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Wow, have not done this for a while [31 Oct 2004|11:56am] ~GRAVITY SUE~ Gravity Sue What's become of you Gravity sue Do I have to tell you again Two old men were walking walking down the road their boots were made of raw hide they carried a heavy load one of them was a robber the other was a cop One said to the other I think I'm gonna drop That's okay the first one said but I aint gonna stop I met a girl on Bleecker street underneath a lamp she said she had a speaker I said I had an amp We took em to Mcdougal and we opened up a socket I took off on a bicycle she took off on a rocket I took off my sneakers and she put em in her pocket Sue was such a downer that they called her gravity The only man who loved her was a thief from Tennessee they bought a little farm house and they burned it to the ground the thief went crazy screaming but Sue never made a sound everyone knows gravity can only get you down I heard my phone a ringing I asked who's on the line He said it was a friend but it was no friend of mine So I'll tell you how it's going if you tell me how it went He said I have fifty dollars If you've got fifty cents and both of them looked quite the same after they'd been spent Old Freight 63 train rolling down the track rolling straight to Memphis and then it comes right back The engineer's a bad man Don't you mess with him he carries around a cannon and he votes republican the hobos back in Yonkers they all call him Devil Jim A prong with forty fingers made a rat with twenty legs they walked into a restaurant and ate a dozen eggs the cook took out a spatula and waved it in the air by the time the sherrif came around only bloody bones were there the paper said this sort of thing just happens everywhere everywhere When I heard that you were gone You know I hung my head and cried I walked out on the highway and I flagged myself a ride I got into the backseat and the door shut with a bang the old cowboy behind the wheel said he came from Birmingham and all the way to New Orleans this was the song he sang Gravity Sue what's become of you Gravity Sue do I have to tell you again tell you again Gravity Sue what's become of you Gravity Sue do I have to tell you again tell you again ooooooo Gravity Sue! what's wrong with you Gravity Sue do I have to tell you again tell you again 6 tuned in | Scalape

spark spark spark [21 Jul 2004|11:08pm] [ mood | tired ] [ music | X and Y ~ Moving Units ] Am thinking will make a Jeff Lewis community, wonder if anyone will join. Will eventually get around to getting more lyrics on here. Just saw Jack Lewis at Sidewalk the other night, so am very much on a Lewis kick. Met this guy Bernie at friend Erik's gallery show, he said he'd submitted some of his music to Sidewalk and they rejected him saying they could only take antifolk. That made me laugh. 6 tuned in | Scalape

Life [29 Feb 2004|01:02pm] [ mood | groggy ] Life is a story don't you doubt bad times give you something to talk about the next time you feel you're all worn out remember life is a story don't you doubt it only takes a day for everything to turn around Love is a story they tell to you but the way they tell it ain't quite true you'll wake up one day and you're twenty-two you know love is just a story that they tell to you love takes a lot of work like everything else you're gonna do Friends are just the people that you can talk with somebody to talk about that somebody to talk about this but everyone changes and forever is a myth friends are just the people that you can talk with a lot of them'll leave but only a few you're gonna miss School is the place where I did my growing they fill your brain to overflowing they tell you this is all stuff you need to be knowing school is the place where I did my growing just when I got to like it it was time to be going The world is the place where it all happens they draw lines on it and call it a map in between every line's a different flag flapping the world is the place where it all happens six billion people all taking turns eating in a napkin Animals are critters just like you and me the only difference is that they don't worry about things that they can't smell or see animals are critters just like you and me so we buy pants and deodorants and claim not to be Songs are just something to waste your time I listen to yours and you listen to mine before we know it the day's gone by songs are just something to waste your time so is everything else to do whatever makes you feel fine God's just a story someone made up long ago before they had books and tv shows I don't believe in him and I ain't afraid to say so you know god's just a story someone made up long ago but it's hard not to be superstitious despite all you know Everyone's born and everyone dies everyone has a time and wonders why the ocean's blue so is the sky everyone's born and everyone dies the old lady cries, the new baby cries...and sighs Kisses are weird but they can be fun instead of shaking hands it's like shaking tongues I wish I got to do it more when I was young kisses are weird but they can be fun I hate going once a month without kissing anyone At this point it's been since uh...how many months 1 2 3 4 5 6...7 I think if kissing someone could make them pregnant the last person I kissed would have had their kid by now *snort laugh snort* Dreams are weird but they can be fun too they happen more often than kisses it's true in some I was naked and in some I flew dreams are weird but they can be fun too I wonder if you're dreaming about me when I'm dreaming about you Now that you heard everything I said there ain't nothing new inside your head if you want, disregard it all go ahead now that you've heard everything I said there are probably one or two things you coulda been doing instead Life is a story don't you doubt bad times give you something to talk about the next time you feel you're all worn out remember life is a story don't you doubt it only takes a day for everything to turn around * I don't know what this word is exactly. Friendship is the only thing that seems to make sense but it sounds like he's saying fredery, sort of like a combination of friendship and camaraderie. edit2: Thanks to treblekicked for correcting that for me :D 6 tuned in | Scalape

