more lyrics

I've got well over 200 lyrics, some of which are listed below. As time allows, I'll try and get more of them posted. Scroll down to find one that you want to check out.

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Hippie Crack

i needed a push
and you pushed me down
you pushed me right the fuck out of there
into another town

but i can make a big come back
yeah, i done it before
now i see you follow me down, i think
you’re rotten to the core

just back to stir it up again
and mess with my head
i thought we both had enough the last time
listen to what we said

but you're more determined
to be together again
what so I let you back in my heart
don’t matter where you’ve been

Chorus:
i seen this one before
i know the plan of attack
you turn it on and get me off again
my little hippie crack

just back to cause misery
or see if you still could
welcome back my hippie crack
i knew you were no good

so don’t be lookin’ me up this go round
i’d be a fool to forget
shoulda let it die like i said the last time
what is it you don't get

well, i guess there's still some people
just can’t take a hint
they won’t take no for an answer 'til they
cause an accident

Chorus:
welcome back, miss misery
i knew you never were no good
you said you’d never come this way again but
I always knew you would

I must be a fool cause you're back inside
I knew the plan of attack
You turn it on and get me off again
My little hippie crack



november, 2004

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one phone call

one phone call...one letter...one minute if you
gave me that i’d teach you to fly
one second...is all i’m asking
if you trust me then i'll show you -we can reach the sky

so just let me...say it simple
you tell me that you like it when i cut through that way
i need to see you for just a moment
i need to talk and tell it all -i got so much to say

and this will only...take a minute
i promise not to bug you with a million requests
i just want you...to know i need you
it feels good to get something like that off my chest

so if you take this... call this morning
i’ll get through my day so much easier i know
and if you hear me... say i love you
well that’s because my stupid feelings are beginning to show

and it you think that... it’s coming too fast
say the word and i’ll come back and take it real slow
and if you need me.. to give you more time
i’ll back off and let you have the space you needed to grow

but now i’m calling... i hope i reach you
hearing your voice would kick my spirits up so fucking high
and if you answer and want to see me
well then you know i'm on my way and i'll be swinging by

one phone call -one letter
one minute's all it took to turn it back to you
one look is all i needed
to put us back and now we both know what we're gonna do


copyright 11-04

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Caritha

I used to think Caritha had a crush on me
But I was too scared to admit it
Between my curiosity, and her experience
I didn't think that we were too well fitted

I should have gone ahead and kissed her that time we were alone
I should have given her what she wanted
But I was too naive and I thought she was too old
I could see when my friends found out that I'd be taunted

If I saw her today I don't know what I would do
I'd probably end up saying something dumb
but I'm told she's somewhere far away seeing the world
I wish I got to know her better some

Caritha's flying, and I don't think she's gonna land
I could see her on her beach chair lying in the sand
She's gone away from here cause there was nothing to keep her
the affection that I showed her could have been a whole lot deeper

The airport scene was a sight to remember
it was the coldest day I've ever felt for the middle of September
I watched her walk through customs, sure that she'd come back someday
but deep inside I knew that things would turn out this way

I know she has her reasons, but where does that leave me
I thought that she would have a change of heart and finally see
but now I'm stuck standing here staring at the sky
another plane leaves Logan and I'm wondering why

She's flying,..I can't see her coming back
It certainly did no good when I refused to help her pack
I could have done a lot more to convince her to stay
but now I have no choice but ..to watch Caritha fly away

Caritha's flying, I don't think she's going to land
I could see her drinking Margaritas lying in the sand
She always liked to travel so I hope she's happy now
Caritha flew away......That's all my story will allow



Words and music written by Joe Herbert, copyright 1992



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Train your brain

Train your brain
and feed your head
that's what I learned about life
because it's what they said

it's ok to watch ‘em blow us up
they show it on tv
but when we’re doing the killing
they don’t want you to see

they tell us why the people bombed our buildings
say they don’t like to be free
as if it’s really all that simple
you must be out of your tree

if we don’t like the way you run things
preemptive war from our side
yet the ones who sign the fattest contracts
are always first to hide

they sit in comfort and convenience
drink from a silver cup
they meet and plot and plan an unprovoked
war while they divide it up

train your brain
and feed your head
that's what I learned about life
that's what the people said

and someone’s always getting richer
as they decide our fate
keep the masses in a grip of fear
and teach them all to hate

you have no qualms about your meddling
in someone else’s affairs
so long as all your asshole buddies
can get the biggest shares

but just imagine for a second
if they had done it to us
came in and took away your president
and put you all on a bus

you say we’re fighting for their freedom
but we don’t have it at home
you locked away a lot of innocent people
while you’re still free to roam

train your brain
and feed your head
that's what I learned about life
that's what the people said

