This Machine Lyrics

Mike Estep Band Lyrics

This Machine

Showtime
© 1994 Mike Estep (BMI)

Big storm movin' in tonight
This time the weatherman was right
They take a last look and then get in their cars
Try to find a shelter with a comfortable bar

It's showtime, showtime, showtime

Did I tape the windows and nail the doors
Restless thoughts from the red cross floor
In the morning will I go back home
Or stumble through the rubble that the news is showin'

It's showtime, showtime showtime

Problems that seemed to be so big this morning
Are low on the list of thoughts they think tonight
Stormy love on shaky ground,
Windblown dreams scattered all around
The eye of the storm passes over town and......

It's showtime, showtime showtime

Volunteers help to clean up the mess
Some give a lot and a lot give less
Off the coast it's starting to rain
Mother natures' dressing up again and.......

It's showtime, showtime showtime
It's showtime........

Falling
© 1999 Mike Estep (BMI)

The moment you stop, falling in love,
You start falling away
The moment you stop, falling in love,
You start falling away
Every move was a well planned trip
Across the street or to sunset strip
The best laid plans of the time
It seemed that when it mattered the most
We could never reach the coast
And we were living alone on the beach

(chorus)
Running out was easier than explaining it all to me
It's not that you were falling in love
You were just falling away from me
It's not that you were falling in love
You were just falling away from me
Falling, falling, falling, falling,
Falling, falling, falling

Never mentioned the thoughts that came
It didn't matter they were all the same
Wastin' away on the vine
I've watched you come and i've watched you go
When times were good or times were slow
Serenity laced with a rage

(chorus)
Running out was easier than explaining it all to me
It's not that you were falling in love
You were just falling away from me
It's not that you were falling in love
You were just falling away from me
And i'm falling behind on ways to catch you
Falling behind on what to see
Falling behind on the things i should say
As i watch you falling away from me

Falling, falling, falling, falling,
Falling, falling, falling

Circus Lights
© 1998 Mike Estep (BMI)

The shopping mall parking lot welcomes the gig
Of the carnival circus and all it's big rigs
The tents' up on wednesday for the animals dance
The king of the jungle sees another good chance
He's gonna get out and drive in a car
Scare a few citizens and drink in a bar
To see what it's like to be them for awhile

(chorus)
The carnival circus lights shine out of sight
There's a clear threat of romance
On this hand holding night
If it works out well fine and if not
That's all right, that's all right that's all right

The question that answers itself with a smile
Would you do me the pleasure
And walk for a while
We'll check out the sights that can only be seen
In this once a year world if you know what i mean

We'll wind through the vendors
Of pleasures and wares
The gourmet aroma displaces the air
The calliope music is heard everywhere
The fireworks start at eleven o'clock
And will last until sunrise
By the plans that i've got
I hope you agree we're at least worth a shot

You can find out the future
You can bet on your size
Spend a five dollar bill to win a fifty cent prize
Watch the king of the jungle perform
As he lays in his cage cause its just to damn warm
Or he's been fighting traffic like you
Or maybe.....
He stopped for a few

This Machine
© 1992 Mike Estep (BMI)

Conveyors move the product by,
In the factory only time don't fly
Nothing ever changes this machine
Frantic neckties and after lunch eyes
Ones got the answers, ones got the whys?
And nothing ever changes...this machine

(chorus)
This machine won't even notice when the ax begins to fall
This machine is never privileged to the writing on the wall

Schedules set through meetings met
Is teamwork still your safest bet
It all comes down to faith in this machine
It all comes down to faith in this machine

(chorus)
This machine won't even notice when the ax begins to fall
This machine is never privileged to the writing on the wall
Outside homes are bought, souls are sought
Love is learned, hate is taught
Another coat of paint for this machine

A brand new ford, drinks are poured
You change the channel, you think you're bored
Try living in the world of this machine
This machine won't even notice when the ax begins to fall
This machine is never privileged to the writing on the wall

(chorus)
This machine won't even notice when the ax begins to fall
This machine is never privileged to the writing on the wall

Conveyors move the product by, in the factory only time don't fly
Nothing ever changes this machine
Nothing ever changes this machine
Nothing ever changes this machine
Nothing ever changes this machine
Nothing ever changes this machine

Train of Lies
© 1999 Mike Estep (BMI)

Damage control get your story straight
The words you chose can seal your fate
You tell your stories, then wave your good-byes
All aboard ... The train of lies

what are the chances, she'll ever find out
Your story's believed, there's never any doubt
You're working late that's no surprise
All aboard ... The train of lies

the train of lies is coming in for you
The train of lies for all you do
The train of lies...
The train of lies, it runs so true

Damage control get your story straight
The words you chose can seal your fate
You tell your stories, then wave your good-byes
All aboard ... The train of lies

