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To Build Me A House

by Michael Love Michael

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1.
Verse 1 I feel like I can breathe again In this house that isn’t yours Everything in it belong to me: The knick knacks, the luxury, the thoroughbred puppies I wonder if you wish you gave it to me My regrets in life are very few And my days are brighter now But the sun from the bay just takes me to The darkness when you were around Why is it so easy to live without me? Chorus When you look at a woman like me Know it don’t come easily If it comes at all It’s OK if it takes a lifetime at least To build me a house that won’t fall Verse 2 Knocking boots in the booth at Bluestocking Books In a CellBlock jock made of leather I went in hot with a taste for a peppermint swirl Left colder than the January weather I wonder if you wish you gave it to me Daddy, did I prove you right? Am I everything you feared I’d be? Am I the son who bears your name, Or the daughter who took your seed? Chorus When you look at a woman like me Know it don’t come easily If it comes at all It’s OK if it takes a lifetime at least To build me a house that won’t fall
2.
Anti-Trust 04:27
Verse 1 It’s easier to deflect than it is to reflect It’s easier to project than it is to protect me, oh Me, oh Pre-Chorus Why am I not worth protecting? You promised me you’d save me From me and from you, oh You, oh Chorus And the fight inside is my own safe place Where can I go? Who can I trust? So I lock it up tight, make my own safe space Anti trust Anti trust Anti Verse 2 Confusing when I look to my right and my left Confusing how you try to make me blind to myself It’s what you do oh You are so cruel oh Pre-Chorus Why am I not worth protecting You promised me you’d save me From me and from you oh You oh Chorus And the fight inside is my own safe place Where can I go? Who can I trust? So I lock it up tight, make my own safe space Anti trust Anti trust Anti Bridge I learn the hard way there are no saviors, No valiant knights in shining armor Unless of course you mean the ones who ride at night, Their torches high Ready to burn me Ready to burn me If my truth interferes with yours. Chorus x Half of Bridge Repeat
3.
Verse 1 Blue eyes All I see is your lies All I see is you looking at me Looking into you Can I see some of your soul? Instead I see waters frozen cold Blink once or twice I need a better view Chorus Oh, je me sens terriblement seul et Rien ne le changera jamais Oh, je me sens terriblement seul et Rien ne le changera jamais Post-Chorus Blue eyes (Oooh) Blue eyes (Oooh) Devil Verse 2 Maniac Maniacal sociopath Tell me what possessed you to think You could psychoanalyze me like that? When I gave you my trust Told you things I had not told anyone If I see you again swear to God I will fuck you up Chorus Oh, je me sens terriblement seul et Rien ne le changera jamais Oh, je me sens terriblement seul et Rien ne le changera jamais Post-Chorus Blue eyes (Oooh) Blue eyes (Oooh) Devil Chorus Oh, je me sens terriblement seul et Rien ne le changera jamais Oh, je me sens terriblement seul et Rien ne le changera jamais
4.
Verse 1 I shouldn't be so sexy I shouldn't wear no flag bikini When I stand on the beach When I go out to eat I can taste you hating me Pre-Chorus Your white body takes up space My Black body erased I might be American but this is not my country Chorus American flag bikini American flag bikini Invite me to the party oh-oh-oh-oh You will never see me no, no, no American flag bikini Put me on the TV oh-oh-oh-oh You will never see me no, no, no You will never see me Verse 2 Gotchu shook like a Coca-Cola can You wanna fuck it, wanna fight it, be a man I know you're scared of my skin Cuz yours is so paper thin So why you always tryna dive in? Pre-Chorus Your white body takes up space My Black body erased I might be American but this is not my country Chorus American flag bikini American flag bikini Invite me to the party oh-oh-oh-oh You will never see me no, no, no You will never see me Bridge Pledge allegiance to my ass You don't get an all-access pass KKKendoll, think you deserve it all I'm sorry you feel small Chorus American flag bikini American flag bikini Invite me to the party oh-oh-oh-oh You will never see me no, no, no American flag bikini Put me on the TV oh-oh-oh-oh You will never see me no, no, no You will never see me Outro I shouldn't be so sexy I shouldn't wear no flag bikini
5.
Death Row 04:14
Caught in a daze, I forget myself White noise. Caught in your gaze, I see myself What must I destroy? EVERYTHING BURN IT DOWN EVERYTHING THE WHOLE DAMN TOWN Are we waiting for the end of something Are we standing around doing nothing Are we waiting for the second coming Are we standing up & doing something Are we playing with the knife’s edge Are we dressing up in chain metal Are we ready to jump off the ledge Are we ready to go into battle The first thing we have to change Is absolutely everything Nothing can be truly changed Until it is truly faced (Repeat) Gimme pleasure Gimme pleasure Gimme pleasure Cannot take the pressure The pressure The pressure (Repeat) EVERYTHING Are we waiting for the end of something (burn it all down) Are we standing around doing nothing (burn it all down) Are we waiting for the second coming (burn it all down) Are we fighting back, doing something EVERYTHING Are we playing with the knife’s edge (the whole damn town) Are we dressing up in chain metal (the whole damn town) Are we ready to jump off the ledge (the whole damn town) Are we ready to go into battle Gimme pleasure Gimme pleasure Gimme pleasure Cannot take the pressure The pressure The pressure (Repeat)
