City Heights Square Dance Blues

Walking down 43rd street my new neighborhood

seems like sunshine and wine

Southern California fine.

There was this man came to town

dropped a dime ten times two hundred times and made it out.

Came across street crosswalk signs and

Dad's Club thrusday night times

inturrupting scheduling on bilingual sound stations.



The liquor store exactly a block down my new steet

has that IPA that medicates my afterwork days

so my spirits spring and jump onto things.

We made it here together after long

struggles to new tierra

family intact

wits end came to time and time again.

people in the way

you see it everyday
someone in your way
there it goes again
your murderous second cousin's friend
on the highway
right in front of you
going slow when you're in a hurry
don't worry we're all late
you step on top of them it's the way to the top
nose dive belly flop it's your destiny
long lost soul searching judge and jury

you gotta get out of the city lights and dirty streets
get outside the suburbs
get into mountains streams
find out what's out there
there's something there
just for you
you gotta experience
and you won't if you don't get your ass
out there sometime soon
you go crazy without it
no good to see concrete metal boxes all day
get outside and get paid
you win with this effort.

just make it
love waits in the balance
your sanity and mine
we cannot complete it this way
turn it around cycle in the other direction
we climb it and it's suffer the truth
that's why we're here

Alone Riding Solo

You went away
taking the kids
visiting family abroad
Argentina

I barley saw you before you left
you were under too much
stress not connected to the us
we lost five days before you left
sleeping outside my bed
you wrestle yourself to edges
of your bed so i can't touch you
queen size bed but
then I'm on
the floor

We stay connected
with angry exchanges
wasting precious time goes by
now you're gone the house is
a wreck as you feared
your doubt fuels our
scorched earth policy
I'm treated to burning rhetoric
mala anda y malas palabras

You're en route to Mar del Plata
I cycle San Diego's Great Western Loop
we arrive within three minutes of each other
six thousand miles apart
lovers bliss
timing is uniting
we articulate our sensations

Remember driving to save me
last time I rode this route?
you love me
you need me
you want me
my love's got your back
and this is our insanity

The road was open
on today's route
riding to the start of the ride
the seldom smile in your eyes
my need to hide behind you
the twisted roadside signs

My lover sublime
success is not doubted
the road rises in our meeting

This great feeling of relief
you feel it too a far
getting away from me
me from you
half the Americas away

I love you woman of the angeles
you're a tool and I am too
loves worth a couple of depressive fools.