It’s good to be king, if just for a while. We were sure we’d never see an end to it all. When there are no good answers and no new questions. Troubled souls unite; we got ourselves tonight. Somewhere in middle America, get right to the heart of matters. Another game of putting things aside, as if we’ll come back to them sometime. I’m a little untrusting. Everyone here knows everyone here is thinking about somebody else. Don’t grab, don’t clutch, don’t hope for too much.
My life is changing every day in every possible way. The fool might be my middle name. I want a perfect body; I want a perfect soul. I’m only happy when it rains. I think of you, the best friend I ever had. A million smiles cover your heart. You’re the best listener I’ve ever met. I’m sorry about the attitude I need to give when I’m with you, but no one else would take this from me. Reach down your hand in your pocket, pull out some hope for me. I need a big love.
I tripped and fell. Whatsoever I’ve feared has come to life. Now that the smoke has gone and the air is all clear, those who were right there got a new kind of fear. It’s all rusted and faded. Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage. This ain’t over. It’s time to take a stand. I know right through you. What do I get for my pain? What would you say? Tragedy is cheap and so is talk. All I really want is some justice. What I need is a good defense.
I thought that I don’t belong and now that I am leaving, I know I did something wrong. But, you can’t go forcing something if it’s just not right. If I could, I would. It’s easier to leave than to be left behind. Hold this thread as I walk away. The picture kept will remind me. All apologies.
Time is the beauty of the road being long. Winter’s cold spring erases. I’m a driver, I’m a winner, things are going change, I can feel it. It’s never too late to try. Accept what you’ve lost, and stand tall. Roll the new life over.
Deep in thought, I forgive everyone. Kindness falls like rain. It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah.
I don’t want to come back down from this cloud. I changed by not changing at all.
Artwork: The Art of Seth
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Endnotes are in the same order as the sentences they refer to.
[i] Tom Petty, “It’s Good to Be King,” Wildflowers, Warner Bros. Records, 1994.
[ii] The Smashing Pumpkins, “1979,” Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Virgin, 1995.
[iii] Gin Blossoms, “Until I Fall Away,” New Miserable Experience, A&M Records, 1992.
[iv] Pearl Jam, “Leash,” Vs., Epic Records, 1993.
[v] Counting Crows, “Omaha,” August and Everything After, Geffen, 1993.
[vi] Toad the Wet Sprocket, “Something’s Always Wrong,” Dulcinea, Columbia Records, 1994.
[vii] Matchbox Twenty, “Push,” Yourself or Someone Like You, Atlantic Records, 1996.
[viii] Matchbox Twenty, “Back 2 Good,” Yourself or Someone Like You, Atlantic Records, 1996.
[ix] U2, “Numb,” Zooropa, Island Records, 1993.
[x] The Cranberries, “Dreams,” Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, Island Records, 1993.
[xi] R.E.M., “Strange Currencies” Monster, Warner Bros. Records, 1994.
[xii] Radiohead, “Creep,” Pablo Honey, Parlophone, 1993.
[xiii] Garbage, “Only Happy When It Rains,” Garbage, Almo Sounds, 1995.
[xiv] Phish, “Dog Faced Boy,” Hoist, Elektra Records, 1994.
[xv] Mazzy Star, “Fade Into You,” So Tonight That I Might See, Capitol Records, 1993.
[xvi] Alanis Morissette, “Head Over Feet,” Jagged Little Pill, Maverick, 1995.
[xvii] Matchbox Twenty, “Long Day,” Yourself or Someone Like You, Atlantic Records, 1996.
[xviii] Matchbox Twenty, “Long Day,” Yourself or Someone Like You, Atlantic Records, 1996.
[xix] Counting Crows, “Omaha,” August and Everything After, Geffen, 1993.
[xx] R.E.M., “Strange Currencies” Monster, Warner Bros. Records, 1994.
[xxi] Soundgarden, “Fell on Black Days,” Superunknown, A&M Records, 1994.
[xxii] Filter, “Hey man, nice shot”, Short Bus, Reprise Records, 1995.
[xxiii] Gin Blossoms, “Until I Fall Away,” New Miserable Experience, A&M Records, 1992
[xxiv] The Smashing Pumpkins, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Virgin Records, 1995.
[xxv] Matchbox Twenty, “Push,” Yourself or Someone Like You, Atlantic Records, 1996.
[xxvi] Soundgarden, “Fell on Black Days,” Superunknown, A&M Records, 1994.
[xxvii] Alanis Morissette, “Right Through You,” Jagged Little Pill, Maverick, 1995.
[xxviii] The Smashing Pumpkins, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Virgin Records, 1995.
[xxix] Dave Matthews Band, “What Would You Say?,” Under the Table and Dreaming, RCA, 1994.
[xxx] Blues Traveler, “Stand,” Four, A&M Records, 1994.
[xxxi] Alanis Morissette, “All I Really Want,” Jagged Little Pill, Maverick, 1995.
[xxxii] Fiona Apple, “Criminal,” Tidal, Clean Slate/Work Records, 1996.
[xxxiii] Lisa Loeb, “Stay (I Missed You),” Tails, Geffen Records, 1995.
[xxxiv] Green Day, “When I Come Around,” Dookie, Reprise Records, 1994.
[xxxv] Phish, “If I Could,” Hoist, Elektra Records, 1994.
[xxxvi] Stone Temple Pilots, “Vasoline,” Purple, Atlantic Records, 1994.
[xxxvii] Weezer, “Undone – The Sweater Song,” Weezer (The Blue Album), DGC Records, 1994.
[xxxviii] Pearl Jam, “Daughter,” Vs., Epic Records, 1993.
[xxxix] Nirvana, “All Apologies,” In Utero, DGC Records, 1993.
[xl] Blues Traveler, “Just Wait,” Four, A&M Records, 1994.
[xli] Dave Matthews Band, “Satellite,” Under the Table and Dreaming, RCA, 1994.
[xlii] Beck, “Loser,” Mellow Gold, DGC Records, 1994.
[xliii] Counting Crows, “Rain King,” August and Everything After, Geffen, 1993.
[xliv] Blues Traveler, “Stand,” Four, A&M Records, 1994.
[xlv] Counting Crows, “Omaha,” August and Everything After, Geffen, 1993.
[xlvi] The Smashing Pumpkins, “Thirty-Three,” Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Virgin Records, 1995.
[xlvii] Counting Crows, “Anna Begins,” August and Everything After, Geffen, 1993.
[xlviii] Jeff Buckley, “Hallelujah,” Grace, Columbia Records, 1994.
[xlix] Bush, “Come Down,” Sixteen Stone, Trauma/Interscope Records, 1994.
[l] Pearl Jam, “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town,” Vs., Epic Records, 1993.