Music + Lyrics

BEfore I Knew

Before I knew

Before I knew what love was about 

Before I knew enough not to doubt

till you till you

I once thought love was a charade 

a game of chance more cheated than played

And I’d resign rather than try when things got hard 

I’d never show my weaker side

Like every scar was something to hide

And for no lover would I ever drop my guard

Before I knew

Before I knew what love was about 

Before I knew enough not to doubt

till you till you

Before I knew 

Before I knew how real it could be 

Before I knew what you’d do to me 

till you till you till you

So then I quit the masquerade

and learned that’s love’s not stolen but made

and I got faith that you would take me as I am

cause there’s no passion in deceit 

there’s only smoke, no light, no heat

and only you could help me through to understand


Before I knew

Before I knew what love was about 

Before I knew enough not to doubt

till you till you

Before I knew 

Before I knew how real it could be 

Before I knew what you’d do to me 

till you till you till you


Now I’m defenseless, some say reckless with my heart 

I wish I did that from the start

Can You Tell

Once when I was young 
I stood beneath a blazing sun 
and gently felt a thin electric fence

The current shot through me like fire
and caused my hand to seize the wire
and for a moment time held in suspense

And these days I’m still scared to touch
for fear of holding on too much
to anything that might turn into love

Can you tell
that this is something I don’t do so well
that every other time I flew I fell
I’ve run from every love I had before
but I don’t want to feel that way no more 

When you said to me
what you thought you and I could be
if I could just get out of my own way

I tore right through the mini bar
just trying to still my dizzy heart
and tell myself that this time I would stay

I’m spinning on this motel bed
these metal sparks flash through my head
so hold me just like everything’s okay

Can you tell
that this is something I don’t do so well
that every other time I flew I fell
I’ve run from every love I had before
but I don’t want to feel that way no more 

Can you tell
that this is something I don’t do so well
that every other time I flew I fell
I’ve run from every love I had before
and I don’t want to feel that way no more 

Just Come Home

Well I knew that you were restless but I didn’t think you’d leave
and I swallowed my suspicions cause I’s too scared to believe
Then every night you stayed away I cried myself to sleep
So you know you being gone cut me real deep

But I guess he didn’t please you so you’re turning back around
Will you fly back to my side as fast as Greyhound will allow?
And every day I’ll pray your wandering eye turns back to me
And we’ll live on just as happy as can be

I dreamt I saw you walk in our door
and we picked up right from before

You don’t need to tell me what you did and who you met
The less I know the better so I have less to forget
Cause having only part of you beats being here alone
So you don’t have to love me, just come home

Now I’ve given all I have but seems it’s not enough for you
So I’ll tell myself you’ve changed your mind and this time you’ll be true
If the sword I see above my head grows all too much to bear
Then I’ll close my eyes pretending it’s not there

But if I don’t lock the gates that I’ve constructed in my mind
and my thoughts escape and run across the meadow free and wild
Till I round them up I’ll feel just like my heart’s ‘bout to explode
Cause I’ll know I’m only waiting till you go

I dreamt I saw you walk in our door
and we picked up right from before

You don’t need to tell me what you did and who you met
The less I know the better so I have less to forget
Cause having only part of you beats being here alone
So you don’t have to love me, just come home
No, you don’t have to love me, just come home

river, what have you seen?

River, what have you seen?

Oh you’ve flowed by so steadily
reflecting our home on your bank for a long quiet time
So you know now she’s gone
and I seek every day for a clue in the depths of my mind
Was there something I missed? Did you spy hidden tears?
Were there letters she read and concealed?
Did I speak without grace? Were her glances ignored?
Can you tell me what I failed to see?

River, what have you seen?

Did you whisper of hope to tempt her to leave?
Did you promise to show her the world?
Did she gaze far downstream
imagining all of the places she dreamt as a girl?
Did she dip in her toe
to feel the excitement of risking it all to be free?
Did you bear her away? If I beg you enough,
could you carry her back home to me?

River, what have you seen?

