1. |
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THE UNKNOWN
I can’t believe it still
I can’t believe how still you are
I came bearing no ill will
Laughing and naïve still, but war...
Of happy songs we meant to sing
We haven’t sung yet a thing
And as old refrains are growing stale
I sing with soul but my voice is not enough
Soon I’ll be leaving town
I’ve got a plane to catch
I’ll be leaving on my own
I’ve got a map to somewhere
Soon I’ll be leaving home
I have a life to patch
Maybe in the unknown
I’ll be a better me...
A HOLIDAY IN PURGATORY
Though fear held no blame
You just couldn’t help but lie,
Lie awake at night asking if the path is right.
You see beauty all around but you can’t quite see it for you.
Though joy held no blame,
You just couldn’t help but try,
Try and add to empty by filling on elsewhere.
You see beauty all around but you can’t quite see it for you.
No you can’t quite see it for you ‘cuz this is at best a holiday in purgatory.
No you can’t quite see it for you ‘cuz this is at best a holiday amidst the grey.
Though words held no weight,
You just couldn’t help but write,
Write and post a photo to which some dudes replied.
You see Happy all around but you can’t quite see it in you.
Though your heart it weighed,
You just couldn’t help but smile,
Smile politely and vaguely to mirror some of theirs.
You see Happy all around but you can’t quite see it in you
No you can’t quite see it in you ‘cuz this is at best a holiday in purgatory.
No you can’t quite see it in you ‘cuz this is at best a holiday amidst the grey.
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2. |
Maybe Just Maybe
03:49
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MAYBE JUST MAYBE
I stole some fire from the sun and tried to set the moon ablaze.
But the whole thing just looked pale; it wasn’t worth a gaze.
So who left the lights on for me to see and the stars there for some to dream?
I stole some thunder from the clouds and tried to liven up this scene.
But the whole thing sounded dull; it wasn’t worth the scream.
So who left soft sounds for me to hear and rhythms there for some to dance?
Maybe just maybe it wasn’t meant to be
Maybe just maybe...
I stole a river from its bed and tried to tap into its stream.
But the whole thing then went dry; it wasn’t worth a swim.
So who left puddles here for me to sink and oceans there for some to sail?
Maybe just maybe it wasn’t meant to be
Sorry so sorry if that means so weren’t we.
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3. |
Wish You Were Here
02:14
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WISH YOU WERE HERE
I guess I’ll walk further, climb a bit higher
I guess I’ll be bolder, grow wings that will flutter
I guess I’ll sing louder, turn cries into laughter
Or else I’ll stay longer on some beach in the summer
No
I don’t want you to go just yet;
Please don’t
I wish you were here
Though you are, you are not
So I guess I’ll walk further, climb a bit higher
I guess I’ll be bolder, grow wings that will flutter
I guess I’ll sing louder, turn cries into laughter
Or else I’ll stay longer on some beach in the summer
Because I’m not ready yet
I’m not ready for the next surprise that life throws this way
I’m not ready yet
Be it happiness, although that’s not around the corner.
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4. |
Same Song
03:14
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SAME SONG
I’ve been writing the same song for the better part of a year
Different words, different rhymes and different places
Still: heart unable to steer.
I kept hoping that the future would look something like the past.
But somewhat fearing that this would mean that our time had gone passed.
I’ve been asking the same old tired questions for the bitter part of a year
Different words, different times and different faces
Yet: skies unable to clear
Where have you been?
‘cuz I have been here while you were away.
And where are you now?
’cuz I can’t stay here. I need to find my way.
