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Warm In The Darkness

by Liz Stringer

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1.
He sprung a leak, spoke when he shouldn’t speak Now the bypass is carving up the country The future’s iron lung, from a university tongue Been licking at this town for a century The abattoir gone quiet, they moved it out twenty miles Now those bloodied hands rest tapping on a sports bet Well you’ll have a better life You’ll have a better life, you mark our words Have a better life, you’ll all get what you all deserve Oh man, this is too fucked up In anybody’s language it ain’t good enough ‘Cos I’ve been here almost fifteen years In anybody’s language this is fight or fear Pipes on the beach, a sickening rotting peach As the blood from the Redgum fills the valley Tracks in the sand, heavy hammers in their hand And their deals done with their pants down in the alley Well you’ll have a better life You’ll have a better life, you mark our words Have a better life, you’ll all get what you all deserve Oh man, this is too fucked up In anybody’s language it ain’t good enough ‘Cos I’ve been here almost fifteen years In anybody’s language this is fight or fear
2.
Angela 03:55
Angela, where have you gone Your eyes don’t smile no more since he did you wrong They just stare out your window, mirror passing cars And fill with whiskey tears in inner city bars Angela, nothing ventured, nothing gained Angela, a heart ain’t nothing without pain Angela, I know you loved him girl But sometimes the grit don’t become the pearl Don’t wait for him to change, Angela Angela, some smiling eyes are mean And they’ll grin to others like the cat that got the cream But like a sapling drips with rain, these lips drip wet with lies And they’ll spit with venom if you tell ‘em you ain’t surprised Angela, I know it feels broken and burned But Angela, tell me how else will you learn That Angela, although you love him girl Sometimes the grit don’t become the pearl Don’t waste your smiling eyes, Angela I’ve been around the block, I’ve heard that silver tongue I’ve wasted years spilling tears over change that could never come And I’ve teetered on the tightrope over the canyon of deceitful love And I found my balance eventually Angela, the time is now There’s no way to fly if you’re still tied down somehow There are so many loves, the sky is wide and deep And may your spreading wings wake you from your sleep Angela, nothing ventured, nothing gained Angela, boldness can release you from your pain Angela, I know you loved him girl But that grit, it never became a pearl And you’re still a diamond bright, Angela
3.
Glutton 04:38
I’ve been collecting buttons ‘cos I know that you need one I have so many colours now, all the shades of a setting sun I’ve wandered through your garden, peered over your wall I’ve watched you through those thin panes, I’ve watched you come and go With your love, that’s when I’d fall apart Don’t you go breaking anyone else’s heart ‘Cos I’m a glutton and feeding upon this pain is better than nothing The cuff links in your pressed suits, the creases in your pants I’ve memorised and studied every time I’ve had a chance I’ve leant idle on a counter and watched endless passers by In the hope that I might see you, commit you further to my mind With your love, that’s when I’d fall apart Don’t you go breaking anyone else’s heart Cos I’m a glutton and feeding upon this pain is better than nothing I met you many years ago but my face you wouldn’t know, at least I wouldn’t think so, babe Ever since I’ve kept in touch, but I’ve kept it all pretty much on the down low Of the millions of things lying between your heart and mine Worst is the fear of falling, falling way behind In an instant I could have you but your rein is loose and long And I’ll wait here under your tall tree ‘til tomorrow’s dewy dawn With your love, that’s when I’d fall apart Don’t you go breaking anyone else’s heart Cos I’m a glutton and feasting upon this pain is better than nothing Sometimes I think how it would be, but a delicious fantasy, you gotta stay so We’re closer than you think, this could all change in the blink of your eye And even over your highest wall, I’ve seen things, I could tell all, if you only knew that Spend all my time creeping up, but all the time I’m never close enough
4.
I ain’t too good when I’m sober My weary head it won’t let me rest It never seems to be over The demons crouching beneath my breast I got a job in the city Making coffee for cops and crims Hung-over, shaking and shitty Until I got that bottle between my lips So if you go, would you take me with you ‘Cos I want to know how it feels to leave I saw the future like a chasm below me And honey it’s a long way down We go out drinking on Monday Graffiti shining on the rain slicked streets With cigarettes and a week’s pay And friends who drink just as hard as me We talk shit ‘til we’re thrown out Go back to Jimmy’s and smoke some weed This ain’t no kind of a blowout We’ll do the same thing every night this week So if you go, would you take me with you ‘Cos I want to know how it feels to leave I saw the future like a chasm below me And honey it’s a long way down
5.
Colourblind 03:48
