1. |
eXTeNdeD pLaYdATe
03:01
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eXTeNdeD pLaYdATe: it is so much fun
eXTeNdeD pLaYdATe: when do I get one?
School won't get out today 'til two forty five
I'm tryin' to play it cool to keep it all inside
My teacher's worried: I'm not eating morning snack
I'm feeling hyper now and there's no turning back
They called my mom, I think,
to come and pick up me
And now my chance is blown
I'll spend the day alone
There is no remedy I see
eXTeNdeD pLaYdATe: it is so much fun
eXTeNdeD pLaYdATe: when do I get one?
Next time I look up, my mom is standin' there
Wearing her knowing smile tucked underneath her hair
Gone are my dreams of playing games and doing shows
Gone are my hopes of exchanging names
and changing clothes
I can see what's in front of me and
me plus mom does not make three
All the fun stuck on the shelf
I'll be resting by myself
This is a playdate travesty
I couldn't have faked it
My feelings were real
I thought I'd pass over
I thought I might keel
How could I have known as my mommy arrived?
When they called me to leave, my friend was by my side
My friend's mom could not get to school today at all
My mom's not about to drop the ball
eXTeNdeD pLaYdATe: it is so much fun
eXTeNdeD pLaYdATe: that's how I got one
e-X-T-e-N-d-e-D play
e-X the end
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009-2011 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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2. |
Cozy McBozey
04:13
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Cozy McBozey and Cozy Malone
They chat together on the telephone
Saying things like, "Hello," and "How do you do, Cozy?"
Said Cozy McBozey to Cozy Malone,
"How'd you like to come to my home
To have some tea and scones too, Cozy?
Cozy lives in a burrow on The Hill
Slept a winter here but he's a stranger still
Since he stole away with the wrong greyhound
Home, for Malone, is now this east coast town
Cozy lives in a drey on a tree
Squirreled up high overlooking D.C.
Since 1901, McBozey's kin lived there:
Little eastern grays set free in pairs
Cozy McBozey and Cozy Malone
They chat together on the rotary phone
Saying things like, "Hello," and "How do you do, Cozy?"
"Cozy, I'll use the pouch of my cheek
To bring clover tea when it is warmer next week
Tell me, is it true that you scatter hoard
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3. |
(I’M NOT) shy
03:45
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My sis, she's only little--not grown up like me;
but I can tell what she's thinking,
what she's saying internally.
She doesn't want to say, "hi"
to those people on the street.
She doesn't owe them a smile
just because they think she's sweet.
Can you even remember what it is to be so small?
It's hard to get a diaper change or to communicate at all.
(when no one understands)
It takes a lotta skill to do it nonverbally.
That's why my sis is so lucky:
she's got a translator like me.
I'm not shy, she says. Don't label me
from today 'til history.
I'm not shy. It's plain to see:
I'm just having some stranger anxiety.
And you would, too, if you were me;
in fact, I think you do: why can't you see that
you've got stranger anxieties?
I thought you'd grow out of them.
I'm not shy. It's called a boundary.
Don't pinch my cheeks, ooh, ah and oh baby.
I'm not shy. There's no mystery:
I know my mommy and you're not my mommy.
I almost forgot to tell you how I got to be so wise.
Outside my pre-school classroom,
my mom was immobilized.
(that means she couldn't move)
You see, I had no intention of freeing her thigh--
but I almost pushed her away
when she said that I was shy.
I'm not shy, I screamed. Don't label me
in front of my whole nursery.
I'm not shy. I'm barely three:
I'm just having separation anxiety.
And you do too, 'cuz I can see
you're not moving away from me
Let's separate our anxieties.
Or should we just sneak out of here?
I'm not shy. Obviously,
I'm used to you and you're used to me.
I'm not shy. It's an epiphany that I can exist separately.
I'm not shy. Don't label me from today 'til history.
I'm not shy. Quite rapidly, I'm just taking it all in.
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009-2011 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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4. |
I said, “Mom!”
02:08
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"Mom, your phone is ringing!"
I said, "Mom!" I said, "Mom!"
