1. |
The Slaughter
04:38
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Cryptographer working to encipher
does she know that when I think of her all the words get caught up in my chest?
Encoded this message in a stolen kiss
all I want is to return it, over prairies, over mountains west
Sigh, oh my my
call me Dione’s daughter
and lay, go on and lay me down on the stone for slaughter
an offering
Cartographer illustrates the picture south of the equator
building on an educated guess
He draws the lines linear and serpentine
says “I’ll show you yours, you’ll show me mine and we the undersigned vow to do our best”
Sigh, oh my my
call me Dione’s daughter
and lay, go on and lay me down on the stone for slaughter
an offering
Morning graces the land
our glorious hands
Morning praise for the sun
our rapturous tongues
Morning.
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2. |
Alone in This
03:46
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It was not just happenstance when I caught you hold my glance
when we said goodbye and lingered with our hands
Or did I imagine that? What I felt did you feel back?
Don’t lie to me you’re a better man than that
Oh tell me yes or tell me no
if it’s yes then I won’t persist
Am I alone in this?
It would be one hell of a second chance ‘cause many years have come to pass
since I turned away and took another path
That somehow brought me back to that moment that we had
when it seemed like love wasn’t only in our past
Oh tell me yes or tell me no
if it’s no then kiss me quick
Am I alone in this?
Well your lips are spoken for but the words than they employ
have been tending to a somewhat open door
and that’s one kind of blurry line that messes with my mind
what I need from you is something more defined
Oh tell me yes or tell me no
‘cause I don’t’ want to guess
Am I alone in this?
Oh tell me yes or tell me no
and if it’s yes then I won’t persist
Am I alone in this?
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3. |
Michigan Postscript
03:33
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Waiting at the border gonna cross in North Dakota
maybe get to Minnesota before dawn
I’ve been placing my survival in departures and arrivals
putting all my stock in going, going gone
Is it getting old?
Truth be told – I keep hoping for something to finally take a hold
Until that hold is all I know, I will hit the road
Hello Michigan it’s been two years since we had a thing
since you reminded me I sing before I ever start to speak
and it is some kind of beauty that you see right through me
that you find a way to move me from a place of feeling weak
Is it getting old?
Truth be told – I keep hoping for something to finally take a hold
Until that hold is all I know, I will hit the road
Orphaned, I am orphaned on the shore of this great lake
Fortune, such good fortune to be found here alive and awake
Is it getting old?
Waiting at the border and the night is getting colder
been on the road dear since dawn
Only half way to Calgary but I’m running on empty
will you come and get me before I’m gone to long?
Is it getting old?
Truth be told – I keep hoping for something to finally take a hold
Until that hold is all I know, I will hit the road
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4. |
Seperation/Agreement
03:47
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The hallways are neatly lined with boxes stacked
this is what eight years looks like packed
and it’s difficult to know how to divide
which ghosts are yours, and which are mine
The house has never seemed heavier than this
even for all the empty rooms and the stillness
I’m a little bit lost here I admit
but when I whispered your name to come back, I didn’t mean it
Don’t you cry for this
don’t you cry for the leaving
If you’re gonna cry make it for the reason this is no one’s fault
A slow and steady teasing out the past
careful it’s a fragile artifact
and difficult to decipher when you’re still hurting
which part you’re losing and which part you’re learning
Nothing knows you better than these walls
and these walls would sigh if these walls could talk
they know every dark secret, every dark moment, every dark night
every hard line, every oversight
Don’t you cry for this
don’t you cry for the leaving
If you’re gonna cry make it for the reason this is no one’s fault
Inhale, exhale, rewire, program, practice, backfire – you’re on track
It’s a long road you’re on now, and the origin is gone now, don’t look back
And don’t you cry for this
don’t you cry for the leaving
If you’re gonna cry make it for the reason this is no one’s fault.
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5. |
Zookeeper
03:20
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I’ve not been keeping score
does the final tally really matter anymore?
