Brian McGinty

All songs written by Brian McGinty
© 1999 Larpin Lane Publishing (BMI)

Lyrics used by permission
All rights reserved


Dirty Old Town

I staggered into a Dublin bar
After being pushed way too far
The tired old city
An old man from another age
Heard me talking my words of rage
And he ambled up to me
He said there’s more true love in this city boy than you can ever hope to know
I can stand tall and proud by the river bank and be satisfied to know
That every man in this world needs something that he can call his own
All I’ve got right now are some memories and this dirty old town I call home

He said I’ve been to a million places
Made love to a million faces
I’ve heard it all before
Every town, every port of call
Everywhere that my foot would fall
Just another open door
But the very same wind that fills your sails can chill you to the bone
Only so many nights you can spend at sea before you find you’re all alone
And every man in this world needs something that he can call his own
All I’ve got right now are some memories and this dirty old town I call home

And lord don’t the miles roll by
When you’re searching everywhere
For something that’s already there
And lord don’t the time just fly
Waiting for some kind of clue
When all the answers are with you

I staggered into a bar at home
The only place I had left to roam
In Washington D.C.
So cold I couldn’t feel my feet
From the snow scattered on the street
Of this tired old city
But there’s more true love in this city boy than you can ever hope to know
I can stand tall and proud by the river bank and be satisfied to know
That all the years that I’ve spent wandering have left me with no place to go
As I turn my back to the wind that blows through this dirty old town I call home
Everybody needs something that he can call his own
All I’ve got right now are some memories and this dirty old town I call home


I’m Fine

You might not know to look at me but
I’ve got it all worked out
My solemn face won’t let you see what
My story’s all about
Don’t be alarmed if you perceive
That I’m not quite my same old self
Don’t bother asking if I need a little of your help

Cause I’ll say no, I’m fine
Don’t believe this means too much to me
Because oh, I’m fine
I’m exactly where I want to be
And I know, I’m fine
When these demons crawl all over me
I might fall, but no
I’m fine

I might not smile so easily or
I might not laugh so loud
I’d rather sit here quietly and
Not stand out in the crowd
I’m getting comfortable here
At the bottom end of a brand new low
If there’s a happy place of me I left it long ago

And I said no, I’m fine
Don’t believe this means too much to me
Because oh, I’m fine
I’m exactly where I want to be
And I know, I’m fine
When these demons crawl all over me
I might fall, but no
I’m fine

Being out of money ain’t a sin to many
But it’s something that the credit people don’t forgive
Ain’t it true that there can be a painful difference
‘Tween the way you make a living and the way you live
Spilling every drop of blood and every penny
Just to keep on living in a dump that I call home
Go ahead and call me anytime you want to
But you better to it quick before there kill the phone
Going for this long without a woman by you
A lot of stupid little fantasies replace romance
Every single time I try to make it better
Being penniless and ugly I don’t stand a chance
Mama always said that I would make it big
But now I’m betting even Mama wonders if it’s true
Now and then she’ll ask me if I’m through

Cause I’ll say no, I’m fine
Don’t believe this means too much to me
Because oh, I’m fine
I’m exactly where I want to be
And I know, I’m fine
When these demons crawl all over me
I might fall, but no
I’m fine


Requiem

At the turning of the century
At the end point of it all
On a million blank computer screens
Stand reflections of the fall
Is there nothing left to live for
Is there nothing left to do
Is this simply the old order
Making room now for the new

When the end comes I know just where I want to be
As long as I can have you there with me
Cause your face is the last one that I want to see
Sitting underneath the sky
While the moment passes by
On our last night we shouldn’t have to shed a tear
Or waste time on worrying or pointless fear
When our fate comes crashing through the atmosphere
We’ll drink a toast to never and say goodbye to all that has been

Shall we celebrate the arrogance
That technology can bring
While our comfortable existence is
Shattered by that very thing
This old world was getting dirty
Guess it’s time to make it clean
And that’s what we get for placing
All our faith in a machine

All I need is a simple, kind and human touch
I don’t care for elaborate goodbyes and such
It turns out that it doesn’t really matter much
Who makes the biggest noise
Who dies with the most toys
There’ll be no need to apologize or make amends
We all know that every good thing has to end
So don’t dwell on anything that’s sad my friend
We’ll drink a toast to never and say goodbye to all that has been

