the ties that bind will someday kill us
i close my eyes every time i think of you and tell myself all the things i always knew i’d never do. i hold my breath every time i hear from you and lose my mind every time you tell the truth, and you always do. you could tell me again, and i’ll always be there.
or you could walk away, but i’ll be right by your side.

the distance
don’t answer that… it’s just a call from someone you know, but he can’t be here. i’d wait for days for you to show, and talk to me whenever you want. so don’t go breaking my heart, there’s nothing left. but just so you know, it’s not your fault. why can’t we be together like we should? won’t you be my one and only?

through the eyes of a merciless youth
remember the day you gave it away? i thought i lost you forever. i heard you say you’re leaving today. i don’t know what to do now. i couldn’t be all that you want me for. it’s a relief because you deserve so much more. i couldn’t see your beauty, so hold on to the one that you adore. but you’re still the one that i’ve been waiting for.

a blinding sunrise
the days go by when you’d never come out, trapped beneath yourself. but i won’t forget to call or send you letters or find you when i get there. the sun is outside. it was such a blinding sunrise, tearing down the walls. but i won’t forget to come and get you, and find you when i get there. i’ll never love one. i’ll never trust again.

the one that got away
one night, i was holding your hand, telling you i love you. you look so nice here in my arms, laughing all the while, while i’m still the one who couldn’t let go. summer was never enough inside your heart. you were always searching inside of me for what i can’t be. but you’re still the one who couldn’t let go.

your neverending failure
your love let me down, but i won’t be afraid. time takes its toll, but my heart won’t get old. carry yourself around, but you won’t see this through to the end.

without a trace
wake me up. i don’t want to fall asleep again because it’s the only way i’ll see your face. my dreams are broken and lost in space, and now you’re gone without a trace. i’m going to hold you to every word you say, your ungrateful deeds, and selfish ways. and how does it feel now? you got what you deserve—faced with lies and a love that hurts. i don’t know what you’re looking for. i’m not asking for anything more. but i wanted to be your sin.

under the knife
i can’t strip away the pain or break apart the sorrow. i don’t want to live through this or even face tomorrow. you’d trace it back to me and hold me to my actions. but i won’t put up with any of this or let you impose detraction on me. you hate me, you thought i couldn’t be what you deserve. but say that you’ll at least remember. save me from being someone you could hurt, and shape me into something you remember.

always taken
please kiss these lips tonight, they’re dry. i’m waiting. sit close to me, i’ll hold you tight until the morning. i won’t close my eyes, i’ll open wide because i’m watching to see you sleep all through the night and your breathing. just when i find hope, you’re always taken. so how will i find love when you’re always taken?

downtime
walk out into the night in my sleep, it’s 4am. tell me i could never be the one. silence speaks to me slowly, smoking through the tears, while i’m turning myself out, choking on the years. so hold on, we’ll figure things out, talk it over, and somehow make it through with no doubt that we’ll drive into the ground.

the way things are
tracing back the steps you made to show me the way and understand that what you meant is there’s nothing to say. picking up and crawling back into your heart. but i’ve been gone for far too long that i forgot who we are. and all this time, nothing has changed. but you’ve moved too far and i can’t see the way things are.

every time i think about you is just another twist of the dagger in my heart
lost in a million years of time, guarded by the spaces of your mind. holding onto nothing but stars, scared by the silence of your heart… so quiet. and you’re so gone now.

glaciers
i saw you standing there with the sun on your face and your hair on your shoulders, but i looked away. you walked into the room, so young and afraid. with the world on your shoulders, you asked me to take you away. i couldn’t speak, i couldn’t find words to say what’s on my mind. if i had just a little time, everything would be just fine. if we had just a little time, i know you could be mine.

