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Originally released in 1993 and now reissued on Strange Bird Songs, For You Not Them is Michelle's "Dead Letter Office" record. As Michelle says in the liner notes, "I ended up in the studio hammering out songs to try to get back to the point where I was happy with my music again...so I decided to give them back to the people that have supported me through the years."


For You Not Them

Click song title for lyrics
  • The Greatest Show on Earth
  • Worthless Bones
  • Has Anybody
    Seen My Monster?
  • The Edge
  • The Old Woodshed
  • Peace Frog
  • A La Famiglia
  • Knee Deep
  • Open Window
  • Power of Love
  • Thomas in a Circle
  • Got a Feelin'
  • Mexico A Go-Go


  • Song Lyrics

    e Greatest Show On Earth
    (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    Come see the greatest show as advertised on radio
    Sell your soul to come join in the circus
    The anthem plays you stand beneath candy coated command
    Here, hide behind this smiling paint - that's perfect
    For the real world - what's so real about
    In the real world - don your circus habit
    It's the greatest show on earth and in heaven
    From the time of birth they taught you to believe
    and do and say and act to fulfill their desires
    And now we're all screwed up
    An overflowing alcoholic loving cup
    drink it up - jump through the ring of fire
    In the real world - what's so real about it
    In the real world - don your circus habit
    It's the greatest show on earth and in heaven
    Locked inside the lions cage for your entertainment
    Death defying fits of rage for your entertainment
    The performance of your life for your entertainment
    In the greatest show on earth and if I sell me short
    Then I'm just another severed cord
    Catatonically deaf, dumb, and simple
    In the real world - what's so real about it
    In the real world - don your circus habit
    It's the greatest show on earth

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    Worthless Bones
    (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    I'm standing on the corner
    in this spot that my shoes found to be rent free
    I'm standing on the inside
    and I'm looking out at the world and it seems so empty
    No one has the time
    The spring has sprung and
    the watch unwinds on the dynamo
    But I would trade the riches of the world
    for a worthless bag of bones

    Oh, worthless bones
    Oh, take me home
    Oh, worthless bones, oh

    I'm walking down the old familiar street
    where I once sat upon my father's knee
    And I'm waking up to find a barren lot
    scattered with broken glass and shattered dreams
    Nowhere is my home
    My vagabond carnival heart will forever roam
    But I would trade the secrets of my soul
    for a worthless bag of bones

    Why are we all in a hurry
    to sail beneath a make-shift mast
    when the winds of change
    are blowing nowhere fast

    I'm sitting beneath an old oak tree
    like the first one I climbed when I was three
    and I'm thinking about a little shoebox
    that I buried in the ground

    Worthless bones take me home to my wonder years
    Worthless bones take me far away from here
    Worthless bones take me home to my tender years
    Worthless bones take me far away from here

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    Has Anybody Seen My Monster?
    (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    Has anybody seen my monster
    Stalking around with an axe to grind
    If you see him you better walk on by,
    because that monster, he's no friend of mine
    Maybe he won't be back
    Maybe he won't be back
    for quite a long time

    Has anybody seen my monster
    Lying still waiting to strike
    If he's sleeping don't you wake him up
    Just let him dream his life away
    Maybe he will not wake
    Maybe he will not wake
    For quite a long time

    That fiery devilish hypocrite witch
    about my weight, about my size
    That fiery devilish monster living in my eyes
    and if you see him, run for cover
    and if you see him, run for your life
    Don't want to see him, don't want to be him
    Don't want to be him or his wife

    Has anybody seen my monster
    He's stalking on claws of steel
    Don't stop to ask him why he's so restless
    just let him search for what he cannot feel
    Maybe he will not want
    Maybe he will not want
    For quite a long time

    That fiery, devilish, hypocrite-witch
    About my weight, about my size
    That fiery, devilish monster living in my eyes

    Has anybody seen my monster?
    He's about my weight, about my size.
    Got curly brown hair and big brown eyes
    A skinny little thing
    Well, if you see him coming
    I said, if you see him coming
    You better walk on by
    You better walk on by
    You better walk on by
    'cause my monster can be a real
    BITCH!