Always wondered just how the final day would be
So much that we created the catastrophe
Through an unabashed act of mediocrity
But if the end is near, it doesn’t really bother me

Is the real world really such a sacrifice
We’ll face it ignoring any good advice
And sing songs right until we hit the ice
Get out guitars and play
Say hello to New Year’s Day
There was no way that we could have prepared for this
So hold hands and give me just a little kiss
Cause your touch is the one thing that I’m gonna miss
We’ll drink a toast to never and say goodbye to all that has been
We’ll drink a toast to never and say goodbye to all that has been


I’m Not The Only One

Baby deal me in
Tonight I’ve got to win
I’m ready to put down everything I’ve got
Tell me where to start
To set myself apart
From every other guy who thinks his hand is hot

Cause I know I’m not the only one
Who noticed you walk by
I can tell by the time this night is done
Lot’s of other men will try
To be the only one for you

But don’t believe a word
Of all the lines you’ve heard
You’re smart enough to know when you see a bluff
Put them all through hell
Reading all their tells
And waiting for the one whose cards are good enough

And I know I’m not the only one
Who feels the way I do
By the way that this whole room came undone
When it laid its eyes on you
And tried to play you for a fool

But you’re no one’s fool tonight
You can play it cool and make them think you might
But it’s all just wasted talk
When they’re in you face you turn around and walk

Well baby work the room
Cut through all the gloom
Of disappointed gamblers and broken dreams
Give me just a sign
That you could be mine
Maybe this busted hand’s not as bad as it seems

And I know I’m not the only one
Who wants to take you home
By the time that it’s all been said and done
The decision’s yours alone
And if I want you
I’m not the only one
I’m not the only one
I’m not the only one
I’m not the only one


Clean

Drink this bottle down, they tell me that it’s good for my health
Don’t bother warning me, I’m not sure I believe it myself
How much longer will it take for me to see
These vulgar appetites will be the death of me

Waking up these days is quite an unremarkable feeling
Can barely move through all the shit that’s piling up to the ceiling
Another sleepless night, another tired day
Another reason not to carry on this way

Oh and sometimes I wonder when the flood will come and make everything clean
Just let the water rush over me and cleanse my eyes of all the things they’ve seen
From here to sanity I get weighed down with everything in between
Just let the water come and make me clean

All of these plans I made are covered in dust
I had some initiative, it’s started to rust
I’m on my final nerve, it’s already frayed
Guess that’s another bill I still haven’t paid

Well I’m a smart man, but I don’t know why I eat so much
I’m a sane man, but I don’t know why I drink so much
I’m responsible, why don’t I ever sleep enough
I’m intelligent, why do I feel so out of touch

Self-control is just another talent I’ve yet to master
And when I lose it it can make for such a pretty disaster
In my bewilderment I really must confess
I often feel that I’m addicted to the mess

Oh and sometimes I wonder when the flood will come and make everything clean
Just let the water rush over me and cleanse my eyes of all the things they’ve seen
From here to sanity I get weighed down with everything in between
Just let the water come and make me clean
Make me clean
Make me clean
Make me clean, yeah
Make me clean


Kiss Me Goodbye

Alone here and the counter
I search for some new tune
I need to write you one more song
And it’s one that’s come too soon
And my nice warm cup of coffee
Won’t inspire any words
Or make them sound more meaningful
Than the others that you’ve heard

No clever words to day
No time anyway
I didn’t have much that I could offer to you
Dancing to different songs
Wouldn’t have lasted long
Maybe some fantasies shouldn’t come true
But if you would kiss me goodbye
I could walk away now
I could leave with a song in my heart
And not have to wonder why
Good things come to an end
And sometimes they just don’t even start

I’ve had several conversations
With your answering machines
I guess you knew why I was calling
Guess I know why you never called me
Didn’t have no ultimatums
Didn’t have no big demands
Just thought I’d give us one more try
But it slipped right through my hands

No clever words to day
No time anyway
I didn’t have much that I could offer to you
Dancing to different songs
Wouldn’t have lasted long
Maybe some fantasies shouldn’t come true
But if you would kiss me goodbye
I could walk away now
I could leave with a smile on my face
And not have a reason to cry
About the end of this dream
About the feelings I have to erase

