nameless

Kupek's Nameless, Faceless Compilation
The title is a play on "nameless, faceless corporation".

This album is a compilation of songs written from 2000-2003. Tracks 1 and 8-9 are the earliest songs and were re-recorded in early 2004. Tracks 10-12 are from the "Maybe You're Like Me EP", summer 2002. Tracks 2-7 are from the "Vanilla Dome EP", April 2003. Tracks 13-17 are from "The Horrible EP", December 2003.

Lyrics
01. 21 (1:41)
02. On the other side of the world (3:04)
03. Totally untitled (3:45)
04. Desolay (4:50)
05. You practically rock (3:48)
06. Useless tears in teacups (5:07)
07. Solitary song (3:27)
08. Miranda test kitchen (3:06)
09. Poster child for happiness (3:19)
10. Josephine with the tangled thoughts (3:36)
11. Please stop x3 (4:27)
12. So you suck at life (7:15)
13. Come off it (3:45)
14. Shame song (3:54)
15. Worry song (3:47)
16. She keeps secrets (2:26)
17. I-90 / How many miles to you? (3:40)

1. 21
(date of writing unknown - sometime in mid-2000)

recorded solo

its getting cold she said
well there's a blanket on my bed i said
and i can warm it up for you
you know there's room enough for 2
and there's a rumour on the street
that you still think i'm kind of sweet
why don't you lean back in your chair
relax, let down your hair

it's getting cold she said
well there's a blanket on my bed you see
and you can warm it up with me
and you can light that up feel free
and there's a rumour that i've heard
but i won't say another word
i've got some wine that we can sip
and then you know i'd like to
taste the cigarette on your lips

tonight i don't want to have to fight
there's something in your eyes
some still-smoldering fire

tonight the ashes in your eyes
they match the smoke on your tongue
the night's still young

2. on the other side of the world
written 7 october / 10 december 2002

electric guitar: Joel MacMillan
bass: Andrew Patten
drums: Eddy O'Malley
backup vocals: Luke Wilson
(everything else on all the songs was played by me, unless otherwise noted)
on the other side of the world
there is an inversion of you
there is an upside-down girl
how did i get myself into this mess
is the question she's asking herself i guess
and her answer is there are no answers
please don't romance her

well i hate to tell you this but we are in
you're not supposed to be upside-down
so that's supposed to be a smile, not a frown
how did i get myself into this mess
is the question you've got to ask yourself i guess
and your answer is to look right at me
and to head straight for me

i can't believe my eyes
you must be looking for some other guy
some other guy wouldn't understand
you're a complex girl, i'm a complex man
and we can't be bothered with you people anymore

don't call it a comeback but i guess i'm back
it took a while for me to wake up
now it's time for me to put up or shut up
to stand up or give up
you may not be the only one for me
but please say you'll be the next
and it may be stupid
it may lead to tragedy
it may lead to heartbreak
double heartbreak but i think it's worth it

on the other side of the world
there's a million beautifully tragic, fucked-up girls
how did i get myself into this mess
is the question you've gotta ask yourself i guess
and my answer is there are no answers
but i think it's worth it

my sensors have gone awry
you should be looking for some other guy
some other guy wouldn't understand
you're a complex girl, i'm a complex man
and we can't be bothered
with you people anymore, anymore, anymore

3. totally untitled
written 11 november 2002

electric guitar: Joel
bass: Andrew
drums: Eddy
backup vocals: Luke
all the kids can't take the heat
they've stopped their dancing in the streets
they've stopped putting buttons on their bags
they've stopped drinking booze and smoking fags
because they've realized that they'll never be cool
or else it's just me and i'm a fool
but if there's one thing that i know
it's that we're right to take it slow

from vancouver to hali-hali-fax
the kids are having panic attacks
they're writing all about their days
to make the uncertainty go away
they've stopped jumping around in bremer-town
and crying all day in visali-yay
and i will kiss you in to-rah-ronto, or if i have to
in providence, or chica-go-go-go-go

all the kids can't stand the cold
they've started to admit they're growing old
they've started taking notes and making lists
they've started to regret the things they've missed
because they're thinking life goes by so fast
or else it's just me and i'm an ass
but if you leave me i don't know what i'll do
because i'm getting used to life with you

and if there's one thing that i know
it's that i have got to take it slow

4. desolay
written summer 2001 (sometime)

electric guitar: Joel
drums: Eddy
she never did think much of herself
she was more concerned with everybody else
always worried about how they felt
never one to curse them out
the kids would make her cry almost every day
her mom and dad said it would turn out okay
but those tears kept streaming down her face
could this be her fate?
her face was dirty and her eyes were red
she screamed into her pillow
that she would rather just be dead
but then what did she know?
she can't stop the birds from singing
she can't stop her brain from thinking
that she wants to die; she doesn't want to die
she just wants something to believe in
some fresh air that she could breathe in
but what does she know?

