Oh mama, my father is dying Oh mama, my father is dying told me I was bound for hell clipped my wings and down he fell Oh mama, my father is dying Oh father, my brothers are dying Oh father, my brothers are dying they are drowning in their tears they've been fighting back for years Oh father, my brothers are dying Oh brothers, our sisters are dying Oh brothers, our sisters are dying caged and stripped them of their claws penned them up with hateful laws Oh brothers, our sisters are dying Oh sisters, our mother is dying Oh sisters, our mother is dying warm blood flows into cold ground all life's blood is in our hands Oh sisters, our mother is dying Oh lover, our child is crying Oh lover, our child is crying hear her wailing in the night while we lock our doors and hide Oh lover, our child is crying

In your awareness is a light it spins inside your thoughts all night it burns the candle at both ends dies down, lights up and starts again The journey is a sacrament each stumble is a dance step that brings you to the things you need shows you the way and when to leave Aware now Oh where will you go? Aware now oh where, do you know? it's a lot like dying dying is a lot like sleeping in Create the space your spirit needs and forge the blade that cuts you free draw up your plans and take the streets get out of bed and catch your dreams Aware now Oh where will you go? Aware now oh where, do you know? it's a lot like dying dying is it's a lot like sleeping in And if they say you don't belong tell them politely they are wrong and if they still say "No, it's true" tell them politely "No, fuck you" It's a lot like dying dying is it's a lot like dying dying is it's a lot like dying dying is it's a lot like sleeping in

There's a fire in your heart it gets brighter every day it's made of the things you thought it's made of all the things you say casting shadows on the wall and the wall is made of time and you have a light to shine There's a fire in your blood There's a fire in your gut and it keeps you up at night it remembers all you've lost it reminds you you will die so take your shadow for a walk do it just to see the view 'cause you can't out-think your thoughts and your shadow dies with you And you've got a light to shine there's a fire in your blood and you've got a light to shine So tell the friends you never had that you'll see them all some day it doesn't seem so bad when you look at it that way

As I walk the streets of Laredo as I walk the streets of this town looks like it's been hit by a tornado looks like it's halfway to torn down and the old edifice has been falling the skin underneath's raw and new and it's tougher than nails and it's ready to sail after waiting so long to break through I grew up with grandfather's wisdom but his mind wandered off like his youth now it's time to let go what they taught me to know it's time to go find my own truth Back home they're still singing praises to an obsolete, hollowed out shell the children are saying their graces Oh Lord, keep the secrets we're dying to tell I was raised up with grandmother's kindness but her kindness became her own cage so I'll take up the words since she forfeited hers and go march the streets that she paved Every new road leads to ruins even old gods turn new tricks does anyone know what we're doing Oh Lord, we keep trying to find one that fits I used to love the old westerns the gamblers and good guys the quick and the dead 'cause it brought me to mind of a sliver of time 'fore the bad guys were in my own head

Mama, I just shot a man I know you didn't want me to but he was coming after you I hope you understand Mama, now I'm never coming home I'll never sleep clear through the night I couldn't look you in the eyes after what I've done I know it's all the same to you it was the best that I could do but I couldn't save you Mama, it's easier this way there are no fences here to ride and I can sleep out every night I've no heart left to break but Mama, Mama it's so cold out here the road has blistered my poor feet and there is nothing left to eat and I am full of fear I know it's all the same to you it was the best that I could do but I couldn't save you no, I couldn't save you I know, I know how you hated I felt the weight there in your chest while you fed me from your breast oh I could taste it Mama, why did you let him in? I fixed the latch so many times but you'd get trapped inside your mind and take him back again I know it's all the same to you it was the best that I could do I couldn't save you from your fate couldn't keep you from the flames that you were drawn to oh I couldn't save you But Mama, you know he hurt me, too and so you don't get to decide if what I did was wrong or right it's what I had to do Mama, you said I was a sacrifice but I won't be the one to die no I'm not giving up my life this life you gave me so I'll be the one to save me only I can save me I can only save me

Hiding from yourself make believing like you're someone else but I see you and your issues are old news you wear your face like it's a mask paste feathers to your back you live in costumes and it's cost you you paint the set the stage pretend it's just a phase that you outgrew 'cause no one knew what broke you honey, what broke you? Just a slight of hand a hit that kicked when you were already down life comes at you fast you grew up quick with thick walls around your heart of glass just a play of the light a trick that tells you there's an ending in sight just a game stop hitting yourself stop hitting yourself stop hitting yourself Don't let them tell you that this is not your scene this is not your scene 'cause you're right on cue and you have always been you've always been the only one who knows your part by heart even in the dark you never miss your mark 'cause baby you're aimed for the stars

It's a lovely day for a funeral It's a lovely day for a parade the choir is singing, church bells are ringing 'cause ringing's all they ever have to say We're marching to the cemetery so these old bones can finally find peace we had to dig them up from the ground where they were buried 'cause their restless rattling made it hard to sleep So march on now, little soldiers marching after the war No side won, we're just all very wounded and we're tired, and we're hungry, and we're poor So burn up the books with the witches and the bridges Follow leads to no good end Don't go trying to swim across the river with that crown weighing down your head The Queens of Peace lead the procession while the princes hop their trains they're all in bars and counting possessions just for trying to find a respite from the rain And the children are all toting signs and putting us in time out we didn't do the math, now we're all getting grounded and we all need a change and a nap So march on now, little soldiers marching after the war no sides won, we're just all very wounded and we're tired and we wanna go home So hoist up your father's faded stories and burn down the effigy no fortune's sun is gonna shine upon you while you're rolling in your greed 'cede back the soil to the ones who truly love her though it's salted and stained with bitter blood the wheel of time has a nail in the tire and a thorn under the hood So burn off the books with the witches and the bridges so the flames can light your path don't go trying to damn that river with that cross hanging off your back March on now, little soldiers marching after the war no sides won, we're just all very wounded and we're tired, and we're hungry, and we're sore...

Hey, I see you there waiting Seeking permission Clearance to break the rules Oh you were always such a good child They just let you run wild They just didn't know what else to do You let your wings grow way too long You spent too much time in the sun You put your finest feathers on You paid the price dear You ventured out the broken door Slowly walked away from home They moved away while you were gone Are you alright, dear? You dare to love you risk your heart But it must break for you to start For you to move, for you to grow You can't stay right here There There's your permission You've passed the clearance Now you can break all the rules So now go, go on now smash them Into a thousand pieces Shred them to confetti 'Cause life's a party Life's a party Life's a party So learn to pace yourself Go on smash them Into a million pieces Turn them into glitter 'Cause life's a cabaret So let your wings grow way too long Put your brightest colors on Sing too loud on the sad songs You'll be alright, dear Hop the fence and make your fun Spend all day out in the sun No need to walk when you can run You'll be alright, dear

The I above the aerial view I see you do you see me?