TOM STEVENS
POINTS REVISITED
01) The Grip
02) Telephone
03) Just One Night With You
04) 24 Hours
05) Another Man's World
06) Friend or Foe?
07) Silence
08) The Upper Hand
09) I Can't Hear You
10) 17 Ways
11) The Ballad of Bobby & Betty
12) Pamela
13) Train Conductor
14) Fading Light
15) Sad Sad Songs
16) Alone
17) Keep with Yourself
18) Coming Home Again
19) Years Long Ago
THE GRIP
walking to your car last Sunday night
you feel something like a shadow closing in
think of what he'd do if he caught you here
now does the lamppost have two eyes
or are you really paying for your sin
CHORUS
he's got that grip on you
and it will not let you go
oh no no no no
alone in that barroom - again
now order up another one - and pay the man
you see a face
you hear a voice
inviting you, you smile
when suddenly you start to shake
because all the while
(chorus)
like some horror picture that you saw last week
some classic melodrama that made your
skin creep
he's watching you he's calling you
you'll never run away
he'll find you where you hide
this grip is on you, but you want to stay
you knew right away when you looked into his eyes
there was something extra there
that held you paralyzed
your mother told you time & time again to stay away
watch out before you fall
I think you'd better stop and say release this grip
release this grip on me
c'mon and let me go
oh no no no no release this grip
release this grip on me
watch out before you fall
before he takes it all
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1982, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
TELEPHONE
You don't have to answer, you don't have to call me back
Though I'd like to stick a lighted match
Underneath your chilly ways
You don't have to phone if you don't want to 'cos I know you
And I know the games you play
CHORUS
Telephone, why don't you ring when I want you to
Telephone, why do I put the blame, all the blame on you
Sales lady calls me, tries to push some new charade
But I tell her sorry not today
What you got, child, I don't need
So I sit drinking coffee
Waiting for the word to arrive
Wondering if you're still alive
Ringing, why aren't you (repeat)
So you don't have to answer, you don't have to give a ring
Must not be missing anything
On this cold dark winter day
Maybe I'll just rip it off the wall
If you don't care
Then I don't have a thing to say
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1982, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
JUST ONE NIGHT WITH YOU
I have a house on a hill
that looks down on the town
watching people passing by
without a sound
possessions surrounding
their substitute for
the telephone ringing
or a knock on the door
CHORUS
But if you ask me what I really want
I'll give you my point of view
I'd trade it all for just one night with you
just talking to you
or seeing you smile
my blood starts rushing
imagination runs wild
but you're so elusive
like a cat on the run
and I don't have it all but I got all it takes
to get this thing won
(chorus)
the rich may have money power and pride
but a man has got nothing with nothing inside
there's something within me that ain't satisfied
but just one night will
so give me your answer
send it to me tonight
turn yourself around now
turn out the light
throw my money off the hillside
I don't need it now
and I don't need something like a yacht or a plane
or some shiny new car
(chorus)
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1982, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
24 HOURS
I wanna race a Maserati down the boulevard
I wanna skip a couple rocks across the sea
I wanna go back to my hometown, say hello
be back in the morning
and figure out where I wanna be
CHORUS
24 hours, is all I have to spend
time is on a budget, I don't want my time to end
I wanna take a ferry down the Mississippi
I wanna wander through the streets of Germany
come back to America, find me a bar
and find some woman to keep me company
(chorus)
I wanna build a little house with my own bare hands
then leave it sitting pretty on a hill
I wanna do anything that I damn well please
if I want to you know I will
across the cool cool water where the ships come in
I'll have a smoke and sit a little while
then I'll make it back to where I live
write a little letter
and try to make you smile
(chorus)
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1982, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
ANOTHER MAN'S WORLD
do you ever close your eyes
to something when you know it is true
do you ever change your mind
when someone speaks louder than you
CHORUS
well it's you - yeah it's you
you're the one knows what it's coming to
you're the only one who can change your mind
you better think it over
you better think it over
'cause there's too many people in the world
living in another man's world
people sit in apathy
no more decisions to make
so easy to just get stoned
let other people make their mistakes
(chorus)
turned off my TV screen
threw all my drugs out the door
time for me to take control
I ain't gonna take it no more
and now it's you - yeah it's you
if you wanna know what it's coming to
if you wanna know how to change your mind
you better think it over
you better think it over
'cause there's too many people in the world
living in another man's world
there's too many people in the world
living in another man's world
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1982, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
FRIEND OR FOE
standing in the middle of a torn-out war zone
happy in the trenches just to be left alone
