With all that you’ve seen you’d think thought you’d learn
To hold your end up before it collapses.
All that you have could just crash and burn
But what would arise from the ashes.
When you look at him
It’s easy to forget
Just what you should be doing.
You talk much too long
You’re late getting home
Just who do you think that you’re fooling?
When I arrived I knew you’d be there
I told my companion I must beware
As I stood surveying the Quincy Marketplace
Looking for your face.
A face that accompanies me no more
In a place we’d so often been before
We first French kissed in that outside bar
We had gone so far.
You were with a young man that I knew well
And how you were feeling it was too hard to tell
You turned the corner I could not walk a way
Neither of us knew what to say.
I’ll never forget the day we met face to face
In the Quincy Marketplace.
What is wrong with myself today,
Why can’t I think of something clever to say,
Why do I feel so ill at ease,
Why do I feel I have to beg you pretty please?
Pretty Please
What happened to my self confidence,
Why is what I’m saying not making sense,
What does my stomach turn and ache,
What do I feel like something’s gonna break?
Who can tell when they look at me,
When they do, what do they see,
Why do I feel so ill at ease,
Why do I feel I have to beg you pretty please?
Pretty Please
Am I wearing my heart on my sleeve,
Am I someone that you can believe,
Do you see the hurt in my eyes,
Is there something I should realize?
Do you know what I should do,
Is there something I can ask from you,
Why do I feel so ill at ease,
Why do I feel I have to beg you pretty please?
Pretty Please
I won’t need to marble casket
To sleep well when I pass away.
I won’t need no pretty cushions
Just a plain wooden box will be ok.
It doesn’t have to be polished or varnished or such.
Just a plain wooden box will make my day.
Bury me in a wooden box,
That’s all I ask you for,
I like the smell of maple,
But I love mahogany more.
A flat rock will do for my gravestone,
Just so you can read my name,
Shiny, dull, big or small,
Reckon there all the same,
And do this under any accords,
Even if I reach fortune and fame.
Bury me in a wooden box,
That’s all I ask you for,
I like the smell of maple,
But I love mahogany more.
And the darling little children,
Need not come to my grave.
For they’ll not understand what it’s all about.
You know there gonna misbehave.
And you’ll get impatient but be careful,
They’ll walk in the footsteps you pave.
Bury me in a wooden box,
That’s all I ask you for,
I like the smell of maple,
But I love mahogany more.
We have crossed the Rubicon
And you know we must go on.
There can be no flight.
We have made that big mistake.
It’s in the chances we take.
That lead us to our fight.
A bridge that we’ve crossed,
A bridge that might burn,
A road off of which there is no turn.
We have crossed the Rubicon
We don’t know but this faux pas,
Could take us very far,
Where we’ve never been.
And for all the worries we entertain,
Think of all that we might gain.
Please think again my friend.
A bridge that we’ve crossed,
A bridge that might burn,
A road off of which there is no turn.
We have crossed the Rubicon
Why do I write these songs for you?
They don’t impress you anyway.
I mean so little to you now,
You could forget me anyday.
And though the words come easy.
The feelings hit so hard.
And for me to cry while writing them.
Is not so very odd.
You’re the only woman who can cut me this deeply.
And this often.
But stab wounds are dangerous, they make people cautious.
And not want to walk done certain streets.
They make people scared.
And they kill.
Yes if too much blood gets spilt,
They kill.
Why do I write these songs for you?
They don’t impress you anyway.
I mean so little to you now,
You could forget me anyday.
And though the words come easy.
The feelings hit so hard.
And for me to cry while writing them.
Is not so very odd.
You’ve got your old but sturdy boots.
You’ve got your big white sails,
You’ve got a yearning for some truth.
He’s wishing you smooth sailing and happy trails.
He would not beg you stay for his sake.
But the road opens up before your eyes.
He respects you for the chances you’ll take,
But his lonely heart’s a breaking so he cries.
If you must leave, leave now.
Take your worthless ass away from me.
Go found your own goddamned solution.
Leave my life, you are pollution.
He grimaces at his choice of the hard line.
He tries to cushion it with grace.
He tries to make you stay one more time.
As you walk away you kiss his face.
He would not beg you stay for his sake.
But the road opens up before your eyes.
He respects you for the chances you’ll take,
But his lonely heart’s a breaking so he cries.
If you must leave, leave now.
Take your worthless ass away from me.
Go found your own goddamned solution.
Leave my life, you are pollution.
I used to get attention from the ladies.
They wouldn’t leave me alone.
Now they don’t see me the same,
I spend my time alone.
I even messed up relationships,
For the girls who pursued me were nice,
But now I don’t get a second look
And the first glance is cold as ice.
I guess I’m just not cute anymore.
They don’t tend to see me the same.
I never get to dance.
I should have married when I had the chance.
Because I guess I’m just not cute anymore.
I wish that I could turn back time,
To the women I knew who were true.
And if I knew where you were tonight,
I’d even turn back to you.
Because I wonder what it was you saw,
The no other woman can see,
I know I meant a whole lot to you,
Only wish you’d meant that much to me.
Because I guess I’m just not cute anymore.
They don’t tend to see me the same.
I never get to dance.
I should have married when I had the chance.
Because I guess I’m just not cute anymore.
I’ve prayed all my life for something special for you.
I’ve prayed all my life and not I know it’s not coming true.
Wonder what I’m praying for, wonder if I should pray anymore.
Nothing I’ve said
Nothing I’ve sung
Even if I should pray some more
Could ever save you from the horror of this war.
I’ve tried to show you the light in everyone’s hearts
The warmth and love that’s there in everyone’s hearts
I don’t want you to grow up to be
Discouraged, disillusioned like me.
Nothing I’ve said
Nothing I’ve sung
Even if I should pray some more
Could ever save you from the horror of this war.
The Killing that you see, everynight’s news on the TV
The news on the radio and all the shit that you hear from me.
There’s love all around, it’s just lost and it’s found.
Nothing I’ve said
Nothing I’ve sung
Even if I should pray some more
Could ever save you from the horror of this war.
When in the eye of the storm,
Do you want to be alone?
Take it all on your own.
Or have someone to hold onto,
Have someone to hold on with?
When the darkness covers you.
To all your dreams that you know can still come true.
Do you want to feel the chill?
Do you think you always will?
Or let some sunshine in,
In the kiss your lover brings,
To all your dreams that you know can still come true.
Reaching out, reaching in.
Reaching back, screaming out.
Loving real, feel the pain,
Love who you are alone together.
When laughter’s shared,
Smiles do return.
And the goodness that is you,
Is there again for you.
Comes out in all you do.
To all your dreams that you know can still come true.
Art DuBois Poems and Photos 