Comprehension

by Art Linton

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1.
Just A Dream 03:40
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Just A Dream These people here are driving me crazy and I don't know if I can make it through another day baby. Although I know these people are my relatives, Its very hard not to think in negatives. All I know is I've got to get away from here. Although where would I go? I don't know, that's my biggest fear. . . . CHORUS: I'm seeing this all as just a dream and I can't explain the meaning, I must admit its had me quite shaken, How long will it take her to awaken? To awaken? Modern life, it can be such a nightmare, get educated, end up going nowhere, Other days there's nothing out but sunshine, and then life is easy, you're making up your own mind. But is everything in the world so ephemeral that it gets you down? Or is it all just a beautiful miracle cruelly twisted around? CHORUS: I see this all as just a dream, but its going off the deep end, I must admit its had me quite shaken, How long will it take me to awaken? BRIDGE: Sometimes I feel so close to home that I never feel alone, Times when my life seems like a curse and I know it just can't get much worse, Insight purifies my mind, I know that someday I'll be fine, Till then my doubts still come around, and the Liars come to push me down. . . . We all seem to need someone to hold on to, and if they leave us we don't know who to turn to, Its a never-ending search for Perfection, You could be dead before you've made your selection, but what I'm really missing is something that I cannot find. . . . True Beauty lies beyond the eyes, Outside of space and time. . . . CHORUS: But we're seeing this all as just a dream, And we can't explain the meaning, You must admit its had you quite shaken, How long will it take you to awaken? To awaken? How long to awaken? How long to awaken? Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 7/17/89.
2.
The Dancer 03:27
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The Dancer Does your life seem right when you look around you, around you, and you see Today? Does the meaning that you find Shock or surprise you, or is it just too early to say? Do you seem like you're at the center of an ever-spinning wheel? Watching from the inside, and wishing you could stop to feel? Are you looking for Mystical Union? Looking through a glass onion? Looking for what's been forgotten? Looking for seeds gone rotten? Looking to find a solution? Finding only confusion? CHORUS Why don't you look inside your heart? Look inside your heart. . . . I know you're tired of hearing this, But its really something you can't miss! I know that there's misunderstanding, and that the discipline is so demanding, but look inside your heart and you will find that it is beating, Look inside your heart and you will find that Love is meaning, Look inside your heart and you will find the Answer, is when you stop watching the Dance You become the Dancer. Do you seem like you're at the center of a never-spinning wheel? Watching from the inside, and wishing you could stop to feel? Are you looking for Mystical Union? Looking through a glass onion? Looking for what's been forgotten? Looking for seeds gone rotten? Looking to find a solution? Finding only confusion? CHORUS Look inside your heart! Look inside your heart! I know you're tired of hearing this, but its really something you can't miss! I know that there's misunderstanding, And the discipline is so demanding. . . . Look inside your heart and you will find that it is beating. . . . Look inside your heart and you will find that Love is meaning. . . . Look inside your heart and you will find the Answer. . . . When you stop watching the Dance, and you become the Dancer. . . . When you stop watching the Dance, and you become the Dancer. . . . Does your life seem right when you look around you? Around you, and you see Today? Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 4/28/89.
3.
Bureaucratic Love 03:04
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Bureaucratic Love Well you've got to pay attention to every word, Better show conviction no matter what you've heard, Got to pay attention to every word they say. . . . Gotta be watching out for every move 'cause, If they catch you stepping out of their little groove, They're gonna tighten up restrictions, Call your stories fictions, Better get back in line boy and Stop your bitchin'. . . . If they keep changin', changin' their tune you'd, Best play by their little rules, You'd better not ask "why," Don't play the smartass guy, Or you'll be out the door, Before you can count to four. . . . CHORUS: Bureaucratic, Bureaucratic Love, Wanna know what you've been thinking of, They wanna know now just where you been to, And they don't like what you, What you been getting into. . . . And if you don't buy into this little trip, Just remember, loose lips sink ships, You might think its crazy, You might think its insane, Its as easy as pouring all your brains down the drain, Its in the market-place and under the steeple, Called the love of money, Its the root of all Evil. . . . CHORUS: Bureaucratic, Bureaucratic Love, Hits you like a fist, wants to know What you're made of, Its so hard to get to until you've got the right form, And if your heart gets towed away don't say, You haven't been warned. . . . Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 10/10/89.
