MICHELLE MALONE: Relentless

Relentless

Big Black Bag
Long Love Century
32 Seconds
Into the Night
Chariot
Inside Out of Here
Battle Him Republican
Sure Thing
Love Thang
Black Cloud Song
Counting Stars
Funny Face

His eyes were the color of his car
I'm doing cartwheels in the yard
Today ain't gonna go too far
'Cause I've got a hand in the big black bag
I've got a hand in the big black bag

Some cars are big and some are small
I'm smoking someone's old cigar
The years roll by - you can't go back
When you've got a hand in the big black bag
When you've got a hand in the big black bag

Traffic's slow - music has no soul
So, I dress in someone else's clothes
It's not a joke - there could be no mistake
I pray the Lord my soul to take
I pray the Lord my soul to take

Now I am not - I stand alone
No ground beneath my feet
And he envisions he's in black
And he's got a hand in the big black bag
He's got a hand in the big black bag

Take a yellow taxi into the yellow sun
It's a reason put away - It's a reason taken
Take a yellow taxi into the yellow sun
It's a reason put away - it's a reason taken
It's a reason put away

What have we here - another situation comedy
Enter hope - blind faith looking for prosperity
Open up your eyes to blinders on either side
Open, open, open, open up and let them try
Stop me, stop me, stop me before you leave
Stop me, stop me in this Long Love Century

You toy with me - I'll be your soldier of wood
I am the little train that never could
So, I've got some problems with you
I've got them with me, too
Just give me one more day in this Long Love Century
Stop me, stop me, stop me before you leave
Stop me, stop me in this Long Love Century

You're building fires under me
Provocation set me free
You're building fires under me
In this Long Love Century

I once was lost, but now am I found by you
I once was free, but now am I bound by you
Nothing's free, and nothing comes quite that easily
I guess it's just another day in this Long Love Century
Stop me, stop me, stop me before you leave
Stop me, stop me in this Long Love Century

You're building fires under me
Provocation set me free
You're building fires under me
In this Long Love Century

It's all coming down in 32 seconds
Like rain on your blue velvet coat
You run to find cover, you search for another
New shelter where your ship can float

But then the bow breaks and your roof is mistaken
For a brown leather show full of holes
You don't know who to trust, you don't know where to go
And the government is moving too slow

Oh no, room to grow
Won't you try not to let disappointment show
Oh no, room to grow
Won't you try not to let disappointment show

Your children are crying and your will is dying
In site you can see no relief
Cause housing is one thing, but a home is another
For that much you'd stick to the streets

Newspaper blankets and barrel fireplaces
The concrete gets cool in you fall
You've got a career and you're making a living
but your riches are uncountable
cause you've got pride and you've got character and you've got a name
Even if nobody knows, Oh

Well, it's all coming down in 32 seconds
Like rain on your blue velvet coat
Even if nobody knows
Won't you try not to let it show

Into the Night
(Michelle Malone & Kristen Hall ©1988, Sony Music/Cold Cocked Music/BMI)

Give me back my secrets
and I'll give you back your lies
Since the day you said hello
I've waited for goodbye
You keep running me around in circles
pulling on the strings of my heart
why don't you just go ahead and finish
the games that you been playing with my heart

Give me back my freedom
and I'll give you back your fame
I don't feel the need to play in
all your silly games
Night after night I've attempted to break free
Time after time I've tried
To vanish into the night

Into the night, Into the night
I will wonder into the night
You shattered my dreams and strangled my will
Now I'm wondering Into the Night

I've had enough of your glory
Besides I don't have the time
For anyone whose been as heartless as you've been
At least someone's got pride
Night after night I've attempted to break free
Time after time I've tried
to vanish into the night

Into the Night, Into the Night
I will wonder into the night
You shattered my dreams and shattered my will
Now I'm wondering Into the Night

Nick he says he's got a trick
He says he can get off without it
Sandy knows the only way
She says you can't get nowhere with it
In the time it takes to dream
You can crush a diamond ring
I guess you never thought about
You can't get nowhere with/without it

Sandy told me once you got a dream you better follow
Everyone wants to believe that
You're just trying to make a dollar
In the time it takes to scream
You could crush a diamond ring
I guess you never thought about it
You can't get nowhere with/without it

Nick he says he wants to care
But his attempt gets lost out there
Sandy smiles and nods
and brings the brush up to her hair
She says I see only what you don't
I know what goes on out there
I'm on the inside out of here
On the inside out of here

Like a slow explosion first
The smoke came rising through the air
Then from the flames his words came
Quickly guided by despair
But Sandy how can you believe
In what you cannot see or hear
Sandy smiled and gently nodded
I'm on the inside out of
I'm on the inside out of
On the inside out of here

