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I always wanted, and still aspire, to be something more than just one thing, just one performance.

quote by Kevin Bacon
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The first dragon (sestina)

They went to find a thing that belched fire
a killer, a dragon what could it be?
To defeat it, to win they did aspire,
to set the people from its terror free,
it was huge as it could never tire
and where it went, there was only agony.

Those brave humble men were of all fear free
were like a mighty force that did aspire
to make men godly, as t no man should be,
to snatch from that beast it’s devouring fire
and to bring to it just death and agony
and in this quest they would not tire.

Yet all of the great brave men do aspire
to in the unknown find knowledge free
to test skill against the beast and to tire
to measure if plans full of follies be,
later to chance, to fight using its fire,
even in using if there is only agony.

They wanted the truth of its power to be free,
free to use in destruction like the strange fire
that came from heaven that fell in agony
that has the capacity to even gods to tire,
they constructed weapons that should be
the main goal to which warriors do aspire.

It may that other men could easily tire
of this overwhelming quest whose worth could be
not lovely high things, to which to aspire,
nor a guiding light sparkling over the free
but quenching of life by its terrible fire,
with it only acts of death and agony.

Then like destiny, which doomed in agony,
like the first discoverers of divine secret fire,
the beast would rise and in raving anger be
really ruthless and from tricks it will not tire,
its intimate knowledge would not come free,
to seek power in which men as fools aspire.

In pride anything to be, finishing foes with fire
while endlessly to be free they do aspire
while men tire in wars only breeding agony.

poem by Gert Strydom
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Make This House A Home

Well theres something in us living
Theres something you should know
There was a time for us to fall
Now its time to grow
But you know its not the way
That I intended it to be
Crossing hearts and killing souls
And trying to get down to whats real
All I ever wanted was to make this house a home
I let go of sinking sand wont you help me find a stone
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
Was to make this house a home
All I needed was your hand to hold
I spent so much time alone
I needed your direction
But we re-aligned my broken bones
Well theyre running from a lifeless state
Somehow we lost our hold
All we have with us is change
Left over from what started out as gold
All I ever wanted was to make this house a home
I let go of sinking sand - wont you help me find a stone
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
Was to make this house a home
This is what I give to you
Its flesh and blood
Its body and soul
Wont you take whats left of who I am
And try to see it whole
Im holding you responsible for every word I say
If you feel the brokenness
Wont you try and look the other way
I never meant to be so low
I only wanted you to see
That time was healing someone else
But its tearing apart the very heart of me
This is what I give to you
Its flesh and blood
Its body and soul
Wont you take whats left of who I am
And try to see it whole
All I ever wanted was to make this house a home

[...] Read more

song performed by Indigo Girls
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Having Fun

When the clouds in the cosmos wanted to have some fun;
they clashed playfully against each other; fomenting
heavenly droplets of liquid to tumble down in
rhapsodic frenzy,

When the waves in the undulating ocean wanted to have
some fun; they rose and fell merrily with the
exuberant breeze; culminating into a festoon of
magnificently sparkling froth as they dissipated on
the silver sands,

When the battalion of boisterous frogs wanted to have
some fun; they bounced and frisked ebulliently after
midnight; inundating the perpetually still atmosphere
with their brazenly croaking voice,

When the solitary palms wanted to have some fun; they
embedded themselves to unprecedented limits beneath
majestic soil; thunderously clapped thereafter; to
sprinkle the granules in unanimous tandem,

When the fleet of fountain pens wanted to have some
fun; they sketched overwhelmingly funny contours of
their masters; emptying the blotted ink wholesomely on
his tyrannically wretched face,

When the bells in the dilapidated castle wanted to
have some fun; they commenced to nostalgically
reverberate; drowning in sheer ecstasy of the
euphorically tinkling sound,

When the bland glasses of water wanted to have some
fun; they deliberately stumbled when offered to the
unsuspecting visitor; drenching him disdainfully from
head to toe with their clammy caress,
When the sonorously serious eyelids wanted to have
some fun; they winked incessantly at passerby's;
making them the inevitable darling of every
flirtatious heart,

When the army of mischievous red ants wanted to have
some fun; they surreptitiously clambered up the
mammoth elephant's trunk; evoking him to thereby
collapse helplessly towards pathetically cold ground,

