Vagus the Wandering Nerve (XX Edition)

Sugartank

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

A poem
Is a scream
That lasts

I don’t need
Condescension
Enemies
Not to mention
Pity
But if you come around
Soon
I’ll be in my room

In my room…

Nothing
Becomes everything
Big Bang Theory
Is true
Spring is sprung
All over
Seen her clovers
And I owe it to you (thanks!)
Thanks,
for my Sugartank

Every ounce
I got I gave you
When I got it from
Someplace else
Kinetic Law
You’d direct it back at me
And I sat here
Waiting for my
Big break

Let me go
Or let me in...

(My room, My room...)

I don’t need
Condescension
Enemies
Not to mention
Pity
But if you come around
Soon
I’ll be in my room...

Nothing
Becomes everything
Big Bang Theory
Is true (it's true!)
Spring is sprung
All over
Seen her clovers
And I owe it to you (thanks!)
Thanks,
for my Sugartank

Every ounce
I got I gave you
When I got it from
Someplace else
Kinetic Law
You’d direct it back at me
And I sat here

Waiting for my
Big break!

Let me go
Or let me in...

Let me go...
I’ll let you win...

Yeah, and I’ll be in my room
In my room...
My room...

A scream
Is a poem
That lasts!

The Wandering Nerve

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

First knew it was
Somethin’
The Second Nothing
Happened

Had a hunch
It was gonna be
Special
So, I kept moving
Right along

And that’s when
Claire inherited
Timmy’s heart
And a taste
That could be traced
From his tongue
All the way
To her gut brain

In case
You’re wondering
I’m wanderin’

In case
You’re wondering
I’m wandering

If you find yourself
In the mood
I am
Every One
You need

I am
The Numbness
Oh!

Ankh

(Luckett / McVeigh)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

If
I picture you
Everyday
See you
Everywhere
Symptoms,
Not the cause

And
Watch my monkey,
He shines
He’s the lovin’ kind
Bound
To break
The binds
That hold
The Shape
Of our escape
To see
Your face
It keeps me
Awake

I’ll see you
On the other side…

And
Now he’s got
The cure
It gives me
Faith

That I’ll see you
On the other side
I’ll see you
On the other side…

Short Circuit Jackassets

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

Forgive me,
Please
I just want you
To give me
A piece (peace)

I’ve been wonderin’
If you could
Arrange
I just need some
I want some

Change

We don’t have to fight (You’re an asset)
We don’t have all night (I’m an asset)
You can have
The rights (They’re an asset)
Just let me have
Tonight

You keep
The moon
But frame
The sky
So I’ll have
Nothin’
‘cept for
The Change
To remember you by

You can keep
The ring (It’s an asset)
Whatever else
This Hell
Would bring
I never wanted
Anything (Jack the assets)
But such
A simple thing
I want your

Money
Can’t buy you
Happiness
But it sure can make
Misery
More (A lot more!)
Comfortable
Convertible
Affordable
Comfortable

We skated around it
So, we never found it
Thought we were
Grounded
’Til we heard
The Sound

Zero Hero

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

Save me, save me,
Save me, save me - Ah!

Save me! Save me! Save me!
My hands
Are tied, you see
And I’m trapped
On the track
And this
Train of thought
Won’t stop
For me

Save me! Save me! Save me!
A familiar enemy
I don’t know
What it’s got
But I know
What it’s not
And what has gotten into me

I’m gonna lose
That Zero
And I’m gonna
Find me
A Hero
I’m gonna
Break
The Curse
I’ll save
The Universe

Inside of me
A side of me - Inside me
A side of me - Inside me
Inside of me
A side of me
Inside

Let it go
Let it out
Shout it out
My hands
Are tied, you see?
But I find it’s all
In the mind
And I’m the kind
That has to be

It’s no wonder,
Nothing super ‘bout me
I’ve yet to learn
How to fly (but don’t sweat!)
You can forget
The Invisible Jet
‘Cause I won’t even
Have to try

I’m gonna lose
That Zero
And I’m gonna
Find me
A Hero
I’m gonna
Break
The Curse
I’ll save
The Universe

Inside of me
A side of me - Inside me
A side of me - Inside me
Inside of me
A side of me
Inside

I’ll save the Earth
From all of the Enemies
I’ll save the Universe
From me

A side of me, it’s inside of me
It’s inside of me
A side of me is inside of me
A side of me is inside of me

I am the last real Hero
On the plus side
No more Zero
I’m gonna be
The One
To save the Universe

Inside of you
A side of you
Inside!

Geek and The Greek

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

Necessity
Is the Mother of
Intervention
Deus Ex Machina

No choice left (right!)
But an intermission
Deus Ex Machina

You sent
A man
Then a band
From a miracle hand
Euripides, you covered me
With three chords
And the truth
(It was harmonious…)

Oh, it nearly was
Rhetorical
But ended quite historical
I was hysterical
My heart was broke
And then you spoke to me
Through technology, oh

Love and music
In the Parthenon
Brought upon
By the mercy of
The fabulous Fates
Those little deities
Used to say to me,
“Ha! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!”