4.
Stranger 02:45
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A Stranger Tonight, I'm sleeping on the floor, I can't take this anymore, But if its over, then its over, But it ain't over. . . . Now, I'm in over my head, Ashamed of what's been said, Surprised to find our lives are suddenly in danger. CHORUS: I can't believe that its come down to this, How could this much frustration have started with a kiss? Well, everyday I wake up and stare into the mirror, and at the end of the day it seems like nothing's any clearer. . . . No matter what I do, nothing will ever change her, When I'm with you baby, its like making love, making love to a stranger. . . . Tonight, I'll dream about the past, but its a dream that never lasts, When I awaken, I'm forsaken, my heart is breaking. . . . We were playful children then, and thought the dream would never end, The dream has died because its pride made it commit suicide. . . . CHORUS: I can't believe that its come down to this, How could this much frustration have started with a kiss? Well, everyday I wake up and stare into the mirror, and at the end of the day, its like nothing's any clearer, No matter what I say or do, no nothing will ever change her, 'Cause when I'm with you baby, its like making love, making love to a stranger. . . . I don't even know you baby. . . . Making love, making love, making love to a stranger. . . . Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 10/7/89.
5.
Center Of The Cyclone 03:56
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Center of the Cyclone Now I've been looking for some time, but I've been running out of rhyme. I don't know where to draw the line, between profane and the sublime. Now I love you, you don't love me, This is what I seem to see. It seems we never can agree, on the way that it should be. . . . BRIDGE: But when I look into your eyes, Something takes me, takes me by surprise. . . . CHORUS: It's the Center of the Cyclone, That's where our love's gone. . . . The Center of the Cyclone, That's where our love's gone, Can we be both wrong? Look into my eyes, you'll see rain fall from a blue, blue sky, But if you look into your heart you'll realize we're not apart. . . . Now I've been searching all my life, For someone who'll treat me right, Someone who puts my soul in flight, and who'll turn Darkness into Light. I grasp a helping hand but then, I fall right back down again, God knows how long I will wait, before I can escape my Fate. . . . BRIDGE CHORUS Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 8/18/89.
6.
Very Good Thing 02:44
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Very Good Thing Wipe that smile off your face when you look into the mirror, Well, you take your name and drag it through the river, If the truth gets out, you'll never live to live it down, They'll take all your money and burn your big house to the ground. CHORUS: Its Not A Very Good Thing Its Not A Very Good Thing Its Not A Very Good Thing Its Not A Very Good Thing Sweetheart, everybody knows you've been gettin' it on the sly, Got all your clothes burning down on Wall Street, Selling anything they'll buy, You'll kill all your children who walk away in shame, Sit them down in front of a T.V. and pour shit into their brains. CHORUS: You have lied to all your best friends, Telling them everything's O.K. , You've sacrificed everything to win, sell tomorrow for today, You're happy with the cheaper thrills, Yea, that's what really turns you on, And it looks like you'll go on until your integrity is gone. . . . CHORUS: Will we ever get rid of you and live a better life? Will we put all our weapons down and quit sharpening the knife? Will we ever wake up to see all the blood that's on our hands? All our greedy jealousy fits right into your plans. . . . CHORUS: Copyright 1990 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 2/7/90.
7.
Shadow 03:46
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Like A Shadow Walking down the road with my Higher Self, She said to me, "Why don't you take a breath?" It was a long day, You know its been a long day. . . . Walking down the road with my Higher Self, She said to me, "You think you're someone else, That's why I say, Yea, that's the reason that I say: CHORUS Oh, the friends I've known and the things I've shown you, the sun shines through their Face, Walking down the Road on a sunny day, Makes all the evil just fade away, Like A Shadow Like A Shadow Like A Shadow Like A Shadow Then I asked my Higher Self: "Would you then explain the Grip of Death, And just why Children of Innocence must die? Why is there such suffering? Why is there such pain? Such unbelievable tragedy will drive the world insane! Tell me why? Tell me why? Everyone's got to have a Big Car? Everyone's got to be a Big Star? Everyone's rich at another's expense? Everyone's drunk, yea everyone's pissed? Tell me why? Tell me why? About this time I was out of breath, And she said to me, "You're afraid of Death?" I said, "I don't know", "No," she said,"you don't know!" She said, "Man is the One who has created Death, Because he loves to kid himself, And that's why the time is passing by. . . . (but in the twinkle of an eye), you'll know why that: CHORUS (2X) [then back to first verse & end] For Catherine Morgan & Coleman Barks Copyright 1990 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 1/31/90.