When the morbidly aloof spider wanted to have some
fun; it indefatigably ran up and down the periphery of
its web; eventually deciding to perch on the honey
coated biscuit placed by the luxuriously plush
bedside,

[...] Read more

poem by Nikhil Parekh
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Thinking of tomorrow

I didn’t eat food today; as I wanted to wholesomely famish myself; to
devour
the appetizing chunks of pudding; Tomorrow,

I didn’t sleep blissfully today; as I was overwhelmingly excited to
run;
Tomorrow,

I didn’t play mischievously today; as I wanted to reserve every iota of
my
energy to passionately leap; Tomorrow,

I didn’t drink water today; as I wanted to gulp gallons of voluptuous
wine;
Tomorrow,

I didn’t bathe today; as I wanted to drown my persona in flamboyant
waves of
the salty ocean; Tomorrow,

I didn’t see any object today; as I wanted to view the mesmerizing
beauty of
dawn; Tomorrow,

I didn’t move my legs today; as I wanted to dance unrelentingly all
night;
Tomorrow,

I didn’t revolve my fingers today; as I wanted to sketch intricate
landscapes
with their towering summits in the clouds; Tomorrow,

I didn’t study one bit today; as I wanted to read through volumes of
mystical
tales; Tomorrow,
I didn’t go out today; as I wanted to uninhibitedly explore through the
wilderness; Tomorrow,

I didn’t see the time today; as I wanted to scrupulously count every
unleashing minute tomorrow,

I didn’t smell the air today; as I wanted to inundate my nostrils with
the
enchanting perfume of lotus; Tomorrow,

I didn’t speak today; as I wanted to scream hysterically for hours on
the
trot; Tomorrow,

I didn’t reside in the house today; as I wanted to live the entire

[...] Read more

poem by Nikhil Parekh
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All She Wanted

She was a good girl
Been true to herself
Never swayed by the notions of somebody else
Shed had it rough, maybe most of the time
With only one thing on her mind
All she wanted was a lovin man
All she wanted was a lovin man
Who was tryin to do the best that he can
All she wanted was a lovin, lovin man
There could be blue skies in her heart
She was waitin for the good times to start
She never wanted diamonds
She never wanted gold
She was holdin out for someone to hold
All she wanted was a lovin man
All she wanted was a lovin man
Who was tryin to do the best that he can
All she wanted was a lovin, lovin man
A loving man
All she wanted was a lovin man
All she wanted was a lovin man
All she wanted was a lovin man
Who was tryin to do the best that he can
All she wanted was a lovin, lovin man
Loving man
All she wanted was a lovin man
All she wanted was a lovin man
All she wanted was a lovin man
All she wanted was a lovin man

song performed by Electric Light Orchestra
Added by Lucian Velea
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I Wanted To Tell Her

I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her
I needed to tell her
Just like the wind you blew away your happy lovers touch
You bring the blues into my heart just like a rush
I cannot bear the way my heart has helped to keep you close
Of you my babe I cannot get enough
You touch me baby
I loved you to the lines of lies you told when I asked her name
I knew the perfume in your hair just wasnt mine
Did you ever think to notice me when you wasnt home?
I noticed every time
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
Thought you noticed every time but you didnt notice a thing
Id have to cover up my calls when the telephone would ring
Im tired of you and the things you do and all the things you say
No more babysitting for neurotic girls today
Im thinking that the pain Im going through just to keep you babe
Is something that I should bear
Did you ever stop to notice me when you had nothing?
And I never cared?
Just like the wind you blew away your happy lovers touch
You bring the blues into my life just like a rush
I cannot bear the way my heart has helped to keep you close
Of you my babe I cannot get enough
You touch me baby, dont be mean to me!
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her
I needed to tell her

song performed by Ministry
Added by Lucian Velea
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If I Wanted To

If I wanted to I could do anything right
I could dance with the devil on a
Saturday night
If I wanted to I could turn matches to gold
I could smoke drink swear and I would never
grow old
I wouldn't have to be in love with you
If I only wanted to
If I only wanted to

If I wanted to I could run fast as a train
Be as sharp as a needle that's twisting your brain
If I wanted to I could turn mountains to sand
Have political leaders in the palm of my hand
I wouldn't have to be in love with you
If I only wanted to
If I only wanted to

I could leave tonight
And I would be all right
Stop holding on
If I wanted to
If I only wanted to

If I wanted to I could be as patient as death
Fix this hole in my heart leaking into my flesh
If I wanted to I could turn sparks into ice
There'd never be another woman who could make you
think twice
I wouldn't have to be in love with you
If I only wanted to
If I only wanted to

song performed by Melissa Etheridge
Added by Lucian Velea
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With First Steps Taken

In it from the beginning!
With first steps taken and a curiousness.
Yes,
In the beginning...
I felt was mine was what I touched.