he was the kind of kid you don't even see
he walks around invisibly
he says important things and no-one cares
it's like he isn't there
with all his frustration and his rage
he screams into the night
that they'll all be so sorry someday
but who knows if he's right?
well he can't stop the waves from crashing
and he can't make those kids come ask him
what he has to say; he just wants to say
that he needs something to believe in
some fresh air that he could breathe in
but what does he know?

i am not the kind of guy you go to
when you want answers to the questions that plague you
i have not done anything useful
since the day she left
i can count on the fingers of one hand
all the things that i know
life is quite hard to understand
so let's take it slow
cos i can't stop the world from turning
and i can't stop my ears from burning
i want to cry but i can't cry
i want to die no i don't want to die
i just want something to believe in
some fresh air that i could breathe in
i just want you

5. you practically rock
written july 13 / august 28 2002

drums: Eddy
You rule my little world
pale princess in a pristine palace
you are my favourite girl
I really mean it too
I want to be with you

You are cooler than you have any right to be
you are a treasure and I've got to make you see
if it kills me. the glock is cocked
you practically rock, you practically rock
don't act so shocked
ha, ha, get your damn hands up

You made the mess I'm in
lovely lady in the lap of luxury
you know I'll never win
if I keep digging I'll get to China before you

Why don't you just throw your hands
in the air and wave them around
like you just don't care
you just don't care

6. useless tears in teacups
written 14 nov 2002

electric guitar: Joel
drums: Eddy
my brain's on fire but it's not so bad
you're the best human i've ever had
i could spend nine lives pining for the things i've missed
but i'd rather get lost in your lips, in your kiss

i look like a mess but i feel like a million
i'm gonna see you soon; you make it all worth it
do you make it all worth it?
why is it that when we're apart, everything goes dark?
why is it that when we're apart, i can't feel my heart?

some guys have all the luck
they're above all this cliched stuff
some of us spend all our time just
thinking too much and shedding tears into our teacups

my heart's still coming down from its last big trip
i'm taking my time to adjust, i'm trying not to slip
i could spend all our time together dreading our time apart
but i'm trying, i'm trying not to, and that is
i hope that is a start

some guys have all the luck
they're in control of all this stuff
some of us spend all our time just
thinking too much and shedding tears into our teacups

my head's too big and my hands are too small
how much time will i spend waiting for the other shoe to fall?
i could spend the rest of my life
comparing you, and everyone, to her
and maybe i will
maybe i will

7. solitary song
written july 13-16 2002

recorded solo
i don't know what to say anymore
i don't know what to say but i've got to say something
it's difficult as you can see
but i love you a lot more than i love me
i want, i want to go home, and home's where the heart is
and my heart's where you are, but your heart's all tangled up
in things that you can't explain and hardly understand anyway

i don't know what to say, like i ever did
i don't know what to say, so maybe i won't say anything
and hunched over this notebook like some mad frankenstein
i will create something for you in my place
so this song is your friend
even when you can't talk to me or anyone or even yourself
just put on this song, it's like being kept warm
it's like being held tight, it's like talking at length
it's like fitting right in, it's like high self-esteem
or it's not even close

i don't know what to say, but of course i can sing it
isn't that just like me
good thing i don't make any sense, i don't make any sense
i want, i want to be of use
and what use is moping?
it seems pretty useless
but my head's all tangled up in things that are meaningless
but i'm trying, i'm trying to get out
so i wrote you this song, and the song is your friend
even when you can't trust me or anyone or even yourself
just put on this song, it's just a couple little chords
a beginner could play it, and maybe it can help you begin

but i don't even know what that's supposed to mean
maybe you can make something up

8. miranda test kitchen
written december 6 2000

recorded solo
don't even start, you cant break my heart
i told you, it was gone before you came along
i'm tough, and i don't get sad
there's no need to feel bad

you had a prior engagement
but i'm so glad you came
i could not help you ma'am
you said there's no-one to blame
there's so much you wish i would say
but just watch as i don't
i'll just say i love you, miranda
let your eyes tell me what your lips won't

9. poster child for happiness
written 9 august 2000

recorded solo
i never claimed to be a savior
i never claimed a whole hell of a lot
look around your cluttered bedroom
at all the things i haven't got
i might have claimed that i could save her
but it looks like i was wrong
i look around her cluttered bedroom
and wonder where she's gone

sad can't last forever
cos nothing ever does

to me you're more than just another face in the crowd
and i don't want to whisper but i can't say this all out loud
you know the sun is always shining above his bed of clouds
and it's the prettiest up here when it's raining downtown

of course i wish that i could save her
and so do all of you
and we try our best every day
but what the hell can we do
we're all pretending we can save her
and make her live her own life
but the day i even close my eyes
is the day that she'll pick up that knife

sad can't last forever cos nothing ever does
and we can't be together
if there's no such thing as love

10. josephine with the tangled thoughts
written june 9 2002

backing vocals and "ooohs": Jacob P. Ferguson
drums: Eddy
your thoughts are dense like a wood
i'd like to get in there and lose myself good
and so i give you this song, my new insidious plot
to launch myself at you like a little astronaut

na na na, etc.
please please please, josephine josephine josephine
can't you see josephine
this is me

it's not much but it's got hooks
it belies the effort it took
it's a seed i plant in your head
to remind you to think of me, and things that i said

na na na, etc.
please please please, josephine josephine josephine
please believe josephine
believe in me

your thoughts are thick like a stew
you would be dangerous if you weren't you
and so i'm here, and you are too
but for the life of me i don't know what to do
cos my thoughts are black, as black as my heart
i knew you would get to me
i knew from the start, the start, the start
i hope i got to you too

11. please stop x3
written january 20 2001 / june 17 2001 / july 5th 2001 / nov 13 2001 / feb 10 2002

drums: Eddy
my heart hurts less today than when i first heard you sing
it's worse to think that all this time does not mean anything
i know that you don't want anything that i could give
i hope some girl needs someone
cos i need someone and i've got some things to share

my heart hurts more today than it did the day we met
the thing you never do is the thing you will regret
i know that you don't need any help at all from me
i hope someone somewhere needs someone
cos i'm someone and i'll go anywhere

i need you less today than i ever have before
and one day very soon i won't need you anymore
i hope you never know about the drama in my head
and maybe someday i can be someone
cos i need someone, i need someone, i need someone
i need someone, i need someone, i
need
some
one two three four

chorus:
the girl can't see what she does to me
she breaks the same heart that she once set free
she can't hear me screaming baby stop it please
oh stop it please
i know we're changing, i know we're changing
i feel you shaking, i feel you shaking
i won't go, i won't go
until you know, until you know

12. so you suck at life
written may 16 2002 (chorus written may 12 2002)

drums: Eddy
i'm writing a song - it's not very good
the words and the chords are simple
and bound to be misunderstood
everything seems so big and hard and small
and stupid and pointless and insecure
like the world is a hospital and my life
is a sickness and there's only one cure
and that is to leave, to go
someplace else, someplace new
where the breeze and the sky
are more important than your wallet
and your dishes and your roommates
and your laundry and your comic book career
and your heart, and your heart

i get older but i don't get better
i get bigger but i don't get stronger
my head gets harder but i don't get smarter
i get a lot of things
but not a lot of choice, oh yeah

went for a walk - 4 AM
everything looked perfect, nothing made sense
the world is my oyster - my mind is the shell
my heart is a prisoner - my mind is the cell
when you get so fucking lonely, it's hard to stay inspired
but hey forget it, i guess i'm just tired
i guess i'm just tired, i guess i'm just tired (etc)

(chorus)

i'm writing a song - it's not very good
i'm not what you'd call a poet, or a "songsmith"
i never learned. maybe i should
or maybe i should leave, just go
someplace else, someplace new
where the air is not so still
and the rain is not so lovely
and the world is not so green
and my life is not so beautiful
where would i go, where would i go?
when i've got it all, i've got it all
i've got it all, i've got it all (etc)
everything but you

13. come off it
written august 30 - september 2, 2003

recorded solo
she's in a rut, she's in a rut, she's in a rut, she's in a rut
she's sick with guilt, she's sick with grief
she's sick with drink, she's sick with sick
her allergies have won this fight
but she'll be back... or will she?
she's in a rut, she used to think she'd never sink so low

but i know exactly what she needs and it's an aspirin and a claritin
and a lonely bed for weeks & weeks & weeks
so c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
come on, come on, stop pretending like you're god
c'mon, c'mon & take your shoes off, take a load off, try not to die
'cos you're the only thing i've got

she doesn't trust anyone, she doesn't know anything
she doesn't care anymore, she's done living
the fucking world has won this fight
she won't be back... or will she?
she doesn't trust anyone & the only one she knows is me

but i know exactly what she needs and it's a piece of pie & a quiet life
& a purring cat to pet & hold & feed
so c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
come on, come on, stop pretending you don't care
c'mon, c'mon & take your shoes off, take your clothes off, settle down
i'll be good for you, i swear

remember when you said you hate me?
remember when you said it again and again and again?
remember when you said you need me?
remember when I said don't leave me
again, again, again, again, again?

