1. |
What Could Possibly
03:10
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Well thank you very much for putting forth your theory
it's neither grand nor unified
though delivered succinctly and sincerely
your petition is declined
one could make an argument for optimism
that requires no translator
a rationale that's free from vulgar euphemism
someone will add that part in later
There was a plan and it was followed with devotion
everything was in its place
you had a goal to go and get inside the ocean
see how much ocean you displaced
are you beholden to the plans you once considered
preemptive limits to your options
could be the sweetest way of ending up embittered
no sense at all, no sense of caution
what could possibly
what could possibly
there are some faces that you would like to go near
put down roots and stay forever
so you say, but the world may never know, dear
you've got to stay to stay together
but who can stand to hear the critical consensus
finding fault with how you've fallen
a helping hand from your ambitious apprentice
a little push to help you crawl in
but how'd we get here and how quickly can we get out
back to familiar terrain
the warning signs too obvious to point out
the symbolism unrestrained
have I arrived upon a credible conclusion
or I have been away too long
marching a theory towards that theory's execution
it's not ideal, but is it wrong
what could possibly
what could possibly
what could possibly
what could possibly
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2. |
Old Country
02:38
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This was the old country, son
that day is done and
it's been too long now since the gold rush
and though I'm glad to be here
it's become clear
there's something in the water and it's us
And it survived for a while
just a brief postponement of lifelessness
they put the whole town on trial
for possession and suspicion of being possessed
Getting here took a little longer than I'm accustomed to
and the mountain air is a little stronger,
that's something you'll have to grow into
This was the old country, kid
and what we did was we
thought it'd always be that way
and though our prospects were good
from where I stood
we lost the land within the day
It had survived for a while
just a brief postponement of lifelessness
they put the whole town on trial
for possession and suspicion of being possessed
Getting here took a little longer than I'm accustomed to
and the mountain air is a little stronger,
that's something you'll have to grow into
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3. |
Part Of Me
02:21
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No, it didn't kill me
but part of me's gone gone gone
yeah technically I'm still me
but part of me's gone gone gone
I lost every battle
so I lost the war
and I forgot the reason
what the fighting was for
what the fighting was for
what the fighting was for or or
it's counterproductive
at best it's impolite
to be fighting all the people
who are fighting the good fight
they are fighting the good fight
they are fighting the good fight all
No, it didn't kill me
but part of me's gone gone gone
technically I'm still me
but part of me's gone gone gone
what's left of me concedes and changes plans
revisions to the list of my demands
resolved to be resolved to
resolved to be resolved to understand
resolved can mean determined
resolved can mean complete
like the ending of a story
that ended in defeat
I am ended in defeat
I am ended in defeat I'm beat
No, it didn't kill me
but part of me's gone gone gone
technically I'm still me
but part of me's gone gone gone
No, it didn't kill me
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4. |
Golden Gates
02:07
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I can't believe it; you tried to end me
and it's not what I needed; I'm sad you succeeded
Of this I am convinced, though I can tell you disagree:
this is not the time nor place for the end of all time and space
Golden gates
are closed to
me now
some how
could this be the end
Golden gates
are closed to
me now
some how
could this be the end
and if it is the end, I'll hold out hope we'll be revived
it's an unlikely prospect when you've had it and lost it
cause if it's up to me, you see, we'll make it out alive
I swear on the grave of everyone I have failed to save
Golden gates
are closed to
me now
some how
could this be the end
Golden gates
are closed to
me now
some how
could this be the end
Golden gates
are closed to
me now
some how
could this be the end
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5. |
Dig Me Up
03:11
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please
if I'm not around
dig me up
if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
in the event
I get sent
overhead or the other place
let it be known
I went fully grown,
calm and straight faced
all right, I'll admit
that's the least-likely thing
that I've sung
get my foot out the grave
god knows it's no place
for the young
please
if I'm not around
dig me up
if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
or scatter my ashes
in the eyes of my enemies
'cause after a hard year