Now when I search my heart
I can see how she never belonged here in this lonely place
I forgive what she did
cause to keep her with me would deprive her of finding her fate
Can you tell me she’s safe?
Is she happy at last? Did she finally find all she needs?
Will you carry word back:
I still love her today but I finally know why she’d leave

River

sunshine state

Can’t a man have a beer and look out to the blue
In a beachside bar with a brand new friend like you
but if I have to hear Margaritaville one more time
I’m gonna lose my goddamn Florida-loving mind

Sunshine State, Sunshine State
Take me back to my Sunshine State

Now the ugly side is all some people see
drunken families brawling in a Chuck E. Cheese
Pass the road rage on its six lane local roads
And you’ll find the quiet beauty of the coast

Sunshine State, Sunshine State
Take me back to my Sunshine State

There’s nothing like Florida water to wash all my troubles away
It’s for more than just rednecks, alligators, retirees, and running cocaine

So ignore all those mugshots of Florida Man
and walk with me upon the soft white sand
See the osprey hunt and mangroves’ brilliant green
and let’s wade on out into the aquamarine

Feel the magic as the sun sets in the gulf
Oh come with me now, you’ll know the place I love

Sunshine State, Sunshine State
Take me back to my Sunshine State

I Still Believe

She says it’s just a habit
like the way some people go out to a bar
But I keep Narcan in my jacket*
cause I never know when she might fall too far
Now my family says to leave her
cause she’ll never love me best, but it’s too hard

I still believe
I still believe

When she’s well she’s like an angel
and we’re happy till her hunger takes its hold
Then she runs back to her danger
like a deer who gallops blindly cross the road
But I know she’s in there somewhere
so I’ll hold her close and warm her from the cold

I still believe
I still believe

Last night I had my same dream
of the summer we were sixteen and so alive
She was swimming in a cool stream
with her freckles and her clear and joyful eyes
And she called out to me “baby,
can you help me try to clean up one last time?”

I still believe
I still believe (repeat)

*alternate lyrics: but her lies get more elaborate, and…

I hope you knew

There was snow in Minnesota when a stranger called my phone
and he told me that you’d given up on life
Well I thought I’d keep together till that night when I got home
but somewhere over Michigan I hid my face and cried

And since then I’ve been wondering how I’d ever write this song
How to tell the world about the friend I knew
All I do is think ‘bout what I’d say to you if you weren’t gone
So let this be my confession straight from me to you

Oh Andy, I hope you knew
the way I felt but often kept inside
Oh Andy, I hope you knew
that you’ve been right here with me for all this time

You bore witness round the world, filming stories that you told
While I settled down to raise my family
But the friends we make as children seem to live inside our souls
so despite the time and distance you were never far from me

The final time we met we crossed the Williamsburg at night
And you told me you were broken down inside
Though we talked so late to help you, and I really thought it might
If I’d known it was the last time, how much more I would have tried

Oh Andy, I hope you knew
the way I felt but often kept inside
Oh Andy, I hope you knew
that you’ve been right here with me for all this time

I wish I was a better friend, I wish I’d laugh with you again
I wish I made the time to see you more
I wish you knew how much you meant, I wish so bad you hadn’t left
I wish that I’d been wise enough to say all this before

So maybe those who knew you will find comfort in my words
and think of what they would have liked to say
Or even better, give a loved one all that they deserve
and tell them now in person, before it’s grown too late

So Andy let me open up my heart before the end
And say I love you and I miss you and I’m glad I was your friend

If I Had KNown

In the fever of my youth I met your mom and thought I knew
I’d be happy ever after every day
But then we began to fight, and I now give thanks each night
that I didn’t have the sense to walk away

If I had known
‘bout those years of bitter tears that I’d go through
If I had known
I’d do everything the same cause I have you

How I wish you hadn’t heard all those vicious angry words
till I left for that apartment dark and bare
Trying so hard to survive cause I only felt alive
on the every other weekend you were there

If I had known
‘bout those years of bitter tears that I’d go through
If I had known
I’d do everything the same cause I have-

You will make your own mistakes
so hold on tight, do what it takes
you’ll find you get more than you ever dreamed

If I had known
‘bout those years of bitter tears that I’d go through
If I had known
I’d do everything the same cause I have you