no money in my pocket, no silver, no gold
phonograph records are 10 years old
but I'm free
nobody's gonna mess with me
yeah I'm free
then someone steps on over the line
his colors, they don't look like mine
I'll keep fighting 'til I know
who goes there - friend or foe
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1982, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
SILENCE
silence
hum a simple tune
silence
don't say nothing, just leave me alone
this room was happy once before
laughter buzzing, bouncing off the walls
but now it's all gone
and I will carry on in silence
find your special place
silence
paint your happy face
thinking wow or when or where
why be here when you'd rather be there
'cos now it's all gone
but I will carry on in silence
silence
hum a simple tune
silence
don't say nothing, just leave me alone
things seem better somehow
feels so good to be alone right now
so now it's all gone
but I will carry on in silence
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1982, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
THE UPPER HAND
Sam Jones was used to taking orders
Worked 'til dark to keep his family fed
Failed his piss test, laid him off one morning
They found him with a bullet in his head
CHORUS
And they say you've gotta gotta keep working harder
Just some things that you don't understand
And they say you've gotta gotta keep working harder
It's the only way to get the upper hand
Old man said they'd grown expecting too much
When it's him that took it all away
But you can have your cocaine or your Falwell
See you all in hell or the welfare state
CHORUS
Nine times out of ten don't make it perfect
Everybody is bound to take a dive
CHORUS
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
I CAN'T HEAR YOU
Who's to say
What's right or wrong
Don't tell me how to play my song
Or tell me just who I should be
I've closed the door, I've turned the key
And I, I can't hear you
Narrow minds
Selfish ways
You're trapped within an endless maze
The new world is within your mind
Keep with yours, I'll stay with mine
Cos I, I can't hear you
I can't hear you
Why don't you stop all that screaming
I can't hear you
Stop the death and that bleeding
I can't hear you
Why don't you just blow away
We'll meet again another day
I can't hear you
I can't hear you
I can't hear you
Why don't you just blow away
We'll meet again another day
So tear it down, start again
Cynics with your poison pen
Content within a world of hate
I've got to go for it's too late
And I, I can't hear you
And I, I can't hear you
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
17 WAYS
It's 4 am, too dark for daylight
Pavement lit underneath the street light
Saw a neon sign through my windshield glass, it said:
24 Hours, Food & Gas
I slowed down, shook my head because
I was trying to remember where the hell I was
West of Pittsburgh, North of Vincennes
The sign in the window didn't make no sense
There's two thousand miles between me and my salvation
And all I need is 17 Ways
All the times I wanted to tell you
You weren't here I said I'd tell you tomorrow
But tomorrow came and tomorrow went
Just a few more miles for the time that I spent
Used to be, I'd want to take it slow
Grab my skaks, wave goodbye and away I'd go
Now my heart is spent and my head fells numb
I couldn't get back any faster if I was shot from a gun
There's six people waiting, they all got someone to count on
And all I need is 17 Ways
Why's it gotta be, I think I have to choose
Latch onto one thing and it's the other I lose
Waitress stops and she pours me some more
But I can feel something pulling me on out that door
Why spend my life just waiting for something to happen
When all I need is 17 Ways
All I need is 17 Ways
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
THE BALLAD OF BOBBY & BETTY
There's old Bobby, lying on the ground
I think you've seen him somewhere around this town
Broke and busted, death in his eye
Asked them for their help and they just pass him by
There's old Betty, lying in the street
Tattered scarf, no shoes upon her feet
Mumbling something about how Jesus saves
Pretty soon she will be six feet in the grave
And all the men and women down at City Hall
Fine pressed shirts, no argument at all
They decided cover up so none could tell
So the men and women there said go to hell
And you never thought that could be you someday
And you never thought that could be you someday
Hell is just another place to go
Everybody's moving fast you're running slow
Head first you fall into the wishing well
You got no money honey you go straight to hell
And you never thought that could be you someday
And you never thought that could be you someday
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
PAMELA
There's a feeling when you wake up from a bad dream
That cuts inside your heart just like a vise
And you'd shrug it off, get on back to sleep again
But you won't be getting anymore that night
And I'd take a knife, and cut you from my memory
To heal the scars and make myself like new
Then that feeling it comes crashing in to haunt me once again
Oh, Pamela, I'll never get over you
I've tried and tried to find some other lover
I turn around and leave them just the same
And each time I think I've left you behind my footsteps
Then I see you in that bad dream once again
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
Train conductor, I hear it's your birthday today
I hear that you've turned 65
Your furrowed brow is getting streaked with gray
I'd always seen you smiling
So why is it today you're feeling low
