Essence

Once in awhile we might pass on the street
We nod we smile and we shuffle our feet
Making small talk standing face to face
Hands in our pockets cause we feel so out of place
Our paths may cross again in some crowded bar
We feel a little lost cause we've drifted away so far
Hoping to find the right words to say
We joke a little and then go on our way
We are so out of touch yeah
We are so out of touch yeah
La La La
La la la la
We speak in past tense and talk about the weather
Half broken sentences we try to piece together
I ask about an old friend that we both used to know
You said you heard he took his life about five years ago
We may pass each other on the interstate
We honk and cross over to the other lane
Everybody's going somewhere everybody's inside
Hundreds of cars hundreds of private lives
We are so out of touch yeah
La La La
La la la la

I had to go back to that house one more time
To see if Camellias were in bloom
For so many reasons it's been on my mind
The house on Belmont Avenue

Built up on cinderblocks off of the ground
What with the rain and the soft swampy land
By the sweet honeysuckle that grew all around
Were switches when we were bad

Chorus: I took a bus to Baton Rouge....etc.,

All the front rooms were kept closed off
I never liked to go in there much
Sometimes the doors they'd be locked
'Cause there were precious things I couldn't touch

The company couch covered in plastic
Little books about being saved
The dining room table nobody ate at
And the piano nobody played

(Repeat Chorus)

There was this beautiful lamp I always loved
A seashore was painted on the shade
It would turn around when you switched on the bulb
And gently rock the waves

The driveway was covered with tiny white seashells
A fig tree stood in the backyard there are other things I remember, as well
But to tell them would be just too hard

Ghosts in the wind that blow through my life
Follow me wherever I go

I'll never be free from these chains inside
Hidden deep down in my soul

Do they lay down the law and lock up your heart?
Gonna have to steal your love.
Some laws should be broken from the start,
Gonna have to steal your love.

You ain't about to give it up for no one.
Gonna have to steal your love.
I don't need a knife, I don't need a gun.
I know how to steal your love,

I don't want your drugs, I don't want your money,
I just wanna steal your love.
I want you to squeeze me and call me honey,
I just wanna steal your love.

Give me your strong hand, go away with me,
I won't have to steal your love.
Come on, let me kiss you and set you free,
I won't have to steal your love.
I won't have to steal your love.
I won't have to steal your love.

Go find a jukebox and see what a quarter will do
I don't wanna talk I just wanna go back to blue
Feed's me when I'm hungry and quenches my thirst
Loves me when I'm lonely and thinks of me first
Blue is the color of night
When the red sun
Disappears from the sky
Raven feathers shiny and black
A touch of blue glistening down her back
We don't talk about heaven and we don't talk about hell
We come to depend on one another so damn well
So go to confession whatever gets you through
You can count your blessings I'll just count on blue
Blue is the color of night
When the red sun
Disappears from the sky
Raven feathers shiny and black
A touch of blue glistening down her back
Blue

Baby, sweet baby, you're my drug
Come on and let me taste your stuff

Baby, sweet baby, bring me your gift
What surprise you gonna hit me with

Refrain:
I am waiting here for more
I am waiting by your door
I am waiting on your back steps
I am waiting in my car
I am waiting at this bar
I am waiting for your essence

Baby, sweet baby, whisper my name
Shoot your love into my vein

Baby, sweet baby, kiss me hard
Make me wonder who's in charge

(Repeat Chorus)

Baby, sweet baby, I wanna feel your breath
Even though you like to flirt with death

Baby, sweet baby, can't get enough
Please come find me and help me get f-----d up

(Repeat Chorus)

Your essence
Your essence

You wear your anger well and stand
For all the world to see
A heavy cloak and one gloved hand
And no humility

You stand inside the garden
And feast on black cherries
And swallow the manna from heaven
And spit out the seeds

You spread your anger on sharp-edged knives
Cut my skin and make it bleed
Like pilate in his self righteousness
You're a traitor and a thief

Choking on your unplanned words
Coughing up your lies
Tumbling from your mouth a flurry
Of broken butterflies

But the blood that flows I cannot hide
That blood that covers me
Nourishes the butterflies
And they are healed and are set free

I wish you had what Ruth possessed
But then I don't expect that of you
Grace and honor and faithfulness
And the love that you refuse

Will you ever learn to just forgive
Will you open your beautiful eyes
And bleed the way Christ did
And fix the broken butterflies