Burgundy and Poutine

I flew last fall to Montreal to show you all you’d have if you came home
We climbed the hill above McGill
but nervous chill would not thaw from my bones
So we walked down to a bistro and we talked for half the night through
And I learned the autumn leaves had finally turned and so had you, so

One more bottle of burgundy, one more plate of poutine 
How I miss you already though you’re still here with me 
so I’ll stall to hold the curtain back from ending our last scene 
with one more bottle of burgundy, one more plate of poutine 

Then gazing cross the tablecloth I felt so lost as you shared all your dreams
The candle flame shone with my shame
that I once claimed I’d meet all of your needs
with every pour the linen spotted more of those dark red stains
that felt to me like lifeblood drawn directly from my veins, so

One more bottle of burgundy, one more plate of poutine  
How I miss you already though you’re still here with me  
so I’ll stall to hold the curtain back from ending our last scene  
with one more bottle of burgundy, one more plate of poutine 

And since that day I’ve found a joint in Chelsea that’s okay 
the wine’s too sweet and New York frites don’t really taste the same 
but I can spill drops on the table, recalling how I was able 
to stretch our last goodbye until the night flowed into day, with 

One more bottle of burgundy, one more plate of poutine  
How I miss you already though you’re still here with me  
so I’ll stall to hold the curtain back from ending our last scene  
with one more bottle of burgundy, one more plate of poutine 

East Tremont

Time, sweet time, like our world would never cease 
we played from dawn to dusk as thick as thieves 
Then Moses split the Bronx like he was parting the Red Sea 
and we scattered from our home like lonely leaves 
For years I felt so empty like my soul was torn in two 
but now technicolor memories come to me 

Tonight I’ll raise a glass to my East Tremont one more time 
The friends I thought were gone have taken shelter in my mind 
Revive me like a hydrant on a summer afternoon 
Oh wait for me East Tremont be there soon 

Can’t you hear, they’re calling up to me 
I never thought I’d hear that sound so sweet 
Miss Rosa takes my shaking hand, says go where you belong 
I run downstairs and out into the street 

Tonight I’ll raise a glass to my East Tremont one more time  
The friends I thought were gone have taken shelter in my mind  
Revive me like a hydrant on a summer afternoon  
Oh wait for me East Tremont be there soon 

I’m strong and nimble swinging cross the monkey bars again 
we’re laughing and the metal slide’s so hot against my skin 
I climb the jungle gym up to the top to take the view 
and look out upon my past and see the vanished world I knew 

Tonight I’ll raise a glass to my East Tremont one more time  
The friends I thought were gone have taken shelter in my mind  
Revive me like a hydrant on a summer afternoon  
Oh wait for me East Tremont be there soon 
Oh wait for me East Tremont be there soon

Like An AMnesiac

Don’t remind me we were here before
I don’t find myself in tears no more
Now I finally got my feet back under me
Why you stop by seeking company?

Like an amnesiac I’ll fall for you and take you back
Like an amnesiac recalling not one painful fact at all
I’m never learning from my mistakes
Ever returning each time my heart breaks
Like an amnesiac, don’t need the past to see I’m trapped
in love
in love

I can wipe the mem’ries from my mind
Try in spite of every other time
As I lose this weak grip on reality
My confusion seeks its tragedy

Like an amnesiac I’ll fall for you and take you back
Like an amnesiac recalling not one painful fact at all
I’m never learning from my mistakes
Ever returning each time my heart breaks
Like an amnesiac, don’t need the past to see I’m trapped

Though I remember you more than I’d choose
I have surrendered to braving your bruises
and hoping this time I won’t die of
I’ll open my eyes, not too broken to try love

Like an amnesiac I’ll fall for you and take you back
Like an amnesiac recalling not one painful fact at all
I’m never learning from my mistakes
Ever returning each time my heart breaks
Like an amnesiac, don’t need the past to see I’m trapped
in love
in love
in love

Malena

She’s paid to dance with a man for a dollar
as I sit at the upright and bang out the tune
but over the shoulder of a lonely guy
she might give me a wink with a pink painted eye
and I’ll daydream of taking her miles away from this second-rate saloon