But now,
There’s a resolution
And I don’t know if I
Believe in
Forever

But right now
I think I’m
In Heaven
Right now...

Forever…

Right now,
We’ve found
We’re in Heaven

The Hand of Fate
Came from a machine
My love
Came from a machine

(That’s the story of
how my love)
Came from a machine
My love
Came from a machine

(What a hand! What a hand!
What a miracle hand!)
Came from a machine
(What a miracle machine!)

Hide and Seek

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

There goes that look, again
Did I blow your mind, again?
Did I say somethin’ wrong, again?
Sorry if I do
Offend or harm

You never
Ask me how I feel
When the lights are dim
Tonight and ‘morrow
Feel like shit
I’m always ‘it’
Too proud to

Hide my face
‘Cause I know
They’re gonna tag me
Seek a place
Where they can’t ever
Drag me down
In disgrace
Gonna give you all
A little peek
How we destroy
The weak
When we Hide and Seek

Sally

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

So you don’t believe in miracles
And good Faith?
Well, have I got
A little story for you

It’s the kind of tale
Where there really is
No ending
Unless you
Let your foolish heart
Stay blue
When I feel the need
For a little inspiration
I just open up my heart
And let the moment
Take me away

Sally works a florist job
From 9 to 5
To feed the five mouths
Sitting at her table
Daddy Smith
Had passed away
Five years ago
But the children know
To help her when they’re able

To keep their dearest mother
From insanity
When humanity eggs her on
The children vow
To better lives
To make her proud
Hey Danny, Michael, Little Ray,
Christopher and Desiree,
I know Sally
Will never stray
Far from your hearts

She also took a job
Down at the factory
They pick her flowers
For each hour
Overtime

Whoa. Woe.

Look in Mother’s baby blues
Hiding what she’s going through (Woe…)
Works her fingers to the bone
Just to make a house
A home (Woe…)
Never once heard her complain
Sure she’ll take it
To the grave
(Woe…)

Sally works a factory job
From 5 to 9
And on odd days,
Part-time, cleaning at the stable
Only break she takes
Is breaking bread
And so
All the children know
To help her when they’re able

Sally works a florist job
From 9 to 5
As the years go by
Five blossoms
At her table
Set a place
And yet a vase
Of mums for Mum
Watch her blush
As they gush,
“She’s legs like Betty Grable!”

She never tells
She hides it well
And, still, they feel
That her pain is real
They can see (they can see)
Every single one of them
Has Daddy’s eyes

“Oh tell me, Sally,
Tell me true
Why can’t we have
Blues
Like youse?
Someday,
We’ll take after you...
And give you a break.”

Jack Tripper

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

We raced
To California
We heard
They’ve got some sun
Whether or not it’s true
We’ll find the weather’s
Good enough
To relax

Nonstop
To California
California, here we come…

Forget
How hard
We had fallen
Last Fall
And the Winter
Blizzard

Ah, the Summer…
Ah, the Summer
Spring into
Summer
Forget
The Fall

(I’m here in California)

Out here
In California
Wrapped
In a blanket
Of sun
Doubling as
A life preserver
In case we break off
In the ocean

Bar None

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

Standing at the end
Of a line that’s much too long
You weren’t on
The List
You were frisked
But you insist
It’s because they wanted
To touch you?

Sure, cowboy, sure!

Smug,
You hold the pose
Composing things that are not true
The Academy
Thinks bad of me
For actin’ like I care about you
You’ve got your
Cool 15,
Meaning only one thing’s true
If you’re so famous,
How come I never heard of you?

Sitting at the end
Of a twisted plastic bar
Where, if you’re hangin’ out,
I guess it means that
You’re a Star
But, if you’re so famous,
How come I never heard of you?
Your record’s “#1”
And, still, you’ve nothing better to do

Than bragging ‘bout
SAG vouchers
In a bar
That’s much too loud
And you’re all asking me
The same question,
So, I’ll answer this once,
For the whole crowd:

I am a
Super Thespian
Reside in California
Moved out to L.A.
From a town in the Midwest
And I’m the best
At what I do
Nothin’ —
Ain’t it rare?
‘Cause I’m a
Super Thespian
Actin’ like I care about you

And out come the vultures
And wolves!
Howl!

Right!

Out come the vultures
and wolves…

Super
Tres bien
Reside in California
Moved out to L.A.
From a town in the Midwest
And I’m the best
At what I do
Nothin’ —
Ain’t it rare?
‘Cause I’m a
Super Thespian
Actin’ like I care about
You

Lazy liars
Phase me none
You lazy liars
Phase me none
You crazy liars
Can’t make me
Run from
Bar None

Standing at the end
Of a line
That's much too long
You weren’t on the list
You were pissed
But I insist, yeah,
This is the place
Where everybody knows
You’re lame

Standing at the end
Of a bar
That’s much too loud
Where, if you’re hangin’ out,
I guess it means that
You’re a Star

But,
If you’re so famous,
How come I never heard of you?
If you’re so famous,
How come I never heard of you?