Would you please get off the phone?
I said, "Mom!" I said, "Mom!"
'Cuz I can't do this alone
I said, "Mom!" I said, "Mom!"
I'm counting down from ten
I said, "Mom!" I said, "Mom!"
Just like you do when I'm stallin'
I've been trying to get your attention for a while
But you keep on giving me that index finger
and your "wait a minute" smile
I wouldn't be crying wolf and barking, don't you see?
If you'd get off that dog and bone and talk to me
I said, "Mom!" I said, "Mom!"
You are ignoring me
I said, "Mom!" I said, "Mom!"
What do I do if I need to ___?
I've built a fortress with the blocks that you laid out
If you'd come look at it, I wouldn't have to shout
This box of S-T-R-I-K-E ANYWHERE
I'll just go play with them and get out of your hair
Ten, t-e-n
Nine, n-i-n-e
Eight, e-i-g-h-t
Seven, s-e-v-e-n
Six, s-i-x
Five, f-i-v-e
Four, f-o-u-r
Three, t-h-r-e-e
Two, t-w-o
One, o-n-e
Time's up, you're done!
10 9 8
I said, "Mom!" I said, "Mom!"
7 6
I am not fooling you
5 4 3
I said, "Mom!" I said, "Mom
It's down to number -
2 I wonder if Alexander and his predecessors knew
1 way their contraption could cut the cord
between me and you-
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009-2011 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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5. |
two homes
03:53
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I've been living in a new situation
Since my parents chose to go their separate ways
Life seems less of a fight, but sometimes I don't feel right
'Cuz I never really got to have my say
I've got two homes. I've got two homes.
It's not better; it's not worse: it just is
My green bike lives at one and my Blue's at the other
But I can ride super fast both places
I get this weird dream about visitation
Where I'm caught between two islands in a storm
Then I realize my blue-green boat has not capsized
And that navigatin's just my norm
I've got two homes. I've got two homes.
And I'm not talkin' beach house in the Hamptons
I'm not the only one whose life got a bit redrawn
From the original map-- that's just how it is
I think I heard some people say
That your home is where your hat lay
I wish there were one place
my hat could call its very own
But you wear a lotta hats when you bridge two homes
When you've got two homes, like I've got two homes
You learn a lot about parity
I've got a parent at one and a parent at the other
And apparently, they both love me.
Yeah, I know that they both love me
And I'm sure glad that they both love me
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009-2011 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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6. |
crankymomma
04:41
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i was on the lam like so many times before
hiding under my bed with the dust bunnies on the floor
i'd left half-eaten food in my abandoned fort below
cushions were strewn about, but i knew i had to go
the bunnies warned me i'd get hunted down
by the fiercest sheriff who we know cleans up this town
we heard this suction sound that we recognized
we huddled close as the enemy ambushed from the side
crankymomma, she came to town on sunday night
crankymomma, she came to town; gave me a fright
crankymomma, she rode in on her dappled gray vacuum
crankymomma, why are you on the loose today?
she dragged me back to the scene in the hall
where i had done some abstract paintings on the wall
she asked who i thought i was and, "how old are you?"
i gave an alias and claimed to be twenty-two
crankymomma said she wasn't buying my alibi
crankymomma said questioning the dust bunnies
uh-uh-it wasn't gonna fly
crankymomma asked is this the way it has to be?
crankymomma has a way of sussing the guilty out of me
i pleaded strongly in my defense
i swore my loyalty, made my amends
soon crankymomma will be feeling just fine
she's hoping that i'll make a better choice next time
crankymomma, she doesn't really want to be
crankymomma-- it's true, she usually warns me
(when she's gonna ride)
crankymomma, she has such expectations for me
crankymomma says it's all about accountability
crankymomma, she came to town on sunday night
crankymomma, she came to town; gave me a fright
crankymomma, she rode in on her dappled gray vacuum
crankymomma, let me help you make this mess go away
away crankymomma, away
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009-2011 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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7. |
DEMAND
04:03
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When it's a DEMAND that's when I feel totally frustrated
A DEMAND comes and my self-worth
gets completely deflated
When I got home from school I could do no right
('cuz I'm a lefty)
Every step I took set off another fight:
Take out the garbage, pick up your room,
put your stuff away (and do your homework)
I groaned and grumbled, "Didn't I just do this yesterday?"
