decent man

I can feel the liquor sitting heavy in my chest
tossing them back like I do best
at the end of the bar in a cloud of smoke
burning my throat and trying to choke
passing the time with all the boys
and all the girls are being coy

for all my bad intentions,
I swear I'm a decent man
please stay with me tonight
and forget all that you can
i'll tuck you in
and kiss your lips
and rest my hand upon your hips
realizing this is where I want to be
the most frightening thing to come to me

we'll make all the promises
that we've always made
but this time is different
we're going to see it through
for the price that we've paid
I must apologize to you

I never wanted things to end,
not the way they did
with all my rage and all the pain
the walking home in the rain
all I have left to say is
I'm sorry

sages and seers

nothing can hide my transgressions
no one could see the man i would become
for these things are secret
if released, i would come undone

my father was a snake handler
my mother was a gypsy
i was bred for nothing
ill fate, come to get me

mind filled with cerebral thoughts
can't escape the paradox

salvation

we're the young ones, the unloved ones
wide eyed and guilty
we're not as we appear
look and you will find
everything to lose, nothing to fear

our stomachs are growling
and we'll soon turn on you
our faces are weathered
from singing the blues

raised on morals long since lost
never looking back on those we've crossed
sleeping with demons night after night
too tired and weary to put up a fight

i ask no forgiveness
i need no salvation

poison

raise our glasses
raise our hopes
three cheers to us
propose a toast
say all the things we don't mean
forget all the things that come between

fade to black
take it all back
confess my sins
do it again

empty our glasses
lose our hopes
turn our backs
pull the ropes
scream and scream all in vain
poison myself to forget the pain

confess my sins
do it again

faithless

these hands aren't fit for prayer
thanks to all they've done
they've committed every sin under the sun
i've found no blessings
only hell and turmoil

i've never been overcome by anything
but apathy and indifference
no words escape seeking forgiveness

no remorse, no lament
hellbound and smiling
up all night with demons to fight
enemy of mankind

circles

the eyes have it
witnessing their fair share
of all the horrors
that i call my own
taking it in
casting judgement on me
heavy breath
heads hung low
bestow my fate upon me

they turn their backs
cold shoulders facing me
my eyes don't have it
the white light expanding
a deep voice booming
i've been denied

row the river
take me home
here i'm welcome
i've ran this circle nine times over

now raise your glasses
lock the doors
we're never leaving

if you stutter, don't speak

weakness will not be tolerated
it's only a dead end path
you've got to grow up now, son
it's gonna be a long one

a lifetime of disgust
through the eyes of a child
safe among the shadows
below the vultures, among the snakes
beside the devil himself

you'll bear the brunt of my fists
so long as they grace my arms
you'll know hatred
so long as i have a tongue

beware of what i'm capable of
no rest will find me
this i can promise