And it seemed so real,
I could take...
What it was I touched.

In it from the beginning!
With first steps taken and a curiousness.
Yes,
It was the beginning,
That made me feel...
I could take whatever I touched.

And it seemed so real,
I could take,
What it was I touched.
And wanted much.

Like a toy I saw another child with it and had,
I wanted.
I wanted.

Like a car I saw drive away from my path,
I wanted.
I wanted.

Like a love between two people shared,
Who acted like they walked on air...
I wanted.
I wanted.

And it seemed so real,
I could take,
What it was I touched.
And wanted much.

If I saw somebody new and they were with someone else,
So what...
I just wanted.
To get up on it.

And it seemed so real to me,
I could take anything I wanted.
To flaunt and get up on it.

Like a love between two people shared,

[...] Read more

poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Id Rather Be You

1986. released as b-side of single throwing it all away, 1987.
Ooh yeah
You know I never wanted to be closer
And Ill still be here until its over
No, no I never wanted to be closer
But youll be back, I couldve told you
Well I always knew
Yes I could see it coming
Your ambitious streak
You always want things beyond your reach
Well now youve got what you wanted
And youre free to be the things
You always said youd be
Youre up there looking down
Tell me what do you see - oh
Cos you know
You know I never wanted to be closer
And Ill still be here until its over
No, no I never wanted to be closer
Yeah, but youll be back, I couldve told you
Well it seems to me
That youve got to fight for yourself
In this world we live in
Its dog-eat-dog and never give in
Why worry when youre holding the aces
Dont throw it away cos you know
Id rather be you than me
Up there looking down
Tell me what do you see - oh
Hey hey yeah
Ooh yeah
You know I never wanted to be closer (never wanted)
And Ill still be here til its over
No, no I never wanted to be closer (never wanted)
Ooh but youll be back, I couldve told you
Its been a long time coming
But at last we seem to be moving on, straight ahead
Were finally getting something done
Time flies and fore you know it
Youll be getting closer to where
You always knew youd be
Up there looking down
Tell me what do you see - oh
Cos you know
No, no I never wanted to be closer (never wanted)
Ill still be here until its over
No, you know I never wanted to be closer (never wanted)
Yeah but youll be back, I couldve told you
Hey hey yeah...

song performed by Genesis
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All I Ever Wanted

What are you going to say and what are you going to do ?
What are you going to say and what are you going to do ?
Too good
You could
Be so misunderstood
Snow pure
Demure
Don't feel so insecure
Heaven would be lonely without you
You satisfy the need in me
No-one makes me feel the way you do
What are you going to say and what are you going to do ?
What are you going to say and what are you going to do ?
Maligned
You'll find
A strength to ease your mind
Trust fate
Relate
This trial you'll tolerate
Summer would be bitter without you
You satisfy the need in me
Sunshine couldn't warm me like you do
Devotion's what you read in read
All I ever wanted
Was to be with you just to be with you
All I ever wanted
Just to be with you to be free with you
Review
Brand new
You know you'll see it through
From now
I wow
They'll take what you allow
Paradise so dreary without you
I couldn't last a day without you
Nothing else could take the place of you
You know I wouldn't stay without you
All I ever wanted
Was to be with you just to be with you
All I ever wanted
Just to be with you to be free with you
Yeah be with you
All I ever wanted
Come on be with you
To be free with you
Totally with you
Hey be with you
All I ever wanted
I believe in you
I believe in you

[...] Read more

song performed by Human League
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Bonus Moshpit Part 2

