Blonde Wig and Cheap Box Wine

 © 2023 Mark Cote

Not much to do in this gravel town
shadows dance when no one's around
we've seen it all at the drive in show
I have an idea c'mon let's go

(chorus) With a blonde wig and cheap box wine
                 just two things to have a good time
                 let's get crazy baby I don't mind
                 with a blonde wig and cheap box wine

playing out our own Hollywood
dollar store queen you're lookin' good
while our silver lights they shine
let's pour another cup of cheap box wine

(chorus)
(instrumental)
(chorus)

Assembly Line Blues

© 2023 Mark Cote

Walked a mile going to and fro
in circles is all I go
standing here 12 hours a day
production numbers all they say

staring at all their phones
addicted to the same old tones
talking but nothing to say
do you wanna keep on going this way

some days it's too much
seems so out of touch
it's just those cold old assembly line blues

(chorus) eye to the pay
                 nose to the grind
                 it's just those cold old assembly line blues
                 those cold old assembly line blues

(bridge) well there's no bars on the wall
               commotion in the halls
               keep on coming back
               wonder where it's at
               'till I get paid
               it's just those cold old assembly line blues

boss man always barking at me
his mind so clouded he can't see
all he does is look at stare
in this robot world you just don't care

some days it's too much
seems so out of touch
it's just those cold old assembly line blues

(chorus)

Funny Man

 © 2023 Mark Cote

In a house outside of town
lived a man who came around
didn't ask much but he gave more
that's one thing I know for sure

with a twinkle in his eye
his infectious laugh and gentle tone
always seemed to make the children smile
colorful tales of far and wild

(chorus) laugh laugh funny man laugh
                if he captured the moon he'd give you half
                so laugh laugh funny man laugh

then one day he went away
no one knows where to this very day
but some nights you'll hear a laugh
from the old walking path

(chorus)

Tennessee Mountain Dream

 © 2023 Mark Cote

I remember long ago
I would wander down in the woods
never knowing what I'll find
adventures living in my mind

by the still I kissed Jenny Mae
I remember it to this day
the old car down by the creek
where we'd play hide and seek

(chorus) In my Tennessee, Tennessee
                mountain dream
                skies are blue and the streams are clean
                more beauty than you've ever seen
                in my Tennessee, Tennessee
                mountain dream

(instrumental)

in that mine where we found some gold
it's a secret place or so I'm told
so many times over the years
I reminisce with happy tears

(chorus)

I Could Grow Old With You

 © 2023 Mark Cote

lonely boy in a smaller town

pretty girl won't you stay around

I don't know which way we will go

it might be summer it might be snow

routine world that I'm driving in

it was black and white and shades of grey

you painted colors I had never seen

ones I only knew in my dreams

(chorus) I could grow old with you

                  even when summertime makes me blue

                 'til St. Peter says "come on through"

                 baby, I could grow old with you

(instrumental)

I learn from you you learn from me

ain't that the way love's supposed to be

this journey could be a mystery

come on baby and dance with me

(chorus)

Bed Hog

© 2023 Mark Cote

Well me and my girl went to sleep last night

rolled and kissed and said goodnight

must have been about midnight

(chorus) bed hog

Oh no

do do do do do

Bed hog

do do do do do

Well I got up late to get a drink

got up late and got a drink

came back to bed and what do you think

(chorus) bed hog

Oh no

do do do do do

Bed hog

do do do do do

I climbed back in and tried to move

climbed back in and tried to move

a gentle nudge and I found my groove

(chorus)

When they get up I'll shift on in

When they get up I'll shift on in

slide on over to the middle and grin

(chorus)

Looks like the couch is my new best friend

sometimes you don't want to offend

because in true love, you learn to bend

(chorus)

Somebody Else's Tears

© 2021 Mark Cote

Yesterday is gone

but my heart won't let go

memories may fade

but the pain remains

couldn't find a way

to let it out

in the sunny days

the darkness shouts

(chorus) in the rain

                  in the sun

                  I can't help it

                  something is wrong

                  If I could erase

                  all those years

                 If I only had

                  somebody else's tears 

Don't speak her name

she has moved on

I will do the same

down this bumpy road

I'll find that spark

that drowns the night

what once was wrong

now feels so right

(chorus)

