1. |
I Was Once Like You
03:28
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How many times have you told yourself,
How many times have you told yourself, it’s time to take a stand?
How many times have you told yourself, it’s time to take a stand.
Time to pull your self up with your own bare hands.
How many times have you said to yourself, it’s time to take a stand.
Time to pull your self up, with your own bare hands
and take command.
And take control.
You don’t have to tell me. I already know.
Anything I say you better think about it.
Anything I think you better do.
Anything I think you better think about it, too.
Because it’s true.
Because it’s too true.
I was once like you.
How many times have you said that you were wrong?
How many times have you said that you were wrong, just to avoid a fight?
How many times have you said that you were wrong, just to avoid a fight,
knowing all along that you were right?
How many times have you said that you were wrong, just to avoid a fight,
knowing all along that you were right?
Was it hard to sleep at night?
Was it hard to let it go?
You don’t have to tell me. I already know.
Anything I say you better think about it.
Anything I think you better do.
Anything I think you better think about it, too.
Because it’s true.
Because it’s too true.
I was once like you.
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2. |
They Pump It Up
02:21
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You are the best
But no one knows it
When you’re the best
You’ve got to show it, now
Nobody’s better than you
But they look like they are.
How do they do it?
They pump it up
They pump it up
They pump it up
They pump it up up up
They pump it up
They pump it up
They pump it up
They pump it up up up
You are a star
You know it
Don’t be a star when the sky is blue
Be the one that the world can look up to
Take a cue from the chosen few
They pump it up
They pump it up
They pump it up
They pump it up up up
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3. |
Believe In Me
02:47
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Chains around my ankles
Rope and a blindfold
Both of my hands are tied
Standing on the gallows
Feeling kind of mellow
Feeling kind of sad inside
I heard a whisper
It was the hangman, standing right by my side
Saying, believe in yourself, boy
You’ll be alright, boy
All you have to do is try
So, I believed in me
I heard a voice
It gave me a choice
Refuse to die
Words that he said
I hear them my head
All I have to do is try
So, I believe in me
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4. |
The Kit
03:07
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He’s got the kit
He’s got the kit.
He’s got the kit
He’s got the kit.
Do you look like your ideas?
Do you dress to match the music that you listen to?
Do you like rockabilly, hip-hop, hippy, cowboy, punk, funk, grunge, hipster, Latin, pop, jazz?
Do you surround yourself with things that complement your tastes?
Of course you do.
We all do.
Are you an invert, extrovert, flirt, pervert, religious convert living in a desert, son of the soil, child of the earth, sports fan, moneyman, lady with a sun tan?
You can tell a lot about someone just by looking at their shoes.
What do your shoes say about you, and what are you going to do about it?
Do you like people who agree with you?
People who agree with the things you say and like the things you do.
They like what you do, they like what you say, and maybe they act the same way.
What does that say?
What does that tell you?
It means they have the same kit,
the same kit that you’ve got
and you like them a lot.
You can’t help it.
They’ve got your kit.
Whatever you want to be
Whatever you want to do
There’s a kit that’s right for you.
When I was young I wanted to be a rebel.
I wanted to do the things that rebels do.
So, I cut my hair rebelliously
And wore rebellious shoes
And said rebellious things about the news.
That was the kit I chose.
It’s not the kit I choose.
Now I don’t give a shit.
That’s part of my kit.
I’ve got the kit.
He’s got the kit.
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5. |
Small Star Generation
02:50
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We are the Small Star generation
There’s been a lot of information added
That is the modern-day situation
So let’s get at it.
We’ve got a dead-end situation
And let me tell you, my friend,
You’ll become frustrated if you try to rise above it
You’ve got to love it.
This is the age of limitation
It comes with a lot of information added
This is a celebration of your limitations
A limitation celebration
This has nothing and everything to do with you
And that’s true
It’s complicated.
You can either hate it or love it.
It’s all up to you.
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6. |
Silence
02:52
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Wait
Don’t speak
Don’t let the world know you’re a freak
If you’ve got something to say
Wait until it goes away
Give it a day
You’ll be okay
You may learn that what you had to say
Wasn’t important anyway.
So don’t
Don’t even bother
You may find silence can take you farther than you realize.
You might seem intelligent in a stranger’s eyes
Try not to spoil that illusion.
Don’t compromise the situation through conversation
Cuz, guess what
People might like you if you keep your mouth shut.
Wait
Don’t speak
Don’t let the world know you’re a freak
If you have something to say, wait until it goes away
Give it a day
You’ll be okay
You may learn that what you had to say wasn’t important anyway.
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7. |
Mud
02:20
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Out of the mud grows the lotus
Be the mud and let the future shine
It will never be your time
Pressure creates the diamond
Be free from the pressure in your mind
It will never be your time
Be free of possibility
You’ll see that everything is fine
It will never be your time
Out of the mud grows the lotus
Be the mud and let the future shine
It will never be your time
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8. |
Time
02:28
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Time to wash away the pain.
