Before anything, I'm going to say that these are not my songs, I did not write them. They are the work of Jonathon Larson.
The official TTB site can be found at ticktickboom.net.
If you enjoy this, you will probably also enjoy RENT
I sat down one day and tried to find the lyrics to these songs, but could not. So I embarked on the mission of figuring them out on
my own. This is as much as I could get. Parts that I couldn't figure out are surrounded by ??question marks?? and some parts are still
messed up simply because I misunderstood the song but did not realize it. If you find any errors, please send an email to
jason@narnarnar.com and tell me the correction and I'll get it on here ASAP.
Enjoy!
tick, tick...BOOM! Lyrics
J = Jonathon
S = Susan
M = Michael
+ = Same time
1. 30/90
2. Green Green Dress
3. Johnny Can't Decide
4. Sunday
5. No More
6. Therapy
7. Real Life
8. Sugar
9. See Her Smile
10. Come to Your Senses
11. Why
12. Louder than Words
13. Boho Days (Performed by Jonathon Larson)
14. 30/90 Playout
30/90
J: Stop the clock, take time out
Time to regroup, before you lose the bout
Freeze the frame, back it up
Time to refocus, before they wrap it up
Years getting shorting
Lines on your face are getting longer
Feel like your treading water
But the riptide's getting stronger
Don't panic, don't jump ship
Can't find it like taxes,
At least it happens only once in your life
They're singing Happy Birthday
You just want to lay down and cry
Not just another birthday it's 30/90 why
Can't you stay 29, hell you still feel like you're 22
Turn 30, 1990 bang! you're dead what can you do?
What can you do?
What can you do?
M: Clear the runway, make another pass
Try one more approach before you're out of gas
J: Friends are getting fatter
Hairs on your head are getting thinner
Feel like a cleanup batter
On a team that ain't a winner
M: Don't freak out
Don't strike out
Can't fight it
Like City Hall
J: At least you're not alone
Your friends are there too
They're singing Happy Birthday
Both: You just wish you could run away
J: Who cares about a birthday
Both: But 30/90 hey!
J: Can you be optimistic
Both: You're no longer the ingenue
Turn 30, 1990
J: Boom you're passe
Both: What can you do?
J: What can you do?
What can you do?
Peter Pan and Tinker Bell
Which way to Never-Neverland
Emerald City's gone to hell
Since the wizard blew off his command
On the streets you hear the voices
Lost children, crocodiles
But you're not into
Making choices, wicked witches,
Poppy fields, or men behind the curtain
Tiger lillies, ruby slippers,
Clock is ticking that's for certain
They're singing Happy Birthday
I just wish it all were a dream
It feels much more like doom's-day
Fuck 30/90! Seems like I'm in for a twister
I don't see a rainbow, do you?
Turn 30 in the 90's
Into my hands now
The ball is passed
I want the spoils, but not too fast
The world is calling, it's now or Neverland
Why can't I stay a child forever and
30/90
30/90
30/90
30/90
30/90
30/90
All:: What can I do?
M, S: 30/90, 30 30/90
What can I do?
Top
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Green Green Dress-
J: Deep dark velvet hugs your sillouette
Black silk stockings, you're my Juliet
Soft blonde hair, baby baby blue eyes
Cool me down before I jump into your thighs
The green green dress, 20 buttons and a strap
The green green dress, oh what a pleasure to unwrap
The green dress, oh what it can do
Oh what the green green dress does to me on you, me on you
S: Let's find a chair where we can sit and talk
Or get some fresh air, baby we could take a walk
Tell me what you're thinking
Talk about your day
Tell me what to do, I'll do anything you say
Both: The green green dress, 20 buttons and a strap
The green green dress,
J: Oh what a pleasure to unwrap
Both: The green dress, oh what it can do
What the green green dress
+J: Does to me on you, me on you
+S: Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh you
S: Can I hear you laugh babe, can you make me smile?
I'll forget what's on my mind for a while.