8.
Pass Me By 03:39
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Pass Me By Chorus: Pass me by, go on and pass me by, Oh, world, Pass Me By. . . . Hey, young man, the world is passing quickly through your hands. . . . Hey, young girl, can you help me stop the world? Hey, Mother of the Heart, I have fallen from your Arms. . . . Hey, Father in the Sky, I've forgotten how to Fly. . . . Chorus Pass me by, sorrows of the world, When all is sinking sand, there is no place to stand. . . . And where is Love, Oh my love? There is hatred, there is anger, but there is no Love. . . . Leave your pride, children, we are dying, Waters of my soul, Older than the Old. . . . Chorus Touch not the world, try to find the Pearl. . . . All our freedom ends, when jealously begins. . . . And watch your breath, its as close as death, Witness to yourself, hold hands with someone, hands with someone. . . . Chorus Young, young man, wash the hatred from your hands. . . . Young, young girl, picking flowers for the world. . . . Copyright 1990 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. June 24, 1990.
9.
Sun From Shining 02:58
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Sun From Shining When every door is slammed into your face, When everyone sees you in your disgrace, When every instance of your pain is clearly known, When you're afraid to face that cold unknown alone, Don't you know that you're never to look back, Just listen for the whistle down the railroad track, Soon you'll be with me and you'll not be sad, It'll be the best time that we ever had. . . . CHORUS: Don't you remember, we were One and we were Shining? Then we did much more than we could do, no one was minding. . . . I want you to know that everyone believes I'm lying! But what could I do to keep this sun from shining? Sometimes I'm mad and all I want to do is shout! I feel so damn bad that I don't know what to cry about. But your sweet laughter's like a beacon on a hill, The light it gives my heart no hate could ever kill! Just when I'm lost without a trace, And everything's far too far out of place, I recall we are Branches on a Vine, And you Love me more than the Ninety-Nine. . . . CHORUS: Don't you remember, we were young and we were Smiling? Then we did much more than we all knew, and no one was trying! Do you really think that everyone believes we're lying? What can I do to keep a smile from crying? What could I do to keep this sun from shining? Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 9/9/89.
10.
Died Like Romeo 03:26
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Died Like Romeo A slip of the tongue, One bitter word and it was over and done. On the tip of my tongue, A "What's your name?" and oh it's over before it'd begun. On second thought I'd be better if I'd never met her. . . . Now I don't know but I was told, The thrill of Love can never grow old, It frees the heart and fills the soul if you let it. . . . But in my case you can just forget it, I fall in "love" every other minute, I seem to have a roving eye for every lovely lady that walks by, And I try to control it, But I know that its impossible to hold it. . . . CHORUS: I'm fallin' in love again for the 99th time today, No matter how hard I try these feelings just won't go away. . . . I don't know what I should do, It hurts me bad but it feels good too, Don't wanna be a Cassanova who dies like Romeo. . . . To all the ladies, a simple warning: I'll lead you on and then leave you in the morning, Some other lover has caught my eye, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry. . . . The trouble is I'm forever sad and lonely, My smile and laughter are absolutely phoney, My only hope is one day I'll meet The perfect woman who'll sweep me off my feet. . . . CHORUS Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 9/2/89.
11.
What About The Love 04:15
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What About the Love What about the Love? What about the Freedom? What about the Liberty? Let me see, I don't believe you . . . . Well you try to dictate on matters of conscience, You try to segregate while no one is watching, Too late to legislate, 'cause the armies are marching, You can't afford to wait 'till the missles are launching. I tried to understand it, but it made no sense, Around the world poor souls are starving, But we spend billions on defense. . . . Is there a reasoning behind this? Is there any thought at all? Turn all your hate to loving kindness, If we divide we surely fall. CHORUS People don't you know that your freedom is in danger, Life's not a television show, don't wait for the lone ranger, Human solidarity is that which must prevail, Wake up from your disparity or sit inside a jail. CHORUS Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 9/21/89.
12.
