"the voice of us lyrics" - all lyrics by Eric Fielding Balmer
102
this is how i learned to give up
the coldness came so fast it killed us
all of daddy’s plants hanging all their heads
they’re too icy cold to look up
they shiver….they shiver
this is how i learned to give up
surrounded by the ones you gave us
all their mocking words calling down a curse
from a God that they don’t believe in
i shudder….i shudder….i shudder
you’re too old to die, my mother
remember when we looked high and saw her
halley’s comet bright flew across the sky
now i’m 85 and how i wonder
i wonder…i wonder…i wonder
this is how i learned to look up
i pushed the statues down they crumbled
an audience of one singing all my songs
i have never felt such comfort
Asher
you don’t have a say, you don’t get a say
i have given up, your words are bouncing off
the boy emerged today, i didn’t feel a thing
here in spite of me, i gave in to your pleas
chorus
“be with me…be with me”
i’ll even overlook your history
“be with me…be with me”
i’ll even overlook our history
if it’s all in a name must i still stay?
i can see the flames glowing off your face
before the fire was lit i was frozen stiff
long gone, long dead, save the kindling for the kid
you’re the mother…i’m the daddy
but the boy is all there is to this family
you’re the mother…i’m the daddy
somehow, we’ll call it a family
they say the future is all in a name
i’ll call you 'asher', so you turn out ok...
Ladders to Stars
killing your darlings ain’t easy
i ain’t saying it is
holding the knife above Isaac,
he’s just a kid
son, you will be many
look at the stars above
tell me how many you’re thinking of
chorus
the ships we took far are weeping at the harbor
can you lend us a shoulder?
jacob please take me up your secret ladder
i just need a reminder
the candlelight is fading
i’m squinting at the page
trying to find the words to keep faith
so paint my eyes with saliva if that's what it takes
the heart is such a heartbreaker when it breaks
Breath on Glass
all of the time it’s speeding up
where have you gone my labor of love?
i carried you up the top of the hill
i laid you down, i laid you down
chorus
if i’m acting strange write it down for the weak in faith
oh how, oh how my hands they shake
like breath on glass, i’m fading fast
like breath on glass we fade
boy, can’t you see that i’ll lay you down?
cos i want a name and i want it now
i'm desperate as a house with no ghosts
looking for love looking for home…
Waste of Time
welcome back, my love, where have you been?
don’t look down, just come right in
it’s such a waste of time, it’s such a waste of time
i’ve saved your things, your brush, your wine
i still long for you, sweet valentine
it’s such a waste of time, it’s such a waste of time
chorus
a promise, my fingers were crossed right behind
a white dress, the words that i spoke were a lie
it’s such a waste of time
Cigarette
shower off last night, hang your clothes up to dry
i’ll get to know the changes of
23 and stuck inside a troubled head without a mind
for the obvious and the things that rust
chorus
smoke another cigarette, smoke another cigarette
smoke another marlboro red, smoke another marlboro red
'til it burns…'til you feel like you’ve learned
but my soul is drifting out to sea, up and down like a symphony
that’s lost its way when players say
“where’s the grace, what’s the rush
we’re calling out for you lazarus,
don’t go to sleep, i need to believe.”
so close your dead eyes
you said yourself all your goodbyes
the great return overdressed and not fine
cos you’re not a merchant
and i’m not buying what you’re selling
the great return overdressed and not right
Hotels in Chicago
i want my name back now, love
for you left it, for you left it
somewhere in chicago
in a hotel…In a hotel…
now i know what hell's like
you lit the fire…you light the fires
with the movies inside
they play in my mind…they play in my mind
pre-chorus
keep the house for the trouble of
this marriage, that started out with love
i want the babies you can’t have them
they’ve got half my blood
chorus
all that we loved is broken
i can’t pick it up
broken pieces falling down
kamikaze, hit the ground
Buildings Love Birds
you said what’s needed, just some chords,
truth, and a sincere beating heart
am I a scarecrow? it’s just a thought,
cos I haven’t seen any birds in quite a while
tell yourself what you have to, to make it through
i am the building where the birds
like to perch, converse about all the ones
who move strange, but never come up above
for all the air that’s been left for them, but not for us
i will stand still for all the birds, to rest their wings and talk of us
we’re the foolish ones
chorus
save your goodbyes for another day, for another life
i will not fly, for you held me up when the others turned to dust
Step Back
push me, please push me
push me right over this place
cos i want to love you, but i don’t have courage or faith
if it were really all up to me, then i’d stay
so do what you have to and push me right over this place
chorus
step back, you’re getting too close
i guess my big demands weren’t frightening
but simple plans
the burlap i’m dragging
i'll take to the edge of this place
and watch as it falls far; thirty-two feet seconds squared
cos i was so ready to leave you and be done with it
but there's something so lovely in watching you fall from up here
It’s Not Safe
sometimes you wake up, not much left to say
the ceiling fan's been spinning, the air's stale anyway
chorus
you’re breathing so slowly, you’re starting to dizzy
you’re not safe anymore
england is calling, the rain and the mist
the air you’ve been breathing, the sunshine such a mess
the lighthouse is spinning, she calls out a warning
'it’s not safe anymore'
The Voice of Us
you’re such a drag when you chew like that
don’t squint your eyes, i’m not that bright
chorus
the voice of us drowning out the loveliness
it's become so obvious, so obvious
time for a change, a full upgrade
your sell by date, it’s far too late
i am, i am all that you’ve got for now
you’re gonna have to figure out how to make this fit...
The Giant Awoke
a quarter to three, my bed’s turned into the sea
all i need is some sleep, waves crashing over over me
the giant awoke
careful when stepping over those
who only knew how to hate
chorus
if you’re so beautiful
come back down and rest awhile
we’ve made a place for you to rest your grace
lay it down…down for now
like a baby firstborn, messy but beautiful
show me the other side
i won’t let go - how could i?