Oh girl come sit right here by my piano
cause my heart’s always under your shadow, Malena
Someday we’ll ride outta this town together
but until then it feels like forever, Malena

She flirts at the bar with some backcountry trapper.
I’m distracted and hack up some popular song.
And I can’t help from hoping she’s thinking of me
so I slip in some Chopin that only she hears
to remind her there’s somewhere much finer outside here where both of us belong

Oh girl come sit right here by my piano
cause my heart’s always under your shadow, Malena
Someday we’ll ride outta this town together
but until then it feels like forever, Malena

Then at sunup the last drunk will stumble his way to the street
As the barkeep starts sweeping the sawdust she’ll pull up her seat
And she’ll longingly linger beside
I’m so carefree my fingers now fly
Cause I never imagined a melody could be so sweet

Oh girl come sit right here by my piano
cause my heart’s always under your shadow, Malena
Someday we’ll ride outta this town together
but until then it feels like forever, Malena

Holy Bronx Night

It’s late Christmas Eve, my brother and me alone in the apartment again
there’s snow on the way and Mom’s working late at Montefiore
There’s no tree this year cause things are tight
just one sorry string of blinking lights
But my brother said we don’t need nothin’ more

On this Holy Bronx Night, it’ll be alright
Take in the beauty all around
cause there’s Christmas peace in every town
from Bethlehem to the Boogie Down
So sleep tight on this Holy Bronx Night

Hear the tinkling strains of jingling chains on the salt trucks plowing by
Down in the bodega three wise men are playing dominoes
If the street’s not clear on Mommy’s way
she can hitch a ride on the big guy’s sleigh
So she’ll be back here at home before you know

On this Holy Bronx Night, it’ll be alright
Take in the beauty all around
cause there’s Christmas peace in every town
from Bethlehem to the Boogie Down
So sleep tight on this Holy Bronx Night

It’s been so many years but my memory is clear of awakening on Christmas day
The fire escape icicles gleamed, too excited to sleep late we woke her at eight
And she smiled from the couch in her scrubs like an angel come down from above
Then I felt so secure, not a care in the world, cause I knew I was safe in her love

On this Holy Bronx Night, it’ll be alright
Take in the beauty all around
cause there’s Christmas peace in every town
from Bethlehem to the Boogie Down
So sleep tight on this Holy Bronx Night
sleep tight on this Holy Bronx Night

Don’t Hurry Home

You’re always coming round my place and do just as you please 
You kick the front door open and you bring me to my knees 
Well if you hear the highway and you feel the urge to roam 
Goodbye blues, don’t hurry home 

I’ll hear you rumble in the drive and snuff your cigarette 
Then sneak into my bedroom with brown liquor on your breath 
Well set your mind to ramblin’ cause I need some time alone 
Goodbye blues, don’t hurry home 

Now if you’re sad, just think back on all our years 
Don’t blame yourself, baby it’s not you it’s me
I’ve had enough and this time I ain’t gonna change my mind 
Just pack your bags and let me clean the mess you left behind 

So dry your tears my friend you know we’re better off apart 
And pretty soon you’ll worm your way in someone else’s heart 
Now spread your wings and fly, I know you’ll make it on your own 
Goodbye blues, don’t hurry home 

And if you get real lonesome, don’t you call me on the phone 
Goodbye blues, don’t hurry home 
Goodbye blues, don’t hurry home

Smoke Em

Seems our love is everybody’s business 
and this town don’t hand out much forgiveness 
Yeah I caused her heart to break 
and I own all my mistakes 
But we’ll never hold up heads up in this place 

So smoke em if you got em it’s a long ride to the bottom 
Let’s drive till we’re forgotten then we’ll start a brand new day 
Just roll em up and smoke em till this Mustang’s beat and broken 
Let’s sing long to Dwight Yoakam til our tears have dried away 

Once I swore I’d be with her forever 
Though I knew you and I belonged together 
Oh for years you know I tried 
but the fire burned inside 
and unleashed that telltale truth I couldn’t hide 

So smoke em if you got em it’s a long ride to the bottom  
Let’s drive till we’re forgotten then we’ll start a brand new day  
Just roll em up and smoke em till this Mustang’s beat and broken  
Let’s sing long to Dwight Yoakam til our tears have dried away 

