Tomas Kalnoky

Tomas Kalnoky (born December 24, 1980) is the lead singer and songwriter of the ska band Streetlight Manifesto. He is also a member of the Bandits Of The Acoustic Revolution, another music collective. He has also been involved with Catch 22 and Gimp.

Sourced

So you're tired of living
Feel like you might give in
Well don't.
It's not your time
- "A Better Place, A Better Time," from Everything Goes Numb (2003) [1]

So tell me: how long do you think you can go before you lose it all?
Before they call you bluff and watch you fall?
I don't know, but I'd like to think I had control
At some point, but I let it go and lost my soul
- "A Moment of Silence," from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003)

Last two soldiers on the battlefield
survivors of the war
they aim at one another while their mothers beg the lord
"if you're listening, I'm missing him
so somehow bring him home"
how did it come to this?
so the soldiers lift their rifles and they're aiming at the head
they think of their first love before they take a final breath
and somewhere in the distance they hear something someone said
how did it come to this?
- "The Big Sleep," from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003)

Years go by, the time it does fly
And every single second is a moment in time
That passes oh so quick, and it seems like nothing
But when you're looking back well it amounts to everything
- "1234, 1234," from "Keasbey Nights" (2003)

I got no cash I got no girl but I got the world in the palm of my hand and I don't care if you care or if you understand because I'm a little kid and I've got little problems and I don't give a shit if you don't, you don't understand because:
I got me.
That's all I need.
And I live comfortably.
And I sleep peacefully.
- "Giving Up, Giving In," from Keasbey Nights (2006) [2]

Right and wrong

There's not a lot of difference when you're singing that poor man's song

And that song it goes just a little like this:

"Everything Went Numb" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [3]

I take that back I won't stop singing when I'm dead

I'll sing from the great beyond, I will echo in your head

And if you think taking your life will set your free

You've got something to learn, it's called humility

"That'll Be The Day" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [4]

I'd like to sing a song (please swear you won't be long)

I'll try not to be long but I don't want to get this story wrong

There was a kid who never cared about the little things

Don't even bother because I'm tired and I'm sick of it

And everything she makes a point I'll make a counterpoint

She said it's easy but in the end you'll have no choice

And you know that's only just the way that it goes

(You said it right man, that is just the way that it goes)

I've got a gun in my hand but that gun won't cock

My finger's on the trigger but that trigger seems locked

And I can't stop staring at the tick tock clock

And even if I could I would never give up

With a vest on my chest and a bullet in my lung

I can't believe I'm dying with my song unsung

So if and when I die won't you bury me alone?

Because I'll never get to heaven if I'm singing this song:

Oh, you don't know where I've been

Oh, you don't know what I've seen

"Point/Counterpoint" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [5]

Don't you come to me with all your color-coded quotes

Everybody's laughing but they never ever get my jokes

Fool, you're a tool, a sheep

And it's obvious to everyone but company you keep

And don't you squint and me because your childhood was the pits

Every single one of us have trodden through our shit

Oh, and I know you're shrewd

Because I smell it on your clothes

It's in everything you do

Falling, fallen, we all fall down

It only really matters how we stand our ground

And if and when we rise to our feet again

We'll be on our own

"If And When We Rise Again" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [6]

It hurts too much to stand by

You've got to stop and draw a line

And everyone here has to choose a side tonight

The moment of truth is haunting you

Don't forget your family

Regardless of what you choose to do

You can't decide

And they're all screaming “Why won't you?”

I'll start the engine but I can't take this ride for you

I'll draw the bath and I'll load your gun

But I hope so hard that you bathe and hunt

"A Better Place, A Better Time" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [7]

And now I know it's hard when you don't know what to think

And every single smile is a foil and you're waking up

You might try but you won't get by until you're crucified for all the things you try to do

Well I don't care if you sink or swim

And I don't care how you hold it in

As long as you don't bother me with all the things I don't bother you with

And 9 times out of 10 you might be right

But what about that time you know you're wrong?

You sing that same song

And everybody smiles but they'll never get along

"We Are The Few" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [8]

You say you've got the cure

But I don't have a disease

And you say you've got the answers

But I've made no inquiries

Well you say you're life's a bore

And I can't quite disagree

If you judge your life by the pieces of shit that inhabit your TV

Because they stand so proud, and they talk so loud

And every other word is a lie

I've found that everyone who is anyone is a waste of time

"Failing, Flailing" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [9]

Hey there Salinger, what did you do?

Just when the world was looking to you

To write anything that meant anything

You told us you were through

And it's been years since you passed away

But I see no plaque, and I see no grave

And I can't help believing that you wanted it that way

And Vincent Van Gogh, why do you weep?

You were on your way to heaven but the road was steep

And who was there to break your fall?

