CORNER OF THE WORLD written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) the frost is on the window now and everything seems bare birds circle above me and they fold their wings in prayer the fallen oaks of winter storms are frozen men in fields of corn out here in my corner of the world out here in my corner of the world ----- Million Miles Away written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) you are a great divide the bitter side of Memphis and Mussel Shoals has never looked so fine fire in the sideview and the Mississippi shimmering the Mississippi shines you in a flowered dress fluttering before me this is still the way it always starts we spin around each other like satellites in tandem until we fall apart 18 months gone unremembered to think that you are dead unto me now drunken words from the book of Hank I have all my stars to thank you are a million miles away there is no diary of you and me but what you see you bury everything you think you love beneath the tangled roots and marrow of the hanging tree I’ve watched you dig for hours in the mud 18 months gone unremembered to think that you are dead unto me now what a modest way to be you are the perfect tragedy you are a million miles away I shall be a witness to this strange emancipation I shall be a witness to the spillage of this soul I shall share the burden of every tear between us I shall be a witness to this all 18 months gone unremembered to think that you are dead unto me now everything I’ve ever said falling out of me like mercury you are a million miles away ---- Queen Of Oklahoma written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) the headlights are busted the body is rusted the engine turns but it won't go a couple more paychecks she can get the brakes fixed and maybe drive to Toledo what will they say when she goes when she goes what will they think if she don't if she don't what will they care if she's gone if she's gone if she's gone four white walls in Cleveland metal chairs to wait in too much time to change her mind a landslide of bother a few hundred dollars a broken heart and she'll be fine what will they say when she goes when she goes what will they think if she don't if she don't what will they care if she's gone if she's gone if she's gone in the Western Star corona sits the Queen of Oklahoma a dirt road sparrow and her father's best lie she finishes her letter buttons up her sweater reaches towards the dresser and she cries and she cries what will they say when she goes when she goes what will they think if she don't if she don't what will they care if she's gone if she's gone if she's gone ------ Heaven On The Radio written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) 2 a.m. and the dashboard lights are failing crucifix swinging from the rear view mirror low I’m just sugar blood and bone and the a.m. morning show a little bit of heaven on the radio 100 miles and I nurse the dial sideways hoping for Willie or Johnny or maybe sweet EmmyLou Gulf Coast Highway sung with a honeysuckle tongue a little bit of heaven on the radio 40 miles and I might get a public station just an hour and a half outside of the city’s edge a little more caffeine NPR and the BBC a little bit of heaven on the radio the gospel station wanes as I draw nearer the static and crackle of the Hummingbirds' vinyl song Take Your Shoes Off Moses and the milk and honey flows got a little bit of heaven on the radio the mile markers blur into the distance a minister’s calling for my dark and tender soul I have found mercy on the dial I might listen for a while to a little bit of heaven on the radio to a little bit of heaven on the radio to a little bit of heaven on the radio --------- Moses written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) crawled down from your fire escape several stories to the ground fell the final 15 feet spread out like an evening gown when I looked up where you stood I felt the cold air fill my lungs mounted bloodless in the night a thousand empty stars had hung Moses what strange circumstances leaving what odd little songbirds singing with eyes of green and speckled wings like brokered deals between us weaving sometimes I think of Moses skipping stones into the sea remembering the other side and all the things he left behind Moses ------- Jerusalem written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) lay your head down Moses lay your head down low lay your head down Moses it’s time for us to go lay your cross down Jesus it ain’t your cross to bear lay your cross down Jesus soon we shall be there Jerusalem lay your coat down Joseph lay it right on down lay your coat down Joseph paradise is found Jerusalem lay your head down Moses lay your head down low lay your head down Moses it’s time for us to go it’s time for us to go --------- Iowa written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) he steps between the pumps pulls his brim down low machinations underneath the faded Texaco his fingers nicotined and slowly turning brown yellow slicker for a husk and the rain is coming down his every breath exhaled tinged in crimson from the light of a buzzing neon star dangling in the oily night he takes the change in hand counting as they pennies fall every word a rosary sons of bitches one and all Iowa spilling blood into the soil plastic flowers on a cross liniments and pennyroyal Iowa waking from an early freeze shifting bodies in degrees she changes everything these buildings that we see standing bones above the dirt fingers to the firmament welded fossils and cement the pavement drawn below pigeons up above flutter gently and reply Iowa is passing by Iowa spilling blood into the soil plastic flowers on a cross liniments and pennyroyal Iowa waking from an early freeze shifting bodies in degrees she changes everything the apparitions blur the rain is slower now his heels sink in the mud sculpting patterns in the ground he leans over the match cradling the flame and Iowa remains and Iowa remains Iowa spilling blood into the soil plastic flowers on a cross liniments and pennyroyal Iowa waking from an early freeze shifting bodies in degrees she changes everything ---------- Dixie Royal Lanes written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) Ronnie’s looking good in his pompadour seven feet high measured from the floor short sleeves rolled around tattoos pouring down and a leather belt borrowed from the lost and found check out his bowling shoes polished and red and new nicest things he’s owned in the last year or two everybody’s staring from their plastic tables in the lounge half of them are jealous the other half spellbound life stumbles on at Dixie Royal Lanes they line them up divinely taking aim each keeping score tragedy in every frame they roll again next Saturday is the High Roller Tournament Omar’s Dry Cleaning will challenge Tri-City Cement and if it’s like last year Jane will choke and hang a pin Omar’s team will drink too much Tri-City will probably win life stumbles on at Dixie Royal Lanes they line them up divinely taking aim each keeping score tragedy in every frame they roll again there’s this lady here must weigh 400 pounds maybe a little more nobody knows for sure but when she’s on the lane she floats like she’s the lightest bird like she’s a precious thing like no one ever laughs at her life stumbles on at Dixie Royal Lanes they line them up divinely taking aim each keeping score tragedy in every frame they roll again --------- Green Lantern written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) monsters outside Tokyo Green Lantern does not go his head sways with complex relations he pulls into a filling station Maria kicks his mud flap Maria finds his gas cap he sets his eyes upon her and soon his heart’s a goner tape cassettes of country classics candy bars and cheap sunglasses hot dogs turning coffee burning cigarettes and camera flashes Green Lantern he ain’t coming now Green Lantern he ain’t coming now Green Lantern he ain’t coming now coming now Maria smiles sweetly Maria moves discreetly she steps behind the counter and Green Lantern’s glad he found her Green Lantern hands her twenty Maria takes it gently writes her number on his palm and blushes very evidently Green Lantern he ain’t coming now Green Lantern he ain’t coming now Green Lantern he ain’t coming now coming now velvet Elvis gold lamé painted windows Jesus Saves colored sun paper mache everybody here loves Burma Shave she comes running down the stairs bright purple curlers in her hair lays her head against his chest and Green Lantern is impressed Maria dances beautifully she moves her small hips easily the radiator whistles and above their heads the neon sings they slip across the wooden parquet waltz and flitter in the hallway she wraps her arms around him kissing leaves Green Lantern’s breastbone missing Green Lantern he ain’t coming now Green Lantern he ain’t coming now Green Lantern he ain’t coming now coming now --------- Mississippi River Lullaby written by Patrick Bloom (©2007 Small Man Music ASCAP) I watched you under the Iowa moon you were something to see something to see oh Mississippi the river for me and you crooned humming a Midwestern tune you moved patiently wide as could be oh Mississippi the river for me rolling by rolling by I watched you under the Iowa moon you were something to see something to see oh Mississippi the river for me