Lyrics
Dress You Up
I got my mail today
It was engraved from someplace far away
It said they’d love to dress you up
As far as I can see
What you wore was more than fine with me
Still, they want to dress you up
It’s all they’ll ever ask
Some event to mark the time that’s passed
But that could never be enough
What did they promise you?
A pretty ring to prove you’re gone for good
They shined it up and called it love
Some things you’ll always have
They’ll take a photograph
But I’ll remember who you used to be
They changed your name today
Booked a hall and hired a band to play
And all they did was dress you up
They’ll dress you up
Then they’ll have to throw a party
They’ll dress you up
Then I guess we’ll both be sorry
They’ll dress you up
Then they’ll have to throw a party
They’ll dress you up
And I won’t even recognize you
by Bill McGarvey and Stephen Dima
From the Valentine Smith EP, Back on Earth
© Billy Liar Music, BMI
Katie’s A No-Show
She signs all her letters with X’s and O’s
Three hugs and a kiss and she laughs when it’s over
She sends out her heart into places unknown
The pieces are sealed in small envelopes
Saving the best parts for someone who asks
Smoothing the rough spots right out of her past
Katie’s a no-show
Ask anyone who knows
That girl you see isn’t real
No doubt about it
She slipped out a while ago
Maybe she just disappeared
She says it was time to stop being a child
I’m looking for clues at the scene of the crime
Who’s that imposter who’s using her name
Making me think that they’ve stashed her away
Katie’s a no-show
Ask anyone who knows
That girl you see isn’t real
No doubt about it
She slipped out a while ago
Maybe she just disappeared
Mmmm she’s never on time
Tell her I’m waiting for some kind of sign
Is this her own way of saying goodbye?
Katie’s a no-show
Ask anyone who knows
That girl you see isn’t real
No doubt about it
She slipped out a while ago
Maybe she just disappeared
by Bill McGarvey and Stephen Dima
From the Valentine Smith EP, Back on Earth
© Billy Liar Music, BMI
Private Downtown
While your guests were getting older
I found my place to stand
All your records sounded broken
You asked me to dance
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
You were safe and sound
Safe and sound
In your private downtown
Your foreign films just make me nervous
But you still love to go
Nothing ever comes between us
We’ve got our video
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
You were safe and sound
Safe and sound
In your private downtown
Where a simple hello always sounds like goodbye
It’s more of a cell than a pure state of mind
Downtown
I was a little too lonely, a little too scared
To forget all my troubles, forget all my cares
Downtown
Way downtown
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
You were safe and sound
Safe and sound
In your private downtown
by Bill McGarvey and Stephen Dima
From the Valentine Smith EP, Back on Earth
© Billy Liar Music, BMI
Disappointing Mary
I saw her yesterday
She took my hand and tried to lead the way
Talkin’ ’bout her dreams
And all of us who stood in between
Calling my name
I’ll take your blame
’Cause to shame us all is all you really need
Wish she had the time
For all her distant Valentines
Takes the time to pray
But I’m number ten on her list today
Stand up your cross
Then count your costs
Won’t you kneel on down and stand one up for me?
We’re all disappointing Mary
While she’s trying to save the world
We’re all disappointing Mary
And we don’t know what she’s crying for
Or what she’s trying for
I bet she wouldn’t die for me
Put me to the test
I looked for answers but was forced to guess
She found me with the weak
Just counting promises she couldn’t keep
Take what you find
Then leave what’s mine
When it’s said and done there was nothing there for me
We’re all disappointing Mary
While she’s trying to save the world
We’re all disappointing Mary
And we don’t know what she’s crying for
Or what she’s trying for
I bet she wouldn’t die for me
by Bill McGarvey and Stephen Dima
From the Valentine Smith EP, Back on Earth
© Billy Liar Music, BMI
Back On Earth
I wish I only had the time
To sit and watch all the clouds in your sky
As they drift and they float all around
I heard you’ve been talkin’ ’bout the rain
Yeah, it’s the same story day after day
But still I hope and I pray
That it will change
Well these stories of mine won’t take up your time, oh no
It’s so sad and so true I’ll still waste them on you
Before I’m through
Tonight I won’t end my life
I will stick a knife in that memory of you
I’ve met all your heroes and stood in their shadows
And found out just what that’s worth
Back on earth
Weren’t you at the OK corral?
Yeah, you’re the one who stood so tall and so proud
I knew that we’d met once before
How’s it going in these gunslinging times?
Do you ever think it’s just your gunslinging mind?
Draw your pistols
Shoot your problems
To the wind
Just don’t point that thing at me
That’s all that you need
To keep it short and sweet
Tonight I won’t end my life
I will stick a knife in that memory of you
I’ve met all your heroes and stood in their shadows
And found out just what that’s worth
Back on earth
Back on earth
I saw you look away
Back on earth
Don’t it break your heart to stay?
Back on earth
Caught you working on your dream
Back on earth
To try and leave your little scene
Back on earth
Where you walk without a sound ’cause your feet won’t touch the ground
Back on earth
Out in a place you’ve never known it’s getting hard to be alone
Back on earth . . .
by Bill McGarvey and Stephen Dima
From the Valentine Smith EP, Back on Earth
© Billy Liar Music, BMI
Nelson G.
Dear Nelson G.,
Could you say a prayer for me?
How far is this sleep
Gonna take you?
This world’s not so mean
It just has a fast pace to keep
It can’t touch and it can’t feel
What it can’t see
Like in the movies
I’ll forget you in time
You’re just a friend of a friend of a friend of mine
And all good Marines must die
Nelson G.
by Bill McGarvey and Stephen Dima
From the Valentine Smith EP, Back on Earth
© Billy Liar Music, BMI
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