⇓⇓⇓to preview or buy the album: ALMOST click this button
•CONCEPT: I’ve never heard an original song until…
•LYRICS & LINER NOTES:
1. There Is Not Flame:
-It’s all about Love. The rest is noise.
There is not flame there is not fire When love is not the first thing on my mind There is no sound there is no choir When love is not the first thing that you find Chorus: Here I somehow see the love And you can know the ancient song This is what all the saints believe And you can sing along Shuttered windows closing blinds This privacy that covers shame The incense of our groping minds Burns to hear the holy name… CHORUS Solitaire cannot erase Our hunger for the sweet embrace Solitaire cannot decrease Our hunger for the sweet release… CHORUS Lead vocal: Dave / Background: Mary, Lee, Peter Guitars: Dave & Lee / Mandolin: Ian Bass: Scott / Congas: Stuart
2. What Goes Round:
-Some call it kharma. Some call it consequences. I call it spiritual gravity.
What is this dream I’m dreaming Of a mansion by the sea If I’m lyin’ smack dab in the middle Of this lonesome poverty Tell me who scrapes this bottom When I’m down here lookin’ up Why are all these tears here In this paper cup? CHORUS: And I can’t afford these prices (It’s more than I can spend) What goes round goes round But comes around again Now I am not a man to weep When the stocks are lookin’ down But I can’t believe that what was up so high Has tumbled to the ground And I don’t believe in karma But the consequence is clear If you dance the dance the fiddler Is the only one who’s near… CHORUS I’ve learned that cash is just some paper That I use to pay the bills The things I own are only here To keep away the chill And my so-called friends only come around When the rest of me is right But the things that really matter Are simply out of sight… CHORUS Vocal, Guitars, Bass, Harmonicas: Dave Spoons: Stuart
3. Twenty Three:
-Inspired by Psalm 23 and our human condition.
Though I walk through the darkness Though violence surrounds me like a glove Though stolen kisses are bought and sold On my own personal TV Though my so-called friends expect My moral compromise I’ll fear no evil for you are here with me CHORUS: You care for me. You watch for me. Your goodness and mercy all… all of my life. Though innocent be denied Though the honest speak with guns Though the zombies claim the right to rule Though the blind lead the blind And claim the sight to see I’ll fear no evil for you are hear with me… CHORUS Though reason give way to control Though the destitute be on sale Though service be just a matter of reward Though love and truth like weather change by degree I’ll fear no evil for you are here with me… CHORUS Vocals & Guitars: Dave
4. Original Song:
-It’s hard not to be derivative. We all have our influences. It’s just that something came from somewhere and in this case, Someone.
1) I never heard an original song (X3) Till you came into my life CHORUS: No one ever sang a song the way you do You can touch a cold cold heart (and melt right through) And you fill my mind with mystery Strike a match in the darkness… I can see That I never heard an original song Till you came into my life 2) I never felt an original song (X3) Till you came into my life… CHORUS 3) I never saw an original light (X3) Till you came into my life… CHORUS Lead Vocal: Dave / Background: Mary Guitars: Dave / Dobro: Steve / Clarinet: Bill Bass: Scott / Drums: Stuart
5. Metaphor:
-Not the chicken and the egg. Heaven first. All the rest followed.
Like a mystery where the danger Can only be solved in the end Like the best part of lovers When they shine like the sun (As if it never would end) When you reach for the shimmering sunlight Just to touch the radiant sky When you yearn for the wings of the dreaming And the glory flying by (Earth looks so small) Something here is more than I knew And I know it is not me There’s a crack in the earth and its current Is moving beyond the sea Let me sit down and catch my breath And take this whole thing in Let me lie down and take a rest From this energy rushing in And it moves me through the distances To the place that always was This must be what they call heaven And I wonder what it does Heaven lasts forever Earth can only give a metaphor Heaven lasts forever Earth can only give a metaphor Something ‘bout this planetary life Makes you look for something more Heaven lasts forever Earth can only give a metaphor Like a magic trick with a special touch That is more than slight of hand Like my deepest wish coming true Like some visit to a promised land… Lead & Background Vocals: Dave Guitars: Dave / Violin: Faith / Synth: Lee Bass: Scott / Drums & Wind chimes: Stuart
6. There’s Still Time:
-Something of a variation on “this too will pass.”
