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LYRICS

Behind The Eight Ball by Jim Malloy

All songs copyright Jim Malloy 2023

Obsession

I wake up every morning 

There's never any warning            

when I think of you (its true)

 

Every second every minute every moment

I am haunted by the of thought you

 

Too many times I've tried so hard

to find a way to get you off my mind   

 

But there is nothing I can do

because you're running on a loop    

that's playing all the time               

And I will be alright

If I see you tonight

You'll be in my dreams all night

When I turn out the light 

Obsession, Obsession, Obsession

 

So the day is kind of crazy

and I know I'm being lazy

not to hit you up                          

 

But my cell has gone to hell

and I've promised not to tell you

any part of how I felt  

 

So I know the one and only truth

is that I'm really just shit out of luck

 

Cause there's only me

to answer for the crime of utter madness

If I cry for help

And I will be alright

If I see you tonight

You'll be in my dreams all night

When I turn out the light

Obsession, Obsession, Obsession

Who Knew (Max's Lament)

Who knew it would come to this

She warned me not to look

But she had news that I can't resist

She's such an open book

Who knew it would feel like this

She told me I should go                  

She's been scarred by my history      

And now she's gone

When the movie ends

Don't the good guys win

All I wanted was

to be the only one in

Her life  - again

Who knew it would take a kiss         

Crossed a line I shouldn't cross         

But she had clues that I can't resists

And now I've lost

Who knew it would feel like this

Sinners & Saints

She's a late night maker

Who's a taker of the ancient

From a basement

 

He braves a craving

For a lady with an accent

Making content

Always well meant

He wouldn't mind giving her the time

Come have some fun                      

Like the hot hot sun   

It's fact fact fact fact

We could be sinners                       

We could be saints

We can make a mystery and          

Disappear without a trace 

      

Watch out for the sad dogs

Lying on the sidewalk

City sidewalks

Begging bones                         

The world churns as the herds

Are burning all the pages 

Of the ages

In the middle of the road

 

See the man

He's a sadist serving papers

To his neighbors

He's a hater          

A door breaker

 

There's a red stain

Forming on the children in the schoolyard

They are target

For the market

It's not a head start

What a shame

What a shame

What a shame

What a shame

 

We can be lovers   

We can be friends

We can weave our dreams together     

Live forever and again       

There's a gray train

Leaving from the comfort of the station

The seats are vacant

The light is fading          

No one's waving                      

 

Like a fly on the window

Watching nature from the inside

It's a short life

It's short short short short

Short life                 

We could be sinners                       

We could be saints                                  

We can make a mystery and               

Disappear without a trace        

 

We could be famous

Or we could be lame

It wouldn't matter one bit at all           

We can manage just the same

 

We can be lovers   

We can be friends

We can weave our dreams together      

Live forever until the end       

 

Goodbye

Yeah, it's time for a change

I'm so over you                             

You say you're not to blame

So what else is new

 

So, it's goodbye to you

Goodbye to you

Time for you to be gone

It's long overdue

 

Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye to you       

Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye to you

I was a fool

I bought what you sold           

You bent all the rules                    

It's time to reap what you sew     

 

I don't care what you think

I don't care what you do

I don't care what you say

Because it's never the truth

So...

Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye to you       

Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye to you

Do what you want                                 

It's not what I need

When you're down on your luck

Don't come looking for me

Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye to you

Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye to you

Midnight Rain

Somebody help me

I need a place to hide

I been hooked by a dangerous look

And the splash of a liquid smile

 

Can't find my fingers

Can't feel my toes

Her body moves to a rhythm and blues

That the good girls will never know

She can steal the sunlight

Turn a savage night insane

But I would give up walking

To see her dancing

In the midnight rain

She's loves the motion

She's got the ride

She can bend any man in two

With a sideways look of her eye

Can't stand to close

She can smell desire

She can take any time or place

And turn into something wild

She can steal the sunlight

Turn a savage night insane

But I would give up walking

To see her dancing

In the midnight rain

 

The girl's a vixen

She's a voodoo child

You can see by the pins in me

She's been playing on other side

 

I don't believe in magic

Can't trust the law

But I believe she was meant to be

The best thing I ever saw

Private Girl

She has eyes like onyx
And a soul like cultured pearl
You never hear her coming           

She's a private girl

She's as skinny as a paper clip

Twisted just the same

Though she'll never let it slip

And if you ask her

She'll say you're being weird        

Then whisper                  

Things are not as they appear

                                               

You never hear her coming          

She's a private girl

She always leaves me wondering     

About her quiet world                     

 

She’s not the type for typing 

Code is all she knows 

She binges hot pot and matcha

Because it makes her feel at home 

 

She's as subtle as a battleship

Likes her life the same

No matter who she's with

 

She often travels                            

And likes to take her time         

Always buys the local stuff        

Whatever she can find                    

You never hear her coming

She lives in a different world

And the way she's always blushing   

She's a private girl 

I never saw her coming

She's a private girl

She was always up to something

That really rocked my world           

I never saw it coming

Now she's gone

In the life that she was leading I guess she didn't need me

In her a private world

The Wrong Guy

It’s all right

It’s hardly a trend

Sometimes a straight line will bend

                                            

And it’s ok

She can’t even cry

She said he said “I’ll try”

She said, next time “It’s goodbye”

She knows it’s just spin

When he says with a grin

“Let’s not fight”

 

She's doing hard time

With the wrong guy

In the big house

By the riverside                     

But I can't help her 

Break the chains and fly                           

It's all good                                        

But never in fun

The first time                                 

A stop sign is run                                 

But its okay 

He won't even try try                         

She said he said "we're fine"

And she said that he's dead inside        

And he knows its just spin                    

When she says with a grin

I'm alright                                           

And she needs a dream

And she needs a plan

She's got to find a way to break free

But I can't be the one

                                         

She's doing hard time

With the wrong guy

In the big house

By the riverside         

But I can't help her 

Break the chains and fly          

 

Because I'm the guy         

Thursday 8am

IWe sit alone in this waiting room

Another Thursday, 8 a.m.  

