The Apocaloptimist Lyrics
Living the Party Life
Once upon a time, every tale begins the same
Once we had it all, now it’s anybody’s game
What do we do when we win? We party
What do we do when we lose? Party harder
And when we’ve paid no dues? More party
What’ve we got to lose?
What we’ve got to lose? There’s a question for the age
Borders disappear No one reads the printed page
Talking heads all day Kim and Kourtney everywhere
(while) Leaders all betray Every vote that put them there
What do we do when we win? We party
What do we do when we lose? Party harder
And when we’ve paid no dues? More party
What’ve we got to lose?
Raise your hand and swear, take the stand and testify
Nothing but the truth, No one needs another lie
What do we do when we win? We party
What do we do when we lose? Party harder
And when we’ve paid no dues? More party
What’ve we got to lose?
Words and music by james lee stanley @2012 the real james lee stanley music, sesac may 21, 2012
Gypsies in the Hallway
There’s gypsies in the hallway with their potions and their spells
They’re waiting there in silence, But I hear their tiny bells
They’re waiting without knocking but I can feel them there
No secret’s safe outside your door …Open if you dare
Open if you dare, Open if you dare
No secret’s safe outside your door
Open if you dare
There’s gypsies in the hallway. There’s gypsies on the stairs
They never stop their whispers, Their violins in the air
The melodies are haunting; confuse your secret fears
You think you‘ve lost a moment, But really it’s been years
Listen if you dare, Listen if you dare
Time is like quicksilver Listen if you dare
Yesterday is what it is, a weave of joy and sorrow
Today is all you really have, no guarantee of tomorrow
There’s gypsies in the hallway, Your fortune’s up for sale
Twenty bits of silver, Your palm will tell the tale
There’s gypsies in the hallway. There’s gypsies on the stairs
They say the play for free, but I warn you, have a care
No one plays for free, No one plays for free
Somewhere there’s a bloody bill No one plays for free
Words and music by james lee stanley, @2012 the real james lee stanley music, sesac
Last Call
A9
We were in the Red Pony, on the coast of Monterey Sipping margaritas, as the sunset kissed the bay F9 (with a b that goes up to c)
We laughed at karaoke, we toasted one and all
Esus 4 (+ 6, a C#) E
It seemed as tho no time had passed, until we heard “last call”
F#min7 Esus 4 +6 E Esus 4 +6 E
Last call, last chance,
F#min7 -11 (+b) Esus 4 +6 E Esus 4 +6 E
last call, last dance
A9
In that cool and empty hour, we were shadows in the night
The waves were whisp’ring to us, the moon hung low & bright
F9
The sand was shining silver, as fools we raced that moon
Esus 4+6 E Esus 4+6 E
Til breathless then and laughing, we fell behind a dune
F#min7 Esus 4 +6 E Esus 4 +6 E
Last call, last chance,
F#min7 -11 (+b) Esus 4 +6 E Esus 4 +6 E
last call, last dance
F maj7 C maj 7 Esus4 Es4+6 E
We were so high, we were so high, we were so high
With salty kisses on our lips, and jose cuervo’s grin
We melted into darkness the joy of skin on skin
And when your heart beat time with mine, We lingered face to face
And found inside each other, love’s secret hiding place
Last call, last chance, last call, last dance
Words and music by james lee Stanley, @2010 The Real James Lee Stanley Music, SESAC
Here We Have My Father
Here we have my father, moving kind of slow
He’s the one who taught me everything I know
Keep your word, he told me, keep the golden rule
Here we have my father, some say he raised a fool
Here we see my sisters, full of joy and grace Everybody loves them
you can see it in their faces
Always have a kind word, always lend a hand
Here we see my sisters, who always understand
Here we have my mother, in Texas plains somewhere
Gone but not forgotten, she’s here in every prayer
She’s the one who gave me love to light my way
And love is all that matters, (she said) Live it every day
Will you live it every day?
Life goes one within you, without you too, it seems
We settle for survival or struggle for our dreams
Every day we witness the fight between right and wrong
To turn away in silence proclaims we’ve gone along
Are you gonna go along?
(extra verse)
Now everybody’s talking, but nobody’s heard
No one heeds the warning, no one says a word
Someone light a beacon, someone ring the bell
Troublesome horizon, anyone can tell
Words and music by James Lee Stanley, @2009 the real james lee stanley music, sesac 21 may 2012revision
Highway 23
Watching the highway line wind easy Loving you use to feel the same
Wide open and running free Now about all I see Are double lines and trouble signs
Anticipation seems to speed me up Til indecision slows me down
I don’t know where to turn And there’s no time to learn
Where to go, I still don’t know
A crossroads lies between us
It gives me moments more
When moments are forgiving
Watching the highway line wind easy
Turn in my sleep and find you there
Silver the sliding moon
Morning will be here soon
Sleep won’t come and time won’t go…
Words and music by james lee stanley@2014 the real james lee stanley music, sesac
When You Get Right Down To It
I’ve got too much of nothing, time on my hands
And too many days I’m stoned
I don’t feel much like moving, can somebody get that phone
When you get right down to it, this is life in the loading zone
If you once tried to tell me, it would turn out this way
I’d have laughed in your face for sure,
Ah, that was back in the day when I knew what life had in store
Now the question arises…what is this whole thing for.
