May 5, 2007
Film School
When you hear the song that’s calling, telling you to get in line
Listen to your friends and find it’s all a waste of time
So you try to see some independent thought but somehow it feels the same
And you work so hard in film school
So you try to write a screenplay that will surely be accepted
But when there’s no cute girl or guy then it’s sure to be ignored
So you shop it independent but they want you to be special
So you put the cop in drag
Have you learned these rules of film school?
And they’ll give you a diploma that evaluates experience
While some pubescent guy gets a contract making horror films
You’re in your apartment trying not to realize
You will never have control but you can always go to film school
So you want to make a million dollars go and be a movie star
Don’t act smart and be a paperback writer unless you want to starve
And you try so hard just to let the actors know that they’re not the talented ones
They should go right back to film school
They can go right back to film school
Rebel Without A Clue
Tell me just who I am
No more a little boy than I am a man
And I want to hold you for whomever you are
In a movie with stars
You tidy up my room, I pull your hairdo down
You tuck my shirt coat in, I’m sticking out my tongue
Don’t wear my uniform
For now the truth is shown
I’m a rebel without a clue
Show me such a beautiful life
I’ll do my homework, you’ll be my wife
Taking two steps forward with nothing to lose
But your basketball shoes
Sometimes I make mistakes, Sometimes I take a miss
Maybe I’m talented at being ludicrous
But if I act half good
We’ll move to Hollywood
For a rebel without a clue
Tell me just who I am
No more a little boy than I am a man
And I want to hold you for whomever you are in a movie with stars
Mess That I Am
All summer time I thought I had you
But I never knew what was in store
Would you be kind or nice or simply sugar sweet to my bore?
Now I hardly see myself without you
Such a simple smile as I digress
You take the worst in me and keep it bottled up with your best
Now all the words I say to you
Can never say what you mean to me
Getting on with my life despite the mess that I am
And all the words I write to you
Cannot convey what you are to me
Getting on with my life despite the mess that I am
I don’t really know what I should write here
But I’ve got no time to run it round
Still there’s some truth in this for one must run amiss to be found
Funny how a thought could always move you
Funny how I try to play guitar
I could say anything in hopes my words could bring you the stars
Now all the songs I sing to you
Cannot convey what you are to me
Getting on with my life despite the mess that I am
And all the hopes I bring to you
Can never say what you mean to me
Getting on with my life despite the mess that I am
Isabelle
So I watched that artsy film again
The one they say is your masterpiece
But I’ll believe it was the one before that
When you walked right by that lonely man
Well, you know they called you gifted
Although your last film was a flop
Isabelle
All that he needed there was you
And now he’s got a love for two
Tell me what were you thinking?
Tell me what were you thinking?
Once you were the star of festivals
But that’s a passion for the younger set
There is some beauty in a simple life
But you must make sure that they don’t forget
Well you know they called you gifted
Although your last film was a flop
Isabelle
All that he needed there was you
And now you’ve got a love for two
Tell me what were you thinking?
I’ll admit it’s somewhat sad
To have a crush on movie stars I only see on movie screens
But what’s the harm in that?
Wasn’t it the same for all our heroes
Who didn’t believe it ’til they’d seen it
Well you know they called you gifted
Though your last film was a flop
Isabelle
All that he needed there was you
And now you’ve got a love for two
Tell me what were you thinking?
Cine~matica
You want them to respond
You make that face and send it all around
Recite those lies
There’s no real hurt like a missed opportunity
I feel that girl looking over me
Now she starts to smile:
“Do you want to fill your eyes tonight with some cinematica and memorize all my lines?”
Tell me what to write
I’ll buy the rights on Tuesday – Saturday we’ll hire your best friend
To act so tough like kids who play pretend
It’ll be like an Indonesian Comedy
Never sure where this one starts or ends
It’s all just the work of an editor
I guess that’s what I meant
Let’s see this actress jump the gun
I don’t want to sort it out
I don’t quite know what to make of this
She’s got her fingerprints all over every negative of film, cinematica has met her match tonight
Oh, cinematica can memorize these lines
Shalom Harlow
She lives in old New York
He lives across the bridge
She takes a photograph
He never calls
What is this mistake they make?
