New album lyrics

[TheHYPO]

Based on live performances, studio clips, shows I've been to, etc., lyrics for songs that are publically viewable (that's mainly ones with live videos on youtube) are now available on http://www.rockitoldschool.com (in the music section). I'll add to it if and when new songs become released or performed and youtubed.

I'm fairly confident on most of the lyrics, though Four Seconds is still giving me trouble - lyrics in italics on that song are ones I'm think might be wrong. I thought it might be helpful to have them all in one place.

Cheers
TH

[DaWezl]

Based on the Landsdowne Pub recording, this is what I got for the lyrics of Four Seconds--granted we all know that lyrics tend to change in performance! :) Note: I think the first "But" is supposed to be there, but just isn't in this recording. Also, I always considered the lyric to be "4 years and a day", lol.


Goes to show
It's not what you know
(But) who you know
So’s, you know
I can go with the flow
Build my note
Then throw (to?) snow
Before the show
Stay low
Play it on a Dobro
Oh, I tiptoe to and fro
From Ontario
My stereo’s blue like the rodeo
Growing like a freak show free throw
It’s just the intro
Keep dropping like dominoes

One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four

Now rewind
What’d you have in mind?
Could we unwind?
I’m fine
We can find a streamline
Recombine – intertwine
If I’m gonna headline
Tryin' to be moving all the behinds
Line to line
Try to shine
Redesigned – redefined
Keeping up the spellbind
Gotta make it worth the grind
Just in time to have another close encounter of the third kind

One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four

I’ve been away for (4?) years and a day
You’d be thinking I’d be lonely
But I’m out here to stay
Wouldn’t have it any other way

Oh flip, the light is turning orange
Coat ripped when I caught it in the door hinge
I slip when the lady in the four-inch
Bought it in a store in Germany
You wore it like a makeshift snowdrift
Had to get a gift
Saw the red shift rift
Gretta got an eyelift
Oh sure, that one’s obscure
Maybe piss-poor, but I had to take a little detour

I’ve been away for years and a day
You’d be thinking I’d be lonely
But I’m out here to stay
Wouldn’t have it any other way

One Mississippi
Two Mississippi
Three Mississippi
Four

[DaWezl]

BTW, it's a lot easier when someone else does the bulk of the transcribing! Thanks Hypo! :D

[TheHYPO]

Ouch - lost browser window = lost long message

This song has been a bit of a pain to figure out because songs like this (and one week) have a tendency to inserted/omitted words from show to show, and have tongue twisters that result in occasional flubs and things that make it very difficult to tell what is the intended lyric, a mistake or a new change.

First thing to say is that I never even considered "four years and a day" - "for years and a day" sounded so fine as a sort of "colloquial" saying - I've been away for years and a day, but now that you bring it up, it seems very likely. I think that's one to wait for the liners for.

"Build my note" doesn't work in my opinion, due to the line ending on an "oh" sound at almost every video I've seen, but I do agree that "my" is the middle word in at least a number of the videos.

The line "we [xxxx] streamline" is likely to be a problem until a good quality video of Ed's mouth or a lyric sheet is released, because different performances seem to show different things. I admit that "grind" seems unlikely, since the word is also used later in the verse, but I'm not sure what else it could be. This vid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R9xk0QZYKs#t=1m25s) and this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxc1ZTX1pbw#t=41) seem to sound like "We can find a streamline". However, this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCAXfHAvP7M#t=1m4s) from the same show as the previous link, though it has worse audio, has better video of his lips, and there's no indication he makes an "F" sound there - on this vid it sounds like either "We can/could try to streamline" or "we can/could grind a streamline" - I'm waiting for a better video on this lyric...

After noticing your "trying to be moving all the behinds", I looked at the videos and found this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxc1ZTX1pbw) that looks like it has a very good view of his mouth and great sound at that moment - I hear "I'm inclined to be moving at the behinds". It also has the benefit of matching the rhyme.

Thanks DW

[AnotherHeartbreak]

I have the lyrics to Another Heartbreak:

(chorus)
Hold on, here comes another heartbreak,
Hold on, here comes another heartache.
Too bad, but it's still a chance I had to take.
Hold on, here comes another heartbreak...