Death Of Eros (Acoustic) 03:20
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Death of Eros She is ambitious. Vicious to do good. She is a radical, in the sense that she's misunderstood. The death of Eros, death of Eros. Breaking down barriers, breaking the barrier. It doesn't mean much to him, though she's absolutely right. She's not enough for him. He tells her this all the time. The death of Eros, death of Eros. Breaking down barriers, breaking the barrier. They will make a commercial of him, along with his heart. Paintings and music will soon be sold, broken up into parts. Goddess of Virtue, where do you place the blame? Poets for money, go back from where you came. Taking all your little fits for granted. Hey you know, I need some time alone. Am I not everything you wanted? Are you just pretender to the throne? Over-exposure is now a simple, "perfect" art. Since the acidic-coma media, no more visions in the park. We talk about "heroes." Talk about lies. What ever inflates our egos. Isn't this a wonderful life?
13.
Rust Of Rationale (Acoustic) 03:33
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Rust of Rationale I went to the hypnotist; tell me what you think about this. I've been hypnotized, so full of lies. Now I can see how I look in your eyes. He said "No, no, no! I don't think so... well you don't know, about the old compromise, it's a mystery, such a mystery! Imminent harm, sound the alarm, when 'free-to-speak' means 'blasphemy.' Don't you remember your history? It's repeating, it's repeating. The rust of rationale, when love is rationed out. Rust of rationale, loss of meaning, loss of meaning." Then I went to the exorcist, to get some demons off my chest. She said "My son, your time has come... but where did you get those shadows from? Because all the wicked wanted some!" I said "Holy light has struck me dumb!" She said "No, no, no! I don't think so... well you don't know, about the old compromise, it's a mystery, such a mystery! Imminent harm, sound the alarm, when 'free-to-speak' means 'blasphemy.' Don't you remember your history? It's repeating, it's repeating. The rust of rationale, when love is rationed out. Rust of rationale, loss of meaning, loss of meaning." Yes it's me that's talking now, finally getting out somehow. All my thoughts crowded me out. It was so loud I had to shout, to get to your attention. These are things that we never mention. There's a cure, but there is no prevention. I went to the analyst, and said "I've been to the hypnotist, and the exorcist. Now tell me this, tell me just what have I missed? Can you make some sense of this?" He said "No, no, no! I don't think so... well you don't know, about the old compromise, it's a mystery, such a mystery! Imminent harm, sound the alarm, when 'free-to-speak' means 'blasphemy.' Don't you remember your history? It's repeating, it's repeating. The rust of rationale, when love is rationed out. Rust of rationale, loss of meaning, loss of meaning."
14.
Irony Of Life 03:21
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Irony of Life And so she's leaving me, There's really nothing I can do but cry, 'Cause there's not a single kiss goodbye, I don't know how I'll get along but I will try, Nothing's gonna save me from the Irony of Life. CHORUS And I'll be alone again, I'll be alone again, But it really is no problem, The only enemy is boredom. . . . She always told me so, That I would take her love for granted, and that one day she would go, and why I didn't listen I just don't know, Maybe it's because for me that Love is hard to show. . . . CHORUS: I'll be alone again, I'll be alone again, But am I really just kidding myself, That I really didn't need someone else, To take away the pain of life? Of life. . . . BRIDGE: And in the darkest nights, When the night is silent, And in my deepest dreams, Maybe she'll come back to me, And maybe someday I will see, That love is just another Irony of Life. . . . Irony of Life. CHORUS (repeat 2 times) Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved 4/15/89.
15.
Prisoner Of Time 02:33
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Prisoner of Time 1st CHORUS: Nothing's ever good enough, Nothing's ever good enough, Nothing's ever good enough for you. . . . Nothing's ever good enough, Nothing's ever good enough, Nothing's ever good enough for you. . . . No matter how hard I try, you always give me the downcast eye, Nothing will do. . . . Time kills all the romance, Time makes infinity look small, Time can cut you down with just a glance, Time means nothing at all. . . . Rumors of war, they run on time, and time gives the roots to doubt of soul. It may heal your wounds for awhile, but it will kill you when you're old. . . . 2nd CHORUS: 'Cause nothing is ever good enough for you! No, nothing is ever good enough for you! I said I'm not gonna worry, Yea, I'm too busy to even try to ease your mind, well, what's the hurry? I'm just a prisoner, a prisoner of time. . . . 1st CHORUS Time is needed to create, but it takes no time to ruin. . . . Time is needed to relate, its time to stop and think of what you're doing! The kiss of a lover is all too short, the pleasure fades, the pain endures, because of time life can seem a bore, purposes remain obscure. . . . 2nd CHORUS Copyright 1990 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 3/30/90.
