Karla DeVito — Is This a Cool World or What?

Cool World

I can’t make up my mind …
What the possibilities are:
Fascinating or boring?
Is this a Cool World, or what?

I’m in a brown study
I’m in a blue funk
I’m in a purple haze
But they fade into a Cool World

(cool world) Is this a Cool World?
(cool world) Is this a Cool World?
(cool world) Oooh
(cool world) Is this a Cool World, or what?

I had a broken heart
I had a settled-down soul
I had a head-full of doubt
’Til I heared about the Cool World

Now I’m laughing at my sleep
I’m talking through my head
I’m moving fast through a graveyard
Pretending it’s a Cool World

(cool world) Is this a Cool World?
(cool world) Is this a Cool World?
(cool world) Oooh
(cool world) Is this a Cool World, or what? …

I want some French sunglasses
Call-waiting on my phone
I want a house for my mother
Just like Moses Malone

I keep my options open
My possibilities pure
I keep my eye to the main chance
I keep my place in this Cool World!

(cool world) Is this a Cool World?
(cool world) Is this a Cool World?
(cool world) Oooh

(cool world) Is this a Cool World?
(cool world) Is this a Cool World?
(cool world) Oooh
(cool world) Is this a Cool World, or what?

(cool world)
(cool world)
(cool world) Oooh
(cool world).....

I Can’t Stand to Reminisce

Twisting, turning, watching me burning
I’m fireproofing it
Hell-bent on making me sweat
Well, I’m cooling it

Why can’t you ache for me like he do?
I can’t stand to reminisce
Why can’t you ache for me like he do?
I still remember it…
I still remember it…

Wheeling, dealing, trading on feeling
I’ve had a load of it
Love virus eats at your mind
But I’m over it

Can’t you ache for me like he do?
I can’t stand to reminisce
Why can’t you ache for me like he do?
I still remember it…
I still remember it…

He gives it all and asks for no return
If I could fall for him, I would
But I’m not free ‘cause you got to me

Ooh, why can’t you ache for me like he do?

I still remember it…
I still remember it....

Why can’t you ache for me like he do?
I can’t stand to reminisce
Why can’t you ache for me like he do?
Like he do?
Oooh!
I still remember it…
I still remember it…

I can’t stand to reminisce, no!
I can’t stand to reminisce, no
I can’t stand to reminisce, no!
I can’t stand to reminisce....

Heaven Can Wait

Heaven can wait
And a band of angels wrapped up in my heart
Will take me through the lonely night
Through the cold of the day

And I know, I know—
Heaven can wait
And all the gods come down here just to sing for me
And the melody’s gonna make me fly
Without pain, without fear

Give me all of your dreams and let me go along on your way
Give me all of your prayers to sing and I’ll
Turn the night into the skylight of day

I got a taste of paradise
I’m never gonna let it slip away
I got a taste of paradise
That’s all I really need to make me stay—
Just like a child again:

Heaven can wait
And all I got it’s time until the end of time
I won’t look back
I won’t look back
Let the altars shine....

And I know that I been released but I don’t know to where
Nobody’s gonna tell me now and I don’t really care

No, no, no—I got a taste of paradise
That’s all I really need to make me stay
I got a taste of paradise
If I had it any sooner you know
I never would have run away—from my home

Heaven can wait
And all I got it’s time until the end of time
I won’t look back
I won’t look back
Let the altars shine

Oooh, heaven can wait
I won’t look back
I won’t look back
Let the altars shine
Let the altars shine....

(Jim Steinman)
© 1977 Edward B. Marks Music Coorporation / Neverland Music Company / Peg Music Company (BMI)

Midnight Confession

The sound of your footsteps
Telling me that you’re near
Your soft gentle motion babe
Brings out a need in me that no one can hear
Except

In my midnight confession
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confession
When I say all the things that I want to:

I love you

But a little gold ring you wear on your hand
Makes me understand there’s another before me
You’ll never be mine—I’m wasting my time....

Staggering thru the daytime
Your image on my mind
Posing so close beside you, babe
Sometimes the feelings are so hard to hide
Except

In my midnight confession
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confession
When I say all the things that I want to:

I love you…

But a little gold ring you wear on your hand
Makes me understand there’s another before me
You’ll never be mine—I’m wasting my time....

