"The Exception"
  Eddi Reader

in a paparazzi photograph she was stepping from a car
the tired eyes betrayed the smile of the faded singing star
at the publisher’s reception on the launching of her book
she told the grimy details and the toll the details took
the tours, applause, awards of course
but as the years went by
those fundamental things still applied

oh but she thought she’d be the exception
oh yes she thought she’d be the exception
but don’t we all think we’re the exception
sometimes, sometimes

the workaholic millionaire and his pretty younger wife
had everything there was out there in the ad man’s perfect life
but she left him for the milkman and then moved into his flat
oh, everyone said “silly girl to do a thing like that”
the house, the cars, the credit cards – but he didn’t ask her why
he knows that there’s some things that even cash cannot buy

oh yes he thought he’d be the exception
oh yes he thought he’d be the exception
but don’t we all think we’re the exception
sometimes, sometimes

if a handout to the hungry and the homeless
is a fiver in the fickle hand of fate
does it mean we’ll be there on the guest list
when we get to heaven’s gate?

INSTRUMENTAL

no pain no gain that’s what they’re saying and it’s hard to disagree
but I thought somehow they weren’t including me...

oh yes I’d thought I’d be the exception
oh yes I’d thought I’d be the exception
but don’t we all think we’re the exception
sometimes, sometimes

ah-ooh
sometimes, sometimes

ah-ooh
sometimes, sometimes

"Ants Marching"
  Dave Matthews Band

He wakes up in the morning
Brush his teeth, bite to eat and he's rolling
Never changes a thing
The week ends, the week begins

She thinks, We look at each other
Wondering what the other is thinking
But we never say a thing
And these crimes between us grow deeper

Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die

Goes to visit his mommy
She feeds him well
His concerns, he forgets them
He remembers being small
Playing under the table and dreaming

Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down you up and die

Driving along this highway
All these cars and upon the sidewalk
People in every direction
No words exchanged, no time to exchange when
All the little ants are marching
Red and black antenae waving
They all do it the same
They all do it the same way

Candyman 'a tempting the thoughts of a
Sweet tooth tortured by weight loss
Program cutting the corners
Loose end, loose end cut cut
On the fence, not to offend
Cut cut cut cut

Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die
Lights down, you up and die

"Anything But Strong"
  Eurythmics

Why do you hurt yourself?
You do it very well
You do it so politely
That you couldn't even tell
When everything has changed
You think you're not to blame
How come you keep on talking
When the whole thing feels so strange?....

But seeing
Is not the same as believing
When everything goes wrong
You're anything but strong

It's all bittersweet
Outside in the street
The grass is growing greener
Underneath your feet
We come and go
The deep water flows
Tiny leaves from smaller seeds
To tall trees do grow

But wanting
Is not the same thing as needing
There's no need to pretend
You can't turn back again
And loving
Is so different to keeping
The hurting that we send
Is so difficult to mend

[Hold on to the good things]
[That keep you from falling down]
[Hold on to the good things]
[That keep you from falling down]

How my heart aches
More than I can take
What are we really learning
When we make the same mistakes?

Where is your hope?
It’s all gone up in smoke
You used to be so funny
Now it's just the same old joke

And laughing
Is so very close to crying
When there's nothing to defend
It gets you in the end
And living
Is so very close to dying
You struggle on and on
To find where you belong

Where do you belong?

"Seven Years"
  Norah Jones

Spinning, laughing, dancing to
her favorite song
A little girl with nothing wrong
Is all alone

Eyes wide open
Always hoping for the sun
And she'll sing her song to anyone
that comes along

Fragile as a leaf in autumn
Just fallin' to the ground
Without a sound

Crooked little smile on her face
Tells a tale of grace
That's all her own

Spinning, laughing, dancing to her favorite song
A little girl with nothing wrong
And she's all alone

"And You Thought I Was Joking"
  Color Theory

Penny for my thoughts
Make a wish and toss it down
Into the well
But the well's run dry
Every thought evaporates on my tongue

Promised I'd try to show you what I feel inside
I keep to myself
Because there's nothing left
Nothing really there to hide
Or confide

This is something I have to do
Maybe not thought-provoking
But it's just what I promised you
And you thought I was joking

This is my life
Like someone else's diary
Edited out
Factual and dry
Sterilized for public view
Nothing new

This is something I have to do
Maybe not thought-provoking
But it's just what I promised you
And you thought I was joking

Still I hold hope inside
That someday my words will run free
To play out my part
In something bigger than me
Bigger than me

This is something I have to do
Maybe not thought-provoking
But it's just what I promised you
And you thought I was joking