Pop and Circumstance:
LYRICS
WHAT LOVE CAN DO
© 2024 Paul Heinz - All Rights Reserved
(Origin: January 10, 24, 30, February 8, 9, 2022)
I tried memorizing facts and figures I tried
I tried tempering my mental triggers I tried
I tried yoga and Pilates, too
Now let’s see what love can do
I tried therapy and meditation I tried
I tried logging all my aggravations I tried
I tried shooting up and sniffing glue
Now let’s see what love can do
Oooh, just when it seems like
Nothing in this world gives me a thrill
Oooh, there’s something that tells me
Love might be the thing to fit the bill
I hope it will
I tried volunteering and donations
I tried writing songs and salutations
I tried every style, old and new
Now let’s see what love can do
What is our purpose here?
What is the goal?
Sometimes I feel like I’m
Out of control
Maybe I’m looking in
The wrong locations
Pursuing avenues
To damnation
I tried working hard and hardly working
I tried demonstrating and converting
I tried alcohol of every hue
Now let’s see what love can do
Oooh, just when it seems like
Nothing in this world gives me a thrill
Oooh, there’s something that tells me
Loving you will surely fit the bill
I hope it will
I tried placing bets and playing baseball
I tried jumping from a plane in freefall
I tried politics from every view
Now let’s see what love can do
See what love can do
See what love can do
Get out while the getting’s good
© 2024 Paul Heinz - All Rights Reserved
(Origins: November 21, 2019, February 18 and August 29, 2021)
Well, you can be a pain in the ass sometimes
Claiming you’ve committed the perfect crime
Well I don’t want to know
Yeah, I don’t want to know
You pursue your muse to your heart’s content
Until you can’t recall how the day was spent
You say you’re good to go
But I don’t think it’s so
You say that it’s the least you can do
And you always do the least you can do
But I need something more
I’ve been here before
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s to
Get out while the getting’s good
Get out while the getting’s good
Get out while the getting’s good
Get out while the getting’s good
You like to tout your years of experience
But I’m afraid it comes off as arrogance
Stop trying to be a star
And work on your repertoire
What’s missing is an inkling of sacrifice
a sign that you’re still willing to pay the price
But I don’t think you are
So this time it’s au revoir
Hand me my guitar
Cuz if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s to
Get out while the getting’s good
Get out while the getting’s good
Get out while the getting’s good
Get out…
Yeah, I’ve got too much riding on this
To settle for your half-assedness
So I’ll show myself the door
I’ve been here before
I need something more
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned
(Get out) while the getting’s good
(Get out) while the getting’s good
(Get out) while the getting’s good
(Get out) while the getting’s good
Your Work Day
© 2024 Paul Heinz - All Rights Reserved
(Origins: March 7, November 9 and 20, 2021)
I like to place a mental wager
About the things you’re going to say
When you get home in the evening
And you talk about your day
‘bout how your job is so demeaning
That even suicide’s in play
Hey!
You’re always talking analytics
Or how your budget has to grow
And how the fools who run the business
Don’t know their asses from a hole
And you don’t stop for twenty minutes
But dear, I think it’s time you know
That my eyes glaze over
When you talk about your work day (so sorry but my eyes glaze over)
Yeah my eyes glaze over
When you talk about your work day (you know it babe, my eyes glaze over)
I can’t believe you’ve got another story to tell
About life in hell
I always guessed you had suspicions
But I guess it wasn’t true
Cuz now you’re having a conniption
And you’ve barely touched your food
It wasn’t easy – this admission
I wasn’t trying to be rude
But my eyes glaze over
When you talk about your work day (so sorry but my eyes glaze over)
Yeah my eyes glaze over
When you talk about your work day (you know it babe my eyes glaze over)
I can’t believe you’ve got another story to tell
About life in hell
Among the fuss we might discuss the stuff that really matter
And rise above the daily din of never-ending chatter
We’d strive to elevate and taste the fruits of life
Then comes the dreaded invitation
A business banquet with plus ones
And though I’ll down a few libations
I know it won’t be any fun
Cuz once you start on your vocation
You’ll suck up all the oxygen
You know my eyes glaze over
When you talk about your work day (so sorry but my eyes glaze over)
Yeah my eyes glaze over
When you talk about your work day (you know it babe, my eyes glaze over)
I can’t believe you’ve got another story to tell
I can’t believe you’ve got another story to tell
About life in hell
One good turn
© 2024 Paul Heinz - All Rights Reserved
(Origins: December 1, 2021, January 11, 2022)
You’ve got me searching for answers
that I know do not exist
I’m left here serving
a master and I can I no longer resist
