These songs will probably mean something different to each individual listener. I feel like each listener will develop their own story and what they think the song means to them. I don’t want to detract from that, but sometimes I think it’s nice when you know what the writer was feeling or going through at the time.

Phoenix of Tragedy now available. Words & Music written by Nathaniel Roland Wycoff © 2018

1. Phoenix of Tragedy ~ I wrote this song about rising up through a rough time, or a tragedy, or darkness, whatever it is that a person may be fighting through. Sometimes you have to fight for years before you get to the really good stuff. Shake off those flames baby, rise up become that fucking bird of fire.

Phoenix of Tragedy

I have no wind left in my sails
and my skin looks kinda pale

I have no gas left in my tank
and I just don’t know
who I have to thank

Rise, you’re the Phoenix of Tragedy
I said, rise… You’re the Phoenix of Tragedy

2. Downward Spiral ~ Ahh yes… Three for ones, then two for ones. I’ve played many gigs at Dibbo’s in downtown Hudson (rock solid). Packing up your gear at the end of those nights was not easy. Downward Spiral also deals with some of the darkness & depression that goes along with some of that heavy drinking. Moderation kiddos, that’s where it’s at.

Downward Spiral to Happy Hour

Who will drown their sorrows with me?

Happy hour, buy one get two
who will drown their sorrows with you
And ride that downward spiral straight to hell

No man is an island
I tried my hardest, can’t you tell?
I’ll ride that downward spiral straight to hell

Happy hour buy one get three
That’s how you end up on your knees
Riding that downward spiral straight to hell

I can’t seem to get excited
I stayed alive for this, And I’m pissed.
I’ll ride that downward spiral straight to hell

Happy hour, ring that bell
It’s getting better can’t you tell,
So ride that downward spiral straight to hell

Happy hour buy two get three
No one will drown their sorrows with me
I’ll ride that downward spiral straight to hell

3. Good Evening ~ This one was inspired by something Ozzie said during one of our gigs. We were playing a dive bar in Somerset, Wisconsin the same weekend Ozzfest was in town. Oz wanted to go to the concert and hang with his friends at the campground and he did not want to be playing that weekend. The bar was pretty much empty, except for maybe 3 of our friends and another table of 3 or 4 people kind of hanging out watching us play. Ozzie says into the mic “I don’t even want to fucking be here tonight.” The table that wasn’t our friends got up and left right after. I remember being a little angry at the time, but looking back now it’s pretty funny. This song is also a tip of the hat to my good buddy, his humor and lyrics were always kind of “tongue in cheek” and the lyric “I’m happy to be here tonight, but maybe it was just alright” feels to me like something he would have written.

Good Evening

Good evening, I’m unhappy to be here tonight
Good evening, but maybe it will be alright

Good evening, just sing us one song
Good evening, and then you can leave them behind 

When you see me smiling run for the hills
When you see me smile you know I’m somewhere else
When you see me smiling better run for your life
When you see me smile you know I’m not myself

Good morning, I’m turning inside out
Good morning, feel like my insides are out

Good morning, just let me lay here
Good morning, what happened to us last night?

Good evening, I’m happy to be here tonight
Good evening, but maybe it was just alright…

Good evening, Just play us one more
Good evening, I’m sorry there is no encore

Blue morning
No sunshine
I’ve lost my mind
Blue morning
Horizon
I’m going blind

4. On The Run ~ Purely a work of fiction; I picture the characters in this song are in this old movie from the 50’s, black and white for sure, most likely a Hitchcock film. They just steal from each other, but they’re awful at it so they keep getting caught. Also, they’re probably in love or at least they’re in lust, I’m not sure, they never stick around long enough to find out.

