Bishop Allen Album

Am I dimmer every day?
Am I just a little glimmer
like a tiny bobbing head
of an ocean swimmer?

Olly olly oxen free
Can you see me?

Do I slowly get erased
as I slowly eat my dinner?
Though my stomach might agree
I'm hardly getting thinner

Olly olly oxen free
Can you see me?

I would choose the darkest horse
That's the horse I'd ride
The stables would be shadowy
and we'd start the race behind

They'd take their feet
and toss their hats
and yell out in surprise
You wouldn't need binoculars
You'd see it with your own two eyes

Am I dimmer every day?
Am I shrinking, am I shrinking?
Can you recognize my thoughts?
Do you care what I am thinking?

Olly olly oxen free
Can you see me?

You see me now
but it takes a lot of squinting
and there isn't any shade
and the sun is unrelenting

Olly olly oxen free
Can you see me?

I would choose the darkest horse
That's the horse I'd ride
The stables would be shadowy
and we'd start the race behind

They'd take their feet
and toss their hats
and yell out in surprise
You wouldn't need binoculars
You'd see it with your own two eyes

He was the sun
He was the moon
He was the rat in two-bit shoes
Dig through your drawers, throw out what's his
Picture his fits

Here is a pink shirt, add to the pile
Light a match, watch it burn a while
Fueled with alcohol, drink from the bottle

Oh pobrecita, tragic little teacup
Did he go and shatter you again?
But the way that you're crying
is more like a lion
who licks her wounds before she seeks revenge

Pluck all the stars out of the sky
Sit in the dark and wonder why
That wicked grin, and see it again,
Because it's tremendous

Wrap all your thoughts in ribbons and bows
Give them away at a party you throw
Climbing up on the roof while you're looking for proof
You did what you did

Oh pobrecita, tragic little teacup
Did he go and shatter you again?
But the way that you're crying
is more like a lion
who licks her wounds before she seeks revenge

[No lyrics]

[No lyrics]

[No lyrics]

There are those who understand
That long before this all began
A hammer hit the nail with great sympathy

A clothespin hanging on the line
The cork that bottles up your wine
Strings that bowed in concert, make a symphony

And oh oh, the ancient commonsense of things
And oh oh, the ancient commonsense of things

There are those who know to look
Through all the crannies and the nooks
When I found you dear, what it meant to me

Book to shelf, and foot to shoe
And likewise I belong to you
My heart is pounding loud, just like a timpani

And oh oh, the ancient commonsense of things
And oh oh, the ancient commonsense of things
And oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh...
Oh oh, the ancient commonsense of things

And oh oh, the ancient commonsense of things
And oh oh, the ancient commonsense of things
And oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh...
Oh oh, the ancient commonsense of things

We were on some endless chases
Living out of old suitcases
It was showing on our faces
True
And we barely both remember
How we made it through December
And the bruises still are tender
True

But I won't let you go in the rain and the snow
You object, it's a show
Cause you know I'm right
Put your coat on the floor
Leave your shoes by the door
Take a seat
Take some tea
Stay with me tonight

We were sick of all our places
We'd forgotten our good graces
And you're making funny faces
True
And I know if you're replying
You don't even want me trying
You get nervous when you're lying
True

But I won't let you go in the rain and the snow
You object, it's a show
Cause you know I'm right
Put your coat on the floor
Leave your shoes by the door
Take a seat
Take some tea
Stay with me tonight

[No lyrics]

[No lyrics]

On the night in question
you took from the records from your record collection
and smashed them into pieces, pieces on the ground.
And you didn't even try to deny it.
You said that you needed it quiet.
They were playing, they were playing, and you had to get away from the sound.

Don't hide away too high or low.
I'd really like to see you, don't you know?
Don't hide away. Please keep in close.
Cause if I can't seem to find you, then you'll stay alone.

By your own admission, there is nothing left to eat in the kitchen, and the garbage and the clutter is piling up out in the hall. Well you know I'm gonna write you a letter, every day like you were a debtor, so you might as well pick up the phone and give me a call.

Don't hide away too high or low.
I'd really like to see you, don't you know?
Don't hide away. Please keep in close.
Cause if I can't seem to find you, then you'll stay alone.

Don't hide away too high or low.
I'd really like to see you, don't you know?
Don't hide away. Please keep in close.
Cause if I can't seem to find you, then you'll stay alone.

The morning belonged to the grapefruit
Ripe in the gold Rome sun
I throw out the rind
It's just bitter to me
Done, done, done.

The skyline is made of the umbrella pine
And I wish we could climb everyone
But all I could see in the shape of the streets
Done, done, done.

Cue the elephants!
The torches they light in the woods
Can you and me save the city?
I thought that we promised we would.
But you've got your hands in your pockets
And you can't look me in the eye
And now for that eternal question:
Why? Why? Why?

And then he would look at those starlings
Together they swoop down as one
He'd read in that dizzy ellipsis
Done, done, done.

We dangle our legs in the fountains
The pail is red and on
The aqueduct water is ancient
Done, done, done.

Cue the elephants!
The torches they light in the woods
Can you and me save the city?
I thought that we promised we would.
But you've got your hands in your pockets
And you can't look me in the eye
And now for that eternal question:
Why? Why? Why?

La la-laa
La luh-laa
La la-la la la
La luh-laa

La luh-laa
La la-la la la laa-uhh.

[No lyrics]

Today, you are unlucky
and that's the way to be
You know, at best,
it's just a test of your tenacity
Answer with a mumble
That's good enough for me
for I am a mumbler too

So imitate the action of the tiger
or imitate the action of the snail

The greatest of the slouchers
whispered in my ear,
"Keep it in your notebooks,
and keep your notebooks near"
"Write that down," he said
"Borrow my pen if you need
for you are a sloucher too"

So imitate the action of the tiger
or imitate the action of the snail
Snap your teeth and smile a little wider
or leave behind a lovely silver trail

So imitate the action of the tiger
or imitate the action of the snail
Snap your teeth and smile a little wider
or leave behind a lovely silver trail