J: Can I tie you up, love, if you tell me yes
I'll unbutton every button on your green green dress
Both: The green green dress, 20 buttons and a strap
The green green dress, oh what a pleasure to unwrap
The green dress, oh what it can do
Oh what the green green dress
+J: Does to me on you, me on you
+S: Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh you
J: Me on the green green dress
S: Green green dress
J: Me on the green green dress
S: Green green dress
J: Me on you, ooh
S: you, oh ooh
J: The green green dress
S: Green green dress
J: The green green dress
S: Green green dress
Both: The green green dress
Top
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Johnny Can't Decide -
J: Break of day, the dawn is here
Johnny's up and pacing
Compromise or perservere
His mind is racing
Johnny has no guide
Johnny wants to hide
Can he make a mark
If he gives up his spark
Johnny can't decide
S: Susan longs to live by the sea
She's through with competition
Susan wants a family
Johnny's got a tough decision
Johnny has no guide
J, S: Johnny wants to hide
Can he settle down and still not drown
Johnny can't decide
M: Michael's gonna have it all
His luck will never end
Johnny's backed against the wall
Can he bend his dreams just like his friends
J: Johnny sees that
J, S: Susan's right, amibition
All: Eats right through you
M: Michael doesn't see why Johnny holds on tight
J: Michael doesn't see I hold on tight
S: Johnny, hold on tight
All: To the things that Johnny feels are true
S, M: Johnny has no guide
J: Johnny has no guide
S, M: Johnny wants to hide
J: Johnny wants to hide
All: How can you soar
If you're nailed to the floor
Johnny can't decide
J: I want to write music
I want to sit down right now at my piano
And write a song that people will listen to and remember
And do the same thing every morning for the rest of my life
S, M: Johnny has no guide
J: Johnny has no guide
S, M: Johnny wants to hide
J: Johnny wants to hide
All: How do you know
When it's time to let go
(All of this is pretty much together, but sort of like rounds)
J: Johnny can't decide
M: John, ohh
S: Johnny can't decide
J: Johnny can't decide
S: Decide
M: Decide
J: Johnny can't decide
S: Johnny can't decide
M: Decide
J: Johnny can't decide
S: Decide, decide
M: Decide, it's time it's time, it's time, it's time
J, S: Decide
J: Johnny can't decide
Top
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Sunday -
Customers/Waiters: Straight back and to the left
Pick up those fucking eggs, we're out of milk
Who took my rye bread
Four waters to table seven
I'm sorry, we don't deliver on Sunday
I need a table 3 for two yesterday
Is there a list
Harrington, Harrington
Kaplan, k-a-p-l-a-n for 7
J: Order
C/W: No I'm sorry, those people were here first, we don't have tables for 7
Are we in smoking?
J: Tension
C: I'll have the salad, necoys, and some holly bread
J: Balance
C: I said I wanted an omelet with no yolks, that's why you're just a waiter
J: Brunch
Sunday, in blue, silver, chromium diner
On the green, purple, yellow, red stools
Sit the fools who should eat at home
Instead they pay on
All: Sunday
J: For a cool orange juice or a bagel
On the soft, green, cylindrical stools
Sit the fools
Drinking cinnamon coffee or decaffienated tea
All: Forever, in the blue silver chromium diner
J: Drips the green, orange, violet drool
All: From the fools
J: Who'd pay less at home
Drinking coffee
All: Light and dark
J: And cholesterol
And bums bums bums, bums bums bums bums bums bums
All: People screaming for their toast
In a small Soho cafe
J: On an island in
All: Two Rivers
On an ordinary Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
J: Brunch
Top
-------------------------------------------------
No More-
M: No more walking up six flights of stairs or throwing down the key because there is no buzzer
No more walking 13 blocks with 30 pounds of laundry in the fucking dead of winter
No more faulty wiring, no more painted floors, no more spitting out my
Ultra Brite on top of dirty dishes in the one and only sink
Hello to my walk-in closet
Tidy as Park Avenue
Hello my butcher block table
I could get used, I could get used, I could get used to you
No more climbing over sleeping people before you get out the door of your own building
M, J: No more
M: Noxious fumes from gas heaters that are illegal
J: Or will blow up while you are sleeping
Both: Woah
M: No more
J: Leaky ceilings
M: No more
J: Holes in the floor
Both: No more
J: Taking a shower in the kitchen while your roommate's eating breakfast
Both: And you're getting water on his Corn Flakes
Hello to shiny new parquet wood floors
As waxed as a wealthy girl's legs
Hello dear Mr. Dishwasher
I could get used
I could get used
I could get used to you
J: No more exotic
M: No more erotic
Both: No more anything but pleasantly robotic
M: We're moving on up (J: echo)
M: To the East Side (J: echo)
Both: To a deluxe apartment in the sky
(various uh huh's, yeah's, etc.)