On The Run

I’m on the run and I can’t stay here
To watch it all burn down

I’m your clown, your daddy, your necktie, your vice
When you stole my watch that wasn’t so nice
Please tell me this turns out alright
I stole your pearls with my hand of slight
You never expected I’d steal something else
Neither did I when you loosened my belt

I’m on the run…

I went to your mansion to see all the rooms
Now I’m sealed deep in one of your tombs
Please let me out of this place
You will regret when you scratched on my face
I got the key and unlocked the door
Now I’m on the run, won’t see you no more

I’m on the run…

Down and down and down and down…

5. Just a Kiss ~ Also known as “Angie’s Song” this one was obviously written to and about my lovely wife. Her lips and her love inspired this one. She’s my muse. “Discotheque” refers to the U2 song from the album POP, which we love. The rest, well, that’s between us.

Just a Kiss

Feeling your lips on your kiss
Feelin the flick of your wrist
Feel like I’m missing the rest
Feels like I’m failing the test
God I am such a mess
I paw at the hem of your dress

I know you’ve had a long day
So I’ll let you stay
Don’t know what I’m trying to say
I wrote this song anyway
It goes something like this
“All I want is a kiss”
“All I want is a kiss”
“All I want is a kiss”

All I want is just a kiss from you
All I need is just a kiss from you
All I wanted was a kiss from you

Missing your lips and your kiss
Happy we have all of this
After a solar eclipse
Sunshine touches my lips
Kissing the nape of your neck
Dancing to “Discotheque”

All I want is just a kiss from you
All I need is just a kiss from you
All I wanted was a kiss from you
A kiss tonight
would make it alright
to spend the night without you

Feeling your lips when we kiss
Feelin the flick of your wrist
Feel like I’m missing the rest
Feels like I’m failing the test
God, I am such a mess
I paw at the hem of your dress

8. Fake It ~ There are times when my muscular dystrophy takes so much out of me that I don’t think I could smile. But I do my best to keep my head up, if anything just for my family. It also deals with vulnerability and the nightmare of the person you love the most walking out the door forever and never coming back. Life is short, hug your friends and loved ones, hold them tight. They might not be here tomorrow.

Fake It

i don’t think i have the energy to smile
But, i could fake it at least for a while
now i’m so tired i can only watch you leave
i don’t know what’s wrong inside of me….

i don’t know who i am any fucking more
every time i speak my words hit the floor
foot in my mouth and i can’t comprehend
why this had to come to an end.

Who am I to tell you how to feel
I can’t understand
Why you let go of the wheel
now I’m so tired i can only watch you sleep
open your eyes, please look at me

i don’t know who i am any fucking more
every time i speak my words hit the floor
foot in my mouth and i can’t comprehend
why this had to come to an end.

i don’t think i have the energy to smile
But, i could fake it at least for a while

9. Eyes Like The Desert ~ This song is about having someone close to you die, you’re sad, but, for some reason you just can’t seem find a tear for them anywhere.

Eyes Like the Desert

eyes like the desert
cross the sand in my t-shirt
i stare at (like) the sun
(now) my heart beats like a loaded gun
when they sang my eulogy
Nobody come and danced for me
when they sang my eulogy
Nobody come and danced with me

eyes like the desert

I ride into the dust (sand)
but i’m the solitary one
out of all my friends
you didn’t really give (never really gave) a damn for me
when they sang your eulogy
nobody came danced with me
when they sang your eulogy
nobody came danced with me

eyes like the desert

10. Mr. Jackhammer ~ Have you ever been to Chicago? It’s a noisy & smelly place. We visited to see Mark Lanegan in concert, which was amazing, but I digress. By the second morning of the jackhammering bustling busy city streets we were ready to return to our quiet little farm in the country.

Mr. Jackhammer

I’m a jet plane
I get higher than you
I’m a jet plane
And I reap what sow
I’m a jet plane
Fueled and ready to go

Please, Mr. Jackhammer
Just shut your fucking mouth
And let me get some sleep
Just let me fucking sleep…

I’m a freight train
I can take more than you
I’m a freight train
And I don’t even know
I’m a freight train
Loaded and ready to go

I’m a sad rain
I can pour harder than you
I’m a sad rain
And my clouds will know
I’m a sad rain
Wet and ready to go

The city won’t let me breathe
The city won’t let me breathe
This city won’t let me sleep
This city won’t let me sleep

Come on lets go home, come on lets go home
Come on lets go home

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