MATT MERTEN Album List
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Last Refrain, Jack Kerouac, Declaration of Independence,  Livin’, Love Song Part One, Reality Television, Girlfriend, Summertime, Fate on 2 Legs, Mittens, Love Song Part Two, Appreciate

Last Refrain 

I’ve got two more days to go and then I’ve got to end the show
Because I guess I’ve learned it all and now I’m done
Time got me a paper; now I’ve gotta get a job
‘Cause Big Brother said I have had enough of fun.
This is my last refrain, chill out, do this in memory of me.
Do what in memory of me you ask?
You see, when boys get together we don’t know how to say goodbye.
We were struck by the point: a joint, lit, stop, hit (more than you admit).
This is my last refrain, chill out, do this in memory of me.
I’m not ready to say goodbye.
There’s still things I want to try.
One more time I wanna make some rock.
One more time I wanna bust a move.
One more time I wanna play the bone.
One more time I wanna get with you.
One more time I wanna dis the right.
One more time I wanna midway night.
One more time I wanna friendly brawl.
One more time I wanna do it all.
This is my last refrain, chill out, do this in memory of me.
I wanna go – Don’t wanna go (Do this in memory of me)
One more time let’s do the stupid things that we used to do.
 
Matt Merten (vocals, guitar, trombone)
Tom Lewandowski (bass)
Joey Van Phillips (drums)
 
 

This left turn’s got me thinking about the little times that I’ve been leaving behind.
I used to think that I didn’t mind.
Now I realize that when I waste the day away, the only thing that’s wasted is me.
I hit the road jack and didn’t come back no more cuz my life is a bore.
Mr. Kerouac, the world is a knocking at my door.
The world is not such a pretty place anymore
That I’m on my own and on the road and looking for a place to call my home.
Cuz it isn’t here
I’ve got a quarter to call and a dollar to buy me a beer.
This boulevard of broken dreams is my home until I clear my bloodstream.
I’m telling everyone they should have some fun.
I think I’m posing.
I don’t ever really feel that great
I’m bottoms up and belly up
If I could ever run away…
Temporary suicide/Social lubrication
 
Matt Merten (vocals, guitar, bass guitar)
Jamie Ploof (percussion)
Jason Ploof (keyboards)
 

Endowed in creation with liberty and life;
Oppressed by the doubt in my soul,
I don’t know what’s right.
My eyes remain closed to a vision of eternity
But now light of all love has been amplified
Like a gift from a deity.
My faith is fading like my familiarity.
I declare it’s time to be free.
I declare I’m free.
The answers are whispers; the simplest of things
The burden of doubt can be torn from my back
And replaced with a set of wings.
My faith is fading like my familiarity.
I declare it’s time to be free.
I declare I’m free.
 
Matt Merten (vocals, guitar)
 

What is this world that we’re living in?
Why are the kids not smiling anymore?
Why do they play with a frown?
Why did the planes come crashing down?
What is this world that we’re living in?
Why are the kids not smiling anymore?
What is this war?
Streetlights suddenly stop and stoplights rarely turn green.
A simple man turns to me and offers me some street smarts.
He says, “Son, sometimes I think the world is full of too many possibilities.
We try so hard to turn everything right.
We try to justify everything by saying the end justifies the means
But that don’t mean the end is justified when the end is mean.”
Then the man went away and I was still dismayed and I wondered what to do.
I just want my influence to be good.
I know that I could and I hope that I would then the kids would be
Playing with smiles like they should.
What is this world that we’re living in?
Why are the kids not smiling anymore?
Why do they play with a frown?
Why did the towers come crashing down?
What is this world that we’re living in?
Why are the kids not smiling anymore?
What is this war?
I’m failing in faith… faith in what? I don’t know.
I walk around looking… let my eyes do the leading.
My soul is bleeding. My conscience is not heeding.
This keeps me searching… sometimes looking for a lie.
I’m not a bad guy; I just know I’m not good.
If ambition could play me any lighter it would.
Guilt becomes a bin of trash that won’t leave
And when the garbage truck arrives something else steps inside it’s me.
I’m the trash that I hate. I’m destroying all the vibes I’m trying to create.
My mouth preaching ideals tries to change the world
My eyes, out of my head, grab the asses of girls.
Is this really me?
Shit like this is the worst.
I think I need to rehabilitate first until my influence is good.
I know that I could and I hope that I would then the kids would be
Playing with smiles like they should.
What is this world that we’re living in?
Why are the kids not smiling anymore?
Why do they play with a frown?
Why did morality come crashing down?
What is this world that we’re living in?
Why are the kids not smiling anymore?
What is this war?
 