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5. |
Soldier On
03:23
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SOLDIER ON
Under the weather or down underwater
Glasses fogged up, further seemed forever
You found a rock so rock-bottom hard
And there stood your ground
So you held on, held on so tight
You held on for life
You soldiered on. You soldiered on
Until the dawn
You soldiered on until your heart was gone
But you still carried on
You were reaching new heights way deep below surface
Eyes couldn’t adjust
So shimmer just got weirder (and weirder and weirder)
You found a cloud as soft as a bed
And rained on parades
But you held on, Held on so tight
You held on for life
But here comes dawn: you can let go just let go now
Find some way back home
And if homes ain’t where they used to be: just let go
In time you’ll build them back
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6. |
The Singer And The Gale
03:46
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THE SINGER AND THE GALE
Just keep humming your song for days on end, for too long
Until your guitar is out of tune and your head feels out of whack
Hell they might sing along
Just keep banging that drum for nights on end, for too long
Until your arms run out of strength and your strength runs out of hope
Hell they might sing along
When hope does fail,
it will fail you through and through
You’ll walk through hell but your song will endure
You’ll sing it well well into that stormy night
And the winds will tell a tale of the singer and the gale
Just keep humming your song for days on end, for too long
Until your guitar is out of tune and your head feels out of whack
Hell they might sing along
Just keep laughing alone for weeks on end, for too long
Until your lungs run out of breath and your heart feels out of synch
Hell they might sing along
Just keep humming your song for days on end, for too long
Until your guitar is out of tune and your head feels out of whack
Hell they might sing along
Just keep dancing alone for years on end for too long
Until your heart is wrapped in songs and you now chant out of loss
Hell then they’ll sing along
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7. |
Out And Into Life
01:55
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OUT AND INTO LIFE
Out and into life
Hail the moment, breathe it in
Yes the fear of the unknown
But the splendors they lay bare
Out and into hope
It seems joy is a slippery slope
The cold, the bitter of a January night
Set alight because it needs to and it will
Hey man just get out there
You don’t have to come back
Anytime soon
Hey man, just don’t grow cold again
You gotta keep on moving
Go out there see the world
Out and into life
Find some meaning to it all
Though all is ever frail
You’ll stand closer to a truth
Out and into hope
It seems love is a slippery slope...and yet I hope
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8. |
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HOORAY!
(I Once Did Walk Away)
I’m walking away from all I knew
Where I’m going I don’t have a clue
I couldn’t be happier
I’m done just waiting around
Ever hoping to be found
I couldn’t be happier
O how this life is unpredictable
Sorrow Sang Sorrow Sang Sorrow Sang itself away
With people here and people there
People singing everywhere:
Hooray; it’s a new day
I’ll spill this joy all over town
And I’ll wear this smile as a crown
I couldn’t be happier
I’m running for the life of me
There are just so many things I want to see
I couldn’t be happier
O how this life is unbelievable
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9. |
Happy Exit Song
05:20
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HAPPY EXIT SONG
Today is a great day. I want it to be.
I heard it’s my birthday so I’m happy for me.
But for all of the nothings, I couldn’t leave.
I still smile with ease and with eyes tired I dream.
Today is a great day. I choose it to be.
I heard it’s a Wednesday or so I have to believe.
‘Cuz for all of the somethings, I couldn’t leave.
I still dream with ease as I invoke memories:
She had her feet dipped in that water so cold shivers washed ashore.
But we held her hands as enthused she stepped into Maine’s sandy ocean floor.
It was a moment of grace, well worth the drive just to see her face.
Daughter asleep, we dressed in finer clothes and we talked through our hats
We sat and drank and got up to moonlit streets; it was simple yet beautiful
And it was a moment of grace, well worth the drive just to see your face.
Oh my Love, how wrong did we go? I would trade these motions for some meaning.
Or I’d rather drive with you than again be leaving (‘cuz I’d go).
But oh my love, now that I do know, I see many truths that I should be chasing.
But I’d rather drive with you than again be dreaming (but I’d go).
I know...
My daughter she would not want me to go
As a father I should not want me to go
Loving you means living with these woes
I want us to be truth, so truth be gold
Today is a great day. I need it to be.
I’ll live it the right way. With strength at heart and I’ll see.
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The Kerosene Lights Gatineau, Québec
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