lyrics for ITHAKA's 2nd album, "Stellafly" c.1997

all Ithaka (aka Darin Pappas, aka Korvorowng) lyrics
published by Ravenshark Music-ASCAP
(administered by Memory Lane Music Group-NY)
www.ithaka.cc , sweatlodgerecords@hotmail.com


1. THE BUM WITH BLUE BLOOD
lyrics by Ithaka c. 1997

I’m just a bum with blue blood who knows no shame
I ain’t got a dime ... but at least I got my name

Pops from the Bronx ... Moms from Chattanooga
I was more than they bargained ... I was accidental junior

But the blood of Kings flows from both sides
Ithaka and Edinburg ... but all of them have died

My kin lost their crowns eons ago
Trees must lose their leaves in order to grow

No, where you come from don’t matter none
It’s what you won’t do ... and what you haven’t done.

Don’t know where I’m going to
Ain’t got no idea what I’m gonna do

I got no purpose in life
When should I agree? When should I fight?

I wander around in search of nothing
Never knowing what the future will bring

Walking down the road with no goal in my mind
Don’t know who I will meet ... or what I will find

Have I lost my life? Or am I just blind?
Have I wasted my youth? Am I just killing time?

Walking down the road with no shoes on my feet
Knowing I must learn what no teacher can teach

I’M JUST A BUM WITH BLUE BLOOD ... WHO KNOWS NO SHAME
I AIN’T GOT A DIME ... BUT AT LEAST I GOT MY NAME

Never looked within ... cuz, I’ve always looked out
Never knew nothing anyway ... so I had nothing to doubt

But don’t examine me like a frog in disection
I ain’t exactly the picture of perfection

Just being me, for what it is ... or what it ain’t
I may not be the devil, but I sure ain’t no saint

Don’t try to help others ... haven’t learned to help myself
Yeah, I’m flat broke ... but thanks to Zeus still got my health

There are no guarantees in life
But you can’t say ... that I didn’t try to try.

And now I’m right back where I started from
Lost, tired and busted ... least I’m a royal bum.

It’s OK to be broke when you are nineteen or twenty
Didn’t worry so much ... when living in the land of plenty

But when you’re Three-0
And still ain’t got no dough

It’s time to reassess the situation
Before you live your whole life in frustration

When I was young ... thought I just needed love.
But when your stomach’s empty, food don’t fall from above

It’s better to be wise than rich
But better yet to be well not sick

I was a prisioner ... I made myself free
But now I’ve fucked up ... and I’m a prisioner again

All fucked up with no where to go
I don’t own a jacket ... and it’s getting kinda cold

I’M JUST A BUM WITH BLUE BLOOD ... WHO KNOWS NO SHAME
I AIN’T GOT A DIME ... BUT AT LEAST I GOT MY NAME

They say knowledge is truth ... and truth is knowledge
But I didn’t learn nothing truthful in my three weeks at college

Thought I didn’t need no glasses to see
Thought I didn’t need no knowledge to be free.

I exchanged hardship for understanding
Still don’t understand ... I’m headed for a crashlanding

More shit I know ... more I know, I DON’T KNOW SHIT
Been walking most of my life ... don’t know where to sit

But don’t tell me what I am or what I will become
Cuz, I know what I am ... I’m a royal bum

Don’t know where I’m going to
Ain’t got no idea what I’m going to do

I got no purpose in life
When should I agree? When should I fight?

I wander around in search of nothing
Never knowing what the future will bring

Walking down the road with no goal in my mind
Don’t know who I will meet ... or what I will find

Have I lost my life? ... or am I just blind?
Have I wasted my youth? ... Am I just killing time?

Walking down the road ... with no shoes on my feet
Knowing I must learn what no teacher can teach

I’M JUST A BUM WITH BLUE BLOOD ... WHO KNOWS NO SHAME
I AIN’T GOT A DIME ... BUT AT LEAST I GOT MY NAME
_________________________________________________________________

2. SUBSTANCE-FREE EXHILE
lyrics by Ithaka c. 1997

Scratch-hop-drop caaaarrrrvvvve off the bottom
Then snapback in the butter/finger pocket

Slide on in to the liquid-cave
and if you got luck ... you may just escape

Take the line drive
Gotta take the high-line

To get the speed
the speed that you need

Through the section ... sling-slang rubberband
leave a liquid trail ... leave a liquid fan

GOTTA GET THE SPEED
GOTTA GET THE SPEED
GOTTA GET THE SPEED
GOTTA GET THE SPEED
THE SPEED THAT YOU NEED

The number-one substance-free exhile
glide fifty-yards or glide a mile

Give me frieght-train rights
give me grindy-hollow lefts

give me rocks, give me reefs
give me the steep peaks

Give me smalls, give me talls
Give’em to me all

Except for the closed-outs
Cuz when it’s closed-out ... don’t paddle out

Rather kick it shoreside
Eating icecreams ... eating cherry pies

GOTTA GET THE SPEED
GOTTA GET THE SPEED
GOTTA GET THE SPEED
GOTTA GET THE SPEED
THE SPEED THAT YOU NEED

And maybe if I’m feeling inspired
I’ll sculpt or scribe ... or even change your tire

Gotta alotta loves in this life
But one’s extra special ... she makes me feel right

She’s real curvy and she’s always wet
She never talks back ... or messes with my head

And when I’m feeling that need of needs
She gives it up to me ... she gives me speed

GOTTA GET THE SPEED
GOTTA GET THE SPEED
GOTTA GET THE SPEED
GOTTA GET THE SPEED
THE SPEED THAT YOU NEED

_________________________________________________________________-

3.THE PLOT
lyrics by Ithaka c. 1997

Under a tree,
Out of the SUN,
A place to rest from a world far gone.

Happiness comes to those that wait,
Don’t take your own,
Or your’s you won’t get.
Dividing the goods,
Not like Christmas at all,
More like a garage sale of the dead.

More forms than tax time,
More certificates than tying the knot,
More “how ya doings” than you ever get,
More “I’m sorry’s” than you’d ever want.

Under a tree,
Out of the sun,
A place to rest from a world far gone.

Maybe “better off”,
Is the way to put it,
Free from the binds,
That’d hold down a giant.

Under a tree,
Having some fun
Away from the hate,
Of a world far gone.

additional vocals by Mimi (portugal)
_________________________________________________________________

4. EDEN BY THE SEA
lyrics by Ithaka c. 1997

Once while sleeping sad / with a dome full of confusion
a honey bee named mwanamisi gave me a new solution

she flew straight into my ear she said into my brain
and said “Korvorão let’s get going our magic carpet is waiting”

What do you mean? Where can we go
cuz as usual .... I’m flat broke ....

We go to a place called Eden by the sea
where life is sweet and everyone is free
where all is love ... and everyone is free

so come on, meu irmão Korvorão you worn out ravenshark
get yourself up ... up yourself from out of the dark

sharpen up your fins ... and shake out your wings
a big smile is all you need to bring

don’t need no money don’t need no style
don’t worry ‘bout a thing and you will go a long while

can’t get there by a boat can’t get there by a plane
except with the private plane of your brain

don’t need no belief in Adam and Eve
but belief in the garden that is your key

you can do anything
or you can do nothing

there you will never feel cold
(there you will never feel old)

give me sweet life ...
give me sweet life ...give me Eden by the sea
where life is sweet and everyone is free
where all is love ... and everyone is free
give me sweet life ...let me be free

hey mwanamisi what are we waiting for?
You already convinced me ... no need to say more

so off we went on a piece of blue rug
whacked-out ravenshark ... and sister bee bug

out to space ... another galaxy
destination known ... Eden by the sea

I call her a place ... but she is more like a lover
sometimes like a sister ... sometimes like a mother

she’s accidental poetry
she’s the one can make me happy

when we first met - almost took my life
almost drowned me ... while I tried to ride

but no I wasn’t mad at her
that’s when I began to love her

a strong woman is good to find
love at first fall with my heart and my mind

up on a cliff inside of a cave
in her sea inside of a wave

in the shade of a mango tree
hanging in the garden with mwanamisi

give me sweet life let me be free
give me sweet life give me Eden by the sea

where life is sweet and everyone is free
where all is love and everyone is free
give me sweet life let me be free

my alarm went off ... my peace left my head
when my eyes opened I was in my old bed

alone in my room ... no Eden in sight
could I have lived so much in one night?

My heart hurt ... tears rained from my eyes
been a hundred years since the ravenshark cried

now all on my mind is “how will I get back” ?
I know Eden exists I know she’s fact

so mwanamisi .... wherever you may be
please take me back to Eden by the sea

give me sweet life let me be free
give me sweet life give me Eden by the sea

where life is sweet and everyone is free
where all is love and everyone is free

give me sweet life let me be free
give me sweet life give me Eden by the sea

additional vocals by X-Sista (portugal)

__________________________________________________________________

5. AIN’T NO BREEZE
lyrics byIthaka c. 1997

I started on my life’s first break
when my own mamma said, “kid you’re a mistake”

And it didn’t get better when I got older
my dreams got dimmer, my future got colder
In front of Jenny Parks, I maid myself a fool
in Kindergarden on my first day of school

I asked the girl/goddess-if I could hold her hand
And she shot me in the eye --- with a loaded rubber band

In first grade fell in love with my teacher Miss Mead
stayed after school to say teach me to read ?

“Yes of course”, she said
and patted me on the head

“what does this say ?” (I asked) pointing to my book
when she leaned down to help I couldn’t help but Look
Big round beautiful grade teacher breasts
got a slap across my face (I) failed my next test

A few years later at the age of ten
was fishing with my Pops and and my old man, (and he pushed me in)

down I sank to the bottom of the sea
When a whale swimming-by pissed on me

Came back to land as a ghost to see my dog
But he growled when he saw me cuz now I’m made of fog

Then I walked down the hall to see my brother Roy
Little punk was in my room already playing with my toys

left the house went down the street
to see my little darling (little) sweet Marguerite

She was watching TV with a grin on her face
I said, hi but when she saw me she said, you’re a disgrace

What’s the idea of coming around and trying to scare
Don’t you belong with a harp somewhere

I’m ten year old ghost
with a case of blues
Don’t like being dead
cuz I got nothing due

So enough of earth no, they didn’t want me none
So I began to fly to the heavens high above

But when I got there They wouldn’t let me in
They said, “this isn’t the place for little boys who sin”

So down I went through the depths to hell
But they said, “You’re to young here you can not dwell”

Where to now ? Don’t know what to do
Just a ten year-old ghost with a bad case of blues

I’m ten year old ghost
with a case of blues
Don’t like being dead
cuz I got nothing due

Walked down to Alentejo - no where else to go
And saw a pet cemetery on a cliff above the shore

Dead birds, dead cats, and a crying old lady
crying her eyes out over a dead canary

“Now I have no one in this world to be my friend
Why go on living - never be happy again”

“Don’t cry”, I said, “lady I’m all alone too
I’ll be your friend and I promise never to say BOO”

And so I was adopted by Dona Conceição
Now I’m her ghost grandson - little Korovorowng

Now together we reside at a house in a tree
we bake and eat lots of cookies and we drink lots of tea

she teaches me things - she tells me stories
now life after death is fun cuz she adores me

A ten-year old ghost
no longer feeling blue
Don’t mind being dead
now I got lots to do.
____________________________________________________________________

6. BUTTERFLY OF WISDOM
lyrics by ithaka c. 1997

All alone without thoughts at my old blue desk
alone on easter sunday ... my brokeness (still) a pest

am I my own man? ... or just a puppet on a string?
do I turn my own board? ... or wait for fate to bring?