Heavy Heart [20 Feb 2004|10:19pm] [ mood | content ] Written by Jeff, recorded by Whip You say you got a heavy heart You say you got a heavy heart You say you got a heavy heart It's hard for you to start Carrying your heavy old heart You say you got a heavy load* You say you got a heavy load* You say you got a heavy load* Walking down the road Carrying your heavy old heart And you sure don't know Where you're going Sure don't know Where you're going Sure don't know Where you're go-o-ing But I say The sun don't know When it's glowing Flower don't know When it's growing The river don't know When it's flo-o-wing You're doing better than you know You're doing better than you know * I don't know what exactly this word is. It's either load, or loot, lood even? 2 tuned in | Scalape

Another Girl [20 Feb 2004|10:18pm] [ mood | content ] Written mostly by Jack Lewis, with lead vocal/bass by Jack, recorded by Jeff This is by far the most difficult of all the songs to decipher, due to the really crappy recording. I guessed a lot on the lyrics, especially with that knee thing. I don't understand why you look at me And I can't understand...why you can't lick your knee (haha I have no idea) Stepped you around And you're on the floor I'm not gonna remember your name anymore Cos I've found another girl And she's cuter and younger than you ever were And she could kick your ass if you fuck with her And she's good in bed and she calls me sir Remember the day when you knocked at my door I let you in just because I was bored My TV was broken, my telephone too I'm trying to do something better to do Cos I've found another girl And she's cuter and younger than you ever were And she could kick your ass if you fuck with her And she's good in bed and she calls me sir Remember the day when you knocked on my door And I let you in just because I was bored My TV was broken, my telephone too I'm trying to do something better to do But now I've found another girl And she's cuter and younger than you ever were And she could kick your ass if you fuck with her And she's good in bed and she calls me sir Cos I've found another girl And she's cuter and younger than you ever were And she can kick your ass if you fuck with her And she's good in bed and she calls me sir Cos I've found another girl And she's cuter and younger than you ever were And she can kick your ass if you fuck with her And she's good in bed and she calls me sir uu--aaaah 3 tuned in | Scalape

East River [20 Feb 2004|10:16pm] [ mood | content ] [ music | Only Shallow ~ My Bloody Valentine ] Written by Jeff Lewis, recorded by Whip If I had a girl on 9th avenue I know exactly what she would do She would wander at dawn look around at folks Find someone better looking who tells better jokes And then she'd leave me and I'd walk back east alone 9 8 7th avenue Now I'm crossing Madison Sobbing on Park Avenue Feeling bad on Lexington 3 2 1st avenue Going east with the wind Cross the FDR to the east river Fall right in And if I had a girl on 10th avenue I know exactly what she would do She would wander at day look at all the guys Find someone who'se read more books and has bluer eyes And then she'd leave me and I'd walk back east alone 9 8 7th avenue Now I'm crossing Madison Sobbing on Park Avenue Feeling bad on Lexington 3 2 1st avenue Going east with the wind Cross the FDR to the east river Fall right in And if I had a girl on 11th avenue I know exactly what she would do She would wander at night hang around at bars Find someone who draws better and plays prettier guitar And then she'd leave me and I'd walk back east alone 9 8 7th avenue Now I'm crossing Madison Sobbing on Park Avenue Feeling bad on Lexington 3 2 1st avenue Going east with the wind Cross the FDR to the east river Throw myself in Until the scum in the east river would drown me The phlegm and rotten rats would surround me The shattered cars at the bottom all around me Until I was just another scum in the east river And when I become the scum it's my job to drown The pathetic hopes and failures of the next unloved clown Though maybe it would be a girl and we could become scum together Decompose as the river flows Become one scum together Become one forever One bloated rotten putrid scum forever 9 8 7th avenue Now I'm crossing Madison Sobbing on Park Avenue Feeling bad on Lexington 3 2 1st avenue Going east with the wind Cross the FDR to the east river Fall right in 2 tuned in | Scalape