she's in a rut! (x8)
she's in a rut, she's on the phone, she's on the floor, she's all messed up
everything is fucked, the doors have shut, she's in a rut, she's in such a rut
and i have no idea what she needs

so c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
come on, come on, no one's listening
c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
come on, come on, stop pretending you're so great
c'mon, c'mon.

14. shame song
written 5 october 2003

recorded solo
she's got it, whatever "it" is,
and i kind of want to tell her how i wanted to kiss,
but the moment's been passed for a number of years,
and that's a shame, it's a shame.
she had me on the end of a chain;
she moved me like a spark in my brain,
and the guy i am now can't really see why, or how,
and that's a shame, it's a shame.
she meant it, that was pretty clear,
and she apologized, but not for two years.
these things affect me more than i care to admit,
cos i'm ashamed, i'm ashamed, i'm ashamed.

do they know the rules better than me?
am i just a fool? it's so hard to see
beyond what's right in front of you.

na na na na nanana

she wanted... what? i don't know.
that situation had no room to grow.
she is something that i kind of regret,
and that's a shame, it's a shame.
she changed me. we talked every night.
she was near me, and everything was alright.
i can't remember the way i was then,
and that's a shame, it's a shame.
you want me, and i really believe
that you're exactly the thing that i need.
but i remember things i wanted before,
and i'm ashamed, i'm ashamed, i'm so ashamed.

is anything i've done worth a damn?
does it all add up to who i am,
or can i change? can i escape it?
if you met me, do you think you'd like me?
i think i'd punch me.

na na na na nanana

15. worry song
written 30 november 2003

recorded solo
i've got a bad heart, but i'm not a bad guy
and i will stick by you til the day that i die
and if that's soon then please forgive me
i know not what i do - i only have eyes for you

and if i fall to my knees
begging you, begging you, begging you, darlin' please
take my hand, stay with me
show me how good life can be
i'm not the best, but i'm not the worst
and i'm gonna make you mine
unless you make me yours first

take me down from the highest shelf
change my life, bring me warmth, bring me health
you're so young, but then so am i
we got a lot of years left to find ways to die

i worry about you all the time
i worry about all the ways you could die
i need you here, i need you alive
sweetheart i worry about you all the time

and i can't stop loving you
so baby there's only one thing left to do

ba ba ba ba

16. she keeps secrets
written 4 december 2003

recorded solo
she don't mean a thing to me no more
you and me are gonna get married for sure

this world has done its bit and every bit of me is sore
give me 8 or 10 hours a day, i can't take any more
and i can't be sure you're not some sorta secret agent
tracking my movements
taking lots of pictures
sketching in your sketchbook
you're gonna sell me out
"why's she so secretive?"
she's working for the government
she was gonna help them take me down
in flames
but then she fell in love
and everything changed

ok, i made it up
i don't believe that stuff
you are the very best thing that has happened to me
and the problems we have are no problem, baby, you'll see
but you can't be sure you're not destined for something greater
you're gonna cure cancer
you're gonna make millions
you're gonna rock on
you'll never let us down
you're gonna be famous
oh my goodness gracious
you're gonna shake this world on down
to the core
it's what you're here for
and every day i need you more

i don't worry 'bout anything anymore
you and me are gonna get married for sure

17. I-90 / how many miles to you?
written 11 january 2003

recorded solo
fuck you ohio
you're long and i'm tired
and the songs i've been writing
are less than inspired
and the road goes on and on
at least the snow is gone

good morning chicago
the sun's still in bed
and the coffee is just
adding weight to my head
and it's way too cold to think
but i just can't help but think
you number among
the priveleged few
that make sense to me
do i make sense to you?

hello new york
your sky's mighty grey
but i'm happy to see
that i get one more day
and the miles they flew and flew
how many more to you?

wake up toronto
you can't go to sleep
while i sit here alone
in this room and i weep
i want you to come back
please, please come back
cos you number among
the too-precious few
that believe in me
i believe in you

18. Hidden track

radiomaru.com/kupek