Whatever. Whatever. Whatever will be
believe that and you're a sucker you may never see the key

preachers, teachers abusers of religion
everyone claiming to see the only vision

prophecies sprouting up like weeds
don't believe'em none ... the truth grows like a tree

when I ask others where am I headed?
they tell me ask the planets ... ask the stars

but is the fate of another sucker mine
because of the tilt of Mars?

maybe it is. Maybe it ain't
but what about the flowers and the color of paint?

do you become what you think about most?
to be or not to be? ... or to be an almost?

do the gods help those who help themselves?
or should I store my juice up on a mental shelf?

am I my own man? ... or just a puppet on a string?
do I turn my own board? or wait for fate to bring?

came out of my apartment at the street door
looked back up to my window on the second floor

got a planter-box of flowers ... got some purple, got some blue
when into my pretty picture ... a white butterfly flew

bouncing alone she went ... it seemed without direction
bouncing alone she went ... she was the vision of perfection

am I my own man? ... or just a puppet on a string?
do I turn my own board? or wait for fate to bring?

so I followed that little butterfly of wisdom
down the dusty streets of the city of Lisbon

and somewhere down near Alcantara-Mar
she stopped for a moment on the hood of a car

then she landed on an average street sign
and for that brief second ... that sign was like a shrine

then the butterfly landed on a small girl
who was still young enough to wonder at the world

she landed on a wooden fence
but on the fence, it appeared, she landed only to rest

she landed on the head of a statue
then flew off ... into the forest of monsanto

bouncing alone she went ... it seemed without direction
bouncing alone she went ... she was the vision of perfection

am I my own man? ... or just a puppet on a string?
do I turn my own board? or wait for fate to bring?

through the pine trees ... the way the winds blow
alonside of a crow ... to a quite meadow

finally she landed on a lonely yellow flower
then suddenly took off with a fresh burst of power

what a long way, (I thought), just to get a little snack
but she hadn't just been searching for a flower she lacked

she'd been blessing the hood with her awkward grace
and then she blessed my nose, by landing on my face

giving back to the world, that gave her sweet life
even if her sole purpose was to be a lovely sight

and off she flew ... above the trees, to the sky
and I could swear I heard a little voice wish me "goodbye"

I walked all the way back home wearing a grin
finally knowing life means nothing-and-everythin'

bouncing alone she went ... it seemed without direction
bouncing alone she went ... she was the vision of perfection

am I my own man? ... or just a puppet on a string?
do I turn my own board? or wait for fate to bring?

____________________________________________________________________

7. SEABRA IS MAD
lyrics ithaka c. 1997

Seabra is the name of the rider
Who will wait for hours for an outsider

We made a trip in the middle of the winter
We rode a place that left my stick a splinter

The kind of walls that block out the sky
Underwater out of breath I saw my life flash by

Then Seabra got axed by a big mack set
It was bigger than a house it was bigger than the debt

Held down for about an hour
He took the brunt of the big mack’s power

Most would split after a fall like that
But like a rubber bat ... Seabra swung back

Straight back to the peak
Just like a junkie, he’s a big wave freak

CITY SOCIETY CALLS HIM A STRANGER
CUZ, SEABRA CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT THE DANGER
BUT I JUST CALL SEABRA MAD
BALLS OF STEEL THE RIDER IS BAD
SEABRA IS MAD SEABRA IS MAD

It was there at M. where he broke the berry
A gloomy five meters to most would be scary

But Seabra on his featherlight foil
He paddled straight out and sat on the boil

And when he dug his hands in deep
Slowly but slowly he began to creep

And speeded up to a glide
Dropped down verticle ... Seabra was inside

Of a big fat cave ... but not of stone
This cave spun and was chased by foam

Got blasted out with his mug still dry
And that’s when Seabra began to fly

Through three more sections and to the shoulder
Then a fat roundhouse around a boulder

CITY SOCIETY CALLS HIM A STRANGER
CUZ, SEABRA CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT THE DANGER
BUT I JUST CALL SEABRA MAD
BALLS OF STEEL THE RIDER IS BAD
SEABRA IS MAD SEABRA IS MAD

There was a day at a place we call Bruxas
Lots of big holes ... the reef was crucial

It was getting night ... time for us to exit
but the current was a river, no it just wouldn’t let us.

Valente, Seabra, me ... it was the three of us
With bone-crushing pounders was our heads gonna bust?

One way to find out was Seabra’s thinking
Dropped into a pit without even blinking

Getting broken bones was better than drowning
Got raked over rocks ... received quite a pounding

But mad-mad Seabra made it to land
With no broken bones and no broken head

So Valente and me ... we followed Senhor Psyco
Out of death’s pit with only damage to our egos

indirect-like, he’d saved our skins
We lived to tell our story and sin more sins

CITY SOCIETY CALLS HIM A STRANGER
CUZ, SEABRA CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT THE DANGER
BUT I JUST CALL SEABRA MAD
BALLS OF STEEL THE RIDER IS BAD
SEABRA IS MAD SEABRA IS MAD

________________________________________________________________

8.STAY STRONG LITTLE BROTHER
lyrics by ithaka c.1997

Over here, on this side of the pool
what am I to think, what am I to do?

Been hearing bad news about my little brother
no, not my blood brother --- But he’s still my little brother

ten calls this week from the concerned
been learning many things that I didn’t want to learn

the story is an old one, no it ain’t new
but every time I hear it it leaves a cloud of doom

and this time it’s worse, cuz I love the life at stake
so brother quit the pin before it’s too late

stay strong little brother
cuz you are loved little brother

as the new kid around, little bro you had it all
brains. Motivation. And calls from keely small

and you could slice a wall, with a blade of glass
with a smooth new style, that was loose and fast

at the rivermouth, back in winter ’85
you and T.C., you was the only ones to ride

and wall for wall, you matched his best
“KLING”, you STRING-BEAN ... you put him to the test

Rider of the year, but never saw you in no mag
or in a contest heat, with a color on your back

don’t throw the gift away, with the light of a match
don’t throw the gift away, with the stick of a pin

stay strong little brother
cuz, you are loved little brother

fresh out of V.H.S., (YOU) sarted working on the features
junior editor with the alpine speakers

you was bold, had the humor and the girls all over you
you had the ride, the pad ......IQ, 182

but somewhere down the line, you got off your course
by that old dark ugly evil force

stay strong little brother
cuz, you are loved little brother

all sorts of poisens, flowing through your veins
some say you’re crazy, they say you ain’t the same

but bro, I know you for at least fifteen years
and though I share many of their fears

I know deep in your soul, you’re still the kling
and I’ll always be there for you, if you need a hand or wing

stay strong little brother
cuz, you are loved little brother

talls, red room, and the six of clubs
it’s the places, it’s the people ... and little brother it’s the drugs

so come clean, start yourself off new
drop the dope and the bottle ... and the dope and the bottle crew

maybe the end of the earth is upon us
but maybe it ain’t and we won’t turn to dust

if that’s the case, wanna live a long time
little brother won’t you join us, got to make up your mind

stay strong little brother
cuz, you are loved little brother

female vocals by: Josette
_________________________________________________________________

9.CAPRICORN AND CANCER
lyrics by ithaka c. 1997

I hate you and you hate me
we hate eachother --- on that we agree
hate or love --- love or hate
hate will prevail ... I think it’s our fate

Sorry once again ... to dig up the past
But we started up the engine ... much to fast

Always best ..... to warm it up (a little) first

But was thirsty - and needed to quench our thirst
You were like a tornado ... I was like a typhoon
So very close ... yet as far as the moon

Should have seen trouble from a mile away
Cuz, you said something to me on our second day

That made me question ... me, myself and I
Like, where does my piece ... fit into life’s pie

I doubted my purpose ... I doubted my vision
I doubted my glide ... which is my life´s religion

Why’d you wanna make me feel like that ?
Why’d you wanna make me feel like a rat ?

Did I really say those things ... that you say that I said ?
Did I really do all those things ... which you dread ?
And if I did, you should’ve left ... yes you should’ve fled
But neither of us like sleeping ... in na empty crib

Was it love ? ... or was it lovesickness ?
was it love ? ... or was it our weakness ?

You love me - and you hate me too
I need you ... and I need to be free of you

Took you home to my planet, ... a place called L.A.
We argued all the time ... cuz all you did was complain

You didn’t like the trafic ... you didn’t like the smog
You did’nt like my friends ... and you said it’s TOO hot

(You) wanted to go out ... (I) took you to the SIX OF CLUBS
But you didn’t like the drinks ... and you hated the sight of blood

But I didn’t write that book ... L.A. CITY did
Some people smile ... and others get dead

I hate you and you hate me
we hate eachother --- on that we agree
hate or love --- love or hate
hate will prevail ... I think it’s our fate

Took you to Mexico ... no you couldn’t enjoy
Yet another trip ... we should’ve tried to avoid

Too MUCH DUST ... and you don’t like burritos
TOO MANY CHIKENS ... and too many mosquitos

Like water to acid ... no we just don’t mix
And somethings in life ... you just can’t fix

Was it love ? ... or was it lovesickness ?
was it love ? ... or was it our weakness ?

You are the realist
I’m the idealist

The Capricorn ... the Cancer
The hammer and the basher

WHY you wanna make me feel like a crumb
WHY you wanna make me feel ... like a bum

I didn’t know the answer ... you called me ignorant
I said, who cares ? ... and called you arrogant

IGNORANT ARROGANT
ARROGANT IGNORANT
IGNORANT ARROGANT

But baby ... ignorance is no sin
And IT don’t determine ... if you loose or win

Be intelligent, but DON’T be so cold
Cuz, a brain ain’t worth shit ... without a heart and a soul

was it love ? ... or was it our weakness ?
Was it love ? ... or was it lovesickness ?

Are we together ? ... or are we not ?
Maybe we should’ve called the whole thing off ?

