I wrote this song in response to a well-meaning but clueless friend who saw I was suffering and would tell me I should “just cheer up.”

“Just cheer up” won’t make me less depressed.

“Just cheer up” won’t solve my anxiety.

“Just cheer up” won’t fix my chronic pain.

“Just cheer up” won’t take away my stressors.

“Just cheer up” won’t stop the world from hating me just for being me.

Fuck toxic positivity.

Anyway I think it was pretty bold of me to rhyme “up” with “up.” Those are the kinds of innovative lyrical ideas that normally only come with decades of experience.

Lyrics: Alright Alright

I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already, Alright, alright?

Things aren’t always gonna go my way But tomorrow is another day You’re not helping me to feel very steady, though, Alright, alright?

I get your point already No need to fight I’m just not feeling so steady Alright, alright?

Please don’t try to cheer me up Yes I know I have enough coffee in my cup I get your point already Alright, alright?

Your voice is getting me twisted up If you don’t stop talking, I am hanging up Your cheer isn’t helping me feel any more All right, alright?

I get your point already No need to fight I’m just not feeling so steady Alright, alright?

Don’t you even try To think that I Just need to have it pointed out that It’ll be alright

Metaphorically I I just wanna die Or at least have the world go away Until I am alright

I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already, Alright, alright!

I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already, Alright, alright

In 2006 (after having settled on “Sockpuppet” as a band name), I decided to celebrate how far I’d come as a musician since I started doing Song Fight!, and started a project called Plus 5 where I’d remake my first year of Song Fight! songs and release them on the fifth anniversary of the original fight.

I didn’t get through the whole year before losing interest in the project, but due to the nature of this album, I decided that the Plus 5 versions should get remastered and re-released.

It’s funny how in 2006 I thought I’d completed a journey, when clearly I still had a long way to go. I still do, really, but this is at least a step in the right direction.

In any case, the ideas from this directly informed the version I did for Transitions.

Lyrics: I LOVE YOU [Plus 5, 2006]

The sun comes right up And there’s nothing I can do But state my mind Recite my point of view

It warms up my hair Passes behind a cloud I’m sitting here Thinking here of you

It shines in my eyes Like a beautiful swirl It blows my mind And trembles in my view

I cannot think Of anyone in this world I’d rather spend my Whole life with than you

I cannot believe Our love could go askew I would rather think What it’s like to be with you

I take a deep breath Let it out real slow The air is warm, and Smells of sweetened dew

It warms up my head I can see it now I’m sitting here Madly loving you

The world closes in Everything’s a blur I’m feeling dizzy Look around for you

I can’t help but think This must have been a dream Because you are nowhere Within my view

I could not believe Our love would go askew I would rather think What it’s like (I’d like) to be with you

I’d like to be with you

This was written for Circle of Titles in 2016, when I was assigned the title “Strategies to Live,” which felt super relevant given the then-recent Presidential election which was at odds with my safety as a trans person.

It took me five years to release this album, and I kept on feeling like it was too late to release this topical song, and yet, somehow it manages to remain topical.

Lyrics: Strategies to Live

You can hide yourself down a deep, dark hole Or hoist yourself on a really tall pole Anything that’ll help you get away

You can do heavy drugs to numb the pain, or Ask a surgeon to remove your brain So you can fit right in and start to play

Change your face and change your name Hide everything that brings you shame Or go on a preemptive sneak attack

Dig deep into the viper’s pit Embroil yourself in petty shit Just commit ‘coz there’s no turning back

Oh, I wish I didn’t worry oh so much Oh, I wish I could feel fine Oh, if only all my hopes weren’t out of touch I wish my safety wasn’t on the line

If you’re accused of doing a bad crime Want to hide for a very very very long time Consider all the possibilities

Make a run for President Convince the people you are heaven sent You might just win and then you are home free

Even if you’re caught lying Everyone gives you points for trying It’s not that the bear stakes well, it skates at all

Even if you destroy the world It doesn’t matter, you can fuck every girl And then you can go home and take your ball

Oh, I wish I didn’t worry oh so much Oh, I wish I could feel fine Oh, if only all my hopes weren’t out of touch I wish my safety wasn’t on the line

In the long run everything will be fine It will just be a matter of time, in Twelve billion years this will all be gone

In the meantime just try to survive The world is better with you alive Outliving him is a reason to go on

This song isn’t about Portland, but it also isn’t not about Portland.

It’s also about Seattle.

But also it was just written for the Song Fight! Live Fight in Portland, in 2015.

