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Higher Learning

by The Napoleon of Crime

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1.
there's an awful lot to do here but not so you could tell we learn what we can from TV and we put ourselves through hell let's wait until we shouldn't drive and then we'll both attack but every time I left alone there's a reason I looked back it's in the way you move yourself around it's in the way you move yourself around but now that that's over you say, "I feel bad, you see -- there must be someone out there now who needs you more than me" but I've tasted every lick that you've run across your lips and I know there's nothing else that I'd trade for this it's in the way you move yourself around it's in the way you move yourself around
2.
let's run wild tonight and have some fun let's careen around like toddlers with guns nothing's wasted 'cause there's nothing to win kiss the trigger and pull the pin we need chasers for the pride that we swallow as the night unfurls bite the bullet, take the drugs and hang with the getaway girls wait all week to anesthetize with the patience of wife-beaters' wives we can steel ourselves for another hit we'll be back again in a little bit there's not enough gravity to keep the car on the surface of the world and nobody brought the cash to take care of the getaway girls we're lost on a sugar rush that would make your stomach curl sweetness hangs in the air around the heads of the getaway girls then we wake up and about face we faked a getaway now we're stuck in place
3.
Split Lip 04:12
the weekend's coming but you know it never lasts you're distracted, honey I'll see you later when the curtain hits the cast we'll be off and running it's alright that we've been stretched so thin I'm fine exhausted 'cause there's an eye to the swirl we're living in we haven't lost it it's when we're in bed, damning our phones 'cause the outside world won't leave us alone but it goes away when it stays we can share it if it goes away it's still worth caring let's raise our glasses to the moment as it passes 'cause all good things are temporary I don't think there's anything to change with prayers and curses just get it started and stand right in its way don't dare reverse it there's a little madness to all this anyhow the way things happen circumstances will not get me down a man can dream again I'm getting better but I'm still learning who's not afraid of what isn't certain? but it goes away when it stays we can share it if it goes away it's still worth caring let's raise our glasses to the moment as it passes 'cause all good things are temporary I've got my doubts I've got to face them you might give me scars but that's like saying "when lights go out we won't replace them we'll sit around in the dark" and that's just crazy I'm getting better but I'm still learning who's not afraid of what isn't certain? but it goes away when it stays we can share it if it goes away it's still worth caring let's raise our glasses to the moment as it passes 'cause all good things are temporary when it stays we can share it if it goes away it's still worth caring let's raise our glasses to the moment as it passes 'cause all good things are temporary
4.
Drink Deep 03:47
it began and lately I've been ruined 'cause even then I knew I couldn't hold you to it but I grew brave and tried to win an answer tried to make something brilliant even grander drink deep these moments one by one they taste like summer on my tongue 'cause once you know, they're gone you won't rust in my imagination if you'd just succumb to this temptation but just like that you fade into the sidelines fade to black like deer escaping headlights drink deep these moments one by one they taste like summer on my tongue 'cause once you know, they're gone well, it started off bad and then got worse but I remember a moment things seemed to work we were lying on our sides breathing hard and ignoring the light and in this tangle of limbs we're holding I still remember what you told me: "no matter how we feel when we're done drink deep these moments one by one" drink deep these moments one by one they taste like summer on my tongue 'cause once you know, they're gone
5.
you don't believe that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder instead you find it in the grain of the chip on your shoulder all you want is a place to hide an infirmary for your wounded pride you could tear this world apart looking for something to do I never know which way you're facing which side is the blind side going to be? I never know which way you're facing which side is the blind side going to be? every day you rail against whatever comes closest it all runs together, though the same problems in different poses oh, you pitiful engine of bones spinning your wheels out here alone you keep taking this world to heart for not being brave or new I never know which way you're facing which side is the blind side going to be? I never know which way you're facing which side is the blind side going to be? it's a shame there isn't more to celebrate than this we're just rolling around, getting our Sisyphus kicks the feeling hangs around like smoke it gets into our hair and clothes you're still waiting for the world to start looking for someone like you I never know which way you're facing which side is the blind side going to be? I never know which way you're facing which side is the blind side going to be? I never know which way you're facing which side is the blind side going to be? I never know which way you're facing which side is the blind side going to be?
6.
you keep getting defeated by the things you try to save you keep running into burning buildings from which there's no escape you say if things would slow down then you'd just kick down the doors stop the clocks for one hot minute but that's time you can't afford honey, I'm sorry that the world won't wait but the world won't wait (no, the world won't wait) you can't catch your breath without an even break and you deserve better than that honey, I'm sorry that the world won't wait but the world won't wait (no, the world won't wait) it's got nothing to do with justice or fate but one day will be better than that I can't change your mind about the universal plan don't look too close if you don't want to see something you can't stand like a world that just won't let up or a world that won't let you be or a world that doesn't break a sweat over folks like you or me honey, I'm sorry that the world won't wait but the world won't wait (no, the world won't wait) you can't catch your breath without an even break and you deserve better than that honey, I'm sorry that the world won't wait but the world won't wait (no, the world won't wait) it's got nothing to do with justice or fate but one day will be better than that you shouldn't have to go without and for a while you didn't need to wonder who will kiss you on the mouth to bring you air when your head goes under but who could do that every day and keep themselves afloat as well? I'm sorry that the world won't wait but you might need to catch up yourself honey, I'm sorry that I couldn't wait for the world to wait ('cause the world won't wait) I've seen what happens when the spirit breaks and I can't stick around for that honey, I'm sorry that the world won't wait but the world won't wait (no, the world won't wait) it's got nothing to do with justice or fate but one day will be better than that
7.
I think my heart's on my sleeve but yours stays in your chest traces of expression fade like secrets you've confessed all the things that made you only you can know but sweetheart, there are times when your history starts to show how often do you think of the people you've kissed? there's not a lot who know you well and fewer still that you'd miss is there a box or a book of pictures? sepia scenes and younger figures memories stored and bound in leather stained by tears and shifting weather that changes like minds that change like the tides you've got a beautiful past, you know anyone would be proud to be a featured player there if they were so allowed you can't ever see your future although you've come so far you'll only ever know who you were or, if you're lucky, who you are but during some nighttime you changed once again and who you were in the morning was not who you had been now it seems you don't remember first your fortune glows like embers but what hits closest to the nerve is you know that ashes never burn and fires can die if you change your mind I leave fingerprints on photographs signatures in oil you can tell I've been here from the way your pictures are spoiled
8.
you're put upon by fortune you've lost another year you're looking around for answers but nothing's coming clear everything is cracking crumbling beneath the veneer you take your worthy memories and hold them someplace dear but you're so far from hopeless you've got nothing to fear and if this place once held you down one day, you'll be anywhere but here

about

AKA songs about women, mostly.

As a bit of a loner, and an only child to boot, my first relationships were a real education in learning to deal with and understand other people in a way that I'd never had to before. That these primarily occurred during or immediately after college suggested the album title. This isn't a concept album; these songs aren't about any one person, and we're not following any kind of storyline too closely.

This one has way more acoustic guitars, but as before, turn it up real loud.

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released July 10, 2013

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The Napoleon of Crime Washington, D.C.

"He is the Napoleon of crime, Watson. He is the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city. He is a genius, a philosopher, an abstract thinker. He has a brain of the first order . . . My horror at his crimes was lost in my admiration at his skill." -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Final Problem" ... more

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