But we never said it WASN’T ... or that it WAS
But love and hate-kept-coming back ... like rust

We been living this way ... for over a year
And I’m tired of the fights ... and the tears, dear

Some people ... just ain’t meant to be together
Never nice day ... always stormy weather

additional vocals by X-Sista (portugal)

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10. KING OF TARDY
lyrics by ithaka c. 1997
(inspired by Craig Dahl, laziest bastard of all time)

MY NAME IS C.R.D.,
I’m the King of Tardy.
If I said,
“Be there by eight”
You never really know when,
You’ll be lucky
If I make it by ten,
Cuz,
I gotta shower,
Shave,
Put on a tune.
If I said ten a.m., I’ll try and make it by noon.
I’m the flakiest cat you ever did meet,
Just can’t seem to get fast upon my feet.
Two hours late is early for me,
Like to take my time,
Dress to the Tee.
I’ll make you late if you’re coming along,
So just kick back, have a beer and a song.
If there’s a swell on the sea,
Don’t count on me.
Can’t think of time, as I jam down the line.
Don’t even dream ‘bout holding your breath,
By the time I get outta the water, you’ll be starving to death.

It’s taken me a lifetime
To earn this title,
Cuz,
Sleeping in,
For me,
Is extremely vital.
So,
If you need to be on time,
Don’t count on me,
it ain't for nothing
I'm the king of Tardy

______________________________________________________________


12. Sonny The Bunny
lyrics by ithaka c. 1997

I was at a night club just the other night,
The music was O.K., but something wasn’t right.
A bunch of guys dressed up like bunnies,
Some thought it was cute-but I didn’t think it was wery funny.
Bunnies hopping around just like Roger the rabbit,
I hope this strange behavior doesn’t become a habit.
Cuz I prefer rabbits in a cage or at the zoo,
or maybe in aunt ida’s rabbit soup or rabbit stew.
but on second thought,
rabbits are fun to kick
With your foot in a boot or with a stick.
Sunny the bunny wasn’t funny,
His little pink nose was looking kind of runny.
Si I gave Sunny a hanky,
but after I kicked him he became cranky.
I said-save that drama for your mama you little mama’s hare
And close your fucking eyes, it ain´t polite to stare !
Sunny continued to cry in the corner,
Looking like a little, fluffy-white funeral mourner.
Don’t cry- I told Sunny, then I gave him some carrots,
But soon after that I fed him to the parrots.

NO MORE SUNNY THE BUNNY !

Tricks are for kids you
stupid rabbit

_______________________________________________________________

12. SUSHI-PACK SUBWAY
lyrics by ithaka c. 1997 (inspired by Tokyo metro system)

YOYOGI-UEHARA
YOYOGI-KOEN
MEJI-JINGUMAE
OMOTESANDO
NOGIZAKA
AKA-SAKA
RAPPONGI
AWA-KAMOGOWA
KATESE-ENOSHIMA
HIGASHI-GINZA
NAKAMEGURO
EBISU and HIROO
No, I don’t wanna go to that hell-hole, KYODO.
HATAGAYA
SENDAGAYA
SHINJUKU
SHINEGAWA
Get me off this Sushi-Pack
Cuz, I wanna go back

HOME ... to, YOYOGI-UEHARA

_______________________________________________________________

13. ALABAMA CAVE PARTY
lyrics by ithaka c. 1997

With my brother Drew / once we took a trip together
down to Alabama to see our crazy cousin Devin

tell me, have you ever been down to Alabama ?
they have a lot of fun / they got great manners

our cousin Devin / I wish you could meet him
he’s six-foot four / (weighs) a hundred kilos

you boys are from California, yeah ?
only two things come from California
earthquakes and worms ................
and I don’t feel the ground shaking
none..........

during the day he’s sorta normal / no you’d never doubt
but in the depths of the night / he always sneaks out

to jump off bridges a hundred feet high
into dark rivers /(don’t fucking ask us why)

he likes to climb / huntsville-fm tower
five-hundred meters high / it takes him four hours

two hours up / like a monkey / to the top
two hours down / then chased by the cops

somenights he’s out / on the swamp in a boat
killing bull-frogs /with deadly spear pokes

and by dawn has a boat / full of dead frogs
mid-morning all sold / to local restaurants

a week in Alabama with our crazy cousin Devin
he lives life-loco twenty-four seven

on the weekend / the real action start
he put a bomb in a mailbox and blew it apart

then down to a place by the lake
where with his bare hands / he ripped the head of a snake

next was a dare Devin had for me
take this stick and hit that hive of bees

what the hell was this ... some strange deranged plot
what, are you fucking crazy man ? ... that’d piss’em off

no fucking shit genius ... that’s the whole idea
hit’em and run to the lake / before they sting-ya

we do it all the time cali-worm
and there’s no backing out / cuz, now it’s your turn

so I hit it and ran / all the way to the water
dove in head first / don’t know why I bothered

cuz, these bees were smart / mothefuckers and could swim
stung me through my clothes / and cleea to my skin

a week in Alabama with our crazy cousin Devin
he lives life-loco twenty-four seven

that night Devin promised us a big surprise
Alabama, original / never one to lie

in his sixty-four chevy / we drove out to the woods
this will give you cali-worms a taste of the ‘hood

parked the truck between a couple a trees
there was other cars / but nobody to be seen

we climbed over a barbed-wire fence
(both Drew and) mine’s head was a filling with suspense

with a full-moon coming down through the leaves ...
we walked ½ a mile / next to a creek ...

then up a hill / and in front of ous sight
was the mouth of a cave / sixty-feet high

into-the-mouth-of-the-monster we went
along a narrow ledge / above a man-eating pit

guided by the light of Drew’s watch
which for forty-five minutes / we was glad he had bought

through a lot of tunnels / a mile into the mountain
just to be killed / (of that we was certain)

come on caliworms there’s nothing to be afraid of
except fear itself

we began to hear laughter and shouts
what the hell was this all about

then we was there / in a giant round room
ninety-feet high / by one hundred feet of doom

with people all around a big fire
and above / a thousand bat-vamp-pires

there was a little black dog / barking up at the bats
I had to laugh - becuz a funny sight was that

others gathered ‘round a moonshine still
filling up jars with a liquid that could kill

then Devin gave us jars / of the smelly stinking mash
drink-up caliworms / and enjoy it while it lasts

did we have a choice ? no it wasn’t a suggestion
but would we survive ? / now that was the question

down it went / like an acid it burned
and Devin asked us / how-is-it-caliworms ?

“smooth”, we lied / by-the-way,-what is it ?
GASOLINE, he laughed / just like-an-evil-wizard

gasoline, alcohol / and crushed lightning bugs
we call it lightning juice / here have another slug

a week in Alabama with our crazy cousin Devin
he lives life-loco twenty-four seven

an angelic-girl / with dark skin and red hair
sat all alone / at the edge of the lair

the room began tilting to one side
I was surprised that the girl did not slide

I closed my eyes / to try and stop the tilt
opened them again / it was at a standstill

the angel-girl now chased the dog-black
who was (running around) / barking up the bats

the room began spinning / and I closed my eyes again
and when I opened’em up / and looked around the den

the girl now craddled / the gog like a baby
they was rubbing faces (like) the tramp and the lady

then the dog / began / to lick her face
she licked him back / she tightned her embrace

and the next thing I knew / they was swapping spit
a beauty and beast / freaky-french (wet) kiss

then the dog / ran off / to chase the bats
while the zombies / were still gathering / around the vat

and I said / to miss.angel / red-head
I see that you / made / a brand-new-friend

what do you mean ? / she said, I mean the dog
that wasn’t no dog (she said) / that was god

that’s when I must’ve passed-out
into a deep sleep / into a dream-cloud

when I woke up / everyone was asleep
even the bats / were without a peep


... and I was sharing a blanket
with (both) the girl who had been / kissing the dog
and the dog who she’d been kissing
Drew and Devin weren’t around / my kin was amissing

what time is it? what time is it ? what time is it on earth ?
time for a headache / not a pleasant birth

so I grabbed a guide stick / from out of the fire
looked back once more at the angel I’d admired

and followed the footprints on the cave’s floor
for forty-five minutes to the cave’s door

and out into the afternoon sun
wondering whether or not / I’d had fun

nuclear rays / down upon my dome they beat
my forehead feeling like a craked wheat

and there by the creek / was my brother Drew
cousin Devin nearby / sipping on a brew

hey, I said
what’s the idea / leaving me with all them freaks
while ya’ll are out here / relaxing by the creek

... shut up and show some respect you little insect
or I’ll put a hook through your head and catch a fish with you

additional vocals by ACE (portugal)
___________________________________________________________________

14. THE RISE AND FALL OF A FORTUNE
lyrics by Darin Pappas 1997

HUNGER

What began as an embryonic seed of desire
To have a better life for himself,
Grew into a small tree of desire
which grew into an entire forest ....... of what?

By this time,
He’d forgotten why he’d wanted the money in the first place,
He became obsessed with the getting itself.

GREED

Greed, a common disease
Suffered by billions of beings around the cosmos.
Once the momentum of greed was in full swing,
It was impossible to stop.
Like a drug, he needed more and more and more.

It became a way of life.

LOSS

The day the stock market crashed he lost all of it ... everything.
After being in a state of shock for several weeks,
He finally came to his senses;
It’s not the end of the world, he reasoned.
I still have my family and my friends,
(but they didn’t know him anymore)

Well, I still have the gifts of the gods,
the flowers, the trees and the sea.
But they had long since turned their backs
on the one who had turned his back on them.

He tried to read a book, to take his mind off things,
But discovered that he’d forgotten how to read.
So he called and met with a prostitute
and discovered that he’d even forgotten how to ... (fuck)

He went home to his soon-to-be-repossesed
twenty-million dollar mansion.
And laid down on his soon-to-be-repossesed
two-hundred thousand dollar golden bathroom floor.
He began to hear voices,
It was his father speaking from the grave,
(Actually it was the memory of a conversation
he’d had with his father when he was nine),...

He’d said,
Son, beware of the seed of greed
It’s better to be wise than rich.
Why?, he’d asked but his father didn’t answer,

At the age of thirteen,
He started his own landscaping business.
SERVICE WITH A SMILE was his slogan,
but he never smiled.

At the age of nineteen,
He sold the business to a competitor
And began a record company
Producing some of the most meaningless music in history.
But he didn’t care,
Meaningless music sold ... and sold it did.

By the time he was twenty-six years old,
he was one of the richest young men in America.
So it was a shock to most people
when GRASS-CUTTER RECORDS suddenly went bankrupt.
All of the acts had conspired together
And signed with new record companies,
Companies that let them keep
At least some of the money that they made.

He put his remaining assets into bonds and stocks.
Hoped for thr best,
Received the worst.

His maid found him dead on the bathroom floor
And immediately called the 911.

Two days later,
After na extensive examination of the corpse,
the coroners filed their report.