You don't want to live in a house that is a mess
(well, I don't either.)
But when you bully me, all I feel is stress
When it's a DEMAND that's when I feel fully irritated
A DEMAND comes and my self-worth
gets utterly devastated
If you asked me nicely and made it a request
Then my behavior would soon be its best
But when it's a DEMAND that's when I feel so agitated
A DEMAND comes and my self-worth gets annihilated
Later on that night when you made me a meal
('cuz it was dinner)
I acted like it was expected, no big deal
I asked for red salt, water, ketchup, jam bun, milk
And cheese (with macaroni)
But I forgot to say that famous pretty please
You were a scary sight, anyone would attest
(I took a picture)
Hands on your hips
and your lips were pursed and pressed
When it's a DEMAND that's when you feel exasperated
A DEMAND comes and your self-worth gets depreciated
A DEMAND and everyone feels righteously "irate"-ed
A DEMAND reduces self-worth by ten; it gets decimated
A DEMAND
and whose behavior do you think is emulated?
A DEMAND and everything gets ill-communicated
Frustrated Deflated Irritated Devastated
Agitated Annihilated Exasperated Depreciated
If you asked me nicely and made it a request
Then my behavior would soon be its best....please?
When it's a request that's when we feel so validated
A request comes and our sanity gets reinstated
If you ask me nicely...
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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8. |
mama’s goin’ green
04:08
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mama's goin'green now; mama's goin' green
you would not believe some of the changes
that I've seen
i do not think that word means what she thinks it means
She says she's goin'green, so mama's goin' green
the stockpile of bleach and ammonia from under the kitchen sink
she's worried about them in our lungs or our drink
all those bottles and cans she used to lock up
to keep us safe
she's relocating them to some place called
hazardous waste
mama's goin'green now; mama's goin' green.
believe me when i say that she has changed
our whole routine
she keeps trying to explain what metonymy* means.
she claims she's goin' green, so mama's goin' green
to the grocery store, we bring our own bags
as we search down the aisles for organic tags
i know about the green of a gardener's thumb
but i didn't know that green was something you become
there's no paper towel in our kitchen anymore
she's switched from oil to using vinegar on the floor
i told her if she mixed the two she could make
salad dressing
But now I do a lot less sneezing, less wheezing
since mama's goin'green now; mama's goin' green
she's drinking filtered water from a washable canteen
she's become a sort of recycling machine
she insists she's goin' green, so mama's goin' green
she wants our footprint to grow smaller and smaller
but my foot keeps growing as i get taller and taller
she's rushing in where mere mortals fear to tread
but i fear that goin' green is going to her head
mama's goin'green now; mama's goin' green
i think she's almost there; she's looking so serene
i still do not know what meta-mommy means
i still do not know what meta-mommy means
between you and me, her skin's not turnin' green
mama's goin'green now; mama's goin' green
You would not believe some of the changes
that I've seen
i do not think that word means what i think it means
If she says she's goin'green, then mama's goin' green
not yellow, orange or red:
it's in her heart, hands and her head
not indigo or blue:
she's goin' green and how 'bout you?.
****
me•ton•y•my: an expression in which one word
or phrase is substituted for another word or concept
of which it is an attribute or to which it is closely related
(as in green for all efforts made toward
a sustainable future for our planet).
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009-2011 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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9. |
reddotdaddyday
02:54
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mom bought me my own calendar--
not to try to make it okay,
so that i could see in big red color-coded dots
when he would not be away
i chose one with horses:
a different breed on each glossy page
my birthday month there's a mare and a foal
and hang on-- i think he's calling on the phone
reddotdaddyday
what else do i have to say?
he was calling to say
it's reddotdaddyday
mom and i marked some Mondays,
a few Tuesdays too,
a coupla Wednesday dinners,
a Thursday trip to the zoo
and daddy? i said, maybe Friday,
to my riding lesson you could come?