1) Though you’re looking for the river To see the safety on the other shore And there are several roads to walk on And mountains left to climb And even if the blue sky in your window Gets all clouded up in misty gray CHORUS: Never mind. It ain’t over. There’s still time. 2) And even if your sweetheart broke your heart Like the crack of ice in the frozen winter chill And you feel lonely as an eagle In the midnight sky And it don’t seem right somehow And thought the tears you cry Are never never comin’ back again… CHORUS 3) And this cotton candy jingle melts on the tip of your tongue And you can sense the melody is over Even though it’s only just begun And you are clutching at the moments Just to stop the ceaseless climb… CHORUS 4) And I am just like you I feel it When the world shakes beneath my feet And I just like you I know it When the weather starts to take control And I am just like you I’m human And I bleed when I’m wounded in my soul… CHORUS Lead Vocal & Background: Dave Guitars: Dave Bass: Scott / Drums: Stuart
7. Desperate Places:
-Inspired by my grandfather (or was it my uncle?) who got the cabin cruiser run aground. Everyone came to the rescue. Though it felt and looked like Humpty Dumpty: “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put humpty together again.”
1) Water shallow hit the bottom Boats all grounded Motion all adrift And shifting always Fearful anxious eyes and gazes Heads and legs and raising voices crying CHORUS: We are in desperate places And we cannot stand here waiting There is no progress Our boats are standing still 2) I am not safe I am almost drowning I stir the air and my emotions The SOS… But no one answers No one hears me in this commotion… CHORUS 3) Do not pass these moments by Do not forsake our nervous laughter Never think that all is well When all the while Our boats Are standing still… CHORUS 4) I am in a strange condition And you are shouting out the answers But you are in the same position And we are only turning up the volume… CHORUS Lead Vocal: Dave / Background: Mary, Lee & Dave Guitar: Dave / Keyboard: Lee / Harp: Dave Bass: Scott / Drums: Stuart
8. Guess I’ll Cash It In:
-Sin is always a gamble. And the is rigged.
The stakes are always high More than I can afford My chips are kinda low, I got the blues for my reward Guess I’ll cash it in before it’s gone The floor is burning hot As the money shuffles in The spinnin’ wheel the blackjack The poker and the gin Guess I’ll cash it in before it’s gone They say doors swing both ways But I always end up in I wish I was outside But it’s just he nature of this sin I walked in here to win But I always seem to loose I know this game is rigged But you see I tend to miss the clues Guess I’ll cash it in before it’s gone Got a hole in my pocket My feet are full of lead My mind is made of concrete And my bankbook’s in the red There’s a trick called self-resistance But my money’s all been spent I’ve cashed in my whole paycheck And the money for the rent And there’s nothing to cash in When it’s all gone Lead Vocal: Dave / Background: Mary & Dave Guitars & Harmonica: Dave Bass: Scott / Drums: Stuart
9. Shadow Boxing:
-made it up spontaneously in the studio
1) Shadow boxing, walls around me listening Naked, lonely, can you find me echoing? CHORUS: Only you have ears to hear me Only you will never let me go 2) Silence screaming, can you turn the music down? Secrets whispering, can you stop the guilty sound?… CHORUS Hold my hand and walk with me, talk with me… 3) Quiet streams here, we will sit and talk awhile. You are shining. Can you hear the angels smile?… CHORUS Lead Vocal: Dave Guitars & Guitar Synth: Dave Bass: Scott / Drums: Stuart
10. Mountain:
-Like track#12 only there’s nothing like mountains, valleys and rivers.
You’re always on the Mountain You’re always in the valley You’re always on the river I need you to remind me When it’s like I never knew you You say all is forgiven I wake up in the morning And you are here beside me I know… more than I ever knew And I laugh more than I ever loved And I love more than I ever saw And I see more than I ever was… before (Constantly beside me) You’re always on the Mountain You’re always in the valley You’re always on the river I need you to remind me Lead Vocal: Dave / Background: Mary & Dave Guitar, Bass & Harp: Dave / Violin: Faith Drums: Stuart
11. Pin The Tail:
-The world is cruel. God is not.