Our zookeeper’s getting bored
quietly waiting while the creatures are pacing
But careful those cages aren’t locked
Careful when the animals talk
‘cause they never lie
and the questions you’ve been asking may need no reply
I’ve not been entirely clear
since the flooding it’s been a little muddy ‘round here
Our zookeeper’s all but disappeared
The water’s receding and the creatures need feeding
But careful those cages aren’t locked
Careful when the animals talk
‘cause they never lie
and the questions you’ve been asking may need no reply
This ground is well covered
Everything’s been said
To the cause of defending our flaws we’ve been dedicated
But careful those cages aren’t locked
Careful when the animals talk
‘cause they never lie
and the questions you’ve been asking may need no reply
I’ve not been keeping score
I’ve not been keeping score
I’ve not been keeping score
and our zookeeper – she’s seen it all before.
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6. |
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There are bees in my belly and they’re buzzing
Tulips in my tummy and they’re budding
Oh spring is my body and it’s coming
What I wouldn’t give to be lovely like you
There are stars down my spine they are aligning
The moon is in my eyes and it is shining
Oh the night is my body and it’s pining
What I wouldn’t give to be lovely like you
There ain’t no saving for a rainy day
There ain’t no saying it any other way
Please let me into your honey comb, please let me call you all my own
There are rivers in my fingers overflowing
Water level’s rising it shows no sign of slowing but baby underwater we are glowing
What I wouldn’t give to be lovely like you
There ain’t no saving for a rainy day
There ain’t no saying it any other way
Please let me into your honey comb, please let me call you all my own
What I wouldn’t give to be lovely
what I wouldn’t give to be lovely
what I wouldn’t give to be lovely like you.
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7. |
In the Papers
04:43
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She wakes up startled, shakes off the remnants of the night
Ever forgetful, she takes her time to adjust to light
Empties the ashtray, pulls out her suitcase
They’ll be all over this in the papers
Morning, coffee, she sings Harlem Blues just a touch off key
Wanders and lingers, she’s in no rush to take her leave
Eyes the crack in the window and the human traffic below
They’ll be all over this in the lobby, in the taxi
Airplane descending, New York appears a carpet of gold
She wonders and marvels at the thought of “how many light bulbs?”
The man sat beside her reminds her of another
They’ll be all over this when it’s over, and it’s over
Hold on
hold on
hold on to someone
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8. |
Solid Ground
03:55
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My heart’s filled with arsenic
and it’s seeping out from time to time in these lines
But I can offer plenty of reason
for my seething though there’s never the time
If you’re willing, pull up a chair
I’ll put on the kettle and I’ll join you there
And we’ll start at the top and work our way down
until we reach solid ground
‘cause surely you are feeling just as hard
and heartbroken as I am
for the elements they take no rest and they make no exceptions
If you’re willing, pull up a chair
I’ll put on the kettle and I’ll join you there
And we’ll start at the top and work our way down
until we reach solid ground
I’m not afraid of the dark like you are
I’m not afraid of your heart like you are
‘cause I know the best medicine is an honest conversation
And I’d be willing to trade – a fair exchange for your candor in kind
If you’re willing, pull up a chair
I’ll put on the kettle and I’ll join you there
And we’ll start at the top and work our way down
until we reach solid ground.
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9. |
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I’m the king of the castle and you’re the dirty rascal
and it’s getting up to my head all this taking the lead
But I am steady in my ways – to change would be a hassle
you went and you planted a bomb (but called it a seed)
In that little part of my heart that I’ve kept under cover
that has got this far with no to little remark
Now I’m thinking a lot about my ex-lovers
and I’m sorry now I kept them in the dark
I’m the king of the castle never wanted me a queen
but you seem to pushing past the barrier
So I’m put on red alert ‘cause I think that this could hurt
but you sweetly say to me “the more the merrier”
In that little part of my heart that I’ve kept under cover
that has got this far with no to little remark
Now I’m thinking a lot about my ex-lovers
and I’m sorry now I kept them in the dark
Don’t be afraid to be brave, when you are brave
Don’t be ashamed to be amazing – you are amazing
I’m the kind of the castle and you’re the dirty rascal
and it’s getting up to my head all this taking the lead
I’m the king of the castle – you’re my loyal subjects
but then again we never did put it to a vote
But I love all of my people, I love them from a distance
it’s the kind of love best kept remote
For that little part of my heart that I’ve kept under cover
that has got this far with no to little remark
has got me thinking a lot about my ex-lovers
and I’m sorry now I kept them in the dark
I’m sorry now I kept you in the dark.
