1. |
Hours Go By
03:00
|
|||
|
I shouldn’t spend so much time with you.
But I couldn’t think of anything better to do.
Walkin’ around Seattle,
I forgot all about my battles.
Hours go by.
There’s traffic, and it’s raining.
And I must be late for something.
Under the space needle,
Singing a song by The Beatles,
Hours go by.
I got a parking ticket
Down on Pike Place Market,
Watching those guys throw their fish around,
In their rain jackets, with the seagulls watching
For a morsel to hit the ground.
Six hours slipped away.
And it looks like we wasted the entire day.
But what a great record store!
This is what my money’s for.
It just disappears, but look what I got here:
The one and only Billy Sheers.
“I read the news today, oh
|
||||
2. |
A Double Thing
04:11
|
|||
|
To be the first to think of a thing
That no one believes.
To feel the thirst, to take the drink,
And roll up your sleeves.
It’s a double thing like a sword or a coin.
But it’s a diamond ring,
When you find out where it’s going.
To feel the urge, to be on the verge,
To feel the surge.
To be the one, second to none,
You fly to the sun.
It’s a double thing, like a secret agent spy.
How far will you go?
You can make it if you try.
It’s a double thing. It’s got two sides.
One you show the world, and one you hide.
You’re closing in on what you’ve
Searched for all this time.
|
||||
3. |
Just in Time
03:33
|
|||
|
Just In Time
This is good, this is good.
This is the time when everything goes the way it should.
This is good, this is good.
No crossing fingers, no knocking on wood.
CHORUS:
There’s something in my eye.
What a surprise.
You came along just in time.
You came along just in time.
This is fine. This is nice.
You’re stirring up my life, add a little spice.
This is cool, this is strange.
Something tells me I ain’t ever gonna be the same.
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
So just relax,
‘Cause you’re an angel.
A real one with wings,
A halo of light and everything.
So take out your wings, tonight.
‘Cause an angel should be seen in all her light.
An angel should be seen in flight.
|
||||
4. |
Yellow House
03:02
|
|||
|
My full name is Jonathan Kraus.
I live in a yellow house,
With my wife, six feet tall.
She bumps her head coming out of the hall.
And all my neighbors think she’s fine.
They tell me about it all of the time.
They say, “How could an awkward guy like you,
End up with a girl so beautiful?”
Nice of you to wish me luck here.
But I’m just trying to wash my truck here.
Our living room has hardwood floors,
Cracks in the ceiling, creaky doors.
It’s kind of hard to get settled down
With a six-foot woman clomping around.
And a homeless man sleeps on our porch
When the weather gets cold in early March.
It’s the least that we can give,
‘Cause there’s lots of them where we live,
Around the corner from the University.
There’s so much noise from the fraternity.
There's so much noise.
Our landlord is a mysterious man.
He wrote his name on a coffee can,
Nailed to a board under the deck.
That’s where we put the rent check.
Some of the creeps from the rich boy frat
Broke into our house and stole our cat.
I did some detective work.
The cat was okay but I found those jerks.
It felt good to beat up on a frat boy.
They were impressed, and they called me Crazy Cat Boy.
My first name is Jonathan.
I’ll never run in a marathon.
I’ll never be on a talk show.
|
||||
5. |
Hipster
03:35
|
|||
|
You came from a dark town,
A place that was hollowed out.
Just a couple of skateboard kids who hated MTV,
And no one around to take you seriously.
You keep a collection of underground magazines,
And model yourself after all of the jagged things.
You know always had an eye for the cutting edge,
Your razor sharp tongue became a weapon.
Now there’s not an honest bone left inside of you.
How could you let it happen?
CHORUS:
What is it all really for?
Stamping out sparks and slamming doors.
What is it all really for?
You don’t even know any more.
You don’t even know.
Their themes are elegant,
So hip and relevant.
You know you always had an ear for the new wave.
Somehow it washed you out.
And now there’s nothing left for you to come by honestly.
So what’s it all about?
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
You don’t even know
You don’t even know.
Listen to this.
Isn’t it nice?
Isn’t it good?
Doesn’t it move you like it should?
How does it feel when you’re alone?
Do you sometimes wish that you could go back home?
What is it all really for?
What is it all really for?
|
||||
6. |
Little Bird
03:19
|
|||
|
Do you see? Do you see?
All the things you ever dreamed could be.
Here and now, everything in reach.
Framed in this light, you look just like a saint.
Whatever made you so brave?
Do you see?
Think of all the fruit you gave up on the vine.
Think of all the hiding places that you left behind.
Your eyes look clearer, now that you’ve arrived.
It was surely worth it just to come alive.
So fly, Little Bird. It’s your sky. It’s your world.
Little Bird, fly.
Do you see? Do you see?
All the things you every thought should be.