16.
Crossed The Rubicon 03:32
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Crossed The Rubicon Nobody's communicating, Nobody says a word, They're all watching the Idiot Box. . . . Nobody's making Love or Maybe just reading a book, They're all watching the damned Idiot Box. . . . Such a shame to believe everything you read, Now that everything's the same, You're just another mouth to feed, Everyday Violence is an accepted part of Life, Apathetic silence cuts sharper than a knife. . . . CHORUS: And the Wild Dreams of a New Beginning, Are put down by the critic As just so much bullshit, And the Light Beams are clouded by The Love of Winning, And everyone seems content to put up with it. . . . Another Caesar crossed the Rubicon, Another Caesar crossed the Rubicon, Another Caesar crossed the Rubicon. . . . It might be the last thing you'll ever see, But it certainly was a blast, And it sounded good to me! Drunken with confusion, & I'm stoned with stupidity, Now that everything's a media illusion, Slavery is Liberty. . . . BRIDGE: Utopia, they promise, Misguided Must-Moralitys, Is the Apocalypse upon us? Is this the New Reality? CHORUS: 2x then end. . . . Copyright 1989 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 11/7/89.
17.
Only Road 02:49
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The Only Road I went outside one Day, to the very Fair & Lovely Grounds of Sights Unseen, that have no Bounds, to the Fields of Eden, I looked Around, and Felt that I could have no Reason. . . . Oh, the Sun was Very Bright, the Trees were Light, I Felt Right, and Here and Now there was a Sound so Sweet, it Kissed me on the Cheek, and I would turn Around, and She would Be There. . . . She would Be There. . . . It will Be, Be a Life you've Never Known, And I'll See, See you Walking Out the Door. . . . I Feel I'm going Somewhere that I've Never been Before. . . . I can see there is No End to the Love, so I follow You down the Only Road. . . . Copyright 1990 by Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 2/28/90. (to the Sufi Brotherhood)
18.
Really Just Like You 02:49
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Really Just Like You Well, there's wars in politics, wars in religion, people are fighting everywhere, breaking up the family. Our future plans aren't stabilized, and I'm not so sure they will be in time. Well, maybe it's me, but I think things can really change, 'cause oh how well I know that nothing remains the same. REFRAIN: The world's on fire, the world's on fire, we've got to save our home. The world's on fire with desire, got to save our home. CHORUS: But I'm just a man, I don't know everything, though I'd like to think I do. But I'm like a baby scared of anything. Oh, am I really just , or am I religious too much? Oh, I'm really just like you. . . . Well, you work all day, and some of you work all night. Just keep working and saving your money, hoping it will be alright. Perhaps one day you'll realize that you have sold away your priceless life! Have you ever been free? Do you think things can really change. No matter where you go, the problems will remain. . . REFRAIN: Because the world's on fire, our world's on fire, we've got to save our home! The world's on fire, our world's on fire, got to save our home. CHORUS © 1992 Art Linton. All Rights Reserved. 8/16/91
19.
Through Your Eyes 02:59
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20.
Broken (Alternate Mix) 03:40
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21.
New Way To Begin (Alternate Mix) 03:02
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22.
Eye To Eye (Alternate Mix) 03:47
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about

Comprehension was recorded at Maxwell Studios (Mark Maxwell, audio engineer) live on July 25, 1991 in Athens, Georgia (tracks 1 thru 11). Tracks 12 thru 19 were recorded at Exocet Studios by Bruce Bennett on July 25, 1994. Tracks 12 thru 19 were recorded live. Tracks 20 thru 22 are alternate takes of songs from the album Enemy Lines, dates circa 1994-1995.

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released June 1, 2019

Tracks 20 thru 22 are the same musicians as on Enemy Lines.

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Art Linton Decatur, Georgia

"A bit like Elvis Costello, Atlanta native Art Linton breezes through songs with a unique brand of parody and gusto. Linton has incredible vocal presence, which helps deliver a humorous and pertinent outlook on the human condition." - Matt Amato, Metromix Atlanta. Linton runs the stylistic gamut from folk, funk, country blues and soul to new & classic rock. ... more

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