CAUSE OF DEATH: SADNESS

Nobody attended the funeral

________________________________________________________________

15. SPIRITUAL GRAVEYARD
lyrics by ithaka c. 1997

been gone four months from my neighborhood
then rolled back in, but things were less than good

my roomate Ned been rolling on the cane train
selling and abusing-not using his brain

now my home is under investigation
ain't got no solution to this situation

but to leave it alone and walk away
and find a new space and for this I'm gonna pay

with money I don't have none of
but got to deal with it-got to rise above

more news I got something more to depress me
Madelena don't even wanna see me

no girl no home no money ... what's this life come to
these aren't the dreams I'd wished to come true

HERE I AM IN MY SPIRITUAL GRAVEYARD
NOBODY SEES ME FEELS ME OR HEARS ME

LA seems so far and from this distance not so bad
but years ago I left to find the promissed land

I had to get out so I found a way out

so why am I right back where I started?
naive ignorant and unguarded

against the poisens of my own mind
unsure about the past since the start of time

about the future,
I can barely even comment
the rise and fall of political dominance?

still it seems today it all comes down to the buck
you're a robber you're a crook or you're born with luck

escaped to become a creator
so why have I become a critic?

no wasn't my intention, but how could I've predicted it?

HERE I AM IN MY SPIRITUAL GRAVEYARD
NOBODY SEES ME FEELS ME OR HEARS ME

in my mind I still dream of my ithaka
but I don't know if I will ever find my ithaka

cuz here I am in my spiritual graveyard
on September 27 ..... 1994

_________________________________________________________________

16.URSULA OF ITHAKA
lyrics by Ithaka c. 1997

Eight years of bad luck, no end to see
didn't have no hope, only had one dream

of a memory, I couldn't remember
so far in the past seemed like forever

was alive, but didn't have no life
endless days-and-sleepless nights

I'd found a place but needed a friend
needed repair, but had no tools to mend

was late in August, summer of confusion
sleepwalking down my street, needing a transfusion

barefooted talking to myself
my neighbors wondering about my mental health

the street was full, but I was still alone
crowds of strangers make me feel without a home

then something took my eyes up off of the ground
everyone was frozen - I couldn't hear a sound

I beleive in love at sight, but I loved before I saw
her scent alone, made my frozen heart to thaw

then she appeared floating like a cloud
I'd seen her before there was no doubt

scrolls of brown hair. godess's complexion
hazel eyes. smile resurection

I'm Ursula of Ithaka ... remember me?
we met in Cape Melissa 1200 B.C.

she wrapped her arms around me, "we meet again at last
been searching for you for 20 decades past

through Asia Africa the fifth dimension"
she felt so warm and human for an astral projection

right here on my very own street
an oasis of love began to feel complete

she was like a fresh summer rain
amnesia for twenty lives worth of pain

we soaked each other with 2700 tears
for missing each other for 2700 years

and there on the bairro alto street stones
we made love all night while the others stayed froze:

we'd lived in the village of Melissa
she was a princess, and I was a fisher

every night, smelling of fish blood
I dreamt of her love as I slept in the mud

some nights she snuck out. She came to me
she was my human blanket the cure to my disease

In the "cave of nympths" swore our love forever
til death and beyond, never to be severed

but death was not far away from me
she cried ten years when I died at sea

then forced to marry a rich tycoon
committed suicide on their honeymoon

but there on the Bairro Alto street stones
we made love all night while the others stayed froze

is she the dreamer or is she the illusion?
living deep inside the depths of my seclusion

I don't know, just know what we share
a love eternal, my walking, living prayer.

_________________________________________________________________




17. STELLAFLY
Written in 1993 by Ithaka, aka Darin Pappas
published as a short story in: SHORTCUT MAGAZINE (japan 1993)
LAVA MAGAZINE (usa 1994), REACTOR MAGAZINE (Portugal 1996)
And appeared as a spoken word song form
as the title track of the álbum, STELLAFY (nortesul-EMI Records 1997)
_____________________________________________________________________________________

She landed like a fly.
She left like a fly.

The apartment across the hall had been vacant for six months,
then suddenly without warning became occupied.
She was from the east of Canada,
absolutely beautiful, brains too.
And I told myself at first sight, she’s trouble.
And she was,
more than I could possibly imagine.
A real fireball-motormouth type,
but I really liked that at first,
(I like talkative people).

The third night she was there
we walked down to the New Beverly Cinema,
(which was actually an old revival house)
for a showing of Street Car Named Desire.
And from then on we began calling each other,
Stella and Stanley.

Whenever I’d come back from a job or something
I’d yell up to her window,
SSTTELLLLLLAAAAA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But more frequently than not,
It’d be her that was coming home from job and yelling
SSSSSTTTTTAAAANNNNNLLLLEEEEYYYY !!!!!!
She was working her little round ass off,
making about ten grand a week
as a human prop for fashion catalougues.
Didn’t even have a bank account when she first moved in.
What do you do with the money?, I asked her
Well I bought some CDs yesterday
and I got some clothes and.... I got this bag....


The girl spent money like an Arab.
And even with her income
was always borrowing from me for food and rent.

One of her biggest expenses was táxi fares.
She didn’t own a car.
Refused to take the bus.
And back in those days LA didn’t have a subway.

Up to five-hundred dollars a day for táxis.
To and from jobs.
To and from stores.
To and from the movies.
To and from the beach.
THE BEACH ?!
Who the fuck takes a cab from Hollywood to the beach?
RENT A CAR !!! I told her.
But she didn’t have a license.

She eventually took all of my advice.
Opened a bank account.
Stopped buying so many CDs
Started buying used clothes.
And bought two cars
(still didn’t have a license),
a big Ford Bronco which she almost never drove
and an old convertible Mustang.

SSSTTTTAAANNLLEEYYY !!!!!!!
She’d yell as she drove down the alley.
SSSSSTTTAAAAAANNNLLLEEYYYY !!!!!!!!!
She’d yell as she pulled into the driveway.
Then we’d make healthy, disgusting-tasting things to eat,
drink cheap wine and talk almost all night
on my big blue bed.

But always in the middle of some deep conversation
she spring to her feet and say sisterly,
Goodnight Stan.
Goodnight Stella, I’d say.
Out my door she went
and into her own across the hall
where she would start making phone calls.


Sometimes I’d hear her talk on the phone
for two or three hours back home to Canada;
to her gingerbread family,
to her old friends...and to her old boyfriend.
You see, I was her only friend in LA
and the phone was one form of communication
she could not live without out
(her phone bill was easily four times more than her rent).

But I loved this little girl.
Miss-nineteen-year-old-motor-mouth-know-it-all.
She loved me too,
but was afraid to admit it
for the simple reason I didn’t look good on paper.
No regular job.
Skin too dark.
Used too many fuck-words.
Unsuccessful as a photographer.
Unsuccessful as an artist.
Whatever would her gingerbread family back home think?
And her friends? And her old boyfriend?
Afterall, this whole charade of a life she lived
was strictly for them, just for effect.

Many weeks in advance, we’d planned to go skydiving together,
but on the day we had reserved at the skydiving school
we got up at four-thirty a.m.
and drove all the way out to Paris, Califórnia
just to discover the wind was too strong
for any planes to go up.
She was absolutely heartbroken,
didn’t say a word the whole drive back.
What’s wrong, Stella ?
I dunno.

The problem wasn’t
that her her long anticipated first jump
had been postoned.
It was that she’d already told everyone in Toronto
that she’d be jumping TODAY
And no doubt they’d be calling that night for a documentary.


What’ll I tell them? she said.
That you’re dead, I said.
THAT’S NOT FUNNY STAN !!

One night not long after,
we’d gone to a big Hollywood Christmas party
and gotten completely wasted on mixed tropical drinks.
We took a cab home.
Then talked for a while on my bed.
She put her arms around me,
stabbed her tongue into my mouth
and climbed up on top of me.
She pulled out my dick through the zipper,
slipped it under her mini-skirt,
around her panties
into her unbelievably hot and tight wetness.

She rode it.
Once up.
Once down
The must have remembered her loving family,
friends and old boyfriend back home in Toronto.
I can’t do this,
She said rolling off of me
standing up and pulling down her skirt simultaneously.
I CAN’T DO THIS !!!!

She stormed out of my door and into her own.
She called somebody in Canada
and began telling them how exciting the party had been.
Eddie Murphy was there, I overheard her say.
He wasn’t, but there was a black guy tending bar,
(maybe they all looked the same to her).

The best and worst fuck of my life.
The Best ,
because I loved that little bitch and had waited
five months for The Dip.
The Worst,
because of its four-second duration
and transformation
of a girl who talked, laughed and ate with me
and cared about me.
into one who only said,
Hi Stan.
Bye Stan.

The next weekend I went up to Ventura County.
When I got home Sunday night she was gone.
No note. Nothing.
Her apartment was unlocked.
Vacant. No furniture. Nothing.
Everything was gone except for the cars
which she’d left across the street
in the Post Office parking lot.

The Bronco was stolen the third night.
The Mustang was towed by the city
about a week after that.

In like a fly.
Out like a fly.

She’d mixed up my head.
She’d driven a fork right through my fucking heart.
She’d nibbled and chewed
all of the self-confidence from my bonés
.....and still ...still had the nerve to call
four months later from Paris...France.

It’s spring here, she said on my answering machine.
The sun is shining.
The flowers have blossomed.

...I miss you Stan.

lyrics for ITHAKA's album "Recorded in Rio" c.2004

all Ithaka (aka Darin Pappas/Korvorowng) lyrics
published by: RAVENSHARK MUSIC-ASCAP
(administered by Memory Lane Music, NY)
www.ithaka.cc / sweatlodgerecords@hotmail.com

_________________________________________________________

1. SAME ROOM BLUES
lyrics and music: ithaka c.2004

Six months in the same room
Same smelly carpet, same cracked window
A broken hot plate, that's what I got
And an old bed with springs that pop
when you're trying to snooze
Chinese noodles in the cupboard
Half-empty beers in the fridge
And a couple of porno mags
with their pages ripped
The roaches all have names
AL and Hank. Frank...and of course Tank
That fat-ass roach with his
beer gut hanging out
Mofo always comes back for more
Nailed him with a nudie mag
On the kitchenette floor
But wounded, he escaped under the fridge
And now Tank is back
Back for more
crumbs of noodles and drops of beer
On the kitchenette floor.
Six months in the same room.
Same smelly carpet.
same cracked window
SAME ROOM BLUES
____________________________________________________________________

