Monkey on a Rocket
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

The stars are really out tonight
Must be in honor of my maiden flight
It’s a long way down
But they keep me occupied
With the knobs and switches
That make this baby fly

I was chosen from a thousand
Trained for years to fly
Above a million houses
But now, up here
It’s not what I expected
I wish that I had never been selected

NASA can you reach me?
I think this thing is leaking
I’m only flesh and bone
And I’m running out of air

NASA hear me calling
This tiny capsule’s falling
and I can’t seem to stop it
It’s no use - I’m a monkey on a rocket
Monkey on a rocket

When I was just a baby boy
Climbing branches was my purest joy
No cares – three squares
Life was so simple then
No cords no clips no cables
Hanging from my head then

I’m no rocket surgeon, am I?
I’m just an ordinary, unassuming man
I don’t have one clue
how to reprogram anything
But me and my banana
We know how to swing

chorus

It’s only make-believe
When you live in a tiny machine
So far away from where we came
It seems like magic
Toto, don’t pull that curtain away
We’re all prisoners inside
this fantasy life

chorus

When I Write the Book of You
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

It’s Sunday / it’s my day
a chance to catch up on
every little thing
all the little things / in my life

I’m driving / I’m talking
the top’s down / I won’t stop
it’s any Summer day
another Summer day / in my life

Time flies / so I shot it down
and kicked the pieces all the around
it’s the kind of funk I’m in / you try living in my skin -

When I go one day without you
those eyes, that touch, your smile
I miss it so much / and I’m scared
to live one day without you
I’ll write the words I know are true
When I write the book of you

I’m learning / but too slow
I’m healing / but I’m still so
Type A / with an underscore
(and in neon red)

I’m sunburnt / from driving
forgot that I’m the whitest / person that you know
at least, that’s what you said

I still remember how we cried
That awful day your old man died
Like anyone he had his fears
But he loved your ma for fifty years
And that’s a hell of a long time

chorus

I’m drunk on / your perfume
Slow dance / we know I’m gonna
step on both your feet / Still, you let me lead

Time flies
so I shot it down
and kicked the pieces all the around
it’s the kind of funk I’m in
you try living in my skin -

chorus

When I write the book of you / When I write the book of you

Big City
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

Well, there's blood on the streets
where kings were cut down
and vacant-eyed bankers
with factual frowns
the hum of the turnstiles
the heartbeats of millions in line

so there go the bullies
who push and who shout
and here are the rest of us
down but not out
spending our savings
and living one day at a time
in the most beautiful place in the world
in our big, big city

somebody's holding our fate
in the palm of his hands
then he leans out and laughs
and he just drives away

so turn on the TV
and tune out the day
the new breed of heroes
are king for a day
the smell of the sidewalks
the voice that tell us we're home
in the most beautiful place in the world --

i was raised on the land
by a slow-moving stream
with grass stains
and band-aids
on both of my knees
we ran through the daylight
and slept in the strong arms of peace

i was so unaware
in my cozy cocoon
that the world out my window
would vanish so soon
i picked up my feet
and blinked back the tears from my eyes

well, there's blood on the streets
where kings were cut down
and vacant-eyed bankers
with factual frowns
the hum of the turnstiles
the heartbeats of millions in line

so there go the bullies
who push and who shout
and here are the rest of us
down, but not out
spending our savings
and living one day at a time
in the most beautiful place in the world
in our big, beautiful city

Partners
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

In a different situation
in another place and time
if I only had the patience
I don't know what my heart might find

We were put here for a purpose
so we've got to make it go
please don't tell me it's all worth it
what I've been through
you just don't know

Now that my eyes are clearing
I can finally see who I am
I'm your partner
just your partner

When the walls come down around you
and the bricks are at your feet
when the enemy has found you
and you know that you're in too deep

I'll be there before you know it
like they say, "I got your back"
sometimes I may not show it
but I need you
and that's a fact

Now that your eyes are clearing
you can finally see who I am:
I'm your partner
just your partner

we are partners
for the rest of my life

Now that my eyes are clearing
I can finally see who I am
I'm your partner
just your partner
you're my partner
we are partners

If I Were King
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

I built a factory / I made a dream
now others look to see / which way I lean

Sound of a nation / I heard your voice
I'd make our factories run / as if they had no choice

Say bye-bye to heartache / say so long to pain
send your union cards / floating down the drain

I made a million / and spent it all
I made a billion / and that ain't all

Say bye-bye to imports / adios to fear
say good-bye to raincoats / brighter days are here

If I were king
I'd be a leader of men
with children playing at my feet
If I were king
I's save us from "them"
the bells would ring
oh, if I were king

I'll take your dollars / and make them grow
we'll lift prosperity / to levels yet unknown