6.
7.
Lemons 03:10
Verse 1 If you were more self-aware then you could achieve greatness Then you could pick up your face when your teeth hit the pavement If I listened to you, then I'd be "so much farther" But I'd rather eat glass than treat you like my father Chorus What the fuck do I know? I am 19 I'm just a kid In a lofty daydream Oh You were right And so wrong To underestimate me Make me wanna fly Fly away Fly away Make me wanna... Post-Chorus Die-i-i-i-i-i Fly away Die-i-i-i-i-i Fly away Die-i-i-i-i-i Fly away Die-i-i-i-i-i Fly away Verse 2 Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't very fuzzy Was he? Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't very fuzzy Was he? Chorus What the fuck do I know? I am 19 I'm just a kid In a lofty daydream Oh You were right And so wrong To underestimate me Make me wanna fly Fly away Fly away Make me wanna... Bridge Die (fly away) Die (fly away) Die (fly away) Die (fly away) Post-Chorus Die-i-i-i-i-i Fly away Die-i-i-i-i-i Fly away Die-i-i-i-i-i Fly away Die-i-i-i-i-i Fly away
8.
Palm Springs 03:32
Verse 1 Tangy watermelon from the dirty hand Of my first old friend On Venice beach Hé lived in a tent He walked with a limp Hung out on the street Lined with rundown RVs Pre-Chorus No he wasn’t scared He wasn’t scared Of me Why should he be? Chorus In the first BMW Riding in from Palm Springs I have everything And I live like a king From the last little bitch Riding in from Palm Springs I’d give it all away If it meant I’d be free Verse 2 The ocean, the ocean calls my name It’s where I wash my sins away Till dusk when the tides too high Pleasantville, a world in black and white Chorus In the first BMW Riding in from Palm Springs I have everything And I live like a king From the last little bitch Riding in from Palm Springs I’d give it all away If it meant I’d be free Bridge Desert jackals howling at night It’s all I’ve known all of my life Wherever I go, there I are By the beach, I’m not too far Outro No he wasn’t scared he wasn’t scared of me Why should he be?
9.
Wild Flowers 04:05
Verse 1 Now I lay me down me to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep If I die before I awake I pray the Lord my soul to take I’m so young but I know the fight (know the fight) And I’ll be fighting my whole life (my whole life) Toss alone in bed at night (bed at night) Wishing you were by my side (by my side) Chorus You told me never give up my power You told me when they yell you yell louder And you told me weed everything but the wildflowers Verse 2 Walking home all alone at night Leaving footprints close behind It’s hard enough to fill your shoes Cannot try I’m born to lose But you watered me to grow And you always felt like home Only feel the great divide Every time I close my eyes Chorus You told me never give up my power You told me when they yell you yell louder And you told me weed everything but the wildflowers Bridge Take what you need Leave the rest in the dust Wish you could see me now Still who I was Weed everything but just leave what I love Wildflowers Wildflowers Chorus You told me never give up my power You told me when they yell you yell louder And you told me weed everything but the wildflowers Outro I promise to never give up my power I promise that when they yell I’ll yell louder Cuz you told me to weed everything but the wildflowers
10.
Chorus Have My sex My love Have My mind My touch Have My mystery Have My soul to keep Verse 1 You cannot have whatever you want You cannot take whatever you want You cannot waste whatever you want You do not get what you want My skin is welts and ache My heart is yours to break ½ Chorus Have My sex My love Have My mind My touch Post-Chorus Put me in a swing, legs up Lock me in a cage You might be the master But I am nobody's slave Verse 2 Maybe you'll have me to yourself And you'll fuck me like a beast in hell Maybe I'll havе you in a padded cell And I'll fuck you like I hatе myself Post-Chorus Put me in a swing, legs up Lock me in a cage You might be the master But I am nobody's slave Chorus Have My sex My love Have My mind My touch Have My mystery Have My soul to keep Bridge Genesis Leviticus Judges Kings Romans Corinthians Timothy Kings Judges Kings Trans Women Are Queens Queens, Queens Judge the King Verse 3 Do you like it When I'm silent? You want me quiet? You can't have me Do you like it When I'm silent? You want me quiet? You can't have me
11.
Richard 03:34
Verse 1 They found you all alone Surrounded by bottles and newspaper clippings From a time when hope was lost In a photo in a frame there you are smiling Standing on the fresh-cut lawn Of your ranch-style home Behind you is a blueberry bush I don’t know what you know Chorus I remember you dancing You said Hey I’m doing the butterfly You were so enchanting You said Hey I’m doin the butterfly Hey I’m doin the butterfly Verse 2 A fragrance from Chanel Decorates my décolletage won’t you kiss me In a place where love can bloom In rose-colored frames, we were smiling last June Soaking up the blood-red sun Of white-sand beaches in my mind I wait for the eclipse to come I don’t know what to do with time Chorus I remember you dancing You said Hey I’m doing the butterfly You were so enchanting You said Hey I’m doin the butterfly Hey I’m doin the butterfly Hummed bridge (20 seconds) Chorus Out I remember you dancing You said Hey I’m doing the butterfly You were so enchanting You said Hey I’m doin the butterfly Hey I’m doin the butterfly
12.