We're guilty, one and all

And I don't know much, but I do know this: With a golden heart comes a rebel fist

And I can't help agreeing with those that would not quit

And it makes me sick when I think of it

All my heroes could not live with this

And I hope you rest in peace because with us you never did

And K.D.C. you were much too young

And you changed my life

But I draw the line at suicide

So here's to life!

"Here's to Life (Reprise)" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [10]

A moment of silence please for those that never get the chance

They show up to the party but they're never asked to dance

The losers the liars the bastards the thieves

The cynicists, the pessimists and those that don't believe in nothing

I never met a loser that I didn't see eye to eye with, I declare

I stare into your eyes

But you look right past me into the air

What's it like to stand in your shoes?

To have never felt the belt of somebody's abuse?

I take the bottle and I tip it to all my heroes that have passed

Alas, your have left us but your stories they will last

Uninspired by the recruiting call

Independent we stand

Independent we fall

So tell me: How long do you think you can go before you lose it all?

Before they call your bluff and watch you fall?

I don't know but I'd like to think I had control

At some point but I let it go and lost my soul

Sit tight but the revolution's years away

I'm losing faith and I'm running low on things to say

So I guess I have no choice but to regurgitate

The tired anthem of a loser and a hypocrite

Oh! To have died that night I realised it wouldn't last!

Our days were numbered and the reaper tipped the hourglass

The final mayday of our sinking ship had come and passed

Oh! To the west, you don't know what it is you're running from

And everybody's laughing loud

Your last chance to make your mother and your father proud

"A Moment of Silence" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [11]

It doesn't really matter if you lead or follow

Everybody's laughing like there's no tomorrow and even if there was, would you still go following your friends?

I don't know where we went wrong, we're still singing those same sad songs

“It's my life, not your life, I'll end it when I want”

And now I'm off to save the world once again

But I don't know how I'll pull it off this time

I think I'm going to drown

Now he's off to save the world once again

But he don't know how he'll pull it off this time

I just know I'm going to drown

"The Saddest Song" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [12]

Why do you cry when you know how the story ends?

How can you laugh when you know that it hurts your friends?

We've all been there once but you never left

This is me coming back to get you out

To say goodbye to make amends

I'm not leaving this place

Unless I'm leaving with you

'Cos you're the only person with a half decent heart here

And I know you will put it to use

Me and Mr. Dylan on the ride home

We had a heart to heart about life

But neither him or me could decide for ourselves if we wanted to outlive that night

Like two children on the playground of the unconfessed souls

Abandoned by our mothers and our lovers and our foes

If only we were brave enough to live the lives we stole

What a wonderful world this could be!

So how many more examples until we break?

So how many sacrifices must we make?

Because we've all been there once before

And it looks like we've returned once more

So is this the beginning or the end?

"The Big Sleep" from "Everything Goes Numb" (2003) [13]

We'll not be victims there'll be no victims of to speak

And only then will we be free

And up will rise the meek

And when we fall we will fall together

No one will catch us so we'll catch ourselves

And where we roam, we will roam forever

No one will understand what we meant

The beaten and the bruised, forsaken, the abused

Oh what a glorious day we'll have rising up and claiming all our dues

The day will come as sure as the ever-setting sun

All of those that self-impose will find themselves so indisposed

Now, with the line drawn in the wet sand

You need to tell us where you stand

Sitting waiting watching rotting everything they warned us of is true

Now tell me what we're all supposed to do

They're coming after all of us with everything they've got

With the fury of a soldier who will answer to his God

So how will we fight? All we have is logic and love on our side

"We Will Fall Together" from "Somewhere In the Between" (2007) [14]

If I were you, I would take this as a sign

Believe it's true, we were never meant to fly

And I owe you, I know you more than anyone alive

And I will not let go

They will not remember this song

No matter what we do we'll be wrong

They will not remember this song

No matter what we do we'll be wrong

I can't seem to see the seal we're breaking

I can't seem to see the seal we broke

I refuse to recognise your views

Someone shouted "Everything's for nothing"

Somebody shouted, "All is lost"

But I can't buy that nonsense too

Way back when the prophecies began

Do you think they really had a master plan?

Or were they merely writing fables, stories?

I don't know but it has occurred to me

The punishment that they threaten constantly

It's only real if they could just convince me

So fuck the flocks of sheep that keep amassing masses

Asses being led so far astray

And I won't claim to believe the things I read

Black books or agenda magazines

I'd rather see in shades of gray

If I were you, I would take this as a sign

Believe it's true, we were never meant to fly

And I knew you when you were you

Before they twisted all your views

Before you came unglued

"Down, Down, Down to Mephisto's Cafe" from "Somewhere in the Between" (2007)

Would you be impressed if I said that the dead would help us counting

Every single moment that we waste our time?

