|
1. |
|
|
|
|
Always Come Back To You
I was falling in love with her but she wasn’t so sure of me
So she thought to evaluate the issues she could see
I was a bit of a wild child and she was so mature and mild
Contradictions bound to take their due
But there were things she saw in me that she couldn’t just cast aside
Things she found attractive and things she really liked
She told me that I could inspire all of her dreams and deep desires
But first the words that offered me a clue
And she said
Chorus:
Every night when the sun goes down
You gotta show me that you’ll be around
Tell me that you want to to see things through
Every day when the morning comes
You gotta show me that you are the one
Offer me the promise you’ll be true
And I’ll always come back to you
So I learned my lesson when I thought of what she said
Hers was the voice of reason against the life I led
All the days that were to come would be as naught without her love
So there was little question what to do
And I said
Chorus:
Every night when the sun goes down
I’m gonna prove that I will be around
You’ll understand I want to see things through
Every day when the morning comes
I’m gonna show you that you are the one
Offer you the promise I’ll be true
And I’ll always come back to you
I’ll always come back to you
Yes I’ll always come back to you
|
|
2. |
|
|
|
|
The Chase
When will you tire of leading this guy on
You can’t deny it. We have a special bond
You try to leave me so far behind
But then you smile at me and wink an eye
These are the reasons I can’t give up the chase
You never tire of playing hard to get
And yet you never do something you’ll regret
I get discouraged with what you’ve done
But then you leave behind a trail of crumbs
These are the reasons I can’t give up the chase
Chorus:
So much potential. So much to gain
Only one person who we can blame
I think you know that I’m gonna catch up to you
Or maybe you’ll catch me
I think you know it. I think you are intrigued
You know the future and where you want to be
I see the looks that you cast my way
And all the signals that you want to stay
These are the reasons I can’t give up the chase
Chorus:
So much potential. So much to gain
Only one person who we can blame
I think you know that I’m gonna catch up to you
Or maybe you’ll catch me
|
|
3. |
|
|
|
|
The Path You Choose
You break the sweat. You work the land.
But your profit goes unto another man.
He owns the house in which you live.
He owns your soul until theres nothing left to give.
The first born son, nineteen years old.
He has no option but to turn and go
He wants some value within his life.
He wants the chance that he might see the light.
Chorus:
The path you choose is far away
From all your loved ones who will remain
Sailing blindly toward the unknown
Sailing blindly, but not alone
You board a ship down Malmo way
Crowded with people who all felt the same
Their hopes are simple and yet they’re grand
Across the sea they’ll find the promised land
You’ll meet a woman upon this voyage
Her companionship will bring you joy.
She is the one whom you will wed
And you will love her till the bitter end
Chorus:
The path you choose is far away
From all your loved ones who will remain
Sailing blindly toward the unknown
Sailing blindly, but not alone
|
|
4. |
|
|
|
|
Straightening Out
Every time I try it gets a bit harder.
Just an inch at a time but not a whole lot further.
If you ask me why, I couldn’t say. It just happens this’a way.
But that’s the way it’s always been.
When you say no, I say forget it.
Cause one has to go in order to get it.
That’s the difference between you and me
(About the same between the sky and sea).
But that’s the way it’s always been.
I’m just about to get started when you’re about to end.
When you’re getting straightened out I’m about ready to bend.
I try to call you my lover but you refer to me as a friend.
Where will it end? Where will it end?
When I ask you ‘bout stepping out you act as if you’d rather stay in.
When I do something you don’t like you make it out to be a sin.
Just when it seems like I’m losing, suddenly I’m gonna win!
Let’s try it again. Try it again.
Don’t you know some day I’m going to get higher.
Instead of dousing my flame I think you’ll feed my fire.
You’ll get tired of all this leading me on
And we’ll be back to where we both belong.
Cause that’s the way it’s gonna be.
|
|
5. |
|
|
|
|
Justine
She heard a sound out in the night, one that raised alarm.
She knew it was a woman’s voice, a woman being harmed
She felt the need to get some help and dialed 911
But would she try to take it back if she knew what she’d begun
They dispatched a single squad to see what they could find
They drove along the alley but they never saw a sign
When she tried to flag them down the squad did not respond
And so it was she smacked the trunk before they could move on
Chorus:
It was thirteen minutes from end to end, thirteen minutes straight
From the time she made the call to when she met her fate
Thirteen minutes left to live. The countdown had begun
From the time she made the call to when he shot his gun
To when he shot his gun.
The cops were skeptics from the start. They just could not believe
That the call was not a sham or an effort to deceive
Their senses now were heightened. Their nerves as taut as wire
So when they heard the sound she made it raced through them like fire
Chorus:
It was thirteen minutes from end to end, thirteen minutes straight
From the time she made the call to when she met her fate
Thirteen minutes left to live. The countdown had begun
From the time she made the call to when he shot his gun
To when he shot his gun.
This is an ode to Justine and the sadness that we feel
The news of her untimely death became so very real
It changed the city where we live. It changed so many things
Up unto the feeling of uncertainty it brings
|
|
6. |
|
|
|
|
Life On The West Bank
I left Jerusalem, Headin’ west to Tel Aviv
Soldiers guarding all the crossroads from the Jordan to the sea.
Distant gunshots pierce the night: I am not the only refugee.
This is not the Holy Land since I lost my wife and family.
Hanukkah was coming: it was always supposed to be a time of joy.
She had gone out window shopping: in the stroller was our little boy.
Windows broke two blocks away: shrapnel rending bodies to the core.
I identified her body only from the wedding ring that she wore.
Life on the West Bank. Life on the West Bank.
Life on the West Bank. Life on the West Bank.
Can I find a new beginning, find a place to give me peace of mind.
Palestine is sinking slowly, leaving all religion in a bind.