This Time
© 1998 Mike Estep (BMI)

Slowly walking away again
You're waiting for my call again
But this time you've walked to far to hear
You come back with that voice on the line
But nothings ringing for me this time
Because this time i've walked to far to hear
To hear you calling me back...
To promise me that...
You sound to much like me
But not this time
But not this time

There's always been a good reason for it
But now i'm not so sure
The thoughts of leaving
Like the thoughts of staying
Never lasted to seek the cure
But not this time... This time.... This time

I've waded through your deepest rivers
I've waited for the longest time
I've weighed these options so heavy on my mind
How many times have i watched you walk away
How many times have i tried to make you stay
But nothing ever works the way we say
Nothing ever works the way we say

Slowly walking away again, waiting for my call again
But this time you've walked to far to hear
Or maybe this time we've walked to far to hear

Reunion
© 1989 Mike Estep (BMI)

The class of sometime somewhere wants to do up one more night
You left at graduation, destination out of sight
Can anyone remember what the faces all look like

(chorus)
Were the times as good as they're remembered at the reunion
There's a few backroads that could tell a tale or two
Will the girl I should have never left still show
Reunion, do I even want to go

Did the prom queen keep her body after everyone was through?
Did the parking lot physician ever make it through med school?
How many rented sports cars will be filled with borrowed jewels?

(chorus)
Were the times as good as they're remembered at the reunion
There's a few backroads that could tell a tale or two
Will the girl I should have never left still show
Reunion, well I might as well just go

Through the conversations of the kids and work
You interrupt to ask a few
If they'd seen the girl you always liked but never thought she knew
Well she was asking about you last time, in fact,
You know she asked us all
Then a tap on the shoulder from a girl much bolder
With the line about how you don't look any older
Then a kiss that turned the heads throughout the hall...

(chorus)
Were the times as good as they're remembered at the reunion
There's a few backroads that could tell a tale or two
Well the girl I should have never left came through
So next reunion, send one card for two

There's my old bosses mailbox, I can lay it out flat
Then fill in his driveway help him work off some fat
Drive around waitin' till his shovelins' done
Plow it in again, man this job is fun

Rush hour blizzards, when they're all headed home
There ticked off behind me till one gambles alone
He pulls out and passes just missin' my blade
Next I see him in the ditch I hit the horn and wave

Well we park em' in the spring, but by the middle of fall
I'm thinkin' sideways snow and of cars at a crawl
The station wagons wait for me then off to work they go
The kids are hoping school is closed but then I always show

(chorus)
I'm a snowplow jockey, that's just what I do
Scrapin' the roads, to keep em safe for you
A thermos of coffee and a sandwich or two
I'm a snowplow jockey that's just what I do
Snowplow jockey that's just what I do
Snowplow jockey that's just what I, just what I,
Just what I, just what I,
Just what I, just what I do

As the wait of the touch becomes harder to take
Excuses contrived are so easy to make
Your music keeps changin' changin'
But your dance is the same
Your music keeps changin' changin'
But your dance is the same
A smile with an edge that could cut through steel
Pushes out lies to seal every deal
Your words keep changin' changin'
But the story's the same
Your words keep changin' changin'
But the story's the same

(chorus)
When you see your reflection do you even recognize it anymore
When you see your reflection take another look it's different than before

To many crossroads, to many turns
Not enough reasons for so many burns
Can you tell me what ever became of that face in the mirror
I've watched it don't tell me I shouldn't believe what I hear

(chorus)
When you see your reflection do you even recognize it anymore
When you see your reflection take another look it's different than before

In the polish of chrome, in the mirror alone
In the water so calm, in the camera so kind
In the back of your mind, just what do you find
When you see life from your angles
When you see the way you twist
When you see yourself in the future
And realize there's so much that you've missed

(chorus)
When you see your reflection do you even recognize it anymore
When you see your reflection take another look it's different than before

So concerned with the way that I'm spending my time
But is nothing to do such a criminal crime
Your answers keep changin' changin'
But my questions the same
Your answers keep changin' changin'
But my questions the same

(chorus)
When you see your reflection do you even recognize it anymore
When you see your reflection take another look it's different than before

We don't look through the open doors
The closed ones seem to hold much more
Every now and then
Looking out means looking in

(chorus)
So why don't you stay here while we play
As tomorrow peels the mask off of today
Tonight our world is perfect every way

We're satisfied with where we are
From a one night dance, we've come so far
Faces change, names the same
Having fun is still our game

(chorus)
So why don't you stay here while we play
As tomorrow peels the mask off of today
Tonight our world is perfect every way

We're one lane from the ledge tonight
A train of lies in the circus light
As showtime borders this old scene
Your reflection falls on this machine

(chorus)
So why don't you stay here while we play
As tomorrow peels the mask off of today
Tonight our world is perfect every way