Forbidden Art

Forbidden Lyric Sheet

Here are the lyrics to the songs that appear on Tom's 1995 tape cassette release "Forbidden Art". Don’t forget to visit the Forbidden Liner Notes Page.

Quick Index to Forbidden Lyrics

Forbidden Art
In the Cult
Middleman
Sweet Michael O'Dell
The Refinery Song
Half a Love Song
I Belong
Metaphorically Love
One Last Song
Freakshow

Forbidden Art

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Educated in the school of classics
Taught to see the world through eyes surreal
I drink the culture in
and am told that it's a sin
When I tell you just how bad it feels

And I kick down the doors that you walk through
I wait on the tables where you dine
Until the day I was caught
Thinking of forbidden thought
I never thought this cause would be called mine.

With so much obscene all around us
in the way we treat each other on the street
I'll be the scapegoat of
the leaders of the land above
A target for the problems they can't beat

Still I kick down the doors that they walk through
I wait on the tables where they dine
Til the day I was caught
thinking of forbidden thought
I never thought this cause would be called mine.

And I walk through the doors kicked down for me
And I know I've been waited on before
So I'll take my turn
In hopes that I will learn
How to take in all they have in store.

So I take in all that I'm given
And resolve that I will get my due
and fighting off the sense
of my own indifference
fearing that someday I'll become you

'll kick down the doors that you walk through
I wait on the tables where you dine
Til the day I was caught
thinking of forbidden thought
I never thought this cause would be called mine.

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In the Cult

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An old friend from high school
I saw the other day
His eyes they were glazed over
His mind was blown away.
Where have you gone? Where have you gone?
He's in the cult.

Now he has a number
Where he used to have a name
Where he used to reason
I now think he's insane.
They took your hair, they took your clothes.
You're in the cult.

They caught your eye on TV
In a very clever way
You went to find a future
And they took your past away.
Don't question why, just do or die.
You're in the cult.

Now he takes his orders
From a man in a green hat
They took away your smile
Made you ready for combat.
They all walk the same, they all talk the same.
You're in the cult.

Be all that you can be..
.

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Too high, too low, somewhere in the middle I gotta go.
Come in, let go, it's what you wanted only you know.
Too low, too high, when I reach up I touch the sky..
Then I, sink low, back where I started and ready to go..
Go on, Go on..

Step out, be free, I found out I'm just like me.
That is, I do, the sum of all the parts that we know as you..
Step in, back out, history repeats itself I twist and shout.
Saty low, in sight, when I thought I would, I knew I might..
Go on, Go on..

Too high, too low, somewhere in the middle I gotta go..

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Sweet Michael O'Dell

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Sweet Michael O'Dell has a story to tell
one that's been there through the ages.
I'm telling you Sue every word of it is true,
you won't read it in the society pages.

When he was a lad just as I was a lad
growing up with unexplained feelings
nobody told him then his attraction to men
had nothing to do with satan's dealings.

Confused and alarmed when he found himself charmed
By boys he'd choose to surround him
The nuns and the priests understood him the least
They feared for being around him.

So he told his friend Steve as he clung to his sleeve
of his uncommon desire
But Steven withdrew it was then Michael knew
The bridge he'd crossed was on fire.

Returning to school he was soon made the fool
Words like a stone they pursued him
Confused and alone he could never go home
Their tough love soon black and blued him.

He spoke not a word but everybody heard
But he didn't have any reason.
So Michael O'Dell from his sorrow he fell
That fall wasn't his season.

Sweet Michael O'Dell has a story to tell
one that's been there through the ages.
I'm telling you sue every word of it is true,
you won't read it in the society pages

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Refinery Song

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Down by the river there's a refinery
Crankin' out the RDF to keep our county free
Burn it all, burn it all
What do you worry for
dump your problems 5 miles off the shore.

Some folks live their lives by the sea
Someone's gotta pay the price I'm glad that its not me
Darn it all, darn it all
I guess I could care more
But saving all them fish is such a bore.

Think of it as the smell of success
Burning the fat off a life of excess
To caesar give caesars dues
And all that's left I will use.

Cross the river on the Jersey shore
Blowing steam down my back door
Progress, progress as it should
It's good for me so it must be good.

Nature's bounty is my gain
I don't shed a tear for your acid rain
All in all, all in all
What can one man do
To keep the dog eat dog from eating you.

Children look into my eyes
Down the path your future lies
Grab the gusto, grab it fast
Breath each breath like its your last.

4th street 4 p.m. today
I must seal a deal U.S.A.
Business business as it should
It can't be bad cause we got all the goods.

Future future you behold
Holding's bought and futures sold
What you sow you will reap
Just thank the lord for the oceans deep...And we've got two.

Down by the river there's a refinery...

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Half a Love Song

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I woke this morning this song in mind
Memory so close behind
But I never get more than half way through
I never stop falling in love with you.

It was long ago, it was far away.
This lonely prince had lost his way
Born to love waiting to be told with who.
Doing things that princes always do.

As princes do he grew up strong
A gentle soul he'd do no harm
Fighting all his battles in his head
Slaying dragons in himself instead.

The king denies the jester knows
Time will come they'll let him go
But kings make up all the rules
And when they follow men become the fools.

The king declared his land of love
No mankind would rise above
What his only son would suffer through
Prince did what he was told to do.

Long ago and far away
Our lonely hero's wedding day
But his tender heart never did love true
He never laid his eyes on you.

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I Belong

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I must fight, peace I feel
Words I write, fate I seal.

I belong, oh yes I belong.

To the street, down I run
Friend I meet, deed is done.

I belong, oh yes I belong.

Force the lock, steel engaged
On the block, war is waged.

I belong, oh yes I belong.

To the sill, as I bleed
Loss of will, strength I need.

I belong, oh yes I belong.

There is truth, carry on
Take my youth, I am gone.

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Metaphorically Love

Go to Liner notes for this song.

9 of 10 doctors would think I'm insane.
as if what I feel could come from my brain.
my friends they all wonder what in you I see.
but like moss on my north side your growing on me.

10,000 warnings about you I've heard.
as if what I feel could be described in words.
you defy descriptions in all that you do.
but still they wonder what I see in you..

Most of my friends have settled them down.
and at their grand banquets I still play the clown.
like a solo guitar you're playing with me.
no wonder they wonder what in you I see..

Ships at night passing on casual seas.
love I provide you rhetorically.
and I don't know if I even know you.
perhaps in the morning I'll know what to do.

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One Last Song

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Don't close your eyes there's something I must tell you.
Before you sleep I think that you should know
Words come easy when no one will listen
Before you sleep I think that you should know.

For every rhyme in life you're my reason
Before you sleep I think that you should know
You found a place in my heart I'd forgotten
Before you sleep I think that you should know.

All I have is what we have together
I have never known a love so deep
Tell me now that this goes on forever
Lay you down and I will let you sleep.

I lie awake and stare out at the ceiling
That never held my hand or called my name
Don't close your eyes there is something I must tell you
I need to hear you sing one more refrain.

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Freakshow

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Freakshow freakshow on my street
Laugh at people throw them meat
Competition I hope I won
Freakshow freakshow turn me on.

Maids of meters 40 pounds
Lady steel merry go round
Muddy waters in the morning sun
Freakshow freakshow turn me on.

Dinner theater county seat
Law and order police beat
Open season get my gun
Freakshow freakshow turn me on.

Sgt. major PFC
Tired of learning third degree
Tried to walk but I just run
Freakshow freakshow turn me on.

Wars are lost and battles won
Revolution turns me on
Getting drafted set me free
Freakshow freakshow turn on me.

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