Let me save you some time
You don't have to waste it
Trouble enters on cue
and it's looking for you
You can make up some excuse
Pull tighter on your corporate noose
or you can take it - don't want to waste it
Go on and do yourself a favor
Stroll on over to the other side
Battle Him Republican
Allow your smoke to rise
When it knocks on your door
You don't have to answer
Trouble enters on cue
and I'm looking for you
You can accept the invitation
if you feel the inclination
You can take it - don't want to waste it
Come on, do yourself a favor
Stroll on over to the other side
Battle Him Republican
Allow your smoke to rise
Politician wants you
He's gonna have a field day
He's looking for you
There he stands coming into view
He'll promise world protection
Peace collection for a term or two
He's gonna waste you
Do yourself a favor
Stroll on over to the other side
Battle Him Republican
Allow your smoke to rise
Stroll on over to the other side
Battle Him Republican
Allow your smoke to rise

I'm working on a sure thing
Been wearing out my mood ring
Changing hues of dark green jewels
Lead my eyes to the next sunrise
Been dancing on a red wire
Suspended over blue fire
Suspect grows like a nurtured rose
Taste the truth of your misspent youth
And if I'm falling down
Please don't let me know
And if I come undone
I'll try not to let it show
I'm dreaming of a white light
Surrounded by a dark night
Tempt the fate
Of my pearly gate
Bright orange glow
Of my hell below
And if I'm falling down
Please don't let me know
And if I come undone
I'll try not to let it show
I'm working on a sure thing

Last night I woke up all alone
You were not where you said you'd be
Told me you were coming home
Then you show up three days later wanting loving from me
I don't care where you go at night
I don't care who you do
But I have got to know out right
If you feel the way you say that you do
Told me that you really need me
And that you'd always be mine
Then, in thin air, your kisses vanish
For three fortnights at a time
I give you everything
That a woman could possibly give to you
But you keep on taking my love for granted
You won't get anymore
Unless you give me that love thang
You take all that I give
Come on, give me that love thang
I've got a life to live
Better give me that love thang
I wanna get you off
Give me that love thang
I give you everything
That a woman could possibly give to you
But you keep on taking my love for granted
You won't get anymore
Tell me that you really love me
And that you cannot do without
I don't want to fight about it
But I do believe you're giving it out
I give you everything
That a woman could possibly give to you
But you keep on taking my love for granted
You won't get anymore

I know not why the devil wants my soul
My shroud is worn, my tomb is cold
The crypt is empty now
Though I don't walk this earth
I suffer from rebirth and gates of gold
But I am not living in a world where I can breathe
Please come to comfort me - I cannot find the sea
The light is fading - all that's left to see are memories
Question the cause - I chose unconsciousness
To ease my restlessness
and pacify my youthful rage
But I can't relax, not in the midst of this charade
Dark shadows calling me
Drawing me nearer my grave
But I am not living in a world where I can breathe
Please come to comfort me - I cannot find the sea
The light is fading - all that's left to see are memories
What's left for me to do but sit and wait for you
This is not how - I am not lost
I'm only spinning 'round in circles
I'm searching for a break to make my clean escape
But I am not living in a world where I can breathe
Please come to comfort me - I cannot find the sea
The light is fading - all that's left to see are memories
And if you should find this is upsetting you
Don't feel too put upon -
It's just a black cloud song

Coffee and cigarettes
Inside the fire's burning low
No work and little rest
Counting stars through my window
You were a part of me
But I could never look me in the eye
I left you leaving me
But I could never stay with me at night
Your answers question me
But then I never had a clue
I'm still a mystery
And I am still inside where I lost you
Left here with me alone
The conversation is a bore
I pay for all my crimes
And then in seconds I commit more
Your eyes still follow me
But then I always ran to you
I'm still a mystery
And I am still inside where I lost you
Resolved are you and I
So say the books that I have read
I lost some faith somewhere
I can't believe in every word it said
Someday I'll write a song
And tell you how I feel for you
But the words come too slow
Counting stars through my window
Coffee and cigarettes
Inside the wind begins to blow
No work and little rest
Counting stars through my window

You cling to the shadows in folly or fear
You've got to keep part of yourself
Just like everyone else
The world is a cold place
It's been from the start
But have you taken a look at your heart
You left a man with a gun in his hand
Did you try?
Did you go back to see if he lived or if he died?
Did you cry?

Just one kind word or the warmth of your touch
Did you offer your sympathy, or was that too much?
You're not an island
Don't think that you are
Someday you'll need something from someone like me
I'll be in the bar
A garden of fool - twisted, tangled
the shrews have a laugh
They strangle and dangle
And their funny faces you pass
Did you laugh?