Time to get back in the game again.
Time to do it all the same again.
It’s time.
Time to wash away the tears.
Time to set aside your educated fears.
Time to make the same mistakes again.
Time to do it all exactly the same again.
It’s time.
Time to learn the things you’ve learned before.
Time to open up that door you swore you’d never open again and forget about the pain.
Time to get back in the game again.
Time to do it all the same again.
It’s time.
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9. |
Fake Mercy
03:37
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Death has a twin
I’m gonna say it again.
Death has a twin.
A twin sister.
I’m telling you, Mister
Death has a twin
I’m gonna say it again
Death has a twin
A twin sister
And her name is Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
and in the right light she can look pretty
She always looks pretty to me
She’ll tell you that you’re going to survive
She’ll tell you you are her only lover
She’ll tell you there’s a better life
waiting for you, just around the corner
You don’t want her, but you need her
And when you meet her you’ll fall in love with this girl
Someday she’ll be the queen of the world
A world of believing what you want to believe
believing what you want to believe
believing what you want to believe
believing what you want to believe
believing what you want to believe
believing what you want to believe
This is the speaker of your dreams
Bringing temporary pleasure to your broken heart
And this is the long awaited age of believing what you want to believe
Believing what you want to believe
And this is the long awaited age of Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
Fake Mercy
Here she comes again
Here she comes again
Here she comes again
Here she comes
And she really looks pretty
And she tells such pretty lies
Until her brother can take you by surprise.
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10. |
That Man's Thunder
03:43
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Here he comes.
The one you’ll never know.
He’s eaten sand
from a place you’ll never go.
He had a name
but he pissed it in the snow.
Now his eyes will always sparkle and glow.
And the love in his heart will always show.
And there’s other things that I think you’ll want to know.
You can never steal that man’s thunder
You can never steal it
You can never steal that man’s thunder
You can never steal it
You can never steal that man’s thunder
You can never steal it
Here he comes.
The one you’ve never seen.
He’s eaten sand
from a place you’ve never been.
He had a name
but he lost it in a dream.
Now his eyes will always sparkle and beam.
And there’s nothing lost that needs to be redeemed.
And things are not exactly as they seem.
You can never steal that man’s thunder
You can never steal it
You can never steal that man’s thunder
You can never steal it
You can never steal that man’s thunder
You can never steal it
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11. |
Thunder
02:47
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Did you hear the mountains crashing?
No sir, that was only thunder.
Did you see the lightning flash?
No sir, that’s the spell you’re under.
Did you hear the rain fall?
No sir, that was people clapping.
Can you hear them all around you?
There is nothing happening.
If you were a bird,
and you could fly,
it wouldn’t matter until you couldn’t.
If you were a man, like me,
and you could fly,
you probably shouldn’t.
At first people would love you,
but when they grew accustomed to what you could do,
they would become jealous and despise you.
You would end up walking alone,
hoping no one would recognize you.
Did you hear the mountains crashing?
No sir, that was only thunder.
Did you see the lighting flash?
No sir, that’s the spell you’re under.
Did you hear the rain fall?
No sir, that was people clapping.
Can you hear them all around you?
There is nothing happening.
Did you hear the thunder?
No sir, that was just a car.
Is this a spell I’m under?
No sir, that’s the way you are.
Did you hear the people clapping?
No sir, that was bacon frying.
Can you see them all around you?
No sir, you are lying.
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12. |
Easier
03:03
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Before you begin.
Before you try it.
You know you’re not going to win, so don’t deny it.
You don’t even want to and you know you don’t care.
So don’t be the one to put your hand in the air.
It’s okay if you just want to sit there.
Everything just got easier.
Before you try.
Before you combat it.
First you got to tell everyone around you that you suck at it.
Everything should get better from there.
So, don’t be the first to put your hand in the air.
It’s okay if you only want to sit there.
Everything keeps getting easier
Birthday parties are another mistake.
Don’t waste your breath on a birthday cake, like a child
Making wishes and blowing out candles.
Just tell them that it’s something you can’t handle right now.
You don’t need that kind of attention. It’s your birthday anyway. Just sit there.
Everything keeps getting easier
Stop making those big decision.
Start saving yourself the trouble.
You’ve got no reason
So, sit back down.
A lot of people have a lot of nerve.
Trying to get things that they don’t deserve.
I became happy the moment I learned that it’s never gonna be my turn.
Why should it be?
What’s so special about me?
It’s probably not your turn either
See? Everything just got easier.
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13. |
Trust Me
02:53
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Trust me,
because you know that it is the way that it must be.
When everything has crumbled into dust be
the one who found the way.
Trust me
That’s the way that it must be.
If you want me to help you,
put your hand in mine and I’ll help you find the way.