All the time we're spending vaccinating this disease

I just get dizzy when I think of all the ways we try to hide our maladies

We wine (We wine!), we dine (We dine!), and everything is fine

Because it's not my fault

Now you're upset because you finally got the notion

That everything you had is spinning down the drain

Oh! Do you mean it when you beg and pray and plead?

Your "Giveittomegiveittomegiveittomegiveittome all those things we need"

And what, pray tell, will you whimper when your number will be called

You'll say "It's not my fault"

I had a dream last night where everyone was trying

Subconsciously I knew it was a lie

And when I woke I knew that it was time to pray

To make amends before the end, before my judgement day

I looked around, I stood alone, I knew what I had to say

I said "It's all my fault"

"Would You Be Impressed?" from "Somewhere in the Between" (2007) [15]

Little miss dismissed can't miss like a detuned radio

I cannot believe you when you tell me what you know

And nothing will be broken if your house is made of stone

But you know as I do it will never be a home

We want it, they got it

They claim we'll die without it

But something tells me they are wrong

So what will you do when they call your name and you're not ready to go?

Everyone will stare at you and tell you what you know

That you're in too deep and you can't quite keep your secrets, one and all

We might just make it after all, on our own

We might just make it after all

But we had one foot on the gas and one foot in the grave

Everyone was laughing when we said we had it made

"One Foot on the Gas, One Foot in the Grave" from "Somewhere in the Between" (2007) [16]

So mercy, mercy, mercy me

Praying for the death of a man I'll never meet

Though everyone will know the truth they'll still just make believe

Mercy mercy me

That's all they came for, that's all they took

That's all we had to offer, only dirty looks

And when they realized we'd given all we could, that's when they finally understood

Mercy mercy mercy me

Haunted by the memories of things we'll never see

Guilty for the statements that we'll never get to speak

Mercy mercy me

"We can't quite blame it on our mothers

Claim everything they did was always wrong"

And there ain't no turning back when our train is off its track

And there's nothing we can do but watch it crash

And there ain't no right and wrong when we know it won't be long

And there's nothing we can do but watch it crash

"Watch It Crash" from "Somewhere in the Between" (2007) [17]

Maybe the times we had, they weren't that bad

And everything else was part of the plan

We sang: "I don't know where we go from here"

This is the alpha, omega, beginning and the end

And we all just idolize the dead

So you were born (So you were born!), and that was a good day

Someday you'll die (Someday you'll die!), and that is a shame

But somewhere in the between was a life of which we all dream

And nothing and no one will ever take that away

You had a love and that love had you

And nothing mattered, you were fine

And some will complain, they're just bitter, what a shame

They know that loving and losing is better than nothing at all

Maybe the times we had, they weren't that bad

And everything else was part of our path

We sang: "I don't know where we go from here"

This is the anthem, the slogan, the summary of events

And we all just idealize the past

"Somewhere In The Between" from "Somewhere in the Between" (2007) [18]

The blonde lead the blind, but now I being to see

All the things you missed when you were dismissed

Because learning always ended at three

And time after time, you pass along liability

And all the things you say, they only give you away

Because you're on the same level that you were that day

Oh! Friend! You look too deep at the cover of the magazine

But the words inside they come across deprived

And they force feed shit, but you still subscribe

And you watch, but you don't see

You touch, but you don't feel

And you'll rue the day they'll try to take it away

But they know you'll never fight it if they keep it the same

Did you loose faith?

Yes, I lost faith in the powers that be

But in doing so I came across the will to disagree

And I gave up, yes I gave up and then I gave in

But I take responsibility for every single sin

"The Blonde Lead the Blind" from "Somewhere in the Between" (2007) [19]

So Marigold, my love, you've had too much to drink

And I need not remind you, our discount tickets for this sinking ship

Take-backs and sweet regrets, that's all that we have left

No one is looking out for anyone but number one

One to one, two to dance, we all get our sweet romance

Though sour grapes will turn to wine it's all just vinegar with time

"The Receiving End of it All" from "Somewhere in the Between" (2007) [20]

Oh! My dear! My tis of thee! What a tangled web we weave!

Everyone is the one until the one falls down

Then we're all just "please please please"

The painted rust will only fool the fools for just so long

Eventually, that's when they'll see everything was wrong

Oh! The shame! Humility! What a wicked gang are we!

Like a liar looking down on a thief looking down on a killer looking down on a creep

Oh! This sinking ship will only hold its course for just so long

Eventually, that's when they'll see everything is wrong

"What A Wicked Gang Are We" from "Somewhere in the Between" (2007) [21]

Please excuse my enemies

I think they do not know

That I will gladly self-destruct

if they leave me alone.

"This is the start, the beginning
The prologue to the yarn that you're spinning
A million synonyms will never get close to describe the feeling"
- If Only for Memories from "The Hands That Thieve" (2013)

External links

Wikipedia

Wikipedia has an article about:

Tomas Kalnoky