Songs From An American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile

1. Song from an American Movie pt. 1

The only thing that ever made sense to me
Is the words to a song from an American movie
The only thing that ever made sense in my life
Is the sound of my little girl laughing
Through the window of a summer night

I sit alone in the backyard
Wishing I could be inside
Just the sound of my little girl laughing
Makes me happy just to be alive

2. Here We Go Again

"Here we go again!"

You know I like to watch you sleep
No I don't wanna touch you, you'll get mad at me
No I don't wanna think about the bad times
Anyone could have a bad year

Now I don't want you to show me
Do not want you to know me
The way I used to be
All these good things we have Would not mean a damn to me
And I don't wanna hear those words you feel you have to say
When you find out how I used to be
Back in the day

Yeah, you know I like the way you slide
Yeah, yes I like it when you do that slow glide
Now, please don't badtalk all those good times
Don't ask for answers, baby, that you do not wanna hear

Now I don't want you to make me
Do not need you to break me
Of all my childish ways
I'm still the same, you know
Dumb, rock hard, and good to go
I still hear them voices calling me from back in the day
Oh baby can't you see there ain't no place I'd rather be

Then watching dirty movies
In that happy room with you
Sleeping on a mattress in the corner
Eating Chinese food
I hear that voice in my head
Say here we go again

Now here we go again

I know you like the way I rock
Sometimes I just need to drown out all that bad talk
Yeah, I could not care less what your friends say
Someone's always talkin' shit about the old days

You do not need to remind me
That I left it all behind
Those things I used to do
I don't want that other life 'cause I am so in love
with you
I can barely hear it calling me from back in the day
Oh baby can't you see there ain't no place I'd rather be

Then watching dirty movies
In that happy room with you
Sleeping on a mattress in the corner
Eating Chinese food
I hear that voice in my head
Say here we go again

Yeah here we go again
Oh baby here we go again
I know (here we go)

Baby baby can't you see

Yes I know you got some doubts
I know you don't believe
I know you think I'm crazy
Yeah but I know you're just like me

When I hear that voice inside me
Makes me want to jump right in
Saying here we go (Go!)
Here we go (Go!)
Here we go (Go!)
Here we go again

Let's go watch some dirty movies
Yes in that nasty little room
Sit right on the mattress while we eat that greasy
Chinese food
I hear that voice in my head
Say here we go again
Baby, here we go again

3. AM Radio

"~KHJ Los Angeles!~ Portions of the day's programming
are reproduced by means of electrical transcriptions
or tape recordings."

You can hear the music on the AM radio

The VCR and the DVD
There wasn't none of that crap back in 1970
We didn't know about a World Wide Web
It was a whole different game bein' played back when I was a kid

Wanna get down in a cool way?
Picture yourself on a beautiful day
Big bell bottoms and groovy long hair
Just walkin' in style with a portable CD player

No, you would listen to the music on the AM radio
Yeah, you could hear the music on a AM radio

Flashback, '72
Another summer in the neighborhood, hangin' out with
nothing to do
Sometmes we'd go drivin' around
In my sister's Pinto, cruisin' with the windows rolled down

We'd listen to the radio station
We were too damn poor to buy the eight track tapes
There wasn't any good time to want to be inside
My mom would want to watch that TV all goddamn night

I'd be in bed with the radio on
I would listen to it all night long
Just to hear my favorite song

You'd have to wait but you could hear it on the AM radio
Yeah, you could hear the music on a AM radio I can still hear Mama say "Boy turn that radio down!"

"Aw, Mom. Not that show again! I don't wanna watch
that show! Can't we watch Good Times or Chico and the
Man or something cool? Turn it off!"

Things changed back in '75
We were all growing up on the in and the outside
We got in trouble with the police man
We got busted gettin' high in the back of my friend's
van

I remember 1977
I started going to concerts and I saw the Led Zeppelin
I got a guitar on Christmas day
I dreamed that Jimmy Page would come to Santa Monica
and teach me to play
Teach me to play

There isn't any place that I need to go
There isn't anything that I need to know
I did not learn from the radio

Yeah when things get stupid and I just don't know
Where to find my happy
I listen to the music on the AM radio
You can hear the music on a AM radio
You can hear the music on a AM radio

I like pop, I like soul, I like rock, but I never
liked disco
I like pop, I like soul, I like rock, but I never
liked disco
We like pop, we like soul, we like rock, but we never
liked disco

No I never liked disco

4. Brown Eyed Girl

Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la

Go!

