From the album There I Was.
All lyrics are written and copyrighted by Matt Coakley, and are FCC friendly.
1. Sugar in My Coffee
I keep putting sugar in my coffee
And I know it’s not good for me
And I know I’m no good for you
I keep putting sugar in my coffee
But could I stop if I wanted to?
Could I find something better to do?
Could I justify my own supply of dopamine?
I keep putting sugar in my coffee
And I know it’s not good for me
I’m averse to the bitterness
Should I question everything that I put in my coffee?
I keep putting sugar in my coffee
And I know it’s not good for me
2. Passing Through
You’re passing through
This life is short
Oh, what can you do?
Let it go
Nature changes and so do you
Open up
Should you ever close your door
Give your love
Give it all and there will be more
You do what you can
Accept the rest and let it be
As time goes by
I hope you find serenity
[Chorus]
You’re only here a little while
You’re passing through
It’s just an inch within a mile
You’re passing through
Oh, what can you do?
You’re passing through
The path extends beyond your time
And when you’re gone
There’s always footprints left behind
[Chorus]
We’re just passing through
3. Spring
Spring is here again
So take your plastic off the windows
Watered the plants, started to dance
Have you ever felt a mood this good?
Heard the birds this morn’
I’m woken up by pigeon coos
So do you as I cling to you in the nighttime
While the room gets warm
In the winter, all is silent
When the freshly fallen snow absorbs all sound
And the barren trees brace against the wind
Their only warmth is underground
And their branches, like a hundred fingers
Stretching lifelessly, are all I see
And I might never leave my house again
The frigid shivering might never end
…and then it’s spring
Can you dig the AC unit out of the closet?
Put it in the window
Don’t you know we generate too much heat
It’s hard to sleep in the nighttime
While the room gets warm
[Chorus]
It’s spring
Just like that, it’s spring
4. Find a Routine
Find a routine to get the engine running
Find a routine to brush your teeth in bed
Find a routine to get the morning going
Find a routine to get your daily bread
What do I need to find a new beginning?
What do you mean you float across the room?
Find a routine to find a new beginning
Find a routine to get it all
Somewhere in the city, there’s a girl for me
Who can say what happens when you go?
Someone let them say that there’s a world for me
You’ll be fine, just find a new routine
What do I need to get my spirit running?
What do I need to finish that damn book?
Somewhere in the city, there’s a girl for me
You can’t say what happens ’til you go
Someone let them say that there’s a world for me
You’ll be fine, just find a new routine
5. Best Destiny
Focus on the force to reckon
Find a way to stay connected
Maybe no one walks away
May we change and grow and still we stay
Talks of a union always surface
Matrimony makes you nervous
Sacraments all Saturday
Giving grace and love in several ways
Miracles could happen every day
Nothing looks like I’d imagined
Older dreams just seem old-fashioned
Something ’bout you pulls me in
I was headed toward a world of sin
Maybe it’s the gin and tonic
But the vibe was not platonic
We went for a synchronized jump
You fell on your ass ’cause you were drunk
You’re making a disciple out of me
Giving me my best destiny
It’s an odd epiphany
I’m looking at my best destiny
Moonbeams shining off the Bean
Planning future sight unseen
We went for a synchronized jump
You fell on your ass ’cause you were drunk
Miracles can happen every day
[Chorus]
You’re making a disciple out of me
Giving me my best destiny
Maybe God is testing me
By showing me my best destiny
6. No Need
No need
No need
No need
No need
No need
No need
No need
No need
7. Stick and Poke
Stick and poke tattoos
That we want to give each other
Nothing better to do
Want to get out of the suburbs
Hit me harder, make me tough
It’s why we’ve got each other
A sister and a brother
Whatcha listening to?
Looks like you found some of my CDs
Saw you took my shoes
Hand ’em down so I can leave, please
Singing all our favorite songs
When we sing together
I lowkey like it better
Do you want a wagon ride?
You can take my scooter
Be done on the computer
Sister in the creek
Blood is thicker than the water
Journey through the reeds
Piggyback was how I brought her
Follow me, I’ll carry you
Life was so fantastic
A joyride while it lasted
Bicker when we’re bored
You annoy me and you know that
Why’d you lock your door?
Don’t you want to build a snowman?
I just need a little space
You’re a space invader
I’ll hang out with you later
Follow room to room
Do you look up to me or something?
Father says you do
So the pressure’s always thumping
Let me hide so you can seek
Secrets are a handful
Let’s set a good example
Waking up for Mass
We don’t wanna every sunday
Stations on stained glass
Noble sufferers in some way
We can see what others can’t
From a shared perspective
A family collective
Race you to the car
Still competing for attention
I gave myself that scar
Maybe that was the intention
Life is getting harder still
At least we’ve got each other
Two sisters and two brothers
When we leave for school
See you later alligator
We’ll be back mid-June
Won’t our lives be so much greater?