They can justify the carnage. They can justify the means.
But on the day they meet their god they’ll find out what the hell my life has been.
Life on the West Bank. Life on the West Bank.
Life on the West Bank. Life on the West Bank.
|
|
7. |
|
|
|
|
I Just Want To Talk
I just want to talk. I just want to know you.
We should go somewhere quiet where I can learn about you.
I don’t want no drama; don’t want no stress
I want a mind that will go along with that dress
But most of all, I want to be real sure
That it’s me and you.
I’m just an old musician deserted by his last band.
But this is not the time or place I want to make a last stand.
I don’t care to rush into anything deep.
I want to ease into something that we can keep.
But most of all, I want to be real sure
That it’s me and you.
Bridge:
So what’s it gonna be now?
Can I be your man?
Lord I’m tried of fooling around
And I just want to find someone who’ll love me as I am.
So just who are you and where do you come from?
I’d like to know that you’ll be there when the last set’s done.
I need to count on my lady when things get rough
That you won’t desert me when the going gets tough
But most of all, I want to be real sure
That it’s me and you.
|
|
8. |
|
|
|
|
Everything’s Going Fine?
Low draft number’s going round. Think I’ll have to head underground
Dodging cops at every stop it’s getting real hard to sell
Hide in dens, lost all my friends so I’m heading up to Ontario
Living life away from strife. It’s easier to dwell
In a land that copied freedom from down across the line
For a man who’s cast away from Eden, is everything going fine?
People tend to live the past when everyone respected valor
Slamming doors and fighting wars were sanctioned by their God
Those same folk still fan the smoke and risk their sons despite sure failure
I am not strong and it’s still wrong to think that it is odd
That we go to church on Sunday and we put it on the line
Then we shoot the Cong on Monday. Is everything going fine?
So hold on tight, turn out the lights. The Feds are surely coming for you
It won’t go well locked in a cell when you know that you are right
Heading forth away up north to judge this folly from a distance
Amnesty seldom ever comes free. It kinda makes me want to cry
In a land that offered freedom to those across the line
For a man who innovates on Eden, is everything going fine?
|
|
9. |
|
|
|
|
Darkness On The Plains
The war raging half a world away
We felt secure within our lives upon the lonely plains
There arose a different threat that was like a deadly tide
It swept across the country and there was nowhere to hide
The illness took our father and he was the first to die
He barely made it through the week when he said his long goodbyes
Mother was the next to fall while we fought for our own lives
The nurses wouldn’t tell us till they knew we would survive
Chorus:
It spread across the prairie and came into our lives
Taking those we loved the most while it left the rest behind
It spread across the prairie moving like a deadly flame
Leaving us a legacy like a darkness on the plains
Break:
This is a sort of lesson about what can come true
A deadly epidemic that was really overdue
You’ll think it’s all about us and what you think you know
But it really happened just a century ago
Chorus:
It spread across the prairie and came into our lives
Taking those we loved the most while it left the rest behind
It spread across the prairie moving like a deadly flame
Leaving us a legacy like a darkness on the plains
|
|
10. |
|
|
|
|
Imaginary Worlds
I have to change the schedule. I have to find the time
To break away from stark reality
An overdose of normal life can push you past the line
Or edge you toward the place you ought to be
Allow your mind the freedom to wander where it may
And ease into another life where you might want to stay
Imaginary Worlds are waiting there for you
Living in the kingdoms you will find
Imaginary Worlds are waiting there for you
With all the nuance that you can define
Open up the dreamlands and slowly drift away
Into a world that you can call your own
Assume a role you never thought to have in real life
And know that you will never be alone
Experience the final pain or scale upon the heights
In between a mellow scene will usually suffice
Imaginary Worlds are waiting there for you
Living in the kingdoms you will find
Imaginary Worlds are waiting there for you
With all the nuance that you can define
Visualize your fantasies, maybe yet unborn
Kingdoms given birth from deep within your soul
If they end up as you dream you’ll know it’s been worthwhile,
Even if you never reach your goal
Try to just imagine why we’ve always been
Searching from without and rarely searching from within
Imaginary Worlds are waiting there for you
Echoing from deep within your soul
Imaginary Worlds are waiting there for you
And all the greatest stories that you’ve told
|
|
11. |
|
|
|
|
So Many Questions
So many questions:
We never give ourselves the time
to ask each other what was going on.
So many theories:
I thought that I could read the signs
but now I can’t accept the fact it’s done.
And you’re out east in Milwaukee, knowing I’m in Minnesota
Are you where you want to be?
And it’s heading into the Autumn (lingering upon the summer)
Trying to find some sort of key........
Trying to find me.
Subtle allusions:
Did we ever bridge the gap
Or were you thinking what we did was wrong?
Total confusion:
Walking straight into the trap
Although we knew it couldn’t last for long.
And you’re out east in Milwaukee, knowing I’m in Minnesota
Are you where you want to be?
And it’s heading into the Autumn (lingering upon the summer)
Trying to find some sort of key........
Trying to find me.
Distant obsession:
Can we talk across the lines
And intimate that we are face to face?
Final evasion:
Should we cut the string that binds
And say that summer never did take place.
And you’re out east in Milwaukee. Do you think of Minnesota
Knowing thats where I will be?
And it’s heading into the Winter (lingering upon the autumn)
Wondering if I’ll find the key........
Wondering, why me?
|
In Swedish, my surname essentially means Iron Mountain. I'm jumping the gun a bit with this album due to the uncertainty of the times. None of the songs are what I would call complete, but that is just a temporary thing. To quote a friend, these songs will be "more than passable but less than perfection." I hope to finish them some day in the future. Until that time, this will have to do.
Recorded at Iron Mountains Studio in Southwest Minneapolis
