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Best of the Throwaway Song of the Week

by Amanda Rose Riley

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1.
You're not the only person in this room But it feels like you are to me You're so attractive, I don't know what to do And I'm not the only one who can see Each time your head turns my way my heart jumps into my throat Do I have a billionth of a chance? Man, you've gotta let me know If you want me, then just say so 'Cause I've been waiting for this whole night And I'm so happy that we're finally getting to talk But I didn't know it'd be this great We think so alike and it came as a shock How are you this perfect? Oh, unhappy fate 'Cause now I feel invested in seeing this thing grow And I guess that means I should pretend I want to take it slow If you want me, please just say so 'Cause I've been waiting for this whole night And if you want me, you can have me 'Cause I've been waiting for my whole life for you
2.
I'm the furthest thing from proud of this But life's sometimes like that so let's talk about it I stayed all day at a rough but lackluster stage At a music festival awaiting a band I won't name It's not the kind of thing I'd recommend that you do But I'll forever remember that day I got two new left shoes But we all know what you want isn't always what you get In the end I wanted out amid that insufferable mess When they pulled me up, I lost both my shoes in the crowd I didn't know what to do but cry in the space I was allowed But a little boy brought me comfort and a pair of shoes that he'd seen And despite the imperfect fit, everything stopped troubling me And so if your problem feels insurmountable, just try not to feel so alone Generous, resourceful help will arrive if you'll embrace imperfect outcomes And so when you're sitting there in tears, don't feel like hope is just no use The proof is there in that day I got two new left shoes
3.
I thought I might go out tonight But what if someone sets off a bomb? What if someone comes in with a gun or with a knife? What if someone blows my head off? I think I'll just stay here in the comforting din Of a world that I well know, of my predictable home I feel so much safer when I don't take risks Who knows what could happen out there? You're dreaming of all of these magical triumphs Don't you know that the world is unfair? It's probably better if we keep to ourselves, better if we stay inside You could gain everything or lose it all It's probably better to lock up and hide I thought I might go talk to him But what if he just laughs in my face? I'm worried he'll ask me what the hell was I thinking And tell everyone how bold I was that day I think I'll just stay single while I can keep my pride We have no secrets to tell when we're alone with ourselves I thought I might chase after my dreams After all you can't escape ridicule Most of my bullies introduced themselves to me And killers break into bedrooms too I think I'll venture out this time and probably be just fine If my pride can take a hit, then maybe I'll stumble on that perfect state of bliss
4.
Alone 01:44
When I hear that lover's croon It always cuts me so deep As I gaze up alone at the moon And alone, I go to sleep Because these feelings seem to complete people's souls These feelings that I fear I'll never really have There's this void in me where there's a welling up in most And when they hold each other I can't help but feel sad And he can't help falling in love with you And when I think about it, it stings I really don't know what I'm supposed to do They tell me you can't force these things
5.
I want to be in England, where the history's really old And where they've got a cooler record of not doing what they're told Their streets and parks are a better backdrop for my all-day walks I like the spelling of the words there and I like the way they talk I've never felt this way before Who knew you could about a place? This isn't the place where I was born But it's the one that puts a smile on my face I see beauty in its flaws, I'm restless, ready to do anything It isn't easy to be content when you're on the wrong side of the pond I'm on the wrong side of the pond They'd move here to New Jersey in a second if they could They say that they don't feel at home in England like they should They like the company of the boardwalk's ghosts when they walk along But don't make the mistake of thinking this love is only for a song I'm not saying I hate where I'm from; it has its own perks and its charms But this is the place where I really belong And if you won't see the harmlessness in letting us trade homes Then you'd better watch your borders for the day that we do it on our own
6.
I just can't seem to quiet my mind Things that I'm fine with in the day, now the nagging dread won't go away How far away is death and will I ever be the best? I'll think I'm drifting off, then it eludes me My eyes are open wide And I wish you were here to sing me a lullaby I'd trade 50 years just to sink into your arms tonight 'Cause I can't sleep again, so would you sing me a lullaby? And I just can't seem to place my head right There's no position I can keep that doesn't put a limb to sleep And every time I shift the clock seems to mock me as it ticks I'll think I'm drifting off, then finally The next thing I know I'm waking up
7.
