STIFFWATER - THE RUINS

THE RUINS

Produced by STIFFWATER in 1982. Music composition copyright 2026 McKinnis Legacy Music, LLC. Sound recording copyright 2026 AJP.
DAVID McKINNIS: Vocals & GuitarsKEITH GOATES: GuitarsKEVIN GOATES: GuitarsSCOTTE BURNS: BassMIKE KLOEPFER: Guitars and keyboardsJIM BENNETT: Drums

OUT IN THE SUN

NIGHT ON THE TOWN

SUN, SKY, RUINS

MISTER MULDOON

THE RUINS

HEADLESS HORSEMEN

GLASS CAGE,PLASTIC PALACE

PROFESSIONAL MOVING TARGETS

LOOK AT ME

THE RUINS LYRICS

OUT IN THE SUNWords and music by David McKinnis
You're out in the sun, but you're not on the run, where did you go to?You've nothing to say, it's a very bright day, what's burning inside you - is burning right through
Sit down, take a drink, light a smoke and then you think that what brought you here is not what it seems to beNo one, not a soul, not a thing for you to behold. You're the ony one here and there's not much else to seeIt's been a long time, but it's by your design, and you look around and there's nothing to stop you
Because you're out in the sun, but you're not on the run, where did you go to?You've nothing to say, it's a very bright day, what's burning inside you - is burning right through
Get up, look around, look at the sun and then you frown, you're not sure from where you came or where you've been beforeOoo you're looking for a clue with no answers coming through, so you pick yourself up and you stumble along like you did beforeSlowly you decide it's time for you to run and hide, and you begin to realize that you shouldn't have come here at all
Because you're out in the sun, but you're not on the run, where did you go to?You've nothing to say, it's a very bright day, what's burning inside you - is burning right through
Here's a simple fact, what can bring you back, all the people down below, and their houses in neat little rowsTo all the shops and busy streets where life is but a - heartbeat - hey!
You've traveled for days in this concrete maze and you start to think that there might be something more than this
Because you're out in the sun, but you're not on the run, where did you go to?You've nothing to say, it's a very bright day, what's burning inside you - is burning right through

NIGHT ON THE TOWNWords and music by David McKinnis
It's a night on the town, don't worry about an open city, it's a night on the town, you feel like a clown as you're comin' downIt's a night on the town, she's waiting for you and she looks quite pretty, a night on the town, you're up on the hill but you're comin' down
This is what you hoped for, oh this is what you wished, remember how it was before, this is something you just can't missAt first there's no one to greet you, but as you get closer you'll see that the center of the city is just as busy as you would hope it to be
It's a night on the town, don't worry about the open city, it's a night on the town, you feel like a clown as you're comin' downIt's a night on the town, she's waiting for you and she looks quite pretty, a night on the town, you're up on the hill but you're comin' down
You're here but now you're hungry, so you stop for a bite to eat, the waiter's old and grumpy and there's the girl you're going to meetShe asks if this seat's taken and you mumble right through your dessert,You try to tell her where you've been for days, but she doesn't seem to understand a word
It's a night on the town, don't worry about an open city, a night on the town, you feel like a clown as you're comin' downIt's a night on the town, she's waiting for you and she looks quite pretty, a night on the town, you're up on the hill but you're comin' downYeah-come on down...
Is this what you hoped for, is this what you wished? Which way, or how much, wait, wait, where is this?You can feel the weight upon your shoulders as you fall back through the broken latch, you can scream all you want,The night's much older than the voice that you can't understandChrist, can someone give me a hand?
It's a night on the town, no need to worry in the broken city, a night on the town, you can't come down and you look like a clownIt's a night on the town, she couldn't wait for you and it's such a pity, a night on the town, you're over the hills and you can't come down

