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Can You Tell the Difference Between Blue October Lyrics and Some Pretty Purple Poetry?

Everyone has their own way of coping when life isn't going the way they'd like. Some people pray, some people play golf, some people beat their kids. Rocks Off generally tends to turn up a Rolling Stones album real loud or seek comfort in the cozy confines of a bottle (or both).

Some people write, while others write songs. Such is the case with Blue October, the platinum angst-rockers who return to their former hometown this evening for a sold-out show at Verizon Wireless Theater with Switchfoot and Ours, as well as Dallas civil engineer and poet Jeff Bresee. Bresee's new book, The Hidden Story, took shape as the author struggled to overcome depression and addiction - which also happen to be common themes in Blue October's songs.

In fact, Bresee cites the band's music as one of his primary inspirations, and The Hidden Story contains the libretto for Bresee's rock opera The Miror's Glass, set to music by Blue October, Pink Floyd, Queensryche and others. Overall, it's pretty convincing - Rocks Off isn't sure we'd want to switch places with either Bresee or Blue October lyricist Justin Furstenfeld, but you have to admire the effort.

All this heavy emotional stuff got us in the mood to play a game. We took excerpts from a few of Bresee's Hidden Story poems and some lyrics from Blue October's new album, Approaching Normal. Can you tell which is which? (If not, scroll down a ways after the last one for the answers.)

"Weight of the World"

A blackout in the room again

A busted lip and broken skin

I wake up in the bathroom

And dare not bother asking

Why the mirror's cracked and all I see

Are shards of glass inside of me

There's voices there to dare me

My father's here to scare me

My mother sits beyond the door she's

Curled up crying on the floor

Look at what her son's done

"The Worst"

There's something worse than heartache

Something worse than feeling used

There's something worse than longing

For the time before you knew

About the one who has betrayed you...

And left you in despair

To sit and face the world alone

And wonder as you stare into

Your own eyes, will you fall apart

And find out what I mean

As you medicate the pain away

And give up on your dreams

"Where Do You Go"

Where do ya go

When everything's wrong

What do ya have

When everything's gone

Who can ya hold

Who can ya trust

Why should you try

When dreams turn to dust

How can ya see

When everything's black

Why should you wait

When they're not coming back

Give me a reason

To go on from here

I stand and I stare

And I scream in the air

"Should Be Loved"

Stop staring, you're the reason I feel so unhappy all the time

I've given you everything I know how

Your standing on the top of my shoe

Keeping me from gaining ground

I'm sorry if you feel like I let you down

Can you tell me what have I done so wrong

To you

Tell me what am I supposed to do

"I should be loved by you

That I know is true

But I cant breathe when you're around!"

"Unto What End"

Is there purpose left in going on

Is there something yet to find

Uncounted days of rise and fall

Have left me far behind

What is the point in trying to feel

What they tell me I should feel

So long now in the dark I've been

It seems that nothing's real

I often sit and wonder

What it's really all about

Most times it seems a pointless game

That's ruled by fear and doubt

Yet other times the visions come

Then everything is clear

But none believe me so I'm left

Alone year after year

"Kangaroo Cry"

Losing my control

Here it is the day I have to go

Just sit beside me

I can't let this show

How sick I feel to leave you so alone

God I'm terrified

We've lost respect for decency

When one can turn our world into an ant pile

We run circles, no direction do I see

The dust has blinded you, the dust has blinded me

I kissed her on the cheek

And then I waved goodbye

She had the saddest look I've seen in years

A kangaroo cry

A warm pathetic ocean flow we have to live by

We have to live by

Because we have to live



































Answers: "Weight of the World," Blue October; "The Worst," Jeff Bresee; "Where Do Ya Go," Bresee; "Should Be Loved," Blue October; "Unto What End," Bresee; "Kangaroo Cry," Blue October

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Chris Gray has been Music Editor for the Houston Press since 2008. He is the proud father of a Beatles-loving toddler named Oliver.
Contact: Chris Gray