So I’ll leave you to your own life
I’ll get on with my life too
You know where I am if you want me
Perhaps I’ll still want you
I’ll have one more cup of coffee
Then I’ll go off on my way
Maybe my search for somebody
Will cross with yours someday

No clever words to day
No time anyway
I didn’t have much that I could offer to you
Dancing to different songs
Wouldn’t have lasted long
Maybe some fantasies shouldn’t come true
But if you would kiss me goodbye
I could walk away now
I could leave without anger or pain
And feel like it was worth a try
That your caring ‘bout me
Wasn’t something I hoped for in vain

Kiss me goodbye
Can you kiss me goodbye
Kiss me goodbye
Kiss me goodbye


Bug Girl

Tonight romance is in the air
Forgive me, I can’t help but stare
As you float by without a care
And big black eyes beyond compare
Everybody’s after your attention
Think it’s only fair that I should mention
You love ‘em and you leave ‘em
Twitching in your little jar
Before you look me over with elation
You better give me more consideration
I’m not easy pickin’s
Like the ones you’ve had so far

And do you every offer mercy
Do you even care at all
For the next brave soul that gets to be a fly upon your wall
Give your blessings Saint Camilla
To all creatures very small
And smile just a little bug girl
When you watch them crawl

I’ve had the sense to watch and learn
Seen all of my friends crash and burn
While rushing in to try and earn
Some token of your heart’s concern
You like to play around with your emotion
Make them suffer for their little notions
That they could ever make you open up to them so soon
It’s gonna take some real imagination
A little more than quiet conversation
Before you ever let me get inside your heart’s cocoon

But do you every offer mercy
Do you even care at all
For the next brave soul that gets to be a fly upon your wall
Give your blessings Saint Camilla
To all creatures very small
And smile just a little bug girl
When you watch them crawl

Now I don’t claim to understand your thinking
Just what kind of nectar you been drinking
I got this feeling like my heart is sinking
Stuck right through with a great big pin
Touch love baby isn’t new to me
I’ve been buzzed and bothered by the birds and bees but
I never thought that I could fall this hard in love again

And do you every offer mercy
Do you even care at all
For the next brave soul that gets to be a fly upon your wall
Give your blessings Saint Camilla
To all creatures very small
And smile just a little bug girl
When you watch them crawl
And smile just a little bug girl
When you watch them creep and crawl
Smile for me bug girl
When you watch them crawl


Pray For Rain

I will walk away if you tell me to go
I’d really rather stay if you’ll let me though
Don’t fear what is only misunderstood
Don’t run from what you know in your heart is good

A simple truth is all you need to ease your pain
The house burns down around us while we kneel and pray for rain
This tired wind keeps blowing
This aging flame keeps glowing
Lay down your thoughts and follow me

I’ve got a new design that I’d like you to see
It’s hanging on the wall in the temple of me
These days there is emptiness in us all
You’re lost, but I’m leading you with my call

And passion is the drug that will keep us safe and sane
Our skin gets burned and blistered while we kneel and pray for rain
These pointless days keep passing
These aimless fears keep massing
Lay down your thoughts and follow me

There’s nothing in the end that you have to fear
So feel a bit of joy when the end is near
Hold on to the image of my new sun
Hold hands and we’ll walk into it as one

A quiet mantra’s all our hearts and minds contain
The desert heat dissolves as while we kneel and pray for rain
This tired wind keeps blowing
This aging flame keeps glowing
These pointless days keep passing
These aimless fears keep massing
Lay down your thoughts and follow me
Lay down your thoughts and follow me
Lay down your thoughts and follow me


Queen Of Birds

My last dollar spent
Not on clothes or rent
I’ll take the food I’ve gathered underneath the shady tree
And hand it out to creatures lesser than the likes of me
Wonder where they went
Nothing about me you have to ear
And when I speak I want you to hear so can I

Sit with you if I promise to be nice
If I’m not you won’t have to tell me twice
The pigeons are very nice company today
But how I wish all these seagulls would go away
Every face is a story to be told
Every young girl is slowly growing old
And everyday is no more or less absurd
Than having lunch in the park with the Queen of Birds