And now you talk about religion
say you’re appointed by god
you stand up there pontificating
while they just sit there and nod

but let me ask you one question
and then I’ll let you go
how’d you manage to convince them all
I guess we’ll never know

Train your brain
and feed your head
that's all they taught me 'bout life
that's all the people said



november, 2004

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my jael..

i went and messed it up again, i shoulda known better than to walk that way
everybody told me i was looking for trouble if i didn't need to be there then i shouldn'a stayed
but just like everyone else i'm making up dumb excuses for my stupid behavior
i never said i listen to my own advice let alone come across acting like a savior

this time i think i'm in trouble -let my own sense of direction get away from me
i just try and hold on but i lose control -head spinning so fast that i can't even see
and when i looked back up thinking you were gonna be there for me just like you'd always been
i had to come to grips with the fact that you'll never see me and i'll never see you again

i'm feeling such a loss and an aching in my heart that i can't tell anyone about
so i go around telling them pretty much exactly what they expect me to spout
listen to my heart and i get in deeper, i listen to my head i'm not satisfied
there's a delicate balance in the universe, keep it somewhere right in the middle she said and died

this girl gave me so much i could never lose all the times that we had together
walking on the busy streets hearing all kinds of languages going thru all kinds of weather
suddenly she went away and there's nothing that can bring her back cuz she's really gone
it's tough when you have to face up to fear but she was my foundation to stand upon

my jael…
my jael……

and i think about all the time when i'm lost and i'm so confused about the world today
i know that if i called her up there she'd tell me not to worry and she'd know the right words to say
there was nothing that could ever make me forget about her, and i knew this from the start
cuz the girl's inside my soul and she's never gonna leave my mind or escape my heart....

so if you got someone in your life right now that really gets inside your soul
take it to limit cause you never know how much time you'll have til they're ready to roll
it might be tomorrow might be today so it shouldn't upset you when they go away
make it all worth while when you got the time like my favorite girl used to always say

my jael
my jael……



february 2000

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one night

i started a joke
and she began to cry
she saw the look on my face
i saw the look in her eye

i knew right then i was in trouble
there was no hiding the smirk
but then i thought of a good one
said i had to go to work

i try to stay out of trouble
try to avoid a fight
but sometimes trouble surrounds me
it all can change in a night

i walked in late once too often
too many times i've been bad
i think i should have maybe thought about this
considered what i had

so look i realize you caught me
i had my hand in the till
but then you never really faught me on it
i wonder when you will

(so we can uh...talk about it later..)
>right to chorus

i try and stay out of trouble
you're absolutely right
i shouldn't take you for granted
i won't put up a fight

i try and stay out of trouble
there's no denying you're right
i risked it all and lost big time
and i lost it all in one night



copyright march, 1999

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entitled

it’s because you're entitled to it
that's why you're taking some more
it never seems like it's enough to fill you
you're always keeping score

you feel your brain drain downwards
you can't do all the math
you feel your mind drip back in time
you're walking on the wrong path

but it's too late to try and stop it
not sure you would if you could
it might be just what you want you say
to think it feels this good

the guilty pleasures in a lifetime
don't come that often to you
and so you tempt the hand of fate again
it's me you're trying to screw

but i'm too smart to let it happen
been in the game too long
and though you're ready to deliver the message
you might have read it wrong

and so you tell me you're entitled to it
i watch you taking some more
you wanna back up just a bit now
and don't be such a whore

i never thought you were entitled to it
i hope you're feeling good
you want to show me one glimpse of madness
but i don't think you should

you sold your soul to the devil
and now your reaping rewards
he's singing sweetly in your ear right now
and you know all the chords

you think that you're entitled to it
already taking some more
i thought that there was just enough to fill you
there's never really enough to fill you
now whatdja do that for

you act like you're entitled to it
and i can't keep up the pace
you're on a rough slide downwards
and i want you out of my face



written by joe herbert, copyright november, 2000

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cool

midnight - no smoking section
she walks in like she owns the entire room
and i stare down - into my water
wondering what can take away all this gloom

it's a pretty bad case - my situation
i let you take every ounce of energy i had
but it won't last - i can't see it stayin' this way
there must be something good to follow all this bad

chorus:
don't get uptight - don’t lose your cool
patience is a virtue never known to me
but it's about to change - i can feel it turning
gotta find something on which we can agree

so i give her space - all the room she needs
no one can say i smothered her this time around
i give her plenty of rope - and she'll hang herself
fade into the background without a sound

chorus:
i won't get upset - i'll let her lose her cool
patience is a virtue well known to me
everything has changed - i can feel it churning
i got something that’s about to set me free

