Swagger
Sweet little kitten comes from out of town,
She waited for the sun to change her skin.
She walks the Bowery on the low east side,
There’s always someone there to take her in…she’s playing with their heads.

That cat’s been talkin’ loud and out of line,
She’s hanging in the cover of her friends.
She caught a dagger in her back left side,
The money’s always counted in the end…she’s gonna get it,
She’s gonna let them treat her like she doesn’t matter.

Down at this spot called the South Side Southern,
Hangin’ with a gang called the Suicide Brothers,
Now she’s talkin’ loud but she ain’t sayin’ nothin’
Kitten flips the switch, slips away, slips the cover.
I wanna leave the simple lives to the lovers.

Some think,
They’re gonna shake when they,
Feel the shatter…it doesn’t matter.
She’s gonna break,
All torn and battered,
They got her number…she’s got the swagger.

copyright 2004 C. Batten

Hand Me Downs
Every summer there’s a wind that blows through you,
It chills its way down through you skin to your bones.
It brings the memories of the ones you left standing,
It brings the memories of the ones that you loved.

Why are you always, carrying these weights?

Everybody’s got a secret worth keeping,
Like, all the bottles hidden under your bed.
And there’s a warmness found when sleeping in these shadows,
But there’s a comfort when you break away.

Why are you always, carrying these weights,
Into your grave, are you ok?

We burned slow,
But even flowers were meant to fade.
We’re dressing up,
And handing down to someone else…what has been.

There are highways that’ll lead you to nowhere,
And there are highways that’ll lead you back home.
There are riders who will carry you their way,
But bless the riders that go riding alone.

If it’s ok to walk out on your friends,
Then it’s ok to walk out on your lovers,
And it’s ok to look back on the one’s you never thought you had lost here.

We burned slow,
But even flowers were meant to fade.
We’re dressing up,
And handing down to someone else.

There’s certain hours in the summer,
That make you feel like it’s only you and you alone.
And if we ever get done talking,
You’ll find that everything you wanted has been gone.

We burned slow,
But even flowers were meant to fade.
We’re dressing up,
And handing down to someone else…what has been.

copyright 2004 C. Batten

Rifles
In the morning, when the cold dark,
Is broken by the light that comes and warms the surface of you skin.
I’ll be standing in the shadows,
Of the hallway off the room and won’t be coming back again.

Cause if I stay, we’ll both be standing in front of the rifles with arms opening.

We were riding, on a clean break,
Across the mid Americas to leave the damage that we did.
But everybody’s got a problem weighing on them, it catches up,
And tears right through you just like razors tear through skin and bleeds the darkness from your veins.

Cause if I stay, we’ll both be standing in front of the rifles with arms opening.
And you might think, that there’ll always be some sort of problem, so I’m leaving here.

I’m blinding you from your old-hearted ways.
And everyone is gonna shake you down,
So I would rather you be alone.
Cause I know there gonna break you and,
Drag us down some road that you’ve never been before tonight.

In the morning, there’s be a cold noise,
That steals the light out from your eyes

Cause if I stay, we’ll both be standing in front of the rifles with arms opening.
And you might think, that there’ll always be some kind of problem, so I’m leaving here.
I’m blinding you from your old-hearted ways.

copyright 2004 C. Batten

Back To You
Baby take another step off the corner,
Through the bar into the lights to meet me out in the street.
Cause I’ve been working off a part time heartache,
I drown my face into the crowds across the back of the scene.
Your favorite record’s on the table turning,
I grab your waste and pull you close to feel you breathe.

Oh yeah,
With your arms in mine.

The gutters of grace, are out licking their wounds,
They’re bandaged and taped and black and blue.

Everybody’s gotta be hard runnin’
They spend their nights out on the strip, chasing some other dream.
Angels line up at the bars on Fridays,
They’re drinking liquor till they’re loose enough to spread out their wings.
But angels never leave their hearts unguarded,
The place their faith in stranger hands, and greater things.

Oh yeah,
With your arms in mine.

The gutters of grace, are out licking their wounds,
They’re bandaged and taped and black and blue.
But when you walk in this place, there comes a light that shines on you,
I’m out of the race, and I’m back to you.