What remains is yet to be seen Right now all I see is crazy Right in front of me You let your colors show This will make our flowers grow I could paint a canvas of you Red blood, black heart and dark blue You show me every single side Jekyll and Hyde, with me you don’t have to hide Aileen Bundy The Trump family Stalin Putin Ian Brady and Myra Hindley Everyday people just like you and me Let your colors shine true, someone will love you What remains are what’s left of my remains Right now I’m in an unmarked grave 6 feet deep You let your colors show The flowers get are at my funeral Will you paint a canvas of me? Hang it up in the halls of memory You showed me every single side Jekyll and Hyde, bury me in diamonds next to Aileen Bundy The Trump family Stalin Putin Ian Brady and Myra Hindley Everyday people Just like you and me Let your colors shine true Someone will love you
13.
(based on a poem by my great-grandma Lelah Broadnax) It’s warm when spring is coming You can feel the cool south breeze The busy bees pass humming And linger among the trees You can see the oak buds swelling As the grass begins to grow The other things are telling There’s no fear of ice There’s no fear of snow The farmers are glad to see it return They will have such jolly fun The weeds and the grass They burn under the strong rays of the sun The gardens and fields must be broken And late of seeds be sewn The crack in the ground is a token Before long the plants are full grown The farmers must all get busy Weeding and plowing the ground We see the return at harvest Even those living in the town We should all be glad of our southland From farm crops to mineral vein But the thing that we should be most proud of, Is the coming of pleasant spring
14.
(originally performed by Kylie Minogue) La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la I just can't get you out of my head Boy, your lovin' is all I think about I just can't get you out of my head Boy, its more than I dare to think about La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la I just can't get you out of my head Boy, your lovin' is all I think about I just can't get you out of my head Boy, it’s more than I dare to think about Every night Every day Just to be there in your arms Won't you stay Won't you lay Stay forever and ever, and ever, and ever La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la I just can't get you out of my head Boy, your lovin' is all I think about I just can't get you out of my head Boy, its more than I dare to think about There's a dark secret in me Don't leave me left in your heart Set me free Feel the need in me Set me free Stay forever and ever, and ever, and ever La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la I just can't get you out of my head La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la I just can't get you out of my head La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la I just can't get you out of my head La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
15.
Verse 1 I always felt like I came from nowhere Just like an angel made of dust Until I went down into the Southland And learned more about what I’m made of My hips are wide like the Rio Grande Across the border, you will find me I am a girl from humble beginnings We built our homes on the Texan earth Pre-chorus But down in Texas I’m not alone star Wherever you go There you are Chorus Everything is bigger in Texas Come and find out Everything is bigger in Texas Come and find out Everything is bigger in Texas Come and find out Everything is biggest in Texas Wanna find out Verse 2 I met a man who sent me a picture He asked me if I could drive a stick He said he wanted this chocolate pussy He asked me if I liked big white dick In the middle of Euless A KKK town, There is a Trump flag Unfurling out So pick me up outside of my aunt’s house And show me what Texas is all about Pre-chorus But down in Texas I’m not alone star Wherever you go There you are Chorus Everything is bigger in Texas Come and find out Everything is bigger in Texas Come and find out Everything is bigger in Texas Come and find out Everything is biggest in Texas Wanna find out

about

Building on the foundation created by XO and its critical acclaim – an album MTV says “rejects easy categorization” and what NYLON calls a “much needed perspective on the how and why of everything.” – To Build Me a House is a collection of 15 songs (13 standard, plus 2 bonus tracks) diving deeper into Michael’s psychology – from themes of home and family to trans identity – and establishing a fresh, eclectic musical identity in the process. Michael executive produced the album with Reuben Butchart, a Brooklyn-based musician and composer. Michael and Reuben recorded most of the songs over a two year period in his Brooklyn studio, with Michael starting some demos in Los Angeles, Paris, and Berlin, and bringing in other writers and producers, including the aforementioned Chelsea Wolfe, Mood Killer, Jesse Saint John, Venn Smyth, Natti Vogel, Blew Velvet, Sam Sparro, Medusa, and Will Shishmanian, to name a few, to round out the album’s eclectic soundscape.

credits

released November 4, 2022

The album was executive produced by Michelle & @reubenbutchart, and mastered by @dannywolf6.

Album artwork by @ralvarezartcom, shot by @brett_lindell

« This album was executive produced by Michelle and frequent collaborator Reuben Butchart, and written and recorded in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Berlin over a two year period.»

Get Better Records 2022

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