I don’t really care
If you chose to stare
Carol Burnett has always been a favorite of mine
I’ve got a story ‘bout her, but I think it slipped my mind
Guess you had to be there
The wording of it escapes me now
I like to laugh at it anyhow so can I

Sit with you if I promise to be nice
If I’m not you won’t have to tell me twice
The pigeons are very nice company today
But how I wish all these seagulls would go away
Every face is a story to be told
Every young girl is slowly growing old
And everyday is no more or less absurd
Than having lunch in the park with the Queen of Birds

And they can all count on me
They can all fly away
When they come back I’ll be right here
There’s no place I’d rather be
I will always be right here

Heard a strange voice say
Low and far away
A dirty thought was all that I would need to understand
A dirty act would put another dollar in my hands
Gets me through my day
That isn’t something I like to be
But others out there depend on me so can I

Sit with you if I promise to be nice
If I’m not you won’t have to tell me twice
The pigeons are very nice company today
But how I wish all these seagulls would go away
Every face is a story to be told
Every young girl you see will soon grow old
And I don’t think that it’s more or less absurd
Than having lunch in the park with the Queen of Birds

I know I look kinda strange but I feel fine
I may be crazy but it’s all in my mind
I do enjoy spending time with a boy like you
I do believe you can see from my point of view
I can stomach my share of pain and strife
Everyone has a part to play in life
So if you care to recall the tales you’ve heard
Remember me to your friends as the Queen of Birds
Remember me to your friends as the Queen of Birds


Rain

You said you’d meet me here at seven-thirty
We’d talk things over at our old favorite place
It’s eight o’clock now and I’m starting to worry
You still haven’t shown your face
I look outside and I can see that it’s pouring
I know how much you hate to drive in the rain
And all these problems that we’ve both been ignoring
Are washing us down the drain

Isn’t it strange, don’t it seem funny
When Boston is warm and New York sunny
Tonight there’s a river that’s running
Down my window pain
And ain’t it a tragedy my dear
When the skies over Washington are clear
Tonight between you and me
In Los Angeles there’s rain

I play with my napkin and I shuffle in my chair
I check my watch again and stare at the door
The waiter passes by and asks when you’ll be here
But I don’t know anymore
And when eight-thirty comes I guess I’ll be going
You know how much I love to walk in the rain
Can’t solve a damn thing if you don’t bother showing
So how can you explain

Isn’t it strange, don’t it seem funny
When Boston is warm and New York sunny
Tonight there’s a river that’s running
Down my window pain
And ain’t it a tragedy my dear
When the skies over Washington are clear
Tonight between you and me
In Los Angeles there’s rain

After all these years was it wrong to think that is is where we had to stay
Does it seem the closer that we try to get the further that we drift away
I’m not bothered by the things you said, it’s just the things that you never say
And it seems now that our love has come at a price that neither one of us can pay

Isn’t it strange, don’t it seem funny
When Boston is warm and New York sunny
Tonight there’s a river that’s running
Down my window pain
And ain’t it a tragedy my dear
When the skies over Washington are clear
Tonight between you and me
In Los Angeles there’s rain
In Los Angeles there’s rain
In Los Angeles there’s rain
In Los Angeles today
There’s rain


Sacramento Sunset

Put the champagne down and dance with me awhile
It’s almost been a year since we last shared a smile
And don’t you think we’ve spent enough time with the pain
To let it go and just get washed out in the rain
And after all it does seem true enough to say
Without a little bit of drama
It wouldn’t be much of a play

So can you write me a new ending
I’m not quite happy with this one
Because there’s no such thing as a bad day now
There’s just good days still to come

Together once again if only for a day
I know we wouldn’t have it any other way
Cause in the end our lives are just too intertwined
For anyone of us to leave it all behind
And on a day like this when love is meant to grow
Without these faces all around me
It wouldn’t be much of a show

So can we play this scene together
We’ll all be stronger when it’s done
Because there’s no such thing as a bad day now
There’s just good days still to come

Turn the music down and drive with me awhile
It’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen autumn smile
And don’t you think it’s good to see the seasons change
And watch the river cross a landscape rearranged
And as the lights go down upon another day
Without some kind of happy ending
It wouldn’t be much of a play

So can we try another script now
We don’t seem happy with this one
Because there’s no such thing as a bad day now
There’s just good days still to come
There’s just good days still to come
There’s just good days still to come