Paul Banks
 

The Base

What I draw today will be recognized as shape
I spoke to the base, and the base says we wait
So I smoke an old cigar while the giant sun fades
I spoke to the base and the base says we wait
The base says we’re safe

Now and then I can see the truth above the lies
Now and then I feel you’re truly anesthetized
that’s why…

When I walk today it’s in silence and in rain
Can a man turn the page while he’s trying to amaze
(It ain’t nothin)
So I hold my arms apart; I don’t deny you anything
I spoke to the base. And the base says we’re Flynn.
The base says we win

Now and then I can see the truth above the lies
Now and then oh I feel those beauties this life belies
They’re like street lights they tunnel on and on
Into these deep nights where the heights of alarm are so steep

So steep

I count the falling the sounds
None of these voices turn me around
Above these steeps I can fly
As lightning cycles over a pious night
I count the falling sounds
And I will not be staying long

Now and then I can see the truth above the lies
Now and then I can see those beauties that shun my eyes.
That’s right.

Comment [12]

Over My Shoulder

Over my shoulder there’s a heart that suffers deep
The sudden exposure makes my mind recall the scene
Over my shoulder there’s a lonely hearted thief
You only know me like the shoreline knows the sea

We raise the stones just like beginnings
We make our home above the stars again

Behold

Over my shoulder there’s a man that doesn’t speak
Woe expectations they will only make you weep
You only know me like the shoreline knows the sea
Over my shoulder there are phantoms indiscreet

We chase the tones as the sight begins
The gate is open and silence showers in

So behold the science: We all have our themes to play
Besides there’s a life outside where our lucky passions reign

You only hold me like the canyon holds the stream
You only hold me as the canyon holds the stream

Relax, we’re safe and that’s all that matters
Be still unto life outside when all our passions rage
Rage

Comment [9]

Arise, Awake

Arise, awake
To open the sky is the aim
Arise, awake
To open the sky is the aim
The prophesied fulfilling

Here comes the dolphin times
A light upon the filthy

Arise, don’t hate

Here comes the dolphin times
a light upon the filthy
And when we change our minds
How slight offenses will seem

Here we go it’s all happening
Remote overhang
We know it’s all happening
Simplify this by yourself
Here we go it’s all the same
Oh no, this is all happening
Don’t deny it to yourself
Call me crazy
The rules have changed
And now every side can win
I lose my page when I rectify my whim
All I know is I want to be taken back
Over and over
I wait for days and your eyes take me back
to these olympic times
All I know is I want to be taken back
Over and over
Safe to say I am borrowing peace from my past
We know it’s all happening

Comment [13]

Young Again

Time is disgraceful
We’re all just watching as things fall apart
And silence seems wasteful
When I know what’s coming for me in the dark

I’m young again
Thanks a lot
I’m young again
Ra ra

Jobs are disgraceful
They tick like suffering from a clock
I sized my potential
It just seemed small in the wrong box

Cuz I’m young again
Thanks a lot
I’m young again
Ra ra
Thanks for my spot

Feed me sonar
Lead me so far
Feed me sonar
You need me so far

Comment [11]

I'll Sue You

There’s always a way
There’s always some free time
There’s always a play
There’s always a new guy

It’s a home on a lake
I want to be clear
There’s always a way
And I don’t want to be here

I’ll sue you
I’m suing you
Yeah subterfuge

There’s always a strain
There’s always a beehive
There’s always a play
I want the free ride

It’s a home on a lake
I want to be clear
Nothing you will take with you
What will you leave here

I’ll sue you
I’ll impugn you too

What can I say
You have everything that I want you for
You raised the stakes
And that makes these feelings grow stronger
What can I say
You were always my favorite
You paved the way
But I don’t want to let you go

And I let go of myself
And I have blown away
It’s alright
I don’t need this anyway
(It’s alright, I don’t need this shit…fuck it)
And then we’ll fly away
And then we’ll fly

I’ll sue you
I’m suing you

She looks so much better on me
I’ll take a ride on those sheets
I looked inside it’s obese
See I’ll take your girl to see jai alai.

