seth horan -notwithstanding-

SOMETHING PRETTY
© 2001 Seth Horan, BMI     

  Ever wonder how couples who end up completely miserable together started dating in the first place?
I found myself critical of that guy who doesn't have the courage to build a relationship with someone that might be good for him rather than hooking up with some really hot chick he wants to screw.  
Then I found myself being THAT GUY.

She won't call me; this I know;
she won't take the time to learn the way I play;
 I'll wake up Valentine's Day
...All alone.

  She stopped reaching out for me;
I'm not attached enough to take the loss and grieve,
    I guess I don't believe
...in "Meant To Be".

  I'm never weaker than when sizing up a body by the ounce
and never shallower than when thinking of how a coin would bounce 
off of her tender skin; each time that's what does me in, and every time I swear never again...

 And that's so wrong...
 I favor behind over mind and that's so petty.   
I'm not strong;
 one glance and all my resolve blows like confetti.
    Is this all that I want--to be bored by something pretty?

  I think fiction is to blame .
I feel like screaming "Mars and Venus aren't at war",
they just forgot what love is for
...and that's a shame

  I never stray too far from things that bring what I want to achieve
'cause every time I do I get let down so much 
I can't believe 
I might find happiness in somebody that's such a mess,
but every time I tell myself "unless..."

            and that's so wrong...       

More than pretty's what you are,
Every head is always turning
I could treat you like a trophy on my arm
but slowing down for you's a chore
I wonder when did you stop learning
and I wonder if I'll care when you're not pretty anymore

and that's so wrong...  

...so she won't call me; this I know;
and that's alright; she don't complete me anyway.
I don't mind Valentine's Day
...All alone.


BECOME WHAT YOU RESIST
© 2001 Seth Horan, BMI     

  For Mike. 

You think I'm no fair; always looking for something you think was never there.
I think you could learn some things about fidelity and how to wait your turn, 
but you never learn...

Make your hand into a fist; wind it up but don't let go
or you become what you resist, and I don't think you even know how you've been changing over time,
and it's the old You that I'll miss.  
You've left the old You far behind, as you become what you resist...
Become what you resist.

You and I agree: the way things are is far from how they should (and used to) be.
Now we don't get along; in every way, the things we say, 
we make each other wrong.
So we say So Long...

Make your hand into a fist; wind it up but don't let go
or you become what you resist, and I don't think you even know how I've been changing over time, 
and it's the old Me you might miss.
I've left the old Me far behind, as I become what you resist...

But I won't make you wrong anymore.

Make your hand into a fist; wind it up but don't let go
or you become what you resist, and do we really even know how we've been changing over time, 
and it's our old selves we might miss.
We've left our friendship far behind, as we become what we resist...

Become what we resist.

 

EVENTUALLY
©2002 Seth Horan, BMI

 Speaks for itself.  If you don't get it, be thankful you've never felt this way and just skip to the next track. :]


You never told me if I ever said anything right; I never knew if you had any love inside, and I'm not so sure you were every really mine.
The simple truth is that you don't know what you want; the simple truth is that you'll do it again in time, and I know I'm better off if I cut this line.

I've got a melancholy vision of you and I can't let go;
I'm only hoping that you'll see me this way and remember a time when you loved me and maybe...

But you said the thing that I couldn't believe; that you'd leave so you'd feel more alive.
I hoped things would work out eventually, and eventually you'll survive...

Try and convince me you're somebody who can change; bring me your touch and tell me everything is fine...
I'll die a little more with every time you lie.
The simple truth is that I can't forget your face; the simple truth is I don't know if I want you gone; I'm still weak in the knees and I can't move on.
 
I've got a melancholy vision of you and I can't let go;
I'm only hoping that you'll meet me halfway and remember a time when you loved me and maybe...

But you said the thing that I couldn't believe; that you'd leave so you'd feel more alive.
I hoped things would work out eventually, and eventually you'll survive...

But I can't tell you what you want...
I can't tell you anything at all.
But one day when you're satisfied with everything you've done, well I won't be there to protect you from what you can't rely on...

