The Elms – Just Visiting

 

hi – fi (they don’t compare)

 

        I wanna hear a rock n’ roll song on the radio

         I wanna see a star

         I wanna see his name in lights

         wanna drive his big fancy car

 

         front row seats couldn’t get me closer, and…

         they don’t compare

 

         I wanna see a president in the white house

         commander-in-chief

         I see him take the credit

         well that makes him a thief

 

         air force one couldn’t get me closer, and…

 

jug of pennies

        

         we called him pennyman, pennyman

         he had nothing in his hands

         but he said he knew the man who ruled the world

         when we asked him how he lived that way

         he looked at us and grinned and said

         ‘”man doesn’t live by bread alone”

 

         he carried a jug of pennies around

         picked up the change he found on the ground

         never had much but what he had was real

 

         your jug of pennies may never be full

         but your heart will overflow

         people want to tell you that they’ve found it all

         but inside there’s a hold…and it’s leaking

 

         he wasn’t just any man any man

         they put nails in his hands

         but before he died he forgave the world

         people laughed people cried

         but everyone felt the same inside

         the peace they needed was his alone

 

         fill my pockets with money and gold

         but you can’t outsell the story told

         about the man who gave his life for you.

 

cast a stone

 

         your life is in my loneliness

         and if I’m shining you’re depressed

         is anything impossible if love is soaking through it all?

 

         strongholds are for tearing down

         it’s time to lose what keeps us bound

 

         now cast a stone against the wall

         I’ve never felt this way before

         wake me if I’m dreaming this…

         a world by God and not by fist

         I just might hear a beck-and-call

         of life in me or not at all

         but down the river great divide

         I blame it all on stupid pride

 

         I’m feeling wrong about feeling right

         I’m knowing you’re awake at night

         I want to love and break the chain

         and make the devil go insane

 

whadda ‘ya say?

        

         give me back what I saw you take!

         take yourself and throw you away

         cause there are people that still try

         to live a life that will glorify

 

         you’ll never catch me standing still no (yeah)

         I wanna shine like the sun on a windowsill oh (yeah)

         and if I promise you when you give your life away (hey)

         you feel good enough to cry so whadda ‘ya say?

 

         I’m taking back what I saw you take!

         taking you I’ll throw you away

         cause forever I will try

         to live a life that will glorify

 

when I fall away

 

         how many times must a failing take place

         to remind me of how real you are/

         so sad to say…sometimes I only feel you…

        

         when I fall away

         sometimes I only feel you…

        

         how many times must a savior die

         to remind us of how real love is?

         so sad to say…sometimes we really grieve him…

 

         when we fall away

         sometimes we really grieve him…

 

incense & tie dye

 

         I got a handout-a flyer-from a woman in the airport today

         she asked me if I’d have a word with her

         before I stepped on the plane

         it pushed me inside. it was a spiritual royal ruble

         but I held on tight…it was a wonder I didn’t miss that flight

 

         I had 300 miles to sunny mid-california weather

         and a carry-on bag that reminded me of her

         and her incense, tie-dye body

         and the beverage cart must’ve passed a hundred times

         before I realized

         tears were streaming down my face at the expense

         of someone else

 

         it’s deep down

         it’s a passion

         it’s burning

         I don’t wanna see ‘em die

 

         it could’ve been a transatlantic flight

         and I’d have never seen it coming

         it took that muggy bus ride for it to all sink in

         that Jesus is coming for al his children

         and if she’s still here where will I have been

        

         as I place the flyer in a fireplace I still can’t feel the pain

         of a moment breathing sulfur if you can’t find the name

         so the next time that I jump the iron bird

         and take the sky

         I guess I gotta ask myself…next time will I pass her by?

        

the choice you wouldn’t make

        

         lock the door, throw away the key

         leave me alone

         don’t knock. don’t ring the bell

         nobody’s home

         can’t you see? what’s the matter/

         why does everybody act like nothing’s wrong?

         walk away. don’t say a thing

         you’ve got somewhere to belong

 

         don’t you worry. I’ll be okay

         should I lock myself up in the dark and keep myself away?

 

         this pain is getting older. it’s getting colder everyday

         should I talk? do you listen to what I have to say?

         can’t you see? what’s the matter?

         why does everybody act like nothing’s wrong?

         walk away. don’t say a thing

         you’ve got somewhere to belong

 

         don’t’ you worry. I’ll be okay

         should I lock myself up in the dark and keep myself away?

         I wanna sleep but I don’t want to wake

         all because of a choice you wouldn’t make

 

star is fading

 

         space is black with silver lining

         and once a day a star is shining

         it lights all up like truth before the trial

         on and on forever rolls

         in milkyways of beaten souls

         are all the people resting for awhile?

 

         wherever you go I’m sure

         there’s something much more pure

 

         the star is fading on hurt and pride

         and in the morning I can get up and step outside

         into a world where the people see

         that there is love inside you and me

 

         love is thick and fills the empty

         can you recall the day you met me?

         were violins floating on the breeze?

         who made up the first impression?

         ‘cause now we have a great infection

         that friends are something we can take or leave

 

         and day will come I’m sure

         when no one will close the door

 

         you and me we can agree

         we could decide to stand for life

 

supernothing

 

         all the boys turn their heads

         and find disapproval in her eyes

         what they don’t know…

         she goes home every night and she cries

         emptiness…loneliness

         her worst fears

         when they come true the beauty you knew

         just disappears

 

         she just has it all

         she’s so supernothing

         I don’t know what she’s got

         but I know Jesus saved me

 

         don’t ask don’t inquire

         she’ll take you for a ride

         it’s not because you’re not good looking

         it’s what she feels inside

         emptiness…loneliness       

         they’re tearing her apart

         the funny thing is I know what could change her heart

 

about worth

 

         where I am is where you are

         and I swear I wouldn’t go where I do

         if I could keep that in mind sometimes

         ‘cause you are so much better than this world

         you don’t waste your time holding against me

         what you really could

 

         and I remember the things that you said

         I remember the thorns on your head

 

         and if you could’ve pulled your arms off the cross

         you’d have wrapped them around me

         and made me feel worthy again

         but you stayed right there out in the open

         tattered and broken for me

 

         and if I never feel you again

         I will give you my beginning and end

 

         here I am there’s not much of me

         but all that you see is yours

         and if I want to be like you

         just as you gave me your life

         here is mine