I hear a song, it makes me think of a girl I used to know
I sing along when I hear it on the radio now

Hey now where did we go?
Yeah, days when the rains came
Way down in the hollow
Yeah, playin' a new game

Laughin' and a runnin', hey, hey, hey
Skippin' and a jumpin', yeah, yeah
In the misty morning fog
Oh baby and our hearts a thumpin', and you

My brown eyed girl
You, my brown eyed girl

Do you remember when
We used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la

I hear a song, it makes me think of a girl I used to know
Hey, hey, hey
I sing along when I hear it on the radio now

Now that the years gone by
Yeah, now that I'm on my own
Saw you just the other day
Oh my, baby you have grown

Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometimes I am overcome just thinkin' 'bout it
Makin' love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you

My brown eyed girl
You, my brown eyed girl
You, my brown eyed girl

Do you remember when
Yeah, we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la

I hear a song, it makes me think of a girl I used to know
Hey, hey, hey
I sing along when I hear it on the radio
Hey, hey, hey
I sing along when I hear it on the radio now

5. Learning How to Smile

Five miles outside of Vegas when we broke down
Threw my keys inside the window and we never looked back
Got all drunk and sloppy on a Greyhound bus
We passed out, all them losers they were laughin' at us

I will never let them break your heart
No I will never let them break me

We got lost in Phoenix, seemed like such a long time
Seven months of living sweaty on those thin white lines
Did some time for selling acid to the wrong guy
Life just keeps on getting smaller and we never ask why

Why there is no perfect place, yes I know this is true
I'm just learning how to smile, that's not easy to do
I know there will come a day
When we can leave and just go running away

We was broke outside of Philly when the storms came
I was working in New Jersey, hitching rides in the rain
You was happy talkin' dirty at that phone sex place
Life just keeps on getting weirder for us every day

You say there is no perfect place, I say I know this is true
We are just learning how to smile, that's not easy to do
We both live for the day
When we can run away

Oh baby we can leave and run away
Yes we can leave this place and run away
We can leave it all behind like we do every time
Yes we both live for the day
When we can leave and just go running away

No I will never let it break your heart
No I will never let it break me

Five miles outside of Vegas, five years down the line
We got married in the desert in the sunshine
I can handle all the hell that happens every day
When you smile and touch my face you make it all just go away

Yes I know there ain't no finish line, I know this never ends
But I'm just learning how to fall, climb back up again
I know there is nothing perfect, I know there is nothing new
We are just learning how to live together, me and you You know I live for the day
When you say "Baby let's just run away"

Oh baby we can leave and run away
Yes we can leave this place and run away
Baby we can leave and run away
We can leave this place and run away

6. The Honeymoon Song

One, two, three
Two, two, three

You know I love you baby
And I know you love me too
But the fun that day
Didn't start until
We left on our honeymoon

Stepped off the plane into a warm sunny day
Then we got leid together
The sun shines down on a Hana lei town
Where the fish all smile 'cause they know us

Our wedding day was warm and sunny
Our friends and family came from out of town
We said I do, then ate some food
And smiled 'til the sun went down

We'll take the Zodiac
Cadillac
Around the north shore and then we'll head back
The sea turtles come to greet us

So let's get loaded tonight
We'll drink on the flight
Back home, the honeymoon is over

You know I love you baby
And I know you love me too
But the fun that day
Didn't start until
We left on our honeymoon

We're on our honeymoon
We're on our honeymoon
The fun that day
Didn't start until
We left on our honeymoon

7. Now That It's Over

Yeah right!

One, two, three, four

Break down, shake for me
Nothing ever is the way you want it to be
Nothing even tastes right now that it's over

Break down, shake for me
Don't write words unless you want me to read them
Nothing really matters now that it's over

Maybe we can be friends
Now that we're older
We can have fun like we did in the early days
Now that it's over

Yeah right!

