Counting Stars (2003)

Credits and Production Notes:
Tony Romanello - vocals, guitars, more...
Blaine Nelson - bass, rhodes, more...
Steven Drozd - drums
various other musicians

Produced and Engineered by Trent Bell at Bell Labs Studios, Norman, OK, Mar. - Dec. 2001. Mixed by Trent Bell, Tony Romanello, and Blaine Nelson at Bell Labs Studio, Norman, OK, Jan.- May 2002. Mastered by Don C. Tyler, at Precision Mastering, Los Angeles, CA - May. 2002. All songs written by Tony Romanello. © 2002 Tony Romanello [BMI]

Lyrics:
An Insomniac's Diary Here's a lesson in chance: The right place, right circumstance still offer nothing sometimes. And if you play by the rules you'll lose too. I bleed out all I can prove - I kind of like the pace - I'm not quite sure it will do - it's got me staring into space. Don't rest your eye. Don't sleep tonight. Even if you are tired of the fight don't rest tonight. You hear the hums from cocoons - Its such a confusing tune; dreams so excitedly new. With such a terrible tragedy where can you turn? Its such a confusing tune - In circles that I chase - I'm not quite sure what to do. Its got me running in the race. Don't rest your eyes. Don't sleep tonight. Even if you are tired of the fight don't rest tonight. Won't rest my eyes. Won't sleep tonight. Even if I am tired of the fight - Won't rest tonight.

The Amazing Disappearing Man The amazing disappearing man holds his choice in front of his hand. He tries to understand that words come out quite differently when no one can see just how you feel, and no need to make amends. And it all gets twisted around until he can be saved. Its more complicated than it seems one hand is all his righteous deeds - the other holds his greed and one man can't hold these consequences. You won't see just how he feels - no one can understand. And it all gets twisted around until he can be saved. It all gets twisted around - It all gets twisted around - It all crumbles down until he can be saved and be seen. It all gets twisted around…

Novocain All the greatest treasures become tragedies. All the brilliant plans become parodies of the melodic symphonies of the mind. So why are these words so hard to find? It seems that its just begun to rise above - held back by this masquerade. And the walls close in… Concave Like a needle filled with… Novocain and sometimes I feel like… I'm missing the vein. Shouldn't have to be the same. Shouldn't have to play this game. So why not try… Looking at the gold but not all of the rules and try to make some sense out of these tools - there have been less enchanting fools. It seems that its just begun to rise above - held back by this masquerade. And the walls close in… Concave - Like a needle filled with… Novocain - and sometimes I feel like…I'm missing the vein. Shouldn't have to be the same. Can anybody spare the time? Or can you severe the edges to find if this is over rated? A chance can be saved - it's a crime. And the walls close in… Concave - Like a needle filled with… Novocain - and sometimes I feel like…I'm missing the vein. It wouldn't have to be the same - would have to play this game.

De Leon Inside the coast, off from the sea - tales of fountains prophesied. And where did the fountains run? When the gold was gone I yearned to become… Forever Young O, if I found it what would I have done. Forever Young - O, my journey became my undone. I pushed my way to a new land - a paradise of flowers and sand. And I traded my soul for new world gold, and now the fountain that I need to become Forever Young - Through the gold or the fountain, which one? Forever Young - O, a legend shared with no one. Forever Young… A prize, or a curse, at what sum; to find holy fountains and be young? The conquests, spilled blood, was it worth the spear that I could not overcome? Forever Young - O, the price of a life for a drink. Forever Young - O, the curse of a fountain's mystique. Forever Young…

The Artist Her art has always been confused. Pockets empty, arms in blue. And as she smells the sweet perfumes she waits all too long… Her art has always been confused. She's painting greens in the afternoons and as the city lights pass her by in her room - still she waits… On these fables That canvas and dreams meet on tables Artists deceive To be able To paint this charade how they want Her art has always been confused. She sometimes screams in red and yellow hues regarding shades of bright maroons on a slate - and still she waits. So she rarely paints in blues. Her art is not all that's been confused. And as the city lights, they pass her by in her room she waits, But don't you wait to long… On these fables that canvas and dreams meet on tables that artists deceive to be able to paint this charade how they want to see them. And, O the sweet perfumes… You paint me pictures and scenes now that I - I've found my nerve. You paint me pictures and scenes, well now, here are my thousand words. And I've seen nothing of worth. I've only smelled the sweet perfumes… Of these fables - that canvas and dreams meet on tables - that artists deceive to be able to paint this charade how they want to see them. O the sweet perfumes… all that was left in the room.

