welcome to the fulfillment of a dream...
this album would not have been possible without the love & encouragement from:
my best friend & love suzanne
my brother mateo
my parents abe sr. & lyn
my band of brothers brian, rusty, wix & paul
all of the incredible artists & friends
who have each brought me a lifetime of inspiration
NAKED
she is everything i'm missing grounded in truth & perfect for kissing
they fear reaction & taunting the strength for them to accept me is lacking
*our love grows stronger with time but they say I'm not worth a dime
exchanging truth for fear in their mind naked leading the blind*
i am irony's bastard son already lost when i haven't begun
i used to think that this would just go away
clean itself up without leaving a stain
our love cannot die for stupidity's sake
i won't go away
TWEE
need self help pull some books off of the shelf see the feelings i've denied myself so long
need to cry so dramatic want to die exposing all the actions i do wrong
second glance take a chance find romance
*wonder if my love can see i'm beginning to feel twee i've forgotten how to be with a girl like you*
what a fool so dramatic i'm a tool i'm blinded by my insecurities
poster boy for denying myself joy now's the time that i get off my hands & knees
longing glance final chance still i can't
get over yourself foolish boy get out of your head foolish boy get on with your life foolish boy
GIRL
i met her long ago feels like yesterday she had somewhere to go i asked her if she'd stay
cause oh oh no you can't take her away from me
she radiated joy she made me feel complete i felt like a little boy my heart still skips a beat
cause oh oh no you can't take her away
*my love takes my breath away this world's brighter every day*
she is my one true love she is the purest light sent here from above our future feels so right
cause oh oh yeah cause she's gonna stay
the way you laugh behind your smile effortless your head up high
to be near you & to hold you forevermore
PAWN
this is too much for my head my face is turning red red red
'cause i feel you & i need to choose you but i am a fool
*try as i might i'm a weakling boy holding on hard to a perfect joy
& like a pawn with a broken past i am the one who gives in too fast*
afraid i've crossed the line aware i cannot turn back time
but i want more my heart's sore either or i shut the door
i'm out of control...
i am the one who gives in too fast i am the one with a broken past
i am the one i crossed the line i am the one who can't turn back time
i am the one i lost control i am the one
LESS
what is wrong with me i cannot express clearly
all i feel is numb like a drone purposefully dumb
am i just impatient am i just defeated
*run away as fast as you can i'm becoming less of a man
afraid your heart dissolves in my hand i'm becoming less of a man*
feeling hurt & torn by giving parts of me i can't afford
could responsibility bring myself some sort of meaning
am i just indifferent am i just frustrated
i'm sorry you know i fall short sometimes
HOPE
lost another friend today thought he was strong he threw his life away guess i was wrong
seems a waste to want to cry but still i do destroyed & angered but my love must still shine through
*you were always afraid to cry hope to see you through the night
you let your demons cloud your light hope to see you through the night*
afraid to feel his life in full was his excuse he chose the easy way he chose to lose
too numb to realize we cared about his life & that all that he needed was inside
**you gave up everything oh why hope to see you through the night
you couldn't live now i can't cry hope to see you through the night**
PAIN
shying away from an ominous sky slipping from blue into red
twisting my thoughts of reality memories swirl through my head
yesterday scares me yesterday's filled with all of my sin
i fear for tomorrow tomorrow is someone i've never been
*this is my pain for today hope that it fades away must be some kind of escape hope that it fades away*
mourning the loss of my innocent self tearing my flesh from the bone
panic for all that's beyond my control knowing i'm more than alone
yesterday's faithful yesterday's trusting i can forgive
facing tomorrow tomorrow's desire is simply to live
pain pain go away come again some other day
PRAY
too young to know better too old to understand i'm a broken man
running away from those who try to comprehend when i'm gonna end
*pray for me i'm going down wait for me i'll come around*
obvious reasons that i left you standing there bring a flood of tears
desperate action taken causes me to hide deceit my pride
**don't hate me on my way down pray for me to come around**
GOODBYE
how could you forget all the things you said that brought me a purpose
have you lost your joy like a childhood toy a symbol of your innocence
*did i receive too much from you or leave you with nothing left to prove
don't hide your eyes or look so certain i fear your choices i've already tried
there's something here that you've forgotten i never want to hear the word goodbye*
now you seem surprised anger in your eyes from the void & emptiness
all this pain i feel it will never heal but i live to experience
don't say goodbye
LAY
lay with me it's warm inside i feel complete when you are by my side
lay with me awake through the night follow your lead i need you by my side
feel what i'm missing when i am kissing you love that i'm risking
my wounded heart with you i love the me with you
lay with me as our hearts collide joyful i weep now that you're by my side
prayerful & wishing i'm forever kissing you & constantly risking
my mended heart with you i love the me with you
lay with me & fill me with pride i feel complete following your lead
joyful i weep now that you're by my side
credits:
all songs written, recorded, performed & produced by abe laboriel jr
recorded @ sacred bovine studios in burbank, ca
mixed by adam hawkins
mastered by adam ayan @ gateway mastering
cover art by bill stewart