2. DINE 'n' DASH
lyrics and music by: Ithaka c. 2004

School got out early. We was broke and starving.
None of us had a dime. It was me, Clyde and Marvin
Got an idea, I said. Let's pull a dine n dash.
The obvious alternative when you ain't got cash
BOB's BIG BOY, the spot for dine n dash pimps.
It's easy to get out, they got them Jumbo shrimps
It was lunch hour the place was packed
Our waitress Rita, hadda beautiful face n nice rack
Marvin had steak and Clyde had fish fries
I had them jumbo shrimp,
But couldn't take my mind of Rita's thighs
The food wasn't too bad
but something else was on my mind
how could we leave a girl like Rita
stuck with the bill...that ain't kind.
AROUND THE TABLE AND OUT THE DOOR
SNEAKERS SQEAKING ACROSS A BOB'S BIG BOY FLOOR
YOU GOTTA RUN FAST WHEN YOU DINE N DASH
THE OBVIOUS ALTERNATIVE WHEN YOU AIN'T GOT CASH
People started leaving. Our time was running out.
A get-away was in order,(but)there was no easy route.
infatuated with Rita. I did not want to cheat her.
would've washed dishes for a month, done anything to please her
I know it's kinda corny, but I gave my testimony
yes, a begging her to join me in holy matrimony
Marry you? No,I don't think so, she replied
And by the way your bill comes out to twenty-six, sixty-five
AROUND THE TABLE AND OUT THE DOOR
SNEAKERS SQUEAKING ACROSS A BOB'S BIG BOY FLOOR
YOU GOTTA RUN FAST WHEN YOU DINE N DASH 2x
THE OBVIOUS ALTERNATIVE WHEN YOU AIN'T GOT CASH
Heart-broken, I asked for another side of fries
And when she turned to go get 'em,
I said, Come on, let's get out of here guys.
Around the table and out the door
Sneakers sqeaking across a Bob's Big Boy floor.
Marvin went left and Clyde went right
And I was the blue tornado, yes a spinnin' out a sight
But behind my back, almost on my heels
Was lovely Rita running after me with the bill.
She said, stop rude boy in the name of the law
you're going to the pound the be feathered and tarred
But I kept right on running and she kept right on chasing
Close enough to smell her perfume, I could swear it was Poisen
Then BAMM!!! I tripped in the gutter fell on my face
Rita landed on my back it was the end of the race
Then she put her arm around me and whispered in my ear
you want to get my number you can't eat and run dear
But she never went back to work and the cops never came
And me and Rita been together since that Dine N Dash day
AROUND THE TABLE AND OUT THE DOOR
SNEAKERS SQEAKING ACROSS A BOB'S BIG BOY FLOOR
YOU GOTTA RUN FAST WHEN YOU DINE N DASH 2x
THE OBVIOUS ALTERNATIVE WHEN YOU AIN'T GOT CASH

__________________________________________________________________

3. WHO'S YOUR DADDY?
lyrics and music: ithaka c. 2004

Who's your daddy? who's your daddy?, who's your daddy?
who's your daddy? who's your daddy? who's your daddy?
Who's your daddy, who's your daddy?, who's your daddy?
who's your daddy? who's your daddy? who's your daddy?
She come from a typical family of five
a mother and four daughters trying to survive
her pop left the coupe before she was ONE
dropped a sperm cell and thought the job was done
her sisters are all from different fathers
and on their birthdays their fathers didn't bother
to send them a note, or to give 'em a call
they never see their girls who have grown so tall
don't know her daddy's face from his feet
was he that thug this morning on the street?
Is he dead or alive, she don't know
Is he broke, alone or does he got dough?
Who's your daddy, who's your daddy?, who's your daddy?
who's your daddy? who's your daddy? who's your daddy?
Who's your daddy, who's your daddy?, who's your daddy?
who's your daddy? who's your daddy? who's your daddy?
Is her daddy in prison or is he free?
Or Is he the bum who begged from me
To buy a crumb to eat or to get a coat
or will he use the coins to buy drink and dope
he may be her father, but he sure ain't a friend
And she don't care if she ever see him again
cuz where was he when she needed?
But still made through, and now deep seeded
Moms told her daddy died in a war
But who was that man last night at the door
telling mom can't get her out his mind
even in her room she could smell his breath of wine
Who's your daddy, who's your daddy?, who's your daddy?
who's your daddy? who's your daddy? who's your daddy?
Can't be the only ones, she must have others
how many sisters? how many brothers?
Does she have kin she will never meet?
walkin' down the alley in their bare feet
Cuz daddy left them like he left me
not caring if we live or if we bleed
So forget you daddy...I ain't your little kiddy
whoever you are where ever you may be
Mom had two roles, Mom and Dad both
She had three jobs, but somehow she coped
with bringing 'em up in this strange world
their mother among stones is a bright pearl
Who's your daddy, who's your daddy?, who's your daddy?
who's your daddy? who's your daddy? who's your daddy?
Who's your daddy, who's your daddy?, who's your daddy?
who's your daddy? who's your daddy? who's your daddy?
________________________________________________________________

4. THE BUS SONG 2004
lyrics: Ithaka and Bnegao
music: Marecal c.2004

Ten cans of Caracu already in my belly
Ain't showered at all, you guessed it I'm kinda smelly
Ai, eu pelo meu lado nao bebo tava tranquilo
fiz a obcao pela funaca pra afecta'r meus sentidos
But we wuz on our way to go to a show
From the burbs of Niteroi to the center of Rio
viagem longa tem tem tem que ter disposicao
bom humor pedida certa pra essa situacao
My bro Bnegao gonna show me the city life
See all the delirious underground Rio sights
Monte de pontos vitais Lapa destino final
Chorinho malandragem e' a batalha de um Real
But we didn't have a car, motorcycle or jet plane
I blew our dough on the beer, now a taxi's out of range
Como economistas sao uns excelentes imbe'cies
Ja' da' pra ver ai compadre, vai ser um franco daqueleles sair daqui
So how the fuck we gonna get there?
Ain't got no grana, no dinheiro to spare
to achando meu irmao que a unica obcao
sera um nome que o neginho tem verdadeira avercao
The answer to this question was
The goddamn muthafuckin bus
Yeah, right here on the muthafuckin bus
NO WE DON'T LIKE THE MUTHAFUCKIN BUS
BUT WE AIN' T GOT A MUTHAFUCKIN CAR
CUZ WE TOO MUTHAFUCKIN BROKE
AND IT'S TOO FUCKIN HOT TO WALK
AND WE GOTTA BEAT THE HANDS ON THE CLOCK
AND WE LATE TO THE MUTHAFUCKIN GIG
AND WE SWEATIN' LIKE MUTHAFUCKIN PIGS
RIGHT HERE ON THE MUTHAFUCKIN BUS
yeah, right here on the muthafuckin bus
Well it was hot and rainy this is true
But things were peaceful sipping on my brews
o macaco velho vacinado escolado num rolan
fica sambolado porque nas antigas conhecia CTC
Already 1am, and the bus still crowded
Some dude just tried to sell me some bootleg Viagra
Nao sei nao......rapaz nao chega nem perto do Generico
e' melhor voce deixar a natureza se seu melhor remedio
But who needs that shit when there's beauties-a-plenty
Best of all, them baby dolls on this bus were friendly
Entao compadre, e' disso q to falando Rapa
seque em frente aproveita
que a tua sovaca ainda nao virou um repelente
Fell in love ten times just over the bridge
Amor, the language on this crosstown voyage
Agora sim tu comeca entende' a cidade
Porque alguns gringos chega aqui muda ate de enternidade
My mind done changed about public transport
For thirty minutes thought I was at a rolling resort
Entao aproveita a sorte q'isso nao acontece todo a dia
Nada como a viagem longa em boa compania
But all of a sudden, we couldn't believe our eyes
Onto the bus walked fifteen stupid guys
E' nao precisava ser tanto assim
Ne' ja' fica disigual
Desafia as leis da fisica, stilo bacural
Even drunker than me and singing stupid songs
Goddamn I hope this trip ain't long
Uhm..ai rapaz nao quero desanimar nao
Mas puts! falta muito falta um pouco pra chegar ainda
So I told the the muthafuckin clowns
Ya better keep that noise down
Esses caras entronaram todo o alcool dos bares
Se alguem acendesse um fosforo ia tudo pelos ares
Now, don't get me wrong I wasn't looking for a fight
But here was fifteen muthafuckers here I just didn't like
Nao, eu sou pela nao violencia a favor de tolerancia
Precisa ser muito cinistro pra eu dar alguma importancia
Did you punch the "Joes" in the nose?
Hell no, but one at a me I dropped'em out the window
Plop-plop, splat-splat oh what a relief is that
RIGHT HERE ON THE MUTHAFUCKIN BUS
ITHAKA ON THE MUTHAFUCKIN BUS
BNEGAO ON THE MUTHAFUCKIN BUS
THALMA ON THE MUTHAFUCKIN BUS
YEAH, WE ALL ON THE MUTHAFUCKIN BUS
yeah right here on the muthafuckin bus
____________________________________________________________

5. TECHNICALLY A FAILURE
lyrics and music: ithaka c.2004

So you say ain't got a dollar to your name
you can still have a good days if ya follow my ways
but learn the rules before you go
of the vagabond-freeloader manifesto
So brush your teeth and wash your feet
Cuz if ya gonna beg, beg like the begger's elite
And leave your pride by the wayside
Ain't no ego allowed when ya beggin' for a ride
Sub-free rider from the LA zone
Technically a failure from my skull to my toes
Born in the burbs but that don't mean much
My Pops is dead n gone and my Mom's laid off.
And still as dumb as when I was young and my looks don't kill
Burnt my youth surfin and now I got no skills
Yes I'm broke, the brokest of the jokest
But keep my eyes to the sky and don't lose focus
Stay at Mary's on Monday
On Tuesday at Sue's
'Til Thursday I'm in the park
But eat at my Brother Stu's
Friday thru Sunday in Ventura with Roberta
Don't have my own crib I'm a freeloadin' vermin
THE LESS YOU POSSESS THE MORE FREEDOM YOU OWN
FROM YOUR SKINCELLS TO THE DEPTHS OF YOUR SOUL

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT SON OF MINE????
I RAISED HIM FROM A PUP, BUT HE'S GROWN TO BE A SWINE
HE'S NOT PRESENTABLE HE'S NOT RESPECTABLE
DON'T READ HIS BIBLE, JUST GOES TO MEXICO
THE LESS YOU POSSESS THE MORE FREEDOM YOU OWN
BUT YOU'RE TECHNICALLY A FAILURE
FROM YOUR TOES TO YOUR DOME
....technically a failure
it's true I don't work nine to nine
to sacrifice my life for six dollars and a dime
I'm playing the game my own way
don't need too much of nobody
and I got no one to blame
I don't own shit. I never had shit.
I don't need shit. And I never want shit.
Most of my dreams are of wandering
Not of money and fame and blingedy bling
ain't nobody left to impress
and the less you posess, the more freedom you own
from the marrow of your bone to the depths of your soul
free to roam to places unknown
can be inside your dome or thru the allies of Rome
But when I ride by bus. train. or plane
I need more than a nickle for my travel campaign
so can you send me ten dollars to me P.O. BOX?
I'll put it to good use. I mean it, I promise
The Anatomy of Restlessness
Is the way that I deal with stress
When the world seems routine and uninspiring
The veiw out the window a dull painting
I split . Vacate. Escape. Evaporate.
I migrate south instead of hybernate.
THE LESS YOU POSSESS THE MORE FREEDOM YOU OWN
FROM YOUR SKINCELLS TO THE DEPTHS OF YOUR SOUL