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10. |
If I Still Love You
03:17
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I remember when we lost it
There was a bridge and I didn’t cross it
Oh the cab fare to get there was a dime that I couldn’t spend
But if I still love you like I love you, can we still be friends?
There was a moment maybe wasted
but when I’m near you boy I still can taste it
Oh light sleeper, when you wander well I wonder where you will end
like I wonder if I still love you, can we still be friends?
And the thoughts that pulls me under are thoughts of storgic lovers
Thoughts I want to tell you – but I think we would just argue
I could find you in the dark still
if you need me to know that I will
Though I know that to go back would be just a game of pretend
But what I don’t know is if I still love you, can we still be friends?
If I still love you baby, tell me, can we still be friends?
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11. |
When it Gets Dark Again
04:18
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Bloodshot and tired, I had a rough night
you know what I mean when I say, rough, don’t you? right?
I would’ve been fine if I’d gotten some sleep
but there was none to get and it wasn’t just me
Made up our faces and mixed what we had
giggling we called and fell into a cab
Scoped out the crowd of a crowded bar
then tore at their flesh like the beasts that we are
‘cause when it gets dark again I start drinking again
throwing my own heart out to the wolves again
If I lose the plot again I’ll just start over again
we’re all gonna hit rock bottom now and then
If you think I’m easy you haven’t got that right
I just pick my battles but I know how to fight
Yes I’ve been beaten but that won’t happen twice
for now my best defence is just to smile and play nice
Until it gets dark again I start drinking again
throwing my own heart out to the wolves again
If I lose the plot again I’ll just start over again
we’re all gonna hit rock bottom now and then
I’ll buy another round for my midnight friends
The bottle’s not a good one but she’s a friend
Looks like I’ve done it again, it must be the weekend
and you must be my new best friends, and friends – it’s getting dark again
let’s start drinking again
throwing our own bones out to the wolves again
If we lose the plot again we’ll just start over again
we’re all gonna hit rock bottom now and then
I’ll buy another round for my midnight friends
The bottle’s not a good one but she’s a friend
And we’re all gonna hit rock bottom now and then
Ya we’re all gonna hit rock bottom,
we’re all gonna hit rock bottom
we’re all gonna hit rock bottom in the end.
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12. |
Aux Oiseaux
02:48
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Closed closed closed
The signs on the windows they go:
“we’re closed closed closed, and you young thing you better get home”
And I blush
“Young thing” these days, not so much
I feel old old old
I feel the years of the world in my bones
But I’m not fussed
I know what I am and am not
I know what I can and cannot
I know what I have and I want
I want to hold hold hold
and not have to let go
When death comes I want to say “No”
But don’t judge – I’ve been through a lot
I don’t say that to say that you’ve not
I think that we’ve both been cut up
we both have…
But guess what? I’m glad that we’re here in this dump
If together is all that we’ve got it’s enough for us not to give up
Don’t give up, don’t give up
And we’ll go go go
I see us where shadows grow
where je suis oiseaux.
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Christa Couture Toronto, Ontario
“A remarkable chanteuse, singing superb material,” deems Roots Music of Christa Couture, an award-winning indie artist who has built a reputation for transforming tragedy into musical triumph, with sharp-shooting wit, effortless grace, and heart-on-sleeve intensity. ... more
Christa Couture recommends:
Jess and I have known each other since early days in East Van, playing the open mic at Deux Soleils... she moved me immensely then, and still does, with her voice, her words and her melodies.
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Bedrooms And Basements
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Another musical soul I met years ago in England. He's a top notch songwriter who can pull off lewd to lovely like nobody's bidness.
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