It's too bad they're retiring you
I guess I'll find some other way to go
When those rich men used to tick you off
You'd always smile, take it all in stride
And you'd let those men ride on the boxcar
When you knew, they'd hopped it for a ride
And though I never knew your name
You'd always wink at me as you strolled by
And punch those tickets loud and strong
While my wife and kid were waving me goodbye
Happy birthday, train conductor
Is it that time is right and we are wrong
Happy birthday, train conductor
I hate to see you go, bye bye, so long
And when you reach that final stop
When you're shaking hands with all the men
Don't you get caught up in sorrow
Don't you get on to those dirty tracks again
Just keep that gold thing in your vest
And always keep that smile upon your face
And hug your wife and children now
Time can heal, but it cannot erase
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
FADING LIGHT
Got out the bottle and the pipe
Tried hard to forget 'bout last night
Room spinning 'round gets hard to see
And all we had - a broken memory
CHORUS
After what we said last night
All I see is a fading light
Got in my car I tried to drive
Didn't make it back 'til four or five
Words laying loose inside my head
Wishing one or both of us was dead
CHORUS
Fading light I can't talk to you fading light I can't talk to me fading light
Dark are the shadows on the wall
Gets so I function not at all
Run out my house go find a friend
But I'm so blind I may not see again
CHORUS
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
SAD SAD SONGS
I've had enough of hearing I'm all wrong
Should've known it was coming all along
Someday you'll find yourself in a sack
With those train tracks across your back
'cos I'm tired of hearing those sad sad songs from you
I'm sick to death of being told I've got to learn
Being judged and criticized at every turn
If it's just good taste that you lack
I'll be pleased when you're off my back
'cos I'm tired of hearing those sad sad songs from you
Every time I hear those verses pounding 'round my head
Makes me want to count the days 'til they will find you dead
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
ALONE
In times of trouble or the race for energy
She serenades you while your mind it wanders free
Then you wake up, it's on your own again
You know it's out there somewhere but until then
You'll be alone
Just on your own
You'll be alone
'til you come back to me
Love, love, love
The question hangs by fraying thread
Should you try to cling to what may soon be dead
Still you're alone
Just on your own
You'll be alone
'til you come back to me
"I'm gonna find you, gonna find you"
Said the fiddler to the thief
"You must believe in what you cannot see"
The thief he smiled, put on his hat and walked away
The fiddler smiled and said, "we'll meet again someday"
You won't be alone
Just on your own
You won't be alone
When you come back to me
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
KEEP WITH YOURSELF
When the well runs dry and you're still in need
Mothers grow tired, little mouths to feed
Old farts count silver and revel in greed
Just keep with yourself, you're all right with me
And the guy on the corner asks you for a dime
Wanna write a book but can't find the time
You stumble and fall trying to walk that line
Just keep with yourself, you're all right with me
When the voices start telling you two different things
Wanna speak your head but no one hears a thing
And the messenger comes, bad bad news he brings
Just keep with yourself, you're all right with me
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
COMING HOME AGAIN
Well I've been rolling
Way on down that road
And I've been thinking
Thinking 'bout my home
Well it's 2 am and the rain is pouring down
Don't know who I've lost or what I've found
Gotta speed it up no time to slow down
God I wish I was coming home again
Well I've been rolling
Up and through those hills
Radio's singing that melody
It just gives me chills
Well it's that same old lonely traveling song
'Bout a man with a lady who done him wrong
And I just can't help but sing along
God I wish I was coming home again
Coming home, yes coming home
I always seem so far from home
No place else that I would rather be
Words of love brushed on your face
Crackling logs in the fireplace
No one 'round for miles 'cept you and me
But I'll keep rolling
Where I've never been before
Looking for a mansion of gold
Open up that door
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1992, 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)
YEARS LONG AGO
if we returned to the places we lived in before
if we turned from all that we'd gained
if we lived out a life that we struggled to change
just to turn back the calendar page
then we'd see that our memory betrayed us
we'd see what had frightened us so
we'd hear all the voices that fall silent now
pieces of years long ago
some people say if you live in the past
it can make sight much clearer
the turning and churning of gears in their heads
squeaking from rust and decay
then tomorrow is just incidental
awful, deliberate and slow
turning alone like a clock on a shelf
backward - to years long ago
I cannot live in the past anymore
no need to understand why
the smile on your face blows the vacuum away
gone with the wink of your eye
can we rearrange furniture sleeping
grab hold and never let go
buy some new shoes and walk you and me
away from the years long ago
Words and music by Tom Stevens
(c) 1985 Huevos Rancheros Music (BMI)
(c) 1997 Textbook Paranoia Music (BMI)