Here and now, everything in reach.
You felt the strain, when you kept it underground.
The light becomes you now.
So fly, Little Bird. It’s your sky. It’s your world.
Little Bird, fly.
|
||||
7. |
All I Have
02:07
|
|||
|
It hits me now; I realize, that I’m just as low as I’ve always been. All I have is you. Year after year of doing my best, I don’t get anywhere. Now I’m just depressed. And I don’t know what comes next. I had a master plan, and it was good. Everything I try; it never works, and I’m left with pieces. All I have is you. They say tomorrow is another day to try. But I can’t see why. I’m just floating through. All I have is you. I thought that I would make it if I kept on pushing. I can’t see daylight ahead of me. All I have is you.
|
||||
8. |
Honky Tonk Romans
03:52
|
|||
|
I’m never gonna play this town again.
The local population doesn’t understand.
It’s like going to a different land.
They got hearts made of leather and their minds made up,
They take their words and the drinks straight up.
One slip of the tongue, now I’m all laid up.
John Barrett told me to keep things light. Yes he did.
In retrospect he was right.
But I don’t ever change my act for no one.
In a sea of patriotic homicidal tattoos,
Those were my first clues.
It was that, and too much booze.
They descended on my like an army of honky tonk Romans.
I came here by invite, to offer some insight.
And all they wanted to do was dance.
Cowboy boots, cowboy hats,
American roots I expected that.
But nobody was lookin’ up at where I sat
And played my guitar.
Oh I was singin’ just like a bird.
But nobody heard my beautiful words,
I never looked and sounded so absurd.
Then somebody chalkin’ his cue in the back of the bar
He looked alarmed.
I must have taken things to far.
'Cause everything after that is just a blur of violence.
“We don’t like the way you talk.
Gonna toss your ass through the juke box.
All we wanna do on a Friday nite is blow off steam.
So please don’t you make fun of our American dream.”
I’ve entertained kids of every age,
Never been throw'd off of any stage.
I always leave ‘em screamin’ and clappin’ for more.
But these folks can be forgiven,
‘Cause they work hard for a livin’
And they paid me the guarantee, plus half o’ the door.
|
||||
9. |
Achilles Heart
03:15
|
|||
|
My Achilles heart.
Word got out, I’ve been hit a hundred times.
Still I’m drawn back into battle.
That’s right.
Nothing really hit its mark,
They didn’t know that I’m impervious to pain.
Swords and spears and poisoned arrows,
In vain. In vain.
My Achilles heart,
Still the only way to get the best of me,
There are shrewder ways of winning,
You’ll see. You’ll see.
Undefeated, until now,
Tell me how, you found out, now.
Tell me how, you found out.
My Achilles heart.
The word got out, there’s no one can save me now.
At least I’ll go out smiling, somehow.
|
||||
10. |
An Elegant Failure
01:54
|
|||
|
How could I be such an elegant failure?
How could I be such an elegant failure?
I want more. I want more out of life.
Who doesn't want more?
How could I be such an elegant failure?
How could I be such an elegant failure?
Andy Warhol said that I'd get mine.
All I ask for, all I ask for
Is fifteen minutes of his time.
How could I be such an elegant failure?
How could I be such an elegant failure?
|
||||
11. |
We Got a Situation
03:12
|
|||
|
I'm good at thinking clearly,
No matter bad I feel.
'Cause I can separate reality
From the unfulfilled ideal.
Speaking of unfulfilled
The king of Realistic is taking a spill,
Whether you know it or not.
We got a situation here.
Torrential storms are blowing near.
We got a situation here.
And it's not gonna go away by itself.
Ancient psychological technologies
Used to work for me in the matters of faith.
But somewhere along the way the world caught up to me.
And I ran outta grace.
And speaking of grace,
Don't look now! The enlightened one is losing the race.
Whether you know it or not.
We got a situation here.
Everybody better stand clear.
We got a situation here,
And it's not gonna go away by itself.
No, it's not gonna go away.
When do I get to breakdown?
When do I get to check out?
When do I get to hurt someone who doesn't deserve it?
I can wade through the confusion.
I got my communication skills down pat.
And I can draft a good resolution.
Like a good diplomat.
And speaking of diplomacy,
Don't look now! The elder statesman
Is tearing up the treaty.
Whether you know it or not.
We got a situation here.
The solid rock you counted on, he's about to disappear.
We got a situation here
And it's not gonna go away by itself.
We got a situation here.
Close your eyes, and cover your ears.
We got a situation here.
And it's not gonna go away by itself.
No, it's not gonna go away.
|
||||
12. |
Now That I Have You
02:56
|
|||
|
I can do anything now that I have you.
All my old enemies go running back to the zoo,
Back to their cages
Temper-tantrums and rages,
Just a gray memory, now that I have you.