You raised the stakes
And that makes these feelings grow stronger
What can I say, you have everything but I want it more
You paved the way,
But I don’t want to let you go

Comment [12]

Paid For That

Gunfire explosion
I want that guaranteed
Sometimes I feel I coexist with me
And one side makes me old
And one side makes me struggle
I was on the night shift
I said I’ll never learn to fight like this

In the meantime I’m gonna shut it tight like a briefcase
In my moon mind, summertime, catch a break

Changed by Folk Implosion
When I was 17
Sometimes I feel diminished by beauty
Cuz one night she is cold
The next she’s making me doubles
I’m drinking moonshine
Cuz I’ve had enough of starlight

In the meantime I’m gonna shut it tight like a briefcase
In my moon mind, gonna catch a right, let it break

So just sit back
(I don’t mind)
And see how long that this takes
(I don’t mind saying)
don’t you see I had to pay for that
I paid for that
And now you’ll pay me back

Death will come by ocean
I want that guaranteed
Sometimes I feel I’m authoring a dream

In the meantime I’m gonna shut it tight like my briefcase
Cuz in my moonmind, it’s a summer night and I watch it break

so just sit back
(I don’t mind)
See how long that this takes
(I don’t mind saying)
Don’t you see I had to pay for that
(I don’t mind)
I paid for that
And now you’ll pay me back
I paid for that
(I won’t let go)
With very many stacks
I paid for that

(I won’t let go)
And now you’ll pay me back
Now you’ll pay me back
(I won’t let go)

Comment [6]

No Mistakes

Be great
And no mistakes
Be brave
And show no fear around me

I believe in my eyes
And something just fell from the sky

Be great
And know your strength
Be brave
And show your teeth with your deeds

Cuz one of these days they will destroy this whole fucking town
I don’t know what will happen next
but I’ll wait for you
Cuz things are only half as good since those days
But you know in every likelihood I’m insatiable
I guess I’ll only know myself if I care

Know mistakes
No mistakes

You must be supremely unleashed
supremely unleashed

I don’t know what will happen next
But I’ll wait for you
Guess I always told myself that I could
You know it’s only right and good to go straight to you
We always leave a few pages to chance

That’s right, you caught me,
on we travel
Thieves of the night stomping softly
Heats away, everybody’s up and running
Please come inside, get stuck in
Everybody….
Sweet

That’s right

I don’t know what will happen next but I’ll wait for you
Cuz things are only half as good since those days
You know in every likelihood I’m insatiable
So we always leave a few pages to chance
I don’t know what will happen next but I’ll wait for you

Comment [8]

Summertime is Coming

Summertime is coming so get out
Forget all the things that do with doubt
We’ll swallow all the animals that hiss,
“We will spend our whole lives like this”
Summertime is coming so get out

So get out

Summertime is calling for you child
To give you a sense of reliance
To feel at home in a crowd
The season the season is calling
And all of it breathes into one day…

You get out
So get out

I’m calling
Are you ready now?
I’m calling you out
Are you ready now?
I’m calling to find a way back
And somehow to stay that hand

Summertime is coming for you child
‘Cuz Summer can feel that you’re pliant
And that you’re sweet like a peach on the beach is…

So get out
Ooh you’ll get out

Are you ready now?
I’m calling
Are you ready now?
I’m calling you out
Are you ready now?
And somehow to stay that hand
We win
Are you ready now?
We win
I’m calling

Is this the right time to know me?
Is this the right time to know?
Is this the right sign to show me?
Is this the right…
Is this the right….mind?

Can we waste some more time just colliding in space?
No matter how high we set the bar…we win

Comment [15]

Lyrics

Also Available:
Paul Banks: Julian Plenti Lives...

Julian Plenti: Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper