Any Given Saturday (A Rock Opera)
1. Senior Year
Watching time as it ebbs and flows
Bringing changes no one can ever know
I've been on the earth for seventeen years
Got damn near all I could want right here
Everything except for one thing
The joy brought by another human being
But I'm okay with being lonely
I've gone this long with me only
I'll find someone in college maybe
The law of averages will apply eventually
It's no big deal to have no one near
I just wish I had somebody in my senior year
Those high school days so bright and gleaming
Acting and learning and writing and dreaming
Wrote my first story just the other day
And the university is just along the way
Soon all these days and names will be the past
So I guess I'll enjoy it while it lasts
But who's that by the door?
Don't think I've seen her before
Hope she doesn't mind if I'm staring
But I can't get over what she's wearing
It's almost enough to get over the fear
And ask her to see me in my senior year
I was okay with being lonely
But now I'm wanting you only
Your strange clothes and bright green hair
Remind me of someone who isn't there
I take a hard look at myself in the mirror
Grit my teeth and take the plunge in senior year
2. Kissing in the Bathroom
You've got me up against the wall
And I'm waiting to go for it all
Hear the band playing through the wall
I'm up against the bathroom stall
You've got me wrapped up in your arms
Your scent is setting off all my alarms
I've fallen for your spells and charms
And there's no way this could lead to harm
We're moving down the line
Bring your mouth close to mine
I'll hold tight to your hips
You can kill me with your lips
Forget the tile and the john
Everything I was is gone
For the moment all I am is you
Holding on and kissing in the bathroom
It's a sort of nervous bliss
Going through with the kiss
Going down towards the abyss
Wonder if I should be doing this
Falling down into the void
I'm not trying to be paranoid
But I wonder if you'll get annoyed
Or if I'll end up being your boy
We're moving down the line
Your teeth bumping into mine
Holding tightly to your hips
Feel the movement of your fingertips
Forget the tile and the john
Everything I was is gone
Now there's only me and you
Holding on and kissing in the bathroom
3. Any Given Saturday
Any given Saturday in the suburbs
I could be walking down the street with you
Any given Saturday in the suburbs
I could be walkign down the street with you
You look so different in the headlights
And feel so different in the grass
Your smile is different in the streetlights
Your hand in mine while the cars pass
You steal my ring like you always do
You make suggestions like you always do
You kiss me quietly like you always do
And you can make me do whatever you want me to
Any given Saturday in the suburbs
I could be walking home with you
Any given Saturday in the suburbs
I could be walking home with you
I feel so different sneaking in
And you're so different in your room
We're so different when we're within
I almost forget you're such an early bloom
You bring me closer like you always do
You touch my chest like you always do
You kiss me quietly like you always do
And you can make me do whatever you want me to
Any given Saturday in the suburbs
Any given Saturday in the suburbs
Any given Saturday in the suburbs
I could be king for a day
4. Who's Your Boyfriend?
We only see what we wanna see
I spent some time in make-believe
I tried to pretend I was something to you
But I guess that wasn't true
So tell me before I go
'Cause I really wanna know
Did this really mean a thing
Or did you get the same hollow ring?
Who's your boyfriend?
Who's your boyfriend?
Who's your boyfriend?
'Cause I know it ain't me
Saw you every Saturday
Guess I was just another lay
I kinda want to meet this real man of yours
But I'm too busy walking out the door
I kind of hoped you were the one
But after all is said and done
One all I wanted was to be your friend
I don't ever wanna see you again
So tell me before I go
'Cause I really wanna know
Did this really mean a thing
Or did you get the same hollow ring?
Who's your boyfriend?
Who's your boyfriend?
Who's your boyfriend?
'Cause I know it ain't me
Who's your boyfriend?
Who's your boyfriend?
Who's your boyfriend?
'Cause I know it ain't me
Once all I wanted was to be your friend
But I never wanna see you again
Who's your boyfriend?
Who's your boyfriend?
Who's your boyfriend?
'Cause I know it ain't me
5. Not Talking/Not My Fault
I try to avoid you in the halls
Try to ignore your cell phone calls
We haven't spoken since the Valentine's Dance
And I'd be happy to say our time is done at last
Try to ignore all the things I've heard
Don't try to explain, no, don't say a word
We're not talking but that's not my fault
You're crying but that's not my fault
We're not talking but that's not my fault
Inside I'm dying but that's not my fault
You approach me and I walk on by
When you speak I respond with a sigh
I cut you off when you've got something to say
I try not to worry about what I did yesterday
I don't think about all of my mistakes
Then you say something and I hit the brakes
We're not talking but that's not my fault
You are crying but that's not my fault
We're not talking but that's not my fault
God damn it you're lying, it's not my fault
Don't try and lie
Don't say it's mine
You're wrong, you're wrong and it's not my fault
You're wrong, you're wrong and it's not my fault
You're wrong, you're wrong and it's not my fault
You're wrong, you're wrong and it's not my fault
Maybe if I could take it back
Maybe things wouldn't seem so black
Maybe I could get us back on track
Maybe I should- Maybe I should-
No! No! No! You're wrong!
You're wrong! You're wrong! It's not my fault!
You're wrong! You're wrong! It's not my fault!
You're wrong! You're wrong! It's not my fault!
You're wrong!
You're wrong!
It's not my fault!
6. The Waltz
[Largely instrumental.]
One week we talk
The next week we fight
The next we we're silent
The next it's alright
It's a waltz we're dancing, me and you
Three beats between us, playing through
Three weeks to a measure,
Three beats to a month,
It's a waltz, and it never stops.