'Cause you said the thing that I couldn't believe; that you'd leave so you'd feel more alive.
I hoped things would work out eventually, and eventually well I'll say the thing that I can't believe;
That eventually I'll survive.


JUST IF I
©2000 Seth Horan, BMI   

 As I was saying... if "Words" was Star Wars, then "Bad For You" is Empire, and this, gentle reader, is Jedi.  This is the song that finally got her out of my system.   

Relationship has ended, and we both say we're fine, 
but those who fight and run away just live to fight another day so I think we'll meet up again in time.
You think your points are valid, and I'll say the same for mine, but now I find that every time I see someone who looks like you I get this twitching awful emptiness inside; 
I can't help it...
I can't help that I think about the ways you hurt me all the time and wonder if I'd ever find a way to make it work and try...
Try to justify.
   Try to just if I...

My broken heart is mending; facsimiles return, 
and if I could only lose these stubborn memories of you then maybe I could let another have a turn.
Go ahead and say you're happy; I know that it's not true.
Well then that's fine; just live the lie, 'cause I know you can justify just about anything that I can throw at you; 
You can't help it...
You can't help that I think about the ways you hurt me all the time and wonder if I'd ever find a way to make it work and try...
Try to justify.
   Try to just if I... 

Just if I could make her happy; if I could I'd change the world...
Just if I could be the man who meant the world to her.
I can't help it...
I can't help that I think about the ways I hurt you all the time and wonder if I'd ever find a way to make it work and try...
Try to justify.

I would try to, just if I...


THE SONG OF THANKS
©2002 Seth Horan, BMI

 Those of you that know the story, know.  Those that don't... come to a show and find out!


 I won't stray on you; I love you too much,
but would it really kill you to just let me touch your soft and tender skin?
Now Darling,  I think the world of your morals and such...
But come on, Baby, seriously, I know you're just frightened that you'll like it too much...

I'm wanting to love you, and I'm waiting for you to take some sign...
I'm scratching at your surface, and I'm dreaming that I can get inside...
But 'till you start lettin, I'm not gettin...

So thanks for making it hard; 'bit more than I can afford.
You think you'll string me along; that way I'll never be bored;
You're 'bout to give me your love, but in the blink of an eye you go changing your mind; you leave me wondering

...why you won't every stay for the night?
You say that you're waiting for the time to be 'just right'...
Well tell me, when is that, exactly?

(repeat silly pre-chorus)

(repeat silly chorus)


 

BEAUTIFUL
©1998 Seth Horan, BMI

 The age-old problem of infidelity though the eyes of a naive seventeen-year old bass player.  Ah, the drama of puppy love...  this song began as two pieces; one was a song that I had scrapped some awful words to, and one was a poem I had written (how sensitive; he writes  POETRY...) that I had wanted to set to music.  Then one day the chocolate bar fell into the peanut butter, and...

My seventeenth summer alive nearly drove me insane. 
Spent enough time away from my angel to fall for another with broken wings, crying in need...
I asked her how she was planning to deal with her pain. 
She made it clear that the way she would deal with her pain would involve her pain dealing directly with me...

I took her hand, and I told her that she'd have a friend,
But that I had a love that was stronger than space and no lust could replace all the trust we had built. 
I tried to soothe her and silence the noise in her head,
But this beautiful creature with heavenly features just wanted to drown out the noise with me in her bed...

Turned down the most beautiful girl in my world that night; 
Tried to deal with the spite I felt, being alone.
Didn't matter what kind of frustration I'd fight, 
'Cause the woman I loved, yeah, she was waiting on me back home.

My seventeenth day still away brought me nothing but pain.  
Hearing her voice through the crackle and hiss on the line told me there was something amiss but she said she was fine...
In some moment of weakness she needed to     kiss.   
And some man brushed back her hair, because I wasn't there; he put his lips to hers and she couldn't resist.

And you told me you can't be blamed for the way things changed; for the way feelings fade.
For the comfort of blissfulness all in an instant, and the distance so hard to ignore...
You wrote down the truth in a letter to send to me; an epitaph to my memory...   
...well here's mine to yours.

