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
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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
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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)
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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)
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
