Okay, I'm seriously looking at the track list for Born on a Pirate Ship and listening to them as I type, and I'm feeling overwhelmed. (Forget the fact that my house is a pit and I really should be doing laundry or dishes or cleaning the stickiness of the kitchen floor-- trying out non-topped cups with OJ isn't a good idea right now-- but this is what's overwhelming me... what a life.) I really can't have SIX favorite songs on an album with 14 songs, right? That just tells you how fantastic this album is. (Corinne-- this is just for you-- you would LOVE this one!!) A farmer stalks a celebrity in Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank, which sounds bizarre, but is really a fascinating song, and incredible when performed live, especially with Steve's wacky dancing. (Oh, no more of that to see at a show... sigh...) Then you have lyrics that always resonate with me in This is Where it Ends-- really another blow-me-away kind of song for me. Another great one is Stomach Vs. Heart-- funny lyrics and an upbeatness that belies the potentially darker subject material, which is such a talent that these guys have! And of course, the most well-known song from this release, which is a song that I can listen to over and over and over and really never get tired of it-- The Old Apartment. That one is brilliant as well!
So, that's four, and I really don't know which of the final two to call my favorite. Ugh. An Ed song versus a Steve song. That should be a simple decision, but they're both so amazing lyrically and musically, and they each bring such quality to these vocals that I've never been so stuck. Guess what? No one really cares about this other than me, so this is going to be a TIE! Yay! Two videos for the price of one, which is really free anyway! Everybody wins!
Album: Born on a Pirate Ship
Year of Release: 1996
Song: When I Fall
Words by Steven Page & Ed Robertson
Music by Ed Robertson
I look straight in the window, try not to look belowOkay, how beautiful-- a song about a window washer that touches my heart. "But painting's creating, and I'm just erasing. A crystal clear canvas is my masterpiece." Seriously, isn't that just a really cool line? I always feel like more is conveyed in this song than just through the lyrics-- there's something that comes through the music of this one that makes me just stop what I'm doing and listen. So many lines that I could just repeat and express awe over from this one. Beautiful!!
Pretend I'm not up here, try counting sheep
But the sheep seem to shower off this office tower
Nine-point-eight straight down I can't stop my knees
I wish I could fly
From this building
From this wall
And if I should try
Would you catch me if I fall?
My hands clench the squeegee, my secular rosary
Hang on to your wallet, hang on to your rings
Can't look below me, or something might throw me
Curse at the windstorms that October brings
I look in the boardroom; a modern pharaoh's tomb
I'd gladly swap places, if they care to dive
They're lined up at the window, peer down into limbo
They're frightened of jumping, in case they survive
I wish I could step from this scaffold
Onto soft green pastures, shopping malls, or bed
With my family and my pastor and my grandfather who's Dead
Look straight in the mirror, watch it come clearer
I look like a painter, behind all the grease
But painting's creating, and I'm just erasing
A crystal-clear canvas is my masterpiece
I wish I could fly
From this building
From this wall
And if I should try
Would you catch me if I fall?
I wish I could fly
From this building
From this wall
And if I should try
Would you catch me if I fall?
When I fall
When I fall
When I fall
When I fall
Album: Born on a Pirate Ship
Year of Release: 1996
Song: Break Your Heart
Words and Music by Steven Page
The bravest thing I've ever doneMAN!!! That guy has one helluva set of lungs, huh?? Okay, my favorite part, of course, is the crescendoing ending when the girl goes off on him about not falling apart just because he's leaving. When I first heard this song, I remember being totally enraptured with this song-- reading the lyrics in the liner notes and singing along, always amazed at Steven's vocal abilities, and I have to admit that I am the complete dork that has had tears pop into her eyes when seeing them perform this one live. (Commence laughing and pointing.) He sure can write beautiful songs about relationships gone awry. (Too sad that his own real-life one did, too.) All in all, this is one of the most amazing songs they've ever recorded.
Was to run away and hide
But not this time, not this time
And the weakest thing I've ever done
Was to stay right by your side
Just like this time, and every time
I couldn't tell you I was happy you were gone
So I lied and said that I missed you when we were apart.
I couldn't tell you, so I had to lead you on
But I didn't mean to break your heart.
And if I always seem distracted
Like my mind is somewhere else,
That's because it's true
Yes it's true
It's this stupid pride that makes me feel
Like I have to follow through
Even half-assedly, loving you
Why must I always speak in terms of cowardice?
When I guess I should have just come out and told you right from the start
Why must I always tell you all I want is this?
I guess 'cause I wouldn't want to break your heart
And you said
"What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Curl up and die just because of you?
I'm not that weak, you know
What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Try to make you love me as much as I love you?
how could you be so low?
You arrogant man,
What do you think that I am?
My heart will be fine
Just stop wasting my time"
And now I know that you will be okay, and that I
Got what I want
And that's rid of you
Goodbye
And it's not 'cause I'll be missing you
That makes me fall apart
It's just that I didn't mean to break
No, I didn't mean to break
No, I didn't mean to break
Your heart
Oh my. I adore this entire album. I'm in BNL heaven with this one.
Singing terribly off-key but with immense joy,
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