The Fires Of: Recent Episodes
The Fires Of
thefiresof@gmail.com The Fires Of is a collective of Canadian musicians that thrives on bringing joy and melody to the people with their infectious brand of indie-pop and high-energy live shows. The Fires Of have steadily been incorporating new sounds into their music, cultivating a fan base that heartily embraces their diverse rock ‘n’ roll sound.
Founded in Toronto circa 2008, the band originally met as Ultimate Frisbee players competing at both the national and international level; not the usual stomping grounds for a rock band. The members of The Fires Of are Graeme Donnelly (“The Eerie One”, vocals and rhythm guitar), Lisa Di Diodato (“The Delightful One”, vocals and bass), Steve Canning (“The Precocious One”, lead guitar), Peyton Leung (“The Ravishing One”, violin and percussion) and Greg Heard (“The Sesquipedalian One”, drums).
The Fires Of have showcased their sound and energy at historic venues in Toronto, including Lee’s Palace and el Mocambo, at nxne and Indie Week, under a giant tent, on a leaky boat and in an art gallery with an army of Japanese punk bands, in addition to the usual local indie haunts.
Curtains closed and shades drawn. Morning light is bleeding through, breaking in over you. Jumbled dreams are fading. Mumbled thoughts are breaking through. Waking up next to you. Breathing softly on me. Electric contact, skin to skin. Bleed my heart into you. Whisper, “time to wake up.” Mouthing words against your cheek. Waking up next to you. Sleeping in is all I want to do. Blankets drawn up tightly, wrapped around me to stay warm, reaching arms out for you. Empty space accuses. All these moments fade from view waking up next to you. Sleeping in is all I want to do, waking up next to you.
Words and music by Graeme Donnelly Mixed by Graeme Donnelly Produced by The Fires Of Mastered by Noah Mintz
Lisa: Vocals; Steve: Xylophone, Footsteps, Handclaps; Chris Hayward: Handclaps; Larry Yuan: Synth, Electric Piano; Greg: Drumbox, Handclaps, Drums; Graeme: Bass, Guitars, Harmony, Tambourine, Handclaps
Words & Music by Graeme Donnelly
Take heart, my son; fear not, my little one It’s only words, those cries you heard Frozen, although fires burning, all aglow Along this coast, such tiny hopes
All I want is the sweet life Some freedom, some heartbreak I’m tired of feeling so left out So run down, so tied in, so held back
chorus All these hearts in riot, sing into the quiet! Just sing into the quiet, my friend! All these hearts in riot, sing into the quiet! Just sing into the quiet, again! I’m not going to pretend, it evens out in the end But I believe in you.
Trust placed; no pretence; lost hope, lost confidence Disheartened dreams, all lost, it seems
All I want is the sweet life Some freedom, some heartbreak I’m tired of feeling so left out So run down, so tied in, so held back
chorus i believe in you (now) x 12
chorus
Take heart, my child I’ll be home in a little while
Words & Music by Graeme Donnelly
Tell me your secrets and I’ll tell you mine Tell me your future and I’ll tell you all of my lies
Tell me the weather you see in my face Tell me the seasons have fallen from place in the skies
But don’t you say to me “it’s all right” Don’t you say to me “it’s all right.” Don’t you say to me “it’s all right.” I can see through this mist to your heart
Faces that turn from me, sharpening tongues Gleefully barbed, it’s with elegant words that you stung
But don’t you say to me “it’s all right” Don’t you say to me “it’s all right.” Don’t you say to me “it’s all right.” Don’t you say to me “it’s all right.” I can see through this mist to your heart
So I’ll remember this romance and pretend From today, we’ll go forward in our dreams ‘til the end
Tell me your future and I’ll tell you mine Tell me your secrets and nightmares and visions and lies
But don’t you say to me “it’s all right” Don’t you say to me “it’s all right.” Don’t you say to me “it’s all right.”