(verse)
Soaking in another rainy day,
I stopped and watched the long parade.
It's winding slowly,
Through the maze...

(chorus)

(verse)
I lost my way in the summer breeze,
I fell down to my hands and knees,
And now I'm searching,
Through the autumn leaves...

(chorus)

(verse)
And here you stand, in front of me,
And all of the complexity,
That I've mistaken,
For simplicity...

(chorus)
Hold on...
Hold on...

[sandimas]

Wow, Nancy! I'm impressed!

I just know the Mississippi's. :)

Michael, who can be found going "duh-nuh-nuh-nuh" during Ed's parts of One Week :)

[DaWezl]

Wow, Nancy! I'm impressed!

I just know the Mississippi's. :)

Michael, who can be found going "duh-nuh-nuh-nuh" during Ed's parts of One Week :)

I don't get credit for 99.9% of that...that was ALL the work of HYPO. I just lazily c&p'd and then made my little changes to it. :D

[Hidden Sun]

Regarding Four Seconds: I could be totally wrong here, but all this time I've been assuming the lines is something like, "Bill Monroe, Clinton throw to Snow, for the show..." possibly using Bill Monroe and Bill Clinton as people that Ed has met, as in, "Not what you know, but who you know"; although it might not make sense, because we know that the time BNL played at an event with Bill Clinton, Ed forgot to show up. The next line in question, I assumed it was "We can find a straight line". And while we're on the topic of this song, does anyone know what Ed's talking about in the last verse, or is it just a nonsensical verse?

As for Graffiti Love, I never considered that Ed was saying "Sly Stalone", but then again, I could never figure that part out. And the lines, "I show restraint; I’m the patron saint
Of urban gardens in bloom", I've been assuming was "Show restraint; I'm the patron saint of your daughter's in bloom", as in a wise comment to the girl's parents.

There were a few minor omissions of words on other songs that I noticed. On How Long, I think the line is "She's strong and wrong". On Summertime, I think it should be "What comes to be gradually".

[TheHYPO]

Regarding Four Seconds: I could be totally wrong here, but all this time I've been assuming the lines is something like, "Bill Monroe, Clinton throw to Snow, for the show..."

I don't believe that Clinton is in there - definately "then" [throw...] But the Bill Monroe totally fits (I'd never heard that name), and as a bluegrass pioneer, is in line with the kind of name Ed would drop. I wonder if there's another bluegrasser named Snow? could just be "Bill Monroe, then throw to Snow"... Monroe would tie the Dobro line in a little nicer as well.

"We can find a straight line".

It's definately "Streamline", or else something very very close to it.


My reading on the "Urban gardens" line is that the garden references the being "in bloom", and an Urban garden would be a euphamism (or whatever one wants to call it) for the city and the random shapes and objects the protagonist is looking to tag.

My reading on How Long is that it's parallel lines:
So give it up for anger: It makes us strong (the anger)
Maybe I meant to thank her - Strong and wrong (he rethinks: the anger makes strong AND wrong) - if there was any word before the second strong, I'd guess it to be "we're"

Similarly, my guess for Summertime would be that if there WAS a word there, it would be "It comes to be gradually, feels like overnight", referring to summertime" - but I don't hear a word there when I listen...

These are just my opinions though, and I've totally been wrong on lyrics before... :p

[garyrulez]

I like how it sounds.

[DaWezl]

I wonder if there's another bluegrasser named Snow? could just be "Bill Monroe, then throw to Snow"... Monroe would tie the Dobro line in a little nicer as well.

You young'uns. :rolleyes:

HYPO, I know you were around back when I asked on the old Blog about Johnny Cash vs. Hank Snow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Snow). Those of us who grew up with parents of a certain age and certain predilection listened to a TON of Hank, Johnny, Hank Williams (Sr, of course), Roger Miller, etc etc etc. It was a huge fad at the time, just like fondue parties and shag carpeting. :p

[Suebee42]

You young'uns. :rolleyes:

HYPO, I know you were around back when I asked on the old Blog about Johnny Cash vs. Hank Snow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Snow). Those of us who grew up with parents of a certain age and certain predilection listened to a TON of Hank, Johnny, Hank Williams (Sr, of course), Roger Miller, etc etc etc. It was a huge fad at the time, just like fondue parties and shag carpeting. :p

Dude, yer OLD.