Matt Merten (vocals, drums, acoustic guitar, keyboards)
Tommy Vee (bass)
Jay Ploof (electric guitar)
Mary Weinauer (background vocals)

I said I would never like the love songs.
For some reason they’re sticking in my head.
Who’s to say that love can’t move a mountain?
Who’s to say it matters anyway when it feels so good?
Love is the irresistible desire to be desired irresistibly.
So I’m on my knees and I can see that I would do most anything for you.
So I say these words and I sing these songs
Where did I go wrong in my musical morality
And will I ever see that loving is a good thing?
It should be sung out loud.
I thought I would never like the love songs.
For some reason they feel so good.
I thought I could kick the curse of Cupid.
Who’s to say it matters anyway when it feels so good?
Love is the irresistible desire to be desired irresistibly.
So I’m on my knees and I can see that I would do most anything for you.
So I say these words and I sing these songs
Where did I go wrong in my musical morality
And will I ever see that loving is a good thing?
It should be sung out loud.
How can such a good day come in such a good way?
Love has been a sweet surprise.
Now the day is over. I am more than older.
I will live with opened eyes.
I’m learning how to live and I’m loving what I learn
But most of all I love the learning how to love
Cuz I’m living when I’m loving you.
I said I would never like the love songs.
 
Matt Merten (vocals, piano, guitar, bass guitar, percussion)
 

Chop down the cherry tree for truth is a lie
My country tis of thee
Sweet land of hypocrisy
Truth is the first casualty of this war
I think it was channel 14. The police had just entered the scene.
The bad guys were running away.
Officer friendly is obviously gay
Only on reality television
Perhaps it was channel 9. He was dating at least twenty a time.
What will come next, an engagement?
Oh look, another product placement.
Reality television
Twenty pretty people who are wearing lots of skin
Begin a contest to survive paradise the longest.
Just like my life… reality television.
So you’re saying she’s a judge and who am I to judge
Because she looks like a judge and she’s mean.
I mean please, they say her results are final
And my mom thinks she’s hipper than vinyl… reality television.
He’s a powerful man. It’s a powerful country.
Mr. President sets a dangerous precedent for me.
“Liberate Iraq,” he says as I see three cheeses on the pizzas the delivery boy brings us
And I thank Jesus for the cheese bread he brought with him.
“Do you think we can link Saddam to terrorism,” the pizza boy inquires.
Fire when you’re ready. The remote control held steady
As our country bleeds patriotism starring Mr. President… reality television.

Matt Merten (vocals, bone)
 

I’ve got a picture on my wall.
When people see it they ask, “Who is that girl by your side?”
They smile and they say, “Oooh is that your girlfriend?”
And I laugh and sarcastically say, “No she’s my mother.”
They ask if she’s my friend and I say, “No she’s more than that.”
They say, “I see friends with benefits.” I say, “No, I don’t believe in that.”
“So you’re saying she’s your girlfriend.” I say, “No, she’s more than that too.
Do you need me to spell it out for you?
A B C D E F G I wish you were here with me.
H I J K L M N O my lord you’re so beautiful.
You can call it what you want
You can give it a name but it never would ever seem like it was good enough.
Instead of being bound by a label we should tie ourselves and wrap ourselves in love.

Matt Merten (guitar, vocals)
 

It’s a summertime daydream and everything is
Seeming like it’s gonna get better every single day
So many people working hard but not getting very far
Cuz their brain says that it’s not okay
When the sun shoots up then our brain shuts down
And the chillin’ life is still in high gear
We disregard the day life and amplify the night life
And the afterlife, well, there’s no fear.
We’re only here for so long.
I’m giving to the living and I’m running with the loving.
Let’s have some fun.
The summertime heat will meet me there when it’s hot.
I don’t know why or why not I feel this way when the sun is shining in my face.
All I know is that this is the place to be.
The porch is the place where we welcome this weather.
My friends stopping by, could this get any better?
Sippin’ and sparkin’ and sittin’ all night singin’ “Fight for your right to party.”
You’ve got to fight for your right to party.
We’re only here for so long.
I’m giving to the living and I’m running with the loving.
Let’s have some fun.