So scream, I heard about your message,
And how it reeks of your indifference,
Simply tie horizontal strings from your wrists.
(So scream louder now)
I'm bound to come around about,
(I'm bound to come around)
Well can't you, can't you feel it,
Rollin' off your lips, tensing up your shoulders,
Come on, say it
Well it's love (It's love)
Make it hurt (I deserve it)
Well it's love (It's love)
Make it hurt (I deserve it)
Well it's love, it's love, it's love.
Make it hurt.
I said I used the inconsistencies to undress the machine,
Your the poster boy,
The selling point,
The focus for the new campaign,
(Something has to be done)
I'm bound to come around about,
(I'm bound to come around)
Can't you, can't you feel it,
Rollin' off your lips, tensing up your shoulders,
Come on...
Well it's love (It's love)
Make it hurt (I deserve it)
Well it's love (It's love)
Make it hurt (I deserve it)
Well it's love, it's love, it's love.
Make it hurt.
The keys to the castle (are right where I left them)
The princess walked in just to take more attention,
'Cause after all, well isn't that all that I've been after,
And after all, well isn't that all that I'm after,
Your so...
(No way out) I give up in you, I give up in you,
(No way out) I give up in you.
(No way out) Well I give up in you, I give up in you,
(No way out) I give up in you.
I wanted you for nothing more,
Than hating you for what you were,
If that's what you wanted to hear,
(Well if that's what you wanted to hear)
I wanted you for nothing more,
Than hating you for what you were,
(Don't leave, leave) If that's what you wanted to hear,
(If that's what you wanted to hear)
I wanted you for nothing more,
Than hating you for what you were,

[...] Read more

song performed by Taking Back Sunday
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Bonus Mosh Pt. 2

So, scream I heard about your message,
And how it reeked of your indifference,
...it bleeds horizontal straight from your wrists.
(So scream louder now)
Because I'm bound to come around
(Bound to come around)
But can't you, can't you feel it rolling off your lips,
Tensing up your shoulders,
C'mon say it...
[Chorus]
Well, If it's love (It's love)
Make it hurt (I deserve it)
Well, If it's love (It's love)
Make it hurt (I deserve it)
Well, it's love, it's love, it's love...
Make it hurt.
I said I use the inconsistencies
That undress the machine,
You're the poster boy, our selling point, the focus for their new campaign.
(Something has to be done...it just has to)
Bound to come around about
(bound to come around...)
Oh, but can't you, can't you feel it rolling off your lips,
Tensing up your shoulders, c'mon...
[Chorus]
The keys to the castle
(Are right where I left them)
princess,princess, princess
more attention stage center please
'Cause after all, well isn't that all that I've been after and,
I mean After all, well isn't that all that I'm after,
You're so...
There's no way out
And tis a long way down
You are nothing but a haircut and a suit coat
I like you man....you're crazy.
(No way out) I give up in you, well, I give up in you,
(No way out) I give up in you.
(No way out) Well, I give up in you, I give up in you,
(No way out) Well, I give up in you.
I wanted you for nothing more,
Than hating you for what you were,
If that's what you wanted to hear,
(Well, if that's what you wanted to hear)
I wanted you for nothing more,
Than hating you for what you were,
(Don't leave, leave) If that's what you wanted to hear,
(If that's what you wanted to hear)
I wanted you for nothing more,
Than hating you for what you were,

[...] Read more

song performed by Taking Back Sunday
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Youve Got A Habit Of Leaving

Youve got a habit of leaving me
And youve got a habit of deserting me
Sometimes I cry
Sometimes Im so sad
Sometimes Im so glad, so glad
You could go on if you wanted to, wanted to, wanted to
Wanted to
Oh
If you wanted to, yeah
Oh huh
Youve got a habit of leaving me
And youve got a habit of deserting me
Sometimes I cry
Sometimes Im so sad
Sometimes Im so glad, so glad
You could go on if you wanted to, wanted, wanted to
Wanted to, ooh yeah, yeah
Oh, if you wanted to
If you wanted to, yeah, yeah
Wanted to

song performed by David Bowie
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Asshole (Nirvana Fake. An Original Song By The Disenfranchised)

When I first wanted I never ever was... naw
When I first wanted I never ever thought twice
When I first wanted, When I first wanted...
When I first wanted, When I first wanted..
When I first wanted I never ever was.. naw
When I first wanted I never ever thought twice..
When I first wanted, When I first wanted..
When I first wanted, When I first wanted...
Weeee are runnin on down..
We're..Ohhh ahh ahh ahhh..
Here, here is where its running...
We're Ohh ah ah ahhh
YEAH!