Hello to dear Mr. Doorman
Who looks like Kaptain Kangaroo
Hello dear fellow
And how do you do
M: I could get used (J: echo)
M: even seduced (J: echo)
Both: I could get used to you, Ow! Oh yeah!
Top
-----------------------------------------
Therapy -
S: Are you saying we can't talk
J: Are you saying we're not talking
S: What are you saying
J: What are you saying?
I'm saying I feel bad that you feel bad
About me feeling bad about you feeling bad
About what I said about what you said about
Me not being able to share a feeling
S: If I thought that what you thought was that I hadn't thought about
Sharing my thoughts then my reaction to your reaction to my reaction would have been more revealing
J: I was afraid that you'd be afraid if I told you that I was afraid of intimacy
If you don't have a problem with my problem maybe the problem's simply codependancy
S: Yes I know that now you know that I didn't know that you didn't know
That when I said no I meant yes I know and that now I know that you knew that I knew you adored me
J: I was wrong to
S: Say you're wrong to
J: Say I was wrong about
S: You being wrong
J: When you rang to say that the
S: That the ring was the wrong thing to bring
J: If I meant what I said when I said "rings bored me."
Both: I'm not mad that you got mad that I got mad when you said I should go drop dead
J: If I were you and I done what I done i'd do what you'd do when I gave you the ring having said what I said
+S: I feel badly about you feeling badly about me, so badly about you
+J: I feel bad that you feel bad
About me feeling bad about you feeling bad
About what I said about what you said about
Me not being able to share a feeling
+S: If I thought that what you thought was that I hadn't thought about
sharing my thoughts then my reaction to your reaction to my reaction would have been more revealing
+J: I thought you thought I reacted shallowly when I reacted to you
S: I'm not mad that you got mad that I got mad when you said I should go drop dead
J: I'm not mad, you got mad, go drop dead
J: If I were you and I done what I done i'd do what you'd do when I gave you the ring having said what I said
S: If I were you, but I'm not you, said what I said
J: But now it's out in the open
S: Now it's off our chest
Both: Now it's 4 am and
We have therapy tomorrow
It's too late to screw
Let's just get some rest
Top
---------------------------------------------
Real Life -
M: Sunlight, through the window across from your bed
Beauty is still, can you see it?
What more can you want?
Is this real life?
Is this real life?
Heartbeats of your children asleep in the next room
Trust so still, can you hear it?
What more can you want?
Is this real life?
J: Real life?
M: Is this real life
J: Is this real, is this real life?
M: Why do we seek out ecstacy
M, J: In all the wrong places
Why is it hard to see
That Heaven can have simpler faces
M: One breath of an angel
M, S: Awake next to you
M, S: Love, so still can you feel it
M, S: What more do you want?
M: Is this real life?
J, S: Real life?
M: Is this real life?
J, S: Is this real, is this real life?
M: Is this real life?
J, S: Real life?
M: Is this real life?
J, S: Is this real, is this real, is this...
M: Is this real life?
Top
---------------------------------------------
Sugar-
J: She can be white
She can be brown
She's always easy
Going down going down
She don't care
What I look like
Or how I dress
She never says no
Always says yes
Oooh
Sugar, she's refined
For a small price
She blows my mind
Sugar, she's got the power
Soothes my soul for half an hour, half an hour, half an hour, half an hour
S: Twinkies, oh my god, I love them
She's my honey
She's my tart
I'm her cream puff, she's my sweetheart
J: Knocks me out and strips me bare
J, S: Sugar sugar sugar
J: I don't care
M: Late at night
All: When I'm sad and lonely
One thing only cures my blues
J, M: Stressed out
S: Burned out
All: Hanging by a string
Sugar sugar sugar, I won't feel a thing
Sugar so sweet
J: Sugar, sugar, sugar, you got me kissing your feet, kissing your feet pretty baby
She don't care
M, S: She don't care
All: What I look like
J: Or how I dress
M, S: She don't care
All: No no no no no no no no
J: Only thing I know is that she makes my life such a mess
All: Oh yes
J: Sugar, oh yeah
M, S: Sugar sugar, oh yeah
J: Sugar, oh yeah
M, S: Sugar, sugar, sugar oh yeah
All: Sugar, oh yeah s-u-g-a-r
Wahhhh!!!!