In my midnight confession
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confession
When I say all the things that I want to:

In my midnight confession
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confession
When I say all the things that I want to....

Big Idea

You kiss and tell me baby, you could be my savior
When you know you’re just my—my next-door neighbor
And tho I like your hairstyle and your magic smile
Well, I’m not too sure if I’m falling for—

Your big idea
Your big idea

You want to carry my torture, you want to wear my sin
You’ll give me your fortune when your bus comes in
And tho I find your coffee satisfactory
Well, I’m not too sure if I’m falling for—

Your big idea
Your big idea

Now you’re staring at me like I’m your barbeque
I think your eyes just bit off more than your heart can chew
You’ve got your legs wrapped all around the world
You and your big idea
Your big idea

And now your mouth is silent but your hands are speaking
I think I get the message, I think the flesh is weakening
And now I got the feeling that I should be leaving
But I can’t go home, I got my own—

Big idea
Big idea
Big idea
Big idea....

What’s the big idea?
I got my own big idea....

Almost Saturday Night

Outside my window I can hear a radio
And you know that motor wagon’s getting ready to fly
‘Cause it’s almost Saturday night

Bye bye, tomorrow Ronnie’s going to the rodeo
And you know that good ol’ boy’s getting ready to ride
‘Cause it’s almost Saturday night

Gonna push the clouds away
Let the music have it’s way
Let him steal my heart away
And you know I’m going

Outside they’re ringing, the night train is bringing me home
When you hear that locomotion, get ready to fly!
‘Cause it’s almost Saturday night....

Gonna push the clouds away
Let the music have it’s way
Let him steal my heart away
And you know I’m going

Outside my window I can hear a radio
And you know that motor wagon’s getting ready to fly
‘Cause it’s almost Saturday—

Outside they’re ringing, the night train is bringing me home
When you hear that locomotion, get ready to fly!
‘Cause it’s almost Saturday night
Saturday night
Saturday night
Saturday night....

Boy Talk

Boy talk! Please don’t just sit there dying
Boy talk! Let’s hear what got your crying
I know that we just met, but here’s my shoulder and a cigarette
Boy talk!

Boy talk! Did you lose another best friend? Boy talk! Or is it just another weekend?
Spit out your bubble gum, so I can understand where you’re coming from
Boy! Boy!

You talk about movies you’ve been thru
Welcome to the no-fault jungle
The monkey never danced like you paid him to

You keep me hanging on
Every word keeps banging on
My frontal lobe....

I know that we just met
But here’s my shoulder and a cigarette
Boy! Boy!

You suffer for your lover and your mom and dad
They all used and sold you
You think you got a corner on the market of sad?

You keep me hanging on
Every word keeps banging on
My frontal lobe

Boy! Boy talk....

Just One Smile

Can’t I cry a little bit, there’s nobody to notice it
Can’t I cry if I want to, no one cares

Why can’t I pretend that you love me again?
All I had has been taken from me
Now I’m crying and tears don’t become me

Just one smile—the pain’s forgiven
Just one kiss—the hurt’s all gone
Just one smile to make my life worth living
A little dream to build my world upon

How I wish I could say all the things I want to say
If some way you could see what’s in my heart

I don’t ask for much: a look, a smile, a touch
Try to forget? Lord knows I’m trying!
But it’s hard to forget when your whole world is dying

Just one smile—the pain’s forgiven
Just one kiss—the hurt’s all gone
Just one smile to make my life worth living
A little dream to build my world upon

Just one smile—the pain’s forgiven
Just one kiss—the hurt’s all gone
Just one smile to make my life worth living
A little dream to build my world upon....

I’m Just Using You

I always read the glossy magazines
The victim of a thousand TV screens
My needs have always been material
I don’t need anyone at all

When I’m putting on the squeeze
Would I look better on my knees?
There’s nothing I won’t do
As long as I get what I want from you

So what if—
I’m just using you to get some?
Life ain’t easy when you’re no one
I’m just using you to get some

I never wanted people’s company
I’d give so much and then they’d turn on me
What never speaks can never tell a lie
Maybe that’s why you don’t scare me anymore

Because I’ve done it all before
You’re giving in too easily
You must be a user just like me

So what if—
I’m just using you to get some?
Life ain’t easy when you’re no one
I’m just using you to get some

Such a cute face—got me no place
Wearing my heart on my sleeve
In a rut, but now I take what I need....