Finally Found Just when I saw myself I knew I was just dreaming. So, tell me how else can I stay awake? Again and again I brace myself far away. These dreams will remain dreams until I fall from sleeping. There's no one else around, so who's to blame? Again and again I brace myself far away… I've finally found a place where I belong. But there's no secret lessons - just a sun to revolve around. I've finally found a place where I can be myself (I've finally found a place where I believe) and somehow it feels like heaven with my feet firmly on the ground - and just a sun to revolve around. Can I believe this place I've finally found if there's no secret weapons - just a sun to revolve around? Just a sun to revolve around…

Why Reminisce As I pass the time with my thoughts looking back over memories made and declined I try to decide which is right. There's more than one way to sift through these pages and dance through these stages sometimes these angel wings are too bright. Now you're free… To chance the divine and leap from these cages over canyons that split and divide; a call to the wild - running inside. And all my passions for the tender embrace and the angelic face of your smile. The world sometimes blinds and you're too bright. Now you're free… And I watched you fight. No ocean's too deep or no sky's too oversized to keep this light o, inside of you…. and I watched you smile - what a sign. The tears from inside when you cried… "Now I'm free…" So why pass the time with my thoughts?

Cry for Me Simplicity. Another face in the crowd But it bleeds - not the same. One more and I'll overcome - every time that you smile - O, won't you smile for me. And I'll breathe - all these changes take their places. But I'll bleed - all things will heal in good time. Your worries become tears and what's done is done. So every time you cry - O, don't you cry for me. And I'll breathe - all these changes take their places. But I'll bleed - all things will heal in good time. I'll be the one that holds onto you… Simplicity - I'll overcome. Every time that you cry - O, don't you cry - don't cry for me. (I'll be the one that holds on to you). Don't cry for me… I'll Be the one that holds onto - I'll Be the one that holds onto you…

Dances She dances inside my head with memories of stars through the leaves. And no, I won't go and chase the flow - but I must follow it. She dances inside my head and all I hoped it to be melts right in front of me - so I must follow it. And that's when she said that I need you. And that's when I said I don't believe you. Because once you said… I want to bring it all back again. She chances with every dream while hiding behind closed eyes, and what she can't see doesn't make her blind if there's no color there. So I chanced it again for one's sake and all I hoped it to be - well lets just say I know too much, and color it with frailty. And that's when she said that I need you. And that's when I said I don't believe you. Because once you said… I want to bring it all back again. And that's when she said that I need you. And that's when I said I don't believe you. Because once you said… I want to bring it all back at you… Come to me…

Algiers I've been trying to breathe in a world in between - are these iron bars, or gold? This innocence isn't killing me. It doesn't matter how I bleed… Where'd we fall on the way? Who gave this price that we pay? Just tell me where, I just don't know… This innocence isn't killing me. It doesn't matter how I bleed… doesn't matter how I bleed… A failure to understand, and in no small way, fade to the offended - it's a game. This innocence isn't killing me… If I could just see the earth in your eyes Without a single pain materialized One more step, I hope it won't be denied Swallow it down. Consider the path that I've traveled down. Do these ends justify the means? Consider this price and I've left you down these only roads… If I could just see the earth in your eyes - Without a single pain materialized - One more step, I hope it won't be denied - so swallow it down.

My Opinions on the Tragedy You came from another distant planet and you cannot act the same so your cape became your escape. And you're so super, but you're still not a man. Well you fly, you're strong, fast, but a little paranoid. Like a toy - you're overused and still abused - it's the same to us. Its contagious. And you're so super, but you're still not a man. They say Superman would give it all up to have the chance to become one of us… I know your weakness, and its not kryptonite - No matter how you save us you're still not the same as us. And you're so super, but you're still not a man. They say Superman would give it all up to have the chance to become one of us. I think Superman has lost his mind. I think Superman has left it all behind to become one of us…

Tell Me, Please Pardon me, now sir, if you please, but there's just this question and its pestering me: Does everybody have their hopes and dreams? Are we all the same? Do we try in vain? Do we succeed? All these things that I want to be, I would give them up to just become me. I'm off and running - running deep inside. But I don't know who, I don't know who decides the game… Tell me, please, are you just like me? Do you imitate, fall somewhere in between? Do you want to follow what you try to believe or do you fall a step away again…? All these things that I want to be I would give them up to just become me. Off and running - running deep inside but I don't know who decides the game… Tell me, please, are you just like me? Do you imitate what you're trying to be? I'm almost ready - Why, couldn't you see? I'm in too deep I'm in too deep, I'm afraid.

Orbits The sun, it seemed so bright. The path, it held me tight. The bodies pulled me in to the beginning again. Tonight… The space it seemed to excite - the stars at night, they gleam and invite. This place, it seemed just right - well the rings in flight, they warm and enlighten. The choirs open their sighs - the Angles sing. Orbits quicken with their might amidst the smiling sky… The sun, it seemed so bright - the stars at night they gleam and invite. The choirs open their sighs - the Angles sing. Orbits quicken with their might amidst the smiling skies… Tonight…