Messes of Men / Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste - Live

[Verse 1: Aaron Weiss]
"I do not exist,"
We faithfully insist
Sailing in our separate ships, and from each tiny caravel
Tiring of trying
There's a necessary dying
Like the horseshoe crab in its proper season sheds its shell
Such distance from our friends
Like a scratch across a lens
Made everything look wrong from anywhere we stood
And our paper blew away
Before we'd left the bay
So half-blind we wrote these songs on sheets of salty wood

[Verse 2: Aaron Weiss]
Caught me making eyes
At the other boatmen's wives
Heard me laughing louder at the jokes told by their daughters
I'd set my course for land
You well understand
It takes a steady hand to navigate adulterous waters
The propeller's spinning blades
Held acquaintance with the waves
There's mistakes I've made no rowing could outrun
Cloth low on the mast
I say I've got no past
I'm nonetheless the librarian and secretary's son
Tarnish on my brass
Mildew on my glass
I'd never want someone so crass as to want someone like me
But a few leagues off the shore
I bit a flashing lure
And I assure you, it was not what I expected it to be
And I still taste its kiss
That dull hook in my lip
Is a memory as useless as a rod without a reel
To an anchor ever-dropped
Seasick-yet-still-docked
Captain spotted napping with his first mate at the wheel
Floating forgetfully along
No need to be strong
We keep our confessions long and when we pray we keep it short
I drank a thimbleful of fire
I'm not ever going back
Oh, my God!

[Verse 3: Aaron Weiss]
"I do not exist,"
We faithfully insist
While watching sink the heavy ship of everything we knew
And if ever you come near
I'll hold up high a mirror
Lord, I could never show you anything as beautiful as You

[Interlude: Josh Scogin]
Check, check
You got me?
Fashion!

[Verse 4: Aaron Weiss, Josh Scogin]
He laid emeralds in her eyes (fashion)
Oh, but I'd already tied (fashion)
A bracelet made of gold and scarlet (fashion)
Thread around her wrist (fashion)
And everything was wrong (fashion)
So we sang sentimental songs (fashion)
Oh, how seldom we belong (fashion)
But how elegant our kiss (fashion)
And we painted in crooked lines (fashion)
But we danced in perfect time (fashion)
To a love so much refined (fashion)
We know not what it is
So like a dullen wine we pour (fashion)
Into a grief we've known before (fashion)
But never quite like this (fashion)
Never quite like this! (fashion)
All I know now is regret (fashion)
She follows like a silhouette (fashion)
On the cobblestone behind me (fashion)
She has nothing left to say (fashion)
Except to innocently ask (fashion)
Her voice delicate as glass (fashion)
"Do you see me when we pass?" (fashion)
But I-
I continue on my way (fashion)

[Spoken Outro]
Thank you
Rickie says catch my breath
At this age, we'll be here 15 minutes waiting for that to happen