They didn’t understand
He buys her cigarettes
She goes to sleep
Shalom Harlow, reading my letter
“Your parents are hippies; that’s all I know”
All of this story is made out of nothing
I don’t even know you and I never will
You sit upon that chair
Looking like a freshman queen
Posing with a bridal gown
I’ll bet it’s clean
I had a photograph
Where you put a sweater on
My girlfriend didn’t like that one
She tore it down
(chorus)
But I wanted you to know that you’re special
No matter what the network thinks of you
Shalom Harlow
Shalom Harlow
Shalom Harlow
(chorus)
Sometimes I wonder if you’re as timid as they say
Playing chords on your guitar hoping for a holiday
Don’t you get sick of seeing you posted on the billboards here
Maybe there’s a reason why other girls settle down
Someone Else’s Scene
So it’s a game as we contemplate the actor
Is he dashing as can be?
Now he’s alone with the complicated actress
Better her than you or me
Open up your eyes, open up your eyes
Realize the lie, surprise, surprise
What do we share with this young pair in someone else’s scene?
Some other day I could tolerate the acting of a witness coming clean
Now I just notice how a guest obeys the rules of the host celebrity?
Open up your eyes, open up your eyes
Realize the lies we fantasize
It’s up to you if you’ll be fooled by someone else’s scene?
“And if I say I’m sorry
I’ll make this pain your pleasure
I never thought I knew love
Till I lie down beside you…
And now she’s crying for her
I wonder what I’m watching
Don’t you think there’s more?
So there’s a time when I spent my evenings reading or just playing my guitar
Or I prefer just to watch some tired movie ’til I’m dazzled by the stars
How can I refrain when everything’s the same
Still I know my brain is mesmerized
I do ask why we waste our time on someone else’s scene?
“And if I say I’m sorry
I’ll make this pain your pleasure
I never thought I knew love ’til I lay down beside you…
and now she’s crying with her
I wonder what I’m missing
Don’t you think there’s more?
Not That Kind Of Man
Do you want me angry when I’ve lost my temper?
Do you want me to fight about the lies you told?
Like Parker Posey in that movie we saw last night
Do you want me crazy with the prime time murder?
Do you want me drinking when I’ve gone too far?
Like Adolf Hitler I’m a solitary man, darling
But I’ll always understand I love you
I could be most anything that I’ve got to prove
For the rest of my life
I will never wonder why
You will always be my guide
Cause I’m not that kind of man
So no matter what I do
I will never be untrue
Cause I’m not that kind of man
Could I be singer in a peer’s recital
Could I be the one who makes the critics fawn
Like some old writer whose got everything down, this time
Would you want me able to meet every order?
Would you want me ready to say anything?
If was simple I’d read rock and roll magazines, darling
Could I complicate these lines with passion?
Like a young impressive girl in some dumb film?
For the rest of my life
I will never wonder why
You will always be my guide
Cause I’m not that kind of man
So no matter what I do
I will never be untrue
Cause I’m not that kind of man
Indie Girl
She’s an independent movie star
Never wanted to be mislabeled by the press
What a wonderful way to lead a life, oh
Indie Girl, it’s all up to you
Once in character she tested it well
And her credit card was lent to the director
Or she would have been stranded with the crew
Indie Girl
What’s a movie star supposed to do?
She holds her head up high
So pathetic it’s poetic
Let her be
It’s her fifty minutes in the sun
Tell the telephone she wants a private call
It’s much easier to take it as you are
At a festival her name in every film, oh
Indie Girl
What’s a movie star supposed to do?
She holds her head up high
So pathetic it’s poetic
Let her be
It’s her fifty minutes in the sun
Indie Girl
Do You?
She gets into that car, looking for her name
Watch her fall apart, though she’s feeling vain
Never mind that dress, it’s a passion kiss
I believe it’s gin with a rummy twist
Do you, do you think he’ll do?
Do you, I can do without
Do you, want to scream and shout
Do you, Do you?
I never wanted much but thought I knew you
You were everything, still I had to choose
Now you’re in New York with your running shoes
With some other guy, well I always lose
(chorus)
Do You?
Well there was this time when I had it all
Guess that only leaves someplace else to fall
There is something wrong with the rights I choose
I thought it was earned, thought I paid my dues
So I saw this film where nothing meant that much
And It made me sad cause I miss your touch
Still it was so strange cause the plot was so bad
Guess that’s who you are, what I never had
(chorus)