Baby take another step off the corner,
Through bar, into the lights to meet me out in the street.
Cause I’ve been working all week just to find you.
I’ve placed my faith in stranger hands and greater things.

The gutters of grace, are out licking their wounds,
They’re bandaged and taped and black and blue.
But when you walk in this place, there comes a light that shines on you,
I guess we had it coming, I’m back to you.

copyright 2004 C. Batten

These Small Things
Man these days are long and these nights go on forever,
They’re barely ending and just blur together,
Cause I’ve got these dreams and they don’t let me sleep at all.

The strangest voices call, so I’m turning off the ringer.
I’m barely sleeping, I’m just lying here,
Counting the cracks and watching it all fall through.

And if you want to leave, go and ride off in the sunset,
But honestly, this was not supposed to end yet.
A fighter’s will, can only get you past the third bell,
But I’ll be here, for far more than time will allow.

And we got this heat, that’s been fueling like a fire,
But we’re slowly dying here, cause we’ve devoured,
These honesties that we’ve come so far to know.

And when I go out, all these girls they always meet me,
And they hate me, and they want to forget me,
But it’s alright, cause I’ve got more time and these bottles go so far.

And if you want to leave, go and ride off in the sunset,
But honestly, this was not supposed to end yet.
A fighter’s will, can only get you past the third bell,
But I’ll be here, for far more than time will allow.

If we can’t last through these small things,
Then I am not about to abbreviate them.
If innocence has given way,
Then I am giving up, my good intentions.

And if you want to leave, go and ride off in the sunset,
But honestly, this was not supposed to end yet.
A fighter’s will, can only get you past the third bell,
But I’ll be here, for far more than time will allow…honestly.

copyright 2004 C. Batten

Driver
While lying awake here, this night has grown long.
So I’m writing to reach you, but memories of you are breaking my thoughts.
This summer is over, and I’m left alone,
And I’m racing to end this but getting over this is taking its toll.

So where were the heights that we were to reach?
And where were the secrets I was to keep?
And where are you driving without any keys?
…Take the long way home to keep us from retreat.

Well, I’m missing you more since days have grown cold,
And I’m wasting my time to dedicate thoughts to you when you’re moving on.
But, I’ll stick with you baby, till your heart runs out,
And clings onto someone who could bring you no more than I ever have.

So where were the heights that we were to reach?
And where were the signs that I was to see?
And where are you driving without any keys?
…Take the long way home to keep us from retreat.

Look up at the sky dear and imagine my smiles,
As being reflected off stars that hanging and lighting your eyes.
Come lay down beside me and feel this ground’s cold,

That’s wilting these roses that are thrown at corpses lying ‘bove their holes
So where were the signs that I was to see?
And where were the sirens that were to ring?
And where are you driving without any keys?
Anything you say, I promise I’ll believe,
…Take the long way home to keep us from retreat.

copyright 2004 C. Batten

copyright 2005 C. Batten

copyright 2005 C. Batten

copyright 2005 C. Batten

copyright 2005 C. Batten

On The Banks of the Old Raritan
My father sent me to ol' Rutgers,
And resolved that I should be a man,
And so I settled down in that noisy college town,
On the banks of the old Raritan.

And sing loud to Alma Mater,
And leave the scarlet in the van,
Cause with her motto high, Rutgers name will never die,
On the banks of the old Raritan.

On the banks of the old Raritan,
Where we stood all night long, just hanging around,
On the banks of the old Raritan.
To the stately ancient walls of her hallowed classic halls,
On the banks of the old Raritan,
For has she not stood since the time of the flood.
On the banks of the old Raritan.

Traditional; Adapted and Arranged by C. Batten copyright 2006

Gone For Good

If it's alright baby,
Could you stay until the morning comes,
And spend this time with me,
Cause in a moment it could all be gone.

All night, all night,
Running from the blue sky,
Stretching it out until the well runs dry.
Goodbye Goodnight,
Call me on your way home,
Steady your driving by the stereo light.

If it's alright baby,
We'll spending all our time alone.
We can stay in here,
And just forget about the street below.
Cause it's ok when you,
Don't remember to pick up your phone,
You can tell your friends,
That you ain't ever gonna come now (cause),

All night, all night,
Running from the blue sky,
Stretching it out until the well runs dry.
Goodbye Goodnight,
Call me on your way home,
Steady your driving by the stereo light.