I Spit On Your Groove

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

Scratching
The surface
Skipping
Getting no place
I’m a collection
Of Nostalgia
To be replaced
By the next wave

Well, you wear me down
Then throw me out
What goes around
Comes around
I can see right up
Your ragged sleeve
What goes around
Comes around

When the meltdown comes
It won’t be me
What goes around
Comes around
Don’t it burn you
When the tables turn?
What goes around
Comes around

Goodbye,
Long play
Hell, lo fidelity
So sad,
You’ll always be
In the discount bin

I’m right!
Upright!
You know I’m right
Why do you have to be
Uptight?
Marked down?
Shallow?

I’m not giving you
Aural pleasure,
Ever
Why do you have to be
Marked down?
Shallow?

Never liked
The sound of it,
Anyway…

The Song I Never Wrote

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

No words
No notes to be read
Kept it to myself, instead

Should I tell her
What goes on in the cellar?
Should I tell her
Or will it kill her…
And me?

All I want is a friend
All I want is a friend
Tell me, where are my friends?
All I need is a friend
And this old guitar

‘Cause she don’t talk back
Or criticize
Don’t care what lurks
Behind these eyes

When I’m
Nowhere
And every minute
Seems to be a spare
When pride
Has got the best of me
I don’t even
Let her speak for me

All I want is a friend
All I want is a friend
Tell me, where are my friends?
All I need is a friend
And this old guitar

Secrets
Never show in this place
I keep ‘em in
A cold, dark
Safe
Where I know
They won’t be displayed

But what would happen
If I chose to let you in?
Maybe you sing the same songs
Songs I never write

Hey, and all I’ve been trying to say…

(All I wanted) Hey, all I want is a friend
(All I wanted) All I wanted, a friend
(Tell me where are) Tell me, where are my friends?
(All I needed) All I need is a friend
All I wanted) Hey, all I want is a friend
(All I wanted) All I wanted, a friend
(Tell me where are) Tell me, where are my friends?
(All I needed)

All I need is a friend
And this old guitar

Massokiss

(Luckett)
Published by Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP)

Have a different expression
Every
Daze
But I haven’t found one
For today

They say to
“Get over it”
But I’m so far
Under it
They gave me an application
When I’ve clearly quit

I’m so tired
But I can’t lay down
‘Cause if I do
Well, I may
Never get up again

You wanna smack
That monkey
Off my back
You wanna be The One
To save me
You wanna break
That monkey’s little neck
But there is no escape
If I can’t save myself

I know I shouldn’t say this
But I can’t help myself

Under the sand
I hide
And count the grains
Timing the tide
That will carry me away

With all of the wish-wash
In my head
Making me wish
That I was
Lead
Sink to the bottom
With my impurities

Maybe you’ll recover
The wreckage
When I
Dive
‘Cause I go any lower
I’ll never come up
For arrogance

You wanna crack
That monkey on the head
Because it said to, “save yourself”
And, coming straight from me,
This is my gift to you
I swear,
There’s nothing else
That I would rather see

You don’t have to thank me
You can just spank me
‘Cause I’ve been bad
And I don’t know
How to save
Don’t have
Much to spend
But I do what I can
And I can’t even
Save myself

Save yourself
Don’t you worry about me
Find a cave, a haven
For yourself
Don’t you worry about me
And don’t be so (Don’t, please)
Afraid of the dark
Be brave, for yourself
Don’t you worry about
Zero

Nothing to try that hasn’t been tried
Nothing to say that hasn’t been said
Nothing to feel that hasn’t been felt
Nothing to save that isn’t
Dead

Dive!

Mind over matter
Don’t matter today
Mind over matter
Won’t matter
Tonight
Mind over matter
Won’t matter tomorrow
If everything is
The matter

Have a different expression
For today
Stretched up my mouth
At the corners —
It feels okay

Can’t “do what you can”
With nowhere to begin
The least I could do was
Let you in
‘Cause you did what you could
And that meant everything

Sometimes, I think
I could never be
Even half of the wonder
That you are to me, yeah

I never thought
That monkey
Could be caught
And you were
The One
Who proved me wrong
You said
That all you wanted was a kiss
You pouted out
Those lips
And I could not resist…

I couldn’t help myself

Didn’t wanna smile
(But I couldn’t help myself)
Didn’t wanna fall in love
(But I couldn’t help myself)
Didn’t wanna say
(I couldn’t help myself)
Those three little words
(But I couldn’t help myself)
Yeah, those three little words…

Can’t. Help. Myself.