*runs away*

[DaWezl]

Dude, yer OLD.

Not yet Suebee. I am not officially old until next March. Right now, I'm still in the glory of a misspent youth. :p

-N
(Planning to jump straight past somber maturity into wildly eccentric old age)

[Amicustoall]

Now I have to asked, at what magic age does one become old in your mind DaWezl?

[garyrulez]

For my money, I was old at 7.

[Amicustoall]

LOL gary. I am still not old and have passed the half century mark.

[WeedMage]

LOL gary. I am still not old and have passed the half century mark.

Me, too! I'm going one up from half in less than a month!

[marebo]

well i am passed the half century mark also....kids are grown and gone...but i consider this my second childhood...

[Amicustoall]

marebo it is wonderful isn't it?

[marebo]

yes it is wonderful amicus....i get to spend my money on myself and go to bnl concerts and cruises :)

[DaWezl]

Heh, it looks like someone (http://www.metrolyrics.com/four-seconds-lyrics-barenaked-ladies.html) found my edit of HYPO's lyrics, but didn't read down to see where some of my interpretations were rightfully challenged. :p

HYPO, if you hurry up and submit your other lyrics, you might win a CD as a prize!!! OOOOOOHHHH! :p

[TheHYPO]

Eh. I can't be bothered, lol. I don't need more CDs cluttering up the place. I'm still thinking that this song is going to be one of those ones where you actually get "fuller" lyrics live than on the album... either because Ed thinks of better phrasings after the studio, or because the best take in the studio just didn't have the full phrasing. I noticed with the multitracks last album that there were legitimate verbal blunders that made it on the album. Not sure how that's allowed to happen, but it does, and it's kind of lame. (don't ask me what blunders from BLAM, btw... I would have to go back to the tracks and re-listen).

[Liam]

If anyone was interested to try and get the lyrics for Moonstone (even though it's not on the album), there is a live recording from the other night here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjPA3fHq9pg

[AnotherHeartbreak]

If anyone was interested to try and get the lyrics for Moonstone (even though it's not on the album), there is a live recording from the other night here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjPA3fHq9pg
Aw I wish that wasn't cut!

[swiss lady]

If anyone was interested to try and get the lyrics for Moonstone (even though it's not on the album), there is a live recording from the other night here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjPA3fHq9pg

Thanks Liam!

[Liam]

I guess it really says something about the quality of the new album if a song that good is cut! :)

[TheHYPO]

I really think that was a bad cut compared to certain other non-cut songs. That was a disappointing cut for me.

[TheHYPO]

If anyone was interested to try and get the lyrics for Moonstone (even though it's not on the album), there is a live recording from the other night here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjPA3fHq9pg

PS: Done (rockitoldschool.com)

[OrdinaryOne]

I guess it really says something about the quality of the new album if a song that good is cut! :)

Hmmm maybe it'll be a bonus track... here's hoping!

~jen

[Ellen from Saint Louis]

Does anyone remember when Eric Clapton wrote "Tears in Heaven" about his son who died? In his Grammy acceptance speech he said he felt "strangely guilty." Maybe it's just not appropriate, or maybe it's too soon.

(Oh, or maybe I'm confused about which song Moonstone is...)

[TheHYPO]

Moonstone is AKA Shoulder, and is the song Ed claimed to be about his late mother; though I'll be honest when I say that I don't quite understand how half of the song relates to her (Moonstone is the name of the city from which she hailed, I believe)

[Hidden Sun]

During the recording of Moonstone, they posted a nice video on twitter showing Ed's "human capo" Keith helping him out on the Strat. Ed also tweeted that Moonstone was about his mother, and it was a very hard song for him to record because he kept crying. So when it was revealed that Moonstone would not make it on the album, I had a feeling that Ed was just not ready for this to be released. Actually hearing the song now, I can imagine how the chorus and bridge relate to his mother, but the verses are really puzzling me. Maybe it's one of those very personal, non-universal, and literal lyrics that Ed's been talking about lately, thus this is why it didn't make it on the album. One more theory I have as to why it didn't make the album is because the melody, especially in the verses is similar to Ordinary (which is on the album). The style of both of those songs is very much ED, and I suppose we'll be hearing more like that in the future.

