Author: Alta Peterson

Go Get

In a prison of my own mind
I’m on a spending spree with my time.
Nod and obey make sure to
Hide
The valuable butter
Knife at night

And hold tight

Chip the stone at midnight
Making do in daylight
Win the war with no fight
Break out when the time’s right
Break out when the time’s right
Break out when the time’s right
Break out when the time’s right
Win the war with no fight … when the time’s right

Tugging at my company chain
I shovel grain in the mouth of knives
shake a bloody hand and make up for what you can
this is modern life

And hold tight

Chip the stone at midnight
Making do in daylight
Win the war with no fight
Break out when the time’s right
Break out when the time’s right
Break out when the time’s right
Break out when the time’s right
Win the war with no fight … when the time’s right

Let’s go get…happy
Let’s go get…. The key
Let’s go get ….something
Let’s go get ourselves free
bite your tongue and spit out the nails at quittin time with your car door shut
double down on the underdog and make a play while you’re standing up

and hold tight

Let’s go get…happy
Let’s go set ….something
Let’s go get…. The key
Let’s go get ourselves free

video still by Paul Gronner
video still by Paul Gronner

Everywhere

Everywhere that I look
A different you
Pretend to read a book
enjoy the view

Beautiful is as it does
and there you go
universes start with yes
and end with no

never see you again
So lets brush hands
As you break up this ten
A brief romance

Beautiful is as it does
and there you go
universes start with yes
and end with no

mingle with the lucky
who pick and choose
lonesome variety
in bathing suits

Beautiful is as it does
it comes and goes
universes start with yes
and end with no

Careful for what you take
Cuz nothing’s free
Fruit of the tree you shake
Becomes a need

Beautiful is as it does
and there you go
universes start with yes
and end with no

photo by Randy Karles
photo by Randy Karels

Devil in Doses

Devil ignores those ain’t got no offer
Prefers the lucky over the talker

Devil ignores those ain’t got no offer
Prefers the lucky over the talker

I got an unhealthy fixation
It took me to the lost soul station mess of my own making
because I’m not entitled to that ride to hell I pushed the button now I’m back in my bed

I am not greedy but I’m also kind of selfish you said what’s the difference, what’s the difference
the other day I wrote a letter to my devil I said can I just have you in doses can I just have you in doses please

Devil ignores those ain’t got no offer
Prefers the lucky over the talker

I am not greedy but I’m also kind of selfish you said what’s the difference, whats the difference
the other day I wrote a letter to my devil I said can I just have you in doses can I just have you in doses please

Can I just have you I doses can I just have you in doses please

photo by Paul Gronner
photo by Paul Gronner

Okay Okay

I’d like to walk arm and arm in the dew
with you, and you, and you and you
I want to grow to grow young and renew
I do I do I do I do
there is ano — another word for free
lonely lonely lonely lonely
I can’t believe … that you like wretched me
I’m not worthy I’m not worthy

It’s never – it’s never enough
Damn fools gold … the shine it will rust
It’s never – as good as it gets
And so say goodbye to regrets

OK OK OK OK OK

I am in love with a dozen and one
and you’re the one and you’re the one
they say they say every dog has it day
but they don’t say what kind of day

It’s never – it’s never enough
Damn fools gold … the shine it will rust
It’s never – as good as it gets
And so say goodbye to regrets

OK OK OK OK OK!

photo by Randy Karels
photo by Randy Karels

Dangerous Games

In war and yes in love protect bystanders of
This is a one-way trip and therein lies the rub

You’ve got your rules and I’ve got mine
someone made them
others see fit to break them
You’ve kept your cool but I’ve lost mine
I am shakin
My control has been taken

Don’t find if you don’t seek apples on other trees
Don’t do and you won’t be wealthy in memory

You’ve got your rules and I’ve got mine
someone made them
others see fit to break them
You’ve kept your cool but I’ve lost mine
I am shakin
My control has been taken

