1. |
Tightropes
04:46
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You’ve been balancing on tightropes ever since you were little
Covering your eyes and walking into the storm
So why would you expect the stars to align this time?
Now you’re old and all the world feels heavy
and you can taste the money that isn’t yours
You’ve worked hard
You’ve worked hard for nothing
You can’t blame anyone but yourself
You walked right into this
When you were young they sold you hope
Fourty-thousand dollars and try, try again
But they were shaking their heads at you, and their tones changed
When middle age stated sinking in.
You can’t blame anyone but yourself
You walked right into this
You could have climbed the ladders of Bay Street
Could have pumped oil out of the crowd
Could have worked for the government
or done something that mattered in the end.
But you’ve been balancing on tightropes ever since you were little
Covering your eyes and walking into the storm
So why would you expect the stars to align this time?
You walked right into this
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2. |
Fires, Fires, Fires
03:49
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I was listening to the radio
On the night after our last show
News of disaster
One after the other
Then interwoven melodies
Soft and personal
Heartbreaks and jealousy
Romantic misery
Sweet things
Escapist songs
Then a hit of reality
When the news comes on
How do you write a love song in times like these
Simple little love song in times when
Big troubles in the world, spinning round, just dumb it down
How to write a love song in times like these
I met you on the front lines
You were just like me
We lost another battle
Predictably
With fists clenched we carried on
You had never felt so strong
And I had never felt so weak
Something rushing over me
How do you write a love song in times like these
Simple little love song in times when
Big troubles in the world, spinning round, just dumb it down
How to write a love song in times like these
Do you listen to the radio
Fires, fires, fires
And where are we gonna go
If this thing transpires
And the violence
Is never caused by the anarchist
It’s cause someone wants control
Everybody wants control
How do you write a love song in times like these
Simple little love song in times when
Big troubles in the world, spinning round, just dumb it down
How to write a love song in times like these
Do you listen to the radio
Fires, fires fires
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3. |
What Matters Most
04:57
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Your forefathers cleared these woods with their backs
Dreaming of cities and the lovely life you would have
Fast cars and an office in the sky
Their blood, sweat and tears left it all for you
Your great-grandmothers suffered through the years
Raising their boys up; strong backs, good bones, no fear
With axes in hand they flattened all of this land
And they left a playground all for you
But what Matters Most?
The wolf or the payload?
Jet planes or the buffalo?
Coyote or the high road?
Your good name is known throughout the world
It sounds like money, success, nice suits, hot girls
You can take it for granted, completely shut your eyes
You will never touch soil, they did it all for you
What Matters Most
The wolf or the payload?
Jet planes or the buffalo?
Coyote or the high road?
And you let your clean mouth touch my dirty lips
For I am an animal and you didn’t mean to do it
But you couldn’t deny something deep inside
That wants to be free from what is all for you
What Matters Most
The wolf or the payload?
Jet planes or the buffalo?
Coyote or the high road?
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4. |
Hurricane
03:49
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5. |
Call It as I See It
04:25
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My hands are soiled and stained
If you can't hold on, then how come you came
My hands are soiled and stained
I have never been small or weak
If you loved me, would you love a beast
I have never been coy, nor meek
Am I not a woman if I am not a saint
My mother was strong, and my daddy was brave
Can you hold me, or are you ashamed?
Am I not a woman if I am not a saint
Am I not a woman if I don't cry
Am I not a woman if I look you in the eye
If I am not sorry and if I am not shy
Am I not a woman if I don't cry
My hands are soiled and stained
If you can't hold on, then how come you came
My hands are soiled and stained
I have never been small or weak
If you loved me, would you love a beast
I have never been coy, nor meek
If you let me in, I would sing you a song
You have never been loved by a heart so strong
If you let me in, I could need you a litte
Does it feel right or does it feel wrong
Are you not a man if I hold my own
Are you not a man if I like to be alone
If I call it as I see it, If I'm solid as a stone
Are you not a man If I hold my own
My hands are soiled and stained
If you can't hold on, then how come you came
My hands are soiled and stained
I have never been small or weak
If you loved me, would you love a beast
I have never been coy, nor meek
My hands are soiled and stained
If you can't hold on, then how come you came
My hands are soiled and stained
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6. |
Talking to Strangers
04:19
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7. |
Signs of Hostility
04:03
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You've got your hands buried deep in the soil
Stones making holes in your jeans
You're planting chard and kale mighty early
Planting your potatoes deep
Whatever's coming, it's coming fast
It's showing signs of hostility
Whatever's coming won't catch you by surprise
You're gonna be ready
You build your fences eight feet high
You'll keep your garden safe inside
You're canning everything you can find
Every mason jar is just a little piece of mind
Whatever's coming, it's coming fast
It's showing signs of hostility
Whatever's coming won't catch you by surprise
You're gonna be ready
You don't stockpile, you don't hoard
You take nothing from the grocery store
You're an independent woman, don't need no man
You've got enough mouths to feed, don't want one more
Once you did have love, a lot of good that did
Left you more empty than you were before
But you've still got two strong hands and a capable mind and
Rows of carrots and rows of corn
Whatever's coming, it's coming fast
It's showing signs of hostility
Whatever's coming won't catch you by surprise
You're gonna be ready
You keep your hand tools as sharp as your knives
You've gone back to horses
Can't stand the TV, can't take that noise
Can't take those ugly voices
You love the beating of the raven's wings, the song of the chickadee
the calming thunder
You've got your fathers rifle and your grandmother's rosary
And you're doing fine without her
Whatever's coming, it's coming fast
It's showing signs of hostility
Whatever's coming won't catch you by surprise
You're gonna be ready
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8. |
Loose Ends
04:10
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You begged me to save you
For two weeks steady
If there was anything I could do, hell I would've done it already
But you're too far gone
You're gonna drag me in with you
And I can't love you in that foolish way I used to do.