I'll need a victory
I have got
a lot left to think about now
so I'm not
about to stop thinking right now
please
if I'm not around
dig me up
if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
dig me up if I've gone underground
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6. |
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looks like a bad time
for me to reappear
I'm killing time it's a crime
to kill a whole year
I cannot wait 'til the weight's
off my shoulders and then
at last unencumbered
I'll shrug them again and again
it all falls apart somehow
I think I'm at peace with that now
I think I'm at peace with that now
it all falls apart somehow
I think I'm at peace with that now
I think I'm at peace with that now
my pretty good enemies
went to great lengths
to learn my only weakness
a total lack of strength
I carried a grudge, I was nudged,
the grudge was retired
I resigned in disgrace
as was required
it all falls apart somehow
I think I'm at peace with that now
I think I'm at peace with that now
it all falls apart somehow
I think I'm at peace with that now
I think I'm at peace with that now
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7. |
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you didn't have to burn it all down
you left nothing but the ash and ground
you took your time, you took your time
and mine
you could have spared a thought for where I am
you could have chosen someone worth a damn
you could've not done, you could've not done
what you did
you wouldn't tell and so you showed me
that none of the wrong you did was done slowly
as though that would make it fine
you took your time and mine
and in the end there's nothing
at least nothing worth discussing
it's wasted, it's wasted
on me
you wouldn't tell and so you showed me
that none of the wrong you did was done slowly
as though that would make it fine
you took your time
you took your time
you took your time
and mine
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8. |
Come On, Please
02:55
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Come on, please, we're in this together
the flowers on the family tree
no, never turn your back on your people,
no, never in front of me
We were warned by the prognosticators,
wizened sages, soothsayers, et al.
no silver lining for these sad spectators
maybe the end times'll be good for morale
Come on, please, we're in this together
the flowers on the family tree
no, never turn your back on your people,
no, never in front of me
We're one day further from the day the walls got scrawled on and
one day closer to the day the walls come down
the day the story stops being about you
the day you're on the wrong side of the ground
Come on, please, we're in this together
the flowers on the family tree
no, never turn your back on your people,
no, never in front of me
It only ends if it ends for a reason but
in this case there's no reason at all
I believe we have grieved what's worth grieving and
falling down will not be our downfall
Come on, please, we're in this together
the flowers on the family tree
no, never turn your back on your people,
no, never in front of me
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9. |
Quit Talking
02:16
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that which doesn't kill us must try harder
and will one day get it right
so I'll propose a truce the very second
I am done winning this fight
don't question it don't question it
it's just like I've always known
and what I'm hearing now it's no wonder you're alone
quit talking, I beg you
you've got a lot to learn; you might be dumb
I don't wish that on anyone
quit talking, I beg you
you've got a lot to learn; you might be dumb
I don't wish that on anyone
that which doesn't kill us still annoys us
it's a shame but it's a fact
and I don't take the slightest bit of comfort
that a knife has got my back
don't question it don't question it
cause it's just like I've always known
and what I'm hearing now it's no wonder you're alone
quit talking, I beg you
you've got a lot to learn; you might be dumb
I don't wish that on anyone
quit talking, I beg you
you've got a lot to learn; you might be dumb
I don't wish that on anyone
yeah
it's unlikely you've got something to say
I know you'll say it
anyway
quit talking, I beg you
you've got a lot to learn; you might be dumb
I don't wish that on anyone
quit talking, I beg you
you've got a lot to learn; you might be dumb
I don't wish that on anyone
quit talking, I beg you
you've got a lot to learn; you might be dumb
I don't wish that on anyone
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10. |
Setting Sun
02:38
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Oh, what a time
oh, what a time
that's where
I'm coming from
where the night
waits all day
for the setting sun
How it started out
how it started out
and what it's become
I had such high hopes
for the setting sun
It might take a second
your eyes will adjust
but it's never darker than well into dusk
It wore me down
and it wore me out
it's easily done
this sorry excuse
for a setting sun
There's no end in sight
now the end is near
look, the end has begun