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT SON OF MINE
I RAISED HIM FROM A PUP, BUT HE'S GROWN TO BE A SWINE
HE'S NOT PRESENTABLE HE'S NOT RESPECTABLE
DON'T READ HIS BIBLE, JUST GOES TO MEXICO
THE LESS YOU POSSESS THE MORE FREEDOM YOU OWN
BUT YOU'RE TECHNICALLY A FAILURE
FROM YOUR TOES TO YOUR DOME
......technically a failure
I wander the world in search of nothing
Never knowing what the future will bring
From the tropics to the desert to Tallahassee
I always be the wandering MC
Riding the bus at night to avoid gettin' a room
Looking out the window at a Peruvian moon.
A stepchild unknown I roamed into Lisbonne
Became Ithaka-The Fishdaddy but still broke to bone
So if I come to town don't stop me on the street
Begging me to a rhyme while you beat box (weak)
Just seeking a spot to sleep and something to eat
But if you ya got a sister between 18 and 44
And a free spot on the sofa back in the corner
I'll be your friend for a minute or two
I'm tired of sleeping on the road cuz I ain't got a room
But I prefer not to see the same faces daily
So understand, if we meet again I'll run like you got rabies
Faces and cats and roaches and dogs
Are like old friends that you can't get rid of
THE LESS YOU POSSES THE MORE FREEDOM YOU OWN
FROM YOUR SKINCELLS TO THE DEPTHS OF YOUR SOUL

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT SON OF MINE
I RAISED HIM FROM A PUP, BUT HE'S GROWN TO BE A SWINE
HE'S NOT RESPECTABLE. HE'S NOT PRESENTABLE
DON'T READ HIS BIBLE, JUST GOES TO MEXICO
THE LESS YOU POSSESS THE MORE FREEDOM YOU OWN
BUT YOU'RE TECHNICALLY A FAILURE
FROM YOUR TOES TO YOUR DOME

THE LESS YOU POSSESS THE MORE FREEDOM YOU OWN
BUT YOU'RE TECHNICALLY A FAILURE
FROM YOUR TOES TO YOUR DOME
_____________________________________________________________________

6.WHO's THE ENEMY?
lyrics: Ithaka and Gabriel O Pensador
music: Ithaka and Berna Ceppas
c.2004

Did ya ever notice that governments of the globe
Try to generalize each other as friend or foe
But what is a country, but a dividing wire
Of who pays taxes to which vampires
Just try to see that folk that live in tyranny
Ain't anymore the enemy than you or than me
I remember back when I was fourteen
Of the news on TV and of the films on the screen
Tried to have us all hatin' the Soviet Union
The Evil Empire, I believe was their slogan
But later on, when the heat began to cool
Russian exchange students arrived at our school
They dug computer games, rock and hip-hop
Studied hard, drank like fish, smoked a lot of pot
Two brainy dudes and four goddess like girls
Didn't exactly look to me like, Enemy Of The World
IS THIS THE ENEMY?
IS THIS THE REAL ENEMY?
DON'T LOOK LIKE THE ENEMY
NOW TELL ME WHO'S THE ENEMY
I learned once, now I try to unlearn
That some country's flags should be shredded and burned
But I live in a country which by force of fate
Has developed a culture of more love than hate
It's a country where people vote peace, not war
And where any foreigner finds an open door
Here we have many colors and many religions
Many ways of seeing things and of thinking these visions
But sometimes you just see what they shove in your eye
And the easiest way of thinking is believing a lie
That's why some accept the unacceptable
And soldiers go, where no one has to go
And leaders tell just what they want us to know
But where the hell is the real truth they never show?
Talking about hell, where does the devil reside?
And in a war, how come god has to choose one side?
Don't be fooled by your pride, when a guy with no wisdom
Wants to be a super hero in the name of freedom
Even sacred words can be excuses for killing
What you really want to know is who's the real villian
IS THIS THE ENEMY?
IS THIS THE REAL ENEMY?
DON'T LOOK LIKE THE ENEMY
NOW TELL ME WHO'S THE ENEMY
The commander-in chiefs of this planet
Put the population control on automatic
By planting the the seeds of hate in our lands
And watering the seeds with propaganda
Among the black, the brown, yellow, red, and the white
The Muslim, the Hindu, Christian and Israelite
But the enemies of The Man, ain't my enemies
Just individuals trying to make ends meet
So please don't believe everything you hear and see
Ulterior motives runs miles and miles deep
Basic need became basic greed
Globalizing economy while ignoring ecology
Bombs kill folk and pollute the air both
Eradicate species, but guarentee market growth
Got money for arms, but not for schools and medicine?
Now you tell me, who's got the enemy doctrine?
IS THIS THE ENEMY?
IS THIS THE REAL ENEMY?
DON'T LOOK LIKE THE ENEMY
NOW TELL ME WHO'S THE ENEMY
WHO IS THE VICTIM HERE?
WHO IS THE ONE I FEAR?
WHO IS THE ONE I BLAME?
WHO PUTS THE WORLD IN SHAME?
WHO MAKES THE WORLD INSANE?
WHO MAKES THE BOMBING RAIN?
WHO MAKES ME CRY IN PAIN?
WHO MAKES ME DIE IN VAIN?
Who's chasing who? you better think twice
Who's the hunter? who's the hunted
Who are the cats? who are the mice?
I see policians, how they speak so nice
I see how suspiciously they roll the dice
I see how they lie and control our lives
I see, I see they're just cold like ice
I simply can't stand all this sacrifice
In the name of the law, when the laws are lies
Don't rely on those who preach that same old speech
That many should be poor, so one or two can be rich
I've been walking and talking across the five continents
I've seen hunger and humility, anger and arrogance
The more I see, the more I feel this shame
The more I see we're different
The more I see we're different
The more I feel we are all the same
I've seen a lot places, a lot of faces
A lot of so-called races of humanity in front of me
I've seen some pictures on the wall and on the TV screen
But I still haven't seen the real enemy
IS THIS THE ENEMY?
IS THIS THE REAL ENEMY?
DON'T LOOK LIKE THE ENEMY
NOW TELL ME WHO'S THE ENEMY
___________________________________________________________________

7. WORK RELATED
lyrics and music: ithaka c.2004

hey Ithaka...you daydreaming again?
are you listening to me, Boy?
if you want to stay among the employed
you gotta follow the rules
YOU remember the rules
WASTING AWAY MY DAYS FOR MINIMUM WAGE
PRAYING TO A GOD WITH NO NAME
RESCUE ME FROM THIS CAGE
FORGIVE ME I'M THANKFUL IN MY WAY
BUT I HAD TOO MUCH REALITY FOR ONE DAY
fun flies when you doing time
for an hour of your life ya
git six dollars and a dime
I used to be somebody, someplace
but here in Somewhere, I became a disgrace
A job ? shit, haven't had one in years
I'm an artist supposed to git supported by my peers
But my peers disappeared and my money ran out
Lost my girl, my pride, even lost my clout
Had ambition and dreams
Plans to be traveling
But I took my luck for granted
and now I'm abandoned
dropped ERASE THE SLATE years ago
but before life got cruel and unusual
It's about peace, self-respect and self-preservation
But both sides of the rhyme be in need of salvation
How can I preach peace when there's hate in my heart?
How can I keep jealousy from tearing me apart?
what's it like to live a slob
when you know you supposed to be getting paid
Know you supposed to be getting laid
While theives without a phrase
already got it made got it made?
try to keep it cool, try not to act a fool
I Gotta refrain, I Gotta mantain
I Got to keep myself from going insane
Gotta Gotta Gotta STAY out of the gutter
Gotta Gotta KEEP my head above water
No health insurance can't aford payments it's hopeless
I'm less than two paychecks from being homeless
WASTING AWAY MY DAYS FOR MINIMUM WAGE
PRAYING TO A GOD WITH NO NAME
RESCUE ME UP FROM THIS CAGE
FORGIVE ME I'M THANKFUL IN MY OWN WAY
BUT I HAD TOO MUCH REALITY FOR ONE DAY
hey Ithaka..you daydreaming again?
are you listening to me?
if you want to remain among the employed
you got to follow the rules
you remember the rules?
Don't read
Don't breathe
Don't talk......you're on the clock
and turn that goddamn broken music off!!!

I want you to mop the floor, and take out the trash
clean the toilet and empty the rat traps
move this here and then move that
them move them back where they
were when you're done with that

Hitting my head against the wall
I've been here before, but no I ain't gonna fall
Gotta gotta gotta break on thru
That's what I gotta gotta gotta do
I'm at that point of no retreat
But I'm still at least standing upon my feet
I've been to and from hell and I lived to tell
a story or two about the wishing well
So give me respect, at least give me a raise
so I can get a ride and be on my way
WASTING AWAY MY DAYS FOR MINIMUM WAGE
PRAYING TO A GOD WITH NO NAME
RESCUE ME UP FROM THIS CAGE
FORGIVE ME I'M THANKFUL IN MY WAY
BUT I HAD TOO MUCH REALITY FOR ONE DAY
WASTING AWAY MY DAYS FOR MINIMUM WAGE
PRAYING TO A GOD WITH NO NAME
RESCUE ME UP FROM THIS CAGE
FORGIVE ME I'M THANKFUL IN MY WAY
BUT I HAD TOO MUCH REALITY FOR ONE DAY
hey hey now Ithaka what are doing with that knife?
you.... you know you're my favorite,
just..don't do anything you're gonna regret later
I QUIT!
__________________________________________________________________

8. I RIDE
music and lyrics by: ithaka c.2004

I RIDE I RIDE I RIDE I RIDE

I RIDE SINCE I WAS A SMALL FRY
.... SINCE THE DAY MAMMY MULTIPLIED
I RIDE TO KEEP MY SOUL ALIVE
I RIDE UNTIL THE DAY, THE DAY THAT I DIE
I RIDE PORQUE SOU DE AGUA E DO SOL
QUANDO SURFO A VIDA TEM MAIS SENTIDO
I RIDE CUZ I LIKE THE VEIW FROM THE TUBE
I RIDE CUZ I LIKE THE COLOR BLUE
I RIDE TO KEEP MY MOJO INTACT
SO I GOT THE GOODS TO DELIVER when my baby gets back

I RIDE cuz I prefer to GLIDE
than to get HIGH
with THINGS that make MY brain fry
I RIDE the bumps in LA grime
I RIDE to forget LA city crime
I ride. cuz I prefer to fly
than to be on the SIDE on standby
I RIDE i like SALT sray in my eyes
I'll ride til the DAY the SUN makes me blind
I RIDE cuz nothing better than being inside
.....a waves inner thigh
I ride, cuz SHE's always wet
She never talks back or messes with my head
I ride
I ride