Well this ain't school anymore
This ain't those disposable years
You asked me to come with you just to tell everybody that you ain't here
"I haven't seen him in days
I haven't seen him around
We don't talk anymore, he must have left town."
All those other women who go for this type of thing
Can't you ask one of them a favour, can't you give one of them a ring?
Would she just blow your cover? Is she incapable of deceit?
All those ne'er-do-well ladies can't keep your loose ends neat
I'm gonna stick you with the label
Do not resuscitate
Do not attempt to mend this man, for he has chosen his fate
Been there, done that
Bought the bobble-head doll
You can save one or two, can't you, but you can't save them all.
You begged me to save you
For two weeks steady
If there was anything I could do, hell I would've done it already
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9. |
Lone Wolf
04:41
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I am a lone wolf
I am a lone wolf
I am alone
Well if you hear me crying out
you will know without a doubt
that I'm alone
Alone
If you don't want to be my man
If you only want me for the night
Wanna take something from me
Wanna waste my time
If you're afraid out in the woods
If your scared in the wild
If you won't make it till the morning
This ain't worth my while
I am a lone wolf
I am a lone wolf
I am alone
Well if you hear me crying out,
you will know without a doubt
that I'm alone
Alone
Just another hungry hunter
Just a trapper in the hills
Doesn't know just what he's after
But he's out to kill
Says the chirping of the birds
Says the chattering of the squirrels
Says the wise grey owl
Awoooooooo
I am a lone wolf
I am a lone wolf
I am alone
Well if you hear me crying out,
you will know without a doubt
that I'm alone
Alone
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10. |
Talisman
03:58
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I made this talisman for you
I made it out of holly
And apple seeds and little shells from the west-coast beach
And if he ever falls into your sight
You'll fill him up with honey
And berry wine, and cherry pie
And love so sweet
Don't you break it
I spent all that time making it
Don't you break it
I spent all that time making it
I know there's never been a man who's touched you kind
You wanna rewind your life, but you can't seem to find the time
And all you know to do it run and hide, you're burning up inside
But you can never let it out, you stay high and dry
Well I made this talisman for you
I made it out of holly
And apple seeds and little shells from the west-coast beach
And if he ever falls into your sight
You'll fill him up with honey
And berry wine, and cherry pie
And love so sweet
Don't you break it
I spent all that time making it
Don't you break it
I spent all that time making it
I see that you've got fighting arms and willing eyes
Why don't you fight for your own right to freedom
And I will hold you myself if it will make it any better
I will hold you all night if it will help
And I made this talisman for you
I made it out of holly
And apple seeds and little shells from the west-coast beach
And if he ever falls into your sight
You'll fill him up with honey
And berry wine, and cherry pie
And love so sweet
Don't you break it
I spent all that time making it
Don't you break it
I spent all that time making it
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11. |
Dynamite
07:41
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You say that I'll forget you, but that ain't right
How could I forget you and your dynamite
And your dad who buys you liquor by the case
And hopes that you'll forget my god-forsaken face
But I ain't the one who done you wrong
No I ain't the one who done you wrong
Just turn around and look at what your daddy done
And you will see that I ain't the one
And I swore that oath in front of the whole damn town
And it's your bad reputation's gonna bring me down
And what was I to say, since there were other folks around
When you and your daddy blew old greeny down
I ain't the one who done you wrong
No I ain't the one who done you wrong
Just turn around and look at what your daddy done
And you will see that I ain't the one
And you and your daddy in the motel room
And me in the back seat, shaking in my boots
And that fucking sound when you blew it down
And how fast the cops swarmed all around
And your dad, he never could drive
Should've stayed sober this one time
And I ain't the one who done you wrong
And you will see that I ain't the one
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Bet Smith Gravenhurst, Ontario
Bet Smith is a Canadian alternative folk singer-songwriter who weaves environmental and socio-political philosophy into rich, reflective compositions. With a voice that is gentle and familiar, Smith offers elegant melodies locked to lyrics that are paced and precise. ... more
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