Well you told me I was colourblind ‘Cos I couldn’t remember the colour of your eyes But that may be the pot calling the kettle black Be careful you don’t say something you can’t take back See we all have our demons Mine are standing right here But if you wake up crying in the middle of the night Nothing will save you from the fear That your time will come again If it’s true that misery loves company And that hypocrisy has become the new currency Perhaps you’re paying me the highest compliment I used to have some pride, I’m not sure where it went See we all have our demons And mine are standing right here But if you wake up crying in the middle of the night Nothing will save you from the fear That your time will come again So we’re dancing the dance just like flying birds The leader change direction everyone else turns When I was younger I thought one day we’d all shed this skin It seems the folly of youth was just about to begin See we all have our demons And mine are standing right here But if you wake up crying in the middle of the night Nothing will save you from the fear That your time will come again
6.
So here’s what he’s going to do He’s gonna climb up that tower toward you And you’ll let your pretty hair fall As he sings of love, love, love These towers are where we hide Safe from the world that’s outside And we let our tears fall Tears shed for love, love, love But baby don’t look at me that way Baby, I don’t want to hear you say That you get frightened most of these days I know, just let it go So I watched that handsome ship sail They were popping champagne corks and listening to the sound of the whales Oh they seemed like they were happy They were toasting love, love, love But baby don’t look at me that way Baby, I don’t want to hear you say That you get frightened most of these days I know, just let it go But the seasons change And my heart feels lighter for the pain ‘Cos when it all goes wrong, lovers keep us strong So I’ve been here before I’ve stumbled into daylight falling through that door But it never made me happy So damn you and damn this love, love, love, love But baby don’t look at me that way Baby, I don’t want to hear you say That you get frightened most of these days I know, just let it go, let it go Oh ‘cos baby, I know what you’re doing to me This ain’t got nothing to do with setting each other free And I’ve been lied to and I still feel the sound So here’s what I’m gonna do I’m gonna wait in that tower for you But my hair’s cut short and so is my hope For love, love, love
7.
Heavy Change 04:28
If you keep your mouth shut I won’t say anything It’s not even worth drawing breath about Cos everyone loses their mind, honey, now and then Seems the spaces between getting thinner now So keep your eyes looking forward I’ll tell you if any cracks appear Trust me, I’ll be your shepherd I’ll make sure the coast’s clear I can see in your shoulders that you’re feeling bad But there’s nothing as poisonous as regret Maybe that wasn’t the best idea you’ve ever had But you gotta remember that you ain’t dead yet So if it plagues you, even for a while Stay away from where those thoughts rest ‘Cos evidently you’re still on trial Don’t you have some pride left ‘Cos it aches, babe, can break a young lover in two Heavy change, babe, that’s all that’s bearing down on you All that’s happened you can never reverse Her or you, boy, but surely the both of you’s worse I know you have it, I know you always have You can change your mind ‘cos you’re strong enough And I know that you’re much smarter than you may understand And I’m convinced that you’re ten times as tough So wake up proud in the morning Shake that monkey off your back And start running even faster The best form of defense is attack Cos it aches, babe, can break a young lover in two Heavy change babe, that’s all that she wanted for you All that’s happened, you can never reverse Her or you, boy, but surely the both of you’s worse
8.
I heard a rumour tell me if it’s true Cos if it ain’t I don’t know what I’ll do Yeah my heart’s been trembling a long, long time You’re moving back to the city again If that’s right then tell me, baby, when ‘Cos my heart’s been trembling a long, long time Yeah my heart’s been trembling a long, long time I know back then we treated each other bad Too young to know exactly what we had But my heart’s been trembling a long, long time You’re still the only man that ever could Make me feel so bad and yet so damn good Yeah my heart’s been trembling a long, long time Yeah my heart’s been trembling a long, long time So come on baby we gotta take a chance Some say its no good to rekindle a romance But you and me we always flew by the seat of our pants Let’s fuel this fire and in the hot heat dance This ain’t talk of love necessarily That never was the deal with you and me And my heart’s been trembling a long, long time When I was down you always got me high Man we had some fun together, you and I And my heart’s been trembling a long, long time Yeah my heart’s been trembling a long, long time So come on baby, come and take a chance Some say its no good to rekindle a romance But you and me we always flew by the seat of our pants Let’s fuel this fire and in the hot heat dance It ain’t so hard if you think it through You’re better with me and I’m better with you Yeah my heart’s been trembling a long, long time It’s all that really matters in the end That you’re my lover and you’re my best friend And my heart’s been trembling a long, long long time My heart’s been trembling a long, long time Yeah, our hearts been trembling a long, long time Yeah, our hearts been trembling a long, long time My heart’s been trembling a long, long time