(inst. break)

don’t get upset - let her lose her cool
patience is a virtue well known to me
everything has changed - i can feel it turning
i finally got something that’s really gonna set me free



written by joe herbert, copyright march, 1999

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big fish in a little pond

i started meeting a bunch of big fish in a small pond
something made me wanna leave, something told me get the fuck out
i must have looked like i wasn’t any threat to you, you could
dismiss me without ever asking what i was about

you could afford to be such a dick to me cause you were
lording it up over all that you survey
you’re like, who’s got time to hear the new guy
pontificating on your soapbox and lookin’ so gay

big fish in a little pond, fat guy in a little coat
smart ass in a small town bar, someone’s always got to brag and gloat
tough guy in the internet chat room, wise cracker at the back of the class
he’s the neighborhood schoolyard bully and someone’s about to kick his ass

you like running your mouth when you think you’re the tough guy
and everyone else is a grade school kid to you
you say that you feel like such a big deal when you take control
but you and i know what’s true

so you get away with this game you play ‘til
someone comes along and maybe knows a bit more than you
then it all comes crashing down around you and you
end up looking like the jackass you’re a fuckin’ fool

big fish in a little pond, fat guy in a little coat
smart ass in a small town bar, someone’s always got to brag and gloat
tough guy in the internet chat room, wise cracker at the back of the class
he’s the neighborhood schoolyard bully and someone’s about to kick his ass



october, 2003

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twice (falling apart)

ok, so i guess that i didn’t need to be so cruel
maybe i reacted that way because i wanted to be cool
you didn’t have it coming you’ve always been a real nice kid
and i should have known better than to do the nasty things i did

i tried to blow it off like i didn’t have feelings for you
it took me by surprise when i realized what i was going through
when you turned away, things began to change it’s probably for the better
my friends said i should give you room - if she wants to leave, you gotta let her

i shouldn’t be so mean even if i got a broken heart
you’ll know in a couple years when it’s falling apart
and when it happens to you i hope you’ll take my advice
cause you don’t ever want to go through this same thing twice

so i sit at work and think about how everything just went so wrong
why i have to wait and wonder what you’re doing all day long
it’s like a torture that i put myself through every day and night
i miss hearing your sweet voice even when we’d fight

it’s going to be hard until i get myself together again
thinking ‘bout how good it felt when you were with me then
i have to find some way to occupy myself not thinking of you
and i hope you never have to experience what i’ve been through

i shouldn’t be so cruel even if i got a broken heart
maybe in a couple years it’ll fall apart
and if it ever happens, i hope you’ll take my advice
you don’t ever want to go through this same thing twice



january, 2000

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unimpressed

unimpressed
well that's you
you've done it all before
and with more panache

you've been there, done that
or that's what you say
-and always just a little bigger
with more cash

no one has an experience
like you
it would be impossibe
to fit it all in

you say all that living
you’ve already done
the exotic places
that you say you've been

if it's something you don't understand
you're quick to put it down
if it's something you can't afford
then the quality's not as good

if it's something that you haven't done before
it's not worth your time
you expect me to go along with this
i wouldn't even if i could

nothing ever seems to catch you
off guard
to have to always up the ante
must be kinda hard

what's it like to be right
every single time
the fact you need to even hang with us
is the biggest crime

if it's something you don't understand
you're quick to put it down
if it's something you can't afford
then the quality's not as good

if it's something that you haven't done before
it's not worth your time
you expect me to go along with this
i wouldn't even if i could



written by joe herbert, copyright 1997

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How Could You

how could you..after everything we've been through
and all this time i thought you were my friend
how could you.. you really disappoint me this time
everything came so quickly to an end

how dare you..this smacks of such hypocrisy
you standing up there thinking that you're better
than the rest of these people, thinking that you can sway
their feelings, just by reading that condescending letter

how could you, be so deceived and blind that way
how could you even look yourself in the face
you trust these foolish leaders to start another world war
none of us'll ever survive in that race