7. Dear Joan
Our friendship always was tough
After last night I've had enough
We keep saying the same things over and over
And the fact is that neither one of is over
The other one getting over them
We've tried our best for how many weeks
When neither one of us could speak
I wish that I could tell you more sweet lies
But there's just not enough to justify
The pain we bring each other
So now I'm leaving you alone
Maybe we'll be better when we've grown
I can't bear to call you on the phone
So here's a letter signed "Dear Joan"
You can tell if you just close your heart
That all we do is tear ourselves apart
When half the time we fight
And you scared me to death last night
When you said you would find me
I know you'll say this isn't what you want
Believe me, this isn't another taunt
I'll do my best to leave you behind
And maybe in time you'll find
It was for the best after all
So now I'm leaving you alone
Maybe we'll be better when we've grown
Wrap a letter around a stone
And open it up, "Dear Joan"
Now I'm leaving you alone
Maybe we'll be better when we've grown
But time has only shown
That you're better on your own
Although it chills me to the bone
Given all the things I've known
It might hurt to be alone
But you'll get over it, dear Joan
It might hurt to be alone
But you're better on your own
Wrap a letter 'round a stone
And sign the top "Dear Joan"
8. November
Seven months or so I guess
Since I put in you in my past
Secrets are pretty hard to hide
So maybe I should have known
It wasn't going to last
So you say you found my number again
And you want me to be your friend
And I gotta admit, I've heard less appealing things
You say we oughta meet when I'm in town
I guess that makes sense if you're around
Cold November snowy nights
And you've got me dead to rights
I'd be lying if I said I don't enjoy it
Talking to me on the IM
Nostalgia creeps under my skin
Going to bed 'cause it's getting late
I promise that I'll keep the date
I'll meet you on the other side of town
And when I meet you again at last
I'll try my best to forget the past
And in the dark before I wake
I feel my head involuntarily shake
Because I know that I don't know what I am doing
Cold November snowy nights
And you've got me dead to rights
I'll do what you want, just like the older days
I'll do what you want, just like the older days
I'll do what you want, just like the older days
I'll do what you want, just like the older days
9. Any Given Saturday (Reprise)
Any given Saturday in St. Louis
I could be driving in Forest Park
Any given Saturday in St. Louis
I could be driving in Forest Park
And I feel like it's different this time
Maybe you're a little different tonight
Maybe we're both different in the moonlight
As we park and pet and kiss again
And you hold my hand like you always did
And you take my glasses like you always did
And you touch my face like you always did
And I touch your chin like I always did
Any given Saturday in St. Louis
I could be falling down with you
Any given Saturday in St. Louis
I could be falling down with you
The park is different in the winter
The thrill is different when we're together
Inside I feel something different splinter
And you're so warm in the dark
And you hold my hand like you always did
And you take my breath like you always did
And you touch my chest like you always did
And I touch you back like I always did
Any given Saturday in St. Louis
I could be driving you home
Any given Saturday in St. Louis
I could be driving you home
It's so different to do this again
It's so different and it's a kind of zen
It's so different to be together again
As we're sneaking into your basement
And you hold my hand like you always do
And you take off your shirt like you always do
And you take my breath like you always do
And I'd do almost anything you want me to do...
10. (I Can't) Save Anyone But Me
I was lucky as I was growing up
A good family and that was enough
I grew a geek and I grew up smart
I grew up with sense and I grew up with heart
For you I guess that's not the case
An absent father and a basketcase
You never got the same kind of breaks
So maybe I can't blame you for your mistakes
But I can't save anyone but me
I wish I could do something more
Than be the devil at your door
No, I can't save anyone but me
I was lucky to grow up with a plan
That's what comes with a mom and dad
Who knew about life and knew about art
And treat me like more than a part
But you were lucky to have a roof
A grandmother who was barely there
So I guess you really had to raise yourself
And it must have been hard with nobody's help
But I can't save anyone but me
I wish I could do something more
Than be the devil at your door
But I can't save anyone but me
It's not a matter of what I want
Or hating the places that you haunt
It's a simple matter of who we are
Because our lives are pretty far
From being anything at all alike
And that's not even the first strike
I know you say you want me to stay
And as much I want to say okay...
I guess I can't just make that jump
I need something more than just us
I can't live with something this unstable
And with you I know I'll never be able
I know you're living in your car
And you don't care if I'm never here
You keep asking me like I'm going to cave
But I'm not the one who needs to be saved
And I can't save anyone but me
I'm wish I could do something more
Than be the devil knocking at your door
But I can't save anyone but me
I can't save anyone but me
I can't save anyone but me
I can't save anyone but me
I can't save anyone but me
11. Dear Joan (Reprise)
Once I would have followed wherever you roamed
But times changed and now I've got a home
All I ever wanted was to be your friend
But let's face facts, it'll never happen again
No matter how much you keep trying
I thought you grew up while I was away
But things aren't so different from yesterday
I'm still just the punk in over his head
And you're still that girl sitting on her bed
With mascara stains from crying
I don't want to leave you here alone
But you're better on your own
I found the letter we both know
It was signed at the top "Dear Joan"
It doesn't matter if I love you or not
It only matters that we got caught
We're two little people in a bigger world
If I'm the right boy you're still the wrong girl
Even if you tell me you love me
In the past I know that I've been pulled apart
And nothing hurts more than breaking your heart
I didn't shed a tear when my grandmother died
But I shed a hundred when you said I lied
About wanting to still be near you
Should I leave you here alone?
Will you make it on your own?
Am I just a rolling stone?
Am I just scared to call you, dear Joan?
I don't reply to the things you send
I can't stand having a truth to bend
Everything about you is beyond my ken
Maybe we're both wrong in the end
I'm still leaving you alone
We won't be better when we're grown
You're still better if you're alone
And I can feel it in my bones
That we're meant to be alone
I can almost throw the stone
It might hurt to be alone
But you'll get over it, dear Joan...
The end.
Song titles, etc. are still tentative.