I RIDE to be cleansed of my sins
used to ride twin but I prefer a trifin
I RIDE whenver I have the time
grew up by the sea, but I was born in Anaheim
I RIDE I don't sit and observe
I RIDE day or night whenever I have the urge
I RIDE to calm my burnt nerves
I RIDE when my sanity I need to preserve
when ride in the calm. I go with the flow
when I ride in the storm I git agro
I RIDE ALL AROUND THIS globe
I RIDE IN THE TROPICS I RIDE IN THE COLD
I RIDE
I RIDE
I RIDE SINCE I WAS A SMALL FRY
.... SINCE THE DAY MAMMY MULTIPLIED
I RIDE TO KEEP MY SOUL ALIVE
I RIDE UNTIL THE DAY,THE DAY THAT I DIE
I RIDE PORQUE SOU DA AGUA E DO SOL
QUANDO SURFO A VIDA TEM MAIS SENTIDO
I RIDE CUZ I LIKE THE VEIW FROM THE TUBE
I RIDE CUZ I LIKE THE COLOR BLUE
I RIDE TO KEEP MY MOJO INTACT
SO I'S GOT THE GOODS TO DELIVER when my baby gets back
I RIDE
I RIDE
I ride to be one with nature
I ride to keep from bad behavior
I ride to shed my in hi bi tions
riding everyday is my one ambition
I ride cuz it's power supreme
Sometimes I ride naked sometimes wear neprene
I RIDE Cuz i gots the need for speed
.... cuz I GOT GREED for speed
.....yes I'll even bleed for speed
I RIDE, glide down the line for a mile
.....cuz that's my substance free exhile
I Ride, slide into liquid caves
I ride cuz that's my one and only escape
I RIDE
I RIDE
I ride to be one with nature
I ride to keep from bad behavior
I ride over rocks I ride over reefs
I'll ride any wave but prefer steep peaks
I ride to keep myself inspired
To sculpt or scribe or even change a tire
I ride in the middle of the winter
I rode a place that made my stick a splinter
I rode walls that blocked out the sky
Underwater out of breath I saw my life flash by
I ride to escape street commotion
I give my praise to the motion of the ocean
I ride when I'm angry or about (to starve)
I get on rail and begin to carve
a liquid piece of the pie
No longer feel like I want to die
I ride in the Atlantic, I ride in the Pacific
I ride secret spots, can't be too specific
I RIDE
I RIDE
I RIDE SINCE I WAS A SMALL FRY
.... SINCE THE DAY MAMMY MULTIPLIED
I RIDE TO KEEP MY SOUL ALIVE
I RIDE UNTIL THE DAY,THE DAY THAT I DIE
I RIDE PORQUE SOU DA AGUA E DOSOL
QUANDOSURFO A VIDA TEM MAIS SENTIDO
I RIDE CUZ I LIKE THE VEIW FROM THE TUBE
I RIDE CUZ I LIKE THE COLOR BLUE
I RIDE TO KEEP MY MOJO INTACT
SO I'S GOT THE GOODS TO DELIVER when my baby gets back
I RIDE
I RIDE


__________________________________________________________________

9. MARTA de la VALLARTA
lyrics and music by ithaka c.2004

October twenty-fifth, two-zero, zero two
A thousand south of the border with the Sweatlodge Crew
It was a work trip, stills and videos
Fifteen of us, ten babes and five time- bros
It'd been a long intense week of travel
We'd had a good a time but it was starting to unravel
Hurricane Marta was somewhere near the coast
But for us, easier to believe in ghosts
They'd told us to leave, but we didn't believe
Cuz we's from LA, California
where weather-wise nothing happens
day-after-day
Out for drinks in old towne Vallarta
It was a tribe mind thing that we was all a part of
Having the time of our entire lives
Laughing and dancing the second we arrived
Getting freaky on the dancefloor in Puerta Vallarta
Didn't have a clue we was about to meet Marta
WE HAD BOTTOM-HEAVY BASS-BANGING JOINTS IN THE HOUSE
TWO FOR ONE DRINK SPECIALS THERE WAS ZERO DOUBT
WE WUZ SHAKING IT UP IN PUERTA VALLARTA
WE WUZ DRINKING IT UP IN PUERTA VALLARTA
WE WUZ LIVING IT UP IN PUERTA VALLARTA
THEN CAME THE STORM OF THE DECADE
A WITCH NAMED MARTA

At six a.m., back at the Shereton
The party moved to my room the number was seven-ten
Wind arrived as it was getting light
Outside shorepounders least 30-feet high
Light giant muddy teeth chomping down the shore
a quarter hour later rolling thru the lobby's back door
Palm trees, tvs, refrigerators more
swept on thru the first , second floors
Lights, water and phone already gone
nowhere to go, we was stranded alone
Windows popping like Redenbacher popcorn
Doors slamming like Amity house of horror
Plaster and bricks getting torn off of the ceiling
While the staff in a circle crying and a kneeling
But the Pagan in us didn't want to fuss
Let us LIVE! or let our heads bust!
Bring this shit on! we cheered, Bring this shit on!
WE HAD BOTTOM-HEAVY BASS-BANGING JOINTS IN THE HOUSE
TWO FOR ONE DRINK SPECIALS THERE WAS ZERO DOUBT
WE WUZ SHAKING IT UP IN PUERTA VALLARTA
WE WUZ DRINKING IT UP IN PUERTA VALLARTA
WE WUZ LIVING IT UP IN PUERTA VALLARTA
THEN CAME THE STORM OF THE DECADE
A WITCH NAMED MARTA

What would you do? What would YOU do?
If you knew the roof was coming down
And if ya left that you would drown
What we did was a given
Not allowed to recommend it
But definitely don't condemn it.
Thought, what is it in life that we most cherish?
Dig music and making love
Turned up the volume and opened another rum
Just like that old Beach Boys song
Two babes for every bro
As the building was crumbling
We was dancin' and drinkin' and grindin' and bumpin'
Instead of screaming and crying
We was laughing and loving
Bring this shit on! we cheered Bring this shit on!
But after only three hours, the wind slowed the rain stopped
The sun came out and the waves began to drop
Just like Moses dividing the Red Sea
Without delay Marta's waters began to recede
The hotel no longer shaked and quaked
Had our little party been a big mistake??
Well hell no, stoked that we wadn't "drowners"
We turned the volume up even louder
WE HAD BOTTOM-HEAVY BASS-BANGING JOINTS IN THE HOUSE
TWO FOR ONE DRINK SPECIALS THERE WAS ZERO DOUBT
WUZ SHAKING IT UP IN PUERTA VALLARTA
WE WUZ DRINKING IT UP IN PUERTA VALLARTA
WE WUZ LIVING IT UP IN PUERTA VALLARTA
THOUGHT WE WUZ GONNA DIE IN PUERTA VALLARTA
BUT WE SURVIVED A FIVE IN PUERTA VALLARTA
___________________________________________________________________

10. BROTHER BARSTOW
lyrics and music: ithaka c.2004

My brother left the city
get away from it all
Away from high rents,
pollution and traffic
moved to the desert
where there is no grass
Just dust and sun and sadness
The rents are low, this is true
but there aren't many jobs
and the collars are blue
Brother Bartsow,
if you're running from yourself,give it up
Eyes from the skies are on you
Eyes from the skies are on you
My brother left the city
get away from it all
Away from high rents,
pollution and traffic
moved to the desert
where there is no grass
Just dust and sun and sadness
The rents are low, this is true
but there aren't many jobs
and the collars are blue
Brother Bartsow,
if you're running from yourself
Give it up
Eyes from the skies are on you
Eyes from the skies are on you
People are the key,
not air, water, food like scientists thought.
So don't isolate.....integrate
If I catch a rail, I'll come to say hey
but give me a call if you're coming my way
come see the lights once in a while, Brother Barstow
come see the lights once in a while, Brother Barstow
come see the lights once in a while, Brother Barstow
come see the lights once in a while,
________________________________________________________________

11. LIKE A BOTTLE OF BACCARDI (she made my life a party)
lyrics and music: ithaka c.2004

six years in Lisboa,
guess I sort of
burned out my welcome
my friends coming by seldom
my presence was bigger than paycheck
was wanting to disappear like thumbtack into haystack
no transport to escape on regular basis
moved out of the city to a place called Oerias
didn't know none of the local kids
lived between the projects and the bourgouis pigs
couldn't relate to the northside betinos
I kept to the south with my new crew of amigos
Believe Posse was the group to see
they had a cool sound, Bodycount meet MARLEY
and the bass player's sister they called,"Mloa"
had a radiant angola mocha glowa
first time I seen Mloa was outside of the store
wearing a red kimono hair wrapped around a bone
living walking example of style and grace
curvy little figure with unusual face
whom I saw was the girl of my life
a girl who could maybe someday be my wife
gotta gotta good thing going
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
SHE'S ICECREAM ON MY PIE
THE KETCHUP ON MY FRIES
TWO SHOTS OF EXPRESSO
BEFORE THE SUNRISE
LIKE A BOTTLE OF BACARDI
SHE MAKES MY LIFE A PARTY
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
gotta gotta good thing going
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
She'd had 18 years of living in a crowded crib
Two bedrooms stuffed to capacity with growing kids
Bairro das Caixas the zone she from
saturated with smack and mud
and everything else under the sun
On my out been on the other side a long time
Wanna come back to LA my eccentric valentine?
Si, quero ir contigo
the answer was yes
Took her Moms to Palmeiras to eat Chinese
told her as calm as possible,
your daughter's coming with me
to the City of Angels to make a fresh start
leave the zone. the dope. and pursue a career in art
gotta gotta good thing going
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
SHE'S ICECREAM ON MY PIE
THE KETCHUP ON MY FRIES
TWO SHOTS OF EXPRESSO
BEFORE THE SUNRISE
LIKE A BOTTLE OF BACARDI
SHE MAKES MY LIFE A PARTY
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
gotta gotta good thing going
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
comin back to Cali without a nickle to our names
I was parking cars and she waitressed and Jane's
Using fake name, numbers and fake papers
Do what you do to get paid for labors
We kept the faith, we was not hopeless
We laughed away three years of brokeness
Laughing at ourselves, laughing with each other
giving the rest of the world hell
just us against them others
Finally we starting to live out our dreams
Doing our projects and doing some traveling
I wouldn't want to do it without her
She wouldn't want to do it with out me
gotta gotta good thing going
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
SHE'S ICECREAM ON MY PIE
THE KETCHUP ON MY FRIES
TWO SHOTS OF EXPRESSO
BEFORE THE SUNRISE
LIKE A BOTTLE OF BACARDI
SHE MAKES MY LIFE A PARTY
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
gotta gotta good thing going
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
SHE'S ICECREAM ON MY PIE
THE KETCHUP ON MY FRIES
TWO SHOTS OF EXPRESSO
BEFORE THE SUNRISE
LIKE A BOTTLE OF BACARDI
SHE MAKES MY LIFE A PARTY
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
gotta gotta good thing going
the vibe don't stagnate
the love keeps rolling
__________________________________________________________________

