1. |
Nostradamus
03:00
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what would you say, babe
if we had only one day, babe
if we were living the day before
the last one of our lives
we didn’t get specifics
just a bunch of vague predictions
but you know me, i’m a cynic
honey, everything means we’re dying
old Nostradamus says the end is upon us
me, i’m not quite sold to be honest
but it might
might be kinda nice
to spend a day living, not just trying to survive
so what do you say babe?
there ain’t no reason to stay safe
what’s say we take our bucket lists
and starting checking things off STAT
but first let’s get
let’s get back to holding hands
oh honey why were we waiting
for judgement day to live like that?
let Nostradamus think the end is upon us
let’s get busy living up to our promise to try
not to waste this time
and spend our days living, not just trying to survive
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2. |
Hardest Thing to Say
04:26
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i’m sorry
don’t you dare listen
i didn’t mean it
no i’m begging forgiveness
the thing about us
is how you can change me
into the man i wanna be
and then drive me crazy
i wanna be clear
cuz i wanna be strong
i still don’t think you’re right
just know i went about this wrong
so now you see a full grown man
waving up a clean white flag
singing sorry loud
and singing clear
the hardest thing to say
can be the nicest thing to hear
let’s just erase it
close up the curtains
we’re not gonna change any minds
dead set on hurting
the thing about us
is how we can break free
and see that the blood rushing our heads
is the same that our hearts beat
i won’t bite by lip
cuz i’m not drawing first blood
you know i haven’t seen my pride since i
realized just what we’d done
and the difference between love and rage
is just how fast you turn the page
and anger’s just some coward’s word for
fear
the hardest thing to say
can be the nicest thing to hear
(sorry) seems to be the hardest word
the difference between war and peace
is just a measly few degrees
another view of something you hold dear
the hardest thing to say
can be the nicest thing to hear
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3. |
Container
02:03
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I have a safe container
holds tight to secrets, now you know
at least tell me part of what’s been weighing on your heart, honey
if there’s something i can hold
I have a safe container
stays sealed when sorrow’s seeping through
so tell me now before it soaks and wrings us out, honey
what can i hold for you
say it
and just like that
it’s off your chest
and you can rest
and rest assured
someone heard
I have a safe container
withstands burning fits of rage
but we’ll be ok, babe
we’re class A fire rated
what can i hold for you today
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4. |
Half a Dozen Strings
03:56
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they say i was born
with a guitar in my hands
family right of passage
sitting in with my old man
soon as he saw i had it
i was playing in his band
just a kid, wide-eyed and fancy free
out of the whole wide world
i found half a dozen strings
wasn’t long before
i made the road my home
i found a bottle
and a band all of my own
i’ve seen every highway
through a dirty van window
i had everything i ever thought i’d need
whiskey, food, and water
and these half a dozen strings
i wasn’t ready when
my darlin stole my heart
we made a daughter
and i knew that was the start
of sending out the band to play
without my guitar part
the family i was making needed me
i’d finally found me something
more than half a dozen strings
then a call one fall
as bad as bad as one can be
dear old friend was dying
rebel cells he couldn’t beat
i remembered all those stages
that we’d raided as a team
on the day he died
his bride she handed me
an old beat up case of memories
and these half a dozen strings
i’m finally seeing it
my daughters know somehow
family right of passage
they’re singing with me now
and my little one, she’ll kill me
if i ever put it down
the only thing that helps her fall asleep
is just a prayer with her old man
played on half a dozen strings
and i thank god for that
and these half a dozen strings
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5. |
Ithalia's Pearls
04:48
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it was 1904
the year Ithalia was born
to Fortunato and his darling Louisa
and 5 years since the move
from north Italy to Ashtebula
north ohio's river-mouth town
two hours east of Cleveland
with nothing but a rosary
made seven kids a family
that prayed the sacred mysteries
together
she wasn't in to fancy things
she was good as far as she could see
it couldn’t get much fancier to her
than a rosary
and a wedding ring
and a simple strand of bright white pearls
it was 1924
the year Ithalia let Fortunado
walk her down the aisle to marry Victor
so it came to be that Ithalia got her
wedding ring
and Victor couldn't get it on her finger
any quicker
they made a home in north Detroit
a daughter and two altar boys
and all could pray the rosary together
the butcher loved the butcher's wife
happy home and happy life
and the good lord heard his thanks each
night from her
and her rosary
for her wedding ring
and a simple wish for bright white pearls
when the world waged war on one
another
Ithalia was a soldier's mother
her rosary grew worn from all her prayers
for his return
and somewhere there in the pacific
a son recalled his mother's wishlist
and had a mikimoto necklace hand-tied
just for her
In 1960 Victor died
and left Ithalia here behind
to age and beam with pride
on all the grandkids
and my own mom was one of those
and since the day that she was born
she always adored when grandma Ithalia
wore her favorite necklace
few years before my nana died
she pulled my mother aside
and said “while im alive these eyes have
gotta see these on you, girl.”