[AnotherHeartbreak]

Ed also tweeted that Moonstone was about his mother, and it was a very hard song for him to record because he kept crying.
Wow that brought me to a tear.

[TheHYPO]

The difficult-song thing sounds like a decent explaination; Ed has already said once in the past that another song was cut from an album and not used for years because he didn't want to be asked about its meanings and it was too raw for him (Some people suggest Leave was this song, while others suggest Half a Heart). This looks like another candidate for that type of "honour". I really love the song, though. I can see similarities to Ordinary in the verses, but where the songs go from there is so totally different. I'll be completely honest that of all the Ed songs, If I had to cut one, it would have been I Have Learned. Moonstone would have been in my top... five (I couldn't really choose a favourite from those five).

I frankly would have been very happy with a 15 or 16 song album, but besides that cut, I probably would have gone the opposite way on Kevin's cuts. I far prefer Let There Be Light and All In Good Time too Northern Lights and Jerome. I'm sure others will agree with the band, but I really think the cut songs are the better two; but I understand the band's desire to try and put the most "diverse" sounding songs on to reinvent their sound. I totally agree with the Jim cut - She Turned Away was definately the worst of his three songs. I love the other two a great deal.

[Hidden Sun]

I was really shocked when it was announced that the song All In Good Time would be cut. BNL have historically never had a "title track" on their albums, with the exception of Snacktime!, which was a fairly Kev lead album, so I thought this album would have one too. It's too bad, because I really love that 30 second preview they put out (the "Good Organ" video), I wish I could hear more, and find out what the song is about. I REALLY love the preview of Jerome, that song sounds so promising, I can't wait to hear it on the album. I had the opportunity to meet Kev for the first time last year, and he told me that they had sped up the tempo of Jerome from that first video. When I inquired about Let There Be Light, he told me that this was originally a Thinbuckle song, and it was recorded for Havana Winter, but then left off that album. So now we've got two recorded, unreleased versions of Let There Be Light to track down!

[barenakedfanband]

I totally appreciate the amount of work that goes into doing this, as I did it for my own documents for You Run Away,

I saw BNL in SF in SF a couple nights back and was front row for it. I have to change my music page now, LOL. The line is "You made me guess who was it"

About Moonstone - Here it is the way they performed in at the Hearts for Haiti event (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hy_aZS0TNk). It was a request from a guy standing next to me.

Bottom line, HYPO - your work is greatly appreciated by fans and musicians - Can't wait to see chords next! (no rush, I'm still working on my album,heh heh...)

[TheHYPO]

About Moonstone - Here it is the way they performed in at the Hearts for Haiti event (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hy_aZS0TNk).

That's actually a video from the same event Liam posted - better angle though.

Thanks for the good words. We'll see if I find time for tab/chord any time soon

[barenakedfanband]

That's actually a video from the same event Liam posted - better angle though.

Thanks for the good words. We'll see if I find time for tab/chord any time soon

Cheers! :D

[Philip]

That's actually a video from the same event Liam posted - better angle though.

Thanks for the good words. We'll see if I find time for tab/chord any time soon

Please do. And just chords is fine - I'm a keen but ham-fisted strummer!

[jonmatthews]

Wow, I loved Moonstone INSTANTLY, and I'm sad it will not be on the album proper. Might even be my favorite of the new material I've heard so far. It might end up being this album's Powder Blue in my book! It'll be interesting to hear why it might have been cut - whether it didn't fit with the overall sound of the album, the personal subject, or maybe they weren't 100% pleased with the studio version.

I really, really hope it ends up being the tour tickets bonus track.

[barenakedfanband]

Wow, I loved Moonstone INSTANTLY, and I'm sad it will not be on the album proper. Might even be my favorite of the new material I've heard so far. It might end up being this album's Powder Blue in my book! It'll be interesting to hear why it might have been cut - whether it didn't fit with the overall sound of the album, the personal subject, or maybe they weren't 100% pleased with the studio version.

I really, really hope it ends up being the tour tickets bonus track.

Hey jonmatthews, if you scroll up a bit, I believe Hidden Sun provided an explanation...or were you hoping for official word from the band?

Anyone else out there scheduled to see them in a small venue for the promotional tour? - get a chance to ask Ed about it?

