Migration / The V
by Dave Andrews, Christopher Shotola-Hardt, Mark Andrews
This coupling of tunes was inspired by the painting "Migration" by Christopher. The surreal canvas explores the common plights shared by migrating birds and refugees. "Migration" features vocal lines; the accordion expresses the geese beating their wings. "The V" is an ambient piece that takes place above the clouds; Stephen Cohen is our guest performer on slide guitar.
Wind, wind in my hair
No reason, angle of light
Standing in this cloud
geese all around
Hat sits still
hands in pockets
Vapor beneath
caressing my shoes
So far... some will die
Do not sleep
Beat your wings
Continue to fly!
Up here with geese
wearing our overcoats
Standing in this cloud
geese all around
In the middle of the V
wind all around ... migration
Geese all around
Hat sits still
Hands in pockets
Geese all around
Easy
by Mark Andrews
In a Portland pub at 2:00 a.m.
Take it easy on me
I've had rough year
I'm having trouble getting acquainted
with my new enemies
And my hands are busy
untying my tongue
Take it easy on me
I've had a hard time adjusting
My feet embedded in mudslide
My life washed over by the high tide
(Chorus)
And I ... can't get my foot out of my mouth
Can't get the egg off my face
And I'm not hungry, I've had too much humble pie
Take it easy on me
I've had a hard, hard go of it
I'm all messed up and I feel like a chump
And my brain is leaking out through my ears
She said she'd be back, that's what I heard
She said I wouldn't even know that she was gone
When will she be back ...?
And it can't be the worst thing in the world
But it feels like the worst thing in the world
Take it easy on me
I've had a hard, hard year
I'm having trouble getting acquainted with my new enemies
And my hands are busy untying my tongue
Take Heed
by Dave Andrews
Take Heed, it's the picture that gets you down.
Take a stand, it's the feeling that moves you up and out.
Now hear this! It's lonely when you're there
and when you're moving toward.
Take Heed, move your fingers to make it happen again.
Give in, the pain is crossing to the other side.
Give out, let conscience fly out in front of the door.
Now hear this! It's trouble. Check you out!
Lift here, directions will get you where you are.
Give in, lose the moment, but don't feel lost.
If I could be, then you could be, we all could be,
couldn't we...?
If you would be, then I would be, we all would be,
wouldn't we...?
Be still, your eyes can move, look around.
Be aware! I am one of the moving ones on the floor.
Now hear this! It's lonely when you're there and when
you're moving toward.
Downtown, the cowboy's taking his last ride.
Be still, it's a moment for all to think.
If I could be, then you could be, we all could be,
couldn't we...?
If you would be, then I would be, we all would be,
wouldn't we?
Fire / Susie's Reel (for Susanne)
by Christopher Shotola-Hardt
An all-out, driving love song followed by a climactic, Celtic-influenced reel.
We are two, and you are mine.
Visible to my eyes, your ultra-violet wave.
Garden of Eden, I'm in your paradise.
Gave me this feeling to love you every day.
Tempt me, I beg you, the room is heating up.
Fire...
I feel compelled to say I love you.
Is it any wonder, you make me feel this way?
You are my fuel, ignite me your way!
Fire...
You are true, I feel your depth.
Looking now straight at me, you see now who I am.
No fear, no never...no insecurity.
I feel you always with me, you fill me to the core.
We are one, you set me on...
Fire...
Sad World
by Dave Andrews
In the corner there's a man
his hands behind his back
Lookin all the time for a place to work
to feed his family
Always holding his head down
thinking of the state that he is in
He never moves his hands
to say hello to me
It's a sad world
It's a sad country
It's a sad world
for people who want to be free
On the sidewalk walks a girl
her face behind her hair
She lives in a state of confusion
the hate, pain, and war
She looks to the sky when she's alone
to watch the freedom of the birds
She never moves her hair
to say hello to me
On the park bench sits a man
memories are all he has
No more social security
his life all behind him now
His only son lost in the war
the one no one had won
He wonders why he was treated this way
he doesn't have anything to say to me
Through the Skies
by Dave Andrews
as I'm driving down this desolate highway
my wishful thoughts are of you
you don't know that you're in my dreams
wearing my favorite color, maroon
you're sitting smiling thinking
of love and your happiness
I'm singing laughing thinking
of how I love your gentle kind kiss
but that's only in my dreams
where I visualize
our bodies close together
floating through the skies
our own worlds were hypnotized
just by staring in each other's eyes
as my thoughts flow back down to earth
the chills stay with me for awhile
I try to think of ways to approach you
about this feeling that lives inside
I start to fear a negative reaction from you
and you going far away
but I can picture a scene where you tell me
that you love me and you want me every day
You Are God
by Christopher Shotola-Hardt
After the spacey intro with chanting, a hypnotic trance jam.
you are God and you are in me
pie Jesu domini dona eis requiem
Lars
by Dave Andrews
This song about lost love, performed by the Bug Toast trio in 1997. Dave on guitar and lead vocal, Christopher on bouzouki and harmony vocal, Susanne on accordion and harmony vocal.
she told you she loves you with all her heart
you can't understand why she falls apart
and breaks down
when she mentions her other friend's name
and she says that she loves you
and so you live from day to day
you walk with her talk with her
and you make love with her
then at night the other side comes out
and she says that she loves him
did she fantasize about him in her head
for she never saw him and he was far away
and then she mentioned his name
while sitting by the L tracks smoking all your cigarettes
watching the sunset with her in your arms
she's given you so much love
you can't understand why
she said that it's time for you and he is far
the picture is gone but the phone calls live on
It's one of those things you want to hide
and you know that you love her
Bug Toast
by Dave Andrews & Christopher Shotola-Hardt
The surreal poetry speaks of unrequited love between a bug and a nuclear power reactor. This song performed by Bug Toast trio in 1997. Dave on guitar and lead vocal, Christopher on bouzouki and harmony vocal, Susanne on accordion and harmony vocals.
Walking by...
and touching your concrete wall
Makes me feel so small
and I try to hide it
Seeing you
your radioactive heat
A holocaustic treat
and I try to ...
fire!
Ashes below / nuclear snow
Shadows I know / pale green glow