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    The Edge (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony ATV Songs/BMI)

    I should try to speak
    but all this fighting left me weak
    If I could defend
    but the ink runs from my pen

    I'd beg you not to go away
    We should be here together
    Though we are somewhere near the edge
    I'm begging you don't go away
    We should be getting better
    Though we are somewhere near the edge

    And if I could erase
    I'd leave the past without a trace
    and with picture-perfect valentine
    Replace the words disguised as mine

    And beg you not to go away
    We should be here together
    Though we are somewhere near the edge
    I'm begging you don't go away
    We should be getting better
    Though we are somewhere near the edge

    Life is not living without you
    Love is not loving without you

    This is something that I feel
    the tight squeeze and the cracking cold steel
    and I can't stop it - my heart
    must be breaking

    I'm begging you don't go away
    We should be here together
    Though we are somewhere near the edge
    I'm begging you don't go away
    We should be getting better
    Though we are somewhere near the edge
    Why are we somewhere near the edge

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    The Old Woodshed
    (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    Out behind the old woodshed
    Snakes and snails and puppy tails
    Sugar, spice, a push, a shove
    A swing, a punch, to touch, to love
    Out behind the old woodshed
    Fountain of eternal youth
    Jars of flashlight fireflies
    Dig to China after lunch
    Out behind the old woodshed
    Words that go together well
    Sugar Mountain, Babelogue
    These days you think will never end
    Out behind the old woodshed
    Ma and pa hot on our trail
    Pack a Lucky, light a smile
    To go where Democrats inhale
    Out behind the old woodshed
    Tattoo the trees for all to see
    Immortalized like Chevrolet
    Sara Lee and Jimmy Dean
    Out behind the old woodshed
    Lie on your back and count the ways
    As many as the stars above
    These days you think will always stay
    Out behind the old woodshed
    Cotton candy in the rain
    Beneath the water learn to breathe
    All good things come to an end
    Out behind the old woodshed
    My confidant, my dearest friend
    The greener blades of grass were we
    These days you hoped would never end

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    Peace Frog (Morrison/Krieger)

    There's blood in the streets
    it's up to my ankles
    There's blood in the streets
    it's up to my knees
    There's blood in the streets
    in the town of Chicago
    Blood on the rise
    it's following me
    Just about the break of day
    She came and then she drove away
    Sunlight in her hair
    There's blood in the streets
    a river of sadness
    There's blood in the streets
    it's up to my thigh
    The river runs down the leg of the city
    Grown women crying and rivers a weeping
    She came and then she drove away
    Sunlight in her hair
    Blood in the streets
    the town of New Haven
    Blood stains the roofs
    and the palm trees of Venice
    Blood in my love in the terrible summer
    Bloody red sun of fantastic L.A.
    Blood spills the brain and chops off my finger
    Blood will be bringing the birth of a nation
    Blood is the rose of mysterious union
    There's blood in the streets
    it's up to my ankles
    There's blood in the streets
    it's up to my knees
    There's blood in the streets
    the town of Chicago
    Blood on the rise
    it's following me

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    A La Famiglia (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    With our eyes downcast, in the ring like a bull
    Polite, civilized, murder
    You do your best - I'll do what it takes to
    Survive - a la famiglia
    I used to dream that I was flying
    Suspended in air like an angel
    A la famiglia!

    I'm still not sure who you are
    Or what it is you wanted from me
    I was just a kid
    But I feel like one still
    With a broken toy
    I used to dream that I was flying
    Suspended in air like an angel
    A la famiglia!

    Free of time
    Free of space
    Free of guilt
    Free of pain
    Free of the ghosts that haunt me still
    A la famiglia
    A la Famiglia

    Will I be allowed to forgive myself
    Take my place - take control
    I am not accountable
    Forgive - a la famiglia
    A La Famiglia!