Lyrics: Don’t Come Here to Live

We’re so happy that you want to stay But our city’s full please go away We don’t want to turn away your kind So come anyway, I guess we won’t mind

We know what you’ve seen on the TV How we live our lives totally fancy free But you really ought to know Portlandia is just a show

We are passive, and aggressive Sacred bike rights often start fights But we all drive, when you arrive We say you’ll never need a car

We have hipsters - Silly tricksters We’re ironic - Catatonic Brew our own beer, but please don’t fear ‘Cause there’s always PBR

So you live here now, you want a job? I guess that’s cool - you’re not a slob You could work at a restaurant If that is the kind of job you want

What’s that you say? You have a degree? A master’s in sustainability? That’s really great, but you oughta know I just got mine an hour ago

We are passive, and aggressive Sacred bike rights often start fights But we all drive, when you arrive We say you’ll never need a car

We have hipsters - Silly tricksters We’re ironic - Catatonic Brew our own beer, but please don’t fear ‘Cause there’s always PBR

I guess we can’t talk you out of it So welcome to Portland, We Give A Shit™ What’s that you say, you love the sky so blue? Well I guess I’ve got some news for you…

We are passive, and aggressive Sacred bike rights often start fights But we all drive, when you arrive We say you’ll never need a car

We have hipsters - Silly tricksters We’re ironic - Catatonic Brew our own beer, but please don’t fear ‘Cause there’s always PBR And there’s always PBR And there’s always PBR

A song about getting away from yourself for a bit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OavIAgVHi-A

Lyrics: Change Is Coming

You don’t go places that you used to You don’t enjoy the stories that you’re used to You can’t stand anyone you’re introduced to Sitting home alone is what you’ve been reduced to

Something happened long ago inside you Now it’s back, your life won’t be the same All of the signposts that used to guide you Got pulled up by something, don’t know when it came

But change is coming It’s funny and it’s faint Yes change is coming With noses thumbing Oh, change it is coming The running refrain So humming and strange Our upcoming change

Your friends they act like they don’t recognize you And all these parts they say now that comprise you They preferred the skin that once disguised you So hard to shake the thought, that they all now despise you

But change is coming It’s funny and it’s faint Yes, change is coming With noses thumbing, oh Change it is coming The running refrain So humming and strange Our upcoming change

The you that you are now’s the only you you are You can’t go back to who you once were before Got no choice, you gotta be true to who you are Genie won’t go back inside that bottle any more

Yes change, change is coming It’s funny and still faint More change, change is coming So I’m succumbing to What you’re becoming like an Oncoming train It’s humming and strange This upcoming change

Video: Change Is Coming

This day didn’t go so well, so I was looking forward to a better one.

Lyrics: Come Out

I heard what the robot said I’m going back to bed ‘Cause I know if I don’t get enough sleep I’ll just be seein’ red

I think I’ll stay inside No reason not to hide Maybe if they don’t hear a peep They’ll think I already died

How we gonna get ourselves out of this one Why can’t they just go and shoot the moon Someone should do something about this terror from outer space I hope that this bad nightmare is ending soon

I heard what the robot said I’m going back to bed Seeing that big pneumatic drill Fills me up with dread

I just can’t stay inside Even if they think I died Smoking crater where it was my favorite hill Maybe it’s time to hide

How we gonna get ourselves out of this one Why’d they have to go and shoot the moon Someone should do something about this threat to the human race I hope that this bad nightmare is ending soon

I heard what the robot said I’m going back to bed ‘Cause I know if I don’t get enough sleep I’ll just be seein’ red

Lyrics: Sometimes It’s Hard to Keep Yourself Moving

Wake up in the morning Before the alarm goes Trying to fall back to sleep Still in last night’s clothes Lying half awake, I still can’t get up when the beeping starts Why would I

Sleepwalk through the morning On the way to work That guy on the bicycle is Such a stupid jerk I think I should push him over Just to show him up But why would I

Sometimes it is very hard to keep yourself moving when it’s gone haywire

Monday morning meeting Going way too long Finished up my coffee but the coffee isn’t strong I feel like I need to sleep I need to keep moving but why would I

Tuesday PM meeting Life is way too short Everything I try to say cut off with a retort Why does this guy work here, he’s a jerk, here, I should shut him up why would I

Sometimes it is very hard to keep yourself moving when it’s all haywire

Oh, listen to me Think about the damage done How hard can it be Just to have a little fun

Wednesday morning dreary I get nothing done Thursday comes and Friday goes Still get nothing done I should reconsider my Career choice, find a new voice but Why would I

Sometimes it is very hard to keep yourself moving when it’s gone haywire

Lyrics: Everybody Calm Down

Relax, calm yourself, There’s nothing to be afraid of Relax, ease your mind The giant monster’s just in love

Nothing’s gonna change I know it might seem strange

Everything will be alright Everything will be alright Everything will be fine tonight Everything is always fine tonight

Nothing’s gonna change Nothing is so strange Relax, calm yourself He isn’t ever gonna hurt you Relax, ease your mind And if he does what could you do

Nothing’s gonna change The city’s gonna rearrange Nothing’s gonna change He’s here on a monster exchange

Relax, calm yourself There’s nothing to be afraid of Relax, calm yourself And show the monster all of your love