"Too Many Ghosts" was recorded live over two days in Los Angeles, CA with Trish Hadley and Jonathan Jiskra. It was released on June 22, 2009. All songs by John Elliott (BMI) 2009.

TOO MANY GHOSTS

WELL, I’M BETTER OFF WHEN SHE’S NOT NEAR
WHEN THE DAY COMES HOT AND THE GIRLS ARE NOT
WEARING ANY CLOTHES OR PAINT ON THEIR TOES
AND THE RAIN COMES SOFT, I’M BETTER OFF

WELL, I LOVED HER MEAN, I LOVED HER CLEAN, I LOVED HER QUICK,
I LOVED HER SICK, I LOVED HER CLEAR, I LOVED HER NEAR
I LOVER HER FEAR, I LOVED HER FEAR

I HELD HER CLOSE DOWN THE GOLDEN COAST
DOWN IN THE SAND, I HELD HER HAND
THERE’S TOO MANY GHOSTS ON THE GOLDEN COAST
TOO MANY GHOSTS, TOO MANY GHOSTS

WELL THE HIPPIES TRIED, THEY TRIED THEIR BEST
THEY WASTED TIME, THEY WASTED BREATH
SO THE HIPPIES SLEPT, NOW THEY’RE BACK AGAIN
I HOPE THEY WIN, I HOPE THEY WIN

FROM NEW MEXICO, SLUGGIN’ THROUGH THE SNOW
INTO CAROLINE, SLEEPIN’ IN THE PINE
THEY’RE FEELIN’ FRESH, THEY’RE LOOKIN’ SWELL
IT’S JUST AS WELL, IT’S JUST AS WELL

AND I’M BETTER OFF WHEN SHE’S NOT NEAR
WHEN THE DAY COMES HOT AND THE GIRLS ARE NOT
WEARING ANY CLOTHES OR PAINT ON THEIR TOES
AND THE RAIN COMES SOFT, I’M BETTER OFF

KEEPING UP THE NEIGHBORS

THERE’S A PICTURE OF A POCKET AND A PEN ON THE NIGHTSTAND
A BETTER WAY TO DO IT WITH A BOTTLE OF WINE
I ONLY GOT A WOMAN WHEN THE WOMEN WERE WASTED
BUT EVERYBODY CAME DOWN FINE
IN THE OPEN, IN THE ATTIC, IN THE PROTESTANT BASEMENT
MIXING UP THE MEDICINE AND DOING MY TIME
KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT I HAD AND WHAT I WAS AFTER
KEEPING THE LOSERS IN LINE
THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT THAT MATTERED IN THE END
IF I DID IT WRONG I’LL DO IT WRONG AGAIN

I HAD A SOFA AND A SALAD AND A DELICATE HAIRCUT
A PURPOSE AND A PASSION WITH SOME SOUP AND A SWORD
A SENATOR FOR SUPPER AND SOME BACON FOR BREAKFAST
WHILE EVERYONE RECEIVED AN AWARD
BUT I NEVER SAW A SOLDIER WITH A REASON TO DO IT
I NEVER SAW A BROTHER WITH A REASON TO RUN
I WAS MESSY, I WAS MOODY, I WAS READY TO QUIT
I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE WON
THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT MATTERED IN THE END
IF I DID IT WRONG, I’LL DO IT WRONG AGAIN

WE WERE KEEPING UP THE NEIGHBORS EVERY NIGHT

MOCKINGBIRD

MAMA MADE ME A MOCKINGBIRD
I WANDERED OUT, I WANDERED ALONE
I WANNA BE MORE THAN A MOCKINGBIRD
FLYING FOR A HOME

WHAT I DID IS FORGIVEABLE
WHAT I SAID IS UP FOR DEBATE
WHERE WE WERE WAS EVENTUAL
WE COULD NOT BE SAVED

DADDY KNOWS THE SECRET
DADDY’S CLOTHES DO JUST FINE
OUT OF THIS I’LL GET NEXT TO NOTHING

NUMBER ONE OF THE JUNIOR HIGH
NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE
NUMBER ONE IN THE UNIVERSE
WE WILL NOT BE SAVED

THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE YOU CAN BE THAN WHERE YOU ARE

I WILL NEVER BE THAT COOL AGAIN
AFTER IT I WAS READY FOR MY LIFE TO END
SHE WAS A RUSSIAN GIRL

AND WE DROVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TAKING TURN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE COUNTRY
SHE WAS A NAUGHTY GIRL

AND THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE YOU CAN BE THAN WHERE YOU ARE

SHE HAD A CAT, I HAD A HAT
IT WAS A LOT OR IT WAS NOT
SHE AIMED TO PLEASE, SHE ATE SOME CHEESE
SHE FELT MY KNEES, I FELT MY KEYS

AND THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE YOU CAN BE THAN WHERE YOU ARE
MY BACK’S AGAINST THE WALL
THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE YOU CAN BE THAN WHERE YOU ARE