(instrumental)

scars make us who we are

we learn and grow

a shooting star

I May Never Know Just Why

Nothing to say
when you went away
You made your mind up
anyway
Forgotten dream
and happy times
You left it all behind

And now the darkness
is my sun
Through the paces
get it done
When shallow people
look my way
I've no words to say

(chorus) Trying to think
                  Of just why
                  You went away
                   I couldn't cry
                  Rippled confusion
                  I can't hide
                  I may never know
                  Just why

Melancholy
such a friend
Hiding bruises
never mend
Tomorrows hopes
are farther still
Looking through the rain

I wanted love
She had to go
Butterflies
Don't live in snow
so many things
I'll never know
I'll never know at all

(chorus)

time away
your growing strong
forever isn't
very long
years are lost
and love is gone
you gave up on me

battered hearts
and empty shells
holding love
not to sell
I thought I knew
knew you well
I was blind to see

(chorus)

Where Is It That You Are Now Calling Your Home

© 2019 Mark Cote

well I stared
at the moon
when do you say it's over
do you think it's too soon

why you left
it's unknown
where is it that you are now calling your home
pushed away
can't move on
where is it that you are now calling your home

need some space
need some time
do I drink chardonnay or just drink red wine

why you left
it's unknown
where is it that you are now calling your home
pushed away
can't move on
where is it that you are now calling your home

want to hide
when I'm down
don't like people seeing when I wear a frown

why you left
it's unknown
where is it that you are now calling your home
pushed away
can't move on
where is it that you are now calling your home

people ask
how I am
you don't start feeling better
by the turn of a hand

why you left
it's unknown
where is it that you are now calling your home
pushed away
can't move on
where is it that you are now calling your home

why you left
it's unknown
where is it that you are now calling your home
pushed away
can't move on
where is it that you are now calling your home

The Vacuum Of My Heart

© 2019 Mark Cote

silent words scream
with a burning tongue
when 2 worlds collide
they sometimes come undone

(bridge) running in hollow
              mystery is sorrow
              what happens the day
              after tomorrow

too many roads
with nowhere to go
the sun burns the same
on the other side of the globe

(chorus) falling falling
                       deeper
                       deeper still
                       If I can't escape
                       If I can't escape
                       I never will
                      from the coldness where starlight falls apart
                      into the vacuum
                      into the vacuum of my heart

thorns you carry
refusing to let go
will cut the one
who holds them most

but like a boat I sail
on waves life brings
the mockingbird mocks
while the bluebird she sings

(bridge) running in hollow
                       mystery is sorrow
                       what happens the day
                       after tomorrow

(chorus)

Don't Carry Hate Like A Religion

© 2019 Mark Cote

high on a hill
one point of view
one color paint
one knotted shoe

dark cloud rises
without a sound
but words you say
lie all around

he hates the sun
hates the moon
hates the way
lovers swoon

(chorus) don't carry your hate like a religion
                  jaded eyes lost in confusion
                  turn it away
                  all shades are grey
                  don't carry your hate like a religion


nothing is right
if everything is wrong
is that where
you want to belong


something to learn
from points of view
a rainbow looks better
with multiple hues

he hates the sun
hates the moon
hates the way lovers swoon

(chorus)

Until It's Washed Away

© 2019 Mark Cote

is it just a dream
never knowing what I mean
that seemed to be so real
made me question how I feel

talking to a wall
you don't know me at all
dusting on a grave
something I could not save

(chorus) thought it was you when I turned my head
                  but it's the grim reaper now I'm dead
                  I couldn't walk away
                  from what I heard you say

                  now it seems that it's all through
                  what was old now is new
                  until it's washed away
                  by tomorrow or yesterday
                  until it's washed away


Sundays are left undone
a race cannot be won
I'll keep it to myself
how the clown really felt

(chorus)

Don't Let The Well Run Dry

© 2019 Mark Cote

(chorus) don't let
                  don't let
                  the well run dry
                  don't let
                  don't let
                  the well run dry
                  inspiration lies all around
                  though I can't see
                  inspiration plays all around
                  but I'm off-key

in a clouded mind
looking all about
wanting Spring again
wanna scream and shout

(chorus)

in the colored eyes
every shade and hue
nothing looks old
everything is new

(chorus)

flying up so high
can describe it one and all
will it ever last
worried about the fall

(chorus)