Those pretty little eyes
Greedy little heart
Dirty little lies
I’ve fallen apart for you
One good turn
Should lead to another
But that’s not your concern
Why do you bother to tease me
And lead me down paths I don’t want to know
You know it isn’t fair, but anyhow
The double standards are so many now
I lost count long ago
I could go on but what’s the use
I’ll only end up crawling
Cuz you know I’ve fallen for those
Pretty little eyes
Greedy little heart
Dirty little lies
I’m falling apart for you
For you
One good turn
Should lead to another
I thought I would learn
Why do I bother believing
When you lead me down paths I don’t want to go
There’s little left of me so take a bow
You know it isn’t fair, but anyhow
The double standards are so many now
I lost count long ago
One good thing
Should lead to another (long ago)
You’ve got me searching for answers
that I know do not exist
a thing for you
© 2024 Paul Heinz - All Rights Reserved
(Origins: September 18, 2020, May 20 and September 3, 2021)
You had a thing for me
You know it’s true
But I didn’t have a thing for you at the time
And oh that burden is mine
Back then I thought my youth would last
But life has passed me by so fast
Here I am now
An older, wiser man
But now that I see ya
I’ve got an idea
Because even though
That was long ago
There’s one thing you should know
I’ve got a thing for you
Girl, you know it’s true
And you had a thing for me
So I tell you what we oughta to do
I wanna bridge the gap of time
And have our paths combine
Cuz I’ve got a thing, ooh
For you
It’s funny how the eyes of youth
Will blind you from the truth
What did I know
Those many years ago
I didn’t know my destiny
Was standing right in front of me
There’s a chance now
To rectify the past
Cuz I’ve got a thing for you
Girl you know I do
And you had a thing for me
So let me run this plan by you
I can’t pretend
That you’re just a friend
I should have done this way back when
Cuz I’ve got a thing for you
Girl, you know it’s true
And you had a thing for me
So l tell you what we oughta to do
I wanna bridge the gap of time
Until our paths combine
Cuz I’ve got a thing, ooh
Yeah, I’ve got thing, I do
I’ve got a thing, ooh
For you
Stretched too thin
© 2024 Paul Heinz - All Rights Reserved
(Origins: February 5, 2010, June 7, 2017)
Sometimes I feel I’m stretched too thin
I don’t know where to begin
All of these forces push and pull
Until my whole day is full
And in the early evening
I wonder whatever happened to
Those lazy summer days with nothing much to do
I can’t keep from running ragged
I wonder how long can I keep this pace
There’s no clear finish line
To this unending race
I’m trying to be a good father
Trying to be a good son
Trying to be a good husband
Trying to be good to everyone
I’m trying to fight for my passions
Trying to fight for what’s right
Trying to fight for the feeble
Trying to fight tiring of the fight
At night I fold my hands
And pray I’ll manage all that I have planned
Sometimes I feel I’m stretched too thin
I don’t know where to begin
All of these forces push and pull
And now my whole day is full
There was a precious moment
I remember, a couple of years ago
I paused just long enough to touch
The beauty of the world
I cannot push this stone uphill alone
Codependency
© 2024 Paul Heinz - All Rights Reserved
(Origins: July 27, 2021)
Whatever we’re doing’s not working
And off to work we go
To hone imperfections
That we’ve come to know and grow
For so long
Whatever we’re doing’s not working
So we’ll try one more time
And if we should fail, well you know that
Tomorrow’s fine
It’s just fine
Darling my dear
I’m glad you picked up the phone
If you wouldn’t mind
I’m in a bind
I cannot push this stone uphill alone
You’d think by now that I would’ve grown somehow
Instead I’ll depend on my aimless friend
to help me push this stone uphill again
If Sisyphus
Had an ally to assist
Would his torment have looked something like this?
Cuz I say with reservation
I need you and you need me
Codependency
My buttercup
I think the jig is up
But I’ve nowhere to land
So could you lend a hand?
Whatever we’re doing’s not working
So off to work we go
You ask as a friend
Well, where does this madness end?
I don’t know, I don’t know
I cannot push this stone uphill alone
LONG
© 2024 Paul Heinz - All Rights Reserved
(Origins: January and August, 1999)
The full moon shines between the blinds
and finds its way across my face
And in my mind – a thought of you I can’t erase
I have tried to stem the tide
But I can’t stop thinking
That I’m slowly sinking
Oh I feel life has closed its curtain
Leaving me to wander in a world uncertain
You left me here with nothing more than a song
I long for you
I long for you
The full moon shines between the blinds
But it don’t mean as much to me
As the love I carry in my memory
If all that lasts is in the past
In this world asunder
Then I’m going under
Oh I feel life has closed its curtain
Leaving me to wander in a world uncertain
You left me here with nothing more than a song
I long for you
I long for you
I long