What’s it for? What’s it for?
Out of all we’ve accomplished and all we’ve been through
What’s the least you can do in the end?
Leave a song, leave a poem, leave a picture of way back when
When you get right down to it, either you break or you bend
What’s the worst that can happen? The best you can do?
The easiest row to hoe?
The answer is simple, whether you’re high or low
When you get right down to it, there’s nobody really knows
Nobody knows, nobody knows
We can stare into darkness, blink at the sun, But see really nothing at all
Life’s a Halloween party, it’s some kind of costume ball
When you get right down to it, we’re all gonna take the fall
At the line into Heaven they x-ray your clothes
The guard pats you down too slow
Then they take all your water and tell you that you can go
When you get right down to it, it’s really just who you know
Words and Music by James Lee Stanley, February 29th, 2012 on the occasion of Davy Jones’ passing
Last All Night
There is comfort in the ritual There is comfort in the song
There is comfort in a stranger, But it never lasts for long,
No It never lasts for long, and though you hope it might
It never lasts for long, but at least it lasts all night It lasts all night
There is kindness you can count on There is kindness that is wrong
There is kindness comes from pity But it never lasts for long,
No it never lasts for long, and though you hope it might
It never lasts for long, but at least it lasts all night
It lasts all night Last all night. Lasts all night,
Lasts all night At least it lasts all night
You count on me for comfort You count on kindness too
But I don’t count on anything For very long with you,
No It never lasts for long, and though I hoped it might
It never lasts for long, but at least it lasts all night
Last all night, Lasts all night, Lasts all night
Words and music by james lee stanley, @2009 the real james lee stanley music, sesac
Any Other Way
I was talking to a scarecrow
We were standing in an endless field of cornrows
And he told me we must all dream
If we don’t dream, what is heaven for?
It’s a wonder, it’s a mystery
And I knew if from the moment that you kissed me
You’re my angel, my desire
And I couldn’t love you any other way
Any other way, any other way
No I couldn’t love you any other way
Like a candle, one dark candle
In the center of a room that’s bright and empty
How you tempt me, it’s a scandal
And I couldn’t love you any other way
I was talking to a scarecrow
We were standing in an endless field of cornrows
And he told me, yes he told me
That I couldn’t love you any other way
Words and music by james lee stanley @2014 the real james lee stanley music, sesac March 2nd, 2012
The Twinkle In Your Eye
The first time I heard you laugh my heart just skipped a beat
I think I knew for certain then that we were bound to meet
I crossed the room to find you and I’ve never lost the rush
I feel each time you smile at me, I feel each time we touch
There‘s a twinkle in your eye each time you look at me
A twinkle in your eye and I always feel such joy to see
The twinkle in your eye when you look at me
We had our ups and downs for sure with all that we’ve been thru
I would not be the man I am today if not for you
And when I lost my own belief, you still had faith in me
Now every day I’m living for the moment I might see…
The a twinkle in your eye each time you look at me
The twinkle in your eye I always feel such joy to see
The twinkle in your eye when you look at me
Can’t say when things began to change. It happened all so slow
Though questions cloud your starry eyes, There’s one thing I still know.
You’ve always been there for me, now I won’t let you down
And though you can’t remember me,… I’ll always be around
For the twinkle in your eye each time you looked at me
The twinkle in your eye (I always felt such joy to see)
The twinkle in your eye, (I still look to see)
The twinkle in your eye, (in my heart there’ll always be)
The twinkle in your eye …when you looked at me
Words and music by james lee Stanley, @2012 THE REAL JAMES LEE STANLEY MUSIC, feb 25 2012, Memphis, TN, Folk alliance song challenge given the phrase, humor in your eye
Lullabye for Chloe
Outside the window the pine trees are covered with snow
Inside there’s wood on the fire, The bedroom’s aglow
Here we’re safe and warm Here we’re safe and warm
Head to the pillow, now Say your goodbyes to the day
Here comes the sandman, He’ll guide you as you drift away
Hush now little one, Here we’re safe and warm
I’m here if you need me, Don’t worry, now just close your eyes,
You’re all tucked in now, Safe as the stars in the skies
hmmmmmmmm
Hush now my little one, Soon it will be a new day
The Sandman is here, He’ll guide you as you drift away
Here we’re safe and warm Here we’re safe and warm
words and music by james lee stanley @2013 the real james lee stanley music, sesac Chicago, February 17 2013 for john and patti’s first grandchild