I can see through this mist to your heart
Words & Music by Graeme Donnelly
Cigarettes Ash-tray white Fingernails Neon-bright I’m not as old as I used to be What never was…and never will be Always you’re running to stay in one place And the side-line tells you to pick up the pace and it’s over. I don’t care anymore x 3
Whispering Seeping through Memory. Baby Blue. All alone and I feel so wired And it’s too too much and it’s so so tired (What should have been…but never could be) Sometimes it seems like I’m holding on But it’s all played out and you’ve moved along and it’s over. I don’t care anymore x 3
Puts my back up Leaves my back against the wall I don’t care anymore x 3
With your long, blonde hair and your eyes of blue I’m alright now, what’s it to you? I don’t care anymore. I don’t care anymore x 3
I dreamed you I’m lost and time stands still but I keep on moving on so blinkered, blinded by the ones we count upon I’m drowning I fall under your spell and I’m drawn into your yes I latch onto your soul and all that that implies like a dream, I keep losing track to go so far that we can’t turn back we thought we knew, now it just seems so unwise did we know that our hopes were compromised? how can we see the truth through all these lies? surprise me I need you here with me don’t leave me full of doubt you tantalize me would you leave me bleeding out are you ready for the next time? are you ready for the next one, baby? are you ready for the next time? are you ready for the next one, baby? are you ready for the next time, baby? are you ready for the next one, baby now? now I needed you now I needed you fine tonight…holding on to the night
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
Day 3 Challenge: Write the words first.
This turned out interesting, but not quite as strong as the other tracks. It needs a bit more time spent on it, especially on the words (ironically).
do you believe when you’re walking around holding me tight I’ve got a new kind of frown less is more I’m at the door and I’m down hold on to something mysterious held up and half-way to serious believe that I’m waiting my heart’s levitating and it may seem strange to you all the little tiny things that I do but it works out fine I promise you there’s madness to my method tonight
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: ; GRAEME: lead vocals, harmony vocal, bass, electric guitars, drum programming; STEVE: ; PEYTON: ; GREG: .
PLACE TO BELONG
I’ve been here for a while thinking of things that we said—lying here in denial trying to get out of bed. Sometimes I’m so tired that I can’t be bothered to talk. Sometimes I’m so wired that I can’t stop running to walk. The nights have started growing longer—winter is well on its way. I can feel it getting stronger—daylight is fading away. Sometimes I can’t (still) buy in to all that you’re trying to teach me. Sometimes I start crying whenever you’re trying to reach me and maybe you were right all along—you can’t blame the singer for the song. I wish that I could always be strong and find a place I belong. Winter will come and go and, soon enough, it will be spring. Ice will melt—rivers flow and, soon enough, birds start to sing. Sometimes I still wander around all the places we stayed. Sometimes I still wonder why memories remain and some fade and maybe you were right all along—you can’t blame the singer for the song. I wish that I could always be strong. Maybe you were right all along—you can’t blame the singer for the song. I wish that I could always be strong and find a place to belong. So go back to the start, find your favourite part and just sing with your heart. Don’t worry; it won’t be long until you find a place to belong. Oh, you’ll find a place to belong. Yeah, you’ll find a place to belong…
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: vocals; GRAEME: vocals, acoustic guitars, 12-string, electric guitars, tambourine, bass; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drums.
SONG IN MY HEAD Words and music by Chris Hayward
It's good enough that I knew you once, though I'll probably not see you again. You passed me once with your radio on. I've got your song now in my head. I've got your song now in my head. If hanging here with us doesn't make you happy, please go find something that will. An old friend left, late last night, to remind me we don't have that much time to kill. Yeah, no one has much time to kill. It's good enough that you wanted to and who knows, someday now you might. When you're done beating yourself up for not being done yet, the moon and stars are out tonight. Yeah, all yours stars are out tonight. Being just one you knew wasn't how I planned it, being one that you loved is what I thought instead. Mostly, now I'm just glad we share the planet. Sometimes I get your song in my head. I've got your song now in my head. I've got your song now in my head.
LISA: vocals; STEVE: electric guitars; CHRIS: electric guitar; GRAEME: vocals, acoustic guitars, tambourine, bass; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drums.
WAITING SO LONG
I like to wait 'til the plane is taking off. The sky is raining and I am dozing off. The elevation and weight is dropping off and I wake up under the sun. You've been around for as long as I recall. I can't believe I did not notice you at all, and now I'm home here and too afraid to call and you don't understand at all, but I've been waiting so long to see you once more. Don't leave me standing here. My mind is wandering as I wait for my case. Although I'm trying, I cannot recall your face. You always seem to put me in my place and I don't understand at all, but I've been waiting so long to see you once more. Don't leave me standing here. Yeah, I've been waiting for so long to see you once more. Don't leave me on my own. I've got no quarter for my payphone call and I'm just hoping that you will be waiting so long to see me once more. Don't leave me standing here. Yeah, I've been waiting for so long to see you once more. Don't leave me on my own. No, don't you leave me on my own. No, don't you leave me on my own.