1) Pin the tail on the donkey Put the spotlight on the fool Put the robe on the jester Dunk the clown into the pool CHORUS A: We mock the hand that feeds The joy that makes us cry Pin the tail on the donkey And watch him die 2) Pound the hammer on the anvil Forge the plow into a spear Plunge the dagger in the madness Feed the anger with out fear… CHORUS A CHORUS B: But you are all I need to know And never to be cruel This is this and that is all And love your only rule 3) Bend the tree before the whirlwind Bow the knee below it all Pride of man before his maker Dust to death the great and small… CHORUS A&B Lead Vocal: Dave / Background: Mary & Dave Guitar & Harmonica: Dave / Horn Section & Solo: Bill Bass: Scott / Drums: Stuart
12. Still Small Voice:
-A cloudy windy autumn morning on Nantucket, it’s as if I had a front row seat to the Majestic.
evidence displayed in tumbled trees moving mobiles clouds and grass cosmic contact land and sea and all who dwell therein and all who dwell therein sprayed caps white water flames dust flies pollen wings born aloft and seagulls pass pushed by invisibility I stood on the helm of swaying branches struck by the need to enter in greater than I am… He is joy floods the inner cavities the empty placed filled to fountains as mammoth smoke is shoved aside blue sky sings in clouds I cannot sing and yet a crown upon my head Wind Lord, Storm King, Mover, Changer, Cosmic Lover now speaks the whirlwind still… small… voice Vocal: Dave Guitars, Flute, Flute Percussion & Bass / Wind Chimes: Stuart
13. Every:
-Everywhere means “where can I go?” You are most wonderfully inescapable! (Ps139)
1) When I rise or when I lay down When I go out, when I stay down When I cry or sing or bleed or laugh or pray When I listen or I walk out When I’m confident or still doubt When I fail a hundred times a day CHORUS: Every note you listen Every sight you see Every joy you love to share with me Every tear you store up Every cost you pay up Every night you stay up and comfort me 2) When I eat or talk or leave town When I win or lose or stay found When I stand or sit or crawl or run away When I forget you or remember When inspired or confused When I’m twisted up And cannot find the way… CHORUS Every thought you notice Every hope you promise That everywhere I go you’ll always be. Vocals, Guitar and Harmonica: Dave
•CREDITS:
All music and lyrics written by: Dave Petty © 1995 Small Voice Records
Musicians: Dave Petty: Guitars, lead vocal, background vocals. Bass guitar, harp, harmonicas & flute Mary O’Hare: Background Vocals Lee Kizer: Keyboards, guitar, background vocal Scott Spray: Bass guitar Stuart Stahr: Drums, congas, spoons, wind chimes Bill Harris: Clarinet, sax, horn arrangement Faith Fraoli: Violin Peter Lanfer: Background vocal Ian Cron: Mandolin Steve McCardell: Dobro Christy Petty: “Oink! Oink!” (at age 3)
Produced by Stuart Stahr and Dave Petty for Small Voice Records Producers: Lewis & Joanie Madeira, Tom Petty, Jr., Susan Watts Recorded at: SounTec Studios, August 1994 Recording Engineer: Peter Hodgson Mixed at: Carriage House Studios, September 1994 Mixdown Engineer: Phil Castellano Mastered at: Trutone Inc., September 1994 Mastering Engineer: David Radin Cover and disc art: Karen Turner Photography: Bob Schellhammer Art direction, layout and text: Dave Petty Graphic layout: Miesha Bartosh, Trutone Inc. Special Thanks to: all the “intercessors”, the FOCUS Staff & students who encouraged me to play especially David & Beth, Bryce & Mel, Laura, Peter & Hilary, the longstanding fellow musicians: Ted, Lisa, Kenny, Andy, John Larae, Sasha, Robert, Lee, Melissa & Pierce, to David “Mr. Electric” Watchorn, Lisa (just because), Greg Hammett (my most constant endorser), all who financially contributed to make this project happen, Stuart’s wife Claire, “CD”, Elvis, Dorothy, Brad, Brooke, my faithful & loving father, Christy (thanks for the hugs), Carol (my best friend, Jesus Christ (without whom none of this would have be possible), Also Thanks to Keith, Melissa & Amy at Sountec, Johnny & Dave at Carriage House, Anne-Marie at Trutone.