now everything about you i find offensive
you laugh at us and pretend to kneel down and pray
i realize now that you're on the move and this is your world
and you don’t want anyone like me to stay

tell me what's going on.. in that world of yours
tell me if there's anything else that you really need
now you say i've gone astray-never did i think that it would get this way
i always wanted to follow your lead

instrumental break

we thought you'd let us stay here, and really get a look at you
but something inside told me i'm gonna be leaving
you like to say you're so honest, instilling such supreme faith
but when you looked in the mirror it was nothing you could believe in

how could you..you're never gonna live it down
all these people they looked up to you
you call for diversity, but when it confronts you
suddenly you're taking on a hostile view

how could you, just for asking a question
you turn away from me and hide your face
you cut me off from any of your connections-and then you walk right past me
you don't ever want to have to jump in that race

how could you.. how could you...how could you... how could you



written by joe herbert, copyright 92/2004

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shed

you said you think you're a little bit evil and
you're never sorry for the things you said
you tell me 'bout the friends that keep disappearing
soon you won't have any friends to shed

you have no regrets for yesterday or for
all the nasty things you did
you try and play it down by acting tough
keeping most of your feelings hid

you wonder how you got to this point in life
how you landed the position you're in
even though the friends you keep losing somehow
make you think you're still gonna win

they deep disappearing and you keep moving on
shedding one more layer of skin
but pretty soon it's gonna catch up with you
you won't recognize the person within

i saw it when you spread yourself too thin
and they cast you down in the dirt
and even though you've caused some other people pain
i still don't want to see you hurt

so am i the last one you haven't gotten over
how come you didn't cast me aside
i know you've gotten close to dropping me before
but you always end up letting me slide

someone gave you that much hurt and anger
you don't allow yourself to get close
yeah, but just because you tasted life's bitterness
doesn't mean we all need a dose

they keep disappearing you keep moving along
you shed another layer of skin
even though you thought you didn't lose a thing
there's nothing really left to win



june,2000

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shove

i got a girlfriend anna - she's 24 years old
she has her own apartment - so independent and bold
she likes it when i come over -and so i do now and then
when i'm there we always make it - she never says ‘where you been’

but i don't think of her only - there's someone else for me too
i can't get her away from me - no matter what i do
and sometimes when i'm with anna - she's really not on my mind
i wonder if she's aware of what - i'm always looking to find

chorus
i think about her at midnight
4 in the morning too
i want her out of my system
that's what i'm goin' through

i wish that i never met you
i wouldn't be so in love
if I get pushed like this again
i'm gonna give it the shove

i'm sick of her cause she haunts me - as soon as i get up
she’s with me every morning - i'm getting real fed up
so all the while i'm with her - i'm really thinking of you
i know it's not very nice of me - but i must admit it’s true

chorus
{bridge}
i wish we'd stay apart for one whole week
maybe my feelings would fade
but it's so hard when you keep calling me like that
and make me wish i stayed

chorus
i think about her at midnight -4 in the morning too
i want her out of my system -it's what i'm goin' through
i wish that i never met you - i wouldn't be so in love
and if I get pushed again -i'm gonna give it a shove



july,2000

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another murderer

what are we gonna do about this pressing problem
what are we going to say when they want to know why
how long did you think we could put it off 'til they'd find out
how long did you think you'd continue to lie

everyone already knows about this anyway
still it's something you don't want to admit
walk into the principal's office before it gets too late
it's over, the jig is up, and it's time to quit

you're going to tell it all this time, no backing down
it's time you cleared that conscience anyway
just start at the beginning, and don't spare any details
i'm sure by now you've got an awful lot to say

so what are we going to do about this problem
when are we going to take a breath and just come clean
you can't go on running like this forever
what if there's a possibility that you might've been seen

c'mon, get it off of your chest, you'll feel better in the morning
everyone's gonna find out about it anyway
what have you got to lose, but a guilty conscience
after you tell them, what can they possibly say

so tell it all, brother, let's get the damn thing over with
tell us all about the pain you've been keeping in
why not confess and get it over with, you’re only gonna make things worse
tell the whole world about this ugly sin....



may, 1996

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all lyrics, poems and writings are written by joe herbert,
and copyrighted between 1991 and 2004. no copies without permission.
{keep it cool!} c. joseph herbert

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Copyright © 1992 - 2006 Joe Herbert. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.