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: vocals; STEVE: electric guitars; GRAEME: vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitar, shaker, tambourine, bass; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drums.
SNOW
A lost day in December, the snow is melting off the ground. I’m feeling too alone and there is no one to be found. You told me love could be like rain falling down in storms. That it can wash away your pain, but there will come a day when it will fall forever and drown us all. I’ll be walking home, singing your song to the skies. I will pray for snow, singing “Won’t you open up your eyes?” And I still regret we never got to say our last good-byes. You left me here; I never even stopped to ask you why. There’s something in your soul that’s leaking out across your face. It just shines on through everything it is you do. You told me love could be like snow melting in the heat. Never sure when it will go, but there will come a day when it will keep on falling and last forever. I’ll be walking home, singing your song to the skies. I will pray for snow, singing “Won’t you open up your eyes?” And I still regret we never got to say our last good-byes. You left me here; I never even stopped to ask you why. I never stopped to ask you why. I never even stopped to ask you why.
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: bass, vocals; STEVE: lead guitar, electric guitar; GRAEME: vocals, electric guitar, tambourine, noise; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drums.
JUST A LITTLE LONGER
When you go back home and sleep in your bed again, you can just close your eyes and feel like you're only ten making up new words to every song you sing. You can just close your eyes and you still see everything. But for how long will it stay the same? You cannot change your name playing the same old game. Walk along the train tracks in the morning sun. Say you love me madly--that I'm the only the way. For just a little longer, tell me. For just a little longer, tell me I'm the only one. Playing with heartache--making me sing along. I can just close my eyes and pinpoint exactly what went wrong. But for how long will it stay the same? You cannot change your name playing the same old game. Walk along the train tracks in the morning sun. Say you love me madly--that I'm the only the way. For just a little longer, tell me. For just a little longer, tell me I'm the only one.
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: vocals; STEVE: lead guitar, electric guitars; GRAEME: vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, 12-string, siren guitar; handclaps; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drums.
THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS (HOPE/DESPAIR)
The sky is getting dark and it’s cold. It only needs a spark to explode into chaos. It already feels like we’ve lost it all. Try not to despair. Try not to give up hope, hope. Try not to despair. Try not to give up hope, hope. The sun is burning red into my brain. It’s already bled. We’re still in pain over differences. Thought that we’d grown out of this, of this. Try not to despair. Try not to give up hope, hope. Try not to despair. Try not to give up hope, hope. Tell me it’s not going to end this way. It only needs a spark. It feels like we've already lost, lost (lost). Try not to despair. Try not to give up hope, hope. Try not to despair. Try not to give up hope. Hope. Hope. Try not despair, try not to give up hope. Hope. Hope. (if you need me, you're not on your own)
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: vocals, bass; GREG: drums; GRAEME: vocals, fingerpick guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, tambourine; PEYTON: violins, vocals; STEVE: lead guitar, electric guitar.
I don’t know why these tears in your eyes it’s hard to deny these knots I’ve got left to untie have been holding me down heavy the head that is bearing the crown but I try and I try wandering slowly around here at night turning in circles despite my best intentions, I’m back at the start watching it all fall apart. everyone lies try one on for size we're none of us wise all of these lows and these highs have been wearing me out shading in darkly these shadows of doubt but I try and I try wandering slowly around here at night turning in circles despite my best intentions, I’m back at the start watching it all fall apart I know that one day these moments will pass all of these pressures won’t last into the future, begin at the start holding you close to my heart.
Words and music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: ; GRAEME: lead vocals, harmony vocal, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitars; STEVE: ; PEYTON: ; GREG: drums.
All my dreams are fading away set 'em aside for another rainy day time goes by in the usual way make a little effort and come out to play i don't know what some others say hold on tight or let it slip away hold tight move together and maybe we've got forever so let's waste time we'll unwind and i said slowly all together and hold hold hands it's forever and we've got time all these dreams let me hold you tight all these dreams are falling in place all fulfilled and gave in with grace all too easy to give up the chase take your little chances for something to embrace keep those dreams others want to erase hold on tight or let it slip away.
Words and music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: ; GRAEME: lead vocals, harmony vocal, bass, lead guitar, electric guitars, tambourine; STEVE: ; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drums.
for Evie:
Hey Evelyn! Hey yer so pretty! Hey Evelyn! Watch out fer the city! And hold on, hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Hey Evelyn! It's such a pity! Hey Evelyn! Sail out from the city! And sail on, sail on, sail on.
