1. |
City Singing
03:19
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City Singing
It's only July and fall's on the way
another Seattle Saturday
we try to chase the gray away by imagining sun
and what did Paul Williams know about rain
from his corner office in Central LA?
but it's pain that brings the pay
and vodka and rum and bourbon and fun
It's pain that brings the pay
City singing, scrape me off the street
see the pigeons, just the same as me
and just like me they'll never leave
we flap and flutter in the breeze
that life can set you free
If you wanna make twenties, wanna rack up the score,
then get a snazzy new haircut and a coat of velour
and prepare to play the part of the professionally poor
then sing a sad song, then sing it some more,
with the kind of performance that it's hard to ignore
like swallow some fire, or roll on the floor
that pain is your pathway to being adored
it's pain that brings the pay
city singing, scrape me off the street
see the pigeons grovel at your feet
and just like me they'll never leave
we flap and flutter in the breeze
and now we're truly free
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2. |
My Mama Was Right
03:47
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My Mama Was Right
My mama was right
My baby needs too many women
and I'm only one -- just me
Somehow I got caught up
in all of the lies he'd been spinning
back then I was blind and naive
Now I see
now I see
He called me one night
to say he'd been doing some thinking
he needed some time on his own
But then I found out
that it wasn't time that he needed
he couldn't stand to be all alone
I wish it weren't true
What he wanted was you
I remember the scene
the smell of the smoldering rubber,
the crowd gathered round the ravine
As the sirens drew near,
I took one last look at the wreckage
then closing my eyes,
disappeared...
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3. |
Stephanie's Song
02:39
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Stephanie's Song
Stephanie's mother, arriving home early,
stepped in to discover that Stephanie'd lied
her daughter protested, appealed to the others,
but by then there was no one on Stephanie's side
It started so simply, a night with no ending,
a bath in the winter, hot water with wine
She drank in completely, whatever was offered,
for Stephanie never was one to decline
And Stephanie thought she had time to kill
but Stephanie never knew
the things that we didn't tell her
cause Stephanie died too soon
I knew her much younger, before this undoing,
some math in the daytime, a hex in the night.
She knew all the answers and passed them all by,
hair swishing behind her to sweep up the lies
Stephanie's daughter would have known how to laugh,
would have known all the words to the songs that we sang in the past
you can hear her singing all through the night,
with your head on the pillow where Stephanie's tears fell...
And Stephanie thought she had time to kill
but Stephanie never knew
the things that we didn't tell her
cause Stephanie died too soon
Stephanie died too soon
Stephanie died
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4. |
Paul Young
01:52
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5. |
O Terrible Cupcake
03:20
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O Terrible Cupcake
O terrible cupcake, I made it with love
I made it sincerely. That wasn't enough.
Didn't use enough sugar, a free hand with the salt,
now we both gotta eat the result.
Well however it happened, it wasn't my fault
I read every damn cupcake in a culinary assault
but my fingers still failed me through some lack of gestalt,
now we're left here to eat the result
Terrible cupcake, that "just give it up" cake,
so stunned by the speed of its rise and its fall
horrible cupcake, a serious mistake,
it's barely a present at all
O poorest of cupcakes, when everyone's gone,
I will think of you fondly, tho I'm the only one
and though our baked goods betray us, and no failure's fun,
it's still worse with the things left undone
Terrible cupcake, that "shit out of luck" cake
so stunned by the speed of its rise and its fall
horrible cupcake, a serious mistake,
it's barely a present at all
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6. |
Rosie's Last Run
03:42
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The Summer Januaries San Diego, California
Rachel Erin Robinson - vocals, fiddle, guitar, piano
Sean Michael Robinson - vocals, guitar, piano,
drums
The Summer Januaries formed as a busking duo in Seattle, injecting fiddle tunes into harmony laden arrangements of their favorite songs. These inventive arrangements soon became the defining element of their sound. They have continued writing original music, performing throughout the world.
... more
The Summer Januaries recommends:
To Comfort and Destroy
by Pillow Army
The first (and so far, only) studio Pillow Army EP is a marvel of clever songwriting and taut arrangement. Strings and drums and great vocals and hooks and clever lyrics abound!
go to album
No One's Looking
by Landlord's Daughter
Sean's former band features violin, guitars, keyboards and dense vocals in an off-kilter atmosphere of adrenaline and dread. Secrets whispered and strings broken along the way.
go to albumIf you like The Summer Januaries, you may also like:
House and Land
by House and Land
House and Land offer a stirring take on classic Appalachian folk; this is delicate, heartfelt balladry.
go to album
Wealth of Sorrow
by Cahalen Morrison
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless.
go to album
This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music.
go to album
Old Habits
by Kat Wallace and David Sasso
This New Haven duo write bright and emotionally resonant folk music where sweeping strings elevate gorgeous melodies.
go to album