Turned down the most beautiful girl in my world that night;
Cut off my nose to spite the face I wish I'd shown. 
But I should have just done what my head said was right,
'Cause the woman I loved, yeah, she was cheating on me back home.

KEEP TO MYSELF
©2002 Seth Horan, BMI

  Inspired by so many who will totally miss the point.  Like this tune?  Believe in the message? Check yourself;
am I talking about YOU?


The human condition is society's cancer.
Nobody's rhetoric gets put to the test
'Cause those that call themselves the seekers of answers are terrified to give up the quest.
Some folks believe in what you'd call a fable; think they're safe; brave and saved, you can bet...
But just ask these people what they bring to the table;
'might be surprised what kind of answers you get...

'Cause what you know is True is only true for You and I could talk a blue streak and never change your view.
But one day you might just be in need of my help, so consider what you're saying when you're telling me to keep to myself.

You tell me you hate Jehovah's Witnesses that knock on your door, but I should tell you your opinion is dangerous.
As if to paint the Truth on a billboard is just fine if It's yours, but if it's not, it's just a waste of the paintbrush...

'Cause what you know is True is only true for You and I could talk a blue streak and never change your view.
But one day you might just be in need of my help, so consider what you're saying when you're telling me to keep to myself.

There's some psychiatrist, nihilist, dogmatist; telling lies about the Jewish or the Scientologist;
Says the distance between the things you and I believe is too far to resolve with no chance of reprieve...
I believe; have a dream that someday Man will see that we've all got the same mental anatomy, 'cause I see people dying at one another's hands and I wish, more than Peace, just for simple tolerance.

'Cause what you know is True is only true for You and I could talk a blue streak and never change your view.
But one day you might just be in need of my help, so consider what you're preaching, yeah consider what you're teaching, 'cause one day you might just be in need of my help, so consider what you're saying when you're telling me to keep to myself.

Keep to myself.

 

BAD FOR YOU
©2000 Seth Horan, BMI 

 So perhaps some of you out there have become familiar with the words to my song "Words"...  well here you go: if you consider "Words" as Star Wars, then "Bad For You" is like the Empire Strikes Back.  

I'm bad for you for all kinds of reasons
that I can't undo to stay true to what I am.
That line I drew that you crossed for so many seasons; 
and this distance grew...  I knew you'd never understand...

You're crying "Save me from my broken family; just don't make it hurt..."
And now it seems we've wasted so much time together, 
and frankly I feel I deserve nothing worse.
It leaves our dreams of life together lying in the dirt;
It never works.

I'm bad for you; know exactly where I'm standing.
I'm no provider of the kind of love you crave...
You need someone who can deal with middle class demanding,
and I'd give my life to you but I'm nobody's slave.

Girl, when Daddy's gone where will you be standing; 
without primitive tradition; without lack of common vision?
You're rushing to read the story's happy ending
and it's so disappointing when your dreams don't reach fruition...
Is there someone somewhat different, waiting days to change her ways, or will this flower wilt with guilt and stay the same?
Oh, you'll never change...

I'm bad for you.

CRY
©2002 Seth Horan, BMI

 Loss.  Easier to deal with when you've got a stable view of why it happens.  Hard to be there for someone who isn't sure there IS a 'why'...


 Cry, but know your tears are just for you...
Your only way to make your peace with what you thought you knew.
I can only help you make it through, from numb to grief to anger, all I offer is what I've seen as true.

You lose only what you want to lose;
You can live with grief or find relief, and you can choose.
You can put your faith in Fate, but I'll put mine in you;
Just cry because it's all that you can do.

Regret can only bring you down.
My courageous one, so eager to dive in; so quick to drown.
Don't live your life as if she's still around, but don't forget, and don't regret, 'cause life is still within you now.

You can put your faith in Fate, but I'll put mine in you;
Just cry because it's all that you can do.

 


All lyrics by Seth Horan

All rights reserved, but if you'd like to reprint them, it's cool as long as you add the appropriate credit. :]



Copyright © 2005 Seth Horan