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    Knee Deep (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    I wasn't looking - that's how you found me
    Hiding in the backroom of the bar
    You snuck up like a black cat from the alley
    one that had been bit and scratched too hard
    Taken by surprise - I guess I showed it
    Wasted liquor dripping down your face
    I was not impressed like all those bitches
    Easy prey is rarely worth the lay

    How was I supposed to know
    That you'd never let me go
    Now I'm knee deep in your shit

    I might have known it from the way you kissed me
    Or from your nasty cold shit-eating grin
    If I had thought that I might love you
    We wouldn't be in this mess that we stepped in

    I'm sick of waking to your aging face, dear
    And I cringe every time you look at me that way
    You say you're not convinced that I don't love you
    But if I did, you'd be the one in bed with me

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    Open Window (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    Looking in your open window
    Your pillows piled to cushion your fall
    I shudder to think these curtains of ink
    Could ever stain these halls
    With justice for all

    Looking in your open window
    Your excess baggage by the door with a long steel chain
    That you rattle in vain
    Like your paper-thin promises
    That you sell door to door

    Looking in your open window
    (outside looking in)
    The ghost of truth is ready to fly
    (outside looking in)
    Flying out your open window
    (outside looking in)
    Turning back the hands of time

    Let's reconstruct the scattered lies
    Pieces from the scene of the crime
    Falling down the rabbit hole
    And flying out your open window

    Looking in your open window
    Searching through your diary
    To sort through the laws getting laundered and lost
    And to unfold your precious mysteries

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    Power Of Love (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    Take a look in your heart
    What is the source of energy
    Cross the barrier - communicate with
    Something bigger than you and me

    Is it the power of gold
    Too hard for me to hold
    Is it the power of blood
    The color leaves me cold
    Is it the power of truth
    To keep my faith in you
    Is it the power, the power of love

    Break it down to size
    A common thread for all the people
    The search for equality
    Freedom and the meaning of life

    Are you ready to give
    Open your heart - learn how to give
    Are you ready to live
    Open your mind - live and let go
    With the power of love
    Are you ready?

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    Thomas In a Circle
    (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    Reach - make the connection
    Hunt and collect the truth
    Free your vision
    Tear down the fences
    Down down your defenses

    See Thomas spinning round and round
    See Thomas in a circle
    Where all his views are upside down
    See Thomas in circle

    Reach - make your selection
    Choose to follow or lead
    Use your demons
    Push your dreams on through
    Yea, you know who
    Be who you are
    Go where you go
    Say what you need to say
    Sew the seeds
    Sew the seams
    Your soul will know
    Will show you the way
    Sculpt your vision
    Tear down the fences
    and free the dawn

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    Got A Feelin' (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    Everyone's a little restless, restless
    Wanna go forget all about this mess
    I got a feelin that tomorrow's gonna bring a brighter day
    We're looking for a way that we can make a difference
    One that won't leave us sitting on our fences
    I got a feeling that it's coming on along the way

    Everybody needs a little love
    Love and understanding
    Everybody needs a little love
    Love and understanding
    Got a feelin that a little love is on the way

    Everyone can come and join the celebration
    All you got to bring is your imagination
    I got a feelin we could make it go a long long way
    Help in carrying the weight and we'll be stronger
    If you can take it, we can last a little longer
    I got a feeling that's it's coming on along the way

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    Mexico A Go-Go
    (Michelle Malone ©1992, Cold Cocked Music/Sony Songs Inc./BMI)

    M-E-X-I-C-O, I'm going down to Mexico
    Dance all night and sing all day-o
    I'm going down to Mexico

    There's a place south of the border
    It's got the way to make you smile
    Anything you need - just order
    Heaven's just a few short miles
    Oh, I want to go
    Oh, mama, mama, I need it bad
    Oh, I gotta go before
    I blow away, blow away

    M-E-X-I-C-O, I'm going down to Mexico
    Dance all night and sing all day-o
    I'm going down to Mexico

    Signorita's and Signora's
    Will dress your troubles in disguise
    Drink sangria, shoot tequila
    Until the searing hot sunrise
    Oh, I want to go
    This fast living gets the best of me
    Oh, daddy, daddy, don't say no
    Please, I'll blow away, I'll blow away

    Oh, beneath the blue skies
    You and I, we will siesta
    Oh, let the sun fill your shoes
    And let your blues blow away
    Let them blow away

    M-E-X-I-C-O, I'm going down to Mexico
    M-E-X-I-C-O, Mexico-a-go-go

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