, CHRIS:
This is how it feels to have it all
This is how it feels to have it all
This is how it feels to have it all:
D:
A pile of options too high to understand
A checklist ticked down to the end
I want to break the chain of days
I want to rise and shine
I want to choose, I want to move
I want to rise and shine
I want to be what you are to me
I want to rise and shine
I want to choose, I want to move
I want to rise and shine
I want to break the chain of days
I want to rise and shine
I want to rise and shine.
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Jed Davis Bristol, Connecticut
This page features
the songs and story
of Rise And Shine,
a musical created
by Jed Davis and
Arturo Vega.
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