9.
Why you run, run so fast Is it clear that we’re fading like sand You come home every night With another girl’s heart in your hand But oh lover, stay with me here Oh lover, there’s nothing I fear When you’re near, babe So stay with me tonight One door opens, another one closed Hey boy, ain’t that the way that it goes ‘Cos I’m not here to teach you or to reach you Or to show you how it feels to be in love But oh lover, stay with me here Oh lover, there’s nothing I fear When you’re near, babe So stay with me tonight So there it was, there it was I didn’t love you like I said I did when we were sweating Nothing changes and nothing will You and me like poison, like trying to push a river back uphill But baby, stay with me here Oh lover, there’s nothing I fear When you’re near, babe So stay with me tonight
10.
I met him high on a hill when I was sixteen And my breath it was taken by the cold August wind I left school that next summer and to Melbourne we fled As the sky over Mansfield turned orange and red I asked him where he came from, he said he wasn’t quite sure He said he’d moved ‘round so often, he didn’t keep track no more But he said I was the reason that he could stand still And he kissed me that first time on the high open hill See everything changes ‘cept for the sound of the rain That comes down every time I see him again And I wish for a moment that we could once more stand On those high open hills of our youth Me and my traveling man He went off to Western Australia where the pearl fishing’s good He said he’d been once to Broome and there he felt understood He said I’m gonna return with a fortune untold So just sit tight my darling for our future to unfold He came back to me to Melbourne for a week or so We were lover to lover, I didn’t want him to go But with a fire in his belly and a baby in mine I prayed when he’d come home it would be the last time See everything changes ‘cept for the sound of the rain That comes down every time I see him again And I wish for a moment that we could once more stand On those high open hills of our youth Me and my traveling man I got a letter from Darwin later that month He said, “I’ve found myself a lover, in fact I’ve found quite a bunch The last thing I want to do is to hurt you or our boy But you know all I touch I go on to destroy” He sent us some money, but soon that dried up too Just like the hope in my baby’s eyes blue He’d sit at the window and wait every night And I prayed that that bastard would do what is right See everything changes ‘cept for the sound of the rain That comes down every time I see him again And I wish for a moment that we could once more stand On those high open hills of our youth Me and my traveling man
11.
This vendetta ain’t as fun as it was Now I’m stalking my cage like an old toothless dog The rocking and the rolling, the duck and the dive I’m getting too old for this, honey, it’s a wonder I’m still alive But I’m giving it all away, except for my love for you I’ll put a bet down and I hope it pays, I’ll wager all of my love for you And if the sound of an angry heart whispers down low to me I can always tell you that it’s all too hard because I’ll find another one, I’ll find another one So many questions, darlin, so little time All I know is that I want you back, I want you to be mine And even though I’m out on the road you know I’m coming back to your arms ‘Cos there ain’t no-one that I’ve had like you, there ain’t no-one with your charms But I’m giving it all away, except for my love for you I’ll put a bet down and I hope it pays, I’ll wager all of my love for you And if the sound of an angry heart whispers down low to me I can always tell you that it’s all too hard because I’ll find another one, I’ll find another one So, honey, don’t you forsake me, I’m a troubled man I’ve done some bad things, yes I know, but I’m being as good as I can And I swear now that I’m with you, I won’t ever do these things again But you know if I wasn’t playing hard we never would have met back then But I’m giving it all away, except for my love for you I’ll put a bet down and I hope it pays, I’ll wager all of my love for you And if the sound of a broken heart whispers down low to me I can always tell you that it’s all too hard because I’ll find another one, I’ll find another one I’ll find another one, I’ll find another one I’ll find another one, I’ll find another one To keep me warm in the darkness

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released April 7, 2012

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Liz Stringer Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne born musician Liz Stringer is one of Australia’s most respected and versatile songwriters and instrumentalists. A lauded guitarist and vocalist, Stringer has released 5 full-length albums since 2006, her powerful and emotive live performances and melodically rich, story-based songs delighting fans and festival-goers throughout Australia and a growing audience in North America + Europe. ... more

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