I don't mind baby,
I don't mind the rain that's coming on.
Share this smoke with me,
We'll get high and turn the radio loud.

Like some rivers that'll flow into the ocean I,
Just wanna be someone who always says my thoughts out loud.
I don't want to be someone who takes you over I,
Just want to feel you like a fire feels on cold cold ground.

All night, all night,
Running from the blue sky,
Stretching it out until the well runs dry.
Goodbye Goodnight,
Call me on your way home,
Steady your driving by the stereo light.

Cause then one day, we'll be gone for good.

copyright 2007 C. Batten

(Doncha Wanna Be Doin') Something New

Been combing the bars out over all the world,
Looking for some kind of special girl,
Somebody said that they know where to go but,
They don't want to go alone.

You see all them boys out looking for a better life,
Well I'm just trying not to make a mess of mine,
And somebody's gotta take that ride,
So, I was hoping you would to come along.

'Cause baby I feel like dancing, every time I see your face,
Cause it takes me away to that special place where all I want to do is
stay.

And I said, hey baby, don't your want to get into something good?
Hey, little baby, don't you wanna be doin' something new?

The bar is closing, lights are starting to shine,
But mister can't you see I just opened this line?
He said, "Son hurry it up cause you're runnin' out of time,
And you know I ain't got all night"

So I keep it goin' till he's startin' to shout,
It's 2:45 and the bartender's kickin' us out,
Little girl don't go alone cause it's way too dark out,
So you might as well let me walk you home.

'Cause baby I feel like dancing, every time I see your face,
Cause it takes me away to that special place where all I want to do is
stay.

And I said, hey baby, don't your want to get into something good?
Hey, little baby, don't you wanna be doin' something new?

copyright 2007 C. Batten

Sad Songs

I remember when the art of romance was more than “take you home”
But now-a-days it’s like them little girls act like they’re god damn rolling stones.

The Romeos have gotten bored and,
That went off without a warning.
But I can’t sleep without you near me,
And I can’t do nothin’ ‘bout that.
So I keep singing those sweet sad songs of love and devotion that make me cry.

I remember when the radio was playing all the songs I know,
But now-a-days it’s like them little boys forgot ‘bout Otis, Cooke and Moore.

The Romeos have gotten bored and,
That went off without a warning.
But I can’t sleep without you near me,
And I can’t do nothin’ ‘bout that.
So I keep singing those sweet sad songs of love and devotion that make me cry.

Just take a second, look me over awhile,
Then you’ll come crawling by the light of the day.
Cause I keep lookin’ for a,
New girl who’s gonna,
Say “you’re the one for me” (that’s all he wants to hear)
And baby don’t you wanna feel it?

The Romeos have gotten bored and,
That went off without a warning.
But I can’t sleep without you near me,
And I can’t do nothin’ ‘bout that.
So I keep singing those sweet sad songs of love and devotion that make me cry.

copyright 2007 C. Batten

The End Of The Line

We were talking,
About how no one really wants to get old,
About how no one really wants to let go.

But California,
Seemed to draw you like a light from the shore,
It seemed to waive you in away from the storm.

And the heart gets bigger when you find yourself on your own.
But if you think about leaving, you won't ever be movin' on.

I was breakin',
Out on highway 35 down the coast.
I couldn't take it,
The way we bottle up and let it explode,
And watch it blow out in the breeze off the water.

And the heart gets bigger when you find yourself on your own.
But if you think about leaving, you won't ever be movin' on.

I'm worried about the future,
I worry about time.
I'm worried that forever is a short, short line.

I'm worried that you're gonna,
Fall into the crowd.
Why do tomorrow what you can do now?

Workin' together,
But comin' up short.
Seems like we're never comin' back no more.
But I cannot breathe if I can't put my arms around you.

I was waking,
Like I never saw the light before.
We were wasted,
Like the summer gives away to the cold,
And the beaches cover up in the snow.
But I never thought I'd let you go.

And the heart gets bigger when you find yourself on your own.
But if you think about leaving, you won't ever be movin' on.
Well I'm a stone cold running and I'm gonna be getting gone.
But I don't ever want to face it cause I don't wanna be alone.

I'm worried bout the end of the line.

copyright 2007 C. Batten