12. MUERTO ESCONDIDO
lyrics and music: ithaka c.2004

I know a place that's hot most the time
A spliff cost a quarter, a beer cost a dime
I've roameded the globe, Nairob'to Kyoto
But my favorite ghetto is in the depths of Mexico
Paradise is where you make it, but this ain't for the weak
Where men walk on water and zombies walk the streets
The water's blue, sand black, skin brown
Near a little ghost town that never shuts down
Beauty all around for miles
But there's darkness in their smiles
....there's darkness in their smiles
MUERTO ESCONDIDO.... SU ALMA ESTA EM PElIGRO
LA VERDADE SERA REVELADA EM MUERTO ESCONDIDIO
Muerto's got swells that'll kick yo' ass
Sprain yo' ankles or leave 'em casts
There's tropical rain to wash away the pain
But ain't nothing to keep you from going insane
jacking straight up with a chip on her shoulder
one-woman army, million-gallon liquid soldier
Muerto Escondido, not for the weak
Where men walk on water and zombies walk the streets
Ants the size of roaches and roaches the size of mice
Scorpions in your shoes and beds full of lice
INSIDE: frogs and 'squitos in the shower
OUTSIDE: guns, knives and murder
When a house gets robbed, I mean the house itself
They kick your sorry butt out and move it someplace else
It's no man's land, It's no thugs land
It's no one's land...e' LOCOLAND
MUERTO ESCONDIDO.... SU ALMA ESTA EM PELIGRO
LA VERDADE SERA REVELADA EM MUERTO ESCONDIDIO
Suicide and homicide
With dead dogs by the roadside
The river runs with blood the sixth of the month
Coinciding with the local eclipse of the sun
Took shrooms at dawn and thought I saw god
Told me to drink more tequila, stop drinking so much rum
Went to a party at that house up on the hill
With lizards on the walls and ghosts in the halls
Sat down to a plate of fishead stew
Sucking on an eyeball, I'd been trying to chew
Saw ants moving bread across the floor
Through the dining room the kitchen and out the door
They didn't even wait 'til we got to desert
But neither did the skeezer with me trying to flirt
She said, I'm from Italy, but I've lived here ten years
Now I have two husbands and I have six kids
Her mouth was melting as she tried to speak
Said, Caro Ithaka let me give you a treat
She started unzipping, but I was not with it
had a chancre the size of a quarter
on the outside of her lippage
Left the room, left the house
But that ghost in the hall followed me out
He said, you can run, but you cannot hide
From that little dark lie you call your life
Wontcha come back in and stay awhile
drink some blood with Tequila, Escondido style
MUERTO ESCONDIDIO NOT FOR THE WEAK
WHERE MEN WALK ON WATER
AND ZOMBIES WALK THE STREETS
MUERTO ESCONDIDO...SU ALMA ESTA EM PELIGRO
LA VERDADE SERA REVELADA EM MUERTO ESCONDIDIO
MUERTO ESCONDIDIO NOT FOR THE WEAK
WHERE MEN WALK ON WATER
AND ZOMBIES WALK THE STREETS
MUERTO ESCONDIDO...SU ALMA ESTA EM PELIGRO
LA VERDADE SERA REVELADA EM MUERTO ESCONDIDIO
___________________________________________________________________

13. STINGRAY SHUFFLE
lyrics and music: Ithaka c.2004

A stingray
is a flat, bottom-feeding fish
that feeds and breeds
in warm shallow water
and prefers sandy sea floors
Stingrays are not agressive,
but will defend themselves
if stepped on.
They have a stinger in their tails
and they will use
to sting their attacker
in the foot or ankle.
The stinger is covered in a protein
that adds to the pain of the sting
If you get stung,
the lifeguard will have you
soak you feet in hot water.
This breaks down the toxins
and will help relieve the pain.
Shuffling your feet slowly in the sand
will warn stingrays
to move out of your way.
Shuffling your feet slowly in the sand
will warn stingrays
to move out of your way.
Shuffling your feet slowly in the sand
will warn stingrays
to move out of your way.
___________________________________________________________

14. SLEEPING IN THE SHADE
lyrics and music: ithaka c.2004

hit and run....quick as a gun
hit and run....quick as a gun
hit and run...quick as a gun
hit and run...quick as a gun
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
DREAMING ABOUT A FRIEND
WHO WENT EARLY TO HER GRAVE
NOW SHE'S UNDER A TREE AND OUT OF THE SUN
IN A PLACE TO REST FROM A WORLD FAR GONE
Coming up in life, doing what she liked
had her head on right with her goals in sight
Well liked, well loved...on earth and above
A rose without thorns from a puddle of mud
She was twenty and I was eighteen
Had art classes together at L.A.C.C.
She was always drawing shoes
Instead of flowers and reeds
and just a couple of years later
People wore them shoes on their feet
hit and run....quick as a gun
hit and run....quick as a gun
hit and run...quick as a gun
hit and run...quick as a gun
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
DREAMING ABOUT A FRIEND
WHO WENT EARLY TO HER GRAVE
NOW SHE'S UNDER A TREE AND OUT OF THE SUN
IN A PLACE TO REST FROM A WORLD FAR GONE
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
She taught me about living, laughing and loving
During lunch hours at her Mom's apartment
Dream hard and play hard and love hard
and work hard and love hard and dream hard
Her soul and spirit had a strong effect on me
Cuz soon I started doing what I love.....wandering
I remember her laugh, white teeth n olive skin
And her favorite line, live this life to win
When I saw her 'fore I left on journey
She told me, Fly high "Ith"...send me a card sometime
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
DREAMING ABOUT A FRIEND
WHO WENT EARLY TO HER GRAVE
NOW SHE'S UNDER A TREE AND OUT OF THE SUN
IN A PLACE TO REST FROM A WORLD FAR GONE
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
Got a letter in Lisbon, six months later
But it wasn't from her...it was from her brother
Said, on her birthday friends asked her out
To El Cholo on Western. Her favorite without doubt
Margaritas for Margarita with vegetarian fajitas
Happy Birthday sung in Spanish by irridecent senhoritas
Blew out the candles and laughed out loud
And said, I got something in the car I wanna show you all
But on her way back to the lot, walking the crosswalk
Got taken out with a truck that didn't even stop
as her dragged her down the block
.......................................................................
A young beautiful life. Age: twenty-four
Reduced to three bumps on a truck's floor board
hit and run....quick as a gun
hit and run....quick as a gun
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
SLEEPING IN THE SHADE ON A SUMMER'S DAY
_______________________________________________________________

15. 'N PORTUGAL
lyrics:Ithaka / music: Berna Ceppas c. 2004

Ithaka got love for Portugal
Cuz I lived alot of years in Portugal
Cuz I got alotta bros in Portugal
Cuz I found my soul in Portugal
Ithaka ain't from the old school, Ithaka ain't from the new
I came swimming into the picture from the depths of the blue
With my fins dried out dragged myself to town
Didn't know it if I was lost or if I was found
No job no friend no money not funny
Stepchild in Lisboa with no milkshakes or honey
But I be gliding I be rolling
Treatin' time like it be stolen
Take the whole story back to the year 1992
Cuz sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do
Time for me to escape from the city of devils
It was the riddle of life that I was trying to unravel
I had to get out of there while there was going to get
LA was the hunter California was the net
PORTUGAL, I MISSING YOU
YOU WAS DOWN WITH ME AND I'M DOWN WITH YOU
PORTUGAL, I'M MISSING YOU
YOU'RE A PART OF ME AND I'M A PART OF YOU
I WAS FLAT BROKE... IN PORTUGAL
ATE ALOT OF CALDO VERDE..... IN PORTUGAL
DRANK ALOT OF SUPERBOCK.....IN PORTUGAL
SMOKED ALOT OF GANZA IN...PORTUGAL
I look to the blue cuz I'm THE BUM WITH BLUE BLOOD
BEEN FOUR long YEARS since I made KETCHUP LOVE.
Pretty Little, Pretty Little pretty pretty STELLAFLY
Won't you please baby please be my SUBSTANCE-FREE EXHILE
But she said, No It's time for you to roam
So catch the SUSHI-PACK SUBWAY and get yourself on home

I walk the street with no STREET LOYALTY
Cuz I be from the sea, I be the FISHDADDY
In my SPIRITUAL GRAVEYARD, there I was stuck
Wasn't easy like I thought to just SO GET UP
THE RISE AND FALL OF A FORTUNE that was the next PLOT
SUNNY THE BUNNY split with my money but he never got caught
ERASE THE SLATE OF HATE, ERASE THE SLATE OF HATE
With some FLOWERS AND THE COLOR OF PAINT
PORTUGAL, I MISSING YOU
YOU WAS DOWN WITH ME AND I'M DOWN WITH YOU
PORTUGAL, I'M MISSING YOU
YOU'RE A PART OF ME AND I'M A PART OF YOU
THERE'S ALOT OF SUGAR DOLLS...IN PORTUGAL
AND I MADE ALOT OF LOVE .....IN PORTUGAL
BUT I DIDN'T MAKE BABIES..IN PORTUGAL
CUZ I ALWAYS WORE A GLOVE...IN PORTUGAL
BUTTERFLY OF WISDOM said, STAY STRONG LITTLE BROTHER
AIN'T NO BREEZE, so STONEMOBILE on down to the ALABAMA CAVE PARTY
KING TARDY's UMBILIBUS arrived at two
With the ESCAPE FROM THE CITY OF ANGEL crew
Then it was URSULA of ITHAKA, CAPRICORN and CANCER
And SEABRA IS MAD from SOMEWHERE SOUTH OF GIBRALTAR
Later, met PIGEON LADY at EDEN BY THE SEA
She's a SLEEPDRIVER But she makes GOOD COOKIES.....
Oatmeal choclate chip cookies
Now I'm speeding through the decades like they was red lights
Keeping a lead on the loanshark that lent me the good life
I'm out there living mine all the time,
Cuz rhymes don't grow in the garden
PORTUGAL, I MISSING YOU
YOU WAS DOWN WITH ME AND I'M DOWN WITH YOU
PORTUGAL, I'M MISSING YOU
YOU'RE A PART OF ME AND I'M A PART OF YOU
PEACE AND LOVE... ........IN PORTUGAL
THE SKY'S STILL BLUE..... IN PORTUGAL
REEFS AND POINTS......... IN PORTUGAL
SCORED THE BARREL OF MY LIFE...IN PORTUGAL
SCRIBED ALOT OF RHYMES... IN PORTUGAL
MADE A DEMO..... .........IN PORTUGAL
CUT TWO ALBUMS ...........IN PORTUGAL
Yes, LIFE WAS GOOD......... IN PORTUGAL
PORTUGAL, I MISSING YOU
YOU WAS DOWN WITH ME AND I'M DOWN WITH YOU
PORTUGAL, I'M MISSING YOU
YOU'RE A PART OF ME AND I'M A PART OF YOU