Calm your heart, it's just thunder. Hold your head up high, full of wonder. All your dreams--hold on to me.
Words and music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: STEVE: lead guitar; GRAEME: lead vocals, electric guitars, handclaps, bass; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drum programming.
Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait for a moment, hold it inside. Overwhelm your senses and let go of your pride and it’s alright, my heart’s open wide. Breathe in this moment. Hold it within. Feel it in your fingertips and underneath your skin and it’s alright, let’s begin. But I’ve been playing your radio heart, hiding from the daylight ‘til it all falls apart and it’s alright, I believe you. Wait for a moment, hold it inside. Overwhelm your senses and let go of your pride and it’s alright, my heart’s open wide. Breathe in this moment. Hold it within. Feel it in your fingertips and underneath your skin and it’s alright, let’s begin. But I’ve been playing your radio heart, hiding from the daylight ‘til it all falls apart and it’s alright, I believe you. Holding on to the feeling. (I love this moment, praying that it lasts forever)
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: ; STEVE: ; GRAEME: lead vocal, harmony vocal, rhythm guitar, tambourine, bass; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drum programming.
All confidence and eager eyes, she takes him by complete surprise. All fingertips and contact, breaking down the borders of his heart—those walls he tries to keep intact all fallen down and swiftly pulled apart. All open heart and tenderness, his words can fill her emptiness with turbulent emotions bursting from the chambers of her heart. Though constantly in motion she’s still looking for the perfect place to start. Two of us looking for somebody to lean on. Two of us looking for a place we can build upon. Side by side forever, help me be whatever we’ll be by bringing your love to me. All consequence and failed romance, we never gave ourselves a chance. All fingertips and contact breaking down the borders of our hearts—those walls we tried to keep intact all fallen down and swiftly pulled apart. Two of us looking for somebody to lean on. Two of us looking for a place we can build upon. Side by side forever, help me be whatever we’ll be by bringing your love to me. By bringing your love to me. Two of us looking for somebody to lean on. Two of us looking for a place we can build upon. Side by side forever, help me be whatever we’ll be by bringing your love to me. By bringing your love (love), love (love), to me…etc.
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: ; STEVE: ; GRAEME: lead vocal, harmony vocal, rhythm guitar, tambourine, bass; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drum programming.
Did you have to break my heart this time? Weren’t we on a roll now? Did you have to break my heart this time? I don’t even know now. Did you have to break my heart this time? You know you’re in control now. Did you have to break my heart this time? But I can’t let you go now. Take what you need and leave this town. Cut all these strings that are holding you down. Did you have to break my heart this time? Weren’t we on a roll now? Did you have to break my heart this time? I don’t even know now. Did you have to break my heart this time? You know you’re in control now. Did you have to break my heart this time? But I can’t let you go now. Take what you need and leave this town. Cut all these strings that are holding you down. Freedom is only a moment away. Fly to that far horizon. Stray from this sheltered island. Sail on through this night. Higher than the wind blows. Sing out until your voice goes. Chase that fading light. Wake up! Your heart is roaming. Head out into gloaming. Drive on through this night. Hold to your own reflections. Take back your indiscretions and chase that fading light.
Words and Music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: harmony vocals; STEVE: ; GRAEME: lead vocals, rhythm guitars, tambourine, bass; PEYTON: violins; GREG: drums.
Why, oh why? Cry, darling, cry. I once was lost. I know it cost me the plan. Capsized the boat. Left you with no place to stand. Why do we do the things we do? So sure we knew it to be true. When will I start to think these big ideas through and talk and talk to you? Wool over eyes. I recognize. Never saw you coming. You were humming my tune. Now I'm soaring, crawling, throwing it all to the moon. Why do we do the things we do? So sure we knew it to be true. When will I start to think these big ideas through and talk and talk to you? Ooo. Why do we do the things we do? So sure we knew it to be true. When will I start to think these big ideas through and talk and talk to you? Why do we do the things we do? So sure we knew it to be true. When will I start to think these big ideas through and talk and talk to you?
Words and music by Steve Canning & Lisa Di Diodato
LISA: lead vocals; STEVE: lead guitars, rhythm guitars; GRAEME: harmony vocals, bass, surf guitar, acoustic guitar, chair, handclaps; PEYTON: trumpet, violins; GREG: drum programming.