SUN, SKY, RUINSWords and music by David McKinnisAlter ego narration by Kevin Goates
Well, well, well, you're back, aren't you? And you thought a town was all you needed. But tell me, yes, please do, is it or was it better? You know what I mean. Bein' out in the sun, and all that space, and time. But, that's not really what you want, is it? All you really need is some peace. A little sun, a little sky and of course, the ruins.
Please tell me Mister Muldoon, where are you goin' to?Please tell me Mister Muldoon, is it still burning inside you?To abolish your identity is just plain insanity, it will never wash clean.If you follow your advice you'll soon meet your demise,But I guess things aren't always what they seem.
Please tell me Mister Muldoon, is that really your name?Please tell me Mister Muldoon, what's the silly little game?Are you looking for the game so you're really not to blame, you're only out looking for yourself.If you're out to find a question I think I ought to mentionI'm just talking to myself
The sun, the sky, the ruins are yours, and in the eye of the mind, you will find that secret doorThe sun, the sky, the ruins are mine, and I'm deep inside you, and my name is Muldoon, and I will see you very soon.
Well Muldoon, do you still wish to continue this experiment to abolish identity, and time and space as illusion creating illusion?
But as you can see, what will be will be. So as you're looking at me, tell me what do you see?The sun, the sky, the ruins and more, and the eye of the mind is what you're looking for.
You've encountered some things you never thought you would seeAnd now you're running from things that would never be in this worldNow you're taking a stance and every moment, every glance in the town you see every figure in the domeAnd as you climb up the eaves and you look down upon the landAnd as you look down, you see neat little houses in neat little rowsYou're wanting to run but there's no place to goSo you sit and you stare and you say "it's peaceful."The most peaceful country in the system, the most peaceful system in the country,And as the ruins begin to engulf you, it's all or nothing
The answer you're looking for, that sound of sweet serenityAnd while the rite is sung once more, the answer is - infinity
Please tell me Mister Muldoon, will you come back soon?Please tell me Mister Muldoon, while you're howling at the moonThe ruins aren't your cup of tea and neither is insanity, but I guess you'll never learnYou've taken your advice so go ahead and roll the diceAnd remember when you're gambling with you life...sometimes you'll get burned
And you'll know the sun, the sky, the ruins and moreIn your mind you're inclined to believe that you'll find what you're looking forOh the sun, the sky, the ruins are yours, and now you're completeAs you lay down to sleep, and what you see is what you seek.

MAD MULDOONWords and music by David McKinnisPsychiartrist narration by Kevin Goates
There's a man I know, he lives up the street, he dreams all day, some might call him a freakBut I know it's not that way, well he lives on day to day...Oh Mad Muldoon, he's a loon but he's happier that wayHe's very elite and that's something unique, oh what more can I say?Oh Mad Muldoon, he's a loon inside his cocoon, and with all that said,What else is in your head?
The term schizophrenia is a catch-all for a number of different types of disorders, uh, schizophrenia being a group of psychotic disorders where there's a lack of reality testing and major disturbances to thought, emotion and behavior. Muldoon does not have many friends. He has trouble relating to his peers. He's crazy.
Now this average guy is not your normal freak, he's quite insane and that's week to weekFor years it's been this way, he's a fruitcake day to dayOh Mad Muldoon, he's a loon but he's happier that wayWhen I said he's unique, he's a super-geek, oh, what more can i say?Oh Mad Muldoon, he's a loon locked inside his cocoon and with all this saidWhat else is in your head?
Schizophrenic patients such as our Muldoon may have problems in various aspects of their behavior, particularly with attention, emotion, perception, as well as motor behavior, witness your typical klutzy schizophrenic, uh, many of whom display various thought disorders. One of the signs a person is schizophrenic, he or she has problems conducting a logical and coherent conversation, often leading to rushing out the gate.
You got to admire the man, even though he is nutsHe's got a method to his madness, though he's in a rutHe's an explorer, an adventurer, a implorer, a convectionerHe's a leader and a shaman, he's a healer and a sandmanHe's a squealer and a madman and he's all of those thingsThat we keep in our dreams
Oh Mad Muldoon, he's a loon but he's happier that wayFor rational thought is just a straight and narrow way
Now acute schizophrenia is characterized by our Muldoon's penchant for a sudden onset of schizophrenia symptoms, these are confusion, emotional turmoil, disassociation, excitement, lack of excitement....

THE RUINSWords and music by David McKinnisExtra voice by Kevin Goates
Your days have come to an end, it's no more dreaming, no mind to bendThe sun is cold, the earth is old, but the feeling's coming back again
Your back's against a broken rock, the shepherd's left his only flockYour brazen brass is gone at last, it's funny how your head still knocks.
I know it's been said before, but isn't this what you wanted?You're still locked outside the door, and your mind still seems haunted...haunted...seems haunted...still seems haunted....
And you can't seem to find your way, the ruins block your viewThe stones are all turned away and they mean nothing to youTake the time to brace yourself, the world will turn anewNow is the time to face yourself, there's nothing you can doAnd you'll say goodbye to the ruinsAnd you'll say goodbye to the ruinsAnd when you say goodbye to the ruins,There'll be no sun, no sky and now there's no ruinsAnd you'll say...goodbye
Ruins, ruins, ruins....