Hey kid, you play that music loud 'Cause this is only temporary When those losers call you teacher's pet I know that they don't see the half of it But that doesn't matter Hey kid, you keep up that good work 'Cause this is only temporary But your habits of excellence today Will take you so far, someday you'll see And then their words won't matter 'Cause you and me, we are the overachievers The ones who break the curve And when they hate us, when they put us down It's because deep down they know what we're worth 'Cause overachievers, we win in the end Hey kid, keep making those choices with care 'Cause this is only temporary When priorities come from someone else Yeah, you might get the job, the car, the house But not the things that matter Hey kid, you go on, keep on learning 'Cause that'll last to the day you die And when you've learned to master what you study hard Then you can master whatever you're working toward And then their words won't matter So you keep on striving to do the impossible, to do even better than your best Right now it seems like it's all you have A few years from now you'll realize that it's everything 'Cause overachievers, we win in the end
8.
Sometimes I feel like time's too slow Why am I not at the place I want to go? I can see my future and it seems to glow But back in the present is thankless hard work Will I ever make it? I can never be sure But then I remember the fun's in what we endure When they say "I haven't got all day" As I learn and grow I've seen that it's true My true time's all my life Sometimes you're just asking too soon Baby you're my dream In your eyes, I see what I want to be If we were together, it'd be perfect it would seem But it was still too early when we met We weren't ready to give those things we wanted to get But it's not quite time to write off our romantic chances yet I don't have all day, I just have all my life
9.
Inside my head is a constant party That makes the world seem so lovely There's beautiful music and poetry and imagery Of a better world And for my own work they plant a seed Don't you wish that you could be inside my head? Inside my head is an unintentional parody Of everyone I wish I could be From the most pretentious genius to the simplest city slicker I guess I'm somewhere in between Don't you wish that you could be inside my head? Inside my head I'm mixed up I don't know where this life will lead Oh no, you don't want to be inside my head Inside my head, I have fun No matter what it's like out there 'Cause everything is perfect and everything is beautiful as far as my eye can really see And I know that's not true from everywhere And so don't you wish that you could be inside my head?
10.
What's wrong with this world? I'm so sick of hearing congratulations For wealth and beauty and sport When you leave the tabloid on the table I won't give it so much as a glance This is our world, not yours Your walls are artificial but your insecurity is real Who's who in this world? You have it all, the power and the resources But we're not really wanting either We don't need your propaganda To tell us that we're in control And that is why I feel fine In spite of everything that you did All your destruction and horror, well We may have both made mistakes, but I can change And so it is that peace still has a chance What's good in this world Is just the very basics now, but that is all that we need Some green and blue in a mass of chaos And a feeling that'll never be distilled into a name And I don't think you'll ever feel it And that is the most profound shame
11.
If I ruled the world, I'd abolish all the laws and start again 'Cause most of them don't make an ounce of sense If I started with just one then it would be Make way every day at noon for singing and dancing in the streets If I ruled the world it would be a lot better But I'm just your average dreamer If I ruled the world, the only rule would really be to have respect And if you don't obey we'll spare you the whip It's the empirical psychologists who'd decide 'Cause they'll have learned to turn you bad guys into the good guys Okay, maybe I don't really know how to rule the world But at least I wouldn't rule with bigotry or take all the powers for myself
12.
The crush, it hit me hard I'll never forget that first drop in my gut And from the moment that it started The only thing I really wanted was your love But it's a driving force I'm one step closer to greatness every day I'm on an endlessly progressing course On the miserable chance you'll even look my way If I could have you then I don't know what I would do 'Cause I can see it now If you held me and swore you'd never let me go I'd lay my other worries down I'd say let's stay forever and ignore the world below And then how could I progress? I don't think anything could make me even care If I thought my life was absolutely at its best Why would I need anything beyond your loving stare? Not getting what you want, it builds character too You've bored a hole in my heart, but I know I'll get through
13.
Do Do Do 02:21
When I was young I hung on your every word But at night in my room I would do what I could To learn to do the things that you did I started out with these ambitions from the first time I could talk But it took me many years to gain the faith I'd win 'em all And I don't think I could give up now I've got it in my sights And I'm working on it every single night 'Cause I want to be a star I want to shine as bright as you I used to think I'd grow out of these dreams for an easier thing to do But as I aged, they only grew

about

This is a collection of my favorite songs from my 52 week long Throwaway Song of the Week project (amandaroseriley.com/music/best-of-the-throwaway-song-of-the-week).

If you like what you hear, please follow me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter: amandaroseriley.com/contact

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released May 31, 2016

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Amanda Rose Riley Lincoln Park, New Jersey

Quirky, punk & pop-influenced acoustic singer-songwriter. Equal parts dreamer and doer.

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