Lyrics

Learner's Permit
The Ride
Not Jealous At All
Already Given up
Gold Star (Feel Like A Ghost)
Come Down
The Whole Bed
Overfeel
Shake You Off

Credits and dedication

Learner's Permit

you went and did it again
up and ghosted all of your friends
you were always happy on your own
and I've never been very brave
I'm still learning how to behave
and all I want is a chance to say hello

and it's the last big dance of the year
and I can tell you don't wanna be here
and I know how it feels to be alone
and I know you think I'm just a kid
but I just got my learner's permit
and I can drive you home if you wanna go

I can drive you home if you want to

The Ride

always take the unpaved road
although it takes a little longer
'cause you might find yourself
a friend along the way
be always free to speak your mind
and never doubt that you belong here
conscience is a debt
we never can repay

one end, to the other
know knows what we'll uncover
blue sky up above you
heed the highway when it calls you

never fear to show some skin
'cause we all need a little color
and every one of us has been
tattooed by the sun
and always keep faith in the ride
you'll never find a better lover
there's no standing still
when you're born to run

one end, to the other
know knows what we'll uncover
blue sky up above you
heed the highway when it calls you

one end, to the other
we love you like a brother
night falls all around you
forever thankful that we found you

Not Jealous At All

you live your life in a golden time
you'd never know it from the way you whine
you think you've earned the right to be adored
but no one's giving trophies out for being born

another chance that you didn't earn
another lesson that you'll have to learn
but you don't have to listen to a word I say
you're gonna have to work it out yourself someday

I'm not gonna tell 'bout the way it should be
how everything we wanted you've been given for free
you're already standing where we had to crawl
but you don't know how to use it
and I'm not jealous at all

they lived their lives in a golden time
but then they pulled the ladder up behind
and now they hate you for expecting more
every generation blames the one before

another coin for the star machine
another venue for your self esteem
but never feel guilty just for having fun
every generation hates the one to come

I'm not gonna tell 'bout the way it should be
how everything we wanted you've been given for free
you're already standing where we had to crawl
but you don't know how to use it
and I'm not jealous at all

look at what you've been given
all of these strings are pulled for you
I'll never understand; with all this in your hands
this is what you do?

so cast yourself on the center stage
expecting everyone to give you space
you did the work and now you want the prize
but no one's giving trophies out for doing right

so skip the line and absolve yourself
and leave the wreckage for somebody else
your future's always gonna be an easy road
you'll only ever play the game in story mode

Already Given Up

it wasn't supposed to be this hard
can't let down my guard
as I stumble through the dark

and everyone seems to have the upper hand
gotta find a storm to stand in the middle of

I know I can't let it drag me down
leave my thoughts unwound
'cause I might not bounce back up

and you don't even want to understand
or pretend to give a damn like the rest of us

and I know: it's hard to try
again sometimes, but you've already given up

I'm not so sure this is who you
but you've come too far
to admit you're something else

I guess this is a good enough goodbye
so determined to keep lying to yourself

and I know: it's hard to try
again sometimes, but you've already given up
yeah I know: it's hard to try
again sometimes, but you've already given up

yeah I know: it's hard to try
again sometimes, but you've already given up

Gold Star (Feel Like A Ghost)

so you've come to set me straight
an irresistible disaster
so hold me up against the others
maybe we'll both find what we're after

'cause it doesn't take much
it hardly takes anything
to make me feel like a ghost these days
invisible, ethereal
and just a gold star by my name

so say you wanna keep me safe
'cause I wanna be someone worth saving
but I'm always leaving one door open
for whenever you get tired of waiting

'cause it doesn't take much
it hardly takes anything
to make me feel like a ghost these days
invisible, ethereal
and just a gold star by my name

cut away the ropes and skin that
tie us down and hem us in and
did you think I'd fall for that again?

and all the things I've ever wanted
were things that needed to be given
another house been doused for burning
just blame it on another bad decision.