What did I do to make you act so cold? Were the dreams we had so oversold? I never understood your point of view. What did I do? What did I do that made you act so cruel? To have set me up and then strung up the fool with thoughtless words, you tore me through and through. What did I do? Somebody tell me, somebody tell me, somebody tell me I’m dreaming. What did I do that was so cavalier, that now you think of me as insincere? When everything I say you misconstrue, what should I do? Somebody tell me, somebody tell me, somebody tell me I’m dreaming. Wondering when I’ll wake up. What did I do that made you run so far? You’ve spun your orbit ‘round a brighter star. I never dreamed that you would follow through. What did I do? Somebody tell me, somebody tell me, somebody tell me I’m dreaming. Sing to me. Wondering when I’ll wake up.
Words and music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: harmony, bass; STEVE: electric guitars; CHRIS: glockenspiel, amps; GRAEME: lead vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitar; PEYTON: violin; LARRY: piano; GREG: drums; COBAIN: knobs & cars.
I can’t sleep. You’re lying next to me radiating heat and breathing so sweet, but I can’t sleep. I can’t turn off the light; can’t give up the fight; can’t forgive tonight. All the words I said re-run in my head – the torture of regret in my bed. I can’t sleep. I’m in a different world – a very different girl, straightening my curls. I can’t sleep. I wish I was right, but I see the light. How long is this night? All the words I said re-run in my head – the torture of regret in my bed. Over and over, I turn these thoughts, these ideas of should. Wond’ring if we’ll ever learn what we have is as good. Hoping and waiting on dreams that will never be or so it would seem. I’m so tired but I can’t sleep. I can’t sleep. I can’t sleep. All the words I said re-run in my head – the torture of regret in my bed, in my bed, in my bed. All the words I said re-run in my head – the torture of regret in my bed. There you dream; the picture of peace; wordless whispering; let the battle be. And all the words I said, they’re melting from my head. I start to forget.
Words and music by Lisa Di Diodato
LISA: lead vocals; STEVE: electric guitars; CHRIS: electric guitar; GRAEME: harmonies, acoustic guitars, bass, shaker; PEYTON: violin; LARRY: synth, electric piano; GREG: drums; DAVE ENGLE: organ, piano.
I recall the firelight. Taking walks into the night holding tight onto your hand, you let me fall and helped me stand. You told me stories. I believed them all. You gave me strength. You gave me wherewithal. I forget what made you laugh reading out his epitaph, but clear as endless summer skies, still I see your smiling eyes. Walking on, I lost you in the trees. All these dreams and all these memories have cut me down and brought me to my knees. Fly away take wing tonight and day in the moonlight, my memories in flight. Feel as though I’m in a dream. Nothing is quite what it seems. Familiar rooms, familiar halls, familiar paintings on the walls. Empty now, just echoes of the past. Fall away, the days go by so fast. Impermanence, nothing seems to last. Fly away take wing tonight and day in the moonlight, my memories in flight. Houses lined up row on row seems so very long ago. You told me truths. You told me lies. Tell me what it means to die. Don’t you know I’m not prepared for this? I cannot fill this gnawing emptiness. I miss your smile. I miss your goodbye kiss. Fly away take wing tonight and day in the moonlight away take wing tonight and day in the moonlight away take wing tonight and day in the moonlight, my memories in flight.
Words and music by Graeme Donnelly.
LISA: harmony, bass; STEVE: electric guitars; CHRIS: harmony, electric guitar; GRAEME: lead vocals, electric guitar, piano; PEYTON: violin; LARRY: piano; GREG: drums.
Every time I forget I did one decent thing, you could just sigh and play that song again. Like every time I forget music means anything, remind me how it saved your life in high school. Every time I forget, every time I forget remind me. Remind me that, one day, when the wheels fall off and the weeds crawl up through the parking lots where we parked our hearts ‘til we almost forgot and we’re face to face with the heroes we’re not, I hope we count among the decent things we’ve got. Na na na na. Na na na na. Na na na Naaaaaaa. All this water spills and it flows downhill between the floor and the ceiling below, like some of the secrets only you and I know. And if that’s as good as it gets, just one decent thing at a time, I’ll remember yours, if you remember mine. Every time I forget, every time I forget remind me. Remind me that, one day, when the wheels fall off and the weeds crawl up through the parking lots where we parked our hearts ‘til we almost forgot and we’re face to face with the heroes we’re not, I hope we count among the decent things we’ve got. Na na na na. ‘Cause we don’t choose the fate of the Earth, but maybe we can decide that we won’t eat dirt and leave something decent for the ones we love. The ones we love, the ones we love and the ones we tried to, maybe we tried hard enough, to you, I say, “Goodbye my dears, and good luck. Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye and good luck!”
