Obviously I'm not a love song kind of lyricist. I write songs for Hard Rock which definitly gives you lattitude to explore any topic despite most people thinking it's a sex, drugs and rebellion only subject matter. Most of my favorite bands write alot of fantasy and history as well as the sterotypical stuff. Below are some of my favorites in my collection that certainly are written outside the bubble. Remember, I'm not boasting of the songs, melodies or recordings, just my favorite lyrics.

Time and place and space rearranged, I'm existing out of phase. People look and speak to me unaware of my imagery. Atoms floating yet contained in form, illusions that I'm whole and warm. Magnetic fields binding me, born without a symmetry. I can read one's beauty from silhouettes passing bye. A skill I've learned in jealousy with love's unrealized.

No one knows I've lived a thousand years. No one notices I cast no shadow. That just goes to show we judge a book by it's own cover. Never listening to the words, never seeing what's in the man.

Unexplained phenomenon or alternate dimensions, only walls seem to detect my biological infractions, Once you've lived a thousand years anonymous to spare their fears. You come to find that man can be oblivious to others needs. Even my loneliness surpasses physical law. I must be emanating subliminal withdrawal.

No one knows I've lived a thousand years. No one notices I cast no shadow. That just goes to show we judge a book by it's own cover. Never listening to the words, never seeing what's in the man.

The excerpts from this diary one hundred years ago, were written in ageless poetry and sung with haunting melody. These last lines were written before he faded and died. And as I read them profoundly, one soul for him did cry. "Some people reach for the light, but not I... for it passes right through me. Light only let's us see, and it's bound to make us blind."

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No Shadow will probably become a book at some point. It was recorded on the Harbinger "The Inevitable" album in 1990. It's a song about being different from everyone else and the lonliness it creates. The irony here is that no one even perceptually notices he's different. To live 1000 years and no one notices he casts no shadow makes his existance unbareably existential. Though it's a physical annomoly it metaphorically calls out humanities subconscious alienation of oddly different people.

It's Tuesday Morning and my wife is screaming.
It strikes me odd as I've done nothing wrong.
Not too far away a flood of questions for God
Fall to the ground in vein... Upon deaf ears?

Sinners or Saints.
Living or about to die.
The question's still the same... why?

Like towers we stand together.
And like Towers we fall
Family, friend or enemy we are dust when God calls

When we wipe it from our eyes we finally see the truth.
That we started all the same.
Before the blame, before the shame of it all.

It's just another Tuesday and I'm still angry.
That's nothing odd, so is everyone else.
Very far away we're still dying for the answers.
And God just watches since it's nothing new.

Sinners turned to Saints.
Forgiven when about to die.
The questions still remain... why?

Like towers we stand together.
And like Towers we fall
Family, friend or enemy we are dust when God calls

When we wipe it from our eyes we finally see the truth.
That we started all the same.
Before the blame, before the shame of it all.

We have every right to blame.
But don't expect God to change.

My children ask about a Tuesday many years ago.
It strikes me odd as worse has come and gone.
Maybe because I'm old they think I have answers from God.
Sorry, he rarely talks but hears every word... except the blame.

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This piece is a perspective on the 9/11 tragedy... or as I would perceive to be God's perspective- not mine exactly. It's cool in that that it covers 3 tuesdays over time. The Tuesday of 9/11/2001, any current tuesday and a potential future tuesday. Lyricaly it just came to me in afew of the lines here and there and I actually got out of bed to makes some notes on it and worked it out afew weeks later. It was recorded during the sessions for my UDM album Questions for God, and though it's obviously appropriate for that subject matter Jeff and I are actually saving the song for our next CD which is an acoustic album.

Awaken and shaken, awaiting to be taken. Locked outside my funeral door oldman won't let me break-in. It's no mistake at every wake I've seen that black suit stare. The Ghostman's been there every time for those I love and care. He's gawking or stalking either way he's just not talking. I know it's complicated man, I just start walking. He seems to me a crazy man but where I turn he's there. Of ties that bind me in this life he is aware.

He shades me like a turban, we drift along the sand. Chanting and panting he lets me know I really am... In a new reality (boy).

I'm channeled and handled and left without a doubt. My family line ain't doing time they're waiting on the mount. The Bossman is a dancin' with Roses at his side. "Sonamagun" the holy one's got the devil towing the line. I'm packing, backtracking, my course is unrelenting. I know it's complicated man, there's no forgetting. That smell of Sunday morning, the bread is baking thin. Still locked outside my funeral door oldman I'm busting in.

I'm tangled in the grape vines. Don't hold me for my sins. Ghostman take my hand I know the walls are paper thin... Of my new reality (boy).

Pounding to the rhythm, hearts that beat as one, Blood lines pumping strong. I've known since I began. I've reached the promised land.

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At my grandmothers funeral in 1996 this old man showed up- totally old country, short with spooky ethnic beady eyes and a 40 year old black suit. He scared my sister and I would run up to her and whisper " look out it's the Ghostman". As I though about it, what if this guy shows up at all the Lebanese funerals. So in the song that's the case. I'm dead and I'm freakin because this guy is there so I bolt (in spirit) but he follows me. He shows me my family in heaven. My grandfather was called Boss hence "The Bossman is a dancin" line. My Grandmother was Rose so the line continues "...with roses at his side". He always would yell "sonamagum" or "sonama-66" instead of Son-of-a-bitch. so there's that meaning. In the end I realize what I'm all about and need to get back to my funeral so I can pass to heaven. Recorded on The United Dictators of Mars "Smash Hits" albun in 2002

Saying all the right things. Explaining that wants aren't greed.
Fear in the slightest disrespect. Fear there's a secret misstep.

Where's the light? Is this the Way?
If a lie has speed what should I say?
That I trust in now, no matter the pain?
Don't look down. Don't look down. Dont look....

Somethings always haunting me. Somethings always taunting me.

I hit the ground. I'm on my face. A state of pain. A state of Grace.
It seems so dark. So many years wrong.
It's blowing my mind. Blowing my mind. Blowing my...

I can't see the sun. I can't see the sun today.
Am I the only one. Am I the only one to blame.
Seems someone's blown up the sky.
Got a piece of Heaven in my eye.

Tasting all the extremes. Embracing all that relieves.
What's one to think, could anyone care.
I don't know how, I don't know. Don't know.

Something's always wanting me.
Truth has endurance. It's a matter of faith. Just hold on.

Maybe today I'll cry. But can't wash it from my eye.

I can't see the sun. I can't see the sun today.
Am I the only one. Am I the only one to blame.
Seems someone's blown up the sky.
Got a piece of Heaven in my eye.

I can't see the sun. I can't see the sun today.
Tell me that I'm the one. Blinded by the healing rays.
Seems someone's blown up my mind.
Got a piece of Heaven when I die..

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The entire chorus came to me in 2003. It had no meaning and for many years between UDM recording sessions I carried this around. I didn't know if I couldn't see the sun literally as in an apocolytic event or if it was just figurative to a personal dilemma. When music was written for this in 2007 I finally determined that it was figurative for that little spec of faith that keeps many of us holding on despite some very overwhelming trials in much of our lives that makes us feel as though God has it in for us or is handing down punsihments for our missteps. And even though we know that is not true the issues make us think that unrationally. Recorded on The United Dictators of Mars "Questions for God" albun in 2008