song performed by Nirvana
Added by Lucian Velea
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Wanted Dead Or Alive

Written by: j. cannata and m. soldan
Dead or alive
They say that crime dont pay
(wanted) dead or alive
I was born to be a runaway
When youre out on your own
You can be so alone
City livin means breakin the rules
Once youre in you never get out
Theres just no way to stop
Theres nowhere to go theyre draggin you down
cos youre the one they want
Dead or alive
They say that crime dont pay
(wanted) dead or alive
I was born to be a runaway
If the street is your friend
Gotta fight to the end
Soldiers of fortune they never give up
And once youre out you have it made
You rake your way to the top
Nowhere to go theyre draggin you down
cos youre the one they want
Dead or alive
They say that crime dont pay
(wanted) dead or alive
I was born to be a runaway
Wanted dead or alive
Take it or leave it break all the rules
Once youre in you never get out
Theres just no way to stop
Theres nowhere to go theyre draggin you down
cos youre the one they want
Dead or alive
I was born to be a runaway
(wanted) dead or alive
I was born to be a runaway, anyway, (runaway)
Wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

song performed by April Wine
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Sightseeing

Words and music by bob seger
It was a curious sight to me
A castle older than a redwood tree
Once lived in by royalty
Who taxed and raped the land
Mostly now it was stone and dust
Long damp halls and smells of must
Faded walls and ancient rust
Built on shifting sand
And I wanted I wanted I wanted
To smash that sucker down
It was a marvelous sight to see
A redhead workin in a brasserie
Five foot nine built to a tee
Eyes so blue and bright
All the drunks were just circling round
I drank water and held my ground
Later on we did the town
And we caught every sight
Cause I wanted I wanted I wanted
To follow her down
Sightseein freein my soul
Sightseein leavin my soul
It was a magical sight to me
And yves tanguy in a gallery
The 30s looking back at me
As if he really knew
I marveled at the artistry
Predating or technology
The vision there for all to see
Bold and strong and true
And I wanted I wanted I wanted
To take that painting home
I wanted I wanted
I wanted to take that vision home

song performed by Bob Seger
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The Rick Springfield Song

(the szuters)
Took all this time
I never thought it would be like this
I guess the best is best forgotten
Now and then I come back to that dream
Where if I set you free
Youd come back to me
And say that its not all for nothing
All I wanted was one hit record
All I wanted was a chance to be a star
All I wanted was a happy ending
Dont want to hear about the money youre making
Dont want to hear about the young girl shaking
All I wanted was a happy ending...
Somewhere
Well, my good friends talk about
The things theyve done
And look around where I am now
Lately in bed
With this worry in my head
Sometimes wish that I were dead
Just like robin saunders said
All I wanted was one hit record
All I wanted was a chance to be a star
All I wanted was a happy ending
Dont want to hear about the money youre making
Dont want to hear about the young girl shaking
All I wanted was a happy ending...
Somewhere
Somewhere down the line
All I wanted was one hit record
All I wanted was a chance to be a star
All I wanted was a happy ending
Dont want to hear about the money youre making
Dont want to hear about the young girl shaking
All I wanted was a happy ending...
Somewhere
Somewhere down the line...oh yeah
Somewhere down the line
Oh yeah
Somewhere
Somewhere
Yeah
Somewhere
Somewhere
Somewhere

song performed by Rick Springfield
Added by Lucian Velea
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The Nameless