Isn’t that what you want me to say?
Okay, it’s true.
I’m here to help you.
Put your faith in me,
because that’s how it has to be.
If you want me to help you find a way,
just tell me what you want me to say,
and I will.
I’ll help you feel the way you want to feel.
Believe in me.
You have no reason to worry.
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned,
whenever you’re concerned,
follow the advice of an authority,
and that’s me.
Trust me,
because you know that it is the way that it must be.
When everything has crumbled into dust be
the one who found the way.
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14. |
Even
04:34
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Back
Back when you were little
Did you ever play a game
Called Monkey in the Middle?
Being taunted
By the people who loved you
As they tossed the things you wanted
High above you
A game
It’s suppose to be fun
It’s based on the same things
That make society run
You stand in the middle
While two teams treat you unfairly
You stand a chance to win,
But barely.
The game won’t end
Until you walk away
The only way to win
Is to never play
When it’s over
And everyone is leaving
You might notice
That you broke even
Even
You’ve got to keep it in the middle.
You’ve got to keep it in the center
You got to leave the way you enter.
Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is
Money
People hoard it
You would too
If you could afford it
But you can’t carry
Your weight in treasure
Bury what you don’t need
And live a life of leisure
It’s the same thing
With a good education
What will you do
With the excess information?
Would you rather understand
Or keep thinking
It’s the same thing that keeps a dead man
From blinking
Even
You’ve got to keep it in the middle.
You’ve got to keep it in the center
You got to leave the way you enter.
Even
You’ve got to keep it in the middle.
You’ve got to keep it in the center
You got to leave the way you enter.
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15. |
Butterfly
02:58
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You are a butterfly
You are a butterfly
That is why
That is why
The laws of nature don’t apply to you
Ask any chrysalis you happen to see,
What’s the best time to emerge from a cocoon?
Never too soon
Never too soon
Never too
Never too soon
Never too soon
The egg becomes the caterpillar.
The caterpillar becomes the chrysalis.
The butterfly emerges from the chrysalis
and flies through the air with such magnificence
that he’s captured and preserved to be seen by one and all.
Placed in a jar with an ether cotton ball.
Placed on a pin for generations to see,
until he can free himself from death once again.
Rise from the pin
Rise from the pin
Rise up
Rise from the pin
Rise from the pin
and fly through the air, once again.
Who here is that butterfly?
Who among you is the one who captured him?
Who is the cotton ball, and who is the pin?
Are you the jar?
No one thinks you are.
Everybody thinks that they’re the butterfly.
So do I.
So do I.
Ask any butterfly you happen to see,
What’s the best time to rise from a pin?
Never again
Never again
Never
Never again
Never again
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16. |
Good Enough
02:39
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You can’t do it
Nobody could do it
So throw up your hands and say, screw it
Things are always harder than you were lead to believe
So roll down your sleeves, it’s time to leave.
I have a suggestion
And it is this
Ask yourself this question
The answer’s yes
Ask yourself this question
When things are tough
Ask yourself if this is good enough.
Yes.
The best time to quit is today
Don’t listen to what people say.
They’ll all be jealous when they see you walk away
Do you want to quit?
Okay.
I have a suggestion
And it is this
Ask yourself this question
The answer’s yes
Ask yourself this question
When things are tough
Ask yourself if this is good enough.
Yes.
The future begins today
That doesn’t mean you have to act that way
You have the rest of your life ahead of you
No matter what you do
I have a suggestion
And it is this
Ask yourself this question
The answer’s yes
Ask yourself this question
When things are tough
Ask yourself if this is good enough.
Yes.
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17. |
Small Star Corporation
03:35
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There goes the night
as you leave your dreams behind you.
Into the light where the night can never find you.
The night has left you many times before,
But it keeps coming back for more.
There goes the light
Like a dying ember,
Into the night.
Do you remember
Starlight is a gift you hold
In a love story left untold.
There’s a star inside of you.
It’s what makes the nighttime follow you.
When you are where you are
It follows the star.
The Small Star Corporation.
We need no explanation.
We offer dedication
To help you find
The proper information
To help your situation
To help you find
The stars inside your mind.
What makes a dream come true?
The night lasts forever, and it knows you.
You can touch the brightest star
Standing where you are.
Close your eyes and look inside
And you’ll see where they hide.
The Small Star Corporation.
We need no explanation.
We offer dedication
To help you find
The proper information
To help your situation
To help you find
The stars inside your mind.
The stars inside your mind.
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Cory McAbee Queens, New York
McAbee is best known as writer, director, songwriter, composer for the feature films, The American Astronaut, Stingray Sam and as singer/songwriter for the group The Billy Nayer Show (1989–2011). In 2012 he began the global arts collaborative, Captain Ahab’s Motorcycle Club. In 2015 he created The Small Star Seminar. This collection of songs is being used to create the feature film, Deep Astronomy ... more
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