Spending time with all you guys
I can see me clearer
Siblings are a mirror
8. The Bar Got Loud
The bar got loud
I feel like I’m shouting
It’s hard to hear
Do you wanna go?
I’m having a good time with you
Maybe we could check out a different spot
The bar got loud
I was having a good time talking to you
Do you want to get out of here
And go someplace else?
Once you finish your drink
I’m gonna go and close out
Is that alright?
I’m down to keep hanging out
But I must leave now
(He’s overstimulated)
The bar got loud
I feel like I’m shouting
Do you wanna make some music at my place?
I got congas and a clarinet
That’s just one option I pose
You know I’m open to wherever this goes
Another bar would also be fine
But if it’s loud like this, I’ll go out of my mind
(He’s overstimulated)
Now I know it’s time to get myself right on home
9. My Baby Is Under the Knife
My baby is under the knife
My worries are coming to life
They’re putting her under
Her skin slit asunder
My baby is under the knife
My baby is under the knife
I wanted to make her my wife
We should be elopin’
But they’re cuttin’ her open
My baby is under the knife
My baby said she would be mine
Now she’s on a table supine
So here’s to hopin’
They don’t leave her open
My baby is under the knife
My baby is out for the count
You’d be startled by the amount
Of anesthesia it takes
I hope that she wakes
My baby is under the knife
10. Real Love Is Better
Take variety
Put it on your ring finger
Take the comfort
Of your mother’s wedding ring
Real love is better
Take the algebra
Take the alphabet
Take computers
And what hasn’t happened yet
Real love is better
Take a year off
Bring me for the ride
See the Northern Lights
See continents collide
Real love is better
Real love is better
Real love is better
Real love is better
11. Tinted Glasses
You’re gonna wrong my heart so badly
I may be dumb, but not naïve
We’ll get along so strong, so happy
There must be something up your sleeve
I know you’re holding out
Or waiting for a chance to leave
I’m so about this
Please tell me that you’re all about this
I can’t imagine just how I’d feel if
You were to ghost me tomorrow
I used to hide from cloudy skies but
These lenses make a nimbus less alarming
I’m hopeless on that smile
With tinted glasses on, they’re all so charming
Slow and steady
And I’m ready to get hurt again
I’m so about this
Please tell me that you’re also about this
I can’t imagine just how I’d feel if
You were to ghost me tomorrow
12. Leg Day Lament
My body feels like a badly-oiled machine
My muscles barely work
I think that they’re atrophyin’
The years are gonna catch up with me
The years are gonna catch up with me
The years are gonna catch up with me
And fast
I’ll break my back while carryin’ that keyboard someday
Don’t know why I can’t just
Prioritize my fitness today
I know I don’t have time to waste
I’m young and I’m not feeling great
I guess I ought to join a gym tomorrow
Am I gonna be a big, strong man someday?
Oh, no no no no no
As long as I don’t get too disheartened on leg day…
Oh, no no no no no
The years are gonna catch up with me
The years are gonna catch up with me
The years are gonna catch up with me
And fast
My body feels like a badly-oiled machine
I’ll have to change my habits if I want to get lean
I know I don’t have time to waste
I’m young and I’m not feeling great
I guess I ought to join a gym tomorrow
13. Watching Trains
Thought I heard your voice on the train ride home
Listened through the rumble and whistle blowin’
Backtracked the trolley lines we’d take
Waiting for the screech of the dying brakes
Trains go by
Wonder why you’re on my mind
But it’s better to let it go
Did you find your rowhome on your own?
Did you finally ever fix your phone?
That howl and whining sound
Bouncing down the underground
Some hounds will lead you to old bones
Trains go by
And I shuffle through the crowds and turnstiles
Thinking I might find you and catch that smile
But it’s better to let it go
Let it go
Someday I’ll let it go
We used to ride that line together
Downtown, in warmer weather
We laughed so hard, we could barely breathe
You stayed on, but I had to leave
Now I’m back on that platform
Just watching trains
But it’s better to let it go
Now I sit alone on the train ride home
Now I sit alone on the train ride home
Now I sit alone
14. 10,000 Hours
I won’t pen a verse until I’ve heard a thousand albums
It’ll never work unless I listen to ’em all
I’ll fake my own and shake and force a catchy chorus
No shows or tours ’til I record a perfect song
I’ll hide for 10,000 hours
I’ll hone and chip away the stone
I’ll hide for 10,000 hours
I’m staying inside for a long, long time
I know I’m not novel, but I’ve been to several book clubs
I want to forge my place within the canon of the greats
I’ll put pen to paper when the words are locked and loaded
But the pressure mounts and I can’t get ’em out that way
[Chorus]
I won’t shoot no film until I’ve soaked in all the classics
I might draft a script and then trash it on a whim
It would be some years just to study all the cameras
In that time I’ll find my bright idea’s gone dim
[Chorus]