I fumble with my cough drops

She sneezes (and) wipes her hand

And the rain is like a stranger

Rapping hard on the window pane

And I sense that I'm in danger           

Of losing faith again

                          

She looks the same again this week

Perfect skin and a matching scarf 

This girl could be a movie star 

Leading men and throbbing hearts    

And the rain is getting louder 

As she flips through her magazine  

(And) I guess at things about her

And wonder what they mean

And she seems nice

And me, I need a sign

Its the myth of 15 minutes          

And I've got the time

I play at being a writer
As the severance pays the rent
But the words they flow too slowly
And the money's nearly spent

And while the storm forms around us
I wait for the muse to hit
Writing scene of loves and scoundrels
But the endings never fit


And she seems nice
And me, I need a sign
This gift of 15 minutes
And I'm wasting time  


And I bet her life is easy
And she takes her coffee sweet
And doubt she's ever lonely
Or hides behind her dreams


And the rain is like a stranger
Pressing hard on the window pain
And I know that I'm in danger
Again


And she seems nice
And me, I need a sign
Its been 15 minutes
And I'm out of time

Behind The Eight Ball

Here I go again                          

Right on cue

Trying to change the plan

Without a clue

                                         

For so many years                     

I've been back on my heels.

Hiding behind "maybe"                      

When "yes" could've been real   

                                              

Like yesterday

It's the same old story        

No matter what I say          

I never change

                                     

Another day older              

Another chance to bail               

Now I’m caught behind the eight ball  

Up against the rail              

Tried to run the table                              

Chasing the rain

Spent a whole lifetime                         Playing the game                             

You know the solids and stripes     

Never feel the slate         

But when the cue ball strikes 

It's always too late

For too many years

I've been back on my heels

Waiting for "someday"                   

When "today" was ideal             

 

Like yesterday

It's the same old story        

No matter what I say          

I never change                                     

Another year older

Another chance to bale  

Trapped behind the eight ball           

Up against the rail              

It only takes

One day

To finally say

Past ways                         

Have to change

 

No more illusion                             

See it through this time            

No more excuses

It's time to shine

 

It's a brand new day

It's not the same old story              

I'll find a way                        

This time I'll change                      

     

Another year older

It's time to break the trend

Sink the eight ball                   

And rack 'em up again                    

 

It's a brand new day

I'll rewrite the story           

I've got a lot to say

It's time to change

 

Another year older

I will prevail                        

Time to sink the eight ball         

And jump the rail                        

Dance With Me

I know you think I'm crazy

You see me up all night

These ghosts and apparitions     

Are demons in my life

                                            

I know it all seems hazy

There is no wrong or right

But maybe it's a battle line

One that's worth the fight

So dance with me

Come dance with me

Take my hand     

Take a chance on me

Take a chance 

Let's dance

This dream that I am chasing

Is a road I've got to take

Maybe I will reach the end

Or take it to the grave

 

The path that I am taking

Has a peak I've got to make  

Maybe I will reach the end     

Or take it to the grave

There is no rhyme or reason

I've got to take a stand

I'm not asking you to rescue me

I'm just asking for a chance

So dance with me

Come dance with me

Take my hand     

Take a chance on me

Take a chance 

Let's dance

Ghosts And Secrets

Sometimes

The world's not right

It broke her mother's heart

And a young girl's mind

The old man's ghosts and secrets

Got hammered every night

it's not right

It's not right

In time

She made a life

But some scars never heal       

Some anger never dies                   

 

As all those ghosts and secrets     

Cause the pain she tries to hide

It's not right

It's not right

And she's free tonight

And she's free tonight

And now                                          

The ends in sight                     

The pain is finally gone                  

She's found the light

 

And all her ghosts and secrets

Have vanished with her life

It's not right

But it's alright

 

And she's free tonight

And she's alright

 

And she's free tonight

And she's alright

She's An Angel

Maybe she's the one                 

Maybe everything they say is true        Some will tell you that it's not too late, so...     

                                          

It was a Friday night

Went to hear a local band

Or maybe two

Wasn't looking...then I saw her

                                              

Ooh ooh ooh ooh she's an angel

Ooh ooh ooh ooh she's a little shy            

ooh ooh ooh ooh - but so am I             

So, here's the thing

We were standing in a crowded room       

She was talking with a friend

Or maybe two

 

I was feeling good                              

The band was playing all the songs I knew

I asked her for a dance - or maybe two

Didn't want to miss the chance

Found a way to make her laugh

Didn't want the be the one

To leave alone that night            

Might have been my only chance

Asked her for another dance

Want to be the guy at her side

When she said goodbye

 

We had a perfect time, so

All I wanted was to be there (be there)

It was heaven

In her arms that night

    

I don't want to be the one

To leave this time alone tonight         

I don't want to be the one

To miss a chance to say goodnight    

I don't want to be the one

To turn away when it feels so right

 

I want to be the guy who's at her side

When she says goodbye

 

I don't want to be the one

To leave this time alone tonight

I don't want to be the one

To miss a chance to say goodnight

I don't want to be the one

To turn away when it feels so right

 

She's an angel

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