Break down, shake for me
Nothing ever seems the way it ought to be
Nothing ever seems right now that it's over

Yeah, now maybe we can be friends
Maybe we can be closer
We can have fun like we did in the old days
Now that it's over

Oh yeah

My bad dreams just don't seem the same
Baby without you
I wish you were willing to accept the blame
Yeah, for everything you do

My nightmares just don't scare me now
Baby without you, yeah yeah
I wish that I could find the words to tell
In the best way possible, you and your friends to go to hell

Yeah right!

Whoa, breakup time is never easy to do
Nothing ever ends the way you want it to
Nothing seems to make sense now that it's over

Yeah, now maybe we can be friends
Yeah, now that you're leaving
You can be nice to me
Maybe I'm dreaming

I am a lot better now than just okay
Maybe I am just wakin' up in my own way
Now that it's over
Now that it's over

My bad dreams just don't seem the same
Baby without you
I wish you were willing to accept the blame
Yeah, for all the shitty things you do

Nightmares just don't scare me now
Baby without you
I wish that I could find the words to tell
You to politely go fuck yourself
Yeah, now that it's over

"Congratulations. A fetishist and an obsessive. You'll be very happy together."

8. Thrift Store Chair

Baby go to bed and put out the light
We both know if we talk anymore
We're gonna end up in a great big fight

You can have your way again
Yeah, you believe what you wanna believe
You can walk all over me tomorrow
But tonight can we both just pretend to sleep

I think we're headed for a big fall
I think we're headed for a bad time

Yeah I'm gonna go downstairs
And sit in that chair you like

Gonna put a John Prine record on
I think we need to slow down for a while

Yeah I wish we had never bought a king size bed
Yeah only damn thing that it's ever been good for
Plenty room for the real good sex

I lay in bed in the dark and all that I can see
Yeah, is the distance that grows between us
You seem so far from me

I think we're headed for a real big fall
Yes we're headed for a bad time

Yeah gonna go downstairs
Sit by myself all alone in the middle of the night

Gonna put a John Prine record on
Yes we need to slow down for a while
Gonna go downstairs
Smoke cigarettes in that thrift store chair you like
Gonna put a John Prine record on
Yeah we need to slow down for a while
We need to slow down for a while

9. Otis Redding

Do you remember when we were hungry?
Do you remember when we were cold?
Do you remember when we were happy?
Do you remember? Do you remember?

Do you remember when we were lucky?
We were livin' the life almost every night
I would wrap you in my thin white arms
Sit and watch the stars die

Yeah, do you remember when we were the losers?
Do you remember when we were the lame?
Do you remember when we were the lepers?
Do you remember? Do you remember?

Do you remember when we were strung out?
Eatin' top ramen, macaroni and cheese
We would get so lost in that basement room
Let the Otis Redding sing us to sleep
I wish I had one more life

I don't wanna be wasted
I don't wanna live inside this daydream anymore
I just wanna be happy again
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be blind

I don't wanna be wasted
I don't wanna live inside this daydream anymore
I just wanna be happy again
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be (blind)
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be (blind)
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be blind

I wish I could be like all my heroes
I wish I could be like all yours too
I wish I could sing like Otis Redding
I wish I could play this guitar in tune

Do you remember when we were hungry?
Do you remember when we were cold?
Do you remember when we were happy in a way
No one outside could ever know?
I wish I had one more life
How I wish I had one more life to live

I don't wanna be wasted
I don't wanna live inside of this daydream anymore
I just wanna be happy again
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be (blind)

I don't wanna be wasted
No, I don't wanna live inside of this daydream anymore
I just wanna be happy again

I dont wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be
I dont wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be
I dont wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be blind
No, I don't want to be blind
No, I don't want to be blind

10. Unemployed Boyfriend

[Answering machine:] "Hi, this is Peggy. Leave me a nice message or I'll kill ya."

"Hey Peggy, it's me. You are never going to believe what happened to me today. I'm sitting at the unemployment office, waiting on my loser of a caseworker, in one of those nasty chairs, when from out of nowhere, this total stranger walks right up to me, sits down, then leans over and says something like, 'This is gonna sound a little obsessive.'"