Top
----------------------------------------------------
See Her Smile-
J: It's not you she says
It's just that life's so hard
We all get blue I say
Hang on tight I'll be your body guard
Something's breaking my baby's heart
Something's breaking my baby's heart
Something's breaking my baby's heart
Oooh, just wanna see her smile
It's such a drag she says
When the world's so mean
It's just a red flag I say
Gotta look for the green
Ooh, something's breaking my baby's heart
Somethings' breaking my baby's heart
Something's breaking my baby's heart
Ooh, I just wanna see her smile
Cynical town can be tough on an angel
Clip her wings, baby one two three
I'm her clown cause a laughin' angel's
Richer than kings, oh baby don't you see?
Baby don't you agree?
Wish I knew why she says
"But on a sunny day I find the rain"
Let's give it a try I say
We can dance all through the pain
Something's breaking my baby's heart
Something's breaking my baby's heart
Something's breaking my baby's heart
Ooh, ooh, oooooh, I just wanna see her smile
Just wanna see her smile
Just wanna see her smile
I just wanna see her, just wanna see her
Smile
Top
-------------------------------------
Come to Your Senses -
Karessa: You're on the air
I'm underground
Signal's fading, can't be found
I finally opened up
For you I would do anything
But you've turned off the volume
Just when I've begun to sing
Come to your senses,
Defenses are not the way to go
And you know or at least you knew
Everything's strange,
You've changed and I don't know what to do
To get through, I don't know what to do
I have to laugh
You sure put on a show
Love is passe in this day and age
How can we expect it to grow
You as the knight
Me as the queen
All I've got tonight
Is static on a screen
Come to your senses,
The fences inside are not for real
If we feel as we did and I do
Can't you recall when this all began
It was only you and me, it was only me and you
But now the air is filled with confusion
We've replaced care with illusion
It's cruel to be cold
Nothing lasts anymore
Love becomes disposable
This is the shape of things we cannot ignore
Come to your senses
Suspense is fine
If you're just an empty image emanating out of the screen
Baby be real you can feel again
You don't need a music box,
Melody to know what I mean
Deep in my eyes, what do you see
Deep in my sighs, listen to me
Let the music commence from inside
Not only one sense but use all five
Come to your senses
Come to your senses
Come to your senses
Baby, come back alive
Top
---------------------------------------------
Why-
J: When I was 9, Michael and I
Entered a talent show down at the Y
9 am went to rehearse by some stairs
Mike couldn't sing, but I said no one cares
We sang Yellow Bird, and Let's Go Fly a Kite
Over and over and over till we got it right
When we emerged from the YMCA
3 o'clock sun had made the grass hay
I thought hey, what a way to spend the day
Hey, what a way to spend the day
I make a vow, right here and now
I'm gonna spend my time this way
When I was 16, Michael and I
Got parts in West Side at White Plains High
3 o'clock went to rehearse in the gym
Mike played Doc, who didn't sing, fine with him
We sang, "Gotta Rocket in Your Pocket"
And "The Jets are Gonna Have Their Day Tonight"
Over and over and over, till we got it right
When we emerged, wiped out by that play
9 o'clock stars and moon lit the way
I thought hey, what a way to spend a day
Hey, what a way to spend a day
I made a vow, I wonder now
Am I cut out, to spend my time this way
With only so much time to spend
Don't want to waste the time I'm given
Have it all, play the game, some recommend
I'm afraid it just may be time to give in
I'm 29, Michael and I
Live on the west side of Soho, NY
9 am I write a lyric or two
Mike sings his song now on Mad Avenue
I sing come to your senses
Defenses are not the way to go
Over and over and over till I get it right
When I emerge from B minor or A
5 o'clock diner calls, I'm on my way
I think hey, what a way to spend a day
Hey, what a way to spend a day
I make a vow, right here and now
I'm gonna spend my time this way
I'm gonna spend my time this way
Top
--------------------------------------------
Louder Than Words -
J: Why do we play with fire
Why do we run our finger through the flame
Why do we leave our hand on the stove