it's conspiring against
the setting sun
It might take a second
your eyes will adjust
but it's never darker
than well into dusk
There's no downside
there's no downside
it's the ideal outcome
extinguish and bury
the setting sun
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11. |
Habit Of Mine
03:24
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I try to be a good man, honey
but sometimes I just want to kill
it's only down to my upbringing
that I probably never will
you'd better take a moment
some time to consider it all
we both know I've got your number
written on the back of my wall
'cause I told you before
that this would mean war
and there'd be no one standing
at the end of that fight
you know I'm right
it's a habit of mine
you thought you'd illuminate me
but you're not that bright
you know I'm right
it's a habit of mine
it's a habit of mine
it's just a habit of mine
that was the first sign of trouble
and this is the last warning shot
and the last line of a long list
of good jokes that you never got
and I told you before
that this would mean war
and there'd be no one standing
at the end of that fight
you know I'm right
it's a habit of mine
you thought you'd illuminate me
but you're not that bright
you know I'm right
it's a habit of mine
it's a habit of mine
it's a habit of mine
it's just a habit of mine
I try to be a good man, honey
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12. |
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it may not go as I'd intended
I'll accept any outcome
I've every right to hope it's starting
you've every right to say it's done
'spect you came here for a reason
but if you harbor any doubt
if you feel at all uncertain
I will show you the way out
but I'd hate to see you grapple with potential regret
I've seen the wrong side of that blade
I'm not qualified to tell you how to live your life
respectfully, I'd prefer you stayed
I'll just let you weigh your options
you're entirely unbound
but if you're up for what I'm thinking
honey, you can stick around
I hate to see you grapple with potential regret
when the bill's already paid
I'm not qualified to tell you how to live your life
respectfully, I'd prefer you stayed
I hate to see you grapple with potential regret
I've seen the wrong side of that blade
I'm not qualified to tell you how to live your life
respectfully, I'd prefer you stayed
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13. |
Verbatim
01:53
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You held still
while they took
your measurements
you were fitted for a net
and promptly caught
I've suffered for my sins
you've suffered for
no reason
I don't know why that is
you don't know what
you've missed
It's a matter of fact
there is no in-between
all you need is love
and several other things
Did you ever get the feeling you've been had?
'cause you've been had
There's the point
you tried to make
and the point
you made instead
we've met the enemy
it's everything you've said
But if I mock your words
and in some cases hate 'em
it's 'cause
I heard those words
in context, verbatim
You held still
while they took
your measurements
you were fitted for a net
and promptly caught
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14. |
xo A
02:44
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last things last at last,
the valley's been paved with grass
oh well
if it's too long or commercial,
we're too late for rehearsal
put your bodies on the levers and gears
there's something in brotherhood
that I've always understood
I know
a rise and a decline, then
I thought that I could chime in
but no one understood a word
dogs and mad englishmen,
the garden and the den
that's so
there's no good way to say, love,
just what these are the days of
but it's too late now it's seven to two
and I don't know why but I
still find the will to try
and fail
I did not come to conquer
but I'll do it for an encore
I said it doesn't end at all
some burns are uncontrolled,
I am both blue and gold
be true
a simple act of service
from the bottom of the birdsnest
please remember I was always kind
go ask the establishment
just what it was they meant
slow down
when I said you made a mistake
that was my half of the handshake
it was either that or not at all
waiting until the end
is something I recommend
I do
I was happy where I rooted
unprovoked and undisputed
and increasingly beyond repair
my first words were whats the hecks
my last ones will end with xo A
during the dark parts,
you were the glow part
I was the glow part too
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Golden Shoulders Nevada City, California
Golden Shoulders is a band from Nevada City, California.
Golden Shoulders recommends:
It's weird when the best singer is also the best songwriter, but it happened, folks, and we just have to deal with that.
go to album
Album of the year, 2021. Do yourself a kindness and get in.
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You might go for this if you're into towering artistic achievements. If Aaron knew how often I still listen to this, he'd feel uncomfortable.
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