Messes of Men / Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste - Live

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Aaron Weiss] "I do not exist," We faithfully insist Sailing in our separate ships, and from each tiny caravel Tiring of trying There's a necessary dying Like the horseshoe crab in its proper season sheds its shell Such distance from our friends Like a scratch across a lens Made everything look wrong from anywhere we stood And our paper blew away Before we'd left the bay So half-blind we wrote these songs on sheets of salty wood [Verse 2: Aaron Weiss] Caught me making eyes At thе other boatmen's wives Hеard me laughing louder at the jokes told by their daughters I'd set my course for land You well understand It takes a steady hand to navigate adulterous waters The propeller's spinning blades Held acquaintance with the waves There's mistakes I've made no rowing could outrun Cloth low on the mast I say I've got no past I'm nonetheless the librarian and secretary's son Tarnish on my brass Mildew on my glass I'd never want someone so crass as to want someone like me But a few leagues off the shore I bit a flashing lure And I assure you, it was not what I expected it to be And I still taste its kiss That dull hook in my lip Is a memory as useless as a rod without a reel To an anchor ever-dropped Seasick-yet-still-docked Captain spotted napping with his first mate at the wheel Floating forgetfully along No need to be strong We keep our confessions long and when we pray we keep it short I drank a thimbleful of fire I'm not ever going back Oh, my God! [Verse 3: Aaron Weiss] "I do not exist," We faithfully insist While watching sink the heavy ship of everything we knew And if ever you come near I'll hold up high a mirror Lord, I could never show you anything as beautiful as You [Interlude: Josh Scogin] Check, check You got me? Fashion! [Verse 4: Aaron Weiss, Josh Scogin] He laid emeralds in her eyes (fashion) Oh, but I'd already tied (fashion) A bracelet made of gold and scarlet (fashion) Thread around her wrist (fashion) And everything was wrong (fashion) So we sang sentimental songs (fashion) Oh, how seldom we belong (fashion) But how elegant our kiss (fashion) And we painted in crooked lines (fashion) But we danced in perfect time (fashion) To a love so much refined (fashion) We know not what it is So like a dullen wine we pour (fashion) Into a grief we've known before (fashion) But never quite like this (fashion) Never quite like this! (fashion) All I know now is regret (fashion) She follows like a silhouette (fashion) On the cobblestone behind me (fashion) She has nothing left to say (fashion) Except to innocently ask (fashion) Her voice delicate as glass (fashion) "Do you see me when we pass?" (fashion) But I- I continue on my way (fashion) [Spoken Outro] Thank you Rickie says catch my breath At this age, we'll be here 15 minutes waiting for that to happen