Although we know we're in for some pain
Oh why do we refuse to hang a light
When the streets are dangerous
Why does it take an accident
Before the truth gets through to us
Cages or wings which do you prefer
Ask the birds
Fear or love, baby, don't say the answer
Actions speak louder than words
M: Why should we try to be our best
When we can just get by and still gain
Why do we nod our heads
J, M: Although we know
M: The boss is wrong as rain
J: Why should we blaze a trail when the well-worn path seems safe and
J, S: So inviting
S: How as we travel can we
All: See the dismay and keep on fighting
J: Cages or wings, which do you prefer, ask the birds (M, S: ahhh)
All: Fear or love, baby, don't say the answer
M: Actions speak louder than words
J, S: Louder than, louder than
J: What does it take to wake up a generation
All: How can you make someone take off and fly
J: If we don't wake up and shake up the nation
We'll eat the dust of the world
Wondering why (other two echo in)
S: Why do we stay with lovers
J, S: Who we know down deep
S: Just aren't right
J: Why would we rather
All: Put ourselves through hell than sleep alone at night
J: Why do we follow the leaders who never lead
M: Why does it take catastrophe to start a revolution
M, S: If we're so free, tell me why
J: Someone tell me why so many people bleed
Cages or wings, which do you prefer (M, S: Cages or wings)
Ask the birds (M, S: ahh)
All: Fear or love, baby, don't say the answer
J: Actions speak louder than
M, S: Louder than, louder than, louder than, louder than
All: Cages or wings, which do you prefer
J: Ask the birds
M, S: Ahhh
All: Fear or love, baby, don't say the answer
J: Actions speak louder
M, S: Louder than, louder than, oooh
J: They speak louder
M, S: Louder than, louder than, ahhh
J: Actions speak louder than...
(Happy Birthday played on piano)
Top
---------------------------------
Boho Days - Performed by Jonathon Larson
Don't step on Simone ??over noone?? Phillipe
They're still on the living room floor asleep
Flight was delayed but they got it so cheap
In Amsterdam
The cat jumped off of the fire escape
He's a little shook up but he don't he have a scrape
Climb up to the roof, let's make a crepe
You bring the jam
This is the life of boh boh boh boh
This is the life of boh boh boh boh
This is the life of boh boh boh boh
Bohemia
Shower's in the kitchen, there might be some soap
Dishes in the sink, brush your teeth if you can cope
Toilet's in the closet, you'd better hope
There's a lightbulb in there, boh boh boh boh
Dino called yesterday, the rent is overdue
Con-Ed and New York Telephone are mad too
Better screen the calls for a day or too
Or cough up your share
This is the life of boh boh boh boh
This is the life of boh boh boh boh
This is the life of boh boh boh boh
Bohemia
Revolving door roommates, prick up your ears
14 people in just 4 years
Ann and Max and Jonathon and Johnathon and Carey,
David, Tim, no Tim was just a guest from June to January
Margaret, Lisa, David, Suzy, Steven Joe and Sam
Anelsa, the bill collector's dream is ??still his?? on the lamb.
Don't forget the neighbors, Michelle and Gay
More like a family than a family, hey
The cat Lucy, Mr. B, Bouncer, rest his soul,
And Finster who took one look and stayed for days down in that hole
This is the life of boh boh boh boh
This is the life of boh boh boh boh
This is the life of boh boh boh boh
Bohemia
The garbage trucks have turned into limousines
Rat infested diner's now a fancy restaurant
A gallery opens, you know what that means
There goes the neighborhood, here come the debutants
But at 508, the halls are still that dingy brown
508, the walls are cracked, they're falling down
508, we all know the day,
It changes, is the day we all should blow this town
The time is flying, and everything is dying
I thought by now I'd have a dog and kid and wife
The ship is sort of sinking, so let's start drinking
Before we start thinking "is this a life"
Is this a life boh boh boh boh boh
Is this a life no no no no no
If this a life boh boh boh boh boh
Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia
Boh boh boh boh
Top
--------------------------------------
30/90 Playout-
Instrumental
Top
Last Update: 12.16.02 @ 11:44pm
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