Words and music by Chris Hayward.
LISA: harmony, bass; STEVE: electric guitar; CHRIS: lead vocals, electric guitar, bass; GRAEME: harmony, electric guitar, tambourine; PEYTON: violin; GREG: drums.
Curtains closed and shades drawn. Morning light is bleeding through, breaking in over you. Jumbled dreams are fading. Mumbled thoughts are breaking through. Waking up next to you. Breathing softly on me. Electric contact, skin to skin. Bleed my heart into you. Whisper, “time to wake up.” Mouthing words against your cheek. Waking up next to you. Sleeping in is all I want to do. Blankets drawn up tightly, wrapped around me to stay warm, reaching arms out for you. Empty space accuses. All these moments fade from view waking up next to you. Sleeping in is all I want to do, waking up next to you.
Words and music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: lead vocals, handclaps; STEVE: glockenspiel, handclaps; CHRIS: handclaps; GRAEME: harmony, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, tambourine, handclaps, bass; PEYTON: violin; LARRY: synth, electric piano; GREG: drums, drum box, handclaps.
hear other indie christmas songs at: http://soundvat.bandcamp.com/album/if-jesus-had-been-born-in-canada-he-would-have-needed-more-than-swaddling-clothes
Dim star, flickering star, I know you wonder what you are. Should you tumble from the sky, she won’t take you home tonight. You sleep, I’ll drive. Bright star, shooting star, does anybody know who you are? Arc, flare, radiate but that orbit will decay and you light yourself on fire again. And you light yourself on fire again. You sleep, I’ll drive. Lights you up and then decays, but you didn’t want it anyway. You forget every time you go away. Dim star, flickering star, I know you wonder what you are. Should you tumble from the sky, she won’t take you home tonight. You sleep, I’ll drive.
Words and music by Chris Hayward
LISA: lead vocals, harmony; LARRY: harmony; GREG: drums, tambourine; GRAEME: harmony, acoustic guitars, electric guitar; PEYTON: violins; STEVE: electric guitars; MICHAEL: bass, keyboards.
You can say the rain is seeping in underneath your raincoat to your skin; letting go all you’ve held within. You can say our time is in the past. Better days; it all went by so fast in my own way—it won’t last. The sun won’t always shine, but I think I’m doing fine. It can rain on my parade; my umbrella’s torn and frayed. So, if you want to let me be; if you want to set me free, it’s all right by me. You can say I can’t see it through. You can say I don’t know what to do, but I say it’s not true. The sun won’t always shine, but I think I’m doing fine. It can rain on my parade; my umbrella’s torn and frayed. So, if you want to let me be; if you want to set me free, it’s all right by me. I’m gonna shake me up – listen to my heart and just lean on luck – ma-ake a brand new start. Try to control my fear – I may be unknown but I can make it here – make it on my own. The sun won’t always shine (you can say) but I think I’m doing fine (rain is seeping in). It can rain on my parade (underneath). My umbrella’s torn and frayed (your raincoat to your skin). So, if you want to let me be (letting go); if you want to set me free (all you’ve held within), it’s all right by me.
Words and music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: lead vocals; LARRY: harmony, piano, handclaps; GREG: drums; GRAEME: lead vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, handclaps; PEYTON: violin; STEVE: electric guitars; MICHAEL: bass, organ.
Another early morning when all the news is boring. What I should say, I’m far too proud to say. Despite your one word warning, I walked back home this morning. Games in play; I’m far too proud to stay. And it’s way too far gone and far too easy to lie. Don’t blame yourself, now you know. My good intentions crumbling, my thoughts are vague and fumbling—fading out. I left no doubt today. Another early warning, still all the news is boring. What can I say? I’m far too proud to stay. And it’s way too far gone and far too easy to lie. Don’t blame yourself, now you know. Dancing ‘round your room to those bitter songs in the afternoon. But it’s okay, it’s alright, I didn’t come here to start a fight. And it’s way too far gone and far too easy to lie. Don’t blame yourself now you know, yeah. Dancing ‘round your room, singing bitter songs in the afternoon.
Words and music by Graeme Donnelly
LISA: harmony; LARRY: piano; GREG: drums; GRAEME: lead vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitar, bass, handclaps; PEYTON: violin; STEVE: electric guitars, handclaps; MICHAEL: keyboards.