HEADLESS HORSEMENWords and music by Scotte Burns and David McKinnis
Four horsemen ride the apocalypse, grim grins growing across their lips,Behind them all their children roam, to set ablaze their soot caked homePestilence rides through the fly-ridden city, gathering masses too sickly for pity,Flames of fear lick at their corpse laid town, ashes to ashes, watch us burn down.The Conqueror rides, whilst he laughs in his mirth, he's found the last hopefulls down here on Earth,We all paved the road down which he will tread, then asks of his acolytes, "How'd you lose your head?" And there's;
Millions of headless horsemen, in armour of leather and fear, against the moral brethren,Who build houseboats on rivers of tears. Then there'sJust a few half hearted wise men whose words will stay only half clear and then;Fewer still hopeful children, who wonder what they're doing here.
War's head is bowed but he smiles nonetheless, there's no sport in the game for him now, I guess,He used to be able to lead all of his hunts, now he needs be too many places at once.Death halts in silence, he's nothing to say, a human with hope has now had blocked his wayThe skull turned it's face in the hope to be gone, before someone listened to this aching man's song. And there's
Millions of headless horse men in armour of leather and fear, against millions of of moral brethren,Building houseboats on rivers of tears. Then there's;Just a few half hearted wise men, whose words will remain only half clear.But there's quite a few still hopeful children who now know see what is going on here.

GLASS CAGE, PLASTIC PALACEWords and music by Scotte Burns & David McKinnis
Welcome to my world, no water's bluer, lord of a plastic palace, nothing's truerMy world is shifting, colored gravel, I like it 'cause I feel no need to travel
I spend all my evenings watching bubbles, I know it ain't that much that keeps me out of troubleI have no need to change things or turn the page, as long as I can see things from my glass cage
Wish, wish, what do you wish fish?
My brothers are much freer, except you eat'em, that's why I do not ponder what price freedom?Please don't show your pity, save it for others, who lack a plastic palace to run for cover
Wish, wish, what do you wish fish?

PROFESSIONAL MOVING TARGETSWords and music by Keith Goates & David McKinnis
Get up at five, struggle to life, brushing my teeth, shoes on my feet, I'm upSun at my back, woops - gotta hack, get to the shop, I wanna go back to bed
Mornin' guys! Mud by the bucket. Crack at the crosswords. Time to get truckin'.Man in the streets (shoo-bop dop doo-wop) Urban marines. (shoo-bop dop doo-wop)
Up in the air, they'll get us from below, down on the ground, they're after us you knowThen tires screech (shoo-bop dop doo-wop) it's time to beat feet
Professional moving targets, the citizens all agree, professional moving targets, evading the enemy
Armed to the hilt, forever coming at us, casual attack, they never seem to see usArmed with their cars (shoo-bop dop doo-wop), they're lost in the hours (shoo-bop dop doo-wop)
Professional moving targets, the citizens all agree, professional moving targets, we're evading the enemy
Finish the job, it's time to get crackin', oh you look like a slob, I've seen a lot of actionThis tour of duty (shoo-bop dop doo-wop) it's sure been a beauty (shoo-bop dop doo-wop)
Professional moving targets don't need a eulogy, professional moving targets -ha!- surviving the enemy
What a day!

LOOK AT MEWords and music by Keith Goates & David McKinnis
Trapped within these mythical walls, I live within my mind, forever walking these personal halls, I live a life that is mineThey say that my way is the right way, to each his very own, then they step on my feet and they walk down the street and they care for only their own
OOO and the way you sound... OOO and the way you sound...
It's so hard to quantify, and the bleeding hearts go turning by,They're not loving others, the love themselves, they're not giving to others, they give to themselves
How can you reach through the barriers that you can touch someone's soul?When they reinforce those barriers, if you die you pay the tollEveryone seems to be vying for attention, everyone seems to be begging for affection
Look at my new diamond! Look at my new watch! Look at my new haircut! You know how much this costs?Look at me! Look at me! Look at me! I should be the center of attention-I-yi-yi-yi-yi!
OOO and the way you sound... OOO and the way you sound... OOO and the way you sound...sound OOO and the way you sound...
OOO and the way you look... OOO and the way you sound... OOO look at me... OOO listen to ... OOOOO....
I've heard it oh-so many times, how you're good and oh-so-fine, how you're always getting stepped on, how you get hurt every timeThen you turn and stab the one you love in the back with pointed words, and you tell me I can believe you, I know you're dying and it's getting much worse
Hard to quantify, and the bleeding hearts go turning byAnd the bleeding hearts go marching by, and the bleeding hearts go turning by
And the way you sound... OOOO And the way you sound... OOOO And the way you sound... OOOO And the way you sound...
Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!....

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