I’m just using you to get some
Life ain’t easy when you’re no one
I’m just using you to get some

I’m just using you to get some
Life ain’t easy when you’re no one
I’m just using you to get some.... (etc.)

Work

(“Work?!!?” … Maynard G Krebs)

Work all day, that’s all I do, just the way they taught me to
Spend all day, use half my brain, my mind’s on you or I’d go insane, hmmm hmmm
It’s the same, everyday: overworked, and underpayed
Beat my heart, against the wall, I pick it up and rise above it all

And I work—‘cause I’m lucky just to have a job
Work—‘cause I know it’s work or starve
Work—it’s the only thing I can do, yeah

Jerk ethic, no control, dream detour, lacking goals
I should be brave, and leave the race but I’m afraid I’ll lose my place

So I work—‘cause I’m lucky just to have a job
Work—‘cause I know it’s work or starve
Work—it’s the only thing I can do

When I get home at night
I want to show you that I love you, love you for keeps
You wanna prove you love me too
But not right now ‘cause I’m falling asleep! Ooh!

Work!
Work!
Work!
Let’s play

Stickin tubes in TV’s, I’d rather cure some disease
Go back to school? Maybe I will But now I’m work-work-working just to play my bills

And I work—‘cause I’m lucky just to have a job
Work—‘cause I know it’s work or starve
Work—it’s the only thing I can do, I can do, yeah yeah yeah

Work!
Work!
Work!
Work!....

The Tale of Bloody Bess

She sailed the seven seas
With a dagger in her hand
She brought the olde world to it’s knees
And lived to sail again
And lived to sail again

Bloody Bess, Bloody Bess—seventeenth century piratess
B-b-bloody Bess, Bloody Bess
Bloody Bess, Bloody Bess—seventeenth century piratess
B-b-bloody Bess, Bloody Bess

Bloody Bess and her first mate Anne
More than a match for a seaworthy man
Captured kingdoms full of treasures
Kingdoms full of hearts

But she never got caught
She was just too smart
And too bloody, bloody Bess

Bloody Bess, Bloody Bess—seventeenth century piratess
B-b-bloody Bess, Bloody Bess
Bloody Bess, Bloody Bess—seventeenth century piratess
B-b-bloody Bess, Bloody Bess....

Once more into the breach
Bloody Bess
Raise your cannons high
Nothing out of your dagger’s reach
Bloody Bess
Nothing but heaven and the sky—

Fearfully respected by her motley pirate crew
There was just one thing they’d rather walk the plank than do
Just one thing … when she’d make them sing
Come on and sing for Bess!

1, 2, 3, 4:

[ pirate chorus ]

Bloody Bess, Bloody Bess—seventeenth century piratess
B-b-bloody Bess, Bloody Bess
Bloody Bess, Bloody Bess—seventeenth century piratess
B-b-bloody Bess, Bloody Bess....

Bloody Bess was inspired by the Organic Theatre Co. of Chicago’s production of the play of the same name, conceived by Stuart, Gordon and written by William J Norris and John Ostander, 1974

Just Like You

Can we move out of this stark pale light?
Honey, I feel so pale tonight
I know you feel it too: I’m just like you

You say you’re falling short of the mark again
You’re staggering thru the park, again
All I can say is, Me, too—I’m just like you

Well, I can be cool and I can be smart
But I never wanted to break your heart
I pray you know it’s true—I’m just like you

I gave everything that I had to give
’Til my heart was leaking, just like a sieve

Yes, I changed my plans—it’s true
I guess that makes me just like you

Just like you

I think of the perfect thing to say
Usually 20 minutes too late
When everything is thru
Just like you

And I learned to be tough and I learned to be cruel
Doesn’t make a damn bit of difference
I can still be made anybody’s fool—just like you

I’m nervous when I know I’m gonna see you again
But one look in your eyes: it’s still the same

It’s been a year or two
And I’ve made my own world
Just like you

We have a beginning but there’ll be no end
‘Cause we’re always going to be best friends (that’s if you want to)

I’m just like you
I still like you… Mr. Cool...