Back When I Was Four [20 Feb 2004|10:15pm] [ mood | content ] Back when I was 4 and I knew the name of every dinosaur I knew how to read ROM comic books My babysitter said I was really smart When the lights went out everything changed The radio music made me feel strange And I had a real bad dream about a gorilla in the bathroom Back when I was 6 I took everything real serious And I thought that every song that came on the radio Was referring to strange sexual acts Because they thought I wouldn't know the facts And being small is hard and no one ever tells you how And back when I was 8 I'd sit outside on an old milk crate And look out at the world from the stoop across the street The boomboxes and the hot concrete And every Halloween they hung A million rubber skeletons across ninth street. Back when I was 12 or so I swear to god I never felt so low Everyone but me was making out and eating cookies I had more than my brain could stand I threw my life in a garbage can I felt so weird I had to disappear In crying suicide disease. At 15 getting stoned felt good and it sent me back to childhood And nothing ever mattered to me more than that. But then 16 became eclipse My brain became apocalypse I was lost and found and I've never been the same. Back when I was 22 I left the best thing that I knew and I gave it up for fortune and for fame I played like I didn't know how I shocked the world I wowed the crowd But I deserved more than what they gave Back when I was 27 still nothing had been forgiven Clay turns into rock and rock just sits So sitting on a crowded beach I'd pretend I was a leach And stick to things here and there for a little bit Back when I was 31 I knew I'd become what I'd become Nothing left to reveal And nowhere else to turn So shocked and withered dumb and bitter And in need of a babysitter I'd gladly let my hand fall off and burn burn burn Back when I turned the big 4-0 I realized just how much there was to go And I started to think that being alone forever Wasn't where it was at So I pulled my head out of the window And I taught myself how to love real fast I started talking about painting With a woman in the laundromat Back when I was 50 and my first wife had just left me I felt okay and I sang my daughter Funny little songs And just when I thought the best was past I fell in love for real at last And it didn't even matter that it had taken me so long Back when I was 63 the public rediscovered me My comic books and records had all become rare cult-collector items Both my parents were deceased So they didn't see my records get re-released And I got a dog for the first time in my life Back when I was 74 my dog died and I got two more I still felt really good about my daughter And also about my girlfriend And I'd sing and draw a little bit But mostly I'd wake up early and sit And hang out with the puppies and wish that I could live forever Back when I was 87 my grandson had just turned eleven My woman was dead And my dogs were getting pretty old My body didn't work quite like it should But overall things were pretty good I was getting decent royalties from the reissued comic books and records Back when I was 106 My only friend Was one goldfish Everyone I ever knew was dead and gone The goldfish never had a name And the neighbors thought I was insane And I flushed it down the toilet when I saw it floating upside down* Back when I was 128 I would sit outside on an old milk crate And look out at the world from the stoop across the street The boomboxes and the hot concrete And every Halloween they hung A million rubber skeletons across 9th street Every Halloween they hung A million rubber skeletons Every Halloween they hung A million rubber skeletons Every Halloween they hung A million rubber skeletons * Poor Goldie :( 6 tuned in | Scalape

Seattle [20 Feb 2004|10:12pm] [ mood | content ] Written by Jeff, back up vocals by Spencer Chakedis, Ish Marquez and Supertall Matthias, recorded by Spencer Chakedis/Balloon Heaven Fighting for survival is such a boring battle Want to get into my car I wanna drive out to Seattle Where the used record stores Have much better prices But I don't have a car And I don't have a license Should I take another walk to the DMV Get another learners permit with a picture of me I'd put it in my wallet Along with my four dollars And the condom that's still in there That has probably expired I'd leave home for New York But New York is where I'm from I'm just looking for a way To feel my life has begun Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee Living in the city Where I'm working like a walrus But man I don't need your money Man I'm gonna be an artist Feeling like I wanna do whatever I feel inside Put it down on paper And I'll hope that people buy it And my only minor worry Is how to pay the rent But that won't even matter When I lose my apartment Then I'll really have no worries I'll be just like a cassette That you've taped up the tabs up To put something new on it And when I hit record God only knows what I will be And if there is no god Then it's a better mystery Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee Fighting for survival and I guess I must be winning And my story is so long I can't remember the beginning Am I an optimist Or am I a pessimist If I see a half empty half full cup Is half full Of nothingness. Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee Dee dee dee dee 2 tuned in | Scalape

Testing 1 2 3 [20 Feb 2004|09:53pm] [ mood | geeky ] [ music | Loomer ~ My Bloody Valentine ] I once heard my friend Angus say that he detested the word fan, because it was short for fanatic, and therefore held with it quite a negative connotation. Fanatics tattoo things into their arms. I'm quite sure that forty-five year old accountant George horribly regrets the day he decided to get the Poison logo etched into the recently wrinkled crevices of his left buttock. George is your quintessential (remorseful) fanatic. I sincerely believe that when the word fanatic was shortened to fan, it created along with it an entirely new word with an entirely different meaning. Whereas a fanatic may stalk Jeff and/or etch the words "Jeff Lewis is God" into his or her forearm, a fan may simply plaster his or her walls with strategically ripped up comic strips of the aformentioned artist. Or she may actually take the time to both copy the lyrics off the jacket of "It's the Ones Who've Cracked That the Light Shines Through" and try to decipher the words to some of the rather horribly recorded songs off "The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane and Other Favorites" (such as Another Girl, is that even English?) Yes, that's what a fan would do, instead of writing an eleven page essay on a book she hasn't even read that's due in less than forty-eight hours. So for all you fans out there, you have my sympathy. 2 tuned in | Scalape

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