There is no danger / 'cause God is on our side
so if we don't quite make it / we'll know that we tried

Say goodnight to nightmares / Wave ta-ta to hurt
Say good-bye to welfare / everybody works

Save your pennies / save your lives!
Dry your eyes

Say bye-bye to homeless / in the streets
Say so-long to hunger / everybody eats

chorus

If Hearts Were Like Diamonds
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

It's OK / it's all right
I want everyone to sleep tonight
I've been listening / to the second-hand tick
I've been winding myself too tight

Way out here / on the wire
I will juggle all your hoops of fire
Yes, I'll sing and dance for my supper
I'll keep my schedule light
So you can hurt me / one more time

No - that's far enough
why can't hearts be like diamonds
why is loving so tough?
No - they bruise and break
we'd never need mending
if hearts were like diamonds

Pull the shade / stay at home
'cause it's easier to be alone
I've been listening / for your footsteps
I've been sleeping beside the phone

Way out here / on the wire
I will juggle all your hoops of fire
Yes, I'll sing and dance for my supper
I'll keep my schedule light
So you can hurt me / one more time

chorus

If hearts were like diamonds
we'd be invincible
we'd never need someone else
if hearts were like diamonds
they'd never break
and no one could take your pride away

If hearts were like diamonds
then we could show them all
show them what pain is like
she'd be on her knees
begging for one more chance

chorus

Cuts Away
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

She was strange
pushed away by the others
and they cut away
cut away at her heart

A different child
an ugly duck in the water
and it cut away
cut away at her heart

Away in her fortress
where the sidewalk ends
In a make-believe land
where the smiles and the laughs
come so easily

Alone in her bedroom
but the moon smiles down
there's a place in the world
for unusual girls
eventually

She found love
but he beat her down
he cut away
cut away at her heart

She tried to forgive him
tried to blame herself
but that cut away
cut away at her heart

Alone in her car now
where the pavement ends
there's a siren that cries
cause the girl's still inside
not moving

I happened to see it
and I pulled her out
there's a place in the world
for unusual girls
eventually

I was strange
pushed away by the others
and it cut away
cut away at my heart

Two ugly ducklings
never turned to swans
it cut away
cut away our hearts

all those lonely nights
I prayed

I have found my girl
today

Take Me There
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

I'm out of time
all those lonely hours I've wasted
and I'm short on tears
but I remember how they tasted

There's no mercy
No mercy at all
If I can't have heaven
then hell is where I'll fall

Well, listen to me / I don't care
I don't mind waiting if you take me there
I'll listen for you / yes, I'll prepare
I don't mind waiting / if you take me there

I'm out of cards
but I don't need another favor
If I can't have you
Then I don't need another savior

there's no mercy
no mercy at all
If I can't have heaven
then hell is where I'll fall

chorus

(I don't mind waiting if you take me there)
I'm short of time
If you take me there
Oh no, I don't mind waiting
I don't care
I don't mind waiting if you take me there

chorus

Nothing Left to Give
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

Last train to Memphis
ticket in my hand
I'll dream while the river
rolls on by

Should have seen it coming
they'll wake up to find me gone
Another bird who dared his wings to fly
I don't know what for
But oh, i need to try

When I catch the wind
and ride it for the first time
When I catch the rain
and hold the water
like a long, lost friend
When I take that breath
and jump into the deep end
When I give the world the love
I feel inside, there'll be
Nothing left to give

Backpack and food stamps
down to my last five
wish i'd know that life could be so cruel

Worst case you lose
but you surely need to try
I thought the easy road
was paved with fools
Back at home they just might
take me back to school

chorus

A small misunderstanding
I tried to fly
but only fell
now that i've made a painful landing
I can only blame myself!

chorus

Already August
(c) 2007 Grant Maloy Smith

It’s been less than four weeks
Since I wore that cap and gown
Said good-bye to old friends
And went out on the town

But now it seems my whole life’s
like a train around the bend
The whistle’s getting louder
But I just can’t find the end

I know I’ve got some choices now
And not much time to think
‘cause it’s always so much
later than it seemed:
It’s already August

I guess that I could take a job
And work my way up slow
But my old man goes crazy
He says “son, you just don’t know”

I might just join the army
‘cause I ain’ t afraid to fight
But ma just won’t have it
She says “I need my boy alive”

chorus

Time’s up
Time’s winning
One chance
My head’s spinning
I burn bright
But I learn slowly
I’m getting nowhere fast
Show me the way

I’ve listened to the speeches
From the wise men and the fools
It’s high time I acted
But I don’t know what to do

chorus

it’s already August
and my old man’s after me
already August
‘cause it’s later than it seemed
already August
and I don’t know what to do