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the phone is still ringing in my head, left me awake in the dead of night. i can’t believe the words you said. you had me lying all night in bed. i just can’t pretend anymore. i’m falling off the world again. i’m calling out the world again. i’m so alone without your smile. standing, head down, eyes closed, not a sound but the rain—you kept me coming back for more. i can’t believe the words you said. you had me crying all night in bed. i just can’t pretend anymore.

who will love you
it’s been two years and now you’re gone. left everything but stole my heart. when will you open up your eyes and see the world you left behind & everything you are. you came to me to say, “i’m packing up, i’m gone today.” it’s just the price to pay ’cause who will love you anyway? it’s been two weeks since you’ve been gone, left in the wake of your desire. forget about the things you took. just turn and give me one last look. i’m everything you want. search yourself for what you needed–a little bit of time to find yourself and what you needed was a little bit of time. you kicked me to the floor, said goodbye, and closed the door. but it’s ok, i’m sure that i don’t love you anymore.

experimenting with mercury
turn me around to look back and see the way you knew that all i could do was wait around here for another chance to say “all i want is nothing”. so stay and i will show you everything. burn to the ground all your memories and solitude. don’t do what you do, holding out here for a second chance to say “all i want is nothing”. so stay and i will give you everything. (just for today, don’t turn me away. we’ll make this into something good enough for both of us, even if it’s nothing. all in time, it’ll be just fine. we’ll turn this into something good enough for both of us, as long as it’s not nothing.)

the ringer is set on high
i’d fall to my knees and beg you to please answer my calls because i want to hear you speak. but don’t push me away, i’d do anything you say. and if you tell me to go, maybe then i will know that you don’t want me around and that’s the way it has to be. so i’ll forget that i fell in love and just pretend you were a dream.

liars always win
it’s so lonely without you. my heart is as empty as the halls that we used to run through. back in your room, you lock the door and close your eyes. but it’s of no use when the ghosts of love know you’re alive. open your eyes, light up that cigarette, only because you can. let yourself go, forget about everything, only because i know i want to be yours.

lifting weights won’t make me strong
taking back all you said won’t make a difference or matter anyway. you and i are making like we’re two diamonds falling from the sky. letting go of all you did as necessary, completely fairly done. watch it go like butterflies, so beautiful and hard to see it so. pulling all the weight in this, you look good inside.

the truth
throw your mouth in spite of the time with one last kiss falling against mine. your secret sighs broken by whispers and all that lies underneath all the hurt. say you won’t back down, tell me “don’t let go.” just like every time you let me know it’s ok. say you’ll hold me tight, never let me go. just like every time you let me know it’s ok.

sliding glass door
it’s almost midnight by my watch and endless, sleepless nights have just begun. we’ve been up for hours now, and down to secrets, all that’s left to tell. selling yourself out to someone i would never be, drowning yourself in a world i will never see.

wait
carry yourself if they seem real, dreams that throw you back for more. but it’s not worth crying for. bury yourself with what you feel, drowned in lies you can’t ignore. so say goodbye to all your tears before…. and you want so much more, but you knew it’s not worth waiting for. so please let me be all you’re wishing for. but you give me more, so to me you’re all worth waiting for.

tv and sleeping
the tv is on, waiting for you. kill the lights, open a window, and fall asleep. i’m tossing and turning the air. rolling on in your ecstasy, breathing in your hair so deeply. the kettle on the stove is whistling at you. but coffee is my thing with sugar and cream. how can i escape when all i know is you? how can i forget? when will i let go of this ghost i have loved for so long?

where the years went
time stands still with a look in your eyes. it breaks my will to hold you inseparable. tear apart all that holds you down, but break my heart and i’ll hold you accountable. you’re letting me down all over again, but watching you drown keeps me up now and then.

not the one
two thousand days are all we have left between the lines from start to finish. fifty-six hours til i can fall asleep next to you. but who knew? sputters and coughs are all we have left to give, so keep on pushing. you’re not the one i knew.

this new ocean
speak to me slowly in words i understand–”just let it go now, what can’t you comprehend?” you’ll be gone and i’ll be fine just going nowhere. look at me softly with eyes that make me weak. and like the ocean’s water, you sunk my heart so deep. you’ll be gone and i’ll be fine just going nowhere. so i’ll make a wish and hope in time that you’ll open up. you’re all the world over, so why can’t i be in love?