then the calendar turned the century
and Ithalia died with family
and everything she wanted in the world
her rosary
and her wedding ring
and a family strand of bright white pearls
my mother had 10 pearls removed
and saved em all in sets of two
and for every first communion
each of her own five granddaughters
get a rosary
and a shiny pair of earrings
made from dear Ithalia’s pearls
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6. |
Rope
03:44
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if i wore a tie i’d be loose by now
shirt untucked
buttoned halfway down
hey world
look how you wore me down today
i’ve had a hell of a day
if i had a dime for every time
i got cut off, or out
i’d buy this whole damn town
at least one round today
i’ve had a hell of a day
so i know this saloon
with a sturdy corner chair
and they let you sit and stare off all alone
it’s on my way home
i get a jameson shot
and the closest cold beer you got
i don’t know if you can tell or not
but i found the end of my rope
i know there’s a saloon
where Cathy knows my name
and she’ll have em sitting waiting cuz she
knows
it’s been one of those
i get a jameson shot
and the coldest beer you'd ever want
i don’t know if you really care or not
but i found the end of my rope
got a gut feeling
this won’t make it all alright
no matter what, fill em up
might be the only spirit i lift tonight
got a gut feeling
this won’t make it all ok
no matter what, fill em up
i’ll drink to the end of one hell of a day
i’ve had a hell of a day
if i wore a tie it’d be loose by now
shirt untucked, buttoned halfway down
hey world, look how you wore me out
today
i’ve had a hell of a day
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7. |
Perfect
03:27
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you always drive way too far to the right
and won’t be criticized from the shoulder
and you turn down the songs
while we’re all rocking on
it’s getting worse as we’re getting older
you can’t just let me vent
just get it off my chest
without demanding some grave
conclusion
oh we’ve been a mess since the day that
we met
it’s how i know we can take a good
bruisin
you’re stubborn as can be in one good
way it seams
can’t believe how you won’t even give up
on me
you only know your worth
once your worst is in plain view
i never said i wanted perfect
i said i wanted you
for each of your faults there’s a
cavernous fault
and it’s chalk-full of all i’ve collected
i know you didn’t ask…
still i’ll sing a few passes
to detail a few i’ve selected
i confess that i vent
too much shit off of my chest
and expect you to just consume it
oh i chase down stress that just leaves
me depressed
and you’re left with this mess and his
music
you’re stubborn as me, and you’re
welcome to be
but hope’s not supposed to be hinged on
these things
you only know your worth
once your worst is in plain view
i never said that i was perfect
i said i love you
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8. |
Good Dude
04:05
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hey dude, we had a run
you were just a runt
we couldn’t find a crate you wouldn’t
break
so we gave up
scrapped our plans for how to keep you
none of em lasted a week
you snuck up to our bed
and for eleven years that’s where you’d
sleep too
always by my side
we’d walk the neighborhood each night
i just loved having the dog all the
neighbors recognized
they’d yell “good dude”
good good dude
name meant as a joke
became the name you grew into
good dude
you’d never defecate
in the place we’d designate
the Brandonbergs deserve awards
for the shit that they forgave you for
i remember working hard
training you in our side-yard
you’d understand each damn command
that you’d stare and blatantly discard
man, you had a motor
i’d get tired just standing and throwing
while you’d sprint yard to yard and back
so fast
and beg “keep going”
such a good dude
good good dude
pain in my neck
but man my heart was fond of you
good dude
you were six when we had kids
and you loved em like we did
and i know you took the brunt
when we brought home our brand new
twins
you fell way way down my list, man
i truly regret that
you took in on the chin
it’s just what living in our pack meant
they’d poke your eyes and pull your tail
and close barrettes on your hair
you just took it like a champ
and brother i thank you now for that
such a good dude
good good dude
you paid us back in all those bags
of trash you got into
good dude
then you got old before my eyes
i felt your heart grow tired of trying
you laid your head upon my leg
and that’s how we said our last goodbye
I swear I stayed right by your side
we’ll see you on down the line
and I can’t say this enough…
bud, the privilege was mine
such a good dude
good good dude
you saw me at my worst
and still gave all the best of you
good dude
good good dude
an easy dog to love
but man you’re a damn hard dog to lose
good dude.
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9. |
Sunset Wins Outright
02:36
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take a walk
down to the sand
ditch our shoes
i’ll try to hold your hand
if my timing’s right
then the moment i need it the most
the sky will transpose
and we can stay til it’s over
take the waves
watching the sky slide by
as the world’s turn gives birth to dark
new night
the sun casts the day’s last light
let’s take off
i know a cottage
and there’s a beach
where we’re almost guaranteed to be
alone
and for more than a moment i hope
and we can stay til we’re sober
take it in
watching the night slide by
as the world’s turn gives birth to dark
new night
the sun casts the day’s last light
take the van
down to the water
take a swim with all our daughters
before we go
we’ll hold hands watching them watch
the show
and we can stay til it’s over
take it in
watching our life fly by
as the world’s turn gives birth to dark
new night
the sun casts the day’s last light
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10. |
Relative Obscurity
03:26
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some songs are made for praying
some are made to get you naked
some songs hurt
most are made to help
some songs are made for singing quiet
some to wail on hard as hell
but not a single song ever wrote or sung itself
so why’s it riches or the ditches when you write
you know obscurity doesn’t burden me
it’s defending it each night
and i don’t base an ounce of faith
on making you a new believer
cuz it’s pretty clear that noone hear has heard about you either
some songs are made for babies
some are made for making babies
some are made to get that ass out of your seat
some songs are made for singing always
some we’re destined to forget
hell, this one’s probably not even finished yet
it’s like a fix for an addiction just to write
you know obscurity kinda works for me
i’m used to working nights
and just cuz i don’t chase some break
don’t dare mistake this trade for leisure
and no offense, but none of my friends are fans of your band either
it’s like a fix for an addiction just to write
but obscurity doesn’t worry me half as bad as that spotlight
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Chain of Lakes Alto, Michigan
Kyle Rasche is a singer-songwriter from alto, mi. He has written and performed songs as Chain of Lakes since 2010.
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