This is gonna sound a little obsessive
This is gonna sound a little bit strange
I have one thing to say
Before I turn and I walk away

This is gonna sound a little impulsive
This is gonna sound a little insane
I know you don't know me yet
But you and I, we will be together someday
Someday

I know, I know, I sound like I'm on drugs
Listen to me when I say

That ever since when I first saw you
Sitting on your car outside
You asked for a cigarette
I couldn't stop staring at your eyes

Ever since when I first saw you
Looking bored in that plastic chair
With the lights of the office around you
Those blond streaks, they look so pretty in your black hair

You look cool and alternative with that disaffected stare
Yeah you want people to think that you just don't care

Hey you can be with me
Yeah 'cause I just might be the one
Who will treat you like you're perfect
Who will always make you come

Hey you can be with me
Yes I will always let you win
I will never be like those other guys
I will never be your unemployed boyfriend

"Can you believe he said that to me? To me, of all people! I can't even remember the last time a guy took me out on a date and actually paid for it!"

This is gonna sound a little bit out there
This is gonna sound a little insane
I keep having the same dream
You will be the mother of my children someday
Someday

I heard you sleep with that obnoxious guy
I know he is in that famous band
You look so sad when you are with him
Yes I never see him reach to hold your hand

Yeah you can be with me
Yes I will treat you like a queen
I will go to all those chick flick movies
That I really don't want to see

Yeah you can be with me
No I will never let you down
I will never make out with your girlfriend
When I know you're not around

Yes you can be with me
Yeah I just might be the one
Who will treat you like you're special
I will always make you come

You can be with me
Yes I will always let you win
I will never be like those other guys
I will never be like those other guys
I will never be your unemployed boyfriend

"Can you believe this? I mean, can this be for real?"

No!

"Then he takes my hand, writes down his number, and just walks away."

Whoa!

"I mean, wow. But you know, the weird thing is, he's actually kind of cute, in a really intense way. Kinda like Perry Farrell, you know. Intense, but sensitive. Anyway, I told my bitchy sister about it, and she just laughed at me. I told her I'm really excited about this! That I have a really good feeling about this guy! I told her, 'This could be the guy.' I'm like..."

11. Wonderful

"Hey, ain't life wonderful? Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful......... Isn't it wonderful now?"

I close my eyes when I get too sad
I think thoughts that I know are bad
Close my eyes and I count to ten
Hope it's over when I open them

I want the things that I had before
Like a Star Wars poster on my bedroom door
I wish I could count to ten
Make everything be wonderful again

Hope my mom and I hope my dad
Will figure out why they get so mad
Hear them scream, I hear them fight
They say bad words that make me wanna cry

Close my eyes wh

en I go to bed
And I dream of angels who make me smile
I feel better when I hear them say
Everything will be wonderful someday

Promises mean everything when you're little and the world's so big
I just don't understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes
Tell me everything is wonderful now

Please don't tell me everything is wonderful now

I go to school and I run and play
I tell the kids that it's all okay
I laugh aloud so my friends won't know
When the bell rings I just don't wanna go home

Go to my room and I close my eyes
I make believe that I have a new life
I don't believe you when you say
Everything will be wonderful someday

Promises mean everything when you're little and the world is so big
I just don't understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes
When you tell me everything is wonderful now

No
No, I don't wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now
No
No, I don't wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now

I don't wanna hear you say
That I will understand someday
No, no, no, no

I don't wanna hear you say
You both have grown in a different way
No, no, no, no

I don't wanna meet your friends
And I don't wanna start over again
I just want my life to be the same, just like it used to be

Some days I hate everything
I hate everything
Everyone and everything
Please don't tell me everything is wonderful now

I don't wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now

12. Annabella's Song

I see you roll your eyes
You know it makes me smile
You are like the sun to me
Bright as liquid fire

I feel so powerless
To hold you up above the world
You are quite a lot of trouble
Such a pretty little girl
Such a pretty little girl

You know I'm never home
I'm always miles and miles away
I feel I'm runnin' out of time
Say the things I need to say

Call you on the telephone
You will not talk to me
Yeah you just don't understand
You are my everything

Anna, Anna
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
Anna, Anna, you are never alone
You are never alone

Anna, Anna
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
Anna, Anna, you are never alone
You are never alone

I like to watch you play
When you don't know I'm there
See you in your sleep at night
Reach out and touch your hair

I wanna make this world
Be just how you want it to be
Yeah you just don't understand
You're my everything

Anna, Anna
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
Anna, Anna, you are never alone
You are never alone