Now I can sleep at night
Now that you're by my side.
Yes I can sleep at night.
Now that you're by my side.
Bad dreams and nightmares,
All my troubles and cares,
Just a gray memory, now that I have you.
This is all I want to say.
I don't want to jinx it.
I told my therapist about it today.
He thinks it's just a phase.
I got a fresh start,
Reset to zero.
And I can do anything.
I like a superhero.
Villains and foes,
All my worries and woes.
Just a gray memory, now that I have you.
|
||||
13. |
Promises
03:16
|
|||
|
Will you give back, all those things I gave to you?
That’s a promise you can’t keep.
Now that you’ve done all the things you said you’d never do—
Promises you couldn’t keep.
Promises you couldn’t keep.
Blue skies won’t wait for you,
Blue skies don’t wait for you,
To put you in the mood,
To put you in the mood for sunshine.
Will I come back when I hear that you’ve shut down?
That’s a promise I can’t keep.
And it’s a shame the way that our sad story still unfolds—
Promise we couldn’t keep.
Promise we couldn’t keep.
|
||||
14. |
Celebrity (Part 1)
02:47
|
|||
|
In your gown you looked so pretty
Walking down the red rug.
You turned around to say hello
To no one in particular.
You’re finally a star.
Yesterday, you were working in some bar.
You knew all your friends.
You slept with most of them.
Everything’s a little blurry,
Coming into view two fast.
It’s hard to focus when you hurry
Through your future from your past.
The view from the back seat
Of a long white limousine,
Through tinted windows and champagne,
It’s a lot like a movie screen.
And then you wonder why nobody calls you.
No one thinks they’ll get through.
Do we miss your smiling face.
Not at all.
Not at all.
No, not at all.
Not at all.
|
||||
15. |
Bleeding in Your Shoes
04:34
|
|||
|
Never leave the house without your armor,
Just because you’re feeling huge.
They’re waiting just outside to harm you.
You’ll end up like the last one,
Bleeding in your shoes.
You stand up tall just like Goliath,
And such a fierce competitor.
You never fear the scavengers,
The criminals, the cannibals, the predators.
‘Cause you’re a predator too.
That’s why I love you.
That’s why I love you.
That’s why I love you.
Never let your friends inspect your weapons,
Just because they bring good news.
When they get jealous of your captains,
They’ll do you like the last one,
Bleeding in your shoes.
The fire it takes to heat the battle,
Burns the rest of life away.
You never even notice.
As far as you’re as your concerned,
It’s always been that way.
That’s why I love you.
That’s why I love you.
That’s why I love you.
|
||||
16. |
Kick the Can
01:51
|
|||
|
Hey, Little Girl, do you want to play kick-the-can?
Just like we did when we were kids,
Now that you’re a woman, and I’m a man.
Don’t be shy.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes,
Just because the game is strange, now rules have changed,
And now there’s so much more at stake.
What do you want to do?
Do you wanna play a little hide-and-seek?
Okay then, close your eyes and count as high
As it takes to get in touch with your dangerous streak.
But you can’t hide from me.
I see into your fantasies.
You want me to believe
That all you need is peace and harmony.
But your drifting, drifting,
Into something more than playtime
Playtime.
Now count to ten
And kick the can.
|
||||
John Shipe Eugene, Oregon
Gushing reviews surround Shipe’s Americana work, charting in 6 countries on 3 continents. He's opened for Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Cake, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Jerry Joseph, Jimmy Cliff, Derek Trucks, Los Lobos, Hootie & Blowfish, and Blind Melon. Shipe music is described as cinematic, appearing in feature films, shorts and documentaries. 36 Shipe tunes rotated on 100 radio stations. ... more
If you like John Shipe, you may also like:
The Convincer (20th Anniversary Edition)
by Nick Lowe
Released in 2001, “The Convincer” is a gentle gem in the Nick Lowe catalog; an anniversary edition provides opportunity for rediscovery.
go to album
The Ohio songwriter navigates gender, queerness, class, and privilege through a powerful mix of country rock, folk ballads, and bluegrass.
go to album
Beautiful and mysterious folk-adjacent songs from this UK outfit that wreathe delicate acoustic guitar in mist-like synths.
go to album
Thin Lear's sophisticated rock music is tempered with soaring chamber pop accents and an undeniable gift for melody.
go to album
Pete Yorn Live At The Troubadour
by Pete Yorn
A sprawling, 25-song set from Pete Yorn complete with covers of Springsteen and The Smiths capture him at his unguarded best.
go to album
The new single from Youth Lagoon is a small wonder of airy art pop.
go to album
Screaming Brittle Siren (Remastered)
by Michael Knott
Revisit a cult classic from the ’90s, a searing journey into darkness set to slashing riffs and sawing strings.
go to album