I GOTTA GET YOU OUT

STANDING IN THE 7-11, GETTING MY DUCKS IN A ROW
I’M MESSING THIS UP, I KNOW
IT’S ALREADY OVER
STANDING IN THE 7-11, I WAS WRITING LETTERS IN MY HEAD
SHE CAME AND IT WASN’T THE END AND IT WASN’T THE MIDDLE
NOW SHE’S LYING NAKED ON THE LAWN
I’M WASTED WITH THE TELEVISION ON
I’VE NEVER BEEN AWAKE ENOUGH TO SEE IT’S UP TO ME

I GOTTA GET YOU OUT OF MY HEART
I GOTTA GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD
I GOTTA GET YOU OUT

SOON SHE’LL BE UNDER THE TABLE, SOON SHE’LL BE ABLE TO SEE
SOON SHE’LL BE ALL SHE CAN BE AND I’LL BE A REMINDER
SOON THEY’LL BE DELICATE DANCING
SLEEPING OUT UNDER THE STARS
HE SIGHS, SHE HOLDS HIM IN HER ARMS AND IT’S ONLY BEGINNING
BUT SHE WAS LYING NAKED ON THE LAWN
I WAS WASTED WITH THE TELEVISION ON
I’VE NEVER BEEN AWAKE ENOUGH TO SEE IT’S UP TO ME

I GOTTA GET YOU OUT OF MY HEART
I GOTTA GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD
I GOTTA GET YOU OUT

STANDING IN THE 7-11, THE FACES ARE FOLLOWING ME
THEY CHASE ALL I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE

THE WONDER YEARS

SHE KNEW ME LONG BEFORE I FELL
SHE THOUGHT WHAT I COULD NEVER TELL
I’M SURE IT HAPPENED ALL THE TIME, BUT I WAS NOT AWARE
I MET HER IN THE CASTLE HALL
I KISSED HER IN THE CASTLE WALL
I NEVER KNEW IT WHEN SHE CAME, I RAN UP THE STAIRS
AND I WAITED PATIENTLY

SUMMER TURNED TO EARLY FALL, EVERYONE WAS AT THE BALL
EVERYBODY LOOKED THEIR BEST, I LOOKED AT HER CHEST
SHE ASKED ME OUT ONTO THE FLOOR, I’D NEVER SEEN SKIN BEFORE
SHE OPENED UP AND HELP ME HARD IN DRUMS AND GUITARS
AND I WAITED PATIENTLY

I DROVE HER HOME IN EARLY SPRING, I LISTENED TO THE SPEAKER SING
SHE STOOD OUTSIDE MY CAR, SHE KNEW AND I KNEW IT TOO
SHE ASKED ME OF MY SUMMER PLANS, I TOLD HER AND I HELD MY HANDS
I HURT HER AND I KNEW I DID
WE COULD HAVE BEEN SO SWEET

LOOKING FOR TROUBLE

A CANDLESTICK, A BROKEN JAW
SHE TOOK OFF HER MAKE-UP WHILE I TOOK OFF HER BRA
SHE INTERRUPTED ME AND PUT HER FINGERS UP MY SLEEVE
I HAD ANOTHER GLASS OF WATER AND I STARTED TO AGREE
LOOKING FOR TROUBLE, I WAS LOOKING FOR TROUBLE

IT WAS TOO LATE FOR ANYTHING ELSE
SHE NEEDED SOME ANSWERS AND I NEEDED SOME HELP
IT WAS A GOOD IDEA, IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME
SHE KNEW I KNEW AND KNEW I DIDN’T MIND
LOOKING FOR TROUBLE, WE WERE LOOKING FOR TROUBLE

NOW I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY LAWS I’M BREAKIN’
BUT IF THEY PULL ME OVER I KNOW THAT I’LL BE TAKEN
TO THE HALL OF CORRECTIONS IN THE CANYONS OF THE STATE
THEY CAN TEACH ME HOW TO LOVE AGAIN, SHOW ME WHO TO HATE
LOOKING FOR TROUBLE, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR TROUBLE

LAS VEGAS AVENUE

I DON’T KNOW WHY I WENT LOOKING FOR YOU ON LAS VEGAS AVENUE
WHEN THE SKY WAS SPLIT OPEN
AND OUR LIVES HAD BEEN BROKEN IN TWO
I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND NOTHING TO DO ON LAS VEGAS AVENUE
IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOU

IT WAS MORE THAN I ASKED FOR
IT WAS ALL THAT I ASKED FOR
IT WAS NOTHING I ASKED FOR
IT WAS LOVE THAT I ASKED FOR
IT WAS NOTHING I ASKED FOR

I DON’T KNOW WHY I WENT LOOKING FOR YOU ON LAS VEGAS AVENUE
WHEN THE SKY WAS SPLIT OPEN
AND OUR LIVES HAD BEEN BROKEN IN TWO
I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND NOTHING TO DO ON LAS VEGAS AVENUE
IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOU

DISNEYLAND

I DROVE AROUND FOR HOURS, I DIDN’T TALK FOR DAYS
LOS ANGELES APPEARED BEFORE ME SPREAD OUT IN A HAZE
I STAYED FOR HALF A DECADE, IT FELT LIKE HALF A YEAR
NO, MORE LIKE HALF A STRANGE AND WASTED SUMMER
BUT THE AFTERNOONS WERE SWEET, AT LEAST
SHE KISSED ME ON THE COUCH
SHE SAID SHE LIKED MY MOUTH, I SAID I MEANT IT
AND WE DID IT ‘CAUSE WE WANTED TO
SHE DID IT ‘CAUSE SHE WANTED ME
BUT SHE DIDN’T, I COULD TELL
AND IT ENDED JUST AS WELL AS IT HAD STARTED

WE WERE MOURNING EVERY MORNING
WITHOUT WARNING WE WERE GONE
LOOKING OUT UPON LOS ANGELES, A DIAMOND IN THE DAWN
SO THE WOMEN KEPT ME COMING, SO MY FRIENDS KEPT MY LOST
IN THE VALLEY, BY THE WATER, IN THE CANYONS, IN THE FROST
WE WERE LOUD BECAUSE WE COULD BE AND WE WANTED TO BE HEARD
IT WAS NOT A GOOD DIVORCE, BUT IT WAS GOOD
IT WAS SIMPLE AS IT SHOULD BE, IT WAS PAINLESS AS IT COULD BE
STRIKING SILOUETTES AND SUBJECTS TO PASS AND FILL THE TIME
IT WAS SIMPLE AS IT SHOULD BE, IT WAS PAINLESS AS IT COULD BE
STRIKING SILOUETTES AND SUNSETS TO PASS AND FILL THE TIME

WE WERE LOUD BECAUSE WE COULD BE AND WE WANTED TO BE HEARD

SHE IS CALLING, SHE IS STALLING, SHE IS SINGING OUT TO ME
I KNOW EVERYTHING SHE’S MADE OF AND I’M NOT AFRAID TO SEE
SHE IS EMPTY, SHE IS ANGRY, SHE IS SIMPLE, SHE IS SICK
IT IS EVENING IN LOS ANGELES AND NOTHING SEEMS TO STICK

NOW THE DEVILS ARE ALL DREAMING BUT THE ANGELS ARE AWAKE
THEY ARE PLOTTING, THEY ARE PLEADING
THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO TAKE
THEY DISCUSSED IT WITH THEIR THERAPIST AND DECIDED IT’S OKAY
IT’S A CITY, AFTER ALL, OF PRIME CONTENDERS
IF THEY’RE SORRY WHEN IT’S OVER
SHE WON’T KNOW AND SHE WON’T MIND
SHE’LL BE HALF ASLEEP AND WAITING
SHE’LL BE HALF ASLEEP AND BLIND
IT IS MIDNIGHT IN LOS ANGELES, I’M LEAVING HER BEHIND

AND EVERYONE IS THERE

CHRIST IS A SINNER

YOU CAN SAY ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY
GO AHEAD, IT’S OKAY
GO AHEAD AND SAY IT
JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANNA SAY
COME ON, SAY WHAT YOU WANNA SAY
I’LL ONLY HEAR WHAT I WANNA HEAR

EVERYONE I KNOW IS A WRECK

MY FLIGHT WAS DELAYED
I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE STAYED, I KNEW IT
AND BECAUSE MY FLIGHT WAS DELAYED
I HAD TO SIT AROUND AND THINK ABOUT IT FOR HALF A DAY

EVERYWHERE I GO I’M A WRECK

YOU JUST GOTTA SWALLOW IT DOWN, SWALLOW IT HARD
SWALLOW IT DEEP, SWALLOW IT DOWN
YOU JUST GOTTA SWALLOW IT HARD, SWALLOW IT NEAT
SWALLOW IT DEEP, SWALLOW IT DOWN
DEEP DOWN, DEEP DOWN

CHRIST KNOWS I AM A SINNER
CHRIST KNOWS CHRIST IS A GOD
CHRIST KNOWS GOD IS A LIAR
CHRIST KNOWS I AM A FRAUD
CHRIST KNOWS I AM A LIAR
CHRIST KNOWS CHRIST IS A GOD
CHRIST KNOWS GOD IS A SINNER
CHRIST KNOWS I AM A FRAUD

YOU CAN SAY ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY
GO AHEAD, IT’S OKAY
GO AHEAD AND SAY IT
JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANNA SAY
COME ON, SAY WHAT YOU WANNA SAY
I’LL ONLY HEAR WHAT I WANNA HEAR

AFTER LOVE AFTER ALL

N INSECT, A DINOSAUR
YOU’RE PERFECT FOR IT, YOU’LL BE FINE
A HANDSTAND, A STUPID POEM
YOU STILL BELIEVE IT, YOU’LL BE FINE
YOU’RE AFTER LOVE AFTER ALL

ALL THE BABIES ARE OFF TO SCHOOL
THEY’RE READY FOR IT, THEY’LL DO FINE
ALL THE GENTLEMEN ARE KEEPING TABS
ALL THE GENTLE LADIES ARE CLEANING UP
THEY’RE AFTER LOVE AFTER ALL

THEY’RE PERFECT FOR IT

I CANNOT LOSE YOU NOW
I CANNOT CHOOSE YOU NOW
I CANNOT WAIT
I’M AFTER LOVE

All words written by John Elliott 2009.