Pathetic (benign)
Accept it (undermined)
Your opinion (your justification)
Happy (State)
Servent (hate)
Malice (heart of weakness)
No toleration
Invade (kill me)
Enraged (in minutes)
Don't condescend (don't neither disagree)
Decide (decay)
Dissapoint (delay)
You suffered then, now suffer under me.
Obsession, take another look.
Remember, every debt you took.
Decide, you live with me
Or give up - i thought you want to be free
(don't go) i never wanted any body more then i wanted you
(i know) the only thing i ever really loved, was hate.
Why do i (feel) anything, (guess)
Anyway (fall) anybody (will), anybody (kill me)
I want (you) i need (you) i love (you)
I won't (let any body have you)
Obey (me) believe (me) just trust (me)
Worship (me) uniform (me)
Be greatful (now) be honest (now)
Be precious (now) be mine (deserve me)
Possesion (feed my only faith)
Confession (i wont tell you twice)
Desert (make life for me)
Or give up - i thought you want to be free.
(don't go) i never wanted any body more then i wanted you
(i know) the only thing i ever really loved, was hurting you.
(don't go) i never wanted any body more then i wanted you
(i know) the only thing i ever really loved, was hate.
(yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh)
Stay inside the hole, let me take control. (don't let it)
You were nothing more, you were something less (innocent)
Something i still get, something i've to break. (all that's precious)
Fingers on your skin, let me salvage it. (you deserve it)
YOU DESERVE IT.
YOU DESERVE IT.
YOU DESERVE IT.
YOU DESERVE IT.
(don't go) i never wanted any body more then i wanted you (i wanted you)
(i know) the only thing i ever really loved, was hurting you. (was hurting you)
(don't go) i never wanted any body more then i wanted you (i wanted you)
(i know) the only thing i ever really loved, was hate.
You're mine (you are you are)
You're mine (you are you are)

[...] Read more

song performed by Slipknot
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One Less Headache

Well it's just a simple fact I
Need to have another drink or two to move on
And then ya won't matter at all
Well it's just a simple fact I
Need to lose you as a ball and chain and move on
And then ya won't matter at all
Wanted to believe
Wanted to believe in something
Now you're one less headache left at home
Wanted to believe
Wanted to believe in something
Now you're one less headache left at home
And now all that's left is
Shattered glass and some broken dreams for all
It really doesn't matter at all
Now that it's all said and done I
Had to have another drink for you and move on
And now you don't matter at all
Wanted to believe
Wanted to believe in something
Now you're one less headache left at home
Wanted to believe
Wanted to believe in something
Now you're one less headache left at home
Wanted to believe
Wanted to believe in something
Now you're one less headache left at home
Wanted to believe
Wanted to believe in something
Now you're one less headache left at home
Left at home
Believe in something
Now you're one less headache left at home

song performed by Zebrahead
Added by Lucian Velea
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Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society

Epigraph

Υδραν φονεύσας, μυρίων τ᾽ ἄλλων πόνων
διῆλθον ἀγέλας . . .
τὸ λοίσθιον δὲ τόνδ᾽ ἔτλην τάλας πόνον,
. . . δῶμα θριγκῶσαι κακοῖς.

I slew the Hydra, and from labour pass'd
To labour — tribes of labours! Till, at last,
Attempting one more labour, in a trice,
Alack, with ills I crowned the edifice.

You have seen better days, dear? So have I —
And worse too, for they brought no such bud-mouth
As yours to lisp "You wish you knew me!" Well,
Wise men, 't is said, have sometimes wished the same,
And wished and had their trouble for their pains.
Suppose my Œdipus should lurk at last
Under a pork-pie hat and crinoline,
And, latish, pounce on Sphynx in Leicester Square?
Or likelier, what if Sphynx in wise old age,
Grown sick of snapping foolish people's heads,
And jealous for her riddle's proper rede, —
Jealous that the good trick which served the turn
Have justice rendered it, nor class one day
With friend Home's stilts and tongs and medium-ware,—
What if the once redoubted Sphynx, I say,
(Because night draws on, and the sands increase,
And desert-whispers grow a prophecy)
Tell all to Corinth of her own accord.
Bright Corinth, not dull Thebes, for Lais' sake,
Who finds me hardly grey, and likes my nose,
And thinks a man of sixty at the prime?
Good! It shall be! Revealment of myself!
But listen, for we must co-operate;
I don't drink tea: permit me the cigar!
First, how to make the matter plain, of course —
What was the law by which I lived. Let 's see:
Ay, we must take one instant of my life
Spent sitting by your side in this neat room:
Watch well the way I use it, and don't laugh!
Here's paper on the table, pen and ink:
Give me the soiled bit — not the pretty rose!
See! having sat an hour, I'm rested now,
Therefore want work: and spy no better work
For eye and hand and mind that guides them both,
During this instant, than to draw my pen
From blot One — thus — up, up to blot Two — thus —
Which I at last reach, thus, and here's my line
Five inches long and tolerably straight:

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poem by Robert Browning (1871)
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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