Babe take the wheel until the sun’s arising 
Aim that hood straight out at the horizon 
Oh we’ll see with this road goes 
you can stop where no one knows 
and we’ll live the way we should have long ago 

So smoke em if you got em it’s a long ride to the bottom  
Let’s drive till we’re forgotten then we’ll start a brand new day  
Just roll em up and smoke em till this Mustang’s beat and broken  
Let’s sing long to Dwight Yoakam til our tears have dried away 

Bourgogne et poutine

(French Translation by Jennifer Reid)

J’ai voyagé à Montréal l’automne dernier pour te récupérer
Surplombant l’université, mes os saisis d’un frisson énervé
Nous sommes allés dans un café, n’s avons parlé toute la soirée
J’ai appris que comme les feuilles tu avais aussi détourné, alors

Une bouteille encore de Bourgogne, un plat encore de poutine.
Comme tu me manques en ce moment bien que tu sois toujours ici
Donc j'empêcherai le rideau q’notre scène ne se termine
Avec une bouteille encore de Bourgogne, un plat encore de poutine.

Te regardant à travers la table, perdu lorsqu’tu me racontais tes rêves
La chandelle brillait de ma honte d’avoir promis de soigner tes besoins
À chaque coulée, le lin montrait de nouvelles taches de vin
Qui me semblaient la source de vie directement de mes veines, alors

Une bouteille encore de Bourgogne, un plat encore de poutine.
Comme tu me manques en ce moment bien que tu sois toujours ici
Donc j'empêcherai le rideau que notre scène ne se termine
Avec une bouteille encore de Bourgogne, un plat encore de poutine.

Depuis ce jour j’ai trouvé un troquet qui satisfait
Le vin est trop sucré, les frites ne peuvent pas comparer
Mais je peux répandre des gouttes de vin et bien me rappeler
De la nuit où nos adieux finales le jour ont salué, avec

Une bouteille encore de Bourgogne, un plat encore de poutine.
Comme tu me manques en ce moment bien que tu sois toujours ici
Donc j'empêcherai le rideau que notre scène ne se termine
Avec une bouteille encore de Bourgogne, un plat encore de poutine.

May the Flame Burn Bright

Since our genesis they said our love wasn’t kosher, no sir
we’re meshuggeneh to think it could survive
But before this small menorah we can warm up in the aura
as we celebrate the miracle tonight

So light us a candle and go down the line
Ignite our hearts for a little more time
May the flame burn bright
May the flame burn bright

No one would’ve bet for all the gelt in the world, my girl
that we’d last for more than eight short days and nights
Yet like a spinning, dancing dreidel our fine romance was able
to show gravity can sometimes be defied

So light us a candle and go down the line
Ignite our hearts for a little more time
May the flame burn bright
May the flame burn bright

When I see its glow upon your face I feel lightheaded
but not from the Manischewitz, no instead I’m just amazed

Till next Hanukkah should I require reminding
of the perfume when the bloom is on the rose
Like a seeker of the prophet I will creep into my closet
for the scent of latke oil in my clothes

So light us a candle and go down the line
Ignite our hearts for a little more time
May the flame burn bright
May the flame burn bright
May the flame burn bright

Red White and Blue

The convention hall is quiet, the candidate’s flown far 
the righteous crowd home in bed, lobbyists at the hotel bar 
The night crew comes from the shadows. One sweeps her broad broom 
and cleans up confetti of red white and blue 

She’s troubled by tonight’s tirade and her mind reels back years 
to the fiery words on the radio the village gathered to hear 
Oh she’s so tired of remembering so puts on to cheer her mood 
a discarded straw hat of red white and blue 

But she still sees machetes gleaming in the night 
Feels her bare feet running and her heart pounding from fright 
but from the airplane window what a view 
of this open armed land of red white and blue 

Tonight she feels forsaken, denounced for where she’s from 
Just a prop for politicians disposed when the day is done 
But she’s grateful for America and if her family could come too 
She’d await at the airport in red white and blue 
Yeah await at the airport in red white and blue