Saturday will you be in town?
or Sunday could i put the reddot down?
reddotdaddyday
what else do i have to say?
reddotdaddyday
it's reddotdaddyday
of all the sticker dots mom got i chose red for dad
i know it's his favorite and that just makes me glad
my granna and poppa get yellow and i get to put a lot
even when there's no red around,
i know they'll come watch me trot!
but reddotdaddyday
that jumps off the page right away
reddot daddy day
it's reddotdaddyday
scrolling through my school calendar:
from September 'til May
longing for my pintos, appaloosas, strawberry roans and
fleabit greys
And Dad? I said, about Friday? I kinda need to change:
a friend's coming over; there's this thing at school
he starts singing this refrain:
green dot daughter day
what else do I have to say?
I was calling to say:
when's green dot daughter day?
green dot daughter day
couldn't keep this change at bay
how I'll miss those reddot days
green dot daughter day
green dot daughter day
what else do I have to say?
when it's green dot daughter day
then we'll get to--
then we'll get to play
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009-2011 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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10. |
chairsittin’ cousins
04:00
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chairsittin' cousins
chairsittin' cousins
chairsittin' cousins in the robot chair
raced into the livingroom; dove into the chair
Oliver squished next to me;
Henry claimed he'd been sitting there
we three took our places and we held onto them fast
we tried out-sittin' each other to see who would last
'cuz chairsittin' is a blast
when you're chairsittin' cousins in the robot chair
Crow and Ben, they took the back
and hoisted Dakin high
Joe secured his footing on top of Mckee's thigh
Kate climbed her way up with such great dexterity
she steadied Ginny on one shoulder
while they reached out for Abby
while I--Cordelia, held Lilly, more girls finally,
XX chromosomally!
we range from siblings who are fifty percent tied
to our second cousins who are three point one two five percent on our side
if those once removed from us made fifty more
we could build a pyramid that Ringling can't ignore
we'll balance and we'll soar
then set a Guiness World Record for
the biggest dog pile on the floor
'cuz we're chairsittin' cousins in the robot chair
there is so much DNA we have to share
maybe that is why we fancy the same chair
if our great-grandparents could see us today
they would be so thrilled that we can hang this way
like carneys on display--let's hurry, don't delay;
i wanna get there right away!
we're almost there
we're almost there
I'm so excited 'cuz we're almost there
I can't wait to take my rightful place on the chair
I'm gonna shake my beezer like I just don't care
we're chairsittin' cousins in the robot chair
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009-2011 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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11. |
tidal wave
05:02
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You don't like me now and that's okay
I know you want me to, "just go away"
But there is something churning inside you,
some gigantic awesome force
It's furious and moving fast and your body is its course
I'm gonna hold you so you know that you are safe
I'm gonna rock you through this great big tidal wave
Let it crash on down right to our ocean floor
Soon it will roll out to sea and we'll have calm once more
It's okay to feel angry; it's okay to feel sad
And it's okay for you to wish that you never had
Lived through a day like this that was so not all right
It's okay to feel lost at sea
'cuz I'll guide you through the night
I'm gonna hold you so you know that you are safe
I'm gonna rock you through this great big tidal wave
Let it crash on down right to our ocean floor
Soon it will roll out to sea and we'll have calm once more
We don't hit our brothers and we don't kick the cat
We all get so frustrated but we don't take it out like that
I'll hold this pillow up for you
Just kick it and hit it
and let your anger course right through
I'm gonna hold you so you know that you are safe
I'm gonna rock you through this great big tidal wave
And if a storm kicks up those waves once more
We know that we won't drown 'cuz we've been here before
I'm here to hear it; I'm here to be
I'm here to see you when you're out to sea
And I'm gonna hold you so you know that you are safe
I'm gonna rock you through this great big tidal wave
Let it crash on down right to our ocean floor
And soon love, I promise, it will be-- I promise,
you will feel--sweet calm and safe on the shore
words and music by alexandra geis
© 2009-2011 alexandra geis all rights reserved
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