Dangerous game
why do I play this
I’m tempting fate to kiss with flames
Dangerous game
Think I’d have outgrown this
I’m tempting fate to burn my name

I made a decision you made a division
This path is a dead end and yet we still pretend

You’ve got your rules and I’ve got mine
someone made them
others see fit to break them
You’ve kept your cool but I’ve lost mine
I am shakin
My control has been taken

Dangerous game
why do I play this
Im tempting fate to kiss with flames
Dangerous game
Think I’d have outgrown this
I’m tempting fate to burn my name

photo by Randy Karels
photo by Randy Karels

I Don’t Mean What I Say

I think I could love you
but I don’t think I do
because you don’t love me
Thank God

I don’t mean what I say
guess it depends on the day
I think you’re beautiful
that’s all

please stop looking at me
unless I look at you first
that’s what your telepath
told me

it is best to obey
guess it depends on the day
This game will burn me down
Baby

left is safety
right’s excitement
steering wheel’s a fake
hold on tight then

Mother nature’s a
reckless driver
We could jump off or
Try to ride

Soon we will know
what the future
held for us

Another husband and wife
so many pairs of a stripe
love is a numbers game
My God

I do not mean what I say
guess it depends on the day
random is beautiful
That’s all

left is safety
right’s excitement
steering wheel’s a fake
hold on tight then

Mother nature’s a
reckless driver
We could jump off or
Try to ride

Soon we will know

photo by Randy Karels
photo by Randy Karels

It’s Not Easy

Desert drive
A ball of fire up high
burning toward
the better days desired

keep your head
but never look behind
fear and dread
what a waste when you have one life

It’s not easy
Being you being me
It’s not easy
When there is so many
So many yous many me

I try to
I try not to try too hard
Try not to
To think of the future scars

It’s not easy
Being you being me
It’s not easy
When there is so many
So many yous many me

Dusk of youth
lasts forever until it ends
book of you
writes itself with your dirty hand

It’s not easy
Being you being me
It’s not easy
When there is so many
It’s not easy
Being you being me
It’s not easy
And that is the beauty

photo by Randy Karels</a
photo by Randy Karels

Tomorrow Rhymes With Today

Lying on the deck at 18
Night drunk dialed to say she’s a queen

Portrait of some forgotten face
Posing high above the fireplace

Tomorrow rhymes with today
Come and go
I guess that’s the way

Winter outside drinks flow inside
Raise a glass to
Secrets we hide

tomorrow rhymes with today
Come and go
I guess that’s the way

One scene fades into another
Deep space nine please be my partner
One scene fades into another
Deep space nine please be my love

The robots are always watching
Coding stories never to be

tomorrow rhymes with today
Come and go
I guess that’s the way
tomorrow rhymes with today
Come and go
I guess that’s the way

photo by Randy Karels
photo by Randy Karels

Anonymous

I’ll skim what you have written cuz
I agree
I’ll skip what you have written cuz
you don’t know anything
Another blazing blue dry sky
I’m thirsty
Another one catches my eye
It’s wrong but I have needs

I deserve a massage
While I craft a message
To let everybody know
Just exactly what I think about this mess
And The best thing is I’ll be ……ano-ny-mess

Another hot winter day let’s
hit the beach
this fucking traffic’s annoying
screw you make room for me

bridge:
let me say my piece about this mess
I know whose to blame for this hot mess
Best thing is I’ll be Anony-mess

I deserve a massage
While I craft a message
To let everybody know
Just exactly what I think about this mess …
and the worst thing is I’ll die anonymous

Ano-ny-mess

photo by Paul Gronner
photo by Paul Gronner

Go For Broke

Stomach turns as you walk up the stairs to

Show your face

This new place

What if I have a food stain

What if they say I’m inane

No no you don’t

it’s time to go

buckle up and go broke

Feel alive as  you give the toll booth guy

your house key

you are free

In the morning we will go

Drive on through past Toledo

Yes yes, we know it’s time to go

buckle up and go for broke