Who measures the desperate measures?

Traded this pen
for your cigarette
Because I swore I wouldn't write another song about you
But here I go again

I see your lips mouth "I love you"
But the words I hear are "I told you so"
And you know I won't say "no"
to another day of you

We traded our sins
like it was "tit for tat" or "that for this"
And so I swore I wouldn't write another song for you
But here I go again
Because I've got your smile in my head
and your voice in my ears
Saying "remember those nights in your bed?
And saying aloud all our biggest fears?"

I see your lips mouth "I love you"
But the words I hear are "I told you so"
Because you know I can't say "no"
to another night with you

Just one more night
we'll lie awake
just another night
we'll lie to fate
the phones are ringing off the hook
since we figured how the world shook
but when it's quiet... can you feel it?
when it's quiet...I know you see it
when it's quiet...
I hope you hear my voice
Because my lips are mouthing
"I swear I won't write another song for you"
But I'm really saying "baby I love you too."

Self-Injury

Surround myself with smoke
because at least it's here, you know?
and maybe I'm just feeling sorry for myself
and you're probably right about that, you know?
So I surround myself with flame
because at least it's warm, you know?
and maybe I'm just hurting myself
because you're probably right about that, you know?

You don't know how much I miss you
and maybe if you could see the scars you would
but I'm not taking the band aids off
I kinda wish you could see, too
but I doubt you would understand, could you?
but I'm not taking the band aids off

A secret's silence is a secret's safe

Just think of all the things you don't
and feel all the things you won't
and see all the things you don't
and hear my voice say you can't
and know that I'm wrong

Ashes burn my skin
such a little thing
such a little scar
means the world
when you're so far

so I fall down
my hands hurt from the prayers
and the embers
I'm burning like a bridge
and I'm falling from so far down
I'm falling for sure

Step into the light
so I can see what
they've done to you
Fall from grace
with more style than bright
but don't tell them what you know

and now I fall down
my hands burn from the prayers
and the embers
I'm burning like a bridge
And I'm falling for sure

It's coming down
I'm coming down
I won't let on
But I want you to know
I'm falling down
It's falling down
I can't tell them
but I thought you should know
What no one else could know
because you already do

I want to be strong enough
to say enough is enough
I want to be new
and I want to be clean
But I know I'm not
and I haven't seen enough
I'm not new, and I'm not clean
But I thought you should know
What no one else could know

Summer heights, sleepless nights

a head full of worry
and lungs full of smoke
and these ashes keep falling on my skin
but that's alright, I know I'm ok

You know I'm thinking of you
at least I hope you do
So... here's your thought for the night
it's about how you keep me up at night

my throat burns
but I don't want to stop
I hope I still cross your mind
when you see smoke crown from lips

You know I'm thinking of you
baby, I know you do
Here's your thought for the night
About how I dream of your touch in the night

This smoke breaks
like the waves I wish I was under
The waves you bring
The ones of hope and cover

I'm feeling withdraws
i've hit a wall
I was going so fast
but now I'm heading for a fall
And i don't know if it's missing you
or just the nicotine
But I need you here
and you're so far from me
A head full of worry
and lungs full of smoke
I've got all these addictions
but you're the most potent of all

The Basic Essentials Of A Very Bitter Young Man

I'm tired of liars and midnight lovers
Cigarettes glowing through the night
and pictures of all the others fading without any light

So this one goes out to anyone who's ever said,
"I'm tired of this shit, let's get it together."
The ones who can't stand to take another hit
The ones who can't be under cover anymore
because their cover isn't anymore

I'm tired of liars and dreams that seem too real
Cigarettes burning through the night
When nothing in this town seals a deal
Without the consent of people who haven't seen the real thing

Is there just too much to take, to tell?
Well here's my card, it says,
"Welcome to everyone's personal hell."
So if you've been waiting for your sign
to do something to makes you smile
This is it

I'm tired of liars and long distance phone calls
All the missed calls and bad connections aren't doing it for me
There's cigarettes burning states away
Lighting up the night like fireflies
Until they're put out like everything else in this town

Credit deposits, lost tuition
Dooney and Burke handbags and
brand new cars collecting dust
Withdrawn deposits spent with no fruition
Reading what you want in magazines and
your whole life collecting dust

I'm tired of liars and charlatans
Your cigarettes don't light up the day
like mine light up the night.
At least I'm trying to make things brighter
At least I can say I'm trying

It's coming through your headphones

i saw the world come out of your eyes
when we kiss, I saw the sunrise
every single word I ever thought for you
couldn't say what I wanted to then

everything's so dark when you're not here
I miss all the color you bring
and the black and white is killing me
I just like reminding you that I care...

i saw the world come out of your eyes
when we kiss, I saw the sunrise
every single word I ever thought for you
couldn't say what I wanted to then

everything is so vibrant when you're here
i love all the color you bring
because all that black and white was killing me
so call me on it if i stare
but I can't help it when you're near...

every single word I've ever thought for you
couldn't say what I feel around you
so we'll call this settling
because anything else is tempting
but tiring
please know all these words
weak rhymes and bad metaphors
are all mirrors for what I really want to say

I saw the oceans in your eyes
the waves broke as tears on your cheek
I feel the rain on my body
from all the clouds on your skin
I saw the sunrise through your hair
giving away your halo for all to see
I feel the breeze against my skin
when your lips touch mine again

i saw the world come out of your eyes
when we kiss, I saw the sunrise
every single word I ever thought for you
couldn't say what I wanted to then