Matt Merten (vocals, guitar, trombone)
James Prindiville (saxophone)
Tom Berg (bass guitar)
Fuzzy D (drums)
 

Intrigue is the sight of a stranger’s smile
I feel the tender footed steps of her friendly glance
Hesitation is the sight of me walking on by
I doubt that I will ever see another chance.
Curiosity is the sight of me turning back
My mind slips out of its routine
Disappointment is the sight of her walking on by
I doubt that I will ever see her again so I said
“Hey there pretty girl allow me to introduce myself
They call me fate on 2 legs and you proved that to me today.
You tossed me a smile; allowed me to feel good about myself
They call me fate on 2 legs and you proved that to me today.”
What did I just say?
Who said a smile could mean all that anyway?
I’m such a fool; one of those guys who doesn’t realize that he materializes.
Well she turned to me then she looked at me then she said this to me:
“Hey there Mr. Naïve I see you’re stuck in the 20^th century.
When are you going to see that we are never ever gonna be free?
Eligibility is given to the women who overextend themselves
Oh well, you see that shows the inopportunity to excel.
Here’s the story in a nutshell:
Your lame-ass, white, male self has the wealth. It has the power.
Fuck you, I’m not going to cower.”
You should have seen the sight of me turning back
I wondered, “What have I become?”
Privilege is the sight of me walking on by
I hope that I will never ever forget that.
They call me fate on 2 legs and you proved that to me today.

Matt Merten (vocals, guitar)
Dale White (trumpet)
Tom Berg (bass guitar)
Fuzzy D (drums)
 

 I said, “Listen I’ve been thinking about what you said
There’s been at least a million things running through my head.”
I said, “I know you’d do anything to prolong the fun.”
Because you think that when you act your age the fun is done.
I said, “I know how I can help you.”
I’ve got the recipe for your youth.
Number 1 you should stay up all night long and play guitar.
Number 2 you should hug a lot more trees.
Number 3 you should spend a lot more Mondays at the bar.
Number 4 you should tie your warmest mittens to your sleeves
Because I know your hands will be cold
Because they won’t have mine to hold
Because I’m letting mine grow old.

Matt Merten (guitar, vocals)
 

 You told me to write you a love song
And then you said goodbye.
I’m still gonna write you a love song
I don’t know why.
“Fuck you” is how this love song goes.
I hate you because I love you
Oh love song.
You said your goodbye was a favor
Because artists work well when in pain
I’m not gonna write you a hate song
I’m not gonna waste any of my time again.
“Fuck you” is how this love song goes.
I hate you because I love you
Oh love song.
I knew it was all over when you got that job at the mall and
You became the poster child of the Gap Generation.
I realize every one of us gets our ass kicked
Every once in a while by corporate commercial America.
Then you said goodbye because my clothes were not aesthetically pleasing
In other words, fly.
So you bought me that Crombie sweater and I didn’t feel any better.
Just a little bit warmer, so…
“Fuck you” is how this love song goes.
I hate you because I love you
Oh love song.

Matt Merten (vocals, guitar)
Jamie Ploof (Drums)
Tommy Vee (bass)
 

 Somebody must have said a prayer for me the day that we danced the night away.
Somebody must have said a prayer for me the day that we danced the night away.
Somebody cares for me.
They’re giving prayers to me.
Somebody must have said a prayer for me the day that we danced the night away.
Somebody must have said a prayer for me the day that my smile got stuck to my face.
Somebody must have said a prayer for me the day that my smile got stuck to my face.
Somebody cares for me.
They’re giving prayers to me.
Somebody must have said a prayer for me the day that my smile got stuck to my face.
There’s only so many days that we feel this way.
There’s only so many lives that we feel this way.
There’s got to be a reason why we feel so good sometimes.
You need to know that I appreciate what’s on my plate.
I appreciate what’s on my plate.
I appreciate the open gate.
Somebody must have said a prayer for me the day that your smile got stuck to my face.
Somebody must have said a prayer for me the day that your lips got stuck to my face.
Somebody cares for me.
They’re giving prayers to me.
Somebody must have said a prayer for me the day that your lips got stuck to my lips.
Somebody must have said a prayer for me today.
If you would look in to my ears you might hear what I hear
You might see why I smile. You might want to sing along to my funny little songs like:
Pops and Bird, Jimmy Smith, Maceo and Fred
The music makes me feel so good… Pass the Peas.
Like Parliament Funkadelic and Mr. James Brown
I feel so funkin’ good… Pass the Peas.
I think that I’ve found peace or maybe peace has found me
Like the goal of mine just to get a piece has pieced its way out of my memory.
Maybe my mind is wilting away but I would guess it’s growing…
At least it is today.
There’s only so many days that we feel this way.
There’s only so many lives that we feel this way.
There’s got to be a reason why we feel so good sometimes.
You need to know that I appreciate what’s on my plate.
 
Matt Merten (vocals, acoustic guitar, trombone)
Tom Berg (bass)
Fuzzy D (drums)
A.C. (electric guitar)
April Becker (flute)
Matt Schader (tuba)
Anna Scorczeski (bassoon)
Mary Weinauer (horn)
Dale White (trumpet)
James Prindiville (alto saxophone)
Deidra Burgoyne (clarinet)
Alyssa Merten (clarinet)
Zachary Merten (bells)
 

Copyright 2004 MattMerten.com