[TheHYPO]

I'm hoping it's at least one bonus track (for whoever); It's definately the best of the four cut songs, IMO (which I would rate Moonstone, Let There Be Light, In Good Time, She Turned Away)

[AnotherHeartbreak]

I'm hoping it's at least one bonus track (for whoever); It's definately the best of the four cut songs, IMO (which I would rate Moonstone, Let There Be Light, In Good Time, She Turned Away)
I agree. I hope that people who get the bonus track from getting tickets shares it with the rest of us who want it.

[TheHYPO]

Does anyone want to offer their opinions on the first lines of the bridge on Subway Car? I have two ideas for what it may be, but neither makes that much sense... which doesn't make them wrong, per sé

[AnotherHeartbreak]

Does anyone want to offer their opinions on the first lines of the bridge on Subway Car? I have two ideas for what it may be, but neither makes that much sense... which doesn't make them wrong, per sé
This is what I got, which could be wrong:

On every subway car you look amazing,
While streaming out of bars, their glasses raising.
Systematically refused,
And chemically removed.

[jeannie76]

This is what I got, which could be wrong:

On every subway car you look amazing,
While streaming out of bars, their glasses raising.
Systematically refused,
And chemically removed.

I agree, that is what I hear as well!

[AnotherHeartbreak]

I agree, that is what I hear as well!

Oh good, glad someone agrees with me!

[TheHYPO]

That's what I hear also (the other option being "their glass is raising", which makes less sense). I'm just not sure what the lyrics is supposed to refer to. Someone suggested "they stream out of bars and raise their glasses to the work of the graffiti guy... but the guy graffitis subways... which ought to be underground... not outside bars...

[bmfc1]

I think they are raising their glass to the woman that inspired the graffiti.

IMHO, the greyhound he's referring to is a Greyhound bus--he considered writing on another mode of transportation but decided upon the subway cars.

[TheHYPO]

Returning to old topics:
http://www.amazon.com/All-Good-Time-digital-booklet/dp/B003BB4UWO/

Anyone have any new opinions on the trouble-verse of Four Seconds, which is conveniently previewed?

Note that it sounds like "I'm inclined to be moving all the behinds" live sounds like it's just "I'm moving all the behinds" on the album. Anyone have new ears for the confusing lyrics discussed earlier in this thread? :)

[jeannie76]

Returning to old topics:
http://www.amazon.com/All-Good-Time-digital-booklet/dp/B003BB4UWO/

Anyone have any new opinions on the trouble-verse of Four Seconds, which is conveniently previewed?

Note that it sounds like "I'm inclined to be moving all the behinds" live sounds like it's just "I'm moving all the behinds" on the album. Anyone have new ears for the confusing lyrics discussed earlier in this thread? :)

Sounds to me like "I'm moving all the behinds" too.

[WeedMage]

This is really out there, but how 'bout: moving all the beehives

:eek:

ok strike that - just listened to it with headphones and definitely NOT beehives :P

[Hidden Sun]

I think it's definitely "moving all the behinds". The "behinds" referring to the harmonies and backup vocals that had to be changed and redistributed among the band when Steve left. Yet the "I'm inclined to be" seems to be mysteriously absent.

[TheHYPO]

I think it's definitely "moving all the behinds". The "behinds" referring to the harmonies and backup vocals that had to be changed and redistributed among the band when Steve left. Yet the "I'm inclined to be" seems to be mysteriously absent.

I kinda just thought it was a normal expression... getting people to move their behinds... as in dance... or stand up (asses out of the seats) or whatnot. I didn't think it was that deep and metaphorical...

[Hidden Sun]

I kinda just thought it was a normal expression... getting people to move their behinds... as in dance... or stand up (asses out of the seats) or whatnot. I didn't think it was that deep and metaphorical...

I never thought of it that way. I guess Ed was right when he said "if we put out a silly song, people are gonna say 'how is this silly song about Steve?".

BTW, I noticed on Rockitoldschool that you have all of the new lyrics posted. How did you get the full lyrics for each song?

[TheHYPO]

I thought I'd bump this thread for lyrics with the new album being listenable. If anyone has any lyrics to debate the correctness of, this is a good place, and I welcome the input. I am sure there are typos and mishears.