Busy Bee

© 2019 Mark Cote

minds all a jumble
tossing and tumbled
trying to take it all in

sort in my mind
and leave it behind
and take the best part with me

(bridge) collecting words you say
         and storing them away
         sharp ones they scar
         are hurting a heart
         But I don't say a thing

(chorus) from flower to flower
         I'm a
         busy bee
         don't feel so sour
         just wait and see
         when....
         I feel the heat
         I don't
         bend and cower
         or let it in

taste sweet or sour
either gives you power
which one do you choose?

the heat can consume
and marry your doom
your lost now in time and space

but see it ahead
and avoid all the dread
it's not who you want to be

(chorus)

Little Blue Ford

© 2019 Mark Cote

thought I knew what I want
but something didn't feel right
the color
the fit was tight

had a car inside my head
but I knew I'd have to wait
if it's meant to be it's fate

(chorus) focus focus
                  on my little blue Ford
                  with 10 speakers she won't keep you bored
                  give her some gas
                  put it to the floor
                  yeah that little blue streak
                  is my little blue Ford

Made the best of what I had
new speakers had the sound
but what was missing I hadn't found

on that day I had no regrets
when I looked at both cars
this one felt more like me
and I knew it's meant to be

(chorus)

she's not the fastest
she's not the loudest
but sitting in her
I'm feeling my proudest

(chorus)

I Can't Do This Anymore

© 2013 Mark Cote

empty hollow hallway
treading there without a sound
I remember the fight
we had last night
don't have the strength for a go-around

in the faded pictures
I see what I used to be
I lived for the fun
my heart was so young
how I miss what was left of me

(chorus) I
                  can't fight within this bubble
                  the more I do the more I crumble
                  in this endless struggle
                  I can only reach the floor
                  why
                  spiraling in deeper
                  all I get is weaker
                  one thing that looks clearer is
                  I can't do this anymore
                  no I can't do this anymore

(instrumental)

colors all come clearer
every facet shows within the light
where is the you I knew
do you see it too
did we blind our hearts to see

(chorus)

On The other Side Of A Loved One's Eyes

© 2019 Mark Cote

it was good
it was bad
but the love remained the same
on the other side
of a loved ones eyes
nobody is left to blame

words were said
hearts were broke
but if you weather it through
together you'll grow

(chorus) On the other side...
                  of a loved ones eyes...
                  while you may walk alone
                  they take a part of you
                  while you take a apart of them

                  on the other side
                  of a loved ones eyes
                  you never know
                  what you might find

years have flown
did we grow?
now that you are gone
my tears they show

do I start again
do I just let go
I guess sometimes with love
we never know

(chorus)

Why I Love You Like I Do

© 2019 Mark Cote

(chorus) why do I love you like I do
                  like I do
                  maybe it's because of what you do
                  what you do
                  you have a way with what you say
                  you just have a certain way
                  that's why I love you like I do

summer
could it be any funner
is it the spell I am under
I can't even hear the thunder
it can make some people wonder
but you make it all summer

rain
can keep on falling down
I'm so glad that you're around
thunder doesn't make a sound
In your eyes I think I've found
our love on higher ground

(chorus)
(instrumental)

days
are now just shades of blue
when I'm here with you
what seems old now is new
our love comes shining through
what I thought once now is true

(chorus)

I'd Rather Stay In Bed

© 2019 Mark Cote

(chorus) I'd rather stay in bed
                  where it's nice and warm
                  stay in bed
                  safe from the storm
                  let the world all wash away
                  that's that's exactly what I say
                  I'd rather stay in bed

my boss called me from work
he knew I was late
I guess he hadn't heard
mornings getting blurred

supposed to go to church
but I think they knew
the preacher said he felt it too
and would rather stay in bed

(chorus)

knocking on my door
tell them I'm not home
maybe someone's on the phone
I'd rather stay in bed

(chorus)
(instrumental)
(chorus)

Happy Anniversrary

© 2019 Mark Cote

Another year of many ups and downs
ripples on the sea
still finding us both around
so happy you're with me

sharing the wonder of the world
something we all should feel
You're part of me I can't let go
now my life feels real

(chorus) many many years for you and me
                     happy anniversary
                     colors now appear for us to see
                     happy anniversary
                     let's paint our world in shades of love
                     happy happy anniversary

that nervous moment when we met
stumbling what to say
many moments we both can't forget
tomorrows turn to yesterday

here is what I say...

(chorus)