'cause it doesn't take much
it hardly takes anything
to make me feel like a ghost these days
invisible, ethereal
and just a gold star by my name

Come Down

you've got a plan
and the temerity
to make the world as you expect it to be
you show no mercy, you show no mercy
to the people you love

you've got the grades
you've got your autotune
you've got the face
and matching attitude
you show no mercy, you show no mercy
to the people you love

one door closes and
another opens wide
below you voices call you
they think they know you well enough to say

come down, where you oughta be
no one here gets to fly so easily
come down, where you oughta be

you're on the screen
out on the satellite
over our heads
and under copyright
you show no mercy, you show no mercy
to the people you love

we caught your buzz
and now you're in-between
best of the year and new favorite enemy
you show no mercy, you show no mercy
to the people you love

one more hopeful girl
another broken crown
above you faces watch you
they don't think you'll go far enough to say

come down, where you oughta be (you got nothin' to say)
no one here gets to fly so easily
come down, where you oughta be (you got nothin' to say)
why try to deny that it's destiny?
come down, where you oughta be

so shut your eyes
and try not to look down
it's a subtle tightrope
waiting for your chance to come around

you had your time
but now you're overdue
a faded line, all we remember of you
you showed no mercy, you showed no mercy
to yourself

come down, where you oughta be (you got nothin' to say)
no one here gets to fly so easily
come down, where you oughta be (you got nothin' to say)
why try to deny that it's destiny
come down, where you oughta be (you got nothin' to say)
it's not fair and how dare you, honestly?
come down, where you oughta be

The Whole Bed

I've got news for you
can't wait to say it to your face
I think I've finally found my place
and I've got work to do
a cure for your insomnia
so I won't keep you up

you can have the whole bed
you can have the whole bed to yourself
you can have the whole bed
'cause I'm not taking it
I'm not taking the whole bed
you can have the whole bed to yourself
'cause I'm not taking your side

it's not fair to you
wide awake at three a.m.
thinking you'll never sleep again
and I've been restless too
late night on your couch alone
but now I've got my own

you can have the whole bed
you can have the whole bed to yourself
you can have the whole bed
'cause I'm not taking it
I'm not taking the whole bed
you can have the whole bed to yourself
'cause I'm not taking your side
anymore

Overfeel

too much time with tears
I haven't cried like this for years
I never thought I'd feel these feelings again
the thoughts left long behind
now come back creeping down my spine
no matter how I've tried
to make 'em a friend

overfeel, there's no time today
to overfill, to overfeel
but it's okay

a slow-emotion tide
like slow poison in my mind
with a violence that I can barely restrain
cut the wires instead
don't need more voices in my head
I'll learn to cage that beast
and give it a name

overfeel, there's no time today
to overfill, to overfeel
but it's okay

to face the audience alone
recite the lines or write my own
pouring thoughts out on this page
before I'm called to leave the stage
and as I tumble towards that time
what will I have to leave behind?
scattered verses on the air
that you won't hear

overfeel, but it's okay
overfeel, give it a name

overfeel, there's no time today
to overfill, to overfeel
but it's okay
give it a name

Shake You Off

there's only one way this can end
as enemies or former friends
wasted time and wasted breath
I'm willing to let it burn down

so don't get too close to me
'cause I will shake you off eventually
I might do it by degrees
but I will shake you off

there's only two ways this can go
to lead you on or lay you low
I'll teach you what you already know
I'll always break a promise

so don't get too close to me
'cause I will shake you off eventually
I might do it by degrees
but I will shake you off

there's only two ways this will end
and I've got no wish to start again
and you won't need to pretend
'cause I'm gonna make this easy

so don't get too close to me
'cause I will shake you off eventually
and I'll say I set you free
then I will shake you off

shake you off
shake you off eventually

Car Trouble is:

Scott Andrew LePera
voice, guitars and bass guitar

with

Nelson Estes
drums and percussion

and

Don Gunn
percussion

Engineered and mixed by Don Gunn
The Office, Seattle WA.

Mastered by Levi Seitz
Black Belt Mastering, Seattle WA.

Cover and single art by Scott Andrew LePera.

For Derek and Susan.
Ain't it great, sometimes?